Stuff I Like: Skincare!

I've changed up some of my skincare lately and here's what I've been really happy with:

This Oil Cleanser That’s a Steal
I typically double cleanse every evening and for a while I was using balm cleansers for my first step, but now I’m back on oil. I do still really like the one by DHC but I found an online rec for this one by Hada Labo that’s the same amount for less than half the price and it’s great. Its made with olive oil, is unscented, and it gets all my eye make off without much effort. Under $12! Just FYI, I'm still using and loving Acure cleansing cream for my second cleansing step. 

This Vitamin C Serum That Better Change My Life.
I've been using Skinceuticals 10 AOX+ vitamin C serum to help with my melasma. It's a starter version for sensitive skin and it's been good but the bottle is almost empty and I'm not sure my face can handle the C E Ferulic (or similar dupe) that everyone raves over. I recently read a rave review on a women's FB group I belong to that Hydropeptide Firma-Bright works like gangbusters on melasma so I was immediately influenced and bought the travel size. A few weeks later I bought the full size because, hey, my face doesn't hate it. I'm now more than a month in and this product in the morning (and Differin at night) seems to really be helping. I'll report back! 

This Fancy Serum Sunscreen That Gives Good Glow
Ugh, rms, you win. I am such a sucker for Rose Marie’s videos and when this new SuperNatural SPF serum came out I was like, nope. Not falling for it. And then of course I ordered it and it’s so freaking nice. It’s a mineral sunscreen with some other stuff and it gives you a nice glow and works well under makeup. It would be nice if the SPF was higher, but this isn’t my everyday spackle (that would be the CoTZ sunscreen) it’s my “I need to look nice today” sunscreen. I’m also still a fan of this one by Tatcha, but it’s SO freaking expensive that I wish I could quit it. 

PS. I also repurchased this little rms palette (I originally posted about it here) because it had her nice champagne luminizer in it and I also needed the Beloved Lip2Cheek back in my life after being influenced by this video. That Rose Marie is CONVINCING. Anyway, as I remembered, it’s all really lovely and dewy. Also, they FINALLY put a mirror in the palette! It’s about time.

This Eye Cream That's a Pleasant Surprise.
Listen, I tend to think that eye cream is a bit of a scam. Like, here’s a tiny container of concentrated moisturizer that somehow costs MORE than your moisturizer! And it does things, we swear!  Hmph. I’m convinced nothing on earth can permanently fix my dark circles, but it’s nice when a product successfully deflects them and this one does. I bought the Sunday Riley Auto Correct and it’s not disappointing! It's got caffeine for de-puffing and a bit of a glow to brighten and it works nicely under my favorite concealer, so we’ll call it a win.

Last minute inclusion: I just got a sample of the new Kosas DreamBeam mineral sunscreen serum and it’s also pretty great! I am just so pleased at all these lovely mineral sunscreen serum formulations that are coming out.) 

Beauty: Our Skincare Routines.

 It's been quite a while since we posted our skincare routines, so here you go:

Adrien:

The last beauty routine I posted was in 2020, a few weeks after the world shut down. Before that, it was in 2019! A lot has changed, as you can imagine. My face is still crazy reactive but I'm also seeing changes in my skin that only retinol can tackle, so recently I signed up for a trial set of products from Agency, Curology's aging line. (With my own money! This is not a sponsored product and there's no referral link.) 

Now, my skin doesn't do well with a ton of products (or change) so before I signed up for Agency I'd simplified things a lot:

Evenings: A double cleanse with DHC cleansing oil and Cerave hydrating cleanser, my beloved Skinceuticals Phyto serum (more on that in a minute) topped with my Avene moisturizer. For actives I was using Differin twice a week and The Ordinary's Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% maybe once a week. My evening eye cream is Fig.1 Pro-Retinol Eye Cream, which I talked about recently.

Mornings: I rinse my face with warm water and apply Phyto, Avene moisturizer and my favorite Japanese sunscreen. My morning eye cream is Clinique Repairwear Anti-Gravity, a recently purchase which I freaking love. It brightens without any kind of annoying shimmer and plays well under concealer. 

I am going to do a separate review of the Agency trial because I have a lot to say about it but so far, I'm really impressed. Tretinoin is the shit, you guys, and the cream oil cleanser is really good. More on that soon - I want to wait until I get the full sized products. 

