SkInstagram Talks Vol. 06: @goalstogetglowing

Skin Type: Oily/Combo, acne-prone

Skin Concerns: Fighting signs of aging, redness

Best Skincare/Beauty Tip: If you use a water-based cleanser, make sure it has a good pH (at least below 6.5, but ideally between 4.5-5.5, especially if you are acne-prone). Over the past year I’ve tested a bunch and there are a ton of great options out there (there’s a database on my blog) BUT there are also some shockingly high pH Cleansers that would really be stripping your skin and wreaking havoc on your skin’s acid mantle.
Oh…And throw away any magnifying mirrors–especially if you are prone to picking at your skin!!

Worst Skincare/Beauty Advice You Have Been Given Or See Others Give: I was told to avoid oils at all costs since I have oily skin. What a mistake that was! When I finally incorporated the right kinds of oils (e.g., high in linoleic acid) I was actually able to reduce my oil production. I wish I had done it sooner!

Top 5 Current/All-Time Favorite Beauty/Skincare Products: Current favs: May Lindstrom Honey Mud (review on blog), Defenage 8-in-1 BioSerum (review on blog), Sunday Riley Artemis (sadly discontinued), Chanel Le Lift Eye Cream (review on blog), Biologique Recherche P50 1970, iS Clinical Cleansing Complex (snuck in a 6th one…I wanted to sneak in 5 more but I thought that wouldn’t go unnoticed. Haha)

Which Skincare/Beauty Brands Do You Trust The Most? I trust (and respect) for companies that are transparent. For example, they list ingredients (and don’t use a bunch of trademarked made-up ingredient names), they will honestly answer questions about concentrations of ingredients or (when applicable) the pH of products, and that won’t make ridiculous claims about what their products will or will not do. Companies get HUGE bonus points if they conduct clinical trials or provide citations for evidence to support the claims they make. Skinceuticals is good about that, the new company Defenage is great about that. Drunk Elephant is also good about answering questions and providing product information as well. In terms of smaller companies, I trust Jordan Samuel Skin, The Granola Goat (and their new venture Alluring Alchemist), and Laurel Plant Organics.

What Skincare Ingredient Do You Feel Works Best For You Skin? I guess as an overall ingredient I would say lactic acid. There’s no way to choose just one! 🙂 For irritation, aloe, and chamomile (especially blue tansy) and sea buckthorn. For breakouts, spot treating with sulfur works really well for me.

Product You Currently Have Your Eye On To Try? I’ve been on a no buy for like 4 months since we were buying our first home, so my wish list is pretty long at the moment. But here are a few: All of the Allies of Skin products. I own their A1 All Day mask and I want to try the rest of their line. And I would like to try Okoko Cosmétiques L’Élixir De Pureté [The Dragon’s Blood Serum]— the ingredients sound simply decadent, high quality and they target my concerns.

Most Underrated Beauty/Skincare Product/Brand? Peter Thomas Roth AHA/BHA Acne Clearing Gel is the best spot treatment I’ve come across. Skin Biology’s Super GHK Serum and 3% GHK VIP Luxury Serum (they both give NIOD CAIS a run for its money)

What Is Your Go-To Personal Fragrance? I don’t want to say favorite fragrance because then others will know about it! haha. But basically I rotate between Le Labo Santal 33, Le Labo Rose 31, and Odin 01. I was “matched” to Odin 01 after a cool blind sniff and sorting process when i went to Nose in Paris. SUCH a fun experience an I highly recommend people going there if they are in Paris.

Be sure to follow Vanessa on Instagram HERE and check out her blog HERE!