Here, we’re pictured bare-faced outside of a cafe on a recent trip to Paris.
(Image credit: @kaitlyn_mclintock)
My sister Kristin and I have a lot in common, but our skin types couldn’t be more different. I have dry, dehydrated skin. She has oily, acne-prone skin. As a result, we rarely use the same skincare products, but “rarely” is the key word. Occasionally, we stumble across a product that magically works for both of us.
These unicorn products, as I like to call them, fit right into our contradictory routines. For me, they hydrate my skin and prevent signs of aging (I’m turning 30 soon, whereas Kristin is 25). For her, they soothe inflammation and, most importantly, don’t clog her pores. Ahead, see all eight skincare products we share. Then, see five bonus beauty products we can also agree on.
The 8 Skincare Products We Both Swear By
Personal Day
Trust Me on This Hypochlorous Acid Spray
Hypochlorous acid is basically a miracle ingredient. It’s produced naturally in our bodies, and it has gentle yet effective sanitizing powers as well as anti-inflammatory effects. Translation? It soothes irritation, calms redness, and prevents acne.
I like to use it on long-haul travel days, during which I can’t easily wash my face. I also use it after sweaty workouts or sauna sessions to calm my skin and reduce redness. Kristin, on the other hand, uses it almost daily to fight acne-causing bacteria.
PEACH & LILY
Bio Rice Wine Softening Toner
I introduced Kristin to the skincare brand Peach & Lily years ago, and she’s been a fan of it ever since. We both love how its products center around calming, hydrating ingredients. While we could wax poetic about so many of the brand’s offerings, we’ve recently been loving the Bio Rice Wine Softening Toner.
It’s inspired by the Korean rice wine, makgeolli, and has a milky, nutrient-dense formula that softens, brightens, and soothes the skin. Thanks to barrier-strengthening ingredients like bio-fermented rice wine and urea, it keeps my skin moisturized and Kristin’s clear and calm. It’s become a staple in both of our skincare routines.
PEACH & LILY
Glass Skin Refining Serum
We’d be remiss if we didn’t also mention Peach & Lily’s Glass Skin Refining Serum. It’s the brand’s best-selling product, and we can see why. With ingredients like hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, peach extract, and East Asian mountain yam, it brightens, firms, hydrates, and calms all in one go.
I give this serum credit for reducing my chronic redness and making my skin look plump and hydrated. Kristin gives this serum credit being one of the very few formulas that’s never exacerbated her acne. Enough said.
LANEIGE
Bouncy & Firm Eye Brightening Sleeping Mask
Even though I’m the beauty editor, Kristin is actually the one who introduced this eye cream to me. It’s inspired by the Korean “slow-aging” trend, and, as such, works overnight to firm, plump, and de-puff the eye area with peony, caffeine, niacinamide, and a collagen complex. As for the texture, it’s lightweight, juicy, and gel-like. It melts into the skin with zero residue. We both agree it’s worth the price tag.
Kiehl’s Since 1851
Better Screen UV Serum Sunscreen SPF 50+
I’ve never seen Kristin as passionate about a suncreen formula as she is about this one. She swears by it, and after testing it out for myself, I get why. The formula is basically like an SPF and an anti-aging serum in one. It offers SPF 50+ along with sun damage-correcting peptides. So, in other words, it doesn’t just protect against sun damage; it actually reverses it. The lightweight fluid melts into the skin, so you don’t have to worry about residue, white cast, or clogged pores.
Murad
Clarifying Body Spray With Salicylic Acid
Even though I have dry skin, I tend to get clogged pores on my back when A) the weather is warm or B) I’m especially active. Kristin recommended Murad’s Clarifying Body Spray in those instances, and I’m glad she did. With a crazy-effective combo of salicylic and glycolic acids, as well as allantoin and blue lotus extract, it prevents body breakouts without causing excess irritation or drying out the skin too much. This is going to be a summer essential for my gym bag.
Mutha
The Nudist Body Scrub
This body scrub uses natural brown sugar to slough off dead skin and reveal softer, smoother limbs. It’s full of rich oils, which might sound like it’s not good for acne-prone skin, but in reality, Kristin says it actually helps keep her skin clear. That’s probably because it’s formulated with postbiotics to support a healthy skin barrier and amino acids to prevent transepidermal water loss. All I know is that it smells incredible. Notes of warm vanilla and burnt sugar crystals give it an indulgent, gourmand scent, much like crème brûlée.
Saltair
Multi-Lipid Body Butter in Salt Water Vanilla
After using Mutha’s The Nudist Body Scrub, we like to apply this body butter. The rich formula contains a ceramide complex, phospholipids, fatty acids, and phytosterols for plump, petal-soft skin. It’s our new secret to beach-ready skin all year round. And the scent Salt Water Vanilla gets a resounding yes from us. It’s a summery, beachy take on traditional vanilla, and we can’t get enough of it.
5 More Beauty Products We Share
LANEIGE
Lip Sleeping Mask
We also both use the iconic Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask nightly. Right now, our favorite one is Peach Iced Tea. It’s just so on-point for spring and summer.
Act+Acre
Daily Hydro Scalp Serum
If you have a dry, tight, or itchy scalp, we can’t recommend Act+Acre’s Daily Hydro Scalp Serum enough. It contains multimolecular hyaluronic acid, amino acids, and glycerin to support a hydrated scalp and strong hair shafts. And before you say anything, no, it doesn’t leave any residue. I have super fine hair, but it never makes it look greasy or weighed down. Promise.
COLOR WOW
Dream Coat Supernatural Treatment Spray
I already penned a love letter to this gloss-giving hair product, but since Kristin and I both love it so much, it’s worth mentioning again. All you have to do is spritz it throughout damp hair and give yourself an at-home blowout with a hair dryer and a round brush for super glossy, expensive-looking locks. The last time Kristin and I used this was before our brother’s wedding in Southern California. Before the ceremony, he asked us, and I quote, “Why does both your hair look so good?”
OUAI
St. Barts Hair and Body Mist
Much like our skin types, Kristin and I have pretty much opposite perfume preferences. If she likes a perfume, there’s a high chance I won’t, and vice versa. One of the few scents we agree on is Ouai’s St. Barts Hair & Body Mist. In fact, she’s tried to steal my bottle of it more than once. With notes of dragon fruit, orange blossom, and musk, it smells warm and expensive, like a luxury oceanside resort.
Henry Rose
Torn Eau De Parfum
Here’s another perfume we agree on. In fact, our mom loves it too, and all three of us wear it regularly. It has notes of vanilla, vetiver, praline, freesia, rose, violet, and musk. While it’s sophisticated and expensive-smelling, it doesn’t veer anywhere near “grandma” territory. It’s truly and utterly ageless and will continue to sit on the forefront of our vanities. Read our full review.
