Thanksgiving Pamper Night

It's no secret that what we eat affects our skin. Around the holidays, we tend to put our healthier eating habits aside to enjoy all of our favorite holiday treats. Thanksgiving usually means consuming a more-than-normal amount of comfort food! I can typically tell a difference in my skin after eating certain things (especially foods high in oil or sugar) and Thanksgiving is, unfortunately, no exception. This is one of my ways to pamper skin and help repair it after a day of feasting on holiday favorites.

To remove makeup and cleanse, I stick to my normal routine. I like to keep my skincare simple and consistent, so even when I'm having a pamper night and using new products or special items, I like to stick to at least part of my routine. I think this helps combat spots and it also makes it easier to tell if something new irritated your skin or caused a breakout.  I use The Body Shop Chamomile Silky Cleansing Oil to remove makeup and then cleanse with Philosophy's Purity. You can check out my nighttime skincare routine here.

If my skin is extra dry, I use this cleanser in place of the Purity or the GinZing Scrub. This is super milky and creamy and doesn't leave my skin feeling tight and stripped. It keeps spots at bay but it's gentle and very good for sensitive skin. This doesn't remove makeup very well, so be sure to use a makeup remover of some sort before cleansing with this Clinique Liquid Facial Soap in extra-mild. This is formulated for dry to very dry skin, so it's perfect for my skin during the colder months. Also, if I'm doing a mask that targets breakouts, I usually use this for a few days as those masks tend to be more drying than others. This thoroughly cleans my skin without stripping it and leaving me with dry patches. 

This was the focus of my pamper night: the Peter Thomas Roth Pumpkin Enzyme Mask. Peter Thomas Roth skincare is pretty pricey, but I picked this up in a set from Sephora. It was part of the mini mask magic kit for $20. I love mini masks or sample sets, especially for more expensive products, so I can try them out and decide what I like and don't like, and if it's worth the money. Also, with creams and masks, a little pot of product lasts quite a while. I would definitely say this mini magic kit is worth it - I've loved all the masks so far. This pumpkin enzyme mask claims to resurface skin and act as an at-home chemical peel. It's meant to smooth and revitalize skin while clarifying. I love that you can really tell this is made from pumpkin. It smells like a pumpkin dessert and has pumpkin enzymes that act as the "scrub" agent in this mask. PTR claims that this mask targets "congested" skin, which is exactly how my skin feels after a holiday. Between the makeup, the food, the long days, etc. my skin always feels congested and can use a clarifying and rejuvenating mask. This is a resurfacer and has the word "intensive" in the description, so I would recommend testing it out on a patch of skin before applying. This can definitely be intense - it's a scrub that tingles while it sits on the skin. I didn't experience any discomfort or burning, but the sensation is definitely more intense than a typical scrub or mask. I also think this makes a nice festive and fun gift during the fall, or a good star for a girls' fall-themed pamper night.

After a good exfoliation and a few layers of skin have been sloughed off, I like to moisturize heavily to ensure that my fresh skin stays hydrated. I use my standard Boots No . 7 Beautiful Skin Hydration Mask (featured in many posts). I feel like I have new skin the morning after this pamper routine. I love to try new masks and I thought using this pumpkin mask would be festive and fun, but also clarifying and beneficial for my tired skin. Don't let your skin suffer during the holidays! If anything, treat yourself to even more pamper nights with luxurious products.

What are your favorite products during the holidays? Let me know so I can try them out, too!

October Obsession: Boots No 7 Beautiful Skin Hydration Mask

I have been using No 7 Beautiful Skin Hydration Mask from Boots everyday this month. I have always loved this product, but for some reason I've been obsessed with it throughout the month of October. I have the formula for dry/very dry skin and it hydrates my skin so much. I struggle with extremely dry skin especially on my face, and this mask solves my dry skin problems every time. It's meant to be a mask that you apply and then later remove, but it can also be used as a deep moisturizer. I apply a thin (actually, not so thin because I love it) layer to my skin and let it sink in overnight. When I wake up I never have any residue or a greasy feeling - my skin always drinks this stuff right up. Even if I use a cleanser for dry skin, I always feel much dryer at the end of the day after a shower or after washing my face. I apply this directly after cleansing or right before bed and it seems to cure my dry skin overnight.

I was reading through the reviews when I first purchased this product, and I noticed some people complained about the smell and about it tingling sensitive skin. I love the smell, I think it smells new and clean and it doesn't bother me at all; I don't ever find it offensive. I also haven't had any irritation problems with this. It's so silky and soothing that I can't imagine it would ever bother my skin. I would say I have sensitive skin, and I often find that certain products burn or irritate my skin, but this isn't one of them. I love the packing as well - you can dispense the desired amount of product, it stays clean, you can see how much you have left, and the pump works seamlessly. An all-around love for me!

