We are huge beauty junkies at The Style That Binds Us, always discovering new brands and products to try. We are frequently asked about what we use, and realized what works for us won’t necessarily work for someone with a different type of skin-texture, ability to tan, tone, color, etc. We cannot therefore, suggest specific products for skin other than our own and guarantee they will work like they work for us.
As we thought about this, we became curious to know what beauty products our diverse community uses. Alison has olive skin, Delia’s is fair, and we are different ages, but that only covers a small percentage of skin types, and we wanted to get the scoop on beauty favorites used by a larger & more inclusive variety of people. You frequently hear from us about our favorites, but we wanted to hear from YOU as well!
We hope you enjoy discovering the cult favorites some members of our Style Squad use & love. We reached out to a cross section of women we admire and asked them what products they are currently using. Here’s their list!
Kristina Lopez Adduci, Founder of House of Puff + Art Zealous
1. Drunk Elephant Beste Jelly Cleanser
7. Skin Better Overnight Cream
8. Drunk Elephant Glycolic night serum
Erica Choi, Co-Founder of Lumn Inc, Founder of Egg Canvas and SUPEREGG
SUPEREGG Gentle Elements Cleanser
NEOGEN Real Ferment Micro Essence
AMOREPACIFIC Vintage Single Extract Essence
SULWHASOO Essential Balancing Water
NATURIUM Niacinamide Serum 12% Plus Zinc 2%
SUNDAY RILEY Good Genes All-In-One Lactic Acid Treatment
SUPEREGG Sound Renewal Moisturizer
AFRICAN BOTANICS Café Noir Body Exfoliant
We are excited to note that Erica has recently launched her own skincare line, SUPEREGG!
Ashley Paintsil, Fashion Journalism Professor at the University of Delaware
My family and friends joke that my skincare routine is pretty intense, but I’m kind of skincare obsessed so I take their humor in stride. I’m a big believer of the Korean skin care method so I’ve created a modified version of the method for my oily skin.
Day Routine
I like to start the day with a splash of water on my face then I use Mary Kay’s Botanical Effects Cleansing Gel for oily skin. I use LA Labeautyologist’s 60 second facial washing method in the morning to make sure all the gunk on my face from the evening before is thoroughly, but gently cleansed away. After that I take a cotton pad (BJ’s Berkley Jensen Premium Cotton Rounds are my favorite!) and swipe some of Mary Kay’s Clear Proof® Blemish Control Toner to make sure I’m targeting any acne that has built up on my face. After this I pat in some of Ghost Democracy’s Floodgate Hyaluronic Acid Serum all over my skin to balance all the stripping I did with the cleanser and toner. Then I use Mary Kay’s TimeWise Even Complexion Dark Spot Reducer just on any little dark spots I notice to reduce hyperpigmentation on my face and then follow up with Farmacy’s Very Cherry Bright Vitamin C Serum all over my face to even out my skin tone. I then pat in Missha’s Time Revolution The First Treatment Essence RX I then use Pearlessence’s Lift & Contour Eye Serum (Caffeine + Ginseng) on my eyes then some sort of facial oil to continue to add in moisture like Indie Lee’s Squalene Facial Oil or The Ordinary’s 100% Plant-Derived Squalane. I then add in some of MISSHA’s All Around Safe Block Essence Sun Milk SPF50+ with MISSHA’s Super Aqua Cell Renew Snail Cream to seal in all the moisture. Then finish off with some sort of facial spray like PEARLESSENCE’s Brighten Pineapple Enzyme Facial Tonic and get started with my makeup routine.
Night Routine
My night routine is pretty much the same, except that I start with removing my make up with Glossier’s Milky Jelly Cleanser instead of facial wipes because those can be very harsh on your skin. I’ll follow up with a cleansing oil like Missha’s Super Off Cleansing Oil Then I do my whole facial cleansing and moisturizing routine but I add in MISSHA’s Time Revolution Night Repair Probio Ampoule and switch out my daytime oil and moisturizer with Missha’s Super Aqua Snail Sleeping Mask.
Bi-weekly at home Facials
If I’m doing a facial, which I do two times a week I like to do an extra pore cleanse with DERMAPORE’S Pore Extractor & Serum Infuser. Then I will add in a few masks such as Caolion’s Blackhead Steam Pore Pack or Bioré’s Charcoal Instantly Warming Clay Facial Mask for Oily Skin then follow up with Aztec Secret’s Indian Healing Clay. I also like to throw in a sheet mask at least once a week so I’ll use one like Tony Moly’s I’m Real Lemon Mask Sheet.
Skin Refresh
As I just turned 30 I’ve been learning the importance of switching it up and giving my skin a break so for about a month I like to strip everything away and just use Vanicream’s Gentle Facial Cleanser, Mary Kay’s Clear Proof® Blemish Control Toner and The Ordinary’s 100% Plant-Derived Squalane and Vanicream Moisturizing Lotion with some sunscreen and a facial spray.
Beauty from Within
I’ve become a big believer in the idea that beauty starts from within, so I’ve been slowly but surely drinking a gallon of water a day. I use this water bottle to keep me motivated and aim daily to take supplements like chlorella, moringa and vitamin C that I add to a beauty glow green juice made of two cucumbers, two celery stalks, a handful of spinach, a handful of kale, a handful of parsley, two whole lemons and lots of ginger (so I stomach it haha).
MARA’s Sea Vitamin C Glow beauty powder is a really good supplement to add to any of your green juices. And of course, along with a pretty clean diet (I try to stay away from processed foods, but will occasionally have a burger and fries sorry!), I add in daily exercise (barre and Pilates are my favorite) and a regular 8 hours of beauty sleep, which is super important to me. To cement everything I do, I just remind myself that I am a beautiful creation of God and that helps me on days when I breakout, am super tired or just over it. I truly believe one’s spiritual health affects your mental and physical health so I make sure I stay on track with that with my daily devotionals.
Paola Hernandez, Creative Director & Founder of Paola Hernandez LLC
- Tata Harper Resurfacing Mask
- AKT.THERAPY Rad Face Oil Radiance & Recovery
- Palmer’s swivel stick ultimate moisturizer lips
- Aesop Resurrection Rinse-Free Hand Wash
Nidhi Jain
- Glossier – milk jelly cleanser
- Sunday Riley – UFO face oil
- VitaBrid – Vitamin C powder
- Kiehl’s – Precision Lifting Serum
- Glossier – invisible shield sunscreen!
Idalia Salsamendi, Founder of Idalia Salsamendi INC (She was on our podcast!)
- Elemis Pro-Collagen Rose Cleansing Balm: Melts off make-up and smells like I’m in a rose garden
- Dr Jart’s Dermaclear Microfoam Cleanser: Leaves my skin squeaky clean. it’s so good my husband bought himself his own bottle!
- *daytime IS Clinical Moisturizing Complex: My skin is very sensitive and this moisturizer is my go-to time and time again
- *daytime SkinCeutical C E Ferulic (Vitamin C) Serum: This is a cult-favorite and for a reason. It works!
- *nighttime Versed Gentle Retinol Serum: I’m a huge fan of retinol and Versed knows how to do it so well
- *nighttime Cle de Peau Beaute La Creme: This is the holy grail of night creams. It comes with quite the pricetag, but after using it for a year, it can give it my seal of approval.
Lili Mitrovic, Entrepreneur and digital content creator
The Style That Binds Us
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