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The secret to Lady Gaga’s effortless glow? Lymphatic massage.

Can the skincare gods rain on me – and my face?

That’s what I’ve been wondering in the past few weeks as “Rain On Me” has been taking over my Spotify. But skincare be damned, I learned the real secret behind Gaga’s beautiful, vibrant complexion doesn’t have to do with products at all – rather, it’s facial massage.

If you haven’t heard of lymphatic massage, you’ve probably at least seen it at work. On TikTok, teens to millennials are obsessed with rose-quartz rollers and jade stones, sharing clips of their at-home use. Didn’t know they were, in turn, practicing lymphatic massaging? Said skincare aficionados are claiming such practices have “changed my skin completely!” or “saved me from acne!” Is this true? If Lady Gaga’s face proves anything, yes, it’s ALL true. Her facialist Joomee Song can confirm. After two decades in the beauty industry and a slew of A-list clients – including Gaga – Joomee continues to use the art of facial massage to change lives and snatch faces. VGL spoke with Joomee to learn everything we need to know about this skincare phenomenon.

Born in Japan as a fourth-generation Korean, Joomee grew up surrounded by countless beauty products and matriarchal figures who were passionately dedicated to skincare. After moving to the U.S. by herself at 20 years old, Joomee worked in many avenues of the beauty industry, including as a makeup artist, an esthetician, and at high-end medical spas. However, she continued to find herself returning to skin health.

“You can cover discoloration with makeup, but you can’t hide the texture of your skin,” she tells Very Good Light. “Skin doesn’t change from the outside just because you use high-end creams or expensive gadgets. Skin is so deeply connected to our inner being.”

“After people were spending so much money and so much time when they came to see me, I really wanted to change their skin. I started to dig deeper about facial anatomy and facial massage, what I could do, and how I could change and make a difference with hand movements on peoples’ faces.”

With two decades in the beauty industry and a slew of A-list clients under her belt, Joomee continues to use the art of facial massage to change lives and snatch faces. VGL spoke with the aesthetician to learn everything we need to know about this skincare phenomenon.

The Importance of Massage

Joomee is a firm believer that everyone needs to be partaking in facial massage ASAP. Not only is it important for skincare, but for overall physical and mental health as well.

“The reason why facial massage is really important is for you to understand the strength that you carry on your face, and to understand why certain parts are sore or painful,” says Joomee.

Facial tension stems from everyday stress. Over time, this stress-induced tension can lead to puffiness, acne, and pain. “When facial tension occurs, detox facial systems are not fully functioning,” explains Joomee. “A lot of negative things happen by carrying a lot of tension on your face.”

Lymphatic Massage vs. Facial Massage

Lymphatic massage and facial massage are actually two different definitions, a fact that often gets lost in translation. In order to understand lymphatic massage specifically, we have to understand what the lymphatic system is first.

“The lymphatic system delivers two to three liters of fluid a day that basically leaks through the capillaries and moves it back throughout the body,” Joomee explains.

“The system drains into lymph nodes, and in the lymph nodes, pathogens and antibodies are created. When you are sick, that’s why your lymph nodes get swollen, because your body is fighting those pathogens. Lymphatic massage is a massage technique that specifically encourages the drainage of these fluids.”

Joomee’s personal method of facial massage, called Kaika, is focused on individual faces and what they need. “I don’t particularly follow one method, because our faces need different things, different movements, and different pressures, and we all carry tension differently.”

Her technique aims to use facial massage to stimulate lymphatic drainage. While massaging, she focuses on releasing the face by using her hands to break up tension within larger muscles, such as the temporalis area, the optical muscles, and the forehead.

“Your lymphatic drainage system lies in between the tissue and muscle,” she says. “When reducing the tension that your muscles carry, when those muscles have been relieved, they become more flexible and healthy, and your lymphatic drainage system will be able to pump more.”

The Tools

When confronted with which tools to use when massaging at-home, the choices are endless. Rollers? Gua sha? Crystal stones? When it comes to facial massage, your hands are actually the most powerful tool you have. She encourages tossing the tools in order to reap the most benefits. “When you use a tool, it disconnects you from your psyche, because you’re not feeling what you’re able to feel with your fingers,” she says.

When you rely solely on your hands to release those tensions, your psyche will habitually train your face to release tension all on its own. Eventually, when you touch your face, your psyche will remember the motions and know that it is time to drain and release. This will lead to results in appearance as a byproduct: “By training your jawline and cheekbones to drain, they are much more defined and textures become firmer, because everything underneath is more active and is working really hard for you.”

Facial massage, basically, is like a meditation for the face. “It’s not just changing texture—you can think more clearly, and you can see more clearly,” says Joomee. “In this day and age, we’re always sitting in front of a computer, absorbing a lot of information. During massage, you have to create time to basically dump everything out and start fresh. That’s what I do at my studio, and that’s what I encourage people to do at home.”

The Massage

To get started, Joomee’s suggestion is quite simple: feel your face. Touch your face when you apply your products, when you’re looking in the mirror, or when you’re taking a shower. “Feel how much tension you are carrying in your face – especially in the masseter, which is the jaw muscle, and in the temporalis area.”

Once you have a sense of where the tension lies, begin with a small, circular motion on these tight areas in tandem with deep breaths for two to three minutes. “That’s all you need at first. Today, it could be so tight, and tomorrow, it might feel a little bit better. You’ll be able to see why certain changes happen on your face.”

Starface’s Spacewash is your summertime facewash

Acne-prone AND sensitive–not a super popular skin type combination.

But actually, a lot of people who experience acne sensitize their skin over time due to harsh ingredients and improper chemical mixtures in skincare products. When we think of face washes for acne-prone skin, we think of tea tree, harsh scrubs (hello, dryness and inflammation), and that minty, almost astringent feeling that our skin is conditioned to think means, Congrats, we’re clean.

Starface is looking to change all of that with their new face wash called Spacewash ($16). If you haven’t heard of, or at least ~seen~ what Starface is all about, I’m sorry, but you’ve been living under a rock. Not only is Starface a brand that’s aiming to change the conversation around acne with their cute, bright yellow star-shaped pimple patches, but they also just launched in September 2019 and have made enormous strides as a brand since.

