Between Christmas gifts and a feeling of newness approaching with a new year/decade, I have been upping my game in the self-care/beauty department. I have been on a new regimen since Sunday which involves a blend of microdermabrasion, deep cleansing, glycolic peels, and moisturizing. And I am tottttally geeking out over it. I always find new and fantastic products to love in the Blue Mercury “swag bags” my mom and I get with our Black Friday purchases. This year, my mom generously gifted her entire swag bag to me and I was able to play around and see what new goodies I liked best.

So this post serves a few purposes. One, it shares some products that I am really liking at the moment (or, in many cases, items that are tried and 10000% true and I am getting back into them). Second, I am keeping note of what works and what doesn’t so I know what to buy in future. A lot of these items are definitely luxury purchases, and not everyday whims, so it is important to know what I love so I can use sparingly and keep buying when I need to be re-stocked. So, in my own way, this is sort of like a beauty review (without the influencer status*). Third, this helps me be accountable with my new “regimen” - the highlight of which is all about renewal and rejuvenation. I am 100%, completely, thoroughly and emphatically DONE with attacking my own face. Popping pimples, squeezing pores, and aggravating my skin is just not worth it. For my skin, it enflames everything and disrupts any calmness or balance. So as I am saying, I am retired from picking my face in 2020 and forever!

*The title of this post makes me feel like I am a wannabe beauty blogger/influencer, but I know that no one is reading this. So it is just for fun!

Clarisonic Head: I have been washing my face with a washcloth and glycolic cleanser for a while now…and I have always felt like my skin gets pretty clean. Until I started re-using my old Clarisonic. I popped on this new head, and nothing beats this feeling of CLEAN! It is intended for uneven skin, and I use it gently on my cheeks to get a second round of clean after removing makeup | Clarisonic Exfoliator Brush Head

Moon Pen: I hate putting money in any Kardashian or Jenners’ pocket, but I had to give this a try. My mom and I will be comparing results (she got a similar system called SuperSmile), but this pen is great for “touchups” and more on-the-go attention | Kendall Jenner Teeth Whitening Pen Vanilla Mint Flavor

Biolage HydraSource: This is an aloe-infused spray that adds life and moisture to already-styled, dry hair. I am loving it so far! | Biolage Hydrasource Hydra-Seal Spray

InvisiBobble and Anthropologie Scrunchies: I have always been skeptical of the “no-dent” ponytails that claim not to crease the hair. But these work! I love my traditional rubberband-style hair ties, but these add a dose of glamour and frilliness that I am loving right now. And the InvisiBobble constricts back to its original small shape even after it has been worn for hours; it may look stretched out after wearing but it always adjusts back | Slim The Elegant Hair Ring | Ellie Scrunchie Set

New Brand: Hourglass. I got a sample pack from BlueMercury, my local luxe beauty shop that my mom and I have been going to every Black Friday. I tried their mineral veil SPF 15 primer, and I loved the poreless translucent matte coat that this gave my face! I have never been one for primers, but I knew I had to buy this product (even before I finished the sample). It is that good! I also have their mascara, which does the job. Note to self: start using Latisse again | Hourglass

La Mer: La Mer…the granddaddy of them all. I splurged on a super tiny bottle of the SuperSoft Cream, and am using it to spot-treat areas of acne scarring on my cheeks | La Mer, The Moisturizing Soft Cream

By Terry: This is another new brand I discovered through samples from Blue Mercury. I have always been so impressed…and although I haven’t splurged on anything besides just going off samples, this is a noteworthy brand. The hyaluronic powder is such a nice finishing powder, which leaves the face with a clean matte finish over makeup.

EvanHealy Rose Geranium Facial Tonic: A few soothing sprays of this delicious rosy tonic is my last before-bed step! It is delightful…anything rose fragrance brings a smile to my face. I leave this right on my nightstand and pat it in to help the product sink in. I got this at my local health foods store | EvanHealy Rose Geranium Facial Tonic

M61 PowerGlow Peel: So the best part of this product might be the instantly-gratifying tingle that comes with a single swipe of these little miracles. In each box, there are indivudally wrapped towlettes that are doused in glycolic and salicylic acid. The feeling and results are immediate - this is a powerfully exfoliating little wonder! I use on my face, neck and chest on a clean face and skip the moisturizer. It is a one-minute process but I like to luxuriate in the moment by extending the time a little bit. I like to use this after I do an at-home microderm (I use the PMD system, not pictured, about 1x/week). M-61 is Blue Mercury’s brand and it is good stuff! | M-61 PowerGlow Peel

DHC Concentrated Eye Cream: I have been kinda concerned about my eyes not being moisturized enough lately…I don’t know if it is me, or if turning 30 is really taking its toll…but I feel like the skin under and round my eyes just feels tired lately. It needs a punch of awakening. So I am still trying to find a product that I absolutely love. DHC is such good stuff, I have been using it for years. It is a Japanese company which has fantastic moisturizers and soaps; this is my newest addition. I used Glossier’s Bubblewrap for a while too, which was nice, but I didn’t like the pump applicator (I felt like I threw out the bottle and couldn’t get the rest of the serum out). So the verdict is still out on this one, but I do love the consistency and the overall feeling it gives my eyes | DHC Concentrated Eye Cream

Trish McEvoy Gel Eyeliner: So I have been using this eye pencil in the shade “Arabian Nights” for about five years now! My favorite part about this pencil is that it is double sided, with a smudger, and it makes for a great smokey eye. I have dark brown eyes and I know that cooler shades (dark greens, purples, and indigos) “pop” most with my eye color. The eyeliner itself is a luscious gel fitted into a pencil, and it sharpens beautifully but gives a nice smudgy effect | Trish McEvoy Intense Gel Eyeliner with Sharpener

ciao, xo!

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