In the eight years I’ve been a beauty reporter I’ve been lucky enough to try, no joke, thousands of skin-care products. When people ask me for product recommendations, I get (over)enthusiastic because skin care is one of two things that I won’t shut up about (the other being my love life—or, in COVID 19 times—lack thereof). The one brand I always recommend is Renée Rouleau skin care, which is currently on sale (a rare occurrence).
Rouleau is an esthetician based out of Austin, Texas, the products she has created have a cult following that includes editors and celebrities alike. I’m not being hyperbolic when I say that she has transformed my skin, and if she told me to dunk my face in donut glaze and iced coffee every morning, I would do it without hesitation. I recommend her line to friends, family, acquaintances, and even dates. Because apparently, in addition to using me as an emotional dumping ground, they also want skin-care advice from me. The line isn’t tested on animals, and it’s free of parabens, synthetic fragrances and dyes, and mineral oil.
In celebration of the brand’s 24th anniversary, Renée Rouleau products are 15 percent off until August 31. Below, the ones I’m adding to my cart.
Shop now: Renée Rouleau Anti-Cyst Treatment, $42 (originally $50)
Shop now: Renée Rouleau Anti-Cyst Treatment, $42 (originally $50)
This product is part of my Renée Rouleau origin story. Four years ago, I got an IUD and it caused some hormonal acne flare-ups for a few months. I kept getting these giant, painful cysts on my chin, and nothing was helping. A fellow beauty editor recommended that I try this product, and it works so well. It helps existing cysts disappear quicker than usual, and if I put it on right when I feel the telltale “cyst tingle” the results are even better. Though I don’t usually get cysts anymore, I still keep a bottle of this on-hand in a move that is surprisingly proactive for me. (And, TBH, given the way 2020 is going I wouldn’t be surprised if my cysts made a grand return.)
Shop now: Renée Rouleau Rapid Response Detox Kit, $113 (originally $133)
Shop now: Renée Rouleau Rapid Response Detox Kit, $113 (originally $133)
I cannot emphasize how much I recommend this kit if you have breakouts of any kind that you want to get rid of. It comes with smaller sizes of two of her cult-favorite products: Triple Berry Smoothing Peel and Rapid Response Detox Masque. The former exfoliates with a blend of AHAs, BHAs, and enzymes, and looks and smells good enough to eat. (Obviously, don’t slurp it down, though, ya know?) The latter is a hydrating, anti-inflammatory mask that’s especially good for hormonal acne. It also comes with smaller sizes of the two additions to the Rapid Response Detox line—a face wash and toner that helped me finally get rid of the bumpy texture on my face that I had been dealing with for over a year.
Shop now: Renée Rouleau Skin Drink Concentrate, $38 (originally $45)
Shop now: Renée Rouleau Skin Drink Concentrate, $38 (originally $45)
Hyaluronic acid is a superstar in the skin-care world because it is incredibly hydrating; it’s one of the main ingredients in this serum. The serum also contains aloe leaf juice, which is good for sensitive skin because it’s soothing, and vitamin C, which helps brighten skin and even out tone in addition to providing antioxidant benefits. I use this serum on my days off of my exfoliating serum, because it is gentle and keeps my skin hydrated, dewy, and (sorry in advance) supple. For a couple of weeks during quarantine I was drinking a gallon of water a day and my skin was at a hope-you-run-into-your-ex level of radiant; this product does that but minus all the trips to the bathroom. (I probably should get back to drinking more water too, though.)
By the way, if you want to watch Renee Rouleau herself show you how to carry out an at-home facial, look no further:
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