At Home Med Spa & Beauty Room Tour

Dec 26, 2020 | , ,

Hello friends.

Covid brought with it some major setbacks; we tried to turn it into an opportunity to tackle some projects we might not otherwise have had the time to get around to. This past spring my husband and I converted our guest bedroom into a fully functioning YouTube studio, at home med spa, and beauty room. It’s still a work in progress, but it’s so organized and functional. It’ll take some time for me to get the decor the way I want it, but I’m truly trilled with the space. What do you think? Any suggestions?

https://youtu.be/_N35TQE3uHI

At Home Thread Lift – PDO Threads for Jaw and Jowl Contouring

Nov 7, 2020 | , ,

PDO Threads are all the rage right now. If you’re new to the party, don’t worry. I’ll fill you in. If you’re not already part of the Gorgeously Aging family, I’d love to have you join us over at my YouTube channel. It’s a wonderful community of women (and a few guys, too). You can subscribe here!

PDO stands for Polydioxanon, which is a biodegradable synthetic polymer and the most representative material used for a non- surgi- cal lifting because of its safety and absorbent properties. This material is also used by surgeons for suture. The material is hypoallergenic and non toxic. PDO threads can be used not only on the face but also for body tightening, and to reduce the after-effects of liposuction.

Threads also come in PCL (Polycaprolactone) and PLLA (Poly-L-Lactic Acid). Of the threads mentioned in this blog post, the PDO threads are the fastest to dissolve, where PCL and PLLA dissolve more slowly. I’ll talk more about the differences in thread material and thread type. In the video below I used smooth threads or mono threads. There are also screw threads and cog/barbed threads. It’s the cog threads that do the heavy lifting to provide more of a non surgical facelift effect. That’s not to say that Mono Threads are not an incredible tool for skin rejuvenation.

Benefits of PDO Mono Threads are: general lifting, collagen synthesis and providing general support to aging skin.

Treatment Areas: neckline, belly, buttocks, hands, inner thigh, under eyes, nasolabial folds, between the eyebrows, eye wrinkles.
Lasts up to 7 months.

https://youtu.be/1o-9OVALZ9M

I’m loving the skin rejuvenating effects of threads. My skin feels tighter, smoother and more sculpted; yet very natural. (For reference I’m 49)

Please note that I am not a doctor or nurse. I’m a passionate DIYer with a background in Cosmetology, Aesthetics and Permanent Cosmetics. You are always in the safest hands with a well trained doctor or nurse.

September Anti-Aging Skincare Favorites

Oct 9, 2020 | ,

Hello beautiful.

This past month I have fallen in love with some wonderful products that have truly made a difference in how my skin looks and feels. For those of you who are new to my blog, I’m a skin care and anti-aging junkie. I’m always going to give it to you guys straight, so without a ton of fluff, here’s my list of favorites. You can also check out the YouTube video for more detail.

Klairs Gentle Black Deep Cleansing Oil

Hadalabo Foaming Cleanser

Mizon First Essence

Kate Somerville ExfoliKate

Caytraill Facial Cleansing Brush

Timeless HA Spray

Timeless Hydrating Eye Cream

Sunday Riley Good Genes

Sunday Riley A+ High Dose Retinoid Serum

CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum

Dr. PawPaw Scrub & Nourish

Cos De Baha Hyaluronic Acid Serum

Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer (sand)

Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation SPF 15 (3.5)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDUKtu8mFAs

The Benefits of LED Light Therapy on the Face

Aug 15, 2020 | ,

I’m curious by nature. When I read about, or hear of something that sparks my interest, I’m famous for diving into research mode to learn everything I can about it. Today’s topic; LED Light Therapy.

When I first heard about LED Therapy for the face, I immediate thought it was one of these bogus promises for younger skin and less wrinkles. The beauty world truly knows how to get us to open our wallets, don’t they? The more I researched, the more I wanted to try LED therapy for myself. I have now purchased three at home devises that include LED. Each of them I’m enjoying for different reasons. I’ll share the devices I’ve purchased for myself, but first let’s break down exactly what LED therapy is, and the benefits.

