Skin Regimen and a Deal

As I have become more of a grown up, I have made it my mission to abandon the “being good/being bad” cycle when it comes to caring for myself. Who among us hasn’t enjoyed a Nacho Bell Grande with a cool-down burrito on Sunday followed by a guilty bag of broccoli and the treadmill on Monday?  Luckily, somewhere along the line my body cried out for mercy and I decided to listen.  It took awhile, but I now can say that I value consistency more than the binge.  Don’t get me wrong, I’m still not afraid to eat a cool down burrito, but now it’s made with grass-fed beef, organic lettuce, black beans and I probably worked out beforehand.  Or I crowded it out with some leafy greens and a kale smoothie.  Because I am human and often driven by my id, I am still capable of I having several brownies in a sitting.  I’m not proud, but I don’t totally freak out, either.  I trust in the consistency of my daily program to get me through Sundae Sunday.

I have long believed that what I do each day trumps what I decide to do on a manic two-week stint before vacation.  The biggest benefit of this theory shows up in the form of mental free time.  For example, instead of enduring an entire day obsessing over how I should have worked out, I just spend an hour working out.  That’s a good trade.  What I learned in the process is I love a regimen.  I have a workout regimen.  I have a sleep regimen.  I have a nutrition regimen.  And, my most favorite of all, a skin regimen.  I employ the same theory as workouts when it comes to my skin.  I do it everyday, even when I don’t want to, with the vague faith that there will be a payoff down the road.  With exercising, the pay-off may be that I don’t panic if someone invites me to a mid-winter pool party.  When it comes to my skin, the pay-off may be that I have one less wrinkle or basal cell when I’m a grandma.

Below you will find my skin-care regimen.  It’s a lot, but it calms me.  It’s obvious I am not an expert, just an enthusiast, so this is just a peek into things I like.  It’s fun to hear what other people use on their skin, so let me know what you like, too.  For the record, I could also be dazzled by a conversation based on what you like to buy at Costco, Target and Trader Joes.  So much to be learned from one another.

WAKE UP:

-Rinse with water.  My Derm said that you don’t need to wash your face in the morning, provided you washed it the night before, which I’m sure you did because it’s super gross not to.  So, no cleanser for me until after my workout, just H2O.  

-Sunscreen.  I don’t set foot out of the bathroom unless I have sunscreen on, rain or shine.  First thing.  I use Skinceuticals.  I just like it.  Sunscreens are very personal because we each have different goals and needs-some folks need moisture, some need oil control.  I need both, and this one seems to do the trick.  See my sunscreen post for more recommendations.

POST WORKOUT:

-Proactiv in my t-zone.  I keep trying to stop this step because it feels a bit juvenile to need proactive as a grown woman.  However, currently I am fresh off of a 6 week no-Proactiv stint and my chin looks like it is going to set fire and free itself from my face.  The pain.  The swelling.  I wish my chin would jump off my face and run screaming into the night once and for all.  At any rate, for me, I’ll be using Proactiv in my t-zone until I’m 97 or something. 

-Arbonne Calm Cleanser.  My face feels clean, calm, treated gently.  You can purchase it on my friend Gabe’s website.

-Oz Naturals Vitamin C Serum.  I have a very smart friend who knows things about science and skin.  Unfortunately for her, she was trapped in a group setting with me for several days, where I pumped her for information like a sergeant on a cop show.  I would just pop out of bushes with a quick question about radiance or whatever occurred to me.  It was great.  For me.  She recommended this serum because Vitamin C has been proven to do the best tricks when it comes to skin radiance and evenness.  You may be familiar with the Skiceuticals C E Ferulic serum.  It’s 160 bucks.  This one has the same concentration of Vitamin C and is only 23 dollars on Amazon.  Thank you Jodi.  

Note on Serums:  They are a concentrated bit of love for your skin, they are not the same as moisturizers if you’re looking for moisture.  You take a couple of drops and push the liquid into your skin, gently.  Serums go before anything else (unless you use toner.  Then it would go after toner).

-Sometimes moisturizer on my cheeks, usually on cold, winter days.  I have used a bunch of different kinds, usually whatever sample Sephora gave me. I only use it on my cheeks and my cheeks are not a break out zone for me, so I’ve had good luck using whatever happens to be on hand.  You don’t need your daytime moisturizer to do a bunch of extra tricks-that’s for nighttime.  Any salve will usually do the trick.  I like the Bobbi Brown hydrating cream.  For drugstore, CeraVe, Neutrogena.  Avoid retinols until nighttime because they make you more sun sensitive.  

