Face Archives - Page 25 of 30

To get the closest shave, ask a drag queen how.

Every year I’m grateful for RuPaul’s Drag Race, the television show that gives rising drag queens a taste of fame.

The pop culture phenomenon gifts the general public with TV gold and sassy one-liners that I steal to impress my heterosexual relatives at family events. With the series’ 10th season in full swing –now in HD, putting extra pressure on the contestants to look flawless on and off the runway – I wonder how these queens are able to maintain such clear skin. More importantly, how they’re able to consistently get such close shaves.

Drag queens depend on a flawless close shave so that their skin can serve as a smooth canvas for heavy makeup. As someone with a fairly minimal skincare and grooming routine – I went through a natural phase where I decided to let nature run its course whenever I had a breakout but have since come to my senses – I still can’t perfect shaving. A combination of sensitive skin, thick facial hair, shaky hands and a lack of patience, has led me to routinely struggle with razor burn.

Meanwhile, these queens lather their faces in makeup on the daily, have impeccable skin, and no visible ingrown hairs. Puzzled and intrigued, I reached out to a drag queen named Noodles, for some tips for the elusive “perfect shave.” Noodles is a Cincinnati-based drag queen and designer who’s been doing drag for the past 4 years. Here’s the tips he gave Very Good Light on his perfect shaving regimen.

(Photo courtesy Instagram.com/NickisNoodles)

Double shave. “I use an electric razor first to get as close of a shave as possible,” he explained to me in an Instagram message.“I use a Wahl Electric Razor ($44). Use without a clipper to get as close to the skin as possible, but don’t overdo it and stress your skin.”
Wash thine face. “A daily face wash does wonders, but exfoliate on shaving days. It removes dirt and excess oils for a smooth, bump-free shave. I use GlamGlow YOUTHMUD ($60) on my face and neck.”
Condition your beard. Arty Chiffon, a British drag queen I found during a YouTube k-hole, mentions the importance of softening the stubble by applying conditioner on your beard, allowing for an even more seamless shave.
(Photo courtesy Instagram.com/artychiffon)
Lube it up. Noodles recommends using Jack Black Beard Lube ($35). It’s a light ultra-hydrating formula that acts as a pre-shave oil, shaving cream, and moisturizer, which is good for people who shave often.“I use TONS of shaving cream,” he emphasizes. “I don’t have as much facial as hair as you though so that also helps lol.”For those with thicker facial hair (me), try Aveeno Positively Smooth shave gel ($7) – it’s inexpensive (available at most pharmacies) and soy-based. Soy has moisturizing qualities and also slows hair growth, allowing for fewer shaves. Use just a bit so you’re able to see which areas of your beard needs the most attention.
Tread lightly. Shave in light, short strokes without pressing down on the skin. “I use a Gillette 3-blade razor for sensitive skin,” Noodles says. “Once you shave an area, softly rub any remaining cream onto the area and go over it again for an even closer shave.”
Grain game. Whether or not you shave against the grain is up to you (I’ve heard mixed things), but to be extra safe, this author goes with the grain. Thank me later.
So cold. “When you’re done, rinse your face with cold water to minimize any inflammation,” Noodles says. Softly pat your face dry with a clean towel and moisturize — Noodles recommends Burt’s Bees Aftershave ($7). “Sometimes I’ll even use a GlamGlow THIRSTYMUD mask ($22) post-shave to hydrate and moisturize,” he adds.Moisturizing is the key to maintaining your twenties long into your thirties. Good skin care truly is the best shaving tool.

When all’s said and done, Noodles is perfectly smooth, with a flawless shave. But he, like all of us, is only human and sometimes gets the occasional razor burn. Not that he’s worried, there’s always a solution.

“I still get razor burn on my neck,” Noodles admits. “But that’s what makeup is for.”

Robert Quick is a reporter at Stylus, a trend forecasting company. He graduated from the New School and is from London.

This guy’s secret to flawless skin involves mixing two ingredients you already own

Let’s get ready for the day with our favorite guys who give good face. It’s our series called #GRWM (“Get Ready With Me”), where we wake up with our friends and uncover their hidden grooming secrets, documenting every step of the way. This week, we head to Los Angeles to hang out with our friend, Brian Nussbaum, a designer, illustrator and skincare guru.

