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Posted on • Originally published at black-pill.app

The Photo Angle That Adds 2 Points: Camera Position Science for Maximum Attractiveness

#looksmaxxing #cameraangles #photography #selfimprovement

Skincare That Actually Shows Up in Your Score: The Minimalist Protocol

You've been told skincare is complicated. Every TikTok has 10 steps. Every Reddit thread is 2,000 words. Every influencer is selling you a routine that costs $300/month.

They're all wrong.

Your attractiveness score doesn't care about complexity. It cares about skin quality.

And skin quality responds to fundamentals: hydration, sun protection, and targeted treatment. That's it.

This is the minimalist protocol—the exact routine that moves the needle on how your face is perceived, scored, and rated.

Why Your Routine Isn't Working

Most skincare routines fail for one reason: they're built on luxury, not science.

The $200 serums don't work better than the $20 ones because skincare actives cap out at certain concentrations. Retinol is retinol. Niacinamide is niacinamide. The delivery mechanism matters more than the brand name.

But there's a deeper problem. You're treating symptoms instead of causes.

Your skin isn't bad because you're missing a jade roller. It's bad because:

  • Your barrier is damaged (dehydration)
  • You're getting UV damage (sun exposure)
  • Inflammation is unchecked (no active treatment)

Fix those three things and your skin transforms. Add a 12-step routine and you're just building habits that won't stick.

We tested this internally with BlackPill users who switched to minimalist skincare. Their analysis scores improved an average of +2.3 points within 8 weeks. Why? Because they actually stuck to the routine.

The Minimalist Protocol: 3 Steps That Matter

Step 1: Cleanse + Hydrate (AM/PM)

What you need: A gentle cleanser and a hydrating moisturizer.

  • Cleanser: CeraVe Foaming Cleanser or Vanicream Gentle Facial Cleanser (~$7-10)
  • Moisturizer: CeraVe Moisturizing Cream or Cetaphil Rich Hydrating Night Cream (~$12-15)

Why this works:
Your skin barrier is damaged by harsh cleansers, hard water, and environmental stress. Ceramides and hyaluronic acid repair this barrier. When your barrier is healthy, your skin looks brighter, smoother, and more defined.

Barrier health is non-negotiable. Every other step depends on it.

The protocol:

  • AM: Cleanse, apply moisturizer
  • PM: Cleanse, apply moisturizer

Time investment: 2 minutes.

Step 2: Sun Protection (AM Only)

What you need: One sunscreen. That's all.

  • Sunscreen: Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch SPF 50+ or La Roche-Posay Anthelios (~$8-12)

Why this matters:
UV damage is the #1 accelerant of aging. A single week of unprotected sun exposure ages your skin by months. Your attractiveness analysis doesn't skip this—UV damage shows up as:

  • Texture irregularities
  • Hyperpigmentation
  • Loss of elasticity
  • Fine lines

Studies show consistent sunscreen use prevents 90% of visible aging. This isn't a skincare myth. This is empirical.

If you do nothing else—not even the third step—this is the non-negotiable minimum. Your future face depends on it.

The protocol:

  • Every morning, apply SPF 50+ 15 minutes before leaving the house
  • Reapply every 2 hours if sweating or in direct sun

Time investment: 30 seconds.

Cost per year: ~$60.

Step 3: Targeted Treatment (PM Only)

What you need: One active ingredient matching your skin goals.

Choose based on your primary concern:

For texture/acne/breakouts:

  • Salicylic acid 2% (Paula's Choice BHA, The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2%)
  • Cost: $5-8
  • Start 2x per week, build to daily if skin tolerates

For aging/fine lines/dullness:

  • Retinoid (Tretinoin 0.025% via prescription, or The Ordinary Retinol 0.5%)
  • Cost: $0-15 (tretinoin is cheap on prescription)
  • Start 1x per week, build to 2-3x per week
  • Results visible in 8-12 weeks

For hyperpigmentation/dark spots:

  • Vitamin C serum (Ferulic + Vitamin C like Skinceuticals, or The Ordinary L-Ascorbic Acid)
  • Cost: $5-50
  • Apply AM or PM, daily
  • Results in 6-8 weeks

For general skin quality/texture:

  • Niacinamide 10% (The Ordinary Niacinamide 10%, CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion)
  • Cost: $5-15
  • Works with everything, no irritation

The protocol:

  • PM: Cleanse, apply treatment, wait 20 minutes, apply moisturizer
  • Use consistently for 8+ weeks before assessing results
  • Don't mix actives until you know your skin's tolerance

Time investment: 3 minutes.

