Beauty Essentials
Tis the season for complexion issues – From sunburns to flaky, dried skin to sunscreen & oil induced blemishes – Summer can be rough on your skin. And since taking care of your face is extra important this time of year I’d like to share some of my skin care secrets as well as some great tips & recommendations that I found on other sites.
Exfoliator: My number one go-to product during the Summer is an exfoliating scrub – I love the feeling of fresh, clean skin. And while I’ve tried many many brands, I always go back to St. Ives Apricot Scrub. It’s the Little Black Dress of exfoliating – A classic. 🙂
Lotion: A good moisturizer is a must during warm weather months and if you use it religiously you’ll keep your skin soft and manageable all Summer long. My current favorite is Clarins Extra-Firming Night Cream which feels great when you slather it on and you wake-up with your skin feeling great.
BB Cream: At this point I don’t think that we can claim that BB Cream is just a fly-by-night trend, it seems to be here to stay. With so many choices & brands out there, I’ve found myself trying new ones from time to time, but my favorite so far is Dior Hydra Life BB Crème. It goes on light but is quite effective, which is perfect for the warm-weather months.
Below are some great pieces from around the blogosphere featuring well-loved beauty & skin care products as well as tips for great Summer skin.
- Beauty Secrets From Top Bloggers from The Rachel Zoe Report
- How To Look Good Wet from Harper’s Bazaar
- The Essential Pro Advice (& Products!) To Beat Summer Breakouts from Refinery 29
- My Favorite Skin Care Products from This Chick’s Got Style
- Summer Skin from Allergic To Vanilla
What’s your favorite trick to keep your skin healthy & glowing for the Summer months?
{Giveaway} And The Winner Is…
First, a big thank you to everyone who entered the Sephora Giveaway. I absolutely adore all of my readers and loved this opportunity to give back to the people who have been so generous with their support and kindness. I’ll plan another postapocalyptic giveaway for the beginning of 2013 so that I can treat a few more fabulous readers to some much-deserved goodies.
Now down to the good stuff – Drumroll please – The winner of the Sephora giveaway is… Vanessa Kritlow whose response to my question was:
I’d have to say my favorite beauty product is a good mascara. I’d never leave the house without at LEAST that on. Gym included. 🙂
Miss Kritlow, please email me your contact information – including your address – and I’ll have your Sephora bag sent out today! I’d also love to hear your thoughts on these products, so feel free to send me your reviews and I’ll be sure to include them in my next beauty products overview.
Have a great Friday everyone and be sure to stay tuned for a fun questionnaire tomorrow!
Sephora Giveaway!
After my recent Beauty Product Lovin’ post it’s clear that there are lots of ladies out there who are in the market for some new products to add to their daily routine and who like to hear “real” feedback before they buy. Since I’d like to help spread knowledge AND products I’m going to give away a Sephora bag PACKED with new makeup & beauty product samples for a lucky reader to try out.
From sunscreen to cleanser to foundation to perfume, believe me when I say that this bag has it all! While I wont divulge the contents in advance – a girl need a little mystery after all – I will give you a sneak peek and a few hints about the brands.
{Cartier, Sephora, Clarins Paris, Doctor T’s Supergoop, Nars, L’Occitane, Shiseido, Narciso Rodriguez, and Chanel – To name a few…}
Entering this little contest is QUICK & EASY – I promise – There are TWO different ways to enter so pick either of the simple options below and you could have some fun new products to try out in just a few days!
- Leave a comment below telling me what your favorite beauty product is OR what’s at the top of your Must Have list right now
- Leave a comment on Facebook telling me what your favorite beauty product is OR what’s at the top of your Must Have list right now
You can pick ANY beauty products – whether it’s skin care or makeup – it doesn’t just have to be something you found at Sephora. I will randomly pick a winner next Friday, December 21st & if this turns out to be a well-loved giveaway I’ll do another one in January!
* Please note that the products that I’m giving away are smaller/sample sizes not full-sized and that this giveaway is not sponsored by Sephora – I purchased the products myself
Links You’ll Love
Fashion:
Finding a stylish, warm coat for Winter that you can wear in various situations – Everything from over a dress for a night out on the town to picking out a Christmas tree with your family – Can be a challenge. Too thin. Too thick. Too expensive. But Refinery 29 is here to save the day so check out their 10 Casual-Cool Coats To Keep You Warm On The Weekends and find the perfect Winter coat for you.
