u/ImAtUrDoor

Is there a brand where you fell in love with a product but each subsequent try from their line fell flat for you? A few come to mind for me:

Le Prunier - the plum oil is truly fantastic, but everything I've tried after - with the exception of the body cream, which I like but wouldn't repurchase at full price; it's often on GMA Deals so I can get it there if I want in the future - has been kind of a dud. The Plumtox mask irritated my face and didn't do anything of value, the Plumscreen spf pilled horribly (but the texture and scent were divine), and the new Plumcleanse has one of the worst smells I've ever encountered, like they put their plum oil in a blender with a ton of alfalfa. It's also weirdly harsh despite being formulated to be the opposite?

Holifrog - I was really into the Tashmoo Milky Cleanser for a while but the other cleansers and the glycolic were big no's for me. Turned me off from trying anything else from the line and eventually I stopped replacing the cleanser.

MARA - It took me a minute to adjust to the texture but I really love their universal face oil (it's a bit thick/syrupy but does absorb well once massaged in). Very nourishing, particularly on a morning when I wake up with dry skin. I'd repurchase it. Everything else has been a big meh for me. The cult favorite exfoliating cleanser was a miss for me, the retinol oil strangely caused me irritation no matter how much or little I used, and the vitamin C sea serum oil - allegedly mega soothing and effective - made my rosacea pop out almost every time I used it.

For some reason I can't stop listening to the instrumental version of "Veins." I love everything about the production, particularly Matt's drums when they kick in before the bridges.

I'm curious if there are any random brands that show up on social media that pique your interest?

For example, I'm always juuuuust about to hit purchase on the Circa 1970 oil (it's a touch too expensive given that I get all of its ingredients in other products I use).

I've also been inundated recently with Sweetwater Labs, which seems to be a "clean, organic" brand with very affordable oils (their rose face oil has been celebrated in O Magazine a few times). I have a fantasy of finding nonluxury (read: cheap) products that my skin adores so I did find myself looking through their website for a touch too long...

Curious if anyone regularly uses a lesser known brand and wants to shout it out? From drugstore to ultra luxe, tell me your unsung hero products, what they do, and why you love them?

Listening to the Embers edition on iTunes and these instrumentals are unreal. So glad they included them.

I find masking to be a tricky part of my skincare routine. Curious to know what you all are using and why, when, how, etc?

I use May Lindstrom Problem Solver with a dollop of her Honey Mud about once every two weeks. Really helps settle my skin when it feels "off" or my rosacea pustules have been out and about and not settling. (Did it this morning in fact and could really feel my other serums penetrating well as a result.)

I am not currently using it but I was also pretty impressed by the Wonder Valley Olive Mud Mask. Very soothing, softening. I don't know that it did much I could name, per se, but I was certainly hydrated after. Kind of a similar vibe to the Sturm face mask, but much cheaper and better ingredients.

Post current deals and discounts here! Please include the current date and a link to purchase.

Now that we're fully onto spring (though in NYC we're swinging wildly from 80 degree days back to 40 degrees, which is taking a bit of a toll on the skin), I'm curious what everyone's AM/PM routines currently are. Here's mine:

AM

Historically I use Dr. Loretta Gentle Hydrating Cleanser or Jordan Samuel Matinee Cream Cleanser. Sometimes when I need some exfoliation or brightening, I'll switch to Joanna Vargas Vitamin C Face Wash. I recently purchased Tata Harper's Superkind Cream Cleanser and that's really nice, too - lathers into a very fine foam.

*On mornings/evenings when I shave, I'll use either Dr. Barbara Sturm Facial Scrub or May Lindstrom Clean Dirt, depending on how my skin feels (the former for a gentle exfoliation, the latter if I really want scrub off those dead cells). Then I'll forgo the rest of my routine and just use May Lindstrom Jasmine Garden, May Lindstrom Blue Cocoon and Youth Dew mixed together, followed by SPF.

Marie Veronique C Therapy

Marie Veronique Soothing B3 (shoutout to Daneyoh for keeping me well stocked!)

Marie Veronique Protective Day Oil

Marie Veronique All Day Delay Emulsion or Dr. Barbara Sturm Face Cream Light mixed with some Le Prunier Plum Oil or May Lindstrom Youth Dew

Marie Veronique Color Free Zinc or Lancer Universal Tint Mineral Sun Shield

PM

Marie Veronique Pure and EO Free Oil Cleanser, followed by one of the above second cleansers

Symbiome The Answer growth factor serum, followed by Symbiome Rewind 003 oil

I then alternate between one of the following retinols: Lancer Advanced Retinol Treatment, Marie Veronique Gentle Retinol Night Serum or Marie Veronique Multi Retinol Night Emulsion

Dr. Barbara Sturm Super Anti Aging Night Cream or Marie Veronique Rejuvenating Night Oil / Extra Healing