BEST EXTENSIONS FOR AN ACTIVE LIFESTYLE

Yeeeeoooooo.

I never thought i’d be the person to get extensions because I spend about as much time on my hair as I do on dating apps buuuuuuut here we are, Rapunzeled AF.

I actually had long hair my whole life and I’ve only had short hair for like the last year and a half so in a way, this long hair feels more normal to me than the short cut, minus the thickness, and extra length, and the tracks …but overall…I feel like a better version of the old me hahah.

I want to first talk about WHY I never considered getting extensions even though it made 90% of people look better. I’ve been a sports/gym/high bun with a hoodie kind of person since I was old enough to walk but anytime I’ve talked to people about extensions they’ve told me that it rips out all of your hair (I don’t have much to spare sooo) and they said you can’t sweat with them.

Umm so just no then, okay cool.

But now that I’m going through this weird grow out phase with my hair, I needed a crutch until it grows out more or else I was going to end up chopping it off again and probably regretting it.

Monique from Extension Bar LA came to my rescue.

“Fantastic, long lasting hair extensions start with me, and end with you.”

I told her about my reservations with the whole hair falling out and me working out thing and she assured me that she knows what she’s doing when it comes to putting the extensions in and taking them out, I just need to take care of them and everything will be groovy. She also said that the kind she gave me is the best for people who work out so it was all a win.

I did a little Q and A with Monique that i wanted to share with you guys just in case you’re currently like ME and sorta on the fence with getting extensions. If you have any other questions you want me to ask her, just leave it in the comments below and I’ll shoot her a text!

C: Alrighty! What kind of extension did you give me??!

M: You have our desire method which is hand tied beaded wefts which no one else does in this area.

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C: Why did you feel that these would be the best option for me compared to other extensions? Is it because you know I work out a lot?

M: That’s exactly why! If you work out a lot with these it’s okay because they don’t slip and when you put your hair up they don’t show. It’s definitely for the girl with an active lifestyle. Also you have a lot of hair so it gives you the best coverage.

C: How were the extensions put in exactly? I was on the phone half the time dealing with potential identity theft so I wasn’t paying attention haha, casual.

M: Haha! So we attached them with thread. We thread the hair and attach a bead around the hair then we put the hand tied wefts on and sew it on top. It’s seamless hand tied wefts which are lighter and thinner than traditional wefts. Most people only need 2 but since you have thicker hair we gave you 3.

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C: What do other people do WRONG when putting in extensions that you make sure to do RIGHT.

M: They don’t go with the direction that the hair grows so it pulls the hair which is damaging. I’ve perfected the way that me and my team put them in so we make sure it isn’t damaging.

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C: What’s the number one thing that the consumer does wrong when wearing the extensions?

M: They do not take care of it and they do not follow the take home instructions. Typically what we see is that they buy the wrong brushes, the wrong products, and just overall don’t take care of the hair. Fantastic long lasting hair extensions starts with me, and ends with you.

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C: How long should I expect these extensions to last?

M: If you take care of them properly, they will last 8-10 weeks!

C: What are some of the main at home care instructions?

M: Brush the hair when you wake up and before you go to sleep, don’t sleep with wet extensions, pull the hair into a lose low pony or braids before going to bed and we suggest sleeping with a silk pillow case.

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C: Amazing!! Oh and how long have you been doing extensions for?

M: 16 years!

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I’ve had these extensions for a couple weeks now and i absolutely LOVE them. i wear them in braids and high pony tails no problem and curl them - just all the things! They are a DREAM. I was a little nervous at first but I couldn’t be happier with how they turned out and the compliments from people have proven that they look super real and well blended.

Check out Extension Bar LA for the best extensions!

xxx

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ON HOW TO DETOX YOUR SKIN

Hello hello hellloooo!

Ah I am FEELING this summer season. Anyone else? I feel like I just get better at life in general during these months haha, not sure why. 

ALTHOUGH - along with the summertime BBQ's, pool parties, birthdays, and vacations, comes alcohol, junk food, probably not enough water, and long nights where were lucky if we can remember to lock the front door, let alone wash our face. I mean, I don't do that - but I'm sure it happens...right? ;) 

To be honest - I'm just getting over a little face breakout that was pretty terrifying, aesthetically TBH. Nothing a filter can't fix! Haha, but in all honesty, I HATE, HAAATE breaking out. 

So of course I dived into the internet doing research on what to do to avoid break outs, how to handle them, how diet effects our skin and SO. MUCH. MORE. 

LET'S JUMP INTO IT. 

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How To Detox Your Skin!!

As a health coach, I have had the pleasure of walking girls through their diets and through my two week cleanse to point out to them the things that may be affecting their acne and what they should eliminate in order to see their skin clear up. 

Usually, simple by following my two week cleanse, my clients will notice a drastic difference in their acne because the cleanse is meant to be a total detox so we exclude a lot of the crap that tends to make us break out. 

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Clean up Your Diet:

First of all - let's get a little more specific about the foods that we want to AVOID.

1. REFINED GRAINS AND SUGARS - This is your typical bread, pasta, rice, cereal, soda, sugary drinks and sweeteners like agave and cane sugar. 

"One study found that people who frequently consumed added sugars had a 30% greater risk of developing acne, while those who ate pastries and cakes had a 20% greater risk". (STUDY)

Basically insulin is no bueno for people with acne and we get high amount of insulin when we consume refried grains and sugars because those foods spike our blood sugar levels at which point it's insulins job to shuttle the blood sugars out of the blood stream and into our cells. 

2. DAIRY PRODUCTS - There isn't actually a cause and effect relationship between milk products and acne BUT there is a strong correlation between the two, especially in teens and young adults. This may be because milk is known to increase insulin levels or because milk contains amino acids that produce a hormone that has been linked to acne. SO it may be worth it to reduce dairy for a week or two and see how it effects your skin. 

3. FAST FOOD - Most likely, our horrible western diet contributes to acne so let's relax on the hot dogs, french fries, burgers, and nuggets. 

4. FOODS RICH IN OMEGA - 6'S - Corn and Soy oils are very high in Omega 6's. Most of us are a consuming a diet that is VERY high in Omega 6's and too low in Omega 3's and this causes our bodies to be in an inflammatory state. With that said - consuming more essential fatty acids like Omega - 3's may help reduce acne, but we'll get into that later ;)

5. Chocolate, Whey Protein and other foods that you're personally sensitive to may be a main contributor to acne. 

Best Foods for Detoxing Your Skin:

Now on to the good stuff!

• Fatty fish like salmon or Mackerel for it's Omega 3's
• Avocado's - for it's healthy fats as well as vitamins E and C
• Walnuts - reduce inflammation and have 6% of the recommended daily intake of zinc. 
• Sunflower Seeds - 1 serving contains 10% of the recommended daily intake for zinc. Also contains 37% of the RDI for Vitamin E. 
• Sweet Potatoes - One half cup serving of baked sweet potato contains enough beta-carotene to provide nearly 4x's the RDI of Vitamin A! (STUDY)
• Other foods include: red or yellow bell peppers, broccoli, apple cider vinegar, tomatoes, and dark chocolate (at least 70 % cacao).

