I keep meaning to ask if you’ve found any good skin care products lately! We talk so much about makeup that I forget sometimes about skin care, even though I use it even more than I wear makeup.
Here are some of the things I’ve been using and lovely lately…
Clarins HydraQuench Rich Cream ($50)
I’ve been a huge fan of the Clarins HydraQuench line for years, but I only recently decided to give their $50 HydraQuench Rich Cream a try.
It’s a thick, rich balm designed for extremely dry skin and/or cold climates, and I wish I’d tried it sooner, because despite the crazy price, I think it’s great.
Mostly, I’ve been using it on the tight, dry skin around my nose and mouth, which are both pretty sensitive areas for me, but this stuff never gives me breakouts.
If I listen closely when I rub it in…I can actually hear my dry patches sigh in relief, haha!
Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant ($50)
Dermalogica’s $50 Daily Microfoliant is another product getting a lot of play in my bathroom. A rice-based powder exfoliant designed for all skin types, I just put a small amount in the palm of a hand, and add water to activate the exfoliating agents, which include rice enzymes, salicylic acid and papain (an enzyme found in papaya). Working in the water turns the product into a gently exfoliating paste.
I use it a couple times a week to help slough away any flakes on my face, and I’m really happy with the results. I think my skin glows brighter and definitely feels smoother after each use.
Tata Harper Resurfacing Mask ($55)
This particular kick of mine is ongoing, thanks to their unfortunately expensive Resurfacing Mask ($55).
The last time I used it was on the Friday after going to The Hunger Games midnight show, after I’d gotten maybe three hours of sleep, so my skin was not in great condition at the time.
But I slathered on the mask, which is supposed to clear pores, tone, moisturize and remove dead skin cells with great ingredients like pomegranate enzymes, pink French clay, and white willow and beet root extracts.
After I let it set and “do its thang” for about 30 minutes, and then rinsed it off, I do think my face looked fresher and — dare I say it? — more radiant than it did before.
CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser ($12.99)
Also getting airtime in my skin-care routine, CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser. It’s an affordable, moisturizing facial cleanser containing ceramides, hyaluronic acid, fatty acid esters, glycerin and water to hydrate thirsty skin.
It might not come in the fanciest packaging (it doesn’t), but it sure as heck works wonders for my dry, sensitive mug. And the non-comedogenic formula doesn’t aggravate my acne, which is a huge plus! 🙂
What skin care products have you been loving lately?
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
I’m with you on Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant! It’s great. Better than other powder exfoliants, imo!
Hi Antonia,
It’s a great product, for sure! Have you used anything else from the line that you like?
I love Dermalogica’s Microfoliant – its lovely. I find it really enhances the effects of my clarisonic, and it doesn’t irritate my very sensitive (especially fo exfoliants!) skin. It feels softer, smoother and clearer.
Eminence Organics skincare! I love their new Bio-dynamic line. I swear the Bearberry Eye Cream has made my eyelashes grow. I also really like the Eight-Greens line, geared toward aging skin and hormonal breakouts. Awesome stuff! I work at a spa, so I get it at wholesale cost, but I’d pay full price!
Hi Hannah,
Ooh, tell me more about the Eight-Greens line. What are your must haves? I get hormonal breakouts and am always looking for good products to keep the issue in check!
I use the eight greens youth serum, it was recommended to me by an aesthetician friend of mine for hormonal breakouts. So far, it hasn’t been a godsend but it has made a noticable difference.
Laura, have you tried the eight greens masque? That may get you better results, being its a more concentrated treatment. I use the eight greens serum under the echinacea recovery cream every day, and then the masque once a week, and I’ve notice a huge difference.
