Which Skincare Question Will I Roast Next—Could It Be Yours?

PODCAST 11: Beauty & F-Bombs: Your Juiciest Skincare Questions, Answered

Let me just say it: I love answering your questions. Not only do they bring real issues to the table, but they also let me go off on rants that would make your derm sweat. Today, we’re diving into some of the best questions I’ve received recently on skincare layering, prescription product pairings, overdoing it (yes, you can), makeup disasters, and WTF is up with your pores. Grab a snack, this is a long one—but it’s juicy.

Want to leave me a skincare question for May? (or any other question, I will answer almost anything)🤣

Ashley Asks:
Ivermectin + Azelaic Acid = WTF Do I Do?

Ashley, bless you.

Not only did you ask a great question, but you also admitted to using lice treatment on your face. Iconic behavior. 😂🤌🏼

Let’s clear this up.

The ivermectin from the drugstore? That stuff is made for scalps, not your sensitive rosacea-prone cheeks.

Most of the OTC versions are packed with irritants like propylene glycol, lanolin alcohols, and parabens.

They’re like throwing a frat party on your skin and inviting every known irritant to rage all night.

Instead, get a prescription version. It may cost more (unless you get the compounded or generic one, which can run about $25), but trust me, your face will thank you.

Azelaic acid?
She's the quiet girl who brings the best snacks, tidies up, and doesn’t ask for anything in return.

Anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and exfoliating without being an asshole. Use azelaic in the AM, ivermectin in the PM.

Alternate nights if you’re new.

And always – SPF like it’s your job.

Here’s a clean, no-nonsense breakdown of the Ashley Ivermectin + Azelaic Acid Routine, Roselli-style:

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How to Use Ivermectin + Azelaic Acid (Without Starting a Skin Riot)

If You’re New to This Combo:

1. Alternate Days to Start:

   • Day 1 – Ivermectin (PM only)

   • Day 2 – Azelaic Acid (AM only)

   • Repeat cycle for a week or two

Once Your Skin Gets the Memo:

• AM Routine:

  1. Gentle Cleanser (or just rinse if your skin is mad)

  2. Azelaic Acid

  3. Light Moisturizer

  4. SPF (non-negotiable)

• PM Routine:

  1. Cleanse

  2. Water Elixir (optional buffer)

  3. Ivermectin

  4. Moisturizer (like Intense Barrier Cream or something light if you’re sensitive)

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Pro Tips:

• Patch test if you’re a sensitive soul.

• Don’t pile on extra exfoliants, retinols, or vitamin C—five products max: cleanser, medication, moisturizer, SPF, done.

• Use a zinc-only sunscreen—no chemical filters if your rosacea is flaring.

• If your face starts to sass you (burning, redness, flakes), pause, hydrate, and reboot.

Kiss it, don’t f*ck it. 💋 Your skin will love you back.

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Stephanie Asks:
Tret, Ivermectin, Azelaic Acid – Can They Be Friends?

Yes. But introduce them like you would three strange cats. Slowly, with a backup plan in case one hisses.

Start with this:

• AM: Rinse (or gentle cleanse), azelaic acid, moisturizer, SPF.

• PM Routine:

  • Night 1: Ivermectin + moisturizer

  • Night 2: Tretinoin + moisturizer (buffer with essence or moisturizer if sensitive)

  • Night 3: Just moisturizer

  • Repeat

Use nothing else for 3-4 weeks.
Journal it. Know your triggers.
Don’t play mixologist with exfoliants, vitamin C, and new meds. This is not a science experiment.

Pro tip: If your water stings your face, your barrier is crying for help.

How to Use Tretinoin, Ivermectin & Azelaic Acid Without Your Face Revolting

Step 1: AM Routine (Daily)

1. Rinse or Gentle Cleanse – only cleanse if you need to

2. Azelaic Acid – calm the chaos + kill the bugs

3. Moisturizer – keep it light but hydrating

4. SPF – zinc-only if you’re rosacea-prone

Step 2: PM Rotation (3-Night Cycle)

Night 1:

• Cleanser

• (Optional) Water Elixir to buffer

• Ivermectin

• Moisturizer

Night 2:

• Cleanser

• (Optional) Water Elixir

• Tretinoin

• Moisturizer

Night 3:

• Cleanser

• Moisturizer only (your skin’s chill night)

Then repeat. Forever. Or until your skin becomes a diva again.

