4 Beauty

Beauty | Winter Skincare Face Routine

GiGi New York Case
Clinique City Block Purifying Charcoal Clay Mask
Philosophy Purity Made Simple Mask
La Mer Soft Cream
La Mer Facial Cleansing Foam
it Cosmetics Bye Bye Undereye Cream
Trish McEvoy Advanced Repair Eye Duo
it Cosmetics Bye Bye Makeup Melt
StriVectin Tightening Neck Cream
Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Serum
it Cosmetics Bye Bye Lines Serum

We’re in the midst of a brutal cold winter and my skin is something that always takes a beating! I wanted to share my current skincare routine this time of year and some of my favorite products that have been tried and tested! I’ve used all of these products for at least six months or more — I’m notorious for giving something a try and moving on if I don’t see immediate results, so you can be assured this is the good stuff.

FACE MOISTURIZER & CLEANSER

My love for La Mer products has only grown with each one I try! I swear, this line is a celebrity favorite for a reason.

I started using the La Mer Soft Cream back in the spring of last year and have noticed a significant difference in not only the way my skin looks, but the way it feels. The Soft Cream is the sister to La Mer’s famous cream (and significantly lighter) — and a little bit goes a long way. I’m actually still on my first container — it’s supposed to last about 8 months, but I’ve definitely been able to stretch it longer. I was actually given a sample of the La Mer Foaming Cleanser with my purchase of the cream and tried to hold out as long as possible before making another expensive purchase, but I ended up falling down the rabbit hole. The cleanser cleans away every bit of makeup and makes my skin feel so clean, but without any drying.

Using them both together over the last few months has been a game changer, especially this time of year — my skin barely notices the brutal cold temperatures (usually my face feels so dry and tight this time of year), and has overall looked so much more hydrated and youthful. I’m prone to dry skin and was starting to notice every fine line on my face until I started using La Mer. If you’re skin is on the oily side, I’m not going to lie — these products may be a bit too heavy for you. But, if you have dry skin like me — I seriously cannot recommend them enough.

While I hate recommending products that break the bank, I’ve been a little less hard on myself for spending money on my skin. And since you really don’t need a ton of each product per use, it’s actually not as bad of an investment since it lasts! I like to try to think of it price per use and it’s a little easier to swallow!

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EYE CREAMS

I’ve been using eye creams since my mid-twenties but never seemed to be able to make it habit enough that it could be considered a routine. Since entering my thirties in 2016 (ahhhh), I’ve made sure to think of it as a priority and I use them twice a day.

I actually purchased the Trish McEvoy Beauty Booster Advanced Repair Eye Duo when I went to get my makeup done at Blue Mercury for a wedding (just a little tip there if you’re having a hard time justifying a purchase). If you purchase them separately, they can run around $225 for both, so it definitely makes sense to purchase the duo set together to get a savings of around $60! I try to use this set every night after applying the La Mer Soft Cream to the rest of my face. I start by applying a few drops of the serum on to my ring fingers and patting it around my entire eye (including the lid). After it dries for a few seconds, I use the retinol eye cream and repeat the same motions. I’ve been using the duo for about a year and have definitely noticed a difference in fine lines (damn you crows feet), puffiness, and undereye circles.

I was just using the duo until I received a tip during September Fashion Week in NYC. One of the best parts of my job is the access to events and I’ve been lucky enough to meet some of the most amazing makeup artists and skin professionals in the world. When attending the launch of It Cosmetics at Sephora, I had a long conversation with one of their specialists who recommended using a lighter eye cream during the day under makeup — to not only ensure you have something working for you during the day, but to also keep any undereye makeup from creasing. I’ve been using this It Cosmetics Bye Bye Undereye cream under my eyes either as soon as I wake up (if I’m going makeup free for the day) or right before I apply makeup.

And like I mentioned above, it’s important to always apply anything on or around your eyes with your ring finger — apparently, it’s the most gentle for the delicate skin around the eyes!

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SERUMS

At the same event I mentioned above, it was also suggested to make sure to apply a light serum to my face to help fill in any fine lines or wrinkles before applying foundation and any other face makeup. I was able to try the It Cosmetics Bye Bye Lines serum, which I apply with this face brush to a clean face before moisturizer. I love that this product makes me feel like I’m starting on a blank canvas — it really fills in any imperfections and makes my foundation (or whatever face makeup I’m wearing) go on smooth and even. It also doesn’t hurt that it smells amazing!

At night, I try to use Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery a few times a week — either in place of moisturizer or underneath it, depending on how hydrated my skin feels at the time. It’s hard for me to believe that there was a time in my life where I was afraid of putting oil on my face. I used to think that any additional oil would immediately result in breakouts, so I stayed as far away from anything with oil as I could — and my face was always dry and prone to breakouts. Shoving that old wives’ tale aside and learning that properly hyrdated skin would actually HELP eliminate any breakouts has been some of the best advice I could ever receive for my skin. Midnight Recovery is definitely a cult classic and it lives up to all the hype in my opinion. Here’s another product where a few drops is all that’s needed — I’m honestly just at the end of my first bottle and have been using it for a year and a half. I apply a few drops to my fingers and then press it into my skin — all around my face and under my chin. Another secret I learned? It works wonders for a sunburn. You can apply it directly to the sunburn if you missed a spot with sunblock (or got too much sun in one area), or mix it in with a thick body lotion to help reduce redness and tightness. It also doesn’t hurt that this serum smells like lavender and is the most relaxing and soothing smell for bedtime!

