Thank you Marcella from Naturally Marcy for tagging me! Hope you enjoy~
DESCRIBE YOUR SKINCARE ROUTINE IN 5 WORDS
My skin is the king.
WHAT’S YOUR SKIN TYPE?
Dry, acne-prone
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE SKINCARE PRODUCT?
Oils. I love facial and body oils so much. I love how concentrated they can be and the nourishing benefits they can have! Never thought I would ever say this before I got into green beauty–I used to be all over oil-free.
For facial oils, I love YÜLI Skincare’s Cell Perfecto PM for night and M.E. Skin Fuel for mornings. The Cell Perfecto PM has drastically faded my acne scars and M.E. Skin Fuel fuels my skin with moisture and good-enough-to-eat ingredients (pomegranate, broccoli, um yum?). I like Elizabeth Dehn for One Love Organic’s Vitamin C Serum as an extra when I need an extra layer of moisture–it makes my face super soft and smells relaxingly of roses.
For body oils, I love Osmia Organic’s Sunset and Flower body oils. Sunset smells sultry and delicious, Flower like a fresh flower field. Lina Hanson’s Global Body Serum (see post here) also smells deliciously of citrus and vanilla. And they all are fabulous at moisturizing.
Eating healthy, stressing less, exercising often, more sleep, and leaving those blemishes alone! I find my skin goes from not blemishy to very blemishy very quickly as soon I as up the snacks, the stress, and start going to bed regularly at 2. But when I’m on that yoga mat more mornings than not. drinking those green smoothies, chilling out, and sleeping, blemishes don’t even stand a chance. But when I am naughty and pop pimples, I do like the Dr. Alkaitis Soothing Gel (see post here) to help with the healing afterwards.
I also love a weekly (or bi-weekly) mask treatment to ward off spots. May Lindstrom’s The Problem Solver and YÜLI Skincare’s Pure are kicking blemishes off of my face like pros. The Problem Solver is spicier, more warming (like you actually feel a warming sensation), and takes more time (45 min). Pure is gentler, takes less time (10-15 min). Both are clay-based, leave my face soft, and suck the life out of blemishes.
FACE WIPES – YAY OR NAY?
Hail to the not necessary. I used to have face wipes on hand for a quick midday makeup removal, but I so much more enjoy my proper cleansing routine. I feel like green beauty does cleansers so well that face wipes are just not needed. Even if you’re feeling lazy, you can almost DIY a “face wipe” with a cleansing oil like the Elizabeth Dehn for One Love Organics Vitamin B Cleansing Oil (see post here) on a cotton round followed by a splash of water. But if you’re into real cleaning, I love the oil to remove makeup, followed either by YÜLI’s Halcyon (super gentle and floral) or May Lindstrom’s newly released The Honey Mud (chocolate honey).
TONER – YAY OR NAY?
Hail to the absolutely yay. I love toners. They’re great for that extra boost of moisture pre-moisturizing, post-makeup, or in the middle of the day.
Simple: Heritage Store Rosewater & Glycerin Spray (see post here)
Astringent: Vered Botanicals Herb-Infused Toner (see post here and here)
Acne-Prone: YÜLI Skincare Panacea Elixir (see post here)
Oily: Pai Orange and Rice Bioaffinity Toner
Extra moisture: YÜLI Skincare Cocoon Elixir (see post here)
HIGH-END SKINCARE OR HIGH-END MAKEUP?
Taking high-end to mean quality–both. I think in general skincare should come before makeup, because you should take care of your skin before you start adding extra color to it. I banned myself from blush and bronzer until my cheeks healed from redness and acne, and now, I am having a ball experimenting with color.
WHAT’S THE MOST UNUSUAL SKINCARE PRODUCT YOU’VE TRIED?
Well, my mom and my sister thought I was crazy when I brought One Love Organics Skin Savior Balm home and told them it was a cleanser and a moisturizer. Then when I broke out they were like, “Well obviously because you were using a cleanser as your moisturizer!” (True story: I did actually mix up a cleanser and moisturizer once, was breaking out for a month, and did not realize my mistake until my mom pointed it out to me)
YOU’RE IN A PHARMACY AND YOU CAN ONLY PICK ONE ITEM, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
Quick, someone find me the jojoba oil! Makeup remover, face moisturizer, body moisturizer, you name it.
WHAT ARE YOUR TOP SKINCARE TIPS?
I can sum it all up with a bit of Kant: treat humanity as an ends, not a means.
