Well hello there!

Long time no talk! First off, I hope you are all healthy and safe during these difficult times. I know that many people are struggling in various ways. One thing I’ve turned to for some positivity is writing. Writing has always helped me relieve stress and boost happiness so I thought I would take this time to re-boot my blog.  While I haven’t been wearing much make up, or any makeup at all really, in the last few weeks I have been focusing a lot on skin care. So I thought, what better to write about then my current favorite skin care products! 

Over the past six months or so I’ve struggled a lot with my skin. We moved into a new house in September which changed a lot and of course, there’s the stress of school, and the brutal winters of New England that all added to the mix. I finally feel like I’m at a place where I am comfortable with my skin and I have some pretty awesome products that helped me get there. Without further adieu, these are my current skincare favorites!

First Aid Beauty Pure Skin Face Cleanser

First Aid Beauty (FAB) has quickly become one of my favorite skin care brands. As I mentioned above, I’ve had some serious skin-troubles lately. About 2 months ago I was experiencing intense irritation on my eye-lids that lasted weeks. My eyelids were scaled and flakey and I was feeling so down and self-conscious. I tried so many things from using no products, switching products, and more. I came to the conclusion that something I was using was seriously irritating my skin. During this time I became seriously aware of all products I was using, skin care, makeup, perfumes, etc. 

I decided to start taking way better care of my skin and I had heard of FAB and went to my local Ulta to pick up a couple things. FAB has over 1,300 ingredients on their “no-no list”. I thought I’d give it a try on my now seemingly sensitive skin. I’ve used this cleanser for about two months now and I love it! It really gets rid of any dirt, leftover makeup, and other residue left on the face. Also, it’s not drying at all. Another great thing about FAB is while its more expensive than the drugstore, it’s affordable in comparison to your typical Sephora products and the product sizes are very generous. I will definitely be repurchasing!

First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream

While we’re on the subject, this is the real superhero. This product has single-handedly changed my skin. For some reason, this past winter I experienced dry skin like never before. My skin would literally flake off!! I usually love a light, water-cream moisturizer but this skin situation called for something heavy-duty. This is the most hydrating moisturizer I’ve ever used. It’s a thick cream but when you apply it, it doesn’t feel heavy on the skin which I really like. I applied this to my face this morning around 10:00 AM and my skin still feels soft and plump now at 9:00 PM.

Besides the hydration, I like that you can use this on your entire body. I have really dry hands as well so occasionally I’ll use it as hand lotion. One of my favorites things about this product is the size/price. Like I said above, this brand is fairly affordable for being “high end”. I will tell you I have paid much more for way less product many times! This is my ultimate current favorite!

Peter Thomasroth FirmX Peeling Gel

The first time I used this product I was blown away. I think I got a sample in an Ipsy bag or something way back and when I finally gave it a try I couldn’t believe the results. It has to be the most gentle exfoliation product I have ever used. This product visibly peels the dead skin off my face. I use every time I’m going to apply makeup for a special event and I want the most flawless look. It’s also great for when I am super dry and need a fresh start. I’ve used this for years now and it is one of my all-time favorites.

Origins High-Potency Night-A-Mins Oil-Free Resurfacing Cream

This is an oldie but goodie! Well actually, this is my first time trying the oil-free formula but overall it seems pretty similar, just lighter which I like. This is my all-time favorite night cream and I’ve used it for years. I get some texture on my face and when I put this on before bed, when I wake up my skin is so smooth! This product works wonders and smells amazing. The only downside is that it is pretty pricey and the tub isn’t very large so I try to use it sparingly.

Drunk Elephant Virgin Marula Luxury Facial Oil

Ok, right off the bat Drunk Elephant is a pricey brand, like price-y. I’ll admit that. I got one of their gift sets for Christmas and I’ve really been making it last. This is my favorite Drunk Elephant product so far. Marula oil has tons of benefits. It is filled with antioxidants and great for all skin types. I love to mix this oil in with my night cream for the ultimate hydration. With this oil, a little goes a long way so it will last a while! I’ve been using the travel size for months. Besides all the skin perks, Drunk Elephant products have the cutest packaging!

Jouer Essential Lip Enhancer

Surprisingly enough, this is the first Jouer product I’ve used. I’ve heard great things about the brand but never really find myself reaching for their products. This was a product in a Boxycharm or something that I randomly reached for one day because I couldn’t find chapstick. I ended up falling in love with it! It is so hydrating and really just brings my lips back to life. I use this right before bed. I will say that it does have a fragrance that I’m not the craziest about. It has almost a perfume-like scent but the results outweighed the scent for me. I will definitely repurchase this when I’m out!

I’ve gained a lot of appreciation for skin-care over the past year and these are my most used, most loved, most effective skin-care products. Coincidentally Sephora’s semi-annual sale is right around the corner and depending on your loyalty membership you can get 10-20% off which is awesome because Sephora rarely has sales! Let me know if you try out any of these products and feel free to share your favorite skincare products below!

As always, thanks for reading! 

xo Rickie