During quarantine, one way to cope with a reality that was turned upside down was a beauty routine that keeps skin in perfect condition. I’m a proponent of all that the cosmetic industry entails, especially the feel-good part. There are successful and unsuccessful products around, but through my editorial experience and constant searches, I have developed the ability to read between the lines when it comes to online descriptions. I buy most cosmetics online, so I maintain an updated list of favorites in every spectrum of beauty, from skincare to makeup. Using some carefully selected anti-aging products from a young age is a proactive habit. For those not so much into invasive methods — plastic surgery and even fillers or Botox — great anti-aging products are often lovely substitutes. Great skin depends a lot on the genes and a healthy lifestyle, with self-care mattering most on various levels. Taking some time daily to apply your favorite products properly is game-changing. You deserve to look & feel your best! The pandemic has taught us a lot, especially appreciating life and all the perks that come with it. Unapologetically, let’s delve into gorgeously rejuvenating textures, miraculous ingredients, the biotechnological patents, and innovations that can offer us a brand new face without having to visit any clinic or spa. My list includes must-haves and tips on the perfect makeover, the recipe to a fabulous post-pandemic self!
Tips & Tricks
- You don’t need to have them all at once; make sure you’ve got the essential steps of a beauty routine, not multiple products of the same type.
- If budget is an issue, spend less on clothes and more on beauty. Beautiful skin doesn’t need to be covered. Dressed effortlessly, a woman who loves herself can be the most glamorous creature on earth!
- Be consistent. Stick to a daily routine that works, and slightly alternate products when you feel your skin needs something new. A morning and evening regimen are both essential every single day.
- Excess product on your skin is never a good thing. Apply it in moderation, let it stay for a few minutes, and if it cannot be absorbed completely, remove the rest softly with a damp cotton pad.
- If not in a rush, let your sheet mask stay a little longer than the prescribed time. It might allow all these beneficial ingredients to penetrate your skin layers while you are resting.
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Summer means maximal hydration required. Which La Mer moisturizer is your sunny season favorite?
The Skincare Products
Moisturizer. At any age, the skin needs to get moisturized daily. LA MER has 5 different moisturizers applying to different skin types — 3 creams (the Crème de la Mer for extra dry skin, the Cool Gel Cream with a calming effect, and the Soft Cream for sensitive skin) and 2 lotions (the quick-absorbing Soft Lotion and the Matt Lotion that diminishes pores). To top it off, once a week, I use the exceptional SARAH CHAPMAN 3D Moisture Infusion Mask, a bio-cellulose sheet mask that equals the results of a spa experience. It instantly hydrates, plumps, and soothes redness, thanks to hyaluronic acid and the technology that facilitates the absorption of strong hydrating elements. It’s the best out there!
Eye cream, serum, or pads. The area around the eyes is quite sensitive, so you really need to tap the product lightly with one finger. My favorites for the eyes include, in order of preference, the NATURA BISSÉ Diamond Life Infusion Retinol Eye Serum (radically reduces signs of aging, including wrinkles, crow’s feet, puffiness, and dark circles) and the DR SEBAGH Supreme Eye Serum (its roll-on applicator gently glides over the skin making it smoother, younger, and firmer-looking). I also love the 111SKIN Celestial Black Diamond Eye Mask (with AMF Factor to improve skin’s moisture absorption, Niacinamide to target discoloration, and peptide-rich Argireline to diminish the appearance of fine lines). Once a week, it spectacularly corrects imperfections! Finally, let’s embrace technology right off the light therapy room, the DR. DENNIS GROSS SKINCARE DRx SpectraLite EyeCare Pro that penetrates deep within the dermis of your skin, stimulating collagen production to improve skin density and smooth fine lines and wrinkles. You only need 3 minutes of use every day, and you’ll see amazing results in 2 weeks!
