Two New Serum Additions

As I get more and more into my twenties, I put more effort into making sure that I am really taking care of my skin as best as possible. Of course, I’m still incredibly young relatively speaking, however I have always believed that prevention is always the best method when it comes to skincare. Since your skin is the biggest organ on your body, it seems prudent to take good care of it sooner rather than later.

I’ve always been interested in serums, but have never fully known where to start with them. For one, there are so many serums on the market, all made with very specific concerns in mind. And two, serums are often some of the most expensive skincare products, because of the concentration of ingredients is so high, which is great if you have specific skin concerns, but that can be harder to justify spending big money on if you’re using them more as a preventative measure. I have dabbled in serums before, mainly with the Glossier Supers, but honestly they left me unimpressed, especially considering how quickly they run out and the relative high price tag for how simple they are. I considered taking The Ordinary route, but after reading several reviews, I decided that it would be better to spend more money on a couple of multi-ingredient serums, rather than 3+ single ingredient serums, with a relatively cheap formula.

I have begun using two serums in the past couple months, for the morning I use the Aesop Lucent Facial Concentrate and for the evening I use the Drunk Elephant B-Hydra Intensive Hydration Serum. The Aesop serum’s main ingredients are Niacinamide, an anti-redness and anti-acne ingredient, and Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, which is one of the most popular forms of Vitamin C. As someone who is very senstive to sun exposure, I am obviously very careful about using SPF but I really wanted to have a Vitamin C specific serum to also fight against free radicals and UV damage. This serum is really nice for the daytime because it is so lightweight and easy to layer under a moisturizer and SPF.

At nighttime I’ve been using the Drunk Elephant B-Hydra Intensive Hydration serum. If you have ever tried the Glossier Super Bounce serum, the Drunk Elephant offering is very similar in terms of ingredients and feel but with an even better formula and delivery system. While the Glossier serum is ok if you want a basic hydrating serum, I find the Drunk Elephant version to have a much better formula, in that it full sinks into the skin and doesn’t feel at all tacky, and it has more of a calming and restorative effect because it has added ceramides in the ingredients. Because this serum is so lightweight it works perfectly under a thicker night cream, without making your skin feel heavy and clogged. If you are more oily this is a perfect serum to check out if you use lightweight moisturizers as well because, again, it will give you the hydration without feeling like you’re adding tons of heavy oily product to your face!

Skincare Routine | The Treatments

I love a good night-in pamper evening filled with a nice hot bath, a beefy skincare routine, and an at-home manicure. More and more I’m finding that I just don’t have the time to do a full pamper evening anymore. However, I do still prioritize giving my skin an extra boost when I’m feeling especially drained and stressed, which is when my skin is at its worst anyways. Given that I shared my daily skincare routine not too long ago, I figured I’d share my favorite treatment-based skincare products that get pulled out for special skincare needs.

Peter Thomas Roth Pumpkin Enzyme Mask ~ I’m not a big PSL fan (in fact I think they are pretty vile), but I do love pumpkin pie and that is exactly what this mask smells like! Besides the fact that it smells incredible, the PTR Pumpkin Enzyme Mask is also very effective and really helps to turn around my skin when it’s in crisis. Because it’s an exfoliating mask (it has both a light physical exfoliator and chemical exfoliators in it), I tend to use it most when my skin either looks dull or is in desperate need of a more intense exfoliation. Not only does this mask help with the texture of my skin, but it also clears up congested skin and little spots much better than any other mask I’ve tried.

Glossier Moisturizing Moon Mask ~ Especially in the wintertime my skin gets dry. I don’t know if it’s the dry air, central heating, or just the likelihood of feeling ill during that time of the year, but whatever the cause my skin always needs a constant stream of moisture during the colder months. The Glossier Moisturizing Moon mask does exactly what it claims to do: moisturize. The texture is a very thick cream, that has an almost retro feel (think Pond’s Cold Cream), you leave it on the skin for a minimum of 20 minutes and then rinse it off. Because this mask contains ingredients like hyaluronic acid and squalane, the mask hydrates deeply without leaving a residue or feeling clogging on the skin.