LED, or light emitting diode therapy, is a skincare treatment that uses varying wavelengths of light that penetrate through tissue up to one inch deep. NASA originally developed it for plant growth experiments on shuttle missions and later found it to have promise for wound treatment.  Different color rays have different skin benefits.  For instance, red and near-infrared have beneficial effects on cells by “kick-starting” them into immediately creating more ATP (cellular energy) and increasing DNA and RNA activity. Red light LED stimulates the fibroblasts that produce collagen, which gives young skin its plump look.  The blue light combats acne. LED machines can also minimize fine lines and wrinkles, treat sun-damage and stretch marks, and reduce redness. At-home LED devices are an excellent way to bring a normally in-office treatment to the comfort of your home.

LED light therapy can help treat a variety of skin problems, including:

  • acne.
  • dermatitis.
  • dull skin.
  • eczema.
  • psoriasis.
  • rosacea.
  • scarring.
  • signs of aging, including wrinkles and age spots.

I personally, treat my skin with red light the most for it’s anti aging and anti inflammatory benefits. It also stimulates collagen and elastin production, and those are both important in the fight against aging.

How is red light therapy used?

  • promotes wound healing and tissue repair.
  • improves hair growth in people with androgenic alopecia.
  • help for the short-term treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome.
  • stimulates healing of slow-healing wounds, like diabetic foot ulcers.
  • reduces psoriasis lesions.

The first red light unit I purchased, was this 7 Color Light Therapy Unit that you lay under. What I love about it is that it’s comfortable to lay under when you’re on a flat surface like the floor or a firm bed, but the disadvantages are that I can’t just grab it and lay it on my face and fall back to sleep in the morning. It also doesn’t lay as close to my face as the mask I purchased after this, and used most often.

This mask is my preferred LED treatment. I wake up every morning 30 minutes before I have to get out of bed, throw on this mask and fall back to sleep. Considering the red light it literally laying on top of my skin, I feel like I’m getting more benefit from this source of LED. I tend to use the red and green lights most often. I do still use my “table” LED unit, especially on my arms where I have eczema, but I do prefer the mask unit below. Both have excellent reviews (click image to see pricing and reviews)

This last unit is a compact powerhouse. The DFA Face Lifting Machine is utilized Ultrasound, LED, Radio Frequency, and Microcurrent, and man-o-man is this little tool impress. The design is beautiful, and the quality is much better than expected for the price point. The disadvantage is that it’s small and you can’t just lay and relax while the LED is doing it’s magic. The advantage is that it’s a quadruple threat with LED, Radio Frequency, Ultrasound, and Microcurrent. I love using this in addition to my other devices, especially on my jaw, neck, chest and back of my hands. I love the portability of it, so this will be what I take with me when I travel.

I’m a month into my LED light therapy, using primarily red light, and I’m please with the results. My skin seems to be improving! I plan to continue using and share before and after photos in future updates.

Subscribe to my YouTube Channel, Gorgeously Aging, for upcoming videos!

3 Things Your Skin Needs to Reverse Signs of Aging

Jul 23, 2020 | ,

There are a million things we can do to care for our health, which in turns will help to slow the hands of time , but there are three proven things that we can do to our skin to not only slow, but reverse the signs of aging.

I’m going to keep this short and sweet, because I know how annoying it is to go to a blog post for answers and not be easily able to find the information you’re looking for. Here’s the good stuff without all the fluff.

Always remember to be a skincare ACE.

Vitamin A – This is your retinol or Retin A. There is often confusion around this, so let me make it super simple. Retinol is the much weaker version of Retin-A (also called Tretinoin) You can find Retinol products over the counter at drug stores and major department stores. My favorite over the counter retinol is CereVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum. If you want the big guns of Vitamin A, which I recommend, you’ll need a prescription from a doctor, or use an online service like Curology.com. (I use this service and it’s awesome!)

Vitamin C – The benefits of vitamin C are incredible!! When I first introduce a good quality Vitamin C serum into my skin care regimen, I noticed visible brightness of my skin in just two weeks. Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant, meaning it protects skin cells from damaging free radicals caused by pollutants, and UV exposure. It also inhibits melanin production in the skin, which helps to lighten hyperpigmentation and brown spots, even out skin tone, and enhance skin radiance. There are tons of vitamin C serums on the market; you definitely want one in the form of L Ascorbic Acid. My favorite is Timeless 20% Vitmain C Serum.

