There has been so much focus on “self care” in the past few years. But what the heck does that even mean? I truly believe the adage that yes, you should put your own oxygen mask on first – but in that scenario I’d be pooping my pants in fear about the plane. That’s probably not the best self care scenario. Is self care just about meditation, yoga and taking a moment to journal about gratitude? Or can it be something as little as taking care of your skin, every night, and putting care into your skin products? I want to argue that a good skin care routine, including makeup, can be as much of a self care routine as journaling about how grateful I am…for awesome skin.

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Nightly Skin Care Routine

Gluten-Free Face Wash

Girl, wash your face. You’ve got to commit to using a face wash every night. Don’t go to bed with makeup on! I use DermaE cleansers at night. All DermaE cleansers are vegan, cruelty-free, GMO-free, gluten-free, and soy-free.

My favorite skin cleanses are

• DermaE Vitamin C skin brightening cleanser (yellow top)
• DermaE Hydrating gentle cleanser (blue top) contains hyaluronic acid.
• DermaE Anti-Wrinkle Cleanser (red top) contains vitamin A and glycolic acid.
• CLn Acne Cleanser (for acne prone skin, backs, and chest – something I’m struggling with during peri-menopause)

Gluten Free Face Moisturizer

I have to moisturize every day to keep my peri-menopausal dryer-than-ever skin moisturized. My lack of estrogen has zapped my skin. It’s no longer plump and happy, but saggy and dry (ladies – aren’t you excited to grow older!).

I use DermaE moisturizing creams for both day and night. While I use their moisturizer both for day and night, DermaE also offers day cream and night cream for different uses during the day. Day cream is often lighter than night cream and can be used under makeup.

My favorite gluten-free moisturizers are:

• DermaE Vitamin C Renewing Moisturizer (helps reduce uneven skin tone, fine lines, and wrinkles)
• DermaE Anti-wrinkle Advanced Antioxidant Moisturizer (contains vitamin A for surface cell renewal, best for sun damaged skin)
• DermaE Hydrating Day Cream (moisturizes and plumps using hyaluronic acid)
• DermaE Brightening Day Cream – SPF 15 (Best for skin showing signs of uneven skin tone from sun damage, age spots, dark spots, and freckles)
• DermaE Vitamin C Intense Night Cream (helps reduce uneven skin tone, fine lines, and wrinkles)
• Treat Yourself Inc. Sacred Beauty Balm (with hemp oil, sea buckthorn and prickly pear seed)

Gluten-Free Face Serum

To be honest, I had no idea what a serum was before I started my current skin routine. Do I absolutely need it as part of my skin care routine? I’m not sure yet, but I feel like it’s been helping my skin feel young through my transition into middle age.

You put serum onto a clean face (and neck – don’t forget the neck) before you put on a moisturizer. It’s basically a super concentrated moisturizer. I like to roll it on with a refrigerator-cooled jade roller.

• Sweet Chef Ginger and Vitamin C serum shot (perfect for acne scars or pigmented skin)
• DermaE Vitamin C Concentrated Serum (with hyaluronic acid, aloe, vitamin C and vitamin E)

Makeup Routine

Back when I was diagnosed I didn’t know that I had to use gluten-free lip products. While top celiac doctors say that you don’t need gluten-free products for your skin (as the gluten molecule is too big to pass through skin barriers), I don’t use any gluten-free products on my body – especially my hands (as they touch food) and my face (as it can get into my mouth). I also have topical reactions to many skin products that contain wheat. This is why I only use gluten-free skin care and makeup products. My makeup brand of choice for eyes, cheeks, and lips is Red Apple Lipstick.

Red Apple Lipstick is gluten-free, with all products tested for gluten. It’s also free from GMOs, preservatives, dyes, harsh chemicals, petroleum, lead, talc, and all products are vegan and made in the USA. Some products do contain nut oils, based on how they are produced (see Red Apple Lipstick ingredient list for more details.

I start by applying Rallye Balm to my lips and under eyes for intense moisturizing. I’ll go through my moisturizing skin care routine by putting on serum, then moisturizer. After that, I’ll use Red Apple Lipstick vegan Prime Time eye primer above and below my eyes. After I use the prime, I use Red Apple Lipstick eyeshadow, eye liner, and mascara.

The Lash Project mascara is actually a lash conditioner. It goes on dry and thin, unlike other wet and gloopy mascaras. But this mascara is all about healing – helping damaged eyelashes become healthy again with keratin stimulating ingredients and anti-inflammatory extracts. It’s my go-to mascara for daily use.

For my lips, I don’t use a lip liner. After my Rallye Balm application, my lips are ready to go – using any Red Apple Lipstick lipstick or lip gloss. Most of the time if you see me out, I’ll be wearing a bright red lip – my signature look. Check out this how-to guide on finding the perfect red lip.

Even just the Rallye Balm makes me feel like I’m treating myself to a little self care routine! It’s made with gluten-free vitamin E, SPF 8, in castor seed oil.

I practice self care by making sure that my skin is in top shape – even if I don’t feel like my life, or my body is in any sort of shape! Taking a few minutes each morning and each night just to focus on me – that’s my idea of self care. My skincare and makeup routine are part of how I spend each day feeling better about myself. The work I put into my skincare shows!

Win Red Apple Lipstick

To celebrate self-care during celiac disease awareness month, we’ve partnered with Red Apple Lipstick on two big giveaways! You have two chances to win – once right here on this blog, and another chance on Wednesday’s Twitter Party!

First, I partnered with Red Apple Lipstick to give away $50 to RedAppleLipstick.com right from this blog post. Just enter using the Rafflecopter widget below and you’ll be entered for your own choice of self care – from Rallye Balm to lipstick to eye primer or mascara!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Treat Yo Self Twitter Party

To celebrate self-care during celiac disease awareness month, we partnered with Red Apple Lipstick for a self-care Treat Yo Self Twitter Party on Wednesday May 29th. RSVP to the Rafflecopter widget below to enter to win!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tagged: Cosmetics, DermaE, Gluten Free Cosmetics, Gluten Free Lipstick, Gluten Free Makeup, makeup, Red Apple Lipstick, self care, skin care, Sponsored