So last year I was very bad and did not do a year end favorite post like normal. I took photos, but was just so overwhelmed with everything that I was unable to complete it. This year I’m going to try it a little differently and instead of doing only what’s new, go over some of the things I’ve really reached for over the last two years including: things that aren’t new but are solid holy grails, new things that really have been stellar so far, things I’ve repurchased the most and things I’ve reached for the most. Unless they’re new–reviews of a lot of these items are on the blog, just search for them in the search box. Most of these shouldn’t be a surprise for you, I talk about a lot of these all the time.
This year has been the first year since covid started that I actually feel like I’m able to catch up and not be constantly overwhelmed. I changed positions at the same hospital–which was rough at first last year (why there was no favorites post), but it’s finally starting to be better for me now. Ella has entered first grade and is reading pretty well so school is going better as well. Public school Kindergarten was no joke last year and it was so rough–I just was drowning in everything daily last fall through winter. I’ve really cut back how much time I spend on blog posts and Instagram posts–I had too. I just couldn’t keep up at my previous pace. I spent a lot of time trying to make me happy versus others, which was a good thing for me. I’m also working on home renovations which will take place in 2023 so I don’t anticipate I’ll be at any kind of previous level of posting anytime soon. That’s OK, honestly I’d rather focus on what I love and sharing useful information rather than just churning out new reviews just to have daily content.
My rosacea had a lot of ups and downs over the last two years, more than ever before. I think masking for covid for 2.5 years really just sent my skin down the toilet. Read my post about mask irritation HERE. At this point I’ve ditched all acids and ascorbic acid completely. I only do retinoids as actives for pigment and aging. And by retinoids I really only retinal or retinaldehyde. I’ve been using retinal over retinol for several years now and I love it so much more. It’s effective without being harsh or irritating which is what my skin needs. But I still have to ditch the retinoids sometimes and go barrier friendly only–rosacea is a b**** what can I say. It’s OK cause honestly my skin looks fine–actually even better without all the actives. I just focus more on hydration, moisturizing, LED light therapy, peptides/growth factors and pigmentation products. Think barrier friendly and skin health focused versus ingredient or results only focused.
LED Therapy is the only device I’ve ever been consistent with. It helps me so much by reducing redness & irritation plus I think finally after 18 months starting to help with lines and wrinkles. The LED mask is the best purchase I made in the last two years hands down. Completely worth it and super easy to be consistent with. I use both the Omnliux and Current Body. Read the full reviews HERE and HERE. I also ditched most products with essential oils and fragrance. This has helped my rosacea flares a lot. This may not be necessary for everyone, but listen to your skin. Reduction of irritation is key in limiting inflammation and premature aging. Another thing the last two years dealt me is that my skin has a lot more dryness due to hormonal changes–hello peri-menopause. We’re talking like bone dry skin, which is ultimately affecting my elasticity and firmness the most (in addition to the extra dryness causing more irritation and inflammation). So this has been a big focus for me which means being consistent with retinoids (if able), peptides and growth factors plus hydration/moisturizing. That’s a huge component to good skin health–consistent moisture levels and moisturizing well.
I really tried to be on more of a budget for the last two years which curbed my spending habits so I bought less. I tried to really use what I had and cut back as well. This left to better more consistent habits for me and my skin loved it. Enough of this stuff, let’s move onto the good parts…
(Please do check my lists out HERE–I have tons of discount codes and I cannot link them all here).
I think most definitely in 2022 my love for NIOD rebloomed. I had put it away for a while to try other things, but I realized I really enjoy most of their products, they work for me and are effective–so I went back to them. CAIS, FECC, MMHC, MG, NAAP, Survival 0 and RE:Pigment are my NIOD favorites and most used. I also use quite a bit of The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser and Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA Moisturizer and rediscovered my love for the “Buffet” serum–especially the one with Copper Peptides as well as “B” Oil. They really do have good peptide products that are affordable. You can check out my Deciem favs HERE in this list.
Sente Cysteamine HSA Pigment & Tone Corrector is new to me as of October and worthy of a mention. I started with Cyspera and moved onto Sente’s version after emptying one tube. I like Sente better as it’s cheaper and less stinky. This is a daily mask I use at night before I wash my face at bedtime. Apply on top of makeup, leave on for 15 minutes, then wash your face like normal–it’s super easy. It’s definitely having an effect on the pigmentation visibly, it’s supposed to be 16 weeks daily then go to maintenance mode. There have been very few things that work pigmentation wise for me that also aren’t irritating for rosacea. This has been one, though I still wouldn’t use it on a flare. If you’re looking for something unique and different give this one a try. My other tops favorites are NIOD RE:Pigment and Skinbetter Even. You can see my pigmentation favorites HERE.
I really fell in love with some things from Jan Marini over the last two years including the Regeneration Booster. It’s a little pricey, think creamy lipid serum with growth factors and peptides. It did make my skin glow and gave a reduction in wrinkles. I think dry, mature skin will love it. I really like the whole Bioeffect line as well, in particular the EGF Essence and Hydrating Cream. Though the heavier cream will be my next splurge, I recently grabbed the eye serum so that’s a 2023 product to test out.