-Sunscreen again.  See above.

-Shiseido Bio-Performance Eyecream.  I love this eye-cream.  When you are a product-phile, it’s easy to get roped into believing there is a better one out there.  I have been lured by pricey eye creams, natural eye creams, drug store eye creams.  I ALWAYS go back to this one.  I don’t know if it’s doing anything long-term, I just know my eye skin looks plumper and fuller and happier when I use this.  And I don’t get those little white bumps around my eyes.  A little goes a long way.  Use your ring finger to gently tap it in.  I also use it on my upper lip line because I am really interested in never having lip injections.  Nothing wrong with injections, I am just a wimp and a) think it might hurt and b) have seen it go really wrong.  I have also seen it go really right, but my fear of pain keeps me using eye cream on my lip line.  

That’s it for my daytime regimen.  Easy.  Fast.  Followed by makeup, depending on my mood and how French I feel.  

NIGHT TIME:

-Remove makeup with Arbonne cleanser and my Clarsonic.

-NuFace while watching a quick show after the kids are in bed.  Notes on NuFace:  As I stated above, I love a regimen.  I don’t even mind if it’s long.  If I commit to doing it, then I do it.   If you’re not familiar, the NuFace is a device that does two things, depending on the attachment you use.  The first is a “wrinkle reducer” that has LED lights.  You hold this on various parts of your bare, lotion-free face and the light penetrates your skin and helps build collagen and elastin.  Here’s the official info.https://www.mynuface.com/pages/light-therapy

The other attachment is the micro-current.  For this you need a gel-based conductor fluid so you don’t feel little electric shocks.  The gel is not that pricey.  The device is painless if you have the gel on.  With this attachment, you glide it over parts of your face in an effort to stimulate the muscles and give more of an energized, lifted appearance.  Here’s the official info on that:  https://www.mynuface.com/pages/microcurrent

I like that you can customize the program based on how much time you have.  If my family hasn’t had a million practices and meetings, I can chill and do the full program:  the wrinkle reducer and both the large and small micro current attachments.  If I’m in a hurry, I can just do a quick big attachment.

Results:  I have been using it every day (except for 2) for 60 days.  I feel like it has made a difference, but because I was too lazy to take a before picture, I can’t prove it!!  What I know to be true-I hold all my stress in my face.  I’m pretty sure I sleep with my face squished in an “I taste lots of lemon” expression.  Before the NuFace, I would always wake up with the muscles in my face a little sore.  Now I don’t!  That alone is worth it.  I also feel like my skin (other than chin skin) is smoother.  My jawline also looks a little more defined.  I really like it!

Give it a try!!  

**DEAL ALERT**  If you are interested, I have a friend who can get you some money off of your NuFace.  She got me a GREAT deal.  If you’re interested, message me on Facebook and I’ll give you her information!

Tatcha Classic Rice Powder Exfoliator.  About 3 times a week, now that I’m using the NuFace.  I love this stuff for removing dead skin and I think it preps the skin well to absorb all the nighttime cream-goodness.

-Vitamin C Serum again.

-Retinol cream prescribed by my Derm.  Retinol or Retin-A is vitamin A.  Some folks are afraid of this product because it can cause some redness when you first use it.  I never had any side effects.  If my magazine, internet and grilling-my-Derm-type research are accurate, Vitamin A is one of the only proven ingredients to help fine lines.  The one I get from my Derm is $50, but lasts about 7 months.  You can get drugstore retinols at lesser concentrations, but it might be worth it to get a prescription.  

No matter what you choose, before bed is the time to use your most hopeful creams.  The magic happens while you sleep.  

In winter:  Egyptian Magic over everything to lock in the goodness.  Also as an eye cream!  See my previous post for more details.

Happy skin!! 

Keely  

Parenting Superpowers

I believe the spiritual specialists when they talk up the power gratitude has in enhancing our lives.  Overall, I’m a grateful woman.  I am grateful for my family, my friends, my health, my home, Sephora, Bravo, etc.  Every night I write down (okay, think of) at least three things for which I am grateful.  And when I’m really on top of my gratitude game, I’m even capable of feeling it during a nighttime vomit clean-up.  I remember a woman on Oprah discussing how she treats laundry as an opportunity to meditate about her family members.  Fold little Jimmy’s shirt while feeling grateful for little Jimmy, etc.  What a lovely approach.  My record on laundry gratitude is about 1 in 83.  For every one load I fold with love in my heart, there are 83 I fold with a palpable undercurrent of hostility.  Soooo, I’m human.  

