How to Get (or fake) Glowing Skin

Hello Queens! Today I want to talk about something that every woman wants, glowing and luminous skin. Some of us are naturally blessed with a beautiful complexion that is radiant even without makeup. Let’s be honest though, most of us are not. There are several things that you can do to take your skin from dull and tired to hydrated and healthy.

1. Use a hydrating night cream

Night creams are really essential to giving your skin the hydration it needs to repair and restore itself while you sleep. My personal favorite is CereVe Skin Renewing Night Cream. It runs about $17 but is worth every penny. Plus, this night cream has other skin loving ingredients like ceramides, hyaluronic acid and niacinamide that help fight fine lines and wrinkles.

2. Exfoliate, my friends, exfoliate

This is a really important step that a lot of people miss. Exfoliation helps to remove dead skin cells from the surface of your skin AND improves blood circulation. I skip the exfoliating cleansers and instead just use a cleansing brush. There are so many great exfoliating brushes on the market, probably the most well known being Clarisonic. I have used the Olay Pro-X facial cleansing brush for years and love it. I use it once a day, typically in the shower (it’s waterproof). I like to use my regular cleanser with this brush which I find to work really well, but without any irritation from the typical exfoliating beads in other cleansers.

3. Use a gentle cleanser and moisturizer before makeup application

This one seems obvious, but many women have a tendency to lean towards “harsh” cleansers that only further irritate or dry the skin. I love Ocean Minerals Cleanser by Oz Naturals (I talked about this one in a previous post). I also use a really light moisturizer immediately after cleansing. Always let your moisturizer absorb into your skin for several minutes before makeup application.

4. Use a good primer (it’s really worth it, ladies)

Seriously. If you haven’t tried using a primer before makeup application you are missing out. A good primer helps to reduce the look or pores, fine lines, and wrinkles. It also helps your makeup to go on smoothly and can really give your skin a softer, more airbrushed finish. Some primers can help control oil or add moisture depending on the needs of your skin. I live and swear by Pur Minerals Prep and Perfect Correcting Primer ($33 at Ulta). I apply about a pea size amount all over my face AFTER moisturizing. I can immediately see a difference in the overall appearance of my skin. This stuff also extends the wear of my makeup (win/win).

5. Use a beauty blender

If I could stand on top of a mountain and scream this from the top of my lungs, I would. USE A BEAUTY BLENDER. A damp one. It will change your life. After moisturizing, I like to start with some BB cream on the back of my hand. I dip my beauty blender in the cream (or liquid foundation if that’s what you use) and make a stamping/pressing motion on my face. The technique is called “stippling”. It allows makeup to go on super smooth, blurs the look of pores, and adds some fresh moisture to the skin from the sponge being damp. I personally like the Miracle Complexion Sponge by Real Techniques.

6. Use a good highlighter

Using a highlighter can do wonders to the overall look of your skin. It can make you look brighter, younger, and more luminous. Always use a highlighter sparingly (less is more). You want your highlight to be subtle and natural, so start slow and add more as needed. Obviously, only highlight areas that would naturally be lit by the sun (your forehead, upper cheekbones, center of your chin, and the bridge of your nose). I’ve tried a lot of different brands of highlighter, it really takes some experimentation to find which one is right for you. I love Mineral Glow Pearls by Physicians Formula and Candlelight Glow by Too Face.

 

 

5 Beauty Products You Need in Your Life, Now!

Hello beauties. Every girl has a couple of tricks and obsessions in her artillery of beauty supplies. I want to share some of my favorite everyday products that really are worth every single penny.

