The Best Moisturizer/Sunscreen Combination Products

Hi Sunshine Sparklers!

It is bright and sunny in Northern California during our September Summer.  I am also realizing lately that I'm going on 30 years old and I'm going to have to step up my sun protection game in order to fight signs of aging.  So today I want to talk about my top 2 daily moisturizers that also have SPF (Sun Protection Factor--how many of you knew that SPF mean't this?)

Depending on how much sun I'm going to see that day, I choose one of these 2 moisturizer/sunscreen products when I do my skin care routine in the morning.

I will say that Supergoop* is better for when my skin is feeling extra dry.  Otherwise, I like to add a quick layer of powder to reduce the dewy look a bit.  If you like glowing dewy skin, this is the sunscreen for you.

Sorry this post is so quick and late.  Longer report-style posts coming soon!

As always,

Shine & Sparkle!


*I am not paid or contacted by any of the companies mentioned in this post.  These are my honest feelings and opinions.

How To Get Rid Of Dark Under-Arms

Sup Super Spiffy Sparklers?

I know I have been neglectful.  So I'm here to make up for it with a full report post!  Summer is coming, so is the season for sleeveless tops.  This week's topic might be a little bit TMI, but really, this is a thing.  Many girls with more pigment in their skin worry about the skin under their arms being darker than the rest of their skin.  Yes, I know, this sounds insane to some but it is a major source of insecurity of others.  As someone who didn't even know this was an issue, I didn't even realize I had darker under arms until I read about it on another blog (lets not talk about the "thigh-gap" thing...I'll rant your head off about how silly that one is...)

This other blog had a ton of crazy DIY tips like "put baking soda paste under your arms every other day", and "rub lemons on them every day" and a gamut of other steps to get the skin color under your arms to match that of the rest of your skin.

While I personally believe that I have other more important things to worry about (like a huge zit in the middle of my face), I did become interested if I could make my underarms lighter if I tried.  And low and behold, it is possible!  Who knew?!  And it was actually a lot easier than I thought it would be.  What are the 3 magic steps that I take to achieve matching under-arm skin color?  Things I would do for hygiene purposes anyway.  Having nice healthy skin under your arms is good for not only your skin, but also helps you not smell bad. Win-win.

#1: Epilate My Under Arm Hair-  Yes, this is the number one thing that changed the appearance of my under arms.  Basically, when I used to shave my under-arms, it would leave a little black dot of hair below the surface of the skin.  This is mainly what gave the look of darker under arms.  I bought an Emoji Soft Caress Corded Epilator ($60USD), and this had 2 major benefits.  A) It quickly pulled the hair out at the root; B) I only have to remove my underarm hair with it once every 2 weeks or so.  This can also be used on legs and they say face, but honestly, I feel it works best for me on my under arms.  Other areas will depend on the thickness of your hair and pain tolerance.

For those who do not know what an epilator is, it is many electricity powered tweezers that quickly pull out hairs.  I went with the corded one because it was the least expensive and I don't use it enough or long enough to care about cordless charging or bothering with batteries.

I'm not going to lie to you, the first couple of times I did it, it was a little painful, but after that, it doesn't really hurt at all.  I will say that if you are very sensitive to pain, it might not be for you.  Also, if you are more tolerant than I am, you might be able to use it to remove every hair on your body.  But not I--said the Susan Sparkles, not I.

Mini-Tip:  I like epilating because it is much more affordable than getting my underarms waxed at a salon.  However, if you would like to wax your under-arms, it should give the same results.  If you want a totally pain free method of getting rid of hair below the surface of your skin, you can try chemical hair removers such as Nair.

#2: Exfoliate-  Nothing crazy, no weird products.  Just make sure you take some sort of abrasive bath object (body brush, exfoliating loofa, even an old tooth brush) and use your regular body soap to exfoliate any dead skin cells from your under arms 1-2 times a week.  You could also try using a mega batch of my DIY Lip Scrub, it will work on your body too!  No biggie, but it keeps the area nice and clean, free of dead skin cells. Hooray!  Really, no need to use steal wool or sand paper guys, just exfoliate.

