When quarantine first began, I tried to set my sights on the silver linings. For me, being at home and not having the work tempo that I would normally meant that I had this golden opportunity to focus on myself and my health, which is admittedly something that I easily neglect when I’m in my normal go-go-go mode.

Flash forward to today – I am back in go-go-go mode so it is more important now than ever before to treat my skin right. So many reasons: I turned 30, I like wine, I’m terrible at hydrating – and the list goes on!

I have been using some new products for about 3 months at this point, so I am finally comfortable sharing them and saying that I fully endorse/love them! I am not a beauty guru and don’t profess to be. I wear very minimal makeup (see this tab for my holy grail products) and I prioritize my skin health over looking “flawless,” so if you’re more of a full-coverage kind of gal, this might not be the best system for you. Also important to note, everyone has different skin, so what might work for me might not work for you.

Maelove Serum Trio

This is a great way to pick up everything you need in one shot. I use all three serums throughout the week. My favorite is the NIA 10 Calming Serum because it is so effective. Incorporating Niacinimide into my skincare had the most dramatic effect. Pores across my cheekbones were visibly smaller and, with consistent use, I have eliminated maskne. This is definitely my favorite skincare product overall because it really has that clear of an effect on my skin health. Of course, the Intensive Hydration Serum was helpful when I was out and about more in the winter weather to combat dryness. My skin is relatively hydrated, but I did use this on my forehead every so often since that is where I will see dryness if I get any. Finally, the Glow Maker really just brought some life into my skin, which I probably wouldn’t have even noticed if I wasn’t staring at my face in a Zoom screen all the time. I love this bundle because it is cost effective, and I use each serum, so it’s worth it.

Don’t forget – with serums, you want to apply to your skin without rubbing them in. You basically want to rub the serum between your fingertips, and then pat into your face for it to absorb into your skin.

Josie Maran Pure Argan Oil

When argan oil started popping up in every single beauty product ever, I was confused. I could not understand why we were supposed to want to put oil on our faces or in our hair – totally bizarre to me. I even tried a variety of products and had terrible experiences. When I started getting into face oils, I gave this one a go and all I can say is WOW. Josie Maran Argan Oil is 100% pure argan oil, so it is a whole different ball gam than the other random products that just include argan oil in them. This is the real deal. Argan oil is completely comedogenic (safe for all skin types, doesn’t clog your pores!) and it has vitamin E and 8 essential fatty acids in it. It’s literally referred to as “liquid gold” because of how good it can be for your skin. This oil changed my life because I finally had something completely pure and safe that would help me moisturize my face, protect my skin, and not cause me to break out due to fragrances or suspending agents contained in the product. I started using this almost every night or putting a light layer on in the morning. If you have acne scars or are trying to quickly heal a breakout, or if you have a papercut (lol!), this oil will help patch up your skin in no time.

For face oils, get the product into the palm of your hand and then pat it onto your skin and glide up and away from the center of your face. A major pro-tip: using concealer under your eyes can actually damage that sensitive skin, making you want to wear even more concealer. If you absolutely need to wear concealer, use a drop of oil to moisturize the skin under your eye, then apply your concealer. It will maintain moisture for your skin and your concealer will apply more evenly without cracking or creasing like it would on dry skin.

No More Baggage

I’ve talked about this so many times, but it is truly that good of a product, so worth mentioning again because it is still very much in my rotation. I have tried so many different de-puffing eye treatments and they are pretty much all terrible. One might have great packaging, but the product doesn’t work. Or one might feel cooling, but does nothing to actually de-puff. This product is seriously incredible and you will notice a different. A little bit goes a long way, so this is an investment I always feel happy to make. I tap a tiny dot into the area under my eye and leave alone for 5-6 minutes before putting any other products on my skin. This absolutely de-puffs the under-eye area and makes a noticeable difference. When I cry, I get insanely puffy and this is always the product that saves me.

Facial Massage Tools

Everyone thinks that this facial roller looks wildly inappropriate, and that might be true, but it is such a crazy awesome tool. If you have TMJ, this will be your new best friend. This pack is so cheap and comes with two massaging facial tools that also vibrate. While I cannot confirm that the vibrations make them more effective, I will say that the effect is super relaxing and I space out when I use these on my face. Personally, I don’t use the T-bar that often, but this video clip explains how awesome it can be if you want to use that tool. I LOVE the facial ball roller tool and use it all the time. Running it from the front of your chin up your jawline to your neck is the best massage to ward off TMJ pain and release the tension you might be holding there. I actually really like this video clip because it gives you an idea of how to move the facial ball roller across your face (although I don’t do it this quickly!) but it also shows you different movements you can do with your hands if you don’t have any facial massage tools so you can get the same effects!

I have tried a ton of different products over the past 5 months, but these are the products that I consistently use and feel completely comfortable recommending. I am all about grabbing cheapie products at Walmart or Target, but these are the things I have invested in that have helped me achieve my best skin so that I don’t have to wear makeup.

If you try any of these products, let me know what you think! I would love to hear about other experiences and see your skin health transformations!