Vitamin E – Vitamin E is a nutrient your body needs to support your immune system and help your cells to regenerate. It also has wonderful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, which is wonderful for your skin and body. Vitamin E helps support cell function, and skin health. It’s a rich antioxidant, making it effective at combating the effects of free radicals produced by the metabolism of food and toxins in the environment. Vitamin E may also be beneficial at reducing UV damage to skin. We can find Vitamin E in foods such as vegetable oils, nuts, seeds and green leafy vegetables. You can also find Vitamin E in a number of skin care serums. I’m using it in the Timeless 20% Vitamin C Serum which also contains vitamin E and Ferulic Acid. There are many high priced serums that offer C, E and Ferulic Acid, which I’ve used. Honestly, the ingredients are almost identical in the lesser expensive options. I find you often pay more for the same ingredients depending on the brand name. Good ingredients are good ingredients, the label of medical grade doesn’t change that.

The 5 Best Eye Creams for Aging Women

May 22, 2018 | ,

Our eyes are not only the window to our soul, but the feature on our face that others notice most often. They are also the area that shows the very first signs of aging. Eye creams have come a long way, and include many powerful ingredients including peptides, hyaluronic acid, growth factor, and retinol. It can be a little intimidating with so many eye creams to choose from. The eye creams on this list are my personal top 5 eye creams ranging from super affordable to budget breaker.

It Cosmetics Confidence in an Eye Cream $30 

This eye cream provides instant hydration, smooths fine lines, improves dark circles with it’s subtle apricot tint, and is very gentle on sensitive skin. I personally, have sensitivity to some eye creams, causing the delicate skin around my eyes to burn or itch. This cream truly is sensitive skin friendly. Ingredients include a super ceramide complex, chrysin, licorice root, avocado and squalane. This eye cream is not my favorite, but it’s one I would recommend and use again in the future.


Roc Retinol Eye Cream $24.99

The Roc Retinol Eye Cream was my go to eye cream for several years. Although this eye cream contains retinol, a proven wrinkle fighter, it did not irritate my  sensitive skin, and with consistent use I did see fine lines diminish and overall smoothness around my eyes. I don’t view this product as one that would be a star at fighting under eye circles or puffiness, but in terms of wrinkle reduction around the eyes, this is a great product that won’t break the bank.

Ole Henriksen Banana Bright Eye Cream $60

I had been eyeing up this eye cream for quite some time before the craving to try the Ole Henriksen was too much to resist. This eye cream is in my current rotation (with the next eye cream on the list).  It’s soothing, smoothing and just beautiful under the eyes. Don’t expect overnight miracles as far as wrinkle reduction, but you will see immediate hydration and smoothness. With the power of vitamin C to protect and brighten, and collagen, this is a truly wonderful eye cream for anyone.

Colorscience Total Eye $69

This is my current obsession and an eye cream that I will use for years to come. Here’s the thing. Most eye creams overlook one of the most critical aspects of skin aging; sun protection. This eye cream is a winner on so many levels. Total Eye 3-in-1 Renewal Therapy SPF 35 provides a rested, youthful appearance by visibly improving signs of skin aging. It corrects with a soft peach pigment by immediately brightens the eye area and corrects imperfections to reduce dark circles and puffiness for a refreshed and rested appearance. Total Eye is Chemical-free, 100% mineral SPF 35 which defends against UVA/UVB and environmental stressors that contribute to skin aging. This eye cream helps restore skin health with hydration that provides support for sagging skin to enhance the upper eye area, AND Improves the appearance of dark circles, puffiness, fine lines, and wrinkles. This is the best eye cream I’ve used under $100.

 

Skin Medica TNS Eye Repair $102

If price were no object, this would be an eye cream I would purchase over and over. Skin Medica makes some of the most effective anti-aging products I’ve ever used. Powerful, yet gentle, this eye cream feels like heaven on the skin. TNS Eye Repair contains growth factors, which are naturally occurring, potent proteins that fight against aging and maintain epidermal health. SkinMedica pioneered and patented TNS with the highest concentration (93.6%) of a naturally secreted blend of over 380 growth factors, cytokines, and matrix proteins. This is a game changer in treating aging skin. TNS Eye Repair not only includes TNS to improve the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, skin tone, and texture, but it also contains peptides in addition to vitamins A, C, and E to help support the skin around the eyes.

You can’t go wrong with any of these eye creams, all of which I have loved,  but if you were sitting here having coffee with me right now, I’d be bragging up the Colorscience Total Eye. It’s truly fantastic!

If you have any skincare questions or comments, please comment below. I’d love to help.

