Skincare: The Old + The New and Fab

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There was The Good, The Bad and The Fab, now it’s time for The Old + The New and Fab.

I can’t think of any “bad” or horrible skincare products I’ve tried in recent months. Considering how much I love trying and testing “all things beauty” I think that’s pretty good.

And, actually a little surprising to me, if I’m being honest.

I do have to say that I’m definitely more mindful these days and don’t always feel the need to immediately buy new products, the minute they’re released. This probably helps reduce my chances of using something I won’t like. Nearly three years passed since I went on the “Beauty Diet” and I’m really happy that I’m still sticking to those rules. Most of the time, anyway.

The GlamGlow Supermud Clearing Treatment is one of those old products that recently found its way back to me. I’ve been using it on and off probably since around 2014. The brand definitely makes quite a few bold claims  (they all kinda do though, no?) saying that the product will literally “suck your pores clean.” Well, I don’t know about making my skin look “poreless” but it absolutely does help keep them clear and my skin bright.

How I use it: This mask is one of the very few products that help me with sebaceous filaments I have on my nose. They’re often confused with blackheads as they can be similar in appearance. Unlike blackheads, they are not clogged pores and impossible to get rid of as they’re a normal function of the skin. Other than salicylic acid and retinol, GlamGlow’s Supermud Clearing Treatment is another product that does a great job of keeping those affected areas smooth and clear. It helps with oil control without drying out the skin and leaves it feeling soft and smooth. I apply it all-over about twice a week, or as a spot treatment for drying/healing breakouts.

That’s something old, and here’s something new: (and fab, hopefully, although so far, so good) GlamGlow BrightEyes Illuminating Anti-Fatigue Eye Cream. It does a good job of brightening the skin around the eyes. It’s quite thick and creamy, which I like in an eye cream, but as cute as it looks, I’m not a huge fan of the jar packaging. I don’t get bags around my eyes or dark circles very often, but on an occasion when I do get little sleep, this cream does help me look a bit more… alive. I need to get a little more time with this to see what I really think about it, but initial impressions are very good.

How I use it: during the day when needed, before makeup, or sunscreen, when not wearing foundation or concealer.

Along with The Fix Face Potion (which I’ll talk about next), these right here are some of the best skincare products I discovered recently. Like Khus + Khus, {save} is a natural skincare line. Three products I’ve been using are {save} Hydrating Facial Cleanser, {save} Ultra-Light Moisturizer and {save} Smoothing Eye Cream.* They come in airless, recyclable packaging, which was the first thing I noticed and, of course, loved about them. The Hydrating Facial Cleanser foams nicely; it’s very gentle, doesn’t strip the skin and balances it very well, leaving it feeling hydrated and soft. The Ultra-Light Moisturizer is just that- a very lightweight, non-greasy moisturizer. It absorbs beautifully, works well under makeup, and has actually replaced my Cetaphil cream (at least for now, before winter arrives) which is saying a lot since it’s the only moisturizer that actually keeps my skin hydrated all day, whenever it feels extremely dry. The Smoothing Eye Cream is also very lightweight. I love that it doesn’t come in jar packaging like most eye cream products. It’s very gentle and doesn’t irritate the skin- which is true for all three products. Since I don’t have any wrinkles around my eyes, I can’t say whether it helps to smooth them, but it does soften and hydrate it well. Love the fact that these are free of artificial fragrance as well. They’re really nice, simple and effective products, I’m very impressed.

How I use these: since all are very gentle, they’re great for daily use, whether it’s in the morning, or during my night skincare routine. The cleanser is great for morning/daytime cleansing, or as a second step in nighttime double cleanse. Both the Ultra-Light Moisturizer and Smoothing Eye Cream are very lightweight, absorb quickly and I like using them in the morning, under my makeup.

Khus + Khus also make amazing, natural skincare products (featured in last year’s “Best of Natural Beauty” post). I’ve been using their The Fix Face Potion* for a few weeks now and it’s absolutely one of my favorite skincare products at the moment. It has such a unique texture that feels like a combination of a serum/cream with a hint of oil. It’s a beautiful blend of botanicals with usnea, elderflower, amla, CBD, prickly pear, and Amalaki seed oil (you can read more about the ingredients and their benefits right here). Khus + Khus The Fix is amazing at reducing inflammation, which usually begins to be a problem for me around this time of year. It leaves the skin feeling hydrated, incredibly smooth and soft, and it works really well both with the dry and acneic parts of my skin. I love everything about this serum- all the way down to the beautiful and convenient packaging. It has a very subtle, natural, citrus-like scent that’s very pleasant and doesn’t linger.

How I use it: usually prefer to use it at night, on my no-makeup days or after treatments such as dermarolling or an AHA mask. The formula is quite rich and a little bit goes a very, very long way. 1-2 pumps give me enough product to apply on my face, lips, around my eyes (I like massaging it into my eyebrows and eyelashes as well, it’s that gentle) and I still have a bit left to massage into my hands and cuticles.

