Skincare Routine

Since my last skincare routine update in 2010, I have experimented with many different products until finally with trial and error I have found a routine that works for me. Just so you know, I have normal skin with a slightly oily t-zone.

En son 2010'da yazdigim cilt bakimi rutini postumdan beri bir cok urun denedim ve sonunda deneme yanilma yontemiyle cildiminde cok sevdigi bir rutin yakalayabildim. Haberiniz olsun, benim cildim T-bolgesinde hafif yaglanma disinda normal.

At the end of the day, the very first thing I do is take off my eye makeup. Eye makeup, especially mascara can be the hardest thing to completely remove from face so I take care of that first. I use the amazing Sonia Kashuk eye makeup remover. It removes every last bit of eyeliner, eyeshadow and mascara. The solution is very gentle yet effective. There is absolutely no need to tug on skin to get makeup off with this product, oh did I mention no oily residue?

Gun sonunda ilk yaptigim sey goz makyajimi cikarmak. Ozellikle maskara yuzden tamamen cikarilmasi en zor olan sey oldugu icin once onu aradan cikariyorum. Bu is icin Sonia Kashuk goz makyaj cikarticisi favorim. Bu sahane urunun, far, eyeliner ve maskarayi en kucuk zerresine kadar sokup cikarmakta gercekten ustune yok. Solusyon hem nazikce hemde etkili bir sekilde goz makyajini cikarmakta oldukca basarili. Bu arada temizlikten sonra geride yagli bir tortu birakmamasida benim icin buyuk bir arti!

After that I clean my face using La Roche Posay Physiological Cleansing Gel in conjunction with my Clarisonic Mia which I use every other day. It has to be the most gentle cleanser I have used to date. It is in gel form with a faint scent. My face feels much fresher and softer after using this cleanser.

Ondan sonra, La Roche Posay Physiological Cleansing Gel'le yuzumu temizliyorum. Bu islemi gun asiri Clarisonic Mia ile uyguluyorum. Hayatimda kullanmis oldugum en yumusak ve nazik temizleyeci diyebilirim. Jel tarzinda olan bu temizleyici rahatsiz etmeyecek derece hafif bir kokuya sahip. Bu jeli kullandiktan sonra yuzumun kesinlikle daha fresh ve yumusak oldugunu hissediyorum.

With the help of Bioderma Sensibio I remove any trace of makeup left behind. For the most part Physiological Gel does an outstanding job removing makeup. However especially on the days I wear more makeup, my skin needs a little extra help. Bioderma Sensibio's gentle, almost water-like feel and texture gives me a great sense of cleanliness. It leaves my skin feeling very clean and refreshed.

Ozellikle daha agir makyaj yaptigim gunlerde, temizleme isleminden sonra ayrica Bioderma Sensibio'yu da kullaniyorum. Physiological Gel genel olarak makyaj cikarmakta basarili ama bazi gunler Sensibio olmadan olmuyor. Sensibio'nun suya yakin yapisi gercek bir temizlik hissi veriyor ayrica cildimde serin bir ferahlik etkisi yaratiyor.

I use Origins A Perfect World white tea skin guardian as my nighttime moisturizer, although it's marketed as a serum. It has a very light, just slightly greasy formula that absorbs immediately leaving skin soft and supple. It has an almost citrusy but light scent to it. My daytime moisturizer is another product by La Roche Posay, Toleriane Soothing Protective Care. This fragrance-free moisturizer has a rich texture, just a tiny amount is enough to cover my entire face. I find it to be much longer lasting than any moisturizer I have used in the past. I feel like my skin just drinks it up and locks moisture in throughout the day. If I feel like my skin is suffering from dryness, I use the two products together at nighttime.

Bakimimdaki en son adim nemlendirici. Serum olarak satilsada, gece nemlendiricim Origins A Perfect World white tea skin guardian. Cok hafif bir yapiya sahip olan bu serum ayni zamanda birazda yagli. Benim cildim yagli olmadigi icin bir sorun yasamiyorum hatta tam tersine hemen emiyor diyebilirim. Gunluk nemlendiricim ise La Roche Posay Toleriane Soothing Protective Skincare. Kokusuz ve zengin bir yapiya sahip olan bu nemlendiricinin kucucuk bir miktari butun yuzume yetiyor. Ayrica su ana kadar kullanmis oldugum nemlendiriciler icinde cildimde nemi en uzun sure hapsedeni diyebilirim. Cildimde kuruluk yasadigim zamanlarda gece iki urunu beraber kullaniyorum.


