I’ve had to call a bit of an audible with my 30 Before 30 and switch up a handful of them. It’s hard for my lil Type A heart to fall short of an organized list I created, but I’m still going to be doing 30 important, growth-promoting, and fun activities so that’s really all that really matters.

This was one of those punts. I realized a couple of my health-related items weren’t going to work, so I wanted to replace them with health-related items. One of my good friends told me about her consultation with the Skin Boss studios and I thought that would be a great way to prepare for my 30s!

I’ve gotten pretty lucky with my skin. I don’t really break out and I tan really well. My skin is dry with some freckles and sun damage, and some distinct genetic dark circles. I haven’t done a great job with my skin, though. I would go to bed with makeup on, cake on more the next day, skip sunscreen, absolutely massacre any zit that appeared, and I never drink water. Like, ever.

But now I’m nearing 30. This is the perfect and important time to adopt a skincare routine that will reverse the stupid damage I’ve done, prevent further damage, and help me age gracefully. My mom has taken religious care of her skin literally as long as I can remember and her skin looks amazing in her 50s. That’s what I want. So I booked a 1 hour skin consultation.

That actual “Skin Boss” Lisa rarely takes new appointments, but she has a team of trained master estheticians so I didn’t mind seeing them. They emailed me a quick survey about myself, my health, my skin, my goals, and my current skincare regimen, and then I rolled up to my appointment at Platinum Salon in Orem.

I saw Darby and she was great. She talked me through my survey, answered questions, explained some things, and then got down to business checking out my skin. She cleaned off my makeup and smoothed on some products to see how my skin would react. It was so nice I had to try not to moan like when Andy massages Ron Swanson’s bunion.

Then we used a worksheet to create a list of specific products and product types that I could be using AM and PM, and in what order I should use them. Then she recommended additional treatments that could help my skin (facials, exfoliation, masks, etc). The whole thing cost $60 and was very relaxing and informative.

My only complaint was that while she repeatedly said “no pressure” and didn’t push for me to buy their products, she didn’t really provide options for other price tiers. I understand that the esthetician level products are superior but, like… you guys have met my kids. I simply can’t have a jar of $90 cream in my house, even if it made my skin sparkle like Edward Cullen in daylight. I really would have liked to hear options in the $30-50 beauty store range and the $10-30 drugstore range. I can’t be alone in that, right?

My New Grownup Skincare Routine

AM

• Splash face with cold water
• Eye drops for red and sleepy eyes
• Lumene Nordic C Glow Boost Essence – tightens and brightens skin, I smooth a drop under my eyes and on my forehead
• Olay Eyes Ultimate Eye Cream – moisturizes and plumps my undereye
• Aveeno Positively Radiant Daily Mosturizer SPF 30 – just a thin layer to moisturize, brighten, and provide sun protection (also functions as my primer!)

PM

• Garnier Micellar Water on cotton round to remove makeup
• Cetaphil cleanser to remove traces of makeup and micellar water
• Marini Luminate Eye Gel – undereye treatment to help with dark circles and bags (the only product I bought from my consultation)
• RoC Multi Correxion 5-in-1 Restoring Night Cream – a thin layer of this light retinol will encourage cell turnover and moisturize
• Bliss Ex-Glow-Sion Super Rich Moisturizer – because this dry girl needs that additional layer of moisturizer
• Facial Roller – I massage the products in with this facial massager I got on Amazon. It helps the products absorb and encourages circulation in the face. Plus it feels good.
• Lavish Lash Serum – I’ve been using this since I quit lash extensions and I feel like it works great!

Treatments

• Aveeno Positively Radiant Daily Cleansing Pads – I freaking love these. About once a week I use one of these in the shower to get every last flake of makeup and mascara off my face. One side has exfoliation, too.
• Biore Strips – cuz ya girl got those nose blackheads
• Face Mask – lately I’ve been using this PINK Dew This one, but I have like 4 in my drawer. I use these when I have breakouts or I feel like my skin is looking dull or when I just wanna treat yo self
• Collagen Gold Powder Eye Mask – I got a pack of these on Amazon and use them whenever I’m puffy or exhausted. I’ll slap them on before bed or first thing in the morning when I wake up looking rough.

Now, this doesn’t happen every day. But I’ve tried to look at it as an investment in my future face, and go slow to enjoy it. Self Care BABY. It’s a mindset and it makes a difference. Now I actually look forward to a nice, slow skincare routine each night before bed.

My biggest takeaway was that consistency is key and to wear my freaking daily sunscreen. I’m trying to be a lot more gentle with my skin, moisturize it better, and let it breathe more. I don’t need to put on makeup to go to the splash pad. I really don’t. I wear sunglasses anyway! I can post instagram pics and stories without makeup. Who cares? I’d rather feel like my skin is light and healthy.

Please everyone pray for my expensive eye cream and my dark circles.