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[whatiputonmyface]

A Sheet Mask For What Ails You

So... I got sunburned. 

Listen, I know there's no excuse-- especially because I am a ginger who has been living in this white-ass meatbag for 28 years now-- but I went to the beach for Labor Day and it was just so dang breezy’n’beautiful outside that I couldn't even tell I was frying. The Burn occurred on Saturday, mostly on my chest and shoulders, so I've been mostly doing palliative care/aloe/moisturizer since then. 

Tonight I decided to add an extra dose of moisture for my face, which isn't terribly burnt, but definitely didn't get away scot-free. These Mizon Joyful Time Essence sheet masks are a great, inexpensive option for a simple moisturizing mask-- you can get a variety pack of 16 for around $13 on Prime! 

I'm using the Aqua mask, which promises "Refining and Convergence"... not sure what that means, exactly, but I am sure that it's doing wonders for my credit score! 

This mask is absolutely chock-full of "juice", which is nice because it actually stays on your face without drying out and peeling off in 10 minutes. The essence itself has a great texture, is calming, and doesn't have a super-strong scent. I was able to wear it for about 30 minutes before it started to dry out, which, in my experience with a good number of different brands, is pretty impressive! 

I'll be honest: I forgot to take an "after" picture, so you'll have to trust me: after 30 mins in this mask, my face felt much bouncier and finally restored from its Saturday Scorch. (I wore SPF 50! I reapplied like a madwoman! I was not built to ever be outside!!!) 

I also love to throw one of these on after a clay mask if my face feels a little too tight. Heck, at this price point you can slap one on every day! Go nuts, y'all. 

[whatiputonmyface]

But does it last? Rachel’s Sports Beauty Review

But does it last???

That’s my number one question when it comes to all makeup products. I hate getting to the end of an 8-hour day and finding out I left most of my face back in that marketing meeting after lunch. I’m also a cyclist, so I thought, hey, let’s test my favorite products in a decently challenging environment: a 30 mile gravel ride on the Highline Canal through southwest Denver – on a 90 degree day. If my makeup can last through a 30+ mile ride over gravel roads in the middle of summer, you can bet it will last all day when I go to the office.

The Products:

pūr~lisse Blue Lotus Balancing Moisturizer

Dr. Brandt pores no more Luminizer Primer

La Roche-Posay Anthelios Sport SPF 60 Sunscreen

Smashbox Studio Skin 15 Hour Hydrating Foundation

Caudalie Beauty Elixer

Sephora Wink-It Felt Liner Waterproof

Sephora Collection LashCraft Length & Volume Mascara

Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment Sunscreen SPF 15

 The Process:

The only difference between putting my face on for the day and putting my face on for a ride is the addition of the La Roche-Posay Anthelios Sport SPF 60 Sunscreen, and I don’t use eyeshadow, blush, highlighter, etc. Basically, all the powders you would put on after foundation, I left off for this experiment. I will pour sweat on this ride, so those aren’t really part of the equation that would make sense in this round.

After cleansing, I pat on the moisturizer. Fun fact: Denver is not all mountains and snow. It is in fact a high plains desert, and the humidity is pretty low (right now it’s 19%)  so my skin needs this help, no matter what I am doing. The pūr~lisse moisturizer is part of my routine thanks to my FabFitFun box (this box is a screaming deal no matter what else. More on this another time.) The patting helps the product soak in without extra friction on my face, plus I take a lot of time with my routine to let my products soak into my skin.

Next up, primer (also a FabFitFun box product! ) Dr. Brandt pores no more Luminizer primer smells amazing, goes on smooth, and legit erases pores. Love it. I put it on with a make-up sponge wedge thingie, because I feel like I can see lines if I use my fingers.

And here is where the magic begins…La Roche-Posay Anthelios Sport SPF 60 Sunscreen. Smooth this amazing stuff all over all the things. It goes on white, but you smooth it on, and it soaks in. Soon, you can’t see it, and you can’t feel it. It’s not greasy…it has the same sort of texture that a primer does, actually, like it’s sort of powdery? Buffered? Does that make sense? Well, whatever the texture I mean, it means I don’t look shiny when I am wearing it, and I also don’t look chalky. For sports, this is awesome, but for day long parties out in the sun or concerts or going to an art festival? It’s a face-saver, you guys.

So, smooth on the sunscreen, and then over that, my amazing Smashbox Studio Skin 15 hour foundation. This stuff is awesome-sauce. I used to use the BB Cream, but started noticing after I hit (a certain age) that my BB Cream was starting to slide off my face by mid-day. A gorgeous man at Sephora explained the improvements to performance by moving up into this 15 hour formula, and well – I was sold. I like my makeup to look natural, and this meets that requirement, PLUS it stays on, as you will see.

Next, because I like it, and no other reason, a quick spritz of Caudalie Beauty Elixer, then a swipe of eyeliner and mascara, both waterproof formulas from Sephora, and I am ready to go!

As I mentioned, I was going to test this makeup on a bike ride – and I did! 28 miles in 2.5 hours, over gravel, on a new bike, getting a bunch of dust on everything, getting lost, and it was in the 90s. That qualifies as a good time. It also means that I put my makeup to the test.

Results?

After the ride, my skin was noticeably more red, whether that was a result of sun? heat? exertion? Not sure. My eyeliner and mascara stayed put. 100% did not budge. Definitely would recommend. (I also tested them later on this month by getting wet at Universal Studios, and by getting dunked in a pool, so, there ya go. Still 100% success with them.)

My face? It looks like the sweat and effort brought my makeup to the surface, and there’s a more powdery/chalky look to them. This is definitely a result of the dirt and sweat on the ride. I didn’t look straight busted, but it definitely didn’t hold up as a fresh look.

So…the verdict is in….does it last? Maybe not so much. At least not the face stuff, so I will probably stick to just using sunscreen, and saying “screw it” in terms of making myself beautiful for rides. I definitely noticed for SURE this time that the sunscreen and my other facial products were not playing nice together. However, this did encourage me to start testing other sunscreens for wearing under my makeup, which is another post for another time.

But the eyeliner and mascara? Go buy them. And if you need a sport sunscreen, the La Roche-Posay stuff works great. I’ve been wearing it on my arms, legs, face, neck, everywhere all summer long, and have not gotten burned, which is amazing, considering how fair my skin is, and how often I’ve been outside this year. It has an awesome dry surface feel rather than greasy, and it does soak up the sweat (which is good, but also explains why it would not play nice with makeup) so for sports, it’s definitely a good call.

[whatiputonmyface]

PLAY! by Sephora: Worth it?

PLAY! by Sephora is one of the newer subscription boxes on the market, but has quickly gained a loyal following due to the quality of products (only brands that Sephora sells) and perks like complimentary mini makeovers, tutorials, and a 50 Beauty Points card with every box. PLAY is currently $10 per month.

It's difficult to know the true value of each box, for a few reasons: first, all Play subscribers do not get the same products - I believe this is partially based on your beauty profile, but also due to the sheer amount of subscribers, they can't send the same products to everyone.

Also, just because a box is worth $30 doesn't mean it's worth that to you - if you're not a perfume wearer or dislike matte lipsticks and masks, for example, you aren't going to be getting the same value from the box than someone who will use every item.

