It's been way too long! I have a long list of posts ready to roll out, and I'm going to be doing some videos as well. I made some color changes to keep with Pantone's colors of the year, Serenity and Rose Quartz, and will be spiffing the place up a bit more with some customized graphics. I removed posts that were related to subscription boxes, they were old and not really relevant. I still receive Ipsy's Glam Bag, and just started Sephora Play, and will be reviewing the products I get. I kept posts that still have information I want to keep on here. Some things have changed, like my skincare and makeup routines, but overall they are "keeper" posts.
I am super excited to head full-force into this blog, to help others, have fun, and get feedback and tips from others!
I won't leave you without something... Setting Spray is your friend! I'm helping a friend out with an election, L'Oreal's setting spray has kept my makeup set all day and night, in the heat and humidity! You can make your own out of rosewater and glycerin (and an essential oil like lavender or chamomile if you choose, I haven't experimented with that yet). However, you can find these natural ones already made at a health food store.
Have a lovely day!
Wednesday, August 17, 2016
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
So you want to get a Brazilian...
I'm going to be completely frank and not hold anything back here, so I apologize in advance if I offend anyone. That said, you've found a reputable, sanitary, well-experienced licensed salon/spa/esthetician to give you a Brazilian wax. Now what?
Let's talk modesty first. Most of us who have been trained in the US have learned draping, or covering, techniques as we are waxing, or doing other body treatments. However, if we're doing a full Brazilian, there's only so much we can do. Some estheticians who are from a different cultural background where modesty isn't that much of an issue when it comes to spa and waxing treatments may not use draping or covering at all. Let me assure you, though, that as a professional, I am not focused on your vajay-jay, if there's a forest down there, or whatever you may be self-concious about. I have one specific goal in mind: to give you the best wax possible, with minimal discomfort to you. I want to get you through this as quickly as possible, with as little pain as possible, and give you the perfect wax. So I'll have to move you around, you'll have to work with me a bit, but I will ever be the professional. All I ask is that you've bathed beforehand!
I know some people worry and think when they go into a spa or salon, what the people that work there will say, like, "Wow, she was sooo hairy, blah blah blah"- that's so unprofessional, if I ever hear anyone around me saying such things, they'll be put in their place. Clients should be treated with respect and privacy.
The other thing I implore my clients to do is follow aftercare instructions. Use the TendSkin, exfoliate, whatever you've been told in order to prevent ingrown hairs, irritation and other problems.
As for pain, you can take Tylenol before your wax, and there are numbing agents that can be used, I have a spray. Try to find an esthetician that uses hard wax- this is a stripless wax that adheres only to the hair, not to the skin, so there can be less pain and irritation. Soft waxes that have to be removed with paper or muslin strips pull the skin, and can also bruise the skin in the bikini area.
Let's talk modesty first. Most of us who have been trained in the US have learned draping, or covering, techniques as we are waxing, or doing other body treatments. However, if we're doing a full Brazilian, there's only so much we can do. Some estheticians who are from a different cultural background where modesty isn't that much of an issue when it comes to spa and waxing treatments may not use draping or covering at all. Let me assure you, though, that as a professional, I am not focused on your vajay-jay, if there's a forest down there, or whatever you may be self-concious about. I have one specific goal in mind: to give you the best wax possible, with minimal discomfort to you. I want to get you through this as quickly as possible, with as little pain as possible, and give you the perfect wax. So I'll have to move you around, you'll have to work with me a bit, but I will ever be the professional. All I ask is that you've bathed beforehand!
I know some people worry and think when they go into a spa or salon, what the people that work there will say, like, "Wow, she was sooo hairy, blah blah blah"- that's so unprofessional, if I ever hear anyone around me saying such things, they'll be put in their place. Clients should be treated with respect and privacy.
The other thing I implore my clients to do is follow aftercare instructions. Use the TendSkin, exfoliate, whatever you've been told in order to prevent ingrown hairs, irritation and other problems.
As for pain, you can take Tylenol before your wax, and there are numbing agents that can be used, I have a spray. Try to find an esthetician that uses hard wax- this is a stripless wax that adheres only to the hair, not to the skin, so there can be less pain and irritation. Soft waxes that have to be removed with paper or muslin strips pull the skin, and can also bruise the skin in the bikini area.
Sunday, June 17, 2012
After the Sun
You've been out in the sun, and you've either been smart, or not so smart. Either way, you need to get some moisture into your skin pronto. If you're burned, go for the aloe, the purer, the better. I know it's hard to take leaves from the plant and rub all over your body, but try to find the straight, 100% gel at a health food store or a similar place. If you can't, the gels that places like Walgreens or CVS or other drugstores sells will do. Try to get as pure and non-fragranced as possible. For pure moisture, straight cocoa butter is awesome, I mean, the real stuff. I order bulk from aromatherapy and spa websites, sometimes add essential oils (more on aromatherapy later!), it just soaks into your skin and is fabulous!
Of course, there are several lotions, creams and body butters out there that are wonderful, and I do have my favorites. But since I just have to share every detail of my routine with you, here we go:
Beach- I live super-close to the beach, so I don't do much. However, when I was in college, I was about an hour, hour and a half from the beach. There were those shower areas around, I'd rinse my hair and body off, and in the car on the way back, I'd put conditioner in my hair and aloe or lotion on my body. The only times I have that dilemma these days is when my friends get a place at the beach and I visit for the day, if I don't take a shower, there's always a place to rinse off and do that other stuff.
Pool- Even at my house, if I don't plan to shower immediately, I rinse my hair out with the hose, condition or oil, usually I already have some type of treatment on my hair already. Rinse my body, moisturize.
Time to Shower:
I use a super-moisturizing body wash, some summer favorites are:
Bliss Bergamot and Vanilla
Softsoap Body Butter Wash in Heavenly Vanilla
Softsoap Moisturizing Body Wash with Moisture Beads, Ultra Rich Shea Butter
Pacifica Indian Coconut Nectar
Moisturize Body:
Hawaiian Tropic Body Butter
CVS or Walgreen's Aloe
Pacifica Indian Coconut Nectar Body Butter
Laura Mercier Almond Coconut Milk Souffle Body Creme
Hempz Hydrosilk Herbal Moisturizer
Hempz Body Butter
Moisturize Face:
Sometimes I mix a little Josie Maran argan oil into my moisturizer after being in the sun, and of course, I have a gazillion lip balms to choose from.
My main focus here is on skin, as I know pretty much nothing about hair, but some of the great hair products that have been recommended to me that really work are:
It's a 10 Leave-In Treatment
MorroccanOil Treatment
So, to wrap up the fun in the sun days, keep your skin protected, take care to hydrate inside as well, moisturize.
