My Favorite Face Masks

I've been using face masks for years. I use them more frequently in the winter when it's extremely dry and cold and my skin needs a little extra TLC. Some of these I've been using for a long time, others I have discovered recently.

My All-Time Favorite Foundations at Every Price Point

I thought it would be fun to share some of my favorite foundations with you all.

Palmer's Anti-Itch Skincare Package and a Giveaway!

Pregnancy comes with a whole lot of symptoms - some nice (glowing skin, shiny hair, bigger b**bs!) and some not-so-nice (nausea, swollen legs, sore back, itchy skin). I remember one day back in December, my belly was sooooo itchy from it being stretched, I was scratching all day long (it was so hard NOT to) and I felt like I wanted to crawl out of my skin. And it only got worse at night. I thought to myself, "Dear God, I need some relief! Or else I'm going to scratch 'til I bleed!" Luckily Palmer's Anti-Itch Skincare Package came into my life just in time or else I'd STILL be digging my fingernails into my flesh ; )

The BEST Homemade Belly Butter for Fighting Stretch Marks

After I graduated from high school and entered college I gained a lot of weight really fast and then lost it quickly. (Freshmen 15? More like Freshmen 25!) Unfortunately there was something else I gained in the process while my weight went up - lots of stretch marks - mostly on my hips and thighs. So when I found out I was pregnant, I vowed to try as hard as possible to prevent the little red suckers from showing up anywhere on my body while I was gaining a healthy weight for the baby. I remember there was a homemade belly butter created by Lori Bregman mentioned in Molly Sims' book (below, it's a great read!), which I had come upon a while ago that caught my eye.

Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay - The Holy Grail

Remember when I shared with you the Best Face Mask Ever? Well, step aside Manuka Honey Mask, I have found ANOTHER face mask that will BLOW YOUR MIND!

Pura Botanicals Soiree

Last night I attended a Harvest Garden Soiree at the new Pura Botanicals apothecary and perfumery in downtown Edmonton. It was a magical and intimate evening spent with some of the city's most inspiring bloggers, creatives and entrepreneurs and we all got to create our own custom perfume in the most beautiful and relaxing setting! I had an absolutely wonderful time, (I didn't want to leave) and I am excited to share some photos from the event.

What I'm Loving Lately

Shortalls (also known as short overalls), like these comfy and cute ones Jules is wearing are a big trend this summer and I'm so glad they've made a comeback! I haven't worn overalls since the 10th grade and that was back in the nineties. (I'm old.) P.S. This pair is on sale ; )

Blend & Boost Personalized Skincare

A couple of months ago I was asked to attend an info session at Dr. Neeraj Bector’s aesthetic clinic in

West Edmonton Mall about a new, customized skincare line called Blend & Boost by Medisca. You all know how much I love talking about skincare and how important it is to me, especially now that I’m in my thirties so of course I had to attend! 

What I'm Loving Lately

Dry brushing. I'm hooked on it. I've been dry brushing my entire body every night before I have a bath and have seen great results. All you have to do is purchase a brush, preferably with all-natural bristles (I like this one) and spend five minutes a day brushing your skin, always towards the heart. (Watch a how-to video here.) When you dry brush you stimulate your lymphatic system, exfoliate dead skin, help to reduce cellulite and get rid of toxins in the body. At first it kind of hurts but the more you do it, the more you feel like you're scratching an itch and it will feel good ; ) After I finish my little nightly ritual I slather coconut oil on my body to moisturize. Try it, you won't regret it! It literally takes five minutes and dry brushing is the cheapest and easiest thing you can do to keep your skin looking healthy and young : ).

Repeat Drug Store Buys

As much as I appreciate higher-end beauty products - hello MAC and Sephora - I love a good drug store buy. Here are all the items I purchase over and over again, without the heavy price tag ; )

Save Your Skin This Winter!

