I met Jenny Kaplan when I was lucky enough to be her freshman acting teacher at Fordham University. Almost instantly I thought - this gal is like a younger version of my big sister! It was eerie - same style, sass, smarts, shiny blonde hair and unmistakable SoCal lilt of an accent. Once I introduced them, I knew all bets were off …
Flash forward six years and Jenny has now been adopted as a DiMaggio Sasster (I’m getting used to being a middle child and them always hanging out without me : ) In the blog below, Jenny and Marissa have taken on one of their favorite topics - skincare! Actually - it’s less blog and more book report because these two are the over-achievers of the family. Below they cover everything from face razors to goat milk peels (a sentence I never thought I’d type. But hey, these are strange times.) All to say, reading this I learned A LOT. Nothing like having a sister AND a sasster to keep you in the know about all things glow.
- Stephanie
… When I was a little girl I used to steal my Dad’s Noxema, slather it all over my face and declare it a spa day. In elementary school I would sit dutifully (but happily) still as my mom would spend a full twenty minutes , twice a week, rolling my pale, pin straight blonde hair into sponge rollers for me to sleep on. It was like a meditation and my curls would last at least 3 days. When I was a smidge older, my grandparents would take me to Pic and Save (the 1980’s SoCal version of a dollar store) after school and I would buy every single flavor of Maybelline Kissing Koolers in all of their bullet shaped swirly- colored glory that was available. They weren’t particularly cooling, and I wasn’t yet kissing anyone, but, still, it was love. I shudder today thinking how old those cast off balms were, but I didn't care. Beauty was my drug of choice even then, and I still get high on that supply.
And when you meet another “junkie,” you know. So when Stephanie introduced me to 24-year old Jenny Kaplan, who works in network casting at CBS, I instantly recognized a fellow enthusiast!
Over the last three years, Jenny and I have become friends and bonded over our love of all things beauty, and I take my role of Beauty Junkie Mentor (BJM) very seriously. So when she proposed a joint blog on all things skincare, from each of our perspectives, I thought it was a most magical idea. Especially since Jenny was intrigued to learn that I have never tried any kind of injectables, including Botox. (Let me say right off the bat, I am not “anti” anything and I am very much a “you do you” person. I support whatever makes anyone feel their best. And as you’ll read below, I do a lot). But fillers and injectables have just never been my thing, due in no small part to a real aversion to needles. So, over the last few years I’ve sought out- and found - some pretty awesome alternatives, including my personal holistic skincare guru Erin Roberts, who will be joining us for part 2 of this blog (where she can explain all the fun things she does to my face while I’m asleep in her office.) - Marissa
Jenny: If I may, I’d love to quickly shout out the DiMaggio sisters - my guru duo in all things life, love, and BEAUTY. I blow up our group chat OFTEN, and am always met with sound advice, fabulous recommendations, and a well of wisdom. I like to think I am Stephanie and Marissa’s love-child (I will fly to Nashville solely to raid Stephanie’s closet…), so it’s a true privilege to be featured here on the blog.
M: Thank you, Jenny! I love it when I connect with young women who have that spark for life; for their relationships and their work. It helps to keep me young and inspired! Plus, you are funny as all get out. Thank you for guesting on our blog!
J: What is your must-have skincare product?
Marissa: Water and sunscreen. Growing up in Southern California both are just a given. I drink water like it’s my job. Boring, but effective.
Those two notwithstanding, I would say a good moisturizer. Even if you’re in your twenties and all you do is splash your face with water in the shower, follow that up with a quality moisturizer and you can get away with it. You can find excellent ones at Target, the drugstore... I was in my mid-twenties before I switched to a higher-end brand. I had just gone through a terrible break-up and found myself in the brand new Kiehl's store on Montana Ave. in Santa Monica. I spent more money than I ever had before on a skincare haul (and felt better, thankyouverymuch) and used their facial moisturizer and creme (which are priced very well) for probably ten years before moving over to Tata Harper in my mid-thirties.
J: I remember flipping through Cosmopolitan, Elle, and Teen Vogue (zero shame) as a teenager and rolling my eyes when all my favorite celebs listed ‘WATER’ as their must-have skincare product. Happy to report that I’m SO with you now - I started becoming more conscious about my water intake in the last year, and have noticed a HUGE difference in my skin.
Do you gravitate toward moisturizer/foundations that have sunscreen IN THEM? Or do you prefer a layer of straight-up sunblock?
M: I’m sad that you will never know the days of YM and Sassy. It changes, but I’m currently using SkinPharm Sheer Defense (which is a Nashville based company!) under makeup. On days where I don’t wear foundation, I wear a tinted sunscreen by Suntegrity that Erin recommended, and just ordered a new cushion based tinted moisturizer from her online shop that I cannot wait to try!
