2020 Recap: Favorite Beauty Products
Happy New Year! It’s been a while since I’ve posted, so welcome back (or welcome to any newcomers)!
Sooooo….I should probably provide an explanation on why I’ve been MIA all 2020, but is one really necessary? They say what’s understood doesn’t need to be explained, right? 😅
To put it shortly, 2020 was a wild year full of change and uncertainty. To be quite honest, the last thing on my mind was keeping up with my blog given the circumstances. Part of it felt insensitive, and part of it was just me trying to adapt to a new lifestyle, and losing the desire to blog. Luckily, I’ve settled into this new normal, and my desire to blog has returned! (Woot! Woot!) I’m very excited to write new content for my blog this year. I apologize for being away for so long, but it was much needed, and I thank you all for your patience and understanding.
Since I haven’t posted in almost a year, I thought it would be fitting to share a recap of all of my favorite beauty products that I used throughout 2020. While I haven’t introduced a crazy amount of new products into my routine, there are a handful that I loved.
Cleansers
I loveeeee me a good cleanser! I switch out my cleansers quite a bit, but not because the ones I’m using aren’t good; I just love trying new ones 😜. The typical cleanser I reach for is a gentle, mild cleanser that cleanses my skin without stripping it of its natural oils. I hate the feeling of dry and tight skin after cleansing, so I like to make sure my cleanser is hydrating and moisturizing.
Two cleansers that I’ve been loving that fit this criteria are actually by black owned brands, Three Notes and Nola Skinsentials. I’ve been using the Three Notes Honey & Wild Oats Cleanser and the Nola Skinsentials Omega Kale Cleaner since the summertime, and I absolutely love them both! They are both natural, organic and fragrance-free gentle cleansers that leave my skin feeling fresh and clean without dryness. I highly recommend them both!
The last cleanser that I added to my collection is the CeraVe Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser. Now, I don’t typically reach for acne-fighting cleansers as they tend to dry out my skin, but this cleanser by CeraVe is surprisingly gentle. I think it’s good to have an acne-fighting cleanser in your collections for acne prevention, and for times when your skin is acting up. This one by CeraVe is a great option since it has niacinamide, ceramides, and hyaluronic acid, which all help maintain the skin barrier. It contains acne-fighting ingredients that heal and prevent breakouts, but still leaves the skin feeling moisturized. I love it! If you’re on the market for an acne cleanser, this is definitely a great one!
Moisturizers/Oils
Have you tried Rare Beauty yet? If not, you definitely need to check out this brand, because Miss Gomez did her thing. The Always An Optimist Illuminating Primer is a makeup primer, but I find that it works well as a skin care product even if you have no intentions of wearing makeup on top of it. It has the consistency of a moisturizer, and just glides right onto the skin. It also contains illuminating pearls that gives you a glowing from within look. It makes your skin look amazing, and I highly recommend this product for use with or without makeup.
My favorite oils of 2020 were from two black-owned brands, Nola Skinsentials and Naked Flamingo. Nola Skinsentials Botanical Oil is an exfoliating and nourishing facial oil. It contains glycolic acid that will gently exfoliate the skin to improve texture and tone. It also contains hemp seed oil that’s extremely nourishing and moisturizing. I love this oil, and I’m sure you’ll love it too!
Naked Flamingo’s Ghost Serum is an organic oil-based serum that fades dark marks, fights acne, and moisturizes the skin. It doesn’t contain any crazy active ingredients, so you aren’t going to see a difference overnight in terms of hyperpigmentation and acne, but I do think it does a great job of nourishing and moisturizing the skin. With continued use, you will start to see a difference in uneven tone and texture.
Treatments/Serums
I was skeptical of acne patches because most of them only contain one ingredient, hydrocolloid. The thought of just one ingredient being able to shrink a zit just didn’t make sense to me. After doing some research and trying out Mighty Patch myself, I’ve turned into a believer. Hydrocolloid essentially soaks up puss and fluids, resulting is smaller pimples. I just stick the patches on overnight and let them work their magic. There are limitations when it comes to using these patches though. Since their main job is to soak up puss and fluids, if you’re looking to shrink a blind pimple (one without a head) they simply won’t work, but if you’re on the market for a product that will shrink pimples that do have a head, these are a great, affordable option.
Over the summer, I went crazy with chemical exfoliators and damaged my skin. I purchased Krave Beauty’s Great Barrier Relief, and it completely repaired my skin. I used this product after washing my face with a gentle cleanser, and saw results within just a few days. It nourishes the skin and calms sensitivity. If you’re having any skin irritations, I would recommend purchasing this product as it contains ingredients that strengthen and nourish your skin.
