Today I’m excited to give you all a peek inside of my skincare cabinet! Beauty is only skin deep, so might as well love (and take good care of) the skin that you’re in! Not only am I going to be sharing my favorite skincare brands & products with you, I’m also talking about the ones that didn’t quite hit the mark for me. Fair warning, this is a longer post, but I’ve organized all the products by type so it’s a bit easier to digest!
I’ve rated each product out of 5 stars (☆☆☆☆☆) based strictly on my personal experience with it. I tend to have what most would call “combination skin”. It gets a bit drier in the colder months – my cheeks, nose and chin are NOT fans of Chicago’s winter winds! Then it gets just a smidge oilier in the warmer months due to sweat and being out in the heat.
Quick Disclaimer: everyone’s skin & preferences are different, so just because something did or didn’t work well for me doesn’t mean that’s how it will work for everyone! Please note that the majority of these products have been gifted to me by brands via press packages and such, however this is NOT a sponsored post. All thoughts and opinions are my own and 100% honest as I’m sharing my genuine experiences with all of you! I hope that this is helpful for those of you looking for specific new products to try or if you’re switching up you skincare routine.
Let’s crack into it!
Moisturizers / Lotions
Pixi Vitamin-C Lotion
☆☆☆ 3/5 – Pretty basic lotion, but great for putting on right before makeup or if you’re in a rush. Absorbs quickly and isn’t too oily, but also isn’t crazy moisturizing. I think that this would work well for most skin types unless you have super dry skin and need that extra oomph of moisture. It has a nice citrusy scent without being to overpowering!
Pixi pHenomenal Gel
☆☆ 2/5 – Takes a long time to absorb which I don’t love and it ends up making my face feel kinda sticky. This would definitely be a nighttime product vs. pre-makeup product for me. For a grain of salt, in general I don’t love gel moisturizers. So, this just may not be the product for me! Doesn’t really have a scent of any sort.
Pixi Rose Ceramide Cream
☆☆☆☆ 4/5 – I LOVE this stuff. The rosy scent isn’t overpowering or old-ladylike at all. Super moisturizing and the packaging is also super cute! A little pricy for a 1.7 oz. bottle from Target, so it loses a star. But beyond that, would recommend!
Pixi Vitamin C Caviar Balm
☆☆☆ 3/5 – This balm is super moisturizing and leaves a dewey finish, so I’d recommend only using it at night. It’s actually considered a leave-on mask, but I use it more as a moisturizer myself. It’s a bit heavy for my liking, but it does what it says it’s supposed to do and has the classic Pixi sweet and citrus scent to it.
Image Skincare Ormedic Balancing Eye Lift Gel
☆☆☆☆☆ 5/5 – This is by FAR my favorite under-eye product that I’ve ever used! It’s pricy, but lasts a long time since you only need to use a little at a time. This stuff does wonders for my puffy under-eyes and any dark circles in the morning. I definitely plan on getting another bottle of this!
First Aid Beauty Retinol Eye Cream
☆☆☆ 3/5 – Retinol got super trendy a few months ago and it felt like everyone was coming out with retinol products all of a sudden. With this cream, I don’t notice a huge change in moisture under my eyes, but I did notice a difference in fine lines and dark circles! A lot of people online have said it actually caused dryness for them under the eyes, so just an FYI there if you are looking for something to help with dryness. This probably isn’t it. However, if you’re trying to correct lines and circles, it’s definitely worth checking out! It is a bit pricy for the amount of product you get if it’s not something you really “need” though.
First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream Intense Hydration
☆☆☆☆☆☆ 6/5 – I SWEAR by this product and have gone through multiple tubes and tubs of it over the last 5+ years! It comes in both a tube and tub form, but I tend to prefer the tube for sanitary sake and for travel. If I was told I could only pick one moisturizer for the rest of my life, this would be it! I use it for my face, body, hands, etc. It’s a miracle worker on dry and cracked hands in the winter. I could not recommend this product more! (Seriously, try it. You won’t regret it!)
