Beauty Ritual | Creating bright, healthy skin daily

Lately I've been thinking about how important it is for me to ramp up my daily facial routine.  This stems from my observation of countless faces as I wander through crowded airports.  I see people with dull, lifeless skin and there are others who's skin gives off the appearance of life and vitality.  The difference between them is night and day.

I've made the unscientific conclusion that blood flow to the face is a major factor in the appearance of the facial skin. It just seems like healthy blood flow to the skin brings it to life!  Unfortunately, as time passes, our circulation slows which takes away the look of glowing skin. Healthy, glowing skin is  the end game so I've decided to incorporate a few daily actions to bring about that end result.

My goal is to allot a specific amount of time each day to promote healthy blood flow & stimulation to the face.  I've got some tricks up my sleeve that will make a world of difference. Especially since I've been operating with much less sleep lately.  These techniques will keep me looking well rested and fresh no matter what happened the night before.

Face Massage
Probably the most direct way to drive oxygen rich blood to the face.  Not only does massage help tone the face but it can promote the building of new collagen while delivering healthy blood flow to the skin.  My favorite is Tanaka Massage which also helps to stimulate the lymphatic system (which detoxifies).  When I do this daily, my face seems to appear more toned and lifted.  Best of all the entire process takes less than 20 minutes.  If I don't have 20 minutes to spare, I can always reach for my massage tools to help speed things up.

Steaming/Ice Facial
Hot and cold temperatures have an amazing ability to stimulate the blood.  Back when I took cold showers, my face always seemed to look fresh and healthy.  Our bodies rush blood to the area in an effort to combat the cold.  Let's not forget the fact that ageless rapper Pharrell owes his youthful appearance with his daily habit of using cold water on his face.  Heck, even Sanaa Lathan knows the power of using hot and cold therapy to promote youth.  I may dabble with using an ice cube  after washing my face to close up pores, creating that flawless finish. Another option could be to place my Evian facial water in the fridge before misting.

Yoga Inversions
Then, of course, you can always "force" blood flow to the face by practicing inversions.  Yoga is a perfect way to promote positions where the head receives the most blood flow.  As you may already know, inversions impact both the face and the hair.  Some say they've experienced as much as an inch of new growth in 7 days.  Earlier this year, headstands were a part of my daily routine.  I really need to start doing that again.


Water
Sometimes, when I'm sitting in a dull meeting, about to fall asleep, I reach for my water bottle and take the biggest swig.  Suddenly, I can feel the water rushing through my body and I'm no longer tired. When ever you think of increasing circulation, the first thing that should go through your mind is drinking lots of water.  Without adequate water in the blood stream, nothing can properly circulate.  Whenever I go a long time without drinking adequate water, I like to imagine that my oxygen rich blood is slowing becoming thick and sluggish.  That tends to motivate me to get things flowing again as quickly as possible.  Without enough water in your system, all those other things I mentioned in the post become null and void.   So, for the 15 trillionth time, drink more water.


P.S. The advice in this post should be paired with the exfoliation tips mentioned in this post to create the ultimate in perfect skin.

Currently Loving | Johnson's Baby Oil Gel

One thing I will be doing much more often is stopping random people in street for skin and hair care recommendations.  If I hadn't had the courage to ask the beautiful flight attendant for her skin care regimen, I would never stumbled on this wonderful little gem.

If you recall, the stewardess was gushing over how much Johnson's baby oil gel softened her skin.  After gliding my finger across her forearm, I was sold.  At the very next opportunity, I skipped on over to the store to pick up a bottle.  Quite honestly, I was a bit taken a back when I first looked at the product.  It kinda reminded me of hair gel.  The last thing I wanted to do was rub hair gel all over my body.

But I stepped forward anyway.  Squeezing a little into my hand and rubbing along my dry skin.  Knowing that the driest months are ahead, I was hoping this could provide deep moisture where I need it most.  Johnson's Baby Oil Gel did not disappoint.  Yes, it's thick but somehow manages to glide on easily and evenly.  Once rubbed into the skin, the gel leaves behind a really nice shine. A little bit really goes a long way. And yes, my skin is left soft and pretty like the gorgeous flight attendant.  I adore Johnson's baby oil gel.  It eradicated my horribly dry skin in just moments and left it feeling moisturized for a very long time.

If you battle dry skin each winter, do me a favor and grab some of this.  Your skin will thank you.

Two techniques to eliminate puffiness and under eye bags.

This post is a result of a special request from one of my beloved Facebook group members.  She's checked out my past "celebrity secrets" posts and wondered if I came across anything regarding to under eye circles and puffiness.  I was delighted to receive that request because, as a person who often goes with little sleep, healthy under eyes are constantly on my mind.