This time of year, it’s easy to feel extra human.  We are all in the throes of groundhog-day-season.  Lots of sameness, lots of work, lots of cold.  The kids are practicing the things they practice and we are rushing around talking ourselves out of an adult tantrum because the kids won’t put their shoes in the shoe basket.  As we wonder if we also need a gallon of milk, we chant, “They are only shoes, not proof my children hate me, they are only shoes…be grateful, be grateful….remember what that lady at the grocery store told you, it goes by so fast”.  

This week, somewhere between asking my kids why there were chewed crayons in the dog bowl and getting plowed under the chin by my youngest, who employed the age old “jump up with the force of a wrecking ball while Mommy bends down” technique, I started to laugh.  This is ridiculous.  I’m grateful for these youngsters and this experience, but this is ridiculous.  And hilarious.  If you or your significant other have ever considered wearing a protective cup around the house, you can relate to the fact that what we do as parents is often utterly, hilariously ridiculous.  And, I’m pretty sure, proof that parenting is a superpower.  Here is a perfect example:  

A few years ago on a beautiful, sunny day in late fall, my nursing sister decided to treat herself to a bit of fresh air.  Holding her swaddled, newborn baby girl, she began her journey down the porch steps, sunshine warming her face.  Grateful sigh.  But then…”Wait.  Is that a bee?  That’s a bee.  That’s totally a bee.  That bee is flying so fast…right…into….my……I am going to get stung by that bee….I am going to have to stand here, holding my newborn, and take this sting like an electric shock treatment to the middle of my chin and not drop this sweet baby girl.”    

I am relieved to report she did not drop the baby.  Ella is both an accomplished soccer player and an excellent student.  My sister did look like Jay Leno for a week, though.  Once I ascertained that my sister and my niece survived the episode, I obviously laughed my head off.  Still do.  The inappropriate humor of someone enduring discomfort for the sake of circumstance is always a favorite.  More than anything, this story captures how our instinct (superpower) to protect our young overrides the natural urge to scream like a twelve-year-old girl at a concert as we flip around the yard to avoid a bee sting. 

Side note: I also think it has great potential as a reality show.   We’d call the show Don’t Drop the Baby!   It could go something like this:   Couples looking to start a family would gather from across the land to try their hand at completing specially designed obstacles and feats of strength all while holding babies (heavy dolls, to be safe).  First, the contestants would be deprived of sleep for 72 hours and then continually punched in the face and groin as they simulate helping a toddler put on their shoes.  Don’t drop the baby!  Next, they would be required to repeat mundane demands for several hours (Wash your hands!  Don’t lick your sister!  Say thank you!) until their voices were hoarse, all while preparing a meal the whole family could enjoy.  Don’t drop the baby!  For the finale, finalists would be subjected to the original challenge:  A bee sting straight on the chin while holding a baby on the stairs.  Don’t drop the baby!  

Would you watch it? I think it may be TV gold.  I’ll keep you posted on whether or not I pitch it to NBC.

Perhaps the weirdest part of all this parenting ridiculousness is that I think each of us would agree that every strange moment is totally, unequivocally worth it.   One of the things we can be grateful for is the (super)power within us that allows us to carry on.  We work, we clean, we hold our families together, WE GET STUNG BY BEES AND DON’T DROP THE BABY!  We are killing it out there even if it feels like boring winter ground-hog-day sameness.  

This is the good stuff.  This is what it’s all about.  Be grateful.  Remember the old lady at the grocery store: It goes fast.  Now get out there and head to Costco with gratitude in your heart!  

Get some Egyptian Magic while you’re there.  Your skin will thank you.

Keely

French Girl Chic

Have you ever read an article or heard a story of questionable heritage that you chose to believe because it supported something you really wanted to be true?  Did you continue to reference the story or article in your head like it was born of Harvard research to help rationalize questionable behavior? For example, maybe you like to smoke cigarettes and drink whiskey and have been considering doing so on a more full-time basis.  Then, you remember that one block party a few years ago when your neighbor told you a story about their friend whose uncle’s coworker smoked two packs and chugged Jack Daniels every day of his adult life.  The neighbor’s uncle’s coworker lived until 96, at which point he was tragically struck by a bus.  96?  That’s pretty good.  If that guy did it, then cigarettes and whiskey are obviously very close to being good for you.  Rationalization for smoking and drinking achieved.

