People Always Compliment My Flawless Skin—These 6 Steps Are Why
From sunscreen and essences to moisturizers, it's all here.
Hello, fellow beauty obsessives! Marie Claire Beauty Director Hannah Baxter here, kicking off the very first (but certainly not the last) installment of our new biweekly beauty newsletter, Face Forward. I joined the team in September after two years as a freelance writer and brand consultant, and prior to that I held editor roles at The Zoe Report, Coveteur, and Bust Magazine, with over ten years devoted to all things beauty. It also helps that I’m a beauty nerd to the extreme, always eager to learn about the newest and most notable launches, the science behind ingredients and formulations, and which direction the multi-billion dollar industry is heading.
I’m a huge proponent of transparency in beauty, and nothing makes me happier than to share my editor knowledge with people who aren’t, say, unboxing 37 mailers from various beauty brands each week. I also try to be an open book with my beauty choices, whether that’s the best budget tinted lip balm or my various filler and injectables, because there should be zero shame with however much (or how little) you choose to engage with the industry. I’m extra in some areas (like skincare) while more of a minimalist in others (my typical makeup routine takes under five minutes) but equally enthusiastic about all the various facets of the industry.
To kick things off, I wanted to share a few secrets about the thing I get asked about the most—my skin. Putting all humility aside, I hear from at least one person a day about how radiant and dewy my skin looks (#notsohumblebrag). For context, I’m a longtime skincare fanatic thanks to my mother (hi, mom!) who instilled healthy habits from the moment I turned 13. Think cleansing, moisturizing, and daily SPF, the critical basics. I’ve upgraded a few things since then, and while stellar skin genes definitely play a role in the state of my epidermis, consistency and quality products are also a major factor. However, I haven’t always had a clear, even complexion, and I still have days wherein my skin acts up—I’m human. In fact, I had to conduct a full overhaul of my routine when I was 26 after I got my first hormonal IUD and I experienced deep cystic acne along my jawline and across my forehead for the first time. Luckily, I’ve finally found a regimen that works for my skin and delivers a clear, radiant glow (plus adding in 100mg of oral spironolactone once a day, because sometimes topical products simply aren’t enough).
I’d love to tell you that there is a magic formula that will wipe away any traces of acne, fine lines, sun damage, and sagging skin, but that’s simply not the way that skincare works. The key, as I’ve learned over the last 22 years of using products, is figuring out how your skin reacts to certain ingredients, what your three core skin priorities are (mine are hydration, skin renewal, and combatting dark spots), being SUPER consistent, and not doing too much to your skin. I repeat, do NOT go bananas and try a dozen new things all at the same time. How would you know what works for you and what doesn’t?! You’re just asking for a rash or a breakout, or both.
All that being said, I do have my core products that I return to time and again once I swipe the last dollop out of the jar. These are the formulas that I reach for when my skin is stressed or when I’m simply over testing out newbies and just want guaranteed success with my routine. So, if you’re looking for thoroughly vetted products that just might help you reach my beauty director-level glow, keep reading for my six-step routine.
Kick It Off With a Cleanser
A non-negotiable step, you absolutely need a solid formula to remove pollution, makeup, and oil before diving into the rest of your routine.
I will follow Dr. Loretta to the ends of the Earth and back for what she’s done with this cleanser. It feels adequately grippy on my skin (I hate when a cleanser lacks any substantial texture), easily removing my leftover mascara remnants and the NYC pollution coating my skin. Sure, the price may be a little higher than you want to spend on a cleanser but I swear when it comes to the ritual of cleansing your skin—and you should be spending at least 60 seconds massaging it into your face and neck—you’ll see why it’s money well spent
If, however, you’re uninterested in paying attention to luxe cleansers, this drugstore staple is hands-down, bar-none, the only cleanser that I guarantee will not irritate your skin. Whether your face is stressed from the cold weather, a sunburn (bad, bad, BAD), acne, or general life expectations, this creamy lather will help to reset and restore your skin on a budget. I’ve turned so many people onto this formula and they always come back with the highest praise.
The Essence of Beauty
The goal with my skincare routine is to pack as many nourishing and hydrating ingredients in as I can, so I always tap an essence, aka a lightweight, water-based toner with high active ingredients, into slightly damp skin post-cleansing to lay the foundation for the rest of my products.
Maybe it’s the lore of the J-Beauty staple or I’m still influenced by Cate Blanchett’s early ‘00s campaign for the brand (I saw her in person once and her complexion is immaculate, for reference) but my skin drinks up this juice with glee. It provides toning, brightening, hydrating, and firming benefits in one go and I notice a discernable difference in my skin if I skip this step. It’s a luxury worth investing in, without question.