As far as celebrity secrets go, I'm sure many of you have heard the recommendation of using Vaseline under eyes to help ward off wrinkles.  I think there's value in keeping the eye area lubricated.  If you think about it, that part of our face moves more than any other.  All of that movement is bound impact the surrounding skin if we don't take precautions.  After reading of the amazing skin benefits of using coconut oil, I think that could serve as a viable alternative to petroleum jelly.

Now, let's talk about puffiness. I'm of the belief that other concerns could be related to under eye bags.  Obviously lack of sleep is a huge factor.  Whenever I'm sleep deprived, I feel it most around my eyes.  They feel strained, like they're stressed out. Aside from little sleep, I've actaully experienced greater under eye concerns when my diet is off.  Eating wheat gave me huge eye bags. I'm sure all the inflammation in my body had something to do with it.  Once I move towards more of a plant based diet, things shifted.  The first tip in minimizing under eye puffiness is to do whatever you can to promote an alkaline pH and manage inflammation.  This means minimizing sugar, fried foods, stress, wheat etc. You can further counteract inflammation by drinking lemon water, eating greens, drinking smoothies and lots of water. 

Now let's get to the nitty gritty.  I have a couple of techniques to address current under eye circles, puffiness and even wrinkles. 

Technique #1: Lymphatic Massage
Lymphatic massage saved my life whenever I woke up with puffy morning face.  My favorite is Tanaka Massage.  There's a part in the video where we do lymphatic massage on the eye.  This helps to drain any fluid that collects under the eye.  The whole experience helps move toxins away from the face where it can eventually be eliminated.  Try this technique as your regular morning routine.  Trust me, you will notice a difference.


Technique #2:  Pinching Massage
This technique is a little more aggressive than Tanaka Massage.  Here's the thing, all of your life you've been told to be gentle around the eye to avoid causing wrinkles.  I'm of a different belief.  There are those who have noticed that rigorous massage round the eye actually can help promote healthy blood flow to that area (which can help eliminate dark circles).  Not only does the blood flow improve, but this "pinching massage" is said to also have the ability to actually thicken the skin around the eye by promoting the formation of new collagen.  The result?  Fewer wrinkles, and more youthful looking eyes. 

I am an avid user of the pinching massage technique.  Unfortunately, I don't have any video demonstration so I'll try my best to explain.  Basically, I take my thumb and middle finger (or thumb and pointer) and pinch around my eyes.  I take a little skin and roll it between my finger tips(NOT USING MY NAILS).    I also do it on my eyelid to promote thicker skin.  I pay special attention to the corner of my eyes to avoid crows feet when I smile.  When I first began this practice, I was gentle around the under eye and, as time passed, I was able to increase the amount of pressure.  Don't go crazy until your skin gets used to it. You do not want to cause any bruising to the skin.

This method counteracts traditional advice out there telling you to use only your pinky finger to gently pat that area.  I'm of the belief that everything atrophies unless it receives the right amount of blood flow and stimulation.  Stimulation promotes life!  This eye pinching technique works extremely well for me.  But alas, if I'm not consistent, things start to go back to the way they were.

I'm drafting a post on stimulationg the entire facial area as part of a daily beauty routine.  Make sure you don't miss it!

The Beauty Secret of the actress who hasn't aged in over 20 years.

I'll admit it.  After writing the post sharing coconut oil of the beauty secret of the flight attendant with gorgeous skin, I was on totally on board.  I tried that method for a few nights and, my skin loved it!  Then I fell off.

But, I've now found new reason to get my behind right back on track.  But before I tell you what my motivation is, let me first take you back.  Many moons ago, I watched a movie called Class Act with Kid & Play.  One of the love interests in the movie was this woman with amazing skin & gorgeous hair.   I mean....just look at her.

That was 22 years ago.  Recently, she randomly popped into my mind and I decided to do some digging to find out whatever happened to her.  Honestly, I was a little nervous to stumble on updated pics because I've had too many experiences where I'm disheartened by the current state of my childhood heroes.  The last thing I wanted to find out was that time had gotten the best of her and Alysia was now only a shadow of her former self.   Turns out that Alysia Rogers is pretty active on Facebook so it wasn't that hard to find her.

But I was not ready for what I saw when I landed on her page. The woman has barely aged in the last two decades!  Immediately, I went into hyper drive scouring her comments for signs of beauty secrets buried within her skin care regimen.  Turns out that others were just as curious as I was to know her routines as I was.  So when she invited her followers to ask her a question, you know everyone was asking about her beauty/skin care routine.

Here's what she shared:

"I keep it really simple : Its crazy I went through my phases with slight skin problems (pimples ) but I soon realized it was the soda and what I was putting in my body . Start from the inside ...drink lots of water ..even if you hate it !! Wash your face every night and use a mild astringent after. I then take a little coconut oil and use it as my moisturizer ...I know oil but believe it or not Coconut Oil is natures secret to skin, hair and health !!!"

