Skincare
I’m 42 as I write this in August 2025. My face has never seen needles or knives, and I intend to keep it that way. I want my face to carry its history. I’d so much rather someone look at me and say, “She looks like she has interesting stories” than “she looks young.”
But here are some things I use that make my skin feel good.
Dennis Gross Alpha Beta peels—I’ve been using these for a decade now. Whenever I skip a week (or month) and go back to using them, I remember why I’ve been so loyal. Nothing has ever made as much difference in the way my skin looks and feels as these magical packets.
Dennis Gross Vitamin C Lactic Acid Serum—One of the few serums where I actually consistently notice a difference in my skin with regular use. I’m not going to pretend I have no wrinkles or dark spots, but my skin just looks better when I use this every morning.
Merit Great Skin Moisturizer—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.
Merit Extra Glow Serum—I apply this in the morning after the Dennis Gross serum mentioned above, and before my moisturizer. Yes, that’s two serums, but the Dennis Gross one seems to improve my skin texture, whereas this one functions more as an excellent foundation primer for me. It adds a big of dewy glow and makes my makeup go on flawlessly.
Philosophy One-Step Cleanser—I bounce around among cleansers even more than I do moisturizers, but recently came back to this one. I used it years ago, and after receiving a free sample recently, realized how much I love it. Although, after I purchased it, Merit released a cleanser. I suspect I’ll try that as my next purchase since I’ve had such great luck with Merit’s other complexion products.
Philosophy Night Cream—I’m really not sold on fancy night creams as making a huge difference, but I do like the way this one applies, as well as how my skin feels in the morning—most creams I’ve tried feel great right after I put them on, but my skin still feels tight in this morning.
Aquaphor—I may not swear by fancy creams, but I do swear by this incredibly cheap miracle worker. I use this for everything. Lips, eye area, as a highlighter, all over my face dry winter nights. It’s the best thing in my arsenal, and a huge tub is cheap and lasts forever.
Other Stuff
I’m admittedly not as great with SPF as I should be, but I don’t go outside as often as I should either :) If I know I’ll be in the sun for awhile, I have this right now and it’s fine. I’ll probably just try to find something cheaper next time. Or maybe try this from Merit (can you tell I’m a fan of the brand?!)
I don’t use eye cream right now. It’s an extra step and cost that I’m not into.
