New Skincare Favorites, Plus My Prime Day Cart
Keeping it short and sweet and under $70!
Shitters! Today we have a short and sweet dispatch about two newer-to-the-rotation products that have really been punching above their weight, and a few things to grab if you’re shopping Prime Day!
If you’ve been around here for a minute, you know my skincare spiel—I don’t believe in a wildly complicated routine, and I don’t like to push a million different “miracle products.” I know what it’s like to feel uncomfortable in your skin and be willing to do (or buy) anything to fix it, and contributing to that feeling is reallllllllly not my goal. I rarely add something new into my personal rotation, and if I do, I like to spend a good amount of time using it consistently and making sure I really love the results before I get on the rooftop and shout about it to you all. And still, what works for me might not work for all of you. After a few months of near daily use with both of these products, I’ve been really impressed—if you’re intrigued and they fit the bill for what you need, they’re worth giving a go!
First is the Extreme Cream. I’ve tried a lot of different moisturizers over the years, but this stuff is hands down the best. It’s incredibly hydrating and plumping, feels super luxurious on the skin, and makes for the glowiest base on its own or under makeup. And at under $50, it’s priced so much better than anything remotely comparable (looking at you, Augustinus!!!).
But that’s not all—its real benefits lie in the clinicals, where in addition to hydration, it was proven to firm and lift skin, while reducing the appearance of wrinkles. I won’t lie and say those are my biggest concerns quite yet, but I do like knowing that it’s putting in the work over time. It contains a small percentage of bio-retinol (I’ll still use it on days I put on tretinoin with no issues), and of course ceramides and peptides for hydration. I was sold pretty much after night one, but in the few months I’ve been using this, I’ve been really happy with how my skin feels. I’ve since pushed this on a million and one friends and family members, especially my mom, and brought it along on every trip, wedding, etc.
If you are in the thick of breakouts or can only handle something super light during the summer months, this might not be your best bet, but I’ve been using it at night for months with no issues. I’ve been really impressed with everything I’ve tried from this brand! (Sidenote: If you’re looking for a steal, this set with their eye cream and sculpting tool is my favorite. It takes a lot for me to be impressed by an eye cream, but this one does the job in terms of brightening, and the tool is impressively weighty—I love how it feels when I pair it with the cream.)
If the Extreme Cream is my finishing touch, the Major Fade Serum is my base—it’s the the first thing I apply almost every single morning, and most nights too! This is a lightweight serum that was formulated to tackle dark spots, discoloration, and hyperpigmentation—the latter of which is one of my biggest skincare woes—and works to create a more even skin tone over time. Most other products that claim to do this are intensely exfoliating. Not this one! You can use it everyday, twice a day if you want with no issues at all. I’m kicking myself for taking this long to try it, because it really has blown me away.
I originally sought this out because I wanted something gentle to use on my days off from UBeauty’s Resurfacing Compound (one of my favorite splurges—more on that here) that would still help me get to my goal of even, smooth, glowy skin (isn’t that everyone’s??). And this really has! I continue to be impressed not only by the results on my pigmentation, but also how good it feels. It’s nourishing and hydrating and leaves my skin looking brighter almost immediately after use. It plays nicely with the other products in my routine, and on days and nights when I feel like my skin just needs some TLC, this is often the only product I’ll apply before moisturizing. The packaging looks like a little syringe, and it comes with two cartridges of the serum in order to make sure that the active ingredients stay fresh. I’m already on my third cartridge with no plans to stop!
Prime Day: I didn’t go into this Prime Day with a big splurge in mind (though the temptation to spring for one of those Frame TVs is not low…), but there are definitely a few less pricey things in my cart. For the most part, I’m stocking up on tried and true beauty favorites, including the overnight face masks I wear before any big event, my favorite face towels, my go-to heat protectant, and a zillion and one pimple patches (experience speaking here—you never want to be without one of these when you’re in need, plus the packs are currently $3). I’m also very intrigued by these new-to-me heating patches for cramps. Past SIBAL favorites on sale include this workhorse veggie chopper, this pill organizer that is the only reason I remember to take my Allegra, this air purifier (a godsend for an allergic girl like me), and my mini Theragun, which gets used almost every single night in my house (also a great gift!).