'you mean you really don't…?!'
Okay pumpkins, I have a confession. Today it became public knowledge that I (gasp) don’t moisturize. I didn’t realize what a big deal this is to some beauty junkies, I literally got stared down like an infested disease. This opened mouth astonishment was followed by a whole host of condescending comments about how horribly, horribly, dry my face was. Now, I wasn’t actually offended because my face felt like a dried out desert. I could feel it cracking with each painful expression I made. So, I was urged to shimmy my hiney over to Boots and rectify the problem by purchasing some lotion for my face (apparently my left over Banana Boat Aloe infused one wasn’t going to cut it).
This whole self-induced dramatic charade got me thinking… about girls and their beauty routines. To be honest, I don’t put that much thought or effort into mine (as if you couldn’t tell from the above explanation). But, there certainly is some method to the madness. I have come across a little bundle of products that are my absolute favourites and that I think you ought to know about.
From left: Urban Decay brush that I stole from my Mom (after giving it to her in her Christmas stocking) about seven years ago (is it gross that I still use it? it is so soft). Laura Mercier black thickening and building mascara. Nars Hot Wired lip lacquer. YSL rouge volupte in Red Temptation. Chanel nail polish in Blue Satin. Sephora Bronzer in Bora Bora. Smashbox Blushrush in Radiance. And, my favourite new discovery (the magic of transformed eyebrows…): LORAC Take a Brow in Brunette. The moisturizer and other products I picked up from Boots can be viewed here.
So, now you know. I’m a recovering anti-moisturizer junkie and I’m addicted to a good dose of bronzer. What’s your beauty secret ladies? Anything amazing I should add to my list? Are you a die hard beauty junkie or a mascara and a swipe of blush sort of girl?
no moisturising! you are so baddd. kidding. i’m prob worse. but i do love that eyebrow stuff you used on me that one time…. i need to get some asap, does sephora deliver here? is that a stupid question?
xxxxx yay oxford!
not a stupid question… they don’t ship to the UK as far as i can find. the nearest sephora is just over in paris… fancy a eurostar trip? x
haha, I’m definitely a swipe of mascara kind of girl. I’m hopelessly inadequate with lipstick and eyeshadow, though I would love to be able to rock the red lips.
I do moisturise but if i had less dry skin it possibly wouldn’t be part of my regime. I only wash my face with water and I often go to sleep without cleaning off my mascara :-s
I did my own post on my beauty essentials, not very glamourous at all but there are a couple of products I really love like Bio-Oil and Palmers Cocoa Butter. My full list is here
Thanks for sharing, I might give the Laura Mercier mascara a try… I’m looking for a new one and have heard good things about it.
evie x
OMG! You don’t moisturise? I’m horrified! You’re just like my little bro who never moisturise…he now has crackling skin and rough dry patches. ‘TUT TUT’
I have combo skin I use Dove Intense Body Moisturiser for dry skin….yes body moisturiser..it works realllllly well with my face.
Next time I see you I need to inspect your face in close-up ;P
noooooo!! i can think of nothing worse than having my face examined close up! ahhhhh. ok, will be hardcore about my new moisturizing regime and you can evaluate how it is looking on friday. x
Oh Jen that is just ridiculous. You are a good 20 years away from needing moisturiser. Seriously. I never used moisturiser until maybe the past 5 years ago. Actually.. I can’t remember when I started moisturising.
I remember back in NY, I knew girls who’d say things like ‘my mother taught me to never use soap…’ they’d clean their faces with some kind of expensive ‘cleansers’ and ‘wipes’.. listen, if you’re going to use moisturiser, I’ll bring you some FABULOUS stuff I get in badly packaged plastic jars from a woman in Kansas. I use this ‘face and body cream’ – all natural:
http://home.comcast.net/~sheressence/facecream.html
in these scents:
http://home.comcast.net/~sheressence/fragrancelist.html (especially loving ‘french vanilla pear’ these days – or honeysuckle
at night I use this wonderful thick version of natural shea butter ‘body frosting’ – on my face:
http://home.comcast.net/~sheressence/frostings.html (in lavender vanilla) – my mom now swears by it, too: we’ll slap it all over faces while watching junky American TV when I visit
But really, I”ll bring you a sample when I see you – it’s all natural and that makes all the difference – and it’s so cheap, and Sher of Sher Essence is so so so nice. I just put them in nice glass jars. I was going to start a company years ago with my cousin, Cupcake Cosmetics, using her stuff.
As for actual make-up: well you’ve seen me try to use even mascara, I just end up looking like a racoon. Usually laughing so hard the tears start running down my face. I don’t even own a blusher, but I do love my eye liner that i use below my eyes for some strange reason. Oh and clear lip gloss.
Bet you’re sorry you asked huh. Seriously, Jen, you so do not need moisturiser! You’ve got the best skin. Whatever you’re doing, it’s working.
