Let’s talk skincare! This is a topic I’m passionate about. Growing up with a dermatologist dad, we’d receive medical magazines in the mail. The covers were always filled with terrible skin diseases, like turn your head away because these images were so gross. It wasn’t until I was about 10 when I realized my dad’s job wasn’t just cutting out cancers and tumors, there was so much more to his dermatology practice. I began working with my dad in the summers doing simple tasks like filing, picking up prescriptions from the pharmacy (I picked up more candy, than prescriptions;))
My interest grew seeing patients transform their skin over a period of time. When I graduated high school, I attended Aesthetician School in Scottsdale and a year later opened my first skincare salon. Back then esthetics schools offered chemical peel training as the most advanced procedure, the focus was on waxing and facials. A couple years later I sold my office and thanks to the knowledge from my dads medical practice mixed with my esthetics training I landed a job in San Francisco working with the self proclaimed “Botox King”. Really, this doctor I worked for refereed to himself as that, haha. He was one of the few board certified dermatologists in the US offering botox at that time and I learned a whole new side of skincare from my 3 years there.
MY FAVORITE SKINCARE PRODUCTS (click on words in bold to be directed to product page)
- My favorite gentle cleanser is PURITY. I have used this for many years. Jeff and Avery & Poppy also use this. This cleanser provides a great cleanse, plus removes eye makeup.
- SK-II ESSENCE I’ve used this for several months and still have about 1/3 of the bottle left. This product is filled with vitamins & minerals to prevent your skin from looking dull. Great for all skin types. Use daily.
- This EXFOLIATOR FIRM PEELING GEL is a product my friends mom swears by, and she looks amazing. I’ve used it for a year and I love it! Your skin feels baby soft after. Use 1-2 days per week.
- I’ve talked about KOPARI before, I love the way their coconut melt feels on my skin. I don’t use it on my face, just my body. My skin drinks it up during the winter.
- CLEARSKIN is the best moisturizer for your teens and yourself when you breakout. I swear this has saved Avery so far from the dreaded teen acne. I use it a couple days before I start my period to prevent breakouts. It’s good. Use daily if prone to breakouts.
- If I don’t wear SUNLESS TANNER I am basically transparent. I avoid the sun and lather up on this SUPERGOOP! SUNSCREEN every day so applying a fake tan is my only chance at some color to my skin. Protects your skin & applies evenly. I’ve gone through so many brands but have been stuck on this MOUSSE for about 2 years.
- I have a special love for the NUFACE TONING DEVICE. I was actually the face of their holiday packaging last year. Want to hear a funny story about this? You don’t, I’ll tell you anyway:) I had the kids with me in Nordstrom and there was a huge display with my face on it. The kids were so excited and started telling the workers ” that’s my mom”. No joke the lady looked me up and down ( I was in sweats with a topknot) and said ” is that really you? I mean maybe I can see it” If you don’t already have this device and feel like your skin is starting to sag or you’d like to tone up your jaw line, this is for you! So amazing for firming skin & smoothing fine lines. Use 4-5 times a week for best results.
- I love a lot of GLAMGLOW products, but my favorite is the THIRSTYMUD HYDRATING MASK. It exfoliates and brightens your skin in 15 minutes. Love it! I use this once a week and usually the same day I am going to apply my self tanner.
- My hair girl/friend Brittany is also a makeup artist. She got me hooked on this CAUDALIE BEAUTY ELIXIR Instant hydration. My favorite way to use it is keeping it in my bag and spraying over my skin as a makeup refresher.
- Always looking for a CALMING MASK, recently found this one and loved it! Feels so good on your skin. Use as needed.
- I did some media coverage for CHARLOTTE TILBURY a few months ago and fell in love with the line! Like I want all of it. I bought the hero piece that made her line famous, MAGIC CREAM. This facial moisturizer has won many awards and for good reason. The other product is a CLAY MASK. This mask makes your skin feel like cashmere as well as tightens pores and brightens skin. Use mask 1-2 times per week and cream daily in the morning.
- You know I think the PMD MICRODERM TOOL is a great at home microdermabrasion option. Use once a week.
- PEEL PADS from Dr. Dennis Gross. This two step at home process is a great way to give yourself a mini peel at home with alpha and beta hydroxy acids. You can use these 2-3 nights per week. Great for hyper-pigmentation and reducing signs of aging.
- You’ve seen me post about these PETER THOMAS ROTH EYE PATCHES multiple times. I love them! Tip:keep in the fridge and use in the morning.
- I’ve talked about Dr. Zoe many times. I wrote about my MICRONEEDLING experience with her. She has her own product line, it’s great! My top two favorites from Dr. Zoe: C-GLOW( vitamin C serum, apply daily in the am before your moisturizer) and Perfect Change. This is the RETINOL I use 2-3 times per week. It’s my absolute favorite for skin cell turnover. It’s different than a regular retinol because it’s a retinol/TCA blend. TCA is found in medical grade chemical peels and rarely found in skincare. It’s the best skincare product for anti-aging.
- Worried about fine lines around your eyes? I love this AGE EYE BALM & OBAGI EYE CREAM
- Top off your nightly routine with this LIP MASK.
- I can’t emphasize enough how important wearing sunscreen is. Love how my IT COSMETICS CC CREAM has SPF 50 in it. Great full coverage as well.
- While pregnant you must AVOID retinols and acids(glycolic, salicylic, lactic, etc). I liked KORRES and TATA HARPER while pregnant. Also NO botox.
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Hi Lisa!
