Skincare Favorites

While my main passion and purpose for this blog is Fashion, I realized that no matter how eccentric your outfit is, you will never feel 100% confident in it if you do not feel 100% confident with yourself. And, what better way to do that then to ensure that your skin is flawless!

During my pre-teen years, I struggled with acne, as majority of us probably did. As I got older, my acne problems subsided; I got the occasional breakout around my period time or when I was stressed. Other than that, my main concerns have always been my pores (they're a little oversized) and blackheads. I tried numerous of products, but none seem to worked for me...until now. I went vegetarian when I was 18 and I have recently started to cut out dairy as well. Along with switching my diet, I also switched the type of skincare products I used opting for cruelty free products, vegan, and as organic as possible!

With the recent changes I have made, I have noticed a huge improvement in my skin! My skin is no longer (disgustingly) oily, nor is it dry, my pores are smaller and my blackheads are less. So, I decided to share my favorite products with you; of course, just because they worked for me does not mean that they will work the same for you because all skin types are different.

 African Black Soap

I started using African Black Soap about a month ago. I bought Shea Moisture brand from Target for about $7. 

Shea Moisture is organic, vegan and cruelty free so it's good in my book! I use the soap at night because I feel that it really cleans off all my makeup from the day without over drying my skin. It is truly an amazing product for such a low price.

Witch Hazel

I use Witch Hazel in the morning in place of face wash / soap. Since I do not wear make up at night, I do not need something strong to clean my face with in the morning. Witch Hazel is super delicate, but it makes my skin feel so fresh and clean. Witch Hazel is really good for getting gunk out of pores and minimizing them; it also reduces redness so it is perfect in the morning before I apply makeup. I got this one at my local Giant, but I have seen it at Target, TJ Maxx, other grocery stores and also on Amazon.

 Rosehip Oil

Rosehip Oil is AMAZING for the skin and, as long as you like floral scents, it smells so good. It is crazy to think, but when I was younger I suffered from oily skin. My makeup would be "melting" off my face by noon time and I ALWAYS had to carry blotting papers with me. Therefore, I never imagined to ever put oil on my face as a moisturizer. Believe it or not, ever since I started using oil my skin has felt a lot balanced and I was able to say goodbye to those blotting papers. You can find Rosehip Oil form a lot of different brands, almost everywhere you go. I got this on for the first time at TJ Maxx, but my favorite is from Palmers.

 Derma-E Oil

This is an oil blend of vitamins A & E; it;s supposed to be super beneficial and have great anti-wrinkle benefits as well. This oil is a little thicker than the Rosehip one so I use this one at night, every other night. IT gives me a great glow and improves my skin's elasticity. I also use this one when I derma-roll, since it is a thicker oil, I believe it provides better protection. This one is $20 and I also bought it at Giant, but have seen it on Amazon.

 Smack Beauty Eye Cream

Once again, this was a lucky find for me at TJ Maxx! Seriously, I am OBSESSED with their beauty section recently. I only paid $5 for this gem while online it goes for about $20. Working two retail jobs can be extremely tiring so, while I do not have dark circles, my eyes would tend to look a little puffy. This cream has diminished that almost completely.

 Derma Roller

As I mentioned, I use a derma roller! I got it as a Christmas gift from my sister and have loved the effects so far. This one is from Amazon and it is 0.25 mm, the needles comes in different sizes. The whole point of a dermaroller is that it breaks your skins which causes it to rebuild. This is supposed to lead to improved skin, elasticity, less scarring, smaller pores, etc. I use this once a month and it is best to look up on Youtube the proper ways to use it.

 Aztec Clay Mask

YOU NEED TO BUY THIS MASK, if you do not already own it. It is Benzonite clay and it works wonders. I used this once a week and I mix it with Apple Cider Vinegar (you can mix it with water, but I prefer the effects of the ACV and it also has a better consistency then). This masks draws out impurities and shrinks your pores and as the package says, you can literally feel your skin pulsing. It is pretty intense and you will have redness afterwards. I leave it on for 20 minutes, but I suggest you do it for less at first just to see how your skin reacts. I get this at Whole Foods, but Amazon sells it as well.

Glossier

After my friend recommended it, I jumped on the Glossier wagon with full force. Picture here is the

Body Hero Wash and Moisturizer - this smells wonderful and makes my skin so soft and glowy. Perfect for these harsh winter months.

Solution - this is another face product that is amazing. I saw results within the first week which blew my mind! I use it at night after washing my face with soap. One squirt on a cotton pad is all that you need. The smell was a little unpleasant to me at first, but I got used to it and it is definitely worth the results.

Glossier You - pictured is the sample that I received with my order and while it is not a "skin care" product, I think that it is a great scent. IT is the perfect combination of musky and floral, but it still smells so fresh and clean.

Johnson's Cocoa Butter Oil

If you suffer from dry skin, especially during the winter...this is your savior. It is SO hydrating and makes your skin so smooth and glowy. Not to mention, it smells DELICIOUS.

And that concludes my Skincare favorites! Give them a try and let me know what you think! Also, let me know what your favorites are because I always want to try new products.