All about Copper Peptides: Nature’s Botox

These are the drugstore makeup picks I ACTUALLY use! Don’t get me wrong, I love a good Tarte Shapetape Concealer. Even the latest launches from Rare Beauty have me swooning. But drugstore makeup holds a special place in my heart. Walking through the aisles of Target or CVS gets me giddy. Quite honestly, I count those trips as my therapy sessions. Plus, these are the places were I started getting essentials to experiment with when I was younger! My favorite brands to score from are no doubt Pixi, NYX, Essence Cosmetics, Sonia Kashuk, Maybelline and Covergirl. They’re just my go-to’s! They’re the brands constantly putting out dupes for cult favorites. Everything in this picture, I use on a daily basis. I’ve been going through Maybelline Lifter Glosses like they’re going out of style. I actually was responsible for my local Target running out of stock once...oops. Another new essential that’s crawled its way into my everyday routine is the Covergirl Cooling Glow Stick. It’s part of their new Clean Fresh line and I use it on my WHOLE face. Top tip: try it under your eyes over your concealer 👀 I’m still in search for the perfect drugstore CC cream, does anyone have any good recommendations?

every morning and night I use this ice roller on my face to de puff and get my blood flowing. Easily the best $12 I’ve spent. Everyone could use a little sculpting but when you have cystic acne, ice rolling is key in keeping some of the inflammation at bay as well. ESARORA - Ice Roller

since COVID has started, I know many people are on new (or refining old) skincare journeys and I’ve recently been experiencing some dryness/dehydrating as the winter rolls around, which also aggravates my already oily skin. I’ve worked in the beauty industry for a while and also was formerly an esthetician, so I can get picky with skincare and ingredients. ‼️for reference, my skin type is: combo (oily/dehydrated), formerly acneic, hyperpigmentation prone, and sensitive 🔬I’ve used Dr. Jart in the past and love that it’s a Korean, science-backed brand so I was stoked to try this Porecting Solution Mask! this mask promises fresh, clear glowing skin that deeply cleanses and purifies pores. the mask contains charcoal and saponine, which creates the bubbling effect you see in the above photo. this product does not contain sulfates, paragons, are phthalates. 🛁when I first took it out of its package, I thought there were *two* masks per package instead of one, but if you read the instructions, there’s actually a “mask film” on the actual mask itself that you’re supposed to remove, so make sure to do that! the actual mask is thick and full of product while the mask film is thinner and lighter in color. the directions also give you a tip to massage the mask to release the bubbling/foaming effect - I did this mask with my mom at the same time in separate rooms and she totally didn’t read the instructions so her mask didn’t bubble at all, so I would suggest to definitely massage the mask. 💬I left it on for 20 minutes and it continued to bubble about 5-10 minutes in, then stopped bubbling. you can hear the bubbles pop as the mask sits on your face, which is kinda weird but cool. the mask didn’t slip off AT ALL which is also a huge, even when I put a sweatshirt on over my head. after taking it off, the serum took about another 10 minutes to soak into my skin and my face felt super smooth and my pores looked tighter and more clean. I have a few sebaceous filaments on my nose that I sometimes pick at and as I was rubbing the serum into my skin, I saw that some of the sebaceous filaments on my nose were sloughing off (which is gross, but speaks to how well the product worked)! overall, I would definitely recommend and use this again! if you have oily skin or otherwise clogged pores, sebaceous filaments, blackheads, etc. I would suggest this for you. even if you have dry/normal skin, this would be a good option since my skin didn’t feel dried out at all afterward, even in my dry spell now, and felt rather hydrated and plump. five stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

cystic acne is a journey like no other. It’s unpredictable and frustrating. But, you have to celebrate small wins whenever possible. almost 2 weeks ago, I woke up with my cheek severely inflammed having sprouted a ton of cysts seemingly overnight. big, red, painful ones. unfortunately, my cystic acne is very much hormone, stress, and diet driven which makes it hard to manage at times. today, I can finally appreciate that I was successful in bringing the inflammation down. eight days may seem like a long time but in the world of cystic acne, that’s huge progress! It looks and feels so much more comfortable. if you use tretinoin, stick with it! I promise there is light at the end of the tunnel and while no day is perfect when you’re prone to cystic acne, it does get better. feel free to ask me all your cystic acne questions!

Here are my top 5 foundations for oily/combination/acne prone skin! These are by no means my only favorite foundations, just the ones I keep going back to. 1. ESTĒE LAUDER - Double Wear Stay-in-Place Foundation This matte, oil-free foundation controls oil all day. It’s sweat, heat and humidity-resistant, waterproof and 24-hour colour true. With buildable, medium-to-full coverage that feels lightweight and so comfortable. No touchups needed. Best for hot weather/ holidays. The only Downside is that it doesn’t come with a pump 2. MAYBELLINE - Fit Me! Matte & Poreless Foundation This foundation is a must have if you are looking for a good drugstore option for oily skin. It’s super affordable and gives a beautiful finish without feeling heavy on the skin. 3. HUDA BEAUTY - Fauxfilter Foundation is perfect for you if you are looking for full coverage. Just a couple of pumps go a long way. However, the formula isn’t ideal for anyone with dry skin or for people sensitive to string fragrances. 4. L'ORÉAL - Infallible Pro-Matte Liquid Longwear Foundation This formula blends unbelievably well and you can build this to completely full coverage! ! I'm beyond impressed for this being drugstore. 5. The Ordinary - Colours Coverage Foundation with SPF 15 this is my everyday foundation and gives good enough coverage. I just have to mix two different shades to get my color as the range is quiet limited but for the price I pay, I don’t mind. Always stay away form words like “dewy”, “luminous”, “shiny” , “glowy” if you have oily skin. Let me know if you have any questions.