Facials, do we really need them?

Facials are great if you can afford them. What is a facial? The basic facial includes cleansing your skin from make up or products you currently have on. Then steaming you skin for at least 10-15 minutes to open up clogged pores and prepping your pores for extraction. Extraction is the process of removing white heads and black’s heads from your pores. The basic facial is usually finished off with a mask. The type of mask used depends on what type of package you bought or what you skin needs at the current moment. There are often special additions you can add to your basic facial like microdermabrasions and photofaicals. The most important part of getting skincare services is having someone that understands your skin and recommends products and services that suitable for your specific skincare needs. Skincare services are not and should not be a one package fits all product.

Are facials good for you? Yes, if you can do them on the regular basis. This is every 2-3weeks. If you can't do them on the monthly basis then, it’s not really worth the investment. If you tend to get facials every now and then, your skin does not reap the full benefits. You may love the relaxation and pampering you esthetician gives you but it will not do much for you skin long-term wise. The problems you had yesterday will still be there tomorrow.

What my esthetician explained to me was, "We can do our best for you, but you have to do your part too!" Expensive skincare procedures can be quick fixes to prevent, control, or reverse problematic skin problems like age spots, wrinkles, uneven skin pigmentation, acne, and acne scarring. What you do at home on the daily basis lays the foundation for good and healthy skin. Your at home skincare follow-up after the facials and expensive skincare services at medical spas are essential in preventing problems from reoccurring plus increasing their benefits.

For good healthy skin there are no quick fixes but maintenance is the key. If you can not afford the expensive facials every month, my best advice is stick to a daily skincare regime. If you do not keep to a regular skincare regime one time expensive splurges for your skin are a waste of money and time.

My Tips for Good Healthy Skin
1. Drink plenty of water.
2. Wash, tone, and moisturize your skin morning and night daily.
3. Must use SPF everyday. Try to use a daily moisturizer that has SPF to cut down on clutter of products used.
4. You should do at home mask at least 2-3 times a week. I would recommend one for deep cleansing and one for hydration. Your third mask can be specific problems you want to focus on like whitening.
5. For the super lazy if you can only squeeze time to use a mask once a week, I recommend a sheet mask. (Hydration is best.)
6. Always remove all make up when you sleep.

7. Get 8-9 hours of sleep per day.

I will follow up with my favorite skincare products in different price ranges next time.

New Denim by Madewell

Great shopping News!

Madewell owned by JCrew has just launched its Madewell '37s denim line for 59.50 (offered in 5 washes). These are super skinny jeans, so not everyone can pull them off. To some this may still seem like a lot of money for a pair of denim jeans, but to me it's worth it. Compare to most well made designer denim going for 150+ it is practically a steal. Most people around me don't understand my obsession with designer denim especially when I'm forking out hundreds for them. To them it's irrational and unpractical when I am only allowed to wear denim on Fridays and weekends. I was never a practical or rational person to begin with. SO WHAT! But, I do feel guilty sometimes and this does make me feel less guilty especially during a recession.

To me it's more than the label it is the fit, denim quality, and comfort. A pair of well made jeans is like a good bra it is suppose support your plump, enhance you assets, and hide your flaws. The specific treatment, faded washes, and even placement of even pockets of the denim is what makes it unique. Lower end jeans just can not replicate this. Also like a bra not every cut will fit you, do wear what is most flattering on you. Don't always follow the trend.

Since good denim can cost you here are some of my tips to maintaining them.

1. Denim does not need to be washed often.

2. Always wash in cold water.
3. You don't have to dry clean, you can hand wash them.

4.Always wash them inside out.

5. Never put them in the dryer (unless you want to shrink them).

6. If have to wash them in the machine remember cold rinse and similar colors.

7. I don't fold my jeans, I like to hang them.

Skin So Soft by Avon

SKIN SO SOFT by AVON

Recently discovered this product that was introduced by a friend of mine. She received it as a small gift prior to her honeymoon. At first my friend was a bit dumbfounded by the gift. Did the giver think she had extremely dry skin and was not moisturizing enough? I think she was slightly offended by the gift too. To her amazement she hit the Internet and discover the many uses of this beloved Avon product. First this bath oil is a great moisturizer and a few drops goes a long way. It seems to have a loyal following praising its benefits from treating harsh dry winter skin to softening dry cracked feet. But, what I found most intriguing about this product is that it is a great insect repellent. It smells great and isn't like your regular over the counter insect repellent. The fragrance is not over powering or alcohol like. I am very excited about this new find and I just wanted to share to with everyone!

Hope I am not sounding like a weekend/late night infomercial hehe!

Love it!

Life

Life itself is an oxymoron, I say this because it can be strong and fragile in different moments of our existence. Actually it can be strong and fragile at same instance depending on where we look. We fail to see that there is often both sides to everything. Where we see strength, weakness also lurks. Where we see darkness light is breaking through. Just like the moon and stars are always shining above the sky but during the day we are too blinded by the sun. With this said answers we wish to seek are often there, many times we are preoccupied with other events or emotions to realize it.

When we often see someone on their death bed we tend see them as weak and in pain. This is true, but we often forget to acknowledge signs of their bravely and strong will. To everyone that has experienced the passing of a love one, please remember them for their, love, strength, and hope. They have fought every second till their last and that is true bravely and strength. We should remember that we also fought along them till that same last breathe. Life does not end with death, but continues with memories.