skincare we love for 2024
We sampled, splurged, and tossed (recycled, ofc) tons of skincare products from 2019. Here’s a list of our favorites that we’re keeping in our 2024 beauty routine:
cleansers
La Roche-Posay Foaming Cleanser (A-)
Calling all oily and combo skin girlies. We love the double repair moisturizer and thermal spring water face mist from this French skincare brand, so trying their cleanser felt like a need more than a want. With ingredients like the ultra hydrating glycerin and hyperpigmentation ally niacinamide, it’s a solid cleanser for morning and night routines. Easily removes makeup. No strong fragrance. Lasts long — we’re on month four and still have product left. But can we recycle the packaging? Yes.
Image Skincare Vital C Hydrating Cleanser (B+)
Our medspa gives us discounts on medical grade skincare products and we couldn’t pass up the opportunity to try this cleanser. Mainly because it’s infused with all the glowy ingredients like vitamin c, vitamin a, and vitamin e. If you’re focusing on attaining a more even skin tone, then you want to try this cleanser with a boost of antioxidants and essential vitamins. Kudos for the fresh, citrus scent. Boos for not lathering. Most likely because it’s not loaded with additives like sulfates, parabens, and phthalates. If you like the latter (no pun intended), opt this for a gentle cleanse in the morning and your foaming cleanser in the evening. Remember to always follow with sunscreen when using products with vitamin c. Wondering if we can recycle the packaging? Short answer— yes.
toners
The Ordinary Glycolic Acid Exfoliating Toner (A)
Okay, we are big fans of The Ordinary skincare products over here. Not only are they a wallet-friendly beauty brand, but they’re vegan and cruelty-free. Which we LOVE. It’s like hitting the lotto in the clean beauty metaverse. This toner stays in our rotation. And we use it all over our body. If you have any concerns with even skin tone or texture, start with this after using your cleanser and before your moisturizer, cream, and oils. Be careful not to overuse or mix with other products with actives that can cause irritation. Other than that, you can also add it to your hair routine as a scalp cleanse. Dual identity girlies just like us. And yes, the packaging is recyclable.
exfoliate
The Ordinary 10-Minute Exfoliating Facial (B)
Read above for our spiel on why we love this vegan and cruelty free beauty brand. However… with this particular product, proceed with caution. If you ever received a a chemical peel, you know two things are for certain: (1) it needs to be administered by a certified professional and (2) it’s VERY spicy. This AHA/BHA peeling solution is a milder, at-home skin treatment that provides a deep exfoliation with acids. After the first use, you can experience a more visibly radiant complexion, but it’s only with consistent use that you notice an improved skin texture, reduced pores, and even pigmentation. Few pro-tips: (1) DO NOT leave on for longer than instructed, (2) patch test before applying to face or sensitive areas, (3) one to two times a week is the sweet spot. You should be good and you’ll save $$$ in between your esthetician visits. Plus, these glass bottles are not only recyclable, but reusable for whatever DIY tinctures, oils, or potions you create at home.
serums
Mad Hippie Vitamin C Serum (B)
If you take nothing else from this list, please listen when we say you should most definitely have vitamin C on tap at all times. Do your own research, but if you’re not already taking a vitamin C supplement orally, you should at least have a vitamin C serum in your skincare routine. We’ve tried a handful from high-end to budget friendly serums, but fell in love with the Mad Hippie brand for their cruelty free, clean ingredients. And, yes. You can recycle the packaging.
SkinMedica Even & Correct Brightening Treatment Serum (B-)
This is another gem we found at our medspa. An investment piece, if you will. You can’t go wrong with medical grade skincare, but the product doesn’t last long enough to see any immediate improvements. The instructions suggest using twice daily, so you can imagine how quickly the product goes. However, like any good thing, it does take time. So expect to repurchase a few times. It does feel luxurious on the skin with a team of lotus sprout extract, tranexamic acid, and niacinamide working together to deliver you brighter skin. Without hydroquinone and bleaching. And with a quick search online, we don’t have any information about recycling their products, even though we discarded ours in our recycling bin. However, the SkinMedica FAQs page does make a note that they’re cruelty-free.
Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate (B+)
Here’s another investment piece for your beauty shelf, but one that won’t break the bank too much. Grabbing this TSA-approved beauty essential will revitalize your skin after a long flight or all-nighter. What’s special about the Kiehl’s best-seller is the way it’s actually a face oil that doubles as a serum, delivering our skin a royal “elixir” for noticeably restored skin…overnight. While we may be skeptical about Kiehl’s promise to “visibly correct 30 days of poor sleep, for youthful & refreshed looking skin by morning”, we can’t deny the botanical ingredients that make us feel like a princess while applying— lavender oil, evening primrose oil, sunflower seed oil, coriander seed oil, turmeric root extract, and cucumber fruit extract to name a few. It just gives a certain je ne sais quoi. Right? Smells delicious too. From the creamy avocado eye treatment to the creme de corps body lotion at our Equinox, the 165+ year old, apothecary-rooted Kiehl’s always feels like home —and insanely yummy on our skin. Return your empty bottles to a Kiehl’s retail store and get rewarded or simply rinse and recycle in your bins.
creams
Tretinoin Retinol Cream (A++)
The cherry on top of your skincare routine? Retinol. Last year, all we wanted was glass skin. After a year of consistent use, Tretinoin is the hero product of the year. And stronger than over the counter Retinol. The prescription-strength cream worked overtime to deliver our skin goals. Once you get past the “tret scaries”, a period of time where the skin purges and might break out, this holy grail doesn’t disappoint. Do a quick research on TikTok and get IRL reviews before consulting your derm. No matter your skin concern, upgrade your skin with Tretinoin. We’re definitely keeping you in the arsenal for 2024. For more information on how to recycle your empties, contact your local recycling center.
Ask your dermatologist or primary care provider for a prescription.
eyes
RoC Line Smoothing Eye Cream (A-)
Caring for the eyes includes more than protecting our pretty retinas from UV rays with trendy blue light glasses or silk sleep masks. If you haven’t started thinking about eye creams for your morning or bedtime routine, we highly recommend adding one sooner than later. Why wait until you’re one call away from a botox syringe to pamper your eyes to some extra TLC? Getting an eye cream with retinol improves puffiness, fine lines, and dark circles. And the RoC eye cream is reasonably priced for over the counter skincare with clinically proven results. We sleep like little angels knowing America’s #1 Most Awarded Retinol is maintaining our fresh, bright eyes into the new year. Even though we can’t find anything online about their commitment to sustainability, we do recycle the empty containers in our bin and we do believe there’s room for growth.
Pixi Firming Eye Patches (A)
In true maximalist fashion, why not throw in another eye product onto your radar? We like to keep our eye patches chilled in the refrigerator for a cooling effect in the morning. Our favorite cream blush is from the cruelty-free beauty brand, but the real star is their FortifEYE hydrogel eye patches. Infused with collagen, peptides, and caffeine, your eyes will be left feeling energized and looking rejuvenated. You can apply before your makeup prep or after your last step in your nighttime routine. While we did get a kick out of their Pixi + Hello Kitty Anywhere patches, feel free to use these firming eye patches for your forehead or smile lines to get the same revitalizing benefits. Perfect beauty essential for 2024. Remember to recycle your empty container when finished (:
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