Speaking of rich formulas, one of my old favorites is IT Cosmetics Secret Sauce Moisturizer. I’ve been using this moisturizer since it was released a couple of years ago. I usually love everything that IT Cosmetics releases, so really, I wasn’t all that surprised at how much I liked it. The formula reminds me of their Bye Bye Redness Sensitive Skin Moisturizer. I wouldn’t say that it’s a “weightless” formula as they advertise, since it is quite rich and creamy. It does absorb after a few minutes though. Other than locking in moisture, it also makes the skin feel plumper and it adds a little glow, in a similar way MAC’s Strobe Cream does.

How I use it: whenever my skin feels dry or dull, I usually re-introduce this moisturizer into my routine when fall arrives. Because of its rich formula, I use a very small amount during the day before applying my sunscreen. When using at night, I apply a more generous amount, usually about 15 minutes after applying Retin-A.

Paula’s Choice Boosters have been a part of my routine for a while now, but I don’t think I talked about them here on the blog. These boosters work with other skincare products to target specific skin concerns and allow you to customize your routine. My three current favorites are the 10% Niacinamide Booster-it helps with skin discoloration, redness, and uneven texture; Peptide Booster*– targets dehydrated and dull skin; and Moisture Renewal Oil Booster-blend of plant oils that improves rough texture, dryness and soothes irritated skin.

How I use it: the easiest way to use these is to mix them with your moisturizer. Usually, I just add a few drops to the {save} Ultra-Light Moisturizer. I kind of go with whatever my skin’s needs are at the time and sometimes mix more than one of these boosters. The Niacinamide Booster gives particularly good results when I use it after the GlamGlow Supermud Clearing Treatment, as it helps to keep my pores tight and happy. During colder months, I use the Moisture Renewal Oil Booster daily. It helps with dryness and helps keep my acne in control, whenever my skin gets oily due to dehydration. Despite it being an “oil booster” it doesn’t feel like an oil, and doesn’t leave the skin feeling oily or sticky. I actually like adding a few drops to my foundation as well, especially in winter when I’m more on the dry side. I like mixing it with the Peptide Booster.*

REN’s new addition to their ClearCalm line is the Non-Drying Acne Treatment Gel. The Treatment Gel isn’t overly drying like other spot-treatments and it goes on clear, so there’s no need to worry about a white residue staying behind. It’s formulated with salicylic acid and it feels more like a serum than a spot-treatment. Love how gentle it is on the skin and while it doesn’t heal breakouts overnight, it does help reduce them and calm the redness they cause. The Clarifying Clay Cleanser* from the same line is quite unique. It doesn’t foam extremely well, which is something that I usually expect from natural skincare products. The formula is gentle on the skin, doesn’t strip or irritate it, but it also doesn’t truly feel like a “deep cleanse” cleanser. Gentle is the way to go though, especially if you have acne-prone skin.

How I use it: this cleanser is not one you would use to remove makeup. I don’t like using cleansers to remove my makeup but will do it once in a while if I’m feeling lazy. This will not work for that purpose, but it also doesn’t claim to. I prefer using it in the morning when I just go for a quick cleanse. This clay cleanser does help calm the skin, but to me, it doesn’t leave my skin feeling “deeply cleansed,” which is what I prefer from my nighttime routine.  From time to time, I will use it as a first step in my double-cleanse. I usually like starting my double cleanse with something oil-based, like Akwi cleanser. When I am breaking out, I will switch to REN’s Clarifying Clay Cleanser. The ClearCalm Acne Treatment Gel* is gentle enough to be applied all over, which is how I use it. It also works pretty well under makeup, so on those days when I am breaking out or feel a small breakout coming, I will use this in the morning and night, in place of a serum.

I’ve read and heard so many amazing things before finally trying the Fur Oil a few months ago. Like most of the rest of the world, I first heard about it from Emma Watson’s feature on ITG’s The Top Shelf. I had to stop waxing a few years ago because eventually, I’d end getting ingrown hairs each time. So, when I got my first Brazilian in years this summer, I knew I’d have to add a step or two to my body care routine. Post-shaving, or post-waxing, I almost always use these premoistened pads from Completely Bare (talked about them a few years ago in this post). I also added Fur Oil to my routine and this combination works beautifully. The Fur Oil is very lightweight, it absorbs quickly, softens the skin and hair, most importantly, I haven’t had any issues with ingrown hair since I started waxing again. It’s 100% natural with a light, non-lingering lemongrass scent that I find very pleasant. As a person with very coarse hair, picky and at times sensitive skin, I say this oil is worth the hype.

How I use it: I apply it every night after getting out of the shower. Other than my pubic area, I also apply it to my underarms, legs, and cuticles- both on my hands and feet. Fur Oil has a very soothing effect and leaves the skin feeling incredibly smooth. When I use it after shaving my legs, they are the “I-literally-can’t-stop-touching-my-legs” kind of smooth. The same kind of smooth I felt when my cousin and I decided to shave our legs for the very first time- (it was during a summer break and I literally drove my bike into a pole, bruising my collarbone because I kept touching my knees and turned around while screaming “wow my legs still feel so smooth, how about yours?” to my cousin who was riding her bike behind me. Good times.)