Boots No7 Intensive Moisture Face Mask

The weather outside is definitely colder and drier, winter is here!!!! Well, it starts officially tomorrow, or not, if you believe the Mayan calendar. No matter what you believe, cold weather equals dry skin for many people. If left untreated you will have flaky, itchy, red, dull, and irritated skin.


Relief is on the way! Boots No7 Moisture Face Mask is great to tackle winter weather and reclaim your skin. http://www.us.boots.com. This mask is hypo-allergenic and contains vitamins A, C, and E. Apple extract is also included to help brighten the skin. This moisture mask is soft pink in color and has a light perfume scent. The texture is very soft. It's a gel-cream mask with a whipped feel to it, but it still feels very rich.

All of these ingredients work together to plump up dry skin, seal in moisture, and leave the skin silky soft.

If you find your self very busy during the holidays a great time to apply a mask is when you are wrapping presents. The longer you leave on this mask the better.

To use this mask, apply a generous amount to cleansed skin, face and neck. Leave on for 10-15 min. Wipe off and then rinse the remaining mask. You can also apply a very thin layer to clean skin and sleep with it on. This can be used 2-3x a week.

I would recommend this for Normal/Dry skin types that don't have an issue with sensitivity. This product does contain mineral oil. I purchased this product at Target for my mom to try. I have very oily skin, while my mom is normal/dry. After my mom uses this mask her skin glows and looks plump. All the dry areas are transformed into dewy soft skin. This is a great mask to moisturize dry skin.

This retails for $16.99 at Target.

Thank you for reading along!!

Quick Tip: Clean Your Pillow Case

This quick tip is for guys and girls! Remember to regularly clean and rotate your pillow case. Our pillow cases can take a beating, with styling product gunk, makeup (some women still sleep with makeup on), natural body oils, and saliva (for those that drool). All of this can affect our skin, by causing irritation, sensitivity, and clogged pores which will lead to breakouts.

If you already do this, great! Just a friendly reminder.

Tea Tree Oil Review

There are many essential oils on the market today, but, one of the "must haves" is Tea Tree Oil. Tea tree oil is known for its antiseptic, anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, and anti-viral properties. Tea tree oil comes from the Melaleuca alternifolia plant, which is native to Australia.

Tea tree oil is light yellow in color and smells like camphor. It is a very strong smell that does linger for a while after applying it. I don't mind the smell, but people around you may take notice of it.

Tea tree oil is beneficial to aid in many skin conditions, such as dandruff, lice, acne, and athlete's foot. It is also great to put on wounds, cuts, and burns. This can be used after shaving and waxing.

Tea tree oil can be added to shampoo, body wash, hand soap, face wash, and toner. I add about 4-5 drops to my toner, that I keep in a 8 oz. container. I use witch hazel as my toner, which is in my previous blog.

 If your skin is sensitive, it is best to dilute the tea tree oil before applying it to your skin. For example, you can fill a spray bottle with water and add a desired amount of tea tree oil to it. This will be handy for cuts, athlete's foot, lice, etc. You can also apply tea tree oil to a cotton ball and add water to it.

 It is okay to use undiluted tea tree oil on the skin, just make sure it's not a large area you are applying it to. This is a great spot treatment for acne, just dip a clean q-tip inside the oil and dab it on the pimple. You can do this morning and night, if skin irritation occurs use only once a day.

It's very easy now to find a brand or products containing tea tree oil. I personally like to have my own 100% tea tree oil on hand, this way I control how much or little I use.

 
I have been using the De La Cruz Tea Tree Oil. This comes in a dark 2 oz. glass. I find this brand to be strong and effective. I purchased this at Target for under $10. I've also seen it at CVS and online.

Thank you for reading along!! If you have any questions please feel free to leave a comment!

Dickinson's Witch Hazel Toner Review

Over the years I have had a love hate relationship with toners on my skin. I like that toners remove any residue or makeup left behind that my cleanser may have missed. I don't like that some toners just don't do anything, no results, too harsh, too irritating, and too many chemicals as ingredients. I was previously using a toner that was too harsh even for my oily skin. I was disappointed, I had used that particular brand before with no problems, but over time our skin does change.

I am happy to say once again I have a love filled relationship with toner/astringent again! I have been using  Dickinson's Witch Hazel, the blue label. This product is amazing, it is 100% natural. There are only two ingredients in this astringent, witch hazel and alcohol. Do not be alarmed by the alcohol content in it, not all alcohol is bad for the skin. This is very soothing, gentle, and most important effective on the skin. 

This astringent gets high marks from me because, it gently cleanses the skin without stripping any moisture from the skin. Also this contains no artificial fragrance. Witch hazel does have a interesting smell, it's not exactly pleasant but I don't mind it. 

This will help greatly if you are suffering from any kind of breakout, pimples, whiteheads, blackheads, etc.

It helps to keep the skin clean and the healing properties are amazing. If you are picker (someone who picks at their skin) this will help with redness and inflammation.