Other than Tret, my favorite product is the Skinceuticals Phyto Corrective Gel. It's expensive, but a little goes a long way. I bought it in September and just finished the bottle, so I got five months of daily use from one bottle! I love this stuff - it's soothing and moisturizing and when I have an allergic flare-up it's one of the few things I can put on my face that actually feels good.

Marianne:

Okay, I feel like I have to give a disclosure before I get into this, in only the way someone can feel preemptively defensive about their VERY EXPENSIVE face cream. I know. I KNOW. How on earth could I possibly justify a skin cream that costs $280 for a mere 50ml? Well, the sad truth is it freaking changed my skin unlike anything else I have tried in all my almost-45 years. Yes, friends, I hate to say it but the Augustinus Bader Rich Cream is worth the hype. 

My skin is glowing, my pores smaller, skin texture and color is even, and it’s all because of this stupid cream. Have you ever tried something expensive and kind of hoped it wouldn’t be good? I did, and the joke's on me because now I’m a fan for life. If you want to try it I would advise starting with the 15ml bottle, which lasts me about 5 weeks. But I warned you, okay? 

Other than this ridiculous cream (oh, and I have a 15ml bottle of the regular cream to try when it warms up, in case the rich cream is too heavy in the summer. So. That’s going to end well.), my skincare is pretty simple. 

Evening: I double cleanse with DHC cleansing oil and then non-foaming Cerave face wash. I apply a layer of The Ordinary Niacinamide and then a little Differin on my chin where I do still get the occasional hormonal pimple. I am currently very into this weird carrot eye stick, so I swipe that under each eye, and then the Bader. Usually 3 pumps will do. I let that soak in and then top with a layer of The Ordinary Rosehip Oil to seal everything in. I truly look like a glazed donut by the time I leave the bathroom. 

Morning: In the morning I’ll splash a little water on my face, pat in one pump of the Bader if I feel dry and another swipe of the carrot eye stick, and that’s it! SO LOW MAINTENANCE.

That's it! Let us know what you think and what's working for you right now.

Beauty Talk: A Tale of Two Serums. (And a tip!)

I have been pretty careful with my skincare lately because my face was doing that flare-up thing again (rosacea? Who know?) so I backed off everything for a few weeks. Once it settled down, I got back into a routine, but one that's more simple.

Before I tell you about it, though, I want to share a tip. I wish I could remember where on the Internets I read this, but somewhere I read that we aren't washing our face long enough. Like, you should be working that cleanser in for a full damn minute before rinsing it off. I decided to try this with my favorite balm cleanser by literally setting a timer and spending a full minute massaging my face with it. I can't swear to it, but I think it helps. My skin is clearer and the massage part helps to de-puff. I only do this at night, by the way, I'm not a monster.

NOW, serums. I have been using my Ghost Democracy Lightbulb serum consistently every night (I talked about it here) and I am starting to notice that it's working! I am looking slightly more glowy and my skin seems happier overall. In the morning I'm using my usual The Ordinary Buffet followed by the Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%. (Then moisturizer, sunscreen, etc.)

Because the weather is warming up and I'm spending more time outside, now is when I tend to back off retinols. I'm intrigued, though, by bakuchiol as a more gentle retinol alternative. My vitamin C serum has a small amount in it but I've been thinking maybe it's time to add a bakuchiol-specific serum into my routine. The one I'm most interested in is the Herbivore Bakuchoil serum but it's sold out everywhere. Has anyone tried it (or another bakuchiol serum?) It is available in this tempting set at Anthro but I don't really need all of those options, it's just too overwhelming.

What's your skincare routine been like lately? Do you give no fucks or are you leaning into a more complex routine?

Beauty In The Time of Quarantine.

So, here we are, stuck in the house and realizing a lot of our daily routine is kind of irrelevant. I am definitely ignoring most of my wardrobe and wearing the same two or three comfy pieces and I can't tell you when I last wore a bra with underwire. Heh.

One thing I have kept up with, and even taken more time with, is my skincare/beauty routine. I am wearing MUCH less makeup (mostly just enough to look decent in Zoom meetings) but it makes me feel SO much more human to keep up a routine. Every morning I take a shower, change into "work" clothes, do my hair and put on a little bit of makeup. Mainly just some tinted moisturizer, concealer, a dab of Cloud Paint on my cheeks and mascara. I also usually put on my new Kosas lipstick because it feels like lip balm and makes me happy. 

