Jeannie Jarnot is on a mission to deliver beauty you can trust, one Hero product at a time.
After a long career as a spa director, she founded Beauty Heroes, an online shop where she curates the best of green beauty.
Her criteria are strict. To make the cut, each product must be innovative, luxurious and crafted with care and love. Most of her picks are handmade with ethically sourced ingredients that are safe for both the planet and humans.
But what does she uses on her skin? In this interview, Jeannie shares her fave skincare products, the lifestyle habits that keep her skin in top shape and more:
1. When did you become interested in skincare?
My first interest in skincare came when I was a teenager. I struggled with terrible cystic acne and would have done anything to get rid of it. I was using all the products that are not good for skin, plus covering my acne with makeup. It’s quite a common story. But, I first learned about skincare when I became a Spa Director. I had a long career and for years I would attend every brand and product knowledge training we had in our spa. It’s so interesting to see how skincare has evolved over my lifetime. It’s a totally different industry than what it was when I was young.
2. What’s your skincare routine like?
It’s probably more complex than the average woman’s routine, but less intricate than many of the skincare enthusiasts I watch on Instagram. I don’t have a lot of time so I don’t play as much as you might think I do. Although, I am always testing several products at once. I love hydration, so I am always layering hydrosols and toners in between steps, and as a last step. I try to mask twice a week whenever I can. As I am getting older, I can really feel my cell turnover slow down, so masks help to keep things moving. The Hero products I curate for Beauty Heroes are really my Hero products. If you want to know what I use, it’s what we’ve featured in the past 2-3 years at Beauty Heroes.
3. If you could only use three skincare products for the rest of your life, what would they be?
My favorite brands are the ones that are always evolving. I don’t believe that beauty brands need to always deliver something new. But, I do love brands that are constantly improve and strive to stay current. Green beauty should not be trendy, but there is so much that can be done to continue to connect us to ingredients, education, packaging, the Founder. I love brands that always have something to share and inspire. Brands are living, breathing entities. I believe they should be always evolving.
5. What are your top 3 skincare tips to take care of your skin?
My first tip is to make time for masking. Skin loves to be treated to a concentrated dose of healthy ingredients. I also think that the ritual of masking connects us to our skin, our beauty, our health. Mask and take some deep breaths. Make it a ritual.
My second tip is to always wear sunscreen on your neck, chest and backs of the hands. I continually remind myself of this. Now that I’m 45, I can see how important it is to protect these areas vigilantly.
And last, hydrate. Mist skin with your favorite hydrating toner before your moisturizer, in between steps and even after your oil or balm. I never put on an oil without water, and vice versa.
6. What skincare treatments do you regularly have done?
The only thing I’ve done is electrolysis and laser hair removal. I haven’t had an IPL, botox, or filler. I’m not totally against it, I just haven’t done it myself. I don’t really feel the need to.
7. What lifestyle habits do you have that keep your skin in top shape?
The biggest lifestyle tip I share for skin is to make sure you are keeping the hormonal disruptors out of your lifestyle. There are so many of them that are so common in main stream products, from beauty and personal care to cleaning products, soaps, toothpaste, they are literally everywhere. My skin completely changed when I phased out as many hormone disruptors as I could out of my daily life. You can find the most common ones on our Beauty Heroes Ingredient Pocket Guide.
Get access to the “Pro Skincare Library” for exclusive skincare routine “cheat sheets” and tricks to help you navigate the beauty aisles jungle like a pro and immediately know what to pick off the shelves to achieve the gorgeous skin of your dreams – even when you’re drowning in an endless sea of skincare products.
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I’ve done about a trillion of these simple scrubs lately.
You: exaggerate much, Lise?
Well, ok, lots and lots.
They’re quite old fashioned, and that’s part of the appeal. But before you think "oh no! Not that old fashioned greasy stuff?!", let me give you a little spoiler alert: there are a couple of things you can do to make the old fashioned ‘oil and exfoliant scrub’ rinse off more easily and feel less greasily.
If you already make your own herbal infusions, you’re well on the way, but even if you don’t, there is a workaround for that too.
