Few things are worse than irritated, dry skin. Bouncy, smooth skin is the goal here, but tight and itchy? Not so much.

If your skin is in need of a boost in moisture and glow, add this recipe to your Friday night repertoire. Slip into your robe, have Spotify set at your favorite playlist, light a few candles—whatever suits your fancy, really—and treat you and your skin to a good drink. Make this a well-deserved R&R session if you’re staying in, and if you’re willing to brave the cold for an evening out on the town, let this be your prep for flawless makeup from application to finish.

Bottom’s up!

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Ingredients:

• Hyaluronic Emulsion with Vitamin C
• Rose Hips Mask
• Seaweed Night Cream
• Ceramide Herbal Eye Cream

Directions:

1. Every DIY facial starts with a clean complexion. Cleanse, exfoliate, tone with your trusty favorites—you know how the tune goes. (And if you don’t? We’ve got you covered—read up on our guide to DIY at-home facials!)
2. Hydrate and brighten. Start by massaging a few drops of the Hyaluronic Emulsion with Vitamin C into the skin. Any skincare expert or bona fide junkie will rave on endlessly about the benefits of Hyaluronic Acid and Vitamin C. Add Collagen to the mix and you have yourself an incredibly nourishing, nutrient-rich serum that helps restore skin’s natural moisture, improve clarity, and brighten the skin.
3. Bring back the dewy glow. Our Rose Hips Mask is a fall Mario Mask Must (can you say that three times fast?!). It’s perfect for sensitive or dull, tired skin in restoring moisture for a healthy, radiant complexion. We’re all about antioxidant Vitamin C for its brightening properties—and this mask is chock full of it.
4. You’ve got 20 minutes all to yourself. Are you singing along to Marvin Gaye or Barbara Streisand right now? We are. Do feel free to join us…
5. Rinse well with warm water and follow with, once again, your favorite toner. Take a good look in the mirror—this step is indisputably the most important of them all—and admire your skin for a few moments. Soft, supple, plump, and with a dewy glow to boot.
6. Are you headed out? Pat on your go-to moisturizer and start the second phase of the beautification process. Relish in the easy application and flawless finish—good skincare and beautiful makeup are inexplicably linked. (Remember that!)
7. If you’re staying in, lock in all that moisture and glow with the Seaweed Night Cream. It’s the most versatile and lightweight of our creams in that it’s oil-free and therefore non-greasy. Seaweed, Collagen, and Hyaluronic Acid help keep your complexion nourished and hydrated all throughout the night.
8. Don’t forget the eyes! Reduce the appearance of dry, tired under-eyes and help smooth the look of fine lines with the Ceramide Herbal Eye Cream. It’s one of our lighter options, making it a universal choice, but don’t hesitate to reach for something richer if you need it.

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Originally published as #MBRecipe: Solutions For Seriously Dry Skin from the Mario Badescu Skin Care Blog.

Whether you’re a football fanatic or get (begrudgingly) roped into watching athletic things you have zero interest in, we’re proposing a solution that will make both sports fans and non-participants enjoy the Superbowl that much more. You have your jersey. Your seven-layer dip. Your favorite beer. Let’s add a little self-care to the mix and you have your Superbowl Sunday skin care so that no matter the outcome (especially if you’re someone who cares), you’ll be glowing. Defeated, maybe, but glowing.

Here’s how to get your game day ritual going:

The Ultimate Pregame

Between sneaking bites of chips and dip or sips of beer, take your typical pregame to the next level so that you arrive to the bar/living room with your game face on. Literally.

1. Start with Botanical Exfoliating Scrub to get everything looking shiny and new. The key is to gently massage the exfoliant in circular motions for at least 30 seconds to allow those finely ground Ecuadorian Ivory Palm Seeds to polish your skin until it’s soft and smooth.
2. Once you’ve rid your skin of all that unwanted gunk and grime, it’s time to purify. Exfoliating helps loosen up pore-clogging sebum so that your clay-based masks can work more effectively at lifting impurities from your skin. You could just apply your favorite mask, but we suggest multi-masking. Apply Silver Powder on your T-zone to help minimize the look of stubborn blackheads (here’s a step-by-step guide on how to use Silver Powder), and apply your go-to radiance-boosting mask everywhere else. (We recommend using Enzyme Revitalizing Mask for that instant-gratification glow.)
3. We know you’re eager to get back to pregame duties, so we’re giving you the green light to cut the waiting time short. Leave on your mask for about 10 minutes, remove it with warm water, and follow with toner and your go-to moisturizer.
4. Stash a few facial sprays in your cooler or fridge (or if you’re going out, take one to go). Trust us on this one.

1^st Quarter

Things are going fairly well. Spirits are high: it’s still early in the game, every call is exhilarating, and there are plenty of apps and beer to go around. Spritz your skin with rosewater Facial Spray to keep the glow going. (It’ll look great in selfies.)

