Skincare review | my top beauty products of the year

Let’s talk about skincare

Winter has arrived and with the change in seasons, comes a slight change in my beauty routine. During the colder months of the year, my skin gets super dry and cries out for moisture. I go for the most nourishing products that leave my skin feeling healthy and moisturized. Today I’ll be sharing with you my favourite beauty products of 2020, specifically the ones I have been loving this winter!

Let’s begin with a self-assessment:

How does your “beauty routine” change after each season?
Are you intentional about the products you use or do you follow what’s hot in the market?
Do you make time for self-grooming often, once in a while, or rarely?
Do you read reviews before buying a skincare product?
When was the last time you tried a new product?

There’s no right answers to these questions, they’re simply a guide to help you become a little more self-aware about your personal beauty habits. Pampering looks different for everyone and we all have unique lifestyles and preferences. Naturally, we will gravitate towards different products. I believe it is so important to invest in yourself and make sure that you are giving back to your body. I hope this post will serve as a reminder that self-grooming is not only a luxury but also a necessity. Many of us get so caught up in the busyness of our day to day lives that we forget to slow down and show ourselves love.

Below I will review my top skincare products of the year and current season that leave me feeling like my best self.

**Disclaimer**

This is not a sponsored post. All of the products I will be listing below I have used for a long time and I’m sharing them because they’ve worked well for me! That said, I encourage you to always do your research and apply patch tests on your skin before trying a new skincare product. I hope you find this review helpful! 🙂

Fragrances

If there is one beauty product I believe everyone should invest in, it is a go-to fragrance. It may be a $3 body mist or a $195 eau de toilette, but price isn’t the point. What matters is that you have a signature scent you cherish and love. What I love about fragrance is that you can always switch yours up depending on the season, your mood, or stage in life. How you smell speaks to the kind of person you are and shows people how you take care of yourself.

If you need help finding a scent that’s right for you, first have an understanding of the types of fragrances there are. The ‘fragrance wheel’ is a concept which describes the different categories of scents, including floral, fruity, woody, oriental, and fresh. Pick one that suits you and categorize the fragrances you already own to see which type you tend to gravitate towards. Don’t be afraid of trying something new either!

During winter, I enjoy wearing scents that are warm and sweet. Fragrances that I’ve been loving for months, and some of them years, include the Dolce and Gabbana ‘The One’ rollerball perfume, Zara’s ‘Oriental’ rollerball perfume, Bath and Body Works’ ‘A Thousand Wishes’ Fine Fragrance Mist, and Fendi’s Fan Di Fendi Extreme perfume. Rollerball perfumes are a personal favourite because they are easy to travel with and fun to apply.

Smelling good doesn’t stop at perfume, so allow me to proceed to the next category of beauty products!

Travel-size refillable bottles

These travel-sized bottles are so cute, easy to travel with, and they hardly take up storage space. I’ve only used the mini spray bottle so far to carry my perfumes and I love it. You can find similar ones here: Miniso 3 piece travel bottle kit, multipurpose refillable bottles.

Skincare

Creams and body butters

Staying moisturized is so important during cold months and I won’t allow my readers to have dry skin on my watch! Here are my current favourites:

Jergens Enriching Shea Butter. This is such a rich and creamy lotion. My skin instantly feels nourished and it just smells so good! My family and I love this product. I also keep a mini Jergens lotion to moisturize my hands.
Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry Touch Sunscreen SPF 45. Sunscreen is super important for all skin types and I always make sure to include it in my morning routine. I keep going back to Neutrogena for sunscreen because it is consistent and doesn’t irritate my skin. I apply this after moisturizing.
Victoria’s Secret Bare Vanilla Fragrance Lotion. Although it’s subtle, this lotion makes me feel luxurious, I won’t lie! The scent is very delicate, sweet, and warm. It doesn’t leave my skin feeling oily and isn’t too thick either. It’s the perfect lotion to apply just before bed or even going out to dinner.
Sol De Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Cream. After making a purchase at Sephora one day, I received a few samples of the Brazilian Bum Bum cream and Cabo Cabana Cream which I absolutely love! They smell so delicious and make me want to go on vacation even more than I did before. Will I purchase the full size lotions? Maybe in the future, but for now I’m enjoying the mini freebies!

Deodorant

Perhaps the most essential of them all. Deodorant is a product we all know and love. Having nowhere to go all of quarantine is no excuse to not be wearing it, so here are two of my favourites I thought I’d share:

Live Clean Sparkling Citrus Deodorant. This deodorant smells very light and fresh, kind of like a Spring day. I do like my deodorant fragrance to be a little stronger, so I apply this one at night when I’m just relaxing at home.
Tom’s of Maine Mountain Spring Deodorant. I have a tiny obsession with men’s care products and anything that smells like cologne. This deodorant leaves me feeling super fresh and I like to apply it day and night.

Throughout the year, I slowly transitioned to wearing deodorants that are natural and contain friendlier ingredients. So far, I have no complaints about these two, other than the fact that they smell so good I almost want to eat them!

Typical skincare routine

Cleanse/exfoliate skin.
*rinse and pat dry*
Apply a few drops of serum.
Moisturizer.
A few drops of face oil.
Sunscreen.

Face wash

Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cleaner. Truthfully, I purchased this product because my cleanser had just run out and I saw this was on sale. Little did I know, I would end up loving it more than the previous one! My skin typically reacts when I try a new cleanser but this time it didn’t. That was enough for me to know this would become one of my go-to skincare products.
Application: First, I wet my face with warm water. Sometimes I soak a face cloth under hot water, squeeze it dry, and then press it over my face for a few seconds. This allows the steam to open up my pores. Next, I squeeze a nickel-size amount of cleanser on my fingertips and massage it into my skin in circular motions for about one minute. I rinse off with cool water and then pat dry with a piece of paper towel or a clean towel.

