Two Weeks to Cate Blanchett
By Katie Wei
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(I'm not kidding, this is actually by Katie Wei, so if you have her please thank her for being considerate enough to write for us!)
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Rating: MS
vlad before and after katie wei's skin routine; art by meeb
If you had told my 15-year-old self that MANY years later in life someone would inquire about my skincare routine, I would not have believed you. In fact, I surely would have laughed. Of course, that was before I discovered the magic of pickle brine and Himalayan sea salt. I know, you’re thinking this is a joke, but I am serious. After perusing the internet for days in pursuit of Cate Blanchett’s skin secrets, I learned about the power of pickle brine as a toner. I take 3 oz of pickle brine (I prefer Claussen, but any kind should work) and mix it with a cup of witch hazel (amazon or Target). You will want to keep it in the fridge because room temp pickle brine is rank and because it also adds a lovely coolness to your face when you use it following a good scrub. Enter the Himalayan sea salt. You should be able to find this on amazon or at most markets today. You will also need ¾ of a banana and 2/3 of an avocado. Add a tablespoon of Himalayan Sea Salt, mix all together, and use as a daily scrub to really clean your skin. Follow with the aforementioned pickle brine toner, and in two weeks, you’ll begin to see a difference.
With the exception of the first two lines and my adoration of Cate Blanchett’s skin, everything in that paragraph is a lie. I have spent a LONG time in pursuit of the skin care holy grail – the ONE product that would make my skin clear and glowing, and here’s the truth – there is no such product. Sigh. I’m bummed about it too. I have found that consistency is important as is paying attention to what’s working for you. What works for your friend will not necessarily work for you. Pay attention to the skin type you have and don’t expect it to be something it’s not. I have sensitive skin and have learned the hard way that no promise on a package means anything if it’s going to irritate my skin. If it turns your skin red – it’s not good for you.
So, here is my routine followed by some tips:
Some unsolicited tips:
With the exception of the first two lines and my adoration of Cate Blanchett’s skin, everything in that paragraph is a lie. I have spent a LONG time in pursuit of the skin care holy grail – the ONE product that would make my skin clear and glowing, and here’s the truth – there is no such product. Sigh. I’m bummed about it too. I have found that consistency is important as is paying attention to what’s working for you. What works for your friend will not necessarily work for you. Pay attention to the skin type you have and don’t expect it to be something it’s not. I have sensitive skin and have learned the hard way that no promise on a package means anything if it’s going to irritate my skin. If it turns your skin red – it’s not good for you.
So, here is my routine followed by some tips:
- Wash your face every day – morning and night– I like the old standby, Neutrogena Oilfree Acne Wash; I’ve been using it since college
- Add a serum – bareMinerals Skinlongevity Long Life Herb Serum. Does it work? No idea, but the name makes me feel good and it doesn’t irritate my skin
- Moisturize – Neutrogena and Aveeno make a variety of moisturizers that I like. Must have SPF 30.
- Sunscreen! ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS - I’m a fan of EltaMD (amazon) and Neutrogena Hydro Boost
- At night, I do the same, but after step 2, I use my favorite moisturizer, Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion. That’s it.
Some unsolicited tips:
- Wash your face at least twice a day; if my skin is irritated, I use Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser
- NEVER go to bed with makeup on or right after you’ve been sweating; always wash your face before you go to sleep
- Keep your hands off your face and listen to your mother, don’t pick!
- Wear limited makeup. None of you need makeup. I avoid eye makeup as well, so I don’t have to pull at the delicate skin by my eyes to take it off (this is something you will worry about many years from now, but never too early to start preventing wrinkles!). Don’t get me wrong – I have nothing against makeup and like the effect it offers when I want to look fancier than I do on a regular Teams call, but I’m a believer in less is more, and I think this is true in terms of skin care. The less crap you put on your face, the better.
- HOWEVER, the number one thing you should put on your face is sunscreen. I’m a devotee of sunscreen. If I have a secret, that’s it. Short of right before bed, I always put on sunscreen. ALWAYS. I put sunscreen on at night if I’m leaving the house. Yes, I know the sun is not out, but you cannot be too careful with the rays of the sun (or the light coming from your phone screen and computer), so I always wear it. Any face moisturizer I use includes sunscreen, and then I often put sunscreen on over moisturizer. The lotion I use has sunscreen in it. Everything!
- My last secret is one I discovered in college, and that is the power of Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion – it has oatmeal in it, and it calms your skin. I swear by it.
- If you find a routine that is working for you, don’t get swayed by new products – investing all of your money in bottles and tubes that will be opened and then left to rot in a drawer after a week is a waste. If it’s working, stick with it.
- And the truth about all skin care is that everything you do is relative to the skin you have – look at your parents and you’ll get a good sense of what you’re working with. You can prevent skin damage from avoiding the sun and being conscientious about sunscreen, but no product – even pickle brine – will give you different skin. Cate Blanchett remains my inspiration, but I’ve figured out that no products will give me her skin. So, work with what you’ve got; be consistent with your routine; ignore the Kardashians; and for goodness sake, drink lots of water and get more sleep than you currently do.
