fave products // beautycounter counter+ all bright c serum

Who doesn’t want brighter, my glowy skin? Vitamin C serums are a dime a dozen these days, but not all are created equal. I personally look for a serum that is lightweight & absorbs easily, made of ultra-stable forms of vitamin C, while also lending a quick boost of radiance to my skin. I’m always impressed by vitamin C’s ability to promote an overall more even skin tone, and I’m happy to say a new find from Beautycounter really delivers.

The Counter + All Bright C Serum boasts an impressive and ultra potent 10% blend of two different forms of vitamin C. They work hand in hand to brighten skin tone and diminish the appearance of dark spots, while antioxidant super heroes turmeric and camu camu help prevent the appearance of new ones as well. I’ve been using the All Bright C Serum for several weeks now, and my skin just looks brighter, and even some of my hyperpigmentation spots are less visible! For an extra boost of radiance, I’ve been using the Beautycounter Glow First Priming Serum, which is goes on smooth and glowy, and combines the best of both skincare and makeup!

An added bonus is that Beautycounter products are vegan, cruelty-free, and EWG-verified, so you can feel good about applying them to your skin. A more youthful, glowing complexion is yours to be had- now, what are you waiting for?!

 * This post may contain affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, it won’t cost you a penny more, but I’ll earn a small commission. This allows me to continue to generate content for you, and helps keep the site up and running. Thanks for your support! 

haldi skin routine

If you’re one of those people who loves skincare, or just wants to learn more about which products you should be using, but maybe feel like Sephora is just way too overwhelming, then Haldi is the perfect experience for you. Haldi takes the guesswork out of skincare routines by sifting through hundreds of skincare products to find the right routine just for you. The experience takes each customer through an in-depth online consultation before building a unique shop of products tailored exactly to your skin's needs. If that sounds up your alley, all you have to do to get started is take the survey and tell them Britt Maren referred you! After you’ve completed the survey, you’ll receive an email from Haldi’s Skin Coach, who will send you your personal store. Haldi is a small team who are incredibly passionate about building the right routine for each and every customer, and I have to say, this really comes through in the level of service and attention to detail they use while creating routines.

Here’s the gist of it: Receiving a personal routine from your skin coach is free. Haldi then builds you a curated store where you can preview all your recommended products and buy what you need. You only pay for products you buy. Products typically range from $20 to $100. There are never any markups on retail products, ever! Sounds pretty great, right? They are also very selective in the brands and products they carry and very few make “the cut”. Haldi looks for next-generation brands and products from around the world that combine the best of science and nature, and deliver real results. Since it’s unlikely that a brand makes everything well, they look for “hero” products, the best of the best within each brand and category. Every product then gets carefully vetted and personally tested by their team of testers. Haldi follows a clean-for-you approach as well, focusing on clean ingredients and efficacy, so you wont’ find any harsh or irritating ingredients (like parabens or SLS) in the products they suggest either. Just some of the stellar brands they feature are Tata Harper, Elta MD, Alpha H, Pai, Mara, Youth to the People, and Herbivore Botanicals!

I was excited to try out Haldi for myself and get a totally personalized skincare routine based on my specific skin type and concerns. I’m a bit of a skincare junkie myself, and love trying out new products. However I wasn’t looking to necessarily totally overhaul my entire routine when I have certain fave products already. Not to worry, as they’d never want you to abandon anything you love that is working for you, which is great! The girls at Haldi are super knowledgeable, and can answer any questions you may have about specific products or any issues you may have. When creating your personal store, they’ll give feedback based on your current routine, and add notes on new products they suggest you try out! If you need adjustments, whether you’re looking for different price points, fewer steps, or a “cleaner” product, simply let them know, and they’re happy to make any changes. Don’t feel like you have to purchase everything at once, or at all. Pick what jumps out to you- perhaps there’s a certain part of your routine in particular that you want to switch up? They also offer trial/travel sizes of many products, in case you don’t want to jump right into the full size product right away. I personally love that, as you never know if something might not jive with your skin for whatever reason.

My Haldi store included a variety of new (to me) products that would work well with my skin type and concerns, including Pai Light Work Rosehip Cleansing Oil, Josh Rosebrook Acid Toner, Indie Lee CoQ-10 Toner, Skin Design London C Antioxidant Glow Serum, Pai Instant Kalmer Ceramide Serum, Herbivore Lapis Facial Oil, and more. Your package comes with some helpful cards that include details about each product’s ingredients, and when/how to use it so that you can seamlessly incorporate it into your current routine. I’m definitely a Pai Skincare convert after trying out their cleanser and serum- stay tuned for a more detailed post!- love the nourishing ingredients they use, and how gentle they are on the skin! The Josh Rosebrook Acid Toner is made from a combination of pyruvic, malic, and glycolic acids that work their magic to resurface and firm the skin. But the acids are kept in a base of rich, whole-plant extracts to ensure that it isn’t too harsh or irritating, like so many toners can be. As the seasons change, Haldi is happy to work with you to update your personal store with new products that are seasonally appropriate as well, so that’s on my to-do list here soon now that the weather is cooling off. If you’re looking to revamp your skincare routine, I cannot recommend Haldi enough. Just remember to use my name as the referral when filling out your skincare survey, and you’ll be all set! Cheers to new skincare!