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Water:

OK. This is probably the most important and EASIEST thing you can do to detox your skin. Let's not forget that our SKIN is the largest organ we have so it's a HUGE component when it comes to eliminating toxins. With the help of having water everyday, our bodies are able to easily flush out toxins through the skin and via digestion BUT if we aren't drinking enough water then toxins build up and accumulate under the skin. 

Plus - being dehydrated makes your skin look red, dry, dull, and promotes inflammation so just drink water! LOTS OF WATER. Add some lemons, or some mint and cucumber I don't care - do what you gotta do! I tell all my clients that they should be aiming to drink 1/2 their body weight in ounces of water on a daily basis.

So for example - if you weigh 120 pounds, you should be getting at least 60 ounces of water, you can do it!

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Let's Talk Skin Care

Products you should be using:

Of course the products you use are up to you and should be based on your skin type BUT there's a few skin care products that I LOVE and highly recommend for the best skin health.

1. The Detox Clarifying Facial Wash by Goldfaden MD.

• May provide deep pore cleansing
• Exfoliates and removes dead skin
• Features detoxifying, anti-pollution, anti-oxidant nourishment

2. Facial Detox | Purifying Mask

• Leaves skin looking even and appearing balanced
• Cleans blemish prone skin and minimizes the appearance of pores
• Soothes and calms appearance

3. Aztec Clay Mask

• The 100% natural calcium bentonite clay draws out all the impurities deep in your skin, improving overall texture.
• Free of any additives, fragrances, or animal products.
• It helps to heal acne-prone skin and eases the appearance of scars. It can also help to control skin sebum production.

Tools That Will Deeply Clean Your Skin!

Okay - I'm sure you've heard of dry brushing which I love but I do it a little differently haha and some of you guys might think this is fucking weird but I don't care. It works.

I use this to scrub my bod when I wan't to really exfoliate because it scrubs the sh*t out of me, gives me the best skin cleanse and it's SO cheap. 

Of course a CLARISONIC is super efficient and useful when it comes to cleansing. 

Ever heard of Dr. Dennis Gross' Facial Steamer?? You probably need one. Unless you wanna get like me and use your clothes steamer sometimes? Does anyone else do that? Just me. Okay cool. 

This Neutrogena light therapy acne mask is creepy but I love it.

Should I Even Be Doing Masks???

YES YES YES YES. 

Okay so the last time I went and got a facial to get my skin cleared up, I was asking my esthetician WHY it's so common to get black heads in my nose and in my chin. She basically just said it's common for everyone BUT the best way to avoid getting them, or to reduce them, is to do a CLAY MASK once a week. 

Clay masks help remove oil, dirt and dead skin deep inside of your pores which makes them appear smaller. BUT when you do a clay mask, make sure that it's not on the same day that you do your exfoliation (that may be a little too rough on the skin).

We really only want to exfoliate 1-2 x's a week and make sure you avoid exfoliating when you have a break out so that you don't irritate your pimples. 

Sample Skin Care Routine:

First of all, find your skin type. I personally have combination skin so it's oily in some areas and dry in other spots. I rarely break out but I feel like I experience uneven skin tones so products with vitamin C or retinol are best for me to reduce inflammation and blemishes. 

Regardless of your skin type though, we should all:

1. CLEANSE: 1-2 times a day. Only do it once if you have dry skin and/or don't wear make up. 
2. SERUM: Something with Vitamin C is good for the morning. Retinol would be a better choice at night. 
3. MOISTURIZER: Usually moisturizers are gel or cream based. If you have oily skin then a gel base may work better for you. If you have dry skin - go for a cream base. 
4. SUNSCREEN: Go for at least 30% SPF with UVA/UVB protection.

For me - I remember the order based on the thickness of the product. The thinner products go on first because our pores can absorb them. The thicker ones go on last. 

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How To Use Tea To Detox Your Skin

Green tea is very high in anti oxidants and while there aren't any studies that actually show a benefit in drinking tea to reduce acne, there are some that show that applying it to the skin can help! Yay!

The flavonoids and tannins in Green Tea fight bacteria and reduce inflammation.

Green tea lotions and creams are available everywhere but you can DIY!

1. Steep Green Tea in boiling water for 3-4 minutes
2. Allow to Cool
3. Apply to Skin with a cotton ball or use a spray bottle and spritz on your face :)
4. Allow to dry then rinse with water and pat dry. 

ALSO you can make a GREEN TEA MASK by using the remaining green tea leaves and mixing them with 2 TBSP of honey!

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Do A Make Up Detox:

LADIES. Wearing make up to cover pimples clogs pores and can trigger outbreaks. AVOID greasy, heavy foundations, and try to go for products that are noncomedogenic, fragrance-free, and sheer!

If you're trying to avoid pimples while wearing make up, following the above is a MUST. The second thing that is a must is, WASHING YOUR FACE BEFORE BED. 

Obviously not wearing any make up would be the BEST make up detox, but these are little tricks that you can live by if you're trying to survive an outbreak in the spotlight. 

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Skin Detox Supplements: 

• Omega - 3's - Very Anti-inflammatory
• Probiotics - Promote a healthy gut 
• Green Tea - Contain polyphenols that are linked to reducing inflammation. Also, green tea extracts have been found to reduce acne severity when applied to the skin. (STUDY)

• Turmeric - Contains Curcumin which can help regulate blood sugar and insulin sensitivity. 
• Vitamins A, D, E and Zinc - Big ballers when it comes to skin health. 
• Other: Lean Meats, fruits, veggies, nuts, fish, olive oil.

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Essential Oils:

So, acne starts when dead skin and oil and dirt clog your pores right? Well, this is basically the perfect home for bacteria SO if we want to go the essential oil route for acne, we want to find the ones that kill THE MOST bacteria.

This STUDY found that the most effective ones are:

• Thyme
• Cinnamon
• Rose
• Rosemary
• Tea Tree Oil

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Skin Detox Tips:

Okay - so just in case we missed anything, here are some of my alternative, and favorite ways to care for my skin, plus little tips when it comes to working out and skin care.

+ Witch Hazel (My boyfriend and I are obsessed)

+ Steamy Showers

+ Wash your face asap after a workout

+ Try to keep the face touching to a minimum

+ Get a facial once a month if possible

+ Don't mess with your acne!

+ Make a sea salt spray! Mix 1 tsp of sea salt with 4 ounces of warm water and add it to a spray bottle. Mist onto clean, dry skin!

+ Try to avoid working out with make up on

+ Change your pillow cases every 4 days, and use a silk pillow case if possible.

+ Last but not least, be nice to your face :)

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PRODUCTS WORTH INVESTING IN

Hello Hello Hello!

Alrighty - you guys have been asking me a lot lately for my LATEST skin care routine and I just wanted to start off by saying that I'm really excited to share this with you because these products have been THE MOST effective ones in clearing up my skin!

