025. Stark Skincare and 50 Horror Movies to Watch

Talking through my current skincare routine and a good old-fashioned list of horror movies

Hi! I'm Maggie, and welcome to Tender Forms Off-Camera: a weekly newsletter about slow beauty and slow living. If you enjoy and would like to support this newsletter, click the button below! No pressure but thank you if you do.

---

Trying something new for the first time always delivers a surge of excitement and joy. So you can imagine the amplified delight when you get to overhaul an entire skincare routine to new products! That is unless you have sensitive, reactive skin. In which case, you might find yourself transitioning to a new skincare routine over a month and a half or so, depending on the complexity of said routine. Well, you already know that's me.

For the past month or so, I've been slowly finishing products and replacing them with a brand new Stark Skincare equivalent. Finally, I have a full skincare routine starring Stark Skincare, and I have much to share.

You may have seen the unboxing on my IGTV a while back, and know that Jess (founder and creator) kindly gifted me a bunch of items from the line to try. I can't believe it's taken me this long to try one of the OG brands in green beauty. And let me just say, it did not disappoint.

Below is a look into my current AM and PM routines.

EVERLASTING Calm + Smooth Infusion* ($40, 30ml | 1floz)

This was the first item I introduced into my routine, and the first descriptor I thought of was "exquisite." Everlasting is by far the lightest serum I've ever used and the most aqueous: light and watery in your palm, partly because it's also oil-free. The first time I used this, it sank in so quickly that I wasn't even sure if I applied enough. But I remembered reading somewhere that it was a concentrated formula, and two drops are all you need. This serum works fast!

Immediately, I felt a gentle cooling wave wash over my skin. It even took down almost all the redness I get in the mornings (reactive, inflamed skin is I). If you could bottle a sigh of relief, I promise you, that's what Everlasting is.

And it makes sense when you read through the ingredients: Helichrysum (also known as Immortelle, and also known as a favorite Tender Forms ingredient), Gotu Kola (another favorite), Milk Thistle, Green Tea, and more. The ingredients also give Everlasting its barely-there scent. To me, it just smells fresh, with the slightest hint of green tea and chamomile. I would soon discover that all Stark Skincare items have a uniquely beautiful and very faint scent.

Over the next few weeks, I saw a noticeable difference in my skin too. There seemed to be less fine lines, my skin was more glowy than usual, and recent acne scarring was healing and lightening at a rapid pace. In fact, after incorporating Stark Skincare, I've found I break out less. Knock on wood; please let this greatness continue!

I kick myself for not having tried Everlasting sooner. It's all I could ever want in one bottle! To say this jump started my Stark journey on the highest of notes is an understatement. I also read that Everlasting could be mixed into any facial oil to create a custom "luxurious, highly effective anti-age, anti-environmental-stress serum." Naturally, the next way I used it was mixed in with City.

CITY Recalibrating Oil* (currently on sale for $22, 30ml | 1floz)

I did the usual two drops of Everlasting mixed with three drops of City for my nighttime serum and moisturizer step. My goodness, could I love Everlasting more? It turns out I could. When mixed, they create the most unctuous scent: warm, slightly spicy, a little sweet, and very Autumnal. City gives Everlasting the luscious bouncy feel, while Everlasting draws City deep into the skin. They genuinely help each other, and while both are splendid and beautiful on their own, they're a powerhouse together.

City is my preferred type of facial oil. It has the cushiony feel without the weight or smothering characteristic. My skin feels nourished and protected while still being able to breathe: no greasiness, no blocked pores, just happy, healthy skin.

In the mornings, I rarely use City. At most, I'll use one drop mixed with Everlasting, but because my sunscreen is so moisturizing, I tend to skip using City in the AM. So I usually reserve it for the PM and love it. During the warmer weather, three drops mixed with Everlasting was perfect. However, I felt I needed something more with cooler weather and was topping off my skincare at night with the Kahina Giving Beauty Moisture Mask. I would use half a pea size as the last balm layer in my evening routine. Despite the weather only getting colder, I've stopped needing the Kahina mask, and we'll get to that soon!

