Peter Thomas Roth Firmx Exfoliant Gel

I first saw this product on QVC.  QVC is a great place to see product reviews and to get more information about a particular product.  I do research products online, but sometimes have a hard time trying to figure out which product is best for me or what it actually does.  Sometimes descriptions are very general and don't really give you an idea if a product is right for you.  QVC helps break it down and give more detail than the package does.  I use a Peter Thomas Roth sunscreen and was really interested in learning more about the other products for this range and watched a showing on QVC.  I had never heard of this product before watching the program, but after watching a couple of minutes about this product, I really wanted to try it. 

  And honestly the reviews were right, this product is awesome.  It's a peeling gel exfoliant and after using it, my skin feels smooth and soft.  It's amazing what a difference it makes.  The first time I used it, I thought this is just the product rolling up and it can't be taking off that much dead skin.  But after I washed it off, I could tell a huge difference in my skin.  After using it two to three times a week, I can really tell a dramatic difference.  

The ingredients include pineapple and pomegranate enzymes.  These enzymes help exfoliate without drying out your skin and stripping it of it's natural oils.  I have sensitive skin and my skin has never feel irritated after this.

Overall, I would highly recommend this product, and it will continue to be part of my skin care routine because I'm loving the results!

xoxo
Jennifer

Quench the Thirst

I've been sick for about a week now with allergy/sinus issues and after taking antihistamines for a few days, both my skin and my hair are really dehydrated.  My skin looks dull and lifeless and desperately needs some extra moisture. One of my favorite products to use when my skin is this dehydrated is Kate Somerville's Quench mask.   This product has Hyaluronic acid, Vitamins E and B, and cucumber as some of it's ingredients.  These ingredients make this mask very moisturizing and soothing.  

When I use this, I wash my face as I normally would, but make sure my face is completely before using.  I then apply a thin layer and let it set a minute.  After it's set a minute or two, I apply second thin layer.  After both layers are applied, I wear the mask for at least 15 minutes, sometimes if I really need the extra moisture.  This is a clear mask and you can hardly tell you have it on.  It's a little shiny but it won't scare your neighbors or your children if they see you with it on your face.  

I don't use this as regularly as I use my exfoliating masks, but when I fly or when I'm taking allergy medicine, it's one of the best products I've found to put moisture back into my skin without making it greasy.  This is also does not clog my pores like heavier moisturizers tend to. 

Kate Somerville has some amazing products and this is one of my favorites.  They are more expensive, but they tend to last awhile and are some of the best skin care products I've used.  What other masks do you use to help moisturize?  I'd love to hear your favorites!

Cleansers

As I get older my skin continues to change.  It needs more attention and it needs active ingredients that focus on anti-aging.  When I was younger, I was notorious for going to bed without cleansing my skin.   I didn't use eye cream and very rarely used sunscreen.  I looked in the mirror one day and I realized my skin was dismal.  It was dull, splotchy and oily.  It was completely out of control.  I realized my face looked awful because I was doing an awful job taking care of it. (Duh!)  I needed to take better care of my skin.

When I started researching, I was amazed how much information is available for how to care for your skin, specifically your face.  I was so overwhelmed, wasn't sure where to start.  I quickly realized what worked for someone else wouldn't necessarily work for me.  I tried product after product of "recommended" products that were not a good fit for me.  I became frustrated because I felt like every time I went to a department store counter they were more concerned with selling me their line of products than really finding the product that I needed.  I even tried skin consultations with aestheticians but again felt like they just wanted me to buy their products, and weren't necessarily trying to find what worked best for me.

One day, I found Lisa Eldridge of lisaeldridge.com.  It was a revelation.  She has amazing videos and recommends some amazing products.  She has loads of videos about makeup which are amazing, but her skincare videos were such a huge help.

One of the really important things I learned was that I was using too harsh a cleanser.   I had always thought I had really oily skin, so I used stronger cleaners to reduce oil.  I was actually stripping my skin of essential oils and my skin was producing more oil to compensate.  After I switched to a gentle cleanser my skin has produced significantly less oil.  Before I was blotting my skin two or three times a day, now I might blot once.  It's amazing the difference.  My makeup doesn't melt off my skin like it did before.