Is this necessary? Not really. Does it make it easier to face another day working alone at my dining room table? Absolutely, it does. Also, now is a GREAT time to test out all those samples you've been hoarding! I have a little tub full of all kinds of products that I want to start working my way through. Most recent discovery:

I'd tried It Cosmetics CC Cream before and wasn't that impressed because it seemed SO thick and never set on my skin. The trick, I've discovered, is to use about half of what you normally would and blend it with a slightly damp makeup sponge. (This method makes the SPD 50 protection in this product irrelevant, but you shouldn't really be depending on your tinted moisturizer for sunscreen anyway.) When I do that my skin looks glowy and even but not made up. I use a bit of my favorite not-fucking-around concealer where needed and I'm good to go for the day. 

Now, someone had asked in the comments about creating a skincare routine in your 40s. My routine (which is here, with some changes I'll mention below) is kind of insane but I actually enjoy the ritual of it and it makes me feel like I'm doing something nice for myself. If you don't have the time or the bandwidth for all that? No worries, just do this: wash your face (not with a wipe) add ONE serum or active that best addresses your needs and moisturize. And, as always, SUNSCREEN EVERY DAY. I wish I could go back in time and say that to my 20 year old self. 

Now, if you don't know where to even start with a serum/active, I have a few suggestions. A vitamin C serum is usually the first recommendation from skincare experts but my skin doesn't love l-ascorbic acid (the form of Vitamin C in most serums) so I have lately been using this one by Ghost Democracy:

It contains a vitamin C derivative (the same one in my beloved but expensive Sunday Riley serum) that might not be as crazy effective as l-ascorbic acid  but will still give you benefits. This serum also contains Bakuchiol, a retinol alternative! I have only been using it a few weeks but so far I like it and it's not outrageously expensive.

Other serum options to consider: peptides (I use The Buffet currently), exfoliating acid (I love Good Genes), Hyaluronic acid (I prefer an overnight mask) and/or a retinol. I am currently using Murad Youth Renewal for retinol (Skinstore currently has 20% off Murad plus a free Retinol Youth Renewal Duo when you spend $75) but The Ordinary also has some very good, and basic retinol options.

And, like I said, you can just pick one or two! It's easy to get bogged down and feel like you have to use everything. Some of mine I use daily, some only once or twice a week. Sometimes, if my skin is being reactive, I just moisturize and leave it alone. Don't over-think it.

This got really long so I'm going to stop now, but has anyone been going through their sample hoard? What are you loving?

Stuff I Like: A Lot of Words About The Ordinary.

At some point in the last few months I hit Peak Skincare. Like, I just couldn't handle trying to figure it all out anymore and I started to get really mad about how crazy expensive everything is. I've been using tiny samples of this and that for a while and wondering why my face wasn't happy. One thing I'd been using consistently, though, is The Ordinary's Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% (reviewed here) which seemed to be helping.

Then I bought the Vitamin C Suspension 23% + HA Spheres 2% because someone on the Internet liked it a lot. Then I bought the Lactic Acid 10% + HA 2% as a cheaper alternative to Good Genes. Then I bought the Buffet peptide serum because Kate liked it. Then I started reading up on how to use this stuff together and I wanted TO CRY. So, I did what Kate suggested and I emailed them and asked them to design a regime for me. AND THEY DID. Amazing!

The Ordinary is great in providing simple, active serums at a low cost but, because many of them are single note, you can't just be slapping all this stuff on at the same time - some of it doesn't play well together and, let's be honest, it's A LOT. My face can't handle it.

So, they made some recommendations based on what I already had and suggestions for what to buy (I wanted to try retinol again for the winter) and here's what I'm doing:

🌞 MORNING::
“Buffet”
Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%
Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA
Sunscreen

🌜 EVENING:
100% Organic Cold Pressed Rose Hip Seed Oil
Vitamin C Suspension 23% + HA Spheres 2%
(I add my Sunday Riley moisturizer)

🌛EVENING 2:
Lactic Acid 10% + HA 2%
Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%
100% Organic Cold Pressed Rose Hip Seed Oil
(I add my Sunday Riley moisturizer)

🌜 EVENING 3:
“Buffet”
Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%
Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion
100% Organic Cold Pressed Rose Hip Seed Oil
(I add my Sunday Riley moisturizer and sometimes skip the first two serums)

If I bought all seven of these products at once the total cost would be less than $60. Seriously! Less than the one stupid tub of Sunday Riley** Ice moisturizer I bought last month. (Which I really like, tbh.)

