GUA SHA
I’ve been using a gua sha stone on my face morning and night for years now, and it’s incredible how well it works for smoothing skin, reducing, fine lines, draining toxins, and relaxing my mind. I even use it on my belly with magnesium lotion for digestive support. See how HERE.
CLEANSERS
For years I thought cleansers were supposed to foam and leave my skin feeling striped and tight. Turns out I was very wrong. I am an oil cleanser convert, and I am never going back. Find my top picks below!
- Froya Ultra Cleans and Revive Face Scrub: Get ready for an instant deep and natural cleanse that revives skin cells in 2-9 days. I noticed a shift in skin health in just a few days. This cleanser removes dirt and dead cells for a natural glow, reduced breakouts, and even skin tone.
- Countertime Lipid Defense Oil: My longtime favorite is back. This is my favorite cleanser ever!
- Seabuckthorn Cleansing Oil: packed full of vitamin C, vitamin A, moisturizing organic jojoba oil, antioxidants, and nutrients that are necessary for promoting the healing and regeneration of skin cells. It may seem counter-intuitive, but oil cleansing is particularly helpful for restoring balance to oily complexions.
- Oliveda Corrective Cleanser: The unique combination of bioactive Arbequina oil, hydroxytyrosol and French lavender make this a silky makeup remover and moisturizing facial cleanser at the same time, counteracting clogged pores while freeing the skin from excess sebum or residues of sunscreen, for every day.
- RCA Skincare cleanser: This orthomelecular face cleanser gently exfoliates, brightens, and shrinks pores. This is actually my current favorite. I am totally hooked! (10% off code: LAURA10)
TONERS
Using a toner? Perhaps you should be! Toners are applied after cleansing, in the morning and at night. They help balance the skin’s pH and remove excess dirt, oil, makeup, and other impurities. All skin types can benefit from including a gentle, hydrating toner in their daily routine.
- Counter’s new Counterglow Hyaluronic Moisture Mist: moisturizing, toning, and the perfect pick-me-up throughout the day. This is new, and it’s here to stay in my routine.
- Oliveda Activating Facial Toner: Strengthening, toning facial toner for post-cleansing or refreshing the skin.
- Oliveda Corrective Facial Tonic: Soothes the skin and frees it from dead skin cells.
SERUMS
I love serums. They are especially smooth thin oils that deliver a concentrated amount of active ingredients and lock in moisture and enable the ingredients to penetrate the surface of the skin, ensuring they are effective whilst also protecting your skin from the impact of daily living.
- Counter’s Countertime Retinatural+ Advanced Serum: This age-defying serum is transforming my skin without irritation or increased sun sensitivity that can come with retinol. It’s made with a powerhouse blend of three retinol alternatives and antioxidants that visibly enhance firmness, improve elasticity, and minimize the appearance of fine lines.
- Cell Active Face Serum: This highly concentrated F06 Face Serum strengthens, tones, repairs and regenerates stressed and dehydrated skin with its highly concentrated anti-aging power. The elixir of fresh olive leaf cells contained in this serum is a true fountain of youth that is quickly absorbed into the skin.
- Corrective Hyaluronic Serum: A highly effective combination of the protective and regenerating hydroxytyrosol with vegan hyaluronic acid, which provides a plump and moisturized skin.
DAYTIME MOISTURIZERS
Believe it or not, it is important to choose a daytime-specific moisturizer. Day creams are lightweight and focus primarily on brightening your complexion, maintaining hydration, and protecting your skin from sun and other environmental damage.
- Froya Magic Revive & Glow Day Balm: This daytime balm is made with sea buckthorn and rosemary beeswax. It firms and heals acne scars in 2-7 days, restores skin barrier in 2-14 days, and I’ve noticed an obvious shift in the overall health of my skin.
- Oliveda Antioxidant Face Cream: This light cream refreshes my skin, prevents drying, and protects from free radicals. It’s great for days in the sun to both protect and nourish, and as I slowly transition and find new products, I can say with certainty that I am sold!
NIGHTTIME MOISTURIZERS
Yep, nighttime-specific creams are key too. Our bodies (including our skin) repair while our minds go to rest at night, so it’s no surprise that moisturizing overnight is crucial to healthy, supple skin. The skin goes into repair mode while we sleep, making it the prime time to dose it with extra nutrients from effective night creams.
