Dre Does a Skincare PSA!

It's that time of year where I beg you to please make sure you step up your SPF game! Spring is here full force and with summer around the corner it's important for us to protect ourselves from the sun. While I appreciate its warmth immensely, it can be extremely damaging to us. 

WEAR SPF. First and foremost, make sure you are putting on your SPF daily. Whether it is in your foundation or an extra step in your beauty routine, it is so crucial. My absolute favorite is Benefit Cosmetics' Dream Screen because it is clear, has an SPF of 45, and dries to a smooth, matte finish that is perfect for us oily women. 

Make sure it's broad spectrum. It is important to use a broad spectrum SPF so that you are protected from both UVA (the aging) and UVB (the burning) rays. 

Don't get confused. Just because an SPF has a larger number doesn't mean it is better at protecting you. It simply means you can go longer without reapplying it than the smaller SPFs.

Wear a hat. When else do you get the excuse to go shopping and find a fashion statement that can also protect your face?

Known your skin. Make sure you are always checking your skin for any changes or new appearances of moles. Changes in texture, color, size, etc. should always alert you to go see a dermatologist.

Visit a doctor. Make sure you are under the care of a dermatologist who can help you keep tract of any moles that could be concerning, especially if you burn really easily or have a history of skin cancer in your family. When in doubt, get it checked out!

Your skin is your body's largest organ and its first line of defense so TAKE CARE OF IT! You only get one life to protect yourself from skin cancer and premature aging, so do a good job! 

Now enjoy your spring/summer while covered in SPF!

Have a beautiful day,

Dre

Dre Does Skincare Answers!

It's pretty rare for me to go more than a few days without a friend asking me some type of beauty or skincare related question. Last week a friend asked me a skin question that I thought needed to be shared because many people experience this (including me!) but don't know what it is or what to do. Emily's question was "Why does your skin get bumpy in the winter?" These bumps usually found on the backs of your upper arms, the cheeks, or your legs are a condition called Keratosis Pilaris or 'chicken skin' if you've ever heard of that.

Keratosis Pilaris or KP for short, is a genetic skin condition that so many people have. It's different for everyone but basically the keratin in the skin hardens in the hair follicles and forms little plugs, which are the bumps you feel. It's more common in people with dry skin and people with eczema. It gets worse in the winter because we are usually dryer then. Sometimes you can experience redness in the areas of the bumps.

What can you do to help it? Exfoliation is key! Whether it is mechanical or chemical, it is best to stay exfoliated and then moisturized to reduce the bumpiness and severity of KP. One of my favorite brands Dermadoctor, makes a product line called KP Duty' designed for KP and two of them are sold at ULTA. Click here to look more! The first is a scrub that gives dual exfoliation due to the physical scrub and the addition of a chemical exfoliant that will help break down the skin cells. There is also ingredients that soothe the skin which is wonderful. The second product is a moisturizer with a chemical exfoliant in it to further help the exfoliation process while still moisturizing the skin. While I recommend both of these products for the body, I would make sure to use products specifically designed for the face if you suffer from KP on the face. 

I hope this helps you if you've ever wondered something similar to this! As usual, if you ever have questions, please feel free to ask! Your question might make it into a post if I feel it could benefit many!

Have a beautiful start to your week,

Dre

Dre Does Skincare and Body Product Empties

Product empty videos and blog posts are some of my favorites to watch because you get a full opinion on the product and get to know whether or not the person plans to repurchase the product. I think it's fun to see what stuff people actually use up because their opinion is more trustworthy to me when they've used the whole thing. For this reason I love to share them with you. I decided to split up my hair and skin care products with the empty makeup products I have because it would be a crazy long post otherwise, so here are my empties regarding hair, body, and facial skin care items!

First up we have hair products:

Amika Perk Up Dry Shampoo: This is my favorite spray dry shampoo of all time because it doesn't leave a residue in my dark hair. You can't see it or feel it so you don't feel like you have dirty hair. It does a great job absorbing all the excess oils and giving volume. I love the smell of all Amika products too!

Verdict: I am trying to switch to dry shampoos that are not in aerosol form because they contain butane so I am not repurchasing this product if I can find a powder dry shampoo that gives me a similar result. If the butane doesn't bother you, I'd so get this one for sure!

Amika Touchable Hairspray: If you need a moderate hold hairspray that doesn't feel crunchy this is for you. If you'd like more of a review on Amika products I've tried click here for a post I did on these two and some more!

Verdict: I really loved it and once I'm done with all the hairsprays I currently have to go through (thanks 100 Day No Buy) I will probably go back to this one!

