8 Easy Healthy Food Swaps

This post was born out of the idea that I don't believe in dieting long term to stay healthy. It's just not realistic. However, we can make healthier choices daily in order to create a healthier lifestyle for ourselves. Today I'm sharing some of my favorite foods that you can substitute for those that are not as good for you. Regardless of what you decide to swap on a regular basis, remember that it's important to treat yourself every once in awhile; just don't make it a continuous habit. 

1. COCONUT SUGAR FOR BROWN/GRANULATED SUGAR: This is one of my favorites to do, especially in oatmeal and sweet treats. Coconut sugar comes from coconut palm sap and has a lower glycemic index than the others. This means it won't spike your blood sugar as much and is digested slower. Also it contains minerals like zinc, iron, calcium, potassium and more, which isn't the same for table sugar which is simply empty calories. 

2. COCONUT AMINOS FOR SOY SAUCE: If you love soy sauce this one might be a little harder to transition to but it's so worth it. Coconut aminos isn't bad, it's just sweeter and different than soy in my opinion. It's obviously soy-free and also gluten-free which is great for those of you who are conscious of your soy & gluten consumption and doesn't have nearly the amount of sodium as soy sauce. Based on the name, you might have guessed that it contains essential amino acids, which soy sauce does not.

3. AVOCADO OIL FOR OLIVE/COOKING OILS: I love me some olive oil. I am Italian after all, but recently I stopped buying it and swapped it for Avocado oil and I'm obsessed. Avocado oil has tons of healthy fats including oleic acid and with it's high smoke point, you can cook at a higher heat without worrying about breaking down the structure and losing the benefits. I don't notice much of a change in taste either, so I highly recommend this swap.

4. PLAIN GREEK YOGURT FOR SOUR CREAM: I have been doing this one for a long time, but I'm always amazed how many people don't know what an easy swap this is. Make sure you don't make the mistake of buying vanilla, it HAS to be plain. But I honestly barely taste the difference, I get that creaminess that I like from sour cream, and I get a little added protein in whatever I'm doing! I love adding it to the top of a taco salad instead of dressing!

5. LEMON JUICE/OREGANO/AVOCADO OIL FOR SALAD DRESSING: I basically don't buy salad dressing, because I love the simplicity of oil and lemon juice or vinegar. Making a little vinaigrette with oregano, salt and pepper too, makes for an easy summer salad that is light and refreshing! If you can't tell, I don't like heavy dinners in the summer. 

6. ORGANIC BROWN RICE CAKES FOR TOAST: I fell in love with these in my elimination diet because I was able to eat brown rice still and loved that rice cakes gave me the crunch I was looking for without the gluten. Now I still eat them all the time with avocado in place of my old avocado toast! 

7. AVOCADO OR HUMMUS FOR MAYO: This one is another classic, but I love mashed avocado or hummus (or both!) on a sandwich in place of mayo. You still get the creaminess, but a much healthier fat option!

8. FRUIT COMPOTE (HEATED FRUIT & COCONUT SUGAR) FOR SYRUP ON PANCAKES: Now this one is something I made up when I was in my dutch baby obsession because I wanted a healthy alternative to store bought syrup. Maple syrup is obviously a healthier option too, but if you like fruit, I highly recommend this one. Simply use frozen or fresh berries on medium heat in a pan, and sprinkle some coconut sugar on top (a few tablespoons depending on how many berries you have and how sweet they are). The sugar will help to break down the fruit and bring the juices out and if you let it bubble and thicken on a lower heat for a little bit, you'll get a beautiful and delicious fruit compote, perfect to top pancakes, waffles, dutch babies, ice cream, etc!! Depending on the fruit you choose, this can be a great way to get extra fiber, antioxidants and minerals (see coconut sugar above) into your daily diet!

Let me know what you think of these easy food swaps and be sure to comment below what your favorites are!

Have a great weekend,

Andrea

Top 5 Tips for Getting Your Dream Brows (My Brow Secrets)

Welcome back!

Today I am sharing my Brow Secrets. Yes you read that right. I am sharing my Top 5 Tips to helping you get your dream brows. If you want to reshape or regrow & see how I fill in brows to be super natural but full looking, this video is a must watch!

I hope you have a beautiful weekend! I'm off to kick off bridal season with a huge wedding tomorrow!