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MASKS

I’ve always been someone who loved putting a mask on my face — isn’t there just something so fancy and girlie about a mask and your wet hair up in a towel? No? Is that just me?! I’ve really made an effort to use them more frequently but also understand when my skin actually needs them (as opposed to over doing it). Since I’m not someone who wears foundation every single day, I really feel a buildup on my skin when I have to for a couple of days in a row. Holiday season had my skin begging for a deep clean — too much makeup, champagne and Christmas cookies really did a number on my skin.

This Clinique City Block Purifying Charcoal Clay Mask is a secret weapon of mine and I have turned so many friends on to it by giving them a little taste. After a few days of wearing foundation, after a day in polluted NYC, after a night of over indulging in too much food and wine (and not enough water), after a sweaty workout… this stuff works WONDERS. If you ever just feel like there’s a residue on your face you just can’t get rid of, apply a layer of this mask, and you will be amazed when you rinse it off. A few of my girlfriends used this after a girl’s night and couldn’t believe how fresh faced they looked in the morning — after a serious indulgent 24 hours of champagne (too many bottles), food (why did we need all those desserts?!), caffeine (we had to keep going somehow), and not enough sleep (5 girls in a suite equals late night laughing sessions). I made sure to give everyone a little squeeze of this magic potion before bed, and we all woke up fresh-faced (and without that boozy afterglow).

Another favorite of mine is the Philosophy Purity Made Simple Mask — I’ll actually be doing a full review on this product later this month! What I love about this product is how quick it is to use — you only leave it on for a minute or under (as opposed to other masks that sometimes can be up to 10 minutes).

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MAKEUP REMOVER

I was a Neutrogena Makeup Remover Towelette girl until my dying day until trying this product. If you haven’t yet jumped on the Makeup Melt bandwagon, you may want to give it a try. This It Cosmetics Bye Bye Makeup is basically a serum concentrate, and it removes makeup without removing any hydration from your face. I take a generous amount and apply it on my dry skin and then remove it using a damp hot face towel — it removes every ounce of makeup on your face (including water proof eyeliner and mascara). I made the mistake of forgetting to use this first one time and instead used this AFTER I washed my face and wiped off a face full of makeup that I would have probably gone to bed with. Do that a couple of days in a row and your skin will be begging for a deep clean. Depending on how dry my skin feels, I will either use this product and then just rinse off with lukewarm water or a tiny bit of La Mer Foaming Cleanser before bed.

Although I will admit I have yet to try, you can also use this product as an intense mask by leaving it on for a minute or two before washing off. You can also just remove it with a damp towel and then rub the remaining serum into your face in place of any cream! It’s a balmy texture, but not at all greasy!

Makeup Melts are definitely a trend in the beauty world right now and like with all trends, sometimes it’s better to try it out first without the risk. There’s nothing worse than buying an expensive product only to find out it’s not for you — everyone skin needs are different and everyone can react to products differently. If you’re looking for something a more wallet-friendly, I would recommend trying this Pixi cleanser you can pick up at Target!

A little GLAM insider scoop: Pixi is a go-to brand of mine for affordable skin and makeup products that don’t break the bank! Definitely check out the line if you ever want to try a makeup or skincare trend without the designer pricetag — plus, it’s another reason to stop into Target! 😉

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NECK CREAM

I will admit to you right now that my neck has always been a problem area for me and an area I am super sensitive and self-conscious about. Deep neck lines are hereditary and extremely hard to treat with products, so I was a bit skeptical when trying this StriVectin Tightening Neck Cream for the first time — it came highly recommended to me from a friend who works in beauty PR.

I’ve been using this product since the summer on both my neck and my upper chest and have seen a tightening effect on the two deep lines I struggle with. Is it enough to be noticeable to a complete stranger? Probably not. But since it’s a problem area for me, I can notice it. I don’t have issues with sagging skin around my neck and check (yet), so I’m unable to report back on how exactly that part of the product works, but I can feel instantly that it tightens and smooths the skin.

If you guys have any recommendations on this area for me, I am open to suggestions. I can’t be the only one who struggles with this and would love to hear if another product (or treatment) has worked!

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I’m sure that was all a lot of information and products to take in. Like I mentioned, even though I consider it a routine, I do swap a few of these products depending on how my skin is feeling that particular day. While I find it helpful to follow a routine as much as possible, I also have found it even more helpful to actually listen to what my skin and body is asking for. Drinking a ton of water, eliminating alcohol as much as possible, and getting sleep are also a few of my must-dos in order to keep my skin looking as good as possible. If you have any questions on my skincare routine this winter, let me know! I’ve been getting a ton of questions that are sometimes just easier to talk through, so I might be doing an Instagram LIVE either today or tomorrow to talk through some of your questions… make sure to leave them below if you want anything answered!

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January 12, 2017