I stayed pretty steady with retinal being my favorite form of retinoid. Medik8 Crystal Retinal 6 and SACHI Ursolic Acid & Retinal were my favorites. See my top retinoid favorites HERE.
My most used facial oils over the last two years will be no surprise–both are by VOTARY. I still have a ton I love but the ones I repurchased and used the most were Super Seed Facials Oil and Super Boost Night Drops. Both are essential oil free, soothing, replenishing–basically if I had to have one only it would be these. The CBD one is a pain to get in the US so go for Super Seed if you can’t get the other, they’re both great. See my facial oils favorites HERE.
Essences will always remain one of my favorite categories of skincare. I love to start off with one in the morning and at night. The new Indeed Labs Microbiome Essence really blew me away. It’s light enough yet has enough weight to it, easily layerable and not sticky. It also really is barrier friendly. It’s got a fermented complex, marine postbiotic, polysaccharides and an oxygenating complex. One of the more interesting ones on the market in a while is the Saro de Rue x Gothamista Essence. Think East meets West with black ginseng, Hanbang botanical extracts and ceramides. Get your anti-aging, antioxidants and barrier hydrators all in one. The other three essences I reach for constantly are Acaderma Equilibria, Forlle’d Hyalogy P-Effect Lotion and YOU Skincare Moisture Replenishing Essence. Read more about those three HERE. Go to my favorite essence list HERE.
I love oil based cleansers. This year I remain loyal to Deviant Cleansing Concentrate. It is my holy grail night cleansing balm. Has a nice green earthy scent and no essential oils so I can use it even when sensitized. Works year round. I just bought another. Krave Beauty launched Makeup Re-Wined and it’s the best thing since sliced bread. Think light cleansing jelly that emulsifies and rinses clean. Great in the morning or at night. Smells faintly like grapes but in a non-sweet way. I love it and blew through my tube in record speed. New holy grail and I just bought another. It’s really unique to the skincare world and it’s actually pretty hard to do that now, so it’s one worth checking out. La Belle Lune Witching Hour is really a nice cleansing balm to mention. It’s similar to Deviant which is why I probably like it. It’s a little lighter and more melty texture wise plus it has a hint of sage essential oil. Similar green earthy scent, I do fine with sage oil so it works for me. If I’m really barrier compromised I will do Deviant over this for the essential oil reason.
Some of the others I’ve been using a lot are the Kat Burki Vitamin C Nourishing Cleansing Balm, Glow Recipe Papaya Sorbet Smoothing Enzyme Balm and LOVINAH Power C Cleansing Balm. Kat Burki has a light gel texture but it cleans like an oil. It does not emulsify so use a cloth or follow with a second cleanse. It’s got a very light and refreshing scent with a heavy fresh cucumber feel. I forgot how much I loved it. Glow Recipe really did it with the Papaya Cleansing Balm. It smells very lightly like papaya, nothing too sweet or fake. It has a hint of enzyme action so think light exfoliation. I feel it rinses fairly clean though I know not everyone thinks so. It’s not that much different from most cleansing balms I use as far as what’s left after rinsing. LOVINAH is another really great balm. It has a divine berry scent with a glossy light medium texture. Think antioxidant rich and a little light exfoliation from natural fruit extracts. While I’m not a huge sorbet cleansing balm fan I will say Naturium Purple Ginseng Cleansing Balm is a great cheap cleanser. It’s fragrance free and rinses clean. It removes my kids Halloween makeup with ease. If you’re looking for a cheap effective one this is it. See my favorite first cleansers HERE.
Twelve Beauty Dara’s Water was the most innovative cleanser I have ever seen. Think a watery style cleanser (that actually removes makeup) but it’s not quite like a micellar water and uses no surfactants. It uses natural sugars and humectants to cleanse and it never leaves me feeling stripped–and I’m bone dry. It’s beat every powder or foam I’ve tried to date. Truly worth trying. I also reach a lot for African Botanics Pure Marula Cleansing Oil has a runny gel texture but cleans like an oil. It smells heavenly like an orange creamsicle. It’s yummy. Stratia Velvet Cleansing Milk was something I tried a long time ago, I got back into it over the last year and I am so happy I did. Think creamy cleanser with a hint of gel consistency. It leaves no residue and is perfect for sensitive or dry skin. Really affordable as well. ELEMIS Superfood AHA Glow Cleansing Butter is also one I repurchased. Think glossy, creamy non-oil based cleanser with enzymes. Great for a morning cleanse. I’ll always have OSKIA Renaissance Cleanser in my arsenal. It’s a gel oil with enzymes that has a nice scent. Truly helped turn me onto oil based cleansers. See my favorite morning cleansers HERE. I really ditched gel cleansers this year due to being drier than normal and I’ve found if I skip them mostly I feel better. The only ones I’ve really been using are typically in the shower–Revision Papaya Enzyme Cleanser and VENN Moisture-Balance All-In-One Face Cleanser. One is great for gentle exfoliation, the other is a creamy gel hybrid and it’s not drying at all. See my favorite gel cleansers HERE. (I do have a few others in the list and try to keep adding in the least drying gel cleansers I can find when I try them as others may still want a gel).
