So I was having this convo with a friend the other day about skincare. We were talking about how now that we are, ahem, more mature (bite your tongue and don’t say a word) our skincare needs have changed and morphed a bit. Gone are the days of wiping off our faces with a damp washcloth after a night at the bar and rolling out of bed with mascara smudges under our eyes the next morning. No. that just won’t do. Now we have to lotion and potion ourselves to near extinction just to wake up looking half normal and then, THEN, we have to do it all over again in the morning to get all the way to presentable to the public.
And because I’ve always been a bit of a skincare freak and I’ve got, I guess, decent skin for an (ahem) 42-year old lady this friend gently suggested that I should share my skincare routine with the rest of you all. Now, I’ll be the first to disclose, I am not opposed to a little dose of Botox here and there to keep the middle of the forehead crease from getting out of control, but I have found that because I am so strict with my skincare, I don’t have to go as heavy with the needles as I otherwise would. Which makes me feel both proud and a little richer because that stuff is no joke expensive.
Before we start there are a few things you should know. I try to keep my skincare as clean and organic as possible, opting for my favorite clean brands whenever I can. It’s not always possible and, clearly, with my Botox habit I’m not a die-hard. But, I do recognize that what you put on your skin matters so I do my best to keep it clean. For the purposes of this list I also will share alternatives if I have one that I LOVE but it’s not a Holy Grail. And lastly, because I’m sharing links in this post, I want you to understand ahead of time that they are affiliate links–meaning I will receive a small amount of income from purchases made via these links. But, if you know me at all or have been following for a while, you know that I don’t share anything I do not LOVE and use on the daily so you can trust that this isn’t about the Benjamins…it’s all about the GLOW.
So without further adieu, here we go…
My Skincare Must-Haves for 2021
Beautycounter Cleansing Balm: It should be no secret to anyone that I love me some Beautycounter. In fact, even though I’m not super active with it, I am actually a consultant with the brand and my lack of activity is not a reflection of my love for it, but rather my lack of time. But none of that changes the fact that my NUMBER 1 favorite Beautycounter product is the Cleansing Balm. I use it nightly to take my makeup off. I simply rub it on dry skin, give myself a little facial massage with it, then wipe it off with my favorite makeup remover washcloth (HERE). I usually follow this up with a more thorough cleaning and all the lotions and potions, but if I’m exhausted and I can only manage one quick swipe and wipe of this, I love knowing that I will still wake up with fresh and soft skin after just one step. It also works amazingly on cracked heels, wind and sunburn and can be used as an overnight moisture mask when your skin is a little angry. This is a MUST-HAVE for all of us. I cannot stress it enough.
La Roche Posay Purifying Foaming Face Wash: After I take the day off with my Cleansing Balm, if I’ve got the energy going I always follow up with a good thorough cleaning. For that, my absolute HG favorite is this La Roche Posay Purifying Foaming Face Wash. I have borderline dry skin so normally a foaming face wash would be a no-go for me. This one, however, is non-drying and completely soap-free, so my skin feels clean but not tight. I use it with my Lumi Cleanser (see my girl Kelli for one of these–you can thank me later) and my skin feels perfectly balanced and clean when I’m done. I use this AM/PM and even though it seems pricey for a facewash, the bottle is HUGE and lasts FOREVER.
Mad Hippie Vitamin C Serum: Vitamin C Serums are SUPER important for glowy skin and this Mad Hippie Vitamin C Serum is my absolute fave. Vitamin C helps fight against sun damage, works to fix those pesky dark marks that love to show up as we age, and is an incredible anti-oxidant. I love the Mad Hippie Vitamin C because it’s so moisturizing I feel like it’s enough on its own to keep my skin soft. I use this daily in the morning after washing and toning (I use Thayer’s Witch Hazel and have been for DECADES–if you don’t have this, get it NOW) and I love how it gives my skin just enough of a glow that I can trick myself into thinking I’m 20 all over again. Without the angst and credit card debt. Anyway, I’m going to give a secondary shout-out to Beautycounter’s Vitamin C, which is one of their newer products, but I love Mad Hippie just the same and it’s considerably cheaper, making it my all-time HG.
Beautycounter CounterMatch Lotion: When it comes to moisturizers, the simpler the better for me. Since I’m a big fan of the potions part of skincare, I really just need my lotions to do what they’re supposed to do–moisturize. That’s why I love Beautycounter’s Countermatch, it just does what it’s supposed to do, nothing less, nothing more. This bottle seems to last me forever and it just flat out moisturizes my skin. ALL DAY. So I don’t get any of the flaky parts that my dry skin likes to bring to the party around 2 pm. It has no scent, which I like, and is extremely gentle on my skin. The only con to this is there is no built-in sunscreen. For me, that’s not a huge deal-breaker since I wear one daily anyway, but if you really feel like it is for you, I recommend trying this La Roche one which has both. I use this every morning and my skin is so much happier for it.
