11 Jan BEST SKINCARE OF 2018: My Holy-Grails & Faves From the Year!
It’s time for Part 2 of my yearly favorite wrap-ups! Also, if you missed Part 1, be sure to check that out too if you’d like to read about my makeup favorites! In this post, I’ll be discussing and sharing my favorite Korean and Western Skin Care products that I’ve loved in 2018. Of course, I have a full video where I talk about these products as well, but I also wanted to do this blog post! So enjoy 🙂
Let’s get to the breakdown…
Now before we get into everything, I want to state my skin type and concerns. I have very, very dry skin! It seems like my skin can always use more moisture and because of this, I’m always looking for gentle, moisturizing products. However, I am getting older so I also love trying anti-aging and preventive skin care products, as well as products that will help with my hyper pigmentation spots. Now that we’ve got that out of the way, it’s time to talk products!
Mentholatum Hada Labo Goku-Jyun Super Hyaluronic Face Foam
This was a cleanser I had read about on reddit, so I picked one up from Yesstyle. Hada Labo is a new brand for me so I haven’t tried much from them, but so far, as good! This cleanser dispenses in a foam, so there no need to whip it up! I love that it’s soft and gentle, but also bubble-y because I love a good lather. I feel like this helps cleanse my skin, since I do wear a lot of makeup day to day, but doesn’t strip my skin in the process. I can see why a lot of people with sensitive skin love this, and I’m planning on picking up another bottle!
Lancome Bi-Facil Double-Action Eye Makeup Remover
My eyes are SUPER sensitive, so I’m really picky when it comes to makeup remover because I mainly use it around my eyes to remove left over mascara and eyeliner. This one from Lancome is an effective makeup remover that doesn’t sting or clog my eye area that busts through my makeup. I don’t have to tug at my eyes at all and it doesn’t leave any residue after I use it. It’s a little pricey since it is from Lancome, but I find this lasts FOREVER! I use this with q-tips and use a couple drops at a time.. I kid you not, one of these could last me at least a year. They were recently on sale at ULTA, which I showed in this video, so be sure to keep an eye out if you see a special deal on this product!
Brand Favorite: Dermalogica
I have fallen in love with Dermalogica as a brand in 2018. I was introduced to their products when I was offered a facial at their main offices (which you can still see in my skincare highlights on my Instagram – @MorganAlisonStewart!). After my skin treatment, I had to try more since my skin was glowing! I love that they are no non-sense and deliver effective products that are designed for people who might have skin sensitivities. I’ve had several favorite products throughout 2018, including the Dermalogica C-12 Pure Bright Serum, Dermalogica Sound Sleep Cocoon Transformative Night Gel-Cream, Dermalogica Precleanse Balm & Mitt, and the Derrmalogica Daily Microfoliant. I love them so much I even included one of their newly reformulated products in my Skin Care New Years Resolutions video!
I have been a fan of the Annie’s Way Jelly Masks ever since I heard Bubz talking about these. I picked up a tub and never looked back! These are super gentle on my skin but are one of those masks that actually add moisture to my skin. I love slathering on a thick layer of this when I’m in the tub or when I have a special occasion. I notice the effects of these masks immediately, and I’ve been slowly trying all of their different types. So far, my favorite remains the Annie’s Way Arbutin + Hyaluronic Acid Brighting Jelly Mask but I’m currently using the Annie’s Way Calendula+Chamomile Softening Jelly Mask.
Dear Packer Madagascar Clay Mask
I might have dry skin, but that doesn’t mean I don’t use detoxifying products. I use clay-based products every once in a while, whenever my skin seems to be breaking out or congested. However, most clay masks are a bit harsh on my skin and overly drying. This one from Dear Packer, however, is not. The consistently of this is super smooth and soft and it’s easy to remove from my skin. This clay in this actually softens my skin and leaves my skin feeling refreshed!
Make P:rem® Wonderful Me. In-shower Face Pack
This is another brand favorite of mine in 2018! I love Make Pr:em and I have slowly been trying more from this company. They centralize around the idea of using safe ingredients that are gentle on this skin. I loved this shower mask in particular because it’s perfect for my dry, sensitive skin but it also helps cut down on the time I need for my skincare routine. Since this is a mask I do in the shower, I can apply this on my face, wash up the rest of my body, and then rinse this off. Voila! A skin treatment done in the shower! I mean, there’s a reason why I included this product as one of my Skincare Game Changers!