‘Slugging’ is something I never thought I would get into but it has literally saved my dry skin for the last two years. Slugging is basically using a touch of Vaseline (or other occlusive) over moisturizer at night to help reduce TEWL (Transepidermal Water Loss) which helps barrier repair. So if you’re dry, have rosacea, going through winter weather changes–try it. I know it feels weird and was gross at first but if your skin is hurting or feels pain from being dry it will be magical for you. I do like Aquaphor a lot as well (more than CeraVe) and it’s a hint lighter than Vaseline but still has a similar effect. I could not live without my Vaseline stick or other occlusive stick favorites (TATCHA, Em Cosmetics, Aquaphor). I have extremely dry under eyes that get painful after lunch time so I swipe on one of these under my eyes and on my cheekbones and bye bye pain. Also helps keep crows feet reduced. I have them by the bed, in my purse and at my desk–they’re everywhere. See my barrier round up post HERE. I have my full barrier favorites list HERE. I really fell for Avene Cicalfate and Uriage Bariederm Cica-Cream this year instead of LRP Cicaplast Baume. Both are way more moisturizing for me and they soothe dry skin better. I felt LRP was too mattifying and not replenishing.
Read about my dry skin sandwich method HERE for more about how I’ve tailored layering to work for my dry skin.
There were some brands I didn’t get to mention as much as I would have liked and some that had some really great launches time and time again. Cipher Skincare I meant to talk about more than I did. I think their products are well thought out and power packed. They kind of remind me of an Aussie Allies of Skin. Unfortunately due to my sensitivities with acids I was unable to really give some of their products a good test, plus I hated the first and second round of photos I took. I planned on redoing it, then life crashed for me last fall and I fell behind. I do have two products I really like and feel like they should be mentioned. Night Shift is my favorite. Think power packed gel cream has azelaic acid derivative PAD, niacinamide, glabridin (licorice) and alpha arbutin help with pigmentation while beta glucan, DNA repair enzymes, prebiotic algae, madecassoside (cica) and hemp help with barrier, soothing and repair. It’s great paired with a retinoid. Honestly I could probably use this with SACHI retinal and a growth factor and I’d be happy with less products. I’m kind of afraid to get addicted to it (she’s pricey) which is why I haven’t let myself go full in I think. They also have a day product I like called Beam Me Up. This is a slippery gel cream as well with soothing beta glucan, panthenol, ceramides, oat kernel oil, phytosphingosine and a collagen supporting tripeptide plus antioxidants like vitamin C (derivatives), caffeine and gamma oryzanol (rice brand phytosterol). It’s nice. It’s worthy of checking out if you want a one and done addition to your morning routine, again I think I’m just afraid of becoming addicted to it. Cipher is really nice, it’s just pricey. Though sometimes you get what you pay for and you do with Cipher.
Apothaka launched in the states at Boxwalla’s beauty shop. I totally fell hard for three products. The Skin Quenching Essence has natural moisturizing factors, shea butter esters and soothing plant extracts. If you want a hyaluronic acid free product this is it for you. Think slippery light medium texture that’s not sticky. The Comforting Moisturizer has fatty acids, colloidal oats and ceramides for a nice soothing moisturizer. It’s really glossy lotion texture more than cream. I use it as a day cream for dry skin, combo skin might be able to get away with it at night. The Skin Quenching Moisturizer is also really good. Think slippery gel cream moisturizer with ceramides and natural moisturizing factors. This is great under the Comforting Moisturizer. It’s just so juicy and lush. I love a nice glossy cream. You can layer this one day or night for a long lasting hydration boost.
MAKE Beauty did a really good job for their genre. The packaging is nice and I think they really showed that affordable skincare can be good and effective plus look nice as well. The gel cleanser, gel cream and Essence are my favorites. The Micro Ferment Rice Essence is their best product. Think fermented rice, magma sea water, panthenol and jojoba milk for a soothing and hydrating essence. It’s a little on the heavier end but it’s great for dry or winter parched skin. They have a new emulsion that looks nice as well. Some of the things are basic, but well done basic. I wish I had these around when I was young instead of the crap we had. They are really good at their target demographic which is more 20-30s, I think if you’re 40+ you might be looking for more advanced aging style products like peptides and so on. Who knows–maybe they’ll expand in that area in the future.