This extensive devotion to research is reflected in their products, which I’ve talked about before – they invented micellar water, their Atoderm range is recommended by eczema organisations and dermatologists, and their sunscreens (unfortunately not available in Australia) have some of the highest UVAPFs available.
As you’d expect, they have a lot of skincare products to cater for different skin types and conditions, so in this video I’m taking you through some of the Sebium products.
I talk about:
What causes acne?
How does Sebium help with acne?
How Sebium’s patented ingredient blends work
Product overview: what they’re designed to do, and what I thought of them
Sebium H2O Micelle Solution (micellar water)
Sebium Cleansing Foaming Gel
Sebium Sensitive
Sebium Hydra
Sebium Mat Control
Extra links
Here’s a video from Bioderma about SeboRestore and squalene: SeboRestore
Here are some of the patents – be warned, they’re quite technical!
This video is sponsored by Bioderma; however, the content is all based on my independent research and my honest experience. For more information, see Disclosure Policy.
As someone who more than enjoys the slightly chillier days of Autumn, it will come of little surprise that I am already planning both my wardrobe and beauty routine for the coming months, and I more than have a contender for my fragrance of the season in Jo Malone Poppy & Barley Cologne.
For those who are eagle-eyed amongst us, you may actually recall Jo Malone Poppy & Barley Cologne from the English Fields collection of 2018? Well for anyone who fell hard the first time around for its light and delectable notes, the good news is that it is back to stay as a permanent fixture of the Jo Malone line up.
If like myself you aren’t a huge fan of spice lead scents and want something soft, comforting and dare I say cosy like a giant knitted blanket, then Jo Malone Poppy & Barley Cologne could be the very scent you have been searching for. It is light, floral and yet thanks to the slightly oaty trail of Barley it feels fitting for the season of crunchy leaves and layered clothing. Speaking of layers, Jo Malone Poppy & Barley Cologne does partner well with just about every existing Jo Malone cologne you can imagine; in the spirit of counting down to Halloween, I have of course been adding a spritz or too alongside Jo Malone Pomegranate Noir.
The issue with writing about fragrance is that a screen can never truly portray exactly how it smells or settles on the skin, regardless of how many punchy adjectives I may fit in a paragraph. However in the instance of Jo Malone Poppy & Barley Cologne is that it is entirely agreeable and I do believe that you would be hard pushed to not like it. It is safe yet special at the same time and that is a space rarely occupied by any fragrance.
"When I smell Poppy & Barley I am taken to the heart of an English meadow during the harvest. It’s the end of every summer when the fields are a sea of gold and I picture lively light poppies moving and dancing in the breeze." – CELINE ROUX, HEAD OF GLOBAL FRAGRANCE If you can imagine the crispness of the air when the leaves are slowly browning and your sudden need for a scarf, yet the sun is still in the sky and it doesn’t quite feel like Winter will be rearing its head anytime soon and you have Jo Malone Poppy & Barley Cologne. It is sweet thanks to a ripe and altogether juicy note of Blackcurrant, delicately floral and slightly powdery with a fresh, heart note of Poppy (enhanced by rose and violet) and yet it has an almost savoury twinge, due to the addition of the cereal-like note of Barley.
Jo Malone Poppy & Barley Cologne will be launching soon – link.
What’s the right skin care routine order? *scratches head*
Skincare used to be so easy. Cleanse. Tone. Moisturise. Go out the door.
Now you can’t leave the house without sunscreen. And an antioxidant serum or two. Plus, an exfoliant. And… what the heck are essences now?!
Your skincare routine is getting longer by the minute. But how do all these products fit in together? Like, should you go with serum or moisturiser first? Toner or exfoliant? Does it even matter?!
Yep – and a great deal, too. Vitamin C or retinol get into the skin much faster if they don’t have to fight through 5+ layers of products to get there.
Here’s the right skin care routine order to make the most of your lotions and potions:
THE RIGHT SKIN CARE ROUTINE ORDER
1. Cleanser
Before you apply your skincare products, you need to remove everything that’d make it harder for them to get through the skin. Start your routine with a gentle cleaner that removes dirt, oil, makeup and all the other impurities that accumulated on your skin during the day (and night). The key is to pick one that doesn’t leave your skin feeling tight. That’s a sign the cleanser’s damaged your protective barrier!