Beautycounter Overnight Resurfacing Peel: One of my biggest skin issues is dark spots from the sun. I know I’m not alone, especially for my fellow mid-lifers. This is just a thing. It happens as we get older and maybe more so because we’re of the Banana Boat negative spf tanning oil generation. We can’t turn back time and tell our teenage selves to stop being knuckleheads about suncare, but we can use this gentle peel a few times a week. This is a leave-on lotion that does the trick of gentle exfoliation and skin brightening. It’s so gentle I’ve never had any sort of reaction to it and even my sensitive-skin friends seem to tolerate this well. I use it in conjunction with a Retinol (more on that below) and find that the combination of the two different kinds of exfoliation really does the trick for keeping my skin happy and clear and young-ish looking. I don’t have any substitutes for this one. It’s pricey, I know. But worth every penny.
The Ordinary 100% Organic Cold-Pressed Rose Hip Seed Oil: I should probably devote an entirely separate post to how much I love this cult-favorite brand, The Ordinary. It’s super cheap, no-frills packaging belies how dang good this stuff is. This Rose Hip Seed Oil was my gateway product into the cult, by the way. I’ve always been a face oil fan. I love how they impart a little glow, extra moisture, and skin-healing benefits without too much extra grease. I love this one because it helps counteract any potential irritation I might get from all of my “treatments.” This gentle oil fights redness, it’s anti-inflammatory and gently moisturizes to help heal treated skin. I use this every morning after my vitamin C serum AND on evenings when I am taking a break between treatments (which I highly recommend at least once or twice a week). I give an honorable mention to Beautycounter’s Number 1 Oil, the only drawback on this one is the price, which is a bit higher so might be out of the budget of some.
The Ordinary Retinol .5% in Squalane: Now, in full disclosure, because I am of a certain age I typically use prescription retinol when I need the BIG GUNS of age-fighting on my side. But if you’re not all about the prescription or maybe your skin can’t quite handle its harshness, this is a nice and gentle alternative. The Ordinary .5% Retinol is a great wrinkle and age fighter. It helps the skin turn over faster and reduces the appearance of fine lines. It’s gentle enough to be a gateway retinol if you’ve never used one and, honestly, the cost of ALL of the The Ordinary products makes them a no-brainer.
Neutrogena Sheer Zinc Face: When I was 20 I worked at a bridal salon in Pikesville, Maryland. It was at this salon, where I was surrounded by glamorous women in their 40s and 50s who didn’t look a day over 30, that I learned the value of sunscreen. To this day I give them credit for my obsessive daily habit of sunscreen application, rain or shine. And also to this day, I swear that this is why I only need 25 units of Botox once every year. (Yup. You read that right). I’ve tried a ton of sunscreens and I’ve got quite a few favorites, but this Neutrogena Sheer Zinc Face Lotion is honestly my HG. It’s a little on the thick side so you’ve really got to work it in to get rid of the white sheen, but it smooths out my skin enough that it functions almost like a make-up primer. Its full-spectrum physical sunscreen means it’s the real deal and I love how affordable it is. Honorable mention goes to Elta MD because people generally LOVE this one. I just find that it sometimes pills on me if I wear it under makeup and isn’t quite as moisturizing but is perfect for people with skin that is slightly on the oily side.
La Roche Posay Toleriane Ultra Moisturizer: I discovered this nighttime moisturizer in an act of final desperation after starting that pesky prescription retinol that caused some peeling and irritation as my skin adjusted. My skin was so thirsty and nothing (and I mean nothing) was working. On a whim, I grabbed this little bottle at Target and I’m so stinking glad I did. This moisturizer is for everyone, even people who have skin that breaks out in a rash at just the thought of irritation. It’s gentle and irritant-free but MAN can it moisturize and it’s so soothing. This can be used day or night and sometimes on my really irritated and dry days, I’ll sub it in place of the Beautycounter. It is a TEENY bottle and a little pricey but if you have dry, sensitive skin OR if you use treatments for either acne or aging, I don’t think there is anything better on the market.
Now, I know this is a huge break from my ordinary posting, but it’s been so fun to share some of my favorite things with you. Keep a lookout because I’m going to be sharing more of my favorites from here on out, from clothes to make-up to household items, I want to give you all little peeks into my world, the things I love and what I use behind the scenes, not just in the kitchen. And if there’s anything you’re curious about or want me to share, drop me a line. I love sharing LIFE with you, not just recipes. And I can’t wait to do more of this!
Welcome to BurntToast! My name is Meaghan, and this is my safe space, a place where we can share stories, share recipes and share life. It’s my dream that you can come here, kick your shoes off and pour yourself a glass of wine while you read, laugh, and maybe even hop into the kitchen. This is my heart, for all of you to see. And ALL are welcome here.