I never thought that I would be THAT girl sharing her beauty routine. But here it goes…
First, let me say, I believe we spend 90% of our money and energy on stuff that does 20% of the job. I love a good product like the next girl, but there’s nothing like enough sleep + being happy that makes a woman’s skin glow and her face radiate.
Both those things are not that easy to achieve, but definitely worth pursuing. That being said, I think skincare is fun, so I’ve shared the stuff I use. Take it or leave it!

These are the products I use every day and come back to consistently.
This face wash feels incredibly clean without being too drying, which is surprisingly hard to find.
I use this right out of the shower as the first step in my routine, and it gives my skin an immediate boost of hydration.
This gives just enough coverage to even out my skin tone while also including SPF for daily protection.



These are the products I rotate in and out depending on what my skin needs.
I do think that retinol is the one ingredient that makes the biggest difference in aging skin. This one works well and is clean, and I always recommend starting with the lowest concentration and cycling it on and off.
A little self tanner a day really does keep the winter blues away. I add a few drops of this into my daily moisturizer for a subtle glow.
This is my favorite clean sunscreen because it has great ingredients and goes on sheer without leaving a residue.



This is the best product I’ve found for my hyperpigmentation. It does require mixing the liquid and crystals and then refrigerating the pads, so it’s more high-maintenance than most of my routine, but it works incredibly well. I typically use it once or twice a year after I’ve gotten a lot of sun.
Now that I’m older, I have to be meticulous about removing all of my eye makeup or my eyes will become irritated. I usually put this on a Q-tip to remove the last bits of eyeliner.
This is the best eyeliner I’ve ever found and one I consistently come back to.



I just started using this and I think it’s working. My doctor told me that topical estrogen cream is totally fine to use since I am also on estrogen for perimenopause, but you should definitely speak to your doctor first to make sure this is right for you.
Because I hate taking mascara off, I usually just curl my lashes instead of wearing it. Once in a while, I’ll get a lash lift and tint, which I love, but it can pull out lashes so I limit it to twice a year.
If you’re curious about plastic surgery, skin procedures, or products, I find this Instagram account really interesting and helpful.
All my love,
Vanessa
P.S. If you enjoyed this guide, you might also like The Travel Essentials I Never Leave Home Without or The Wellness Tools I Use For Stress Relief and Everyday Reset.
get it here
A weekly voicenote from me to you. Sometimes deep, sometimes ridiculous, always human. Think of it like the kind of voicenote I’d leave my best friend—the messy, unfiltered version of me, saying the things we don’t usually say out loud. Now I’m sending them to you.
A weekly voicenote from me to you.
Sometimes deep, sometimes ridiculous, always human. Think of it like the kind of voicenote I’d leave my best friend—the messy, unfiltered version of me, saying the things we don’t usually say out loud. Now I’m sending them to you.
REAL TALK FOR REAL WOMEN