You know what else prevents retinol & co from penetrating deep into your skin? All those dead cells that accumulate on the surface of your skin. Get rid of them with a good exfoliant. And nope, I don’t mean a scrub. Chemical exfoliation is the way to go here. These exfoliants dissolve the “glue” that holds skin cells together, so they can slough off and reveal the smoother, brighter and softer skin underneath. But don’t use them every night! Two or three times a week is more than enough.
This step is totally unnecessary, but, I know a lot of you like to use a toner. A good one hydrates skin and prevents premature wrinkles. You can apply it before exfoliation, especially if it has a runny texture. But I prefer to make my canvas as clean as possible before using anything else.
If your doctor’s prescribed you any meds (think Tretinoin or Hydroquinone), use them now your skin’s freshly clean. Those active ingredients need to penetrate the skin deeply to fix whatever issue you’re dealing with. The only exception? If you find they’re way too harsh for your skin and cause severe peeling, flakiness and redness, you can put them on after moisturiser. Yes, you’re diluting their effectiveness. But that’s what makes them more tolerable to your skin. You can always invert the order again once your skin has gotten used to the harsh med.
Serums are the workhorses of skincare. They contain higher concentrations of active ingredients than moisturisers, so they’re able to treat dehydration, wrinkles, sun spots, and everything else you’re dealing with better and faster. They have thinner textures to so the sooner you apply them, the better. Put them on top of moisturisers, and chances are they won’t be able to get through to your skin.
Another unnecessary step you do out of habit. The eye area doesn’t need any special ingredients, so your fave fragrance-free facial moisturizer would do. If you want to use a separate eye cream, apply that first. It helps keep the undereye area hydrated, smoother, and brighter.
A moisturizer locks in moisture and all the other skincare products you have just applied, boosting their efficacy. That’s why it makes sense to use it last. Plus, out of all your skincare products (sunscreens excluded!), moisturisers have the thickest texture. Anything you put on top will struggle to reach your skin.
(P.S. If you have very oily skin, you may not need a moisturiser at all. A moisturising sunscreen in the AM and a hydrating serum at night may be enough for you).
Sunscreen should always be the last thing you put on your skin in the morning (well, before makeup!). Why? Cos that’s how scientists test it. Sunscreen is medicine. It keeps you safe from UV harm and prevents wrinkles, sun spots, and cancer. Use it like it’s meant to.
I’m not convinced, the more, the better. If anything, the more stuff you put on your skin, the more chances of an irritation or breakouts.
But if you want to go the extra mile and use something I haven’t mentioned here, it pays to know the rules behind the right skin care routine order:
The rule of textures: start with the lightest product in texture and build your way up till the heaviest in texture. Heavy textures (think moisturisers) create a barrier that’s difficult for anything you apply next to get through.
The rules of actives: if you’re using any prescription products, retinols, vitamin C, skin-brighteners or exfoliants, apply them as close to freshly cleansed skin as possible. If vitamin C is the 5th layer you put on your skin, it won’t be able to penetrate as well (that’s why I like minimalistic routines 😉 ).
Now you know the rules, use your judgment. If your serum has a lightweight, almost runny texture and your prescription product is a rich cream, then it makes sense to use the serum first. But if they both have lightweight textures, apply the one with the most beneficial active first.
It helps to keep your skincare simple. I don’t use toner, eye cream or any extra layer I don’t need. If I like two antioxidant serums, I’ll use them on alternate days rather than try to fit everything in.
Skincare isn’t about using all the products. It’s about using what works for you. In the right order.
SHOP MY FAVE SKINCARE PRODUCTS
Are you following the right skin care routine order? Share your skincare routine in the comments below.
Take The Guesswork Out Of Skincare Shopping
Get access to the “Pro Skincare Library” for exclusive skincare routine “cheat sheets” and tricks to help you navigate the beauty aisles jungle like a pro and immediately know what to pick off the shelves to achieve the gorgeous skin of your dreams – even when you’re drowning in an endless sea of skincare products.
