{Tips and Tricks} How to Beat the Heat and Still Look Cute

Summer is right around the corner-for some of us, it's already here.  Here in Florida, it's been in the 90's for a while!  With summer comes the hot weather, which means a change in our beauty routines.  As a native Floridian, I am more than familiar with the challenges that the heat and humidity can bring when it comes to keeping your make-up, hair and clothes looking put together.  Here are my how-to's for looking your best all summer long:

Switch your moisturizer.

This one is simple and easy.  In the summer, your skin, especially your face still needs moisturizer, but not the heavy stuff you were using in the winter and spring.  Switch to a light-weight, fast-absorbing formula that has SPF in it-that'll save you the added step of putting on sunscreen AND will put less product on your face.  In the summer, less is always more when it comes to your skincare routine.  I personally like a tinted moisturizer, which gives me just the right hint of color and knocks out the need for foundation.

I swear by this moisturizer.  It's mark.'s Get A Tint Tinted Moisturizer with SPF 15.  It's super light-weight and gives a great flush of color.  And at only $10, it's cheaper than anything else comparable to it on the market!  So you can look fab AND not break the bank.  On days when I'm rushed, I put on some of this, a swipe of mascara and I'm good to go!

Ditch the foundation.

I already mentioned that I use a tinted moisturizer in lieu of foundation.  To keep my face from getting shiny, I set it with this awesome cream-to-powder mineral make up that mark. just launched.  

It is amazing!  It gives great coverage, lasts all day and is light-weight.  And it keeps me looking put together even in the hot Florida sun.  Again, the less you put on your face, the better your make up will hold up.

Primer is a girl's best friend.

It's usually diamonds, but trust me, in the summer, primer will quickly become your BFF.  If you have oily-prone skin, primer will get you through the summer months like nothing else.  You'll wonder how you ever lived without it.  Primer creates a nice, even surface on your skin, so that when you apply your make up, it stays put!  And it holds up in the heat.  mark.'s Primed to Perfection Face Primer is a steal at only $10 and works like a dream!

Even if you don't have oil issues, I strongly recommend AT LEAST using an eye primer.  It does the same thing, but for your eyelids.  It'll keep your eye make up in place ALL DAY LONG!  No more raccoon eyes, or case of the disappearing eyeshadow.

You will never catch me without my Please Hold Eye Primer from mark. on.  This little compact lasts and lasts and does the same for your eye make up.  And it doubles as an eye concealor.  AND it's only $8!

Tame that Frizz.

The humidity can bring out a side of our hair we'd like to hide under a hat.  And that is a great option-not only are hats super cute but they also keep the sun out of your eyes!  But there are going to be occasions throughout the summer where you just can't wear a hat.  So, what to do with that frizz?  First things first, determine the cause of the frizz.  Many of us assume it's the humidity when in actuality, it's damage caused by coloring or heat styling.  Never fear, there are fixes for all of these reasons.  I lovelovelove LOVE John Frieda products.  There is something for nearly every cause of frizz that will leave your hair absolutely gorgeous.  My most favorite and trusted John Frieda product?

Secret Weapon Flawless Finishing Cream.  It's is very aptly named because it really is my secret weapon to pretty, frizz-free hair.  You just smooth a tiny amount on after doing your hair and it tames all of those little flyaways.  And it even works great on curly hair.  Headbands are great in the summertime because they keep your hair back and off of your face, which can make you oily.  And if you don't feel like dealing with your hair every day, there are plenty of cute, simply ways to style your hair. Check out totalbeauty.com for inspiration and how-to's.

Keep it light.

Clothing-wise, I stick with light fabrics and light colors.  Darker colors do actually trap more heat, which will make you hotter.  Whenever I can, I'm wearing shorts or leggings or a skirt.  And my new favorite is the maxi dress.  Some think "Why would I want a long dress in the summer?"  Answer:  It'll keep you cooler than you think.  It's all in the fabric choice.  Look for something light-weight, but not sheer (cause then you're going to need a slip to keep the world from seeing your bits, which means adding another layer, which totally defeats the purpose of the maxi in the first place) and something "breathable."  

