• By theSKIN June 29, 2021

Instagram: @saralouwheez
Location: London, UK
Occupation: Servicing Supervisor for a watch brand
Astrological Sign: Very much a Scorpio
Book that changed your life: Hunger by Roxanne Gay
Beauty product or treatment that changed your skin: Neighbourhood Botanicals face oils
Podcast you can’t stop listening to: The Missing and Girly Mags
Instagram account you love to follow: @strange__currencies + @whatsonvisface

Looking for the best cry-proof eyeliner or multi-use products to streamline your routine? Just ask Sara Pollock. Our London-based editor is the queen of fun (and functional!) beauty recommendations; she’s rounded up the best in everything from eye-catching makeup to insomnia-busting skincare. Trust us: she knows her stuff.

Though her primary work is managing servicing for a watch brand and maintaining social media channels, freelance writing is a big calling for Sara. “It has honestly been pretty great, as I’ve craved a creative outlet for so long,” she says. When she’s not rounding up products to share with us, Sara can be found delving into a book, seeing live music, or collecting teen magazines from the 80s and 90s, which she posts regularly on the account @90steenmagazinearchiveuk (a no-brainer to follow if you’re looking for a solid dose of beauty nostalgia!).

TS

What’s your ideal night in?

SP

Curled up on the sofa on a Friday night with Thai takeaway and a terrible Lifetime movie from the 80s. And there’s a thunderstorm outside so I have no FOMO about being inside.

TS

What’s your ideal night out?

SP

Something involving live music in another city, followed by a hotel stay. Oh, and sushi — any perfect night also starts off with sushi.

TS

How do you do Sunday?

SP

I’ve always been one to struggle with Sundays, so typically I’ll use them to unwind and take care of myself in whatever needs be. Usually that translates to having an hour long bath, self-medicating with food, and catching up on reading. If I’m really feeling it, I’ll throw in a little online shopping at bedtime too.

Neighbourhood Botanicals

The Daily Glow Facial Oil

Byredo

Lipstick

Supergoop

Glow Stick

“Beauty is authenticity, kindness, and a blotted terracotta lip.”

TS

What’s your self-care power move?

SP

I find the ritual of painting my nails incredibly therapeutic. Due to the nature of my work (and my crippling anxiety!) my nails tend to get pretty wrecked every day, so I tend to paint them most evenings which helps me unwind.

TS

How do you cope with tough days?

SP

Go for a walk, go for a sob. Drink a lot of water because crying is dehydrating as hell!

TS

What’s currently on your want list?

SP

Paloma Wool Yin Yang mules and Byredo lipstick in the shade “Commuter.”

TS

Best beauty buy of the past 3 months?

SP

Supergoop Glow Stick.

TS

What (or who) inspires you?

SP

Going with the super groundbreaking answer of: film, music and art. Also, women that dress better than me.

TS

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

SP

I’ve met lots of great people through online communities and social media over the years so I can’t fault it too much. That being said, it’s imperative to make time to switch off. Putting my phone on aeroplane mode for a couple of hours works wonders!

TS

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

SP

Getting shit done. Writing. Living in the present.

TS

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

SP

Fuck cleanser, kill mosturizer. Marry serum forever and ever.

TS

And now makeup edition: mascara, blush, lipstick?

SP

Marry lipstick, fuck mascrara, kill blush. No shade to blush whatsoever — I love it! But if we’re talking desert island essentials then I’ll multipurpose my lippie!