Is it just me or has anyone else been dealing with [borderline] the worst skin since high school since the start of Quarantine..? I’ll even admit that my skin issues back then were NOTHING compared to what’s been occurring on my face since early March. What I don’t understand is simply, why..? It’s not like I’ve been exposed to the elements! And it’s definitely not like I’m wearing a full face of makeup throughout the day… What gives!?

When I asked this same question on my Stories, raw face sans filter & all, it gave me great peace knowing I wasn’t the only one all of a sudden suffering from angry skin issues while stuck indoors. For me, my pre-existing eczema began to flare up in rash spots all over my neck and refused to completely go away for about 2 weeks & counting. Oh, and I have rosacea now… great! Between those two issues wrecking havoc on my skin’s appearance & condition, I knew it was time to experiment with everything in my beauty cabinet to find a winning routine of products that will keep these conditions at bay. What I didn’t realize is how many “new” products I’d discover/rediscover on my quest to treating my Quarantine skin AND how effective they’d end up being!

Please note that what works for me won’t necessarily work for everyone. All our skin types, issues, preferences, etc range and vary like our unique genetic code. I’m no skincare expert either – but I do know what helped to make my eczema disappear close to 96% and what’s kept the redness of my rosacea way wayyy down in comparison to prior weeks. All of these products I’ve mentioned below are ones I genuinely recommend and found success in using, since the second week of March up until now. Nothing treated my skin conditions overnight on their own, but they sure as heck accelerated the overall physically recovery that I look at in the mirror each morning/night!

Here are 20 beauty products I’m so glad I tried during these 5+ weeks of Quarantine:

— MORNING ROUTINE PRODUCTS —

DAILY TONER

Paula’s Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant → I’ve been using this exfoliant as a morning toner before putting anything else. It helps wake my skin up gently & preps it for the rest of my routine. The BHA (beta hydroxy acid) helps remove layers of dead skin cells & also works to unclog pores in the process. Super lightweight and absorbs quickly without leaving that sticky residue feeling.

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DAILY SERUMS

Tula Illuminating Face Serum → You’ve probably heard a handful of beauty/lifestyle influencers talk about Tula products in sponsored Stories. To be honest, I was genuinely interested in trying them out after learning of its probiotic nature with ingredients. Plus, any reputable influencer wouldn’t promote anything over & over again that wrecked havoc on their faces (or I’d at least hope so..) Needless to say, I get the hype. My skin has been feeling great after using this lightweight serum, along with a few more Tula products that I’ll get into detail about later in this post.

Elemis Peptide4 Antioxidant Hydra-Serum → I’ve been a big fan of Elemis for years & always up for trying any of the products they send me as an #ElemisPartner. I’ve been using this serum on the mornings when my skin looks dull and more tired than usual. This serum gives it that much needed boost of antioxidants & hydration, leaving it feeling refreshed and satisfied in minutes.

Paula’s Choice Omega+ Complex Serum → This is the serum I use on mornings when my face looks naturally content in appearance – with no visible irritation or concerns to address. For me, these occasions happen maybe 2-3x a week but are still moments to celebrate regardless! This serum is full of superfood ingredients that maintain that healthy, hydrated, and happy skin look.

Murad Vita-C Glycolic Brightening Serum → If you have hyperpigmentation, pay attention to what this serum can do for you! Packed with antioxidant defense & super lightweight, this serum works double-duty to balance uneven skin tone while supporting surface cells of the skin by removing the dullness. It leaves a slight tingle on the skin once applied but as a result, your skin is brighter & healthier-looking because of its ability to better receive Vitamin-C delivery. Plus, I LOVE that it smells like oranges!

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DAILY MOISTURIZERS

Tula 24-7 Moisture Cream → Another Tula product I’m loving! This moisturizer acts as a 2-in-1, also working as a night cream. I’ve been using it mostly in the mornings but it’s nice to have the option of using it at night, especially if I’ll be “traveling” and wanted to make most use of limited cosmetic space (can’t wait for that day lol.)

Drunk Elephant B-Hydra Intensive Hydration Gel → Whenever my skin is feeling particularly dry, which happens for me all year round, I apply this hydration gel as a “cool drink of water” to my skin. It’s a super lightweight gel but still feels substantial enough to use as a moisturizer itself. Works for all skin types too, but I find it very effective for those with dry skin.

Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide Moisturizer → This moisturizer is full of proteins that work to improve the overall look of my skin’s tone, texture, and firmness. It feels super luxurious to the touch and since using, my skin has been feeling very pleasant throughout the day following its morning application.

