Sorry, I am going to shill for a brand that's not paying me because they matter to me: Lucy and Yak
1. They are very transparent on how they treat their workers and where their fabric comes from. They use natural fibres as much as they can and when they do use polyester they use recycled as much as possible.
2. Their models are all sizes, genders, ages, and body types, and they include disabled models
3. They have limited ranges where the money goes towards charities. I got one that was tied to cleaning up UK waterways but during pride month they raised money for 3 LGBTQ+ charities: Nutshell, Nai Bhor Sanstha, and Parapride
4. They also send out emails promoting other small businesses
5. They sell refurbished products for a lower price in their stores
6. they are rolling out classes on repairing and upcycling your products from then
Yes they are a corporation and they aren't my friend but I am a quite fat person with a body type that is hard to shop for and their clothing fits me extremely well
Their larger sizes aren't just the same pattern bigger. They take into account how larger bodies are different from smaller bodies and adjust accordingly
Their clothing fits well, is well made, is ethically produced, and makes me feel confident and happy and want other people to be aware of it
Here is a video version of my contribution to Caroline's fanbook!
30 Days of Alana Bloom and 30 More Days of Alana Bloom - The Fully-Featured Super-Detailed Photomosaic Video Portrait Version!!!
Okay I don’t usually do this, but EasyMoza.com are pretty great. All I had to do was pick Caroline’s picture as a base photo, then add a bunch more of my own and it composited them into a mosaic.
Nothing went wrong during the process, it was 100% straightforward and not frustrating whatsoever. I got a low-res version free, this video free, and I only had to pay <5 euros for the high-res version.
You should totally use EasyMoza.com. I think they are great.
Buy Penguin Cooling Pillow Mat 12.2 x 22 in. Largest on Amazon, Soft Gel, No Water or Leaks: Bed Pillows - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases
Item rec! If you have hot flashes or just have trouble with your head being hot at night, this is ‘swawesome. No filling it up with water or anything, you just put it on your pillow and insti-cool. You can put it in the fridge beforehand but I don’t bother.
“Utilizes an innovative macro-molecule cooling gel imported from Japan.“ yeah, I don’t really know what that means, but I do know that it works. If you have the means and the need, here is your hot-head solution. (or hot feet or what have you!)
[Image ID. Pictured are three products, each with a small paragraph beneath the items. The image reads: best skincare spring. Brighter day spf thirty by SQN thirty-eight dollars. More time in the sun means the need for more sun protection. I love that it didn’t have an overpowering smell like some other options on the market, and it left no cast on my skin.
Flower hour toner by stripped beauty fifteen dollars. A gentle acid based toner. The best part is you don’t have to wash it off! Not only does it fight dull skin, it can help with acne and hyperpigmentation. Best used with an spf.
Phyto collagen serum by Soo-Ae eighteen dollars. I call this my Goldilocks serum: it’s not too thick or too thin. An anti aging formula, perfect for night or day. Remember, we need to moisturize no matter the time of year. End image description.]
Celebrating the start of spring with some skincare suggestions!
A shout out of some of my fav products I’ve tried thanks to BeautyTap in the winter.
For clarification, the Flower Hour wasn’t a part of their review program, but I met the owner of Stripped Beauty thanks to BT, and was lucky enough to try out the new formulation of their toner. The brand is super affordable and it’s a brand that gives back as well. Use code MEANINGINMAKEUP350 for 20% off your next Stripped Beauty purchase.
If you’re using acid based skincare, please remember to incorporate an SPF into your routine, especially if you’ll be spending more time in the sun!
Your skin also still needs moisture, no matter the time of year. Which is why I included a serum. What do you think? Do you want more posts like this one?
I wanted to formally document my skincare routine and products I recommend. I recognize my privilege when I say that I have mild forms of acne and skin issues. I'm lucky to have been blessed with these abilities. That being said, I do tend to have dry skin, the occasional breakout (especially during my period), and an oily T-zone. I can't really complain.
I’ve been using a lot of these products for years. I rarely make time to research new products, so most of the time my exploration into new skincare products either come from trying it on in person, or hearing about it from advertisements featuring idols. Anyways, onward!
An oil cleanser that washes off easily? You bet! This Oil to Milk cleanser is easy-on, easy-off, and leaves our skin looking and feeling its
CocoKind Oil to Milk Cleanser - $18
This cleanser has a mild fragrance and is very gentle on the skin. I really like this cleanser for when my face feels more dry, which usually happens more during the winter. Glasses of water will only take me so far. I use it with a silicon exfoliant brush and try to use light circular motions on my face and neck. A quarter size amount is enough for my face. I hear it's great for sensitive skin.