#3: Tone/Moisturize- If you have a toner for your face (which I highly recommend as part of your skin care routine-I talk about mine in my dealing with oily skin post) use it on your under arms as needed.  If you don't have a toner or you want a cheaper option, drugstore isopropyl alcohol can also work.  Do this after exfoliating to remove any dirt/impurities/leftover deodorant in the skin.  It will also help with body odor.  Hooray!  After this, take your favorite lotion and put some under your arms as well.

So there you have it, basically, take good care of the skin under your arms and it will most likely be lighter in color.  If this does not work, it is possible, that genetically, your skin is just darker under your arms.  My tip if this is the case is to be comfortable and confident.  Do not let something small like the color of your under-arms dictate your life. Wear sleeveless shirts and reach for the peanut butter on the top shelf.  Wear a swimsuit and play volley ball on the beach!  I'm sure that if you carry yourself with pride and are living life to the fullest, nobody will be worried about the color of the skin under your arms.  While in the beauty world we try and alter and enhance ourselves so that we are the most confident in ourselves, I think it is important to embrace what we have and try not to be too critical of ourselves.

As Always,

Shine & Sparkle!



*I am not paid or contacted by any of the companies mentioned in this post.  These are my honest feelings and opinions

Face Cleansing Quick Tip

Happy Fall Devoted Shine and Sparklers!

Today I have a really quick tip about washing your face.  I'm sure you never really thought about it, but here are my top tips for getting the best results from your facial cleanser!

What? Stock image?  Well...uh...it's a quick tip!  I was lazy!  So sue me.  Actually, please don't. This image is property of the person who created it.  Like all my images, I will gladly take it down if contacted/someone throws a hissy fit.  

1. Wash your face at the end of your shower.  As you shower you have body soaps, shampoo, conditioner, shaving cream, and all sorts of other products that might have ingredients you don't want sitting on your face.  Waiting until the end of your shower to wash your face ensures that you are left with the cleanest skin possible at the end of your shower.
2. Massage the cleanser into your face for 30 seconds to 1 minute in small circular motions.  This seems like a long time, but to get the full benefits of your cleanser, wash your face for a bit longer than you think.  This gives the cleanser time to break down oils, tighten pores, exfoliating ingredients to sluff away dead skin cells, and all the goodness of your cleanser to work.  
3. Dry your face with a clean towel. I actually have a number of small towels I reserve just for my face.  If you don't care about the environment, you can also use a paper towel.  The skin on your face tends to be more sensitive to bacteria (which can cause breakouts too!)  Using a clean towel to dry your face helps reduce bacteria and leave you with the best complexion possible.
4. Wash your face 2 times a day.  Washing more than 2 times will dry it out.  It's good to get all the environmental particles, oil and makeup off of your face at night.  It's good to get all the oil and bacteria from your pillows off your face in the morning.  Hooray.

I know this was a super super quick tip.  But isn't that the point?

As Always,

Shine & Sparkle!

Top 3 Skin Care Tips You Are Not Doing!

Hi Shine and Sparkle Report Readers!

Today I wanted to do a quick tip that lists the top 3 skin care tips you might not be doing.  Doing these 3 things will dramatically increase the effectiveness of the products you use.  In the interested of making this an actual quick tip, not a mile long post, lets get straight into it.

#1: Always Apply Products to Clean Skin/Exfoliate Occasionally:  If there is a lot of dirt, skin build up, or bacteria on your skin, it will be harder for your products to work.  If nothing else make sure your skin is clean.  Washing your face 2 times a day with a gentle cleanser is my recommendation.  Every so often use an exfoliating face wash (Without microbeads please! Read about that here!) to get off dead skin cells.  Who cares if you apply product to dead skin cells, we want to nourish the healthy ones!  Why not exfoliate every day? Why not with harsh face brushes?  Because irritation to your skin is never good.  It contributes to acne and the increased pulling/over exfoliation can lead to making your skin very sensitive and more prone to winkles/sun damage. Boo to that.