Combining hydrating with soothing serums was really a huge focus for me. I have three that really stood out for me as far as helping really soothe and make my skin actually hurt less and reduce my visible redness. Naturium Vitamin K Liposome Serum is fantastic for the price point. I was so skeptical at first of the vitamin K but it really was soothing and helped with redness. The texture is great and for the price it’s really worth trying. SACHI launched their Pro Resilience Serum and it was a great launch with flavenoids, hydrators, glucosides and peptides. A thin serum that’s easy to layer, this one really helps with reducing redness and soothing. This one is great for summer or more oily skin as it’s super light though it’s easily layered with lipids for dry skin. I’ve repurchased Flawless Canvas Quantum Lift numerous times since it’s launch. This serum is a hydrator with some help against lines/wrinkles but where it really shines is on reducing skin sensitivity and redness. For me it may feel like it’s doing little sometimes, but I find I can use a retinoid way more frequently while using this serum without any irritation. My skin just feels calm and soothed with less reactivity while using. When I stop using it this sense of unbalance comes back. Glow Recipe Avocado Serum is another soothing serum I really enjoyed. It’s got avocado butter and extract, ceramides, allantoin, rice bran oil, turmeric, melon, cucumber, other plant extracts and palmitoyl tripeptide-8. It’s great at soothing plus redness reduction. See my barrier favorites list above for more.
Moisturizers have become my favorite thing to play with the last two years. I’ve been on a huge quest to find ones that really nourish my super dry skin and manage to last the night or even day depending. I’m looking for ones that soothe and keep that dry feeling away for a long period of time. That may sound easy–but when you’re very dry it’s not always so. A lot of moisturizers are geared towards combo skin and even the ones marketed towards dry skin really don’t suffice. I’ve tried quite a few of the ‘top 10’ dry skin favs from magazine articles and honestly most don’t cut it for me. It’s become my passion now to find the best ones with longevity. I totally expected not to like Dieux Instant Angel Moisturizer. I figured it was internet buzz or hype. I actually really enjoy it so I was wrong. It’s medium weight and glossy, easily layerable. I like it as a day moisturizer, not quite enough for nights. If you’re not as dry as me you’ll like it for nights.
I still stick to a bunch of my all time favorites for night creams like Biologique Recherche Vernix and African Botanics Fleurs d’Afrique but I found a new favorite in Jan Marini Age Intervention Face Cream–think a lipid rich, whipped cream that seems airy but it lasts all night and really nourishes. Easily my favorite new night cream. I’m on jar two. Vernix is this magical thick cream that forms this almost waxy coating on the skin. This coating really lasts the night providing relief to dry skin. If you’re combo you may not like it but if you’re dry it’s absolute heaven. I’m on jar 3 with no end in sight. African Botanics has a really nice bouncy texture but it really lasts the night as well. It’s more your green beauty style with some jasmine oil so I skip it during periods of time when I need to skip fragrance. Another one I discovered that actually reallt works for dry skin is Vanicream Moisturizing Cream. It’s cheap and while not texturally as elegant as others, it gets the job done. Technically it’s a body cream but it beats CeraVe with longevity and moisture by a landslide. If you want a cheap drugstore moisturizer for dry skin that lasts try it. I think one other drugstore brand nailed it this year with two moisturizers–Eucerin. The Skin Balance Day Cream is this lovely glossy nourishing moisturizer that has a better texture than any drugstore cream. Perfect for dry skin. The Skin Balance Night Cream is really more of a gel cream, but it’s a hefty one so it’s great for the dry skin sandwich method.
Naturium launched a new soothing line. While they’ve been pretty consistent about making really decent affordable launches–their soothing line and the Vitamin K serum were my favorites this year for them. The Marshmallow Root Barrier Balm is a bouncy cream meets balm that’s a little airy in texture. It’s not super heavy weight, but it’s a great summer night cream or perhaps winter day cream on the weekend. It’s my favorite cream they’ve made to date. The Multi-Calm Cream Cleanser was such a good cream cleanser launch. I love cream cleansers this year. It’s a little hybrid gel meets cream, but more cream than gel. It’s really soothing with marshmallow, arnica, calendula and squalane. If you’re dry and sensitive it’s worth checking out, great as a morning or second cleanser.
Some other moisturizers I used a lot were Dr. Sam’s Flawless Revival Mask, OBAGI Medical Hydrate Luxe and Glossier After Baume. Dr. Sam’s has a moisturizer and a mask. They’re fairly comparable but I ultimately like the mask more. I use it as a leave on cream. It’s a little thinner texture wise but a bit more emollient and lipid rich. It’s great for dry skin. It’s more a night cream than a moisturizing wash-off mask but you can use it as both. All of Dr. Sam’s moisturizers are pretty stellar in general so you can’t really go wrong with them. It’s a great cheaper version of another favorite the VENN Concentrated Revitalizing Lifting Mask–texture and overall moisture level wise (not quite as stacked ingredients wise but will save you a little money). OBAGI is a more lipid rich creamy, cushiony moisturizer–yet it’s not super rich or heavy. It’s great most times for dry skin at night–though a little light during deep winter for me, in which I sub Jan Marini for it. Glossier After Baume was a total surprise for me. I’ve never liked much that brand made but this is really good. It’s really thick and heavy but not super lipid heavy. It makes a great occlusive layer that actually should suit even less dry types. Because it’s thick but not lipid heavy it’ll work for everyone, if you’re dry just add it over more lipids. It feels texturally like the La Mer heavy cream but it’s not as moisturizing (no mineral oil). Review HERE.
