The morning routines of New York City college students.
"I study, shower again, and wash my face one more time. Around 1:30 AM, I finally do my skincare and go to sleep.”
Today’s letter is free because it’s sponsored by Rhode. If you’re interested in working with Feed Me, please email max@brigadetalent.com.
Good morning everyone. I don’t know how any of the events this season will top the Odd Lots 10-year anniversary party last night. We all talk about creator-led media businesses and how they’re the future of this industry, but watching Tracy Alloway and Joe Weisenthal work the room felt like proof that you can’t reverse engineer that — they’re not only naturals, but genuinely good people. I spoke to groups of young men who had so much affection for Joe, and most of them had met him through conversations on X that turned into lunch invitations and group texts. Very sweet.
Today’s letter includes: Six New York City college students on their skincare routines,
went on Seth Meyers, ’s magazine approach to gift guides, and A24 dabbles with print advertising.“There’s a point of view in this work that you don’t get from other people writing about the business of culture. it’s thought-provoking and witty. i feel smarter having read Feed Me.” - Austin, paid reader
For the past few weeks, I’ve been observing New York’s college students on the subway. They’re bundled up for class in puffers and furs and carrying bags of workout clothes and books. But one thing that always impresses me is how great their makeup looks.
Today on Feed Me, in partnership with Rhode, I interviewed six students from colleges across the city about their routines, makeup tricks, and approach to beauty. I appreciate their enthusiasm for exclamation points.
What does your skin go through on a typical New York day — from your dorm shower to the subway to whatever you’re doing at 2am?
“I wake up around 8, wash my face, do my skincare, make breakfast, and go to Solidcore around 9. Then I usually grab a matcha from Blank Street on my way to class and grab lunch with friends between classes. I try to walk the 16 mins to my apartment, but it’s been getting colder so I occasionally take the subway. After a long day, I typically stay in my makeup until I’ve made dinner and finished some homework, then I shower and go to bed!” - Riva
“After I put my makeup on in the morning, I’ll do the windy walk to college along Broadway and then usually have classes back to back. If I’m working in a lab that day, I’ll see foundation marks on my goggles by the end of it. When going out to parties and bars, I’ll touch up my makeup and hope the setting spray will last me throughout the night. Although once it reaches 2am, I stop caring.” - Delilah
“Honestly, and I feel a bit embarrassed saying this: I do not take great care of my skin. Being a student, working, studying, and still trying to have fun, I go to bed without washing my face all the time, which I know isn’t good. I feel like freshman me, who would never step out of my dorm without at least mascara, wouldn’t believe that I never wear makeup to classes now. Being busy has significantly changed my relationship with my skin. Whereas I used to only feel confident with a full face of makeup on, my lifestyle just can’t accommodate that anymore. So, taking care of my skin, using clean and simple makeup products that don’t reverse what my skincare is doing, has become really important. Oddly enough, this change has made me feel incredibly more confident. It’s gotten to the point now that even when I do have the time I’d rather just put on a bit of blush, maybe bronzer and a lip and go. I just feel more myself.” - Leighton
“I wake up and wash my face with cleanser before heading to a workout class. When I get back, I’m sweaty, so I shower in my dorm and do a full face of makeup. Then I take the subway to class and walk a few blocks. I spend a lot of time in the NYU Housing office where I work and in Bobst Library. When I get back to my dorm, I wash my face with cleanser again and do another full face of makeup to film brand deals and GRWMs for my TikTok. After that, I study, shower again, and wash my face one more time with cleanser. Around 1:30 AM, I finally do my skincare and go to sleep.” - Grace
“My skin is naturally clear, so I tend to focus on maintenance over repair. In the morning, my skin starts fresh from the shower and my skincare from the night before. After a day filled with classes, walking around New York City, and subway rides, my skin feels as if it has picked up the city along the way. Makeup begins to fade, and my skin feels slightly oily. After a cleanse in the shower and-re applying skincare and makeup if necessary, I feel refreshed, and I repeat.” - Mia
“I wake up at 8:30 for my 9AM class and do my makeup in under 15 minutes. I’ve kept that with me from high school, where I would do my makeup every morning on my subway commute. My makeup is super heavy (it has to last a 12-18 hour day). Not very skin friendly! I go to class, then work, then back to my dorm, then to whatever my evening plans are. I get home around the 10PM-1AM range and I don’t let myself wash off my makeup and do my skincare until I’ve finished all my assignments.” - Ella
When do you feel best about your skin and makeup?