Klorane Dry Shampoo: I received this dry shampoo in my Ipsy bag a few months ago and I went through it quickly because it was really great. It leaves a little more residue in touch and color than the Amika one but it was good. I liked having it in my purse incase my hair started to look greasy and I wasn't home. 

Verdict: If I could purchase this small size for travel I would so I will have to look into it!

Next up we have body products!

Bath & Body Works Sweet Pea Shower Gel: B&BW products are kind of blah for me. I used this up because I had it but it wasn't my favorite. I do prefer shower gels over bar soaps but I don't feel like this did anything special for my body. I like that they have an array of aromas though. I think I had this because I received it as a gift.

Verdict: I doubt I will ever buy B&BW body products again because there is so much better stuff to try, but if received as a gift again I would use it or keep it for travel.

Tree Hut Shea Sugar Body Scrub: These scrubs are some of my favorite. I love the mango and Brazilian nut aromas the best. As far as exfoliation goes they are on the more mild side so if you have sensitive skin you would probably enjoy these. They are nice and moisturizing too!

Verdict: I will be repurchasing them after I run out of my current exfoliators. I love to use them prior to shaving my legs. 

Lastly we have face products (my personal favorite)!

Aveda Bontanical Kinetics Exfoliant: This product is a holy grail one for me. I've gone through bottles of it since I graduated from Esthiology school and it is something I will always have on hand. I love how it gently exfoliates my skin chemically as I sleep (I apply it every night after I cleanse). I am a huge proponent of chemical exfoliation over mechanical so I can't be without this product! 

Verdict: Do I really need to say more? Haha I obviously already replaced it!

Ole Henriksen Aloe Vera Cleanser: This is another great product that I always have. Whether I try new cleansers or test out some new ones, this is a cleanser I go back to a lot. It is made for oily/acne prone skin but even though it's winter it doesn't strip me of too much moisture and the aloe soothes any blemishes if I get any. 

Verdict: If you have oily and acne prone skin, give this cleanser a try. It's worth the money, cleanses very well and feels wonderful.

La Roche Posay Thermal Spring Water: This facial spray was recommended to me a long time ago and that's what made me buy it. However, I don't have the most sensitive skin so I feel like I can use something a little stronger. I think this probably works best for those with sensitive and dry skin. If you like a facial spray that you can spray on your face in the sun to keep you hydrated you would love this. 

Verdict: I probably won't ever buy this again unless my skin changes and becomes more dry or sensitive.

Neutrogena Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover: I have really sensitive eyes when it comes to eye makeup remover and a lot of products burn mine. This remover and the regular blue remover wipes are two products that I will keep repurchasing because of how my eyes never burn with them.

Verdict: I already have two backups of this remover under my sink so you know I'll be repurchasing this for a long time. 

Origins Ginzing Eye Cream: I love this eye cream. I really feel like it helps depuff my eyes when I need it and I think it helped decrease the darkness of my eyes. I also love how light it feels on my skin because so many eye creams are so heavy and can cause my undereye concealer to crease later on in the day. 

Verdict: I will probably purchase this eye cream in the summer when I'm done with what I'm using now and my skin becomes oilier. 

There you have it. This is what has been in beauty trash haha. If you like this kind of post and find it helpful let me know! 

Have a beautiful day,

Dre

Dre Does a Beauty Haul

Hello there beautiful people! I hope you had a fantastic thanksgiving if you celebrated and spent a lot of time with family and friends. I have so much to be thankful for including all of the support I get from all of you! 

Within the last few months I have been shopping mostly for Christmas presents but couldn't pass up the discounts I get as a ULTA employee to pick up some products I have been eyeing. I also managed to accumulate a lot of ULTA rewards points in the process and desired to cash them in for some items for my makeup kit that I knew I'd eventually want and use. I wanted to share them so that if you have questions, want reviews or tutorials, I can help! 

First up were my favorite eyeshadows from the drugstore aisles, the Loreal infallible Eyeshadows in Iced Latte, Bronzed Taupe, and Smoked Plum. I already have Amber Rush and have mentioned how much I love it, so I figured I would pick up some new shades while I had the extra discount.

As a Benefit Arch Expert and long time Benefit lover, I am always excited to see what Benefit comes out with for the holidays. I snagged my Cheeky Sweet Spot Box O' Blushes right when it first came out because not only is it an amazing deal but it is so adorable. You get 6 of Benefits Box O' Powders (including Dandelion, Sugarbomb, Hoola, Coralista, Rockateur and even Bella Bamba which is now discontinued), a mini brush and a small pan of Watt's Up highlighter. It all comes in a beautiful tin and lifts up and can be reused later! 