Now, looking at that routine you're probably like, holy shit that's a lot. And it is, but I'm only doing the evening routine every other night, and on the off nights I just use moisturizer and facial oil. So, my face gets Vitamin C, retinol and lactic acid each on one night per week, depending on the rotation. That's it! I might eventually take the retinol up to two nights, but not yet.

The Niacinamide + Zinc and Buffet both get used every day in the morning (and sometimes at night) but I really don't need to be doing all of it every day. I've been following this plan for about a month and my face is looking better than it has in a long time. I still have melasma (anyone try lasers for this?) but my weird little breakouts have mostly stopped and I'm looking smoother and brighter overall*.

This all sounds great right? Well, THERE IS ONE THING. One thing that I do not like about The Ordinary. All the tubes and bottles look exactly the damn same and the writing is SO TINY that I have to squint angrily at each bottle to make sure I've got the right thing. I need to color code them or something.

That's pretty much it! I am by no means an expert but if you have  questions, please ask. The Ordinary website also has a ton of info about each product and a regimen guide but if you contact them they'll tell you what to use and in what order and all that. So nice.

****

*Full disclosure: I have also been getting a facial with dermaplaning every six weeks. Y'all, dermaplaning isn't a life necessity but it does help all those active ingredients sink in better and it's so nice to have a smooooooth face. Plus, it's super relaxing.

**A word on the scandal: It's...not great. But also, it was so unnecessary! Sunday Riley products are quite good and fake reviews help nobody. That said, I think fake reviews are everywhere - Amazon, Sephora, Beautypedia, beauty influencers, you name it. Please remember that the founder of Drunk Elephant (or one of her employees) hounded Marianne for giving a less-than-glowing review of WonderBar on our dinky little blog. It's just ridiculous. I tend to trust the reviews on Makeupalley because it's mostly just folks like us, but who really knows. Just take it all with a grain of salt.

Review: The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%

A few weeks ago Marianne and I had the following text convo:

A: In other “let’s spend money we don’t have” news, I just booked a facial because my face will no longer allow me to dermaplane at home.
M: Ha!
A: And now it's all hairy. And also zitty.
M: Man, our skin is totally different so this won’t help you, but the Niacinamide serum from The Ordinary has legit transformed my skin
A: Ooh, tell me more! Lately I’ve been getting small surface whiteheads, so that's new and fun.
M: It has really cleared up acne and I swear made my pores smaller

Y'all, that's literally all I needed to hear. The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% serum is under $6 so I figured, what the hell? I also ordered the Squalane cleanser because I'm almost out of my Kiehl's oil cleanser and I like to try new things. First, the serum:

The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%

What it is: High-strength vitamin and mineral blemish formula

What it’s for: Niacinamide (Vitamin B3) is indicated to reduce the appearance of skin blemishes and congestion. A high 10% concentration of this vitamin is supported in the formula by zinc salt of pyrrolidone carboxylic acid to balance visible aspects of sebum activity. Independent studies suggest Niacinamide is also an effective ingredient for brightening skin tone.

My review: You guys. I have been using this every evening for two weeks and my skin is CLEAR. All those little zits just disappeared and my face is looking better than it has in quite a while. After two weeks! I am very, very surprised and pleased because my expectations were low. I haven't experienced any dryness or irritation with this serum which is also surprising because my skin is pretty reactive. I honestly can't believe a serum that costs less than $6 is so effective! It's definitely worth checking out.

Just a note: I bought my serum directly from Deciem and it came really quickly. It's also available at Sephora and Ulta. (Don't buy it from Amazon! Super over-priced.)

The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser

What it is: A gentle, moisturizing facial cleanser

What it's for: This gentle cleansing product is formulated to target makeup removal while leaving the skin feeling smooth and moisturized.

