My morning and nightime skincare routines are pretty much the same, but I did receive/buy a bunch of new products, so I thought I’d do an update. While writing this post, I also put together a video of my absolute favorites. Products are all mentioned below, plus the other stuff I’ve been trying with my honest, not-always-so-nice opinions.
Cleansers: It takes me a long time to work through a bottle of cleanser so when I finish one, the last thing I want to do is rebuy another bottle even if I loved it. I started using Bloomeffects’ Royal Tulip Cleansing Jelly (gifted) which I like — especially the smell that reminds me of barley tea?!? — but find that it’s almost too gentle and doesn’t remove makeup, even with a double cleanse. So I got myself a giant bottle of La Roche-Posay Foaming Cleanser and WOW this may become a holy grail product for me. It foams up and lathers nicely (I know that’s not supposed to mean it’s working but I still need it), removes everything with one go, and doesn’t strip my skin (even though it says it’s for oily skin, and I have more dry/normal skin in the winter).
Serums: Dr Sebagh Serum Repair (I haaaaate the feeling of this, it’s very tacky), The Seated Queen Cassiopeia's Serum Concentrate (I like, but not sure it’s doing anything extra special). Also been using Votary Night Star Serum which is silky and plumping but I don’t think the price is justified for what it is. Very similar in texture is The Organic Skin Co’s Vitamin Sea Serum (gifted) which is their Vitamin C Serum with Seaweed — I love the feeling, but am very put off by the scent of all this company’s products (see oils, below). I also bought myself some Dr. Jart Serum Toner which I do love but I wish there was some kind of pump on top to prevent it from overspilling on my hands. I use it like a toner/essence, after washing.
Face Oil — I’ve been a big fan of The Ordinary’s Squalane for years and use that after my moisturizer at night. But during the day, I’ve been trying The Organic Skin Co’s The Only Glow Tinted Face Oil (gifted), which adds a lovely luminscent sheen. It does pill over my sunscreen, though, so I apply it using a Beauty Blender. The smell of this product (and their Vitamin C serum, mentioned above) I’m not a fan of. And at night, I use Sunday Riley Luna Sleeping Night Oil — love the blue color and use this as a last step on nights when I’m not using my regular retinol. Some evenings I will finish it all off with Cerave Healing Ointment, depending on how dry/tight my face is feeling.
Moisturizers: Augustinus Bader The Rich Cream is a crazy expensive and very beloved favorite by many and I get why. A tiny dab and I feel like I look more awake and bright, but honestly, I also feel the same way when I apply a dab of this highlighter. So I’ve been sparingly using it more like an eye cream. I also just started using REN Clean Skincare Overnight Glow Dark Spot Sleeping Cream so it’s too soon to tell if it’s actually reducing my zit scars,1 but I like the consistency of it. I’m a big fan of their AHA Exfoliant still so I’m excited to be trying something else from this line. And this is actually an SPF 50 but it is also a moisturizer — Naturium’s Dew-Glow — I LOVE THIS SUNSCREEN. Dew-y and glow-y!
Hydrating Misters — I spritz these on as the last step in my skincare routine (or on top of my makeup as a setting spray) to lock it all in: Set The Tone by The Organic Skin Co. (gifted — I don’t love this smell either, but I don’t mind it as much as their other stuff) or Maya Chia’s The Optimist Hydrating Essence (also previously gifted — perfect, no notes — down to the fine misting experience).
Under Eye Masks — Right after COVID I started developing some pretty heavy bags under my eyes (that are just begining to diminish). I started focusing my microcurrent routine there/patting more retinal under them, but also began utilizing a few disposable masks. I tried Klorane, 111 Skin Celestial Black Diamond Eye Mask, Le Gushe Snail Mucin/Collagen — all wildly different in price range, and all did absolutely NOTHING to get rid of the bags. Time, concealer and highlighter works, though! See makeup, below.
Over Eye Mask — A few years ago I began getting dry eyes in the winter, and I thought it was because of my contact lenses. But now that I have had LASIK, I’m realizing that wasn’t it. I pop this Bruder Moist Heat Eye Compress in the microwave as directed, then lay it on my eyes (with a paper towel as a barrier because I’m nervous about germs) and my eyes immediately feel refreshed.
Hair: I started using a shampoo brush/scalp exfoliator to massage my shampoo in which honestly isn’t as easy-to-use as I want it to be, but I do think it stimulates the scalp gently. In the video I shoutout the 8-Second Wonder Water that was in my 2023 Favorites. I’ve stopped air drying my hair because I forgot how easy it is to give myself an at-home blowout using the Revlon One Step (see the results below). I find that whenever I do this, my hair doesn’t get oily as quickly so I don’t have to wash it as often. Or maybe it’s because I’m using a new hair oil — Larry King Haircare Spoilt for Choice (not THAT Larry King) and it may be my favorite one ever? I love how not-too-greasy it leaves my hair. Though I don’t love the smell — it kinda sorta reeks like men’s cologne.
Body — Speaking of retinol, I am trying Necessaire’s body version which is more like a lotion than a serum. That was a gift from their PR, as is the body cream I slather on top and still consider my ideal winter body butter. As for nails (that counts as body, right?) this is the Dr. Dana Hydrating Formula mentioned in the video that has helped to bring my hands back from the dead.
Lips — For my chapped ass lips (I keep thinking of the lyrics from this very controversial 90’s song that I once did a college paper on for my feminism in music class) I bought some TOCOBO Lip Mask — I wanted to see if I could find a cruelty-version of my K-beauty favorite, Laniege. This one comes in a nicer jar, with a little scoop, which I mistakenly tossed. (Use code SHOPLYNN for 10% off both.) The Vaseline Rosy Lips is similar in feel to both of the above, but as I’ve written before about his product, it’s overpriced for a tiny and cheap-feeling dupe. I’m still on the hunt for a perfect tinted lip colors that feels and looks equally good — I’ve tried Cover Girl (pictured above), Lanolips, and even Chanel Rouge Coco Balm. And none of them I like better than applying Aquaphor or Cerave Healing Ointment, letting it soak in, and then adding a lip pencil on top.
Other Makeup — After watching a video about mold and bacteria in old makeup, I finally got rid of a bunch of products. It was kinda painful, given how full a lot of them still were. So I’ve kept my makeup routine to a minimum before buying anything new:
Concealer under the eyes and around the nose/mouth (I started using Tarte’s Shape Tape which is great — a little goes a long way)
Youthforia Color Changing Oil Blush (it magically finds your skin’s perfect shade according to your pH)
Brow Pencil (video tutorial here)
Maya Chia Illumiating Serum on my lids/cheekbones
Ilia Mascara after using a curler
Elf’s Lip Stain (this is in Coral Cutie) — I got annoyed every time the lip color was left behind on my Stanley Tumbler straw2 so I decided to try out this $6 glossy stain. I love it — it feels good, lasts a long time and looooook no transfer!
My aim is to keep these posts sponsor-free, so if you’d like to support me directly with a paid subscription, that would be very helpful. Please note: I do use affiliate links and may earn a commission when you purchase something. ShopMy Shelf here.
Pimple treatments mentioned in the video can be found in this post: How I Get Rid of a Zit.
In regards to the oversaturation of this product’s hype (a great post over at
) I have been using mine since DAY ONE of this blog.
I can't help licking my lips, so my lips are more dry and cracked. I think I can try Aquaphor or Cerave Healing Ointment, Love your article!