Moving to Italy is no vacation. I recently embarked on a lifelong dream of living in Italy full-time with my husband and young son, and the stress of it all was beginning to show on my face. Even though it was the start to an incredible, exciting journey, the weeks of planning, late-night packing, and last-minute eating had me feeling dehydrated, worn out, and far from any kind of indulgence.
It’s in those moments of upended normalcy that even small, daily rituals start to take on new importance.
Like using my Double Rose Luminizer.
Skincare has always been important to me, so even though I had entered a stressful new season, skipping out on my routine was never an option. I did have to alter it, though, and I’ve learned that when the quality of your products is high, you can stretch them to perform even when you feel like doing the bare minimum.
I have dry, dehydrated, yet congestion-prone skin, which means I love using oils but have to balance that with occasional breakouts and clogged pores. Using the Double Rose Luminizer has been a game-changer. Because of its potency, I feel like I can get away with just 2-3 drops and cover my entire face—inhaling that divine scent of freshly-crushed rose petals while pressing the serum into my cheeks. It’s unbelievably light, yet spreads like silk for an instant, noticeable glow. I’m on my second bottle of DRL, and smelling that scent immediately drops me into a state of ease. I’m used to it. I look forward to it.
I’d tell anyone going through a period of transition: Make space for a few familiar experiences that can help ground your senses in the moment.
Massaging my face with rose oil would certainly be one of mine.
AM:
Wash with cold water
Spritz of toner
Apply eye cream
Apply 2-3 drops DRL
Apply 2-3 drops hyaluronic acid (a trick from my facialist, who says HA helps drive active ingredients even deeper into your skin)
Apply SPF if I know I’m going outside—will rarely need a moisturizer right now since it’s just too hot
Double cleanse
Spritz of toner
Apply retinol-based eye cream
Apply 2-3 drops DRL
Apply 2-3 drops hyaluronic acid
Apply a night cream OR a thin layer of retinol in any trouble spots, followed by a layer of snail mucin
Words and Images by Nicole Ziza Bauer