skincare Archives - Page 2 of 3 - Twenty Something Plus

February 9, 2016

Better Beauty with Beautycounter

I know I’m not exactly the healthiest person, but one of my goals this year is to try to be more conscientious of what I put into my body. As well as what I put onto my body.

This is much easier said than done.

Especially with makeup.

But Beautycounter is out to change that.

I met up with Emily of Beautycounter to learn about the products they offer and test some of them out for myself.

I had already sampled their Body Glow Scrub and Hydrate Body Lotion, because they were in the Monarch Workshop swag bag.

But it was the makeup that I really wanted to try out!

My personal favorite product (that I will most definitely be getting), is the Touchup Skin Concealer Pen.

Unexpectedly, I also really liked the Color Contour Matte Brozner (in No. 2). I didn’t think it would be dark enough, but it created a very natural looking contour.

Using the brushes was a real treat!

I seriously want them all.

Safe beauty is better beauty.
Here’s the before and after…

Face: Dew Skin Tinted Moisturizer in No. 5, Touchup Concealer Pen in No. 2, Color Sweep Blush Duo in Tawny/Whisper and Color Contour Matte Bronzer in No. 2
Eyes: Color Outline Eye Pencil in Black and Color Define Brow Pencil in Dark
Lips: Lip Gloss in Sienna

A nice, yet naturally enhancing, look. And you can still clearly see the difference.

If you’re interested in learning more about Beautycounter, you can contact Emily, here!

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February 3, 2016

Ocean Mineral Cleanser

I’d told myself, that I was going to use up the skincare products I have before trying any more new ones.

But Oz Naturals changed my mind with their Ocean Mineral Cleanser. I mean, they pretty much always do that to me, their products are vegan and organic, so I can almost never resist.

Really, they had me at ocean.

That and organic rose hip oil.

I’ve been using it for over a week now and I really like it. It gets my face clean, but gently. After I clean off my makeup, I wash my face with the Ocean Mineral Cleanser so make sure there won’t be any makeup stains on my pillows. Hasn’t let me down yet!

Now if only using it could make it summer and put me on a beach by the ocean somewhere…

January 12, 2016

Notice the Lotus at Target

Even though there are plenty of times I’ve been mistaken for much younger, I am almost basically 30.

I haven’t spotted any major signs of aging, but have given a lot more thought to my skincare routine.

And like many other 20 (almost 30) something year olds, I spend a lot of time at Target.

So, I was very happy to notice the lotus on the the Target shelves. Hearing that derma e, a brand that I use frequently, is now at Target is huge! Not that I’m against online shopping, it’s just so much easier to pick up things while I’m already out.

Plus, it’s motivates me to try new products.

Like their Firming DMAE Eye Lift cream.

Since I don’t really have many to begin with, this was more preemptive on my part.

A little, but helpful, trick that also helps? Use your ring finger to pat on eye creams! The eye area is super sensitive, avoid tugging on it.

Wrinkles and fine lines? Not on my face!
If you need me, I’ll be at Target.

January 4, 2016

The Pros and Cons of Proactiv

Disclaimer: This blog post contains affiliate links.

Back in high school, I never thought I’d be someone that needed use Proactiv. I may have gotten a tiny pimple all of like once or twice.

But in college, that changed.

Zits started to regularly pop up all over my face.

In particularly, they favored my forehead, making it look like I slept on pizza instead of my pillow. Here’s proof…

Some of you may be thinking, that this isn’t that bad.

But this photo was taken shortly after I had started using Proactiv. Plus, it was the summer so my skin is in it’s most radiant state.

Except for my forehead.

I tried anything I could get my hands on (thank you work study paychecks)! Proactiv was the only product that completely cleared up my skin.

Recently, I started to break out again. It usually does in the winter, because of my moisturizer usage. But this time it was much worse. It’s been my forehead all over again, only on the bottom half of my face.

I’ve hear of adult acne, but come on! Seriously?

So, I started using Proactiv again (well, Proactiv Plus).

Pros: Effective (like I said, it was literally the only product that cleared up my skin), a little goes a long way and the amount of product you receive can last over two months. I also happened to already have some (after discovering that extreme stress also triggers my skin to breakout).

Cons: One thing I noticed about Proactiv is that typically my skin will get a little worse before it gets better. It’s kind of addictive. Not in a I need it, I need it sense, but more of a if you stop using it your skin tends to go back to looking like pizza really is bae. It can also be costly, especially if you go to cancel your subscription.

