Obviously since I write for Latest Beauty, I love makeup. Mostly I love that makeup gives me the ability to look different every day, if I want to. Variety is the spice of life, and it’s nice to be able to change up your look depending on my mood. That said, I think most women will admit that wearing heavy makeup daily is A. a pain in the butt to apply and B. causes more breakouts. So on principle, I try to go a day without makeup every now and then. If I have any breakouts then I’ll apply a little concealer, but otherwise I wear no foundation, eye makeup or lip color. That doesn’t mean I don’t spend time getting ready. I follow the 7 steps below to make sure I look fresh:
Get Enough Sleep: Sleep is the best medicine. Get at least 8 hours a night. 9 hours is better. But don’t sleep more than 10 hours–too much sleep can cause grogginess.
Calm Inflammation: If you didn’t sleep enough the night before (or had a little too much to drink) you may have puffy eyes, puffy skin, and redness around the nose and eyes. First, for all of these symptoms, don’t discount allergies. If you’re frequently waking up with red puffy eyes you might want to try taking Zyrtec or buying a air purifier for your bedroom. You can also use Naphcon, anti-histamine drops that relieve redness and itching almost instantly. If it’s not allergies, then what I do is create an ice pack and alternate holding over my eyes and over the rest of my face. Spend just 5-10 minutes with an icepack and you’ll greatly reduce inflammation.
Pinch and Pat: This might sound a bit strange but next you’ll want to alternate lightly pinching and patting your skin for about a minute or two. This will increase circulation which will make skin look brighter and give you a natural “blush.”
Cleanse Gently: If you want to go out without makeup, then using a gentle cleanser that won’t over-dry you is absolutely necessary. Dry skin can look pale and sallow and can also cause redness to be more apparent. My absolute favorite gentle cleanser is Aveeno Ultra Calming Foaming Cleanser. It’s so gentle and leaves my skin super soft. It also contains feverfew, which helps reduce redness and inflammation.
Moisturize: This is the most important step. I suggest applying a large amount of moisturizer, more than a quarter size dollop. Definitely use something non-comedogenic: I love Cerave. Also, if you really want skin to glow, add a couple drops of Jojoba Oil to your moisturizer. Jojoba oil is non-comedogenic and actually helps balance skin’s oil production because it so closely mimics your skin’s natural sebum. I use Now Foods Organic Jojoba Oil and really swear by it: it has this ability to moisturize my skin when it’s dry and mattify it when it’s oily.
Apply Lip Balm: Dry lips can really kill the “no makeup” look. Try to use a lip balm with shea butter or jojoba oil which will both do a great job of moisturizing.
Curl Your Lashes: Simply curling your lashes will make you look rested and bright eyed.
And that’s it! So, what do you think? Can you go out without makeup? Some women are perfectly comfortable running errands without it, but wouldn’t be caught dead at work with a bare face. If you have any other “no makeup” tips or tricks, please feel free to share them in the comments below! Every little tip helps!
Yesterday I wrote about how much I love Rosehip Seed Oil. Today I have to mention a new supplement I’ve been taking that I think I might be falling even more in love with: cod liver oil. There’s so much information out there about why cod liver oil is great for you skin–all you have to do is Google it. Acne sufferers love it, and many women say it’s greatly helped with hormonal breakouts along the chin and jawline. High profile beauty bloggers like Kandee J are highly devoted to the stuff. So I decided I had to try it for myself a few weeks ago. A month later, I’m seeing incredible results. My skin truly glows and my breakouts are much less noticeable and seem to be stopping completely. I’m trying not to get too excited but wow! So what’s the science behind it all?
I suggest when you have some time you check out the comprehensive research from the Weston A Price foundation. Basically the research shows that certain primitive cultures who had no acne were getting a lot more vitamin A, vitamin D, and vitamin K2 than we modern folk get. Cod Liver Oil is just about the best source of these vitamins and omega 3 fatty acid which is the champion anti-inflammatory (read: great for skin!). That said, if you want to try cod liver oil, unfortunately it may cost you. Most of the Cod Liver Oil sold in stores is basically garbage, so processed that all the nutrients and benefits are greatly diminished. There is literally only one company that follows a very pure extraction process to actually preserve the benefits of the cod liver oil: Green Pasture’s. Even better, Green Pasture’s combines their Cod Liver Oil with Butter Oil, which Weston A Price found to be essential to the success of the cod liver oil.
