My Most-Loved Skin Care Items Lately

Snapseed 13

Recently, I started getting monthly facials with a local esthetician because there are some skin concerns I wanted to address, such as hormonal acne and redness. As I get older, I’m also putting in more effort to take better care of my skin. Along with facials, I’ve been trying a lot of new skin care products so far this year, and wanted to do a quick update on my latest faves!

LA MER EYE CONCENTRATE

To be completely honest with you, I never really used a proper eye cream until this year. It wasn’t until I started noticing some fine lines appearing under my eyes when I shot for a COVERGIRL campaign. Being the worry-wart that I am, I knew I had to do something before signs of aging got worse! I had heard many great things about La Mer in general, but also knew that this brand was known for being pricey. Nevertheless, a fellow blogger-friend of mine whom I trust and adore, Christine of Daily Kongfidence recommended this amazing eye cream. Frankly, it’s a lot more than I’d like to spend on a tiny case of eye cream, but my curiosity encouraged the splurge. I’m delighted to share that so far it’s worked well for me. I’ve been using this every night for a month now and have noticed my under-eye area get plumper and the fine lines reduced. It might just be wishful thinking, but either way I love how it feels on my skin. This eye concentrate provides ample moisture without feeling oily. I love to use the little wand that comes with it to massage the cream into the skin around my eyes. The cooling effect creates a very refreshing experience! I’m hoping that continued use will prevent future wrinkles and other signs of aging around the eyes.

Ideally, I’d like to find another quality eye cream to use in the mornings. A little bit of this stuff goes a long way but I’m trying to preserve this concentrate. If I’m able to use this only at night I’ll be able to make it last longer. With that said, if you have any suggestions on a good anti-aging eye cream I can try for mornings, please let me know!

PATCHOLOGY FLASHPATCH EYE GELS

You could say I’m on a roll with my eye skin care game. For disclosure purposes, I was actually sponsored by Patchology to advertise their eye gels on Instagram, but NOT on the blog. I love them so much that I had to share a quick blurb about these though. Firstly, they feel SUPER nice and cooling under the eyes after a long day. If it doesn’t do anything else, I appreciate the fact that it helps me relax. I use these gels every other day, after full-face cleansing and toning. It’s a great replacement for an eye serum and I follow up with the La Mer Eye Concentrate afterwards. The result is hydrated skin under the eyes, which is important because I’ve learned that the skin there is especially fragile and needs TLC!

PATCHOLOGY FLASHPATCH LIP GELS

Along with the eye gels, Patchology also sent me samples of their lip gels. I will definitely be ordering more after I finish them. Let me tell you — I have extremely stubborn, dry lips. It doesn’t help that I live in the desert. No amount of coconut oil will tame these lips! While I was a bit skeptical about these lip gels at first, I was surprised to learn that they are actually super hydrating. Just leaving them on for 5 minutes, my lips feel as soft as a baby’s skin! No more flaking, peeling, or bleeding lips makes me a happy camper.

PATCHOLOGY ILLUMINATE FACIAL SHEETS

In case you couldn’t already tell, I’ve become a huge fan of Patchology. For the longest time, I was never big on sheet masks because they can be super messy. But when I’m sent samples, I’ll try them. These facial sheets are extremely moisturizing, but don’t drip or slide everywhere while on. The sizing also isn’t overly awkward on my Asian face. Patchology advertises these as 5-minute masks, but I enjoy them so much I usually leave them on for the standard 15-20 minutes. Similar to the eye gels, these facial sheets leave behind just the right amount of serum for me to rub into my skin before topping off with my moisturizer.

Now that I’ve had a pleasant experience with sheet masks, I’m feeling more open to experimenting with other brands and types. If you have any that you love, please share!

ORIGINS OUT OF TROUBLE 10-MINUTE MASK

This mask is a fantastic overnight spot treatment for pimples, but can also be safely applied all over the face for 10 minutes. If I feel any acne brewing or have existing pimples I want to get rid of quickly, I use this mask to dry them out. It has a thick and foamy consistency which I love. Personally, I love the tingly feeling when it’s on because it feels like it’s working (lol)! If you have sensitive or dry skin though, you may want to use this one sparingly. I definitely do not use this everyday or even weekly. It’s a nice mask to use every couple weeks or when your skin is having some breakout troubles.

ORIGINS GINZING SPF 40 ENERGY-BOOSTING TINTED MOISTURIZER

I don’t wear makeup everyday, BUT I know how important it is to at least apply a good SPF daily even if it’s not all that sunny out. This is especially the case in Palm Springs where the UV index is always super high. So, even if I’m only going out to walk the dog or straight to the gym for the day, I’ll still use this. I love that this tinted moisturizer applies on sheer, but eventually builds into a bit of color to match your skin tone. It’s lightweight and doesn’t feel too greasy on. Who can say no to sun protection and a bit of coverage to even out skin tone?

