Skincare Essentials
from a non-expert who's tried them all
When I was younger, I naively thought that the more skincare products I used, the more they would accomplish. It was as if I were throwing - not just a single strand, but the whole pot of spaghetti at the wall to see what would stick. Alas, the only thing that took hold was a newly damaged skin barrier desperately in need of some sensible TLC. Thankfully, I’m not that young anymore, and I’ve since learned the art of discernment and simplicity.
I pared back, stripped down, minimized, and semi-organi-fied my regimen. I stopped buying only the most expensive, complex, everybody-uses-them products that never really worked for me in the first place (hello, Creme de la Mer) and started fresh and clean. And it worked. After much exploration — cliché though it may be, it is also a truism — I finally understood that:
less really is more.Â
Using fewer, simpler products, my skin is better now than a decade ago, albeit with many more well-earned smile lines around the eyes. Worth every laugh.
Below are my current essentials. I’ve divided the products into the non-negotiables that I can’t imagine ever foregoing and my ‘of-the-moment’ essentials that are pulling their weight this year (and, in some cases, last year too).
NON-NEGOTIABLES:
Meet my Holy Grail product. I slather this on my face every morning and night. It is fine to use on (yes, on!) your eyes as well as on eyelashes and eyebrows (it even comes with wands for these areas). I also use it in my hairline where I show ballerina bun-head thinning, and have seen hair growth there for the first time ever. It’s a thick oil so if the texture is too much for you, you can cut it with your oil of choice or the oil listed below. Also, I’ve finally gotten The Rocket Scientist on it and he loves it just as much as I do so, buy a bottle for the men in your life as well.
Bonus: the impact-to-price ratio is simply unbeatable.
Another every day product. I once tried to cut this out and quickly realized that wasn’t in my skin’s best interest. For my morning routine, this product goes all over my face, neck, décolleté, and hands. I definitely noticed a difference when I took a break from it so it’s here to stay.
I have fallen head over heels for this Korean skincare line and this set was a great purchase. I especially love the Bean Essence — it works like an exfoliator and leaves my skin feeling so fresh. I also like the cream a lot for those times I actually use cream, which admittedly is not often — maybe only twice/week. Definitely worth having for those occasional times I like to double up on hydration and protection.
You can also buy the Bean Essence alone here.
Sunscreen. Duh. I will admit that I believe in the healing power of vitamin D directly from the sun so, on occasion, I will allow myself to soak it up — sans screen — for maybe 10 mins at a time. Not ideal for aging skin perhaps, but magic for the body overall, and especially good for my mental health. I call it balance!
When I am not naked bathing (without sunscreen but also naked, if I’m lucky) for brief moments here and there, I am slathered in this sunscreen. My fave.
(I used to be committed to Glowscreen, which I also love, but once I started using castor oil, it was too much overall glow for my skin. Glowscreen is a great product if you are not a castor oil person and you do like a little sheen.)
4a. I use two cleansers. My fave oil cleanser is as simple and productive as can be. It’s been my go-to for a couple of years now. No scents, no frills. Utilitarian perfection:
4b. Step-two cleanser. Another basic beaut. Efficient is its middle name:
Good ol’ hyaluronic. This one is a bit more expensive (using that term very loosely in this case) than others you can find on the market but after extensive trials to find my perfect fit, I determined that you definitely get what you pay for. This one is worth paying a bit more for and it’s still an absurd bargain.
OF THE MOMENT (until further notice):
On to the other products I am loving this year:
This one might be moving up to the list of non-negotiables above. It feels great, is scentless, and absorbs nicely. I sometimes mix 2 -3 drops with my castor oil but use it daily either way. High in Omega 3’s and fatty acids, it’s known for skin brightening, cell turnover & collagen production. Say no more. Sold.
(PS: mark my words that we will be hearing more about this oil in years to come.)
While I don’t use this every day, I consider it one of my shelf must-haves. Lightweight and nicely hydrating without being greasy, it slides on under or over makeup without taking center stage (like powerful castor oil tends to). This is a great, non-messy traveler too. Highly recommend. Also great for men. Rocket Scientist approved.
I keep these in my fridge and slap them on when I’m at home writing. I am wearing them as I type. Now you know. Refreshing and soothing, I love them and have bought them again and again.
Throw in a few different sizes of Gua Sha tools here and here, facial cupping tools here, a borderline absurd amount of water which is at my side even more than my phone — fave containers here and here — and these content creators I love to follow here, here and here, you now know what’s in my entire non-expert, fairly simple, learned-from-experience skincare kit.
If you try any of these products, please report in. Would love to hear if they work for you as well as they do for me. And let me know your holy grail products! Always happy to learn.
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Omg love all these recommendations!!! You're the source;)