Written by: Carissa Abraham
Spruce up your Skincare Routine
Spring is finally here! And by ‘Spring’ I mean whatever Mother Nature decides for the next few weeks -welcome to New Jersey! We can finally start “spring cleaning” to reveal that beautiful glow our skin has been trying to achieve all winter!
One of my go-to and most trustworthy brands is Drunk Elephant. Naturally, what attracted me was the name. Founder Tiffany Masterson said, “The name Drunk Elephant is rooted in a myth that says the elephants love to eat the fruit that has fallen from Marula trees. Once eaten, fermentation occurs inside their very large tummies and the elephants become drunk!”
Every product is formulated with NO oils, silicones, drying alcohols, chemical screens, fragrances/dyes, or SLS (sodium lauryl sulfate). Masterson calls these ingredients the “Suspicious 6”.
The Drunk Life!
Drunk Elephant provided me with a care package of their best-selling products (thanks Drunk Elephant!). I can confidently say I’m hooked on The Drunk Life – particularly because the combination of these products revealed the most glow I’ve ever seen my skin have.
Skin Spring Cleaning Steps
After removing my makeup with BeautyConcepts face wipes (Amazon – $13), I jumped right into the Beste™ No. 9 Jelly Cleanser ($32). This clear gel cleanser foams well and leaves my skin feeling squeaky clean, without the squeak.
I follow up with the C-Firma Day Serum ($80). It’s a day serum, but nighttime application helps avoid photo-sensitivity. If used in the morning, use an SPF to strengthen your skin’s protection (the Umbra Sheer™ Physical Daily Defense SPF 30 is lightweight and not greasy).
My next step to anti-aging is the A-Passioni™ Retinol Cream ($72). Retinol helps produce new skin cells and aids in diminishing fine lines. Be careful – retinol requires being gradually added into a routine; I use it once per week at nighttime.
If you choose to use it during the day, you should use a broad spectrum sunscreen because retinol makes our skin ultra-light sensitive. If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, you should avoid retinol products and consult with your physician.
The Holy Grail
One of the greatest creations I’ve ever used in my entire life is the T.L.C. Framboos™ Glycolic Night Serum ($90). It’s the gift that keeps on giving my skin a texture-free feel.
It is a lightweight gel that dissolves dead skin cells with an “AHA/BHA blend of glycolic, lactic, tartaric, citric and salicylic acids.” This serum cleared up my often-textured forehead in THREE DAYS!
Since it is an AHA/BHA blend, I recommend pairing with some hydration, like their Virgin Marula Luxury Facial Oil ($40) or my preference of the B-Hydra™ Intensive Hydration Serum ($52).
Lock in the Glow
I sealed my skin with the popular Protini™ Polypeptide Cream ($68), which is notorious for improving our skin’s tone, texture and firmness. An alternate to Protini™ is my favorite moisturizer, Lala Retro™ Whipped Cream ($60). It’s loaded with six rare African oils and locks in moisture like there’s no tomorrow. Finally, I always top off my nighttime routine with Laneige’s Lip Sleeping Mask in Vanilla.
There’s still a few other goodies that I’ve yet to try. I’m definitely going to invest in these and will report back on my next Drunk Life adventure!