The Weekly Shop 1.1
Got a hyper-specific beauty concern? Looking for a holy grail skincare product? Need help deciding between two almost-but-not-quite identical red lipsticks? Every weekend I take to Instagram to offer up my personal shopping services pro bono. And every week I record the questions and answers on here - an ever-growing archive of product recommendations. Can’t find the answer on here? Join me for The Weekly Shop next weekend - @thatgracegirl. No dilemma is too big, no request too niche, and no question will go unanswered.
From winter fragrance recommendations to ingrown hair solutions, scroll down for this week’s shopping list.
A creamy gel cleanser to transition into summer skincare.
I love a gel-cream cleanser! Some of my most-recommended (and personal favourites) are The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser, CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser, Glossier Milky Jelly Cleanser, and Venn’s Moisture Balance Face Cleanser.
Something to nourish skin after using acids/retinol.
Try The Inkey List’s Ceramide Night Treatment. It has ceramides (obvs), hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and sodium PCA, so it will help to strengthen the skin barrier and improve skin’s ability to retain moisture. It’s designed as an overnight mask so apply it after you’ve used your acid or retinol, and you could put more moisturiser on top if needed.
A winter perfume.
Try Maison Matin Margiela’s By The Fireplace. It’s the cosiest scent ever. I’m excited to start wearing it again when the weather gets colder. It is SO GOOD.
Best retinol and things for pigmentation/acne scars.
Alpha-H’s Beauty Sleep Power Peel is a great retinol treatment that I’ve seen produce amazing results for acne scars. However, THE MOST important thing (and the step that made the biggest difference for my scars) is SPF every single day. The Bare Minerals Skinlongevity SPF30 is a favourite of mine.
A boujee hand cream for my mum.
Chanel’s La Creme Main. The best scent, the best texture, the best packaging.
A good all-rounder mid-week mask (I’m acne-prone but low maintenance).
My go-tos if my skin is in need of some TLC or decongestion but I cba for a full-on at-home spa routine are Origins Original Skin Retexturising Mask, Aesop Parsley Seed Mask, Freck Foreclay, and Yes Tos’s White Charcoal Mask.
Something to combat the gross ingrown hairs on my legs! I’ve tried Ameliorate.
I’ve personally seen great results using the Dermadoctor KP Duty Body Scrub and have heard great things about Fur’s Ingrown Concentrate.
Hand luggage sized products.
If you are near a Selfridges Beauty Hall they have a brilliant section now with loads of minis. Alternatively, bu a set of mini clear bottles and decant your current products, and start saving testers and minis from gift sets for future travel. You’ll also be surprised how many “full size” products are under 100ml.
A hormonal spots remedy.
My hormonal breakouts arsenal includes La Roche-Posay Serozinc, Eve Lom Rescue Mask, Skincare By BEAUTY BAY Soothe Paste, and Paula’s Choice BHA Liquid Exfoliant.
A good winter moisturiser for oily skin.
For day, try Starface Moisture On Mars or The Ordinary Natural Moisturising Factors. For night, try NIOD Hydration Vaccine or Fresh Lotus Youth Preserve Dream Face Cream.
Good sunscreens for oily skin.
Sunscreens and oily skin are always a cause for concern. My top recommendations to my clients are NIOD Survival 30, Bare Minerals Skinlongevity SPF30, Glossier Invisible Shield SPF35, and Beauty Pie Ultralight SPF25.
