I've Been Shaving My Face for Years—Here's Why I'll Never Go Back
The Lineup is a monthly series where we're giving you an inside peek at the beauty lineups of cool fashion people, editors, makeup artists, hairstylists, and estheticians—all the people we trust the most. Get ready for a behind-the-scenes look at all the can't-live-without products that make their worlds go 'round.
I consider myself pretty open-minded when it comes to beauty. I'm down to try the most hyped products, indulge in the buzziest treatments, and use over-the-top tools just for a good story. But in the decade that I've been in the beauty space, I don't think it's ever crossed my mind to shave my entire face. Dermaplaning? Yes. Face shaving? No. I've been way too paranoid that my barely-there peach fuzz would somehow grow back resembling Chewbacca, and that's just a risk I'm not willing to take. Well, according to Lauryn Bosstick, content creator, podcaster, beauty lover, and founder of The Skinny Confidential, I should really change my tune.
"Shaving the face gets rid of peach fuzz, creates a smooth canvas for makeup, and helps all of your skincare absorb better," says the multi-hyphenate, who has been shaving her face for years. "I swear, your hair won't grow back darker. That's such a myth." In an effort to end the taboo around women shaving their faces, Bosstick created The Shavette Kit ($40), which includes the "first women's facial shaving cream that's actually good for your skin" and a razor that will give you the "smoothest, closest shave of your life," says Bosstick.
In general, Bosstick is a huge supporter of beauty and self-care. (She insists that she built half her brand sitting in a chair at a hole-in-the-wall foot spa where she could really focus.) "Investing in my skin has always been a deliberate, intentional choice for me. I would way rather treat myself to monthly facials than handbags and shoes," she says. But if you're not able to get regular facials, a facial massage is the next best thing. "You can do it for free anytime, anywhere. It increases circulation, helps your skincare absorb better, prevents fine lines and wrinkles, and will make your skin look and feel younger. It's like an instant face-lift."
If you're curious about Bosstick's other recommendations, I've got you. Keep scrolling for 17 of her must-have beauty finds and more helpful tips and tricks for looking and feeling your best.
"If you have dry, chapped lips, this is the move! It comes with the cutest little applicator (which I lost in five seconds), and you put it on before you go to sleep. Wake up, wipe the remaining balm off with a warm cloth, and voila! Your lips are plump and dreamy. This has the best berry scent. I have one with me at all times and use it as a balm all day every day."
"My husband and I both use these, and they're the best, gentlest way to exfoliate. You may feel a tingle or have a bit of color after, but I love these because there are no scratchy little balls that damage your skin. These are effective and will leave your skin feeling baby soft."
"Facial steaming is such a relaxing, luxurious step in your routine. It helps hydrate and purify your skin. It promotes collagen and elastin, which means firmer, younger-looking skin. It's like the grown-up way to steam your face instead of leaning over a boiling pot of pasta."
"I went nuts when I first discovered this cleansing balm. It smells like a spa, and the balm literally melts your makeup off. It's the perfect first step for a double cleanse. So you take a dime-sized amount, work it all around your skin (fab time for a little facial massage, if you ask me), then take a warm baby washcloth and gently wipe it all off. Every drop of your makeup will be on that cloth. Now you're ready to use your normal cleanser to catch any lingering makeup. This is one of my favorite products of all time, so much so that I had to include it in my collaboration kit with Elemis."
"A humidifier is an underrated addition to your beauty routine. The benefits became so clear to me when I moved from San Diego to L.A. Everything felt drier—my hair, my skin, my eyes, and even my throat in the mornings. As soon as I implemented a humidifier into my routine, the difference was obvious. It promotes a healthy skin barrier, protects you from bacteria and pollution, combats dryness and dullness, and supercharges your skincare. That's exactly why I created a pretty pink humidifier with my favorite brand, Canopy. I was just so sick of ugly humidifiers. Canopy humidifiers hydrate rooms up to 500 square feet, have a run time of up to 36 hours, have smart sensors to maintain optimal moisture and embedded UV LEDs to prevent mold, and the tray and tank are dishwasher safe."
"The first women's facial shaving cream that is actually good for your skin and the Hot Shave razor actually prep your skin for makeup like no other. The shaving cream will leave your skin feeling nourished and will help give you the smoothest, closest shave of your life. I've been shaving my face for years, and the team and I created this product to help end the taboo around women shaving their faces."
"You'll find these all around my bathroom. I have one for oils, one for sunscreen, one for makeup—they're so versatile. The key here is to use it damp—yes, slightly wet. It creates the dewiest, glowiest makeup look. I've tried them all. There is no dupe. The real-deal Beautyblender is the way to go."
"Hands down, this is the best CC cream I've ever tried. I actually don't know how I ever lived without it. It's really insane for people with hyperpigmentation (me!), and there's SPF 50 in it. The coverage is unreal. I've told a few makeup artists about it, and now they rave about it."
"This is the perfect traveling mask, especially for warmer climates. It's cooling, tightening, and makes your skin unbelievably delicious and buttery. It's also good for every single skin type: oily, dry, sensitive, combination, and normal. My husband even tried it on, and he was very much into it. After trying the mask, I discovered that it was really shrinking my pores and helping with dullness, uneven tone, and texture. But the main thing you can expect with this mask is a minimized appearance of pores."
"Sleeping on silk is so good for your hair and skin. It helps retain moisture, helps skincare stay on better, and won't tangle or frizz up your hair. When I moved a few years ago, I somehow lost mine and didn't get a new one for a bit. My facialist and hairstylist could totally tell and knew something was up."
"Lauren and Marianna killed it with this lip butter. It's so moisturizing and perfect during or after a flight. I love the vanilla, too. Very moisturizing."
"When I use this in my hair, everyone asks me what perfume I'm wearing. It can be used on damp or dry hair, and it helps strengthen, hydrate, and protect it. I think I've probably been through 10 bottles."
"Everyone who knows me knows that I never wash my hair. Like, I'm all about letting it go as long as I can. It's disgusting, really, but this dry shampoo helps keep my hair fresh and smelling fresh, too."
"Get yourself some organic bamboo baby washcloths, and keep them specifically for your face. They're so fab to use when you double cleanse, and they're gentle for your delicate skin."
"I do this all over my body every single day. It gets rid of dry skin, and, similar to how a facial massage stimulates collagen and blood flow, it also helps with lymphatic drainage and feels so good. I go hard using it."
"I've been using this since high school, and it's so affordable and lasts forever. You dab it on the inner corners of your eyes, and it makes the whites of your eyes pop. And your teeth, too!"
"You'll find these all around my house—in my bathroom, my handbag, and strategically placed on my husband's desk. I love a bold brow and always want the hairs to be brushed up."
Next: I Founded 2 Brands, Have 4 Kids, and Love Beauty—Here's What I Use
Caitie Schlisserman is an L.A.-based executive director with over a decade of branded content and editorial experience. She joined Who What Wear in 2014 as the first branded content editor and has worked her way up to overseeing a team of talented branded content editors and the beauty department of the media revenue team. Before Who What Wear, Caitie helped launch FabFitFun's first subscription box and worked at a beauty startup where she assisted in successfully launching the editorial department.
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