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.
Another element of our move that has affected my skin: the weather. Though I have been used to high heat after living in both southern California and Texas, living in a perpetual heat wave of 90+ temperatures without air conditioning has been another adjustment all together. My makeup routine was already pretty minimal, but sweating all day has made me even less inclined to want to put anything extra on my face. I’ve noticed that my need for any kind of cover-up, especially to help unevenness, redness, or blotchiness, has greatly reduced since using a few drops of DRL in the morning, in addition to at night.
Currently, my routine looks something like this:
Morning Routine
- 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
Evening Routine
- 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
Adding the DRL to my routine has meant that I can leave out one or two other treatments because it’s addressing my target issues: elasticity, boosting collagen, and brightening a “blah” looking complexion. I liken it to taking a concentrated super-vitamin instead of a longer list of individual supplements. When it’s easy, and it works, you don’t need to overcomplicate it.
Moving to Italy comes with many daily reminders to stop and take notice of where I am. Yes, things take a new form of beauty here, but the moment can be beautiful anywhere you recognize it—even with something as simple as washing, and anointing, your face.
Words and Images by Nicole Ziza Bauer
