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What Do You Put on Your Face?

We asked, you answered.

Jars of face cream sitting on top of glass coasters. Photo: Michael Baumgarten/Trunk Archive

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A few weeks ago, I ran through my favorite skincare products and asked you to share yours. And you really showed up! Which confirms my belief that everyone loves to talk about this stuff.

When I was a fashion editor, anyone who asked what I did for a living would clam up upon hearing my answer, asking if their outfit was okay. When I was a beauty editor and answered the same question, I’d be met with a flood of information: passionate retellings of the lipstick that changed a life, the eyeliner you could cry through, the hair product that finally, finally!, controlled riotous curls.

Beauty is accessible and easy; one little thing can make you feel great about yourself, even if it’s just for 30 seconds mid-apocalypse. And so it shouldn’t be surprising that detailed accounts from men and women of every age (seriously, from high school to mid-70s) landed in my inbox, chronicling what you put on your face from the moment you wake up to when you climb back into bed. Doctors offered me advice on dealing with my skin problems, and some of you even included pictures of your own glowing faces!

Now I’m sharing some of the best tips here. Enjoy!


I wanted to pass on my blackhead remedy: Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid. You can even buy it in a sample size for $10 to try it out. It's amazing. I apply it to my oily T-zone with a cotton pad, and gosh, it's amazing!! —Emily

My mantra is that if you only do ONE thing for your face, start with and use a great cleanser twice a day. —Matthew

My school/work has a gym and I work out on my lunch break. To calm my beet-red face post-workout, I liberally spray Heritage Store Rosewater all over. —Caroline

Make Up For Ever Step 1 Skin Equalizer Hydrating Primer and Aquaphor blended with my base all year round seal in my products, create a barrier against the elements (winter), and make my makeup stick (in the summer). It works like a charm and gives a dewy look. —Emory

To remove my makeup, I use the Clinique Take the Day Off cleansing balm and wipe it off with Burt’s Bees facial towelettes, which is gentle on my skin. Afterwards, I wash my face with my Seacret mud soap. —Samantha

After I shower, I spray my face with Thayer's witch hazel. After it dries and I'm dressed, I apply Kiehl's Age Defender Moisturizer with a tiny drop of Kiehl's Skin Tone Correcting BB cream. —Will

I cleanse my skin with Origins Clean Energy Gentle Cleansing Oil. I pat my skin dry with a tissue, and while it's still damp, I apply a pea-size amount of pure rose oil. I then apply Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel Cream. —Gillian


Have more tips? Tweet us at @Racked! We’re always listening.