Success! Now check your email to confirm your subscription and get access to the skin library.
We’re in the last few weeks of summer, and maybe that feels like the last few weeks of lazy days before autumn sets in. Autumn is an exciting season when we come back from vacation, go back to school, and embark on new beginnings, which can inspire a return to more diligent, full routines.
We thought we’d celebrate these last few weeks of summer with three lazy day routines — of course, not that you can’t do a lazy day routine during autumn. We know lazy days strike any time of year, but you know what we mean.
The Ultimate Lazy Day Routine — It Doesn’t Even Include a Sink
This routine doesn’t even include a sink. Use one of the Ariul Stress Relieving Purefull Cleansing Tissues to remove your makeup, sweat, and other impurities — maybe use two if need be, so your skin is clean. Follow with the Peach & Lily Lazy Day All-in-One Moisture Pads; these soft cotton-blend pads are your toner-serum-moisturizer in one, packed full of beautiful plant-based extracts and hydrators. It’s like swiping a green juice on your face.
The Kinda-Lazy-But-Want-A-Little-Extra Routine
Give your skin a thorough but gentle cleanse with the Eco Your Skin Oil-to-Foam Cleanser — this two-in-one, sulfate-free cleanser is your oil-based and water-based cleanser in one, and the soft foam effectively removes your makeup, sweat, and other impurities without stripping your skin dry and disrupting your natural skin barrier in the process.
Follow with the May Coop Raw Sauce, a toner and essence in one, to rebalance your pH level and hydrate skin deeply. As your third (and last) step, seal everything in with a thin layer of the Peach & Lily Overnight Star Sleeping Mask. This decadent overnight mask has a unique texture — a bouncy jelly balm meets a whipped gel-cream — and it will help nourish and hydrate skin as you sleep, so you wake up glowing.
The Lazy-But-Want-It-All Routine
Is this possible? Dare we say?!
The Pure Lotus Jeju Botanical pH Balancing Cleanser is sulfate-free and has a pH of 6.5, making it super gentle and suitable for sensitive skin. We like using this as a 2-in-1 cleanser by using it twice — massage it onto dry skin as your first step, and rinse off with lukewarm water. Use it a second time on damp skin, this time adding water to create a foam cleanser.
Follow with the Peach & Lily Wild Dew Treatment Essence to hydrate skin and also balance skin’s pH level (Wild Dew has a pH of 5.5), and massage one or two layers of the Peach & Lily Glass Skin Refining Serum. Finish off your PM routine by layering on 4-5 layers of the Miwaji Hyalu Serum Veil as a DIY overnight mask — the Hyalu Serum Veil has a more viscous texture than other serums, so it will start to feel a little sticky with 4-5 layers. However, the unique formula seals everything in, delivering hydration even to the deeper layers of skin, so, when you wash your face in the morning, your skin will feel so soft and hydrated.
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What are your lazy day routines? Let us know in the comments below!
The annual Teen Choice Awards are all about the youngest stars in Hollywood. For this year’s ceremony, held Sunday night in Los Angeles, even the hair and makeup had a youthful vibe!
It was all about colourful eyeshadow and eyeliner with playful hairstyles, from ’60s-inspired waves to a braided faux bob.
Here are the top celeb looks you need to see:
Jessica Alba
Jessica Alba at the 2019 Teen Choice Awards.
Close-up of Jessica Alba at the 2019 Teen Choice Awards.
Fact: Jessica Alba never makes a wrong move on the red carpet, and this Boho look is no exception. Her hair is amazing—it’s so long right now, with a beautiful natural Ombré on the ends that looks like it was created by the sun. Rather than playing it safe with her makeup, she went for bright yellow liner to match her dress, and a creamy baby pink lipstick. I think the false lashes could be better, but overall, I love this!
Zendaya
Zendaya at the 2019 Teen Choice Awards.
Close-up of Zendaya at the 2019 Teen Choice Awards.
Wow, Zendaya’s skin is so healthy and dewy here! On first glance, this look seems on the conservative side—that is, until you see the über-long braid cascading down her back. The makeup comes second to her signature full brows, which are perfectly groomed without appearing obviously filled in. Her lashes have a great texture, and I’m really digging the warm brown liner in her waterlines (instead of the usual black).
Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift at the 2019 Teen Choice Awards.
Close-up of Taylor Swift at the 2019 Teen Choice Awards.
Taylor went way off brand here, ditching her sugary-sweet persona for a bold Versace print and a big bouffant hairstyle. Let’s break this down. The makeup is both softer and more experimental than she usually wears, with nude lips and a two-toned eye (shimmery beige up top, and teal on the bottom). I like it! The problem is more to do with the hair. While I love the bangs and the colour, the half-up styling and extreme teasing seems kind of dated.
Lucy Hale
Lucy Hale at the 2019 Teen Choice Awards.
Close-up of Lucy Hale at the 2019 Teen Choice Awards.
Lucy has always been one to wear a strong makeup look. Instead of the colourful eyeshadow she wore last year and the year before, she went for a red lipstick with draped blush. (The same idea Rihanna had at the Met Gala that one time.) I think it does make an otherwise classic look a bit more trendy and interesting, but I’m not sure these cool tones are really flattering her skin. Her upper lip also looks a tad overfilled. But I do like her textured bob and full brows!
Close-up of Halle Bailey at the 2019 Teen Choice Awards.
Is Halle adorable or what? Like Jessica Alba, she chose a vivid neon eyeliner to accentuate her upper lash lines—this one is a pastel lime green. Notice how it’s actually applied higher up, above a black cat eye (which is closer to her lashes to make her eyes pop). I like that she kept her lips neutral and matte, especially because the hair is making a big statement as well. These braids are parted deep on one side and then wrapped under to look like a faux bob. Genius!
Close-up of Maia Mitchell at the 2019 Teen Choice Awards.
Unlike the other stars here, Maia played it safe with her hair and makeup, likely because she chose a printed prairie-inspired dress. So it made sense to keep her hair up with a few face-framing wispy strands. The makeup is all about a fresh glossy lip, straight brows and tons of lashes. I find the lashes look heavy up close, but they do help emphasize her eyes from afar (and dark liner or shadow would’ve looked wrong with her dress).
Brittany Snow
Brittany Snow at the 2019 Teen Choice Awards.
Close-up of Brittany Snow at the 2019 Teen Choice Awards.
The last time we saw Brittany, she was blonde; now, she’s rocking a very unnatural orangey red with eyebrows to match! I’m not a fan, but I think her makeup is fun. If there was ever an occasion to wear gold glitter eyeshadow, the Teen Choice Awards is it. She paired that with chunky jet-black lashes, natural skin and a sheer lip gloss. To be honest, her teeth are the real showstopper here. They’re perfect!
Close-up of Sarah Hyland at the 2019 Teen Choice Awards.
Sarah went super beachy and summery with a deep tan and a pink makeup palette. My favourite thing here is the hairstyle, a casual ponytail with centre-parted bangs. But I’m not so on board with the new auburn hair colour, which seems to overpower her. Fortunately, she left her brows au naturel, except for overdrawing them with pencil. Between the hair, the brows and the copious amounts of eyeshadow, this looks a little heavy.
Literally. Princess Marcella, a member of the Italian royal family with a passion for all things beauty, created the Borghese brand in the ’50s. How cool is that?
The bottle of the moisturizer reminds me of perfume – a reminder that skincare is more than just creams and lotions. It’s about self-care and the luxury of taking some “me time” to recharge and unwind.
Can this moisturizer deliver all that? Read on:
Key Ingredients In Borghese Cura Di Vita Protettivo Moisturizer SPF 15
Hyaluronic Acid To Hydrate Skin
Hydration is the foundation of healthy skin.
When skin has all the moisture it needs, it plumps up so fine lines and wrinkles look smaller. It gets softer to the touch. And it takes on a radiant glow.
The best way to hydrate skin? Hyaluronic acid, a magnet that draws moisture from the air and binds it into your skin. It’s so powerful, it can hold up to 1000 times its weight in water!
Pure Vitamin C is so unstable, it goes bad within 3 months. It can be very irritating, too. It’s enough to make you want to stop using it. But you can’t.
