Growing up I was always taught to take care of my skin, so I’ve always prided myself on being fairly knowledgeable about skincare. However this past year I really took the time to do more research to find out what makes certain brands better than others. Sure it’s important to buy cruelty free and vegan products when possible, but what about the hidden chemicals in all those names we can’t pronounce in the ingredients list? I personally never paid much attention to those. As long as the product claimed to be “natural or organic”, I would purchase it. It wasn’t until this year I decided to actually google some of these ingredients, that I realized many of the products I owned weren’t actually that great.
Many of them contained alcohols that dry out your skin, as well as parabens, sulfates, propylene glycol, phthalates, and sodium lauryl sulfate. These ingredients are also found in most shampoos and body washes, and are linked to various health issues including breast cancer, reproductive birth defects, kidney and respiratory damage, and dermatitis. Yuck.
Recently I have been using Cetaphil face wash, mainly because everyone always raves about how amazing it is. Unfortunately, it isn’t as great for your skin as everyone thinks. It contains three of the nasty ingredients listed above. Which leads me back to my original favorite, the Pacifica Kale Detox face wash.
Time and time again, I find myself repurchasing this face wash. Not only is it 100% vegan and cruelty free, but it honestly does wonders for my skin. No other product has ever made my skin as radiant and clear as the kale detox face wash, plus it’s also great for acne prone skin. I’ve tried face washes from all ends of the spectrum, but nothing compares to my OG favorite. Plus it’s super affordable!
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My favorite toner that I’ve come across so far is the Pixi Retinol Tonic Jasmine toner. Reason being is that not only does it have anti aging properties, but it also does not contain any alcohol. This is important because alcohol dries out the skin and can cause irritation, and if you self tan like I do, it’ll take your self tanner right off.
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Vitamin C is extremely important for skin elasticity and anti aging, and my favorite way to incorporate it into my skincare routine is through this serum. It’s so lightweight and your skin will instantly feel hydrated and refreshed. It isn’t super cheap, but trust me it’s worth every penny.
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I recently began introducing Korean skincare products into my routine, and I was not disappointed. Now I can no longer live without this Moistfull Collagen Deep Cream. Being that it is a deep cream, it’s a little thicker than your average face cream, but it leaves my skin feeling so hydrated and supple all day long. Far and away the best face moisturizer I have ever tried, and it’s very affordable.
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I use this eye cream religiously every morning along with the Moistfull face cream above. I’ve truly noticed such a difference in the elasticity in my skin, and the dark circles under my eyes have been greatly reduced. Again, such a good deal and I highly recommend.
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The Sand & Sky face mask is an all around excellent face mask. It helps shrink pores and reduce acne, leaving your skin bright and super smooth. I use it once a week and it has definitely made a huge difference in the texture and appearance of my skin. It’s a little on the pricey side but definitely worth it.
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