When I wake up the next day, I like to start off by spraying my face with Avene Thermal Spring Water and gently sweeping a cotton round across my face to make sure my skin is completely free of anything that's not supposed to be there. I also love using it to set makeup, cool down any redness that may occur on my face or just to freshen up.

Sabah kalkinca yaptigim ilk sey yuzumu Avene Thermal Spring Water'la puskurtup arindirmak. Ayrica bu spreyi makyaj sabitleyicisi, kizarik onaricisi ve gun boyunca sicak bastikca ferahlama amaclida kullaniyorum.

About 2-3 times a week I use Origins Modern Friction facial scrub to get rid off any dead skin. This is also essential for me as I self-tan. That way I always have a clean canvas to apply my self tanner to.

Haftada 2-3 kere Origins'in Modern Friction yuz peelingini uyguluyorum. Solaryuma karsi olan ben careyi bronzlastiricilarda bulup bu yontemi kullandigim icin bu benim icin cok onemli. Boylece her bronzlastirici uygulamasina temiz bir kanvasla baslamis oluyorum.

Once a week, I use Origins Clear Improvement charcoal mask to open up my pores. I really feel my pores breathing after removing this mask. It's one of my favorite masks ever!

Haftada 1 kez gozeneklerimi acmak icin Origins'in Clear Improvement komur maskesini kullaniyorum. Kullanim sonrasi, gercekten gozeneklerimin nefes aldigini hissedebiliyorum. 

On occasion, I will use the La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo on spots that randomly show up on my face. Now, Effaclar line is specifically for those with oily/acne prone skin. My skin type is normal but I do get a pimple/spot every now and then and Effaclar Duo seems to do the trick for me. I usually apply it to the effected area nighttime. When I wake up next morning, I can see/feel that the pimple has dried up and on its way to vanishing forever.

Ihtiyacim oldukca La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo'yu yuzumde aniden cikan sivilcelerin ustune gece uyguluyorum. Effaclar aslinda yagli ya da akneye egilimi olan ciltler icin tavsiye ediliyor. Benim cildim normal olmasina ragmen, Effaclar Duo'nun cok faydasini goruyorum. Sabah kalktigimda sivilceler hemen hemen tamamen kurumus oluyor.

For lips, I use Lush's Bubblegum lip scrub. It does a decent job removing dead/dry skin from lips. However, unless you use it very frequently it's hard to tell any difference. I have been keeping it in my shower that way I use it more often.

Dudaklarim icin Lush'in Bubblegum peelingini kullaniyorum. Dudaklardaki olu derinden kurtulmak icin guzel bir peeling. Ancak sikca kullanmak gerekiyorki fark gorulebilsin. Bende daha duzenli kullanabilmek icin artik dusta sampuanlarim yaninda barindiriyorum kendisini.

And that's all folks! I am very content with each product's performance and absolutely recommend them to you if we have the same skin type/concerns. La Roche Posay, Origins Bioderma and Avene all make paraben-free products which are (for what they do) very reasonably priced in my opinion. It's a great feeling knowing that we don't have to spend a fortune for great skincare products.

Cilt bakimi urunlerimden gayet memnunum, benim ayni cilt turune/sorunlarina sahip olanlariniza hepsini tavsiye ediyorum. Bahsettigim butun markalarin urunlerinin bir cogu parabensiz ve fiyat bakimindan oldukca uygun. Kaliteli cilt bakimi icin bir servet harcamak zorunda olmadigimizi bilmek beni mutlu ediyor :)

ORIGINS Be Bright

I love Origins. I have been loyal to their facial care products for several years now and my experience has been nothing short of excellent. They have a wide range of products for all skin types and concerns. The main reason of my loyalty (apart from the fact that their products work really well with my skin) is because their products are free of some harsh chemicals that are in most of the cosmetics I use daily.

Last week I visited my Origins counter at a local Macy's to purchase a new moisturizer. I just ran out of my A Perfect World moisturizer. I do have some acne scars therefore some discoloration as a result. I've been looking forward to finishing up A Perfect World that way I could try a skin-correcting moisturizer. So I tried Brighter By Nature SPF 35 for a week and loved the way it felt on my skin and how my skin looked as a result. I also wanted to up the SPF since I'd be using it throughout summer.

I was informed at the counter about these special edition boxes. Regularly Brighter By Nature alone retails for $42.50 and this box, which comes with a full-size Brighter By Nature AND other goodies, sells for $46.50. I didn't even think twice about it.

What's in the box?

