Browsing Category: Skincare

Beauty Oils On-The-Go

on-the-go beauty oils

 

In the summer, my skin and I gravitate more toward beauty oils to help with all of our moisturizing needs. Since my skin is not as dry in the summer as it is in the winter, I replace my heavy creams for gentle oils. However, unlike the heavy moisturizing creams, most oils can be used for everything from moisturizing your skin to adding shine to your hair. Therefore, I tend to carry a couple of beauty oils in my purse in the warmer months and decided to share with you my current on-the-go beauty oils.

One of may favorite go-to oils is my organic marula oil by Acure Organics. It’s very gentle, soothing, and I also use on my to help mend my dry/split ends and soften my cuticles. Also, I recently added Nuxe Dry Oil to my collection, but it has been a instant love. It has a subtle scent that smells amazing on my skin. I’ve been using for my decollete area to add a subtle highlight to my chest area. However, since it’s loaded with Macadamia, Hazelnut, Borrage, Almond, Camellia and St. John’s Wort oil, it’s also really great for nourishing, soften and repairing dry skin and hair. Actually, the Nuxe dry oil is one of my current must-have beauty items I use practically everyday in way or another.

Coconut is BFF! It’s cures or aids in almost everything. One of the best things I recently discovered was that there are travel size single use pouches of coconut oil you can purchase. I get mine from Whole Foods and tend to by 5 at a time. I keep one in my purse, my work desk, my vanity area, my bathroom, and the glove compartment in my car. However, if you open it and don’t use it all, store the rest in a small ziplock bag since it melts easily. Nothing perfect.

beauty oils on the go

Are you an beauty oil fiend like me and keep one or more on you. If so, let me know which one, because I’m sure I can squeeze another one in my purse.

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Natural Skincare Routine

natural skincare routine

When my combo/oily skin is acting up by having random breakouts or just feeling and looking “under the weather”, I push aside my strong and almost medicinal strength skincare products and reach for more gentle and natural products.

I pretty much baby my skin when it flares up. Since I’ve cut back on certain types of food such as dairy, sugar, and red meat, my skin hasn’t been very problematic. However, for the times it has, I nurture it by only using natural and chemical free products. Usually, my gentle natural skincare routine clears my skin in the matter of 1-2 days, which is great!

Here are the natural products I currently reach for when I want to calm my skin from a breakout.

Natural Skincare Routine:

natural skincare routine

When my skin is really breaking out, I avoid wearing any make-up. Even though there are natural beauty products out there, I would much rather just refrain from putting anything else on my skin that could potentially clog my pores and aggravate my skin any more. The most I will wear is mascara and maybe fill my brows in. So, in order to remove those products, I use a little bit of coconut oil to gently loosen the mascara and brow products to gently wipe it away with a cotton round. Coconut oil is this best!

To cleanse my skin, I use MaaDisha Neem Enriched Soap5. Although it’s great for chronic dry skin and eczema, which I have neither, it’s also antibacterial. So, it’s great for scaring away bacteria that might want to rest in your pores and create an acne garden. This soap is gentle, calming, and cruelty-free. All winners.

After cleansing face, if needed, I follow it by swiping my skin with a cotton ball soaked with witch hazel to tone my skin.It’s great to catch and remaining dirt on my skin, but also to calm, soothe, and prep my skin for my moisturizer.

Yes, you can’t skip the moisturizer.  I gently rub a couple of drops of Acure Organics marula oil into my skin, which is very light in hydrating. Therefore, I can use it day and night. If my skin is feeling a little dry, I will use a little coconut oil, instead.

I recommend, no matter your skin type, that everyone develops their own natural skincare routine. It might take a minute to find the right cleanser and moisturizer, but it’s worth experimenting.

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Powdered Facial Cleansers

When it comes to having proper skincare regimen, my main focus is to make sure that I thoroughly clean my skin. My obsession with making sure I have thoroughly cleaned my skin includes me selecting the right cleansers and using multiple cleansers in my skincare routine. Therefore, I’m always interested in learning about other cleanser options. One product I’ve been interested in trying for a while now are powdered facial cleansers.

Yes, powdered facial cleansers exist.

Powder facial cleansers have been around for a few years, but I haven’t had the chance to try one. However, my interest recently peaked after discovering that they are great for all skin types, including those of us with sensitive skin and even those with rosacea-prone skin.

Most powdered facial cleansers have a very soft and dusty texture that’s similar to baby powder. The way that they work is by mixing a little water into a small amount of the powder. After that, you gently mix the two together until it creates a gentle liquid cleanser.  The slight grainy texture of some powdered facial cleansers helps to gently exfoliate your skin, too.

Here are some powdered facial cleansers currently on the market and my “Want to Try” list.

powdered-facial-cleansers-stained-couture

Tatcha Polished Classic Rice Enzyme Powder Cleanser – Peter Thomas Roth Camu Camu Vitamin C Cleansing Powder – NUDE Skincare Detox Gentle Brightening Fizzy Powder Wash –HONEST Clean Powder Cleanser

Have you tried a powdered facial cleansers? If so, please tell me how did you enjoy it below.

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Aiming for Spotless Skin

You know the saying about how a summer body is made in the winter, well I like to think the same thing can be said about our skin.

