Four Tips on how to keep you breakout free

The keyword here for this post is: CLEAN! It is so easy to blame a product for causing you breakouts, but have you thought about the way you apply the product? You might be causing yourself to break out and you don't even realize it.

TIP ONE:





#cleanyoself, It's just that simple. The first step to washing your face should be rinsing your hands (and under the nails!) of all the bacteria and dirt that could be on them. I would especially scrub if you were just doing something you know is dirty. Of course there are times I forget, but if I'm having issues with breakouts I generally never skip.









 




TIP TWO:

Breakouts on your body can occur just as fast as your face when around a ton of oil and bacteria. I generally use my towels twice and then switch to a clean one. If you go for longer than that you can be reinforcing breakouts from the mildew and bacteria that thrive in moist environments. Make sure that when you hang a towel it isn't scrunched up and that most of it is able to dry completely.

This rings CRAZY true for facecloths. You should only be using them ONCE! I usually only use one at night when removing makeup or a mask/scrub. In the morning I wash my face in the shower, but if you don't shower in the mornings just use your hands! (Clean ones!)

If you need to put your facecloth down in between using products, make sure the surface is clean too, bathrooms are dirty!





 

TIP THREE:

Clean your brushes! If you're using your makeup brushes every day you should try to clean them once a week. It seems like a lot of work but those things pick up oil and bacteria from your face (and airborne types of bacteria!) every day and then store them on these brushes. Some of you are probably thinking "yea ok but they'll die off" and that's the worst of all! You're right, only the strong survive so they can be mixed onto your face again the next day! Ew.

                                       

Here is how I quickly wash my brushes:

        *RINSE*

If you own a Beauty Blender, you need to clean this more than you clean your brushes. Why? Well you wet the sponge before each use so that it bounces across your skin and blends makeup. Its a sponge so it is a harbor for bacteria and mildew just like a towel.

Me? I clean mine every couple days by taking a pump of my makeup remover, smearing it all over the sponge, and rinsing under the faucet until makeup doesn't squeeze out any longer.

I tried the Solid by beautyblender brand and my first impressions were that I didn't like how it was basically a bar of soap and I didn't know where to put it so I could avoid bacteria contamination. I like using a pump of makeup remover much better.


 

TIP FOUR:

Wash your pillow covers. When you sleep, you sweat. This oil becomes absorbed by your pillow covers, and even your sheets, and can break you out if they aren't washed. I say this because most people wash bedding every other week or even once a month, but pillow covers should really be washed more frequently. If you don't want to wash them that much then get an extra set and change them out more often.

 I would also consider what detergent you use if your skin is acting up and you feel like you've changed everything in your routine. Try something more natural, even if only for your pillow covers and towels. It could help calm your skin and fix the problem.


Thanks for reading! Let me know in the comments if you have any other tips that you don't see here or would like to add to anything.

Review: Roloxin Lift facial treatment (mask)

 

 Tonight I am going to see my favorite band and I wanted to pamper myself. Last time I went to a concert I wanted to get dolled up for I used this Roloxin Lift treatment before I did my makeup. I found out about Roloxin by way of my monthly Birchbox. Inside were two packets, which I found are at a value together of about 20 dollars. I went to birchbox to see how it stood among other subscribers and it has a 4 out of 5 star rating with over 2,000 reviews. These are all good signs.

Claims: This treatment claims to be a wrinkle smoothing mask whose formula creates a lattice-like structure that fixes irregularities and smooths the skin taut for 24 hours.

What I think: I applied this to my face following the directions, massaging the packet and all and applying to my damp freshly cleansed face. As I am writing this I just used this for the second time now so I left the mask on for about 15 minutes. The first time I used it I was definitely nervous because it just seemed intimidating so I left it on for 10. Here's a shot of it midway through the drying process. I think it was so blotchy because I have been oil cleansing. The mask feels a little chalky on your fingers and smells like Greek yogurt, which is weird but not the worst. It dries pretty quickly so you should apply it in sections.

 

I love love love this mask, it does everything it claims to do and blew me out of the water after using it. After I wash it off I moisturized with my favorite Neutrogena moisturizer.

