There's a fair bit of new skincare that's landed on my doorstep lately. Now that I've gotten the chance to try most of it, I thought I'd go through some quick first impressions of how I'm getting on with it so far. I'm kicking my skincare game into high gear now - the wedding is less than four months away, so I'm trying hard to strike a balance of finding a routine my skin loves but also finding the perfect products to treat any issues.
Renee Rouleau Skincare | I definitely put off making this order for too long. Last May when I went to New York with Glossier, Emily Ferber was talking about how great the Anti-Cyst Treatment was, and ever since then it's been in the back of my mind to buy it. I finally bit the bullet and also got the Rapid Response Detox Masque. So far my skin is loving these. The mask works to both stop acne in its tracks (thanks to tea tree oil and salicylic acid) and calm inflammation with Chinese licorice and allantoin. I've never used a mask like this - it's a cooling gel texture that actually hydrates the skin while it heals acne. I've used it a few times so far and each time, my breakouts have become less pronounced. It's definitely one I'll keep up with, as it's supposed to help prevent acne, too. The Anti-Cyst Treatment is right up my alley, too - most of the breakouts I get are cystic. It's a thin gel that treats inflammation and clears pores using Ethyl Lactate, Methyl Gluceth 20, and Citric Acid. This has also been making a difference in my skin, and spots have been clearing up more quickly than usual.
REN Skincare | REN sent me a lovely package to amp up my skin's glow a few weeks ago, and I've finally gotten the chance to try the products out. I've been loving their new Ready Steady Glow AHA Tonic - I haven't tested it as extensively as I tested Glossier Solution, but I'm working on it. So far, it seems to be a little better for my dry skin than Solution was - I find I can use it all over my face. It was working really well to clear out my pores and keep my skin smooth, too. I will keep you posted! They also sent their Wake Wonderful Night-Time Facial, which I had tried a sample of when it first launched. I had forgotten how much I liked it. It can be used as an all-in-one treatment after cleansing, left on overnight to hydrate and exfoliate the skin. It's not quite moisturizing enough on its own for me to do that, but I like to use it once or twice a week when I do my skincare routine early in the evening. I cleanse, tone, and apply this product, and then I give it a few hours to do its thing. Then before bed I add additional moisturizers/oils. It makes my skin incredibly smooth and a lot clearer the next morning.
Curology | So, I've stopped using the acids mentioned above for a bit, because I've moved onto testing Curology. They contacted me for a collaboration, so I'm going to be using it for a few months and documenting my results! I'm on my second week, and so far it's made my skin purge a lot. They're starting to clear now, so I'm still hopeful. Curology is a subscription service you begin by taking a quiz about your skin concerns, and you are then paired with a dermatologist. They create a custom blend of prescription ingredients that gets delivered to you monthly/bimonthly. My blend is 0.25% Zinc Pyrithione, 1% Clindamycin, and 4% Niacinamide. I've been keeping the rest of my skincare pretty bland and gentle while using this until my skin gets used to it.
Joanna Vargas Skincare | Another facialist's brand I've been dying to try - when the JV Skincare team reached out to me I was so excited. They sent me the Daily Serum, which I've been loving so far. It 100% feels like a shot of green juice for your face because it contains chlorophyll and oat grass juice. It also has Vitamins A, C, E, and F to give the skin a glow and increase firmness and elasticity. This is the ultimate morning serum for me - it really wakes my skin up and helps to keep it hydrated and glowing all day. I've also been sent the Dawn Face Masks, but haven't had a chance to try them yet!
Urban Outfitters Beauty | Recently I was sent a super generous box of beauty products new to Urban Outfitters, and I dove right in. The products I've tried so far are the Pixi Rose Tonic, the Huxley Secret of Sahara Oil Essence, and the I Dew Care Sugar Kitten Mask. The Pixi Rose Tonic is something I was dying to try when it came out, just because I love the Glow Tonic so much. The Rose Tonic feels beautiful and refreshing on the skin, and I've been reaching for it most mornings either after cleansing or in place of cleansing. The Huxley Oil Essence has quickly become a new favorite morning staple. It has a serum-like consistency, so I've been using it more as a serum step. It uses Sahara Cactus Seed Oil as well as quinoa and acai berry to deeply hydrate and soothe the skin. It's made a great addition to my morning routine and has been keeping my winter skin in track. The Sugar Kitten Mask has been a super fun one to use - it's a peel-off mask that's meant to hydrate the skin, and it's the prettiest green color that dries down to a holographic lavender shade. I do feel like my skin is more hydrated after use, but this is one I'm loving purely for the "skintertainment."
What new skincare bits have you been trying lately?
Some products mentioned have been sent to me for consideration, but all opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links.