The oh-so-stylish Karolina Kurkova has done it yet again – It takes a master to pair plaid, white cropped pants, and flat ankle boots and look this good, so WhoWhatWear helps us out by breaking down her fabulous look so that we can recreate it ourselves in their Why It Works: Karolina Kurkova.
I like to mix up my beauty routine by changing products, trying new brands, and cycling great drug store finds into my morning routine {see MCLV’s Makeup Bag & MCLV’s Medicine Cabinet for more}. Glitter Guide agrees and have laid out all of their favorites for you to try – Our Top 20 Drugstore Beauty Buys.
If you’re like me, wrestling with your locks each morning and trying to find an acceptable arrangement isn’t your favorite thing to do each day. Luckily Style Bistro picked some great hairstyles from the runways and laid out the basic for us hair novices – 15 DIY Hairstyle Ideas Straight From The Runway.
If the studded, spiked & leather adorned world of Lisbeth Salander is your fashion fantasy you must check out Catwalk Azure’s The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo post for some sartorial inspiration.
Health & Nutrition:
After reading Organice Your Life’s Salad Making For Dummies you’ll have no more excuses for not making yourself a quick, healthy, nutritious dinner each night!
Eat protein. Don’t eat protein. It seems like there’s always a new study relating to protein consumption and health or weight loss, but reading up on the topic can help you make healthier choices, just be sure to keep an eye out for future research! Eat THIS, Lose Weight from Women’s Health.
Living a healthy life means more than just keeping an eye on your waistline, especially as you get older, you need to pay attention to the tests that your doctors run – Including your blood pressure. The Huffington Post’s Ways To Lower Blood Pressure: Exercise, Meditation, Diet And More.
With the hectic, non-stop holiday season upon us it’s easier to grab a sugary snack and try to relax on the couch when we have a few extra minutes but trust me, you’ll feel MUCH better if you use those few precious minutes to sneak in a quick workout! Check out Refinery 29’s 10 Minute Workout.
I’ve had a number of friends over the years who suffered from season depression – A number of whom were Southern California natives who had trouble adapting to the foggy, rainy Bay Areas winters in college. Gala Darling to the rescue! How To Beat The Winter Blues: DENIAL Is Key!
Shenanigans
As I’m sure you’ve already picked up, I’m a big fan of Fall in general and Halloween in particular {Fall Fabulousness, All Hallow’s Eve & October Round-Up}. This year I was lucky enough to attend two fabulous Halloween parties in Sacramento as well as act as American River CrossFit’s team photograph for CrossFit West Sac’s charity Breast Cancer competition.
This year I was excited to dress up twice, the first time as Wendy from Peter Pan in a vintage yellow nightgown and the second time as The Black Dahlia in a fabulous little black dress that my friend made.
But don’t worry, I’m not the only one who dressed up for Halloween this year. Bones dressed up as a CHICKEN! Again. Clearly it’s his favorite costume, doesn’t he look enthusiastic?
{Mammograms In Action – Barbells For Boobs}
And the day before Halloween I watched the exciting Barbells For Boobs charity CrossFit competition which included every shade of pink known to man and even Jessica Rabbit in a stunning red gown.
How was your Halloween? What did you dress up as? What was the best costume that you saw?
Links You’ll Love
Fashion:
Outerwear is always one of my favorite parts about dressing for Fall, and with all of the fun patterned and colorful blazers in stores this season I’m even more excited than usual. Not sure where to start? Time to check in with the experts! The Glitter Guide’s Fall Shopping Guide: Blazers.
One of my new favorites to keep an eye on during Fashion Month is Russian designer and photographer Ulyana Sergeenko. Her style is dramatic, eye-catching, and perfectly over-the-top. And luckily for us fashion lovers she’s just one of many chic up and coming Russian fashionistas making the scene these days! You’ll thank me after you check out all of these lovely ladies in Bougeotte’s Modern Russian Czarinas Are Being Born.