I LOVE this new one from mark.  It has a gorg pattern, is nice and light-weight and uber comfy.  I pair it with a black Wonder Tee (from DownEast), some cute sandals and I'm good to go.

What are your must-haves for keeping cool in the summer heat?

Tipping Thursday: Beauty Routines

I've covered what you should have in your beauty routines, now it's time to put them to use!

We all have routines-workout routines, cleaning routines and of course, beauty routines.  The key to a good routine is making it fit your life and needs.  And with skincare, the order in which you apply things really matters.

Here's a look at my daily beauty routine:

I start my morning with a shower: I wash my hair, then condition it (I leave the conditioner in until I'm done with everything else, then rinse it out.)  Next I wash me, shave, then wash my face and rinse my hair.  

Once I'm out of the shower and dried off, I put on my body lotion-stretch mark cream on my hips and thighs, bust cream on my chest and firming moisturizer everywhere else.  

Then I put my toner on my face.  While the moisturizer and toner dry, I put on my deodorant and in the mornings, I dab on some aloe vera under my eyes-it helps with my dark circles.  Next comes my moisturizer for my face then it's on to my make-up and then to my hair. 

 Before I style my hair, I spritz on a detangler that also protects from damage, then I finger-comb in some volumizing mousse.  I brush it all out, then blow-dry it on medium heat.  Once it's all dry, I apply a finishing cream that tames flyaways and helps with frizz.  

So, my morning skincare routine looks like this:

Cleanser, toner, eye gel, moisturizer.

My morning hair care routine looks like this:

Wash, condition, detangle, volumize and defrizz

In the evenings, I wash my face, taking off all of my make-up, apply my toner and a light-weight moisturizer and then my eye cream.

There are also things in my routine that I only do one or two times a week.  

On Wednesdays, I deep-condition my hair (I color my hair, so I use the conditioner that comes with the color once a week, as directed,) and instead of my usual face cleanser, I use a micro dermabrasion cleanser.  After the shower, I put on a facial mask before applying my toner. 

 On Sundays, I deep-condition my hair using a 3-minute hair mask, I exfoliate all over using a body scrub and use an in-shower facial, which also exfoliates, instead of my daily facial cleanser.

That's a look at my routine.  Here are the key things every beauty routine should have:

For your skin, you should wash your face at least once a day (twice a day is best), then follow up with toner, then moisturizer.  Masks can be used about once a week and you should exfoliate one to two times a week.  Your body needs moisture, too, so don't forget your lotion!  It also needs to be exfoliated once or twice a week using a body scrub.

For your hair, if you heat style it, use something that protects against heat damage every time you heat style.  You should deep-condition one to two times a week to help repair your hair and give it an extra dose of moisture.  Depending on your hair type, you might not need to wash it every day.  I have short, fine hair and it needs to be washed pretty much every day.  Sometimes I can get away with washing it every other day.

There you have it-my routine.  What does your routine consist of?

Tippin Thursday: When It's Time To Say Good-Bye

Everything has an expiration date, even your make-up and skincare products.  Here are some general guideline to help you know when it's time to let it go:

The general rule of thumb is that if any of your cosmetics or skincare items being to look like this:

*product separation

*sour or odd odor

*change in texture-uncommonly thick, grainy or watery

it's time to give it the toss.  But something's last longer than others, so here's are some ways to know when things have gone bad or if there's still some life left:

*Lipsticks and other products that don't contain water, like powders, powdered eyeshadow, concealer, and pencils that can be sharpened, can last two years or even more, but definitely keep a close eye on them and throw them out if something funky is up.

*Mascara has the shortest shelf life of all cosmetics.  NEVER keep an open tube for more than four months, and toss it out immediately if it develops a weird odor or color.