I knew that the original Lorac Pro Palette was a classic that I needed for my kit so I picked it up when I redeemed points. I love that it has one row of matte shadows from white to black, and a row of shimmer and satin shades from light to dark.

I found it the absolute best coincidence that I had tons of points to redeem the day that ULTA launched the Anastasia Contour Kit in stores. I have a very warm and golden undertone so this is perfect for my skin tone and I had been dying to try it. I've been using it a lot so expect a review soon!

The only Naked palettes I have had for the past few years have been the original and the Naked basics palette (original as well) and I decided to pick up the Naked 3 with my points because the colors are unlike anything I have already. This is the perfect bridal palette so I'm excited to add it to my kit. 

Yes another contour kit...haha I couldn't help it though because the tones are much cooler than the Anastasia one and that dark shade at the bottom allows for contouring a larger range of skin tones so I had to pick this one up too. The It Cosmetics My Sculpted Face Palette is so buttery and smooth and makes blending a breeze so in the ULTA shopping bag it went!

Lastly, we have the only skincare item I bought, but a great one at that. If you've been reading my blog for awhile you know I love the Dr. Brandt Microdermabrasion scrub so I decided to try out the Dr. Brandt pores no more Vacuum Cleaner for blackheads and congested pores! I've done it once and so far I like it so look for a review on this too! 

Reminder, this was not bought all at once and while I did use my own money for all of it, I did buy most of it either during the ULTA employee sale or redeemed with an amount of points that I'm too embarrassed to share with you...haha. If you're not already an ULTAmate Rewards member what are you waiting for? It's a ridiculously amazing program! 

Remember, all questions and ideas could be turned into future blog posts! So comment, share and ask away my beauties! 

Have a beautiful day,

Dre

Dre Does : My Acne Story - Part Three

Part Three is here to give you some amazing products for covering acne while it's healing! In case you missed parts one and two click the links to catch up before reading on. In part one I gave you a little background and introduction to my acne and in the second part I shared what changes I made in both my lifestyle and skincare routine in order to heal it! Today however, I'm going to share some more products, except this time for concealing. These items worked amazing for me and I definitely recommend trying them out. 

First up we have my favorite foundation of all time, the TARTE AMAZONIAN CLAY 12 HR FULL COVERAGE FOUNDATION. This is all I wear most days because it is so light but also build-able. I love that Tarte Cosmetics is paraben and mineral oil free, among many other ingredients as well. I feel like this allows my skin to breathe and doesn't feel heavy at all. It's the closest I've ever gotten to serious full coverage foundation while still looking natural. I get complimented on my smooth and perfect looking skin almost every day at work and I 100% attribute it to this foundation. People don't know my skin is extremely discolored and uneven underneath. I've written many posts on it before but it is truly a holy grail item in my makeup bag. The Amazonian Clay is amazing at balancing my oily skin and keeping me shine-free. I wouldn't recommend it for anyone with dryness or flakey skin however. It is truly best for oily skin because the clay will dry you out even more and cling to patches if there and then it really will look unnatural. 

If you can't shell out the $38 for the Tarte foundation, I recommend checking out COVERGIRL'S OUTLAST STAY FABULOUS 3-in-1 FOUNDATION. This was my favorite before I discovered the Tarte one and it's an amazing foundation and very similar. It also gives a matte finish which I think is key in covering acne. Any bit of shine will call attention to the texture of your skin, so if it is bumpy make sure to use a matte finish foundation. This doesn't mean you have to have a completely matte face. Add dimension in the right places with a highlighter later, but start with a nice matte base to conceal the acne better. This foundation is also long wearing and gives great coverage. I'm not normally into gimmicky products that say they are multiple products in one (in this case primer, foundation and concealer) but I really think it does these things so good job Covergirl!

My favorite concealer is the BENEFIT BOI-ING INDUSTRIAL STRENGTH CONCEALER for concealing blemishes but the SONIA KASHUK HIDDEN AGENDA PALETTE is a close second. Both give great coverage and are a thicker, creamy consistency which I prefer for spot concealing. I like that the Sonia Kashuk comes which a few different shades so you can perfectly match your skin tone and also a setting powder. My favorite way to apply these is to use my ring finger (clean so we don't spread any bacteria!) to really melt the product into my skin and make it look more natural. 

The second key step in concealing your blemishes is prolonging the wear so that they stay covered all day! For this you need a good setting powder. I personally love the RIMMEL STAY MATTE POWDER for not only mattifying my t-zone but also for setting my concealer. I just use a very small fluffy brush to dust this over my concealer and it helps it last all day! 