I take the capsule form (Green Pasture’s Blue Ice Royal Butter Oil/Fermented Cod Liver Oil) which they sell on Amazon, found here. It’s expensive, but seriously so worth it. Each jar contains 60 servings (you take one capsule in the morning, one at night) so it’ll last you 2 months. I no longer take any other supplements for my skin and really need nothing more than a mild cleanser to keep my skin looking nice, so I really feel like the high cost of these balances out in the end. (Just FYI they do have a liquid version on Amazon which costs less than the capsules: I just can’t handle the idea of taking a liquid supplement, but if you’ve got a strong stomach then more savings for you!)
And it’s not just great for acne–this stuff is great for scarring, discoloration, melasma, hyper-pigmentation, and yes even wrinkles! So give it a try and let me know if it works for you!
I have had issues with uneven skin tone for most of my life. I guess my problems come from the fact that I have super pale skin that’s prone to redness and discoloration. The slightest breakout will cause a red mark that lingers for months while just a minute in the sun gives me ridiculous freckles and melasma (brown discoloration). I used to just slap on layers and layers of makeup to deal with the problem, but ever since I tried Rosehip Seed Oil, my skin has made a total turn around.
A lot of people who have issues with discoloration turn to AHA, also known as glycolic acid, which peels the top layer of skin and helps to even out skin tone. Although the AHA worked for me to some degree, it also left my sensitive skin irritated and pinkish all the time. Rosehip Seed Oil has similar abilities but actually soothes my skin, making it appear more even and healthy and glowy. I also find that I’m not battling oily skin since using Rosehip Seed Oil, and I’ve read it has the ability to balance your skin’s natural oil production. I swear a few of the premature wrinkles I’d gotten from using acne fighting products seem to be softer and less noticeable as well. And it’s not just me. My friends have all commented lately on how “rested” I look and asked me what I’ve been doing.
In addition to being great for lightening scars, evening skin tone, and softening wrinkles, I’ve also read that Rosehip Seed Oil is great for stretch marks and moisturizing hair and skin (particularly elbows, knees and heels).
I’ve been using the Organic Rosehip Seed Oil by Aubrey Organics and have been really happy with it. I really trust Aubrey Organics: they have really high standards for the production of their products to ensure they are as organic and pure as possible. I actually also started using the Aubrey Organics Rosa Mosqueta Shampoo as well. It contains Rosehip Seed Oil so I don’t actually have to rub the oil itself into my fine easily-weighed-down hair. The shampoo is working so well: it’s their “safe for color treated hair” shampoo and I find my color lasts a lot longer since using it.
Oh but I’m almost forgetting my favorite benefit of Rosehip Seed Oil: the smell!! It’s seriously the best smelling natural scent I’ve ever smelled. It’s one of those great light lingering scents that’s not at all strong but just smells so fresh and clean. Plus–BONUS–My boyfriend is totally intoxicated by it.
I have incredibly dry skin and as winter creeps closer, I am always game for trying a new moisturizer. And since I have developed an even stronger sensitivity to smell lately, my usual Vaseline Cocoa Butter Lotion wasn’t going to cut it anymore. I needed a hard working
The bottle recommends to use it after shower or bath, which works great for me since I keep my lotion in the shower to do just that. The best thing about this product is how it seems to immediately absorb into my skin. I don’t feel greasy in any way after using it. With other lotions, I have sometimes felt like I needed to allow time for it to absorb before getting dressed, so I would swan about in my robe…which left me with a very moisturized robe, instead of
Already, I love that the product has no discernible fragrance. I have always been sensitive to fragrances but for some reason that sensitivity has been heightened lately, so fragrance is a make-or-break factor these days. And when I put a dab of it on my hand (because I’ve already moisturized my face today) it really made my hand feel silky and soft. There is a definite textural difference from the area where I smoothed on the Dermagenics and the area that was only moisturized by the hand lotion I had applied about 30 minutes before receiving the package from Dermagenics. We’re off to a good start, Dermagenics and I.