*For liquid or gel eyeliners, lipglosses, cream shadows and iquid or cream foundations, it's pretty much the same four month rule.  Because of the "water" factor in them, they can potentially become a breeding ground for bacteria, so it's time to say buh-bye after four months.  Foundations can last up to a year if you keep your fingers away from the bottle.  Instead, pour a little bit out onto a sponge or onto the back of your hand and apply with a foundation brush.

*Multi-use products, like 3-in-1 sticks and creams, can spread germs from lips to eyes and cheeks.  Wipe the surface clean before switching areas and toss after 6 months.

*Cleansers and moisturizers often contain fatty acids, which can go bad fast!  Kick 'em to the curb after 6 months.

*A good way to give your make-up a longer life is by using clean brushes and keeping your fingers away.  A quality brush will last you years if properly cleaned and stored.  Brushes should be cleaned at least once a month in a warm water and shampoo solution.  I've found that clarifying shampoo works best because it deep cleans without stripping the fibers.  Some brushes will need to be cleaned more often depending on how often they're used and what they're used for, like concealer and foundation brushes-they can get gunked up faster, so should be cleaned more often.  To dry, lay a towel flat and roll up one end inward, then lay your brushes with the handles on the rolled end, bristles tiled at a slightly downward angle.

Spotlight: Wonder Products

I've got three A-MAZ-ING products to share with you all today.  As you might know, I'm a mark. rep and a few months ago, I started doing Avon as well.  The fun thing about selling beauty products is that I get them at a discounted price.  Which means I try out a lot more things than I would if I had to pay full price for them : )  Because of this, I have found three super-products that I just can't help but rave about!  And since I love you all so much, I wanted to share them with you.  *Disclaimer-boobies are mentioned in this post, but not in a crude way.  Just wanted to give you heads up : )

Avon Solutions Body Liquid Bra Toning Gel

I don't think I'm the only one with this problem-between being pregnant and nursing, my bustline took a hit.  Big time.  I went up two whole cup sizes-one while I was pregnant and one when I started nursing-then down a size.  Needless to say, that kind of stretches things out a bit.  My boobies were, shall we say, less than firm after all of that.  And there's not much I could do about that, short of plastic surgery, which, besides being uber expensive, isn't something I'd even consider.  Then I found this and decided to give it a try.  "Instantly! Bust feels tightened and more toned.  In just one week-advanced gel formula makes the bust look firmer and more lifted."  Hey, I like anything that shows results after just one week.  If it worked, then that solved my saggy boobie problem.  AND Avon has a 100% satisfaction guarantee-if you're not happy with anything you buy from them, no matter the reason, you can return it for a full refund.  I figured, what's the worse that can happen?  If it doesn't work, I'm no worse off than I was before.  Let me tell you-IT WORKS!!!!!  My bustline has firmed up tremendously.  I've been using it for about a month and a half and everything it claims to do, I've seen!  The gel-cream goes on nice and silky, but you do need to let it completely dry before you put your clothes on or you'll stick to your bra.  And it's easy to apply-just once a day!  So, no boob job for me!

Avon Solutions Body Stretchmark 24 Line Reducing Treatment

Stretchmarks.  Ugh.  The bane of swimsuit season.  I lucked out when I pregnant with my son, I really did.  I only got stretchmarks on my hips and thighs.  But some of them were pretty bad.  Like the ones on my left side and inner thighs-they were really deep and a nasty shade of purple.  I tried Bio Oil-it worked ok but not well enough.  And it's expensive!  Then Avon came out with their own stretchmark cream and I decided to give it a go.  Within a week, I was seeing a change.  After just ONE WEEK!!!  And I wasn't even using it twice a day as recommended (I'm awful at remembering to put it on a night.)  It's been about a month and the lines on my sides and legs are almost gone.  The deeper ones are still there, but they are much less visible and I'm sure with continued use, they'll be gone soon, too.  The cream is very smooth, silky and fast-absorbing.  A little goes a long way, which I like because then I feel like I'm getting more for my money.  A good majority of other stretchmark creams out there are twice as expensive and from what I've read from reviews online, don't deliver on their promises.  I reaGlssd review after review on this product and saw nothing but glowing recommendations.  

