Top 10 Mini Versions of Full-Sized Beauty Favorites

I struggled with hormonal pustule acne for a long time, as well as pustules and whiteheads from oil overproduction. It was moderate to severe, covering my left and right cheeks. Three specific products helped to reduce my breakouts in frequency, coverage, redness, and the level of pain associated with the inflammation. PAULA'S CHOICE - 10% Niacinamide Booster is amazing. Just 4% Niacinamide has been shown by a couple studies to be as effective at reducing moderate acne as clindamycin- a topical antibiotic! I can attest to its acne fighting prowess, as I saw distinct reduction in not only the amount of acne I had, but also how intense it was- it was less painful and not nearly as red a few hours after application. Niacinamide normalizes pore lining and controls oil production so I saw immense improvement in whiteheads and pustules when using twice daily. But this prevented my oil-caused acne more than my hormonal acne, though it eased both. DRUNK ELEPHANT - B-Hydra Intensive Hydration Serum was the first product I used that gave me relief. I hadn’t known it, but my oil overproduction was largely in part from dehydrated skin. Since I used no moisturizer or serum, my skin produced extra oil after I cleansed. Incorporating B-Hydra replenished my skin with water, glycerin, panthenol, sodium hyaluronate (a form of HA), and sodium hyaluronate crosspolymer. I saw quick reduction in the number of whiteheads I developed! Using it before applying an exfoliant helps prevent dryness associated with peels. PAULA'S CHOICE - 10% Azelaic Acid Booster should be in nearly ever acne arsenal. It is antimicrobial and anti inflammatory to help fight acne, plus it lightens dark spots dramatically in my experience. Applying this in the AM shrinks pustules by nighttime and makes the area around the blemish much less red. I find this gives the quickest acne-minimizing results of all the products I’ve used. When treating acne, always make sure to eliminate possible irritants such as fragrance and essential oils, as well as drying alcohol. Acne can be a sign of inflammation and using gentle products can ease the pain associated with (as well as the prevalence of) acne tremendously. As well, I always recommend salicylic acid for treating acne, but I wanted to highlight these specific products because they’re not mentioned as often and they played a huge role in my acne journey.

What is AHA? Alpha hydroxy acids gently removes dead skin cells, encouraging the regeneration of new skin. It is know for its ability to reduce hyperpigmentation, minimize pores and brighten skin. So how is that different from Glycolic Acid? Glycolic acid is actually a type of AHA! Known to be the “smallest”, most researched and gentlest AHA, glycolic acid does all of the aforementioned things and also acts as a humectant, leaving us with smoother, plumper skin. AHA vs BHA? So some of the products I’ll mention contain both AHA and BHA. BHA, particularly salicylic acid, is great for reducing acne but can be drying. BHA has better penetration into pores due it its affinity to oily sebum. That’s why they say BHAs are better for oily skin! How should I incorporate AHA/Glycolic Acid into my skincare routine? Whichever way you choose! Some prefer it in their daily routine whereas others prefer it 2-3x a week- the products mentioned below allow you different options. 1. AHA as a toner. The Ordinary - Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution When: Everyday if you want, AM or PM toning step. Price: $8.70 for 8oz Comments: I personally wouldn’t use this everyday especially if you have a broken skin barrier (it stings!) but it leaves me so hydrated and clean the next morning. Paired with a hydrating night serum, I’ve noticed a huge decrease in pore size and bumpy irregularities on my face. 2. AHA as a night cream/peel. VERSED - THE SHORTCUT Overnight Facial Peel When: 2-3 nights per week in my moisturizing step. Price: $9.99 for 0.5 oz Comments: If you have super sensitive skin, this one is for you. This acts as a lotion and has been the mildest form of glycolic acid I’ve seen. I don’t notice as drastic of a glow as TO’s toner or Good Molecules’s Overnight, but it works. Another con is the price...$10 for only 0.5oz allows for only 6-7 uses before repurchasing, whereas I’ve had that 8oz toner for almost a year with plenty left! 3. AHA as a night serum/sleeping mask. GOOD MOLECULES - Overnight Exfoliating Treatment When: 2-3 nights per week in my serum step. Price: $6 for 1 Oz Comments: this is my absolute favorite way of getting my AHA for only $6. I use only 4-5 drops as a “serum” in my regular night routine (see my old post). I would minimize using too many other acids with it! Creates a delicious glow in the AM, this mask also minimizes pores. It is not drying even though it contains BHAs! Would recommend for those who are dry, blackhead, and acne-prone. 4. AHA as a wash-off mask. The Ordinary - AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution When: 1-2 nights a week for 10 min before rinsing off. Price: $7.20 for 1 Oz Comments: This product is hyped and I’m not too sure why. It works as a wash-off mask but it’s drying (bc of BHAs). I would only recommend if you want to add a mask without changing your existing routine.

