Miracle Worker

Attention all lady friends: Go buy Witch Hazel for your face. You're welcome.

No, but seriously. At about $4 a pop at Tar-gey, (T.N. Dickinson's) giant bottle of goodness will cure all that ales you...ok maybe not but it does make your face look/feel amaze.

This little skin secret has been used for ages to help calm red, oily, irritated, or blemished skin. Witch hazel also has a mattifying quality so it won't leave you oily in the slighest. Don't worry about being super dry, either, as it seems to balance skin's texture perfectly.

As a natural astringent, witch hazel rids your pores of all that makeup and dirt built up throughout the day. After cleansing with something just as yummy, like (this), to remove the bulk of your makeup, sweep a cotton pad doused with witch hazel over your face and neck. And that's it! Watch as even more grime is lifted away - even when you thought you were clean!

Before bed, finish with a (brightening toner) and a (rich night cream) - if you're into that, which you should be! Try (Boots Botanics), also at Target, for super soft, super lovely skin at an equally lovely price.

Enjoy a less red, more beautiful face come summer! Cheers to an all-natural, totally simple skin care routine.

Happy Monday beauties!

XX.

Wear It Wednesday: Nail Couture

If you know me, you know that I'm addicted to painting my nails! There's just something so therapeutic about it on a random Thursday night! Anywho, I can't ignore all of the crazy nail art trends that are popping up all over my Pinterest account. From polka dots to ombre to 3d caviar nails, the possibilities are endless! Beautylish has some great tutorials, product reviews, and new ideas to try out so you can have your own
salon-worthy mani! XX.

Shelf Life!

Happy Monday, beauties! As a self-proclaimed make-up addict with boxes full of extras...it's nice to know when to toss some of my old stuff! I'm horrible about washing my brushes and throwing out used compact sponges, which is awful! Hopefully this will remind me to pay more attention! XX.

Long Hair, Don't Care

Hello beauties! Help your hair grow faster by maintaining a healthy diet, reducing stress,
and quitting smoking. Don't forget to keep up with your vitamins, either! Fish oil, zinc,
biotin, and B12 all contribute to healthy hair, skin, and nails. Also, avoid blow drying or
heat styling every day and wearing a pony tail/messy bun all day long (...guilty!) as this
can cause damage and prevent your locks from growing longer! XX.

Baby Powder Magic Trick

Hello beauties! The invention of dry shampoo has got to be one of the best things to happen to the female bathroom routine since...I don't know...triple blade razors. Just a few shots to the roots, a quick brush through, and oily, lifeless, 2nd day hair is magically perfect again.

Now, if you're out of dry shampoo and in a pinch - or too lazy to go buy more, like I am - you can get the same effect with baby powder. Just part your hair in a few key places and sprinkle a little (notice I said "a little") onto your scalp. Rub it in a bit to soak up those excess oils and give your hair a good brushing!

Voila, flat icky hair is like new again! XX.

Chapstick Jungle

Happy Monday beauties!
Lip balm that contains beeswax and lanolin can help tame those annoying flyaways! These ingredients are found in many hair care products that are meant to moisturize and soften unruly hair, so why not take a tube of Chapstick to your mane if you need a quick fix away from home?

A quick sweep over your brows can also help keep strays in place and rubbing it along your hairline before diving into a box of hair dye can prevent those unsightly stains on your skin.

If you do plan to use lip balm on your hair, make sure you have a tube dedicated to that and that only, obviously! XX.

Try Burt's Bees Beewax Lip Balm!

Oh, Honey.

Hello beauties! Need a quick remedy for those unsightly blemishes? Dab some honey
on it, honey! Honey naturally kills bacteria and will dry up those pimples in no time. Put
a little dot on your problem area for 10 minutes - on clean skin - before rinsing off, or
create your own mask with honey and oats for a simple, moisturizing, and healing
midnight treat.

 

(click on the thumbnail to learn more!)

Make Your Eyes Look Bigger!

Happy Monday beauties! It's simple really - we all want that bright eyed and bushy tailed look from our mascara! But how exactly do we make our eyes look bigger?! That's simple, too! XX.

1. Apply mascara with a thicker coat in the center of your lashes, just above the iris, for a rounder eye.

2. When applying falsies, use individuals in the center portion only, or trim a full strip of false lashes so they're longer in the middle for the same round, wider effect.

3. To open up your eyes, apply liner to the lower waterline, only on the outer third of the lid (any further will close your eyes and make them look smaller!)

