i saw some other personal websites where people detailed their skincare routines, and i thought that seemed like a fun idea for a page! probably my most capitalistic trait is that i'm a skincare junkie. i have very sensitive combination-type skin, and i've always been prone to acne and eczema, so taking good care of my skin is very important to me. plus, i love the ritual aspect of putting all my little potions on my face... but there really is no excuse for how i started my first full-time job and immediately started spending so much money on it, haha. nevertheless, i enjoy inhabiting a contradictory personality; our inherent contradictions are one of the last lines of resistance we have against the increasingly oppressive social forces of alienation and conformity. so, yes, i'm an artsy hipster who programs and uses linux, and i'm a hairy-legged feminist with an eight-step skincare routine. you'll meet weirder.
this page includes my face routine, my body products, and a few notes on makeup. for my personal convenience, because i try to buy in-store rather than order online where possible, most of the products listed are available at sephora. i've marked anything i buy elsewhere with an asterisk.
cleanser: farmacy whipped greens. i try to avoid using anything oil-based, and i like a foaming cleanser; beyond that there's not much to be picky about. the big perk of whipped greens: one tube lasts about a year. solid investment.
toner: glow recipe watermelon glow pore-tight toner. keeping my pores closed is key to minimising acne. this one smells nice!
serum: the ordinary niacinamide. reduces redness and puffiness. i use this on my whole face.
serum: peach & lily transparen-C*. this is the strongest vitamin C serum i've found, at 20%. it was one of the first skincare products i started using when i got serious about my routine, and although it's annoying to have to order it online, i've tried a lot of other options and haven't found anything that even comes close. i use this selectively on any red spots/acne scars.
serum: fenty skin fat water. this is actually a toner, but i use it as a serum on my nose and chin, my biggest acne problem areas. it just gives my pores a little extra attention. i first got this as a free sample and was unconvinced, but it really helps.
serum: herbivore moon fruit. pure vanity, added to the routine when i started to notice under-eye wrinkles. it is working. always make sure to use bakuchiol for anti-aging, not retinol!! especially if your skin is extremely pale and prone to sunburn, ha ha.
moisturiser: farmacy daily greens. oil-free, lightweight, and a little goes a long way.
bonus moisturiser: la neige water bank hyaluronique bleu. i need something heavy duty in winter for patches of my face that get extra dry; i basically only use this four months of the year, and because it's so strong you don't need to apply a whole lot, so one tub lasts literally forever.
day: supergoop mineral unseen sunscreen SPF 40. i love this sunscreen because it's got a matte finish, and it's the perfect thing to put on as a final layer. plus i only use mineral sunscreen, which limits my options
night: lush grease lightning*. this is basically a shield layer that soaks up sweat, thus minimising the risk of acne. any contact with your face produces sweat, which is basically a guarantee of acne for me, so i use this all over my chin at night so i can pull my blankets right up and not worry about waking up with new zits.
mask: caudalie vinergetic C+ instant detox mask. i don't mask often, and i never do it over my whole face. still, the ritual of a mask is very soothing, and if i've had a particularly sweaty day it's a great way to instantly get rid of grease. this is a clay mask with a satisfying texture.
exfoliator: biossance squalane+ enzyme sugar body scrub. i have a love-hate relationship with this, because it's so hard to get out of the tube, but it's easier to get out of the tube than literally every other half-decent exfoliator, ugh. i don't use anything that has AHAs because i'm prone to sunburn. i use this twice a week and it gets rid of the kp on my arms.
conditioner: lush ro's argan body conditioner*. try as i might, i can't quit this. i just love having smooth skin.
moisturiser: isle of paradise brilliantly bright body moisturizer. i think niacinamide in a body moisturiser is kind of gimmicky, but this is another one where i got a free sample and loved it so much i switched it for my main. idk, it makes me feel smooth.
hands: skinfix eczema+ hand relief cream. i am literally an evangelist for this stuff. i used to get severe hand eczema, including on my fingers, which needed extreme-strength prescription cream to heal. then i tried this on a whim and my hands have been clear and smooth ever since.
lips: tower28 SOS lipsoftie. again. thank me later. i have been through hell trying every lip balm under the sun. this is the holy grail.
temple balm: lush dream time temple balm*. as a teenager i was obsessed with this crime show whitechapel, where the main detective carried around a tin of tiger balm for his temples to rub in whenever he was stressed. i see this in my future. for now, i just use this stuff at night. smells like lavender. zzzz!
i've put a lot of effort into minimising my makeup use. i used to do full layers, foundation, lipstick, etc. then i went through a period of using a lot of bold eye makeup. i still have all my old products, but nowadays i only bring them out for costume parties. i think doing a full face every single day was pretty much a crutch for insecurity, to hide how much i hated my face. now my only crutch for insecurity is concealer to cover my zits (lol), and the rest of my makeup is aimed at accentuating my features: mascara to make my eyes pop, and highlighter to show off my high cheekbones.
concealer: tower28 serum concealer. obviously you want something that doesn't cake, but on top of that i have abnormally pale neutral-undertone skin, which is almost impossible to colour-match in most brands. this is currently my best match. in the summer it may be too pale, but we'll cross that bridge when we get to it.
mascara: rare beauty perfect strokes. possibly i am filling my eyes with microplastics but this just applies so evenly and stays on so well. it only runs when i cry! lol
highlighter: milk makeup cream highlighter stick in "turnt". a nice subtle champagne-toned glitter. i spread it with my fingers and rub the extra on my forearms for some bonus sparkle. i also like milk's holographic stick highlighter, but it smudges much more easily, so i only use it ocasionally.
remover: farmacy clearly clean. because my makeup is so minimal, i usually just remove it with cleanser when i wash my face before bed. but on days when i get home late and i'm too tired to do my full skincare routine, this is what i use.