The Skincare Products That Finally Got Me to Stop "Thinking" About Posting & Actually Post
A not-so-perfect ramble about the skincare that made me show up & post.
There are so many products I want to tell you about. Honestly, I spend way too much time thinking about posting & not nearly enough time actually posting. Which means we both lose out - I don’t hit my goals, & you don’t get to hear about the things I’ve tried & loved.
And if you’re in the market for new skincare, I’m basically keeping you from discovering something that might be perfect for you.
I’ll be leaning on the motto: done, not perfect while I get into a flow. For now, you’ll be getting my rambly little roundups, straight from my vanity shelf to you with a tiny bit of finessing from my AI to help me pull it all together. Life is incredibly busy at the moment but in the name of developing good content habits, here I am. Small wins my friends, small wins.
This post is about four brands I’ve been loving this summer - three that are in my current rotation, & one that I literally shook water into the bottle to pump out the last drop & I’m not embarrassed to admit that!
First, a Little Disclaimer
Everything in this post was gifted to me by PR.
It’s important for you to know that if I say I love something, it’s because I actually love it. Not because I feel guilty, or obligated to post, & though of course I want PR & brands to be happy, not so much that I’d lie to you.
I can easily just say “thank you” & post a quick picture on my IG, but if I’m going to take the time to write about it here, there has to be real feelings about it.
I digress. Now for the goods.
PMD Clean — Redvolution
This little gadget is honestly so fun. It’s the PMD Clean Redvolution device, & it basically turns washing your face into a treatment.
One side has SonicGlow™ technology - 7,000 vibrations per minute that break down dirt & oil & give you a gentle scrub. Flip it over & suddenly you’ve got 19 medical-grade red LEDs that only turn on when they’re actually touching your skin.
I use it on targeted facial areas, but I recently started using it on the backs of my hands & my neck (because that’s where I notice aging first) & I love it for that. It feels good to be doing something intentional there.
Side tangent: I’ve been trying it on an ankle injury just to see if the red light therapy might help with healing. Does it work? Who knows! But my fingers are all crossed & theres no harm in trying.
Dr. KaramMD Trifecta System + Enrich Barrier Balm - code AMY20 for 20% off
I first heard about Dr. Karam on the Gloss Angeles podcast (IYKYK). He’s a double board-certified plastic surgeon in LA, known for facial rejuvenation, & people literally travel from all over the world to see him.
His this three-step system (Rinse, Quench & Illuminate) contains retinol, vitamin C, peptides, antioxidants, brighteners, hydration factors - the whole menu of good stuff - simplified to be easy & effective. As an aside, I generally can’t tolerate retinol & it always bums me out, but this has been so gentle on my skin & I haven’t had any issues.
I add the Enrich Barrier Balm to the process to finish it off. The balm feels like frosting on the cake, it’s amazing to put on after the Trifecta to lock it all in & feels so soothing.
Here’s where the LA vs New England part of me comes in. In LA, I always felt pressure to preserve my face from aging - whatever it took. Now that I’m in New England, the vibe is different (whether that proves to be a good or bad thing is TBD). At the moment I’m okay with thoughtful Botox, some lymphatic massage, & really good skincare. This system fits that shift perfectly while I practice good habits & self acceptance. Talk to me in a few years & I might have a different story!
I only use the full program at night right now because it’s been so sunny, & I don’t need the stress of retinol + summer sun. But even just once a day, I wake up the next morning with skin that looks noticeably better with a glow. It’s healing parts of my barrier that I honestly thought were beyond repair.
It’s an investment, yes. But I’m obsessed, & it’s worth it. Use code AMY20 for 20% off.
Youth To The People (YTTP)
You’ve probably heard me gush about the Superberry Dream Mask before. I ran out months ago & my skin still misses it - I need to restock & bring it back into rotation on the nights when I’m giving Dr. Karam a break.
But here’s the one I haven’t talked about: the Superfood Cleanser. I used it until the glass bottle was empty, & then (confession time) I added water to the bottle & shook it up to get the last little bit. Not sorry, not embarrassed, would definitely do it again.
It’s gentle but effective, takes off sunscreen, even melts mascara without wrecking my eyes. I love it, I miss it - nothing else in my cabinet feels quite as easy & comfortable.
This is definitely going back into my shopping cart, thankfully it comes in a refillable option!
Biossance
Here’s the thing about Biossance, (if this is you know I say this with love): people who use it get very dramatic when talking about it. Like “you haaaaaaave to try it, I can’t believe you’ve never tried it” dramatic. They’re not wrong, a bit over zealous, but understandably so once you try it.
I’m a squalane person - if you aren’t this set isn’t for you - & the Omega Repair Cream is such a good texture. Whipped, rich, & somehow still absorbs easily. My skin here in Massachusetts doesn’t know what season it is half the time, the weather is all over the place, & this cream has been my steady solution when I need real moisture, especially at night.
The eye cream also surprised me, because I don’t like most eye creams but I love theirs. Their Resurfacing Serum with lactic acid was in rotation before I switched to the Karam system; if you’re into lactic, it’s definitely one to look at.
Wrapping It Up!
So that’s my little “done, not perfect” roundup of four brands that I really enjoyed this summer.
Moving from LA to New England changed the way I think about skincare. In LA, the sun is constant & so is the pressure. Here in Massachusetts, the seasons whip my skin around in every direction, & I’ve had to adjust. But it’s also given me more space to just enjoy products for what they are - good textures, little rituals, small ways of taking care of myself.
If you try any of these, let me know how they land for you - I love hearing what works for different skin in different seasons.