VASELINE PETROLEUM JELLY

Along with Patchology’s lip gels, I’ve found that Vaseline petroleum jelly is a simple and economical solution for my dry lips. I don’t use the lip gels everyday because I don’t have an unlimited supply of them. Luckily, in between gels I have petroleum jelly to keep my lips hydrated and healthy. Did you know that it’s also non-comedogenic? This means it doesn’t clog pores, so it’s safe to use sparingly on the face if needed. I wouldn’t say the entire face because the consistency is thick and can be uncomfortable, but for patches of dryness, it works wonders. FYI — I have not broken out yet as a result from using this, which is good news. Got dry nails, cracked cuticles, or cracked skin? Give petroleum a try on those areas and watch it perform magic overnight. Not all holy grail skin care products are expensive!

DICKINSON’S WITCH HAZEL

Has anyone ever tried this? I have lived in a bubble all my life until recently, when a NON-gay guy friend of mine told me about using witch hazel as a toner. I don’t know how we got on the topic but I think at the time of conversation I was suffering from a hormonal breakout. He casually suggested that I give witch hazel a try because of its healing properties. He then proceeded to share with me all the life-changing benefits of witch hazel… to the point I felt compelled to put together a blog post about it then and there. With that said, I think I will save the details for a separate post eventually! Thanks Gregg 😉 In a nutshell though, witch hazel does a great job removing final remnants of makeup that your makeup wipes & cleanser weren’t able to get. It also cleans your pores before you apply moisturizer, and makes your skin feel super smooth and immaculate! Depending on your skin type, witch hazel can be extremely drying though, so don’t forget to use a good moisturizer afterwards. It’s readily available online and in local drug stores for a very affordable price. I don’t think I’ll be using expensive toners anymore after discovering this!

OLAY REGENERIST WHIPS MOISTURIZER

You may have seen my blog post earlier this year about Olay’s Regenerist moisturizer from their new Whips line. It was a sponsored post, but I wanted to reiterate my love for this one. After using this, I am truly convinced that you don’t need to spend a fortune on a quality moisturizer. I literally used up a case of this in less than two months because of how good it is! I apply both in the AM and PM, all over my face and neck. Luckily, unlike the La Mer Eye Concentrate, this moisturizer is very reasonably priced. In the mornings, it doubles up as a makeup primer if I’m wearing makeup that day. At night, it leaves my skin feeling hydrated, yet matte which is AMAZING! You can learn more about this holy grail here.

BLUE & RED LIGHT THERAPY

My esthetician recommended and introduced me to light therapy to keep my skin healthy and youthful. I learned that regular use of blue light is helpful for curing existing pimples and preventing future acne, while red light is good for anti-aging and healing (target wrinkles, fade scars, encourage collagen production, etc). As of now, I have only had light therapy done professionally but am highly considering purchasing these at-home light therapy devices to try. I actually had the pleasure of trying Trophy Skin’s MicrodermabrasionMD device and love it! So, I’m hopeful that their light therapy products will work too. Light therapy with an esthetician can get pricey after a while, so I’d rather just get a simple facial and then perform light therapy at home. Have you heard of or tried light therapy? I’d love to hear your thoughts on this as it’s a new and intriguing concept to me. So far though, I’ve noticed an improvement in my skin from my light therapy sessions at the esthetician’s office.

What are some of your favorite skin care products as of late?

Share Post

Related Posts

86 Responses

  1. Ohhhh! I’d love to learn more about blue and red light therapy too. Pretty cool how there’s such a vast variety of technology available for anti-aging and skin care these days. I am dying to try that La Mer eye concentrate too and am glad you have good things to say about it! Perhaps it’s my turn to splurge 😉

    1. Right?! There isn’t too much information on light therapy yet and I think it must be relatively new, but seems promising. I’m definitely intrigued to learn more about it because my esthetician makes it sound like a cure-all LOL. She even told me that it helps to tone your body! If I could do that and not go to the gym I’d be in heaven hahaha. I’d love to hear how you like the La Mer eye concentrate if you do get a chance to try it! Have a great week Miranda!

    1. If you do, you’ll have to let me know how you like it! I love Origins too — they have a great selection of skin care products that works wonders! Have a great week, Brigette!

    1. Ahhhh!!! Yessss! I didn’t think I’d be so in love with this moisturizer but alas, I am!!! It works wonders and I love that it doesn’t break the bank lol. I actually never thought to use the lip masks prior to applying makeup (normally do it at night with my nightly skin care routine) but that’s a brilliant idea! I’ll need to try that because lipsticks can be quite drying on me. Thanks for sharing xoxo

  2. This post is making me want to try every single one of these products! Thanks so much for sharing and I’m definitely going to have to be picking up some new skincare items soon.

