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I’ve always admired the people that wake up at 6 a.m. and set aside an hour to do a 10-step skincare routine, style their hair, and brush on a full face of makeup. While I’ve attempted to be “that girl” a few times, I’ve come to accept that I’m simply not. My M.O. is getting as much sleep as I can and looking as presentable as possible with the least amount of effort. While I love indulging in new skincare trends and trying new products, my lifestyle really only allows me to carve out so much time to cleanse, exfoliate, moisturize and mask. And while many brands are focused on bringing more products to your medicine cabinet, 4AM Skin is hoping to help you pare it all down.
When Less Is More
4AM Skin was founded by Jade Beguelin and Sabrina Sadeghian with the belief that less is more. As students and young professionals, the two were searching for skincare products that actually worked without adding to their already hectic lifestyles (hello again, multi-step skincare routines). With Sadeghian’s background in cosmetic chemistry and Beguelin’s business background trading on Wall Street, the duo decided to fill the hole in the industry themselves.
4AM Skin is making skincare uncomplicated with a fuss-free serum duo ($120) that delivers everything a more lengthy process would and caters to all skin types. The brand calls it skinimalism.
Aptly named Rise and Rest (each $69), for morning and night respectively, 4AM eliminates the need for layering products and actives on top of each other hoping to see results (not only is this a waste of time, but it can actually damage your skin barrier). Just cleanse, 4AM, moisturize and you’re set for the day. It’s a simple, effective process that’s made to fit seamlessly into your lifestyle, whatever that is.
It’s What’s On The Inside That Counts
Credit: @4amskin
Of course, no skincare review would be complete without an ingredient rundown. When creating the formulas for 4AM Skin, Beguelin and Sadeghian thought of everything. They took into account the external factors we come in contact with and the activities we participate in that affect our skin everyday. Then they found the right active ingredients to address these concerns.
Aquaxyl: Like a tall glass of water for thirsty, dehydrated skin, Aquaxyl strengthens the skin barrier and boosts lipids and proteins to keep skin quenched.
Lespedeza Capitata: When we’re tired, our skin shows it. Skin has a circadian rhythm of its own, and when it's disrupted we’re more likely to develop hyperpigmentation, acne, melasma, and other signs of damage. This plant extract helps resynchronize the skin’s circadian rhythm, helping our skin cells function and repair optimally, ultimately making skin less susceptible to environmental damages.
Ferulic Acid: A workhorse of an ingredient, Ferulic Acid fights free radicals, protects skin against light damage, lessens signs of aging, and boosts the effectiveness of other antioxidants, like vitamin C.
Ergothioneine: This antioxidant amino acid works to shield your skin from the effects of free radical damage like air pollutants. It also interrupts the aging process aggravated by sugar and alcohols.
The goal? “We want to bring the skin back to its natural functioning. Help DNA repair, strengthen the skin barrier and ultimately allow those pathways to work,” the founders say.
Using this duo is simple. For morning, use your regular cleanser, Rise Serum, moisturizer, and last but not least SPF. At night, cleanser, Rest Serum, and moisturizer are more than enough. If you have oily skin, you may not even need moisturizer after as the serums are very hydrating on their own.
I love the way Rise leaves my skin feeling in the morning. It’s the perfect canvas for makeup: silky-smooth and everything just sinks right in, no creases or cakiness.
Credit: @4amskin
The stuff on the inside is great, but the outside is pretty great too. The minimalist black and white packaging feels so on-brand for a brand trying to do less. Plus, it looks great sitting on my counter and I can feel better about the fact that I can recycle it when I’m done -- thank you glass bottle.
While these serums are on the pricier side, they eliminate the need for a host of other serums and oils in your repertoire, which I think makes them worth the money.
Bad Habits, Good Skin
We all know that our skin would probably be plumper and glowier if we got 10 hours of sleep and drank a gallon of water a day, but some of us are surviving on five hours a night, three cups of coffee, and pizza for every meal, and we wouldn’t change a thing.
Credit: @4amskin
We all live our lives differently, but the point is that many young people aren’t willing to sacrifice their lifestyle, whether that be late night study seshes or late night tequila shots, for perfect skin.
4AM not only gets that, but it embraces that fact.
From the skinimalist mission to irreverent branding, 4am encourages its customers to live their best lives, indulge in their favorite guilty pleasures, and worry about skincare later.
For the all-nighter, wine-drinker, late-night-dollar-slice-lover, and bar-crawler in us all, I have just the brand for you.
5 More Reasons To Love 4AM:
- Giving Back: As a brand that celebrates nightlife and club culture, 4AM donates 5% of every sale to The Center (NYC’s LGBTQ+ Community Center) to give back to the vibrant community that has inspired their brand in so many ways.
- Fragrance-Free: Sensitive skin safe. 4AM Skin ditches the fluff of fragrances and colors for a product that everyone can use.
- High Standards: If the founders wouldn’t put it on their own skin, you won’t find it in their serums. That’s why all 4AM products are vegan, cruelty-free, PH-balanced, and dermatologist tested.
- No More Guessing: Don’t waste time worrying about whether or not your skincare products will work. 4AM endlessly researched to figure out the right concentrations of the right actives that most people need to optimize how their skin functions.
- Party Positive: While some brands shame you for your lifestyle choices, 4AM wants you to embrace them. So, go on, dance the night away!
