It’s been awhile since I updated you one my daily skincare/makeup routine so I thought today’s Casual Friday post would be a great time to chat about that! You know when you’re an adult when your skincare regimen starts taking longer than your makeup routine, but here we are. Welcome to 34, Julia.
I didn’t talk about it much, but in Fall 2018 I was put on a new medication for my thyroid (I have Hashimoto’s and my doctor wanted to add Cytomel to my regimen) and I broke out like CRAZY. My skin was never so bad, but unfortunately, my thyroid numbers were never so good. So I stuck with it for a few months hoping it would even out, and my skin would adjust and it never did—my skin just kept getting worse. I finally begged my doctor to switch me to a different prescription (I’m on NP Thyroid now) in April of last year and I have spent the rest of the year trying to recover my skin. I feel like I am in a much much better place now. My skin feels happy (although there is still some redness and scarring I am treating) and I am a lot more confident.
SKINCARE
These products have really really turned my skin around.
1. The Face Illuminating Self-Tan Drops: $49 I started using these tanning drops a couple weeks ago after I got a 20% off coupon in the mail and was out of my usual tanning face mist. I use the medium/dark and this stuff is SO GOOD! It's buildable but also lasts a long time and doesn't rub off on sheets! I mix 3-4 drops in with my moisturizer (#6) and rub it all over my face and sometimes down my neck, too.
2. 2 HR Express Self Tanning Mousse: $39 This is what I use for the rest of my body. Definitely worth getting the mitt, too!
3. Kiehl’s Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil Herbal Concentrate Face Oil: $50 This was one product that I picked up when my face was still actively recovering from acne and it calmed my entire face down almost over night. Now I add it to my night routine during more hormonal times of month and I couldn't love it more.
4. The Ordinary Mandelic Acid 10% + HA: $14 This is one product that I feel like everyone could benefit from, but especially those that suffer from any kind of acne. Mandelic Acid was recommended to me by my aesthetician to clear up redness, bumps, the works and this one is kind of holy grail. And what a great price! I live in a really dry climate, so I only use this at night.
5. Lip Sleeping Mask: $20 Slather this on every night and it keeps my lips plump and youthful!
6. Kiehl's Super Multi-Corrective Cream: $65 I have tried so many moisturizers, but I always come back to this one. I use it morning and night!
7. Rejuvenating Eye Cream: $63 This is my first Beauty Counter purchase and I actually really like it. I use it morning and night.
8. FOREO LUNA mini 2 Facial Cleansing Brush: $119 I really credit this face brush for helping clear up my face fast! And keep it clear! My face has never felt cleaner or softer.
9. GlyMed Plus Gentle Facial Wash: $24 I get this from my aesthetician and I love how gentle it is, but it REALLY works. Wow! I use this at night on my cleansing brush. For so many years, I thought I had to exfoliate every day and I feel like I was just tearing apart my skin looking back.
10. GlyMed Plus Vitamin C Cleanser: $28 This is from the same line but a Vitamin C Cleanser and I use it in the morning. It really refreshes and wakes me up!
11. Garnier SkinActive Micellar Cleansing Water: $13 There's nothing better for removing makeup at the end of the day. Comes off in nearly one swipe when I pair with with #14.
12. DrFormulas HairOmega: $24 This is a skin/hair/nails formula my doctor recommended for my skin...but get this, also my hair. haha. Thyroid disease, especially an autoimmune one like I have kills your hair. I take two of these a day. After 6 months of use, I ran out and just didn't think about re-ordering and let's just say it was traumatic how much hair I loss. I immediately ordered more and I haven't lost more hair since I started taking it again. (Now I just have to wait for it all to grow back.)
13. Sweat Wristbands: $8 If you're not wearing these on your wrists when you're washing your face so no water runs down your arms and gets your sleeves wet--today is the first day of the rest of your life.
14. Norwex Tranquil Body Pack: $29 Just say no to makeup remover wipes! One pack of these will take off your makeup EASY, you CAN just use water but I like to use Micellar Water (#11) for even less tugging. And you can just wash and reuse! I love these so so much!
MAKEUP
As far as makeup, I love a more natural look. My tanning drops (above) go so far in helping me feel like I have a good glowy base. But these are my other every day go-tos.
