Skin Saver!

     My new skin superhero is a mixture of Castor Oil & Olive Oil. I use this little duo to cleanse my face and neck and my skin has never felt softer, been clearer PLUS I save money by not having to purchase those expensive cleansers & scrubs. I tend to have dry skin and always need a good moisturizer, especially because I am an avid retin-a user. I began noticing that using store bought face wash was leaving my skin even drier. So, I hit the web, researching ways to cleanse the skin without overdrying it. And, bam!, I found "The Oil Cleansing Method".

     This ancient method of cleaning the facial skin is exactly the cure to dull, dry, acne ridden skin. After just one use, I saw and felt the difference! My skin was soft, smooth and glowing! I've been using this method for two weeks now and haven't had even one breakout, my skin is supple and I don't even need a moisturizer during the day (though, I still use sunscreen for it's benefits). I'm screaming it from the rooftop's - "THIS CONCOCTION WORKS!". I mix 1 part Castor Oil with 2-3 parts Olive Oil and massage it over my entire face and neck. Then I'll take a warm/hot wash cloth and lay it over my face for about 20 seconds, then use it to rub the mixture off. Then I finish by splashing my face with cold water, in order to close my pores. I've even used Castor Oil with Almond Oil and found that it has the same excellent effects! :)

Try it - find out how amazingly cheap and simple beauty can truly be!

It's all in the routine...

     We all have routines. It's a natural human desire to categorize, organize and simplify in order to gain clarity and keep stress at bay. This is true for most routines that we create for ourselves. I have many routines, that's for sure. Some routines are just a side effect of my OCD and aren't necessarily important, however, my skincare routine is definitely important. I have gone through bouts of acne, dull, dry, lifeless skin and I've got lotions, creams, anti-aging products and anti-acne products out the ying-yang. Though, to my dismay, most of them do not work. I have, however, gotten my skincare regime down to a science. I found the best products (or at least the ones that work for me) and I have strategically infiltrated them into my daily life to keep my skin looking fantabulous, daily!

I don't keep secrets, so if you're looking for a regime that actually works, here it is baby!:
Morning regime:
Step 1: Wash face with a gentle facial cleanser (I use AUBREY-Seaware with Rosa Mosqueta: Facial Cleansing Cream for dry skin).
Step 2: A great toner that doesn't dry skin, i.e.: Humphrey's witch hazel astringent...best toner I've ever used!
Step 3: Rub under eye area with extra virgin olive oil (you can also use the olive oil as a moisturizer for the entire face if you desire).
Step 4: Apply under eye cream (I recommend using ROC - Retinol Correxion: Deep wrinkle night cream... although it is a night cream it works well to plump the skin so I use it during the day).
Step 5: Apply moisturizer to entire face, preferably one with an SPF. (I use Olay complete: all day UV Moisturizer SPF 15 for sensitive skin) or you could use the extra virgin olive oil as your moisturizer.
Step 6: Wait 5-10 minutes then if you are going to wear make-up be sure to apply a primer (I loooooveee Too Faced Primed & Poreless).

Night regime:
(The nighttime regime is the most important as skin heals itself as you snooze, so be sure to cleanse, tone & moisturizer at night especially).
Step 1: Exfoliate skin with St. Ive's Apricot Scrub (exfoliate 2-3 x per week, otherwise, use any cream based cleanser in this step)
Step 2: I use Retin-A to treat blemishes and prevent wrinkles and fine lines. If you do too, then wait at least 20 minutes before applying the Retin-A after cleansing skin.
Step 3: Apply nighttime moisturizer (I have recently developed an addiction to Eucerin Redness Relief: Soothing Night Creme (the retin-a sometimes causes the skin to take on a pink hue, so this stuff works wonders). I also sometimes use Derma E -Vitamin E Skin Oil instead of the Eucerin.
Step 4: Get a goooooooood night's sleep...& wake up beautified! :-)

Everybody's skin is different but I hope that these skincare tips work for you as well. Stay beautiful, dolls!

Love the Olive

    As you may know... I am a bit of a skincare nut. I have researched and tested many at-home masks, cleansers, toners...etc. Always looking for a new treatment to keep my skin smooth, clear and radiant I recently stumbled upon the ancient beauty secret of the Mediterranean. OLIVE OIL! Apparently Olive Oil helps to maintain skin elasticity and promotes a glowing complexion, amongst other benefits.
    Sure, I've put it on a salad or two but never thought to smear it on my face. However, after reading about the benefits of Olive Oil as a skin moisturizer, I had to try it out. I went to my local supermarket and picked up a bottle of Extra Virgin Olive Oil. For the past few days I have been using it to take off my make-up at night, as a face moisturizer during the day and in my hair. The outcome: silky, smooth plump facial skin and my hair is soooo incredibly soft and manageable. This stuff really works.

    To my surprise, I found that the beautiful Sophia Loren is an avid Olive Oil user, even bathing in it. And...hello, that woman is like fifty years older than me and damn, lady looks good. This skincare discovery is a goldmine and I'm sharing it with you because the best beauty secrets should be known by all. : )

Impeccable Skin!

     When I go shopping I tend to purchase skincare items more often than anything else. Starting when I was a pre-teen up until now I’ve always had this immense fixation with my skin. If a pimple reared its ugly red head, I was in the bathroom mirror piling on homemade skincare concoctions my mother taught me. I’ve put everything on my face, including but not limited to raw eggs, mayonnaise, beer, sour milk, spinach, banana’s, lemons, and honey. I think I would’ve put bird poop on my face if someone told me it would tighten my pores or give me that oh-so-desired glow.

     Now that I’ve grown up I get my skincare advice from my dermatologist. She prescribed me Retin-A, though she seemed hesitant to do so, insisting that I didn’t have acne and/or wrinkles, which is what the cream normally treats. She was confused, really, why I was even there. She found no defects in my skin and of course she didn’t. I’m an official OCD case when it comes to my need to have “perfect” skin. I wanted the Retin-A not to get rid of acne or fine lines, but to keep those pesky complexion killers at bay. My mom always told me that if I wanted to have nice skin for a long time I needed to start anti-aging early on. I started at twelve.

     Retin-A does wonders for my complexion, not only does it eliminate the development of pimples but it minimizes the pores on my cheeks and nose, and gives my skin a smooth even tone and texture. No wonder dermatologists call it “the miracle cream”.  Also, the longer you use it the more benefits you will reap. According to studies of women who started using it in their twenties on into their fifties, sixties and seventies, without discontinuation, had little to no wrinkles! Retin-A has the ability to rapidly produce collagen, a primary variable of skin renewal. What happens is, the cream exfoliates and builds collagen at the same time, making new skin clear, plump and pristine.  

     Retin-A is only available with a prescription and since most insurance companies don’t cover it, it can be very expensive. However, if you're looking for a product to keep you looking young and radiant, the cost is worth it. Retin-A is the best thing on the market for acne and/or wrinkles but Philosophy Brand offers an alternative skin treatment called “Help Me”. It is a Retinol but its strength and effectiveness is not as strong as Retin-A.

Philosophy has very impressive skincare products.

These are a couple Philosophy products I love:

           Exfoliator & Mini-peel                                               Smoothing & Soothing Body Butter