Tag: Skincare Products

Gua Sha Skincare: The Ultimate Guide to Choosing the Right Products for Your Skin Type

Published on by LeeLeave a comment

If gua sha has ever left your skin irritated, congested, or just plain frustrated, you’re not alone. Not every product works for every skin type, and the wrong choice can turn a relaxing ritual into a breakout nightmare.

We spoke with board-certified dermatologist Dr. Ava Shamban to find out which products make gua sha a glow-boosting, stress-melting habit—no matter your skin type.

“Every skin type needs a proper ‘conductor’ to let the tool glide effortlessly,” Dr. Ava explains. “This prevents tugging, friction, and irritation, while helping your products penetrate the skin’s protective barrier.”

She adds that the right formula should stick around long enough to support your full session. A microbiome-friendly mist or serum with gentle actives, like hypochlorous acid, is perfect for prepping the skin before applying water- or oil-based serums for gua sha.

Oily & Acne-Prone Skin

For oily or acne-prone skin, gua sha works best with a lightweight, noncomedogenic oil or water-based serum that helps balance sebum and prevent clogged pores. Dr. Ava recommends ingredients like grapeseed, rosehip, jojoba, safflower, argan, or squalane oils, along with hyaluronic acid and salicylic acid for hydration and pore refinement. Niacinamide is another win—it supports the skin barrier, calms redness, and helps regulate oil production.

Dry Skin

For dry skin, gua sha is all about rich hydration and slip. Dr. Ava recommends using a nourishing oil serum like Surya Balancing Face Oil, packed with essential fatty acids and omegas to deeply moisturize and support the skin’s natural barrier. This kind of product keeps the tool gliding smoothly while giving dry skin the boost it needs.

Dehydrated Skin

Dehydrated skin isn’t the same as dry skin—while dry skin lacks oil, dehydrated skin is a temporary lack of water. For this, gua sha works well with either a water-based or oil-based product. Dr. Ava suggests a potent hydrator featuring multi-weight hyaluronic acid to deeply replenish moisture and keep the tool gliding smoothly.

Mature Skin

Mature skin often needs both hydration and gentle exfoliation. For gua sha, start with a serum that offers slip and skin-renewing benefits—like Mirabella All-in-One Clarifying Serum, packed with exfoliating acids that won’t over-dry. Hyaluronic acid is a must, and Dr. Nigma’s Serum No. 1 provides perfect glide while deeply moisturizing.

For an extra nourishing boost, try a multi-tasking oil like Living Libations Best Skin Ever Sea Buckthorn Oil. It doubles as an oil cleanser and keeps gua sha effortless while supporting mature skin’s needs.

Sensitive/Reactive Skin

For sensitive or reactive skin, keeping things simple is key. Dr. Ava recommends sticking to single-ingredient oils like jojoba or argan—they’re gentle, hydrating, and far less likely to cause irritation. Argan oil, in particular, is rich in fatty acids and has natural anti-inflammatory benefits that help calm redness and support the skin barrier.

When it comes to gua sha, slip is everything. Choose a product that lets the tool glide without friction and skip the trending formulas that don’t actually serve your skin. Take your time, treat it like a ritual, and let consistency be your sculpting secret. Your skin will thank you.

The information in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and isn’t a substitute for professional or medical advice. The views expressed are those of the author and experts included, and do not reflect an official endorsement of any product or service. Always consult with a licensed professional regarding any skincare concerns or treatments. BeautyLeeBar is not responsible for any outcomes, decisions, or actions taken based on the content provided.

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

Published on by LeeLeave a comment

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

Published on by LeeLeave a comment

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!

These 5 Affordable Korean Skincare Products Completely Transformed My Skin

Published on by LeeLeave a comment

Over the last five years, we’ve watched skincare trends go from overly complicated to extremely simple. Gone are the days of slathering on an excess of active products every morning and night; now, we’ve seen the pendulum swing the other way, with a focus on a more curated skincare routine with products that work. For that reason, it makes sense that we’ve seen a rise in the popularity of Korean skincare (or K-Beauty, as it’s affectionately known) in the U.S.

Advertisements

I first became familiar with Korean skincare because of TikTok. Everyone was obsessed with sheet masks, and from there, my curiosity grew. I explored the Korean Skincare aisle of Ulta on the regular, and the variety of products (and their affordable price point) continued to impress me. Now, they’re a staple in my daily routine—and should be in yours, too.

What Is Korean Skincare?

Korean skincare has been up and coming for years, as Charlotte Cho, the founder of Soko Glam. She explained that Korean skincare focuses less on covering up issues, and more on addressing them at the root of the cause. “Korean skincare products are incredibly innovative, gentle, and effective,” Cho said. “There are entirely new categories, consistencies, formats, and ingredients that were created in Korea.”

Korean skincare’s ingredients are much gentler than ones found in the U.S., with less of a focus on acids and scrubs than we often see on the shelves of Sephora. From snail mucin to fermented rice water to bee pollen, Korean skincare embraces simple-yet-effective ingredients that still deliver visible results.

“When you’re educated about skincare and you stay committed to a routine, you’ll see results,” Cho said. “Korean skincare is not about the number of products or steps you have, it’s about having the knowledge that will help you achieve only good (skin) days ahead.”

Advertisements

Korean Skincare Products I Love

After years of testing out Korean skincare products, these are the ones that have a permanent spot in my routine:

PEACH & LILY

Ginger Melt Oil Cleanser

Cho said that double-cleansing is her top skincare tip, and this oil cleanser is the perfect first cleanse in my routine. It dissolves makeup (including waterproof makeup), skincare, and dirt and oil while keeping my skin hydrated (and without leaving a residue). Its gentle, fragrance-free formula is suitable for all skin types—including sensitive skin.

Advertisements

PEACH SLICES

Snail Rescue Intensive Wash-Off Jelly Mask

With the help of 95% snail mucin, birch juice, and licorice, this mask targets darks spots, blemishes, dullness, and leaves my skin ultra-hydrated. Its jelly-like texture also gives a cooling effect, which is a welcome treat in the summer months.

COSRX

Snail Mucin Power Essence

This viral product was completely sold-out earlier this year, and the results it delivers make it easy to see why. This essence targets dryness and aging, and leaves you with nourished, plump, moisturized skin. It completely improved my texture and dark spots, and it’s become a must in my daily routine.

SKIN1004

Hyalu-CICA Water-fit Sun Serum

The name might be a mouthful, but this affordable sunscreen is the best I’ve tried in a very long time. It boasts UVA/UVB protection of SPF 50+, and blends in flawlessly to be worn alone or under makeup. If you’re in need of motivation to apply SPF every day, the gorgeous glow this sunscreen gives will provide it for you.

Advertisements

BELIF

The True Cream Aqua Bomb Hydrating Moisturizer

This lightweight moisturizer is my go-to in the summer months. Its fast-absorbing gel texture is ultra-hydrating for the skin, but soaks in quickly, which ensures you aren’t left feeling sticky after applying it. It’s a total game-changer for dull, dry skin.