• By theSKIN November 2, 2020

Instagram: @_blairrose
Location: I’m currently staying in Detroit, Michigan, but I’m in the process of moving to London!
Occupation: Freelance writer
Astrological Sign: Leo sun, Cancer moon, Libra rising
Book that changed your life: A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess and Feminist Theory: From Margin to Center by bell hooks
Beauty product (or treatment) that changed your skin: Paula’s Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant
Podcast you can’t stop listening to: I’m not into podcasts but recently I’ve been listening to This Anthro Life to prepare for my upcoming master’s program.
Instagram account you love to follow: @sophia_roe, @illbrill, and @alealimay

If you’ve got major heart eyes for editor Blair Wagner’s beauty + brains, you’re not alone. She’s not afraid to get real about everything from self-care in the Black community to her own sexual self-discovery and we absolutely love it, don’t you?

Blair got her start in journalism freelancing for local news sources in her hometown of Savannah, Georgia. Now, she is headed to London to earn her Master’s degree in Social Anthropology. In her free time, she loves “going to art exhibits and museums, trying new local restaurants and bars, and telling the stories of amazing people who do work for their local communities.” Read on to learn more about her beauty philosophy and the products she keeps in her skincare rotation.

TS

What’s your ideal night in?

BW

Buttery popcorn, my couch, and my tv playing whatever my favorite show is at the moment. Lately, I’ve been religiously watching Naruto Shippuden.

TS

What’s your ideal night out?

BW

Dinner and drinks with a few of my closest friends. After working in the service industry for most of my life, I have a deep appreciation for dining out at restaurants. My favorite spots in Savannah are The Grey or Husk for dinner, and Savoy Society or Alleycat Lounge for drinks.

TS

How do you do Sunday?

BW

I don’t really have specific routines for specific days. My Sundays are whatever I need them to be, whether that’s cleaning and organizing, or napping and Netflixing.

TS

What’s your self-care power move?

BW

Ignoring my phone. I’m a very social person so occasionally disconnecting and enjoying solitude is therapeutic for me.

Paula's Choice

2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant

M-61

Powerglow Peel

Glossier

Futuredew

TS

How do you cope with tough days?

BW

Hot showers, comfort food, and friends. My “tough days” tend to be rooted in anxiety so a long shower instantly soothes me. I’ll either Facetime a friend to vent or invite them over and make a huge delicious meal. This takes my mind off of whatever was making my day tough and keeps me grounded.

TS

What’s currently on your want list?

BW

An all inclusive spa day. I want the most luxurious facial, massage, and body treatments!

TS

Best beauty buy of the past 3 months?

BW

Glossier’s Futuredew! It gives you a dewy complexion that lasts all day; it quickly became a staple in my routine. I also love M-61’s PowerGlow Peel. I use one at night and wake up looking like I just got a facial.

TS

Who or what inspires you?

BW

My close friends. They’re my biggest support system and they never allow me to doubt myself.

“I find beauty in rebellion. I love anything that contradicts the status quo.”

TS

What’s the best thing social media has done for you? The worst?

BW

The best thing it’s done is connect me with wonderful people and great opportunities. The worst thing it’s done is caused me to waste hours of my life scrolling and posting content. That’s time I can’t get back for something that’s intangible and fleeting.

TS

What’s a personal goal or project you are working towards?

BW

I’m an aspiring anthropologist! I love studying humans, societies, and cultures. I was recently accepted to Goldsmiths University of London, so my goal is to move there and obtain my master’s degree.

TS

Let’s play F*ck, Marry, Kill. Skincare edition: cleanser, moisturizer, serum?

BW

F*ck cleanser, marry moisturizer, kill serum

TS

And now makeup edition: mascara, blush, lipstick?

BW

F*ck blush, marry mascara, kill lipstick. But if lipgloss was a choice, I would massacre everything else and run off into the sunset with lipgloss.

TS

In a few words, describe beauty as you see it.

BW

I find beauty in rebellion. We’ve been fed toxic and impossible standards for so long — I love anything that contradicts the status quo. Embracing the diversity and uniqueness of humans is beautiful to me.