skincare empties

done, finito!

ahh, that exciting feeling of reaching the bottom of a beauty product. i can’t be the only one, right?! there’s just something that’s very satisfying about finishing an entire product from start to finish. like you’ve done something good. and you have — you didn’t waste! so give yourself a pat on the back!

i have so much skincare. it’s a #FWP. when it comes to skincare staples, i always re-stock my favorites when they are on sale so i have at least one ready to-go in my skincare stash. mama doan taught me to be a savvy spender that way #mamadoanproud. surprisingly i finished all of these staples within the last few months and wanted to document them here! i occasionally like to try new skincare items but always venture back to these as you’ll read/see.

side ramblings: not looking forward to a forecast of rainy weather to bring down my mood. how do people live in seattle, IDK. in case you missed it on IG stories, my sis introduced me to @whippedatx — they are taking macarons to a whole new level. the filling is a buttercream consistency. and YA GIRL loves buttercream! most places don’t make it right, it should melt in your mouth, so whipped #nailedit. it’s in cedar park which is HELLA far. but we went twice in two weeks. so you know i’m not playin! last week was about catching up w some old friends/bosses and probably my highlight. i’m always inspired to see how everyone has overcome life’s challenges due to COVID. my boss got into the best shape of her life and introduced me to @LEKfit. i already tried a couple workouts and “investing” into it with a trampoline purchase! it’s been a while since i’ve become obsessed with a work out (remember my journey w @lagreefitness? where i randomly become a certified instructor? somehow i thought i had time to teach haha). LEK fit is what i’ve been looking for — a mix of pilates, ballet, and cardio!! the indoor trampoline/rebounder has me super intrigued because it’s LOW impact so a great option for my old knees. it’ll be a fun way to get some cardio in. i think…😁 looking forward to documenting this fitness journey into LEK fit!

currently on my playlist: levitating by Dua Lipa

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vitamin c serum | Skinceuticals CE ferulic //

  • about me: fave vitamin c. if you’re in your 30s you need to be using vita c — prevents skin aging, fade hyperpigmentation (brightening agent), reduce redness, even out your skintone

  • usage: while initally expensive, this bottle lasts me almost a year with 2-3 drops in the AM. so 50 cents a day when you break it down! and that’s really how you should think of skincare. and when it comes to quality skincare, you DON’T need a lot!

  • pro-tip: light causes your vitamin c to start oxidizing (becomes less stable/active), while i’ve heard this is OK, i store mine in the dark. so keep it in its box but just cut off the side flaps and store it in the dark/cabinet

  • honorable mention: Drunken Elephant c-firma vitamin c day serum (more price friendly & uses clean ingredients)

eye treatment | Skinceuticals AOX eye gel //

  • about me: fave lightweight eye treatment, i also like how it’s packaged so no digging fingers in a jar. i prefer gel consistency for AM and something heavier for PM

  • usage: tiniest dollop in the AM under both eyes

  • pro-tip: use your ring rings aka: softest finger for that delicate under eye skin. lightly dab in vs. smearing back and forth

  • honorable mention: BIOSSANCE squalane + peptide eye gel


facial cleanser | CURE natural aqua gel //

  • about me: mama doan actually introduced this to me. and mama doan is skincare goals. this is also the best selling face cleanser in japan. #saynomore because japanese & korean women have the BEST SKIN.

  • usage: first thing in the AM on DRY skin, you’ll see it exfoliate all the dry/dead cells, it’s kinda gross yet intriguing. i can’t explain it; i won’t.


facial oil | Drunk Elephant virgin marula face oil //

  • about me: have no fear when it comes to oil! facial oils have become so popular the last couple of years. i’m currently trying the BIOSSANCE squalane oil but think i prefer the DE marula oil a smidge more, it seems to absorb into my skin better for some reason.

  • usage: PM only. unless you want to look like a grease pan during the day. i use oils every 2-3 nights in the summer.

  • honorable mention: Go-To Skincare face hero


neck treatment c/o | TATCHA ageless revitalizing neck cream //

  • about me: a heavy duty neck cream bc the neck needs love too. heck, i don’t care, put any kind of moisturizer on it! no one pays attention to the neck so it’s the part that starts sagging and wrinkling first. #theneckneedslovetoo

  • usage: AM and PM; just whenever you remember!!