Learn more @ Daily Glow

My 3 Favorite Mascaras:

- Dior's Diorshow for thick, plush, super black lashes

- M.A.C's Opulash for the same thickness - at an even better price

- Lancome's Hynose for longer, defined, separated lashes

10 Ways to Get Your Skin Spring Ready

Hello Beauties! Spring is FINALLY right around the corner so it's a good idea to start thinking about getting your skin back in to shape! XX.

What to do...what to do...

- Eat as much fresh food as possible to keep your skin looking healthy - and your backside, too.

- Have fun with your products - "yummy" skin care has a lot of benefits! Try products - or make your own masks - that contain things like banana, chocolate, honey, vanilla, or sugar. Bananas are rich in vitamins, chocolate is an excellent source of antioxidants and naturally contains skin firming caffeine, honey acts a natural anti-bacterial agent and can be used to clear up blemishes or added to dry oats for an exfoliating and moisturizing face mask, sugar is great for a body scrub to remove dead skin, and vanilla has a sweet aroma and can be added to your homemade products as an essential oil.

- Try eb5 Facial Cream. Surprisingly inexpensive and an awesome source of vitamins A, E, and B5 to improve the texture of your skin and keep it moisturized. Only $37 on Amazon!

- The most obvious of all things - treat yourself to a mani/pedi! There's nothing better than having fresh hands and feet. Spring for the paraffin wax this time - if they offer it at your salon - and your digits will be thanking you!

- Hair control: spruce up your brows and invest in a good razor for the coming warm months - nothing worse than stubble or razor burn on freshly tanned limbs. (And I say "invest" because let's be honest...they're so expensive - and for what?!) Anything Venus works great in my opinion! And there's always your man's razor...a fresh one of course!

- Speaking of a tan...I can't preach about "staying away from tanning beds" because I'm guilty of the obsession and I do love hitting the beach. However, if you'd like to keep your skin looking its best, it's a good idea to avoid those UV rays! Use sunscreen daily - even if you're not going tanning...the sun is still out people!

- Also, spray tans are way easier than people think. If you know someone who had a nightmare experience and freaked you out, well they just weren't doing it right! If you're unsure, ask your salon to teach you the right way - they're trained to do this! Trust me, I've worked at one!

- If you're still not into it, use a daily skin firming moisturizer that has self tanner included! Clearly the easiest way to keep a soft glow - out of sight, out of mind. Right now I'm using Jergens' Natural Glow for about $9 and it works great. The best one I've tried - that truly doesn't smell - has been Banana Boat's Summer Color in "deep/dark". Mind you, I don't have deep/dark skin by any means but it gives the fastest results while still looking pretty natural!

- Get rid of dry, cracked lips by using Lush Lip Scrub in Sweet Lips - YUM. I've raved about this stuff before (here) and will continue to stand by it! Exfoliating your lips is something that is easily forgotten. This little jar of scrub tastes amazing and restores your pout to pure softness.

- Finally, moisturize, moisturize, moisturize! By far the most important thing you can do for you skin is to feed it with the moisture it needs. Humectant formulas are the best - they lock in moisture and continue to do so all day long by helping your skin retain water and prevent cracking. Alba Botanica Very Emollient Body Lotion is great. (Suave makes a pretty good version of this in a Shampoo and Conditioner so your hair can reap the benefits, too!)

"Shaving Cream" for College Folk

Happy Monday, beauties!

Ever notice how expensive good shaving cream and quality razors are?! Maybe you will once you've lived on your own and actually paid for a Venus razor! It's nuts. And if you have sensitive skin, it can really suck to shave with a crappy disposable razor while you're pinching pennies.

I like to save money by never buying shaving cream! Think about it: you just need something to condition and hydrate your lady parts as you shave, so what's the next best thing in your shower? Hair conditioner! You should be using less conditioner than shampoo anyways, so you will more than likely always have some extra to spare. A little goes a long way, plus you're already buying it!

In fact, it actually makes my legs softer when I shave with conditioner, so that's great! If you find that you just can't spare your precious color care conditioner for some leg time, you can buy a bottle of an inexpensive brand as your go to "shaving cream". (Suave is good and cheap!) Typically, these ones are really thin and watery so they will last forever since you don't need much to shave with.

Now you can splurge on a good razor without hurting so much at the checkout! XX.

