How To Be a Hydra-goddess

With the warmer months coming by, you will probably notice that your skin is going through a bit of a confused stage. Here's the translation to that (yes, I speak derma-nese):

Your skin may not look dehydrated because of...the warm weather + your skin producing more oil + sweat. So you are probably thinking that your skin has too much going on, thus you might be stripping down your skincare. BIGGEST MISTAKE EVER (please excuse my yelling over text, but I need to save your skin!).

Your skin may look oily but can definitely be dehydrated. You just need the right moisturizers to balance it out, and then your skin will be a happy bouncy ball. Of course, here I my favorites.

The Skinceuticals Hydrating B5 Gel is a water based gel that is packed with hyluronic acid, a.k.a. your skin's BFFFFFF. The simplicity of this product is what I love the most. It does the job without any faff: no ridiculous cotton candy like scents=no irritations. Simply a dream for sensitive skins like mine! I use exactly 2 drops for my entire face, and it's more than enough.

Then, the Ole Henrikson Vitamin Plus comes in! It claims to mattify your skin but no skincare product really "mattifies" your skin, that's what powders are created for. Instead it gives a slight glow without the oily sheen on your face. It has a slight herbal scent but nothing artificial-like. It creates the perfect finish even under makeup and doesn't make me feel greasy throughout the day!

Please, please, pleeeeeeease do not let your skin shrivel up by neglecting its needs! Try paying attention to your skin for a good 2 weeks and then we'll talk again.

Luv,

Christy with a Y. 

Winter Skincare Bits NIGHTTIME

 So here we are! My winter skincare bits.

If you're not familiar with my skincare obsession, I will summarize my problem in two words: Crazy Woman. I am hands down an absolute skincare junkie over a makeup junkie. That right, I collect/try/discover the new "IT" items that suit my skin. What's my skin type? A bipolar, pms-ing-far-too-much, sensitive, and combination type. The slightest irritations will trigger weird spontaneous breakouts. SO here's my skincare combat strategy: prevent and treat. 

I have been using+loving+coveting+obsessing over these particular gems that are in my everyday routine at night as of now. After cleansing my skin (which needs to be a whole separate blog post *hint hint*),

1. Tone with an acid based toner: Clarins Gentle Exfoliating Toner

2. Tone with a softer, hydrating toner: Bioderma

3. Tap tap the eye cream! L'occitane Regard Divine Eye cream

4. Hydrate skin with oil-free serum: Kate Somerville Oil-free Quench Serum

5. Moisturize with my Marula Face Lotion

6. If I have bumps, I treat it with the La Roche Posay Effeclar Duo

7. After a few minutes, seal everything with Kate Somerville Goat Cream (this stuff is my holy grail you guys!)

I know, pretty extensive huh? But let me tell you, the more you invest time and effort into your skin, it will all come back to you. It's just like working out for a good body: you want those sexy curves? Then get moooovin, right? After all, you only get one layer of skin so why not protect and treat it? The better your skin is, the better your makeup will look too!

Note: individual reviews coming soon :)

Kate Somerville Skincare Review

 

Here's the thing. I have NEVER felt more satisfied with my skin since I've met these two skin miracles. There was always something a little lacking in most of the products I've tried so far. If it was hydrating enough, it would cause my skin to break out. If it was oil-free, it would be to drying for my skin. BUT! These two are just the perfect combination of hydration and nourishment that still will maintain balance in my skin. 

The goat milk is literally the queerest skincare product I've ever tried. It's the most nourishing cream that won't irritate my skin whatsoever. The antioxidants in this tub provide an amazing shield of protection on my skin and it feels incredibly luxurious. Now, I will warn you that it gets a bit greasy at first but give it a while and everything sinks into your skin beautifully. That's right, every bit of it. I use this only in my PM skincare routine since I don't have that much time to wait for it to sink in during the mornings (#problemsofacollegestudent). If you are familiar with the Korres Greek Yogurt Cream, it's a similar consistency; creamy and a little bit thick, but melts in.

It has a great sanitary and convenient pump that you just push down on for the product to come out. *Tip: don't push it down too fast because it will squirt everywhere! 

As for the Quench Serum, it comes in two versions: one is regular, and one is oil-free. I have been using the oil-free one. At first I didn't expect much since most oil-free products weren't really hydrating enough for me. I was wrong again! It gave me the perfect supple feeling that helped my skin not feel tight as it normally does after cleansing. It made it feel cushiony (cushiony (def.): bouncy, cushion-like, and charged with happiness) enough that I could top it off with the goat cream (again, only PM). I use this day and night underneath different moisturizers and it has definitely helped my skin regain a good amount of plumpness. Oh, and it comes with a pump too! Yay!

Please continue to prove me wrong with skincare products Kate! 

Ingredients for the Goat Milk Creme: Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Goat Milk, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Emulsifying Wax NF, Stearic Acid, Glycerin, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Water, Tocopherol, Phenoxyethanol, Xanthan Gum, Salix Nigra (Willow) Bark Extract, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Mannan, Melia Azadirachta Seed Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Extract, Tetrasodium EDTA, Citric Acid

Ingredients for the Quench Serum (oil-free): Water, Plumeria Acutifolia Flower Extract, Glycerin, Propanediol, Polyacrylate-13, Polyisobutene, Algae Extract, Carrageenan, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38, Capryloyl Tetrapeptide-3, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Soy Amino Acids, Yeast Extract, Glutamine Peptide, Glutamic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Chondrus Crispus Extract, Polysorbate 20, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Dextran, Citric Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol