Guess who turned into a beauty minimalist these last several months?
That’s right, ME! Here’s what my current morning routine looks like: Cleanse, Tone, Fresh Seaberry Oil, Mount Lai Jade Roller, Caudalie Moisturizer, Eye Cream, and SPF. As for my evening routine, it’s simply cleansing, toning, and occasionally masking/exfoliating. I’ve opted out of moisturizer and serum in the evenings… Sounds crazy, right? I went from the Korean 10-step skincare routine to like 2 products… I’m still as much of a beauty enthusiast as I was before, but I just want to have less on my vanity, in my drawers – and in my life overall. Plus, my skin seems to be doing pretty well these days.
So that means my summer beauty edit comprises only of a few tried and true products. The timing for this post couldn’t have been better since the Sephora VIB Sale is happening right now! Feel free to shop my favorites below!
Fresh Seaberry Oil
This facial oil was the thing that got me into oils. It’s moisturizing, non-greasy, and perfect for days where I’m suffering from lackluster skin. Despite trying several different oils in the last year, this is one I constantly return to for my face!
Caudalie Sorbet Moisturizer
I’ve only dabbled into two new moisturizers all year and this one by Caudalie has become a favorite for summer. It’s lightweight, refreshing, and quenching! The soft, bouncy texture is also so much fun! The only issue is, it’s going to set you back for a small amount.
Isle of Paradise Self Tanning Drops
I adore the look of bronze, glowing skin in the summertime but without the damage that comes with sunbathing. Only this year did I begin to dabble with self-tanners. All you have to do is add a few drops of this to your favorite moisturizer and within days, you reap a natural sun kissed glow that isn’t orange or icky. It’s also a quick and easy solution for toning out uneven skin.
Carbon Coco
The older I get, the more wine I drink – and maybe it’s good for the body but not so much for the teeth. If you desire pearly white teeth, enter Carbon Coco. Looks and sounds scary (ahem activated charcoal) but it works. The powder is super fine and essentially leaves no after taste (nor does it have a scary taste). All you do is brush your teeth with the powder for 30 seconds then rinse and brush as usual with normal toothpaste. Your teeth will feel slicker and cleaner and eventually look whiter (give it about 4-5 days)!
Caudalie Beauty Elixir
Le Beauty Elixir has been holy grail for five years now! It’s one of those beauty products where I’m not exactly sure what it does for the skin, but it feels really amazing and I can’t stop buying it. I use it before and after makeup…it’s like a whiff of fresh air for the face.
Tan Luxe Self Tanning Drops (Body)
Back to sunless tanners, I love Tan Luxe for the body (haven’t tried the face yet). It’s easy to use, gives the exact results I want with full color control according to the number of drops you use. Most impressively, there’s no streaking, nothing orange about it, and it fades evenly.
Bioclarity
Thank God the days of battling acne are over, but I still enjoy the masks from Bioclarity. The Clarifying Mask revived my skin after a week out in Florida – loved how it brought down the redness in my face. And then the Hydrating Mask is perfect for quick pick-me-ups because there are mornings I wake up and my skin is just dull and sullen.
And in case you’re wondering what I snatched up from the sale, here you go:
Marc Jacobs Coconut Primer
I have tried many primers now and only two are absolutely worthy. That’s this Coconut Primer and Hourglass’ Primer Serum. I love both but primarily use the MJ one because it plumps up the skin, injects a boost of hydration, and provides the perfect amount of slip for makeup that follows. I’ve gone through three bottles, moving onto four now.
Anastasia Brow Wiz
If I could only use one product for the rest of my life, it might be this eyebrow pencil. The color Ebony, an ashy gray-black, that’s perfect for Asians who don’t want brown or orangey-red tinted brows. It’s the most neutral and natural looking brow pencil I’ve ever used. It’s such an essential that I like to have 4-5 backups on hand.
Glow Recipe Blueberry Cleanser
If you’re in the market for a new cleanser, this one sounds pretty like a dreamy concoction of antioxidants, hyaluronic acid, and AHAs. I love that the ingredient list isn’t like a mile long, and based on reviews, the texture sounds promising. (Will report back).
Don’t forget to share your faves, so I can try them too 🙂 Ciao!
