Be honest, do you feel confident in your skincare routine? Is it a tried and true formula that gives you amazing, glowing results that total strangers feel compelled to compliment you on? 

 

It seems like most of us arrived at our current routine, whatever that may be, through tons of trial and error; and we’re still not sure we’re doing it right. We’ve asked friends what they do, devoured magazine articles, consulted pinterest, attended direct sales parties, even bought a product because the celebrity in the commercial looks amazing. Right? Jennifer Aniston looks goooood! I’ll have what she’s having!

 

It’s easy to get caught up in all the dazzling product marketing too. “I’m pretty sure I need this $200 tool that will grind away the top 6 layers of my skin, revealing the dewey skin of my inner 5 year old that was just hiding under this 40 year old skin.” or “Should I buy this thing I saw in my girlfriend’s bathroom that looks like a rolling pin with tiny spikes on it? I mean, am I supposed to be aerating my skin?” Who really knows?!

 

And, here’s the kicker: what works in one phase of life, doesn’t necessarily work in all phases of life. And, as women, it seems like our time spent on this planet is constantly navigating through a new phase … from awkward acne prone teen, to pregnant mama, to premenopausal, and on & on. We move through all these different periods of life gracefully, & have to continually learn how to take care of skin that is constantly changing. 

 

While all these different phases of life come with their own unique positives and challenges, Bella Botanicals can help you establish a natural, organic, nourishing baseline routine that will keep you feeling your most beautiful through all stages of this amazing journey.

Here are the basics:

An effective skincare routine needs the following three components:

• Cleanser: wash away dirt & grime
• Toner: exfoliate, hydrate, and balance the complexion
• Moisturizer: hydrate, nourish, soften, and protect

 

These three will provide a nourishing foundation for naturally beautiful skin. You can supplement this routine to address specific needs, but you need these simple steps at the very least.

 

Cleansing

 

Cleansing is the most basic, essential step in any skincare routine. Your delicate skin is exposed to free radicals, pollutants, dirt and grime throughout the day. Cleansing removes most of these factors to clean your pores and shine up your complexion.

 

The right cleanser needs to be gentle, yet effective … and that's exactly how we've designed ours. Our Sweet Orange Facial Cleanser is gentle and effective at washing away debris and dead skin cells.  In this blend we use Coco Glucose, a gentle non-abrasive surfactant, that is PH balanced, and can be used on all skin types.  We've also incorporated Willow Bark Extract to provide your skin with a natural chemical exfoliant (Beta Hydroxy Acid) as well as aloe vera and cucumber extract for its soothing and skin nourishing properties. We scent our cleanser with an Organic Sweet Orange Essential Oil. You'll never find synthetic fragrances in our products. 

 

The question always comes up. Should I cleanse both morning AND night? The answer to that is different for everyone, however we recommend both. If you have to pick one, make sure it's in the evening. That's the most important time to cleanse the skin, as you've been exposed to pollutants and toxins throughout the day, that you won't be exposed to at night. After cleansing follow with our Witch Hazel and Lavender Hydrosol Toner and our Moisture Boost Facial Serum.

 

Toning

A toner takes cleansing a step further, to pull out any dirt & impurities that cleansing left behind, and also preps the skin for your moisturizer. Toning is vital; it ensures that you are getting all the makeup, dirt, and dead skin off of your face, which allows your moisturizer to penetrate deeper and be more effective. The word toner for many of us, brings up memories of stinging astringents that felt like they burned off the outer layer of your face. Most toners used to be alcohol based, which made them sting & dry out the skin. 

 

Modern toners, like Bella Botanical’s Witch Hazel and Lavender Hydrosol Toner are more evolved. In our blend we use two hydrosols, lavender & witch hazel, to form the base of this product. Hydrosols contain micro-doses of essential oils, so they provide a benefit without being sensitizing. Hydrosols are slightly acidic, which helps balance the pH of the skin. Witch hazel is a natural, gentle astringent which draws out impurities and minimizes pores. Lavender & witch hazel are both powerful anti-inflammatories to calm the skin. Willow Bark Extract has natural salicylic acid to act as a chemical exfoliator to help remove dead skin cells, improving pore size and acne blemishes.  Finally, to soothe and nourish the skin, we’ve included aloe and cucumber extracts. This toner hits all the marks!

 

We recommend using this toner two ways; first, use this toner by spritzing onto a cotton round. Massage around the face, chest, and neck removing excess dead skin and debris. Make sure to get around the hairline, behind the ears, and between your breasts. Then apply a few spritzes as a leave on to effectively hydrate the skin. When the skin is still moist apply our Moisture Boost Facial Serum.

 

Moisturizing

 

Here at Bella we start everyone with our Moisture Boost Facial Serum. This serum is a concentrated formula that utilizes hyaluronic acid; a super hydrator that pulls and locks moisture into the skin. It also helps plump the skin ever so slightly, which minimizes the look of fine lines. The CBD infusion is a powerful antioxidant, which can truly help to protect the skin from daily oxidative stress. We also use Organic Jojoba and Argan Oil to effectively nourish the skin, to minimize the signs of again and promote overall skin health. 

 

Some may ask, should I use a different moisturizer based on my skin type?  To that the answer is yes, but have no fear, we've still got you covered. The Moisture Boost Facial Serum can still be your go to girl, however depending on your skin's needs (aka are you dry or excessively oily) you may need to incorporate a few other things. For those with dry skin we recommend adding in our Antioxidant Facial Oil with CBD. For those with excessive oil and acne prone skin we recommend working in our Fruit Acid Gel. Now keep in mind, everyone's skin is a tad different. We have tons of people that are acne prone who've found success in solely using our oil as their nighttime moisturizer. It really all depends. That's why we like to remind you that skincare is a long game, and paying attention to how your skin does with certain products is key to finding success.