 Below, I’ve broken down the past three months’ PLAY boxes.

 JULY

Tarte Amazonian Clay 12 Hour Blush in Paaarty

Sample size: 1.5g

Full size & price: 5.6g - $29

Sample Value: $7.68

Tarte Color Splash Lipstick in Salt Lyfe -  Rainforest of the Sea

Sample size:035oz

Full size & price: .12oz - $21

Sample Value: $6.13

Tarte Deep Dive Cleansing Gel - Rainforest of the Sea

Sample size: 7.5mL

Full size & price: 150mL - $25

Sample Value: $1.25

Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide Cream

Sample size: 5mL

Full size & price: 50mL - $68

Sample Value: $6.80

Briogeo Blossom & Bloom Ginseng + Biotin Volumizing Spray

Sample size: 22mL

Full size & price:148mL - $20

Sample Value: $2.97

Boscia MATCHA Magic Super-Antioxidant Mask

Sample size: 10mL

Full size & price: 77mL - $38

Sample Value: $4.94

TOTAL BOX VALUE: $29.77

Lipstick aside (it made me look D E A D), this is a great box! The Tarte cleansing gel is gentle, yet effective at removing makeup. DE’s Protini is a product I’ve been wanting to try, and the blush is the same one I’m currently using.

 JUNE

Cover FX Perfect Setting Powder

Sample size: .1g

Full size & price: 10g - $35

Sample Value: $3.50

Clinique Take the Day Off Makeup Remover

Sample size: 30mL

Full size & price: 125mL - $19

Sample Value: $4.56

Too Faced Melted Matte Liquified Long Wear Matte Lipstick

Sample size: 3mL

Full size & price: 11.8mL - $21

Sample Value: $5.33

Sol De Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Cream

Sample size: 25mL

Full size & price: 240mL - $45

Sample Value: $4.69

Living Proof No Frizz Nourishing Style Cream

Sample size: 30mL

Full size & price: 250mL - $38

Sample Value: $4.56

Marajo Deep Treatment Butter & Nourishing Cleansing Creme (Bonus gift)

Sample size: 7mL

Full size & price: 250mL - $29

Sample Value: $0.812

TOTAL BOX VALUE $23.45

Aside from the lipstick (which I’ve tested before and found very drying), I’ve tried every sample so far and will definitely use them. So again, for $10 this is a good value.

Side note – the Marajo products are SO moisturizing and gentle on hair. I highly recommend trying it if you’ve been wanting to cut out shampoo but can’t go the full no-poo route.

MAY

BUXOM Lash Volumizing Mascara

Sample Size: 6mL

Full Size & price: 10 mL - $20

Sample Value: $12 (wow!)

Kat Von D Tattoo Liner 

Sample size: .2mL/.007floz

Full size & price: .55mL / $20

Sample Value: $7.27

Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer:

Sample size:.12floz / 3.6mL

Full size & price: 1oz / 30mL - $54

Sample value: $6.48

Caudalie Vinosource Moisturizing Sorbet

Sample size: 15mL

Full size & price: 40mL - $39

Sample value: $14.63 

OUAI Wave Spray

Sample size: 1.7fl oz / 50mL

Full size: 148mL - $26

(mini size is the same as Play sample and $12!)

Sample value: $8.78

Atelier Cologne Clementine California Absolue Pure Perfume

Sample size: 1.5mL

Full size: 100mL - $135

Sample value: $2.03

TOTAL BOX VALUE $51.19

Hot damn!! This box is an insane value. I’ll absolutely use the mascara, Tattoo Liner and primer, so that’s $26 already. I’ll probably give away the others, but it’s still worth it for me.

*******************************

All in all, PLAY is a great option for trying new products from prestige brands found at Sephora.

But again, the question of whether it’s worth it is very subjective based on your own preferences.

For me, though, it’s an amazing value. Thanks to this box, I haven’t bought mascara, blush, face wash, eye makeup remover or hair products (shampoo/conditioner aside) in over a year - which absolutely covers the full $120/year cost of PLAY. And then there are hundreds of dollars of additional samples over the course of the year! (Pro tip: trade samples with your subscription-box-loving friends. I give a coworker my moisturizer samples in exchange for all the dry shampoo samples she gets from Ipsy!!)

PLAY! BY SEPHORA: WORTH IT.

Have you tried PLAY? Are you happy with the products you receive?

Click here to subscribe.

[whatiputonmyface]

Beauty Bios, Part 1: Kiki, Rachel & Carly

Katherine a.k.a. Kiki

How old are you? 32

Where do you live? Indianapolis

SKIN

Type: sensitive, combo

Tone: neutral

Skin concerns: fine lines, redness, anti-aging, pigmentation, pores

HAIR

Length: Just past my shoulders; growing it back out to Blake Lively greatness

Processed? Yes - balayaged

Type: oily

Texture: wavy. I air dry my hair and get the beach waves everyone craves. Yes, this is a humblebrag but it’s the only thing I’ve got going for me.

Thickness: thin, but loads of it! Hair concerns: body, volume, tangles

FUN STUFF

Favorite beauty area: I love skincare and am always up to try the latest fad!

When did you "get into" makeup and skincare? LOL I just learned how to do my hair a couple years ago. Bought my first curling iron in 2012. I just started buying more and more makeup (especially once I discovered Colourpop) and am totally self-taught.

Most recent beauty purchase: Does dermaplaning count?

Worst beauty/skincare mistake: See aforementioned very sensitive skin. Then add to sensitive armpit skin some heavy duty Nair. I burnt off the top 3 layers of skin in my left armpit. I went to wash off the Nair and my armpit fucking bled. I couldn’t wear deodorant on that pit for a month.

(ed. note: holy SHIT, katherine)

Beauty inspiration/beauty icon: A healthy mix of Blake Lively (I think the ‘why’ for this is obvious??) and Kathleen Turner in “Body Heat”. She was so beautiful and cold-blooded in that movie, and I’ve always envied how she would wear white skirts and white blouses during a Florida heatwave and still be flawless. She was everything I am not.

damn, girl

***********************************************

Rachel

How old are you? 42 (I am the answer to the meaning of life!)

Where do you live? Denver, Colorado - high desert, hot sun, “It’s a dry heat!”

SKIN

Type: Combination with sun sensitivity (I get sun reactive rosacea)

Tone: Light neutral

Skin concerns: Redness, aging, craters for pores

HAIR

Length: Long! It’s midway down my back when straightened!

Processed? Yes - color for fun and also general enhancement

Type: Dry, fine, but a LOT of it.

Texture: Curly (primarily 3b with spots of 3a & 3c)

Thickness: Thick, but fine, LOTS of it.

Hair concerns: I have curls. They have a mind of their own.

 FUN STUFF

Favorite beauty area: K-beauty and high end. I thrive on getting a good deal on stuff like LaMer.

When did you "get into" makeup and skincare? I’ve always been a bit of a makeup and beauty obsessive, contrary to everyone in my family. When I was growing up, I was trying to take suggestions from Glamour and Marie Claire and put them into practice without any real guidance, which led to some BAAAD makeup results.