Their signature product, as I mentioned, are their bright yellow star-shaped hydrocolloid pimple patches. They come in a Gen-Z vanity-worthy package that they call “Big Yellow”. It’s like an AirPod case for your pimple patches, and it has a little mirror inside. Starface lovers can buy refill packs of patches for Big Yellow and they come in all different kinds of fun designs. They’ve launched rainbow packs of patches, holographic, and most recently, glow in the dark!

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album dropping soon
A post shared by STARFACE (@starface) on Sep 14, 2019 at 8:00am PDT

Since launching in September 2019, the brand has skyrocketed to social media success. More specifically, on platforms like Instagram and Tik Tok. On Instagram alone, they’ve gained 76K in followers and their community engagement among Gen Z is a force to be reckoned with. On Tik Tok, they have 260K in followers and popular Gen Z influencer, Charlie D’Amelio, and upcoming artist, Leo Reilly have sported the trendy stars in fun videos. Safe to say, they’re killing it.

@starface
gold star 4 u @charlidamelio #starface #lifeathome #foryou
♬ ily uwu_kajak – uwu_kajak

@starface
@loveleo.o + Party Pack 🌈🎈#partytime #quarantine #haircut #starface #foryou
♬ just so you know its a bath bomb haha – 𝘮𝘺𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴

My skin type

I’ve had combination skin almost all of my life. I was blessed in high school with little acne woes. I maybe had one pimple a year, and it was absolutely nothing to fuss about. But, when I came to college, my skin was transitioning from combination to full-blown oily and cystic acne-prone skin. I also suffer from eczema and many allergies, which have made my skin a bit sensitive. During my freshman year of college, I had no idea how to handle the acne. Sure, I was knowledgeable about skincare, but it took me a while to figure out my new skin type and its triggers.

Since then, I’ve learned my triggers for cystic flare-ups and I’ve been able to balance my oil and sebum production pretty well. I quickly gravitated to gel face washes. I’ve always been told to spend very little on face wash, as the ingredients don’t stay on your face for very long, so there’s no point to invest in an expensive product. While true, if you’re acne-prone, the face wash you choose is extremely important and can sometimes make or break your skincare routine in terms of preventing breakouts.

For years I’ve loved gel face washes like The Body Shop’s Seaweed Deep Cleansing Gel Wash and Skinfood’s Egg White Pore Foam. The search for a gel face wash that had acne-fighting ingredients was more difficult. Most that I’ve come across have a lot of fragrance or too much of an acne-fighting ingredient like charcoal, tea tree, or salicylic acid, which is not something my cystic acne can always handle.

Ingredients

Upon first glance on the box, I was shocked at the ingredient list. The ingredients were so simple! I thought to myself, Have I been overdoing it? Were the acne-fighting ingredients I was using before too much for my skin?

The formula contains white willow bark, sage leaf, and calendula flowers. I was so relieved when I saw there weren’t any added fragrances or sodium laureth sulfate, which can be triggering irritants for acne-prone skin.

Spacewash is oil-free, 100% vegan, and is in compliance with European standards, so you know it’s the good stuff. Besides its acne-fighting and anti-inflammatory properties, Spacewash lifts away makeup and dead skin cells while you wash, too.

The review

To be honest, the first 3-5 times I tried Spacewash, I wasn’t completely in love. While I loved the texture and how the formula became a nice frothy wash, it made my skin feel a little stripped. However, as the weather started to become more hot and sticky, I craved washing my face with Spacewash. It started to agree with my skin more, or at least help me out as this new climate was wreaking havoc on my face. I haven’t had any new cystic pimples for the entire month of May (seriously amazing), but I have been getting a couple of whiteheads and I’ve been super oily. Spacewash cleared that right up.

I’m not sure if Spacewash would be the first thing I grab to clear up a cystic breakout. However, it is gentle enough and has proved its anti-inflammatory properties. I believe I would still need the help of my topical acne medications in conjunction with Spacewash. I do wish Spacewash had more of a refreshing or tingly after feeling, but I think that’s the little voice inside my head telling me what every acne-fighting face wash that’s come before it should feel like. Overall, this is an acne-fighting face wash meant for people with sensitive skin, which is rarely catered to in skincare.

As the weather continues to get warmer and summer will soon be in full force, Spacewash is great to get rid of dead skin cells from sunscreen residue and excess sebum. I’ve used Spacewash in the morning, in the middle of the day when my sweaty face is in need of a refresh, and at night. Harsh scrubbing and ingredients are often the cause of inflammation and redness in acne-prone people, but Spacewash aims to change the game. It’s definitely your new summer cleanser.

TLDR;

Starface launched an acne-fighting gel wash called Spacewash!
It’s meant for sensitive, acne-prone skin
It’s $16, but you can subscribe and get it for $14.40
100% vegan, cruelty-free, paraben-free, oil-free, and complies with EU standards
No added fragrance, phthalates, or sodium laureth sulfate!
Lifts away makeup and dead skin cells

BUY OR BYE?

A good BUY for summertime cleansing needs.

BUY HERE, $16

5 black-owned beauty and skincare companies to support

“Moisturize your situation.” – P. Diddy

And by situation, we mean your head to your toe. The inconvenience of the lack of representation in beauty and skincare products is an issue that isn’t new. With the lack of beauty products for Black people – especially men – there’s a lot of opportunity for newness in this space. Already, brands like Bevel, to Ceylon, Scotch Porter, are proving just how vital and successful black-owned brands can be.

When it comes to indie brands, there are many emerging companies that are one their way to becoming household names. Whether you want to spice up your medicine cabinet with new skincare or need a new lip color for the spring, we rallied up 5 black-owned companies you can support.

Jade & Fox Co.

From body butter to hair perfumes, Jade & Fox Co. is a handmade skincare company that uses natural products to promote your skin and body’s health.

Jade & Fox Co is more than just a skincare company though, the founder, Ashley Johnson also has a blog. There, the founder shares DIY projects and also in-depth pieces on her products sharing the benefits, and what type of skin each product is catered to.

