I am a huge skincare addict. In fact, if you ask my husband, he will tell you that I have an overflowing drawer of it that is going to rip our floating vanity right off the wall. I started in my early 20's, when I received a sample of Lancôme Génifique with my foundation purchase.. I was hooked. Does anyone else make beauty counter purchases just to get those cute little gifts with purchase? My Lancôme serum quickly progressed to some pretty basic moisturizers, and then once I hit 27 I was convinced I needed the works. Four years and A LOT of products later, these are my top shelf favs that have stuck it out for the long haul.
Skin type: combination - dry
Age: 31
Concerns: Fine lines (forehead), dryness, redness, aging
Cetaphil Oily Skin Cleanser
This one might come as a shock because the name says oily skin. Don't let the name fool you! I have very dry and dehydrated skin and this cleanser works wonders for me...
My husband actually got me hooked on this years ago, when I was experiencing a crazy hormonal breakout. After I started using this for about a month, my skin was clearer than its even been. I rarely breakout if I am using this twice a day. This stuff is gold.
It's a clear gel like consistency with a mild lather. Typically, I will take my makeup off with miceallar water or a balm cleanser, then use this as my main (second) cleanse. Since I started using this, I have also played around with other cleansers, but I always come back to this. Its just that good.
You can find this cleanser at most local drugstores: Cetaphil Oily Skin Cleanser $16
Lancôme Tonique Confort Facial Toner
Since Lancôme started me on this skincare journey, it wouldn't be fair if I didn't include one of my favorite products from the line. This is such a lovely toner for dry skin. It's more of a lotion than a liquid and I will say, it did take some getting used to. Since trying this, I have fallen so in love with it. I apply this with my Shiseido cotton pads (game changer, you can find them here), and it takes away any bit of makeup or dirt that my cleanser left behind, tones the skin and leaves my face feeling hydrated and not dry. You only need the smallest amount of this as well, it will last you 6+ months... just in time to stop in at the Bay for their gift with purchase!
Reveal pure, naturally beautiful skin with Tonique Confort, moisturising toner from Lancôme.
Tonique Confort toning lotion hydrates and soothes dry skin while gently removing makeup and impurities from the surface. Our unique skincare formula is enriched with sweet almond extract and honey to leave skin feeling clean, soft and comfortable.
Lancome: Tonique Confort Facial toner $42
Sunday Riley Good Genes
I cant say enough good things about this one. It's seriously like a facial in a bottle. I originally purchased it when I started to see the starting signs of wrinkles on my forehead and I was hooked on it after a week. Here is Sunday Riley's description of the product:
Straight from Sephora: Good Genes All-In-One Lactic Acid Treatment is formulated with high potency, purified grade lactic acid that immediately exfoliates dull, pore-clogging dead skin cells, revealing smoother, fresher, younger-looking skin. Fine lines appear visually plumped while the skin looks more radiant. With continued use, the appearance of stubborn hyperpigmentation and the visible signs of aging are reduced for a healthier-looking complexion. Perfect for all skin types and all ages, this treatment is enhanced with licorice for brightening, Good Genes clarifies, smooths, and retexturizes for instant radiance.
If I was stuck on a dessert island and could only have one skincare product, this would be the one.
The only problem with it, like most targeted skincare treatments, is the price. This comes in at $200 CAD for 50 ml which is enough to last you about 6 months if you are using it once a day. You can also get the smaller 30 ml for $135 CAD which is what I have pictured. I started off using it a couple of times a week and as my skin got used to it increased to daily. At one point, I was using it twice a day and my skin loved it. In my current skincare routine, I use it every second day and it is enough to keep my skin happy. It all depends on your skin's sensitivity and how it reacts to the product - one thing that works really well for me, might not work for you at all. I was in Sephora with a good friend a couple of months ago and recommended this to her. She tried it on her hand in the store and as we continued to walk around she swore she smelt pee. PEE. Turns out on some people, this can actually smell like urine. On me, it doesn't really have a smell. Needless to say, she did not purchase it.
When I use this, my fine forehead lines appear visibly more plump, my skin looks more even and clear and it gives me a beautiful glow. I really don't think I could like without it. If I was stuck on a dessert island and could only have one skincare product, this would be the one.
Sephora: Sunday Riley Good Genes 50 ml $200
Charlotte Tilbury: Charlotte's Magic Cream SPF 15
What can I say..I keep ending up with this one because my skin loves it so much and I can't seem to find another moisturizer that gives me the same glow that this one does. This moisturizer feels like velvet on the skin. After applying it, my skin looks plump, hydrated with less redness and an even skin tone. Another bonus is it contains SPF 15, although in my opinion is too low of a percentage to stop me from laying another sunscreen over top of it. It smells like a spa in a bottle, but the scent could end up being a little bit overwhelming for some people. Personally, I love it and look forward to applying it each morning.