I also think Replenix Age Restore Brightening Moisturizer, TATCHA Indigo Overnight Repair, Revision DEJ, Biologique Recherche Creme VG Derm & Creme Verte Espoir AR, Skinbetter Science Trio, Sisley Velvet Sleeping Mask, Zelens 3T Complex, African Botanics Silver Rescue were among my top used over the last two years. See my moisturizers list HERE. It goes over each quickly, I also have ones I used to like back before I was dry if that’s helpful for combo folks.
Speaking of lipids lets talk about face balms. In the winter I love a face balm. LIVE Botanical Sanctuary Barrier Balm is the best. It’s got this whipped like texture so it feels less heavy than other balms but it’s really moisturizing and soothing. It’s got a blend of four butters, non-essential oils and pomegranate sterols. If you have dry skin you absolutely need to try this balm. This one is the quickest I’ve ever gone through a jar of a balm. I have two other balms I use regularly–Earthwise Beauty Yasuni and Fifty7Kind NADI. Earthwise Beauty is also essential oil free. It’s harder but melts down light so it’s not heavy texture wise. It combines kokum, cupuacu and bacuri butters with lightly enzymatic and antioxidant rich fruit oils (acai, buriti, raspberry and cranberry) plus green coffee and marula oils. NADI has this delicious soft balm texture and it replaced the cult favorite May Lindstrom Blue Cocoon for me (I know right?). It has herbal extracts like ashagwanda, calendula, ginger, red clover, holy basil plus oat extract, butters and blue tansy. Blue tansy is the only essential oil, the rest are plant extracts and I think that’s why I get along with it so well. It’s not too heavy on the blue tansy, I still get the pleasure from the scent and the softer texture is killer. It’s so divine. The brands facial oil TANU is also really fantastic. It’s heavier so great for dry skin and the blue tansy isn’t too strong. See my favorite balms HERE.
I do love a good mist but this really solidified my love for Le Mieux ISO-Cell Recovery Solution. This has amino acids and minerals which I find really repairing and soothing plus it adds a longer lasting moisture. It’s got no essential oils or fragrance. I mentioned I really focused on growth factors and peptides the last two years instead of other actives. Growth factors really give a healthy skin glow to my skin and help with firmness and elasticity. They’re pricey but with consistent use they do seem to help me. They also make my skin feel like it can bounce back faster and quicker from issues. My favorite two growth factor serums are AnteAGE MD Serum and SkinMedica TNS+ Advanced Serum. Out of the ones I’ve tried those two remain the most effective for me. I also have been pretty consistent with peptides. I have a ton of peptide serums I like. Peptides work similarly to growth factors but also differently. Some help with soothing, some with moisture, some with firmness/elasticity, some with lines/wrinkles. They require consistent use and while you may not notice huge differences, once you get older you’ll notice the benefits more. I usually recommend peptides/EGF for 20-30s and growth factors plus peptides/EGF for 40+. Over 40 will see the benefits of growth factors more which makes it easier to make the commitment, but peptides are always a good one to consistently use twice a day. NIOD CAIS, Medik8 Liquid Peptides, VENN, Peter Thomas Roth, The Ordinary has some really good affordable ones, Alastin Restorative Skin Complex. See my list of favorite peptides HERE and growth factors HERE.
For the eye area I really stayed true to my NIOD FECC as an eye serum topped with an eye cream. This is because the FECC is my treatment product and the eye cream I need as I have super dry under eyes. I’m still pretty loyal to African Botanics Resurrection Eye Cream but I do also really enjoy Alastin Restorative Eye Complex, the new Allies of Skin Peptides and Omegas Firming Eye Cream which has a similar texture to Drunk Elephant C-Tango which is also a solid favorite and Neocutis Lumiere (though next I’ll try the rich version). I tried two eye creams towards the end of this year which were both really promising–Revision DEJ Eye Cream and Jan Marini Age Intervention Eye Cream. Jan Marini is really similar to the face cream, think whipped lipid rich and really moisturizing. If you have oily lids or eye area then I’d skip it and go for the gel Alastin. Revision DEJ seems like it’ll be a solid winner with it’s lipid rich hefty medium texture–good for dry eyes but also seems to be tightening and line reducing as well. I found Peter Thomas Roth Wrinkle Resist Eye Cream was a great choice as well. Think hefty gel cream with peptides, I loved it. See all my eye products HERE.
I may have ditched acids but I still like a little gentle exfoliation but I really got into enzymes the last two years. NIOD NAAP is a gel serum that has a very gentle exfoliation using fermentation bio-derivatives and amino isolates that help with radiance. It’s not irritating. I also really enjoy Revision Papaya Enzyme Cleanser which I talked about above. I also use other cleaners with enzymes like OSKIA Renaissance Cleanser, ELEMIS Superfood AHA Glow Cleansing Butter and Glow Recipe Papaya Enzyme Cleansing Balm for really gentle exfoliation. If I want a bigger enzyme punch I’ll use YOU Skincare Congestion Clearing Enzyme Mask. Be careful with the mask two minutes in enough–it’s potent.
