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neo-culture-mafia · 4 years

Text

Skincare (n.jm)

— Warnings: flirty jaemin all over

— Genre: fluffy, friendstolovers!au (almost a enemiestolovers!au tbh)

— Words: 3.7k

— Summary: “Jaemin has been trying to get your attention for a few months. He misses your friendship, but since he decided to also confess his hidden feelings towards you too, he’s been trying to get you to go on a date with him as well, which is not the easiest thing to do when you are the biggest moody he knows.”

“You know I won’t stop this until you say "yes", right?” Jaemin walked faster till he could block your way. The son of a bitch had a smirk on his face while he stared at you with his tilted head. How dared him to appeal to cuteness? You had to fight against the desire to punch it out of his face. “Come on, just say you'll go have dinner with me. It’s just one date, it will be fun.”

This was the third time in a week. You were starting to lose your patience with him.

“Breaking my heart won't be fun, so, I pass.” You tapped his chest twice before giving him a forced smile and bumping into his shoulder when you walked past him.

You heard him take a deep breath and the first thing that crossed your mind was “Finally.”, but did you speak too soon? Hell yeah. A second later he went after you again.

“I'm not gonna break your heart, why you think I would do that?” You heard his voice right behind you. You could literally hear him smiling when he spoke. What on earth could make that boy just leave you alone?

“You're bad news, Jaemin.” You turned to face him, making the boy stop walking. “I've been there, done that and now I just don't want to do it all again when I know exactly where it takes. There is too much negativity in our work already, have you looked around?” You mentioned everywhere around you two. "I don’t need more negativity in my love life as well. Besides, I’m seeing someone tonight.”

“Bullshit.” Jaemin chuckled, expecting that your attitude would change, but when he saw you remained still, his smile disappeared. “Wait, for real? Who are you seeing?”

“I'm seeing myself.” You replied, with a now sincere smile on your face. “I spend too much time on missions, I’m taking the night off to take care of myself. Just leave me alone, okay? Go practice, punch some people, set the whole place on fire,” You started to list all the things he could do, counting each one of them with your fingers. “I DON'T CARE, just go live your life!” You pointed your finger at him before turning your back at him and continuing your path, smiling at yourself when you sensed no one following you.

...

“Just a second!” You said after you heard someone knocking on your door. You had just finished your bath and there was still a towel on your head, involving in your hair. You thought about quickly drying your hair with it before going to the door, but when you heard knocking again, you just rolled your eyes, imagining that it has to be Jeno looking for his games again. “Jeno, I've already told you I did not take your games, go ask someone else.”

Knock. Knock. Knock. Again.

And then it started to become louder.

And noisy.

And annoying.

“OKAY, FINE! I'll let you scan my room if that makes you stop slamming--” You stopped yourself when you opened the door and saw Jaemin, leaning against your wall.

He automatically smiled when he saw your face.

You automatically wanted to punch his face.

You had no makeup on and a freaking towel on your head! This had to be Jaemin's worst move ever.

“Before you ask or curse at me, I'm seeing someone tonight.” He proudly announced.

Great, he came here to brag about his newer conquer. Or the most foolish girl in the base. You would much rather him doing this than following you around like he was your shadow, so you thought you could go along with.

“Oh, really? That is amazing, who is the idiot?” You faked an excited tone, as you smiled at him, leaning your head against your door.

“You.” His smile grew bigger as your smile faded away. “I mean, you’re not an idiot, I’m just seeing “yourself” tonight.” He motioned the quotation marks with his fingers, reminding you of the words you had said earlier. The next thing you knew, he was in your room.

You closed your door with the biggest scowl on your face. Just when you thought you had ended this nonsense. Jaemin went straight to your bed, letting a few plastic bags laying there as he started to take out a bunch of products.

''Excuse me, but this is my room and I do not remember inviting you over." You started your lecture, in crossing arms as the boy pretty much ignored you. "Hello?" Your voice tone went higher, making him stare at you and restrain himself from giggling, letting just a small smile appear on his lips as he went back to ignore you.

He wanted to laugh at you, and you were not feeling it today.

"Jaemin, what the hell? I thought I told you to leave me alone! What are you even doing here?!" You exploded, clearly annoyed as both of your hands went to your head. You were on the edge of beating him all up and the thought of hearing Taeyong's lecture after it didn't even bother you. Listening to Taeyong's "You can't beat family up." speech would be damn worth it.

"What type of facial cleanser do you like the most? One with salicylic acid or one with aloe vera?" He looked at you for the first time since he had entered your room, showing you two cleansers on his hands. You were, again, shocked and angry at his capacity of acting normally. "Don't stare at me like that, you said the reason why you couldn't go onal a date with me was that you were taking care of yourself tonight, so I also decided to take care of myself, with you." He smiled at the end of the sentence, turning back his attention to the plastic bag, and taking a few more items out of there.

Unexpected wasn't even the beginning to explain how that situation felt for you. You wanted to feel shy about being only in your pajamas and no bra on. You wanted to feel angry at his persistence. You wanted to feel ashamed for having no makeup on. You wanted to stain his ridiculous pink hair into red with his blood...

"I didn't know what type of moisturizer you liked the most, so I brought one of each. A serum, an eye cream, an essence... I don't really know what they do. I barely know how to wash my face properly." he added, giving himself a little chuckle and still acting like everything was okay.

You wanted to yell at him. Punch, kick, scratch his whole face, broke a few of his bones... but at the end of the day, you knew it wouldn't work, so you decided to try the easy way. You sat down on your bed and watched Jaemin while he finished his apparently enjoyable process of putting all of those products on your bed — you also took this time to calm yourself down as well — and when he finished, he sat on your bed and looked at you.

"Jae, I thought I'd made myself clear earlier. Why are you here?" You questioned in the calmest voice tone you could.

"I told you, I'm here to take care of myself."

"Why don't you just take care of yourself in your room?" You asked, mentally scolding yourself for sounding a little rude. You were trying the easy way, so no snapping at him.

"Because I've just realized I don't really know how to. Look at this amount of products, I don't use half of them and to be honest, I didn’t even know they existed in the first place! So I thought maybe you could teach me."

"And what makes you so sure that I know how to use these? Just because I'm a woman you think I'm obliged to know how to do it?”

"Of course not. I overheard you teaching Jisung how to use a facemask and I thought maybe you would know how to help me." He explained, taking a sheet of facemask and swinging for you to see it, but your stare remained only on his face. "This is not a date. This is just two childhood friends doing a skincare routine together." he reassured you, pointing at a picture frame with an old photo of you, him and the others on it.

"No second intentions?" You asked him.

"Not at all. My only focus here is learning how to... How do they say? How to chemical exfoliate my face?" His face twisted at how weird that sounded like. "I think I might have skipped a few chemistry classes, I would die without knowing I can apply something like NaCl to my face."

"You really don't know shit about this, do you?" You asked, not believing that you were actually considering not kicking the pink-haired boy out of your room.

You watched him shrugged and for a moment, you really tried to remember the last time you had cultivated your friendship with him, and although it seemed like a dumb question to make, the awareness that it brought made you feel guilty: You couldn't even remember the last time you and your childhood friend had done something together. You have avoided him so badly for the past few months that you completely ignored the fact that the two of you are still friends.

"Okay."

"Okay?" He asked in shock.

"Okay." You repeated the small word, silently hoping that you wouldn't regret that decision. When Jaemin started to celebrate, you took your pillow and pointed at him. "But if you try anything else, I'll suffocate you." You threatened him with the most serious expression you could pull off.

"Suffocate me from kissing? Oh, I wouldn't mind being out of breath for that." Jaemin smirked at you, quickly pulling the pillow from you before you could throw it at him, causing you to give him your usual death stare that burned his whole face. "I know, I know, no flirting. I will not do it again, I promise."

...

"So, you're not that bad of a hairdresser yourself, huh?" You amazed at the view of your own image in the mirror. Jaemin was putting your blowdryer back to its place in your closet; however, he came back in a heartbeat when he heard you complimenting him. He had to make you he wasn't going crazy and listening to non-existent words. "You actually managed not to destroy my hair completely, I'm surprised."

"Excuse me, sweetie?" Jaemin inquired in an offended tone. "Have you seen this little masterpiece right on top of my head? If I didn't know how to take care of it, I would be walking around with my hair looking like Jeno's burned pasta."

"Ew. You didn't have to go there." Your disgusted face at the mention of Jeno’s attempt of cooking made Jaemin laugh. It was nice to be around you again, he missed you, but before he could say anything about it, he started to check on his face mask on your bathroom's mirror. "I think this is almost dry, should I take it off and wash my face?" He wondered at himself, making your eyes go wide-open when he finished his sentence. "What? No, no, no! You can't wash all the moisture away." "Then what do I do?" "Stay still." You demanded as you walked closer to him.

You couldn't remember the last time you had been this close to Jaemin. Maybe when you were 13? 15? To be honest, you didn’t even remember how nice it was to have him around. You two had become so busy with the mafia schedules and missions, that every time the boys wanted to get together and chill a little, you would say you were tired, which means: You hadn’t had spent time with any of your friends for about some years. And every time one of them tried to talk to you about something, you’d be annoyed. Just like you did with Jeno about his lost games.

The award of the best friend of the year? You weren’t getting it.

As your mind was drowning with those thoughts, you spaced out as your hands massaged Jaemin's entire face with the lotion that had remained on his face from the sheet mask.

When did he become so tall? You quietly wondered to yourself.

Your hands were gently sliding through his entire face and when you decided to bring a little bit of the lotion down to his neck, you really regretted that decision. How have you not noticed his jawline before?

“Ooo, that's nice.” Jaemin let a deep breath get off of his lips, tilting his head to the side, so you could continue pressing your hands to his neck.

“They say the warmth in our hands helps our skin to better absorb the product.” You addressed.

He’s... handsome.

YOU COULD NOT BELIEVE THAT YOU WERE THINKING THOSE WORDS. But you were. And the worst part? You were also enjoying the moment. With him. With Na Jaemin. The stubborn boy who had annoyed you for months asking you for a chance. A chance you had thought he didn’t deserve. But who were you to determine whether he deserved or not when you didn’t even know who he truly was anymore? He wasn't the same from years ago and neither was you.

"Thank you." You were shaken up from your thoughts by the feel of Jaemin's hand touching yours, that was still placed on his neck. He was smiling at you, and dammit, even his smile was beautiful. Did that boy have any flaws at all? "I really was missing out a lot from this whole skincare thing. I’m glad you taught me how to do it.” He chuckled, getting up from the small chair you had to bring to your bathroom earlier so he could blowdry your hair properly.

You literally had forced him to seat down so you could massage his face with the remaining lotion. And you didn't notice it. You were too busy getting drunk from the smell of his perfume. It smelled nice.

And you were indeed going crazy. You even shook your head trying to stop yourself from thinking too much, but what Jaemin did next forced you to make a decision about these thoughts.

"Well, time to leave." He announced, taking up the chair from the floor and leaving you almost heartbroken behind. You... didn't want him to leave.

As confused as someone in your situation could be, you followed the boy out of your room and watched Jaemin packing up his many skincare products back to his plastic bags, debating if you should say the words that were crossing through your mind.

Would you regret it? Probably.

“Unless you want to stay and eat some snacks with me.”

Jaemin froze.

“Are you serious?” he asked, which surprised you who had thought he was going to make a little comment with that damn smirk on his face.

“Yeah, I always keep some snacks in my room in case I want to watch tv shows or movies at night.” You shrugged, trying to act like it wasn't a big deal. “What do you say?”

...

"I still can't believe you eat these!" Jaemin exclaimed, weirdly staring at all the Twix on your bed. "What do you mean by that? You're eating them too!" You pointed at his mouth full of chocolate, making Jaemin almost spit everything out as he contained his laugh by placing his hand on his lips.

"In my defense," He started, after swallowing. "I didn't want to offend you by turning down your invitation, but I can't leave this room without pointing your 5-year-old taste for chocolate."

"I'm glad you didn't point out the fact that I still watch cartoons because then I would have to punch your face." You stated, causing Jaemin to really feel offended and to look at you like you had three more other heads on your neck. "What? Never! Just for you to know, I think Adventure Time is the best cartoon ever and I do not trust anyone who says otherwise."

"Bow down to the king's wise words!" You exclaimed, pretending to bow down, and proceeding to laugh when Jaemin waved at you in slow motion.

“As much as I would love to tease you about the fact that you just called me king, I should probably get going, it’s past midnight already.” Jaemin announced after checking on his watch. “And you’re probably tired so I should no longer annoy you.”

“You surprisingly didn’t annoy me tonight.” You replied, repressing the urge to laugh at Jaemin’s shocked expression. “Not as much as usual.” His face literally dropped.

