Best of 2014 - Skincare

2014 was a pretty good year in general. I studied abroad in Paris, I restarted my job as a makeup artist and skincare consultant in a spa close to campus, and I graduated from university! There were also some amazing things I've discovered skincare-wise this year, and I'm pretty sure that's what you're really here for. I've tried many things, but out of all of them, these were what I've most enjoyed in 2014:

Best 1st Cleanser (Makeup Remover): Soap and Glory The Ultimelt Hot Cloth Cleanser. I've tried many things to remove my makeup this year from micellaire waters, to cleansing balms, to coconut oil. While I do love coconut oil and a washcloth to remove makeup, I found that the Soap and Glory Ultimelt was amazing if I ever felt too lazy to break out the wash cloth (which was often). It got rid of all makeup, rinsed completely clean with or without the cloth, and left my skin feeling super nourished. I even tried the famous Emma Hardie cleansing balm that everyone and their cat obsesses over, and I can still say that I like Soap and Glory's budget offering way better. Good job S&G!

Best 2nd Cleanser: CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser. I tried a lot of cleansers this year, and while not the most exciting, I still feel that the CeraVe one worked the best to clean my skin without stripping it. Best part is that it's readily available at the drugstore.

Best Exfoliating Toner: Trish McEvoy Beta Hydroxy Pads. While Beta pads are extremely pricey (and don't last long for the price), I felt like these were the best way to exfoliate after cleansing. After using the pads, my skin felt smoother, pores smaller, and I was still hydrated. The salicylic acid worked to help keep breakouts at bay, yet it wasn't as irritating on the skin as Pixi Glow Tonic.

Best Hydrating Toner: La Roche-Posay Serozinc. This toner worked amazingly to calm my skin and keep it hydrated before layering on moisturizer. It's simple and doesn't break the bank. I can't wait until it's available everywhere.

Best Eye Cream: Trish McEVoy Beauty Booster Eye Serum. Although the price is rather extravagant, this was the best eye product I've tried this year. It hydrates the eye area incredibly, reduces puffiness, actually helps a bit with dark circles, and fights fine lines. Another plus, it really conditions the brows and lashes and makes them grow like crazy! My lashes never looked healthier, and I was tweezing constantly (great if you struggle in the brow department). If you're having a hard time justifying the price tag, remember that the bottle lasts forever, and that it really does do everything.

Best Serum: Vichy Idealia Life Serum. I've tried a lot of serums this year, but this one really does everything. It evens skin tone, prevents blemishes, hydrates, and smoothes. While I do love all the serums I tried from Indeed Labs (Pepta Bright and Hydraluron) and my Trish McEvoy Beauty Booster Serum,  I felt like the Idealia Life did all that work in one.

Best Facial Oil: Origins Plantscription Youth-Renewing Face Oil. I haven't tried another facial oil more effective than this one. This hydrates, brightens, and really helps keep blemishes at bay thanks to the tamanu oil. Whenever my skin feels congested, I feel like this really helps clear it all up.

Best Night Cream: Origins High-Potency Night-A-Mins. This is the most hydrating night cream I have ever used. I actually feel it sinking in to my skin as opposed to sitting on top, and it still doesn't break me out. Not to mention it smells amazing, and the tiniest bit goes the longest way.

Best Day Moisturizer: Garancia Diabolique Tomate Crème d'Eau. This is the moisturizer that got me into daytime moisturizers (I used to go straight from serum to sunscreen). This lightweight potion that turns from a light cream into water upon rubbing into the skin hydrates all day, yet controls oil. Skin looks and feels smooth and fresh. Not to mention this smells great.

Best Sunscreen: Trish McEvoy Beauty Booster Cream SPF 30. While extremely pricey for a sunscreen, this was the best I've found this year. It moisturizes, sets a perfect base for makeup, leaves no white cast, doesn't irritate, and doesn't make the skin at all greasy. My makeup lasts so long throughout the day when I use this. I love the tube/pump packaging that dispenses the perfect amount of product every time. 

Best Mask: Tata Harper Moisturizing Mask. This overnight mask is a miracle worker. Not only does it hydrate the skin, but it also brightens and fights acne! The first time I used it, my skin felt moisturized, looked more even, and the little breakouts that I'd had the night before all disappeared! (I swear tamanu oil has become one of my favorite ingredients!) Although it's expensive, it replaces many components of the night routine (eye cream, serum, oil, and moisturizer), you only need a tiny bit, and the bottle is huge.

Best Exfoliating Treatment: Trish McEvoy Correct and Brighten Multi Acid Weekly Peel. Again, another miracle worker. Whenever I felt lazy (usually about once a week or after a long night), I would just cleanse my face (still the double cleanse), sweep one of these pads all over my face (the extra on my neck, chest, hands, and arms), and go to sleep, no other steps involved. I would wake up with basically perfect skin. Any little blemishes were gone, dark spots significantly brighter, pores smaller, skin still hydrated, and no irritation whatsoever. While the peels seem pricey, you get twelve in a pack, so it ends up being about ten dollars a treatment, which is more than a bargain for a dermatologist treatment. I can't live without these now.

Best Spot Treatment: Mario Badescu Buffering Lotion. While I loved my Effaclar Duo +, I feel like the Buffering Lotion is still the best at fighting under the skin/hormonal blemishes (the other ones I would get would go away on their own in a day or so with the above routine). It stops them from coming up at all, so I can still enjoy really good skin. 

Stay tuned for Best Makeup of 2014!