  • honorable mention: Skinceuticals tripeptide-R neck repair (trying this one out but my skin may not like the retinol in it or is used to it yet)


bracelet c/o | Kendra Scott presleigh cuff bracelet in gold
earrings | Mejuri bold charlotte hoops

i hope you enjoyed this #beautyedit!,
JD

fall skincare

it’s time for a #beautytalk!

i thought it would be good for me to go back to my roots on a beauty/skincare post so i’m here to prep your beautiful skin up for fall! as the temps drop, my combo skin (oily t-zone, dry-ish cheeks) tends to get more dry and some HH (hardcore hydration, i mean happy hours too) is needed! just as you change your clothes for the seasons, do the same with your skincare. different seasons require different types of clothing, just as skincare.

repeat after me: moisturize. moisturize. moisturize. to sum this post up in a few words, some key ingredients you can add to your fall skincare routine include: hyaluronic acid, lipids, retinols, and oils. but if you’re a nerd like me and need more explanations/ramblings since you want to up your skincare game, more after the jump!

side ramblings: it’s been hard trying to navigate social life again after half a year of hibernation. but hey, baby steps right? i’m trying to manage my anxiety better and get out there again. safely of course! i never thought that something that came so naturally to me would be difficult. i watched Work It this past weekend, super cute highschool dance team movie and i’m loving the upbeat happy soundtrack! linked one song below :)

currently on my playlist: let me move you by Sabrina Carpenter

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hylauronic acid //

hyaluronic acid is a sugar naturally found in our skin that holds water and keeps it hydrated. as we age, HA gradually decreases (gotta love aging!). applying HA can help draw/hold water to make your skin look more plump & hydrated. this is essential during the fall months when we’re subjected to heaters and wind that dry out our skin. the two serums i interchange are:

  1. Dr. Barbara Sturm hyaluronic serum — this has a hefty price tag associated with it and for the price point, i was expecting life changing results. that did not happen as i near the end of the bottle. i won’t be purchasing it again solely based on price point. but hey, if you’ve got money to blow, by all means give it a go! it is a non-fragranced clear serum in a dropper bottle.

  2. SkinCeuticals hyaluronic acid (H.A.) intensifier — this a light opaque muted reddish color (nothing scary looking) in a dropper bottle.

i tend to go through anything with HA pretty quickly. i think it is because of the serum consistency and i think my skin “eats it up” so i use a lot of it. but it’s also important to note that these are also light enough to use year-around.

heavy moisturizer //

note: heavy doesn’t always mean greasy. greasy isn’t my style.

  1. SkinCeuticals triple lipid restore 2:4:2 — gosh, i LOVE this stuff. this thing REALLY works. i cannot go any fall season without it. you can feel it seep into your skin and it feels heavy-good without the greasy-ness. if there is one thing you are thinking of purchasing from this post, let this be it! it’s my BFF in the fall months and random patches of dryness that pop up during the year. i use this in the AM and it is a non-fragranced white cream consistency in a jar.

  2. TATCHA dewy cream c/o — the dewy line is my favorite from the TATCHA line. TATCHA was one of my first brands into skincare and they still hold my heart! it isn’t as “thick” as the SkinCeuticals triple lipid but this one feels light enough to use year round and is a lightly fragranced light purple cream consistency in a jar.

retinol (plant-based) //

retinol is something i’ve always been on the fence about. my skin is pretty dang sensitive so anything harsh i usually stray away from. retinol is for anti-aging. it’s supposed to help reduce lines and wrinkles by increasing our collagen production (also, did i mention that also decrease as we age? haha). plant-based retinol started popping up in the past year or so and in my research i found that this naturally derived version is better for sensitive skin. so it was time, plus i’m not getting any younger! they usually recommend using retinol products during the winter when you are less exposed to the sun as retinol is active and can make your skin more “photo-sensitive.” i only use retinol at night.

  1. BIOSSANCE squalane + phyto-retinol serum (not pictured) — this is a light pink/salmon cream in a glass pump bottle. it has a slight fragrance to it but dissipates pretty quickly.

  2. Drunken Elephant a-passioni retinol cream (not pictured) — haven’t tried this one so it’s an honorable mention & DE products are usually on point.

oil //

if you’re hesitant to put oil on your face, trust me when i say i feel you. WHY would anyone want to put oil on their face? but fear not my friend. oils are/will become your BFF, esp in the fall. i use oils only at night and as the LAST STEP of my routine. oil will always be your last step to seal everything in.

  1. Drunken Elephant virgin marula luxury facial oil — this absorbs really well and is a non-fragranced clear-ish oil in a dropper bottle.

  2. BIOSSANCE squalane oil (not pictured) — i purchased this recently and i’m a pretty big fan of this brand. their main focus is on one ingredient: squalane. squalane is another element that we naturally produce but as we age, it decreases. it also helps retain moisture. i really like BIOSSANCE because of how green the products are and the price point is pretty affordable. can’t wait to try this one! it is a non-fragranced clear oil in a pump dispenser bottle.

misc & optional //

  1. TATCHA dewy mist c/o — because why the heck not?! mists are great when you need a little pick me up, esp after a plane ride (what are those anymore btw?) or when you’re feeling extra bougie.

hope y’all enjoyed this skincare edit!,
JD