Red Lips Done Right

Okay people. If you're going to wear a bold lip, please execute it correctly! How so you might ask? It's simple: invest in an angled brush! I have one from M.A.C. - which is also crucial for filling in my eyebrows (after washing the lipstick off of course) - but you can find inexpensive ones at drug stores. Bonus: your favorite red lipstick will more than likely last longer if you apply it with a brush. Oh and you won't look like BoBo The Clown with red smudges all over the side of your mouth from mistakes (:

1. Moisturize! A light, colorless lip balm will prime your lips for the color and make it easier to apply.

2. Take your brush and make a few swipes over your lipstick.

3. Just as you would draw on your eyeliner, just trace the outline of your lips to create the look of a thick lip liner. Kindergarten flashback: stay INSIDE the lines (:

4. Continue filling your lips with small brush strokes until you have a pout full of fabulous color.

5. If you'd like, you can add a clear gloss for some shine. This helps your color really stand out!

No more clown lips ladies (:

Have fun! XX.

Color I used: Russian Red from M.A.C. (here)

Brush I used: M.A.C. #266 (here)

The Beer Rinse

Hello beauties! You've probably heard of the beer rinse at one point and thought..."huh?"
Well yes, rinsing your hair with beer actually does have its benefits! Bring back shine and
volume with this cheap trick. Just shampoo, rinse, and repeat...only with a can your favorite
brew on the repeat (: If you're afraid you'll smell like a bar afterward, don't worry...you won't!
But if you'd like to make sure that's avoided, you could add a few drops of lavender oil or something yummy to your rinse. Enjoy! XX.

Newest From OPI

Hello beauties! Get your pretty little hands on the new OPI colors this month! Loving "Thanks A Windmillion" and "I Don't Give A Rotterdam". Treat yourself to a mani with one of these newbies!

XX.

From top, left to right:

Red Lights Ahead...Where?

A Roll In The Hague

Vampsterdam

Thanks A Windmillion

Did You Hear About Van Gogh?

Kiss Me On My Tulips

Dutch Ya Just Love OPI

I Don't Give A Rotterdam

I Have A Herring Problem

Petal Faster Suzi

Wooden Shoes Like To Know It

Gouda Gouda Two Shoes

How To: Tuxedo Nails

As you may have noticed, nail art is becoming more and more popular these days. Maybe it's because we're all broke and just need a little something to perk us up from home at a cost next to nothing? Probably! Plus, it's really cute if you're good at it. I'm no expert, as my right hand is extremely shaky and I'm practically incapable of executing a straight line...but I try! Also, there's just something so therapeutic to me about taking an hour out of the night to focus on just one thing. From fixing up cuticles to filing, buffing, and coating with pretty polish, it's just relaxing (not to mention a really awesome diet trick to keep your fresh nails out of the bottom of a chip bag...).

Anyways, last night I attempted to recreate Zooey Deschanel's red carpet look from this year's Golden Globes. She was quoted on her Instagram that night saying, “I am wearing a gown but my nails are wearing tuxedos!!!" Too cute. So I tried it, except I used a really light silver polish as my base and a deep navy blue for my buttons and such. I wish I had black and white, but it was kind of a last minute decision to try this! They turned out okay! XX. 

Zooey's Version!

My Attempt!

What You Need:

- clippers, file, buffer, etc.

- base coat 

- white polish

- black polish

- a good top coat

- a bobby pin with those little plastic round pieces still attached on the end

- nail polish remover

- q tips

What You Do:

- make sure your cuticles are cleaned up, then file and buff your nails so they're smooth

- put on a base coat and allow it to dry

- add a coat of white to both hands, repeat with a second coat, and allow both hands to dry to the point where they aren't sticky

- give yourself "french tips" with the black polish, making sure that the thickness of each tip is consistent on each nail

- take your bobby pin and paint that little round tip with the black polish

- immediately add two (or three, depending on the length of your nail bed) little dots above the tips you just painted

- i recommend doing your buttons one nail at a time so your bobby pin doesn't dry up, you should be re-coating it with black polish after each 2 or 3 dots 

- go back and add your bows by using the same bobby pin technique (i just made a few dots and sort of blurred them together with the polish and my pin, it will get easier as you discover what works best for you)

- after you've finished both hands, go over each nail with a generous helping of a fresh top coat (i say "fresh" because there's nothing more irritating than ruining your polish with a sticky top coat...you should buy a new one often!) 

- if you've made a mess out of your fingers, as I always do, then go back and dip your q tips in nail polish remover to clean up around the edges

Tip:

After you've waited a good ten minutes for your polish to dry, run your fingers under cold water for a few seconds to set the polish and avoid the tackiness that typically plagues your fresh mani!