I get mine at Target but you can also find it at Ulta and online at Boots. Your local drugstore like Walgreens or CVS may carry it as well.

Wintertime Dryness

It's officially fall (or Autumn, depending on where you live) and although it doesn't feel like it in Texas, cold weather is approaching. This is both good and bad news for me; good because I love cold weather, and bad because I have dry skin. When I say dry, I mean really dry. If I'm not on top of my moisturization routine, it's not a good situation. When dealing with dryness, flakiness, and peeling, there are a few steps you can take to ensure moisturized skin. These are my go-to products for dry skin care:

Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion

This is my everyday moisturizer. I put it on before applying makeup and I use it at night after my skincare routine. A little goes a long way so I think it's priced fairly. I keep a travel-sized tube of this in my nightstand and I use the large pump for my everyday use. They make a different version that's a "gel" for other skin types. 

Boots No 7 Beautiful Skin Hydration Mask

I rarely use this as a mask, but as a deep moisturizer. I apply a thin layer to my skin (in lieu of my regular moisturizer) and go to sleep. It's a little greasy so it wouldn't do well under makeup but its perfect overnight. When I was reading the reviews, a lot of users reported that they didn't like the smell, however, I don't mind it. It does have a clean/plastic smell to it but it isn't too strong so it doesn't bother me. I imagine if a thicker layer is applied as a mask, the smell would be stronger but I don't find the smell offensive. My skin drinks this up and it really helps moisturize my skin when I'm having a particularly dry day, or if I've just used a drying skincare product. 

LUSH Oatifix Fresh Face Mask

I love LUSH products and this face mask is one of my all time favorites. It's made with oatmeal, bananas, and vanilla, so it smells amazing! It's fresh and all natural so it needs to be refrigerated and it has an expiration date. I take it out of the fridge for about 10 minutes before I apply it so it's easier to spread. I apply a generous layer and leave it on for about 10-15 minutes. Then, I use a warm cloth to remove it and follow up with moisturizer. It's just over $6 and lasts for several applications. 

Yu-Be Moisturizing Skin Cream

This stuff means business. I use this on my lips when they're dry and cracked, my feet and any rough skin patches, and any severely dry areas on my face during winter. The smell is similar to Vicks, so it's not great but this moisturizer absorbs SO quickly that you won't even have time to be bothered by the smell. It's formulated specifically to absorb effectively into your skin and it definitely works. I keep a small tube in my nightstand to put on my lips before bed. When I've had this on all night, I wake up with super soft lips that have been totally restored. I also have the 2.5 oz. tub in my bathroom for feet, rough patches, cuticles, etc. It's perfect for anyone because it's non-greasy, absorbs quickly, and moisturizes deeply. I'm interested to try other products by Yu-Be. You can find this at Sephora. 

LUSH Breath of Fresh Air Toner

I usually run in the opposite direction of a toner. In my mind, a toner is an astringent and it usually dries my skin terribly. But, when I was in the LUSH store and tested out Breath of Fresh Air, I was hooked. It's a cross between a moisturizer primer and a refreshing spray. It contains rose and aloe, so it helps to soothe and moisturize skin. I spray this onto my face after cleansing, and immediately follow up with moisturizer while my skin is still damp. It's also nice in the summer, on a plane, or any other time you need a cool refresher. The huge bottle lasts forever and is reasonably priced. 

Vaseline Spray & Go Total Moisture

This is a body lotion in a spray bottle, that applies as a fine mist. Genius. You still have to rub it in, but it takes seconds and it's much more convenient than conventional lotion. I wasn't convinced that this could be moisturizing because it feels very thin and it's not at all greasy, but this moisturizes SO well that I can feel its effects for days after applying. I like the smell and my favorite part about it is that it disappears quickly with absolutely no greasy residue. You can apply this after a shower and hop right into bed without sticking to everything. The spray is continuous and it can be sprayed upside down, so it's convenient for the entire body.

Last, but not least: water. If you're dehydrated, you can bet your skin is, too. I can tell immediately when I'm dehydrated from my lips, and later, from my skin. It's important to drink plenty of water for many reasons, but dry skin is one of them. If you struggle with dry skin, try upping your water intake and see how your skin improves. 

I'm always trying moisturizing products, so leave your favorites below so I can try them, too!