Enjoy,

Andrea

10 Random Skincare Tips

You guys really seem to like when I compile lists of tips or recommendations so I thought I'd compile a little list of 10 tips relating to skincare. Look for one on makeup coming next! 

1. Stand away from the shower head. If you don't already face away from it, get into the habit of letting the water hit your backside, not your front side because hot water hitting your face increases dryness. 

2. Multi-Mask. Rarely does our entire face need the exact same treatments. You can be breaking out in one area, but super dry another! Don't be afraid to use different masks on different areas to achieve what all of your skin needs. 

3. Frozen spoons. If you deal with puffy under eyes due to allergies (hello spring) keep 2 metal spoons at all times in your freezer. Then when you wake up with swollen eyes, you can use the curve of the spoon to fit nicely into the curve of your eye socket to de-puff! This is one of my faves.

4. KEEP THESE ON HAND ALWAYS. I've talked about these before in a favorites video, but you never know when you're going to wake up with a blemish. Once it starts coming to a head, pop of these babies on it before bed (and before you put your moisturizer on so it sticks better) and it will help draw out the impurities and infection while you are sleeping. I cannot tell you enough how quickly these help me heal big blemishes.

5. Press don't pull. When it comes to applying your products, like serums & moisturizer, don't rub it into your skin. Instead, warm up the product in your fingers and press it into your skin all over. This allows you to apply your products without tugging on your skin and doing damage over time.

6. Pay attention to expiration times and write it on your product. Beauty products don't usually have an exact expiration date, but they often have a 12M, 24M, etc, logo on the bottom or back that shows in how many months you should stop using the product. It's too hard to remember dates for every product, so I recommend getting a sharpie and either dating when you opened it, or when it's time to pitch it. 

7. Before you take product recommendations from someone, ask what their skin type is. It is pointless to buy your best friend's FAVORITE new moisturizer if they have dry skin and you are really oily. It's important to know what their skin is like before buying skincare or facial makeup products that work for them. Unfortunately not everything works for everyone so be sure that the product is ideal for your skin type first!

8. Give your skin a break. If you wear makeup on a regular basis, give your skin a break by going makeup free one or two days a week! I cannot tell you how nice it will feel to let your skin breathe. While makeup is fun, it's important to embrace the natural beauty of your naked face.

9. Keep a variety of products on hand. While it's good to have a set routine for your skin, it's important to know and accept that your skin won't need the same thing every single day. Having products (like different moisturizers for different levels of hydration for example) on hand, will allow you to always be ready to treat your skin with what it needs that day. 

10. Invest in good quality. I cannot recommend this enough. It's probably something you've heard a million times but I cannot stress enough how important it is to spend your money first on your skincare, before makeup. Quality products usually last longer as well because you use less product. However, not all products have a justified price tag, so be sure to ask a professional (like me!) before purchasing if a product seems really expensive. 

I hope you enjoyed this fun little list of tips! If you have any good skincare tips be sure to comment below and leave your favorites! Tips are always fun to learn.

Have a beautiful day,

Andrea

Skincare Tips for the Active Woman

As I was going about my shower routine the other day after hitting the gym, I realized that there are very specific things I do either before, during or after my workouts for the sake of keeping my skin clear and healthy. I figured I'd share them all with you as a quick reminder of how to keep things clean when you're an active woman. There are tips for for both face and body. Enjoy!

1. Wash your face immediately after your workout. If you sweat at all during a workout you should wash your face as soon as you are done, even if you don't have makeup on. I keep a pack of cleansing wipes in my gym bag (these are a great option) to wipe my face down quickly when I'm done because I personally never workout with makeup on. If you do wear makeup, I would definitely suggest cleansing your face with an actual cleanser afterwards. It's really important to not let the sweat sit on the surface of your skin for too long after you're done. 

2. Wash your body with a Charcoal body soap. I love to use a charcoal body soap to cleanse after the gym to lessen the likelihood of back or chest breakouts. Sometimes I can't take a shower right after the gym because I have other things to do, and doing this allows me to still get a deep clean and prevent any breakouts. This one by "Yes To" is a great option. 