Must-try products:

Crushed Velvet Butter

Sea Witch Whipped Soap

Scotch Porter

A hair and skin brand created for men by men. Like many beauty companies, Calvin Quallis began experimenting with making products in his kitchen after seeing the need for men’s grooming and wellness products as a barber. The result: an entire line of grooming products for men with coiled or kinky hair. Enter: Scotch Porter, a line that provides products for men’s hair, from on their head to on their chin. But it doesn’t stop and end there. Scotch Porter’s created products like journals, candles etc. and even have a journal section on the website in order to expand on self-care.

Bonus: Check out the REWARD$ tab on their website for free money to use on their products!

Must-try products:

Beard Wash and Leave-In Conditioner Bundle

Face Care Collection

Nola Skin Essentials

Nola Skincare states that their world of beauty circles around three things: Vegan Ingredients, Real people who handcraft their products, and their customers. Created by founder Jane Ormon, the brand was created after being frustrated by the lack of skincare products geared towards people with melanin. Not only is are the products eco-friendly but cruelty-free as well.

The founder stands behind the brand so boldly, that she says your skin care change in as little as two weeks! Sign us up.

Must-try products:

Omega Kale Facial Cleanser

Quench Your Beard Spray and Let it Grow Set

Urban Skin RX

Urban Skin RX offers scientifically researched skincare products for all skin tones and colors.

Founder Rachel Roff, a licensed medical aesthetician and certified laster technician, put her passion to help others feel and look great to launch Urban Skin RX. Along with co-founder and medical director, David Henderson – who also works at a hospital in Charlotte – the two set out to clear clogged pores, for melanin-rich skin. The entire line includes peels, scrubs, and hydrating serums to achieve your best skin, ever!

Must-try products:

Even Tone Smooth & Glow Enzyme Mask

Clear Skin Cleansing Bar

The Lip Bar

The Lip Bar was founded by Melissa Butler, previously a financial analyst on Wall Street and previous Shark Tank contestant. The Lip Bar is far more than just a lipstick company – it’s Melissa Butler’s testimony. If you haven’t seen the backstory behind the company, you have to watch it here.

After being shut down on national television, Butler took that moment and used it to her advantage…now, years later, you can find her in hundred of Target stores. The Lip Bar has expanded from just lipsticks to now offering eyeshadow, from liquid to powder, these vibrant palettes compliment the lipsticks and vice versa.

Must-try products:

Prima Donna lip shade

Playmate lip shade

The best hands-free to tools to cleanse your face in the age of COVID-19

We may have self-quarantined, social distanced and stockpiled hand-sanitizer, but there’s one Coronavirus no-no that doctors say everyone is struggling to avoid: face touching.

The problem is, it’s just so damn impossible. Scientists claim the average person touches their face up to 25 times an hour. And that’s just counting the ~average~ person. What about the beauty obsessive, who’s always poring over, well, his pores? So what does one do?

Turn to tools. If you’re a hypochondriac, it’s tools that will put your mind at ease. Below, five of the very best facial tools you need.

Best splurge

Courtesy of Clarisonic

Oh, so you want to be cleansed, toned and sculpted? Well, look no further than this little number. Think all the tightening benefits of a face roller in a cleansing tool, massaging while ridding skin all the impurities. It comes at a steep price tag. At $120, it’s not the cheapest of purchases, but it will all be worth it when you have the tightest skin at the table (and by table we mean your own dining room table, because quarantine, of course).

BUY HERE: Clarisonic Mia Smart, BUY HERE, $118

Best body

Courtesy of Nurse Jamie

Nothing ages like a drug store loofah. After barely several uses any exfoliator can start looking a little worse for wear, so if you want something to go the distance, silicone is the only way. Bonus, this little number can take you from body to face and back again when you need a scrub down.

BUY HERE: Nurse Jamie Exfoliband Silicone Loofah, nursejamie.com, $17

Best brush

Okay, so this might just be the tool from the heavens. This massaging face brush will smooth away all your sins and save you from purchasing any further exfoliating products (hello investment item). It also comes with two different heads: an anti-bacterial daily cleansing brush and a silicone head designed to tone and stimulate so your subsequent moisturizing routine really soaks into skin, with three different modes. In short, this is the MVP.

BUY HERE: Magnitone London BareFaced 2 Daily Cleansing and Skin Toning Brush, lookfantastic.com, $69

Best bang-for-your-buck

Courtesy of Erborian

If you’re looking for a little all-star performer on a budget, look no further. The konjac sponge has long been a staple in Korean beauty (which we all know sets the standard for the rest of the world). This one is also made with charcoal, leaving your face clean, fresh and most importantly, matte. Wave goodbye to your blotting papers, there will be no end-of-day oil here, folks.

BUY HERE: Erborian Charcoal Konjac Sponge, erborian.com, $13

Best acne-prone

Laxcare Waterproof Facial Cleansing Brush

Courtesy of Laxcare

If you find yourself breaking out with the stress of COVID-19, or maybe the lack of fresh air, look no further. This is the ultimate tool to tackle your acne, deeply cleaning out your pores without irritating or over-exfoliating. Tailor to your skin type with seven different speeds, and enjoy the fact that the hyper-hygenic silicone head is saving your from bacteria. Considering this puppy also comes in at just under $40, you’ll be doing your skin a huge favor without breaking the bank.

BUY HERE: Laxcare Waterproof Facial Cleansing Brush, BUY HERE, $38

I washed my face with La Croix for an entire week and omg

For years, my friend Esther’s Korean mother has been using carbonated water to cleanse her face.

She’d collect leftover La Croix around the house and pour it into a bowl. Or, when she wasn’t feeling guilty, would buy a few boxes, investing in dozens of cans of beauty water. While others drank the fizzy flavors in Pamplemousse, Coconut, Peach-Pear, or Tangerine, she splashed it onto her pores, swearing that it brightened her complexion.

