In Rotation: a blurring foundation stick, moisturizing sunscreen and thick face cream for winter
The snow is heavy, and so is my current moisturizer.
It’s been almost three weeks since my VI peel journey began. And while it removed several top layers of my skin, it also has brought eeeeeverything to the surface. I’ve tried my best to follow the rules, but I’m only human — which means yes, I jumped back into my prescription retinol on exactly day 7 (acceptable for some, but evidently not for my sensitive skin), followed almost immediately by an aggressive exfoliant in the form of Medicube’s Exosome Shot (pending review). I’ve put my skin through some shit in the past, but this likely takes the cake.
Painful, under the skin bumps that I don’t even think a cortisone shot could conquer have emerged. On a positive note, my actual skin tone has seen a huge improvement — which gives me hope that once this initial post-peel phase concludes, I’ll be left with the perfect-stunning-gorgeous baby skin I initially set out for. I hope.
This has all been a massive test in patience — in the spirit of hoping, hopefully this time, the lesson sticks. In the meantime, I’ve put down the acids, retinols, and miscellaneous exfoliants and gone back to basics. No fancy serums, no actives in my cleaners. Cold water + CeraVe.
In the midst of this unpredictable skincare journey, I ran out of my most trusted, do-everything products — my Merit Complexion Stick and CeraVe PM Moisturizer. I of course immediately replenished, but also took the restock as an opportunity to do some extra shopping and test out a few new things.
The Preview:
Dior Forever Skin Perfect 24H Multi-Use Foundation Stick, $52
Innisfree Daily UV Defense Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 36, $18
Dior Forever Skin Perfect 24H Multi-Use Foundation Stick
Ok… I’ve been sleeping on this one. And it took me a few wear tests to come to the conclusion that yes, this will be sticking around in my makeup bag.
The coverage is on the heavier side than I’ve come to expect from a stick formula, but in a way that feels completely customizable and easily wearable. Upon application, every imperfection disappears. Depending on preference, you can sheer it out with a foundation brush or gently pat it in to maintain opacity.
I took shade 1.5 N (light with neutral undertones), and it’s a perfect match. It doesn’t wash me out like many light-fair foundations do, but it also doesn’t read orange, yellow, or pink. It’s just right.
I’ll continue to use my Merit complexion stick for everyday wear, but the Dior stick is a welcomed addition to my arsenal — likely to be used for longer wear days, events, and any time I need more substantial coverage.
Have I sold you yet? No? Today, I went out in the snow/rain (obviously umbrella-less) and received a beautiful, heartfelt will-you-be-my-bridesmaid letter from one of my oldest and dearest friends with nothing more than Rare Beauty Setting Mist to lock my snowy rainy crying face into place. It’s been a few hours since, and my coverage remains fully intact.
Editor’s Note: after the above wear test, the foundation stayed on well past the 12-hour mark, with more rain and more activity until face washing commenced at about 1 am. Perfectly intact.
Innisfree Daily UV Defense Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 36
This shouldn’t come as a surprise, but I am maniacal over textures and all things tactile. I will not sleep on a polyester pillowcase and. I. DEPLORE. Most sunscreens.
In the aftermath of my peel, skipping this step has become a nonnegotiable, which meant I had to revisit the out of reach bin above my secondary drilled in bathroom vanity to test out the hodgepodge of half (okay, 1/4) used sunscreens. French, Japanese, Korean, American… I’ve tested (and hated) them all (okayyyy, most, not all).
That is until rediscovering Innisfree. Unlike the Avène sunscreen purchased in Paris, which turned my neck green a few minutes after applying (this is not an exaggeration), or the Supergoop, which pilled terribly under even the lightest application of makeup, this one melted into my skin with ease. Beyond that, there was no leftover white cast, and no offensive smell. I had previously been using Summer Fridays intermittently, but that’s being bumped off the shelf and replaced by this sunscreen.
Basically, I want my sunscreen to be so innocuous, so invisible to touch, sight, or smell, that I forget it’s there. This sunscreen delivers on just that — the only noticeable addition is the welcomed touch of moisture (attributed to a powerful combo of green tea, sunflower seed oil, and cica), which I’m missing from...
Vanicream Moisturizing Cream
Sometimes the most unsexy packaging makes for the best skincare, which is exactly what I reminded myself as I perused the aisles at CVS last weekend. Enter: Vanicream. It’s a staple among many, but not my personal drugstore brand of choice. I have and always will be a CeraVe girl. But this post-peel dryness and sensitivity felt as good a time as ever to venture into the unsexy, borderline clinical moisturizer.
The first ingredient is water (as with most skincare), but you wouldn’t know it. I like for my moisturizer to feel like a splash of water on my face, and this is not that. Instead, it feels like a marginally more palatable version of smudging vaseline across your face. Upon further inspection of the ingredients list, this makes sense — the second listed ingredient is petroleum. Typically with petroleum products you feel the slip and slide on your skin. This cream, however, has an extremely matte finish; which is something I would have liked in my more oily days, but now, I crave layers of moisture. Beyond the matte appearance and feel, there’s a tinge of stickiness (likely from the petroleum) that I don’t enjoy.
On the plus side, it’s suitable for sensitive skin, and does eliminate most dryness on my face. Recommended for eczema sufferers, it’s free of dyes, fragrance, parabens, and even “formaldehyde releasers” (oh??) — all listed in bold on the front of the decidedly unsexy packaging.
Listen, I don’t HATE this moisturizing cream. I’ll continue to use it (begrudgingly) as one of my few current steps in a pared down, simple, sensitive-safe routine. But I won’t be repurchasing. Instead, I’ll stick with my CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion. It might not be quite as moisturizing, but it feels a lot better on my skin.
—
Bonus Round!
A little extra something — these are the other products I’m using in my current pared down routine.
Caudalie Lip Balm, $15
CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion, $19 (relinked, because it’s really that good)