My Winter Skin Saver!!!

Ok, I will admit that for years I didn't adhere to the changing of the skin moisturizer based on the seasons. I usually just stuck with whatever was working for me at the time. However, this winter season has wreaked havoc on my skin. I was having dry patches in the strangest places - above my top lip, the bridge of my nose, the middle of my cheek. Just really weird places for me. So, I finally caved in and headed to my trusty Target, where I found this - TA DA!

My apologies on the blurry picture - I didn't notice until after I uploaded! Anyway, I love my Oil of Olay Age Defining Daily Renewal Cream! This little gem contains a beta hydroxy complex that works as an exfoliant (you would never know it because it is so gentle - I can't feel a thing!) then gives your skin the most amazing moisture surge. It truly is unbelievable! Honestly, after 2 days of using this, my crazy dry patches went away and my skin feels incredibly soft and supple!

Check this out! Not overly thick and heavy. Perfectly rich and creamy!


I am constantly running my hands over my cheeks now! It contains a light fresh scent that is not overpowering and just smells clean. This is one product that I can see forever being in my winter arsenal. If you battle dry skin in the winter, definitely check this stuff out!

Until next time, XOXO!

Great Skin In Less Than a Minute!

I picked up the February 2010 issue of Glamour magazine this weekend. Katy Perry is on the cover - and just how freaking gorgeous is she?!?! Anyway, I found an article in there with tips on facial cleansing that I wanted to share with y'all! It helped me and I hope it helps you all as well!!

Step 1 - Exactly How to Wash Your Face:
1. Use warm water. "Cold closes your pores, so your cleanser can't work and hot water is too stripping." Hands get the job done, but a sponge feels good. Try ricky Care Sea Sponge ($5. rickysnyc.com)
2. Pick a good cleanser. "Don't worry about whether it's a gel, lotion or bar. It's the ingredients that matter." If your skin is oily or acne-prone, look for one with blemish-busting salicylic acid. Dry skin? A wash with moisturizing ingredients like shea butter works best.
3. Rub in on: rinse it off. Work cleanser onto skin for about 15 seconds - any longer is overkill. Then splash your face with water at least six times to completely rinse.
Recommended products:
1. Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash Redness Soothing Facial Cleanser (for the greasies) ($7 at drugstores)
2. Clarins Gentle Beauty Soap (cleans and moisturizes) ($15, clarinsusa.com)
3. L'Oreal Paris Go 360 Clean Deep Cream Cleanser (comes with a cool tool for scrubbing) ($7 at drugstores)
4. Clarins The Brush. Use on bar soap for some serious lather. ($19, clarinsusa.com)

Step 2 - Exactly How to Moisturize
There's no big trick for applying face cream - experts agree you can just slap it on. But choosing the perfect formula is essential. The rules:
1. Oily skin needs lotion too. Seems odd, but oil production has nothing to do with skin's hydration level!
2. Feeling tight? Go rich!! IF your skin seems dry or tight postcleaning, opt for creams that contain humectants, like glycerin and hyaluronic acid, which draw moisture to the skin.
3. Get a multitasker. Whoever decided to add SPF to moisturizer was a genius! You're able to soften and protect skin from sun damage in one step. Pick one with anti-agers to fight lines, too.
Recommended:
1. Origins Starting Over Age-Erasing Oil-Free Moisturizer With Mimosa ($45, origins.com)
2. Estee Lauder Hydrationist Maximum Moisture Creme ($38, esteelauder.com)
3. Aveeno Positively Radiant Daily Moisturizer with SPF 15 ($14, at drugstores)

Until next time, XOXO!!

Exfoliation 101: Body Scrubbin'

I don't know of anything I love more than the feel of freshly exfoliated, intensely moisturized skin! There is just something about my skin feeling like a baby's bottom that I crave and it gives me a mental high when I know that I have sloughed away dead skin and all that's left is absolute freshness. Your skin is your biggest feature, so you should make it stand out with a radiant, healthy glow of beauty.

My shower indulgence is The Body Shop's Spa Wisdom Africa Spa Salt Scrub. I have been using this product for years, it is my trusty standby. I have yet to find a scrub that makes my skin tingle and feel as incredible as it does after using this product! I have tried so many, yet I always come back to this one.

Since my skin is normal, I generally exfoliate once a week. (Those with more oily skin should exfoliate no more than twice a week. We don't want to overdo it - the benefit is no greater!) I really try to make it a weekly thing for me during the summer, due to the excess perspiration and oil production, which leads to a speedier accumulation of dead cells. Ewww, I know! However, like the rest of you out there, I have a busy life and sometimes a quick shower is all I have time for! Therefore my exfoliation regime consists of a few variations!

#1: If I'm in a super hurry, I will throw on a pair of bath gloves and lather up with Dove soap, using gentle circular motions. I prefer Dove because it is moisturizes as it cleans. I like The Body Shop's Bath Gloves - mainly because I love the color selection. I'm partial to orange - it's bright and cheerful and makes me happy! LOL!



#2: My typical weekly routine - After washing with soap, I use my Spa Wisdom Africa Spa Salt Scrub. I just use my bare hands for this because the scrub contains enough exfoliants to do the job.

#3: If it has been two weeks or more since I exfoliated or if I have been really active (a.k.a. sweating a lot!) - This is when I get intense! After washing with soap, I will use the bath gloves along with the scrub to really get the nasties off. Be careful not to be too harsh! These two together are quite a duo and you do not want to be too abrasive with your skin.

My Dynamic Duo

After each exfoliation, I follow with a deep moisturizer. My fave for the summer is The Body Shop's Coconut Body Butter. It is so rich and creamy and feels like silk! My skin soaks it up and feels absolutely amazing afterwards. Plus, the scent is to die for! It doesn't have the strong, overwhelming smell that some products have, especially those that are supposed to smell like coconut. It's a very light, clean, fresh, coconut smell. It's heavenly, I tell ya!

My Ménage a Trios!

Finish this off with my favorite comfies, a glass of red wine, and a great movie and I'm a happy chic!

Until next time, XOXO!