FINALLY...An Acne Treatment That Works!

Hello Fabulous Readers and Welcome to Wednesday!

Hey Everyone, Jessica here...so this week we talk about the issue of acne and how to get rid of it...FAST! Yes it can be embarrassing...especially if you grow a huge blemish before a big event. I mean cover up can only do so much...there is still a bump there! UGH. Frustrating yes and perhaps embarrassing in the moment but remember...everyone gets acne now and then. Yes, even super models...and as you have seen in Proactiv commercials even celebrities! *gasp*!
  

Cameron Diaz

For me, personally, I am an independent film actress so obviously my face is a major focus on camera. When I put myself out there and I am working on a scene I have so much to think about...and the last thing I need to worry about is if my blemish is visible or not. It is not fun going to a premiere of a film you were in and see yourself and your blemish blown up on the big screen! Not to mention pictures from the film set or movies stills I end up getting tagged in on Facebook...some not so flattering. Since I choose to be so visible to the public I really have to make sure I take perfect care of my skin and stick to a routine to keep it clean at night since I torture all day with makeup and environmental toxins...to mention a few.

Some do suffer more than others and now there is an ever growing sea of products and solutions to weed through to find what will work for you. Every part of your cleansing routine matters and I have done SO...SO much trial an error in this category I probably could be retired right now off of what I have spent of solutions for acne thus far.

Britney Spears

What is acne? Well, Acne.com has some amazing information of all things blemish related so I read up on how it actually develops. "An acne blemish begins approximately 2-3 weeks before it appears on your skin’s surface. So while it may seem like you get a pimple overnight, what you’re actually seeing is the final stage of a much longer process...As your skin renews itself, the old cells die, mix with your skin’s natural oils, and are sloughed off. Under normal circumstances, these cells are shed gradually, making room for fresh new skin. But this sloughing process is different for everyone. You might shed cells evenly – or not. Uneven shedding causes dead cells to become sticky, clumping together to form a plug – much like a cork in a bottle. This plug, or comedo, traps oil and bacteria inside the follicle. The plugged follicle begins to swell as your skin continues its normal oil production. Your body then attacks the bacteria with a swarm of white blood cells. The whole process takes 2-3 weeks, culminating in the dreaded pimple."

I use to only think that Salicylic Acid was the solution, so I bought everything containing it. The more I looked into products and tried new things, I started to looked at the label of things that worked, to find the active ingredient used. I have come to find with my skin the best active ingredients that clear up my complexion are Sulfur (best when I use as a mask treatment), Glycolic Acid (best when I use as a toner and also a mask), and Benzoyl Peroxide the only thing I use to spot treat my blemishes!

It has been many years for me to figure out my system of products and active ingredients that actually have an affect on clearing up my blemishes. I only just came to discover over the counter Benzoyl Peroxide a few years ago when I was on a business trip to NYC. I had a meeting with a potential client that was not afraid to ask me about my developed cluster of acne that formed on my jawline by my chin. Wow, were all New Yorker's like this? (I work with two and they are nice so I knew it couldn't be true) Though I was put on the spot and obviously embarrassed about my failed cover-up job she did end up giving me some advice that I took. She told me to go to the drugstore and find Benzoyl Peroxide and after cleansing my face and toning it, just dab it on my problem areas overnight. Immediately after the meeting I did in fact go to the drugstore and purchased what is now a product I will not live without.  

CVS Acne Treatment Gel is always fully in stock at my place and I stash it in every travel and overnight bag I have. I would call this the instant overnight fix, depending on how bad the blemish. Even with my worst though it has reduced the size the next day by at least 50%! It is remarkable and simply a must have. Nothing fancy or expensive either! Just a simple acne solution that works! Getting a blemish is still stressful and annoying but with this I can rest assure I won't have the problem for long :) If you have tried it all and still have not had success, I recommend you try this solution...it will only set you back $4. I have tried other brands beside CVS and didn't care for them...so CVS brand is hands down the winner here!

Try it and let me know what you think! The important thing to know about using a treatment this strong with medicine is to keep skin hydrated! I usually put a serum on after cleansing and toning, then spot treat with the Benzoyl Peroxide. The next morning I always tone with Witch Hazel and apply a moisturizer to avoid the drying of the medicine. Benzoyl Peroxide "has been shown to contribute to reducing inflammatory lesions and oil production. And it helps to unclog pores by clearing dead skin cells from follicles to lessen the chance for pore blockages. By helping prevent pores from becoming blocked and targeting the bacteria that cause acne, it works to prevent breakouts before they occur."(Acne.com)

What are some other things you have tried that work for you??

Until next week...Keep On Being Beautiful You!

What Type of Eyeliner is the Best for You?

Happy Wednesday Fabulous Readers!

