…Skin, that is! I’ve been very fortunate in my adult years to have had a decent time with my skin. That being said it is almost alwasy due to a misstep on my behalf when it comes to my skincare routine. Of course, on occasion I will get hormoanal acne but to be honest it’s very rare as I’ve tracked down any blemishes to be caused by poor habits (unhealthy eating and not taking care of my skin like a baby). Boy, I’ve come a long way from not being able to track my acne to my old habit of eating 3-6 (!) chocolate bars a day. Haha, wow, so clueless!

Today on the blog we are discussing my holy grail skincare which includes some tried and true favorites as well as a few new to me finds and a couple of the latest skincare products on the market that I have become a guilty pleasure. Let me know in the comments or on my socials what your holy grail beauty products are! (Specifically any amazing brightening products out there- help ya girl out!)

Day and Night

1. Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream. An absolutely amazing moisturizer. Light enough to wear on it’s on and not clog your pores, but moisturizing enough so that you can’t stop touching your face throughout the day.
2. Kiehl’s Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado. I’ve never thought that I would be an “eye-cream-gal” but hear me out! I always thought that eye creams were all the same after spending years trying various samples from here or there. Little did I know, I was just not investing in the right products for my skin. Something about this eye cream (and likely specifically the fats and oils from the avocado) keeps my under eye area so supple and moisturized and prepped for concealer. Not only that but I swear that it makes the appearance of my under eye area overall brighter and more well-rested. A true keeper.

Day

1. Fenty Skin Total Cleans’r Remove-it-all Cleanser. I’ve got to admit I was not always a wash my face in the morning type of chick since I shower at night typically. however, washing off the sleep sweat after a cozy rest under the covers is so refreshing in the morning and helps me start my day with a clean canvas for makeup. I find that when I am consistent about washing my face in the morning, my skincare and any other products go on so smoothly, and I can feel my active products truly sink into my skin.
2. Aveda Toning Mist. Even though I do believe that this product is very neutral and doesn’t necessarily add a lot to my routine, I’d be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge how great it is to swipe on in the morning whether or not I’ve washed my face. I also find that swiping this on this morning with a cotton pad just helps to get all the sleep off my skin if I am feeling lazy or like i am in a rush. I figure if it helps to replenish moisture in my skin and get rid of surface oils then it can’t hurt.

Night:

1. Neutrogena Oil-Eliminating Astringent. A true Godsend among skincare products. If you want to control your acne in a traditional but not extremely harsh way, then astringent is the way to go! It always keeps my pimples at bay. Whenever I suspect some little bumps are trying to make an appearance (or at night after a long day of makeup wearing), I will swipe this astringent on with a cotton pad and really massage it in. I’ll be honest, it ain’t for the faint of heart. It can sting a little on active breakouts. That being said, it also truly helps to clear the pores including those of active breakouts.
2. Fenty Skin Instant Reset Overnight Recovery Gel-Cream. This is amazing and is the perfect lightweight moisturizer to sleep in. My skin feels like it can breath, it is slightly cooling, and I don’t have to worry about heavy moisturizers jacking up my satin pillowcase! The packaging is what makes this awesome though, so I have to say I want to try other gel creams too in the future.
3. Aveeno Skin Brightening Daily Scrub. I FREAKING LOVE THIS DAILY SCRUB/CLEANSER SO MUCH. I put everyone who is looking to change their skincare up onto this product. The tiny beads really scrub the skin gently, and your face feels so clean after a wah. That being said, I personally try to limit this to a once a day use, and I find that the best time of use is at night when scrubbing the day (full beat face of makeup) away! I also love that it contributes to my skin’s smooth surface and even texture, and that it’s so sensitive on the skin. No added redness, I promise.

Sunscreens

1. Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Body Mist SPF 100. I’m a very pale skinned lady (all my kings and queens with albinism, what up?!), so I’m always on the hunt for the most amazing sunscreen products. I’m particularly drawn to sunscreens that don’t break the bank. This Body mist is everything. No white cast, no clothing transfer, no overwhelming scent. It just checks all the boxes for me. Plus, while I gravitate towards a higher SPF, there are so many iterations of this sunscreen (different protection levels… mist vs. lotion) that it cannot be beat for what it is!
2. SunBum Mineral sunscreen SPF 50. For my face I do not go over an SPF 50 since I take care to keep it out of the sun as much as i can. Although I do not care for the tropical scent, it has surely done me well over the course of at least the last year. It is priced right, is not super heavy and does not leave a white cast, but it is thick enough to keep me feeling protected.
3. Fenty Skin Hydra Vizor SPF 30. It’s a newbie but I’m also obsessed with this product! It is lightweight, feel smooth on the skin like my other Fenty Skin products, and again, comes in an amazing scent. My eyes do not sting as well which is a plus since my eyes are so sensitive to sunscreen even though, YES, you’ve got to put sunscreen protection on your lids too. Similar to the overnight gel-cream, this seems lightly moisturizing and cooling too!

*Honorable Mentions*

Botanics Rosehip Oil, Botanics Ionic Clay mask, Elta MD Facial sunscreen