I’ve tried a ton of different Vitamin C serums throughout the years, and Origins’ Ginzing is definitely at the top of my list. It instantly brightens my skin after applying, and works to reduce dark marks/hyperpigmentation. It’s a great product, and I’d definitely recommend it for anyone who hasn’t found a go-to Vitamin C serum.
Body Wash & Moisturizers
So, I’ve written about my love for ButterMeUpGoods in the past, and I’m back to talk about the brand some more because I’ve purchased another body butter (Coconut Rum) from them that I love. The fragrance is impeccable! I highly recommend this one if you’re into warm, nutty scents. As I’ve stated in previous posts, the formula is great. The butters are mango-based and melt right into the skin, leaving it nourished and moisturized. Plus, a little goes a long way so you’ll have your butter for a while.
In addition to body butters, I also love body oils. Another black-owned brand I love is Melanin Haircare. I purchased their multi-use pure oil blend with the intention of using it on my hair, but it turns out that my low-porosity hair isn’t a big fan of oils in general, so I decided to use it on my body instead, and OMG, it’s amazing! It moisturizes the skin so well, and has a light minty fragrance which I really appreciate. This may be a con for some, but I suffer from migraines, so I can’t always use products with strong fragrances as they tend to intensify my migraines. This oil is my go-to when I’m having a migraine attack due to it’s light scent. Peppermint also helps alleviate my migraines, so the fragrance is perfect for me!
The last body favorite on my list is actually a body wash by Bath & Body Works. If you haven’t tried out any of their products from their Aromatherapy line, stop what you’re doing and check them out now (or wait for a sale, because you can get them for pretty cheap). Their aromatherapy bath washes contain essential oils that promote body and mental wellness. My favorite of the moment is the Restore body wash that contains sage and mint oil. It instantly relaxes me. I’ve used it as a shower gel and a bubble bath, and it works great either way. It’s currently sold-out, but I’ve provided the link below so you have it for when it returns. You can also look into other fragrances in the mean time. I would definitely recommending grabbing one if you can.
Toners
If I showed you what’s left of my Green Tea Toner by Naked Flamingo, you’d laugh. I purchased it in June and it’s all gone; that’s how much I love this toner! It’s a simple-ingredient toner that soothes the skin and fights against acne-causing bacteria. I definitely noticed fewer breakouts when using this toner. After cleansing, I pour some onto a cotton pad (it comes in a spray bottle, but I prefer to apply toners with a cotton pad), apply to my face, and then proceed with the rest of my skin care routine. I love it because it keeps my skin clear, but it’s still gentle enough to use everyday.
One of my favorite toners I’ve used in 2020 is First Aid Beauty’s Ultra Repair Wild Oat Hydrating Toner. I trust every product First Aid Beauty releases, because they cater to sensitive skin; this toner is no different. It instantly hydrates and nourishes the skin. It’s super gentle and soothing, and great for those with dry and/or sensitive skin.
Moon Juice’s Acid Potion is the last toner I tried out in 2020. It’s not safe for me to use everyday like the other two toners, but that’s because it contains active ingredients that exfoliate the skin and increase cellular turnover rate. This toner is great for reducing acne, texture, and hyperpigmentation. I like it because it contains clean ingredients and doesn’t damage my skin like some other exfoliating toners do.
Makeup
The makeup section is small, because I honestly wasn’t wearing too much makeup in 2020, but there are a few products that I tried that I really loved.
Rare Beauty was truly a stand out brand for me last year. Their foundation is to die for! It’s extremely lightweight, and skin-like, but still manages to provide great coverage and long lasting wear. I highly recommend it. It has a great shade range as well!
The third Rare Beauty product to make my 2020 favorites list is the setting spray. Like the primer, I find the setting spray to be a skincare/makeup hybrid; it can be used with or without makeup. It hydrates your skin, primes and sets your makeup, and leaves your skin looking glowy and dewy. I recommend it if you’re a fan of non-matte setting sprays.
My last favorite makeup product is actually an eyelash serum by Grande Cosmetics. I ruined my lashes trying to do my own individual lash extensions (I’m crazy, I know). I literally had so many bald spots in my lashes, and thought they would never grow back, until this serum caught my eye in my cabinet. I’ve had this product handy for a while since a friend and a lash tech recommended it to me in the past, but I wasn’t consistent with using it. Let me tell you, once I started using this bad boy morning and night, my lashes grew back and then some within 4 weeks. It was truly a miracle product for me.
That’s all folks! These are the products that I loved the most last year.
As always, feel free to email me or slide into my social DMs if you have any questions. I got you!
— Riss 💋