skincare-products-routine

7 Products In My Skin Care Rotation

I love trying out new skin care, so much so that the baskets and boxes I have dedicated as skin care storage have begun to overflow.

Would that stop me? No – I have a ton of new things I’ve been using from some of my favourite brands like The Body Shop, Kalleis, Formula 10.0.6, The Ordinary and Cosrx that I wanted to share with you!

*this post contains affiliate links*

new skin care products in my skin care routine for combination oily skin

The Body Shop Drops Of Youth Essence Lotion

I’ve been using The Body Shop Drops Of Youth Essence Lotion for a few months now, so this review is slightly overdue. I use this essence after cleansing and toning my skin. It’s a light, clear, watery gel that spreads easily and absorbs quickly. I’m also grateful that it doesn’t have any strong floral fragrances (unlike the British Rose Gel Toner that almost knocked me over with its strong rose scent).

Drops Of Youth Essence is cruelty-free and made with three plant stem cells: edelweiss from the Italian Alps, sea holly and criste marine from the Brittany Coast that leave my skin soft and hydrated. While I’m enjoying the feel of this essence, I’m not sure I enjoy it as much as my Cosrx Snail Mucin Essence, which I feel had more beneficial ingredients and hydrating effects for my skin.

That being said, the Drops of Youth Essence Lotion is a good runner-up.

Buy It: The Body Shop 

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*Kalleis Lift Serum

I reviewed a few items from Kalleis, an Italian skin care line last year which I really enjoyed, so I was only too happy when a *PR sample of the Kalleis Lift Serum arrived on my doorstep.

Kalleis Lift Serum promises to firm and lift mature or fatigued skin (of which, I have both) while fighting premature signs of ageing caused by sun exposure. Formulated with anti-aging polypeptides, Lift Serum is designed to fight the formation of deep wrinkles, fine lines and otherwise dull, sagging skin.

Collagen and hyaluronic acid boost skin firmness and hydration, while currant, red grape, passion flower and royal jelly nourish and re-balance the skin’s barrier. Lift Serum comes in a beautiful glass bottle with a chrome-topped pipette that dispenses its orange tinted serum. The serum itself is a non-watery gel and two drops is enough for me to cover my entire face (while it’s still damp from applying my essence lotion).

The serum absorbs within seconds with a slightly tacky, non-greasy finish. I like to apply Lift Serum in the morning and it works well under my makeup and regular moisturizers. It does have a strong fragrance though, which I would describe as a soapy-cologne smell, so fragrance haters be warned. I’ve been enjoying Lift Serum so far and I feel like my skin has been looking plumper since I started with it, but given its bold claims and the fact that I’ve only used it for several weeks, I want to give it more time before I make any final judgments about it.

Buy It: Cosmo Chic Boutique

 

COSRX AHA 7 Whitehead Power Liquid

Being a Cosrx lover, I won’t rest until I’ve tried all of their toners (did you know they just released a new one that promises poreless skin?). Since my second bottle of their BHA Blackhead Power Liquid finally finished, I decided to give the AHA 7 Whitehead Power Liquid a go in the meantime.

I love applying this glycolic acid toner in the morning (after cleansing) and the pump on the top of the plastic bottle makes it easy to pump the toner right into my hands and pat it directly onto my skin. AHA 7 has been helping to smooth out my skin and is formulated to promote radiance, reduce whiteheads and sebum (oil) while exfoliating dead skin cells – which it does very well.

After a few weeks of use, I noticed the stubborn whiteheads I get under my bottom lip decreased in number and my skin felt a lot softer overall. I don’t have any issues with dark spots, so I can’t comment as to its brightening effects. I love the simple ingredient list of the AHA 7, which includes niacinamide to refine pores.

Pyrus malus (apple) fruit water (a naturally occurring alpha hydroxy acid derived from apples) is used instead of pure water to boost the exfoliating power of the 7% glycolic acid. As strong as this stuff is for exfoliation, it also has a hydrating effect and it never leaves my skin feeling tight or irritated.

Do I love it? Yes, yes I do.

Buy It: Amazon | Ulta | Dermstore

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*Kalleis Skinimune Moisturizer

*Kalleis Skinimune is a (gifted) moisturizer that’s been in my rotation for a couple months now. It’s formulated to penetrate deeply into the skin to stimulate the production of collagen and elastin while promoting plumper, healthier looking skin. Glycolic and lactic acids help promote cell turnover by exfoliating the skin, which also helps even out skin texture.