I use this morning and night, right after I cleanse my skin. I put some on a cotton ball and I gently glide it over my entire face, in an upward motion. I love how this feels, very cool and refreshing.

Dickinson's also has a yellow label astringent, but my review is only based on the blue label. The blue label is great for oily, acne prone skin. It is still gentle enough for normal to dry skin. The yellow label I believe is meant for all skin types.

I purchased this product at Target for less than $4. Amazing deal and this is 16 oz. You can find this at CVS, Rite Aid, Walmart, and online. 

Thank you for reading along!

Yogi Skin Detox Tea

It is important to have a great topical skincare routine, but it is also nice to cleanse the skin from the inside out.

There are many detox methods to choose from, I recently have been using Yogi Skin DeTox Tea. This tea is designed to "Support a healthy glow" as the box says. With just the right blend of spices, antioxidants, and  botanicals, this tea will support and cleanse the liver, as well as cool and soothe the skin.

This tea is not meant to cure or treat any illness or disease. This blend is just meant to help remove impurities from the body and the benefit is more radiant skin.

I have been drinking this tea for about 3 weeks, once a day. I usually use two tea bags in my cup of hot water and let it steep for about 4-5 minutes before I attempt to sip it. You can add up to three tea bags in a cup, to get the most out of the tea. I like to add a little manuka honey to my tea, it really doesn't need much sweetener added. This tea has a floral, sweet, and tart flavor to it. This tea also has a very pleasant floral aroma. You can drink this tea for a month straight, but they advise that you take a week break and resume again.

I really like this tea, the taste and aroma. I did notice a soft glow to my skin after just a few days of drinking this tea. It is a subtle difference that I can see without makeup. I haven't been drinking the tea for that long so I will happily do an update when I reach the 10 week mark.

Yogi Skin DeTox contains 16 tea bags and is 100% natural.

You can find this tea at Whole Foods and online at Amazon.

Thank you for reading along!!!

Homemade Eye Makeup Remover

This is an easy and effective homemade eye makeup remover. Simple and great ingredients! My good friend is actually the one who told me about this (thanks Reyna!!!).

Okay, so all you need is Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Witch Hazel. Both are amazing natural ingredients. This is great for very sensitive skin too, but depending how sensitive you are, you can try this without the witch hazel.

 All you need is a small container and mix even parts of the extra virgin olive oil and witch hazel together. These two products together separate (like oil and water), so you will need to shake the container when you are ready to use this.

On your skin you should only use Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Extra virgin olive oil retains the most antioxidants and nutritional value of the olive. Extra virgin olive oil is rich in vitamin A & E. It is also naturally hypoallergenic. Extra virgin olive oil is very moisturizing to the skin, and this is great to use on the delicate eye area. This will keep the lashes moisturized and the skin soft. Extra virgin olive oil will not clog your pores!

Witch Hazel is 100% natural and is extracted from a plant (Hamamelis). Witch hazel is an astringent, which naturally cleanses and soothes the skin. Witch hazel is amazingly gentle and effective on the skin, also okay to use on the eye area, but not alone! I personally love witch hazel, there are so many great uses for it. I use it as my toner, but I will save that for another blog.

Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Witch Hazel can be easily found at any grocery store, market, Target, etc.

I purchased the Dickinson's Witch hazel from Target, and I purchased the Extra Virgin Olive Oil from Trader Joe's.

I love this eye makeup remover and I hope you will too!!!

Thank you for reading along!

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Johnson's Baby Milk Lotion

I recently came back from a vacation in Thailand. Let me just say Thailand is beautiful, the people are so friendly and the food is amazing.

 Every time I went the market I couldn't help but look at all the skin care products. I was very curious to see how products are marketed to other countries. The store by our hotel had some very similar products I'm used to seeing on the shelves at the stores I go to ( L'Oreal, Ponds, Oil of Olay, etc.) , but these brands had different products I'd never seen before. Unfortunately I didn't have my camera or phone on me at the time to take pictures.

There was one product that caught my eye and I had to purchase it. I purchased Johnson's Baby Milk Lotion. Now, I don't have kids, so I rarely purchase Johnson and Johnson products. I am familiar with many lotions they have and of course baby oil. I have never seen a milk lotion from them though, and this lotion has advertised on it "Double Natural Milk Protein". Milk is very hydrating and nourishing to the skin, so needless to say I had to try it!

I was very happy that I purchased this lotion. It's very lightweight and has a delicate clean scent. Since the lotion is very light, it absorbs fast, it leaves the skin feeling soft and moisturized. This does not leave the skin greasy at all.

The store only carried the travel size, which I purchased for less than a dollar. I would love to purchase this lotion again, but I've never seen it in California. I did Google it, and there are some websites that sell it. I think I'll just keep my eye out for it and hopefully come across it.

Thank you for reading along!!

Aspirin Mask For Acne

A great inexpensive home treatment you can use to help fight acne is an aspirin mask. Aspirin is anti-inflammatory, which helps to reduce the size of a pimple. This mask can also be used for reducing the amount of blackheads and clogged pores on the skin.

