my favorite skincare products of 2017
It's a couple of days before New Years and I've finally found two seconds to write. Last night, while I was soaking in my bath, I began fixing my eyes on all of the fab beauty products scattered around the perimeter of my bathroom, and it hit me that my next post should be about my favorite skincare products this year (DUH!!!) Hopefully the following list won't disappoint anyone... except of course, my accountant.
Ole Henricksen Face the Truth Cleanser- Finish up whatever other facial cleansers you're using and go buy this one from Ole. It foams up abundantly, cleanses deeply and doesn't make your face feel itchy and dry. It provides the perfect balance of cleansed pores and hydration. Seriously, I have tried so many different cleansers this year willing myself to love something new... unfortunately, each use was an exercise in futility. And I won't be lead astray from Mr. Henriksen again. Added bonus- It's hard to beat the $24 price tag.
Drunk Elephant C-Firma- Ok, I mean obviously I'm a big fan of anything with the word "drunk" in it's title but this serum is so much more than it's name. I really want to do this stuff justice so here we go. My dermatologist once imparted to me that the most important skincare product is Vitamin C. It is known to be well-tolerated and full of benefits. DE's C-Firma is especially awesome because it is suitable for ALL skin types. I use it every single morning and one to two pumps is enough for my entire face. It doesn't feel greasy, nor does it clog my pores. And the results are amazing. It reduces wrinkles, erases signs of photo aging, firms skin, eradicates dead skin cells and makes my skin look and feel like a million bucks. A head's up- because C-Firma is in such high demand, it rarely goes on sale... I'm pretty sure if my house were going up in flames, this would be one of the three things I would grab while running out the door (ok, ok I'd grab my blush first but this one would be a close second.)
Belif Moisturizer- Ok, so I do have decently smooth skin but with that being said, it can get super congested. I have to be so careful about what I use to moisturize my face because it is sensitive all over, oily in my t-zone and dry in every other place... you still with me here? This year, I stumbled upon Belif (an Irish, Korean-inspired face cream company) and it was a complete game changer. For years, I was using Neutrogena's sensitive skin face lotion but after reading about what a toxic dump that was, I knew it was time to be more conscientious of what I was putting on top of my skin. I now use Belif's lighter pump-style moisturizer for day time, and I use Belif's heavier, jarred "moisturizing bomb" for night time. With both creams, my face appears dewy, balanced and never clogged. The packaging is no frills but the product is all FABULOUS!!!
Kiehl's Creme de Corps Soy Milk & Honey Whipped Body Butter- This has been a family favorite for a loooong time, and I'm going to get some serious backlash for letting our secret out. This lotion potion is amazing for so many different reasons. Because it is "whipped" it is nice and light and still provides incredible hydration for thirsty skin. The smell is something to be desired and just gets better in the days after use as it lingers on clothes and bed sheets. Oddly, it comes in an uninspiring yellow tub which has aided in keeping this magical potion on the shelves of high-end retailers and out of the hands of unknowing women. This is one of my go-to presents for my girlfriends. All who try this Creme de Corps, give it rave reviews. There is nothing better.
Herbivore Coco Rose Body Scrub- I discovered this scrub a few months ago. I'm usually not a huge fan of body scrubs as it is just one more exhausting action in my already full beauty routine repertoire. I read some reviews about Coco Rose and decided to give it a try. Because of my sensitive skin, I was expecting to feel itchy, dry and irritated after using it. BUT pleasantly I felt quite the opposite. Coco Rose has coconut oil within the scrub (hence it's name) so it exfoliates AND hydrates. I usually use this before I shave (so like once a month) and I swear my scary, scaly, lizard legs instantly become smooth, sweet-smelling and feeling magnificent. And my skin stays that way for days to come... I'm actually pretty blown away by this product! Also, Herbivoire's packaging is adorable, it's another gift-giving no-brainer!
Farmacy's Honey Potion Renewing Antioxidant Mask- I raved about this face mask in my December Sunday Sampler... I was so obsessed with this product, I put it first on my list to Santa this year and (for once in the past thirteen years), he listened. I've been smothering this bee pollen based "warming" mask on my face every other day since. I don't know exactly how it's melee of ingredients works but do I really care? This stuff quickly makes my skin look so shiny, so glowy, so incredibly radiant, I look in the mirror and for an instant feel well-rested and stress-free... and then my one year old walks in and cracks a pot of gold eye shadow all over my floor and my dreams of a carefree appearance are dashed.
There you have it friends... my "can't live withouts" of 2017. This has been an amazing year for me and starting my own beauty blog has been such an instrumental part of it. Thank you so much to all who read my posts, engage with me on social media and support my dreams. It's never gone unnoticed and I am sincerely grateful. Here's to a brilliant 2018!!!
