Sunscreen
I needed new sunscreen recently so I got some samples of AKT Elemental sun balm, Coola and Suntegrity and ended up buying the Suntegrity.
I really liked the AKT sun balm; it had a sort of glow to it, but it felt maybe a little too heavy for me, which is weird, because my skin is so dry. I liked the coola as well, but it doesn’t feel as moisturizing to me, which is something I want. The Suntegrity felt good on my face (have to use a pretty small amount), and gives me good enough coverage to go without makeup most days. No, I go without makeup pretty much everyday. But I can wear my Kjaer Weiss foundation over it if I want to.
Facial Skincare
I really like my routine lately, of washing my face at night with Indie Lee brightening cleanser (which I’ve re-bought a couple times), Evan Healy hydrosol, and then Kypris antioxidant dew at night followed by Squalane oil. I really feel like I’ve noticed my skin brightening and a more even tone since using the Kypris, and I like the consistency of it, so I’ll probably re-buy when it’s out.
I did buy some things from Fat & the Moon recently to try, including their face mist and all cream. I like them both, but honestly, I can’t tell what a toner/mist/hydrosol does, although EVERYONE says you need one LOL. I’ll probably stick with the Evan Healy for that since it’s available more easily, and affordable. I do love the All Cream and I’ve been using that at night on my face and other dry patches on my body. I decided to try it while looking for skin “balms” without coconut oil in them.
And then yesterday I bought the Paula’s Choice skin perfecting 2% BHA liquid after reading her blog post on treating milia (something I mentioned a while ago that I’ve been seeing more and more on my face) and then getting sucked down the rabbit hole of her site.
Speaking of that, skincare is SO FRUSTRATING. I love it, and I love the idea of using these natural, beautiful things on my face and body, but I am so over all the hype. And I’m not about wasting money on stuff that doesn’t “work” or just looks pretty on my countertop or whatever. I just want my skin to look and feel healthy and moisturized. I think I’ve achieved that with my routine now, so I’m good, but I’d be happy to pare down even more.
Body skincare
Besides showering with Dr. Bronner’s peppermint & hemp bar soap I seriously do nothing here LOL. I need to moisturize my body after showers, but don’t because I’m usually in a hurry to get dressed or get on with shit. I’m terrible at using body lotion, but I had some almond oil that I’m trying to remember to use lately, and was looking at the Love Thyself body oil by Fat & the Moon to try. Eh, I’ll probably just stick with the almond oil…
I haven’t been wearing deodorant much lately, and it’s getting HOT here. I definitely notice a slight odor in the evenings after all day, so maybe I’ll apply something at night, but otherwise I don’t really miss it. And no one else has said anything so…
I did buy the Fat & the Moon tooth cleanse and I really love it! Most of all I love the anise/clove flavor/scent. You’re basically brushing with castille soap though, so there is a soapy taste, and it also seems to leave my lips/mouth really dry. Before this I was using the Weleda salt toothpaste, which I also liked a lot, but it dries out and seems to leave a lot in the tube, which I find wasteful. I think I’ll try Laurie’s method of just brushing with baking soda sometimes too…talk about low-waste.
Oh, and for hand lotion I CANNOT GET ENOUGH of the Weleda skin food. I have tubes of this everywhere.
Have you tried any good products lately? What are your go-to skincare items?
I use coconut oil for my bodu, and I have almond oil too, but mostly I use it for baths.
I had been avoiding coconut oil on my face, for fear of breaking out, but them I started using a CBD balm for headaches and began putting it on my tempes and forehead and then realized that it has a cocobut oil base and yet my forehead is not breaking out, so I guess all that was for nothing.
I’ve been using the Pixi Glow Tonic on my armpits because I read it kills bateria which cause odor and so far it seems to work, though nothign works as well as being in air conditioning.
Okay, I think I have milia but not on my face. They are on my left collar bone/neck area and they look a little bigger than that picture. I lean toward the minimal/natural spectrum of products but I’m willing to bend on this!
I’ve been using Josie Maran Argan Daily Moisturizer SPF 47. It seems to be working fine. I bought the tinted version but if I repurchase I might go for the untinted next time.