You don't have to tell me twice Miss "I haven't aged in 20 years."   I will faithfully drink ample amounts of water and keep my skin supple with coconut oil.  Going to bed greasy is the truth. Since this is the second time I've heard the message of coconut oil for beautiful skin (in less than a month), I'm once again a believer and vow to stay faithful to this practice for years to come.

Inspired By | Achieving Flawless Skin

One of my favorite Pinterest boards, that I like to visit quite regularly, is the one that filled with examples of my vision of perfectly flawless skin.  Way before I was on Pinterest, I visually imagined what I wanted my skin to eventually look like. This was during the time that I was suffering from chronic cystic acne, scarring and rough skin.  Things are different now.  I hope to one day obtain this level of skin perfection but until then, I will remain consistent with taking collagen, drinking bamboo tea and lots of water, exfoliating with my Clarisonic Plus, Riiviva and these awesome Alpha Beta Peel wipes.

There are times that I slip up from my routine, and my skin begins to backslide, then I take a look at my inspirations and I get back on track.

How to create taut, firm facial skin.

I received a request from a reader inquiring if I could touch on the topic of creating taunt, firm facial skin.  Since it's a subject that I am learning about myself, I thought it would be a great idea.  Please keep in mind that much of what I'll talk about will consist of opinions so please do some research for yourself to find out what works best for you.

The prerequisite for reading this post is that you go back and review the article I wrote on maintaining a strong facial bone structure.  I believe that strong facial bones are the foundation to having a youthful (and attractive) appearance.  When we are young, our bones are strong, providing the skin great support.  But as time passes, bone loss begins to occur taking away the structure needed to keep the skin looking taunt.

via my "Perfect Skin" Pinterest board

Tight firm skin is also plump skin.  I have found two methods that have given me results in the area of plumping up my skin.  The first one is in the form of supplementation.  The addition of collagen in my supplementation routine has been invaluable.  It began with the collagen chews then I graduated to the powders and supplements.  Then I learned of how important a role that silica plays in the formation of collagen in the body and really got serious about drinking my bamboo tea on a regular basis.   Now, I'm experimenting with drinking a cup of tea in the A.M. or P.M. after taking my collagen supplements.

Since I was making all these efforts to help build collagen, I had to also get serious about removing obstacles to the efforts I was making.  The biggest obstacle to firm, youthful skin (besides sun damage) is sugar.  Sugar rapidly enters the blood stream. When they attach to proteins, they create a new molecule known as an Advanced Glycogen End product (AGE).  The new molecule damages our collagen proteins causing our skin to age more rapidly.  Another ill of eating too much sugar is how it leeches calcium from our bodies.  Calcium leads to bone loss.  When our bones & our skin lose volume, there's no wrinkle cream on the market that can save us.  So if you are looking to retain firm skin for the long run, keep sugar intake to a minimum.  Oh, and keep in mind that some foods turn to simple sugar in the body so even if you are passing on dessert, be aware of other foods you are eating that behave in the same way.

The next tip to creating firm skin is to firm the muscles.  I first learned of facial exercise several years ago.  The idea is to work the muscles in your face similar to how one would exercise to keep the body fit.  Facial exercises are fairly easy to do and doesn't take long  before you start to see results.  Exercise can help lift sagging checks and strengthen the muscles around the eyes.  Basically, it helps fight against the effects of gravity on the face.  Sculpta, is a procedure that fills in the face by injecting a lactic acid complex into the skin.  This complex stimulates collagen production that can last up to two years.  Incidentally, exercise creates lactic acid in the muscles.  I'm not saying the two are related, but wouldn't it be cool if facial exercise provides some of the same benefits as getting an injectable skin plumping treatment?  The perfect compliment to facial exercise is facial massage.  I love facial massage for stimulating the skin and increasing blood flow.  Where blood flows, there is life.  

In the past year or so, I've experimented with more vigorous forms of facial stimulation.  The goal was to promote firmer skin and collagen production from the stimulation to the skin.  Some say that collagen can also be regenerated through stimulation therapy with micro needles.  The needles create microscopic damage to the skin and, as it heals, the skin will produce additional collagen.  I have some micro needles which I intended to use on my acne scars but now I'm considering experimenting on trying them out to promote collagen production.  Other forms of facial/collagen stimulation include gadgets that create suction (like my Riiviva microderm machine).

Remember the time when I experimented with drinking a gallon of water a day?  One of the wonderful side effects was the feeling that my skin felt plumper overall.  People pay hundreds of dollars to get hyaluronic acid fillers.  Truth is, HA fillers work by drawing water to the area to create volume. I felt like I got similar results without having to experience needles going into my face.  Not to mention how many other benefits you receive when you drink lots of water on a regular basis.

The bad news is that you begin to lose collagen at a rapid rate once you hit a certain age.  The good news is that we have multiple options available to us to stimulate and reproduce collagen to restore the look of the skin.  The key is to remain consistent and try multiple strategies to see what your skin responds to most.   
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Skin Porefection | Eliminate large pores for good.