I'm not sure where you live but where I'm from: Winter = dry, flaky skin. (I blame it on the harsh -35 degree weather I frequently experience throughout the season!) To help win the battle for healthy skin, above are the products I've tried and tested and will not and cannot go without this winter and below are the reasons why ; )

1. For the lips - LUSH'S Bubblegum Lip Scrub. The ultimate lip exfoliator! Click here to read my review and see a before and after photo.

2. Also for the lips - good old, plain Vaseline. The best lip balm there is. And highly moisturizing.

3. For the face, body and hair - Coconut oil. I've talked about it on my blog numerous times, coconut oil is just that good! It's greasy and oily (obviously) but it's a wonderful, natural moisturizer. Slather it on your body, your face, or use it as a hair mask once a week for deep hydration. You can purchase it at any grocery store.

4. For the hands - DECIEM's Hand Chemistry Intense Youth Complex . What I love about this product is that it targets 8 signs of hand aging and improves firmness, elasticity, density, evenness, brightness, texture, smoothness and hydration while moisturizing at the same time. Extremely light-weight with a pleasant smell, you can buy this cream at Shoppers Drug Mart. (Your dehydrated hands will thank you!)

5. For the body -  Kiehl's Creme de Corps. It's an all-over moisturizer, smooth like butter, it's easy to apply and absorbs quickly. It comes in different sizes, I usually get the big pump bottle. For a cheaper, drug store body lotion, I like Jergens Original Beauty Lotion in the cherry almond scent. It smells so good and costs around $11.00. It's one of my all-time favorite lotions!

Take that, winter!!

My Top 10 Skincare Tips and Secrets

In my last post I shared my skincare routine with you and today I thought I'd follow that up with some tips and secrets for healthy skin that have really helped me : ). Some of these you may have heard of before but I think they're all worth repeating!

1. First tip: Always take your makeup off before you go to bed and wash your face. Always. Even if you've been out partying all night, had too much to drink, can't really walk in a straight line and it's the last thing you want to do. If you don't, your makeup will sink into your skin and clog your pores and make you more prone to pimples the next day. Even if you can't wash your face, at least use makeup wipes to get that gunk off.

2. Always use a moisturizer or better yet - a sunblock - on your face with an SPF of 15 or higher when you're out in the sun. And if your body is exposed, slather it up, too. You don't want to end up looking like this.

3. Stay away from tanning beds. They will age you considerably. I don't care how nice you look with a tan, how are you going to feel when you turn 30 and people think you're forty? Or when the doctor tells you you have skin cancer? And hey, I understand the allure of tanning beds and looking all beach-y and sun-kissed, I used tanning beds to get ready for my Grade 12 prom and for a few months in my early twenties and I really regret it now. I'll take my paste-y white skin over premature wrinkles any day.

4. Use eye cream around your lips to prevent fine lines from forming.

 

Turmeric

5. Add a bit of turmeric to any homemade face mask (I add it to my manuka honey and lemon one). Turmeric (which you can get at the grocery store) has anti-aging, anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties and helps to clear acne scars, nourishes the skin and gives your face a natural glow. Just be careful when you use it, it can be messy and can stain.

6. Make sure when you put moisturizer, creams and serums on your face that you apply them to your neck, too. It needs just as much love as your mug ; ).

 Fruits and veggies are so good for our skin!

7. You are what you eat and what we put into our bodies will show on our skin. Beauty really does start from within. So eat a healthy, balanced diet and drink green juice. Juicing is a great way to get that natural glow! 

8. Drink more water. Drinking 8 or more glasses a day will help rid the body and skin of toxins. Hydration affects the skin, in a good way. (It will help with that glow!)

9. Did you know olive oil is a great, all-natural makeup remover? It can also be used as a moisturizer. My Aunt has only used olive oil on her face for the past 50 years and she has amazing skin!

10. Use Vick's Vapo Rub on pimples to help reduce the size and inflammation and get rid of them faster. Works like a charm!

