Melt by melissa

One of the biggest misconceptions in skincare is that if a cleanser is labeled “gentle” or wrapped in beautiful, earthy packaging... it must be good for your skin. I wish it were that simple 🤦🏻‍♀️

As an esthetician, I’m looking far beyond the front of the bottle. I’m paying attention to surfactants, fragrance, barrier support, ingredient quality, and whether a cleanser leaves your skin feeling calm and comfortable... not tight, squeaky, or stripped. Sometimes the products with the loudest marketing aren’t the ones I’d trust most with your skin.

This little ranking is simply my professional perspective after years of treating thousands of faces and studying formulations. You don’t have to agree with every rating 🤭, but my hope is that it inspires you to become a more thoughtful, informed skincare shopper. Healthy skin almost always starts with getting the basics right. 💫

One of the biggest mindset shifts I’ve had over the years is realizing that hydrated skin isn’t created by one magical moisturizer... it’s the result of supporting your skin (and your body 🤍) from multiple angles.

We spend so much time searching for the next serum when sometimes the answer is much simpler: nourishing ourselves well, layering true hydration before our moisturizer, and creating little rituals that replenish us throughout the day. I think our skin loves consistency far more than complexity.

Lately, I’ve been especially reaching for hydrating mists during these spicy summer days, after travel, or anytime my skin feels a little depleted. It’s one of those tiny acts of self-care that feels just as good for my nervous system as it does for my skin. 🫶🏼

Healthy, juicy, resilient skin isn’t built in one moment... it’s created through hundreds of small, loving choices that add up over time.

And for the 6th horror movie: my postpartum melasma... and whew, she has humbled me. 🫠

After having my sweet babe, I just wanted to feel like *me* again. I booked what I thought would be a simple BBL treatment, hoping to brighten my skin and feel a little more confident. Instead, it went terriblyyy wrong. In my most fragile early new mama state, I suffered from a horrifying reaction and ironically, becoming even more self-conscious about the very thing I was trying to heal.

As someone who’s spent years educating others about skin, it was a powerful reminder that none of us are immune to the ever-changing seasons of our bodies. Beautiful skin isn’t a straight line. It can include trial and error, unexpected detours, moments of frustration, and choosing to keep showing up + loving ourselves through it all.

These days, I’m still insecure about my melasma but I’m taking a much gentler approach. More patience. More kindness. More protection. More compassion for the skin that’s carried me through pregnancy, postpartum, and every season in between. 🌞💛

Maybe that’s the real glow-up... not chasing perfection, but learning to partner with your skin instead of fighting it.

If you know me, you know I’m basically the Emu Oil Evangelist. 😂

I LOVE face oils and I’m so happy we’ve moved past the era of being afraid to put healthy fats on our skin.

But here’s the thing... not all oils are created equal.

Different oils have different fatty acid profiles, nutrient content, and benefits. Some are incredible for your skin barrier, some shine for pigmentation or inflammation, and some... I’d rather save for your hair or body.

After 14+ years as an aesthetician, here’s how I’d rank some of the most popular face oils.

Agree? Fight me in the comments. 😏👇

Confession: I have never considered myself a makeup girl. 🙋🏻‍♀️ I’ve always been much more interested in creating healthy, glowing skin than mastering complicated techniques.

Over the past year though, I’ve found a routine that feels beautifully simple, incredibly forgiving, and most importantly... still looks like me. A little underpainting, soft bronzing, fluffy brows, brown mascara, a touch of color, and a healthy veil of hydration to finish. Nothing overly sculpted or that takes forever. More like fresh, radiant skin with a little extra life.

One thing I’ve learned is that makeup becomes so much easier when your skin is healthy. You need less product, less coverage, and a lot less perfection. 🤍

Everything I used is available at MELT. I’ve linked the Mary Phillips underpainting palette + brush, along with the rest of my everyday makeup favorites, in the link in bio. Hope you love them as much as I do. ✨

THE RESULTS. 🤌
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These brows really don’t need much of an introduction.
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Our Hybrid Brow Tint creates the kind of fullness that makeup usually gets credit for.
*Unlike a traditional tint that colors only the hairs, this treatment also leaves a soft stain on the SKIN beneath, adding depth, density, and beautifully natural definition.

💓Available as a standalone service OR an Add-On to your Brow Magic/Brow Lami.
💓 Service by LEXEE on our babe Dana Pruett

POV: you got a Korean Lash Lift with us👀💝

Come behind the scenes for a little lash lift day with our babes Rachael Gildersleeve and Katrina! Here’s your sign to give your lashes a little ✨main character energy✨

Would you try a Korean Lash Lift?👇🏼

💌 Both locations - book through the link in our bio