Nicole's Top 10 Skincare Products Great for Both AM and PM Routines

Caudalie is a powerhouse in the skincare game and it makes sense that they would be. Their approach to skincare is focused on clean beauty and using top-tier, non-toxic ingredients based on a very tiny helper: the grape! 

Grapeseed oil can be found in virtually all of their products. Grapes are high in antioxidants and help to reduce inflammation. 

Use this cleanser in the morning with lukewarm water to start your day and as a second cleanser in the evening to restore your skin's natural barrier. It'll leave skin feeling fresh, supple, and light, creating room for your serum and moisturizer to sink right in.

Vinoperfect! Ah, Vinoperfect. This milky serum has been a great love of mine since my high school days. Eventually I graduated from scraping the last precious drops from my Sephora sample to actually purchasing full-sized (and now the jumbo-sized!) version of this incredible tincture. 

Don't be fooled by the unassuming bottle: this product will immediately brighten, soothe, lighten dark spots, even your complexion, and lock in moisture. There's a reason this is consistently Caudalie's best-selling product. 

Their secret? Their patented Viniferine. 62 times stronger than Vitamin C, this glorious day/night product is ready to work at all hours. Pro-tip: Use it under makeup as a super-hydrating primer!

This multi-tasking toner does it all and then some! The AHAs (glycolic and lactic acids, to be exact) help to lightly exfoliate skin with every use. 

After only a few weeks you'll see the difference in any discoloration, dark spots, sun spots, and even acne scars! They'll all be lighter and will actually stay that way. 

Also in this toner you can find witch hazel, a natural astringent that brightens the look of skin, as well as a plethora of fruit and root extracts to soothe that skin. It's a miracle in a bottle!

This premium skin elixir uses a blend of dried tangerine peel, dried ginger, cinnamon, and more to create a dewy, glowing face.

This powerhouse of a concoction comes with a spray nozzle and is meant to be spritzed and gently patted into the skin; another traditional we should be picking up from the K Beauty world! 

Though the formula itself is a secret, promises can absolutely be made that this elixir soothes and brightens while protecting skin from environmental pollutants. Royal treatment, anyone?

Our goal within our skincare routines is ultimately to get the most out of our products, right? Well there's a product designed to help with that! The First Care Activating Serum from one of my favorite brands of all time, Sulwhasoo, is your first step after cleansing and toning. 

The serum actually works to prep your skin to absorb all of your other products, helping you make the most out of all your lotions and potions. A blend of five proprietary herbs help you prep and make you absolutely glow!

These days we're all aware of the terrible effects of UVA lights. We all know the importance of wearing sunscreen, reapplying every two to three hours, and protecting our skin from the sun's harmful rays. 

However, in a time where we're on our phones more than ever, it's more important than ever to take precautions against UVB, also known as ultraviolet B-Rays, that stem from our phones. 

These rays can do just as much damage as the rays we're used to from the sun, so it's essential that we protect ourselves against them! This spray from DERMA E is a refreshing, easy spritz that ensures your skin will be protected at all times.

If you're familiar with Tatcha, you'll already know about this to-die-for moisturizer. If not, I am so pleased to introduce you to one of the greatest J Beauty brands to date. 

Tatcha uses the finest ingredients and the most effective J Beauty techniques to ensure their products are of the utmost quality. The Dewy Skin Cream, in my opinion, is their masterpiece. 

As someone who tends to go for a dewier, more youthful, or even "glass-skin" look, I always reach for this cream in the morning and the evening. What makes this moisturizer so extra special is the use of Japanese purple rice, which is packed with nutrients and known for its ability to survive any harsh environment. 

It is also rich in anthocyanin, a strong antioxidant that helps skin recover from and protect against stress, pollution, and UV damage.

Atolla is the greatest discovery and launch of the year. This incredible company creates affordable, personalized serums for you that change month-by-month as your skin does! 

How could this be?! Easy: Atolla sends you an at-home test kit that allows you to take easy measurements of the natural oils, pH levels, and moisture levels of your skin. You then upload the results to Atolla's website where they analyze your results and create, from scratch, the perfect serum for you. 

You also enter factors like your environment, your skin concerns, and more. I've used their serums since the company launched and my skin has never been better. Pro-tip: use code NICOLE20 to get your first serum for just $20!

This lovely moisturizer is not only a very fresh product but also a fresh new release from the powerhouse that is Farmacy Beauty. An oil-free and silicone-free moisturizer, Daily Greens is beautifully soothing, hydrating, and moisturizing without weighing your skin down. 

The name of the game? Ingredients: hyaluronic acid (to deeply hydrate skin), moringa, and papaya (to clear shine and acne). This moisturizer is also great because of its lovely scent! You can use this in the morning before your SPF and in the evening before sealing your skin with an oil.

Full disclosure: the price point for this is rather steep. However, in my opinion, it's worth every single penny. I've used this oil for the past few years, have let friends and clients try it out, and I always hear the same rave reviews. 

African Botanics is made in South Africa, where the Marula Trees are plentiful. Marula is an amazing oil for all skin types, and while the idea of using oil on oily skin may seem a bit counterintuitive, this oil and the oils your skin create are very different! 

This oil helps with fading scars and sun damage, reducing acne, and works extremely well to seal your moisturizer without feeling oily to the touch. It gives skin a gorgeous, almost Photoshop-looking glow.