*SKINCARE FOR DUMMIES* I say this as a beauty junkie- this tweet is 100% accurate. It can be really overwhelming to…

*SKINCARE FOR DUMMIES* I say this as a beauty junkie- this tweet is 100% accurate. It can be really overwhelming to wade through the ads and misinformation, so I’m putting together a little primer thread on where to start if you don’t know where to start 🧵:

emily@memilies · Nov 29, 2024

not to be a tin hat about capitalism, but I genuinely don't think that 90% of skincare products on the market do anything. red lasers and serums and whatever just feel like snake oil to me.

Whether or not you wear makeup, you need a gentle cleanser to take the day off your face. Cerave is often recommended because it is inexpensive ($12 at Target) and sensitive skin friendly. Ma:nyo is one of my more affordable favorites from Asian brands ($18 at Ulta)

If you wear makeup, especially waterproof eye makeup, a cleansing balm makes face washing much easier and more gentle. You gently massage it into your face to remove everything and wipe it off, following with your regular cleanser. Here are three great ones ($11, $20, $50)

I used to use regular cleaner and a washcloth to wash the makeup off my face and it would feel dry and irritated before moisturizing. Cleansing balm removes the need to physically scrub makeup off, even waterproof mascara will simply melt away

Sunscreen is extremely important and I know you hate applying it because it’s greasy and gets in your eyes. Beauty of Joseon sunscreen will forever change your life. SPF 50, moisturizing, fully absorbing, and the stick is great for hands/chest/ears etc. This can be a last step.

Anti-aging: If you’re going to give a shit about any one ingredient, make it retinol, the most evidence-based skin refinishing strategy. You’re going to buy Differin Gel (Adapalene) because it’s $15 at Target and one of the strongest no-bullshit OTC retinols available

Retinol goes on at night, after you wash, before you moisturize. If your skin is sensitive, you want to start with 1-2 times a week and see how you tolerate it. Differin doesn’t feel harsh but some people find retinols irritating at first. Don’t wear it in the sun.

Finally, moisturizer is your best friend. You should moisturize anytime you cleanse but ideally morning and night. Finding the right one for you is kind of a Goldilocks situation, but here are three gentle, effective, makeup friendly options at 3 price points ($12, $20, $50)

Now let’s talk self care. I like to do face masks. Mud, sheet, exfoliating, doesn’t matter. My new faves are these viral collagen masks you may have seen that can also be worn overnight. THAT BEING SAID: I know collagen can’t be absorbed by the skin. Why do I buy them?

Face masks make me sit my ass down and relax for 10-15 minutes at least. That’s it. I need to make myself do that, and it feels good to have goop on my face. I feel plump and shiny after and I relaxed a little bit. I have a hard time making myself slow down.

It’s ok to just do a beauty thing because it feels good and makes you take a little time to yourself, even if it isn’t an evidence-based thing. Whatever makes you nice to yourself is fine, just know what you’re using in case it’s having unintended effects on your skin.

On rosacea: it is a bitch. It’s mostly trial and error with OTC stuff to see what may diminish redness. Keeping your skin barrier intact is key, and I have personally found sulfer products have been the most impactful thing I have tried for anti-inflammatory properties

Don’t waste your money on products promising effects that can only be obtained with lasers and surgery. If you’re going to splurge, make it about treating yourself and relaxing. We are all sacks of meat flying through space, it doesn’t matter how many wrinkles you have anyways.

Final note/gift idea for the skincare lover in your life: I picked up one of these little facial steamers recently and LOVE it. Super easy to use and it also makes breathing easier when you’re congested. An inexpensive way to level up your game or treat someone you like

Well this really took off, just a disclaimer I am not a professional or esthetician, I have just wasted a lot of money over the years and spend a lot of time in subreddits with makeup and skincare nerds, and wanted to share a really simple starting place someone might try

The QTs are an amazing mix lol For what it’s worth, I purposely chose the most accessible big box store products at drug store price points because the whole idea was helping someone who may be starting at square one and have few options. We get it, Cerave has haters

If you can’t source goat milk and frankincense from an organic free-range farm within a 15-mile radius, you’re globalist scum - seed oil lady in my QTs