Beautiful Skin Secrets

 As someone with super sensitive, dry, and occasionally acne prone skin, finding an entire group of products I can not only use, but also see wonderful results from has been a feat! First in our lineup is an admittedly easier one, eye makeup remover. I've been using Maybelline Clean Express for waterproof eye makeup, it is good, this is my second bottle, but I don't notice a difference between it and other duel phase eye makeup removers if I'm being honest. Mario Badescu Facial Spray with Aloe, herbs, and rosewater : My face makeup remover. I spray this on my cotton square, and on my face and remove all of my makeup with it with out it drying or irritating my skin, and it smells like roses! I think this is my 3rd bottle, maybe 4th. As a plus it isn't too expensive and has free shipping from nordstrom, if you have a hard time finding it. Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cleanser Has saved my face from intense pain problems it was having all of last fall. I tried just about every facial cleanser in existence (no joke) and everything was burning my skin horribly. Then came my love. I washed my face and no pain. I was in shock. 4 months later, after using this twice a day everyday, still no pain. It's a miracle to me. It is a little more expensive for a face wash, but I've used less than half of my bottle in 4 months, because it's very concentrated and you only need a pea sized amount for more than enough lather. It cleanses my skin, makes it soft, my acne has dramatically decreased(almost none), it's not as dry as it was, I couldn't recommend it enough. Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate has been my go to moisturizer, always at night, sometimes during the day as well. I was previously using 100% Jojoba oil as my moisturizer (my skin doesn't like many traditional moisturizers). However I was finding my skin was not getting moisturized enough. I decided to try this based on the great reviews and ingredients, and I love it. I do find it moisturizes more than the jojoba oil was, and importantly-with out breaking me out. My only complaint is my skin can sometimes use even more moisture, so it's not a complete miracle for me, but I do plan to repurchase. That leads up to the next product, Trader Joe's Nourish Anti-Oxidant Facial Moisturizer. This isn't a product that I use everyday, but I have been layering on top of the midnight recovery concentrate when my skin needs even more moisture. It is cheap, and has good ingredients so it's an easy one to keep around for when needed. Saving the best for last - Kiehl's Skin Tone Correcting & Beautifying BB Cream. I use the shade fair. This one product has made the biggest difference in the improvement of clarity and evenness to my skin. It makes my skin look younger, and brighter, and healthier, almost instantly. Every day I wear this I see an improvement to my skin, that night. I have already purchased a backup and I'm not running out of my current one for a little while longer. It's that important to me that I have it. It has vitamin c, which is what I'm attributing most of the visible results to. SPF 50, which is effective, I burn easily and have spent hours in direct sunlight in the afternoon with this on, and no sun burn at all. It has light - medium coverage, and can make me shiny depending on what powder I set it with (I've been liking l'oreal with it), but it is worth it. It doesn't burn my sensitive skin, and not only does it not cause acne, but it seems to be helping to keep it away.
I hope you enjoyed reading about my current skincare routine, leave me a comment if you have any questions!

my top 4 loves

My Skincare Routine

Over the past year I have been trying a lot of skincare products to help with my very dry, sensitive skin with acne. It can be difficult to figure out how to fight acne, cleanse skin, and not irritate and over dry in the process. Over the past few months I have been strictly sticking to this routine and my skin has had almost no breakouts, and the sesitivity has improved! Overall my skin is looking better than it has in a long time, and I am thankful to these products for it.

From left to right:

Buxom Lip Polish -
I included this in my skincare routine because my lips are not the same without it. They get dry and peel very easily. This lip gloss heals them and prevents dryness better than any lip balm. I love it so much I even sleep in it. It is a skin healing product for me, not just makeup. The color shown here is Katie, a good nighttime color because it is so light it is pretty much unpigmented so I feel like it's better in preventing pillow case stains.
(sephora, $19)

Equate Oil Free Eye Makeup Remover -
This is a cheap but effective eye makeup remover that doesn't irritate my skin. Nothing too special about it but I do use it so I thought I would include it.
(walmart, $4)