J: Product you think isn’t worth the hype?
M: A Beauty Balm (BB) or Color Correcting (CC) Cream - I've never found a good one. I find them greasy. You’re better off with a tinted moisturizer and a sheer concealer. Or just happy skin and a sheer concealer.
J: I will make you a believer! IT Cosmetics CC cream changed my life (too dramatic)? It has SPF 50 AND hyaluronic acid all in one little tube. Might not be for everyone, but I do know approximately 10 people who use it and LOVE it.
M: Twist my arm, Kaplan.
J: What is your typical morning and nighttime skincare routine?
M: I mean, it is a commitment, people. Here we go: Morning: sometimes I wash my face, it depends on how dirty my face is feeling. Maybe it’s just a good splash of cold water. Then it’s facial mist followed immediately by a serum (something nourishing and mild). I brush my teeth while that soaks in and then I add a light moisturizer (always with hyaluronic acid), then eye cream. It is very difficult to find eye creams that work under concealer, but I know a few. Then sunscreen if I’m wearing foundation, or tinted moisturizer with sunscreen if I’m not wearing foundation that day. Evening: First up: eye makeup remover and/or micellar water. Then I double cleanse with a cleansing oil followed by soap (alternating between a gentle cleanser and an exfoliating one). Next up is facial mist (yes, a different one than in the morning), then two more serums. One serum is always with retinol/vitamin A - this is not for everyone but I love it. Again, teeth brushing while this soaks in. Next up is a thick yummy moisturizer, then eye serum followed by eye cream. I am a nut, full stop. Also, to be extra obnoxious, please know that I never, ever sleep with makeup on. I can be three glasses of Sauvignon Blanc in and I’m still doing my nighttime skincare routine.
J: I’ve yet to introduce retinol OR vitamin A into my routine, but have been on the hunt for products with both of these agents in them. Do you think these are useful to add to a routine in my twenties? I know vitamin A has its benefits at any age, but is retinol something to be reserved for the not-too-distant future?
M: I didn’t start to incorporate either into my routine until my late-30s. I think this is a great question for Erin!
Finally, throughout the week (usually 3 times), I mask. I have lots of masks: sheet masks, charcoal masks, bright green masks, masks you sleep in... It’s bizarre, really, but i need to have options depending on what my skin is doing. Recently Erin walked me through a goat milk peel at home. I’m a maniac.
J: Excuse me, WHAT is a goat milk peel and can I PLEASE partake?
M: Ohhhhh...it is so great. I am fairly certain she brings them in from Korea (which, as many beauty junkies know, Korean skin care is considered gold standard for products and innovation, etc.), it’s super tingly and I use it right before my new favorite sheet mask. You can find them on her website along with a brush.
J: Beauty tool you cannot live without?
1/8 of Marissa’s madness…I mean, collection.
M: This is an easy one! At home: a personal dermaplane device (which is basically a much more palatable way of saying “electric facial razor.”) Stephanie has asked that I explain further; she seems alarmed. . Dermaplaning uses a very slim vibrating razor to gently remove the top dead layer of skin and takes any facial hair or peach fuzz with it. (I have a feeling this hasn’t made it sound any less alarming.) I promise, it’s fine. I use a Dermaflash; it is available at Neiman Marcus and at Sephora (and it does go on sale!). It is so satisfying to watch the dead skin and fuzz come off of my face. I live for this. Tip from Erin: wash your face twice first to get it nice and dry and primed for exfoliation. In Erin’s studio: microcurrent facials. I started this filler alternative at 39 and this procedure has been a real game changer for me. I’m so excited to have Erin tell us more about it in part 2!
J: I swear you’re going to peer-pressure me into buying one of these! How often do you go in with the dermaplane? I’ve been told mixed messages about how often to strip your skin of its dead cells and peach fuzz.
M: I LOVE to peer-pressure when it comes to beauty products. I use it once a week. It is very meditative because you literally have to focus on just this one thing - a tiny vibrating razor in close proximity to your eyebrows. I swear it’s relaxing! Again, I didn’t start until I was in my late thirties, so you have time if you don’t want to make the investment right now.
J: What do you wish someone would have told you about skincare in your twenties?
M: How food affects your skin from the inside out. A few years ago I decided to shift my diet and to eat food for nutrition and enjoyment. This meant no more dinners of frozen yogurt and mini bags of pretzels. I limited dairy and sugar (limited, not cut out completely because happiness). I added lots of healthy fats, nut butters, oils, red wine and dark chocolate. Avocados became my love language. My weight settled maybe 7 or 8 pounds higher than it was before, but I swear to you my skin looks incredible. My face filled out a bit and I think I’ve looked younger ever since. It’s that old saying - 10 pounds takes off 10 years. So, in summation, I would have told my younger self to relax.
