fave products // paula's choice skin perfecting BHA liquid

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Throughout my skincare foray into various brands, Paula's Choice is a name that kept popping up again and again. Admittedly, I didn't know much about them, but after hearing the word "cult following" affiliated with this product, I figured I'd better check it out. Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid works kind of like a toner, but one that is also great for sensitive skin, which I love. I hate when products feel like they're burning off your skin, am I right?? Not the case here! This liquid works to give you radiant, even-toned skin by simultaneously reducing redness and building collagen, which smooths fine lines and wrinkles. The 2% BHA (beta hydroxy acid) content helps to unclog and diminish any enlarged pores you may have as well, making this one seriously potent yet totally gentle exfoliant! It's even clinically proven to be non-irritating, and is fragrance free! I like to use this every other night or so (I rotate with my Cane + Austin retexture pads), and apply with a cotton round after cleansing. With this impressive list of benefits, it's easy to imagine Paula's Choice products to be crazy expensive, but the opposite is actually true! I highly recommend trying it out for yourself soon. 

* This post may contain affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, it won’t cost you a penny more, but I’ll earn a small commission. This allows me to continue to generate content for you, and helps keep the site up and running. Thanks for your support! 

get fit with britt // lower abs

Welcome back to Get Fit with Britt! I'm going to be posting some demos of my fave exercises taught at Pure Barre Williamsburg, with the help of their awesome instructors. Pure Barre is a fast, effective, and most importantly, safe way to change your body, and follows a technique that's high-intensity, but low impact to protect your joints! Thanks to Pure Barre, I have been able to build long, lean (not bulky!) muscles while tapering everything in & lifting it up! For this series, we will pick a particular move, explain the focus area and correct form, then demonstrate it so you can practice at home! That way, if/when you come to the studio yourself, you'll be rocking the moves & way ahead of the game ;) These exercises are also a great way to get fit at home or on-the-go! I find myself regularly using Pure Barre exercises during my hotel room workouts. Additionally, you can get all the outfits I'm wearing at the Pure Barre Williamsburg studio, so definitely go by if you're looking for some fun, new workout gear! Come & join me, get that healthy & strong body you've always wanted- come Get Fit with Britt!

Today's exercise focuses on the abs. People are always curious how I get such toned abdominal muscles, and it's definitely a body part I work hard at and am proud of. Pure Barre has a nice focus on core work, and this exercise is one in particular that is key to getting a flat & toned tummy. In addition, a strong midsection can help stabilize and protect your lower back, while giving you the bikini confidence you crave. Leg drops and leg raises create a challenging yet effective exercise, and holding the legs at your lowest point of control will have you really feeling the burn. Be sure to keep your lower back pressed into the ground the entire time for best results, and do 3 sets of 8-12 reps each.

*I am not a trainer or health professional, so please consult one if you feel you're doing something wrong or could potentially injure yourself.

fave products // shu uemura essence absolue nourishing protective oil

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Working as a model, my hair goes through a lot. With all the products and hot tools used when I'm on set, it's important for me to take steps to repair and rehydrate it whenever possible. There are several great, high-quality hair oils out there, and I'll switch mine up from time to time. Recently, however, I've been loving Shu Uemura Essence Absolue Nourishing Protective Oil thanks to its lightweight and non-greasy formula, which is ideal for my fine, blonde hair. There's nothing worse than trying to hydrate your locks, but ending up with an oil-slicked head of hair. I like to use it as a leave-in conditioning serum, both on wet and dry hair, and it really has improved the quality of my hair. Not to mention it helps protect your hair from any hot tools you may be about to use for styling purposes! Essence Absolue leaves me with just the right amount of silky shine, while giving life to my dry and damaged ends. A little goes a long way, so use sparingly, and it'll last you a good, long while!

fave products // cane + austin glycolic acid retexture pads

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I feel like we're hearing more and more about acids with regards to skincare these days, but I'll admit that they can seem a bit scary at first. An acid on my face? Seems intense. While many people shell out big bucks to get fancy peels and treatments at their dermatologist's office, Cane + Austin, a company started by Dermatologist Craig Austin, uses glycolic acid to give you those professional-grade results at home! Glycolic acid, an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) derived from cane sugar (hence the name), is both highly transformative and super gentle on your skin at the same time, making it great for regular use.

Cane + Austin's Retexture Pads are made for both your face and body, and come in various levels of glycolic acid (as well as salicylic acid for an extra acne-fighting boost). Depending on your skin type and comfortability, or if you're new to acids, I recommend starting low and working your way up. The one-step pads really couldn't be easier to use, and I love that I can toss them in my suitcase for on-the-go travel as well! This mini facial treatment really packs a punch- it exfoliates, helps even skin tone, boosts collagen, and even helps reduce the appearance of age spots. The pads are also free of fragrances and parabens, making them equally great for sensitive skin like mine as well. 

fave products // osmia organics black clay facial soap

I know I've mentioned this before, but I have very sensitive skin, and am therefore quite conscious of the products I use. Over the last couple years, I started to get small outbreaks of a condition known as perioral dermatitis, which caused me to pay even closer attention to certain ingredients, in particular. After multiple dermatologist visits and tons of personal research, I discovered there are many different causes and triggering ingredients, which vary from person to person. One of the best changes I made in my own skincare routine, however, was switching to Osmia Organics Black Clay Facial Soap. Australian clay and Dead Sea mud work their magic to balance and tone the skin, while almond, avocado, and castor bean oils condition and nourish it. I can honestly say this has been a game-changing cleanser for me, as it has greatly reduced any dermatitis outbreaks and does not irritate my skin in the least. Although these days a bar soap may seem a bit out of the norm, this little guy lathers up wonderfully thanks to coconut oil, and lasts for a very long time. Not to mention it's super convenient to toss in your travel bag! Don’t forget to snag a Soap Saver to keep your bar clean, and give it a nice spot to dry once you’re finished using it. The exceptional, natural ingredients found in Osmia Organics products have completely sold me, and make this a skincare brand worth investing in. 

get fit with britt // triceps

Welcome back to Get Fit with Britt! I'm going to be posting some demos of my fave exercises taught at Pure Barre Williamsburg, with the help of their awesome instructors. Pure Barre is a fast, effective, and most importantly, safe way to change your body, and follows a technique that's high-intensity, but low impact to protect your joints! Thanks to Pure Barre, I have been able to build long, lean (not bulky!) muscles while tapering everything in & lifting it up! For this series, we will pick a particular move, explain the focus area and correct form, then demonstrate it so you can practice at home! That way, if/when you come to the studio yourself, you'll be rocking the moves & way ahead of the game ;) These exercises are also a great way to get fit at home or on-the-go! I find myself regularly using Pure Barre exercises during my hotel room workouts. Additionally, you can get all the outfits I'm wearing at the Pure Barre Williamsburg studio, so definitely go by if you're looking for some fun, new workout gear! Come & join me, get that healthy & strong body you've always wanted- come Get Fit with Britt!

Today's exercise focuses on the triceps. While we typically focus more attention on our arms in spring and summer, I like to keep them nicely toned year-round. Muscle definition is key, and this workout defines in all the right places! Make sure to keep your arms as straight as possible, even though it's easy to let them bend a bit once you start to get tired. Try to keep tension in the tube at all times too- you'll get better results this way! Do 10 repetitions of each movement, and repeat the sequence three times for a killer tricep burn.

*I am not a trainer or health professional, so please consult one if you feel you're doing something wrong or could potentially injure yourself.