Ingredient Spotlight: Almond

We all know that almonds are a yummy, healthy snack that keeps you energized and feeling your best. But did you know that almond shells and almond oil are an awesome way to take care of your skin? Ground almond shells are a subtle but effective exfoliant for clogged pores, and almond oil has plenty of skin benefits as well...let's talk about them!

1) Almonds are an amazing source of vitamin E. Vitamin E is proven absolutely amazing for the skin (we'll talk about those benefits later on), so using products with almond oil is going to add that dose of vitamin E that's going to keep your skin looking beautifully radiant!
2) It can reduce wrinkles! Almonds have tons of antioxidants, which can decrease signs of aging. When ingested or applied directly to the skin, it is found that almonds can reduce the look and appearance of wrinkles on the skin's surface! (so weird how there's a natural alternative for everything, right?)
3) We know that working from the inside of the body can effect the look of the outside. Almonds, again, have tons of antioxidants. Ingesting almonds can actually help the radiance of the skin on the outside when you eat lots of them and digest them inside! It's going to leave you looking soft and radiant, because all of those free radicals are getting killed off from the inside, never giving them the chance to surface.
4) It is found to help clear up breakouts. Because of the vitamin E content, it can also be applied topically as an oil to clear up pimples and blackheads! Also, oils attract oils, so it will pull out excess oil and can then be wiped away for a radiant, clean complexion!

We should all eat more almonds, right?!

Oil-based Cleansers and Why They Work

So we're all a little confused when someone says "oh you have oily skin? Maybe you should use some more moisturizer!" or "try something oil-based!" Seems like it's defeating the purpose, right? If the skin is oily, do we really need to add more oil? I mean it's already keeping it hydrated, right?
Actually, it's true! The way it works is kind of like when you're cooking: if you're adding oil to something water-based, the oil sticks together. You stir it up, it separates, but eventually if you leave it alone, the oil will come back together. It works the same way on your skin! Oil attracts oil, so using an oil-based cleanser will pull excess oil out of your pores, and then when you wipe (not rinse) it away, it will take all the excess oil with it, leaving you with soft, healthy skin. 
Now, here's why you can't just rinse it away like soap-based products: the oil isn't going to dissolve in water the way ingredients in soaps will. It will remain on the surface of the skin, leaving you looking shiny, and you'll feel oily and no one wants that! What I like to do with my oil-based cleansers is to wet a washcloth with really hot water, ring it out until it's damp, and lay it over my face for a few seconds to steam it. Once I feel my pores open up, I wipe the cleanser away with the same washcloth, then I immediately use my toner and moisturizer.
Yes, you still need moisturizer! An oil cleanser is going to leave you feeling more hydrated, but not to the extent that your skin needs. As much as I hate to say it, if your skin feels too oily the first few days, you can skip your moisturizer (but I really, really don't recommend it!).
So here's what I use in my routine:
LUSH's Ultrabland (of course, if you read my blog religiously, you know I've been absolutely obsessed with this stuff.)

It has lots and lots of almond oil, rose water, beeswax...it's basically everything your skin needs to be soothed and beautiful.
Then I use my Eau Roma water toner water from LUSH as well, and I follow with Gorgeous moisturizer!
I was having serious trouble with my skin a few weeks ago and I think it was because I was stressing my skin out with tons of products. I downsized my routine to just 3 products twice a day (I do the exact same routine twice in one day, no product changes) and it has done wonders. If your skin just needs a break, try this routine and see how it works for you!
There are tons of oil-based cleansers out there, you don't just have to use the Ultrabland. Do some research and find out that sounds like it would be good for your skin type! Good luck beauties!

Ingredient Spotlight: Cocoa Butter

Cocoa butter is one of the most commonly used moisturizers in tons of skincare products. We've probably all used it at one point or another, and we reap its benefits in everything from soaps to lotions to lip care products. So what makes cocoa butter so great?

It has gorgeous moisturizing properties. Cocoa butter actually melts at the temperature of your skin, so it sinks in and fills your skin with all of the benefits. It is thick and emollient, so it keeps the skin protected from the elements. It can also be used on the face (take many moisturizers as an example) because it is high in fatty acids which keep the skin looking more youthful.
It is rich in antioxidants (which is why they say dark chocolate is healthy for you!) which is going to leave the skin looking younger and softer. Free radicals can set on signs of premature aging, so cocoa butter helps prevent that by forming a barrier on the skin full of these antioxidants.
Cocoa butter is most popularly known for its properties as a stretch mark healer! The deep moisturization helps to reduce the looks of stretch marks and can help the skin from stretching to the point where stretch marks may occur.

