Skincare Favorites: My Cult Classics!!

 I am not one to switch up skincare products frequently, BUT I am a skincare junky.

(Make it make sense, Seph!) *WHEW, The first step is admitting it.*

So, this is my long-overdue list of skincare favorites! I've decided that it is only right to share the products that I've replaced, over and over, again. These products have done right by me throughout the years. However, each year, so many new products are introduced to us as “Miracle Workers” to solve all our skin problems in our ever-growing beauty market, that it makes it very hard (ESPECIALLY for people like me) to stick to our staples! From cleansers to serums and oils to moisturizers, finding and sticking to a routine seems like learning a new language, but it’s very important to create a routine! Remember, you want to age like fine wine and not spoil like a loaf of bread! If you'd like to see what sticks around in my skincare fridge and learn my skincare language, keep on reading!

First, we're going to start with cleansers:

1. BOSCIA Purifying Cleansing Gel This cleanser was probably the very thing that started my obsession with skincare many years ago. Retailing for about $28, this gentle cleanser is packed with Botanicals, Green Tea, and Hydrangea Leaf that nourishes and cleanses the skin thoroughly while protecting its natural moisture barrier and combating Dryness, Redness, and Clogged Pores and does this all while being sulfate-free. I consider it a HOLY GRAIL PRODUCT.

2. YOUTH TO THE PEOPLE: Superfood Cleanser Green means CLEAN!! Formulated with Kale and Green Tea, this powerful yet gentle cleanser works effectively to remove makeup, balance our skin pH levels, and cleans our pores thoroughly without stripping or drying the skin excessively. It is also packed with antioxidants. This is another favorite right out of my beloved skincare fridge! Retails for $36

NEXT, Toners!

This category is unique because I don’t tone in the traditional sense. I LOVE misting my face, so that is an essential component to me when choosing toners!

1. Heritage Store Rosewater Spray Known for its delicate aromatic rose essence, this Rosewater has been a cult classic for YEARS! Being that it can be used to soothe and tone the skin, it also can be used as an aid when our skin is yearning for moisture. This Rosewater is formulated completely clean, without any dyes, alcohols, or harsh chemicals! I’ve gone through about a dozen of these 8oz sprays! I swear by this! Retails for $10.29

2. La Roche Posay Thermal Spring Water Face Spray for Sensitive Skin Might be my all-time favorite! With its unique combination of mineral salts and trace elements that have been scientifically demonstrated for its soothing properties, this mineral-rich facial mist spray naturally contains a high concentration of selenium that distributes on the skin with micro-droplets. Retails for $12.99

3. Avène Thermal Spring Water Being that it has a neutral pH of 7.5 and contains a low mineral content, so it doesn’t dry out the skin, this spring water is also clinically shown to soothe, calm and soften our skin! I love using it to reduce redness and help balance out my skin! Retails for $18.50

MY FAVORITE STEP: SERUMS!!!!!

Applying a serum is so vital to how active ingredients penetrate deeper into our skin. Face serums are lightweight “moisturizers” that benefits include hydration, nourishing, brightening of our skin, and my favorite, acne prevention. They also help in strengthening our skin cells here are my TWO holy grail serums:

1. OLEHENRIKSEN Truth Serum is a serum enriched with orange and green tea extracts. It is considered somewhat like a daily multivitamin for the skin. It contains a potent concentration of vitamin C and collagen that helps brighten and firm the skin as it delivers all-day hydration. I love that it absorbs fast and has an oil-free formulation! I love what this product has done for my skin over the years! It leaves my skin hydrated all day, it evened out my complexion and leaves me with a beautiful, youthful glow!  Retails for $50

2. Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex II Is my all-time favorite serum! It is known as Powerful nighttime renewal serum for radiant, youthful-looking skin. This serum adds radiance and hydrates the skin deeply. I've been using this serum since I was 18, and it has done right by me ever since! It is oil-free, dermatologist-tested, non-acnegenic, and fragrance-free! This serum is formulated for all skin types with hyaluronic acid and packed with antioxidants! Retail starts at $70

OILS, OILS & More OILS!!!!!

What I love about face oils is that they are specially created to work with your natural oils to help keep your skin balanced. Our skin naturally produces oils, that aid in the prevention of water loss from our skin so we hold on to hydration. My two favorites are from SUNDAY RILEY!

First, C.E.O. Glow Vitamin C + Turmeric Face Oil that leaves skin very supple, brightens the complexion and hydrates the skin to aid in a healthy natural glow. Its Key Ingredients are Pomegranate Seed Oil, Vitamin C, Golden Turmeric (You all already know how I feel about turmeric) Evening Primrose Oil, Ginger Root Extract and Bisabolol! The purpose of these ingredients are meant for fighting the signs of aging, eliminating stress in the skin, reduce redness, evening out the skin and replenish the skins moisture barrier! Retails for $40

Second, U.F.O. Ultra-Clarifying Acne Treatment Face Oil is used to decongests pores and reduces the appearance of acne, blackheads, and blemishes. This oil is formulated with tea tree and black cumin seed oil that are clarifying plant oils. It is also used to reveal an evener skin tone and smoother complexion. Its Key Ingredients are Tea Tree and Black Cumin Seed Oil that are used to help purify the skin. Salicylic Acid helps clear congested pores and helps prevent the formation of acne and blackheads. And Licorice Root and Hexylresorcinol that are geared to naturally brighten the appearance of dark spots. Also, retails for $40

Moisturizers!

