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In this “girls’ edition” episode of Skin Side Out, the hosts share what they’d buy on a Sephora skincare shopping spree, category by category, and explain why—after realizing a full routine under $100 wasn’t realistic. They compare cleanser picks (Mara Aura Cleanse for dry skin and Torriden Dive In Hyaluronic Acid Cleansing Foam), vitamin C serums (Paula’s Choice C15 and Skinfix 15% Vitamin C with THD), moisturizers (Alpine Barrier Repair Cream and First Aid Beauty Hydrating Dewy Gel Cream), sunscreens (tinted Saie Slip Tint, Innisfree Daily UV Mineral, and Isdin Eryfotona Actinica), and retinol options (Alpine Clarifying Retinol Facial Oil and StriVectin Advanced Retinol moisturizer). They also share splurge items (La Mer night cream and YSE glycolic pads), accessories (Slip silk pillowcase and sleep mask), and tips on vitamin C packaging, skin-type differences, and checking ingredients with a provider.
00:00 Sephora Spree Setup
01:02 Cleanser Picks
02:26 Vitamin C Serums
04:18 Moisturizer Favorites
05:53 Sunscreen Picks
09:53 Retinol Choices
12:30 Splurge Items
15:12 Accessories and Sleep
19:01 Wrap Up and Tips
Creators and Guests
Host
What is Skinside Out?
Welcome to Skinside Out, where science meets beauty, the ultimate dermatology podcast! Dive deep into the fascinating world of skin health with expert insights, evidence-based discussions, and myth-busting truths. Each episode explores the medical, cosmetic, and surgical aspects of dermatology, while keeping you informed about trending skincare topics. Whether you’re a skincare enthusiast, medical professional, or just curious about how to achieve your best skin, Skinside Out is your go-to resource for staying informed and inspired.
55 - Skinside Out - Sephora Shopping Spree Picks from The Professionals
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[00:00:00]
Speaker: ? Welcome to Skin Side Out. These are your girls' edition- ... episodes. Um, this is our second one back-to-back, me and Courtney. Um, so-
Speaker 2: If you like these more, like, comment and subscribe. If you wanna make this permanent, let us know.
Speaker: Um, today is gonna be a little fun episode. We are talking about what we would choose if we were on a shopping spree at Sephora.
So we'll kind of break it down, like, what we would choose as our cleanser, moisturizer, vitamin C, stuff like that, and we'll kind of explain why.
Speaker 2: The original episode was going to be- ... for, um, to make a regimen that's under $100, but, um, that was not fiscally possible, so
Speaker: Most of them are, like, half that price, so-
Speaker 2: Yeah
Speaker: I guess you could do a cleanser and a moisturizer.
Speaker 2: Yeah. Not your La Mer,
Speaker: though. Maybe something, yeah. [00:01:00] So, um, we'll first talk about cleansers. Um, my choice was the Mara Aura Cleanse Foaming Gel Cleanser for Dry Skin. Um, I actually have not tried this one, but I have tried a couple other products from Mara, and I do really like them.
They're very gentle and soothing. I'm definitely on the dry side. So, um, I don't know, it sounds really gentle. It has algae and glacier water in it. Mm. I don't know if that's gonna do anything. Maybe the algae, which I actually noticed that a lot of the products I chose have algae in it, so I must be, like, attracted to that.
I'm a botanical queen. Yeah. Um, but it can help, like, support the microbiome. Maybe that's the algae part of it.
Speaker 2: I chose the Torriden Dive In, um, 8D Hyaluronic Acid Cleansing Foam. Um, number one, I just like a foamier cleanser in general. I just feel like it cleans a little bit [00:02:00] better. Um, it has hyaluronic acid in there, has panthenol in there, so it's just very hydrating, soothing, and I like something that can take my makeup off and also cleanse.
Um, you know, it's funny, I almost put an exfoliating cleanser in there, but ... And if you'd asked me 10 years ago, like, I, I was using a daily exfoliating cleanser. But now at my ripe age of 31- ... I can't do that, so I chose a nice soothing cleanser.
Speaker: Yeah. vitamin C, I chose the Paula's Choice C15 Super Booster.
