Sunnie’s Flawless Skin

Sunnie’s Flawless Skin

March 30th, 2009 @ 1:30 pm by Mrs. Piglet

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Helloooo Sunnie! This is Sunnie as Madonna last year on Halloween. She is my high school buddy, freshman/sophomore college roomie, and lifelong skin adviser. Her skin is flawless. I’ve seen her sans makeup, and her skin is like a baby’s tush. I hate her!

I’ve never really followed any sort of skin care regimen aside from washing my face and applying moisturizer. As of late, it’s becoming apparent that I need some sort of skin intervention. The crows’ feet around the eyes, and happy wrinkles lining my mouth are becoming more evident. I’m more prone to breakouts. And it’s definitely not wedding related considering I haven’t done squat in the past month. My skin is dry and flaky… and the list goes on.

Sunnie wrote me an email this past week detailing her nightly de-facing steps, and I’ve decided to give it a shot, considering her routine is 6 more steps than what I normally do.

Her 70-year old Aunt has been following this routine for years and resultingly has wrinkle-free, flawless skin (much like Sunnie’s today). I still think her great skin is in the genes, so I’m a bit skeptical as to how effective this routine will be. But what the hey, there’s no harm in trying.

And here it is. Sunnie’s nightly de-facing steps:

Wash your face (duh). I’ve been using Cetaphil ever since I read about it on one of Bee’s posts months ago.

cetaphil

In any empty creme container, mix massage/cold cream with Johnson’s baby oil with aloe vera & vitamin E in equal amounts. Having no idea what cold cream was, I headed to CVS and found Pond’s Cold Cream Cleanser. That should do.

johnsonsbabyoilaloevera300ml

pondscoldcream

Massage mixture onto your face and neck
Blot if off with a tissue
Apply acne medicine (if applicable); she recommended the acne.org product (cheap and effective)
Apply toner. I’ve been using Estee Lauder’s toner

estee_lauder_perfectly_clean_fresh_balancing_lotion

Apply eye cream. I have StriVectrin from my mom. I think it’s a sample.
Lastly, moisturize. I’m using Estee Lauder’s Hydra Complete.
Sometimes I apply pure vitamin E on any parts of my face I’ve infected with my dirty paws.

It’s only been 3 days, and aside from my skin feeling slightly softer, I haven’t noticed a visible difference. At the very least, her guidance on what products to apply first was very helpful. I always wondered what the proper ordering was… eye cream or moisturizer first? I’m curious to know if her ordering is in line with your routine.

So ladies… in what order do you apply your skin products?

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39 Responses to “Sunnie’s Flawless Skin”

Member

Habibi (message) 571 posts, Busy bee

Interesting, I always thought toner was used to remove things (dirt, oil, makeup). With that logic, using it where you are would remove the acne medication & ponds/oil mixture you’ve used. Anyone else have an idea which is correct?

3/30/09 @ 1:37 pm (reply)

Member

september wedding (message) 113 posts, Blushing bee

I wash my face, apply toner, eye cream, then top it off with moisturizer!

3/30/09 @ 1:37 pm (reply)

Member

ThePinkSuperhero (message) 199 posts, Blushing bee

Baby oil on your face? As a gal with oily skin, I would NEVER put baby oil on my face!!! Ugh, I can just see the zits now! And wouldn’t applying toner after acne medication just rub all the medication off?

3/30/09 @ 1:38 pm (reply)

Member

aliangel64 (message) 79 posts, Worker bee

wow - that takes some serious dedication…

3/30/09 @ 1:41 pm (reply)

Bee

Miss Piglet (message) 629 posts, Busy bee

verrrrry interested in what others have to say. i asked sunnie the same thing WRT application of toner after the cold cream/aloe vera combo because i felt like i was removing what i just applied.

3/30/09 @ 1:46 pm (reply)

Guest

Jenny

Be careful what you put on your face! I put vitamin E on my face before (pure vitamin e) and it made my face red and irritated it!

3/30/09 @ 1:49 pm (reply)

Member

tea (message) 2,656 posts, Sugar bee

uh, i’m a wash and mositurize girl. though i could stand to put on some sunblock in the morning, especially with living in cali.

3/30/09 @ 1:53 pm (reply)

Member

chicagowife (message) 381 posts, Helper bee

Good to test it now, as you might not want to try anything new (and potentially traumatic) too soon before your wedding. I’m also just a wash and moisturize girl — I’ve tried loading things on my face and it never makes any difference! (But I don’t really have any skin challenges, to be fair.) Man I sound like a brat, sorry!