So I would say my skin has always been "clear" for the most part. I didn't have like chronic acne or anything like that but I would get like 3 bad zits a month and then I kind of always had those little pearl like white bumps...?

You guys know what I'm talking about? I think the technical term is "milia" but either way, I used to always have some of that on my cheek bones.

From my understanding, they're basically the result of the protein Keratin getting trapped beneath the surface of the skin MEANING that you can easily get rid of them with the right kind of exfoliator. 

Now - before I became a littttle more educated on skin care, my go to exfoliator was that super grainy apricot scrub - you know the one that you get from the grocery store? I thought it was THE BEST! Little did I know, it's WAY too rough for our skin, ESPECIALLY our face.

I should know that you get what you pay for hahah. 

ANYWAYS 

So I went and saw Dr Kay and she immediately told me that I needed to use a glycolic acid. Glycolic acid is able to deeply penetrate the skin, not just the surface, which makes it the most effective thing when it comes to treating acne, blackheads, fine lines and dull looking skin. 

I used this cleanser immediately and after 3 weeks, my face was 100% cleared up!! 

So we love that, obviously. Then I was just so excited that I was using a product that actually worked that I started talking to Dr Kay about other skin products that I thought I could use. 

One thing I was looking for was an eye cream just because I know that the skin around our eyes is very delicate and is supposed to have it's own TLC. I also told her that I wanted to avoid fine lines as much as possible and that my skin was often dry SO - she came through with allll the solutions.

Dry skin = wrinkles. SO in order to avoid that we need to keep oils on our face as often as possible. (if you're someone that has naturally oily skin - I'm super jealous haha)

To keep my skin hydrated she suggested that I get her Hyaluronic Water Gel ASAP. 

Hyaluronic acid keeps collagen synthesis up, as well as retaining skin moisture, which contributes to theanti-aging benefits of the skin. 

She also suggested that I get her Brighten and Tighten Vitamin C serum because Vitamin C is not only necessary for collagen production and maintenance, but it is also a potent antioxidant that can neutralize free radicals in the skin. 

Then for under-eyes, I purchased her REVITAL EYES, which I use every other night. According to Dr Kay, "this formulation combines All-trans-Retinol, green tea, arnica, and vitamin K along with a system of chelators and peptides to deliver maximum results".

So, to break everything down so far, when I wake up and before I go to bed I TAKE OFF MY MAKE UP WITH CLINIQUE "TAKE THE DAY OFF" MAKE UP REMOVER, then I exfoliate with Dr Kay Glycolic Acid cleanser AND THEN I put the Hyaluronic Gel on and wait for my skin to absorb it, then apply the Vitamin C serum.

You guys still with me? 

I know it might sound like a lot, but believe me, once you find products that you like and see results in your skin, you totally look forward to grabbing a tea, going in your bathroom, and winding down OR waking up for like 10 minutes. 

IT'S AMAZING. 

Okay - moving on. 

So if I am getting ready for my day then I go through everything I just listed above and THEN finish things off with THIS SUNSCREEN.

I got this from the Murad skin care line and absolutely LOVE IT. It goes on smooth, I don't need to try to rub it in for forever, it's actually orange so there's no white residue, and it has SO MUCH PROTECTION. 

If I am about to go to sleep, then I will follow all of the steps from above but instead of applying sunscreen, I will apply the eye cream then this Dr Kay night time moisturizer. SO when I go to bed, my skin is OILED THE FUCK UP. I feel SO clean and I wake up to hydrated, glowing , acne free skin.

I learned that when it comes to applying products on your face, you want to put the THINNEST one on first that way the skin can absorb them. 

I would suggest starting with 1-2 products from this list and seeing how you like the way your skin feels, and then get more. Like I said, I used to use drug store face wash and for some people that's enough but unfortunately that just wasn't the case for me so finding these products and deciding to invest in them instead of dinner, was a good call, if I do say so myself. 

You can find all of Dr Kay's products here

You can find the Clinique make up remover here

You can find the Murad sunscreen here

Invest in your face! 

X

THE SKINNY CONFIDENTIAL'S MASTER LIST: DRUGSTORE BEAUTY ITEMS

Hey ladies!!

So as you know - I'm a podcast FREAK these days. The latest downloads have been from Tim Ferris, Aubrey Marcus, and Julie Soloman of 'The Influencer Podcast". (Highly recommend that you start listening to at least one of these a day for some daily motivation). 

BUT. The OG podcaster who got me into swapping the radio for podcasts was The Skinny Confidential, Him and Her podcast. If you guys haven't checked out her podcast yet, you NEED to start listening asap. You'll be overwhelmed with the amount of tips that Lauryn and her husband have to offer on everything from business and relationships to health, wellness and fitness. 

And obviously check out her blog, The Skinny Confidential, if you feel like getting into a black hole of completely usable and USEFUL health, beauty and wellness tips. 

One of the last podcasts that Lauryn did was a MASSIVE breakdown of her FAVORITE make up, skin care, food, business, and productivity products and let me tell youuu, you're going to want to listen to it like 4 times haha. 

As I was listening to it I wanted to pause it like every 20 seconds so that I could go purchase whatever she was talking about on amazon...and then realized that I haven't been working enough to afford everything lol (and I work a lot......eye roll..)

SO. What I decided to do was go back and listen to it for a second time and pull out all of the products that she mentioned were available to buy at your local DRUGSTORE. There were actually A LOT of products on there that were cheap that you could purchase on amazon but I wanted to keep this post specific to the beauty items that she suggests getting from the drugstore.

This way you can go in and get allll the things, in one spot. 

Okay - let's get into it. (Look for each product the next time you're at a drugstore or simply click on each picture to purchase online!)

1. FAKE LASHES - ARDELLE WHISPIES #113

Lauryn suggests obvi working with these to see if they fit your eye shape. She says curl, apply primer, apply mascara, apply lashes, and then apply mascara again. (I think). Clearly I need to step up my game since I'm a curl and apply kinda girl but hey, I'll get there. 

2. MASCARA PRIMER - LOREAL WHITE PRIMER

Apply this before your mascara to really get the most out of your lashes. You'll kinda look like a bug at first with white eyelashes haha but once that black mascara slips on your going to be looking gawwwwgeous. 

3. MASCARA - LOREAL BLACKEST BLACK CURVED BRUSH

Okay - YES YES YES. I have personally been using Loreal's Voluminous Mascara ever since I was even allowed to wear mascara. Instagram always made me feel like I should be trying Chanel or Dior Mascara but let's be real, I've tried those mascara's before because my friends would end up buying them, and they are seriously NO BUENO compared to this. 

This mascara NEEDS to be your go to. You can find it basically anywhere, it's a great price and it works SO WELL. And I totally agree with Lauryn that you should get the curved brush as opposed to the straight one but do what you like. 

4. MAYBELLINE GREAT LASH CLEAR MASCARA

PLOT TWIST - she suggests using this for your brows! This is funny because when I was like 10 and wanted to start wearing make up, this was the only thing that my mom would let me wear.... But anyways ! Use this on your brows to BRUSH UP! I get like straight anxiety when I wake up in the morning and find all my eyebrow hairs brushed down sooo don't let that happen to you in the middle of the day. 

