My skincare and hair products — many of you have asked, so here they are. I’m also getting my first HydraFacial tomorrow at Adolf Biecker, and I’m excited to share the experience.
Before reading, you may want to check this post for background on my skin history and photos without makeup (warning: graphic photos of a HALO laser treatment in the linked post).
A Little About Me
I’m in my 40s and credit my skin’s smoothness and minimal wrinkles to consistent care: investing in quality skincare, avoiding intentional sun exposure, wearing hats, applying sunscreen daily, staying hydrated, eating well, exercising, and getting routine facials when possible. I enjoy Korean sheet masks, mud masks, and using face rollers. I dedicate a lot of time to skin care.
Best Advice I Can Give for Your Skin
If your routine is minimal, start with these basics: wear sunscreen every day, drink plenty of water, avoid sunbathing, use self-tanner for color, and prioritize sleep. These steps are simple and effective for all ages. If you can, use a good cleanser and wash your face morning and night — many people skip cleansing before bed, which hurts skin health over time. Find a routine that works for you and stick with it.
Begin using eye cream in your late 20s. Prevention is more effective than treatment, and starting early helps delay fine lines. If you wait until you notice changes in your skin, you’ll have missed the ideal window to prevent them.
Photo by Marla Bergh Photography
What I Use On My Face: My Skincare Products
I don’t use every product daily — I choose based on how my skin feels. Every night I cleanse, moisturize, use sunscreen and apply neck and eye cream. Other products like masks, serums and oils I use as needed when my skin feels dry or in need of extra care.
Cleanse: I use iS Clinical Cleansing Complex as a regular cleanser, and I also often use a gentle bar soap from Johnson & Johnson that I’ve used for years. While some say bar soap can dry skin, this one works well for me and I use it frequently.
My Skincare Products
Oils & Serums: I like a squalane-based vitamin C rose oil, a squalane hyaluronic toning mist, and iS Clinical Hydra-Cool Serum for added hydration and radiance.
Moisturizer: I use and love a squalane omega repair cream. It has a whipped texture, rich in lipids and ceramides, and helps hydrate, plump and smooth skin while improving the appearance of fine lines.
Sunscreen: I wear sunscreen every day. My go-to is a broad-spectrum facial sunscreen with SPF 40 suitable for normal and combination skin. Sunscreen is necessary even on cloudy days because UV rays penetrate clouds unless you are fully shaded.
Best Kept Secret: Eye Cream
Eye cream is a must for me. I’ve used Bobbi Brown Hydrating Eye Cream for over ten years and it works well. I’m also interested in trying a squalane marine algae eye cream from another brand and will report back if I try it. Eye creams are a small step that can make a big difference over time.
Face masks: I rotate Korean sheet masks, a charcoal mask, and hydrating masks like those from Dr. Jart to give my skin targeted treatments when it needs extra moisture or detoxifying.
My Skincare Products: Neck Cream and More
Neck cream: I love a neck and décolletage cream from a local practitioner’s office. During the pandemic I used an alternative from Amazon that worked reasonably well, though it had a noticeable scent. Quality neck creams tend to be pricier, around $90–100; cheaper options I tried were not effective. If you know an affordable, effective neck cream, please share recommendations.
Other treatments: I get regular facials and have had chemical peels. As mentioned, I’m trying a HydraFacial soon and will share that experience.
Tools: I use face rollers for massage and lymphatic drainage. I’ll be discussing the benefits of rose quartz rollers and other tools in upcoming conversations and an Instagram Live.
If you’re in Chicago, I recommend Daniel Tresley’s office for skincare. If you’re in Madison, Wisconsin, I recommend The Silk Purse in Waunakee for lash, skincare and treatment services.
No one said skincare was easy, but consistency and good habits go a long way.
Hair Products I Use
I’m Korean American with naturally very straight hair. I’ve tried perms, digital perms, many cuts and color. I don’t wash my hair daily and try to avoid excessive heat from blow drying and curling. Overuse of heat damaged my hair after a digital perm and it took over a year to grow out. Diet and overall health also affect hair quality — a nutritious diet supports strong, shiny hair.
Hair Products I Use
Shampoo: I rotate between hydrating and balancing shampoos. My favorites include a hydrating shampoo from Pureology, a balancing wash from Kevin Murphy, and when I’m out of those, a color-protecting shampoo from a professional L’Oréal line.
Conditioner: I use a hydrating conditioner from Pureology or an affordable color-protecting conditioner from L’Oréal Paris Elvive for maintenance between salon visits.
Those are the products I use most often. If you have a favorite face product, shampoo or conditioner, please share in the comments. I’ll be back with a post all about my HydraFacial experience.