I’m pretty cheap when it comes to body products in general and don’t tend to venture out much out of my normal stuff. That being said Naturium’s new body washes were really a stand out line. The Glow Getter Multi-Oil Hydrating Body Wash is top notch. Think glycerin meets oil in a slippery hydrating body wash with a light vanilla orange scent. Great to shave your legs with and it way beats Bioderma Atoderm Cleansing Oil. The Perfector Salicylic Acid Body Wash, The Brightener Vitamin C Brightening Body Wash were my other two favorites. The Playa Every Day Body Wash was also a great launch. It’s got ginseng and pepper seed oil which give it a slightly spicy warming feel on the skin which I love. Another really great launch was the Krave Beauty Great Body Relief. This body lotion has ceramides, tamanu and rosehip oils plus fermented oils and glycerin. It’s smooth and medium weight, nourishing yet not heavy or greasy. It has a light earthy warm scent. I typically use CeraVe body lotion but lately I’m really addicted to Aussie brand QV Intensive Light Moisturizing Cream even though it’s a pain to get. It’s a bit more slippery than CeraVe. I also really enjoyed the Vaseline Dry Hands Rescue and Eucerin Advanced Repair Hand Cream. They were both great for the price–long lasting. Check out all my favorite body products HERE.
I’m pretty loyal to my hair basics–I always enjoy Sam McKnight’s Cool Girl and Lazy Girl, Kevin Murphy Killer Waves and IGK Beach Club. Though but I’ve been straying and buying Playa Pure Dry Shampoo as I love it’s rose vanilla scent, I’m on number three I think now. I really am smitten with Briogeo Be Gentle, Be Kind Avocado + Kiwi Mega Moisture Mask and it’s my most repurchased since it’s launch. It’s this glossy kiwi scented mask that’s not too heavy but more than conditioner. K18 was this leave in treatment mask that came out and went viral. I tried it and at first I hated it, though with continued use I like it. I got better improvements the longer I used it, if I judged it off the first bottle or first few months I never would’ve liked it. See review HERE. Also I really came to enjoy Olaplex No. 0, Madison Reed Color Reviving Gloss, Ranavat Mighty Majesty and Philip Kingsley Elasti-Styler 5-In-1 Treatment. No. 0 leaves my hair super shiny when used before No. 3, really amps it up. The Madison Reed is a clear gloss that adds shiner whether while touching up your roots or on it’s own. Ranavat is pricey but the serum, aka hair oil, just has the most delicious scent. It’s killer. The Philip Kingsley styling cream has really replaced Oribe Matte Waves for me–it gives a little extra hold and definition to my waves (I air dry only). The only other thing I really discovered that I loved was the Rahua Hydration Detangler and Briogeo Superfoods Leave-In Spray. I do love the Drunk Elephant Wild Marula Tangle Spray for it’s light hydration but these two manage to be more creamy, give a bit more moisture to my hair without weighing it down or being too heavy. I’m really enjoying both the Rahua and Briogeo so far. See all my hair favorites HERE.
As far as lip products I’m pretty loyal to my Sisley and Fresh products. I did recently branch out a little into tube lip balms and lip serums which introduced me Fitglow Lip Serums, Aquaphor Lip Repair, Naturium Phyto-Glow, Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm, Ameliorate Lip Treatment and the brand new but really impressive FENTY Skin Plush Puddin’ Lip Mask. See more details on each in my list HERE.
You all know how I love sunscreen daily. I tend to prefer European and Korean the most with there being very few US made ones I enjoy. I also ditched minerals last year and went purely to chemical as I find them less drying. So I think it will be no surprise my most reached for is EVY Daily Defense Face Mousse. This SPF 50 is the best. It lasts 6 hours, it has a barrier repair style base that hydrates, there’s no preservatives which can help sensitive skin and it’s just the best. I have a few other European ones I like: Heliocare Water Gel, SVR Sun Secure Blur but the rest really are Korean or body/stick products. I stopped using the ISDIN Pediatrics (which I like) but it can pill. While I find the Caudalie one really nice it doesn’t play well with every moisturizer and takes too long to set. I have a few listed that are great for more oily skin but not so much for drier skin. So for European out of the ones I’ve tested EVY remains the top favorite followed by Heliocare Water Gel. Really though Korean ones have been fantastic the last two years, they had some stellar ones come out that really beat the US and Europe.
