Pretty Little Things: Best beauty finds

Welcome to Pretty Little Things, where each week we bring you our picks for the prettiest little things online. If we love it, you’ll be the first to know! This week we’re veering away from fashion and instead looking at our latest must-have beauty finds that keep us looking pretty.

Beauty crush

I am a self-professed product junkie. My bathroom counter is loaded with bottles and jars filled with serums, creams, lotions and cleansers. As much as I’m a total shopaholic when it comes to anything claiming to get me gorgeous, there are a few items that have emerged as must-haves lately – meaning that when the containers are empty, I’ll be going back for more. Here are a few of my current beauty product crushes.

Smooth skin serum

I just discovered Mario Badescu Vitamin C Serum ($45) and I’ve already noticed a positive difference in my skin. My new skin savior brightens and evens tone with the aforementioned vitamin C, boosts moisture levels with hyaluronic acid and keeps my complexion looking firm with collagen. Two to three drops massaged into skin at night every other day is all you need and you can wear it under your regular night cream (though I just apply on its own). So far my skin feels smoother and looks more even-toned, which is exactly what I was hoping for.

Maximum moisture

My quest for the perfect moisturizer ended when I came across Red Flower arctic berry cloud milk cream ($52). The whipped texture feels ultra-light on my skin, as the name suggests, and it soaks right in leaving no greasy residue. I can’t handle wearing anything on my skin that feels heavy, so I was pretty thrilled with how quickly this cream is absorbed. So far so good – my skin feels adequately hydrated and I wake up feeling (and looking) fresh faced. I also love the subtle, herbaceous scent and the fact this product is made sans chemicals with only natural, good-for-skin ingredients.

Refreshing wash

The number one must-have criteria I look for in a cleanser is the ability to take the day off, leaving no trace of oil, dirt or makeup behind. I finally found exactly what I was looking for with Malin + Goetz grapefruit facial cleanser ($30), a refreshing and lightly scented product that leaves my skin feeling completely clean. The foaming gel cleanser is surprisingly gentle for something so effective, but it really does rinse away taking my makeup with it. Plus the fresh, citrus scent is a nice way to wake up in the morning.

Quick cleansing

If I’m traveling, camping or just don’t have time for a thorough wash, I always turn to cleansing wipes for a speedy way to remove makeup or refresh my skin. My newest beauty obsession is Kaia bamboo facial cleansingcloths ($18) – by far the best cleansing cloths I’ve used. Makeup comes off with just a few swipes (even waterproof mascara) and my skin feels ultra-soft afterwards. Each vitamin-soaked cloth is small but durable and you can use both sides to really get your face feeling clean.

Cooling spritz

My obsession with spray toners started a few years ago and it’s showing no sign of slowing down. I just love the feel of a light, cooling mist on my skin and keep a bottle in my purse for an instant pick-me-up. I’m currently using Lush Tea Tree Water ($19) and find it’s great for summer when my skin tends to be a bit on the oily side. For a real complexion cool down, I store a bottle in the fridge for a post-workout spritz or just when I need to feel refreshed.

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