Beauty
Gatekeeping
I was quietly keeping these to myself. Now I am telling you which ones I use, and why the cheaper one is sometimes enough.
Vichy Dercos Aminexil Clinical R.E.G.E.N. Booster
The luxury one. I like it, but expensive does not always mean you need it. What matters is the concentration and the formula, not only the name on the bottle.
L’Oréal Paris Elvive Fall Resist
The cheaper alternative to the Kérastase and Vichy hair serums. It has Aminexil too.
The Ordinary Retinol 0.5% in Squalane
It works, but it expires about 3 months after you open it. So do not open it until you are ready to use it.
Acretin 0.05% tretinoin cream
Stronger than retinol, and often cheaper. Start slowly and build up step by step.
Available at pharmacies.
Prescription product, ask a dermatologist first.
This is my personal opinion, and results vary. Before you buy, check the concentration and the formula, not only the ingredient list. Not every expensive product is worth it.
Makeup I actually reach for
SHEGLAM tint
If I am heading to work or just going out for a bit, the SHEGLAM tint is what I put on. I do not overthink it. It is the one I keep coming back to, whether the day is full or the plan is small. I like SHEGLAM in general. The products feel easy, and this tint is the one that stays in my bag.
Fenty Beauty glossy lipstick
For a night out, or any outing that needs a little more, I switch to the Fenty Beauty glossy lipstick. It is not my everyday lip. It is the one I save for when I am actually going somewhere. The shine does the work, so I do not need a full lip look around it.
SHEGLAM kohl
Kohl is the other thing I do not skip. I use the SHEGLAM one. I use the Black shade. Blush is the same. If the base is on and the kohl and blush are on, I already look like I tried.
SHEGLAM mascara
I like it because it washes off with water and gives my lashes volume. It comes off easily, so it works for every day.
The base, on a normal day and on a rushed day
HUDA BEAUTY primer & foundation
Right now my base is HUDA BEAUTY. I am using the primer and the foundation. Primer first, then foundation. That is the combo on my face at the moment. Shop my HUDA BEAUTY picks
Maybelline Fit Me
I also use Maybelline Fit Me. The concealer is Fit Me, and the foundation I like is Fit Me Matte + Poreless, the one with the 16-hour wear. I do not use it as one flat shade. I mix it with a second shade so it sits closer to my skin. Both are on Amazon if you want the same thing I am using: Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless — and Maybelline Fit Me concealer.
Cell Fusion C BB cream
On a rushed morning the foundation is the step I will not drop. Some days that is the HUDA BEAUTY foundation. Some days it is a baby cream. I use the Cell Fusion C bb cream, and it has not given me breakouts. Skin looks better to me once one of those two is on. After that, blush and kohl. That is the version of my face I leave the house with.
Skincare I am actually using
I keep this simple. A gentle cleanser, a toner, then a serum and a cream. That is the routine.
TIRTIR Milk Skin Toner
After I shower I use the TIRTIR Milk Skin Toner, and not only on my face. I put it on my body too. It is the step that makes my skin feel like it actually got finished, not just washed. Shop it on YesStyle with the code POWERFUL0
EPII HPT6 Ultra Drop & Ultra Cream
For almost two months I have been using EPII HPT6, the Ultra Drop serum and the Ultra Cream. I use them to keep my skin healthy, with a little protection against wrinkles. Not a miracle claim. Just the pair I have stayed with. Serum — cream. Code POWERFUL0 on both.
SKIN1004 Centella Cleansing Milk
For cleansing, I want something gentle, whatever the brand. If I only have sunscreen on, I use the SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Hyalu-Cica Gentle Cleansing Milk. Code POWERFUL0.
Round Lab Soybean Cleansing Oil
If the makeup is heavy, I switch to an oil cleanser first. Mine is the Round Lab Soybean Cleansing Oil. Code IOU3186. I saw a clip of Souad Hosni using this same kind of technique, oil to take makeup off, and it stuck with me. It is an old method, and a lot of us are only just getting to it. Oil first when the makeup is heavy, then the milky cleanser if my skin still needs it.
Hair: scalp first
I care more about my scalp than my ends. The ends I can handle. The scalp is the part I do not want to ignore, so that is where my attention goes.
Kérastase Genesis
The hair product I am keeping on this page is Kérastase Genesis. I am interested in it because of the scalp, not as a long ends treatment. If the scalp feels looked after, the rest of the hair is easier to live with.
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My personal experience, not medical advice. Results vary, patch test first.