The Best Retinol Serum I’ve tried + Skin Slapping for Tighter Skin?
GoOD morning!
BREATHE.
Relax your shoulders.
Smile.
Pause.
None of this truly matters, but while we’re dreaming, we might as well make it a GoOD one!
“Your skin is the result of the Spirit behind it.” – Pharrell
I shared my favorite Vitamin C serum back in 2021 and only alluded to the Vitamin A serum by the same brand, Mad Hippie. I’ll touch more on the rest of my routine in an upcoming post, but you can see my thoughts on the Human Race Rice Powder Cleanser, HERE.
I’ve been using Mad Hippie’s Vitamin A Serum (I purchase from Amazon or Whole Foods for fast shipping) for at least two years and I’m not quite sure what my routine would be without it. Of everything in that picture, it’s the one doing the heavy lifting. Fine lines under my eyes from the constant smiling? Not gone, lol, but minimized. Smaller pores? Check. That one hormonal pimple a month? It still comes, but it shrinks within a couple of days (instead of raging for a week), leaving only a tiny mark which also fades in about a week or two (my latest is the one between my eye brows). Unlike other (more expensive) retinols I’ve tried, it doesn’t dry me out, or cause flaking. The ingredients are extra well thought out, and CLEAN–
Ingredients- Water, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Glycerin, Oat Beta-Glucan, Hydrolyzed Soybean Palmitate (Phytoceramide), Acetyl Glucosamine, Sodium Hyaluronate (Hyaluronic Acid), Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate, Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Oil, Phenethyl Alcohol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexyl Glycerin, Stearyl Alcohol, Xanthan Gum, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Citric Acid
“HPR – Revolutionary new form of vitamin A that is bioavailable in its current state without the need of any inefficient metabolic steps (retinol requires 2). Works to dramatically reduce the appearance of wrinkles & discoloration, revealing beautiful, youthful skin.
Phytoceramide – Aids in moisture retention, leading to more plumped up, hydrated skin.
Sodium Hyaluronate – The salt of hyaluronic acid (HA), sodium hyaluronate, has been shown to have better skin penetrating capabilities than HA alone. Works to moisturize the skin while reducing the appearance of wrinkles.
Oat Beta Glucan – Naturally hydrates and soothes the skin. Oat beta glucan has been shown reduce the appearance of wrinkles.
Aloe Vera – Works to nourish the skin while forming a thin protective layer.
Description- Next level serum….feared by wrinkles & sun damage alike. Our cutting-edge serum uses a form of vitamin A that is 2X more bioavailable than retinol…bringing marked results to wrinkles & skin discoloration. Coupled with vegan sourced ceramides & sodium hyaluronate, the salt of hyaluronic acid with greater skin penetrating/hydrating qualities than HA alone.”
This is my naked skin, first thing this morning. I did glide tap on some Mad Hippie Lip tint in Fig, tho. It’s my favorite thing!!! I was gifted this originally (by the founder of Mad Hippie) but live by it and repurchase as needed, now. It’s buildable so it can look like a barely detectable but pleasant touch of color (the way I wear it), or a full-on lip stain.
You can use it on your cheeks and even your eyelids if you want. Very natural. It’s the only make up I wear. Every now and then, mascara… maybe a brow pencil, but that’s special occasion status. If you bumped into me on the street this is all I’d have to give lol.
Oh, and I’m a slapper, now. It’s a whole thing. I was told many moons ago by a dermatologist to tap on my skin care products instead of rubbing them in. She also said to stop using towels or even t-shirts (what I had resorted to, haha) to dry my face, but to let it air dry and then to immediately (within 10 seconds) apply my skin care products to prevent moisture loss. But a while back I saw a video about Korean women slapping the heck out of themselves in restrooms, even on airplanes and in other public places, to stimulate blood flow and collagen (think microneedling and other minor abuses to the face skin that cause it to heal and restore itself).
I shared a face yoga video before, even tried it, but all the pulling and tugging felt… risky. I stopped immediately. But this slapping, leaves me looking a little flushed and invigorated– don’t know how effective it is as the science is still out, but I do it, at least 50 times per session! Fast and all over, not super hard, but not super soft. You could hear it if you were in the other room and would be like–
Joanna Vargas told skincare.com, “Face slapping is essentially an intense facial massage that is designed to activate the muscles in the face and increase oxygenation and circulation. It’s a long-standing practice.”
*checks clock on the wall* Okay and that’s our time. Check out today’s episode of GoOD Mornings with CurlyNikki, ‘Time is Never Lost’, and we’ll chat soon!
xx
Nik
As an aside, do you know how ‘at home’ I feel not posting ‘picture perfect’ pictures?! Filters, poses… be forewarned, the pics I’ll be sharing on here all of 2023 will give you 2008 vibes. Pre-IG vibes. Pre-Influencer vibes. And I’m excited about it!
Let me know if you’re here for it! retinol serum retinol serum
Do you retinol? What’s your favorite retinol serum or cream?
What’s your favorite skincare product right now?!
Read More: How to Stay Forever Young
