Top 10 Ultimate Tips for Radiant Skin

1. Cleanse your face twice daily

Cleansing your face removes all impurities that tend to accumulate on the skin during the day and night.  Failure to do this one simple step can make any products you apply to your skin useless, as they cannot penetrate deeply into your clogged pores.  Cleanse your face before applying makeup and then again after removing makeup.  My long time favorite cleanser has been the Fresh Soy Face Cleanser.  The full size bottle is a little on the pricey side at $38.00 for 5.1 ounces, but one million percent worth the investment.

2. Apply a moisturizer after cleansing

Moisturizer will not only help your skin lock in hydration, but it will also seal into place any other skincare products you use beforehand, such as eye cream, anti-aging serum, or toner.  Acne-prone skin needs a moisturizer, even though it may feel counter-intuitive, and will help your skin heal because drying out your skin will actually cause it to over-compensate and produce more oil.  Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion has been a favorite of mine for years, which feels incredibly light on the skin but packs a punch when it comes to hydration.

3. Remove your makeup every night

Although it may feel tempting to skin this step, it is important and very necessary to continue to have healthy skin.  When you wear your makeup to bed you are not only clogging your pores with the day's makeup, but also with dirt and grime that accumulates daily on your face.  It also doesn't allow for your skin to recover from the free radicals and particles that land on your face every day, which causes a break down in the collagen on your skin and leads to the development of lines and wrinkles.  Mascara and eye liner, when left on your face for long periods of time, accumulate germs and can lead to infections.  

So what is the quickest solution to removing makeup?  Thankfully, you have many options.  The very first thing I do is I don't wait until bedtime to remove my makeup, and instead to do it right after I arrive home for the night.  I find I am not as tired at this point and I am more likely to freely expend the effort to cleanse my face.  For a medium-to-high-end product I recommend Josie Maran Bare Nakes Wipes, which are packed with natural and soothing ingredients that easily remove makeup and leave your face feeling fresh and clean within less than a minute.  For a drugstore product I recommend Neutrogena Makeup Remover Wipes, which are ultra soft and are great at removing even waterproof mascara.

4. Drink A LOT of water

Drinking enough water every day is skin hydration 101.  Check out this article from the Mayo Clinic on how much water you should be drinking on a daily basis and the health benefits. Add lemon to your water to act as an internal cleansing agent.  I carry around the Hydr-8 32 ounce water bottle with me everywhere I go every single day.  People always comment on how they love the "time stamps" on the side, which allows you to see when you need to drink more water.

5. Wear SPF every day

Applying a sunscreen of at least SPF 30 will protect your skin from harmful UV rays.  Even if you are stepping outside for only a few moments, sunscreen is not only the best thing you can do to protect your skin, but it is the only thing you can do to prevent premature aging.  Apply every morning as your last skincare routine step after your moisturizer and serums, and before you apply any makeup.  Apply every morning and reapply throughout the day as needed.  Any drugstore sunscreen will do the trick, although I prefer to use the NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer with SPF 30 for those days I just need a little extra color on my face.

6. Use an at-home face mask once per week

Face marks will target blackheads and impurities, and draw out residue clogged deep inside pores.  Masks that contain clays in them are especially great at deep cleansing and removing impurities to leave you with the ultimate fresh and healthy looking skin.  A high-end favorite of mine has been the Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask, but there are plenty of drugstore alternatives to choose from, such as the cult favorite Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay, which is only $12.00 for a one pound jar on Amazon.

7. Use a sheet mask once per week 

Sheet masks have long been a staple in Asian beauty, but have just recently found more popularity on Instagram and in stores like Ulta and Sephora.  Sheet masks infuse the skin on your face with nutrients and come in a variety of styles and leave your face feeling refreshed and brand new.  One of my personal favorite is the Too Cool for School Egg Cream Hydration Mask, which you can also find in Firming and Tightening.

8.  Clean your makeup brushes

While it makes sense to clean makeup your makeup brushes, it is often a chore that is overlooked or put off until later.  However, taking the time to do this one step will not only ensure that your make up looks better once you've applied it, but also prevent your brushes from transferring any old face oils onto your face.  At a minimum you should be washing your brushes weekly, and at a maximum after every use.  

All you need is a bottle of Johnson's Baby Shampoo, apply a small amount to a wet makeup brush and swirl in the palm of your hand until all the excess makeup is removed, and then set on a towel to dry.  If you're looking for that quick fix I highly recommend Cinema Secrets Makeup Brush Cleanser, a professional grade cleanser that is quick drying and rinse free.  It cleans and conditions quickly, and is perfect for the person that wants to clean their brushes daily.

9.  Wash your pillowcases

Similar to washing your brushes, washing your pillowcases is one of those chores that needs to be done weekly to ensure healthy skin.  Pillowcases are notoroius for housing oil and dirt, and are often the causes of acne breakouts.  Pillowcases made from natural fabrics breathe better and transfer less oil, however nothing makes up for a good regular wash.  Word of caution: do not use fabric softeners on pillowcases, as they leave behind a waxy residue that is highly pore-clogging.

