By: Katy Jones Gulsby Photos by: Rachel Benavides
I’m a vintage dealer, wife, and mother of one. Our lifestyle is pretty hectic in this season of life and this more than anything has forced me to make very specific, thoughtful choices when it comes to self-care. I look for products and experiences that fit into my crazy schedule and really create results that are tangible. So much of beauty marketing for women is just noise; soundbites and marketing campaigns targeting every insecurity. The older I get, the more that turns me off, and I find myself looking for companies that create a culture of research and results.
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Despite being very much an eclectic maximalist in almost every other aspect of my life, my beauty routine is fairly minimal. I wear minimal makeup and, because of that, want my skin to be at its best. I try really hard not to buy into this myth that women need to constantly be striving for youth when it comes to their looks; I’ve earned these smile lines and crow’s feet! I want glowing, healthy skin, but I don’t agree that it needs to look airbrushed to be beautiful. I handle beautiful old things all day long in my career, and I try to take that reverence for age and imperfections and apply it to myself and those around me. I just want to look like the best version of me, at whatever age I happen to be.
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Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant
I’ve been using Paula’s Choice products for years, and I love that the brand is getting a lot of beauty influencer exposure recently. My mother is an OG Paula Begoun fan, from back when she was writing her cult fave Don’t Go to the Cosmetics Counter Without Me books. She turned me on to the products when I was in college, and I’ve been using a variety of them for years. I love that they cite the peer-reviewed research they use to create their products, as well as a full and detailed ingredient list front and center. This is my ultimate holy grail product, and the hype around it on the beauty blogs is so well deserved. Nothing in my skincare regimen has better results and I can’t rave about it enough, especially if you are dealing with any form of acne, enlarged pores, or uneven skin-tone. Product available at paulaschoice.com, $29.50
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Paula’s Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster
My second-fave product from this brand. It helps with uneven skin tone and texture, especially from acne scars and discoloration. It’s super creamy and can be used alone, or added to my moisturizer, which is nice and convenient. Product available at paulaschoice.com, $36
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Thayer’s Alcohol-Free Witch Hazel Rose Petal Facial Toner
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I am lucky my skin isn’t very sensitive, but one thing that does make it really unhappy is alcohol-based toners. I am a Thayer’s devotee – I’ve tried fancier brands, but nothing feels the same or gives that clean, toned feeling like the witch hazel toner. I love the rose petal scent; it smells like the best rose water. Product available at Target, $9.29
Sunday Riley’s Luna Oil
Traditional retinol treatments are usually too strong for my skin, so I love this retinoid oil. It’s super gentle and feels amazing. The retinol promotes elasticity and makes my skin glow; the blue tansy and chamomile help with redness and uneven tone and texture. This is another product that I avoided and really didn’t want to like – mostly because it felt like too extravagant a purchase – but it really is amazing. Sephora does a really great combo package of this and the Good Genes with smaller sizes for $85, which is a great way to get these products without the huge price tags. Product available at Sephora, $105
Sunday Riley’s Good Genes All-In-One Lactic Acid Treatment
A total splurge, but it’s so worth it. I’d heard the hype about this for ages and avoided it at all costs because I was terrified I would love it; who needs a $100 face cream? I was in total denial. And then Sephora sent me a sample and I was caught hook, line, sinker. Now it’s a necessity and I get the hype: it plumps the skin, smooths fine wrinkles and makes my skin feel bright and smooth. Combined with the BHA treatment (I alternate them morning and night), it’s been a savior for my skin. Product available at Sephora, $105
COSRX Acne Pimple Master Patch
Oh my gosh, can I wax poetic about these little things for a minute? How do I love thee, let me count the ways. I’ve seen various beauty bloggers mention pimple patches on their blogs, and this seemed to be the one everyone loved. I can’t live without it and the cost is amazing. The minute you feel a pimple coming on, slap one of these on it overnight and the hydrocolloid patch will literally draw out all of the nastiness. Nothing, I repeat nothing, I have tried over the years has been as effective as this. Product available at Ulta, $6
Kristen Ess Rose Gold Temporary Tint
My hair has been every color of the rainbow over the years, but I always seem to come back to pink! This spray is such a great way to play with color on blond hair without making a huge commitment. You spray it in the shower and can build it in brightness and intensity. It washes out over time or more quickly with a clarifying shampoo. I love the subtle, cotton-candy shade. Product available at Target, $12