3/30/09 @ 1:58 pm (reply)

Guest

laura

cleanser (cetaphil), toner (phytomer rosewater), moisturizer (philosophy hope in a jar/ shiseido benefiance), eye cream (shiseido). that’s it.
the #1 key to great skin is SPF 15 or higher daily, and take your makeup off every single night no matter how tired you are.

3/30/09 @ 2:01 pm (reply)

10.

Guest

liz

Try La Mer. it’s expensive but it’s worth it. and It’s your big day, a perfect execuse! You should do the diamond peel to help you to remove the dead skins. Good luck!

3/30/09 @ 2:08 pm (reply)

11.

Member

amysue (message) 1,499 posts, Bumble bee

If I put all that oil/lotion on my face, it would be one giant blackhead!

I wash with Cetaphil, use Clinique salyclic acid toner and Clinique eye cream, then moisturize either with Neutrogena Sensitive Skin SPF 15 or Eucerin Redness Reduction (if my skin is particularly aggravated).

3/30/09 @ 2:14 pm (reply)

12.

Hostess

LatteLove (message) 4,120 posts, Honey bee

umm,
1. wash
2. moisturize

sometimes I don’t even do those!

hmm, maybe I need to work on my routine!

3/30/09 @ 2:16 pm (reply)

13.

Member

soolala (message) 10 posts, Newbee

I have pretty dry skin and I’ve used a variety of different products but I’ve found a combo of things that work for me. I use ponds cold cream to take off my makeup at night. Just massage it into your skin and wipe off with a tissue. Then I wash with clinique facial cleanser (mild) and follow it with clinique clarifying lotion 2 (toner). Instead of the clinique moisturizer, I just use ponds night cream followed by the clinique all about eyes eye cream. In the morning I do the same routine - wash, tone - but I moisturize with dove deep facial moisturizer with spf 15. Instead of foundation for every day, I use a tinited moisturizer with spf 20. I agree with laura about wearing spf daily. I get compliments on my skin all the time! I hope this helps

3/30/09 @ 2:21 pm (reply)

14.

Member

Miss Popcorn (message) 90 posts, Worker bee

I have tried various face regimens throughout the years… neutrogena, Arbonne, Burt’s Bees, etc but recently found an all natural… and I mean nothing but plants! skin care line called Terressentials. Their Flower Therapy face stuff smells so good….and it’s pretty much edible if you really wanted to–not that you would…but you could. Anyway… it’s wash, toner, moisturizer and then a mask 2 times a week. Good luck with the face.. those pesky wrinkles are coming much too soon!!! I’m also investing in a good straw hat this summer!

3/30/09 @ 2:48 pm (reply)

15.

Member

msashleymarie (message) 374 posts, Helper bee

I wash my face with Neutrogena Acne Cream Cleanser (creams are not as harsh as liquid/foam) and then apply Philosophy’s On A Clear Day Retinol clarifying lotion at night followed by Aveno moisturizer for sensitive skin. In the norming every two days I use Neutrogena blackhead exfoliating scrub at the beginning of my shower and then the cleanser at the end of my shower. I follow by using Philosophy’s On A Clear Day All Over Acne Treatment and then the Aveno moisturizer. Also, remember to use moisturizer around your eyes! I like Clinique’s line of them. Once a week I use the Biore pore strips on my nose (sometimes on my chin as well)

3/30/09 @ 2:52 pm (reply)

16.

Bee

Mrs. Penguin (message) 2,149 posts, Buzzing bee

What the heck!?!?!? I seriously cannot stop staring at Sunnie’s skin!!! It’s convincing me to pay more attention to my regime, although no amount of pampering would ever get me that close to flawless skin! I am pretty much a vampire; i stay indoors 24-7, so if I can’t achieve wrinkle free skin by never going in the sun I’m afraid I never will. My regimine is only 2 step though… Wash, moisturize. Perhaps it’s time to up the steps

3/30/09 @ 2:57 pm (reply)

17.

Guest

Katya

Make sure you’re using sunscreen. No matter what you slather on your skin, no matter how complex or expensive the concoction, it’s money wasted if you don’t invest in some SPF for your face! At least SPF 25 or higher! Especially if you burn easily. 80% of all signs of aging are sun-related. And the damage you see now on your face is from exposure you had 10 years ago; so it will take approx. 10 yrs for the damage you are accumulating now to even show up. I swear by Clinique Superdefense SPF 25 for oily skin. It’s a little pricier, but it’s worth it for prevention’s sake.