I was intrigued. Cleansing your face with not only water – but carbonated water – was seriously bougie business. And La Croix used not for drinking but for beautifying was an act that was Mariah Carey-level rich. And so I decided I’d try my own luck with this method, investing in a carbonated water machine.

(My face had an instant post-La Croix glow. Photo by David Yi / Very Good Light)

Digging into this trend I realized there was real science behind it. Called the “sparkling water facial,” (I call it the “La Croix Special”) this method has been used for the past few years throughout Korea and Japan. According to one doctor who told Cosmopolitan, sparkling water not only helps cleanse your skin but apparently the carbonation is really great at removing dirt and oil. “For example, at room temperature, carbonated water becomes a vasodilator, meaning it triggers your blood vessels to open up, bringing the blood supply to your skin’s tissue,” a certain Dr. Engelman told the publication. In short, carbonation helps with circulation, which then allows the skin to have a healthier glow.

Another reason is that water has a pH level of 7, whereas carbonated water is more acidic, at 5.5. It’s the magical number that’s balanced with your skin’s own acidic level. AKA while your skin becomes hardened from water (a reason many people use toners to balance out your skin again), it stays at peace and happy with the slightly acidic carbonated water.

Science. Huh.

I decided to try this out for myself and when my SodaStream finally came in November as part of one of my only pre-holiday purchases, I went straight to work. The device, which is powered by a C02 canister, instantly pumps carbonation into any drinkable liquid, from water to apple juice, to Hawaiian Punch (yes, I tried, don’t ask why). With two 5-second pumps, your boring tap water becomes a bootleg Perrier and tastes kinda like it, too. Immediately, I went to work, pumping water from my SodaStream directly into a large salad bowl. I didn’t realize this but doing so was much more work than I’d realized.

Alas, I’d take the salad bowl and pour the sparkly water into my sink, pulling the grid drain upwards. And with that, I went straight to splashing. Using a pH-balancing cleanser from Missha, I pampered my skin until my face tickled with fizz. Note: sparkling water is SUPER painful when it goes into your nose – so heed with caution. After cleansing I noticed that there was a real difference to my complexion. It didn’t feel as dry as if I’d used tap water. The sensation was as if I’d gone to get a mini microdermabrasion, my skin feeling smooth.

I tried this for an entire week from morning to night realizing that it wasn’t sustainable to do it any longer. For one, it takes ~real determination~ to stick with this regimen. And two, the acidity isn’t always so great for your skin, especially for those with sensitive skin, like me.

All in all, yes, I did get a nice exfoliation action for an entire week. And my skin felt super clean, if not pampered. But was it worth all the trouble? I’m not sure. Though Esther’s mother would probably beg to differ. That woman and her flawless, wrinkleless face is winning. And sparkling. La Croix is doing wonders, and I can’t help but wonder if Pamplemousse really is that much better than the rest.

3 dancers on their glow-inducing skincare regimens

Dancers are required to glow.

With sweat and makeup congealing under the heavy stage lights, their pores go through hell and back. But how do they still get their best skin from day to night? Turns out, they prescribe to a “skincare that’s practice until made perfect” model.

Well, at least according to Joseph Aumeer of The Royal Ballet, who finds dancing is chaotic for his skin. The dance professional says that he’s dancing from morning to night, with rehearsals and performances in between. For him, it’s about treating his skin as he does his twirls and plies.

José Lapaz Rodriguez, who is currently studying contemporary and modern dance at school, agrees. For him, moving, stretching and dancing for days on end is challenging. Naturally, he sweats and his skin gets oily, but he’s also constantly being exposed to bacteria. Sometimes the choreography calls for dancers to put their faces on each other. Hand on face, face on back, face on arm, face on foot – the possibilities are endless when it comes to how many sweaty body parts touches dancers’ faces. At times, José’s face even ends up touching the ground.

Between the sweating and the constant exposure to breakout causing bacteria, add stage makeup and its pore-clogging perils. Compared to everyday makeup, stage makeup is heavier, thicker and comedogenic. After all, it’s meant to stick to skin through the heat of the stage lights. On its own, smear-proof makeup is great, but combined with dancing and bright stage lights, sweat gets trapped in dancers’ pores under their makeup. “Along with the rest of our body,” Sean Miller of the Sarasota Cuban Ballet School says. “Our skin is honestly put through a lot.”

Despite everything their skin goes through, dancers still somehow manage to have dewy, luscious, beautiful skin. After all, it’s almost a requirement when you’re onstage, with nothing to bare but your soul. Very Good Light spoke with three dancers who are as dedicated to their skincare routines as they are to dancing to learn all about their skincare secrets.

Joseph Aumeer

Having danced since he was 9 years old, Joseph grew up with the pressures of being on stage, being surrounded by mirrors in the studio, and having his pictures taken by the press. In other words, he’s gotten used to people staring at him.

Although it’s not a major pressure, Joseph found that there is still a push to look after himself with all those eyes on him. “Looking after my skin and seeing results definitely gave me more confidence and a healthier outlook on things,” Joseph shares.

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bit of garnier archive ✨
A post shared by Joseph Aumeer (@joeaumeer) on Apr 12, 2019 at 12:23pm PDT

After rinsing with water in the morning, Joseph follows up with the Pixi by Petra Glow Tonic. “I started using this recently and it’s really helped my skin get a good glow and feel clean,” he raves. The 5% glycolic acid toner exfoliates his skin, even getting into the pores and flushing them out. Next, Joseph follows with the This Works Morning Expert Hyaluronic Serum – the serum’s star ingredient hyaluronic acid keep his skin moisturized all day long, keeping oil production level, while the Vitamin C brightens. Once he locks everything in with La Roche-Posay’s Effaclar Duo [+] SPF 30, he’s ready for a long day of dancing. The mattifying moisturizer helps Joseph control blemishes, and the SPF, a daily essential, is especially important when using AHA’s like glycolic acid in the morning.

Throughout the day, Joseph is sure to continuously hydrate. Not only is water necessary for the body when dancing for hours on end, it helps Joseph’s skin stay hydrated and plump. From time to time, he also spritzes on the Mario Badescu Facial Spray with Aloe, Herbs, and Rosewater. “It does give you a good flow and leaves you feeling fricky fresh,” Joseph says.

