Some people dream of becoming a billionaire overnight. Others wish for Hollywood stardom, true love, a paid vacation, bangs that don't require styling, etc. But me? I have a dream of waking up one day with perfectly smooth and glowing skin. And apparently, I’m not alone in my ridiculously vain pipe dreams, because one woman’s skin is currently going viral on Reddit for looking so freaking flawless.
Earlier this week, a woman named Michele Manteaw posted two selfies to Reddit’s r/MakeupAddiction, breaking down her no-makeup makeup routine in a post titled “Glowy Winter Makeup on Dark Skin.” The photos quickly gained traction, getting upvoted 16,000 times and earning 330 comments. But it wasn't just Manteaw's (very gorgeous) makeup that was drawing people in—it was her crazy-smooth skin.
“OP has the softest looking skin ever,” reads one comment, while another writes, “You look super pretty and glowy.” Sure, haters will say it’s Photoshop, but based on the up-close videos on Manteaw’s YouTube beauty channel, it’s safe to say her otherworldly skin is, in fact, legit.
So I reached out to Manteaw to ask the question everyone’s wondering: How the hell do I get your skin?! And, thankfully, she broke down her exact routine for me, below.
The Deets on Her Anti-Acne Regimen
Though Manteaw refuses to say that she has freaking awesome skin, because she’s very nice and humble, she did tell me that she dealt with teenage acne, like the rest of us, that resulted in scarring. “As a black woman, my pubescent acne left me with terrible hyperpigmentation that followed me into my adult years,” she tells Cosmopolitan, noting that the two products that helped clear her dark marks and even out her texture were vitamin C and African black soap.
“The Body Shop's Vitamin C Microdermabrasion is a godsend, but be easy with it; it’s quite an abrasive product, so I only used it twice a week,” says Manteaw. “African Black Soap from my motherland—Ghana!—is also amazing for fading scars and cleansing skin; just make sure to top it with a good moisturizer afterwards.”
Though acne always has some sort of hormonal component (and sometimes, it’s just written in your DNA), Manteaw—along with dozens of people who commented on her pics—says cutting dairy was a huge game-changer for curbing breakouts and keeping her skin clear. “It was life-changing,” she says, “and my skin has never thanked me more.”
How She Gets That Insane Glow
Obviously, most of Manteaw’s great skin comes from her even better genes, or, as one Redditor commented, from being a “melanated Queen,” but she also follows a specific routine for amping up her smooth-as-hell glow, including a cleansing brush, serum, chemical exfoliant, and sunscreen.
Manteaw's Glow-y Skin Routine
“Most cleansing brushes are too harsh for my sensitive skin, but Foreo’s brushes are silicone and soft, so it’s super gentle on my face. It also uses vibrations that make my skin feel really clean and amazing, too.”
Pixi Glow Tonic Toner
“Using Pixi Glow Tonic every evening is like saying my daily prayers. With consistent use, it leaves my face smooth and my complexion even. It's such a beautiful chemical exfoliant, and is 100 percent worth the hype.”
Lush Full of Grace Serum Bar
“It smooths fine lines, plumps skin, calms down irritation, and helps with hyperpigmentation—it’s my holy grail. It’s also helped my t-zone stop producing so much oil. This product will follow me into the afterlife.”
La Roche-Posay Anthelios 60 Sunscreen
“Sunscreen really does help keep the hyperpigmentation and fine lines at bay. This one is not only super lightweight, but it doesn't leave behind that purple hue—black-girl friendly!—and sits well under makeup.”
Of course, her killer beauty skills and 17-product makeup routine (including the cult-favorite Nars Sheer Glow Foundation) only add to the glow. But, as anyone who has tried to slap some concealer over a zit knows, there’s no accounting for smooth, happy skin.
Though her clear-skin routine may or may not work for your skin (everyone is their own unique and beautiful butterfly), you can still recreate Manteaw’s makeup routine with her glow-up routine, below. Finally—the internet does some good for the world.