My review: I love an oil cleanser and this one is good but not exceptional. The price seems low but the tube is TINY so it's not really a huge bargain. It's a decent cleanser with an interesting consistency - somewhere between an oil and a balm - and you need to use a fair amount to really get everything off your face so I can see going through the tube quickly. It's unscented, which I like, but I think Kiehl's oil cleanser is nicer to use (and it lasts forever) and for a more balm-like cleanser, I really like Clinique's the best.

There you go! If you've been considering trying The Ordinary, I hope this is helpful because that site is really overwhelming. If you're already using their products, what do you like/dislike? I am very curious about the Buffet serum...

My Skincare Routine (aka Pretend This Is An Outfit Post.)

You GUYS. I have a cold and I am a dragging miserable wreck in the mornings and I can't seem to get my shit together enough to take outfit photos. Plus, I hate winter and I'm sick of all my winter clothes. The end. Things are going great.

Instead, I'm going to tell you about my skincare routine. The last time I posted one was in 2015 and wow, that was a long time ago. I was 43 which seemed old at the time. Hahaha..sob. Some things have definitely changed when it comes to the products I use but I still double cleanse because it's been such a game-changer. (The idea being that the first cleanse gets off your makeup and sunscreen, the second cleans your actual skin.) Okay, here's my crazy old lady routine:

A.M.

• Cleanse - Cerave Hydrating cleanser, your cheap and cheerful option
• Eye cream - Kiehl's Midnight Recovery
• Serum - Vitamin C of some sort - either Kiehl's or Sunday Riley CEO
• Oil - Sunday Riley CEO Glow face oil. I recently got a bottle of this (it's a brand new product) and so far I love it and so does my face. 
• Moisturizer - Kiehl's Ulta Facial Cream
• SPF - Skin Aqua Super Moisture Milk SPF 50  - I love this stuff! It's a combo physical and chemical sunscreen

P.M.

• Oil Cleanser - Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Botanical Cleansing Oil. I use this dry on my face, massage it in and then add a little warm water and a washcloth and get all the crap off. I buy cheap cotton washcloths and use a fresh one every single day! Do this if you're not already. 
• Gel/Balm Cleanser - Sunday Riley Ceramic Slip (the new formula is so good) 
• Treatment - I'll use Good Genes once a week and Sunday Riley's new retinol once a week.  My face is happier if I don't overload it with exfoliants.
• Oil - Sunday Riley Juno gets slapped on top of everything, every night
• Eye cream - Kiehl's Midnight Recovery 
• Moisturizer - Kiehl's Ulta Facial Cream 

Occasional use products:

• Avene Thermal Spring Water - I'll spray this on before my moisturizer when my face is feeling especially dry or flushed or irritated. 
• Kiehl's Ultra Facial Overnight Hydrating Mask - I use this once a week instead of my moisturizer and it's magical. 
• Peter Thomas Roth Un-Wrinkle Peel Pads - I use one of these a few times a month for an extra bump. They're really good and I can always tell a difference after I use them. 
• Shiseido Face Razors - I shave my face every 6 weeks or so, which I talked about here. It's addictive. 

Supplements: 

• Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides (mixed in my coffee. Does it do anything? So far, not yet.) 
• Rainbow Light Women's One

Obviously my main two favorite brands are Sunday Riley and Kiehl's. Sunday Riley I love best for their facial oils and Kiehl's just makes good, straightforward products that work well for me and that aren't crazy expensive. Also, they're generous with samples and make travel sizes of most of their products so you don't have to spend a ton to find out what works for you. They also have great little kits! This is the one that got me hooked.

Any questions? Comments? Criticisms? I can take it.

Adrien: Skincare Update.

I have talked about all of these products before at one time or another, but often I'm talking about them after sampling or just using them for a few weeks. This is my regular group of products, all of which I've been using for at least a month or two. (Heh.)

Right now I have to stay my skin has never looked better. Some of this is certainly skincare product-related, and some of this is because I've changed how I care for my skin. For the past two months I've been doing the following:

- Severely limiting sugar, alcohol and dairy in my diet. (This is not really fun, but it works.)

- Wearing real sunscreen instead of moisturizer-with-sunscreen every day.

- Double-cleansing my face. Every. Single. Night. (Thank you Caroline Hirons.)

