When I think of self-care, I'm immediately confronted with images of fluffy, oversized bathrobes, vibrantly-colored face mask formulas, and towels fashioned into turbans to speed up hair drying time. Having spent most of my childhood as a classical ballet trainee, I've always taken the time to pay attention to the wants and needs of my body to prevent injury and encourage an all-around healthy state of being. That could be anything from taking long epson salt soaks to relax my muscles to using nourishing hair masks following the takedown of my heavily hair sprayed ballet bun.
Today, as a beauty editor, there's nothing I love more than jump-starting my day or winding it down with a multi-step self-care routine. While most of my work hours are spent experiencing and reviewing products for the benefit of Who What Wear's readers and beauty lovers, in my free time, I return to a number of trusted products that deliver A+ results every time. However, after receiving nonstop questions about my skincare routine and product favorites, I thought it was finally time to share the best findings. You read that right! Below, you'll find a list of 18 products I use in rotation to support a well-rounded, self-care driven lifestyle.
Lately, I've found myself enamored by skincare products featuring aquatically-derived ingredients that can help dramatically sooth, cleanse, and brighten my skin without any irritation or discomfort. Until I can visit Iceland's famous Blue Lagoon in person (home to one of the 25 wonders of the world), I can help myself to the powers of geothermal seawater and algae with the help of Blue Lagoon Iceland's Algae Mask. It works to boost natural skin glow and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles using a unique formula enriched with bioactive Blue Lagoon microalgae (a nourishing antioxidant that stimulates collagen production) and Blue Lagoon silica to improve skin barrier function. I apply this to clean skin 2-3 times a week for 10 minutes for a visibly brightened complexion.
On self-care evenings and mornings when I'm short on time, time-saving treatments are and easy solution. While there are many masks on the market that promise that promise results within minutes, it's the masks that work overnight that allow me to wake up looking and feeling the most refreshed. Cosrx's overnight spa mask, for example, targets breakouts, dullness, and dryness to reveal a radiant complexion. I simply apply a thin layer of the mask as the last step of my skin regimen. The lightweight mask is formulated using rice extract, niacinamide, and panthenol to moisturize, sooth, and regenerate the skin while also minimizing the appearance of pores for smoother skin.
After entering my 20's, I noticed a major change in the way my skin retains hydration. All of a sudden, it felt like my skincare routine didn't make much of a difference in locking in everything my skin needed to thrive. Summer Friday's Dream Oasis Deep Hydration Serum was a blind buy for me; but certainly proved its worth within days of my first use. Its a weightless, non-comedogenic jelly-serum that addresses my skin concerns with a blend of glycerin, hyaluronic acid, and squalane in addition to naturally derived ingredients colloidal oatmeal, aloe, arnica, and tiger grass. Ideal for all skin types, the serum works by hydrating and sealing in moisture for all-day hydration. Since I have dry skin, I use it as a first-layer primer in my routine.
Blue tansy essential oil has to be one of the most underrated ingredients used in skincare to help counter a wide variety of skin concerns from hormonal acne to signs of aging. I've only recently begun to use Oak Essential's Ritual Oil, but it was love at first sight (or touch). While the product did initially feel stick when applied to damp, clean skin, it was absorbed quickly and lead to a dewy looking complexion. The blue tansy oil works to soothe the skin while clarifying tone, texture, and preventing signs of aging. Its formula includes a highly nourishing blend of lavender, turmeric root oil, safflower seed oil to rejuvenate the skin. It's become a must-have in my skincare routine during my most pampered moments, and I can't imagine going without it.
No skincare routine is completely without swiping a moisturizing balm across the lips to lock in hydration all day and night. This is another aquatic-derived product I'll be raving about for years to come. The Mara Sea Silk Lip Balm is made with a mix of the brand's algae plumping complex, hydrating seed butters, and vegan waxes (a nutrient-rich alternative to beeswax). The algae visibly improves fullness, signs of aging, and volume to help me achieve a juicy pout. If you love soft, pillowy looks and are hoping to achieve long-lasting effects without relying on potentially irritating ingredients for plumpness, this is a product that should certainly be added to your list. While I love using the lip balm beneath my go-to stains and glosses, I'm also a fan of using it overnight as a mask.
Self-care nights provide the perfect opportunity to have an 'everything' shower using a cocktail of hydrating, soothing, and cleansing products. Available with a blend of essential oils and without, The Body Exfoliator is my secret to maintaining healthy-looking skin throughout every season. The scrub is made with gentle combination of bamboo charcoal, AHA/glycolic acid, and BHA/salicylic acid to buff away dead skin cells to reveal bright and smooth skin. What's more, the formula is pH balanced and designed specifically with sensitive skin in mind and can be used often without any irritation.