Beauty lovers have been buzzing about the new Courtin-Clarins beauty blog that launched last month. If you haven’t gotten a chance to see what these French beauties have to say now’s the time! WhoWhatWear – The Scoop: Claire & Virginie Courtin-Clarins.
Patterned pants and all-over-prints on suits and shorts suits are all things that I’m excited to wear this Fall and next Spring, so why not check out some fabulous versions worn lately to get you in the mood? The Next Evolution of Fashion’s Print Obsession: The Printed Suit.
I recently discovered a fun new fashion blog that I’d love to share – Advanced Style was created by Ari Seth Cohen and celebrates the fabulous fashion of the older generations. As someone who grew up on Audrey Hepburn and Cary Grant movies, couldn’t wait to start working after college so I could have a formal wardrobe, and dresses up to travel – this is right up my alley. I love the formality and classic approach to fashion celebrated by previous generations and this website is a great place to find stunning photographs of just that. Enjoy!
Health & Fitness:
I remember thinking at 18 that 30 was so old but now as I’m swiftly approaching the big three-oh my thinking has changed – I’m looking forward to the things that I’m going to accomplish in my thirties, the goals I’m going to set, the places I’m going to visit. Needless to say I was thrilled when I saw this article – Does life really begin at 30?
Sweet potatoes are a great favorite of mine – I love that there are an endless number of recipes that you can make with them, from snacks to savory dinner to sweet desserts. Versatile and delicious, what more could a girl want? More recipes to try of course! 10 Healthy Sweet Potato Recipes: Easy and tasty sweet potato recipes, each with about 300 calories or less.
Finding new recipes, reading about food, health & nutrition, and finding great food blogs written by creative, passionate people are some of my favorite pastimes so I was thrilled when Green Thickies posted a list of the their favorite blogs – Some I already knew and others I eagerly looked up. I had dozens of recipes printed in minutes! 🙂 Check out 8 Best Vegan Blogs for links and recipes to try!
Sometimes when I look at a recipe I’ll immediately think “no” in my mind when I look at the amount of oil, butter, or sugar being recommended. Rather than count certain recipes out, we can substitute healthier, nutritious ingredients for the more calorically dense, fattening ones. Apple sauce is one of my go-to ingredients to lighten up a recipe, but for Fall why not try pumpkin? How to Substitute Pumpkin Puree For Butter and Oil.
Speaking of pumpkin, this was one of the first pumpkin recipes I made this season when Trader Joe’s started stocking the shelves with canned pumpkin – How To Make A Quick Healthy Pumpkin Pie Fudge. So. Good.
All Hallow’s Eve
As October progresses the reminders that it’s holiday season are everywhere – Store decorations, TV commercials, sale annoucements, magazine advertisements… Luckily for me the holiday season begins with my favorite holiday, because as much as I adore candy canes and the scent of evergreen, I’m a Halloween girl.
You get to be a kid for a day – Candy, costumes, pranks, parties, and a general feeling of nostalgia and excitement – What’s not to love?
When it comes to costumes I’ll always choose innovative & novel over skin-baring. In recent years I’ve been Holly Golightly from Breakfast At Tiffany’s, Cleopatra, a Venetian Carnival reveller, and Twiggy. I’ve seen so many creative costumes over the years that I’m at a loss for why you’d want to pick a cookie-cutter one when you could put a little effort in and end up with something one-of-a-kind that you absolutely love.
So with that in mind here are some fun links to get your creative juices flowing for this year’s costume!
The Man Repeller’s For Halloween – Her fun suggestions include: Steve Jobs, Rupaul, Frida Kahlo, Margot Tenenbaum, Larry David & Richard Harrow.
If you’re in the mood for a fashion-forward costume check out Fashionologie’s Fashion in Costume: A Look Back at Halloweens Past for great inspiration from models, fashion designers, and couture collections.
If you’re not interested in spending a fortune on your costume, want to find something wholly unique, or even if want a costume made up of pieces that you can wear again, heading to a vintage shop is a great option. Fun ideas from Refinery 29’s How To Thirft 6 Super-Easy Halloween Costumes include Martha Stewart, fisherman from The Deadliest Catch, and The Rockettes.
