Skincare & Beauty Product Reviews from a Student Esthetician 🧖‍♀️✨
As an esthetician student, beauty product junkie, and beauty writer, I’m always trying new products. Whether I’m trying out a new trend or an old favorite, I like to do a little deep dive on ingredients, what it does, possible interactions with other products, and, of course, do a patch test before I put it all over my face or body.
I’m sharing my review of a couple of products I’ve tried recently. Some have been at school, and others at home.
Quick disclaimer, this is only my opinion and experiences trying these products. Everyone is different and deals with different skin concerns.
New to skincare? This guide breaks down the must-have products for building a simple, effective routine. From cleansers to SPF, learn what each product does, how to layer them, and how to choose the right formulas for your skin type. No overwhelm, just the essentials.
What I Look for in Skincare & Beauty Products🧴
As someone who deals with hyperpigmentation, I’m always paying close attention to what is in beauty and skincare products. I like to look for products with licorice root, kojic acid, and vitamin C. For the occasional breakout, I prefer tea tree oil so as not to dry out my skin. I’m not the most sensitive when it comes to added fragrances, so that tends to be one of the last things I check.
When I test a product, I do a patch test on my inner wrist. This lets me see if I’m allergic to a product or if it’s potentially irritating. This can sometimes happen if a product includes a high concentration of certain active ingredients. You can also patch test behind your ear.
Products I’m Currently Loving 💗
All Time Favorites
These are the products I keep reaching for lately and why I’m truly loving them in my own daily routine.
Brow Pencil: KOSAS Brow Pop Dual-Action Filling and Shaping Easy Eyebrow Pencil
Why It’s Great: This pencil makes doing your brows effortless. The triangular-shaped tip lets you create fine, hair-like strokes or fill in gaps quickly, depending on how you angle it. The pigment payoff is strong but never too harsh. It glides smoothly without tugging at the skin. It’s also a clean formula, meaning it’s free of common irritants like parabens, silicones, and fragrances, making it ideal for sensitive or breakout-prone skin.
Why I Love It: I’ve tried a ton of brow products, but this one is the easiest to use when I’m in a rush. It gives me the definition I like, without the overly done or blocky look. Plus, the spool is on the other end helps me blend everything out seamlessly for a more natural, fluffy brow vibe. Taupe is my perfect shade; it’s neutral, not too warm or gray. Bonus: it has castor oil and provitamin B5 to help your brow hair stay healthy. Who doesn’t love multitasking skincare and makeup?
Essence: Rhode Glazing Milk
Why It’s Great: This milky essence has quickly become a cult favorite, and for good reason. It’s packed with skin-barrier supporting ingredients like ceramides, beta-glucan (a super hydrator), and soothing minerals like magnesium, zinc, and copper. What’s special about it is that it’s gentle enough for compromised skin (think post-exfoliation or dry winter skin), yet hydrating enough to give your face a gorgeous, natural glow.
Why I Love It: My skin tends to get dehydrated from wearing makeup or using active ingredients and text products. The Glazing Milk is my go-to first step after cleansing because it instantly soothes my redness and softens my skin without leaving a tacky and sticky feeling. It gives me that “glass skin” look without clogging my pores, and it layers beautifully under serums and sunscreen. Honestly, I sometimes like to just wear it on its own.
Mascara: Kiss Me Heroine Make Micro Mascara Advanced Film
Why It’s Great: This is hands-down one of the most smudge-proof mascaras I’ve tried. The micro wand lets you coat every single lash, even the tiny corner ones, plus it holds a curl like no other. Plus, it’s waterproof-resistant but comes off easily with warm water or cleansing oil. Mascara is one of those products where not all formulas are created equal. Kiss Me Heroine Make has earned cult status in Japan and worldwide, and its status is valid. Unlike traditional waterproof mascaras that are difficult to remove, this one dissolves with warm water or gentle oil cleanser, which is much better for lash health and sensitive eyes.
Why I Love It: I need a mascara that lasts through 8+ hour school days, steam facials, and humid subway rides. This one doesn’t flake, smudge, or irritate my sensitive eyes, even with my allergies and contact lenses. I love how defined and natural my lashes look. No clumps, just clean length and lift! The best part, this mascara doesn’t run and smudge when I’m out in humid weather. This has seriously changed my lash game. No more spidery and clumpy applications.
Setting Spray: Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Waterproof Setting Spray
Why It’s Great: This viral setting spray is famous for locking your makeup in place for up to 16 hours while keeping your skin hydrated and radiated. It creates a lightweight veil over your makeup that helps it resist humidity, sweat, and oil without feeling tight or sticky. This setting spray is known as a holy grail makeup extender for a good reason. This alcohol-free formula gives you a soft and airbrushed look while soothing skin with aloe vera, protecting skin with Japanese Green Tea, and controlling shine with aromatic resin.