Karen, the eight greens line is amazing. I use the serum everyday under my moisturizer, as it also helps to control oil. My skin is very sensitive and things for oily skin are usually too harsh, but this has been very gentle an affective. And then I use the masque once a week, also to spot treat during the week if a spot comes up. It draws blood to the surface of your skin and detoxifies = MAGIC
I’ve been really into retinols lately. (Trying to stay looking young.) Surprisingly I love Neutrogenas and skin ceuticals retinols. I’m also testing this new product called Glam Glow Mud. So far so good.
Hey Milly,
Which Neutrogena retinol do you use?
I don’t like to spend a ton of money on skincare, as I’ve found drugstore products work just as well, if not better than some of the more expensive stuff (though Olay is getting more expensive.
I use the CVS brand of retinol – the Perfect and Correct serum. It costs $18 and the small bottle will last you a year or more. I have found that it makes my skin brighter, gets rid of sun spots or zit scars, and prevents and takes care of zits. Once I had a zit that was quite literally a cyst, and it wouldn’t go away after a month of aggressive treatment with different acne regimens. I put this retinol serum on that sucker and it went away within a few days.
My favorite skin lotion is Aveeno Positively radiant. It costs around $16 and one bottle will last a year or more. It smooths my skin, makes it look more glow-y and makes my skin soft and hydrated. It is also SPF 15, so I get some sun protection out of it as well. The great thing about Aveeno products is that they are great for sensitive skin because they are hypoallergenic and recommended by most dermatologists.
For eye cream, I use the Garnier Ultra Lift stuff. It smooths out the skin on my eyelids and keeps the area around my eyes moisturized. It also helps a bit with dark circles.
For skin lotion, it varies. I have a lot of scented body butters/lotions from Bath and Body Works, but I also use Nivea Quick Absorb 24 hour lotion. The Nivea is for when I want to wear perfume (since it is very lightly scented), or just want something quick absorbing after a shower. The Bath and Body Works lotions/butters are great, very hydrating, but their scents are so strong that they are best worn alone.
Hi Katherine,
Thanks for the great list of budget skin care products. I’ll have to look into the CVS retinol serum! Sounds like a winner. 🙂
Hi Karen,
I know you’ve reviewed hand cremes and lotions before, but I’m looking for one that is paraben free and un- or just lightly scented and was hoping you could recommend one. This question feels slightly off topic from your post today but I keep forgetting to ask!
Oh, and this Wednesday turned out to be pretty good. I got good news and that always makes for a good day! I hope you’re having an excellent Thursday.
Hi Jessica,
Maybe you’re thinking of the one by Caudalie:
https://www.makeupandbeautyblog.com/product-reviews/my-dry-claws-crave-caudalie-hand-and-nail-cream/
It’s my current fave hand cream!
Cetaphil cleanser, Kate Somerville Deep Tissue Repair moisturizer and just started using the new Kate Somerville DermalQuench. Love. Oh, and I’m positively obsessed with Exfolikate. My skin (SE Asian, combo, congested) has never looked better!
I moved here from Europe so I am still sticking to my HG from there. I use Vichy Normaderm anti-acne gel (it’s amazing, you should try it), La Roche Possay cleansing milk to remove make up, then I use Bioderma micelar solution to clean off the remaining make up and I use Vichy Normaderm cream or Vichy Aqualia night cream.
Hi Agata,
I just might have to try that Vichy gel. Can you purchase it here in the US?
http://search.ulta.com/nav/hierarchy1/skincare/hierarchy2/face/brand/vichy/0
Apparently they carry Vichy at Ulta stores. I have never seen it in stores but it seems like all the products are available online.
Awesome! Thanks Agata. 🙂
BTW, whereabouts are you originally from Europe? I’ve only been to a few countries there, but I enjoyed my short time visiting.
I am from Poland. I moved to the US 2 years ago. Every time I go to Poland I stock myself on all the skin care products that I love and am used to using and that are hard to get over here.
Karen & Agata, they sell Vichy and Laroche-Posay in Walgreens here in the US. Often they are displayed close to each other. I’m loving the Laroche products, esp the cleansers and the sunblocks!