 

Hugs and warm wishes,

Stacy

P.S. These are my honest thoughts based on products I have purchased myself. I have not been given these products or any compensation for the favorable opinions in this blog post. Links are affiliate links.

5 Ways to Lighten Hyper Pigmentation

May 22, 2018 | ,

Hello friends.

Today’s blog post is dedicated to my younger sister Jamie (38), who like many of us,  is doing battle with some frustrating hyper pigmentation on her face.

There are many ways to treat hyper pigmentation, and I’m not ashamed to say, I’ve tried a ridiculous number of products over the years to ward off sun damage, and the aging that happens as a result. I’m going to share with you what has not only worked for me, but has been scientifically proven to treat hyper pigmentation. These products are part of the proven regimen prescribed by plastic surgeons and med spas around the world.

Sun Protection

I hate to be the bad guy here, but working in the beauty industry,  I talk to women every day who want a smooth, youthful complexion void of age spots, but also want the golden glow of a tan. Unfortunately, we can’t have both; at least not without the use of sunless tanners. Most hyper-pigmentation is caused by two things; hormones and sun exposure. The latter being the primary reason we get those lovely dark spots. Trying to treat hyper-pigmentation while you are also tanning is truly fighting a losing battle. As a former sun worshiper myself, I know tanning can be hard to give up, but it’s truly the best thing you can do for your skin.  Sun protection can’t be overlooked if you want to improve hyper-pigmentation. Personally, I use a high quality sun screen on my face, neck and chest, every single day (in the winter, too) as part of my skincare routine. It’s really not enough to use a foundation or tinted moisturizer with SPF. I made that assumption for years; It wasn’t until I changed my skincare, and really took sun protection more seriously, that I saw true changes in my skin. It’s also super important to take other measures to protect your skin; wearing hats, visors, and seeking out shade to avoid long periods of sun exposure on your face. This doesn’t mean you can’t and shouldn’t enjoy the sun; we all need to feel the warmth of the sun on our skin from time to time, but it’s important to realize that it’s sun exposure that’s causing the damage and creating hyper-pigmented areas on the skin. A shocking 80% of skin aging is from UV rays. Sun protection is arguably the most important tool in your anti aging arsenal. I’ve learned to view my pale skin as healthy skin. I use the Elta MD UV Daily sunscreen. It’s a beautiful product that wears well alone or under makeup.

 

 

 

 

Vitamin C Serum

Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant. It protects your skin from environmental damage, including UV exposure. With consistent use it has a brightening effect on the skin, helping to even the complexion. There are a plethora  of C serums on the market that are complete junk, so practice due diligence by reading reviews.  I’ve taken to testing the PH of my vitamin C serum to ensure it has not oxidized due to poor manufacturing or packaging. One that I use regularly, has a great price point,  and never have issues with it’s quality is Timeless C Serum.

Hydroquinone

Hydroquinone is used to decrease the formation of melanin in the skin, which is the primary cause of dark spots. Topically, hydroquinone is an effective skin lightener. It was the addition of hydroquinone to my own skincare regimen that gave me the most notable results in terms of the overall evenness of my complexion and reduction of hyper-pigmentation. Keep in mind it takes patience and consistent use. It takes years of sun damage to cause those dark spots, and it will take some time to remove them as well. Hang in there. I use the Zo Medical Melamin Cream that can be found at Med Spas that carry the Zo Medical brand.

 

 

BBL Treatments (Broad Band Light or Photo Facial)

When the sun damage isn’t responding to topical skincare products alone, a photo facial (or BBL treatment) is a proven way to treat hyper-pigmentation and other age related skincare issues. I’ve had two photo facials and saw improvement in my complexion from both a pigmentation standpoint, and overall brightness of my skin. A photo facial uses broad band light to treat pigmentation, vascularity, texture and firmness of the skin. It does not require down time, and other than a little flaking for a few days after treatment, you can go about your normal routine (and wear makeup) following treatment. It is a bit painful, as you feel the heat “zap” your skin with each pulse of light, but it’s very tolerable. The price point varies throughout the country. The cost here in Wisconsin was $300 per treatment. The recommendation is to get a series of three treatments; once a month for three months, and then maintain by getting a treatment quarterly. It’s definitely an investment, but worth the expense if hyper-pigmentation is something you struggle with.  It is not advised to get this treatment in the summer months if  you can’t avoid sun exposure, so do keep that in mind. Even though I did not get the prescribed series of three treatments, I did see an improvement in my skin and will definitely do it again.

