#rec me good face spf

[keirametzbrassknuckles]

#JustWhitegirlThings: got a sunburn from sitting in a sunbeam coming through the library window for 5 minutes

[batmanshole]

ylfvaaa do you have any makeup and skincare recs 😭 im trying to get into skincare but i have no idea where to start, i see a lot of people hyping up korean skincare but idk what products live up to the hype. and i need new makeup badly but im scared of ordering a primer and then it sucks yknow. you seem really knowledgeable so if you can help me out it’d be much appreciated <3

hi anon. before i get into this i love you. i love when people ask me about this kinda stuff. makes me so happy. cosmetic chemistry autism.

ALSO to get your primer thing out of the way: i dont rlly use it but ive heard good things about the ELF one and my sister swears by the NYX one and her base is rlly good. so.

also i'd look on the following websites / stores:

sephora for western brands / mainstream kbeauty yesstyle for korean and japanese stuff chic decent or individual websites for chinese beauty (i usually get mine in person tho)

under the cut cause its long af. also i linked to some products but none of this is sponsored or affiliate or anything im just linking cause i like em 👍

OK FIRST OF ALLL. starting w skincare.

i would break down your routine into three main parts: -cleansing -moisturizing / hydrating -SPF

if you wanna get fancy, you can do exfoliation between cleansing and hydrating. but you really dont have to do that if u dont want to

first: cleansing

if you wanna wear makeup you should have a good way to take it off. no. no put the makeup wipes down. they aren't efficient and u will go through SO many of them. and they're a pain and can irritate ur skin w all the wiping (trust me on this one LOL)

i would recommend using an oil based product for this!! melts ur makeup OFFFF like crazy + even if you don't use makeup it will leave ur skin super clean ^__^ ALSO you should apply this to DRY SKIN and wash it off with lukewarm water (the oil emulsifies w water and also very cold water can make it harder to remove)

if you want an oil-based makeup remover for quick removal w a cotton pad: clinique take the day off (47cad ) this one is expensive tbh and isn't as effective as the others BUT. it takes a lot less energy to use + can be done quickly. if you want a cleanser that will take off your makeup incredibly well while washing ur face: kose softymo speedy cleanser (18cad) this is my absolute FAV. i use it allll the time it works so so well and ive reccomended it to tons of ppl before and theyve all liked it. if you want a cleansing balm for heavier makeup: clean-it zero cleansing balm original (30cad) i haven't tried this one myself, but i've heard VERY good things about it.

next i would follow that up with a water based cleanser (so foaming or gel). this will help to wash away all the stuff that the oil cleanser has loosened up and will wash away leftover oil cleanser.

my FAVOURITE is the senka perfect whip cleanser (14.50cad) i adore this stuff!! ive heard some people find it very drying but i havent had that issue? idk i've also heard good things about this beauty of joseon green plum gel cleanser (14.70 cad) but i haven't used it myself. huge fan of BOJ tho!!

(this is the part where you would exfoliate if you wanted to. for a chemical exfoliant i use the giant bottle of clinique stuff my aunt got me but its not worth the price tbh. u could also try the beauty of joseon apricot peeling gel (14.70cad) IF your skin can handle it. its a physical exfoliant tho so be careful. i also enjoy the pixi glow tonic. u can get this at like shoppers or cvs or somethign idk)

second: hydrating and moisturizing

okay so. this is super important if you do a lot of makeup and thus have to wash it away thoroughly.

i start with a hydrating toner. this helps to add water to your skin and smooth it (adding water before moisturizer is a good idea bc the moisturizers will both add moisture and lock in hydration from any prev products)

i use the the I'm from rice toner (38 cad but on sale rn) which is my absolute absolute FAAAV toner. super hydrating super perfect and beautiful. stunning. (you've probably seen people talk about the cosrx snail mucin, and it is nice i will admit. but do NOT use it if you are allergic to shellfish or dust, apparently. also apply it right after your hydrating toner, it needs to be on wet skin)

then i go in with a moisturizer!! i like to use ones with niacinimide or other humectants.

my go-to is the innisfree jeuju cherry blossom dewey glow jelly (35cad) she's so important to meee <3 love her. all time fav. it is SCENTED tho, so if you don't like that, try: beauty of joseon red bean water gel (17.80cad) super lightweight and has no noticeable scent. ive heard very good things and my friend is trying it soon ^__^

finally: SPF

this is THE most important step. sunscreen. wear sunscreen.

apply your sunscreen under your makeup in the morning, and throughout the day. if you wanna reapply using a sun stick, that's great!!! but don't use a sun stick as your ONLY protection.

also i'd avoid pure mineral sunscreens unless you have a legit allergy to chemical ones. mineral sunscreens are not as good and a lot of the marketing is iffy. also they leave a white cast which is esp noticeable on darker skin. mineral + chemical ones are usually fine tho :-)

my fav sunscreen is the biore UV aqua rich watery gel / watery essence (26cad) legit the best feeling sunscreen i have EVER used. my friends who hate sunscreen like this one. there's also the beauty of joseon rice probiotic releif sun cream (24cad) which is very nice too!! not my fav but a lot of people swear by it for reapplying throughout the day, i would use the beauty of joseon matte sun stick (24cad). ive heard super good things but ihavent tried it cause im finishing my other sun stick rn lol

this is all fairly basic stuff since u said you were new to it, but i can also go thru some less necessary, more fancy products if you ever need.

as for makeup, my favourite brands are:

-flower knows -rom&nd (romand) -daisique -etude -lilybyred

and i've heard really good things about / want to try:

-colorgram -judydoll -flortte -amuse -clio -peripera -into you

ok sorry this is so long but um. lmk if you have any further questions but my arms hurt so im gonna stop typing now. MWAH love you

[ugh-yoongi]

bts members as my skincare routine

(+ bonus smut recommendations)

inspired by @reliablemitten’s skincare & smut recs list that i was lucky enough to be included on. here, i will assign each member of bts a skincare product i am currently using with a smut recommendation to go with it. it is a little unhinged.

please enjoy. 🖤

park jimin • cleanser

i use the cetaphil gentle skin cleanser, and who is more gentle than jimin. he’s the person you want after a long, hard day. he’s the cleanser that’s going to see you fresh from the club, skin grubby from makeup and sweat and other associated grime, and he’s not going to bat an eye. he’s been in those trenches, too, no judgment. just make sure that water is room temperature. stop washing your face in the shower.

smut recommendation: the devil in his details by @johobi

jung hoseok • sunscreen

the obvious choice. hoseok is our resident sunshine, but sometimes he’s too hot and you need protection. i use the isntree hyaluronic acid sun gel. it’s spf 50+ and pa++++ so you know it’s putting in the work, just like our dance captain. it’s gentle and calming and protective. sounds familiar, doesn’t it?

smut recommendation: just practice by @lamourche

min yoongi • water

now you might be thinking, jewel, what do you mean yoongi is water. i mean yoongi is water! yoongi is our resident pisces with those little pisces teeth; he is water personified. plus, sometimes the best thing you can do for your skin is the simplest, and yoongi is a simple guy. you might think you like other things more, but you always return to water. (wash your face. btw i use tap water.)

smut recommendation: tear you apart by nutting on ao3

kim seokjin • moisturizer

water might be what’s best for your skin overall, but for a dry bitch like me, a good moisturizer is a holy grail. i use two: neutrogena hydro boost water gel, and seoul ceuticals multifunction all in one anti-aging snail repair cream. as a wise friend once said: jewel, you love your snail products. yes i do, but not as much as i love kim seokjin.