3/30/09 @ 3:32 pm (reply)

18.

Guest

Emma

Wow…your friend has fantastic skin! Thanks for sharing her regimen. Maybe she has some makeup tips for us? I’m wondering whether she wears foundation and how she gets it to look so natural and glowing. Any help she might have would be soooo appreciated. Thanks!

3/30/09 @ 3:47 pm (reply)

19.

Member

psychoexgirlfriend (message) 43 posts, Newbee

Hmmm, I just want to point out that b/c a regime works for one person, doesn’t mean it’ll work for someone else. I find even season to season, my skin regime changes b/c of weather.

3/30/09 @ 3:50 pm (reply)

20.

Member

lethie (message) 230 posts, Helper bee

My routine is wash and moisturize.

3/30/09 @ 4:22 pm (reply)

21.

Guest

MissJ

your friend has beautiful skin! but it’s strange that acne medication goes before toner. wouldn’t using toner afterwards remove the medication?

3/30/09 @ 5:15 pm (reply)

22.

Member

kosstobe (message) 231 posts, Helper bee

Sunnie does have beautiful skin! My current routine is face wash in the shower, then moisturizer with spf 15. I REALLY need to start removing makeup/washing/moisturizing my face before bed. It’s never been an issue but I know it will catch up with me eventually.

3/30/09 @ 6:14 pm (reply)

23.

Member

StarGazer (message) 83 posts, Worker bee

Wow that is a lot of steps but if I had a guarantee that my skin would look anywhere near what hers looks like…it would be worth it! I should probably start incorporating some of her tips if I want any hope!

3/30/09 @ 6:34 pm (reply)

24.

Member

Honeycomb (message) 36 posts, Newbee

Yes, her skin looks wonderful but everyone’s skin is different, just like the same diet doesn’t work the same for everyone, or the same hair treatment.

It’s genes, more than anything, and sun exposure. After what I did to myself as a teenager, lying on the beach with cooking oil (how stupid were we..?) small wonder my skin is less-than-perfect…

3/30/09 @ 7:34 pm (reply)

25.

Guest

I will 2nd (or more like 30th) that using toner after acne medication will just remove it. Sunni has beautiful skin, but I’ll go ahead and be the one to say that she probably is naturally predisposed to lovely skin that doesn’t clog easily. If your face is oily & you breakout easily, this regime would most likely make it worse.

As for me (I have oily, blackhead prone skin with dry patches), I use a Proactiv scrub (2% salcyclic acid) in the shower and Neutrogena Deep Cleansing wash when I’m at my sink. I have Aquaglycol toner (alpha hydroxy acid, if you hadn’t guessed) on hand. I don’t use it regularly, but I would recommend it to oily ladies. I moisturize with Neutrogena Acne Stress moisturizer (2% salycyclic). This combo keeps the blackheads more or less at bay.

3/30/09 @ 7:35 pm (reply)

26.

Member

loralie (message) 545 posts, Busy bee

I’ll admit my skincare regime is spotty at best. On good days, I use cleanser, toner, Wexler skin regenerating serum (I seriously love that stuff because it makes my skin feel like silk), eye cream and moisturizer. On not so good days, I’m doing good if I actually wash my makeup off before bed. Yeah, it’s very night-and-day.

3/30/09 @ 11:37 pm (reply)

27.

Bee

Miss Quiche (message) 2,186 posts, Buzzing bee

The oil scares me…I am afraid that would make me break out?! I have been using Cetaphil since college. My skin asn’t really changed that much. Perhaps it IS time for a new skin care regimine. After the wedding, of course.

3/31/09 @ 7:50 am (reply)

28.

Member

JuneBride2be (message) 21 posts, Newbee

I highly highly recommend finding a great esthetician to come up with a skin care regiment talored specifically for your skin. If you live anywhere near Chevy Chase Maryland you need to go to Hela Spa and have a session with Terri! But any great esthetician can help you out!

I went to her for over a year before I moved and she did WONDERS for my skin. Not only did the facials improve my skin, but she got me on a great skin care program that has helped maintain the work she did at the spa.

I have oily skin, with mild break outs and wrinkles and larger poors. The wrinkles were because I was actually very dry and I was oily because my skin was trying to compensate for the dryness i created with my harsh cleanser. I now use a gentle cream cleanser and toner and MOISTERIZE MOIRSTERIZE MOISTERIZE!!!
The products are a little more pricey than the drug store kinds, but they are worth every penny spent, and they last a long time!
I recommend: Skin Ceuticals, Neova, and Alchimie Forever. GREAT PRODUCTS!

