2018 Favorites: The Skincare

I’m back with Part 2 of my 2018 Favorites - all things skincare! I realized after taking the photos that I actually didn’t include any cleansers or moisturizers, but then I remembered I wanted to keep my picks to things I discovered in 2018, and my most-used cleansers and moisturizers were older, tried-and-true favorites (Glossier Milky Jelly, Priming Moisturizer Rich, Dr. Jart+ Ceramidin Cream, and Fresh Rose Face Cream mostly).

TONERS

Glossier Solution - I spent a good portion of the year not sure how I felt about this, actually. At first it really dried me out, but then I tried it again once my skin was more normal and less reactive and it’s been amazing. It keeps my skin (mostly) clear, super smooth, and hasn’t been too harsh.

Fresh Vitamin Nectar Antioxidant Glow Water* - I love a good continuous mist. This instantly perks up my skin and makes me look awake and healthy and glowy. It gives a good burst of hydration and smells like oranges.

SERUMS

Venn Skincare Age-Reversing All-In-One Concentrate* - This technically isn’t a serum, but I guess I use it as one. It’s incredibly moisturizing (I go right in with oil afterwards, rather than moisturizer + oil) and makes my skin plump and juicy for hours and hours, so it’s always a go-to if I’m feeling a little lazy and want to skip steps.

Farmacy Honeymoon Glow - I love a good exfoliating serum, and this one blew me away this year. I love that it contains Farmacy’s signature honey and Echinacea GreenEnvy so it doesn’t feel harsh or strip my skin. I always wake up to the smoothest, glowiest skin the morning after using this.

Peach & Lily Glass Skin Serum - When Peach & Lily dropped their own skincare line last year, I knew I had to try at least a few things for myself. This serum does what it says - gives that glass skin effect. It helps tone down my redness and gives a good boost of hydration without feeling sticky.

Stratia Liquid Gold - Again, this isn’t technically a serum, but I use it as one. If I had to strip my routine down to as simple as it could get, I would make sure I still included this. It’s chock full of ceramides, fatty acids, and cholesterols to protect and heal the skin barrier - I’ve noticed my skin has become less dry/more normal and a lot less sensitive since I started using this. I use it every single night without fail!

Caudalie Vinoperfect Radiance Serum* - The loveliest serum. This has Caudalie’s patented Viniferine, which claims to be more effective than Vitamin C at brightening and evening skin tone. It’s a thin, milky formula that sinks into the skin quickly. I used this religiously leading up to my wedding and feel like that’s one of the reasons why my skin was so glowy and smooth!

EYE CREAMS

Drunk Elephant C-Tango Multivitamin Eye Cream - I wasn’t a dedicated eye cream-user until this one. It has a beautiful, soft, balmy formula that’s a pleasure to apply and really has brightened up my undereyes. I use it every morning and feel like I might be using less undereye concealer now (??).

Caudalie Premier Cru Eye Cream* - This one made me a dedicated night-time eye cream-user. Most would make my eyes puffy by morning, but this one sinks in and moisturizes without being heavy. Although I don’t need much of its anti-aging benefits yet, I really do think this has helped to diminish some fine lines around my eyes I was starting to notice.

MASKS

Origins Clear Improvement Charcoal Honey Mask - I had always wanted to be a regular user of the original charcoal mask because it really helped to keep my skin clear, but it was just too drying to use often. This one, however, is absolutely beautiful. My skin loves anything with added honey so it loves this hydrating take on a clay mask.

Summer Fridays Jet Lag Mask - I purely got this one for the packaging, but stayed for how plump and glowing it makes my skin every time. It works especially well at depuffing my eyes - it’s my go-to before special occasions when I want my skin to look perfect.

Glow Recipe Avocado Melt Sleeping Mask - I only just got this in December, but I’m blown away. It has the nicest consistency - thick and creamy but sinks in with no stickiness. It smooths out my skin and keeps it moisturized and soothed all night.

Renee Rouleau Rapid Response Detox Masque - This is the one I reach for when the hormonal breakouts are taking over. It’s soothing and hydrating and yet really helps to make those stubborn zits go away. It also really reduces redness for me, too!

Peach & Lily Super Reboot Resurfacing Mask - This reminds me a lot of the Herbivore Blue Tansy Mask, but even better. It’s a slightly runny jelly consistency that gets to work eating away at dead skin cells and leaving you with a beautiful, glowing complexion. There’s also ingredients in there to soothe the skin so the AHAs don’t irritate it. My skin feels more soothed/less red after this mask than before it!