Full-size Brighter By Nature SPF 35 1.7 oz
Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask 1.7 oz
Never A Dull Moment Skin Brightening Cleanser 1.7 oz
GinZing Refreshing Eye Cream .17 oz
Facial Sponge

There are a total of seven Limited Edition boxes. I picked the Be Bright one because I want to brighten/correct areas on my face that need this. If you are on the lookout for new skincare products or simply want to try Origins, I think these boxes are a great deal than buying each product individually and not knowing whether they will actually work for you. (And of course there are always samples!:))

I will eventually report back on how these products perform. Brighter By Nature, so far, seems to be a keeper!

Thank you for reading, I hope you all have a wonderful week! ♥

Baby It's Cold Outside!

Needless to say the much dreaded cold is upon us (at least in most of the northern hemisphere!) Tis the season for chapped lips, cracked hands and dry skin! But it doesn't have to be! With the right products, we can all look and feel as good as we did in the warmer months. One of my biggest winter pet peeves is that my hands dry and crack like there is no tomorrow. My lips handle cold better but they do inevitably chap. I feel like I have an overall dryness, yuck! Chicago cold getting to brutal and unbelievable lows doesn't help much. Here are some of the products I use to battle with effects of cold weather :)

Aveeno Skin Relief Moisturizing Lotion

This lotion does an amazing job moisturizing super dry areas on my body such as elbows and knees. I do have an occasional itchiness, due to dryness, on my elbows and it really helps soothe them. It has a thicker consistency than most lotions, absorbs pretty fast and cools on contact as it's formulated with menthol. Besides menthol another soothing ingredient in this lotion is colloidal oatmeal. I personally despise the menthol smell but this lotion definitely doesn't have an overpowering scent (nothing like that of Bengay no worries!), it's actually really faint so it doesn't bother me. I love products that come with pumps (which you can't see oops!) and this is no exception! :)

Neutrogena Hand Cream

I've been using this hand cream for years! This hand cream comes in this small tube and it also has a thicker consistency, a bit Vaseline-like. It is however nothing greasy like Vaseline, dries quickly and leaves hands super soft. Packaging reads "just a dab heals dry skin" and this is no gimmick.You do not need a lot of it for a good amount of moisture. I use this few times during the day as I remember as well as when I'm going to bed.

Bio-Oil

I bought Bio-oil to use it solely on two scars I got on my left hand as a result of breaking a tall rectangular glass while washing it (ouch!). I have seen improvement on these scars since I started using it. Scars have lightened up since using this oil. I then started using it on my face at night back in February after my face was became noticeably dry and had that stretched feeling to it. I started applying a thin coat of Bio-Oil few nights a week half an hour before going to bed and I have really benefited from it. Now that the weather is freezing again, I am back to this routine. I am not really a fan of using oils or oil-based products on my face but using this, I definitely feel like my skin is way more hydrated.

Vaseline

Vaseline comes in really handy for cracked heels. I have no idea why heels are even an issue in winter months as they are in socks and boots all day everyday. Maybe that's why? What I do is, generously apply Vaseline on my heels and balls of my feet, put on some socks and go to sleep! I hate even the idea of wearing socks when sleeping but this seems to work so I do it couple times a week :)

Lush Bubblegum Lip Scrub

If my lips aren't that chapped, I use this scrub to gently exfoliate them. If they are really chapped, I skip the exfoliation step because it'll hurt! In mild cases, this lip scrub does a great job removing that dry and dead layer of skin from lips.

Lipbalms

There are hundreds of lip balms out there and I'm sure I have tried at least half of them, threw away half the ones I tried and have the half of other half sitting somewhere in my house. In my lip balm experience, as funny as it sounds, I have discovered there are different types of lip balms that work for different problems. A lip balm is not 'just a lip balm' in my case. Crazy, I know!

In a really severe case of chapped, cracked, dry lips and cold sores I prefer to use menthol based lip balms.They provide more comfort, moisture and I believe them to heal lips faster. Carmex is a life-saver in this case. It's in a gel-like form which leaves very refreshing and cooling sensation on lips. Doesn't have the most pleasant of scents but it does work! Sharps Daily Prep Lip Stuff comes next. I first bought this lip balm 4 winters ago when I had a really bad case of cold sores. My lips were outlined by this nasty red dryness which looked like badly lip-lined lips. I worked close to an apothecary that sold high-end and rare brands and was recommended this Sharps one by a sales person there. She was spot on! My lips healed not exactly overnight but the redness vanished overnight! This is from a men's skincare line but too bad! :)

If it's not that severe of a case but my lips are still chapped, I use one of the following. These two pretty much serve the same purpose. I am just including all of them to show you guys variety.