Karen I got a special Vichy Birchbox last month so they must sell it here – at least on Birchbox’s site. 🙂
nothing fancy, but i rediscovered the Bio Oil that i bought at Costco last January. i used it for a while and stopped.
i used it one night and my skin was so soft the next morning. 🙂
I know a lot of people loooove that stuff! Does it have a nice scent?
the scent is very faint but quite nice y’know that sort where you get whiffs of it every so often when you turn your face or body? faint and leaves you wondering where it came from — thats how it smells. 🙂 i quite love it!
Kate Somerville CytoCell Dark Circle Corrective Eye Cream actually works for my hereditary and stress-induced dark circles. Downside: the effect seems to be temporary, so I have to keep using it, and it costs $75. A little goes a looooong way, though; it starts to ball up if I use too much.
Tretinoin cream 0.025% (retinoid) is rather effective and (obviously) not as irritating as strengths 0.04% and up. I have always had trouble with random pimples (small but annoying) on my chin and somewhat oily t-zone, and this has definitely helped. I don’t know the price; I get it free from my mom (she’s a physician).
My husband actually discovered the Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant. For a guy, he takes great care of his skin. 🙂 I use it a couple of times a week to exfoliate. I only use a little bit so that big bottle lasts a long time.
I’m digging Neutrogena Healthy Skin Eye Cream and Olay Complete moisturizer with SPF 15.
I will have to check out the CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser and the Resurfacing Mask.
CeraVe is the best cleanser ever! I have quite dry, extremely reactive skin, and this keeps things under control!
I also use CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion – ceramides, glycerin, hyaluronic acid, niacinamide… this stuff is lightweight, gentle, doesn’t break me out, and helps calm down redness.
I just bought Desert Essence Organics Pomegranate hydrating face serum, and I layer this under the CeraVe PM – adds much-needed hydration, and is full of antioxidants. Also, unlike most anti-aging products, this doesn’t cause allergic reactions or blind pimples (those big, under the skin ones).
I’m LOVING Caudalie Vinoperfect Day perfecting fluid!!
My other favorite is Amore Pacific’s Treatment Enzyme Peel. – Peel is deceiving, it’s a powder that turns into a paste when water is added (kinda like your derm.)
Both are soooo good:)
I love Retin-A. It’s by far the most effective product I’ve ever used. My derm promised me that I would thank him in 10 years for prescribing it and I do, I do!
I really love Dermalogica too 🙂 And Garnier BB Cream has become a new daily fav of mine actually 🙂
Dior One Essential eye serum that newly launched in Feb.
Dark circles lesser and more even tone around my eyes.
Oh! I didn’t realize that CeraVe had a cleanser. I’m totally going to try that, because I love their lotion. I think the only new things for me lately are my clarisonic and sibu lotion. I’m not sure how much it was (freebie from my awesome neighbors at the naturals show). It’s been working great and I think my pores look smaller when I use it. 🙂
I really love Reviva Labs Face Scrub. I think I’ll shell out for a back up soon:
http://themakeuptrain.com/2011/10/28/review-reviva-labs-pomegranatelactic-acid-peptide-botanical-exfoliant/
I love Josie Maran Argan Oil, Ole Henriksen Enlighten Me Pigment Serum and Decleor Neroli Baume de Nuit lately. My skin is clear, soft, and glowing!
One Hand Washes the Other Black Magic — OHWTO is an indie company and I adooore the Black Magic cleanser. It clears up my skin like.. magic.
C Booth Green Apple Microdermabrasion Scrub — I just got this and have only tried it once, but I love how smooth and radiant it made my skin. It smells delicious too!
Crème Prodigieuse Nuit from NUXE, Rêve de Miel Nuit from NUXE, Masque Tai Chi from HERBORIST.
Nothing has changed my skin like Juice Beauty! No breakouts for 6 months. Blemish clearing serum and Full Strength Green Apple Peel! My fine lines even look smoother. I am obsessed, and it’s not super expensive. Plus it’s certified organic! LOVE!
