The last two months have been a bit of a blur. Between job hunting, researching health insurance, and visiting family in Las Vegas, it’s been nonstop. I’ve also been continuing to pare down my skincare and makeup. I might not be employed, but I’m still testing interesting products. Maybe not Chanel or Dior these days, but I’m finding well-made, lower-priced products that perform just as well—maybe even better.

Let's get into it.

SKINCARE

For the day, I've been switching up my sunscreen but not much else. Right now, I'm using Summer Friday's Shade Drops, which is quite nice. I have a ton of the Sephora sunscreen I love so much, but I think it performs better in cooler weather. Shade Drops is super thin and easy to apply.

One new product I added is INNBeauty Project Elastic Skin Firming & Plumping Vegan Growth Factor Serum with Copper Peptides. It’s a "vegan snail" serum that I use as a primer. Aside from how great their products are, INNBeauty’s packaging is excellent. I love a pump—never messy, and it doesn’t degrade from repeated opening and closing like other types of packaging. I apply it all the way up to my under-eye area to prep before concealer.

Cleansers? Same. Cetaphil in the morning and either the Elemis Resurfacing Wash or the Oak Essentials Nourishing Cleansing Milk in the evening. I'm impressed with every Oak Essentials product I've used. I've already discussed their facial oil and balm. It’s rare to use products from a specific line and have them all work well without any issues.

My face products I apply at night have stayed the same: Vibriance Vitamin C serum, INNBeauty Project 10+10 More-sturizer, and Oak Essentials Hydration Heroes. I've said it a million times: If you're super-dry, or live in a super-dry climate, these two products are a lifesaver. They rescue my skin every time I travel to Vegas.

The only eye cream I use every day is...MAC Cosmetics Fast Response Eye Cream, but just during the day. At night, it's just the Hydration Heroes.

Makeup remover? Ponds Cold Cream.

MAKEUP

Keeping with the natural aesthetic, I'm only wearing a concealer for coverage. I move between concealers from Natasha Denona and Laura Mercier but just picked up the serum one from L'Oreal. Again. The latter two blend more smoothly all over the face.

I'm a huge fan of Merit and all of their products, mostly lips and cheeks. But, I found a great dupe from Moira. Again, I love Merit but the Moira Soft Blush Balm in Lucky Me is a great alternative, even for just the shade. It’s so pretty and actually lasts. I have a lot of products I love but they vanish on my face—this one doesn’t. I also started using my Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Bronzer in Medium. I have so many bronzers and every time I wear one in particular, I wonder why I don’t wear it more often.

For new lip products, I picked up the Wet n Wild 666 Brandy Wine lip liner. This liner was everywhere in the '90s. Everyone used it. I forgot how much I loved it. It's as long as my arm, but it's great. Other additions to my lip product supply included L'Oreal Plump Ambition Hyaluron Lip Oil in Milk Nú. I like it; it's great. But, like with Dior Lip Maximizer, the taste is a bit unfortunate.

I picked up Essence What A Tint! Lip & Cheek Tint. I just didn't feel like buying Benetint. Same look, same longevity, same feel—for around $4.99.

Two lines that I've found to be "at the level": Essence and Catrice. Catrice is now online-only, and I almost cried when Ulta pulled it from stores. Just because a line is low-priced doesn’t mean it’s low-quality—many of them use the same manufacturers as luxury brands.

FRAGRANCE

My favorite spring fragrance is back, Bonpoint EDT. It’s summer in a bottle. I’m leaning more into clean scents this in-between season—like Clean Pure Soap—but I’ve also been reaching for old favorites: Baccarat Rouge 540 and Diptyque L’Eau Papier, depending on the day. Layered with Byredo Bal d'Afrique body lotion.

On lazier days, I go for Monoi Tiki Tahiti—either Coco Coconut or Tiare.

Let's get to June!