What’s Been Up
Gen Z vs millennials: Who had better hair trends?
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Ah, turning 20. It’s the age we all romanticise, isn’t it? A backstage pass to freedom, adventure and all the life choices your teenage self only dreamt about. But, spoiler alert: entering the decade isn’t all late-night drives and bottomless brunches. Instead, it comes with a plot twist of epic proportions. Suddenly, “summer vacations” are out and “nine-to-five grinds” are in. And while you’re clocking hours and chasing deadlines, you’re also juggling friendships, family, fitness goals, finances, happy hours and don’t even get me started on the existential crises.
The burnout is real. Though everyone has their coping mechanisms, mine comes wrapped in a comforting ritual—a pared-back beauty routine that feels like an exhale after a long day. It’s a reminder that I’ve got at least one thing under control. It’s a sharp pivot from those 10-step Instagram routines that practically scream ‘do more’. My mantra? Do less but do it well. Your skin—and your sanity—will thank you.
So, consider this your guide to surviving the whirlwind of your early 20s with a no-fuss beauty ritual that works harder than you do. No fluff, just a handful of products and a whole lot of self-love. Because if life’s going to throw curveballs, at least your skin will be glowing through it all.
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If you’re anything like me—desk-bound and battling the unforgiving chill of office air conditioning—you know that the struggle of dry, flaky skin is real. It didn’t take long for my beauty writer radar to clock those pesky flakes, which led me to the harsh realisation: my old cleanser just wasn’t cutting it anymore. Enter my hydration MVP—a gentler, ultra-nourishing cleanser, Simple Kind To Skin Refreshing Facial Wash, that’s been prepping my skin for the office workday ever since.
Here’s my secret: I skip the morning cleanse altogether. My dry skin thrives on its natural oils overnight, so why strip those away? So I cleanse thoroughly at night, sealing everything in with my usual moisturiser, Simple Water Boost Hydrating Gel Creme. I’ve ditched serums—call it minimalism or self-preservation—because chasing the actives for my skin led to more stress (and breakouts) than I signed up for. Instead, I’ve invested in a moisturiser that multitasks like a pro, doing everything I need for skin maintenance without the guesswork.
My morning lineup is refreshingly simple. Moisturiser followed by the SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Hyalu-Cica SPF 50+ sunscreen (a non-negotiable that my office besties kindly bullied me into adopting). I can’t believe I went years without it—regret is an understatement.
As for makeup, I’m a sleepy commuter with a 15-minute window to make magic happen. My foolproof trio features a lip-and-cheek tint paired with The Face Shop Water Fit Lip Tint - Cherry Kiss for an ‘I woke up like this’ flush, plus the MUA Lash and Brow Defining Clear Gel Mascara to fluff my lashes and tame the brows.
A quick midday touch-up with Akind’s Stick With It Super Smooth Sun Stick and a swipe of tint keep me good until 5 PM. Efficiency is the name of the game.
Living weekend to weekend isn’t just a vibe—it’s my entire personality. Corporate girls in their 20s know the drill: brunches, errands and maybe a little dancing if the mood strikes. But when it comes to my beauty routine, I like to slow things down. After all, weekends are for unwinding.
Here’s my pared-back approach: I start with a clean slate—literally—with my usual cleanser. For my pores, I skip the complicated acids and reach for my old-school favourite, Biore’s Deep Cleansing Black Nose Strips. I use them twice a week—they unclog my pores and leave my soul oddly satisfied.
Next comes my favourite ritual—masking. Fun fact: as soon as I started earning “adult” money, I splurged on face masks like they were collectibles. Plus, nothing feels more indulgent than watching my current K-drama obsession (hello, Mr. Plankton) while my skin soaks up all the goodness. Do I occasionally debate investing in eye gel patches? Sure. But for now, I’m letting fate (and freebies) decide.
Your 20s are basically Pandora’s box—equal parts chaos and self discovery. And one of the biggest lessons I’ve learnt is that beauty is less about perfection and more about feeling good in your skin. Teenage me was all about maximalism but these days, I’m a minimalist at heart. My beauty motto? Keep it simple.
That said, consistency is a goal I’m still working towards. Some nights, exhaustion wins and my routine takes a backseat. But I’m learning to show up for myself—after all, if life happens every day, my skin deserves a little TLC to keep up.
I’m also considering introducing a pop of colour to my makeup routine (it’s time to break out of my neutrals comfort zone) and keeping tabs on beauty tech innovations. Sure, they’ll probably cost a small fortune but, hey, that’s what those nine-to-fives are for, right?
If you’re anything like me—desk-bound and battling the unforgiving chill of office air conditioning—you know that the struggle of dry, flaky skin is real. It didn’t take long for my beauty writer radar to clock those pesky flakes, which led me to the harsh realisation: my old cleanser just wasn’t cutting it anymore. Enter my hydration MVP—a gentler, ultra-nourishing cleanser, Simple Kind To Skin Refreshing Facial Wash, that’s been prepping my skin for the office workday ever since.
Here’s my secret: I skip the morning cleanse altogether. My dry skin thrives on its natural oils overnight, so why strip those away? So I cleanse thoroughly at night, sealing everything in with my usual moisturiser, Simple Water Boost Hydrating Gel Creme. I’ve ditched serums—call it minimalism or self-preservation—because chasing the actives for my skin led to more stress (and breakouts) than I signed up for. Instead, I’ve invested in a moisturiser that multitasks like a pro, doing everything I need for skin maintenance without the guesswork.