 Typically this mask is mixed with water but, you can personalize it to yourself! Depending on the severity of your breakout, you can add lemon juice to this mask. Lemon juice is also anti-inflammatory as well as a disinfectant. To help bind the mask together, you can also add Greek yogurt or honey. Greek yogurt helps to soothe irritated skin. Honey helps to soothe irritated skin as well, but honey also has anti-septic properties, which helps treat acne too. I would suggest to use raw honey, if you are going to add honey to this mask. All of this is optional and up to you, you can always stick with just adding water.

What you will need:
1. 4-5 Aspirin. (Uncoated is best)

2.Bowl

3.Spoon

4. 1-2 tablespoons of water. (Consistency is up to you)

5. Extras optional: lemon juice, Greek yogurt, honey, etc.

To make this mask add the aspirin into a bowl. Crush the aspirin with a spoon, once it is in powder form start to add water. Add in extra ingredients at this time if you like. Be careful not to make it too watery, as it will not stay on the face like a mask should. Once you have the consistency right apply it to your face and leave it on for 5-10 min. Make sure to keep the mask away from the eye area. Rinse with cool water and continue with your skin care routine. You can apply this mask 2-3 times a week.

Do not use this mask if you are allergic to aspirin. Only use aspirin in this mask, no substitutions!

Please do not expect a miracle over night, use this mask for 2-4 weeks to get results.

Thank you for reading along!

Homemade Mask for Dry Skin

If you suffer from very dry skin and flaky patches on your face, this mask will be great for you. This homemade mask consists of yogurt, avocado, and honey. The avocado and honey will add moisture to the skin while they yogurt will soothe the skin.

You will need:

1 Avocado

1 tbsp of Greek yogurt

1 tsp of raw honey

 I like to use Greek yogurt because the consistency is thicker than regular yogurt. I suggested raw honey because it  hasn't been "heated up" or "cooked", so it still has all of it's natural vitamins and goodness in it. Now, to mix together, start by mixing the yogurt and honey in a bowl. Separately cut the avocado and just use half of it. Mash the avocado in a separate bowl with a fork ( I find this easier, or you can mash it all together). Once you have it mashed, add the avocado to the yogurt and honey, stir together. This will be lumpy because of the avocado.

Apply the mask to clean skin. Leave the mask on for 15 min. Use a heated towel to remove the mask. You can run the towel under hot water and let it cool for a bit before you put it on your face. Once you have wiped the mask off, continue to rinse your skin with warm water. Apply your usual products to the skin.

For added moisture you can use Glycerin. Glycerin helps attract and retain moisture in the skin. You can easily find Glycerin at CVS and Rite Aid. Also, you can find it online. A good one to use is by Africare 100% Glycerin. This is a clear liquid. To use in the mask just add a few drops, and mix in. This can also be added to any conditioner or lotion for added moisture!

Thank you for reading along!

Que Bella Dead-Sea Mud Mask Review

Earlier in the day I was at Target, and I saw a row of about five different packages, that were masks. They were individual, one time use packages. The brand is Que Bella Bath & Beauty. I was easily intrigued when I saw the price was only $1.99-$2.04 per package! The package says they use "80% natural product", not too bad if you ask me. I purchased the "detoxify dead-sea mud mask". The mix of dead-sea minerals is to deep clean pores and refresh tired skin. I like that this mask contains kaolin clay, bentonite, natural beeswax, and seaweed extract. All great for the skin. If you are allergic to any of these ingredients,please do not purchase this mask.

I had to give this mask a go, I cleansed my skin and I applied the mask.
I left the mask on for 15 minutes, like the directions say to. The mask it self is a very light blue color, thick and creamy texture. It is easy to apply, and it spreads well on the skin. It has a light scent to it, it definitely does not smell like mud or ocean! Once I had applied the mask, I noticed there was still plenty left in the package, so if you wrap it up well you can get one or even two more applications out of it. I rinsed my skin, and I really like how my skin looked after. My skin did look refreshed, smooth and clear. I would purchase this mask again, as well as try the other ones by this product line.

Happily using my dead-sea mask.

I purchased this product at Target, I'm not sure if all Targets carry this line in their stores, if not you can check the companies website http://www.quebellabeauty.com and from there, you can search what stores carry them.


I hope you found this blog helpful and thank you for reading along!

Quick Tip: Don't Neglect Your Neck

Don't neglect your neck when applying moisturizers, serums and masks!!

 The neck is very delicate skin and needs to be taken care of too. This step is crucial when applying your day moisturizer with SPF 15 or 30, the neck needs to be protected as well.

Some women and men as well, will also apply their creams, serums, and masks to the decollete (chest) area. This is up to you, if you would like to take it that extra step. Anytime you apply a product to the neck, apply it in upward strokes , never pulling down on the skin.



Thanks for reading my quick tip!! More great blogs to come!

Quick Tip: Shiny and Strong Hair

A quick tip for keeping your hair strong, shiny, and healthy, is to use  a mix of moisture and protein. Too much moisture alone will make the hair soft and flat, while too much protein will cause the hair to get hard and brittle.