After almost 2 years on her regimine i am in love with my skin!!

3/31/09 @ 8:35 am (reply)

29.

Bee

Miss Piglet (message) 629 posts, Busy bee

Sunnie, if you read this… toner after that other stuff!

@JuneBride2be: Thanks for the recommendation!!! I’m in Virginia, but am completely willing to make the drive. Yay, I’m excited!

@Miss Quiche: Quiche, you’re back! Heylo!

3/31/09 @ 8:42 am (reply)

30.

Bee

Miss Piglet (message) 629 posts, Busy bee

woops, toner before! geez i need more coffee.

3/31/09 @ 8:50 am (reply)

31.

Guest

Globetrotting Bride

Wow, I must be a slacker. I just wash (cetaphil or aveno usually) and then moisturize with Clinique lotion.

3/31/09 @ 9:29 am (reply)

32.

Member

purpleHaze79 (message) 875 posts, Busy bee

Thanks for the tips!!! I can’t wait to try it!!

3/31/09 @ 9:41 am (reply)

33.

Member

LzzNYC (message) 877 posts, Busy bee

I want nothing more than beautiful skin!!! ahhh Sunnie major jealousy! (After beautiful skin I wish I could sing lol)

3/31/09 @ 10:55 am (reply)

34.

Guest

MrSuksgirl

Hi! This is Sunnie.

Annie! I thought you were gonna post my madonna cone bra outfit– thank God you didn’t. I was scared. haha

I agree with the rest of the girls about changing up your skin regime depending on the season and this is what I do during winter - spring times when my skin tend to be dry and bit flaky.

As for the toner and acne medicine issue… I use the toner AFTER putting on my acne stuff… I just wait til my acne med dries and absorbs into my skin. then put the toner on. The toner isn’t alcohol based and since I wait till my acne med completely absorbs into my skin, the toner doesn’t seem to erase my acne medicine.

My super old aunt recommended it to me and I was hesitant at first because of the baby oil– but it definitely made a difference for me, making my face look more moist and refreshed. It seems like whole lot of steps at first, but you get used to it.

For me, key to having clear skin is to WASH and moisturize no matter how late you get home… and no matter how drunk you are after a night out. (totally agree w/ the SPF stuff too) =)

Emma– As for makeup, I don’t use liquid foundation.. but use bare essential loose power. or just put blush on.

3/31/09 @ 5:13 pm (reply)

35.

Guest

jaycee

I would suggest SPF higher than 15. That’s really not enough, over a lifetime. Then again, I live in Southern California and the sun gets feisty! I don’t leave the house without SPF30 or higher.

3/31/09 @ 7:53 pm (reply)

36.

Member

mxf05b (message) 27 posts, Newbee

Question - Has anyone tried the neutrogena skinID thingy? It seems like it could be a good idea, but maybe not.

3/31/09 @ 10:26 pm (reply)

37.

Member

msam007562 (message) 27 posts, Newbee

hmmm definitely going to try this!!

4/1/09 @ 4:29 am (reply)

38.

Guest

Miss Facial

Just a reminder about skincare…Cleanse, Tone, Treatment Products (serums and eye creams) and then moisturizer. In that order… Cleanser removes dirt, oil, and makeup from the day. Toners remove any residue cleanser left over and they also balance the PH level of the skin (when we add water, cleansers, etc. throws off the natural skin barrier or neutral state which keep our skin healthy). Treatment products, such as anti-aging products, acne treatments, and/or eye creams, should always be applied to skin after the toner. Allow toner to absorb into the skin for a few minutes and then apply a thin layer of any treatment product. Let that absorb for a few minutes before applying your finishing moisturizer. During the day, make sure your moisturizer has at least a 15 SPF in it (or make sure your mineral makeup or foundation has it in it). Best anti-ager around!

4/20/09 @ 5:31 pm (reply)

39.

Guest

Susie

skin type: oily

nighttime: After cleansing with Murad exfoliating aha-bha cleanser or refreshing cleanser, I apply Retin-A, followed by Burt’s Bees shea butter hand repair cream.

My dermatologist thinks it’s crazy to apply the shea butter to my face at night, but somehow it doesn’t break me out and my skin really likes it.

4/25/09 @ 2:51 am (reply)