My roommate’s skin looks like it’s made of baby giggles. It looks like she cashed out her 401k to commission a team of scientists to develop a skincare program for her under lock and key. So when I found out her entire routine was to wash her face with soap and water, I was pissed at her for like ten minutes. She forgave me for that, because she’s perfect, but then I did a bad thing. I started pushing products on her like drugs. At first it was really fun — an uncomplicated departure from my chemical-laden convos with my sister and cousin who know more about skincare than actual dermatologists — but a couple months later she sent a text that made me question what I’d done.
“I just heard collagen in moisturizers is good for anti-aging. Do you know about this?”
Her skincare innocence and probably some of her savings were lost that day. I could only assume my pushing was responsible. But while I do mourn the time and money she will lose for caring about this stuff, I’m also kind of excited for her. A little because I’m a sucker for new routines and pretty bottles that smell good, definitely, but also because I just love skincare. A lot of it has worked for me, like for real worked. That’s the part of beauty I love to talk about. The stuff that’s memorable, that really makes a lasting impact, a difference you can see and feel. I never get bored of it.
I asked everyone at Man Repeller to tell me what their hands-down favorite product was — the thing that changed everything, that they’d take on a desert island. That’s the good shit right? Above is what they told me. Below is where I’d like you to share yours. I’ll even let you tell me it’s soap if you’ll let me be mad at you for a few.
Want more team skincare recs? Here are all our favorite acne products!!!
Photos by Krista Anna Lewis.