I am currently using two different deep conditioners. I rotate between them, one is for moisture and the other is protein also known as keratin. The problem that I face is that I have very long hair, but my scalp is very oily. I don't want to wash my hair every day, but in case I do, I always use deep conditioners (so my ends do look dry and frizzy). I never deep condition my scalp, I apply the deep conditioner starting at shoulder's and working down. If your hair is extremely dry and your scalp doesn't get oily, then you can apply directly to the scalp.         

I usually leave in on for about 10 min, and rinse with cool water. The moisturizing deep conditioner I'm currently using is by Joico, this one is called K-Pak. The protein deep conditioner I'm currently is using is by it's a 10, with keratin plus. These can be found easily online, and at certain salons that carry them.

This is just a friendly tip for hair care. Thank you for reading along!
                                                                                  

Home Remedies For Extremely Sensitve Skin and Cleopatra Used This

Today I'm going to write about a few home remedies for very sensitive skin. This is going to be for people who have a hard time with most or all products they have tried. Usually the skin is so sensitive that many people give up and just use water, to not irritate the skin. Using water alone is not properly going to cleanse the skin of oils, dirt, and bacteria that needs to be removed.

The main ingredient is going to be milk!! Milk naturally has lactic acid in it, which will gently cleanse and exfoliate the skin.

Cleopatra was know for her beautiful skin, and back then they didn't have products like we do now. She was very well known for her oils and perfumes, and also taking milk baths. Even then she knew the benefits of milk, and how it made her skin glow. Lets all take a lesson from Cleopatra then!

You can use powdered milk or 2% milk as a cleanser and as a mask. Powdered milk can be found at easily at most grocery stores. I would recommend using the powdered milk first, as you can make a consistency you like by adding warm/hot water.

Place 1/3 cup of powdered milk in a bowl. Slowly add warm/hot water, stir the mixture as you pour. If you would like to use this as a mask leave the consistency a bit thicker so it can stay on the face. It will be a bit lumpy and that's okay, just mix it to you have it where you like it. Leave the mask on for about 10-15 min. Rinse with cool water and continue with your usual routine.

If you'd like you can add in half a cucumber to the mask. Cucumber is good for very sensitive skin as it will soothe the skin. You can use half a cucumber, slice it and add it to your blender or food processor. Add in a 1/2 cup of water to help liquify the cucumber. You can also be the judge of the consistency you want. Add this to the powdered milk slowly and gently stir together. The consistency will be lumpy. If you have extra you can refrigerate it for 5-7 days.

To use powdered milk as a cleanser mix it the same way but add in more water so it easier to cleanse with. Pat it on the skin in upward circular motions for about 30-60 seconds. Rinse. You can do this with 2% milk as well. You may want to heat the milk up before you put it on the face.

You will need:

1. Powdered Milk

2. 2% Milk

3. 1 cucumber

4. Water

If you are nervous to try this, use in on your jaw and neck first, as a patch test.

I hope you found this helpful. Keep reading along as I blog more home remedies!!! Thank you.

Bee Venom Mask

There is no doubt that this is the year for Bee Venom, especially with the release of information that Camila, Duchess of Cornwall has been using it. There are many products containing Bee Venom, but the product that  Camila's using is by Heaven. This is a mask that is left on for 20 minutes and rinsed off, not washed off. The price of this is $154 for 50 ml and $64 for 15 ml. This product is made in the UK. This product is claiming to be "Nature's Botox".

So what does Bee Venom do??? Bee Venom is anti-inflammatory as well as an antiseptic. Because of the strong properties it relaxes the muscles on the face, therefore reducing lines/wrinkles.  This helps to plump up collagen for better elasticity, minimize lines, brighten and tighten the skin and helps with acne.

Bee Venom has been used on patients with tendinitis and rheumatoid arthritis, to help with inflammation. There hasn't been much research yet on the anti-aging aspect of it.

Another main ingredient in this mask is Manuka Honey. Manuka Honey comes from New Zealand. This honey is healing, soothing and antibacterial. There is no denying the awesomeness of honey, but this is one of the best and mixed with Bee Venom, you get a phenomenal product.

Sadly I haven't tried this product yet, but I will soon! As soon as I try it I will blog about it.

I did come across another product that seems very similar to the Bee Venom Mask from Heaven. This one is called Royal Nectar. They have an amazingly similar mask for much less! The price of their mask is about $69 for 50 ml. Not too bad! I think I might try this one! 


Thank you for reading along. It's easy to subscribe and I also have a language translator on my blog!

Hyperpigmentation Continued

I would like to write more about Hyperpigmentation, and the products that can be used to help treat it. In my previous blog I mentioned Hydroquinone and Kojic Acid.

Hydroquinone is a skin bleach/lightener, and it is the most effective ingredient to lighten skin. Although this is one of the more popular methods, Hydroquinone must be used with caution. Recent studies have shown this to be a carcinogen risk, linked to studies done on rats. Most over the counter creams have a small dosage of Hydroquinone in it, but if you get a prescription cream from your Doctor, it will be a higher dosage.

