If I Lost My Entire Skincare Collection

My top favorite skincare product in every category.

I love to sit down every year and share my absolute top pick in every category— I think it’s such a fun practice to see which products stayed the same, and which newer product discoveries have found a home in my routine.

Next week I will do the same, but focusing on my makeup collection.

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Products marked with (AS) means they are acne safe. This means that they pass Sofie Pavitt’s ingredients checker and contain no potential pore cloggers. If you don’t know what I’m referring to, go watch my Acne Safe highlight on Instagram! Everything I select is also rosacea skin friendly.

You can always see all of my favorites in each category here.

Let’s jump into it!

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First Cleanse

This might come as a surprise to many, but The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser (AS) is still my favorite first cleanse. When it comes to this step in my routine, I like something that is effective, affordable, and an enjoyable experience to use. You get 5oz for $21, and a travel size is just over $10. I always travel with it. It comes in a squeeze tube with a flip cap, which is my personal favorite packaging. Apply on dry skin, work it into your makeup, and it rinses completely clean with no residue.

Second Cleanse

There have been so many incredible and innovative cleanser launches this year, that this was one of my hardest categories to choose— but if I truly must select one it’s going to be Dieux Baptism (AS). I love that there is a fragrance-free version, as well as a fragranced version. And I personally love the fragrance notes. Fragrance in cleansers is one of the few places I allow it since it washes off, and this formula is like a thick jelly and it foams really nicely— more so than any of my other favorites. This can completely remove makeup too, if you’re someone who prefers to have less products, but I am cheap (lol) so I like to use this as my second cleanse only. The Experiment is a close second, and if I could put the Dieux in the Experiment packaging, it would be perfect. 6.76oz/$34 (DEVSDAY10 for 10% off Dieux + Experiment)

Toner

I think toner’s can be confusing, because there are so many different kinds these days. I typically reach for those that are hydrating, but they’re not something I really use every day. I prefer an essence, which typically has more beneficial ingredients (think serum meets toner). However, I love having these Nice Ice Toner Pods (AS) on hand. These were created by Sofie Pavitt who is an esthetician who specializes in acne. These are hydrating, soothing, and are loaded with antioxidants. You freeze the pods, and use one when your skin is feeling puffy or inflamed. It feels so good! Just slap it on a cotton round and let it melt into your skin.

Essence

This product was a new launch this year, but quickly became a favorite. I realized many of the essences I previously used had pore clogging ingredients and so I was happy to discover that this one did not! This essence by Superegg (AS) is thick, and juicy and it’s perfect for my chronically dehydrated skin. A little goes a long way, so even though this is pricey at $74 for 3.38oz, I’ve been using it half the year and I’m not even a fourth of the way through. This isn’t a necessary step in a routine (honestly, except for cleansing, moisturizing and SPF, none of these are), but if you love the way your skin looks and feels with an essence, this one has an impressive ingredients list to not just hydrate— to brighten, smooth, firm, soothe and protect the skin. The brand was founded by Erica Choi, a NYC licensed esthetician, who spends half of her time in Seoul and is well versed in Korean skincare as well!

Mist

Another Jordan Samuel Skin favorite is Hydrate The Mist (AS). Hydrating, calming, soothing and has antioxidant protection. It’s pretty affordable too at $29/4oz. I also have the 1 oz travel size, and this is typically what I use to cleanse my face with in the morning. I spray on a cotton round and wipe down. Jordan is another esthetician brand that makes elevated basics that are so well-priced.

AM Moisturizer:

Since realizing that I have to be pretty selective with any moisturizer I apply to my skin, I discovered that my beloved Jordan Samuel Skin The Performance Cream (AS) is safe for me to use, and it’s the perfect light to mid-weight cream that I can use it AM and PM nearly all year round. If I had to only pick one moisturizer, this would be it. It’s very sensitive skin friendly, and also has peptides and antioxidants so it’s like the amped up/adult version of the Vanicream Daily Moisturizer (which is my failsafe drugstore favorite).