2^nd Quarter

There are now more chips than there is dip available—and the game is starting to get serious. Are your lips dry from all the shouting (or awkward smiling from pretending you know what’s going on)? Take a sip of water (stay hydrated), apply Cellufirm Drops around your mouth to replenish those dry corners, and smack on some Lip Wax. Continue, as you do.

Halftime

Screw the commercials. Use this time to de-stress your skin because there’s still a ways to go and you’re too worked up. Liberally mist your complexion with our Lavender Facial Spray, then apply a thin, even layer of Azulene Calming Mask to get your skin feeling zen.

But, if watching the Superbowl ads is a long-standing tradition you simply cannot miss, just reach for Facial Spray with Aloe, Chamomile and Lavender. On top of re-balancing skin and soothing your complexion, it’ll have been chilled from being stored in the cooler—offering your skin this cooling, calming mist that’ll help take your mind off of the score.

3^rd Quarter

You’re ready and refreshed for the second half of the game. Remember this moment, because it’s not going to last for long.

4^th Quarter

Stakes are high. Tension is so thick you could cut it with a knife. Pass around the Lavender Facial Spray, or just mist the general area whenever the room needs a collective cool-down during the last few minutes. And just in case the game rolls into overtime…

Overtime

Keep Lavender Facial Spray on tap, and if you’re up for it, utilize these crucial few minutes to better your skin and keep yourself occupied. A few ideas:

• Apply hand cream to prevent flailing your arms about in excitement/despair and inevitably (a) hitting someone square in the face or (b) knocking over a drink or propelling a plate of half-eaten wings onto the carpet. Fight the urge by really working in the hand cream. Give your hands a massage while you’re at it. You’re welcome. Plus, your hands will be ready for all the post-game, good-spirited handshakes. You might be able to fake good sportsmanship, but you can’t fake well cared-for hands.
• Are you notorious for not having the greatest sportsmanship post-game where, instead of making your rounds of hugs and handshakes, prefer to skulk off and wallow? No worries, no judgment here. Reach for Cuticle Cream—a thick, goopy cream that makes for sticky fingers but very happy cuticles—to occupy nervous hands throughout overtime and give you a real excuse not to participate in the post-game kumbaya.

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Originally published as Superbowl Sunday Skin Care from the Mario Badescu Skin Care Blog.

Perfect alone, powerful together.

Oily, troubled skin? Try this:

DRYING MASK + HEALING & SOOTHING MASK

This dynamic duo is a perfect case study of why opposites attract. Drying Mask targets existing breakouts to clarify angry, acne-prone skin, and Healing & Soothing Mask works to restore essential hydration and comfort compromised skin. When paired together, the two masks help keep skin in check—encouraging a clearer, healthier-looking complexion.

How to use them together: Start with clean skin. Apply a thin, even layer of Drying Mask on breakouts or acne-prone areas only. Wait 15-20 minutes for the mask to dry, then rinse thoroughly with warm water and follow with your targeted treatments or Anti-Acne Serum. Use Healing & Soothing Mask the day after to restore balance to your skin.

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Congested skin? Try this:

BOTANICAL EXFOLIATING SCRUB + SILVER POWDER

Keep skin clear with this blackhead-busting combo. Botanical Exfoliating Scrub gently buffs away all the dead skin cells, excess oil, and surface impurities so Silver Powder can work even more effectively at purifying pores.

How to use them together: Gently massage Botanical Exfoliating Scrub in circles all over (except the eye area, of course!) for 30 seconds, then rinse. Dampen a cotton ball or pad, dip it directly into the Silver Powder, and press the paste to congested areas (like your T-zone). Let it dry for 5-8 minutes, then remove with your favorite toner.

#MBSkinTip: Save 15% when you grab our Polish & Purify kit—which includes Botanical Exfoliating Scrub and Silver Powder, both full-size!

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Dry, Combination, or Sensitive skin? Try this:

HERBAL HYDRATING SERUM + ROSE HIPS NOURISHING OIL

This under-the-radar duo is soon to be an iconic power couple—mark my words. (To be fair, I first learned of this #MBSkinTip from our PR & Marketing Director and it has since changed by travel skincare game.)

You’ve got Herbal Hydrating Serum, a super lightweight, water-based gel that gives skin a dewy glow. Then there’s Rose Hips Nourishing Oil, a Rosehip-infused facial oil that absorbs quickly into the skin to instantly replenish dry areas and add radiance to dehydrated skin. Both are gorgeous formulas on their own—but together? Magic.

How to use them together: The beauty of this combo lies in its ability to be fully customizable to your skin. Mix them together and you create a lightweight, hydrating serum that you can wear alone or layer with your favorite moisturizers or face creams.

Feeling a little dehydrated? Add a drop of Rose Hips Nourishing Oil to Herbal Hydrating Serum and pat it on any dry patches. Skin looking dry as the Sahara desert? Mix equal parts of both (or more of the oil) and apply all over, then follow with your favorite face cream.