Why I Love It: When I do my makeup in the morning before class, I need it to last through facials, practicals, and studying at night. This spray keeps makeup looking fresh and flawless all day without breaking down or separating. I also love the subtle fresh scent. It feels like a mini spa moment when I spritz it on. I’ve tried a lot of setting sprays (Urban Decay, Morphe, and more), but this one truly keeps my makeup fresh from my morning commute to my nighttime skincare routine, even when I’m up past midnight. Pro tip, if you’re wearing makeup for an event or a long day out and about, spray your beauty sponge with this before blending products.
Recent Favorites
This includes recent products I’ve gotten and love.
Eye Cream: CHATELIER Eye Lift
Why It’s Great: The under-eye area is one of the first places to show signs of stress, fatigue, and dehydration, especially for those of us balancing school, work, and life. CHATELIER Eye Lift is a lightweight yet effective eye cream that targets multiple concerns at once: dark circles, puffiness, and fine lines. What makes it special is its blend of plant-based peptides, antioxidants, and calming botanicals, designed to gently firm and brighten the delicate eye area without causing irritation or heaviness. The formula absorbs quickly and layers beautifully under makeup, which is essential when you’re wearing concealer all day, like I do at school and during client sessions.
Why I Love It: I didn’t expect to love this eye cream as much as I do. It was gifted to me by the brand’s founder, and at first, I thought it might just be another eye cream, but it quickly became a favorite in my routine. As a student esthetician constantly studying late nights, waking up early, and wearing concealer for long hours, I needed something that made my under-eye feel awake, hydrated, and prepped for makeup. Eye Lift gives me that bright, rested look even when I’m running short on sleep. What I love is how it feels cooling and soothing right away. My eyes tend to get puffy in the morning, and this calms that down. It sinks in fast, so I don’t have to wait before applying concealer (plus my concealer creases way less).
Cleanser: SKIN 1004 Madagascar Centella Light Cleansing Oil
Why It’s Great: This gentle cleansing oil breaks down sunscreen, makeup, and impurities without stripping your skin. It’s packed with centella asiatica extract, which calms inflammation and supports the skin barrier. The ingredients will calm redness, irritation, and inflammation while it’s dissolving makeup and excess sebum to unclog pores. Don’t worry, this cleanser will not leave a greasy film like some other oil cleansers. It’s also free of fragrance, essential oils, and potential irritants.
Why I Love It: I double cleanse religiously, and this is my first step in the evening. It melts off my mascara, brow products, and sunscreen without making my skin feel tight or irritated. My skin always feels calm and soft after using it, instead of red or stripped like some other cleansers. I’ve noticed less redness on my cheeks and fewer breakouts since switching to this oil. This is also a great cleanser to prep my skin before using my microneedle roller or before doing high frequency.
Brow Gel: ETUDE Bare Brow Fixer
Why It’s Great: This lightweight brow gel gives your brows a soft tint while holding them in place. It’s not crunchy or flaky like some brow gels, plus it contains ingredients to condition and strengthen your brows. A lot of brow gels can feel too stiff, but this gel is lightweight. It dries to hold your hair, but it doesn’t hold on too strongly.
Why I Love It: This is my last-day brow product. When I don’t want to fill in my brows, I just brush this through and it gives them enough definition to frame my face. It holds them in place all day without feeling stiff, and the subtle brown tint enhances my brow shape most naturally. Previous brow gels pulled out hairs when I removed them at night, but this gel hasn’t.
Lip Product: Rhode Peptide Lip Tint (in Ribbon) & Peptide Lip Shape (in Press)
Why It’s Great: These two products are the ultimate lip power duo. The Peptide Lip Tint gives a hydrating, sheer wash of pinky color, while the Peptide Lip Shape primes and smooths the lips for a plumper look. Both are packed with peptides and cupauçu butter to nourish dry lips.
Why I Love It: My lips are always dry when the seasons change and there are drastic changes in humidity, so I love how these products hydrate and look cute. Ribbon is the perfect sheer pink for a soft, flushed lip look, and Press preps my lips so any glow or balm sits better and lasts longer. It’s skincare and makeup in one.
My Favorite Hyperpigmentation Routine: A Combo That Works
Medicube Deep Vita C Pad: These pre-soaked pads are one of the gentlest ways I’ve found to introduce vitamin C to sensitive skin. They brighten dark spots and gently exfoliate dead skin cells without leaving my skin red or irritated. I love using these in the mornings as a quick prep step before serums and sunscreens. As someone with hormonal pigmentation, I’m constantly looking for gentle ways to fade dark spots without tolerating strong vitamin C serums (especially when my skin barrier is compromised from exfoliating or acne treatments), but these pads give me all the brightening benefits in a much gentler way.
