Busy Babe Beauty Essentials Blog

February 12, 2021

The Busy Babe's Guide to Skincare Essentials

By Shalla and Ximena at Team Collected
6 MINUTE READ
By Shalla and Ximena at Team Collected
6 MINUTE READ

We’ve all been there: we think about taking our skincare game to the next level only to get completely overwhelmed by the endless number of options.
We sift through reviews, start searching sites for the best deals, get side-tracked with other product recommendations, then “think about it” for a while… maybe even forget about it until we go “Dang it! I really needed to order that!” –happens to the best of us!

Luckily, Collected CEO Shalla and Community Manager and Collected Edit contributor, Ximena have done some research of their own, testing out products and picking out some winners that’ll have you elevating your skincare game without losing precious hours that could be spent working towards smashing those goals!

February 12, 2021

The Busy Babe's Guide to Skincare Essentials

By Shalla and Ximena at Team Collected
6 MINUTE READ

We’ve all been there: we think about taking our skincare game to the next level only to get completely overwhelmed by the endless number of options.
We sift through reviews, start searching sites for the best deals, get side-tracked with other product recommendations, then “think about it” for a while… maybe even forget about it until we go “Dang it! I really needed to order that!” –happens to the best of us!

Luckily, Collected CEO Shalla and Community Manager and Collected Edit contributor, Ximena have done some research of their own, testing out products and picking out some winners that’ll have you elevating your skincare game without losing precious hours that could be spent working towards smashing those goals!

By Shalla and Ximena at Team Collected
4 MINUTE READ
February 12, 2021

The Busy Babe's Guide to Skincare Essentials

We’ve all been there: we think about taking our skincare game to the next level only to get completely overwhelmed by the endless number of options.
We sift through reviews, start searching sites for the best deals, get side-tracked with other product recommendations, then “think about it” for a while… maybe even forget about it until we go “Dang it! I really needed to order that!” –happens to the best of us!

Luckily, Collected CEO Shalla and Community Manager and Collected Edit contributor, Ximena have done some research of their own, testing out products and picking out some winners that’ll have you elevating your skincare game without losing precious hours that could be spent working towards smashing those goals!

By Shalla and Ximena at Team Collected
4 MINUTE READ
By Shalla and Ximena at Team Collected (Not Sponsored)
4 MINUTE READ

Cool, calm complexion

We might have the most bomb self-care + meditation routine, but even occasional stress can still take a toll on our skin. Along with clean eats, a good nights sleep and plenty of h2o, these cruelty-free skincare essentials will have your complexion beaming for days!

A staple of Shalla's is Thayer's Rose Petal Witch Hazel Toner. This unassuming toner packs a punch when it comes to it’s pore-cleansing, moisturizing, antibacterial + pH-balancing power. Formulated from a soothing blend of Rose Water, Aloe and Witch Hazel, this generationally-loved elixir also helps control oil, tighten pores, reduce redness as well as inflammation, creating the perfect canvas for your serum + moisturizer.

Ximena is currently loving Sunday Riley’s CEO Glow Vitamin C + Turmeric Serum to keep her skin bright and hydrated, followed up La Roche-Posay's Toleriane Moisturizer + SPF –a great moisturizer for skin that's prone to dryness while still offering UV protection. For oil control + SPF protection, check out Murad's Oil and Pore Control Mattifier Broad Spectrum SPF.

Collected Tip:
Utilize the note pages in your planner to map out your beauty routine and take note of any new products you’re testing out. If you're alternating days, you can track this within Tracking module of your planner’s weekly spread!

Collected Tip:
Utilize the note pages in your planner to map out your beauty routine and take note of any new products you’re testing out. If you're alternating days, you can track this within Tracking module of your planner’s weekly spread!  

Collected Tip:
Utilize the note pages in your planner to map out your beauty routine and of any new products you’re testing out! If you alternate the days you use certain products, make note of this in the Tracking portion of your planner’s weekly spread!

Collected Tip:
Determining what products work best for your skin can require a bit of trial and error, but by journaling your findings, you and your dermatologist will be able to narrow down your mainstays while avoiding products that don’t work for you, saving you time and money down the road!

Collected Tip:
Utilize the note pages in your planner to map out your beauty routine and take note of any new products you’re testing out.
If you're alternating days, you can track this within Tracking module of your planner’s weekly spread!

Refine + Polish

Dull skin doesn't stand a chance against these exfoliating contenders.
Here's are some of Shalla's picks:

The Tarte Frxxxtion Stick is a multi-use product that cleanses, scrubs and can also be used as a treatment mask! Tarte's cleansing gel + fossilized sea algae scrub work together to polish, absorb oil, slough off dead skin and remove toxins without stripping your skin of its natural moisture. 


The Dermapore by Dermaflash is a blackhead and comedone conquerer. This 2-in-1 ultrasonic tool helps extract stubborn gunk from your pores, while on the flip side (literally), it's flat surface glides over your skin with ultrasonic pulses that allows for better absorption of your serums.

Tarte's signature Maracuja oil comes through with their Pout Prep Lip Exfoliant. Raw sugar granules work micro-exfoliate dead cells, polishing + conditioning with the addition of shea butter.

Collected Tip:
Determining what products work best for your skin can require a bit of trial and error, but by journaling your findings, you and your dermatologist will be able to narrow down your mainstays while avoiding products that don’t work for you, saving you time and money down the road!

Collected Tip:
Determining what products work best for your skin can require a bit of trial and error, but by journaling your findings, you and your dermatologist will be able to narrow down your mainstays while avoiding products that don’t work for you, saving you time and money down the road!

