June Beauty Buys

Went searching for some items to ease into my skin care regimen, so I figured why not whip out the camera and share what I got!

Skyn Iceland Hydro Cool Firming Eye Gels

I've been wanting to try theses little babies for a while. It seems that no matter what I do I can't get rid of these bags under my eyes. Is chronic under eye bag syndrome that like a thing or did I just make that up?

sleep

cucumbers

sleeping eye masks

cold spoons

sleep

ice

coffee grinds

coffee beans

sleep

tea bags

frozen veggies

You name it, I've tried it twice! So what's another few dollars to try another remedy...right? So since there are 2 sets in this package and since I'm a little more swollen under the eyes right now than usual, I'll probably use them two days in a row instead of once a week just to get a feel for how they would work if I wasn't so puffy.

Wish me luck!

Deep Cleansing Charcoal Mask

|Mary Kay Deep Cleansing Charcoal Mask |

My favorite auntie in the whole wide world sent me this goodie from Mary Kay! I needed to add something else to the facial products I already had in rotation & since charcoal is the trending ingredient for a lot of new products I figured why not. The reviews I've been reading say that charcoal has "absorbing powers." It is also said that our skin will not absorb the charcoal itself as it does other things we put on our face and skin, but it does absorb substances such as oil, bacteria or dirt from our clogged pores. This absorbing power helps our skin fight acne, which I clearly need these days. 

I've had more acne over the last year than I had through all of my teenaged years combined. I'm not sure why since I haven't changed my routine on caring for my skin. No new regimen, no new products...I didn't the need to change anything...then. New reactions, can be and are very stressful only causing more acne, thus causing more stress. Does that make any sense? Nonetheless,  I'm trying whatever will work.

You will continuously see me mentioning the issues I'm having with my face breaking out. I'm choosing not to use filters on the subject as well as the photos (when I build up the confidence to post before and after photos) because people need to see what real skin looks like! As long as I'm having theses issues I will share them. Miraculously, if I find something that actually works then you'll be here to celebrate that small victory with me, and I you!

The Body Shop: Ultra Nourishing Skin Care Kit

Coconut shower cream

Exfoliating Cream Body Scrub

Coconut body butter

 Thankfully, the skin on my body isn't as sensitive as the skin on my face. I went to Ulta looking for some products for my face, got frustrated and decided to go a different direction. I do notice a difference in how my skin responds to moisturizer, especially when the seasons change so I wanted something that was long lasting. When I say this stuff smells SO good!

I'll let you guys know what I think about everything in a follow up video!

Thanks for reading! 

Facial Fridays : Indian Healing Clay

Apple Cider Vinegar | Indian Healing Clay

1 single ingredient: 100% Natural Calcium Bentonite Clay 

That's it!! 

Ok so I know it's not Friday, but I've committed to giving myself a facial once a week and Friday just seems like the perfect way to end my week and jumpstart my weekend. I've already done a facial this past Friday.  So here are my thoughts from my first experience. 

 I originally chose this mask because I read that there weren't any extra ingredients, chemicals, or fragrances added in. Although the overall texture of my skin is pretty good, I do still have some problem areas where my face has reacted to any and everything. I wasn't on the hunt for anything specifically all natural but once I ran across this product, I thought this may be the direction I needed to go.

So the directions say that you can either use water or raw apple cider vinegar as the solution to mix the clay. I am eventually going to use both to see if there is a difference, but for the first time I just decided to use the ACV.  

This mask felt so good it's kind of scary.

The instructions say you can leave it on anywhere from 10 to 15 minutes starting after it dries. 

Your face will literally start to pulsate! The mask will begin to crack. 

Do not peel it!

When your time is up, splash warm water on your face a few times 

just to loosen the clay up first (I did it about 10 times before I actually used a towel) 

Once the clay is loosened and the excess clay has fallen off, then go back and use warm water with a clean face towel. 

Rinse your face thoroughly

Gently pat face dry

Apply moisturizer immediately

I did have a considerably big new pimple on my face prior to doing the mask. 

After I completed the mask, even though the pimple wasn't completely gone, I did notice that the inflammation was almost 90% gone, and it was no longer tender. 

About 15 minutes after the mask was done, I noticed that the inflammation in that pimple had gone down even more.

I will continue to use this mask once a week (every Friday) and I will also follow up with videos to review as my face begins to show a reaction whether good or bad. 

My Skin: Aloe + Healing Clay

I've been having quite a few issues with my skin lately, particularly the skin on my face. With the Atlanta seasons going from one extreme to the other,  my face is completely OVER IT! 

I've been searching for ways to help treat my problem areas and these two items have continued to surface during my hunt for the right products

Aloe Vera Leaf | Indian Healing Clay 

Uses for aloe vera on skin: 

1. Anti-inflammatory & Healing 

Being that it contains minerals & anti-oxidants that help speed up the process of healing, the gel can be used to cool or calm the skin after instances such as cuts, wounds, burns (including sun burn), or even tender pimples.

2.  Moisturizer

The consistency of the gel provides a protective layer that helps retain the skins moisture without clogging the pores.

3. Reduce Acne

The same properties in aloe that protect & aid in the healing of the skin after injury are the same properties that protect the skin from bacteria that causes acne and of course reduces redness and inflammation from pimples. This can also be used as an astringent which helps reduce the size of pores, helping to keep out dirt. 

4. Natural Lightener (for blemishes/stretch marks)

Aloe vera also stimulates new cell growth which helps in treating dark spots, age spots or acne scars and stretch marks too.  (just add lemon)

I'll be updating on my routine, the progress I've made (if any at all), and then my overall thoughts and how often I use the clay mask 

I'll admit, I don't have absolutely terrible skin. For each person their own insecurities are measured by their own level of confidence. What's a big issue for me, won't be the same for the next person and that's okay! The few dark spots that I have, sometimes feel like a million dark spots covering my entire face. We're all a little extra at one point or another, 'specially when it's our face.  Over the past year, Ive had more breakouts than I care to count and I can't exactly put my finger on why this is happening. 

At this point I'll try just about anything.