Um, I think this one is really nice. I do, uh ... If you're prone to rosacea, which I might be, so maybe I chose the wrong one, but the C25 is also really good. It has, um, glutathione in it. But the reason I chose the C15 is because it has the ferulic acid- Mm-hmm ... which helps boost the vitamin C.
Speaker 2: Mm-hmm. I chose the Skinfix Target and Brighten, um, and Firm 15% [00:03:00] Vitamin C.
Um, they have THD, which is the tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate- I really like. Um, it is more plant-based and it tends to be more tolerated for patients with sensitive skin. Um, so I tend to stay with the THD versus like ascorbic acid. I
Speaker: think that's why the C15- Mm-hmm ... from Polished Choice is a little bit more like irritating 'cause it has ascorbic acid- Mm-hmm
whereas the C25 has THD.
Speaker 2: Oh,
Speaker: interesting. Yeah. So maybe I- I'm gonna switch and do the THD. Yeah. The, the C25 Polished Choice.
Speaker 2: Yeah. Scratch that. Um, this one also has some peptides in there. I love any, I love any product that has kind of multiple functions. Mm-hmm. But in general, any kind of vitamin C, like the Polished Choice or the Skinfix, um, you know, it's funny, like looking through Sephora's site, all of the bottles that are like opaque, like you can see through, and when you have a vitamin C, you do not want like light to get into that bottle.
Yeah. So if you're using a [00:04:00] vitamin C and the bottle is clear or you can see through it, it's not dark, um, automatically, like that's a red flag. Like get out of- Yeah ... that toxic relationship because-
Speaker: Yeah. Definitely keep it in a shaded, like keep it under your cabinet. Don't leave your vitamin C on your- Mm-hmm
countertop.
Speaker 2: Yeah.
Speaker: Yeah. Um, moisturizer, I chose the Alpine Barrier Repair Cream. Um, I, I do really like this brand. Um, I- it's really good for eczema-prone skin. I am a little eczema prone. Um, it has lots of great peptides in it. It also is really soothing. It has ghost berry in it. So- Mm-hmm ... maybe that's the botanical side of me choosing that over something else.
Speaker 2: And they were, I think they have, like, um, like, the Association of Eczema or something-
Speaker: Yep ...
Speaker 2: where like, oh, mm, love that. Yeah, yeah. You know?
Speaker: Certified.
Speaker 2: Yeah, certified. Um, I chose the First Aid Beauty Hydrating Dewy Gel Cream. I wanna preface this by saying [00:05:00] First Aid, I have such a problem with them right now.
Why? I don't know if they discontinued. They had this peptide moisturizer that I was obsessed with. It's, like, a pump. It ... I loved that stuff. And I don't know if they discontinued it, but I haven't been able to find it, like, anywhere. Or maybe they just- Mm ... renamed it, reformulated it, but that was my absolute favorite.
I do like a lot of First Aid Beauty for their moisturizers. Um, number one, this one in particular is fragrance-free, um, has hyaluronic acid. It does have ceramides, glycerine, squalene, colloidal oatmeal. I mean, it's, like, so hydrating. So, um, I do also like that it's, like, more of a gel cream. Um, it tends to just be a little bit more lightweight.
I'm not someone that likes, like, a heavy moisturizer. I kind of want a little bit ... I want it to work and have moisturizing ingredients- Mm ... but I don't wanna feel like I have something on. Mm-hmm. So this is my pick.
Speaker: Mm-hmm. Um, sunscreens, I chose two 'cause I love having the option- ... of a [00:06:00] tinted or untinted. I mostly wear tinted, um, most days, but I do like slapping on a, an untinted if I- I don't know, on the weekend if I'm just at home or something.
Speaker 2: Mm-hmm.
Speaker: Um, so for my tinted, I chose the Say Slip Tint. I love this one. I remember for our New Year's resolution, my New Year's resolution was to find- Oh, yeah ... a tinted sunscreen, and I really like this one. I think it's, um, it's very similar to the Neutrogena, um, UV Mineral Tint.
Speaker 2: Mm-hmm.