Mario Badescu Facial Spray with Aloe, Herbs, and Rosewater -
This is my second bottle of this. I started using this as it directs as a moisturizing facial spray, then as a toner of sorts to cleanse my face, but I have found my favorite way to use it is to remove my face makeup. Instead of makeup removing wipes, I will spray my face and a cotton round with it, and simply wipe the majority of my makeup away. I do feel like my skin is less irritated by doing this method than using makeup wipes that have a lot harsher ingredients. It is a great multifunctional product for dry skin however, in anyway that you wish to use it.
(nordstrom, $7)

Trader Joe's Spa Face Wash with Tea Tree Oil -
Now I will admit this may not be the best thing on the planet for dry skin. However I had wanted to explore Tea Tree oil for acne since so many people swear by it. I purchased this specific cleanser because I could not find any others with out parabens. I'm not sure just how much of a difference it has made with my acne, I have been using this cleanser for a long time now and have had acne while using it. I'm planning to continue to use it because it is currently the absolute only face wash I can find that doesn't make my sensitive skin burn. It has a very watery texture so it is best to lather in hands then apply to face. I try not to wash too long with it to prevent it from drying more than necessary.
(trader joe's, $6)

Trader Joe's Spa 100% Pure Jojoba Oil -
The product that has made the biggest improvement in my skin! I started using this because my skin was being so sensitive/temperamental/awful/dry that I was desperate and trying everything (with no success). I apply about 4 drops of this to my face immediately after washing. It will be oily to the touch at first but my skin sucks it all up in about 10 minutes. It keeps my skin from being tight and dry, but I feel like this product alone has really kept my acne away! Ever since I have started using it I have not had anywhere near my normal amount of acne. I have had maybe 2 in the past 3 plus months, and if I'm being completely honest they may have been around the time I was getting lazy with my skincare routine. Since getting stricter/back to normal again, no more acne! I also use it on my eyelids and in place of an eye cream now. I'm not sure how oily skin people will feel about using an oil, but it is important to remember it is not the type of oil that acne bacteria can eat, and therefor it can't survive in it like it can in our natural skin oils. It is also great for keeping nails from getting dry and brittle, I apply it every time I take my polish off. All in all this is the one product I do not ever want to do without!
(trader joe's, $7)

Burt's Bee's Citrus Facial Scrub -
This is maybe my 6th jar of this scrub, I've lost count, I've been buying it/trying other things then coming back to it, for so many years. It smells amazing! I know that doesn't make it a good skincare product but it is so good it is worth mentioning! This has rose petals and an oily-er base. So it's not too harsh but it does give you proper exfoliation when you need it. It is a concentrated formula so I take a small glob and mix a couple drops of water and it loosens up and turns into a more easily spreadable scrub. You can also personalize how thick you want it. I always have glowing skin after using it. I love it and plan to continue to use it as long as they keep making it.
(target, $8)

What's in My Makeup bag?

The older I've gotten the less makeup products I find myself carrying around with me in my bag. However there are a few things I still enjoy having on hand. Sunscreen for being in more direct sunlight than origianlly planning on that day. Some brightening and enhancing reliable lip products. Hand cream that absorbs quickly because it's never more of a pain to have greasy hands than while out in public! A couple different types of scents doesn't hurt either in case I'm just not in the mood for one of them.

1.Dior Addict Lip Reviver Balm

2.Menchie's Lip Balm in Pink Lemonaid

3.Buxom Pink Lady Lip gloss

4.Trader Joe's Ultra Moisturizing Hand Cream

5.Burt's Bees Baby Bee Sunscreen

6.Target Dollar bin Mirror/Brush

7.Travelo with Calvin Klein Forbidden Euphoria

8.Kate Spade Live Colorfully sample

February Beauty Favorites 2014

1. Dior Lip Glow Color Reviver Balm
2 .Buxom Pink Lady Lip Gloss
3. Rimmel Let's Get Naked Moisture Renew Lipstick
4. Sephora by OPI Keep Me On My Mistletoes
5. Victoria's Secret Fantasies Body Spray in True Escape
6.  Trader Joe's Antioxidant Facial Moisturizer
7. Trader Joe's Tea Tree Tingle Conditioner
8. Trader Joe's Tea Tree Bar Soap
9. Turbie Twist