The Empties: Skin Care Gems You Should Have On Your Vanity

EMPTIES !!

This post has been 10 years too late. I should have done an empties post long ago. Ok ok, there has been ONE post & YouTube, but there are SO SO SO many things that I go back to year after year that need to be highlighted on this blog.

From now on we are going to do a monthly empties series. They might be about skin care, makeup, beauty, things in the kitchen- you get it. Just things that always need re-buying, or even the things I buy two of at the same time. Products I think you need to know about that will make your life easier & more beautiful. So with that, let’s get to the first ( 2nd ? ) installment of The Skinny Confidential’s monthly empties.

Today we will be going over & spotlighting some skin care products I can’t stop buying. These are items that I have in multiple places, that cannot be replaced with anything else, & that I recommend to my best friends & my sisters.

We’re talking a delicious lip mask you need to use as a lip balm, the most buttery CC cream that gives you full coverage ( & has SPF ), & cleansing balm that will change your life ( plus an amazing hack ).

TSC Monthly Empties: Skin Care Edition

♡ Laneige Lip Mask

A couple years ago I did a masterclass with my boyfriend, Dr. Dennis Gross at Sephoria. Have you heard of Sephoria? It’s this event put on by Sephora & it’s a new kind of beauty event where every room reveals a new experience- from masterclasses with industry icons to creating customized products.

Anyway, I was gifted a bunch of stuff & that’s when this standout came into my life. It literally blew my mind. It’s something you think you don’t need, but then you try it & realize you very much do.

Everyone is always worried about wrinkles on their face, chest & hands, but not their lips. Your lips are so important ESPECIALLY if you love to drink out of straws ( like me ).

The cool thing about this Laneige lip mask is you put it on before you go to sleep & when you wake up, it’s still on. And I mean it REALLY stays on, guys. I also use this as a lip gloss during the day- it makes a great primer to use under your lipstick too.

It smells like a mixture of raspberries, strawberries & cranberries & has tons & tons of antioxidants & vitamin C. It also has hyaluronic acid & minerals so it allows for a slow release of moisture over the hours that you’re asleep. You seriously wake up with these plump, soft, pillowy lips.

It comes with this cute little applicator spoon to apply it too. So what you do is, take this little spoon & apply it on your lips before you go to sleep, wake up, & wipe it off. If you had any dryness or flaking on your lips before bed, you won’t in the morning. I promise.

I don’t wipe it off when I wake up, I just keep it on- but that’s just me. We’re a little extra over here. I also leave a 20 minute face mask on for 2 hours. Anyway….

People say this is so great for dry, cold weather- so if you live in NYC or Boston or like to go skiing or snowboarding, it will really make your lips feel plump & 100 times better.

Basically, the things I like about it are:

♡ it’s going to completely moisturize your lips.

♡ it stays on your lips overnight.

♡ it will make your lips feel the softest they’ve ever felt.

♡ it’s pink & has super cute packaging- you’ll want to keep it right next to your bed, beside your Woo.

It feels like a lip balm but thicker, but it’s NOT sticky. The consistency almost reminds me of the Elemis Cleansing Balm ( we’re getting to that ), but this is a totally different product, for your lips.

This is just one of those products that has a cult following & is something that everyone should be using.

Michael actually used it the night I was trying it for the first time. I woke up & he was trying to stick his finger in my jar. I was mortified- I explained to him: NO, you need to use the spoon. Get your disgusting finger out of my jar Michael. Ugh.

It’s one of those staples that you’ll keep going back to. You’ll never want to try anything else.

♡ It Cosmetics CC Cream

OK so here’s the thing: this CC Cream has changed my skin/makeup game.

It’s really the best, best, BEST CC Cream on the planet. ( Stop reading right now if you’re not into glowy, dewy, flawless skin ).

Ok so I originally found this so randomly on YouTube. It wasn’t anyone famous or huge on YouTube. Just kind of an off the beaten path YouTube foundation tutorial. For some reason, I was intrigued. I’d link the video, but it was so damn random that I don’t even know where to begin to search for it.

Anyway, immediately I bought a bottle in ‘light.’