ECLIPSE Activated Cleansing Gel* (currently on sale for $30, 120ml | 4floz)

I think I've found my all-time favorite gel cleanser. I can find no fault with it (except maybe the packaging, but we'll get to that later). First, the texture is impressive: a true gel. When mixed with the tiniest bit of water, it creates the mildest foam (soft, small bubbles). It feels so bouncy and comfortable on the skin. There's nothing this cleanser can't do. And though I loved using it during the hot and smoke-filled weather we had for a bit, I think it's an excellent year-round cleanser. It can remove makeup and spf (though I have to use it twice), it's excellent when used on bare skin, and it's even become one of my favorite weekly masks.

You need the smallest pea-sized dollop to thoroughly deep-cleanse your face. And don't be afraid if your skin leans on the drier side, this won't leave your skin feeling stripped. Instead, it will leave it plump, bright, and detoxified! On bare skin, I'll use the aforementioned smallest pea-sized on damp skin, then simply rinse with water, no washcloth needed. To remove makeup and spf, I'll use a quarter-sized amount spread onto dry skin. I add a couple drops of water, and it turns milky and slightly foaming. This is when I massage and work it into the skin to break up all the residue. I dampen a washcloth and gently wipe it off. Then I dampen the skin again and use a small pea-sized amount as a second cleanse. I'll rinse just by splashing water on the face and immediately follow with the rest of my skincare.

Eclipse feels and does what every gel cleanser claims it can but rarely fulfills, especially on dry and sensitive skin. And no cleanser, I repeat, nothing can beat this at the current price of $30 ($35 when not on sale). Eclipse is truly magical; Jess has done it. She's created the perfect gel cleanser at the ideal price point.

The one tiny downside I have with this cleanser is the packaging. It currently comes housed in a plastic squeeze bottle, and the cleanser can get slightly trapped around the edges of the spout when you open and close it. Because of the gel texture, it does dry around the edges if it gets caught, and it's just something that I have to take my time to make sure I've wiped off the excess after each use. It's not a huge deal, and I especially can't complain with the price point. (Even if I would rather this were housed in a glass bottle with a pump.) Just know if you're messy, this could get messy at some point.

On a Sunday, when I tend to luxuriate in a lengthy pamper skincare routine, I decided to use this as my mask. During the terrible smoke-filled days here in Portland, my skin just wanted to detoxify and breathe. So I squeezed out a large quarter-sized amount onto my palm and applied it to clean damp skin. I massaged it in ever so slightly, turning it milky, and left it on for maybe ten minutes. It was the best feeling I've had using a mask in a while! Cooling and oh-so-soothing, I almost fell asleep. The scent is again faint, but still fresh, smelling of green tea, licorice, with an added hint of citrus.

I then removed it by splashing a bit of water onto the face and gently massaging it off. I kid you not; my skin was so juicy, soft, and supple. It hadn't felt that way in weeks! And guess what? You know how sometimes your skin only does that once when trying something new, and you can never replicate the same result? Well, fear not. This does it for me every time. Again, I don't know how Jess did it, but Jess, if you can hear/read me: thank you.

I will never be without Eclipse, ever again.

AURORA Cleanse + Hydrate Balm* ($39, 60ml | 2oz)

Of all Stark Skincare, I've heard about Aurora the most. It's beloved by all, and I soon found out, with excellent reason. Aurora is described as a multi-purpose balm: you can use it as a balm cleanser, add water/serum/mist to create a hydrating lotion, as a hydrating balm, and a plethora of other uses. I currently use this as my first cleanse. A chickpea-sized amount will easily remove any makeup, spf, and grime from my face and neck. Texture-wise, Aurora has a balmy, slightly-waxy texture to it. It spreads beautifully on the skin and massages well. It's also described as a clean-rinse formula, meaning you add a bit of water, and it should emulsify and rinse clean. For me, it hasn't worked that way.

It does turn slightly milky, but it won't rinse clean with just your hands and water. Whenever I use a balm or non-rinseable cleanser, I always use a washcloth to remove my first cleanse, so I don't mind. You could skip the washcloth step and go in with Eclipse to make sure everything rinses clean. Every evening I use Aurora, remove with a washcloth, use a tiny bit of Eclipse, and rinse with my hands and water. Perfection. And as someone with acne-prone skin, this is one of the few deeply nourishing cleansing balms that don't cause me to break out.