Lastly I have to talk about my URBAN DECAY DESLICK SETTING SPRAY because I seriously don't know what I would do without it. This product is key in making my makeup and concealing last all day, especially when I'm covering blemishes! I prefer the oil control formula because I am oily but they have two other options as well for dry and normal skin. You cannot feel this spray on your face and it seriously is the secret to how I get my makeup to last a good 12 hours. 

Let me know if you have any favorite makeup products for dealing with acne. I really hope you enjoyed this series and if you like this type of post be sure to let me know! Remember not to get frustrated and to be patient when dealing with skin! Start the good habits and you can clear your acne as well! 

Have a beautiful weekend,

Dre

Dre Does : My Acne Story - Part Two

Here we are at the second part of My Acne Story and probably the one you are looking forward to most! If you missed the introduction to my acne that I shared yesterday, click here to read that first to find out a little bit more about my acne.

If you're looking for me to tell you about a quick fix cream that will cure everything I sadly am here to tell you I don't have that. What I can share with you though are some of the lifestyle changes I made that I think dramatically helped my skin and also some products that I've changed in my skin care routine that have led to my clearer and much more radiant skin. Nothing was a quick overnight change and I'm not saying all of these will work the same for you, but I believe they are worth trying if you're struggling with some similar acne issues. We are all unique and this means we will have to sometimes try a lot of different things to find what works for us individually. Patience is key though and so is the ability to form good habits. 

LIFESTYLE CHANGES

I noticed that my acne was always occurring in my chin and jawline area which is a sign of digestive issues or hormonal acne so I knew I needed to not only try new products but make some changes in my lifestyle too to help my skin. In regards to the hormonal acne, there isn't much you can change. Women in their 20's and 30's undergo many hormone fluctuations due to the fact that it's the time in our lives when we have children. This can cause breakouts which much like those lovely ones we get during our periods, we can't do much about except keep our skin happy and clean. I lost a significant amount of weight during this time period which I think is what set off my initial acne because significant weight change can cause your hormone levels to fluctuate. But let's get back to the things I did change that helped!

1. The first thing I started doing more of was drinking more water. I've always been good at drinking water but I knew I wanted to make a conscience effort to drink even more (to compensate for all those cups of coffee I consume...) because I know it's good for the skin. This may seem silly for some of you but as a competitive person, downloading an app that kept track of my water consumption everyday made it a game which reminded me to do it. I like the app  'iDrated' but there's many that work well in the App Store.

2. I have been a milk addict since I was a baby so this next change was really hard but I'm proud to say that I switched from cow's milk to almond milk. While its tough to say that acne is caused by certain foods, we can say that eating foods that are less inflammatory (i.e. Dairy, spicy foods, sugar) can help our skin from freaking out. I still eat some dairy here and there but my main consumption was definitely through milk so I'm glad I was able to give it up. I really enjoy the almond milk fortified with fiber and protein as a replacement! 

3. Stress management was huge. If you've ever experienced breakouts due to an increase in stress you'll understand this one. When we're stressed our skin has no problem showing us, so managing it is huge when it comes to healing acne. Whether it's doing more yoga and meditation or cutting out toxic relationships in our lives, it's important to evaluate your life and figure out a way to cut down on stress levels. Not only will your skin improve but your sanity will thank you haha. I was extremely stressed during my period of terrible breakouts and while I am just as busy now as I was then, I've found ways to let go of things that don't matter and decrease my stress levels. If you need more suggestions or ideas for this leave a comment below and I would be happy to share with you what I've done. 

SKIN CARE ROUTINE CHANGES

Now for the fun part. Products! Before I can share what I've been loving I need to slap a big ole warning label on this section. No matter what you try you absolutely must get in the habit of a good skin care routine. I have not gone to bed without taking my makeup off in a very very long time and even if I don't wear any makeup that day, I STILL use my same routine at night. Going to bed without cleansing your skin is like writing a personal invitation to acne to show up ASAP wherever it would like. No thank you. So you must become consistent with a routine if you want to clear up your skin. Let's not forget about the morning either! I have a simplified routine for the morning that's not quite as in depth, but still deep cleanses my skin and preps it for the day!

