Hey, so I now I've mentioned it briefly on the blog already, but if you haven't heard, your girl has moved! Still in NYC, of course — I dare you to try to make me leave — but I'm finally in a new area to explore and play around in, and I couldn't be more excited.
The hardest part of packing up and moving out? Having to sort through my insanely large skincare collection. I'm blessed that my job and my blog have afforded me a collection of samples to rival any magazine's beauty closet, and while it's all I could ever dream of, it's also a pain in the you-know-what to box up and transport. A major first world problem, but it's true!
With lots of my skincare still stuck in boxes, I had to pull just a few favorites, plus some newer products, to hold me over before I tackle organizing the rest. After last month's Clear+Brilliant treatment (which you can read about here on Elite Daily!), my skin is at an all-time great, so I want to keep it looking this good for as long as possible, and really stick to a routine instead of trying out a new serum or face mask every day. Seems simple enough, but when you're surrounded by product 24/7, it can be easy to be led astray!
Over the past few weeks, though, I've definitely locked in a set routine of favorites worth sharing. Admittedly, almost half my faves are from my ride-or-die skincare brand, Ole Henriksen, but the other products range from those of well-known brands like Drunk Elephant and Glossier to lesser-known companies like Odièle and Copper+Crane that I feel like everyone needs on their radar ASAP. Read on to find out what's made the cut in my current must-haves, and why I think you need them, too.
I recently got to try out Ole Henriksen's new Transform Plus Line, including the Glow Cycle Retin-ALT Power Serum and the Goodnight Glow Retin-ALT Sleeping Crème, and I've been a devout day and night user ever since. The products themselves are a pearly lavender, and they sink into the skin and leave you with the most radiant complexion. Rather than use retinol for anti-aging properties, these products contain a natural alternative called bakuchiol. Both are super rich and luxurious on the skin, and I use the Glow Cycle Serum first thing in the morning and opt for the Goodnight Glow as my last step before bed. Ole isn't a bargain brand, but their prices are super fair given the high-quality ingredients, and I always see results when using their stuff, so they're the MVP of skincare in my book.
When the Glossier Solution Exfoliating Skin Perfector first hit the market, I knew I was going to love it, and I was right. Even though I regularly exfoliate using a physical exfoliant (think a scrub with little beads in it, etc), I was regularly told by facialists that I needed to exfoliate better, and that my skin was often congested. Ew. Using a chemical exfoliant like this has really made a difference in my texture, and I'm already on my second bottle. It contains AHA, BHA, and PHA acid groups to give your skin everything it could possibly want, in terms of exfoliation. If you've got rough texture or clogged pores, I really recommend picking this up, but be warned: if you're sensitive, it can be pretty intense!
I am basically a Crop Natural stan, so it's no surprise that I love their Crop Purifying Turmeric Mask. I usually go for a charcoal mask when I've got a pimple, but using turmeric as a main ingredient has really been a game-changer for calming my irritated skin when I'm breaking out. If you're looking for more of a detox, I recommend their charcoal mask as well, but right now this one stays right by my bed for easy access.
The Odièle Rose Sérum is one of the few serums I feel comfortable saying is worth the $100+ price tag. It's super luxurious and hydrating on the skin, and it's the first oil I've ever used that sinks in so beautifully, I can apply makeup over it without ending up looking or feeling greasy. The formula is made up entirely of organic active botanical oils, so it's super gentle but really effective when it comes to replenishing skin and keeping it moisturized and youthful. If you're willing to splurge on just one product to do it all, this is a great pick.
I've raved about the Ole Henriksen Banana Bright Eye Crème before, but your girl is tired after the stress of moving, and as a result, this little guy has wormed his way back into my daily routine. Applying just a dab under my eyes helps them look instantly brighter and slightly color-corrected, so I always put this on before applying my makeup to do double duty with my concealer. This is my second jar, and when the product first launched, it was constantly sold out, which just goes to show how good it really is
The Drunk Elephant D-Bronzi Anti-Pollution Sunshine Serum is a fun, unique little product I've been really loving lately. It's definitely not a necessity as it's a teeny bit pricey for what it is, but living in New York City, anti-pollution products are an absolute must, and this one has the added bonus of bronzing up the skin. I mix this in with oils or moisturizers on mornings where I won't be wearing makeup but don't want to look pasty while running errands. The natural, glowy effect it gives is super flattering, and it makes surviving without makeup a little more bearable!
I recently finished off my 30-day jar of HUM Glow Sweet Glow Gummies and I'm already missing them. Maybe it was something else, but I couldn't help but notice how great my skin looked when I was eating these, and the results plus their yummy tangerine flavor are really motivating me to buy another jar. They're infused with hyaluronic acid and vitamins C and E to hydrate skin and keep it looking revitalized and glowy, and I really do think they did the job, so I'd definitely recommend them for any glow-lovers looking for that little extra boost to their routines.
This is the final Ole Henriksen product in this roundup, I'm sorry! The Invigorating Night Transformation Gel is the most recent Ole product to enter my routine, and I use it at night before my Goodnight Glow moisturizer. I really feel my skin tingling when I apply this product, and using it in combination with the Transform Plus line has my skin looking its absolute best. Previously, at night I would play around and use different things depending on how my skin looked and felt that day, but religiously using only these Ole products before bed has really streamlined my approach to skincare, and I'm loving the bright, even results.
You know how sometimes, you want a fun mask, and sometimes, you just want one that delivers? Copper+Crane's Radiance Mask is both. This baby instantly brightens my complexion right before my eyes, and I peel it off to reveal radiant, tight skin every time. I love using this before my makeup to make sure my skin is at its absolute best. What's more, it comes out a fiery orange copper, making it the ultimate mask to send scary Snapchat selfies in. What can I say — the results are most important, but masking is meant to be fun, so I like something a little unique!
Swatches - Lilac: Ole Henriksen Glow Cycle Retin-ALT Power Serum; Bronze: Drunk Elephant D-Bronzi Anti-Pollution Sunshine Serum;
Yellow: Ole Henriksen Banana Bright Eye Crème; Orange: Copper+Crane Radiance Mask
It's likely that with all the products I'm constantly receiving, this won't be my set-in-stone routine for too long, but at the moment I'm really loving how my skin looks thanks to these babies, so I'll try to revisit this post to remind myself not to stray next time something tempting lands on my desk to try out. PSA, Future Bella: These products really work! Don't abandon them!
