During the 2016 Year of Kelsey I am vowing to get serious about taking care of my skin and finding a makeup routine that works for me. If I start a great skin care routine now I'll look amazing when I'm older! And having a reliable routine of great makeup products is definitely something I want in my life.

My skin care routine is inconsistent but since January I have been wearing sunscreen nearly everyday, a habit I have been wanting to adopt. In the makeup department my goal is to have a simple makeup routine that leaves me feeling pulled together but natural.

Similar to planning a capsule wardrobe I asked friends what skin care and makeup products they loved and what routines they keep. I loved these conversations! I took notes alongside the tips I captured on capsule wardrobes.

Below is the list of daily skin care and makeup products I would like to acquire. Products that I already own are in italic and product name is given. A desired pre-requisite for all products is that they are cruelty-free, which is usually accompanied by some sort of eco-ness, which gets a big thumbs up from me. In some cases I'm already using a product but want to upgrade to something cruelty-free. 

DAILY SKIN CARE

The routine and products below reflect my skin type. I've always been a little bit confused trying to define my skin type but I'm pretty sure it's combination since my forehead and nose get oily but my cheeks don't. I rarely breakout and my skin is not overly sensitive. 

face wash / Trader Joe's Nourish Face Wash

toner / I started using Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Toner and the exfoliator listed next and I feel that I have noticed a subtle difference in my skin; it seems more clear and feels healthier. 

exfoliator / Paula's Choice Daily Pore-Refining Treatment. After reading about toners and exfoliators a bit I found out that they should not leave your skin feeling tight and dry as many drugstore varieties do. 

lip moisturizer / I always try to have a stick of Burt's Bees nearby, either the original or the ultra moisturizing, which is heaven.

daily sunscreen / I bought La Roche Posay mineral sunscreen in 50 SPF because I'd see it recommended so many times in the Beauty Uniform series. I like it although it's not cruelty-free so I'm looking to switch to something different when I run out. With the 300+ days of sun we get here each year I definitely want something with a high SPF. Perhaps Paula's Choice SPF 50?

daily moisturizer / Currently I use Trader Joe's Nourish Daily Moisturizer combined with my sunscreen. It's fine but I'd like to upgrade to a combined moisturizer + sunscreen.

deodorant / Schmidt's Natural Deodorant is the best deodorant I've ever used. I prefer the jar version and love the lavender-sage scent, Chris uses the cedarwood-juniper scent. A reader also suggested Stinkbug Naturals deodorant.

body lotion 

MAKEUP

BB Cream or pre-foundation cream

concealer / Smashbox Camera Ready BB Cream Eyes with SPF 15.

foundation / Truth: foundation scares me! But several lovely gal pals have told me that it does not have to be a Cover Girl compact like I used in middle school so I'm going to give it a try. Would love your cruelty-free recommendations!

blush / NARS The Multiple

bronzer / A stylish friend told me she likes to wear blush in the winter and bronzer in the summer. I wan to be that kind of gal!

eye primer / Erica highly recommends this one by Urban Decay.

eye shadow / I love my shimmery Modern Minerals LOLA eye shadow and have even received compliments on it.

eye liner

mascara / I'm using benefit they're real! mascara and I'm not loving it.

eye makeup remover / I'm using Paula's Choice Gentle Touch Makeup Remover but it doesn't always take all my mascara off so I'm in the market for something else.

setting spray or finishing powder / To maintain that put-together look even when it's 117 degrees (ugh).

HAND & NAIL CARE

hand cream / I have a bad habit of picking at my cuticles. Slathering on hand cream on the back of my hands and rubbing it into my cuticles helps. I haven't found THE hand cream but I do like the quick-absorbing version from Neutrogena.

cuticle treatment / Paula's Choice Nail & Cuticle Treatment, I'm obsessed with this! Although I go through it so fast I'm not sure I can keep buying it at $8 per small tube.

quick dry drops / I aspire to be the kind of gal who always has her nails painted but I rarely make the time. I can never wait long enough for my nails to dry, this helps!

If you have favorites of these items or recommend something I haven't listed, please share it with me!

P.S. If you love hearing about beauty habits, Erica and I discussed ours in an episode of The Girl Next Door Podcast last year.