Gloss Gorgeous Lip Stain Gloss

I don't know about the rest of you, but I hate having to remember to re-apply my lips, be it gloss or lipstick.  That's why I love stains.  Well, mostly love.  Stains can be so drying on my lips, it almost makes them not worth it.  That's why I was jumping for joy when I saw this awesome product from mark.  It's a gloss that's also a stain!  So, you put your gloss on in the morning and it stains your lips a pretty shade of pink so that when the gloss has worn off, you still have some color.  And since you stained your lips while the gloss was on, it doesn't dry them out!  I have it in Bare and it's always in my purse.  The gloss goes on very smooth, leaving my lips very hydrated, and it's not sticky at all.  I hate goopey, sticky lip gloss.  And it's only $9!  Stila has a similar lip and cheek stain that costs a whopping $24!!  Now, I do love me some Stila, I really do, but why would I pay over twice as much for a product that does the same thing (I think it does it better, personaly!)?!  And apparently I'm not the only one who thinks that way-check out that MVP award from Redbook!

So there you have it-the top three products on my "OMG, these are amazing!" list.  To order some, you can check out my online Avon and mark. boutiques if you don't already have an Avon lady!

Tipping Thursday: Skincare Part VIII-Skin Tone

How do you know what colors are right for you?  It’s all about your skin tone.  Your skin tone effects more than just your make-up, too.  It helps you make better decisions on colors for hair and clothing, too.  Determining your skin tone is actually a lot easier than you think.  There are 2 basic ways to do this.  They are:

1) Flip over your arm and look at the veins. Veins that appear greenish indicate yellow undertones which means that your skin tone is warm. Veins that appear to be more blue indicate blue undertones which means your skin tone is cool. Determine if your tone is warm or cool.

2) Pull your hair back into a pony tail or use a head band to keep all of the hair off of your face. Wash your face and then place a white towel around your neck and shoulders. The pure white cloth will reflect skin undertones. If your face looks yellow next to the white towel you have a warm skin tone and if it looks more blue then you have a cool skin tone.

In both of these “tests,” if you skin doesn’t look any different, then you have a neutral skin tone.

But what does that mean, warm or cool or neutral skin tones?  That doesn’t tell me anything about what colors are right for me!  Never fear.  You also have to take into consideration your complexion-which is your skin’s coloring.  There are 4 basic complexion types:

Fair-you have pink undertones and your skin is sensitive to the sun (you burn easily.)

Light/Medium-you have beige to yellow undertones and must be cautious of the sun because although you tan, you burn too.

Medium/Dark-you have honey to golden undertones and your skin has a natural tan color and darkens easily when exposed to sun.

Dark-you have mocha undertones and though you don’t burn, you’re still cautious when it comes to the sun.

So take your skin tone and your complexion and combine them to figure out what make up colors suit you best.  Neutrals colors like browns, greys and tans are great on everyone regardless-just be sure to pick shades that won’t overpower your skin.  For example, if you’re fair, don’t cover your entire eyelid in the darkest brown you can find.  Instead, choose a lighter brown and line with the dark brown.  The best way to find out what looks best on you is to experiment!  Try stuff out.  Really, any skin tone/complexion can pull off any shade.  It all in how you apply it.  Only thing to stay away from is matching your eyeshadow to your eye color-always a Don’t!  Not that I’m saying that blue eyed girls can’t wear blue eyeshadow, just don’t choose a shade that’s the same as your eyes.

There’s a great feature at mark's website called Shades of You that, using your complexion, shows you shades that work best with your skin for eyes, lips and cheeks.  From there, you can choose from the suggestions which colors will go best with your skin tone.  If your skin tone is cool, choose colors with blueish undertones (for example, with reds, they’ll look more purple.)  If your skin tone is warm, choose colors with yellowish undertones.  If your skin tone is neutral, you’re in luck, wear whatever you want!  If you're able to, test the color on your skin, like on the back of your hand, before using it.  That will give you a good idea of the undertones in it.