I hope you guys enjoyed this post! Have a great weekend!

xo

My Skincare Routine

Last week my best friend asked me about my skincare routine and if I could recommend a few good products. My response? "CAN I?! Of course I can!" If you've been reading my blog for awhile you'll know I absolutely LOVE talking about beauty products and I'm especially obsessed with skincare so this is really fun for me! Since my regime has changed since the last time I posted about it back in 2011 I thought this would be the perfect time for an update and to help out my friend at the same time ; ). I'm not gonna lie, I spend a lot of money on skincare, more than I do on clothes, shoes or bags because you can change your clothes but you can't change your face (well, technically with plastic surgery you can but you know what I mean!) And I'm in my thirties now so it's important to me that I age gracefully. It's definitely been an investment but an investment that has been worth it, especially when people say I look younger than I am! (Toot, toot.) So here's my routine:

Morning:

I don't cleanse my face in the morning since I cleanse it the night before and my skin isn't oily, it's sensitive, I just splash water on my face and pat it with a washcloth. Then I spritz on some Yon-Ka Lotion Invigorating Mist Dry Skin Toner which refreshes and hydrates the skin. Before I apply any makeup I use Vivierskin Serum 20 Antioxidant Serum with L-Ascorbic Acid USP (which I've been using since I was 25! It has the highest grade Vitamin C available which is important because as you age you lose this nutrient over time), Algenist Complete Eye Renewal Balm underneath and around my eyes and Yon-Ka Creme PS Age Defense for Dry Skin on my face and neck. In the spring/summer when I spend more time in the sun I use Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer with SPF 15 which you can read about here or an actual sunblock like Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Face Sunscreen in SPF 60. I also like Cetaphil Daily Facial Moisturizer with SPF 15. You can get both of these at the drugstore.

At night: I take off my makeup with MAC wipes (not pictured) then I cleanse my skin with NeoStrata Gel Cleanser with glycolic acid which removes the outer layer of dead skin cells on the surface of the skin using my Clarisonic Mia (if you don't have one you must get one, read about it here). I wait 15 minutes and then I apply Retin-A Micro gel. ***If you are looking to prevent wrinkles, I highly recommend using Retin-A. You need a prescription for it in Canada, so I get it from my doctor. But be warned, Retin-A is extremely potent, it will dry out your skin and it'll get worse before it gets better, it took my skin months to get used to but I waited it out and I'm glad I did, it's the best anti-wrinkle cream I've found. After applying the Retin-A I wait 15 more minutes for it to sink in and then I apply Yon-Ka Phyto-Contour Eye Cream for Puffiness and Dark Circles (I've been genetically "blessed" with dark under-eye circles unfortunately) and I either use G.M. Collin A.G.E. Total Defence Antioxidants + Peptides or Coconut Oil for a nightly moisturizer. I'll use coconut oil 80% of the time. This is the cheapest product I purchase and the most moisturizing, you can get it at the grocery store, so if you're on a budget I suggest using this.

Once a week I will either use REN's Glycol Lactic Radiance Renewal Mask or this homemade manuka honey face mask (which is AMAZING!!) I also use Yon-ka's Masque No. 1 for deep hydration weekly. I used to get microdermabrasion done about every 3 months as well as facials but now it's about every 4-5 months or so. I don't get Botox yet but I am not opposed to it and will probably entertain the idea in the future. I'm not trying to prevent myself from aging, I mean you can't, everyone is going to age and get wrinkles! I just want to do it gracefully and delay it a bit if possible and it's possible if you take good care of your skin. I know I use a lot of different products, if I had to recommend only 4 products for women who are in their late twenties/thirties/forties and beyond I would suggest #1 Retin-A, #2 A vitamin C serum #3 A good moisturizer (like coconut oil) #4 Sunblock for the face.

I hope you enjoyed reading this post as much as I enjoyed writing it! If you have any questions about any of these products please leave a comment in the comment section below and I'll respond. And stay tuned for my next post where I'll share some of my other skincare tips and secrets ; ).

