Since the beginning of the global pandemic, conversations centered around self-care have become incredibly important. From mental health and wellbeing to physical health, we are all just trying to do our best to put one foot in front of the other and find comfort in little happinesses (I don't think "happinesses" a real word, but I'm going with it anyway). For me, this comes in the form of finding things that keep me looking and feeling my best.
Today, I'm sharing with you guys six of my favorite beauty products that are getting me through quarantine. Because...what else is there to do right now?
Also pictured: 2mm chunky hoops and 2.5mm herringbone necklace from Empire State Jewels.
1. The Ordinary High-Adherence Silicone Primer
I absolutely love The Ordinary. Not only do you get quality clinical beauty products at an affordable price, but their products also come in pleasantly minimal packaging. Say what you want, but presentation matters.
Face primer, in my opinion, is one of those products that tend to be stupidly expensive for no reason. While other popular primers like the Benefit POREfessional Face Primer and the Smashbox Photo Finish Matte Primer do indeed work well, paying upwards of $30 for it kind of seems ridiculous when there are other primers that get the job done just fine.
Enter The Ordinary's High-Adherence Silicone Primer. At just under $5, this primer is great for anyone on a budget (or anyone who is simply tired of paying unreasonably high beauty markups). The primer has a nice satiny texture and is vegan, gluten-free, and cruelty-free. A little bit goes a really long way! I definitely notice a difference in the longevity and smoothness of my foundation/tinted moisturizer when using it as opposed to not.
It's worth noting that I'm not a power user when it comes to makeup, especially since quarantine started. I barely wear makeup at all these days because I'm usually at home or I'm wearing a mask that covers half my face. When I do wear makeup, I've been opting for tinted moisturizer over foundation (more on that later). All in all, this silicone primer is a good buy for the average user who doesn't need anything fancy. In my experience, I just don't notice enough of a difference between this and the Benefit POREfessional primer for the markup to be worth it to me.
Check out The Ordinary's High-Adherence Silicone Primer here.
2. Bare Minerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Moisturizer
Tinted moisturizer has become my saving grace in the last few months, and I can't say enough good things about this one from Bare Minerals.
After the cult favorite Laura Mercier tinted moisturizer fell a little flat for me, I wasn't sure I'd be able to find one I liked. The Laura Mercier moisturizer had so many positive reviews on just about every beauty website out there, so I was incredibly disappointed that it didn't work out for me. After doing a TON of research on top-rated tinted moisturizers, I settled on this one from Bare Minerals—and it didn't disappoint!
I've been really into applying makeup with my hands lately, and this one blends and spreads so nicely. It's highly customizable, meaning you can use as little or as much as you want depending on your mood and the look you're going for. A light layer is great for evening out skin tone and helping to hide mild blemishes. Or, you can build it up to a more medium-to-full coverage and use it as a foundation replacement. This product is magical! I highly recommend using a primer and setting powder with it. The moisturizer just looks to much better that way.
I have this product in the color Bamboo 5.5.
Check out the Bare Minerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Moisturizer here.
3. Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado
This eye cream was an impulse buy for me (and not a cheap one, either). You know the one. You're waiting in line to check out at Sephora, shuffling behind the person in front of you along a winding path lined with hundreds of sample size products and palm-sized impulse buys that are easy to pop into your basket. I don't know about you guys, but I usually fail this particular test of willpower.
Before I knew it, I was leaving the store with a $32 mini size eye cream I probably wouldn't have grabbed otherwise because who the heck pays $32 for a half-ounce of eye cream? Funny how that happens.
To my pleasant surprise, however, this eye cream lasts forever. You really don't need the larger size. I've had it since March and I've barely made a dent in the container. All you need is a tiny dab of it on the tip of your finger. It has no scent, which I personally am a fan of, and it leaves a very subtle cooling sensation on the skin around your eyes when you pat it on. It makes my eyes look so much brighter and more hydrated, which I'm incredibly thankful for after sleepless nights in a hot, stuffy apartment with no air conditioning (or after laying awake staring at the ceiling thinking about the dismal state our country is in right now).
Since I'm not wearing much makeup these days, I'm really trying to make more of an effort to up my skincare game and have radiant, healthy-looking skin. It's still a work in progress because I'm lazy and strongly dislike multi-step skincare routines.
Check out the Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado here.
4. The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%
This vitamin and mineral blemish formula is a miracle worker. When used in combination with a good toner like the Thayer's Witch Hazel toner, my skin bounces back from all manner of breakouts. I have normal to oily skin, and in times where I really slack off on taking care of my face, I begin to break out from the oil accumulation. A pipette of this formula helps clear my skin within a day or two.