Caudalie Instant Detox Mask* - When my skin is throwing a tantrum, this is the one I reach for. It sucks everything out quickly, is easy to remove, and doesn’t dry me out terribly. It really reminds me of the Aesop Parsley Seed Mask, which was an old favorite of mine.

Caudalie Moisturizing Mask - This is a good, basic go-to for me. It deeply moisturizes my skin, leaving it plump and smooth, and it smells nice (but not in an “this is definitely going to be irritating” kind of way).

Fresh Lotus Rescue Mask* - Maybe my favorite mask of the year? I’m working my way through my second jar now. It feels hydrating and leaves me with the smoothest, most plump skin without any redness. I always reach for it before a special occasion - I used in on the morning of my wedding to make my makeup go on as smooth as possible.

Fresh Ultimate Nourishing Honey Mask* - This is one I’m dipping into more and more in the cold weather. It’s incredibly luxurious and deeply hydrating. I love honey masks because they feel like they’re helping to clear my skin, too.

OILS

Paula’s Choice Moisture Renewal Oil Booster* - An unsung hero of the year - I’ve gone through almost the whole bottle and I’m not sure if I even mentioned it once. It contains nine plant oils as well as ceramides so it really helps to keep my skin moisturized and fortified. It’s quite lightweight, so it’s good for night or day.

Leo Oil - If I had to choose one favorite product for the entire year of 2018, it would hands-down be Leo Oil. This beautiful blend of Rosehip, Meadowfoam Seed, and Blue Tansy Oils has absolutely changed my skin for the better - believe the hype! I started using this almost one year ago and saw such transformation in my skin. I’ve always used oils, but I think Dena got this one perfect. It’s nourishing, calming, and balancing. It’s drastically reduced my breakouts, calmed redness, and kept flaky skin at bay. I give full credit to this for clearing up my skin for my wedding so it’s something I’ll never be without!

What were your skincare favorites of the year?

Products marked with an asterisk (*) have been sent to me for consideration, but all opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links.

2018 Favorites: The Makeup

Since I’ve been posting my 2018 favorites on Instagram this week, I thought I’d dust off the old blog and post them here as well - this way, I can give some insight into why these were my favorite products this year. Because this started as just making pretty flatlays for Instagram, I didn’t really do any narrowing-down of my lists, so even though they’re split into three parts, they’re still pretty hefty. So grab a snack and settle in!

My makeup style hasn’t really changed in quite awhile - looking at my 2017 Makeup Favorites, I still use and love all of those products. My 2018 favorites are still glowy, and creamy, and quite pink-toned. I tried to keep my favorites to things I discovered in 2018, otherwise it would just be a repeat of 2017!

SKIN

Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter - I put off buying this for part of the year because I wasn’t sure what it was. But oh man is it beautiful. I use it underneath my foundation as a primer and it leaves the most beautiful glowy sheen to the skin that still shows through foundation.

Lancome Skin Feels Good Hydrating Skin Tint - This was by far the standout base product of the year for me. The lightest shade is too dark for me so I specifically bought a white mixer so I could still wear it. It’s smoothing, really glowy, has good coverage for being labeled a “skin tint,” and it has good lasting power on me.

MAC Studio Fix 24-Hour Smooth Wear Concealer* - This concealer feels weightless, blends in like skin, and has great coverage and longevity. A win all-around.

Ohii Glass Powder* - This powder stole the show for me this year. I’m usually not even that big into powder, but this one looks invisible on the skin, diminishes shine but leaves a glow, and sets my makeup well.

EYES

MAC Eyebrows Styler in Stylized* - I’ve always loved these kinds of skinny brow pencils the most, and I’ll never go back to another one after trying this. It has buildable pigmentation so you can go for a soft brow or something more bold, and it lasts forever. I wore this for my wedding and also have had it last perfectly through super sweaty kickboxing classes.

Glossier Lidstars* - I had totally forgotten these launched last year. I’ve been using them so often it feels like they’ve been part of my collection for years. These are the easiest eyeshadows to just swipe on and go. I like that they’re on the sheer side so they’re more subtle and suitable for my everyday look. They also work really well as eyeshadow primers - I have super creasy eyelids and these keep that at bay for me - I used Cub underneath powder eyeshadows for my wedding!

MAC Pro Longwear Paint Pot in Groundwork - this is a recent addition but I can definitely see myself using up the whole pot. It blends easily and stays put forever. Groundwork is the perfect shade to just add a hint of definition without being “oh shes’ wearing eyeshadow.”

