I’m so glad you’re here. I’ve been wanting to start this blog for a while now, and there’s no better place to begin than with the thing I care about most — the skin.
When I worked for Bobbi Brown, there was a line we were taught that has stuck with me ever since: makeup is only as good as the skin underneath. It’s one hundred percent true, and I tell my clients all the time. You can have the most gorgeous products in the world, but if the skin isn’t prepped and cared for, the makeup just won’t sit the way it should. Prep it well, though, and something beautiful happens — the makeup looks like skin, not like makeup. That’s always the goal.
Prep Is Everything
So when a client sits in my chair, prepping the skin is everything. Before I ever touch foundation, I’m cleansing, toning, layering in hydration, smoothing on moisturizer, treating the eye area, and setting everything so the skin is plump, fresh, and perfectly ready. It’s a whole little ritual, and honestly, it’s my favorite part — because by the time I’m done prepping, half the work is already there.
I have a handful of products I genuinely reach for every single time, both on myself and on my clients. They’re the ones I trust to get skin glowing and ready, and they’re the same ones I tell my clients to use at home for their own everyday makeup routine. Because the truth is, this kind of care isn’t just for the chair — it’s what keeps your skin looking and feeling its best all the time.
The Products I Reach For
Here are a few of the ones I come back to again and again:
- ↗ Garnier Micellar Water — A gentle, sensitive-skin-friendly cleanser that melts away makeup (even waterproof) and leaves you with a fresh, clean canvas to start.
- ↗ Medicube Zero Pore Pad 2.0 — Dual-textured exfoliating pads with AHA and BHA that sweep away dullness and leave the skin smooth and refined.
- ↗ COSRX Snail Mucin 96% Power Essence — A lightweight hydrating essence that drenches dull, tired skin in moisture and helps soften the look of fine lines, so everything you layer on top sits that much smoother.
- ↗ d’alba Italian White Truffle First Spray Serum — A fine, lightweight mist that delivers an instant layer of glow and hydration, perfect for waking the skin up before anything else goes on.
- ↗ d’alba White Truffle Double Serum Multi Balm — A 3-in-1 stick balm I can swipe right where skin needs a hit of nourishment, melting in to prep and smooth without any greasy residue.
- ↗ Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Eye Base — A 2-in-1 under-eye cream and primer with hyaluronic acid, shea butter, and vitamin C to hydrate and prep the under-eye for smooth concealer.
- ↗ Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Face Base — A 2-in-1 moisturizer and hydrating primer with shea butter and hyaluronic acid that nourishes the skin and gives makeup something smooth to grip.
- ↗ Weleda Skin Food Original Ultra-Rich Cream — A rich, plant-based balm-cream I reach for on the driest, most stubborn patches, sinking in to leave skin genuinely nourished and supple.
- ↗ Milk Makeup Hydro Grip Primer — A silicone-free hydrating gel primer with hyaluronic acid and niacinamide that gives makeup something to truly grip, keeping everything locked in place with a fresh, dewy finish.
- ↗ Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray — A fine setting mist that locks makeup down for all-day wear, controlling shine and keeping a look fresh from the chair through the last photo.
- ↗ grace & stella Holy Grail Hyaluronic Acid Serum — An ultra-hydrating hyaluronic acid serum that plumps the skin with a deep drink of moisture, smoothing the look of fine lines and leaving a soft, supple base for everything to come.
- ↗ LANEIGE Lip Sleeping Mask — A rich overnight lip treatment with murumuru and shea butter that nourishes flaky, dry lips while you sleep, so they’re soft, smooth, and prepped for color the next morning.
What’s Coming Next
I’m going to be sharing more of the exact products I rely on in the posts coming up — the cleansers, toners, hydrating serums, moisturizers, eye creams, and setting sprays I love. I’ll walk you through why each one earns its spot, and where I can, I’ll link the ones you can grab right on Amazon so they’re easy to find and add to your own routine.
Quick, honest note: some of those links will be affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission on anything purchased through them — at no extra cost to you. I only ever share products I truly use and love on myself and my clients.
I can’t wait to start sharing these with you. Here’s to beautiful, healthy skin — and makeup that looks like the best version of you.
xo Giulia