#2 Let Each Product Absorb Before Adding the Next One:  It might make your skin care routine take a bit longer, but if you wait for each layer of your routine to fully absorb and dry in between layers, they will work MUCH better.  This applies even if you just apply moisturizer after you wash your face.  If you wait for a clean dry surface of your skin, it will make those products work better because they are not mixing together as much or competing.  You also will prevent any products from balling/caking up and looking weird on your face.

#3 Wash Your Face Last In The Shower:  I know you might think this wouldn't matter, but it does.  Washing your face last means you get off any shampoo, conditioner, bodywash/soap residue that might be on your face. These residues are not great for your face and could effect how well your face products work.  Conditioner especially can contribute to break outs, so this step is very important for acne sufferers.  Doing this, ensures that you have the clean skin noted in #1 to start your skin care routine.

 Hope you like my quick tips and hope to get an updated skin care routine post up and a Vegas post (if you follow me on facebook, twitter or instagram, you'd know about that already) asap.

Shine & Sparkle! 

Review of Hujan Luxury Skin Care Products

Hi Shine and Sparkle Report Readers!

In keeping with my weekly blogs since my acceptance into the "Her Campus Blogger Network"(HCBN), I have a set of great skin care products to review for you all! However, these products were not sent as part of my participation in HCBN. As I promised, I am fully disclosing that I received these products in exchange for my review of them.  I also promise to be completely honest with you about how I feel about them.

 Hujan Skin Care Products are high-end spa products specifically designed for Kinetic Day Spa in Tiburon, California. I personally know that both Kinetic Day Spa and their product line are made with tons of love and commitment to great ingredients.  A little goes a long way, so though initial investment seems pricey, you get your moneys worth!

I made this image, if you'd like to use it please ask ;)  Honestly, I don't know why you would want yo steal the image...I'd want to steal the AWESOME skin care products.

The packaging was simple and clean. Quick Tip: Dipping your fingers in products that come in pots can increase the chance of germs contaminating the product, causing breakouts.  Make sure your hands are clean before using products in pots.  I was immediately really impressed with the quality and purity of the ingredients in these products:

• Natural and Organic Ingredients
• Gluten Free
• Aromatherapy
• No Parabens
• No Artificial Fragrances or Dyes
• No Propylene Glycol
• No Sulfates
• No Animal Testing

They are supposed to be optimized to be:Anti Aging

• Hydrating
• Rejuvenate
• ​Repair

 Pretty Amazing right? These products are great for all skin types and all ages.

My set was equivalent to the "Hujan Starter Pack", which retails for $153.  I know this sounds pricey  compared to drugstore products, however these are the same products used in a facial from Kinetic Day Spa that cost $90-$110 each.  Not only that, but it's a great deal compared to some of less healthy skin care available at say.. Nordstroms. Thus, you can give yourself many more at home facials at with these products.  The products I received included:

1. Balancing Cleanser (4oz)-  I used this first.  I really liked this cleanser.  The first ingredients are organic aloe vera juice, organic rooibos tea extract, and organic olive oil.  I love that it also contains activated charcoal.  This is great for drawing out impurities from your skin.  It doesn't foam, which means it cleanses while not stripping your skin.  While this is great to start your Sunday pamper day (especially for a Hujan-product pamper session), I don't think I would use it to try and take off heavy makeup at the end of the day.  It will not do much to take off things like water-proof mascara.  If you normally do not wear make-up, this is a great daily cleanser.  If you do, then make sure to remove your make-up first.

