My skin: dry, sensitive, prone to eczema/dermatitis, acne prone, congested pores on nose and chin
My hair: colored, dry, wavy, medium thickness
I am a huge skin care freak. I started my skin care journey about ~5 ish years ago. I have gone through a loooot of trial and error, so I know what’s good and what’s crap. Unfortunately, a lot of the good stuff is more expensive. Makeup you can get away with buying drug store brands, but good skin care supplies I find to be really difficult to find cheaper versions of. For makeup to even look good, you need good skin. Makeup isn’t going to cover up massive pores, fine lines or wrinkles. Sadly. I have been slowly getting into hair care – I find it less fun to play with hair products than skin or makeup products, BUT I always do my best to take care of my hair because I notice a huge difference when I get lazy with it.
I will be linking all products on my liketoknowit (You can click HERE or there is another link at the bottom of the post after you are done reading through the recommendations). Just a reminder: you don’t pay event a cent more than what the product actually costs – the store/brand sends me a small commission if you purchase through my link (which I obviously would be so appreciative of 🙂 ). I now purchase sooo many things off liketoknowit, but I had my reservations at first – it honestly does make the shopping experience so much easier.
Let’s jump into these must-have products.
- Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Framboos Night Serum
Sephora says “This is an AHA/BHA night serum that resurfaces congested skin by lifting away dead skin cells to visibly improve skin tone, texture, fine lines, wrinkles and pores.” I use this after I cleanse and tone at night. You only need one pump of it – it lasts me a few months. The most noticeable difference I see in using this is my fine line between my brows disappears. I had to stop using this when pregnant and the line slightly came back. I started using this again about a month ago and it’s totally gone. I should note that your skin may purge when first using this – AKA you break out. My skin purged and was totally healed up within a week. Also, only use this at night (duh, it’s in the name) – it makes your skin more sensitive. You will also need to wear a sunscreen when using this product and the next product – but you should be doing that anyway 🙂
2. Drunk Elephant C-Firma Vitamin C Day Serum
Sephora says “A potent vitamin C day serum packed with antioxidants, nutrients, and fruit enzymes to visibly firm, brighten, and improve signs of photoaging.” Ok, so truthfully, I used to only buy the night serum and then I was reading that they work 100x better if you use both. I ended up buying this guy and wow. When I use this, my dark spots fade dramatically and my skin is so much brighter and healthier looking. I had to stop using this as well when I was pregnant and my skin because much more dull. As soon as I started using this bad boy, the brightness in my skin returned. Just a note: this kind of smells like pennies. You know, that metal smell? If definitely isn’t a smell I enjoy, but I always wash my hands after using this (it’s also a bit sticky) & my face doesn’t smell LOL. I use this in the morning after cleansing and toning – you also only need one pump of this, so it will last you.
3. Kiehls Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado
I honestly haven’t tried a TON of eye creams, but I sure do love this one. The eye cream is thick mint green – I call it my eye smoothie. A little goes a long way with the product – if you use too much, it will just sit on top of your skin and won’t absorb. If you are prone to really dry skin around your under eyes, this is the eye cream for you. If I don’t use this twice a day, I literally get eczema patches. It keeps my skin so incredibly hydrated. I think I have gone through 4 of these? They last forever because you use so little product. Love that for us. MOST IMPORTANT THING!!! Never rub the cream into your eyes, you should pat it gently with your ring finger. Rubbing the product pulls on your skin and loosens it/creates more fine lines/wrinkles. The skin is so thin and sensitive under your eyes.
4. Dr. Dennis Gross Vitamin C+ Collagen Deep Cream
I have pretty dry skin, so I need a moisturizer that is going to keep me really hydrated. This cream makes my skin SO soft. I use less than a dime sized amount and it totally hydrates my entire face. This stuff is thick so you really don’t need much of it. The smell is really nice – a little citrussy. Fragrance either causes me to get a rash or break me out and this does not, so I think it’s just the actual vitamins in the cream that cause the smell. This product is supposed to reduce fine lines and wrinkles and brighten your complexion. I can attest to both of these claims – my skin definitely is way brighter when I use this in conjunction with the drunk elephant products listed above. I only use this at night – I think it is too thick for a day time moisturizer, in my opinion.