I tend to prefer Korean to Japanese sunscreen as the Japanese ones tend to be hybrid (mineral/chemical) or have more alcohol/fragrance in general. I know some of these have the same base formula with minor changes but honestly I really don’t care. They beat every US and European one easily texture wise (minus EVY). If you ask me the last two years of good sunscreens goes to Korea as an award. My criteria are: chemical only, alcohol free, fragrance free if possible (minor if not), no pilling/play well with everything, don’t take forever to set, light texture, not mattifying or oil controlling: Isntree Watery Sun Gel, SKIN1004 Water-Fit Sun Serum, Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun, MAKE p:rem UV Defense Me. Daily Sun Essence, Klairs All-Day Airy Sunscreen, Thank You Farmer Sun Project Relief Sun Cream, Round Lab Birch Juice Moisturizing Sun Cream and even though the Tocobo Bio Watery Sun Cream smells like a fresh cut flower shop, it’s better than powdery floral and the ultra light texture is divine. I hope more mimic the texture with no scent in the future.
Body wise I love the Riemann P20 Kids SPF 50, it’s a heavy duty lotion texture but it lasts 10 hours and it’s great for body/kids. EVY Kids Mousse SPF 50 is also great for a day out as it really lasts. I do like both the La Roche-Posay Anthelios Dermo-Pediatrics Wet Skin Gel and ISDIN Fotoprotector Gel Cream and non-long lasting body lotions. I have two others I’ve been enjoying more almost: Bioderma Photoderm Kid Milk and Uriage Bariesun Moisturizing Kid Lotion. They’re a bit more milky and light lotions that set quicker, they have no scent, they’re just smaller sizes than the others. This may be a category I explore more next summer. I find the LRP while great takes a long time to set and feels greasy while the ISDIN sets quick but the alcohol causes chicken bumps on my kids arms and fragrance is nauseating. I really got into stick sunscreens for touch ups and outings to help keep the melasma away–I have a few favorites: Isntree Airy Sun Stick, Mesoestetic Sun Repairing Stick SPF 100 and Heliocare Sport Transparent Stick. The Mesoestetic is my ultra protection heavy duty one, it does have a more heavy greasy feel but it protects well. The Heliocare is clear and reminds me of the Shiseido one but cheaper and the Isntree is a great less oily daily kind of stick. The only lip balm with SPF I’ve found that I enjoy truly is the Ultrasun Lip Protection SPF 50–it’s stiff and doesn’t have a bad taste.
For US sunscreen there was three I found I liked. I know, but they’re all mineral or chemical ones that sting. So Bare Republic Clearscreen Sunscreen Spray is really nice. Not too greasy like some. Charlotte Tilbury launched their Invisible UV Flawless Poreless Primer SPF 50 and it’s stellar. The best US chemical sunscreen out there to date but it’s pretty pricey for the small size. Naturium Dew-Glow Moisturizer is the only other one to come out from the US that’s decent this year. It’s a bit dewy but not too greasy or anything. If you want to read about the minerals I used to like they’re in my sunscreen favorites tab HERE.
As a random thing to throw in I really got into the Goli Dreamy Sleep with melatonin and Ashwa Gummies. They’re been great for helping me sleep better. More than some of the others I’ve tried.
Honestly makeup wise not much changes for me. I’m usually doing some kind of pearly (but not glittery) brown shadow, brown eyeliner, a pink/nude/peach cream blush, minimal highlighter and tinted lighter base product. I do spend time on my brows, they’re sparser as I get older and they really complete a look so that’s a minimum with mascara for me. I don’t contour and I wear minimal concealer. I want to get ready in five minutes every day–not spend an hour on a new look every day. I used to love doing that, I just would rather sleep now. I find that with the less is more makeup look I look younger and better anyway. When I go with heavy liner, colors or deep shades I look off and it’s just not me. I may swipe on a red lipstick once or twice a year but for the most part I’m wearing nude pink lips too. I did make a post about getting ready in five minutes HERE that goes over a lot of products I enjoy. I also narrowed down that list to things I really use all the time HERE.
I did ditch bronzer for the last seven years but the new Makeup by Mario Softsculpt Transforming Skin Enhancer is really nice. Think tint of bronze that no one can screw up. I wear Light/Medium. It was really a unique product to come out. My problem with makeup is that everything just feels like copies of what I already have, none of it feels fresh and new. Nothing feels unique and inventive right now. There were some base products that came out from Charlotte Tilbury’s original launch years ago that were inventive: Light Wonder and Wonderglow. Danessa Myricks Prism FX Lotion in Peach is nice and kind of unique. ELF did launch their Halo Liquid Glow which copied Charlotte Tilbury (but it’s way cheaper) and it’s nice, I wear 3 the most. Surratt Dew Drop Foundation was innovative when it launched and I still use it. I just really prefer the sheer none full coverage matte look and I don’t know if we’ve really left the matte era yet. There was the Chanel Les Beiges Water-Fresh Complexion Touch, Summer Fridays Sheer Skin Tint and MAKE Beauty Diffusion Dew Skin Tint this year that were the better base launches of the year–think sheer and dewy. Charlotte Tilbury Light Wonder is lighter and similar to those two but less emollient so it fits more skin types I think. I’m still really into the Surratt Concealer though Charlotte Tilbury Beautiful Skin Radiant Concealer was the only new one I liked this year. It’s creamy and has enough pigment but it layers and doesn’t crease even without powdering (I no longer powder my skin).
