Gifting (and getting) Skincare
I got a really great question about receiving skincare as a gift and what to ask for. We live in a capitalist/consumerist culture where gifting material goods is part of tradition, a way to show appreciation, etc. If you don’t do gifts for holidays, that’s fine. I do give gifts (ranging from homemade to experiences to luxury goods) and I personally loved this question/premise for 3 reasons:
I respect the idea of laying out what gift you want to receive — you can ask for specific things you’ll actually appreciate and use (#minimalism), and the gift-giver has an easier task.
Skincare, in my opinion, is both a necessity and a luxury at the same time. It can be a nice treat to either have the fiscal responsibility removed from quality care, or just have the chance to ask for something you wouldn’t otherwise indulge in.
I get to pretend I’m shopping for myself, or even someone with different skin than me, based on a few scenarios.
I’m going to tackle this from a few different lenses. Overall, I’d say this is for someone who wants to treat themselves to good skincare options as a newcomer to the industry—and that’s how this was brought to me as well. This is also for someone looking at clean/natural/environmentally-friendly products (don’t worry, an article outlining all the different industry terms is coming).
Remember: the best, least wasteful, most conscious gift is one that you’ll use and enjoy. A lot of the options below account for the risk that a product won’t work for you, or you won’t like it, before major $$ is spent and products are wasted. I can’t, with a clear eyes (full hearts, can’t lose), recommend uber luxury products without a consumer trialing them first.
Scenario: purely financially responsible, you want to get/give efficacy for any skincare user
This is what came to my mind first, especially thinking about gifts that are truly worth their while. If you’d like a gift to help support your skincare habits, to be utilized on quality products, I’d ask for/give a gift card or just plain money to spend at Deciem with most going to The Ordinary. Yeah, it’s not fun or shiny. There is no unwrapping (until you buy it for yourself and unbox). This is truly the gift that keeps on giving, as you could buy literally 20 products from The Ordinary with $100.
Perhaps you use the first $30 on a few key products (maybe the No Brainer Set, the skincare trifecta for beginners (a cleanser, a chemical exfoliant, a moisturizer), or some “beginner” but really anti-aging supplemental products you want to trial like an easy retinol or peptide serum). Then, once you know what you like, re-order with the leftover funds for probably a year’s supply.
I’ve written about Deciem and The Ordinary a lot. They had a few trying years and can still be somewhat controversial in terms of how they are managed as a company (Estee Lauder has invested in them, but supposedly didn’t change anything). However, The Ordinary has (a lot of) glass packaging that can be recycled, is not tested on animals, they are incredibly transparent about ingredients they do not use, etc. and there’s a 365 day return policy.
Scenario: you’re not solving for anything in particular but want to amp up a skincare routine
This was the fun, not-as-practical-but-still-practical-because-it’s-me answer. This assumes you might already have a standard skincare routine but want a few luxury products to make you feel good. It might seem gimmicky, but honestly, gift sets (or value sets) are a really great way to try out a brand and see how your skin reacts—if you choose the right ones. Yes, I hear anyone that says minis probably produce more waste because of the packaging, but it’s a hell of a waste of money, time, and resources to buy a full-sized item you don’t like. Personally, it feels less intimidating to re-gift a mini than subject another person to a full-sized, probably expensive product that they also don’t use and it sits somewhere forever. Perhaps an item in a below set really sparks your interest and you want to mix and match with full sizes. Options are endless!
In a value set, I look for a few things.
Diversity of products: I will not buy a gift set of 5 different masks or 3 different oils. That’s fun for nail polish and less fun for real usage. Ideally, your set encompasses a few skincare routine basics that can be used together.
Best selling products: the beauty community runs deep and reviews can generally be trusted. If you can snag a value set with 2-3 best selling minis, you have a better shot of finding one you end up loving.
Products I want to travel with: minis are great for traveling, keeping in your bag while you’re on the go, etc. I want products I can easily use while traveling. Practical stuff.
It’s fall of 2019, meaning Sephora already has their holiday minis out. Here’s what I would recommend (and generally endorse these brands as ingredient-conscious, products can be recycled, they aren’t doing a ton of harm).