Speaker: It's, um, maybe a little bit thicker than the Neutrogena one, but it goes on very similarly.
It kinda gives, like, a dewy look, but it does not dry or get cakey. I think that's the issue- Mm-hmm ... that I have with some of them. Um, really nice ingredients. I'm a huge fan. And for my untinted, I chose the Innisfree Daily UV Mineral. You have to be careful because they do have some... Like, their [00:07:00] classic, um, Daily UV is, um, chemical based, I think.
So, um, I really like this one. They have a lot of, um, green tea in their products, which is, I think, really nice and, um, brightening. But this mineral goes on completely clear, which I really like. Hmm. Even with my pale skin, I think a white cast can even make me paler.
Speaker 2: I'll have to try the Slip Tint 'cause you have me
Speaker: interested.
Yeah, you should try it. Yeah.
Speaker 2: Got me sold on it.
Speaker: Yeah.
Speaker 2: Um, I chose the Isdin Eryfotona Acti- Actnic- oh my god.
Speaker: Actnicica.
Speaker 2: Actnicica. It's a mouthful.
Speaker: Yeah.
Speaker 2: Um, it- Actually, we sell it in the office too. Um, I've worked with this sunscreen for about, like, five or six years now. Mm-hmm. And it's just one of my favorite sunscreens.
Um, I recommend it all the time, especially for, like, older patients. So it's mineral-based. Um, it also has vitamin E in it, but it also, um, essentially repairs the [00:08:00] DNA that has actinic damage. So I think not only is it working as a sunscreen to prevent, but it's also kind of like a treatment.
Speaker: Yeah.
Speaker 2: Um, and I just find it to be pretty lightweight.
I like the feel of it. I like that it's a little, like, watery. Yeah, you definitely gotta shake it. You have to shake it.
Speaker: Yeah.
Speaker 2: Um, I've tried their tinted one, but it's been years, and I can't remember if I liked the tint or if it was too tinted on me. Yeah. But I remember you telling me that you had to mix the two, so I feel like it'd probably be too tinted on me.
Speaker: Yeah. It is, um, it is darker of a tint- tint, but because they're the same exact formulation, you can mix the two.
Speaker 2: Yeah.
Speaker: Yeah.
Speaker 2: Yeah. I will have to re-explore the tint and see, but- Yeah ... this definitely-
Speaker: It's nice.
I
Speaker 2: like it. Yeah. Yeah. This is a great, like, Father's Day present, I feel like. I-
Speaker: Mm-hmm ...
Speaker 2: a lot of men really like this sunscreen because of how lightweight it is.
Yep So ... This
Speaker: is actually what my dad uses.
Speaker 2: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, same. So.
Speaker: Yeah. Yeah, nice. So the Todds.
Speaker 2: Yeah, the Todds. Both of our dads' name are Todd, so. [00:09:00] And then we have a coworker whose husband is also named Todd, so. Yeah. It's a running joke.
Speaker: Does he wear the ISDN? We should ask.
Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah.
Speaker: , next up we have our retinols.
Um, this is my second Alpine [00:10:00] brand, um, product, but it's the Alpine Clarifying Retinol Facial Oil. I am not a huge oil person, but I do really like this one. I have tried it. I think it works really well. It does not break me out. I am, even though I'm eczema prone, I'm also acne prone, and I think it works really nicely.
It's very gentle too, so I think it is good for people who may have a little, um, acne or wanting to treat, like, texture, fine lines, and wrinkles, but may also be on the drier side because of how gentle it is. It smells really nice. Um, it has, like, raspberry, something raspberry in it, so it's nice and soothing.
Um, again, has the algae. So I'm just a botanical girl. Um, but it does have a little bit of salicylic acid, which just helps, especially because the retinol is at a lower strength, you get a little bit more, um, exfoliation with the- Hmm ... salicylic acid.
Speaker 2: Hmm. I'll be [00:11:00] honest, um, I've never bought an over-the-counter retinol ever- Really?
ever, ever. Um, yeah. I wanna s- Even
Speaker: Differin?
Speaker 2: No, not Differin I, you know what? I, I started working in dermatology, like, a year before Differin went over the counter. And I s- my very first retinoid ever was Veltin. Um, the- ... tretinoin, um, was it clindamycin or benzoyl peroxide?
