3 Trendy Skincare Myths Debunked - What to Know

**I’ve only used this product once so this is my first impression of it I have been an admirer of Charlotte Tilbury’s products for quite some time now and have been dying to try its Airbrush Flawless Finish Setting Powder. As its name suggests, it has a reputation of making the skin look airbrushed and free of shine, which I need in my life. More deets about the powder: This breathable, micro-fine powder technology gives you an immaculate complexion that acts like a luxe, micro-fine cashmere veil on top of your skin for a bright, perfecting finish. Rose wax and almond oil hydrate the skin throughout the day and enable the powder to blend on flawlessly, while reducing shine. Nourishing actives work to soothe and restore skin, while light-reflecting ingredients diffuse light as it hits your face for a luminous complexion and even finish all day. The powder costs $45 which i think is a lot so I’ve always been hesitant to try - but I got as a gift for my bday and was so excited to try. I haven’t really found a powder that I truly liked or that has actually kept my makeup locked in/prevented shine. My review: The airbrushed effect is no joke. When I first applied it, I was in awe of how smooth and radiant my skin looked. But as the day progressed, my T-zone got a bit oily and I noticed the product had caked into some dry spots — also does anyone have suggestions for hydrating primers/how to not make my foundation/powder cakey? Since I started using prescription retinol it’s been so hard to figure out!! I have to keep using this product to see how I feel about it. I really want to love it. As anyone tried it?!

Retinoids are amazing. Whether you’re using adapalene (Differin) to treat acne, over-the-counter retinols to prevent signs of aging or correct hyperpigmentation, or plan to start tretinoin (Retin-A) for both, retinoids are exciting and have decades of research to back up their efficacy. But they can be a bit tricky- after all, almost anyone who turns to retinoids is warned of flaking, dryness, purging, redness, irritation... side effects galore. Except, it’s honestly pretty easy to avoid most of those. The purging is somewhat inevitable due to how retinoids work, but mixing retinol with an oil or applying an oil in the same routine can help stave off a lot (if not all) of the irritation, redness, flaking, and/or dryness. Oils help to fortify the skin barrier with fatty acids, as well as seal in the moisture from your hydrating serums and/or your moisturizer. I figured this tip out after accidentally forgetting to apply an oil (a usual part of my PM routine) with my tretinoin and immediately experienced flaking around my nose. Here are my favourite retinol+oil combos... The Ordinary - Retinol 1% in Squalane is my favourite over-the-counter retinol, melding two wonderful and simple ingredients: squalane and retinol. They offer three concentrations, beginning at 0.2%, then 0.5%, and finally 1%. I saw no irritation slowly making my way between the various concentrations, the squalane drying down to a lovely satin finish if you use in the AM before sunscreen. THE inkey LIST - Rosehip Oil applied after my Apostrophe Tretinoin has helped immensely- I didn’t notice any flaking/dryness until the night I forgot to apply it after my tret, which is impressive! I also haven’t experienced any redness or increased sensitivity, which I credit partly to this oil (also partly to my soothing serums). It’s already been helping with my acne and hyperpigmentation, as well as some tiny bumpy texture that has been persistently plaguing my forehead since before the beginning of my skincare journey years ago. DRUNK ELEPHANT - Virgin Marula Antioxidant Face Oil applied after DRUNK ELEPHANT - Virgin Marula Antioxidant Face Oil is a dream team combination for aging, dry skin- as well as a wonderful way to correct texture and tone! I can’t recommend this specific combination enough for helping with uneven texture and uneven tone. It lightened some of my dark spots and really helped smooth the orange peel texture on my chin, with the oil keeping a lot of the dryness at bay.

