Our Year in Beauty: 2018
Reflecting (no pun intended) back on 2018, we here at The Attic embraced not only our natural beauty, skincare as self care, and exploring new ideas in makeup, but also embraced our freedom to take or leave these same cultural expectations as we pleased. Here, a few of us discuss our beauty highlights (pun intended) and what we hope to carry into 2019.
What was more important to you in 2018, skincare or makeup?
Rory Mara: This is always a difficult one for me. I feel like I have to be honest here, makeup is always fun but skincare is my priority. 2018 has been the year I finally learned to stick to a routine and it made a whole lot of difference.
Lauren Olmeda: Skincare has been my number one this year too -- Glossier made a dramatic entrance into my life and without their Milky Jelly Cleanser, I’d be a lost woman. I find that if you really make an effort with skincare, makeup becomes easier; now that I know how to properly wash and take care of my face, my makeup goes on (and stays on) much better. I also became a huge fan of Caudalie products this year, especially their Moisture Recovery Cream.
Raquel Reyes: Agreed! While I enjoy dressing up, my face included, for specific occasions, skincare is what I try to practice as often as possible. Even when I can’t bring myself to a long routine I always tone and moisturize.
Olivia Gündüz-Willemin: I’ve always been on team skincare. I love my makeup, but making sure I take care of my skin has always been a priority. 2018 was specifically a year where I learned about cleansers. I too discovered Glossier’s Milky Jelly Cleanser and fell in love with it. I know Glossier’s supposed to be hyped, but that specific product is a dream and has me converted. Still, it’s not exactly easy to get a hold of in Switzerland, so I tried a few other things and settled on Nuxe’s Micellar Foaming Cleanser with rose petals, which I’ve been through two bottles of so far and have decided I love just as much.What will you take you with you in your 2018 routine and what would you ditch?
RM: 2019 me definitely needs some more of Beauty Pie’s Plantastic Micropeeling Super Drops, because they have absolutely changed my skin for the better and been a great ally in the ongoing struggle against hormonal acne. Concerning the ditching, well, that’s an even easier answer. I am going to ditch all the negativity around my love for makeup and skincare - 2019 is going to be the year I embrace what makes me feel good and gives me peace.
LO: I am taking the 60 second rule into 2019: who knew that for your cleanser to work, you have to actually cleanse your face for 60 entire seconds? I just sing the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air theme song in my head and voila -- face is clean. I’m definitely ditching harsh exfoliating. For years I’ve thought that the harder I exfoliate, the clearer my skin will be, and I couldn’t be more wrong.
RR: This year I started experimenting more with oils and serums, (Sunday Riley’s Luna has been an absolute favorite! A little goes a long way so I pick it up in lower priced bundles as opposed to the pricey full size.) and I’ve definitely let myself go. For my skin’s sake I’d like to bring a more consistent routine into the new year. I’m ditching acids and anything with too much alcohol, the smell gives me a headache and all it does is dry my skin out.
OGW: I’m bringing mindfulness and self care into my 2019 routine. I’m an extremely anxious person who struggles to turn off my mind. Since I always find the time I spend on my skincare routine to be calming, I want to make more of it this year by eliminating any need to rush while going through it. It’s a perfect time to be in the moment while also taking care of yourself. I’m also happily taking the pink quartz roller Rory gifted me for Christmas along with me to help with that as it’s a good way to give yourself a facial massage, and in my case, help relax my very tense facial muscles. As for ditching things – I'm ditching any effort to try and use retinols. I’m not interested in them, and I’d rather work on taking care of what goes on in my mind and body, rather than trying to eliminate a layer of skin.Which product changed your beauty routine?
RM: I have spoken of Plantastic Super Drops, but there is another thing that has completely improved the look of my skin, and that is Retinol. I use Beauty Pie’s Super Retinol Eye Cream and Super Retinol (+ Vitamin C) Night Renewal Moisturizer twice a week (I don’t want my skin to get too used to it), and I swear that the lines near my eyes disappeared and I feel 18 again.
LO: Without a doubt, Glossier’s Milky Jelly Cleanser. It removes makeup, softens the texture of my skin, and leaves me feeling fresh as a daisy.
RR: Bite Beauty’s Agave Lip Mask. While I’m obsessed with the fact that it’s safely edible and delicious, regular use has completely improved my usually chapped lips and made lipstick application much easier.