THE INKEY LIST Exosome Hydro-Glow Complex Serum: This serum is a newer favorite, packed with exosomes that support skin repair and hydration. Exosomes are like messengers that tell your skin to regenerate itself, making this ideal for dullness, fine lines, and pigmentation. I love pairing this serum with a gentle microneedling roller at home (I use a 0.25mm or 0.3mm roller for product absorption, not collagen induction). After rolling, I apply the serum and feel like my skin drinks it in. My face looks plumper and more glowy the next day, and over time, I’ve noticed a brighter, more even skin tone.
Topicals Faded Serum for Dark Spots & Discoloration: This is my go-to for stubborn dark spots. The blend of kojic acid, licorice root, niacinamide, and azelaic acid makes it a powerhouse for hormonal pigmentation and post-inflammatory marks. I use this at night a few times a week, plus it’s helped my fade discoloration along my jawline and cheeks. Hyperpigmentation is one of the ardent skin concerns to treat, especially when it’s caused by hormones. That’s what makes Topicals stand out since it’s not just relying on one brightening agent. It’s a powerhouse of ingredients that work in synergy.
Extra: Josie Marian Vanilla Vibezzz Body + Hair Fragrance Mist
Why It’s Great: A sweet, warm vanilla fragrance you can mist on your hair and body without drying alcohols. It layers beautifully with vanilla perfumes or wears softly on its own.
Why I Love It: I’m obsessed with vanilla scents. This mist makes me feel cozy and feminine. I love spraying it on my hair so the scent lingers throughout the day without feeling too strong for school.
Product I Wanted to Love… But didn’t 💔
When it comes to products I don’t like, it’s good. To remember that everyone’s skin is different. Just because these products don’t work for me doesn’t mean they won’t work for you.
Isle of Paradise Sunny Serum Instant Face Bronzer: This was a sad one. I wanted to love this product since Isle of Paradise is one of my favorite brands, especially when it comes to tanning products. Sadly, this product just wasn’t for me. The shade looked great as a body bronzer, but I don’t use pigmented body lotions unless I’m at the beach.
Since my beauty school is partnered with Dermalogica, I’ve tried a lot of their products since starting. There have been good products, and then ones that are a pass for me. Sadly, the Daily Microfoliant broke my hands and arms out in an allergic reaction, and the Active Moist Moisturizer is a pass for me. With so many amazing moisturizers out there, I’d rather use so many other products than this moisturizer.
What I Want to Try Next 🔍
There are a couple of products on my wish list. With so many products coming out, I love to do a little extra research to narrow down my list.
Sol de Janeiro Body Badalada Lotion with Hyaluronic Acid for Daily Hydration
I love all things Sol de Janeiro, and there hasn’t been a scent yet that I don’t love. This scent is right up my alley, and the formula is super nourishing for dehydrated skin.
Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm Treatment for Hydration + Nourishing Shine in Pink Guava
I have an ever-growing collection of lip glosses, including a couple of Summer Fridays, and I’m excited to try out the new guava flavor. The lip butter balms feel rich and comforting without being sticky or grainy. I can wear them all day long.
Supergoop! Glowscreen Sunlighter Glow & Protect Stick SPF 45
Supergoop! is my go-to when it comes to sunscreen. I set my makeup with their powder, use their pigmented sunscreen in place of foundation, and the sunscreens for reapplication throughout the day. As a skincare student, I know the importance of sunscreen, especially when it comes to anti-aging.
SOFIE PAVITT FACE Mandelic Acid Exfoliating & Clearing Serum
The moment I read about Sofie Pavitt in Vogue, I was interested in all her products. I received a sample of this product and I’m so excited to try it out. Sofie Pavitt is a well-known esthetician in New York City, and she created this serum specifically for sensitive and breakout-prone skin types. I’m especially excited by this product since Mandelic acid is one of the most gentle exfoliating acids that is powerful enough to unclog pores, smooth texture, and face post-acne pigmentation.
At the end of the day, it’s good to remember that everyone’s skin is different. Just because something works for me or doesn’t work for me, doesn’t mean it’ll be the same for you. This is the same for any products you see your favorite celebs and influencers sharing on their social media. When it comes to your skin, take a personalized approach. Always patch test (especially if you’ve never tried an ingredient before), ask for guidance if you're not sure what product to get for your issue, and don’t be afraid to try different brands! You never know, you might discover your new favorite product.
Hey beauty! Just a quick note, some of the links on this blog are affiliate links. That means if you decide to shop through them, I may earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you!). I’m part of the Amazon Associates and YesStyle Influencer programs, so I earn up to 10% commission on some of the skincare and beauty faves I share. I only recommend products I truly love, use, or would use in the treatment room. Your support means the world and helps me keep sharing all things glow, glam, and gorgeous. 💖✨