Let's face it. When it comes to having perfect skin, the most critical of all concerns is having happy, non-existent pores.   Clogged pores lead to breakouts, and create the look of rough, unhealthy looking skin.  We all want perfect pores let's talk about how to get them.

The strategy for perfect pores must begin with an internal focus. Otherwise you'll be playing a frustrating game of whack-a-mole.  Remember that game? You think you're doing well by hitting a poor defenseless mole on the head, but little do you know, there are thousands more hiding deep beneath the surface just waiting for you to wear yourself out.  I could not have made any traction in my skin care journey if I hadn't first identified foods that triggered flare ups.  For me, it was wheat.  Perhaps you are sensitive to dairy, sugar or fried foods?  I love fried foods, but I know that eventually, my body will use my skin as a method of elimination of the greasy oils.  I might not break out, but my skin looks terrible as extra stress are placed on my pores.  Not a good look.  Do yourself a favor, identify the foods that trigger your skin and avoid them.

No matter how many products you use, you won't experience healthy skin unless your water intake is right.  Water, my friends, will allow those slip ups from time to time without devastating consequences.  Without enough water, you can pretty much give up on your hopes of having smooth, clear skin.  Once you get your water intake right.  The you can being the process of clearing out your pores.

The easiest, most effective method of pore cleansing is a good facial steaming session.  When my skin was at its worse, I attempted an experiment where I steamed several times a week. My skin glowed as a result.  All the stuff just beneath the surface was coaxed out and soon my skin looked darn near perfect.  Don't limit yourself to only experiencing steam cleansing at the spa. Get your own high quality steamer and treat yo' self.  Once the pores are opened up by the steam, it's the perfect time to do a deep clearing mask.  My favorite mask of all time is the GlamGlow.  It's what a pore cleansing mask was meant to be.  Seriously, it works.  It's not the cheapest product but, it's well worth it's weight in gold.  If you want to whip up you own batch of this mask DIY style, check out this post.

Oil production, dirt and makeup are constantly waging war against our pores.   That's why I thank God every day for my Clarisonic Plus.  Congestion can get really bad on my nose.  Within days of being out of town, my nose gets all bumpy.  After one or two uses of my Clarisonic, my nose is back in the game.  I can no longer live without this tool.   I can't.

Once we've got all the internal stuff covered, it's time to create a smooth external surface.  Removal of the top layer of skin is essential if you want the look of flawlessness.  Chemical peels do just that.  I love the convenience of Dr. Gross Alpha Beta peels for daily removal of dead skin and to improve overall texture.  If you need a little more help to look extra perfect, try a primer that erases pores like Benefit's Porefessional.  I've heard it referred to as "Magic in a Tube."  Lots of great reviews for how this product erases and hides pores.  This is a must have for everyone of us.  Why walk around with troubled looking skin if you don't have to?

Bye bye pores.
 

First Impressions | Dr Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Peel

Reflecting back on my personal skin care journey, one lesson I've learned is that expensive skin care products don't necessarily produce better results. Years ago, I heard of this miracle cream that celebrities smeared all over their bodies to maintain their youth.  When I finally got to the beauty counter to take a peak at La Mer's label, I was shocked that a high end product would contain mineral oil as one of its top ingredients. Never the less, I requested a sample which I never finished.

Then I heard that Beyonce uses Nutra Bisse's face cream that actually contains the dust real diamonds, I had to try the cream for myself.  Nice cream, but it didn't transform my skin.  If you look anywhere on the internet, you will find a multitude of rave reviews about Skinceuticals CE Ferulic serum.  Filled with antioxidants, many people who've used it say that it's well worth the price of over $100.00 a bottle.  After saving my pennies, I grabbed a bottle to replace my last serum.  My skin didn't love it.

I had pretty much given up on expensive skin care products.  Then, while browsing on Sephora's website I stumbled upon Dr. Dennis Gross' Alpha Bete Peel.  They are basically face wipes loaded with glycolic, salicylic, lactic, mandelic, and citric acid.  These wipes can be used daily to exfoliate the top layer, promoting younger, brighter looking skin.

If you might remember, I experienced a professional peel a couple of years ago.  While I loved the way my skin looked afterwards, I honestly would never want to go through that experience again.  Way too traumatic.  I'm hoping to use this for regular maintenance so I never have to get to the point where I need to peel off my entire face.  After seeing my fresh new skin, I realized how important exfoliation is to the progress of my skin care journey.

Dr. Gross' wipes are perfect for people who travel like me.  Since I don't travel with my Clarisonic Plus, my skin doesn't get to experience the same level exfoliation when I'm on the road.   These wipes will help keep my skin in check.  My first impression is how easy it is to use.  Just wipe my face, let it dry, then do the same thing with the second wipe.  That's it.  Oh, and I love that there's enough product do also allow me to treat my neck and upper chest.