Brian Nussbaum, designer, @bpnuss

“I was into Korean beauty before KBeauty was even a thing,” says Brian Nussbaum. We’re drinking smoothies at Kreation in Los Angeles. Which is no surprise at all. Brian’s skin is actually translucent, without even a sign of a blemish anywhere. He wears a short-sleeved shirt, shorts, and shades that fall under his bleached blonde hair. “All of my friends thought I was so crazy for being into Korean culture, now it’s the thing.”

For Brian, who’s a fashion designer and illustrator, who had his own hat line, Shade + Slouch, then moving onto Los Angeles to work for Kendall and Kylie Jenner’s own apparel brand, skincare is more than a process using products. It’s an entire holistic lifestyle. As Brian will tell you, it’s become a part of his identity and provides him with confidence.

To get all of the secrets to Brian’s flawless complexion, we got ready with him recently. Here’s his entire morning regimen.

1 Cleanse.

“Skinfood Egg White Pore Foam ($11): Gentle and extremely effective! You only need a pea-sized amount as it’s a water-based cleanser and lathers into a heavy foam. I like to use this in the morning and at night after I’ve used an oil cleanser.”

2 Tone.

“Simple Cleansing Micellar Water ($5): When I’m traveling, I like to keep a small spray bottle of this product with me. The Simple line is great because it is all-natural and extremely affordable. The micellar water is great as a toner or even as a cleanser when my skin is extra sensitive. A couple of sprays and I’m good to go!”

3 Moisturize.

“Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion ($14) & Aquaphor Healing Ointment ($5.49): This is one of my favorite beauty hacks that I’ve been using since I was 14-years old! I have chronically dry skin so I make this combination when I need a heavier moisturizer then Cetaphil alone. Mix a pea-sized amount of Aquaphor with a few pumps of Cetaphil and “compound” the products in your palms – then apply! I make sure I get my face, neck, and collarbone area. I love this compound because the Aquaphor locks in moisture for the rest of the day. Especially great when I have a beard!”

4 Protect.

“Solbar Avo SPF-35 ($14.36) & Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Body Mist Sunscreen ($13): The most important step in any skincare routine – sun protection. This sunscreen is super effective and leaves my skin with a silky smooth finish. I apply a liberal amount to my face and neck, then do a spray of Neutrogena around my neck, collarbone area, and ears. The Neutrogena smells great, feels good, and also gives a dewy glow to my skin!”

5 Enhance.

“IOPE Air Cushion XP and Milk Makeup Coverage Duo: The IOPE is an air cushion compact with SPF 50 and has very, very light coverage. It essentially evens out my skin tone and gives my skin a soft, dewy finish. If I have dark under-eye circles or a breakout, I like to use my Milk Makeup Coverage Duo because it is so easy to apply and is made with natural ingredients that my skin reacts well to. The coverage is still light but enough to correct anything that needs correcting. Both products are designed to be easy and portable, so I usually keep them in my bag throughout the day. “

6 Brow it out.

“Glossier Boy Brow ($16): I finish with my eyebrows, which I brush and plump up using Glossier Boy Brow. The applicator has wide bristles so the end result is a natural-looking brow.”

7 … and brush it out.

“Boar-Bristle Beard Brush: For the final steps, I brush my beard with a boar-bristle brush. I don’t apply any of the products on my beard directly, so the brush helps blend any remaining concealer into my beard (without discoloring my facial hair) and lock in moisture for the day!”

8 Clear your eyes.

“ROHTO Cool Eye Drops ($8.29): When I wake up my eyes are generally a little foggy so I like to use eyedrops to help wake them, and me, up. ROHTO makes the best and most effective eye drops; just be careful because they can be intense for first-time users!”

9 Spritz it on.

“Le Labo Santal 33 ($83): I never leave the house without a spritz of my fragrance, ever. I’m currently wearing Le Labo’s Santal 33 which I love a little too much – I do a spray on each side of my neck, then one on my wrists. One might say this is overkill but I like to smell good so I just charge it!”