Of course, there are several lotions, creams and body butters out there that are wonderful, and I do have my favorites. But since I just have to share every detail of my routine with you, here we go:
Beach- I live super-close to the beach, so I don't do much. However, when I was in college, I was about an hour, hour and a half from the beach. There were those shower areas around, I'd rinse my hair and body off, and in the car on the way back, I'd put conditioner in my hair and aloe or lotion on my body. The only times I have that dilemma these days is when my friends get a place at the beach and I visit for the day, if I don't take a shower, there's always a place to rinse off and do that other stuff.
Pool- Even at my house, if I don't plan to shower immediately, I rinse my hair out with the hose, condition or oil, usually I already have some type of treatment on my hair already. Rinse my body, moisturize.
Time to Shower:
I use a super-moisturizing body wash, some summer favorites are:
Bliss Bergamot and Vanilla
Softsoap Body Butter Wash in Heavenly Vanilla
Softsoap Moisturizing Body Wash with Moisture Beads, Ultra Rich Shea Butter
Pacifica Indian Coconut Nectar
Moisturize Body:
Hawaiian Tropic Body Butter
CVS or Walgreen's Aloe
Pacifica Indian Coconut Nectar Body Butter
Laura Mercier Almond Coconut Milk Souffle Body Creme
Hempz Hydrosilk Herbal Moisturizer
Hempz Body Butter
Moisturize Face:
Sometimes I mix a little Josie Maran argan oil into my moisturizer after being in the sun, and of course, I have a gazillion lip balms to choose from.
My main focus here is on skin, as I know pretty much nothing about hair, but some of the great hair products that have been recommended to me that really work are:
It's a 10 Leave-In Treatment
MorroccanOil Treatment
So, to wrap up the fun in the sun days, keep your skin protected, take care to hydrate inside as well, moisturize.
Saturday, June 9, 2012
What's In Your Beach Bag?
Summer has officially been here, or if you live in Florida like I do, it pretty much only leaves for a couple of months. Except for weeks like this, I'm standing in my back yard by the pool in the rain singing a Glee-worthy mash-up of "Rain Rain Go Away/The Sun Will Come Out Tomorrow/Bring Back the Sun (who doesn't love a little Our Lady Peace?). Anyhoo, let's take a look-see into the Beach/Pool bag and see what we have:
Necessities:
Sunscreen: A given. I'm not going to give any brand recommendations here. The main points I will make are:
*Make sure your sunscreen follows the new FDA requirements that I posted about before.
*Use at the very least an SPF 15. Higher is definitely recommended, but there is a limit in the FDA requirements, so SPF 150 is absolutely not a possibility.
*Reapply every two hours, especially when swimming and during activities where you're sweating a lot.
*I'm not suggesting any particular brands, because as long as they follow the regulations and don't have any nuclear, mutant-producing chemicals in them, you just have to pick what works for you. I'm in the water a lot, in my pool, I go to the beach, I hang out at other friends' pools, go to the zoo with my family, amusement parks, walk my dog, I need a multi-tasking sunscreen. I actually need a new one, as I ran out of mine on the last beach trip. I like the sprays, and saw an ad for one I'm going to try out. I've said before I tan well and don't really burn, but I do need the UVB protection for aging and cancer. Okay, I said I wasn't going to mention a brand name, but I do use my SkinCeuticals Physical Sunscreen on my face. It protects very well, and I still get color safely. I have another trick too that I'll share in my self-tanning vs. spray tanning post.
Eye Protection: Sunglasses. A Hat. Suncreen creams, balms or sticks targeted for the eyes and other sensitive areas. Try to stay water-resistant. Reapply like your sunscreen.
Lip Protection: I've already told you about my lip balm addiction. There are many from the drugstore to Sephora I could recommend (I think I already have!), but as always, a minimum SPF 15, water-resistant (sometimes hard to find in favorites, but other ingredients like the oils, butters and waxes can naturally repel water). Reapply as often as needed.
Hair Protection: This definitely varies from person to person. I have very long, color-treated hair. Usually I put argan oil or conditioner in my hair, twist it in a bun, and wrap my head with a bandana. I've recently received some samples of UV hair treatments through my sample programs as well as the beauty supply stores, and am trying those out. For other people, just rinsing the chlorine out or leaving in a good conditioner while in the sun may be enough. I have friends who have salt-water pools, I'm honestly too busy having fun to care about my hair. That's horrible, I know.
Water: Yes, aqua. At the beach, by the pool, stay hydrated. Extremely important. Also great to have the empty bottles to help the kiddos collect beach water to make sand castles with. :)
***A Very Important Note: Medications- If you're on any medications, especially ones that affect the skin, know what effect sun exposure can have while you're on them. If you're using a skin-lightener like hydroquinone, sun exposure can cause further hyperpigmentation. Don't plan a skin treatment like a peel or a microderm the day before a weekend at the beach with the gals. Ask your dermatologist or esthetician when you can get back into the sun after a treatment, if they don't tell you up front.***
Other Things in My Bag to Make it Heavy for the Sheer Fun of It:
Keeping in mind that some of my beach days turn into early dinners, as do pool parties at friends' houses:
Towels (of course)
Facial Cleansing Cloths
Change of clothes
Deodorant
Makeup (I usually start off with minimal double-duty products like waterproof mascara and eyeliner, so all I need for some freshening-up is a bit of lip gloss, and maybe a tad of powder if we're taking pictures!)
Comb
Hair Oil
Hair Elastics
Body Spritz or Mini-Perfume
Day to Night, very easy. Confession: I actually have a fully-stocked bag in the trunk of my car, with some friends I never know what I'm going to need and when I'm going to need it. Guys have it so easy.
Days by the Pool, a Little Slice of My Life
I love these days, this week full of rain has killed my pool time. First, I prepare one of the best investments I've ever made, a waterproof iPod holder. I swim my laps, do some other pool exercises, then hop on my pool float with my coconut water and let the tunes carry me away to my happy place.
When I'm out of the pool, I do love to read, not any of that Fabio romance stuff. More mystery, true-life adventure, inspirational, biographies. And magazines, of course, in between catching up on Facebook.
Much of that reading is done on the porch, though, where I can check on my little pond of fishies, watch my doggie chase squirrels in the back yard, and just enjoy the peace and quiet.
Next up: After the Sun
Necessities:
Sunscreen: A given. I'm not going to give any brand recommendations here. The main points I will make are:
*Make sure your sunscreen follows the new FDA requirements that I posted about before.
