ACNE FREE SKIN...

Summer; Beach, picnics, cricket, volleyball, sand, water polo, water skiing, surfing and of course care-free hair style, neon polished toes, perfect time to experiment with bright colored lipsticks and eye makeup and with all that.....also comes sticky and gritty skin and of course Juan, George and Roberto aka acne breakout... I try to enjoy my summer without worrying about breaking out so I try to keep Juan, George and Roberto at bay with some of these techniques...

Deep Cleansing
In the Winter, I would opt for a more moisturizing cleanser and switch to a lighter cleanser infused with some type of salicylic acid in it. And yes that goes for your body washes as well, Juan, George and Roberto knows no bounds. Reserve your moisturizing body wash for the winter and switch to an acne-fighting, salicylic infused body wash in the summer time.
**Beach Must Have: One of my favorite from my Summer Skin Care Obsession, Keep a pack of the Garnier Refreshing Remover Cleansing Wipes to remove all that salt, sweat and left over SPF off of your face and re-apply if needed. This is an amazing way to refresh your face.

Don't be afraid to peel
Too much exposure to the sun tend to dull skin. It’s always a great idea to do a light peel and exfoliation. With a plethora of glycolic and salicylic acid products available at salons and/beauty stores for at home, I am sure you won't have any problem finding one that suits you. A good peel helps tighten pores and just refresh the skin in a way that gives you an instant glow that also helps you see a difference right away and they help keep the skin fresh and unclogged.

Choose the right product
Summer definitely calls for more oil-free products as the temperature and humidity level rises. Choose a lightweight oil-free moisturizers and preferably ones with SPF in it or choose an SPF that is gel-based, oil-free and/or suited for acne-prone skin as it is a definite MUST! 

Don't skip the Mask
Incorporating a weekly mask to extract all impurities definitely help in keeping those pesky acne off your face. Choose tea tree oil infused mask or clay mask to combat those incoming problems. Personally, at first sign of a breakout, I usually dab a tea tree oil and spot treatment overnight. Although, one must take extra care when using tea tree oil as it may be too strong for some (I have a funny story from my sister that I can insert here but she would kill me if I do lol), if using for the first time, use it with a carrier oil (vit E oil, jojoba oil or almond oil) to dilute.

Be consistent
Being consistent in following a good skin care regimen to prevent breakout is just as necessary as using SPF.

Clean your tools
Cleaning brushes and other tools that you use often is very important. All that build up on your makeup tools, re-depositing it on your face is a definite bacteria breeding ground for Juan, George and Roberto.

Bonus Tip...
What you wear can/may be affecting your acne appearances... Opt for a lightweight, breathable clothing. Wide-brimmed hats are also your friend as well as Sunglasses. Sheets and pillowcases also needs to be changed regularly as they collect oil, which is a recipe for clogged pores and congested skin;) Enjoy the rest of your summer...

How do you keep your acne at bay?? please comment below or email with any queries, don't forget to socialize with me on twitter, instagram and facebook ......sharing is beauty-ful

Masks & Scrubs.....My current faves...

Summer.....Fun in the sun, Sunscreen residue, sweat, pore clogging makeup.....doesn't sound much of a fun summer now is it lol... BUT, we all love it, we enjoy the moments and the memories we create and with all that fun, also comes the residue it leaves on your skin, I don't know about you but every  time I get home from being under the sun and I feel that crud on my face from the pool, ocean water, sunscreen residue, yuck!! And I just wanna have a good scrub. I know some people may not really care about a good skin care regimen that incorporates a good scrubbing and a mask AT least once a week, but you all should really think about adding that to your regimen. Not only does it makes your skin feel and look uber smooth and soft it also unclogs those pores and assists in keeping those breakout at bay. And for my makeup wearing diva's, it will help your makeup products apply much much smoother not to mention a more natural looking makeup. I personally use my scrub every single night (View my skin care regimen here to view what I use and products I love at the moment)
and use my masks once or twice a week depending on how my skin is looking or if I am attending any special event and I want my makeup to look flawless :) In addition to my Summer Skincare Faves I also use the following products:

The Neutrogena Acne Stress Control scrub that you've read me rave about over and over is probably going to be one of my holy grail product that I use every day. The beads are not too soft and not to harsh. This can double as a mask as well, leaving it on for about 15 minutes and then use it as a face wash after.

Glam Glow is definitely one of my favorite scrub+mask in one to get rid of the dead skin cells and clears out my pores. Everything it claims below provides just that. I love the blend of green tea and clay mask that absorbs all that impurities. Oh and yes the infamous tingling feeling on your skin once applied feel aaahhhh mazing and leaves my skin oh so glowy :)
Downside...lol... I only use this once a week or if I am hitting a special event why? It's so freaking expensive :-/ and I hate it coz it's sooooo worth the money...ugh... Anyhow, I digress...

"What it is:
A 10-minute professional-quality mud mask for men and women. 

What it is formulated to do:
This mud mask leaves skin noticeably radiant and glowing. It activates moisturizing collagen synthesis, provides gentle resurfacing exfoliation, and helps to leave skin smoother, brighter, and softer. While providing tighter skin texture and tighter pores, it provides a more youthful appearance and absorbs impurities without removing natural oils. "

Now the other two masks, I use depending on when I feel a breakout is peeking it's ugly head....smh, I hit them with a the Neutrogena SkinID for Acne solution as a mask first for about 15 minutes then lather it as a face wash after and if I feel like my skin can handle a little bit more, I spot treat it with Olay PROXclear sulfur mask overnight.