This formula comes in a small glass vial with a pipette tool for squeezing the formula into your hands. I just use my fingers to spread it over my face, using pressing motions in more sensitive areas like my under eyes. It has a sort of watery gel consistency that's easy to spread and absorbs into your skin and dries quickly. While it doesn't contain any alcohol, it does have a strong alcohol-like scent that you kind of just have to get past.
When using compounds like this one, you do have to be careful to read the product label and take into account any other skincare products you might be using. For example, if you use a Vitamin C brightening serum on your face you should not combine it with this formula as the Niacinamide and Zinc will compromise the integrity of the Vitamin C. Instead, The Ordinary recommends that you apply the two formulas at alternate times, such as the Niacinamide and Zinc in the morning and Vitamin C in the evening.
Check out The Ordinary's Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% blemish formula here.
5. Lux Unfiltered No. 32 Hydrating Self-Tanning Cream
If you currently use self-tanner or have ever thought about starting, then drop everything you're doing, go to luxunfiltered.com, and add a bottle of this to your cart. It doesn't matter if you're white as a ghost or if you already have a good base tan. This gradual tanning lotion has got your back, bringing pale skin up to par and preserving existing tans for longer!
When cities and states began issuing stay-at-home orders and parks began to close back at the beginning of spring, it quickly became apparent that getting outside and getting my tan on was not going to be as feasible as in the past. Thus, the timing was finally perfect for taking the plunge and trying a self-tanner.
I had already been thinking about trying one for a long time, and I did endless research on the subject. As someone who has never fake tanned before, not even a spray tan, I was more than a little intimidated. Both by the learning curve that came with applying most products as well as the mixed reviews and high price tags that came with top-rated tanning creams and oils. My absolute worst nightmares were hideous streaks, unevenness, and an unnatural orange color.
Then one day, completely by accident, I came across the Instagram account of Sivan Ayla. It just so happened that she was a small business owner with her own self-tanning lotion called Lux Unfiltered No. 32. After watching some demos and reading reviews, I decided to give it a try! The rest, as they say, is history. I could not be any more thrilled that I found this lotion. I am currently on my second bottle and have received tons of compliments on my "tan."
As a newbie myself, I can honestly say that this gradual self-tanning lotion is pretty foolproof to apply. There are a couple key steps like making sure to wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water immediately after applying and waiting five minutes before putting clothes on, but other than that the learning curve is pretty low. Plus, it's incredibly hydrating, working well as a replacement body lotion, and has a lovely rosewood scent. It's 100% possible to protect your skin from the sun, socially distance, and be tan all at the same time!
I typically apply it after every hair washing shower, usually ever 2-3 days, however, you can apply it daily if you want a much darker color. The best part—you will not turn orange! You have so much control over your actual color with this product. I couldn't be any happier that I found this tanning lotion, and I hope that Sivan Ayla never stops making it.
While this formula is not intended for use on the face (I've been using a light layer on my face anyway), Sivan has announced that a self-tanning facial oil will be dropping soon so stay tuned!
Check out the Lux Unfiltered No. 32 Hydrating Self-Tanning Cream here.
6. Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask
I received this lip mask as a Christmas gift from one of my sisters and I love, love, love it! While $22 may sound a little high for a lip mask, I can honestly say that this balm is 1000% worth it. Plus, just like the Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatment, this jar should last you a long time. Every now and then I get really bad chapped lips, both in the summer as well as the winter, and sometimes regular chapstick just doesn't cut it. To make matters worse, I also have a bad habit of chewing on my lower lip when I'm anxious.
I know, it's awful.
Luckily, this mask makes my lips feel so much better, no matter how dry and cracked they may be. When applied before bed and left to sit overnight, I always wake up to infinitely more hydrated lips. I have also used it a handful of times first thing in the morning to sink in throughout the day (I typically only do this on days when I know I'll be staying home). It starts out as a thick balm coating your lips and then slowly absorbs into the skin on your lips over the course of several hours.
The mask comes in a 0.70 oz. pot with a silicone-tipped applicator wand. While you could just use your finger, I find that I actually get a lot more product and spread it much more efficiently with the applicator than I do with my fingers. The frequency in which I use this product varies a lot. Sometimes I find myself using it 2-3 times a week and sometimes I go 2-3 weeks without using it at all, but I've had this pot since December and I still feel like I've only scrated the surface of it.
If you suffer from cracked or dry lips and your regular chapstick just isn't providing any relief for you, I highly recommend checking out this lip mask. It's a miracle worker! I have it in the original berry flavor.
Check out the Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask here.
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