November & December Favorites: Beauty.
It has been FOREVER since I did a legit beauty favorites!
With the pandemic, I have barely been wearing makeup, but then when I got pregnant, I really pretty much stopped. I was just so sick for the last 3.5 months that I couldn’t even handle it. I figured whatever I shared beauty-wise would give it away!
So the last three+ months, basically since the moment I found out I was pregnant, my skin absolutely blew up. I have never had breakouts or pimples or acne in my life – not even in high school. The hormones must be doing a number on me right now. I’m not sure if I can call it acne, but it’s def clusters of pimples that have seemed nearly impossible to get rid of. That, and combined with the fact that I can’t use my Dr Dennis Gross Peel Pads – it’s been rough!
I think it’s a combination of hormones breaking me out AND my skin being weirdly irritated and dry by winter weather. But it’s just been awful. Sharing below a few of the things that have helped to clear it up. A huge produce I said I’d never buy and one I rediscovered from when I was pregnant with my others.
December Beauty Favorites
Burt’s Bees Herbal Blemish Stick. This is one of the only things that has saved my skin in the last three months! I was desperate for weeks then I remember using this as a spot treatment when I was pregnant with Max. I ordered one and it IMMEDIATELY helped. Like, next morning. It def can dry out the skin a bit so you need a thick moisturizer over it – but I adore this. I am so thankful I remembered it from before!
Augustinus Bader The Rich Cream. Yes, I did this. I still can’t believe it, but oh man was I desperate. In the last few months my with skin a disaster, I tried so many things. I ended up buying this after thinking about it for the last year or so. Long story short – combined with the blemish stick above and my caudalie toner, it has been a miracle worker. My skin is notoriously dry and always has been. This has worked wonders. It’s calming and moisturizing on another level. I don’t really have any scarring for this to clear up, but it has improved my complexion so much. I don’t even mind that I’m not using my other favorite skincare products anymore. The thing about this is that they don’t want you using any other products with it. It’s one of the reasons I always avoided it because I didn’t want to give up some of my favorites. But I was desperate, so it didn’t matter. One downside – the pump is GARBAGE. I’m on my third bottle and the pump hasn’t been great on any of them. Thankfully you can open up the bottom, take out the packaging and cut it to get out every last bit. See also: I have only bought this on sale! Would not pay full price for it.
Bumble and Bumble Invisible Oil Shampoo and Conditioner. My sister-in-law gave me this for my birthday in early November because she loves it so much. I have to say this is the best gift ever – and I gifted it to someone for Christmas! I haven’t changed my shampoo in ages. This is amazing – it smells incredible, cleans my hair without drying out, the conditioner is perfect (my hair is also dry) and works – I am so, so happy with it! I already almost finished the bottles she gave me and I bought the jumbo ones.
Clinique Acne Solutions BB Cream. When I started breaking out, I noticed it was incredibly worse the day after I wore makeup. That wasn’t too often, but still – I wanted a way to combat that! I have used this before and ended up repurchasing. It’s tricky because my skin is dry so I can’t use too much of this, but the formula is super thin and blendable and it also covers SO well. I haven’t used it a ton, mostly because it has lots of ingredients that I don’t use normally in my face makeup. But there have been some times I’ve had to wear makeup and I even be used it as just a spot concealer. It’s really good.
Since I’ve been MIA with my beauty faves, what have you been loving over the last few months? Any winter must haves, or things you’ve discovered in quarantine that you love?!
12 Comments on “November & December Favorites: Beauty.”
Where do you find Augustinian Bader cream on sale?
so the website violet grey has it on sale 2 to 3 times a year – but nordstrom also does! they will put it on sale during the violet grey sale to match, but also randomly have it on sale a few other times! it’s never announced so you just kind of have to keep an eye out.
I follow Grace Atwood on IG and she always posts when it is on sale anywhere. Nordstrom randomly had it on sale in October then I purchased a backup from Violet Grey on Black Friday (and I think Blumercury is still 20% off sitewide through today and they sell it). Such a great product.
thank you so much for the info! just bought it on blue mercury 🥳
the bader cream has been on my radar for so long, mainly because of grace atwood always talking about it! now i want to try. will definitely keep an eye out for the sale. how did you decide between the regular formula and the rich cream? i have combination skin so the rich may be too heavy?
i have really dry skin (always have) so i knew i’d probably do the rich cream. but i’ve also looked at tons of reviews and it seems like people who tried the regular cream after the rich cream, felt that it didn’t do as much as the rich cream! unfortunately it is probably trial and error – i couldn’t even get a sample anywhere because no one around me sells it!
I just got a pot of Lise Watier cream eyeshadow in Jet Set, and ohhhh my goodness, the shimmer in it is magical. It also goes on silky smooth and blends so well. I’m not sureif it’s available in the US?
First of all, I have to tell you that I really look forward to these posts and always find new products to try so thank you! Also, congrats on the pregnancy!! So excited for you guys!!
A few new favorites of mine in the last few months have been:
– Perricone MD, Vitamin C Ester Brightening Serum
– Glow Recipe, Watermelon Glow PHA +BHA Pore-Tight Toner
– Farmacy, Honey Halo Ultra-Hydrating Ceramide Moisturizer
I am also a HUGE fan of the Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Sukari Babyfacial mask. I use it once a week religiously and it always makes my skin feel incredibly soft and hydrated (given I use hydrating products after I wash it off). One tip I’ve found for myself is to rinse with cool water instead of warm water.
I’ve had my eye on the invisible oil shampoo + conditioner for about a year now and can’t seem to pull the trigger. Did you know they also have a primer for before shampooing? I have used and loved Pureology Hydrate shampoo + conditioner for years now, the peppermint in the conditioner feels SO nice, after I rub it in I usually let it sit for 5 mins and it feels like I’m in a spa. I am just not sure I’m ready to give it up!!
Hope you have a happy new year! <3
I rarely wear makeup (especially this year) and have extremely sensitive skin so I’ve stuck with the same brands for skincare and makeup pretty much my entire life. But I came across these eye collagen patches (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07RLSW2BY/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1) and they are AMAZING. I followed suggestions from some other people and wear them all night when I’m sleeping about once a week. I felt like I looked so tired and worn out and these have really helped.
So excited for you guys! When I saw it on insta I was super happy. We are on the same path (I had my first baby a few months after Max) and have been following your journey. I now have three kiddos and it’s really the best (5, almost 4, and 14 mo). I really enjoyed the third, I had a lot of time to snuggle and appreciate him knowing he was my last. No skin recs, I broke out like crazy for my third too (on my forehead only for some reason) and nothing helped that much until I had him, unfortunately. Good luck!!
Just wanted to say how much I look forward to the beauty posts.
Your recommendations over the years have led me to try products that have become staples and which have resulted in an effective cleansing regimen and great, healthy skin.
I’m dying to try Biologique Recherche P50. Like Good Genes, it’s a cult product and expensive; users say it is a gamechanger. Reviews abound this is one:
https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/biologique-recherche-p50-review
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