2. Balancing Toner (4oz)-  Following the cleanser, I used this toner.  The instructions say to "pat around the eye area".  I found that I prefer to spray it on a cotton round and swipe all over my face (including the eye area).  Again, you are looking at the main ingredients organic aloe vera juice, organic rooibos tea extract, and organic olive oil.  It also has activated charcoal.  Pretty awesome. It also does not sting or dry out your skin like some toners.

3. Hydrating C-Serum (2oz)-  I used this after my toner dried.  This is not a silicone serum that is clear and slides over your skin.  It is more of a light moisturizer cream that is packed with a lot of concentrated nutrients for your skin.  A base of organic aloe vera juice works with things like Rosehip seed oil, Vitamin C Ester, and Organic berry extracts to brighten skin, refine pores, moisturize, and seemed to make the biggest difference in my skin out of all the products.  This was probably my favorite of all the products.  I don't really have fine lines or wrinkles yet, but this serum pretty much brings my skin back to my teenage years (without the acne!)  I'm a fan.  Because it's so potent, I don't use it every day, but every day might be a great option if you have more mature skin.  I also use this as my eye cream.  For an eye cream, this is a GIGANTIC tub.

4. Rejuvenating Facial Moisturizer (2oz)- Lastly, my skin was feeling clean, refined, bright, and nourished, but this product is very deeply moisturizing.  Shea and Coco butters make this very hydrating and wonderful.  It is a pretty heavy moisturizer which leaves a bit of a oily feeling to the skin.  Perfect for night time application when younger skin really needs some TLC and amazing for more mature skin.  I ended up gifting it to someone with drier more mature skin who simply raved about it.  It would not be my first choice for day time or under make-up, but it is perfect for after you get finished with this luxurious set of skin treatments. 

All Around Thoughts:  I really like them if you are looking on products for your pamper nights.  I think I will be working them into my daily routine also when my skin needs a little extra something.  Probably use the cleanser and toner in the mornings and moisturizer at night. I can use the serum is behaving and I don't need to use my acne treatment (or as a light moisturizer).  They are pretty pricey, but a little product goes a REALLY long ways.  This makes them a much more reasonable splurge purchase.  All the products all have a luxurious feel when applying them.  They also all have a wonderful herbal and natural fragrance that make you think of a spa when you close your eyes. I would definitely repurchase the serum and moisturizer.  I'm not sure if in the long run I would re-purchase the cleanser or toner because I really love my current ones, not because these are not good. Also, be aware, that with products are so pure and natural, their shelf life is not as long as products with chemicals and preservatives, try not to keep them around for too long. 

Thank you so much to Hujan and Kinetic Waves Salon for this opportunity to try and review these amazing luxurious products.  And as always,

Shine & Sparkle!

Benefit's Love Me B.Right Gift Set Review

Hi Shine and Sparkle Report's Faithful Readers!

With the holidays approaching, beauty gift sets are abundant.  I thought I would make haste with this review, just in case you were considering buying it! I will let Squiggles introduce this product review of Benefit's "Love Me B.Right" Gift Set*:

I was so excited to try Benefit's skin care line because I have liked quite a few of their other products (let me know if you want to know about those in the comments).


As you can see, while $48 seems like a high price tag.  However, all these products together retail for over $90! Full size eye cream and "facial emulsion" aka face lotion alone are $60, so it's $12 cheaper plus you get 2 deluxe sized samples of the other two products.  Sounds like a good deal, but wait until you read the review.


In a Nutshell: I was disappointed and do not recommend anything other than the "POREfessional" primer if your skin is at all sensitive.


The Full Report:

The Products

The POREfessional Face Primer ($30 for the full size of 0.75fl oz, deluxe sample in gift set)--
Let's start with the good.  The POREfessional face primer was by far my favorite product.  It applies lightly with that super-smooth silicone feel.  It doesn't irritate my skin or break me out.  It has a slight tint to it and is not oily at all.  It truly filled in my pores and makes any liquid or powder foundation look flawless and long lasting.  While I wish this had been full sized, the deluxe sample will last quite a while.  When I run out of primer, this will become the only face primer in my collection.  I have (and have also tried) samples of Pixi-Pore Reducing Primer, Bare Minerals Face Primer, Hourglass Mineral Veil (suuuper pricey!), and Mirabella face primers.  All of these pale in comparison to POREfesisonal.
Ms. Sparkles says "Splurge for this one!"  There is no comparison and the 0.75fl oz goes a long way.  Only a tinnnny bit of primer is needed since it spreads so easily.

