Since early November, most of us have likely been dealing with winter skin woes. That is, dry, red, pale skin that makes us miss summertime when we were all tan and glowing. Of course, being that we live in Texas, the weather that is causing us all of this grief is completely unpredictable. The cold, dry air that turns your nose all red and makes your lips crack could last for months, sometimes trailing into the beginning of spring, or vary between weeks and even days, causing even more havoc to our skin.
Skincare regimens have become all the rage, with the new look being effortlessly silky smooth and shiny skin that looks good without a single drop of foundation. That is the dream. So to achieve that look I set out to discover new products in 2018 that could help out all my fellow girlfriends who love the idea of sliding out of bed just 5 minutes before class, not having to worry about uneven skin tones or horrid pimples. And let’s be real, even when the weather does clear up, our skin is bound to have its off days. We’re college students who have the worst eating habits and practically never sleep. This being one of the worst combinations for our skin, I’m hoping these products will save you from any more stress that could potentially cause terrifying wrinkles. Yikes.
So without further ado and in no particular order, my top 5 beauty products that are a must-have in your skincare bag this year:
#1: The Water Cream by Tatcha
What it is: Tatcha is a Japanese skincare brand that uses powerful botanicals known to Japan — wild rose, leopard lily, and hadasei-3 (combination of green tea, rice, and algae) — to provide a boost of nutrients to the skin. It’s also oil-free for optimal hydration (and prevention of breakouts).
What it does: With anti-aging properties in its mix of benefits, this skin-improving water-based product leaves your skin hydrated, radiant, and natural without making it oily or sticky. It also tightens pores and smoothes the skin so that over time it’s restored to its supple state.
Sephora.com – $68
#2: Mario Badescu Facial Spray with Aloe, Chamomile and Lavender
What it is:
Since Mario Badescu’s rose water spray became all the craze (I love that product as well), he has derived new and improved personalized facial sprays and skincare products for all skin types. This new one in particular, infused with lavender, aloe, and chamomile, not only smells absolutely fantastic, but in my opinion, may have even more benefits than his original rose water combination. When stress begins to show on your face, this spray will become your magical tool for peace and comfort.
What it does:
After misting this product onto your face, neck, and even your hair, you will immediately notice improved hydration, brightness, and shininess. Vitamin C helps make your skin even and dewy as if you just came back from the beach! It can be applied anywhere at anytime, even post-makeup and on wet hair after a shower, for an effortless look 24/7.
Ulta.com – $12
#3: Glossier’s Priming Moisturizer
What it is: This product, named one of Teen Vogue’s skincare “game changers,” acts as both a moisturizer and primer that plumps up the skin to help reduce the appearance of pores and fatigue on the face. Its key ingredients include hyaluronic acid and mushroom super hydrater (hydrates your skin to look and feel like a plush pillow), anti-redness complex (a mix of tea and honey extracts that evens skin tone), oxygenating agent (improves stress-induced texture of the skin with oxygen), and an antioxidant blend (Vitamins A, C, and E combined with radish root to prevent skin damage).
What it does: With such an extensive list of well-known ingredients that benefit the skin, this priming moisturizer is one of the best products out there. It acts as a two-in-one skin care treatment and pre-makeup regimen, creating a clean, comforting feel to the skin after just one use. With intense, buildable moisture, you will never be able to stop applying this cream and having everyone touch your face to “feel how soft it is.”
Glossier.com – $22
#4: Thayer’s Witch Hazel Alcohol-Free Toner – Rose Petal
What it is: Recommended for sensitive skin as opposed to extremely oily skin, this product contains key elements for preventing breakouts and evening the skin’s overall texture. As Thayer’s promotes, the natural ingredients in this product have sat in medicine cabinets for years due to their extreme effectiveness and satisfaction with consumers.
What it does: Rose-petal water containing all-natural oils and sugars that work to brighten the skin combined with witch hazel to reduce pores and minimize oil production creates this wonderfully effective product you will never want to be without. With Vitamin C and aloe vera as other key components, your skin will be both looking and feeling rejuvenated. As a result of increased collagen production from these ingredients, your skin will become significantly stronger with less noticeable color spotting, scarring, and breakouts. Oh, and did I mention it’s all natural and alcohol-free?
Amazon.com – $6.99
#5: Oil-Free Acne Wash Pink Grapefruit Foaming Scrub
What it is: Neutrogena is well known for creating sensitive products designed to combat acne-prone skin. Since many face washes/moisturizers actually cause blackheads and pimples, it is critical not to purchase the wrong one that makes you question why you are still breaking out after working so hard to prevent just that. With natural grapefruit extract, Vitamin C, and salicylic acid for acne treatment, this product will clean deep into your pores, removing any skin debris and excess product from makeup applications.
What it does: Aside from reducing and preventing breakouts, this facial wash smoothes the skin without any irritation and provides a refreshing boost of grapefruit to the skin. Cleanse your face with this scrub twice a day to see a noticeable difference in no time. Say bye to acne and yes to quality skincare!
Target.com – $7.99
Hopefully, you’re on your computer frantically online shopping right now. Trust me, for these products, it’s worth it. They’ve all become a staple in my morning and nighttime skincare routine and I’ve already begun to see results. No longer should we let the fickle Texas weather, stress over our tough classes, or our love for chips and ramen wreak havoc on our skin. Start 2018 off right with these products and you’ll make everyone wonder how your skin looks that good.