the skincare edit

I have always had a passion for skin. When I was eight or nine years old, my dad would let me use his Oil of Olay lotion. He ended up having to confiscate it from my bathroom because I was using so much of it that it began to irritate my eyes, lol. In college, I would save up from my little paychecks to buy a good moisturizer and eye cream. I always loved the ritual of pampering my skin, and found it so relaxing to do a scrub and mask while taking a candlelit bath after a long day. But it wasn’t until I was a newlywed in my early thirties that I realized how much effect my skincare was having on protecting and preserving my skin.

Our first few years of marriage were difficult and stressful, and after we bought our first home I found myself without the disposable income to purchase the products I had come to depend on. About six months later, I noticed my skin looking vastly different. I remember commenting to a girlfriend of mine that is a few years older than me that thirty four just must be a horrible year for aging. She said she didn’t remember it being that way at all. As things began to get a bit better, I started to integrate some of my products and skin rituals back in, and magically I began to see improvement almost immediately. These are a collection of my tried and true absolute favorites; products that are luxurious, beautiful, and effective~the lavender magnolia loves<3

• CLEANSE

1. Chanel Le Lait~A gentle lotion cleanser that removes impurities from the day and leaves behind a light veil of moisture on the skin. It doesn’t have to be rinsed(you can rinse it if you like)which I love because it’s quick and easy if you are cold or tired in the evening. Many people end up going to bed without washing their face, and I have found that having a no-rinse cleansing option helps me avoid this. At times, I have even kept this on my night stand for lazy evenings!
2. Another option I adore is the La Mer micellar water. It leaves skin feeling a bit more “squeaky clean”, so I often switch to it in the spring and summer. It is gentle and feels very cool and fresh. The signature La Mer scent is almost Pavlovian to me; it instantly makes me start to feel pampered and relaxed.
3. Cle de Peau eye and lip makeup remover wipes~These are again a one-step cleanse, no rinse required(though I sometimes do follow with a splash of cool water) The formula is so luxurious and gentle that it doesn’t bother the most sensitive eyes(like mine), but it breaks down even water-resistant makeup with ease. I do not like to have to tug or pull on delicate lashes and skin in the eye area, so a remover that breaks down makeup easily is essential. The fabric is very soft, which may not seem important, but when you think of using something daily for years, it is.
4. For all of the above, I use either Chanel Le Cotton or Cle de Peau cotton pads.

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• SERUM

1. Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic acid serum~Hyaluronic acid is one of my go-to skincare ingredients, always. Simply put, it draws moisture to the skin and helps the skin retain it. If I ever want to bring a glow back to my skin, this is where I begin. I don’t think any other ingredient infuses skin with instant radiance and youth like hyaluronic acid, and I have always gravitated towards things that give an instant visible result. This is a pure hyaluronic, with short and long chain molecules to penetrate skin at both deeper and more surface levels. The very first time I used this, I was in love. It is quite liquid in texture, so when I applied it I thought it would take a while to soak in. But, my skin drank it up instantly, leaving no tackiness behind. It left a glow that even my husband noticed. He commented that I must have been drinking more water(I hadn’t lol). I use half a pipette for my face and half for my neck and decollate. I would bathe in this is I could!
2. Chanel Hydra Beauty Serum~The original version of this serum has been on my vanity and in my makeup kit for as long as I can remember. Though it is hydrating, it can be used on virtually all skin types. It’s not heavy or oily in consistency. It contains my beloved hyaluronic acid as well as a cocktail of Chanel gorgeousness, camellia alba and blue ginger PFA(poly fractioned active). I prepped brides’ skin with it often as it is a beautiful primer for foundation and glowy special event skin. Sidenote-I sometimes keep it in the fridge in hot weather and it is a savior for sun or wind burned skin.

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• MOISTURIZER

1. La Mer, the Soft Cream~If I could only use one cream for the rest of my days, this would probably be it. La Mer and their “miracle broth” are truly magical. I love the consistency of this formula(though the gel is great for more oily skin and the original is great for dry skin) but the ease of application and rich but not heavy consistency are perfect. This really does miracles for the skin. In addition to the corrective and preventative anti-aging effects, it makes skin prettier and softer to the touch.

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• LIP CARE

Chanel hydra beauty lip balm~I carry this(and my iPhone) around the house with me. I am NEVER without it. I have tried nearly every lip balm on the market, and this is hands down the most deeply hydrating. It’s truly a moisturizing treatment for the lips, not just a chapstick or temporary layer. Though I am a bit addicted to it, you will find that you don’t constantly need to apply it. The most important time to wear this is while sleeping, to let it really nourish and sink in. Then use before color lip products in the morning as well. I also sometimes mix it with a lipstick to create a more hydrating formula, or to make a more hydrating version of a shade. Also, after lightly manually exfoliating the lips, apply this balm for a hydrating treatment. It’s like a little facial for the delicate lips.

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• MANUAL EXFOLIATORS

It may seem old-school but a scrub exfoliant will always be a part of my routine. They give an instant result and somehow make the skin appear more even. I do one once or twice a week(it’s important not to overdo it, though the results are addictive) and I find that these two are gentle enough to run over the lips as well.

1. Chanel Gommage Microperle Eclat~This pink scrub has spherical beads that gently resurface without tearing at the skin.
2. Chanel Sublimage Scrub~For a more luxurious option, this scrub is gentle but effective and the light scent of Madagascar vanilla is a sensorial treat.

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• EYE CREAM

1. Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye Concentrate Matrix~The Advanced Night Repair line is classic, and is nostalgic for me because my mother always used it. The brown bottles were a fixture on her vanity. The price point is very reasonable and it delivers. I love the eye patches from this line and do them at least once a week too. The matrix has my beloved hyaluronic acid in a large dose, which is very helpful to my dry dehydrated eye area. I also love the massaging wand that it is applied with, as I am a huge believer in gentle manual massage to help with puffiness and encourage emphatic drainage.
2. La Mer Eye Balm Intense~Again La Mer is a staple, and this treatment really delivers, though it’s a luxury to be sure. I often reserve this for night time only though it works beautifully beneath concealer. I love that in addition to the Miracle Broth and marine ingredients, they bring in some Ayurveda with the addition of tourmaline, a quartz. Tourmaline is known to detoxify, depuff, and bring radiance to the skin.

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• AT HOME PEELS

1. Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha-Beta Universal Daily Peel Pads~These are gentle enough for my skin but truly deliver a clinical level result due to the combination of acids and soothing chamomile. I always enjoy a wipe, and like to do these three or four days a week whenever I have an extra moment to devote to my skin care routine. After five or six days you will notice skin becoming softer, and they help take care of any little breakouts without drying. The second step contains a retinol, which is an integral part of any anti-aging routine, but it is much more gentle and tolerable to my skin than any other retinol I have tried.

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• HAND CREAM

It is so important to care for and pamper your hands. It’s the first place to age for many people, and I have noticed my hands becoming dryer by the year. My all-time favorite Cle de Peau hand cream was discontinued a few years ago, and I truthfully have tried so many but haven’t found the perfect replacement yet. Please give me any suggestions! But my little secret is to always use a bit of what is leftover of your skincare on your hands. I even use my peel pads on them! And, of course, always wear sunscreen on your hands. Just driving in the car exposes them to so much damage.

I wanted to begin “skin” with just these few classics, so much more to come!