I'm a Master Esthetician—17 Products That Should Be Staples in Your Routine
The Lineup is a monthly series where we're giving you an inside peek at the beauty lineups of cool fashion people, editors, makeup artists, hairstylists, and estheticians—all the people we trust the most. Get ready for a behind-the-scenes look at all the can't-live-without products that make their worlds go 'round.
As a beauty editor, I'm lucky enough to meet and work with some of the most talented experts in the business when it comes to the science of skin—from world-renowned dermatologists to master facialists who work with A-list celebrities. So when I receive a facial that's so magical I still remember it years later, it's incredibly telling. I first met Caroline Godsick pre-pandemic when my skin was really going through it with persistent hormonal acne. At the time, Godsick was working at a West Hollywood–based dermatology, skincare, and aesthetics boutique, and after just one facial (and a handful of strategic product recommendations I still use to this day), my skin took a major turn for the better. Years later, Godsick is still behind some of L.A.'s most magical facials, but now, she owns and operates her own facial clinic, The LA Skin Club.
"I truly believe I've been an esthetician at heart since I was about 10 years old," Godsick tells me. "I was that friend with egg yolk on her face at sleepovers or mixing an avocado mask for my mom to try. I suffered with acne from a young age, and I wanted to figure out how to manage it. I think life takes you down certain paths, and I genuinely believe that, no matter which turn I took, I would have ended up in the same position." As she gained experience and had the opportunity to work with luxury spas and dermatologists, Godsick found herself gravitating toward a side of the industry that emphasized the efficacy of medical-grade treatments, which ultimately led to her niche—helping clients dealing with severe skin conditions while simultaneously providing a five-star spa facial experience. This, essentially, is how the LA Skin Club was born. "To say it plainly, I envisioned creating a space that gives you real results with a bit of pampering to escape your day for a few hours," notes Godsick.
Godsick's skin is so glowy and healthy looking that it practically sparkles, and considering her amazing experience working with and testing out the industry's best brands and products, I had to ask her to share her lineup of ride-or-die beauty products with me. Yes, there are plenty of A+ skincare picks in the mix, but she's also sharing beauty staples she can't live without. Keep scrolling!
"This may come as a shock, but I believe people underestimate the importance of cleansing their skin. Cleansing your skin is extremely important, and I often come across people using incorrect cleansers for their skin type or not cleansing their skin enough. It's important to double-cleanse each morning and even triple-cleanse in the evening if you are wearing makeup.
"If I could marry a skincare product, it would be the IS Clinical Cleansing Complex. It delivers everything you need: balance, hydration, and exfoliation. I get bored of cleansers easily, but I always find my way back to this one. I use this twice daily, both morning and night."
"When my skin is going through a dull and dehydrated spell, I know these peel pads have my back. I look forward to exfoliation days. It feels like such a special occasion, and when I use these, it's guaranteed I wake up with glowing skin the next day."
"We all know and love hyaluronic acid, but does your serum have five different types of HA in one bottle? Well, mine does, and did I mention it smooths out fine lines and wrinkles? I like to call this one 'Botox in a bottle,' and it's a must applied every day, morning and night."
"It's my staple anti-aging product, and as an esthetician, I think it should be yours too. I recommend anyone who is a fan of retinoids to use this one sooner rather than later. The best part is that it gives you maximum results with no irritation and can be used four to five times a week. The technology is just mind-blowing. Every single client of mine has this luxe overnight cream on their shelf."
"I've tested roughly over 50 moisturizers in my career, and none of them are as good as this one. The formulation brings the ultimate hydration without the weight. The bottle is so elegant you feel fancy applying it on your skin. One pump and I lather this on daily to my face, neck, and chest."
"I've always found it difficult to reapply sunscreen—until I found this tone-smart SPF-tinted sunscreen compact. It looks like a makeup compact, and you apply it with a sponge, just as you would your foundation. It's a mineral-based sunscreen that's creamy, light, and blurs your skin like a filter. It's perfect, and I have one in every purse I own. SkinBetter Science is the most innovative skincare company, and I gush about them to anyone who will listen."
"Oily hair is something I've always struggled with, so I never thought hair oils were my thing. However, my hairdresser convinced me to test out this one from Virtue, and I instantly vibed with the texture. It doesn't leave your hair feeling weighed down, and it helps to detangle my ends. It also helps that it smells amazing!"
Erin has been writing a mix of beauty and wellness content for Who What Wear for over five years. Prior to that, she spent two and half years writing for Byrdie. She now calls Santa Monica home but grew up in Minnetonka, Minnesota, and studied writing, rhetoric, and communication at University of Wisconsin, La Crosse. She studied abroad in Galway, Ireland, and spent a summer in L.A. interning with the Byrdie and Who What Wear family. After graduating from UW, she spent one year in San Francisco, where she worked as a writer for Pottery Barn Kids and PBteen before moving down to L.A. to begin her career as a beauty editor.
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