OK peeps- as most of you who know me really well know- Im skin obsessed. Seriously. I am curious about every knew cleanser, toner, gadget, serum that comes out on the market. I have been seriously fortunate to try a LOT of different brands out and find some winners that I mix and match together for my perfect skin regimen. This has taken YEARS and let me tell you- it still changes on a week to week basis depending on hormones, weather, travel, and SEASON. **side note- can we talk about how much I HATE my skins transition from winter to spring? Seriously- I breakout on T- zone and it makes me NUTSO!**
I thought that I would share a couple of things that I have found help. I will mention specific products- but feel free to substitute what you find works for you.
First off- if you have combo skin- like REAL combo skin- treat your skin types differently. I have SUPER dry eyes and cheeks and forehead and then an oil slick of a nose and chin. IT. MAKES. ME. CRAZY. I finally figured out a few years ago- after pro training and all that you HAVE TO treat the sections of your skin differently. If I used a wash that was for normal or oily skin on my eye or cheek areas- I would be FLAKING. If I used a moisturizer on my nose or chin that was made for my super dry patches- my face would look like the Valdez disaster.
So I use my moisturizing cleanser on my main areas and and then my gel cleanser down the middle, followed with my clarisonic. (you all KNOW how much I adore my baby- my clarisonic) Followed by a deep hydrating eye cream (Avon gold serum and eye cream), a light gel moisturizer down my nose and chin and then Embryolisse on the rest of my face. Its a cocktail of perfection for my face.
Second- if you are wearing eye makeup- mascara, liner or even budge proof shadows- USE EYE MAKEUP REMOVER. YES- you NEED it. NO- Soap or cleanser is not the same. Eye makeup remover breaks down the product on your eyes SUPER GENTLY and completely. My favorite way is to use a makeup wipe and then pour eye makeup remover on it and use it that way. Then when my eye makeup is gone- rub it on my face to remove the top layer of makeup gunkiness. My favorite bargain brand is the Neutrogena Oil Free Eye makeup remover- and its seriously like $5 at your local Walmart.
Speaking of makeup wipes- makeup wipes are NOT a substitution for proper skin care. That's like saying- I use hand sanitizer why do I need to wash my hands? DUH! Wipes take the top crust of gunk off- they DO NOT cleanse your skin. Then if you are using a moisturizer afterward- your just rubbing the crap back in your face! Stop! Just wash your face!
Stop over exfoliating ESPECIALLY if you have acne prone skin. The number one mistake I find girls with acne making is over scrubbing and over exfoliating ESPECIALLY if you use a scrub. If you are using a scrub- keep it to every 5 ish days. If you are using a clarisonic or similar GENTLE facial brushes- you can get away with a scrub more like once every 10 days. The more you scrub- the more you are micro-tearing your skin- giving bacteria a whole new place to infest. Gentle is ALWAYS better. Your face should be pink after washing with the increased blood circulation. It should NOT be red. If it is- you have gone too far.
If you do things like facials or peels- expect there to be a recovery period for your skin. DO NOT do a facial a day or two before a big event. You can practically ensure a break out and if its a facial or a peel you have never done before- you might even have a reaction. If you want perfect skin for a wedding or a big fun day- give your skin 5-7 days to recover from a facial.
Stop using toners with alcohol. Another big acne mistake is toners with stripping alcohol. Alcohol is SO SO SO harsh and drying to the skin and short of a medical procedure- should stay away from your face. Read the label. If there is alcohol- skip it. Even better- skip toner all together. Unless you LOVE your toner- they are kind of a waste and really don't do much to help the skin heal and rejuvenate.
Quit picking! I know- its SO SO SO hard. If a pimple has completely surfaced and is on its way to rupturing- you can go ahead and clean it out and spot treat it. If its under there- leave it there. ESPECIALLY if you have olive skin or skin that bruises or scars easily. The zit may be gone in a week but the scar will last much more than that!