As someone that is beauty product OBSESSED – I sometimes end up with a twelve-step routine before bed. Although this is fun, sometimes I have to step back and ask myself: · Do I really need this many products? · Could too many products be actually harming my skin instead of helping? · Could I achieve the same healthy skin with less product application and significantly less money spent? A few details about my type of skin include: · European heritage · Oily-skin that is dry with the wrong products · Acne-prone skin since I was fifteen/ subsequent scarring · Fighting anti-aging and fine lines, especially around my smile and forehead. (Curse my expressive face that cannot hide any emotions!) So I asked myself – Can I get this down to three products? And voila! I selected my favorite three that I could NOT live without. When I do not feel like bringing out the entire skincare brigade – I opt for these main trusted three: 1. Herbivore’s Blue Tansy Resurfacing Mask – A bit about this product includes: a. Great for a once-per-week mask b. Sometimes I use it twice per week if I’m suffering from bad acne c. The ingredients clarify using aloe (soothing) blue tansy (redness calmer), white willow bark (anti-inflammatory), all combining for a resurfacing-effect that fights bacteria. d. Contains BHAs and Salicin (an anti-microbial that kills bacteria) e. The scent is fruity and smells like herbs/aloe f. Blue tansy has a mildly-medicinal fragrance g. The texture is thick, almost like maple syrup h. A little goes a long way! i. One bottle can last me about 6-months if I use it properly j. Price: $48.00 k.Ratings: 4.5-stars out of 200+ reviews   2. Terre Mere’s Aloe and Tea Tree Toner – A bit about this product includes: a. I only recently discovered this in my Fab Fit Fun box, a subscription service that sends new beauty products to your door once per season. b. On days that I do not mask with the Blue Tansy – I only use this toner and the oil listed in #3. (If only using these bottom two products, I would use the toner first, and then follow-up with the oil on step #3, for an even more simplified routine). You should also cleanse/wash your face between toning and moisturizing, but we’re going for basics here! c. I tend to lean towards products with aloe, very calming for my skin’s redness d. The tea tree oil offers an anti-fungal property to fight harmful bacteria that clog pores e. Infused with a sulfur compound that they claim offers a collagen-boosting effect f. Vegan g. Willow bark (now that I’m researching, quite similar to the blue tansy mask indeed!) There is a reason these ingredients are used for fighting acne – they work! h. Fragrance-free - important unless the fragrances are naturally-occurring. You don’t want to clog your skin with dyes and perfumes. i. Price: $54.00 j. Ratings: None available   3. Herbivore’s Emerald Deep Moisture Glow Oil – A bit about this product includes: a. I love the brand Herbivore Botanicals! It is one of my all-time favorites. Not only do I trust them for clean, vegan, and highly-moisturizing products, but they also fight my breakouts like no other topical treatment ever has. b. The prices are slightly high – however, the formulas are so concentrated. I have been able to make a bottle of this last for 6-months. That is less than $8 per month. So there is no need to see your skincare as a major luxury! c. Fights redness and dullness d. Absorbs quickly e. Great for any skin type– even oily skin. That is what it’s for! If you have oily skin, stripping it of natural oils will only reinforce oil production, resulting in more breakouts. Do not fight your skin’s natural proclivity to produce oil! Okay, queens!? f. Even if you have dry or combination skin, this product will leave you feeling exceptionally moisturized without a greasy effect. g. Utilizes a blend of cannabis oil, hemp seed oil, omegas, and adaptogens h. $1 for each bottle sold is donated to help legalize cannabis for therapeutic-use and medicinal research i. The color is as the name suggests – emerald to light green j. I use about 2-3 drops per morning and night k. I gently massage it into the places that become the most inflamed (around mouth mostly) l.  Price: $48.00 m.   Rating: 4.5-stars out of 100+ reviews I have a few other favorites, but honestly, nothing compares to these OG three! These main three products are heavily responsible for my skin having: · Reduced redness · Less inflammation and acne · A smoother texture · A brightened glow See the before and after pictures for proof of my glow-up!