Lavender is one of my favorite flowers and essential oils to use! 😘 The oil has so my amazing properties and has been used for over 2500 years for things like the beauty world or cooking! 🌟BENEFITS FOR SKIN: 🌟 helps acne and dermatitis ✔️ helps prevent aging ✔️ helps treat dandruff and boosts hair growth ✔️ reduces stress✔️ I use lavender oil 2x a day every day on my face to treat my perioral dermatitis. 🙍🏼‍♀️ I realized go through the store-bought droppers fast! And I thought maybe I can make my own! 💁🏼‍♀️ 🟣TIME TO DIY🟣 what you need 👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻 sun 🌞 dried lavender buds (will make a better oil yield if they are sun dried) glass jar with lid fractionated coconut oil🥥 1. Remove extra stems from lavender. 2. Combine lavender buds and fractionated coconut oil in jar. 3. Shake together. 4. Wait 7-10 days and strain using cheese cloth. 5. Keep in sealed glass jar. 💟 Now you never have to buy lavender oils again! {why fractionated coconut oil and not refined coconut oil??} 🥥 Fractionated coconut oil absorbs better into the skin and is less likely to cause breakouts! It also stays in a liquid form even at low temps! OTHER BENEFITS OF LAVENDER OIL 💟 natural insect repellent {plant by your doors or wear on skin} purifies air {defuse it} relives stress {place on temples} helps you sleep better {defuse in bedroom} antioxidants {bye bye wrinkles} reduces muscle soreness {massage into sore muscles} helps with menstrual pain {place on lower stomach and ovary area} I hope you try this fun and super easy diy! 😘 #cheriecreator #diy

Acne comes from so many different reasons. But generally there are a few tricks that really help to prevent and treat them. SALICYLIC ACID: PAULA'S CHOICE - Skin Perfecting 2% BHA (Salicylic Acid) Liquid Exfoliator Known for: combating whiteheads & blackheads by penetrating into the pores of the skin and unclogging them This exfoliating toner is amazing at preventing future breakouts because it’s so effective at unclogging pores and keeping them clear. My blackheads have also diminished so much since using this toner and I definitely can’t turn back. It’s quite strong so even I don’t use it every day and night. I’ll take it out only when I feel like my skin is getting congested (around 1-2x a week). AZELAIC ACID: PAULA'S CHOICE - 10% Azelaic Acid Booster Known for: gently exfoliating the surface and refining texture of the skin This is a great booster to mix in with moisturizer whenever I feel like my skin is breaking out a lot and very congested. It’s not super strong especially mixed into the last step of my skincare routine but definitely helps to smooth texture. RETINOL: SKINCEUTICALS - RETINOL 0.5 Retinol night cream Known for: speeding up our skin’s natural cell turnover to reveal newer and clearer skin I’ve used a retinol for more than a year now and I’ve seen the biggest improvement in my skin regarding breakouts and texture. I use it as the last step of my skincare routine every other day now and it’s just a great way to keep my skin healthy over the longterm. NIACINAMIDE: THE inkey LIST - Niacinamide Known for: helping to control oil production by renewing and restoring the surface of the skin against moisture loss Especially with living in a humid climate currently, my skin has been freaking out a lot. But this serum helps so much with promoting my skin to be balanced and self-regulating. My T-zone doesn’t get as oily but doesn’t feel dry either! SUNSCREEN: SKINCEUTICALS - Physical Fusion Uv Defense SPF 50 Okay sunscreen doesn’t DIRECTLY correlate with breakouts, although, there are definitely some that can cause breakouts for some people, mainly physical ones (so find one that doesn’t break you out)! This sunscreen doesn’t break me out and in fact helps with my skin durinf breakouts so much because it protects my skin from hyperpigmentation! The scarring that comes after a breakout can be just as annoying as the breakout itself but sunscreen helps so much to speed up the recovering and healing process! Do you have more tips for preventing breakouts to share?

COLOURPOP - Lux Velvet Liquid Lipstick Collection I currently own the colors Puddin’ (burnt red orange) and Room Service (warm terra-cotta) and I’m loving them both as wearable everyday lip colors for warm undertones! The formula is mousse-y which I love, is not drying, feels like I’m wearing a balm when I press my lips together but doesn’t not transfer. The formula doesn’t last forever like a traditional liquid lip but stays on longer than other velvet lip formulas I’ve used. I am able to add many layers without any problems at all! COLOURPOP - Ultra Blotted Lip I’ve heard great things about the blotted lip and the formula indeed creates an “ombré” look on the lip. The formula dries much quicker than the LUX and does not transfer. Unlike the Velvet LUX, it’s not as comfortable rubbing my lips together. I do love the color I got (sleepy eyes), as it is one of the few rose nudes that work well on my warm undertone! However, I am not loving the fact that if I add two layers for a bolder look, the formula will pill on top of each other and looks streaky. I’d say the blotted lip is more of a lip stain, serving as a one layer wonder. Cheers to 💄