Perfect Skin

To my annoyance, there's a phrase that I've been hearing a lot lately. In spite of my arguments, I hear a lot about how I have "beautiful skin." Now, I know where my blemishes are, and I work really hard to control the oil, so I see my skin very differently. So tonight's entry is all about my personal skin care.

First and foremost, we are our own harshest critic. I know this from working with people on their skin. We know all the lines and wrinkles and spots. I don't think most people see those things that we dislike about our skin. But since each person knows their concerns, I'll share my routine. 

*Author's note: I am off tomorrow. I need to clean my bathroom. The counter has spots from spilling contact solution. Don't judge. 

Every day, I do these things. Not morning and night, but this is my skin care routine. If I skip a day, my skin has a fit and I break out. It's all about the routine. It's important to commit to taking care of your skin. 

Step 1. Makeup removal. 

Probably the last thing I got into, makeup removal is HUGE. Obviously, it helps cleanse the skin of make up, but it also helps prevent clogged pores, dead skin, and aging. I use Almay because it's gentle and offers oil-free options. It's totally price friendly, too. Now, I love the Chanel Demaquillant Yeux eye makeup remover, but I personally prefer wipes. These come pre-soaked in the remover, so I never feel like I'm wasting product. (Obviously) I only use these steps at night. 

Step 2. The Clarisonic

Please note it's charging. This is because I cannot go a wash without it. The Clarisonic is the best part of my day. I love washing my face now that I have this. It literally smooths skin, cleanses better than your hands, cleanser, and wash cloth alone. It's nice, because it's my wind down moment of my day. Even though I use a face makeup remover, this will do it for you (though seeing all the makeup I wear every day come off grosses me out.) 1 minute twice a day and your skin will feel amazing. Here's the bonus: Because skin will be smoother and there will be less dead skin, you will use less product. When I say that, I mean less cleanser, less toner, less foundation, less everything. It's amazing. 

Step 3. Cleansing, toning, and exfolianting

Easy peasy, I exfoliate 3 times a week. Right now I have Neutragena foaming scrub, but I will be switching back to my green tea exfoliater from Saint Ives. That is my favorite exfoliator. Exfoliate 2-4 times a week. Clean up the dead skin. Do not use an exfolaitor with the Clarisonic. Done.

I cleanse at least twice a day using Chanel Mousse Douceur (Doe-cee-ere). It has 2 amazing ingredients which have been refined down to the purest form to create active ingrediants- tulip wood extract (this will help remove free radicals from the skin) and mallow (this helps balance the pH in skin.) It keeps my skin extra soft. 

After my cleanser I use the Chanel Lotion Douceur. This helps keep the oil in control (not alcohol free, but it's so minimal I can't feel it.) It also has the active ingredients that are in the cleanser. 

Step 4. Moisturizing.

The last step in my routine for now. I do not use a concentrate yet, but I will probably start. I'll get to that at another point. 

I use 2 eye creams, because I want 2 results. I use Lancome Genifique eye in the morning, mixed with my concealer. It helps with dark circles and puffiness, but is light enough to pair with a concealer. Then, at night, I use Estee Lauder's Advanced Night Repair. This is my favorite eye cream. I could live without Genifique, but I doubt I could survive without ANR. It's so light and weightless, yet so powerful. 

I only have one cream for day and night, because I am just looking for first signs of aging. I use Chanel Hydra Beauty Gel Creme (EEE-drah) because it is very hydrating, oil-free, light weight, and it does not break me out. It helps keep my skin hydrated without clogging my pores. No matter how oily your skin is, it is imperative to hydrate. 

Optional- SPF

Okay this isn't optional. Use an SPF. I use Chanel UV Essentiel or Clinique Super City Block. My moisturizer does not have an SPF, and because I'm so very fair, I have to protect from the sun. This is part of what keeps my skin looking healthy and happy. So use that. 

There you are, world. This is how I keep my skin glowing, smooth, and "beautiful." Go try different things. And get a Clarisonic. In fact, call and order it from me.

Working for Chanel

In case you all missed it, I have been MIA for a while now. I accepted a position as a Chanel Cosmetics Counter Manager at a department store. I have also met someone very special, so less blogging time for sure. Mostly because I am working so much, but I need to get back at it. So, I'm going to start blogging more about makeup. It's not that I care less about fashion, but I will admit that I love my job. Makeup is a huge part of fashion, so it's all about that for me. Plus, I am working for Chanel. I mean, come on.

So here's the thing. I keep seeing these "What's in their bag" posts. Which I love. But at the same time, if I dump my bag it's like gloves and name tag and bag of lipsticks and powder. Proof:

This is my work bag. In it, you see my mittens, fingerless so I can keep using my phone, my Michael Kors lipstick bag, Sephora nail polish remover (it's amazing for on the go! There's a sponge soaked in the best remover on the inside, so all you have to do is dip your fingers 2 or 3 times. All the girls at work are obsessed with it), my Starbucks gift card, because I run on coffee, Sephora carbon blotting papers (discontinued, but so amazing), Chanel Le Volume Mascara (not released until November 23rd, but my new addiction), Lancome gloss in Exuberant Rose, Soft Lips chapstick (which I never use. I don't know why it's there), Pepto for when I am super stressed, and my Chanel Poudre Universelle in 20. I have to live out of this bag for work, and it has to be clear, so I try to keep it minimal.

I do store a lot in my Michael Kors bag. I got it from Estee Lauder last holiday, and will get another this year. So, here's the lipsticks I must have for work. I love them so much.

Starting at the top, Chanel mini glossimer, perfect for sparkle and sheer. It's less tacky than most glosses.  My Maybelline Baby Lips collection. My favorite is the peach, which is in the purple tube. That's the only thing I can wear and still kiss my boyfriend in. He never knows when I'm wearing it, but it keeps my lips super soft and moist. In the silver and clear tube is a cheap gloss. I got it at Target for $1. Then there are my Rouge Allure Chanel lipsticks. When we re-released this line, I became obsessed. The best reds I've ever seen. Then, I had to have the holiday matte (which we've literally had for 3 days now.) So in the Rouge Allure I have Passion, Incandescente, and L'Impatiente. Next is Loreal lip stain in Target red (of course I had to have TARGET red.) I have Lancome's retractable liners in Berry, Plum, and Garnet to match some different lipsticks. Then I have a Urban Decay gloss. For me, the highlight of the gloss is both memory and packaging. One of my dearest friends and I got these when I was in college. We had to have them because of the hologram on the wand. It's of a guy, fully dressed, but if you tilt it forward, he's in his underwear. So funny. Next is my FAVORITE product in the bag right now. It's the Nars velvet matte pencil in Cruella. Best lipstick ever. I love the color. It's a vibrant red, but with blue undertones, so it matches my cheeks. Finally I have 2 matte lipsticks from Lancome in Plum Show and Socialite. They match the liners and are fun mattes.

Anyway, there's my welcome back. Again. Next we'll do one of my real bags, plus my favorite make up techniques and products (both value and luxury), bust out my tool box, talk brushes, and anything else. I'm glad to be back.