Eye Cream and When to Start

There’s a misconception that eye cream should be used after the age of 30. That’s usually the age when fine lines start to appear and by that stage it’s already too late. Most of the damage to our eyes - such as sun exposure, late nights of hard partying and studying happens in our early twenties. Well I’m here to tell you that, good habits start young and the beauty of getting in early on the act is prevention.  Don’t let your youth fool you and start using an eye cream as early as possible.  Even if you think your eye area is still firm, an eye cream will keep the surrounding skin hydrated and supple, that way when start developing wrinkles they won’t look nearly as deep.  

The skin around your eye area is super thin and needs to be treated as gently as possible.  There’s a technique to it, and I provided a diagram on wear to apply the cream (please excuse my etch-a-sketch drawing). First, apply a small pea sized amount on the tip of your ring finger.  Your ring finger is the weakest of the bunch and won’t pull on the delicate skin.  Then, gently dot the cream along your bone lines. Start from your inner corner outwards until it is completely absorbed. Repeat this step on your lids. On the outer corners of your eyes, use circular motions. By doing so, you are smoothing out the fine lines and wrinkles. Remember, not to apply too much pressure so that you don’t break any capillaries.

I’m prone to dark circles and puffiness around my eyes, so to keep my eyes in tip top shape I use Exuviance Bionic Eye Cream by Neostrata Company ($55). The cream is light weight and is formulated with Vitamin K and Lactobionic Acid.  

Bite Beauty: Whipped Cherry Lip Scrub

I love Sephora and a couple of months ago I came across a lip line called Bite Beauty. I'm absolutely in love with this brand. What makes this brand so great is that all of their products contain a super-antioxidant called resveratol which is found in red wines, grapes, berries, and even dark chocolate. While I love all the shades of the glosses and lipsticks, I really love the whipped cherry lip scrub. It rubs on gently, exfoliates my lips, and the smell is so good you almost want to eat it. What's even better is that it's an all natural product, so you don't have to worry about swallowing any harsh chemicals.  It is a little expensive, $18 to be exact, but a little bit goes a long way and you won't be disappointed.

Acne Blues: Esthetician vs. Dermatologist

So you've come to a crossroad where you made the decision to seek out a professional.  You can no longer stare at your acne ridden face. Having pimples really blows and no matter how much make-up you put on, you still feel self-conscious. Whoever told me that acne would end after puberty was blowing smoke up my skirt! Acne is a menacing problem and everyone seems to have a solution and a product to fix it. The problem is there’s a plethora of professionals out there, so who do you turn to for advice? Do you seek out the help of an esthetician or get professional advice from a dermatologist?

Estheticians should be considered as a first line of defense. They are very knowledgeable about skin products and can help you establish a good skincare regimen. Estheticians can also perform deep cleansing facials, pore extractions, exfoliation treatments, and waxing.  Visiting your esthetician every 4-6 weeks may be what your skin needs to rid yourself from occasional breakouts.

If you find yourself defeated and over-the-counter medications aren’t working, you should see a dermatologist. The issues you are having with your skin could be hormonal or you may have a skin condition that requires prescription medication. While dermatologists can be both helpful and informative, the visits can be expensive and if you’re lucky, your insurance may pay for it. If this is an option for you, invest in your skin and find the root of the problem.  The pay-off may be well worth it, and your visit to the dermatologist can save you from purchasing useless products.

There’s no right or wrong way to tackle acne and the decision is yours to make. You should choose an approach that is comfortable to you. We’re our own self critics, so do what you need to do to free yourself from the acne blues.

Tatcha - Japanese Beauty Products

Has anyone every heard of Tatcha? It's a Japanese line of beauty products that's suppose to be really good. I want to try it, but right now I'm still using my Obagi and will continue to use it for awhile.  I'm thinking about ordering it for my mother for Christmas to test it out.  When I do, I'll be sure to write a review about it.  I've heard a lot of good things so I do have high expectations for this line.  If you have used it, please leave me a comment and tell me what you think.

Tatcha Aburatorigami Japanese Beauty Papers (Google Affiliate Ad)

Victoria's Secret: Rockin' Body Cream

Let me start off by saying, save your $12 ladies! The Victoria's Secret Rockin' Body Cream claims to make you look 5x sexier...Wow! If only I had the body of a Victoria's Secret Angel to begin with, maybe I would agree with this claim. The pictures I posted show my legs, but I really tried it on my rear end to see if my bum looked sexier. Obviously, if it only took $12 to make every rear end in America look sexier this stuff would be flying off the shelves. While it did make my bum look like a golden peach, it did not hide any flaws or enhance any of my good qualities.  All I needed was a cheap pair of fairy wings to complete my reject Victoria's Secret Angel wannabee look.

To be honest, I didn't expect it to make me look 5x sexier.All I needed was to spend a few more dollar's to get a free gift. There were plenty of other things I could have bought, but the "Look 5x Sexier" on the bottle really caught my eye.  Who doesn't want to look better in the $50 bra and $30 thong they just bought? Haha.  Hey, at least I can say I gave it a shot!

Hyaluronic Acid Day Cream by Derma E

Cooler weather means dryer skin, well at least for me. If you are looking for a light weight non-greasy moisturizer, you should try Derma E Hyluronic Acid Day cream.  It absorbs easily and a little bit goes a long way. When I use this creme my face feels hydrated, plumper, and it gives me that dewy glow. I use it both in the a.m. and p.m. during the colder seasons. This moisturizer is paraben free and the only downside is that it does not have sunscreen protection.  If you decide to try this moisturizer, don't forget to apply a sunscreen first!

For those of you that don't know what Hyaluronic Acid is, it's a natural substance found in the human body. It has been promoted as the "fountain of youth," but there's little evidence that supports this claim. I personally think it works wonderfully and despite the little evidence, it's still definitely worth trying. 

I found this product at my local ULTA for around $28.  If you search the web you can find this product for as low as $15 if you don't mind the wait for shipping.  

Aluminum-Free Deodorants

I bought Tom's of Maine wild lavender aluminum-free deodorant a few weeks ago and decided to give it a try. I have to admit, it was very disappointing.  While I love the smell of lavender, it was not enough to make me try it again. I'm a runner, so using a good deodorant is important to me. One might suggest I use a stronger deodorant like Secret, but I refuse to use any type of deodorant that contain harsh chemicals and aluminum.  I have had some medical issues, so I am pretty cautious on what I put in and put on my body. Anyhow, back to Tom's of Maine wild lavender deodorant. Again, it was very disappointing because even when applied a few times, it does very little to cover armpit odor  My armpits felt very sticky and my skin became a little irritated when I applied it after shaving. Overall, I don't recommend wasting your money on this product.

Currently, I have been using Crystal Essence lavender and white mineral deodorant roll-on. It contains no aluminum chlorohydrate or parabens and is hypoallergenic.  It is by far a better deodorant than Tom's of Maine. It provides strong odor protection and keeps my armpits dry all day long.  The lavender scent is lovely and not over powering.  I highly recommend this deodorant for anyone willing to switch to a natural deodorant.  You can find this product at most drugstores and will cost about $3-$5 for a 2.25 oz. bottle depending on where you purchase it from.