BEAUTY QUIPS

ISSUE NO. 5

CLEAN SLATE

A fresh start for your skin—and your routine.

FROM THE MANAGING EDITOR

A Little Less Perfect. A Little More Real.

There is something satisfying about starting fresh.

A clean kitchen counter.

Fresh sheets.

A new page in a notebook.

And, at the end of a long day, a clean face.

But somewhere along the way, beauty became very good at making us believe that “clean” meant complicated.

Double cleanse. Exfoliate. Tone. Treat. Moisturize. Mask. Repeat.

And while I love a good skincare ritual, I’ve learned something after years in the beauty industry:

The best routine isn’t necessarily the longest one. It’s the one you can actually live with.

Some nights I want the warm washcloth and the little cleansing ritual.

Other nights, I want something quick and convenient so I can get into bed.

Neither makes me a better or worse beauty girl.

They simply meet different versions of real life.

That’s what this week’s issue is about.

Not perfection.

Not a competition for the sake of competition.

Just finding the beauty choices that make sense for you.

So let’s wipe the slate clean—literally.

And begin again.

💕 Heather Managing Editor, Beauty Quips

THE COVER STORY

Clean Slate

What does “clean skin” actually mean?

Let’s start by taking some pressure off.

Clean skin does not mean perfect skin.

It doesn’t mean poreless.

It doesn’t mean glowing every second of the day.

And it certainly doesn’t mean you need an elaborate nighttime ritual every single evening.

Clean skin simply means you’ve removed the things that have accumulated on your skin throughout the day—makeup, sunscreen, oil, sweat, dirt and other impurities—so you’re starting with a fresh canvas.

Think of it as the reset button.

And for most of us, that reset begins with the first step of cleansing.

Why the first step matters

If you’re wearing makeup, SPF or simply dealing with the day’s buildup, removing those surface-level products and impurities is an important part of your evening routine.

This is where makeup removers and first-step cleansers come in.

Some women prefer a balm that melts makeup away and turns cleansing into a ritual.

Others want the convenience of grabbing a wipe and getting the job done.

Both approaches can have a place in a real-life beauty routine.

The goal isn’t to make cleansing another chore.

The goal is to find a method that helps you actually do it.

The Beauty Quips rule:

BEAUTY BATTLE

🫧 Cleansing Balm vs. Makeup Remover Wipes

This week’s Beauty Battle is a little different.

Because I’ve personally used—and genuinely like—both of these.

So I’m not interested in declaring one universally “better.”

Instead, we’re asking:

Which one is better for YOUR life?

IN THIS CORNER…

URBAN RETREAT

Luxury Cleansing Balm

There is something undeniably lovely about a cleansing balm.

Urban Retreat’s Luxury Cleansing Balm is designed as the first step in a double-cleansing routine. It’s applied to dry skin and massaged over the face, neck and décolleté before being removed with a warm, damp cloth. The brand says it helps dissolve makeup, SPF, excess oil and impurities while leaving skin feeling nourished and hydrated. (URBAN RETREAT)

Why I like it:

The experience.

This isn’t just “take your makeup off.”

It’s a little ritual.

Warm washcloth. Massage. A few extra minutes. Clean skin.

And I love that you can use your own washable cloth rather than reaching for a disposable wipe every night.

Best fit for:

💕 Your evening skincare ritual 💕 Slower nights 💕 Those who enjoy a more luxurious cleansing experience 💕 Anyone who likes the idea of reusable washcloths 💕 A double-cleansing routine

One thing to remember: because this is designed as the first step of a double cleanse, you’ll follow it with your regular cleanser.

AND IN THE OTHER CORNER…

RED ASPEN

Makeup Remover Wipes

Sometimes you don’t need a ritual.

Sometimes you need your makeup OFF.

Red Aspen’s Makeup Remover Wipes use micellar water and squalane and are designed to lift away makeup, dirt, oil and impurities. The company says they can be used as a standalone, no-rinse cleanse or as the first step before a facial cleanser.

Why I like them:

The convenience.

They’re easy.

They’re quick.

And they travel beautifully.

They’re the product I want when I’m exhausted, traveling, getting ready for bed after a long day, or simply don’t have the energy for a whole production.

Best fit for:

💕 Busy nights 💕 Travel 💕 Gym bags 💕 Keeping in your overnight bag 💕 Those “I just need to get this makeup off” moments

And here’s an important distinction: convenience isn’t a beauty failure.

Sometimes convenience is exactly what makes a routine sustainable.

SO…WHO WINS?

Here’s my honest answer:

Neither.

And I know—that’s not exactly how a Beauty Battle is supposed to work. 😂

But hear me out.

If I’m home and have a few minutes?

I’ll happily reach for the cleansing balm.

If I’m exhausted, traveling or just need to get my makeup off quickly?

Give me the wipes.

That’s why I don’t think beauty has to be about choosing one product and declaring everything else wrong.

Your life changes.

Your routine can change with it.

The real winner?