Using multi-purpose products help me save so much time as a beauty editor, and Ouai's Cleansing Scalp & Body Sugar Scrub is one of the first to come to mind. This color-safe, deep-cleansing sugar scrub can be used to exfoliate product buildup from the scalp and nourish dry skin with the help of sugar crystals, panthenol, glycerin, and coconut oil. This one is also scented with the brand's Melrose Place fragrance which features velvety-rich rose with hints of bergamot, lychee, cedarwood, and white musk. The same fragrance can also be found In Ouai's Treatment Masque, Rose Hair & Body Oil, and Volumizing Hair Spray.
I've also been falling in love with body oils as my favorite post-shower or bath treatment. L'Occitaine's vegan nourishing body oil is crafted using 50% sweet almond oil to provide a boost of long-lasting hydration to dry skin. Its silky texture absorbs quickly without leaving the skin feeling sticky; providing a soft and glowy look. I spritz this on before following up with a body butter to keep my skin feeling smooth all day. Like so many other products I've been obsessed with lately, the body oil also smells amazing and pairs well with any fragrances I'd like to layer it with.
To achieve smooth an even-looking skin, I've been using SkinCeuticals' Body Retexturing Treatment. Ideal for massaging over the entire body following a ridiculously relaxing bubble bath, the product re-textures damaged skin (perhaps making the most difference to dry, rough skin on the elbows, knees, and heels) for a lit-from-within glow. The treatment works using a powerful, yet gently blend of exfoliating and nourishing ingredients including a 17.7% hydroxyethyl urea/aminosulfonic acid compound with 4% niacinimide and hyaluronic acid. In other words, you can trust it to help strengthen the skin barrier and reduce the appearance of discoloration and hyperpigmentation.
This is another new addition to my nightly skincare routine I'm obsessed with slathering on before I settle in for a good night's sleep. Neom Organics London's therapeutic, sleep-enhancing body butter hydrates and nourishes the skin using vital mineral magnesium (an ingredient recognizes for its reparative and cell-regulating benefits), shea butter, and coconut oil. It's also possess the brand's Neom Tranquility Fragrance defined by notes of English lavender, sweet basil, and jasmine that helps alleviate anxiety and reduce muscle tensions. For best results and a restful night of sleep, apply the body butter all over the body and practice some mindful breathing. Sweet dreams!
I'll never say no to an opportunity to use a conditioning hair mask during one of my self-care routines. This one, by Act+Acre, is packed with proteins, vitamins, fatty acids, and antioxidants to envelope dry, brittle hair with lasting moisture on all hair textures. It can be used weekly to address scalp-related issues, and after visible improvement, use can be reduced to once a month.
The little steps in your routine mean the most when practicing self-care, and using this silk scrunchie set by the Crown Affair is one of my favorite ways to do follow through. It offers every-day protection your strands by preventing creasing and breakage; just like a silk pillow case does during a long night of sleep. Gently and delicate on the hair; these scrunchies also eliminate pesky kinks and creasing.
Looking for another scalp scrub recommendation? Sunday II Sunday's Signature Scalp Balancing Scrub is the way to go. Another product that's ideal for all hair types and textures, it gently exfoliates buildup from the roots; countering the effects of dry/flaky scalps with the brand's Active Recovery Complex, papaya extract, and peppermint oil.
I swear by this shampoo and conditioner bundle by Olaplex to revive my hair no matter what it's been through (and believe me, as someone that's worn her hair both chemically altered and natural), any additional protection is much needed. The No.4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo reapairs and protects the hair from everyday stresses while the conditioner leaves the hair easier to manage, shiny, and healthy.
I've been sleeping on this silk pillowcase for years and my protective hairstyles have laster much longer than they did before the addition. The Pure Silk Pillowcase provides an over-night beauty treatment with silk fibers that help maintain the moisture of your skin and hair with reduced friction due to its silk fibers. It also looks beyond chic with my other bedding.
Dedicated Who What Wear readers will recognize gua sha tools as one of our favorite beauty treatments. This one, by Fortuna Skin, is made from natural volcanic obsidian sculpted into the ideal shape for massaging the face, neck, and décolletage. The gua sha massage can also prevent the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles as well as promote the natural circulation flow of the skin.
More morning skincare routine begins with using these two cooling facial massagers to help support lymphatic drainage while visibly reducing puffiness, redness, and under eye circles. I simply place the cooling spheres in the refrigerator over night (or when working on a tight schedule, for at least 30 minutes), and then use them to gently massage my cleansed face.
While I'm in the shower, I use Elemis' Body Detox Skin Brush to sweep away dead skin cells and help my internal system by promoting blood circulation. Its recommended that you start the process by brushing the soles of the feet and moving upwards; always working towards the direction of the heart.