3. Change your towel every day. If you shower at your gym after your workout, make sure you swap out for a clean towel every single day. More than likely, your towel gets put in a gym bag and doesn't get proper ventilation to dry quickly. If this is the case, it's really easy for bacteria to harbor and grow. I recommend tossing it in the hamper and getting a new one every time so that you avoid touching your face or body with it. I know that may seem excessive, but if you are prone to acne it's little changes like this that limit your exposure to acne causing bacteria which can lessen the likelihoods of breakouts. 

4. Stop touching your face. I know this seems obvious but think about how many things you touch that carry germs when you're at the gym. Touching your face only spreads the bacteria and it's always good to have another reminder not to touch your face. I do it without even realizing it sometimes so don't worry, I need this one too. Try bringing a fresh towel to the gym every time you go to wipe the sweat, instead of using your hands!

5. Use headbands. Headbands are a great way to keep sweaty hair off your face during a workout so definitely get some if you have bangs or baby hairs. I prefer to get ones that are able to be washed with my clothes so that I can clean them easily.

Let me know what your clean skin tips are for the gym but leaving a comment below!

Have a beautiful day,

Andrea 

Skincare Tips for Travel

As I write this I am three sleeps away from being on a beach with a drink in my hand. I cannot tell you how much I am looking forward to this vacation. That being said, this past week has been filled with packing and getting things together for my trip which brings us to this post.

Your skin can change and become imbalanced when you go on vacation and change climates. Today I'm going to share with you my tips for avoiding common issues and keeping your skin feeling happy and glowing all vacation long! The more prepared you are the less likely you will be to have issues.

1. Prep your skin the week before you leave. I make sure that I am extra consistent when it comes to my skin before I travel so that it is the healthiest for my trip. Follow your routines and do some masks beforehand to really make sure your skin is happiest before your trip.

2. Prep your skin for your flight. I cannot recommend this one enough. If flying dries your skin out, wear a heavy moisturizer, overnight mask or sheet mask on the plane! I know this might seem crazy, but if you go on the plane nourished and hydrated, you won't be able to dry out as much from that gross airplane air. Then you'll get to your destination with glowing and happy skin!

3. Bring a SPF 50. You probably are not shocked that this is next. I wear a SPF everyday anyways, but I cannot stress how important this is especially if you are traveling somewhere with more sun. More sun means you will probably spend more time outdoors so DO NOT skip the SPF. 

4. Bring sheet masks. Sheet masks are a great way to bring many kinds of masks with you that won't take up much space in your luggage since they are one time use. Depending on your vacation and skin type you could need to combat all sorts of issues. If you'll be in the sun and sweating, make sure you have a good pore cleansing mask. At the same time, if you are getting sun, hydrating masks are vital. These sheet masks come in a gift set and give you many options for your next trip!

5. Bring an overnight mask for dehydration. Whether it's the plane or the sun you can almost guarantee that your skin will become dehydrated at some point. I think it's great to have a mask like this one from Laneige that will hydrate you while you are sleeping. It's light and helps draw moisture into your skin which is perfect after long beach days!

6. Bring a spot treatment. I tend to breakout when I am in more humid environments so I make sure to bring my spot treatment with me just in case I acquire some blemishes while traveling. I love this one by La Roche Posay and have been using it for years. I like to apply it in areas where I'm prone to breakouts as more of a preventative measure. 

7. Watch your diet. Especially if we are traveling for vacation, we are more likely to let loose and eat a little unhealthier than we would at home. If you know that certain types of food can affect your skin, stay away from them to lessen the likelihood of problems arising. I personally know that dairy makes me break out more. Knowing this, I'm less likely to get ice cream every night of vacation like I would normally want to. I'm not saying to not relax and enjoy food on vacation, just be aware of the consequences of what you are consuming.

8. Lighten up on makeup. Personally, I love to use traveling as a time to lighten up on my makeup routine and give my skin a break. I tend to rely on a bright lipstick as the star of the look and lighten up when it comes to the products I'm applying to my skin. 

9. Drink your water. You had to have known that this was coming, but the changes of traveling can change your body and create a little imbalance, so keeping up with your hydration is key, especially if you will be in the sun. I know I'll be enjoying a few extra glasses of wine than I normally do, so drinking extra water is key. I like to use this Origins Hydrating Mask at night when I've had a few drinks of been in the sun to combat the dehydration! 