PM Moisturizer:

I feel like ya’ll are gonna get sick of how annoying I am with my go-to’s. This one will be no surprise— Tatcha’s Indigo Overnight Repair Serum in Cream is still my favorite night time moisturizer. It’s really hard to find a heavier weight cream that passes my Acne Safe check, but is also fragrance free, helps lessen redness and irritation. Tatcha really did something here and it has yet to be replaced!!

Sunscreen

If you’ve been following me a while you know that I cannot live without this sunscreen by La Roche Posay (AS). It’s hydrating but it sets down, isn’t sticky and doesn’t transfer. Depending on your skin type, you may need to skip moisturizer. It has incredible UVA/UVA protection, and water resistance. I just ordered six of these from the site linked above (if you search the sunscreen, you can see a few places to buy it abroad (Cosmetis, eCosmetics and CocoonCenter are trusted sites I love). You will not believe the sigh of relief I made when I confirmed it had nothing pore clogging in it. It’s so good under makeup, that I wore it under makeup to a 7pm wedding this past weekend where the sun had already set because I knew my skin was going to look flawless.

Balm/Facial Oil

This was really hard to choose, because I have two favorites in this category. Experiment’s Buffer Jelly (AS) is an elite slugging product for those of us who are acne prone, but I also love Anfisa’s An-Balm (AS)— but when it comes down to it, I think I would pick Anfisa. This product just feels like pure luxury and when you have all of the skin issues I do, and it limits what you can use— we (I) need a bit of luxury in our routines. It’s a balm that melts upon contact with your skin. I love using a tiny bit of this over my Jordan Samuel Performance Cream at night. It’s the perfect cold-weather combo that I rotate with the Tatcha. This is great around the eyes if you get dry there, or on the lips, cuticles. I love that they have a mini size for under $60 because truly you don’t need a lot of product, it takes me too long to finish the normal size! (DEVSDAY10 for 10% off Experiment)

Eye Serum/Gel/Cream

Wow, I’m realizing now how much of Jordan’s line I use regularly in my routines! I’ve been a fan of his eye gel since it launched, so we are going on six plus years now? I have extremely sensitive eyes, and cannot use anything with retinoids, and have to be careful about actives in general around my eyes. This gel has caffeine to instantly depuff, and a few antioxidants as well as peptides to firm. The price is incredible for how much you get at 1oz/$40. Most eye creams are pricier, and give you only .5oz. This lasts forever!

PS this product is technically not acne safe, but I have never had any issues using it around the eye/have never broken out there so I am not going to stop using something I love!

Vitamin C/Antioxidant Serum

I think this one will come as no surprise, but Anfisa’s An-Dew Serum (AS) has been a godsend for my skin. It has 10% Azelaic Acid and PHA gluconolactone help improve texture, and reduce the redness that is associated with my rosacea. Hexylresorcinol, resveratrol, and licorice root extracts are tyrosinase inhibitors that improve skin tone (hyperpigmentation) and minimize temporary redness. Lastly, it has vitamin c from Kakadu plum and Indian gooseberry provides antioxidant protection. This is a multi-faceted serum that is like four serums in one. I love that this has more gentle vitamin c— as this ingredient in its true form (L-Ascorbic Acid) can often be a trigger for rosacea. I use this every morning. They now offer a jumbo size too. 1.69oz/$195 or 1.01oz/$120.

Retinoid

You all know I have used an Rx retinoid since I was a teen, but I have tried a lot of retinoid’s in my day. There are two formula’s that stand out to me, but if I had to pick one, it would be Sachi Skin’s Ursolic Acid & Retinal Overnight Reform (AS). This contains .05% stabilized retinaldehyde (this is stronger than retinol, but a step below prescription strength), so I only recommend it for those with oily skin, or others who have already used retinol with success. It’s strong, but insanely effective, and what I would use if I couldn’t get an Rx. This also contains Ursolic acid, a tripeptide, as well as Ayurvedic botanicals, and 12 Brighteners + antioxidants. 100% worth the price tag at 1oz/$92.

