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Sponsor Story
This is paid content produced for an advertiser by New York Stories. The editorial staff of thecut.com did not play a role in its creation.
Sponsored By Saks Fifth Avenue Sponsored By Saks Fifth Avenue
Oct. 17, 2019

All the Products a Beauty Director Swears By

Photo: Courtesy of Saks Fifth Avenue
Casey Winston, Beauty & Fashion Director at Saks Fifth Avenue

Skincare can be a daunting world at first — especially if you’re still experimenting with what your skin actually wants and needs. Too many options! So many blogs! Everyone has an opinion. So we asked an expert, Saks Fifth Avenue’s Beauty & Fashion Director, Casey Winston, what you actually need in your skincare routine. Do you really need to double cleanse, for example? (Yes.) Should you be doing different things morning and night? (Also yes, though if you can’t swing that, Winston recommends focusing on your nighttime routine). The ritual and product mix she suggests is definitely thorough, but Winston says to listen to your skin above all. “Have fun with your regimen, and be aware of what your skin needs and when it needs it,” she says. “Sometimes it may be as simple as wash and moisturize, and that’s okay!” Ready for your most comprehensive skincare guide yet? Let’s go.

Step 1: Cleanser (and More Cleanser)

Winston likes double cleansing both morning and night, which is exactly what it sounds like. “Believe me: It is far more effective than a makeup wipe at the end of the night,” she says, “and super-clean skin is essential to allow your treatment products to really sink in and penetrate your deeper layers of skin.” Start with an oil-based cleanser, then follow up with a gentle foam or cream. “If double cleansing is too much of a commitment for a twice-daily schedule, try to commit to at least once a night,” Winston adds.

Tata Harper Nourishing Oil Cleanser
$82 at saks fifth avenue
RéVive Foaming Cleanser
$75 at saks fifth avenue

Shop Cleansers

Aesop Parsley Seed Facial Cleansing Oil

Aesop Parsley Seed Facial Cleansing Oil

$60, Saks Fifth Avenue

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Shiseido Perfect Cleansing Oil

Shiseido Perfect Cleansing Oil

$50, Saks Fifth Avenue

Shop Now
La Mer The Cleansing Oil

La Mer The Cleansing Oil

$95, Saks Fifth Avenue

Shop Now
Kiehl's Since 1851 Ultra Facial Cleanser

Kiehl's Since 1851 Ultra Facial Cleanser

$20, Saks Fifth Avenue

Shop Now
La Prairie Foam Cleanser

La Prairie Foam Cleanser

$90, Saks Fifth Avenue

Shop Now
Clarins Gentle Foaming Cleanser

Clarins Gentle Foaming Cleanser

$26, Saks Fifth Avenue

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Step 2: Toner

The word “toner” might make you remember harsh, drugstore astringents that smelled like nail polish remover, but that was the old generation. New-generation products act as “delivery systems for antioxidants, vitamin B derivatives, and even toning acids that help to brighten and moisturize the skin,” according to Winston. They’ll help remove the last bit of cleanser so you’re ready to apply serums and oils.

Cellcosmet Switzerland Active Tonic Toner
$107 at saks fifth avenue

Shop Toners

Kiehl's Since 1851 Calendula Herbal Extract Alcohol-Free Toner

Kiehl's Since 1851 Calendula Herbal Extract Alcohol-Free Toner

$62, Saks Fifth Avenue

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Lancôme Tonique Confort Re-Hydrating Comforting Acacia Honey Toner

Lancôme Tonique Confort Re-Hydrating Comforting Acacia Honey Toner

$52, Saks Fifth Avenue

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Mario Badescu Witch Hazel & Rosewater Toner

Mario Badescu Witch Hazel & Rosewater Toner

$14, Saks Fifth Avenue

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Step 3: Essence

Winston knows you might be confused at this point. “The question I get most frequently is, What is an essence? It’s not a toner, not quite a serum, but still important,” she explains. It has more active ingredients than a toner (typically) and can go deeper into the skin. Think of this like a concentrated boost of ingredients before you get into heavier, thicker products.