1. RevitaLash Lash Serum: $98 I didn't know where to put this--probable skincare. But regardless, I LOVE this lash serum. I put it on nightly after I wash my face and before my eye cream. Just one swipe on each upper lash line. I noticed results in 5 weeks and I would say by 8 weeks it was a big WHOA.
2. Superhero Elastic Stretch Volumizing Mascara: $24 Can't quit, won't quit.
3. Pomegranate Burt's Bees Lip Balm (4 pack): $11 Lately, if I want a more natural looking lip--this every so slightly tinted chapstick basically enhances my natural lip color!
4. Red Dahlia Burt's Bees Tinted Lip Balm (2 pack): $9 This is my go to when I want a little bit more color but it's still really natural looking. Soooo chapstick or chapstick for me.
5. BAREPRO® 16-Hour Full Coverage Concealer: $24 I've recently switched to this concealer and I like it okay. My under-eye is basically where I carry all of my...baggage so having a good concealer that stays put is pretty great. I wear the fair light neutral color. I'm not sure under eyes is its best use, but I really love the formula!
6. Sun Bunny Natural Bronzer: $30 I have used this for years and I can't imagine switching to anything else. I now use it as my blush/bronzer combo and the color is just so sunny and happy. LOVE IT.
7. Bare Minerals FAUX TAN Bronzer: $29 I originally got this FAUX TAN bronzer for contouring and it works well for that. For me, it's a little dark for all over bronzer.
8. Foundation Brush 001:$7 I love this brush for blending my foundation.
9. Elf Complexion Brush: $6 This is the brush I use for my bronzer.
10. BarePro Performance Wear Liquid Foundation spf 20: $34 I switched to this foundation last year when I was actively trying to clear up my skin and I will never go back! I wear Pecan and the formula is amazing and the best part? It's non-transferrable. Meaning, it's not getting on my clothes or anyone else's when I go in for a hug. I love love love this and couldn't recommend it more.
11. Bare Minerals Lasting Line Eye liner: $17 Truthfully, I don't always wear eyeliner. It just looks so harsh on me. But! I recently discovered a softer tone, like this brown one!, on the last line of my top lid just helps me look more awake. So if eyeliner just never looks right one you, maybe try brown!
12. IT Brow Power: $24 I don't get my brows micro bladed (never have) but I do fill them in with this universal brow pencil. It's like, if I only had 2 pieces of makeup to wear every day, it would be this and foundation. I love it that much.
13. Morphe Nude Palette: $12 A great neutral shadow palette if I'm feeling like extra credit!
Here's a selfie we took a few weeks ago at an airport to kind of show you how it looks all together? I posted this one storied and got a ton of questions about my makeup so hopefully this all helps! (wearing the red dahlia chapstick here)
Would love to know if you have any can't live without recs in the comments!!
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Thanks for all the info. If you have time I would love to hear what you do with the sweatbands after use ?? Just leave them out on the counter all the time to dry ? Nothing makes me crazier then water down my arms (one of the main reasons I skip washing sometimes!) but I’m curious what you do with them after ! Thank you
Oh yeah, I just let them dry out.
Hi! The foundation brush link working. Would love to know what it is for $7!!! Thanks :)
Thanks for sharing. Anyway you can save these items that aren't already saved elsewhere like maybe to your highlights? I find myself screenshoting (is that even a word?????) so much but then I run out of space on my phone ????. So many helpful items to try-just can’t do it all at once. Thx ????
I can appreciate your wanting to have a warmer complexion and choosing to go the self-tanner route to get there, but just wanted to put it out there that there is a lot of evidence that self-tanners causes changes at the cellular level, so it's not really a great alternative to tanning.
You are a beauty. A little self-tanner is not gonna change that!
Thanks for sharing! I've recently developed stubborn hormonal acne, looking forward to trying the mandelic acid with the kiehls face oil to see if that helps!
Julia, thanks so much for this post. I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's several years ago and it's been quite the journey. For many of those years, I was on synthroids only and lost most of my hair; which was traumatizing. I went from hair clip-ins to wearing a full lace front wig for several years. Finally, after finding a really good Endocrinologist, transitioning to a gluten free diet, and taking supplements like Evening Primrose oil, etc. my hair finally started to grow back. It grew quite long and then started to fall out again, though not as bad as before. Thankfully, it's now back in a growth phase. The most frustrating thing is that I've tried so many products, it's hard to narrow down what's actually working and what's not; although, I know that diet plays a huge part. One thing I really believe is helping now is a CBD oil (Naturally G4U, from Ulta) that I apply, sometimes to my scalp, but mostly to my mid to ends. It's actually a face oil, but I use it on my hair instead. It has definitely helped combat the dryness that results from this disease. I haven't tried Kiehl's CBD oil, but you may want to try it on your hair as well. BTW, I had great results with the RevitaLash serum.