Doing your makeup for Halloween can be one of the most fun parts of getting ready. Whether you’re recreating Cleopatra’s famous exotic kohl-lined eyes, adding oozing sores & blood for a Walking Dead-inspired get up, or whiting your face out so you can be a Vampire or mime. The Glamourai put together fabulous tutorials to help you perfect the makeup for your costumes – Everything from the wide-eyed look of the 60’s to the glamorous white-faced Geishas to Bogie-inspired detectives – { DIY } Halloween Beauty Ideas, { Behind The Scenes } Spooktacular Beauty & { Ghoul’s Night Out }.
As for my costume this year I wanted to be the Mad Hatter… But the costume I ordered didn’t fit. Either of them. 😦
But with a last-minute party scheduled for this evening in Sacramento and no costume planned yet I’ll be giving you hints and sneak peeks of my shopping & planning all day today… So be sure to keep an eye on Twitter, Facebook, and/or Instagram for updates!
- Twitter – You can follow me on Twitter @moicontrelavie
- Facebook– You can LIKE my Facebook page here
- Instagram – You can follow me on Instagram @moicontrelavie
Have you picked your Halloween costume yet? What’s the most creative costume that you’ve ever worn?
Links You’ll Love
Health & Fitness:
I was quite the little baker this Summer and I have to say that this was one of the tastiest and most creative recipes that I tried out – Dark Chocolate Cherry Zucchini Bread.
A short, energizing yoga workout is a great way to de-stress and stretch out after a long day at the office in your desk chair – Women’s Health yoga video.
Love Thy Self! Gala Darling agrees and wants to help you – 10 Radical Self Love Exercises To Boost Your Summer Lovin’!
A vegetable stir fry with either a grain or soy, tempeh, or tofu is one of my favorite quick & easy mid-week dinners so I enjoy finding new sauces and combinations to try out, like Peas And Thank You’s Szechuan Broccoli and Quinoa.
You don’t need a full hour for a workout to be beneficial, fit in some walking and short bursts of exercise whenever you can! Before work, during your lunch break, before a class starts – Get Fit In Only Fifteen Minutes.
Fashion:
Being able to break out all of your jeans is one of the fun things about Fall dressing. Check out FabSugar’s The Ultimate Fall Denim Guide — Every Trend, Cut, Color, and Fit.
My favorite part about Fall is the outerwear – I love full ankle-length coats, peacoats, trenches, blazers, basically anything that I can get my hands on – Coat Check: How to Take Your Look in a Ladylike Direction.
Most of us wish we could get more sleep, so why not save a few precious minutes in the morning by speeding up your beauty and makeup routine? How To Do Your Makeup In 5 Minutes (Really!)
Dressing for work doesn’t need to be boring, from colorful separates to chic suits to fabulous sheath dresses, Harper’s Bazaar has the answers – Stylish Work Clothes.
Celebrate Breast Cancer Awareness month with some stylish pink finds – From beauty products to accessories and jewelry, no matter what you’re in the mood for you can support this great cause. Mama’s A Rolling Stone – Our 6 Favorite Breast Cancer Awareness Products.
Links You’ll Love – NYFW Edition
Welcome to the New York Fashion Week edition of our Sunday Links You’ll Love posts. This week will be all about New York Fashion – From the style on the streets to tips from the models who walked the runways to beauty & skin products that have been tested.
Fashion:
It’s always fun to see the developing trends that emerge from the tents – Patterns, silhouettes, color scheme – 12 Fresh Trends With Serious Staying Power.
A big part of who’s wearing what is their accessories – The bags they’re carrying, the sunglasses they picked, the jewelry that was added, the hats they chose, the lipstick color that was worn – Fall Fashion Accessories for NYFW Spring 2013 – What to Wear to Fashion Week.
What the fashion insiders, models, bloggers, and Hollywood stars are wearing on the streets, to the shows, and at the afterparties of NYFW is nearly as important – and photographed – as what the designers send down the runways. Refinery 29 – What 5 Top Editors Are Wearing To NYFW.
Vogue offers a video overview of New York Fashion Week – This Is New York: A Look Back at Fashion Week Spring 2013.
