This is the deal: Yesterday does so many things right, they can afford to be super generous with praising other companies that make great stuff. That’s why they’re letting me, a total skincare nerd, just tell you about products I genuinely love and use all the time (which, tbh, does include the Yesterday Balm—especially since I’ve been washing my hands so much lately, this soothing, hydrating CBD balm is basically a godsend). But enough about Yesterday! This is a roundup of everything else that’s been rattling around in my bathroom cabinet right now—these are the scuffed-up bottles that I always seem to go through faster than the others.
Dermalogica Ultracalming Cleanser
This cleanser costs a pretty penny, but it’s incredibly nice on skin—especially if, like me, you have sensitive skin that can get inflamed pretty easily. I use this cleanser with my Foreo Luna, and goodness, yes, it is soothing, and does a good job taking basic makeup off, too. A cheaper version that’s still extremely solid (and dermatologist-approved): Cetaphil. Yep, you can get it at the pharmacy, but that doesn’t mean it’s not good stuff—every single derm I’ve ever interviewed swears by it.
Mad Hippie Vitamin C Serum
I’ve tried over 40 different Vitamin C serums, ranging from the $5 kind to those $250 bottles you see on the shelf at Sephora and wonder—is it worth spending that kind of money on a serum? The answer: Most assuredly no, it is not. Not at all. Do not spend that cash. It’s not even that there’s a point of diminishing returns, it’s that the Mad Hippie serum is by far and away the best vitamin C serum I’ve ever put on my skin. It’s legitimately glow-inducing, it evens tone, and can help fade acne scars and sun damage. Yup, really.
Eminence Organics Facial Recovery Oil
In the winter when skin gets beaten up with forced-air heating, dry air, and extreme temperature changes, you need a source of intense hydration—and I think this facial oil is an absolute game-changer. Remember how we were told to go completely oil-free products growing up? Well, it turns out that mom was wrong, and oil can be great for your skin. Spread two drops out over your face—after cleansing and serums, before your SPF—It’ll absorb quickly, make your skin feel incredibly soft, and stave off that cracked, tight wintertime feel.
CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion with Sunscreen
You know you’re supposed to wear sunscreen every day. Along with “don’t smoke,” “wash your face,” and “drink plenty of water,” it’s one of the core tenets of basic skincare—UV rays do serious damage to the fragile, thin skin on your face, after all, causing discoloration and fine lines. But the problem is that sunscreen doesn’t always feel great, and can cause breakouts, and I know a lot of smart people who tend to skip this super-important step. Enter CeraVe: it’s inexpensive, it’s high-quality, dermatologists love it, and it’s got SPF 30. It’s also never made me break out, not once.
The Ordinary AHA + BHA Peeling Solution
This solution is a 10-minute exfoliating facial that makes you look like a terrifying vampire while you’re doing it, and then you get to look and feel incredibly smooth and soft afterwards, so… win/win? A combination of AHA and BHA, two powerhouse chemical exfoliators, basically sloughs off all the dead skin on your face, leaving you with incredibly even tone and texture. It’s so good for anyone who suffers from acne, too. Don’t leave it on for the whole ten minutes the first time you use it, though—it’s pretty intense, so give yourself a 3-5 minute start, see how your skin does, and then work your way up.