“I knew something was coming.” He whined and rolled his eyes at you. “Why can’t you just admit that you enjoyed my company?” He questioned, with a serious look on his face.

“Because, if I admit that, I will have to apologize for being a bitch to you earlier,” You started. “which I’m really sorry for, by the way. I shouldn’t have said I didn’t care about what you do, you’re my friend and I do care about everything that happens to you.”

Jaemin listened to every single of my words with attention and when in the end he didn't show any type of reaction, you started to regret what you'd said.

"There's nothing to apologize for. We're cool." He shrugged, giving me a big warm smile as he took the last chocolate bar from my bed and pointed it to me. "Besides, if you intended to take me to your bed, you've picked the easiest way to do it. How could I say no to snacks AND chocolate on your bed? It almost feels like I'm daydreaming." He added with a grin on his face, quickly unpacking the last chocolate and putting half of it in his mouth and offering me the other half. "Peace offer?"

"No." You forced a smile and before he could see it coming, you moved quickly and pushed him out of your bed, causing him to fall and push you with him. Result? You were lying on top of him. And as surprising as it may sound, you didn't care or panicked as much as you thought you would.

"Sorry, field reflexes." He apologized and for the very first time, you noticed his cheeks turning into pink pigment.

Na Jaemin was blushing. He just couldn’t get any more adorable than that.

"Is that dinner still available? I would take it as a peace offer." You wondered, staring right at Jaemin's lips. You mentally scolded yourself from looking too straight-forward, but your eyes just couldn't focus anywhere else, not from this close.

"So, let me see if I got this right, I've spent the last hours being threatened of death, only for you to accept to go on a date with me in the end?" He asked, with a confused but cute expression.

“No, you’ve spent last hours proving me wrong about you. I haven’t been exactly the friend of the year-” “Years.” He faked coughing, giving an innocent smile right after it. “Okay, YEARS.” You rolled your eyes at him, not believing that you were really having that conversation in THAT position. “But what I’m trying to say is, I know I haven’t been around much aside from missions, and tonight you remembered me that you can still be resting while having a friend around, but since it’s been a while since the last time we actually had a proper conversation, I guess it's time for us to get to know each other again.” You finished, finally noticing how his hands on your waist were causing you a tickle feeling. Along with some insisting butterflies who were starting to appear in your stomach.

“Does that mean I have a chance with you?” Jaemin asserted, with a smile on his face.

Yes.

“No, it means I’m giving you the chance to earn that chance.” You faked an excited tone as Jaemin face literally dropped, you had no choice but to laugh at that point.

“Not what I aimed at, but I'll take it, especially after you I’ve seen you laugh like this.”

He just knew how to say the right thing. You didn't know if you hated or liked him for it.

“Soooo, can you get up? I mean, I can totally move you away from the top of me, but I’m too scared that if I accidentally touch your butt, I might not survive till our date.” He forced a chuckle and putting his hands up next to his head.

"You're not wrong, but," You gave him a quick slap on his face, causing the boy to instantly touch his forehead and letting an "Ouch." out of his mouth. "this, is for you even thinking of touching my booty." you warned him, before sitting on his belly and getting yourself on your feet right after it.

"I don't even want to ask what would you do if I'd thought about kissing you..." he murmured, sitting on the floor as he caressed his forehead. "which I didn't. I'm a gentleman, so, no need to merciless murder me." Jaemin quickly completed when he felt your stare burning on his head.

You wanted to laugh at him, SO BAD. But he did have a point: He had been hours alone with you, and not even for a second he attempted anything or looked at you differently. He respected you, and you appreciated that.

"So, see you tomorrow?" you casually asked him after opening your door. "Yes, if you don't change your mind till there." Jaemin bickered, making you roll your eyes at him.

You somehow felt a mixture of feelings: You deep down didn't want to let him go since you had enjoyed his company, but at the same time, you were excited to see what was about to come next. You wanted whatever the future had planned for you, and that was a feeling you weren't familiar with.

"Just don't make me change my mind then." You snapped with a little smile on your face. "I'll try." Jaemin smiled back at you, turning his back and then starting to walk.

(1) Text Message from Jaemin: "I'll try not to change your mind about tomorrow's date. Just hope I can change your mind about going out on a second date (yeah, I know your immediate answer will be "no" to this one)."

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xumos-hoe · 4 years

Note

Hello!! First of all, I really really love your headcanons about the mlqc bois. May I request a hc about MC asking the bois to join her in doing skin care routine (like them wearing face mask). English is not my first language sorry huhu :

