What’s in my medicine cabinet?
Like every girl in the 2010s, I was a devoted reader of Into The Gloss. Specifically their “Top Shelf” series. I was never cool or accomplished enough to get my own feature so I figured for this week’s Substack I’d write my own “Top Shelf”.
MORNING
I don’t wash my face in the mornings; a beauty tip I learned from my dad. I don’t like to strip away my natural oils but I will sometimes quickly swipe my eyes with some Bioderma Micellar Water. I also use the Bioderma to remove makeup at night and cleanse my face; it’s the most effective micellar water and worth the price tag IMO. Next, I’ll ice roll with the Skinny Confidential ice roller — thought this was a scam but it does work way better than the amazon ones— which I keep in the freezer. I’ve been liking my Kosas DreamBeam sunscreen and since it is a mineral sunscreen it doesn’t break me out! I am not loyal to one moisturizer because I love a few different ones. My best friend got me into using whipped beef tallow. I buy the unscented Lipos brand off of Etsy. I mainly use it on my lips; because it is made with animal fat it works with your skin to produce its own natural oils and helps to cure dry skin instead of just momentarily treating it. Like any French skincare lover, I also have a tube of Embryolisse Lait-Creme Concentre. The moisturizer I have been reaching for the most lately is Weleda Skin Food — I just love the glow it gives under my makeup. If it’s a special occasion, I’ll apply some Amniotique VG all over my face. I finish off with some drops of Lumify — I also keep a seperate bottle of this in my purse because I truly cannot live without them. Then, I’ll spritz my face with either Kosas Plump+Juicy Spray On Collagen — this really does give your face a little plump! — or my trusted Beauty Elixr.
NIGHT
After years of adult acne, I’ve learned simple is best. Most nights, after my Bioderma, I use my Lotion P50 1970 on a Cliganic Organic Cotton Round. I follow that up with a thicker moisturizer, usually my whipped beef tallow or my Biafine. Biafine is a French after burn treatment that happens to work really well as a heavy moisturizer. On the nights I don’t don’t use P50, I’ll use my A313. When I use A313, my face has to be completely dry and I can’t use any moisturizer that night or else I will itch. A313 is the reason why French women look so good even though they smoke cigs all day. Tretinoin is too harsh for my skin and I prefer A313 because it’s easier to stop and start use without a purge phase. I forgo my A313 completely in the summer because I like to tan my face and as we all know retinol and sun don’t mix.
WEEKLY/SPECIAL OCCASION
My mom gave me her jar of Zo Skin Health Exfoliating Polish. Usually, I consider the skincare they sell at med spas a total rip off BUT the exfoliating polish is the real deal. My skin glows like crazy after using the scrub. It is pretty harsh though, so I save it for a special occasion and my makeup goes on like a dream. Like every other bitch, I love the Masque Vivant. It really is worth the hype. I’ll mix the Vivant with VIP02 in the winter. The night before a big event, I will use the SkinBetter Alpha Ret peel pads — the glow is crazy the next morning. My favorite skincare indulgence is the Sisley Black Rose Cream Mask. Your skin plumps up almost immediately and the fragrance is amazing. I like doing this mask after a long flight.
BODY
For that squeaky clean and fresh feeling, I am a lifelong Dr. Bronners Peppermint devotee. I use these Korean exfoliating towels, they come in a multipack for $6. Really good for scrubbing off a spray tan as well. I love this spray on body oil; the fragrance is amazing and it absorbs into your skin nicely. Before a night out I use my Nuxe Shimmering Dry Oil.
BLEMISHES
Literally the only, and I mean the only, thing that works is Crest toothpaste overnight. And it has to be the Original Crest none of the whitening toothpastes.
As always thank you for reading!
Which night time cleanser do you like?