10. Use up samples. While I'm not the biggest fan of Sephora's point system, I do like taking advantage of the small sizes of free product to take on vacation with me. Just be careful if you have sensitive skin. If this is the case, only take products that you've tried before so you don't have any sort of reaction while traveling. 

Let me know below if you're traveling soon and where you're headed! If you have any travel tips of your own let me know!

Happy travels,

Andrea

Dre Does Tips for Transitioning Your Skin into Spring and Summer

Hello! I'm back and ready to go. As many of you know, I live in Michigan and spring can mean all sorts of weather. We can have a sunny 70 degree day followed by an ice storm the next. With this bipolar weather can come bipolar skin, as it's not sure how to adapt to these crazy weather changes. A large percentage of the guests I've been seeing recently are experiencing this difficulty in balancing their skin so I figured we could all use some help. Today I would like to share my 5 tips for helping your skin in this transition period and get it glowing and ready for the summer!

1. Get on a routine. Regardless of what is going on with your skin, getting into a routine is the best thing you can do for it. Your body craves balance and your skin is no different. If you don't already have a solid skincare routine, I highly suggest starting here. If you're not one for spending a lot of time doing so, I recommend the three basic steps; cleanse, tone, and moisturize. No matter the skin type, do these three morning and night and I guarantee your skin will thank you. 

2. Up your water intake. Even if you are usually great at drinking water, use this opportunity to commit to drinking the correct amount of water for your body (I recommend at least half your body weight in ounces, however I strive for much more than that every day)! You'd be amazed what I can tell from looking at a client's skin about how much water they consume.

3. Get a facial. Now you're probably thinking I'm recommending this only because I'm an esthetician but I promise that's not why I'm suggesting this. Every time you get a facial, we take a good look at what is actually going on with the skin. I can't tell you how many times I have a guest on my table who is either completely wrong about what their skin is actually like, or isn't sure what to do about the changes they are seeing in this transition season of weather. Your esthetician is there to guide you to the correct products and treatments based on what is actually happening that day. If you've ever been to a treatment with me you know I'm loaded with tips and tricks to help! 

4. Exfoliation. Whether it be at home or at with your esthetician, it's important to exfoliate especially during this time of year. I have so many guests coming to be with dry, dead skin cells on the surface that are preventing the skin from glowing and looking bright. A good microdermabrasion, peel or enzyme mask, is just what you need to get rid of dead skin cells and allow your skin to really absorb and utilize the amazing products you put on afterwards. 

5. Try some sleeping masks. I plan on making a post about this soon, but my latest obsession are sleeping masks. I love how they take no extra time on nights when I just want to get to bed because you use them in place of your moisturizer. You then wake up the next morning with completely refreshed skin! I've been trying a few different ones and can't wait to share with you what I've been loving so stay tuned.

I hope these tips help you get your skin where you want it! Spring is all about refreshing and rejuvenating your life and your skin should be no different! 

As usual if you ever have questions about a specific skincare issue or product, please leave me comment or email me at andreafontanabeauty@gmail.com! If you're in the greater Lansing area, come see me at Remedi Spa and Wellness and I'd love to pamper you and get your skin on track for summer! 

Have a beautiful day,

Dre

Dre Does Brows for Beginners

I had a good friend reach out to me lately asking for some pro tips regarding brows and it got me thinking that I've never really covered the basics regarding filling in brows, here on Dre Does. So I decided to share some of the basics with you incase you have never filled them in before and don't quite know where to start. 

1. Start small: If you've never colored your brows in before ANYTHING is going to look more dramatic than what you're used to. Just because you notice a huge difference doesn't mean they look bad. I would recommend starting with a tinted brow gel first, working your way up to a pencil, and then moving on to a tinted wax or pomade if you're really feeling confident. Filling your brows in for the first time should be subtle and minimal to avoid going too dramatic. 

2. Small Strokes: If you are using a product to fill them in always use small hair-like strokes because after all you are trying to make your brows look like they are full of more hairs. No one has perfectl straight and opaque brows naturally, so don't make long and intense lines with your product. 

3. Get a spooly: You'd be surprised how different and much easier filling your brows in is when you have a spooly for blending. A spooly is simply a disposable mascara wand and you can find a pack of them for only a few bucks at your local beauty supply store. If you don't want to go out and buy one, simply wait to use up your current tube of mascara (if it's one with a traditional bristle brush wand) and sanitize it for use in place of a spooly! Simply apply your brow product like you normally would and then use your spooly to slowly brush through the brow hairs and blend the product. This will ensure that your filled in brows don't look so fake.

