Skincare 101

Hey friends!!

I'm on Spring Break and this week has been *just* what I needed. Full of the beach, two sweet pups, and friends...oh and so much food. I honestly didn't expect a staycation to be this good. My college bestie came down for the week and we just spent time in the sun and trying to places to grab a bite (and also Chick-Fil-A). Perks of a late Easter/Spring Break: 80 degree days in April!! Praise.

I'm hopping on to share a skincare routine that I've been loving lately and seems to be working for my angry forehead...ha! I've struggled with Comedonal acne since I was in my early teens and now that I'm almost in my mid-twenties (yikes), it's still lingering around. I go through spurts of completely clear skin and then they make an appearance like, "Hey girl, we're gonna hang a while!" I've been to the Dermatologist more times than I can count and I've used different retinoids for over ten years. My Derm prescribed me another retinoid to try this past January (Differin) and I tried both percentages not noticing a huge difference.

I did NOT want to go back again, mostly because my copay can feel like paying rent, but I felt like I could find something (or a mix of things) that may work as good or better. I'm here to tell you I think I nailed it! After tons and tons of research and reading reviews, I pulled the trigger on a few products that I've been using for a little over a month now and have improved the way my skin looks and feels.

These three goodies go on before any makeup in the morning. I still use the prescribed Adapalene (Differin) occasionally, definitely not everyday now. Good news, this percentage is a prescription, but they have one you can buy right off the shelf that I tried first! It goes hand-in-hand with the Differin moisturizer pictured above. This stuff is amazing for oil control and I always use a moisturizer with SPF in it, so it's perfect. Now the star of the show, the main reason I decided to switch up my routine. You see that little bottle with the green liquid inside? It is a game changer. It has decreased the size and amount of Comedones on my forehead tremendously, MORE than any prescription the Derm has given me in the last year. It's called Blume Meltdown and I highly recommend it if you are feeling stagnant with the condition of your skin. It has brought to the surface what I feel the Adapalene was just keeping at bay. It has a strong Rosemary, earthy smell but quickly goes away after it's applied.

First thing's first, I do not use all of the products pictured above every night! Each night I cleanse with the CeraVe equivalent face wash to get any makeup or dirt off of my skin and cleanse again with a Micellar water right out of the shower. Then I apply the Blume oil, Adapalene (if I'm feeling it), and Hydra Genius gel moisturizer to top it off. When I was in the middle of all of my skincare research, I read that a gel-based moisturizer is good for naturally oily skin. If I am having more breakouts than usual, I will do the Body Shop tea tree mask before I apply anything to my skin. This mask is great for oil control as well! I just hopped on board the Drying Lotion train during the Ulta 21 Days of Beauty sale and I was able to scoop it up for half off. I will say, I haven't been totally impressed with it. I toss in my sleep a lot and it comes off very easily after it dries. It's definitely something I apply when I know I'll be at home all day and can be sure I don't rub it off accidentally. There are a lot of great reviews on it, I think it's just user error on my part.

Before I switched to this whole new routine over a month ago, I began at-home dermaplaning. If you're not sure what that is, click the link and read all about it. Simply put, it's removing the dead skin off of your face so your products can work better and your skin is smoother. You do this with an eyebrow razor (pictured above). Yes, I said razor. No, it's not like the razors you use to shave your legs. No, your little baby peach fuzz does not grow back thicker or darker or longer. Yes, I have noticed a huge difference in the brightness of my skin tone and my skin in general.

I've talked about Native on here before, but it deserves another mention because it is so good for you and your skin. It's aluminum free and there are so many scents to choose from. I have been using this deodorant for over a year and I would recommend it to anyone. Best part, it's available at Target and Walmart now too!

The Banana Boat self tanning lotion is awesome and smells delicious. Ya girl stays pasty, summer or winter. This has helped me keep a little color on my legs so I don't blind myself in the sunshine. I linked the new formula, but I haven't tried it yet. I'll pick it up after this bottle is empty!

Phew, there it is folks. I hope this was somewhat helpful if you're on the market for some new skin goodies to try out! I would recommend any of this without hesitation. Let me know if you have tried any!

3 things I'm happy to have as an "adult"

I wanted to do an updated "About Me" post, but one is already on the blog (that should probably be updated) and I wanted this one to be a little different. I think we can all agree entering into adulthood is weird. You're kind of lost, then you think you're on your feet, but then really "adult" things come up like signing up for your 401k or buying life insurance and it stops you right in your tracks. So, I wanted to think of things I love about being an "adult" and being out on my own. Honestly thinking of retirement or why I need life insurance kind of scares me right now, anyway. Let's keep it light.

1. Independence (and dependence) - When I graduated from college and got my job, I knew the next step was moving out. I graduated a semester early, so I lived with my parents from December - July while I was job hunting and submitting teaching applications like crazy. When I landed my job, I began apartment hunting. There was one thing I knew I wanted in an apartment: for it to be my own. I didn't want to share a space, except with my dog. I wanted to take on this next step in my life by myself and by myself I mean with the frequent occasional call to my mom to make sure I was doing it all right (cue the dependence). I wanted to call the shots with decorating, what the temperature was at, where the pots and pans go, how the fridge was organized (or completely unorganized), you get it. I wanted to take on this chapter full force and by walking around with no pants on in my own living room without judgement if needed. You can ask my daddy, he constantly tells me (in the most loving way) they "raised me too independent." I want to be in charge- but is that surprising if you know me? I'm thankful for the way I was raised to know how to take care of myself, but still call my parents when all else fails.
2. Thriftiness - I can't tell you how many times someone has asked me, "Did you get that from Goodwill?" Nine times out of ten, the answer is a hard yes. I've nicknamed myself a thrifting queen. I have decorated the majority of my little shoebox apartment with thrift store finds (a.k.a. the millions of baskets on the walls) and my closet probably seems like hand-me-down central to some people, but I love it and I love it about me. Don't get it twisted though- I still like my brands, I just buy them on sale. Most importantly, I'm aware of my spending and saving and I was taught you don't live above your means.
3. Humor - This! This is important. Probably the biggest trait I am so grateful for and proud of. For goodness sake, whether it means anything or not, I received the Cherish Cat Award in high school because I always had a smile on my face. I love laughing- it's probably my favorite thing ever. I can confidently say that I get my sense of humor from my dad (mom would confidently agree). I think it is so important to be able to laugh at yourself and if you dish it you need to be able to take it (I'm working on that last one). Biggest piece of advice I wish I could tell my younger self: laugh off the small stuff, there is a reason you can't change it.

Whether I want to think about the "bigger" stuff right now or not, thriftiness will help me build up that 401k, right?