April Favorites

Now that May has officially begun, I'm going to share with you a couple of things that I loved in the month of April.  Sound off in the comments on what your favorites were!

Revlon Colorstay Foundation

        I got this foundation a while ago, and I hated it.  I used it several times and regretted the purchase.  But, as it turns out, I ran out of my favorite at the beginning of April (my Maybelline Dream Liquid).  So I grudgingly pulled this out, and, whaddya know!  I love it.  I use a dense Sigma brush to blend it onto my skin, and sometimes I mix the foundation with my moisturizer if I want lighter, more sheer coverage.

via

Maybelline Dream Matte Powder

       I'm pretty much a sucker for anything in the Maybelline Dream line.  But this powder is genuinely fantastic!  I don't love loose powders because they're messy and sometimes build up in all the wrong ways.  So this powder compact is perfect!  I press it onto my eyelids, under-eyes, nose area, and forehead after applying foundation and concealer, because those are the areas where my makeup never wants to stay.  If I do this, my makeup lasts all day.  And it doesn't look cakey, either!

via

Mary Kay Mineral Eye Color: in Espresso


       I use this to fill in my eyebrows.  I just take a small angled brush and lightly flick it through my (very dark) brows to fill in sparse areas and enhance the shape.  I love a good strong brow, and this color is perfect for my hair color and skin tone.

via

Freeman Facial Peel-Off Mask: Cucumber


       This stuff is where it's at!  I rinse my face with cool water, and pat dry.  Then, I just spread this sticky goop that smells like Heaven all over my face, and wait about 10-15 minutes.  It peels right off!  If you get it in your eyebrows or hairline, it can hurt to peel off, but otherwise it's pretty gentle.  I wouldn't recommend it for really sensitive skin, however.  I always use a heavy moisturizer when I'm done, and then my skin looks really soft and silky.

via

Bourjois Coup de Theatre 2 in 1 Mascara

       I bought this on a trip and have used it faithfully all throughout the month of April!  I don't think you can buy this in the US, but you may be able to find it on Amazon or EBay.  It lengthens and plumps the lashes without making them clumpy.  I like that it makes my eyelashes look natural, but still full and feminine.  I do not dig the spider lash effect, and this mascara definitely doesn't do that.  (Not going to lie, I totally bought this because the packaging was awesome.)

via

I've enjoyed a bunch of other things in the month of April, but these were my stand-out products.  What did YOU love last month?  Do tell.

Love,

Caro
     

Winter Skin

Sup?  It's Caroline!  

Where I live, it's ridiculously cold.  I'm visiting Georgia at the moment, and it's much milder, but there's still heat in the house that can really take a toll on the skin.

In the summertime, I'm pretty lax about my skin.  I generally just wash it at night, slap on some light moisturizer, and go to bed.  But in the winter, my skin goes nuts!  My forehead gets insanely oily, but from my temples down, I'm dry as a bone.  

I've only just figured out how to take care of my skin in the winter, and I'm happy to say that I'm completely blemish free and my skin is smooth and moisturized.  I sort of want to sing a song about how I feel about that but I won't.

When I flew over here to Georgia, the plane dried me out.  I kept using my same cleanser and moisturizer, and within two days my face was red, itching, burning, and it looked like I'd been slapped.  I immediately ran to Walgreens to get some new stuff, and it worked like a charm.  

If you have sensitive skin, I would avoid using what caused my irritation.  I was using the Velocity cleanser and moisturizer from Mary Kay.  It may not do the same to everyone, but fair warning!  The day I stopped using it, my skin felt so much better.

Here's my new routine!

((Step One))  --  Clear

via

     I use cheap-o face wipes from the drugstore to remove my makeup.  If I have any stubborn eye makeup, I pour a touch of makeup remover onto the wipe.  This saves more product than putting it on a dry cotton pad, because the wetness of the wipe doesn't allow the wipe to soak up all the liquid.  The only wipes I wouldn't recommend are the Neutrogena and the Yes to Cucumbers ones.  I've tried a ton of wipes, and these always burn the skin around my eyes.

