#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

[just-ray]

Like all my skin recs!!

Makeup and skin recommendations from an ingredients junkie and biochem lover who will not put benzoates near his face and limits phenoxyethanol.

Skin:

Clarins seems pretty good. To be brutally honest, I used their nicinamide and sea holly night cream at the same time as the blue orchid oil so I have no idea what made me wake up with nice skin, but it was one of those. Gonna sound snobby asf but the dior lip oil? Wears away in a second in the day time, don't waste your time replying- using it last thing before bed on the other hand? Magical. Literally gets rid of like a month of dry lips for a whole week.

Also, for acne- dont be stupid like i was. If you learn about acne causing ingredients and stop using them, and you still have acne, bite the bullet and go to your doctor. Mine put me on duac, which is a prescription medicated cream, benzoyl peroxide and an antibiotic, and it is literally wonderful. Your skin will crack, it will flake, it will be unpleasant for like a week. Stop using it everyday. Try every two days. Build a tolerance. Then use it everyday. I started using it bc my skin was so bad it was getting infected, so especially if you have that issue it's so good.

Beauty of joeson ginseng toner- STAY AWAY FROM IT. Made me break out like CRAZY. literally the worst.

Damatol is probably a saviour if you're black or have curls or coils, but pls do not be like me. If you're white or mixed be so careful bc you have less cornified cell layers, so your skin will be more sensitive to the oils, man I was BURNT. I've seen really good things on black hair care forums, so check that out if it suits your hair type. It has coconut oil, so don't use it all over since it's comedogenic, but I find it's pretty okay as a flash spot treatment and has some ingredients that aid hair growth and management too.

Black seed oil. I use nature's drop. Only hair growth thing you need. Reliable, not gimmicky, proven results, cheap, nice moisturiser, incredible. 10/10. Don't get it in your eyes it will sting so bad.

Nursem- saviour for hands but get the one in the white tub, not the blue one. Ik it's pricier, but the blue one has soybean oil, so if you touch your face after putting it on, it might cause breakouts if ur oily like me.

Biosolis 50+ sun milk. It's good. It leaves a crazy cast but if you rub it in enough it will be fine. Not sure how the cast is for dark skin since I'm white but the performance is good. It doesn't clog pores and it hydrates.

For darker skin or dry skin I recommend moogoo spf 30. Clogged my pores a teeny bit but okay performance and definitely no white cast that I can see.

For makeup (I am a tanned white person, keep that in mind bc these will show differently on different skin. My shades are between 4 (winter) and 6 (summer) on the loreal shade chart))

Rare beuty blush is so pricey, not a lot for what you pay and the package makes it look bigger than it is, but I can't deny the performance is unreal. Blends well, looks good. I did some research from YouTube videos and saw that the light shades still show up on darker completions, but not as much as the darker more pigmented shades, which seem to have a good performance regardless of skin tone.

Nars settign powder; also expensive but worth the hype. Deff mattufyung and slightly blurring. I use the translucent, which is supposed to look good on dark skin too, but I'm not sure what its performance would be like with the camera flash. There are also pigmented versions in darker shades.

Ysl candy glow balm is nice for a night out, but the price point means you don't wanna use it all the time. I lime the 3b shade. Nice pop of colour, but it's mostly just for people who need the no makeup makeup look/want to only wear subtle makeup/want to wear makeup but have gender dysphoria.

Okay, the superdrug collection lip and cheek stain I have so much to say for. It's performance is amazing. It blends well. It has a good colour. And yet I don't like it. Why? Because man. No matter what you do, the container starts to become so manky after like two weeks.

I genuinely think the issue is the container and not the product, bc the container of a separate primark tint broke, so I poured the primark tint into the empty super drug container and after about a week or two It's started to smell...uh...rough.

[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!!!

[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

[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!

[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.

[skincarejesus]

Hey I did a list based on your recs and some other recs I've seen online and I was wondering if you could help me choose which products to get! I'm in my early 20s, combo skin (much more on the oilier side, tho my cheeks do get dry and flaky sometimes), some acne, quite dehydrated, and I have old acne marks/scars (I hate the purple discoloration in some areas) [1/6]

So, let me preface by saying that there’s 0 guarantee that what I choose is going to work for you. This is solely my opinion. Also, make sure you properly incorporate your new products. ie. patch testing, one at a time, being patient, etc.

Oil cleanser: Kose Softymo Speedy Cleansing Oil

Second cleanser: Cosrx Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser (or, if you find that too drying, go for a non-foaming gel cleanser. ex. Fresh Soy Face Cleanser)

AM Moisturizer: Cosrx Oil-Free Ultra Moisturizing Lotion or CeraVe PM Lotion

Toner: Klairs Supple Preparation Facial Toner (come on, what did you think I would say 😉)

ESAs: This is where I diverge a bit. You have to decide what you want from an ESA. Do you want an exfoliant, something to control sebum, something to fade hyperpigmentation, etc.?

