One of the most important things I have learned on my journey towards clearer skin is that it is more important to follow a specific skin care ritual than it is to use a specific product. While using products with quality, safer ingredients that are beneficial for your skin type and skin concerns are important, there is no one product out there that will transform your skin overnight. It’s all about how you use the product. And thinking of your morning and evening skin regime as a ritual will help you see some changes if you’ve been struggling to maintain clear skin.

When I started viewing my skin care regime as a ritual, it was thanks to advice from the lovely Leah of Leahlani Skincare, a once Etsy-based company that has now grown into one of the most coveted and loved brands in the green beauty community. There is not a green beauty blogger out there that doesn’t love the Mermaid Mask, a staple of the line, but also the gracious owner and creator, herself. When Leahlani Skincare re-launched in January with their own website, I reached out to Leah for some advice on products. Leah’s detailed response and attention to my skin care concerns, made me really think about how my consistent product changes were hampering my ability to heal my skin. Leah also puts  a focus on the self-care side of skincare. Having a pampering spa experience doesn’t have to happen only a couple of times a year, it can and should happen every morning and evening when you take care of your skin. With that in mind, I committed myself to solely using a few products on a daily & weekly basis, paying close attention to the process itself.

My morning skin care ritual begins with a couple splashes of lukewarm water. I then do a quick face massage while my skin is still damp from the water. Next I dispense 1 pump of the Aloha Ambrosia Morning Moisture Elixir into my hands before rubbing my palms together. I press/pat the elixir all over my entire face then slowly massage the oil in for about 1-2 minutes. With a base of organic cold pressed olive squalane oil and a floral jasmine scent, Aloha Ambrosia has been a fantastic morning moisturizer during the dead of winter as well as the beginning of spring. I normally allow 5-10 minutes for it to absorb before applying SPF and makeup.

The evening skin care ritual begins with a cleansing balm to remove makeup, oil, and dirt that has accumulated from the day’s activities. I begin with a dry face, massaging in the cleansing balm for 2-5 minutes. I rinse the balm off with a warm water-soaked cloth and follow with a charcoal facial bar. I spend about 2 minutes rinsing off the charcoal soap, first with warm water, then cool water. Next I dispense 1 pump of the Mahina Evening Elixir into my palm, first rubbing it together, then push/pressing it all over my face before beginning another 1-2 minute facial massage. I will also pat about a drop of Mahina under each eye, starting from the side working towards the inner eye.  Mahina is an all-star mix of marula oil, moringa oil, prickly pear oil, chia seed oil, and a few other hardworking ingredients along with a delicious mix of vanilla that reminds me of a creamsicle. It was exactly what my skin needed when winter weather and indoor heating was drying me out. Now that the temperatures are warming up, I still find it to be great fit for overnight.

Once a week on Monday evenings, I add a few extra steps to my nightly ritual. After removing the cleansing balm, I substitute the charcoal facial bar for Honey Love, a 3-in-1 cleanser, exfoliant, and mask. After mixing up the jar to evenly distribute the exfoliating corundum crystals, I massage 1/2 tsp into my skin, using very mild pressure and slow circular movements. After about a 1 minute massage, I allow the delicious mix of organic Hawaiian raw honey, rose clay, and oils to sit for about 3 minutes before washing it off gently with lukewarm water. Then comes the magic of the Mermaid Mask. This dark green miracle of organic Hawaiian raw honey, organic spirulina, organic chlorella, sea buckthorn oil, and French green clay is slowly massaged in and sits for about 10 minutes before washing off. I then follow with Mahina Evening Elixir, and the weekly pampering ritual is complete!

And that is the very simple skin care ritual I have followed for 3 months. While the products themselves may change as I run out, the care I put into the ritual will stay the same. For the full ingredient list of the 4 products featured today, visit the Leahlani Skincare website here. You can also view the details for a great face massage with or without oil here.

I would love to hear your thoughts on self-care and how you incorporate it into a skin care ritual. Share your experiences below! Thanks for reading!

*All opinions expressed in this article are my own and all products were purchased with my own money. I was not compensated for the post. Like many, I am drawn to the aesthetics and the branding for products. So when I find a product line that is not only beautifully packaged with carefully selected ingredients that actually works well, I find it’s worth shouting my praises from the roof tops 🙂