By now, you’ve probably seen Hudson Williams discuss his skincare routine courtesy of The Cut. We’ve tried most of what he’s using, and our reviews and tips are below. But first, here’s 20 minutes of frenetic aesthetic beautification from the man himself.
There’s a TON of info there, and so many products. We’ve tested out a few, and here’s what we found…
Shu Uemura Porefinist2 Sakura Refreshing Cleansing Oil
First, we tried the Shu Uemura Porefinist2 Sakura Refreshing Cleansing Oil. That’s the stuff in the big pink bottle. We noticed it that Hudson uses it a bit differently than recommended. He just takes one pump and rubs it into his face. They recommend:
- Take 3 to 4 pumps of cleansing oil onto the palms of hands.
- Gently smooth over the face.
- Wet face to emulsify cleansing oil.
- Rinse thoroughly with water.
Not that we don’t trust Hudson, but we went with their recommended use.
VERDICT: Yes, omfg, yes. I’m not sure what’s in this stuff, but it makes your face feel absolutely amazing. As a cleanser, it left my face feeling unbelievably soft and a little glow-y. It feels luxurious. The only downside is that this stuff is $100 / 450 ml bottle. That’s pricier than just about anything else he uses. However, if used as directed (3-4 pumps), it should last a very long time. With 2 weeks of daily use, I’ve barely made even a slight dent in the bottle.
Click to get Shu Uemura Porefinist2 Sakura Cleaning Oil.
SKIN 1004 Pomerizing Deep Cleansing Foam
Hudson uses this in the mornings as a face cleaner. He lathers up and rubs it all over his face, which is great, but we recommend dobbing some on a Clairsonic Face Brush and spreading it all around. The motion of the face brush seems to help getting a deeper, more satisfying clean. This stuff isn’t all that pricy ($16.99), and better than that bar of Irish Spring you’ve been using.
VERDICT: Worth the price. Also – if you don’t want to shell out $100 for the Clairsonic, we recommend the COSLUS Face Scrubber Facial Cleansing Brush for just $27.99.
Click to get SKIN 1004 Pomerizing Deep Cleansing Foam
Le Labo Santal 33 Shower Gel
Assuming you’ve moved on from that bar of Irish Spring, a good shower gel/body wash can make a huge difference. Hudson’s quite fond of the Le Labo Santal 33, and we can see why. We’re not sure how a shower gel can smell sexy, but it does. It’s not strong or overpowering in any way, but it smells just like you hope Shane does. It doesn’t lather up nearly as much as most body washes, but you’re left feeling nice ‘n’ clean afterwards.
VERDICT: It’s $65/bottle, which is a bit much, but it’s a fun splurge. You’ve already given up carbs, so you deserve something nice instead. Search around the Internet, and you can find smaller sizes (3 oz) for your own trial scrub.
Click to get Le Labo Santal 33 Shower Gel
numbuzin No.3 Super Glowing Essence Toner
Dull skin? Uneven skin? Do you look like you haven’t slept in a week? This will help! We noticed that we looked wide awake and alert with just a little use. It evens your skin without feeling all oily or thick. We did notice a slight sting when applying on areas with any irritation.
VERDICT: $16.60 per bottle, does what it says it will, definitely makes you look better — and in some badly hungover cases — healthier.
Click to get numbuzin No.3 Super Glowing Essence Toner
VT – Cica Care Spot Patch
While far from being a teenager, breakouts still happen. These little patches are magical. We found it best to use them overnight on any/all acne. After one, and at most two, days of use the unsighlty blemish is … gone! Each patch contains Centella Asiatica Extract, which helps draw the exuded substances from the area and then decomposes the secretions, while at the same time soothing and calming the skin and effectively healing the wound.
VERDICT: Best deal out there. Better than anything the folks at Clarasil have come up with. They’re also dirt cheap at $5 for 48 patches. These things work!
Click to get VT – Cica Care Spot Patch
Hudson talks about a bunch of other products, and we tested quite a few of them. If you want to go down his Korean skincare path, the above products are a solid start. If you’re using them, tell us how they work for you. Drop us a line at editor@slayed.gay.