*Use at the very least an SPF 15. Higher is definitely recommended, but there is a limit in the FDA requirements, so SPF 150 is absolutely not a possibility.
*Reapply every two hours, especially when swimming and during activities where you're sweating a lot.
*I'm not suggesting any particular brands, because as long as they follow the regulations and don't have any nuclear, mutant-producing chemicals in them, you just have to pick what works for you. I'm in the water a lot, in my pool, I go to the beach, I hang out at other friends' pools, go to the zoo with my family, amusement parks, walk my dog, I need a multi-tasking sunscreen. I actually need a new one, as I ran out of mine on the last beach trip. I like the sprays, and saw an ad for one I'm going to try out. I've said before I tan well and don't really burn, but I do need the UVB protection for aging and cancer. Okay, I said I wasn't going to mention a brand name, but I do use my SkinCeuticals Physical Sunscreen on my face. It protects very well, and I still get color safely. I have another trick too that I'll share in my self-tanning vs. spray tanning post.
Eye Protection: Sunglasses. A Hat. Suncreen creams, balms or sticks targeted for the eyes and other sensitive areas. Try to stay water-resistant. Reapply like your sunscreen.
Lip Protection: I've already told you about my lip balm addiction. There are many from the drugstore to Sephora I could recommend (I think I already have!), but as always, a minimum SPF 15, water-resistant (sometimes hard to find in favorites, but other ingredients like the oils, butters and waxes can naturally repel water). Reapply as often as needed.
Hair Protection: This definitely varies from person to person. I have very long, color-treated hair. Usually I put argan oil or conditioner in my hair, twist it in a bun, and wrap my head with a bandana. I've recently received some samples of UV hair treatments through my sample programs as well as the beauty supply stores, and am trying those out. For other people, just rinsing the chlorine out or leaving in a good conditioner while in the sun may be enough. I have friends who have salt-water pools, I'm honestly too busy having fun to care about my hair. That's horrible, I know.
Water: Yes, aqua. At the beach, by the pool, stay hydrated. Extremely important. Also great to have the empty bottles to help the kiddos collect beach water to make sand castles with. :)
***A Very Important Note: Medications- If you're on any medications, especially ones that affect the skin, know what effect sun exposure can have while you're on them. If you're using a skin-lightener like hydroquinone, sun exposure can cause further hyperpigmentation. Don't plan a skin treatment like a peel or a microderm the day before a weekend at the beach with the gals. Ask your dermatologist or esthetician when you can get back into the sun after a treatment, if they don't tell you up front.***
Other Things in My Bag to Make it Heavy for the Sheer Fun of It:
Keeping in mind that some of my beach days turn into early dinners, as do pool parties at friends' houses:
Towels (of course)
Facial Cleansing Cloths
Change of clothes
Deodorant
Makeup (I usually start off with minimal double-duty products like waterproof mascara and eyeliner, so all I need for some freshening-up is a bit of lip gloss, and maybe a tad of powder if we're taking pictures!)
Comb
Hair Oil
Hair Elastics
Body Spritz or Mini-Perfume
Day to Night, very easy. Confession: I actually have a fully-stocked bag in the trunk of my car, with some friends I never know what I'm going to need and when I'm going to need it. Guys have it so easy.
Days by the Pool, a Little Slice of My Life
I love these days, this week full of rain has killed my pool time. First, I prepare one of the best investments I've ever made, a waterproof iPod holder. I swim my laps, do some other pool exercises, then hop on my pool float with my coconut water and let the tunes carry me away to my happy place.
When I'm out of the pool, I do love to read, not any of that Fabio romance stuff. More mystery, true-life adventure, inspirational, biographies. And magazines, of course, in between catching up on Facebook.
Much of that reading is done on the porch, though, where I can check on my little pond of fishies, watch my doggie chase squirrels in the back yard, and just enjoy the peace and quiet.
Next up: After the Sun
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Happy Birthday to Me!
So I recenty turned 39 again. Yay! I had an amazing party with family and friends, then a lovely dinner on my birthday with my best friend, her daughter, my mom, and my boyfriend. Yes, I am 40 and fabulous, and so far this year is looking wonderful!
I did get some really sweet gifts, and of course, treated myself to a few things. I had to get my free Sephora birthday gift, which gave me an excuse to go online and buy a few things:
So, in the middle there is the Sephora Birthday Gift, which this year is a Sugar Lip Duo (a mini original and a mini Rose'). On the very left is Pacifica Coconut Pearls Luminizing Lip Quench, which is so very yummy, then hopping over to the right, a mini-tube of Tarina Tarantino Sparklicity Gloss. My lips are so loving me right now. My makeup bag and drawer, however, are calling the addiction hotline. On the very right, is Sephora by OPI nail polish, Glee Collection in "Who Let the Dorks Out?" (Sue's color). I didn't know they were still selling the Glee colors, I bought Mercedes' color "Hell to the No" a while ago. Normally I wouldn't buy any nail polish, I get regular OPI at the beauty supply for cheap. But it was Glee, had to get in on that, and it was only at Sephora. Finally, in the back, not the Clarisonic, but the Pacifica Indian Coconut Nectar Body Wash... love love love! I have the body butter too. There's nothing like getting out of the pool after a day in the sun, sudsing up and lotioning down until you smell like one big coconut or pina colada and your skin feels awesome. I'll be posting about my favorite after-sun treats and tips as soon as I get my during-the-sun post finished!
I did get some really sweet gifts, and of course, treated myself to a few things. I had to get my free Sephora birthday gift, which gave me an excuse to go online and buy a few things:
So, in the middle there is the Sephora Birthday Gift, which this year is a Sugar Lip Duo (a mini original and a mini Rose'). On the very left is Pacifica Coconut Pearls Luminizing Lip Quench, which is so very yummy, then hopping over to the right, a mini-tube of Tarina Tarantino Sparklicity Gloss. My lips are so loving me right now. My makeup bag and drawer, however, are calling the addiction hotline. On the very right, is Sephora by OPI nail polish, Glee Collection in "Who Let the Dorks Out?" (Sue's color). I didn't know they were still selling the Glee colors, I bought Mercedes' color "Hell to the No" a while ago. Normally I wouldn't buy any nail polish, I get regular OPI at the beauty supply for cheap. But it was Glee, had to get in on that, and it was only at Sephora. Finally, in the back, not the Clarisonic, but the Pacifica Indian Coconut Nectar Body Wash... love love love! I have the body butter too. There's nothing like getting out of the pool after a day in the sun, sudsing up and lotioning down until you smell like one big coconut or pina colada and your skin feels awesome. I'll be posting about my favorite after-sun treats and tips as soon as I get my during-the-sun post finished!
