by Shannon | Feb 26, 2014 | Seasonal Skin Care, What I'm Loving Now
Colder temperatures make me crave creamier moisturizers. But finding a moisturizer that’s got enough weight to get the deep moisture that you need and not clog your skin up can often be a challenge. Here are a few of my winter favorites for dry skin.
I’ve been trying out some new products recently, and the Nia24 Intensive Recovery Complex has really captured my heart. Quick absorbing but still deeply moisturizing, this cream gives long-term moisture. Nia24 boasts a form of niacin that penetrates deeper into the skin, so in addition to rich moisture, you also get brighter, healthier skin in the long run. The Pro-Niacin complex also helps to thicken the top layers of the skin, giving you a heartier, more resilient complexion.
The intensely moisturizing Sircuit Skin Cloud 9+ cream has been one of my standbys for my own dry skin the last few years. It leaves a protective barrier on to defend your skin against the elements. It also features antioxidants and other botanical ingredients to protect against aging and restore at the same time.
I’ve always liked many of the products in the Philosophy skin care line. For many years, this moisturizer, the Philosophy When Hope Is Not Enough replenishing cream. It has a buttery texture that melts into skin, protecting dry, chapped skin from the elements and restoring suppleness.
One of my favorite moisturizers, the Korres Greek Yoghurt Moisturizing Face Cream, recently got a texture makeover, and is now richer and even more moisturizing. It still has a light, whipped texture, so it’s a great cream for people who are on the oilier side of the skin type spectrum. The yoghurt in the cream is reparative and soothing, so that makes this particular product a great choice for irritated or inflamed skin, such as skin types that suffer from eczema or psoriasis.
Facial oils are all the rage, and it’s one of my favorite ways to tweak a skin care routine that’s just not quite enough moisture for dry skin. You don’t need to purchase an entirely new routine; just amp up your current moisture by layering an oil under your favorite lighter summer ones. Your skin absorbs layers better, so using several light products may actually work best for you. My current favorite oil is the Boscia Tsubaki Beauty Oil, which has a lovely light texture and tons of antioxidants for brightening and extra protection.
Have you tried any of my winter favorites? What products do you rely on when temperatures drop? Tell me in the comments below!
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by Shannon | Jun 14, 2013 | What I'm Loving Now
Summer is upon us, and it’s time to switch up products in your skin care routine. I love summer, but it definitely requires some makeup and skin care product tweaks. Since I love to be in the sun, my summer essentials center around ones that protect my skin from UV damage by amping up my sunscreen but allow me to indulge in sidewalk cafes and afternoons in the park. Here are some of the things I rely on to keep my skin healthy in the summer.
Sunscreen is so important in the summer. And for sunscreen, the key is 
in reapplication. So how do you reapply like you should without messing up
your makeup? I love the bareMinerals SPF 30 Natural Sunscreen. There are lots of touch-up sunscreen powders on the market, but I like this one because the brush is soft, and the sunscreen comes in several tinted powders to prevent that blue cast that mineral sunscreens are infamous for. Another bonus of touch-up sunscreens like this? You get a mattifying bonus if you’ve gotten a little shiny.
The KORRES Greek Yoghurt Cooling Gel is one of my summer essentials. If you’ve ignored my advice about reapplying your sunscreen and gotten a nasty sunburn, this is one of my favorite rehabilitation products. It’s lightweight, anti-inflammatory, and hydrating. It has a cooling sensation when you apply it, so it takes the heat out of the burn. And yogurt has natural healing properties to repair damaged summer skin.
I like lighter textures in the summer, so I usually 
switch my skin care routine to use just a serum underneath a sunscreen. Skin that’s been in the sun is usually skin that’s dehydrated, so I try to get as much hydration as I can. One of my favorite hydration serums is the iS Clinical Hydra-Cool Serum. It’s light, super hydrating, and even includes a brightening agent to control summer pigmentation.
Sweaty summers make me switch to waterproof eyeliners. The 
Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil is one of my all time favorite eyeliners. I’m a black eyeliner kind of gal, so my favorite color is Zero, but sometimes it’s fun to wear a bright turquoise like Deep End or funky purple like Vice.
Summer increases oil production, and that increases the 
tendency to break out. Even my super dry skin can get too greasy and break out in the summer, so I keep it under control by using a salicylic acid wash a few times a week. My favorite is the Sircuit Skin Savior problem skin cleanser, which breaks down oil and helps unclog pores, as well as having a light cooling effect from a touch of menthol.
These are a few of my favorites. What are some of your summer essentials? Tell me in the comments, or join the conversation on Facebook.
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by Shannon | Apr 3, 2013 | What I'm Loving Now
I had been under some stress recently. Since my job requires my skin to glow, I have to lean on some of my own cheats to fake a full night’s sleep. One 
of my favorite go-to problem solvers is the Astara Green Papaya Nutrient Mask.
