Tag: skin-care

Golden Hour’s Over—Let’s Talk Skin Rehab

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Post-Sun Pampering, but Make It Luxe

We love a sun-drenched day—sandy toes, salty hair, and golden hour selfies? Say no more. But let’s not forget what all that UV love does to your skin. Sun, sweat, and SPF buildup can leave your complexion feeling more ‘ugh’ than ‘ahh.’ That’s why a post-beach skincare routine isn’t just self-care—it’s damage control, darling.

Before you slip into that silky robe and pour yourself something chilled, let’s talk recovery. Think of this as your skin’s after-party: a decadent lineup of deep cleansers, soothing masks, and glow-restoring treatments that bring the spa to your bathroom. Because your glow-up deserves the VIP treatment—no sand, no stress, just skin that says “I vacation well.”

Step 1: Cleanse & Exfoliate

One of the first things you should do after an all-day beach bender is wash your face immediately. Lingering salt, sweat, and sand can irritate the skin and lead to inflammation if left unchecked. Rinse with cool water and follow with a gentle, foaming cleanser, such as the Inkey List Cream-to-Milk cleanser, to gently lift away residue without stripping your skin. Once clean, follow up with a mild exfoliator. We recommend the Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Pads, lactic acid-infused pads that help remove dead skin cells and boost cell turnover, leaving your complexion smoother and more even.

Step 2: Hydrate

Next, it’s time to restore hydration. Gently press a toner with ingredients like hyaluronic acid into your skin to replenish moisture levels. If you have the time and are in the mood to indulge, follow up with a cooling sheet mask to lock in the benefits. If you skip that step, go ahead and layer on a hydrating serum—such as the Superfood Skin Drip—to achieve a similar effect. Follow up by tapping in your favorite eye cream, then lock everything in with your go-to nourishing moisturizer. Then tap in your favorite eye cream and seal it all in with your nourishing moisturizer of choice.

Commit to this beauty reset, and tomorrow’s skin will look like it vacationed in Capri—even if you didn’t.

Beach Beauty Essentials You’ll Regret Not Packing

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Beach days feel different, and your beauty routine should reflect that. Long hours in the sun, salty air, and ocean dips require more than your everyday products. That’s why a beach-ready beauty bag is essential. From SPF that stands up to the sun to lip tints that won’t melt away, we’ve compiled a list of products that deliver maximum results with minimal effort. These glow-boosting, skin-saving essentials should always be within easy reach—nothing can ruin a beach day like a beauty mishap. Keep reading to pack smarter and look even better.

Refresh & Protect

Let’s start with the essentials! In addition to sunscreen, a tinted SPF is perfect for an evening out your complexion while keeping your skin protected from harsh UV rays. For easy, on-the-go reapplication, pack a sunscreen stick. It’s fuss-free – swipe and relax.

Don’t forget your lips! A lip balm with SPF is crucial for keeping your pout protected and hydrated. Another MVP product? A refreshing facial mist. Trust us, you will be reaching for it all day long. We love Masktini’s Woke Bae Whenever Moisture Spritz for its ultra-hydrating, cooling properties. It’s a total game-changer while you’re basking in the sun.

Touch Ups

Even beach days call for a few beauty touch-ups, especially if you’re snapping pics or heading straight to a post-sunset soirée. A cream blush is your secret weapon for enhancing your tan and delivering that effortless, sun-kissed flush. For your lips, go with a long-lasting stain as it stays put even after a dip in the ocean, and top with an SPF-infused gloss. And finally, don’t overlook your hair. A travel-size dry shampoo is a lifesaver for reviving your roots after a salty swim or a quick sweat sesh. 

So before your next trip, be sure to prep your beach beauty bag accordingly!

Say Goodbye to Blemishes With This Spring-to-Summer Routine

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As the seasons shift, so should your skincare routine. Heavy creams and thick occlusives? Not it. With warmer weather settling in, your skin needs lighter layers, targeted treatments, and ingredients that soothe, brighten, and balance—especially if you’re dealing with breakouts, dark spots, or sensitivity.

Whether navigating the tail end of spring or already feeling the summer heat, this routine is built to calm flare-ups, fade marks, and keep your skin hydrated without overwhelming it. These are the real ones I’ve been using—some old favorites, some new staples—and yes, those microdart patches actually helped stop pimples in their tracks.

AM Routine

Start with a gentle cleanse to refresh your skin and prep for the day ahead. A pH-balancing formula, such as the Calm + Restore Gentle Nourishing Oat Face Cleanser, is great for those with dry and sensitive skin. Formulated with colloidal oatmeal, it gently cleanses without stripping, soothes irritation, and supports the skin barrier—perfect for sensitive, dry skin. Oatmeal cleansing milk also helps clear away dead skin buildup that blocks pores while leaving the skin with a natural radiance. Then use Bright & Balanced Aloe Vera Leaf Face Wash, which calms inflammation, hydrates with aloe vera, and helps keep blemishes in check without over-drying your skin. While the skin is still damp, apply either the Snail Rescue Blemish Busting Toner or Bolden Skin Brightening Toner.

