Dre Does Deluxe #1

While brainstorming some new ideas for the blog I began thinking about the infamous aisle of doom that both Sephora and Ulta have right by the check out. You know the section that has mini sizes of all of the products that you tried so hard not to spend all of your hard earned money on, but the second you stand in that line waiting to pay you find 18 mini's you JUST HAVE TO TRY because they are so much cheaper than a full size. Then you somehow end up walking out spending twice as much as you were planning on.

We have all been there. So I've decided to start a new series called Dre Does Deluxe in which I tell you whether you should 'Buy, Try or Say Bye' to that product.

BUY- Just go ahead and get the full size product because it is amazing and you get more for your money
TRY- Test out the smaller 'Deluxe' sample size because it's either a better deal or it's something you have to try for yourself
SAY BYE-Just skip all sizes of the product because overall the product is a miss and not worth even trying in a smaller size.

This series will do two things. First, hopefully it'll help you exercise some sort of restraint when it comes to those adorable little mini sized products to make sure you're only buying products that are actually worth trying. Second, it'll give me some sort of justification for my obsession with trying new things without breaking the bank! 

If you have any suggestions or requests for products you'd like me to try, please let me know! I already have some ideas but am always open to new ones!

So let's get started with the first post in this series starting with the Fresh Soy Face Cleanser. 

I am usually super picky with my cleansers and don't like to experiement too much because my skin is so sensitive. Incase you are new to my blog, I have very oily and acne-prone skin. I can breakout sometimes when trying new products. I had heard so many people rave about this cleanser so when I was looking for a travel sized cleanser to take in my carry-on to Puerto Rico in March, I decided to go for this one. 

Fresh claims that this gel cleanser is for all skin types and will gently remove impurities and makeup. It is rich in amino acids and soy protein which aid in moisture retention, and improving elasticity and firmness of the skin. It also has rosewater to tone the skin and cucumber extract to calm. I lliked that it is fragrance and soap free as well. The 1.7 oz size that I purchased lasted me for about 2 weeks, which is a great size to decide if you like it.

Overall, I think this is a mediocre cleanser for my skin. I didn't fall in love like I thought I was going to which is due to a few reasons. For me the issue is that I need a cleanser that is much more deep cleansing than this one. I am used to using one that is designed for oily and acne-prone skin types which I feel gets everything off my face both in the morning and at night as well. If you are someone who loves a very simple and basic cleanser I think you would enjoy this. However, if you're like me and need that deep cleanse, I would skip this one. You can probably tell by this post that I'm not the biggest fan of 'all skin types' products because everyone's skin is unique and we need different products. 

As far as pricing goes, if you buy the smaller 1.7 oz you are paying $8.82 per oz of product. If you buy the full size of 5.1 oz you are paying $7.45 per oz of product. Not that much of a difference, but at least you are saving if you decide to go for the big one. 

So the final result is:

Dry to Normal Skin Types...TRY

Oily and Acne-Prone types...SAY BYE

There you have my first post in the Dre Does Deluxe series! Let me know if you have any suggestions or ideas for future posts.

Have a beautiful day,

Dre

Dre Does September Favorites

My favorite post of the month is here! I don't have that many favorites because I've been very much stuck in a routine lately as far as makeup and skin care goes. I just purchased some new things though so look for some new things come October Favorites time! 

1. tarte Pure Maracuja Oil: This oil is a repeat favorite because it is seriously amazing. I feel like not that many people know much about it but it's a holy grail item for my skincare routine. I use it at night as my moisturizer and I wake up every morning with baby soft skin. It has tons of vitamin C in it so it does wonders at brightening and evening out my skin tone. You can use it all over your body to moisturize but I am so obsessed that I will only use it on my face so it lasts longer. Haha 

2. Maybelline Color Sensational Matte Lipsticks: I have been obsessed with these since I bought them a few weeks ago. They really are as wonderful as everyone has been saying. I have 5 shades but I've been wearing Daringly Nude and Divine Wine the most. Click here for my review on these that I shared last week!

3. Ole Henriksen Aloe Vera Deep Cleanser: I have yet to find my perfect cleanser. While I did like The Body Shop's Tea Tree Oil Cleanser for Oily Skin, I just wasn't in love so when I took a trip to Sephora a few weeks ago I spotted this guy and I'm obsessed. It gives me such a good deep clean and I really think it does a great job at soothing and cleansing my skin. I feel like my breakouts are slowing down and becoming fewer and this has to be a part of it. 

4. Si by Georgio Armani: This perfume is amazing. When I first smelled it at work I thought it was a tad too old for me, but I slowly became more and more obsessed with it. I spray it almost every time I go to work and I can't get enough. I love the sophisticated warm aroma it gives and I get complimented on it all the time! 

