Gina wrote a super sweet e-mail! She typed, “I would really like to see a post about your skin care regimen and makeup routine.”

claire sulmers acne music peter pilotto miu miu glitter sandals
” Your skin is always glowing and makeup is always flawless. I would love to know what products and techniques you use.”

claire sulmers skin care routine regimen neutrogena clarisonic

Well, thank you very much! I’ll be honest: I don’t know a ton about makeup, though I’ve learned a thing or two from Shalea Walker, who does my makeup for big events. Perhaps she’ll write in with a few tips in a separate post, but for now, I can tell you what I do for my skin!
1. Use a Clarisonic Brush
Clarisonic-Mia-2-Sonic-Skin-Cleansing-System
The rechargeable skin cleansing system gets deep into pores and removes all the gunk of the day. I invested in a Mia 2 over a year ago, and replace my brushes every three months (replacement brushes cost $25 each or $40 for two). Most times, I use my Clarisonic once in the morning and once at night, though I think you can get away with just using it once a day. Get a Clarisonic brush at Sephora and cop the replacement brushes here.

2. Get Familiar With Deep Cleaning Cleansers
bare minerals deep cleansing foam


I like my face washes to foam, and alternate between two cleansers with my Clarisonic: Bare Minerals Deep Cleansing Foam and Neutrogena Oil Free Acne Wash.
neutrogena oil free acne wash
BareMinerals is great to use with your Clarisonic. Neutrogena works well with Clarisonic, or alone, if you just want to give your skin a good rinse.

3. Bragg’s Apple Cider Vinegar
bragg-apple-cider-vinegar1
The benefits of raw, unfiltered Apple Cider Vinegar are highly documented, and while I have no scientific proof of its effectiveness, I can tell you, it works for me! I try to drink a teaspoon of Apple Cider Vinegar with a glass of water every day (the taste is a bit much, but you get used to it!). I also dab a bit of Apple Cider Vinegar on a cotton ball and wipe it on my skin as an astringent after cleansing. It burns a bit, but has proven to keep pimples and blemishes at bay.
4. Use Makeup Removers
l'oreal clean artiste waterproof long wearing eye makeup remover
Any makeup artist or dermatologist will tell you–wash off your makeup before going to bed! Leaving makeup on will clog up your pores and inevitably lead to skin irritation. If I’m not too tired, I’ll of course cleanse my skin, and remove any heavy makeup with L’Oreal Clean Artiste Waterproof Eye Makeup Remover. I’ll admit, sometimes the urge to fall asleep with makeup on is too tempting, so I keep Neutrogena Makeup Remover Towelettes in my nightstand so I can just swipe it all off before I pass out.

neutrogena_towelettes


5. Moisturize
neutrogena healthy skin face lotion
As you can see, I’m a huge fan of Neutrogena;) I currently use their Healthy Skin Face Lotion with SPF15. The SPF protects against sun rays, and the alphy hydroxy acid gives your skin a little tingle after application.
Get a few of my faves here:

Of course these work for me, but you should consult with a dermatologist to see what might work for you!
What lotions, cleansers, and skin care products are on your top five list?

Main Photo by Johnatan Pictured

34 thoughts on “Claire’s Life: My Skin Care Regimen”

  1. Cleanse, tone, moisturize! So simple and effective. Thanks for sharing, Claire.

  2. thanks for taking the time to share. i will invest in the brush and try the apple cider as a toner. i love that everything here is budget friendly mostly!

  3. Careful ladies, all skin is different and what works for claire(and it works honey!) may not work for you.

  4. I’ve been waiting for this. I knew the clarisonic brush would be on the list, most people who have nice skin swear by this.

  5. Might I add that olive oil is the best makeup remover I have ever tried, not only does it remove your make up but it also acts as pore cleanser further aiding in removing all the dirt from your face. I have acne prone skin always breaking out, but since I started opening my pores with olive oil and a hot rag, my skin started looking alive instead of usual dull self

  6. This is good advice, and I appreciate that there’s no $300 French miracle cream nonsense included. Just a simple regimine. I also 2nd the apple cider vinegar and water before bed. I don’t know why, but it works, and I also use Braggs brand.