My Favorite Earth-Friendly Beauty Products

In honor of Earth Day today I thought I'd share 3 of my favorite Eco-friendly skincare products with my lovely readers. I use these every single day:

#1 Burt's Bees Beeswax Lip Balm - I keep one in my purse, one in my jacket pocket, one next to my bed and one on my makeup table at all times. And there are probably a couple in the crook of my couch somewhere, too ; ). This balm is very nourishing. And 100 % natural. 

#2 Organic Virgin Coconut Oil - I've talked about my love for coconut oil before, I use it on my face and body as a moisturizer, and once a week I put it in my hair for 30 minutes, let it sit and then wash it out to make my locks soft and shiny. Virgin coconut oil is made naturally and free of harsh chemicals.

#3 Dr. Bronner's Magic Soap (Peppermint)- I use this delicious-smelling soap as a body wash. It leaves my skin feeling clean and refreshed. This company makes socially and environmentally responsible products of the highest quality and dedicate their products to helping make a better world and that makes me feel good using it : ).

Happy Earth Day! And let's be kind to our planet : ).

From the Kitchen to Your Skin

Helloooo my lovely readers! Today I wanted to share with you a few skincare products I use that come from my kitchen. They are much cheaper than higher-end skincare lines and they work just as well.

Castor Oil - used to lubricate kitchen scissors and other utensils that touch food (and also to induce pregnancy and stop constipation!!!), I put castor oil on my thighs to help with cellulite. You can also apply it to the ends of your hair, on your face, and anywhere else on your body - it will soften and moisturize the skin.

Manuka Honey - this tastes delicious on toast but I also put a tablespoon of this honey in my homemade face mask. (Read all about the best face mask EVER, right here.) 

Extra Virgin Olive Oil - many use olive oil to cook with but did you know you can also use it as a face wash and moisturizer? My Aunt, who's in her 60's, has used olive oil since she was twenty and she doesn't look a day over fifty thanks to its anti-aging properties. You can put it in your hair, too. (Just make sure you wash it out after!)

Organic Coconut Oil - ok, so this isn't a secret, you've probably heard all of the wonderful health benefits of using coconut oil in food and on the skin and I'm here to tell you it works! This oil is super-moisturizing, I apply it generously to my face and body at least 3 times a week. I live in a very dry climate so my skin soaks this stuff up. It's greasy and oily (of course) but it doesn't leave a stain on your pillow if you put it on right before you go to sleep (like I do all the time). And it smells sooooo good!

There you have it. It's nice to be able to get your money's worth when purchasing something, especially if it has more than one use! You can find all of these products at your grocery store or local organic market.

Yon-Ka Skincare Review

A couple of years ago I went for a facial at a spa where the esthetician used a certain product line on my face that made my skin feel extremely moisturized and hydrated. And I remember thinking, "I need to remember the name of this skincare line so I can purchase the same products once I run out of the ones I'm using at home!" But of course I forgot. Fast forward to a couple of months ago when Yon-Ka sent me the above products to try for 4 weeks and it clicked: I remembered Yon-Ka was the line the esthetician used! (I called the spa to confirm.) Needless to say, I was very excited to try out these products.

The Yon-Ka brand was created in France in 1954 and provides skin with the most precious parts of plants and active ingredients - vitamins, fruit acids, polyphenols, peptides and oligo-elements. The heart of Yon-Ka's products consists of a unique blend of 5 essential oils: lavender, geranium, rosemary, cypress and thyme that enhance the effectiveness of the natural active ingredients from plants all over the world. Yon-Ka offers every person a customized solution to various skin issues and the promise of visible, lasting results.

Essentials Lait Nettoyant Cleansing Milk for Face and Eyes - This is a 2-in-1 cleanser plus eye makeup remover. It was very gentle on my somewhat sensitive skin and left it feeling soft and smooth and most importantly, clean! I loved that I could use it to remove eye makeup and mascara, too.