Tipping Thursday: Skincare Part VII-Masks

Masks are a great pick-me-up for your skin.  You can do them about once a week, if you can fit it in or monthly.  They definitely aren't an every day skin product, so once a week should be the max.  They're a nice way to take a break, do something nice for yourself and just relax.

Masks are also great for targeting specific skin problems, as there is a mask for nearly every skin condition and ailment.  There are masks that hydrate, reduce oil, firm, clean and shrink pores, assist with acne or just give skin a little extra boost.  Always be sure to read the label instructions.  Every mask is different in how it is used-some masks you only leave on for a short period of time and others you wait til the mask is dry.  I've learned from personal experience to always read the instructions.  I was using a mask that contained benzoyl peroxide and thought it was like any other mask where you leave it on until it's dry.  I burnt my skin pretty bad.  It was red and hot and puffy for the rest of the day.  Turns out, that mask was only meant to be left on for 5 minutes-I had left it on for over 15! 

Go give yourself an at-home facial and relax!

Tipping Thursday: Skincare Part VI-Exfoliating

Exfoliating is an important part of any skincare routine and it's not just for your face.  Why, you might ask?  Our skin naturally is constantly regenerating itself, sloughing off old, dead skin cells and making new ones.  But what happens to those dead skin cells?  They just sit there, on top of the new ones.  This can cause our skin to look dull and ashy, or make our skin breakout because our pores get clogged.  Oils can get trapped under the dead skin cells and cause blemishes.  Never pretty.  

Here's how exfoliating helps:  It gets rid of the dead skin cells sitting on your face and helps deep clean your pores, leaving you with soft and rejuvenated skin. You should exfoliate 1-2 times a week-any more than that will dry out your skin, even if you have oily skin.  If you have dry or sensitive skin, once a week or every other week is just fine.  Now, I know you're thinking, if exfoliating is so great, why shouldn't I do it every day?  It'll irritate the snot out of your skin.  Your skin needs recovery time after such a deep clean.  I mean, you did just basically scrape it clean.  Over-exfoliating can cause major oil-overload because your skin is desperately trying to keep up with its natural oil production and you just keep scrubbing it away.  This makes your skin freak out and say "We need more oil STAT!"

When choosing an exfoliator, look for a mild formula that won’t irritate your skin and that doesn’t feel too rough-exfoliating shouldn’t hurt.  I like all-natural exfoliants, like sugar scrubs or seeds.  My very favorite exfoliator is Berry Grand Super Exfoliating Beads by mark.  

It's great because you control the level of exfoliation because you control how much you use.  It's a scent-less powder blend of  cranberry and pomegranate seeds, apricot seed powder and rice powder.  It works with any cleanser-you just mix it right in.  So on days when you need a little extra oomph, just add a little more in and exfoliate away!


Now, I mentioned exfoliating isn't just something your face needs.  This rest of your skin needs a good scrub once in a while, too.  And just like with your face, this isn't something you need to do every day.  Once or twice a week is plenty.  Look for a good body scrub that again isn't too harsh or rough.  If you're prone to body acne or ingrown hairs, look for one with salicylic acid.  Neutrogena makes a great body scrub called Body Clear that exfoliates and clears up oily spots.

Tipping Thursday: Skincare Part V-Eyes

There comes a point in every woman's life when it's time for eye cream.  We'll all need it for different reasons.  The most common one is, obviously, wrinkles.  Because the skin around our eyes is so delicate and thin, it shows wrinkles much sooner than the rest of our face.  You can start using an eye cream to prevent eye wrinkles or you can try and get rid of them once you have them.  There are so many great anti-aging eye creams on the market today.  I personally like Avon's Anew eye systems.  They have a skincare regimen that includes an eye cream specifically for your age group.