5. SkinCeuticals Phyto Corrective Gel
This is a thick, gooey, green serum. I don’t love the way it smells (Almost medicinal? But it goes away immediately when you put it on your face) but I really like what it does for my skin. I don’t use this every day – I use this probably 3x a week when my skin is feeling a bit dry and I am looking to reduce redness. You can also use this product after you have treatments done because it is literally made for sensitive skin. I use one dropper full and gently pat it into my skin (better product absorption this way + you never want to tug at your skin while trying to put product on your face…because = wrinkles, sagging).
6. Sunday Riley C.E.O. Glow Vitamin C and Turmeric Face Oil
This is another oil I don’t use daily, only when I need it. This one smells wealthy… I don’t know how else to describe it lol. I use a few drops of this in the morning after my C-Firma if I am feeling like I need a bit more hydration or glow. I am not wearing makeup as much right now, so I want my skin to look as good as possible. The difference between this serum and the green serum I just talked about is that this one is more for brightening and hydration, whereas the green oil reduces redness and hydrates. I haven’t used both products at the same time… I think that’s overkill and not necessary. Your skin can only absorb so much product.
7. EltaMD UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46
So, I had been using Farmacy Green Defense sunscreen for a while. I made the switch to EltaMD about a month and a half ago AND I WILL NOT GO BACK. This sunscreen is so silky and smooth and blends into my skin so so so well. I put this on every single day after my serum(s). I don’t even need a moisturizer most mornings because this does the trick. Sunscreen is probably the most important skin care product you need to invest in. Why buy anything else if you’re not going to wear sunscreen? All the hard work goes down the drain when you go out into the sun unprotected. If there’s anything you’re going to get from my recommendations – let it be this. You won’t be disappointed. Oh – it also doesn’t smell like sunscreen or leave white on your face 🙂
8. Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask
This stuff is gooood. I’m not sure why it is called a ‘sleeping mask’; I use it at any time of the day. I have the vanilla flavor, but there’s a couple others (haven’t tried them). This lip mask is creamy and so hydrating. It lasts literally so long too because a tiny bit totally covers your lips. Sephora’s site says that the product also helps with fine lines – I don’t think I have noticed that, but hey, I’ll take it.
9. Olaplex… the entire line…seriously
Not to be dramatic, but olaplex is the best hair care line ever. There are 6 different products and I have all of them 🙂
# 0 – this is to be used in conjunction with 3. 0 primes your hair for deeper repair. I put this all over my hair, let it sit for 10 mins (jk I usually forget… 30 mins) and then I add the 3.
# 3 – not just any hair mask… this is THE hair mask. Like if you ask your hairdresser about this, I am confident they will tell you how bomb it is. So, this is a “hair perfector”. Your hair needs to be damp to use this, so if you aren’t priming with the 0, go ahead and stick your head in the shower and then towel dry. You’re going to want to comb out your hair before putting this mask in. Mask should be focused on the ends, but I go up to about the mid-way point in my hair. This mask repairs dry and brittle hair and turns it into soft, shiny and more durable hair. The bottle says to keep it in for at least 10 mins… I leave it in for HOURS (the longer, the better). Just keep the product off your face so you don’t break out. I braid my hair when I have this mask in.
# 4 – this is the shampoo. I don’t wash my hair every day… maybe like twice a week? This keeps my hair from getting oily – I really massage my scalp when I wash my hair. This is good stuff and helps keep my hair healthy.
# 5 – and this is the conditioner. I use this mainly on the ends of my hair. It makes my hair really soft and again, helps keep my hair healthy.
# 6 – bond smoother. This is really good too. This is a leave in styling cream (I mix this with olaplex # 7) that adds instant hydration to the hair and also helps strengthen. I use this mainly on my ends, but I also use for my fly aways because it is great for frizz.
# 7 – bonding oil. This adds shine and even more hydration to your hair. I love mixing this and 6 together. It makes my hair soooo smooth.
10. Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Happi Scalp Scrub
Ok this is SO good for really exfoliating your scalp. It has a little nozzle applicator and you just squeeze the product all around your scalp. You gently massage the product in and leave in for a few mins before washing out. This not only gets rid of dead skin, but also any product build up. Love that. I never knew I needed this until I tried it out. Your scalp will thank you for this one, your hair will feel insanely more clean.
As mentioned in the beginning, all products will be available on my liketoknow.it HERE!
Until next time,
Lauryn xo
Beauty and the Mama 