Ever wonder how some of the top influencers start their day? The products they can’t live without? The tips and tricks of the trade? If so, you’re in luck because we’ve got answers. We tapped into beauty and lifestyle blogger behind Curls and Couture Courtney Danielle on all things skin care. Read on to discover everything from her morning routine down to the things she wishes she could tell her younger self. ON HER ROUTINE…One glance at Courtney’s blog photos and you’ll notice how perfectly radiant her complexion is, a true testament to her thorough skin care routine. She likes to start her mornings off with a gel cleanser, followed by toner, BHA lotion, eye cream and a daily moisturizer formulated with SPF. At night, Courtney double cleanses her skin to ensure all traces of dirt are effectively whisked away. “First, I use a cleansing oil or balm to remove the day’s impurities followed by a gel cleanser.” Next, she tones her skin and applies a serum before heading to bed. “The serum I’m currently using leaves a light film on my skin so I don’t apply a moisturizer over top, but when I don’t use it I will use a moisturizer or an overnight hydrating mask,” she says.  Courtney is also a proud owner of a Clarisonic Smart Profile. “Whenever I cleanse my skin, I do so with my Clarisonic Smart Profile and a couple of times throughout the week I’ll apply either a sheet mask or a clay mask,” she says.ON THE PRODUCTS SHE CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT… Picking your favorite products is never an easy task, but with such a vast knowledge on beauty we were curious to know which items Courtney could never leave behind. Like most of us, she’s got a full list. “I think it’s safe to say I can’t live without my entire routine,” she says. If she had to pick, she’d choose a cleanser, oil-free moisturizer with SPF, lip balm, “the best pore-refining product out there,” and a detoxifying mask. “Oh, and eye cream because I am on a life-long journey to handle my dark circles,” she says. ON THE BEST PIECE OF ADVICE SHE’S EVER RECEIVED…As for the best piece of skin care advice Courtney has ever received, there’s more than just one. “Drink lots of water,” she says. “Double-cleanse with oil and use a retinol or exfoliating product like glycolic acid or BHA. I only started to incorporate both into my routine this year and it’s already made a huge difference in my skin.”ON HER BEST BEAUTY TIPS“Don’t forget to apply daily SPF,” she says. “I used to be scared sunscreen was too oily or that it would leave a white cast on my skin, but there are tons of products on the market now that are made specifically for facial use.” Another tip? Don’t go to bed with your makeup on. “If you’re lazy, keep micellar water and cotton rounds by your bedside or use an exfoliating cleanser to kill two birds with one stone,” Courtney says. And it doesn’t just stop at your face. If there’s one thing Courtney wishes she could tell her younger self, it would be to extend the skin care love below her jawline. “I wish I knew the importance of incorporating my neck and décolleté into my skin care routine,” she says. “Thankfully, I’m still relatively young and know now but those areas are just as important as your face.”