Essentials Lotion Yon-ka Invigorating Mist - I used this after washing my face with the cleansing milk. It's an alcohol-free mist that helps to revitalize and refresh the skin. It's essentially a toner, all you have to do is spray it on your face and use your fingers to rub it in. It has a beautiful scent. I never used to use a toner but going forward I definitely will. It really wakes up my skin and helps prepare my face for any other creams I put on it during the day, and at night. Plus it helps with my extremely dry skin!

Age Defense Vital Defense Anti-Oxidant - This is a great anti-aging cream that fights damaging environmental factors like pollution, smoking, exposure to UV rays, etc. I put it on in the morning, after using the Lotion Yon-Ka and my skin drank it up. It's very easy to apply, as the texture is quite creamy. I only wish it had an SPF rating, especially now that I'm spending more time outside as the weather gets warmer.

Age Correction Elastine Nuit Smoothing Wrinkle Remover - I used this as my night cream. It's very rich and nourishing, helping to minimize the appearance of lines and wrinkles. I felt it really firmed my skin and smoothed the lines around my mouth.

Age Defense Masque No. 1 Intense Hydration Repairing - An anti-aging gel-cream mask, I put this on once a week after applying the Elastine Nuit. You don't have to wash it off, you can go to bed with it on (after you wait a few minutes) and wake up with beautiful, moisturized skin. I think this was what the esthetician used on me that one time and it really wowed me. Living in an extremely dry climate, this mask is my savior!

Contours Phyto-Contour for Eyes - Out of all the eye creams I have ever tried (and I have tried a LOT), this is THE BEST one. I have really bad, dark, under eye circles (see here) and I noticed them lighten up after using this eye cream for the 4 weeks. It also reduced the appearance of the fine lines around my eyes. It has a strong smell, kind of like Vick's Vapo Rub but I don't mind it. Tip: Even though this is an "eye" cream, I also put it above my top lip, which, like the skin around the eyes, is very delicate.

Here's a non-photo-shopped picture of me a couple of days ago (in my bathrobe!). After using Yon-ka products for 4 weeks, my skin has become so much clearer and my under eye circles no longer frightening that I don't need to wear foundation anymore! All I'm wearing here (on top of the Yon-ka products) is tinted moisturizer, a bit of concealer under my eyes and blush. It looks like my T-Zone is oily but I can assure you that's just the flash from my camera ; ). I am extremely pleased with what Yon-ka has done for my skin. I feel like I look more youthful after the 4 weeks (I'm in my 30's) and my skin is refreshed and hydrated. I thought my skin was so dry, especially around my eyes (and the climate I lived in was so dry) that no moisturizer or cream would help, I had tried so many, but Yon-Ka has proven me wrong. 

For more info on Yon-Ka products, you can click here and/or call 1-800-361-1263 to order.
Yon-Ka Canada is also on Facebook.

***I want to note that I still used Retin-A and Vitamin C Serum (which I've been using for years) while trying these products. I was not compensated for this post, Yon-ka sent me these products for review only.

Six Picks (What I'm Loving Right Now)

Kelly Oxford's "Everything Is Perfect When You're a Liar." It's a book of essays the hilarious Twitter Queen and hot mom of three wrote and it's laugh-out-loud funny. I read it in two days. I've been following Kelly Oxford on Twitter for a couple of years now (along with her other half-a-million followers) and when I found out she had a book coming out I pre-ordered it right away. I don't normally buy books either, I borrow them from the library but I knew this one was going to be good and that I'd read it more than once. And what's really cool is that she was born and raised in Edmonton! (She's now living and working in Hollywood.) This book is a great read, right up there with Tina Fey's "Bossy Pants" and Mindy Kaling's "Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?" Funny stuff, kids.