((Step Two))  -- Purify

     Next, I wash my face with a gentle cleanser.  Aveeno and Burt's Bees are the most gentle, I've found.  Right now I'm using the Burt's Bees Sensitive Facial Cleanser  and it's a holy grail product for me.  It makes my skin ridiculously soft, and it doesn't make my skin tight, dry, or irritated.  I use lukewarm water, because hot water dries out your skin and makes it more prone to irritation, and overly cold water is uncomfortable and makes my skin feel tight.

((Step Three))  -- Tone

via

     I use a toner from a drugstore (Hema) in Belgium, so I can't really recommend it to you.  But purchase one that's meant for dry, sensitive skin, even if you don't necessarily have sensitive skin.  Toners can be harsh, and using something like Sea Breeze can really kill your skin and sting.  I put mine in a spray bottle, spritz it on my face, and then wipe my skin with a cotton pad.  This is my favorite part, because I'm weird.  I like to look at the cotton afterward and see all the makeup that toner picks up from what the wipes and cleanser left behind.  You'd be surprised!  This also helps tighten your pores and even out your skin.

((Step Four))  --Moisturize

     For my moisturizer, I use Aveeno Smart Essentials Nighttime Moisture Infusion.  What a name, eh?  I sometimes use this in the morning, too, because it's really thick, which I need.  This smells amazing, and it really makes my skin feel supple.  It takes a while to blend it in, but a little goes a long way and it's another holy grail product.  

And then we're done!  I know that this is more than a lot of people do, and for some reason, this often offends people.  Look, you don't have to do all this exactly how I do it!  You do what works for you.  But I can't stand having blemishes and dry patches when I know there's something I can do about it.  

I have a "no excuses" philosophy about my face.  If you use soap and water to wash your face every night, you can't allow yourself to be frustrated that you have blemishes.  It means that it's time for a change!  

If you have really, really bad skin, ask your folks for a visit to the dermatologist.  In this day and age, there's always something you can do.  There's hope for your skin!

If you have any other questions about different products or methods, ask away!

You can change your skin.  It takes some work, but what good thing doesn't?

-Caroline

DIY ~ Salt

Hey!  It's Caroline.

I love creating homemade beauty products.  Anything that prevents me from spending more money is certainly a good thing!  So imagine how excited I was when I realized that I could do three things with a very small amount of products that I already had in my pantry.

Here's what you'll need:

• Salt
• Water
• Olive Oil

That's it!  I've got three "recipes for you guys, and I hope you enjoy them.

Salt Water Facial

via

Mix one part course salt with two parts filtered water.  I used Sea salt.  I keep my mixture in an old makeup remover bottle (which I cleaned out thoroughly), and this mix actually gets better with time.

All I do is shake up this mixture and pour a bit into the palm of your hand.  Rub it around, all over your face.  You don't need a lot, so a small bottle of salt water goes a long way.  Now, go about your other business while you let this dry.  After about 5-8 minutes, if you look closely at your face, you'll see little white grains all over, and you'll feel a noticeable tightness in your skin.

Gently use your hands and warm water to rinse this off.  You'll be left with smoother skin!  Salt also helps combat acne.  Do this no more than two or three times a week, as it can be a little harsh.

Salt Lip Scrub

via

Simply mix a coarsely ground salt with a little bit of olive oil, until it's reached a pasty consistency.  Gently rub it onto your lips, and rinse off with warm water.  Voila!  You now have soft lips.

Salt Water Hair?

via

This one isn't for everyone, but I love doing this to my hair.  I've noticed that whenever I go swimming at the beach, I get the prettiest messy waves in my hair.  So while my hair is wet, I put a bit of the salt water mixture from the first recipe into my hair and scrunch my fingers in it.  I simply blow dry with my head turned over while continuing to scrunch and to wrap pieces around my finger under the heat, and I'm left with messy waves, which I love.  This works especially well if you use a strong-hold or curl-boosting mousse before you add the salt water.

I hope you enjoyed this quick DIY!  Have a great day.

~Caroline

Skin Routine Round Four (The Simple Route)

Hello Again!

I told you I would post twice. Plus I promised Emilyann I would.  :)

O.k. Let me start with a confession. When I read all of your skin-care routine I was a little shocked. I mean, wow! You girls really go all out! I had no idea there were that many skin care brands and techniques out there! At first I began to question my own routine a little but I've decided to tell you exactly what I do, just the way it is and let you be the judge. Do tell me what you think!



