MY SPRING SKIN & SELF CARE FAVORITES
It was almost 60 degrees here today. FINALLY, things are starting to feel like spring in NYC. Just as we all tend to do with our wardrobes as the seasons change, I like to switch up my skincare routine. Yes, I have my core go-to’s that I keep year-round, but the weather really does affect how our skin feels and what it needs, which is why I do this. Below I’ve listed the skin and self care things that I’m loving for spring–some of them classic and others downright weird–and why I like them. And as always, everything is on the affordable side, because I know we’re all on budgets and can’t just throw down tons of money every time a season changes.
Have you tried any of these? Let me know! Or if you haven’t, which would you be most interested to try?
NKD SKN Pre-Shower Self Tanner || You guys, this. is. the. best. self. tanner. I’ve. ever. used. PERIOD. Being fair-skinned, I’ve tried so many self tanners over the years, and they were either streaky, smelled weird, bled onto clothing, or looked orange. This one does zero of those things. And it’s because you actually shower it off ten minutes after applying it. So there’s no sticky feeling or strange smell. It is a gradual tanner, so if you’re looking for an quick fix, this won’t make you look like you spent days in the sun within hours, but on my skin the color did begin to show after a night’s sleep, and it built into a beautiful warm golden bronze as I continued to use it. I got hooked on this stuff when I went on our honeymoon, and I’m so happy it’s in my life now.
Shopping Deets:
Joe Malone Wood Sage & Sea Salt Fragrance || I’m one of those people that can’t stick with the same fragrance for years and years. So I usually buy a small size of something that I like, and switch it up as the seasons change. This one is such an earthy, musky mix of bergamot and woodsy vibes, with a top note of sea salt spray. It makes me think of outdoor picnics and beach days to come, and it’s not overpowering.
Shopping Deets:
Shea Moisture Superfruit Complex Sugar Hand & Body Scrub || This is a good one to have if you’re doing any self-tanning, but also to slough off all that dead, dry skin the oh-so-lovely winter weather left us with. And as I’m now in my thirties, I also use it twice a week on my hands to keep them smooth and soft. The scent is intoxicating (in a good way), and the shea and mango butter in the scrub leave my skin feeling moisturized after I’ve used it.
Shopping Deets:
Linhart Ion Toothbrush & Whitening Gel || I came across these products, which are made by a family-owned dentistry in NYC, at the popup BKLYN Beauty Market at City Point about a month ago, which was curated by beauty blogger @itsme.ana. I started out by trying the whitening gel, which requires zero trays or strips. With this whitener, you just add a dab of it to your toothpaste when you brush. It’s got Hydrogen Peroxide, which is what whitens the tooth without abrasives that fuck with your tooth enamel, and Poloxamer 407, which is what makes it work the way it does without strips or trays. After trying this for a month and seeing results, I wanted to try their toothcare subscription, which comes with a toothbrush, tube of toothpaste, and a lip balm (that smells like Thin Mint Girl Scout Cookies), all formulated by Linhart. The toothbrush bristles are infused with Antibacterial Nano-Silver that kills the bacteria that would normally sit or get onto your toothbrush (it is in the bathroom, after all).
Shopping Deets:
- Toothcare Subscription Bundle, $19 (delivered every 2 months)
- Tooth Whitener Gel, $28
- Nano Silver Toothbrush, $8
IYOU Sheet Masks || This is another brand I found at the BKLYN Beauty Market. They’re a Korean Beauty Brand, and their sheet masks are soooo good. I love that they don’t just have sheet masks for your face, but they have a steam sheet mask for your hair, sheet socks for feet, and neck/chest sheet masks, too! For face, I’m loving the Black Pearl Jelly Mask for the face. It’s actually a black mask, and when I use it, my skin glows for days.
Shopping Deets:
- $5-6 per mask on Amazon (they’re sold in packs)
Soonsoojaa Dr.trea:en Magic Treatment Solution Laser Peel System || Okay, I’m gonna put this out there, and may seem weird, but this peel is one of the most effective I’ve used in terms of tightening my pores and eliminating puffiness from allergies–It’s got amino acids from earthworm secretions in it. I know, a little gross, but here’s the thing: Earthworms can regenerate themselves. You can literally cut an earthworm in half, and it will grow into two earthworms. So it makes sense that we’re starting to see them creep into anti-aging skincare (yes, that pun was intended). Fun fact, the secretions were used in traditional Chinese medicine to help calm inflammation from wounds, too. The texture of the peel is a kinda slimy and gelatinous, but I think the results are worth it.
Shopping Deets:
Because this is a Korean product, it’s tricky to get ahold of, but I got it at a Nature Republic store which are popping up all over NYC lately. It’s from the brand Soonsoojaa, which has a website, but I don’t think they ship overseas and the translations are a bit hard to read on the site.
Brooklyn Herborium Soap Your Wild Oats Soap || I’ve swapped out anti-bacterial liquid hand soaps that aren’t great for your skin and could create antibiotic-resistant bacteria for this gentle soap made with all natural ingredients. I discovered it at Brooklyn Herborium, a new store in my neighborhood that crafts holistic skincare and cleaning products. It’s got oats, shea butter and honey along with lots of natural oils, and it leaves my hands feeling super-soft after washing them. Another reason I like this that I didn’t really think about until I started using it is that the soap lasts a really long time. When I was using liquid soap, I would have to refill constantly, so I feel like it’s actually a good price for how long it lasts.
Shopping Deets:
$12 at Brooklyn Herborium (they ship across the country on their site)
SHOP THE PRODUCTS:
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