and festive. People build altars and have picnics and processions in the cemetery to honor their deceased friends and relatives, and the iconography is colorful and fun, from calaveras face painting to sugar skulls.
inter. No matter what, I’m constantly changing my routine, because sometimes, my daily dose of SPF and my trusty DDF Moisturizing Dew just isn’t going to cut it.
An amazing, yet little known, regimen for taking care of your skin, eliminating acne, and improving your skin as you age, is the medical facial.
I had my first medical facial a couple of months ago at Rita’s Institute for Beautiful Skin located in sunny Santa Monica, and went in again recently. Both experiences were terrific, and I’m definitely going back in for a couple more trips to clean up my skin.
Howard Murad for a number of years at the Murad Medical Group and Dr. Ava Shamban before opening up her own office. Her clientele includes A-list celebs, including model Marissa Miller. The medi-spa also has a loyal following…clients that move away make trips back to Los Angeles just to see Rita!
And I’ve promised to stop this terrible habit, but habits are hard to break! Then she explains to me the medical facial process and what exactly she’s going to do to my skin.
She begins the process by steaming my face for a few minutes to open up my pores.
Then she exfoliates the skin via chemical exfoliation, e.g. a glycolic
Next comes the torturous part: the extractions. According to her website, “the core of her treatments involves a special technique she learned in Hungary where she precisely focuses on extraction angles which eliminates the formation of scars and red marks.” I must say that she is very thorough in her extractions.
After all the extractions, she puts some more stuff on my face, and then she zaps my skin with a wand, which gets rid of the bacteria.
I am one of the biggest advocates you will find of keeping skin healthy now so you don’t have to resort to surgery or needles later so you’ll look young. For me, that means washing my face every night, keeping my skin moisturized – face, neck and chest, – and wearing sunscreen, rain or shine. So a headline over at Yahoo definitely piqued my interest: 5 Surprising Ways You’re Ruining Your Skin. A few of the tips were not so surprising – getting enough rest and being a serious runner – were things I already knew about. But hearing about the dangers of tap water and steam rooms were interesting to learn about. But I would definitely add to the first tip about getting your prescriptions for your eyes up to date. The idea is that if you have to squint with your glasses or contacts, then you may be contributing to fine lines around your eyes. I would definitely add in the necessity for wearing sunglasses! Not only are you likely to squint less with shade for your eyes, but when you wear large frames like Jennifer Aniston’s in this picture, then you are protecting that delicate tissue around your eyes even further – if you have sunglasses with UV protection. You don’t have to get expensive sunglasses in order to have UV protection. Just make sure you read the description on the sunglasses carefully and always opt for 100% UV protection. It is better for your eyes, to help prevent cataracts, and it is better
Here’s another affordable gem that has really done wonders for my skin: Beyond Belief’s ABH (Alpha-Beta-Hydroxy) Intensive Repair Serum. For less than $10 ($7.99, to be exact, with a Sally Beauty Club Card) this serum helps fight breakouts, improves the tone and texture of my skin,
And I’m not alone in my love: This serum has received almost unanimous raves from reviewers on both Sally’s website and the MakeupAlley boards. What more can I say
I don’t know about you, but I’ve always felt like I had two choices when it came to buying makeup: I could go low-end (i.e., drugstore) or I could go high-end (i.e., department stores/Sephora). Drugstore makeup is super affordable and easy to come by, but higher-end products are usually better quality and better for my skin – not to mention the invariably sexy packaging.
Unfortunately, I’ve more or less resigned myself to buying drugstore makeup lately, with the occasional Sephora splurge here and there…and then I started thinking about beauty supple stores.
Of course, I’ve always been aware of beauty supply stores, and I’ve ducked in once or twice, but I had pretty much written them off as being primarily hair care.
