I started using Alastin Sunscreen when my dermatologist recommended it, 2 years ago. I now use almost exclusively Alastin. This is my Alastin Skincare Review!

Alastin Skincare Review
My Skin History

I think I start breaking out when I was 12. Right around the same time my anxiety started. Let me just say – that is a BAD combination. I remember a good friend / classmate once got upset with me and went for the jugular calling me “pizza face”, right in the middle of class. 39 years later, I still remember that moment.

Horrified would be an accurate assessment of how I felt. I went home and asked my mom if I could go to the doctor. I had heard of a new medication, Accutane, and I was adamant I go on it, immediately. Thankfully my doctor complied and my mom was willing to pay the high co-pay (we weren’t financially well off, so this was huge). And within six months, my skin was CLEAR! For an anxiety-ridden teen, this was the best thing that could ever happen.

But I always had sensitive, oily skin and I burned every. freaking. summer. This was the 80’s when no one used sunscreen. And living near Calgary, Alberta, the mile-high city, my sunburns were no joke. I remember visiting my doctor after a weekend ball tournament, and told I had third degree burns / blisters on my face, neck, chest, and ears. Other than looking like a raccoon for half the summer (I was at least smart enough to wear sunglasses), I really had zero worries. Skin cancer wasn’t something we worried about back then.

And then I moved to California, North Carolina, and Hawaii, and most of those years, I didn’t wear sunscreen. Yeah.

Fast forward to 2021, when I found a spot that wasn’t going away and looked pearly / suspicious…my carefree childhood sun years had finally caught up with me.

Alastin Skincare Review
Skin Cancer

I had been wearing various sunscreens for years by the time I was diagnosed with BCC (Basal Cell Carcinoma). But the damage had been done. And my doctor recommended MOHS surgery. It took quite a few months before they were able to fit me in (7 months, to be exact) and I’m not going to lie – the entire process was scary AF. You can read my entire skin cancer journey here.

If I can only give one piece of advice — wear good sunscreen. Sadly, not all sunscreens are created equally. The Alastin HydraTint Pro Mineral Broad Spectrum Sunscreen SPF 36 is my go-to and it’s a fabulous replacement for foundation.

If you want to read about other sunscreens I use, this article outlines them all! I never leave the house without sunscreen anymore!

Alastin Skincare Review
Overall Skincare

Around this time, I realized I needed to get more serious about my skincare, if I wanted to keep my skin looking young as long as possible!

I think one thing that saved my skin through most of my ignorance is that I’ve always had oily skin, which means fewer wrinkles. All those years of cursing my acne-prone oily skin, who knew there was actually a huge benefit in it?!

Because I was so happy with the Alastin Sunscreen, I decided to try their other products. This was a pretty big deal for me. I was used to buying my skincare products at Trader Joes (there are still Trader Joe’s products I buy and LOVE)!

Alastin Skincare Review
HA (Hyaluronic Acid) IMMERSE Serum™

Hyaluronic Acid was a buzzword I kept hearing about, so I decided to try the HA (Hyaluronic Acid) IMMERSE Serum™. I use this twice a day – morning and night, after a shower or washing my face. I apply it while my face is still slightly damp, and one pump is enough to cover my face and neck.

There was a one-month period, when I forgot to re-0rder and was completely out (before I signed up for automatic renewals) and I can say that my face felt dramatically different without it. With it, my skin feels plumper and refreshed. When I wasn’t using it, I felt dryer and like the rest of the products weren’t applying smoothly (especially my tinted sunscreen or foundation). Once I got my new bottle in the mail, my skin felt immediately better, softer, and where my pores felt less annoying.

So I won’t be going without this product any time soon. It just makes my skin feel smoother.

Alastin Skincare Review
Renewal Retinol

Next, I was advised I needed a retinol. As a sensitive skin girl, I started with the Alastin Renewal Retinol 0.25 version (recommended if you’ve never used Retinol) but the second bottle, I tried the Alastin Renewal Retinol 0.5 version strength version and had no adverse affects, so that’s what I’ve been using ever since. One pump every night, after my Hyaluronic Acid. I apply it, then brush my teeth before moving onto my next step (enough time for it to dry).

For more details, check out Alastin’s article How to Use Retinol: A Beginner’s Guide. And this page shows all their accolades and media mentions about this insanely perfect product.

Alastin Skincare Review
Restorative Neck Complex

I added the Alastin Restorative Neck Complex when I noticed some distinct wrinkles / lines in my photos, on my neck. When I talked to my doctor, she called them Tech Neck. OMG. The name was enough to  make me cry. Thanks to iPhones, and always leaning down to look at our phones, we were all developing Tech Neck. I was horrified. How had I not realized this sooner?!

So okay, we will all eventually develop neck wrinkles, but why did we need to push that sooner than necessary. So I really try keeping my face upwards while holding my phone higher in the air. Yeah…that’s not as easy as it sounds, but whatever.

I started using the Alastin Restorative Neck Complex (morning and night) and I do feel it helps a lot. I no longer feel the need to Photoshop my neck in pictures so hey, that’s something! Are they completely gone? No. But they are definitely softer and less noticeable, at least to me, and that’s what I care most about!

Alastin Skincare Review
Restorative Eye Treatment

They recommend using the Alastin Restorative Eye Treatment morning and night, but I only use it at night, and for me, that works perfectly. Initially I wore it in the mornings, under makeup, but it made my eyes water, and my makeup run (I wear contacts and I already have sensitive eyes), so I switched up my routine applying it only at night, and I still feel like my eyes are mostly smooth and wrinkle free!

Alastin Skincare Review
Ultra Nourishing Moisturizer

Finally, I finish up my skincare routine, both morning and night, with the Alastin Ultra Nourishing Moisturizer. It is thick and creamy, and only one pump is necessary to cover your face and neck, but it make my skin feel silky smooth, and allows me to apply my makeup so perfectly smoothly every time. Many moisturizers gave me tiny milia bumps (which are impossible to get rid of). I’ve had zero issues with this moisturizer.

As a teen, I used to think moisturizers would cause breakouts, so I avoided them, which made me break out even more! Now I realize a good moisturizer is the most important step in any skincare routine, and I started to buy this for my 16 year old son who also suffers with skincare issues. It’s worth every single penny!

Alastin Skincare Review
Final Thoughts

I do think genetics play a huge part in good skin, and I know I’m super lucky in that area, but I also know that my skin is better now than it has been in years. And more importantly, I feel better than I have in years. I don’t think my skin has aged in the two years I’ve been using Alastin (aside from the BCC), but I’ve never been happier with my skin.

Yes, I will always have larger pores and oilier skin, but I feel confident in my skin now — something I spent many years feeling so jealous of others. I don’t think we have to have perfect skin to feel confident. I think we just need our own skin to be its best!

At almost 51 years old, I have never had Botox, with no plans to do so, so I DO have wrinkles (and I’m okay with that). I just want to allow my skin to be the best it can be, and at this time, Alastin has been my skincare savior. You can see all the many Alastin skincare products here, and perhaps they have a solution to your specific skincare concern!

The key is feeling confident in your own skin, and not comparing yourself to others!

x Tammy

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