Let me start with a story. A couple years a ago, a good friend and I were hanging out on a trip together and one day she mentioned about what great skin I had and what I did to keep it clear? I was a bit surprised by the question because to be honest, I hardly even thought about my skin at all and certainly not that it was especially clear or anything. At the time I used no skin care products at all! Just washed my face every night and medicine on the occasional blemish. I really didn't know what to tell her except my own magic solution. So here's my theory as far a normal skin care goes:

Sometimes simple is the better route.

I know that sounds a little ridiculous so hear me out. I have pretty typical skin. I think anyway. It tends toward being oily more than dry but for the most part its pretty normal. I do wear light make-up on an almost daily basis. Mascara, eye-liner, lip-stick, and a very light powder. Oh and concealer for blemishes. Thats a can't-live-without. I don't really wear foundation at all unless its a really really special occasion. Thats all just for reference so you can see were I'm coming from. For someone who has different skin type and/or wears alot more make-up a different skin care solution might be in order. :)

For keeping my skin clear and healthy I really only have one main, key, magic solution. Water. Seriously. On a daily basis in the the mornings and evenings I primarily just wash my face thoroughly with cold and hot water. Cold in the morning to wake me up and refresh my skin. And hot ( well lets be honest ) warm water to wash off all the remaining make-up and cleanse my skin in the evening. Thats pretty much my daily ritual. Its that simple.

Of course about twice a week or on days when I wear a little heavier make-up I do add the clinique three step process to my routine. I've found it give my skin a pleasant boost and it does make taking off eye make-up a quicker process. :)

The three step process uses, you guessed it, three products all by clinique to cleanse the skin.

1. Clinique mild facial soap - (Its the green bottle)  First I splash water and then spritz this soap all over my face and neck. It lathers pleasantly rather like shampoo. Then simply wash it off with cool water. 

2. Clinique clarifying lotion  - ( The pink bottle) Second I dab some of this liquid lotion on a cotton ball and gently rub my face. Warning: it does sting on cuts and blemishes. This one doesn't have to wash off and it leaves your face feeling wonderfully clean and tingly. 

3. Clinique moisturizing gel - ( The yellow bottle) Finally a small dash of this gel will help prevent against dryness or irritation. 

And thats all! You're finished!

But I don't even do that every day. My schedule is ridiculously hectic and with school, family, and friends etc... I rarely get to bed early. By the time I can drag myself up to my room all I want to do it throw on some pjs and hit the sack. I don't have the time or the will power to begin a long multi-product process on my skin. So thats when just a quick rinse with warm water comes in wonderfully handy.

This was taken without any make-up at all and I think I did erase one blemish up in the hair-line but nothing else has been fixed. =) As you can see I have places where old scars show up. And the skin itself is certainly not flawless. I don't pretend to be some model. But it is relatively clear and normal. I honestly don't think I'd be able to get much better results by doing a long, time consuming, multi-product skin care routine. (My eyelashes are naturally quite long and relatively thick so I also don't really bother with vaseline. I've heard it works wonders though.) Sometimes I wonder if all those special high-priced products are really all they're cracked up to be. Perhaps some of them really are. Or maybe they are just for different people. But I think I'm going to stick with my simple routine. Sweet and Simple. I know its not flashy. Its probably not dermatologist recommended.
But it works for me.

All that being said there are the fun products that you don't technically need... BUT they're really-fun-awesome-wonderful to play around with. Like stuff from Bath and Body works. I absolutely love their lotions, soaps, and body sprays. Japanese Cherry Blossom is my personal favorite. This stuff you can never get enough of. Plus they smell AH-MAZ-ING!!!

Laughter and Song
~Elizabeth

How to develop a skin routine that's right for you

You have just two more days to enter the giveaway!  Get thee to it!
--------

Hey, It's Caroline!  So, I told you all I would do a post on skin.  I've finally gotten to the point where I'm comfortable wearing no makeup but mascara if need be, and I've walked to the grocery store once or twice with none on at all, though it makes me a little bit self-conscious, just because I feel like my eyes look dull without mascara.

When asked about my skin routine, people laugh and say "You can't possibly do all of that!"  But I do, and have for several months.  Now, I'm going to tell you what I do, and then explain how to adapt it for different skin types.