Charlotte Tilbury Eyeshadow Quad in Pillow Talk - If I suddenly had to get rid of all of my eyeshadow palettes except one, I would save this one. The pinky-nude shades are super flattering on my skin and my favorite kinds of colors to wear. As with all CT shadows, they are soft, buildable, blendable, and long-lasting.

Milk Makeup Kush Mascara - This makes my eyelashes look like those super fluffy, over-the-top lash extensions, and I love it. It stays put without smudging, holds a curl, and the fibers don’t get into my eyes.

Glossier Lash Slick* - This is my go-to on more natural days. If the Milk looks like dramatic lash extensions, then this looks like more subtle extensions. The real magic? Pairing the two together. I put the Milk on first for the fluffiness and volume, and then comb the Glossier over it for definition and extra length. I wore the pair for my wedding (sense a theme here?) and didn’t smudge at all - and I cried a lot.

CHEEKS

Laura Mercier Blush Colour Infusion in Rose - This is such a pretty blush. The color is the perfect flush on me, and the formula practically blends itself. I really need to look into picking up another shade or two.

Glossier Cloud Paint in Storm* - Cloud Paints were my blush favorite of 2017, but the new shade Storm that dropped last year became my favorite of the lineup. It’s the prettiest warm rose shade that looks a little like mixing Dusk and Haze. It leaves the prettiest flush that looks like you’ve been out in the cold.

Jillian Dempsey Cheek Tints - Probably my favorite cream blush formula. It feels a little dry to the touch at first in the pan, but it blends so seamelssly over the skin. I have the shades Petal (a pretty everyday peachy pink) and Rosy (a more bold pink) and love them both.

Onomie Boosting Lip + Cheek Sticks* - These are usually my everyday go-to’s because they’re so easy to use. They’re compact and travel well, and they’re easy to blend out with fingers on the go. They leave a beautiful dewy finish on the skin without being tacky, and they last a super long time.

Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze & Glow - Can you believe I never tried this until last year? The bronzing side is probably my all-time favorite bronzer now. It’s the perfect in-between shade that both sculpts the face and adds some warmth without being orange on me.

Pat McGrath Labs Skin Fetish Highlighter in Nude - I only just got this for Christmas, but I got the original Skin Fetish set when it was limited edition and am just happy I can talk about it again. This leaves the glossiest glow on the skin without being sticky at all. It’s definitely worth the money in my opinion (again, I got this as a gift, but I did by the original myself, so…)

Dior Backstage Glow Face Palette - This was actually an impulse buy last year, but it became one of my most-reached for products. The shades can be applied lightly for a glossy-looking glow, or they can be layered on for a stronger mirrorlike sheen. I use all four shades in the palette, too.

Charlotte Tilbury Beauty Light Wand Highlighter - This might be the most beautiful highlighter I own. It leaves such a glassy sheen on the skin that truly looks lit from within. I’m not a huge fan of the packaging, but the formula is so lovely and sets down so your hair isn’t getting stuck in it all day or anything.

NARS Highlighting Powder in Capri - This also leaves a glossy look to the skin (my favorite kind of highlighter, obviously). The formula is smooth and easy to layer and blend, and Capri is the perfect pink/fair/champagne shade for me.

LIPS

Bobbi Brown Lipstick in Sandwash Pink - I had to include this because it was my wedding lipstick! The formula is beautifully creamy and comfortable, but still has good lasting power. Sandwash Pink is the most perfect neutral-pink-brown, hands-down.

Lancome L’Absolu Lacquer in Infra-Rose - I fell hard for this formula last year. One layer is a little sheer and a little glossy, but you can add another layer for an opaque, glassy finish. Despite being a glossy formula it lasts such a long time without transferring or sliding all over the place. I layered this over Sandwash Pink for my wedding reception, and the whole thing was still intact when I washed my makeup off at 3am.

Bite Beauty French Press Lip Gloss in Dirty Chai - I’m really hoping Bite makes these coffee-scented lip glosses permanent. They feel like a balm on the lips, wear off evenly, and aren’t sticky. Dirty Chai is such a pretty warm rose color that doesn’t pull orange on me. I ordered a backup because I’m for sure going to finish this one.

ILIA Color Block Lipstick in Rosette - This is probably one of the most comfortable lipstick formulas I’ve ever tried. It glides on effortlessly and just feels like a balm, while still packing tons of pigment. Rosette is the same exact color as my lips, so naturally I’ve reached for it almost every day since I got it.

