January & February 2021 Favourites!
Hello and welcome to my first monthly favourites! Today, I will share a round-up of all of the products I have loved over January and February 2021, along with a few products that I couldn’t get to work out for me. If you have been following my posts until now, then most of the products will not come as any surprise, so without further ado, let’s jump into the fun stuff!
Skincare
La Roche-Posay Toleraine Dermo-Cleanser
The fail-safe everyday cleanser that I can depend on any time of the year, and also my go-to cleanser whenever I am working with a new client because of its very gentle yet effective cleansing abilities. That being said, if you are wearing heavy-duty water-resistant sunscreen or a lot of makeup, you will most likely need to use an oil-based cleanser to break down those products first. I have talked about the La Roche-Posay Toleraine Dermo-Cleanser in the How To Build Your Skincare Routine, My Skincare Routine, and Winter Skincare Concerns posts.
Sana Soy-Milk Moisture Toner – Super Rich
Before I tried this toner in early February, I used the regular version; however, the Super Rich variant has been a skin saviour during this frigid month. The texture is much thicker than other toners I have tried, but my skin drinks up this product and leaves my skin feeling ready for the next step in my evening routine. I mentioned the regular version in My Skincare Routine and the extra rich in the Winter Skincare Concerns post.
CeraVe Moisturizing Cream
The moisturizer that led me to start moisturizing my body! While this moisturize is pretty basic in its formulation, it floods your skin with luxuriously soft moisture. The Moisturizing Cream has CeraVe’s signature ceramide blend. Still, it doesn’t include niacinamide (found in the PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion), so it works when your skin barrier is all out of sorts and feeling irritated. I have talked more about this moisturizer in the How To Build Your Skincare Routine, My Skincare Routine, and the Winter Skincare Concerns posts.
AKLIEF (Trifarotene) – Prescription Only
I cannot begin to sing this superstar’s praises loud enough! Back when I was in aesthetics school, I took a body treatment class, and the last treatment we practiced on each other was microdermabrasion on the back and unfortunately, that set my back into a full-on acne breakout. For the first time since I was a teenager, I was struggling with painful cystic acne lesions on my back, so my dermatologist prescribed me AKLIEF. Currently, AKLIEF is a prescription-only topical acne medication that uses a new type of retinoid called Trifarotene. Within the first two weeks, my results were like night and day! My back hadn’t been this clear since before I went through puberty, and needless to say, but I am ecstatic!
I have tried to use this in areas where I would typically use my prescription 0.025% Tretinoin cream, but I found this to be slightly drying, so I will stick with only using this only on my body. Also, I have found this to be a precious asset in helping clear up ingrown hairs! If this sounds like something you could benefit from, I suggest you talk to your dermatologist or health care provider to see if this could be the right product!
La Roche-Posay Anthelios Dermo-Kids Lotion SPF 50+
I have talked about this product in my previous post as it is my holy grail sunscreen, and it works like a dream alone or under makeup for me. This white cast this sunscreen leaves is very minimal on my fair-light skin tone, and for everyday wear around the house, I don’t bother to cover as it isn’t drastic; however, on days when I need to go out its easily cover by a light wash of tinted powder. I talk more about sunscreen types and how to find the best sunscreen for you in my post on How To Build Your Skincare Routine.
Drmtlgy Protect and Glow SPF 45 – Light Tint
I read so many rave reviews of the Drmtlgy sunscreen, and I wanted to try it out ASAP! I order the Protect and Glow formula for myself because their famous Universal Tinted Moisturizing SPF 46 was out of stock; the inclusion of light tint in the title caught my attention.
I love that I can use this SPF under my eyes and over my eyelids, and it doesn’t sting! Usually, my eyes are susceptible to irritation from chemical filters in SPF, so now that I have a non-tinted (LRP Anthelios Kids) and this gem in my sunscreen wardrobe, I am beyond thrilled! Also, this sunscreens tint is slightly more yellow than my face’s colour, which I love as it helps my natural pink face match the rest of my body a little better. I also ordered my husband Drmtlgy’s Broad Spectrum SPF 45, a combination SPF without any white cast! He hasn’t experienced any eye irritation and is enjoying it.