It also helps to think of the skin like a sponge. “A wet sponge absorbs liquid more easily than a dry sponge,” Winston says. “After you wash and dry your face, a toner and then essence are the first steps to dampen the ‘sponge’ again — priming the skin to allow the forthcoming heavier moisturizing layers of your skincare to penetrate your skin and attract water to it.”

SK-II Facial Treatment Essence
$185 at saks fifth avenue

Shop Essences

Clé de Peau Beauté Essential Refining Essence

Clé de Peau Beauté Essential Refining Essence

$105, Saks Fifth Avenue

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Tata Harper Hydrating Floral Essence

Tata Harper Hydrating Floral Essence

$94, Saks Fifth Avenue

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Estée Lauder Micro Essence Skin Activating Treatment Lotion

Estée Lauder Micro Essence Skin Activating Treatment Lotion

$62, Saks Fifth Avenue

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Step 4: Eye Serum

Think about serums like long-term investments. They’re full of active ingredients, but you can’t expect to see results right away. We’ll get to facial serums in a bit, but right now we’re focusing on the eyes — and you should take care of them before moving onto the rest of your face. “Due to the finer skin and the constant motion, the eye area is usually the first part of the face to show signs of aging,” Winston says. She adds that ideally, you’d start incorporating an eye serum into your daily ritual in your 20s.

La Prairie Skin Caviar Eye Lift
$480 at saks fifth avenue

Shop Eye Serums

Lancôme Advanced Genifique Eye Light Pearl Eye Serum

Lancôme Advanced Genifique Eye Light Pearl Eye Serum

$69, Saks Fifth Avenue

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Natura Bissé Diamond Life Infusion Retinol Eye Serum

Natura Bissé Diamond Life Infusion Retinol Eye Serum

$300, Saks Fifth Avenue

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Erno Laszlo Laszlo Blue Firmarine Eye Serum

Erno Laszlo Laszlo Blue Firmarine Eye Serum

$85, Saks Fifth Avenue

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Step 5: Eye Cream

“Some might think of a second eye product as overkill, but to really lock in the benefits of your more potent eye serum — and provide much needed moisture — you should apply a true eye cream,” says Winston. You wouldn’t want to undo all of the good work your eye serum is doing, would you? A cream can also help maintain the visible thickness of the eyelid skin. (Yes, that’s a good thing.)

Valmont Moisturizing Eye-C Gel Moisturizing Eye Gel
$110 at saks fifth avenue

Shop Eye Creams

La Mer The Eye Concentrate

La Mer The Eye Concentrate

$225, Saks Fifth Avenue

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Kiehl's Since 1851 Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado

Kiehl's Since 1851 Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado

$48, Saks Fifth Avenue

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SK-II R.N.A. Power Eye Cream Radical New Age

SK-II R.N.A. Power Eye Cream Radical New Age

$139, Saks Fifth Avenue

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Step 6: Heavy-Duty Stuff (Retinol, Serums, and Exfoliants)

Once you’re done with your eye serum and cream, it’s time to add a face serum. But here’s the catch: You’ll want to do different serums for day and night. In the morning, Winston likes applying a vitamin C serum, which has nutrients that can help visibly reduce fine lines and help fight sun and pollution damage.

At night, it’s time for retinol serum. Winston describes it as a “miracle” that can help fight visible acne, scarring, and discoloration. She warns, though, that some sensitive skin types might react to retinol, so easing into it is imperative. Work up to using it every other night, and start by using it just once a week. On the nights that you’re not using retinol, consider exfoliating (no, retinol isn’t an exfoliator) to slough away dull, dead skin cells. Look for chemical exfoliators such as AHAs, BHAs, and enzymes to encourage your skin’s glowy look, or try a gentle physical exfoliator — your choice.

