DORÉ

Full disclosure: I’m a beauty editor, and I often test different products on both sides of my face. Crazy, right? Too bad; it’s my system and it proves a good way to gauge. I usually give a product a fair amount of time, at least 30 days. So…having recently fallen under the spell of facialist Georgia Louise, the left side of my face receives a rather lengthy list of 12 Georgia-recommended products, but she’s so convincing that I believe this will really help my skin! Meanwhile, the right side is trying a few by renegade brand Deciem. Here are the details…

Morning: I’m supposed to cleanse with Biologique Recherche’s Lait VIP02 both morning and night, but since my skin’s basically “clean,” I save product and just rinse with water. Georgia has me using two different Biologique P50 Lotions (cult product alert!), and the one I use in the morning—1970 Balancing Exfoliator—has such a potent smell, I try to wait until my husband leaves for work before I use it (he’s not a fan…). I’m such a fan of P50, I actually like the scent. Anyway, I next pat Biologique’s Elastine Pure Serum Authentique on, then Environ’s C-Boost and C-Quence Serum 1. Once that has sunk in, I finish with Biologique Recherché Creme Aux Acides des Fruits. The Deciem side is much simpler: NIOD Copper Amino Isolate Serum, Hylamide Sensitive Fix Advanced Calming Complex, and The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors. This current experiment has gone on for about three weeks. Have I noticed a difference yet? Not really…?

Makeup is much more consistent, and both sides use the same products (I’m not that crazy): Being freelance, I’m outside during the day much more, so wearing sunscreen is more important to me. I usually use It Cosmetics CC+ Color Correcting Full Coverage Creme SPF 50+. I skip eyeshadow on weekends but always use a brown eye pencil on the waterline of my upper eyelid—usually from Tom Ford, Nars or Chantecaille. On weekdays, I like to use some level of a taupe or greige shade, so currently it’s Chanel Les 4 Ombres Multi-Effect Quadra Eye Shadow in Road Movie or Bobbi Brown Caviar & Rubies Eye Shadow Palette. I love how lengthening and clean Victoria Beckham Estée Lauder Eye Ink Mascara makes my lashes, and I get anxious that it’s running low! Finally, Clé de Peau concealer goes over dark circles and dark spots, then I pat IQ Beauty Sheer Activity Base on my cheeks as blush.

Day: There is always a lip balm—Burt’s Bees, Vertly or Le Labo. If I find myself without a lip balm on me, I become understandably anxious. I’ve lately started carrying a concealer, too. I was visiting the La Mer HQ recently and nabbed their The Concealer so I rely on it for touch-ups, because you never know…

Night: I first remove my eye makeup with the Face Halo fiber pad, which efficiently and delicately does the job and eliminates raccoon eyes, then I cleanse with Biologique Recherche Lait VIP02. The Deciem side is the same as in the morning, while the Biologique Recherché switches a few elements at night: The P50 is P50W (less aromatic than 1970!) and Elastine Pure, then Environ Retinol Serum 1, C-Quence Serum and Biologique’s Serum Matriciel Visage and Dr. Sturm Eye Cream. If I don’t see a noticeable difference in my complexion by the time these are drained, the regimen will be significantly trimmed down, if for no other reason than to sleep in longer…