Messy

(Images from Pinterest & Tumblr)

Happy Thursday!!

xo

Fake it

(Images from Vogue, Pinterest, Lui Magazine, & Tumblr)

Got some favorites and a few tricks when it comes to self tanning. Don't like booths. Don't like to get airbrushed. Like to do it myself. The task seems rather daunting until you dive in a few times but gets easier with practice. Trial and error as to what products are your flavor but I love James Read for body and Clarins for face. And the tanning mitt is KEY. It absorbs and distributes the product evenly. Don't attempt without it. Not just any mitt as some get weird and leaky and leave you with tanned palms. James Read constructs a mean mitt. Get around five uses out of it. Always exfoliate before you start. I use a natural loofah in the shower, nothing fancy. When I'm in a rush, I use the express body mask. It's clear, leave on for thirty, wash off, and tan develops throughout the day. Lasts about four days. It will not get you as tan as the liquid tan medium, which is very deep and generally the color you see me wearing. I wear liquid tan medium for eight hours, wear light clothes, wash off, and the tan lasts for about five days. Exfoliate off. Repeat. Oh! the fingers and toes — have a trick for this. I apply to these guys last with a q-tip. Works perfectly. For face, I use Clarins. The most natural color and I've tried my fair share. Re-apply every other morning or night even under make-up. Like to top off with the hoola bronzer from Benefit or the naked flushed palette from Urban Decay. That's all I've got. Let me know how you go with it. xo

The Top Ten

(From Top Left: 1. Glam Glow Super-Mud Clearing Treatment, 2. Ole Henriksen Truth Serum, 

3. Benefit Boo Boo Zap, 4. Proactiv Repairing Treatment,
5. Pomegranate Make-Up Removing Wipes, 6. Creme De La Mer Moisturizing Cream,
7. Murad Rapid Age Spot Serum,
8. Kate Somerville Liquid Lift, 9. Kiehl's Creme De Corps Body Lotion,
10. Amore Pacific Age Defense Creme)

Finding the right combination of skincare products has always been a game of trial and error for me. Above is a list of my top ten favorites. These products work for me and here's how I use them:

1. Glam Glow Super-Mud Clearing Treatmnent: I try use this mask every three days and leave on for thirty minutes. I notice a significant reduction in congestion when I use this on a regular basis. 

2. Ole Henriksen Truth Serum: This product is oil-free, lightweight, and leaves my skin glowing. I love using this under my foundation.

3. Benefit Boo Boo Zap: The benefit girls introduced me to this product when I stayed in their villa during coachella. It truly works overnight wonders on occasional cystic acne. 

4. Proactiv Repairing Treatment: I've been using this product morning and night for ten years. I'm not really a fan of their cleanser or toner, but the repairing treatment is awesome. Highly recommend this over any other acne product, hands down. And, it's very affordable. 

5. Pomegranate Make-Up Removing Wipes: I love my facial wipes and this brand is my favorite. I use them morning and night to remove excess oil and make-up. 

6. Creme De La Mer Moisturizing Cream: This stuff is the bomb, but unfortunately, it's pretty expensive. Well worth the price and I use it very sparingly. Use as an under-eye cream at nighttime only. 

7. Murad Rapid Age Spot Serum: The best over-the-counter product for lightening hyper-pigmentation. I noticed a fifty percent reduction after the first month of use. 

8. Kate Sommerville Liquid Lift: I started using this product recently and absolutely love it. I use it when my skin looks dull and dehydrated. A great skin boost after flying. 

9. Kiehl's Creme De Corps Body Lotion: I use this daily after I get out of the shower. I've tried several body creams, and this one takes the cake. 

10. Amore Pacific Age Defense Creme: I use this creme nighttime only and apply it after the proactiv repairing treatment because it is pretty heavy. It would make a nice daytime creme if your skin is normal to dry because it contains a SPF 30. 

eBay has been a great place for me to score a majority of my skincare products at up to seventy-five percent off. You can find my top ten favorites in a collection here that I created as part of my collaboration with eBay.

Enjoy your Wednesday!