Victoria's Secret Pink Lip Butter with Organic Shea Butter - I'm not even sure if they still make these. It has a very nice minty smell and is very refreshing. I feel like I have a mint tic tac in my mouth every time I use this :) Goes on smooth and clear but leaves lips glossy.

Burt's Bees Beeswax Lip Balm -Stronger minty scent, goes on clear. I think everyone has used/will use this lip balm at one point in their lives, Burt's Bees products are generally very popular and they are usually 100% natural.

If my lips are fine but I still feel the need to moisturize them just for the sake of moisture, I use my EOS or Nivea lip balms. I always have a lip balm in my purse and am definitely one of those people who busts out her lip balm every now and again. Why not? I like keepin' it smooth! ;)

I do not have a special winter moisturizer for my face. I just continue with my regular facial care routine and use my my Origin's A Perfect World Moisturizer as it has SPF in it. I think many people may think they don't need SPF because it's winter. However the UVA/UVB rays are still there. Just because you don't see them doesn't mean they don't see you. It's a good idea to use SPF no matter what the season is. :)

What are your favorite winter life/skin-savers? 

Have a fabulous weekend!!! xoxo

How I Keep It Clean!

Hey loves!

I have done my first and last ever skincare routine back in February, I think it's about time I re-do one since a few of my skincare products have changed. Some say it's not good to change products and stick with what already works for you and some say you should change the products otherwise your skin will get used to them and they won't do anything for you. I prefer to change products because I feel like there is always something better out there. So far I have come across only one product which was a total disappointment. Besides that everything I use seems to work! :) FYI: I have normal/combination skin with oilier T-zone. Of course, as we all know, skincare is serious business. While there are only few types of skins, every one of our skins and needs can be different. These products are what works for me and even though we may have the same type of skin they may not work for you.

Face Wash 
Origins Checks & Balances
I'm really happy with this facewash because it gives my skin a squeaky cleaning feeling. This facewash is lasting me a VERY long time. I really need a dime-size amount for it to foam up. Even though it costs a little bit more than I would like to pay for a facewash, I am happy with how it performs. It cleans my face and leaves my skin super soft. I also love that it's paraben free.

Moisturizer

Origins A Perfect World SPF25

Unlike some people, this is my day and night moisturizer :) It leaves my skin very hydrated and soft. It has a herbal-y scent and a very creamy consistency. It's formulated without many of the harsh chemicals, and has SPF. I really love this moisturizer!

Facial Scrub

St. Ives Green Tea Scrub

Since I discovered this scrub several months ago I have not been using anything else. I did make the mistake of trying L'oreal 365 scrub which left my forehead super dry and flaky but I learned my lesson and went right back to St. Ives. I am in my second container which will be replaced with the 3rd one soon. I think this scrub is gentle enough to be used daily. I use it about 3-4 times a week. It does leave my face a bit too squeaky clean, in other words, a bit dry. However, for me, that is expected since it cannot clear breakouts (like it claims on the container) without drying them. I follow up with my moisturizer anyway, so dryness doesn't bother me.

Facial Mask

Queen Helene Mint Julep Mask

You either love or hate this mask. I haven't heard of anyone calling it so-so. For me, this mask gets the job done. I try to use this mask once a week and I also use it when I have an occasional zit as spot treatment. One downside of this product is that, it seems to take away skin's natural oiliness. I feel as though my face has been stretched after washing this mask off. That's why I follow with my moisturizer right away. I am sure the reason I feel like my face is stretched is due to the fact that it opens my pores, still it's a weird feeling. I do like it a lot for drying up unwanted zits.

Toner

Kiehl's Acai Damage-Protecting Toning Mist

Takes off any remaining make-up, balances skin's pH level. I love that it leaves my skin very refreshed. I actually like to spritz this on my face every now and then to freshen up!

Eye-cream
Kiehl's Eye Cream with Avocado
I purchased this avocado eye cream during a time when I was experiencing dryness and a bit of redness around my eye area. I knew for a fact it was because of the eye make-up remover I was using at the time. Since I stopped using the eye make-up remover and started using this eye cream, the dryness and redness both vanished. I do love this eye cream but it doesn't do much in terms of aging. In fact I am certain it doesn't do anything for aging. It's more for providing moisturize in eye area. I will most likely not repurchase this product but will continue to enjoy using it while it lasts. This little container sure is packed an incredible amount of moisture!