Hello Everyone, Jessica here this week to talk all about eyeliners...and believe me I can tell you about them ALL! They have so many different types it can get crazy trying to decide what will be the best for the look you want to achieve. Plus, trial and error can be SO expensive. Don't worry, I have done the trial and error for you and now I will break it all down for you in this blog entry :)

 Let's start with pencil liners, specifically soft pencil liners...why would you go for the hard pencil kind now that we have so many better options out there?? The best soft pencil I have come across is from CoverGirl, the Perfect Point Plus Eyeliner.

It softly glides on with great ease and I can perfectly apply it on my water line (inner lower lid space). The other end of the stick is a angled sponge used to smudge the liner for a smoky look, plus it helps to manipulate the liner to spread evenly. I apply the pencil to my water line and go over and over it so the liner will flow perfectly below, onto my lower lid under my lashes.  You can even that our so the color (I always use black) is under the whole eye, or what I have been doing lately is making sure the darkest, thickest liner in in the outer corner or my eye and the least amount towards my inner corner of my eye. So I take the sponge part and wipe out most of the inner liner and spread it towards the outer corner of the eye. I will actually make a tutorial video on this and post it on our YouTube channel at the end of this month!

Another liner I pick up (if CoverGirl ran out of my Onyx color) is Maybelline Unstoppable, smudge-proof, stay-put, waterproof eyeliner.  I always set the liner with whatever color eyeshadow I put on for the day. Or sometimes, for fun I will use a bold color (like aqua) to line the lower lid just under the lashes.

Okay, so that is my lower eye liner use, now for the top lid. I always make sure I line the top water line as well, so it looks like I have no color gaps with the top lid liner and because it looks fuller, bolder and more dramatic. This technique is not for everyone, so if you are brave you can try it out. This, is difficult to do with pencil and liquid. The best eyeliners to do this job would be the eye cream/gel types applied with a brush...or better yet my new favorite is the Super Fat Eye Marker by NYX. It is exactly what it says, a fat marker! This is SO easy to use, I can line my upper waterline just by blinking into the marker. I LOVE IT! This is now my new eyeliner base, used to line the area I intend to use my liquid liner over. Yes, I use two liners...

So I use a liquid liner on top of my "base" line that I draw on with the NYX eye marker. This is because the look I want is dark and dramatic and liquid liner has by far given me the darkest, richest black look that I strive for. It really pops my blue eyes and I feel totally glamorous when I go out :) My bestie liquid liner? I have two, my fave low end one (when I have to pay rent but still need a new liner) is by mark (easily found at Avon), Get in Line Hook Up Liquid Waterproof Eyeliner. This comes with a fine, detailed brush that will go exactly where you place it, liquid always flows nicely down into the lashes making sure you have have that perfect line. Two major things you must know: 1) Liquid liner is VERY touchy and any shaky hand can ruin the look, that is why I always pre-line the area! 2) It NEEDS to dry! If you don't let this dry and you get it outside of the place you want it...good luck getting it off. Waterproof stays on and does not move, just as it claims. So unless you want to re-do the eye take the time to let it dry!

My high end one ("yes I have extra money let's blow it on makeup") is Kat Von D's Tattoo Liner. Her applicator is super easy to use, even without a "base line" and it is waterproof so it stays put after application. You can even use this on the body to make your own artistic temporary tattoo.

When it comes to my eyeliners I look for anything that says waterproof or long wearing/lasting. Of course it needs to be smudge-proof and basically just not move at all after I finish applying it!

Lastly, I want to talk about the new eyeliner craze of the cream/gel eyeliner pots. Again, I have a high end and low end favorite so anyone with a budget or without one can be happy. The high end pick is Tarte emphasEYES™ Amazonian clay waterproof liner. Said to be "Infused with micronized clay and reinforced by our natural waterproofing agent, these plush shadow/liners are a must for creating intense and long-lasting high definition eyes. Our high-performance natural™ Amazonian clay is nature's most perfect ingredient, lending deep color pigments while nourishing skin, reducing surface oil and improving overall texture for smooth application". I liked the way this felt and glided on, I bought a kit with a bunch of Tarte products so my mini size didn't come with a brush. I ended up using my brush that came with the low end cream/gel pot liner...

That takes me into what my fave low end gel/cream liner, which is  e.l.f. Studio Cream Eyeliner. Claims that "The cream formula creates smooth lines that are defined and precise. Smudge-proof, budge-proof and water-resistant coverage for all day wear to combat against sweat, tears or rain!".  This one actually came with a brush and the best part...it only cost $3!!! The website even gives you a how-to demo video on the product page! WOW...

This company amazes me and I love their philosophy: "We at e.l.f. believe that innovative technology, quality ingredients and superb delivery systems should not be limited to prestige retailers. Every woman should have the opportunity to participate in innovation, without sacrificing her budget. We hope you agree and invite you to experience e.l.f.’s revolutionary, value-priced cosmetics and the proven results they offer." I agree! Thank you e.l.f.!

Okay that is enough writing for me, I am very passionate about color cosmetics as you can see :) I hoped this helped and as always you can ask me anything or commnet on anything too!

Keep on Being Beautiful YOU!