Scent-wise, this smells the faintest of creamsicles! It never fails to make me slightly hungry when I'm using this. It's a bright and gently sweet scent that always brings a smile to my face. It conjures up late afternoons at my Aunt's house eating those Flintstone push-up pops. In particular, the orange sherbet one!

PETRICHOR Purifying Tonic* ($32, 120ml | 4floz)

Another Stark staple I've heard about forever. First, I adore the name of this tonic; always have and always will. It's also aptly named as a tonic rather than "facial mist" or "toner." When you spritz this, it doesn't feel like just a face mist; it feels of so much more. It's energetic and pulsing. 

The facial mists I use are most often hydrosols with minimal blends of distillations. I'm talking one to three max. So, of course, Petrichor would feel different considering it has aloe, witch hazel, cucumber, glycerin, green tea, watermelon extract, ferulic acid, and…Wait, did you catch that? Yes. Petrichor even has ferulic acid, another one of my favorite ingredients! It's a potent antioxidant derived from plants that support the power of other vitamins and antioxidants. Talk about lifting one another! 

Second, let's talk about the potency of Petrichor. I only need one spritz of this for my entire face. A little goes a long way with this one, which is why "tonic" is the best descriptor. It's potent not only in formulation but in the actual spritzing mechanism as well. This is an aggressive mist; it projects and feels more like droplets rather than a fine mist. Instead of spritzing directly onto the face, I spritz it onto a damp cotton round in the mornings. This acts as my morning cleanse and is superb. Remember that energetic quality I was talking about? Well, it does a fantastic job of waking me up in the mornings and giving my skin that clean feeling without drying or stripping. I particularly love this for the morning because of the witch hazel's antibacterial qualities, as well as the vitamin C in watermelon extract mixed with ferulic acid, which boosts its UV-repairing effects! 

I wish I had started this sooner because, on hotter days, it provides much-needed respite! Cooling, soothing, and repairing! I find it a little too astringent to use in the evenings, especially after a double cleanse. So I'll use another gentler hydrosol instead or go straight into the rest of my skincare after cleansing. I've also found if you're one to feel tired towards the end of the day and need a boost of energy, one spritz is amazing: instantly awakening for both skin and mind. 

A note on packaging: The lineup is currently a mix of plastic and glass. All the serums and facial oils come in glass bottles with inlaid dropper systems (though there's an option to purchase a rollerball instead). Everlasting comes out much faster due to its light and watery texture, whereas City takes about 3 seconds or so for the first drop. I prefer these dropper systems since they're usually tidier and better suited for the accident-prone like me. Aurora comes in a glass jar with a metal lid (guessing aluminum), and Eclipse and Petrichor use plastic bottles, caps, and pumps. Most of my skincare is housed in glass bottles, but they also come at a higher price point because of the packaging and heavier shipping weight due to glass. I am in love with Stark's price points, so I don't mind the packaging. Plus, the ones in plastic are larger amounts of product, so one doesn't need to repurchase as often as with smaller sizes.

Onward we go…

I am thoroughly enjoying my skincare routine with Stark. It's a beautiful brand where items work synergistically and with other brands in the mix. I love that it makes me feel like a minimalist because each item is beautiful and does so much. I could easily go with just one cleanser rather than two, and Everlasting mixed with City pack such a punch. If I were to make my minimalist lineup, it would be:

• Eclipse, Everlasting, and City for Spring/Summer

• Petrichor, Everlasting, and Aurora for Fall/Winter

Luckily, I don't have to choose and can just use them all! (Again, a huge thank you to Jess for making this possible.)

I'm particularly intrigued by the Midnight Retinol Alternative V2 Oil too! I've been looking into maybe incorporating a plant alternative to retinol into my routine. Knowing how much I love the rest of Stark, I'm guessing I would love this one just as much.

---

When I was thinking and scheduling content for Horror Month, some films instantly came to mind that I knew I would want to do a deeper dive into. However, a surprisingly long list of other movies flooded into my mind as well. Since nothing binds them together in a coherent way, today, I'm sharing a good old-fashioned list of horror films—each with the shortest "category" or a few words summation of what they did best. They're in chronological order if it's any help, and I hope you'll find something to watch even if you're not a horror fan! I've also included ones to approach at your own risk, aka avoid at all costs. And okay, I cheated by including three television series. (To avoid redundancy, these will not include horror films mentioned or will be mentioned in other newsletters.)