4. Start in the middle: Whenever you are filling in your brows, I recommend starting to fill the middle of the brow first for a few reasons. If you're using a product that has a wand or brush (so a tinted gel or pomade for example) you will have the most product on it initially. You don't want to put all that product right in the front of the brow because naturally we aren't the fullest right where the brows start. It's also hard to master how to start your brow, so slowly building the front with only a little bit of product will help you acheive a much more natural look. This will help you avoid the obvious, too squared off brows. 

5. Shade is key: Don't use too dark or too light of a product. Brows should always stay a little darker than your hair if you're blonde, or a little lighter than your hair if it's darker. Also unless you are a red head, your brows should stay ashy and cool-toned. No one really has warm brows except for red heads, so picking the right tone of product will help you avoid your brows looking fake!

6. Get them shaped by a professional: I tell all of my clients that they beauty of getting their brows shaped is that I give them the blueprint to fill in their brows. Simply follow the shape I've waxed them to and in no time you'll get the hang of what you should be filling in. I take the guesswork out of adding product and will even show you how to do it if you need help. If you're in the Lansing area I would love to help you in person, but if not, find someone you trust to help shape your brows and get rid of unnecessary hairs!

7. Get them tinted: If all of this seems way too difficult and intimidating, look into tinting. This is a service I personally perform at the spa and it allows me to tint the hairs and underlying skin, to look like the brows are fuller than they are and to help emphasize the shape I give by waxing. The tint lasts up to 3 weeks so it's a great option for those who don't want to fill them in with product every morning. 

If this post stirred up any questions you might have regarding brows, please feel free to leave a comment below or on my Facebook page! I hope this helps!

Have a beautiful day,

Dre

Dre Does a Beauty Secret

If there's one thing us makeup artists and makeup enthusiasts can agree upon, it's that cleaning brushes is the bane of our existence. It's the thing that we know we have to do but always dread. Well I'm here to share a tip I discovered about a year ago but didn't actually try out until very recently. I'm happy to say I'm never going back to my old ways!

So what it is? A solid brush cleanser. You may have heard of the most famous one from Beauty Blender that retails for $16 for 1 ounce of soap. The idea is that you wet your brush or sponge and swirl it around on soap, pick some up and then use that to clean the brush in your palm or whatever you normally use to clean your brushes. I have always used baby shampoo for deep cleansing my brushes because it's just how I was taught and what has always worked. Mind you this always takes forever when you have a lot of brushes and I feel like I'm always wasting shampoo because I'm pouring it into my palm.

Well I heard another makeup artist suggest trying Dr. Bronner's Pure-Castille Bar Soap as a solid cleanser and seeing as it costs a shocking $4.69 for 5 oz, I figured it wouldn't hurt to try. OMG! Ladies go out and buy this completely organic soap ASAP and try it. Not only is it ridiculously cheaper than the Beauty Blender's alternative, but it's organic, conditioning for your brushes with coconut and tons of other oils, and it comes in so many different scents. Since it doesn't come with a container to store it in like the Beauty Blender one, just make a trip down the travel sized beauty section like I did and snag yourself a clear 97 cent container to store your bar of soap in.

I love how quickly I can wash everything too because I'm not picking up a shampoo bottle and pouring out and wasting extra product with every brush. It also cleans the brushes quicker than I've ever seen! I've linked the Citrus scent above which is the one I am currently using.

If you try this out and love it, let me know! Also please feel free to share any other beauty secrets you might have!


Have a beautiful week,

Dre

Dre Does 5 Tips You Can Start Now to Prevent Aging

When I share with someone that I work in the beauty and skincare field, women will often tell me "I wish I had started younger." It's no secret that prevention is key in so many aspects of life, skincare being no exception. 

I'm here to bring you 5 things that you should start doing today that your older self will thank you for later in life. These tips aren't anything ground breaking or new but I hope they serve as a reminder that prevention is key when it comes to aging. If you take good care of your skin it will be reflected later on in life.