1. InstaNatural Age Defying Skin Clearing Serum $23.95

Why you need it:

This serum is like a magical little potion of age-defying, acne butt kicking goodness. I am a huge fan of vitamin C serums but it’s hard to find one that addresses aging AND acne prone skin. This product contains 2.5% Retinol, 2% Salicylic Acid, Niacinamide, and Tea Tree Oil to help clear clogged pores and sooth irritated skin. It also has Vitamin C and Hyaluronic Acid to help fight signs of aging, moisturize, and soften the skin. I’ve found that this product does a great job of reducing acne scarring and dark spots. I use this product every night after cleansing my face. I try to apply it as quickly as possible after my skin is dry so that it can be absorbed while the pores are still open. I only use about 4-5 drops for my entire face, so a little goes a long way. It took about three weeks to see the full benefits of this product in my skin, but the wait was well worth it!

http://instanatural.com/collections/skin-care/products/age-defying-skin-clearing-serum

2. Derma e Purifying 2-in-1 Charcoal Mask $19.50

Why you need it:

Everyone should be using a mask at least once a week. In my case, I need a mask to draw out impurities and clear clogged pores. This is just the ticket. It contains Activated Charcoal which is known to help draw out up to 200 times its weight in dirt, oil, and toxins. It also has Bentonite Clays which helps to absorb excess oil, and Marine Algae helps to protect the skin from environmental pollutants and provides hydration. Apricot seed powder acts as an exfoliant to help rid the skin of the impurities that were drawn out while the mask was drying. I love that this product does not have added fragrance and is perfect for my sensitive skin.

http://dermae.com/product/392/Purifying-2-in-1-Charcoal-Mask.html

3. Olivine Atelier Love & Salt Beach Hair & Body Mist $18

Why you need it:

This stuff is the holy grail of sea salt sprays. I have a natural wave to my hair and I often times let it air dry. I need a spray that’s going to add waves and texture without leaving my hair feeling dry or crunchy. I’ve used sea salt sprays from the drugstore before but always felt that it dried out my hair and really didn’t give me the fresh from the beach wavy look. This product is on the pricier side but it’s worth every penny. It contains only a few natural ingredients including Pink Himalayan Sea Salt, Coconut Oil, Epsom Salt, and French Sea Salt. It has a very light and fresh scent from the salt and coconut oil. I spray it on when my hair is damp and also sometimes when it’s completely dry and it always enhances my waves and gives it texture and body. This spray also doubles as a body mist!

http://www.amazon.com/Love-Salt-Beach-Olivine-Atelier/dp/B011SPD5CK/ref=sr_1_2_s_it?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1459783887&sr=1-2&keywords=love+salt

4. Pur Minerals 4-in-1 Pressed Mineral Powder Foundation $29.50

Why you need it:

I have never been one to wear liquid foundations as part of my every day makeup. It feels too heavy and thick on my skin. I’ve always been a fan of mineral foundation and used to wear Bare Minerals mineral foundation until one day someone at Ulta introduced me to Pur Minerals. At first I was unsure of how the coverage would be given that it looked like a compact powder. After trying it once, I was hooked. It provides medium coverage and is buildable, so you could wear a light layer for a quick natural look or apply several layers for more coverage. This product is a concealer, foundation, and a powder in one. A huge bonus is that it contains SPF 15, is Vegan, Gluten Free, and Paraben free.

http://www.purminerals.com/4-in-1-Pressed-Mineral-Makeup-Foundation-With-SPF-15-New

5. Physician’s Formula Mineral Glow Pearls $13.95

Why you need it:

We’ve all heard it before – fake it ’till you make it! When it comes to glowing, youthful skin, we all want it, but unfortunately for many of us stress, lack of sleep, and lack of hydration can keep our complexions from looking its best. With Strobing being the new go to makeup trend (move over contouring) this is a great product. It’s a perfect highlighter that isn’t too sparkly. In other words, you won’t look like you just stepped out of a Twilight movie. I apply it after my foundation, bronzer, and blush. I use it sparingly but apply it to all of the areas that should be highlighted (areas where light naturally hits your face) including the cheekbones, the bridge of the nose, the middle of the forehead, chin, under the eyebrows, and the cupids bow.

http://www.physiciansformula.com/en-us/productdetail/face/bronzers/07040.html