Avobenzone: One of the very few UVA filters approved for use in the US. It protects your skin from UVA rays, but itt’s very unstable (i.e. stops working quickly when exposed to light).
Homosalate: A.k.a. Octyl Salicylate, an UVB filter with a slightly oily consistency and a mild floral scent.
Oxybenzone: A sunscreen agent hat protects from UVB and some (not all) UVA rays.
All together, they provide adequate sun protection – IF you apply the recommended amount. That’s 1/3 of a teaspoon for the face alone.
Pro Tip: you need to apply your moisturizer with SPF the same way as your sunscreen if you want to get the SPF stated on the bottle.
Having said that, I do follow up with sunscreen afterwards. SPF 15 may be enough for gloomy London winters, but it won’t cut it in summer.
I know, I know. Packaging is hardly the most important thing in a moisturizer. But I love when a brand goes the extra mile and creates something that’s as beautiful as it’s effective. Don’t you?
The moisturiser has a lovely floral scent and a pink, creamy texture that’s absorbs fast without leaving a greasy residue behind.
The pump applicator dispenses just the right amount of product you need. Afterwards, just turn the cap left to lock it, so nothing can accidentally get out.
Once the cream has sunk in, my skin feels so soft to the touch. It looks a little plumper, too – a nice little effect that makes the fine lines around my eyes look smaller.
My skin feels hydrated for the whole day. At no point I get that tell-tale tight feeling that warns me it’s time for a touch-up. Phew!
I apply sunscreen afterwards but I do appreciate the extra sun protection, especially now that summer’s in full swing. You can never have enough, can you?
If I had to find fault with it, I’d say I’d like to see a few more antioxidants in the cream. But my sunscreen has plenty of those already, so I don’t mind too much.
If you’re on the lookout for a luxurious, hydrating moisturiser for your dry skin, I think you’ll really like this. Just don’t skip your sunscreen!
Get access to the “Pro Skincare Library” for exclusive skincare routine “cheat sheets” and tricks to help you navigate the beauty aisles jungle like a pro and immediately know what to pick off the shelves to achieve the gorgeous skin of your dreams – even when you’re drowning in an endless sea of skincare products.
Success! Now check your email to confirm your subscription and get access to the skin library.
What’s the best Paula’s Choice Skin-Brightening product?
The brand has a dozen serums, essences and boosters all promising to even out your skin tone, brighten your complexion and fade away dark spots once and for all.
But not all are created equal. Some can make your skin glow, but are powerless against dark spots. Some are more suitable for oily skin while others work better on dry skin. And some are so harsh, they may give you a serious case of irritation – at least, until your skin has gotten used to them.
How do you make sense of it all? Here’s the complete guide to Paula’s Choice skin-brightening products to help you choose the right treatment for your skin type and needs:
Paula’s Choice C15 Super Booster ($49.00)
What it is: A concentrated Vitamin C booster you can also alone or mix with your fave moisturiser.
Active Ingredients: 15% L-Ascorbic Acid (the pure form of Vitamin C), a powerful antioxidant that fights free radicals, boosts collagen and brightens the complexion. Vitamin E and ferulic acid help it last longer and enhance the sun protection of your sunscreen. Plus, the booster is loaded with soothing ingredients to reduce redness and irritation.
Best for: Anyone who’s serious about anti-aging or has dull skin. It also helps fade away dark spots, but may not be strong enough on its own to get rid of them completely.
When to use it: You can start using it in your early 20s to prevent premature aging and make your skin glow. Use it in the morning to boost the effectiveness of your sunscreen.
Side effects: High concentrations of Vitamin C can irritate sensitive skin. If that’s you, start with a lower dose a couple of times a week and upgrade slowly.
What it is: A highly concentrated Vitamin C booster you can use alone or mix with your fave moisturiser.
Active Ingredients: 25% L-Ascorbic Acid (the pure form of Vitamin C), a powerful antioxidant that fights free radicals, boosts collagen and brightens the complexion.
Best for: Stubborn dark spots.
When to use it: At night, as the last step of your skincare routine.
