I may be revealing myself to be incredibly boring, but cleansers are possibly my favorite type of skin care product. I know, I know. They're not nearly as sexy as a caviar-infused serum or a luxurious night cream, but I rely on cleansers twice a day to keep my skin clean and healthy. Needless to say, I tend to geek out when I find a cleanser that really knocks it out of the park.
Lately, the cleanser that's been giving me all the feels has been Ole Henriksen Find Your Balance Oil Control Cleanser, $25. It's been an essential weapon in my recent battle with some truly gnarly pregnancy acne. During a time when I've cut harsher ingredients out of my skin care regimen (think: retinol and benzoyl peroxide), this formula's mix of glycolic and lactic acids has been a godsend. When I finish cleansing, my skin feels deeply clean, smooth and never stripped, and with regular use, I've noticed a marked improvement in my skin. Plus, thanks to this cleanser's cocktail of botanicals (like green tea and eucalyptus) and peppermint oil, this cleanser also leaves me feeling wide awake (I love using it in the shower in the mornings). And as someone with normal-to-oily skin, I also appreciate the mattifying effects of this cleanser (though I will say, those with dry skin may find it a little too intense). It's all enough to get even non-cleanser-connoisseurs enthused. --Mary Squillace
Lately, the cleanser that's been giving me all the feels has been Ole Henriksen Find Your Balance Oil Control Cleanser, $25. It's been an essential weapon in my recent battle with some truly gnarly pregnancy acne. During a time when I've cut harsher ingredients out of my skin care regimen (think: retinol and benzoyl peroxide), this formula's mix of glycolic and lactic acids has been a godsend. When I finish cleansing, my skin feels deeply clean, smooth and never stripped, and with regular use, I've noticed a marked improvement in my skin. Plus, thanks to this cleanser's cocktail of botanicals (like green tea and eucalyptus) and peppermint oil, this cleanser also leaves me feeling wide awake (I love using it in the shower in the mornings). And as someone with normal-to-oily skin, I also appreciate the mattifying effects of this cleanser (though I will say, those with dry skin may find it a little too intense). It's all enough to get even non-cleanser-connoisseurs enthused. --Mary Squillace
My skin is perpetually parched and prone to irritation -- like a puckered and crotchety old man. It's wary of new things and flares up without warning. Throw a season of exfoliant-testing into the mix, and my face feels like it might crumble into a million pieces if I smile too broadly.
Fresh Rose Deep Hydration Face Cream, $40, is the salve that has stood by me faithfully through all of my beauty-product abuse. When my skin is happy, it keeps it that way. When it's pissed off from an overly aggressive chemical peel, this face cream is the only one that can soothe it. I am so devoted to this face cream, I'm hitting bottom on my third jar (which is really tough to do when you test products for a living).
Thanks to hyaluronic acid and rose flower oil, Fresh's face cream is deeply and thoroughly moisturizing. A pea-sized amount covers my entire face and keeps it hydrated all day. Its gel-cream consistency is a bit of a conundrum: It feels rich and lightweight -- never greasy or heavy. And the scent -- a mix of cucumber and rose -- is refreshing without being overpowering. --Jill Provost
For more of my can't-live-without products, follow me on Instagram @jilleprovost
Fresh Rose Deep Hydration Face Cream, $40, is the salve that has stood by me faithfully through all of my beauty-product abuse. When my skin is happy, it keeps it that way. When it's pissed off from an overly aggressive chemical peel, this face cream is the only one that can soothe it. I am so devoted to this face cream, I'm hitting bottom on my third jar (which is really tough to do when you test products for a living).
Thanks to hyaluronic acid and rose flower oil, Fresh's face cream is deeply and thoroughly moisturizing. A pea-sized amount covers my entire face and keeps it hydrated all day. Its gel-cream consistency is a bit of a conundrum: It feels rich and lightweight -- never greasy or heavy. And the scent -- a mix of cucumber and rose -- is refreshing without being overpowering. --Jill Provost
For more of my can't-live-without products, follow me on Instagram @jilleprovost
Having recently celebrated a milestone birthday (cough, 30), I know I need to take preventative measures to make sure my skin stays youthful for as long as possible. While I want to hydrate and prevent fine lines, I don't want to contribute to my occasional adult acne -- and so many moisturizers and serums have a tendency to break me out. Kate Somerville Wrinkle Warrior 2-in-1 Plumping Moisturizer + Serum, $95, tackles all of my skin-care concerns without a single blemish.
Wrinkle Warrior packs a hydrating and anti-aging punch by combining serum and moisturizer into one multitasking product. It contains hyaluronic acid in three different sizes to plump up the skin, fill in fine lines and prevent deep wrinkles from forming. I apply it morning and evening to my face and neck -- it glides effortlessly over my skin and absorbs quickly. It creates the perfect, smooth canvas for my foundation without causing it to slide off or appear greasy.
