Updates, recs, consults oh my!
I've missed you!
Well hello there! It has been…quite some time since we last connected, so I wanted to check in, give some updates, answer some qs, etc. etc. This newsletter is still on a semi-hiatus until I graduate from esthetician school (December 27th! Mark your calendars and plan your holidays accordingly) and take my licensing exams (sometime in Jan/Feb) so that I can, at long last, professionally touch your faces and give advice without the caveat “but I’m not a professional!!!!” I have a few fun features planned throughout that time, but I’m coming to you live this morning from my desk with no real theme and just because I miss ya.
While I haven’t been active here, I have been very active updating my shelf filled with product recs, direct links to everything I mention on Instagram and offering consults!
You can find my shelf here.
The first shelf, “Discounts & Affiliate Codes” is where you can find evergreen discount codes for various brands and products.
The next few shelves are categorized by month and that’s where I add (pretty much) every product I mention on Instagram so you can easily find it.
The rest are pretty self-explanatory and offer a million different ways for you to shop.
I also recently created a few skincare specific Gift Guides. Don’t forget to sign-up for the annual Gee Thanks, Just Bought It! Gift Guides so you’re the first to know when they drop…they’re going to be great. Obviously.
A few callouts of products I’ve been loving & have discounts for y’all.
Solawave: A 4-in-1 skincare tool with micro current, red light therapy, facial massage and therapeutic warmth. You can use it at any step during your routine to help with lifting, toning and product penetration. It’s a great stepping stone into the world of skincare gadgets, especially if you’re wary of the commitment of the NuFACE and would also make a great gift.
How is this different than your NuFACE and LED mask? Great question! For starters it’s cheaper. It is a lot easier to use and less messy than NuFACE, especially since I don’t need to wash off the gel. The microcurrent power is less intense so I don’t anticipate the dramatic lifting and toning results that I’d see with NuFACE, but I’m also not using it for that purpose. I absolutely love the gentle vibrating massage and warmth, two things I don’t get with NuFACE. Since it’s less intense, you can also use it for a longer period of time – I’ve literally been sitting at my desk and using the Solawave for about 20 minutes in the morning while I check my email. Similarly to the LED mask, it has the optimal range of red light, but obviously covers a smaller surface area and requires more effort than simply sitting in a mask. I mainly use my LED mask for the blue-light, which Solawave does not have.
Do I have to use the serum it comes with? Nope but I honestly like it more than the gels & serums that come with other microcurrent devices – it’s lightweight, has blue tansy for calming and safe for all skin types including acne. You can use any water based serum or gel, like hyaluronic acid serum, ultrasound or aloe vera gel. Products with oil will prevent the microcurrent from penetrating effectively. Just make sure you’re using enough product so that you have enough slip and aren’t pulling at your skin.
When do I use it? You can use at any step in your routine, I prefer to use it before I do anything else in the morning to wake up my skin and depuff. Since it’s so lightweight and easy I can do it one handed while also checking my email.
Okay, how do I buy it? Right this way! Use code JOLDEF for 15% off
Abaci Lip Balm: I am extremely picky about lip balms. When the brand reached out to offer sending a sample, I said yes for a few reasons (aside from the obvious, I like free things. Sue me!)
First, I was intrigued by a brand focusing solely on lip balm. Similarly to my favorite lip treatment, I’ve found that some of the best lip balms are by brands that have put dedicated a lot of time into developing a product specifically for lips. Lips are a tricky part of the skin to treat! And it obviously doesn’t help that they’re constantly being disturbed with saliva, food, drinks, talking, you name it.
I also loved the sound of a lip product with multiple molecular weights of hyaluronic acid. As we know, hyaluronic acid is a powerful humectant, meaning that it can attract and hold water. I am not a chemist, so excuse the rudimentary explanation, but molecular weights refer to the size/mass of the hyaluronic acid molecule, with different weights being able to penetrate into deeper layers of the skin, providing longer lasting hydration. In addition to the hyaluronic acid, the lip balm is formulated with a number of nourishing, smoothing, plumping and protective oils.
It was truly love at first application – the formula is super super thin and instantly melts into your lips upon contact. It lasts for a while, even through drinking and eating, and I have noticed a difference in the plumpness of my lips overtime. It also works wonderfully under lipstick or gloss. My only gripe is that it comes in a pot, not a tube or stick, but that’s definitely not enough of a deterrent to quit.
Okay, how do I buy it? Click right here! Use code JOLIE15 for 15% (plus free shipping!) Would make an excellent stocking stuffer.
As you have likely heard, I’m now offering a variety of different virtual consults! They are all done on your own time (you answer questions and in return you’ll get a personalized document – love letter, really – with feedback, recommendations and routine advice). You can now even purchase a gift card to gift a consult to a loved one! Another great gift, if I do say so myself.