10. Exfoliate your body with a sugar scrub once per month

Exfoliating will help remove the dead skin cells that live on the surface of your skin and makes skin smoother and brighter.  Similar to using a cleanser on your face, it gets rid of debris and allows the rest of your skincare products to work their magic.  A high-end favorite of mine is the Josie Maran Argan Sugar Balm Body Scrub, which gently buffs away dead skin cells and impurities, then moisturizes with argan and coconut oil to leave your skin feeling smooth and soft.  While the drugstore has limitless options in terms of affordable body scrubs, I encourage you to make your own and try my recipe for DIY Coconut Coffee Body Scrub, a natural and easy alternative.

Interested in MORE skincare advice and tutorials?  Check out my YouTube!

    

SNAP ME! @AshleyEBeauty

4 Amazing Beauty Products to Combat and Nourish Dry Lips

 
 

One of the most important things to remember in your daily beauty routine is to take care of your lips.  While it is especially important in the cold and dry winter months, it is still important to maintain care for them throughout the year.  Constantly exfoliating and moisturizing will keep your lips looks soft, healthy and hydrated 24/7.

Here is Syracuse on Sunday night it hit a record low for February of -29 degrees Fahrenheit.  Now that's COLD.  On the other side of the country is was a warm 55 degrees in Portland, a very stark 70 degree difference!  At this time three weeks from now we will be leaving this frigid weather behind and beginning our cross-county trek to our new home in Portland!

Meanwhile, there are plenty of options for me to chose from to protect my lips on these cold winter days and nights. 

Clinique Sweet Pots Sugar Scrub and Lip Balm

I am in love with this new product from Clinique.  This lip balm and sugar scrub combo comes in six different shades, but I chose the shade Sweet Rose.  One side of the product is a sugar scrub, which is used first to exfoliate your lips, leaving them soft and smooth.  It is important to exfoliate your lips throughout the year, but extremely important to do so if you live in an area that is cold and dry.  This scrub removes all dead skin cells and flaky skin and conditions the lips.  The other side of the product is a lip balm, which hydrates and moisturizes your lips at the same time providing a subtle tint of color.  I do recommend the Sweet Rose shade for fair complexion skin tones, and perhaps the shade Candied Cassis, a medium cherry brown, or Black Cherry, a dark cherry brown, for darker skin tones. 

If you're interested in making your own lip scrub check out my DIY Easy and Natural Lip Scrub for how to achieve beautifully exfoliated lips with products you already have in your home.

Rosebud Perfume Co. Minted Rose Lip Balm

The original of this lip balm, Rosebud Salve, is a beauty cult favorite, and it's minty twin is no exception.  This balm can heal even the most chapped, dry, and flaking lips.  It's even multi-purpose and can be used to heal dry elbows, knees, and the pain of minor burns.  This intensely hydrating and moisturizing balm will give your lips a beautiful natural shine as it works its magic, leaving them silky soft and smooth.  It comes in a small circular tin can, but if you're not a fan of dipping your fingers every time to use this, try their Menthol and Eucalyptus Lip Balm in a tube; same benefits and same minty smell, but minus the mess some people find when they use a tin.

Bite Beauty Agave Lip Mask

This lip mask is most likely one of my all time favorites.  A lip mask is similar to a lip balm, only it tends to be thicker in consistency with the same smooth texture of a balm.  This lip mask is ultra hydrating, nourishing, healing, and contains active organic agave nectar.  It can also be used for long term exfoliating, for when you wipe it off your lips you will be left with smooth, soft, dead-skin-free puckers.  Because it is long-lasting it is perfect for applying to your lips directly before bed, or applying to your lips before going outside to spend time in cold, dry winter weather.  Bite Beauty also makes a Champagne Agave Lip Mask and a Smashed Agave Lip Mask, perfect for adding a hint of color while you heal your lips.

Too Cool For School Dinoplatz Lip Balm

Just looking at the design of this lip balm and the packaging is, no lie, what first drew me to this lip balm.  The Korean cosmetics company Too Cool For School is an artistic cosmetics brand that combines fun and creative designs into the branding of their products.  This is the first product that I have tried from them and the reason I plan to try more in the future.  The texture of this lip balm in jelly-like in consistency, reminding me of the type of makeup I used to have when I was eight years old, but not tacky or sticky.  This balm is very hydrating, moisturizing, and feels very light on the lips while still providing healing properties.  The balm comes in five different shades that are the perfect sheer colors; my favorite is Peach Melba, a subtle peach sheen, but I love every single one of the variety of shades.

Keeping your lips healthy and hydrated is one of the best things you can add to your beauty routine.  Moisturized lips will not only make you look better, but it will help in the application of liquid lipsticks and other lip products.

I Want To Know...

What are your go-to lip products for dry and cold winter weather?

