My Must-Have Skin Essentials

This last fall and winter, my skin was abnormally more dry that it usually is. I usually have a drastic skin change around fall because of the weather change, but then is mellows out and goes back to normal. This year was particularly strange because my skin never stopped being dry, but winter wasn’t even very cold this year. The heaters weren’t on as much and I wasn’t spending hours outside in the snow (because there wasn’t any…). I was forced to look around beyond my usual skincare products and find new items that would work better for me. Today’s post will be a round up of all my favorite products that worked for me not just in skin, but make-up and hair as well.

My Go-to Skincare

Starting with my all-time favorite skin hero: Clearstem’s MindBodySkin. I have been on Accutane twice, and when my acne came back for the third time, I was pulled between just dealing with it or attacking it with harsh products. While I was right in the middle of that debate, I found and decided to try this supplement. It took a few months, but the results are consistent, the side effects are non-existent, and I have never been so excited about taking a pill! I have been using for over a year and a half and am super stoked with the results. I will tell anyone and everyone about this!

Next is an ingredient that is always on my shelf, but the product occasionally rotates to try something new. That is Hyaluronic Acid in a serum form. I keep coming back to this one from Naturium and use this every single day.

My favorite face sunscreen is from Biossance. I actually only ever buy the travel size and it actually lasts me a pretty long time, plus it’s easy to pack.

My most tried and true skin product is actually Vaseline! I started using this my first round of Accutane at the doctor’s suggestion to help prevent bloody noses (gross, I know!). During that time, I really started using it everywhere, and when my skin got really dry again this year, it really came in clutch until I could figure out what was going on with my moisterizers.

My New Skincare Additions

I tried so many different serums and moisturizers trying to find out what would work to calm my dry skin and help me not flake so much. I did purchase this really overpriced UBeauty serum thinking it was a moisturizer and if it was that expensive, it would work really well. It did not. It was fine as a serum, however, but it didn’t solve my issue.

What did work was this Collagen Night Wrapping Mask from Medicube and this Hydraberry Moisture Mask from Clearstem. Both are overnight masks, which I normally do not go for because I don’t like the idea of sleeping in a “mask.” However, they both calmed my skin and the results lasted for a few days after using.

My Hair Must-Haves

I love this hair oil and have used it for years! It helps tame my ends, especially after a fresh wash, and makes my hair look more smooth.

Every other week, I like to do a hair mask to help deep condition my hair and keep it looking sleek. I have been using this Bondi Boost mask in conjunction with this Leave-In Conditioner. Bonus is that they both smell like strawberries.

I just hit the 60-day mark of using this hair serum, and I can tell that my baby hairs around my forehead are loving it! They have grown to a point where they aren’t so invisible, but don’t quite fit into a ponytail, so they are unrestricted and living their best life. I originally bought this to help my “cowlick” on the back of my head and my middle part grow more, but I’m loving the all over hair growth as well!

My Make-up Essentials

Even though my skin was dry, it was always shiny from slathering on moisturizers. So I continued to use my favorite powder and bronzer, and then added just a kiss of this color blush in the color “Puff.” (I like to rotate into lighter blush colors during spring, and omit all blush during summer.)

I also cannot go without brow gel. My eyebrow hairs are really long and if they aren’t set in place, they curl down towards the tail of the brow. If I ever want to wear my hair down and not in a ponytail, I have to use this brow gel.