Primers, concealers, powders, & foundations. The next step to a fully moisturized skin might be one or more products that turn it into the perfect canvas for makeup. I strongly believe that heavy foundations make people look older, so I’m leaning more towards lighter yet efficient products. My favorite primer is the NARS Smooth and Protect SPF 50, creating a silky sun-proof base to be followed with the NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer for a natural, radiant finish. Another luxurious lightweight product recommended is the TOM FORD BEAUTY Traceless Soft Matte Foundation (long-lasting and infused with hyaluronic acid for a hydrating effect), which can be preceded by the TOM FORD BEAUTY Illuminating Primer that visibly brightens the skin. I also like the product that does it all, the KEVYN AUCOIN Sensual Skin Enhancer, a waterproof, long-lasting formula that acts as a concealer, highlighter, and foundation with buildable coverage. To discreetly set the result, I use the LA MER Translucent Powder after eye-makeup, blush, and lip color has been first applied, and to set after all reapplications, I use the CHARLOTTE TILBURY Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray (every color on your face stays in place for 16 hours) or the HOURGLASS Veil Soft Focus Setting Spray (lasts 24 hours).
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Anti-aging heavyweights. If anti-aging is your priority, you need to invest a little extra. Additionally to a moisturizer, get the products that revolutionize skincare. The NATURA BISSÉ Diamond Life Infusion is a formula that actively reconstructs the skin’s infrastructure, increasing collagen and hyaluronic acid. It’s called “a facelift in a bottle.” Equally powerful is the NATURA BISSÉ Inhibit High Definition Serum, the closest to Botox results. If money is not an issue, try the 111SKIN Celestial Black Diamond Cream, which provides the optimum environment for collagen and hyaluronic acid production, improving elasticity, plumpness, hydration, texture, and tone. For a holistic sheet mask experience, I would recommend the 111SKIN Celestial Black Diamond Lifting and Firming Mask consisting of three pieces – an Upper Face Mask formulated with glycopeptides to reduce the appearance of frown lines, a Lower Face Mask enhanced with collagen-stimulating properties that improve volume and plumpness, and a neck and décolletage segment that utilizes a biomimetic peptide to firm and sculpt the area.
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Makeup Essentials
For extra-long and rich lashes, I use the one-and-only NARS Climax Mascara with a fake-lash effect, and to maintain them healthy, I remove it before I sleep with the SARAH CHAPMAN Skinesis Lash Boosting Eye Cleanse. For its precision and ultra-black color, I love the TOM FORD BEAUTY Eye Defining Pen, the best eyeliner ever! Neutral lips are cool every hour of the day, and the HOURGLASS Femme Nude Lip Stylo in 6 shades is totally seductive. I define my eyebrows with the BBB LONDON Ultimate Arch Definer. Any makeup mistakes can be easily erased with the LASHFOOD Chamomile Makeup Eraser Pen, so be confident about it!
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Other Beauty Star Products
Cosmetics should be used in a targeted way. With each product, we tackle an issue or more, correct something that feels annoying to us. Balanced self-perception is everything. Don’t imitate or do things for other people. I’m happy that there are products in the market that discreetly improve your looks. You can maintain, for example, a healthy sun-kissed complexion with TAN-LUXE The Water Hydrating Self-Tan Water, an ultra-fine mist infused with vitamins, the alternative to messy self-tanning methods. Make your lips look fuller and suppler with the NATURA BISSÉ Diamond Lip Booster with a plumping, anti-aging effect. For a blemish-free face, I strategically apply the DR SEBAGH Breakout Spot-On, an instant, on-the-go solution. To counter-balance the effects of environmental pollution, I trust the BY TERRY Detoxilyn City Mask that infuses skin with oxygen. Before I fall asleep, I apply the multi-awarded SARAH CHAPMAN Skinesis Overnight Facial. Invest in the SLIP Embroidered silk pillowcase that absorbs significantly less of the product you applied on your face and keeps you wrinkle-free!