I’ve loved this mask since the first time I tried it. It does a bit of everything, so it’s really great for all skin types. It has a little enzyme from papaya which helps to gently exfoliate and smooth the texture of the skin. It also has vitamin C to revive your glow and chamomile to soothe and reduce redness. It smells amazing as well, with some aromatherapy thrown in to calm your mind.
Astara is a brand that considers themselves natural. They pride themselves on using organic and even raw ingredients. And since I encourage my readers to make their own decisions about whether a line is truly natural, a quick look at the ingredient list confirms that almost all the ingredients are botanical extracts.
Tell me what you think in the comments! What masks do you love when your skin is looking a little dull?
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by Shannon | Mar 6, 2013 | What I'm Loving Now
The Northeast is bracing for what will hopefully be the last snow storm of this season, and I have been relying on whatever I can find to keep my dry, itchy skin under control. Here are a few of products that I keep going back to.
Argan oil is a popular ingredient these days. It popped up a few years back and fans are 
keeping it front and center. I love the Kahina Giving Beauty Argan Oil. It has a rich texture that is amazing to soothe dry skin. I especially love it because Kahina gives so much back to the community of Berber women that make the oil. Try a couple of drops under a lotion to amp up your moisture, on cuticles, or even on the ends of hair to tame frizz.
All winter, I’ve been using this Replenishing Nutrient Complex
from Tata Harper in my facials. I love the double whammy – it’s wonderfully aromatic and soothing, as well as super moisturizing. I find the rollerball incredibly convenient. I keep it in my bag for touch ups over makeup during the day. Remember that dry skin is dull skin, so a hint of oil on the cheeks can restore your glow.
You can’t get more of a multi-tasker than coconut oil. I’m not one for making my own skin 
care; I’d just rather buy something that comes in a pretty box. But I’ve been making this One Minute Chocolate Cake from Chocolate Covered Katie just about every night, and I kept getting coconut oil all over my hands. Not wanting to waste, I started working the excess into the ends of my hair, removing my eye makeup, and rubbing it onto my arms. Now I’m almost out, and I’m obsessed. I need my chocolate cake and my moisture. By the way, if you don’t have a nut allergy, coconut is a hot new ingredient for your skin and for your diet.
I do find that oils work best with a moisturizer. The oils seem to soak in and disappear on their own. But if you mix a few drops into your moisturizer, or apply the moisturizer over the oil, it really helps to seal in that extra moisture. Don’t be scared of oil. If your skin is dry, it needs the help.
Do you have any favorite oils for these last few cold weeks?
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by Shannon | Feb 11, 2013 | Skin Concerns, What I'm Loving Now
Chapped winter lips have gotten me down, so I was happy to rediscover one of my favorite lip products, the Jane Iredale Sugar and Butter lip duo. I found it in the bottom of a drawer, and I couldn’t believe I hadn’t used it since last year. This lip duo features a lip exfoliator on one side, which has organic brown sugar partnered with beneficial botanical oils to exfoliate dead skin and moisturize at the same time. I love sugar exfoliants because they don’t leave nasty tasting synthetic ingredients all over, and sugar dissolves easily for a quick, on the go dead skin removal. The flip side is a hydrating lip butter, with a little extra shimmer and plumper as a bonus. I love the way my lips look when I use this… it’s my barely there lip look. The plumper helps to boost the look of your natural lip color, as well as giving a little fullness that often lacks in the cold winter months. This is best for ladies who don’t crave a dramatic lip look but want to add a little finish with a natural sheen and glow. I am obsessed with lip products, and I hate most of the exfoliants I’ve tried. This little gem has been a welcome change.
What are you relying on to save your lips this winter?
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by Shannon | Jul 23, 2012 | What I'm Loving Now
As an esthetician, I want my skin clean before I go to bed. As a sleepy girl, I don’t want to spend a lot of time actually doing it. I recently rediscovered one of my true cleansing loves on a recent shopping trip, and I can’t remember why I stopped using it.
Purity Made Simple by Philosophy is one of my favorite all-purpose cleansers. It removes makeup in a flash, even stubborn waterproof mascara and eyeliner. It is considered appropriate for all skin types, but extremely dry skins may find it a little on the over-drying side. I am very dry, so I use this more often in the summer when my skin tends towards more oiliness. I also look to this when I’m wearing more makeup than usual, and I want to really be sure that my skin is super clean before bed. I always make sure to follow immediately with a moisturizer that is right for my skin type. And since a little bit of cleanser goes a long way, this product is also a good value.
Who will love this: People who love makeup but hate spending a lot of time taking it off
Who should avoid this: People with extremely dry skin
This product was purchased by me for my own personal use.
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I am a licensed esthetician and fully certified skin care nerd. I am passionate about all things beauty. I want to help you take care of yourself, to feel better about how you look, and to live a happier, healthier life.
