2018: A Year In Review

Su:m37 Miracle Rose Cleansing Stick (discontinued).  Sad and gutted does not begin to describe how I felt when I learned that this Korean brand, Su:m37 was no longer manufacturing this amazing product.  The elegant aspect to this product was its low pH (less than 5.5) and use of crushed fermented rose petals (for gentle exfoliation) within the formulation.

Determined to find a similar option to the Miracle Rose Cleansing Stick, I opted for the Neogen Real Fresh Green Tea Cleansing Stick.  This seems to do the trick.  It has a low pH (less than 5.5) and beautiful list of ingredients; with the three main components being: camellia sinensis leaf/seed oil (green tea), coconut oil, and evening primrose oil.  It may not smell of roses, but the Neogen Real Fresh Green Tea Cleansing Stick works!  

Here’s hoping this doesn’t jump onto the discontinued list.  

Although, I have reviewed other cleansing balms this year: goop by Juice Beauty’s Luminous Melting Cleanser and May Lindstrom’s Blue Cocoon, the Heimish All Clean Balm was my consistently reached and repurchased balm of 2018.  It simply did its job! It melted makeup flawlessly and did not leave a greasy residue.  

When it came to serums and treatments, this was the year I listened to what my skin wanted as opposed to what I normally use robotically.  

Case in point, here is a list of products that were in rotation, were effective (either mild or extreme), and I’d repurchase again:

• Peter Thomas Roth Max Complexion Correction Pads.  This is my holy grail AHA/BHA staple.  I know there are gentler AHA/BHA options, but this has worked for me since my first purchase in the early 2000s.   
• The Ordinary Ascorbic Acid 8% + Alpha Arbutin 2%.  An improved option, in my opinion, to The Ordinary Alpha Arbutin 2% + HA.     
• The Ordinary Retinol 1% in Squalane.  An improved option, in my opinion, to the much-lauded The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion (Previously Advanced Retinoid 2%).
• Farmacy Honeymoon Glow.  This was a late (November) addition to my 2018 beauty regimen.  

2018 was the year that I invested in medical-grade facials for myself.  I tested laser treatments (for its reported benefits to improve hyperpigmentation) and light therapy (for its scientific use in wound healing and anti-aging benefits).  I even purchased the Skin Inc Optimizer Voyage Tri-Light (Limited edition rose gold) to test out the daily at-home benefits of light therapy.  Review and content to come!

Face masks were everywhere in 2018 by way of chemical/botanical products or sheets.  And I did not shy away from experimenting and trying out various types. And although sheet masks seem to be quite popular in 2018, I never found one that was worth repurchasing.  Now chemical/botanical face mask products? Those were my kryptonite. And in 2018, I found a few that helped heal, calm, and were effective:

• Cocokind Chlorophyll Mask.  This mask made my skin positively glow and helped detox, purify everything you could possibly imagine with only four (4) simple organic ingredients: spirulina powder, wheatgrass powder, chlorella powder, and ylang-ylang oil.  Side note: You can also use it for your body too!
• Cocokind Egg Nog Softening Mask (limited edition).  I hate to talk about a product that is either limited edition or seasonal, but I need to shed some serious light on this product.  Full disclosure:  This was an impulse holiday purchase at Whole Foods and has only three ingredients: non-GMO egg, organic cacao powder, organic nutmeg oil.  I use this in combination with the Cocokind Chlorophyll Mask and my face thanks me for it!
• Origins Retexturizing Mask with Rose Clay.  This was another travel impulse purchase while at Sephora and I have to say, that it did not disappoint.  It has somehow helped in smoothing the texture of my skin while drawing out any impurities.

I also dabbled in preparing my own homemade facial masks, to which I hope to spread the formulation love to my fellow readers and aspiring chemists soon!

2018 was also the year that I continually used calming skincare products as primers as well as maintain use of SPF.  These were my three daytime combinations used to prime my face before makeup and during those makeup-free days:

• Dr. Jart+ Cicapair Tiger Grass Cream.  
• Hada Labo Gokujyun Lotion. I use this not only to prime my skin but also to add increased hydration to my tinted moisturizer or foundation!
• MISSHA Soft Finish Sun Milk SPF 50.  I originally purchased this a while back but only used it when I knew I would be exposed to the sun.  This year, I intentionally used it daily.
• Benefit Cosmetics the POREfessional face primer.  Helps in minimizing pores in preparation for makeup.

Truth be told, I’ve never been the best at using moisturizers.  In fact, throughout my teens and 20s, I simply shied away from such things as it only seemed ridiculous to add to an already oily canvas.  But as the years have passed, my oily mug became more combination (with dry patches) in nature. Enter facial oils and moisturizers to help maintain hydration:

• Acure Seriously Soothing Blue Tansy Night Oil.  If you are looking to dabble in the blue tansy craze, this is the product for you.  A clean alternative to the Sunday Riley Luna Sleeping Night oil without the retinoid.  
• Hada Labo Gokujyun Lotion.  I use this whenever I feel my skin needs added buoyancy.  
• Blithe Tundra Chaga Pressed Serum and Blithe Crystal Iceplant Pressed Serum.  Late additions (November) to the 2018 regimen but definitely worth mentioning as both really helped in overall hydration maintenance and skin buoyancy.  