Avene Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream
I love the Avene Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream! It’s a saviour whenever I experience any irritation or dryness from winter conditions and topical treatments like retinoids. I’ve mentioned it in my post’s, Winter Skincare Concerns and My Skincare Routine – Winter 2021; it also made an appearance in my review of the Maybelline Urban Dream Cover to soothe the irritation that I experienced when trying that foundation.
Haircare
Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Triple Detox Shampoo
I love the Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Triple Detox Shampoo for its ability to remove product build-up. I use it once a week to complement my daily shampoo – Head & Shoulders Classic Clean – to give my hair a “fresh start” for the rest of the week.
Kérastase Chronologiste Thermique Régénérant
I first talked about the Kérastase Chronologiste Thermique Régénérant in the Winter Skincare Concerns post, but it’s part of my nightly routine all year round. As a leave-in styling cream, it hydrates, prevents breakage, and protects against heat damage.
SexyHair – Big SexyHair Powder Play
The Big SexyHair Powder Play Texture has been a personal favourite for many years. It adds a lot of grit and thickness, giving the illusion of fuller, denser hair. While it works for many people, a common complaint is that it leaves the hair with a very gritty, almost dirty feel, like dry shampoo.
ORIBE Free Styler Working Hairspray
A great flexible-hold product, the ORIBE Free Styler Working Hairspray lets me refresh and zhuzh my hair throughout the day without making it feel dry or stiff.
Makeup
Most of these have appeared in my previous reviews, so I’ll keep it simple and give you the links.
MAC Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation in N4
The MAC Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation has been a long-time favourite of mine and was the subject of my first Foundation Friday series! It’s a flexible workhouse powder foundation that looks great and lasts all day.
YSL All Hours Full Coverage Matte Foundation in BR20
The subject of my most recent Foundation Friday post, YSL All Hours Full Coverage Matte Foundation is a beautiful liquid foundation, giving “glam” medium-full coverage yet still looks like skin.
Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter in Light 2
The perfect liquid highlighter, the Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter, is very similar to my holy grail Laura Mercier Matte Radiance Baked Powder. It helps to soften and smooth texture while adding a perfected, luminous glow. I used it in conjunction with the YSL All Hours Full Coverage Matte Foundation.
Tatcha The Liquid Silk Canvas
In my testing with the YSL All Hours Full Coverage Matte Foundation, Tatcha’s Liquid Silk Canvas is much more lightweight and will work for almost all skin types, except for those who have dry or dehydrated skin, who might prefer the original.
Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray
The Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray doesn’t have magical ingredients, but it’s a staple in my toolkit. Whatever you spray it on top of, it makes the product sink into the skin and makes it look more like skin, and extends wear time by two to four hours.
Kosas Wet Lip Oil Gloss in Jellyfish
The Kosas Wet Lip Oil Gloss is a hydrating clear lip oil that has an excellent glossiness and leaves the lips feeling hydrated and plush without feeling sticky. I got it in January, and I’m already halfway through the 0.15 oz (4.6 ml) bottle.
IT Cosmetics Vitality Lip Flush in News Anchor Blue
As part of my post on IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+ Cream with SPF 50+, I did a Mini-Review of the Vitality Lip Flush in News Anchor Blue. It’s my favourite gloss for making my teeth look white, but it also feels glossy and buttery and plush on the lips.
CoverGirl Clump Crusher Water Resistant Mascara by LashBlast in Black Brown
Oh. My. God. The CoverGirl Clump Crusher Water Resistant Mascara by LashBlast is such a good mascara. It gives that perfect “no makeup” makeup lash look, and I’ve been using it all the time since I started my YouTube channel. It’s like an affordable dupe of the Glossier Lash Slick mascara that comes in brown.