    xo, Lydia

  3. I’m so glad you are loving the eye concentrate from La Mer. I’ve used so many eye creams before and I keep going back to this one because I love it and I feel like it truly makes a difference! I’ve been seeing those Patchology eye masks and am curious. Do they slide down at all? That’s my problem with most eye masks is that they tend to slide off the face. I have been dying to try those lip masks too! Need to grab a few and test out the eye and lip mask together. I am a MAJOR fan of Vaseline and use it for my lips all the time and also for my dry, cracked heels at night and put socks over them. They make a difference overnight! Thanks for sharing all these amazing beauty finds! xoxo, Christine
    http://dailykongfidence.com/

    1. You shared a great recommendation, Christine! Thank you! I hope to continue seeing a positive difference under my eyes as I keep using La Mer’s eye concentrate. The Patchology eye masks are amazing — they actually do not slide down at all! It’s also not overly serum-y so doesn’t feel messy which I like. You don’t have to lay down the entire time they are on to keep them in place. And they only need to stay on for 5 minutes! Definitely worth giving a shot 🙂 The lip mask is a lifesaver for people who suffer from dry lips like I do! I know I’ll be using one tonight because it’s been so windy out my skin feels drier than usual. I’m glad to hear that Vaseline has worked well for your cracked heels! My boyfriend uses them on his cracked, rough elbows and puts a sock on them too. Such a brilliant idea! xx

  4. I find that it’s not about the product, it’s how you spend time applying it and massage your eye area. La mer sure has amazing product, but mind set plays a huge part in looking young and fresh. I find the people who really do look great in older age are the ones who are happy and acceptive of the aging process. I think you’re on the right track ;p

    1. You are so right darling! I’m not so sure I’m very accepting of the aging process as I’m trying really hard now to fight aging butttt we’ll see when the time comes haha. Just trying to keep my skin in as great condition as I can, while I can! Thanks for stopping by <3 xo

  5. Well you have me sold on Patchology! I really want to try their lip gels 👉🏼this winter dryness makes for perfect conditions for chapped lips! I hope these work for me too!! Thanks for sharing!!

    1. YES! You’ll love Patchology’s goodies. The lip gels work really nicely and if you have really dry lips like I do then it’s good to follow up with Vaseline before bed. The next morning my lips feel so nice, hydrated, and smooth!

  6. In finally starting to look into skincare items…after 34 years, it’s about time. I use vaseline for my lips, but I need to read about more for all the others; I do love Origins, though, so I may start there!

    1. Origins has so many wonderful products! I actually use a few of their other items that I didn’t list here just because the post was getting too long but I am also loving their Originals matte moisturizer right now 🙂 So great to use in the morning before applying makeup because it also doubles as a primer similar to Olay’s Regenerist Whips!

  7. I’ve said it once, and I’ll say it again – I want to try any skincare product you use because you are absolutely flawless and I’d kill for your perfect skin hehe! Thanks for sharing!

  8. Thank you for sharing your skincare routine, There are some products I will definitely try, I hope they will have the same effect on my skin as they do on yours. :))) The red and blue light therapy also sounds like a good thing to try.
    Greetings!
    xoxo

    1. It’s so good! I actually haven’t tried any other witch hazel brand yet so I don’t know what to compare it to but I imagine it can’t be too different. This one has been working out well for me. My skin always feels so clean after using it!

  9. Patchology has been one of my favorite skincare brands lately! I love the eye gels. The which hazel toner is freaking amazing!! Affordable too! I want to try La Mer but it’s going to be hard for me to pass over my credit card for that amount LOL!

    1. I’m glad you’ve been a fan of Patchology too! Their products are amazing 🙂 Happy to hear you love witch hazel as toner too! I know the La Mer eye cream is super expensive… T_T I would LOVE to find a cheaper alternative but still haven’t come across one yet haha.

  10. Okay, so I haven’t tried most of these and I’m soooo curious to try some of the masks! I used to use witch hazel, maybe I should go back to it as my toner! This was a really easy to read post, love it!
    xo Samantha

  11. I totally agree with you on the Origins skincare items, they seriously make some of the best stuff around, and it all smells delightful too! I really want to try more from Patchology as well, especially the eye gels.

  12. Oooh, so glad to hear the La Mer worked so well for you. I should definitely try it. I have fine lines and need to spend more care around that area. I’ve heard of witch hazel for acne and last week made it a point to add it to my shopping list. I should check out the toner itself though since I actually need one! Sounds so good! I used to do red and blue light therapy in Toronto with my facialist twice a month but can’t even find someone where I live now to do it… another item to add to my list!! Great post Sharon! Thanks for sharing your results!

    Xo,
    Miki
    http://mikialamode.com

    1. Hi Miki! I think you’ll like witch hazel for acne as it’s helped me with mine for sure (among other things like minimizing pores, skin feeling loads cleaner, etc). Just make sure that you follow with a good moisturizer because witch hazel can be pretty drying depending on your skin type. You’ll need to tell me more about your experience with red/blue light therapy since it sounds like you got way more sessions in than I have lol. Did it work for you?!

    1. I haven’t tried the in-home ones yet so am curious to see how they work too. They are nice to get at the esthetician’s office though, that’s for sure! So relaxing 🙂

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

error: Content cannot be copied.