Patchology Rejuvenating Eye Gels
These have quickly become one of my favorite eye gels because they’re nice and thick! I love using these daily, but particularly on special occasions when I’m looking to help my tired under eyes look refreshed! One thing I appreciate about Patchology in particular is that they’re specifically designed to be effective in 5 minutes! This is so convenient for me because if I’m in a rush, I can still squeeze in a skin treatment. If you decide to purchase anything from Patchology’s website, be sure to use my code MORGAN25 for a discount!
Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence SPF50+/PA++++
Now this is what all sunscreens should be. I absolutely hate sunscreens that are hard to rub in, leave a white cast, or feel sticky and heavy. This is so smooth and glides right onto my skin. This is another skin care product I’d read about on reddit and I can understand why so many people recommended this product. Seriously, after using this sunscreen from Biore, you’ll look at your other sunscreens and wonder why they aren’t like this too!
Brand Favorite: belif
This is probably no surprise to any of you who keep up with my channel. I’m absolutely obsessed with belif as a brand.. even my boyfriend loves belif! Belif is one of those brands that works for a lot of different skin types and absolutely nails it when it comes to moisturizer. This year, belif has launched a couple new products, which have quickly become members of my skincare routine. These new products include the belif Aqua Bomb Sleeping Mask and the belif Aqua Bomb Mist. Of course, I still have a special soft spot in my heart for the belif The True Cream Aqua Bomb and the belif Moisturizing Eye Bomb since these have gotten my boyfriend into a skincare routine…, hallelujah! If you decide to pick up any of these products from the belif USA website, be sure to use my code MORGAN20.
Chanel LA SOLUTION 10 DE Sensitive Skin Cream
Originally, I did not want to like this product because it was so expensive! In my head, I just couldn’t reason spending this much on a moisturizer (this was sent to me complimentary from Chanel!) Also, for some reason I thought this was going to be heavily fragranced. Because of this, this product slowly made its way to the back of my base drawer. On a whim, I randomly pulled this out and decided to give it a go… and boy, did I fall in love. My favorite way of using this is in the morning before my makeup. It glides on my skin, doesn’t feel heavy, but keeps my skin moisturized throughout the day. I love that I can keep my morning routine minimal and this offers enough moisture to keep my skin healthy and happy throughout the day. Also, this does NOT contain fragrance! What a surprise. Upon looking at the ingredient list, I was actually pleasantly surprised because it contains lots of helpful ingredients. I would highly recommend this, if you have the budget, because I will most likely repurchase this and I think it would be great for other people who have dry skin like me! Plus, this bottle lasts a lot longer than you’d expect! I’ve been using it for almost a year now and it stills seems to be going strong (although I can’t be for sure because the bottle is opaque… but hey that means the integrity of the ingredients are maintained!).
I’ve been getting back into oils recently and I have this oil to thank for that. This is an oil from KGC‘s skincare line, Donginbi. It’s a red ginseng based skincare line that focuses on high quality ingredients and traditional Korean formulations and techniques. I’m a big fan of Korean red ginseng, in general, so much so that I even take KGC gingseng daily! This line was introduced to me in the second half of the year, and while I like a lot of the line, this 1899 Signature Oil stood out to me the most. Don’t let this little bottle fool you! A couple drops of this is sufficient enough to cover my entire face and chest. The smell of the oil is very “herbal-y”, which I enjoy and find that it actually adds to my experience of using this. Since I’ve started using this oil, I’ve noticed my skin looks super glowy in the morning as well as fresh and soft. I can’t wait to continue using this and do more exploring in the realm of facial oils!
FOREO UFO Smart Face Mask Treatment
This has been BY FAR my favorite face tool of 2018. I was sent the FOREO UFO to try and I honestly thought… well I love sheet masks already so how could this really add to that experience. Boy was I wrong! I love that this is a quick and easy way to get a sheet mask in (you use the UFO Smart Masks that are designed to go with this device). It also warms up the skin to relax the muscles, uses T-sonic pulsations to improve absorption, and has led lights that will help with anti-aging and evenness of the skin tone. For me personally, I enjoy the led lights the most! I had the opportunity this year to get a facial from celebrity esthetician, Shani Darden, (which is still in my Instagram skincare highlights – @MorganAlisonStewart) and I asked her what was her skincare secret weapon; her answer? LED light therapy! Ever since then, I’ve been using the crap out of my FOREO UFO (I will actually do 3-4 cycles on my skin during one sitting and use the same smart mask). I love how plump and healthy my skin feels and it’s definitely a treat for my skin! My favorite smart masks include the Glow Addict and the H2Overdose.
YAY! So that’s Part 2 to my yearly beauty wrap-ups! I hope you enjoyed the videos and the post and I think I’m going to do a Part 3 exclusively for my website discussing my lifestyle favorites! I’ll be sure to let you guys know what that’s live!
xoxo,
Morgan