Most recent beauty purchase: Drunk Elephant Beste No. 9 Jelly Cleanser

Worst beauty/skincare mistake: I was a goth in a small town. Literally everything about my early makeup/skincare/beauty routine was a mistake. I dyed my hair a darker cranberry red from a box, it always washed out in uneven sections. I didn’t have access to luxury beauty care products and no one knew how to cut my curly hair, so I had either product buildup goopy hair, OR a triangle puffball on my head.

***********************************************

Carly

How old are you? 28!

Where do you live? America’s Sweatin’ Wang (Florida)

SKIN

Type: My skin has gotten more sensitive with age, but nothing too bad. I would say combo, with my cheeks and chin being relatively normal and my t-zone being an oily disaster.

Tone: I am very pink but somehow also definitely neutral. Can also pull off cool tones, but warm with my complexion is a nightmare.

Skin concerns: My main skin concern is combatting oil and the crater-sized pores on my nose, and evening out my skin tone. I’m a little red at all times, but I’m a ginger so I’ve learned to accept it.

HAIR

Length: Long— right now it’s at my mid-back. Also, you can pry my side bangs from my cold, dead hands. Ha ha, no, YOUR entire self-esteem depends on how your hair looks!!!

Processed? As I mentioned, I am a natural redhead, so at least 4,683 people have approached me over the last 28 years to tell me: “you better not EVER dye your hair!!!”, sometimes accompanied by a slightly-joking threat. Most of them are strangers; one of them was definitely your grandmother. She was super sweet tho!

Feeling rebellious in college, I experimented with box dye on a few times on small chunks of my hair, but have not dyed it/processed it other than those few tragic mistakes learning experiences. Nana was right!

Type: Normal. It gets a bit oily sometimes but such is life, no? I wash it every other day or every 3 days if it’s been One Of Those Weeks. It’s too thin for me to go longer without it getting real flat and nasty.

Texture: If I let my hair dry naturally, which I do not, it’s... a little bit wavy? Mostly straight, and flat, and with weird frizzies everywhere because #florida.

Thickness: Thin, but I have a decent amount of it. Keeping it long also makes it look like there’s More Going On. Illusions, Michael! Hair concerns: With great length comes great effort towards getting enough volume. I also have been battling a super-itchy scalp lately and can’t figure out what’s causing it.

My main “concern”, if this counts, is that... I don’t really know how to do anything with it. Mostly what it does is just… hang out. Someone help me!!!

  FUN STUFF

Favorite beauty area: My favorite thing about experimenting on my corporeal form and its various accoutrements is finding inexpensive products that work really well, whether they’re “dupes” for high-end stuff or just ~doing their own thing~. If a product is really good, I’m not afraid of a splurge, but I am a little afraid to buy an $80 face cream and find (as I feel is often the case) that my skin looked just as good using CeraVe. Ya girl’s on a budget!

When did you "get into" makeup and skincare?  In college, my makeup and skincare routine was as follows: wash face with whatever extremely-stripping face soap was on sale; sunscreen during the day (thank god); mascara; a shimmery white eyeshadow smeared everywhere; reapply badly-matched powder every 30 mins. Now that I’m ALL the way done with school, forever, I’m happy that skincare and makeup are more popular, and I’m loving experimenting and trying to get out of my comfort zone.

Most recent beauty purchase: Makeup Revolution Vivid Baked Highlighter in Peach Lights. This is a repurchase for me, because apparently during the 12 hours that my suitcase was Lost In Transit on the way to New Orleans, it was being kicked around by every person who has ever played in the World Cup. Translation: A lot of my shit was broken! Anyway, this highlighter is fucking PRETTY. I highly recommend browsing this brand the next time you’re at Ulta, it’s affordable but everything I’ve tried is great quality. I also have their bronzer and liquid highlighter.

Worst beauty/skincare mistake: Like most of us, I plucked my brows to absolute fuck and back circa 2003. However, unlike most of us, my brows are literally white, so I basically could have shaved them off entirely with the same overall effect. (I’ve recently gotten them tinted—post forthcoming!)

My most hilarious beauty mistake was probably the several times that I dyed the lower part of my hair—not dip-dye style, but like, the bottom third starting at my scalp to ends— with like, random chestnut-to-eggplant-ranging box colors. I was really into it at the time (probably….. 2010?) but looking back it is SO tacky! Several times it was basically…. black. Not great, Bob! At best—misguided Scene Girl; at worst… well, see for yourself. I combed through my entire Facebook history to find this pic, which was EXTREMELY traumatic, so, you’re welcome!!

Beauty inspiration/beauty icon: I’ve never actually thought about this before! It certainly won’t be a model. I’m a redhead with a big nose and my body is shaped like a potato; genetically, I am probably closer to a sundried tomato than to Gigi Hadid. Such is life!

 One thing I love about my mom’s attitude toward makeup is that, whether she’s wearing it or not, she always looks like herself. And: she is super beautiful! Too cool. Because of my own Mack Truck-full of self-esteem issues, I’ve had to be careful over the years not to get so wrapped up in makeup to the point that I don’t still (for the most part) feel comfortable with how my face looks ~nakey~. (This is no judgment on anyone else, of course; I want everyone to do exactly what makes them feel happy and sexy and glowy and whatnot.) IMO, skincare is a fun and productive way to feel better about Just Your Regular Face!

[whatiputonmyface]

Kiki’s 24 Hour Product Diary

MORNING

6:00 AM alarm: LOL, no.

7:00 AM alarm: yeah still no.

7:30 AM alarm: everybody stay calm I need to leave for work in 8 minutes, we’ve practiced this before, stay focused! Michael Scott OH MY GOD OKAY IT’S HAPPENING.GIF Because I work out in the evenings I usually just rinse off in the shower in the morning to wake up and freshen up. This morning my skin is feeling a little grody (thanks, PMS) so I’m going to exfoliate. I use Dr. G Brightening Peeling Gel a couple times a week as a physical exfoliant. On non-scrub days, I use Glossier Solution for a nice chemical exfoliant before I apply my moisturizer. (Confession: I used to scrub my face every day with St. Ives Apricot scrub; then I turned 30 and became wiser and quit that shit.) To re-introduce some moisture after my scrub, I use Glossier’s Milky Jelly Cleanser. I don’t think it takes off makeup as well as it says it does, but it calms my skin down and makes it nice and bouncy so I’m hooked. After I wash my face, I rinse off the Important Parts with Lush’s The Olive Branch. I really hate lotion and am terrible at using it, so this body wash is a nice compromise; it makes my skin silky soft and I don’t even need to moisturize!

7:35 AM: I dry off, brush my hair, and work on my skin. 99% of the time I do not wear makeup to work. If you ask me in person why I don’t wear makeup daily, I will proselytize to you about the virtues of letting your skin breathe; in reality it’s because I wake up late every day and don’t care what I look like at work. I am very brave. (No but seriously, I like to let my skin show and let my natural wavy hair go free. I have been putting in a lot of work on myself lately and I am Trying To Be More Confident In My Own Skin. It’s working. Most days.) (I CAN beat the face, and do, on special occasions. That’s another post for another day.) Because my skin is, as previously mentioned, grody, I’m bringing out the big guns: Skin Food. Most people will tell you that Weleda’s best seller is only for the winter. I AM NOT MOST PEOPLE. Skin Food is awesome for my sensitive skin; it seals in moisture, chills out any ickiness, and when I dab it on my cheekbones, acts as a pretty, dewy highlighter. I smooth on some Dr. Hauschka Lip Care Stick, deodorant, and with a wave goodbye to the kitties I’m out the door.