Moisturizing the skin is a KEY component when maintaining the proper balance in our skin! It can reduce our chances of common skin problems such as dehydrated skin and acne! My favorite Moisturizers are:

1. La Roche-Posay TOLERIANE DOUBLE REPAIR FACIAL MOISTURIZER WITH SPF is an oil-free facial moisturizer for sensitive skin that is formulated with SPF and provides all-day hydration and broad-spectrum UVA/UVB protection. This moisturizer takes a unique prebiotic action on the skin microbiome and restores the health of our skin; it is lightweight and contains Ceramide-3, Niacinamide, Glycerin, and my fav, La Roche-Posay Prebiotic Thermal Water! It is used to replenish and restore our skin’s moisture barrier! I love this stuff!

2. Sunday Riley TIDAL Brightening Enzyme Water Cream Is an intensive moisturizing face cream that is used to plump your skin, so it keeps its youthful appearance. I noticed a reduction in the presence of dark spots and hyperpigmentation with use in a short period. Its Key Ingredients are Alpha-Arbutin used to illuminate the skin and improve the appearance of hyperpigmentation! Papaya Enzymes to gently refine, smooths, and exfoliates our skin! Hyaluronic Acid for hydration and Tamarind Extract for intensive moisturization of the skin! Retails for $65

Spot Treat! Spot Treat! Spot Treatment!!!!!

These treatments are beneficial when dealing with active breakouts! They work by using the most potent ingredients directly to fight acne and blemishes. These treatments work to reduce redness, swelling, and pain within the pimple or blemish. Spot treatments can also aid with getting rid of the materials within the pore that caused the inflamed pimple to begin with. My favorite spot treatments are :

1. COCOKIND COLLECTIVE TURMERIC SPOT TREATMENT, as mentioned before in my TURMERIC: THE WONDERFUL SUPERFOOD! Post

   this chapstick-like spot treatment helps tackle inflammation and hyperpigmentation right away. Formulated also with, ginger, and tea tree oil, this organic treatment combats clogged pores and helps to brighten the complexion. Retails for $9

2. Odacités Bl+C | Pimples Black Cumin + Cajeput Serum Concentrate

   • Formulated especially for problem skin, this is advertised as a serum that helps to reduce the appearance of blemishes, but I use it as a spot treatment. I use the included dropper and apply a drop to my index finger(CLEAN) and apply it to the inflamed pimple! It contains Black Cumin, Cajeput that supports a clean and clear complexion, and Cajeput is known in aromatherapy to promote clarity in thoughts and life. Retails for $36

Masking It!!!!

When I’m looking for an immediate skin fix, I’m masking it! Face masks are perfect for helping with skincare concerns that arise at any moment. The right masks can help a dull, lackluster complexion instantly turn around to a hydrated, oil-free, glowing one! They're also my favorite way to pull out impurities that needed to be gone like yesterday! Here are my all-time favorite face masks:

1. Aēsop Chamomile Concentrate Anti-Blemish Masque When my skin was in its most troubled state, this masque saved me! This astringent, clay masque is formulated with purifying botanicals like Chamomile, Tea Tree, and Evening Primrose! It will deeply cleanse, clarify, and clam your skin so that you notice a difference in texture and brightness with consistent use! I absolutely love this stuff; however, it is a bit over on the pricey side, retailing at $45 for 2.1 oz. I believe it is worth every penny.

2. Origins CLEAR IMPROVEMENT™ Active Charcoal Mask To Clear Pores This mask is super purifying, formulated with Bamboo Charcoal and White China Clay, it acts as a strong magnet that pulls out pore-clogging debris and impurities. I use this mask when I’m dealing with the worse kind of inflammation and acne…CYSTIC! It has always done its job and shrinks those pesky large pimples by deeply detoxing, absorbing, and dissolving toxins and pore-clogging impurities! Retails for $26

3. Origins OUT OF TROUBLE™ 10 Minute Mask To Rescue Problem Skin Saved the best for last with this one right here! This is the perfect mask to use when the skin is too oily or when acne starts to pop up! Formulated with super-absorbent minerals like Zinc Oxide and Sulfur! It truly keeps those pesky breakouts at bay! It also has Camphor that calms the skin and soaks up excess oil. This mask clears away the dead cells and nasty debris to keep skin clear! IT IS MY ABSOLUTE ALL-TIME FAVORITE MASK! And you can tell that it’s my favorite for a reason!!! Retails for also $26

And that’s all I have guys! These are the products that I will consistently restock once I run out! They are my staples!

I hope this post can be helpful to you when you decide to make your next skincare purchase! And if you choose to use any of the listed products, please comment below!

"Here’s to having the inner reflect on the outer and glowing from the inside out… infinitely"

DISCLAIMER: I am not a professional in the fields of the topics that I will be discussing on this site. This is my advice through trial, error, research, consultations, and personal experience. Always consult with a professional if you have any doubts or second thoughts about any information given.