Top 10 Beauty Products of 2020
With the year coming to an end, I thought I would keep up with my tradition and share my Top 10 Beauty Products of 2020. Being that most of the year was spent indoors and at home, a big focus of my favorites are Skincare and Body Care Products. The products listed below are not listed in any particular order.
Please check out my previous posts from the last two years plus a fun surprise at the end of the post. I try my best to not repeat products from the previous years. If you’re interested in seeing my recommendations from the previous year, check out the direct links below:
Price: $46-$58
I’m not usually too keen on spending this much on an essence. If you’re an unsure what an essence is, it is another way to hydrate and rebalance the skin after cleansing. An essence is typically used after toner, but before serums. It could take the place of a toner depending on the ingredients of the formula.
I typically use an essence in my routine as another step to bring hydration back into my routine. After trying many essences, I really love the vicious texture of the Primera Essence and how well it hydrates my skin after using it. Since using it I feel that my skin has been responding well and retaining more moisture. After trying out other essences, I can feel a difference in my skin when I’m not using this one. It is pricey, but you can locate it at a discount rate through several retailers.
Honorable Mention:
Price: $32 for 1.6oz
I love that this is an antioxidant formula. The texture is also on the vicious side. Being that I apply my essence by just patting them into the skin and not with a cotton, the smaller size of this would still last you a decent amount of time.
Price: $44 for 1oz
After trying out many of facial oils, I’ve become super picky in terms of the weight of the oil, price and benefits. The Youth to the People Dream Oil is an antioxidant oil that is formulated with Acai (supports collagen with omegas) Prickly Pear (cell renewal), Maqui (antioxidant). I’m somewhat obsessed with the scent of this oil as it on the sweeter side. I typically use this after my moisturizer to help seal everything in. I press 2-3 drops into my skin at night. Being that so little product is needed, this bottle is sure to last a decent amount of time
3.) Tretinion 0.05% (prescription-based Retinol cream)
Price: Varies
This has been the year that I really wanted to give Retinol a try. After battling with maskne and being left with scars along with wanting to take preventative measures for anti-aging, I decided to really begin my retinol journey. I tried several forms throughout the year, but after several months I was ready to move towards the prescription route. I decided to visit my dermatologist and was prescribed Tretinoin 0.05%. I’ve been on if for the past 3-4 months and have loved the results. If you’re interested in how I started my journey with it, check out my previous blogpost.
Further Reading: Tret Journey
As I mentioned in that post, being that my dermatologist gave me the okay and the fact that I only pay $10 for two full size tubes, it’s a win-win for me. Since using Tretinion it has really helped with cell turnover and fading dark marks. I can’t speak on its anti-aging benefits as I haven’t been on it long enough. I’m following-up with my dermatologist in mid-January and will be following-up at that point.
Price: $34 for 1.6oz
This is product that I really don’t see many people talking about. But it’s one that I use daily, but I don’t mention it often enough. I have a mini tube that I purchased directly from the Farmacy site. The honey savior salve is antioxidant all-purpose balm that can be used from head to toe to soothe, moisturize and protect the skin. I typically use this balm on my face on my lip, around my mouth and the corner fold of my nose when it feels irritated. If you have dry or severely dry skin, you may want to pick this up.
Price: $20 for 33.8 oz
The Bioderma Shower Oil has been in my shower routine throughout this whole year.
It cleanses the skin gently and said to provide up to 24 hours of hydration. I know the idea of a shower oil sounds a bit different. It starts off as an oil and transforms into a light foam when mixed with water. I use the shower oil in the following ways:
-Can be used alone
-Mixed in with other shower gels to make a more moisturizing formula.
-Used as a shaving oil
-Mixed in body scrubs
This big bottle lasts so long and is super affordable. This is a product that I will continue to use and purchase. The Bioderma Shower Oil is a product I would highly recommend if you have dry skin or if you’re thinking about using it any of the ways I mentioned above.