8:06 AM: Welp, I was almost on time.

8:07 AM – 4:59PM: Work. I keep some Lush Dream Cream at my desk to keep my hands and elbows from drying out from the office AC, and run this cute little humidifier periodically because it relaxes me and makes my work space cozy. Other than that my work product diary is just water. I drink roughly 90oz of water a day while at work, and I am very big on mixing Benefiber and collagen peptides into my water throughout the day. Beauty from within!!!!!! The Wellness Movement is very expensive and also maybe a fraud but I’m going to go with it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The Benefiber is yes, undeniably sexy, but has also cured my digestive woes; the collagen peptides make my hair and nails crazy strong and I’ve noticed a difference in my joint discomfort when I work out.

EVENING

6:00 PM: Jazzercise. Yes, I Jazzercise. No, we don’t wear leg warmers. Shut up.

 I take GNC’s Burn 60 before class, and it def helps me tone up a little faster. I also mix amino acids and CLA + carnitine into my water during class; they both help prevent soreness and lean me out. BEAUTY FROM WITHIN!!!! ANYTHING TO HELP ME FIT INTO SOCIETY’S RESTRICTIVE BEAUTY STANDARDS!!!!! I STILL SOMETIMES FEEL TERRIBLE ABOUT MYSELF!!!!!!!! WHEN IS MY NEXT THERAPY APPOINTMENT!!!!!

7:30 PM: Home, sweaty, disgusting after Jazzercise. Do I shower immediately? LOL of course not. I prefer to wallow in my own filth while stuffing my face and telling myself, “YOU DESERVE THIS. YOU JUST WORKED OUT. EAT WHATEVER YOU WANT.” Finally, I shower. Hair washing time. I have used Tresemme’s Anti-Breakage system for YEARS. It is my one true love. I stan. If they ever discontinue it, I will throw myself in front of a moving bus. The shampoo and conditioner both have gelatin in them, which is my secret to long strong nails and thick hair that grows like a weed. Buy it now, especially if you’re growing your hair out. You’re welcome. Again I wash my face with Glossier, but this time I use Mario Badescu’s A.H.A. Botanical Soap to clean my bod. (Did I just say “bod”? What am I, a cologne commercial from the 90s?) It’s a nice, fruity-scented chemical exfoliant (akin to Glossier Solution, but for your whole self), and it helps tame my overly sensitive, patchy, sun-damaged English skin. After a shower, I towel dry my hair, douse it in my Drugstore Holy Grail, and slather St. Ives Timeless Skin all over my face, neck, shoulders, elbows, knees, buttcheeks, etc.  This comes in a big tub and lasts forever and is amazing and wonderful and my skin loves it.

10:00 PM: Because my skin still feels a little whack (Jesus, Katherine, again with the 90s slang?!), I’ll use one of my many sheet masks while I read in bed and start to wind down. I also lazily Google, in no particular order “Blake Lively weight loss”, “how to become a Glossier rep”, and “Harry styles + sexy” as I fall asleep, because what is a beauty routine without a little inspiration? I set my alarm for 6AM, and think about how tomorrow will be the day I actually get up on time and make myself presentable.

[whatiputonmyface]

Jayne’s 24 Hour Product Diary

Until sitting down to write this, I didn’t realize how many products I use. I hoard products like a materialistic gopher preparing for a beauty pageant.

I have naturally curly/wavy hair and combination skin, and my biggest hair/skin issues are breakage, blackheads and an oily T-zone. I’m also a bottle blonde. My natural hair color is an ashy brown that sprouts brassy gold “highlights” toward the ends. It is not the best. 

Away we go…

6:45am

Since it’s a day I’m washing/drying my hair, I have to get up extra early (I wash my hair about once a week). The amount of sleep I’ve lost in my life thanks to the fucking patriarchy…

I use Maui Moisture Anti-Breakage Agave Shampoo because I tried it in Hawaii and loved it, and Aveda Dry Remedy Moisturizing Conditioner. I have coarse, frizzy, wavy hair, and live in a literal Swamp, so the theme of the hair portion of my product diary is “FRIZZ!!!!!!” (said with jazz hands). I wash my body with The Body Shop’s Wild Argan Oil Shower Gel; the scent is subtle and exotic, and smells like how I wish all desserts tasted. I wash my face with Sunday Riley’s Ceramic Slip Clay Cleanser. It smells like tree bark and a bouquet of weird herbs fucked and had an expensive baby, but I put up with the smell because it has visibly shrunk my Grand Canyon sized pores without leaving my face dry, which is why I now believe that miracles can and do happen. Once a week (today) I follow this up with Dermalogica’s Daily Microfoliant, a product I’ve been using consistently for 10 years and is thus the longest, most successful relationship of my life.

Post-shower, I lotion up with Philosophy's Amazing Grace Firming Body Emulsion. Truth be told I bought this so I could get the free Philosophy gift at Macy’s a couple months ago. It smells ok and I’m not sure what it’s actually doing for me, but I like products with fancy words and would probably rub a mixture of pop rocks and meth on my face if you referred to it as a “skin candy emulsion.”

As for my face post-shower, I start with Sunday Riley Good Genes Serum. If you are going to splurge on one skincare item in your life, make it this one. If we were in the Game of Thrones universe, I would be Lady Jayne of House Sunday Riley. It makes your skin supple, smooth and more youthful looking, using what I can only assume is witchcraft. MANON, THESE ARE MY GIFTS. For moisturizer, I use GlamGlow Volcasmic Matte Glow Moisturizer. I use this in the morning because it’s light, mattifying, and works great as a stand-in for primer. I finish up with Eminence Lavender Under-Eye Cream. The lady at the day spa who zaps my vag hair off is also an aesthetician and recommended it; I have no idea if it’s working yet.

After towel drying my hair, I use Pureology Perfect for Platinum Miracle Filler Leave-In Treatment. It makes my blonde look more vibrant/less brassy. (It also smells so amazing that one time a guy in the security line at the airport sniffed my hair and said “Wow not to be weird but your hair smells so good.” CONGRATULATIONS GUY YOU WERE WEIRD ANYWAY.) I then slather on a generous amount of Aveda’s Smooth Infusion Style Prep Smoother. It’s probably the best product I’ve found for helping me get rid of frizz when I blow dry. After I blow dry and run a curling wand through my hair, I use Redken Frizz Dismiss Instant Deflate to get rid of the post-blow dry frizz and add shine. I finish it all off with Dry Bar Moneymaker Flexible Hold Hair Spray This is admittedly a lot of hair work, but I only have to do it once every. 8 days or so (sometimes I can even stretch it longer), so I don’t mind.