…plus the $5 I paid for a 1-year membership to the “Beauty Club”
I decided to take the plunge and get a club card because there are tons of discounts exclusive to club members listed on the website; plus, they gave me a $5 coupon good on any purchase during the month of October, so it’ s like my member
As for the awesomeness of my purchases, I’m thinking of doing a series of individual reviews, because seriously, they’re all great. The Palladio powder foundation, in particular, is so much better than the Neutrogena Mineral Sheers I’ve been using – and it was about $5 cheaper!
In conclusion, if you haven’t ventured into a beauty supply store
? I’m genuinely curious! Even though I can’t usually use specific tips from women with skin types different from my own, I still love to find out about everyone’ s unorthodox maintenance method
Even if you think your skin is oily and in no danger of drying out, believe me when I say stripping your skin of too much of its natural oil will only lead to breakouts down the line.
I use my Bliss cleanser at night, and in the morning I splash my face with water. NOTE: This will only work if you remember to remove all of your makeup at night! As an added bonus, your cleanser will last longer, so you’ll save some cash.
Yes, I tried it, and yes, it works! You can find them in the automotive aisle at Target; the ones I bought were bright green and were on sale, 4 for $3.99. Just use it as you would a regular washcloth and enjoy the smooth, glowing skin it produces.
Once or twice a week, I exfoliate my face in the shower with sea salt. (Another awesome blogger tip!) I like to keep a small plastic c ontainer filled with sea salt in the shower so I always have some
on hand. Make sure it has a lid, of course, or your salt will get all wet and clumpy!
When I do breakout, I forgo OTC spot treatments in favor of 100% pure tea tree oil. You should be able to find a bottle of this in the vitamin section at virtually any drugstore for less than $10. Just put a little on a cotton ball and apply to the affected area.
And I’m not just talking about picking, poking and prodding. You should also avoid seemingly innocuous activities like resting your hand on your chin while reading. In fact, the only time your hands should be on your face at all is right after they’ve been washed…if even then.
Summer may be winding down but that doesn’t mean that sunscreen is no longer on our radar. I’m a firm believer in wearing SPF everyday, whether I’m spending the day at the beach or not, so I’m always on the lookout for sunscreens that protect well and can live happily in the world of everyday and in the world of vacation. I actually just got back from a vacation in the Florida Keys and, lawd, let me tell you – it is HOT down there. The sun is a whole ‘nother level of intense and I was quite nervous that I was going to get scorched. Before I left mild LA, I picked up a new sunscreen to try out: Coppertone Sensitive Skin SPF 50. One of my biggest sunscreen-gripes is when you get wet or start to sweat and the sunscreen burns your eyes. The fact that it said on the bottle that it “Won’t sting eyes & skin” didn’t give me much comfort because I have tried others that promised the same thing – but still stung. I was planning on spending a lot of time lounging in the pool – I did not need anything to complicate that! Another sunscreen-gripe is if it is too greasy. I don’t need anything that is going to make me break out like I’m a teenager again. And it is hard to find a sunscreen that doesn’t fall into at least one of my gripes.
moments – totally did not sting. A little of this sunscreen goes a long way, so you get more bang for your buck. It does take a little while to fully rub it in but you know you are being well protected. Once you learn the right amount to apply for your face, then it isn’t greasy and totally wearable underneath makeup. It is my new go-to daily sunscreen. We ended up needing to buy a larger bottle so that my entire family could use it while we were on vacation – everyone agreed that it was pretty great. I’ m keeping the s
I am definitely of the philosophy that if we take good care of our skin now, we’ll have less problems to take care of down the line. And not just in terms of aging: I had to have a pre-cancerous spot on my nose removed last year and I’m still in my twenties. That was a wake up call! Needless to say, while I love the sun, I’m a little more cautious now – hats and sunscreen for everyone!
I usually have good results at first, but then after a while, my skin is up to its old tricks; so it was with both of the aforementioned blemish battling methods.
Needless to say, I’ve been on the prowl for a new approach, and I definitely found something worth exploring on the RFC Makeup blog: Microfiber cloths as facial cleansing aids!
