Good Stuff I’m Buying Lately: Skincare Edition

I am starting a new series called “Good Stuff” on the blog where I highlight a few of my favorite product discoveries each week. As a wanna-be minimalist and underbuyer, I am constantly refining what I need to only the best essentials. Today is all about skincare products that have made my “keep” list.

Up until 2 or 3 years ago, I was one of those people that was completely ignorant about what products I should be using to take care of my skin. My routine consisted of using whatever soap was around, and go. Turning forty gave me the unwelcome motivation to to start caring more.

How did I go about figuring out what to even try? Well, I definitely credit my visit to Beth at Beyond Skin for learning the basics and even introducing me to chemical peels. The Selfie podcast is also where I get new product recommendations every week. Sarah James, one of the co-hosts, is a “green beauty” expert so I feel like I am always learning about the latest and greatest in safe treatments from a trusted person.

What I look for in a “keeper” product:

My criteria for what I likes revolves around three things:

1) Effectiveness – The most important thing for me is, can  I see a difference? Sometimes you can tell right away, and other times it can take a few weeks. But usually if I finish the bottle of whatever I am using and I cannot see any positive improvement, I move on to try something else.

2) Clean – Is this product free of harmful toxins? One thing I have learned is that the skincare industry is not very regulated. And that many of the ingredients that are in traditional beauty products are toxic. Considering our skin is our largest organ, I am trying my best to choose products that will not add stress to my system.

3) Price – Like most people, I have to take price into account. A few of my favorite products are from Target. Some are more specialized and cost a bit more. But I try to have a balance, because once it makes my “good stuff” list, odds are I will be rebuying them again and again.

Good Stuff: Skincare Products

Glow Peel Pads by Pixie

This line caught my eye at Target a few years ago, and slowly but surely, I’ve tried several of their products. At first, I was using (& loving) their regular Glow Tonic, which contains 5% glycolic acid. This naturally derived ingredient is a chemical exfoliant that smooths, brightens and clears the skin. Then I noticed these Glow Peel Pads, which contain 20% glycolic acid. They really work! I use these at night after I wash my face. Hopefully you will learn from my mistake when I first started using them though.

One of the reasons I realized how effective this product was at taking off the top layer of dead skin, was that I started noticing many more sun spots on my face.  Not good. The label clearly warns users to wear sunscreen daily when using this product, and I didn’t read this until much later. So be warned if you start using this!

Unseen Sunscreeny by Supergoop

Embarassingly, up until recently I had not found a sunscreen to wear daily, hence my dillema above. Even though my tinted moisturizer has SPF 20 in it, I knew I needed something a little more intentional for everyday in this brutal Florida sunshine.

My issue with sunscreen is that the lotion-based ones just never appealed to me. They seemed so thick and slimy. But then I started hearing a buzz about Supergoop! and their Unseen Sunscreen. I picked some up when we were in Seattle this summer. Finally I’ve found a sunscreen that is clear and not lotion-y. It leaves your skin smoother than before you put it on, but not shiny. So it acts almost like a makeup primer. Not that I would ever wear a makeup primer (baby steps, people), but now I kind of am. I love applying it every day, and therefore, I am using it every day!

Exfoliating Scrub by Acure

Acure is a line of organic and clean personal care products at very reasonable prices. Their products are free of parabens, sulfates and phthalates. Basically you can read their ingredient list and understand it. If I expect it from my food labels, why not expect the same from my personal care products? This Brilliantly Brightening Facial Scrub is something I use every 2-3 days or so to physically exfoliate my skin. It has a gritty texture, but not so rough it turns your face red, know what I mean? Charcoal Mask by BeautyCounter

Have you tried Beautycounter yet? I have been trying their different skincare and cosmetics for a few years now. Beautycounter is leading the charge in bringing green beauty into the mainstream. I also admire that they are highly engaged in policy change to get these harmful ingredients out of the industry, period.

This charcoal mask was one of my first Beautycounter purchases a couple of years ago, and I am still re-purchasing it every time I run out. When you apply the mask (about 1-2 times per week), the charcoal soaks up the extra oils and impurities from your pores. It’s like doing a Biore pore strip, except through a gentle nourishing mask. If you haven’t tried Beautycounter yet, I would definitely recommend this as a good starter product.

Vitamin B Enzyme Cleansing Oil by One Love Organics

Another clean line I am loving is One Love Organics. My top recommendation is their Vitamin B Cleansing Oil. If the thought of cleaning your face with an oil sounds weird, that’s understandable. Using an oil-based cleanser breaks up all the surface oils and makeup off your face beautifully. At night, this is all I use as a cleanser. In the morning, you can follow up with THIS foaming cleanser. And with that, you have jumped on the double cleansing bandwagon! It is a thing, you know.

So those are 5 of my “keepers” during my search for the right skincare products for me. There are still a few categories I am on the hunt for. Like a good nourishing serum to use at night and an excellent toner.

Have you tried any of these? What skincare products have you discovered lately?

Posted by Ale & filed under Good Stuff. This post has 6 comments.