After a long day of dancing, Joseph always makes sure to thoroughly cleanse his face with the La Roche-Posay Effaclar Purifying Cleansing Gel. This cleanser washes away a day’s worth of dirt and oil while still being gentle on Joseph’s skin. With his busy schedule, the last thing Joseph wants to worry about is irritating his skin. He follows with the same toner from the morning, gently taps on the Kiehl’s Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado, and adds a moisturizer so his skin is prepped for the long day ahead of him tomorrow.

Sean Miller

Sean appreciates every moment he’s dancing. When onstage he doesn’t have to think about his skin. He’s focusing on every plié, jump, pointed toe.

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Mambo Man at @yagp 2019 NYC Finals 🕺🏻❤️ choreographed by @vergarachoreographer • #yagp #yagpfinals #yagp2019 #ballet #balletdancer #balletphotography #ballet_a #ballett #balletlovers #balletlife #balletworld #dancerlife #instadancer #balletaddiction #dancersofinstagram #maledancer #theballetscene #worldballet #worldwideballet
A post shared by SEAN MILLER (@seans__world) on Jul 6, 2019 at 1:01pm PDT

But once he leaves the stage, he’s passionate about skincare.

“I try to really focus on hydrating my skin for the tough day ahead,” Sean shares. In the morning, he starts by cleansing with the gentle and non-irritating Drunk Elephant Beste No.9 Jelly Cleanser. Next, Sean goes in with the 2-in-1 Laneige Cream Skin Toner & Moisturizer, which helps him achieve soft, supple skin. For an additional boost of hydration, he follows up with a moisturizer. “Currently loving the Belif Aqua Bomb as well as the Farmacy Honey Drop lightweight Moisturizer,” he tells us.

For eye cream, he recommends a light layer of the Floral Hydro Eye Gel Cream from Mamonde and Tatcha’s Camellia Gold Spun Lip Balm to finish off his skincare routine.

Throughout the day, Sean is sure to wipe away the excess sweat from his face with facial wipes and use moisturizing face mists during rehearsal breaks.

His nighttime skincare routine is similar to his daytime routine, but he is sure to use a more heavy duty cleanser to wash away his long day. For the past two years, Sean has been using his trusted and beloved Shisedo Deep Cleansing Foam face wash. Twice a week, he’ll exfoliate with the Rice Enzyme Powder from Tatcha. The powder to foam formula gently polishes skin without over-exfoliating. Sean also recommends the Neogen Bio-Peel Gauze Peeling Pads. Formulated with lactic acid, a chemical exfoliant, Sean finds that he can slough off dead skin cells without rubbing and tugging at his face.

To really indulge in self-care, Sean also masks a couple of times a week. From sheet masks to sleeping masks, he loves them all. “I love all the masks from Summer Fridays, Glow recipe, and Sulwahsoo,” Sean shares. As a bonus: He also loves Japanese sheet masks Saborino and LuLuLun.

José Lapaz-Rodríguez

For his skin, José chases balance. His cleanser of choice is the Clearasil Gentle Prevention Daily Clean Wash. “It doesn’t leave my skin too dry,” he explains. “It’s very gentle but it does the work.” He exfoliates with Lush’s Ocean Salt scrub. With flakes of sea salt, avocado butter, coconut oil, and citrus extracts, this scrubs buffs away dead skin cells while moisturizing, nourishing, and toning. For toner, José uses the Original Facial Toner from Thayers. It’s important to him that it’s alcohol-free – it helps keep his skin balanced. Witch Hazel, the toner’s hero ingredient, is a known natural astringent. It shrinks pores and reduced inflammation, which is perfect for all the sweat and oil dancing all day long can cause. For moisturizer, José then uses the Shea Moisture African Black Soap Balancing Moisturizer. José then always follows up with sunscreen. In order to make sure his skin is protected from the sun’s harmful rays, José uses SPF 50.

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Bring your knee pads and stretch your back, showing you how to do a scorpion; 1 out of 3+ ways of doing this old way dip. Jacket: @muglerofficial | @poseonfx #posefx Movement coach: @slim.xtravaganza
A post shared by José Lapaz-Rodríguez 🇩🇴 (@hosay__) on Jun 28, 2019 at 1:06pm PDT

During his quick breaks between rehearsals, José rinses his face. Not to irritate his skin by cleansing every time, he sticks to just cleansing with water to wash the sweat off.

José’s real secret is 100% natural African shea butter. At night, he carries out his skincare routine but swaps moisturizer for shea butter. He finds it helps with everything from acne to restoring his skin. “I love using shea butter because I wake up with the smoothest skin and lips,” he explains. “It’s boosts my self-esteem because I feel ready to take on anything in the day whether it’s going out with friends, performing, or having photo/video shoots.” As an additional bonus, José swears shea butter also helps his lashes grow longer.

It’s not exactly a secret that dancers go through a lot with their skin, but now the secret to keeping their skin happy is out. They key? Gentle but thorough cleansing keeps both irritation and bacteria at bay. Moisturizing makes sure skin stays hydrated no matter how much you sweat is key in keeping oil production at a minimum.

A Millie Bobby Brown inspired skincare routine

It’s been a week, but I still can’t stop thinking about Millie Bobby Brown’s nightly skincare routine video.

You know, the same video in which she goes through her skincare routine but doesn’t actually use her Florence by Mills Gen Z products? *Insert awkward emoji here*.

The line of “clean skincare” products range from a $10 mist to $12 lip gloss and is skincare with a few cosmetics. It’s great that the star is promoting a good price point – we just wished she actually uh, used the products.

In case you didn’t catch it on her Instagram before she deleted it, the video is still floating around on YouTube. Enjoy!

From the moment the 15-year old wunderkind starts off her skincare routine video, we know that it’s headed in the wrong direction. First of all, Millie loves misting away from her face. Perhaps this is one method of misting – misting the air – we don’t know. Whatever the case, she holds her Florence by Mills Zero Chill Face Mist a literal foot away from her face.