7:45am: Makeup Time 

-I mix Nars Velvet Matte Skin Tint with L’Oreal BB cream, rub it all over my face with my hands, then blend with a foundation brush. This is my Summer routine; I use foundation in Winter.

-I do my brows with Anastasia Brow Wiz. My brows are the only thing about my body I love unconditionally, so I’m very particular about what goes on them, and I swear by this product. Anastasia should hire me as a product ambassador because I would sacrifice my body for Brow Wiz. 

-I use the Urban Decay Naked Heat Palette - Petite to do a basic “everyday eye.” Honestly I don’t know if these palettes are that good or I’ve just been brainwashed into thinking they are, but they’ve been my staples for years and I am set in my ways. 

-I line my eyes with KatVonD tattoo eyeliner. I’m pretty sure homegirl is an anti-vaxxer but she knows how to create and market a fantastic eyeliner so we might all get measles but at least we’ll have killer cat eyes.

-For blush/highlighter, I use the Nars Bord de Plage Highlighting and Bronzing Palette. I use the bronzer under my cheekbones, and the two lightest colors for highlighter. This palette is a limited edition; I bought it at the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale last year in Vancouver, which is the worst fucking sentence ever written by a person. I will cry when I run out of it, which is the second worst sentence ever written by a person. 

-I throw on Lancome Grandiose Wide Angle Effect Mascara. I bought this initially because I was obsessed with the tube design, it is exquisite and I am easily distracted by pretty, vapid things, which explains all of my choices in men. It turns out the mascara is excellent and gives you that false eyelashes look without being too over the top.

-My go-to every day lipstick is Tarte Lip Paint in Birthday Suit, which is a Sephora Exclusive. It is the perfect color and stays on well.

-I finish it off with Urban Decay All-Nighter Makeup Setting Spray. 

2:00pm: I throw on some powder since I’m getting a little oily. I recently started using NYX Stay Matte powder. It gives light coverage and helps with shine, and the Nude Beige is the perfect color for my skin.

6:00pm: About to head to my 6:45pm hot yoga class. Because I sweat so much in the heated studio and I don’t like makeup pouring into my eyes while I’m huffing and puffing my way through arm balances, I remove my makeup using Neutrogena Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelettes. I dab on some GlamGlow moisturizer because I don’t like my face feeling dry.

8:15pm: Post-yoga shower. I wash my face again with my Sunday Riley cleanser. I then moisturize with Sunday Riley’s C.E.O C + E antiOXIDANT Protect + Repair Moisturizer (christ why are these names so long?) It is a little heavier than other moisturizers, and it doesn’t absorb very quickly, which is why in the Summer I only use it at night. A little goes a long way, which is great because this shit is not cheap. I feel like my lips are constantly chapped, and the most reliable product I’ve found for dealing with it is Smith’s Rosebud Salve, which I slather on like I will be sent to a deserted island never to have access to lip balm again. 

11:30pm: I’ve been dicking around on the internet, eaten dinner, and watched a bunch of Brooklyn 99 episodes and am finally about to get in bed. I put on Sunday Riley’s Luna Sleeping Night Oil, which I’ve only been using about three weeks but really love. It’s an alarming shade of blue in the bottle but rubs in clear and absorbs pretty quickly, though I usually put it on when I have a couple things left to do for the night, so I can give it time before putting my face on my pillow. I’ve noticed that I wake up in the morning with smooth, moisturized, and evenly-toned skin. Another Sunday Riley product that I think is worth the money, especially since a little goes a long way.

Another day, another insane amount of time spent beautifying myself for the patriarchy.

[whatiputonmyface]

Post-Weekend Skin Recovery: Aztec Secret Mask

Did you spend the weekend drinking too much beer, eating many and varied pizza-like foods, and perhaps sleeping in your makeup? No? Oh! Haha, well, definitely me neither! We are all responsible adults who would never! However, in the event that we HAD thrown caution to the wind and treated our faces like garb for two straight days, there is hope yet: the Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay mask.

If you’ve previously dipped your toe into the online skincare scene, you’ve probably heard of this magical mask, which is made of 100% bentonite clay and sold for a mere $8 on Amazon. I purchased the 1lb tub of mask probably 2 years ago and it’s only half empty-- masking on a budget! While many products advertise “pore cleansing”, this one REALLY hits the mark. I always use it after a long weekend, especially if tequila told me to sleep in my makeup or I was otherwise irresponsible with my face.

Per many other reviews of this cult classic, I mix about a teaspoon of the clay powder with equal parts apple cider vinegar and water. You can use just plain water if you don’t have ACV on hand, but the ACV really helps the mask mix nicely instead of clumping. I also squeeze a small blob of raw honey, because I saw it somewhere and liked the idea-- also, because any clay mask can be a bit drying, and the humectant properties of honey help to mitigate that.

The first few times you make this concoction will likely be a bit trial and error-- sometimes you’ll use too much clay, so it’s too thick, so you add more liquid, and then it’s too runny, and by the time you have the right consistency, you’ve made enough clay mask to coat your entire body. At least it’s only $8/lb!

In the end, I somehow end up with just the right amount and consistency of mask #blessed. Check this beautiful, appetizing color!

This lovely khaki mixture goes all over my face, where it will stay for 15-20 minutes until it dries and starts to get a bit itchy. 

Since I need to shower anyway, I just rinse it off in there, although obviously you can just do a sink wash if it’s not Shower Time. As I mentioned above, this mask (really any clay mask) can dry your skin out, so I skip any other acne treatments when I use it and slather on a nice thick moisturizer before bed. In the morning, my face truly feels gunk-free and reset from all the trials and tribulations of the weekend. I can’t recommend anything more highly after a weekend of sleeping in your mascara.

[whatiputonmyface]

Carly’s Summer Product Diary

Hello, beautiful sunflowers, and welcome to my 24-hour product diary for What I Put On My Face! For a little background, I have combination skin, and my biggest skin concerns are occasional blemishes, oil control, and a Sisyphean battle against blackheads/clogged pores. Let’s jump right in!

MORNING

5:40am

My gym alarm goes off at this time every day, and about once a week, I actually get up. By some stroke of miracle, today I pour myself out of bed, brush my teeth, and make it to the gym. Exercising before work undoubtedly gives me the best shot at Having A Nice Day, but getting out of bed is brutal.

6:45am

I hop in the shower. I wash my hair every 2-3 days, and today is one of them. My scalp has been extremely itchy lately—not really even flaking, as you’d expect, just ITCHY—so I’ve been using some ~very fancy~ stuff on it, namely, Head & Shoulders Dry Scalp or the Target brand T-gel knockoff. My favorite non-medicated shampoo is Lush Ocean Salt—the salt makes for a great scrub and gives my thin, often-flat hair a great boost. Today, I scrub the H&S around with a shampoo brush and let it soak. Then I wash my face with my one true love, CeraVe Foaming Cleanser. For conditioner, I love Aussie 3-Minute Miracle at least once a week. I scrub off the gym grime with a cheap grocery store loofah and whatever soap my boyfriend bought this month (looks like Nivea Hydrating). I prefer “men’s” soaps and deodorants because I like woodsy, spicy smells, but I will use whatever.

