The Autumn Facial

Autumn is one of my favorite times of the year because it just feels so cozy. And that just makes me want to stay in and pamper myself. As the weather gets cooler, my skin gets drier, so I certainly need to amp up my skincare routine a bit. Usually my pamper days consist of two masks in a row, but when I'm going all out, I reach for three.

The first, and the product that really adds to the autumn theme here, is the Peter Thomas Roth Pumpkin Enzyme Mask. Autumn is this guy's time to shine. It's an exfoliating peel that sloughs off dead skin and leaves a glow like no other. It contains Pumpkin Enzymes and AHAs to chemically exfoliate and Aluminum Oxide Crystals to physically exfoliate. I don't tend to scrub it around much and just take advantage of the chemical exfoliants. It does tingle quite a bit while it's on, but it never irritates my skin. It truly leaves you with baby skin, and I've noticed it helps those big under the skin bumps clear up more quickly.

Since the first mask is a little intense, I like to reach for more gentle masks as my second and third steps. The second step is a purifying mask - once the exfoliating mask gets rid of all the dead skin cells, the second mask can get even deeper to really clean out your pores. My choice is always the Glossier Mega Greens Galaxy Pack. It feels quite cleansing on the skin without being stripping at all. I like that it doesn't dry down like traditional clay masks, so it feels gentle on the skin. It's definitely a good one to follow the Pumpkin mask.

The last product I like to use is a hydrating/nourishing mask. Usually I pair both Glossier masks together, but after the Pumpkin Mask, I still want something really soothing - honey masks are my go-to. My favorite is the I'm From Honey Mask. It's super creamy and contains 38.7% real honey. It's such a great all-rounder - it's deeply nourishing and soothing, but the natural antibacterial quality of honey helps to also cleanse the purify the skin. It's such a great way to end this little pamper session, and my skin is always totally baby smooth and clean afterward.

Do you ever do multiple masks in one session? What are your favorites to use together?

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A Guide to Foundation for Normal-Dry Skin

Each year when fall and winter roll around, I find myself reaching for more and more products to put on my face. I'm all about that "no makeup" makeup look (or just no makeup, period) in the summer, but something about the darker evenings makes me want to create slightly more dramatic, or at least "done" looks. This usually means actually wearing foundation, which, as someone with dry skin, can get a little tricky. I've found lots of skin prep and choosing your formula carefully can make a huge difference between a flawless base and a cakey mess.

Skin Prep

Whenever I know I'll be using a heavier coverage or more matte foundation, I'll always make sure to include a chemical exfoliation step in my morning skincare routine. It just ensures that all flakes and dry bits are cleared away, and it gives the skin a beautiful glow. My favorite for mornings is the Pixi Peel & Polish* - it's super quick (about two minutes), effective, and yet still gentle. Some exfoliating peels leave my skin feeling a little raw and sensitive, so I would never want to put makeup on top. But after the Peel & Polish, my skin still feels normal, just so much smoother and more radiant. It's the perfect step to include for special occasions, or just any day you want your makeup to look a little more flawless.

As someone with dry skin, I need to apply a moisturizer underneath my foundation no matter what. Super hydrating BB cream? Doesn't matter. Certain moisturizers double really nicely as primers, too, smoothing and evening out the skin. My favorites, of course, are from Glossier. The Priming Moisturizer is my first love - it's lightweight and fluid, and it really helps tone down my redness. It also leaves a beautiful dewy glow to the skin that radiates out from underneath the makeup. The Rich version is equally lovely and great if your skin is especially dry. In the winter this is my go-to. Despite being such a luxurious cream, it doesn't leave the skin feeling greasy, and it actually has more of a velvety finish than the original version.

If I know I'm going to be using a matte formula, I'll also incorporate a facial oil into my morning routine and give it some time to sink in. I think this is why I haven't had any problems with the Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'r Soft Matte Foundation looking dry on me, when I've heard complaints of that from other people. I prefer to let it sink into the skin so as not to cause problems and settling with the foundation. It amps up the glow and allows the foundation to glide right over dry patches. I know it's nothing groundbreaking, but it's my favorite little trick if I want my skin to look extra healthy.

Products & Application

I find that the kinds of products that look best on my dry skin are lighter coverage and glowy. I prefer to build up light layers rather than piling on a thick layer. If any dry patches are lingering after skin prep, the foundation will call less attention to them this way. Lighter weight and more hydrating foundations tend to smooth over dry patches much more readily than more matte formulas, too. My favorite is the Charlotte Tilbury Light Wonder Foundation - it gives good coverage, doesn't accentuate dryness, and is glowy without being greasy.