All these products can be applied with your fingers or with a synthetic brush like I have on the picture.

What are your favorite exfoliating and/or go to masks?
Please comment with your thoughts below or email with any queries, don't forget to socialize with me on twitter, instagram and facebook ......sharing is beauty-ful :) 

To read more glowing treatment tips, read this.

Ciao,
-PF

 

Primer-less Foundation Routine worth trying this Summer!

Apply moisturizer on cleansed skin, wait for a few minutes and allow the skin to absorb the moisturizer thoroughly.
Reach for that big fluffy brush and dusts a super-light layer translucent powder all over the face and lets it sit for several minutes.
Apply concealer, foundation and proceed with the rest of your makeup :) (I still use my eye primer for my eye shadows to stick to and avoid creasing though)
**For those who have enlarged pores or fine lines, apply your primer in those areas only.

Will you try this tip?
Feel free to comment your results, other foundation or skin perfecting tip for the summer if you have any :)
Please comment with your thoughts below or email with any queries, don't forget to socialize with me on twitter, instagram and facebook ......sharing is beauty-ful :) 
-Blessings, PF

Do you apply foundation and then concealer? Or do you apply concealer and then foundation?

This has got to be theeeee most frequently asked question I have received time and time again...And the answer......
-It is YOUR personal preference....Do what works for you

Here's my take on this... Determine how much coverage you would like to have first [sheer, medium, full] then pick your poison or in this case, choose from what type of foundation and concealer you may have in your arsenal and let's get to covering....

If you happen to be blessed with a blemish free skin and just need to even out your skin tone, or just want a sheer coverage, the Concealer and then Foundation Technique, begin with a prepped base with a primer for a smooth finish. Dab concealer on to areas that need a little camouflaging and blend edges seamlessly in to the skin. Then apply foundation very sparingly from the center of the face outwards. Set with a sheer coat of powder mainly on the T-zone.

 For a full coverage or those who needs a little extra camouflaging, the Foundation and then Concealer Technique is for you. Again, begin with a full prepped canvas. Moisturize prior to applying foundation and wait a few minutes for it to sink in, then follow with thin coat of primer. Apply foundation and make sure the foundation has set before applying concealer over it to prevent it from smearing or moving when you apply the concealer. Dab your concealer on to areas that need extra coverage and blend using a tapping motion with your ring finger. This ensures that the concealer doesn’t look cakey once blended. Finish with lightly dusting a setting powder over your face with a Duo fiber brush or press (NOT rub) with a powder puff for a more matte finish.

How do you apply yours? Feel free to add to this techniques via a comment below :) -Blessings! PF
Please comment with your thoughts below or email with any queries, don't forget to socialize with me on twitter, instagram and facebook ......sharing is beauty-ful :)  

Skin Care Obssessions...Summer Edition

So I am starting to feel the heat of this year's summer season and it is also time to adjust skin care regimen and product hunt suited for my combination skin...

Here are my current faves ranging from drugstore to department store brands.

Cleansers:

• All year favorite is the Neutrogena Acne Stress Control cleanser
• Another year round cleanser on my counter is the Garnier Refreshing Remover Cleansing Towelettes, I have tried a plethora of cleansing wipes and every single one of them stings my eyes, until I tried this so I love it and will definitely keep it in stock.
• Gel cleanser is definitely a staple in the summer time for me so I usually reach for my Avelene Diacneal No soap gel cleanser when I'm doing a peel/mask or  Cetaphil Oil Control Foam Wash alternating with Aveeno Positively Radiant scrub to remove makeup/oil residue of the day's event. 

Now, I don't have acneic skin but I use these products more as a preventative measure from breaking out :)

Toners:

• I have been a loyal fan of the Obagi NuDerm toner (really, I am a fan of their full NuDerm line) 
• This summer I have been trying out different skin care and cosmetic products and a couple of the "trials" I really adore are the Ole Henricksen's Grease Relief toner alternating it with The Bodyshop Tea Tree Toner 

 Serums/Moisturizers
These products I use after the cleansing and toning process religiously... Starting with my day time products...

• Ole Henricksen Truth Serum is an amazing serum that seems to help with my sun spots and just makes my skin super supple and soft.
• I usually wait a couple of minutes and then use either my Ole Henricksen Sheer Transformation and/or Neutrogena Skin ID Moisturizer if I am wearing makeup or Olay Pro X clear UV moisturizer  if I'm just lounging around the house, another good alternative that I have been trying lately is the Garnier Skin renew Gel hydrating lotion, hydrating and light weight.
• My weekly masks varies depending on what skin problem I may be tackling, My summer mask options are usually a toss up between Glam Glow Tingling and Exfoliating Mud Mask, amazing mask specially after a heavy makeup wear week , Bocia's Black Mask, this peel off mask will extract whatever leftover gunk from your skin/pores after exfoliating and finally the  Olay Professional ProX Clear sulfur mask for when those pesky pimples decide to pop up.
• Night time products.... Used sparingly when needed is my  Avene Retinal 0.1 cream for my forehead area (yes, the lines are starting to show lol, too much frowning lol). Night time staple is  Ole Henricksen Enlighten Me serum and Elemis Absolute Eye Mask and finishing with Ole Henricksen Invigorating Night Gel 

Yes I am definitely loving Ole Henricksen products this summer and my skin is looking more even toned from using it so, so far so good :) well, I think it's a combination of using all these products :)

So what are your Summer Obsessions?
Please comment with your thoughts below or email with any queries, don't forget to socialize with me on twitter, instagram and facebook ......sharing is beauty-ful :)