I purchased the pack of 30 treatments but I don't plan on using daily.  I may go a few days straight then take a few days off, then use weekly for maintenance.  There was a slight tingle when used, but other than that, no other side effects.  The skin doesn't actually peel.  You just apply, let dry, then apply moisturizer and whatever other products you use.  My first experience with the alpha beta peel was two days ago.  Today, my skin feels smooth and looks brighter.  Dr Gross alpha beta peels are officially a skin care staple.

Exfoliation is definitely the way to go if you are on the journey to create healthier looking skin.  Especially if you've been good with taking your green supplements and drinking lots of water.  Chilli would be so proud of me right now.

(p.s. Amazon has it for way less than what I paid for it at Sephora).

Beauty Secrets of a 50 year old Super Model Unicorn

Years ago, I stumbled upon a video interview of Elle McPhearson and, at one point, the host made mention of Elle's age.  In her late 40s at the time, I could barely believe my eyes.  It seemed like Elle was easily defying the aging process.  Silently, I wondered about her health and beauty regimen but couldn't find much info at the time.  A year or so later, I saw an image of her with her husband who is 5 years her junior but appears older than her.   That's when I knew that she does something special to appear so youthful.

Well, we finally got a glimpse of what she attributes to her good health and wellness. In a recent Instagram photo, she flaunted her bikini body with the caption "Super greens...After a super swim."  That simple pic sent waves across the internet as people scrambled to find out what was in her cup.  Turns out she was sipping on Super Elixir.  

Super Elixer is a blend of 45 key ingredients including super greens, Chinese herbs, digestive enzymes etc. that help keep your the body at a desired alkaline range. The Elixir also contains omega 3s, fiber, vitamins and minerals.  The product sells for a bit more than your typical bottle of super greens powder. It's likely due to the high end designer packaging and celebrity endorsement (by Elle herself).  

Perhaps these greens has preserved Elle's beauty for all of these years.  Perhaps not.  But one lesson we can all take away from her is how important it is to keep our bodies in an alkaline state.  The pH of our body is the environment where each of our cells function.  If the environment isn't healthy, then our cells can not thrive.  Without healthy cells, we are not healthy.   Throughout any given week, I'm probably eating lots of fried foods, staying up late, and dealing with loads of stress.  All factors which directly contribute to creating acid in my body.  If I don't take action to counteract the acidity, things go down hill.  For this reason alone, I recommit to doing something daily to promote an alkaline body.  

We've talked about drinking warm lemon water first thing in the morning as a way to detoxify and balance our pH.  Since I travel pretty much every week, having access to fresh lemons while on the road, is a task.  Powdered greens seems like a viable option.  A few months back I picked up some single serving packets of Green Vibrance but couldn't get used to the taste.  I decided to purchase a packet of The Super Elixir hoping the high price will motivate me to drink it regardless of what it taste like.  

Aside from the greens. Elle's other beauty secrets include drinking 3 liters of water a day. In one interview, she shares that she has six 500ml bottles that she makes sure are gone before the end of the day.  Elle also recommends 45 minutes of movement on a daily basis and getting plenty of sleep.  One thing that adds to her youthful look is her amazing head of hair.  She thanks her greens and water intake for helping to keep her hair healthy.  Lastly, another beauty tip Elle shares is to exfoliate daily.  She uses an exfoliating glove to "scrub her body quite strongly every day" and, just like Chilli, scrubs (exfoliates) her face on a regular basis.  I love being inspired by women who are constantly defying  stereotypes about what beauty looks like at 30, 40, 50 and beyond. 

DIY Glam Glow treatment mud at home

You already know how much I love GlamGlow Super Mud Clearing Treatment. Currently I'm on my second jar and, to be honest, I've been using it sparingly because I'm not looking forward to shelling out another $50.00-$60.00 at the department store when my jar runs empty.  Then I got to thinking, could I recreate a similar version of this amazing mud at home?

Seconds later I was checking out GlamGlow's ingredient list.  I smiled to myself as I realized just how much of it was already in my possession.

GlamGlow ingredients I had on hand:

• Aztec Healing Clay
• Activated Charcoal
• Aloe Vera Juice
• Eucalyptus Oil/Peppermint Oil
• Mandelic Acid

Ingredients I added that aren't in GlamGlow

• Coconut Cider Vinegar
• Manuka Honey (instead of glycerin which is found in GlamGlow)

GlamGlow is basically made of a clay that extracts dirt & oil blended with activated charcoal for even more cleansing power.  Then they added a series of acids including glycolic acid and mandelic acid.  I just happened to have some mandelic acid on hand.  I've made clay masks at home before but  never thought about including an acid to exfoliate the top layers as the clay works deep within.  Thanks to the inspiration from GlamGlow, adding an acid to clay masks will be my thing from now on.  