Friday, June 1, 2012
Let's Talk About Sun
Unless you've been living under a rock, and therefore have little need for sunscreen, you've been hearing about the new requirements the FDA is placing on over-the-counter sunscreens. This is not a brand-new issue, as the requirements were announced in June 2011, but now they are being enforced, still with a bit of confusion. I'm going to touch on some of the main points, but here are a few links that provide exhaustive information on the regulations:
FDA on Sunscreen Basics (plus links to additional information)
FDA Q & A on New Regulations (plus links to additional information)
WebMD's Q & A on New Regulations (recommended by FDA)
Here are the basics:
1. Broad Spectrum- Sunscreens now have to have UVA and UVB protection. In the past, UVB, Ultraviolet B radiation that caused burning, was primarily targeted when sunscreens were regulated. UVA, Ultraviolet A radation that contributes to skin cancer and early aging, was not really addressed. With the new regulations, sunscreens should have both UVA and UVB, or "Broad Spectrum", protection. Per the FDA, " Only Broad Spectrum sunscreens with an SPF value of 15 or higher can claim to reduce the risk of skin cancer and early skin aging if used as directed with other sun protection measures. Non-Broad Spectrum sunscreens and Broad Spectrum sunscreens with an SPF value between 2 and 14 can only claim to help prevent sunburn."
2. No more "waterproof", "sweatproof" or "sunblock" claims. Sunscreens can claim to be water-resistant, but must indicate on the front label whether they remain water-resistant for 40 or 80 minutes while swimming or sweating, based on testing. Sunscreens that are not water-resistant must suggest the use of a water-resistant sunscreen for swimming and sweating. Sunscreens also cannot claim to provide more than 2 hours of protection without reapplying.
3. Sunscreens must have a minimum SPF of 15, but cannot go higher than 50.
I encourage everyone to read up on the new regulations, and stay informed about sun safety. I think these new requirements are going to be beneficial, as long as people stick by them. We've gone for a while thinking if we slather on a good coat of waterproof SPF 50 once, before we hit the pool or the beach, we're fine. In reality, we'd almost be better with a lesser SPF, reapplying every 2 hours. It's very important to teach our kids good sun habits as well.
We don't have to go around looking like sparkling vampires from "Twilight"- nor do we have to spray-tan ourselves Pantone orange like the Jersey Shore crazies. We'll delve into that next time.
FDA on Sunscreen Basics (plus links to additional information)
FDA Q & A on New Regulations (plus links to additional information)
WebMD's Q & A on New Regulations (recommended by FDA)
Here are the basics:
1. Broad Spectrum- Sunscreens now have to have UVA and UVB protection. In the past, UVB, Ultraviolet B radiation that caused burning, was primarily targeted when sunscreens were regulated. UVA, Ultraviolet A radation that contributes to skin cancer and early aging, was not really addressed. With the new regulations, sunscreens should have both UVA and UVB, or "Broad Spectrum", protection. Per the FDA, " Only Broad Spectrum sunscreens with an SPF value of 15 or higher can claim to reduce the risk of skin cancer and early skin aging if used as directed with other sun protection measures. Non-Broad Spectrum sunscreens and Broad Spectrum sunscreens with an SPF value between 2 and 14 can only claim to help prevent sunburn."
2. No more "waterproof", "sweatproof" or "sunblock" claims. Sunscreens can claim to be water-resistant, but must indicate on the front label whether they remain water-resistant for 40 or 80 minutes while swimming or sweating, based on testing. Sunscreens that are not water-resistant must suggest the use of a water-resistant sunscreen for swimming and sweating. Sunscreens also cannot claim to provide more than 2 hours of protection without reapplying.
3. Sunscreens must have a minimum SPF of 15, but cannot go higher than 50.
I encourage everyone to read up on the new regulations, and stay informed about sun safety. I think these new requirements are going to be beneficial, as long as people stick by them. We've gone for a while thinking if we slather on a good coat of waterproof SPF 50 once, before we hit the pool or the beach, we're fine. In reality, we'd almost be better with a lesser SPF, reapplying every 2 hours. It's very important to teach our kids good sun habits as well.
We don't have to go around looking like sparkling vampires from "Twilight"- nor do we have to spray-tan ourselves Pantone orange like the Jersey Shore crazies. We'll delve into that next time.
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Bath and Body Luxuries
I could open a bath and body store, or museum, in my bathroom. Not only do I have my bathroom cabinets stocked, I have an additional free-standing, large corner cabinet I had put in. Granted, some of that space is for hair products, curling irons, and other personal products. I do use most of my bath and body products at some time, every once in a while I will go through and take out what I haven't used and give it away.
Out of the products I keep and use, it's a given that I have my favorites, the ones I use more often. I'm going to leave a few of them out of this post, because they're going to show up soon in a post on after-sun care. So we'll go with some of my year-long favorite bath and body luxuries.
Stress Relievers
Bath & Body Works- Stress Relief Eucalyptus Spearmint- Body Wash & Foam Bath, Body Lotion, Sugar Scrub, and Pillow Mist. A favorite of mine for a very long time, also great when I'm feeling sick. I'm very into aromatherapy, which I'll get into in future posts.
Johnson's Melt Away Stress Body Wash and Body Lotion- I didn't link to this one, because Johnson's does not have it on their site, and doing a search leads me to believe that perhaps this may not be in some stores anymore? Someone correct me if I'm wrong, I'll have to check next time I'm shopping. These products come in fairly large bottles, so it's been a while since I've had to buy one. I know I purchased another Johnson's Body Wash that I *loved*, it was in a brown bottle and had wonderful oils in it, I haven't been able to find it in stores, but did see it while I was searching for the Melt Away Stress. Anyhoo. I initially bought the Melt Away Stress when I was taking care of my dying grandmother, yes, a very stressful situation, other family issues going on as well. These products did exactly what they said, my stress melted away, at least for a little while.
I Feel Pretty (and Sexy!)
Bath & Body Works- Sensual Black Currant Vanilla- Body Wash & Foam Bath, Body Lotion and Home Fragrance Oil. I don't think they sell the Oil anymore, I use it sparingly, as I burn a lot of other essential oils (lots of aromatherapy posts ahead). I love this fragrance, guys seem to like it too. I used to love topping the layers off with Fresh's Red Currant Basil perfume, but it's been discontinued. I have a bit left, hopefully I can find a bottle on ebay or somewhere that isn't stale.
