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Gardening in High Heels

cultivate a beautiful life

May 18, 2015

Skincare struggle

May 18, 2015

For as long as I can remember, I’ve struggled with my skin.  I have naturally oily skin and high levels of stress, which always led me to break out.  I also have hormonal acne (which camps out on my face about once a month, you know what I’m sayin’?)  Today is the perfect day to talk about skincare and current struggles for Blogger, May I.

I've struggled with skin issues for so long, I almost gave up trying. With clean(er) eating and new skincare products, I finally have skin I'm proud of.

I have tried just about every skincare solution on the market (except Proactiv) all throughout high school and college.  I really tried lots of things in college; that is when my skin was the worst it has ever been.  I blame it on the awful water in the PSU dorms.  Ugh, just terrible.  I even tried washing with purified water from my Brita, that’s how bad the water was there!

And of course, makeup makes a difference.  The worse my skin got, the more makeup I used, and the less it could breathe and heal itself…and we begin again.

Fast forward a few years.  I finally have skin that I’m getting proud of and I attribute it to eating fresher, drinking more water, and finding the right things for my skin.  Oh it was a struggle to find, but I did it.  And I did talk about some of my favorite skincare items recently – they still are, but I added a few new things to the mix.

A while ago, a fellow Local Levo leader, Kelly, sent me a message asking if I could help her with something she does on the side, Rodan + Fields.  Developed by two dermatologists, there are specific product lines for adult skincare concerns: acne, aging, dark spots, and overall skin health (look up).  I haven’t really ever committed to only using one line (I still mix and match), but I was definitely interested because her before and after pictures are crazy-awesome.

After taking the skin profile quiz and going back and forth with Kelly, I decided to try the Redefine line.  This line is made to diminish the appearance of fine lines, large pores, and loss of firmness.  Now, I don’t have tons of lines, but sometimes my skin looks dull and I want to get ahead of the curve and start giving my skin good things now before it is too late.

In the Redefine line is a cleanser + mask, pore minimizing toner, treatment + spf day cream, and a restorative night cream.  I’m not a huge fan of the cleanser + mask because when I wake up in the morning, I don’t want to spend 2+ minutes letting it sit on my face first before I actually wash, but I do love this at night.  And when I do use it, I notice an instant brightness in my skin.

The toner is so refreshing and gentle; it doesn’t tingle or sting (sometimes I actually like that because you know it’s working).

The creams are what I love most.  They actually get the job done but they aren’t greasy or heavy.  I feel super moisturized throughout the day without having extra oil production.  There’s a before-and-after skincare progression at the bottom.  Damn, that camera picks up ev.ery.thing.

Kelly warned me that the Redefine line isn’t for treating acne, but I do notice that if I get a breakout, it’s definitely not as long-lasting as it used to be.  Another benefit of the Redefine line is that spots fade quickly now that I’m using something with a little oomph to it.

She also warned me that I may notice an increase in breakouts right after I started to use this.  I’ve been through enough with my skin to know that any skincare switch will always “get worse before it gets better.”  I honestly didn’t notice an increase in breakouts when I started to use these products, so we’re in the clear there.

In addition to Rodan + Fields, I have been loving the Mary Kay Botanical Effects line.  There’s a gel cleanser, toner, gel “hydrator,” and a mask.  The gel cleanser is great in the summer to really tackle oil and makeup.  And the mask..oh the mask.  Mary Kay made a clay mask years ago that’s been pretty much my only skincare constant and they discontinued it.  The Botanical Effects mask has finally replaced that.

Guys, I’m seriously all about the masks.  I have Lush’s Mask of Magnaminty and I just bought Cupcake.  I can’t say good enough things about how they’ve made my skin feel bright and pretty.

And of course, I’m still forever in love with Philosophy.  Their Microdelivery Peel is my weekly treat to myself – my skin feels smooth and fresh after I use it.

