Image Skincare

I have been using Image Skincare for about a month now and I am in love with their products and I am very happy with the results that I noticed within the month. Image Skincare is a professional line, which means that you will not be able to purchase it at the store. You can get it from a licensed esthetician or a doctor. I have been using five products and they are all results orientated. 

Image Skincare to simple to understand. Their line is color coded and you can mix different products from their different lines. They have the Ageless line which is silver and is effective for preventing and treating the signs of aging and environmental exposures. They have the Vital C line which is orange and is effective for those with dry, dehydrated skin and those who suffer from rosacea and eczema. They have the Ormedic line, which is green and uses the purest organic ingredients and can be used on all skin types. They have the Clear Cell line, which is blue and is highly effective to fight acne, reduce inflammation, eliminate excess oil and purify skin. They also have daily defense which is yellow and is their sunscreen line and offer a product to suit every skin type.

I have been using two of the cleansers which are the Ormedic balancing facial cleanser and the Clear Cell salicylic cleanser. My skin is combination oily and I am prone to breakouts, so I thought these would be the best cleansers for me to try. The Ormedic balancing facial cleanser is a organic gel based cleanser that contains green tea and chamomile that lifts away makeup and impurities.  It also contains a blend of comfrey, calendula and rich botanicals. This helps my skin balance out the oil and never leaves my skin feeling dry. My skin is left hydrated and soft. I use this cleanser both in the morning and evening. I like to use the Clear Cell about two times per week if needed to help keep my breakouts at bay. This cleaner is also gel based and contains salicylic acid which is known as a chemical exfoliator. It gently exfoliates dead skin cells and keeps my skin smooth feeling and soft. This cleanser sometimes tends to make my skin tight a dry, so it is necessary to use a moisturizer after. 

I have also been using the Clear Cell medicated acne lotion. This lotion works wonders! This product contains Benzoyl Peroxide which is known to immediately kill the bacteria. It also contains Chamomile and Tea Tree helps heal and soothe the skin. I do not like to put this on my whole face, but I like to use it to spot treat with it. I immediately put this on a blemish and usually by the next day it has significantly reduced or disappeared. I had been using this on a small area in the middle of my forehead because i had always had some congestion and small bumps and my forehead has improved since using it. It is now smooth and clear. Since I have oily skin and use the acne products, it is important to moisturizer and hydrate the skin. Just because you have oily skin does not mean you should not be moisturizing the skin. in fact if you don't hydrate oily skin, your skin can rebel and produces more oil to compensate for the lack of moisture that you did not put back in. I like to use the Vital C hydrating anti-agin serum. This serum helps nourish and hydrate the skin using vitamins A,C and E. This is a non-greasy formula and smells like oranges. Leaves my skin feeling soft and supple with just the right amount of hydration.    

Lastly I like to use the Ageless total resurfacing masque. It is and exfoliating mask with a blend of Glycolic and Salicylic acids to help resurface the skin and sloughing off the build up of dead cells. This mask helps lighten brown spots and helps with reducing acne marks that get left behind. I like to use this mask twice a week. 

I recommend this professional line to anyone who wants results. I have not used their other products, but I am sure they are just ask awesome as the ones that I have been using.

XO

 *These are all my own opinions and these products were purchased with my own money. The company is not paying me to advertise their products.*

Jane Iredale Active Light Under-Eye Concealer

This is the best concealer to bright up the under eyes. It has a very soft and velvety feel that will smooth right on the skin. It contains a lot of natural ingredients to calm tired eyes and reduce puffiness, such as such as cucumber, white tea extract and buckwheat wax. It also has the benefit of moisturizing under the eyes using avocado and sunflower oil

It has never caked up on me and nor has it settled in my fine lines. It is so creamy and light, that it feels as if you are not using any under eye concealer. It comes in 6 different shades and is $27. You can find this product on Janeiredale.com or you can pick one up at your nearest salon/spa that carries Jane Iredale cosmetics.  

Mine is in the shade No. 2

Gluten Free

Ingredients: Isopropyl Jojobate, Isostearyl Neopentanoate, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Titanium Dioxide, Beeswax, Hydrated Silica, Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax, Ozokerite, Boron Nitride, Polygonum Fagopyrum (Buckwheat) Seed Extract, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Extract, Camellia Sinensis (White Tea) Leaf Extract, Bisabolol, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Ascorbyl Palmitate. May Contain: Mica, Iron Oxides, Chromium Oxide Greens.

xo

Donna Karan Cashmere Mist Deodorant

This is my favorite, must have deodorant. You can find this deodorant at department stores like Nordstrom and Macys. This deodorant retails for $18 at Macys, but for some awesome reason I bought mine at Nordstrom for $15 and you get 1.7oz. I know that is still a bit pricey for deodorant but, it is total worth it. It has now become a staple deodorant for me, i try not to use everyday because it is expensive, but I always find myself reaching for it, so why not use.