Get this, do your brows, then brush them UP to keep them lookin fierce. 

5. BABYLIPS COVERGIRL (BLUE OR PINK TUBE)

I've never used this personally, but she says it's fantastic and now I'm probably going to get it next time I spot it haha. Great for a nude, plump look. 

6. BURTS BEES GRAPEFRUIT FLAVOR

Simply because it gives you the perfect red tint, and tastes BOMB. 

7. DRY BRUSH 

So I actually did a post on this like over a year ago because I also LOOOVE dry brushing. It's such a great way to detox and it helps to drain your lymphatic system...it can also help with cellulite which I tell you in this post, I used to have plenty of...

8. BLACK HEAD REMOVER 

Okay so i've never used one of these personally but I was stoked to hear in the SKINNY CONFIDENTIAL'S MASTER LIST that you can get one at a drugstore and that she's down with it! (Make sure you rinse it after each use to avoid keeping nasty bacteria on there). This one is called DAY LOGIC SKIN CARE TOOL.

For more beauty tips from The Skinny Confidential - check this out !

If you guys have any other drugstore beauty tips please let us know below!

XX

MY LATEST SKIN CARE ROUTINE

Hey girl heyyy! 

So personally my skin routine changes like ALL the time and I think that's perfectly fine. I love trying new products and seeing how they help and right now I feel like everything is SERIOUSLY working well together. 

Everyone wants to get rid of fine lines and dark under eye circles, have an amazing face mask for girls night plus of course a daily sunscreen.

Right now I have a face mask that I'm SO excited to share with you because I've used it about 8 times now and I have noticed that it actually makes my skin GLOW. 

Then I have a daily sunscreen thats light but applies the perfect amount of coverage plus a face oil that I put on with it first thing in the am.

PLUS some other goodies so let's just get into it! 

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PS: This is the first time I've ever taken THIS good of care of my skin so don't feel overwhelmed. If you see something you like then just start there. I didn't start with all of these products in one day either so start small and just know you can always come back here when you're ready for your next product! 

1.

Kerstin Florian Rejuvenating Spirulina Mask

To be honest, I don't like to just swear by any mask because I feel like going through the process of doing a face mask takes time and I don't want to do the whole thing just to wonder if the mask even did anything. 

A lot of companies claim things to be true but it can be hard to say if they're really working. 

I used this mask once and didn't like the smell. I mean it's spirulina which is an algae so I mean, I guess you can be confident that they're being honest with their ingredients. 

I kept it on though and used it again the next day and I swear to you, later that day I literally noticed that my skin looked like it was glowing. 

Now I'm obsessed with doing this mask like twice a week before bed or first thing in the morning then I close up my pores with this next product...

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2.

Polar Roller Cold Compression Therapy By Gofit

This is technically for ice rolling sore muscles on your body which is why this product is a win win! I use it for what it's for and then I use it for what it CAN do, which is tighten my pores and reduce under eye puffiness INSTANTLY. 

After I do a mask or if I just wake up and feel like I can't even open my eyes, I roll this all over my face and neck for 5-7 minutes and feel so rejuvenated it's insane. 

This is also another thing that I do where other people will comment that my skin looks "glowing".

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3.

Nahaia Sunscreen and Gold Face Oil

Post mask and ice rolling, I dab a little bit of this gold oil into my palm then add 2 pumps of 30 SPF sunscreen. 

I've been obsessed with this combo because I'm HORRIBLE at applying sunscreen daily so it's been nice to have a go-to but ALSO i've been loving how easy it is to add in the benefits of the Liquid Gold Nourishing Oil. 

The oil is made with ALL ORGANIC  and natural ingredients like rosehip, primrose, and macadamia nut. It is meant to help with anti aging by firming and rejuvenating the skin. Definitely A MUST if you've been looking for a face oil. 

I've tried other oils like straight up rosehip oil but I found they were either too oily or they would cause me to not get pimples but sort of...they were like little tiny bumps along my cheek bones. 

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4.

NION BEAUTY Opus Express Facial Cleansing Device. 1 International Facial Cleansing Brush

Last but not least, I've been ending my days with this Nion Beauty cleansing brush! Their brushes are built from technology in Japan and research in South Korea to bring us something called S-Ion technology. 

I don't know about you but I had no idea what this was but apparently (now stay with me here), negative ions can boost our circulation, counteract environmental toxins and increase our sense of well-being. 

These brushes actually BOOST negative ions to cleanse our skin. So it's VERY helpful for a small price. 

Also, I've been using these:

NEW! NION Beauty Opus Renew Eye Treatment Mask for Under Eye Dark Circles

Now to be totally honest, I've only used them twice, and I have one more to use. I don't think I have horrible under eye circles so it could be that I'm just not noticing much but, I'll keep you updated. 

I like the way they feel and you can just give them a quick cut so that they fit to the shape of your eye. I've worn them while cleaning up the house and blogging but again, I'll give it another shot to see if I see anything much different. 

So that's it! I know it might sound like a lot but if you want to start with any 1 product just click on the picture and you'll be ready for check out!

XX

What does your skin care routine look like right now? And PLEASE let me know if there's anything out there that you think is a MUST HAVE.

MARGOT ROBBIE'S MAKEUP-TOOTHBRUSH TRICK

I feel like I had one of those Bradley Cooper Limitless moments the other day when I was putting on my make up and had a sudden flash back of an article I head read months ago.

Obviously after Margot Robbie's "The Wolf of Wall Street" came out I fell in love with her and obviously Leo all over again. 

I went through a phase where I wanted to know everything about Margot so I was looking into interviews she had done, beauty tips, fitness regimes, basically ALL THE DEETS. 

 After finding out the expected, like that she uses face creams that I could only dream of spending money on, and that she lives in a 5 bedroom "quaint" space thats decked out like a modern vogue photo, I came across a few things about her that every girl can totally obtain. 

For starters, she's a fan of beer showers. (a form of de-stressing in which you get home from a long day and have a hot shower or bath...with a cold beer). DUH. 

PERSONALLY I don't think I could do this every night when I get home because I'm a fan of IPA's and that ish bloats me up so hard I'd be floating in the tub BUT...let's move on to her second every day girl tip. 

It's a make up tip. And I'm so happy to be bringing it on into my own makeup routine. 

BASICALLY it's all in the flick of a toothbrush. Margot said that she knows by now that when you're doing you're make up it has to blend all the way from your forehead to your chest. You have to blend that jaw line with the neck and then make sure that everything is even. 

BUT (for blondes especially) when we do our make up, since our skin tends to be darker than our hair, it's really hard to put make up on with out turning all of our little baby hairs a weird orangey color. 

I especially do this right in my "sideburn" area. ALL those little tiny hairs right below my temple turn orange and I usually just try to vigorously rub it out. 

Not Margot. She said that she started taking a toothbrush to brush the make up into her hair EVENLY so that it allll blends. 

