Taylor Swift is great. I know, I know, I talk about her a lot. Ask any of my friends, they’ll tell you. But here’s the thing: her whole vibe, from the cardigans to the friendship bracelets to the cat-lady-in-the-best-way energy, makes for genuinely fun shopping inspiration. I pulled together 3 beauty products our editors spotted in Taylor’s routine (from this instagram post) and then added a few more to see what compliments this skincare routine well. So, the first three products here are confirmed things that Taylor has used.
What's interesting is that this routine is not taken from an over-edited celebrity beauty interview. This came from a very real post-show moment where taylor was talking about being too wired to sleep after performing and said she couldn’t ‘come down’ from it. Instead her ‘reset’ included some tv, room service, a bath, and then slowly letting the night catch up to her before doing ‘the whole thing again.’
1. A Rose-Infused Conditioner That Gives Fine Hair Some Body
Christophe Robin Delicate Volumizing Conditioner
See price on AmazonSee on Amazon
Fine hair is just annoying; you do your hair and by lunch it’s flat again (and somehow it’s your fault?). The rose extract here is fulfilling two important roles; protects color treated hair and nourishes it. If you’ve gone to a salon and paid for color, that’s going to matter to you. What’s most important and most relevant to us is that Baobab leaf extract does real work here. It has a plant polymer that smooths and moisturizes without causing hair to feel heavy. That’s the absolute problem of most hair conditioners that are intended for fine hair. The consistency is light (almost like lotion), and oh it’s rose scent so lovely! It also has no parabens and no phthalates. By the second day, I can feel my hair was getting thicker.
2. A Foaming Body Wash That Smells Like a French Vacation
OUAI Body Cleanser, St. BartsSee price on AmazonSee on Amazon
There is a lot going on in this product! But with the blend of scents, I am sent on a vacation, not a trip to the mall. The wash builds a nice lather while remaining thick, as it should. I find it difficult to wash with an oil-based wash without feeling like I am coated and cleaned in a layer of grease. That’s where I find I appreciate the jojoba and rosehip oil combo. Rose hips work lovely in an oil, while jojoba stays thin and doesn’t build a slippery layer. O and the ingredients that some people might care about, this bottle won't be the reason why you check out of your hotel. It’s sulfate, paraben, and phthalate free, which is really nice. Personally, I love to pretend I’m in a 5 star tropical hotel as I shower, and this nice thick wash fits perfectly.
3. Cleansing Cream That Removes Makeup Without Stripping Your Skin
Super Anti Aging Cleansing Cream 4.2 FlSee price on AmazonSee on Amazon
Cleansing creams that do not strip the skin feel like the whole point right? They foam just enough to feel like you actually washed your face and the texture feels like whipped clouds instead of a lathery foam. It melts off even the most stubborn waterproof mascara. Dr. Barbara Sturm designed the formula in line with her anti-aging philosophy which here means barrier support. This means your skin's pH is not disturbed, and fine dust and pollution particles are escorted out without drama. There are of course cheaper alternatives, but for the nighttime ritual that doubles as a small act of self-respect, the maths do make sense. I guess it's kind of a small luxury.
4. Firming, Advanced Skin Face Serum
Medik8 Crystal Retinal 6See price on AmazonSee on Amazon
Retinaldehyde is 11x faster than regular Retinol, and that is the entire point of this product. The 6 strength is the centre of the ladder for those that have come to terms with vitamin A and want to keep going. The formula also includes hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and vitamin E, so they won’t leave your face feeling like sandpaper in the morning. The texture is lightweight and slightly runny with a slick finish that disappears in about 30 seconds. You put it on at night, and when you wake up, your skin will look smoother. It's not magic, it's science. Which is pretty much the same thing.
5. An Eye Concentrate That Targets Puffiness, Dark Circles, and Fine Lines
NIOD Fractionated EyeSee price on AmazonSee on Amazon
Under-eye products don’t often deliver as promised; they mainly deliver hope. That being said, this product has 16 technologies that target the most betrayed part of your face: the skin under and around your eyes. This area creases and wears concealer by 2 p.m. The weightless serum-like texture has a defined fluidity to it. Once applied, it feels cool and instantly absorbs into your skin. I appreciate the lack of fragrance. NIOD, Deciem's sister company, shows its nerdy side by obsessing over ingredient overdelivery instead of focusing on fancy packaging. The directions say to use this product in the morning and at night. They also recommend patting it in around the orbital bone, trying not to have your expectations set too high for quick results. Give it a few weeks. This is when you start to notice changes.