Kojic Acid is also used in many skin bleaching products. It also is found in many products containing Hydroquinone. These products will be harsh on the skin and cause you to peel and be dry. Kojic Acid isn't linked to be cancerous but it may severely irritate the skin.

I am going to recommend some products to try, some contain Hydroquinone and Kojic Acid, and some will not.

COSMELAN. This is a highly effective peel that does not contain Hydroquinone, but it does have Kojic Acid in it.

RENEE ROULEAU POST BREAKOUT FADE GEL. This is recommended for acne scars, not some much sun spots or Melasma. This does not contain Hydroquinine or Kojic Acid. The key ingredients are Lactic and Glycolic Acids.

CLARITE  SKIN BLEACH STEP 4. This product does contain 4% Hydroquinone in it.

DDF FADE GEL #4. This product does not contain Hydroquinone. The key ingredients in this product is Kojic and Glycolic Acid.

LUCEDERM. This product does not contain Hydroquinone. The key ingredient in this product is Kojic Acid and Alpha-Arbutin.

These are just some of my recommendations. There seems to be a never ending supply of products to choose from, but I think these products stand up well next to their competition.

Thank you for reading along!

Great Inexpensive Fade Cream

Concha Nacar de Perlop #3 is a wonderful bleach cream. I chose this product because of the great ingredients it contains as well as it's effectiveness to work. This product is very affordable, at under $6 per jar, and you can easily purchase it at Target and Walgreens I believe. This product does not contain Hydroquinone. This is a "natural skin lightener". I would still recommend a patch test of this product before you put it on your face, on the neck would be fine.This product is great for clearing acne, lightening dark spots, and is a great deep pore cleanser. The mix of these ingredients help to moisturize, exfoliate, lighten the skin, create cell turn over and draw out impurities.

This product contains: glycerin, zinc oxide, ground barley, water, oyster shell powder, lemon juice, honey, witch hazel, betonite, papain, Irish moss powder, salicylic acid, and fragrance.

This product is a mask and must be applied to clean skin. Apply it by gently rubbing it into the skin and leave it on for 45-60 min. Rinse and moisturize as normal. Apply this at night.

Do not use this product if you are allergic to any of the listed ingredients.

To get the best results out of a product typically you need to use it for 8 weeks, so please do not expect a miracle in one try. Also you may experience a minor breakout while first using this, as it is drawing out impurities in the skin.

Thank you for reading a long!! More product recommendations to come.

Hyperpigmentation

I want to blog about Hyperpigmentation today. Hyperpigmenation is pretty much a harmless skin condition that causes certain areas of the skin to get darker. This is caused by the over production of melanin in the skin. It also has many names age spots, liver spots, acne scars, and the "mask of pregnancy" for some women.

If you have acne or get a pimple you usually notice once it has gone away it leaves behind a dark spot. Usually over time your skin will go back to normal and the dark spot will shrink and be gone. Most people want this process to speed up and need some help. That's where using something topical can help such as Retin-A, AHA and BHA's will work.

If you are starting to get sun spots you will notice it on your forehead and cheeks first. Your skin will not go back to normal with sun spots on it's own, this does require a topical treatment. Depending on the severity of it, you can get a prescription from your Doctor or purchase an over the counter product. Typically Hydroquinone is used to lighten the skin. If you are allergic to Hydroquinone, you can use Retin-A or Kojik Acid.

Also, with using these products do not for get to wear sunscreen!!

Pregnancy can also cause hyperpigmentation in some women. This is called the "mask of pregnancy". During pregnancy hormones are out of control and this can cause an increase in melanin for some women. Usually it happens on the face or it can happen on the stomach too. After birth the skin should go back to normal.

In my next blog I will recommend products for Hyperpigmentation.

Dry Skin and Hair? Try a Silk Pillow Case

I don't have dry skin or hair, I'm pretty much oily, but I have heard the benefits of using a silk pillow case for a long time. I decided to try it out about six months ago, and I'm so happy I did! The silk pillow case feels amazing against your skin, it's cool and soft. I also stopped waking up with crease lines on my face, which I would get from cotton pillow cases.

The main benefit from using a silk pillow case is that it does not draw moisture out of your skin and hair the way cotton does. Which means less frizzy hair and moisture left in your skin while sleeping. Also silk pillow cases are hypoallergenic. Since silk pillow cases are smooth they do not bundle up like cotton will, so less wrinkles and creases on the face. Silk does not retain body heat, so the pillow has a nice cool feel all through out the night, and helps with a better nights sleep.

Silk pillow cases will run between $18-$25 per single case. It is an investment, but silk pillow cases hold up well with regular washes. The only down side might be that silk pillow cases do not come in a wide variety of colors, so it might not match your sheets and covers. For some it might bother them, but hopefully not!

I found mine on Amazon, they have a great selection.

