Now that we’re all 5 pounds heavier and ready for a nap, let’s get to shopping. I’ve compiled a list of some of the top places to shop along with their discounts offered & the codes you’ll need to shop if necessary.
I went out and did a little Black Friday Shopping today and although I came home with a full wallet and zero bags, I’m ready to fill my cart online.
If you have any deals I don’t have on this list feel free to send them my way on Instagram. Click any of the store names to shop! Also check out my Holiday Wishlist for some shopping inspiration if you need it.
Hope you’ve all been well! Can’t believe it’s November already. 2019 who? Yeah seems like it.
Today I wanted to hop on here and talk about skin. My skin has never been bad. I definitely can’t admit I’ve had horrendous acne but I still get annoying bumps and red spots here and there especially in my three problem areas. I’ve also never LOVED my skin. I’ve LOVED Facetune! But not my skin. I’m sure a lot of you can relate to this. It’s scary to put up a picture where we don’t look perfect. Is that sad? Yes. Is it true? 100%.
Here are some things I’ve been doing every day to make myself more confident in my skin. Why should you believe me? Here’s a picture of my face…. no edit, no Facetune, no removing red spots or smoothing… just my face as it is right now in my bedroom. Enjoy!
To start, let’s just say I literally suck at drinking water. If there was a dehydration contest I’m here to tell you I WOULD DOMINATE. I don’t mean to not drink water. I just forget, don’t own a reusable water bottle while in college (rookie mistake), and don’t particularly enjoy drinking water, until it’s too late. I found ways to work around this by drinking tea. A glass in the morning, at night, while I study, during work, etc. See I don’t like water really, but I can get behind a warm cup of Pukka Cleanse.
Next, finding a brand that I trust, that dermatologists trust, no odor and no coloring. If there’s one thing I hate it’s scented products. Unless I’m buying perfume… WHY do you need to add a scent? I don’t need my legs smelling like overbearing flowers when I use lotion. Now there’s a whole long list of products and lines I could talk about from face lotions to serums, oils, CBD, depuffers, etc but I wanna focus on specifically acne cream. It may seem like a small section of each nights grand face routine but it’s mighty.
Let me introduce….*drum roll please*….Acne Free Adapalene Gel! I have uber sensitive skin yet when I get a new skincare product I’ll throw it on my face faster than I pack up my bag 10 minutes before class gets out. Per usual, I did this when I received Acne Free.
I used a teeny amount as the directions said.
Applied a thin layer to my forehead, sides of my nose and chin.
Here’s a little story. I noticed a pimple coming in by my nose. You know when you can’t see it but you feel the pressure and know a bad boys about to pop up the next day. Well that’s how my night was going. I put the Adapalene Gel to the test. I wasn’t sure how I was going to feel, if it would work, etc. All I know is the next morning that little bump, that pressure feeling, that incoming pimple had disappeared and that’s a fact. Since then whenever I feel anytime remotely close to a pimple coming up on my face all I’ll use is this gel. Just to keep us all on the same page, it does say this product typically takes some time to start seeing results sometimes it can take up to 3 months. It’s different for everyone.
Now that you’ve seen pictures of my naked face.. scary.. and understand just how little of this product you need to use for the effects, I’ll leave you with this; I can’t tell you this will work for everyone, but I can tell you if you don’t try you’ll never know. And trust me… I’m glad I know. My face journey isn’t over. I don’t wake up dewy and glowy like somehow every non-makeup wearing California girl is, but I’m a step closer & I thank Acne Free for a face that’s #CleanAF Shop by clicking this link Amazon link.
Let me know if you guys end up trying Acne Free. I’d love to see your results! XO
Emma
**I was gifted Acne Free but everything I’ve written for you guys and all the photographs are real life and true. I’ve honestly had a great experience with this gel and I’m as excited and surprised as you guys that I found something so awesome.
You’ve probably seen most of these products on my Instagram story sometime or another because they really are my everyday go to’s. I’m very particular with the kinds of products I put on my skin especially my face. I don’t have very problematic skin, just slightly sensitive. I usually buy products based on personal recommendations from friends or other beauty gurus who I trust are talking about their face routine and products authentically. I also tend to stray away from strong artificially scented or colored products. About half of the items I talk about below are natural as well as naturally sourced.
