I always like to experiment a little while before I talk about skincare products.
I want to make sure I have used them and like them before recommending anything.
Of course, what works for one persons skin doesn’t necessarily work for someone else’s.
AND obviously I don’t have the best skin – my melasma is a constant annoyance and my “beautifully expressive” forehead makes me INSANE.

There are two products that I really love that I wanted to share with you today.
(and one BIG product and money saving tip!
So keep reading for my TIP!)
The Rodan and Fields DermaRoller and Renewing Serum and Dr. Dennis Gross Peel Pads.

I started using R&F products two summers ago when my melasma got REALLY bad.  We had moved to Atlanta and were living with my mom for the summer, so I was constantly in the backyard swimming with my niece and nephew and having a tan summer.  Well, I learned that summer that my face can no longer be in the sun, no matter how many times I apply SPF30.  The brown marks on my forehead, upper lip, and cheeks were insane.  Rodan and Fields Reverse Line did a great job of lightening those areas and making my overall skin look SO so much better.
Over time, as with most things, I’ve tried new things and slacked off with my routine a bit.  I decided I didn’t need the full monthly R&F kit because I can use a cheaper face wash, toner, and sunscreen.  BUT the two products I went back to after time away because I missed them from R&F (other than my beloved Lash Boost which is seriously THE BEST – do NOT use Latisse.  Not worth the price or the red, itchy eyes!) are the roller and the serum.
The roller has a bunch of little microneedles that help boost collagen production and really help your serum penetrate into your skin.
This serum feels like BUTTER going on to your skin.  I just love it.
Even if you have a serum that you love (and if you do, please feel free to share!) I recommend getting a roller to use to help the efficiency of all of your skincare products.  I like to FEEL like my products are working, and there’s nothing like little needles in your face to feel like it’s working! (it doesn’t hurt, you can roll as firmly or lightly as you like!)

Next up, my NEW favorite beauty product: Dr. Dennis Gross Peel Pads!
I had heard SO MUCH about Dr. Dennis Gross and especially his Peel Pads all over the place.  The Skinny Confidential has done a few podcasts with him, and has raved about these peel pads for forever.  About a month ago, I finally ordered them for myself to try.
They have three different levels of strength/intensity:
Ultra Gentle, Universal, and Extra Strength.
It is recommended to start with  Gentle or Universal and then build yourself up.
I generally have sensitive skin so that was my plan, but I accidentally ordered a 60 pack of EXTRA STRENGTH!
Whoops!!! So I started by using it every other night, and after a week was already using it every night.  My skin was FINE! So…. not saying to start with Extra Strength like I did…. but I mean….. I was fine?!
There are so many things that I love about this product.  First of all, your skin looks better IMMEDIATELY.  After ONE use.  There are so many products that you have to wait forever to see results and you don’t know if the results are from that one product, or from the combination of products you may have started using.  With this, the second I finished Step 2, my skin looked NOTICEABLY better.  A better texture, smoother, brighter.
I also love that traveling with them is a breeze because they take up no space and there is nothing to spill or leak.
Another thing I love is that it legit burns.

Sure, it doesn’t feel yummy like a serum or oil, and I am happy about that.  I take that to mean it’s peeling my crappy skin off and letting pretty new skin show instead.  My skin is a bit red at night after I do it and I couldn’t care less! It goes away quickly though (and the burn only lasts a minute or two).

The Skinny Confidential wrote a whole huge post talking about them with an interview with Dr. Dennis Gross explaining what they are and what makes them so effective.
One of the things I learned from the first podcast he was on (and I am kicking myself for not ordering the pads THEN because my skin would look so much better NOW!) was that peels need to be in two steps.  It is key for the ingredients to be separate and in a part one and part two application. So any time you are buying a product which is a one step “peel” you are selling yourself short!
It also is way better for your skin to have frequent gentle peels (like the pads at home every night) than the occasional, harsh office chemical peels.

NOW! For the best TIP of all! Getting the most bang for your buck! 
First, I order a pack of 60 because you get a bit of a discount versus buying in packs of 30.
BUT.  I turn that 60 into 120 FOR FREE.
The sheets are fairly large and very saturated.  I can easily do my whole face, neck, hands with one sheet.
So I decided to cut each wipe in half, tuck it back into it’s little STEP 1 or STEP 2 holder, and seal it in a ziplock sandwich bag for the following night.  It keeps the wipe moist (sorry…. had to) until the following night and I still feel like I am getting the full treatment.

So now I get a 4 month supply for the price of 2 months!
I meannnn I am basically a member of mensa.

There are so many other products by Dr. Dennis Gross that people swear by, and eventually I know I’ll be adding more into my routine (when I can stomach adding $$ to my beauty fund.  If my husband knew what my highlights – or hell, even my wax – cost he’d die.  Do any of you watch Married at First Sight?! This season the girl had to list out her expenses for waxing, nails, and it went on and on and I was thinking ‘thank GAWD my husband doesn’t ask me what maintenance costs!’)

But I digress……. My PM routine currently is : 
Wash face. Use toner.
Roll.
Do Step 1 and 2 with the Peel Pads (face AND neck AND back of hands)
Apply Serum.
Apply Eye Cream.
Moisturizer.

I am somehow STILL going back and forth on what new moisturizer to get……. or oil as a moisturizer?! I don’t know why I cannot make up my mind.

on the skincare front,  I am still looking for a good oil/moisturizer.  I am debating the drunk elephant still, but just splurged a bit on this product a few weeks ago  ( and am LOVING it  – more to come next week!) so I would love to just have a simple oil/moisturizer to put on.

I saw this blog post from Grace (my go to for book rec’s) and am tempted to get this $22 find!

Or this facial moisturizer (with SPF30) that she loves too.

I feel like I need something different for morning (lightweight) versus night when I am fine with an oil and really slathering it all on there.

SO.  As always, PLEASE share your skincare favorites with me!
I always love seeing what other people are using and what they love in terms of beauty products!

Oh, and if you purchase the Peel Pads through the Dermstore,
your first order is 20% off so you get them on sale too!