I added a drop or two of Eucalyptus oil to bring a little tingle to the experience.  Although I included aloe vera juice as per the original formula, I decided to use coconut vinegar as the main liquid to blend everything together and bring the pH level down.  Every time I prepare a clay mask, I include manuka honey for the anti bacterial properties.  It also keeps my skin from feeling too dried out.  I knew that adding the honey would make my version of the mask a bit different from GlamGlow's but I was ok with it because the benefits are  worth it.  

The final result was very close in color and slightly a bit less thick than the original.  When I rinsed my face, several minutes after application, my skin felt smooth, looked bright, and felt soft to the touch.  I'm not sure if it had anything to do with the HydraFacial I had earlier this week, but my face felt much softer than when I use GlamGlow.  Because of the cost, I only used GlamGlow once in a while. Now  I can make a small batch whenever the need arises and treat myself to a clearing mask at will.

First Impressions | The HydraFacial Experience

It's been over 24 hours since my first HydraFacial experience.  After first learning about this hot new facial that promised to treat multiple areas with problem skin, I jumped at the opportunity.  My intention was to see if this was a treatment that I would partake in on  a regular basis and if the Hydrafacial could give me even toned, glowing skin.

My appointment was set extra early making me one the first client of the day.  Because the Hydrafacial isn't your typical run of the mill spa treatment, it's mainly offered at plastic surgery centers.  While I waited for my name to be called, I flipped through a book of before and after pictures of various procedures ranging from nose jobs & tummy tucks to laser resurfacing.  Minutes later, I was escorted to a small, comfortable room where my eyes immediately landed on the Hydrafacial machine.

The woman assigned to conduct the treatment attempted to explain the process to me.  I, however, was fully aware of what laid ahead after watching hours of demonstrational video on Youtube.   After answering a few questions about my skin concerns, the facial began.  The Hydrafacial occurs in layers.  First they apply a solution to the skin that loosens up the dead skin. Then the exfoliation occurs using a tip that feels a little bit like my Riiviva microderm machine (only gentler).  Karen described it as a "wet microderm" because it applied a light solution to my skin while exfoliating.   Finally, she used another tip to apply a serum "deep into the layers of my skin."

Screen Shots taken from @tazangelsbeautybar Instagram page

After the HydraFacial

The entire process was only around 20 minutes.  Once the Hydrafacial was complete, I opted to finish off with a LED light treatment.  The LED treatment is an additional $25.00 but she was generous enough to throw it in at no additional cost as a birthday gift.  Once I made it home, I checked the mirror to examine my skin.

Normally, after a facial, I can see an immediately difference in my skin.  Particularly when I had troubled skin. After extractions and exfoliations, the difference in my skin would be night and day.  Nowadays, the Clarisonic Pro and the Riiviva helps keep my skin exfoliated and there is little need for extraction now that my acne is at bay.  So, in the end, I could see no real difference in my skin.  To be honest, I felt a little disappointed.

Then, hours later,  I touched my face and noticed how deeply hydrated my skin felt.  Last time I received a traditional hydrating facial, I left the center looking like I had a ton of serums on my face.  With the Hydrafacial, my skin looked absolutely normal but it was as if the serums were laying underneath the surface.  It felt amazing.  Like I was drinking a gallon of water a day for weeks.  Not a dry patch in sight.

I woke up the next morning and reassessed my skin which was still hydrated and soft.  But when I looked closely, I saw signs of something else going on with my skin.  Purging.  There were whiteheads on my nose and I noticed a little purging elsewhere on my face.  Instead of worrying, I took it as a sign that the impurities were fleeing so my skin could truly glow from the inside out.  After realising what my skin was doing, I simply walked over to my nightstand and grabbed the jar of GlamGlow clearing mud which is made for moments like this.  The GlamGlow did a fine job.  

The more time that passes, the more I like this facial.  The one attribute which I identified as a flaw is actually a benefit.  The fact that you walk out of the place looking very similar to the way you walked in (at least in my case), makes it a perfect facial to fit in during a lunch break or before a night out.  Lord willing, I'd like to incorporate this into my monthly regimen.  More importantly, I'd like to see if there's a way to emulate this at home between visit.  I'm bouncing around ideas like simultaneously using my Riiviva and Panasonic Facial steamer to recreate the "wet exfoliation" experience. We'll see how that turns out.  I'm also looking for an at home tool that has the ability to allow for better penetration of the product deep within the skin's layers. Will let you know what I find.

Currently Craving | The Hydra Facial

It's been way too long since I experienced a professional facial treatment.  Since I have a birthday coming up, I thought I'd treat myself. But I didn't want a typical facial. I've been there done that.  I want something that can transform my skin. And....I didn't want to spend a ton of money.