You can find cocoa butter in so many skincare and beauty products, it's hard not to come across it and use it at one point or another. Try it out and let the sweet chocolatey scent seduce you while it takes care of your skin!

Sweater Weather Tag

Hi beauties! I was in the mood to do a tag today, I got this one from Missglamorazzi on YouTube (aka Ingrid, if you don't watch her you should start! She's super genuine which is a big deal for me when looking for the right beauty gurus to watch!)
So I tag all of you to do this tag as well when you finish reading, I'd love to see all of your answers!

-Favourite candle scent?

I'm currently saving my Pumpkin Carving candle from Bath and Body Works...I'm gonna cry when it runs out

QUESTION 2

-Coffee, tea or hot chocolate?

All 3! Depends on what mood I'm in that day, I love coffee on a cold morning, tea on a cold night, and hot chocolate if I've been outside.

QUESTION 3

-Whats the best fall memory you have?

This Halloween was probably my best Halloween/fall memory actually, I spent it with my boyfriend and our friends and watched The Shining and sat around eating pizza and talking. Sounds less exciting than it was, oh well.

QUESTION 4

-Which makeup trend do you prefer: winged eye liner or dark lips?

I say winged liner just because it's my go-to every day, but dark lips are always a must for fall!

QUESTION 5

 -What do you want to be for halloween?

Well Halloween is over already -sigh-, but I was Harley Quinn for ComicCon here in New York, and then I wore a t-shirt with Pinhead from Hellraiser on Halloween with a pair of yoga pants to stay comfy.

QUESTION 6

-Hats or scarves?

I'm a serious infinity scarf addict ugh

QUESTION 7

-Most worn article of clothing?

Anything black and/or white for work, I've been working quite a bit the last few weeks!

QUESTION 8

-Favourite fall nail polish?

Essie's Berry Naughty with Shine of the Times on top! It reminds me of the way the trees look around this time of year :)

QUESTION 9

-Skinny jeans or leggings?

I'm going to have to say skinny jeans.

QUESTION 10

-Boots or uggs?

I'm a vegetarian so I don't wear any fur/wool/suede or anything like that, so man-made material boots all the way!

Ingredient Spotlight: Rose

Who doesn't love getting roses!?
...Did you know that roses have plenty more uses than just looking beautiful and smelling heavenly? They're actually an incredible ingredient for all skin types! I suggest using rose water if anything, it's incredibly gentle and it smells wonderful.

So what are the benefits of rose water on the skin?

It is incredibly anti-inflammatory, therefore, it helps with redness and irritation on the skin. If you're looking for a quick fix for tightness and redness, I suggest LUSH's Eau Roma Water, which is a toner water with rose and lavender to balance out cranky skin. It works wonders!

It also works as an astringent when used to tighten pores, pulling out impurities. Over time, using rose water might even help the look of enlarged pores! Who knew?

Related to rose water being an astringent: it is amazing at unclogging pores and removing gross stuff that's built up in your pores over time. I like to spray my Eau Roma Water on my pillow before I go to sleep at night to keep the cleaning process going on each of my cheeks when I flip over!

I've heard some mixed things about the next process I'm going to tell you beauties about, so if you prefer not to do it, you don't have to by any means. I have not tried it because the use of lemon on the skin on the face has had more bad reviews than good when I've done my research, but one of my co-workers told me about a remedy that has done wonders for her skin, and when I tell you her skin is perfection, her skin is baby-smooth without an uneven patch or blemish anywhere. So what does she do?
Well, she told me she went to a market and picked up pure rose water in a spray, then she takes half a lemon and rubs the peel on her face and applies the rose water afterwards. She says it has completely stopped her breakouts in a natural way that smells amazing and it hasn't irritated her skin. I'm going to have to give it a try and let you all know how it goes, but if any of you have tried it/try it, please leave me a comment and let me know how it works!

Thanks for reading beauties, until next time!

Ultrabland Review

Hi beauties! I have another review for you today for a product that after this week I might just be a little bit obsessed with.
LUSH Cosmetics' Ultrabland!

