Skincare and You

Okay so here's the thing: I totally, 100%, without a doubt have acne. YEP yep yep I am a 22-year old woman and I get hormonal acne on a regular basis. It's painful, it's unpleasant and it's not cute. It sucks to have problem skin and acne is NOT the only thing you might be struggling with. Inflammation, texture, wrinkles, dryness, oil, flakiness, and even peach fuzz can really crash the party, ya know?

I'm not here to tell you I have perfect skin and I do everything right, because I don't, BUTTTTT don't go away yet because although I cannot always tame my acne, I have some pretty great recommendations for attempting to deal with it.

- ANTI-AGING

Start using anti-aging products now and I mean RIGHT NOW. It's much easier to prevent wrinkles than to try to reverse them once it's too late. My favorite set is the Olay Regenerist ProX Intensive Wrinkle Protocol. The set comes with a night cream, a day cream and an eye cream. The firming properties in this product will also make your skin appear more well, firm and bouncy (in a good way) on a regular basis which is great for no makeup days or full face of makeup days. Don't forget your neck either. It transforms your skin, trust me.

- ACNE

I turn to three products to deal with my acne. The first is this stress acne face wash from Neutrogena with salicylic acid in it. To spot treat stubborn pimple I use the Mario Badescu drying lotion which dries out pimples in a day or two. If you don't have a day or two but you do have a night or a few hours, try a pimple patch. The tiny patches work like little suction cups to bring all of the pimple to a head so it can be extracted, this is especially helpful for those cystic zits. A tip I learned from Australian blogger Sammy Robinson is to drink lemon water when you break out (and in general). If you're a coffee lover like me you may know that coffee causes pimples (sad) so to counteract that be sure to be drinking lemon water for it's detoxing properties.


- PEACH FUZZ
Peach fuzz is often overlooked in every blog post, article and video I see about skincare. Peach fuzz on our cheeks and chin is a veryyy normal thing, however, according to the skin care expert I see for my facials, peach fuzz can cause clogged pores and grow more coarse over time but it does depend on your hormonal makeup and genes. If you wish to get rid of your peach fuzz then definitely get a specific hair removal tool to SHAVE it off. DO NOT WAX IT.

- DRYNESS
Dry skin is the enemy of a good face of makeup. If you think you can just slab that expensive foundation all over your dehydrated face well then you might as well just throw it in the trash and save us all the trouble. Yes, it WILL look that bad and no, I'm not being dramatic. You should moisturize after every single time you wash your face, no excuses. Invest in a good day cream with SPF and a night cream with restoring properties. Eye cream is essential too, you don't want dryness in that area or else when you go to apply under eye concealer....It will crease.

- OILINESS
Oil on your face is a wild beast that can't be tamed. All we can really try to do is prevent oil build up by washing your face regularly (once in the morning and once at night before bed). Avoiding build up is avoiding breakouts or texture.

- CHEMICAL PEELS, FACIALS AND MASKS

I know a chemical peel can sound scary but trust me it does not burn and it's actually very satisfying. I was introduced to chemical peels through BirchBox and my life was forever changed. Chemical peels are amazing for getting rid of dead skin on your face which can clog your pores, cause build up, look gross and keep your skin from looking smooth and bright. You should be getting professional facials regularly even if your skin is perfect. My facial consists of extracting (not fun but necessary), steaming, exfoliating, etc. Be weary of store bought face masks. I used to be addicted to them because for $3 at Target I could get a sheet mask from a brand and go home to use it in order to feel pampered. The thing is that most bigger companies mass produce these products and dilute them in order to produce and sell more so yes they are cheap but what does that say about the quality? Don't skimp on your skin.

LAST MINUTRE TIPS
- avoid excess alcohol 
- aim for a healthy diet 
- avoid tanning beds
- always take your makeup off before bed (please)

P.S. Skincare is the BASIS of GOOD MAKEUP!!! I cannot tell you how many of my friends ask me to do their makeup for big events and dates and I get complimented on my makeup all the time and it's because I take care of my skin!