It also comes conveniently in a shatterproof, 1.7 oz. bottle that is completely TSA-friendly. Needless to say, I am stashing this one-step wonder in my carry-on for my trip to Italy next week.
To see more of my summer beauty and travel essentials, follow me on Instagram @hannah_savin
Wrinkle Warrior packs a hydrating and anti-aging punch by combining serum and moisturizer into one multitasking product. It contains hyaluronic acid in three different sizes to plump up the skin, fill in fine lines and prevent deep wrinkles from forming. I apply it morning and evening to my face and neck -- it glides effortlessly over my skin and absorbs quickly. It creates the perfect, smooth canvas for my foundation without causing it to slide off or appear greasy.
It also comes conveniently in a shatterproof, 1.7 oz. bottle that is completely TSA-friendly. Needless to say, I am stashing this one-step wonder in my carry-on for my trip to Italy next week.
To see more of my summer beauty and travel essentials, follow me on Instagram @hannah_savin
It's no secret that I'm obsessed with all things dewy, shiny and radiant, and you can usually find me rocking a high-wattage highlight or a dewy complexion. To me, shiny is sexy, and I'm all about channeling my inner vixen. While most stop at the face with their glow, I'm not ashamed to admit I'm a little bit "extra," and like to shine from head to toe, which is where Nivea Nourishing Body Oil, $8.99, comes in.
Straight up, this drugstore gem makes me feel like a Victoria's Secret Angel, and it certainly pampers my skin like one. While I'm normally hesitant to reach for body oils -- due to their reputation of being heavy and greasy -- this lightweight oil sinks into my skin in less time than it takes to pick out an outfit. The macadamia and avocado oil elixir deeply hydrate my usually-dry post-shower skin. And that's not even the best part.
What I really love about this body oil is that it serves as an all-over body gloss, which instantly boosts my confidence when I'm showing a bit of leg. It also enhances my spray tan by about a million percent. In fact, I usually find myself sashaying down the streets of L.A. when I'm wearing this. So if you want to glow from head to toe (and own your sexy), skip Victoria's Secret and hit the drugstore. You'll have the same confidence-boosting results for a third of the price. Though the body oil would pair nicely with a new lingerie set...
For more of Jess' faves, follow her on Instagram @siremj
Straight up, this drugstore gem makes me feel like a Victoria's Secret Angel, and it certainly pampers my skin like one. While I'm normally hesitant to reach for body oils -- due to their reputation of being heavy and greasy -- this lightweight oil sinks into my skin in less time than it takes to pick out an outfit. The macadamia and avocado oil elixir deeply hydrate my usually-dry post-shower skin. And that's not even the best part.
What I really love about this body oil is that it serves as an all-over body gloss, which instantly boosts my confidence when I'm showing a bit of leg. It also enhances my spray tan by about a million percent. In fact, I usually find myself sashaying down the streets of L.A. when I'm wearing this. So if you want to glow from head to toe (and own your sexy), skip Victoria's Secret and hit the drugstore. You'll have the same confidence-boosting results for a third of the price. Though the body oil would pair nicely with a new lingerie set...
For more of Jess' faves, follow her on Instagram @siremj
The path to my Sephora VIB Rouge membership has been paved with regrets. This is why I should have known better than to go to Sephora on a day when I was stressed, bored and distracted -- the impulse shopper's perfect storm. Among the many items that landed in my basket while I gossiped on the phone was Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Sukari Babyfacial. At $80 for less than two ounces, this luxury face peel had the makings of a VIB -- very impulsive buy.
But OMG -- this is the most legit beauty product I've bought in months. After one use, this peel did more to lighten the dark spots on my cheeks than weeks of blasting them with retinol and hydroquinone; as a result, I applied my face makeup in half the time. On the skin-smoothing and brightening front, this product is at least as effective as any of the professionally administered facials or face peels I've had. And if one application of Babyfacial beats the results of a $100-plus spa facial, then this product really is a VIB -- very incredible bargain. --Katie McCarthy
But OMG -- this is the most legit beauty product I've bought in months. After one use, this peel did more to lighten the dark spots on my cheeks than weeks of blasting them with retinol and hydroquinone; as a result, I applied my face makeup in half the time. On the skin-smoothing and brightening front, this product is at least as effective as any of the professionally administered facials or face peels I've had. And if one application of Babyfacial beats the results of a $100-plus spa facial, then this product really is a VIB -- very incredible bargain. --Katie McCarthy
Ever had a beauty product you love so much that you shook, hacked, scraped or squeezed its container until you were absolutely positive you had expended all of its precious contents? Rare indeed is the product that elicits that deliciously desperate feeling, especially in beauty editors. So when our team of beauty mavens encounters a rave-worthy product, you know it's the real deal. Herewith, our editors rattle off their "beauty empties," aka the best beauty products that they can't help but use until the last drop. Read on for their best nail polishes, hair products, skin care products and makeup now.