Happy Tuesday, friends!  Last week I rejoined the blogging world after a little hiatus, and today I’m sharing some current skincare favorites that I’ve been meaning to share for a few weeks now.  It’s been WAY too long since I rounded up a slew of skin goodies, but lately, I’m really loving what I’m using.  Somewhere around the start of the new year, my skin was in (what I’d consider) pretty bad shape.  I love the holiday treats, parties, and Go-Go-Go mentality as much as the next gal, but at the end of December, my skin was suffering.  Yikes!  Bumps, breakouts, and SO much dryness – I had to do something.

So in January I started a new routine and refocused on my skincare.  I’m lucky enough to receive so many beauty goodies from companies, so I might as well put them to good use, right?  My current routine includes a whole lot of Dermalogica with some other favorites mixed in, and so far, so food.  My skin has, for the most part, cleared up, minus a few random breakouts here and there, and I’ve started to once again see my skincare ritual as a sort of spa time instead of a nightly chore.  (That part really is so key.)  So here are a few of my tried and true current skincare gems.  Hope you guys enjoy!

Cleansing – The cleansing part is where things can get really lazy for me, and I’ll fully admit that some nights I still use the old makeup remover towelette standby.  (These from Neutrogena have always been my favorites.) . But for the days when I get my act together, I’m loving this 3-step cleansing routine from Dermalogica.

Precleanse Balm – This is, not maybe, but DEFINITELY the best product I’ve found for removing makeup and all the gunk at the end of the day.  It’s a super thick, oily balm – think Chap-Stick or Vaseline consistency – and I rub it all over my face, over makeup, when my skin is completely dry.  That may sound crazy, and trust me it FEELS crazy at first, but it immediately starts breaking up and melting off makeup.  I usually apply it before getting into the shower and then rinse it once I step in.

Special Cleansing Gel – I wouldn’t say this cleanser moves mountains, but I think it’s a pretty good everyday go-to.  And, I do love it as a second step after the Precleanse Balm.  It’s a pretty gentle cleanser and removes all the makeup and gunk that the Precleanse Balm breaks up.  I keep it in the shower and use it daily.

Daily Microfoliant – The third step is definitely my favorite, and this product is SO good.  When my face is still soaking wet from step two, I pour some of the Microfoliant into my hands.  It’s in powder form, so when it hits wet hands, it starts to form a sort of paste that’s super gentle, like a really soft, wet sand.  I scrub my face with it like a normal exfoliator, and I swear my skin is always instantly softer.

Tools – There are three tools that I swear by: my Clarisonic Mia Prima Facial Cleansing Brush, the PMD Clean Facial Cleansing Device, and the PMD Personal Microderm.  (You can also get the two PMD devices bundled here.)  I pretty much use the Clarisonic and PMD Clean interchangeably and really can’t pick a favorite.  The Clarisonic’s brush head leaves my face feeling squeaky clean while the PMD’s rubber bristled, vibrating head feels like more like a facial massage.  I use the PMD Personal Microderm Device a couple of times a week and love it for refreshing my face and getting rid of dead, dull skin.

Masks – There’s pretty much nothing I love more than relaxing with a mask on, so a couple of times a week, I’ll do the whole cleansing ritual, put on a mask, and hop in the tub for a bath.  I use a ton of different masks actually, but my favorite is hands-down the Exfoliating Treatment Mask from Tula.  I also go for masks by Georgette Klinger and Pixi and love a good sheet mask like the Tatcha Luminous Dewy Skin Mask before bed.

And Everything Else – After masking and using the PMD Personal Microderm, I love Pixi’s Rose Tonic and Dermalogica’s Phyto Replenish Oil.   Then it’s on to the last of the lotions and potions, and lately, (once again) I’m loving so many from Dermalogica.  I keep the Dermalogica Power Rich Firming Cream, Overnight Retinol Repair, Nightly Lip Treatment, and Sound Sleep Cocoon in my nightstand and rotate them throughout the week.  When I’ve got a breakout of any kind, there is NOTHING better to me than a COSRX Acne Pimple Master Patch.  I’ll sleep with one on any blemish and see instant results the next morning – these things are seriously magical.

xoxo

Photos thanks to Katie Stuart

After about a week in Cabo, a girl could use a little under eye help, ya know?  A couple of days into the trip of late nights and early mornings I actually commented to Kathleen that I’m so glad that I finally figured out an under eye regimen that works for me.  There was a time (a couple of years really) when the bags under my eyes bothered me SO much.  Big sunglasses were my best friend, and while I still live for a good pair of sunnies, I’ve kicked the bags underneath to the curb.  Ain’t nobody got time for all that facial baggage!

So how did I do it?  Drinking more water and getting more sleep?  In a perfect world, yes.  But this world is far from perfect and so am I, so I get by with a little help from my (beauty) friends.  If you follow along on Instagram stories, then you’ve probably seen that I get lots of beauty packages sent to me.  I’m a lucky duck and appreciate every single gift, but the one product that gets me most excited is always a good under eye cream.  I’ve tried and tested a bunch, but the four above are the ones that I’ve used and loved for a while now.

Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye – I’ve had this little guy for almost a year now, and I’ve just about reached the bottom of the pot.  (You can probably tell it looks a little beat up in the photos above.)  The consistency is like a thick gel, but it feels amazing and so luxe under your eyes – you can sort of feel a tightening effect.  I keep this one in my nightstand and use it a couple times a week.

Origins GinZing Refreshing Eye Cream – This one is probably my newest discovery, and I love LOVE it for daytime.  It’s a bright white cream and has a luminizing effect that also helps hide dark circles.  It’s pretty genius and amazing under makeup – no flaking or annoying build-up.  I use this one every single day under my makeup.

Tula Revitalizing Eye Cream – I’ve used and loved Tula products for years, and this is my number one favorite of theirs.  This is the eye cream I used on my wedding day after staying up WAYYY late the night before.  (When your wedding is in New Orleans, what can you do?)  I keep this one in my nightstand too and use it most nights – I’m on my third jar of this one.

IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye Eye Cream – My love for IT Cosmetics runs DEEP – I use a ton of their products.  This one is somewhere between a cream and a gel, and it also feels amazing under your eyes.  I think this one also gives a slight tightening feel and is also pretty cooling.  I keep this one in my makeup bag, so it’s the night cream I always use when traveling.

And there it is, my four under eye all stars.  (Also a fifth – Aveda’s tulasara Wedding Masque Eye – I keep this one in my nightstand in Palm Springs.)  I wanted to narrow it down to a must-buy favorite, but I realized that I can’t.  I use them all, morning and night, and definitely not sparingly.  I’d love to know if there’s one I’m missing out on though.  Do you guys have a fave?  Let me know because I’m always down to try something new!

xoxo

1. Tula Revitalizing Eye Cream – use code mystylediaries25 for 25% off – I really can’t even tell you how much I love Tula’s skincare line.  It’s probiotic-based and feels amazing on my skin.  How much do I love it?  I relied on it for my wedding day.  We stayed out really late the night before our wedding in New Orleans (How could I leave a dance floor packed with all of our family and friends and a live band?), and when I woke up on the morning of our wedding, my skin was definitely a little puffy.  I showered, applied this eye cream, the Hydrating Day & Night Cream, and the Advanced Neck Cream, and went back to bed for about an hour.  When I woke up, my skin felt refreshed, hydrated, and de-puffed.

2. 100 Percent Pure Fruit Pigmented Water Foundation – This one is a watery formula that you can apply as thin or thick as you want.  It dries quickly and leaves skin with a beautiful matte finish.  100 Percent Pure products are all natural, organic, and fruit-dyed so you can feel good about what you’re putting on your skin.

3. IT Cosmetics Hello Lashes 5-in-1 Mascara – This one’s easy: big, fat, noticeable lashes. For anyone (like me) who’s constantly on the hunt for the next big thing in mascaras, do yourself a favor and give this one a whirl.

4. IT Cosmetics Brow Power Universal Eyebrow Pencil – I love a good brow product, and this one is my current favorite.  It’s a universal shade that works just as well on me as it did on a couple of my brunette girlfriends.  The brush side of the pencil is super soft and comfortable – because what’s up with all of those painful, scratchy versions out there?

5. Supergoop SPF 30 Lip Balm – Because is there anything more annoying than sunburned lips?  I mean, maybe a couple of things, but I’d rank dry, burned lips up there with having someone tap dance around while I have a migraine.  Super fun.

6. Urban Decay Naked Skin One and Done – This stuff is SO good!  It’s a slightly thicker formula but feels weightless on my skin.  It creates such a smooth, flawless finish that is still noticeable at the end of the day.  It’s oil-free with SPF 20, and it’s supposed to improve the look of skin over time.  (I can’t really swear to that yet, but we shall see!)

7. Tula Volume Defense Deep Wrinkle Serum – use code mystylediaries25 for 25% off – See #1 above – I really, really love these products.

8. Pur Cosmetics Glow Together Bronzer – A big, fat compact of luminating, highlighting bronzer shades for your face, neck, shoulders, whatever.  Perfect for that “fresh off of a beach vacation” look that we all want, right?

9. Urban Decay Beached Bronzer – This one is great for the gal who loves a little bronzer faux tan without the shimmer.  It’s a matte finish, so you get a little sun-kissed color with no sheen.

10. Urban Decay Ultimate Ozone Primer Pencil – Spring and summer are the best times to play with fun lip colors, but nothing says “summer beauty fail” like a smudged, melted lip.  A quick swipe with this baby prevents feathering, hydrates lips, and helps keep lip color in place.

11. bareMinerals Invisible Light Powder Duo – This is like the ultimate setting powder duo.  One side is matte and the other is luminizing, infused with rose gold pearls.  It’ll leave skin glowing and oil-free, with that little bit of something that’ll have them wondering, “how does she do it?”

xoxo