The Best of Skincare

(Some of my favorite skincare products.)

My favorite beauty vlogger, Ashley of makeupTIA, made a fun video tag this week featuring her favorite skincare products, along with Sandra of ttsandra. The questions were really fun and informative, so I’m participating because you know how much I love talking about beauty products and skincare. I tried to answer as honestly (and briefly) as possible.

1. What’s your skin type?

My skin is truly combination, with an oily T-zone and rosacea that makes it sensitive at times, too.

2. How do you store your skincare products?

I keep my cleansers and toner by the sink, and my serums and moisturizers in my medicine cabinet in my bathroom.

3. Favorite ingredient?

Hyaluronic acid is wonderful for adding extra moisture, and I’ve been using Now Foods’ Hyaluronic Acid Firming Serum for several months. It’s extremely gentle and is especially great for fall and winter.

4. Most indulgent product?

I recently bought a jar of One Love Organics’ Skin Dew Coconut Water Cream, their newest moisturizer that is very light and extremely moisturizing. It’s fairly expensive, but a little goes a long way and I think it will be great as a nightly moisturizer during the spring and summer, too. I’m also a dedicated user of Mullein & Sparrow’s Immortelle & Myrrh Facial Serum. The bottle is incredibly small and delicate, but I try to stock up when Mullein & Sparrow offers a discount code on their site. I would drink this serum if I could and it is very calming and balancing for my skin.

5. Best budget buy?

Simple’s Micellar Cleanser Water is extremely gentle and effective at removing eye makeup, and I’ve found that it works better than Bioderma. The larger size bottle of 13.5 ounces is less than ten dollars at the drugstore. I use it nightly with washable cotton pads.

6. Do you use any tools?

I have never tried the Clarisonic because my dermatologist does not recommend it. Occasionally, I will use my Shiseido Cleansing Massage Brush if my skin needs a bit of exfoliation while I’m washing it. I also use a cotton washcloth to wash my face at night, and will gently massage the cloth against my skin if it’s looking dry.

7. Best mask?

My skin reacts easily and masks usually cause itching and redness, so I mostly avoid them. Very rarely, I will apply a layer of natural honey and leave it on for about 10 minutes. I’ve tried many different masks and never had good experiences, so I tend to avoid them.

8. Best multi-use product?

I really love Rosemira Skincare’s Unscented Rich Moisturizing Cleanser & Night Cream, which is a cleansing and moisturizing balm. It’s an excellent moisturizer for colder months, and you can also apply it to your arms and chest, as well.

9. If you had to stick to only one skincare brand, what would it be?

This would be really hard for me, because I’ve spent several years searching for the best products for my skin, and they are from many different places. But to answer the question completely honestly, I would be happy to use Cetaphil’s RestoraDerm Eczema Calming Body Wash and Moisturizer, since they are incredibly gentle on my face and skin. When I’m suffering from allergies and my face reacts, the wash and moisturizer calm it immediately. I’ve yet to find any more natural substitutes. I also really love many of Avène’s products, which are formulated for sensitive skin.

10. Best spot treatment?

Retin-A. It’s worth it to get a prescription.

11. Favorite step of your skincare routine?

Washing away my makeup at the end of the day feels very nice, but massaging the serum and moisturizer is truly relaxing.

12. What’s on your skincare wishlist?

After years of trying hundreds of products, I’ve finally found the things that really work well for my skin. Once in a while I will try something new, but I’m much more cautious these days. I am curious about Glossier’s Super Pack Serums, but haven’t tried them yet.

These questions were so much fun to answer! Be sure to visit Ashley and Sandra’s channels to see what they recommend, too.