smut recommendation: all you’re giving me is friction by @hot-soop

kim namjoon • toner

sometimes i don’t know what’s best for me and i need an adult. also someone who’s way smarter than me. that’s why namjoon’s my toner. i use the ordinary’s glycolic acid 7% toning solution. it has solved all my problems, just like namjoon. ingrown hairs? gone. uneven skin? gone. the stubborn kp on my legs? mostly gone. however, they do both make me a little sticky…

smut recommendation: easy by tentigers on ao3

kim taehyung • exfoliator

let’s be serious, tae is a sweetheart but he’s also got an aries moon. as a fellow aries moon-haver, i get it. he’s baby but he’s also on weverse threatening to shoot someone in the neck, so he’s peak exfoliator. again, i use a couple: the slmd body smoothing system for my kp, the tropical mango tree hut shea sugar scrub for cheap general maintenance, and you can’t forget your noggin, so i use the kristin ess instant exfoliating scalp scrub there.

smut recommendation: pour up by @jungkxook

jeon jungkook • face mask

i need to be very honest for a second: i have a deep, deep fear that 2023 will be my jk stan era. a hot man with long hair and tattoos? he’s my type all over. but i’ve been strong. i’ve resisted. but i feel my resolve weakening, and that’s why jungkook is a face mask. i ordered the dr. jart+ ceramidin facial barrier mask to get free shipping from sukoshi mart, and joke’s on me, now i’m obsessed with it. i didn’t want to be obsessed with it, but sometimes the universe has other plans. i hate it here.

smut recommendation: city of trees by ginforink on ao3

[please note, some of these recs are mxm fics. totally cool if it’s not your thing! but don’t be a dickhead about it. thank u love u!]

[uncloseted]

thank you! i agree, i do focus on buying skincare as mindfully as possible- i currently use The Ordinary's vit c and retinol, cerave moisturising lotion and the LRP cicaplast. it's just my skin's a little dehydrated from the retinol (and from being oily in general) so i was wanting to add some extra hydration, and i heard hada labo is a very affordable, effective solution for it. do u also have any sunscreen recs for brown skin? i wanna use retinol more frequently but i never wear sunscreen lol

Yes! That's the way to do it. Hada Labo has always worked for me, so it's a good place to start. The Hada Labo Gokujyun Hydrating Lotion is supposed to be great for skin that's oily but dehydrated, so I would try that out.

For sunscreen, I would try:

Rohto Mentholatum - Skin Aqua Super Moisture UV Essence Gold SPF 50+ PA++++. This was the favorite on skincare Reddit. Supposedly has zero whitecast and leaves the skin looking glowy.

Trader Joe’s Invisible Sunscreen, if you're in the US.

Black Girl Sunscreen, which is specifically formulated for brown skin

CeraVe Hydrating Mineral Sunscreen Face Lotion with Sheer Tint

[fresh-bag-of-ham]

ok let’s talk SUNSCREEN

SO the UV filters available in the US can at this point be considered truly terrible. One of the main reasons you’re supposed to reapply sunscreen every two hours is that many of the filters we use are destroyed by the very UV radiation they are designed to block. Killed in the line of duty, thank you for your sacrifice, etc. Counterpoint: sunscreen is gross and reapplying it every two hours is the worst. I am not doing that. Fortunately, Europe and Japan/Korea have been much quicker to approve newly developed more stable UV filters for use and at this point they have some really good ones. They also have much better UVA protection, both because of the better filters available and better labeling regulations.

A quick simplified summary: UVB causes sunburns, is directly absorbed by DNA strands which causes the mutations that lead to skin cancer, SPF measures protection against this only. UVA does more generic damage, creates free radicals associated with aging, wrinkles, collagen loss, pigmentation, etc. etc., but can also contribute to immunosuppression and therefore skin cancer. It’s more complex than this obviously but that’s not really the point of this post.

My sunscreen criteria: I hate wearing sunscreen. However, Accutane + sun = an extremely bad time. My ideal sunscreen is something that doesn’t feel disgusting to wear so I will wear it regularly in the first place (i.e. dry-touch), something I ideally don’t have to reapply super often under normal daily use (i.e. photostable UV filters, water-resistant when necessary), and has maximum protection. As long as I’m wearing it, I also want as much UVA protection as I can find, without compromising the former criteria.

Note: The sunscreens I tried are almost all chemical UV filters and several are loaded with alcohol, so if that upsets your skin then proceed with caution/ask me for a specific rec!

Note 2: All of these are SPF50+ (the highest rating allowed in the EU (meaning they tested at at least SPF60) unless otherwise specified *cough*Supergoop*cough*)

Best Face: Kao Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence (x)

Best feel, best protection, best price point. This gets recommended everywhere for a reason. Bit of a silicone feel on the face. No white cast. Smells like alcohol at first. Really, really quality daily face sunscreen. Water resistant. Caveat that because of the alcohol I would make sure to throw a layer of moisturizer on beforehand to make sure I’m not totally drying myself out.

Also make sure you get the name exactly right, there’s a blah blah Watery Gel that’s totally different consistency, totally different filters, etc. etc. It has to be Watery Essence.

Best Body: Eucerin Sun Sensitive Protect Dry Touch Sun Gel-Cream (x)

This was a sleeper hit, so shout-out to Eucerin for the greatest body sunscreen I’ve ever tried. This stuff is SO protective and dries SO. DAMN. DRY. Zero grease somehow, feels like nothing. It’s even water resistant. I tried a couple LRP body sunscreens but they honestly aren’t worth mentioning. Eucerin or bust babey!

More Face Sunscreens:

I’ve also tried all top five sunscreens from this Stylevana listicle of Asian face SPF (x). The thing about face sunscreens that they’ve started doing is loading them up with silicones and acrylate polymers, which leaves a silicone-y feel on your skin like a makeup primer. As far as I can tell from poking through various patents, these polymers are doing a few things in the formula: a) emulsifying/stabilizing the newer/bigger UV filter molecules, and creating an occlusive layer over the UV filter molecules on the skin to a) improve water resistance and b) reduce eye stingy-ness. At first I thought I wanted to avoid these seemingly unnecessary additives but considering their function, these are all features I want/need in a face sunscreen so we’re living with them.

1. Shiseido - Anessa Perfect UV Sunscreen Skincare Milk: really good, sliiight white cast but absolutely no streaks, more like a foundation just a hair too light for my skin tone. However I can’t imagine buying this because #2 on the list is better and 1/3 the price. Medium silicone feel. Something I’d probably only break out for when I went to an outdoor summer wedding.

2. Kao - Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence: I have already sung its praises.

3. MISSHA - All Around Safe Block Essence Sun Milk: closest to a US milky/greasy sunscreen experience here, though very fluid and still absorbs nicely. No silicone feel. Not a bad choice but nothing special.

4. Canmake - Mermaid Skin Gel UV: probably second favorite after Biore. Similar, bit less of a silicone feel. I’ve gotten red a couple times using this though, possibly because less silicone feel = no layer of protection against sweat/physically rubbing off? I bet this would be perfect under makeup though, it’s super light.

5. COSRX - Aloe Soothing Sun Cream: SO moisturizing, almost a dewy feel that sits on your skin and never dries. I wanted to love her, but unfortunately she is so loaded with the aforementioned polymers that when you reapply/put the appropriate amount on to begin with, it completely gums up and pills and you lose all protection. Also definitely not water resistant. Probably my top pick for a winter daily face sunscreen that I wouldn’t ever be worrying about reapplying though.