J: I love this. It also goes along with that famous saying about how those “extra 10 pounds” are the pounds of your life: the fun nights out with friends, the donuts on your birthday, etc. Not to mention, aren’t avocados supposed to be fab for the skin too?
M: Yes ma’am!
J: How often do you see a dermatologist or facialist?
M: I try to see Erin once or twice a month, depending on what trips or events I have going on, how much makeup I’m wearing on the regular, etc. I see my dermatologist once a year for a check-up becuase fair-skin life.
Marissa’s turn!
M: Alright my young Beauty Junkie Mentee, teach me the ways of the young ones...What is YOUR must-have skincare product?
J: Hyaluronic Acid. Full stop. It’s my not-so-secret key to helping your skin retain all that delicious moisture!
I spent the majority of my teenage years believing I had “dry skin” - my skin never felt moisturized, and looked dull even after slapping on layer after layer of Cetaphil moisturizer. I have since learned that my skin settles somewhere in the “combination” category, a discovery that drove me to make some big changes to my typical routine (*ahem, I stopped using powdered makeup!). At a recent appointment, a fabulous facialist, Kim, reminded me that there is a difference between dry skin and dehydrated skin - just because you’re drowning yourself in serum doesn’t mean your skin is retaining the hydration. Cue my beloved HA - slap this baby on before serums, moisturizers, sunscreens, etc. and your skin will look dewier than a raindrop!
M: I totally agree! It plumps up the skin and prepares it so well for makeup. What are some of your favorite HA based products? I alternate between Tata Harper Hyaluronic Gel Moisturizer and Osmosis Quench Plus.
The Kaplan Collection…
J: This one is my fav at the moment: Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 - The Ordinary) I’ve been not-so-secretly obsessed with The Ordinary for the last few months, as they are enormously affordable and derm recommended. I’ve also used Glossier’s SOLUTION, which is a “skin perfecting exfoliant” with HA (I talk about it below - my sister is legit addicted), which I love love love.
M: Remember the time you tried to take me to the Glossier store in West Hollywood but the line was around the block (and I was probably hungry)? You still need to take me there.
J: I’ll make sure I have snacks next time I drag you to that pale pink paradise.
Product you think isn’t worth the hype:
J: Slap me across the wrist if this veers too far into the makeup category (another blog may be in our future, Marissa…)- PRIMER. Every beauty blogger I follow swears by their favorite primer, so, naturally, I own about 7 of them, none of which ever produce positive results. I echo Marissa when I say “you do you”; if you find a fab primer that makes you look like a Barbie doll, I salute you, girlfriend! But for me, primers make me feel sticky, make my skin feel heavier, and often make my makeup look WORSE. I prefer prepping my face with toner, serum, moisturizer and (the holy grail) SUNSCREEN before going in with my beloved CC cream (Marissa, this one by IT cosmetics is CRACK - I will make you a believer!). I find my makeup stays put all day, and looks dewy without any help from a true primer.
M: I don’t use a primer, either. Back around 2014, all things French women/beauty were becoming a thing… and I once read that French women like to have their faces look shiny and their eyeliner smudged because it communicates ease and effortlessness (which obviously takes a lot of work, ha). So while I still will clean up a messy liner if it travels too far down my face, I’ve come to appreciate a little natural shine in my complexion.
J: The older I get, the more I want to emulate the Parisian woman.
M: What’s a typical morning + nighttime skincare routine?
J: If you’re a nut, Marissa, I’m getting nuttier by the minute. While I used to be president of the “I DON’T TAKE MY MAKEUP OFF AT NIGHT” club (and VERY occasionally still make this mistake…), I have since adopted a simple, yet effective skincare routine I can accomplish even after 5 aperol spritzes.
Morning: Another facialist once made me promise I’d never cleanse my face in the morning, so long as I cleansed it the night prior. She preached that at my age, my skin’s natural oils would only benefit the look and feel of my skin throughout the day. That said, I start with this exfoliating solution (my sister sends herself three bottles at a time, it’s that addicting), some hyaluronic acid and Niacinamide + Zinc on my problem spots (this dries up my oily blemishes, and makes my pores DISAPPEAR), before I move into a witch hazel toner mist. Then I finish up with a moisturizer (I’ve yet to find my ride or die moisturizer - still in an experimental phase, but currently loving the new Sephora collection clean beauty products!).
Evening: I wash my face and remove makeup with a gentle cleanser (THIS one from Fresh brings me so much joy), going over my eye makeup with an oil-free remover on a cotton pad. I pat my face dry before applying my hyaluronic acid, Niacinamide, facial mist (same one!), and moisturizer. Occasionally, I’ll test out an eye cream or a nighttime mask, but have found that keeping it simple rarely fails me.
