my favorite skincare products and recent beauty articles

Hello.

Sunday feels like a good day to talk about something I love. Under the umbrella of beauty there are two things I love most: fragrance and skincare.

The science behind both is what fascinates me more than anything, but I won’t bore you with that today.

My favorite hour of the month (maybe every other month) is visiting my dermatologist and picking her brain about all things skincare. I used to buy high end luxury products thinking it would fix all of my skin problems until I met her and she debunked a lot of the marketing myths I fell for. I’m admittedly, a sucker for aesthetic branding. Aren’t we all?

Then I discovered k beauty- a much more affordable and effective sector of the beauty industry.

So the combination of my dermatologist’s recommendation coupled with the copious amount of k beauty products I’ve tried over the past several years has allowed me to round up some favorites and I’m here to share them with you.

Starting with my derm’s recommendations:

-Alastin Restorative Skin Complex: This product helps rejuvenate skin by improving its elasticity and reducing fine lines, thanks to its advanced peptide formula.

-Alastin Restoriative Eye Treatment: Designed to target the delicate eye area, this treatment reduces puffiness and diminishes the appearance of dark circles and wrinkles.

-Skin Better Alto Defense Serum: A powerful serum that defends against environmental damage and oxidative stress with its blend of antioxidants, enhancing skin's vitality and radiance.

-Alastin HydraTint SPF : A lightweight, tinted sunscreen that offers broad-spectrum SPF protection while also enhancing skin tone with a natural-looking finish.

-Alastin Restorative Neck Complex: Specially formulated for the neck and décolleté, this product firms and tightens the skin, minimizing the signs of aging in these often-neglected areas.

These four products transformed my skin. It was the first time a product moved the needle for me. So while these are pricey, they were no more expensive than the luxury skincare brands you see at retail stores, so it was worth the investment.

Some K Beauty favorites:

-Mixsoon Bean Essence: This essence leverages the nourishing properties of beans to hydrate and revitalize the skin, leaving it smooth and refreshed.

-Anua Heartleaf Toner: Infused with heartleaf extract, this toner soothes irritated skin, reduces redness, and helps to balance the skin's pH levels.

-Anua Toner Pads: Convenient pre-soaked pads that deliver the soothing benefits of toner in a single step, perfect for calming and hydrating the skin on the go.

-Mediheal Collagen Pads: These pads are enriched with collagen to firm and plump the under-eye area, reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

-Mediheal Retinol Collagen Pads: Similar to the pads mentioned above, these help tighten and lift. I’m obsessed with this one.

-Ma:nyo Pure Cleansing Oil: A gentle cleansing oil that effectively removes makeup and impurities while nourishing the skin with natural botanical oils.

-Centellian 24 Sheet Mask: This sheet mask is soaked in centella asiatica extract, promoting skin healing and providing intense hydration to soothe and rejuvenate skin.

-Mediheal Collagen Sheet Mask: A collagen-infused sheet mask that boosts skin elasticity, smooths texture, and provides deep hydration for a more youthful appearance.

-Kahi Multi Balm: An all-in-one balm that moisturizes and primes skin, providing a glowing, supple finish and can also be used to refresh makeup throughout the day. There’s a light cherry blossom / almond scent that is so comforting.

-CNP Laboratory Propolis Lipcerin: A nourishing lip balm that uses propolis extract to deeply moisturize dry, chapped lips and protect them against external aggressors. This is my favorite lip product of all time.

-Amore Pacific is a K Beauty brand I’ve been obsessed with for years. For awhile they took a hiatus from department stores but recently I’ve noticed a resurgence of their products. I had a best friend in college and he was from Korea. He took a trip back home to Seoul with his mom over summer break and brought back so many Amore Pacific products for me and then I loved the product even more. I would consider them a hybrid of luxury and K Beauty. The smell and feel of it on my skin is worth it for me. I always feel so clean and fresh and glowy after using them. I would list a bunch of my favorites but I’m not going to do that because it’s overwhelming. Instead, here’s one of their mini sets- this one happens to have my favorites in it. This mist is amazing, but phewwwww it’s expensive.

Misc. beauty favorites:

-Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Daily Peel Pads: A cult favorite. These make my skin feel clean and tight. They’re strong, so I use them every other day or so to give my skin a break.

