April Coffee Chat: Josephine & Izzy’s Perennial Beauty Favorites
By Josephine and Izzy
While we wouldn’t consider ourselves the world’s foremost experts on beauty products, we’ve both tried and tested some things over the years and found favorites that really work for us, so we thought we’d share!
Izzy
Skincare: I have sensitive skin that is prone to acne when it doesn’t like, well, just about anything. Even the change of seasons causes a breakout (every fall and spring, as we readjust!). So I use gentle products and rarely switch anything out, for fear of upsetting the apple cart.
My favorite cleanser is the Fresh Soy cleanser. I’d heard about it for years and resisted because it’s quite expensive. But I found it on sale once and tried the travel size, and I loved it. It’s effective, yet gentle, and works on my skin year-round (although I admittedly only wash my skin at night in the winter–it’s just too dry in the Midwest!). I stock up during Fresh’s Black Friday sale every year. I also like regular Cetaphil, especially after I work out or spend a lot of time in the sun!
For moisturizer, I keep it very low-key with Vanicream from the drugstore. It’s light but hydrating and goes on smoothly every time. I’ve tried other moisturizers, but they tend to get heavy and cause inflammation. So I stick with Vanicream!
For sunscreen, it really depends on what I’m doing. If I’m going to the pool or I’m doing something active, I use an active sunscreen (anything that’s around, really, because I go through so much of it!), but I do really like the Play sunscreen by Supergoop. For everyday face sunscreen, I use Neutrogena’s Ultra Sheer face serum (SPF 60). I find that it rubs in well and is light and not too greasy for everyday use!
Makeup: I will say, I’m not the biggest makeup girlie (mainly because I’m in too much of a rush/too lazy in the mornings!), but I really like the Merit minimalist complexion stick for easy foundation/concealer coverage, the Merit blush (so easy to apply!), and the Rare Beauty lip oil because it’s long-lasting and hydrating at the same time. I also really like Ilia’s Limitless Lash mascara - it doesn’t bother my sensitive eyes at all!
Haircare: I really love Dae’s signature shampoo and conditioner. I wish I didn’t, because they’re pricey, so I resisted for a long time, but, like with the Fresh facial cleanser, I got samples to try when traveling once, and couldn’t deny that they worked really well! They always make my hair feel clean and soft, and they smell heavenly. I wait for them to go on sale and buy the big containers, and they last a long time!
Bonus: Nail Polish! I’m admittedly not great at painting my nails, and I don’t paint them very often because I’m even worse at remembering to take chipped nail polish off (oops!), but my sister found the absolute best home manicure system. It’s called Dazzle Dry, and it makes it very easy for a nail polish novice to get good results quickly. The key (for me) is that the polish dries very fast, so it minimizes the risk that I forget I’m supposed to wait for the polish to dry and accidentally smush it against a blanket, leaving a crumpled lump of semi-firm nail polish. Dazzle Dry is basically foolproof, and comes in lots of fun colors! I especially love their mini sets to try different colors without committing to a whole bottle.
Josephine
Skincare: I have extra-dry face and body skin! I struggle with rosacea, eczema, and keratosis pilaris, so I choose moisturizing and gentle products, just like Izzy. I also love the Korean beauty products I’ve incorporated over the past few years - the low price point and high-quality ingredients have truly improved my skin texture especially.
Curel Hydra Therapy Wet Skin Moisturizer: BUY THIS!!!!!!!!! Curel is the only ritual that prevents my skin from peeling horrifically every winter. I use a generous amount after every shower and my skin stays hydrated, supple, and smooth!
Goodal Vita-C Serum: This product has really improved my post-acne hyperpigmentation and I think it’s made my pores smaller (I have an oily T-zone). For a vitamin C product, it’s stable and formulated as a gel, which feels so cooling and refreshing when I apply it every morning. The Goodal products are gentle compared to other vitamin C serums, which have caused some sad rosacea flare-ups and tingling!
Beauty of Joseon Sunscreen: I wear this every day! Many popular sunscreens have unfortunately caused me to have breakouts, but this one is truly my holy grail. It applies so well, isn’t too oily, and gives your skin the healthiest looking glow. The only cons are that it’s not completely sheer and I don’t think it’s sweat-proof. If I’m going on a run or to the beach, I opt for this one by Missha.
Pimple patches: Game-changer. I constantly wish hydrocolloid products were a thing when I was in high school and college! There are so many brands, but I think ones by Hero Cosmetics stick on well and are fairly invisible if I want to wear them during the day, too.
Makeup: I’m pretty minimal with my makeup - my daily eyeliner and mascara routine takes me less than two minutes and I have a practiced hand. Lately though, it’s been so fun experimenting with new products. Sometimes the packaging alone gives me a rush! I truly never thought I’d engage with beauty content on social media, or even want to try makeup trends, but I admit that some of them are worth the hype and have become staples.
Kulfi Waterproof Kajal Eyeliner: This new-to-me eyeliner checks off every box for me. It smudges well, but doesn’t move once it settles (no raccoon eyes here!). It's also matte with no sparkles or shimmer, and its twist-up packaging means I don’t need a pencil sharpener. I wear the Cheeky Chiku shade (dark brown) most days, but I’ll wear the Nazar No More shade (black) depending on my mood.
Thrive Liquid Lash Extensions Mascara: I’ll never wear any other mascara! This makes my thin and droopy eyelashes look long and lifted. The tubing formula rarely smudges and it’s so easy to take off at the end of the day - even without makeup remover. Thrive runs sales frequently, so I stock up on several tubes of Brynn (rich black) once a year!
Rare Beauty Liquid Blush: I bought the tiny trial size of this liquid blush and I’m still using it one year later! It’s extremely pigmented, so the smallest amount goes a long way. The first time I applied, I had literal clown cheeks! I use shade Hope, as do many of my friends, and it looks beautiful on so many different complexions.
Westman Atelier Contour Stick: I was scared to contour my face haha but this stick is basically foolproof! It blends like a dream and it makes me feel a little fancy! I originally bought Biscuit, but it was too cool-toned for me. I purchased the shade Truffle and it’s perfect.
Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Concealer: I haven’t tried the super-popular Luminous Silk foundation, but this concealer is excellent. Wearing base makeup/foundation generally makes me itchy, so I only wear concealer if I want to hide a pimple or some acne scarring. This formula is so light, buildable, creamy, and doesn’t get crusty. I usually wear shade 4.5 and will mix with shade 5.75 in the summer.
Haircare: I have very straight hair, which air dries quickly and with minimal frizz (I know, I’m pretty lucky!) When I blow dry or style my hair, I love using the Shark Flexstyle System. This was a splurge after my blow dryer, straightener, and curling iron all stopped working. It took a little practice to use the curling attachments in particular, but it’s been a versatile time-saver ever since. In terms of other products, the Odele Air Dry Styler cream is top-notch for providing soft definition on either slightly damp or dry hair.