There are other eye concerns besides wrinkles.  Some of us suffer from puffiness or dark circles or dullness.  For puffiness, look for an eye cream that contains caffeine.  The caffeine energizes the the skin and helps decrease swelling.  The Garnier eye roller is great-it contains caffeine and the metal roller ball is cooling and soothing.  For dark circles and dullness, look for a brighting eye gel.  These too usually contain caffeine but can also contain cucumber which reduces dark circles, which will definitely make your eyes look brighter : )  My favorite is mark's Light Bright hook up eye gel.  It's pocket-sized so you can take it everywhere.  If your eyes just want a natural pick-me-up, go for Burt's Bee Radiant eye cream.  It covers nearly all of your eye concerns.

If you use an eye cream during the day, apply it after your moisturizer.  If you use it at night, apply after you cleanse before you go to bed. Massage it under the eye with the ring finger from the outer edges towards the nose.

Tipping Thursday: Skincare Part IV-Determining Your Skin type

This week's Tipping Thursday is all about figuring out what your skin wants and needs by determining your skin type.  Knowing your skin type is key to picking the right cleanser, moisturizer, and even make up.  And knowledge is power, people!    

There are several basic skins types. They include:

Normal: For the most part, your skin behaves.  It's not too oily, it's not too dry and it doesn't break out frequently or excessively.  It's not sensitive to fragrances or dyes or things like that.

Dry: Your skin is sometimes ashy-looking or flaky in areas.  It lacks enough natural moisture and can get irritated easily because of this, causing flakes or red patches.  It can feel tight and uncomfortable.

Oily: Your skin goes a little overboard with the natural oil production and needs a little help to tone it down.  Your skin feels slightly sticky to the touch, even after washing and is super shiny.

Combination: You have both dry and oily skin.  Generally combination skin has an oily T-zone, which is your forehead, nose and chin and normal cheeks or dry cheeks.  Or you could have a combination of normal and dry skin.

Acne-prone: You get break outs, you get them often and they're pretty intense.  Most of the time, acne-prone skin types have excessively oily skin, which is what leads to the breakouts.  But there are other factors behind acne-it could be stress or genetics.  Knowing what's causing your breakouts is the key to treating them.  If you have acne-prone skin, I would strongly suggest seeing a dermatologist to figure out what's causing your acne.

Sensitive: Your skin is extremely picky about what you can use on it and it punishes you when you try something it doesn't like.  Usually dyes or fragrances or other synthetic materials found in facial products irritate your skin on contact, causing a number of unpleasant side effects, such as breakouts, red bumps, flakiness and itchiness.

Which skin type are you?

Once you've figured that out, here are some suggestions on what to look for in the products that you use based on your skin type:

For normal skin: Lucky you, you can use just about whatever you want.  It's pretty much just trial and error until you find what you like and what works best for you.

For dry skin: Look for cream cleansers or moisturizing cleansers that aren't too heavy.  With dry skin, heavy moisture just sits on top of the skin and doesn't get absorbed, so you want a lightweight formula that is fast-absorbing so that if you need to do a few thin layers, you can without gunking up your skin.  Also, products designed for sensitive skin are great because they are really gentle and won't irritate your skin, which is often a big problem for people with dry skin.

For oily skin: You want a cleanser that is especially designed to break up oil without being harsh and over-drying, which will actually make your skin more oily that it was before.  Stay away from synthetic oils-products that are "Oil-Free" are your best friend.  Lightweight moisturizers that are fast-absorbing are great for you as well because you'll only need one thin layer and your skin sucks it up and puts it to work where it needs it before the moisturizer has time to sit on top of your skin and draw out the oiliness.  Toners with alcohol are your friend-they will help clear up excess oil without over-drying, leaving your skin ready for the rest of your routine.

For combination skin: Depending on what your combinations are, look for something targets your specific areas of concern and follow the suggestions in the other categories.

For acne-prone skin: Again, I suggest you go to your dermatologist to first determine what the cause of your acne is and then go from there.  Your doctor might suggest a stronger type of skin care, such as Proactiv or a prescription or a simpler solution.  If you don't know what's causing your acne, you wouldn't be able to clear it up.  

