Why You Need to Disrupt Your Beauty Routine

Wednesday, April 11, 2012 6:39 PM

Posted by GG Renee | Filed under , ,



Don't you hate it when your favorite, tried and true products stop working for you?  Do you usually just go to your second string players to get the job done?  Or maybe you try something new?  

Lately, I've realized that being invariable with my beauty product line up does not serve me so well. My hair and skin get bored with the same products all the time and they become ineffective.   So, I prefer to change things up and keep my hair and skin surprised.  Sort of like how people change up their exercise routine to keep their muscles "confused" -- so they don't build up a tolerance to a certain routine.

One might think that these are the words of a product junky who is justifying her habit, but there is a method to my madness.  On the one hand, I can't deny that consistency has its virtues. Particularly when it comes to doing things like eating and sleeping and kissing and hugging. I'm pretty consistent about these things and they serve me very well. 

But on the other hand, variation is highly effective when you are trying to bring about  a change.  In this context, that change might be using a different night time treatment when I'm trying to clear up a break out on my face.  Make sense?  To put it plainly, I have one acne treatment that's for preventative purposes and another one that's for major repair/clear up purposes. 

So tell me, do you swear by using a certain product line up everyday? Or maybe you're like me and have you found that your hair and skin respond better to strategic variety?

Click the jump to see a few of the current staples in my beauty rotation.   I'd love to hear your thoughts/experiences.



My hair is at its absolute best when I do a monthly deep treatment with Aubrey Organics Glycogen Protein Conditioner.   It's all about learning the necessary moisture/protein balance for your hair.  I mostly use this as a pre-poo treatment.  I section my dry hair and saturate it, put on a plastic cap with warm towel over it for 15 minutes.  Then hop in the shower and wash and condition as usual.

At $21, Jane Carter's Hair Nourishing Cream isn't cheap my any means.  But a little goes a long way and it keeps my hair moisturized and soft when I blow it out.  My hair retains more length when stretched so I do blow out my hair at least once a month.

Shea Moisture's Deep Treatment Masque is a champ as a leave-in, deep conditioning treatment, and for wash and goes.  I don't always use it the same way, to keep if "new" and effective for my hair.  I use this on my hair and both of my daughter's hair, it's light but creamy and a little goes a long way.  Oh, and it smells amazing.

Amlactin has saved my skin from those annoying little bumps that you get on your shoulders, upperback and sometimes elbows.  The technical term is "keratosis pilaris".  I also use this on my face most mornings to keep daytime break outs at bay.  The magic ingredient is the 12% Alpha-Hydroxy Acid which keeps the skin turning over.  In other words, it keeps dead skin cells and other junk  from clogging up the pores.

This is my morning cleanser.  Gentle as water and perfect to wash off my night time acne treatment. 

This treatment is specifically for large, cystic acne pimples which at the ripe old age of 34, I still get!  It's anti-inflammatory and dries up break outs fast.  I don't use it every night though.   It's not very effective for me as a preventative treatment.

I only use this three nights a week.  It's for congested skin, which mine tends to be.  The Glycolic Acid exfoliates to break down build-up, reduce minor discoloration and leave skin smooth.  I use this along with my clarisonic and my skin feels so clean (not in a squeaky way) and decongested.  I only use this three nights a week because I also use other glycolic polishing products plus there's the alpha-hydroxy acid in the Amlactin, so I don't want to overwhelm my skin.