This stuff has become my beauty holy grail. It is a cream cleanser, which means that it most definitely doesn't lather. How I like to use it: I wash my hands thoroughly and make sure they're really clean. I scoop a quarter-sized amount of Ultrabland into my hands and rub them together, then rub in circular motions from my jawline to my forehead...making sure to wipe over my eyes and remove my makeup.
(Yes guys, this stuff removes makeup better than a makeup remover wipe...in my own opinion of course)
All you have to do from there is take a damp cotton pad and wipe off the excess. I personally love the exfoliating cotton pads that I get from Target, I just feel cleaner afterwards.
It has lots of almond oil, honey, and beeswax to nourish the skin and rose water to soothe. Somehow, this cleanser works for everyone. It was originally created for one of LUSH's founders when she went to Liz Wier (another founder of LUSH) and begged for something that would help with her excema on her face. They came up with Ultrabland on the spot and it has become a LUSH best-seller ever since.
With good reason. I'm giving this product a 1000/10, it has evened my skin tone and cleared up blemishes in a week. I've used this every night for the last 5 nights, and the ridiculous turnaround in my skin is hardly even explainable. I can't thank LUSH enough for making such an insanely beautiful product.
Don't let the texture and thickness turn you off, beauties, at least take a sample of this baby home and take your makeup off with it. Let me know how it goes!

Ingredient Spotlight: Tea Tree

How many of us love natural alternatives for treatments that can dry the skin out (like benzoyl peroxide)? I know I do! So this week's ingredient spotlight is the amazing tea tree!

Tea tree does of course come from a tree, however it is a different plant than the plants that produce tea leaves like the kind you put in your boiling water. While those leaves are meant to be used internally (and sometimes externally) in order to reap the benefits, the tea tree plant's oil is meant to be used topically for more uses than you ever imagined!

Tea tree is super antiseptic, making it great to use on cuts, burns, and even allergic reactions to reduce inflammation. Some people even put it in their hot bath to reduce things like coughs and bronchial infections/irritations. 

But for beauty purposes, tea tree is like the holy grail that no one knew how to find! It is becoming a much more popular ingredient now, and we have finally decided to give a natural alternative a chance and make our skin stunning.
Tea tree can be used for athlete's foot to reduce itching and inflammation, so this can be thrown in your shoes in a powder or apply the oil topically to soothe the skin.
It has also been known to be used on the scalp to treat dandruff, so to keep your scalp from flaking, try a shampoo or conditioner with tea tree! It'll keep your hair strong and save you from flakes!
But I think what we all want to know about tea tree: what can it do for the skin?
Tea tree has been found to be an amazing anti-inflammatory that can reduce acne! It has been found that while it will not work as quickly, tea tree is a much more natural way to treat acne in the same way as 5% benzoyl peroxide gel. How crazy is that? It's much more gentle on the skin than benzoyl peroxide, keeping the skin healthy and bright while fighting redness and post-acne scarring. 

All in all, tea tree is a do-it-all ingredient that you can find in oil form at your local Whole Foods store, or you can just order it online! Careful though, you might get addicted to using it for just about everything!

Winter Skin

Hi again beauties!
This is an important post for those of you who have super temperamental skin around this time of year. Think about it: all things holiday come out, the glitter starts flying, you can start wearing adorable sweaters and your comfiest (but most stylish) boots...and your skin gets crazy unhappy.
You get flaky, combination, sometimes even oilier than you are in the summertime. What the heck is happening?!
You may ask yourself "but I take such good care of my skin, what am I doing wrong?" (I know I do!) Here's the low-down, you're not doing anything wrong, you may just have to modify your routine a teeny bit.
See, here's what happens: during the wintertime, the air loses a lot of its humidity and excess moisture. This results in dry skin because the environment is essentially sucking the moisture your skin has right out of it. Also, we're putting the heat on to keep warm, right? And while it's always nice to feel toasty and warm, our skin doesn't appreciate all that dry heat!
What can we do to protect our skin for wintertime, you ask? Here:

1) Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize!
Remember when I said your skin might even get oilier than it was in the summertime? This is especially for you. What happens is when the skin loses moisture, it leaves it feeling tight, taut, and dry. But your skin will try to overcompensate for the dryness by producing lots of excess oil.
So no matter what skin type, I suggest finding a moisturizer with glycerin, which will lock moisture into the skin, but will also add a layer of protection. It will keep the skin feeling extra soft all winter long. 

2) Use warm water, not hot!
Sounds weird, right? But you're actually better off taking a warm shower rather than a steaming hot one. The reason why is because scalding water breaks down the lipid barriers on your skin that keep you naturally hydrated, and when you're getting out of a shower that left you feeling like you might have been set on fire and fail to moisturize, it can lead to intense irritation, craking, dryness...we definitely don't want that. 

3) Invest in a humidifier.
This will add moisture into the air in your room while you sleep, ultimately leading to much more hydrated skin than skin exposed to just a blast of dry heat.

Hope this helps, everyone! If you have any extra healthy winter skin tips, leave them in the comments below! Stay fabulous!