Although this is something I focus on all the time, while you are self-isolating take some extra time to give your skin some love from head to toe with my skincare tips and essentials!

I love skincare and skincare products and spend many hours browsing the Sephora and Ulta apps looking at the latest in skincare trends and emerging brands. I have also been known from time to time to splurge on a few “luxury” items for my at-home skincare regimen. However, I am mainly a major bargain shopper and love the deluxe/sample size offerings available at both retailers.

Many of my friends over the years, and most recently, have asked me about skincare products, what I use, and look for recommendations for their own skin. So, I decided that I would put together a post sharing with you all of my favorite skincare products, when I use them, why, and where you can find them. Luckily for all of you, you can find them online and they range in price from “bargain find” to “luxury splurge”!

Before I get started a few things you should know about my own skin and what I look for in products. For my face: I have combination skin. I am dry in certain spots but suffer from oily skin, specifically in my T-Zone, and hormonal acne breakouts. I look for products that will treat all of my concerns, whether it’s part of my daily/nightly routine, or if I am giving my skin some extra attention and treatment. For the rest of my skin: it’s very dry, so it’s important that I try to moisturize often and use products that are for sensitive skin. My hands get very cracked, red, and irritated and my cuticles often dry out and crack so lots of products with fragrance or dyes don’t bode well.

Hopefully, the products listed below are helpful to those of you reading this post and looking to overhaul or add to your current skincare regimen.

Facial Skincare:

Face Wash:

St. Ives Acne Control Apricot Face Scrub - This has been a personal favorite of mine for a while. You can find this just about anywhere (Target, Walmart, Reny’s (for my Maine readers!), etc.). It has a great smell, the scrub isn’t extremely abrasive mixed with the creamy, moisturizing face wash base. I always find that my skin feels soft and extremely clean after using this. This scrub is great for people who have acne, I found it calms mine down, especially in my T-Zone.

CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser - This is extra gentle and is a jelly type wash that froths up a bit. Great for people with sensitive skin and who need a bit of extra hydration. Sometimes I will pair this with the St. Ives scrub, I will usually use it before as a base cleanser and to hydrate my skin prior to using a more abrasive scrub. Again, this can be found virtually at any pharmacy or major retailer (Ulta, Walmart, Target, etc.) and is extremely affordable. 

Facial Moisturizer:

Sephora Collection All Day Hydrator - I discovered this in the impulse buy section and LOVE it! As you’ll read in the description of this product it’s a lightweight, hydrating moisturizer, and that’s EXACTLY what it is. I love using this at night so my pores don’t get plugged, or during the day under make-up since it’s not super heavy. If you don’t like to wear a lot of make-up, this will give you a dewy, fresh skin look when worn alone! This is a new personal favorite and will be making its way into my everyday skincare regimen.

Tatcha - The Water Cream - I got a deluxe sample of this at Sephora with some of my points along with the deep clean cleanser. This is HEAVEN on the skin. It’s highly moisturizing without being sticky or pore-clogging, absorbs well, and is really light. Sometimes I will use this in the morning if I am going make-up free, or if my skin is really dry while I am treating some severe breakouts.

CeraVe Moisturizing Cream - I found this in the impulse buy section at Ulta and it was definitely a new favorite of mine as well. I found this prior to the Tatcha moisturizer. This is a thicker moisturizing cream, great for those who have very dry skin daily since it’s extremely moisturizing. Since it’s thicker, it’s not something I would use overnight if you tend to get oily as it makes my skin extremely oily. Wears well under make-up though for those concerned about daily use.

Sephora Collection Brightening Eye Cream - It’s lightweight and a little goes a long way. It’s super moisturizing and makes the skin around your eyes extremely supple and soft. Definitely a great product and wallet-friendly!

Facial Treatments:

Grease Lightning - Tea Tree and Aloe Gel - This can be used as a cleanser, spot treatment, or overall treatment. I use this after washing my face as an overall treatment to prevent breakouts. Within a day or two of consistently using this, any hormonal breakouts or breakouts in general, are usually diminished. The stuff is a MIRACLE worker, and one bottle of this lasts me several months. It’s fairly inexpensive and is a staple in my skincare arsenal.

The Body Shop Tea Tree Skin Clearing Mattifying Toner - This product has been a go-to for me for a long time. A huge bottle will last you FOREVER and it works wonders on my skin. When my breakouts are really bad or I cannot get them under control, this gets added to my toolkit for skincare. Apply to a cotton ball or cotton pad and swipe over your face.