Then, Instagram taught me about the hydrafacial. This facial is like the holy grail of skin care treatments. It exfoliates like a mircoderm treatment.  It helps fill and plump the skin, cleanses and hydrates.  The skin is extracted and moisturized all at once.  Fine lines are diminished, dark spots faded,  pores purified, all from one simple procedure.

My search to find out more led me to Youtube where I viewed countless videos describing the wonderful nature of this super-facial.  Immediately, I Googled a local spa that offered the service. Two results popped up.  The first was only $149.00 but the easthetician was out for the work requiring me to have to wait until Friday.  The second place was offering the hydrafacial for only $99.00 and could take me on Monday.

Sold!

I'm so looking forward to the experience.  At only $99.00, I can afford regular treatments (at least once a month).  I've saved a ton from not having to buy skin care products ever since I got serious and purchased heavy hitters like the Clarisonic Pro, my Riiviva and drank loads of water.  Now I'm finally at a place where I can begin to create phenomenal skin and it feels good to be here.

The Dewy Skin Formula

For much of my skin care journey, I battled with uncontrollable acne.  That issue was top priority.  My only focus was clearing up my blemishes.  Having dewy, glowing skin was not even on my radar.  Thankfully, my change in eating and drinking have made a huge impact on my skin.  And, with the help of exfoliation and various tools, I'm seen a tremendous improvement with scarring.

Now I get to play offense instead of defense with my skincare game.  After reflecting on some of the characteristics of amazingly healthy skin, I created some new goals.  Summer is absolutely the best time to rock dewy skin.  I'm referring to skin that appears ultra hydrated and is accompanied by an all over glow.  Who wouldn't want that?

I have a few tips and tricks on creating dewy skin that are simple and effective.  Let's discuss.

Before we get into the discussion, I would like to create a distinction between glowing skin and dewy skin.

Glowing Skin = Skin that appears healthy and reflects light
Dewy Skin= Healthy, ultra-hydrated skin that reflects light.

Obviously, the skin can not look dewy if one is suffering from dry areas.  Priority one has be to elevate moisture and sealing it in.  You already should know what I'm going to say next.....
The very first step in increasing moisture in the skin is drinking enough water.  I'm talking two liters a day or more.  When you are dehydrated, it shows up in the skin big time.  Worst of all, the change happens pretty quickly which is why consistency is everything. 

Once you've upped your water intake, now we can move to dewy-skin creating actions.  Dewy skin is fresh skin.  Meaning, the skin should be well exfoliated in order to give off that envious glow.  My absolute favorite product for this job is Fresh's Sugar Face Polish first introduced to us via an Instagram Beauty Secrets post.  It exfoliates gently and contains natural plant oils. When you use it, you remove dead skin cells while the oils seal in the moisture received from the water while rinsing.  When you're done, the skin looks hydrated on another level.  It's flawless.  I've used oil-free facial scrubs before but they only work to strip the skin of the natural oils and moisture. You don't want to go there.

Another go-to for super soft, ultra hydrated skin is Manuka honey.  They say that honey face mask boosts moisture levels in the skin.  Manuka is your typical honey, but on crack!  It's loaded with anti-microbial properties.  My skin after washing off a Manuka honey mask, feels so moist and dewy but without the light shine of using a product containing oil.

Speaking of oil.  Let's talk a little about oil cleansing.  That's where one uses a natural oil to "cleanse" the face by massaging it into the skin. Oil cleansing is an extraordinary way to remove makeup.  I find it extremely effective for bringing dirt to the surface for easy removal.  Similar to the Fresh Sugar Polish, a very thin layer of oil remains on the skin to seal in moisture.  People who are scared to try this method are fearful of breakouts and looking greasy. That couldn't be further from the truth. In fact, some say that using oil to cleanse can actually help your skin control it's oil production.  I battle with oil skin at times and, let me tell you, I'd rather have the even dewy look after oil cleansing than walk around with super oily skin.  There is a huge difference.

Lastly, I want to take a minute and shout out my Evian Facial Mist spray.  Ever since my first encounter, this product has been a daily staple.   I use it more so to moisturize my hair but I also appreciate it's ability to provide instant moisture when my face feels a bit dry.  Right now I'm experimenting with misting with Evian and then applying a light layer of CapriClear coconut oil to seal and so far, I'm digging it. All of this will serve me well come winter time.

Hydrate your Skin 5 Ways | Drink your moisturizer

At the start oƒ my skin care journey, I often frequented beauty counters in search of miracle cures.  Countless hundreds of dollars were spent on high and low end creams that to promise to make all my dreams would come true.  My biggest concern at the time was cystic acne and scarring.  Every time someone would shove a product in my hand and proclaim that this product would take care of my issues, I believed them.  Because I wanted it to work so badly.  But alas, I finally learned a difficult and expensive lesson, that most topical products  just didn't do it for me.