Sunscreen: Australian Gold Botanical Sunscreen SPF 50 Tinted Face Mineral Lotion

Night Moisturizer: Too Cool For School Pumpkin Sleeping Pack

[crystalzelda]

Auntie Zelda, I'm in my early twenties and I want to start taking better care of my skin. Moisturizing and stuff. But I have no idea where to start. Any tips?

BOY DO I

First, congrats, your skin is already happy. Second, these are all general tips - you have to adapt it your skin and its needs (different products if it’s oily/dry/sensitive/prone to breakouts, etc).

Here’s the bare bones: cleanser, moisturizer, eye cream, sunscreen. Those are the alphas and omegas. You can experiment with exfoliators, peels, and serums down the line but those 4 cannot be skipped or skimped!

Cleanser - just face soap to wash the grime from the day, keeps your face clean and is way gentler than regular soap - it’s made with the delicate ph of your face in mind. Clean your face at night and in the morning before your makeup routine. 

BRANDS I RECOMMEND: Cetaphil and Cerave have great cheap cleansers that you can find anywhere. My favorite cleanser/makeup remover is Bioderma eau micellaire (micellar water) and it’s perfect and sooo easy - you remove makeup and cleanse all in one go, and since it looks and feels like water it’s easier to put on and remove than soap. Bioderma is a French brand, but some brands in the states have started their own version (I think Garnier has some??)

Moisturizer - your numero uno. It’s what needs to go on your face ERRYDAY, one for the day that’s light and may have UV protection, and a heavier one for night to really soak those cells. MOISTURIZE ME!!!! 

BRANDS I RECOMMEND: Again, Cetaphil and Cerave. Clinique makes great ones too, Nivea has a famous night cream (it was a tad too heavy for me). If you wanna get fancy and find a really posh one, get yourself on Sephora, Ulta and check out their top rated brands. I always check Paula’s Choice Beautypedia too to see what ingredients they put in there. REMEMBER: JUST CAUSE IT’S EXPENSIVE, DOESN’T MEAN IT’S WORTH IT, ESPECIALLY FOR MOISTURIZER. Spoiler alert: that caviar shit? It’s just omega 3 you can get anywhere. No need to pay $400 a pot (!!!) just to get it from caviar. Rippoff time! PROTIP - no pots! only pumps! Pot creams lose their effectiveness faster due to exposure to the air bc they oxidize, and dipping your fingers in them day after day means that there’s a chance bacteria will grow in there, which is why often pot creams start to yellow and smell. Ew. NO POTS, ONLY PUMPS!

EYE CREAM - the skin around your eyes is super thin and sensitive and needs some TLC. Put some in the morning and at night. Beware - that shit gets expensive. 

BRANDS I RECOMMEND: I have a few from Clinique I like that didn’t pauper me, but the one I use right now is Korean and it’s bomb, but sorry y’all my roommate brought it back for me from Seoul.

SUNSCREEN/UV PROTECTION - sunscreen!!! sunscreen SUNSCREEN sunscreen SUNNNNSCREEENNNNNN don’t go outside without SUNSCREEENNNN EVER EVER EVER!!!! Phew. Now that I got that out yeah, sunscreen is important! It’s what fights aging and wrinkles the most. You can get sunscreen in some moisturizers that already have UV protection in them (it’ll say what SPF level they have) or buy some separately that you layer with your other creams. TWO KINDS OF SUNSCREEN - chemical that needs to go on your bare face first before anything else and physical that goes on last after everything else (before makeup of course but after moisturizer). Check to see which it is so you know how to apply it.

BRANDS I RECOMMEND: Olay has good moisturizers with sunscreen, Clinique has good UV protection creams (City Block is what it’s called), Julep has a good chemical sunscreen and this Korean brand I got at Sephora called Neogen. PROTIP - don’t bother with SPF over 50, above that it’s useless/a marketing scam.

So those are my recs! BONUS ROUND includes - serums, especially vitamin C serum, exfoliators, peels, toners, etc, but those aren’t nearly as critical as the stuff I mentioned above. I HOPE THIS HELPS!!!

[sapphicvevo]

Oooh rec some good skincare products? :)

you got it!!! fair warning though that even though these products work for me it might not work for everyone because everyone’s skin is different!! :)

i have this tsururi pore peeling cream that’s really good with getting the layer of dead skin and dirt off it’s so satisfying when you do too because you can literally feel it in your fingertips lmao

rosehip oil which helps with dark marks, acne scarring, and making ur skin look better

witch hazel is a good toner that helps with pores

sunscreen !!! the higher the spf the better

i have this moisturizer from purpose which is oil free and already has spf 10 which is cool

some face masks i really like from lush are 

mask of magnaminty - good for pores and making your skin feel clean and moisturized

cupcake - good for oily and acne prone skin!!! also really helped clean out my pores

and of course when you have that zit forming and just want it gone before it gets any worse i just use this generic acne treatment gel from cvs!!! it’s really good at not letting my acne get worse if you feel it coming but it hasnt reared its ugly head yet lmao

thats all i got!! im still trying diff products out but these are the ones i’ve really liked so far that’s really helped improve my skin!!!

hope i helped