If you need some convincing, here are some testimonials from my clients (I love you and thank you!!):
As a skincare impulse shopper, Jolie's skincare stash edit was so worth it to help figure out what I should continue, and what other products could actually be helpful. Jolie's response was very thorough, and I really appreciated that she included both basics and extras because I know I am going to want to branch out beyond the basics. I also really appreciated that none of the products she suggested came with an insane price tag, and she honored my request for cruelty free products only. While I was a little bummed to learn some of my products have probably been making my dry skin worse, I'm happy to know I will not be wasting any more money on them in the future. This was absolutely money well spent, and I would recommend a consultation to any skincare fan!
Working with Jolie was so fun! The level of detail she went into with my consultation was educational and interesting. I've loved the products she recommended and a month in my facialist commented on how good my skin looks. As someone who loves to give and receive experience gifts, a consultation with Jolie would be such a great gift for the holiday season. I'll definitely be working with her again when I need to make little tweaks to my routine.
Booking a skin consult with Jolie is one of the best things I've done for myself recently! With so much skincare online, it has been hard for me to understand what I actually need to do to protect my skin. Jolie's feedback on my routine and suggestions to simplify was so helpful cutting through the noise, and understanding what is most important AM/PM. I am 30 days into the modified routine she suggested and I have seen a lot of improvement on the primary concerns I shared with her--redness, dullness, and bumpy texture. For less than the price of another serum I don't need, I got A++ advice from Jolie. Can't wait to go back to her once I'm ready to level up my routine.
I am so pleased with the results from my consult with Jolie. My skin has been greasy and textured my whole life. I’ve been trying for years to get the perfect product/routine to solve my problems. After starting my new products and routine recommended by Jolie, my skin is amazing. I truly didn’t think I’d be able to obtain this glow. No more grease and no more texture! It’s very clear that she cares deeply about what she does. She’s professional, friendly, and very helpful. I’be recommended her services to multiple friends and family already.
Jolie is the best. She helped me revamp and streamline my skincare routine with a few products that are fantastic and weren't even on my radar. Who doesn't want get advice from someone who knows what they're talking about, has good recs and is just generally a lovely human being?
So…what are you waiting for?! Book a consult here.
There are a lot of new faces here, so wanted to point out some previous issues that you might want to check out. There are answers to many of the questions I’ve been getting recently and probably some things you didn’t know you needed to know!
Foundation, Concealer & Shade Matching (perhaps my best work yet?)
Finding Your Forever SPF (a close second)
Eagle-eyed followers might notice that some of the newer sunscreens I’ve been talking about aren’t on this list, but it is still an excellent starting point. Most noticeably absent: ZitSticka Megashade, which is one of my favorite launches of the year and sunscreens ever, perfect for acne-prone and sensitive skin.
Find all the archives here.
Finally, as some of you are well-aware, the annual Sephora Sale is just around the corner. Rouge members get 20% off and have first access starting 11/5. VIBs get 15% off starting 11/9, and Insiders (the lowest tier, free to join!) get 10% off and access on 11/11.
Sephora Credit Card holders also get 2x rewards back, which means 8% back in rewards for every $1 (normally 4%). You rack up these monetary rewards via your credit card account and can redeem them at checkout. I’m not a financial advisor and this is not finance advice, but…if you spend a lot of Sephora throughout the year, or even just during the sales, I can’t recommend applying for this card more. I’ve received [redacted amount] in rewards and it is an excellent way to rack up points and move up to VIB or Rouge status. I applied just before the spring sale and it came in time, so you might just make it if you apply today.
A note on the discounts – I don’t really consider 10% a discount. Saving $1.90 isn’t really doing much for me. But for some bigger ticket items, a 10% savings can be worth it, and 15-20% is really going to go far. Of course, I’m mainly talking about my beloved Dr. Dennis Gross SpectraLite LED Mask. 20% savings is almost $100 off and that, my friends is a good deal. An even better deal, however, is this holiday value set, which for the price of the mask itself, also includes a full-size serum, full-size eye serum and 5-pack of peel pads. It’s a $593 value for $435, not including the sale discount. I anticipate this selling out quickly (if I have anything to do with it), so if you’ve been wanting the mask, jump on it. Dyson is also great savings and 20% off is pretty much the best deal you’ll find anywhere.
A few other callouts from the holiday sets:
Dr. Dennis Gross Let It Glow Set: full size cleanser and peel pads, plus 3 body peel treatments. I already purchased because I was afraid of selling out.
Dr. Dennis Gross Peel. Love. Joy.: sensing a theme here? Jump on these DDG sets, people! I’ve never seen prices like this. This would be a great stocking stuffer or way for yourself to try out different strengths of the peels.
All of the Peter Thomas Roth sets: the brand has money to burn or is going bankrupt. Either way, if you’re a fan of the brand, want to try some stuff out or get one set to split amongst people, you can’t go wrong. This set has 4 full-size masks for less than the price of one. Yes, you read that correctly.
Woof, that was a lot! Thanks for making it this far and sticking with me despite my absence. As always, you can find me on Instagram, reply to this email, or ask a question using the button below – you might see the answer in a future issue!
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xoxo,
Jolie