Full Skincare Routine

A while back I posted a video talking about my skin care regime. The video, however, feels somewhat rushed, and doesn't give enough explanation about my routine. So consider this a more in depth look at my skin care system. A quick tip, is never stick to one brand. Just because a system has been put in place by a company doesn't mean its necessarily going to work for you.  Sometimes you might try a specific 3 step process and chuck it out when it doesn't work, but it might just be one of the products in the system that you can substitute with another brand, or formulation. It took me a LONG time to find a routine that worked for me, so don't be upset if these products don't work for you, or you still haven't found a system that is working for you.

First things first, I have combination skin. My T-zone is out of control.  I have to powder multiple times a day, and if I don't, I look cray cray. However, the outskirts of my face, like the top of my forehead, and the top of my cheekbones, get crazy dry. Especially in the winter months. I also suffer from a type of acne. Some doctors even say its not acne, but I haven't found a name for it. I suffer from little bumps on my skin. They aren't milia which is another skin problem, they are almost like a cluster of white heads. But thicker, denser, and beneath the skin. I have no discoloration, and if you saw me in certain lighting you might even say Ive got great skin. But in the daylight, or natural light, which casts a shadow on the bumps, they are as true as day. If I slack on my skincare for even 2 days, they appear with full force, but If i follow my routine, then I am able to keep them at bay. If you have my skin type, then these products might work for you. If you don't then you might only want to try a couple.

My morning routine is pretty basic. I start off with a splash of water. And that's it. I don't wash my face with face wash in the mornings because I want to keep the natural hydration and oils in my skin. You might think, "you're oily so why do you want oils?" Well, if I strip my face of my natural oils TOO much, my face will over compensate and things will be worse. Its kind of like a modified version of washing your hair. You don't want greasy hair, but you don't want to wash your hair everyday or you will strip your hair of its natural oils too much, making your hair even greasier.

After my splash of water, I use Ole Henrikson Grease Relief Tonic. This removes any trace amounts of dirt that might have come from my pillow, and locks in any oil for the day. This stuff seriously works people.

Next I apply Origins Ginzing Eye Cream. This stuff is great because it de-puffs and moisturizes while still being light weight. It absorbs wonderfully, so you are still able to apply makeup after without caking.

After my eye cream. I use Ole Henrikson Truth Revealed Cream. This stuff smells AMAZING. It is so moisturizing and light weight, where you don't feel like you have a thick layer of goop on your face throughout the day. Your skin is left fresh and silky. That is everything for the morning!

My nighttime routine can be more complex. I'm not going to lie, if I'm lazy sometimes Ill just remove my makeup with a Kirkland wipe and that's it. But on average this is my routine, and this is what saved my skin.

I start by using my Makeup Eraser which is a wonderful little towel, that removes all waterproof, budge proof makeup with only water. Its machine washable, so not only is it good on the environment, but its nice to your wallet as well. However, you cannot use this product and not wash your face after. Because its a reusable towel, you're not going to wash it after every use. It does build up with last nights makeup, so washing your face after is VERY important, or you could leave bacteria on the skin. I recommend washing your Makeup Eraser once or twice a week.

My face wash is your regular Neutrogena Deep Clean face wash. I switch between the Acne version, the grapefruit version, and the original. I don't think it makes much of a difference as to which one in particular I'm using.

I then use my Grease Relief Tonic again, just to remove any remaining makeup and dirt. After, I apply my holy grail product. Ole Henriskon Invigorating Night Gel. This stuff is amazing. It tingles and slightly burns when you apply, but that feeling quickly goes away, and to me, it lets me know its working. It uses AHA to renew your skin cells and create a faster turn over. Which clears up any discoloration you have, any dry patches, wrinkles, fine lines, and breakouts. Its an all in one amazing product.

Next I use Ole Henrikson Ultimate Lift Eye Gel. This stuff is serious. Do not use it during the day. It leaves a slight sticky coating to your under eye area, so it is strictly for night use. I am just starting to see fine lines under my eyes, and I do suffer from serious morning bags, so this is a lifesaver.