Gentle Glycolic Peel

Your skin will benefit from a glycolic peel by revealing brighter, smoother, clearer skin and improved texture. The word peel can be a little intimidating, but let me assure you that mild glycolic peels can be done at home safely and with no down time. In most cases it’s better to do gentle peels more frequently than it is to do aggressive deep peels that require down time. I use a glycolic peel from makeupartistschoice.com once a week on Sunday evening before bed. You can watch my Youtube Tutorial here if you’d like to learn more, but in the event you are not comfortable with at home peels, there are many wonderful med spas that can guide you in making the right choices for your skin care concerns.

 

The most important thing when treating hyper-pigmentation, is consistency. As discouraging as it may be, with the tools listed in this blog post, you will see an improvement in your skin over time. Just remember prevention is more cost effective than treatment; protect your skin from the sun!!

 

Thanks for stopping by friends, feel free to leave a question or comment below. I’d be happy to help you with the skincare issues that are troubling you most.

Hugs and well wishes,

Stacy


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My Favorite Beauty Secret

Mar 26, 2017 |

This is one beauty secret that actually makes your skin silky soft, your make up will go on smoother, and it will allow your skin to absorb your skincare products more readily. Watch this video to find out what my secret is! My husband was shocked that I’ve been doing this for five years and he didn’t even know it. 🙂

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPlqDUmcU0c&t=3s

5 Benefits of Vitamin C Serum

Mar 9, 2017 |

If you haven’t already integrated a quality vitamin C serum into your daily skin care routine, here are five compelling reasons to got on the C serum band wagon.

 

  1. Collagen Production – Topical vitamin C in the form of a serum, encourages collagen production.  Stable collagen production fights wrinkles and is responsible for the youthful plumpness of the skin. In this case, plump is a positive thing. 🙂
  2. Skin Brightener – Vitamin C serum can brighten lack luster skin and fade hyper pigmentation (age spots), including under eye darkness,  creating smooth, more evenly pigmented skin. (At 45, people often guess me in my early 30’s. (I credit topical c serum and Tretinoin for this. Note: It’s a long term plan. You won’t see results over night.)
  3. UV Protection – Topical vitamin C offers mild UV protection. It’s not a suitable replacement for daily facial sun screen, but the additional UV protection is yet another benefit of topical vitamin C for the skin.
  4. Reduces Inflammation – Vitamin C serum has been found to reduce facial inflammation. This is particularly helpful for those who wake up with puffiness under the eyes.
  5. Promotes Healing – Topical C serum promotes healing. This is wonderful for acne scars, small cuts and other blemishes.

Topical Vitamin C serums are most effective in concentrations of 10-20%. If your skin is dry or sensitive, it’s best to use a lower concentration as some irritation can occur, especially when you first introduce a c serum to your skin care routine.  Personally, I use a 10% formula. I’ve tried higher concentrations and it was too irritating for my skin.

I use Obagi 10% C Serum. It’s a little on the pricey side, but I’ve tried less expensive options, that didn’t product the same results. Vitamin C can be unstable in serums, it’s important to get a quality product that hasn’t been poorly packaged, or prematurely oxidized, both can render the serum ineffective. It’s best to use your C serum within three months of opening.

 

 

DIY Glycolic Acid Peel

Nov 4, 2016 |

Hey beauties. Here’s a video tutorial on how to safely do a glycolic peel at home. Glycolic acid is an excellent exfoliator, and helps even and brighten skin tone as well as improve sun damage and hyper pigmentation.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1X2ucwWpJcY

October Favorite Beauty Products

Oct 30, 2016 | ,

Hey beauties. Now that we’re all most into November, I thought I’d share my absolute favorite products from October. All of these products I have purchased with my own money, so none of my favorites are sponsored or free products. All my recommendations are always based on my honest opinion after using for several weeks. Click on the photos to check out the Amazon reviews and pricing.

  1. The Neutrogena Healthy Skin Anti-Aging Perfector is AMAZING!! It’s not a full coverage foundation, but gives the perfect hydrating coverage to smooth the skin for a beautiful every day look. It goes on the skin like silk and contains both sun screen and retinol to improve your skin tone, texture and fight those fine lines. Retinol is safe for use during the day with sunscreen, where Retin-A (Tretinoin) must be applied at night. This is truly a product I will continue to use. If the coverage isn’t enough for you, use this as a treatment primer and add a little bit of full coverage foundation over the top.