The Ordinary

Two of my close friends (shoutout to Lisa and Acacia) put me on this brand, and I haven’t gone back since. I simply love their products and they haven’t disappointed me yet. I have sensitive skin so any product that actually fulfills what it promised on the label in addition to not causing my skin to react is a treasure. My experience with Ordinary products has only been positive, however, not everyone can say the same. I suggest reading reviews and their ‘patch test guide’ before making a purchase.

100% Organic Cold-Pressed Moroccan Argan Oil. After cleansing and moisturizing, I apply a few drops of this oil to my skin. I prefer to pat it on to my skin instead of rubbing it in. This product is designed for both skin and hair, however I mostly use it on my skin. My skin continues to look and feel healthy after using this product and I will continue going back.
Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5. This serum took me a while to get used to because of its sticky consistency. I apply this product after cleansing my skin. While my face is still damp, I squeeze a few drops and pat my skin until it is absorbed. Afterwards, I moisturize with my pond’s cream and argan oil.
Ascorbyl Glucoside Solution 12%. I apply a few drops of this brightening serum on my skin after cleansing and follow with a moisturizer. My skin responds very well to this serum and overtime I’ve noticed my skin looks a lot healthier.

I don’t use all of these products at once because doing so will overwhelm the skin. Instead, I alternate. One week I’ll use the Ascorbyl Glucoside Solution, and then the following week I’ll switch to the Hyaluronic Acid. It really depends on my mood and how my skin is reacting. I read a ton of reviews to find out how other customers use these products and I encourage you to do the same!

Face cream

POND’S Dry Skin Cream. This classic face cream has sat on my counter many times. It is also easy to find in stores and overall a reliable product. It smells nice but isn’t too fragrant. I apply this to my face and neck every morning and night after cleansing and I like to pat into my skin instead of rubbing it in.

Face Masks

I couldn’t write a beauty favourites review without mentioning my favourite masks! Face masks are an essential part of my beauty routine. I apply masks 1-3 times a week.

Shoppers Drug Mart carries quick and easy face masks that I love and are super affordable. The masks in this photo each cost less than $2.00. I prefer the mud/clay masks to the sheet masks, but I like to alternate once in a while.
Chinese Ginseng and Rice Clarifying Polishing Mask. I love the smell of the mask, I always feel like I’m at a spa. It has a creamy texture and I like to rub it on for some extra exfoliation. I always leave my masks on longer than the directions suggest. This one in particular I leave on for about 20-30 minutes, but I suggest you begin with 5-10 minutes as it advises you too. The 75ml size is priced at $28.00 and the 6ml size is priced at $6.00.

Body Wash/exfoliator

No matter how my day is going, a shower instantly makes me feel better. What keeps my skin feeling soft and healthy is my bamboo exfoliating brush, topped with a fresh-scented body wash. Using this brush changed the game for me, it scrubs away all the dead skin and leaves my skin feeling so smooth. But don’t stop there. Make sure you apply a good moisturizer skin after to keep your skin moisturized and glowing throughout winter! My skin feels extra soft when I apply moisturizer while it is damp.

Hand Care

Hand cream

As I said before, I don’t want any of you to have dry skin this winter! You can find a hand cream from your nearby drugstore or grocery store and keep it in your bag or on your desk so that it’s always within reach. I swear by Vaseline’s ‘Extremely Dry Skin Rescue’ lotion because it doesn’t leave a heavy scent like others do, and it makes my skin feel nice and soft.

Nail file and nail cutter

Nail care is super important especially in colder months. Trips to the nail salon may be at a halt but this doesn’t mean we can’t show our nails some love at home! If you’re around me long enough, you’ll notice that I always keep my nails plain and super short. Truthfully, I can’t be bothered to paint my nails very often.

Keeping a nail cutter and nail file helps my nails stay clean and polished. I also have a terrible habit of picking my nails which I’m trying to break, so filing those imperfections is super handy.

To complete the nail care experience, I exfoliate my hands and fingertips with an easy-to-make sugar scrub–just a tiny amount of sugar and olive oil will do. If you have any other scrub recipes please let me know, I’d love to try something new! I follow this step with a moisturizer and massage my cuticles.

Hand sanitizer

Good hygiene has always been important, however, now more than ever we need to be extra conscious of our health and the health of others. Maintaining clean hands throughout the day keeps us safe and also keeps those around us safe. I like to have one with me everywhere: in the car, in my bag, in my room, and around the house. For aesthetics, I included a fruity sanitizer from Bath and Body Works that smells amazing, but be sure to check the alcohol level of whichever one you use! Above 60-70% is recommended. Effectiveness is more important than scent, but if you want one that smells good I love the Hawaiian Pink Hibiscus sanitizer!

Lip Care

Lips, lips, lips. They require moisture and care throughout the day, especially during winter. I like to keep it simple during the day and apply lip balm or Vaseline to my lips. This lip balm smells minty and delicious, I feel so fresh wearing it!

Final thoughts

We made it to the finish line friends! Those are all of my favourite skincare products of the year. I love them so much that I will definitely be enjoying them in the new year as well. Comment below which skincare products you have been loving this season, I always love discovering new ones!

Happy New Year, my friends. I wish each and every single one of you great health, love, success, and healthy skin in the new year.

Xo, Kundi