I recently started using Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish hot cloth cleanser and I love love love it! I’m also happy with Caudalie beauty elixir (I use as a morning toner and to refresh mid-day), Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta peel, and Embryolisse Lait-Creme concentrate.
I have combo skin that leans oily as the day wears on. When I’m not using my Tretinoin 0.05% cream, I adore Kate Somerville’s Clinic To Go pads. I received a full size Le Metier de Beaute cleanser about a month ago. It’s very hydrating! Almost too hydrating if I’m not exfoliating or using retinoids. I alternate between Clinique’s Youth Surge Night Age Decelerating Moisturizer and Lancome’s Absolue Premium Bx (free jar from Nordstrom). The Lancome moisturizer is very rich (moisturizing) compared to the Clinique one. During the day, I also use MyChelle NoTox serum mixed with Philosophy’s Vitamin C and Lancome Absolue. I really need to find a less moisturizing day cream.
I also received a sample of Le Metier de Beaute’s day cream… talk about too much hydration! It will be perfect in about 10-15 years.
Oh boy, my list is going to be long but let’s see…
I’ve been loving the Caudalie Vinosource. The seasons are changing and my skin was drier than usual, but the serum and cream (there are 4 for different skin types, but I’ve tried 3 and they all work very well for me. I just keep the richer one for nighttime) resurrected it in a couple of days!
I’ve been testing KenzoKi Belle de Jour White Lotus Mask too and it works spectacularly for me. This is what I use when I haven’t had enough sleep and my skin could do with a pick-me-up.
Bioderma Sensibio has found itself another loyal fan in me too! I bought the 500ml bottle because my blogger friends promised I’d love it (and it’s like 3 euros more expensive than the 250ml bottle), and they were right! Except for extremely waterproof mascara this thing removes everything efficiently, and my skin just feels so clean, pure, and even hydrated afterwards. It’s a miracle!
OK that’s getting long so I’ll stop here :p
Ohhh Sunny you are so lucky you have Bioderma there. They don’t have it here and they also don’t have it in Germany.
Hey Karen
I am definitely liking Raw Gaia Green Clay mask right now, as well as the Clarisonic Mia.
I have acne prone skin and those two products are super good for helping to keep those pimples at bay.
Dermalogica Daily Microfolian sounds like a product I will need to try especially since I am looking for something that can remove dead skin cells and clear those pores.
Thanks for sharing Karen.
Bobby Thomsd
I’m a fan of the Clarisonic too, so I very highly recommend the Clarisonic, Dermalogica’s Precleanse, and Dermalogica’s Microfoliant together for congested skin! Cleared me up completely – and I had horrible skin!
Is there anything more obnoxious for mother nature to throw at our skin than dry skin and acne? Estee Lauder’s Nutritious Vita-Mineral Lotion has been my saving grace this winter. My CeraVe PM lotion wasn’t cutting it anymore (after being my go-to for the last 2 winters). A friend recommended this and I just love it. I’m still loyal to my CeraVe cleanser. That stuff just rocks.
I’m loving my FAB cleanser (with my Clarisonic, of course). I’m also really loving Origin’s VitaZing!
I use a lot of neutrogena. I’m really into their neutrogena healthy skin moisturizer! I’d love to get my hands on a Clarisonic Mia though!
Josie maran has an awsome moisturizer that i completely adore.
I also use the CeraVe Cleanser (it’s my evening cleanser), and I really like it – so moisturizing and gentle. In the morning, I use Lush’s Angels on Bare Skin, which I’m not sure about yet, but I think I like – it’s a really gentle exfoliant.
My favorite moisturizer is CeraVe PM, which I use during the day usually (unless I need something with SPF), because at night I use a Neutrogena retinol cream – the Healthy Skin one, which is AWESOME – I had no adverse reactions when I started it at all, which I know often happens. I recommend it!