What type of primer do you use with the NuFace? I’m very interested as it sounds like an incredible device!
Also, do you apply the sunless tanner on your face or is it more of neck down type of thing?
I’ve been reading along since L&L and I am really loving all your content on Salty Lashes!!!
hey Katie,
A primer comes with the NuFACE device, but you can also use aloe vera gel. I use my self tanner on face and body, it’s super lightweight and doesn’t clog pores. Thank you for coming over to Salty Lashes with me, means so much!
so what do you use as your daily moisturizer in the morning? and how long does the dr zoe perfect serum typically last you?
the charlotte tilbury magic cream. perfect change lasts about 6 months.
I assume the 5 oz container lasts you 6 months? do you have any other recommended daily face creams?
There are 2 listed in this post. AGE Interrupter and Magic Cream. I love them both! Also the retinol lasts me 5-6 months.
also, how long does the retinol last you? the perfect change…thank you!
Wow! Coming from someone who just turned 40..who uses a moisturizer from Walmart…this post was a bit overwhelming. I know I need to do more but there really isn’t a way to purchase all of this. What are your top suggestions for someone like me? Where do I start?! Thank you!!
skincare can be overwhelming for sure. this is a list of products I use and love, tried and tested. At 40 you for sure want to be using a retinol, hydrating moisturizer and eye cream. Start with those three and then add products along the way. hope this helps!
Thank you, Lisa!!
Thank you! If you were to get 3-4 products while pregnant what would they be? Any other great tips? Thanks so much in advance!
How do you work out and keep your self tanner on? I always sweat mine off!
Hi Lisa! I love, love, love your blog and family!! I loved this post so much because I get so overwhelmed at Nordstrom when looking for skin care products. I never know worth the money or not. I let the Dior lady freak me out this summer about starting to look old (I’m 25 and most people think I’m 17) and forked out the cash REAL quick! Now almost done with the products, I’m super disappointed! Thanks for sharing your knowledge! I will be ordering the products tonight:) XO
Hi Lisa! I love your gorgeous family, blog and Instagram! This skincare post is awesome! Do you take a liquid or powder collagen supplement? Do you have any brand recommendations? I’ve been curious about trying one and what the aesthetician in you thinks about them. Thank you!
❤️Erin
Hey beauty! Just curious your thoughts on the PMD…. do you feel it’s effective and if so do you use your own cleanser before using it? Wondering if I need to invest in the PMD line, I have sensitive skin to certain products so wondering if I should just stick with my norm Obagi
PMD is a tool and to be used in conjunction with great products. You can see my video with the PMD on our YouTube channel. Have a great night!
Hi Lisa, I love this post thank you for sharing this with us! I wondered if you have you ever had any bad results from Microneedling? I am starting to investigate anti aging procedures for some fine lines and I was recommended so many options from a few dermatologists I visited – such as Mesotherapy, lasers, PRP, dermapens, Vivace micro needling – I am quite blown away by all of it, but after investigating many of them I am considering starting with micro needling. But I keep finding bad reveiws such as the skin being worse after the treatment.. and I mean not just the straight away results but long term effects are not great.
Thank you for this post! If you were to get 3-4 products while pregnant what would they be? Any other great tips? Thanks so much in advance!
Do you use the sunless tanner on your face?
Yep, I do
Yes, I do. I lightly apply it to my face and it works great.
I am super excited by this post and the direction you give…I need to build up on products and wondered if you could purchase 2-3 products what would you suggest first? Also, if I was going to buy a “tool” which would you recommend the PMD or the NuFace? I am 42 and have never been super diligent with face care 🙁 Love your blog…love that you started one on your own 🙂
I love all your suggestions but they are all pretty pricey! Wondering if you have any products that you would recommend that are more cost friendly.
I just wanted to chime in after reading a few of the comments. I just went to the mall yesterday and wanted to let y’all know – there are smaller sizes and samples available for several of the products Lisa recommended. The Dr. Gross face peels come in a trial 5 pack at Sephora at a very reasonable price point ($17). I was able to ask Nordstrom for samples of the Charlotte Tilbury products to test them out. And the GlamGlow products are available at Nordstrom and Sephora in a smaller size (I got the Brightening Mask trial size for $24). Also, if your birthday is in March, you can get a free sample of 2 GlamGlow products at Sephora. Hope this helps! Xx
Hi Lisa, I’m interested in getting Botox. I’m 45 and i have lines on my forehead hat i hate. I just don’t know where to start or what to look for. Can you help me???
Amazing! Do you use all of these products? How much time do you spend on your face everyday? I have the products that I want to use singled out already such as the cleanser, toner and moisturizer, but I think that’s how it would go for me. While I believe that I should take care of my skin and face, my lifestyle is always in a hurry, 3-in1 or 5-in1 applicators for women who have no time is applicable for me!
I do use all of these, but not at the same time:) I use the retinol 2-3x a week and mask 2x a week. On average I spend 15 mins on my skin daily.
What about your décolletage area? I think mine has more wrinkles than my face at 41?
You’re gorgeous so I wanna try all of these!!
Hi Lisa!
You always take the time to recommend the best products!… Thank you for that! 🙂 I’m looking into buying the Perfect Change Serum. Is 26 too young to start using a retionol based serum?
Hey Taylor!
Yes, 26 is totally acceptable to start a retinol. You’ll love Perfect Change!
Nice article! I really like your anti aging skincare regimen and these all product sounds amazing. I will use them in my skincare routine. Thanks and keep sharing.