Straight from Sephora: This moisturizer fights the aging process on all fronts, supporting natural collagen production and cell energy while fighting free radicals to reduce the appearance of wrinkles. It restores hydration and elasticity, smoothing the surface and promoting healthy skin renewal.
After applying it, my skin looks plump, hydrated with less redness and an even skin tone.
I really love this moisturizer and I genuinely see a big difference when I use it. I rarely go through an entire 50 ml tub of moisturizer because I'll either find something wrong with it or it just wont perform with as many benefits as I would like so I'll look for something better. I have a feeling that this will keep making its way to the top of my pile for years to come. And let's be real, the packaging is GORGEOUS.
Sephora: Charlotte's Magic Cream $125
Fresh Black Tea Firming & De-puffing Eye Cream
I don't even like eye creams, in fact, it wasn't until a couple of years ago (when I first started to notice my baby fine lines around my eyes) that I really started making a conscious effort to include them in my skincare routine. I tried about 10 before I found this.... and I am never going back. This stuff is dreamy. The consistency of it is like creamy velvet and it sinks right into the skin. It also has a lovely cold feeling each time you apply it. This one is a bit pricey at $90 CAD for 15 ml.
Straight from Sephora: Fresh Black Tea Age-Delay Eye Concentrate is a power nap for your eyes, de-puffing and reducing the appearance of dark circles, while moisturizing and visibly firming the eye area. Great for day and night, the innovative cooling treatment also illuminates and revives tired eyes. A proprietary black tea complex proven to help inhibit damaging free radicals and improve elasticity is further optimized by antioxidant-rich noni fruit juice, known to retain and increase moisture and protect the skin.
Before this one, I used the Charlotte Tilbury Magic Eye Rescue and it comes in close second. It has a similar texture to this with similar benefits.
Sephora: Fresh Black Tea Age-Delay Eye Concentrate $90
111SKIN Rose Gold Brightening Facial Treatment Mask
This sheet mask truly makes a big difference. Whenever I have a special occasion coming up and I know that I want extra glowy and radiant skin, this is my go to. This is the mask I wore the day before my wedding! The reason this mask is different than the other 20 I have stashed away in my drawer (sorry hubby!) is because it gives you instant results. Because I have such dry skin, and I firmly believe fine lines dissipate with hydration, I ALWAYS reach for hydrating masks over anything else. There is nothing worse then putting on a sheet mask and looking like a crazy person for 20 minutes, just to take it off and have a sticky, weird smelling face with no results. No stickiness with this one, just super hydrated, bright looking skin.
I buy mine at Nordstrom: Rose Gold Brightening Facial $34
Honorable mention: Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Sukari Baby Facial
This one is new to me, I picked it up on our honeymoon a few months ago. It's not available in Canada and with a high price tag of $80 USD, it took me a while to take the plunge. I've been using it every Saturday since we got home and I'm hooked! It's exactly how it sounds, a "baby facial". Not quite what you would get out of a professional treatment, but damn close. It has a crazy high percentage of AHA's, so unless you already use acids in your skincare rountine, you will want to take it slow with this one.
Drunk Elephants take on it: This innovative at-home facial contains a whopping 25% AHA and 2% BHA blend including our dream team Glycolic plus Tartaric, Lactic, Citric and Salicylic acids to gently but efficiently resurface as it exfoliates the pore lining, getting rid of built-up dead skin cells by breaking down the substance that holds them to the surface. Babyfacial™ combines potent antioxidants such as matcha tea, apple fruit and milk thistle to soothe with ultra-hydrating sodium hyaluronate crosspolymer and non-fragrant plant oils to replenish moisture and nourish skin. We chose chick pea flour over clay for brightening and balancing without over-drying and pumpkin ferment for amazing enzymatic action. Niacinamide, a “cell-communicating” ingredient, effectively revives a healthy look and feel to skin as it brightens and tones. Appropriate for all skin types, Babyfacial™ will dramatically smooth texture, minimize the look of fine lines, wrinkles and pores and boost overall clarity—revealing fresh, radiant, baby-soft skin.
I'll keep using Baby Facial and report back! Something tells me it's not going anywhere any time soon. You can find it here for $80 USD.
What are your skincare favs?
xx,
A
#Cetaphil #Lancome #SundayRiley #GoodGenes #FreshBlackTea #111SKIN #DrunkElephant #BabyFacial #skincare #dryskin #skincareroutine #skincareview
** This post is not sponsored, all opinions are my own! **