Let the skin air dry, then layer on a serum. For daytime use, you can’t go wrong with the Physicians Formula Skin Booster Vitamin Shot Hydrating Hydratant and Physicians Formula Skin Booster Vitamin Shot Brightening Éclaircissant—or try pairing the Hydrating Hydratant with the Vitamins and Sea Beauty Dead Sea Minerals & Vitamin C Complex Toning Skin Serum. These serums help even skin tone, reduce hyperpigmentation, boost hydration, minimize dark spots, and protect against signs of aging—leaving your skin visibly brighter, more radiant, and giving it that Hollywood-meets-K-beauty luxury glow. Best of all, they don’t feel sticky, oily, or greasy, and they won’t clog pores or cause breakouts.

Once the serum has been absorbed, lock in hydration with a gel or water-based moisturizer like the Snail Rescue All-in-One Oil-Free Moisturizer. If you want your blemish scars to fade faster, follow with the Bright & Balanced Aloe Vera Spot Cream. Don’t let the name fool you—it’s not a heavy cream. The texture is gel-like, absorbs easily, and even if you apply too much, it won’t leave your skin feeling sticky or greasy. It settles beautifully into the skin.

Finish with a non-greasy, non-comedogenic sunscreen like the Suntouchable Invisi-Stick—preferably SPF 50 or higher—to protect your skin. And last but definitely not least, spot-treat active breakouts and blemishes (old and new) with the Mario Badescu Drying Lotion Blemish Spot Treatment.

PM Routine

When wearing makeup and SPF, it’s essential to start your nighttime routine with the Erase It All Makeup Cleansing Balm with Vitamin C to fully break down dirt, oil, and buildup. Always apply it to dry skin and massage for two minutes before rinsing with warm water. Follow up with a second cleanser—this can be the same one from your AM routine, or you can switch to the Snail Rescue Purifying Cleanser for a deeper clean.

Once your skin is clean and dry, pat in an exfoliating toner to help remove dead skin cells and boost luminosity. Use this step 2–3 times per week to avoid over-exfoliation. Next, apply a hydrating serum to help maintain skin elasticity, followed by a gentle retinol to support collagen production. If you’re new to retinol, start with a small amount and use it every other night to build tolerance.

REN’s Overnight Glow Dark Spot Sleeping Cream is another excellent product to incorporate into your PM routine—it works overnight to help fade dark spots and even out skin tone. Finally, finish with an eye cream and a nourishing night cream to lock everything in.

If you like a touch of color even at night, swipe on a lightweight water lip stain for a soft, just-bitten look—no stickiness, no transfer.

The Bottom Line

Healthy, radiant skin comes down to smart ingredients, steady habits, and a routine that works for you. This season, skip the overwhelm and stick with what your skin actually needs.

Prep Your Skin For Spring With This Hydrating Routine

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As the seasons shift, so should your skincare routine. Cold-weather creams and ultra-rich formulas? It’s time to swap them out. With rising temperatures and extra humidity, your skin craves lightweight hydration, antioxidant protection, and gentle exfoliation to keep it fresh and balanced. If you’re looking to reset your routine for spring, here’s the hydrating routine that your skin needs—morning and night.

AM Routine

Begin with a gentle cleanser to remove natural oils and refresh your skin after a long slumber. A pH-balancing formula, such as the Anokha oatmeal cleansing milk, is great for those with Dry and Sensitive skin. Also, oatmeal cleansing milk clears the dead skin buildup that blocks pores while leaving the skin with a natural radiance. Let the skin air dry and layer on an antioxidant serum next. For daytime use, you cannot go wrong with Youth To The People 15% Vitamin C + Caffeine Energy Brightening Serum for Uneven Tone, which will help even skin tone, reduce hyperpigmentation, protect against signs of aging, and brighten your skin throughout the spring season. Once the serum has been absorbed, lock in hydration with a gel or water-based moisturizer like the Caudalie VinoHydra Gel Moisturizer with Hyaluronic Acid & Aloe Vera. Finally, a non-greasy, non-comedogenic sunscreen, preferably 50 SPF or higher, is to protect your skin.

PM Routine

When wearing makeup and SPF, the best thing is to add an oil cleanser into the mix to ensure you remove all that unnecessary grit and dirt. Always apply this dry and massage for 1 minute before emulsifying. Then, follow up with a second cleanser (this can be the same one from your AM routine). Once your skin is dry, pat in an exfoliating toner to help remove dead skin and boost luminosity. Be sure to implement this 2-3x per week. Next, with a hydrating serum to help maintain skin elasticity, follow up with a gentle retinol for collagen production. If you normally don’t use retinol, start with a small amount and use it every other day. Finally, top off your PM skincare routine with an eye cream, and night cream. 

This hydrating routine emphasizes light hydration, antioxidant protection, and gentle exfoliation to keep your skin radiant as the weather warms up!