Lovin’ Lately

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First Lovin’ Lately of the year, and it’s full of skincare.

I’ve been on a serious skincare kick lately. My post-Accutane, beautiful, clear skin changed in the last year or so, and I started breaking out again, although those breakouts are not as vicious as before. I’m not sure how much stress from my accident (or the injury itself) have affected my skin. I really should write a follow-up to my Accutane posts (find them here and here) but I want to wait until I go back to see my derm. I’m really looking forward to finally scheduling my laser treatments and get rid of those ugly, textured scars I’ve been dealing with for years now.

Because of everything that’s been happening in my life, I’ve been on SO much medication (seriously… first it was antidepressants, then pain medication, sleep medication, etc. ) and I’m finally off most of them. I do believe that at some point I also discussed my unexplained weight gain, which was first blamed on the steroid injections to my neck and back, then I was told it’s all due to stress and high cortisol levels, only to be diagnosed with PCOS a few months ago. I think the combination of everything just caused my skin to go a little crazy, as my breakouts do appear to be hormonal. I still use prescription creams like Retin-A and Tazorac, but those come with their own set of side effects. One of which is dry and flaky skin…

… which brings me to the first product I’ve been lovin’ lately: Josie Maran Divine Drip Argan Oil and Honey Sleeping Nectar. There’s an entire army of “overnight” masks and creams hiding on my nightstand, and this is my latest addition. This sleeping nectar has a beautiful, soft, bouncy texture and it just melts into the skin. The moment I apply it on my skin, it feels almost as if it goes “ahhhh!” the same way you do when you sip on cold lemon water during a hot summer day. It absorbs quickly and leaves skin feeling soft, smooth and perky.

Another thirst-quencher I’ve been loving also comes from one of my favorite skincare brands, MUN. Their Protect + Revive* moisturizer is very lightweight but hydrates and soothes the skin SO well- it’s gentle to use even on irritated and hyper-sensitive skin. It’s formulated with Niacinamide and Prickly Pear Seed Oil, also found in their Aknari serum. I also really love their packaging, which is no secret. If you want to try MUN for yourself, you can also use a code “MUN13T” to save some $.

I’ve used the Exfolikate treatment many times before, as I always had very generous samples sitting around. Finally, I bought a full-size tube and I have to say that it’s very much worth the splurge. It’s a quick, two-minute, intensive exfoliating treatment that leaves my skin feeling not only very clean and clear but also very soft and smooth. So yes, it is just like a 2-minute facial in a tube. Post-treatment, creams and serums absorb like a dream. It might a bit too intense for skin that isn’t used to AHAs like lactic acid, but my skin absolutely loves it.

Since we’re on the topic of clean and clear skin, here’s another skincare hero of this month’s LL feature: Lily De Mai Purity Marine Mineral Detox Mask.* The first thing worth mentioning is that this isn’t a “quick” or perhaps even a very convenient treatment, but it’s worth the extra effort. The mask comes in a powder form and has to be mixed with liquid to develop a paste-like texture which you then apply on the skin. Leave it on for about 5-6 minutes and gently wash off with warm water. I love reaching for this mask when my skin breaks out because it’s gentle enough to not irritate it but powerful enough to calm any breakouts and balance the skin very nicely leaving it feeling fresh, clean and smooth. It does have a light seaweedy smell, which I’m not crazy about, but if you’ve ever had a marine mask/treatment done to your skin by an esthetician, then you’re might find the treatment (and the scent) to be familiar. The good news is that the scent doesn’t linger, and I’d much rather deal with a natural scent, than a product that’s filled with irritating artificial fragrance. Purity* is formulated with a blend of organic ingredients such as Irish Moss and Kelp.

I just talked about Bioderma’s Atoderm Shower Oil in my Winter Beauty post. It’s an in-shower oil that cleanses, comforts and hydrates skin, all at once. Unlike a lot of in-shower oils, or body oils in general, this oil won’t leave your skin feeling or looking greasy, yet it still delivers amazing hydration. It’s a great product to use in winter, and it works great with sensitive, dry skin.

Last, but not least, I also wanted to quickly mention Saints & Sinners Divine Dry Finish Texture Spray.* It’s a lovely multitasker that adds hold and texture, without feeling heavy or sticky. My hair, while very healthy, cannot hold a curl or texture very well, and I love using this as a finishing spray, whenever I style my hair straight or in soft curls.

What are some beauty bits that you’ve been lovin’ lately? I’ve been feeling a bit uninspired in the makeup department- any new makeup products I should check out?