I am loving Chanel Ultra Line Repair eye cream. I got a sample of it and was using it when I had an eczema breakout on my eyelids. Cleared it right up and keeps it away! I think it is also helping with my dark circles.
I really like the Chanel day cream as well, though I def have to remember to wash my face at the end of the day, since anything with sunscreen tends to clog my pores.
Creme de la Mer….ALWAYS!!!!
I swear by Cetaphil products. The basic moisturizer compares to my yellow clinique lotion for a heck of a lot less. It’s great if you just need a basic moisturizer. Also, I love 100% pure products. They are all organic and plant derived. It’s not over priced and I love love love my coconut body scrub. I don’t know what stores sell the products but I order them online through the website
There are quite a few new products I’ve tried out in the past 2 weeks so this post comes just in time! I’m currently loving Kiehl’s Clearly Corrective concentrate, been using it for about 2 weeks and I can definitely see my skin getting clearer and brighter. I was a little ill yesterday and not wearing makeup and still my boyfriend told me my skin is glowing, not just that I look nice but specifically that my skin is glowing, that just proves it works! 🙂 I’ve also been using a Clarins Youth Recovery night cream for Normal to Combination skin and I really like it!
Ohh I forgot to mention ~ Lush Coal Face, makes my oily skin clean without drying it!
I’m with you on the Daily Microfoliant – I love this thing! For a few months I’ve also been using Darphin’s Arovita eye and lip contour gel; it’s pricey but so, SO worth it. Between the gel and the Microfoliant, I swear some fine lines have disappeared.
I also couldn’t be happier with La Roche Posay’s Nutritic moisturiser (I’ve dry skin and this one is even better than L’Occitane’s Shea Butter moisturiser) and Weleda’s Rosehip night cream. It might all be in my head, but lately I feel like my skin is glowier than it’s been in years!
I love the clarins hydraquench range. Have you tried the hydraquench serum? It’s fab.
I have been using the microfoliant for years but have been finding lately I want more of a scrub texture but still gentle on my sensitive skin. I am thinking of trying clarins gentle exfoliating cleanser- have you tried it?
I’m 38 and have sensitive, dehydrated combo skin with dry patches and prone to some congestion, especially hormonal/monthly cysts and spots. It’s a bit of a nightmare, actually, because so many products can aggravate my skin causing more redness and dryness but also causing acne.
For cleanser, it’s Cetaphil. I strayed away but that was a huge mistake that left my skin in terrible shape and it took me a while to realize it was my cleanser.
For Serum, I am IN LOVE with Mandom’s Barrier Repair Serum. I read about it on lots of Asian and Australian beauty blogs and finally ordered it from adambeauty. It’s amazing and with moisturizer, it completely healed my skin. I may switch back to a Vitamin C serum for the warmer months, though.
Moisturizer: My HG for everyday is Paula’s Choice Moisture Boost. When I need a little something extra for dry spots, I use Embryolisse Lait Crème Concentré. When my skin was so aggravated that everything I put on it stung, I found that La Roche Posay Toleriane and Vaseline were my saving grace.
Anti-aging/Acne: I can only use Retin-A on certain areas of my face or else risk a full blown peel (not pretty), so I think I’m going to pick up Neutrogena’s Ageless Intensives Deep Wrinkle Moisture, Night and see if I can tolerate that for everyday use. For exfoliation, I use AmLactin as lactic acid is the gentlest on my skin. To treat spots I use a sulfur-based treatment that doesn’t aggravate the skin further. My fave is Dr. Dennis Gross Correct & Perfect Spot Treatment.
Sunscreen (face): Elta MD all the way. I use the physical tinted sunscreen everyday in place of foundation. If I want to wear foundation, then I’ll use their chemical sunscreen.
Wow, looks like everyone enjoys a different product.. There’s tons here!
