Hello lovely shoppers!!
I cannot believe how many of you are here, it’s so fun to have this little community who trusts me with their shopping advice. The last two weeks have been hellISH for me and as a result my skin has really suffered! So I felt like today would be a good opportunity to share some of the things — makeup and skincare — that I use to keep my face looking semi presentable. Some are old favs I’ve been using for a decade plus, others are new additions to my collection. And as always if you see something on the list that you love but that isn’t quite right for you for whatever reason, just ping me back and I’ll try to find you a dupe!
Without further ado…
Chanel Skincare — I have been using Chanel skincare since high school. My mom started me on the Hydra Beauty line when I was fourteen and literally nothing else we tried had worked. After making the rounds at the Macy’s cosmetics department and trying Clinique, Lancome, Dior, you name it — she finally decided to treat me to the younger version of the Le Lift line she was using. I have been a devotee ever since. Now let me preface this by saying I know Chanel is pricey! But it’s well worth the investment. For starters: it works. People ask me about my skin a lot! And that’s the secret, it’s just Chanel. But on top of that, you need very few products to see results, and the products you do need last for months. I use the La Mousse, the Le Lift Lotion, Serum, and the Creme, and the Creme de Nuit. That’s it. I recently introduced this exfoliant which works wonders, but if you need to cut something for budgeting I wouldn’t say it’s essential! I repurchase just a few times a year, and a little goes a long way.
Chanel Hydra Beauty Lip Balm — I’m giving this one a special callout because after spending literally hundreds of dollars looking for a lip balm that would combat the dryness from wearing a mask, I finally took the plunge and bought this for what at the time, I thought was a ridiculous price. Now I literally never go without it. It resolved any dryness on my lips and now it is my go to balm for before bed. I never skip a night without applying this.
Avene Eye Cream — The only non-Chanel step in my daily skincare routine is this Avene eye cream. Ever since we started wearing masks, I have been dealing with pretty severe dryness and sensitivity under my eyes and on my lids and I tried a bunch of different products before landing on Avene. I love the Avene line in general — it’s my affordable go to when I need something to supplement my existing routine, and I use their body care as well. This is super gentle and it healed the stubborn dry patches and itchiness almost overnight. It’s also a great price for the product, in my opinion!
Avene Tolerance Mask — Speaking of Avene, I use this to spot treat any dry patches on my face and I really love it. You have to use it religiously — I do 5-10 min every morning and every night. But you can literally see it working, when you wipe it off some of the dryness and redness is already calmed down.
Avene Clearance Acne Spot Treatment — I bought this on a recent Ulta trip on a whim and holy shit is it incredible. Earlier this week I woke up with a whopper under the surface blemish on the top of my left cheek — literally the worst spot. And after attacking it for 15 min in the bathroom mirror before bed I looked like I had a cheek implant on one side and not the other. So after my skincare routine I plopped a dollop of this right on the inflamed area and hoped for the best. When I woke up it was, I would say, 75% gone. As my morning went on I added just a little more every time I went to the bathroom and by the afternoon it was completely flat. The next day there was no sign of it.
Dior Face and Body Primer — Up until a few months ago I was a Chanel makeup devotee and while I still love most of the Chanel line, I took a chance on Dior foundation products recently at the recommendation of my mom and I’m a complete convert now. This is one of my favorite additions — it is a beautiful silky primer that blurs your pores and settles easily into the skin. Product layers over it like a beautiful layer of skincare and I notice a significant difference in how my complexion looks when I use it.
Dior Capture Cushion Foundation — I bought this foundation on a whim because I wanted to try a cushion foundation and trusted that Dior’s would agree with my skin. I initially tried the colorless formula which leaves a slight white cast on the face before adjusting to your skin tone; lately though I’ve been using the lightest tinted shade. I know it seems pricey but you get two cartridges for the price and it lasts forever. It also has an SPF FIFTY which is unheard of for foundation. The only issue is the shade range is abysmal so if you’re looking for something with similar coverage, I also really love the Face & Body Foundation.
Chanel No. 1 Cream Blush — This is part of their new hybrid skincare and makeup line and I loooove it. Full disclosure, I don’t ever use it on lips though you can, I find the formula a little dry for that. But on cheeks it’s a dream. Apply it with your fingers, a brush, or sponge and it creates a really beautiful dewy look that stays fresh looking all day. The skincare component also adds a nice smooth plumpness to the texture of your skin.
Guerlain Bronzer — I love a good cream bronzer and I use either Westman Atelier in Biscuit or the Chanel Les Beiges (the reforumlation of Soleil Tan) every single day but when I want to top my makeup off at the end with a little extra glow I always use a Gurlein Bronzer. They are the best powder bronzers on the market and they smell incredible; a light summery scent that dissipates as soon as it hits the skin but that makes for a really pleasant application process.
My go to loose powder — the Koh Gen Do — seems to be discontinued but I also love the Chanel loose powder, if you’re in the market for that and will be keeping my eye out for a replacement to the Ko Gen Do! Stay tuned!