La Bouquetiere Pamplemousse Vanille (Grapefruit Vanilla) Lotion- This lotion is the bomb! I tried it out at one of the boutiques in the historical city near where I live. It was a bit pricey for me at the time. However, after walking around all day, sweating, sleeping, passing out before we could shower (eww, I know), then waking up still smelling great and with baby-soft arms (where I'd applied the lotion) I immediately went back and bought a bottle. It's fabulous.
Benefit's Touch Me Then Try to Leave Body Cream- Okay, I'm really getting irked right now. Thank goodness I am stocked up on my favorites, because this cream is discontinued! Are you kidding me? This cream rocks, a nice, subtle scent, leaves your skin silky soft and so irresistable!
More?
So while I'm fuming about discontinued products I loved, one of my top 5 that's gone is Philosophy's Message in a Bottle. No link, except to a picture of the plastic bottle they last made. Initially, it was a lovely, ocean-inspired bubble bath, packaged in a real bottle with a cork, with cool script writing on the bottle. Not only was it a great product (the bubble bath left my skin so soft, and the scent was very relaxing), but the bottle was so cute and unique, there was no way one could hide it in the bathroom cabinet, it had to be on display.
Thankfully, I am gaining some new favorites, thanks to my best friend introducing me to Lush. We don't have one where I live, which baffles me, but I do most of my shopping online. However, with a place like Lush, I'd really like to be able to smell everything, there are so many choices! BFF is great, though, everytime she visits she brings me a little something to try out, so far I have loved it all. I still have one bathbomb to try, I have to borrow the boyfriend's bathtub for that, since his is 3x larger than mine. It'll give him uninterrupted time to work on his motorcycle.
Bliss Vanilla Bergamot Soapy Suds and Body Butter. I keep stocked up more on the Soapy Suds than the Body Butter. It really moisturizes, a little goes a long way, and it doesn't clash with most of my perfumes. I liked the old formulation better, but beggars can't be choosers, I suppose.
Fresh Sugar Rose' Tinted Lip Treatment SPF 15. I use this on minimal make-up days, it barely has a tint, but makes my lips so smooth. I also use it while I'm applying makeup to soften my lips for lip pencils, stains, etc, and sometimes at night.
Candles
You can't have a luxurious experience without candles. I pick them up pretty much everywhere, but mostly have a huge stock of Yankee Candles, Bath & Body Works and Tyler candles. It's summer, so I'm burning light, beachy, summery scents, but here's a list of some of my all-time favorites:
Yankee:
Autumn Wreath
Beach Walk
Holiday Sage
Island Spa
Lavender Vanilla
Midnight Oasis
Mistletoe
Ocean Water
Sage & Citrus
Soft Blanket
Sparkling Angel
Sun & Sand
Tahitian Tiare Flower
Vanilla Lime
Wedding Day
White Christmas
B&BW:
Eucalyptus Spearmint
Japanese Cherry Blossom
White Sand
Tyler:
Fleur De Lis
English Ivy
Dolce Vita
High Maintenance
Beach Blonde
That's it for luxury (for now). We'll be diving into summer (bad pun, I know) and talking about all the different ways to protect your skin during those beach and pool days, as well as after-sun care. I'll also start sharing some aromatherapy tips. A preview:
For itchy bug bites, apply a neat drop of essential lavender oil to the bite. Make sure it is essential oil from a health-food store or similar place, not a perfumed oil. Do not rub it all over the skin, just a neat drop to the bite.
Out of the products I keep and use, it's a given that I have my favorites, the ones I use more often. I'm going to leave a few of them out of this post, because they're going to show up soon in a post on after-sun care. So we'll go with some of my year-long favorite bath and body luxuries.
Stress Relievers
Bath & Body Works- Stress Relief Eucalyptus Spearmint- Body Wash & Foam Bath, Body Lotion, Sugar Scrub, and Pillow Mist. A favorite of mine for a very long time, also great when I'm feeling sick. I'm very into aromatherapy, which I'll get into in future posts.
Johnson's Melt Away Stress Body Wash and Body Lotion- I didn't link to this one, because Johnson's does not have it on their site, and doing a search leads me to believe that perhaps this may not be in some stores anymore? Someone correct me if I'm wrong, I'll have to check next time I'm shopping. These products come in fairly large bottles, so it's been a while since I've had to buy one. I know I purchased another Johnson's Body Wash that I *loved*, it was in a brown bottle and had wonderful oils in it, I haven't been able to find it in stores, but did see it while I was searching for the Melt Away Stress. Anyhoo. I initially bought the Melt Away Stress when I was taking care of my dying grandmother, yes, a very stressful situation, other family issues going on as well. These products did exactly what they said, my stress melted away, at least for a little while.
I Feel Pretty (and Sexy!)
Bath & Body Works- Sensual Black Currant Vanilla- Body Wash & Foam Bath, Body Lotion and Home Fragrance Oil. I don't think they sell the Oil anymore, I use it sparingly, as I burn a lot of other essential oils (lots of aromatherapy posts ahead). I love this fragrance, guys seem to like it too. I used to love topping the layers off with Fresh's Red Currant Basil perfume, but it's been discontinued. I have a bit left, hopefully I can find a bottle on ebay or somewhere that isn't stale.
La Bouquetiere Pamplemousse Vanille (Grapefruit Vanilla) Lotion- This lotion is the bomb! I tried it out at one of the boutiques in the historical city near where I live. It was a bit pricey for me at the time. However, after walking around all day, sweating, sleeping, passing out before we could shower (eww, I know), then waking up still smelling great and with baby-soft arms (where I'd applied the lotion) I immediately went back and bought a bottle. It's fabulous.
Benefit's Touch Me Then Try to Leave Body Cream- Okay, I'm really getting irked right now. Thank goodness I am stocked up on my favorites, because this cream is discontinued! Are you kidding me? This cream rocks, a nice, subtle scent, leaves your skin silky soft and so irresistable!
More?
So while I'm fuming about discontinued products I loved, one of my top 5 that's gone is Philosophy's Message in a Bottle. No link, except to a picture of the plastic bottle they last made. Initially, it was a lovely, ocean-inspired bubble bath, packaged in a real bottle with a cork, with cool script writing on the bottle. Not only was it a great product (the bubble bath left my skin so soft, and the scent was very relaxing), but the bottle was so cute and unique, there was no way one could hide it in the bathroom cabinet, it had to be on display.
Thankfully, I am gaining some new favorites, thanks to my best friend introducing me to Lush. We don't have one where I live, which baffles me, but I do most of my shopping online. However, with a place like Lush, I'd really like to be able to smell everything, there are so many choices! BFF is great, though, everytime she visits she brings me a little something to try out, so far I have loved it all. I still have one bathbomb to try, I have to borrow the boyfriend's bathtub for that, since his is 3x larger than mine. It'll give him uninterrupted time to work on his motorcycle.
