Skincare Routine

Not that anyone cares, but I have a skincare routine. Up until my late 20s, I never really took care of my skin; I didn’t know what a cleanser or a toner was, I rarely wore any sunscreen—in fact I don’t even think I washed my face in the shower. At some point, I started to care but not enough to really do anything about it and it wasn’t until I started dating my now husband that he taught me the ways. Now, to be fair, I still don’t really listen to him on arguably the stuff that matters most—the type, quality and simplicity of the ingredients in the stuff you use—but at least I have a routine now.

Spoiler: I’m really into Aesop

I didn’t have any herbs or powders to style the products, so I used a plant.

Enter the other point of this post—effective marketing. I have no idea when this thought entered my head, all I know is that once I started applying stuff to my face I had made the decision that at age thirty I was going to start using Aesop products. The fantasy that I had constructed was that with Aesop products I’d be able to transform daily, banal experiences like washing my hands and taking a shower into moments one imagines are reserved for boujee, spa-hotel vacations. In retrospect, I believe this idea came about in part because of the aesthetic of the brand—simple, elegant, “French”—but also in part because I started seeing Aesop hand wash in a few restaurants in New York restrooms. The look of the bottle, the smell of the product, and importantly, the kind of restaurant that was allowed to carry the brand all fed into the narrative—and it worked: as part of my 30th birthday trip I made it a point to go to an Aesop store and get me some goodies.

Since then, my husband has tried to convince me that the products are not really that good for you—apparently fragrances in skincare products have been canceled—and that significantly cheaper products are better alternatives. Weirdly, none of the beauty and skincare YouTube influencers he binges ever review Aesop products so “we don’t know” how they stack up, but you know what, I don’t care. Why? Because I like how the Aesop products make me feel (and yes, the fragrance is a key element of the experience). Actually, this is just speculation but, I think part of the marketing strategy is to dissuade these people from reviewing the brand; but again, don’t care. I want the Aesop fantasy—and if you also want to spend your hard-earned income on the fantasy, good for you too. So anyway, here’s my skincare routine.

Step 1: Cleanse

This is soap. I use the Aesop Parsley Seed Facial Cleanser. What can I say—it feels clean.

Step 2: Tone

They say toner is unnecessary. Maybe it is, but honestly, I just like that this one requires a cotton pad and that it stings a little after I shave. I use Aesop Parsley Seed Anti-Oxidant Facial Toner.

Step 3: Anti-Age

My husband swears by retinol. I don’t know if it works, but I do know it is supposed to help you keep your skin look younger by increasing skin production—which in turn helps reduce wrinkling, for one. I use two things for keeping my face… not young but hopefully not any worse that it did when I first started using this stuff.

I use bakuchiol—a plant-based alternative to retinol—every day in the morning and at night. Aesop doesn’t have bakuchiol—or retinol—so I use Typology Blemish Serum 1% Bakuchiol. The brand has an Aesop-y vibe and I will say I rarely get any pimples since I started using it. There’s something about the experience of using a “serum” and a dropper that I really enjoy—I feel like a scientist but in a cool, confident way… like I know what I’m doing (I don’t).

I also use retinol every other night. My dermatologist prescribed me Aklief, which is fine, though I recently googled it and found out is marketed as “acne relief for teens”, so there’s that.

Step 4: Protect

I’ll be honest, I’m not very good at using sunscreen. Part of the reason I tell myself I don’t need it every day is that I’m working remotely and don’t go outside often during the day, but kids! That doesn’t matter! Wear sunscreen. Every day. On your face.

When I use it, I use Neutrogena Invisible Daily Defense Face Serum SPF 60+. It does not match the aesthetic of the rest of my stuff (hence, not pictured), but I trust it because it feels clinical somehow. I will say here I tried the Aesop one for a while and decided to go with a higher SPF—so, yes, I’m irrational but not always.

Step 5: Moisturize

This is very important. I have terrible skin dryness, especially during the winter when there’s heat blasting off inside the house, so I do feel the benefits of moisturizer pretty consistently. I use Aesop Parsley Seed Anti-Oxidant Facial Hydrating Cream and I really like how buttery and fresh it is.

Step 6: Eyes

I can’t think of a verb for this step, but anyway—I don’t know if this actually does anything, but as the last step, I apply Aesop Parsley Seed Anti-Oxidant Eye Cream at night.

Extra: Body

For me, it is incredibly important—again, because of my dry skin—to also moisturize my body. I will do this after showering every day and tapping myself dry, while still having a bit of moisture on the skin. I use Aesop Rejuvenate Intensive Body Balm and, yes, I find the moment rich and delectable every time. Sue me.

That’s it! If you got this far into reading, think about what you are doing with your life; and while you’re at it, if you don’t have a skincare routine, stop sleeping on it! Finally, think about what brands have brainwashed you with effective marketing and ask yourself why you use their products. I really don’t think there’s anything wrong with it, as long as you recognize it, make it an active decision to keep using those products, and ultimately feel good by participating in the fantasy. You deserve it!