Once you have your foundation formula chosen, it's important to think about application, too. A damp sponge is my favorite way to apply foundation, as the water in the sponge helps give it a boost of hydration and glow, and it flattens any dry patches instead of agitating them and causing them to stand up. If you really want to use a brush, applying the foundation with downward strokes will help to lay dry patches (and any hair on your face) flat.

The last thing to consider is how you're going to set your makeup. I usually reach for setting sprays instead of powders, as they help meld everything together beautifully and add more of a glow. Some powders can dry out the skin, causing cakiness. I really love the Pixi Makeup Fixing Mist - it really helps to keep the makeup in place all day and almost adds a filter-like effect to the skin. For powders, my go-to is the Glossier Wowder. It's super finely-milled and doesn't cake up at all. It's definitely a dry-skin-friendly product. It mattifies without zapping all your glow, and it also helps to blur out pores and imperfections.

What are your tips for wearing foundation with dry skin?

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Glossier: My Top 5 Picks

You may have seen the news that starting Monday, October 9, Glossier will begin shipping to the UK - I know a lot of you must be so psyched. I figured since most people won't be able to get the whole line in one go, I'd pop up a post going over my top 5 favorite products to make your decision a little easier. I really love everything they've put out so far, but I do love some more than others. Remember to shop through glossier.com/reps/kelsey for 10% off your first order!

Milky Jelly Cleanser | My #1 cleanser. I use this at least once a day, and I always need to have about three backups on hand, just in case. It's that good. It's a balmy gel formula that contains rosewater and gentle cleaners (like the ones in contact solution!). It feels so cooling, soothing, and conditioning to the skin. You can use it on dry skin to remove light makeup, like a balm cleanser, or you can use it on wet skin as a traditional cleanser. I love it both ways, but I wear a lot of waterproof mascara, which this won't quite remove. Try it and you'll definitely be hooked like me.

Priming Moisturizer | Ever since I got my hands on my first tube almost three years ago, this has been my favorite moisturizer. The first time I used it, I had been walking outside in the cold, so my face was red and windburned. I was amazed at how quickly this took the redness down. It's a lightweight moisturizer that doesn't feel greasy on the skin, but it leaves a beautiful dewy glow. It's also easy to layer for more hydration - it doesn't pill at all when you load it on. I'll probably switch to the Rich version (which would be #6 on this list if I didn't cut it off at 5) once winter really comes, but for my dry/dehydrated skin, this is the perfect almost year-round moisturizer. As the name suggests, it primes the skin so well for makeup - really plumping and adding glow. I haven't noticed it extending the wear of my makeup, but it certainly makes it look a lot nicer.

Boy Brow | This is another product that I always need to have three backups on hand. Nothing else makes my brows look so fluffy and feathery. Rather than a typical crunchy brow gel, this is a pomade, so it maintains a soft feel while still holding your brows in place. I have quite unruly brows - half of my left eyebrow for some reason grows straight down, but Boy Brow holds the hairs how I want them to lay all day. The Brown one is my favorite, as it really beefs up my brows, but I really like the Clear one too for no makeup days when I just want my brow hairs to lay correctly.

Cloud Paint | I pretty much haven't worn another blush since these came out in March. They're blushes with a gel-cream formula, and they virtually blend themselves. They're so easy to apply with fingers - I just dot it on my cheeks, and tap it in with a clean finger. It gives an effortless flush in about five seconds. They blend seamlessly into the skin and look super natural - like it's your own natural glow. I love mixing the shades together to create new shades. My favorite combo is probably Dusk and Puff to make a lovely neutral pink shade, and I probably wear Haze on its own the most at the moment. You can get a single Cloud Paint or you can get a Duo to save money.

Haloscope | Of course the highlighter is here, right? Like the Cloud Paints, I've almost exclusively used Haloscope as my highlight of choice since it launched last June. These are the dewiest highlighters - they have a ring of shimmer/color on the outside, and a core full of hydrating oils to keep you looking glowy all day. They're super easy to stripe on and blend out, and the result is beaming skin that just looks well-moisturized. These can be built up to be quite intense, but they always still just look like a natural glow. Quartz is my favorite shade, and I'm on my second stick of it, but Moonstone is beautiful for everyday as well. And I love mixing Topaz in with a cream bronzer in the summer. Right now there's a Duo with Haloscope and Boy Brow to save money when you buy both.

As I said above, you can get 10% off your first order when you shop through my rep link. Once you're on my page, you can shop as normal, and you're all good as long as it says "You're shopping with Kelsey" in the top right corner. The 10% discount will be taken at checkout. I do make a commission on orders through my link, so your support is always greatly appreciated, If that makes you uncomfortable though, you can just shop through Glossier's own website!

What's on your Glossier shopping list?

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