Another huge part of this is to give products a fair shot. It takes the average person's skin 4 to 6 weeks to turnover so we can't expect miracles overnight. Give products a few weeks to see if they are helping. If you notice sensitivities of course discontinue using them right away, but don't get discouraged if you don't see results right away. Like I mentioned before, patience and forming good habits are key! (Think of this as a skin diet)

So above we have six products that are holy grail for me that I have continued using even after my skin is healed for the majority. Starting on the very left and going clockwise we have the Mario Badescu Buffering Lotion, Ole Henriksen Aloe Vera Deep Cleanser, Ecotools Pure Complexion Deep Cleansing Charcoal Facial Sponge, Aveda Botanical Kinetics Exfoliant, Tarte Pure Maracuja Oil, and lastly the Origins Clear Improvements Active Charcoal Mask. Now let's go over them one by one.

I start with the Mario Badescu Buffering Lotion because I believe it is the item that has done the most for me. I had heard rave reviews about this product for cystic acne so I jumped at the chance to try it. It's rare to see skincare targeted for cystic acne because I was always told there's nothing you can do for it since it is deep in the dermis. The deep penetrating and fast absorbing formula is full of B vitamins and amino acids which target the deep cystic acne, but there are also many anti-inflammatory herbal extracts that help soothe the irritated areas. It's a really thin liquid which is pretty strange to get used to but I simply apply this product to my whole chin and jaw area where I either have acne or am likely to get it and it keeps breakouts at a minimum. I wouldn't go a night without this product and could not recommend it more. The only thing I would be careful of is applying it to any open blemishes becaue it can sting a little. If there's anything you try from this post for hormonal cystic acne near your chin or jaw, make it this one!

The next two products I use together to cleanse my skin after I've already removed my makeup. The ECOTOOLS PURE COMPLEXION DEEP CLEANSING CHARCOAL FACIAL SPONGE is a miracle worker when combined with the OLE HENRIKSEN ALOE VERA DEEP CLEANSER. Both products give me a good deep clean feeling and get rid of any excess oil buildup in my skin. The cleanser has soothing aloe vera, chamomile, and vitamins to sooth my skin yet effectively treat and help restore balance. Both combination and oily acne prone skin types can use this. The facial sponge is a good way to gently exfoliate my skin a little while pulling impurities with the added charcoal to give me a very deep and soothing cleanse. If you've read previous posts of mine, you would know that I'm not big on mechanical exfoliation for my skin because it's sensitive and I have a lot of hyperpigmentation, but I find that this is a gentle way to get some of the benefits without causing more harm. 

The AVEDA BOTANICAL KINETICS EXFOLIANT  is another holy grail for me because there aren't a lot of products like it on the market. It's a simple and gentle chemical exfoliant that you apply in the evening instead of a toner with a cotton pad to your face. The exfoliant breaks down dead skin cells overnight to reveal smoother skin. For me, this is huge because I prefer chemical exfoliating. I like that this is something I can apply gently every night and it's boosting my cell turnover and keeping my pores free of dead skin cells that can trap debris and bacteria in my pores to contribute to more blemishes. I think this is another huge factor in what has helped clear up my skin. Consistently getting rid of the dead skin cells is keeping my pores clean and reducing the likelihood that oil and impurities will get trapped and create that perfect environment for the acne bacteria to want to live. I use this exfoliant only at night. 

Next up is my favorite moisturizer. I joke at work that I would shower in this stuff if it wasn't so expensive and that would be none other than my best friend PURE MARACUJA OIL FROM TARTE COSMETICS. If you've never heard me mention this then you must have been accidentally reading someone else's blog haha. I use this both day and night as a moisturizer for my face. Now I know what you're thinking. ADD OIL TO OILY SKIN?! You must be crazy! But in order for our skin to function properly we need some oil. If we strip our skin of too much, we will end up doing the opposite of what we want and forcing our skin to produce even more oil because it will freak out that there's nothing there. We need some oil to protect our skin. I find that using this oil as a moisturizer gives me enough moisture without being greasy that my skin doesn't produce extra oil. Plus I haven't even mentioned the amazing benefits it has because it is loaded with vitamin C and antioxidants because guess what...Maracuja oil is pure passion fruit oil so this lovely friend is Brazilian like myself (As if I needed more reasons to love it haha). Vitamin C is amazing for evening out your skin tone and fading hyperpigmentation so I love the effect it is having on my acne scars! They are slowly going away! My skin is also becoming more radiant overall. It also helps with fine lines and wrinkles, so this is an amazing product for women who are starting to think about anti-aging products but still dealing with adult acne! I know the price can be scary at $46 but the bottle is huge and if you use only a few drops a day I promise it will last you at least a year which is pretty cheap overall.