Like Marissa, I am also a MASK GIRL. I alternate between this fun facial peel (straight out of Twilight vibes), some hydrating sheet masks, purifying clay masks, exfoliating sugar masks, and so many more. I’m very lucky that my skin rarely acts up with experimentation of new products, so I will pretty much try anything.
M: I will be curious to see what Erin thinks about eye cream in one’s twenties. I do think it is a solid habit to get into, but I can’t remember when I started…. Seeing as I’ve been devoted to (but not exclusively loyal) Kiehl's Avocado Eye Cream for as long as I can remember, I probably made my first purchase in my mid-20s.
J: I want to try this Kiehl’s eye cream! I’ve found that eye creams give me milia (those little white dots) around my eyes, so I’ve been avoiding them for a while! ERIN, PLEASE WEIGH IN.
She even matched her mask?
M: : Beauty tool you can’t live without?
J: I have yet to invest in the Dermaflash (I’m getting close…), but in the meantime, I love these little face razors! My makeup goes on SO smooth after removing the peach fuzz and dead skin cells every couple of weeks.
M: What are your skincare goals as a young woman? Do you feel that social media, etc. has shaped them? Is there a pressure to look “filtered” in real life?
J: I often joke that young women today are less likely to go through that “awkward” pre-teen/teenage phase, as they have access to online makeup tutorials, apps where they can quite literally buy the same clothes and products their favorite influencers are wearing and using, and so much more. Likely because of this, I’ve seen an influx of women starting to alter their faces at a much younger age. Much of the reason I first texted Marissa asking about her skincare regimen was due to my seeing young women start botox, fillers, and cosmetic procedures in their twenties - I was curious whether that was the only route to achieving a youthful glow even as you age.
M: And I’m SO happy you reached out! Because, of course, that is not the only route; there are many, and it should be unique to you. When I was your age, botox and fillers were not even an option, nor on the radar. And now when I look at my face, and I see the lines in my forehead and the “11” between my eyes that perhaps could have been prevented, I realize I’m fine with them. Again, if you’re not, change them (and regular microcurrent and effective products soften them)... but, I do think it’s worth checking in with yourself (and only you) and asking what bothers you enough to change or alter, and what does not.
J: My goal is to always look like ME - hydrated, glowy, happy, and full. I’m reluctant to pursue any cosmetic enhancement that would change the shape of my face, the curve of my lips, the height of my cheekbones, etc. Instead, I’d like to maintain as much of my youthful plump (please don’t ever go away!!!) with help from vitamins, serums, facials, and PLENTY of sunscreen. Call me in ten years and I may have a face full of filler, but I’m more interested in other preventive aging tactics right now.
While so much of social media does hide behind a filter (I’m a sucker for a good “fake tan” filter, full disclosure), there’s been a recent surge of TRUTH returning to the medium. More and more bloggers are posting unfiltered edits so young girls can see that stretch marks and cellulite are normal and beautiful, that pores DO exist, and that next to NO ONE actually looks airbrushed in their home on a Tuesday. I’ve been loving this shift, and think it will encourage young women to embrace the skin they’re in. As the fabulous Diane Von Furstenberg once said, “Your wrinkles reflect the roads you have taken: they form the map of your life”. Why try to hide every bit of life you’ve lived?
M: I love your goal! And I think for any girl/woman, it’s a process. For example, I have never, ever liked my profile. To this day, if I see it in a picture I immediately feel critical (which is so funny because I’m pretty sure no one else actually cares about my profile.) During high school, Sofia Coppola became a big deal (she was Marc Jacobs’ muse for goodness sake! Louis Vuitton named a bag after her!). I remember thinking how cool she was, and her profile was similar to mine. To this day, she remains my number one beauty and fashion icon. Also, the nineties were so awesome.
I would add that my personal philosophy has always been to just look great for my age. Looking ten years younger than my actual age has never been my thing, simply because I’ve always figured everyone knows how old I am anyways? Perhaps that’s naive, but it has served me well.
How often do you visit a dermatologist or facialist?
J: After moving back home to LA, I’ve been working on creating a routine that is mine, trying not to just copy everything my fabulous mother does. I’ve been to three or four facialists since I’ve been back here, having now landed on one I hope to visit every couple of months (barring a global pandemic…). I haven’t visited a dermatologist in years, as I’ve been blessed with relatively unproblematic skin, but plan to in the coming months, as I’d like some insight on areas of my skin I have questions about.
M: Obviously we need to do a makeup post! Until then, I can’t wait to get Erin on board for Part 2!
Steph, you OK?
Stephanie: I mean, define “okay?” … love you both.
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