Following this month’s theme of “treat yourself,” today I’m sharing some of my favorite skincare treats and splurges. I’ll highlight some items I view as game-changers based on what I’ve tested focusing on things I believe are worth the splurge to pamper the skin. For a bit of background on my skin, I have normal but sensitive skin. This winter it leans on the slightly dry side, but still is relatively normal. I’m in my early 30’s right now and a year ago, my skin went through some changes with major break outs causing some scars and texture issues. I spent the last year working to streamline my skincare routine and am really thankful that it’s returned to it’s normal state over the past few months. I’ll be sharing more about my skincare routine later, but for today I want to highlight items I feel are good for pampering.
Up first is sunscreen. I’ve always hated wearing sunscreen on the face because of the strong sunscreen scent or greasy feel. I don’t like wearing layers of product under my foundation and powder and since I’ve always spent the majority of my day indoors I thought it was pointless to wear extra sunscreen. So many have emphasized the importance of protecting your skin and wearing sunscreen has become a priority. Unfortunately, I since I can’t tolerate the sunscreen smell, I have had to splurge on sunscreen for the face. Three that I really like that won’t turn the face white and that don’t have that traditional sunscreen smell include:
1 / Clarins UV Plus HP Multi-Protection Day Screen SPF 40 ($41 for 1.7 oz) is my latest sunscreen discovery. It’s a lightweight white fluid that has a semi-matte feel. I picked this up because of recommendations from friends and also wanted to take advantage of the Nordstrom gift with purchase going on right now (details here). I like that it doesn’t feel runny or have that greasy fluid feel. It stays put and doesn’t feel like you have anything on the skin. Straight out of the bottle there is a very faint fresh linen-like scent but once on the face, there is no detectable scent. I love that it doesn’t turn the face white.
2 / Chanel UV Essentiel Complete Sunscreen UV Protection SPF 50 ($55 for 1 fl oz) is something I’ve used for years. Chanel has three different sunscreens with SPF 20, 30 and 50. This is a lightweight product that is very fluid. The color is also white but it’s transparent on the skin. I’ve used and repurchased this numerous times because it layers well over moisturizer and under foundation. My husband and I have shared this for years. This one is heavily fragranced though, so if you have a super sensitive nose and can’t wear fragranced skincare products, you may want to skip this one.
3 / Shiseido Urban Environment Tinted UV Protector Broad Spectrum SPF 43 ($32 for 1 fl oz) is something I discovered a couple months ago. I adore Shiseido as a skincare line, but was really disappointed to find almost all their facial sunscreens left a white cast on my skin. Since I wear medium to full coverage foundation daily, it didn’t really matter in the end, however, I prefer sunscreens and skincare that doesn’t leave a white residue on the skin. This one comes in three colors which makes it the perfect tint + sunscreen in one. The color selection is pretty limited but the color is sheer enough to be quite forgiving on the face. I found Shade No. 2 to be the best match although for an exact match I’m really in between No. 2 and 3. It’s a lightweight sheer coverage tint that can be worn as a base for your regular makeup.
Next up includes facial cotton and cleansing water. Both of which aren’t really necessities but these three have been life-changing for me.
4 / Cle de Peau Beaute Cotton ($20 for 120 pads) is hands down the best facial cotton I’ve tried. It comes in a box which keeps the cotton’s shape in tact. I used to use Shiseido’s facial cotton for years, but a friend insisted I try the ones by Cle de Peau and the difference is really noticeable. The Cle de Peau is sturdier and larger in size compared to other cotton. It’s soft, silky, doesn’t separate and glides on the skin without leaving any cotton remnants or fibers on the face. It’s the ultimate luxurious splurge for the skin and I can’t recommend it enough.
5 / Caudalie Cleansing Water ($14 for 3.38 fl oz) is a classic favorite for me. This refreshes the skin and cleanses it gently. I wouldn’t recommend using it in place of a cleanser on a regular basis, but I like to use this to remove all my makeup at the end of the day and then follow up with a regular cleanser if I have long-wear foundation or powder on. It doesn’t irritate the skin and does a good job at removing makeup (not eye makeup/mascara though).
6 / Koh Gen Do Cleansing Spa Water ($39 for 10.15 fl oz) is the best cleansing water I’ve tried. I’ve tried lots of different cleansing waters from NARS, Dior, Lancome etc. and the Koh Gen Do is my most repurchased cleansing water. I’ve found it’s the most effective but is still very gentle on the skin. It’s definitely worth the splurge.
Testing out masks can be very expensive. For me it’s hard to splurge on a $50+ box of sheet masks or any mask in general unless I can test a small sample first, so I’ve relied on online reviews and blog reviews heavily before splurging. Four skin pampers I adore:
7 / Kiehl’s Clearly Corrective™ Clarifying & Hydrating Intensive Treatment Masque ($58 for 6 sheets, 0.85 oz each) is a surprisingly good sheet mask that I think is highly under-rated. I don’t know why it’s a limited-edition product or exclusive to Nordstrom because it’s amazing. I’ve tried a number of sheet masks and this one is very gentle but makes a visible difference in the texture, appearance and clarity of the skin. After use your face is left hydrated and super soft.
