I am by no means a licensed esthetician, but I do suffer from a mild to moderate case of obsessive compulsive disorder when it comes to skincare. I’ve tried way too many products and the ones listed below are the clear winners when it comes to keeping my skin in check and looking fresh.
Some of these products are cult favorites. The Clarisonic brush is the go-to for getting skin extra clean. I use my Clarisonic with two different M-61 cleansers, one that fights break outs and does intensive cleaning, and another that brightens skin and is a gentler formula. Sometimes I mix in Josie Maran’s cleansing oil. Face oils are the trend du jour because they’re versatile and effective. If you have oily or combination skin, using a face oil can actually help regulate your skin’s oil production, which is to say that oily and acne prone skin-types can benefit from cleansing oil because it reduces your skin’s production of oil that causes breakouts. A ‘fight fire with fire’ approach to skincare, if you will. If all else fails, Clinique’s spot treatment is also handy for breakouts and I have been using it for years. Its extra high concentration of salicylic acid effectively delivers a hefty dose to troublesome spots.
Moisturizing is probably the most important part of skincare. It helps skin regenerate and heal from marks, burns and breakouts, fights fine lines and wrinkles, and keeps you looking young and ‘glowy.’ While there are hundreds of option some are standout products. The La Mer line is notoriously pricey but you can believe the hype-it really does work wonders. If you end up like me, with an unexpected rewards gift card to a store that carries La Mer (Bloomingdales for one) and a rapidly approaching expiration date, bite the bullet and do it. Your skin will thank you. I went with the ‘soft cream’ because it absorbs into skin faster and isn’t as thick as the original formula. Having said that, the Bobbi Brown Extra Repair Balm is ridiculously thick but used overnight, it makes all the difference by morning. I layer it under my Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate, which is another extra popular item, with good reason.
Another product I recently became a huge fan of is Estée Lauder’s Idealist even skintone illuminator. Just as the title suggests, it evens out skintone and helps eliminate dark spots and scarring with effects apparent in as little as two weeks. I use one tiny pump morning and night and I don’t think I can live without it at this point.
Finally, GlamGlow is a relatively new product line but I won’t be surprised if it becomes a staple in most every store. Sephora is a huge retailer, and Neiman Marcus just started carrying it, so you know it’s good stuff. My two favorites are the clearing mask and the hydrating mask. They’re not cheap either, but you don’t need much for each use (1-2 times a week). Plus, they’re highly effective. The clearing mask leaves you with a tingly sensation and it changes color as it clears out your skin, while the hydrating mask smells awesome and leaves your skin feeling amazing.
Better skin means less need for coverup, foundation and makeup in general and makes everyone feel just a tiny bit better. A fun way to get started is to grab a friend, make some drinks, pick a movie or TV show and slap some mudmasks on your faces and feel pretty…or at least a little silly.
pride and polka dots 