2. Kat Von D hit a home run with her Shade & Light Contour Pallette. The pigmentation is fantastic, and the powder is so incredibly smooth. I love the banana colored powder for setting my under eye concealer. I find myself reaching for this palette every single day.

3. Mac blush in the color Melba is GORGEOUS! To date, it’s the most beautiful, long wearing, blush I’ve ever used!

4. Maybelline Fit Me Concealer in Sand is just as good, if not better, than many of the popular high end concealers. It’s a great dupe for the NARS creamy concealer in custard. I’ve been reaching for this concealer more than any other in my arsenal.

5.  I’ve been using the Pixi Glow Tonic for a few weeks under my Obagi C Exfoliating Day Lotion, and I absolutely love it! Anything that contains Glycolic Acid is going to brighten and even the skin tone. Glycolic acid is a wonderful exfoliator and with consistent use will reduce hyper pigmentation (age spots) and sun damage.

Anti-Aging Night Routine

Oct 6, 2016 |

So, here’s what I’ve been doing for my night time skincare routine for the past few years now. I’m loving the results of the Tretinoin .1% and Zo Medical Melamix.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WSVfkm2uXWU

Anti-aging Morning Routine

Oct 5, 2016 |

Hey friends.

Here’s a quick video to share my current morning skincare routine. If you have any ride or die skincare products that you’ve found work really well for you, I’d love to hear about them, feel free to comment and share your beauty secrets. 🙂

 

Lots of love – Stacy

https://youtu.be/_ywcPrV3PYI

The Beauty of Biotin

Apr 18, 2016 | , , ,

A few years back I stumbled on an article about the benefits of biotin for your fingernails. I’ve always had extremely thin nails that just don’t grow much beyond my finger tip. Although I was skeptical, I wanted to give biotin a shot to see if myself if it actually improved my nails. I was pleasantly surprised that it not only improved my nails, but my hair was longer and healthier than it had been in years.

Biotin, a B complex vitamin, not only strengthens hair and nails, it also supports the metabolism, helps regulate blood sugar, lowers cholesterol and improves the health of your skin. It’s definitely worth giving it a try.

This is the brand I use.

5 Benefits of Coconut Oil

Nov 9, 2015 | ,

Aside from the well documented health benefits associated with the consumption of coconut oil, there are some compelling reasons to incorporate coconut oil into your beauty regimen. Here are five benefits of coconut oil that I have tried and keep in my beauty rotation. It’s important to use an organic virgin coconut oil. I use this one. If you haven’t used coconut oil before, it’s important to know that it solidifies in cooler temperatures and needs to be warmed in your hand before using.

1. As an eye make up remover. The coconut oil makes quick work of removing eye make up with the added benefit of keeping the skin around the eyes smooth and hydrated. Because there are so many truly wonderful beauty related uses for coconut oil, I’d definitely recommend keeping a jar in your bathroom.

2. As a night time facial moisturizer. If you have a tendency toward dry skin like I do, you’ll find that a little bit of coconut oil massaged into the face and neck before bed will leave your skin feeling baby soft by morning. It’s like a deep conditioning for the face. I do this every Sunday night after using a 30% glycolic acid peel. (I talk more about the benefits of glycolic acid and how to use it safely at home in another post.)

3. As a deep condition for the hair. I have naturally course wavy hair. Once a week I put my hair into a pony tale and coat the hair in the pony tale with coconut oil and then wrap it up into a bun and cover it with an old sock before I go to bed. This keeps the oil from getting all over the pillow. In the morning, rinse and wash as normal, followed by an appropriate conditioner for your hair type.

4. As a body scrub. This might be my favorite use for coconut oil. I mix white sugar with equal parts coconut oil and keep it in a plastic container in my shower for a wonderful body scrub. You’ll be amazed at how silky and smooth this leaves your skin. I love how my legs look after I’ve used this scrub.

5. Massage oil. My daughters are swimmers that love to have their back and shoulders massaged after a tough practice; coconut oil is the perfect organic massage oil for soothing sore muscles.

Because I’m an avid Amazon shopper and Prime member, I buy as much as I can online. I’m sure there are other brands of organic coconut oil available at department stores in your area. This is the brand that I use and love. It’s always nice to check out the reviews and see what type of uses and experiences other people have had with it.

Check out 101 Uses for Coconut Oil by Wellness Mama for more incredible ways to use coconut oil.