AHH TY BABE❤️ honestly, I don’t have much a skincare routine😔🤚

Hope you enjoy babe❤️

MLQC crew join MC in doing her skin care routine

~~~~~~~~

Victor

For someone with hella deep pockets and skin so smooth, you could’ve mistaken it for marble—

Vic doesn’t have much of a skincare routine.

He barks at Goldman to put him down for a facial with his aesthetician every other week—and when it’s simply getting ready for bed or for work, he doesn’t do much other than a simple cleansing wash and MAYBE a couple serums and creams to make up for the eye bags and wrinkles that comes with being the CEO of an entire financial empire.

he just got the good genetics😔

He’s more than a little intrigued when you first move in and unpack your e n t i r e skincare collection—which must’ve amounted to fifty different creams, cleaners, serums, toners, and masks of all different ingredients and usages.

You daily routine involved a different combination of each item and was much more elaborate than he could’ve ever imagined.

In fact, you hog up the bathroom for so long, he’s resorted to using the guest bathroom multiple times

So one night, you finally catch a glimpse Victor Li’s skincare routine—and to say you’re shocked is a severe understatement...

because how can his skin look so good with so little ROUTINE?????

Because he criticized you for applying so much to your face, you force him to sit down and allow you to use your products on him.

AT FIRST, he has a big problem with this because he’s not sure what all the chemicals in your products are gonna do to his own precious skin, but after your constant badgering and pleading, he finally sighs and relents.

“Don’t overdo it. Or else you’ll never have the chance to do this again.”

Your enthusiasm wins him over, eventually putting him at ease after he’s sat by the sink and watched you prepare everything with a big smile

Vic ALMOST abandoned the entire idea when you tried to put those big, fuzzy headbands to block his hair from getting in the way—but luckily, you managed to persuade him to keep it since it was necessary for the best results.

And we know how the CEO feels about achieving the ‘best results’...

If it weren’t for the tacky headband, seeing Victor with his hair pushed back, dressed in nothing but an expensive robe, and expression unguarded, is probably the most attractive you’ve ever seen him.

You stop a few times to study the soft expression on his face, causing you to blush a little. Even Victor himself flushes at the sensation of your face so close to his—loving fingertips brushing past the contours of his cheekbones and jawline so softly, it almost feels intimate.

“If only you were as focused on your work as you are with simple routines like this...”

That’s earns him a huff on your part, to which he quietly laughs at before feeling something cold cover his face.

“What did y—”

“I just applied a sheet mask to help with your dryness!”

He doesn’t even WANT to look at himself, but the words “sheet mask” set off an alarm in his mind before he jerks away to stare in the mirror.

ok sooooo... part of the plan was really because of his dryness! But most of you just wanted to see Victor in a sheet mask, and well...

He’s stunned silent for the first few moments—but it’s not like he’s never seen you use them, so the surprise in his features melts away into annoyance.

“How long do I need to keep this ridiculous thing on?”

The undeniable irritation in his tone catches you off guard, so you scramble to read the packaging.

“Only for...um...20-ish minutes...?”

The heavy sigh that he responds with is a much better reaction than you imagined, so while he sits back down—something akin of impatience flickering in his gaze—you go through your own routine.

He sits through the entire wait time scrolling through his emails and responding to business-related calls. You snicker a couple times while looking at him through the mirror because, oh if only the executives on the opposite line knew exactly how the powerful CEO of LFG looked in that moment...

Every so often, you find him scrutinizing his own appearance in the mirror with a curious expression; sometimes smoothing down the edges of the mask so it pressed against his skin just right.

Turns out he had set a timer on his phone to let him know when the 20 minutes were finally up. He sits down before you even realize it and gestures to his face.

“Alright, now, get this thing off of me.”

The moment you finally peel away the mask, you can visibly see Victor’s facial muscles relax and his previous annoyance fade.

He’s quick to glance at his reflection and raise an eyebrow at the shininess of his skin.

“There! All done! Just don’t touch your face for the rest of the night!”

He’s silent for a couple moments before rising from his seat.

“Waste of my time. I can’t hardly feel a different, let alone, see one.”

But you catch a small smile on his lips before he leaves, which makes you think contrary to his words—and the following morning, when he asks to borrow your cleanser, you think he must’ve enjoyed it much more than he would’ve cared to admit.

Lucien

The professor probably doesn’t have much of a skin routine either...

gifted with that good skin😤

You discover this one night when you sleep over at his apartment and he eyes your cosmetics bag curiously.

He’s aware of the market for skincare and how important it is to most people—but never cared much for it nor invested in products for himself. It was unnecessary if you had skin as naturally clear as Lucien’s

You’re almost jealous when you discover he uses a basic face wash and moisturizer and never has a single blemish on his skin, while you could cycle through hundreds of different products and still break out time to time...

After he makes a funny comment after seeing you lay out everything like ingredients for dinner, and you have an idea:

“Lucien, can I use some products on you? I promise it’ll be just for tonight!”

There’s evident hesitation in his gaze, but after a few moments, he smiles fondly and ruffles your hair.

“You can. But I’ll have to warn you that my skin is a bit sensitive.”

Suddenly, you’re too scared of fucking up his face before he laughs and urges you himself.

But with his warning in mind, you opt for the most lightweight of your products.

You dive right into the routine, all the while, Lucien studies the concentration in your features with a fond smile.

He remains as still as a statue the entire time, sometimes commenting on the fragerence of the product or asking to review the ingredients himself before you apply anything.

It feels much more flustering and embarrassing for you to be touching him, than for him to be touched by you. Though you try not to look into his eyes too much, you can feel his muscles curve into a smile and the discreet tilt of his head as he nuzzles into your touch.

Lucien is most intrigued by the jade roller you pull out and generously apply serum to before guiding it over his T-zone

He’s familiar with the item and mentions some of it’s historical usages, but never had used it prior to this occasion.

Finally, after a few touch of eye cream and Vitamin C (cus we know lulu works hard and might get wrinkles) you pull away with a wide smile—

“Ta~da! You’re all set!”

Lucien peeks at his reflection, visibly content with your hard work before returning to your side to show his appreciation with a sound kiss on your forehead.

“I suppose I should practice more so I can have the honor of doing the same for you.”

Kiro

oKAY, the only other person with a skincare routine as elaborate as your own is the superstar himself

It’s necessary for him to prioritize cosmetic routines such as skin care when his appearance is the most crucial point of his career.

In fact, he may be even more invested in it than you—with an even larger collection of expensive products and a more elaborate routine that keeps his skin smoother than milk.

The only thing that Kiro keeps “organized” in his life is his skin care collection AND I MEAN: he has them alphabetized, kept in those makeup organizers, and probably owns those mini fridges for keeping your products cool.

He’s ecstatic to be with someone that’s just as invested in skin care as he is, and that little thing in common has made for MANY conversations and debates about which product is superior

Although the two of you tend to do your respective routines individually, you decide you wanna try them out at the same time

So for the night—the two of you do each other’s routines for the other person!

Kiro is the most hesitant to do this in case somethjng goes wrong because he has an 8 a.m interview tomorrow morning—so he can’t risk screwing his face up.

But besides that, he’s fully confident in your routine.

Every so often, he’ll bitch about the way you applied a certain thing—“Ms. Chips, I already told you! You apply it thissss way!”

So, in turn, you do the same until he gets frustrated (cus it’s cute seeing him get pouty for once)

Certain products require a certain wait-time, especially the clay masks and cleansers—so you already know the two of you turned his bathroom into a make-shift karaoke room.

You’re in there for nearly two hours until the routines have finally finished (although, karaoke might’ve slowed the process down jusssttt a little)

Luckily, joint skin-care routines work miracles on each other’s skin and allows you both to discover products you never wouldn’t realized you needed.

In fact, after this occasion—its nearly impossible to avoid doing routines without them being side-by-side.

Gavin

PLEASee—Gavin is the kind of guy to wash his face with Irish Spring soap and call it a day

me, having used Irish Spring and breaking out like crazy: 👁👄👁

He has absolutely no knowledge of skin care and cosmetic routines, and almost used your CeraVe bottle like it was hand soap.

All he knows is that skin care keeps you productive and happy, and your skin supple and refreshed—but never considered doing it himself.

Gav is a “man-on-the-go” type of guy so his morning routine is shower->brush teeth->get dressed->fly out the window

By the time he’s reached ‘fly out the window’, you’re still laying eveyrthing out to get started.

It takes one day-off for him to finally discover the magic that is “skin-care” and how badly he’s been missing out on it.

You never approached him about the subject beforehand, but when he slips out of the bathroom after throwing water on his face and patting it dry—you’re almost ashamed of yourself for not helping him earlier.

SO, you pull birdcop back in and force him to sit through skin care. And obviously he’ll do it just because you asked him too, but he’s just not sure what to expect when you being laying out so many different bottles and tools

His only problem would be that they smell too feminine, but not that you’re practically scrubbing his skin raw with how intensely you’re exfoliating because holy shit, this man has dry ass skin.

Birdcop is probably too busy gazing into your eyes to pay attention to whatever you putting on him—he finds the peaceful expression on your face so darn cute, especially when you start humming to yourself and concentrate extra hard on getting the perfect amount of product onto his skin.

He gets a little restless towards the end, “How long do we need to wait for this?...Another cleanser? Just how many drops are you going to apply?”

Intense restraint against the flush in his face when you get extraaa close and lightly brush against all the edges in his skin that he’s only ever dreamt of you touching.

also can I just say: phenomenal facial structure wow

10/10

The first thing he comments on afterwards is how soft his skin feels and the refreshing of sensation after patting it all dry

I bet Irish Spring can’t do that😌🤚

“Gav! I told you to stop touching your skin or you might break out!”

It’d be nice to do this everyday, but on his schedule—he can only manage this once a week, if he’s even willing to sit still for that long.

But for the most part, he does it because your entire face lights up when you do and he’s just. so. smitten. by. it.

Shaw

hear me out...why do I feel Shaw would be low-key invested in skincare??

Obviously, he doesn’t do anything super fancy—it’s honestly a lil basic, but the products are more than effective for him.

You discover this the morning proceeding some rough sex the night before when Shaw went to the bathroom to freshen up

Skincare is such an important part of his daily routine and it just felt so weird to go without it.

Until you walked in, half-asleep, asking what he was freaking out over.

At first, he didn’t want to admit it because saying “babe I forgot my facial cleanser” sounded a little strange

He rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly before shaking his head.

“Forget it, I’ll use soap or something.”

“Soap...? What for?”

He makes an awkward gesture of splashing water on his face—you stand still for a moment before realization hits you, and you laugh.

“Pbfttt! Washing your face? Why didn’t you just say so?”

He’s stunned into silence the moment you stalk past him and open a nearby cabinet to reveal the holy grail of skin-care collections

The only other time Shaw had seen so many cosmetic products in one place was the fucking store.

On the other hand—you’re unsure what to lend him or if he’d be comfortable using any of your personal items...

Thankfully, your dilemma is short-lived the minute you hear a low whistle and Shaw himself is walking up to the retrieve the products like it’s his own collection.

“...We’re definitely fucking at your place next time.”

He seems to know exactly what to grab and what-goes-with-what, which is a pleasant surprise because who knew your boyfriend had such excellent taste?

But you should’ve known that his flawless complexion spoke for itself.

In the blink of an eye, he’s already standing by your sink, generously applying an oil-based cleanser. He peeks at you through the mirror and gestures to everything laid out:

“Aren’t you gonna wash up as well?”

Shaw’s sudden actions had you frozen in place for quite a while, watching him with wide eyes.

When you blinked back to reality, earning a chuckle from the man already moving onto the next step of his routine, you walked over to his side with your own products already laid out.

He seemed so focused on everything, you’d hate to break that concentration—and ended up doing your own routine wordlessly.

Every once in a while, one of you would reach over to the other’s side to borrow a product, or face each other to check if you had missed a spot somewhere.

Time passed relatively slowly and peacefully, juxtaposing the high-thrill and fast-paced nature of most of your activities together.

Even so, a calm morning called for an equally calming activity such as this one and you were happy to be with someone who appreciated it just as much as you did.

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spitandfroth · 3 years

Text

Another Change

Morning,

Struggling to stay asleep while my partner is here. His snoring wakes me up all the time :( He can’t help it so i cant blame him and i feel guilty for constantly shoving him as he needs the rest more than me.

Now what’s been going on?

PIP & Money Worries

My pip reconsideration is ready to send in. It is comprehensive put it that way. I just hope i get my pip back as i am struggling on the money i am on. I can’t afford shopping even! I am relying on my family to buy me shopping and i keep having things break on me. I’ve had my mouse and keyboard break in the last 2 weeks plus i have run out of things like my clean & clear cleanser but i can’t justify the £3 for the bottle. It is utter shit not being able to even afford to replace my veg peeler! it’s £6 to replace it ffs but i am already overdrawn and my next payment is immediately used to pay bills with nothing left over.

If for some reason you want to help me pay bills and buy some basics to make my life better then please paypal me at [email protected] i am grateful for anything you can afford. I feel so sad that i am having to beg but i literally don’t know where to turn to apart from online. Thank you in advance and i am honestly extremely grateful.

Doctors Verdict

I had a good conversation with my doctor this week. I am now taking 500mg of Naproxen twice a day and my escitalopram has been increased to 20mg. I have also now been referred to rheumatology.