But maybe it’s just that she spritzed in the wrong direction – plenty of people have done this (no, they haven’t). Next, with completely dry skin, she goes in with her Get That Grime Face Scrub then her Clean Magic Face Wash.

The thing is, there’s no water that she uses. She doesn’t even put the product in her actual hands. Watching her really rubbing and tugging her skin, I can feel her wrinkles forming. If you’re wondering why she’s pulling on her skin so much, it’s probably because she’s not using any product at all. Is this a Hollywood method she learned from, say, Charlotte Tillbury? Perhaps. But most likely not, as you can literally hear friction when she rubs her product-less fingers together.

There was a lot of backlash, confusion, and jokes as to why Millie wouldn’t let her products touch her face. Responding to the scandal via Instagram post of a screenshot from her Notes app, she clarified that the video was only meant to replicate her skincare routine.

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A post shared by mills (@milliebobbybrown) on Sep 12, 2019 at 8:05am PDT

Is it just a convenient excuse for Millie not to use her own stuff? Does she secretly hate her own skincare line? Whether you’re afraid to try out her brand or you can’t because, surprisingly, most of the line is sold out on the Florence by Mills website, we put together a skincare routine inspired by Millie’s routine. It’s just as wallet friendly, and we’d like to think that Millie would happily let these products touch her face.

Step 1: Facial mist

The first step to any good skincare routine, as any skincare expert knows, is a facial mist. Because it definitely makes sense to spritz your face before you wash it all off.

Millie’s rose-infused spray claims to soothe skin and give a boost of moisture. Doesn’t it sound simple and dreamy?

Well… it’s sold out. A fantastic alternative is the Derma-E Hydrating Mist with Hyaluronic Acid. Just like the Zero Chill Face Mist, it’s vegan and uses clean ingredients. Between the rosewater, coconut water, and hyaluronic acid, the Derma-E spray provides the same calming moisture.

Rosewater isn’t your thing? What about the Hydrating Milky Mist from Pixi? Black oat extract soothes skin while hyaluronic acid moisturizes and B vitamins fortify the skin. It’s cruelty and paraben free, and like any face mist, it’s light and quickly absorbs into the skin.

BUY Derma-E Hydrating Mist with Hyaluronic Acid HERE, $11.50

BUY Garnier SkinActive Soothing Facial Mist with Rose Water HERE, $9

BUY Pixi Hydrating Milky Mist HERE, $15

Step 2: Exfoliation

Complaining about the makeup residue on her face but inexplicably skipping makeup remover (we’d recommend the Neutrogena Cleansing Oil), Millie’s second step is exfoliation.

Her scrub is made with sustainable ivory palm seed powder. Based on the reviews, it sounds like people do find it gentle and non-irritating. Also, props to Millie for not using microbeads.

Debates about physical exfoliants aside, we’re following Millie’s routine. One that isn’t totally abrasive? The DHC Face Wash Powder. With finely milled powder and enzymes, you can scrub away all you want without worrying about over exfoliating. The powder to foam formula will stop you. It also has lavender to calm your skin and honey to smooth.

Something Millie might love is a chemical exfoliant. The e.l.f. Gentle Peeling Exfoliant is an unassuming gel, but the gel pills on itself to create fibers that pick up dead skin without scrubbing. Packed with tangerine, papaya, and licorice extracts, you can make sure the skin is soothed while exfoliating. Just like the Florence by Mills exfoliator, it’s vegan, cruelty free, and free of parabens, sulfate, and phthalates.

BUY Neutrogena Ultra Light Cleansing Oil HERE, $8

BUY DHC Face Wash Powder HERE, $12.50

BUY e.l.f Cosmetics Gentle Peeling Exfoliant HERE, $10

Step 3: Cleanser

Millie cries, “You immediately feel better,” after “applying” her cleanser. Some other cleansers that would actually make Millie feel immediately better?

The Pixi Rose Cream Cleanser covers all the bases the Clean Magic Face Wash does. It cleans and refreshes (of course), it balances the skin through conditioning ingredients such as rose and avocado, and it’s rich in antioxidants that protect the skin.

Another incredible option is the Pacifica Complete Sea Foam Face Wash. It has coconut water, a natural skin balancer, and sea algae extract to restore the skin’s moisture and brightness.

BUY Pacifica Complete Sea Foam Face Wash HERE, $10

BUY Pixi Rose Cream Cleanser HERE, $18

Step 4: Moisturizer

Millie’s “favorite part of [her] skincare routine” and one she actually tries in the video (she squeezes the tube on camera) is moisturizer. It’s perhaps the one part of her video that makes sense. Moisturizing is very important.

Formulated for teenage skin, the Dreamy Dew Moisturizer is all about keeping the oils at bay while staying moisturized and looking dewy.

An easy way to accomplish that is with a gel moisturizer. A fail-safe option is the Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel. This moisturizer is oil free but the hyaluronic acid draws in water, making sure your skin gets the moisture and care it needs without any oil.

The Water Boost Hydrating Booster from Simple, made with clean ingredients, takes care of dryness, roughness, and tightness, leaving you with the dewy skin of Millie’s dreams. Plus, this moisturizer has a non-comedogenic formula, which means it won’t clog your pores.

BUY Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel HERE, $15

BUY Simple Water Boost Hydrating Booster HERE, $5

BUY Versed Skin Soak Rich Moisture Cream HERE, $18

Step 5: Lip oil

Millie wraps up her nighttime routine with lip oil. Another product she actually puts on in the video, the Glow Yeah Lip Oil seems trustworthy, which might be why it’s sold out.

Instead, another fantastic option is one from Versed. The Silk Slip Conditioning Lip Oil features jojoba oil and vitamin E, delivering moisturized and smooth lips.

A no-frills option is the ChapStick Total Hydration Vitamin Enriched Lip Oil. As the name suggests, it’s packed with vitamins C and E and omega 3, 6, and 9 to help chapped lips heal. The oils in the formula pump moisture back to the lips.