The product that helps you take care of your skin consistently.

MY BEAUTY BATTLE SCORECARD

*Red Aspen describes these wipes as 100% biodegradable, but they are still a disposable product.

Editor’s note:

This isn’t a scientific ranking.

It’s my real-life scorecard based on what each product does well.

And that’s exactly the point.

BEAUTY IN 10 MINUTES

The Clean Slate Reset

You don’t need an hour.

Try this:

Minute 1–2

Remove your makeup.

Whatever method you’re using, start here.

Minute 3–5

Cleanse.

Give your cleanser enough time to actually work instead of rushing through the process.

Minute 6

Pat dry.

Not a frantic towel rub.

Just gently pat your skin dry.

Minute 7–8

Apply your skincare.

Keep it simple.

Minute 9

Take a breath.

Seriously.

Minute 10

Go enjoy your evening.

Because skincare is supposed to support your life—not become another item on your to-do list.

BEAUTY MYTH vs. TRUTH

MYTH:

“If I use makeup wipes, I’m not really cleansing my skin.”

TRUTH:

It depends on the product and how you’re using it.

Red Aspen’s wipes are specifically designed to remove makeup, dirt, oil and impurities and can be used as a standalone no-rinse cleanse or as part of a two-step routine with a facial cleanser. (Red Aspen)

A wipe can also be an excellent first step when you’re wearing makeup and want to follow with your regular cleanser.

And sometimes?

Using a wipe is simply better than going to bed with a full face of makeup because you were too tired to do anything.

Real life matters.

FROM HEATHER’S VANITY

My Clean-Skin Confession

I don’t use the same method every night.

And I’m okay with that.

I used to think a beauty routine had to look the same every single day to “count.”

Now I think differently.

Some nights I want to slow down.

Some nights I want convenience.

Some nights I have time for the whole routine.

Some nights I’m thinking:

“If I don’t get this makeup off in the next thirty seconds, it’s staying on until morning.” 😂

The important thing is that I have options.

And honestly?

That’s what I want for you, too.

HEATHER’S PICKS

My Two Clean-Slate Essentials

For the nights when I want a little luxury:

🫧 Urban Retreat Luxury Cleansing Balm

It’s the warm-washcloth, slow-down, take-care-of-yourself choice.

Urban Retreat specifically recommends removing it with a warm damp cotton cloth and following with a second cleanser. (URBAN RETREAT)

For the nights when I need easy:

🤍 Red Aspen Makeup Remover Wipes

They’re my grab-and-go option.

The current Red Aspen bundle is a 3-pack, which is the version I’ve chosen for this Beauty Battle. (Red Aspen)

Different products. Different moments. Both useful.

LITTLE LUXURY

The Washcloth Upgrade

Want to make your cleansing routine feel a little more luxurious without spending more money?

Invest in a few soft, washable face cloths.

Fold them neatly.

Keep them somewhere easy to reach.

And when you’re ready to wash away the day, grab a fresh one.

It’s a tiny change.

But sometimes the tiny things are what turn a routine into a ritual.

READER CORNER

Your Turn

We’re talking about your real-life beauty routine this week.

So tell us:

What’s your makeup-removal personality?

A. Give me the full ritual. 🫧

B. Make it quick. 🤍

C. Somewhere in between.

D. I’m still trying to figure out what works!

There is no wrong answer.

And if you could only keep one makeup-removal product in your bathroom…

What would it be?

THE LITTLE BEAUTY QUIZ

Which Clean Slate Girl Are You?

A — The Ritualist You enjoy the process. A warm cloth, a little skincare and some quiet time? Yes, please.

B — The Realist You love beauty, but you have things to do. Give you something that works and doesn’t waste your time.

C — The Flexible One You know that different days call for different routines. Honestly? We think you’re onto something.

A LITTLE SOMETHING TO SHOP

Want to Explore the August Issue?

I’ve gathered some of the beauty favorites I’m featuring this month into my August Issue Shopping Collection.

If something you’ve seen in Beauty Quips catches your eye, this is the easiest place to take a closer look.

No pressure. No complicated routine. Just beauty that fits real life.

​Shop the August Issue Collection​

Some products linked through Beauty Quips may provide me with compensation. I only feature products I genuinely use, like, or believe are worth talking about.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

Sometimes it’s just washing your face.

Sometimes it’s putting down the phone.

Sometimes it’s starting tomorrow with a little less pressure than you had today.

CLOSING QUIP

Before You Go…

Tonight, take the day off.

The makeup.

The sunscreen.

The sweat.

The stress.

And maybe, just for a few minutes, the expectations, too.

You don’t need perfect skin.

You don’t need a perfect routine.

You simply need a little room to begin again.

That’s your clean slate.

💕

Beauty should fit your life—not complicate it. Because confidence is always in style.

NEXT WEEK

A new issue. A new beauty conversation.

Until then, stay beautiful—and keep making beauty fit your real life.

Heather I Beauty Quips
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