7am

I comb my hair and wrap it in a Turbie Towel. Then I pour some Thayers Alcohol-Free Rose Petal Witch Hazel into my hands, rub em together, and pat onto my face. I love this toner—it’s very gentle, smells like roses, and doesn’t have the harsh alcohol “burn” like the ones I used growing up. While my skin is still damp, I apply a light moisturizer. I bought this Origins “High-Potency Night-A-Mins Mineral-Enriched Oil-Free Renewal Cream” (what a mouthful!) on super-sale, and while it’s nice, I don’t $45 love it. Another option is this adorable snail cream, which is also super lightweight and nice for daytime. 

Look ma, no brows!

As you may have noticed, ya girl’s got some zits! I dab up&up Acne Spot Treatment on my Problem Areas *gestures to whole face and entire body*. It’s a generic for a Neutrogena product, and both of them work extremely well.

While my face marinates, I do my hair. It’s long, very fine, and straight, so I constantly crave an amount of volume that I fear is unattainable. I spray Kristin Ess Instant Lift Thickening Spray, focusing on the roots—this stuff is so chock-full of alcohol that my hair would fail a breathalyzer, and I’m pretty sure it’s what’s fucking up my scalp. However, it works well, I’m a masochist, so here we are. For heat protection, I recently received Orlando Pita Play Atmos-Shield in a Fab Fit Fun box. A few spritzes of that all over before I blowdry with a round brush, always lifting up, up, up, in hopes that my flat hair will finally TAKE THE HINT and reach for the sky. When the roots and bangs are totally dry and the rest is about halfway, I give up and spray Not Your Mother’s Beach Babe Soft Waves Sea Salt Spray into the bottom half, because I live in Florida and it’s going to rain anyway.

I end up with something like this:

I don’t always wear makeup to work, because I like to keep my coworkers’ expectations low. If I do wear it, 95% of the time I put it on in the office parking lot. What I DO always wear, and you should too, is a high SPF sunscreen on my face!!! While sitting at the worst stoplight of my commute, I squeeze some Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence onto the back of my hand and apply generously. This shit is SPF 50 and soaks in SO quickly—I treasure it deeply.

7:50am

Having arrived at work, I decide that 10 mins of makeup application is worth the 14x I won’t be asked “Are you sick? Are you tired? Is everything ok?” and apply my Basic Parking Lot Lewk (BPLL). My brows have a pretty decent shape to them, but they’re white-blonde, so I have to fill them in every day or they’re completely invisible. Maybelline Brow Precise Fiber Volumizer in Blonde is good—it’s a bit darker/more dramatic than Glossier’s Boy Brow, and you get twice as much product for half the price.

I swoosh this Ulta single eyeshadow in Sandstone, which I find to be a really nice/flattering color, over eyelids. If my skin is struggling a bit, I love Glossier’s Skin Tint in Ghost Bitch (just kidding—in “Light”) for light color correction without looking cakey. If I have blemishes, am hungover, or otherwise decide that I care about dark circles, I apply Revlon PhotoReady concealer in Light on any spots and in a v-shape under my eyes, and blend with a ring finger.

I also keep a regular ol’ eyelash curler in my car, which is probably insane, but we’re all just doing our best to get by. I curl my lashes and apply my holy grail mascara, L’Oreal Lash Paradise in Extremely Super Duper Black Like As Black As You Can Get It and washable. Like my brows, my lashes are white and do not exist without makeup. We all have our crosses to bear! Lastly, I throw on some Vaseline Rosy Lips for that “your lips but better” effect and head inside.

It’s ya girl, in everyone’s favorite lighting: Office Fluorescents!

MIDDAY

10am

I forgot to powder myself this morning and am looking like the Exxon Valdez. L’oreal True Match powder in Classic Ivory (N2) is the EXACT color of my face, which is neat, and cuts grease like no other. I reapply every few hours because, despite the skincare routine you’ll see in a few hours, my skin cannot calm the fuck down on oil production. C’est la vie. Also, c’est la summer in the south.

EVENING

5:30pm

Since I worked out this morning, I’m home an hour early, having already paid the Exercise Piper. My makeup held up relatively well, despite the always-oppressive heat, and the daily monsoon waited to hit until JUST when I walked through the door. #blessed

~9:30pm

I don’t use anything waterproof on a regular basis, so my makeup removes easily enough with Simple Micellar Water. I know you’re supposed to wash your face before you use a face mask, but why do something twice when you could do it once with the same effect?? Lately I’ve been obsessed with the Sephora Mud Mask Purifying & Mattifying — it really cuts down on pore gunk and oiliness without being too drying. Many reviews compare this mask to the GlamGlow mud mask, which is neat because this one costs $20! I leave it on for about 15 minutes until it dries, rinse, and follow with the Thayers toner from this morning.

Then I wash with my beloved CeraVe cleanser again, this time using my Conair True Glow Sonic Facial brush to really blast my face as though I am sanding the side of a house. I don’t use the brush every night for fear of over-exfoliating, but my skin feels congested today.

Now comes the fun part! I’ll be the first to admit that I’ve only been doing skincare since it became “trendy” in the last few years—which coincidentally happened just as I was entering my later 20s and, terrified, discovering my first crow’s feet. Oh, the many joys of being a woman in a society which prizes youth above all else!

First, Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA liquid to help unclog my chronically, tragically clogged pores. Then, eye cream. On recommendation from a fellow WIPOMF contributor (wow, that acronym is rough!) I bought a pack of like 50 lil samples of this one from Sulwhasoo. It is amazing, however, my samples are running low and a full-size container of this stuff costs $180, so I have a backup eye routine as well: 2 drops of The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG, pat, let dry a bit, CeraVe Renewing Eye Cream, pat pat pat. While whatever eye stuff I’ve used soaks in, I pat a few drops of The Ordinary’s Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5. This is my second lil dropper bottle of the HA, and I can definitely see a difference in my skin’s “bounciness”. Some people like to talk about boycotting The Ordinary because the CEO likes to wile out on social media, and to those people I say: will you be purchasing me the fancy $45 serum instead of this identical one that costs $6.80? That’s what I thought.

Since I’ve exfoliated today, I’ll use the LANEIGE Water Sleeping Mask as my nighttime moisturizer for an extra punch of overnight hydration. I only recently bought this stuff, but GODDAMN it’s good. I wake up with the softest skin after using this, so while I know it’s technically a “mask” meant to be used a few times a week, I use it whenever I want to wake up feeling like a baby-ass-faced princess. Perhaps I could phrase that differently, but, it’s late and I’m tired. My lips get dry if they’re nakey overnight, so I love C&Co. Spearmint Lip Balm which has a great smooth texture and yummy natural spearmint scent.

10pm

The dog has jumped up onto the bed and is giving me this face, which means it’s time to snuggle or get yelled at.

Just another day in paradise!

[whatiputonmyface]

Gua Sha: not just for turkey necks

Hello. I have a headache. I always have a headache. As I write this I sit here sipping my disgusting office coffee, as caffeine is one of the few things I’ve found that will give me some relief. The other cure is sleep, which is not available to me at this precise moment, as I am expected to do work by the place that gives me a bi-weekly paycheck. Le sigh.