My morning lineup is refreshingly simple. Moisturiser followed by the SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Hyalu-Cica SPF 50+ sunscreen (a non-negotiable that my office besties kindly bullied me into adopting). I can’t believe I went years without it—regret is an understatement.
As for makeup, I’m a sleepy commuter with a 15-minute window to make magic happen. My foolproof trio features a lip-and-cheek tint paired with The Face Shop Water Fit Lip Tint - Cherry Kiss for an ‘I woke up like this’ flush, plus the MUA Lash and Brow Defining Clear Gel Mascara to fluff my lashes and tame the brows.
A quick midday touch-up with Akind’s Stick With It Super Smooth Sun Stick and a swipe of tint keep me good until 5 PM. Efficiency is the name of the game.
Living weekend to weekend isn’t just a vibe—it’s my entire personality. Corporate girls in their 20s know the drill: brunches, errands and maybe a little dancing if the mood strikes. But when it comes to my beauty routine, I like to slow things down. After all, weekends are for unwinding.
Here’s my pared-back approach: I start with a clean slate—literally—with my usual cleanser. For my pores, I skip the complicated acids and reach for my old-school favourite, Biore’s Deep Cleansing Black Nose Strips. I use them twice a week—they unclog my pores and leave my soul oddly satisfied.
Next comes my favourite ritual—masking. Fun fact: as soon as I started earning “adult” money, I splurged on face masks like they were collectibles. Plus, nothing feels more indulgent than watching my current K-drama obsession (hello, Mr. Plankton) while my skin soaks up all the goodness. Do I occasionally debate investing in eye gel patches? Sure. But for now, I’m letting fate (and freebies) decide.
Your 20s are basically Pandora’s box—equal parts chaos and self discovery. And one of the biggest lessons I’ve learnt is that beauty is less about perfection and more about feeling good in your skin. Teenage me was all about maximalism but these days, I’m a minimalist at heart. My beauty motto? Keep it simple.
That said, consistency is a goal I’m still working towards. Some nights, exhaustion wins and my routine takes a backseat. But I’m learning to show up for myself—after all, if life happens every day, my skin deserves a little TLC to keep up.
I’m also considering introducing a pop of colour to my makeup routine (it’s time to break out of my neutrals comfort zone) and keeping tabs on beauty tech innovations. Sure, they’ll probably cost a small fortune but, hey, that’s what those nine-to-fives are for, right?
If you’re anything like me—desk-bound and battling the unforgiving chill of office air conditioning—you know that the struggle of dry, flaky skin is real. It didn’t take long for my beauty writer radar to clock those pesky flakes, which led me to the harsh realisation: my old cleanser just wasn’t cutting it anymore. Enter my hydration MVP—a gentler, ultra-nourishing cleanser, Simple Kind To Skin Refreshing Facial Wash, that’s been prepping my skin for the office workday ever since.
Here’s my secret: I skip the morning cleanse altogether. My dry skin thrives on its natural oils overnight, so why strip those away? So I cleanse thoroughly at night, sealing everything in with my usual moisturiser, Simple Water Boost Hydrating Gel Creme. I’ve ditched serums—call it minimalism or self-preservation—because chasing the actives for my skin led to more stress (and breakouts) than I signed up for. Instead, I’ve invested in a moisturiser that multitasks like a pro, doing everything I need for skin maintenance without the guesswork.
My morning lineup is refreshingly simple. Moisturiser followed by the SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Hyalu-Cica SPF 50+ sunscreen (a non-negotiable that my office besties kindly bullied me into adopting). I can’t believe I went years without it—regret is an understatement.
As for makeup, I’m a sleepy commuter with a 15-minute window to make magic happen. My foolproof trio features a lip-and-cheek tint paired with The Face Shop Water Fit Lip Tint - Cherry Kiss for an ‘I woke up like this’ flush, plus the MUA Lash and Brow Defining Clear Gel Mascara to fluff my lashes and tame the brows.
A quick midday touch-up with Akind’s Stick With It Super Smooth Sun Stick and a swipe of tint keep me good until 5 PM. Efficiency is the name of the game.
Living weekend to weekend isn’t just a vibe—it’s my entire personality. Corporate girls in their 20s know the drill: brunches, errands and maybe a little dancing if the mood strikes. But when it comes to my beauty routine, I like to slow things down. After all, weekends are for unwinding.
Here’s my pared-back approach: I start with a clean slate—literally—with my usual cleanser. For my pores, I skip the complicated acids and reach for my old-school favourite, Biore’s Deep Cleansing Black Nose Strips. I use them twice a week—they unclog my pores and leave my soul oddly satisfied.
Next comes my favourite ritual—masking. Fun fact: as soon as I started earning “adult” money, I splurged on face masks like they were collectibles. Plus, nothing feels more indulgent than watching my current K-drama obsession (hello, Mr. Plankton) while my skin soaks up all the goodness. Do I occasionally debate investing in eye gel patches? Sure. But for now, I’m letting fate (and freebies) decide.
Your 20s are basically Pandora’s box—equal parts chaos and self discovery. And one of the biggest lessons I’ve learnt is that beauty is less about perfection and more about feeling good in your skin. Teenage me was all about maximalism but these days, I’m a minimalist at heart. My beauty motto? Keep it simple.
That said, consistency is a goal I’m still working towards. Some nights, exhaustion wins and my routine takes a backseat. But I’m learning to show up for myself—after all, if life happens every day, my skin deserves a little TLC to keep up.
I’m also considering introducing a pop of colour to my makeup routine (it’s time to break out of my neutrals comfort zone) and keeping tabs on beauty tech innovations. Sure, they’ll probably cost a small fortune but, hey, that’s what those nine-to-fives are for, right?