Serious change in my skin occurred when I finally decided to focus on my internal health.  When I gave up wheat, increased my water intake, and began juicing, things really turned around. So now I'm reading that, as the years pass, our skin will begin to lose its internal moisture at rapid rates.  "No biggie", I think to myself, "I'll just make sure I address that."

Instinctively, I wanted to begin an arduous search for the perfect skin cream.  I quickly came to my senses after realizing that I was moments away from going down that same path of seeking salvation in topical products.  What if I focused my strategy on internal moisture? That way I'm addressing the root cause of the issues versus just treating a symptom.

It turns out that we have lots of options for keeping my skin looking moist, dewy and hydrated from the inside out.  Let's discuss.

First and foremost, the number one way to hydrate your insides is the most obvious.  Water.  We've gone on and on about drinking ample amounts of water on this blog.  I still keep bringing it up because even if you do an amazing job at drinking lots of water this week, and you fail to keep things up, you can still find yourself with dry skin.  Drinking lots of water should be a daily priority.   So if you haven't elevated your water drinking, don't read the rest of this post without first making a commitment to consume at least 2 liters a day. Maybe more.

 Now let's get to the internal "moisture" supplements.  A must have on the list is collagen. When I'm consistent in taking these supplements (as directed on an empty stomach),  my lips are plumper, my face looks fuller, everything changes.  As each year passes, our bodies loose a little bit of collagen.  The rate of loss declines more rapidly in our thirties.  So, at a certain point, taking a collagen powder is almost a must.

Next on the internal moisture list hyaluronic acid.  You see this ingredient in a lot of topical moisturizers.  Like collagen it occurs naturally in the body and declines over time.  When people get fillers for plumper skin, they're getting hyaluronic acid injected directly where it's needed most.  Sure, you could pay hundreds of dollars for fillers or you can get it the natural way and save yourself the money and build your levels from the inside out.

Since I already have both collagen and HA supplements,  I'm ready to focus on the next must have for creating internal moisture.  Recently I learned that we can also supplement our skin with  plant ceramides.  Also known as phytoceremides.  Basically, they promise to help replenish ceramide levels on the cellular level.  When our skin lacks in ceramide levels, the protective skin layer is compromised and it has an issue holding on to water.   We can drink lots of water to hydrate, but the key is holding on to the water to retain its healthy appearance.  I'm already plottin' on picking up a bottle from Amazon and adding it to my rotation.

Last but not least, we can promote supple glowing skin with regular intake of omega 3 oil. Taking a couple of Omega 3 pills each day just won't cut it. I suggest you try in liquid form or invest in fermented cod liver oil to get the most impact.  Back in the day, when I would suffer from dry, itchy skin, all I had to do was commit to taking my fish oil regularly and everything would be alright.

I'm not saying that one should never buy a jar of rich, creamy moisturizer but, why focus on the external treatments when you could be doing something that could create even greater, lasting results.  Once you've done the basics like drinking water, and taking your hydrating supplements, then you can buy an amazing moisturizer that only supports the work you've already done.

PURIFY | Creating a ritual for detoxifying the skin

Has it been a while since you intentional gave yourself a treatment exclusively for the purpose of purifying your skin?  If so, then don't let another minute go by without giving your skin a purification treatment.

Exfoliation works wonderfully to remove the dead skin cells that lay on the skin's surface. But what about the stuff that's just under the surface. I'm referring to the congestion that diminishes all your efforts of having flawless skin.  This past week, hubby ran his hand down the bridge of my nose and casually, mentioned that it was "bumpy."  I hadn't even noticed the clogging that was beginning to take place.

Immediately I went into action, pulling out all the heavy hitters.  First I placed my Clarisonic Pro on the charger.  Then I scoured my stash for the small white jar of Glam Glow purifying mud.  If I couldn't find it for whatever reason, my back up masks are Origin's Clear Improvement with charcoal and Fresh's Umbrian Clay bar.  Either way, I'm covered.  The difference in the smoothness of my skin before and after was like night and day.  When I revisited this ritual, I added the step of steaming prior to cleansing and using the mask and took it to the next level.

Panasonic Facial Steamer

Which brings to message of this post, our skin is purging itself 'round the clock. That's its duty and it does a fine job of it.  Our role is to remove the toxins and dead skin cells. That's why we use masks, scrubs, rotating brushes, etc.  The issue I have is remembering to be consistent. I don't realize what is happening until it's already too late.  By then, I've already experienced a break out or clogged pores.  Suddenly, I'm reacting to troubled skin instead of consistently creating a flawless face.

This message of consistently purifying the skin is even more critical now that we're in the warmer months.  You should have a ritual of purifying at least once a week.  Heck, you can even try a couple of times a week and see if your skin loves it.    We've got to put having clear, glowing skin as a priority because it's the first thing people see. Even if your hair is laid to the utmost, it does no good if your skin is troubled.  Smooth, clear skin should always remain a priority....pure and simple.