Beauty Baggage

In thinking of baggage, we may default to the suitcase pickup carousel at the airport or hauling heavy luggage in a race to catch flights. It is something that you hold and carry around with you. Outside of the airport, however, there is a type of baggage that we should not claim. Beauty baggage is something that you can’t unpack as easily as the swimsuits in your tote from spring break.

Beauty baggage is the hesitation you feel when choosing your favorite skincare product at the drugstore because an influencer deemed it an outdated trend. Or trying to shrug off the need to wear makeup to class to look presentable. This type of baggage is filled to the brim with stigma, stereotypes, bad reviews and someone else’s idea of beauty. It fails to acknowledge that every trip of self-discovery comes with baggage. It is up to the individual to sift through and seek out a routine that works for them, not anyone else.

Navigating how to find the best skincare products that work for you can be like weaving through a busy airport. The hashtag “skincare” on TikTok has close to 130 billion viewsalone. Each video features its own products, sponsorships and spokesperson.

Advice on “the right skincare for YOU” is everchanging and often neglects the basic criteria one should evaluate when choosing products for themselves. Before spending countless amounts of money, start fresh and get to know your skin. Treat your face as a friendly stranger sitting next to you on a layover flight. Make way for an introduction, learn the basics and absorb a little something new.

Shake off any old products or regimens that cause breakouts or irritation and splash your face with an old-fashioned and timeless treatment: water. Assess how oily or dry your skin is or whether it is a combination. Detect problem areas before buying that expensive cream. Sunscreen isn’t only for vacation. Recognize what sun protection and moisturization you will need. Just like you don’t need five pairs of jeans for a three-day trip, you might not need a 16-step skincare routine. Finally, try something new that meets your skin’s standards. Not your mother’s, friend’s, or favorite influencers– yours.

With overwhelming opinions, stereotypes and information on skincare, the stress of finding a face wash can be like booking a last-minute flight. Acting on an impulse with your skin does not allow you the time and care you deserve. Just like taking our lashes off after a wild night out, it is only fair that we shake off our beauty baggage. This freedom can take us to new places of our own. As we reintroduce ourselves to our skin, we have the opportunity to look at the world around us with fresh eyes– and an even fresher glow.

Style: Peggy Smith Writer: Peggy Smith Model: Rana Atassi Photo: Bella Lee and Audrey Richardson Glam: Ateeyah Abdul-Wasi and Evan Yalowitz