jennav_makeup

This is my new routine for the fall. I recently found out I have rosacea and hormonal acne so I have been experimenting with what products would best suit my skin. For reference: the hormonal birth control pill is what has cleared up my skin dramatically, and I cannot attribute my routine to clearing it up. But my routine is keeping my skin’s moisture barrier soft, healthy and glowing. I will add a brief overview of my routine and why it’s working so well for me! HERBIVORE - Pink Cloud Rosewater + Tremella Creamy Jelly Cleanser This cleanser is everything.... it’s low foaming, soft and gentle and effectively melts off any and all makeup and sunscreen. It’s non stripping, the only smell to it is very natural and not strong at all, and it’s also very hydrating. Tremella mushroom provides more hydration than regular Hyaluronic acid, and plant based squalane emulsifies all of the makeup and dirt on the skin to gently yet effectively whisk it away. When you rinse, your skin feels so comfortable and never tight/dry. My tried and true CeraVe hydrating cleanser started burning my skin so this cleanser has been a game changer for me! evian - Brumisateur Natural Mineral Water Facial Spray I made a post about this mist. I find that the water in NYC can be a little hard so using this resets my skin’s pH balance and makes for a very soothing product in my routine. I follow with moisturizer after using this lovely fine mist. Kiehl's - Kiehl's Ultra Facial Moisturizer This is such a lovely, simple cream. It has squalane, glycerin, apricot, avocado, olive and rice bran oils, and glacial glycoprotein. This moisturizer is thick enough to help the skin retain moisture and stay soft and supple without being heavy. I love this and I think it’s perfect for the fall to keep combination/normal/oily skin in check! DRUNK ELEPHANT - F-Balm Electrolyte Waterfacial Mask Such a lovely product from drunk elephant! This is a multi use moisturizer/mask. It’s a leave on treatment chock full of hydrating and nourishing ingredients like electrolytes, vitamin F beads (they melt when you massage it in), a large dose of Niacinamide and squalane. This product is so lightweight yet moisturizing and really locks in hydration. I use this on top of my moisturizer night and day for glowy and happy skin! SUNDAY RILEY - Auto Correct Brightening and Depuffing Eye Contour Cream One of the only eye creams I actually like! There is a slightly botanical smell to it, but it doesn’t linger. This cream is very moisturizing, illuminating and instantly brightening/depuffing. When I use it I don’t have to use much concealer for my dark undereyes! GLOW RECIPE - Avocado Melt Retinol Eye Sleeping Mask A very gentle retinol eye cream. No peeling/irritation. I find this helps to smooth texture and helps milia too! Not very clinical but still a nice product.

I’m making a revised review of this serum because I’ve realized it’s actually one of the best products I’ve ever used, and here’s why. This serum can either be your favorite beauty product or something that confuses you. So I’ll explain how to use it properly and why it is so great. The vitamin C derivative is Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, a water soluble and stable form of vitamin C. This makes it safe for use in clear glass containers. So if you’re worried about oxidation, this one should not oxidize like the notoriously unstable l-ascorbic acid. The first ingredient is water, followed by citric acid, lactic acid and malic acid. The exfoliation quality of this serum is very gentle yet effective for brightening the complexion. Many vitamin C serums are highly irritating and irritating products are not going to help your skin, there is no point in continuing use of a product that leaves you bright red and irritated constantly. This also has panthenol, two types of Hyaluronic acid and aloe Vera to hydrate the skin deeply. Peptides in the formula help to train skin cells to act younger, rebuild collagen and firm up the skin. And I have noticed that effect, my skin feels firmer. Antioxidant rich green tea, kale and spinach provide protection against free radical damage, making this perfect for use in the daytime under SPF. So, on to how to use this. Do not apply it to dry skin or it will feel sticky. Apply this to damp skin after cleansing, or after misting your skin with something water based like the Evian Mineral Water Facial Mist. This helps it to sink in deeply and also prevents the Hyaluronic acid from pulling water out of your skin. Trust me, this keeps the serum from feeling tacky. The feeling of this serum is wonderful, it feels refreshing and comforting. It spreads nicely since the consistency is very thin. I use 1 and a half pumps on my wet face and pat it in and I also get my neck and backs of my hands. This doesn’t cause any pilling/dry skin patches; it just leaves me feeling so hydrated and ready for the day. This serum is incredible. It’s perfect for people with sensitive skin who want a vegan/cruelty free/silicone free serum that will hydrate, anti age and brighten the skin and protect against free radical damage. I give it 10/10 and I would repurchase, given the price is actually not terrible in comparison to so many other vitamin C serums. A little goes a long way and I enjoy using this daily! YOUTH TO THE PEOPLE - Superfood Firm and Brighten Vitamin C Serum