For sensitive skin: I suggest you go all-natural.  There are so many options nowadays in this area.  Look for products with all-natural ingredients, as these tend to be much more gentle on the face or ones that have soothing ingredients, such as oatmeal.  Aveeno makes a great line for sensitive skin.  If it's perfumes or fragrances that irritate your skin, look for fragrance-free options.  Many products come in a "for sensitive skin" option.

Tipping Thursday: Skincare Part III-Moisturizer

For this week's Tipping Thursday, I'm going to cover moisturizer.  This can actually be quite intimidating for some people.  I'm going to make it a lot less scary and easy to understand.

Simply put, your skin needs moisture.  The everyday elements that your skin is exposed to take that moisture away.  Just washing your face can strip it of its natural moisture, even using the gentlest cleanser you can get your hands on.  The place that shows that the most is your face. Our skin will line and wrinkle more easily if it’s dry.  Even if you have oily skin-MOISTURIZE!  And moisturize EVERYDAY!  Moisturizer keeps our skin supple and younger looking.  That is why is it so important to use a moisturizer.  Picking the right one can be overwhelming because there are so many to choose from.  That, and a lot of people don't know what their skin needs and use the wrong products. 

 Just like with choosing a cleanser, you need to know your skin type.  Also, are there other things you'd like you moisturizer to do, like get rid of wrinkles?  If you skin is on the oily side, make sure to use a light-weight, fast-absorbing moisturizer.  The less time the moisturizer sits on top of your skin, the better and the less likely you are to get that sticky shine.  If you have dry skin, resist the urge to slather on a heavy cream and stick to a moisturizer that's just a step above light-weight.  You could even go with light-weight and do two or three thin layers on your face, allowing each one to sink in before applying the next.  You never want your moisturizer to feel like it's just sitting on top of your skin.  It needs to be absorbed to do its job.  If you have that feeling, your moisturizer is too heavy.  Like with a lot of skincare and make-up products, finding the moisturizer that works for you might take some trial and error.  What works for your best friend might not work for you. 

No matter what your skin needs are, always, always, ALWAYS use a moisturizer with at least 15 SPF and no higher than 30 SPF-higher than that and you're getting smaller and smaller amounts of added protection, which means a higher dose of unwanted chemicals.  The sun is the most damaging element to our skin and the delicate skin of our faces especially needs protecting.  And going back to "what do you want your moisturizer to do for you," look for ones that accomplish several goals in one lotion-the less "stuff" you're putting on your face, the better.  That keeps your skin from being overwhelmed.

When applying your moisturizer, try massaging it into your skin-this will tighten and firm the underlying fatty tissues and keep them plump.  Moisturizers are one skincare product that I say keep oil-free 100%.  This is one area you don't want extra oils rubbed into your skin.  

Hope that helped!

Tipping Thursday: Skincare Part II-Toner

This week is Part II of the skincare tips.  It's on toner.

Some of you might be thinking, toner, what's toner?  No, I'm not talking about what you put in your printer.  This toner goes on your face.

Toner is amazing and does great things for your skin.  It helps restore your skin's natural pH that gets washed away when you clean your face.  Cleanser opens your pores to clean all the impurities out.  But then they stay open.  Anytime you wash your face using water, your pores remain open for 30 minutes after cleansing. letting all the dirt and oils you just washed away back in.  So, what do you do to keep all that junk out?  Toner!  It closes the pores that the cleanser opens when you wash your face.  It also picks up what your cleanser might have left behind.  Not to mention the free radicals in the air that can harm the skin are now able to get into the pores and cause damage if left open.  Who would want that?  If you've got oily skin, stay away from toners with oil in them-just like with your cleansers.  You'll want to use one that has a little bit of alcohol in it.  And this is why-when the alcohol evaporates from your skin, it takes excess oil on your skin with it.  Amazing.  But if you have dry skin, stay away from toners with alcohol, as they will probably dry your skin too much.  You might find that you have to change your toner depending on the time of year it is.  For example, when I was still living in New Mexico, I would switch to an alcohol-free toner in the winter because it gets so dry and cold there that my skin would hurt.  You might need a toner with alcohol in it during the summer months when it's hotter and you're a little more oily.  Now that I'm back in Florida, where it's humid, an alcohol toner is perfect for me all-year-round.  It keeps my skin fresh and clear.  Just listen to your skin.  It should never feel tight or uncomfortable after you have washed and toned and it should never feel sticky or slick.