Say 'Ello to My Little Friend

Time to say goodbye to those overly dry, cracked, unsightly lips of yours? Yeah, I thought so. For many of us, winter hasn't exactly been our best friend when it comes to chapped lips and peely skin. Here to save us, though, is this little jar of happiness I like to call my gateway to lip heaven.

In case you haven't heard, Lush is the go to spot for fresh, handmade cosmetics. From shampoo, to body masks, to bath bombs, to customized make up, Lush is a one of a kind place for all your beauty needs.

Now, what needs to be added to your arsenal of beauty tricks, ASAP, is this mini jar of sugar lip scrub. Of the three enticing flavors, my personal fave is the Sweet Lips vanilla and chocolate scrub. A little goes a long way so, at just $8.95 a pop, everyone can have an enviable pout this Spring.

Just scoop out a small finger-tip-full of this delicious treat, pucker up, and layer it on. Just as you would exfoliate your face, scrub scrub scrub. After a bit, wipe it off (or I suppose you could lick it off...) to reveal insanely soft, fresh, baby bum lips. Be sure to apply a moisturizing lip balm afterward - and daily - to keep your pout looking perfect! XX

How To: Travel Like a Pro (and look like one too)

It's here again! The happiest time of the year? Uh, yeah maybe if you don't need to do a lot of traveling! For those of us who do, it can take a toll on our skin, health, and mess up a perfectly good sleep schedule! Not to mention, it's beyond stressful preparing, booking, packing, timing things, shuffling through crowds and, the worst part, WAITING. I've been on a plane 7 or 8 times in the past few months it's barely Thanksgiving! Come Spring, I'll be a professional traveler! Though my flights are relatively short, weekend jaunts to Portland are still exhausting! I barely get settled in before I'm whisked through airport security again. So what can we do to keep ourselves feeling and looking refreshed both on and off the tarmac?

Check out my little list of goodies that I keep near and dear in my carry on! Happy travels! XX.

Lip Balm - My current favorite is Nivea's "A Kiss of Moisture" because it's sheer, super moisturizing, and doesn't have the medicated sting of Chapstick. Also, I keep two in my bag - one for a perfectly soft pout, and one to tame those frizzy fly-aways peeking out around my hairline. You can also use your lip balm to freshen up brows and keep them set in place with a simple swipe.

Roller Perfume - Small and convenient! Since it would be obnoxious to pack the entire bottle, you should just pack the travel size spray bottle (you can buy cute ones separately and fill them at home, or at Nordstrom you can ask for a little sample of your scent - for free!). Or, if you're lucky, sometimes you can purchase your perfume in a gift set which includes the roller, already full of your favorite scent! Mask that stinky airplane smell once you land with a dab here and there. Major plus for meeting the new 3 oz. liquid requirements, being carry on approved, and no inconsiderate public spritzing. Genius!

Hand Sanitizer - Okay. I could go on for months and months just describing all the germs lurking in public places. Airports may be one of the biggest breeding grounds. With thousands of people in and out each day from different cities, states, and countries...oh I can only imagine what foulness exists there. I'll spare you the details - and the germs - and skip to telling you to carry a travel size hand sanitizer in your bag. Though it sounds silly, you need wash your hands (or sanitize...or both) before and after you eat, touch your face, mouth, eyes, anything. Just picture all those foreign germies lingering on handles, doorways, those overhead compartments, seat belts, and security bins just waiting to infect you with something. Makes me cringe! Help yourself and others avoid getting sick on a trip!

Ruana - My newest obsession. These cape-like, oversize scarves are perfect for flying. Airplanes are usually chilly and these are like giant adult blankets! Current, fashionable, and comfy. Just fold one up in your tote, pull it out during the flight, and cuddle up. Plus it makes for a cute outfit if you've realized you didn't pack enough cute shirts! All you need is a tank underneath, some skinny jeans and flats. Throw on the shall and wrap one side around the opposite shoulder. You'll look comfortable yet classy. H&M and Forever 21 are selling a bunch in fun prints and soft solids right now - I already own three!

Sunnies - Early mornings and late nights do a number on a woman's appearance. Pull a celeb move and pack a good pair of sunglasses to hide whatever tired puffiness you might have from flying. Bonus points for looking fashionable! Just try not to be ridiculous by wearing them inside the entire day while waiting at your gate...