Uhmazing. 

I do this all the time now. It does the trick, it costs about 5 bucks, and all you have to do is make sure that your boyfriend doesn't use it on accident, and you're a perfectly even....golden. 

If you have any more super easy every day girl make up tips, leave it in the comments below!

XXX

HOW I'M CARING FOR MY SKIN THIS WINTER

Considering I'm a Cali girl and it's still hovering around 50-degrees over here, it's safe to say that I've been completely UNPREPARED. 

I don't know how to wear layers, my hair is freaking the __ out, and my skin lately was starting to feel like it was trapped in saran wrap or something. Just dry and all around ew. 

I'm always trying different little products while I stick with my main dish aka my Thayer's Rose Water with Aloe that I've raved about like a million times + exfoliating every night. 

These little side products tend to come and go because they end up being too much for my skin causing me to get little bumps on my face that are like almost pimples but not? You know what I'm talking about? 

Or the product is too oily or sticky or watery, or it's like 872 steps and I just don't even want to take the time. 

SO. I recently got some product sent to me from a skin care line called Tula and I feel like I wasn't even expecting it. 

This is not a paid post or promotion of any kind by the way. They won't even know I'm doing this until the same moment that you do. 

I've just been loving it so much and use it twice a day that I finally felt like I found something I trusted and wanted to share with you guys. 

First of all, the color is so on point. 

Second...the first thing that I read when I opened up my little package was a quote from the creator of Tula that reads:

We have taken the same good-for-you ingredients that keep your insides healthy and applied them to a product line that nourishes your skin.

Ummmm YES PLEASE. I've been dying for some skin products that work and are made from natural ingredients. So I checked those out and found that Tula is made from the following:

• Patented Probiotic Complex
• Yogurt Extract
• Turmeric
• Blueberry Extract
• Omega 3 & 6 fatty acids
• Vitamins A, C and E
• Chicory Root Extract 
• Rice Nutripeptides 

Seriosullllly in love.

It's skin benefits are:

• Increased Hydration
• Reduced Redness and Inflammation
• Improved Tone and Texture
• Restored Natural Balance
• Reduced Fine Lines and Wrinkles
• Increased Suppleness

I've been using the Exfoliating Treatment Mask every other night (which is a beautiful teal color by the way - obsessed) and the Hydrating Day and Night cream twice a day. 

My skin seriously is so soft after using it and feels WAY more hydrated. I pair this with my ice rolling for plump, glowing skin.

Check them out!

Thank you Tula!

BEFORE, DURING, & AFTER YOUR SHOWER DEAL BREAKERS.

It's been a minute since I've done a beauty blog...mainly because it's been cold and all things beauty related have been pushed to the side. I also left my ENTIRE make up bag in San Diego last time I went home so that also hasn't been very inspiring.

BUT I realized the other day (while I was in the shower) that there's actually a lot of things that we should be doing before, during and after a shower that we might me missing. 

I think I brought all of this up again when I was talking to my boyfriend about how annoying it is for a girl to shower. He'll literally shower before the gym like he's just brushing his teeth or something. I put it off for as long as possible and praise Jesus for dry shampoo. 

When you really think about, it's like a chunk of time that we have to put aside so let's go over it. 

PS: This is the ideal, Sunday morning, nothing to do, relaxing, 1 hour shower process. Not the, " I have 20 minutes to get ready for work" shower. Got it?

Okay. Let's talk

PRE SHOWER. 

1. DRY BRUSH

I've talked about this in it's own blog before, which you can find here, but ideally before you jump in the shower you want to take advantage of a dry brush. It helps reduce the appearance of cellulite, drains your lymphatic system, removes dead skin and really helps to smooth and exfoliate the skin. AMAZING. 

2. LEAVE IN CONDITIONER TREATMENT

I think once a week for something like this would be ideal. (You can check out this article to find good drugstore treatments). Throw something like the Shea Butter Deep Treatment Masque into your hair before stepping int the shower and let it sit for about 5 minutes before rinsing it out. This will help with breaking, dryness and split ends. 

DURING YOUR SHOWER.

1. USE THE RIGHT SHAMPOO AND CONDITIONER.

You want to make sure that you are not using a brand of shampoo and conditioner that has sulfates, parabens, or sodium chloride in them. These are the secret ingredients that make our hair dry and fall out, nooo thank you. 

Honestly, I've been finding really good products at good prices at Marshall's. You want to look for products that say SULFATE FREE. PARABEN FREE. And look for stuff that has natural oils in it like coconut oil, avocado oil. argan oil and almond oil. 

2. FINISH WITH A COLD RINSE

I know this isn't ideal now that it's winter time but if you can man up and do it really quick then you'll be golden. I obviously found that it was not only easier but kind of ideal to do this during the summer. 

Finishing your hot shower with a cold rinse closes up the pores in your skin as well as the pores in your hair. 

AFTER YOUR SHOWER:

1. PAT (YOUR FACE) DRY

Unless you want to give yourself some wrinkles pretty soon then you're going to want to make sure that you neverrrr dry your face by taking your towel and pulllling it down your face. You want to be extra gentle with your face so just pat dry.

2. LOTION UP

ESPECIALLY since it's winter time, you want to keep you skin as hydrated as possible. Lather up from your neck to your ankles with a moisturizing lotion.

TIP: I like to add a gradual tanning lotion to my moisturizing lotion so that I can also get a little base tan. I start to glow whiteness during the winter which is no bueno so I try to avoid that for the sake of others.

3. TONER

I've talked about this toner like 8 million times but it's because I'm actually in love with it. And it works. And it's cheap. I put it on after a shower and it's SO helpful as a skin toner.

ALSO it's an amazing aftershave.

So if your guy is confused on why it takes 32 hours to take a shower and why we need ALL the hot water, give him this breakdown. 

XOXO

SMALLER PORES & TIGHTER SKIN YOU SAY?

I just want to rock no make up, glowing skin, and perfect brows 24/7, is that so hard??

Waking up and feeling like my eyelids are protruding out further than my chin and the bags under my eyes are like 29 pounds is not exactly #goals.

The extent of me trying to do anything about it in the morning usually went as far as me throwing cold water on my face and just rolling with it.

SO. I introduce you to, ICE ROLLING.

Have you guys heard of this already? I lucked out when the BEFIT company sent me two ice rollers the other week!! One is like the length of my forearm and it's meant to roll out the muscles in your legs, neck and back (epic), then the other one they sent me is the smaller ball shaped one.

This one is meant to get other muscles like your hips, feet and chest BUT i've also obviously been taking advantage of it and using all over my neck and face.

And I am OBSESSED. 

The company Hansderma sells the popular 'Skin Cool Ice Roller' that is specifically for your neck and face by the way, but this one from BeFit can be used all over your body. 

Here's the benefits:

+ Ice rolling gets rid of fatigue, redness and puffiness on the face and around the eyes.

+ It relieves tension from headaches.

+ It can fight those painful pimples that feel like effing craters because ice rolling kills bacteria.

