“Striving to look carefree and happy can interfere with your ability to feel so.” - Jia Tolentino, Trick Mirror
Due to my travels, my skincare routine is usually basic. There’s only so much room in my already-pushing-it suitcase . A cleanser here, some oil there, a spritz and a spray and voilà - we’re ready to hit the streets (if you’re a true sub, you know I mean cute cafe).
However, I became spell-bound by skincare this summer, traveling through Berlin, Amsterdam, Stockholm, Barcelona, Morocco, and Lisbon. European women look so carefree, effortless, and fucking cool. I wanted to look just like them.
Add in the mysterious allure of argan oil from Morocco, and you’ll create an obsessive, slathered-in-oil, desperate-to-be-dewy monster.
It me. I became the monster.
In this vlog, I share my favorite products that I use 95% of the time… and why when I “hit pan”, I won’t be re-upping.
I’ll link them below, but in an effort to main in integrity with what I said in the video, none of them are affiliate links; I feel icky making $ off of something that I am trying to drastically reduce consumption of myself.
My new obsession is going to be about my skin barrier and the HEALTH of my skin, not just the short-term rabbit hole of having glass/baby/glazed donut/milky/silky skin.
I just watched a video last night of how to cleanse your face will full fat yogurt soooo yeah… the pendulum is swinging the other way for me lolol.
Let’s see how this goes. Enjoy!
P.S. I was only 10% done listening to this podcast hosted by Liz Moody, featuring The Review of Beauty writer Jessica DeFino, who calls her publication “the beauty industry’s least favorite newsletter” before posting this. I finished it this morning and WOWZA - my mind is blown. Like listening again blown. They eloquently stated what I was trying to express at the end of this vlog. Highly recommend listening right after you watch this vlog!
Products mentioned:
Other products were from small markets I can’t find online!
The tallow skincare I just bought: Fat of the Land “Best Skin Ever”
What will I buy when I reduce some of these jars and oils? Jojoba oil and manuka honey!
Incredible resources around skin health, performing beauty, skincare scams and more:
I am VERYYY curious to hear your thoughts! I know deep in my bones we do not need a 10 step routine (and I always ponder how men never get marketed beauty the same way women do) - and I also know it can be fun, ritualizing, and even exciting to purchase a slew of new products to try out. This is a layered topic but… I like layers ;)
Should we open up a chat / thread about it? Comment below!
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