One thing everyone in real life knows about me is I don’t get sleep. Whether it’s staying up all night (once upon a time my bed time was 5 am - 12 pm. Oof) or just physically not being able to fall asleep it can still take a toll on your skin. When asleep our skin takes the time to properly repair itself. When you don’t get enough sleep it can have negative effects like depleting the moisture levels in your skin giving it a dull look. One thing I like to do to help combat that is eye patches. Eye patches have long been a favorite spa night product for me but recently I realize how much they can help in the morning while I was getting ready. For me they add a cooling effect to the skin which can help depuff the under eyes before make up application. I also really like them because most have glycerin which will help add that hydration back into the delicate under eye area that wasn’t replenished throughout the night. The ones pictured above all include caffeine which helps the look of puffy eyes, soothes, and has antioxidant properties. Also, I love using them as shadow shields for make up fall out. It’s so easy to pop them on while I’m doing my eyeshadow. It multitasks by saving me time in the morning while depuffing and protecting my skin from eyeshadow fallout. (For reference I usually do my eyeshadow before I do my base. I wouldn’t recommend doing this on top of foundation). My absolute favorite are the PETER THOMAS ROTH - Cucumber Hydra-Gel Eye Masks 60 Masks . Between the cucumber and caffeine these do the best at hydrating and depuffing my under eyes in morning. Though retailing at $52 for 30 pairs it is a bit pricy. My next runner up is the pixi - Detoxifeye which retails for $24 for 30 pairs. I do want to give a special shout out/wanting to the GOOD MOLECULES - Caffeine Energizing Hydrogel Eye Patches retailing at $18 for 30 pairs. While I do really like the depuffing effects I get from these I noticed every time I wore these and did my concealer it would pill up. I would recommend these to people who don’t wear make up but if you do I would be cautious. If you wanted to try these I would make sure you do a good job at making sure no excess serum is left over before make up application. I always end up using these at night for that reason which defeats the purpose of using them to depuff the eyes in the morning.

Hello everyone. ⁣ In this post, I’d like to share more about two of my favorite facial hair removal methods: waxing & dermaplaning. ⁣ ⁣ 𝐌𝐲 𝐭𝐨𝐩 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐰𝐚𝐱 𝐤𝐢𝐭: Nads Body Wax Strips | 24 strips, 4 calming wipes⁣ A staple product in my hair removal regime. I particularly like to purchase the “body” wax with the bigger patches. I find they work more effectively, they stick to facial hair better than those labeled “face” wax strips -- plus you get more for your money. ⁣ ⁣ I like to cut the strips into smaller sizes to use on my upper lip, chin, as well as my eyebrows. I dab baby powder on the areas before applying the strips. It makes the wax stick to the hair so much better and it makes it less painful. I then rub the strip on the skin for about 15 seconds and remove. None has worked as efficiently as Nads for me. It also still remains very effective even if left in a humid environment. It’s very affordable and a great value product. My previous box lasted me two years 🤯 ⁣ ⁣ 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐢𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐞, 𝐈 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐨 𝐃𝐄𝐑𝐌𝐀𝐏𝐋𝐀𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆.⁣ Dermaplaning is a form of exfoliation, a procedure that involves a sharp tool, a scalpel, to scrape off the top layer of the skin, remove dead skin cells from the surface, and also get rid of fine vellus hair known as peach fuzz.⁣ ⁣ *disclaimer: If you’re someone who’s not comfortable holding a very sharp tool though, please refrain!⁣ *If you're on prescription strength retinoid, stop using your cream at least two days (or a week) before and after doing dermaplaning. Apply hydrating and repairing skincare only. ⁣ ⁣ 𝐌𝐲 𝐭𝐨𝐨𝐥: Dynarex #10 Disposable Scalpel⁣ ⁣ I do dermaplaning once a month. First, I wash my face with a gentle cleanser and let it completely dry. Keep in mind that doing the procedure on dry skin can be so irritating to some people -- in this case, you can apply facial oil before starting. I usually start scraping from my forehead going down my face. You have to be very light handed but also make sure you remove the surface layer of dead skin cells. They will come off like white little particles -- almost powdery. The overall procedure takes me around 30 minutes. I then follow up with a hydrating face mask like the Hada Labo Gokojyun or on some days, just a gentle gel moisturizer like Procure Rosacare. ⁣ ⁣ 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬:⁣ ~ Use only gentle face mask or moisturizer after procedure. ⁣ ~ Do not use the scalpel in areas with active pimples or lesions. ⁣ ~ Avoid touching, washing, putting other products on the face for at least 24hrs⁣ ~ Have a healing/antibiotic ointment at hand, just in case...🙊 ⁣ ⁣ Overall, I find it a very beneficial procedure for me. I deal with a lot of peach fuzz/dead skin cells so exfoliating doing this makes active ingredients absorb better, even making makeup application so much easier and flawless.