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Dry or mature skin? Try this:

PEPTIDE RENEWAL SERUM + PEPTIDE RENEWAL CREAM

Products that were formulated together, stay together. Peptide Renewal Serum and Peptide Renewal Cream were designed to complement one another—and while each can be used on its own, this powerful peptide duo works synergistically to target visible signs of aging and support skin’s elasticity.

How to use them together: After cleansing and toning, apply 1-2 drops of Peptide Renewal Serum to your face, neck, and décolletage, then layer Peptide Renewal Cream on top.

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Sensitive skin? Try this:

AZULENE CALMING MASK + CHAMOMILE CLEANSING LOTION

For sensitive skin in need of calm and comfort, this is the perfect product pairing for you. Azulene Calming Mask is the mask our salon’s aesthetician’s keep on hand just in case a client has reactive skin. Also on hand at every aestheticians’ station? Chamomile Cleansing Lotion, the gentlest toner in our line.

How to use them together: Apply Azulene Calming Mask all over or in targeted areas, then wait 15-20 minutes. Once your mask has set and is ready to be removed, liberally mist your face with Facial Spray to soften the mask, helping to avoid unnecessary tugging or pulling on delicate skin. Rinse off the mask, then follow with Chamomile Cleansing Lotion to further balance and soothe your skin.

Originally published as Power Pairings for Every Skin Type from the Mario Badescu Skin Care Blog.

Few things are worse than irritated, dry skin. Plump skin is the goal here, but tight and itchy? Not so much.

If your skin is in need of a boost in moisture and glow, add this recipe to your Friday night repertoire. Slip into your robe, have Spotify set at your favorite playlist, light a few candles—whatever suits your fancy, really—and treat you and your skin to a good drink. Make this a well-deserved R&R session if you’re staying in, and if you’re willing to brave the cold for an evening out on the town, let this be your prep for flawless makeup from application to finish.

Bottom’s up!

You’ll Need:

• Hyaluronic Emulsion with Vitamin C
• Rose Hips Mask
• Facial Spray with Aloe, Herbs and Rosewater
• Honey Moisturizer or Seaweed Night Cream
• Cellufirm Drops (optional)
• Hyaluronic Eye Cream, Olive Eye Cream, or Olive Eye Cream

Your Solution for Seriously Dry Skin:

1. Every DIY facial starts with a clean complexion. Cleanse, exfoliate, and tone with your trusty favorites—you know how the tune goes.
2. Bring back the dewy glow. Our Rose Hips Mask is a fall Mario Mask Must (can you say that three times fast?!). It’s perfect for sensitive or dull, tired skin in restoring moisture for a healthy, plump complexion. We’re all about antioxidant Vitamin C for its brightening properties—and this mask is chock full of it.
3. You’ve got 20 minutes all to yourself. Put down your phone, resist answering work emails, and relax.
4. Mist like you mean it. Once your mask has dried, give your complexion a liberal misting of Facial Spray with Aloe, Herbs and Rosewater. It’ll help soften the mask to ease the removal process and prevent tugging at your skin.
5. Rinse well with warm water and follow with, once again, your favorite toner. Take a good look in the mirror—this step is indisputably the most important of them all—and admire your skin for a few moments. Soft, supple, plump, and with a dewy glow to boot.
6. Brighten and replenish. Start by massaging a few drops of the Hyaluronic Emulsion with Vitamin C into the skin. Any skincare expert or bona fide junkie will rave on endlessly about the benefits of Hyaluronic Acid and Vitamin C. Add Collagen to the mix and you have yourself an incredibly nourishing, nutrient-rich serum that helps restore skin’s natural moisture, improve clarity, and brighten the skin.
7. Are you headed out? Pat on your go-to moisturizer and start the second phase of the beautification process. We recommend a creamy, skin-smoothing formula like our Honey Moisturizer. Relish in the easy application and flawless finish—good skincare and beautiful makeup are inexplicably linked. (Remember that!)
8. If you’re staying in, lock in all that moisture and glow with the Seaweed Night Cream. Because it’s so lightweight and versatile, it’s easy to layer up on your serums and customize your glow. Seaweed Night helps lock in all that moisture and nutrients while its Collagen content helps plump the appearance of skin so that come morning, dull and dry is a thing of yesteryear.
9. Don’t forget the eyes! Reduce the appearance of dry, tired under-eyes and help smooth the look of fine lines with the Hyaluronic Eye Cream, our best-selling and most universal formula. It’s perfect for day or under make-up, but if you’re in need of heavy-duty moisture before bed, you know the drill: Layer up. Pat 1-2 drops of Cellufirm Drops around the eye area before applying your eye cream. In need of something even richer (especially for nighttime)? Swap out Hyaluronic Eye Cream for Olive Eye Cream or Glycolic Eye Cream instead.

Originally published as #MBRecipe: The Ultimate Solution for Seriously Dry Skin from the Mario Badescu Skin Care Blog.