3.19.17
As I write this New York is currently being lifted from a blizzard warning and has simply been downgraded to a winter storm advisory. Oh Stella, thank you for making an appearance mid March. *sarcasm*
This time of year is supposed to be used for planning spring wardrobes, enjoying those first blooms of a new season and finally thanking the heavens above that your skin is starting to come back to life. Wrong. If you live anywhere outside of California chances are you probly have been suffering from ‘winter skin’ since, well maybe October? Man are northeast winters brutal..
Anyways, my point is weather can be unpredictable just as your skin can be. And, as I gaze out into what iPhone weather has characterized as ‘freezing drizzle’, I can’t help but be reminded of how much my skin has suffered this winter and well, every winter. As soon as those first temps drop I fall victim to dry, flakey and patchy skin. No matter what moisturizer I use I would either end up with an overly greasy, crisco-like complexion or it simply wouldn’t do anything to hydrate my problem areas.
That is until a few weeks ago.
One evening of late night Facebook scrolling I found myself reading an #ITGTopShelfie interview by Into The Gloss, the blog linked to the cult favorite makeup and skin care brand Glossier. The woman in the interview was a regular person like you or I, but something about her skincare routine and recommendations really stuck with me. That and I also am hugely obsessed with Glossier, so that may have also had something to do with it. Regardless, these products, new and old, have made a significant impact on my skin and I think its safe to say I’m never going back to my old, practically non-existent skin care routine. If you also have been suffering from a less than perfect or hydrated complexion then keep on scrolling for full deits.
Banila Clean It Zero Sherbet Cleanser // $17.50
I’m going to list products in order of use so lets begin with makeup removing and cleansing. All my life I have used Neutrogena’s make-up wipes and never seemed to have a problem. That was until this year when I started using creams and balms to remove makeup. I apply this cleanser dry over my makeup and literally watch as it “melts into an oil-type makeup and residue remover”. I always follow it up directly after with Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cleanser, which is mild and also does an amazing job of removing excess makeup and dirt. But long story short, ditching the wipes was what I needed to stop stripping my skin and ultimately helped to retain more moisture in those cold winter months.
Burt’s Bees Facial Cleansing Oil // $15.99
Ugh I found this before my now-holy-grail Banila cleanser but still love it because 1.) its more oil based and a bit quicker to use and 2.) you can buy this at the drug store. Even though my Banila cleanser does a really good job at getting any mascara, brows, liner, etc. off, sometimes I’ll use my Burt’s Bees on a flat cotton swab to clean up any stubborn eye makeup. It’s also a great alternative to traditional makeup wipes and wont dry out your under eyes.
Son & Park Beauty Water // $30
Ok, I kind of feel like I’ve been living under a rock for the last few years. It wasn’t until a few weeks ago that I introduced a toner into my daily skin care routine and holy sh*t have I been missing out. This beauty water is amazing because it has a multitude of uses. I use this after cleansing to remove any excess dirt or oil left behind, not to mention it works as a gentle exfoliant to remove dead skin and also helps with dryness (!!). I have noticed a significant difference in my skins texture, luminosity and even moisture since incorporating this magic water into my routine and am honestly never going back to my anti-toner ways.
Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence // $16
This is something that also is a bit of a “where have you been all my life” product and also a tad unconventional for some. Honestly, I’ve seen snail mucin making waves in skin care trends lately and I think its for good reason. This right here is made up of 96% Snail Secretion Filtrate, “which is scientifically proven to be super effective on skin cell regeneration and repair”, and not to mention this little beauty works to “hydrate damaged, aging, and tired skin”. I personally have never used a serum in my daily skin care routine until recently and since doing so I have noticed my skin has become noticeably smoother, softer, more radiant and my skin tone more even. Yep, never looking back.
COSRX Honey Ceramide Full Moisture Cream // $26
O-M-GGGGG ~ I think this has been one of the biggest game changers for me so far. I say one of because let’s be real everything I’ve mentioned up until this point has been a game changer IMO. But, ending my routine with this moisturizer has been life saving for my skin and has worked wonders to cure my dry, flakey patches once and for all. This cream is incredible because its lightweight and thick at the same time (if thats possible) and it absorbs so beautifully into the skin, I have yet to feel like I splattered baby oil on my face after using it. And, as someone who has dry/oily/combination skin this is a small feat in itself. Bottom line, this is something I really don’t think I can ever part ways with.
Kiehl’s Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado // $29
Hallllelujaah *insert praying hands emoji*
Ok, I mentioned a few posts ago that I had found a holy grail eye cream that I found pairs great with Elf’s Hydrating Under Eye Primer and this lil gem is it. (peep that post here) Holy moly, I was reeeally struggling before my sis introduced me to this magical under eye cream. I would always find my under eyes dry and patchy no matter how much lotion I applied and it would drive me insane! This especially made applying concealer a nightmare. But, no more – you literally only need a pea sized dollop of this and voila your dry and crusty under eyes are healed. A major plus for me was also the fact that this stuff always absorbs into the skin like perfection and never gets cakey, oily, greasy, etc. By far one of my favorite products I’ve tried this year.
Without going into too much more detail, I can’t talk about dry skin cures without mentioning these lil guys^^^. Before getting in the groove with my current routine these were my tried and trues, and I definitely find myself going back to these now and again. But long story short, anything Origins is a great idea. Their Night-A-Mins is a great night time moisturizer if you’re looking for something that is a little thicker, hydrating and smells amazingly spa-esque.
I swear by Laura Mercier’s Flawless Skin Nourishing Rose Oil and love it because it can be used alone or can be mixed on a damp beauty blender with your foundation. Either way it never fails to give the perfect hydrating, dewy glow.
My Mario Badescu Facial Spray is something I need to restock on ASAP, especially with summer semi-around the corner. This facial spray is perfect for a quick spritz of hydration after a long flight or just in the middle of the day. I also have used this as a setting spray to set my makeup. Whatever the occasion this spray is so refreshing and I absolutely love how calming the scent of rosewater can be.
Last but not least, Cocovit + Hyaluronic Acid supplements FTW. If you noticed the large pill capsules up until this point, those are my H-Acid supplements and since reading about them on Into The Gloss I have been taking them nightly. Hyaluronic Acid is great for helping your body retain moisture and is even said to prevent aging. These bb’s + my Cocovit just about cover my entire dry skin care routine, as Cocovit can literally be used for about 100 things. Moisturizer? Yes. Lip Balm? Yes. Eye Cream? Yes. Hair Mask? Yes. I mean you get the picture, you can use this stuff for basically everything under the sun from oil pulling to whatever else you can think of.
If you’re also living somewhere where there is 6-7 months of winter, hopefully these will help you and your skin overcome the elements. Now time to count down the days until spring…
xx
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