OGW: Toner, oddly enough. I thought it was another unnecessary product and reluctantly tried it, but adding a rosewater-based toner to my routine further cleanses and calms my skin and makes it look brighter.What makeup trend have you tried and loved?
RM: This year I went for even darker and bolder eyebrows, and I am never looking back!
LO: Loads of highlighter - Becca highlighters are my new fave!
RR: I tried glittery eyes over the summer and felt like a proper goddess. Will definitely have to do it more often.
OGW: I don’t know if it’s a trend, but same as Raquel. I bought a very sparkly but what turned out to be a nude eyeshadow for my skin tone in the spring, and I’ve worked it into my every day look and love it.What self-care ritual has been the most important?
RM: Sheet masks have provided me with a good excuse to sit back and just be in the moment, something that helped me deal with a very frenetic lifestyle. My favourite one has been Dr. Jart’s Ultra-fine Microfiber Clearing Sheet Mask.
LO: Properly moisturising my body, especially my arms and legs. I tend to skim over the rest of my skin in favour of my face, but nightly applications of body lotion makes all the difference in the world.
RR: A bit random, but making sure to brush out my hair before bed. I keep it in a top knot when I’m busy and learned the hard way that sleeping in it gives me migraines. Treating myself to a Mason Pearson Hair Brush early last year has provided incentive to the task.
OGW: Ha, well now I want to take up brushing my hair before sleep. I loved doing that when I was little because I thought it would help me time travel with my hundred strokes before bed. Eventually I got lazy, and I feel like I might benefit from brushing it more. In all seriousness though, just taking the time to listen to my body and go through my routines has been the most helpful thing for me – especially taking the time to moisturise more than just my face!In terms of haircare, what changed or is going to change for you?
RM: The last part of 2018 was one of great changes for me, and to add on that I decided to go blonde! This then meant taking even greater care as I lighten my hair more and more, nurturing it with masks like Lush’s ‘Damaged’ Hot Oil Treatment.
LO: Definitely more hair masks in 2019! My curls have never looked or felt better as they do after a proper moisture mask.
RR: Well now it seems I’ve got to go buy a hair mask or twenty.
OGW: I do very little with my hair. I try to get a good haircut every couple of months, and all I have do otherwise is wash and condition it once a week… with a good hair mask every once in a while.Dramatic highlighters are here to stay, it seems, but which one was your favourite?
RM: I would like to take this chance to thank Rihanna for the gift that is Fenty Beauty’s Killawatt Highlighter Duo in ‘Lightining Dust’/’Fire Crystal.’
LO: Like I mentioned before, Becca highlighters are the absolute dream. I use mine as an eyeshadow as well, and you really only need a small amount for a huge impact.
RR: I can’t say I’ve had a favorite but I’m hoping to find one in 2019!
OGW: I love my Bobbi Brown highlighter. I’ve had the same “Pink Glow” compact for the last year and a half and it’s still going strong.
Contouring, yay or nay?
RM: Yes, contouring for life! But always natural!
LO: Nay for me, but I love the way it looks on other people! I just can’t get it right on myself.
RR: Agreed its a hard nay for me; although I’ve had it done to me and didn’t mind the way it looked, it wasn’t enough to convince adding to my routine.
OGW: Hate.The beauty scene was swept away by the MET Gala and many other red carpets’ dramatic look; which one was your favourite?
LO: I have to go with the Met Gala, of course. So many risks are taken on that red carpet and with the incredible theme this year, I was so amazed by all of the looks created.
RM: As our readers will know the MET Gala inspired a whole look on my part, as a Catholic-raised Italian woman, the theme just spoke to me intimately. You can check my rendition here!
K(orean)-beauty, J(apanese)-beauty, A(ustralian)-beauty; what trend had the biggest influence on you?
RM: I would have to go with K-beauty on a general level, but I have recently started using Australian Pink Clay and I love it!
LO: For myself I can’t say I was really influenced by any of them, but as I live in Ireland I’m always seeing Irish women, who are amazing with makeup, trying out new, funky looks. Irish women are always at the top of their brow game!
RR: Like Lauren, I can’t say any have influenced, mainly as I haven’t spent much time looking into their trends and styles. As I hope to learn more and establish a beauty routine that works for me in the coming year I’ll have to look them up!
OGW: Mostly, same. I’ve tried a couple of products here and there, but now that I know what works for me, I’m happy sticking to my routines. I’d love to get my hands on Japanese sunscreen come summer though.
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