Hyaluronic acid is obviously a very popular ingredient these days and I often see discussions inquiring about or talking about the best hyaluronic acid serums or products. I’ve always though HA serums were a waste of money. Not counting my SPF or cleanser, all but one of the products in my regimen contain HA and I wasn’t even trying to incorporate it into my routine! So what are your thoughts? Is buying a separate HA product needed? How many of the products in your routine contain HA?

Are hyaluronic acid serums necessary?

I was just reading about Vanessa Hudgens and Madison Beer’s new skincare line, Know Beauty, which will allow you to send in a DNA swab for testing that will help target your skin needs. I’m very intrigued! Would you all try a test like this?

DNA testing for skincare needs & Know Beauty

I always forget that most skincare products have a “period after opening” or PAO symbol on the packaging that indicates how long it is good for once it’s been opened. It’s one of the reasons I like to keep my routine fairly minimal and try not to constantly alternate products… I often can’t finish products in time in line with the PAO symbol. Curious if others pay attention to this and abide by it.

product expiration

What product (or products) were instant love for you the first time you used it?

Topicals Like Butter is my most recent one. It has such lovely ingredients and is one of those products where my skin looks immediately better after use.

My other big one (which I’ve requested to be added on Picky) is the Erno Laszlo Dual Phase Vitamin C Peel. It is one of the best exfoliating products I have ever used by a landslide. My skin was baby soft, like softer than it’s ever been, after use and the effect lasted! With most exfoliants, I feel like my skin feels soft maybe for a day after use. It’s an expensive product but so worth it in my opinion.

love at first use ♥️

Do you apply for every Picky giveaway or just the ones that are for products you feel suit your skin type or might be something you’d buy with your own money? 

I’ve applied for pretty much all of them since joining, but skipped the most recent one because I don’t think the products would work well with my skin. I’m curious how others approach the giveaways!

giveaways

I did have some issues with this stinging my eyes at times. It wasn’t every time and it wasn’t as bad as other products I’ve experienced. I would not recommend this product for someone that gets eczema around their eye area.

I think this could be a good sunscreen for someone with combo skin. I need something more hydrating personally for my dry skin. It has a tint to it when it comes out of the tube, but I feel like it did not add a tint or color to my face once rubbed in. I’m pretty fair and did not pick up any of the bronzey&#47;orangeish color of the product... ultimately I think it just helps prevent any white cast.

I don’t have anything bad to say. It is a little pricey for a toner and there likely are some just as effective, more affordable options out there. I was lucky to snag a deluxe sample before taking the financial plunge!

This is a great toner for dry skin types that also gets some acne. My skin loves squalane and I love that they couple this hydrating ingredient with BHA. I use it a few times a week, just on the areas where I’m more prone to sebaceous filaments and it helps keep them cleared up! My pores aren’t super big so I also had my partner using the prodoct, and I could see an improvement in his pores. It didn’t irritate or aggravate my eczema either.

It definitely smells like hot dog water or burnt hot dogs… if it didn’t work so well, the scent would be unforgivable. 

This product completely lives up to the hype for me and I can’t imagine using another vitamin C product again, so long as I can continue to afford this one. My skin is bright, even, and so much healthier looking. Even on days where I haven’t gotten enough sleep or I’m a little dehydrated, this serum perks my skin right up. It plays nicely with my other products and has caused zero irritation for my very dry, sensitive skin. The price tag is a bit intimidating, but after a month of use and seeing how much remains in the bottle, I anticipate this will last me 5-6 months. 

The texture is fairly thick and somewhat balmy, so it takes a little more effort to rub in and distribute.

This is a great moisturizing cream and I much prefer it over the very popular CeraVe moisturizing cream. It’s very hydrating and has a lot of great hydrating ingredients. It doesn’t feel greasy or heavy once rubbed in and absorbs well. Also, unlike CeraVe, it’s cruelty free.

This is a fragrance free product, so it does have kind of a weird scent. But I did not find it bothersome and it definitely doesn’t linger after washing it off. 

This is a great gentle cleanser. It has a creamy (but not super thick) texture and it does not lather. My skin felt clean, soft, and non-irritated and it did not feel like it stripped my skin at all. It’s a great price point for the quality too. 

Finchy