- Froya Magic Wrinkle Eraser Night Balm: This magic night balm heals the skin by rebuilding the skin barrier (in as little as a week), dramatically reducing wrinkle depth, protecting the skin, and boosting collagen. I am sold!
- Chara Omni Stem Cell Cream (save 10% with code: RADICALROOTS): this is such a powerful cream! I grab it a couple times a year and the difference in fine lines is immediate.
FACIAL OILS
Oils aren’t just for cleansing and serums. Facial oils help reduce the signs of aging by providing deep hydration, lasting moisture, and powerful nutrients, to plump and restore the skin’s natural elasticity and moisture balance and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
- Oliveda Cell Active Face Oil: The glow complex and the active mountain olive tree ingredients give the cells more energy which makes skin look smoother, more alive, and extra vibrant while protecting the skin from negative environmental impact.
- Counter’s All Bright Vitamin C Oil (or serum): A precision-crafted brightening oil delivers instant luminosity while shielding against dark spots and environmental stressors. Featuring an ultra-potent blend of 10% dual stable vitamin C forms, turmeric, and camu camu.
SPF
Studies show that regular daily use of SPF on the face can reduce risk of squamous cell carcinoma by 40%, and melanoma by 50%. Plus, it prevents premature skin aging caused by the sun like wrinkles, sagging and age spots. BUT not all spf is that same. After just one application, harmful sunscreen ingredients such as oxybenzone, octisalate, octocrylene, and homosalate are all absorbed into your body, so much so that they have been detected in blood, breast milk, and urine samples weeks after discontinued use.
Keep reading for the ones we use and love.
- Counter’s Dew Skin Tinted Moisturizer (IT’S BACK and it’s my favorite!): Achieve the perfect glow while protecting your skin with SPF 20. Delivers immediate luminosity through sheer, radiant coverage and skin care benefits.
MAKEUP
I am a makeup minimalist, so this list won’t be long, but I love that with the right highly-effective skincare regimen, I don’t feel the need for much makeup at all!
- Toupes & Co: I love both the concealer and the mascara. Organic, effective, and long-lasting too.
HAIR
Also a minimalist here. I’ve used Beautycounter shampoo and conditioner for years, but I recently branched out to Oliveda’s scalp treatment and Prose’s made-to-order shampoo, conditioner, and curl cream. And I am SOLD!
- Oliveda Hair and Scalp Treatment: This intensive care and repair course of treatment immediately nourishes the hair and scalp for astonishing results. It’s great for those with a dandruff tendency (like me).
- Froya hair line: Targets hair loss, thinning, dandruff, dryness, and shedding by restoring scalp balance with Arctic botanicals.
BODY
Our bodies need skincare love too, and Oliveda has some of the best body care products I’ve ever used, from the ground up (hello, happy feet).
- RCA Skincare Revive Body Butter: This anti-cellulite body butter is game-changing for firming, moisturizing, and healing my skin. None of their ingredients have ever touched plastic, AND everything is made in small batches over low and slow heat to preserve the integrity of the ingredients. (10% off code: LAURA10)
- Anti-aging Body Cream: This especially light and extremely refreshing body cream absorbs quickly into the skin, but is still rich in skin care performance. The high concentration of fresh, green olive leaf cell elixir provides intense moisture, reduces skin irritation, and stimulates new cell regeneration. A nourishing combination of cold-pressed oils, herbal extracts, mango butter, and sweet almond oil protect and moisturize the skin, aiding in the improvement of a soft, silky smooth, and supple complexion. I love using this all over but especially notice a difference on my chest and arms.
- Anti-aging Hand Cream: I clean a lot, I lift a lot, I spend a whole lot of time outside; In short, I use my hands (and I don’t plan on stopping). That said, my hands are showing the signs of age, but this rapidly absorbing hand cream dispenses with rough, dry hands and brittle nails, thanks to our premium plant oils, and extracts of both the olive leaf and bitter orange.
- Softening Foot Balm: Like my hands, I use these feet (barefoot as often as possible), and it shows. And also like my hands, I am not planning to stop anytime soon. Enter this foot balm that contains natural extracts of camphor, menthol, rosemary, thyme, and the healing power of sage. Our exclusive mixture of herbs naturally revitalizes weary and tired feet, and bestows them with maximum, comprehensive care, all without having an oily texture to track around the house or into your sheets.
See more brilliant body care for whatever your needs (including some great sets) here!
