Since becoming engaged my beauty product collecting tendencies (obsession?) have gone into overdrive! I have spent hours thumbing through magazines and searching the web in hopes of discovering some miracle product I’ve never seen before. All of my minor insecurities have suddenly become my biggest flaw that needs to be camouflaged. Am I being hard on myself? Most likely… but this is a big event! Since I am already a girl who is fascinated by the beauty industry, this year has become the ultimate preparation project. Plus I think it’s really fun.
Now I’m not even talking about fitness and nutrition-, which are also a huge part of my beauty regimen. I’m talking about the gunk that I will spritz, paint on, and rub in the day of my wedding.
Let me preface by saying I’m no beauty queen and nor do I claim to be. (Unless you count the handful of pageants I was in when I was 4, ha ha.) I am just a very detail-oriented person. I feel my best when I know I haven’t overlooked something. I doubt anyone around me even notices all the effort, but I don’t care, this is just for me.
Since I have devoted so much time to this area of the wedding-planning process I would like to share my experiences with the wedding community.
Today… Skin Care! I have combination sensitive skin. Getting the right product routine down has been a bumpy ride. Literally- one sudden move and I’m covered in blackheads and pimples. I’ve often joked that the reason my skin even looks clear is because my pores are filled with blackheads. Gross. I am also a picker. It’s a disgusting habit but it’s one I regrettably find quite satisfying. And if I product test and break out – I have to deal with me picking, and then scarring. So for the last year my goal has been to clear my skin up which will leave me nothing to pick at, which should ultimately result in a wedding-perfect complexion!
My biggest decision was whether or not to purchase a Clarisonic. I researched the thing for a month. I read every review I could possibly find. About 90% of the user reviews I read raved about their results. I became a fan of their Facebook and I follow their Twitter. I tried to win one for 2 months. I even contacted the company in hopes that my (old) job in the beauty industry would score me a discount. After 3 months of pining away for one of these things I realized I would have to pay full price. I even researched the best place to buy it. QVC offers the Clarisonic PLUS with lots of extra cleanser goodies and replacements heads. They also offer the 3-payment plan, so I bit the bullet and ordered it.
You should have heard me squeal when UPS put the box in my hands. YAY! I imagined that within days I would have a baby-soft, clear complexion.
I have been using it for 3 months now. Is my skin perfect? No. Is it better? Yes. Do I like the Clarisonic? Yes, and I am glad I bought it. It takes a week or so to decide which speed and brush head works best for your skin. I use the delicate head on the lowest speed. I do NOT recommend using the supplied cleansers. They’re terrible. I do find that it does a terrific job of removing make-up and exfoliating. I do notice that my moisturizers absorb better and my dry spots/oil are not as extreme. I still get blemishes and blackheads but not nearly as many as I used to. One of the coolest parts is the body brush. I use it on my armpits. It reduces my razor burn and my Dove moisturizing deodorant absorbs better. Yeah, I have pretty hot armpits now. Lol. Overall, I feel the Clarisonic was a good investment.
Cleansers and Moisturizers:
These are currently working VERY well for me:
Avalon Organics Cellular Renewing Wrinkle Defense – Facial Cleansing Milk
Daytime Moisturizer: Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Face Base
Nighttime Moisturizer: Bobbi Brown EXTRA Moisturizing Balm
I use these products every day. If I get particularly nasty pimple or cyst I (carefully) pop and drain and then apply triple antibiotic ointment (from the drugstore). This usually makes the pimple or cyst go away in a day or so. I don’t recommend Neosporin for this use. It has an extra ingredient that really irritates my skin. I drink tons of water and eat healthy which will also help my skin be in its peak condition on w-day. I have 3.5 weeks left and my skin is currently clear. Now I just have to maintain and try extra hard to keep my fingers off my face.
Wish me luck! :)
PS: My favorite resource for reading beauty product reviews is www.makeupalley.com
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