Goodness the difference in your face and Chris's in the last photo is remarkable. I can't believe we women have fallen into such a trap of having perfect, covered, blemish free skin, long, thick, dark eyelashes, color slathered all over our lips and lids, etc. etc. when men just get to show their natural faces. You look great but what a weird society we live in.
Love that you covered your skin care! I am also dealing with acne due to autoimmune issues & I’m wondering if you could list the order you apply products in am & pm?
As a fellow 34 yr old woman with Hashis I can super appreciate all the work you go to! I’m gonna run the supplement suggestion by my ND. I started taking Spirolactone (Spelling??) a while back for my androgen levels and it was *magic* for clearing up my skin! Alas, my hair could use some love. Also, I saw the comments about hair extensions and I just feel such solidarity with y’all. Sometimes, I feel so othered by the extra I do to combat this autoimmune disease so it’s so nice to just read about others experiences.
Love learning about new skin care and beauty products! Clearly what your using is working with your skin! I was over the moon excited to see you live micellar water and the norwex body cloth! I too think it’s an unbeatable combo! I happen to be a norwex consultant and wasn’t sure if you knew it was against company policy for product to be sold on Amazon. I’m happy to share my link with you if you’d like. Our Norwex price is actually much better than that of Amazon as well.
Julia curious to know what type of thyroid medicine you take. I’ve been without a thyroid for 12 years due to cancer. I was also diagnosed with Hashimotos at that time. I’ve been on Armour for about 6 years. I’m losing a lot of hair and really struggling with my weight.
I'm on NP thyroid right now. Doing okay on it. I get blood work every 8 weeks though and almost every time they have to adjust it
Teeth whitener?
Crest white strips once a year!
Thank you for your shout out to Beautycounter and I'm so glad you're enjoying the eye cream! Our safer beauty movement thanks you for your praises! XO
I love that you included Beauty Counter. In the last several years, as my skin has gotten more sensitive, I've looked into clean beauty and have tried to find products without harsh ingredients. In my research, I found that the US allows so many ingredients that are banned by the EU and other countries so I've tried to only buy products that get good ratings on ewg.org.
This lead me to Mineral Fusion and while I like and use many of their products (foundation, mascara, highlighing palate) I LOVE their oil cleanser. I use it as the first step in double cleansing and it's great for my dry skin. When combined with a cream cleanser it gets all my makeup off and leaves it feeling soft and never stripped.
I might need to consider the self tanning drops for my pasty white skin. Thanks for being so honest about your skin troubles!
What do you use to whiten your teeth? I’ve tried several products with just ok results. Thanks for sharing!
Crest White Strips!
Can you double check the Amazon reviews for the Glymed face wash #9. Lots of one stars and comments of fake product. I know you don’t purchase through Amazon. Makes me nervous.
I get it through my aesthetician! Can't personally vouch for those through Amazon.
I picked up the Kiehls Cannabis Oil after you storied about it but unluckily didn't have the same results. I'm bummed for a few reasons, but mostly because I had gotten used to, and dare I say, started to like the smell of it.
I REALLY like the smell of it! Try adding the mandelic acid! Maybe the combination?
I’ve been using the BarePro foundation for a couple weeks now, at your suggestion, and WOW!!! Why do other foundations even exist?! My skin looks so even and natural, all day long! It’s such a confidence boost looking in the mirror at any point during the day and seeing my makeup still looking fresh.
I have very dry skin, so my must haves are Dr. Jart’s Ceramidin cream in the morning and Granactive Retinoid 2% in Squalane by the Ordinary at night.
I'm so happy I found it too!
Do you use a CC or BB cream with the Bare Pro? I've been using it almost exclusively since it came out and love it too. :)
Hey there, I too have had my skin go crazy from the Rios problems- I was looking for hair help, but my doctor said to stay away from biotin as it can mess with your lab numbers- have you found that with the HairOmega?