Skinimune is by far one of my favourite (and most expensive) moisturizers in my rotation right now. Similar to the Kalilux moisturizer from Kalleis (reviewed here) Kalleis Skinimune has the ability to make my skin super soft and smooth without leaving a greasy finish. It makes an amazing makeup base if I apply it during the day, and if I use it as my night cream, I always wake up with super soft, plump skin. Despite its moisturizing prowess, Skinimune is lightweight and you don’t need to apply a lot to get results – which is a good thing, because it don’t come cheap!

Buy It: Cosmo Chic Boutique

 

The Ordinary Advanced Retinoid 2% (which has been renamed to Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion)

Is everyone still going nuts for The Ordinary nowadays? I’ve enjoyed almost all of the products I’ve tried from the brand, so I guess I’m still on this skin care bandwagon.  Nine months of pregnancy + nine months of breastfeeding means that I was starting to look like one of the Golden Girls without my beloved retinol, so I couldn’t wait to drench my skin in the stuff once the milk factory closed.

Advanced Retinoid is a lightweight, off-white lotion that absorbs into my skin within seconds and is a treatment I’ve been reaching for many a night. Advanced Retinoid is a complex of solubilized Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate – a more advanced form of retinoid, that claims to better fight the signs of aging as compared to all other forms of non-prescription retinoids.

Even better, hydroxypinacolone retinoate gives skin all the benefits of retinol without the irritating side effects some people experience with traditional retinols (dryness, tightness, flaky/angry skin).

The Ordinary describes this retinoid as being of moderate strength and causing no irritation – and I agree – the strength of this retinoid has helped firm up my skin and shrink my pores with ZERO irritation, and anything that can do that gets a special place in my skin care basket (and in my heart…). Advanced Retinoid should be applied at night and I use it after applying my essence and/or serum and before my moisturizer.

While I’m head over heels with the Advanced Retinoid 2%, I know I’ll be grabbing the Granactive Retinoid 5% in Squalane (High Strength, No to Low Irritation) next!

RELATED READING: A Comprehensive Guide To Drugstore Retinol

Buy It: Sephora | The Ordinary

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*Formula 10.0.6 Be Berry Balanced Grape + Vitamin B3 Nourishing Spray Toner

I was sent some products from Formula 10.0.6’s new Be Berry line to try out, with this yummy Nourishing Spray toner being one of them. Be Berry Balanced is a refreshing toner that hydrates my skin with a few spritzes.

Great as a follow-up toner after cleansing or a hydrating mist when the hot weather has me feeling gunky, this lightly scented toner is formulated with niacinamide (vitamin B3) to help tighten pores and promote overall skin health. I only wish the spray on this toner was a little lighter – I prefer a soft mister on my spray toners and this one sprays the product a bit heavy for me. Otherwise, I’m enjoying this toner in the morning after washing and exfoliating my face.

Buy It: Ulta

RELATED READING: Detox & Brighten With Formula 10.0.6

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*Formula 10.0.6 Be Berry Juicy Seaberry + Apple Hydrating Moisturizer

Another product from Formula 10.0.6’s Be Berry line, the Seaberry + Apple Hydrating Moisturizer smells divinely sweet (like pink bubblegum) and is a lightweight moisturizer that quickly hydrates my skin without any greasiness. Seaberry oil keeps skin hydrated while Pyrus Malus (apple water) gently exfoliates to make skin glow. I only wish the size of this moisturizer was bigger – I feel like the 50mL bottle will be empty too soon for my liking!

Buy It: Ulta

What skin care products are you using at the moment?

blush and pearls beauty blog by angela
 
 

Looking for more skin care product reviews? Read:

Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence by COSRX

Vichy Skin Care Haul + Review

Pixi By Petra Retinol Tonic | Review

9 thoughts on “7 Products In My Skin Care Rotation”

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  9. Hey there! I just finished reading your article on skincare product reviews, and I couldn’t help but drop a comment to express how much I enjoyed it. Your writing style is so engaging, and it feels like I’m chatting with a friend rather than reading a blog post.

    I’ve been on the hunt for some new skincare products, and your insights were incredibly helpful. Your detailed reviews and honest opinions made it so much easier for me to decide which products to try next. I particularly appreciated your recommendations for different skin types, which is a game-changer for me because my skin tends to be a bit sensitive. It’s great to know that you’ve personally tested these products and can vouch for their effectiveness. Thanks for saving me time and money on products that may not have worked for me otherwise!

    Keep up the fantastic work, and I’ll definitely be back for more of your skincare advice. Looking forward to your next article! 😊🌸

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