We all need rationalizations from time to time.  One of the nice things about our information age is you can find an article, blog or story on any topic, however controversial, to support your current position.  No changing necessary.  You need to rationalize ingesting a 2 liter of Coke and a side of cake?  Google, “Sugar is fine, right?” and you will find at least one article that supports your desire to consume sugar like it’s broccoli.  Granted, you may have to scroll through lots of articles from actual doctors, but you’ll find one.  As you can imagine, the political applications of this are staggering.   

Imagine my delight when I read several Vogue articles that provided me with a style rationalization/upgrade I now embrace as scientific fact.  Some background:  . 

When I’m running errands, etc. I don’t think a single onlooker would suspect my deep and passionate love of beauty products.  Why?  Because I typically don’t look very good.  Not a low self-esteem “I don’t look good”, more of a legitimate “I didn’t brush my hair-I don’t look good”.  My love of products operates from a very personal, heartfelt solution-of-the-week-oriented strategy located deep inside my head (and heart).  Looking totally put together on a daily basis has never been my goal. In addition, my attention to my hair ends with coloring it.  I wash it occasionally, but I am both incapable and uninterested in styling it unless you invite me to your wedding.  In summary, it’s not unusual for me to spend 3-7 minutes carefully covering the redness around my chin and nose, only to leave the house without any eye makeup and my hair in a workout-sweat-scrunchie-bun. 

According to several articles I have pieced together on vogue.com to rationalize my style philosophy, it turns out I am not lazy, I am simply French Girl Chic!  Phew!  For decades, trendsetters have been trying to articulate what makes French women so effortlessly stylish.  French women are envied for achieving a sexy, chic look without looking totally put together from head to toe.  They are chic because, for instance, they have chosen to pay attention to their skin and leave their hair winter frizzy.  Or, if they work their hair into a messy ponytail, they swipe on a quick red lip and leave everything else bare.  This rationalization is so effective, now when I leave the house with my hair in a rat tail contrasted with a carefully applied brow, I do so with the confidence of a French girl riding her bike in Paris. 

Please feel free to adopt this beauty rationalization in your own life.  We’re French Girl Chic, ladies.  I may have to work a little harder to get those French girls to embrace yoga pants as pants, though…….

Everyone knows the French girls like their drugstores.  I think they have better stuff in French drugstores, but in honor of our French Girl Chic diagnosis, here are a few of my drugstore faves:

Micellar water:

You’re probably seeing this stuff all around and wondering what it is.  It’s been used in France for a hundred or so years, but it’s gaining popularity in the states recently.  It’s just water infused with tiny oil particles that is used to clean the face.  It gets off makeup, dirt and grime but doesn’t have to be rinsed afterward, making it a home run hit for those of you who take your makeup off before bed but can’t be bothered to make it to the sink.  Or you want to maintain your skin while camping.  The original French brand is Bioderma.  I tried it and really liked it.  I’ve been taking my makeup off with it before I do my NuFace (more on that later) when I don’t want to run upstairs and officially wash my face.  It really works!  Garnier just came out with one and Simple has one you can get at the drugstore, too.  Here’s an article with more details if you’re curious:  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/micellar-water-skincare_us_55a66a22e4b0896514cfd3c9

Bright Lip:

My stylish and pretty friend Danielle recently rocked an awesome red lip.  When I asked her what kind of lipstick it was, she took out a red tube of Rimmel London lipstick.  I was floored.  Drugstore lipstick that looked that good.  Naturally, I went out and bought a bunch (they were $5.49 a piece!).  I’m in love.  The formulation and color choices are impressive for such a low price.  Not drying, great coverage.  As someone who isn’t afraid to invest in a lip product, I was pleasantly surprised by these.  You can find everything from a Kylie Jenner color, if that’s your thing, (104) to an exciting red to go with your new French Girl Chic look (110).

Feline Flick for Eye:

Eye makeup is what I blow off the most, but occasionally I want to step it up.  L'Oreal Paris Infallible Super Slim Liner Black is great for creating a liquid liner cat eye and is only around 9 bucks.  Can’t beat that! 

Here's to French Girl Chic!