Speaker: Ah.
Speaker 2: Um, yeah, I've never been on an over the counter.
That being said, I did a lot of research on this one. So I picked the StriVectin Advanced Retinol Nightly Renewal Face Moisturizer. Number one, I like the StriVectin line. Um, they were actually acquired by Crown Laboratories- Mm-hmm ... a couple years back, which I didn't realize. But they make Skin Pen, um, which is a microneedling device.
Mm-hmm. So I think they have a lot of, like, science backed behind them. Mm-hmm. Um, there's niacinamide in there. Their patented, like, niacin [00:12:00] is in there. Um, so it, it seems like it would be a good product. And if I had to pick one over the counter, this is the one that I would go to.
Speaker: Okay. Yeah.
Speaker 2: I'm such a Skin Better girl, honestly.
Yeah. Um, it's really hard for me. When I find a retinol that I like, and I have been using the Hydrinity one lately with the, um, it's like Retta exosome or something. Mm-hmm. But and I've really liked that one, too. Yeah. So it's just hard for me. I don't know.
Speaker: Yeah.
Speaker 2: Understood. You get handed stuff-
Speaker: Yeah ...
Speaker 2: you use it.
Speaker: Yeah.
Speaker 2: You know?
Speaker: Um, next we have a splurge item, so this definitely would not classify under the $100.
Speaker 2: This is how I knew we weren't staying in the $100. I didn't even, I didn't even check the price, I just saw the name, and I was like, "Oh, we're not doing the
Speaker: $100." Yeah. She definitely brought that to my attention this morning.
But with a splurge, uh, in front of the name, I was not worried about the price.
Speaker 2: Yeah, like, are we handed this money? Is this, like- I- ... you have free for all money, or this is, like- ... you would buy this product as a splurge? I
Speaker: think I literally went [00:13:00] to- Like all skincare and then sorted- Price ... price high to low, which I never do.
Like who would do that? Why would you do that? But I did it. So mine is the La Mer, the Rejuvenating Night Cream. I have heard so many good things about this, have not tried it myself 'cause it's too expensive. Um, but I think people... I think you've said a couple times, like people who are on the La Mer- People like
Speaker 2: it
Speaker: are like committed.
Speaker 2: Yeah.
Speaker: Yeah.
Speaker 2: People like it. We have one patient in particular that-
Speaker: And her skin looks so beautiful Her
Speaker 2: skin is great ... so I'm just like, okay. Her skin is great. Um, so she did tell me recently that she has discontinued it 'cause it was getting costly. Did she say... Oh,
Speaker: okay.
Speaker 2: Yeah. She said the, the cost.
Yeah. And I was like, "I don't blame her."
Speaker: If I had, you know, $250 to... Isn't it like at least-
Speaker 2: It... The small was 200 ... the small? Okay. The mini.
Speaker: Okay.
Speaker 2: The travel size. So
Speaker: if anybody's willing to gift me a La Mer to try.
Speaker 2: If La Mer, if La Mer sends us some stuff to try, we'd be more than happy to start- To
Speaker: review it.
Speaker 2: Yeah. [00:14:00] Start using it, review it, see the science and the wonder of La Mer.
Speaker: Yeah, yeah. We would give our honest opinion.
Speaker 2: Yeah. And if it is really as good as people say, then maybe it is worth the money. I, but I don't know-
Speaker: Yeah ... '
Speaker 2: cause I haven't tried it.
Speaker: Yeah.
Speaker 2: My splurge item wasn't really a splurge. I just like was looking at my routine and I was like, "What am I lacking?"
Mm. And- I don't know. I mean, 'cause if I'm splur- like, if someone gives me a gift card and they're like, "Go to Sephora," like, I'm probably gonna splurge on something like makeup or like, not even really haircare, but like something, like, more fun. Oh. A Dyson Airwrap probably.
Speaker: Yeah.
Speaker 2: Um, but I decided to go with something that I needed in my routine, which is the YSE Your Favorite Ex exfoliating pads.