It's Potent! Eye cream ($30 for full size of 0.5 oz-full size in gift set)--
Let's start with what this isn't:  Anti-aging.  That being said, this eye cream is marketed mainly at people in their mid twenties to mid thirties who are trying to prevent aging in the future, so it is mainly to moisturize and reduce dark circles.  However, it has NO SPF, meaning it doesn't prevent damage from the sun which is the biggest contributor to the future aging of skin.

 Also, while it does smell great, fragrance can be irritating on the eyes for us sensitive skin folks.  All the products are "allergy tested" but not free of fragrance or harsh irritants.  Thus, when they say "use gently under the eye" they really mean waaay under the eye.  On the lid or at all close to my eye led to itchy and very unhappy eyes.  Boo.  I found this works best for me FAR away from my actual eye area and just treating super dry spots of my skin (weirdly, that is usually my eyebrows.)  I might end up using it for moisturizing really dry areas on my hands and feet to get through it.  Online someone suggested using it as a face primer, I might consider trying that.
Ms. Sparkles Says: Skip this one if you have even slightly sensitive skin and want to use as advertised.

Triple Performing Facial Emulsion ($30 for full size of 1.7fl oz-full size in gift set)--
Also smells great but again, "allergy tested" apparently means that it irritates my sensitive skin.  The bottle is ADORABLE and has a pump (which is very hygienic).  However, the pump dispenses probably only 1/5th to 1/6th the product needed to cover your face.  Thus, to do your whole face is 5-6 pumps.  That being said, I'm going to go through it very slowly because I have to mix just 1-2 pumps with my normal Olay Sensitive Skin daily moisturizer (which I talk about in my "Dealing with Oily Skin" post) to use it at all on my face.  Perhaps I will be using it up as a neck and shoulder cream.  That skin is less sensitive and needs love and sunscreen too!
Ms. Sparkles Says: Skip this one if you have sensitive skin and want to use as advertised.

Total Moisture Facial Cream ($40 for full size of 1.7oz-deluxe size in gift set)--
Blah blah, smells good, irritates my skin. This is supposed to be an intensive total moisturizing cream that you use on very dry skin.  I tried it both at night and during the day (with the emulsion on top for SPF protection).  Both applications left my skin feeling irritated and uncomfortable.  Luckily this was a small jar because I don't quite know how I'm going to use this.  Other than maybe one really awesome foot moisturizing application.  Boo.

The Packaging:

Oh so cute and mostly high-end feeling.  Thick glass is great but the pump on the facial emulsion is a bit flimsy.  Also, the "cork" looking tops are not actually cork, but matte cork print on substantial and nice quality plastic.  The gift box stickers with product information easily remove and is the perfect size to hold a small box of tissues.  Great for decorating your vanity!

The Take Home:  

MAJOR skin irritation issues, but did not break me out.  Would NOT re-purchase anything but the primer.  I know that these great rave reviews on the internet but I have no idea how anyone with even mildly sensitive skin doesn't have bad reactions to it.

While I don't mind that Benefit's other products are not formulated to be particularly gentle to increase effectiveness, I think neglecting sensitivities in skin care is a pretty big oversight on their part.  If your skin care and foundation products are gentle, less gentle make up products typically go over much better.  I want to love these as much as other internet reviewers do, I just can't.


Shine & Sparkle!



*I am not paid or contacted by any of the companies mentioned in this post.  These are my honest feelings and opinions.