For me, the pros outweighed the cons. Plus, this time I noticed that my skin didn’t get at all worse and started to clear up almost instantly!

Do you get break outs? Share how you treat them in the comments below.

December 30, 2015

What I Use for Dark Circles

Disclaimer: This blog post contains affiliate links.

Aside from the occasional breakout, adjusting my skincare routine for the colder weather has been great.

But the holidays have really taken their toll and without makeup on, the dark circles under my eyes make me look even more exhausted than I feel.

Time to readjust. Because I do not want to start the new year off looking tired, these dark circles have got to go.

November 28, 2015

My Winter Skincare Routine

Disclaimer: This blog post contains affiliate links.

Even though my little nook of New England hasn’t seen any snow stick, and it’s still technically fall, the air has been brisk. And my skin has been dry. Really dry.

So dry, that I’ve had to make a few alterations.

November 9, 2015

3 Products for a Deep Facial Cleansing

After Halloween and all of my exaggerated makeup looks, my skin hasn’t been too happy with me.

A deep clean was very much needed.

What did I use to give myself a deep facial cleansing?

September 18, 2015

Barefaced and Beautiful

While volunteering at a local beauty event, I discovered a new local skincare brand.

And you guys, I’m OBSESSED.

Palmetto Derma products are all paraben and sulfate-free. And vegan!
Plus, 1% of their profits goes to Breast Cancer Awareness.

I’ve tired a number of skincare systems, but not really any cleansers.

With the Palmetto Derma lavender water and tea tree oil daily cleanser, my face is actually clean. Kiss those clogged pores goodbye!

As you know, I can never get enough of multitasking products, so this rose water and aloe toning facial spray is something I consider a major must have. And it even comes in a set with the cleanser!
Natural. Organic. Plus cruelty free AND local?!

As much as I love makeup, I want to be comfortable enough in my own skin to not feel like I need it. And Palmetto Derma actually supports that in their mission.

I dig that.

A lot.

Healthy skin means a barefaced and beautiful you!

August 19, 2015

Rice (and Green Tea) for Your Face

I like rice.

Typically as a side or in a stuffed bell pepper, but as an exfoliant? I’ll bite.

At first I wasn’t sure how this was going to work. I’ve used others before and was not a stranger to OZ Naturals, I just hadn’t tried anything like this.

It’s really a rice enzyme powder so you just add water and rub it onto you face. No big deal. Except big deal, you can really feel the grit to it as it scrubs!

This wasn’t my favorite exfoliant, the powder can get everywhere and I’m already a messy enough person on my own. I also didn’t love the container, I didn’t even notice the top was set to close, since it still came out, when I finally figured it out I decided to store it in a plastic bag, which I highly recommend.

All that being said, I didn’t hate it. My face was left feeling clean and the green tea extract made it so that my skin wasn’t irritated.

What’s your favorite face scrub?

This post is sponsored by OZ Natural, but the opinions are my own.

June 2, 2015

Hyaluronic Acid Serum Comparison

Currently my skincare routine consists of a cleanser (or an exfoliator, depending on the day), hyaluronic acid serum and a moisturizer.

Considering I’m still fairly new to the skincare game, I try to keep it as simple as possible without sparing the necessities.

The hyaluronic acid serum I’d been using, smelled like dandelions and I noticed contained a few extra ingredients that I wasn’t sure if made a difference or not. So, naturally, I wanted to find out.

I reached out to Oz Naturals, about trying their hyaluronic acid serum, because it’s a large percent natural and organic, but didn’t contain dandelions (or Vitamin E).

How that go?

It worked just as well as the other serum!

They both helped my skin retain moisture and stay hydrated throughout the day. The main difference is that OZ Naturals didn’t leave my skin smelling like flowers (weeds, whatever). If I was concerned about skin sensitivity I would probably go with OZ Natural.

Better safe than with hives…

It also didn’t leave my skin feeling as sticking (the lack of Vitamin E, maybe) afterwards, not a huge deal against the other hyaluronic acid serum, because it went away after applying moisturizer, but still worth mentioning. Oh, and I liked the pump better than the dropper. Again nothing major, but thought I should share.

Although on Amazon they cost about the same, the list price of the OZ Natural hyaluronic serum is significantly more affordable, by about $30! Plus, it’s an Amazon #1 Best Seller.

This post was graciously sponsored by OZ Natural.