Aesop Parsley Seed Mask ~ I don’t know if I could talk about masks without talking about the Aesop Parsley Seed Mask. I’ve had this mask in my rotation for a solid five years and it has never let me down. It’s my go-to when my skin is breaking out or feeling congested because it’s a clay-based clarifying mask. There are a load of clarifying clay masks (try saying that five times fast), however a lot of them can feel very drying and stripping, which the Aesop version does not. There’s also just something about the scent that is so spa-like and calming, which is usually a welcome relief given that my breakouts tend to coincide most with me being stressed out.

Skincare Routine | Summer 2018

Even though we don't have much in the way of seasons in Northern California, I feel the need to switch up my skincare every few months to address the fact that my skin somehow reacts to the changing of the seasons even when those changes aren't all that drastic. Because I'm such a product junkie, switching up my routine every once and awhile just gets me excited and feels like a small act of self-care. I'm always pretty stream-lined about my skincare routine, but during the summer months it generally becomes even more streamlined, mainly because my skin doesn't need as much during the warmer months. 

When it comes to cleansing I generally stick to the same Glossier Milky Jelly Cleanser for both morning and night, it's just so easy and basic that I don't see myself needing or wanting to try another cleanser any time soon. For my morning routine, post-cleansing I will do a light spritz of the Heritage Store Rosewater, which feels amazing especially on hotter summer days. I just started using the La Roche-Posay Toleriane Fluide Emulsion, which is a super lightweight but hydrating moisturizer, as I wanted something a tad lighter weight than my usual daily moisturizer: Glossier Priming Moisturizer Rich. I like this moisturizer a lot because it's light enough to use under SPF and not end up feeling like your skin is being weighed down by a lot of heavy product. Speaking of SPF, I've been using the Glossier Invisible Shield on a daily basis, mainly because it is so lightweight and comfortable to wear. If I'm having a day where I find myself more in the sun, I use the Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Liquid SPF 70, because it's a bit more heavy-duty and the SPF is higher (although I still make sure to reapply constantly!). Last but not least is the Ole Henriksen Banana Bright Eye Cream, which is lightweight enough to be used under makeup. I'm not too sure how well this has been working in terms of brightening my under eye area (mainly because my dark circles are genetic), but it is a nice eye cream in terms of the texture and its ability to moisturize. 

My nighttime routine is still pretty simple, but I add in a couple of extra steps just to make it feel a bit more relaxing. Because I wear SPF on a daily basis, double cleansing is super important in making sure that my skin is clean of any and all product I used during the day. I use the Clinique Take The Day Off Balm and then follow up with the Glossier Milky Jelly Cleanser as my second, more lightweight cleanse. Depending on how my skin is feeling I will use an array of different products for specific skin concerns I need to address. If I have any active breakouts, my go-to is the La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo, I've used this solidly for the last four years or so and it works like a charm at clearing most kinds of breakouts. About every other night I will use the Glossier Solution, which is an acid exfoliant. I do like Solution, however I'm not sure if I will repurchase in the future, mainly because it didn't wow me (P50 here I come!). If my skin is feeling at all fragile, or I have residual spots that towards the end of the healing process, I use the Pai Rosehip Regenerate Oil, which is one of the best face oils if you have sensitive skin or are just new to the world of face oils in general. Finally, every night I use the Kiehls Midnight Recovery Eye Treatment under my eyes and the Drunk Elephant La La Retro Whip Face Cream as my evening moisturizer.

My Makeup Routine | Winter 2018

My makeup routine have become increasingly streamlined over the past couple of years. That is down to the fact that 1. I have become less excited about product launches and 2. I have honed in the products I really love and trust to get the job done. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, just a shift in how I look at my beauty routine. I think it also ties in my getting older and becoming more and more attune with myself and who I am. I know what I like, I know who I am, and I don't feel the need to experiment with different looks as I did when I was younger (although who knows maybe in a few years I'll want to pick up experimenting with my look again). 

