My skincare routine partie 3

The final installation! Sorry it’s a bit late, the semester just started and I decided to overload on courses so wish me luck....I see a lot of necessary self care in my future.

Étape 7: Sunscreen

The most important step! I know most of the people reading this are in their teens/early twenties so please, I beg of you, your future self begs you, to WEAR SUNSCREEN. Everyday! Even in gloomy grey seattle there are harmful UV rays. It all started when I decided to go to California for college. I realized that I would probably need to wear sunscreen everyday because I burn super easy—seriously once I burnt my face from staring at a fireplace too long—so for my birthday I asked for some Supergoop sunscreen.

The Unseen Sunscreen is, as the title suggests, unseen. It’s completely clear which was very novel to me upon wearing it for the first time. However, it does feel very dimethicone-y which is to say, like a primer. It feels like it sits atop the skin and doesn’t completely absorb immediately after application, like primers that are supposed to fill-in/blur your pores. This would definitely be good for anyone wearing makeup though. At the same time, it’s a good sunscreen that doesn’t have an aggressive scent that reminds me of childhood at the beach, and its somewhat mattifying unlike a lot of other sunscreens that make me look like an oily blobfish.

Next up we have the Supergoop Glow Screen. I would not recommend putting this all over your face unless you are putting on face makeup afterwards. This stuff is seriously shiny. I love a glow but if you wear this all over your face you WILL blind someone. That said I love using it on my cheeks as a highlighter or mixing it with the unseen sunscreen or another sunscreen as an extra boost. I also like the texture of it better than the Unseen Sunscreen.

Finally, also maybe my favorite, the La Roche Posay Anthelios Shaka Fluide. I bought this in April of 2019 in preparation for my spring break to the south of France. Little did I know it would be raining the whole time (seriously we had to hide in a fisherman’s shack from a thunderstorm). But, when I picked it back up again in the states, the scent reminded me of Sète and all my lovely SYA memories. But that’s not the only reason I love it. The formula is very liquid, and comes out white, but immediately absorbs into the skin giving you just the slightest glowy sheen. It definitely holds a permanent place in my heart, and my skincare fridge.

Étape 8: mists

Ok Idk if this really counts as a step since I don’t use them in this exact order, actually I usually use them right before applying step 4 or just throughout the day whenever I need them. Currently I've been using the Cocokind glow essence with sea grape caviar and the Institut Esthederm Eau Cellulaire.

The Cocokind mist is definitely hydrating, and what I reach for in the summer when my skin is feeling like it needs a refresher. I’ll spray it on before and/or after doing my makeup to make everything settle on my face naturally and, of course, give it that extra glow.

The Eau Cellulaire is much lighter because of the aerosol dispersal method and I like using it before applying products to my face after washing it because my skin dries out quickly. Um I’ve got to be honest I just thought it was like thermal water or something but apparently it also has properties of a serum with anti-oxidants?? I think it’s a bit bougie for the purpose it serves so my recommendation is just to buy some thermal water, it does the same thing and costs way less. I really do like how it’s a fine mist though.

Étape 9: masks

I really need to up my mask game! Masks and skincare used to be synonymous for me, but I focus so much on perfecting my routine that I forget to do anything outside of it. Currently I have three masks that I’ve been loving: the Caudalie Purifying Mask, the Sanoflore Masque des Reines, and the Suzanne Kaufmann Moisturizing Mask

So the Caudalie mask I actually bought as a gift for my younger sister, to help with early teenage acne and all that, but she never used it and I didn’t want good skincare to go to waste so eventually I stole it (she knows where to find it if she needs it don’t worry). I actually used it last night because I noticed my skin was on the verge of a break out. It did its job perfectly and crisis averted! It’s a semi-thick white cream that dries and absorbs excess oil/sebum. You can see the dots in the masks where it’s extracting the sebum (kinda gross but cool). Very gentle and effective, 10/10

The Sanoflore mask makes my skin feel baby soft. It’s the mask I'm wearing in my most recent new years post on insta, if you were wondering why my skin looked so orange lol. It’s a fun gel texture that feels so cooling and calming on the skin upon application. It doesn’t dry like the Caudalie mask because the idea is to smooth fine lines, even the complexion and refresh the skin. All of which I think it does amazingly. When you rinse it off it turns into a white milky consistency that nourishes the skin even more. No wonder Sanoflore is so popular in France!

Finally, the Suzanne Kaufmann mask. I never understood night masks because It just seemed like an extra thick moisturizer which I needed anyways because of my dry skin. This mask changed my mind, and made me understand occlusives. If you’ve heard of slugging (using Vaseline/petroleum jelly or other occlusive to seal in moisture before bed) you may be familiar with the concept of occlusives. Basically, while regular moisturizers are designed to actually hydrate your skin, occlusives are designed to lock in that moisture so none of it escapes through a process called trans-epidermal water loss. This mask is a fascinating thick and dense jelly texture that feels amazing on the skin. I use it if my skin is feeling extra dry or if I just want to lock in the moisture from the oils I’ve applied.

What 👏 a 👏 journey👏

THANK YOU for coming on this long ass skincare quest with me. Now that we’re reached the end you can probably tell that I don’t know anything I am just very passionate about trying to control my face through alchemy. If any of you have skincare recommendations (cult favs etc), are looking to revamp your routine, or just want to chat skincare feel free to hit me up—I promise not to talk your ear off.