The weather has been unseasonably balmy—comparatively speaking—these past few days, so I rewarded myself with a trip to Sephora, to stock up on old favorites and give a new item or two a try. Like this Kosas tinted lip balm with hydrating hyaluronic acid. It’s the ideal size for your purse, and this hue—called Pulse—imparts a nice wash of color that’s subtle but flattering.
Usually, I employ a trip to Sephora as an excuse to try a mascara that’s new to me, but this time I went with an old favorite: Better than Sex, from Too Faced. And I’m glad I did because I forgot how crazily volumizing it is. Not really better than sex, or even close, but still, about as good as mascara gets.
This Drunk Elephant hydration serum is a key component of my morning skincare cocktail: it’s super-light and absorbs quickly, but seriously keeps skin looking plump and moist.
The Ordinary’s Hyaluronic Acid is the newest addition to my skincare regimen—which is kind of a headline, as I almost never add new products. It has a kind of viscous texture and I only use one (big) drop, and my skin has never been softer.
I had a small crisis recently when I realized I was out of my Milk Bronzer, which I love because it’s one of the only bronzers I’ve ever found that is matte and has no shimmer. It goes on lighter than it looks, but dark enough for a serious warm glow.
I am a strong believer in the dermatologist’s trifecta of Retin-A at night, a vitamin C/antioxidant serum in the a.m., and daily SPF 30. To that, I add a mild exfoliant a couple of times per week and a thick balm or a face oil to seal it all in at night. I think I look slug-like when I have it all slathered on.
Have y’all tried “slugging?” It’s a Korean Beauty technique that all the youngs are talking about. Mist your face, use that hyaluronic serum over that, then slap a moisturizer over that. For extra dry skin put a tiny dab of vaseline (I shit you not) or Nivea over all the other stuff. It’s all about sealing in the hydration. I am dewy ALL DAY. I have the skin of an infant now.
Yeah, I’ve been marinating like that for years. Though, I use a fragrance free liquid mineral oil instead of Vaseline for easy blending. Also, I use two different spritzers in the process. I use Avene thermal water before I apply my hyaluronic (Hada Labo) and then I spritz Clinique Moisture Surge Spray before I work in the mineral oil. Dehydrated skin is my face’s enemy. Margaret, I salute you, fellow humectant advocate: we will not let desiccation win!
I use Trader Joe’s rosewater mist decanted into a Jurlique rosewater mist spray bottle because I am THAT BITCH.
Using the trader joe’s rosewater mist currently. Just purchased some thatcher’s witch hazel mist with rosewater.
Correction: Thayer’s witch hazel with rose petal
After three years I feel like I need a tutorial on the application of anything resembling make-up or any sort of beauty product. The bronzer and lip balm sound nice since I look so pasty and white-lady-elderly. However, I’m still wearing a face mask as our numbers are still high since I live in a state that feels it’s not completely insane to go on and on about “free speech” giving them the right to not get vaccinated, but at the same time those same “freedom loving” people want to eliminate a women’s right to govern her own body AND ban books from school libraries. There are currently over 125 book titles that are on the list to be removed from school libraries––many are LBGTQ books––because, you know, if you don’t read about a lesbian you won’t become a lesbian and if you don’t read about a transgender person you will still go to heaven. AAARRRRGGGHHHH!!!!!! Sorry for the rant––I know this isn’t the time or the place it’s just so effing frustrating to feel so powerless against such willful ignorance. (sigh)
I stopped shopping Sephora some years ago due to overly aggressive sales persons. Has this changed at all?
That’s so interesting—I’ve never had that experience there.
Not at mine … they are relentless and it keeps me away.
As a 68 year old woman, I am invisible to the Sephora ladies. Maybe a smile and a nod….So I have fun looking. And then I BUY! Surprise ladies!
That is such drag, J B. I stopped going to ANY Lush store for the same reason.
I have to be careful about overhydrating, because without concomitant serious exfoliation my face breaks out in little whiteheads. But I’ve been doing well by adding a moisturizer over retinol at night and then using the snail mucin in the morning. I do realize that my idea of “hydration” bears little similarity to other women’s. Up until my 50s I just didn’t moisturize at all! I’m 61 now and I think I finally have normal as opposed to super-oily skin. It’s been a journey.
I too have super oily skin. I think on the plus side, we get fewer wrinkles. On the minus side, I still break out and am congested. You might try PCA’s line of hyaluronic acid products–I’ve loved their serum and their overnight mask and have had no issues using the overnight mask over my retinol. I have also had good results from Zelens Vitamin D, which calms it all down without clogging anything up. (Warning: none of these are inexpensive. 🙁 That’s the downside. )
But we’re worth it!
I always appreciate these posts and the comments because I learn so much about how to take care of aging skin. I find it hard to understand what I should be doing. I’ve talked to my dermatologist a few times and am now on Retinol, which makes me feel accomplished. But they don’t really explain how anything works and how to care for my skin outside of products or procedures they sell. So skin care always makes me feel a little lost.
so I’m like a detective trying to piece together what works for me. I
I’m the same way – it gets confusing fast!! Did they tell you to wear sunscreen every day now, if you are using a retinol? That is very basic but may be the only thing I am sure of. (Actually I think we are supposed to do that anyway, but still … )
I do that slugging thing! with Drunk Elephant mist, some Paula’s Choice hyaluronic acid mixed with moisturizer and then some Allastin stuff that is like Cerave ointment on the flakey bits..