I may not be a make-up prodigy like Vonnie or Tanisha. In fact, I’m not even close. But one thing I do know how to do well is take care of the pallet in which the paint is applied. I will wear Wet n’ Wild, cheapie-weepie, stuff but WILL NOT put Dollar Store cleansing and mosturizing goop on my face, because it’s the only one I’ll get. Unless I get a face transplant. I’ve seen how that turned out and I’ll keep mine, thankyouverymuch.

Back in the day when I was dating, I’d come home so late I’d fall asleep with my Mac make-up on, and then wondered why I had perpetual pimples and blackheads that I would THEN have to use MORE goop to cover the zits.

Now I don’t care if I’ve just given birth–I’m washing my face. The key, the Ancient Chinese Secret, the Holy Grail, the Secret to the Universe, is to exfoliate. You must get rid of the dead skin regularly. You can’t just wash it. You either need to mechanically scrub it with one of those seedy, grainy potions, or use fruity acids like gycolic acid, alpha hydroxy acid, or beta hydroxy acid. Salicylic acid (basically the active ingredient in Aspirin) works best on acne-prone skin. I actually do both–the scrub once a week, and a mild chemical exfoliating blend every day.

So once a week, I frighten the entire house because I walk around for 15 minutes looking like this:

The product in my hand is called DermaTouch, never heard of it before but I noticed that the ladies at TJ Maxx were snatching it up like crazy. I use the wash, the mask and the exfoliant and I lurves it. So I snatched up the rest of the stock from those greedy wenches.

But at 37, I have to PRESERVE and MAINTAIN, as well as fight off pimples. WTF? Puberty and anti-aging. So I need a really emoillient night serum and cream, and right now I’m digging Korres’ Quercetin & Oak ant-iaging and anti-wrinkle line. It’s full of anitoxidants, and extracts I’ve never heard of, but I certainly like the finished product. This is moi, without a stitch of make-up. And yes. This is my real hair, okay? Geez.

Here’s a list of my night time routine, in case you’re just DYING to know.

Dermatouch cleanser, Korres night serum, night cream, and get this–eyelash conditioner! (which actually works; more on that later) and finally for shiny, polished teeth without all the harsh abrasives, I use Dentisse, which works like a tooth polish and cleans with benonite clay.

I’m not sure what cosmetics you all use, but Paula Begoun’s Don’t Go to the Cosmetics Counter Without Me!

So what are you all using? Do tell.