Honourable Mentions
Maybelline Fit Me! Loose Finishing Powder in Fair Light
The hero product from the Maybelline Dream Urban Cover Review was the Maybelline Fit Me! Loose Finishing Powder! This loose powder blew my mind from the initial application, and I keep reaching for it behind the scenes to mattify my sunscreen. I was using the shade Light in the review, which was slightly too dark, so I ordered the shade Fair-Light, so now I have two shades, and I am okay with that!
Milani Silky Matte Bronzing Powder in 01 Sun Light
While reviewing Milani’s Conceal and Perfect Powder, I also decided to start doing Mini Reviews to showcase other products. The foundation I had been testing, the Milani Silk Matte Bronzer, was the first new bronzer I had tried in a while, and I was amazed! It truly is silky, matte, and the colour is the perfect neutral-cool tone for people like me with fair to light skin.
MAC Prep + Prime Fix+
Another long-time favourite from MAC that excels in calming down an overzealous powder application and leaves the skin looking naturally radiant.
Quo Beauty Dewy Cheek Tint in 63 Crushing
I grabbed this liquid blush on a whim while I was at Shoppers Drug Mart, and I was not expecting this gorgeous flushed glow I received from this product! I featured it in an Instagram Reel, using all cream products for a flushed winter look.
Products That Did Not Work for Me
CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser
I wanted to make this work as so many people I know love this cleanser, but I found it stung around my eyes and cheeks.
Live Clean Sport Mineral Sunscreen Lotion SPF 45
This all-mineral-filter sunscreen leaves behind a strong white cast and a very sticky finish. I could easily cover the white cast with makeup, but I couldn’t get used to the sticky feeling on my face.
Milani Strobelight Instant Glow Powder Highlighter in 01 After Glow
I mention this in the Milani Conceal and Perfect Powder review. I can say that it’s gorgeous, but this product’s strong metallic finish emphasized skin texture that is not typically visible.
Maybelline Master Chrome Metallic Highlighter in Molten Rose Gold
I tested this product out while I tested the Maybelline Dream Urban Cover, which left me feeling the same way I thought about the Milani highlighter: too metallic for my taste.
Maybelline Dream Urban Cover in 112 Natural Ivory
This product was the star of the Maybelline Dream Urban Cover review, and it bothers me a lot because I can typically find a way to make most products work. This foundation ended up applying best with my finger but still looked very much like makeup on my skin, and it did not layer well over any of the primers or sunscreens that I tried with it.
Thank you for spending your time with me today, and thank you for making the first month of my new social media journey so extraordinary! I have gone from being super nervous about publishing my first YouTube video to feeling excited to jump on camera and share all the fun things I know and try with you. So, thank you for making this journey so fantastic so far!
Warm Wishes
Zack
Products Mentioned
Skincare Products
La Roche-Posay Toleraine Dermo-Cleanser
Sana Soy-Milk Moisture Toner – Super Rich
AKLIEF (Trifarotene) – Prescription Only
La Roche-Posay Anthelios Dermo-Kids Lotion SPF 50
Drmtlgy Protect and Glow SPF 45 – Light Tint
Avene Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream
Hair Products
Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Triple Detox Shampoo
Kérastase Chronologiste Thermique Régénérant
SexyHair – Big SexyHair Powder Play
ORIBE Free Styler Working Hairspray
Makeup Products
MAC Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation in N4
YSL All Hours Full Coverage Matte Foundation in BR20
Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter in Light 2
Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray
Kosas Wet Lip Oil Gloss in Jellyfish
IT Cosmetics Vitality Lip Flush Butter Gloss in News Anchor Blue
CoverGirl Clump Crusher Water Resistant Mascara by LashBlast in Black Brown
Honourable Mentions
Maybelline Fit Me! Loose Finishing Powder in Fair Light
Milani Silky Matte Bronzing Powder in 01 Sun Light
Quo Beauty Dewy Cheek Tint in 63 Crushing
Misses
Live Clean Sport Mineral Sunscreen Lotion SPF 45
Milani Strobelight Instant Glow Powder Highlighter in 01 After Glow
Maybelline Master Chrome Metallic Highlighter in Molten Rose Gold