+ The coldness tightens your skin, giving you a slimmer face and jaw line.

+ It gives you energy and rejuvenates the skin.

All you need to do it roll in an UPWARD directions over your cheeks, around your eyes, and on your neck.

I love doing it first thing in the morning because it wakes me up and keeps my skin feeling fresh and cool much longer after I use it. 

Then you can rub it on your boyfriends face in the morning while he's sleeping to give yourself a good laugh and wake his ass up. 

xoxo 

POST GYM HYGIENE FOR BEAUTIFUL SKIN

PHOTOGRAPHED BY: THE ETERNAL CHILD 

All who are guilty for not showering or changing out of your workout clothes post gym workouts say 'I'.

Ummm yeah, SAME.

I mean yeah sometimes I do but sometimes, I don't. And I'm starting to realize that it's completely disgusting, HA! When I leave the gym I'm ENERGIZED. I'm thinking clearly about everything I have going on that day, I'M ON THE MOVE.

I don't want to pause in order to go home, clean up, shower, UGHHH. It's such a processssss.

But, luckily we don't have to do ALL of that, we just need to do a few little things that will totally help, like a lot. Let's get to it.

1. WASH YOUR HANDS

Oh God. You know how many times I've walked up to a sweaty stair master? (initiate gag reflex)... I'm holding weights that have just been man handled by Big Biceps over there sweating out a waterfall, the handles on the elliptical...OBVIOUSLY EVERYTHING. 

We HAVE to wash our hands after working out because 1. There's germs ALL OVER THE FUCKING PLACE and 2. We touch our faces like a million times a day, you don't want to combine the two.

* Remember to put tea tree oil on any super clogged pores where you feel pimples forming*

2. WASH YOUR FACE

When we exercise and sweat our skin becomes very warm and sensitive and our pores open right on up, making them more exposed to bacteria and toxins. Bring some make up wipes with you and gently wipe your face after your next workout as well as a gentle cleanser. 

Read all about my favorite cleanser here.

3. HYDRATE

When I work out, I sweat, A LOT. It's one of the best ways to detox so I love it BUT it can completely dry out our skin so I make sure that after I rinse and cleanse my face, I throw on a little moisturizer. I like Aveeno's moisturizer + SPF lotion for added benefits.

Also drink tons of water! 

4. ACNE, YEAST INFECTIONS, BODY ODOR...BARF.

I know none of us want to talk about it BUT we gotta talk about it. YOU HAVE TO CHANGE YOUR CLOTHES WHEN YOU GET HOME. I know like I mentioned before, we're all busy but when you just sit in your sweaty gym clothes all day you allow bacteria to build up which clogs your pores causing acne, odor and yes...even painful horrible yeast infections.

GROSS.

When I get home I change my clothes, wipe off with some Cottonelle Fresh Care Wipes ($3.35), and apply a little lavender body oil to my neck and wrists for a lasting scent. 

Also - I love to purchase this all natural Rose Water for super cheap, then pour it into a spray bottle then use it after the gym to hydrate my face and it obviously smells amazing! 

5. EXFOLIATE

Fitness people build up more dead skin cells than those who are un-active so it's important that we tend to our entire body by exfoliating at least twice a week.

Check out my post on dry brushing to see how to do it! (Also helps get rid of cellulite!). 

DRY BRUSHING: IS IT WORTH IT?

"Brusha, brusha, brushhaaaaaa."

So something you might not know about me is that I used to have some SERIOUS cellulite. BUMMMMMMER. Basically I used to work out a bunch and then dropped sports and got lazy. Because of that, YOU GUESSED IT,  cellulite starting building up on the backs of my thighs. THEN I started a bad habit, lost a lot of weight and quickly gained it all back and became lazier than ever. 

(Don't worry - I have a BIG surprise coming in January 2017 that will fill you guys in on this bad habit + how I overcame it and much more!! EEEKKK stay tuned!)

Fortunately as you'll come to find out, I got my shit together and started hitting the gym again with a healthy diet and sure enough, my cellulite totally vanished. #GOALS.

But of course in the process I was Googling anything and everything that would help me reduce cellulite. 

I learned that cellulite is basically our fat pockets pushing up against the connective tissue under our skin. Lack of diet and lack of exercise are two HUGE contributors to cellulite so I knew I had to really start to kick my ass in the gym.

I also read that OF COURSE, our skin tissue is thinner than men's, which is why us ladies are usually the ones to be rocking it. 

SO ANNOYING.  

Anyways - in the process, I learned about this whole "dry brush topic".

If you've never heard of it, dry brushing is basically an at home remedy to reduce the appearance of cellulite, and I think it actually works. It involves purchasing a dry brush (you want to make sure you buy one with a long handle so you can reach the backs of your legs and your back, and you want to make sure it's made with tough bristles - typically bristles from cactus or vegetables). 

& WHAT ARE YOU SUPPOSED TO DO EXACTLY?

So what you want to do is start at your feet and use LONG, UPWARD strokes along your leg. Once you've done that on one leg all the way to your hip, start at your other foot and do that leg. 

Then you want to complete your midsection and your back, again making sure that you're using LONG strokes, pushing all the blood towards your heart.

Lastly, start at your hands and push UP towards your heart. 

BENEFITS AND HOW IT WORKS:

So obviously, you're taking a dry brush and rubbing it against your bare skin which is definitely exfoliating your body, everywhere. It's getting rid of dead skin cells which then makes any moisturizer that you put on right afterwards EXTREMELY useful because your skin will have an easier time absorbing it. 

It also improves circulation which is why some say (and i've experienced) increased energy levels after dry brushing. 

It also helps move lymph fluid into your lymph nodes which allows the waste can be eliminated therefore causing those "cottage cheese bumps" to go away. Our body naturally does this but dry brushing helps to speed up the process. 

Here is a natural hard bristle dry brush that you can order if you want to try dry brushing! I actually am in love with it. I feel like a lot of girls, myself included, we pay so much attention to the skin on our face but kind of ignore that the rest of the body is made of skin! We need to remember that the entire body needs to be exfoliated in order to obtain fresh, glowing skin!

Let me know what you think! I love hearing your guys' feedback! 

CHINESE MEDICINE IS LIFE: CUPPING AND ACUPUNCTURE

Um, so basically, my back is worse than my grandma's?

LITERALLY though. I don't know how the woman is just killing life in her 70's while I'm waking up to my spine feeling like it's going to break in half.

THANK YOU SCOLIOSIS. It is seriously the worst. Do any of you guys have it??? It is driving me absolutely insane. I got diagnosed with it in the 7th grade but over the last three years it's become more of an issue. Like...to the point that I notice it all day, everyday.

I've tried chiropractors but they were just SO AGGRESSIVE that I just couldn't anymore. One time this doctor took what felt like a sander (you know, the things you shave against wood to like get rid of paint and make the wood smooth..?) so he takes something similar to that, and starts "sanding" my bat wing and I just left after that.

Never paid him either because seriously, WTF.