We discussed some future changes too. She wants me to come off either tramadol or co codamol as the combination isn't the best and she thinks there is other things we can try. She wants me to come off propranolol, i am happy to try and come off that tbh and she wants to change the spironolactone for something else as its not used for facial hair any more and i need something better suited.

It seems she is on the ball and wanting to fix me as best she can. I will embrace changes but i will always be sceptical around my mental health meds though. She was questioning my risperidone but i know for a fact im crazy when i don't take that!

It’s hopefully the start of getting medically sorted. I just need to keep on top of it and make sure i ring regularly to keep her in the loop to how i am doing. I will say since taking the 20mg of escitalopram i have been struggling to sleep. Maybe related.

I Can’t Get High :(

In the last month i have taken mushrooms and acid with little to no effect. we took 7g of cubensis and literally nothing happened. i stop my meds 2 days before so that shouldn't really affect it, it never did in the past. Everything prepped correctly and we’ve tried a could of methods including lemon tek. Acid i took a half and i got a bit of closed eye visual but were gone within an hour. I then took a full tab and got some nice body rushes and closed eye visuals but after 2 hours i was just tired and went to bed.

I just don’t seem to suit psychedelics.

Next to try is MDMA. This is something i've taken before in my youth and i have high hopes as i loved the feeling of coming up. I am hoping my sister buys a gram we can share. I can’t afford coke and that's literally what's left that's available round here. Drug dealers are utter pants round this way.

Might be getting some DMT though off a girl i traded some CBD with so fingers crossed for that but im not sure she realises how expensive DMT is. So might end up with a couple of tabs again. I’ll bosh those together this time!

Periods

So last month i started my period again. First time in 6 years! It lasted 3 weeks :( I really don’t want my period again though. I don’t want kids, i don’t want my ovaries and womb at all, i want a hysterectomy. However, this is something i have yet to bring up with the doctor. I know for a fact she’ll want me to have a smear and i need my partner to shave my fanny for that, can’t do it on my own...

Anyway, this last week i have become tired all the time, hungry constantly, sad and not just a little bit, i feel like crying over everything and anything. I ache, i am moody and spotty :( I don’t want to spend 2 weeks feeling fat and tired, then 2 weeks bleeding. Fuck that! Guess i’ll have to go on the implant or injection. My worst nightmare is getting pregnant. I know what the decision will be, there is no deciding needing to be done. I WILL be getting a abortion. My body cannot take a pregnancy and mentally i could not cope with a child. I am far too selfish and my partner is too old to start a new family. It just isn’t what i want in life.

So need to have another discussion with the doctor!

Mood

Generally i am coasting but i get pangs of paranoia that i am not good enough for my partner and that hes bored of me. Like why would anyone want me, i am broken. What do i offer to the man i love with all my heart? All i have is love on the table. I barely do anything else. He worships me and does everything he can for me and i feel like i am giving nothing back. It’s hard.

I get feelings of deep sadness and i will just cry for no real reason. A picture of a cat an set me off ffs. From that i they think about sad things like my nan not being here or the fact Tyson will one day leave me for rainbow bridge. I just worry about things that are not happening in a long time or things that have happened and i cannot change.

I worry incessantly about my partner or me dying. I got a telling off for ringing my partner after 2 hours of him not replying to texts as i was panicking he had a accident or something terrible had happened. He was just having a nap and i knew this but anxiety took over. It’s so hard to explain to someone that anxiety just takes over and i can’t help doing things as if i don’t i become distraught with worry.

So yeah mood is up and down, more down than up though. I am hoping the increase in escitalopram will even me out and mean i perk up a bit.

So there it is, a write up of life as it stands really. Not covered everything of course as well i cant do that cause some of it is secret in my head.

Just trying to stay positive as best i can.

Love you xxx

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team-iron-wannabe-man · 5 years

Text

Plums

Title: Plums

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Reader

Word Count: 1000

Summary: When someone write’s their name on something, such as food, it’s usually common knowledge that it is off limits, right? Superheroes are not exempt from the rules.

Warning: None... maybe crack?

A/N: I know that the pairing is Bucky and Reader, but it’s pretty much everyone x reader, and it’s more of a platonic relationship, but it’s ends with reader and Bucky… so it counts, right? You’ll just have to read to understand. This fic is more like a day at the Avenger’s compound, but I hope you enjoy it! Feedback and reblogs would be golden! Thank you!

After your morning run, you returned back to the compound with a small paper bag full of plums. You figured you’d eat them while watching Netflix after a much needed and deserved shower. Taking a marker, you scribbled your name on the bag, just a precaution so that the other inhabitants didn’t take what wasn’t theirs.

While you made you way to your room to fetch a towel and a change of clothes, Clint wandered into the kitchen, eyes landing on the bag that clearly had your name on it. Being ever curious, he peeked inside and saw all the plums. Peeking around him, making sure that no one was there, he stuck his hand in and grabbed a plum, scurrying out before someone saw him.

You hissed when shampoo got in your eye, the suds stinging like crazy. “Ah, son of a bitch!” You cursed, rinsing your eye out with water.

Steve had meandered into the kitchen in search for a snack. He was digging through the fridge, behind all the take out, for something decent to eat. Sighing in defeat, he noticed the paper bag laying on the kitchen counter. He read your name out loud before opening it, revealing its contents. Figuring you had more that enough to share, so he took one.

A sigh left your lips as you massaged the conditioner through your hair, tendrils of long locks gliding through your fingers. Letting the conditioner sit, you decided to shave your legs.

Sam and Nat had just returned from a mission – starved. “Hey, wanna go get something to eat?” Sam asked as they entered the kitchen.

“Actually, that sounds like a great idea,” Nat replied, when her eye caught sight of the small paper bag with your name on it. Not caring, she peeked inside and saw a few plums. “Hey,” Nat called, pulling out two plums and throwing one at Sam, who caught it with ease. “These will keep us until we find a place to eat.”

“Thanks,” he grinned, taking a bite. “Mmm! This is good stuff!” He barked, when Bruce appeared.

“Hey, what are you guys eating?” He questioned.

“Plums. They’re in the bag,” Nat pointed, mouth full.

“Ooh, great!” Bruce beamed, taking a plum from the bag, not realizing your name scrawled on it.

“We’re actually heading out to grab something to eat, you in?” The read head invited.

“Yeah, sure. I’d love to,” Bruce smiled, and the trio left.

Making sure you were thoroughly shaven, you washed off the access shaving cream from your legs and other parts of your body. Next was the facial cleanser. You plucked the bottle from your little shower basket, flicking the lid open and squirting a small amount on your fingers, then capping back the bottle and tossing it back in the basket. You hummed a poppy tune as you lathered your skin.

Taking a break from the lab in search for something to drink, Tony moseyed into the kitchen, pulling the pitcher of cold water from the fridge and grabbing a cup from the cupboards. He carefully poured some of the water into the cup when he noticed the crumpled brown bag on the counter.

Picking it up, he observed the bag, reading your name out loud. Shrugging his shoulders, and his face, he opened the bag to find some plums. “Thank you, Y/N,” he cooed to himself, before taking one. He put back the water pitcher, took his cup, and went back into his lab. The future doesn’t build itself!

Drying yourself off, you looked at the foggy mirror, whipping the condensation clinging to the reflective glass. When your face came into view, you smiled, then made a goofy face just for the heck of it.

You seized your clothes on the counter and started putting them on. Finally feeling clean and fresh, you returned to your room, tossing your sweaty clothes and towel into your hamper, taking note that you’d need to do laundry soon.

Bucky plopped himself on one of the barstools in the kitchen, hovering over the center island, not really knowing what to do. He was bored and thought he’d run into someone – anyone. Letting out a heavy sigh, he let his eyes roam around the kitchen before they landed on the small brown bag.

Needing something to do, he reached for it, opening it up to see what was inside. There were two plums. Nonchalantly, he picked one out, and took a bite. His eyes scanned the kitchen again out of pure boredom when he saw you walk in.

“Hey,” he mumbled with his mouth full.

Instantly, your eyes zeroed in on him. Plum in hand, mouth in motion, and irritation bubbling inside of you.

“Hey! Those are mine!” You snapped.

“Whoa, hey. There’s one left,” he defended, hands raised.

“One? Just one left? You ate all of them?!” You accused.

“What? No. There were only two in the bag. I only took this one,” he waved the half eaten fruit in his hand.

“What?” You shrieked, rushing over to the bag and ripping it open. Bucky was right, there was only one plum in the bag. Groaning, you sunk yourself in the stool next to him, pouting like a child. “Those were supposed to be my Netflix snack…”

Bucky just stared at you, taking another bite of his plum. “Want me to go with you to get more?” He offered. You peered up at him through your lashes, and Bucky felt the urge to laugh, but instead he smiled. “I don’t mind. I’m bored anyways.”

“Fine…” you whined, sliding of the stool and onto your feet.

Bucky got out of his own seat and tossed the seed in the trash. “C’mon, lets go,” he called.

You turned to grab the remaining plum, only to find that it wasn’t there. With wide eyes, you turned back to Bucky… the plum in hand, mouth in motion. He flashed you a toothy grin.

“Bucky!”

“What?! We’re gonna get more!”

A/N: Liked it? Please reblog/share it! Help spread the word. Also, feedback would be lovely!

Tags: @pinknerdpanda

#bucky barnes x reader #bucky barnes #bucky x reader #avengers #reader insert #bucky barnes one shot #bucky barnes fan fiction #bucky barnes fanfiction #bucky one shot #bucky fan fiction #bucky fanfic #plums #team-iron-wannabe-man

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birdkoskincare · 4 years

Note

I have oily combo skin I legit need a new cleanser I use kiehls breaking out like crazy in chin area. Really want t try la roche oily cleanser but the reviews ugh. & cerave broke me out

while cleansers can break you out, they’re possibly the least likely products in your routine to do so (considering they’re rinse-off products), so i’d first make sure that there are no other causes behind your breakouts, whether in other steps of your routine, in your general lifestyle or your hormones and health.

if you stop using the cleanser and the breakouts stop, then restart it and they pick up again, you can link the product with your acne with some certainty. cleansers can cause breakouts if they’re overly stripping and irritate your skin, and also if their pH is too basic and throws off your skin’s naturally acidic pH. so i recommend choosing a really mild, low-pH cleanser as an alternative, like the COSRX low pH good morning cleanser, the simple refreshing facial wash or the la roche-posay tolériane.

#answered #skincare #skin care #cleanser #acne #oily #combo #Anonymous

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hearteyes-for-killmonger · 5 years

Text

Arguments (Part 2)

You walk into the house at 1:47 AM, and Erik isnt in the living room waiting up like a worried father on prom night so that's a good sign.

Dropping your keys on the kitchen table counter with a loud jingle, you put away your leftovers. The stove and the kitchen table are clean. You smile wondering at point he'd done it. Before the texts? After the mall? When he saw you were on your way back? It doesn't even matter. You're ready to go to bed and you hope Erik is at least trying to sleep because you really don't want to talk.

When you walk into the bedroom, the light is out. His bigass stomping boots are gone, out of the walkway, and he's in the bed facing away and toward the windows. You know he can't possibly be sleep and that he hears you, but you don't acknowledge him and he doesn't acknowledge you. Instead, you strip and put away your clothes and shoes, pineapple and tie your hair, and head to the bathroom to go through your shower and skin routine. You stop short when you notice a bath already ran.

The bathroom smells like peppermint. You touch the water with your fingertips. It's still hot which means he just did it and rushed into the bed. The water swirls with bits of red from one of your bath bombs. You could run out and kiss that man for his good deed, but you decide to climb in the bath instead and unwind. This is stress relief afterall and you deserve it. It's what he ought to do after acting like a crazy asshole.

Folding a towel behind your head, you rest and relax your body until you wake up.. to cold water. It's lukewarm, but you hate lukewarm water so to you, it's cold. Scrubbing off, you lift yourself from the tub, drain and rinse it, and dry yourself. After your facial cleanser and moisturizer, you move back to your side of the bed. Settling in under the blanket, you face away from him and rub your legs together like a cricket until you're comfortable.

"Thank you," you nearly whisper, ready to fall asleep.

"Mhm," he mumbles with no hint of attitude. You're tempted to turn over and scoot closer to his warm body. You usually sleep with your leg thrown over his legs or his waist and that's how you feel the most comfortable sleeping, especially when he rests his hand on your ass. That's what your body craves. It's like you keep shifting in the bed because that restless leg of yours knows where it's supposed to be. After you flip over and move your legs for the umpteenth time, staring at his back, he groans in irritation.

"I ain't gone get no fuckin sleep until you do the thing, so do it."

That's all you need. Your leg goes over his waist and you cuddle up to his scarred and textured back, the feeling of his skin comforting against yours allowing you to drift off quickly into sleep.

◇

When you open your eyes.. awoken by your alarm, you're overheated and Erik's face is inches from yours, his nosebreath heavy in your face. He's snoring gently, his arm stretched over you, trapping you in bed and to him, but you're no better. That restless leg is still gripping him. You try to detach yourself and succeed in crawling out of the bed. You have to go to work and so does he.

Leaning back into the bed, you shake him and he gradually opens his eyes, groaning to wake himself up. You work in a nearby part of town, somewhat near the outreach center and the two of you typically ride together. This time, however, you get dressed and head to your own vehicle ready to go alone so to skip the arguments. You pause behind the wheel when your phone buzzes with a message that you check.

I'll drive you. Wait for me.

You're tempted to just leave, but instead you find yourself texting him back.

I'll drive you and wait for you.

You can see he read your message but he doesn't respond immediately and you adjust your mirrors. There's nothing really to adjust, he doesn't drive your car. Still, you do it. When you're phone buzzes, the message makes you smirk.

Fine. If we die, we just die together.

He walks out shortly after, looking like a model in one of his custom suits, strolling to the passenger side and lowering himself in. You watch him strap himself in and you drive off sure to obey the speed limits and stay off of your phone hoping it'll keep him from worrying about you so much. He seems to appreciate it, remaining calm. At a certain point, you look over and catch him with his eyes resting shut.