First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream – Cucumber Melon
☆☆☆☆ 4/5 – As mentioned above, I love the original and the formula here is the same, so no complaints there. That being said, I do wish that the melon portion of scent was a little stronger! The scent is mostly cucumber – at least to my nose, but it’s very fresh smelling.
First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream – Mango
☆☆☆☆☆ 5/5 – Again, as I mentioned above, love the original and the formula here is the same. However, I also LOVE this scent! I’m a big mango fan and I like that product reminds me of a mango yogurt scent wise vs. the strong scent of dried mango. It’s just the right softness scent wise. I’ve been using this one for my legs and body and I’m a big fan!
First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair BarriAIR Cream
☆☆☆☆ 4/5 – So airy! A lighter alternative to the original Ultra Repair Cream in both weight and texture. I like that this cream isn’t too oily and doesn’t have any scent to it. It dries super quickly and the whipped texture is fun and maintains itself nicely.
IMAGE Skincare Ormedic Balancing Bio-Peptide Creme
☆☆☆☆☆ 5/5 – OBSESSED! One of my favorite morning moisturizers right now and will be getting more once I’m completely out. (I’m running on empty!) This moisturizer is a bit oilier in my experiencer, but it’s especially great for the cooler months when I get dry patches. This creme has a strong mandarin orange scent to it which is super refreshing in the a.m. I also like that it comes with a little spatula since it comes in a tub.
Tarte SEA Drink of H2O Hydrating Boost Moisturizer
☆☆☆☆ 4/5 – The texture and color threw me off when I first opened it, but I’ve grown to love it! This moisturizer is like jelly, but isn’t sticky at all and dries/soaks in without leaving residue but also is nice and moisturizing. I do notice a slight cooling effect to it sometimes when it put it on, but nothing crazy. There’s not really a scent to this product and I love the packaging. Great for throwing on when I’m in a rush since it soaks in so quickly!
Cleanser
Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel
☆☆☆ 3/5 – This cleanser has a general innocuous “skincare” scent to it, but is very mild scent wise. I like to use this cleanser more in the summertime when I have a bit more oil on my skin. I wouldn’t recommend this if you have consistently dry skin. A little goes a long way and it’s a good price for the quality and amount of product you get!
Image Skincare Ormedic Balancing Facial Cleanser
☆☆☆☆ 4/5 – First off, I’m a big fan of the scent of this cleanser! It’s super soothing and you can feel and smell the aloe vera in the product. My skin feels clean and refreshed after using this!
Pixi Vitamin C Juice Cleanser
☆☆ 2/5 – I’m not going to lie, the fact that this is considered a cleanser, but you don’t wash it off after using really throws me off each time I use it. There are so many great reviews and I LOVE the dispenser on the bottle, but the product itself isn’t my favorite.
Pixi Glow Tonic Cleansing Gel Exfoliating Cleanser
☆☆☆ 3/5 – Although I like this cleanser, it is a bit harsher on my skin so I wouldn’t recommend using it on a daily basis. I tend to use this about once a week while I’m in the shower. It has a very clean, non-specific scent to it. Fair warning: The product comes out of the tube SUPER quickly, so I feel like I’m over-applying about half the time when I use it. In general, I like it but I’m not sure if I’ll get another tube once I run out of this one.
First Aid Beauty Pure Skin Face Cleanser
☆☆☆☆☆ 5/5 – I’m on my second tube of this stuff! This is my favorite facial cleanser right now and I use it almost every morning. It’s gentle but gets the job done. I also like that it’s on the creamier side and has a certain opalescence to the color. Absolutely would recommend!
Tarte Knockout Daily Exfoliating Cleanser
☆☆☆☆ 4/5 – A little goes a long way with this one! I like that it gets foamy while lathering and has the same cooling effect that the Tarte H2O Moisturizer has. One less star because I wish there was little grain to it. I generally prefer that in cleansers that are supposed to be exfoliating, just for face feel!