I brush with just baking soda when I go backpacking, but I’ve recently switched to using a tooth powder at home, and I’ll probably switch to that for backpacking and travel too. It’s just baking soda, bentonite clay, and a little bit of peppermint oil (you could use different oils to suit your taste), and it’s pretty similar to this one:
https://www.primallifeorganics.com/collections/dental/products/dirty-mouth-primal-package
(I also use their Gum Serum — finally switching away from Listerine) and love it. My only complaint about tooth powder is how messy it is. I feel like I’m constantly wiping it off my bathroom counter.
Oh, and for hydrosols, I’ve been buying them from Mountain Rose Herbs. I like the rose and the calendula. I like Evan Healy’s but I find they’re pretty expensive. I really want to start making my own…
oh! need to know more about the cbd balm for headaches please!!!
someone at credo told me that coconut oil was making me have all the milia on my face, but then she sold me makeup with coconut oil in so……i’m not convinced that’s the problem, although I do know that it can be a problem for some people, so if i can do without it on my face, i thought i’d try.
I use fractionated coconut oil in a spray bottle for my body most days – it is easy to apply, absorbs easily and does the job. My daughter will spray this on her face as a quick moisturizer after water polo . It really helps with the dryness of the chlorine.
https://www.amazon.com/Coconut-Life-Health-Products-Spray/dp/B00V504LCM/ref=sr_1_3_s_it?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1526410116&sr=1-3&keywords=fractionated+coconut+oil+spray
I also use Mountain Ocean Skin Trip Vanilla lotion if I want a scent. It is the best!
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001H54VI4/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Making your own hydrasol is easy and so inexpensive. You can buy a large bottle of witch hazel for $7, put in a spray bottle and add your own essential oils to it. I use it mainly to help spread my vit. C or Vit D serums. I use less product that way and it gets in the skin easier.
And as for milia, it disappeared when I started using Vit. D (or retinol) serum (I use Mychelle or Mad Hippie).
I love skincare posts!
My preferred face sunscreens right now include the Skinceuticals Physical UV Defence SPF 50 and the Clinique Pep Start sunscreen. The Clinique is cheap, and slightly tinted but not too tinted as I am very pale. The Skinceuticals has a really lovely finish and plays well with the rest of my skincare.
It just got hot here, so I will probably need to make some minor adjustments soon, but I’m otherwise very pleased with my routine. (I’m really happy with my skin!) In the morning I use either the non-foaming CeraVE cleanser or Sunday Riley Ceramic Slip, a vitamin C (currently Drunk Elephant), a light moisturizer (La Roche Posay Hydreane Legere or the Drunk Elephant one, which very pleasantly surprised me), Sunday Riley Juno oil, then sunscreen. At night, I use the Clinique Take the Day Off balm then either the Ceramic Slip or CeraVe, and then I switch off with various acids (Dennis Gross, The Ordinary Glycolic, or Nip & Fab extreme pads) and either Sunday Riley’s Good Genes or the Ordinary retinol, and usually more Juno on top. I occasionally do the SK-II masks, which I love, even though Beautypedia says they’re a waste.
I occasionally try other things (masks, vitamin C, retinol, acids), but I keep coming back to the Clinique balm, Sunday Riley cleanser, Good Genes, and oil, and basic La Roche Posay moisturizer.
i tried a la roche posay moisturizer i got at target a little while ago and it didn’t do much for me. not moisturizing enough…
you know, i’m not sure any of it is doing much good, really, but i think there’s something to doing things we love for ourselves, whether or not they seem to “matter” much, if that makes sense. so keep doing your masks 🙂
I’ve tried for the last few years to find a good toner/hydrosol (I’ve only recently noticed that my skin is happier with one). I liked Palermo Body’s toner initially but the second bottle didn’t work as well as my first and after so many swings and misses, I’ve gone back to good ol’ witch hazel. It’s not “in” because it has alcohol in it, it doesn’t come in a fancy glass bottle, but it works darnit! And more affordable, easier to find, etc. etc. In the end, you have to just go with what works.
My routine is usually pretty simple anyway, but lately I’ve been trying to simplify ingredients too. As much as I try to force it, I’ve realized that my face and body just can’t handle oils and can barely stand serums — but those things are all so “in” right now that it’s like venturing into a black hole trying to find a good, cruelty-free, simple moisturizer.