Cleanse your way to clearer skin.
Burt's Bees Natural Acne Solutions Purifying Gel Cleanser - $10
Prior to finding out about Cocokind, I was using this cleanser as my primary face wash. I used this when I worked in a movie theater, which meant unsolicited popcorn steam facials and hot dog oil moisturizer. This stuff worked wonders!
I've been using this product for over a decade now and it's never failed me. I love using this toner because it does its job well; it's like a detail cleaner. I also think it lasts fairly long for the price.
Can you tell how much I adore this product line? It is what it is: a spot treatment. I don't need to use this every day, but it works well when I do need it. Like I mentioned previously, I tend to have more breakouts during my period. This product is perfect for that.
The Ordinary Niacinamide (Vitamin B3) 10% + Zinc 1% serum reduces the appearance of skin blemishes and congestion while also balancing visib
The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% - $8
I use this serum a lot when I go out and I want to put on makeup. Since the pandemic, I haven't really been using it much, so my application of this product isn't as frequent. If you're looking for a serum that'll make your skin feel tight and taut, this is the one. There's a weird metallic smell, and this product tends to leave a lot of dry residue around the neck of the bottle. You don't need a lot. It's fun to apply because it comes with a pipette applicator as the lid.
Moisturizer
Amazon.com: COSRX Daily Acne Facial Moisturizer with Birch Sap, 3.38 fl.oz / 100ml, Hydrating moisturizer for all skin types, Korean skincar
COSRX Ultra Moisturizing Lotion with Birch Sap - $25
How sad that this product isn't being sold on the COSRX website anymore! This has been my longest used moisturizer product. It's worth the price because I don't really need to use a lot of it, maybe a quarter sized amount or two pumps is all that's needed. It's best on skin that is more naturally oily.
Buy THESAEM Urban Eco Harakeke Cream 1.69oz. – Vegan Face Moisturizer with Harakeke Extracts and Hyaluronic Acid - Soft Melting Texture Faci
The Saem Urban Eco Harakeke Cream - $20
Remember how I said I'd buy a product if an idol promoted it? If you haven't seen the Harakeke dance that Seventeen created for this promotion, you're missing out. This terrifying jingle and dance has never left my brain. My friend Sharlene bought this product for me and it's been an amazing replacement as a moisturizer! A little bit goes a long way, and it leaves my skin hydrated.
NOTE: None of these products have SPF in them, so I'll toss in a recommendation for SPF as well.
This isn't the best SPF facial lotion I've tried, but it's the only one I have, and it's SPF 32. It does have a sunscreen smell, but it isn't as bad as putting actual sunscreen on your face. When you apply it, it feels like a heavy moisturizer. It works, but I would recommend the next product more over this one.
This is the real deal. Known as a Supergoop dupe, this product is the best in my opinion. Not only is it SPF 40, but it feels light and doesn't smell like a sunscreen at all. If only I actually lived near a Kroger...
Pre-Makeup
No creasing. More vibrant color. Smoother application. Shop our legendary Eyeshadow Primer Potion, the #1 primer for indestructible, all-day
Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion - $25
I don't use foundation when I put on makeup, so I don't really need a face primer. I do, however, use eye makeup a lot, and this really helps. I actually didn't know that this primer came in more than one shade until I wrote this post. I thought that it was supposed to be a light shade. The more you know, the less you know, it seems.
Award winning vegan innovation. Scrub and nourish is multipurpose at its finest.
Dr. PAWPAW Scrub & Nourish Lip Scrub & Lip Balm Duo - $11
The newest addition to my collection. I tend to bite and peel the skin off my lips more often than I admit, so I was looking for a product that would serve as a scrub and a treatment. Who knew that a two-in-one existed? I've used it for a few months now and I really like it. The scrub feels great, and the balm reminds me of a less sticky Vaseline.
Makeup Removal
Amazon.com: [THEFACESHOP] Oil-Free Liquid Eye Makeup Remover, Natural Rice Water Lipstick, Waterproof Mascara & Eyeliner Removal - 120 mL /
The Face Shop Rice Water Bright Makeup Remover - $15
I really like this product! I like how easily it takes off makeup, and I like the smell, too. The best way I could describe it is like fragrant rice.