My eye make-up remover is just a mixture of extra virgin olive oil and water. I have not seen any disadvantages of using this as my remover, in fact I believe it to be much safer and healthier than store-bought eye make-up removers. Not to mention a lot cheaper! I think this mixture does an amazing job dissolving the most stubborn eyeliner and mascara!

I'm planning to keep my products the same with the exception of my eye-cream and now you know the reason. I will be searching for a real eye cream with anti-aging benefits pretty soon as I'm getting close to finishing up my little tub of avocado cream. Please feel free to recommend some eye creams I should be checking out. If you know of any formulated without parabens and phthalates I would love it even more! :)

Do you keep your facial skin care products the same or change them up once in a while?

Bubblegum

 Hello there beautiful people!

Today I'm sharing with you my recent Lush purchase because I'm stoked and I think everyone should know about this cute little thing!

I've never tried a lip scrub in my life. In fact I've first heard about such a thing in a video on YouTube maybe a year ago (What kind of a beauty blogger am I?!) Recently I was pointlessly gazing through the yummy website of Lush and I came across these lip scrubs! I knew immediately I must have the bubblegum scented/flavored one so I swung by Lush and made it mine!

Why did I pick the bubblegum one? Well...because I love bubblegum. It’s pink and girly. They do however come in three other scents and they are cranberry (which is currently sold out on US site), peppermint and chocolate. They all smell delish. I'm sure I'll try them all sometime in my life. While I was testing the scents, I was told by the Lush guy that these are actually edible! Huh?! Yes, I heard it right. He said, I can scrub my lips with the scrub and just lick it off LOL! I actually tasted it and it almost tastes like a bubblegum flavored Pop Rocks (except it doesn’t pop!) I wouldn’t make eating this a daily habit but if you ‘accidentally’ get a little bit in your mouth, you may as well enjoy it! It comes in a little glass jar with all the classic Lush labeling and I like this scrub quite a bit!

Quick Facts

Scent: Almost identical to that of Snow Fairy. I think it smells way better than Snow Fairy (actually I despise how SF smells but I love the way this lip scrub smells) If you enjoy the scent of Snow Fairy (as I know many people do) you will most likely love this lip scrub!

Flavor: Bubblegum

Texture: Very finely-milled Castor sugar

Ingredients: Castor sugar, organic jojoba oil, flavor (vegan), aurora pink(which I think is the artificial coloring agent)

Price: $8.95/.8oz (25g)

More information: Lush

Testing Bubblegum

Bubblegum - Quality Approved!

 After using this lip scrub, I have noticed a major difference on the smoothness of my lips. I have the annoying habit of picking my lips especially when they are dry or peeling. Of course doing this creates a not so pretty sight when I apply lipstick. I have noticed that I have nothing to pick now that the dry skin is lifted off using a lip scrub. Even in the not so great picture above, I think they look pretty smooth and soft! Definitely looking forward to trying to other flavors!

Have you tried this lip scrub?

Origins A Perfect World SPF 25

Hey dolls!

I'm back!!! As some of you may know, I've been to Turkey for vacation for 3 weeks and returned a little over a week ago. I was thinking to blog while there, but it just wasn't possible as I had places to go and people to see! :) I'm now back to blogosphere. Needless to say I really missed my blog (and YOURS too) ! Right before my trip I have run out of my moisturizer and knew it would cost me an arm AND a leg to buy it in Istanbul so I bought one here. I decided to go with a favorite brand of mine when it comes to skincare...and that is Origins! I've been using A Perfect World for a month now and here are my thoughts...

I have mentioned in the past when I did my first (and last) skincare routine post that I had been using Clean & Clear's Soft Oil-Free Moisturizer with SPF 15. I bought this moisturizer on a whim and used it til the last pump mainly because I didn't want to toss something that was doing a decent job. Why didn't I repurchase? I was looking for something more hydrating and I can't lie I kind of despised the smell. When it comes to products I apply on my face, with the exception of lip gloss, I am not too fond of overly scented products. Clean and Clear moisturizer does not have a bad scent but for my personal liking it was too much. I am also quite into paraben-free products whether they are detergents, soaps or my face moisturizer. I have been very happily using Origins' Checks and Balances face wash so I thought I should check out their moisturizers and I met A Perfect World...

