Post-Acne Marks

Hello again ladies! I hope you all have been enjoying this beautiful week...at least here in Iowa it has been! So nice to finally see some sunshine and feel that change in the air in the morning. 

Today I want to share with you, what I think is, an outstanding product; a product that has truly helped my skin and has made noticeable changes. What I'm talking about is the Murad Rapid Age Spot and Pigment Lightening Serum..long title, I know. 

I discovered this at Sephora and took a sample of it home a couple months back. While the sample was too small to notice any changes, I did some research online and read reviews on Makeup Alley about this serum. So when the sample ran out completely, I took the plunge and purchased it. 

At night, after I have cleansed and toned my face, I apply a thin layer to my "targeted area". For me, this is my chin. Hormonal breakouts are my #1 problem [next to oil/pores]. Some might consider me lucky to get acne in only one concentrated area, but I still see it as troublesome. Because it always leaves behind a little a lot of evidence. By that I mean, scars or post-acne marks. To me, a scar is when it changes the texture too (like an indentation). My skin is fair enough that even after the raised bump has gone away, the purplish mark sticks around forever, definitely over-staying its welcome. 

So I wear this to bed, followed by my normal moisturizer. I also like to put this around my temples and down onto the tops of my cheeks where I have some sun spots and freckles. 

I've had it for a month and have used about an 1/8 of the bottle.

Ok, so here is a shot of what my chin looks like now after using it for a month. I wish I would have taken a before photo. But I assure you my purple marks have lightened into a more reddish shade, and definitely are starting to fade [much faster] than normal. Not to mention, some of these little marks have been there for half of a year. So any progress is fine with me!

If you are struggling with post acne marks, age sports, hyper pigmentation, etc, I would definitely recommend you try this out!

Want to check out it out for yourself? Find it here!

Beauty Bits: 5 Things I Can't Get Enough Of

1/ Murad Oil-Control Mattifier (SPF 15)

2/ NARS blush in Madly

3/ Diorshow Iconic Overcurl mascara

4/ Bumble and bumble Creme Contour

5/ Rimmel Stay Glossy in Non-Stop Glamour

1/ If you have oily skin, this is something you should be in the market for. I use this mattifier every morning on clean skin. It has a thicker consistency and really soaks into the skin. It works great as a moisturizer and primer all in one. I do notice that it keeps my skin looking matte longer throughout the day, however a little shine breaking through is simply inevitable with my [oily] skin. (Similar option here.)

2/ NARS blush in the shade Madly is hands down, probably my most used blush. I call it my everyday blush. This "seashell" medium brown shade contains hints of peach and works amazing with most makeup looks because of its natural tone. It doesn't impart a lot of obvious color, but adds a natural warmth. Here are some swatches. (A cheaper and similar version here.)

3/ The Diorshow Iconic Overcurl mascara was a splurge. I typically would never recommend buying an expensive mascara when the drugstore offers amazing options. However, I never had tried a "curling" mascara and rarely curl my lashes either. Now I'm regretting buying it...because I'm HOOKED! This stuff is so interesting. It really creates an eye-opening effect. Here is a shot of it applied to one side. And the picture doesn't even do it complete justice. [If you want to try a curling mascara but don't want to spend this pretty penny, I know Clinique has one as well as Urban Decay.]

4/ Bumble and bumble Contour Creme has become a favorite as of late. After curing my hair, I like to take a little of this and rub it between my fingers and then run it through my ends and on the roots underneath. This gives my hair some texture and hold, as well as separation at the ends, creating an undone, "messy" look. 

5/ Rimmel Stay Glossy in the shade Non-Stop Glamour was a recommendation via TiffanyD (my fave YT guru, obviously). It's such an affordable gloss [$4.99] from the drugstore that works great paired over any lip color. It reminds me of this spendy Dior gloss. I want to go back to the drugstore and try a few other shades now! 

Oily Skin 101

Oily skin. If you have it, you probably hate it. And if you don't, you are very thankful. The only perk I have ever heard and known to be true of having oily skin is that your chance for wrinkles is considerably less. But why are some people oily and others are very dry? Well, this is something I have actually just learned in school and found it interesting enough to share with you!

Oily skin, if you have it, you'd know, is hard to control simply because it is genetically determined by hormones in your body [which we can't control topically on our own]. The hormones that produce oil are called androgens, known as male hormones, but are found in both men and women. Oil production is actually to our benefit, but it's when too much is produced that it becomes a problem. [A shiny, OMG problem.] When too much oil is produced, we see our pores become enlarged. They become large because they are trying to accommodate all the oil in our skin. Excess oil can also lead to the thickening of the pores skin, which can block the oil from escaping the pore. We all know that this leads to dreadful blackheads and pimples.

But itf you aren't sure you have oily skin, here are some ways to know:

• Your makeup seems to slide or disappear from your face throughout the day
• Your face becomes shiny and appears greasy by midday
• The oily places of your face are prone to blackheads, white bumps, acne, etc.
• Pore are visible, especially around your nose, forehead, and chin

When caring for oily skin, let's first take a look into your skincare routine. You might be using products that are drying [typically containing alcohol] which seem like a good idea because they initially make your skin feel less oily. However, using irritating and drying products can actually increase your oil production. These products will trick your hormones and skin into thinking they aren't producing enough oil, and in return, produce more directly in the oil glands. Consider using water-soluble cleansers, liquid toners, and serums to treat target areas. 

Here is a sample step-by-step routine for oily skin:

1. Cleanse- It's best to find a fragrance-free, gentle cleanser that doesn't contain drying or irritating ingredients (sodium lauryl sulfate, alcohol, etc)
2. Exfoliate- This is essential for oily skin! This is the best way to remove the built up caused by clogged pores and make your skin feel smoother. (Check out these options.)
3. Tone- Find an alcohol-free toner that is made to balance the pH levels in your skin. These toners can help minimize pores and reduce inflammation. (Here are some great options.)
4. SPF in the A.M.- Wearing sun protection is important for oily people too. Find a weightless form that helps mattify your skin. (I love this one by Murad and it acts as a great primer.)
5. Hydrate in the P.M.- Choose a lightweight lotion or serum that contains antioxidants and helps fight pore size. (I am loving the new Proactiv+ products.)

So there you have it! A brief, Cliff notes version of oily skin and how to attack it. 

I hope this was helpful! Happy Tuesday!

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