10 Keep calm, carry on with moisture.

“Voila! I’m complete! But for an important measure, I’ll obsessively carry Aquaphor with me at all times and like to apply it to my lips and eyelids for added moisture. Am I giving you dewy life, yet?”

John Mayer’s pimples need an intervention

(Photo courtesy Instagram.com/johnmayer)

It’s no secret that John Mayer is our favorite beauty vlogger. Crooner by day, beauty enthusiast by night, we live for his every Snap and Instagram Stories’ update.

I mean, he is the genius who coined the term, D.A.T., which stands for Direct Application Technique, one where he applies product directly to his face so no product goes to waste. The application process, of course, isn’t anything new. My own Korean mother, for instance, has been using D.A.T. (lol) since the dawn of my existence.

But yesterday, John confessed on his Instagram Stories that even he, beauty guru extraordinaire, has questions when it comes to his own face. In this case, it was breakouts caused by what he thinks, was makeup.

“My skin was fine,” he says on his Stories. “I do an interview, they put makeup on to somehow get me ready for television. But then, I get zits from the makeup which sends me on a makeup loop and I wanna cover this one now.”

VIDEO || from @JohnMayer‘s insta stories. pic.twitter.com/iwu8NviHRv

— John Mayer Snaps (@johnmayersnaps) April 9, 2017

(Photo courtesy Instagram.com/johnmayer)

It’s certainly a problem many guys who wear makeup go through. But was the blemish really caused by the makeup or something else? And if it was caused by makeup, what can you actually do? For these answers, we consulted our friend Alicia Campbell, a New York-based makeup artist and skincare expert known for working with the biggest rockers in the industry. These range from the likes of the guys of Metallica, Green Day, My Chemical Romance, among others.

According to her, John’s breakouts could have resulted in many factors.

Other than the obvious, working with a groomer who actually understands men’s skin, Alicia says that caking on makeup can definitely be a culprit when it comes to breakouts.

“Makeups artists tend to be heavy handed when applying face makeup to men, which isn’t necessary unless they’re appearing on television,” she says. “But less is better than more, even if it’s for HD television.”

Another possibility for the breakouts? Using a bacteria-infested, unclean makeup brush. “I would suggest he bring his own concealer and brush so he knows it hasn’t been in contact with anyone else and properly clean,” she tells Very Good Light.

To ensure his brushes are properly sanitized Alicia suggests that he tell the makeup artist to sanitize any concealer with alcohol before application. For anyone at home, simply washing brushes with a gentle hair shampoo and laying it out flat, will do.

Possibly most important than applying the makeup is how you take it off, Alicia says. “Keeping everything clean and sanitized and taking makeup off immediately after television or film is key,” she tells us. “Then, if you still have breakouts, a spot treatment will do.”

Here’s a list of products you should use, John:

For getting that acne to settle down, Nelson’s natural acne gel is a miracle. Simply apply after cleansing your skin and dab it on evenly across the face.

Then, use La Roche-Posey’s Effaclar Duo. It reduces all types of acne blemishes and has benzoyl peroxide that will fight acne deep in the skip. It’s non-drying as moisturizing as well, so basically, perfect.

If you’re looking to hide that zit, try Cle De Peau , basically the industry’s go-to when it comes to concealers. “It’s creamy and the most blendable formula and is a favorite amongst the biggest makeup gurus in the industry,” Alicia says.

If you’re looking for something matte, try Nars Immaculate Ultra-light Complexion Concealer , which comes in a tube. Simply apply on a specific area, dab with your fingers, and go.

Finally, Alicia suggests Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage . Its two tones allow you to blend up your perfect shade.

If you’re going through acne, Clinique Acne Solutions Clearing Concealer with treatment will do wonders. It’ll hide your blemishes while also treating it at its core.

New to beauty? Here are the only products you need to get started.

(Photo by Joel Alexander/Very Good Light)

Being new to male beauty may seem like both a huge step and investment, not to mention the whole intimidation factor.

For one, there are the endless questions. I mean, where does one even start in the beauty aisle? Also, is beauty going to break the bank? What’s even good?

It doesn’t have to so difficult after all. From finding the right tone to complement your skin to getting the perfect tools, we’ve got the perfect starter tools if you’re just getting into beauty. If it works for us Brits across the pond, we’re sure it’ll get you going as well.