Bliss Vanilla Bergamot Soapy Suds and Body Butter. I keep stocked up more on the Soapy Suds than the Body Butter. It really moisturizes, a little goes a long way, and it doesn't clash with most of my perfumes. I liked the old formulation better, but beggars can't be choosers, I suppose.
Fresh Sugar Rose' Tinted Lip Treatment SPF 15. I use this on minimal make-up days, it barely has a tint, but makes my lips so smooth. I also use it while I'm applying makeup to soften my lips for lip pencils, stains, etc, and sometimes at night.
Candles
You can't have a luxurious experience without candles. I pick them up pretty much everywhere, but mostly have a huge stock of Yankee Candles, Bath & Body Works and Tyler candles. It's summer, so I'm burning light, beachy, summery scents, but here's a list of some of my all-time favorites:
Yankee:
Autumn Wreath
Beach Walk
Holiday Sage
Island Spa
Lavender Vanilla
Midnight Oasis
Mistletoe
Ocean Water
Sage & Citrus
Soft Blanket
Sparkling Angel
Sun & Sand
Tahitian Tiare Flower
Vanilla Lime
Wedding Day
White Christmas
B&BW:
Eucalyptus Spearmint
Japanese Cherry Blossom
White Sand
Tyler:
Fleur De Lis
English Ivy
Dolce Vita
High Maintenance
Beach Blonde
That's it for luxury (for now). We'll be diving into summer (bad pun, I know) and talking about all the different ways to protect your skin during those beach and pool days, as well as after-sun care. I'll also start sharing some aromatherapy tips. A preview:
For itchy bug bites, apply a neat drop of essential lavender oil to the bite. Make sure it is essential oil from a health-food store or similar place, not a perfumed oil. Do not rub it all over the skin, just a neat drop to the bite.
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Little Luxuries: Margot Elena (Lollia, TokyoMilk, Love & Toast)
I had my first Margot Elena experience when I was browsing beauty.com a few years back. I happened upon the most lovely candles by Lollia and purchased the "Wish" Petite Perfumed Luminary. The fragrance description-"Warm Vanilla Bean and Rice Flower delicately frosted with sugared pastille. Jasmine Leaves sweetened with Sugar Cane. Comforting Ylang Ylang and the sheerest of Amber Woods complete the scene, creating the most luxurious of fragrant escapes" definitely grabbed me, as some of my favorite notes were in there. Yet I can't honestly say that was what got my attention initially. It was this:
Look how amazingly beautiful it is! Yes, that is a crystal or glass ornament attached to the wick of the candle. It took me forever to actually use it! The quality of the candle is really great, the scent is fabulous. There are more fragrances, too, as Lollia has a range of full bath and body collections. They also sell loungewear, duvets and throws.
I would describe Lollia as Margot Elena's romantic, classic, elegant collection. I plan to try more, once I get over my fixation with:
TokyoMilk- One day I was visiting my niece at college, she's very close, in a quaint town with cute shoppes and boutiques. One boutique had a display set up with some lovely hand creams, unusual perfumes, and quirky lip balms. I ended up buying a couple of perfumes and a lip balm through the TokyoMilk website. They sent me samples of hand cream (fabulous!) and bubble bath (decadent!).
TokyoMilk offers quality products in unusual ways, through their fragrance combinations and packaging. They have very cute and interesting cards for every occasion:
They also have fragrance sets ranging from their classics to the Femme Fatale and Fate and Fortune collections.
TokyoMilk is quirky, curious and different. Perhaps a bit vintage.
Love & Toast- I hate to say I haven't tried anything from this line yet. I only recently made the connection with TokyoMilk-Margot Elena-Lollia, which in turn led me to Love & Toast. From perusing the website, it seems to be a fun, flirty, breezy collection.
It looks like Margot Elena has a new product line in the works. Nectar + Pollen has a placeholder page, we'll keep you updated when it gets going!
My Margot Elena Favorites (so far!):
Lollia Wish Petite Perfumed Luminary
TokyoMilk BonBon Bubble Bath No.15 Eiffel Tower
TokyoMilk Parfum French Kiss No.15
TokyoMilk Opera Mint BonBon Lip Balm
 |
| Wish Petite Perfumed Luminary |
 |
| Breathe Collection |
I would describe Lollia as Margot Elena's romantic, classic, elegant collection. I plan to try more, once I get over my fixation with:
TokyoMilk- One day I was visiting my niece at college, she's very close, in a quaint town with cute shoppes and boutiques. One boutique had a display set up with some lovely hand creams, unusual perfumes, and quirky lip balms. I ended up buying a couple of perfumes and a lip balm through the TokyoMilk website. They sent me samples of hand cream (fabulous!) and bubble bath (decadent!).
TokyoMilk offers quality products in unusual ways, through their fragrance combinations and packaging. They have very cute and interesting cards for every occasion:
They also have fragrance sets ranging from their classics to the Femme Fatale and Fate and Fortune collections.
 |
| Honey & the Moon Collection |
 |
| Destiny Collection |
TokyoMilk is quirky, curious and different. Perhaps a bit vintage.
Love & Toast- I hate to say I haven't tried anything from this line yet. I only recently made the connection with TokyoMilk-Margot Elena-Lollia, which in turn led me to Love & Toast. From perusing the website, it seems to be a fun, flirty, breezy collection.
 |
| Pomme Poivre Collection |
It looks like Margot Elena has a new product line in the works. Nectar + Pollen has a placeholder page, we'll keep you updated when it gets going!
My Margot Elena Favorites (so far!):
Lollia Wish Petite Perfumed Luminary
TokyoMilk BonBon Bubble Bath No.15 Eiffel Tower
TokyoMilk Parfum French Kiss No.15
TokyoMilk Opera Mint BonBon Lip Balm
Next up: More Little Luxuries
Coming up soon: Fun in the Sun (safely!) I'm attending an event this Friday regarding the new SPF guidelines, so I'll be sharing all the good stuff about that on here.
Friday, May 25, 2012
The Routine- Makeup
I'll admit, I lean towards being more of a minimalist when it comes to my daily makeup routine. You wouldn't know it by looking in my makeup chest (yes, chest, not bag). I find that, for the most part, if I take care of my skin, I don't need much makeup, as far as base/foundation is concerned. I do not have perfect skin by any means, there are defnitely flaws that need to be addressed.