 This moisturizer is pretty heavy duty, I used it in the winter, but it really hydrates your skin without feeling greasy (I'll do a review on it soon). Even after using it my skin feels TIGHT, and not in the dry way! This is a different tight feeling; it just feels so nice. I take a look in the mirror and I feel like I look years younger. 

I'm choosing to wear it to a concert tonight not only to look good but because my skin doesn't get super greasy and oily even in a crowd of sweaty people. It also allows my makeup to blend and soak in all sorts of BEAUTIFUL ways. 

I really cannot say enough good things about this mask, and even though they're about 10 dollars for each treatment, it is so worth it. I'm going to save my birchbox points and buy the 10 pack as soon as I can. The effects of this mask only last for 24 hours and I'm not sure that they provide any sort of long lasting wrinkle diminishing effect, but if you want to treat yourself this is how.

Check out the Roloxin website, they have this awesome feature where you scroll down and watch the effects happen on a model. They also have tons of result pictures. This mask is the real deal.

Now I'm off to go do my makeup and I am so excited to see how awesome it blends and looks. Leave a comment if you've seen this product, tried it, or heard anything about it!

Here we go

WORKOUT CHALLENGE!

The snow is melted and here I am wearing leggings that are practically second skin at this point thinking "someday I will have to wear shorts" and that terrifies me. I do this to myself every year, and last year I just basically didn't wear shorts so I didn't have to deal with it. By "it" I mean the constant thoughts of insecurity, wondering if anyone can see the cellulite and if they can how ugly it probably looks. Anyone feel me? I know you do..

To add insult to injury in February I kicked my ass and did yoga every day, adding some cardio here and there. I planned my meals and ate like a god damn rabbit. I lost FOURTEEN pounds! I felt amazing, that is so much for me. The last time I lost real weight it was 5 pounds and it was from switching regular to diet coke (wow kill me). So here I go, I am off to make myself quit this negative bullshit, get off the couch and bust out in short shorts this summer.

Blogilates is something I found out about via a google search called "best free dance workouts". I wanted to learn some cardio dance routines because I loved dance as a kid and wanted to break a sweat to some Beyonce (I also had a copy of Just Dance for xbox and a used kinect in my amazon cart chilling idle for awhile).

At first I was kind of skeptical about Cassey Ho, certified fitness instructor, because lets face it: I am not an overly happy person. I am about as enthusiastic as I need to be and that is it. Cassey is SUPER PEPPY, and i'm talking like 5 redbulls and a new tay swift cd happy, but she is really motivated and somehow pushes me through the workouts. It was probably when she said "I know you want to look good in that bikini" and I cried out "I DO" that I fell in love. 

I'm going to start with the Thigh Slimming Challenge

 

 On it's own, her blog is fantastic for printable/follow along workout routines and challenges, but I would totally recommend her youtube channel for some additional ass kicking inspiration.

Here is her Thigh Slimming Challenge video from the Blogilates youtube channel where she walks you through the moves of the challenge.

 

I'll post again with some results next week and maybe if I'm up to it add on her Butt Lift challenge. 

Glossier Review

After months of reading reviews on the new Glossier skincare I decided to cave. This brand has been getting a lot of attention on social media and it kept popping up all over my instagram feed. At first I saw the price and was turned off, like 80 bucks for 4 items? I didn't know enough about the brand to take the dive. With that said I started reading Into The Gloss which is a blog that Glossier was created from. I am a total skincare junkie so it was right up my alley. I found a ton of great beauty tips and was obsessed when they interviewed my girl Kim Kardashian. 

Personally my skin had taken a huge beating this winter and went through spells of being dry to greasy to sensitive. I have battled combo, sensitive skin that has been breaking out on me to top it all off. Never have I had problems like this, so I knew I needed something natural that would do the job. I went and bought Glossier's Phase One set in "light".

Soothing Face Mist:

 This is my favorite piece of the set. I use this spray constantly: After I cleanse, when my skin is feeling tight, if I'm overheated, and basically every time I walk by my vanity. Rose water is so good for your skin, and yes I mean YOU, everyone. The rose water and aloe work to hydrate and radiate dull dry skin. Combined with citric acid it works to calm and pH balance for oily/acne prone skin, and if you have "normal" type skin (is that even real?) you will just beam. I have used another rose water spray in the past and I have to say this really keeps me feeling fresh and that perfect "just enough" hydrated. On its own the soothing face mist is $18 for 4fl oz and that is a steal. You need this in your life.