Find your shade. The Internet isn’t just for crazy cat videos. A brilliant way to shop for makeup is through sites such as Boots. The pharmacy chain actually offers a makeup match app that helps you purchase the correct color so you don’t look like Carrot Top on a rampage.

Get a blender. Fingers are a wonder tool. There are plenty of products you can blend in with your very hands. But if you’re going for a flawless blended look, try a blender. This Maybelline New York Dream Blender Sponge(£4.99) is inexpensive, effective and easy-to-use. And as long as you wash it with a little warm water and soap every 2-3 months, it’s reusable too.

SPF is a must. After washing and drying your face, apply an SPF moisturizer. This will create the perfect soft base for your makeup as well as protecting your skin from looking like a testicle, thanks to the sun. For cost-effectiveness, I’d recommend using Ponds Nourishing Anti-Wrinkle Cream(£5.49). Gently work up a small dollop in your hands, roughly the size of a 10p piece, and work it up in circles from your cheeks to your forehead. The skin around your eyes is paper thin, and putting any moisturizing cream intended for your face here is a no-no. Over the years it collects under the skin and gives you huge eye bags that can only be removed via surgery.

Conceal your weapons. The new L’Oreal Paris Cosmetics Infallible Total Cover Color Correcting Kit(£9.99) is amazing and can correct redness, dark eye circles and even hide spots. Lilac works best for hiding those shopping bags under your eyes and the green will help hide any flaring red skin you may have. Use your ring finger to gently dab into your skin and follow up with a layer of concealer that matches your skin. You can then gently use the three skin tones around your face to hide any imperfections – just remember to blend!

Illumination. No7 Instant Radiance Highlighter (£9.95) is an amazing budget highlighter that I’d definitely recommend if you’re low on cash. Gently glide the stick along the tops of your cheekbones, your brow bone (that’s under your eyebrows) and your cupid’s bow (the middle part of your upper lip) to bring out your best features. Again, blend that in using your blending sponge using upward circular movements.

Ta-da! You’ve gone from walking zombie to awake in a matter of minutes, all for the grand total of £30.42. And the best part of all? These products usually last around three months, and we the blending sponge only needing to be bought once, it works out to a monthly cost of £8.48. How’s that for cheap?

Why this beauty app has me completely shook.

(Photo by Joel Alexander/Very Good Light)

Are certain beauty products killing you?

It’s a worthwhile conjecture, one that deserves to be further investigated. Though there are countless rules and regulations when it comes to food and drugs, the same isn’t applied to the cosmetics industry. In a study conducted in 2012, there were more than 400 brands that had traces of lead in its lipsticks. And it’s extremely disturbing to know that the FDA’s regulations when it comes to makeup is less stringent than those of Europe. In 2003, the EU banned more than 1,300 products, while the U.S. banned 11.

A horrifying fact, for sure, but one that’s far from new news. In fact, historically, makeup has been lethal for its wearers. Lead has been used in eye shadows from Egypt, where Cleopatra famously painted hers with lethal Kohl, to England, where Queen Elizabeth painted her face white with lead.

So when my friend Kaitlyn told me about an iPhone app that tells you exactly what nefarious products are sleeping on your top shelf or medicine cabinet, I immediately downloaded it. It’s called Think Dirty, an app by Lily Tse, who launched it a few years ago. At launch, it was able to scan the bar codes of over 70,000 products. Today, it has over 660,000 in its database.

The app is pretty easy to use. You simply type in the products you’re looking for or scan them into the system. It then tells you exactly what ingredients are found in them and how toxic it is from a scale of 0 (really safe) to 10 (extremely unsafe). While the system still doesn’t have new products like Milk Makeup, it has most of your drug store staples from the likes of CoverGirl, Almay, Maybelline.

When we scanned this brow and eye pencil from CoverGirl, we were shocked to find that it was at a rating of 10. While most of its ingredients were pretty safe and good for you, it was one ingredient, butylparaben, that gave it its rating. A quick tap onto butylparaben on the app shows that it’s use as a preservative and often used as a fragrance as well. Its health impacts seem extremely unsettling: It’s toxic to reproduction, is a hormone disruptor and a carcinogen.