BB creams, tinted moisturizers and primers are staples in my routine. Right now, I'm playing around with different samples I've received through Birchbox, Sample Society and TestTube, as well as a beauty trends show I recently attended.
I really like to go minimal during the day:
BB cream, tinted moisturizer or primer
Powder
Blush
Mascara
Lip Gloss
In the evening, for nights out, I do love to play around with my treasure trove of colors! I have several makeup palettes with eyeshadows, blushes and lip colors, along with other separate shadows, pencils, lipsticks, highlighting powders, you name it. And, of course, an awesome set of brushes and tools for application.
I do go heavier on foundation, though not chisel-worthy. I used to use mineral makeup a lot, and still use some Bare Minerals or Jane Iredale sometimes, but decided to go out on a limb at one point and try something new. If I'm going full-blown coverage, I now use the Revlon PhotoReady line. Hi-definition makeup looks fab, Make Up For Ever makes the best, but on a budget, I'm happy with Revlon's.
My Must-Haves:
BB Cream- Dr. Brandt Flexitone or Miracle Skin Transformer
Primer- Smashbox Photofinish or Sephora Collection Primer
Stila Tinted Moisturizer
Revlon PhotoReady Foundation and Powder
L'Oreal Translucide Powder (for light coverage)
L'Oreal Infallible Powder (for more coverage- I keep this in my purse in case I need a day-to-night look on the fly)
L'Oreal De-Crease Eye Shadow Base
Benefit Benetint Cheek Stain
Smashbox O-Glow Intuitive Cheek Color
Maybelline Volum' Express the Falsies Mascara
L'Oreal Voluminous False Fiber Lashes (I do not need either of these mascaras, but I like to take my lashes to the extreme!)
DuWop Lip Venom Lip Plumper
Buxom Big & Healthy Lip Polish
And, of course, my makeup palettes, which have a gazillion colors to play with! Some are professional palettes, some I've gotten through places like Sephora.
An afterthought: This is a time of year where I actually scale down on makeup a lot. Summer in Florida can be merciless. I'm blessed in that I do manage to develop a nice tan, even with stringent use of sunscreen (I'm part Cherokee). Many days (and nights), tinted moisturizer, a touch of powder, some blush or bronzer, dramatic lashes and glossy lips do the trick.
Next up: Forty and Fabulous! Sharing some of my favorite things with you as I celebrate my birthday!
BB creams, tinted moisturizers and primers are staples in my routine. Right now, I'm playing around with different samples I've received through Birchbox, Sample Society and TestTube, as well as a beauty trends show I recently attended.
I really like to go minimal during the day:
BB cream, tinted moisturizer or primer
Powder
Blush
Mascara
Lip Gloss
In the evening, for nights out, I do love to play around with my treasure trove of colors! I have several makeup palettes with eyeshadows, blushes and lip colors, along with other separate shadows, pencils, lipsticks, highlighting powders, you name it. And, of course, an awesome set of brushes and tools for application.
I do go heavier on foundation, though not chisel-worthy. I used to use mineral makeup a lot, and still use some Bare Minerals or Jane Iredale sometimes, but decided to go out on a limb at one point and try something new. If I'm going full-blown coverage, I now use the Revlon PhotoReady line. Hi-definition makeup looks fab, Make Up For Ever makes the best, but on a budget, I'm happy with Revlon's.
My Must-Haves:
BB Cream- Dr. Brandt Flexitone or Miracle Skin Transformer
Primer- Smashbox Photofinish or Sephora Collection Primer
Stila Tinted Moisturizer
Revlon PhotoReady Foundation and Powder
L'Oreal Translucide Powder (for light coverage)
L'Oreal Infallible Powder (for more coverage- I keep this in my purse in case I need a day-to-night look on the fly)
L'Oreal De-Crease Eye Shadow Base
Benefit Benetint Cheek Stain
Smashbox O-Glow Intuitive Cheek Color
Maybelline Volum' Express the Falsies Mascara
L'Oreal Voluminous False Fiber Lashes (I do not need either of these mascaras, but I like to take my lashes to the extreme!)
DuWop Lip Venom Lip Plumper
Buxom Big & Healthy Lip Polish
And, of course, my makeup palettes, which have a gazillion colors to play with! Some are professional palettes, some I've gotten through places like Sephora.
An afterthought: This is a time of year where I actually scale down on makeup a lot. Summer in Florida can be merciless. I'm blessed in that I do manage to develop a nice tan, even with stringent use of sunscreen (I'm part Cherokee). Many days (and nights), tinted moisturizer, a touch of powder, some blush or bronzer, dramatic lashes and glossy lips do the trick.
Next up: Forty and Fabulous! Sharing some of my favorite things with you as I celebrate my birthday!
Thursday, May 24, 2012
The Routine- Skin
The Skin Care Routine. Just when you have it down pat, a problem surfaces or a new product comes out. The cleanser that you've used and loved for years now dries your skin out, and you're completely lost amongst the sea of skin care lines. Believe me, becoming an esthetician didn't make things much easier. As a student, I was given so many different products to try out from several different companies. To this day I am still overwhelmed by all of the different offerings I see at trade shows, in stores, spas, and in magazines.
What to do? If you have a chronic skin condition, see a dermatologist. Estheticians cannot and should not diagnose problems. Many dermatologists work with estheticians and can recommend products and services that will work with whatever issues you are having. If you're just in the market for a new product, especially if you're planning to spend some money, get samples first. Department stores, medispas, any of these places should have no problem providing samples. Obviously they want you to buy their product, but should be willing to help you with your decision if they want to keep you as a loyal client.
Budget-wise, the economy is rough these days. You can find products in the drugstore that are just as good as ones in the department store, consider that L'Oreal owns companies like Lancome and SkinCeuticals. However, there are reasons some products are more expensive; research, ingredients, and development, to name a few. It may be a daunting task, but check active ingredients in a department store product, and see if you can find a similar counterpart at the drugstore. Tip: Skimp on cleanser, but make sure you get one that is right for your skin and does the job. Aveeno makes some great cleansers. Spend your money on a good antioxidant and proper moisturizer.
Another tip: Make your products last! Don't pour or pump a glob of cleanser into the palm of your hand and go at it. Start out with a little bit on your fingertips, apply dabs to your forehead, cheeks, nose, chin, and neck. Add water, start washing, and then if you need more cleanser, you can add it. Same with your moisturizer and other products. It's really surprising how little product you need to do the job.
That said, here is the routine I finally settled on. It is chock-full of SkinCeuticals, their products just work really well for me and are well worth the money, even though I do get a discount. :) I would still pay full-price.