Toners & Serums
Image Skincare Ormedic Balancing Antioxidant Serum
☆☆☆☆ 4/5 – Again, I love the scent of this line! This serum is a little sticky but I still love it, which is BIG for me since I hate anything sticky. I will say that the stickiness goes away pretty quickly, but definitely not something to put on if you’re in a rush! I like to give this serum time to absorb into my skin before putting makeup on and it is super moisturizing!
Pixi Glow Tonic
☆☆☆☆ 4/5 – My younger sister LOVES this stuff and I’m also a fan! Pixi actually sent me this huge customized bottle for Christmas which was such a sweet surprise! (It has my name on it!) I like the scent and use this whenever I run out of my FAB facial pads, which are usually my go-to. This tonic gets a 4 vs. 5 in my book just because I prefer the pre-soaked pads vs having to pull out cotton swabs/pads every time I want to use this product. I wish they’d make some pre-soaked pads with this product. Would definitely recommend it though!
First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Pads
☆☆☆☆☆☆ 6/5 – These are the BEST thing that ever happened to my skincare routine! I first started using these after I attended an event celebrating FAB’s 10th birthday in Chicago! I use these pads in the morning and they help a lot with dryness and any bumpiness/acne on my skin. There’s a clear difference between when I do and don’t use these, especially when it comes to the skin around my nose! I could not recommend these more and I actually turned my mom onto using them too!
Pixi Skintreats Vitamin C Serum
0/5 – Not a fan at all. This serum is super sticky and it oxidized quickly! I hadn’t opened the bottle in a bit and it’s now a dark orange color. Just threw it out and would not recommend this product at all.
Pixi Vitamin-C Tonic
☆☆ 2/5 – Meh. That covers it. This is a pretty basic toner and the price is appropriate for what it is. Don’t really see any major difference when I use it, but it smells good! It’s the same sweet and citrusy scent that a lot of the Pixi products are known for!
Face Masks
5-in-1 Bouncy Mask First Aid Beauty
☆☆☆☆ 4/5 – Love this mask! It’s super fun (It literally bounces and the texture of the mask reminds me of Flubber!) and it’s great for smoothing the skin and moisturizing. I will say that since it’s very translucent and sheer, it’s important to make sure you get it all off. I’ve had a few times where I’ve missed removing a spot and it leaves a weird sticky/glue like residue on my face that I discover a few hours later. A little goes a long way! This is a gentle, slightly floral scented (rose I think?) mask and it’s my current favorite mask!
L’Occitane Soothing Mask
☆☆☆ 3/5 – I don’t notice a huge difference after using this mask. However, I like the texture! It reminds me a bit of yogurt, but I’m not a fan of the grainy particulate inside of it. The scent is fruity and reminds me of a tropical starburst! Probably won’t get this one again, but I’m glad I tried it.
ETC.
Unscented Simple Kind to Skin Cleansing Facial Wipes
☆☆☆☆☆ 5/5 – I’ve tried so many different brands of makeup wipes and now these are the only ones that I use! I absolutely love that they’re gentle on my eyes but also take all of my makeup off with no excessive rubbing needed. These are also truly wipes that you don’t have to rinse your face after using (no weird residue) so they’re great for travel!
L’Occitane Delicious Lip Scrub – Raspberry Crush
☆ 1/5 – The granules in this are a bit too large and I feel like I’m rubbing jelly on my lips each time I try to use it… It has a great (and strong) scent to it, but I’ll pass.
DERMA E Vitamin C Bright Eyes Hydrogel Patches
☆☆☆☆☆ 5/5 – I have a love hate relationship with eye patches. I feel like half the time they slide off my face because they’re too soaked with product and other times they won’t stay on because there’s not enough product. These are perfect though! All 60 patches are together in the one container and the price for 60 patches (30 occasions) is REALLY good. I also love that they come with a little spatula so you’re not touching the other patches when you’re taking a pair out. I haven’t used them enough to say if they really brighten the under-eyes, but they definitely make my skin feel refreshed!
I hope that this post was helpful and you had fun taking a peek inside of my skincare cabinet! I’d love to hear what skincare brands and products you swear by! Shoot me an email or message me on social because I love learning about new brands and such through all of you. I hope that you have a wonderful rest of your day!