Next, we scanned our favorite lip balm, C.O. Bigelow’s rose salve. It was rated an 8 because of one ingredient: Cinnamal. It, too, was a perfuming agent and was known to irritate your skin and cause immunotoxicity. Ironic, because it’s supposed to prevent and soothe chapped lips.

After scanning more products, it was clear that most of the ingredients that were toxic were perfumes or preservatives. While there’s certainly studies from what happens when you get into contact with large doses of these ingredients, when used sparingly, it’s “presumed safe.” This, according to the Toxic Substances Control Act in 1976. While these are said to be toxic for you, there still isn’t conclusive evidence that deems it absolutely bad for you. Meaning, there isn’t a clear link between your moisturizer and cancer or illnesses. It’s a fact that allows me to sleep at night, knowing that I’ve been using “toxic” ingredients according to Think Dirty, for almost a decade.

While I’m not completely getting rid of my entire beauty closet, I have definitely consulted with this app before purchasing anything new. For any a beauty lover or user, I strongly suggest you download this before you put anything else on your face or body.

The next trend with Korean couples may surprise you.

(Is couple’s makeup the next in big beauty trends? Photo courtesy Elle Korea)

There are basic couples. Then, there are Korean.

For South Koreans, being in a relationship isn’t situational. It’s all-consuming. Meaning, couples’ lives completely revolve around each other. No wonder then, there are special milestones that are widely celebrated, from the first 100 days of one’s relationship, Valentine’s Day (where the girl gives the guy gifts), White Day (where the guy gives the girl the gift), to secret two-way messaging apps for couples only.

(Photo courtesy: Instagram.com/i_am_eunmi)

To go a step further, Korean couples intertwine their lives completely together. Meaning, they even dress alike, in a matchy-matchy fashion craze that’s been well-documented in the past few years.

Who needs matching socks when you can match each other’s exact skin tone?

While western publications have touted this as a recent phenomenon, this trend has been going on for more decades. The idea is simple: To feel more connected to your lover, you wear out clothing that is matchy-matchy, from shoes, socks to your shirt and trousers. It’s a sign of devotion, sure. But it also has a practical element to it, warding off any potential rivals who will get the hint that the girl or guy you’re standing next to is definitely taken.

(Photo courtesy: Instagram.com/tak__k)

(Photo courtesy: Instagram.com/kanghyun7777)

But matchy-matchy couple’s dress has been going on for a few decades and isn’t anything new. What’s next? Couple’s makeup. Give it up for Korean couples to really take it to the next level. Yep, Koreans are now purchasing makeup and skincare works for both of them. Who needs matching socks when you can match each other’s exact skin tones?

The latest in Kbeauty? Couple’s makeup. (Photo Courtesy: Cosmopolitan Korea)

“Korea is a very communal society, so you can feel quite out of place if you’re not coupled up or with family,” says Charlotte Cho, the co-founder of the Kbeauty e-commerce site, Soko Glam, to Very Good Light. “It’s common to see couples wearing matching outfits from head-to-toe, to declare their ‘oneness.’ So using the same skincare/makeup products is actually a very smart tactic that I can see succeeding in Korea.”

In a country where men are completely obsessed with skincare and appearance, where over 70% of military men have a sophisticated grooming regimen, and where most men have over 13 beauty products they use monthly, it’s no surprise that guys are as into makeup as their girlfriends.

(Photo courtesy: Instagram.com/kwj189)

“Men in Korea are more secure about using beauty products because at an early age they have been part of a society that highly values appearances, first impressions and a skin first philosophy,” Charlotte says to Very Good Light. “Applying sunscreen, mists and hydrating tinted moisturizers is just part of being hygienic, and don’t see self care or beauty products as necessarily a masculine or a feminine practice.”

(Say no more, babe. Let’s paint our faces identically today. Photo courtesy Vogue Korea)

The trend reached fever pitch during White Day this past March 14, where brands were touting “self-gifting.” The premise is simple: Buy a gift for your girlfriend, and be able to use the products for yourself. And since men are as obsessed with makeup and skincare, it’s one that seems completely genius.