"We're here," you say gently stopping in front of his building. He opens his eyes, blinking before biting his heavy pink bottom lip like he wants to say something. He decides against it.

"I'll see you," he says stepping a foot out. Your hand on his arm gives him pause and he doesn't look at you, but you have his attention.

"Thank you for not freaking out on me today," you say watching his mild reaction. "I'm not mad at you anymore... Have a good day."

He steps out of the car looking at the large building and he thinks twice as you watch him move. Turning, he comes back like he left something.. climbing back in and leaning across the console to your face, his full lips requesting access to yours. You stare at him and his lips before granting said access. You're definitely not mad now. When he pulls back, he licks his lips and leaves the car again, bending down.

"I'll definitely have a good day now," he nods before shutting the door and backing toward the building gracefully, his eyes on yours. Even up stairs he doesn't trip. You watch him until he turns to go start his work day. Now it's time for you to start yours.. and since you missed out on sex with him last night, you know exactly where you're cumming for your lunch break.

@muse-of-mbaku @imaginewhoever @whoramilaje @panthergoddessbast @thadelightfulone @misspooh @inlovewithmakeupcomicsanimelove @marvelpotterlove @youreadthatright @forbeautyandlife @theunsweetenedtruth @bidibidibombaclaat @myboyfriendgiriboy @dameshaemonique @blackpantherimagines @eriknutinthispoosy @mandapandas-blog @vikkidc @hidden-treasures21 @romanceoftheeveryday-blog @mysidefanting @allhailnjadaka @hold-me-like-a-heart-beat @syndrlla97 @winteroflife @thotyana-in-this-hoe @texasbama @gingerylimonte @princessstevens @magic-madness-heavensin @localtrapgod @taint3dvirgin @wawakanda-btch @scrumptiouslytenaciouscrusade @wakanda-inspired @blackgirloneshots @thegucciwaffle @shesfromwakanda @thiccdaddy-mbaku @ange-sensuel @drsunshine97 @purplehairgawdess @trevantesbrat @indigoxsummers @cccccx1 @dynastylnoire @iamrheaspeaks @blowmymbackout @fonville-designs

Sequel was requested.

#erik killmonger #original #erik stevens #erik killmonger fanfiction #killmonger #erik killmonger imagines #erik killmonger imagine #erik stevens au #erik killmonger x reader #erik x reader #erik stevens x reader #erik stevens x you #killmonger imagine #arguments

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imakebeautymistakes · 5 years

Text

Skincare catch-up

Below are all the products I’ve used or currently use in my skincare routine. Some do their job but are nothing fancy, some are bad purchases, and some I’ll actually repurchase.

My skin type is combination/oily, and I get acne when I’m stressed (not all over my face though, just 1-3 big pimples). I also have milia all over my cheekbones, and I’m looking into a way to have them removed by a professional since I wasn’t able to get rid of them on my own.

Cleansers

Currently using: Purity by Philosophy

Rating: 6.5/10

It does its job, but I don’t think it worked better than a Garnier cleanser I tried a year ago, and it’s more expensive. Also, the smell is a bit odd. Clean, but odd. I got this as a free gift for signing up for an Ulta credit card, and it’s definitely smooth and feels good rubbing into my skin. This will probably work fine on most skin types. However, for the price tag (and my skin type), there’s probably something better out there for me.

Currently using: Daily Microdelivery Exfoliating Facial Wash (Philosophy)

Rating: 7/10

It’s a gentle-enough exfoliant that I can use it every morning as a cleanser in place of Purity (though if this is a big skincare mistake, someone please let me know!) It smells a bit like oranges and has a thick jelly texture. It feels refreshing and all, but again, I’m not sure how much it’s doing given the fact that I get breakouts whenever I’m stressed and I have to use other products to even out my skin tone again and get rid of acne. It does its job, but for the price, I could probably find something better for my specific skincare needs. That being said, I got the full size on sale for $15 at Christmas last year (normally $42) and it lasts a long time.

Trial: Beste No. 9 Jelly Cleanser by Drunk Elephant

Rating: ?

Everyone can get their hands on this in one of the options for your free birthday gift at Sephora this year. If you missed your birthday, you can still get your gift by going on sephora.com and logging into your Beauty Insider account to temporarily change your birth date before you go shopping. Not a huge fan of the packaging, since it’s a little messy when my hands are wet from washing my face and I don’t want to get cleanser all over the sink and it’s hard to close if your fingers are slippery (if you’ve used this, you probably know what I’m talking about). Like Purity, the smell is a bit funky, but that could be a good sign since things that smell good usually have fragrance that can cause irritation. Still trying this though, will update later.

Sample: Kiehl’s Cucumber Herbal Conditioning Cleanser

Rating: ?

Only had a sample size that lasted a week, but I liked this when I used it. You didn’t need much product to cleanse your whole face, and it smelled really clean and refreshing but not overpowering. Lathered nice, and I’ll probably try this someday when I get more than a little sample packet.

Garnier SkinActive Micellar Foaming Wash

Rating: 8/10

For a drugstore product, I really liked using this. The only reason I stopped was to try out the Philosophy products. My skin felt tight and clean after using this, and I could really lather to remove dirt and excess makeup. This is kind of my fallback, and my sister (age 20, combo skin) and my mom (age 50+, combo skin and rosacea) both like it too. Garnier also sells one in a blue bottle with aloe, but it’s not as good as this one and doesn’t have the micellar water.

Toner

Currently using: Thayers Witch Hazel & Rose Petal Toner

Rating: 8/10

Does its job, doesn’t irritate, is inexpensive, and you can find it at the drugstore and Target. In the future I want to try a toner more targeted to my acne-prone oilier skin, but this toner is a catch-all, and overall a solid option in online reviews.

Sample: Kiehl’s Blue Astringent Herbal Lotion

Rating: ?

I only got a baby sample that lasted 3 days, but this was really nice when I used it. It’s definitely for oily skin since it has alcohol in it, but it didn’t dry me out and made my pores feel nice and tight. Wish I could review more in-depth, but didn’t get a chance to use this long enough.

Neutrogena Alcohol-Free Toner

Rating: 6/10

I guess it worked (it’s been over a year since I’ve used this, though) and the smell was good, but I remember liking the Thayers better so I switched. Didn’t irritate or anything, nothing bad to say, but it didn’t leave an impression.

Serum

Currently using: The Ordinary’s Lactic Acid 10% + HA

Rating: 9/10

For my first real foray into serums, this has worked pretty well. I wanted to increase my skin turnover rate and bring my milia to the surface, and this works well, is under $10, and is gentle enough to use every night. I didn’t want to try anything too drastic since I hadn’t used serum before, and this one was great. Will keep using, and will likely try other products from The Ordinary in the future.

Sample: Kiehl’s Nightly Refining Micro-Peel Concentrate

Rating: ?

I got a small sample packet of this when I went to a Kiehl’s store for a free consultation, and it lasted about a week. I started to see results, but I ran out of the sample and went with The Ordinary since this little sucker is expensive. Seems like a great product, but not good on the budget.

Sample: Kiehl’s Hydro-Plumping Re-texturizing Serum Concentrate

Rating: ?

Seems like a good product, and I liked it for the week I used it. No smell, smooth texture, all good. However, the price is steep, so I don’t think I’ll be buying this anytime soon.

Spot Treatments

Currently using: Clinique Acne Solutions Clinical Clearing Gel

Rating: ?

I just bought this yesterday, so I’ll post more of a review after at least a week. First impressions: this is a spot treatment, and I don’t know who would use this all over their face like the box says you can do. It’s strong and a bit sticky (like superglue?) and you have to be careful not to touch your eyes or anything while you have some on your fingertips. It absorbs quickly, and while it’s definitely drying, you can put moisturizer over it just fine.

Clindamycin Phosphate Topical Gel

Rating: N/A

I feel like I can’t “rate” this since it’s not OTC and I got it through a doctor’s prescription, but I loved this and if the doctor I switched to this past year hadn’t screwed up, I’d still be using it twice a day. Gentle, didn’t smell like anything, and kept my acne away pretty well. More of a preventative measure than something to use once you already have the acne.

Moisturizers

Currently using: Origins GinZing Energy-Boosting Gel Moisturizer

Rating: 8.5/10

I started using this a month ago, and I really like it, especially for a light morning moisturizer in the summer. It feels so smooth when you put it on, and the citrus smell is amazing. I like this one better than the Drunk Elephant one (below), and it’s half the price. I don’t think I’ll use this in the dry winter months, but it’s been great in warm temperatures and sunshine.

Trial: Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide Cream

Rating: ~6.5/10

For the price, I don’t understand the hype here. Yeah, it’s a nice thick creamy moisturizer, but it doesn’t smell fabulous and I don’t think it works better than other moisturizers that are under $40. However, my sister is in love with this stuff, so maybe it’s just me.

Trial: Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion

Rating: ?

I picked this one up at Ulta yesterday, so I haven’t had a long enough time to test it. However, it gets rave reviews, and my first impression was that it went on smoothly and felt nice, but I’ll have more to say later.

Sample: Kiehl’s Skin Rescuer Moisturizer

Rating: ?

I liked this moisturizer a lot better than the other one I got as a free sample from Kiehl’s (below). No strong smell, applied smoothly (I’m saying this a lot, but there’s a reason), but I didn’t notice any “stress-minimizing”.

Sample: Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Deep Moisture Balm

Rating: ?

Not for me. Didn’t go on my skin smoothly, I didn’t like the smell (vaguely oat-like? Or am I crazy?), didn’t feel great on my skin. I still had some left in the sample when I threw it out, it just isn’t for anyone with oily skin. Not sure why the girl at Kiehl’s gave me this, but whatever.

Garnier Skin Active Soothing 3-in-1 Face Moisturizer with Rosewater

Rating: 6.5/10

Not good in the summer. I might go back to it in the winter, but this probably just made the milia on the thin skin under my eyes worse when it was humid out. More for dry skin, and the fragrance was a bit strong. Also, I felt like you needed a lot of product to use on your whole face, since it didn’t glide on like some of the more gel-textured moisturizers I’ve tried. Not too bad for the drugstore, though.

Neutrogena Oil-Free Moisture Combination Skin

Rating: 7/10

I liked this, it definitely mattified my oily t-zone. The only reason I really stopped using it was because I wanted to try a moisturizer with SPF...

Neutrogena Moisturizer, SPF 15

Rating: 5/10

This didn’t work for me. The SPF made it more irritating if I got it close to my eyes or touched my eyes too soon after applying, and my nose in particular seemed really oily when I used this. Maybe only use this if you have normal-dry skin?

Other

Currently using: St. Ives Blackhead Clearing Green Tea Scrub

Rating: 7/10

I use this about 3 times a week at night, and I don’t find it too irritating like some people say the apricot or walnut scrub is. Pretty sure the beads in here are silicone, so it doesn’t tear up my face. I stopped using this for a few weeks, and when I picked it back up to try and get rid of an acne flare-up, it really helped. I definitely noticed that it was doing something when I went off it for a bit. Drugstore BHA (Salicylic Acid) that works for me.

Freeman Charcoal + Black Sugar Gel Mask and Scrub

Rating: 4/10

Are you a scrub? Are you a mask? Make up your mind. It doesn’t really work as either, with a weird thick jelly texture and huge scrub beads. Only used twice, maybe I’m jumping to conclusions, but even though this didn’t break me out or anything, it didn’t seem to do anything at all. Weird product.

GlamGlow Super-Clearing Mud Mask Treatment

Rating: 6.5/10

For the price and with all the ingredients including a blend of AHAs, I thought this would do more. It’s satisfying to watch the mask turn lighter gray as it dries on your face, but you’re only supposed to use it once a week, and I haven’t noticed results after a month. A fun mask to try, but I won’t be repurchasing since it’s too expensive for not enough of a result.

Burt’s Bees Conditioning Lip Scrub

Rating: 4/10

Chapstick would accomplish pretty much the same thing this does. It’s hard to scrub it into your lips, since the honey “beads” like to congeal into larger blobs, and it’s surprisingly expensive for a small little container at the drugstore. There have to be better lip scrubs out there, save your money.

Mario Badescu Facial Spray with Rosewater

Rating: 7/10

A nice product, but I don’t get the hype or cult status. Good for a refreshing pick-me-up, but I don’t notice anything different when I don’t use it. Not really a setting spray, just extra hydration during the day if you’re into that. Good for wetting a beauty blender, though.

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harry8673-blog · 5 years

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Peter Philips, Creative And Image Director, Dior Beauty

A little something to add to your “answers to questions you never asked” file: When I was six, I was obsessed with baloney. Not metaphorical baloney—not trying to be cute here—but actual baloney. Loved it, couldn’t get enough of it. I declared my deep appreciation of this true mystery meat to my parents nearly every day, and lo, just like that, it got promoted to “lunchbox regular.” Something about the tangy harmony of salt and nitrates really whet my appetite. And then after a few months of this demanding behavior, I got sick of it—the smell alone made me want to hurl. So I stopped eating it, and haven’t eaten it since (although I hear that hotdogs are, in fact, simply baloney in a tube).

Bet you’re wondering what this has to do with beauty—good question, thanks for keeping me honest. The thought I had about my sudden aversion to baloney plays out in a similar way when it comes to beauty. The beauty version of “Did I eat so much baloney that my body rejected it?” sounds like this: “Have I used the same moisturizer for so long that my face no longer accepts it as valid?” Or, “If I don’t switch up my shampoo and conditioner every once in a while, my hair looks dull and sad.” The product switch-up notion is a tale as old as time. And while it may have been good for scamming your mom to load her Sephora cart with a little something for you when you were in high school, it's not clear if the argument holds any water at all. Fact or fiction? That’s the question. So, after years of watching MythBusters with my brother (who, by the way, conveniently could never find the remote control when that guy with the beret emerged within view), I’m ready to do a little myth-busting of my own.

Myth: Other than the products mentioned above, I can use the same beauty products forever. False. Let’s not get crazy here. You can’t go through life using the same stuff forever. Sometimes a seasonal change will force your hand—that heavy duty moisturizer for the winter is probably better left on your shelf in the summer. And then there’s the matter of expiration dates… Flip over your serums, creams, and cleansers. Every single one of ‘em should have a cylinder with a number inside printed on the label. That number is how long your product is meant to last. Just keep in mind that we’re not talking spoiled eggs here. That number has a bit of give, but just don’t get too crazy and use it way beyond the expiration date. Use your very wise judgment!

So explain to me why my favorite cream in the whole wide world isn’t cutting it anymore!