VOLUSPA candles. I got mine at LUX Beauty Boutique. The containers for these candles are gorgeous, don't you think? And they burn forever. This scent is quite light. D. can't stand strong-smelling candles, he says they give him a headache so this one is perfect for our home.

 This perfect Walker Leather Biker Jacket from ALLSAINTS.  Must. Save. Up. 

Tracy Anderson workouts. I started doing the mat workout DVD on the left a couple of years ago and I liked it but I thought it was reeeeeally hard. I ended up yelling expletives at my T.V. and talking directly to Tracy as if she was in my living room: "Do I really need to do FORTY REPS on one side?! And how come you're not even breaking a sweat and I'm drenched?!" Fast forward to a couple of weeks ago when I thought I'd stop being such a wuss and give it another try and I did it 4 times last week and even ordered the Metamorphosis DVD pack to switch things up a bit. Still waiting for it to arrive in the mail...Hey, if I can get a body like Gwyneth Paltrow's (who is one of many Tracy's celebrity clients), I'm willing to do the work! Just not 6 days a week like Tracy recommends. Really, who has time to work out 6 days a week?! GWYNETH PALTROW DOES. 

I was given a couple of samples of REN's Glycol Lactic Radiance Renewal Mask at LUX Beauty Boutique's Birthday last weekend and all I can say is OH MY GOD. My skin felt and looked tighter and brighter after using it. It didn't irritate my skin at all, which I thought might happen. I need to go back and purchase a bottle!

Amanda Bynes' Twitter page. I was hesitant to post this because she's obviously suffering from a mental breakdown and I don't want to come across as making fun of her (but I will come across that way, I know). I really do hope she gets some help as she clearly needs it. But, I have to be honest with you, I check her crazy Twitter page twice a day! With tweets like "I want Drake to murder my v*gina," and "I can't wait to go down on this food," reading her feed is sometimes the highlight of my day, and of course very entertaining. She's a complete train wreck and I can't help that I find her utterly fascinating, kind of like when Britney Spears was going off the deep end circa 2007. I felt sorry for her, but I couldn't help watching her downfall. It's like when you drive by a car crash, you can't not look, you know? You can close your eyes but you know you're gonna peek!

Happy Almost Friday!

GM Collin Review

You may know this already but I love cosmetics and skincare products just as much as I love fashion so I was more than happy to review a few products from GM Collin. GM Collin was founded in France in 1957 but since the early 1990's the skincare line has been manufactured and adapted by a Montreal-based company called Dermo-Cosmetik Laboratories, to suit the North American climate which, where I live, is EXTREMELY dry. I used the products (more about each of them below) for 4 weeks. In the above pictures you can see three photos: the first one I took before I started using GM Colin, the second one is 4 weeks after and the last one is of me with makeup on. (I had to include one of me with makeup on so I wouldn't scare my readers away! I was very nervous posting photos of my bare face but there you have it!) I should mention here that I continued using Retin-A, which I've been using for years, and my Vivier Vitamin C Serum in conjunction with these products.

What impressed me most about the products was how deeply hydrated and moisturized my skin felt after using them. I don't think I can go back to using my regular day and night cream after experiencing GM Collin. Before, when I applied concealer to my under eye circles (which are horrible, see here), especially in the winter, the concealer would dry and seep into my fine lines and "crack", it would look very crusty in that area. That doesn't happen anymore, plus my eye circles aren't as dark now and my skin is also much clearer.

To read more about each product I used scroll down:

Hydramucine Cleansing Milk - It actually felt like I was washing my face with milk! This cleanser is very creamy and did a great job removing my makeup, while using my Clarisonic and didn't irritate my sensitive skin.

Hydramucine Treating Mist - I used this right after the cleansing milk and it left my skin feeling fresh and hydrated. Also helps to absorb the products you put on your face after using the mist.

Hydramucine Optimal Cream - I used this during the day, before applying my makeup. The cream is velvety-smooth and super-moisturizing. Makes my skin feel so soft. The only thing that I don't like about this cream is that it doesn't have SPF in it. I wouldn't wear it in the summer, I would use GM Collin SPF 30 Cream instead.

