The ONLY Skincare Routine You'll EVER Need!

It's not a brand name or magical serum- follow this basic structure to find the perfect skincare routine for YOU.  Only 3 steps!  It's similar to the Proactive System, except cheaper and customizable to YOUR skin!

1. Cleanse
Use a gentle cleanser in the morning and and exfoliate at night.  (If your skin is super-sensitive, only rinse it in the mornings).  Exfoliating cleansers contain microbeads that slough off a layer of dead skin cells on your face.  (Avoid apricot shards, they tear the skin and you'll pay for it w/ breakouts later). Or just use a washcloth/ facial brush with your gentle cleanser!

Sometimes, exfoliating oily skin too often can cause it to kick into high gear and produce even more oils to replace the loss of moisture.  Moisturizing properly can prevent that.  Or you may only want to exfoliate every other day or less.  Older individuals with drier skin may need to exfoliate twice a day to stimulate cell turnover.  Either way, make sure you cleanse your skin every morning and evening!

2. Astringent/ Toner (at night only)
Now that you've removed that layer of dead skin cells, this wonderful liquid can go into your pores and clean them!  (The active ingredient is salicylic acid).  Bye-bye blackheads! The terms astringent & toner are interchangeable, but astringents tend to be stronger.  They usually look like colored liquids in a bottle and you find them in the skincare section of the store (even grocery stores).  You pour a little on a cotton round or tissue and put it all over your face.

If you're not used to it, it can sting!  Stronger formulas are better for oily skin, and gentle toners are best for drier skin.  A super-gentle toner for very sensitive skin is witch hazel.  You may even want to do this every other day or less (after you exfoliate); it depends on you.

By the way, the best pore-clearing product I've found is Epionce's Lytic Cream. This line is usually only sold in doctor's offices- it's better than something you'd find in a beauty-based establishment.

3. Moisturize
Use a moisturizer containing sunscreen in the morning, and an anti-aging cream at night.  Use a special eye-cream around the eyes.  But this step is extremely versatile.  The moisturizer you use is ultimately up to you, as long as you moisturize!  By the way, it can take a while for really rich moisturizers to absorb (Up to 25 minutes), but don't skimp on it- just be patient.

*Optional: Acne Medicine
Use a cream and rub into your problem areas only.  Find one with benzoyl peroxide for the most effectiveness, or one with salicylic acid if your skin is more sensitive.

And that's it!  It's super-easy and it feels so luxurious to go to bed at night with clean pores absorbing my night cream :)  I hope you can use this foundational skincare routine to find what's perfect for you, and have your skin be the best it can be. :)

God gave us beautiful temples, it's our job to care for them and make them glow!

5 Cold-Weather Beauty Tips

Cold weather can be a very beautiful thing.  Stay glowing with these specialty beauty tips!

1. Put your summer foundation to good use.  Summer foundation gotten too dark for your lightened complexion?  Don't want to throw it out, but don't know what to do with it either?  Apply it to your neck.  We usually have a pale spot where our chin blocks the sun.  Plus, a darker neck looks longer and slimmer!  Just remember to blend well :)

2. Keep your lips from drying out- efficiently.  Cold weather can mean chapped lips.  As you're brushing your teeth, give your lips a gentle brushing as well.  This exfoliates them to remove build up of dead skin cells.  When you apply your moisturizer, apply it generously to your lips too!  It will soak in within a few minutes.  I do this with my clients all the time.

3. Protect your hair from frizzing in the cold.  Leave your conditioner in for a few minutes longer during your shower before rinsing it out.  You may also need to apply a little more product to protect it from the harsh cold. I like TIGI Bed Head Hair Wax Stick or extra gel/ leave-in-conditioner for curly hair.

4. Keep a rosy glow.  Our skin can look pale and drained in cold weather.  Instead of bronzer,  I love a shimmery, rosy blush in the winter.  For large pores or more mature skin, ditch the shimmer and add an additional light color on the tops of your cheekbones instead.  A simple eyeshadow works great.

5. Wear eyeshadow!  This is is my favorite time to wear creative eyeshadow looks and colors!  In the summer, our makeup doesn't last as long.  So take advantage of the cooler weather and have fun!

Tips for Super-Soft Feet

Aww, look at how soft and cute our feet started off when we were brand new little people.  But time, work and not tending to our feet can cause a lot of unwanted roughness.  Did you know that statistically men have softer feet than women because they wear socks more often?  It's okay, because here's is a great guide to help you get back to your beautiful soft feet.

Many tutorials offer different strategies and tools, but when it comes to making your feet softer, there are only three basic steps.

1. Exfoliate

~Soak your feet in water first or wait until the end of a shower so dead skin cells will come off more easily.

~Use a pumice stone, foot file, or cleanser with microbeads.  (You can also add sugar to an oil-based cleanser).  Exfoliating cleansers are popular b/c you can give yourself a foot massage at the same time :)

~The PedEgg tool is safe to exfoliate dry feet.

~Exfoliate smartly- do more on calluses and rougher areas.  Be gentle on softer areas.  Over-exfoliating will cause irritated, raw skin- ouch!

2. Moisturize

~Dead skin cells block the penetration of moisture, so now that you've exfoliated, your feet are ready to soak up the softness! :)

~Use a heavy duty moisturizer, such as a foot cream, night cream, anti-aging moisturizer, or body butter.  But honestly, plain old extra virgin olive oil also works great.  Whatever you use, apply a lot of it.

3. Seal in the moisture!

~Wear socks so walking around and air exposure don't undo all your hard work!  Microfiber material will help your feet absorb more moisture.  Wear them throughout the day or overnight to wake up to smoother, softer feet!

~Other methods include wrapping the feet in hot towels or other things.  But I've found that a good pair of socks have been the easiest.  Throw them in the dryer for a couple minutes if you want them luxuriously warm when you put them on.~

Keep using this technique and your feet will only get softer and softer...  Until you return to those baby-soft feet ;)