I love makeup, but I love having to use less of it, especially in the summer.  The less I can do to a) get out the door and b) feel not caked in makeup all day long is a victory in my book.  Right now, I’m just down to wearing concealer and MAC Mineralized Skin Finish or a light dusting of Bare Minerals.

Just a little makeup and clear skin. It's possible!

There’s still some work to do, but I’m happy with the progress.

What are your skincare struggles?  Please tell me I’m not alone!

An InLinkz Link-up



Rodan and Fields skincare transformation.

Need the prompts for the Blogger, May I challenge? Gotcha covered. Want to use your own prompts? No problem! Just grab a button to show that you’re linking up with myself, Katy, and Meghan. Oh, and use #BloggerMayI on Twitter/Instagram to keep the fun going even after you hit Publish!

Kelly sent me Rodan + Fields Redefine kit at a reduced rate, but I wouldn’t be sharing it if I didn’t use it, love it, and believe in it.  Other products mentioned are just because I love them and they work!

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5 Comments · Labels: Blogger May I, Makeup & Beauty Tagged: all natural, lush, makeup, mary kay, philosophy, rodan and fields, skincare, skincare products

February 2, 2015

Favorite beauty empties

February 2, 2015

One of my beauty goals for the year is to use up one product before I move on to another.  I don’t know about you, but I have a bad habit of purchasing new items before I’ve used up others.

I also have a bad habit of watching YouTube videos with things like “New at the drugstore haul” and “January favorites” in the title.  And I’m an only child in the sense of I see someone with a new beauty thing and I’m all, “Omg you have that? I’ve heard of it and it’s pretty and I want it too!”

Favorite recent beauty empties for winter skin

Anyway, for 2015, I’ve been trying to use up my stash so I’ve been doing the 365 Days of Empties challenge on Instagram and I thought I’d highlight a few of my favorite items I’ve used up.

Yes To Grapefruit Dark Spot Serum

This is a holy grail item for me.  I used an entire bottle of Clinique’s Even Better Clinical Dark Spot Corrector and didn’t see the results I saw from using half of a bottle of this.  It isn’t a miracle where things will fade overnight, but nothing is.  I love the way this smells, how it feels, and most importantly, how it works.

I also have the Yes To Grapefruit CC cream but it isn’t the right color match for me.  It’s really pink and I’m really yellow.  Any suggestions anyone?

Yes To Grapefruit is my holy grail dark spot corrector for acne scars and imperfections

Udderly Smooth Hand Cream

My hands get so dry in the winter, of course.  I get patchy red spots on the back of my right hand and swollen knuckles and cracks..my hands take a beating.  I was at the dollar store a while ago and saw this on the shelf.  I remember my mom using Udderly Smooth cream when I was younger, so I had to pick this up.

While I have other hand products that I love, I really enjoyed using this, too.  It’s light like water, but powerful like a heavy cream.  I am so in love with how moisturizing and soothing this cream is.

Udderly Smooth Hand Cream feels so moisturizing and is super light

Philosophy When Hope Is Not Enough Serum

I got a bundle from QVC and this was part of it.  I really got it for the Microdelivery Triple-acid Brightening Peel pads (another holy grail omg-Ineed-backups-of-this product) but I was pleasantly surprised with this.  It’s hydrating, makes my skin feel so smooth, and plumps it up.

My skin may be a little young for this, but I want to start taking care of it with good products early.  Spend on good skincare, save on color cosmetics is my philosophy…usually.  Sometimes the high end eye shadows are on sale and then it’s just a free-for-all.

Philosophy When Hope Is Not Enough serum adds moisture to dull skin

It’s a 10 Leave-in Conditioner

This smells great and it feels lovely when I apply it, but it wasn’t anything special.  I don’t have a brand preference when it comes to leave-on conditioner, so as long as it protects my hair, it’s all good.