I tried this moisturizer on at Macy's where I ended up purchasing it. I immediately fell in love with the scent. It's nothing like that of Clean & Clear moisturizer. The scent is very refreshing and has a natural feel to it. It almost smells like some mixture of flowers/plants/fruits. I just can't really pinpoint what exactly it is! My nose picks up citrus and roses! :) A Perfect World is jam-packed with antioxidants, white tea and UVA/UVB sunscreens which "help delay the appearance of premature signs of aging" according to Origins. I look for products with SPF because even though you do not see the negative impact of sun rays happening in front of you, when you age you will. I want to protect my skin as much as I can. I would say this moisturizer has a thicker and creamy consistency, still my (combination) skin seems to absorb it very quickly. I love that it leaves my skin hydrated, smooth and very soft. It dries to a non-sticky finish and leaves a very faint scent behind which vanishes in a few minutes. If you look in the back of the container, it suggest that you use this moisturizer in the morning. I don't believe in the morning/night moisturizer idea so I use it in the morning and at night. I can definitely feel that my face got a lot smoother and softer since I started using this moisturizer. I am happy that my skin also showed no reactions to it - I hate to go through a huge break-out when I switch face products. 

Of course there has to be something I don't like about it. Yes it's the container! It's cute and all but I hate dipping my fingers in it to get product out. Really wish it came in a pump form. I will not complain about it's price even though it is sort of pricey for me, in fact the priciest face moisturizer I've ever used. It is $38.50 for a 1.7 oz tub. I was told by the saleslady that this tub is a 6 month's worth of product. I believe it's a bit more than that. You don't need so much of it to cover your whole face and neck but we'll see how long it'll last me. Will I repurchase? I believe so. There is not a single thing I don't like about the product itself and the fact that it's made without all the chemicals that do not need to be in there in the first place makes it much more likely for me to buy it again.

What are your moisturizers that you swear by?

L'oreal go 360 Clean Deep Exfoliating Scrub

Hey chicas!

I've run out of the amazing St. Ives Green Tea Scrub and was in the mood to try a new product. I was strolling through the beauty aisles of Target and this scrub caught my eye. Few people have suggested this after my post on St. Ives Green Tea Scrub so I thought now is the perfect time to give it a try!

This is my first time trying L'oreal skincare and I can't say that I'm impressed. I initially thought this was a good product actually. I liked the packaging. The 'scrublet' definitely catches attention. Even if you later decide not to buy the product, it is definitely a factor why many people pick this off the shelf to check it out. I was personally not that fond of it though. You have to put it between to fingers to use it and it was just hard to do so when your hands are wet, it is floppy. Of course I could have dried them first but to me that's just not convenient. I also prefer to use nothing but my fingers for facial product application because naturally I want this process to be as gentle as possible and the microbeads are harsh as it is. I also think using the scrublet, one may feel the need to literally scrub because you don't know if it's really working. On a better note, it has a really nice and summery apricot scent to it and I really enjoyed that. It left my skin feeling soft and moisturized (at first). It does give you a squeaky clean and refreshing feeling which I also liked.It currently retails for $5.99 at Target.

I had been using this scrub for over a week and have not experienced any flaking or additional dryness whatsoever. This was until two days ago. I think 7+ days are good enough to know whether a product works for you or not.I have kept all my other facial skin care products the same so I knew for a fact this scrub is what's causing this problem on my face. I have normal/combination skin so an oilier T-zone. Where do I get the flakes? On my T-zone! My forehead flaked the most, then my chin, my nose was the least flaked but it was still visible. Ugh where is my moisturizer?!

This is a bit cleaned up version, I didn't want to gross anybody out by showing the whole flakage! :)

It's nothing to freak out about as it will go away, I'm just kind of bummed because I wanted to like this product. I guess I'll just go back to St. Ives Green Tea or Burt's Bees Peach scrub, they are both very good!

What about you guys? Have you tried this scrub, what did you think of it?

St. Ives Naturally Clean Green Tea Scrub

Hey girls!!!

Okay so I just ran out of my Burt's Bees Peach and Willowbark scrub which I love dearly! Now it was time to get a new one BUT as I was wandering through the aisles of my local CVS looking for something else, this St. Ives scrub caught my eye and I picked it up and "studied" the back side of it. I was very surprised to find out that it's formulated without parabens and phthalates! I'm seriously very happy to see more drugstore brands making products without these.

