This year, we’ve had the opportunity to collaborate with our very first influencer in our Oshen Skin family, Lucy J. (a.k.a. @kbeautyhobbit) to curate a skincare set that focuses on strengthening the skin barrier which is perfect for the winter season! 

Lucy J. is one of our favourite influencers to work with. Not only is she a brilliant and determined woman when it comes to work and life, she is also an amazing mom to two of her children. When it comes to skincare, Lucy has a wealth of knowledge and her product reviews are well-loved by many. 

Recently, we’ve had the opportunity to interview Lucy and dive deeper into getting to know Lucy as a skincare enthusiast and content creator. 

Tell us a little about yourself

I'm 33 and live in the Midwest with my husband and two kids. My "real" job is an accountant, but my passion is content creation. Other hobbies include reading, weight lifting, and napping. I also love languages and speak three of them with varying levels of success.

When did you first discover your passion for skincare?

I was always into beauty rituals. As a little girl, I thought I was definitely "below average" looks wise and saw trying to have good skin as a way to compensate for that. I discovered kbeauty in 2016 and plunged head first into the fascinating world of multi step routines. I'm just as into it today as I was back then.

What is your daily skincare routine like?

My morning routine is very simple - a toner pad, vitamin C, and sunscreen (plus mascara / powder if I'm feeling fancy). The evening routine is how I relax. I double cleanse, do a wash off or a sheet mask (sometimes both), use toners, essences, serums and creams. The individual products vary based on how my skin feels and what I'm testing at the moment, but in general my evening routines are elaborate.

What is the one skincare ingredient that you can't get enough of at the moment?

Honey and propolis. I guess that's two ingredients, but they are both from the world of bees. The weather is getting cold and dry, and I love how nourishing propolis and honey can be.

What is the one skincare product you could never live without?

The obvious answer is sunscreen. But if we go beyond that, I'd say cleansing oil or balm. There's nothing better than feeling the dirt and stress of the day melt away before washing it all off with a foaming cleanser. Right now I'm loving Hada Labo cleansing oil. If I could pick one more, then DrCeuracle Kombucha essence. See, if i could pick one thing and stick with it, I wouldn't be a skincare content creator…

How has your relationship with your skin changed since you started your skincare journey?

I've always had a basic routine, at least since I was a pre teen, but now I pay more attention to what my skin actually needs vs what products are trending / which marketing claims are the most impressive. In recent years. my focus has shifted from competing with others to really appreciating my individual features and attempting to age gracefully (and hopefully slowly).

What does self-care mean to you?

Self-care is a daily struggle for me, partially because I have little people depending on me, and partially because I'm a high stress overachiever. It used to mean taking a long bath in silence. Now it varies day by day, and sometimes it means saying no to people and projects (including PR) and forcing myself to do something other than work. My natural inclination is to try and be productive every minute of every day, but that's stressful and not sustainable.

What is the best beauty advice that you have ever received?

I can't think of people giving me direct beauty advice, even though I consume a lot of skincare content. The most important things for me have been daily sunscreen use, including reapplying, and accepting that my skin will never be perfect and that's ok.

What is your favourite quote?

"My doctor told me I would never walk again. My mother told me I would. I believed my mother" by Wilma Rudolph, an Olympic champion sprinter. Motivational quotes aren't my thing, but this one speaks to me on a personal level due to my child's disabilities.

You can check out Lucy's curated Skin Barrier Strengthening Set here.