Full beard care manifesto on my substack coming in two weeks - stay tuned. TLDR; shave with the grain, use alcohol-free witch hazel (contains tannic acid) to calm razor burn, moisturize after
1. Moisturizer link seems to also go to cleanser, can you share the moisturizer?
2. Wdyt about diet/supplementation for skin health? E.g. I take collagen (powder) and hyaluronic acid (capsule), and I've read that eating lots of veggies/fruits/healthy oils can ensure skin has proper antioxidant levels to help it resist sun damage. My skin seems to be doing well, but would love to hear an expert opinion.
Workouts on the road:
Solid advice, I've worn compression socks when flying for years. If no gym is available you can do "prison style" workouts in your hotel room. I always pack a lacrosse ball, small foam roller, etc for tactical soft tissue work as well.
1. Apologies - look for "Vanicream moisturizer" or "Vanicream lite lotion"
2. Bearish on the bioavailability of collagen powders and oral hyaluronic acid. You're better off stimulating collagen production topically (via retinoids, vitC, etc.) and applying a topical version of HA if you need it. You can think of HA almost acting like glycogen (read: carbs) by binding to environmental water which will provide both hydration and a temporary plumping effect. An optimal diet for skin health is no different than an optimal diet for holistic health + organ meat twice a month will probably cover your bases if you want increased vitamin A in your diet. And yes, there is evidence that dietary astaxanthin (found in shrimp for example) can reduce photosensitivity and therefore also your chances of burning.
2. Re: collagen bioavailability--certainly true for collagen fibers. I should have clarified I take collagen peptides, i.e. collagen broken down into its constituent amino acids. I also take it on its own, w/o methionine-containing protein sources, because methionine competes for absorption with glycine (the main amino acid in collagen and often the rate-limiting step in collagen synthesis). I also consume vitamin C with it (usually in the form of a fruit, like a kiwi or an orange), as vitamin C is needed for collagen synthesis. Does any of that change your opinion on bioavailability? Ideally I would drink bone broth, but...compromises. I will have to revisit the oral HA supplementation research, but I recall there was at least some evidence it could be beneficial. An important note is that I want to support my cartilage/joint health as well as my skin health, which is why I've focused so much on oral supplements/foods. Retinol works great on the skin but doesn't affect joints. My current moisturizer does contain HA, however.
Speaking of foods, thanks for the tip on astaxanthin, I hadn't heard about its photosensitivity-reducing effects! (Am familiar w/it as a niche omega-3.) I do take a beef liver supplement currently, although I should really make the time to source and prepare high-quality organ meat (have done it in the past, but again...compromises).
Hi Fawn, thanks a lot for the great post, any recommendations in terms of body wash? Been using simple soaps all my life but realise it is harsh on the skin and not sure what to switch to instead.. Many thanks!
IMO not a huge deal as it's only on your body for a minute before getting washed off. If you feel what you're using is too drying, you could consider switching to the bar soap from Vanicream. BowTiedFarmer sells homemade soap on his Twitter/website as well.
I love the one I linked in the post above - formula is a gentle 0.3% encapsulated retinol + niacinamide + licorice root, good recipe for anti-aging and skin brightening
Chad here; can confirm the importance of proper skin care for seducing the babes or dudes if you're into that. Either way take care of your skin and it'll take care of you.
Question for Fawn - What are your thoughts on mattifying gels for oily skin? I use OC8 mattifying gel daily and it's been working but I'm concerned about long term effects especially given the fact they can contain parabens.
Not my favorite because the formulas tend to be overly stripping. Sebum is essential for a healthy skin barrier in the right dose. Re: parabens, I'm familiar with the literature and am not convinced that there's a cause for concern around endocrine disruption. That being said, I also believe everyone should manage their own individual risk and comfort levels; if you're concerned about parabens, choose products that are formulated without them.
With the AM cleanser - moisturizer eurizer, is it okay to apply them back to back? or do we take time in-between? How often should we reapply sunscreen?
Hi BowTied Fawn thanks for your contribution - v useful and interesting! When choosing an SPF does it need to be over factor 30? Or is 15 okay?
Thanks!
Not a huge difference but I opt for 30+ because I like the insurance of greater UVA protection :)
Thanks to BowTiedFawn's Twitter, I added "CeraVe SA Cleanser" to my skincare routine.
For the degens, buy a large tube of Retin-A ("Tretinoina", 0.025%) when you're in Latin America.
Skincare do's/don'ts for immediately after shaving? Any changes to above protocol?
Full beard care manifesto on my substack coming in two weeks - stay tuned. TLDR; shave with the grain, use alcohol-free witch hazel (contains tannic acid) to calm razor burn, moisturize after
My skincare: having a good genetic
4$ nivea moisturizing cream each month, that's it
This is perfect.
