Rachel Brosnahan has just been named the first celebrity spokesperson to represent the skincare line Cetaphil. Cetaphil is especially good for sensitive skin, which is why Rachel has used it for the last ten years on the advice of her mother. Rachel is also pretty plain spoken, which makes her the perfect relatable spokesperson for a brand that everyone can afford. And she does a good job talking about why Cetaphil is so integral to her skincare routine… well, Cetaphil and all the other skin care products she uses.
What’s your nighttime beauty routine like?
Hydration is basically what my entire nighttime routine is centered around. If I’m coming from work with a lot of makeup on my face, I’ll first remove some of the more makeup-y makeup with the Cetaphil Gentle Makeup Remover. Then, I wash my face with the Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser, either with or without water depending on the type of day I’ve had. I have really sensitive skin, so if it’s particularly irritated — if it’s really hot or really cold out, for example — I’ll use it without water. It leaves my skin feeling really soft and hydrated. If I feel like I need a slightly deeper clean, I’ll use it with water.I’ve been coupling that with the Vintner’s Daughter Botanical Serum which I was introduced to a couple months back. A couple times a week, I’ll use a mask after I take my makeup off and before I put the serum on. Joanna Vargas makes this Euphoria Face Mask that so good. It’s just dripping with good stuff. I love that you pull it out and it’s sopping wet. While I’m working, I try to keep my skin-care routine as simple as possible so that my skin doesn’t get too irritated or inflamed.
Now, nobody’s asked me to be a celebrity spokesperson so I don’t know the ins and outs, but I thought the point of being paid by a brand was to hype that brand and that brand alone. Cetaphil is produced by Galderma Laboratories, who also makes Proactiv and Differin but none of the other brands Rachel is promoting. And she is promoting them because she mentions them in many interviews. I understand Cetaphil doesn’t make serums or face masks, but are all the others paying her too? I hope, at the very least, she’s getting gift baskets. I’m kind of splitting hairs here when in reality, I appreciate a skincare routine that mixes affordable with splurges. I need to finesse mine a little more because I know I’m paying too much for the stuff I use daily. I’m fine spending a little bit more for serums and moisturizers, but I bet I could find some less expensive cleansers. I do need a retinol that doesn’t dry the hell out of my upper lip area – any suggestions?
Cetaphil isn’t the only deal Rachel has signed; she’s just inked a first-look deal with Amazon Studios. I’ve mentioned that The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel is not for me, but I really like Rachel so I’m happy to hear her star continues to rise. I don’t like her Midge character, but I think she has real acting chops so I’m looking forward to seeing her branch out. Also, Rachel is a “crazy dog mom” who talks to her doggos all the time and see her time with them as “self-care.” I love this. I will henceforth be working 15-minute self-care dog-snuggle breaks into my schedule.
Photo credit: Instagram and Avalon
The Ordinary and Paula’s Choice do my favourite retinol products. Paula’s Choice in particular balances the retinol with soothing ingredients in their serums & retinol lines. The Ordinary is more affordable and gets the job done however I’d argue that Paula’s Choice ones are more powerful.
Both are cruelty free and available online.
Thank you for mentioning they are cruelty free. I only buy products that are vegan and cruelty free. No animal should suffer for our “beauty”.
Thank you! She loves her dogs but clearly doesn’t give a hoot about the animals being tested on for the sake of her beauty routine.
I use a mix of Sunday Riley, The Ordinary, and GLOW – all are clean, and all are cruelty free. I like using a mix of products, too!
I’m an avid user of Paula’s Choice especially their moisturizers and BHA products. You can’t go wrong with those
Ren has some really good cleansers which are not too expensive. I have recently started using Erborian Black Cleansing Oil (charcoal) mainly as its great to wipe makeup off with and because my skin can get oily – its a Korean/French brand who also has some great BB creams.
Alas, I’m in the midst of an eczema flare up, so it’s Garnier milky cleansing cream (a knock off of Glossier’s Milky Jelly), with cortisone creams and an SPF 15 sunblock by Nivea (sensitive, doesn’t turn my skin blue, and blocks out 93% of the sun’s rays, I’m good).
I do like The Ordinary’s milky cleanser (but a bigger tube, please), and I’m finishing up my Emma Hardie cleansing balm (when I feel flush).
I don’t know how acceptable her comments are from a promotional standpoint, but it kind of cracked me up. “I use cetaphil! It’s amazing! with all these other products too” lol
How does she use Cetaphil to clean without rinsing, does she rub it in and wipe it off?
Recently found Cetaphil doesn’t get everything off and I follow up with that new water product (forget the name, micro something?). I have rosacea and sensitive skin.
For me I mix it with a bit of water and rub in my face and then wipe off with a cotton pad, esp when I’ve been wearing makeup.
Ah thanks, will try. My skin seems a bit better with less water but it being summer helps too.
