The Lineup is a monthly series where we’re giving you an inside peek at the beauty lineups of cool fashion people, editors, makeup artists, hairstylists, and estheticians—all the people we trust the most. Get ready for a behind-the-scenes look at all the can’t-live-without products that make their worlds go ’round.
Let’s flash back to 17-year-old me, who spent weekday afternoons bingeing YouTube videos while all anyone could hear from outside my bedroom door was, “Hey guys! Welcome back to my channel,” on a loop. On many of these afternoons, while my eyes were glued to the screen and I made mental notes of which products to buy over the weekend, it was Desi Perkins’s voice coming out of my laptop speakers. When her videos popped up in my subscription box, I was ready to receive any and all of her advice, from winged-eyeliner tutorials and eye shadow–palette reviews to hair how-tos. Fast-forward seven years, and I’m still turning to Perkins for beauty advice. But naturally, we’ve both evolved: She’s an online sensation and entrepreneur with eyewear and skincare brands, and I’m a fashion and beauty editor who can buy as many of her top picks as I want and share them all with you.
Perkins has spent most of her career in front of the camera serving us full glam looks that fill our saved folders on Instagram, so it’s no surprise that she emphasizes the importance of skin health. “I had pretty temperamental skin growing up. I had acne on my cheeks, and it trickled into adulthood, which is why I became so interested in skin health and later went on to start my own skincare line,” says Perkins. Dezi Skin is all about powerful formulas that actually work (not to mention their beautiful packaging), and that’s a mission I can get behind.
I’ve considered Perkins my own personal source of expert skincare and beauty tips since I was a teenager, so needless to say, I’m taking notes on the advice she’s dropping now. When it comes to skincare, Perkins is a firm believer in the idea that what you put inside your body has a direct impact on your skin, but when she wants a little something extra, she turns to laser facials. “I feel if you are going to splurge, you want to do it on something that works, and there are many out there for different problem areas. Speaking of lasers, laser hair removal was also incredible!” she says. But ultimately, Perkins’s beauty and skincare advice is simple (like, three-words simple): Don’t overdo it. BRB—I need to go write this on my bathroom mirror. “Target what your skin concerns are, and create a simple routine,” says Perkins. Below, she’s sharing the products that make up her own simple routine, so keep scrolling for her recs. (And maybe grab a pen).
Next: 11 Mood-Boosting Beauty Products From Someone Who Wants You to Feel Good