Brands like The Body Shop launched in-store campaigns to sell their “No-Filter cushion” compacts. “The No-Filter Cushion is a product that’s great for using as a couple,” the signage reads. For 29,000 Won (~$22 USD), getting that matching glow like the girl or guy you’re infatuated with, seems like a steal.

(Photo by Hana Pak/Very Good Light)

Others, like April Skin introduced products that promote sensuality. Their couple’s “Lip Treatments” come in a set of two, one is strawberry flavored and the other, milk, hopes to have couples making out a little more. While the flavors stand on their own, consumers can only really get the full flavor, strawberry milk, when they mix it together. Meaning, you’ll need to taste someone’s lips to get that strawberry milk taste. “You can get a more romantic experience with your significant other by wanting to kiss each other’s lips even more,” the brand touts.

Then, there are unisex skincare brands that have bubbled up in the past few years to cater to this couple’s trend. Brands like +Dr C are touting their brands for men and women to use in their own bathrooms. The brand believes that skincare is completely sensual, especially when you’re using the same product together. The skincare brand says that the brand not only is paraben and silicone-free, but includes ingredients that are great for any skin type.

Whether it’s makeup, skin care, or something gimmicky, couple’s skincare actually makes sense. Skincare is a very intimate experience. And applying skincare to another person, means you’re not only bonding with one another, but doing so in a sensual manner.

(Photo courtesy: Instagram.com/sugarjjoo)

“Couple’s outfits are cutesy and all but when you’re wearing the same products, you feel connected, even if you’re apart,” a friend from Korea recently told me via Kakao talk. “So when I use the same skincare, it’s like I can feel my girlfriend. It’s that connection we’re looking for.” Totally makes sense.

Skincare making relationships even stronger? Hey, we’re all for that.

This is the genius shaving cream you never knew you needed

(Photo by David Yi/Very Good Light)

Shaving cream? What’s shaving?

If you’re anything like me, you take to a razor probably once in a blue moon. That is, once a month when your face looks like a prickly cactus, shriveling underneath a Brooklyn radiator (is it summer yet?). At least, that’s what I look like. Admittedly, I’m not the most genetically gifted when it comes to sprouting real facial hair (though I do have more than the average Korean). Call it a gift or a curse, whatever the case, it’s definitely saved me having to go out and spending $$$ on beard oils, razors, shaving creams and after shaves.

So when I do go for shaving, it’s usually with a generic shaving cream that I have to pump out of a boring can, or an artisanal Brooklyn shave gel that’s worth more than my entire week’s worth of bagels (that’s like, a lotta bagelz).

Which is why I was super intrigued when Pacific Shaving Company sent me a bag of single use mini pods. Literally, I remember being tickled at how clever this grooming product was. More so, just how useful it was. The bag is full of 40 mini pods that resemble detergents for your dishwasher or laundry.

“We’re always looking for ways to improve and enhance the shaving experience,” explains CC Sofronas, co-founder of Pacific Shaving Company, to Very Good Light. “With that said, inspiration comes from anywhere and everywhere. So after seeing the single-dose success stories across the food, laundry and dish detergent categories, we realized the potential for shaving cream.” Yes, so genius!

“No need to think about portion control for shaving cream, instead use that brain power to figure out how much toothpaste to use!” Toothpaste? That’s another story.

The bag comes with 40 pods in total. I’d highly recommend you refrain from grabbing any with wet fingers, as it’ll ruin all of the pods altogether (amateur mistake I made). Mistake #2 was putting the bag in an exterior bag in my check-in luggage for a flight. A lot of the pods popped, leaving a bag full of sad, crushed, dead morsels. But for the ones that survived (there were a dozen or so!), they were resilient to hold in your hand. That is, until coming in contact with water. That’s when they burst into a freshly mint-fragranced handful of perfect shaving cream.

When you lather the product into your hand, you realize this isn’t just a gimmick. It’s real shaving cream that feels even better than any I’ve come across. It’s goes onto your face smooth, thick, but not like traditional shaving cream that has that foamy texture. It’s almost like a thicker moisturizer that gets super soapy but still coats you, protecting your skin from any razor burns or cuts. After rinsing off the product, I realized just how supple my face still was. It wasn’t dried out from the shave. Then while applying a toner afterwards, I had zero burn. Huh.