It's a 10 Leave In Conditioner makes my hair smell great but isn't anything special

GlamGlow Supermud Clearing Treatment

This stuff is expensive but soooo worth it.  I can physically sense when my skin needs this mask because of how purifying it is.  It just sucks all the stuff out of it and leaves my skin so soft and so bright.

The dregs of this jar dried up and I may have shed a tear or two.

GlamGlow Supermud clearing treatment is my holy grail face mask for when my skin feels congested

Benefit The Porefessional

I have to say that I did not like this sample at all because of how hard it is to get the powder out of a packet, but the product was good.  It really absorbed oil nicely and I didn’t look as shiny by the end of the day.

That said, I was testing it and tried to use it on only one side of my face and left the other side with just my MAC Mineralized Skinfinish and honestly I didn’t notice a difference from side to side.

Benefit The Porefessional anti-shine powder sets makeup and absorbs oil like magic

Have you tried any of these / have you created any empties?  What do you think?

Since this is an Instagram challenge, I took these photos with my phone; excuse quality/lighting.

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4 Comments · Labels: Makeup & Beauty Tagged: empties, hair, makeup, makeup monday, skincare products

January 19, 2015

Review: Boots No7 Protect and Perfect

January 19, 2015

I am in my mid-twenties, but I’m conscious about what I put on my face to help slow down the aging process.  I made a decision to invest on the things that go on my skin and get a little cheap on things like mascara and lipstick.

I usually use Philosophy skincare products and I haven’t purchased anything from the drugstore (aka the drugstore section of Ulta) in ages since I no longer work close to an Ulta.

Review Boots No7 Protect and Perfect Advanced Serum

So I am out of the loop when it comes to what brands are available.  Thanks to Influenster, I know that a quality Boots No7 skincare line is available at Target.  I just know them as color cosmetics, but I guess they’ve grown up.

I received the Boots No7 Protect and Perfect Serum to try out.

I was excited to get it because it is for the early signs of aging.  I know my skin isn’t looking old, but now is a great time to start to ward off problems down the road.

Trying out the Boots No7 Protect and Perfect Serum

I liked the way it made my skin look and feel.  It was light weight and left my skin feeling fresh and supple.  It was almost like splashing water on my skin.  This serum made it feel comfortable and I did see a bit of a glow on my skin when I used it.

I did see that after using it for a while, I had some pitting in areas I never did before.  I don’t know if I had some problem areas from acne scarring that weren’t noticeable or this created some issues I’ve never had.  Either way, it was unusual to look at my forehead and see dimples.

I haven’t seen them since the sample ran out, so who knows.

Serious drugstore skincare from Boots No7

My big problem is the sample.  Boots No7 says that you’ll see first results in two weeks and full results after a month.  Fantastic.  Buuut…..

….C’mon now.  This packet doesn’t have two weeks’ worth of product in it.  I think I got a scant week out of it.  Sadly, I don’t know if I’ll be purchasing more.

I know, the whole point of a sample is to give you a little taste, hook you, and make you buy the full size.  It’ll start to work its magic and you’ll want to keep it going.  I get that.  I just wish I was able to get a little more of a well-rounded review out of this.

Overall: I like this serum, but with the imperfections that I noticed the longer I tried it and the short trial time, I don’t know if I’ll be picking it up.

Have you tried Boots No7 Protect and Perfect Serum?  What do you think?

Disclaimer: I did receive this product from Influenster to review.  As always, you’re getting my honest opinion.  This post does contain a referral link to Influenster should you like to sign up!

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6 Comments · Labels: Makeup & Beauty Tagged: anti-aging, boots no7, influenster, makeup monday, skincare products

Who’s Angelica?

Life Un-styled Blogger, Gardener, Shoe Lover..among other things

I'm here to encourage and empower you to grow where you're planted and embrace the weeds that sometimes pop up. I'll share inspiration, products I like (and you may too), and stories from the garden.

Gardening In High Heels is for badass babes who aren’t afraid to get a little messy. Want to learn more? Start here.
           

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