Niacinamide: a powerhouse ingredient we all want in our routine, but find confusion about. It can be irritating when used improperly, and some people may not see fantastic results even when using a Niacinamide serum. Enter the Peter Thomqs Roth Niacinamide Discoloration Treatment. A powerful 15% active brightening complex in a lightweight and moisturizing cream. Niacinamide is the second ingredient after water, and it truly shows in its ability to calm down redness, even out skin tone and heal acne scars (of which I have many from years of hormonal acne). Tranexamic acid fades dark spots and post blemish scars, and Kojic acid brightens the complexion. There is also resveratrol, a grape derived antioxidant that is fantastic for anti-aging and protecting the skin from future damage. There is also alpha arbutin, another fantastic brightener, and pentapeptide to strengthen the skin barrier. This treatment is very effective that you do see results quite quickly. The biggest effect is that redness and inflammation is calmed down and you’ll wake up with a more even tone. The first time I used this I actually almost cried. I have had blotchy red inflammatory acne for a long time and this helps me look normal. I use this at night after my Differin gel (my skin can tolerate this, but for beginners please limit your actives). This treatment, although it is $88, is very worth it. Compared to The Ordinary Niacinamide serum, this leaves the skin feeling comfortable, supple and not tacky/sticky like the serum. The formula is full of beneficial ingredients. Now, here comes the cons.... sigh Unfortunately, Peter Thomas Roth is not cruelty free. I strive to buy cruelty free and vegan products. 99% of my skincare collection is cruelty free and vegan. But as someone who suffers terribly from acne scars and needs something that will have fast results, I am okay with using this. But this will be something that vegans/ethically conscious people with grapple with when deciding to buy this product. From my perspective, this is worth it and I pray someday they stop testing on animals or another brand creates a cruelty free/vegan option just as good as this. So there’s my unbiased review. I purchased mine with my own money and I got an extra one in my Sephora Gratis that I will gladly use up. PETER THOMAS ROTH - Pro Strength Niacinamide Discoloration Treatment

FARMACY - Deep Sweep I felt that I was in need of a BHA toner, and this recently hit the shelf in my Sephora. I was super happy to see an alcohol and fragrance free toner, because so many toners are loaded with drying ingredients. Not this bad boy. Farmacy Deep Sweep contains 2% Salicylic Acid to exfoliate and deep clean pores, Moringa seed extract to purify skin from pollution, and papaya enzyme to gently exfoliate and clarify skin. For my oily/combination and sensitive/acne prone skin, I use this at night after double cleansing. I apply it using the Shiseido facial cotton (SO soft and worth the $12), and I swipe it onto clean, dry skin. At first my face gets a tiny bit red, but this is very suitable for sensitive skin and it immediately tightens pores. This is helping with my texture a lot and I’m glowing even without moisturizer (but always follow with moisturizer!). It’s helping to clear my stress breakouts, and just in time because my wedding is coming very soon!! I can already tell this is going to be a repurchase. Oily skin types benefit greatly from BHA toners and this one is fantastic. I can also justify the $28 price tag because you don’t need to use much, the ingredient list is fabulous (arginine is the second ingredient and increases blood flow for healthy skin). The glass bottle is recyclable and isn’t going to end up in the landfill (I’m working on making my skincare products all glass packaging). This product is vegan/cruelty free and gluten free, and it belongs in your routine if you’re an oily/combo person like me 🌱

So some people may say: why on earth would you buy canned water? What a waste of money! Wrong.. This facial mist is a necessity. It’s Evian mineral water with a pH balance of 7.2, and the mineral content is very compatible with skin. Tap water can be a bit drying, but this mist resets skin pH and removes traces of tap water. It’s instantly hydrating and cooling for the skin. The canister provided a steady stream of mist and is leak proof. I use it before applying hydrating serums or moisturizers and then I spray again to “feed” the Hyaluronic acid in my products, because Hyaluronic acid is a humectant and pulls water in from the atmosphere. Giving it water helps to prevent it from stealing water from within your skin. The result is dewy, hydrated skin. This is also a makeup artist’s bestie. We use these on set to take the powdery look away from makeup, as well as use it to fix makeup during touch ups: we give actors a spritz with this and use a sponge or brush to fix the makeup, then set again with a powder once dry. I bought the duo travel size 1.7 oz, and it typically lasts me 1-2 months (I use it daily/nightly and throughout the day for my dehydrated skin). This seems bougie but trust me, your skin will thank you for providing it with fragrance/alcohol/oil free moisture. Anyone can use this, even your boyfriend who sucks at doing skincare 😁 I give this a 5/5 and I will always have it in my makeup kit! evian - Brumisateur Natural Mineral Water Facial Spray