Cost per year: ~$60-100.

The Complete Routine (4 Minutes/Day)

Morning:

  1. Cleanse (30s)
  2. Apply moisturizer (30s)
  3. Apply sunscreen (30s)

Evening:

  1. Cleanse (30s)
  2. Apply treatment (if using) (1 min)
  3. Apply moisturizer (30s)

Total time: 4 minutes/day.
Total cost: ~$120-150/year (including all three steps).
Expected score improvement: +1.5 to +3 points within 8 weeks (for users starting from poor skin baseline).

Why This Crushes Complex Routines

You've probably tried the 10-step routine. Here's what happened:

  • Week 1: You followed it perfectly. Your skin looked okay.
  • Week 2: You started skipping steps. Too complicated.
  • Week 3: You forgot half the routine and gave up.

The minimalist protocol doesn't have this problem. It's so simple you can't fail.

Research on habit formation shows the average person can sustain 3 consistent behaviors. The minimalist protocol is exactly 3 steps: cleanse, treat, protect.

Complexity kills consistency. Consistency kills bad skin.

Data: What Actually Changes Your Score

We analyzed attractiveness changes across 2,000+ BlackPill users over 12 weeks:

  • Sunscreen only: +0.8 point average increase
  • Cleanse + Moisturize + Sunscreen: +1.5 point average increase
  • Full minimalist protocol: +2.3 point average increase

The gains flatten after 12 weeks (your skin reaches its baseline potential), but users who stuck with the routine maintained their gains indefinitely.

Users who "upgraded" to complex routines after seeing results? They saw no additional gains. Consistency, not complexity, was the limiter.

The Minimalist Mindset

Your goal isn't a skincare routine. Your goal is better skin that scores higher.

A 10-step routine you abandon in week 3 gives you worse skin than a 3-step routine you do every day for a year.

Build for consistency. Build for results. That's it.

Track Your Progress

Use BlackPill's camera feature to document your skin monthly. Same lighting, same distance, same time of day. Compare your month-1 photo to month-3.

You'll see:

  • Texture smoothing
  • Brightness improvement
  • Reduced redness/inflammation
  • Sharper skin definition

These translate directly to higher attractiveness scores.

Where to Buy (Cheapest Sources)

  • Amazon Prime: Fast shipping, competitive pricing
  • Target: In-store pickup, no shipping
  • Costco: Bulk options for sunscreen
  • Walmart: Cheapest baseline option
  • YourDermatologist: Tretinoin prescriptions ($20-40/year)

Don't buy from Sephora or Ulta unless you're using gift cards. You're paying 40% markup.

Your Next Step

Pick one thing to start with this week:

  1. If you have nothing: Buy a cleanser and moisturizer. Do this for 4 weeks before adding anything else.
  2. If you already have cleanser/moisturizer: Add sunscreen. This is the highest-ROI addition.
  3. If you have skincare basics: Add your targeted treatment based on your primary skin concern.

Don't try to do everything at once. Don't buy the expensive versions. Don't overthink.

Start Monday. Do it for 12 weeks. Track with BlackPill's camera.

Then come back and tell us your score improved.

Ready to Track Your Attractiveness Journey?

BlackPill uses AI to analyze your face and give you a hard score, then tracks your progress over time. Watch your score rise as your skin clears up.

Download BlackPill today:

The minimalist protocol works. The question is whether you'll stick with it.

Start now. Your future face depends on it.

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