Priming Moisturizer: 

I apply this moisturizer after the rose water spray has evaporated into my skin. A little amount of this goes a long way, and it comes out super easy from the tube so be careful when you're squeezing. (when I squeeze too much I just lather my neck in it) As a moisturizer it feels great on my skin, absorbs relatively quickly and doesn't leave me all that greasy. If you were going for a matte look I would use a matte primer over this because it leaves me quite dewy when I use it as a stand-alone primer. The ingredients include great emollients but also include beeswax and Trisodium Ethylenediamene Disuccinate which to a small percentage can aggravate sensitive skin/allergies. On it's own the priming moisturizer is $25 for 1.7fl oz.

Balm Dotcom:

 This product is claimed to be a "universal skin salve" because you can basically use it wherever on your body you need some extra moisture. I wouldn't recommend using it on your face during the day because it is greasy, think Vaseline-type of hydration. I use it on my lips during the day and the skin near my thumbs that gets dry patches constantly. At night I use it on my face under my eyes to hydrate. I have "chicken skin" in my under eye area that I noticed more this winter due to dryness and when I apply Balm Dotcom overnight they are faded almost 100%. Nothing, and I mean not even coconut oil was helping to diminish them. On it's own the balm dotcom is $12 for .5oz which seems like an ouch, but is very worth it.

 

Perfecting Skin Tint: 

 This product claims to fall between bare skin and makeup, essentially a pigment with some shimmer called "diamond powder". I absolutely love the concept of this being that I take pride in letting my skin breathe and try to stay away from heavy foundations. I love a light feeling fresh looking face but I just WISH SO BADLY that there was some SPF in here. I haven't tried using this over a facial sunscreen so maybe I am just being dramatic but this would be perfect if it were 2 in 1. Beyond that hurdle I absolutely love the glow you get from this. When used in conjunction with the other items in the phase 1 set your skin feels and looks supple and gorgeous. It definitely doesn't cover any imperfections, maybe diminishes pores a little, so if you have redness or acne you might want to blend out some concealer, cc cream, or whatever you use to keep red tones down. I usually apply this by dropping out 8-10 drops and sweeping them up with my damp beauty blender and it will cover the majority of my face. I go over any target areas and build a little, it wont build a lot but it works for me. 

My favorite way to wear this is after I apply my priming moisturizer I apply Loreal Magic Lumi primer with my damp beauty blender, then I blend out the skin tint and wow I am GLOWING. I mean like beaming radiant glow, it's so gorgeous. 

I have tried to layer it over my Yes to Grapefruit CC cream (still using a damp beauty blender) and I saw that it kind of sunk into some fine lines. I am still working at it to see if its the CC cream or the skin tint though. 

On it's own the skin tint sells for $26 for 1fl oz making it the most expensive of the set. I don't know if I would buy this on it's own just yet.

Below you can see how the skin tint blends out using my fingers on the back of my hand. I love the look of the finish, the diamond powder gives it a nice glow. 

 

Now for something that is NOT apart of the Phase 1 set..

Mega Greens Galaxy Pack:

Glossier had me at "a juice cleanse for your face" and I thought "oh perfect I know juice cleanses are great and I never try them because I'm lazy and now here this might make me feel better". It totally did, and the press for their skin masks on their instagram was super attractive. When I decided to take the plunge and get the Phase 1 set I had to tack on atleast one mask. I chose this one because the hydrating one seemed like overkill and I already had a mess of a million hydrating serums/moisturizers/night creams at home. The mask is full of really great ingredients; antioxidants, green veggie extracts and phytonutrients that attribute to the juice cleanse claim, and biter orange peel that is in the mask to exfoliate gently. I love this mask because it just makes me feel fresh and thoroughly clean. My skin feels happy and rejuvinated and like I really detoxed...maybe all of that is just in my head. It stings a little when I apply the mask to my face but that fades almost immediately as the soft kaolin clay begins to sink into my pores and dry. I noticed in areas where there looks to be a breakout moving in fast, it is calmed after using the mask, and for a couple occasions stops the breakout in its tracks. The mega greens mask is sold for $22 for 3fl oz and is worth every penny.