DAILY:
Cleanse with Philosophy Purity Made Simple and Clarisonic Classic Sonic Skin Cleansing System
Apply SkinCeuticals Phloretin CF (A.M. Only)(Antioxidant Plus)
Apply SkinCeuticals Phyto Corrective Gel (Anti-Redness, Calming)
Apply SkinCeuticals Hydrating B5 Gel (Moisturizing)
Apply Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion (Moisturizing)
Apply Clinique All About Eyes (Target Moisturizing)
Apply Lip Balm (especially in the P.M., I am an addict) Hempz Herbal Lip Balm, Aveeno Essential Moisture Lip Conditioner with SPF 15 , Maybelline Baby Lips (Quenched), Pangea Organics Lip Balm (Egyptian Fennel, Grapefruit and Sweet Orange)
*My Clarisonic exfoliates to an extent, and I don't like to be too aggressive with my skin, so a few times a week I'll use Pevonia Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser in place of my regular cleanser. A couple of times a month I'll use something stronger like Dr. Brandt Microdermabrasion.
*I use Jane Iredale's Sugar Butter Lip Exfoliator/Plumper, the sugar lip exfoliator is wonderful to use at night, you just rub it on and you can just eat it when you're finished! I also use it and the plumper before date nights.
*Once or twice a week I mask with SkinCeuticals Clarifying Clay Masque or SkinCeuticals Hydrating B5 Masque, or both (Clarifying on the T-Zone and congested areas, Hydrating on the drier areas).
*In the AM, if I don't apply makeup with SPF, I apply SkinCeuticals Physical UV Defense SPF 30.
*A few times a week in the PM during summer, I skip the Phyto and B5 Gels and use Clarins Delectable Self Tanning Mousse as my moisturizer, it is fabulous, Clarins has the BEST self-tanners!
*I rarely break out, or get a pimple, but when I do, I use Environ B-Active Sebuspot. Their whole B-Active line is fabulous for acne.
It seems like a lot, I know, and there is a point where you can do too much to your skin. I learned this going through esthetics school, getting peels and microderm and using products that were way too harsh for my skin. I have a good routine now, though, and it is important, especially as I age. I'm in the sun a lot, and even though genetics are on my side, I need to take care to have healthy skin. It's a whole-body thing, too- taking my vitamins, eating properly (most of the time!), drinking plenty of water, and exercising. And being nice to people. You can have perfect skin and be a butt-ugly person if your insides suck. Thus the name of this blog, which comes from a Dorothy Parker quote that my grandmother often used: "Beauty is skin deep, but ugly goes straight to the bone." Or something like that.
Next up: The Routine: Makeup
What to do? If you have a chronic skin condition, see a dermatologist. Estheticians cannot and should not diagnose problems. Many dermatologists work with estheticians and can recommend products and services that will work with whatever issues you are having. If you're just in the market for a new product, especially if you're planning to spend some money, get samples first. Department stores, medispas, any of these places should have no problem providing samples. Obviously they want you to buy their product, but should be willing to help you with your decision if they want to keep you as a loyal client.
Budget-wise, the economy is rough these days. You can find products in the drugstore that are just as good as ones in the department store, consider that L'Oreal owns companies like Lancome and SkinCeuticals. However, there are reasons some products are more expensive; research, ingredients, and development, to name a few. It may be a daunting task, but check active ingredients in a department store product, and see if you can find a similar counterpart at the drugstore. Tip: Skimp on cleanser, but make sure you get one that is right for your skin and does the job. Aveeno makes some great cleansers. Spend your money on a good antioxidant and proper moisturizer.
Another tip: Make your products last! Don't pour or pump a glob of cleanser into the palm of your hand and go at it. Start out with a little bit on your fingertips, apply dabs to your forehead, cheeks, nose, chin, and neck. Add water, start washing, and then if you need more cleanser, you can add it. Same with your moisturizer and other products. It's really surprising how little product you need to do the job.
That said, here is the routine I finally settled on. It is chock-full of SkinCeuticals, their products just work really well for me and are well worth the money, even though I do get a discount. :) I would still pay full-price.
DAILY:
Cleanse with Philosophy Purity Made Simple and Clarisonic Classic Sonic Skin Cleansing System
Apply SkinCeuticals Phloretin CF (A.M. Only)(Antioxidant Plus)
Apply SkinCeuticals Phyto Corrective Gel (Anti-Redness, Calming)
Apply SkinCeuticals Hydrating B5 Gel (Moisturizing)
Apply Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion (Moisturizing)
Apply Clinique All About Eyes (Target Moisturizing)
Apply Lip Balm (especially in the P.M., I am an addict) Hempz Herbal Lip Balm, Aveeno Essential Moisture Lip Conditioner with SPF 15 , Maybelline Baby Lips (Quenched), Pangea Organics Lip Balm (Egyptian Fennel, Grapefruit and Sweet Orange)
*My Clarisonic exfoliates to an extent, and I don't like to be too aggressive with my skin, so a few times a week I'll use Pevonia Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser in place of my regular cleanser. A couple of times a month I'll use something stronger like Dr. Brandt Microdermabrasion.
*I use Jane Iredale's Sugar Butter Lip Exfoliator/Plumper, the sugar lip exfoliator is wonderful to use at night, you just rub it on and you can just eat it when you're finished! I also use it and the plumper before date nights.
*Once or twice a week I mask with SkinCeuticals Clarifying Clay Masque or SkinCeuticals Hydrating B5 Masque, or both (Clarifying on the T-Zone and congested areas, Hydrating on the drier areas).
*In the AM, if I don't apply makeup with SPF, I apply SkinCeuticals Physical UV Defense SPF 30.
*A few times a week in the PM during summer, I skip the Phyto and B5 Gels and use Clarins Delectable Self Tanning Mousse as my moisturizer, it is fabulous, Clarins has the BEST self-tanners!
*I rarely break out, or get a pimple, but when I do, I use Environ B-Active Sebuspot. Their whole B-Active line is fabulous for acne.
It seems like a lot, I know, and there is a point where you can do too much to your skin. I learned this going through esthetics school, getting peels and microderm and using products that were way too harsh for my skin. I have a good routine now, though, and it is important, especially as I age. I'm in the sun a lot, and even though genetics are on my side, I need to take care to have healthy skin. It's a whole-body thing, too- taking my vitamins, eating properly (most of the time!), drinking plenty of water, and exercising. And being nice to people. You can have perfect skin and be a butt-ugly person if your insides suck. Thus the name of this blog, which comes from a Dorothy Parker quote that my grandmother often used: "Beauty is skin deep, but ugly goes straight to the bone." Or something like that.
Next up: The Routine: Makeup
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