Beauty from Within.

Makeup is not going to do you any good when beneath the layers of moisturizer, primer, foundation, powder, blush, bronzer, and highlighter is just unhealthy, dehydrated, and acne ridden skin. 3 years ago I would have laughed if you told me that all of those layers of product didn't make me look better than I did without them. But really, maybe all of those layers are what is causing the trouble. I'm not saying that you have to stop wearing all your makeup but maybe let your skin breathe.

I've been through the whole program with hating my skin, like most girls. I have tried all of the marketed acne systems, been to the dermatologist for numerous years, and used any type of remedy that I could get my hands on. Nothing worked no matter how diligent I was. The funny thing is that my skin is at it's best with no prescription antibiotics or 3 step systems. What changed my life is minimalism when it comes to daily makeup and rebuilding my body from within. I no longer slap on concealer to hide blemishes because...well.. I don't have them. The less skin problems I have, the less I find myself reaching for tens of products. Layering, unlike with clothes, doesn't really work with makeup.

What works

1. Drink tons of water. At first you're going to pee every 10 minutes but then your body adjusts and you go every 15..kidding. Water has been magical for my skin and myself in general. When people first give up sugary drinks for water they absolutely hate the taste. But then as you drink more and more you start to crave it. I haven't had a soda in over a year and I can't say that I have had any cravings. If you still think water is bland, infuse it, add lemon, berries, mint, or orange slices. With water you are cleansing your internal organs and helping your body function optimally. Dehydrated skin is not a good look.
2. This might seem repetitive but every morning start with a cup of warm water and half a lemon. If the water is hot or boiling it simply negates every potential benefit the lemon had. This helps jump start your whole body and the tangy taste will help wake you up. You can also sweeten it with a teaspoon of honey. The acidity from the lemon will help balance the ph of your body and promote healthier skin and keep you glowing. 
3. When your skin is giving you a hard time start from scratch. When I had really bad skin I thought the more products I add on the better all of those things would work together. Wrong. When your skin starts acting up start simple and let it breathe don't suffocate it with tons of chemicals. If you want, play it by ear and slowly add whatever you prefer....I recommend keeping it to a minimum.
4. Try to stay as natural as possible. Instead of a toner with tons of drying alcohols and irritating fragrances add a couple drops of tea tree oil on a cotton pad. I love the refreshing feeling and it keeps my oily skin in balance. 
5. Maybe you don't need to wash your face twice a day. There was a point in my life where I was washing my face 3 times a day and stripping it of all the essential oils to keep it moisturized and healthy. Wash your face at night and in the mornings let the shower water rinse of what is left or use a micellar solution to refresh. 
6. SPF SPF SPF. And no your foundation or powder does not have the proper spf. Sunscreen is that million dollar youth serum everyone is searching for. Start wearing SPF daily at a young age and when you're 50 find this post and thank me. 
7. Do not touch your face. It hard to do. Even I can't master it. But your hands are gross and they touch hundreds of bacteria ridden surfaces a day. Then you go on to prop your chin against your hand and there come those tiny bumps you hate. Don't touch just look. 

A Year in Review: Hair Care

The past year I struggled with hair that had a mind of its own. It was also the year that I decided going from dark brown to fully blonde was also a good idea (sigh). Throughout the year I have acquired an enormous amount of hair products to save my dry damaged hair. I don't know where I would be without these few staples in my life.

Once a week I use the Davines Momo Shampoo  to give my hair a nice cleanse. This shampoo is made for dehydrated hair and has the most pleasant refreshing scent. It has a hefty price tag at $24 but I can definitely feel a difference in my hair after using this. When my hair is somewhere between wet and damp I take 2 pumps of the Pureology Hydrate Shine Max serum and spread it through the ends of my hair. This leaves me with smooth and soft hair. I also love that this doesn't have an extremely strong scent, most of the times I don't even notice it has a scent. Even though this is a serum it doesn't leave my fine hair weighed down.

I don't try many new styling products because when I find something I love I cling on. If I want to create voluminous wavy hair I usually opt for the Giovanni Natural Hair Mousse. It contains all natural ingredients and oils. While creating beautiful volume it is also good for my hair. Unlike most mousses this one doesn't make my hair shed like crazy afterwards. I typically apply 2 to 3 pumps all over and let it air dry. Perfect for the lazy summer days. Another natural hair product that I love is the Desert Essence Hair Lotion . This smells like a Hawaiian getaway. I apply a tiny bit through the ends and this lotion nourishes my hair all day long. I've had this bottle for over a year and have used it almost daily and yet I am not even halfway done. This is definitely a must have for dehydrated hair filled with nourishing Coconut oil, Vitamin E, and Panthenol.

I only recently got my hands on the Dove Dry Shampoo it is so affordable and does wonders. I've tried a boat load of dry shampoos and most simply weighed down my fine long hair and leave me with white residue. The Dove Dry shampoo creates big voluminous hair without any white residue that lasts all day. This definitely helped me go from washing my hair everyday to once every 3 days. The only downside is the strong floral grandma smell...maybe they make this in an unscented formula. The Living Proof Full Thickening Cream  is my go to for over the top blow dried hair. Every time I use this I like to pretend I'm Jennifer Aniston, I've been watching too much Friends. There is not much to say about this other than that it's lightweight and does exactly what it says it would.

What were your favorite hair products of 2013?

Nightly Essentials

My bedside table, in addition to my favorite book and iphone, always has essential products that I have to use before I fall asleep. These are the tried and tested products that I will repurchase many more times in the future. This nightly routine is simple yet effective.

I begin my night by spritzing some Bath and Body Works Warm Milk and Honey pillow spray all over my bed. I don't do this everyday since it is pretty strong but every couple of days when I am feeling extra tried. It has the most pleasant sent of warm milk with honey, just like my mom used to make me when I was young. When my head hits the pillow and I get a whiff of this scent I am suddenly transported to the good old days and fall sound asleep. I've had this for many years and am only half way through the bottle, a little goes a loooong way.

Afterwords, while I am catching up on my favorite youtubers I spray some Caudalie Beauty Exilir  all over my face for a nice refreshing feeling. I can't say that this works wonders but definitely is a nice luxury to own. Whenever my face feels dehydrated or dull I like to pamper it with this spray. The scent is very awakening and has a hint of menthol which I love.

My favorite night time lip balm is the Nuxe Reve de Miel. The honey scent is not overpowering and it glides on very smoothly. I like that it is a matte lip balm and won't leave my lips glossy while I sleep. The next morning I wake up with fresh and moisturized lips. A must have for my night routine. You don't need a lot of it so this little pot will last you ages too.

My last nightly necessity is the L'Occitane Shea Hand Cream  . This is my go to during the winter to cure my dry hands. It is thick and nourishing. Within minutes I can see a difference in my hands. This hand cream keeps my hands smooth and soft during the winter.

My last nightly ritual is burning my London Calling Candle from Bath and Body Works. This is supposedly discontinued and I have been on the hunt for more since last year, when I first found out about this scent. I randomly stopped by a Bath and Body Works a couple weeks ago and they had a whole stand filled with this scent. I squealed and bought 4 out of excitement. It smells exactly like tea and lemon, not even a bit artificial. It makes my whole room feel cozy and and comforting. I wish I could be surrounded by this scent wherever I got it makes me so happy.

What are your night time essentials?