Thyriod**
My doctor is the one that recommended it and I always note that I take it so Im not sure!
You just need to stop it a few days before getting levels checked, you don’t have to avoid it completely.
You don't need to "stay away" from biotin for labs.. I would clarify with your doc if there is another reason. If not, you just need to stop using it a few days before your labs. Biotin is a very helpful supplement for hair and skin in people with Hashimotos. The American Thyroid Association recommends stopping it at least two days before your tests. Posting a link for you because I feel it's super important to read the science versus just my two cents as an internet commenter. :)
https://www.thyroid.org/patient-thyroid-information/ct-for-patients/december-2018/vol-11-issue-12-p-3-4/
Thank you! Love the skincare recs. I have had acne ever since having kids but recently it's been the worst of my life. How did you find your aesthetician?
I got a rec from a friend!!!
Hi Julia! Thanks for all these amazing recommendations...I have one question and maybe there’s an easy solution to this but since you have such gorgeous long lashes- I’d love to know your answer...how do you apply your mascara so that none goes on your lids? I normally wear eyeliner bc it’s easier to hide the transfer, and when I wear just mascara I look like I slept in it overnight...how do you keep your lids clean?? Thank you!!
I don't always!!! Sometimes I use a q-tip to wipe off any that gets on it.
Mine always goes on my lids too! I let it dry for a few minutes then swipe it off with a dry q-tip.
I literally bought some self-tanning drops for the first time 2 days before your post and now I’m wishing I had waited and gotten the brand you mention in your post. How does the smell of these drops compare to other self-tanning products? Also, curious how much lotion you use for your 3-4 drops. Thanks for sharing all of your products. After looking it all over, I’m clearly not doing enough to take care of my skin ????
Writing this list out was eye-opening for even me! My skincare has taken over hahaha, but I strangely look forward to it. I just about a penny sized amount of moisturizer, enough to cover my whole face.
Wow, are you a mind reader? I was just thinking this morning in the bathroom that I need to change my skincare routine and was wondering what the beloved Julia Marcum uses. Everything you recommend has worked wonders for me, so I’ll definitely try them out. Thank you for sharing it all with us!
Burts Bees original is definitely my can't live without product. I've been using it for years and have one stashed in several places so I'm never without it. I experimented with Red Dahlia when you first posted about it but it's a little too much color for me (fair skin) so I'll have to try the pomegranate!
The Burt's Bees pomegranate has been my go-to lip balm for years. I, too, have stashes of it everywhere! Desk at work, purse, work bag, kitchen drawer, nightstand, car (lost a few to melting), even my toolbelt when I'm doing projects around the house. :) It's the best!
What tanning product did you use before the drops? Would you still recommend for someone just trying out a self tanner!
Definitely! If you're curious what I used before, it was this face mist.
Loving these recommendations! You turned me on to Burt's Bees last year and I have one in every jacket pocket and purse...lol! I have been looking for a new foundation. Im on my third and still don't like that it comes off so easily. Must try the BarePro next. I have never used brow pencils but love yours so need to experiment with your suggestion.
Lastly, I no longer have a thyroid and my biggest complaint is losing so much hair. My doctor doesn't seem concerned as me. I will look into the Omega vitamins.
I also have Hashimotos and really appreciate the hair supplement rec. Would you also mind sharing the Barefoot Blonde extensions you wear sometimes? I am looking at possibly using the 'fill-ins' to give me a boost.
I wear the classic set (I had it trimmed to be closer to my natural length) in brown sugar.
Thank you!
LK, I have the fill ins for the days I wear my fine, thin, wavy-curly hair down and am a big fan! It was more than enough extra hair for me and since I usually put the sides of my hair back when it's down, in fact I generally only wear one weft across the back of my head. One fill-in adds about 1/3 more hair volume than I really have. My hair is a couple inches past my shoulders and I still had to trim the length of the fill ins quite a bit since it's fastened almost halfway down my head.
I just started using the Revitalash this week. I apply it in the morning and after it dries, put on mascara (because I have to use prescription med for dry eyes at night.) I do think the Revitalash is making my eyes drier and itchy, but I’m determined to see results! Do you apply it to the base of your lashes? Or on the lashes themselves? Do you use it on your lower lashes too?