The notoriously mysterious Frank Ocean recently made headlines for taking his Instagram public. “I feel like there was a dissonance between how I was seen by the audience and where I was actually,” he explains. “When you’re completely minimal with media, there’s a lot of pressure of whatever one thing you’re doing, the stakes are higher. Social media helps that, ‘cause you’re fully in control and can message that how you want.” Ocean is aware of the magnitude of his platform and used it to encourage young people to vote in the 2018 midterm elections by creating special merch for those who proved they participated. “Getting seven or eight thousand people who might not have otherwise voted to participate like that is a testament to what public figures can do or encourage with their voice. It feels responsible, especially at this time…It was a success when I look at it—it felt like something I’d like to continue doing.”

Elsewhere in the interview, Ocean offers more personal wisdom to GQ. While he maintains Pharrell is the skincare wizard, he has some tips as well: “I really do believe in a night cream. I feel like men just go to sleep…You really need to do a gentle wash and put a night moisturizer on. You can’t have retinol in your creams in the day because it makes you more sun-sensitive.” He touches on must-own fashion: “The SCOTTeVEST! Men need to get hip to the SCOTTeVEST. You can put anything in it…That’s the infomercial vest, really deep pockets.” He also laments the wild looks he never got to achieve: “I didn’t get the fit I wanted for my birthday, which consisted of the Balenciaga python-leather pants and a pink skin tight tank. I was gonna get the acid green shadow fade, too. Two-tone. Acid green to brunet. And the cowboy boots with the chrome heel and toe.”

Read the full interview here.