Quick Tip

Don't forget to exfoliate your lips!! Preferably with a scrub. This will help smooth the lips and remove any build up from lipstick, lip gloss, lip stains, etc. Also, if you suffer from dry flaky lips exfoliating will help remove the flaky skin. Immediately after apply
to damp lips a conditioning lip cream or balm.

These are currently my favorite two. I purchased these at Bath and Body Works.

Exfoliants Worth Trying

In my last blog I wrote about exfoliating. There are many to choose from and I want to list a few that I think are worth trying. It is easy to get overwhelmed by the never ending variety that is on the market, but I'm here to help!!

My picks are:

First Aid Beauty: Facial Radiance Pads. Retail $28. These pads can be used daily, twice too, once in the morning and once at night. These pads contain a light amount of glycolic and lactic acid. They are free from parabens, sulfates, synthetic fragrance, petrochemicals, phthalates, and triclosan. Great for sensitive skin.

Oil of Olay: Regenerist Microdermabrasion & Peel System. Retail $22. This kit includes derma-crystals microdermabrasion cream and the peel activator serum. You will notice a warming sensation on your skin after applying the peel activator serum. This can be used once a week.

Jan Marini: Papaya Enzyme Mask & Clean Zyme Cleanser. Retail Skin Zyme $28, Papaya Enzyme Mask $44. The Skin Zyme Cleanser is recommended to use with the mask. Cleanse the skin first and then apply the mask. It should be left on for 15 min. Can be used 3-4x in a month. The mask works to digest dead skin cells and not irritate the skin. Great for acne, acne scars, and hyperpigmentation.

Epicuren: 5% or 10% Glycolic Peel. Retail $22-$39. You can choose between a 5% or 10% formula for dry and oily skin. This is applied at night directly after cleansing the skin. It is left on the skin and you do not apply a moisturizer after. The 10% does sting. Can be used 3-4x a month. Great for smoothing the skin surface, acne, acne scars, and fine lines.

Renee Rouleau: Triple Berry Smoothing Peel. Retail $85. This peel should be left on for 10 min and used 1-3x a month. This peel contains a mix of antioxidant-rich berries and skin refining AHA's and BHA's. Great for acne, acne scars, large pores, fine lines and hyperpigmentaion.

Renee Rouleau: Mint Buffing Beads. Retail $41.50. This scrub should be applied to clean damp skin and rubbed in an upward circular motions for 30-60 seconds. This is great to give skin a nice healthy glow and smooth the surface of the skin. Can be used 2-3x a week.

An at Home Treatment: Lemon juice and Granulated Sugar. Retail $3. Mix lemon juice and granulated sugar together. Apply to clean damp skin and rub in an upward circular motion for about 30-60 seconds. This really stings but it works great. Can be used 1-3x a week. This helps with acne, acne scars, and fine lines.

These products were listed in a random order. I hope this helps and thank you for reading along!!

Don't forget to Exfoliate!!

Exfoliating is one of the most important steps in skin care. Exfoliating helps remove dead skin cells that build up on the skin, which gives the skin a dull appearance. Exfoliating also helps to smooth out rough patches on the skin, unclog pores, and help fade acne scars.

There are a few different types of exfoliants, such as a scrub, a gel or cream that is left on the skin, a mask that is rinsed off, exfoliating pads, and serums.

I just want to take some time out to discuss the importance of using sunscreen while exfoliating. SPF 30 is recommended in your moisturizer. Exfoliating works to remove dead skin cells in order to show new brighter skin. The new skin must be protected with sunscreen or all the exfoliating is pointless. The best example I can give to best visualize this is, if you remove the skin of an apple the flesh (the part we eat) starts to turn brown. Now, if you leave it in the sun it starts to shrivel up and darken even faster. Think of this happening to your skin, of course the apple oxidizes much faster than our skin would. Sunscreen is the barrier you need to protect your new skin!

I recommend exfoliating 3-5 nights out of the week. This is if you are using a scrub or exfoliating pads (which also depends on the instructions from the company). If you are going to use a exfoliating mask, gel or cream, or serum, I recommend using it 2-3 nights out of the week (also depends on the companies instructions).

When looking for a scrub, it's best to find one with refined beads as to not irritate the skin. Also you want to use gentle circular motions when applying it.

If you want to use a gel, cream, or mask exfoliant it is best to find one with AHA or BHA in it.

My next blog I will recommend products as well as a great home made exfoliant.

Top 10 Luxury Skin Care Products

This is my top 10 luxury skin care list. I based this list off of ingredients, effectiveness, and potency. The majority of these products come with a hefty price tag, which means you better see some great results if you are going to purchase these products again. I believe these 10 products stand up to their price tag and are worth giving a try. This list is based off of my preference, not by most expensive or vice versa.

Okay, so lets get stared with the list.