8 / SK-II Facial Treatment Mask ($17 for 1 sheet, or $135 for a 10 pack) is something that has reached cult-status but is an extremely expensive splurge. I resisted buying the box for a long time because I couldn’t justify spending that much on a mask without having tested it. I took the plunge a year ago and have no regrets. Due to the price tag, I do try to limit use to one per month. If you’ve been interested in this but didn’t want to splurge without testing, the good news is that they now offer this mask in a 1 sheet option for $17. There are a number of good sheet masks on the market, the SK-II is my favorite in terms of how it leaves the skin glowing.
9 / Glamglow Super-Mud Clearing Treatment ($69 for 1.2 oz) is something I discovered last August. It’s one of my top picks for clarifying masks that is super effective at drawing out impurities from the pores. I like that you can feel it work on the face but it’s still gentle enough for my super sensitive skin. I’ve repurchased this four times since my initial purchase – it’s that good. Use for this one varies for me from 1 to 3 times per week. I like that it’s non-irritating.
10 / Thirstymud Hydrating Treatment ($69 for 1.7 oz) is something I discovered thanks to my readers. I had a couple mini sample packets from gift with purchase events but was a bit nervous about testing this one. A number of readers recommended that I use the Supermud first and then follow with the Thirstymud right after for the ultimate at-home facial treatment. I tried this and it’s pure genius. It seemed a bit odd to apply something to dry out the skin and then apply something right after to put the moisture back in the skin, but the combination is really quite amazing. To those who recommended this tip to me, THANK YOU!!
For face mists, I’ve used the MAC Fix+ for years but it is extremely lightweight. It’s a good basic refresher for mid-day or even to prep the skin for foundation but there are others I’ve tried that are better in terms of how they impact the skin.
11 / Caudalie Beauty Elixir ($18 for 1 oz) is the ultimate spa-like facial mist. Spraying it on the face instantly lifts the mood and makes you feel like your skin has gone through a mini facial. It is heavily fragranced with a minty touch so I know it won’t appeal to all. I personally really like it. It cools and refreshes the skin and pores will tighten with this spray. I like that it doesn’t interfere with your makeup. My mom really likes this one too.
12 / La Mer “The Mist” ($65 for 3.4 oz) is an amazing facial spray. It dispenses a fine mist that is fragrance free. It’s really good at calming any redness or irritation and suitable for super sensitive skin. The packaging makes this well worth the splurge – the spritzer dispenses a perfect spritz of mist evenly over the face. If you’re in the market for an unfragranced face mist that refreshes the face, this is a good one to look at.
13 / Chanel Hydra Beauty Essence Mist ($90 for 1.7 oz) is something that has been on my radar for a long long time. It’s used on me at almost every Chanel makeover I’ve had. I couldn’t bring myself to splurge on it. For me it’s the best thing you can splurge on for a face mist – but it’s still quite a splurge. If this were priced at the $60-$65 price point I would say hands down “you need this.” At the $90 price point it’s a stretch and for me it was hard for me to part with that much money for something this size. This is one of those products I really adore but I do believe it’s overpriced. Am I happy I bought this? Absolutely yes. Will I repurchase? I don’t know.
I hope you found this roundup of skincare treats and splurges helpful. As always I’d love to hear about your skincare favorites. What do you like to use to pamper or protect your skin to give it that extra love and care?
This post was sponsored by Nordstrom. All items purchased by me. For more information refer to my disclosures.
That La Mer mist sounds promising. I just got the much-coveted Omorovicza Queen of Hungary mist (huge splurge) and am excited to use it!
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Ooh, yay on your recent splurge! I've heard good things!
The La Mer Mist sounds very nice. I love a good face mist and I didn't know La Mer made one! I think the $17 for one mask by SKII is brilliant. It's more expensive than the box cost but it's great for people to try it or buy it as a one off before their Christmas photos or something!
Clever Girl Reviews – that is one of the most genius ideas ever! One-offs are suitable for so many uses!
I have heard so many good things about the SK-II mask, I need to try it but it's so expensive.
http://alittlelesscomplicated.net/
Yes, they are very expensive. The good thing about being able to purchase 1 sheet makes it a bit more affordable to try without splurging on the entire box.
I'd love to try the cleansing water! I have the GlamGlow mud mask and love it! I have just enough left for one more use, so I need to purchase some more 🙂
xx
Jenny // Mish Mosh Makeup
The Koh Gen Do Cleansing water is just amazing. They have travel sized options and they also come in wipe form as well.
Great post!! 🙂
I really love the glamglow masks! They are amazing!!
Nikoleta, xoxo.
http://nljuljduraj.blogspot.com
Thanks Nikoleta, glad you liked the post 🙂
Clarins do some really good underrated skincare items I find!