Other Contenders:

La Roche-Posay Anthelios Invisible Fluid (x) and Bioderma Photoderm Max Milk (x)

These two bad boys have the highest rated UVA protection currently on the market, 46 PPD for La Roche-Posay and 42 PPD for Bioderma. The LRP is extremely watery (technically alcohol-y) and comes in a teeny bottle(though same size as a lot of these I guess) but it is The Best UVA protection money can buy. The texture is really nice too, and feels super water resistant. If I’m outside sweating or on the water in the summer, this is going on my face. I've also seen it on sale multiple times since I’ve started researching sunscreens (because it’s extremely popular) so you can definitely find it in the $0.30/mL-or-less tier if you keep an eye out.

This Bioderma is cheaper and also extremely protective (thanks Helena @bronyraurmp3 for the rec!) but unfortunately it stung both my and Mr T’s eyes like a BITCH. Extremely unpleasant experiences for both of us. TBH if I’m out in midday sun, swimming or kayaking or something, I’m gonna be wearing a long-sleeved UPF rashguard to protect my arms and upper body and not worrying too much about whatever cheap greasy sunscreen I put on my legs. This Bioderma stuff would be going on my neck, ears, and hands though bc it’s super water resistant.

Eucerin Sun Sensitive Protect Mattifying Fluid : bit of a white cast, really slippy texture going on and nice dry touch texture when it dried down, but drying down took foreeever. Probably really nice if you’re sensitive and pale.

Eucerin Sun Oil Control Gel-Cream Dry Touch : VERY matte and dry-touch, would have loved it if I hadn’t gotten burned using it (doesn’t have all the newest most stable UV filters). Approaching the expensive end of things too, but would be a lovely option if you really prioritize non-greasiness and don’t need the premium protection? Mr T really liked using it on his bald head lol.

Supergoop Unseen Sunscreen SPF40 (US): This is recommended many places but it has to be a joke that people are actually paying Shiseido Anessa prices for old American UV filter selection, only SPF 40, and no UVA rating to speak of, right??? (ok they do have a PA+++ rating meaning a PPD of 8-16, so. this is acceptable.) I did not test this one but damn wtf. The texture is probably nice though and it looks perfectly sheer in the photos on their website, so maybe as a last resort for darker skintones that show a white cast with everything else? At that price tho... you do you but damn.

Jigott Snail UV Sun Block : This had good reviews on Yesstyle but it sucked. White streaks, bad.

La Roche-Posay Anthelios Ultra-Light Tinted Mineral Sunscreen SPF60 (US): Another in the outdoor-wedding only price range. There’s a tinted and a non-tinted mineral version and I ended up mixing them together to get a shade that looked pretty good on me, but needing two bottles for that puts it in the extremely ridiculous price category. Really slippy nice texture that takes a bit to dry but dries down perfectly matte. I guess the person who wants to shell out for a high end all-mineral tinted sunscreen exists somewhere out there but I would bet there are many nice cheaper mineral options out there that I haven’t tried.

And that’s it! For EU sunscreens, I was able to order them on caretobeauty.com, and Japanese/Korean ones from yesstyle.com or stylevana.com, though I had to go to eBay for the Biore and Anessa. I ordered some Biore from a seller on Amazon but they shipped from Japan and I think they got taken by customs because the last known location on the tracking info is Chicago, so finding a seller in the US that has already imported them seems like a good idea (vendor lullabellabeauty on eBay worked great for me, fwiw, I will definitely order my Biore from there in the future).

If you have specific questions about any of these, or if you have any recs you think I should try, hmu! You will be shocked I’m sure to hear I have a whole sunscreen database at this point.

[girl4pay]

what are your skin care recs for someone with... i think kind of oily skin? but not very? but anyway oily-ish skin but more importantly than that for someone who quite possibly has adhd and has tried to form any kind of skincare routine at all and has never managed it because like. routine. so we’re looking for like super simple and easy to do but also extra marks for stuff with Fun Or Interesting Vibes that will help my brain remember that i do in fact own cleanser more often than once a month?

like essentially if you were putting together a skin care curriculum for a six year old with no attention span but the actual skin of a twenty three year old with a soft drink dependency and an unhinged circadian rhythm

okay! you’re in luck because that last sentence? describes me completely. a trick someone taught me is to slide tasks into other tasks and like mentally conflate the two so it becomes habit to just do one and then the other. so like for me i couple my skincare with my shower. if showering is an iffy task for you routinewise too other ideas include after brushing your teeth just splash that water on the rest of your face and keep going, same idea after washing your hands. 

from the very tame descriptor of oily-ish it seems like you probably have pretty balanced skin? so we’re gonna go for the very basic cleanser + moisturizer. if we’re going even more basic the more important of these imo is moisturizer. as long as you’re not wearing makeup or spf, just rinsing your face with clean hands and applying a moisturizer is gonna be more help than doing nothing and i find having one thing to prioritize helps me get things like this done. you want a gentle fragrance free cleanser (nothing too foamy and no scrubs, off the top of my head i like cerave) and a fragrance free probably gel moisturizer. caveat if you are wearing spf + makeup looking into a oil/balm cleanser may be helpful to you but i’m going to be very real with you i sleep in makeup all the time and it does feel gross when i wake up but like did i die? no. skincare should be about taking care of yourself so if you’re beating yourself up into doing it that’s counterproductive yk! you want this to come from a place of like protecting and nourishing your skin and self! 

NOW the fun part. i find having a VERY basic routine and then investing in a multitasking serum and a couple masks that i like works well for me. i do not follow a schedule with these except in that i try not to pack too much in at once and overload my skin. otherwise i just add these products in as i’m feeling it. serum wise, something with antioxidants & hyaluronic acid is gonna be protective and nourishing. i like to exfoliate using masks so i don’t go too overboard. a hydrating mask & an acid exfoliation mask are kind of basics imo but like look for things that look cute and fun! again for everything try to go fragrance free if you can. gothamista has a good video about what active ingredients like acids or vit c you should avoid mixing together. which also brings me to my last tip i think if you have time doing research and finding a couple skincare people you like can help motivate using skincare because then it becomes an interest instead of a task yk? hope this helps!

[myhockeyworld87]

Everyday Makeup Recs and Tips

So before you even start you want to make sure you have a good skincare routine. I’m not an esthetician, so I’m not going to make recommendations for you as to what to use because everyone’s skin is different, but that being said here are some basics. Always wash your face twice a day even if you don’t wear makeup; once in the morning and then at night. I personally only cleanse my face once a day, at night after I take my makeup off. I remove my makeup and then use a Clairsonic with my cleanser. In the morning, I only wash my face with water as too much cleanser tends to dry out my skin. I do use Thayers witch hazel both morning and night as well as my Peter Thomas Roth Potent C Vitamin Eye Cream. I moisturizer day and night as well. I use a moisturizer with an SPF in it for day, but if you know you’re going to be in the sun for an extended period of time you may want to use a separate sunscreen as well.