Sephora Glow Peel Pads - This was recommended to me on a trip into Sephora when I was looking for some new facial treatments. These are great for use after a long day out and about when your skin has been exposed to the elements, or if you were wearing make-up. One side has buffers for you to use so you can really get deep into your pores and scrub your skin clean, the other side is smooth and gentle for extra cleansing. Definitely use after washing and before any other toners/treatments or moisturizers.

Face Masks:

Farmacy Honey Potion Renewing Antioxidant Hydration Mask - I got a deluxe size of this a few years back in my stocking. I LOVED it! The mask is the color and consistency of thick honey, you put a few dollops across your face or a quarter-size dollop in your hand. Begin to rub it onto your skin so that it warms up and melts into a white cream and spread across your face. You leave it on for about 10-15 minutes. It makes your skin warm and tingly, and after you take it off it will feel hydrated, clean, and baby smooth. This is one of my “luxury splurge” items because the larger jar is a bit on the expensive side.

Lush Cosmetics Facial Masks in “Catastrophe Cosmetic” and “Cupcake” - Both of these are favorites of mine. Both are thick and full coverage onto the skin. “Catastrophe Cosmetic” is good for those with sensitive skin suffering from redness and irritation. “Cupcake” is great for oily or troubled (acne-prone/breakout) skin. Both really affordable, but need to be kept in the fridge and have a fairly short shelf-life since they are made with fresh ingredients.

Body Moisturizer:

Nivea Original Daily Moisture Body Lotion - This is extremely moisturizing, lightweight, and scent-free. You can get this in a giant tub or a pump bottle version. It’s extremely affordable, made with rich ingredients, and good for sensitive skin. Definitely a go-to for me, especially in the winter.

Philosophy Whipped Body Creme in “Falling in Love”, “Amazing Grace”, or “Amazing Grace: Ballet Rose” - Made with incredibly nourishing ingredients, if you want something that has a perfumed scent but still good on sensitive skin, then look no further. These are my 3 favorite Philosophy scented body cremes. They are clean, fresh, and not overwhelming. Plus the whipped body creme is highly moisturizing and not sticky.

Jergens Wet Skin Moisturizer - When I don’t have time after showering to full lather my body in lotion, this is a great alternative. Highly moisturizing, and again, good on sensitive skin the Jergens Wet Skin Moisturizer in Coconut Oil s a great item to have in the shower. You get full skin nourishment without a whole lot of product. If you are looking for a summer tan, without the sun or looking orange, you can also get their Wet Skin Version of their self-tanning moisturizer as well!

Hand & Cuticle Lotions:

Burt’s Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream - This stuff is AMAZING. I get really dry/cracked cuticles in the winter and this stuff works wonders. I slather some on at night before I put on some hand cream and wake up with healed and moisturized cuticles. It’s inexpensive for how much you get in a little tin and lasts forever since you don’t need a lot to do the trick.

L’Occitane Hand Cream - This stuff is rich and moisturizing, great for those with really dry, cracked hands like mine. This is definitely a splurge item, but at Sephora, you can get the mini size too for on-the-go moisturizing or if you don’t feel like spending the full amount.

Udderly Smooth Hand Cream - A less expensive but equally nourishing option. I’ve used this since I was a teen for my dry hands, it’s lightweight, non-greasy, and super nourishing. It’s odorless and good for those with sensitive skin. Available at most major retailers/pharmacies.

Lips:

O’Keefe’s Cooling Lip Repair Lip Balm - This stuff works wonders. I get dry and chapped lips in the wintertime and this stuff calms the irritation and instantly hydrates. Apply this at night and wake up with completely restored, soft, hydrated lips by the morning!

Burt’s Bees Lip Balm - This classic peppermint lip balm has been a favorite of mine since I can remember. Love this for all-day wear and it works well as a lip prep before applying a gloss or lipstick in order to keep lips moisturized. It can be found at almost any retailer.

Inika Certified Organic Lip Serum - I received this in a beauty box I was once subscribed too. This would definitely be a “luxury splurge” item as it’s a bit on the expensive side for lip balms/serums that I buy. However, my lips are super smooth after using it and extremely hydrated. I would apply this at night to allow it to work over the course of 8 hours without being worn off by eating, drinking, or the outside elements. If you’re looking for a good splurge item for your lips, this is definitely worth it!