Anyway. I recently (and accidentally) discovered a non-caffeinated headache cure in the midst of my search for a miracle cure for my double chin and turkey neck.

I was first introduced to gua sha massage when I went for a couple’s massage. (I went not with a romantic partner, but with my mother, but that’s beside the point. Moving on.) After the hot stone portion of the massage, my gorgeous and slightly terrifying masseuse asked if I’d like her to work on my neck and shoulders. “You need it,” she said. It was not a question. She was going to work on my neck and shoulders. She told me that gua sha is an ancient Chinese therapy that is excellent for lymphatic drainage, circulation, and yes, breaking up scar tissue. She promptly went to work with a tongue scraper, beating the shit out of all the tension and scar tissue in my neck. I left bruised and broken (mentally and physically), but without a headache!

So imagine my surprise when 2 years later I read about at-home gua sha in one of my Facebook beauty addicts groups! What a world we live in! After the girl was done singing the praises of her gua sha facial massage, I promptly went and bought the same $19 jade kit from Amazon. While most beauty addicts will tell you that gua sha is great for de-puffing your face and slimming your jawline, I am here to tell you that it also will serve some major headache relief!

My kit came with a two-headed jade roller, and a jade gua sha tool. The jade roller is wonderful to use over top of a sheet mask or after applying serum, and if kept in the fridge (or wine fridge if you’re slightly bougie like me) is a fantastic little treat during the summer. But the real MVP of the kit is the credit-card sized jade gua sha tool. 

I read the instructions, and gently began scraping my face, above my eyebrows, under my eyes, and along my cheekbones. It didn’t feel great, even with a minimal amount of pressure, but I could literally feel my sinuses moving, and the circulation increasing. I also scraped along the sides of my neck, where I hold all my tension, and even got a little overly excited and worked on my IT band! 

When I was finished with my facial massage, I went about my evening. As I laid down for bed, I realized my headache was gone and the pressure around my eyes was significantly reduced. The next morning, I woke up headache-free. My skin certainly felt bouncier, and my dark circles were reduced. I still have a double (ok, triple) chin and a turkey neck, but at least I have another tool in my arsenal against my chronic migraines.

-Katherine

[whatiputonmyface]

What’s your drugstore holy grail?

Drugstores: not just stores for drugs. Whether it’s Rite Aid, CVS, Duane Reade or an aisle at Target, drugstores are the spot to find great beauty & skincare without exposing your poor wallet to Sephora.

Katherine 

OGX Argan Oil of Morocco Weightless Healing Dry Oil 

If beachy / messy / wild hair ever goes out of style, I am royally fucked. My hair is fine, but I have a literal metric ton of it (shout-out to my stylist for putting up with my horse mane!), and I am a sweaty, impatient person. This, of course, means that I spend very little time on my hair. A few years ago I discovered Organix Argan Oil of Morocco, and I've never looked back. I use the Extra Penetrating (heh) Oil, as well as the Weightless Healing Dry Oil. After washing my hair, I towel dry, brush through with my Wet Brush (a close runner-up for my drugstore holy grail), and then apply the Extra Penetrating Oil; I let my hair air dry and that's it! It works perfectly with my hair texture, and shines up my waves without making my hair hang like a rug around my face. If my hair is feeling extra damaged, I'll double up and spritz the Healing Dry Oil on after my hair has air-dried a bit. Maybe my hair looks like shit when it air dries, but I THINK it looks good and that's all that matters!

Carly

L’Oreal Voluminous Lash Paradise Mascara

I first discovered this fabulous mascara about a year ago and have been obnoxiously stanning for it ever since. *Extremely Stefon voice* This mascara has everything: it is very, very black; it doesn't clump; it lengthens AND volumizes; it grabs even your smallest lashes and Gets Them Involved for a dramatic, put-together eyeball situation. Besides clumping, my biggest mascara pet peeve is a product that dries immediately, robbing me of those pivotal moments to-- for lack of a better term-- "fuck it around a bit," wiggling the brush back and forth, poking stray lashes into place, and adding volume before it's too late and things get spiky. I use the washable formula on a daily basis, but also have the waterproof for tearful occasions such as weddings, funerals, and my annual performance review. This might be the best mascara I've ever tried, and it's $10! That's a win-win-win, with the last win being leftover $$ for tequila.

Margaret

Garnier SkinActive Micellar Water All-In-One

Micellar Water: I love thee, but I am also very suspicious of thee. 

Micellar water, as far as I can tell, is slightly soapy water that you wipe your face with but do not wash off. This makes no sense! How does it work? Should I splash with water after, just to be sure? Should I.... double micellar? Just in case?

Should I follow up with witch hazel? Sometimes I do this. Should I do the rest of my skincare routing without washing after? I don’t know! What a conundrum.

YES, I only use this after drinking and YES it doesn’t remove every speck of makeup but YES I will have a bottle of this in my medicine cabinet forever.

Jayne

L'Oreal Magic Skin Beautifier BB Cream

I’ve been using this BB cream for over three years. Putting aside the fact that it's only $7.00-$8.00, making it a quarter of the price of many other BB creams, this product works magic, hence the name I guess. It hides imperfections, evens skin tone, moisturizes, and has vitamins C and E. It's also the perfect amount of coverage for a BB cream - not so heavy that you can't wear it underneath other products, but not so light that you can't also wear it on its own. It gives a natural finish and has good staying power throughout the day. The only negative is that it comes in just four shades, but the product itself does somewhat blend to your skin tone if you're close enough to one of the shades. n the Summer or when I'm traveling, I often wear it alone with a dusting of powder on top. I will also mix it with other tinted moisturizers or skin illuminators. In the winter, I'll wear it under my foundation, as it helps me look less like I just surfaced from beneath a gravestone after being summoned in a seance.  

Alexis

Revlon Ultra HD Matte Lipcolor

I love the drugstore for makeup because honestly there is some great stuff out there. There is also some pretty rotten stuff, but on the whole competition in the American drugstore makeup market keeps quality ridiculously good and prices very very low. Things I DON’T buy at the drugstore: foundation and concealer (I find fancy options to be more foolproof and less likely to oxidize) and blush (I just haven’t found a drugstore brand with decent payoff and tend to prefer cream and liquid blush and haven’t found good drugstore versions of those).

It’s really hard to choose just one makeup drugstore product to recommend but my LATEST find has been these matte liquid lipsticks from Revlon. I’m a little late to the matte lip trend and tbh I still tend to top ‘em with a little bit of gloss or lip oil sometimes. The colors are amazing and flattering, my 2 current faves are a bright strawberry red, HD Love, and a pretty pinky nude, HD Embrace.

CeraVe Moisturizing Cream

Skincare wise, I’m a huge fan of CeraVe Moisturizing Cream. In the summer, I’m more of a body oil gal (currently a DIY mix of jojoba and sweet almond oil), but CeraVe is my winter go-to. I slather myself LITERALLY from head to toe in this stuff during the colder months of the year - I use it as a night cream for my face and as a body cream when I get out of the shower. It has saved my skin countless times, which can be finicky and sensitive especially in the winter when it gets super dry. It’s fragrance free and chock full of super high quality hydrating ingredients and is a holy grail product for a good portion of the skincare internet, where it affectionately known as “CeraVe in the tub.” Don’t believe me? Check out this super nerdy review that is the kind of shit I read for fun because I have no life.