 

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10 Tips on How To Achieve Healthy Winter Skin

Skin Care Tip #1: Take Care of Your Lips

During the cold and dry winter months you should maintain smooth, soft lips and prevent chapping.
I apply a good amount of lip balm to my lips every night before I go to bed.  I always keep several lip balms on me, in my purse, or in my car, and I am continually applying them throughout the day.  My hands down favorite is Aquaphor's Lip Repair and Protect.  It keeps my lips smooth and moisturized, and contains an added bonus of SPF 30 (more on why that is important below!).

One additional step you should take to protect your lips is to exfoliate, or remove the dry, dead skin.  Instead of purchasing a lip scrub I usually make my own with this DIY Easy and Natural Lip Scrub recipe.

Skin Care Tip #2: Moisturize, Moisturize, Moisturize!

Using oil-based moisturizers that include Vitamins C and E will keep your skin hydrated for longer than water-based moisturizers.  My go-to favorite for years has been Eucerin's Intensive Repair Dry Skin Lotion. It is ultra moisturizing, intensely hydrating, fragrance free, and will help protect your skin against the harsh winter weather.

Moisturize twice a day, even when you are tired and don't feel up to it.  I moisturize both body and face once in the morning and once in the evening.  You should always use a more gentle lotion for your face that is specifically designed to deal with this ultra sensitive area.  I have been using Clinique's Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion for many years, applying it to my face and throat in the morning before I apply my makeup, and in the evening after I wipe it off.

Apply a hand cream regularly and always keep some handy at your office desk, in your purse, and in your bedroom.  Don't forget to continue using SPF during the winter months, as the sun's UVA and UBV rays can still cause damage to your skin even through cloudy winter skies.

 Skin Care Tip #3: Drink Water Like It's Summer

 You skin and body is craves as much water during the winter as it does during the summer.  Drinking eight 8 ounce glasses of water per day helps our bodies maintain fluid balance, and rejuvenates and hydrates our skin. Water is key for your skin cell's ability to repair themselves and maintain elasticity.

Two weeks ago I purchased this Hydr-8 Time Marked Water Bottle in the color purple and is has made such a difference in my water intake.  It helps me feel hydrated throughout the day by allowing me to track my water intake in two hour increments.  I have felt more energized and hydrated during the day than I ever have before.

Skin Care Tip #4: Exfoliate

Exfoliating your skin 1-2 times per week will rid your body of excess dry skin, which tends to be a bigger problem during the colder months because our skin is exposed to more dry, cold air.  You can find exfoliating body scrubs in the beauty and skin care section of every store you walk in to, but I absolutely prefer to make it myself using this DIY Natural Coffee and Coconut Body Scrub recipe.  You can make a lot of it very cheaply, and the smell is amazing!

Skin Care Tip #5: Always Cover Up Outside

Prevent your skin from developing redness, dryness and cracking by wearing gloves.  Simple, right?  It's an extra step that goes a long, long way towards healthy skin.  Go to the store and pick out a pair that is not only fleece lined to protect your hands, but also cute and functional.  I purchased these North Face Denali Women's Gloves a few years ago when I went to the 2012 Presidential Inauguration in a frigid cold Washington, D.C., and it was a great investment.

Skin Care Tip #6: Invest in a Humidifier

Dry and itchy skin in the winter can be aided by adding more moisture into the air through a humidifier.  I use my Honeywell Console Humidifier at night on the lowest setting to help me breathe better and infuse humidity into the dry air.  This specific one is extra large and designed for multiple rooms, but there are plenty of smaller humidifiers on the market made for smaller spaces.

Skin Care Tip #7: Avoid Astringents

Astringents, such as those found in acne treating medications or products, can be very drying to the skin.  While it may not be reasonable for you to completely cut these out of your skin care routine, it may be best to at least try to cut back or find a natural alternative.  I have been using this DIY Rose Facial Toner recipe when I am in need of a gentle and cleansing astringent that will not dry out my face or cause flakiness.

Skin Care Tip #8: Avoid Hot Water for Long Periods

I've been guilty of it over and over again: standing in the hot shower on a cold day because it feels so amazing.  However, this is sadly not so great for your skin.  Avoid hot showers and keep your bathing time between 5-10 minutes, as too much hot water can dry out your skin.  Take a warm shower and use a gentle cleanser to wash up.

Skin Care Tip #9: Don't Use Makeup To Cover Up Dry Skin

Attempting to cover dry skin with makeup is one of the worst things you can do for your skin and your overall appearance.  If your face is dry and flaking, it will only look worse with makeup over it.  Makeup will adhere to those dry patches of skin like butter on popcorn (...yum...).  Exfoliate your face and continue to use a good moisturizer, such as the Clinique Dramatically Different Lotion I mentioned earlier.  My favorite exfoliating face mask is the Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask, which deeps cleans to clear pores of dirt and debris, and leaves your face fresh and exfoliated.

Skin Care Tip #10: Eat Foods that are Healthy for You AND Your Skin

Food items, such as olive oil, avocados, grapefruit, broccoli, almonds, dark chocolate and green tea, all contain nutrients and antioxidants that will make your skin glow this winter season.   Sit down at night with a book and a cup of green tea, have a small handful of almonds as an afternoon snack, or spread some avocado on your toast in the morning.

 

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