Luckily over the past few months my skin has been really well-behaved (knock on wood that doesn't change), so I haven't needed much in terms of base products. If I'm ever feeling especially red or dull-looking I will use the Glossier Perfecting Skin Tint, which provides little to no coverage but helps even out the skin and amp up the glow just enough. Most days I just use the Makeup Forever Full Coverage Concealer, which I love especially during the winter because even though it does provide full coverage, it looks incredibly natural and works even when my skin inevitably gets dry from the cold weather. I then like to use the Bobbi Brown Corrector under my eyes and then Glossier Wowder to set everything. I then use a bit of Glossier Boy Brow in Blonde through my brows and some of the Glossier Cloud Paint in Puff on the cheeks. 

I used to be incredibly into eyeshadow, but now if I do wear eyeshadow I normally just use one all over the lid and it usually comes in the form of a cream stick (because I'm lazy). Whenever I have been using eyeshadow it is either the Burberry Eye Contour in Rosewood or Pale Copper. I've also been getting more and more into the look of just wearing eyeliner and mascara during the day. My eyeliner of choice recently has been the MAC Twist Kajal Liner in Groundbreaker, which is a rich bronze shade. I really like the look of smudging the liner into a subtle wing just to give the eye more dimension if I choose not to wear eyeshadow, and its a much softer look than using a liquid eyeliner. For mascara I've been sticking to my standard Fairydrops Platinum Mascara. 

During the winter I don't tend to prioritize lipstick because my lips are eternally dry and I also tend to wear heavier eye makeup during the winter anyways. I've been using the Laneige Sleeping Lip Mask religiously this winter, even during the day, and it has drastically improved the condition of my lips. If I do wear lipstick its usually NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Intriguing, which is easily the most flattering nude lipstick in my collection!

Skincare Products I'm Switching Into My Routine For A/W 2017

Every Autumn without fail my skin does a nose dive into serious dryness and sensitivity. Not only is this odd because I generally have very well behaved skin the rest of the year, besides the odd hormonal breakout, but also because I don't live in a particularly cold or harsh climate. It's as if my skin has an internal clock, realizes its October and decides to deplete itself of all moisture. I jest, I jest. I know there is nothing scientifically accurate about that statement, but because my skin tends to freak out from October through February I have to insert extra products into my routine in order to keep my skin in check. 

The most recent addition to my Autumn/Winter skincare routine is the Peter Thomas Roth Pumpkin Enzyme Mask, which is an exfoliating mask that you leave on the skin for 3-5 minutes to get rid of any dull or dead skin. Not only does this mask smell like you're slathering a pumpkin pie on your face (I don't know about you but that sounds incredible to me), but it is extremely effective at removing dead skin without irritating. The mask does make my face sting a bit when I first apply it, which is totally normal since that is the acid doing it's job. (I always follow the Caroline Hirons rule: burning is bad, stinging is good). My skin does look a bit red after using this, but that calms down pretty fast. I always do this mask at night, and without fail, whenever I wake up the next morning my skin looks and feels pretty incredible (if I do say so myself). 

Glossier's Super Bounce Serum is in my skincare rotation year-round but come October, it becomes my most-used serums. The hyaluronic acid in the serum really helps my skin absorb moisture better and just generally look and feel less dry and dehydrated. I love using this in the morning underneath my daily moisturizer just to give an added boost of hydration. I am definitely curious to try The Ordinary's version of this serum, since it is a fraction of the price, but for now I'll be sticking with the Glossier offering since I know that it works so incredibly well. 

The ultimate "comforter" in my A/W skincare routine is by far the Pai Rosehip Seed Regenerate Oil. This oil seriously does everything, from helping with hyperpigmentation, to hydrating, to calming down aggravated skin. I use this oil almost every night during the winter because it always "resets" my skin. No matter how awful it is feeling or looks, this oil always makes my skin feel and look much healthier and hydrated. I would definitely recommend this to those who suffer with acne-prone skin (who often have oily skin) as well, because it really helps to heal existing breakouts. 

Last but certainly not least is the La Roche Posay Cicablast Baume B5, which is definitely the meatiest "skin fixer" in my routine. This stuff works on both the face and the body to repair really dry, irritated skin. I usually have a few instances over the course of the colder month where I have small patches of eczema on my face and this stuff works great to soothe the irritation as well as hydrate the effected area. If my lips are extremely dry and cracked I will also use this on them to get them back to normal. 

What are your skincare essentials for Autumn and Winter?