Thank you Sephora for partnering with me on this post! January brings the opportunity to stop and reflect on the things we own. It’s a time to take a look at the items that have not served us well, and purge them.
We do that in many areas – household items, books, and clothing. I like to do it with my skincare. Here is the skincare I’m taking with me into 2022. Everything’s from one of my favorite places- Sephora!
These are three of the items that made the cut- and I believe they changed the look of my skin over this last year. We know that sunscreen goes without saying, so I won’t be mentioning that here, but these are steps that I believe round out a great skincare routine.
Vitamin C.
Vitamin C is a powerhouse for the daytime. Not only does it provide protection from free radicals, it may help protect against sun damage, even the look of discoloration, promote the appearance of firm, smooth skin, and help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
What I’m taking with me
I love the Paula’s Choice C15 Vitamin C Super Booster. It’s versatile, potent and helped visible improve my skin’s uneven tone. When I use this product, my skin appears more plump and healthy. Versatility is key with this- it has a very light and watery texture so it does not interfere with the other products I layer over it. You can even mix it with your serums or moisturizers to save a step! It’s staying with me!
Why it works:
Paula’s Choice C15 Vitamin C Super Booster’s straightforward ingredients make it easy to incorporate into any daytime skincare regimen. It is 15% stabilized vitamin C (l-ascorbic acid) and has vitamin E, ferulic acid, and skin-smoothing peptides. It’s the radiance for me!
How I use it:
During the day, I cleanse my skin, press a few drops all over my face, neck and chest, follow with any serums or oils, and seal it with moisturizer if needed. And always, always, ALWAYS sunscreen to finish!
Retinol.
Retinol is a must have for anyone concerned with a plethora of issues: breakouts, uneven skin tone, texture, fine lines and wrinkles, loss of firmness. It’s is what I credit with having great looking skin at my age. I started using it over 12 years ago and I will never stop.
What I’m taking with me
Enter Shani Darden Retinol Reform. Late in 2020, I received a bottle of this stuff and I didn’t expect much. I had been using retinol for years and had great results. I was not loyal to any brand, really. I tried many, and most of them were awesome. Whenever I tried a new one, I didn’t notice a huge difference, probably because my skin was in good shape and used to retinol. I honestly didn’t think I had much room for improvement and thought whatever I was doing was for maintenance.
But just wow. You should see my before and afters from using this retinol for 21 days. I had stopped all other skincare at night and just used Shani Darden Retinol Reform so I could really judge its effectiveness, and I could not believe my eyes.
Immediately, my skin seemed to glow overnight. Over 21 days, this product diminished the look of fine lines, made my skin look more even, and smoothed the texture. Just incredible.
Why it works:
The incapsulated retinol allows it to release onto the skin potently, while delivering the benefits in a gentler form/manner. But the big secret is lactic acid, which gently exfoliates overnight, giving immediate glow and allowing the retinol to penetrate optimally.
How I use it:
At night, I cleanse my skin. After serum, I massage one to two pumps into my skin- including my face, neck and chest.
Exfoliants.
Exfoliants are important, because while retinol goes deep to speak to collagen and elastin, exfoliants are more for dissolving that dead, dull surface layer on top of the skin. Alpha Hydroxy and Beta Hydroxy Acids are both key for different types of exfoliation.
What I’m taking with me
In 2021 I used the Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution once a week. It exfoliated my skin, helped to fight blemishes, and improved the look of fine lines. I thought it made my skin look brighter and more even.
Why it works:
Strength in numbers, here. A combination of glycolic and lactic acid at 30% is so effective, and it works quickly- in 10 minutes or less.
And there’s 2% BHA which is known to help promote clear skin and help fight blemishes.
This is very strong and not for everyone, but it does have Hyaluronic Acid for moisture, Tasmanian Pepperberry to help reduce irritation, and black carrot, which serves as an antioxidant. Exfoliating with this dissolves dead skin quickly and makes your other products so much more effective.
How I use it:
Here is how I use it: Every Sunday, I do “Self Care Sunday” where I exfoliate, steam and hydrate. I cleanse, smooth a thick, even layer over my skin, let it sit for up to ten minutes, and rinse. Then I follow with steam for 5-8 minutes. I do some kind of hydrating and soothing mask after, and top it with a moisturizer.
These products that I used in 2021 are why my skin looks more even, firm, plump and smooth than ever before- I’m not leaving them behind in 2022!
You can shop everything at Sephora- the destination for updating (or restocking!) your 2022 skincare regimen!
Thanks for stopping by! Follow me on instagram so you never miss a thing, and check out my reel here to see these skincare products in action.
