It’s been a while since I did a vanity roundup, and the summer months always mean a bit of a switch-up with my beauty routine.A little backstory first: I’ve been trying hard, like reallyhard, to slim down my product stash. The level of my product obsession is hard to explain, but let’s just say I have given away no fewer than six boxes FULL of skincare and makeup to my loved ones. Six! Boxes!!I was going to do a giveaway with a bunch of my never-opened products, but with coronavirus and limited access to the post office, it just didn’t work out this time around.As it turns out, breaking an addiction is hard! But I’m trying! If this lockdown/quarantine has taught me anything–strike that, let me affirmatively say this quarantine has already taught me so much–and one of those lessons is that we really don’t need so many Things to keep us happy. Surviving–heck, thriving–tends to happen when you only focus on the essentials. So I’m trying hard to live by that and only buy products when I need them.So while I’ll always be talking about my new favorite products here (especially when I get to partner with amazing companies that I want to tell you about), I just wanted to let you in on that little personal evolution of mine, behind the scenes.That being said, let’s talk products!

Ole Henriksen Banana Bright Vitamin C Serum

I got this from Influenster about a month and a half ago and have been using it ever since. It’s good. Sometimes Vitamin C serums can feel tacky on the skin, but this one glides on soooo smoothly and soaks right in. I also love that this is a natural, safer brand.Read HERE for more on why you need a Vitamin C serum in your skin care routine like NOW.

Drunk Elephant A Passioni Retinol

I’m back on this retinol for the summer, because can I just say, Maskne is A THING. Apparently I didn’t wash my face mask frequently enough, because mama’s got some chin craters. This started helping eliminate my acne within the first week of use, and the bonus is, it always makes my skin feel super smooth and make my pores look smaller, too. If you’re in the market for a good retinol, this is it.

Starr Clinical Oil-Free Moisturizer

It’s always nice to switch to a lighter, oil-free moisturizer for the summer months, when the humidity in the air can help with skin dehydration. This is SUCH a good, simple moisturizer that is non-irritating to the skin. I also use this to mix with serums when I want them to soak in a little quicker.The founder of Starr Clinical, Tenley Starr, really knows her stuff. As a cosmetic nurse injector (an RN who does cosmetic injectables like Botox and fillers), Tenley knows exactly what customers are looking for. Her line is great… You don’t get much better of a peek into what the skin needs than someone whose hands are literally on faces all day. Also, you MUST check out the two interviews I did with her. We lift the veil on Botox and fillers, I share my own Botox preferences, and she gives incredible advice on skincare for your 30s.Definitely, definitely listen:Drop your current favorite products in Comments below! I love to hear what you guys are using and loving.