Kiehl's Since 1851 Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing Concentrate
$107 at saks fifth avenue
Estée Lauder Perfectionist Pro Rapid Renewal Retinol Treatment
$82 at saks fifth avenue
SUNDAY RILEY Good Genes All-In-One Lactic Acid Treatment
$158 at saks fifth avenue

Shop Heavy-Duty Stuff

Clinique Fresh Pressed 7-Day System with Pure Vitamin C

Clinique Fresh Pressed 7-Day System with Pure Vitamin C

$28, Saks Fifth Avenue

Shop Now
Lancôme Visionnaire Skin Solutions Vitamin C Correcting Concentrate

Lancôme Visionnaire Skin Solutions Vitamin C Correcting Concentrate

$65, Saks Fifth Avenue

Shop Now
Natura Bissé C+C Vitamin Complex

Natura Bissé C+C Vitamin Complex

$200, Saks Fifth Avenue

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Chantecaille Retinol Intense+

Chantecaille Retinol Intense+

$140, Saks Fifth Avenue

Shop Now
Lancer Advanced Retinol Treatment

Lancer Advanced Retinol Treatment

$95, Saks Fifth Avenue

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Rodial Retinol 10% Booster Drops

Rodial Retinol 10% Booster Drops

$89, Saks Fifth Avenue

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Rodial Super Acids Daily Serum

Rodial Super Acids Daily Serum

$110, Saks Fifth Avenue

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Lancer Caviar Lime Acid Peel

Lancer Caviar Lime Acid Peel

$90, Saks Fifth Avenue

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Tata Harper Resurfacing Serum

Tata Harper Resurfacing Serum

$88, Saks Fifth Avenue

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Step 7: Moisturizer

We’re nearing the end of your skincare journey, so it’s time to moisturize. “They like to sit on the top of your skin layer to do their best work, so your moisturizer should always be one of your final steps in your routine,” Winston notes. You can even have a few moisturizers on hand, depending on how “thirsty” your skin is on a given day (or night).

La Mer Crème de la Mer Moisturizing Cream
$510 at saks fifth avenue

Shop Moisturizers

Kiehl's Since 1851 Calendula Serum-Infused Water Cream

Kiehl's Since 1851 Calendula Serum-Infused Water Cream

$88, Saks Fifth Avenue

Shop Now
Sisley-Paris Black Rose Skin Infusion Cream

Sisley-Paris Black Rose Skin Infusion Cream

$195, Saks Fifth Avenue

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Tom Ford Research Crème Concentrate

Tom Ford Research Crème Concentrate

$450, Saks Fifth Avenue

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Step 8: Finishing Touches

If you’re at all a skincare fanatic, then you can probably guess what your final daytime step in your skincare routine should be. Say it with us: “SPF!” Don’t rely on sunscreen in your foundation or other cosmetic products to do the work, though. “Often, the amount of SPF per application in those products is not enough to adequately help protect your face from harmful sun damage,” says Winston.

At night, you can also experiment with a sleeping mask. It’s a mask that doesn’t require rinsing, and one you can wear all night to soak up all the benefits of products underneath (mostly helping with deep moisture). “It’s exactly what your skin needs,” Winston says, “when you’re looking for that extra oomph in the morning.”

Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen SPF 40
$32 at saks fifth avenue
Sisley-Paris Velvet Saffron Flower Sleeping Mask
$140 at saks fifth avenue

Shop Finishing Touches

Shiseido Urban Environment Oil-Free UV Protector SPF 42

Shiseido Urban Environment Oil-Free UV Protector SPF 42

$35, Saks Fifth Avenue

Shop Now
Clé de Peau Beauté UV Protective Cream Broad Spectrum

Clé de Peau Beauté UV Protective Cream Broad Spectrum

$130, Saks Fifth Avenue

Shop Now
Solid & Striped Face Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 30

Solid & Striped Face Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 30

$28, Saks Fifth Avenue

Shop Now
I Pekar Sleeping Mask Infused with CBD Oil

I Pekar Sleeping Mask Infused with CBD Oil

$125, Saks Fifth Avenue

Shop Now
Erno Laszlo Hydra-Therapy Memory Sleep Mask

Erno Laszlo Hydra-Therapy Memory Sleep Mask

$95, Saks Fifth Avenue

Shop Now
La Prairie Skin Caviar Luxe Sleep Mask

La Prairie Skin Caviar Luxe Sleep Mask

$385, Saks Fifth Avenue

Shop Now

All images courtesy of Saks Fifth Avenue.

This is paid content produced for an advertiser by New York Stories. The editorial staff of The Cut did not play a role in its creation.

Tags:

  • sponsor story
  • saks fifth avenue
  • saks beauty fall 2019
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+Comments Leave a Comment
The Skin Regimen a Beauty Expert Swears By

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