Healthy Relationships and Healthy Skin: Products You Should Borrow from Your Girlfriend
During the lockdown, I had many FaceTime calls with my friends, sometimes trying on new face masks that we recently discovered or talking about beauty products we use. And after a while, it became a habit—checking in and sharing recent beauty discoveries. But what about with your significant others? Why can’t we help our boos maintain a healthy skincare routine as well? Even though not all aspects of a beauty routine like this may work for you, there are definitely still many things that couples can follow together to up their skincare games. Dylana Suarez and Gabriel Honzik are a great example of how couples can achieve healthy habits and incorporate products into each other’s beauty routines.
words and photography by MARK PRESTON
What’s your skin type and age?
GABI: Combination. I don’t really break out, but I notice that it can feel oily and dry at the same time. I’m 34 years old.
What’s your beauty routine?
G.: I like to take my time in the shower as a way to unwind. Dylana always stocks the shower with products, so I usually use what’s in there, but the Malin & Goetz shampoo and conditioner is definitely my favorite. And the only body soap I use is by Dr. Bronner and the scent is peppermint. It’s really the best stuff! I wash my face with Caudalie Vinopure Purifying Gel Cleanser because Dylana uses it. My current face cream is by Malin & Goetz; it’s classic and simple and does the job. I’m not high maintenance by any means, so I rarely use products on my hair, but when I do, I style it with Malin & Goetz hair pomade. Clearly, I’m a fan.
CREME DE LA MER - LA MER
How do you take care of your body?
G.: I try to fit in at least 30 minutes of exercise every day, usually after work. For skincare, face cream is what I use everyday, unless Dylana reminds me to use something extra. Other than that, lots of water and lots of sleep is very important to me!
Are there any rituals/memories of self care from your childhood?
G.: Hmmm, that’s a hard one. But I remember always really loving the beauty/selfcare items my mom used, so sometimes I would use them too, like her face creams, body lotions, and shampoos. They always felt special and nice.
Dylana, how did you influence Gabi’s beauty routine?
DYLANA: I think I influenced him by introducing him to new products for skincare, like serums, toners, and face oils. He doesn’t reach for them every day, but he does enjoy them when he does. Whenever I do a cleansing mask, like Cadualie’s Detox Mask, I always get Gabi to do it with me. But he always needs me to remind him to do these extra steps. Hehe. We definitely go to get massages together like once or twice a month at our go-to Chinatown spot, Renew Day Spa, it’s the best. I’ve been going there for years!
What about the other way around?
G.: I think I’ve influenced Dylana’s routine in a way that shows that less is more. She has so many products that she always receives, and I’m pretty much the opposite of that, sticking to a few key items that I have used forever, and I feel like this has rubbed off on her. Even when it comes to cooking, less is more. I like to just use the basics, the key ingredients, and I’ve noticed that she has started to think more the same.
How did lockdown affect your beauty routines?
G.: We think that it definitely made us spend more time for self care.
D.: For me, it was nice to wear less makeup and focus more on just skincare and developing a routine that really worked for me. My time spent on my skincare routine definitely rubbed off on Gabi, since I love getting him to try the products I’m using, and it’s fun to see which ones he likes the most. For example, I’ve been loving heavy creams like Créme De La Mer for nighttime, and I see Gabi starting to use it more often now after I got him to try it.
Which products from your drawer Gabi can use?
D.: Gabi now uses the DERMAPORE once a week. I do, too! It’s such a great device to unclog your pores from buildup. Now Gabi’s nose is so smooth and clear. I recommend this device to everyone!
Do you work out together?
G.: Yes, we do sometimes!
D.: I usually do pilates or a strength tabata online class, but sometimes I’ll join in on some of Gabi’s classes that he takes online. They are mostly strength training and really focused on a particular body part, so it’s nice for me to change it up. And Gabi is good about teaching me the best posture for certain moves which is nice.
How did you guys meet?
D.: We met online actually, back in March of 2016! We chatted via text for a few days—since I was away on a trip at the time—before meeting up. For our first date, we met uptown and got some drinks before going to see a French film at Lincoln Center, but we ended up being too giggly to get through the movie, so went somewhere else to continue talking and getting to know each other. Ever since that first date, we never looked back! It just worked out so organically since the beginning and here we are now, five years later!
BEAUTY ELIXIR FACE MIST, VINOPURE PURIFYING GEL CLENSER, all CAUDALIE, PORE EXTRACTOR & SERUM INFUSER — DERMAPORE
ARE THERE ANY RITUALS IN YOUR MARRIAGE?
G.: There definitely are, even though we don’t think about it so much! Cooking together is definitely a ritual of ours that we do a few times a week when we go out of our way to make something more special and time consuming.
D.: Our weekend rituals involve having a whole day to go out in the city, browse the bookstore, and try our favorite restaurants and get treats in Chinatown, or a slice of cake at Harbs bakery or goodies at Laduree in Soho. We even have random rituals a few times a week. When Gabi plays his video games, I will watch while also scanning my film. We always have a list of films we want to watch each month. It’s simple things like that we regularly do that we love.
What are the hallmarks of healthy relationships?
Understanding and respect is so important in a relationship. And being a good listener! It really is the foundation of a healthy relationship. It’s been 5 years together for us, and we are always continuing to learn about each other and from each other, and staying curious about life together. Learning to love one another for all the things that not just make us similar but that make us different, and to appreciate these things, is what holds us together.