PS- they’re having a sale right now (ends 10/17). After that, my code DEVAN15 gets you 15% off.

Also— Naturium has an excellent retinal serum at two strengths, that is great if you want to try out Retinaldehyde before committing.

Exfoliant

This liquid chemical exfoliant has taken over the internet for good reason. Decalt Slurp is perfect for those who deal with whiteheads, blackheads, congestion, pimples, etc. but also want something gentle. It contains 0.5% Salicylic Acid and 5% Nanoliposomal Polyhydroxy Acid that sweep away dead skin cells and excess sebum while eliminating acne-causing bacteria. Volcanic wormwood and Korean ash blot excess sebum, loosen congestion and draw impurities to the surface. What makes this exfoliant so gentle yet effective— is that it also contains fatty acids, squalane and jojoba oil, which mimic our natural sebum and carry the formula within the pore wall, as opposed to sitting on top of the skin. This product is innovative and impressive. 5.07oz/$58

Do I still have my beloved P50 1970 on hand? Yes, I keep the travel size on hand, but really use it more as a spot treatment these days, as it is not sensitive skin friendly.

Hydrating, Soothing/Calming Serum

This was tough, because I have a few, but honestly the decision was easy— I cannot live without Super Satty (AS)!! Experiment just gets it. 30% glycerin, tons of super soothing ingredients and increases hydration over time. My skin gets easily irritated lately, and this has been the only hydrating serum in my collection that won’t burn my skin when it’s in its most fragile state. I can’t live without it and love that they offer refills. 1.35oz/$28 or refills are $25 (DEVSDAY10 for 10% off Experiment)

Hyperpigmentation Serum

This one will come as zero surprise to anyone, but Sachi Skin’s Triphala (AS) is IT. Although, my more affordable fave here is also great. Most pigment serums only have 1-2 key ingredients, but hyperpigmentation needs to be tackled at every step of the pigmentation synthesis pathway to really prevent and treat hyperpigmentation— which means 1-2 key ingredients only tackle one part of the process. This serum is absolutely stacked with ingredients that tackle hyperpigmentation, but it also doesn’t contain any chemical exfoliants, vitamin ,c or retinoids meaning you don’t have to worry about where you add this in your routine— you can use it AM + PM, or one or the other. 1oz/$88

Sachi skin is currently having a sale that ends 10/17! After that, my code DEVAN15 will get you 15% off.

Peptide Serum

There are a lot of great peptide serums that have launched but this one by Naturium one surely is my favorite. I have found that many peptide serums irritate my skin when paired with my retinoid, and this one never has! I really don’t like to use too many serums in the morning to avoid pilling, and because I’m always in a rush so it’s imperative that a serum work well with my retinoid. This serum is a lightweight milky texture that layers incredibly well. It has a really impressive blend of peptides for the price at 1oz/$25.

PS— this does contain Shea which is considered a pore clogger. As long as my entire routine doesn’t have more than 1-2, my skin stays congestion free, but wanted to point that out!

Lip Treatment

I don’t want to be dramatic when I say that this lip treatment changed my life. Don’t let the name of the product fool you, this is a true lip treatment in every way. One of my biggest issue with lip products is that they don’t truly hydrate my lips, and treat them from the inside out. This does just that. It contains five skin-identical ceramides and vegan cholesterol to revitalize and strengthen the skin for lasting moisture and softness. Peptides enhance lip fullness and definition, Allantoin and bisabolol calm + soothe, five cold-pressed organic oils, virgin butters, and a potent antioxidant blend provides lasting protection against environmental stressors. This is .5oz/$45 and worth every penny. I use it every day during my skincare routine to prep my lips!

Would love to hear if any of these surprised you, or if we have any of the same favorites.

Did you discover any of these products because of me?

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