“I feel best about my skin and makeup when I’m visiting my family in Sri Lanka. My skin gets to soak up all the sun and my makeup is lighter and dewier.” - Ella
“I tend to feel the best about my makeup either about 30 minutes after application when it’s marinated a bit, or right before I’m about to take it off and can’t seem to part with it quite yet!” - Riva
“I know it’s weird but on the subway! Subway lighting is incredibly underrated, it’s the perfect amount of warm, but still bright and even tones. I swear my skin looks so much better on the platform, I always have to take a selfie.” - Leighton
“I feel my best when my skin is clear. I’ve struggled with acne since I was 14, and I finally started medication at 19. It makes me so happy to wake up without rushing to the mirror worried about new breakouts. When my skin is clear, my makeup looks flawless, and looking in the mirror doesn’t feel scary.” - Grace
“I feel the best about my skin prior to my shower at night, after applying my skincare products. The feeling of freshly clean skin, and layers of thick and hydrating products makes my skin feel well taken care of. I feel best about my makeup soon after I apply everything, since it is all prominently shown and fresh.” - Mia
“When I do a full face of makeup after my skincare routine (a rare occurrence with my busy schedule). And honestly, when I get a good picture of me. That’s when I feel best about my makeup.” - Delilah
Do you have any beauty tips you swear by?
“Icing my face in the morning to snatch and de-puff, dermaplaning because it makes your face and makeup sooo smooth, putting setting spray on BEFORE and after makeup, and using your nail to create the perfect eyeliner wing. This is more of a given but also making sure you place your products on the lines your face naturally gives you (ex: putting contour where your face naturally contours rather than above).” - Riva
“Trying to take the best care of my skin as possible so that blush and lipstick are really all I need. Also, if your blush and your lip are the same color I feel like it just looks better!” - Leighton
“My top lip tint tip: don’t hydrate your lips beforehand. It works so much better on dry lips because the tint can actually absorb. Apply the tint first, let it dry for a second, and then add lip balm, gloss, or whatever you use. I used to apply Aquaphor first and wondered why the color never stayed. Now I know to apply, then hydrate.” - Grace
“I believe that less is more. I like to keep my routine simple and minimal. Cleansing, moisturizing, SPF every morning, drinking plenty of water, never sleeping in makeup, and clean eating are all non-negotiable for me.” - Mia
“I swear by a strip lash. I wear a strip lash every day and my mom hates it. Also, my roommate from LA recently put me onto bronzer which I never knew I needed because I’m brown. Now I can’t live without it!” - Ella
“I swear by under-eye brightening cream and always a bit of bronzer in my eyelid crease. I also LOVE this German ‘baby cream’ by Kaufmanns for literally everything - lips, blemishes and hands.” - Delilah
What are your favorite Rhode products and how do you use them?
“I absolutely love the Rhode lip liner in shade Press. It lasts so long and doesn’t dry out my lips, which I feel like most other lip liners do. I also love the blush in the shade Sleepy Girl. It blends in very naturally with your face, so it’s great for on-the-go use, when you want to add a little color.” - Delilah
“My favorite Rhode product is the Barrier Butter. I’ve been looking for a thicker moisturizer in preparation for another brutal New York City winter and this is definitely it. I’ve been applying it generously underneath my makeup.” - Ella
“The Glazing Milk and Barrier Butter! I use the Glazing Milk right after cleansing to give my skin a hydrated and dewy base, and at night I finish with the Barrier Butter for a thicker layer that keeps my skin hydrated until morning. My favorite makeup product is the Peptide Lip Tint in shade Ribbon! It is my go-to for an everyday simple look, while feeling put together! I have noticed that it lasts a while too, which I love!” - Mia
“I have been a ride-or-die blush girl since middle school, and my absolute favorite blushes are from Rhode. The packaging is perfect, so cute, and super easy to use. They’re so pigmented and last forever. I use the Rhode blush every single day, and it’s one of the items I never leave the house without because the size is so convenient. Even on a night out, I throw it in my purse for touch-ups. Whether I blend with my fingers or a brush, it always looks flawless.” - Grace
“The Pocket Blushes and the Peptide Lip Treatment are my go to. They’re the perfect size and so easy to throw in my bag and go. I also LOVE the Glazing Mist, it fits in my bag and it feels nice to spray on my face after getting off the subway, or right before I get to wherever I’m going, for a refresh.” - Leighton
“I love Rhode’s pocket blushes and the shades they come in. In the summer, I use Toasted Teddy on my lips, nose and cheeks for the perfect burnt/tanned look. I also am a really big fan of the Peptide Lip Treatment because I hate having dry lips, but also want to have a gloss on at all times. They’re great for this because they are nourishing and have a tint/gloss to them as well as just smoothing out the lips. In terms of skincare, I’m very particular, but the Rhode Glazing Milk and mist has been great on my skin and is a smoothing base for makeup. The eye patches also work wonders!!” - Riva
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