One last thing I wanted to recommend for makeup removal was the Burt's Bees Sensitive Facial Cleansing Towelettes. If you're on the go or you're too inebriated to do a whole skincare routine, this product will clean off your makeup and your face. They are wipes, so they're also convenient for travel.
That just about wraps it up for the product recommendations at this time! I might do an additional post in the future, but for now, this is what I have to offer.
I did want to see how much everything I listed costs (excluding shipping & fees), so let's see..
$185 for everything. Not bad, considering a lot of these products will last me more than a month. Some are also listed as alternatives, so that price is actually a lot lower.
Before I sign off, I recommend doing your skincare activities to "Skincare Tutorial 2020" by Tobi Lou
Both the under eye circles and the rosacea topics are slightly more involved than most people would assume. While most people might care a bit less about causes, I assume the spoonie community probably loves getting definitive answers whenever possible. :D Also I suspect understanding the unerlying causes could be invaluable to people who are perpetually trying to attempt to understand their own bodies.
So while I collect the sources and write that up, I thought I’d start with something a little more basic.
Cleansing and Moisturizing
Yes folks, the upsell from the makeup counter does have SOME grounding in actual facts. The truth is, the single most useful steps to getting your skin to unzombify is to cleanse then moisturize and then to make sure you’re SPF’d before stepping into the sun*hisss*light. Sorry, it’s reflex. The sun*hisss*light literally makes my skin sizzle.
“But Ami!” I can hear you say. “That’s the whole problem!” I HEAR YOU! I DO!
If you’ve wandered the drugstore aisles at any point in the last century, you may have come across a brand called Cetaphil. Cetaphil, like Vaseline, found a basic, useful, product that works and then locked it down under patent and never looked back. Cetaphil is the first brand I rec to people when they’re not sure what their skin needs. I also rec them to people with sensitive skin and people looking for an effective product for less money. Cetaphil is sold at drugstores that love coupons, which is extra awesome.
The reason why I reccomend this brand to spoonies is because the basic formulation is good for both face AND body. So in the shower (start with your face, no dragging body bacteria upwards) and then keep on soaping. One step, no muss, no fuss. Same thing with the moisturizer.
They actually have a couple of different formulations. Extra dry, sensitive and yes, face specific lotions (these all have SPF). But I’m telling you now; if you need a butt simple, energy saving process, you can buy the basic original formula and use it all over.
Will this solve all your problems? No. Specialized products are exactly that, specialized and with good reason. Even adding one more step will probably show you a drastic change in skin tone and health, but that’s for other days. This particular post is about helping find basics that your baseline bad days can handle.
A few notes:
1. There will be other brands for basics!
2. Questions welcome! All topics are open!
3. As stated above, both rossacea and under eye circles are in the works, but if there’s something you want to make sure I cover, please let me know.
4. I’m going to try and keep the tagging system simple, but please make suggestions.
I have tried a vast number of volumizing hair products but most of them make my hair greasier and tangle it pretty badly, so I’d given up, but when I was waiting to get my eyebrows done last month at an Aveda salon I on a whim picked up the Pure Abundance shampoo and conditioner to give it a shot, and have been pretty thrilled with it after about 4 weeks.
It’s Aveda, so it’s pricey, which is a major con, but it lasts for a while and it actually does something. It doesn’t do a LOT, but it does something, which is more than I can say for anything else I’ve tried. It also doesn’t make my hair so unmanageably tangled when wet that I’m ripping it out as I brush it, which is again more than I can say for anything else I’ve tried. Most importantly, my hair hasn’t been disgustingly greasy after just eight hours or so, and that has never happened. I’m chuffed so I wanted to share!
Hills Bros. English Toffee Cappuccino. Best instant capp ever and I’m so glad my mom introduced me to this. I used to drink the Nescafe decaf English Toffee as a kid, and recently I’ve gotten more into caffeinated coffee drinks. So I’d been looking for the Nescafe instant capps forever in the grocery stores here, but I don’t think they make them in cannisters anymore?? Only single-serve packets, and those are not my jam. I’m also not really into French Vanilla capps, cause they’re just not sweet enough for me. BUT Hills Bros. English Toffee is the sweetest, most amazing instant cappuccino I’ve ever had, and it even beats out the Nescafe one. Try it if y’all like that kind of thing. Also my recommendation is to mix in a small amount of milk with the powder before you pour in the hot water; it makes it super frothy and smooth :3
