The Voice of Bates College Since 1873

The Bates Student

The Voice of Bates College Since 1873

The Bates Student

The Voice of Bates College Since 1873

The Bates Student

Skin Care Routine of the Week: A Strategy for the Fearful

There are not many things in my life that I’m regimented about. In fact, I’d say I’m generally a pretty lazy person. My laziness is undermined by a singular exception: my all-consuming and expensive passion for skincare. After reading countless articles on the dangers of pollution, sunlight, sleeping with makeup on, non-silk pillowcases, and so on, I have built a skincare regimen centered around my greatest motivator: fear.

My skincare process begins, as all should, with a full body exfoliation. Dry brushing is an admittedly uncomfortable practice used to remove dead skin and increase circulation. I highly recommend buying one of these sadistic-looking body brushes and scraping yourself with it before getting into the shower. Trust me, it leaves your skin silky smooth.

Post-shower, I moisturize from neck-to-toe with CeraVe Moisturizing Cream (a perfect choice for those of us with eczema), and use the custard-like It Cosmetics’ Confidence in a Cream on my face. If I’m doing a full makeup look, I’ll swap out my decadent default with Embryolisse Lait Crème because I’ve read makeup artists often use it as a base. Next, I lather on La Mer for sunscreen and eye cream (lavishness thanks to a huge discount I received over the summer) because their fanciness inspires my daily application. Finally, I swipe on Lanolips, a multipurpose balm made from lanolin (the waxy substance in sheep’s wool), which is ideal for dry lips suffering from Maine’s cold weather.

Of course, like any good beauty fanatic, I face mask often regardless of the fact that dorm-living renders mask removal slightly challenging. I’d like to take this time to extend my deepest apologies to the people on my floor who have seen me looking like a stone man from Game of Thrones on my way to the shower. The fact of the matter is, I just can’t resist using the Aztec Clay Mask (available at Whole Foods for only $8). It sucks every microscopic impurity out of your skin, leaving pores flawless. Pro tip: make sure you mix it with apple cider vinegar! When I need hydration, I use the Dr. Jart Ceramidin Sheet Mask or sleep with a thick layer of Weleda Skin Food on my face; the latter is not for those with oily skin.

If you’re already masking while you sleep, you might as well do a hair mask, too, and just resign yourself to looking like a grease ball for 8 hours straight. I love using the Garnier Fructis Banana Hair Food in hopes of realizing my dreams of shiny hair. I am also an avid user of Baby Foot Exfoliant Foot Peel. For those of you who aren’t familiar with it, do yourself a favor and order it. Prepare yourself for a wild week. And, because Weleda Skin Food is generally amazing for all dry, cracked skin, I rub my feet with it and sleep in socks if I haven’t done a Baby Foot peel recently.

Finally, at night, I force myself to take off my makeup with the Boscia Purifying Cleansing Gel (or at least use a Simple Cleansing Wipe if I’m really struggling). It is terrible for your skin to sleep in makeup… even though makeup legend Charlotte Tilbury sleeps in mascara and eye shadow every night!

Because my love of skincare is a research-based endeavor, I’m always combing through “Into the Gloss” and “Violet Files,” looking for the next thing to worry about. Right now, I’m looking to get in on the jade roller/gua sha game. Neither seems particularly effective, but I just love making my entire skin care process a little more complicated. Makeup, however, is a totally different ball game…

View Comments (1)
More to Discover

Comments (1)

All comments must have an attached name and email. Please direct comments to the content of the article; attacking writers in any way, shape or form will not be tolerated. Any comments which do not meet these requirements will not be published.
All The Bates Student Picks Reader Picks Sort: Newest

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • J

    Julia C MurphySep 30, 2019 at 3:31 PM

    Where would I look for advice on skincare for aged skin. I have so called Irish skin. Have had surgery for skin cancer.

    Reply