It has a soft flowery scent which lasts all day long. Applying it once a day is all you need. It is almost like a dry powdery formula thats goes goes on so smoothly. I have been using this deodorant since July and it has not left any marks or stained of of my shirts which is a plus. 

I recommend this to anyone who is looking for a fresh smelling deodorant that last all day. Definitely worth every penny.

*Fragrance Notes bergamot, jasmine, lily of the valley, suede, cashmere accord, sandalwood, amber, musk, vanilla.

xo

Benefit Hoola Bronzer

Hands down this is my favorite go to bronzer. Hoola gives just the right amount of color for a natural, healthy looking tan, that can be used year round. 

It is a soft bronze matte bronzer. I think that everyone should own at least one matte bronzer, because shimmer on bronzer can be to much sometimes. Dust Hoola lightly across cheeks, chin and forehead to achieve an island tan. In my opinion Hoola isn't a very dark color, but it gives just the right amount of color without looking faking or without looking orange.

You can pick up a Hoola bronzer at a benefit counter at Macys, Ulta or a Sephora for $28.00.

xo

Green Tea Benefits

Drinking green tea has so many amazing benefits. Green tea is known to have many health benefits such as cancer fighting agents, weight loss, and the prevention of bad breath and tooth decay. It is full of antioxidants and polyphenols. The polyphenols are thought to aid in weight loss, while the antioxidants help regulate the amount of free radicals in the system which eventually weaken the skin. Drinking green tea will leaving you feeling good from the inside out. 

This antioxidant infused drink helps rejuvenate skin cells, protects against free radicals, and the damaging exposure from the sun.

Sipping on green tea will help with reducing acne. Green tea contains catechins which is known to help the reduction of sebum glands by regulating hormonal levels. 

Makeup for humidity!

When living somewhere where it is very humid, you want to make sure to use makeup products that stay on your skin and not ones that tend to slide right off your face. I live in the Bay Area and it isn't too humid here but my makeup tends to slide right off my face especially since i also have combination skin. Humidity and combination skin do not go together. I was just in Vegas and I was so surprised on how long my makeup lasted there without any retouching and I was one happy girl because of that!

In order to prevent your makeup from sliding off your face, you want to make sure to use POWDERS. Powder foundation, powder concealer if possible and a powder finishing powder. Powder products will absorb oil better than the liquid products. As a primer I like using the Glominerals primer, I feel that using a good primer will help your makeup stay on longer. The foundation that I have been using is the Bare Minerals matte foundation in golden medium and golden tan. This foundation is great for people with oily skin and it stays on for a pretty good amount of time. I like my foundation to be somewhat full coverage and like to apply it with my bare minerals kabuki brush. Bare minerals is also great to conceal with, so once again I am using powder to conceal which will help absorb oil. The next thing I like to use is my benefit hoola bronzer. It is such a nice natural tan looking color that will not turn your orange. The reason that I like beneft hoola is because it is a matte finish which it what you want in humid weather. If your bronzer has a sheen or glitter to it, it might make you look like a grease ball and no one wants to look like that. Next I like to use a setting powder, there's two that I will only use. Uing a setting powder is important because it will help keep all your makeup in place and it will help absorb excess oils from your skin. I like the Bare Escentuals mineral veil and the makeup forever HD finishing powder. The mineral veil has more a pinkish color to it but it is completely translucent and the makeup forever is so white that it might scare some people but once applied to the skin it is also completely translucent and both work on any skin color.

Stick to those guidelines and your makeup should be able to stay on for quite some time. Hope you all have a great day!

xo

Origins VitaZing Review

Origins Vitazing is like a 3 in 1 product that is a moisturizer that hydrates, energizes and protects. It has SPF 15. One of vitazings ingredients is mangosteen which is full of antioxidants. Origins claims that using this product will give you a nice glow that you would have gotten if you we're on vacation. 

Vitazing has a slight fruity smell. It is white in color with tiny grey specks. Once applied on the skin you will notice a slight tint. Your skin looks glowy, refreshed and you look like you got a good night sleep. I do not recommend this if you are looking for a lot of color. I like to use VitaZing alone when my skin is clear and blemish free, because it doesn't not cover blemishes and redness. When I apply VitaZing in the morning, my skin looks energized and it looks like I got my beauty rest. I recommend this for all skin types except for the very oily. I have normal/combination skin and if I use too much, within a couple of hours my skin a bit greasy. All you need is a pea size amount .

A tube of Origins VitaZing is $35 for 1.7 fl. Oz. It seems a bit pricey but it will last you a long time because like I mentioned you only need a pea size amount.

xo

Skin Care Is A Lifestyle

In addition to using skin care products to take care and maintain your skin I believe that there are three ways that can contribute to achieving healthy skin.

Eating Properly
You are what you eat and your skin lets it be known. It is important to stay away from junk and fill up on fresh fruits and vegetables.

Hydration
Drink water as often as you can. What helps detoxify and cleanse the skin from the inside out. It also helps keep the skin hydrated.

Breathe
Oxygen is important for good skin. Taking a few moments each day to slowly inhale and slowly exhale will make a difference. 