My favorite toner is, hands down, the Pore Refining Toner by Neutrogena.  I don't have oily skin, but if I didn't use toner, I would.  This keeps it oil-free.  And it's great for sensitive skin types, too.

Introducing Tipping Thursdays

Tipping might not be a city in China, but it is the newest feature on Scraps and Scribbles.

In my travels through life, I've acquired knowledge about various things.  I'm by no means an expert on anything, but I'd like to share what I've learned with others.  So I'd like to share these tips with you, my lovely readers.  Maybe it's something you already know.  Maybe it's not.  Maybe it's something you've never even considered.  Hopefully you'll find something that you can use : )

To kick things off, I'm going to start with a series of skincare tips.

I've mentioned that I'm a make-up junkie.  But it's not just make-up.  It's really everything beauty-related.  Which includes skincare.  First up, cleansers:


Your face is where it all starts.  How you take care of your skin determines how it looks and feels, how your make-up will sit.  Also, we show signs of aging first on our faces.  So how can we best take care of that delicate skin?  It all starts with what and how we clean our face.


Cleanser is, in my opinion, the most important thing you put on your face, above all the fancy creams and lotions and serums.  It sets the stage for everything else you put on your skin.  If you're face isn't clean, then it doesn't matter what else you put on.  Think of it like prepping a canvas for painting.  If it's not primed right, it could ruin the painting.  Here's some tips on cleaners:


*Always, ALWAYS! cleanse your face at least once a day.  I recommend twice a day-in the morning in the shower and at night before you go to sleep.  If you wear make-up, you should never ever EVER sleep in it, so even that is your "once-a-day," wash your face before you go to bed.  


*Use a cleanser that is made specifically for the face, never soap.  Soap is not ever meant to be used on the face and can be very harsh and strip the nutrients from the skin, not just the impurities.  Cleanser is specially formulated for the delicate skin of the face and has a different pH balance so they won’t (most of the time) over-dry the skin.  No matter your skin type, look for a cleanser that is oil-free.  Synthetic oils are ok at times in moderation, but I personally feel that they have no place in your cleanser.  It kinda defeats the purpose, if you ask me.  Aren't we trying to get rid of the oil?  Why are we washing our faces with it?  Also look for one that is for everyday use-some will say right on the label that they are only meant to be used a few times a week and overuse will not be good for your skin.  That's usually how you end up with problems-be it over-drying, oiliness or breakouts.  


*For oily skin, look for a cleanser that will help with oil control, but that’s not too harsh, because, even though the skin is oily, you don’t want to dry it out.  Irritation from over-cleansing causes an oil-overload.  Then you end up with oil slick face.  Not pretty.


*For dry skin, look for a moisturizing cleanser to help put moisture back into your skin, but not something very heavy because you’ll be overloading your skin and will end up with oil issues or even drier skin.  Either one, not something you want.  Cream cleansers are great at this.  They don't foam up as much as other cleansers, but still get your face nice and clean without stripping it.


*For skin prone to breakouts, you first need to address what causes your breakouts.  Is it stress?  Is is oily skin?  Does it just happen?  If it's stress, Neutrogena makes a great line of cleansers, toners and moisturizers that is just for this problem.  If you break out because you have oily skin, just follow the tip for oily skin.  You might need a slightly stronger cleanser, but again, remember, nothing too harsh.  Look for something with salicylic acid in it-this helps dry out pimples without irritating skin.  Same for if you just have acne-prone skin.