Sheet masks are one of my favorite souvenirs to buy when I’m traveling, since they don’t count as liquids—and they’re easy to stuff into my already-too-full carryon luggage. I bought quite a few sheet masks during my trip to Japan last fall. I can’t read Japanese, so while I was there, I looked for products that displayed a “No. 1” symbol, since I assumed that they indicated that the product was popular. One such product was a 5-pack of Kose Clear Turn White…

Lancome Bienfait UV SPF 50+ Super Fluid Facial Sunscreen is a premium product, so I was definitely excited to see that it was one of the two full-sized products included in Sephora’s Sun Safety Kit 2018. I like the fact that it’s specifically labeled as a “facial sunscreen,” because it makes me think that it’s been developed to be less irritating and less likely to aggravate acne. I’m not sure if there’s any truth to that—it’s just the way I feel.

Lately I’ve come to realize that salicylic acid is an underrated over-the-counter ingredient. For a long time, I only associated salicylic acid with acne face washes, spot treatments, and the like. But it’s actually a very versatile skin care ingredient that helps people who have psoriasis and keratosis pilaris (“rough and bumpy” skin). And it’s classified as a beta hydroxy acid, aka a chemical exfoliant that helps improve the texture of skin and fine lines, without…