I have very, very dry skin, and it's prone to flake.  I've tried so many moisturizers, and none have worked.  I wake up in the morning and the dryness makes my foundation look cake-y instead of fresh and dewy.

Here's my routine.  In the mornings I don't do much, I just lightly cleanse my face with a little of this cleanser and some lukewarm water.  I slap on some of this moisturizer and let it sink in while I do my hair. I then put on this sunscreen and finish my makeup.

But at night is where the magic happens.

Via

I begin by pinning my hair back. I'm growing out my bangs, so they're in the awkward, heavy phase, so I keep them pinned back quite a bit, anyway.  I brush my teeth and put my retainer in Polident (it works better than brushing it).  Then, we get to the good stuff.  

I take off my eye makeup using Vaseline.  I don't use eye makeup remover because I heard about someone who went to a factory that made it, and said they had to change out the bins every few months because of corrosion.  EW!  I don't want that on my eyes!  So I use Vaseline to gently remove all eye makeup.  Then I run some water until it's just barely warm, and I put two pumps of the cleanser I mentioned earlier into my hands.  If I have any pimples, which I get maybe one or two a month, I would use this acne wash instead.  I gently rub the cleanser into my skin, and then rinse.  I pat my skin dry... don't rub!  You want to treat your skin very delicately.

Every two nights, I use "Angels on Bare Skin" which is an exfoliating, all-natural product from Lush.  They have some really fantastic stuff!  But for this, you only need a very small amount.  A little goes a very long way, so the product lasts for a long time.

Via

It looks gross, but it gives the skin a great glow.  Don't exfoliate more than three times a week... it can damage your skin and dry it out.  

After I've done all that good stuff, I put on a moisturizer.  I'm not picky about this part... The only thing is I can't use Neutrogena moisturizers or sunscreen.  The rest of their products are great, but for some reason these burn my face and make it very irritated.  Which makes me irritated.  

So I use an anti-aging moisturizer, the same as listed above.  I'm not acne-prone, so I don't worry about having SPF on my skin at night.  But if you get acne, don't use SPF at night because it can clog your pores.  I use anti-aging products now because prevention is key.  You don't have to do that, but I'm crazy about my skin and want it to stay this way as long as possible.

I put on an eye cream.  I use one from Dermalogica that I got a very long time ago, but you can use any one, no matter how cheap.  It really doesn't make a difference either way with eye cream.  

I then use a spooly brush to slather Vaseline on my eyelashes.  Ladies, this works wonders.  My lashes are so much fuller and longer than they used to be, and it will work for you.  Promise.  

Now here's the part where I moisturize my skin thoroughly.  I just take a big swipe of Vaseline and rub it into my skin.  I am a huge advocate of Vaseline... it has so many uses.  My skin has never looked better!  It glows now instead of looking flaky and matte.  I give my face a break from the Vaseline twice a week and it looks just fine the next day.  

All the sunscreen I use has reduced the amount of freckles on my face significantly.  My brother even commented on it without prompting, which shows you just how obvious the change is!  My complexion has evened out, and with the eye cream, my under-eye circles have faded.  I also sleep with my bangs clipped back, because hair on my forehead tends to give me a pimple or two once in a while.

• If you have oily skin:  I suggest this moisturizer, this cleanser, and no Vaseline all over your face.  The rest of the routine you can follow at your whim.
• If you have combination skin:  Follow the routine minus the Vaseline all over your face.  Just dab it in overly-dry areas.
• If you have acne-prone skin:  Use no Vaseline, except on your lashes.  Use this moisturizer, and this cleanser.  Only exfoliate twice a week.  When you pop zits, make sure your hands are very clean, or use two q-tips instead of your fingers.  And only pop the zit when it's absolutely ready, and put anti-bacterial ointment on it immediately after.  I know that all sounds gross, but this is real life, people.  

Amanda did a post similar to this a couple of weeks ago, so please check it out for more tips.  We're all about you being as informed as you can be about your skin!  If you have any questions you don't want to ask in the comments, email me at dressingroomdoor(at)gmail(dot)com, and I'll be happy to help you.

And please, no matter how sleepy, please don't neglect to at least wash your face and remove your eye makeup. You'll regret it in the morning if you don't.  

Have a good day!