MOISTURIZE!!!! Everyday, twice a day- no exceptions! Use a lighter version with SPF for the day and a richer more emollient one for night. I know oil is a great moisturizer- aka- Argon, Moroccan, Coconut- but if you choose to use those in the day- know that you may have an interaction with foundation. Most foundations that are oil free will break down with oil on the skin- it can even break down primer. So if you lube up with oil- read the labels of your products to make sure that you aren't running the risk of foundation melt down. (it can even break down cream blushes and make powders wear uneven)
OK my lovelies- there you are. The book of Kristen's Soap Box ( get it SOAP BOX- hahaha, Im so witty). If you have questions- ASK! Like seriously ask- thats why Im here!
Monday, March 11, 2013
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
My Deva-curl experience!
***DISCLAIMER- IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO READ A SERIOUSLY NARCISSISTIC ARTICLE ON HOW MUCH I LOVE MY HAIR AND HOW AWESOME IT IS- EXIT NOW. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED***
OK my lovelies- I have been pretty outspoken about my new found love for my curly hair and the journey I have taken attempting to figure out how to make it look the way I want it to. My hair is curly- S curls and large ringlets. People who have tight curls think I don't REALLY have curly hair and people with straight hair think I just don't flat iron enough. Its funny to me because I never really realized that I indeed had curly hair until about 5 years ago. I thought that I just had unmanageable unruly, frizzy hair. Well- I went for a haircut and I had a chin length bob at the time- and while having it washed- the stylist started giggling because he was surprised how much my hair curled when it got wet. I never thought of it as curly before then- just stubborn and un-yielding.
So over the last three years, I have quit coloring. I have quit Brazilian blowing out, I have been reading about a thousand books, explored countless websites and basically grasped onto as much curly knowledge as I can. Let me tell you- when you start out this journey from nothing- its kind of overwhelming! I didn't know any one to turn to so the internet became my girlfriend who gave me advice. I learned so much about caring for natural hair that I had never even contemplated before. I felt pretty confident in my no shampoo, super hydrating hair care routine but I still felt like I just wasn't getting the results that I was looking for. I have tried about 3 stylists over the last three years and honestly- I hated the results each and every time. Why? Because they cut my hair wet and in a style for straight hair- but when it was curly- my curls wouldn't keep a form, the ends looked stringy and there was so much bulk that my hair had no movement!
I have been using Deva Curl products for about 9 months now and really liked it. Well- it was a happy accident that I found out that the creator had a salon that specialized in curly hair and had created a training for stylists to come and certify in how to properly cut and style curly hair! So I found out that there is a wonderful salon here in Salt Lake named Aura- where all the stylists are Deva Curl specialists and the whole salon embraces the curly girls! So when I found that out, I promptly went to the website and investigated all the stylists.
I read the bios and descriptions of the stylists and decided Max was the man for me. I booked my appointment and anxiously waited. The day of my cut came along and I was NERVOUS. For the first time practically ever- I had NO IDEA what to tell my stylist. I met Max and he INSTANTLY put me at ease that this was going to be amazing. I ended up telling him my journey of hair growing and quest for curls and then proceeded to tell him everything I liked and didn't like about my hair. We agreed that the length had to come up about 3 inches to get rid of all the layering to create a good base. He then told me that we were going to do uneven individual layers basically one curl at a time until we got the shape and the volume I wanted.
THEN THE MAGIC HAPPENED. He just had me part my hair and finger comb it into place and he started the two hour process of meticulously cutting one curl at a time. I thought he was somewhat exaggerating and that I was going to be in and out in a normal hour time slot. Nope. He dry cut and layered my hair for about an hour. Then he no-pooed (shampoo but not really shampooed) my hair, conditioned it, detangled it and the whole time taught me how to properly do it. Who knew you could wash your hair incorrectly?? Well- I found out that I had indeed been washing it too quickly, not putting enough conditioner on and rinsing it out too much.
He then styled my hair- and explained step by step what to do, what to use and how to know your doing it correctly. Once my hair was styled he went back in and finished up cleaning up any stragglers that got missed in the dry cut. I went home and almost got into an accident probably 5 times because I couldn't stop looking at my hair in the mirror. Seriously- I know how ridiculous it seems- its a hair cut- whats the big deal? But it IS a big deal to me! I actually feel like I can get the hair that I have wanted! That's pretty awesome and lets me honest- girls are emotionally tied to their hair. Who HASN'T cried after a terrible cut?