I have been using Earth Science moisturizers – unscented daily lotion or Apricot night creme. My husband and I both have sensitive skin and neither of these make our faces itch. They are botanical – paraben and petroleum free and all that jazz, and made in California 🙂
What about serums? I need some recommendations.
I’ve been using Dermalogica’s antioxidant hydramist with their UltraCalming Barrier Repair and I’ve been quite liking the results. I’m also liking Avalon Organics’s Vitamin C serum. My aesthetician friend says that at that price there’s no way the vitamin C is stable, but I like the way it feels when I put it on…
i’m obsessed with somme institute! it has completely changed my skin
I’ve been using the Lancome BIENFAIT AQUA VITAL LOTION and love it. I just ran out, but will repurchase as soon as I finish my Olay moisturizers.
Rodan + Fields Dermatologists micro-dermabrasion paste. Makes my skin brighter and more even toned. Use it 3 mornings a week and always get compliments on the days I use it.
I am in love with Kate Sommerville’s Oil Free moisturizer, exfolikate and the clinic to go peel pads. I use philosopy purity in the am and pm with my mia and my normally acne prone skin is looking brighter and clearer in the am.
I also have been using a murad serum for acne spots at night and my bare minerals serum at night as well. Followed by moisturizer.
I have been loving the new Incredi-peel pads by Bliss. I’ve been using them for a couple weeks now and I’ve definitely noticed a difference in my skin; it’s softer, smoother, more even toned and my acne marks are slowly disappearing, but the important part is that they finally are! 🙂 They also leave me with a glow, which is great. However the other night, I noticed the pads weren’t working as well as they first did but after I exfoliated my skin, it was back to being “glowy”. For a scrub I really like the old formula of the Biore Pore Unclogging Scrub, I went and raided several drugstores to stock up while they were discontinuing it!
Hi Karen, thanks for the great reviews. I am really looking forward to the new summer variant that Parachute is planning to launch. Have you tried it out? I had seen the new TVC for it and am looking forward to trying it out. This all season variant worked really well on my skin and I also feel that my skin has gotten softer and smoother over the last few months of regular usage.
I absolutely love (and haven’t stopped loving!) my Clarisonic – I’ve had it for… well over a year now? And its been amazing for clearing up my skin, and making it softer and smoother. I love other products, but nothing else comes close in terms of how dramatic an improvement its made on my skin. I had horrible acne and now its rare for me to break out, which is an amazing improvement.
The other products I’ve been loving? Dermalogica’s Microfoliant! Its a lovely, gentle exfoliator which does leave your face a little brighter, clearer and softer when used a few times a week. I agree with this post completely!
I also love Dermalogica’s Precleanse – its gentle and effective, an oil cleanser that turns milky and so rinses off without leaving you feeling greasy. Its really effective, so I’ve been using mine just by itself, and it works even better than most cleansers for me, without drying me out or stripping my skin (which happens very easily in my case). The other is Dermalogica’s Bedtime for breakouts, which is my favourite pimple cream. I’ve tried a lot of others, like Mario Badescu’s, prescription creams and almost every drugstore cream known to man, and this one’s the most effective, and also sinks in completely and comfortably without leaving white dots all over your face, which is great! Lastly, I love LUSH’s Vanishing Cream – I don’t think its anything special in itself, but it just so happens to be the perfect balance of moisture for me – not too greasy, not too light.
Karen, thanks for the reviews. I am looking forward to the new summer variant that Parachute will be launching. Have you tried it out? I had seen the new TVC for it and am looking forward to trying it out. This all season variant worked really well on my skin and I also feel that my skin has gotten softer and smoother over the last few months of regular usage.
I am loving all my CeraVe products. I use their foaming facial cleanser. It restores the skins natural protective barrier that so many other products just strip away. Followed with Paula’s Choice Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum and CeraVe PM moisturizer. For my body, a shower is not a shower without a Salux Beauty Skin Cloth. Used with any pure bar or liquid soap you will have the best exfoliating experience ever.