Side effects: 25% Vitamin C can be very irritating. Do NOT use this if you have sensitive skin.
Paula’s Choice Resist Pure Radiance Skin Brightening Treatment ($36.00)
What it is: A brightening treatment that hydrates skin, soothes irritations and makes skin glow.
Active Ingredients: A blend of niacinamide and Vitamin C to brighten skin and make it glow. Plus, plenty of hydrating and soothing ingredients to moisturise skin and calm down redness + irritations.
Best for: Dull skin. This’ll make it glow but it won’t fade dark spots.
When to use it: Morning and night.
Side effects: None, unless you’re allergic to one of the ingredients.
What it is: A powerful retinol treatment with a time-released delivery system (it releases retinol over a period of several hours) to make it gentler on the skin.
Active Ingredients: 1% retinol, a form of Vitamin A that boosts collagen, fights wrinkles and fades away dark spots. It’s also loaded with skin-soothing ingredients to minimise the risk of irritation.
Best for: Mature skin who’s used retinol for years and is ready to upgrade to 1%.
When to use it: At night, as close to freshly-cleansed skin as possible.
Side effects: Paula’s Choice has formulated this treatment to be as gentle as possible. But 1% is still a high dose of retinol that can cause redness, irritation and flaking. Start with lower concentrations and build up to 1% slowly. Retinol can also cause purging.
What it is: A 1% retinol booster with a time-released delivery system you can use alone or mix with your fave moisturizer.
Active Ingredients: 1% retinol, a form of Vitamin A that boosts collagen, fights wrinkles and fades away dark spots. Plus, it’s loaded with hydrating and soothing ingredients to moisturise skin and soothe irritations.
Best for: Mature, dry or dehydrated, skin who’s used retinol for years and is ready to upgrade to 1%.
When to use it: At night.
Side effects: 1% retinol can cause redness, irritation and flaking. Start with lower concentrations and build up to 1% slowly. Retinol can also cause purging.
What it is: An eye cream enriched with Vitamin C and retinol to brighten the eye area.
Active Ingredients: It has 4 forms of Vitamin C + retinol to firm skin, fight wrinkles and fade away dark spots. Plus, lots of ceramides and fatty acids to keep your skin soft and supple even in the harshest of weather.
Best for:No one needs an eye cream. I recommend this only if your skin is drier than the rest of your face. It helps reduce dark circles, but ONLY IF they’re caused by hyperpigmentation.
When to use it: Best used at night.
Side effects: Retinol can cause irritations and dryness when you first start using it. At the beginning, use it once or twice a week and build frequency from there.
What it is: An overnight brightening mask that makes skin glow.
Active Ingredients: Vitamin C, Niacinamide, Arbutin and Bearberry extracts all have skin-brightening properties that can fade away dark spots and give skin a radiant glow.
Best for: Anyone who wants an overnight radiant glow.
When to use it: At night, as the last step of your skincare routine. Do NOT rinse off.
Side effects: None, unless you’re allergic to one of the ingredients.
What it is: A 10% azelaic acid booster you can use alone or mix with your fave moisturizer.
Active Ingredients: 10% azelaic acid, a skin-brightener that fades away hyperpigmentation, treats acne and soothe irritations. It also has salicylic acid, an exfoliant that unclogs pores and helps treat + prevent breakouts.
Best for: Sensitive, rosacea-prone and acne-prone skin types that need an effective but gentle treatment for dark spots.
When to use it: Either morning or night. If you want to make your dark spots fade away faster, use it twice a day.
What it is: A lightweight essence with arbutin that’s suitable for every skin type.
Active Ingredients: Arbutin, an extract derived from bearberry leaves that fades away dark spots and hyperpigmentation. It’s nicknamed “natural hydroquinone” because it has a very similar chemical structure (it turns into hydroquinone in the body). Plus, the essence has Vitamin C, licorice extract, bearberry extract, mulberry extract and Niacinamide, all ingredients that can brighten skin and even out its tone.
Best for: Anyone with dark spots who’s looking for a gentler alternative to hydroquinone.
When to use it: Both morning and night.