Oh, you should see my make up case… I think I could say I’m a junkie.
My secret is simply clean my face every night and every morning, remove all the make up and moisturize. But I don’t wear to much make up. Some days just concealer (which I think it’s what makes the difference between a sleepy and a fresh face), mascara and blush.
But I don’t enjoy that much doing my own make up. Doing it for others is funnier (and easier)!
xxx
Waitwaitwaitwaitwait.
WAIT a minute.
You don’t moisturize?!?! *faints* *recovers*
Girl, I’m so hardcore that I sometimes make my own blends!!
*faints*
You really don’t moisturize? Lucky girl! Me, I need to really apply moisturizer and eye cream or I will look like a prune. Hahaha! Old age I know. If only I can eat moisturizer, I will have it for dessert all the time.
Beauty secrets? Except for the moisturizing part, I’m really so low maintenance. But I do splurge on the moisturizer. xoxo
Over the years my beauty regime has gone from full on makeup, the works, to nothing but moisturizer and ocassionally mineral foundation and blush/eyeshadow/liner.
At 51 I can tell that there is one thing I NEVER skip and that is moisturizer. Take it from me. Good genes only go so far, moisturize. You won’t regret it. That and drink your water.
Makeup? Schmakeup. But good skin you will be glad for.
I go through cycles, sometimes I moisturise religiously, like twice a day and sometimes I just can’t do it! The one thing I can’t live without is my shu uemura eyelash curler. I absolutely hate the feeling of mascara so I skip that but I need to have curled lashes, it makes me feel awake!
Definitely agree that the YSL lipstick has got to be the best, it felt so heavenly and creamy the first time I tried it. I’m totally hooked, I have a few tubes but the cheeky hot pink one is the most fun!
Love ur blog. I’m “following” u on my blog.
MW
I cannot believe this… actually I can, ha! As you know, I am a moisturising freak, and regularly rub myself in baby oil.
It is the stuff of Gods!
xx
I have moisturiser. It’s on my dressing table. And it has been used. I just forget most of the time. Or leave myself so little time before leaving the house in the morning that I end literally chucking some make-up at my face. So now I have invested in tinted moisturiser instead of foundation. Such a cheats way but it makes me feel virtuous. I also have night cream but once I’ve taken my make-up off and brushed my teeth, it’s all I can do to get myself into bed and remember to turn the light out!!
I need some of that eyebrow stuff – and I was in Paris last month!! Damn!
I do some work with cosmetic science and seriously you DO need moisturiser. If you dont use it your skin will end up dry and age faster. You might not notice it now but in 10 years your skin will really thank you for taking care of it. Also doesnt your skin feel tight and a bit uncomfortable after washing without it? You should invest in one with an SPF in it too to avoid any damage. I use Olay which is pretty cheap, you dont need to fork out loads of money on one but my skin saver is Clarins Beauty Flash for when my skin looks dull and I am tired. I mainly work on hair so dont get me started on that LOL. I also love St Ives apricot scrub which is the best for really cleaning out your pores and getting rid of deadskin cells. How about toner Jen LOL? I use Lush ones as they are really gental and cheap too. The only other thing I couldnt live with out is Dior Show orignial mascara I have tried so many and nothing compares to this.
But its your choice babes if you dont want to use any – in all your photos you have never looked anything other than totally gorgeous xx
Oh, Jennifer, I love the way you write, you’re so funny!<3
I hope your skin is feeling better by now!
If that's all make up you use, I'm jealous you don't need concealer – your skin must be perfect=)
xox Antonia
Oh my goodness, I am shocked, but not cos it’s disgraceful but because HOW do you have such gorgeous skin without moisturiser?! You’re clearly not lacking it. But there is something satisfying and comforting about freshly moisturised skin. I just use a £2 tube of Nivea Soft, it’s the best I’ve tried and since I started using it (over other expensive brands), I’ve cut out my Chanel foundation habit altogther. I could live with just that and some vaseline if I had to. And a good spf though, you know, at my age….
x
Jen (and Jill). . . my friends, my compadres, my blogger idols . . . Thou must moisturize once past the age of 18. Or sooner. MUST. And apply sunscreen of 30SPF or more every single day. And drink lot of water and eat lots of fruits.
Seriously, I am a moisturizer/serum freak. I was using Dr. Sebagh (pricey) but now I’ve switched to Olay Regenerist and ProX. Love them so far. And sooo much cheaper than the good Dr. S.
Jen oh Jen, you better start moisture dear, I’m not saying it to scare you but I’ve seen it before on other girlfriends, no matter your genes, your skin is worth investing some time in, for the future. Natural lines will come eventually and on a dry skin quicker, that’s a fact. Nothing looks more fresh and youthful than healthy skin, no make-up needed unless you’re like me, I’ve got super shiny skin and need to powder it down. I posted about my skin favorites earlier this week, the cream I use from Dermalogica is fantastic and suitable to sensitive skin.
xx