You know me: My love of skin care and cosmetics knows no end! And I’m always on the hunt for great tips. Luckily, I live in an area where, to paraphrase an oft-misquoted Shakespeare line, “Vanity, thy name is really expensive skin care and treatments,” so good skin care products are abundant. Anyway, I was searching & I found a hair stylist I love and one day, she looked particularly glowy and gorgeous, so I asked her what she was using. It was Elixir Vitae by Tata Harper, a luxe organic brand made in small batches in Vermont. My stylist is REALLY good – she does a lot of celebs and does Tata Harper’s hair and makeup for her photo shoots and videos, and one of the perks is free products. She said, “Check it out online- it’s really good and I’ve received compliments!” I went right to my iPad when I got home, all excited to try this miracle potion, and….Elixir Vitae is $400 a bottle!!! FOUR HUNDRED DOLLARS for a 1 Oz. Bottle! I gasped out loud and texted my stylist, who had no idea and was as shocked as I was. But I still wanted that damned glow! So I called the company and got their advice about the most effective products for the least amount of money. I’m using the Regenerating Cleanser everynight (LOVE) and the Rejuvenating Serum, plus the Clarifying Mask once a week. My skin has never looked better! Adult acne? GONE! Glow! VISIBLE! I’ve found that a little goes a long way. Can you tell I’m a convert?
Sunday Riley Ceramic Slip and Good Genes are incredible products! I haven’t used her oil, but I want to.
Are you sure they’re not tiny skin tags, Laurie? Millia will form where there is excess oil, but that usually wouldn’t occur where you describe. Maybe ask a dermatologist?
I have a note to ask my doctor when I see her next month. Thanks for the input!
The LRP moisturizer I use isn’t available in the US, irritatingly… I stock up when I travel. I don’t know why the Hydreane line works for me, where Hydraphase/Toleriane/whatever aren’t anything I’d rebuy.
Fat and the Moon actually has one of the best all-natural deodorants that I’ve tried, and I’ve tried many. Alaffia also makes one that I got at TJ Maxx (who is upping their natural product game!) that works pretty well; I sweat a LOT.
I have super dry skin and do a daily body lotion. I can’t wear conventional perfume because the alcohol gives me headaches, but I have found that I can wear scented lotions and body oils. I tend to stick with oil and change up the fragrance throughout the seasons.
I’m trying to finish up all of my bottles of random serums, but my favorite has squalane oil as a main ingredient, so I may buy some of that once I’m out. I also ran out of my Pyunkang Yul nutrition cream, and I am using Cetaphil’s Night Moisturizer with Hyaluronic Acid. It’s really nice, too. For a hydrosol, I actually prefer Avene’s Thermal Water spray, which is wonderful for refreshing on a hot day. All you *really* need for skincare is a gentle cleanser and a good moisturizer. The rest is just fun. 🙂
After reading your comment, and also liking her line, I bought a full bottle of Elixir Vitae on eBay for only $55 plus free shipping. It’s been only slightly used, too. I appreciate your rave review, Val. Thanks!
I have adult acne that is in a flare-up season, so just switched from my May Lindstrom cleanser to Tata Harper’s Clarifying Cleanser. I’m a sucker for packaging and don’t like the TH bottles as well, but the cleanser does make a difference. Only two weeks in, though. Is the serum worth it?
Glad I could help!
OMG! I hope you love it. My stylist is in her 40’s and she looked 10 years younger! A noticeable change.
If I had an extra $400 laying around, would I do it? No. Probably not. I’m really happy with the products I’m using for my skin type, plus I just ordered her new Resurfacing Serum. I make them go a looong way!
I started getting crazy breakouts (adult acne?) about 7-8 months ago and was getting so frustrated, but in the past two weeks my skin has suddenly started looking better than ever. I might be crazy, but I think the humidity in New Orleans really helped my skin! I’ve been using new products the past few months and think I’m getting closer to finding the mix that works best for my skin. I love all the beautiful products that are out there, but I’m lazy and cheap and want to keep things as simple as possible, so I fight the hype haha. Things I’ve been really enjoying are Osea Ocean Cleanser, Avalon Organics vitamin c renewal cream & One Love Organics Brand New Day. And I just use liquid Dr. Bronner’s to remove makeup first.
I wanted to do a follow-up on the Elixir Vitae. I received the product on Saturday, and my husband has already noticed an improvement in skin tone. (He rarely comments on my appearance anymore, so this compliment was unexpected.) Seriously, this serum is amazing, and worth my modest investment on eBay for a fraction of the $400 price. My only minor issue is that it has a strong scent upon its application. Fortunately, the floral notes fade fast.
That’s so exciting to hear! I’ll bet you look GREAT! (Getting husband’s to notice…ugh!)