A.G.E. Total Defense - This is an anti-aging cream packed with 8 antioxidants and 5 peptides that combat the signs of aging. I used this at night, all over my face and under my eyes. I found that it decreased the appearance of my fine lines, evened out my skin tone and made my skin brighter. I don't like the packaging though because whenever I tried to open the cap, the whole top would come off and I'd have to screw it back on!

Instant Radiance Anti-Aging Eye Patches - Loved these! I put them under my eye area for 20 minutes and they really did instantly reduce the appearance of my fine lines, under eye bags and dark circles. These are very soothing for the delicate skin around the eyes and great for the morning after a long night out ; ).

Overall, I was really impressed with this skincare line and what it had to offer. And even though these products were sent to me free of charge to review, I would purchase them myself. They are a little pricey but so worth it. I make sure to invest in high quality skin care, especially now that I'm out of my twenties and I have to think about wrinkles and aging! I want to age gracefully. Plus, the skin is the largest organ in the body, you need to treat it well : ).

To find out where you can buy these products in your area you can visit this site and call:1-800-361-1263.

The Best Face Mask I've Ever Tried

Guys, I just have to share this face mask with you that I've added to my skincare routine. It has me really excited! I tried it after my friend Lisa, who writes the popular lifestyle blog Life by Leese (you should be following it!) recommended it as a facial treatment. I'm so glad she did because it is hands down the BEST face mask I've ever tried. All you need is 1 tablespoon of Manuka honey (found at health food stores, I found mine at Planet Organic) and a couple slices of lemon. Mix the lemon juice with the honey, apply to face, let it sit for 30 minutes and wash off. It's sticky, gooey and messy but it will make your face feel as smooth as a baby's bottom and will give you that healthy glow. Lisa says you can also add turmeric to the mix to help with redness. To read more about Manuka honey and its healing properties please click here. It's quite expensive, one jar cost me 28 dollars but I can easily get 20 + treatments out of it. And honestly, it's so worth it!

Products I'm Loving Right Now

It's been awhile since I've done a "product post" so I thought I'd share with you some of my favorites I've been using lately.

Kiehl's Epidermal Re-Texturizing Micro-Dermabrasion - Micro-Dermabrasion at a spa or dermatologist's office is quite expensive so I use this once or twice a week instead. It's very abrasive (just like real micro-dermabrasion) but it leaves my skin feeling smoother and looking clearer. And very red! But the redness goes away overnight, thank goodness.

Kiehl's Creme de Corps - My friend recommended this body lotion to me. It's for extremely dry skin, which I have, especially in the winter. This lotion is very moisturizing and easy to apply all over. Love it.

fresh Black Tea Age-Delay Eye Cream - I went into Sephora a couple of weeks ago and asked for a very moisturizing eye cream to use during the winter and the woman that was helping me recommended this. It's super-hydrating. I use it at night and in the morning I use Algenist's Eye Renewal Balm. (I wrote about that eye cream here.)

Kerastase Masque Force Architecte - A hair mask I use once a week and it helps to replenish and strengthen my mop. Great to use in between hair appointments.

What products are you loving lately? 

So I think it would be insensitive of me to not acknowledge what happened over the weekend with the Sandy Hook tragedy so I just wanted to say my thoughts and prayers are with the victims, their families, the survivors, and the community. I can't imagine how hard this must be for them. What is this world coming to? Just a couple of days before the incident, the bank a friend of ours was working at was robbed, he called the police and the gunman was shot down when he wouldn't drop his weapon. This will affect our friend for the rest of his life, just like Sandy Hook has forever changed the world and the innocence of those helpless children. It's so very sad. Americans need more gun control and easier access to affordable, quality mental health care for those that clearly need it (and for their families) so that a tragedy like this can be prevented in the future. And they need our prayers. Lots and lots of prayers.