It is! It’s just that you’ve gotten used to the results. When you first try something new, your skin reacts to how it would with any new experience—it changes. Ideally for the better, and if not then it’s time to move on. But when you’ve been doing the same thing every day for months...years...after a while it’s easy for your cream and whatnot to start to feel like it’s not doing anything special. Here’s a remedy for that. Stop using the product in question for a month, about the time it takes for your skin cells to turnover. What do you see? An improvement? A decline? If it’s the former, then it really is time for you to switch to something new. But the latter? Eh, you’re fine.

Myth: You need to take a break from a small, select group of products from time to time. True. There are a few products that require a break. Got eczema? Then you probably know a bit about topical steroids, and how prolonged use can build up a resistance to the steroids’ effects. Silicone products are another group you should look out for. Silicones deliver a smoothing effect to hair and skin, and when the creams or conditioners are not thoroughly washed off, the silicones tend to hang around and, in turn, dull your hair or limit your skin’s capacity to look fresh and glowy. The fix? When it comes to your hair, switch out to a clarifying shampoo every month or so (only you can determine the cadence to switch in and out, so experiment a little). And for your face, give your skin a break once a week with an exfoliant. Whether that’s P50, a gentle rice scrub, or a weekly peel, is up to you.

The Gentle Exfoliation “Smooth foundation starts with smooth skin. I always start by doing a light exfoliation. Lately, I’ve been using Pixi Glow Peel Pads—the glycolic acid helps slough off any dead skin cells on the surface. For dryness around the nose and picked-at blemishes, I take a small amount of Homeoplasmine on a cotton swab and gently massage into the scab or flaky skin. In most instances, this is enough to completely remove it and smooth it out. It’s important not to overload the skin before makeup. The more products you’re mixing and matching, the higher the chance certain ingredients won’t get along with each other. This is what causes that weird rolling of product you often see. Focus on skincare that absorbs, and doesn’t sit on top of the skin—I almost always use Eminence Facial Recovery Oil.” —Dana Delaney

The Winter Skin Fix “Super hydrating moisturizer is the best base for any foundation, as healthy, moisturized skin always gives that extra beautiful luster—it’s a glow that lasts all day. You’ll end up using less actual makeup when your skin looks this good. Models come in super dehydrated in the winter, so I have a few creams in the rotation. One that works on everyone is Avène Crème For Intolerant Skin. It’s super hydrating and soothing, and it has very few ingredients, so it works on even the most sensitive skin. For those who love a traditional primer, you can’t get any better than Laura Mercier’s classic Foundation Primer. It’s the smoothest, most lightweight primer that never pills and doesn’t set the foundation too fast.” —Ingeborg

There are many dimensions to makeup application—precisely three, in fact. Makeup in the 2-D world is reserved for your screen, and in the 1-D world, it’ll cost you $7.80 or best available offer. But make up for real life is three dimensional, and skin in real life has pores, bumps, and wrinkles. There’s no way around it! A great makeup application takes that texture into account—makeup won’t look smooth if the surface under it isn’t smooth. The right prep routine for you could be an AHA, a dewy moisturizer, or a mattifying primer—makeup artists use them all. Here’s how seven take dry, winter skin and make it smooth, plump, and makeup-ready. You’ll probably need less coverage, and your makeup will last longer without flaking. Here’s to looking good, from all angles.

The Winter Skin Fix “Super hydrating moisturizer is the best base for any foundation, as healthy, moisturized skin always gives that extra beautiful luster—it’s a glow that lasts all day. You’ll end up using less actual makeup when your skin looks this good. Models come in super dehydrated in the winter, so I have a few creams in a rotation. One that works on everyone is Avène Crème For Intolerant Skin. It’s super hydrating and soothing, and it has very few ingredients, so it works on even the most sensitive skin. For those who love a traditional primer, you can’t get any better than Laura Mercier’s classic Foundation Primer. It’s the smoothest, most lightweight primer that never pills and doesn’t set the foundation too fast.” —Ingeborg

The Hot Tip “I start by cleansing the skin with Aveda Botanical Kinetics Radiant Skin Refiner to smooth everything out. I then apply Hydro-Plumping Re-Texturizing Serum Concentrate from Kiehl’s, which plumps the skin and helps it retain moisture. I finish with Dr. Hauschka Rose Day Cream, a rich cream with minimal ingredients. Using my fingertips, I work in Laura Mercier Radiance Primer. The warmth from your fingers works well to evenly apply the product and helps melt the product to your skin. You don’t want it to feel like it's hovering above the surface. I also do this with makeup—I warm the product on the back of my hands before applying.” —Mimi Quique

The One-Two Punch “The key to flawless smooth foundation is what you prep with underneath. I am a big fan of adding moisture and tackling excess shine before applying the base. I use a hydrating primer like Hourglass' hydrating serum all over, and then a mattifying serum like MAC Refined Zone down the T-zone. This ensures that no areas grab and look too heavy or dry—it will also give up to 24-hour wear.” —Lynsey Alexander

The Sensitive Solution “The most important step in my makeup routine is actually skincare. I tend to have dry, sensitive skin so I have to make sure that the products I'm using will not only last for 12 hours a day but also not strip my skin of its natural moisture. I'll apply a small amount of hyaluronic acid—I use Vichy Aqualia Thermal Face Serum—because it helps my skin absorb the cream better. I'll finish my skincare prep with a light but powerful moisturizer like Youth To The People Adaptogen Deep Moisture Cream. I love this moisturizer because it doesn't pill up under my foundation, and contains pentapeptides that calm the skin and reduce irritation. Next, I'll warm up a dime-size amount of liquid foundation along with a small dot of moisturizer in my palms—the moisturizer helps thin the foundation out so it’s not as heavy. The heat of my hands helps to ensure an even blend and smoother finish.”—Jenn Collins

The Poppin’ Lock “What I would do is exfoliate and make sure that the skin has had adequate moisturizing. I'll sometimes even use a jade or rose quartz roller to stimulate collagen or do a light facial massage while applying moisturizer. When using makeup you want to stay away from things that are too active—wrinkle creams and things that are great for nighttime. In the daytime, a mattifying moisturizer is almost like a primer. Stippling with a wet Beautyblender is the best way to layer on the foundation. I like the Alleven Hyaluronic Airbrush Foundation or L'Oréal Freshwater Foundation, which are lightweight. If you apply your foundation while your skin is slightly damp from your moisturizer, it will blend together in a really organic way. As your moisturizer dries, your foundation locks in. ” —Sir John

The Full Shebang “I love to do a multi-step regimen to prep the skin for a smooth, long-lasting makeup application. I apply Nars Hydrating Toner on clean skin to gently exfoliate dead skin cells. Then, I restore moisture and radiance with Caudalie Beauty Elixir spray and Sisley Ecological Compound massaged into the skin. I use a facial tissue sheet to blot off excess skincare that hasn’t absorbed. To smooth out any texture or larger pores, I tap a small amount of MAC Skin Refined Zone Treatment with fingers. I prime the skin with Le Maquillage Pro Makeup Mixer which helps makes any foundation malleable and looking just like skin.” —Alana Wright Read More...

#Beauty Fashion

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transcendentskincare · 7 years

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First Impressions on New Haul!!! So I recently went a little product crazy and bought a whole bunch of stuff. As some of you may know I've been looking at the ingredients I put on my skin. Before I buy every product I read the ingredients and make sure they don't contain any harmful/ harsh ones. So from left to right these are my new purchases: 1. Garnier SkinActive Moisture Bomb Sheet Mask in Mattifying: I haven't tried this yet because I only got one but I have high hope for this. I'll update you when I use it. I like anything other the words mattifying on it! 2. Garnier SkinActive Micellar Cleansing Water in Mattifying: I needed something to take off my makeup either in a rush or just before I wash my face and I always loved the original Garnier Micellar water. When I saw they had one with mattifying qualities I jumped for joy because I wasn't a fan of the oils in the other product. This product does have alcohol denat in it which can be drying on the skin but I use a moisturizer so hopefully it doesn't dry my skin. I like the way this takes of my makeup so effortlessly! No harsh rubbing or pulling and I does leave my skin looking slightly matte but after a couple minutes the shine come back. So I wouldn't say it's completely mattifying but just slightly. 3. Garnier SkinActive The Gentle Sulfate- Free Cleanser: I realize I went a little Garnier crazy my b, but they've been coming out with a lot of interesting shit and I can't help it! Sulfate- Free is literally music to my ears! I needed a gentle cleanser that was going to wash off my makeup and also free from any harsh chemicals that was also within my budget. I found a winner. This takes off my makeup perfectly and doesn't dry out my face or leave a weird film on it. It didn't have a strong scent to it, it's gentle like everything else about this cleanser. 4. The Body Shop Vitamin E Aqua Boost Essence Lotion: this is supposed to be similar to the Shiseido Ultimune Power Infusing Concentrate except it doesn't cost you an arm and a leg like Shiseido's does. This is essentially what you put on your face after washing it and it's supposed to help your other products absorb better into your skin. It's like a skin care primer! Honestly the packaging sold me on this one like come on.. it's pink.. I need it. I have used the Shiseido Ultimune before and thought it was great so the fact that I found one for way less makes my wallet very happy. 5. Yesto Cotton Comforting Facial Moisturizer: I was in the market for a new moisturizer when I came across this one I like that it said it was for sensitive skin. It says it protects and minimizes irritation which is a win for me because my face gets red when I put products on it sometimes. I have use this product twice now and my face doesn't get greasy after using it. And actually drive semi-matte which I wasn't expecting, but it was a pleasant surprise. I really like how moisturizing it is and I have noticed that my skin doesn't get red or irritated when I use it. It's a win in my book! 6. Tree Hut Shea Sugar Scrub in Lychee & Plum: just as an FYI I will literally buy anything that says it has lychee in it, which is my favorite smell/flavor!! This did not disappoint! I cannot express how much I love coming out of the shower smelling like lychee and feeling smooth and soft. Now I just need a lychee body wash! The obsession is real people! This scrub not only exfoliates your skin but seriously moisturizes it too. I come out of the shower feeling like a babies bottom! I have nothing bad to say about this. 7. Organic Skincare Doctor Manuka Honey Face Scrub: I needed a new face scrubber that wasn't going to break me out because my last one did. I've heard so much good stuff about Manuka honey and how great it is for your skin and decided to try this one out. This really gets all the dead skin cells off my face as well as moisturizing and at the same time. I haven't noticed any breakouts because I've only used it once since you're only supposed to exfoliate your face 2 to 3 times a week, but I'll keep you updated. So far so good! I'll update this eventually and give my full review on these products rather than just first impressions.

#new buys #from a collection of different places:#cvs #marshalls #ross #tjmaxx #Walmart #New skincare #fixin up my face #skincare #transcendentskincare

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sentrava · 5 years

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At 35, I Started Caring About My Skin — Here’s My Routine

The hardest thing about traveling so often is keeping a regular, healthy diet and a skincare routine compatible with TSA requirements and my aging self. I recently turned 36, and I’m embarrassed to admit I didn’t truly get serious about caring for my skin until about 18 months ago. That said, better late than never (right? RIGHT?), so I put together this play-by-play of how to maintain a skincare routine in your 30s—and, in particular, how I keep it up while on the road.

But first, it must be said, I am not a doctor, a dermatologist or an aesthetician (clearly). You should absolutely see one (or all) of the above before doing anything drastic with your own skin. I do have a great derm, Dr. Lorien Sites at Nashville Skin, who I see once a year for skin checks and preventative cancer screenings and an aesthetician in Nashville, Mallory Hamilton at Woo Cosmetics, as well as one in Manchester, Megan Hershman of Be Well Skin, who I go to for professional facials and waxing. That said, I can only afford so many such treatments, so I’ve learned what I can do on my own and what I need to leave to the pros.

And it happens to be my favorite time of year: the Sephora VIB sale! I tend to stock up on all the products I need during this sale for 11 days every April and November. It’s the perfect excuse to try out a bevy of new products as there are 10 to 20 percent discounts throughout the course of 11 days, in addition to all sorts of freebies and perks.

Note: This post is in no way sponsored by Sephora, though I did include affiliate links when applicable below. I purchased every beauty product I featured below through Sephora (or Ulta if I can’t find it at my first-choice shop) and have stopped buying actual skincare products via Amazon. Why? Read this.

My Daytime Routine

After going overboard with products to start and creating blackheads for the first time in my life as a result, this is now what I do in the morning now. I don’t double-cleanse every single day, as I don’t wear makeup and my skin is already sensitive, so the second step is just an occasional add depending on how my skin is feeling that day. It’s always a trial-and-error with what works for you, though I’ve found a lot of helpful tips via beauty guru Caroline Hirons over the years. I also often defer to this New York Times piece on building a skincare routine when I’m feeling overwhelmed and sifting through the black hole of skincare recommendations that is the Internet.

Step 1: Rinse my face with warm water and a cleanser like this Algenist one

Step 2: Double cleanse with an exfoliating product like Tatcha’s Deep Cleanse (optional)

Step 3: Apply Tarte Knockout Tingling Treatment as a toner (I don’t do this every day)

Step 4: Splash my face with Fresh’s Black Tea Kombucha Antioxidant Essence to ward off pollutants

Step 5: Apply a layer of Drunk Elephant Day Serum

Step 6: Apply Supergoop SPF and an additional thin coat of moisturizer if needed (i.e. if my skin is dry)

Go about my day!

I’ve tried to be better about wearing SPF every single day, even if I don’t think I’m going out in the sun. My bestie Lemon turned me onto Supergoop! products a couple years ago, and those are my go-to for days I know I’ll be outside at some point. Plus, I love that it comes in a 1.7-ounce bottle, so I can keep it in my carry-on and reapply as needed. Back home, I have a massive tube of Le Roche-Posay’s Anthelios SPF, a line my makeup artist friend Brenna introduced me to a few years ago (and one you can now find at your local pharmacy like Walgreens), that I apply when running or working in the yard.