10. FIRST AID BEAUTY

9. PHILOSOPHY

8. ORIGINS

7. JAN MARINI

6. SUNDAY RILEY

5. NUCELLE

4. DERMALOGICA

3. EPICUREN

2. ALGENIST

1. RENEE ROULEAU 

This is my top 10 list of luxury skin care products. Most of these items can be found at Sephora, except for Nucelle (which is great for acne prone skin), Dermalogica, Epicuren, and Renee Rouleau (which is currently my favorite). These products can be purchased online, from the company store, or at a spa that carries them.

I hope you find this list useful and helpful when choosing your next product to try!!!

Follow my blog as I get more in depth with each product, from both of my lists.

Quick Tip: Best body wash under $5

This by far is the best body wash I have used, and it's only $3.99 at Trader Joe's! My skin feels tingly and refreshed after washing with it, I don't feel dry at all after (I do apply a cream all over my body immediately after showering).

It is certified organic, no animal testing and amazing ingredients. Again it's only $3.99!!! Love it.

Quick Tip

My favorite facial cleansing wipes are by Burt's Bees. It has white tea extract which is a great anti-oxidant.

This is great for after a workout or a day at the beach!

Great to have on hand.

Top 10 Drug Store Products

I put together a list of drug store products that are easy to find, and that are easy on the budget. I chose products based on their ingredients, and effectiveness. There really is a great selection now for drug store products than ever before. Consumers are more aware of ingredients, and companies have taken notice.
I have tried many skin care products from very inexpensive to very expensive, and I get results from both. You may see this list as a stepping stone to use certain products and eventually try a more expensive product, it just depends on your skin care needs at that moment.

 As I've gotten older I find my self looking for products that are free of synthetic perfumes, dyes, harsh sulfates and parabens. I put some of these products on my list, but not all of the products I list are free of these ingredients.

Lets get started:

10. TRADER JOE'S SKIN CARE PRODUCTS

9. AVEENO

8. OIL OF OLAY

7. CETAPHIL

6. SKIN EFFECTS BY DR. JEFFERY DOVER

5. BURT'S BEES

4. BOOTS

3. AVALON ORGANICS

2. LUMENE

1. SAY YES TO CARROTS,  TOMATOES, CUCUMBER, BLUEBERRIES AND TOMATOES.


These are my top 10 drug store products. I hope you find this list useful. Most of the products can be purchased from Target, CVS, and Rite Aid. Except for the products from Trader Joe's, those must be purchased directly from them.

Tomorrow I will list my top 10 Luxury Skin Care Products!

Ultimate Moisture Cream Lavender - 2 oz (Google Affiliate Ad)Vitamin C Renewal Facial Cream - 2 oz (Google Affiliate Ad)Vitamin C Revitalizing Eye Cream - 1 fl oz (Google Affiliate Ad)CoQ10 Wrinkle Defense Cream - 1.75 oz (Google Affiliate Ad)

Moisturizer

Moisturizer is essential for ALL SKIN types including OILY AND ACNE prone skin. It is best to use two different types of moisturizers, one for daytime and one for night time. Use a moisturizer that is meant for you skin type as well. All products used must be oil free.

ALL SKIN types should be using a daytime moisturizer with at least SPF 30 in it. It can be hard to find a moisturizer with SPF 30 in it, a lot of brands only have SPF 15, which is better than nothing. My next blog I will get in to recommending products. You don't need more than SPF 30 on your face, the higher the SPF the more chemicals that are in it.

Now, if you have SENSITIVE SKIN only use a moisturizer that has ZINC OXIDE and TITANIUM DIOXIDE as the active SPF ingredient. These sunscreens will not irritate the skin as some others might

A night time moisturizer should not have any SPF in it, it is unnecessary. Your skin type will lead you to the type of night moisturizer you need. All products used should be oil free.

DRY SKIN/NORMAL should be using a hydrating and replenishing moisturizer at night. This doesn't have to be a heavy thick cream, just a cream with rich and hydrating ingredients.

OILY/ACNE SKIN should use a night moisturizer with a Hydroxy Acid in it to help keep the skin clean and help reduce breakouts. This should have a nice blend of moisturizing ingredients and acids to keep the skin soft and supple as well. It should also be a light weight moisturizer, nothing too heavy on oily skin types.

SENSITIVE SKIN needs to be using a very lightweight moisturizer or a gel depending on the severity of sensitivity. The night moisturizer needs to have soothing and calming ingredients in them. This will help calm any irritation acquired during the day.

Next blog will be about.......PRODUCTS!!!

Quick Tip

After cleansing the face, do a quick rinse with cold water. This helps to naturally close the pores.

You can try this in the shower as well, after you rinse the conditioner out of your hair do a rinse with cold water. This will add shine to the hair!

Toner?

Do you use a toner after cleansing your skin? Do you need to? I honestly believe you either like to or you don't. Depending on how extensive your routine is, it is one more step to add. I personally like to use a toner on my skin, but I have periods where I am religious about it and there are times when I just fall off the wagon. I believe that it is beneficial for people that have oily/ acne skin and women who tend to wear a lot of make up such as heavy concealers, foundations and powder. If you do wear a lot of makeup and are unsure about using a toner, just use it at night after cleansing and see if you like it.

