In 2021, I started going to an aesthetician and learned a lot about my skin. I wouldn’t say I was completely clueless when it came to skincare, but I definitely could go deeper into how much effort I was putting toward my routine. I learned about the skin barrier, the importance of hydration, and what products would work best for my skin type. Turns out I’m actually oily when I thought I was dry and I needed more help with removing excess oil.

Throughout the process of facials and multiple conversations (I went to Sunday Skin btw and highly recommend it! They don’t offer facials anymore, but can help with a lot of other services), I gathered a lot of knowledge and made some major changes to my routine. The first was more of a lifestyle change that I saw in Justin Beiber’s documentary. He said that for a couple of days before his big shows, his wife, Hailey, puts several humidifiers in their bedroom overnight to keep his vocal cords and throat nice for singing. She said she also uses them to keep her skin hydrated and plump. Some benefits of using a humidifier:

First and foremost, dry air can be harsh on your skin and can cause dryness, itching, and irritation. This is because the lack of moisture in the air can strip the skin of its natural oils, leading to a loss of hydration. Using a humidifier can help to add moisture back into the air, keeping your skin hydrated and healthy.

In addition, a humidifier can also help to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. This is because the added moisture in the air can help to plump up the skin and reduce the appearance of dry, dehydrated skin. Using a humidifier can also be helpful for people with certain skin conditions, such as eczema. The added moisture in the air can help to soothe and hydrate the skin, reducing the severity of flare-ups.

By combining a humidifier with products that moisturize and protect your skin barrier, your skin is going to be refreshed, hydrated, and radiant. I grabbed this humidifier from Target, but also listed some other options down below! My favorite products that help hydrate and promote a healthy skin barrier:

Rhode Peptide Glazing Serum:

I love this serum so much - it is light, yet rich, and soothing on the skin. Hailey Bieber talks about how she likes a ‘glazed donut’ look before bed. Essentially, her skin is super moisturized before bed and this product plays a big part. A lightweight, quick-absorbing, gel serum that visibly plumps and hydrates to support a healthy skin barrier. Here are some more details on the ingredients:

• NIACINAMIDE — nourishes, brightens + improves skin’s overall texture

• PEPTIDES — visibly plump + reduce the look of fine lines

• HYALURONIC ACID — locks in hydration + replenishes cell moisture

• MARULA OIL — lightweight yet rich in fatty acids that help support + soften the skin barrier

Pair this serum with the Rhode Barrier Restore Cream for ultimate moisturizing benefits. I also love their peptide lip treatment any time, but especially before bed to wake up with moisturized, and nourished lips.

Estēe Lauder Advanced Night Repair Collection

I first tried the Night Repair system when it was gifted to me at a blogger event. I initially was not going to use it because it is meant for wrinkles and more mature skin, but now that I’ve tried it, I wish I would’ve started using it sooner. This three-product system includes a serum, moisturizer, and eye cream, and are used in that order.

The serum is a deep- and fast-penetrating face serum that boosts 7 key skin-renewing actions. It reduces the look of multiple signs of aging caused by the environmental elements of modern life. The moisturizer is so thick and rich that it is spa-like every time I put it on. It doesn’t feel heavy or icky though and its collagen-boosting formula makes skin feel plump, firmer, and radiant. The eye cream helps brighten under the eye, targets eye lines, and hydrates.

ZO SKIN RETINOL SKIN BRIGHTENER .25%

Lauren at Sunday Skin recommended this product to me to help combat a lot of the issues I have like acne-prone skin and uneven skin tone, and it helps promote exfoliation for smoothness and a brightened complexion. I will say, this product comes with some directions and trial and error like most retinol. I started with a lower percentage and then came up to .25% after a couple of months.

Retinol can be very drying for some and I also experienced this when determining how much I should use. I started out at once a week and did great, then upped it in my routine to 3 times a week. I eventually was using it every other day and Lauren suggested we go up in percentage since my skin was tolerating it. I kept my every-other-day routine and noticed that I was getting really dry and irritated in some areas like around my eyes and nose. Lauren suggested a tip: use a layer of moisturizer under the retinol on any irritated areas and then apply another layer of moisturizer over top, like a sandwich. I did this and lowered my routine to once a week. That did the trick and I started noticing how much my skin was improving. I’m now using retinol three times a week with this method and am loving the results!

Most retinol can get pretty expensive, especially when you go higher in percentage, but what I’ve noticed is that since I’m only using a pea-sized amount a couple of times a week, the products last me a long time. I think I would only need to repurchase once a year personally. Have you tried retinol? My mom told me that my grandmother used it religiously and loved it. I feel the same way! Be sure to read up on products not to use the same day when you’re using retinol like vitamin C, benzoyl peroxide, and AHA/BHA acids.

Those are three products that have changed my skin and I continuously repurchase them. I even have my husband, Kollin, into the humidifier and moisturizer at night. Have y’all tried any of these products or using a humidifier at night? I’ve linked some humidifier options below! What moisturizing products are you loving? Comment below so we can all share with the TCB community!