Apparently you can head to Target – or wherever you buy these little cloths, intended for use on cars, electronics and so forth – and buy a pack for just a few bucks. What happens when you wash your face with these babies
(They were originally designed for polishing cars, but hey, it works!) I rarely use scrubs anymore, even microdermabrasion ones, since this does the job so throughly already.
That being said, since it is so effective at sucking up dirt and oil, it’s also imperative that you replace these often – I keep a rotation of 3-4 cloths, and toss them into my laundry basket every week.
Okay, I’m sold! I’ll be looking for these over the next couple of days, and will report back if I have equally stellar results…
Has anyone ever used microfiber cloths on their face before
Have I mentioned my love of One Bath and Body yet? If not, here goes: Yay for One! This environmentally friendly, Texas-based brand began making waves in the beauty blogosphere when it debuted at Target early this year. “Affordable Lush dupes!” screamed the headlines. Now, I love me some Lush, but the price tag – and the relative scarcity of Lush stores (yes, I still prefer to shop for things in person rather than online, whenever possible) – means that I can’t indulge in their handmade goodies nearly as often as I’d like. So I hightailed it to Target and picked up a honey-scented Bath Fizzer, coconut-scented Shea Body Butter (LOVE this product), and a tiny yet adorable tin of their Cherry Pie Lip Butter Balm. Conclusion: One is awesome. But that’s not all!
If you decide to give One a try, keep an eye out for a little paper insert in the packaging touting “free lip balm” for filling out their online survey. Then, go here to fill out said survey, choose which flavor you’d like to receive, mail in your insert to the address provided, and wait for some complimentary lip love to hit your mailbox. My free tin of “Shea my lips” shea butter balm came a few days ago, and wow – it’s fantastic! So much better than the cherry pie flavor! (No offense, cherry pie.) This balm is soft and moisturizing and non-sticky and has a gentle, sweet smell that is kind of addictive but won’t overwhelm you. I’m obsessed with it. I carry it around with me from room to room when I’m at home. When I momentarily misplace it, I panic. And yet I can’t stop thinking about how I want the Honey cream and Coco-coconut flavors as well! One, what have you done to me?!
Anyhow, don’t let my tale of addiction scare you off. Grab a One product from Target and then send off your insert for a free lip balm today!
Personally, I have several dark marks on my face from past acne breakouts that I wouldn’t mind fading into obscurity. Even if you’ve never had a single pimple in your life, perhaps you wrestle with freckles, age spots, hyperpigmentation or just random skin discoloration here and there.
I’ve never tried a brightener before, but I was definitely interested. Luckily for me, the good folks at Skinbright were kind enough to provide us here at LatestBeauty with a complimentary bottle of their skin brightening serum, and I immediately volunteered for the privilege of testing it out.
? According to their website, it’s a “gentle, yet powerful skin brightener” that uses natural ingredients (like kojic acid, lemon extract and hemp oil) to exfoliate the skin and decrease the production of melanin, fading dark spots while keeping skin hydrated and healthy.
The packaging – a skinny bottle with a pump dispenser designed to keep air out of the product – is attractive enough, and the product itself is easy to use: Just take a little bit (one or two pumps should be plenty) and rub it in to the spots you want to fade. Skinbright recommends that you do this twice a day, everyday, unless you experience adverse effects.
However, I’m willing to give this product the benefit of the doubt and wait the full three to six months that the website claims it may require to restore my skin to pristine, spot-free condition.
In the meantime, I have to say that I’m pleasantly surprised by the effectiveness of this product. Frankly, I expected it to do little to nothing, but within just a few days of starting my twice daily application regimen, my boyfriend noted that my skin looked nice, and asked what I had been doing differently!
One caveat: This was around the time that I also started using my new Bliss anti-acne cleanser, so I really can’t say for certain which one is contributing to my improved skin tone, although I suspect that it may be the combination of
A final note: Skinbright retails for $49 a bottle on the website (although there are price breaks if you order several at a time) – a little steep, although hardly unheard of for quality skincare.