1. Wear SPF daily. This one might seem like a no brainer to some of you but it's amazing how many people my age I find still don't wear it on a regular basis. Time and time again I hear more mature women telling me stories about how they baked in the sun with baby oil instead of using any sunscreen and they wish they had known how much damage it would cause later in life. Not only is the sun one of the largest contributers to aging your skin but HELLO! SKIN CANCER! Let's make sure we all make it so see ourselves wrinkle. Whether it's in your foundation or a separate step don't skip the SPF ever (even in the middle of winter).

2. Establish a skincare routine. This one is another vital aspect to aging gracefully. If you haven't established a skincare rountine yet it's time to do so. This doesn't mean you have to have 20 steps day and night, but you need to make sure you are at least covering the basics. When we properly cleanse, tone and moisturize our skin, we maintain the health of the acid barrier of our skin. So why is this important? When the acid barrier of our skin is healthy, it can protect us from all sorts of environmental factors and impurities that we encounter on a daily basis. The skin does so much for our bodies and if we take good care of it, it will keep us protected and help us age slower. 

3. Learn about your skin. Whether this means going to see an esthetician or visiting your dermatologist, make sure you take the steps to learn about what is actually happening specifically on your face! We are all unique and even if you think you know what's going on with your face, you might be completely off. With the guidance of a professional you can make sure you are using the correct kinds of products.

4. Drink more water. This one might seem like a no brainer too but most of us have dehydrated skin which can contribute to the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It's pretty rare that when I check someone's face for dehydration they aren't even slightly dehydrated. Our skin is the largest organ of our body and also the last to get water so it's important to make sure that we drink enough of it. If you are really active or under a lot of stress, it's crucial to drink even more! 

5. Use an eye cream. The skin under our eyes is thin and fragile and completely different than the rest of our faces. This is why it's vital to use a separate product on it that is also approved for the eye area. The eyes are also one of the first places you will notice fine lines and wrinkles, so starting early with an eye cream can help keep that area looking young and fresh, longer. 

If you are already doing some or even all of these things, keep it up! You're on the right track to aging gracefully. If not, pick a few and start adding them all in slowly.

Have a beautiful day,

Dre

Dre Does a 5 Minute Fall Transformation

I wanted to create a really simple look that only required a few extra minutes added onto your normal face routine to be fall ready. The focus of any quick look for me will always be my lips because it is the quickest way to add drama and let's be real...fall is all about the drama on the lips. 

When I think of fall makeup I think of warm earth tones; oranges, reds, plums, berries. All of these shades work really well with trying to extend your summer bronze and still look ready for the fall season. Below you'll see that I did my normal face routine (let me know if you want to see exactly what that looks like recently), and then used ONE eyeshadow and ONE lip product to transform my look.

For my eyes I simply applied my normal primer (Benefit's Stay Don't Stray in Light/Medium) and then packed MAC Cosmetics' Amber Lights onto the lid. It's a beautiful metallic orangey bronze color that compliments the warmth of fall so well. The thing that I love about metallic colors like this is that if you just buff out the edges with a blending brush, you look like you have a complete look because the metallic sheen giving so much dimension on your lid. Apply your mascara and you're done!

For the lips I used one of my favorite products ever; the Lorac Pro Matte Lip Color in Merlot. These lipsticks are amazing because they go on so smoothly, are so pigmented, don't require a liner to stay put, and they last forever. I love how this deep shade screams fall. 

There you have it! I took a really basic look from natural to dramatic with the use of only two products. I highly suggest you go through your collection and find duos like this that work well together and take note of them. This way when you're running late in the morning or at night, you can quickly amp up your look in no time at all. You could even wear just the shadow for work and add the lips just in time for happy hour with your friends!

Let me know if you find any great combos! 

Have a beautiful day,

Dre

Dre Does a Fresh Fall Start

There's something about the fall that I absolutely love in terms of productivity. I don't know if it's because the start of a new school year was ingrained in me for so many years, but I always feel like come September, you get a fresh start. 

I have recently made some changes in my life that have helped me feel like I'm more organized and getting more done, so I thought I would share what I have been doing in case you would like to take some ideas and incorporate them into your own daily life. 

1. Establish a morning routine. I have always loved starting my days with productive mornings but the older I've gotten the busier I am and the easier it is to hit that snooze button and skip things that I know I should be doing. A few months ago I decided to change up my mornings and start with a workout. I always feel more productive and energized throughout the day when I get my butt out of bed early and get to my gym. I leave myself enough time to get ready and plan my day when I'm done which sets me up for an accomplished day. I like working out in the morning because even if the rest of my day doesn't go as planned, I don't have to worry about fitting a workout in. I find that doing this every morning makes for a more productive week. So whatever you choose to do in the morning, try to establish a routine so that you get in the habit of starting your day successfully. 

