I don’t know about you, but in my mind this still sounds like one of the most iconic scenes from any movie I’ve ever seen. However, after watching Patrick Bateman’s Obsession Everyday, I thought about my morning skincare routine and whether I should take some notes from the movie.
So we decided to break down Patrick Bateman’s skincare quotes and turn them into our own Procoal American Psycho skincare routine. Read them and try them for yourself.
“If my face is a little puffy in the morning, I put an ice pack on myself while doing sit-ups. Now I can do 1,000.”
If you suffer from “puffiness” in the morning, this could be a secret trick. Alternatively, you can simply place ice cubes on your face to stimulate circulation for more radiant skin.
Regularly applying ice cubes to your face in the morning (perhaps mixed with cucumber juice) can also help reduce those annoying dark circles.
If you decide to buy a face ice pack, Boots Instant Pack or Accurate Manufacturing Face Ice Pack are good choices.
“After I take the ice pack out, I use a deep cleansing lotion.”
This is a little odd, since Bateman applies the lotion before showering and would surely wash it off immediately. This is the same rule for any toner or lotion, so we’re not sure if he’s right, but if you want to follow it exactly (and not apply it after showering), you might want to consider giving Avene’s Extremely Gentle Cleanser a try.
“I use the Hydro-Active Gel Cleanser in the shower, then use the Honey Almond Body Scrub, and finish with the Exfoliating Gel Scrub on my face.”
Type “hydro-activated gel cleanser” into Google and you’ll find results that are mostly quotes from the movie or guides that break down his skincare routine (similar to this post). These concentrated hydrogels help improve skin hydration and make it smoother. Some of the options available include Neutrogena Hydro Boost or the popular Clinique formula for men.
Afterwards, he uses the Honey Almond Body Scrub, which has a ton of benefits. Honey is antibacterial and rich in antioxidants that fight free radicals. It can also help open up and unclog pores. Almonds are also known for their high antioxidant content. One of the most popular choices is the Body Shop Exfoliator.
The Body Shop can also help you take the next step and offer the English Rose Exfoliating Gel Body Scrub, which also helps open up pores and remove excess oil from the underlying layers.
“Then I apply the Herbal Mint Mask and leave it on for 10 minutes while I prepare for the rest of my routine.”
Ten minutes is enough for most masks to work. Make sure to follow the instructions, but remember that longer exposure times will not produce better results as it can dry out the skin. At this point, I would immediately recommend our Activated Charcoal Mask as it is great for removing impurities and excess oil from the skin, leaving your skin more radiant.
After a shower, the skin should be clean and the pores open so that the mask can work efficiently.
“I always use an aftershave lotion with little or no alcohol in it, because alcohol dries out your face and makes you look older.”
While aftershaves used to contain mostly alcohol, this trend is fading because “alcohol dries out your face.” Thanks for the contribution, Bateman!
Alcohol actually dries out the skin, and it can also irritate it. The original reason alcohol was added was to emphasize its ability to kill bacteria on the skin. Nowadays, however, you can certainly skip these high-alcohol formulas. You could try a white lotus or sandalwood lotion.
“Then a moisturizer, then an anti-aging eye cream, and finally a moisturizing protective lotion.”
Towards the end of your routine, it’s time to moisturize your skin. You don’t necessarily have to use two lotions, you can add a layer of protection by making sure your moisturizer contains a high SPF to shield your skin from the sun’s harmful rays (of course you can use an SPF separate from your main moisturizer if you want to stick to a strict routine).
Choosing the right moisturizer should be the easiest part of this routine, but with so many different options to suit all skin types, it can be daunting not knowing where to start. If you have oily skin, you may want a light-textured lotion, while if you have dry skin, you may prefer a thicker lotion. If you do this in the morning, you shouldn’t use a very thick formula because it will look greasy on your skin when you leave the house.
Choose one that has at least SPF 30 (as mentioned above) and the ingredients should contain a lot of antioxidants, such as green tea or licorice root extract. Also pay attention to whether it contains AHA or BHA, which protects against skin aging.
The ultimate value of eye cream is hotly debated in the skincare industry. However, many believe that it has another anti-aging benefit than a simple moisturizer. Over time, the thin layer of skin under the eyes becomes thinner as our natural collagen production decreases. This is why our eyes often reveal our age. Balms tend to work better than creams because they contain less water.
If you have a budget, you can try Estee Lauder Revitalizing Supreme+ or L’Occitane Immortelle Divine, but there are cheaper options too.
Time consumption
We tried all of them, but it wasn’t the fastest routine. The whole process took a little over an hour, but I’m sure it would speed up over time if repeated regularly. Granted, I didn’t quite complete 1,000 sit-ups, but that doesn’t fall under “skin care,” so I decided to ignore that step for now.
