Another year has come and gone and I've tried a bunch of products. Some have been amazing, and I'll repurchase for years to come, others were a total waste of time. I was originally planning on only telling you about my favorites but I figured it is worth noting the things that didn't work as well, if only because somehow it's fun reading about things people hate? To be clear, these are things I tried for the first time this year, not necessarily only products that launched in 2018. Anywho, without further ado, here is a very long list...
Skincare Hits
The Leo Oil- I cannot believe it has been less than a year this beautiful oil has been in my life. If you follow me on social media then I'm almost positive you've seen me post and rave about this oil countless times. It is handmade in batches by cult mama Dena, who is living with stage IV breast cancer and kicking its ass. The oil itself is three simple ingredients which are not only moisturizing but also acne and inflammation fighting. I have recommended it to many people, and have almost never heard about it not working for them.
Biologique Recherche Lait U Cleanser- I am constantly hunting for new cleansers as someone once told me to "find your perfect cleanser, and stick to it". I don't know why that piece of advice resonated with me (it might not even be that good of advice?) but I have been searching for my HG cleanser for what feels like ages. This *might* be it. As someone with extremely dry, finicky skin, this is one of the only cleansers I've ever tried to clean my skin without drying it out, to the point I don't feel I have to put another product on my face right after cleansing. It also pairs very well with my next favorite item...
Biologique Recherche P50 PIGM 400- I started a new birth control this year and while it's worked wonders on my awful periods, it also gave me melasma. How kind. I really should go see a dermatologist about laser treatments but since I'm the laziest human in the world I instead reach for this toner. It has actually been helping fade my spots ever so slightly. It is also less harsh than the original P50 formula which I was using for quite some time, and my skin has felt better balanced even though it looks like shit due to all the brown spots.
Aesop Parsley Seed Mask- Having dry, acne prone skin puts me in the unusual spot of desperately wanting to cover my face in clay masks to suck the gunk out, but also realizing clay masks leave my already dry skin severely parched. This mask have been a savior; formulated for dry skin types, it cleanses but also hydrates. It's the only mask I've been able to routinely use. Speaking of Aesop...
Aesop Rind Concentrate Body Balm- My new year's resolution for 2018 was to take better care of the skin of my body and this lotion was the first thing to get me to do it. It cost ninety-seven fucking dollars, but hey it worked. The lotion smells divine (citrus) to the point my husband even commented on how much he liked it, and the 17oz pump bottle has lasted me over 8 months and is still going. To be fair, it does also come in a smaller size which is much more affordable, I just can't stand lotions that come in squeeze tubes (you put lotion in your hands, rub it in, go back for more, inevitably get lotion all over the tube, it gets hard to grip, you drop it, repeat ad infinitum). That being said, however...
Necessaire Body Lotion*- This comes in a tube but I still love it anyway. Non-scented and quick absorbing, this is the perfect lotion for people who hate lotions. It's formulated with a specific PH level to help skin absorb all the right nutrients and stay hydrated. It's also cruelty free, sulfate free, and paraben free. This is a newcomer to 2018 and I've only owned it a few weeks but I'm positive it will remain a staple in my routine.
Necessaire Body Wash in Sandalwood*-Another win from this new brand, I can't get enough of this lightly scented body wash. It leaves me feeling clean, not stripped, which is all one can really want from a body wash. It's just a bonus that the bottle has a handy twist cap dispenser and looks chic AF. If sandalwood isn't your thing, it also comes in Eucalyptus and Unscented. It also doubles as a bubble bath - you're welcome.
CosRX Aloe Soothing Sun Cream- I was a good girl this year and finally started wearing SPF every day; and not just relying on my makeup to have it already mixed in! This SPF honestly feels like skincare and doesn't mess with my makeup at all. It's also really affordable, which I love. It smells nice (like aloe, duh) and doesn't leave a white cast.
The Fur Oil-* I saw Emma Watson using pube oil, so I started using pube oil. (Not really, but kind of?) This oil has been one of those items I didn't know I needed until I started using it. My favorite place to use this oil is actually my underarms. It's helped eliminate razor burn and ingrowns, and the antibacterial ingredients help my deodorant work better. It's also a female owned company. Win all around.
Skincare Misses
Glossier Priming Moisturizer Rich - I know. Everyone loves this stuff. How dare I. Well, friends, this stuff did not get along with my skin - at all. It felt hydrating but the lavender oil left me red, splotchy, broken out, and sensitized. If you are sensitive to essential oils, I would avoid this.
Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair- Another cult favorite that doesn't make any sense to me. I gave it a good go, and thankfully it didn't do anything bad for my skin, but it definitely didn't do anything good for it either. Zero results whatsoever. Pass.
Ole Henriksen Glow Cycle Rentin-ALT Serum- I used this for almost six full weeks religiously and absolutely nothing happened except my makeup pilling. I don't know why I even tried it, as I have never once had a good experience from anything from this brand. Again, to be fair, none of his products have given my skin a negative reaction, but not a single of the 6+ I have tried have done a damn thing for me. I think this is the product to finally decide it once and for all: my skin doesn't work with Ole Henriksen. I need to stop buying their products.
Tatcha Kissu Lip Mask - I can't even link this one as it was limited edition and now fully eliminated from Tatcha's range. It was very hyped by several people so I splurged and bought it in a holiday set with a lipstick when the solo product sold out. It is supposed to be an overnight lip mask, promising deeply hydrated lips in the morning. Mine always feel drier in the morning after using this, which I am fairly certain is not the desired result. Good riddance, Kissu.
Dr Bronner's Shaving Gel- The. Worst. Shave. Gel. I've. Ever. Used. The product itself separates in the tube instantly, meaning when you squeeze it out you get an oily gel followed by sand like sugar resin. The resin gets stuck in my razor and clogs the blades, translating to an uneven shave and razor burn. Next.
So that is it for skincare! Stayed tuned for Vol.2 wherein I go over the hits/misses for makeup and hair care. What were your favorite skin and body products you tried this year?
*indicates a product that was gifted
xx,
Claire