Step 3: Keep It Simple (for 3–4 weeks minimum)

• No exfoliants

• No vitamin C

• No fancy extras

• Just your meds + moisturizer + SPF

• Journal it – track reactions and wins

Bonus Pro Tips:

• Skin stings with water? That’s not drama, that’s barrier damage. Back off.

• Too much too soon = flaky croissant face. (And not the sexy Paris kind.)

• Less is always more when you’re wrangling actives.

Vicki Asks:
Can We Just Chill With Our Skincare?

YES. Your skin is not your kitchen sink. Don’t scrub it like one.

You don’t need a 12-step routine. You need:

• A cleanser

• An essence (especially if dry)

• A serum

• A moisturizer

• SPF

That’s it. Your skin talks. Listen to it. Too much product = pilling, irritation, confusion. Think minimal. Think strategic. Skincare is a symphony, not a rave.

Makeup Meltdown:
Help, My Skincare Pills Under Makeup

Pilling = product overload or bad layering. Skincare not fully absorbed? Products not playing nice? You’re using too much or mixing water-based skincare with silicone-based makeup. Oil and water don’t mix, darling.

Fix it:

• Thin layers

• Wait between steps

• Pat/stipple makeup, don’t smear like cake frosting

• Test combos on the back of your hand

• Avoid exfoliating the same day you wear makeup

Use skincare that plays nice with makeup. Our line is dual-purpose—because who has time for fussy nonsense?

Fran Asks:
Large Pores on Mature Skin - SOS

First off, thank you for loving our skincare. Second: you can’t shrink your pores (blame your mom), but you can improve how they look.

Try:

• Regular exfoliation (BHA, Sex-Appeal gommage)

• Vitamin A derivatives (tretinoin)

• Hydration and barrier support (Water Elixir + Water Balm)

• Stippling makeup technique

• Spot-use blurring primers if needed

• Professional treatments: microneedling, peels, lasers (Fraxel, Clear + Brilliant) this is really going to move the needle, Fran.

Your best results will come from combining solid skincare with in-clinic treatments. Skincare brings it home, but the big guns smooth the road.

Red, Itchy Face but Need SPF – What Gives?

Been there. All-zinc sunscreen is your ride-or-die. Even when your face is throwing a tantrum, zinc is gentle and can even calm things down. Avoid chemical sunscreens. Use a minimal moisturizer underneath, if your skin can tolerate it. If not? Big sunglasses, hat, and a scarf. Do what you gotta do.

Makeup Settling in Fine Lines? Aging Skin Tips

Three reasons makeup settles:

1. Bad skin prep

2. Too much product

3. Crusty foundation

Fix it:

• Good prep (Water Elixir, Intense Barrier Cream)

• Less product

• Better product

• Microneedling. Chemical peels. Even Botox if you’re into it.

Skin is your canvas. Prep it well.

What’s the First Step in Creating a Custom Routine?

Stop copying influencers. Your skin is not their skin.

Start with your goals. Are you dry, oily, aging, irritated, breaking out? Build your routine around your needs:

• Cleanser

• Essence

• Serum

• Moisturizer

• SPF

That’s the baseline. Everything else is accessory. Add only what your skin asks for.

Skincare Myth That Needs to Die: More Is Better

No. Just no. Social media sold you a lie. More products don’t mean better skin. They usually mean chaos.

Use products with purpose, not panic. The goal is happy skin that doesn’t want to murder you.

Quick Soapbox: Tariffs Are BS

Yeah, small biz rant incoming. If tariffs stay high (22-26% on Japan/Korea skincare) at the time of the recording but today 10%, who knows what is happening. We might have to raise prices….

But we’ll hold out as long as possible.

But FYI: if they go away, we’ll drop prices again. That’s how we roll.

What’s Next?

Microneedling video drops next Friday! Podcast will be off next week.

And if you're not hanging out with us on Substack, you're missing the party.

Live Q&As, deep dives, skincare snark, cat cameos. It's a whole vibe.

Thanks for spending time with me, friends. Kiss it, don’t f*** it.
Sonia