I too have rosacea and sensitive skin and use cetaphil – do you wash for the recommended one minute or more? i generally use some oil cleanser to get the waterproof stuff off and then cetaphil with water for one minute.
Another rosacea sufferer w sensitive skin here: I completely avoiding water when I clean my face. It’s the only thing that prevents irritation and flare ups for me. I use mineral oil to take off my makeup and then just focus on moisturizing with gentle, low scent lotion. I don’t think our faces need cleaned as much as corporate America claims we do.
I swear by Tatcha. Affordable products that are amazing.
Tatcha is really amazing.
For cleaning skin, if you want to get everything off while gently exfoliating, Mario Badescu makes a fairly gently glycolic cleanser. I use it a couple of times a week, and promptly moisturize the heck out of my face.
I’m also a big fan of GLOW’s Blueberry Bounce cleanser. It’s super gentle.
Yes, you rub it on your face and just wipe it off. I also have rosacea and sensitive skin. When I used Cetaphil, I found it left my face too oily to just wipe off and would usually rinse instead, but like you I felt like it didn’t get everything off. I’ve switched to CeraVe, and I absolutely love it. It washes everything off, but doesn’t make my face feel tight like other cleansers do.
I use Cetaphil with a terry wash cloth. Then rinse with water. I also keep a pump bottle in the shower.
I also use the Vintner’s Daughter products. The serum is to die for: it really works well, leaves your skin soft…it’s even lightened my dark spots! Something I NEVER thought would happen! lol. They just came out with an elixir to hydrate with first (smells like vinegar, from the fermenting process, but that goes away almost immediately). The you follow w/the serum, and DONE. My skin has never looked better.
Back in the 90’s, I used Cetaphil when I worked with premature infants. It was found to be the least disruptive to the natural acid mantle of the skin so in my mind it’s a case of “if it’s gentle enough for a preemie butt…”
WOW!! That’s super-informative and reassuring! Thank you for that!
Cetaphil just never cut it. Love Cerave for body. Can’t use on the face because of coconut derivatives. I prefer this approach where she name checks other products because we all know it’s not just Cetaphil.
The fact that she admits to using other products actually makes me believe her more.
It’s probably good for Cetaphil for people to see it lumped in with high end brands like that. Fancy!
Cetaphil is fine unless you wear makeup in which case it’s not strong enough to get all of the gunk off of your face. Also, Cetaphil and CeraVe are owned by pharmaceutical companies which is the only reason why doctors recommend them. If you actually look at their ingredients they are horrific, especially if you have sensitive skin. I never trust a doctor who recommends Cetaphil, especially a dermatologist.
Hecate–For retinol, you have to start slowly and build up tolerance. Maybe try using it every other day, or even every third day in the beginning. By the third week or so you can try using it daily. I like differin and Paula’s Choice retinol. After retinol I put on an oil from Acure and then a light facial lotion from Mad Hippie. And then use a good sunscreen every day with retinol as it makes you more sun sensitive.
Just FYI, retinol isn’t supposed to be applied around the mouth, chin, or nostrils or the neck. Those areas don’t adjust to the irritation of retinol and will always be red and peeling if you apply it there. Retinol can be used on the cheeks, temples, and forehead. (My dermatologist told me this, I’m not just making things up). I’m 26 so I use Differin for the acne fighting properties and not so much for anti aging, but I hear that the SkinCeuticals retinols are good. Differin is thought to have milld anti aging effects also but I don’t think they’ve done clinical trials to confirm. I’ve had the hardest time finding a good cheap cleanser, all the ones I like get discontinued! The best I’ve found recently isn’t even that inexpensive, it’s the Caudalie milk cleanser and it was like $28, but my skin is so sensitive to everything that I live and die by the ingredients lists of products, and that one passed the test (no shea butter, no sulfates, no lavender/overpowering fragrance).
Eh, sorry, not true, maybe just your derm’s opinion. You can definitely apply above the lip where people often get discoloration, chin and most definitely neck. Nostrils, no, but why would you?
Are you a dermatologist? She told me those areas, esp the neck, don’t produce enough oil to tolerate the irritation. My “derm’s opinion” is worth a lot more than just someone on the Internet, she’s a trained, licensed, and board-certified doctor. Are you?
Hilarious honey, you’re not a derm either. “My derm” told me what I wrote above, and I’ve been using retinol for years. “Your derm’s opinion” is not god’s word. Plus, google is your friend, google it.
You need to apply retinol evenly over the entire face, it’s meant to even out the complexion. If you do it in certain areas only you will get a blotchy, uneven complexion. I put it on my neck, upper chest and back of hands, no redness or peeling if you do it little by little.
Dermatologists also get perks for recommending products. Look at thr package insert and see the product can absolutely be used around the mouth. Because tretinoin is so hostile with skin maybe your doc is sensitive or reactive.
Double post
I like cetaphil’s body lotion, but I prefer CeraVe’s face wash. Vanicream is my absolute favorite face wash and bar soap, though. Super awesome for sensitive and rosacea skin.