I’ve been acquiring a couple Youth To The People products and my sink is starting to look very fancy. I did previously review the Superfood cleanser but I’ll give a general review of it again. All of the products contain high quality ingredients from small batches. And Youth To The People is very ethical/vegan and cruelty free which I love! YOUTH TO THE PEOPLE - Superfood Antioxidant Cleanser A foaming cleanser that won’t strip your skin. Feels extremely refreshing, smells a little like spinach and herbs, doesn’t remove all of your makeup but is a perfect second step cleanser after oil cleansing. This has given me a much deeper clean than the CeraVe hydrating cleanser and I don’t think I’ll ever go back to it! I can justify the $36 price tag for the quality of this cleanser. 10/10 YOUTH TO THE PEOPLE - Superfood Firm and Brighten Vitamin C Serum This serum is pretty great! It’s very hydrating and the vitamin c is helping my skin glow more. It also contains citric and lactic acid which slightly exfoliate, but it is still safe to wear in the daytime. I love that there is no “hot dog water” vitamin c scent to this. I apply it to wet skin after cleansing and it soaks in beautifully. For $62, you get 1 oz, which isn’t much but this serum has really brightened my skin and I’ll continue using it. YOUTH TO THE PEOPLE - Superfood Air-Whip Moisture Cream I’m starting to like this moisturizer more. Originally I didn’t feel it moisturized enough but I was using it very sparingly. This is a gel like texture with the same scent as the cleanser. It makes skin feel cool and comforted and is awesome for the hot summer months. I apply this right after the serum. You get 2 oz of product for $48, which is pricy but this should last you all summer with daily use. YOUTH TO THE PEOPLE - Superberry Hydrate + Glow Oil A lightweight dry oil full of antioxidants from superfood sources like Goji berry and Maqui (the most antioxidant rich fruit in the world). It smells very lightly of berries and soaks into the skin quickly. The result is a gorgeous, healthy glow and very moisturized skin. I add this to my exfoliating serums like Drunk Elephant TLC serum and I use it at night before my Laneige Cica Sleeping Mask. The price is up there for sure at $44 for 1 oz but you don’t need much to see good results.

First of all, let me start by saying that it’s okay not to have all the skincare answers and ask for help. For me, I really started to notice a difference in my acne when I sought out help from my dermatologist and she prescribed me spironolactone and then once my skin began to significantly clear up, I stopped using spironolactone and was given a prescription retinol gel that I’ve been using for a year. In addition to giving me some acne-managing solutions, my derm has also given me some skincare tips that have also helped improve the overall quality and health of my skin. Here are some of my faves: Take it Slow With Retinol Retinol seems like it’s going to fix everything and fast but you really have to take your time with it. If you don’t, you could be looking at a lot of irritation, dryness, and redness—plus the possibility of exacerbating any existing skin concerns. That not only means using it sparingly throughout the week, but also using a small amount as well. When I was first starting out, I began by only using a pea size once a week and then built my way up to 2-3 times once my skin could tolerate it. Also, make sure you wear sunscreen always but especially when you start using retinol! Use a Mask a Week Before Your Period My breakouts have always synced up with my period and one way that I’ve been able to make my hormonal breakouts more manageable has been by masking one week before Aunt Flow comes to town. By using a detoxifying or refining mask during this time, you’re essentially getting rid of most of the pore-clogging oils that are getting ready to cause breakouts when your period starts. This doesn’t necessarily prevent breakouts 100%, but I’ve noticed that it does make the big cystic pimples less red and inflamed. My favorite mask is Caudalie’s Instant Detox Mask, which uses pink clay and acts like a pore vacuum to suck out excess oil, blackheads, dirt, and more. It’s meant to be left on for 10 minutes but I will say that it does feel a little uncomfortable and tight around halfway. But it doesn’t feel stripping once it’s washed off. If that discomfort isn’t your vibe, then this might not be the mask for you. Use Vitamin C Every Day I’ve never been someone that had dark spots or discoloration, so I didn’t think that I needed a vitamin C serum in my routine. But my derm assured me that it caters to sooo many other skin concerns than just discoloration. I’ve found that it’s not only given my skin a glow and helped even out my complexion, but also shrink the size of my breakouts significantly because of how it accelerates cell turnover. Plus, it also neutralizes any existing damage from the sun, which we could all use. I’ve tried a couple of vitamin C serums, but the one that I was really impressed with was Organic Pharmacy’s Stabilised Vitamin C Serum, which is a little pricey at $65 but contains 15% vitamin C and improved my skin’s brightness and evenness so well. It contains witch hazel to combat wrinkles, which could make it irritating to some, but I loved how hydrating this formula was and how well it absorbed into my skin.

