I’m a self-proclaimed, skin care fanatic! I take my beauty routine seriously – I never skip a step. Which is why I’m incredibly excited to finally be sharing my fail-proof facial perfecting routine and the types of products I cannot live without… I don’t know what took me so long! If you have any skin care questions please don’t hesitate to ask!

Let’s talk about taking care of our precious faces! The skin on our faces greatly differs from the skin of our bodies, not only is our facial skin naturally thinner than our body skin but it’s also much more sensitive; here’s the kicker – our facial skin cells are actually smaller than our body skin cells. There are many other scientific differences but what this simply tells me is that our faces need products specifically designed for them. Put your best summer face forward with my tips below…

1. This Gentle Skin Cleanser from Cetaphil is actually a Good Housekeeping and Allure, award winning product. Designed for even the most sensitive of skin, this mild, non-irritating formulation soothes as it cleans. In fact, it’s gentle enough for a baby’s delicate skin. It’s definitely one of my favs and the perfect choice for the warm summer months. (Cetaphil) 

2. Toner, my favorite. Everyone forgets about toner but this is an incredibly important step in a proper beauty regime. Toner not only restores your skin’s normal pH level after washing but it hydrates, eliminates impurities, closes your pores and prepares your skin for further treatment. It’s the miracle product. It should be used right after you clean your face, but can also be used any time you feel like your skin needs a refresh. I’m recommending a clarifying type toner for the summer months because we can all use a little extra oil control. *During the winter I switch to a hydrating toner. (Murad Toner)

3. Using a moisturizer containing an SPF is a no-brainer. Moisture and sun protection all in one – I’m a fan of multi-taskers. It’s easy to not realize how much you are in the sun during the day, so protect yourself from the beginning. Later in life you will be glad you did. (Juice Beauty)

4. It’s summer, it’s hot, and I’m sweating. I always have oil blotting sheets in my purse to keep my sebum secretions at bay. Lightly dab these tissue thin sheets against your shiny skin – don’t rub – and they will remove excess oil while maintaining your makeup coverage! (Oil Control Blotting Tissues)

5. Tea Tree oil is a wonderful, natural zit-zapper. Apply with a q-tip to clean, toned skin and avoid moisturizing over the top of the effected area. In the morning you will be surprised to see a lessening bump. It has many other anti-fungal uses… but some people can be sensitive to it being used at full strength. (Tea Tree Oil)

Now let’s talk about taking care of the durable skin on our bodies. To make sure the skin all over your body is in tip-top shape – to bear all in your beautiful wedding dress (and on your honeymoon!) this summer… here’s what I recommend: 

1. Sunscreen is not optional! Whenever you are in the sun leading up to your big day – apply sunscreen! Not only will it reduce your risk of skin cancer but it will help eliminate extreme skin color differences that are best kept for the honeymoon. You don’t want to be walking down the aisle showing off fresh halter top bikini lines or worse, a sunburn. (Sun Bum)

2. Unless you are opting for a hand airbrushed spray tan, using a light – gradual tanning lotion can be a wonderful way to add a subtle sun kissed glow to your exposed skin. Try out weeks before your wedding so that you can get used to the product, how it looks on you and how many applications you need to get to your desired level of bronze. (Bronzed Glow)

3. Three cheers for Vaseline. Don’t overlook this classic beauty product. For the ultimate in soft skin. Apply on rough skin areas (ie. elbows, heels, hands) before your moisturizer. It works by creating an extreme barrier to moisture loss, which means you don’t have to do it every day. To further soften your feet – so they are beyond touchably soft – you can apply to your feet, cover with socks and sleep with them on. Doing that 3 times a week, the month before your wedding will have your tootsies in tip-top-toe shape. But wait it gets better! It’s a wonderful lip gloss and it’s terrific to put on your feet where you high heels rub – yep – it’s awesome. 

4. Using a lightweight hydrating lotion like DailyAdvance Lotion from Cetaphil is perfect for the heat of summer; it instantly replenishes, hydrates and protects your skin for 24 hours. You don’t want to put anything heavy on your skin during this humid season, especially if you aren’t lucky enough to have air conditioning at home. This lightweight moisturizer will ensure that you are always as smooth as a baby’s bum, it’s made for all skin types and it’s gentle enough to use on your face! (Cetaphil DailyAdvance Lotion)

5. Using my super simple recipe below… on dry skin – softly scrub your entire body and then jump into the shower. You will be amazed at how incredibly smooth your skin feels! This only needs to be done 1-2 times a week.

///  How to make a simple DIY Body Scrub  ///

There’s no need to waist extra cash on a fancy body scrub! Easily make one from supplies that you have right in your kitchen… all you need is:

• 1 cup Epson Salt (or even organic sugar)
• 1/2 cup liquid oil (like olive oil, almond oil or avocado oil)
• 10 drops of your favorite essential oil (optional)

Mix all ingredients together and place in a mason jar; keep up to 6 months. Trust me, you’ll go through it faster than that. ***If you want you can add the juice of half a fresh lemon to this mixture for extra softening, just make sure you add the lemon after you mix the salt and oil together – otherwise the lemon will melt the salt.

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This is a collaboration between Cetaphil and the AOL Lifestyle Contributor Network. Compensation was provided by AOL via Cetaphil. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Cetaphil.