Ok so here’s the deal, if you try it make sure you’re priming your face with a very good primer before application!! A primer sets the canvas & makes all the difference in the world. You can’t go wrong with a good caffeinated sunscreen ( << been using this everyday, every second forever because the caffeine tightens my skin BIG TIME- love a quick facelift, LOL ).

Every time I apply this CC Cream I blot it with a beautyblender, my ride or die beauty companion. Make sure when you’re using a beautyblender you BLOT, don’t rub. TRUST ME on this! It looks more natural.

ALSO, be sure to get it wet. SUCH a game changer. Try it & be prepared to JUST DIE.

The wet beautyblender & CC Cream together make for this dewy, glowy, Snapchat-filter finish that you will become addicted too. To be real, I’d rather not do my makeup without this CC Cream honestly. It’s that good.

You should know I apply my caffeinated sunscreen first with a beautyblender, then eye brightener concealer ( if you get this get #2 ), then CC cream, & then a little powder when I’m going out!

Hands down the BEST CC Cream I’ve ever tried. I actually don’t know how I ever lived without it. It’s REALLY INSANE for people with hyperpigmentation ( me! )…AND DID I MENTION there’s 50 SPF in this!!! YES I KNOW.

Also, I’ve recommended this to THREE professional makeup artists who have come back to me with RAVE reviews !!

NOTE: make sure you get the ‘illumination’ CC Cream, not the regular. It’s way better.

♡ Elemis Cleansing Balm

YES !! We’ve been over this many times before. Do I even need to explain again? YES. I do.

Because this is my favorite way to cleanse. You guys know how I feel about makeup wipes, & if you don’t…well, I just feel like they pull the face down & who needs that? What you do with this magical cleansing balm is rub it all over your face & it just melts your makeup off. It smells like a spa, is so gentle on the skin & actually works.

You will love how this balm makes your skin feel. It won’t feel stripped & the collagen will make your skin feel plump af.

All you do is take a nickel-sized amount & use your hands to rub it on your face. VERY LIGHTLY of course & in a circular motion UPWARDS !! Always up !! Take your warm baby washcloth ( we’ll get into it – keep reading ) & pat it onto your face to remove the balm. All your makeup will be gone. Like magic. Then go ahead with the rest of your routine. Cleanse with your regular cleanser if you’re into double-cleansing, apply serum, oil, etc.

Ok… BABY WASHCLOTHS !!

These are technically an empty because I keep re-buying them. My friend Jule told me about this hack & I recently discovered them in pink. Of course I had to buy them asap.

If you haven’t heard about this most amazing hack, you gotta get on board.

This is a good idea for so many reasons. It’s going to be gentler, softer & just better overall for the fragile skin on your face. The ones Jule uses are pre-rolled with this cute little ribbon so they’re perfect to have on display in your bathroom & they’re ready to go for when you want to take your makeup off.

Recently, I’ve been using these microfiber facial cloths in pink. Ok fine, they’re technically not ‘baby’ but they’re still soft as fuck, look cute in my bathroom & get the job done. They’re so soft, not abrasive AT ALL, & they dry really fast which eliminates bacteria growth & they don’t get smelly. BUT you should still be washing them after each use.

Benefits of using a baby wash cloth on your face:

♡ easy to use & wash.

♡ won’t pull the skin down.

♡ antibacterial & hypoallergenic.

♡ super soft because they’re meant for a newborn’s bum.

In Korea, people are very specific about this. They all use super soft cloths on their face. & we all know Koreans know what they’re doing when it comes to skin care. In fact, Mimi said that in Korea, the girls love microfiber cloths for DABBING their faces dry. NO RUBBING. You can also use the damp microfiber cloths to remove face masks & very gently exfoliate.

I thought this hack was genius because washing your face is hopefully something you do every single night. Like, no, I don’t want to dry my face off with the same nasty-ass towel Michael used to dry his balls.

Thank you to @julethebee for this amazing hack. I’m obsessed & know you will be too.

There you have it. 3 items that need to be on your vanity. Trust me they’ll be empty in no time.

Would love to know what your empties of the month are. Let me know below.

x, lauryn

+ check out how to give yourself a free facelift, aka face yoga.

++ the best drugstore beauty finds.

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