 

 

The Bella Botanicals Daily Dose

Bella Botanicals recommends the following daily skin care routine to get the best results out of our products:

 

1. Cleanse with our Sweet Orange Facial Cleanser, and Konjac Face Sponge.

 

To cleanse, wet the konjac sponge with warm water. Apply one pump of the Sweet Orange Facial Cleanser to hydrated sponge and gently massage around face, neck, and chest for 30 seconds. Rinse off.  Follow with toner and moisturizer.

 

1. Tone with our Witch Hazel and Lavender Facial Toner to gently exfoliate, even out skin tone & prepare skin to absorb all the nutrients in step 3.

 

To tone, put some of the toner on a cotton pad and/or spritz directly onto your face. 

Thoroughly rub into skin.

1. Moisturize with our Moisture Boost Facial Serum with Hyaluronic Acid & CBD.

 

To moisturize using our serum, a little bit goes a long way! Just one or two pumps onto clean fingers & massage all over your face and neck. For daytime and nighttime use. Just remember that in the am you should ALWAYS be applying a daily spf. Need a recommendation? Click HERE!

A skincare routine still remains a personal quest to find what works just right for you. So, if you feel best using this routine twice a day, go for it! Our recommendation is that you only need to cleanse at night, to wash off the impurities that accumulated throughout the day. This full 3 step routine is great for night-time & prepping your skin to absorb all the natural, nourishing ingredients while you rest. In the morning, if you want to freshen up, you can skip the cleansing and simply tone and/or moisturize. Do what works best for you!

 

Don’t Forget the Lips!

Our lips are made of some of the thinnest skin on our body. This makes them especially susceptible to drying out. Over time, this can also make that skin age more rapidly. For youthful, supple, healthy lips, a daily lip balm is an absolute essential. Our Nature’s Kiss Organic Lip Balm with CBD is oh so smooth and soothing! Try it & you will wonder where it’s been all your life! The active ingredients include organic coconut oil and mango butter. How yummy and rich does that sound? The CBD is a powerful anti-inflammatory & is rich with vitamins. The bonus of olive oil means that this balm doesn’t just cover up dry lips, but it prevents moisture loss, protecting you from dry lips in the first place. Trust us, you will want to give a tube to everyone you care about!

 

Going beyond the daily

A daily skincare routine is essential, yet still just the basics. If you want ways to supplement and boost your daily routine, or if you have more specific needs, read on!

 

Rose Clay Face Mask

We recommend using this gentle exfoliating mask once or twice a week to polish up your skin. Treat yourself! Pick two evenings a week, pamper yourself for 5-10 glorious minutes to reveal smooth, glowing skin. This mask incorporates two types of clay to draw out impurities, smooth texture, and minimize pores and fine lines. The colloidal oatmeal and honey powder soothe & nourish the skin. Finally, the round jojoba beads act as a gentle, yet effective exfoliator. It does everything you need it to, and is a perfect compliment to your daily Bella routine.

 

Organic Under-Eye Roller 

The skin around our eyes requires some special attention. This is usually the first area to show signs of stress or lack of sleep. We can hide a lot of sins on the rest of our face, but the skin around our eyes doesn’t lie. To take extra special care of this delicate area, our under-eye roller is a game-changer. It’s infused with hemp extract, giving it anti-inflammatory properties to help soothe the skin and reduce puffiness & dark circles. This should be applied after your regular daily moisturizer, and under any makeup. While it improves your appearance, it also just feels good … it’s refreshing and soothing, and you’ll want to slather it on a few times a day! 

 

Antioxidant Face Oil 

This product is for when you want to pull out the big guns! This is the supplement to beat all supplements. If you have normal or combination skin, you would use this as a boost to your daily routine or to curb occasional breakouts. If you have acne prone skin, this product could be used in place of our Moisture Boost Facial Serum as your sole daily moisturizer. 

 

It’s revitalizing, anti-aging, anti-inflammatory, anti-acne, and works as an excellent supplement in your skincare routine. Olive derived Squalane Oil is fast-absorbing, can soothe acne, and reduce the chances of future breakouts. Organic Evening Primrose Oil brightens the skin, is anti-aging, healing, anti-inflammatory. Hemp extract is anti-inflammatory and can help calm the skin of those acne-prone, to diminish breakouts and reduce redness. It brightens, purifies, & naturally regulates oil production. It really does it all!

 

As a supplement to your nightly skincare routine, apply 2-3 drops directly to your skin after cleansing and toning. You can also mix 2-3 drops with your nightly moisturizer (in your hands) before applying. 

 

Moisturizing or applying oil to acne prone skin feels like a big no-no; but this oil infused with hemp extract helps to regulate overactive oil glands, the root cause of acne. This product  works wonders to calm redness, soothe acne, & prevent future breakouts. 

Are you Ready for Naturally Beautiful Skin?

Are you ready to establish a truly ‘good for you’ skincare routine? With our natural, organic, plant-based products, you’ll know that you are nourishing your skin and treating it well. When you really take care of your skin in the way it needs, the results will speak for themselves.

 

Maybe you know that your skin deserves to catch a break. Maybe you haven’t always taken the best care of your skin, and it’s time you started. Maybe it feels like you and your skin are always working against each other, & you want to make peace. Work with your skin by giving it the nourishment it needs. Let's get started on your path to naturally beautiful skin TODAY!

 

 

 

Written by: Pamela Hansen