 Now on to makeup…haha! I go back and forth about what I do first, but we’ll start with eyes in case you have fall out. I have a ton of different products, but the eyeshadows I love are from MAC, Lorac (Which creates a ton of fall out), KKW Beauty, and Anastasia of Beverly Hills. I’m not a fan of Urban Decay, I think all their shades are the same. If you’re looking for a neutral look, I love the Lorac LUX Diamond palette, $39 for 20 shades or MAC Amber Times Nine, which is nine shades for $32 but their shades last a bit longer than Lorac. I always prep my eyelid with concealer, MAC paint pot in Painterly or Tarte 12-hour Eye Primer. This will make your eyeshadow last longer. For this example, I’ll use the Lorac colors. I always put a base color like Carat on first all over the lid, so that I have a neutral base to start. I then take a color like Grand and go into the crease, sweeping it from the outer to the inner crease, using a tapered blending brush. All my brushes are MAC but really any brushes will do. I blend that up just slightly above the crease so that there is not a stark line (Blending is key). Then I go back in with a color like Lavish in the deep crease, only blending it midway, this color I will not blend up, but more in a v down to the outer corner or lid. (FYI I always tap the excess off the brush before going to apply it to the lid). I’ll take a color like Exclusive and do the outer crease/lid in that v as well darkening that look. (Honestly I’ve never written this out, so I may look for a couple pics to add in. I’m much better at demonstration.) Once everything is very blended, I’ll take the tip of my finger and go into a color like VIP or Crystal (This color is not orange like shown online), and start on the inner corner and tap that color in, then I’ll take a clean blending brush and blend it into the middle and outer lid. Lastly, I’ll take a color like Diamonds and sweep it across the brow bone lightly. So you should get a look similar to this, minus the eyeliner:

(not my photo via  bydrie.com but the link is old and the pic is no longer there. I’ve had it saved)

If I want it to be dramatic, I’ll line both the eye and the waterline on the lid (like the photo is). Yes the waterline is a bitch to line. I really love Marc Jacob Highliner Gel crayon but it’s $26 dollars, so that’s a bit steep I know, but it really goes on nice and stays on. Personally, certain eyeliners tend to wear funny on me, so I use this on my bottom waterline and then smudge it in and it stays all day. I have used Maybelline EyeStudio Master Precise All Day Liquid Eyeliner as well on the upper lid and I do like this and the way it wears; I also like to use this if I do a winged eye as well (which is rare and I don’t do on an everyday look).

 Let’s move on to foundation. Doing your eyes first gives a time for your moisturizer to sink into your sink, which I like; but that’s just me. If you have and blemishes, roscia or dark spots you’re looking to cover, use a color corrector. Sephora $14 (and have been on special for $7) has some great easily blendable ones. Green for red spots and peach to cover the dark. I recommend only doing these if you’re not using an airbrush foundation. Apply them before your foundation and just blend them out lightly, they help neutralize the skin. I use a beauty blender to blend both this and the foundation in. My go to foundations, Tarte Face Tape, MAC’s Studio Fix Fluid (a great dupe that I have used for MAC in a pinch is Revlon Colorstay if you’re looking for a drugstore brand)

 I follow up with my undereye concealer, my absolute must have on this is Tarte Shape Tape concealer. I usually use it in a shade lighter than my foundation to brighten my eye. I blend it out with a small beauty blender (obviously this is the cheaper version at Walmart or Target because I throw this away after a month, kind of like a loofah).

 If you like to contour, now’s the time. A cheap one that I like is ELF Contour Palette. If you’re a beginner, start off with a powder it’s easier to use, but feel free to try the cream. My key advice, you are not a Kardashian doing a photo shoot, so do not leave this huge line separating your contour on your face. Blend that shit out, you’ll just look fake if you don’t. 

(Found this pic on google and this is a great example, minus the tip of the nose contour.)

Set the look with a setting powder, this is a translucent loose powder so it won’t make you look caked on or fake like pressed powder does. ELF makes a very inexpensive one $6, it’s their high definition powder. I just use a face brush for this. I’ll then add some blush. I love, love, love NARS orgasm, it literally goes with everything. A great dupe for this, but is hard to find is Mary Kay Shy Blush. Apply to the apples of your cheeks for that extra glow. I don’t recommend a highlighter for an everyday look. I’ll also use a setting spray like MAC fix+ or Tarte or Morphe, you can literally use anyone that you like. I think I have 4 on my counter right now…haha. I do this before my mascara because I always blink and that shit isn’t dry and then it’s everywhere.

 So now mascara, I’m going to just take this from my bridal tips:

Mascara, I recommend waterproof if you’re a crier like me...lol. I’m a fan of Tarte’s Lights, Camera, Splashes. I usually prep with Lancome’s CIL Booster XL Enhancing Lash Primer, it helps keep my lashes separated, but if you don’t want to spend the money on that, take a little of that translucent powder I talked about earlier, coat an old mascara wand, or a disposable one with the powder and brush it onto your lashes before adding mascara. I’ve done this little trick numerous time and it works like a charm. You can also wear fake lashes, if you don’t have a pair that you like, Adrell has great ones that look natural and so does Eylure. I always use Duo lash glue when I wear them as well.

Another mascara I like is Maybelline Lash Sensational. I feel like it doesn’t clump and wears very well. If you don’t like your lashes and are looking to get them fuller and longer I totally recommend in getting Grande Lash  MD Lash Enhancing Serum ($65). It’s a commitment, you need to put it on every night in the beginning but it does work. Also the tiny tube will last about 3 to 4 months.

 Phew I think that’s it for now. If you have any questions, feel free to send them to inbox or DM me. I love sharing tips!!!

[glamopticon]

okay so i have scarring on my face and because i have to be outside a lot (supply lines here are fucked rn so i go fish in the ocean for food n have a garden & it is sunny every day) what makeup would look good w scars? i feel like some looks need flawless skin. i wear light concealer over spots & i use SA lotion at night as well as toner and SPF 50 every morning. i wanna have more fun w my makeup when i have dates n stuff but i don’t know what to try! I have medium toned brown hair/skin/eyes

ok ok, first i have to say that i am extremely jealous that you have access to the ocean and have a garden rn even if its bc supply lines are fucked up (i am stuck in an apartment 20 minutes from an ocean that i cant even go to and it Sucks)

second, I’ll assume when you say scars you mean acne scars? if so i’ve got a couple suggestions for you makeup wise and also some skincare recs to fade any scarring (this gets Very Long, sorry):

1) the one thing i found that really emphasized my acne scars and texture from scarring and just overall made my skin worse was overexfoliating, so i’d check the percentage of the salicylic acid and if its 2%, maybe cut back on using it from every night to 2-3 times a week. Overexfoliating can irritate any acne you have and in my case, was irritating my skin so much that when acne finally went away, it was leaving more scarring behind 

2) i’d recommend incorporating a vitamin c serum into your morning skincare routine, it works to fade acne scars, dark spots and sun spots so if you’re spending your days in the sun it’ll really help and also help prevent new scars. The Ordinary, Paula’s Choice and Versed all have options at dif price points

3) start using a retinol at night, but start off Super Slow, once a week and then slowly build up to 2-3 times a week over a few months. retinols help increase skin cell turnover so it’ll help to fade acne scars, Scar scars (if that’s also an issue you have) and skin texture from scarring. BUT, it does scare your skin at first and increase sun sensitivity, so i’d recommend waiting on this until you’re not in the sun as much or,, be super super careful w sunscreen and apply any retinol between layers of moisturizer. every brand makes retinols but the cheapest and best are def from The Ordinary

4) makeup wise: honestly, i think your routine of light concealing is the way to go. personally, as someone who also has a lot of acne scarring i’ve found what looks the best and more flawless but in a natural way for me, is keeping things super minimal with just a primer across the face (a blurring one will also help to smooth out any texture from scars), maybe a tinted moisturizer if you think you really need it, and then pinpoint concealing only in the spots you need with a high coverage concealer. it’ll make your skin still look like skin and not a full coverage foundation mask, but like,,, very smooth, texture free and spotless skin. product wise, i’d recommend the elf putty primer and any of the concealers from nyx (they’ve got tons of formulas depending on skin type!)