-Dr. Dennis Gross Derminfusions Fill + Repair Serum: This is a newer purchase of mine. So far, I really like it, but I’m going to give it a few more weeks to decide whether or not I’ll be repurchasing it in the future.

-Shiseido Refreshing Cleansing Sheets: A fresh, luxe, make up removing/ cleansing wipe. I love Shiseido. Yes, it’s a luxury brand, and there are far more inexpensive wipes out there, but these make my skin feel so clean and fresh.

-CeraVe Moisturizing Cream: Another recommendation from my Derm. I’ve used a lot of different moisturizers, and she told me that this one trumps all of them.

-Peter Thomas Roth Firmx Collagen Hydra-Gel Eye Patches: These are amazing for puffiness or hollowness under the eyes! I also put them on my smile creases.

Favorite beauty tools:

-Medicube Age-R Booster: A facial tool designed to enhance skin rejuvenation, this device boosts the effectiveness of skincare products by promoting deeper absorption and stimulating the skin for a firmer, more youthful complexion. Do NOT use this if you’re in your early 20s. You will be wasting your money. I tried the tool at a pop up event and I liked it. It was marked down significantly. I would not pay full price for this, but it might be a fun tool to try if they’re having a big sale.

-Mount Lai Jade Tension Melting Massager: A jade facial massager that helps to relieve facial tension, promote relaxation, and boost skin's elasticity for a more youthful appearance. Mount Lai is my favorite gua sha brand! This tool feels so good if you have a headache or if you’ve had a long day.

-Mount Lai Stainless Steel Gua Sha: Crafted from stainless steel, this gua sha tool aids in lymphatic drainage, helps to contour facial features, and improves skin firmness through regular use. And it wont break if you drop it from slippery hands.

Read with me (on the topic of beauty):

Should You Get Carded For Skincare?

In this article, the Swedish skincare brand Mantle introduces age restrictions on their website to tackle Gen Alpha's growing fascination with skincare, a move that's stirring both support and criticism. The piece cleverly contrasts legitimate safety concerns with cultural fears about youth beauty rituals, questioning if our anxieties about "girls growing up too fast" might stifle self-discovery more than protect it.

Business Of Fashion

The Surprising Literary History of Skin Care

In Bulgakov’s "The Master and Margarita," the scene where Margarita Nikolaevna uses a magical cream to transform her appearance encapsulates a timeless fascination with rejuvenation. As she applies the cream, her physical transformation not only rejuvenates her but also grants her the power of flight, symbolizing a liberation from her current life. This moment reflects a broader cultural and historical obsession with youth and beauty, drawing parallels between ancient myths and modern cosmetic promises. The narrative weaves together fantasy and reality, reminding us that while physical youthfulness might be fleeting, the allure of transformation and renewal remains potent.

The Paris Review

Why Are Early YouTube Beauty Videos So Comforting?

Early YouTube beauty videos resonate due to their simplicity and authenticity compared to today's commercialized content. They evoke nostalgia for a less complex era of social media, emphasizing community and relatable, low-budget beauty tips. This contrast highlights a shift in digital influence and audience engagement, sparking a collective longing for the genuine connections of the past amidst the current landscape of highly polished and monetized content.

Dazed

The Substack-ification Of Beauty

In a media landscape increasingly characterized by layoffs and the scramble for steady gigs, beauty writers are finding solace and success in the newsletter model, platforms like Substack offering not just refuge but the chance to redefine beauty journalism. This piece explores the evolving dynamics of the beauty industry's media coverage, highlighting how writers are leveraging newsletters to provide in-depth, nuanced takes on beauty beyond traditional outlets, with some achieving significant financial and professional milestones in the process. The narrative underscores a broader shift in how content is consumed and valued, suggesting a more direct and intimate connection between writers and their audience.

Business Of Fashion

Gen Alpha Is Driving 49 Percent Of Mass Skin Care Sales Growth

Gen Alpha is significantly impacting the growth of the mass skincare market, driving nearly half of its expansion despite making up only 26% of households. They're gravitating towards cleansers, serums, and masks, pushing overall dollar sales up by 9% and unit sales by 0.9%, with facial treatments and eye skincare seeing notable increases, while skincare appliances have declined in popularity post-COVID-19.

WWD

That’s all for now.

I love you.

Bye <3