Epic Beauty Guide

12/12/2016

Mini-Note/Mini-Review: I've been really loving the Milky Jelly Cleanser from Glossier. Now that it's cold and dry out, I needed to switch from NIOD Sanskrit Sapponins (incredible for hella oily summer skin) to something that still removed oil effectively but was a bit more relaxed about it. I've been using the Milky Jelly to double cleanse - I start off with dry skin, rinse off, then apply another pump to wet skin. It's a fun texture, easy to rinse off, and leaves your face feeling clean but not stripped or dry. One of the best cleansers I have EVER used (plus the smell is kinda nostalgic for me). If you want to try it yourself, here's 20% off: http://bff.glossier.com/eIXjE

29/11/2016

Tonight's treat ✨ Blue Tansy Resurfacing Clarity Mask has me all stoked again about wash off masks (peel-off masks are usually my jam). Winter is the best time to use alpha hydroxy acids to help repair summer sun damage and keep dry, flaky skin away. This mask smells like a medicated minty herb blend, and I love the light watery gel texture. Post-wash, skin is beyond silky soft with zero irritation. Ladies and gentlemen, we have a keeper.

14/11/2016

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.waheed

13/11/2016

This little beauty from Omorovicza was a bit of a dud for me. I love cleansing balms since they quickly and gently remove sunscreens, but there are two important traits I look for: emulsify in water for an easy rinse and do not leave a film on the skin. To me, the purpose of a cleanser is to, well, clean the junk off your skin, not to moisturize it or occlude the skin (that's your moisturizer's job, and belongs in the final step, not the first). So while I loved the earthy, peppery scent, the texture was very dense and difficult to remove without a washcloth and a second wash with a different cleanser. I wouldn't want to apply any light, water-based serums after this since it wouldn't be able to pe*****te the oily residue left behind (my skin is pretty well moisturized on its own and a little oily in the T-zone, so the feeling of a residue on my skin is 😝). Omorovicza still makes some of my favorite products, this one just wasn't one of the lucky ones. 💩
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08/11/2016

Morning routine just meow ✨
☁️NIOD Sanskrit Sapponins
☁️HENNE Rose Diamonds (exfoliate ze lips)
☁️NIOD CAIS 1%
☁️The Ordinary Alpha Arbutin 2% + HA (spot treatment, not whole face)
☁️KYPRIS Heliotropic SPF 30
☁️NIOD 100% Organic Cold-Pressed Rose Hip Seed Oil (one drop patted on cheeks and any spots that get can dry from sunblock's zinc)
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07/11/2016

The hunt for the best un**es ever is now over. Huge thanks to for making these super soft, light little underthings. (...and thank you for introducing me to them ❤️) **es

06/11/2016

This is such a quick switch you'll wonder why you didn't do it earlier: get yourself a high quality water filter (dear lord, *not* a pitcher) and a glass or stainless water bottle. Install your water filter at your sink and fill your bottle up with clean water before you leave the house. You've just saved yourself a ton of money and prevented hundreds of plastic bottles from clogging up our landfills and oceans. Don't rely on "everyone else" or governments to do it for you.

06/11/2016

More on the way.
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04/11/2016

Today is all about fading those pesky red spots that stick around after a blemish. On their own, these wee marks (post inflammatory hyperpigmentation) fade within a month and disappear completely in about 3 months. But who in the helllll wants to wait 3 months for that to happen? 💩 So I have some magical skin potions in my bag o' tricks to master the occasional mark. If you need to fade hyperpigmentation from a blemish or from the sun, this post is for you!
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1. ALPHA HYDROXY ACID. Good ol' AHA, the queen of gentle exfoliation and a genius at making spots of all kinds vanish like magic. ✨ My favorite is Paula's Choice RESIST Weekly Resurfacing Treatment 10% AHA. Just before bed, I'll put it directly on the spot to be treated and wake up to a nearly non-existent mark. You can use this on your whole face once per week, but I personally like it only as an occasional spot treatment.
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2. NATURAL EXTRACTS. It can be tough to find green beauty brighteners that are truly effective - either the ingredients are there but it's formulated incorrectly to prevent proper delivery to the skin, or the ingredients aren't in the right concentration. One product that has been consistently effective over the years is Kahina Brightening Serum (). It takes a few weeks to really see a big difference (especially if you're targeting sun damage) but it's gentle and doesn't aggravate sensitive or blemish-prone skin.
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3. NEWBIES. In October, I tried out two options in spot annihilation: WhiteRx Activated Serum (left, blue label) and The Ordinary Alpha Arbutin 2% + HA. I had four little spots to fade, so two got the WhiteRx and the other two got The Ordinary. The WhiteRx spots didn't fade at all after a week of consistent application, which surprised me given DECIEM's focus on ingredient efficacy, though I've been seeing a few comments floating around IG () that the line isn't very effective. 🤔 The Ordinary, however, took its two assigned marks from red to an imperceptible pale pink in just 3 applications over 2 days. Holy wow.
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Definitely feel free to share the products that work best for you or that you'd like me to check out!

25/10/2016

Today's checklist of stellarness ✨:
Cold ass weather.
Comfy clothes.
Grass-fed bone broth (aka stock).
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Tip: One of the best things you can do for your health and skin is to drink a cup of vitamin and mineral-rich broth almost every day (take a break now and then). The best and most nutritious broths are made with organic veggies, herbs, and grass-fed pastured beef bones (you will get easily absorbed proteins that you can't get from plain veggie broths) that have been cooked low and slow for 8-24 hours. Make it yourself or buy it from a trusted source. If you're having trouble with your skin, hormone balance, or get sick a lot in colder months, give this a try, it will make a huge difference to your health.
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21/10/2016

New post up on the blog - How to Keep Your Skin Flawless in Fall ✨

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21/10/2016

Ask questions to understand and ask for what you want. Never assume what someone did or didn't do, or what they are thinking or feeling, or that they know what you want. Ask. Share. If you're too scared to ask, then a solid question is - what are you so afraid of? It's never about what you want to hear or how you want someone to feel - everyone is allowed their own world, and you have no control over it. We're all just Venn diagramming with each other. So next time you're hellbent on going down a rabbit hole, just stop and ask. It'll save you a lot of time and angst, and make everyone's lives more stellar.

16/10/2016

29/09/2016

End of season beauty sale . 😍 Take 20% off with code AUTUMN.

28/09/2016

If you don't hear from me for about two days, this is precisely why.

19/09/2016

Taking these babies for a test drive.

12/09/2016

Sometimes we need reminders that there is actually less violence now than ten years ago, less violence than thirty years ago. People are more aware, more open, driven by wanting to see change and live in a world that supports our passions and drives us forward into exciting new territory. There are so many incredibly beautiful and wonderful things going on in our world - devices to clean the oceans, gene therapy to eradicate disease, efficient solar technology, animals coming back from endangerment...inventions and advancements that are making things safer, cleaner, more efficient, more enjoyable. The world is not falling apart, it is coming together. Remember that news coverage is a form of entertainment - there's a formula of shock and fear that works well to get ratings, and you will only see what gets the biggest reactions. Remember that. Look at your own surroundings, look at how many unreported good and beautiful things are going on around you. That's reality. Not everything is perfect and yes, there are still going to be do***ey people (they've always existed) and there is still suffering out there, but we will get there. Relax, and just focus on being happy and being a good person to yourself and others - support the causes and advancements you believe in and do your best to contribute.