5) also def hear you on wanting to wear more fun makeup. I’ve gotten to the point where the only thing i do is minimal but still concealed skin and then something fun on the eyes. i think it really makes it seem like you put in the effort, but its Super easy and not basic and boring either! I think a wash of bright colors over the eyes or some fun graphic eyeliner is def the way to go, basically a katie jayne hughes eye. colourpop is the Way To Go for any eye products in my opinion, based on your coloring i think warm colors like mustards and oranges or bright pinks would look Great

6) my other fav makeup look for when i want something fun but not too out there, that i think would be good for you for any dates or things like that is Lots of mascara or individual lashes, glowy skin that’s still concealed, and then a bright red lip stain. i think its super fun and somehow makes you look like,,, healthy and glowing and like you live on the mamma mia island. its a date look but still different from the standard full face of foundation and heavy smoky eye, which i’ve found always i dunno,,, emphasizes any parts of my skin i dont love yanno

[kindlespice]

ooooh skin stuff?? what products do you use / what's your routine? im super nosy and fascinated about this stuff lol

oof, sorry this took so long to answer, i ended up writing a whole damn novel… my b. Anyway i buy my skin care pretty much exclusively from yesstyle (minus a few exceptions, but i’m always open to new suggestions! i am gonna take a look at jolse soon) so i’ll just link the products from there. Also i have a little dinky code for like 2-5% off if you wanna save like… $1 it’s 5NAYTT

Disclaimers before i start though, I have normal skin (i know i’m so lucky uwu) so i generally don’t stress about whether my products work better or worse for dry/oily skin—but i do tend to favor more hydrating/moisturizing products. Also i’m no esthetician or dermatologist, most of my knowledge comes from product reviews, skin care videos, and my own personal experiences. So basically take everything I say and share with a grain of salt :))

We’ll start out easy with my morning routine:

1.)  Mostly i start by wetting my face with warm water. you can also wet it in the shower if you’re a morning shower-er(?) but i’m not lol. IF my skin is feeling really dirty in the morning for some reason though (like if i sweat real bad on a summer night or drown in a pool of drool x-x) i’ll start with the Perfect Whip foaming cleanser

i find that most mornings, bc of my more extensive night routine, my face isn’t often in need of a cleanser

but i really like this bc you get SO MUCH use out of so little product; i use less than a dime-size amount per wash. but i do use this little foam maker thingy which builds up a better and faster foam than using my hands—not necessary but very convenient. there’s also foaming nets you can try, but i’m not familiar with them.

i don’t completely dry my face after use; i like it damp when i apply the toner

2.)  Apply Klairs Supple Preparation Toner

i personally use the original version as i don’t mind essential oil scents, and my skin doesn’t react negatively to them. If oils bother you for whatever reason though, you might want to try the unscented version!

i also pour this into a spray bottle (you can pick these up pretty much anywhere but these are cute if you wanna order some) and apply via spray. No reason other than I just don’t want to buy cotton pads :)

3.)  Apply Snail Repairing Essence

i use this pretty much as a moisturizer but you might want to use an additional cream or something if your skin is on the drier side?

4.)  Apply SPF

okay so… i don’t actually have a rec for this bc i just use whatever my mom has.  and i haven’t actually gotten a korean sunscreen yet bc i don’t go outside and i’m that person (who is v dumb) and doesn’t apply spf consistently in the winter -.- but rest assured, i’ll get some eventually lololol

Okay like i said, pretty easy in the morning! I don’t use essences, just bc i’m still young and a lot of them seem to be focused on anti-aging things that aren’t my main concern. And I prefer to use my serum at night bc it’s got vitamin C and i just told you i’m bad at sunscreen

But night time is where it gets complicated fun:

1.)  Hop in the shower (but if you’re not a nighttime shower-er then you can just cleanse out of the shower) and go in with the Clean It Zero cleansing balm (this also has other versions: purifying, revitalizing, and nourishing but i’ve only ever used the original)

i usually do double cleansing at night, so this is my oil-based “first cleanser”

but i have been known to um… “gloss over” this step if i’m being lazy….. -.-

i like oil-based cleansers bc they’re a nice, gentle way to remove makeup (as opposed to wipes and stuff) and i do use this to remove eye makeup as it personally doesn’t irritate my eyes; i also prefer balms over straight up oils bc they’re more fun ^-^

anyway, i massage it on, emulsify, and rinse! also, if you’re not in the shower, i would keep my face damp after rinsing.

2.)  Perfect Whip foaming cleanser while still in the shower

pro-tip, if you have a foam maker, i would make the foam BEFORE you start. that way you can just apply it right after the balm!

again, i keep my face damp after rinsing off the foam and hopping out of the shower

3.)  Klairs Supple Preparation Toner returns!

again, i have mine in a spray bottle so i spray it on and tap it in!

4.)  IF IT’S SUNDAY, then i will go in with the Lemon Sparkling Peeling Gel next

this is a chemical exfoliator (i finally ditched my knock-off st. ives XD) and i only use it once a week

5.) IF IT’S SUNDAY, and i have one available, i’ll put on a sheet mask next

sheet masks are… honestly all the same to me lol but i order these innisfree ones all the time; my regulars being green tea, tea tree, and aloe (they’re actually cheaper on their website tho so…).  i also really wanna try the A’PIEU Milk Packs particularly in banana and strawberry, so i’ll probs order and try those out when i can justify spending the money on a whole bunch (knowing me i’ll turn it into a whole $40+ order lol)

i leave these on for 15-20 minutes (usually 20), take it off, and pat the remaining product into my skin

also there’s usually some left over on the other side of the mask and/or in the package that i’ll massage onto my neck and body (we try not to do not waste product in this house!!)

if i’ve done a mask, then i will most likely skip this next step

6.)  Apply Klairs Vitamin C Drop

this is pretty much my daily serum as it helps with improving my dark spots and hyper pigmentation (my main skin concern)

i take 3-5 DROPS in my hand… that’s it, i literally wasted so much before i finally decided to stop dropping it onto my face.

apply and pat that bad boy all over!!

7.)  Snail Repairing Essence  returns!

again this is my probably-not-supposed-to-be-but-idfc moisturizer so i just slap it on!

8.)  Almost done, here’s the Snail Repair Eye Cream

this is actually new, but i bought a smaller tube bc 1. i didn’t want to spend a bunch of money on something that might irritate my eyes. and 2. i didn’t. want. to spend. a bunch. of money. but the little nozzle is actually really helpful for getting a small, good amount of cream actually XD

so i’ll squeeze a little line (more like an oblong dot tho) under each eye and use my ring fingers to glide that up to the lid and pat in the product.

9.)  Last one! Berry Lip Mask

basically…. i even buy korean knock-offs lololol

i just apply this to my bottom lip (my top lip never causes me issues??) and let it sit over night

Anddddd that’s everything! Very nearly got to that 10 step dream but, no essence, no clout i guess. Anyway, i do have some additional pro-tips too:

If you’re buying/trying new skin care products, be patient and introduce them slowly. it’s hard, but this way—if one or more products are causing a reaction—it’s easy to just cut it out of the routine. Also i like to think it gives your skin time to become used to the new ingredients and to “normalize” before piling on new stuff (but that could be total bs lol)

“Listen” to your skin; use products that make YOUR skin feel good, and use products when YOU need them. especially with serums and stuff, invest in products that will help you to address your skin concerns and achieve your skin goals (whatever those may be at the time)—and not someone else’s. Also don’t be afraid to admit if a product’s not working, better to chuck it than ruin your skin you know?