Collected Tip:
Determining what products work best for your skin can require a bit of trial and error, but by journaling your findings, you and your dermatologist will be able to narrow down your mainstays while avoiding products that don’t work for you, saving you time and money down the road!

Refresh + Restore

Masks on masks on masks –and we’re not talking about protective masks either! We’re talking about the multitude of sheet masks, mud masks, eye masks and exfoliant masks on the market (though the masks we're loving will have your skin feeling fabulous after wearing a protective mask all day).

Sand & Sky Australian Pink Clay Mask is a fave for sure. This mask clears + refines your pores without the rebound breakouts that commonly occur with bentonite clay, leaving stressed out skin feeling softer, smoother and brighter.

Wander Beauty Baggage Claim Eye Masks contain a blend of Jojoba, Lavender and Shea to calm, soothe and hydrate tired under-eyes in less than 15 mins! Treat yourself to a before-work spa sesh over your morning coffee, and those missed hours of sleep can just stay between you, your pillow and that show you were binge watching!

The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Masque is Ximena's pick for removing dead cells and balancing oily or blemish-prone skin and when it comes to a PM moisturizer, check out Laniege’s Water Bank Moisture Cream along with Herbivore’s Coco Rose Lip Conditioner!

1. Thayers Rose Petal Facial Toner | 2. Sunday Riley CEO 15% Vitamin C Serum | 3. Sand & Sky Pink Clay Mask
4. La Roche-Posay Toleriane Moisturizer with SPF | 5. Tarte Frixxxtion Exfoliating Stick | 6. Tarte Pout Prep Lip Exfoliant
7. The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Masque | 8. Wander Beauty Baggage Claim Eye Masks
9. Dermapore Ultrasonic Pore Extractor + Serum Infuser

1. Thayers Rose Petal Facial Toner | 2. Sunday Riley CEO 15% Vitamin C Serum
3. Sand & Sky Pink Clay Mask | 4. La Roche-Posay Toleriane Moisturizer with SPF
5. Tarte Frixxxtion Exfoliating Stick | 6. Tarte Pout Prep Lip Exfoliant
7. The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Masque | 8. Wander Beauty Baggage Claim Eye Masks
9. Dermapore Ultrasonic Pore Extractor + Serum Infuser

Trending treatments

Retinol, AHA, BHA, oh my! With so many variations of these products on the market, it’s hard to know where to begin. While it’s always best to speak with your derm to take the guesswork out of how often and how many of these products should be added to your skincare routine, Ximena breaks it down for us in the meantime:

“AHA (alpha hydroxy acid, includes glycolic, lactic, mandelic and citric acids) works to ‘peel’ away the surface of your skin so that new, evenly pigmented skin cells may generate.
BHA (beta hydroxy acid, eg. salicylic acid) on the other hand gets deeper into the pores to remove dead skin cells and assist with oil control.
These products are great exfoliants, however, both can be irritating (itching, peeling, redness) depending on how often you use these products and the concentration of each.

When it comes to the topical Vitamin A derivative, Retinol, we begin exfoliating skin at a cellular level. Retinol is often used to treat wrinkles, sun damage, skin texture and control oil production. Retinols can be very powerful and potentially cause irritation depending on the strength of the product and frequency of use. Your dermatologist will be the best source when it comes to determining what retinol products will work best for you!”.

Support, Encourage, Empower

Finding motivation and camaraderie as an entrepreneur or career professional can be struggle, but it doesn't have to be!
Join the Collected Community: a Private Facebook group where we chat planning tips, inspo and strategy to help you succeed!


Support, Encourage, Empower

The Collected Community

Finding motivation and camaraderie as an entrepreneur or career professional can be struggle, but it doesn't have to be!
Join the Collected Community: a Private Facebook group where we chat planning tips, inspo and strategy to help you succeed!

Other products on our radar

Moisturizer: The Ordinary - Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA (hyaluronic acid)
Serums: Youth to the People Vitamin C Serum and iS Clinical Active Serum
Intensive Moisturizer: First aid beauty Ultra Repair Cream
Nighttime Cream: Youth to the People Superberry Hydrate + Glow Dream Mask
...annnd Alicia Keys’ entire skincare line because have you seen her glow?!

Start planning new routines + habits (even skincare routines)
with our FREE all-in-one workbook and checklist designed to help you keep collected! Download your copy below!

Note: This post is intended for informational purposes only. We’re not doctors. If you have a particular skin concern, you should consult with a dermatologist. This post is not sponsored by any of the companies or brands mentioned. For more details on our blogs terms + conditions, please follow the customer service link at the site footer.


Note: This post is intended for informational purposes only. We’re not doctors. If you have a particular skin concern, you should consult with a dermatologist. This post is not sponsored by any of the companies or brands mentioned. For more details on our blogs terms + conditions, please see the customer service link at the site footer.


Shalla & Ximena

On a mission to help fellow women in biz succeed while escaping the cycle of feeling overworked and overwhelmed, Shalla founded the Collected Planner –an on-trend, modular planner designed to help busy and ambitious women organize and strategize for success through a streamlined, guided and actionable system that keeps all of your essentials Collected in one place.

Ximena joined Team Collected in October 2020, bringing with her that entrepreneurial spirit that makes for a fabulous teammate + community manager. You'll find Ximena connecting with our community on social media or collaborating with Shalla on original content created to improve the lives of fellow ambitious women + entrepreneurs.

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