UPDATED Skin Care Routine!

This is the ONLY picture that I had on my phone where you can kind of tell how clear my skin is.  It isn't the best photo, but definitely the one that was taken closest to my face for you all to see.  I am NOT wearing any type of foundation or concealer (other than under eye concealer)  in this pic (lately I haven't been needing any of that, and actually I really never wear foundation anyway!) When you have healthy skin, it glows from within, and nature will take over to make it look flawless all on its own.  I am blessed to have great skin just run in my family :) I do have another post, which I will link below on what steps you can take to have healthier skin, this post is mainly on how I maintain mine! I hope you find this helpful :)

How do I CLEAN my face?

(Olay Pro X Cleansing System) I absolutely LOVE this cleansing system! I did a whole product review on it about 4 or 5 posts ago, so if you want to know more about this, check that post out! I use this 5 days a week in the shower being sure to squeeze in two days of my alternate facial scrub/cleanser in between :)

I use this cleanser (a larger size of the sample that comes with the cleansing system) with it.

(Burt's Bees Citrus Facial Scrub) This is my alternating facial cleanser/scrub.  I have been using this stuff for years and I really love the consistency of it and how it works so well to keep my skin healthy looking and clear! :)




How do I TONE my face?

 


(Olay Oil Minimizing Toner) I love this toner because it doesn't irritate my skin and it doesn't have a harsh smell at all! The alcohol smell that normally burns my eyes is no where to be found in this toner, and if by chance I ever smell alcohol, it is so faint that it doesn't bother me at all. This toner does it's job well to remove excess dirt, oil and makeup and sometimes even gets things off my skin that the normal cleansing didn't! I use this right before I moisturize my face :)









How do I MOISTURIZE my face? 

(Aveeno Positively Radiant Daily Moisturizer) You know, for a while, I became very frustrated trying to find a moisturizer that didn't make my skin feel overly oily after or that didn't just make my skin look dull, and then I found this! I had used the Aveeno tinted moisturizer before and I really liked it for a while, but after a while I decided that I really don't always want to use something tinted.  I loved this option and still do! It is very moisturizing and doesn't leave my skin looking oily or dull, it is the perfect in between. I use this normally right after I use my toner! This is definitely a better buy than the other MURAD one I was liking for a while, which costs around $75! This one is sold at drugstores for under $20! :)

(Origins VitaZing) This has always and will always be my favorite "tinted" moisturizer I think.  I have been using it for a few years now and I can't seem to find anything comparable to this baby.  I get mine at my local Macy*s where they have an Origins Counter for $35.  I love that it is just the slightest tint, nothing overwhelming and it works well with ALL skin tones! I use this when I am going out for that extra glow :)







How do I REMOVE MY MAKEUP?

I use my Yes to Blueberry Facial Cleansing Towelettes in alternation with these, but use these when I have a more full face of makeup to take off and let me tell you why.  (Pond's Evening Soothe Cleansing Towelettes) These towelettes have a texture to them that allows them to really get down and remove even waterproof mascara like it states. I love the smell of the chamomile and white tea and I overall love how they aren't too harsh but get the job done! These don't leave any oily residue after either! The best of both worlds for sure at only $5 for 30 wipes :)





Wishing you all clean and glowing skin always,

xox

Links:

My post on maintaining healthier skin can be found here: http://alyseap.blogspot.com/2011/06/maintaining-healthy-skin-is-easier-than.html

Product Review: Olay Pro X Cleansing System

 

I purchased this cleansing system at Target for just around $30.00.  Comparatively cheaper than the Clairsonic Mia, which can retail for around $120, I figured this would be a better option for someone who was just looking to try this type of product out for the first time.  

This cleanser is supposed to clean your skin 6 times better than regular cleansing.  It has an exfoliating brush head to get a deep clean and clean out all of that unseen makeup/dirt etc.  The cleanser is water resistant and the cleansing head is replaceable. 