Every night I choose a facial wash depending on how my face is feeling and what I’d like to be using. When I will be working with retinal in my routine, I like to start with a nice gentle exfoliation like TATCHA - The Deep Cleanse Exfoliating Cleanser It’s a gentle enough cleanser to use every day but I choose to use it 3-4 times a week. It’s a beautiful light scent and I love how soft it is on my skin, yet manages to exfoliate. I definitely recommend this cleanser if you’re a bit worried about working with physical exfoliants. It’s nothing to fear. 💜 Then again as I stated I’m using my retinal tonight so I want to be sure to have a very hydrated face. Hydration is key for me as retinal can be very drying for my skin. I use a lot of hydrating toners and essences to really plump up my skin before adding the retinal. These would be TATCHA - The Essence Plumping Skin Softener & INDIE LEE - CoQ-10 Toner & YOUTH TO THE PEOPLE - Superberry Hydrate + Glow Oil (these are just some I use) They all give my face the layer of hydration needed to move forward. Then I come in with Medik8 - Crystal Retinal I’m loving the retinal as I’ve only had small white heads surface and easily disappear. I did notice my skin becoming drier when I went up to level 6 but again, found a way to combat that. I’ve only been working with retinal a short few months so I have no results to share at this time. And finally when I am working with a strong active (such as retinal) I lather my face in moisturizer. I had yet to find a night time face mask that worked for me until I discovered this beauty YOUTH TO THE PEOPLE - Superberry Hydrate + Glow Dream Mask It’s the perfect consistency for my skin. Never a heavy, oily, sticky feeling. Just sinks in and keeps my face locked in moisture. And all the added benefits, it’s heart throbbing 💗 get excited over this one ya’ll! It’s good! And I always use an eye cream, day or night. And am loving FARMACY - Cheer Up Brightening Vitamin C Eye Cream with Acerola Cherry I’ve noticed a remarkable difference in the dark circles and just tone of my skin all around my eye. Hope me sharing my night time retinal routine can be helpful for some of you. I’m always here to answer questions #CherieCreator

Loving the newest addition to my stash! The fresh - Rose & Hyaluronic Acid Deep Hydration Moisturizer Finally decided to grab this beauty. I tried a sample couple weeks back and loved the way it made my skin look and feel, and could not stop thinking about it. It was just so convenient that I was in need of a new moisturizer too ☺️ • First of all, the texture of moisturizer is gel-cream. It looks like a cream, but feels and applies like a gel and blends out into a burst of water, absorbing into the skin so beautifully! Just give it a couple minutes after applying, and you won’t even see it bc it’s so lightweight, no greasiness or tackiness left behind, all you’ll see is the glow! From the video you can see a little goes a long way and this is the full size jar that I have, so for it’s price I think it’s a great value that will last me quite a while! That’s one thing I love about gel creams, I’ve noticed that bc of their texture just a dab is more than enough to cover the entire face. This was also a deciding factor for me in purchasing this and precisely why I love it! • This goodness is definitely a moisture magnet! The ingredients in this work wonderfully to address dryness, dullness and uneven texture. It contains rose water, vitamin E, angelica leaf extract, rose flower oil, hyaluronic acid and hydropatches which create a veil to attract and retain moisture in the skin. So if you’re looking for a deeply hydrating moisturizer that’s lightweight and will actually leave your skin soft and moistureized even after being washed off, then I highly recommend this for you! Definitely a 5/5 ⭐️ product!