007: what's on my top shelf, skincare edition

The few products I swear by, use regularly, and some I make myself

A quick note to share the favorites of my skincare rotation. I try to use as few products as possible, optimizing for gentle and ranked low on EWG’s Skin Deep analysis which evaluates products for safety beyond what’s currently regulated. Some are DIY from the food aisle, not the cosmetic one. More on that below :)

---

I keep a jar of raw unfiltered honey from the farmers market in my shower and use it to wash my face. The more local the better. Allegedly, it can also help you acclimate to pollen and mitigate seasonal allergies. I tried to gate keep this but alas, brands like Manuka have sprouted up selling tubes of honey marketed as face masks. Literally just go to the local market and buy a jar. It will smell, feel, and taste better.

I love walking around BlueMercury which is where I found my favorite vitamin C serum years ago— M-61’s Vitablast C. This is the lightest product I use so it goes on first, right after I cleanse my face.

The truth about the Augustinus Bader Rich Cream: it works. The price is insane but so are the results. I use it twice a day and noticed a difference in my skin texture almost immediately.

The best body lotion I’ve found is from Necessaire, which ranks 2 on the EWG scale! I also am a big fan of body oil - particularly this 100% virgin coconut oil for $13.

I wear SPF every day. The first thing I do when I land in Europe is sprint to the nearest pharmacy to pick up SkinCeuticals. Particularly their Ultra Facial UV Defense Sunscreen in SPF 50. Do not be fooled, the one sold in the United States is similar but NOT the same. On my last trip I also picked up their Tripeptide-R Neck Cream which is basically just a retinol.

I make my own body scrub from old coffee grounds. My recipe is 1/2 cup coffee grounds, 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1/2 cup melted coconut oil. It’s the most delicious exfoliant and smells absolutely amazing. I don’t buy artificial lip scrubs. Instead, I dip a spoonful of honey into a jar of monk fruit (or sugar) to create a homemade alternative.

I have a Burts Bees Coconut Foot Cream which I put on before bed and then cover my feet with socks. As I’m thinking about it, this is also probably something you could make yourself with a honey or coconut oil base.

Every night I slather caster oil over my brows and lashes which seems to make them grow or at least appear thicker.

---

Say hi & share with a friend <3