It’s time for part three and I’m filled with glee! We are back today to chat about the incredible skincare that I tried this year. If you were paying attention to my seasonal favourites, then some of these won’t be massive shocks. But I also had a few late comers slip in just in time to make the list. This one is also probably my longest. So, we’ll get stuck into it!
We’ll do this in the order in which I do my skincare. So, cleansers first. It was a massive year for Gunk Off. They launched two products this year that quickly became staples. The GUNK OFF MELTING BALM CLEANSER* is already a long time fave. But now it also comes in a shower ready tube. Which is just perfect for my perpetually lazy ass. The GUNK OFF HYDRATING GEL CLEANSER* has also been incredible as my morning cleanse. I love how bouncy it leaves my skin.
The other biggie for 2023 was the GLOW RECIPE AVOCADO CERAMIDE MOISTURE BARRIER CLEANSER. This was the cleanser that I raved about this year. I know that I put some of y’all onto it. It’s just been a game changer. Especially during winter when my skin is almost unbearably dry. It provides an instant boost of hydration to start off my skincare.
2023 was a great year for mists. And these two shot right to the top for me. The KOSAS PLUMP + JUICY VEGAN COLLAGEN SPRAY ON SERUM was fantastic for when my skin just needed a little boost of hydration. The TOWER 28 SOS DAILY RESCUE FACIAL SPRAY was what I used when my skin was angry and breaking out. It went a long way to soothing my skin.
It’s time to talk serums! This was a really, really good year for serums. And I tried a lot that I liked. But these five will be repurchases for me for sure. The THE ORDINARY SOOTHING & BARRIER SUPPORT SERUM* and the BOOST LABS MULTI PEPTIDE ANTI-AGING SERUM* were my saviours whenever my skin was angry and irritated (the SBSS came especially handy when I came back from Sydney). Both of these are very affordable and definitely deserve the hype they got in 2023. The L’OREAL REVITALIFT CLINICAL 12% VITAMIN C SERUM* is easily one of the best drugstore Vitamin C’s that I’ve ever used. It contains both Vitamin E and Salicylic Acid to help soothe and protect the skin. And the difference it made to my pigmentation is phenomenal.
I finally tried the CLARINS DOUBLE SERUM* in 2023 and it’s well worth the money. I especially loved this on retinol nights where my skin needed a little added boost. And finally, because a Glow Recipe pick is mandatory here, the GLOW RECIPE AVOCADO CERAMIDE RECOVERY SERUM was another barrier repair serum that I adored. 2023 was a big year for barrier protection, what can I say?
2023 was not a big year for masks. Shocking, I know. I didn’t try too many of the new launches and I really stuck with trying to use up what I had. One mask that I genuinely loved was the WISHFUL PILLOWGASM CHERRY GLOW SLEEPING MASK. I used this on retinol nights to really lock in that treatment and give a boost of hydration. Another one I loved was the BORING WITHOUT YOU FOR FACE SAKE MULTI MASK. I know that this technically made my list last year. But after a year of using it (2 tubs), I can officially say, with my whole chest, that this is one of the best masks I’ve ever used.
What did shock me was the explosion of pimple patches that made it’s way to my Woolies! It seems like yesterday that Skin Control was the only brand I could get. Now, I still love those dearly. But I finally tried the HERO COSMETICS ORIGINAL MIGHT PATCH. And y’all, worth every penny! I fucking adore these. The thing that pushed them into my no. 1 spot was that these adhere to the lips as well as the face. And as someone who often gets those painful lip pimples, I cannot tell you how amazing these have been for me.
And now, for the most contentious award of the evening, my moisturiser of the year. Admittedly, I didn’t have as bad a time with moisturisers as I did in 2022. But I still tried some shockers. I also tried some absolutely amazing ones as well. Firstly, the DR LEWINN’S ULTRA R4 COLLAGEN SURGE PLUMPING GEL*. Did not expect to love this as much as I did. I still think about how hydrating and nourishing it is. I also really, really loved the BARNI SKIN DEW NOT DISTURB MOISTURISER*. First of all, how cute is the name? But I flew through this as a night cream. And despite having a texture that famously pills on me, this didn’t pill at all! It just soaked in. I definitely want to buy it soon.
I actually tried quite a few incredible sunscreens in 2023. Unfortunately, the TGA says I’m not allowed to talk about them because they were sent in PR. So, the only one I can talk about is the NAKED SUNDAYS HYDRATING GLOW MIST. This was my go to at work when I needed to reapply my sunscreen. Just 15-20 spritzes all over my face, neck, and ears, and I was back at it. It didn’t disturb my makeup and it gave the most gorgeous glow to the skin.
Finally, we have the two lip products that ruled the end of the year for me. The GISOU HONEY INFUSED LIP OIL is the best lip oil I’ve ever used. Because it’s a true oil texture, it’s so nourishing on my lips. The other one you’ll have to pull out of my dead hands is the SUMMER FRIDAYS LIP BUTTER BALM in ICED COFFEE. Technically, this is another repeat (I mentioned the Vanilla one last year). But the iced coffee scent is so addictive. They need to make it permanent.
And that is all of my skincare faves for 2023! Phew, told y’all this would be long. I have one more round of favourites to go. So, I’ll see you all here on Friday for my Hair and Body faves!
Cheers and love
Emily xo