 

Links contain affiliates.

Obagi C RX Skin Care

Nov 6, 2015 |

On the list of things that are extremely important to me, outside of family, skincare is at the top of the list. Five years ago I took the leap into medical grade skincare, and started using  the Obagi C RX System, it was one of the best decisions I have ever made. Although a bit skeptical that the skincare line was worth it’s price, it’s proven to live up to it’s claims and my high expectations.

When I first started using the Obagi C RX system, I purchased the entire kit. Since then I replenish only the products I found to be most beneficial for my skin. I’ll explain as I go step-by-step through my skin care regimen, but first, let me share the results I personally experienced using the Obagi C RX System.

I was starting to notice some hyper pigmentation and obvious damage from sun exposure. The tone and texture of my skin was dry and uneven. My once small pores, started to look very enlarged and make up no longer looked smooth when applied to my skin. My primary concern was the sun damage and hyper pigmentation. Although I had my doubts, I noticed a significant improvement in both the tone and texture of my skin; as well as the clarity and reduction of hyper pigmentation. I should say that I’m not in any way paid to review this product and have never received Obagi products free or even discounted. This is my honest review of these products having used them for five years now. These products are my holy grail; I can’t imagine a skin care regimen without them.

Here’s the original kit that I purchased. I have since moved to using only 3 of the five products, having substitutions for the toner and sun screen.

Cleansing Gel – This is a wonderful cleanser! It foams up beautifully and leaves the skin feeling really clean. The downside for me, is that my skin has a tendency to be dry, especially in the winter. During the winter months I use Cetaphil  gentle cleanser. The Cetaphil cleanser doesn’t foam or lather AT ALL, so that takes a little getting use to if you’re use to a cleanser that foams. It does, however, leave the skin feeling very soft and hydrated. The wonderful thing about Cetaphil is that it is super cheap ($8.47 for 16oz on Amazon. Link below). So, in the summer months when I’m a bit more sweaty and oily, I use the Obagi Gel cleanser and in the winter I stick with the less expensive Cetaphil.

Toner – I love the Obagi Toner, and if I weren’t so cheap, I’d probably still be using it. I switched to using Witch Hazel as my toner in order to splurge on the more impactful elements of the Obagi C RX system. I always buy the Thayers brand using my Amazon Prime membership for free two day shipping, but there are other brands available at your local department stores; just be sure to look for an witch hazel that is alcohol free so it doesn’t dry out your skin.

C Serum – I loved the C Serum that came in my original kit, but I found the better option for my dry skin is the 10% C Serum. If you have slightly more oily skin the 15% C serum might be the better option for you. This is a product I wouldn’t substitute!

C Therapy Night Cream – This is a truly wonderful night cream, but I get more bang for my buck with the C Exfoliating Day Lotion.  This is still a kit worth trying in it’s entirety; you can always refine your skincare regimine as you start to figure out what products you skin responds most to.

 

Sun Shield – If I could give you one piece of advice that will have the most impact on your skin, it’s use sun screen every single day, 365 days a year, no matter WHAT!! It’s part of my morning routine, just like brushing my teeth. The Obagi Sun Shield is wonderful, but I’ve moved to Dermaquest Zinclear in Nude. This is pricy, but a pea size amount is all you need, and it actually looks wonderful, almost like a primer, under make up. I sometimes just add a tiny bit of my liquid foundation make up to my Zinclear so my foundation isn’t too heavy. The Dermaquest Zinclear is another product I never substitute. I’ve tried, but nothing works as well or looks as nice on my skin.

What are your holy grail skin care products? Please feel free to comment below; I’d love to hear from you. 🙂

The Foundation to Beautiful Skin

Nov 4, 2015 |

I grew up in the era that being tan was beautiful. I baked in the sun with no regard to the damage it was causing my skin. In my thirties, as I started to notice some of the damage caused by the years spent not protecting my skin, I decided to make skincare a priority.

In this blog, you’ll find information on health, beauty, and living well. The most important advice I can give is to use daily sunscreen on your face. Every single day; 356 days a year.

This is the product I use religiously. The clear zinc provides outstanding sun protection compared to other products I’ve tried. It glides onto the skin beautifully and acts as a great primer under other make up. This tube will last a very long time; just a pea size amount is enough to cover the entire face.  (I sometimes use a little more for my neck and chest)

Follow Us On

Categories