Health & Beauty:
As far as I’m concerned the products that the Fashion Week attendees use to keep their skin and hair healthy during one of the most intense and hectic times of the year are worth knowing about. Fashion Indie and WhoWhatWear certainly seem to agree:
- Beauty: How To Survive Fashion Week
- What We Pack: Fashion Week Beauty Essentials
- Anatomy Of A Fashion Week Beauty Look
Curious how the models prepare for and survive four weeks of Fashion Weeks twice a year? Check out this Harper’s Bazaar piece featuring Supers Natasha Poly, Jourdan Dunn, Arizona Muse, Miranda Kerr, and Candice Swanepoel talking healthy breakfasts, workouts, and must have beauty products – Top Models’ Secrets Revealed.
Horrifying! If you want to learn to appreciate your figure better read this scary account of some of the horrifying things that models do to stay thin from Refinery 29 – The Dangerous Lengths Some Models Go To Stay Skinny.
What’s your favorite part about New York Fashion Week? What do you look forward to most about the shows?
Links You’ll Love
Fashion:
There’s a new “It” beauty blog in town brought to us by the fashionable French “It” girls the Courtin-Clarins. So if you’re in the mood for some tips, ideas, and/or product reviews head over to Beauty Flash Blog for more!
Project time! Want to create your own chic sunglasses rack? Frassy Life has you covered with this fun and oh-so-easy version that you can do with simple things you’ve probably already got on hand.
Rachel Zoe’s jewelry line is full of fun, funky, retro-inspired pieces that can work with just about any look or destination. Don’t believe me? The stylist put together some killer looks for her pieces just to prove it – Day, Night & Workwear.
Sometimes a fashionista’s gotta do what a fashionista’s gotta do! Essential Indulgences for Fashion Bloggers – What are your indulgences and must haves?
I love discovering designers or an exciting new esthetic that suits my personal style to perfection. And with Fashion Week Month just starting, now’s the time to keep your eyes peeled! Check out The Ones To Watch from Harper’s Bazaar or Olivia Palermo’s Lines We Love: Chinti and Parker or Lines We Love: Anndra Neen.
If you’re starting to think about your Fall 2012 wardrobe why not get some recommendations from the fashionable editors over at Harper’s Bazaar? Smart Shopoing – Cheap Designer Clothes & Accessories.
Health & Fitness:
You know me, I’m a smoothie girl through and through. So was I ever excited when I heard that it was recently International Green Smoothie Day! PARADE! TICKER TAPE! Top 10 Green Smoothie Recipes: International Green Smoothie Day.
Desserts can be healthy. Or, just not as bad. So why not try something new and exciting like Persian Ice Cream, Sweet Strawberry Ice Cream with Chocolate Sauce, or – Go Cuckoo For Coconut Milk Ice Cream.
Snacking is a crucial part of my daily life. Making sure that my blood sugar doesn’t drop so I don’t end up cranky OR binging and falling into a food coma is important. Need some fun new ideas to shake things up? The Hungry Hungry Hippie has you covered – Vegetarian Snack Ideas.
I love going to the farmer’s market but we all know the tragedy of fruits & veggies going bad before we get the chance to use them. Well, it turns out there are some tricks of the trade to help keep your Farmer’s Market fare from turning too quickly! 13 Tricks and Tips For Keeping Produce Fresh Longer.
Getting in shape isn’t just about hitting the gym and getting enough walking in, it’s about how you’re fueling your body. Afterall, you can’t out exercise a bad diet. Don’t believe me? Take it from Bob Harper of The Biggest Loser – Why Nutrition Is Number One For Weight Loss.
What I’m loving right now…
I definitely go through phases when it comes to the inanimate objects in my daily life – Everything from the beauty products I use to the accessories I wear to the reading materials stacked on my nightstand. Whether you call it a rut or finely tuning your routine, I’m sure you know precisely what I mean.