Headphones - Most of us have an iPod or an iPhone. Don't forget to pack it! (Obviously you'd have your phone no matter what...I'd hope!) Keep boredom at bay by listening to music or watching a movie. Once those headphones are in, you can feel free to block out the airport madness and relax before take off.

Oil Blotting Sheets - It can get messy trying to powder your nose mid-flight and with a long day at the airport, possible connecting flights, and frantic rushing around, it wouldn't be good for your face to keep piling on make up throughout. So, for super cheap at the grocery store, you can buy even the generic brand of oil blotting sheets (they work just as well) and use one or two on the plane to freshen up before hitting your next stop. You'll use less of your spendy makeup by removing excess oil instead of adding more unnecessary product.

Eye Cream - Keep your eyelids moisturized, dewy, and young by using an eye cream at night during your trip. Also, if the stress of travel causes unruly break outs that seem to dry up and never completely go away, adding a ton of product to cover them up will only add texture to the overly dried out bits and make them look worse. So, after you've applied your foundation, add a small amount of an extra strength eye cream to the dried out blemish and lightly pat the area with your powder. This should keep the area moisturized - longer and better - and prevent your makeup from drying it out even more, causing those flaky patches! MAC's Fast Response Eye Cream is great because the silica in it acts as a primer. Again, if you're not ready to buy a giant tub yet, or just need a small amount for the weekend, Nordstrom will typically make you a free sample with enough to last for a few days!

Dry Shampoo - A long day in the air can cause your hair to go flat, become greasy, or even tangled from a good in-cabin nap. Dry shampoo is one of the best inventions. Ever. Not only will the powdery spray soak up any unwanted oils from your hair, it adds volume and lift when applied and massaged through your roots. Almost as good as freshly washed hair, in a matter of seconds. Travel sizes are perfect, too, because a little goes a long way!

Hat - Just incase your hair is a complete disaster, or if you just feel the need for a total disguise, a hat is great to keep at reach in your carry on!

How To: Newspaper Nails

Ah, I'm in love with all the crazy new nail trends right now. This season has definitely proven itself to be super inventive on the beauty/fashion front.

Want salon quality nails without the salon price?! Well, ya, me too! This quirky little trend is super easy to do at home for a price next to nothing! Plus, it looks great on short or long nails.

What you'll need:

- A taupe/grey/nude nail polish (your choice!) 

- Rubbing Alcohol

- A small bowl

- A fresh, clear top coat

- Cut up pieces of newspaper, or any paper printed with text

What you do:

- Paint your nails with 2 even coats of a neutral nail polish color, I like Essie's Sand Tropez.

- Make sure they dry completely!

- Cut out 10 squares of text, big enough to fully cover your nail.

- Pour a small amount of rubbing alcohol, usually like a dollar at the grocery store, into a small dish.

- Dip a paper square into the dish and lay it right in top of your freshly painted nail.

- Dab the paper to make sure it's successfully covering your nail, but try not to move it around at all! You don't want blurry text!

- Leave the paper on the nail for 15 seconds and carefully remove.

- Repeat this process on all 10 nails.

- When you're finished, cover each nail with a good dose of clear top coat, OPI makes the best one, in my opinion!

Let them dry completely and you should have an awesome set of trendy nails to show off! Get extra creative by selecting some text with a seasonal reference or some kind of personal meaning. XX

Fall/Winter 2011 Collection: OPI Nail Lacquer

"OPI takes to the American road with a palette of shades that

brings a new spirt of classic style to life."

The "Touring America Collection" by OPI showcases a fun group of shades relevant to different cities across the country. From Hollywood to New York, the collection has a shade that's right for you, wherever you are. Pinks and corals, multiple mauves, and a few stunning versions of the ever popular taupe make up the newest group from the color geniuses at OPI.

Personally, I love LOVE all the grays in the collection. Right now, I'm wearing a lighter, milky, grey shade from a previous season but I can't wait to get my hands on "A-taupe the Space Needle" or "Get in the Expresso Lane". They both have that yummy slate quality that can go either brown or grey. It just simply goes with everything!