I have combination skin that errs on the oily side, so won’t use a moisturizer during the day unless it’s winter (or allergy season like now) and my skin is feeling tight and itchy. In that case, I’m a big fan of Little Seed Farm’s Goat’s Milk Moisturizer, which is a nearby Tennessee brand I purchase locally from Kroger’s but has a website from which you can order if you aren’t local. I also love Tatcha’s Water Cream, and it’s a bonus that it’s a clean product, too (slowly making the switch to mostly products that are certified clean).

Keeping my products organized and ready to use step-by-step has been a lot easier in the new house as we actually have bathroom space and closets here. I like to keep everything where I can see it so I can survey what I have in stock, so I loved adding this rotating beauty organizer I got on Amazon for just $26 to my new bathroom. I also have a variety of Container Store and STORi plastic bins like this one that I use to organize my overflow and hair products in my bathroom closet.

Using Face Masks

Since I work from home, I often do a mask once or twice a week midday and have all my skincare products readily available and have liked splashing this Fresh essence on my face throughout the day when I need a boost. I’m constantly trying new ones, but here are a few of my favorites:

REN’s Glycol Lactic Radiance Renewal Mask (I use this peel once a week and it’s glorious)

Sephora Collection Face Masks (I prefer the coconut, pearl and lychee)

TONYMOLY Sheet Masks (for $3.75 a pop, you can’t beat the price)

My Nighttime Routine

One thing to note is that figuring out what works for you takes time. Don’t introduce everything at once, otherwise you won’t know what’s working and what’s not. For example, the Pixie Glow Tonic from Target beauty bloggers rave about? Only made my skin break out and become more red in complexion. I immediately took it out of my rotation and started testing out different Vitamin C and brightening serums instead.

Wash with a deep cleanser (I like various Peter Thomas Roth products)

Apply a serum (Sunday Riley Vitamin C or Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Framboos)

Apply a retinol (currently using Drunk Elephant’s A-Passioni)

Apply an eye cream (I haven’t found one I love but currently am using Drunk Elephant’s that came in a set)

Apply a night cream (see below for my thoughts on this)

Between each step, I make sure the product has properly soaked in before I add the next layer. Rule of thumb if you can’t remember which order to apply is: lightest to heaviest. My night cream or moisturizer depends on how thirsty my skin is (I used to not use one, but now I’m trying to reverse deep forehead wrinkles without Botox so use one religiously). My go-to is Belif’s Aqua Bomb, particularly in the drier months like winter, but I really love Farmacy’s Sleep Tight quenches my skin but doesn’t make me wake up feeling oily.

I also finally started using a silk pillowcase, the Slip pillowcase beloved by bloggers everywhere, and I’m kind of mad my mom has used one her entire life and never enforced it upon me because it does help protect both your skin and your hair. And as someone with crazy wavy hair, I can actually straighten it one day, sleep on the silk pillowcase and wake up to it not a mess for a change.

In terms of toning and skin-brightening, friends of mine swear by Karen Hayes Esthetics’ Koji pads, and I finally dropped $160 on a pack and … was extremely underwhelmed. I used them religiously for the recommended 60 days and saw no change in my skin tone. That said, I didn’t actually go in to see the esthetician first—rather, I filled out the survey online—so maybe I needed a stronger prescription? I don’t know. In a world of abundant skincare options, I don’t think I’d drop the money to re-try this one. I’m getting more religious about using a toner and Vitamin C serum instead.

After a decade of using retinol from my derm, I’ve been using OTC retinol products for the past year after my skin went ballistic with an allergic reaction the last time I tried medical-grade products. I’m due for my annual skin checkup with my derm soon, so I’m going to ask her to prescribe me a new retinol—not because my skin breaks out regularly, but because I have deep forehead lines that need reversing (I laugh a lot, what can I say?) and I’m just not into the idea of Botox (no judgment if you are). For those who don’t need as strong a retinol, I do like Drunk Elephant’s A-Passioni Retinol Cream and also Algenist’s Retinol Serum.

Drunk Elephant products are pricey, so I’d recommend you go with a sampler kit like this one before investing in the full-sized products to see what you like. But I’m fully on that bandwagon now, as I’ve been using them for nearly a year, and my skin feels so clean and fresh daily (plus, their products are non-irritating and non-toxic).

When I Travel, Here’s My Beauty Kit

My friend Christie, to whom I also go for skincare tips, made me envious of how organized her beauty kit always is, so I threw out my old caddy and bought this hanging organizer instead. I keep it hanging in my bathroom and each section is organized by theme: first aid (Band-Aids, medicine, prescriptions, etc.), dental hygiene, shampoo and conditioner, hair products and skincare. It’s always ready to go when I need to pack my suitcase, and this way, I never forget anything, which I was inevitably doing before. I also now use this little $8 seven-day pill organizer for my prescriptions, which has reduced the chance of me forgetting one bottle since I’m on so many daily allergy meds.

For this, I typically use Sephora samples I get when I’m stocking up or I buy mini-kits of products I use that are under three ounces. Nothing will get me to check a bag when I travel, so I find it’s always easier to be prepared. Some kits of minis I’ve used and love:

Algenist Discovery Kit (which includes the retinol, a serum, an eye cream and more)

Drunk Elephant’s The Littles (which includes a small version of every one of the products I use of theirs)

Tatcha Pore-Perfecting Duo (I use this for my cleanser and moisturizer when traveling)

What You Eat DOES Matter

Doing food elimination diets for my autoimmune disease means that I’ve seen firsthand how my skin reacts to certain foods, dairy in particular. And while we are mostly dairy-free day-to-day—we long ago, started making our own almond, cashew and coconut milk—neither one of us is one to turn down sour cream or cheese, and if I’m at a fancy coffee shop, I’ll occasionally opt for real creamer as opposed to oat milk or cashew substitute.

But if I’m consuming dairy or sugar on the regular, you better believe my skin reflects it. I get large breakouts around my mouth and jawline, and it’s just not pretty. Again, I’m a big fan of these cheap, but totally efficient Nexcare acne patches to get ride of isolated breakouts quickly (note: this is the only beauty product I buy via Amazon as my local Walgreens doesn’t carry it—but yours might). You can’t beat $6 a box! Target also carries the CosRx brand ($5 for 18) that beauty bloggers swear by.

Dermaplaning

I’ve had professional dermaplaning three times, and little has given my skin quite the glow as removing all the peach fuzz and dead skin cells. I absolutely love the effect of dermaplaning, but the problem is that it only lasts about two weeks (at least for me), and it is not cheap. Instead, these days I do weekly at-home dermaplaning with a variety of tools:

Stacked Skincare dermaplaning tool

Level Setter Razors

Tinkle Hair Removal Razors

Stacked is by far the most efficient, but it’s also very sharp, so proceed with caution. The $10 drugstore brands work fine to just get your face smoother for applying serums and creams; not having that layer of fuzz and dead skin definitely helps your products soak in more (and your makeup to go on more smoothly if you’re a daily makeup-wearer).

Microblading & Your Brows

So far I’ve yet to find a brow-grow product that fills in the patchy parts of the brows I overplucked in my teen years. Ladies, why did we not listen to our mothers? *face palm*

I’ve tried Shisheido, Rapid Brow and Sephora—none of which have done anything for me. I finally ordered the two-part GrandeBrow Brow and Lash Enhancing Serums from Sephora, and still nothing. One eyebrow got thicker, I’ll give it that, but the problem brow stayed, well, problematic. So, if you have an effective eyebrow serum, help a girl out, will you? I’m thinking of asking my derm for a Latisse prescription next time I’m in as nothing OTC seems to work.

I would love to try microblading, and honestly was going to do it years ago until I found out you have to get touch-ups once to twice a year. While I’m OK paying $500 for something that has a semi-permanent effect, paying $500 and then hundreds of dollars for touch-ups every quarter or bi-annually is just an investment I’m not ready to make yet (plus, the thought of getting my brows tattooed freaks SVV out to no end). But if you have thoughts on microblading or success stories, please let me know in the comments!

What’s worked for you when it comes to your skin? I’m constantly learning how to take care of myself after years of neglecting my skin, so share your favorite tips or products, pretty please!

At 35, I Started Caring About My Skin — Here’s My Routine published first on https://medium.com/@OCEANDREAMCHARTERS

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glamopticon · 7 years

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My current skincare routine

First off: hello new blog and all of my 1 followers! I thought I would start off with my skincare routine. Its pretty basic right now but I’m going to be ordering some products from The Ordinary soon so I’ll be sure to keep you updated.

AM:

-Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser: The first cleanser I’ve found that doesn’t actively break me out. The last cleanser I used was the Cosrx Low PH Cleanser which everyone on the planet seems to love except for me. I started using the Cosrx cleanser during finals week and my period which I’m sure didn’t help but I broke out like crazy using this. The only thing that calmed down my skin was using my mom’s Cetaphil when I got home from college and nothing else for about a week. It takes off all the makeup my Garnier micellar water leaves behind, doesn’t leave my skin dry or tight, doesn’t irritate my skin or interact with any other products, and is super cheap

-Cetaphil Daily Hydrating Lotion with Hyaluronic Acid: I know its awful but up until about a month ago I didn’t use a moisturizer in the morning. I knew it was terrible for my skin but until the Cetaphil lotion I couldn’t find a light moisturizer that didn’t break me out. I researched a good moisturizer for sensitive skin that wasn’t a billion dollars and the majority of people seemed to be suggesting the Cerave PM moisturizer, which of course broke me out and gave me an allergic reaction (which I’m pretty sure was from the fatty alcohols) The second most recommended moisturizer for sensitive skin I found was the Cetaphil lotion and I’ve been loving it! Its pretty liquidy which makes it perfect for the mornings since it absorbs quickly and I’ve noticed that I’m a little less oily throughout the day since I started using it

PM:

-Cetaphil/Panoxyl 4% Wash: I use this benzoyl peroxide wash around once a week, or however often I need to in order to maintain my skin. It works really well at preventing acne but its crazy strong, bleaches my towels, and kind of scares me so I try to use it very sparingly

-Paula’s Choice 2% BHA Skin Perfecting Liquid: This is just a basic salicylic acid chemical exfoliant but I still haven’t been able to find anything cheaper that works as well. I wish it didnt work as well as it does because 29 dollars is expensive but anytime I don’t use it for a few days for any reason my skin gets mad at me until I start using it again. If you have blackheads/breakouts and you want to start using a BHA this is the one to try. It does have a weird texture and leaves you a little greasy but since I’m applying at night I don’t mind

- Nip + Fab Glycolic Fix Night Pads Extreme: I switch every other night between this and the Paula’s Choice BHA because I don’t want to over-exfoliate. This contains 5% glycolic acid and whenever I use this I wake up the next day with more even and glowing skin. It helps get rid of dead skin cells and texture and after using this I will never go back to using a physical exfoliant again. However, its pretty strong so if your not used to AHA’s I would start by using this around twice a week

-Weleda Skinfood: I’ll admit that more often than not I’ve been using my Cetaphil moisturizer because this stuff is a lot but during the winter its incredible. It’s all natural, smells like oranges, very thick, and once you put it on you’ll look like you dipped your face in oil until you wash your face the next morning but its also the most moisturizing product you’ll find possibly ever. During the winter I get tons of dry patches and flaky skin and this is the only thing that helps

#skincare #skin care #cetaphil #paula's choice #nip fab #weleda

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rcultado · 7 years

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No Makeup, No Filter, No, Really

“I love having fresh and natural-looking skin, so I keep my makeup to a minimum.”—Nicole Warne

With over 1.6M followers on Instagram, Nicole Warne—better known by her online monicker, Gary Pepper Girl—has gone from the isolated island of Tasmania on the southern coast of Australia to the front row of every major fashion show. With a passion for clothes that began in high school as a means of distinguishing herself from her peers (despite already being the only Asian kid in her neighborhood), it was her gift for finding unique pieces in vintage shops that gave her a noticeable edge, eventually leading to her current gig as a social media influencer. Attributing her laid-back aesthetic to her Australian upbringing, she veers toward minimal silhouettes and breathable fabrics while settling on a striking yet simple winged graphic liner as her signature look.

Tell us about your makeup routine.

I love having fresh and natural-looking skin, so I keep my makeup to a minimum. I don’t wear foundation every day and I’ll only use it as a spot treatment if I need it. For the rest of my face, I fill in my eyebrows using a gel pencil and apply peach blush to my cheeks and liquid illuminator to my cheekbones and underneath my eyebrows. Finally, I finish it off with a flesh- or peach-colored lipstick. For night, I use the same products, then I just enhance it by adding a winged eyeliner, a dramatic red or wine lip color, and increased coverage on my skin for event photos.

What are your beauty essentials?

Giorgio Armani Silk Foundation

This provides the perfect amount of coverage for my skin type. It doesn’t sit on the skin, so it makes it look natural and fresh.

Giorgio Armani Fluid Sheer

I use this as a highlighter, but sometimes I add this to my foundation to give my skin a beautiful glow at night.

Burberry Eye Gel Pencil

I love having full brows, and this eyebrow pencil glides on so easily, with the option to build with each layer for a more dramatic look.

Make Up Forever Gel Eyebrow Pencil

The best of the best eyeliner gel. It’s twice as opaque as any other I’ve tried and has incredible staying power.

Tom Ford Lipstick in Plum

For me, Tom Ford does the best lipsticks. They don’t bleed and feel nourishing and hydrating whilst still retaining a matte finish. Divine.

Any beauty hacks you swear by?

If you’re going to invest in one key product, it should be a retinol or vitamin A. I use Define by Cosmedix and apply it nightly. It helps regenerate skin cells and boost collagen production, so every morning you wake up looking incredibly fresh!

“The more you allow your body to rest, the happier it will be and the more you will glow.”—Sharina Gutierrez

With the rise of models such as Liu Wen, Bhumika Arora, and Joan Smalls, it’s clear that the fashion world is increasingly embracing diversity. Riding the wave is fresh-faced Filipina Sharina Gutierrez, whose career has accelerated in the past year. While her body of work extends from campaigns to runway shows for brands like 3.1 Phillip Lim and Ralph Lauren, it’s her latest appearance in the September issue of Vogue that has anointed her as the one to watch. To keep up with her fast-paced, jet-setting lifestyle, she maintains her fresh, dewy look by having a non-complacent attitude towards beauty.

Tell us about your beauty routine.