When it’s cold, we can cover up our bodies with layers to conceal areas that we’re working on and when the weather finally warms up, flash everyone that hard work by wearing less clothes. We can apply that same principle to other vanity areas such as out skin. Just replace clothes with make-up and body with face. No matter you skin dilemma, you can easily work on it winter so in the summer, you can let your natural skin glow with little to no make-up.

When it comes to my skin, I feel like I’ve dealt with every issue possible; including acne, large pores, and even a phase when I was getting dry patches all over my face. Not cute. Recently, I decided it was time for me to work on the discoloration and acne scarring on my face.

Fortunately, after years of having very problematic skin, my skin has finally cleared up with the exception of a pimple here or there. Those minor pimples are nothing compared to my puberty that included skin full of large pores, oily skin, and pimples on pimples. It was horrid.

Now that I’ve found the right regimen, know which products/ingredients work for my skincare and proper nutrition, my skin has been having the smoothest time of it’s life.

To help with the discoloration and scarring, I’ve incorporated some new products and lifestyle changes into my life that have been working wonders and wanted to share them with you…of course!

PRODUCTS FOR SPOTLESS SKIN

Microdermabrasion was one of the first things I tried to help with my complexion and it really has made a difference. It helped smooth my skin and some scarring. I use my at-home microdermabrasion system once a week, which has helped.

murad spotless skin stained couture

The other new incorporation into my skincare game to help me get rid of dark spots is finding the right products with the right ingredients. I recently started using Murad’s 90-Day Rapid Lightening regimen, which has done wonders to clearing past acne scars and hyperpigmentation on my cheek area. I noticed changes within a 2 weeks of consistent use. The line is packed with Vitamin C and antioxidants, which are all great battling sun spots and damage.

My personal favorite product from the line is the Rapid Age Pigment Lightening Serum. It’s beast and on par to be the only serum I used for years. I already bought 2 more. I will admit that I was most excited to try this serum out of the line, because some of my favorite and flawless skin femmes of Instagram swear by this serum. After using it for myself, they did not steer me wrong.

My initial (and only) goal to using this line was to help brighten my complexion by lightening scars that are reminders of previous years of acne, but now I feel like I’ve found my summertime skin’s new BFF.

Read more about the rapid lightening line here.

 

**received from BeautyStat for review, but opinions are all mine.

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Weekly Skincare Routine

On Sunday, I have three things designated for the day. Sunday morning, I go to church. Sunday afternoon, I watch football or basketball (depending on the season, of course). Finally, Sunday night is designated to my weekly skincare routine, which focuses on thoroughly deep cleaning my skin.

boscia-makeup-breakup-oil

My Sunday night skincare routine starts off a lot my everyday nightly routine by first removing my makeup with a pump (or 2) of Boscia Makeup-Breakup Cool Cleansing Oil. Cleansing oils are one of the gentlest ways to remove makeup from your skin and this one from Boscia has been my favorite for years. It’s paraben and sulfate free and great for all skin types, including those with sensitive skin like me.

nip+fab-glycolic-fix-cleanser

After I have removed my makeup, I cleanse my skin with a foaming cleanser. The one I’m currently using is Nip + Fab Glycolic Fix Cleanser. I bought these a few weeks ago on during an impromptu shopping stop in Ulta and I’m so happy I took a chance on this. This foaming  cleanser, which is very foaming, has 2% glycolic that is good for gently exfoliating and resurfacing the skin. One of my favorite ingredients in this cleanser is olive oil with adds an extra punch of moisture and softness to my skin, which is a major keep to combating this cold weather. Another great option is the Soft and Soothed Gentle Cleanser from Boots no 7 products. The difference here is that this cleanser is a lotion-based cleanser, rather than foam.

badescu-aloe-lotion

Time for toner and yes, it’s a Mario Badescu toner. What’s new? Well, I’m actually using a new (to me) formula of toner; Aloe Lotion. This toner is more gentle than the other toner, which is why I only use it on Sunday during this weekly deep cleanse. It’s very mild and great for combination, sensitive, and dry skin (including seasonally dry skin). This toner helps soothe, disinfect, and calms redness in your skin. I love it!

PMD-system

Time to break out the big guns; my PMD Personal Microderm kit. I’ve had this for a few years now and only recently reintroduced it back into my skin care routine to give myself weekly microderm treatments in the comfort of my own poorly lit bathroom. Over time, consistent treatments will help reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, blemish marks, and enlarged pores, which are all concerns of mine. Plus, it helps smooth your skin and helps your make-up glide on and look more flawless. What more could you want.

deep-pore-detoxifying-clay-mask

Mask time! My go-to mask of the moment is the Clarisonic deep clay mask, which I recently included in my list of favorite clay beauty products. It’s just a nice final product to detoxify the my face.

pur_bright-serum

The serum I’ve been reaching for the past few weeks is Pur-Bright Ultra Skin Brightening Serum from Purlisse. The reason I’ve been using it more is because it’s done wonders on evening my skin tone and very hydrating.

Out of the moisturizing products on the market in my skincare/beauty stash, pure coconut oil is still holding on to the key to my heart and moisturized skin in the winter. I use it morning and night and still have yet to see even the smallest of dry patches on my skin.

Do yo have a weekly skincare routine? If so, share some of favorite products below.

 

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