However, it is worth noting that they offer a money-back refund if you’re dissatisfied with the product for any reason. Even if you finish the entire bottle, you can still get your money back, minus your return shipping costs and a $5 handling fee. Not bad, right? If you’re curious about Skinbright, I fully endorse giving it a go.
(I have no actual proof that using a cheap cleanser compromises the quality of your skin, but after years of using products by the likes of Neutrogena, Cetaphil and – yes – even Ivory bar soap, I decided that a little splurge might be in order.) I headed straight to Sephora and asked the nearest sales associate what she recommended for oily, acne-prone skin.
Her top suggestion was this No ‘Zit’ Sherlock Purifying Cleanser+Toner by Bliss. She said that, despite the somewhat-medicinal smell, my skin would feel “like butter” after use, and I could count on the encapsulated formula to keep battling breakouts even after it had been rinsed away.
(By the way, are you aware of how awesome their return policy is?! You can bring anything back if you’re not satisfied, there’s no time limit on returns, and you only have to have the receipt for cash-back returns; without a receipt, they’ll give you store credit instead.
e? I don’t know about you, but I always relied on other skincare products to do the dirty work when it came to my breakouts, which I would classify as moderate in terms of both severity and frequency. Spot treatments, clarifying lotions, natural remedies (like sea salt or tea tree oil, both of which I still highly recommend)…all were more effective in actually clearing out my pores than anything I used to wash my face.
My skin felt so s oft and smooth after just one use, and it really has cleared up a few spots that were threatening to take over my face – and this is after only 3 days
I also love that it’s a nice combo of natural ingredients (yogurt, meadowsweet extract) and standard acne fighters (salicyclic acid). It’s so awesome, in fact, that I’m planning to pick up the entire trio of No ‘Zit’ Sherlock products, which includes a Correcting Serum (formulated to minimize pores, refine skin texture and reduce the appearance of post-pimple pigmentation) and an Oil Control Moisturizer. Has anyone else had luck with Bliss skincare
Remember when I linked to an article on the blog Shimmer Kisser about how the author used sea salt to treat her acne? She dutifully applied the salt morning and night for a good 6 months, and reported that around 95% of her acne was gone (and after only six weeks, no less). Well, I’m a sucker for an affordable skin-clearing tactic, so I vowed to try this trick out next time my skin decided to act up, and I finally got my opportunity (uh, yay?) earlier this week. And let me tell you this: Sea salt WORKS.
Taking the application tips from Shimmer Kisser, I mixed about 1/2 teaspoon of salt with water to form a paste, applied to it to my breakouts, and left it on for a minute or two. (Yes, it does sting at first, but if it gets to be too much, just rinse it off.) After rinsing, my skin immediately felt tighter and the areas where I was breaking out were drier. I noticed an immediate improvement in my skin the following morning. For the next few days, I continued using sea salt mixed with my regular cleanser as an exfoliant in the shower; my breakout is now a mere memory. I can safely say that tea tree oil and sea salt are the two most effective topical acne remedies I have personally tried; they blow all of the store-bought spot treatments I’ve tried out of the water!
Some tips to keep in mind:
Use sea salt ONLY - table salt is NOT a substitute. The reason why this works is because sea salt contains minerals that help purify the skin, and table salt is usually processed to remove those minerals.
Don’t scrub too hard! Sea salt can be very abrasive, so it’s best to use a gentle touch.
Moisturize afterwards, and don’t overdo it - once a day (or twice, if you’re currently breaking out) should be enough. This method is very drying, so you’re going to end up with flaky skin if you’re not careful.
Has anyone else tried this yet? Let me know how it worked for you!
Last month, I was blown away by our First Lady’s glowing skin at an event. I blogged about a tip I read on how to achieve a similar effect with oil and lotion. The idea was to apply oil to your skin in the shower, with a washcloth. You rinse off the excess and then apply lotion on your skin after you’ve toweled off…So how did it go when I tested it out myself?