This product definitely changes the way I’m shaving. Bad news for Pacific Shaving Company: 40 pods will last me around 4 years since I’ll be using only one per month. AKA what a great investment for me.

Buy Pacific Shaving Company Shaving Cream Minis here for $8.99

The British beauty guide to thriving on a budget

(And like that, your complexion is boosted. Photo by Fabian Castellani/Very Good Light)

“You look bloody awful.”

“Rough night?”

“What did you get up to last night?”

Chances are, you’ve heard something along these lines before, followed up with a terse response: “went on a wild one last night,” to protect your ego. In reality, you inhaled a full pizza, binge watched Stranger Things and passed out at 9 p.m.

If you’re a unicorn, you woke up like Beyonce. But if you’re like the rest of us mortals, you’re probably looking a little blotchy, with an oily complexion and saggy, tired eyes. It’s okay. You’re human. We’ve all been there. For times like these, we turn to none other than makeup to make you look alive.

For me, makeup is a way to highlight the things I love about my face. Of course, I have insecurities just like everyone else (like gorging on said pizza, solo), but makeup allows me to bring focus on the features that make me, well, me.

Being a man on the cusp of discovering makeup can seem daunting; there’s so many choices, so many colors and, of course, not to mention, patriarchal judgements. That’s why I’m here to make it easier for you. Whether your excuse is that you don’t want to be seen buying makeup or that it’s too expensive, I’m here to prove that you, yes, you, can not only afford to put your best face forward, but do so in a barely-there, natural manner.

With so many options behind the beauty counter, from Maybelline, CoverGirl, Boots, what’s a man to do? Where does he even start?

Below, is a good starter guide for Brits who want to navigate the drug store aisle. But don’t get it twisted. Though this is a budget beauty guide, there’s nothing budget about the looks that come from them.

Here’s proof:

Tools of the trade.

For a more professional look, you need a number of brushes. You can buy a full Boots Brush Set (£15) but I personally only use the essentials: Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge (£5.99) and Boots No7 Retractable Bronzer Brush (£6). Both are reusable as long as you wash them with warm water and soap once every 2-3 months.

Pump it up.

Would you build a luxury estate on top of quicksand? No. So why put makeup on your face with an awful skin base? After cleansing your face, pump two lots of Nip + Fab Glycolic Fix Serum (£7.45). Packed with glycolic acid – which sounds terrifying but actually occurs naturally in our skin – it helps to hydrate and tone, so you look more David Beckham than David Gest. Follow this up with an SPF moisturizer to both protect and hydrate. I personally use Eau Thermale Avène Hydrance Optimale Hydrating (£14.50) as I have combination skin, although it also works well for dry skin too. Oily and oily/combo skin can either invest in Avène Hydrance Optimale UV Legere (£14.50) or No7 Early Defence Day Cream (£19.50).

Prime of your life.

Primers are basically smooth gels that absorb all oil and grease from your face whilst also minimizing pores. It basically turns your skin into a canvas for makeup to sit upon. The best two I’ve ever used are Maybelline New York Baby Skin Instant Pore Eraser Primer (£7.99) and L’Oreal’s Infallible Primer Matte Base (£7.99). Get it, use it, love it.

Build upon a solid foundation.

Foundation is amazing for perfecting your skin tone and is the first step in hiding any spots or dark circles. Depending on how much you want to cover up, you can go for Boots No7 Stay Perfect Foundation (£14.50) – easy to build up and provides minimal coverage, best for beginners.

Wham, bam, thank you, tan.

Bronzer is key if you’re the same color as paper like I am. Boots No7 Perfectly Bronzed Self Tan (£12.50) is perfect in golden sand for the pasty people out there. Just apply a little across your forehead, cheekbones and your nose. Go easy, you can always build up.

Shine bright.

Make your best features stand out with a strong highlighter. I religiously use Clinique Chubby Stick Sculpting Highlight (£19). Sweep it across the tops of your cheekbones, brow bone and cupid’s bow. I always add some to my eyelids too to bring them out more.

