Hi there! You don’t know me very well, but I’m Amanda: Brand and Community manager over here at WLDKAT. If we were a bit more familiar with one another, you would know that I’m irrationally obsessed with my skin and more particularly, my evening routine (more on that later). I’m tight with my esthetician (Shout out to you, Diane!), I live for anything that claims to help make my skin brighter, tighter, smoother, and some would say “glass” like. I live for a ritual after a long day. Putting in time solely for myself and waking up bright and early the next morning to see results? It’s an addiction that I wouldn’t be able to quit if I thought this was an issue. I’ve been in the beauty industry since I was 19 years old, so this habit and search for something bigger and better than the last product I emptied (or WK dreamed up) isn’t new, and my skincare shelfs are proof of it. This routine is no doubt long winded and tends to ebb and flow depending on the time of year or frankly, the time of month. And let’s just be real: I’m a Leo Sun (deserving of self-love and all things *lux*) and a Taurus rising (cozy clothes, baths, and creating VIBES at the crib) so I feel like it’s my duty and honor to share my skincare game with the world. Follow along, friend.

Setting the mood

The second I power down my laptop after a long day sitting in front of the screen, I change into my evening attire (aka THE COZIES) which tend to be an oversized t shirt, lounge pants, fresh socks, house shoes, and an assigned oversized cardigan that I now only wear at home. Mister Rogers would be PROUD. Then, I light some incense, set the music and proceed to stand in front of my bathroom mirror while I asses the general state of skin and see if anything new has popped up since the start of my day. Then I get into the routine.

Double Cleanse

Most days, makeup isn’t at the forefront of my priorities. I’ll throw on some tinted brow gel, mascara and finish off my look with a swipe of whatever lip gel I have next to me. But even with the switch to a “minimal beat”, I still find myself reaching for Shu Uemura Cleansing Oil. Let’s briefly step back to high school chemistry: Water and oil repel one another where oil and oil actually attract. In the case of my skin, cleansing oil cuts though the days dirt, makeup, sunscreen, and my own oils (I’m naturally pretty oily/combination) to get myself back to a clean slate, without using wasteful makeup wipes or aggressively scrubbing my face. I apply this full-bodied skincare staple with dry hands to my dry face, working it in little circles. When everything looks properly “broken down”, I wet my hands to turn the oil into a milky consistency and swipe everything away with a clean, warm cloth.

Cleanser #2

Now that my skin is free and clear of the days grime, it’s time to get deep into the pores wash away loose residual debris that’s still holding on. Patchouli + Cherimoya gel cleanser honestly deserves an article of it’s own. Loved by my man companion and I alike (couples who skincare together, stay together), this full-bodied cleanser PUTS. IN. WORK. The subtle scent of the patchouli extract smells earthy and “elevated” and I love how this cleaner cuts though any and all residue or oil on my skin. After I rinse with cool water and lightly pat my skin with a clean towel, I’m feeling fresh AF and ready to get down to business.

Tonic AKA “essence”

The first step to sandwiching my skincare routine is “priming” it with a heavy dose of hydration so I reach for my Ginger + Kombucha bubbling tonic. Inspired by the Korean skincare step “essence”, this bouncy pink juice is stacked with concentrated levels of hydrating and brightening ingredients like ginger root and kombucha to sink deep into my skins barrier and basically levels up the benefits of all the other products I use in my routine. The only analogy I can make for the importance of essence in your routine is directly aimed at my fellow Chemex coffee fanatics: Just like you pour hot water over your fresh coffee grounds and allow it to “open up” and “bloom” to it’s full potential, your skin needs the same.

Serum

The skincare sandwich continues! Serums are the workhorse when tackling whatever concerns I’m looking to address in my skin and tends to be the thing I switch up most in my routine to keep my complexion “on it’s toes”. Recently I’ve been flip flopping between my skin’s favorite Saffron + Oat Milk glow serum to help maintain some radiance during these dull winter months and Sunday Riley Good Genes All-In-One Lactic Acid treatment. They’ve earned their keep on my skincare shelf and balance each other like a Nicki Minaj and Beyonce collab. I hope you’re connecting to these analogies as much as I am. Thanks for taking this journey with me.

A Therapeutic Spray Moment

Honestly, I grab for Coconut Water + Noni Fruit electrolyte spray throughout my workday, but I love to mist my face right before I apply my moisturizer. It’s DECEMBER and I live in Southern California; the added hit of moisture in this strange desert climate is a welcomed addition and I like how it helps smooth my moisturizer on.

Moisturizer

Now that my serum has soaked it, I seal in all the goodness with a generous swipe of Mushroom + Moss gel cream. It’s lightweight, fast-absorbing texture is great for my normal to oily skin and allows me to stack my routine with the steps I like without weighing it down. If I’m looking for added hydration, I’ll add a couple drops of Beboe Therapies Facial oil to it for more of a luxurious “creamy” moment if my skin is in need of a little more “cush”.

Eye Cream + Lip Balm finale

Youth To The People Eye Cream is velvety and feels deserving of its duty to hydrate my delicate eye area. I usually apply my O.G lip balm in the bathroom or while I’m fixing whatever I plan on making for dinner that evening. If I wanna feel kind of cute for absolutely no reason, I’ll mix O.G with Headband to give myself a little color.

Goodnight

At this point I’m just lounging on the couch with the pug and my partner, watching a DIY home improvement show or reading in bed. I’ll drink a little water before hitting the sheets and probably apply another application of lip balm for good measure. When I wake up in the morning, I run to the bathroom to check out last night’s skincare results before splashing my face with cold water, brushing my teeth, and following up with my incredibly paired down daytime routine: A swipe of Mushroom + Moss gel cream topped with a mineral sunscreen from Biossance. I’d tell you about my body care routine, but that’s an entirely different story and we can put a pin in it for another day.

-Amanda Rodriguez