The Starter Kit— Fresh: I didn’t think this was a real skincare brand (as in, I thought it was a glorified Bath and Bodyworks with an expensive lip scrub) until my sister started to swear by their soy face cleanser (and a lot of people do). They have quite the sustainability statement, lots related to the manufacturing process and don’t test on animals. They also have so many gift sets! I’d choose their Evergreen Routine ($69 for their cleanser, mask, moisturizer, eye cream, lip treatment) or their Hydration Ever After ($64 for cleanser, moisturizer, mask, toner).
The Treatments— Sunday Riley: I’m a serum girl and a treatment girl (I blame it on good early experiences with lactic acid). Sunday Riley is a very scientific skincare brand with strong formulations. It doesn’t have a reputation as being a sustainable brand, but they do use safer ingredients and are “exploring” innovative ideas like reusable packaging. This Power Trio kit is primarily to test out some pretty pricey products early, but all 3 are best-sellers with great ingredients to prevent or fight signs of aging ($88 for their Good Genes lactic acid treatment, CEO vitamin C serum and Luna night retinol oil). **yes, as I’m writing this I’m seeing the Federal Trade Commission’s claim that Sunday Riley posted fake reviews on their products to boost sales. Major ugh, but let the products speak for themselves when it comes to your own usage. Also, tell me a brand that isn’t using reviews or social media generally to boost sales. I don’t know, it’s a touchy subject and I’m torn.
The Wildcard—Algenist: Algenist is another treatment-focused brand, not exactly suited for the beginner (meaning they are supplemental treatments, again focused on aging). However, how fun to try out a lot of nice products at one go? For $125 you can trial their Secrets of Algae kit (liquid collagen, a sleeping collagen, a skin cream and a lip treatment) which many claim assists in reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Products are vegan and come in reusable packaging.
Scenario: you want a few nice basics to launch your downward spiral into skincare (I’m KIDDING)
Am I? Like the Fresh value kit above, we’ll focus on a few cult favorites and easy brands, mainly sustainable and “clean,” to test the waters. I tell anyone and everyone to start their skincare journey with La Roche Posay (either their Toleraine or Effaclar lines, pending your needs) but realize something you can get at CVS might not always be the pampering you’re looking for. I’d do a cleanser, a moisturizer, and a treatment that are suitable for all skin types.
Cleansers: Fresh and Origins have great cleansers (Fresh’s Soy Cleanser, as mentioned before ($38) or Origin’s Checks and Balances frothy face wash ($24) are gentle and great for all skin types). I haven’t personally used Origins, but recognize them as a frontrunner in eco-conscious beauty, similar to Lush. I have heard good reviews on this cleanser specifically from users (who have great skin, might I add).
Moisturizers: I recently started using the Weleda Skin Food moisturizer (I use ultra light because #acne but it comes in regular for people who have dry skin) and really love it. It’s moderately priced at $18.99 and you’re getting great plant actives from a very sustainable brand. For something a little more luxurious, I’d try out the Peter Thomas Ross Water Drench Hylauronic Cloud Cream (mainly for the name but also for the ingredients). It’s $52, which is a lot, but great benefits.
Treatments: As mentioned above, it’s advised to have a chemical (or in some instances, physical) exfoliant to keep that cell turnover going. I love The Ordinary’s acids, as I talk about a lot. However, to splurge, I’d recommend the Herbivore Prism Exfoliating Glow Serum ($54), Biossance Squalane + Phyto-Retinol Serum ($72), or the Tata Harper Resurfacing BHA Mask ($65). I’ve used all 3 products in various capacities and have seen improvements in my skin texture, primarily in terms of smoothness and overall moisture too.
Scenario: you want something expensive and nice, a gift should be an indulgence, and you just want a website besides Sephora to browse
Try Follain. The founder’s definition of “clean” beauty is least harm to humans, least harm to the planet (Tara Foley is featured in an episode of Jonathan Van Ness’ podcast).
I’ve thrown out a lot here, but I welcome thoughts and feedback on your gifting process. Do you automatically give your holy grails to friends, hoping they work just as well? Do you ask for skincare outside of your normal realm, hoping it works the same magic on you (hello, Vitner’s Daughter)? I hope I provided some parameters to consider before diving into the depths of online skincare. Make those lists short people, and check them against the SkinDeep database at least twice.