So here are some of my current (new and past) loves…
{The love of my life, my new Givenchy bag – See Skulls & Givenchy for photos from the first MCLV Style post featuring this bag!}
{My newest mascara acquisition – I’ve mentioned my love of Benefit’s BADGal and Chanel’s Inimitable mascara in the past, but I also like to rotate in a drugstore brand now and again, and I’ve been thrilled with the results of Maybelline’s One by One Volume Express}
{As far as I’m concerned you can’t have enough fun, statement jewelry: Spiked Bracelet – Asos.com & Purple Beaded Necklace – Zara}
{In my opinion the only positive thing about the end of Summer are September issues!}
{SWOON! I’ve been a fan of Moroccan Argan Oil for a while so when I saw this L’Oreal Precious Oil Treatment I jumped at the chance to try it – Not only does it smell like a dream, it’s visibly nourishing}
{It’s official – I’m in love! Skull adorned Steve Madden smoking slippers}
{Fashion Books & Vintage Jewelry. Left: The Little Black Book of Style by Nina Garcia & vintage pearl collar. Right: Parisian Chic – A Style Guide by Ines de la Fressange & vintage Vendome tassel necklace}
What are you loving lately? What can’t you get enough of? Have you gotten any fun new pieces or exciting accessories to update your wardrobe or prepare for Fall/Winter 2012/2013?
Links You’ll Love
Happy Easter!
Martha Stewart’s Easter and Spring Centerpieces
Health/Fitness:
Interested in more information on veganism, health, exercise, and similar topics? The Hungry Hungry Hippie has done the leg work for you and put together three lists of articles & pieces for you to read: Leafy Linkage I, Leafy Linkage II & Leafy Linkage III.
I know you’ve all heard something over the years about which foods you should cook and which are best for your body when they’re raw. The Daily Green is here to set the records straight – 8 Foods That Are More Nutritious Raw.
Are you a fan of nutrient rich and protein dense beans but hesitant to increase your consumption because your body has trouble digesting them? Read Gena at Choosing Raw’s 10 Tips For Better Bean Digestion.
You don’t need a huge chunk of time in order to include a workout in your day. Only have 10 minutes? No problem! Try Jackie Warner’s Calorie Blasting Power Pyramid Workout from FitSugar.
Fashion:
Refinery29’s San Francisco Beauty Editor Katie Hintz-Zambrano shares her 8 Must Buy Beauty Products – From Benefit mascara (one of my personal favorites!) to a glitter-loving local nail polish company whose products are available on Etsy. She definitely knows her stuff!
Planning a big night out and want to vamp up your makeup look? Check out Refinery 29’s How To Do Madmen Makeup tutorial. Wow!
A DIY Earring Holder Tutorial from Crafty Endeavor (more DIY here).
Want to upgrade your closet for Spring but not interested in spending a fortune? Check out FabSugar’s Spring Basics on a Budget and The Budget Fashionista’s Top Fashion Trends for Spring/Summer 2012.
And I know that I already shared this on Twitter but it makes me laugh (probably more than it should) so I’m going to share it with you again: 13 Simple Steps To Get You Through A Rough Day.
MCLV’s Medicine Cabinet
Have you ever peaked in someone’s medicine cabinet?
Ever wanted to? 🙂
As I was growing up and becoming interested in beauty my mother and Aunt were my teachers and their medicine cabinets (and drawers, and cupboards, and anyplace else I could reach…) were my classroom. I remember sitting on the edge of the bathtub in my parents bathroom countless times, watching my mom go through her morning routine. Eye creams and lotions, cleansers, toners… The tubes and jars and boxes were magical and unknown.
And I couldn’t wait to get my hands on them!
And while I may have ignored some of my mother’s best advice growing up (sunscreen anyone?) these “girls only” sessions in her bathroom became a foundation for the beauty routine and the products that I use today. A girl just doesn’t forget the smell of her mother’s Lancome face powder or the not on your face look she shoots you when you pick up the bar of soap.
The other great contributor to my love of beauty products and the one responsible for my adoration for all things French is my Aunt. With a gorgeous, luxurious bathroom and drawers upon drawers of French beauty products, half of them unopened, I think my mother was almost as excited as I was for our visits to Auntie’s house! She introduced me to Chanel (a love affaire that will last a life time I’m sure – much to my wallet’s detriment), brought me makeup brushes and boxes back from her trips to Paris, and gave me free rein in my own personal Disneyland when most women would have locked the bathroom door the instant I ran (literally, ran) in the front door.
