2014 Beauty Favorites: Part I - Skincare

Usually I'm an out with the old, in with the new kinda guy, but occasionally I find a product/person/Trader Joe's snack worth holding on to; worth recommending, even! Without further ado, here's the best bits of 2014 according to your's truly.

Cleanser

2014, the year of the oil cleanse. Yes, yes, I know the OCM (oil cleansing method) has been around forEVER, but brands didn't and in 2014 they finally realised that perhaps their eccentric aunt with the penchant for shopping bags and olive oil on ALL OF THE THINGS was, well, maybe onto something. DHC's Deep Cleansing Oil has long been a favorite, and for good reason. It's basic, yet gentle and incredibly effective. Clinique's Take the Day Off Cleansing Balm is my go-to for a facial message and is endorsed by the one and only Caroline Hirons. For a more traditional cleanse, I adore Kate Somerville's Detox Daily Cleanser. Though aimed at blemish-prone skin, Detox Daily is a solid cleanser for all but the most dry and sensitive.

Toner

Toner is important, people! Seriously, nine times out of ten when someone comes to me for advice and they've got the "I've tried it all" pin, toner is what they're missing. Toners have such wonderful benefits and have come sooooooo far. Peter Thomas Roth's Un-Wrinkle Peel Pads are wonderful for congested, stressed skin, though are perhaps a bit much for sensitive skin. Clarins Gentle Exfoliator Brightening Toner is wonderful and a true HG product (if you're adverse to fragrance, just avoid Clarins all together).

Serum

Many still aren't sold on serum, which is a pity because right now the technology in those buggers is extraordinary and they're only getting better. What an exciting time to be alive! Unlike my east Asian brothers and sisters, I haven't the time/patience/dedication for a multi-serum routine, so I need my serums to really be jacks of all trades. Clarins Double Serum relaunched in 2013 and has been massively successful, despite a very vocal backlash regarding one of the star ingredients, Paraffinum Liquidum, aka mineral oil. I've no issues with mineral oil in skincare, and Clarins newest reformulation of Double Serum is, in my opinion, one of the best catchall serums on the market. I also love Kate Somerville's Total Vitamin Serum, but as it has since been discontinued, I apologize for dangling that in front of your face.

The Cleanse: Clinique Take the Day Off Cleansing Balm

Adding to my ongoing series of ongoing series', The Cleanse is a collection of my favorite cleansers.

Cleanser are, in my routinely humbled opinion, the most important step in a skin care regimen. While moisturizers, serums, toners, spot treatments, eye creams (the list goes on) might, by nature of their application and ingredients, do "more" for the skin, cleansers allow these products to function and their intended processes to occur. Further, a good cleanser will leave your skins' defense intact, ensuring optimal protection against bacteria and the likes. Cleansers really are the foundation upon which any effective routine are built; and yes, I do mean cleansers plural, because no, you cannot rely on only one.

As I am sure you already know, balm cleansers are all the rage, though they're not exactly new. Clinique's Take the Day Off Cleansing Balm is a truly beautiful product. It does exactly as it states, contains few (if any) problematic ingredients, has a great price point ($28.50 for 3.8 fl oz/ 125 ml), has a wonderfully balmy texture, and is housed in a relatively chic package. Best for normal to very dry skin types, this balm becomes an oil upon contact with the skin, spreading easily and dissolving  makeup in seconds. I would advise a second cleanse for most skin types, unless you're very dry - as with most balms, removing all traces with water alone is rather difficult. For the record, I have very oily skin and can still use this without concern.

Have you tried any cleansing balms yet?