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DAILY EYE CARE

Tula Cooling & Brightening Eye Balm → If there’s any Tula product you should get, it’s this eye balm! Not only does it genuinely brighten the under-eye areas but it also leaves this refreshing, cooling effect that makes the skin there feel extraordinary great. Plus it’s the perfect size tube to take with you on the go (for when the time comes to travel again.)

Dermalogica Biolumin-C Eye Serum → Another brand I’m always willing to try new products from is Dermalogica. As a partner, I’ve been able to try a handful of game changers from their various skin care lines that focus on specific concerns. But one of the products I’ve been most excited about since receiving/using is this Biolumin-C Eye Serum. I’m a big fan of this Biolumin-C ingredient that some of my other Dermalogica products have as well, so I knew this would be an eye serum worthy of trying. Sure enough, it supercharges that very thin area of my under-eye thats subject to dark circles by brightening & firming it up with each application.

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PRIMERS

Tula Brighten Up Smoothing Primer Gel → Big big fan of how nice this primer feels on my skin, following all the rest of my morning skincare. A little dime-size amount all over my face & neck goes a long way. It’s super lightweight and feels silky smooth once on.

e.l.f. Hydrating Face Primer → Occasionally, I’ll layer this primer over my face following the Tula one if my skin is looking more dehydrated than on other mornings. It just works to lock in any makeup I’m intending to use (which isn’t a lot these days) without me needing to reapply it later on during the day. It also helps to keep those dry specks of skin, that occasionally find ways to poke through my makeup, under wraps more consistently.

— NIGHT ROUTINE PRODUCTS —

OVERNIGHT REPAIR

SkinCeuticals Glyolic 10 Renew Overnight Treatment → This treatment is the more powerful of the two, but unbelievably effective! I use it sparingly, maybe up to 3x a week max and never back-to-back nights. You can definitely feel a tingle when applied but its never feels like it’s burning. The morning after speaks for itself – my skin literally looks radiant when I wake up!

Elemis Peptide4 Overnight Radiance Peel → Don’t let the ‘peel’ word scare you, it’s nothing like it & you certainly won’t look like Samantha Jones in the morning (see here for reference.) This overnight treatment is the less harsher of the two but nonetheless does the work to promote the same amount of radiance. I use it on the nights when I’m not using the SkinCeuticals one.

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EVENING MOISTURIZERS

Dr. Brandt Hydro Biotic Sleep Recovery Mask → After applying one of the overnight treatments, I’ll add a thin later of this sleep recovery mask on top to lock in some extra evening hydration. It’s done wonders to help reduce the redness of my newfound rosacea and signs of irritation that comes along with it.

Dermalogica Super Rich Repair → With my very dry skin issues, this cream is a living miracle. It’s super thick but doesn’t clog pores at all; it actually feels like it stays on my skin for hours which is so reassuring. I like applying it at night over morning but you can really use it at anytime you need it.

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EVENING EYE CARE

Elemis Pro-Collagen Eye Revive Mask → Never have I ever met an eye mask that works the way this one does. I love the thicker consistency of it and how nice it feels on the skin under my eyes. I apply it somewhat generously at night when I feel like its most needed.

Murad Vita-C Eyes Dark Circle Corrector → I’ve found this corrector to be super effective with reducing visible darkness of my under eyes. You can also apply this at anytime but I prefer night when I’m loading up my skin with lots of products it can soak in while asleep. The Vita-C ingredient works to visibly brighten quickly which is very reassuring to notice soon after application. It almost looks like a subtle highlighter, which makes it worthy of a product to use during the day if you want that same makeup effect without the actual makeup!

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FACIAL OILS

*Organic Prickly Pear Cactus Seed Oil → I got mine while in Morocco after learning all about its benefits for the skin, especially when combatting redness & irritation. Be warned: you want to do your research before purchasing any ordinary Prickly Pear Cactus Seed Oil. For starters, you want it certified organic and nothing else. True oil of this variety is rare and on the more expensive side when you compare how much you’re getting for the price, just as a heads up. The small travel-size bottle I bought was probably $40-$50 if I can remember properly. It’s not a mark up, that’s just how much these oils cost. So if it looks too good to be true of a price for the size you’re getting, you might want to double check it’s certified organic. The oil I’ve linked to here seems to be legit based on the reviews but still, I encourage you to do the research on your own before purchasing. You can get away with a small amount too, which is why I got a little bottle. I only use a tiny drop for my entire face & neck.

Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Oil → On nights where I don’t want to use more of my sacred prickly pear oil, I defer to this one which is just as delightful. It’s super super replenishing and does wonders to combat signs of lines & wrinkles, another one of the many side effects that comes with having super dry skin. If you have similar skin type issues, this is a facial oil to consider greatly!