From someone who’s experienced a very unpleasant, burning unibrow :))) don’t remove hair on exfoliation day and avoid putting a lot of product on sensitive areas. Also, doing some sort of cleanse before hair removal helps to reduce the risk of dirt and stuff getting into the exposed skin.

Oh and be gentle with your exfoliators (whether physical or chemical) DON’T SCRUB FOR THE LOVE OF PETE to avoid cuts and burns!

If you have a spot (or feel one coming up) , use some sort of spot treatment. you’re much less likely to pick with something if it’s covered up by a patch (these are my faves) which will reduce irritation and formation of dark spots.

Be as hygienic as possible! There’s no towel drying steps in my routine for two main reasons. 1, i like keeping the moisture and hydration from the water as long as possible. and 2, bacteria. is. everywhere. Towels are pretty gross when you think about it and limiting contact between them and your face will probably greatly improve your skin’s health. Also avoid touching nozzle or dropper applicators directly to your hands or face: that way the applicator won’t come in contact with any bacteria or germs and transfer that gunk onto your face every time you use it. Washing your hands and/or tools that DO touch your face is also important in, again, reducing the spread of random gunk.

Take it slow, relax, and enjoy it! Skin time is my relaxation time (especially sunday nights oml so awesome!!), it’s honestly one of the best parts of my day just being able to kick back and take care of myself. Try not to make it a chore, it isn’t supposed to feel regimented or overwhelming, but relaxing and fun!

Okay that’s really it!! And yeah this got really really long….. sorry if you actually only wanted my yesstyle recs XD

[birdkoskincare]

This is going to be long and I apologize! Currently I have a digestive condition that makes it near impossible to get all my nutrients, and my skin has been paying the price for it for years now. There's no guarantee the digestive condition will be officially done with at any point in the forseeable future (though it IS supposed to be curable and not Chronic), so dealing with my skin from the inside out isn't an option. But I'm absolutely at my whit's end at this point! [1/?]

[2/3] So far in my current routine I'm using SooAE's Revitalizing Rose Mist, and Garnier's Skin Active Soothing Cleansing Milk daily; Olay's DragonFruit + Vitamin C Pore Perfecting 5 in 1 scrub twice a week; SooAE's Revtalizing Rose Petal Sleeping Mask every night; plus Pond's Cold Cream Makeup Remover when I need a refresher but don't feel I need to wash my face completely. I don't wear makeup at all, and I use different facemasks occasionally when I just want something nice / extra.

[3/3] My largest problem is severe flaking and dryness from dehydration + all the issues of malnourishment in general. And this routine is kind of mostly helping so far but it doesn't feel it's quite /there/ and doing what I want it to. So I guess my question is: Are there any ingredients I should particularly be watching out for- either in one of these products, which isn't helping; or in another product that might be better for me with my current issues?

hi there! firstly, i’m sorry that you’re dealing with this right now, i hope it gets resolved quickly! also, as a fellow rose water lover, i see the rose theme going on here and i’m here for it! i don’t think there’s anything wrong with your current routine, unless you’re experiencing signs of sensitivity (redness, tightness, burning, itching, exacerbated dry spots) in addition to the flaking, in which case i’d cut down on fragranced products and switch out the scrub for another method of exfoliation. in fact, the scrub is kinda the only iffy product to me; not that it seems overly harsh given the type of particles in the formulation, but it’s clearly not doing it job of eliminating flakiness, and it’s frankly a waste of vitamin C, which needs to be left on for longer in order to really have an effect. 

so, perhaps i’d recommend trying to swap it for gentle chemical exfoliation paired with a once-weekly gommage/peeling gel type of product, which balls up and picks up dead skin flakes.

you’re a prime candidate for regular sheet masking; whereas it can be overkill for many people, for you it can help deliver extra nutrients to your skin. no need to go for fancy ones, but look for ones packed with vitamins and/or moisturizing factors like honey, hyaluronic acid, etc. there are multipacks sold by brands like a’pieu that help save money and the environment by reducing the amount of packaging.

for vitamin C, which is a good idea to help your skin look more radiant and healthy, i suggest going for a dedicated serum; there are lots out there, you can find product recs here, but be careful and don’t start off with something too strong.

i didn’t see you mention moisturizer or SPF; while daytime moisturizers aren’t always a must, for dry and flaky skin they can be immensely helpful. i’d choose one that’s very nourishing, with natural moisturizing factors (NMFs) and/or ceramides, shea butter, etc. for moisturizer recs for dry skin, check out this post. and make sure you’re wearing SPF of at least 30; depending on its formulation, it can substitute your daytime moisturizer.

if all of this still leaves your skin feeling dry, you can mix some facial oil into your moisturizer or apply it directly at night; i recommend rose hip oil due to its very high vitamin content.

[hobidreams]

Top 5 skin care products, make up or otherwise.

i haven’t tried out a whole lot, but these are the ones i currently love & use frequently!

Kao Japan Biore UV SPF 50 Sunscreen (this is kind of watery, which i really like bc it feels more hydrating!)

Essence Eyebrow Gel Mascara (look, it’s super cheap ik but it works really well for me bc i’m too lazy to do my brows most of the time haha)

Isehan Kiss Me Curl Super Waterproof Mascara (this bitch DOES NOT COME OFF. LOL. i really like it & it’s my go to. the eyeliner too!) 

Shiseido eyelash curler (okay this isn’t skin care but seriously, a quality curler changed my life. i used to use shitty ones from forever21 & i BALKED at the price of this one but like. it really does make a difference)

Aveeno stress relief lavender lotion (you can find this at any drug store & im p sure Taehyung said he uses this so. if u wanna smell like Tae... there you go LOL.)

if anyone knows any good cleansers & face lotions... pls rec me some ;-; i am looking for new ones!

put “top 5” anything in my ask and i will answer!!

[notyobabygirl]

my skin has been so awful lately and i’m breaking out like crazy and it’s making me so insecure my skin has never been this bad and i think it’s bc of my current mental health state bc i’ve been eating clean, working out, washing my pillow cases any skin care recs would be great please help

make sure the products your using are actually good. i watch that hyram guy on tik tok and learned sooo much from him so check him out. i use retinol and vitamin C serum and then moisturizer with spf in it usually and that’s about it (i wash my face with cetaphil or cerave!). if nothing else works then i would go see a dermatologist, my face is awful rn so i’m actually going tomorrow

[lowkeylioness]

first of all! just scrolling ur blog and you're from the bay! it was cool to see twin lakes mentioned lol i used to take my dog there all the time!! secondly, i was wondering what you do to stay so PRETTY!! you are so glowy and healthy looking! would love quarantine friendly workout recs, self care advice, etc etc.

Thank you my love!! That means so much coming from a fellow YAY AREA queen ✨

And idk about staying pretty but I really work hard on my skin. I have combination skin and had bad acne from like age 13-23 and I tried everything under the sun but what helped me cure it was the Acne.org regimen! But now I just wash my face with a very mild hypoallergenic face wash twice a day (morning and night). In the morning I moisturize and use spf, and at night I moisturize and use a face oil. It really helps keep your skin glowy and hydrated! I use Cetaphil face lotion. Main focus is to use things that are gentle and don’t irritate your skin.

As far as eating to stay healthy, make sure you’re not intolerant to anything! Such as dairy, eggs, gluten, etc. if you’re not sure, you can try cutting out one thing at a time and see how you feel! I try to avoid dairy 90% of the time, and I try to keep a really good balance of healthy carbs, proteins and fats. So I eat a lot of rice and bread (yep), and lots of fish and avocados and nuts for healthy fats.