My last step is moisturizer. I use Nivea Visage Q 10 night cream. This adds some serious moisture to my skin so that I can wake up with soft skin, and not have to add a thick cream in the morning. It also attacks wrinkles which I have in my forehead, that are very deep.

A face mask is a great product to have in your arsenal. I'm not one to go get a facial, so my Queen Helene Mint Julep Mask takes care of me at home. This stuff is amazing and super affordable. Its available at Sally's Beauty Supply and always sells out. It tightens and firms the skin while working deep down to purge any excess dirt and oil. A little blob on a big bad pimple when you go to bed also works wonders.

It is also always important to exfoliate. Every three nights I like to bust out my Ole Henriskon Walnut Scrub, because it smells SO amazing. I also love Philosophy Microdelivery Peel which leaves your skin feeling like a baby's bum! Another great exfoliate is simply baking soda and a cheap cold cream mixed together. So cheap, yet works wonders!

Last but not least, If Ive slacked on my skincare, I need my Benzoyl Peroxide. In Canada we only have 5% but I need 10% which is available in the US. Clean & Clear makes a great product that really clears up those zits. If you suffer from severe Acne I really recommend all of Clean & Clears acne products. They are a fantastic over the count solution!

Hope this helped everyone, and gave you some ideas on how to switch up your skin care routine. If you have any questions or comments, let me know below or on facebook!

Girlactik Matte Lip Paint Review

You know when an amazing product comes along and you just have to tell the world about it? This is that product. Girlactik is a slightly unknown brand, unless you frequent makeup shows or the world of instagram, you might not have heard of them. They carry an array of products, which are high end, and incredibly high quality. I have only tried the glitter eyeliner and the matte lip paint, but if the other products they make are of the same caliber of the ones I have tried, then they are winners as well! Now lets get to this fantastic product.

Matte lip colours are all the rage right now, from lipsticks to glosses, the beauty world cannot get enough. The standout product when it comes to a matte lip, is without a doubt the lip paint. There are many many different brands to chose from, but one a few stand apart. LimeCrime is one, and in my opinion Girlactik is the other. While I love the LimeCrime paints, the Girlactik ones stand out for another reason. Their shades. The LimeCrime shades are extremely bright and colourful, and if you're a more modest individual, these colours might not attract you. The girlactik lip paints are the opposite, they are subtle romantic shades, and are universally flattering.

The product comes in a tube, and applies like a gloss. The formula has a slightly oily texture when first applied to the lips, but dries to a fat, matte, finish. Which is beautiful. You can apply one layer for a more subtle look, or wait for the first coat to dry, and apply more coats, until you reach your desired opacity. The colours do not smudge or budge for HOURS. You can kiss, eat, and drink without worrying about your lip colour coming off. The shades that Ive tried are Starlet, and Allure. Starlet is the lightest, most pink shade they offer, and Allure is a neutral, almost brick, medium red. Both are absolutely beautiful. There are 2 other shades offered which are both as beautiful as these. Check out the swatches below, and then go buy yourself some at Girlactik.com

How To: Contour & Slim Your Nose

Have you ever wanted a nose job, but too scared to go under the knife? Well you have come to the right place! Here is an easy way to make your nose appear slimmer, without costing you $10,000. There are multiple ways to contour your nose, you can either use cream, or powder products. But all you really need is a bronzer and a small angled shadow brush. 

In this video Ill be teaching you how to slim your nose using an everyday bronzer, a powder highlighter, and a few brushes. While some nose contouring videos are dramatic and somewhat scary for day to day makeup, this tutorial focuses on a soft subtle look that can be done by anyone, and noticed by no one. Once you've gotten the hang of things, this is a quick addition to your everyday makeup routine. 

In this video Im using:

Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Bronzer in Deep

MAC Mineralize Skin Finish in Lightscapade

Hair and Makeup Addiction Brushes The Detailer and The Highlighter

Sigma E70 Angled Shader 

My Makeup:

Anastasia Beverly Hills Maya Mia Palette

Anastasia Beverly Hills DipBrow in Medium Brown and Blonde

Benefit They're Real Mascara 

Flutter Lashes in Judy

Gerard Cosmetics RoseHill & Nude Lipgloss combined