Here’s How a Byrdie Editor Resets Her Skin When It’s Freaking Out

Five years ago, I moved to New York City from a small beach town in Virginia to pursue my dreams of becoming a beauty editor. It’s still the best decision I ever made, but between the stress of relocating and starting a new job, the dirty city air, my newfound NYC takeout diet, and the hundreds of beauty products that started landing on my desk, my skin went into shock mode. I was super oily in certain patches, dry in others, and experiencing painful, inflamed breakouts on my chin. My dermatologist recommended a total skin reset with gentle, clean products—and the brand that came up multiple times during our consultation was Drunk Elephant. 

Today, I’m a five-year Drunk Elephant veteran with mostly clear, happy skin. But on occasion—call it a hazard of the job—I’ll experiment with too many products at once, or fall victim to stress acne during busy periods (I’m only human!). When those tough skin days do come, Drunk Elephant is still a staple in my routine and my go-to for turning things around. 

Discover my favorite Drunk Elephant combos (you can mix everything together!) for my biggest skin concerns.

When my skin’s feeling lackluster, this is a quick way to deliver an instant shot of deep hydration and a healthy glow. B-Hydra™ Intensive Hydration Serum contains hydrating, skin-plumping sodium hyaluronate (which actually has a smaller molecular size than hyaluronic acid, making it more absorbable). Meanwhile, Virgin Marula Luxury Facial Oil deeply moisturizes the skin and prevents moisture loss throughout the day. I top both of these off with D-Bronzi™ Anti-Pollution Sunshine Drops to add some warmth to my skin sans the sun damage. 

This is my go-to evening skincare routine—and it requires zero layering. Every night, I use the palette-like surface of the Lala Retro™ Whipped Moisturizer component to mix a pump of Lala Retro™, two pumps of T.L.C. Framboos™ Glycolic Resurfacing Night Serum, and one pump of B-Hydra™ Intensive Hydration Serum. T.L.C. Framboos™ contains a potent concentration of glycolic, tartaric, lactic, and citric alpha hydroxy acid to gently exfoliate the skin and clear my pores, while B-Hydra™ and Lala Retro™ replenish my freshly exfoliated skin with a powerful dose of moisture and hydration. It’s a winning combo that keeps my skin clear, plump, and happy without any irritation. 

Spoiler alert: Even beauty editors neglect their skincare routines from time to time. When it feels like I’ve tried too many new products or gone to bed with makeup on one too many times, this is the combo I always reach for to get my skin back on track. The Absolute Power Smoothie contains Protini™ Polypeptide Firming Moisturizer, the brand’s best-selling C-Firma™ Fresh Vitamin-C Day Serum, and B-Hydra™ Intensive Hydration Serum (you might be noticing a pattern; this lightweight but super-hydrating serum is one of my favorite products of all time). I mix this combo up in my palms each morning and find that my skin feels softer, supported, and more resilient within a few days.