I posted a question on my Close Friends story on Instagram asking what some of the girls wanted to see from me moving forward. An overwhelming response was a post on skincare, admittedly one of my least favorite and least invested-in aspects of my beauty routine. My journey with skincare has been a bumpy one and has lasted about 10-or-so years, ever since I hit puberty.
Like many young girls, acne was something I was embarrassed of, although natural and inevitable. Beginning to dive into the world of skincare was something I committed to against my will. My mom bought me my first face wash sometime in middle school, the Neutrogena Morning Burst. Then, Neutrogena turned into Proactiv, and a sh*tload of other products I pushed out of my memory. My mom forced me to go to the dermatologist a countless number of times, desperately trying to rid me of my fateful teenage acne. They prescribed me topical and oral medication that worked for a while, until it didn’t. They suggested Accutane, as every American doctor is paid to do, but I refused to have dry lips over some pimples that came and went. The experiences I had throughout middle and high school surrounding my skin were repetitive and dreadful. I prayed and prayed to see the light at the end of the tunnel.
Then, I turned 19 and the teenage acne disappeared! Surprise! I felt more comfortable trying out the trendy skincare products I was seeing online. Suddenly everyone was using serums, oils, and the like. I tried everything, just for fun this time. Through testing out an endless list of products, I found out some new truths about my skin. First, I have oily skin. Some people make oily skin out to be a bad thing, but I see it as a blessing. It made me understand that I needed to eliminate oils from my skincare routine. My skin provides itself with its own moisture, so adding excess on top of that is prone to clog my pores and make me break out. Then, I found out that some serums are, indeed, a scam. I fed into the global obsession with The Ordinary, these weird, prescription-looking serums with percentages on them. I began using their Niacinamide and Vitamin C serums, but I felt those also just sat on top of my skin and made me itch. They weren’t necessary for my routine. I cut them out.
Now, my skincare routine is as simple as I can possibly make it. I wash my face in the morning and moisturize with an SPF moisturizer and the Saie Slip Tint moisturizer. At night, I wash my face with the exact same face wash and moisturize with my nighttime cream. I’ve found that keeping my routine as simple as possible is the best way to nourish my skin. A majority of companies will try and sell these products to women as things to use ritually, because they feed off trends and assume women are a gullible population. Don’t feed into it PLEASE! Keep feminism alive, dammit!!! (I’ll list these products down below.)
I’m not saying that all the products sold in skincare are a scam. Some people with really dry skin need a few more products incorporated into their routines to nourish their skin and keep it moisturized. People with eczema will need different products than I will. What I do for my skin is what I’ve found works for me. And, again, my simplified skincare routine is a product of me wishing the entire idea of skincare away from my psyche. The most important part of my beauty routine is the fun part: makeup. More on that soon.
CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser day and night. This is a slippery, non-foaming wash that immediately plumps my skin and makes it feel so soft.
My morning moisturizer, Aveeno Positively Radiant with SPF 30. A simple and lightweight moisturizer that holds up my skin well and doesn’t sit on top of it. A little goes a long way with this one.
CosRx Hyaluronic Acid Cream before bed. A silky translucent moisturizer that is lightweight and keeps my skin moisturized until the morning. When I wash my face when I wake up I can still feel it on my skin. 10/10 amazing!
This is my secret weapon; the reason people always say my skin is glowing. Saie Slip Tint in the shade Six. In the past I have absolutely despised tinted moisturizers—they are always oily and don’t blend in well with the natural texture of your skin. However, I swear by this product and don’t think I can go a day without it. It is a beautiful texture, blends in well with the skin, and enhances my natural pigmentation. I talk about this product like I invented it. Shoutout Saie for having some of the best facial products in the game right now!!!
I’ll see you all soon. I hope you’re having an easy transition into this upcoming holiday season! Please let me know if there’s any content, heavy or light, that you’d like to read from me. More things on the way. Love you all dearly.