Anyway- I seriously can not recommend Aura, Deva Curl, Max- enough. Seriously- if you have curly hair and feel like you are in a hair rut or resigned yourself to having sub par hair- DON'T! Find a stylist who can educate you along the way- THAT is what made it an amazing experience. I felt like I could go home and know how to do it- and I did- and it worked! Whatever your hair type- rock it with confidence!
OK my lovelies- I have been pretty outspoken about my new found love for my curly hair and the journey I have taken attempting to figure out how to make it look the way I want it to. My hair is curly- S curls and large ringlets. People who have tight curls think I don't REALLY have curly hair and people with straight hair think I just don't flat iron enough. Its funny to me because I never really realized that I indeed had curly hair until about 5 years ago. I thought that I just had unmanageable unruly, frizzy hair. Well- I went for a haircut and I had a chin length bob at the time- and while having it washed- the stylist started giggling because he was surprised how much my hair curled when it got wet. I never thought of it as curly before then- just stubborn and un-yielding.
So over the last three years, I have quit coloring. I have quit Brazilian blowing out, I have been reading about a thousand books, explored countless websites and basically grasped onto as much curly knowledge as I can. Let me tell you- when you start out this journey from nothing- its kind of overwhelming! I didn't know any one to turn to so the internet became my girlfriend who gave me advice. I learned so much about caring for natural hair that I had never even contemplated before. I felt pretty confident in my no shampoo, super hydrating hair care routine but I still felt like I just wasn't getting the results that I was looking for. I have tried about 3 stylists over the last three years and honestly- I hated the results each and every time. Why? Because they cut my hair wet and in a style for straight hair- but when it was curly- my curls wouldn't keep a form, the ends looked stringy and there was so much bulk that my hair had no movement!
I have been using Deva Curl products for about 9 months now and really liked it. Well- it was a happy accident that I found out that the creator had a salon that specialized in curly hair and had created a training for stylists to come and certify in how to properly cut and style curly hair! So I found out that there is a wonderful salon here in Salt Lake named Aura- where all the stylists are Deva Curl specialists and the whole salon embraces the curly girls! So when I found that out, I promptly went to the website and investigated all the stylists.
I read the bios and descriptions of the stylists and decided Max was the man for me. I booked my appointment and anxiously waited. The day of my cut came along and I was NERVOUS. For the first time practically ever- I had NO IDEA what to tell my stylist. I met Max and he INSTANTLY put me at ease that this was going to be amazing. I ended up telling him my journey of hair growing and quest for curls and then proceeded to tell him everything I liked and didn't like about my hair. We agreed that the length had to come up about 3 inches to get rid of all the layering to create a good base. He then told me that we were going to do uneven individual layers basically one curl at a time until we got the shape and the volume I wanted.
THEN THE MAGIC HAPPENED. He just had me part my hair and finger comb it into place and he started the two hour process of meticulously cutting one curl at a time. I thought he was somewhat exaggerating and that I was going to be in and out in a normal hour time slot. Nope. He dry cut and layered my hair for about an hour. Then he no-pooed (shampoo but not really shampooed) my hair, conditioned it, detangled it and the whole time taught me how to properly do it. Who knew you could wash your hair incorrectly?? Well- I found out that I had indeed been washing it too quickly, not putting enough conditioner on and rinsing it out too much.
He then styled my hair- and explained step by step what to do, what to use and how to know your doing it correctly. Once my hair was styled he went back in and finished up cleaning up any stragglers that got missed in the dry cut. I went home and almost got into an accident probably 5 times because I couldn't stop looking at my hair in the mirror. Seriously- I know how ridiculous it seems- its a hair cut- whats the big deal? But it IS a big deal to me! I actually feel like I can get the hair that I have wanted! That's pretty awesome and lets me honest- girls are emotionally tied to their hair. Who HASN'T cried after a terrible cut?
Anyway- I seriously can not recommend Aura, Deva Curl, Max- enough. Seriously- if you have curly hair and feel like you are in a hair rut or resigned yourself to having sub par hair- DON'T! Find a stylist who can educate you along the way- THAT is what made it an amazing experience. I felt like I could go home and know how to do it- and I did- and it worked! Whatever your hair type- rock it with confidence!
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