Korean Beauty Product Haul (not bought on the internet!) and Review

This just in Shine and Sparkles Readers,

I have the best Dad ever!  World traveler that he is, my Dad was in Korea last month (just a wee bit jelly). Naturally, when he asked if there were any souvenirs I wanted, beauty products were #1!  Korea is known for being one of the world leaders in innovate skin care and make up.  I was so excited to make my Dad a shopping list by going on the internet and doing a little research.  I'm sure you are imagining a pretty interesting scenario.  Enter my Dad, wandering around Korea alone.  Facing not only a language barrier but quizzical looks as a male asking about make-up at beauty counters.

But never fear!  My Dad's friend's wife and her other female friend acted as amazing guides to collect items off of my Korean beauty product list.  If I ever get to make a pilgrimage there, you bet there will be a blog post all about it!

Needless to say, thank you sooooo much to the 3 awesome and wonderful people who went out of their way to bring me this haul.  Way cooler than buying online.  Take that Amazon!

So excited by this Korean Beauty Product Haul.  I took pictures for you readers right away at my parents house!  See the receipts all in Korean? *sqee*

Close Up #1

Close Up #2

Some of the things on my list were sold out, though I think I go more than enough stuff to keep me entertained for months.  My dad also got me some sea cucumber soap from Malaysia (the 3 large colored things in Close Up #1).  I also apparently got a ton of samples!  In this report, I will not be reviewing the samples, but if there is something I did not review that you want to know about, let me know in the comments and I will gladly oblige.  I will mention really quick that the "Black pearl O2 Bubble Mask"* was super crazy.  It goes on like a gel, then puffs up into a foam all over your face.  While it didn't do all that much for my skin, the novelty of it was very niffty.

If you are really inspired to buy any of these products (and you don't live in Korea or have an amazing world-traveling Dad.)  You can probably purchase online from http://en.koreadepart.com/.

 The Saem Snail Three Musketeers Hand Creams:

By far the cutest packaging I received in this haul and the most unique.  Why? Because they are made with SNAIL GOO...ehem...I mean Snail Essence.  Before you go ewwww and race to that little "x" that closes your browser window, let me explain.  Snail slime...er...essence is rich in proteins of high and low molecular weight hyaluronic acid and antioxidants.  Hyaluronic acid is a humectant which means that it attracts water, making it an excellent moisturizer.  The proteins and antioxidants are supposed to reduce signs of aging by stimulating the formation of collagen, elastin, and minimizing damage from free-radicals. Oooooh ahhhh. 

I can definitely say that while sounding pretty gross, these are AMAZING products.  The fragrance is strong but very pleasant.  As the little names on the snails suggest, the blue is Lilly scented, yellow is freesia, and the pink is cherry blossom.  They are extremely moisturizing.  I love using them on my hands, focusing on my cuticles and nails.  I use it before painting my nails and let it soak in. My nails have been so much stronger and splitting less. Hooray. The only con is that they are kind of bulk for taking around with you.  Also, untwisting a snail shell is not conducive to moisturizing your hands on the go.  That being said, they look adorable on a vanity table and are great for at-home use.

Ac Care Bee's Sheet Mask: 

I was very excited to try Korean sheet masks.  We just don't have things like this in the United States yet.  They are pretty much like thick, smooth baby wipes that are soaked in liquid that is good for your skin.  The mask has cut outs for your eyes nose and mouth.  The pros are that you don't have to rinse it off like a traditional mask.  They are also very easy, open packet and go.  Cons are that the cut outs don't account for various face shapes so I ended up having to take the extra cut out parts and place them around my (apparently) large nose.  The AC Care Bee's mask is meant for sensitive skin.  I really liked it.  My skin felt very moisturized and my skin had a nice brightness and glow to it.  It also reduced the appearance of pores.  I'm a fan.  I got a sample sheet mask with rice proteins (large white packet in close up #2) and another one (large red packet in close up #1).  I thought the rice one was ok but I did not see great results.  I did not like the red one as much.  It did reduce pores, but had stronger chemicals (and chemical smell) and felt slightly irritating on my skin.

