Top Ten Favorite Skincare Products

Any other 90’s babies out there insanely jealous of all the beauty advice and products available to teens these days?

Where’s todays equivalent of over-plucked eyebrows, neon blue eyeshadow, chunky body glitter, and ridiculous tans? These kids will never get to feel that cringe-worthy embarrassment that comes from looking at old photos and wondering what you (and your friends) were thinking (second to the embarrassment of seeing photos of yourself before you learned to dress yourself and wondering what your parents were thinking).

Seriously, there are thirteen-year-olds out there with way better make-up skills than me.

While I wish I could do a cat-eye half as well as today’s teens, I’m even more jealous of their skincare routines. I can remember doing some pretty awful things to my skin back in the day (like using toothpaste to dry out zits or forfeiting sunscreen in an effort to turn my skin the color of leather). My skincare routine solely consisted of Clean & Clear soap and occasionally a St. Ives Apricot Scrub (which, as it turns out, is pretty terrible for skin).

A few years ago I started noticing how much my barely-there skincare had taken a toll on my face (the price of age…thanks a lot Father Time). So, in an effort to find that eternal fountain of youth, I started majorly upping my skincare game. I tested out a lot of products to find what worked for me. Some products I got introduced to through a Birchbox subscription, some I found through researching reviews, and some courtesy of an Ulta addiction (the restaurant I worked at in SC was in the same complex as an Ulta. Moving away and not being able to spend my break browsing the shelves has done wonders for my wallet). Some products were great, some not worth mentioning, and some down-right ugly. Here’s a breakdown of my ten favorite skincare products.

*Disclaimer: My skin is considered “combination” so the products I use are intended for my skin type.

Cleansers

1. Kiehl’s Rare Earth Deep Pore Daily Cleanser, $23 at sephora.com

This was one of the products I got through my Birchbox subscription and I loved it from the moment I first used it. With Amazonian White Clay and aloe, this cleanser removes dirt and oil, gently exfoliates, and detoxifies your skin. I usually find that I can’t use an exfoliating cleanser on a daily basis; they end up leaving my skin tight and dried-out. I didn’t have that problem with this cleanser. I used it every day for over a week and my skin always felt soft and smooth.

2. Soap & Glory Peaches and Clean Deep Cleansing Milk, $12 at ulta.com

I picked this product up on a whim at Ulta one day and now it’s one of my go-to products. It features peach and ginseng extracts and is designed to purify skin and dissolve dirt and make-up. The marketing for this product also touts ingredients like “Oxyginseng” and “Gojuice extract” that unclog pores and detoxify skin. I’ll be honest, I don’t know what “Gojuice” might be…but I do know that this product definitely takes off stubborn makeup my makeup removes leaves behind and leaves my face feeling clean and moisturized. And at only $12 for 16 oz bottle, it’s super affordable.

Moisturizers

1. Air Repair Complexion-Boosting Moisturizer, $23 at amazon.com

This was another Birchbox product. I loved it so much that as soon as my initial sample ran out, I jumped online and ordered it from Amazon. Air Repair Complexion-Boosting Moisturizer is packed with great ingredients like hyaluronic acid, green tea, rose hip, and Vitamin B meant to help repair dehydrated skin and diminish the look of fine lines. I use it in the morning after a daily cleanser and it leaves my skin feeling hydrated all day. My one negative for this product…I’ve never found it any store and have to order it online.

2. Philosophy Renewed Hope in a Jar, $39 at ulta.com

This moisturizers got a bit of a cult following, so you’ve probably heard of it before. I’ve tried a few different Philosophy products and been pretty satisfied with all of them. I liked this one in particular because it feels super luxurious and makes my skin look healthier. Renewed Hope in a Jar contains antioxidants and alpha hydroxy acids to hydrate and improve skin texture over time. Like all of Philosphy’s products, it’s on the pricier side…but in this case, you get what you pay for.

3. Mario Badescu Buttermilk Moisturizer, $18 at ulta.com

For anyone looking to upgrade their skincare products without investing their kid’s college fund, Mario Badescu’s the way to go. Their skincare line is crazy extensive with products geared toward almost every skin type and issue. Whatever you’re looking for, Mario’s probably got you covered. The  Buttermilk Moisturizer is one of my favorites because it contains lactic acid, a gentle AHA that exfoliates dead skin cells and boosts complexion.

Treatments & Masks

 1. The Body Shop Tea Tree Anti-Imperfection Night Mask, $22 at the thebodyshop.com 

If you’re like me and get an occasional breakout (and by occasional, I mean every month), this is your new best friend. Put it on at night after cleansing, go to sleep, and wake-up with fewer blemishes. I like using this mask when I can feel a breakout coming on. It goes a long way to reducing the appearance of blemishes and helps them disappear faster. One word of caution: it contains tea tree oil and salicylic acid, two ingredients that dry out the oily skin that causes breakouts. It does its job, but it’s not intended for nightly use. Using this product too often can leave you with dry, patchy skin. Remember, less is more.

2. Bliss In the Honey Mega Moisturizing Lavender Honey Mask, $12.99 at target.com

You know those days when you just need to kick back in a bubble bath and feel pampered? You need this mask for those days. I picked this up a couple of moths ago when the temperature’s started to drop and my skin started feeling extra-dry and itchy. It has honey to pack in moisture and lavender and witch hazel to soothe irritated skin. It’s a perfect addition to my skincare routine in the winter when my moisturizer just isn’t cutting it.

3. Formula 10.0.6 Deep Down Detox Ultra Cleansing Mask, $6.99 at ulta.com

I tend to shy away from drug store brands and anything that seems too cheap to be true (I’ve tried too many inexpensive products with disappointing results), so I was a bit cautious about trying this product despite it’s high ratings. I ended up being pretty pleasantly surprised. Made from bentonite clay with orange oil, bergamot, and sea salt, this mask draws out dirt and oil from your pores. It’s great for those days when my skin just feels grimy and gross. 

4. Sunday Riley Good Genes All-In-One Lactic Acid Treatment, $105 at sephora.com

Sunday Riley makes me question whether it would really be all that bad to give up the roof over my head in the interest of clear, beautiful skin (don’t worry, I haven’t forfeited my rent payment to buy skincare products…yet). This is the one product that kind of made me regret my Birchbox subscription. I tried the sample I got for a few weeks before I looked it up in stores (and got sever sticker shock). Good Genes contains a potent lactic acid that exfoliates dead skin cells to leave skin looking younger, brighter, and smoother. Even though I only used this for a few weeks, I could definitely tell a big difference in my skin’s appearance. If I ever strike oil or win the lottery, I’m buying this stuff in bulk.

5. Mario Badescu Facial Spray with Aloe, Herbs, and Rosewater, $7 at ulta.com

(Yes, more Mario…I told you, they have everything). 

This is another great product for winter or anytime your skin needs a hydrating boost. I’ve used it in combination with my moisturizers for extra hydration, to prep my skin before putting on foundation, or to give my skin a little boost during the day without ruining my makeup. I even packed a travel bottle in my backpack at Disney World last year and used it for a refreshing boost when the heat and humidity started getting to me. Basically, this product is a necessity. 

So, that’s it…my top ten favorite skincare products (for now, at least). One last word of advice: Everyone’s skin is different. We have different tones, textures, sensitivity, blemishes, pores, etc. What works for one person, doesn’t necessarily work for another. So do yourself a favor before you invest in a skincare product and do some research. Check out what other people who have similar skin characteristics use and recommend.