When I wake up in the morning, I wash my face right away with Cetaphil’s Daily Facial Cleanser. I prep skin by washing it with warm water to open up my pores and rinse with very cold water to wake my face up. I always wear some kind of SPF—I like using Charlotte Tilbury’s Day Magic Cream with SPF. It makes for a good base and moisturizer under makeup. I hardly wear foundation but I make sure to have nicely shaped brows and bronzed cheeks. Every night before I go to bed, I wash my face thoroughly with warm water to open up my pores. After rinsing off the dirt from the day, I make sure to use my favorite face wash, Glam Glow’s Supercleanse Daily Clearing Cleanser. I rub it in thoroughly, specially around my nose and T-zone since that is where I sweat the most, and wash off with lukewarm water. Afterward, I use Charlotte Tilbury’s Magic Night Cream. It has a honey-like consistency, but as you rub it in, it warms up and hydrates the skin. If I have any blemishes, I use Clearasil’s Ultra Rapid Speed Blemish Ointment on top of the spots and let it work over night. I need my pores to be tight, so I use masks at least once a week. Glam Glow’s Mud Mask works wonders for me—I love the tingling effect right upon application. I leave it on for 20 minutes and my pores drastically minimize in size after just one use. Afterward, I hydrate with Charlotte Tilbury’s Magic Night Cream.

What are your beauty essentials?

Face wash

I have two different products I love to use. For a more intense clean, I swear by Glam Glow Daily Mud Cleanser, which I use at night. My morning cleanser is Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser.

Signature scent

I love these two products together: I apply Jo Malone Peony Blush Cream Lotion first and then spray Tom Ford White Suede fragrance. You will thank me for this. You’re welcome.

Lip conditioner

Good ol’ Vaseline. For super chapped lips, I use a little Neosporin to soothe pain and it works quickly!

Lotion

I use Cetaphil Daily Head to Toe Moisturizer after I shower. I can’t go a day without lotion. Nobody wants dry elbows and knees. That’s not cute.

Water

The more water you drink, the more gunk is flushed out of your body. You will definitely see the difference on the skin, so I stay hydrated.

Any beauty hacks you swear by?

Sleep and nutrition. The more you allow your body to rest, the happier it will be and the more you will glow. I’ve noticed whenever I eat more greens and fruits, my skin tends to glow more. Trust me, I have a ton of cheat days and I definitely see the difference. It’s crazy what a few days of junk food can do to your skin. Mine tends to break out and reminds me that I need to get my butt back into my daily routine. I grew up with rice and oily food in every meal, so I make up for it now by eating healthy six days a week and allowing myself one cheat day.

“Eyelash extensions are God’s greatest gift to beauty.”—Emily Oberg

The New York-based half-Filipina is the creator of the elevated sportswear brand Sporty and Rich, a line that clearly reflects her lifestyle. Spend at least five seconds on her Instagram feed and it becomes evident that the word “sporty” comes from Oberg’s obsession with active wear that can easily transition from gym to office (where she works as the editor for Complex magazine) to Instagram (for her 183k followers to see) to the club (where she doubles as a DJ). But what about the “rich” part? She says it’s all about investing in luxe pieces with good design and impeccable tailoring to outlast frequent wash and wear, even if it means shelling out a bit more. Her preference for quality and multi-functionality can be observed in her beauty regimen as well.

Tell us about your beauty routine.

In the morning, I wash my face with Alba Hawaiian Pore Purifying Pineapple Enzyme Facial Cleanser. It’s gentle and smells great. Then I'll use RoC Multi Correxion Lift Anti-Gravity Day Moisturizer with SPF 30. It’s lightweight, not greasy, and I like products with SPF in them to prevent dark spots and aging. Then, I use La Mer’s Eye Concentrate. I’m obsessed with eye cream because I like my eyes to feel hydrated throughout the day. For makeup, I have eyelash extensions so I don’t need much at all. On my eyes, I use a simple black eyeliner on the bottom water line and smudge it into my top lash line, then I lightly fill in my brows with the Sanja Brow Bar pencil. In the summer, I love to use a cream blush. My favorite is Bobbi Brown’s Pot Rouge in Blushed Rose. For lips, I like a simple look and not much color. I use Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment in Honey or Dior Addict Lip Glow. At night, I wash my face with the same cleanser and use Bobbi Brown’s Face Oil followed by La Mer Eye Cream. Twice a week, I use Acure Organics Brightening Facial Scrub with Sea Kelp plus Chlorella Growth Factor to get rid of dead skin cells.

What are your beauty essentials?

La Mer Eye Concentrate

I’ve tried a number of products, but this one seems to be the fastest-absorbing and most effective when it comes to combatting puffiness, dark circles, and dryness.

Acure Organics Brightening Facial Scrub

My favorite skincare product because after I use it, my face feels so smooth, almost as if I just got microdermabrasion or a chemical peel. The scrub is all organic and it’s not too harsh; definitely the best exfoliating product I have ever tried.

Bobbi Brown’s Pot Rouge in Blushed Rose

Great for cheeks and lips and stays on all day. It’s easy to apply and adds an intense pop of color to your cheeks while still looking natural and not overdone.

Dior Addict Lip Glow

I first bought this because of the packaging. I’m obsessed with the baby pink color. I didn’t realize it would be the best lip gloss I’d ever use! The lip glow itself is clear but when it goes onto your lips, it reacts with your natural color and changes into a rosy pink. There’s a bit of shine, but it’s not sticky. It also tastes amazing, just like candy!

Maybelline Great Lash

This is a classic product and the best mascara I’ve ever tried. I’ve tried brand name ones, but they just don’t seem to do the job as well as this. I’ll use the Very Black color on my bottom lashes—it washes off easy and gives great length and volume.

Any beauty hacks you swear by?

Eyelash extensions! They are God’s greatest gift to beauty. I started getting them a year ago and haven’t stopped since. I used to hate layering on mascara and taking it off at night. Extensions are so easy and it takes me, like, 10 minutes to get ready now. People say they make the lashes fall out, but mine are still in good shape.

Originally published on L’Officiel Manila October 2016

#writing

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mettawita · 7 years

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SKINCARE - Innisfree Jeju Volcanic Blackhead Out Balm Review

This month is really not my month, because I spent way too much money on makeup and skincare. It's beyond the usual splurge. At this very end of month I'm so so broke. That I can't even look (read: too afraid to look at the numbers) at my own bank account. Yet I'm that crazy to still splurge on this kind of thing.

But this product over here, I do not regret buying.

It's the Innisfree Blackhead Out Balm from the Jeju Volcanic series!

On my last post, I swear to myself that I should never spend any more money this month, but my own hear betrayed me. PLUS IT'S A NECESSITY! All blackheads break loose. It's popping on my nose, my chin and my cheeks! I was so mad so I decided to use more clay mask but it didn't help a lot. It only pull out the excess oil. Because I know my problem, almost every blackhead on my face is pretty deep inside the skin. I tried to push it out but (too late, and too bad) I scar my own skin.

Desperate, I went to a mall to buy my food supplies for this week and I stupidly (or geniusly) go inside Innisfree instead of the Supermarket. And taaraa~ I found this product and saw the price. It's actually not very expensive a.k.a cheap! It costs me Rp75,000.00 or USD5.65 precisely. So, you know what happened next, I went to the cashier and paid it. But the next question is...

with this little amount of money :))) Kidding I still have some to spend on my food supplies. This is so hard for a makeup/skincare junkie like me WITH A LIMITED BUDGET. You need to divide your income to your 'hobby' and your daily needs. But you know, it's so hard to resist not to buy a product especially if you see a sale sign or you finally found something that you've been looking for since forever.

okay back to the topic.

So, when I came home, I tried it right away. Opened the package and it looks like this tiny, hard, white thing. It looks like a frozen coconut oil to me. But once it's exposed to your body temperature + the massage, it will melt immediately.

Make sure that your face is already makeup free!

How to use:

Put it on your nose, cheeks and chin or wherever you want, then massage it gently (I did it with a circular and back-and-forth motion) for a good 3-5 minutes. I did it for like 8 minutes because I was watching James Corden. You can massage it as long as you want though, as long as you feel like massaging your face.

In my case, I felt like something was coming off my face. It was like tiny little sandy kinda thing, and surprise surprise, it was a blackhead on my cheeks which I can't push out. Good lord.

Next, wet a sponge (or something similar that you can use to rub your face gently, I used my Konjac sponge. It's so good you need to have it! I'll write about my current skincare routine later) using a warm water to open up the pores. And again, massage your face gently with the sponge (or any exfoliator. If you have Foreo or clarisonic, I bet the result will be better. But I'm too broke for those things😂)

Wash your face using your preferred facial wash. I used my SK-II gentle cleanser. A twist, I used my favorite face net from DAISO to lather my cleanser. I wet with just a little bit amount of water and shake the excess. Next, I put the cleanser on my face net so it became soft lather. Using this way, it decreases the amount of rubbing onto you skin's surface and trust me, the result is so much better compared to when I didn't use the face net. Again, for skincare routine, I'll spill everything out (probably) on my next post.

After you wash your face, pat your face using a towel, tissue, or whatever. And put on your favorite clay mask! (I used my Innisfree super volcanic pore clay mask)

I prefer washing off my mask using a cold water (again with konjac) because it close my pores and I feel super refreshed!

Verdict?

Well it did pull out my gunks better compared to when I didn't use it, bruh I saw it myself. It does the job. For now, I'd rate this like 9.5/10. It may became 10/10 if the next time I use it, it still does the job. I'll give it a full score just after I use it for a couple of times. But for now, 9.5/10.

Tip

Use a sheet mask after using this to put the moisture back into your skin. Thank me later!

Well, this is the end of the post. I'll post my skincare routine probably at the next post. So, ciao for now!

#Innisfree #Review #beauty product #skin care #makeup #daiso #mask

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moremakeupplease · 7 years

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Tips for minimizing pores!!

There are a crazy amount of products on the market today for “minimizing, shrinking, clearing, eliminating, smoothing, etc..” pores. Basically, we all hate the existence and appearance of actual human skin. When did pores become an undesirable thing? My personal theory is that it’s because of goddamn Facetune. Nowadays it’s not just celebrities that are being airbushed - everyone now has the ability to airbrush their own skin before posting phtotos online.

So before I go into my “pore minimizing routine,” I want to go over a few things:

1. Everyone has pores. Everyone! Pores are just a part of human skin. They are all over your body and you cannot “eliminate” them. Also, you probably do not have “enlarged” pores. If you can’t see them from a couple feet away, then they are a normal size. Enlarged pores are usually a result of severe acne.

2. Pores do not “open and close.” I see posts all the time saying to “steam” your face to ”open” your pores and to use cold water to close them. This is pure bullshit. Your pores are always open and the reason hot water helps when cleaning your skin is that it makes it more elastic and helps loosen the dirt on your skin, in a similar way to using hot vs cold water to clean dishes.

3. DO NOT USE PORE STRIPS. Do not. Pore strips stretch your pores and tear your skin by harshly forcing the “blackheads” out of your pores. Speaking of blackheads....

4. You probably do not have blackheads all over your nose. Everyone has what is called sebaceous filaments, which is basically a whole bunch of shit sitting in your pores. They are mostly made up of oil, sebum, and dirt. They are naturally occurring and are not a skin problem to be fixed. You can, however reduce their appearance which is what I’ll be talking about today.

The Routine:

This routine takes about 20 minutes and should only be done about once a week at night time.***

1. Remove your makeup and clean your face with a gentle cleanser.

2. Apply a BHA chemical exfoliant (like salicylic acid). This will seep into the oil of the sebaceous filaments and start to loosen them up. Wait about 10-20 minutes for this to do it’s work. If you have dry skin, you can skip this step or use an AHA exfoliant that is much more gentle.

3. Apply a clay mask. There are a lot of clay masks out there, and there are a lot of cheap, good ones on Amazon. I use the Origins charcoal mask. (You don’t have to use one with charcoal). Keep this on until it dries. The clay will pull out a lot of the sebaceous filaments.

4. Gently wash off the clay mask with warm water and pat your face dry with a towel (gently!!!!).

5. Now, apply a generous amount of facial oil to your face (not coconut oil). I personally like argan oil - you can get it cheap from Amazon. Just literally slather it all over your face until you look like a slug and let it sit for about 10 minutes. AND YES EVEN IF YOU HAVE OILY SKIN - DO THIS. Sebaceous filaments are made up of oil, and so they will actually stick to and dissolve into the facial oil.

6. Massage your face gently for like 2 minutes. You might notice a few particles - these are just some soild SFs leaving your pores. It’s also okay if you don’t feel any solid particles.

7. Use a warm, wet washcloth to wipe the oil from your face, and apply your moisturizer on top. You are done!!!

I do this routine when I feel like my pores are kind of clogged but you can do this about once a week. I personally find this method to be AMAZING at making my pores look clear and without the gunk inside them, they LOOK smaller (but they aren’t ACTUALLY smaller). I got most of this information from the reddit skincare subreddit and also this blog post that details out this process in a very similar way. This routine is effective, yet gentle in a way that won’t cause long term damage to the skin.

What about makeup?

Keeping your skin hydrated and clear will go a long way in reducing the appearance of your pores. There are also a lot of primers that can help make your skin look smoother. Here are some examples:

Milk Makeup Blur Stick

NYX Pore Filler

Dr. Brandt Pores No More Primer

Too Faced Primed and Poreless

Also - using a sponge or your fingers for your foundation can help to make sure you’re not buffing away the pore-filling primer you just put on. You want to layer the foundation on top of the primer, not work it in. If you have dry skin, you may want to apply a hydrating primer before these primers as they can sometimes be mattifying/drying.

***If you have sensitive skin or any of these products break you out, do not use them again! For most people, salicylic acid, clay masks, and non-comedegenic oils should not break you out. However, skincare is super different for everyone and what works for me may not work for you! If you are worried, do a patch test of each product before using it on your whole face. Keep in mind that I am not an esthetician or dermatologist BUT I do like to obsessively learn about makeup and skincare so I do know a decent amount about these things. @lipstick-lust is an esthetician and she is fabulous and answers specific skincare questions all the time!

#makeup #beauty #skincare #makeup tips #moremakeupplease #makeup blog

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