  7. Claire is obviously blessed in the skin department – such a glow from such a low maintenance and affordable regimen- a girl can only dream. She’s not the first person to mention drinking a bit of ACV for skin and health benefits. I already love it for clarifying my hair maybe I’ll give that a shot.

  8. Most black women I know have gorgeous skin. It’s in our genes. Lol. Age gracefully! Hahahah

  9. I love the Clarisonic, by far the best thing ive ever been pressured to purchased when i go into Sephora. i have a original Clarisonic supporting breast cancer. At a point in my life i had the worst acne EVER! When i stopped using Pro-activ, my face got soooo horrible. I had friend / family ask me whats going on? Am i stressed? I went to Murad, it helped just a little, but didnt see that much of a result. Than i went to Ole Henriksen , and Dermologica those two products helped, but my face got so custom to it, eventually it went back to blemishes and acne. I was introduce to Paula Choice, i was in the assumption that Paula Choice has minimal amount of chemical in there product…WRONG!! Sooooo one night im scrolling to Etsy and bam i found my savior. I have been using her products for over a year, and my face has done a 180. No Acne, my dark spots are gone, only make up i wear are eyeline and lipstick. I have so much confident now, i feel free. everything she sell is certified organic. I use her blemish eraser, Wild Mint Organic foam wash, and i dab a little olive oil on my skin at night. Now when my friends / family see me they always say your face has a glow, you pregnant? I reply back HELL NO!! IM JUST TAKING GOOD CARE OF MY SKIN

  10. yes I live by that bare minerals deep cleansing foam … and a little goes A LONG WAY!!!

  11. Been hearing way too much about this Clarisonic over the past year to ignore it any longer. Also happy to hear you otherwise keep it simple…and fast!

  12. claire, these tips are great. AVC is everything. I have to have it in the house at all times. I drink it in water every day but havent used it as a toner. Can you clarify wether you dilute it when using it as a toner?

  13. @exfatchic Agreed! You only need a dime sized amount of Bare Minerals. I think I buy a maximum of 3 ‘tubes’ a year!
    @Kornthianzmomma I don’t dilute ACV when I used it on my face, which is probably why it burns a bit. If your skin is sensitive, definitely dilute. I don’t mind a little tingle.

  14. I just ordered the Mia 2 – they are on sale at nordstroms, ladies.

  15. Gina read my mind! Claire, I saw you at BWBNYC and thought, “Wow, she looks like a million bucks!” Cornball but true. I started to ask about your skin-care regimen but never did. Glad someone else spoke up!

  16. Wonderful! I’ve already planned to invest in clarisonic brush.
    And i use the bragg’s ACV as a toner mixed with green tea, a drop of tea tree oil and diluted water.
    I follow up with Aloe Vera gel as moisturizer.
    And I use coconut oil as my eye makeup remover. That ish is guuuud!

  17. I have seen no results with my Clarisonic Mia , and I’ve had it for about a year and a half. I’ve had the delicate and normal brushes, but I think I’ll try the deep pore one next to see

  18. Thanks Claire! I swear by my Clairsonic too. I’m going to try the apple cider vinegar – keep hearing great things …..

  19. I’m excited about this post! I have those small little blackheads on my nose that look like monkey hair and nothing works!I’ve tried everything including tweezers to pull them out but I’m on the lighter than a glow-worm side of complexion and pulling them out gives a rudolph the red-nosed reindeer look. I’m thinking that maybe the brush thingy will work. I have sensitive skin prone to breakouts so I’m a little worried about the cleanser. @Claire and anyone else who uses it, where would I get it? Sephora only or would Ulta carry it? And as afar as the ACV for astringent, brilliant! I use it for my hair so I’m off to Whole Foods to get Braggs.

  20. I love apple cider vinegar too, it helps restore the skin’s pH so is great after cleansing… And I swear it helps you loose weight when you to take it internally like you do. Some people can get pretty hefty pimples from using it tho (externally), so do be careful! Your skin is beautiful, keep it up x

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