If you know me, you know that I’ve raved about the Caudalie Beauty Elixir.  And even though I still come back to this beaut of a facial spray, I have tried out some other options.  I think it’s important to mix it up occasionally. By improving or updating your regimen through products and technique, your skin doesn’t have time to adapt.  Adapting to products can often render products ineffective.

Here are my top facial mists and makeup setting sprays for 2018:

• Caudalie Beauty Elixir.  Obviously.
• Cocokind Organic Rosewater Facial Toner.  This facial toner is as simple as you can get.  One (1) organic ingredient: Rose hydrosol.
• Too Faced Hangover 3-in-1 Replenishing Primer & Setting Spray.  This was another late (November) addition/impulse Sephora travel purchase.  And to my surprise, this spray has really helped in sealing in makeup but also providing much-needed hydration.

They say the eyes are the window to one’s soul.  Well, this year I was really observant and diligent in using under-eye creams.  

• Cocokind MYMATCHA All-Over Moisture Stick.  Only three organic ingredients: virgin coconut oil, beeswax, matcha tea powder.  Although this is suggested for under-eye treatment due to its green tea component, I also used this all over my face based on my mood.
• Shiseido Benefiance Wrinkle Smoothing Eye Cream.  This product is thick in consistency and should ideally be used at night.  If you are looking for an eye cream that’s thick and hydrating; this won’t disappoint.
• Shiseido Benefiance NutriPerfect Eye Serum.  This is the day version of the Shiseido Benefiance Wrinkle Smoothing Eye Cream.  It is less heavy and I often used this during days where I needed a little extra hydration under my tired eyes.

Our bodies are our temples and we should treat it with exactly the same care as our face and hair.  These were my body product staples for 2018:

• Trader Joe’s Lemongrass Coconut Body Oil with Almond and Jojoba Oils.  Again, this was a late (December) purchase, but I had to mention this amazing body oil.  This item will definitely be a repurchase for me as it contains a very clean and natural ingredient list:  Cocos nucifera (virgin coconut) oil, Olea Europaea (olive) fruit oil, Prunus amygdalus Dulcis (sweet almond) oil,  Simmondsia Chinensis (jojoba) seed oil, and Cymbopogon flexuosus (lemongrass) oil.
• Boston Honey Company Beeswax Skin Cream.  This is a local Boston favorite and find.  Emollient, hydrating, and made with fantastic natural ingredients for those pesky winter months.  The ingredients include the following: oils of sweet almond, olive, avocado, safflower, raw shea butter, apricot kernel, grape seed, distilled water, beeswax, propolis (a type of bee glue), vitamin E, rosemary extract, and sodium borate (emulsifier).
• Dr. Bronner’s Pure Castile Liquid Soap.  I’ve been a fan of this product for years!  Depending on the scent, the ingredients will vary but are minimally oils.

This year much of my skincare regimen entailed products with minimal fuss in mind.  I still had my staples (of course), but this year I simply had no patience for fussy makeup.

For foundation and all over coverage, these four were my ride-or-die:

• Glossier Stretch Concealer.  Color: Medium
• Glossier Perfecting Skin Tint.  Color: Medium.
• Benefit Cosmetics Hello Happy Soft Blur Foundation.  Color: 04-Medium Neutral.  
• SEPHORA COLLECTION Bright Future Color Correctors.  Color: 02 Yellow.

This year; I could not be without the following bronzers, contours, blushes, and highlighters:

• RMS Beauty Buriti Bronzer.  
• Cocokind Highlighter Sticks. Color: Chagaglo, Mai-Light, Sunrei.
• Glossier Cloud Paints.  Color: Storm, Beam, Puff, Dusk, and Haze.  
• Cocokind MACABEET Tinted Moisture Stick.
• Charlotte Tilbury Instant Look In A Palette.  Color: Smoky Eye Beauty

This year, I loathed the idea of complicated eye makeup.  Therefore, creamy shadows for quick and easy application were certainly the ticket for me.  These were my staples:

• RMS Beauty Buriti Bronzer.  This was my multiple uses go-to, with this little guy acting as both bronzer AND eyeshadow.
• ByTerry Stylo Blackstar Contouring Eyeshadow Eyeliner.  Color: No. 4 Copper Crush

For full brows and that classic winged eyeliner, I relied on the following in 2018:

• Tarte Tarteist Double Take Eyeliner.  Color: Black.  A late (November) addition to the 2018 arsenal but an amazing find, nonetheless.  I will be bold enough to say that this eyeliner will be a forever staple. It has exceeded my expectations in every way.  Rich lasting power and amazing precision.
• Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz.  Color: Dark Brown
• Benefit Cosmetics Gimme Brow+ Volumizing Eyebrow Gel.  Color: 03-Medium Neutral Light Brown
• WUNDER2 WUNDERBROW Eyebrow Gel.  Color: Brunette. This was an eyebrow game changer for me.  If you suffer from sparse brows, this little guy (with its infused ‘hair-like’ fibers) should always be in your makeup arsenal.