Keely

Skin Savers

Back in the early days of movie making, directors were known to smear a thin layer of Vaseline on the camera lens to provide an aging actress some mercy in her drier years.  Sadly, I think the “drier years” began around 26 in the minds of movie makers back then.  Social commentary aside, the result was a nice, soft, movie-magic finish and everyone walked away happy. 

Advancements in technology have given us myriad filter and technology options to turn an ogre into a princess and back…all on our phones!  However, technology hasn’t rendered human interaction obsolete (yet).  Therefore, women are still in need of some ogre-to-princess capability that can be performed on site.  I thought about suggesting that we require people to dab vaseline directly on their eyeballs to give us ladies more of a “soft finish” in our daily interaction, but it seemed hard to execute.  Instead, during the chill-filled, dry-skin months here are more practical solutions:

Egyptian Magic

There are not enough words to explain how much I love and use this stuff.  Daily.  Hair to feet.  It’s considered a cult classic, which is how it entered my world (I am still trying to figure out how to officially initiate myself into that cult).  Some products live up to the cult status, some do not (I’m looking at you SK-II).  Egyptian Magic does.  It’s made from Olive Oil, Beeswax, Honey, Bee Pollen, Royal Jelly and Propolis extract.  If you haven’t heard of it, it’s like a firmer version of vaseline, made with non-controversial ingredients.  Everything from dry elbow to lips to heels to my color-weathered hair to my face-this is the go-to winter salve in my home.  My kids all have their own and use it at bedtime for any dry patches, including lips.  

I was afraid to put it on my face because I feared a raging break-out, but to my surprise and delight there was no break out, no gross pillow, just plump skin when I awoke.  It is part of my nightly ritual to put on a layer of this after my night creams (from my Derm, I'll do a separate post on my nightly ritual) to seal the deal.  I bet you could eat it, but I’m too chicken to try.  They have it at Costco right now.  Go!

Tatcha Polished Rice Enzyme Powder

I’m a fan of exfoliation.  I shutter to think how I used to rely on ground up apricots back in the day.  So young and full of of misinformation.  Exfoliating does not equate to ripping your skin to shreds like we used to believe.  This is an all natural product that gently exfoliates.  Wet your face and hands, put a bit of powder in your hands and create a little lather-ish situation and rub your face.  I just got over a little cold and this is doing wonders to get rid of the dry skin around my nose.  When you put lotion on after you exfoliate, the product works better because there’s not as much dead skin with which to contend.  Use it at night before lotion.   

Bobbi Brown Lip Balm

This feels like a thick, nourishing wrap-yourself-in-mama’s-love balm.  There is nothing more to say than I love the way it feels on my lips.  I think I try every single lip balm that comes out and this is one I actually finish and buy again.  A standout in a sea of hundreds.  No SPF, though.

Marc Jacobs Lip Lock Moisture Balm, SPF 18

I think I’ve made it clear I need stuff on my lips at all times.  I love this one because it feels great on the lips and has SPF.  It’s pricey, but if you have a deep love of lip products you’re missing out if you don’t try it.  Keep one in the car at all times. 

Shiseido Benefiance Full Correction Lip Treatment

I mentioned this product in my very first post as nourishing for your soul as well as your lips.  Any product that can do that is worth mentioning again, right?  It feels so soothing and comforting on the lips but also adds a fullness and shine without any stinging.  You can use it in place of a gloss for shine or just for fun.  I have it on now.  I love this stuff.  

Rodial Glamstick

This lipstick is new to my world and I’m really liking it so far.  I got “Bite”, which is a sort-of-pink-but-really-more-nude-peach.  I was surprised by the easy color payoff-one swipe of opaque color.  They have all sorts of nourishing ingredients that are intended to feel like a balm.  They feel very moisturizing on the lips.  I think I’m going to get “Blow” next.  Nordstrom has some colors and the Dermstore has some colors.  I haven't found one location for all colors. 

Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector

I have a lot of products intended to illuminate my skin to mimic freshness.  I have been really enjoying this one.  Sometimes I use it alone if I’m heading out in public but don’t feel like putting on makeup-makeup.  I’ve been putting on the outer parts of my face before foundation.  I’ve been putting it over foundation as a highlighter.  I really like it.  It gives a nice glow without looking shimmery.  Sephora has a smaller, travel size that’s cheaper if you don’t want to commit to the full bottle.  You can also mix it with a foundation you like to give you more of a glow.  

It’s February!  We’re rounding the bend!  Good work!!

Keely