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 :)

 
 

morning routine

 

I get a lot of questions about my skincare regimen & what my daily routine is, so I wanted to break it down for you! These are the products I use on any given morning- sometimes it'll be a shortened version if I'm in a hurry, maybe just splashing water on my my face and moisturizing. I realize that all these products may look high maintenance, but I promise the routine goes quickly, and it's definitely worth the effort! I love trying out new things too, so let me know if you have a favorite product for me to try! I've had my Mason Pearson Brush forever- it's great at detangling without breaking or damaging my hair, and it kinda feels like I'm getting a 'lil head massage every time I use it. Throw the Avéne spray and Glossier balm in your bag to keep with you & reapply throughout the day!

 
 

 

I have sensitive skin, so I like to keep my skincare products super clean and minimal in their ingredients. Osmia Organics is a wonderful company that makes a great range of products. This particular set is soothing and full of non-irritating ingredients. The facial soap is made with black Australian clay, Dead Sea mud, organic oils, & coconut milk, and comes with its own soap saver. The gel toner acts as a moisturizing serum with hyaluronic acid & active botanicals. The face cream contains simple, pure ingredients like aloe juice & essential oils.

 

 

This is what I like to call the "fresh" section. Pretty self-explanatory- toothpaste and deodorant. I like to keep them more natural when possible (SLS, paraben & fluoride free) so as not to cause any irritation. I love the use of essential oils and lack of antiperspirants in Weleda Sage Deodorant, and Jason Sea Fresh Toothpaste contains blue green algae & both parsley & spearmint extracts to keep you at your freshest. 

 
 

 

If I have an extra couple minutes, or feel like quickly pampering myself in the morning, these are my products of choice. Glossier Balm Dotcom has quickly become a favorite, and for good reason. It's a universal salve that can be used on lips, cuticles, or dry skin. I'm dying to try the coconut version. Avéne Thermal Spring Water Spray is a nice way to set everything into the skin, and is also a good refresher throughout the day. I'm currently loving two fragrances by Tom Ford, and switch them up depending on my mood. Violet Blonde has fresh notes of citrus & violet leaf, while Oud Wood is more musty & sexy, with hints of rose wood, cardamom & vetiver.

 

I try to take these supplements every day to stay as healthy as can be. Oregano oil is one of the most potent natural remedies. It offers intestinal support, supports immune health, and has anti-viral, anti-fungal, & antibiotic properties . Look for one with a high percentage of carvacrol. Dr. Ohira's Probiotics offer a complete probiotic system including prebiotics, enzymes, micronutrients, and organic acids to aid in healthy digestion. They are also shelf-stable and don't require refrigeration due to long-term fermentation, which is an appealing factor to someone like me who is always on the road.