I know, I know, snail mucin doesn’t sound super sexy, but for a budget-friendly option that still packs a major punch as the second step in your skin treatment lineup, you can’t go wrong with this K-Beauty option. I first started using it as a broke college student, and I always make sure I keep a travel-sized version with me to come along on my various trips. It sinks into my skin to plump and repair, and leaves me with the most beautiful glowy base.
Never Skip a Hydrating Serum
Adding a humectant product (meaning it binds water to the skin) is key to maintaining your skin’s hydration levels throughout the day, so a quality hydrating serum is always a crucial part of my routine.
Serums are where I’d say you should splurge, if that’s feasible, because they contain the most potent active ingredients, especially when compared to a cleanser or moisturiser. I’ve gone through multiple bottles of this dreamy formula simply because I can truly feel and see the difference in my skin—it’s radiant, bouncy, and free from any dry patches. I also adore the air-tight twist packaging, so the formula stays potent for longer. Dermatologists swear by this guy, which is always the type of vetting I want to hear.
This brand makes some of the best, and most affordable, skincare around, and this HA serum is one of the most notable. Polyglutamic acid is a seriously underrated humectant, and combined with the uber popular hyaluronic acid, your skin reaps multiple hydration benefits in one go. Even when my skin is the most dry and irritated, this formula shows up to plump and restore every time.
Protect Yourself With an Antioxidant Serum
Free-radicals are these pesky unstable oxygen molecules that come from exposure to UV light, pollution, cigarette smoke, and even certain processed foods, and cause oxidative damage to your skin cells. Antioxidants work to stabilize the molecules and protect your skin to prevent dark spots, fine lines, and dullness. In other words, they help keep your skin looking healthy and flawless!
We’ve all heard the lore of vitamin C, and yes, it really is one of the most effective antioxidant ingredients on the market, especially if your goal is to treat and prevent dark spots. I adore this IYKYK formula, which is housed in a proprietary FDA-approved bottle that is UV-proof and airless to help keep the ingredient potent for longer. Just remember, if your vitamin C serum turns a dark, rusty brown, it’s no longer active and needs to be tossed. You get plenty of time with this product, and your skin will be so grateful.
When you want your serum to deliver a ton of benefits, it can often overwhelm your skin and be a tad too harsh. I always reach for this formula to reset my skin to a beautiful neutral, minimize dark spots, and generally leave me looking impossibly radiant. It’s full of yummy antioxidant ingredients like encapsulated cannabinoids, water lily, and green tea to protect your skin from the onslaught of free-radical damage we face on a daily basis.
Seal It In With a Moisturizer
Lock in all those yummy serum ingredients with an emollient moisturizer and provide your skin with an essential hydration boost for a long day of work, play, and general bad ass-ery.
This is a relatively new find but I’m already exceptionally loyal to this formula. It has the most beautiful texture and leaves my skin cloaked in moisture from morning to night. The dewy finish is also ideal for blurring imperfections and leaving strangers gawking.
Simple, gentle, effective, massive, this tub of sensitive skin-friendly cream has been my go-to when my epidermis is panicking for years. I dare you to find a moisturizer that delivers essential hydration with practically zero risk of irritation, and that leaves you with a healthy, dewy finish at this price.
Sunscreen Is Essential, Always
Do I really need to remind you that the most effective “anti-aging” product in your skincare arsenal is SPF? Remember: SUNSCREEN. Every. Single. Day!
I struggle with melasma so a mineral SPF is essential to help prevent dark spots (a chemical SPF absorbs UV radiation and dispenses it throughout the body as heat, which can trigger hyperpigmentation, especially melasma). If you think all zinc-based sunscreen is chalky and heavy, you need to try this sublimely elegant formula. It’s impossibly glowy and feels so comfortable on the skin, it’s almost like a thick serum protecting your skin. This is a cult-favorite brand out of Australia that is finally available in the US (with US-approved UV filters only, but c’est la vie) and it’s about to become your new ride-or-die brand, I guarantee it.
This went viral on TikTok and I’m not surprised—it’s a K-beauty staple a million times over, and it really does feel incredible on the skin. There are a lot of dupes on Amazon at the moment but you can finally shop directly from the brand on their US site. It’s creamy, lightweight, leaves zero white cast, and leaves your complexion looking megawatt glowy. If you’re curious about K-Beauty, this formula is the perfect place to start.
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