Toolkit
Stuff I Love
Miracle Worker Night Cream, Philosophy
My goal with any night cream is less the anti-aging claims (I’m not convinced) and more “does it help my dry skin feel less dry.”
I’ve tried all types at all price range, and the Miracle Worker from Philosophy has been working well for me.
Is it an actual miracle worker?
No. The claim feels a bit much. I’m not aging in reverse or getting carded again.
But I like the way it applies … no need to shovel it out and warm it up on your hands in order to get it to “spread” like some of those heavy duty fancy ones. I hate those.
This is just nice, and it seems to do the job. It’s neither the cheapest nor most expensive one I’ve tried, but it it is one of the few that doesn’t seem to feel incredible for about 30 minutes after applying, only to leave me feeling like Gollum in the morning.
Will I repurchase? Undecided, but definitely considering it, and that’s something.
Aquaphor
15-ish years ago, I had a really bad eczema flare-up on my forehead right before an out-of-town wedding. I tried desperately to find a dermatologist in the area who could squeeze me in last minute to give me a prescription cream, but no luck.
A kind employee at one of the offices I called suggested that maybe picking up some Aquaphor at the drugstore would help.
I did that, and sure enough, it did help the flare-up …
Then I started using it on my lips, and discovered the best chapstick ever.
Then on a whim tried it as a highlighter, and it looked surprisingly good.
And it’s the only thing that I’ve ever found to keep my dry winter hands under control.
I thought I was a genius, only to learn I’m late to the party, and everyone from Beyoncé to Nicole Kidman to Megan Markle’s makeup team was already onto the magic of this cheap little product.
In addition to being insanely versatile, it’s also inexpensive. I use it every single day for all sorts of things, and it still takes me more than a year to go through a tub that costs less than $20 ( though I also have the smaller sizes stashed all over the place and in my purse.)
In winter I put it all over my face atop of my night cream. It’s the world’s best lip balm and gives a nice glossy sheen. I dab a little on my cheekbones over my foundation if I’m feeling dull. It’s my hand cream. My cuticle oil. My paper-cut curer. I’ve even used it in (sparingly) on the ends of my hair if I’m behind on a trim to keep the ends from looking too frayed.
One Step Cleanser, Philosophy
I’ve had a hard time finding a cleanser I truly love.
I wear makeup daily and my skin is dry.
Which has always meant that the cleansers that successfully remove all my makeup also leave my skin feeling tight. But the gentler cleansers leave traces of my foundation behind.
(I have white bath towels and washcloths, so errant makeup can’t hide from me!)
Anyway, I used this Philosophy cleanser a long time ago and remember liking it well enough, but maybe my skin had different needs back then, or I was young and dumb and didn’t know a good thing when I had it, because I wandered and tried a bunch of others over the ensuing decade+.
Because I recently gave it another go, mostly because I needed to get over the Free Shipping minimum on Philosophy’s website, and gasp …
My skin loves it.
First of all, it’s just a joy to use. It foams up all nice and smells just clean. I’m a sucker for true sudsy soaps.
But even better, it removes every trace of makeup, first go. No double-cleanse necessary. And since I’ve started using this, it’s the first time in my life that my skin never feels tight the next morning, even though it’s the dead of winter right now (and nothing else in my routine has changed, just the cleanser).
I also have a longtime history with occasional eczema on my forehead and hormonal acne on my chin, and I haven’t had a flare-up of either since switching to this.
Vitamin C Lactic Acid Serum, Dennis Gross
I’ve tried a bunch of skincare products over the years, and I’ve almost never noticed a true difference, but I do with this serum. My skin looks brighter and more evenly-toned when I use it daily.
Alas, it’s not a consistent of my regimen only because of the cost. When the budget’s becoming tight, this is a splurge, not an essential.
That said, it’s one of my favorite gifts to receive from family members, and if anyone ever pressed a crisp hundo into my hand and said I must spend it on something frivolous for myself, it’d be this serum over any shoes/outfit/handbag…
Alpha Beta Peels, Dennis Gross
Of every beauty product in my arsenal, these pads have been around the longest. I’m not going to say I have the best skin you’ve ever seen, but I’m pretty happy with how my skin looks and feels at 42, and I think these pads may have a lot to do with that.
My skin looks my best when I use them every day, except I usually I don’t because I forget and because they’re expensive. But when I do use them, especially after a long break, I notice a huge difference. My skin is softer, glowier, and my makeup and other skincare seem to absorb better.
I don’t do injectables or fillers or any of that crap, but I’m not against treating my skin well, and for me, it’s these pads, because I swear they make a difference.
I use the Extra-Strength these days, but I used the Universal for years and I’d start there if you’re new to peels as they can be “tingly.”
Great Skin Moisturizer, Merit
I’ve never found a moisturizer that’s impressed me enough to repurchase (I’m always chasing something new) until this one. My skin is on the dryer side, and this leaves my skin feeling soft and hydrated all day but is never heavy or greasy.
The bottle and packaging are perfect, my skin likes it. It doesn’t smell weird. It just works.
I apply 1 pump every morning immediately following my serum and immediately prior to applying my foundation.
Extra Glow Serum, Merit
While this is technically a serum, and works just fine as such, I Merit’s Great Skin serum more as a primer. I apply two pumps every morning (maybe 1 on the swampiest days of summer) immediately prior to my moisturizer and my beloved The Minimalist stick.
If I skip this step, my makeup doesn’t go on nicely, and it also helps give my skin a healthy glow without looking shiny.
I’ve always been pretty fickle with makeup and skincare, but I’ve been through many bottles of this one.