Skincare Routine: Moisturizers and Gels

1. Clinique Dramatically Different Gel  

This is my absolute holy grail product, hands down. I have been using this for at least 7 years, from when I first started taking my skin care seriously. I use it almost every single day, either as a lightweight moisturizer or as a base coat for a heavier moisturizer at night. I LOVE Clinique products and use a lot of them in my daily makeup/ skincare routine. They just came out with a Dramatically Different Hydrating Jelly, which I found while looking for the link for the gel, and I cannot wait to try this as well as the new Moisture Surge 72-Hour Auto-Replenishing Hydrator. 

2. Beauty Counter Rejuvenating Radiance Serum

Similarly, with Clinique, I swear by Beauty Counter. I have not been using their products for as long as I have been using Clinique, but their promise to maintain ethical and eco-friendly beauty standards is something that really sticks with me. I use a variety of their products and have loved all of them. A testament to beauty counter, my mother's whole vanity is made up of basically all Beauty Counter products. She swears by them. I love this serum because it is lightweight enough that I can wear it under other products, but also something I can just wear as a primer for my makeup. 

3. Ursa Major Golden Hour Recovery Cream from ONDA Beauty

This is my primary night time moisturizer, especially in the winter. It leaves my skin feeling soft, revived, and well balanced. I usually wear this in the winter with the Clinique gel underneath. It is an incredibly clean and ethically produced product, which, if you haven't caught on yet, is something that I truly look for in a brand. Moreover, this cream, although thick, does not sit on my skin for a long time, leaving me oily. Instead, I put this on and it absorbs fully into my skin almost right away, a combination that is hard to find in such a hydrating product. I love ONDA beauty because I know that any product I find there is from a brand that has a similar ethically and eco-friendly based message behind it.  

Xoxo,
Salut Sophie  

Skincare Routine: Masks

In no specific order, here are the following masks that I use religiously. Depending upon the season, my skin needs, and what I am feeling, I always swear by these three masks. 

1. Glossier Meg Green Galaxy Max

I love this mask when I feel like my skin needs a detox from makeup. After a long week of wearing makeup, this mask is PERFECT. I usually wear this for a solid 20 minutes until the green has literally sunk into my skin and it looks like I am just wearing a clear mask. 

2. Glossier Moisturizing Moon Mask

This mask is great for the winter season because my skin gets super dry and this mask is incredibly hydrating. Sometimes I even mix the two glossier masks together - I think they are a really great combo! 

3. Kheil's Ultra Facial Overnight Hydrating Mask Okay, this is my holy grail. I honestly use it when I am super lazy and don't want to do my full skincare routine. After washing my face before I go to bed, I'll put this mask on and sleep in it all night. It totally sinks in and leaves my skin feeling incredibly smooth and moisturized. 10/10 highly recommend this mask - the ultimate lazy girl product! 

Xoxo,
Salut Sophie  

Review: Glossier Lidstar

Image Credit: Glossier

I am a lover of basically all glossier products I have ever purchased. EVER. So, when the Glossier Lidstar's came out, I was game to try them, just like every other Glossier product. After having used them for about a month now, I have concluded that I am not wowed by them, but also that I do not hate them. I genuinely think that I need to experiment with them a little bit more to figure out the best way to wear them. Usually, when I do eyeshadow it is all or nothing and since these products are meant for more a natural subtle look, I haven't quite mastered how to find the right balance. Regardless, I am still a hardcore, ride or die fan of Glossier. For 10% off your first order, use the link below! 

Xoxo,
Salut Sophie

P.S. I got the colors Moon and Cub and I really like them! 

Link: https://glossier.com?g_ref=f578fbf6769529

Skincare Routine: Toners

After my skin is makeup free and cleansed, I move on to step three: toners. I have been a huge fan of toners ever since I first started to get into skincare. I think they are really important in resetting the pH balance of your skin after it has been disrupted by makeup removal and cleansing. Contrary to most of my skincare routine, I do not have a holy grail toner that I have been using for years. Instead, I have three current favorites that I switch between depending on what my skin needs. 

1. CLINIQUE CLARIFYING LOTION 2

I originally started using this Clinique toner when I first began concentrating on my skincare. It is really great quality and price, and also great for all ages! Since I have super sensitive skin, I have found that this toner is gentle enough not to make my skin red and irritated, but it also is strong enough to really help my skin when I have acne. With that said, this is not my everyday toner. I usually use it when my skin is particularly bad or I am having an acne flare up. I think it does a really good job of calming my skin and helping to clear up my acne! I just use a cotton round to apply this to my face before adding any other moisturizers or products.   

2. BALANCING FORCE OIL CONTROL TONER

Suprise, surprise another Ole Henriksen product! Now, this has been my everyday toner for the past six months and I am 100% buying another bottle when this one runs out. It does a great job of getting rid of any excess dirt, which you can see on the cotton pad when you are done using it, and does not irritate my skin in the slightest. Since it is from the same line as my everyday face wash, it is made with the, according to their website, "Green Fusion Complex, a proprietary blend of potent active botanicals—green tea, eucalyptus, algae (kelp) and Irish moss extracts—with natural antiseptic properties." So, not only does it help to minimize the appearance of pores and freshen my skin, but it also helps to leave my skin bacteria free and really feeling clean. I would recommend this toner to basically anyone, not to mention the fact that it is a great price! 

3. JOSH ROSEBROOK HYDRATING ACCELERATOR 

My third tone is something I mainly use in the summer. This is my second bottle of the product, and I really do stand by it. This hydrating accelerator is great for those days when you get back from the beach and after you shower your face is feeling (and looking) a little puffy, red, and (no surprise for me) sunburned. Since this product has aloe in it, it really helps to soothe my skin and bring down the redness and irritation. Normally, I just spray this directly onto my skin with the mister on the bottle: the best feeling ever after a long day at the beach! Combined with my SkinCeuticals serum and Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel, this is my favorite summer skincare routine! 

Xoxo,
Salut Sophie