You got this!! Covered...all over your face...

This global pandemic was and has been hard on pretty much anybody in the world.

Many people died, many people lost somebody, many people got seriously sick, many people lost their jobs, and I could go on and on and on, not even to mention the emotional and psychological repercussions on many others .

But the show must go on , as they say, even the Broadway industry is slowly recovering and getting back.

It will be a different type of show though , because our lives have changed drastically .

For instance, I would say that "wearing a mask is the new black" and "zoom is the new happy hour gathering" and " our leggings and t-shirts are the new work dress code" and for sure our faces are more exposed than our bodies through all these video chats, these face time conversations, all these Whats App calls and some job interviews happening behind a screen, and even our virtual love dates .

I don't know about you guys but I am spending more money on skin care products than clothes and shoes at the moment. This is very weird because I have to admit I have always been a fashionista and a kind of a" trends hunter " for outfits , trying to be always on top when creating my own style. It is also true that I am not going out as much as I used to before all this Covid-19, and therefore I don't need a new wardrobe.

I will probably go back there , to my safe stylish place, because this is the kind of person I am , but for now I am focusing more on taking care of my own skin and my bare face, also I mentioned already on one of my previous posts that I don't like to wear foundation. A reason more for a healthy flawless skin.

I have been trying different products and I have been reading and researching a lot about skin care . The best way is to educate yourself and develop your own beauty regimen that better fits your needs and your skin type.

First thing first , let's be honest and let's start with realistic expectations. I was clear about body expectations on my previous post , and I want to be clear now with skin expectations.

As far as now there are no anti-aging skin products that can replace Botox or other injections or fillers. Think about it. With an injection you can get to the deeper layers of your skin, with other topical products you simply can not because you only reach the first layer of your skin, the surface .

And when you see a lady over forty -five years old who really looks good , trust me, because I know I am right, 80% of the cases, she has probably something done. Of course there are always exceptions to the rule, but they are a minority.

Injections can be very expensive though. And in some cases the results can be disappointing because you might look emotionless and "expressionless. " And not natural. You might also need to take them on a regular basis to maintain the skin.

How many times I asked my primary dermatologist if she could recommend something, as an alternative to botox and fillers , that really worked great in terms of keeping my skin good and young. All the times I got the same answer from her: " No, Alessandra, I am sorry but there is nothing out there to work magic against wrinkles and fine lines . Just make sure you use sunscreen and that is about it". Thanks Doc. !

Ok, so rule number 1: ladies, please make sure you wear sunscreen. ALL THE TIMES YOU GO OUTSIDE. Repeat with me: "All the times you go outside". Apparently, sun damages are the primary causes for wrinkles and dark spots. I would add, try also to wear sunglasses, sometimes I forget about it, but it is important you protect the skin around your eyes which is particularly thin and fragile.

Personally, I would invest on a great and fancy and fun pair of sunglasses, you should know me already by now ...., but I would not invest too much on a sunscreen. There are many cheaper options from the drugstores out there, and they work just fine! Neutrogena , for example, makes good ones.

If plain sunscreen lotions are not your thing, you can use a primer with sunscreen or even a foundation with sunscreen so you save yourself sometimes getting ready in the morning.

The rule number 2 in my opinion goes as follows: for the ones of you who are actually doing anti-aging injections, still you need to keep your skin plump and healthy in between treatments, so you should follow an efficient skin care routine. For the ones of you who are not undergoing any "injectable" treatments, you still can look healthier and flawless and younger, it might take longer time in order to show the results and maybe more discipline.

And remember one important thing: wrinkles and fine lines are not the only cause of aging skin. Dark spots are. Uneven skin tone and uneven textures are. Skin sagging is. The good news is :if injections target mainly wrinkles and crow's feet, there are many skin care products that can target all the other skin issues.

There are certain ingredients that seem to play a big role in a skin care product formulation, such as Retinol, Vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, collagen and peptides to name a few. Some ingredients might work for me , but not for you, or the other way around , so make sure you try them first. You should try any skin care products first on your neck or on the inside of your elbow to ensure you don't have any allergic reactions.

I have been using retinol ( prescribed by my dermatologist) to fight adult acne, but it can be a bit harsh on your skin and I am honestly looking for more natural options.

At the same time I can not use creams that are too heavy and greasy because my skin is a bit oily.

If you have the same problem I have, serums are probably a better alternative to creams because they are lighter and they absorb faster.

Vitamin C is usually very helpful in fading the dark spots.

Hyaluronic acid is like pure water for your skin, and there are also many gel options out there for oily and/or combinations.

I recently discovered that some essential oils can be added and mixed together with your skin care cream, and I was really thrilled. I will talk about essential oils another time because it is a huge topic , and I also need to work together with some experts in the field .

And there is a rule number 3: do not forget to show your neck some love. If your face looks great, and so do your hands, but your neck does not, then it is like all your hard work and discipline went..you know where....

What about collagen? In this case I do believe that swallowing some pills is better than using it as a topical cream.

I have been using a powder version , see picture above. It is mixed with chocolate powder that adds a great flavor, almost like a heathy treat. You can take it with warm water or milk. I like to add a spoon to my morning coffee. And it feels great!

Another skin care product that we tend to forget about is the toner. And it is actually important. It improves skin elasticity and diminish the look of large pores. My mom has been always good in using the toner after she cleans her face , and her skin looks actually amazing.

So many products to choose from at the end of the day . But how important is the order to layer them onto your face? Guess what. It is super important.

Just a cheat sheet for you:

1. cleanser

2. toner

3. serum

4. treatment (if any), like for example the Retinol treatment I am using for my acne

5. moisturizer

6. sunscreen (only am).

If you follow this skin care routine you might be surprised on how every single product works at its best.

Drug stores or boutique stores skin care products?

I don't think there is a rule for this honestly. It all depends on what works better for you and meets your needs.

You can use a combination of the two. Like I said previously, for example, you can buy your sunscreen from a drug store and buy your night moisturizer from a high end brand. Or you can get excellent results from that drug store serum, but you prefer to splurge on that eye cream your friend just tried and loved it.

If you need a recommendation on an item to splurge, I can suggest you the below:

Check this out. It can be a bit expensive. There are 4 doses inside the box , and you should take it once a week, so you are technically covered for a month. Swear the God, you will get the same results as you would do with an expensive facial. It came very helpful during the lockdown because all the spas and the beauty salons were closed.

This is me after I used it, but I forgot the "before" and "after " comparative pictures. Bottom line, it makes me happy so I will take it!

It is also with all natural ingredients.

My intention is to be able to create my skin care line one day.

Please, help me to understand what you ladies need in terms of skin care. What makes you happy and what makes you upset. The most we share, the most we can get closer to the research and development of the best products in the planet!

Feel free to add your comments to this post or to email me at : alessandrabeatricega@gmail.com

Let's do it.

For now, excuse me, but I am going to layer my pink clay mask on top of my imperfect face...after the anti Covid-19 mask clogged all my pores...but, hey, please make sure you stay safe out there and you follow the rules.

Till my next post...