This is what the cleanser looks like, it is battery operated and has an on and off switch on the back.  The starter kit comes with a trial size of the Anti-Aging Pro X Exfoliating Cleanser.  Although you could really use this cleanser with any facial cleaning product that you are already using, I always like to use the one suggested, although probably just a great marketing ploy haha, to get the maximum results.  Having said that I purchased a big one when my little trial one ran out!

Now that we know what this product comes with and what it claims to do, lets get to the bottom line here:

PROS:

1. I love that I can easily use this in my shower and that it is water resistant, I wash my face most in the shower so this is very convenient!
2. I actually really like the cleanser that it recommends using it with.  It has tiny "exfoliating sands" and doesn't have a strong smell etc. 
3. The brush head is the perfect strength for me, not too rough and not too soft.
4. The price is pretty unbeatable for its comparison products!
5. Last but certainly not least, I love that I genuinely feel like it cleanses my face entirely.  I DO feel like I get a deep clean, and often times, I find that it does get makeup off that not even my makeup remover did!

CONS:

1. Head is smaller than lets say the Clairsonic Mia (this didn't bother me because I actually like this, but may bother some of you)
2. Over time I noticed that on my forehead I had a patch of VERY shiny skin.  This makes me laugh even typing this but honestly it looked like a small patch was "over buffed" and got soo smooth that it was shiny! Please do not mistake this for oily shiny, I had no oil in sight, just shine--very interesting lol Needless to say, I don't stay on that area of my face that long any more because maybe I was over cleansing it haha it seemed to minimize my pores in that area all together! Oh well, at least I know it's doing its job :)

There you have it, my personal unpaid or sponsored review of the Olay Pro X Cleansing System.  I love how inexpensive it is and I really love the results I get.  Give it a try if you can't quite bring yourself to invest over $100 on something like this, it will be well worth it!

Nice clean faces everywhere,

xox 

Maintaining Healthy Skin is Easier Than You Think!

When it comes to my skin, I definitely don't mess around with how I care for it, and neither should you. One's skin is the body's largest organ, and for that reason should be maintained just as we would our heart, lungs etc. As a young teen I never really suffered from acne or breakouts, they would happen to me yes, but more on a here and there basis. For this reason, I never was really faced with starting any specific routine to keep my skin looking its best. It wasn't until I entered college that I found myself a freshmen, studying all the time, stressed out, and eating greasy food from the cafeteria at all hours simply out of convenience! I definitely noticed a change in my skin, and I knew that this was the time to really step it up as far as maintaining clear, healthy skin. It is rather simple to do naturally. Sure there are fancy scrubs etc that one can do, and if you feel that you absolutely have to do those, than by all means do them, but really when it comes down to it, its all about what you eat, how active you are and how clean your face is.

Below are a few of my tips to maintaining clear, healthy skin:

1.

You want to ALWAYS protect your skin from the suns harmful rays. As your skin sits unprotected under the searing sun, picture your skin becoming aged leather, drying out and becoming supremely chapped and distressed. There is no turning aged leather back to fresh leather, and this goes the same for your skin, care for it from the beginning and have no worries later on in life. I always recommend wearing a sun hat if you are going to be out in the sun for a prolonged amount of time ex: garden work, pool lounging etc. Along with avoiding the harmful rays of the sun comes wearing an SPF that is going to protect from UVA AND UVB rays. I would say an SPF 30-40 is pretty sufficient!


2.

Drink lots of water, I cannot stress this enough! The more water you drink the more hydrated  your skin gets and this allows for more elasticity. You skin reacts negatively to anything greasy or fatty in foods, what the water will do is flush the body of these toxins and allow more room for vitamins to take root and be sucked up! :)


3.

 

Eat foods loaded with antioxidants! Foods like these above contain a lot of antioxidant power that helps to repair damaged skin cells and regain skins elasticity. The suns rays as well as other pollutants to the skin release what are called free radicals. These free radicals break down healthy skin cells and even collagen, which helps out skin be so flexible/elastic. These foods as well as others rich in antioxidants pretty much counteract these free radicals, how great to be able to do something so naturally!! I LOVE snacking on raspberries or blueberries, they are easy to pack for a quick snack and they will help keep your skin looking great as well! :)

4.

