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Hello! How are all of you? In last week’s post, I mentioned how I am currently loving The Ordinary, so today I wanted to share some of the skincare products I’m using from them (plus a few extra).
Retinol 0.5% in Squalene: I try to use a retinol product regularly but there are so many out there and they range from drugstore to a zillion dollars. The Ordinary also has a 1% Retinol version but I was worried it was too strong so I did this one. It is gentle and I use it maybe every other day, only in the evening.
Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5: I usually use this in the morning, first thing, before I put on any other moisturizers. A good base and very moisturizing (but you need something else for sure!). Just a simple extra moisturizing step – my skin is so so dry.
Vitamin C Suspension 23%: I use this mainly to fade acne scars. It goes on super light, slippery. It does burn a little so I use very little and only at night. It’s weird – the tube when full feels super light – it’s a very lightweight formula, but I would definitely recommend if you want to fade scars/even skintone.
COOLA Mineral Silk Creme SPF 30: Okay, this one is not from The Ordinary and isn’t that cheap. But it is my favorite SPF right now and as the sun has just started coming out in our area, I’ve been using it everyday. Super light, doesn’t make me break out, but not drying either. It’s really nice!
Also (not pictured): Palmer’s Cleansing Oil: This was a recommendation from a reader! So I added it to my last order and it just came. I’ve only used it once so far but it seems like a good replacement for the classic DHC Cleansing Oil (which isn’t itself badly priced). So far it is fine but it isn’t like I’m wearing lots of makeup these days that needs to be washed off, so – I’ll update!
What are some of your skincare favorites lately? Bonus points if they are nicely priced!
17 Comments
SH
April 13, 2020 at 1:42 pmI would recommend a tretinoin prescription from your dermatologist or PCP. They come in different concentrations, and it is only $10 a tube (but varies based on insurance), and I trust it over the thousands of OTC vitamin A products. Tretinoin is probably the only evidence-based medication to prevent anti-aging.
I would also recommend a European or Asian sunscreen. They are better labeled. I need to see the “PA++++” notation, otherwise, I question whether it protects against the UVA rays, in addition to UVB. I use Ultrasun, about $30 for 100 ml which is very affordable for the degree of protection it offers.
A self-proclaimed skincare enthusiast, I cheap out on skincare products now and save my money for all the fancy lasers I will need later in life ha. I used to use TO but failed to see any results maybe except for the glycolic acid toner. Now I stick to a few slightly more expensive products and see much better outcomes.
Kat
April 14, 2020 at 9:16 amThank you!! This is a great perspective. I will ask for the Tretinoin (when I can see a derma again…sigh). Where do you get Ultra sun?? I will try!
C
May 3, 2020 at 4:01 pm100 percent yes on Retin A being the most important thing you can use (in addition to sunscreen). My derm was doing phone consults now and gave me a prescription for it. Don’t mix with vitamin C and start slow!
Sonita
April 13, 2020 at 3:56 pmHi Kat,
Thanks for sharing your new beauty recos. Wonder if you still use the Argan oil (remember awhile back you recommended it)? If so, when/how would you suggest we use the Argan oil in light of the Retinol, Hyaluronic Acid and Vit C regimen? Appreciate your thoughts. Thanks.
Kat
April 13, 2020 at 9:22 pmI do still use Argan Oil! I honestly just keep it in my cabinet and when my skin is feeling dry throughout the day I’ll reach for it. Honestly a lot easier to do that now as i’m not wearing makeup right now, ha!
C
May 3, 2020 at 4:02 pmYou should be able to put argan oil, or another oil that’s good for your face, on top of all those other ingredients.
Pret A Porter P
April 14, 2020 at 1:40 amI used to tell people, the amount of time and money, I’ve spent on my face/skincare, you’d think I’d look better than this! When I turned 30, I was introduced to the new and exciting world of stubborn adult acne.
I’m not sure if I’m in love with The Ordinary yet, but the price point is so inexpensive that I figure it can’t hurt. I’ve bought the AHA/BHA pink (“bloody”) serum 2x if that means anything. Basically anything I use every single day is drugstore. Things that I use less frequently I may or may not spend more on. Cerave lotions, Amlactin for body but Goldbond R&B is still the best it just runs out too fast, Vanicream/Aveeno/LaRochePosay cleansers for face. The rare times I have makeup I use Garnier micellar with pink lid as my 1st cleanse.
I tried a mineral Coola that shockingly doesn’t turn me grey. But when I looked up the price of a full size I said nevermind. I stick to chemical to avoid the cast. I used Neutrogena for years but now also like LRP and Vichy if Target/Ulta have it on sale. I picked up 2 bottles of LRP Shaka Fluid while in duty free in Europe. As SH said (chemical) Euro & Asian sunscreens are better than US ones because they have more stable UV filters than are approved in the US. That said, since I’m at home all day everyday, away from my windows, I’m not wearing my sunscreen. In some freak way, my skin is the best its been in awhile and there’s no one to see it. 🙁 And trust me I’ve done horrifying chemical peels, antibiotics, etc… that did nada … so I kinda “gave up” the fight so I went full blown bringing dairy, sugar, and white carbs back into my diet since “I’ll be home and can be as ugly as want”…and now my skin looks great! Wtf???!!
Also I cant be bothered with a skincare routine when I’m not going anywhere, so there’s that too. Also prior to lockdown I swear taking a 20+ billion probiotic helped A LOT with my hormonal acne/texture on my jawline.