Leave the shopping bags at Tesco.

No matter how long you were up last night doing whatever, there’s no excuse to look like you haven’t slept since 2007. Hide those awful dark circles with NYX Cosmetics Concealer Jar (£5.50). A little bit goes a long way so apply this with your ring finger and gently rub it in.

I don’t shop, eyebrows.

Eyebrows can make or break a face. Thanks to being half Italian, I have quite dark and thick eyebrows, although not everyone is as lucky. Add in some extra hair and fill in gaps with H&M’s Superfine Eyebrow Pencil (£5.99). Follow that up with either Rimmel Brow This Way with Argan Oil, Medium Brown 5 ml(£4.99) or NYX Tinted Eyebrow Mascara(£5.50) to add thickness to your existing hairs.

No spray no lay.

After all that, you need to make sure you don’t end up looking like a greasy fry-up or end up with everything melting off. Set it all in place with L’Oréal’s Infallible Fixing Mist (£7.99). Make sure you shake it well and spray from about 30cm from your face, or else you’ll end up with tiny powdery white dots all over your face. Unless that’s the vibe you’re going for.

And just like that you’ve joined the move towards makeup being genderless. As they say in Mean Girls:

Fabian is a London-based publicist who advocates genderless beauty. He’s also co-founder of new music site The Wired Sessions (www.thewiredsessions.com), spending his spare time looking for new music or at his favorite galleries; Newport Street Gallery and the Saatchi. If you see him in Soho, he’ll have a whiskey and coke. Find him on Instagram @fabiancastellani.

I love donuts so much I glazed my face like one

I’m on this new workout regimen that allows me to eat donuts.

Not that it’s like, a real diet or that my instructors know that I secretly gorge on glazed, fried, circular puffs every other night. Working out, in my mind, is all about being allowed to then eat any and everything in sight without remorse.

via GIPHY

Chiseled abs < puff pastries. Ketosis diet? More like Cheetos-sis, pass them over, diet. Lol.

The other night, while admiring a perfectly rotund glazed donut, I realized just how beautiful it was. Not only did it shimmer in the dim light, it glowed like someone who had baked their face for hours on end. Forget highlighting, forget strobing! This glazed donut was onto something. What was its secret?

Thus, was born my own inspiration to glow in a natural, subtle, delectable, donut manner. After researching glazes, I found that the sweet sugar would seep through my pores and cause acne. The next best thing? Marine salve. It’s one I found from the brand MAKE Beauty, and is completely edible. The salve is for using on anywhere chapped, from your hands, fingers, to face and perfect for my own.

(Make Beauty’s Marine Salve is edible, and also perfect for glazing your face. Photo by David Yi/Very Good Light)

Instead of using a strobe or grabbing my usual highlighter, I simply added a sheer layer of BB cream and dabbed a few dollops of salve onto my cheeks and my eyelids. It cut my entire regimen in half and I didn’t have to feel like I was too caked on.

(A pea-sized amount will get you really far.)

Step 1: Dab onto cheekbones and eyelids

Step 2: massage it into your skin

Step 3: Do the glow test by finding that light. You’re ready!

To test out how glazed I could be, I used this method at my friend Stevie’s 30th birthday party. Or, more precisely, his funeral mourning his 20’s. Sure, your face would glow in the daytime, but could it work at night? Would you shine like you’re a hormonal teen or exude that dew in the most healthy of ways? Donut, I will not let you down, I declared!

That night, I got ready in less than 3 minutes. I put on a pair of ripped jeans and an Alpha Industries flight jacket and headed out the doors downtown to the Lower East Side. Making my way to pose for two photos, I waited to see if my glazed donut face would do any justice. And after looking at the results? Well, see here for yourself.

Here I am with Dan Michel, fashion editor at Men’s Health getting hungry from my complexion.

(Photo by: Adrian Cabrero)

And here I am cropping out all my friends, glazing.

(Photo by: Adrian Cabrero)

At the end of the night, I came home and reviewed my photos while eating the glazed donut of my dreams. Yas, donut, yas! I did it. I was you. You were me. I think I made you proud. How’d I do, guys? Comment below!