This is my current evening cleanser line-up:

I've reviewed both of these already but I just want to say that the Clinique Take The Day Off Balm (which is amazing) as my first cleanse followed by the Ceramic Slip gets all my makeup off and leaves my skin feeling very clean but not stripped. I sometimes mist my face afterwards with Avene Thermal Spring Water but this isn't crucial, it just feels nice. Then! The big guns:

After I cleanse at night I do the following:

- Clinique Mild Clarifying Lotion or Sunday Riley Good Genes (I alternate nights)

- 4-5 drops of Sunday Riley Juno or Skin & Bones oil (again, I alternate)

- Benefit It's Potent eye cream

- CeraVe PM moisturizing lotion (if I need it. I don't always.)

In the morning I do the following:

- Cleanse with CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser (not pictured because I forgot.)

- Clinique Mild Clarifying Lotion (sometimes.)

- 3 drops of Juno oil just on my cheeks and forehead

- CeraVe PM moisturizing lotion 

- Benefit It's Potent eye cream

I give all that a few minutes to sink in and then I apply sunscreen. The SkinCeuticals Physical Fusion is really good stuff but I usually only use that on days when I'm going to be outside a lot. If it's a regular work day I use Shiseido Senka or whatever sample I've got lying around. (Lately I've been liking Coola Classic SPF 30.)

I know this sounds like a LOT of steps and it's making me a feel tired just typing it all out but when you make it a daily routine you don't even have to think about it, you just do it. I actually enjoy my evening routine a lot - it relaxes me and helps me wind down for bed. My goal in all of this is to be able to wear less makeup! The nicer my skin looks, the less makeup I need. (And hey, I'm 43 and I think I look pretty good for my age. I'd like to keep it that way.)

I'm Always Right.

*Guest blogger Lili is back!*

L: I am starting to believe that despite my best (read: not best) efforts, my skin is starting to age. Pretty sure I just saw a liver spot on my leg.

A: Are you sure it wasn't just a really big freckle?

L: The one other freckle I have on my leg doesn't even want to associate with it. Pretty sure I'm going to start using this expensive face wash I just bought on my WHOLE DAMN BODY!

Don't get old.

A: Oooh, I have a mini bottle of that face wash that I haven't even tried yet. It came with my beloved Unwrinkle Peel Pads.

L: I'm generally scared of anything washing my face (I probably shouldn't admit to not actually using cleanser on my face until I was in my 30s, right? I mean, this is public, this internet.). My skins dries out REALLY fast. But this cleanser? It's like they made it for baby faces.

A: I have been using a deluxe sample of this Caudalie serum on my face and it's good stuff but isn't doing anything for the brown spots on my face. (ON MY FACE.)

I kind of rule.

L: Caudalie is my dream cream. One time I tried this Premier Cru and then I died because it costs exactly 1 week's worth of groceries.

So fancy.

A: I had a sample of the Premier Cru and it feels amazing but I didn't like the smell. I'm a sensitive baby about scented things. ALSO, I have to insist that you try the DHC Deep Cleansing Oil for your face. It's truly magic.

I'm the best.

L: OK, wait a second. Marianne has tried to tell me about these cleansing oils I think. They sound like an oxymoron. How is it POSSIBLE?

A: If you have dry skin you may be making the issue worse with a sulfate-based cleanser. The oil cleanser breaks down all the makeup and stuff on your face and doesn't strip your skin. It won't break you out, I promise!

L: You're not trying to sucker me into a triple face washing routine, are you? I barely can get my contacts out at night before I fall asleep. And dare I admit, that if it's not that sweaty a day I often fall asleep with my makeup on?

A: LILI. You do not have to wash your face three times but GIRL.

L: So far so good? [ducking] I fear changing my level of care will let my skin know I care and then it will TURN ON ME!

A: *frowning*

L: I swear to you I do not look like this. And everyone says I shouldn't use face wipes! I thought they were the answer to this lazy gal's problems. I seriously think there's a hoard of us secret non-face washers out there and I'm the only one who will say it.

A: Yeah, I've read that face wipes aren't great. I just can't stand the feeling of having makeup on my face at the end of the day. Trrryyyy the oil cleanser! It takes seconds.

L: Fine. I'll try. But can I be bratty about it and then when it works pretend I was behind it all along?

A: Well, of course! Is there another way?

L: No. No there is not.