Three Skincare Products for Healthier, Happier Skin
Post in partnership with Perich Skincare & Makeup. All opinions are my own.
I couldn’t let another minute go by without sharing my latest #NeverDoneWithFun find: Perich Skincare & Makeup, by local Michael Perich, a makeup artist for more than 25 years and owner of The Gnome Colony in Glen Ellyn.
Skincare has been a bit of a journey for me — one with ups and downs and many a breakout, especially recently. But when you find something that works, it’s magic. Finding the Perich Skincare magic was many months in the making, but in this story, it’s the end destination that matters the most. Keep reading …
I started as a Gnome Colony fan, a treasure trove of little delights. This eclectic boutique quickly become my favorite pick-me-up. If you need to feel pampered, beautiful, and special, Michael is your gentleman. He loves women and he treats them accordingly: A $50 purchase at his store automatically earns the customer her choice of one free ring, earrings, or bracelet (and the selection is endless).
My foray into his makeup line started with the Lipglisten — actually the product that drew me into his magical abode in the first place. I ventured in after seeing the buzz on social media about this lightweight, liquid color. Lipglisten was good — so good — but I’m more of an “eyes” girl at heart. (I just don’t feel like myself without eyeliner on.)
But I’ve also always been anti-mascara. As a contact lenses wearer, every brand I tried flaked into my eyes, leaving them bleary and irritated. So for years, I swore off the stuff and only wore it for nights out.
Enter The Gold Standard mascara. (No, really. That’s what it’s called.) The name is apt; I’ll never be able to use anything else again. It doesn’t clump, doesn’t flake, doesn’t rub off, and doesn’t irritate my eyes. But it does make my eyes stand out in the way that has become necessary in my mid-to-late 30s
It wasn’t long before I started replacing most of my cosmetics with more from his line. I added in Skin FX concealer and Second-Skin dual foundation, then rounded it out with Kiss of Life bronzer and some pretty shadow shades. Now it’s safe to say that 95% of what goes on my face is Perich. All the products are highly pigmented, so you only need the smallest amount. Purity and premium ingredients make the difference.
So, it’s no surprise that before I made the product switches, when my skin became incredibly congested and inflamed during the past few months, The Gnome Colony is where I turned up, looking for the magic as always.
Michael didn’t disappoint. He hooked me up with his system, and after only less than a week of use, I was a believer.
His skincare product line is simple, no gimmicks. Same set of products, morning and night: a cream cleanser, moisturizer, and eye cream. (There are other add-ons, like several serums and a toner, if you want to get fancy. I like to stick to the basics, especially when the basics work.) The price point is affordable for quality skincare, in the $45-70 range for most products, and a little goes a long way. Most products are designed to last 3-6 months.
The Three Products I’m Using for Smoother, Softer Skin
Remanence (Afterglow)
This cream cleanser is easily my favorite product in the line. I felt a noticeable difference as I applied it — it foams nicely, and I don’t need more than a nickel-sized amount to remove the day’s makeup and leave my skin feeling soft. I have reactive skin, but massaging it onto my sensitive face felt soothing instead of irritating. There was no burn or sting during or after cleansing, and my face didn’t have that tight, over-dry sensation that I used to associate with “clean.” (Now I know better — that feeling was “stripped” instead of “clean,” removing the moisture barrier and leaving my pores open and vulnerable to bacteria, causing breakouts.
Pro tip #1: At night, I do a double cleanse. The first wash removes the makeup (and wow, does it dissolve everything effectively, even the magic mascara). Then I follow with a second wash to allow the product to penetrate my skin for a deeper cleanse and benefit.
Pro tip #2: At least once per week, or when my skin is particularly dry, I apply about a quarter-sized amount to my towel-dried face after the first wash. I pat it on like a mask and allow it to sit on my skin for about 15 minutes. After the rinse, my skin feels like silk.
Yeux D’Ange (Angel Eyes)
After cleansing and patting dry, I dab on a generous amount of eye cream. I’ve been using this product for about a month, and the area under my eyes is noticeably plumper after I apply it. Angel Eyes has a luxurious cream-gel consistency that cools as it hydrates. It definitely has me hearing hallelujah in my head as I smooth it on.
Pro tip #3: I dab a little Angel Eyes onto any very dry or flaky spots anywhere on my face to instantly smooth and soothe. It cleared up the flakiness between my eyebrows and around my nose within four applications. (Michael professes to bathe in the stuff, and his skin is so smooth and ageless that I don’t doubt it!)
Peau Jeune (Youthful Skin)
Moisturizer has always been something I struggle with. Either it’s rich and hydrating and promptly makes me break out from clogged pores, or it’s gentle enough to use on my skin but has no hydrating properties whatsoever. So I’m forced choose between: clear(er) but red, dry, flaky skin — or well-moisturized but broken out skin. This moisturizer has been a game changer to restore the moisture barrier to my face and leave it soft and smooth without major breakout. The texture is thick and rich but not sticky, and one generous dab is enough for my face and throat. My cheeks in particular are glowing and velvet-soft after every application.
Skin transformation is a long game. I can’t say that my skin has become flawless overnight, but I can see it healing and turning over healthier than it was before. The texture of my skin is what has impressed me the most: it’s smoother, softer, and plumper, with fewer lines and a more even tone. My makeup positively glides on, whether it’s been 5 minutes or 5 hours since I applied the moisturizer.
If you’re interested in the nitty-gritty, here’s my full daily beauty routine (for those days where I’m actually wearing makeup), in the order that I apply:
- Perich Afterglow cleanser
- Perich Angel Eyes eye cream
- Perich Youthful Skin moisturizer
- Perich Skin FX concealer
- Perish Second skin dual foundation
- Perich Kiss of Life bronzer
- NARS Orgasm blush (the only cheek color I’ve ever used)
- Avon True Color Glimmersticks Diamonds eyeliner in Twilight Sky (the only eyeliner I’ve used since college – I still order a supply online twice a year!)
- Perich eyeshadow (60137 palette contains my favorite mattes; Opulence is the prettiest neutral shimmers)
- Perich The Gold Standard mascara
- Perich Lipglisten in C’est La Vie or Deja Vu
Voila. Glow-up!
If you’re local, pop in to see Michael at The Gnome Colony in downtown Glen Ellyn, and let him know #NeverDoneWithFun sent you. He’s got you covered from skincare to accessories to a million other pretty little trinkets you need. If you’re not local, you’re not out of luck. His full skincare line plus a lot of treasures are online (and all my favorites have been linked throughout this post).
So tell me: Are you a monogamist when it comes to a skincare or beauty brand, or do you like to mix it up with an eclectic approach?
Share your favorites in the comments below and keep following on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook for more ideas, inspiration, and #NeverDoneWithFun Finds!