Removing your makeup before going to bed is another must. Imagine having to sleep with a plastic bag taped to your face for 24 hours a day, feeling a bit claustrophobic yet? Well, that's how your skin feels! Just like your lungs, your skin needs air flow, and wearing makeup can often hinder this, especially when left on through the night when your skin is trying to regenerate itself. I myself use organic makeup remover wipes as I find that they leave my skin looking and feeling super refreshed without clogging my pores even more with nonsensical oils. I recommend Yes to Blueberries (did I just mention blueberries?! a food rich in antioxidants?? YES I did!!)

5.

Moisturizing your skin is another super important step in keeping that glowing look to your skin. When applying moisturizer think of it as quenching your skins thirst. There are times that after being outdoors in the sun or even just in very hot weather, my skin becomes so dry and chapped feeling, it almost burns a little because its so dry and tight. Skin creams help to fix this problem and create a layer of protection for your skin as well!

6.

I previously did an entire blog on my favorite face scrub to exfoliate with, I will link it below. Exfoliating is something that I do once a week to my ENTIRE body down to my little toes :) I think it is so important if you don't ever want to have dull worn out looking skin. Exfoliating removes dead skin cells and gives you a fresh start, also, in my opinion, stimulating healthy skin cell growth :) For more on exfoliating check out my other blog post here !

Everything listed above can and should be considered for your entire body, the skin is so large, even the skin between out toes shouldn't be left out when trying to maintain! haha Keep in mind that the first impression you make on someone is appearance and this is where healthy, glowing, youthful looking skin comes into play, after all, who wants leathery, dried, over sun exposed, over worked, crying out for health skin anyway?! NOT ME! :)


To Healthy Skin Always,

xox

Don't forget to follow me on twitter @Alyseap

My Citrus Obsession Took Over My Face Routine :)

Those of you that may know me know that I am absolutely obsessed with any and everything citrus, mainly oranges lol I don't know when this started, but recently I have been on the search for anything citrus scented etc. When I came across this in my local beauty store, it was only the label that I saw, it was all sold out :( I took it upon myself to order it online and actually got two of these jars, needless to say I'm already due for another order!

This is what the packaging looks like, they are small jars, you read correctly, only 2 oz., but totally worth it, and I will explain why later.

The product comes in a glass jar with a metal screw on top. I like this because I keep it in my shower and its guaranteed sealed every time I shut it so the consistency doesn't get all yukky from the water.

When I initially opened the jar, I was taken aback. I couldn't believe what was before my eyes because it looked like mud! haha After trying it, it definitely feels like mud too, but I don't mind this at all. It smells super natural of course and actually feels GREAT on my face. I use this every day in the shower and one jar lasts me about two months! You only need a little to get that gentle scrub going and it leaves your skin feeling so soft. You want to mix it with a tiny bit of water just to get it into a paste form and that's it!

This product is 99.94% natural according to the website and here are the ingredients:

glycerin, prunus amygdalus dulcis (sweet almond) oil, prunus amygdalus dulcis (sweet almond) seed meal, avena sativa (oat) kernel flour, citrus aurantium dulcis (orange) peel powder, rosa damascena (rose) flower oil, carya illinoensis (pecan) shell powder, citrus grandis (grapefruit) seed extract, myristica fragrans (nutmeg) fruit powder, eugenia caryophyllus (clove) flower powder, citrus aurantium dulcis (orange) peel oil, tocopherol, rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) extract, fragrance.

I would definitely recommend this to anyone who is looking for a natural safe way to cleanse your face with a little more "umph". It is gentle on the skin regardless of the fact that it is a coarse scrub. The sweet almond oil is I believe what makes your skin feel so smooth when you finish using this and this definitely wasn't drying as some of  my other face cleansers were. I am glad that my citrus addiction brought me to this product haha Although it doesn't smell heavily of oranges, it definitely smells natural and that's always a good thing :)

Pick this up if you get a chance and let me know if you like it! This product retails for about $8.00

xox