Fall 2021 Skincare & Beauty Picks - Richmond Moms

Fall 2021 Skincare & Beauty Picks

Kari Molvar and her daughters

 

Fall skincare and beauty feels like a fresh start for our faces. With the kids back in school, you have more than 30 seconds to get back into a skincare routine…and maybe even put on some makeup! But where to start? We asked Kari Molvar, a mom of two girls (10 and 8) and regular contributor on beauty and wellness to publications like T: The New York Times Magazine, Vogue and Forbes to share her picks for Fall 2021, from the one face cream you should invest in to the perfect lip gloss for every day.

 

What are your go-to skincare products for Fall?

 

Barbara Sturm Face Cream: It’s expensive but provides the perfect hydration for my skin—I’m never too greasy or tight and dry. Plus, it layers really well under makeup (no clumping!).

 

 

Peach Slices Acne Solutions Line: Ever since turning 40 my skin has become so much more sensitive and prone to breakouts. I love, love this new 3-step system, which is gentle and doesn’t strip my skin but still effectively cleared up the bumps on my forehead and chin. The founder of Peach Slices is an aesthetician who battled acne herself and spent years developing this line. It works!
 

 

Earth Tu Face Palmarosa + Aloe Cleanser: I’m very picky about cleansers! I hate washing my face so I need a cleanser that feels like a treat to apply and encourages me not to skip this step. This cleanser removes the grime and makeup with a gentle foam and has the most beautiful scent I have ever encountered—it’s like burying your nose in a field of flowers!

 

 

Holifrog Galilee Antioxidant Dewy Drop: I love how this serum gives me a rested, fresh glow—when I’m feeling tired and worn out. I layer it under moisturizer on days I need an extra boost.

 

 

 

Inkey List Brighten-i Eye Cream: This affordable ($10!) eye cream is super soothing, calms down puffiness, and has a metal-tip applicator that you glide under your eyes to apply—it feels like getting a massage!

 

 

And for makeup – what are your busy mom, beauty secret weapons?

Bobbi Brown Crushed Oil Lip Gloss: It’s hydrating and sheer but still has enough color impact. Plus, it feels like a dream on your lips, never sticky or too matte.

 

 

Glossier Lash Slick: This never flakes on me or clumps up, which is makes it the holy grail of mascaras! It delivers a natural look that just perks up your eyes a bit.

 

 

Sisley Oil-Free Foundation: It’s a bit pricey but this evens out my skin amazingly, so it seems like I just naturally have flawless skin (ha).  And it stays put for the entire day, even through wearing a mask.

 

Westman Atelier Super Loaded Tinted Highlighter: Highlighter can be tricky to get right. This formula has a tiny bit of metallic finish to it that illuminates your skin without looking obvious — I also pat it on my cheeks, lips and eyelids for a multi-tasking fix on the go.

 

ManiMe: I recently wrote about my obsession with ManiMe gel nail stickers. This season, I’m craving nail art and these custom-fit designs look super realistic. I wear mine for weeks and never have to worry about chipping, which is key for a busy mom who can’t run to the nail salon for touch-ups.

 

 

Are there any trend you’re seeing for Fall 2021 that you think everyone can (and should) try?

After months of minimal makeup, I think we’re craving a bit more color and joy in our looks, which is reflected in this season’s bolder makeup options. I personally love a bare face with a bright lip or really rich eyeshadow. Good skin never goes out of style. Still, I think people have a tendency to over-exfoliate, buff and polish their complexion. For that reason, I’m seeing more soothing moisturizers, hydrating masks and healing overnight balms that repair the skin’s acid mantle—the upper level composed of lipids and healthy fats.

 

What ingredients should you be looking for in products as the weather cools?

There’s a lot of demand for clean, natural ingredients that are effective and deliver results. My approach is to go for formulas that offer a mix of botanicals and safe, science-backed ingredients, such as brightening stabilized vitamin C to plumping hyaluronic acid. My favorite lines for this include Drunk Elephant, Naturopathica and Tata Harper.

 

Are there any common myths of fall skincare or makeup?

White nails look super chic year-round—I’m loving this look for fall and winter in particular!

 

If you could splurge on *one* skincare product for fall and *one* beauty item, what would it be?

 

 
Sisley Paris Volumizing Shampoo: It’s wildly expensive but really works—my hair feels much thicker when I  lather up with this! It smells divine, too, and subtly perfumes your hair with the scent of French flowers.

 

Hermes Rouge Lipstick: I mean, what could be more chic? The packing alone is worth the splurge, and the lipstick colors are beyond pretty and flattering!

 

 

 

For more from Kari, follow her on Instagram at @kari_molvar. And pick up a copy of her two books, Be Well: New Space and Bath Culture and the Art of Being Well and The New Beauty. 
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