Therapon Skin Renewal System

In my teen years I would occasionally get one or two blemishes around that time of month, but as I reached my early 20s I started to notice that I was breaking out much more and my skin was becoming sensitive. I tried a bunch of different product and nothing worked for me. I came across Therapon skin renewal system and I was sent samples to try out and I was so excited to receive them.

I was sent the Skin Renewal System, which is a easy and effective four step process. The system comes with a cleansing wash, fruit acid exfoliant, OPC reparative gel, your choice of: enriched facial moisturizer, gentle facial moisturize, or peptide hydrator and gentle action application pads.

The first step is the Cleansing Wash. Using about a dime-sized amount on damp hands or a wash cloth and massage in a circular motion for about a minute and rinse with warm water. The cleasning wash is also great at removing makeup!

 The second step is the Fruit Acid Exfoliant. This is clinical-strength lactic acid that sloughs off dead dry skin and helps promote new healthy skin cells. Use about 10 drops on the gentle action application pad and apply to face and neck. There is no need to rinse it off.

The third step is the Reparative Gel. Spread a thin layer of the OPC Reparative Gel onto face and neck. OPCs decrease inflammation while protecting and repairing skin collagen and elastin.

The fourth step is the moisturizer. I am using the Peptide Hydrator moisturizer that is  formulated for normal, combination or oil-prone skin. It contains Hyaluronic acid which attracts 1000x its own weight in moisture. This moisturizer provides a light silky finish that will help achieve a flawless makeup application. 

Overall I have been very happy with the results of this skin care system. My skin feels smoother, I have less breakouts and my skin is glowing. 

The travel size kit is $20.00 while the full size system is $140.50 for the one containing the enriched and gentle moisturizer and $150.00 for the one containing the peptide hydrator moisturizer.

Clarisonic Review And A Tip

About a year ago, I enrolled myself in a two semester Esthetician program  and had the chance to attend the Face & Body Spa Conference & Expo of Northern California. The Clarisonic booth was going to be there and I had to visit them. I had heard so many good things about the Clarisonic cleansing system and had to have one of my own. I decided to order the Clarisonic Pro, which came with 3 brush heads, a body brush, 3 sample size face washes and a sample of the body polish.


The Clarisonic claims to

Sonic Cleansing Benefits:

• Removes 6X more makeup than manual cleansing
• Leaves skin feeling and looking smoother
• Removes impurities that keep creams and serums from working their best
• Gentle enough to use twice a day
• Reduces oily areas, dry skin patches and blemishes
• Minimizes the appearance of visible pores

I agree with all those claims! My skin has never felt cleaner and smoother. It has balanced out my skin, I have combination skin and am acne prone. I use my clarisonic two times a day with my Image skincare acne cleansing gel. When I first started to use my clarisonic my skin was purging for about a month and I almost discounted use because I thought to myself, isn't this supposed to help with my breakouts and not actually break me out. I sucked it up and the overall results and benefits are amazing. My skin is smooth, blemish free and supple.

When the Clarisonic is turned on, the brush head pulsates 300x’s per second. This cleansing system is different from all the other ones out on the market because the brush head does not spin or rotate, but it's more of an oscillating/ vibration movement. The oscillating movement helps remove dirt and oil deep down in the pores for better absorption. Whatever you put on after using the clarisonic, that product will penetrate deeper. The deeper penetration of the product will help maximize the benefits of the product weather it be a serum or a moisturizer. 

Once you receive your Clarisonic, you need to charge it for 24 hours. It felt like a lifetime to me because I could not contain my excitement, I wanted to use it right as I took it out of the box, but I couldn't. Once it is charged, wet the brush head and apply a small amount of cleanser to the brush. It is set up to stay on for 60 seconds. It will pause and beep every 10-20 seconds to let you know to switch to a different area of the face. It is typically 20 seconds on the forehead, 20 seconds on the chin and 10 seconds on each cheek. 

Overall I think that having a Clarisonic Cleansing System is worth every penny! I don't ever want to be with out my Clarisonic and I recently did just that. I went to Europe this summer and I figured that I could do without my clarisonic for a month. Boy was I WRONG! After about a week I started to notice that my skin was no longer smooth and that my pores were congested. All I thought to myself was, I could not wait to use my clarisonic again. In fact the exact night I got back home I hopped in the shower and used the Clarisonic on my face. I had never loved it so much. My skin was install smooth, glowing and supple!

Now for the tip! Have you ever thought that it would be cool to have a smaller brush head? Well now you can! Having a smaller brush head will help you focus on certain areas, like in the T-Zone area and all around the nose.

Start by removing the brush head from the clarisonic and turn it over.

As you can see there are three little teeth or hooks that keep it attached to the outside larger brush. You want to press down in the middle and unattach the small middle brush.  

 

Once you have done that just re attach it to the center of the Clarisonic, it will just snap right in.

 

If you want it back to the normal brush head, all you have to do is snap the middle back into the outer brush.

Hope this review was helpful and Happy Cleansing!