Annabel ♥
Mascara & Maltesers
They do! I'm just starting to discover the line.
Thanks for making this list! Really helpful since I'm now making more of an effort to take care of my skin daily and weekly.
Do you put sunscreen on after your moisturizer, but before primer/foundation? I tried layering moisturizer, a Shiseido sunscreen, primer and foundation… a few hours later, the foundation visbily sank into my pores 🙁 Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
Myan, @percipere
Sunscreen typically goes on under your foundation. Many facial sunscreens actually act as primers and, therefore, a seperate primer is superfluous. Try applying your foundation over just your sunscreen and see what happens. Another issue that could be causing a
problem for you is product incompatibility. Not all products layer well with each other. We've all had to contend with pilling, migrating, etc at one time or another and the only answer is to switch products to ones that are compatible.
Thank you! I will keep experimenting with products and the layering.
Myan
Thanks Eileen for helping as always 🙂
Myan, I usually do the following steps in this order:
Serum, Moisturizer, Sunscreen, Foundation, Powder
As Eileen said, some sunscreens + moisturizers don't work so well together. There are a number of products you'll need to test in conjunction with each other to see what works best depending on your skintype.
Right now I alternate between Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream, Ole Henriksen Sheer Transformation and Chanel Le Lift Creme Fine for moisturizers. I find that either the Clarins or Chanel sunscreens work well when layered over those. Foundations in rotation are from NARS, Tom Ford, Chanel, Edward Bess and By Terry for me.
I'll chime in again to agree with Eileen to keep experimenting and that you don't always need sunscreen + primer.
Good luck!
All of these nice skincare goodies! I'm a huge fan of those GlamGlow masks and can't wait to try the new cleanser. I've heard lots of good things about the Caudalie Beauty Elixir and Koh Gen Do Cleansing Water so I've been dying to try those too.
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The glamglow cleansers are so good 🙂
I love glam glow and Sk-II, such amazing brands with amazing products.
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So curious on that Spa water one. I wanna know how it works for me personally. Anyways, great products you got here….so many choices to pick from.
It's hands down the best one I've tried.
I've just picked up my first pot of Thirsty Mud and can't wait to try it. I love the original GlamGlow.
Antonia x | Fifi and the Diamonds
I just love Clarins products!
Candice | Beauty Candy Loves
♥♥♥
Wonderful review, as usual. I am going to try the Sk-II single mast…I've heard such wonderful things, but always hesitated to put out that much money without trying – now I can!
And…I'm afraid I am not with you on the Cle de Peau Facial Cotton – I tried it after I tried the Shiseido, and didn't like it nearly as much! I buy the Shiseido from Sephora regularly…try to stock up when I have a code! Worth every penny!
The SK mask was in my first Sephora delivery to Germany last year, great stuff! My favorite sheet mask is from Talika, the moisturizing one is THE best, if you have a bad skin day with breakouts, a dry skin day or if you want to give your skin a boost when you are feeling tired and exhausted. my face feels plump and juicy after a treatment.
Great post as always!
Greetings from Germany
Susanne
I love the face masks by SKII and by Tatcha. Before a special occasion or whenever my skin is feeling particularly stressed, I apply a mask and lie down for 30 minutes while listening to some soothing classical music–good for the face and the soul 🙂 I also always take a mask with me when I travel. I'm not brave enough to apply it while on the plane (LOL) but I do apply it once I arrive at my destination and am settled in my hotel room.
I'm with you! I can't do the masks in public and when I do them at home, I'm always worried the doorbell will ring with the UPS or FedEx delivery lol.
I Love Cle De peau Cotton! It is much bigger in size compare to other facial cotton. And it is coated with silk, so supposed to provide you with a little extra exfoliation. I usually separate it or cut it in halfs, so it last a really long time. I like to separate it, because that way it absorbs much less toner (I use Sisley rose toner, and its quite expensive). Thank you for great review:)
I meant Sisley Floral Toning lotion, not Rose toner. Love that gentle toner:). And love to use my Cle de peau la cotton with it.
I keep hearing so many good things about Sisley but it's so pricey! Perhaps I'll look into the line this year.
I've been using Amore Pacific's facial mist and love it.
I'm so happy to see so many of my faves here! I love the La Mer Mist, but for some reason I never noticed how much is in the bottle… and yes, every makeover I've had at Chanel ended with their mist too, and gosh, now that you pointed out the content difference, it's ridiculously expensive. My latest craze is the Tatcha mist… it's even finer out of the nozzle than La Mer, and it has moisturizing properties as well, which is perfect for my mid-day refresh!
I've also been eyeing the Chanel Hydra Beauty Essence Mist for some time after a sales associate used it on me. I consistently deal with dehydration and have tried Avene Thermal Spring Water, La Mer and Chantecaille's mists with mixed results. I hear this formula has hyaluronic acid and antioxidants. Since it's been about a year from the date of this post, what are your thoughts on effectiveness and longevity of this product? Do you still believe you would not purchase it again?