Lastly, we have my favorite charcoal clearing mask, the ORIGINS CLEAR IMPROVEMENTS ACTIVE CHARCOAL MASK. I love this stuff. I use it once a week for a few reasons. The active charcoal works like a magnet drawing deep impurities out of your pores. The white clay absorbs environmental toxins in your skin, and the lecithin dissolves the impurities. Overall you get an extremely deep clean and refreshed happy skin. Plus it's always fun to put a mask on that's a crazy color like gray. 

So there we have it. The changes I made in both my lifestyle and my skin routine that have brought me clearer and happier skin. If you have tips that have helped please be sure to share! Just remember to have patience and I promise you can get rid of your acne too! 

Come back tomorrow for my post on what I used to camouflage my acne while it was still there! 

Acne or no acne, have a beautiful day!

Dre

Dre Does : My Acne Story - Part One

Hello there my beautiful friends! I'm finally back. Busy doesn't even begin to describe what October was like for me so I will keep it short with the simple fact that sometimes life gets busy and you do the whole "tomorrow I will get back at it..." and then tomorrow because next week and suddenly it's been almost a month! Ah! My apologies but I'm back! I'm here with a very sensitive topic that is sometimes hard to share but I hope it helps someone reading this :)

Acne is a tough topic to talk about for some people but the reality of it is that most women at some point in our lives, struggle with it. My acne story isn't the typical scenario but I know it's one that many women deal with, so I would like to share my experience with acne and how I have successfully gotten rid of it for the majority. This is going to be Part one where I share what my acne is like and what was going on in my life. Parts two and three will come over the next two posts, one focusing on what I did to clear it up and then the other focusing on some products I loved to help camouflage some of the worst breakouts.

When I would think of acne, I used to think of the typical pubescent teens going through what they think is the hardest and most crucial part of their lives (shocker! It's not...). Growing up I would get one zit every now and then, and like most teen girls, think it was super embarrassing and everyone was staring at it. But looking back at it, I skated through the teen years without any real or serious acne. I thought I had made it through and I would have beautiful unblemished skin forever. Boy was I wrong. It wasn't until I hit my mid twenties (around 23 to be exact) that I got some of the worst acne I personally had ever seen. Luckily, I am pretty skilled at makeup and people would be shocked to see what was really hiding underneath but for the past year I have dealt with some of the worst breakouts that I never saw coming. 

If you're reading this and dealing with something similar, you aren't the only one! It is so common for women to deal with adult acne and I am going to share with you some changes I made that have dramatically helped my skin. 

Now there are some things you need to know. First off, our skin is the largest organ of the body. The thing that I find most interesting about it is that it can be one of the first indicators of something going on internally that we need to bring attention to. Having an allergic reaction to something? Your skin will show you with hives. Not drinking enough water? Your skin will be very dehydrated. While this is very cool to think about, it also makes skin issues hard to deal with sometimes. Skin problems, especially acne, can be very trial and error because our bodies are all different and need different things so what works for some people may not work for others. Be open to trying new things and making changes and you will find what works best for you! 

Now back to my acne story. I personally have very oily skin that is acne prone. New products can cause me to break out very easily. I also have a Medeterrainian/South American skin tone that is very olive-toned. I get dark hyperpigmented spots from blemishes even if I don't touch them. It's just the way my skin is and I've accepted it. (That's a huge step in healing your acne. I promise it'll be easier if you just accept that it's something you have to deal with and don't stress. The less stressed you are, the easier the healing process will be for you to go through!) 

Who knows why I got acne right at 23. It was probably a combination between trying new products in esthiology school, stress, significant weight loss causing fluctuations in my hormones, diet, and more. It all started appearing on my chin and jaw area quickly. This area of acne generally is usually hormonal or dealing with digestion. Within the course of a month I probably had at least 15 blemishes in my chin area. At my skin's worst I probably had as many as 30 or 40 blemishes ranging from deep cystic acne to small comedones.  Not to mention all of these blemishes were now scarring my chin and I had such bad hyperpigmentation throughout this area.

It would change of course and some weeks would be better than others but I felt like the second I would get my hopes up that maybe it was clearing up (meaning I probably had about 10 blemishes only...) I would wake up the next morning with 10 new ones. Can you say frustrated? 

At first I felt the need to cover it up all the time. It was embarrassing that I was studying to be an Esthetician and had some of the worst breakouts I'd ever seen. I worried people wouldn't trust my opinions if they saw my skin wasn't clear. Luckily, I discovered some amazing products that helped me completely hide my acne while I was with clients so no one had any idea (which yes I will be sharing with you in part three). 