 * This post may contain affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, it won’t cost you a penny more, but I’ll earn a small commission. This allows me to continue to generate content for you, and helps keep the site up and running. Thanks for your support! 

fave products // alpha H-liquid gold glycolic acid exfoliant & serum

By now I’m sure you’ve heard about the benefits of exfoliating. Whether physical (with a scrub) or chemical (with acids), gentle exfoliating is a wonderful way to keep your skin fresh and healthy. Back in the day a certain apricot-scented physical exfoliant was super popular, but it’s become apparent that maybe that wasn’t the most safe, gentle, or effective approach we should be taking. I tend to stick to mostly chemical exfoliants these days, and I’m happy to report that Alpha-H Liquid Gold with 5% Glycolic Acid truly delivers results. Liquid Gold combines 5% Glycolic Acid with a unique low-pH delivery system to stimulate action at a deeper layer of the skin. Basically, this lower pH (2.8 - 3.0) temporarily compromises the skin barrier, which then enables deeper penetration of active ingredients. Sounds scary, but it’s a good thing- I promise!

Glycolic acid is a super popular exfoliant for good reason- it works to remove dead skin cells, unclog pores, promote cellular turnover, diminish the appearance of fine lines & wrinkles, and even help reduce hyperpigmentation! Talk about a powerhouse ingredient. Acids can be a bit irritating at first for newbies, so I recommend applying once every few days at first, and then working your way up to daily use. I’ve also been trying out the Alpha-H Liquid Gold Midnight Reboot Serum at night, and let’s just say I think you should stock up on both of these products ASAP. This serum combines two of the most powerful anti-aging ingredients in the game- glycolic acid and granactive retinoid- which work to resurface and renew prematurely aging skin. Throw in tripeptide-5 which promotes collagen production, and ferulic acid to fight free radical damage, and you’ve got yourself a real winner. I’ve definitely noticed a more vibrant, youthful glow to my skin lately, and it’s all thanks to Alpha-H Liquid Gold. As a little added bonus, Alpha-H products are cruelty-free, made with a clean formula, and are made with locally sourced botanicals in Australia. Trust me, this is a line you’ll be happy you added to your routine.

 * This post may contain affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, it won’t cost you a penny more, but I’ll earn a small commission. This allows me to continue to generate content for you, and helps keep the site up and running. Thanks for your support! 

fave products // dermalogica smart response serum

If I had to choose one type of skincare product to take with me on a desert island, it would probably be serum. Ok, fine, sunscreen would probably be more important- but you get the idea. Serums are a super effective way to deliver a high concentration of potent product onto the skin, and they can be targeted for all sorts of varying skin concerns- from acne to wrinkles to dullness & more! The new Smart Response Serum from Dermalogica is a next-gen smart serum that protects skin by using four actives that hydrate, brighten, soothe, and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It essentially delivers what your skin needs, when it needs it by reading the skin's micro signals and responding proactively. Sounds confusing, but just know that it works in real time to stop skin damage before it's even visible. You’re basically getting a personalized response with every use, which in turn gives you healthier, glowing skin.

I’ve been incorporating the Smart Response Serum into my routine lately (after cleansing and toning), and I’ve really been loving it so far. Its thin, creamy texture melts into my skin effortlessly, and a pump or two is all you need to see results. A few key ingredients are hard at work here: first off, plant-based M6P glycan visibly increases firmness. Then, whenever my skin seems dehydrated, hydrolyzed beta-glucan promotes hyaluronic acid production to give things a necessary moisture boost. Plus arabinoxylo-oligosaccharides (sounds freakier than it is) works to even out skin tone and helps slow melanin production.

I also love that this serum is cruelty-free, comes in recyclable packaging, and is free of nasty ingredients (think parabens, sulfates, phthalates & mineral oil). Woot woot! PS- if you’re looking to add another Dermalogica power player to your routine along with the Smart Response Serum, I highly suggest the PowerBright Dark Spot Serum! It’s great for uneven skin tone & texture, sun damage, hyperpigmentation, and aging skin. These two really pack a one-two punch!

 * This post may contain affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, it won’t cost you a penny more, but I’ll earn a small commission. This allows me to continue to generate content for you, and helps keep the site up and running. Thanks for your support!