Take a Few Years Off with These Easy Tricks

I love beauty products.  In another life, I really do think I should have worked in the industry.  Beauty products give me so much hope.  If I am having a fat day or my jeans don't fit, there is always a bit of optimism in a new shade of red lipstick or a good hair day.  I like looking put together, I am just over taking a million hours to do so.  Effortless beauty is where it is at these days.  I am going to offer you 5 tips to much better and younger looking skin now, like right now.

You see, many many moons ago (beginning when I was 14), I was a smoker.  Like a big time smoker.  I seriously tried my first ciggie at 13 and was pretty much smoking on a semi-regular basis by 14......I had an older sibling that smoked (she no longer does either) and years ago you could legally smoke at 16, so it wasn't so much of a stretch.   By the time I entered college at 18, I was up to a pack a day.  I kicked the habit for real (like I have had 30 (or something not too many) drunk cigarettes since then) at 25 and I haven't looked back.  If smoking didn't kill, smell, or wasn't allowed anywhere, but alleys, I would still smoke.  I kinda love it and it did help reduce my appetite.  I'm being honest.

In addition to the lovely smoking, I was also a sun worshipper.  Not just natural sun, tanning beds, too. I would lie out with NO SPF on and then apply baby oil and get flat on my back on black tar driveways and seriously use tin foil reflectors......I made Snooki look pale.  I loved nothing more than frying myself, while smoking, while ingesting copious amounts of diet soda (6 cans a day or so).....how am I still around!?

So, for the last 4 or so years, I have been REALLY trying to reverse the irreversible and let me tell you, it has been working!  I also make an effort 90 percent of the time to avoid all artificial sweeteners as I do feel like they give me cellulite and make my skin look very dull.  I knew I was really smitten with Crush when we first had coffee and he used real cream and real sugar in his coffee because that is how I drink it now (I was formally skim milk and Splenda) and I will say since I have been eating real food (no chemicals when possible), I do binge less.  I know, I know, I am not reinventing the wheel here, I am always just looking for the quick fix because I'm impatient like that!

Moving on, 5 products to buy NOW:

1.  Clarisonic (<--Click): 

I know, it is super expensive.  It is.  I have had mine for 2.5 years (thank you Awful!) and it really is the best.  I only use mine on my face and the Mia is totally sufficient and a dream!  I use a delicate brush with mine and do use it twice and day.  Many people I know only use it before bed and that is awesome, too.  I swear, it will change the texture of your skin, reduce wrinkles, and save you a ton of money on cleaners and lotions.  Lotion (in my case oil, which I will get to soon) soaks in so much better and you need tons less, a little really goes a long way.  I got my Clarisonic on eBay new and saved a bit, so check that out if you are interested.

2.  Basis Face Wash (<--Click): 

Use it with your Clarisonic.  It is so gentle and the best face wash I have EVER used.  I also love the smell, it's very fresh scented, almost a bit lemony.  I use this at least twice a day and it takes eye makeup off in a second.  Leaves no residue either.  I often only can find it at Ulta (the link I provided).  Buy it!

3.  Neutrogena Age Shield Sunblock for Face SPF 90 (<--Click):

Put it on every every morning, rain or shine.  I wash my face and then put this on before any oil or makeup.  I let it soak in about 10 minutes.  This sunblock, the 90 version, smells good and is very matte, so it almost acts as a primer.  Succumb to the sunblock, you know you need to, SO JUST DO IT!

4.  Argon Oil (<--Click):

One of my best friends in Florida introduced this to me.  IT IS THE BEST!  I use this as my daily daytime moisturizer.  I put it on after my sunblock and then let it soak it a few minutes before foundation.  I do my morning routine while I eat my breakfast and drink coffee because multi-tasking is awesome!  I swear, this is liquid gold.  Josie Maran's is my favorite (the link above), but a really good alternate that is just a bit thinner is Studio 35 (you can find it at some Walgreen's) and you get more for the money anyway and is really the same, so I should stop being such a darn snob!

5.  Vitamin E (<--Click):

My dermatologist tried to sell me hundreds of dollars worth of products and then I asked her what about Vitamin E?  She started laughing and in a low whisper, she said, "it is the best, use it at night, shhhhh." I just let you in on a HUGE (AND CHEAP!) secret.  Run with it!  I tend to enjoy the variety that is 56,000 IU.  It is bit sticky and really hydrating.  If the sticky scares you, go down to a 30,000 IU. You will wake up with a face like a baby's bum.  Well, with a face like a baby's bum that doesn't have any diaper rash.

ROUTINE:

1.  Morning: Clarisonic, then SPF, then argon oil, then makeup.

2.  Night: Clarisonic, then Vitamin E.

Thank me when you start getting carded again.  I did a few weeks back and I almost french kissed the checkout lady.  She asked me for a second form of ID!  YES!