Side effects: None, unless you’re allergic to one of the ingredients.
Paula’s Choice Clinical Triple-Action Dark Spot Eraser 2% BHA Gel ($29.00)
What it is: A powerful treatment with hydroquinone and salicylic acid that targets all signs of aging.
Active Ingredients: Hydroquinone is the most effective treatment for fading away all kinds of hyperpigmentation. When all else has failed, this can help. Plus, the treatment has salicylic acid to unclog + shrinks pores and antioxidants to prevent wrinkles.
Best for: Oily skin with hyperpigemtation who’s tried plenty of skin-brightening treatments without seeing results.
When to use it: Morning and night, on dark spots only.
Paula’s Choice Resist Triple-Action Dark Spot Eraser 7% AHA Lotion ($29.00)
What it is: A powerful treatment with hydroquinone and glycolic acid that targets all signs of aging.
Active Ingredients: Hydroquinone is the most effective treatment for fading away all kinds of hyperpigmentation. When all else has failed, this can help. Plus, the lotion uses glycolic acid to exfoliate skin and help fade away dark spots faster. It also has antioxidants to prevent wrinkles.
Best for: Dry skin with hyperpigemtation who’s tried plenty of skin-brightening treatments without seeing results.
When to use it: Morning and night, before moisturiser, on dark spots only.
What do you think is the best skin-brightening product from Paula’s Choice? Share your fave pick in the comments below.
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Newsflash: it doesn’t matter if you call it lip balm, lip mask or lip lotion, it’s all the same thing. A moisturiser for your lips.
No wonder that Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask “doubles up” as a lip balm then. I’d be surprised if it didn’t…
So do you need it? It depends. You DON’T need a special sleeping mask for your lips, but you sure DO need a good moisturizer for them. And Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask is better than most. Here’s why:
Key Ingredients In Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask
Emollients To Moisturize Skin
Forget about the berry complex Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask boasts about. This lip balm gets its moisturising properties from a bunch of synthetic emollients.
FYI, emollients are lubracting agents that form a layer on your skin that moisturizes it. The main ones in this lip mask/balm are:
Phytosteryl / Isostearyl / Cetyl / Stearyl / Behenyl Dimer Dilinoleate: An oil-soluble emollient that works better than lanolin. It’s great at holding water, helping to keep skin hydrated for longer.
Don’t let the long, chemical names fool you. These emollients are safe. They keep your lips soft and smooth without causing any unwanted side effects.
Not all the moisturising ingredients in Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask are synthetic. Take Shea Butter, for example.
Derived from the nut of the Shea tree, this butter is rich in fatty acids (including oleic acid, stearic acid, linoleic acid, palmitic acid, and linolenic acid) that make it an excellent moisturizer.
If you’re looking for a bit of colour, Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask isn’t for you. The soft pink balm has a thick texture that goes on colourless and takes a few minutes to absorb.
I like to use a generous amount before I go to sleep. You don’t have to. If your lips aren’t all dry and chapped, you can get away with a thin layer. I just use more because it feels more comfortable on my lips.
When I wake up in the morning, my lips feels so soft and kissable. My lipstick goes on more smoothly. Best of all, I find myself reapplying lip balm less and less during the day. My lips have all the moisture they need and don’t ask for more.
If I need a touchup, I’ll use a thinner layer than at night. If I put on too much, my lipstick tends to slide off – it’s THAT emollient.
I just don’t like using my finger to apply it. Sure, it comes with its own little spatula for a more hygienic application, but you need to clean it after every use.
It’s just easier to use a lip balm that comes in a tube, know what I mean? But hey, if you’re not as lazy as me, you’re in for a treat.
P.S. Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask has a strong strawberry scent that reminds me of bubblegum. A bit too strong for my taste, but it doesn’t linger around long.
Get access to the “Pro Skincare Library” for exclusive skincare routine “cheat sheets” and tricks to help you navigate the beauty aisles jungle like a pro and immediately know what to pick off the shelves to achieve the gorgeous skin of your dreams – even when you’re drowning in an endless sea of skincare products.
Success! Now check your email to confirm your subscription and get access to the skin library.
Dawn Siler 