Emma Josephine

If I had to pick my #1 role model and inspiration, it would be the one and only Lauryn Evarts of The Skinny Confidential. Simply put: she is a goddess and everything I want to be.

What I love about Lauryn is that her content is both beautiful and valuable:

Her signature Barbie-pink aesthetic is stunning
She has a cheeky and engaging tone that makes topics like self development, wellness, and complicated skincare understandable, actionable, and fun!
On top of that, she also has created a community of empowered and confident women

She proves you can be a successful boss, GSD, and look hot while doing it. If that’s not goals, idk what is.

Her book Get the F♥ck Out of the Sun is a skincare bible. Lauryn shares her skin journey, advice, product recs, tutorials – and so much more! It’s complete with her sassy, conversational way of writing, and beautifully packaged in her glamorous pink aesthetic.

It’s only natural that Lauryn would give us *the skinny*, so it’s filled with insider tips and tricks. Sprinkled throughout the book are interviews with dermatologists, aestheticians, plastic surgeons, celebrities, and skincare influencers – and trust me, they deliver.

There are a plethora of tangible takeaways from this book; truly something for everyone to help you on your journey to your best skin. Here are the top tips that I took away from the book that I implement into my skincare routine.

Sunscreen (Duh)

Ever since I was little, my mom has always emphasized to me the importance of wearing sunscreen. She’s 60 (side note – her birthday was yesterday!) and has amazingly smooth skin, so she knows what she’s talking about! But, I will admit, in my teens I got a little lazy with sunscreen in terms of everyday application, and would only put it on when I went to the beach. I learned sunscreen is for everyday, not just for days when we’ll intentionally be in the sun! Since I have sensitive skin, I opt for a mineral sunscreen. My favorite is the Clinique SPF 50 Mineral Sunscreen, and I’ve also found that the Cetaphil Sheer Mineral Sunscreen is a good dupe for this. I’ve spoken with a number of dermatologists, aestheticians, and skincare professionals, and they all agree that sunscreen is the #1 thing we can do right now to improve our skin. And come on, if Lauryn named her book after it - you know it’s important. I’ll be honest, I’m still working on the physically avoiding the sun part. It's hard because I love the feeling of the sun on my skin (and the beach is my favorite place on earth.) But, you bet I have my sunscreen, sunglasses, and big, embarrassing sunhat on while I’m there. As we prepare for hot girl summer, this tip is as important as ever!

Dermaplane

Idk why, but I was a bit scared of dermaplaning (aka shaving your face) at first. But then I actually tried it – and ooh—I love. It makes your skin smooth and baby-soft. So long as I’m not on my period and don’t have any breakouts, if I put a liiiittle bit of foundation on to even out my skin tone, I feel basically unstoppable. You can also do similar techniques like microneedling, microdermabrasion, and dermarolling (I’ve yet to give them a try tho!)

Lymphatic drainage and ice rolling

I love lymphatic drainage, and of course we can’t forget about Lauryn’s iconic pink ice roller (it’s so gorgeous; it’s worth it even if you just have it in your bathroom to look at) If you're balling on a budget, tho, all you need is some moisturizer, aloe, or oil for slip and can use your hands to perform a lymphatic drainage massage. It promotes circulation, releases toxins, and is the perfect opportunity for a moment of self care!

Simplify your routine

There’s nothing inherently wrong with a multi-step skincare routine, but it can be overwhelming and too harsh for the skin, especially if you have sensitive skin like me. Numerous experts featured in the book said that when they simplified their skincare routine down to fewer products, their skin improved dramatically. So, stick to a basic, simple, and consistent routine (more on this below.) As a side note, everyone's skincare routine and needs are going to be different, so find what works best for you!

Preventative skincare and lifestyle changes

The majority of the book explains things that we can do to help prevent things like aging, wrinkles, dark spots, and hyperpigmentation. Lauryn states that it truly starts with our lifestyle, things like:

Diet – unprocessed whole foods are the best
Hydration – drink up! Water moisturizes your skin from the inside out
Exercise – the benefits are endless: circulation, stress relief, and keeping things tight and right
Sleep – gotta get your beauty rest
Stress management – meditation, journaling, yoga, whatever you like!

As well as a simple, yet effective skincare routine:

Cleanser/double cleanse
Serum/treatment targeted to your needs
Moisturizer
Sunscreen!

These are the things that truly make the most impactful difference. You can totally do more advanced techniques and treatments like facials, laser, botox, fillers, etc. (no judgment here; I want to get botox!), but what works the BEST is preventative skincare (aka 90% of the book.)

All in all, this book is a masterpiece and a resource that you’ll refer back to again and again. I would also highly recommend following Lauryn if you don’t already. She’ll change your life – guaranteed! ♥