2. Get a planner. This may not seem like a necessity once you enter into post-grad life, but I find that there's even more to keep track of in my life now that I am no longer in school. Having a planner helps me make sure I'm staying up to date in every aspect of my life which can get rid of a lot of unnecessary stress.

3. Adopt a new habit. This is a trick I learned from my dad. He took something he wanted to improve at and challenged himself to be disciplined enough to do it for a little bit every day. This is actually how his blog was born, but I think it's a great way to introduce something you want to get better at, or just get back to doing. I'm sure you have plenty of things you wish you had more time to do, so I challenge you to create a list and then tackle the one most important! You could even change it up every month. For me it's reading. I started reading just 15 minutes a day (sometimes longer if my schedule allows for it and I don't fall asleep first...haha). Whether it's right when I wake up or before I go to bed, I try to get my 15 minutes in every day.

4. Do it at night. I do this all the time. I have a million little things I want to get done at night and then I tell myself I'll do it in the morning because I just want to get to bed. But then morning comes along and you run out of time or completely forget to do it so it gets pushed off until night time again and then the  cycle continues. Just do those little things at night. Whether it's putting away my laundry that I've just folded or unloading the dishwasher, if you simply get these tasks done at night, you can start your day with a shorter To-Do list and a clearer head in the morning. 

When do you feel like you get a fresh start? At the beginning of the year in January or during the fall?

Please share your tips below for creating a fresh start!

Have a beautiful start to your week,

Dre

 

Dre Does Skincare Tips for the Active Woman

It's no secret that living an active lifestyle means you probably spend a portion of your day sweating. This can lead to breakouts, excessive oilliness, etc., so I've decided to share with you some tips on how I keep my skin clean and reduce my likelihood of breaking out. 

1. WASH YOUR FACE: I always head to the gym with a clean face which also means that I never wear makeup. I personally hate the feeling of makeup on my skin when I'm hot and sweaty in the gym so instead I do my usual morning skincare routine (since I normally workout every morning) and make sure to use a mattifying moisturizer to help combat some of the excessive oiliness. 

2. HEADBANDS ARE YOUR FRIEND: I like to wear a headband always when I'm working out. Not only does it help keep flyaways out of my face but it catches some sweat from dripping on my forehead. If you use hair products they can travel down your face and potentially clog your pores, so I like to prevent some of that with headbands (This also works well if you have bangs that could spread sweat and bacteria while working out). My favorite are the kinds with the rubber grips on the inside so that they don't move anywhere. 

3. BLOT YOUR FACE: While working out, I like to use papertowels to blot the excessive sweat from my face so that it stays clean. My gym luckily has a paper towel dispenser so I use those to get rid of sweat so that I don't have to touch it with my hands. Think of all the bacteria that your hands are touching from the machines to the weights. It's much better for your skin to use something disposable that you won't keep reusing like your hands or your shirt. 

4. KEEP YOUR GYMBAG STOCKED: I like to make sure to keep my gym bag stocked with some necessities to make sure I can always keep my face clean. It's crucial to have cleansing wipes because if you don't have time to immediately hop in the shower or wash your face again, you can at least clean your face quickly and remove sweat and impurities. Also if you're someone who gets excessively oily, I recommend keeping oil blotting sheets on hand to mattify your skin on the go. 

5. DON'T TOUCH YOUR FACE: This may seem a little obvious but some of us need to consciously think about it to stop doing it. Our hands carry so much bacteria around as we go from machine to machine at the gym, so make sure to keep your hands off of your skin. This is a tip for anyone trying to reduce breakouts, but it's expecially crucial when you're sweaty and in the gym.

6. DRINK WATER: Always make sure you rehydrate your body after working out. It's important for your skin's health to drink plenty every day but it's even more important when you workout because you are sweating so much. 

I hope these tips help you maintain cleaner skin while being active. Remember, your skin is your body's largest organ so while it's important to be active and healthy, we can't forget to take care of our skin as well! 

Have a beautiful day,

Dre