The purpose of a toner is to help balance the pH levels in the skin after cleansing. Also to remove any dirt, oil , makeup, and residue that may be missed after cleansing. Toners are also meant to help shrink large pores on the skin as well as help against fine lines.

Now, if you have DRY SKIN it is best to use a hydrating to toner, if you choose to use one. DO NOT use an astringent, it will be too harsh on the skin. That is meant for very oily acne prone skin. Be sure to look at the ingredients and purchase toners that are alcohol free!! Stay away from toners that have SD Alcohol 40, Denatured Alcohol, Ethanol, and Isopropyl Alcohol.

SENSITIVE SKIN should only use a calming and hydrating toner, again if you decide to use on. And must be alcohol free.

All skin types please use an alcohol free toner!!! Even OILY SKIN.

To answer the question, do you need one?? It's up to you.

I will blog about products soon, I just want to get everyone familiar with a routine first.

Cleansing Routine

I will write about products soon, I just want to get everyone familiar with a cleansing routine.

DRY SKIN should be using a gentle gel cleanser, cream, or milk face wash. If anti aging is a concern, it is okay to use a cleanser with AHA and BHA ( Alpha Hydroxy Acid , Beta Hydroxy Acid ) to help with fine lines about three nights out of the week. It is best to alternate cleansers such as a cream or milk cleanser in the morning, and a gel cleanser at night. Cream and milk cleansers are best in the morning as to not dry out the skin even more so early in the day. A gel cleanser is best at night to make sure your remove all the build up from the day such as make up, sweat, pollution, etc. Feel free to play around with products and see what works best for you, gel in the morning or cream at night.

OILY SKIN should be using a gel cleanser morning and night. Rotate three to four days out of the week with a gel cleanser that has AHA and BHA in it to help keep the skin clean and reduce breakouts. I really don't recommend cream or milk cleansers for oily skin because it is too heavy for oily skin and you will be one big shiny mess. The only time I would recommend a cream cleanser is if it has AHA and BHA in it as well as exfoliating beads.

SENSITIVE SKIN should always use products free of oil, harsh sulfates, parabens, phthalates, and perfume. Sensitive skin should rotate between a very gentle gel cleanser and a calming cream or milk cleanser. It's best to have products that soothe and calm the skin.

NORMAL SKIN AND COMBINATION SKIN should be using a gel cleanser. A cream or milk is fine as well.

Getting Started

I first want to start with  the BASIC skin types, so let's get started. This is the best way to determine a great skin care routine specifically for you. If you are already aware great! If not please read along.

If you have DRY SKIN it will usually feel tight all day and especially after cleansing. Also you may experience flaky skin around the mouth and nose.

If you have OILY SKIN you will notice a shine/oil over the entire face. You may notice it more in the T zone area which is the forehead, nose, and chin. With oily skin comes many problems, such as acne, white heads, black heads, cysts, and of course the shine! ( I fall into the oily skin and occasional breakout category).

If you have COMBINATION SKIN you will notice an oily T zone, which is the forehead, nose, and chin. The rest of the skin remaining is the cheeks which will feel normal to dry.

If you have SENSITIVE SKIN which is easily irritated by products containing perfume, parabens, dyes, etc. This skin type is very delicate and will turn pink/red easily. You may notice your skin feels itchy at times and breakout. Not all but many people with sensitive skin may also have ROSACEA. This is a skin condition which causes redness to the skin.

If you have NORMAL SKIN ( I dislike you! Hahah jk ) Normal skin has minimal irritations to products, minimal shine, minimal acne, and minimal dryness.

Now it's time to get more in depth and precise!This will help pinpoint individual skin care needs and issues.

DRY, SENSITIVE

DRY, BREAKOUTS

DRY, AGING SKIN

OILY, SENSITIVE

OILY,BREAKOUTS

OILY, SENSITIVE, BREAKOUTS

OILY, AGING SKIN

NORMAL/ COMBINATION

SENSITIVE

No one is a like, and no skin care routine should be cookie cutter the same. We all have our own needs that are individual to us.

Welcome to Love Bare Skin! I am here to help, inform, and educate you on skin care.

 The first and most important part of skin care is KNOWING your skin type. The most common skin types are: Dry, Normal, Sensitive, Oily and Combination. Once you have your skin type down it will be easier to address any skin issue that is currently going on such as: acne, hyperpigmentation, aging skin, rosacea, etc. With the proper knowledge and skin care regimen you will love your bare skin!!

Also make sure you drink plenty of water and eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. It's not just what we put on the outside of our skin that makes a difference, but what we eat as well.

There are a million and one skin care lines on the market now, I DO NOT claim to know everyone. There are many that I am familiar with and love ranging from ones bought at target, to high end spas and luxury retailers. I love discovering new products that are $ to $$$, if they work I'm all about sharing and passing the information on.

I am new to blogging so bare with me!! I hope you find my blog helpful and insightful. Please continue to read a long as I share products and tips for beautiful skin!