They're glycolic pads. What I really like about these pads is that they have, like, a little finger hole for you. Oh, that's
Speaker: nice.
Speaker 2: So yeah, you have- you put the little pad on and you ...
Speaker: Instead of, like, trying to hold it-
Speaker 2: Yeah ...
Speaker: and move it around. I love
Speaker 2: that.
Speaker: I like the name.
Speaker 2: Mm-hmm. Yeah, Your Favorite Ex. I don't have a [00:15:00] favorite ex.
Yeah. Um-
Speaker: That's why this would be your favorite.
Speaker 2: This would, yeah, this would- Yeah ... classify. Trying to rack my head, um- Yeah ... yeah. None come out in particular.
Speaker: Yeah. So. Um, lastly we have our accessory. Um, so we both chose from the same brand. Um, mine was the Slip silk pillowcase. I will say, I did see some reviews that weren't super great, so it's- I don't think it's a five-star on Sephora.
I think it's mostly because of how fragile the silk is. Oh. Like, the silk actually is very, um ... Like, it works so well just as a silk- Mm-hmm ... silk pillowcase, but it's very fragile. So a lot of people were, like, posting pictures about it being ripped and stuff like that. But-
Speaker 2: Hmm ...
Speaker: I'm not, like, a super aggressive sleeper, so I think I'd be fine.
Speaker 2: I wonder even, like, in the wash too, like, if they're not- if they're just washing it with, like, normal stuff.
Speaker: Yeah,
Speaker 2: yeah. My ex's mother got me a silk [00:16:00] pillowcase for Christmas one year. Like-
Speaker: Was it true silk?
Speaker 2: No. And also-
Speaker: From, like, TJ Maxx.
Speaker 2: From, like, TJ Maxx. And also she got the brother's girlfriend, like, some kinda, like, $400, like, dehydrator-
machine. And I'm, like, with my little stupid silk pillowcase. I'm like- Or
Speaker: satin. Maybe it was satin.
Speaker 2: Oh yeah, it was probably satin. In the box that it came in, I'm like, "Thanks." Like, I don't wanna be ungrateful, but I was like, "Mm, kinda weird offset," like. Um, in the same vein of sleeping, I chose this silk sleep mask because one thing about me is your girl's gonna get her sleep, and I don't want an ounce of light coming in.
We've talked about my sleep hygiene f- frequently, and yeah, I need to sleep with my, um,
Speaker: sleep mask. She literally sleeps like she's in a coffin. Yeah,
Speaker 2: like a Victorian child.
Speaker: Like, literally like this.
Speaker 2: Yeah. Peaceful, no noise.
Speaker: No movement. I say I'm not much of a move- like, a mover, but, like, I do toss and turn.
You [00:17:00] are literally, like, still the whole night.
Speaker 2: Yeah. Well, I have a, I, I do have a weighted sleep mask, so this one's not weighted.
Speaker: Ooh.
Speaker 2: Yeah. They had one that was, like, for lashes, like if you get your lashes done, but the weighted sleep mask is the way to go. Um-
Speaker: Does this one have the little, like, crevices inside where you can, like, open your eye?
That's what I like.
Speaker 2: There's another- The other one? From the same brand has that. Oh,
Speaker: for the lashes.
Speaker 2: Mm-hmm. Okay. For the lashes. But yeah, I like the weighted eye mask personally, and I like no noise, no electronics on, no light, s- 69 degrees, weighted sleep mask, light comforter. Yeah. Like, that's, that's sound.
That's good sleep to me.
Speaker: Even though I don't get my lashes done, I think, I, I would always prefer ones with the crevices in the middle. I don't know why, but I like being able to, like, open my eyes.
Speaker 2: I'm just, like, picturing you with, like, the sleep mask, like, but, like the eyes open, like- Under the mask But you can't
Speaker: see 'em.
Speaker 2: I know, but it's creepy. [00:18:00] It's just creepy to think about, like.
Speaker: I don't know, it just, I don't like that. I don't know if I would like a weighted sleep mask. I don't like that pressure.
Speaker 2: Yeah. They make, um... It's funny, like, on Summer House, um, which is really hot in the news right now, um, and also my personal, um, favorite show.