These days my beauty routine is a little bit Mom, a little bit Auntie, and a little bit me. My tastes, interests, and goals for my products have changed in the years since I left Berkeley, joined the workforce, and made my first self-sponsored trip to the Bloomingdale and Nordstrom make up counters. I went through a phase where everything in my bathroom was Chanel or Laura Mercier and I was on a first name basis with the women behind the counter at Barney’s, but in the last few years my interests have turned towards natural, organic, eco-conscious products. The result being that I tried a ton of products and kept the ones I loved, so my cabinets are filled with a hodgepodge of brands and items. Which I’m here to share with you today.
I live to exfoliate, so I’ve done quite a bit of research on the best facial exfoliating products. I’ve tried creams, masks, applicator brushes… And the winners are – drum roll please – Yu-Be Foaming Skin Polish and Sugar Face Polish. Also, the St. Ives Invigorating Apricot Scrub is a fabulous drugstore pick if you want to stay close to home. All of these scrubs are on the granular side, rather than being super creamy, which is my personal preference.
Love!
A facial cleanser is a must since soap can be harsh and drying for the delicate skin on your face, especially around your eyes. When I travel I carry Josie Maran Bear Naked Wipes in my toiletry kit, they’re effective, don’t require cotton balls, and wont get swooped up by airport security which is a huge plus. When I’m at home I use Boscia’s Detoxifying Black Cleanser or Origins Antioxidant Cleanser.
I love, love, love masks. I’ve tried moisurizing, exfoliating, mud, peels… I’ve even experimented on my boyfriend. Shhhhh. My top picks when it comes to masks are the juice Beauty Green Apple Hydration Mask which goes on clear and smells heavenly and the Yes to Cucumbers Calm Care Soothing Facial Mask which is thick and really hydrating.
Eye Cream is something that I’ve only started wearing in the past few years and my focus is on moisture and wrinkle prevention. I tried Icelandic Relief Eye Cream with Biospheric Complex from Sephora and really liked it – it has a great, clean feeling. I’m not a fan of the greasy residue that thick creams can sometimes leave behind and found this was quite refreshing (I keep it in the fridge for instant de-puffing). The other eye cream that I frequently go back to was actually purchased initially when I read Rachel Zoe’s recommendation here. As a chronic dark circle-victim I was really excited about the brightening aspect of this and while it wasn’t the cure-all that I was hoping it would be (is anything ever?) it is a really great product.
Moisturizing, especially if you sit in an office with recycled air every day, is very important. If you like oils, I suggest trying out Josie Maran’s Organic Argan Oil. I was hesitant to try it, for fear of a massive breakout, but was pleased with the results. However, I have to say that my all time favorite lotion is the Chanel Hydra line, specifically Hydramax. It’s light, silky, smells great and moisturizes like a dream. Unfortunately, it is also painfully expensive so I tend to alternate it with other lotions.
Stepping outside without sunscreen on your face is a big no-no, but finding one that doesn’t clog pores, leave you shiny, or make your makeup slide off your face can be a challenge. I initially tried wearing sunscreen over my lotion but since I don’t wear base or powder the end result was too oily. What I ultimately settled on was a tinted lotion with an SPF for during the week and full sunscreen on weekends when I’m actually in direct sunlight. My favorites are Dior’s ‘Hydra Life’ Pro-Youth Skin Tint SPF 20 and Laura Mercier’s Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20. All three of these are light and don’t leave your face greasy, and have an added benefit of making your skin appear smooth and even.
Hand lotion is another product near to my heart because despite the amount of water I consume, my hands are always dry! You want something thick enough to be effective, but not so enduring that you leave finger prints on everything you touch for hours after application. My two favorites are L’Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream and Bag Balm. Bag Balm was recommended to me by a doctor that I sat next to on a flight nearly 5 years ago, and you know that people who spend ALL DAY washing their hands know their hand creams. That being said, I should tell you that Bag Balm originally was intended for animals, rather than people, but it’s completely safe – promise. It’s my go-to for foot repair too, I’ll slather it on and throw on some socks overnight. Fabulous!
What are you favorite skin care lines and products? What do you always keep in your medicine cabinet?
If you want more recommendations take a look at MCLV’s Makeup Bag, What’s Always On Hand, or MCLV’s Handbag.
Moi Contre La Vie 