 My first impression of the scent was, "wow smells just like DKNY Be Delicious, yummyyy" and I still think it smells something like it, obviously a more toned-down version of it. Another thing that caught my attention was that on it besides that it has green tea (loves it!)  it says "clears breakouts & reduces redness". Well this kind of ties into the reason why I didn't have any FOTDs lately because I actually used another face scrub (read my 'negative' review on it here) which totally made me breakout, me no likey! I've been using this scrub for several days now and I just love it. I love the texture of it, it has these micro beads that are so gentle on skin. As you work this scrub on your face, it sort of lathers up, nothing too foamy though. After rinsing, my face felt kind of cool, I'm sure it was because it opened my pores and my skin was able to breathe again. But the best feeling of all was post-drying, it makes your skin incredibly soft!! I have normal combination skin and have not experienced any dryness using this scrub however I feel like if you have dry skin this may not be suitable for you because it doesn't have that moisturizing element in it like my Burt's Bees Peach scrub does. So far I'm very happy with this scrub, it really exceeded my expectations. I can see some reduction of the breakout already! I purchased this for about $6, it comes in a 4.5oz container. There are also Green Tea and Olive cleansers in this collection if you're interested.

Kiehl's Açaí Damage-Protecting Toning Mist

Hey everyone!

I have a small update on my facial skin care products and as you can tell from the title, today I'll be reviewing my new toner. I was previously using Dermalogica Multi-Active Toner and was pretty happy with it, it did the job. However anyone that knows me also knows that I am pretty big on paraben (and many other chemicals) free and organic products but of course I wasn't about to just toss a full bottle of toner so I used it up! I even use a paraben and bad chemical-free dish-washing soap and hand soap. I wish I could do the same with make-up and while I do have many chemical-free make-up products that I love, I just can't see myself giving up MAC and other brands that I absolutely adore. Ok I'm going off topic here...So I recently finished my bottle of Dermalogica Multi-Active Toner and decided that I won't be repurchasing it mostly because it does contain parabens and I also wanted to try something new. I have never used Kiehl's products before but heard great things about this company and it's products so I decided to give it a try.

 Here's the break down of Açaí Damage-Protecting Toning Mist:

What is it? An antioxidant toner that helps to balance and refine skin's texture and tone, provides a layer of antioxidant protection, aids in tightening pores, can also be used as a anytime refresher (yay! I can see myself carrying this with me all summer long for a quick spritz, especially in super hot and humid Chicago summer, it'll be my best friend!) It's 100% natural origin and 77.1% of ingredients come from organic farming.

What does it contain? Açaí berry, fruit waters, flowers, leaves and stems of plants, leaf oils, lavender oil and more...very floral indeed!

How does it feel on skin? I spritz it on a cotton round and then apply it to my face, right after using my face-wash when my pores are open, and it feels so refreshing, it almost feels like my skin can breathe again after I use this. It's definitely more moisturizing than Dermalogica toner, I think it's the oils that cause it to be moisturizing, which Dermalogica toner doesn't contain too much of.

What about the smell? Lavender definitely owns this toner. If you can't stand the smell of lavender then this toner may not be for you. I like lavender as long as it's not super pungent, and in the case of this toner, it's not.

Will it break the bank? It is $26 for a 6.0 fl. oz. which I consider to be reasonable for a product that doesn't contain most of the harmful chemicals many others do. I was paying $31 for 8.4 fl. oz. of Dermalogica toner.

What do I love about it? The packaging, it's a plastic burgundy bottle wrapped with the information label which looks pharmacy-like, sort of. I love the fact that it is in a spray form! And of course, that it feels great on my skin and that it's formulated without all the chemicals. That it's made to improve the size of pores, hopefully it'll work with my pores because they are getting huuuuge!

What could improve? In stead of plastic, it could be a glass bottle. But then it would be probably more expensive...can't have everything we want, can we?!

What do you girls think about Kiehl's, have you ever used or do you currently use their products?

My skincare routine

Hello everyone!

Few ladies asked me about my skincare routine so today's post will be about the products I use as part of my facial skincare routine. I didn't always care so much about facial care, I used to buy products (and a lot of them) and forget about them once they took their place on the shelves. I had countless instances where I went to bed with my make-up still on. I know, now that I think about I was crazy for doing that! I was young and didn't know any better even though I grew up seeing my mom taking care of her skin, and I guess now all that hard work, being constant with her facial care is paying off. At almost 50 she has great skin and minimal wrinkling, I hope I can be like her when I'm at her age! Like most of us, I tried many, many different products and after looking for the perfect ones for my skin for a long time, here's what I came up with....