Once I find products that I know mesh well with my skin type I usually tend to stick with them. I’ve been starting every morning with the same seven products for the past few weeks now.
CLEANSER
The first thing I’ll do to my face each morning during my shower is use some type of cleanser. I’ll sometimes use the Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Hydrating Daily Facial Cleanser but have since switched to one of my new favorites: C’nu Skincare; a monthly subscription box filled with just skincare products. I use the Diana Rayls x C’nu Charcoal Cleanser. The activated charcoal helps detoxify your skin while keeping it clear from imperfections.
FACIAL TONER
I started using a facial toning astringent about a year and a half ago after I noticed an unevenness to my skin. It wasn’t as smooth as I’d wanted it to be. I took to the Internet to find out what I could do to fix this and they recommended a facial acid. My favorite is the Clean & Clear Facial Astringent. This is a Salicylic Acid. If you’re looking for a more natural route to using an acid you can also try Witch Hazel which can be found at most grocery stores in the beauty isles. Within a few weeks, gradually increasing the number of times I applied it a week getting up to once a day (in sparing amounts) I could visibly see a difference as well as obviously feel a difference. It’s like when you see those people who have naturally dewy, shiny, but not oily skin. This product helps that. It tightens your skin while decreasing inflammation.
FACIAL SPRAY
I LOVE facial sprays. I honestly don’t think they serve that big of a purpose in my facial routine but they help wake me up. After using facial cleansers and the astringent, I find my skin is usually dry. Between that dryness as well as just waking up, your skin hasn’t been stretched like it has during the middle of the day. I like using a facial spray to quickly hydrate my skin after a cleanser, and get it loosened up before I apply any other products. I use Mario Badescu facial spray in the scent aloe, cucumber, and green tea. This one’s the most refreshing and natural smelling to me.
FACIAL GEL
This is the biggest difference in my morning and night routine. I add in a lightweight, refreshing gel to again add moisture into my skin. Instead of just hitting the surface level like the facial spray does, where it’s almost all dead skin, the aloe reaches to the 7th layer of skin. I use the Diana Ryles x C’Nu Hyrda Nourishing Gel. I apply 3 pumps to my hands and then massage into all areas of my face and neck. It’s made of aloe, tomato seed oil, grapefruit extract, and a few other natural ingredients. This whole line is in the scent of Eucalyptus and Rosemary and handmade in small batches (one of the reasons I love this brand).
OIL
I used to stray away from facial oils just because oils get a bad rep and at first thought who wants an oily face? Most people don’t understand the importance and hydration oils offer. My favorite oil I use each day as well as whenever my skin is feeling especially dry during winter seasons is Teddie Organics Rosehip Seed Oil. As well as moisturizing, it also helps get rid of the appearance of fine lines and the big thing for me was helping to get rid of redness. Overall it gave me a more healthy, even colored skin look.
FACIAL ROLLER
If you know me you know this is my all time favorite step of my routine. I use my jade facial roller religiously. Jade rollers help boost blood circulation, reduce under-eye swelling, and calm inflammation. If you suffer from tension headaches, I love to use my roller along my temples and forehead to relieve pressure. I got my first roller from a small health and wellness shop in Lake Geneva, WI called Balance, Bath & Body. If you’re ever in Geneva definitely visit their shop. You can even create your own oil blends there. You can also find rollers on Amazon, T.J Maxx, Ulta, Sephora, etc.
LIP CARE
If you follow Maggie MacDonald, which you totally should, you know she raves about the Laniege Lip Sleeping Mask. I use this morning and night to hydrate my lips. I find my lips get much less dry and chapped when using this. Enriched with vitamin C and antioxidants it helps lock in moisture and reduces fine lines on your lips.
Share some of your favorite facial products with me below.
C’Nu partners with differ skincare lines each box to ensure great new facial discoveries. They offer four to six full-size luxury skincare products every month in their subscription. All products are cruelty-free, chemical free, and sustainably sourced. For every subscription purchased, we donate a subscription in your name to Dress for Success! Every box holds an average value of $180. All this can be purchased for $52 a box. If you’re looking for more information on C’nu’s subscription box click here.
Emma Christine Daun 