Margaret’s Summer Product Diary
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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