Here's a good look at the entire Fall/Winter 2011 Collection! XX

"Are We There Yet?" - Milwaukee, WI


"A-taupe the Space Needle" - Seattle, WA


"Color to Diner For" - Tucson, AZ


"French Quarter for Your Thoughts" - New Orleans, LA


"Get in the Expresso Lane" - Clarksdale, MS


"Honk if You Love OPI" - Baltimore, MD


"I Brake for Manicures" - Memphis, TN


"I Eat Mainly Lobster" - Philadelphia, PA


"My Address is Hollywood" - Hollywood, CA


"Road House Blues" - Jackson Hole, WY


"Suzi Takes the Wheel" - St. Louis, MO


"Uh Oh Roll Down the Window" - New York, NY


photos courtesy of beautyjunkiesunite.com

In the Spirit of Halloween

Obviously, the holiday falls on a Monday this year so you've probably spent the last weekend partying and torturing your skin with crazy costume make up - not to mention the alcohol. What better way to relax and celebrate All Hallow's Eve than with a mask?!

Detoxify your skin with these easy, festive favorites.

Pumpkin Face Mask - The benefits of pumpkin are endless! It's high in vitamins A, C, and Zinc making it moisturizing and healing! This mash up with help heal and protect your skin from free-radicals and get rid of dead skin cells. The egg in this recipe will not only help bind the goo together, it has natural nourishing properties to help lift your skin.

What you'll need - 1/4 cup pumpkin (may be canned), 1 egg, a splash of milk, honey if you're dry (natural humectant that will moisturize while healing blemishes), or a dash of apple cider if you're oily (astringent effect)

Mix it all together and slop it on your face for 15-20 minutes. Rinse off and enjoy your refreshed skin!

Chocolate Face Mask - Keeping with the theme of trick or treating, treat yourself to a moisturizing, chocolate mask.

What you'll need - 1 bar of dark chocolate, 3 tbsp salt, 1 cup milk
Mix your milk and salt together in a bowl. Then, melt the chocolate by way of a double boiler system. (Just fill a pot with some water and place a bowl over the pan, making sure it doesn't touch the water) Wait for water to boil and add chocolate, in pieces, to the bowl on top. Stir with a whisk until completely melted and take it off the heat. Add the milk/salt mixture to the chocolate and stir! Let cool to room temperature and cover your face with the yummy mask. Be sure to cover yourself with a towel! Leave on for 15-20 minutes and rinse.

Autumn Apple Face Mask - No bobbing for apples this year. Instead, treat your face to a deep cleaning with this apple mask.

What you'll need - 1/4 of an apple, 1/2 tsp Half and Half, 1 tsp honey, 1 tsp oatmeal
In a bowl, mash the apple with a fork and add the rest of your ingredients. Stir together well and apply to face. Leave on for 10 minutes and rinse!

Enjoy your treats! XX

Freaked Out Faces

Alright, alright. I know I'm now the only one whose face just completely hates me when I'm stressing. It gets uber dry, red, irritated, breaks out in places I didn't even think were able to house a breakout, make up doesn't look the same, and it's just all around...bad. Maybe it's hormones, a wonderful monthly "gift", stress from school or a loser boyfriend, or maybe you are just seriously acne prone. Whatever the cause, I absolutely hate when my skin freaks. But, life must go on and I can't hide in bed all day, every day, for three days, waiting for a blemish to finally fall victim to some crazy ointment I've totally over-applied.

Lately, I've decided to calm down and go back to the basics. Sure, sometimes I still use my favorite salicylic gel by Clean and Clear, that little miracle tube of blemish spot treatment, but I find that the less I poke at my face and the fewer crazy products I use, the better!

Firstly, take off your make up, every night! I've ended my fair share of college nights on the bathroom floor or asleep fully clothed after a drunken fiesta, so I know that the little habit of "forgetting" to wash my face is never a good thing. Make up is meant to cover up your impurities so most of it clogs your precious pores. It's got to come off before you hit the sack! Right now I'm just using Pond's Cold Cream, the cooling classic, to take off all of my makeup. Just rub it on like lotion and wipe it off with a damp washcloth. It really lifts away the dirt and gets rid of even the most stubborn eyeshadow! Next, I seriously just lather on a bunch of Pond's Dry Skin Cream, the caring classic, on my face, neck, and decolletage, and that's it. I used to take my make up off with some sort of cleansing wipe, scrub it with something else, add a cream like ProActiv for blemishes, and skip the moisturizer before bed. But, now, I like the simplicity of my routine and it's so much cheaper. Each tub of cream was around 7 or 8 bucks and a little goes a long way. Not to mention my face looks so much healthier these days.

Another tip - if you can, take off your makeup sooner rather than later. The face heals best around 10 pm so if you take it off after work and hang out with some yummy cream on for the rest of the night, your face is bound to start looking less wigged out. The less time you torture your skin with that daily oil, dirt, and makeup, the better. XX.