When it comes to skincare, you know I can’t help but share my favorite products. Skincare, to me, is something that does not only treat current skin issues, but also help prevent future ones. Since I perform my skincare regimen daily, it’s important that I keep it as streamlined as possible. Facial skincare products for women, in my opinion, have begun to look more like military arsenal and less like products that nourish our skin. Although, from time to time, I add and take out a few things, what remains a constant is my undying love for an incredible exfoliator. The one that has completely won my heart is first on my list:
- CLEANSE
Acure Brightening Facial Scrub: This scrub is one that I just stumbled upon at Target. I was looking for something that would really remove every last bit of makeup, exfoliate dead skin cells and leave my skin refreshed, not dehydrated. Exfoliating is the unsung hero of skincare. It combats acne, discoloration, and aging. For men, they have the advantage of shaving their faces regularly, removing dead skin on a regular basis, revealing bright supple skin. Facial skincare products for women focus on being gentle, but don’t really focus on the impact a good scrub can have. Having graduated from the ‘St.Ives Apricot Scrub Club’, I was nervous about the granule size of the scrub. When I got around to using it, I was not expecting the green, spinach-paste like texture to spew out from the bottle. It has a very ‘botanical’ scent to it as well, but I gave it try. This natural face scrub exfoliates, brighten and truly lives up to it’s promise. The level of exfoliation I want to achieve determines how much water I use to lather up this kale-ish facial scrub. It’s pack with organic lemon peel and sea kelp to really slough off makeup, eyebrow makeup and even long lasting liquid lipstick. The French Green clay draws impurities out of my pores which helps to shrink them (yes, please!). And lastly, it is packed with Madonna lily extract (fancy) to stimulate cell turnover. Acure brightening facial scrub is free of parabens, sulfates, phthalates, mineral oil, petrolatum, silicone, and is cruelty free.
2. HYDRATE
Sunday Riley C.E.O. 15% Vitamin C Brightening Serum: During the holidays, Sephora had a skincare set that offered miniature sized versions of their best selling items. One of the items in the skincare set was the highly popularized C.E.O. Vitamin C Rapid Flash serum by Sunday Riley. Having heard so much about it, I couldn’t wait to try it. So when I pumped it out, I immediately noticed that it was white and opaque which made it look more like a moisturizer and less like a traditional serum. And then I smelled it-and that’s when I really fell in love. This serum has the most energizing, citrus scent that smells like a mimosa on steroids. I pumped a dime size onto my fingertips and applied it to my face and decolletage. Immediately noting how hydrating it was, I went to bed with a low expectations, but oh my gosh. When I woke up, my skin was visibly brighter. I had a healthy glow from within. Honestly, it looked like I had 10 hours of sleep, an oxygen facial and won the lottery, all on the same day. And this wasn’t just in my head. The C.E.O. Rapid Flash is packed with 15% THD Ascorbate which is a therapeutic level of Vitamin C for brightening and clarifying. It also combats the day to day wear and tear we experience from environmental factors like pollution and the sun. In terms of skin types most suitable for this brightening serum, the Phytosterols help reduce redness, dehydration, acne and fine lines, so almost anyone. Lastly, this is free of parabens, sulfates, phthalates and is cruelty free.
3. ILLUMINATE
MAC Strobe Cream: Fun Fact, I worked at MAC for years. As a counter artist, we were educated on products like makeup application, brushes and skincare. MAC isn’t exactly known for their skincare, and although their foundations can have a bad rap, their strobe cream is the industry leader in illuminating moisturizes. The strobe cream has iridescent, illuminating particles that bounce light off the face. The bounce of light creates the most beautiful blurring effect on the skin, detracting from any blemishes, textured area and fine lines (amen!). Aside from the brightening effect that it has on the skin and your makeup, it actually offers quite a few skincare benefits. Strobe cream has green tea which calms the skin, and mulberry root extract for anti-aging. It’s also super versatile, so you can mix it into foundations to shear them out, moisturizers for the no-makeup look and body makeup for J.lo legs. The pearlized pigments in the original strobe cream have a pinkish opal undertone, but recently, new versions have been released. There is now ‘Goldlite’, ‘Peachlite’, ‘Redlight’ and ‘Silverlite’ so you can pick the one that suits your undertones best. Other facial skincare products for women don’t impact the overall appearance of foundation to the same degree this one does, making it a true star. Lastly, MAC Strobe cream is non-acnegenic so it won’t clog your pores or irritate your skin.
4. MARINATE
Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Sleeping Mask: Holy AHA’s! Alpha hydroxy acids, or AHA’s, are exfoliants that tone and clarify your complexion, while sloughing off dead skin cells. Aside from being packed with AHA’s, Glow Recipe Watermelon sleeping mask has Hyaluronic Acid which clings to moisture in the skin, so as it exfoliates, it softens. Glow Recipe is a Korean Beauty brand that specializes in skincare for women who want to treat, heal and nurture their skin. At the forefront of facial skincare products for women, this brand is synonymous with innovation i.e. their formula. When I applied this jelly, non-greasy formula on before I went to bed, I was nervous it would not absorb into my skin and get all over my pillows, but thankfully it did not. Instead, it soaked into my skin and smoothed it out like Facetune, y’all. In order to avoid cross-contamination of the entire jar, I used these cute spatulas I ordered off amazon. I use this once a week and although it does leave my skin baby-supple-soft, it is powerful. My suggestion is to ease into your usage and only apply a thin later. Lastly, this K beauty cult favorite is free of parabens, sulfates, phthalates and is cruelty free.