Face Wash

Origins Checks and Balances Frothy Face Wash

This is the best face wash my face ever experienced by far! First off, it smells amazing it has an herb-y, minty scent. I have normal combination skin with a bit of oiliness on my T-zone and this face wash is perfect for me. It leaves my face very refreshed and moisturized. I have been using this for more than 6 months and have never experienced dryness using it. I could probably just cleanse and go with this product (but of course I apply my moisturizer) It is a bit pricey ($18.50 for 5 oz.) but you really only need to use pea-size amount per use, so a little goes a VERY long way. I really like the packaging because it's clear and you can see it! It's also formulated WITHOUT these: Parabens, Phthalates, Propylene Glycol, Mineral oil, PABA, Petrolatum, Paraffin, DEA, Synthetic Color, Synthetic Fragrance and Animal Ingredients. Anyway the make-up I use daily has who-knows-what in it, so it feels good to know that at least I am doing something good for my skin by using this!

Facial Scrub

Burt's Bees Peach & Willowbark Deep Pore Scrub

I love this scrub because I love peach and that's what's in it; finely ground peach stone! Main reason I bought this was because it's formulated without parabens and phthalate and also because it has a peach on it and I'm glad I did. I don't use this scrub daily, more like every other day. However because the peach stone is very finely ground I am sure there would be no harm using it everyday. Besides the peach stone, it also has willowbark in it which is a natural source of salicylic acid. I love how my skin feels like a baby's after rinsing it off, it kind of leaves a very thin layer of film after washing it off and I guess that's the moisturizer in it going to work. I'm also very happy that it's quite affordable ($8.00 for 4oz.) I love that you don't have to pay big bucks for good products.

Face Masque

Queen Helene Mint Julep Masque

I'm sure many of you tried this masque and if you didn't, you MUST. Queen Helene is a drug-store brand and I am sure one of the best drug-store brands out there. This is the cure for zits and blackheads, believe me! It's great for spot-treatment too, I have used this many times on a random zit and the next day the zit was almost gone! I use this masque about 3 times a week just to open up my clogged pores, blame it on too much make-up! I love the the mint feels on my skin it's so cooling and refreshing. One thing I have noticed though, after using this you must immediately follow with a moisturizer. It can be a bit drying and you definitely don't want to see flakes on your face, it happened to me, not a pretty sight. Of course, another reason to love it is because it's very affordable don't get me wrong I don't EVER use a product because it's cheap, I don't like to take risks when it comes to my skin/face. It's just that I'm very happy with the product and even happier with the price $3.99 for 8 oz. :)

Toner

Dermalogica Multi-Active Toner

My mom is the sole reason that I am using this toner today. She swears by Dermalogica and I have used other products by Dermalogica going off of what she had to say about them. I didn't love everything I used, and when it comes to skincare my skin HAS TO love the products I use on it.  So, this toner is the only product from Dermalogica I decided to continue using. It is a bit pricey ($30 for 8.4oz.) but it works on my skin, does what a toner should do and contains no artificial color or fragrance. In it, it has Lavender, Balm Mint and Arnica, I am not really crazy about the combination of these scents, but it's not too bad because I use moisturizer right after it.

Moisturizer

Clean & Clear Soft Oil-free Moisturizer SPF 15

Another drug-store product I love. I have used way too many moisturizers, expensive ones and not-so expensive ones. At the end, this moisturizer was the winner. It's creamy yet not greasy and blends easily. In the past I used a few moisturizers that took forever for my skin to absorb, this one does a perfect job. It leaves my skin feeling silky smooth. I love how it smells, definitely has that Johnson & Johnson smell, reminds me of a bit of the baby shampoo I used all through my childhood :) I also love that this bottle has a pump because I love and usually have longer nails and absolutely hate to dip them in anything (that's why I refuse to use lip balms in tins etc) The fact that it has SPF 15 is a plus. It does say "DAY" on it because there is also one for nighttime however to me it doesn't make any difference, I use it for day and night. I don't believe in the whole daytime nighttime moisturizer hype. (I think this is around $8 for 4 oz.)

Make-up Remover

Neutrogena Make-up Remover Cleansing Towelettes 

I used these wipes for years and then I stopped because I was running out of them too fast, they come in packs of 25 so imagine you finish one in less than a month if you use 1 daily. I started using the Neutorgena eye-make up remover and continued with my regular skincare routine. After a bottle of the Neutorgena eye-make up remover I decided I won't buy it again because it IS oily and DOES leave a residue which I don't like at all. It also irritated my eye-area, I had red spots. Recently I have gone back to these wipes because they really are great, I just wish that they came in bigger packs and were a bit cheaper. I love them because they really do take off every bit of make-up including mascaras of all kinds. They are super gentle on my skin, no irritation whatsoever.They are great for people who use contact lenses such as myself. Using eye make-up remover, I always got a bit on my eyes and that's not fun. I also love that they have a nice floral scent. ($8.99)