I’m still using the Charlotte Tilbury Beauty Light Wand or Rituel de Fille Phosphene Rare Light Luminizer for highlighters. They’re great for my coloring and I can’t even use them up anyway. Nothing has come out since them that’s really made me want t give them up. There’s a ton of copycats of the Charlotte Tilbury Light Wand though. Westman Atelier has been pretty decent since launch. Their Mimi Baby Cheeks Blush is pretty much perfect for me. The Phytosurgence Evaporate Skin Spark blush was a good launch for the year–super pigmented cream blush that lasts. I still reach for Cle de Peau Perfect Peach Cream Blush and MAC Blush, Please Glow Play more than any others. They last and are my perfect shades. I find it hard to buy new ones when it’s so hard to beat those classics for me. Nudestix Sunkissed and Nude Buff are pretty good, I use those a lot. Colors are great, pigmented and creamy formula that lasts. I switched to cream blush a few years ago which helped my dry cheeks not be so dry. For brows I’m still using Surratt’s pencil but I added a marker under to help darken the parts that are getting sparse. Arches & Halos is decent and easy for me to get at Target. I’m really just using MILK Makeup Kush Brow Gel or Hourglass Arch Brow as I haven’t found ones I like better for the hold yet.
I do wear powder shadows still and the only ones I’ve really bought over the last few years are Surratt, SUQQU and Natasha Denona. I like to depot them into a big palette. Other than that there are a few creamy shadows I really like that last all day (creamy one also allow me to get ready quicker as they’re one and done shades): Kaja Moon Crystal Tiger’s Eye, Danessa Myricks Celebration (the best base under any other shade that needs more depth), Bobbi Brown Shadow Stick Bronze, By Terry Bronze Moon, Trish McEvoy 24-Hour Eyeshadow Topaz, IT Cosmetics Eyeshadow Stick Super Slate. I’ve worn the same brown Armani Smooth Silk Eye Pencil for a decade though Victoria Beckham did make a good one with her Satin Kajal Liner. I haven’t found any new mascaras to replace my favorite Armani Eyes to Kill Classic, Chanel Le Volume or Sisley Mascara So Intense. Laura Mercier Caviar Volume was the only new one I really liked. They’re all tubing mascaras and I’m not a fan of those.
I do think the Fitglow Lip Serum was inventive and it took me a while to get on the bandwagon as they’re just so expensive. But they almost made me like a gloss format again. I just wish they had more shimmering shades. Most of the lipsticks I liked to use daily have been discontinued so it’s been a rough two years for me finding things I like. Everything is either a thick creamy lipstick with no shimmer, a lip gloss/serum or a matte liquid lipstick. I just really am not into any of those honestly. I like a typical sheer, shimmering lipstick as it gives my lips volume and mattes just don’t do that for me. Tom Ford had awesome launches every holiday but they stopped. Chanel discontinued the Rouge Coco and the new version pales in comparison hydration wise. Their Rouge Coco Shines dry my lips out so it’s been hard to find new lipsticks. I’m still running off what stocks I had before they all got discontinued. Hopefully that’ll come back those types of products as I see a little more natural makeup aesthetic slightly coming back. The Victoria Beckham Posh Lipstick was an excellent formula but I really wish they had some shimmery shades–honestly does no one like shimmery lips anymore? I can’t be the only one who finds the light shimmer (without glitter) gives lips a more volumized look. Not everyone wants a gloss or lip serum to be shimmery. I’m simple–I want a one step lip product, not three (lip liner, lipstick and gloss).
Anyway this post turned out to be waaaaayyyyy longer than I intended. Hopefully you got something out of this. I’m sure I forgot a few products but it was getting so long. Overall, I found I really stuck with old makeup favorites and added a few new skincare finds. I definitely have this mode where the new stuff needs to beat the old stuff to make it a staple. And that’s hard as the innovation just isn’t there as much lately. It’s there, I think it’s just hard when so many brands are trying to turn out new launches all the time. I can’t take any more hyaluronic acid serums or vitamin c serums. I think the Sente Cysteamine HSA Pigment & Tone Corrector is unique, along with all SACHI’s launches, Krave Makeup Re-Wined, Twelve Dara’s Water, Cipher Night Shift (along with their other launches), Flawless Canvas Quantum Lift, Dieux Instant Angel, TATCHA Indigo Overnight Repair, Naturium’s soothing line and Vitamin K Serum, Glossier After Baume, Apothaka was one I was so happy to try as it’s been on my list forever, EVY and the Korean sunscreens I listed were the highlights for me. The rest was old stuff I kept using aka the holy grails and old favorites. I did find myself back into certain “medical grade” brands like Jan Marini, Revision, Alastin, AnteAGE, Sente and Skinbetter Science. They have some really stellar products. Next year I want to dive into Geek & Gorgeous, Dieux Deliverance, Neogenesis and Alumier more.