• The OG Exorcism: The Exorcist (1973) 

• Prom Gone Wrong: Carrie (1976) 

• Best Suspiria: Suspiria (1977) 

• Sci-Fi: Alien (1979) 

• Creepiest Twins: The Shining (1980) 

• Best Paired With A Nice Chianti: The Silence of the Lambs (1991) Remains one of the best for good reason

• Best “Historical” Epic: Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992) 

• Deadly Sins: Se7en (1995)

• Killer With A Knife: Scream (1996) 

• Man With Hook: I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997) 

• Made Me Afraid of Beds With Cherubs Carved Into Them: The Haunting (1999) 

• Zombies: 28 Days Later (2002) 

• Don't Watch The VHS: The Ring (2002)

• Don't Go On A Girls Cave Exploring Trip: The Descent (2005)  

• Best Sound Design and Scary Nurses: Silent Hill (2006) 

• Scarier Than You Think: Pan's Labyrinth (2006) 

• Security Cameras: Paranormal Activity (2007) 

• Killers on the Loose: The Strangers (2008) 

• Vampire: Thirst (2009) 

• Camp and Most Original Vampire Characteristics: HBO's True Blood (2008) 

• Most Devastating: Anti-Christ (2009) 

• Who Am I? Who Are You?: Shutter Island (2010) One of the most underrated films in recent history, in my opinion

• When Dreams Are Deadly Real: Insidious (2010)

• Haunted House: FX’s American Horror Story: Murder House (2011) 

• Revenge: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011) While I'd categorize this more as Drama-Thriller, it contains a few very disturbing scenes that push it into horror for me

• Attic Discovery: Sinister (2012)

• Get It Out of Me!: Prometheus (2012) 

• Best Jump Scare in Recent Memory: Insidious: Chapter 2 (2013)

• Creepiest Mommy: Goodnight Mommy (2014) 

• Cursed: It Follows (2014)

• The Wrong Road: Baskin (2015) Warning: content is disturbing, but damn, it's shot impeccably

• Most Artful: The Witch (2015)

• The Wild West: Bone Tomahawk (2015) One of my favorite films from the decade. Listed as horror but plays more drama

• How Do We Get Out?: Green Room (2015) One of my all-time favorite horror films

• Scary Gothic Ghosts: Crimson Peak (2015) 

• Shark!: The Shallows (2016)

• Don't Go In The Basement: Don't Breathe (2016) 

• Multiverse: The Void (2016) 

• Wake Me Up: Get Out (2017) 

• Beware of the Clown: It (2017) 

• Passage of Time: Mother! (2017) 

• Comedy: The Babysitter (2017) 

• 2nd Best Suspiria: Suspiria (2018)

• Family Dynamics: Hereditary (2018)

• Most Impressive in Recent Memory: The House That Jack Built (2018) 

• Hunting A Killer: Don't F**k with Cats: Hunting an Internet Killer (2019)

• Beware of Gators: Crawl (2019)  

• The Better ‘Knives Out’ with More Terror: Ready or Not (2019) 

• Flowers Gone Wrong: Midsommar (2019) 

• Never Go To The Cabin: The Lodge (2019) 

Don't Watch List: 

• The Grossest Idea and Movie of All Time: The Human Centipede (First Sequence) (2009) I get nauseous just thinking about this movie, never again

• What Are Those Things In Your Head: Hellraiser (1987) Avoid this franchise in general

• Most F'd Up in Recent Memory: Orphan (2009) 

• Torture: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974) I think I never even finished watching this because it was so disturbing

• Never Watch This Movie: Terrifier (2016)

---

Thanks so much for reading! October is fast becoming a very busy work month, so I apologize if it takes me a bit longer to respond than usual. I'd love to hear from you whether it's related to the topics in today's newsletter or not! Remember, you can always reply directly to this email or leave a comment.

As always, I hope you have a great start to your week. See you next Sunday!