BUY Versed Silk Slip Conditioning Lip Oil HERE $10

BUY ChapStick Total Hydration Vitamin Enriched Lip Oil HERE $5

Buy Nooni Applecoco Lip Oil HERE, $12

You can face map your pimples to tell you why you’re breaking out

Not all acne is the same, but have you ever noticed that some zits keeps popping up in the same few places?

Whether your acne occurs once a month or it’s decided to become a permanent resident of the United States of You, recurring blemishes can be your body’s special way of communicating with you. To find out what your acne is so desperately pleading with you, we sat down with Dr. Y. Claire Chang. A board-certified dermatologist at Union Square Dermatology in New York City, AKA a professional pimple whisperer, Dr. Chang told us how you can decode and listen to your acne.

All acne, whether it’s on your face or your body, can be narrowed down to the same root causes. The culprits? A blend of excess oil production, clogged pores, bacteria, and inflammation. If you keep breaking out in certain spots, it could point towards a range of things from lifestyle patterns to fluctuating hormones, so mapping your acne can be beyond helpful so you can figure out exactly what’s going on.

Forehead

If you’re past the teenage hormonal stage, forehead acne could be due to your hair – or hair products. Yep, greasy hair or oily hair pomades, gels, creams can be a major cause of breakouts. This, due to it blocking your pores or increasing bacteria on your forehead area. “Long hair, bangs, or oily hair may exacerbate sweat and oily, clogging the pores, worsening acne,” says Dr. Chang. And completely avoiding doing your hair by wearing a hat doesn’t help, either. According to Dr. Chang, wearing caps or hats can also clog pores and trap bacteria. Yikes. To decrease your forehead acne, Dr. Chang says to wash your hair regularly (and also your dirty hats!) If that’s not helping, cut it short. “Oftentimes, cutting the bangs shorter and avoiding hair products can treat forehead acne.” And cut out forehead acne, for good.

Chin and Jaw

Did you know your beard could be why you struggle with acne along your jaw and chin? Isn’t that so rude? If you have a beard, ingrown hairs may irritate the skin into breaking out, but shaving your beard off isn’t the answer either. Shaving can inflame the skin, even leading to infection if you’re very unlucky, which means more acne. So, what’s a guy to do? According to Dr. Chang, prevention is key. She recommends, “using a moisturizing shaving cream, using a single blade or electric razor, shaving in the direction of the hair follicle, and keeping razors sterile before use.” Prevention isn’t a perfect science, so if your break outs still continue to flare up, you could always opt for these very effective treatments such as benzoyl peroxide and tretinoin, topical steroids, and oral antibiotics.

Deep cystic acne, and sometimes small pink bumps and whiteheads, along the jawline can point towards hormonal triggers such as the menstrual cycle. In short, your period could be the reason for your monthly pimple pop ups. Although the hormone train that is your menstrual cycle can’t be completely stopped, Dr. Chang suggests slowing things down with oral contraceptive and even some forms of high blood pressure medication (oral spironolactone treatment).

Cheek and Nose

There’s nothing worse than waking up to a giant pimple in the middle of your face, but it is also one of the most common areas people break out in. One downside to how common cheek and nose acne are is that there are many different causes for the breakouts. The most likely reason, however, probably has to do with the fact the notoriously pesky T-Zone runs through your cheeks and nose. The T-Zone, where most people get shiny and greasy throughout the day, produces an excessive amount of oil and sebum. Your over-achieving oil glands make the cheek and nose area more vulnerable to clogged pores and acne. An quick and easy solution? “Avoid bacteria buildup by washing your pillow and bed sheets frequently, which can touch the skin while you sleep and flare the acne,” Dr. Chang advises.

Back, Shoulder, and Chest

According to Dr. Chang, the shoulder, back, and chest are areas with high concentrations of sebaceous glands.Unfortunately, this means they’re more prone to acne, just like the T-Zone. An obvious issue is puberty because your hormones cause higher levels of oil production in the sebaceous glands. Although you can’t fast-forward through puberty, simple swaps like opting for loosely fitting clothes rather than tight ones can make a big difference. Sweating during exercise or in the summer can also contribute to body acne, so be sure to immediately, and I mean immediately, get out of your sweaty clothes when you’re done at the gym or when you get home and shower. Why not make it a luxurious shower with your favorite shower gel and fancy shampoo while you’re at it? It’s not like you don’t deserve it! When breakouts still occur, which they could because you’re human, Dr. Chang says, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial medications can help significantly with chest and back acne. So take that salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide wash and use it stat!

Butt

Everybody’s favorite past time, Netflix in bed, could be contributing to acne on your tush. Unfortunately for us, “sweating and sitting for long periods of time can clog the pores,” Dr. Chang shared with us. Clogged pores, as we all know by now, increase susceptibility to breakouts. Ass acne (which will now be known as assne) can also come from folliculitis. What is folliculitis? Simply put, it’s an inflammation of the hair follicles that is commonly caused by bacterial infections or from shaving. To combat this, don’t skimp on the soap down there, and if you shave for a bare butt, be sure to follow the crucial steps you would when shaving your face. Use a nourishing shaving cream, sterilize your razor, and go forth.

Our Takeaways

While some acne can be easily remedied with simple solutions such as showering after the gym or prepping your skin before shaving, recurring blemishes can also have internal causes such as hormones. Although hormones aren’t something you can control, they are something you can regulate with the help of a doctor. Even still, Dr. Yang’s recommendation may not work for everyone, but there’s no need to worry because not every single breakout is one that needs to be banished. Acne is nothing to be ashamed of because it is something everybody deals with. Whether your skin is flaring up in breakouts or you’re having the clearest skin day in weeks, you are still you and you are still incredible.

Reporting by Blair Cannon

The secret to Cole Sprouse’s Met Gala 2019 hair is this one tool

When it comes to men’s beauty looks, Monday’s Met Gala was the most daring – and iconic – we’ve ever seen.

The hair! The lipstick! The contouring! The ingenuity!

