People have been asking me about my skin care

October 18, 2024

Earlier this week, I posted this very silly photo of myself in a crown that a student made for me:

All I see is me looking exhausted, sad, frizzy, and Invisaligned, but my Instagram inbox was flooded with questions about my skincare! And, since life continues to be hard, and I simply cannot write anything substantial, I’m using this opportunity to give the people what they (allegedly) want.

Before the quarantine era of the pandemic, I wasn’t into skin care. During quarantine, I grew very attached to having a routine for caring for myself. Over the past few years, I’ve refined my products and what I use.

You’ll notice that there are a billion kinds of moisturizer, and that is because my skin has become increasingly lizard-like as I get older. As someone whose t-zone was constantly shiny and whose acne was rough during my teen years, I could have never predicted that my skin would be dry as hell. Alas, here we are.

Caveat to this routine: I don’t use everything every single day — I mix it up sometimes, specifically during different seasons. I will put an asterisk next to my every-season, favorite products.

AM:

1. Cleanse*: I have been a fanatic about Dieux’s products since my sister-in-law introduced me to them, and their new cleanser, Baptism, is fantastic.

2. Exfoliate* (most days): I love Tatcha’s The Deep Cleanse with my whole heart. It’s gentle enough to use daily, and it feels really good.

3. Tone*: Paula’s Choice BHA is a desert island product for me. It keeps my pores clear, and resolves any clogs.

4. Essence: I don’t think Beauty Water is an essence, but I don’t know what else to call it. It’s my final step before serums, and it feels really good on my skin.

5. Essence, Part 2*: I resisted the siren song of Hailey Bieber’s Rhode line for a long time, but then I read multiple reviews of this glazing milk, and I have to say it lives up to the hype. It feels fantastic on the skin, and it makes a noticeable difference in my skin’s smoothness.

6. Serum*: The best serum — Dieux’s Deliverance. Another desert island product. It evens out my skin tone and makes any sort of irritation calm.

7. Eye cream*: The jury is out for me if eye cream does anything, but I love Dieux’s Auracle. It tightens the skin around my eyes. I don’t have eye wrinkles yet, so I have to assume it’s working. It brightens my eyes, and I appreciate that early in the morning.

8. Moisturizer*: This Innbeauty Extreme Cream is my newest obsession. I found it via Whoorl, and it is so extremely hydrating. It has bio-retinol, and I saw a difference in my skin’s tightness within days. It’s also extremely cheap for being such an incredible product.

9. Moisturizer Part Two*: Dieux’s Instant Angel is one of the best moisturizers I’ve ever used. It is extremely moisturizing and feels rich and luxurious. I like it because it protects my skin’s barrier and feels good before makeup.

10. Moisturizer with sunscreen*: 30 SPF. Every day. A Target gem.

PM:

1. Makeup removing cleanse*: Farmacy’s Green Clean is my all-time favorite makeup remover. It dissolves everything quickly, and wipes clean.

2. Cleanse: I am obsessed with U Beauty products, and their Mantle Cleanser is incredible.

3. Essence: Rhode only, baby. Get yourself some glazing milk.

4. Resurfacing Compound: U Beauty superstar product! It has given me the tiniest, clearest pores. I also recommend their Resurfacing Flash Peel, which is truly like getting a chemical peel at home. They also make a Body Resurfacing Compound. Again: HIGHLY recommend.

5. Eye serum*: I know that I said that I don’t know if eye cream does anything, but this Clarins Double Serum Eye Hydrating Serum feels like it does. It makes the skin around my eyes feel both lifted and hydrated. I’ve been using this for nearly a year, and I think this is part of the reason I don’t have eye wrinkles. Yet.

6. Moisturizer*: U Beauty Super Hydrator. It is so moisturizing but feels light.

7. Barrier Cream: This U Beauty Barrier Cream makes me glowy and so well-moisturized.

It looks like a lot, but I promise that it’s not. It takes me fiveish minutes after I cleanse to apply it all. I like to let it set for a few minutes before I put on my makeup. Currently, I’m using Patrick Ta’s Major Skin Hydraluxe foundation, and I love how glowy and moisturized it makes my skin look and feel. I only need a tiny bit, and it’s very buildable.

I am not a big face mask person, but when I do want to do one, I love this Clarins Cryo-Flash Instant Lift and Firming mask. It feels especially good in the summer because it has a cooling effect.

My other skin tips and tricks:

1. Hydration. Duh. I know everyone is aware that drinking water is good. My water bottle is a constant companion, to the point that my students and colleagues make fun of me about it. A student once described me and my multiple Stanleys and Owalas as “passionate about hydration,” and they’re not wrong.

2. I have been taking Ritual vitamins for a while. I take the multivitamin, probiotic, and HyaCera, designed to support wrinkles and moisturizing. I don’t have proof, but I will say that I haven’t gotten nearly as sick as I usually do at the start of the school year. I credit the multivitamin and the probiotic, and I will say that my skin always feels well-hydrated. Taking a probiotic has been helpful for my gut, my skin, and just about everything else.

3. I take off my makeup the moment I walk in the door after work. I’m convinced it helps because I am not so tired when I do my routine late at night, and it gives my skin more time with their corrective potions.

That’s my skin routine.

Anyway, here’s Wonderwall!