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. 

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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. 

fave products // w3ll people bio tint multi-action face moisturizer

 
 

I guess at this point you could call me a skincare and beauty junkie. I love trying out new products, but I tend to stick to ones that have stellar ingredient lists. In other words, non-toxic, vegan and organic ingredients are a plus. Enter W3ll People, a beauty conscious brand that focuses on advanced performance, natural ingredients, and social responsibility. I love that I can feel good about using these products, as there are no harsh or potentially irritating ingredients involved in any way, shape, or form!

One of the first W3ll People products I tried was the Bio Tint Multi-Action Moisturizer with SPF 30.  To me, this is the best of both worlds: makeup and skincare. I love that I'm getting lightweight, flawless coverage over my entire face, but I'm also protecting it from the sun. With ingredients like coconut, broccoli seed oil, and pomegranate working to hydrate, brighten, and rejuvenate your skin, you can rest assured that this moisturizer packs a punch! I've found that some natural tinted moisturizers pill or get flaky when I apply them on top of my other beauty products, but that is not the case here. Bio Tint goes on super smooth and leaves my skin wth a satin, velvety finish. Besides being free of all the potentially harmful ingredients found in most conventional makeup, an added bonus is that all of W3ll People products are super affordable! Keep an eye out for more reviews soon, as I have a feeling I'm just getting started with this beauty conscious brand. 

fave products // avène mineral ultra-light sunscreen

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By now everyone knows the importance of wearing sunscreen. It helps protect your skin from the sun's damaging UV rays, which cause sunburns and can lead to wrinkles, and can even help prevent skin cancer down the line. Knowing that, you'd think everyone would be wearing it 24/7, however, that's not always the case. I'll admit that I could be more disciplined in this regard, but I'm trying to improve for the sake of my skin, both now and in the future! Eau Thermale Avène is a popular French pharmacy brand that I've come to rely on and enjoy thanks to its expert dermatological care for sensitive skin. Many sunscreens out there are made with harsh chemicals that my skin simply cannot handle, so I prefer to use those that are purely mineral-based (made from zinc oxide & titanium dioxide). Avène Mineral Ultra-Light Hydrating Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50+ (Face) is a 100% mineral facial sunscreen with broad spectrum SPF 50 and UVA/UVB filters, is water resistant for up to 80 minutes, goes on sheer without any white residue, and is totally free of fragrance, parabens, and other harsh irritants. As an added bonus, a photostable form of vitamin E provides powerful and effective antioxidant protection! Talk about the full package! I love how it feels, or rather how it doesn't feel, on my skin. It's so lightweight that you'd hardly even know it's there, which makes it great for layering over your other skincare products and under any makeup you may be using. I think it's safe to say this baby has earned a deserved and welcome spot in my daily skincare regimen.