Marianne from Salt Lake City has written in and asked if we would divulge our facial cleansing and moisturising secrets. 

Her exact question:

 “Older women are always struggling to find the perfect cleansing and moisturising regime so I would ask you both what you do.  I am always in a dither and sometimes just don’t know where to start.  Help!”

             Gigi                                Lana

Well, Marianne, Lana and I can easily answer your question and if it helps, brilliant.  I must say over the years, finding the perfect product for our skin and our budget is probably the key element here. 

Trial and error and new products are constantly changing our selections. 

This is a bit unnerving to reveal our private facial moments.  Ha! Even our husbands don’t even see what we are up to behind the bathroom door!  But here goes:

Cleansing at night:

Gigi:  Firstly I just want to say up front that I am a tried and true Olay girl. I started using this product when I was in my early teens and have never stopped incorporating it somewhere into my face maintenance regime.  I love it.

So to start my ‘cleansing’ programme, I use a hair band to get my hair out of the way, and squeeze a blob of Olay cleansing cream onto my palm and make a good lather. The good books will tell you to be gentle.  I am ‘hands on’ with all applications and as rough as you please.  I swish the foamy mixture around my face with my fingers to make sure all my makeup is lifting and then I use cupped hands of water to splash water on to remove. I dry with a towel.  Screech!!  That’s right, a towel. 

If I need to use eye makeup remover, then I use Crabtree and Evelyn gentle eye makeup remover, splashed on a cotton ball.

Then it’s on with the toner.  The toner I am using at the moment is Dr Lewin’s Purifying Toner.  It is totally calming and although it doesn’t have a spritzy feel after it’s applied, my face still feels squeaky clean and ready for some excellent moisturiser.

Lana: Hi Marianne. I love trying varying lotions and potions and I am always on the lookout for new products. I spent far too long worshipping the sun in my youth and I obviously frowned way too much over the years as my skin sadly bares the damage!

I’m constantly seeking miracles to help me turn back the clock and I recently discovered “Carolyn’s Facial Fitness” program. This wonderful program is a combination of facial exercises and organic skin care formulas. I try to follow her routine regularly (which is sometimes difficult for me as I am not a regimented person). Each day and evening the treatment changes, however, cleansing and moisturising morning and night is a must.

Twice weekly I exfoliate and use either a botanical mask or a moisturising mask. I also apply Carolyn’s vitamin C serum along with her restoring serum day and night. With Carolyn’s products she says it’s not necessary to tone, however, I like to tone to get that “clean” feel so I use Witch Hazel.

Moisturising at night:

Gigi:  After toning I use Dr Lewin’s ‘Day’ moisturiser of all things.  I previously used Olay moisturiser at night but felt the need for a bit more oomph over night.  Dr Lewin’s night cream is a bit too heavy for my skin so I am happy with the ‘Day’ one. 

I use Dr Lewin’s  Ultra 4 Eye Repair Cream around my eyes and simply fabulous Clarins Extra-Firming Lip & Contour Balm for slathering right around my entire mouth to plump up my lips and try like crazy to eradicate those pesky lip lines.

All done now and ready for bed and this is when I apply nail and hand cream.  I am trying so hard to preserve my nails and it takes work!  If I am up for it, I will rub on some lovely foot balm on as well. 

I know it sounds like a lot of mucking about, but it is worth it and it really doesn’t take that long, although Mr G would say otherwise!

Lana: I use the same products in the evening as I do for day. Sometimes I apply some rose hip oil on really dry areas of my face and include my décolletage and like Gigi, I apply hand and foot cream just before bed.

The morning ritual:

Gigi:  In the morning in the shower, I use Olay cleanser or Dr Lewin’s facial scrub.

After showering I tone with Dr Lewin’s toner and then embark on the morning ritual.

On goes a tiny layer of my adored Olay moisturiser, just the normal light everyday one. 

Once it is dry I smooth on Dr Lewin’ s Line Smoothing Complex S8.  It’s full of coloured balls that contain caviar extract, lipochroman-6, black currant oil and Vitamin E and I swear by this product as it really does tighten the skin and closes the pores.  This is quite expensive but worth every penny. 

Once that is dry I use Dr Lewin’s Firming Eye Cream for lines and puffiness (doesn’t that problem just drive you mad) and again use the Clarins lip moisturiser again (forever on that job). 

Now I am ready to apply the foundation layers.

Lana: If I’m being good... each morning I follow Carolyn’s facial fitness program by using her products followed by a 15 minute facial workout, by the end of it my face is glowing.

Gigi:  Once all of that is set, I smooth on a thin layer of Clarins Beauty Flash balm.  This well known primer really does give your face a dewy appearance and I have used it what seems like forever!

I use my fingers to apply a thin layer of Maybelline Dream Mousse Concealer.  I do this while the Flash balm is still moist to make the Moose glide over my skin easily.  I apply it especially around the top of my lip to fill in the crevices and over my cheeks to hide my ruddy complexion. 

Then I apply Revlon Beyond Natural Skin Matching Makeup.  This comes out of the tube as a thin sort of white substance but seems to dry with a light refracting quality.  I simply love Clarins Light Refracting Foundation but it is expensive and this Revlon one seems to do the trick at a third of the price.  Over the top I smooth on Clarins Compact powder for the finishing touch.

My face is now moisturised, primed and ready to go.

Lana: Like Gigi, I love using primer particularly Clarins Beauty Flash balm or Napoleons Pilot over my sunscreen which I always use if I plan to venture outdoors. I then apply a white lightener under my eye area, on my forehead between my eyes and a dab on my chin. I then apply Revlon Photo Ready foundation using a foundation brush as I find that it helps to blend the foundation more effectively. I follow this with a dusting of Photo Ready powder finisher to set my “canvas” before I add colour to the rest of my face.

Of course all of this takes time and Mr J is always complaining about the amount of time I spend in the bathroom. I tell him that if he wants a gorgeous looking wife he has to learn to be patient!!!! Ha ha!

Gigi:  I have never analysed what I actually do regarding my night and morning maintenance regime so this has been a really interesting project.  Thanks Marianne for your question.

Face preparation is the base for your beautiful makeup.  No point just whacking on lipstick and eyeshadow and wondering why you are not getting a good effect.  You need to work on your skin and preparing your face ready for makeup. 

Over the years between us, we have tried many products, and looking at my list it looks like I am happy to slather on any old chemical whereas we know Lana is more inclined to go the 'natural' way.         

So there you are, our 'secret' women's business is revealed.  

Hope this helps,

Cheers

Gigi & Lana

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