We all have at least one thing about ourselves that we constantly scrutinize; it’s human nature. We are told all of the time to love yourself and to not compare ourselves to others, but unfortunately it’s something most of us cannot help but do anyway. I’ll be honest, I’ve had my fair share of insecurities, whether it may be having a larger nose, the flatness of my hair or even the little bloated pooch you get when finishing a couple of tacos. I have recently pinpointed one that was most important to me and decided to tackle it (and when I say tackle, I mean spend moneys on moneys at Sephora). If you couldn’t guess from that, I decided to confront my skin crisis head on.
Skincare has become such an immense trend over the past decade, which may have influenced me to discover this world. Mostly however, it was the fact that after 23 years of decently normal skin, hormonal acne decided to strike up a complicated relationship with me. I moved across the country to a new environment and a new lifestyle, and apparently my skin was not happy about that. It is a very daunting task to take on when starting from scratch. What type of skin do you have? What causes your breakouts? What exactly does your skin need to be the best it can be? I spent a good month trying to research and answer these questions because I was a total skincare noob. It was throughout my research when I stumbled upon my saviour, my Queen, Sunday Riley.
I don’t know how she does it, but every product she puts out is like a gift from the Gods, while keeping it cruelty free. The Houston based cosmetic chemist creates very high quality products, which in turn means they come with a price tag. When one buys Sunday Riley however, I don’t see it as ‘buying into the brand’ as some people would with luxury skincare. I see it as buying into something that ACTUALLY works. I obviously cannot speak for everyone, because we all have different skin types with different skin issues, so one product is not going to work for everyone. But trust me when I say it is 100% worth looking into and giving a try!
Alright, alright let’s cut the chit chat and get into the products!
I’ll start first and foremost with the first product in my skincare regimen, the Ceramic Slip Clay Cleanser ($58.00). This baby makes my skin feel cleaner and dirt/ makeup free than any other cleanser I’ve ever tried. It uses a combination of Morrocan Rhassoul Clay to deep clean and purify, and French Green Clay to remove impurities and tighten the pores. This was one of the products in her line that I saw instant results with, just after a few days! I will definitely be repurchasing this for a long, long time!
Next in line is the U. F. O Ultra Clarifying Facial Oil ($100). I used to think of oils as just a way to hydrate the skin, but not this bad boy. This is actually a medicated drying oil that helps clear pores, prevent acne and smooth the appearance of wrinkles. Who knew an oil could do all of that? (Probably a lot of people, because again, I’m a skincare noob). One of the things I love most about it is how fast absorbing it is. I apply the oil and just wait a few minutes before I move on to the next step. It’s great for someone on the go!
Since we are on the subject of oils, lets move on to Luna Sleeping Night Oil ($135.00). If it’s possible, I like this oil even more than the U. F. O! When I first purchased it I was a little thrown off by the price because even though it’s 0.18 oz less product than U. F. O, it costs $35 more. However I was in the market for a good retinol based product because of the success it has on hormonal acne, so I bit the bullet and added it to my cart. This not only stops incoming blemishes in their tracks, but it improves the look of acne scarring immensely! I put it on before I go to bed and wake up with noticeably softer and even- toned skin! This is now a staple in my nightly skincare routine!
Eye cream is an important part in skincare, for this I use the Autocorrect Brightening and Depuffing Eye Contour Cream ($85.00). This is the most recent product I purchased from Sunday Riley, but it is quickly becoming an essential step in my routine. This product is different in the sense that it actually did not give me instant results like the other products did. It took a few weeks to see any sort of outcome. It was when I started coming home after a long day at work and looking into the mirror to see that my under eyes were much less dark and more hydrated. Those purple bags were finally starting to disappear! So you better believe I use this eye cream day and night to keep up the progress.
I used to use moisturizers so sparingly because in my deluded mind I thought that the more moisturizer you use, the more blemishes you would get. I’m glad that theory is long gone, or else I would not have discovered the Tidal Brightening Enzyme Water Cream ($28.00). This was another product that shocked me with the price, but this time because it was so inexpensive. I mean, a moisturizer is just a moisturizer right? Of course Sunday Riley doesn’t stop there. She throws in hyaluronic acid, papaya enzymes and tamarind extract to do more than just moisturize. Tidal is known for increasing hydration in the skin by 68% in just 15 minutes, and man does it ever! I have yet to use this product in the winter but I know I will not have to deal with dry skin anymore.
I saved the best product for last because A) it is the last product I use in my nightly routine, and B) it really, really is the best. I would recommend Good Genes All- In One Lactic Acid Treatment ($200.00) to anyone and everyone. Does the price freak you out like it did for me? I don’t blame you, but that shouldn’t stop you from experiencing the wonders that Good Genes has to offer. The lactic acid gives you a deep exfoliation that is much less harsh on your skin than a scrubbing exfoliant. Put this on at the end of your skincare routine and you will wake up with radiant skin that you didn’t even know you could achieve. I know first hand the benefits of this product. I had used a sample product that lasted me about a month and I really saw the results. I ran out of the sample and hesitated to buy the full size because of the price tag, but I will never sleep on that again. My skin was very upset that I had let Good Genes go, and it let me know it. Never will I let go again; Good Genes is staying with me forever and always.
Sunday Riley is like the 4th sister I never knew I had; taking care of me and having my best interest at heart. She goes the extra mile to make sure I’m happy. She also persuades me to give her my extra money, but it’s money well spent. She is the master of skincare and continues to power out damn good products. Don’t believe me? Try it for yourself!
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