Among the campy men was none other than Cole Sprouse of Riverdale fame, who had one of the best hairstyles of the night. The actor attended the night with his off-screen girlfriend, Lili Reinhart. The 26-year old rocked a floral suit by Ferragamo accessorized by his perfectly tousled locks. But it was really his beauty look that we were impressed with. His dark hair and hint of makeup made for a timeless yet elegant overall aesthetic. All props goes to his groomer, Christine Nelli, who exclusively told Very Good Light that the actor was going for a “sleek and slicked back look” this year.

To get the hair just right, Christine tells us that she had Cole wash his hair the night before as second day hair is at its best texture to style. Though she didn’t have to do so much to his hair, she did say that she and Cole have fun with hair – “it’s always different,” she says. “I always end up doing a bit of a cut and make sure the sides of the hair around the ears and neckline are clean and sharp,” she explains.

After spraying the head with water, Christine says that she completely wet Cole’s hair. Then, she applied a dime-size of workable mousse, gently massaging it until she got to the roots. Afterwords, she used sea salt spray to add texture.

But it’s the blow dryer that she says is the magic tool. “It’s the best way to keep hold,” she tells us – even more than product alone. For this, she used House 99’s Going Strong Styling Gel to keep the hair in place. “I’ll move onto the top and do loose finger waves in the direction going away from the part using the same gel,” she says. “I’ll finish the hair by lightly spraying hairspray and then using the hairdryer once more to set everything in place so it doesn’t move.” To reiterate: The key to the waves is really tousling it with your fingers and making sure it’s blow dried in place.

Finally, for his face, Cole was using a hint of bronzer. “I love adding a bit of color to the face for guys,” she explains. She used House 99 All Bright Bronzing Gel because “it’s super light and washes of. It adds something without being obvious.

Crayola wants you to color your face with crayons

(Photo by Kai Proschan/Very Good Light)

Are my childhood dreams coming true?

When I heard that Crayola was launching its own makeup line, the 5-year-old inside of me squealed. Back In kindergarten, having the elusive 64-pack of the eponymous crayon brand marked you as the “cool kid.” Besides having at least five different shades of blue to choose from for coloring projects (Robin’s Egg Blue, Sky Blue, and Pacific Blue were a few of my favorites), I remember using these on myself. The body is the ultimate canvas, right? Unfortunately, the waxy pigments never translated as well going from paper to skin, but it was the closest I could get to a rainbow makeup palette.

Well, that is until now.

Perfectly timed for Pride Month, Crayola partnered with hip, fast-fashion e-tailer ASOS to launch a 58-piece collection of face crayons, bright mascaras, chubby highlighter sticks, and face palettes. The brand just launched its first beauty line last year, and we reviewed that here. As a brand whose inspired creativity from a young age, Crayola Beauty empowers individuals to live confidently as themselves. This collection, featuring 95 shades named after the original crayon colors, is vegan and cruelty-free, and everything is under $40. Talk about accessible – and inclusive!

Crayola sent over some of its products for us to try and here’s what we thought.

Packaging

Upon opening the box, I was pleasantly met with the nostalgic green and yellow boxes. This time though, they were filled with limited edition, curated face crayon trios with names like Purple Galaxy and Out Of This World. Individual face and color-changing lip crayons, and mascaras are packaged inside their own boldly colored single boxes. The face, lip, and eye palettes are housed inside stackable and packable white plastic boxes, each with its own mirror on the inside. Bonus points for that! Overall, great eye-catching packaging that reflects the collection’s “color outside the lines” ethos.

Look 1

For this first look, I used the face crayons to recreate a rainbow eye I saw on Instagram. The pointed tips of the crayons made it easy to apply in a small area like the eyes, but the texture was pretty soft (maybe too soft as one of the tips actually broke while I was applying!). This made it difficult to get accurate lines and the colors started to blend together as I added another shade of the spectrum. Overall, not the cleanest application process, but these were great for getting saturated color on my skin quickly and effectively. I also used the face palette on my cheeks to contour and highlight. The first warning sign was when I was shaking off excess product from the accompanying makeup brushes. Most of the powder dusted off and when I applied to my face, the effect was very subtle. I had to do a double-take to see if I even got any product on the brush. I layered on a few times to get the gradient I was looking for, but I’m not sure how long these would stay on my face during the course of the day.

Look 2

Time to take it up a notch. For my second look, I used the same face palette to create a more dramatic effect (see: layering multiple times). I then used the chubby highlighter sticks on my nose, middle forehead, cupid’s bow and chin. The color and shimmer from these were solid. I’ve used better (Fenty), but for $17.50, these do the job.

Next: the eyeshadow palette. This had such gorgeous colors and I was looking forward to seeing how they would translate on my lid. Similar to the face palette, these didn’t have as much saturation when applied and the colors got muddled pretty easily. I used the accompanying eyeshadow brush, which is a part of the brush kit ($40) to apply and blend. I haven’t used too many brushes before, but compared to my fingertips, I’d say it was a better alternative. Since I wasn’t getting the big, bold colors I was hoping for, I went in and used the face crayons for my crease and lower lid to up the pigment.

The final step was my lips. The lip palette has rich colors like the face crayons and applying with the lip brush made it super easy. The colors were instantly bright and just a couple layered got me to the saturation I wanted. This was one of my favorites from the collection.

Look 3

For this final look I wanted to get a little more playful like the campaign images. My roommate and I searched runway makeup as inspiration, landing on a multi-color and shape eye. Since this was pretty advanced for me, I gave her full reign as my makeup artist. She used the face crayons (like the first look) and lip kit to create the bright and dramatic drawing on my eye. To add more depth and drama, she used the turquoise and electric blue mascara ($16 each). The colors immediately transferred onto my lashes and gave a nice contrast to the rich colors on my eye already. For my lips, she used the lip kit but used two different colors for an ombré type feel. More is more!

TLDR;

Overall, the Crayola Beauty collection is great for creating big, bold looks with different colors. The face crayons, lip palette, and colored mascara were my personal favorites from the bunch since I didn’t have to keep applying to get saturated pigment. The face and eye kits, and highlighter, were nothing to write home about, I could take it or leave it. Given the price points for these products though, ranging from $14 to $35, I would recommend this to anyone looking to get into makeup. As Crayola says, experiment and express yourself. Go play.

BUY HERE