My Skincare Routine for Camera-Ready Skin
A list of my favorite beauty & makeup items
The camera is a central feature of my life. Now that I write that sentence, it sounds remarkably silly, but it’s true. I am always auditioning, on set, filming my own work, etc. I have become highly attuned to the lens and attracting its gaze.
It’s interesting, isn’t it? The way the camera can seemingly zoom in to and magnify every single, disgusting, tiny, hideous, pointless flaw that exists on your face. It also can transform you into an enchanting beauty who can mesmerize the world. This is due to two things:
The subject and how they present themselves
The photographer and how they view the subject.
A photographer who seeks to find your allure will be able to coax it forth with their lens. I’ve found that some of my photos turn out best when taken by somebody who loves me. However, this second point is beyond the scope of this post. I will instead speak on the first point - the responsibilities of the subject.
If you wish to be caught on camera in a good light, here are my beauty rules and products to help you on that journey. Beauty alone won’t do it, but it can help. A lot. Makeup artists are called artists for a reason.
It is your job to maintain your health and beauty.
There are a few foundational rules: Sleep well. Eat well. Drink lots of water. Exercise. If you are not doing those four habits, forget makeup. It will only take you so far. But enough stern talk. Let’s move onto the fun things.
Beauty Overnight
Every night, without fail, I double cleanse. This means an oil cleanser or balm and a foam cleanser. My expectations are that they fully remove my makeup, do not strip my skin, or sting my eyes. Find what works for you. My favorites are listed below.
Oil cleansers:
Banilla Co Cleansing Zero Balm
Face wash:
La Roche-Posay Hydrating Gentle Cleanser
Now, the skin routine changes throughout the week. It also changes depending on the weather, if I have sensitivities, breakouts, etc. But in general, it goes like this. A day of tretinoin. This looks like a hydrating toner, followed by tret, rounded out with a peptide moisturizer. Here’s what I’m currently using:
I’m From Rice Toner
Tret (0.05% cream)
Alpyn Beauty Repair Cream
I will alternate my days off tret with super moisturizing to give my skin a break. This means toner, serum, eye cream, moisturizer, and sometimes locking that in with Aquaphor Advanced Therapy. I’ll play around with the toners, serums and moisturizers, but they all are typically free of anything exfoliating. Currently using:
SKII Pitera Facial Treatment Essence
Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum
COSRX Hyaluronic Acid Cream
Auteur Eye Cream
Aquaphor Advanced Therapy
On the other day without tret, I’ll use some gentle actives. This might be exfoliation, followed up with toner, a gentle retinol, bakuchiol oil, AHA BHA, etc. Then always layered with lots and lots of moisturizer. I’m like a shiny snail when I climb into bed. A happy, moisturized, shining snail. Currently using:
Paula's Choice SKIN PERFECTING 2% BHA Liquid Salicylic Acid Exfoliant
Toner - see above
Naturium Niacinamide Face Serum
Moisturizer might be COSRX or Alpyn Beauty
Aquaphor Advanced Therapy
If I’m feeling like I need a bit of zapping, on my non-tret days I’ll use my Halo ZIIP micro-current device.
And in the daytime, sunscreen.
Let your skin repair itself while you sleep.
I use a silk pillow every night. It protects my hair from breakage and my skin from wrinkles. I also have an eye mask to properly block out all light.
Your skincare is the most important thing to being camera-ready. Lighting can throw scars or zits into sharp relief; and while that is all natural and part of who you are, I like to maintain a stable condition the best that I can.
Following skincare, it’s time for makeup. Unless it’s for a specific look, I aim for a look that says ‘natural, elevated, clean' most of the time. Here’s what I use.
NARS Light Reflecting Foundation - It blends beautifully and provides light to medium coverage.
Laura Mercier Blush - It layers well. A light dusting does the trick.
Tarte Tubing Mascara - I admit, I use this because it washes off so well. But also, it never smudges! For hooded eyes, this is a magical feat.
Natasha Denona I Need A Wam Eyeshadow Palette - Use colors that are closest to the colors that naturally exist on your face!
Benefit Cosmetics Lip & Cheek Stain - Genuinely my every day go-to.
Voila. Dress it up, dress it down. It’s an excellent, natural daily look. Emphasis on the light. Finish off with a bit of powder to prevent shine (a shining face will shoot up a beam into the camera lens and blind everyone) and you’re good to go.
I am not a makeup artist. This is just how I start my camera-ready face. There are a hundred tips and tricks to look more one way or the other, but for now, these are mine.