5. Benefit's Hard Angle Brow Brush: This is my go to brow brush to use my Benefit Browzings wax and powder duo. It is the brush we use at work to do our brow mapping and filling in so that is how I discovered it and fell in love. It is the perfect amount of firm bristles for a brow brush because you can get a very precise line without it taking forever. If I could change one thing about it, I would just want there to be a spooly on the end to comb through my brows with, but other than that I'm obsessed and won't ever use another brow brush! You could use it as a liner brush too if you wanted.

6. Sephora Rouge Cream in Passion Red: This is one of my all time favorite lipsticks. It's probably tied with that Rimmel Kate Moss deep red I shared a few weeks ago, but the formula of this lipstick and color are both to DIE for. I am being serious when I say I would wear this shade every day if I could. Here's a picture of me wearing it below. Seriously you need it...all of you. I promise you won't regret this color if you like dark fall tones! 

What were you loving last month? Let me know in a comment below and if you ever try any of my recommendations be sure to let me know what you think!

Have a wonderful October my beautiful friends,

Dre

Dre Does a Nighttime Skincare Routine

I'm back with my nighttime skincare routine. I know it looks like a lot, but I don't use all of these products every night as you'll see shortly. Once again let me reiterate that this is just a guide for the types of products and steps that could be useful in a routine for you. This is what I personally like and as an almost licensed esthetician... (less than a month till I take boards!!) this is what works for me! If you missed my morning skincare routine or want to know what my skin type is, click here. 

Step 1: Cleansing is one of the most important things you can do for your skin. If you're going to do the bare minimum, please at least do this. I use the Aveda Enbrightenment Brightening Cleanser. Refer back to my morning skincare routine for more on it.

Step 2: Exfoliating is key for managing many different skin types. I do this step just at night because I find it's often enough for my skin. I use the Aveda Liquid Exfoliant because it is a chemical exfoliant which basically means it dissolves and breaks down the dead skin cells instead of your traditional mechanical exfoliant that scrubs and sloughs them off. Chemical exfoliants are great for areas of acne because there is no scrubbing involved so they are gentler on sensitive areas. I feel like adding this product in has helped my skin tremendously. For my post on why exfoliating is important click here. 

Step 3: Once again toning is in my routine because it's important to balance the pH of your skin. For more on this refer back to my morning skincare routine.

Step 4: Treatment! This is the main focus of my nighttime routine. I have three products listed but I don't use them all every night. This is where I really try to listen to what my skin needs and use products accordingly. First off I have my Aveda Enbrightenment Brightening Correcting Serum. If I'm working on fading any hyperpigmentation or discoloration (which I usually am...haha) I press the smallest amount of this serum into those areas of unevenness. Next, is the tarte Pure Maracuja Oil. I've been trying out a sample of this from Sephora for awhile and I'm loving it. Just 3 drops all over my skin and it feels so much softer when I wake up in the morning. It's supposed to help with fine lines and evening out skin tone, so I'll keep you updated on that. So far my skin seems to be loving it. Lastly, if I notice my Ezcema flaring up on my cheeks, I'll use a little bit of my Aveda Beautifying Composition oil on it. It's amazing at dealing with Ezcema and I just skip the moisturizing in that area since it's enough of a moisturizer. 

Step 5: Lastly, just like any skincare routine, we have moisturizing. I use the tiniest amount of the Enbrightenment Brighting Correcting Creme even though I have oily skin because I'm just going to sleep and especially with this winter weather, I feel like it gives my skin the hydration it needs. As it starts to warm up and my skin returns to its more oily state, I'll probably switch back to the Embrightenment Brightening Correcting Lotion I mentioned in my morning routine. 

Prevention is key is skincare. These may seem like a lot of products but as an esthetician with skin cancer in her family history, I want to take care of the only skin I'm going to get. The skin is the largest organ in the body and it can tell you a lot about your health so it shouldn't be skipped when living a healthy lifestyle. As usual, if you have any questions please let me know. A lot of you have been reaching out to me recently with questions and I love helping answer them! 

Have a beautiful day,

Dre

Dre Does a Morning Skincare Routine

Having a skincare routine for both the morning and evening is the most important part of having healthy and beautiful skin. What products you specifically use will be completely unique to your skin type and liking, but I thought it could be helpful for me to share my routines for those of you who may have similar skin types to mine. You'll notice this says morning skincare routine. Depending on your skin type you may have the same routine both day and night, but I personally like to apply more products at night. As a natural born multi-tasker, you can bet I'm going to put my skin to work while I'm sleeping...haha

So here's the morning routine that I've been using that I love:

While the actual products will be specific to your needs, the basic steps of cleansing, toning, eye cream, and moisturizing are a good quick route to go for the mornings. As far as skin type goes, I have combination skin. I get oily in my T-zone but I have more dry and red skin on my cheeks due to Ezcema. If you're confused on what type of skin you have, click here to read about the different skin types and how to figure out what you are. As a Mediterranean and South American skin type I also tan extremely easily and never burn. While that is great for getting a summer time glow, when it comes to acne and blemishes, I joke that just looking at a blemish will make it scar. Normally scarring comes from picking or popping blemishes, but mine scar regardless. Therefore I am obsessed with Aveda's Enbrightenment Skincare System. It is targeted for hyperpigmentation, scarring, and discoloration. Using Salicylic Acid and a brightening blend of skullcap, mulberry, and grape, Enbrightenment focuses on increasing cell turnover in order to get rid of old discolored skin cells which will in turn reduce the appearance of discoloration. It also helps improve skin clarity. 

