Favorite beauty discoveries of 2018

Paula’s Choice Defense Hydrating Gel-to-Cream Cleanser*

Of all the cleansers in my collection, this is the one I reach for most. PC doesn’t f*** around when it comes to ingredients, and this is full of antioxidants, skin-soothers, and gentle surfactants. The gel to milk formula feels comfortable on the skin and leaves it feeling clean and balanced. My only complaint is actually that it’s unscented so it’s not as fun to use, but otherwise this is about as perfect as cleansers get for me.

$18 at Paula’s Choice, $17 at Amazon

Joanna Vargas Miracle Bar*

I never thought I’d love bar soap this much but here we are. First of all, this is high pH so I don’t recommend using it regularly, but as an occasional deep cleanser it is amazing. Skin feels really clean and fresh as if I just did a mud mask, but it’s not drying. I love pairing this with a sheet mask for some serious glow that lasts all day.

$22 at Nordstrom, Dermstore, Free People

AMOREPACIFIC Treatment Enzyme Peel*

I’m all about gentle exfoliation and this peel really hits the mark. It’s easy to use (just add water and it lathers ever so slightly), non-irritating, and leaves my skin silky soft instantly. While peeling gels deliver similar results, the balls are kinda messy and occasionally I’ll find some still stuck on my skin even after a lot of rinsing. A little goes a long way with this, so I’d recommend the travel size (available in sets) over the full-sized product.

$60 at Sephora, Nordstrom; $22 for the mini at Sephora; $108 for a set at Sephora

AMOREPACIFIC Essential Creme Fluid*

I reviewed this in detail, but in a nutshell it’s a beautifully formulated lotion that’s moisturizing without being heavy. The way they source and process their green tea (the key ingredient here) is just incredible, and taught me that a product’s efficacy is more than just its ingredient list.  This leaves my skin plump, hydrated, and velvety soft, plus it comes in a chic pump bottle that just oozes elegance.

$98 at Sephora, Nordstrom; $108 for a set at Sephora

Tunemakers Concentrated Moisture Lotion

I reviewed this already, and it’s tied with the Klairs Supple Prepration Toner as my hg toners. I love the simple research-proven ingredients and how they’re the ideal ratio to hydrate and nourish the skin. It also feels very comfortable on the skin, lightweight and non-sticky, and is a product all skin types will enjoy.

$36 on YesStyle; $29 on Amazon; ~$33 at eBay

SK-II Genoptics Aura Essence

Guys, the glow this gives my skin is insane. Not that shiny glow you get from oils, but a translucent, lit-from-within glow. No wonder it’s called the “lightbulb serum” in Asia! It puts the 4 previous brightening products I’ve mentioned to shame (actually it works in synergy with the FTE) and I’ve already repurchased it. So good and worth every pretty penny.

2020 update: The Neogen Real Ferment Micro Serum works just as well and is so much more affordable!!

$240 at Sephora, Nordstrom, $198 at MyHuo

Venn Age-Reversing All-In-One Concentrate*

I’m usually not a fan of all-in-one products because jack of all trades, master of none, but Venn did it. This All-in-One Concentrate works best in a minimal routine, as it’s meant to replace your serums and moisturizer. It’s full of excellent ingredients like peptides, amino acids, and green tea extract, and despite the lightweight texture, it’s enough to keep my skin moisturized during the dry winter nights. While I don’t think I could ever stop using my serums and creams, I would highly, HIGHLY recommend this to anyone who wants a no-fuss routine. Just cleanse and apply this (plus spf in the mornings), and you’re good to go.

$185 at Venn Skincare

Nivea Creme

I already raved about this $1 miracle in a tin, and while there are definitely better moisturizers out there, you honestly can’t beat its value. When your skin is feeling extra dry, irritated, or a combination of both, a thick layer of this will do wonders. As for whether it’s a dupe of La Mer, I think La Mer is still superior, but guys, this is ONE DOLLAR.

$0.99/1oz at Ulta and Target; 13.5 oz at Amazon ($6.73), Target ($7.29), and Ulta ($9.99)

Klairs Soft Airy UV Essence*

While I love Japanese sunscreens, I do find a lot of them too dewy, even for my liking. This sunscreen has high UV protection (spf 50+, PA++++) using stable filters, and it’s hydrating without the shiny finish! While I’ll still rely on my La Roche Posay Antihelios XL for outdoor activities, this is now my favorite daily sunscreen, by far. I’m not a fan of the silver label rubbing off, but minor inconvenience I’m willing to overlook for a winning formula.

$19.95 at Wishtrend, YesStyle

RapidLash Eyelash Serum

If you have sad short lashes like mine, are patient, and are willing to use this religiously everyday, it will deliver results! I started using it around July/August and by October I noticed that my lashes were significantly longer. Like if I curled them and applied a layer of my hg Marc Jacobs Velvet Noir Mascara, it looked like I had falsies. Bad news is that if you stop using this, your lashes go back to being sad and short, so make sure you stick to it!

$50 at SkinStore, Ulta, Costco (for 2); $53 at Look Fantastic

Luvmilk Goat’s Milk Body Lotion

I love supporting small businesses and am thrilled to discover Luvmilk and their amazing collection of gourmand scented bath & body products. Each jar is freshly made and full of skin nourishing ingredients like oat extract, aloe, and of course goat’s milk. It’s moisturizing without being heavy, and the scent really lasts. Rabbit Cafe smells like a blueberry donut, and Magical Girl (another scent I bought) smells like creamy marshmallows!

$6-$10 at Luvmilk, also available in bottles

Sol de Janeiro Bum Bum Cream

I thought I loved the Luvmilk ones more but I can’t get over how fast this cream absorbs and how silky it makes my skin feel! This is even more lightweight than the Luvmilk lotion, but is equally hydrating and has some skin firming ingredients as well. Scent wise it’s not as strong, but equally pleasant!

$20-45 at Sephora, Dermstore, Cult Beauty

Prose Personalized Hair Mask*

It was between this and the Olaplex 3, and while the latter is magical for my dyed hair, it’s a pain to apply and doesn’t work for non-chemically treated hair. But since Prose is customized for your unique hair type, it will work specifically to tackle your hair issues! Mine is formulated to restore moisture and shine and it does a fantastic job at that.

$38 at Prose

Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish Powder

I never thought I’d love a pressed powder until I tried this darling. It’s everything I want in a pressed powder – weightless, translucent, blurring, and just mattifying enough to not suck all the glow from my foundation. I do wish it came with a it’s own brush for touching up on the glow, but otherwise this is about as perfect as pressed powders get.

$45 at Nordstrom, Sephora; $35 at Cult Beauty;  $33 at Net-a-Porter

YSL Vinyl Cream Lip Stain

I actually don’t remember when I bought these, it may have been late 2017, but I’ve used them so much in 2018 they absolutely deserve a spot here. These have a glossy finish initially, then dries down to a beautiful stain that lasts through drinking and eating. 407 is your classic dusty rose that’s flattering for everyone, and 416 is a muted red that’s one of my fall/winter lipstick picks.

$37 at Sephora, Nordstrom

Sundays 10-Free Nail Polish

Raved about them on Instagram already, but I love the minimal design, the beautiful selection of shades, the non-toxic formula, and how easy they are to apply. Just a single layer and I get an opaque even coat that lasts up to 8 days! My favorite shade is No. 25, which is a beautiful dusty rose that should flatter all skin tones, but I also really like No. 02, a sheer baby pink for nude nails.

$18 at Sundays, buy 3 and get 20% off