Current Skincare Loves #2


I usually don't change up my skincare routines until something runs out, and even then I either make a repurchase or try a new product that has the same purpose. These new favorites are things I've been rotating in and out of my routines, and I've just fallen in love with them.


I've been through two of the small containers of the First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Pads now. I use these about every other morning, although I didn't mention them in my Morning Skincare Routine because I was about to run out and wasn't planning on repurchasing. I decided that since I used the Pixi Glow Tonic every night as a toner, I would be ok without another exfoliating-toner step in the morning - I was very wrong. In the two weeks I went without using these, the skin around my chin and jawline started to get very bumpy, as if there was sand underneath it. I ran out to Sephora right away and bought the big jar of the pads as soon as I linked the bumpy skin to the disappearance of the pads from my routine. I could have done with just using the Pixi Glow Tonic morning and night, but I realized I really missed having these in my routine and wanted to use them again. They leave my skin feeling so smooth and decongested, and it's a step I always make sure I carry out when I'm going to be wearing foundation. I love these for the mornings because it's much quicker and easier to use the pre-soaked pads than taking the time to soak a cotton pad with a bottled toner.

I'm about to run out of my morning serum as well, and I happened to find out that the Walgreens near my house sells Indeed Labs products - I was so excited because I didn't even know they were sold in the US! I picked up both the Hydraluron and Pepta-Bright serums. I haven't been using them long enough to report back on whether or not Pepta-Bright lives up to its claims, but the Hydraluron is already becoming a well-loved favorite. It comes out as a clear gel that I use as the last step before applying moisturizer. It immediately feels so hydrating, and it definitely helps my moisturizer to work even better over top of it. This contains high levels of pure hyaluronic acid, which can hold up to 1000 times its weight in water, so it's definitely a great product to try if you have dry or dehydrated skin like me.

My last new skincare favorite is Lush's Catastrophe Cosmetic Fresh Face Mask. I picked this up when I visited my sister in Boston (sadly that's the closest Lush to me), and I've been using it every other night since then. It contains blueberry, rose absolute, chamomile blue oil, and calamine to soothe redness and irritation and cleanse the skin. It thoroughly purifies my skin without stripping it - I can apply this all over my face, including my sensitive, prone-to-redness cheeks without any irritation. After one use I can see that any blackheads on my nose and redness in my skin have disappeared and my skin just looks brighter and more alive. I'll even go so far as to say that I saw more results from this mask as I did when I had the GlamGlow Supermud Mask, and it's just a 10th of the price for almost double the amount - that's crazy. If you need a purifying mask but have dry or sensitive skin, and you can get to a Lush store (unfortunately you can't get the face masks online), I would highly, highly recommend this mask. 

Have you been trying any new skincare products lately?