What Aesthetician Shani Darden Buys at the Drugstore

So I used to work for Garnier, and I wanted to find a brand that had noncomedogenic products. I love its stuff because it’s really big on noncomedogenicity, which I’m very big on. I know there’s another brand a lot of people like to use that’s more expensive, but I find this way better at removing makeup before going into a gentle cleanser. I like the pink one, the OG. Garnier has so many different ones, but I find this to be the best for everyone and it feels really good on the skin. I don’t like the feel of all the newer ones.

It’s super simple, easy. It has niacinamide and ceramides. Really gentle, also noncomedogenic. Great for all skin types. I worked for a dermatologist when I started my career. Everything she recommended was drugstore because people were on prescription meds and they didn’t need anything other than gentle products.

I don’t work with benzoyl peroxide a lot. I find it too harsh, and it can work and then stop working after a certain amount of using it. But my kids, ages 16 and 12, have been using this, and they really like it for acne. It’s a 2.5 percent concentration and kills bacteria and inflammation and is really good for people struggling with acne. I wouldn’t use the whole system, but I like the acne treatment and would definitely use that. It says it’s the a.m. treatment, but I would actually use it at night.

There are so many different bodywashes at this point, and this one is just nice. It foams up, it’s got shea butter in it, and soothing niacinamide calms irritation.

Hands down my favorite. I’ve never had a better mascara. My thing with mascara is that I don’t want a big wand and I don’t want it to be clumpy. This doesn’t clump. It has a two-step process where you can use the primer that lengthens the lashes. I don’t even use that. I just use step two. It’s also really easy to remove. Comes right off with micellar water.

I like a nice gloss, but a lot of balms can dry out your lips and this one is really, really hydrating. It has shea butter in it. I use the regular formula at night like a lip mask.

I’m not always a fan of an eye gel, but I really like this one a lot. It has niacinamide in it, so it helps to brighten, but also caffeine, which helps to reduce any puffiness. A gel is for somebody who doesn’t need as much hydration, and although this one does give you that, it really helps with any dark circles.

I’m a big pimple-patch person. These work really well. My kids love them. They use them a lot. Not only do they absorb oil, they protect from any other bacteria coming in. A lot of these patches don’t really do much of anything other than allow people to actually cover their pimples, which is a great thing, and kids love wearing that out. It’s almost like cool to have that. But I think these are ones that actually work.