However, you can't cover your skin 100% of the time and when I finally decided to not care what anyone thought of my acne I let go of a lot of stress and anxiety that goes along with having imperfect skin. While it's wonderful to be able to cover these blemishes, sometimes we just have to let our skin breathe and not put anything on it besides good healing skincare. We need these no makeup days to help our skin heal. While trying to heal my acne, and even now a lot of the time, I will be in public with all of my blemishes and scars showing because it was a part of me and it's not something you should be embarrassed about. If someone is going to judge you for something that the majority of women deal with then they aren't worth your time anyways. 

Make sure to come tomorrow where I will be sharing what changes I made in my life and skincare routine that ultimately cleared up my skin!

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 Shaving Routine for Sensitive Legs

I probably should have shared this in the beginning of the summer but since we shave our legs all year round this is something I'm always dealing with and you may be too!

I have extremely sensitive legs. It's something I've experienced ever since I started shaving in middle school. If I try to use any kind of shave gel, soap, or lotion during or after I shave, I get terrible a razor burn that's probably on the verge of a mini allergic reaction. Bumps and burning that sometimes make me think I'd rather just not have shaved at all! As an esthetician, I tried going the waxing route which for a while was amazing. No razor burn, my legs stayed smooth for longer and the hair was coming back looking much finer because you're seeing the tip of the hair versus the blunt middle of the hair shaft that a razor cuts at. However, the hair started coming back so fine that I was getting a huge amount of ingrown hairs on my shins due to the hair not being strong enough to break through the surface. So I was back to having bumps on my legs that no amount of exfoliation could prevent. So after 6 months of trying it I picked my razor back up and shaved my legs. 

I'm happy to report though that I think I've got it down to a science now. The right products and what exactly causes the problems. I figured I can't be the only person with this annoying smooth leg issue, so I'm here, ready to report what I've found gives me silky smooth legs! 

 

The Exfoliation: Since I cannot use a shaving cream or lotion, I have figured out a way to moisturize and smooth my legs without using one. I take a good moisturizing exfoliator (the one I show above is a shea butter sugar scrub from Tree Hut) and give my legs a good rub. I find that this moisturizes them enough to give me a good shave after but doesn't irritate anything because most of the product gets washed off before I shave. The sugar helps get rid of dead skin cells which will help with over all smoothness.

The Razor:  I have used all sorts of razors. Expensive ones with 500 blades, ones with the moisturizer all around the edges, and I find that the ones that are the best for my sensitive legs are the good old cheap BIC Silky Touch Disposable ones you see in the picture above. Normally they're in at least a 10 pack for $3 or $4 and they are good for a few shaves. Since they are so cheap, I don't mind only using each one a few times, which I think is also a secret to getting a close shave; I'm always using newer blades. No shave cream, just water.

The After-care: Now this is where I typically see the most irritation. My legs hate all lotions after I get out of the shower, so what I'll typically do is skip the lotion for a few hours. I find that the shea butter exoliator gives me enough hydration to last this time until my legs heal a little from the shaving. Then I'll add my favorite body butter later on which is usually either the Satsuma or Coconut Body Butter from The Body Shop.

So there you have it. This is my perfected shaving routine to give me smooth legs when dealing with high sensitivity! Let me know if you have any tricks and if you try this out!

Have a beautiful week,

Dre

Dre Does a Sun Damage warning!

Today's post is short and sweet. A friend and fellow esthetician (thanks Laura!) shared this video on Facebook and it's a must watch! A lot of people don't understand the importance of wearing sunscreen and what the sun can do/ has already done to our skin. Enjoy and please wear your SPF! Happy Friday my beautiful friends!

Have a beautiful weekend,

Dre

Dre Does Products I've Used Up

If you watch any beauty related YouTube videos consistently, you're probably familiar with people doing videos on products they have used up or 'empties' as they're sometimes called. If you are unaware of this topic, I think it's a very valuable one because it allows you to see the stuff I'm using. If I've used it until it is gone, I think it gives me enough time to really decide how I feel about a product and give you ladies a better opinion. Plus it allows me a chance to say whether or not I would repurchase it! So here we are with a post devoted to products I have recently used up!

1. Neutrogena makeup remover cleansing towelettes (the original blue pack): These are my favorite wipes to this day. I always use a makeup wipe to remove my face and residual eye makeup before I cleanse and I have been using these for years! I've tried numerous other brands and even the store brand versions of the Neutrogena ones but I always come back to these. They are gentle enough and don't burn my eyes, but still manage to get all of the makeup off. I like the texture of the actual wipe too! I actually have a bag that I have been collecting all of these empty products in and it holds 3 of these! Case in point. Haha 

Verdict: Buying, bought, will continue to buy them again. Haha

2. Bioré Makeup Removing Towelettes: Here I was trying out a new wipe and I hated these. They burned my eyes so terribly and I wasn't even using them to remove my eye makeup. These got reassigned to switching duty. I always keep cheaper makeup wipes on hand by my makeup collection and where I do my makeup so that if I need to remove anything off my hands or fingers, whatever, I have something to wipe with. These were only used for this reason. Haha

Verdict: Don't waste the money!