Ladies, let me tell you: This has become my new weekly luxury! My skin has never felt this silky and smooth - at least, not since I was a baby! I absolutely love how soft my skin stays for several days after I treat myself. Through trial and error, I found the best way to go about the process:
1. After I’ve finished bathing, I take a dry washcloth and generously put Johnson’s Cocoa Butter Baby Oil Gel on it. Then I apply the oil all over wet skin, focusing on my legs and arms. Bonus: the dry washcloth exfoliates skin.
2. Next I carefully rinse off the oil that hasn’t been absorbed. I emphasize “carefully” because the tub gets really slippery!
4. I slip into a robe for about 30 minutes so that all of the yummy moisturizing products soak into my skin and not my clothes. I liken the robe to how you would put on gloves after moisturizing your hands.
Voila! Softest. Skin. Ever.
Not only does it give me silky skin but it also makes me wash the tub once a week…I admit, sheepishly. Cleaning the bathtub is my number one dreaded chore - everyone has their thing. For some its doing laundry, for others its cleaning the toilet. For me, its cleaning the tub. I hate it, so I put it off. But since I could possibly greatly injure myself or my husband with the amount of oil slicking up the tub, I’m forced to clean it. That should show you just how much I love this soft-skin-technique: I don’t mind cleaning up after if I can have the soft skin I want!
For those of us who are forced to deal with acne well past our teen years, it can be challenging to determine which approach is best when it comes to vanquishing breakouts. I continue to swear by tea tree oil, but I’m always open to new suggestions, especially since acne often has a tricky way of overcoming whatever product or routine you’ve been using, forcing you to change course in order to keep your skin clear. I’m particularly fond of ideas that cost very little money, since the costs of skincare can quickly add up. That’s why I’m so intrigued by this post from Katrina at Shimmer Kisser, who has been using sea salt on her acne-prone skin for the past 6 months, with fantastic results. How does it work? Here’s her method:
“…at night in the shower after I’ve used my regular face wash to remove my make up I put 1/2 a teaspoon of salt in my wet palms. I then gently scrub my face for 10-15 seconds and wash it off. Sometimes I’ll do this in the morning too. I’m actually saving money because I don’t use face wash in the morning anymore like I use to.
If my skin is acting up I’ll put the salt on and leave it for 5 minutes. You can mix it with honey or your face wash and use it as a mask if you want a more intense treatment.”
You can also dilute some sea salt with water in a spray bottle and spritz it on to fight body breakouts. Love this tip! Has anyone else used salt to keep their skin clear? Did it work out for you?
There is no debate about how gorgeous our First Lady looked in Naeem Khan’s golden dress during Thanksgiving week. But what I can’t stop coveting is her glowing complexion. I usually think of glowing skin only during the summer months (or on pregnant women) but Mrs. Obama shows us that a healthy looking shine looks good all year round. Her skin has a soft and subtle sheen that I want to replicate on my own pale and pasty winter skin at all of the holiday parties I plan to attend. Glowing skin is the latest and greatest way to show off your holiday spirit!
So what is the best way to be the shining star at the parties you attend? Here is a tip, courtesy of Glamour, from Mara Levarre, a Los Angeles-based makeup artist:
“I layer a light oil like Alba’s Kukui Nut Body Oil under a rich lotion made with shea butter.” Victoria’s Secret Shea Butter Soft Embrace Deep-Nourishing Body Lotion is nice and rich, if you’re looking for one. “The combination of oil and lotion gives you amazingly soft skin!” For mess-free application, Levarre suggests pouring the oil onto a damp washcloth in the shower and gently scrubbing legs with it and rinsing off the excess. Finish by putting on the lotion when you get out of the shower for a party ready glow…”
14 Comments 
Ladies, let me tell you: This has become my new weekly luxury! My skin has never felt this silky and smooth - at least, not since I was a baby! I absolutely love how soft my skin stays for several days after I treat myself. Through trial and error, I found the best way to go about the process:
For those of us who are forced to deal with acne well past our teen years, it can be challenging to determine which approach is best when it comes to vanquishing breakouts. I continue to swear by 
There is no debate about how gorgeous our First Lady looked in 