Pixi x Chloe Morello Lip Icing in Cake* - This was my everday go-to at the beginning of the year, and now I need to start wearing it again. Again, it has a balmy feeling rather than a sticky gloss feeling, it’s packed with shimmer that doesn’t feel gritty and makes the lips look plumper, and it smells like lemon cake (which is a nice change from vanilla scented everything). Definitely worth picking up!

Thanks so much if you’re still here - I know that was a lot! What were your makeup favorites of the year?

This post contains affiliate links. Products marked with an asterisk (*) have been sent to me for consideration, but all opinions are my own.

How to Look More Awake on Early Mornings

I’ve been getting up earlier and earlier lately - not only do I try to get in to work by 7am (and my commute is at least 40 minutes), but I also like having some spare time in the morning to sit with Olive while she’s sleepy and cuddly. So while I’m getting in more prime puppy cuddles, I’m also having to work a little harder to not look absolutely exhausted. I’ve found this quick 6-step routine always makes me look a little more bright-eyed and bushy-tailed.

Cooling/Depuffing Eye Cream

When I’m tired, it mostly shows in the puffiness of my eyes. I like layering a cooling and depuffing eye cream on before I start my makeup. Usually these are quite lightweight, so they work well underneath concealer. My favorite is the Belif Moisturizing Eye Bomb - it’s lightweight yet still creamy, and it works incredibly well at depuffing for me. I even find it helps to minimize dehydration lines under my eyes with just one use, so concealer applies more smoothly on top.

Undereye Corrector/Brightener

My biggest problem is puffiness rather than dark circles, but I do find my undereyes get a bit more shadowy when I’m tired. I like layering a lightweight brightener/corrector under my concealer to cancel out any darkness. I love the Ohii Wake Up Pen* in the shade Peach - it’s a sheer peachy tone that counteracts blue undereye circles, and it has a soft sheen that diffuses and reflects light, making the area look less dark. It has a thin consistency that blends into the skin easily and sits well underneath concealer.

Hydrating, Skinlike Concealer

There’s nothing worse than cakey undereyes when you’re trying to look more awake and alert. A hydrating and skinlike concealer will sit better on dryness and fine lines. Usually these formulas aren’t full coverage, but paired with the brightener/corrector, it shouldn’t be a problem. I really like the First Aid Beauty Bendy Avocado Concealer* for my undereyes - it’s very creamy and hydrating and mimics the look of skin, and it still has pretty good coverage. I’d say it’s medium coverage rather than full. It also works well all over the face, if you were wondering.

Invisible Powder

Sometimes more hydrating concealer formulas tend to settle into undereye creases, but this can be remedied by setting with powder. Since you’re taking so much care to keep the undereyes hydrated, though, you’ll want a formula that’s weightless, invisible, and non-cakey. The Ohii Glass Powder* is one of the best I’ve tried - you truly can’t see it on the skin, it doesn’t dull a glow, it’s incredibly blurring (further helping any fine lines you may have under your eyes), and it really does set the makeup. (Heads-up, right now there’s a duo available with the Wake Up Pen & Glass Powder!)

Brightening Champagne Eyeshadow

Now that the undereyes are taken care of, another thing you can do is choose a reflective, brightening eyeshadow in some kind of champagne shade (or perhaps a gold/bronze if you have a deeper skintone) - basically, something that’s a similar tone to your skin but shiny. This will make you look more awake and help to open up the eyes. I like Liar Liar by Colourpop - it’s cheap but a beautiful buttery formula, and the shade is the most perfect slightly pink champagne tone for me. Another tip is to bring it into the inner corners of your eyes to really brighten things up.

Lengthening/Defining Mascara

Speaking of opening up the eyes, the last step is to curl your eyelashes (if you’ve never done it before, it makes SUCH a difference!) and use a lengthening mascara. This combo really gives the illusion that your eyes are open wider, making you look more awake. My favorite mascara for this is hands-down the Glossier Lash Slick - it gives crazy length and definition and looks like you have eyelash extensions in, and it doesn’t smudge at all. This is the only mascara I can use on my bottom lashes, and on days I want a more dramatic mascara, I’ll still layer Lash Slick over the top to make sure every lash is separated and defined, and it keeps everything from smudging.

What are your top tips for looking more awake?

*Products marked with an asterisk have been sent to me, but all opinions are my own.

This post contains affiliate links.