3. Forever 21 Love & Beauty Lavender Makeup Cleansing Tissues: I'm not even going to pretend I tried these on my face because to be honest, I'm a little scared to let something so cheap ($2.80 for 30) touch my face so these were bought with the intention of only using them for swatching and they got the job done! Loved them for this! (The only picture I could find was of the grapefruit scent. As with most Forever 21 stuff, the actual colors and styles you find in the store are really hit or miss so who knows what scents they currently have! Haha) 

Verdict: For the face? No, but worth it for swatching reasons.

4. Tarte Pure Maracuja Oil Deluxe Sample: I'm obsessed with this stuff and so sad that I used it up. It lasted me a long time because you need hardly any but it really is the perfect facial oil. Even though I'm oily I loved how plump and bright it made my skin feel. Some people like to use it as their moisturizer but you can also use it before or after it. While the big bottle is pretty expensive at $45 I know that it will last a long time, so I'm excited to be picking it up soon. I got my sample through Sephora so keep an eye out if you're wanting to try it. They do make a smaller roller ball version if you don't want to commit to trying the huge bottle but I will always recommend this awesome product. 

Verdict: Yes! Let me bathe in Maracuja Oil. Hahaha ok slightly dramatic...

5. Jane Water-Resistant Eye Liner in Black: I've mentioned these eyeliners before and I love them. This is seriously such a hidden gem as far as drugstore makeup goes. It's so inexpensive and I've gone through at least 3 of these. They come in a multitude of colors too! It is so creamy and dark and really stays on so well. I love that it is a twist up pencil so you don't have to worry about sharpening it, but it doesn't break constantly. Sometimes I find that twist up products dry out and break super easy but this isn't the case with this liner.

Verdict: Yes! Get one in every color, especially black.

6. Maybelline Dream Fresh BB 8-in-1 Beauty Balm Skin Perfector in Medium: This honestly got thrown out because it was old. The reason it sat so long and got old was because I wasn't the biggest fan. It's not that it was specifically bad, it just didn't do much. It was too thin of a texture for me. As far as BB creams go, I think there are far better products to try since everyone is creating BB and CC creams now, so I think I would want something with more coverage that has better ingredients in it.

Verdict: Probably won't ever try again and wouldn't recommend. 

There are the first six products that I've used up. These posts will usually be really random collections of products but I'd love your feedback on this type of post! I like stuff like this so I can get people's opinions but I want to know how you enjoy it!

Have a beautiful day, 

Dre

Dre Does Quick Skin Care Tips for the Eyes

I can't believe how long it's been since I've done a quick tips post! So here I am with some of my go to tips regarding a very important skin care topic; your eye are. The eyes are one of the first areas to show signs of aging so it's never too early to start thinking about incorporating some steps into your skin care routine, no matter your age!

1. Eye Cream First! Always apply your eye cream before you apply your moisturizer for the rest of your face. I see a lot of women apply it last or not really thinking about what step it should be. If you're applying a product for a specific problem (say to de-puff and moisturize under the eyes) you want that product to penetrate first in your target area before you put something more general (like an all over face moisturizer). The skin around your eyes is the thinnest and first to get dehydrated so applying the products in the correct order is crucial!

2. Under-Eye Concealer: I am no stranger to dark circles under my eyes so when it comes to doing my makeup I don't ever skip the undereye concealer. Regardless of what concealer you are using, always make sure you are tapping the product into your skin with your ring finger instead of swiping it. This will allow you to really warm up the product with the heat from your finger tips, while being really gentle. It will also help it blend into the area instead of smearing over it. You'll get a much more natural application that will cover the dark areas more effectively. 

3. Cold Spoons: If you have a problem with puffiness in the mornings because you're either tired or have allergies, try leaving two spoons in the freezer overnight. In the morning, pop them out and place them right over your eyes to cool and help taking down any swelling. The curves fit perfectly into your eye sockets! This is a great tip for the summertime to stay cool too. 

Remember, preventative skin care is always a good idea! Do you have any tips and tricks relating to the eyes that you'd like to share? Leave me a comment below and let me know!

Have a beautiful day,

Dre