You are a part of humanity, so treat yourself, and therefore your skin with respect. You may want to try all sorts of awesome products, but resist! Don’t use your skin as a means. Listen to your skin and see what it needs first. Protect your skin! With sunscreen (or a wide-brimmed hat) and gloves in the winter. Keep dirty hands away from your face–blemishes don’t need anymore reasons to pop up!
I have had a lot of fun reading everybody else’s skincare tags, and I’d love to read yours, reader! I’d also love to read Garcy’s from Eco Diva Beauty and Asti’s from Skjonnhet.
Between yours and Asti's review of Yuli Skincare's Cell Perfecto PM being so good for Asian and acne-scarred skin, I think I have to get my hands on it soon! And possibly, even the Cocoon Elixir because I've been searching for a good hydrating toner. My dry skin gets inexplicably dryer mid-afternoon so I definitely need something.
I haven't had the chance to try anything from Lina Hanson or One Love Organics yet (I know, shocking!) but they sound incredible. Did you love May Lindstrom's Honey Mud? I just pre-ordered it and I can't wait!
P.S. I had a great time reading your tag! You are awesome!
Oops, I meant The Wanderlusting Beauty's review of Cell Perfecto!
Hi would you be reviewing halcyon cleanser? How does it compare to the other cleansers you have tried? i am currently looking for a cleanser as my second cleanse 🙂 would like to hear your thoughts about it!
Dang girl, nice products.. your skin is so spoiled! I adore and slightly jealous of your beauty routine and I like that the products seem consistent from cleanser, toner and moisturizer. Your skin is THE king indeed and these beauty cabinet is its mighty throne.
How would you compare Problem Solver and Pure Mask? I've been itching to get Pure mask but it's almost as expensive as Problem Solver but for less than half of the size. Is it better at targeting congestion or they're pretty much in par? And aaaaaahhh you got the Halycon cleanser also!! Please, do a review on that and both of the Yuli facial oils. Can't wait to hear your thoughts on both of them!
I also agree, when I have blemishes.. I am always better off not over-treating them. Maybe Retin-A once in awhile when it's a HUGE pimple (but rarely), but if its a little whitehead, a dab of e.o will do. I always try to drink more water, eat more veggies and fruits and indulge in healthier grains whenever my skin is out of balance also. Your other skin care tips are superb, I completely completely agree 🙂
Great answers! Thanks for tagging me! 🙂
Ha! I keep meaning to purchase the OLO Skin Savior Balm for a looong time actually. But I like a more liquidy cleanser more than balm cleansers. If I make the jump to purchase Yuli, do you think the Metamorphic Elixir (for dry skin) sounds good too? The Cocoon Elixir is for sensitive skin right?
Yay, my skin actually loves The Clean Dirt combined with Meow Meow Tweet's Facial Oil, so I have high hopes for the Honey Mud too! I LOVE reading about the kinds of products people are loving. It's so fun!
Yes! The Cell Perfecto PM is really amazing for acne-scarred skin! Have you also seen Beauty Palette as well as NeimanIdealist's reviews? It seems to work for everyone! Yes, I hear you on the getting dry in the middle of the day. Cocoon is definitely good for rehydration.
Gasp! Lina Hanson's body serum is to die for and OLO has really lovely products as well. OLO has a great sampling program–I think $4.95 for samples of most of their products. I do love ML's Honey Mud! Gosh it is delicious. Still figuring out how much my blemishes respond to it though.
Thank you for tagging me! I had fun!!
A review for Halcyon cleanser is on the queue 🙂 It is the most gentle cleanser I've tried, and yet it has the power to remove face makeup, and sometimes I can massage out minor whiteheads with it. It's really light and has a floral scent–the ingredients are really stunning. I really love it!
Haha thank you! I know…I spoil my skin so hard and yet it still acts out on me! Pah!
They're both clay-based but Problem Solver is more spicy and warming (with spices) and Pure is more calming (with matcha tea). A little goes tons a ways with Pure even though it looks very small, I use maybe half a teaspoon each time I mask with it (equal parts water). I use more of a tablespoon with Problem Solver (equal parts water).
When my face is really freaking out, I gravitates more towards Pure for the calming, clarifying effect. I love the warming experience with Problem Solver (and just sitting around for 45 min in a crazy black mask), but I think Pure is better at calming down congestion. Problem Solver is still amazing and awesome. I definitely owe these two a proper post haha.
Yes!!! I definitely will talk about Halcyon and the YÜLI oils! I want to wait until I finish Cell Perfecto PM so I can really get some good before and after photo evidence.
Thank you! Agreed! Treating from the inside out works the best. 🙂 Looking forward to your answers~