Step 1: Cleansing is crucial, even in the morning. It's important to start your day with clean and fresh skin before applying anything else to it, whether makeup, SPF or other products. Ridding your skin of any excess oils and dirt from sleeping is the best way to begin. I use the Enbrightenment Brightening Cleanser. I actually keep it in the shower to speed my mornings up by a few minutes. One key thing to remember with cleansers is that no matter what cleanser you use, only keep it on your skin for 3 minutes maximum. Cleansers are designed to strip your skin so after 3 minutes you can start doing  harm to your skin. If you missed my post on the right cleanser for you, click here! 

Step 2: A key step that many people don't know much about is toning. Since cleansing strips your skin of oils and debris, you have to balance the pH of your skin. Your skin has a barrier that has a natural healthy pH that must be maintained in order to protect you from factors such as environment irritants, the sun, pollution, free radicals, etc...Toning your skin will help restore your skin's barrier and therefore protect you from day to day factors. Toners also help bring moisture into the skin and allow for a better product penetration of whatever products you apply afterwards. I use the Enbrightenment Brightening Treatment Toner. 

Step 3: I love the Origins Ginzing Refeshing Eye Cream. As an extremely busy person, I have chronic puffiness and dark circles around my eyes. This eye cream is really light, which I love since a lot of eye creams can be pretty heavy. Now I know what you may be thinking! You're only 23! Why do you use an eye cream already? But the truth is using an eye cream is going to not only make my eyes look more awake and even toned, but it's going to keep that area nice and hydrated. Hydration is key in preventing wrinkles, so if I can do something that's going to help me in the long run, I'm going to want to do it! Haha 

Step 4: Moisturizing is also key in a basic skin care routine. It's important to give your skin the hydration it needs for the day. My favorite part about the Enbrightenment line is that they make a lotion for those of us with more oily skin and a creme for those that are drier. In the mornings I use the Enbrightenment Brightening Lotion so that I'm not putting anything on that's too heavy and creating too many oils for the makeup I normally apply after. 

Additional important step: Another huge step in morning skincare is SPF. Luckily, my foundation has one in it so I don't have to add the additional step, but if yours doesn't or you don't wear makeup, be sure to apply one for sun protection!

I hope this helped! Remember it's just a guideline. I know it may sound like an Aveda Enbrightenment ad but it's the line that works best for my skin right now, and you can interchange any of the steps with the products that work best for you! Just be sure to get a routine down and stick to it because it's important to start your day with clean and healthy skin if you want it to appear that way. Makeup applications will always be easier if you take care of your skin first! Leave me a comment if you have any questions!

Have a beautiful day,

Dre

Dre Does Cleansing

I cannot stress enough the importance of cleansing your face. It does not matter how late, how tired, and how lazy you may feel, you will not regret going to bed with a clean face. I know throughout college it was especially hard to follow through with this, but if I missed one night of cleansing my skin even after a whole month of good routine, I would get breakouts. If you are lucky and this doesn't happen to you, you're still not off the hook. Everyone should be cleansing in the morning and night, no matter your skin type or age. If you're crunched for time, do it in the shower. 

Now if you're already consistently cleansing, that's wonderful. Are you using the right type of cleanser though? First off, don't ever use products that are meant for your body, on your face. I know it may seem more convenient and cost effective to use one product for everything, but the skin on your face can be completely different than the skin on your body. Don't ever use bar soap on your face. That's a big no-no. It will completely strip your skin of oils because it's meant to clean your body.

The two most common types of cleansers are cream and gel. Until I started esthiology school, I didn't really understand the skin types they were targeted for, so chances are you don't either. Cream cleansers are thicker and less 'soapy' feeling. They are targeted for normal to dry skin types. The cream aids in removing impurities, dirt, and makeup while still leaving the skin feeling super hydrated. Gel cleansers on the other hand, are targeted for those in the normal to oily range. The gel helps rid your skin of excess oil. The first question I ask clients when they tell me they have dry skin, is if they use a gel cleanser. The reason for this is that if your skin isn't excessively oily and you are using gel, it's going to strip you of even more oils than is needed. The same can be said for super oily skin, if you're using a cream cleanser. Try a gel cleanser if you're experiencing excessive oiliness. 

So go take a look at what you're using to cleanse your skin. Within the next week, I'm going to be posting a guide on skin types so you really understand what you're working with. Many of us think we know what type of skin we have, but it may be the products we are using that are making it dryer or more oilier than it actually is. 

Have a beautiful day (and stay warm if you're anywhere within the snowstorm's grasp), 

Dre