But the guy on there, he gets styes around the eyes, and he has, like, a special sleep mask that- Mm ... he wears, and I thought that would be interesting too. It's like an
Speaker: anti-microb- like copper or something? I
Speaker 2: guess. Mm, I don't know, and it has, like, um, like, holes for the eyes. I'll have to look into it.
Speaker: Hmm.
Speaker 2: I'll get back to you on that. Yeah. You would maybe like that, not that you're, like, sty prone, but-
Speaker: Yeah, I
Speaker 2: like- You like the option of opening- Yeah ... your eyes under- Yeah ... the sleep mask.
Speaker: Maybe there's a little bit of, like, I don't know, claustrophobia.
Speaker 2: Yeah.
Speaker: I don't, I wouldn't say I'm a claustrophobic person, but-
Speaker 2: You want to
Speaker: have the option- Maybe it's just around the eyes.
Yeah ...
Speaker 2: to open the eyes. Yeah. Okay.
Speaker: Yeah. [00:19:00] I don't know. But that's all of our list. If you think we forgot a specific category, let us know, and we'll get back to you on our recommendations.
Speaker 2: Yeah. I feel like this is, like, a general, you know, everyone's gonna be different. It's funny, like, even going through some of the reviews on some of the products, like the pads for example, someone's like, "I broke out the next day."
And so I think it's always dependent on your skin type. Mm-hmm. Um, I think even just in our choices, you can kind of tell how different our skin type is- Yeah ... by, like, what we chose. So, um, there are a lot of good products out there. I think this definitely taught me, 'cause I'm a little spoiled, I'm not gonna lie, this taught me, like, it's, like, overload out
Speaker: there.
It is, yeah.
Speaker 2: I'm going through all the ingredients. There's so many ingre- like, it's overload. Yeah. And to try to, like, narrow things down, like, as a consumer, as a patient, is so overwhelming that, like, I did have a little bit of gratefulness that, like-
Speaker: Mm-hmm ...
Speaker 2: we have the products that we have. I enjoy what we're [00:20:00] using.
Speaker: And
Speaker 2: it's very confusing. So confusing. Yeah.
Speaker: And I think I was definitely noticing that, like- I was clicking on and, like, being attracted to the ones that looked pretty. Oh,
Speaker 2: 100%.
Speaker: Yeah.
Speaker 2: Marketing is for the person like me. Yeah. Because I do judge a book by its cover.
Speaker: Yeah.
Speaker 2: And I will not read a book that does not- Yeah
look cool to me.
Speaker: Yeah.
Speaker 2: And the same thing with skincare, unfortunately.
Speaker: Yeah. Yeah. No, I totally agree. Unfortunately, that is the case.
Speaker 2: Yeah. It's hard out there. I think it's- You know, like I said, I, I definitely-
Speaker: It's rough out there.
Speaker 2: Yeah, it's a real ... It's real rough choosing my, my $100 La Mer cream. Yeah. Yeah, I think if you are prone to buying stuff from Sephora, it's probably always good to double-check with your provider.
Run the ingredients through them. I don't mind when my patients ask me, like, "Hey, can you take a look at this product- Mm-hmm ... before I purchase it?" Mm-hmm. See, you know, is there fragrance? Are there any, like, irritating, uh, ingredients? Is there just, like, a list of crazy stuff in there? Yeah. You know, I'd much rather review it than them [00:21:00] experiment and then break out, and- Yeah
we're fixing that problem.
Speaker: Yeah. There are apps you can use too that can help, kind of like, especially if you're allergy prone or eczema prone, um, the apps can help kind of tell you, like, this might not be the best product for you. Or like, oh, if you're allergic to this, you should probably stay away from this.
Speaker 2: Yeah.
Speaker: Yeah.
Speaker 2: Yeah. Well, this was a fun episode.
Speaker: Yeah. I liked it. Short and sweet.
Speaker 2: Yeah.
Speaker: Yeah. So, um, if you have any questions, comment or ... I'm gonna start that over. So if you have any questions, just let us know in the comments down below. Like and subscribe. But until next time, Skin Side out.