10 Beauty Essentials Melanie Masarin Is Sticking With All Year

Have you heard of Dr. Macrene? She’s the Benjamin Button doctor to the stars, worth dedicating an internet rabbit hole to. She recently launched her skincare brand and Sienna Miller literally hosted the launch event, so needless to say I threw my very next paycheck at the first product I could get my hands on! This one is my the priciest one on my top shelf, but I’ve found that a good day cream + sunscreen combo is actually all I need to go about my day. It turns out to be completely worth the hype, a little goes a long way, and unlike other websites Net-A-Porter does a pretty good job keeping it in stock.

My biggest beauty regret from my 20s is not ever using cream and products on my neck while there was still time. I have thankfully (mainly) always avoided sun, but still my neck could use a little TLC. I was lucky enough to get to try this recently launched cream from Soft Services early, and I have to say that I absolutely love it! It uses a minimal amount of retinol (0.25%) so it hasn’t caused me any sensitivity, and it’s become part of my daily post shower ritual. I’m three weeks in and have already seen a big difference. By the way, I also highly recommend their Theraplush for hands – it’s both me and my mom’s holy grail!

CLEARSTEM quite literally changed my skin. I have PCOS and have relatively clear skin except for the time around my period where I get 1 or 2 really nasty pimples that ruin the following two weeks. This product completely changed that for me! While you can see results in two weeks it really takes about 2 months of taking 3 pills a day to see lasting results: clear skin all the time.

Hydrochloric acid only came into my life in 2023 and I’m not sure how I ever lived without it! It’s called acid but it’s actually a gentle layer of protection that your skin also naturally creates during its healing process, perfect for irritated skin. I use it post-workout, as a toner, and on little cuts and bites. I use it after washing my face before I put on any serums and creams. It’s also especially good if you’re prone to eczema and can be used all over your body.

Okay, maybe this isn’t a ritual per se but this is one of my favorite discoveries of the past few months. I’ve been obsessed with the tomato leaves scent by Loewe ever since it launched and I love a soap on a rope both as a gift and for myself. I’ve started putting these in all of my bathrooms and I swear that they make me so happy every time I wash my hands. This soap is a one way ticket to summer!

I have working hands! I like to cook, I like to garden, I like to surf and I have generally been championing the natural nail trend way, way before it was a trend. Nothing beats this very affordable cream from the French pharmacies for those rough cuticles during the winter months. It has oil in it which helps soften the toughest parts of your hands, yet it isn’t greasy. I keep a tube of this in my car and in every bag that I have!

No more double washing and irritating my face! After a long day of work, this Rhode pineapple cleanser really does it all. It takes away all traces of makeup and really leaves my skin plump and hydrated. It really lives up to the hype!

Bounjout Le Balm is my all-in-one skin savior. It was developed by French pharmacist Natacha Bounjout who is from the South of France ~like me!~! This magic compact balm has 69 active ingredients, it’s healing and protective but non-comedogenic. I use it as a serum morning and night and double use when I travel.

Another hack that takes zero effort: filtering your shower water. This showerhead will get rid of chlorine and other contaminants in hard water. I’ve seen a huge improvement in my hair and skin, especially in Dry LA weather. To fight hard water from the tap, I also like to spray Avene Thermale Spring Water after washing my face.

I recently switched from drying my hair with a rough cotton towel to a microfiber towel and this easy switch completely changed my hair care routine. It dries the hair much faster and fully gets rid of frizz while helping keep my natural hair air dry. I love this one because of the strap at the back which holds your hair together while it dries. It’s also beautiful and I even travel with it. Every Crown Affair product is top notch but this one comes with me everywhere!

This is truly one of the best products to come out of France. It is a miracle nipple balm that is perfect for chapped lips, dry skin, rashes, scrapes etc. I’ve found that other similar products leave your skin super shiny but this one has a nice matte finish. It’s one of the most versatile products!