When it came to lips this year, I opted for a variety of tones, textures, and mixing of colors:

• RMS Beauty Wild With Desire Lipstick.  Color: Rapture.
• Fenty Beauty Mattemoiselle Plush Matte Lipstick.  Colors: Freckle Fiesta and Griselda.
• Laura Mercier Lip Pencil.  Colors: Potpourri and Ruby.
• Cocokind MACABEET Tinted Moisture Stick.
• Glossier Cloud Paints.  Color: Storm.  

I’ve never been one to say that I won’t or can’t drink cow’s milk.  Ever since I could remember, I grew up having a glass of milk in the morning, milk in my coffee, or milk with the occasional desserts.  But two years ago, I decided to test out the waters and slowly wean myself off from cow’s milk. Full disclosure: The desire to cut cow’s milk out of life was to see how it would affect my skin.  And since doing so, I’ve seen a significant improvement. But this may be specific to my experience.

It wasn’t easy at first; as the alternative was to drink almond milk, rice milk, soy milk, or no milk at all.  All was right with this newly non-cow’s milk world but to NOT have cow’s milk in my coffee?! And the dairy-free alternatives were just not filling that creamy coffee void.

Until 2018.

These two finds have changed my coffee drinking mind forever: Oat and Hazelnut milk.

I first discovered the beauty of oat milk in a random coffee shop here in Boston.  They casually served Oatly Oat Drink Barista Edition.  And I had to have it.  I searched but due to high product demand and a slow manufacturing process, the folks at Oatly have been quite slow.  As a result, good luck finding this product at a reasonable price online.

Gutted, I decided I needed to continue on my quest for something similar.  Preferably a non-dairy alternative, with no preservatives (because that was key), minimal ingredients, and creamy enough to be on par with cow’s milk.  Enter Elmhurst Hazelnut Milk.  Made with only six (6) ingredients (filtered water, hazelnuts, cane sugar, almonds, natural flavors, and salt), I will never be sad again about my home-brewed coffee experience.  The taste is magnificent with a slight cocoa flavor. Since my initial exposure in early 2018, they merely offered a variety of plant-based milks: oat, almond, cashew, hazelnut, walnut, chocolate peanut milk, and brown rice milk.  Now, Elmhurst has expanded their range to offer unsweetened versions, a barista series, and a protein series.  Can’t wait to try them all!

2018 was the year of trying to be fashion conscious in a sustainable manner.  The temptation to wander around fast fashion stores (such as H&M, Zara, etc) was certainly interesting to shake.  This year, I tried to go through my closet and further carve out a more manageable curation. I sold, donated, and threw out anything that I no longer wanted or saw myself wearing in 2018.  This year, I made every strategic attempt to purchase with intention and through more responsibly sourced options.

And though I know most sustainable sourced fashion brands tend to run on the more pricer side, I made sure those purchases were necessary and warranted.  These included:

• Reformation
• & Other Stories
• Locally sourced companies or hand-made pieces.

I’m still learning and evolving as I try to completely move away from the purchase of brands that encompass the fast fashion business model.  

When it comes to the mind, 2018 was definitely one of reflection riddled with emotion.  I focused a lot on bettering my inner self, mental clarity, and fine-tuning my communication skills with others.  We often have words that are swimming around in our minds and the art of being able to communicate those thoughts succinctly to those around us, is certainly challenging.  

2018 was also a year to continue my hot yoga practice.  I’ve been a huge fan of this form of “exercise” and it certainly helps clear my cluttered mind which goes hand-in-hand with seeking mental clarity.  However, 2018 was also the year that I fell out of sync with my routine gym practice. Here’s hoping that it remains a strong focus into 2019.

Anyone who knows me knows that I am deeply affected by my family and friends.  

They are my world.  

Someone this year poignantly observed and said the following: “You are fourth on your own totem pole of life.  You need to be number one, if not number two.” This was raw. This was the truth. I find myself always placing the following first, before my own individual needs:  Family, significant other/spouse, friends, and work. This has always been the case. But in 2018, this realization shook me to the core.

I’m not saying that it is imperative that one should put one’s selfish needs above others.  But, in the end, you are the keeper of your existence relative to others. If you don’t strive to prioritize yourself in mind, body, and soul;  then who will?

This year, I made myself a priority while still maintaining those important core relationships.