For work outs there’s sooo many options online if you’re unsure about home work outs to do! I have a lot of equipment available to me so I lift a few days a week. But if you send me the equipment you have available I’d love to give you some ideas 😊

I could go into way too much detail about all this and work outs but lmk if you have more questions!

[flange5]

Hi! I know it's just a hobby, but you seem to know a lot about skincare. I wanted to start an anti-aging/wrinkle sort of skincare regime but there are so many products with so many ingredients, and I was wondering (if you have the time) if you could give me any advice about where to start. I feel like I saw you answer a similar question sometime last year, but I can't remember how it was tagged. Thanks!

Hey! No problem! I’m going to link you to a couple of posts but also start you off with some general tips.

1) any skincare regimen starts with cleaning, full stop. I make some recs in the linked posts below. Typically if you’re going the Kbeauty route, that means a double-cleanse (oil cleanser plus traditional foaming/face wash) at least at night after you’ve been in the muck, worn moisturizer, sunscreen, maybe cosmetics. I also do that in the morning, but other people with better skin than I do a cool multi splash water rinse, or a 1 step foaming wash only in the morning. because I tend to do a night skincare regiment with a kind of heavy end to it, I like to do the double cleanse in the morning to be sure it’s all gone when I start my day. 

2) any anti-aging skincare starts with prevention, follows through with hydration, and treats with targeted ingredients to slow and hide signs–you’re looking for the top 5-6 ingredients in a list. 

Prevention: sunscreen–knowing that lots of sunscreens are misleading and that cosmetic spfs are essentially flat out lies, I recommend French, Japanese, or Korean sunscreens. My favorite is Biore’s UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence-It has a 50+SPF and PA++++ -you can get 3 tubes for $30 on ebay. It has little to no white cast and feels like moisturizer (x). I encourage others with fab recs to add. I fell in love with this and never looked further but I imagine there are other amazing products out there. Hat when you can. Sunglasses with UVA/B protection, both to prevent squint lines and discoloration of the whites of your eyes that can occur from excessive sun exposure-I have some orange spots in my whites from this. 

Hydration: Quench that skin to keep it healthy and plump it. Obvs part of that is drinking lots of water, but as for ingredients/products, Hyaluronic acid is your friend! It helps your skin hold and retain moisture and also your other products. A great thing to put on after toning. Hadalabo makes extremely effective nice on the skin Hyaluronic acid essence in a regular $11 (x) and premium $15(x) version. To get an idea of how much you’re getting for $15, this is 170ml:

Also, though it works for all sorts of issues (brightening, irritation, acne, anti-aging), SNAILS ARE MAGIC. Mizon’s all in one snail repair cream was super moisturizing for me, and so were Leader’s Insolution sheet masks, both of which are linked in the massive product link below. 

Finally, the specifically anti-aging products. Okay, first the ingredients you want to look for, regardless of products, then we’ll talk specific products I like or am pretty excited to use. ingredients: Peptides–in the ingredients list you want ideally more than one word with “peptide” in the compound, and the higher up in the ingredients list, the better. Peptides are most effective in combination with other peptides (different molecular weights, targeting different depths of the skin, like hyaluronic acid, I believe), so aim for more than two, suing a great combo product or a couple of products with different peptides. Niacinamide–(x) a skin brightener. Adenosine–soothes and helps restore skin. rosehip oil– (x) great for fine lines, esp. around eyes. Marula oil is also often cited as anti-aging, and I like it a lot on my skin. DO NOT pay Drunk Elephant prices for it unless you are made of money (x)

retinol–helps diminish appearance of fine lines over time, can be somewhat harsh–you can also look in to the Ordinary’s retinoids (x), which they claim are just as, if not more effective, without the flaky skin

Vitamin C, most effectively in a cocktail with vit E and ferulic acid–it’s an expensive world out there. Sadly it is often super unstable, it oxidizes and then it’s kind of ineffective. Keep out of light, heat and contact with air. I’m personally liking Maelove’s vit C/E/Ferulic acid serum $28 (x)

OKAY. so those are some of the ingredients to look for, what are some of the products? I’d recommend for peptides, some of these: 

Leader’s wrinkle tox masks, which I link in the last link. They’re awesome. I recommend using them once a night for at least a month then you can back off to once every other night for 2 or three months and then go back to every night for a month. Or you can be ridiculous like me and just make it your daily ritual unless you think your skin has had too much. 

It’s pricey, but if you’re a sephora insider or  VIB you might want to try Drunk Elephant’s protini polypeptide cream during their November sale for 15-20% off that $68 tag (x). NGL I think DE is massively overpriced for a lot of their line but I did shell out for the protini and I don’t really regret it. If I find a good dupe/alternative though, I’m out. 

The Ordinary’s Buffet $15 (x) is a nice multipeptide serum, and there’s a pricier version with copper peptides for $29 (x)

I’ve also started using a sample of Biossance’s cult squalene+ vit C rose oil which is beloved for supposedly being a miracle product for skin of all types as well as for helping with fine lines, but again, I’m waiting for the November sephora sale when I can get $20% off that $72 price (x).

The monster post with product links and all the steps with advice, and updates on products and preferences (x)

So I hope that wasn’t overwhelming or too general. If there’s a specific thing I can help with, let me know. I’m really not an expert but I can do my best with what I’m familiar with. 

[metalcorebarbie]

So as a fellow greasy French fry face individual, what would be your recommendation for a nice light coverage foundation? I haven’t worn foundation in almost 2 years and even tho I’m still wearing a mask, I kinda want to restart wearing a full face of makeup. And I completely forgot what foundations worked well for oily faces. So any recs you have would be appreciated.

I have used Estee Lauder Double Wear for years now and it still remains the one foundation that I can trust to stay on for a long time. Nothing else has ever compared to that one. It’s not necessarily light coverage, just be careful you don’t apply too much, few pumps is enough for the whole face. Nowadays I do in general think that you shouldn’t try to cover everything on your skin with foundation but rather that it’s purpose is to even out the skin tone. Light layer of foundation also stays on better than a thick layer which easily starts to look too cakey. If you want more coverage in certain areas then skip adding more foundation and rather use concealer.

Also remember to always use a moisturiser (and spf) that suits your needs under your foundation. For years I thought you shouldn’t moisturise oily skin that much and that it would just make my skin even more oily but couple of years ago I found out that my skin was actually dry on the surface which meant that it overcompensated and became even more oily. Good skincare routine (and by good I don’t mean that it needs to have 20 steps, or that it needs to be expensive, quite on the contrary, just that use products that actually suit your skintype and have good ingridients) is the base for everything because it helps your skin to feel better which also helps your makeup to look better. If you’re using a gel cleanser it might be one of the things that is too harsh on your skin and might actually make your skin more oily. Wash your face with just water in the mornings and in the evenings use a balm or oil cleanser and a cleansing milk to get rid of makeup and dirt. Get a good moisturiser and toner. Also only exfoliate your face every two weeks at the most.

Sorry this turned into an essay sdfhmjnj I’ve just finally found ways that help me and my skin and made me realise that it doesn’t matter how good my foundation is if my skincare routine isn’t good. Unfortunately I can’t really give you tips on skincare products that I use because most that I use are from Finnish brands so I don’t know if you can get them anywhere. I’ve also changed to organic and natural skincare and personally I’ve found it suits me better than synthetic skincare. But also sometimes even skincare doesn’t help because hormones and stress and metabolism etc affect our skin but I’m definitely not an expert on that area.