6. Soft Cream Facial Cleanser Washes Away Buildup Without Stripping Skin
TATCHA The Rice WashSee price on AmazonSee on Amazon
Japanese rice powder is an ingredient that deserves special recognition due to its incredible history as a cleanser that has been used for centuries in Japan. As the star ingredient in a cream cleanser that feels more like whipped frosting than face wash, it deserves to be celebrated. You rub it on dry skin, add water, and it transforms into a softer, milky texture that won’t cause that squeaky feeling you may find with other facial cleansers. The hyaluronic acid and Okinawa algae blend hydrates and the ceramides reinforce your skin barrier so that your skin won’t leak moisture between washes. The end result is that your face feels clean but not punished. You also get to do some good, because a portion of every purchase is donated to fund girls' education programs. Small thing. Big thing.
7. Sunscreen That Plays Nice with Acne-Prone Skin
EltaMD UV Clear Tinted Sunscreen for FaceSee price on AmazonSee on Amazon
For a long time, dermatologists have recommended this one, and it shows up on the lists every single time. It contains transparent zinc oxide with broad-spectrum SPF 46 and involves niacinamide, which helps with redness, discoloration, and the kind of post-breakout marks that last longer than the breakouts themselves. The tint is sheer. It doesn’t go into full coverage foundation territory. It gives a softening and even toning effect that blurs the lines between makeup and skincare. It feels weightless and doesn’t leave a greasy film or a white cast. This is oil, fragrance and comedogenic free. The travel-sized pump bottle is great, especially when you have to fit a full tube into a carry-on. It’s rosacea-prone and sensitive friendly, and generally plays nice.
8. A Peptide-Infused Lash Serum for Longer, Fuller-Looking Fringe
Grande Cosmetics GrandeLASHSee price on AmazonSee on Amazon
There are a lot of lash serums, but this one actually has clinical proof, which is important when you're putting it next to your eyes every day. The formula contains a mix of peptides, vitamins, and amino acids to help condition and strengthen your lashes. The best part about this is that it's also ophthalmologist tested! I really liked that part too. The tip of the applicator is a fine and felty tip, similar to liquid eyeliner. You just swipe it along your lash line and it lasts around 3 months. People actually keep buying this, which is good. This works for your eyebrows too, so if yours are looking a little sad after years of overplucking like mine are, I am not naming names.
9. Two-Step At-Home Peel That Smooths Skin in Two Minutes
Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Extra StrengthSee price on AmazonSee on Amazon
All of this is super easy to step and do, so it's pretty clear it's gonna work. First, you take a cleansing pad soaked in glycolic, salicylic, malic, citric, and lactic acids, swipe them across your skin, and feel some tingles (not a sting, just a tingle). Second, it's neutralized and adds some antioxidants as a little gift. And when I say the results speak for themselves, I mean the first thing you notice is smaller pores, smoother skin, and makeup just glides on the next morning. It honestly doesn't get that expensive. If you ask a dermatologist, they'll probably have been using these for years. And if you're a first-time peel user, you should probably start, too.
10. Hyaluronic Acid Facial Moisturizer for Normal to Oily Skin
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water GelSee price on AmazonSee on Amazon
The star of the show is hyaluronic acid, which is great because it is one of the few skincare ingredients that can bind to water. That is also why this gel feels less like moisturizer, and more like a refreshing drink for your face. Yes, that sentence was a bit weird, but it's true. The gel is thin and jiggly, and absorbs in about 10 seconds. No sticky feeling, or weird coating on your skin. It works great for combo and oily skin because it won't clog your pores. It's even non-comedogenic and dermatologist-approved, so all the boxes are checked for you. The set comes with a travel size fragrance free cleanser as well, which is a nice little bonus.