[whatiputonmyface]

Margaret’s Summer Product Diary

MORNING

I wake up at around 8:00 am, which, to paraphrase the president, is my personal Vietnam. I feed my plump cat, Clementine (catnip banana for scale), and then head into the bathroom, screaming at my Google Home to play my shower jams playlist. I drink a full bottle of water while waiting for the shower to get hot.

First I wash my hair with Drybar Blonde Ale Brightening Shampoo; it’s violently purple and helps neutralize the brassy tones from bleaching my naturally brown hair. I follow up with Rita Hazan Ultimate Shine Gloss in Breaking Brass. Both of these products are a bit drying, so once a week I use Rita Hazan Weekly Remedy Treatment. This two-step conditioner is the shit. My hair has never felt so soft and healthy – I was forcing coworkers to touch it all day after my first use. 

I cleanse my chest and back with the Body Shop’s Tea Tree Skin Clearing Body Wash (hooray for sweaty summer breakouts), and wash my face with Ole Henriksen Oil Control Cleanser.

When I get out of the shower I wrap my hair in an old t-shirt, because the internet told me to. I immediately apply La Neige Lip Sleeping Mask to my perpetually chapped lips.

I start my skincare with Belif Hydra Sebum Control Essence. It smells delicious, and I like patting it on, but it doesn’t really control oil that much. Then I apply a couple drops of The Ordinary’s Salicylic Acid 2% Solution all over my face.

As you can see in my picture, I have a lot of hyperpigmentation due to sun exposure when I was an idiot teenager. I’m currently on the hunt for a vitamin C serum, suggestions welcome!

The salicylic acid is topped off with a very thin layer (like, a pea-sized amount for my whole face) of Belif Aqua Bomb because it’s hot and I turn into a greasy swamp monster with anything heavier. It smells just as good as the essence.

IT ME.

Okay, skincare’s done! On to makeup. I refill my water bottle. Drinking 32 ounces of water every morning has… maybe helped my skin?

I smooth on CoverFX Mattifying Primer with Anti-Acne Treatment, which provides a great smooth base and also mattifies and provides even more salicylic acid to incinerate zits.

On my eyelids, brow bone, under-eye and cheekbone I apply CoverFX Illuminating Primer; I got it as a sample but I’m way too ~naturally dewy~ to use it all over. It provides a very subtle glow to the eye area and plays well under eyeshadow. In the summer, I use it in lieu of eye cream during the day.

I use Tarte BB Tinted Treatment Primer as foundation. I want to use this the rest of my life: it’s mattifying, pore-minimizing, covers quite well, AND has SPF. It should be called a foundation, not a primer, TBH.

Why yes, I DO use three primers. I’m a prime bitch.

A couple dark marks are still visible, so I dot on Nars Creamy Concealer in Custard (not pictured). I’ll set all that with Too Faced Peach Perfect Setting Powder, which actually smells like peaches, and tastes very nice if you get some in your mouth. I do blush and bronzer after setting powder because otherwise it makes me look washed out.

Then I apply blush (Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush in Paaaarty, which was the Sephora birthday gift last year, and it is Fine), and contour a bit with a matte bronzer (Benefit Hoola, also a sample). (Blend that fucking neck!!!!)

To finish off my facial canvas, I sweep Fenty Beauty Killawatt Freestyle Highlighter in Hu$tla Baby on my cheekbones and orbital area. I am now Rihanna.

This is exhausting. 

Most days I use Too Faced Sweet Peach Eyeshadow Palette; today I’ve used a pretty rose gold shade from it. I then do a small cat eye using Kat Von D’s Tattoo Liner; when I’m dead, I want tattoo liners scattered on my grave every Christmas. I follow up with Too Faced Better Than Pizza Sex Mascara, which is fine but not really worth the hype to me? Again, it was a sample. I subscribe to Sephora Play and use whatever mascara they send every couple of months.

Side note: I seem to have a lot of Too Faced in my routine, but somehow did not pay for any of it.

The last step in my makeup regimen is also my least favorite: brows. I have sparse brows that seem to grow straight down. Using an eyeliner brush & small strokes, I apply ELF Eyebrow Kit gel in Light. I try not to make my brows too dark, and follow up with Benefit’s Gimme Brow.

All this time, my hair has been air drying. I got a keratin treatment a couple months ago, but it’s starting to wear off, which means my not-so-luscious locks are starting to get puffy and frizzy again. I attempt to smooth things a bit with IGK’s Mistress Hydrating Hair Balm, and then blast my roots with the blow dryer. I end up twisting my hair into a topknot to ensure it looks really horrible later.

Finally, I brush my teeth and dab on Nars Velvet Matte Lipstick Pencil in Cruella, a bright red that looks like a rosy lip stain if used sparingly.

Here I am! I don’t know how to pose?!

FINALLYYYYYYY, at 9:00ish, I go to work. I am a sweaty swamp monster from the second I enter the subway station.

MIDDAY

Blot blot blot blot blot with those toilet seat protector things. It’s the only decent ~life hack~ I’ve seen on Buzzfeed.

Makeup is holding up well, aside from lipstick (I forgot to bring it to reapply) and hair looks less terrible than expected. I drink 3-4 bottles of water at work.

EVENING

I leave the office around 7:00 pm. During warmer months I walk about 2 miles home through Central Park. It’s the most beautiful and relaxing commute, but the downside is I arrive home with a wicked case of boob sweat.

I throw my hair into a bun and hop into the shower again to cleanse my body and soul of sweat and general NYC grossness. While I’m in there I wash my face with the same Ole Henriksen Oil Control Cleanser.

Clementine guards me whilst I bathe.

After showering, I lube my body up with Eucerin. While that soaks in, I stand naked in the middle of the apartment and get stoned.

Before bed, I remove any lingering eye makeup with a couple drops of The Ordinary’s Moroccan Argan Oil (not pictured), and use a cotton ball to apply The Ordinary’s Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution. This toner RULES, and is frequently sold out, because it is a HUGE bottle and only eight goddamn dollars, and a dupe for Glossier’s toner.

Continuing on The Ordinary train, I pat-pat-pat a few drops of Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 into my face, and follow up with The Ordinary’s Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 2% serum. Niacinamide is great for treating acne, but isn’t in a lot of products yet. It’s anti-inflammatory and this serum can be worn under makeup.

Once again I apply Belif’s Aqua Bomb and then smear on Estee Lauder’s Advanced Night Repair Eye Cream. It’s kind of greasy, but I believe eye cream is a scam and refuse to spend money on it. Samples only for this gal. I’m so fiscally responsible!

After all this is complete, I brush my teeth, braid my hair and get in bed at about 10:30. Goodnight!

[whatiputonmyface]

First Post

Welcome to What I Put On My Face! This blog is a collaborative effort from a bunch of beauty-obsessed gals who met online. Here you’ll find product diaries, makeup and skincare reviews, beauty box reveals, and more - about everything we put on our faces, hair, nails, and bodies.