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My Favorite Skincare Products
I have dry skin, live in Chicago and I don’t like to wear makeup every day so I need my skin to look good without all the extras. And folks frequently give me props on my skin (thank you!) Since I get asked what I use, lemme tell you my skincare faves!
These are items I use to get clean, glowy skin. In case you’re wondering, most days take me less than 5 minutes from start to finish for my face. When it takes me longer is if I’m doing a strong exfoliant or a face mask. Otherwise, in and out.
Cleansers
Clean skin is the base of good skin. You can do it without stripping your skin of all its oils, doe.
Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cleanser
A small amount is all I use with this facial cleanser and it removes dirt without completely drying out my skin.
Drunk Elephant Jelly Beste
This is really good for all skin types and it’s super gentle but still lets your skin feel cleansed after. I use this one the most.
Sunday Riley Ceramic Slip
For those who don’t want an oil cleanser, but want deep cleaning that feels gentle, this is great. And it brightens!
Exfoliants
Exfoliating your skin gets dead skin cells off, allowing your products to penetrate deeper, and for your skin to be brighter.
Paula’s Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant
I put this on a cotton pad and wipe my face, and it keeps my skin looking like butter. I’m obsessed with this thing’s power of exfoliating dead skin. I see the difference in my skin on the days when I use this and it’s gentle enough for me to use daily.
Sunday Riley Good Genes All-In-One Lactic Acid Treatment
This is gentle for every day use but a silent beast. It smells all citrusy and leaves your skin feeling and looking smooth. I don’t know how it’s so gentle but so potent.
Drunk Elephant Babyfacial
This stuff is gold! A great exfoliating mask that I use once a week and leave it on for 20 minutes. When I rinse it off, my skin is baby soft and smooth! Note: It is not for the faint of heart. This exfoliant is super strong. It’s basically a perm for your face. Note: only to be used once a week.
Face Masks (wash off)
These are once a week treatments to give your face the boost it might need.
Bolden Clean Skin Clay Mask
This mask is the truth and once a week after cleanser is the perfect regimen! It’s a good way to pull impurities out your skin, so your pores are clean.
The Body Shop Ethiopian Honey Mask
Nothing like honey and olive oil together to replenish, restore and hydrate the skin! And it feels so good on.
Essence/Toners
Toners balance the pH level in your skin and essences target your problem areas. A lot of people don’t use either and that’s okay. If there’s a step I skip in my routine more often than others, it’s this one.
Mario Badescu Aloe Vera Water
I spray this on my skin as a refresher, and it is hydrating. It can also be used to set makeup.
Caudalie Beauty Elixir
This smells and feels like a spa so the whole experience really just adds to my morning or night routine.
Fresh Rose Floral Toner
This toner is hydrating, smells amazing and feels refreshing.
SK-II Pitera
It’s pricey, but worth it! It’s lightweight and lets other products absorb better.
Serums
Serums are concentrated and penetrate deeper in your skin. They help your other products work better and do their own magic. They’re great for targeting the problem your skin has, and you put them under moisturizers. Vitamin C serums brighten your skin and give glow. Hyaluronic acid intensely hydrate your skin. Retin-a serums address fine lines and wrinkles. Although, so do the other two, on a lower level.
Ole Henriksen Truth Serum
This is one of my fave vitamin C serums. It brightens my skin and it has collagen so it plumps it, gives a glow and helps with fine lines. This is the one I recommend for people who’ve never used Vitamin C serums, since it is also very cost effective.
Caudalie Vinosource Deep Hydrating Serum
Having dry skin means sometimes, moisturizer needs help. My facial lady recommended this to me one day when I showed up and my face was dehydrated. Ever since, I’ve been using this in the winter to keep the harsh weather from having my face dry up. It is amazing.
Drunk Elephant C-Firma
I am a vitamin c serum fanatic because using it brightens skin. It’s magic for your face and this one is one of my favorites. It makes my skin glow like no other, under my moisturizers. It’s one I recommend to people all the time.
Eye Creams
This hydrates the skin under your eyes, since it’s more fragile and much thinner than the rest of the skin on your face.
Olay Brightening Eye Cream
Best thing for dark circles and bags under the eyes.
Kiehl’s Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado
Locks in moisture overnight and goes beautifully under makeup. For me, it helps my concealer not crease.
Drunk Elephant C-Tango Multivitamin Eye Cream
A little goes a long way. Firms and brightens the skin under eyes.
Moisturizers
The ESSENTIAL. Everyone needs to use a good moisturizer. No ash face!
Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Moisturizer
You cannot go wrong with this everyday moisturizer!
Caudalie Vinosource SOS Intense Hydration Moisturizer
This is definitely for those with dry skin type especially in the winter. It makes your skin feel so good, and not at all like the desert it might feel like otherwise.
Drunk Elephant Lala Retro Whipped Moisturizer
This is miracle in a jar, and leaves my skin feeling really moisturized and smooth. I love the texture!
Sunday Riley Tidal Brightening Enzyme Water Cream
This moisturizer is light and feels really good on the skin. Can’t go wrong with Sunday Riley!
Face Oils
These seal in moisture! And they do provide some glow. If there’s a step you want to skip, this can be it. Bit for me, I love putting oil on top of my skin when done with it all.
Sunscreens
Because it doesn’t matter whether you have melanin or not. YOU NEED TO USE SUNSCREEN EVERYDAY. A lot of our skin problems are due to overexposure to the sun, and this lets you address that.
Night Routine Products
Experts say our skin heals and rejuvenates the most at night. Having a nighttime routine also makes sure you don’t go to bed with the day’s gunk on your face.
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