Gen x Taste is a lifestyle blog and newsletter for those who still don’t know what they want to be when they grow up (even if they’re over the age of 40).
If I’m going to be honest, the main reason I started this blog is because of skincare. Up to a few years ago, I really didn’t know much about it and felt quite intimidated. Whenever I got a facial I would brace myself for the judgement and buy whatever they told me to buy. But now, I am the one in control, giving my esthetician advice!
This was mainly a reaction to my celiac diagnosis — if I could no longer obsess about noodles/pie/sandwiches, I needed another addiction. What I put on my face/body has replaced food to become what I feel the most passionate about (so long as nobody asks me anything historic or scientific). And so, I want to empower anyone else looking for a more approachable/practical place to start.
The question I get asked the most is about my skincare routine. When people find out how old I am (I’m currently 46) they gasp. I have always looked really young for my age, and my feelings about getting older are quite complicated/layered… I’m not quite ready to dive into all that just yet. There’s a lot to unpack there. (And if you think I just divulged my age with 100% confidence, I didn’t. That took a lot of pumping myself up/talking myself down off the ledge.)
In general, there’s a lot to unpack re: my skincare routine as well. I have tried/used a fair amount of products and had nobody to share my feelings about them with! Not as many as the beauty writers/experts out there, but more than most people that I personally know. I have learned a lot from Susan Yara (who I mention in the video below) and Charlotte Palermino but also Kate Spencer and Doree Shafrir, whose podcast Forever 35 was my introduction to “talking a lot about serums.” When I was a guest on the show a few years ago, it was literally a dream come true.
So yeah, skincare! Let’s get to it now. I’ll just dive right in because otherwise, I get too overwhelmed.
MY EVENING SKINCARE ROUTINE
This is for a night when I wear makeup. I previously shared the full makeup look from the Madonna Inn wedding.
Now here’s a video showing how I took all that makeup off.
Note: IMO I did not use that much makeup for this look (compared to how much I wear when I’m filming an acting role) but this exact regimen always works, no matter how much stuff is caked on my face. And when I don’t wear makeup during the day, I skip the double cleanse.
Pretty much everything mentioned in this post (and alternatives) can be found in my ShopMy Shelf. These are all affiliate links so I may make a small percentage if you choose to purchase anything (as I mention at the bottom of every post) and I appreciate your support!
SKINCARE PRODUCTS USED
Naturium Purple Ginseng Cleansing Balm: Before I discovered double cleansing I hated removing my makeup. It was like I’d wash my face and it would NOT come off. Now it’s a joy. The feel of the oil (or the balm) all over my eyelids, removing waterproof mascara that would not budge in the past… pure bliss. I switch between oils and balms, usually the latter when I travel since it’s solid. A really nice budget option is The Inkey List Oat Cleansing Balm and a more luxurious one (that I was gifted) is the Maya Chia Cleansing Oil.
Peach & Lily Power Calm Hydrating Gel Cleanser: This was a travel size that I bought mainly because I wanted a trial size of the Peach & Lily Glass Skin Serum. I really love how simple their stuff is, but this is not my go-to face cleanser. I usually use the Naturium Niacinamide Cleansing Gelee because it is cheaper and comes in a pump. I really enjoy the Indie Lee Brightening Cleanser as well because it comes in a beautiful glass container and also has a pump.
Bioderma Sensibio H2o Micellar Water: I’m realizing now that I actually TRIPLE, not double cleanse. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone else use micellar water like it’s a Stridex pad (usually they use it as a first step, in lieu of the cleansing oil/balm). But I think of it as an insurance policy to make sure EVERY BIT of makeup is gone. Bioderma is definitely my go-to but I also like Klorane’s version. What can I say, I love the French micellar waters — I think they’re the ones who discovered it?!
Ren Ready Steady Glow Daily AHA Tonic: As mentioned in the video, I found that when I began using this product, my occasional period-related breakouts stopped. It is a chemical exfoliant so you’ll want to be careful if you have sensitive skin, but I have found it to be rather gentle. I also started trying Paula Choice’s Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant in the mornings and cannot really tell a difference, other than it doesn’t smell as neutral. (I won’t pretend to know the difference between AHA/BHA is.)
Peach & Lily Wild Dew Treatment Essence: Essences used to REALLY confuse me. I could not understand how you took something from a bottle and shook it directly into your palms, and not a cotton pad. I started with the one everyone talks about: the SK-II Facial Treatment Essence that supposedly reversed aging on sake brewers’ hands. But it’s $$$ (even with my 10% discount code at Stylevana: SHOPLYNN) so I have been pretty happy with the much, much MUCH cheaper Haruharu WONDER Black Rice Hyaluronic Toner (you can also use that same code).
Naturium Retinol Complex Serum: I’m still figuring out Retinol. I’ve been using it for years now, and I think it has definitely added to the even tone/texture of my skin (or maybe that’s the daily microcurrent/red light mask treatments I use in the morning). I’ve yet to try prescription Tretinoin but I think as I get older I might. For now, I’m really happy with my skin as is, so I stick to this Naturium version. But I’ve since “graduated” to Medik 8’s Crystal Retinal 3 (yes, that’s with an “a” instead of an “o” — again I’m not entirely sure of the difference) and am moving up to their Retinal 6. Whatever retinol/retinal you’re using, it’s a good idea to start slowly (once, then twice, then three times a week, etc. - I’m now at nightly) or else your skin might freak out.
Farmacy Honey Halo Ultra-Hydrating Ceramide Moisturizer: I have never used this moisturizer before until this video and now I might have to get it since it smelled/felt so good. At home right now I’m alternating between Naturium’s Multi-Peptide Moisturizer and Pink Moon’s Capricorn Moisturizer (gifted). During the winter, I would use something thicker like Maya Chia’s Face/Neck Cream (also gifted) and practice “skin slugging” by adding a thin layer of Cerave Healing Ointment.
NOT MENTIONED IN THE VIDEO
I didn’t pack any since I was traveling, but along with retinol/retinal I usually use some other kind of serum. The aforementioned Glass Skin Serum, DIEUX Deliverance, and Sunday Riley’s Good Genes are three examples but honestly, they’re kinda expensive and I don’t really see a HUGE difference so I’ll usually just slather on some $25 Snail Mucin for extra plumpness and call it a day. Also, when I’m not at Hotel SLO using their wonderful but disposal cotton pads, I’m using re-usable ones. I recently posted on IG about how Last Object’s version reminded me of communion wafers but I do like how they don’t soak up as much product as the (much softer) Amazon version I’ve had for years.
If you have anything to share about skincare or have a subject you want to know more about in the future, let’s chat!
My aim is to keep these posts sponsor-free, so if you’d like to support me directly with a paid subscription, that would be very helpful. Please note: I do use affiliate links and may earn a commission when you purchase something. If you’d like to read my other Substack publications, check out Trying So Hard (monthly news/updates) and The Yellow Pages (Asian/AAPI culture).