Don’t Demonize
(or Lionize) Any
One Category
“I went through a phase
of only using drugstore
products, and then I
moved on to a phase of
‘natural’ skin care because
I got duped into thinking
that toxins and chemicals
were causing my skin
problems. [But] not
all natural things are good
(e.g., poison ivy), toxins
are pseudoscience (a
scientist would never use
the word ‘toxins’), and
everything is made of
chemicals (e.g., water).”
—LIKESGREENTEA
Always Patch-Test
“Study ingredients, and
make a spreadsheet to
track which ones irritate
you. I religiously use
[ingredient-analysis tools]
CosDNA and SkinCarisma
before even thinking
of purchasing. I also rely
on my fellow Redditors as
well as reviews from
[other] consumers. The
recommended time for
patch testing is one to two
weeks, up to a month.
Some will respond quicker
than others, depending on
your skin.” —BREAKAWAY9999
The Best Products
Aren’t Pricey
“I talked about my love
for Trader Joe’s Hyaluronic
Moisture Boost Serum.
I didn’t expect to have
such a large reaction
about a $9 serum. It’s a
gel that blends and
absorbs quickly, and it
hydrates beautifully. The
thin texture is great for
layering, and I can mix it
with a vitamin C powder.
I can never get over how
soft, smooth, and plump
my skin is when I use it.”
—AUBOREALIS
A 4-Step Routine
Is All You Need
A few clicks away from the home page is one of ScA’s most trafficked
corners: a community-tested, moderator-approved skin-care
routine skeleton, complete with product recommendations culled
from the board’s “holy grail” roundups. Products like:
SUNSCREEN
BIORÉ UV AQUA RICH
WATERY ESSENCE.
To be even tangentially
familiar with
SkincareAddiction is to
be well aware of its
favorite sunscreen: the
Japanese Bioré Watery
Essence, an invisible
chemical layer of SPF that
dries moments after
application. Available via
Amazon—if you’re willing
to wait for it to make
the transpacific journey.
EXFOLIATOR
STRIDEX PADS.
Yes, the textured discs in
the red box tucked beneath
the medicated ointment at
CVS. Redditors rave about
their acne-banishing
prowess, but they’re also
known to smooth skin.
(Plus, you can usually find
them for $5 or less.)
CLEANSER
NEUTROGENA ULTRA
GENTLE HYDRATING
CLEANSER.
Universally beloved,
but why take our word
for it? If you’re curious
about any product, plug
it into the ScA search
bar for nuggets like
this: “I’d encourage
anyone to try [this]
if they have
irritation-prone skin or
even dermatitis like
I do.” (Thanks for the tip,
—SUSHI_WHORE—.)
MOISTURIZER
OLAY COMPLETE
UV365 DAILY
MOISTURIZER BROAD
SPECTRUM SPF 30+.
The consummate forum
favorite: a simple,
hydrating, fragrance-
free moisturizer with a
built-in sunscreen.
THIS IS HAPPENING
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54 ALLURE APRIL 2019
JOSEPHINE SCHIELE
