beauty minute

I recently got interviewed about my beauty routine for a feature on Garance Doré. You can read my Beauty Minute on their site, or continue reading to check out my daily beauty regimen and go-to products. By no means do I use all of these products every day, but the ones listed below are some of my favorites that make me look and feel my best! 

Morning Routine:

I have sensitive skin, so I prefer to use brands that use clean, simple, and high-quality ingredients. I usually just rinse my face with water in the morning instead of using a cleanser. Then I use Osmia Organics Active Gel Toner. I add True Botanicals Vitamin C Booster to my True Botanicals Cellular Renewal Serum (which activates it), and apply that mixture next. Then I finish with either Osmia Organics Purely Simple Face Cream or Sunday Riley Juno Hydroactive Cellular Face Oil, depending if I want something lighter or more rich (and don't forget your neck!). My lips always get a thick coat of Aquaphor in the morning. I take a probiotic every day, and like to have hot lemon water if I can as well. I’ve also been loving Sun Potion supplements in my morning coffee or smoothie! For fragrance, my go-tos are by Tom Ford- I love Violet Blonde or Oud Wood, depending on my mood!

Makeup Routine:

I rarely wear makeup when I'm not working- it feels nice to give my skin a break! If I'm wearing makeup, it's usually just the basics. I like a lot of Glossier products- they make great no-frills essentials. I use a tinted moisturizer (with SPF!) by Laura Mercier or True Botanicals, and concealer if need-be by Glossier (Stretch Concealer) or RMS Beauty (Un Cover-Up) on the face. Curled lashes, with or without mascara, but I like Charlotte Tilbury Full Fat Lashes. Groomed brows are a plus, and Glossier Boy Brow has a nice waxy texture. Glossier Haloscope and RMS Beauty Living Luminizer for highlights on the cheekbones and brow bones help give you that dewy glow. I rarely wear lipstick, but a red lip is fun every once in a while, and YSL Rouge Pur Couture has lots of great shades.

Daytime Touch-Ups:

I always have a good lip balm with me. Glossier Balm Dotcom and Lano Lips 101 Ointment Multipurpose Superbalm are go-tos, and I also just brought several tubes of Lucas' Pawpaw Ointment back from Australia. I also like to have a facial mist of some sort for whenever I feel like my skin needs a pick-me-up. Tatcha Luminous Dewy Skin Mist and Tata Harper Hydrating Floral Essence are both great. I drink tons of water throughout the day as well. 

Nightly Routine:

My nightly regimen starts with removing any makeup (if I'm wearing any) with Bioderma Crealine (aka Sensibio). Then I wash my face with Osmia Organics Black Clay Facial Soap or Sunday Riley Blue Moon Cleansing Balm (this one also makes a great mask). I tone with Biologique Recherche P50 (without phenol), then apply Mario Badescu Buffering or Drying Lotions to any blemishes if needed. I love a hydrating & calming oil at nighttime (something thicker than moisturizer) and Sunday Riley Luna Sleeping Night Oil or UFO are amazing. Eye cream is also important to start sooner rather than later- I've been loving Tata Harper Restorative Eye Creme.

Hair, Body, Masks:

I love R+Co shampoo & conditioner- both the Sunset Blvd. Blonde & the Dallas Thickening versions are go-tos. If my hair needs a refresher, I’ll use a bit of R+Co Death Valley Dry Shampoo or Ouai Wave Spray. Korean exfoliating mitts also work wonders for fresh, baby-soft skin. Post-shower, I’ll use either R+Co Tinsel Smoothing Oil or Ouai Hair Oil on the ends of my hair, then coconut oil all over my body. Every once in a while I'll apply a face mask (like Tata Harper Resurfacing Mask or Glossier Moisturizing Moon Mask) or a sheet mask (Tatcha Luminous Deep Hydration Lifting Mask or Hada Labo Ultimate Anti-Aging Facial Mask) to treat my skin to a little at-home facial. Now just to be clear, I don't use all these products every day. Beauty sleep, a healthy diet, and lots of water are all great ways to create that glow from the inside, out as well :)

 
 

bedtime routine

 

Next up in the daily routine is bedtime! These area all the products I use on any given night. Once again, sometimes all of them get used, other times not. Occasionally I will use the same Osmia Organics set from my morning routine instead of the other moisturizers pictured above, just to keep things more consistent. Glossier balm dotcom is part of yet another routine- I'm kinda obsessed. 

 
 

 

First off, if I had makeup on during the day, or sometimes even if I didn't (NYC can feel pretty dirty at times), I remove it using Bioderma Créaline H20. It's pretty universally used by makeup artists because it gets the job done, and doesn't irritate the skin at all. Then I wash using Osmia Organics Black Clay Facial Soap, and may spritz with Avéne Thermal Spring Water if I'm feeling dry. Whenever I feel like my skin needs a bit of exfoliation or deeper clean, I will use my Clarisonic Mia2, either with black clay soap, or another gentle cleanser, like Dr. Bronner's Baby Unscented Liquid Castile Soap. It's a great one for sensitive skin, as it has no fragrance, contains coconut, olive & jojoba oils, and is certified organic! 

 

 

Post-cleanser, I use Biologique Recherche Lotion P50 to exfoliate, hydrate & balance my skin. People call it a "facial in a bottle", and it's so true. It's like a magic potion, and they have a suitable version for all various types of skin. If necessary, I will use Mario Badescu Drying Lotion as a spot treatment. Don't shake the bottle, and leave the pink stuff on overnight. I also love Mario Badescu Buffering Lotion, which is better for the deep, underground bumps. I'll use one or the other depending on the type of blemish that arises. 

 
 

 

In terms of moisturizer, I apply Colbert MD Nourish Eye Cream to the delicate area around my eyes, which promotes collagen production while firming & rehydrating. I have also heard great things about their Illumino Anti-Aging Brightening Mask & am thinking about trying it! If I don't use the Osmia Organics Purely Simple Face Cream, Avéne Tolérance Extrême is another great moisturizer for those with hyper-sensitive or allergic skin. It works to restore the skin's barrier and reduces skin reactivity. During the winter if I feel like I need something even thicker, I will mix in RMS Beauty Oil for extra hydration as well.

 

Once the face is done, I make sure to moisturize & hydrate the rest of my body as well. I love using organic coconut oil all over- it works wonders on face, body & hair, and is naturally antibacterial & antifungal! You can use it as a moisturizer, eye makeup remover, deep conditioner, highlighter, shaving cream, on dry cuticles, etc. The options are (almost) endless. In a pinch, if I could only take one product with me, coconut oil would likely be it! Glossier balm dotcom goes on my lips and any other super dry spots. Right after washing my hair, I apply a hair oil to the ends to keep them looking healthy. Right now I'm using a wonderful Isle of Roses hair oil given to me by a hair-stylist friend.