SKINCARE FAVORITES
I remember a time when I was getting gas roughly three years ago and someone saying you look like you aren't old enough drive, and I remember thinking 'This is weird and annoying, why do I look like a 13 year old girl?'
Now, I get so admittedly over-excited about getting carded for a drink—it's like a serious win. But I need more of those moments.
So when I turned 25, I decided I needed to take better care of my skin. It could be my own mind playing tricks on me or gravity really is taking a toll on my skin—talk about an anti-aging crisis.
All I know is that all skin needs basic cleansing, proper hydration, moisturizing and protection—and now I need to add to my list preventive care for wrinkles? Ok, I'm sold.
So what did I do? I went to Sephora and was overwhelmed by the possibilities (I could feel the breakdown coming.) But in the end, it was successful. So I want to share some of my current favorites skincare items:
Boscia's Charcoal Deep-Pore Cleansing Stick
I have tried multiple charcoal products mainly because I heard that it's works to pull impurities out of your pores. It doesn't leave your skin dry, which is sometimes how I feel with a cleanser, but this feels soothing but also gets the job done.
Origins Ginzing Energy-Boosting Moisturizer
Ok, so I know moisturizing is mega important, but I have always felt like the ones I seem to buy feel heavy and oily on my skin. Well...I finally found one that feels so light and airy, not to mention I feel like its leaves my skin glow-y. Apparently this moisturizer is fortified with Ginseng and coffee beans, but all I know is that it leaves my skin refreshed and rejuvenated.
Unbelievable Skincare's Hydration Oil
If you read this, you'd know Unbelievable Skincare's background story from The Squeeze section on my blog. I have combination skin, so more places on my face need more hydration than others, but I also have seen a lot of beauty influencers and professionals use oil to highlight the face on the cheekbones and lips, which honestly is a magic trick. Sometimes I get worried about oil because I don't want that sticky, heavy feeling on my skin, but this one gives the perfect amount of hydration without feeling oil-overload.
This is a new item I've added to my skincare routine. Anti-aging and eye cream. I use a combination of Veriov Ageless Eye Serum and Chanel's Hydra Beauty Intense Smoothing Eye Gel. The Chanel product is a sample, but it feels like butter under your eyes, so I am hoping to buy more once I am out. The other product is so soothing especially since the skin around our eyes is so delicate.
I am old enough to start using anti-aging cream (I think), but not old enough to stop have breakouts apparently—which is a big giant "ugh." So for those stubborn spots that seem to pop up at the most inconvenient times, I use this.
We all have those problem spots—yay stress—and moments where we need a deep exfoliant cleanse. I've been trying to find a mask that's gentle enough, but strong enough to pull out the dirt and impurities, and here it is. It's a 10-minute mask that rapidly responds to problem spots, without deeply stripping your skin.
Herbivore's Rose Hibiscus Hydrating Face Mist
This might seem like a weird product, but before it became a beauty pro favorite, I used a face mist, so boom! I actually used a Rose Water Hydrator Spray from Frownies that I found in my mom's cabinet when I was a tween. Rose water in general is supposed to be anti-aging. Is it? I don't know, but it feels refreshing on your face after cleansing your skin—so go get some mist! (p.s. look at that Frownies packaging...)
All photos by Gabrielle Sharp
What are your favorite skincare products?