Anyways - it's clearly been a kind of problem I'D SAY. So to be honest this whole cupping and acupuncture thing is new to me but so far, I'M LOVING IT. 

More recently I realized that I LOVE Chinese everything which made me a little more inclined to do some research on their cupping and acupuncture practices.

I mean I love Chinese food, I love 'The China Book', I love their ways of holistic care...you know? So I figured why not. 

Okay so if you've ever seen people walking around with massive dark red circles all over their backs, it's either hives, or it's a result from cupping. 

Basically what they do is they take these glass or plastic bulbs approximately the size of a closed fist. They have you lie down on a table in a little open back robe thing ( I TOTALLY put mine on wrong last time because I was so tired and slightly hungover sooo my ass was just hanging out and it was awkward to say the least.)

Any who, they make the room comfortable, kinda like you're about to get a massage. They play some music, get you all comfyyy, and then they ask where you're having pain and start putting the suction cups on tight in those areas. 

People always ask me if it hurts.

So it doesn't hurt, but it is an interesting feeling to enjoy, if that makes sense.

You lie there for about 15 minutes so I'd say the most irritating part would be that you feel like you can't take a big breath in because if you do, it feels like the bulbs are just going to pop off of your back. 

That's really my only complaint though. I left sort of feeling good and then 10 minutes after I had left, I FELT AMAAAAZING. 

I had energy and a feeling of relief in my back, and I also felt something else... haha but you'll have to read this blog in the girl section to find out what it was.

The idea is that cupping uses a negative pressure to loosen the muscles which then improves blood flow. This is why you can kinda tell where your muscles are the tightest by the darkness of the circle. 

The first time I got it, the darkest spots were in my biggest problem areas which are my lower back and underneath my left shoulder blade. 

The second time I went was after 2 grueling months of working non stop, being dehydrated and a little hungover (DON'T GO HUNGOVER, IT WAS HELL)...so all my circles were dark. THANK YOU STRESS AND LACK OF WATER.

Cupping's other main purpose it to remove toxins from the body. When you get a massage, the toxins  get pushed around WITHIN your body, which is why they always tell you to drink a lot of water for the rest of the day so that you can flush them out.

Cupping on the other hand, pulls the toxins out through your skin, making it a little more effective. 

If you have back or neck problems I would DEFINITELY recommend giving cupping a chance. The first one I ever did was through a groupon I found, naturally. 

& guess what.

SURPRISE SURPRISE.

That's also how I found acupuncture. WHICH I LOVED.

Also, first question is always: DID IT HURT? Honestly, I was just so excited to do it and I'm one of those people where if I see someone else do something, then I tell myself there's no reason why I can't. So I was excited for it but he did prick my palm with one of the needles first to test my sensitivity. It just felt like a little prick and he said that is the worst it would get so I told him to carry onnnn.

Again, he asked me where I was feeling pain, checked my blood pressure...checked my tongue? (Apparently the color of your tongue could easily tell a doctor if you have cancer soo that was aggressive but we're in the clear).

Then I had to put the weird backless robe on again which I was more nervous about than the actual acupuncture but I managed to get it right this time. 

NO ASS FOR DR WU.

Since I was signed up for a one hour session (through Groupon), He went ahead an placed the needles on the front side of my body while I laid on my back which to be honest, I wasn't really expecting. 

I didn't watch him put in any of the needles and I SURE AS SHIT didn't look to see what I looked like covered in needles once he told me I'd be laying there for 30 minutes.

'NO THANK YOU. I'LL NAP'.

Then he came in, removed the needles which didn't even feel like anything, and then had me lie on my stomach. At this point I was STOKED. He put A TON in my lower back and some in my feet and just let me be for another 30 minute nap.

SOOOO YOU'RE PROBABLY STILL WONDERING WHY, RIGHT?

Basically, we are made of energy right? Also known as "qi" (pronounced CHEE). But sometimes, even though our energy is supposed to travel through our body evenly and balanced, sometimes there's something that stops it. 

When the energy or 'qi' is blocked it can lead to illness, pain, and sometimes even lack of a certain function. Through a whole bunch of physiological systems, acupuncture can release the qi and stimulate proper functions again.

The amazing part though is that since the energy IS going through various physiological systems, acupuncture can help with more than just physical pain...it can assist with your overall sense of well-being, sleep, and your digestion! HALLELUJAH!

When I walked out of that office I felt like my hips were jello, in the best possible way.

I didn't realize HOW stuck they felt up until I got a taste of how they're supposed to move.

SO BASIC BUT I'M GUNNA SAY IT: Hips really don't lie. 

I felt like I just wanted to walk everywhere. Even when I sat in my car to drive for an hour to go like 2 miles in LA, I felt like I had SPACE in my lower back rather than it feeling all crammed, ESPECIALLY when I'm sitting down.

I have 4 more one hour sessions so I'm really excited to see how that goes. They also have traditional Chinese herbs that they put together into an 11 day cleanse for you depending on what problem you're trying to resolve whether it's illness, acne, poor digestion or eczema SO, I think I'll look into that next time I go and of course, always keep you guys updated. 

Have any comments about cupping or acupuncture?! Leave them below! I would love to hear your thoughts and experiences! 

THE TONER YOU SHOULDN'T BE LIVING WITHOUT

(Currently Listening To: From Time by Drake)

Okay, I meannnn, have I been living in a hole or are you guys also new to this witch hazel thing? It kinda scares me when I find something incredibly useful and cheap that's been around for forever. Makes me wonder what else I'm missing out on...

But while we wait to figure that out, let's talk the MAGIC that is Witch Hazel.

I was telling a friend the other day that I feel like my skin is basically a light pallet of reds, whites and blues when I don't have make up on. Awesome. My under eye is blue, my cheeks get a light red-ish pink and then I have been avoiding the sun so this white skin is just glowing, and not in a good way. 

He (yes he) said three things.

WITCH HAZEL. ALOE VERA. & ROSE WATER. 

I thought to myself, witch hazel sounds scary, I got aloe, and I've heard rose water is good for your skin but I've never used it in anything else other than a cocktail sooo. (But this man has the most impressive skin and bald head you've ever seen so, I trust him).

I was thinking I had to go buy all three ingredients and get down on some kind of serious drill line for my nightly skin routine but then he told me it's all in one bottle and it's SO EASY. 

I literally just get out of the shower, leave my face a little damp, and then rub a little bit of Thayer's into my hands and rub it all over my face. DONE.

I do the same thing in the morning when i wake up and I've ALREADY noticed that it's working as a toner. 

Who else is excited for me?! SO EXCITED OVER HERE.

Okay so here's a little background on what the hell I'm talking about. 

+ Witch hazel has been around for years and it is a topical astringent that comes from a shrub, kinda looks like a lavender plant, but yellow.  

+ It's most commonly known use has been for skin because since it has a high concentration of tannins, it is capable of not only removing excess oil from your skin but it also shrinks your pores! SERIOUSLY WHYYYY AM I JUST FINDING OUT ABOUT THIS?!

