Beauty Week: Does my skin match my top?

Hey guys! You all know I'm partying in San Fransisco this week so I asked my sis Jen to do a week full of her best makeup and beauty tutorials. Did you know she's one of the best makeup artists I know. Well she is, and what this girls says, I follow, because, well, she knows what she's talking about (oh and also I'm slightly scared that she'll beat me up if I don't do what she says). So without further ado, I give you my sis that I look like...and laugh like...and talk like. Yes, we're pretty much the same person.

Well Hellooo ladies! my name is Jen, Sarah's sister. Now we all know that Sarah is an amazing thrift store fashionista and I'm not even going to pretend I have the talent she has, but there are a few topics that I LOVE to talk about and thats skincare and makeup. I've actually taught Sarah everything she knows about skincare and makeup. I'm sure you all now how to dress, but that perfectly coordinated outfit could fall completely flat without great skin and makeup. That's where I come in, I'm going to give you a few basic pointers that will greatly improve your look and take you from fabulous to...

OH MY GOSH SHE LOOKS AMAZING!!! THOSE SHOES, THAT TOP, THAT SKIN, HOW DO I GET THAT SKIN, MAYBE I SHOULD ASK HER WHAT SHE USES, IS SHE EVEN WEARING MAKEUP?? NOO, YES..? NO SHE'S PROBABLY JUST A NATURAL BEAUTY, GOSH DANG IT, SHE IS A NATURAL BEAUTY, AHHH... You get the point.

        

So first and foremost you MUST wash your skin every single day and night! I don't care if you're too tired, or you want to try and rock the same makeup from the night before, or you've just never been educated on proper skin care routines, you must must must wash your face every night! You'll thank me in 20 yrs when you still look like a spring chick. It's a scary fact but not washing your face actually ages your skin! Consider yourself warned.

CLEANSE

Now that I've scared you all into washing your face, it's all about the cleanser. I adore organic products and have honestly seen the best results with them, but you know your skin and what it likes. If your skin is on the dry side stick to a cream based cleanser, Nu Skin has an amazing creamy cleansing lotion, check it out here.  If you have combination to oily skin you will want to use a foaming gel cleanser. My personal favorite is MyChelle Fruit Enzyme Cleanser, LOVE IT!

EXFOLIATE

Next exfoliate, exfoliate, exfoliate!!!! Oh my gosh exfoliate. You only need to exfoliate 2 to 3 times a week, but dear heavens does it make a world of difference. I think this is by far one of the most important things you can ever do for your skin. Exfoliating takes off that top layer of dead skin cells,exposing that beautiful skin you've been hiding. NOW, not every exfoliator is created equally! If you have acne prone skin you want to get an exfoliator with Alpha Hydroxy Acid or fruit acids. Don't use a scrub that has any type of scrubbing abrasive properties. Those will only spread bacteria around causing more acne,crazy hu! Fruit acid will dissolve that layer of dead skin without scrubbing.

Now for dry, normal and combination skin you can use a facial scrub, One of my favorite natural at home facial scrubs is Baking Soda. Ya, who would've  known that you had a box of facial gold in your pantry! Apply a paste of 3 parts Baking Soda to 1 part water in a gentle circular motion after washing face with soap and water. Rinse clean for a fresh-scrubbed face! 

TONE

Toning is awesome, toning up your bum gives you a perky behind, and toning your face gives you a glowing complexion! So get toning! Toning balances our the PH levels in your skin. So pick a toner based on your skin, try to stick to toners that have no alcohol it will only dry out your skin. If you have acne prone skin Witch Hazel is magnificent! For dry skin, rose water is a nice glass of hydration, and for combination to oily NU SKIN has a great one for both skin types here.

MOISTURIZE 

 Last but not least Moisturize!!! There's a lot to say about a moisturizer, I mean there are a million of them out there on the market. One of the most important things is that if this is a day time moisturizer make sure it has an SPF of at least 30. I also look for ingredients like Hyaluronic acid which binds moisture to the skin, anti oxidants, vitamin E which heals skin, Vitamin C which brightens skin, Honey, Aloe Vera, the list could go on and on. The main thing is you find a moisturizer that works with your skin type. Now what's just as important as what's in your skin care is what isn't in there. Here is an article from Xtend Life that lists the ingredients you DO NOT want in your skin care.

Hopefully you're not sleeping next to your computer because this information bore you to the point of exhaustion!Please love me! Tomorrow I'll try and come up with some funny story to tell you, although I'm not as clumsy as Sarah. Hmm maybe I'll try to fall in front of someone and report back on the embarrassment it caused, ha!

So let me ask you, do you have any skin care questions I can answer for you this week?