15 skincare products our beauty editor uses everyday
Cleanse, moisturize, sleep, and repeat—or not. Everybody’s skincare routine differs, from the 18 product skincare maximalists to the one-and-done movers and shakers. In A.M. to P.M., we’ll explore the morning and evening routines of women with different skincare concerns, giving you real-life examples of routines that focus on acne, vegan beauty, and much more.
Age: 28
Profession: Senior Fashion & Beauty Editor, HelloGiggles
Skin Type: Combination / Acne-Prone
Skin Concerns: Dryness and blemishes
I’ve always been aware of my skin, ever since I can remember. As a kid I slathered on SPF 75 before going out in the sun, and I remember thinking about age prevention products as early as 14. Now I know that was a little over the top, but it goes to show that I’ve always made taking care of my skin a priority. Thankfully, as a beauty editor I’m constantly talking to dermatologists and skincare experts about what skin really needs and have consequently found the kinds of products that work best for my skin and my lifestyle.
PM
Taking off your makeup and properly cleansing your skin are crucial to keeping your skin healthy—you don’t want product buildup and debris clogging your pores. The first thing I do is use one of the Almay Biodegradable Micellar Makeup Remover Wipes to take off my face makeup. I use the textured side first, gently pressing down on my skin as I swipe it over my face, and then I flip it to the smooth side to go over my neck and once more over my face. Then, to remove my mascara, I use the First Aid Beauty Conditioning Eye Makeup Remover. I apply some onto a cotton ball, then place it over my eye for five Mississippi (important!) seconds before very gently gliding it off—please, for the love of God, don’t rub or tug the skin around your eyes. It’s much thinner than the skin on the rest of your face, so pulling and tugging there will speed up signs of aging and can irritate your eyes. Most of the time, I only need to do this once on each eye, but if I think there is some extra eye makeup lingering I’ll go in again. Ain’t nobody got time for eye infections! Then, just to make sure I got all the yuck out of my pores, I go in with my belif Aqua Bomb Hydrating Toner. Most of the time nothing will be left on my skin, but I always do a round just in case. I love that this toner doesn’t dry out my skin like others tend to do.
Once cleansing is over, the rest of my routine involves just one product: my beloved Augustinus Bader The Rich Cream. I wrote a big ol’ love letter to it in another post, but what you need to know is that it’s the holy grail of all skin moisturizers and I (and my skin) will never be the same again. The cream uses epigenetic technology to tell your skin cells to be healthy, so it doesn’t just address one skin concern, but instead just makes everything better—including acne! The Rich Cream works best on its own, so there’s no need to use additional serums and oils. Lastly, before hopping into bed, I slather on a generous amount of SkinFix Resurface+ AHA Renewing Cream all over my body because hey, body care is skincare. It has a subtle citrus scent, and the AHA in it works to gently sough away dead skin cells to help me get the skin texture of a baby seal. I finish with a lip treatment before sleeping and am currently in love with the Biossance Squalane + Rose Vegan Lip Balm. I reserve it for nighttime use because of its thick consistency—it’s kept my lips chap-free all winter.
AM
Rise and shine! The first thing I do in the morning is hop in the shower, where I cleanse my face with my all-time favorite Youth To The People Superfood Antioxidant Cleanser. It smells fresh, has a lovely gel consistency, and comes in a glass bottle that’s easy to recycle. Then for my body, I use my Nécessaire The Body Wash in the eucalyptus scent, which helps to awaken my senses, and because I was feeling a little ugh in the morning, I treat my skin to a gentle exfoliation courtesy of my One Love Organics Botanical C Body Polish scrub.
Once I’m fresh and clean, I start by applying a few drops of the Vintner’s Daughter Active Botanical Serum to give my skin a little luminosity. I switch my serums and eye creams depending on how I slept the night before, and on days I don’t get enough, I enlist the power of this cult-classic serum to make me look more alive. Next, I apply my Sunday Riley Auto Correct Eye Contour Cream, which has reflective particles in it to play light games and cosmetic magic to make you look more awake. It also contains caffeine, which temporarily plumps the skin in the same way that a cup of Joe plumps the soul.
I’m devoted to BeautyCounter Countertime Antioxidant Soft Cream because I love how gentle it feels and how supple it makes my skin look. My last step before makeup is sunscreen (yes, even in the winter). My all-time favorite is the Elta MD UV Clear Broad Spectrum SPF 46. It’s a mineral sunscreen that goes on clear, meaning it doesn’t leave any chalky residue behind. It’s also been recommended to me by every single dermatologist I’ve ever interviewed, so I know it’s a good one. Then, I apply the AmorePacific Dual Nourishing Serum to my lips. It absorbs quickly into the skin, so I don’t have to worry about it messing with my lipstick if I’m wearing one that day. Finally, I slather myself in RODIN olio lusso geranium and orange blossom body oil which makes me feel like a rich yet carefree heiress who vacations in her villa in the south of France. Also, it’s incredibly hydrating, absorbs quickly, and has a fragrance I can only describe as heavenly.
It’s important to note that I let up to five minutes pass between each step of my skincare routine to allow each product to absorb correctly. As the Mandalorian would say, this is the way.