+ So since your pores are smaller, less shit from the environment is getting trapped in your face which means LESS BLEMISHES, AND LESS BLACK HEADS. (Black heads are pores that are congested with pollution and toxins, ew.)

+ Obviously if it helps prevent blemishes it also helps TREAT current blemishes you may have or irritated skin and acne. Use a cotton pad to apply to the face to reduce irritation.

AFTER SHAVE

Since it tightens the skin and reduces inflammation it's literally THE PERFECT thing to use after you shave. Bye stupid ass razor burn, we all hate you. 

BRIGHTEN AROUND EYES

I could cry. Isn't brighter looking eyes without concealer and 75 dollar eye cream everyones dream? Witch hazel will tighten and brighten your under eye, just make sure you don't get it IN your eyes. 

I mean , I could go on for forever. It's also used to treat minor cuts, sunburns and varicose (spider veins). So that's JUST the witch hazel part! This little magic tub also includes doses of aloe vera and rose water. 

I've tried SO many different skin products to try and tone my skin and they always end up making me dry out or get oily or I get little bumps on my face, kinda like acne, but not. I'm telling you you guys, iv'e oonly been using this for a few days and my face feels tighter, it's glowing IN A GOOD WAY and isn't oily or dried out. 

AND IT'S CHEAP !!

I'll attach a link for you guys so you can buy like a million right now. This one was given to me by my friend but he said he got it at Sprouts so maybe places like Whole foods has it too. 

Buy witch hazel:

https://thrivemarket.com/thayers-alcohol-free-witch-hazel-toner-rose-petal?utm_source=ebay&utm_medium=pla&CAWELAID=120220540000000783

Let me know how it works for you guys because I AM OBSESSED. 

MY NIGHTLY SKIN ROUTINE

UGH SKIN CARE. So desirable but so confusing right?? 

I don't know why but I kinda like JUUUST STARTED to really care about taking care of my skin. About a year ago I started the whole sunscreen in the morning thing but it hasn't been consistent, kinda like ANY new habit.

But lately, I've been ALL ABOUT IT.

I started browsing top rated skin care blogs and have been reading everything, everywhere. 

(I got close to buying some expensive shit- I feel like they're good at explaining to you why you need 200.00 sunscreen. TOOO GOOD....)

Anyways I DIDN'T, I only ended up buying two new items, 1 from Sprouts and 1 from Marshall's and kept it cheap! I had everything else BUT I learned the order that I'm supposed to be using everything. 

Let's talk.

1. MAKE UP WIPE

This might just be a personal thing but when the brows are on and the lip stick is dark, I don't want to try to scrub it off in the sink for 20 minutes while trying to keep product from getting in my eyes and keep water from dripping all the way down to my elbows. 

I like to take a make up wipe and GENTLY take off the hard stuff. DO NOT PULL YOUR SKIN WHILE USING A MAKE UP WIPE. Be as gentle as possible.

2. EXFOLIATE

Ahhh yes. Get off the rest of your make up, get off any dead skin that has built up and ENJOY. Wrinkles are caused by a lot of things including the sun, smoking, and genetics but ALSO by the build up of dead skin. We need to make sure we gently scrub away those impurities in order to reveal fresh glowing skin. 

AND it doesn't need to be the most expensive thing you've ever purchased. I LOVE this one that was sent to me in a gift bag so i've been using this one BUT once this is out I'll go back to my favorite drug store face wash - St Ives Apricot Scrub. 

3. CLEANSE

My all time favorite cleanser is Thayer's witch hazel formula. I did an entire blog post on it here, but it is an AMAZING cleanser that's like 10 dollars and it is made of witch hazel, aloe vera, and rose water. Could you even ask for anything better?

After we exfoliate our skin, we want to use a cleanser to remove excess dirt, oil, and other types of pollutants from the face. We are exposed to pollutants pretty much all day everyday and if we just let it sit then we start to notice pimples and blemishes. 

(When I first started using this cleanser, I noticed I would wake up in the morning and my face would feel tighter but NOT dry. It is SO refreshing, I'm addicted. It has helped even my skin tone & a million other things so check it out. 

4. OILS

Every skin care blog I read said to do the same thing. You want to apply your skin care products in order from thinnest to thickest. This way your skin can absorb each thing. If you put on a thick lotion first and then try to apply an oil, it's just going to sit on your face and not really get absorbed. 

When it comes to oils you can really use whichever one that you're most in love with, just find one that works for you! Pretty much all oils are amazing, that's why you hear so much about grapeseed oil and coconut oil and what not. (See my post about how I'm using essential oils in my bedroom!)

I fell in LOVE with Rose Hip Oil because it obviously smells amazing and it is known for repairing sun damage and skin discoloration. 

For someone like me that didn't start using sunscreen until a year ago, this is a major plus. 

I also put it on in the am, after I cleanse of course.

5. MOISTURIZER

Now you are ready for your cream! Again, any time your applying oils or creams, do it gently. Try not to pull the skin so that you can keep the elasticity of your skin strong and to keep from forming new wrinkles. 

Apply in small circles with your fingertips and push UP rather than using your whole hand to apply and pulling in a downward motion. 

I read about plenty of night creams but ended up going to sprouts to get a 20 dollar Collagen night cream. Collagen is the main protein that helps keep skin tight and elastic and it allows it to look supple and soft sooooo it's kinda important, and it kinda SUCKS when your body starts producing less on it's own. (Hi #11 and crows feet). 

If you guys have any other suggestions, leave them below!

- Chelsey 

HOME MADE ORGANIC EXFOLIATING MASK

This mask is one of my FAVORITE things to use on my skin!! It makes it SO soft, it's cheap, easy and effective so I highly suggest it! Everything in it is organic leaving you with a harmless scrub that you can use quickly or leave on for 15-20 minutes as a mask!

So here's the drill. Next time you make a full pot of coffee, DON'T THROW AWAY THE USED COFFEE GRAINS! Simply take them out of the filter and put them into a bowl. Squeeze in 1/2 of an organic lemon.

Don't be afraid to let some of the pulp from the lemon get in there. LEMONS ARE AMAAAAZING for our skin!

Lemon brightens and lightens our skin, exfoliates the top layer of dead skin cells, heals acne and helps diminish scars and signs of aging. EVERYONE NEEDS LEMON ON THEIR FACE!

Next: 

Add 1 tablespoon of organic honey and a tablespoon of organic coconut oil.

When honey is applied to the face it will draw moisture in from the air and hold in within the skin where it feels it is necessary - hellllo hydration! It also helps to keep our pores clean and clear, exfoliates, brightens the skin, and helps reduce the appearance of scars. 

Coconut oil is like my best friend, you can literally use that stuff on EVERYTHING! Here it will drench your pores with some moisture and it acts as a make up remover!

Next, Mix it all up!

Store it in a cool, dry area. I usually keep mine in a little mason jar next to my sink OR i'll take it into the shower and use it as a FULL BODY EXFOLIANT! You're gunna die at how soft and smooth your skin is. And you'll smell like a yummy latte ;)