[fakexpearls]

Skincare Recs/What I’m Currently Using:

Cleanser:

Drunk Elephant Pekee Bar $28.00: I like bar cleansers and ones that don’t foam a lot, because all the foaming agents can and have irritated my skin. Other bars I have liked: Lush’s Fresh Farmacy for normal skin and Lush’s Aqua Marina for dry/irritated skin

Makeup Remover:

Banila Co. Clean it Zero $26.95: This is a solid oil makeup remover that is gentle but thorough. This huge thing lasts me upwards of four months, too. I use it with the Makeup Eraser to make sure all the makeup gets off the first go. Clinique’s Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm is the Western Version of this. 

Simple Micellar Cleansing Water (the green lid) $7.00: This gets off any eyeliner that I was too lazy to get off before and a great eraser when I make a makeup error. I can’t use this all over because it gives me milla, but for a quick makeup removal now and then, this does the trick.

Toner:

Morning: Benton Aloe BHA Skin Toner $14.00: Instead of washing my face in the morning, I splash it with water and then wipe this all over. This is an Asian toner, so unlike Western ones, it’s soothing and doesn’t burn at all. When I had really bad acne last year, the aloe in this seemed to help calm down my skin. I use this in the morning before doing my serums.

Night: Rohto Hada Labo Super Hyaluronic Acid Moisturizing Skin Lotion ($16.95): I know the name says it’s a lotion, but it’s really a thin moisturizing toner. I use this post workouts after I wipe off my face and at night after I do my serums. My dry dry skin drinks this up. 

I used to really like Lush’s Eau Roma Water but it’s nothing fancy? You could use just rose water and get the same benefits, probably. 

Serums:

Morning: Clinique Even Better Clinical Dark Spot Corrector & Optimizer ($79.50): This was my first skin-correcting serum that I used, and I really liked it! I’m attempting to kill the bottle now as I’ve moved onto Vitamin C in the mornings, so I use this every other day. With everyday use, I saw dark spots lightening pretty quickly...I just have had more results with other products on the market that cost about the same. 

Algenist GENIUS Ultimate Anti-Aging Vitamin C+ Serum ($118.00): I would give this a huge meh for the price, but because of the price I’m going to finish it. I use this every other day at the moment until the Clinique one is finally empty. If it’s doing anything for my skin, it’s too subtle for me to tell, and this smells strangely sweet to me? I have another Vitamin C product waiting in the wings to move on to, but my friend swears by the Drunk Elephant C-Firm Day Serum. The Ordinary makes a decent Vitamin C serum as well, but it dried out my cheekbone area sooo much. I will say this is very gentle. 

Benton Snail Bee High Content Essence ($16.30): This product was life-changing when I had awful acne and nothing seemed to help it. Snail Serum (or Snail Goop as I lovingly call it) soothes just about everything and anything. I used to use this morning and night when my skin was very dry. This helps prevent and soothe acne, dry skin, etc. The been venom helps to plump skin and make it glow. Obviously if you’re allergic to bees, don’t use this. This is a Ride or Die product for me.

Night: Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Framboos Glycolic Night Serum ($90.00): Listen, I wish this wasn’t worth the hype. My wallet really wishes it was garbage, but here we are. This is a 12% AHA and BHA serum - these are acids - that chemically exfoliate your face, smoothing and resurfacing, etc. I love it. It’s very gentle after using harsher AHAs and BHAs that burned. I have seen the most results with this product (more than with Clinique’s Even Better) and I will probably use this until the day I die...or something equally as dramatic.

COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence ($19.20): SNAIL GOOP. But this one is just for moisturizing and helping with dark under-eye circles. Three pumps of this before my nightly toner and my skin just soaks it all up. 

Moisturizers:

Morning: Clinique Moisture Surge Intense Skin Fortifying Hydrator ($52.50): Every time I try to switch away from this lotion, I always come back. Without this in the winter, my skin is parched. In the summer, it’s a great night cream. Just imagine soaking your face in the most soothing and cooling water you can find....it’s lovely. This is the strongest moisturizer Clinique offers, but the have the regular Moisture Surge for less dry skin. This lasts me about four months as a morning cream. 

Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Moisturizer ($29.00): This is great for summer and also just a hint of moisture post workout, throughout the day if I’m feeling dry, etc. Very light but effective. This bottle lasted me through last summer and mid-fall and I should get another season out of it.

Night: Kiehl’s Super Multi-Corrective Cream ($84.00): I use this for preventing the signs of aging versus trying to correct. I’m on my third tub of this, so I think that speaks enough towards it’s quality in my opinion. This isn’t super moisturizing, but it’s not light either.  Kiehl’s Ginger Leaf & Hibiscus Firming Mask ($54.00): I’ve been using this for about a month now, about every other night and I really like it. This isn’t an overnight mask that just sits on your skin - this sinks in (pretty quickly) and does the job. I haven’t noticed a tone of brightening or firming so it’s not a game changer, but I like it!

I want to like the Cerva Skin Renewing Night Cream but it gives me milla on my cheeks. It’s oiler than those mentioned above, but very moisturizing. I use it as a super eye cream and down my neck. It’s also great when I have a dry patch - I put that on that area for a week(?) and it’s taken care of. 

No matter what I use on my face at night, I cover it with a thin layer of Aquafor before bed to lock that product in. It doesn’t make a mess of my pillows or anything. I wake up with smooth and soft skin and I love this trick.

Eye creams:

Believe what you want on eye creams - do we need it, do we don’t - but I like them.  Innisfree Jeju Orchid Eye Cream ($24.21): This is very moisturizing, but not thick! It wears well under makeup, and I’m currently using it at night too. I’m really bad about patting in my eye creams - I’ll put them on and just let them absorb - and this doesn’t take too long to absorb on it’s own. My eye area is not noticeably drier with this cream as compared to when I don’t use any cream at all. (Side note, the site I link this one through is where I get a lot of my Asian Skincare. Order it all at once and you get free express shipping, etc. Also, you can trust these items are legit)

Clinique All About the Eyes Rich ($32.50): An standard in my vanity. I come back to this guy in the winters or in general. This is thicker than the Innisfree, and wears well under makeup. I would say this is more a night eye cream. 

Suncreen:

La Roche-Posay Anthelios 60 Ultra Light Sunscreen Fluid: ($29.99 but you can find it half-off if you just Google) I like this facial sunscreen for everyday use. It’s light, doesn’t give a white-cast, and wears very well under makeup. 

Omi Menturm Sen Bears Super SPF 50+ PA +++: ($10.80) This is a Korean sunscreen that is very similar to the La Roche-Posay but less expensive and it has that PA protection. Korean and European sunscreen is notably better than that in the US. Facts. Research why. This has been wearing well under my makeup on the days I grab for it. If you’re looking for a Korean sunscreen, this is the one I like (after many I did not). What does the PA+++ mean? Read about it here. 

Nuetrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunscreen SPF 55: ($9.99 for 2) This was the product that I started with for daily sunscreen and it works well. I still have backups of this because it’s inexpensive, effective, and works well under makeup for me. 

Masks:

A good facemask and a glass of wine can save a bad day. It can also help your skin. I try to mask twice a week.

I regularly use:

Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay (I mix with the apple cider vinegar)

Benton Snail Bee High Content Sheet Mask

A Donkey Milk Mask for super hydration

Murad Clarify Mask for spot treatments 

Ranavat Botanics Kiss of Royal Tea Hydrating Masque (this was a treat yo self product and I really like it, but the price makes me want to die)

If you want any more details on one of these products, feel free to message me! I’ll answer to the best of my ability.