Price: $25 for 25ml
Throughout this year I’ve tried out multiple sunscreens. There’s been some that I liked and disliked. But the Keep Cool Bamboo Sun Essence SPF is one that I love! If you have Normal to Oily skin, you would probably love this sunscreen as much as I do! Keep Cool is a Korean based skincare brand. This is actually the first product from Keep Cool brand that I’ve tried out. After trying out so many sunscreens, I’m not easily impressed. But after using this the first couple of times I was wowed. The Keep Cool Sun Essence has a unique ingredient blend and is formulated with 40% bamboo water, hyaluronic acid and centella extract.
It also provides UV and Blue light protection, no white casts, fully absorbs into the skin and doesn’t just sit on top like many others. I also love that this fragrance-free. In the summer time I wore it alone and didn’t use a moisturizer with it and now during the cooler months I could wear it over a moisturizer or apply a little more and not use a moisturizer with it. I’m almost out of this tube and will definitely be repurchasing this one.
Price: $25 for 1.75oz
Being that I enjoy trying out and testing different products, I wanted to try out a mineral based form of sunscreen. I’ve tried many, but the Kinship Sun Reflect is the only mineral spf that I’ve tried that does not leave a cast on me and make me appear ghostly. I can easily use 2-3 finger lengths (how much sunscreen that should be used per application to cover face, ears and neck) and it absorbs pretty well. I typically apply about 1 finger length first, work that in and then work my way up. I typically apply all of my sunscreens in this fashion.
The spf is lightly scented. The formula is lightweight for a mineral sunscreen. The formula is also a probiotic formula. One of the best ways I find to apply mineral spf is to slightly damp skin like immediately after your moisturizer or serums. I feel like this helps the mineral blend absorb better and not just sit on top of your skin. I do wish the formula was a little higher than a 32 SPF, but at this point I look for SPF 30 and up.
Price: $19 for full size
I’ve been on the natural deodorant train for a little over 2 years now. Since then I’ve tried multiple brands and formulas. The Taos deodorants have been in my body care routine on and off for over a year now. One thing that stood out to me about the deodorants was how they worked for my body chemistry. I know many people steer away from natural deodorants because they tend to wear off quickly. But I find that I only need to apply this once a day. I think this could be due to the waterless formula, which means it’s made with 100% active ingredients and no fillers.
I’ve used the Taos deodorant during summers, for workouts and everything else in between. I’m happy to say it holds up well. I love that they make both full size and minis sizes, which is great travel or touching up after the gym if you need to. I also like all of the scents and find them to be very unisex and not too sweet. If I had to choose one favorite scent, I would pick the Palo Santo Blood Orange.
9.) Bosica Cherry Blossom & Bakuchiol Resurfacing Lip Repair
Price: $20
The Bosica Lip Repair really took me by surprise. I was gifted the lip balm by the brand several months ago and I haven’t been able to put it down ever since. The Lip repair is described as a balm that plumps, resurface, retexturize and softens the lips. It’s formulated with Bakuchiol, which is a natural retinol derivate.
The texture of the balm is pretty much like a thick smooth balm. I actually like that the balm is clear and unscented. The formula last on the lips very long and leaves your lip noticeable softer. The applicator also makes it easy to use on the go. This is definitely one I’ll continue to use and purchase.
Price: $45
I purchased this palette several months ago and I haven’t been able to put it down. I can easily say this has been one of my best makeup purchases of the year. I find the Universal 1 palette to be very versatile. I use this palette as strictly a highlighter palette, but I’ve seen many others using it as an eye shadow palette, bronzer, and highlighter palette. At this point, I’m tempted to purchase some of the other shade palettes.
Surprise Giveaway!
How to Enter:
Subscribe to my Newsletter here (don’t forget to add in your instagram name so I can contact you).
Leave a Comment Under this post telling me your favorite product of the year.
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Rules:
You must be 18yrs + to enter. This Giveaway is International and no purchase is necessary to enter. The giveaway is not sponsored by any of the brands featured in this post. The Giveaway will be opened from Wednesday 12/30/2020 and will end on Saturday 1/9/2021 at 10pm eastern time. The Giveaway Winner will be notified within 48 hours of the closing of the Giveaway on Instagram. I am not responsible for shipping duties or if the package gets lost by the shipper.