When we getting the BowtiedFawn skin care product line?!!
Probably nothing
Skincare:
1. Moisturizer link seems to also go to cleanser, can you share the moisturizer?
2. Wdyt about diet/supplementation for skin health? E.g. I take collagen (powder) and hyaluronic acid (capsule), and I've read that eating lots of veggies/fruits/healthy oils can ensure skin has proper antioxidant levels to help it resist sun damage. My skin seems to be doing well, but would love to hear an expert opinion.
Workouts on the road:
Solid advice, I've worn compression socks when flying for years. If no gym is available you can do "prison style" workouts in your hotel room. I always pack a lacrosse ball, small foam roller, etc for tactical soft tissue work as well.
1. Apologies - look for "Vanicream moisturizer" or "Vanicream lite lotion"
2. Bearish on the bioavailability of collagen powders and oral hyaluronic acid. You're better off stimulating collagen production topically (via retinoids, vitC, etc.) and applying a topical version of HA if you need it. You can think of HA almost acting like glycogen (read: carbs) by binding to environmental water which will provide both hydration and a temporary plumping effect. An optimal diet for skin health is no different than an optimal diet for holistic health + organ meat twice a month will probably cover your bases if you want increased vitamin A in your diet. And yes, there is evidence that dietary astaxanthin (found in shrimp for example) can reduce photosensitivity and therefore also your chances of burning.
1. Thanks!
2. Re: collagen bioavailability--certainly true for collagen fibers. I should have clarified I take collagen peptides, i.e. collagen broken down into its constituent amino acids. I also take it on its own, w/o methionine-containing protein sources, because methionine competes for absorption with glycine (the main amino acid in collagen and often the rate-limiting step in collagen synthesis). I also consume vitamin C with it (usually in the form of a fruit, like a kiwi or an orange), as vitamin C is needed for collagen synthesis. Does any of that change your opinion on bioavailability? Ideally I would drink bone broth, but...compromises. I will have to revisit the oral HA supplementation research, but I recall there was at least some evidence it could be beneficial. An important note is that I want to support my cartilage/joint health as well as my skin health, which is why I've focused so much on oral supplements/foods. Retinol works great on the skin but doesn't affect joints. My current moisturizer does contain HA, however.
Speaking of foods, thanks for the tip on astaxanthin, I hadn't heard about its photosensitivity-reducing effects! (Am familiar w/it as a niche omega-3.) I do take a beef liver supplement currently, although I should really make the time to source and prepare high-quality organ meat (have done it in the past, but again...compromises).
Hi Fawn, thanks a lot for the great post, any recommendations in terms of body wash? Been using simple soaps all my life but realise it is harsh on the skin and not sure what to switch to instead.. Many thanks!
IMO not a huge deal as it's only on your body for a minute before getting washed off. If you feel what you're using is too drying, you could consider switching to the bar soap from Vanicream. BowTiedFarmer sells homemade soap on his Twitter/website as well.
Any thoughts on hyaluronic acid? Been applying a few times a day every day.
Good hydrating ingredient
AWESOME post. Any retinol recs? Thanks!
I love the one I linked in the post above - formula is a gentle 0.3% encapsulated retinol + niacinamide + licorice root, good recipe for anti-aging and skin brightening
Fawn, thanks for this. I see a lot of retinol creams come with vitamins E, C, hyaluronic acid eg https://amzn.to/3QV5ppY Would you avoid these?
Depends on the dosage but in general those are all effective ingredients
pretty sure sun-protecting creams are cancerous?
Nope, debunked that in the SPF section here: https://bowtiedfawn.substack.com/p/3-basic-steps-to-skincare
Hi Fawn, great post.
If you wear sunscreen constantly, aren't you condemned to eternal whiteness?
Kek, not quite. Read the SPF section here: https://bowtiedfawn.substack.com/p/3-basic-steps-to-skincare
Chad here; can confirm the importance of proper skin care for seducing the babes or dudes if you're into that. Either way take care of your skin and it'll take care of you.
Question for Fawn - What are your thoughts on mattifying gels for oily skin? I use OC8 mattifying gel daily and it's been working but I'm concerned about long term effects especially given the fact they can contain parabens.
Not my favorite because the formulas tend to be overly stripping. Sebum is essential for a healthy skin barrier in the right dose. Re: parabens, I'm familiar with the literature and am not convinced that there's a cause for concern around endocrine disruption. That being said, I also believe everyone should manage their own individual risk and comfort levels; if you're concerned about parabens, choose products that are formulated without them.
Can confirm that man makers are efficient and suck majorly!
With the AM cleanser - moisturizer eurizer, is it okay to apply them back to back? or do we take time in-between? How often should we reapply sunscreen?