Diferin (Adapalene) went otc several years ago. I believe Adapalene is stronger than a retinol, but not as strong as Tret. Never saw much results with Adap or Tret personally and my insurance costs a fortune so never renewed. I’m seeing good results with ZapZyt cream mixed with Cerave lotion at night, aloe vera gel, or Peter Thomas Roth retinol serum. I’ve enjoyed anything I’ve tried from PTR, hated anything from Murad or Mario Badescu. Loved PTR sulfur mask too, but swapped it for the cheap but less cosmetically elegant De La Cruz sulfur stuff. To be honest, the less I do the better my skin is. But that doesn’t stop me from having/wanting/buying/trying 34578475894 different products.
On that note, …when will I learn to stop buying beauty gadgets? I keep thinking I will find THE ONE that is a glam squad in a box. I wish I bought a jade roller because it would be a far less expensive gadget collecting dust than my NuFace. :/
Kat
April 14, 2020 at 9:15 amHI! Thank you for this comment and raising my hand as a fellow adult acne sufferer – it doesn’t seem fair, does it? and I completely am in the same boat with great skin right now and nobody to see (you think it has to do something with less SPF)?
Do you have a Asian SPF you would recommend? I love this tip!
C
May 3, 2020 at 4:05 pmBeet Shield by KraveBeauty
Pret A Porter P
April 14, 2020 at 10:39 amI havent tried an asian one yet, (beauty products are the one thing I dont have the patience to buy online). But, here are 2 videos from Logic Luxury and Dr Dray with recommendations. Dr Dray especially is always reviewing different, esp. asian, spfs.
https://youtu.be/-EIEqdP5I0Q
https://youtu.be/OdTLgSXKrOw
Pret A Porter P
April 14, 2020 at 10:39 amI havent tried an asian one yet, (beauty products are the one thing I dont have the patience to buy online). But, here are 2 videos from Logic Luxury and Dr Dray with recommendations. Dr Dray especially is always reviewing different, esp. asian, spfs.
https://youtu.be/-EIEqdP5I0Q
https://youtu.be/OdTLgSXKrOw
Jen
April 14, 2020 at 11:14 amI always love knowing what products other people use. I use the Coola Daydream primer since it’s the only brand of spf that does not break me out. Some people complain of the shimmer but I’ll take any bit of glow I can get. I love their spray sunscreens and my teens like them too, which is a huge bonus. I use Pai Zinc and Copaiba Blemish Serum in the day and Farmacy Honeymoon Glow at night. I also like Drunk Elephant retinol if I have any sun or red spots I want to fade. And the Tatcha lip mask is great for at night. None of them are cheap but I find a little goes a long way with everything.
melone
April 14, 2020 at 9:40 pmI am completely obsessed with Korean beauty products now. Toners, essences, serums…you name it. The best part is they’re not very expensive so trial and error isn’t costly.
Currently, I’m loving Innisfree’s Jeju Lava Seawater line, and the Snail Solution line from Nature Republic.
Winnie
April 14, 2020 at 10:15 pmI use the same vitamin C and found that it burned as well! That plus some pilling from the texture turned me off of the product. I actually found that mixing it with the hyaluronic acid helped get rid of the pilling and burning. The key is to use more hyaluronic than vitamin c or else I find that it still burns. Hope that helps!
Dee
April 15, 2020 at 6:22 pmThank you for the post! I always wondered about Nuface. Lisa Eldridge uses it everyday and swears that it tone her skin. Same with Susan Yara. Now is a time to test different skin care and makeup because no one is going to see it! Significant others usually don’t care as they say we always look the same each day or better without makeup. Lol
Lately I have been watching Peony Lim’s Instagram Stories for skincare and makeup tips among others during this quarantine. Surprisingly, she is putting a lot of herself out there. Perhaps it is due to promoting her jewelry line – her necklaces and leaf earring are pretty! Or maybe this her attempt to gain more ad $$ with increased followers. She used to be super private. I remember the days she wouldn’t respond to followers questions.
I tried her favorite hand cream, Aerin Rose, this week thanks to a Nordstrom sale and so far it is great especially with the constant hand washing I need to do. It smells great, not overbearing, and it leaves my skin feeling decadent with no greasiness.
Makeup free and sunscreen free has left my skin looking ? break out free. I do wish I did an IPL before the stay at home order to allow my face to heal. Something to look forward to when they relax this stay at home I suppose along with a proper haircut. Lol
Elizabeth
April 16, 2020 at 2:18 pmIf only there had been a time to do disfiguring derm procedures right before lockdown!
I use Glossier products – the Super Bounce, Super Glow, and Futuredew – and have had so many compliments since I started using these. I stick with La Mer as moisturizer, my expensive indulgence, Dr. Hauschka toner, and Supergoop as sunscreen. I am just so impressed by the Glossier products at their price point.
Rachel
April 20, 2020 at 12:13 pmI keep going back to the SKII toner because I feel like I really do see a big difference in my skin but it’s so expensive. I wait to buy during Sephora sale and get the value size, but it’s still like $240 :/ however the huge one generally lasts 6-12 months depending on how often I use it. I decant into spray bottle so I don’t waste any on cotton pads.
I have heard this sake based toner is similar to SKII and super inexpensive, so maybe will try and compare:
Sake High Moisture Skin Lotion Toner By Kikumasamune for Women 16.9 Oz Lotion, 16.9 Ounce https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ECQCVK0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_7oFNEbNPVPHQV