Innisfree Jeju Volcanic Pore Clay Mask (Original):

I have not had a chance to try this yet.  I'm still working my way through my Body Shop: Seaweed Ionic Clay Mask .  I am hoping that this will be very similar to that.  Able to dry out any acne and pull impurities from my skin.  From the little test patch on my hand, I know that it has a pleasant smell and seems like it will fit the bill of a very detoxifying mask.  I found the quantity of product a bit small for the price compared to the body shop clay mask, however Jeju Volcanic clay is probably harder to get/rarer than "ionic clay" (whatever that is...)

Innisfree No sebum mineral powder:

In terms of function, it is probably one of the best oil controlling powders I have ever used.  It is also probably the finest milled mineral powder I have used.  I'm obsessed with it.  Even though it is a white powder, it goes on translucent and keeps your face matte for hours and hours.  I'm a little sad that it doesn't contain a whole lot of powder but it will last a good amount of time if you just concentrate it in your t-zone.  If you want a fragrance free powder this isn't for you.  But I think there is something really luxurious about putting this powder on a big soft fluffy brush and having the perfume of it fill the air (don't worry, the smell dissipates quickly, so you will not be smelling it on your face all day).  You can also use the little sponge that is included to get a more concentrated application in your t-zone for even more intense oil control.  I will be ordering more of this online when it runs out.

CLIO Water-proof Turnliner Twisturn in Black:

Last but not least, a black eye liner.  While this seems like it would be a basic product that doesn't need to come across the sea from a foreign land....it does.  The perfect liquid eyeliner varies by eye shape and need.  For instance, I love M.A.C's Liquid Last eyeliner.  It's a bit pricey but nothing works better for my lower lash line.  It doesn't smudge at all and even eye make-up remover fails to get rid of it.  Pure olive or coconut oil is the only thing I have found that removes that stuff quickly and painlessly.  Even though it works great for the part of my eye that smudges the most and is not oily, it is a pain in the butt if it is all over my upper lash line (which can get oily and is a rather large area to cover with hard to remove stuff.)  Which is where CLIO Water-proof Turn Liner comes in.  It has a long, fine tipped brush that fills with a somewhat runny liner fluid when you twist the end of it.  Something about the shape and stiffness of the brush gives excellent control for perfect lines and the formula glides on quickly and easily.  It is a great brush for Asian eyes that sometimes need a longer brush and to cover more space due to mono lids/hooded eyes/in-the-way-lashes resulting from almond shaped eyes.  Most of all, it doesn't budge at all with oil but removes easily with make up remover.  So, pair M.A.C's liquid last on the bottom with CLIO on the top, and I have the perfect eyeliner that can stand up to 12+ hours of wear without a worry in the world (other than a 2 step process to remove it later).  Yeah, it's that cool a combo.

So there you have it mini (or not so mini) report on my Korean beauty products brought to you by plane from Ms. Sparkle's Dad & Co.    Hope you enjoyed.  If you have any Korean beauty favorites let me know, I'd love to try them!

Shine & Sparkle!

*I am not paid or contacted by any of the companies mentioned in this post.  These are my honest feelings and opinions.

The Body Shop Seaweed Ionic Clay Mask Review

Hi Shine and Sparkle Report Readers!

Here is a review of The Body Shop's "Seaweed Ionic Clay Mask"*.  As a federal worker in the USA, I have been "taking a break from America" for the last week and 2 days due to government shut down.  As a result, I felt I needed to pick up something to pamper myself with all this free time.  So I spent 30 minutes milling around The Body Shop and decided to try this!  5 Stars, 10 of 10!  This is my favorite face mask to date. 

Sorry about the boring image, my image editing software is unavailable right now.  BUT this is the stuff! Like all my images, I'll gladly give someone credit for their image or take it down if whoever owns it throws a hissy fit.

The Body Shop Claims: 

Best if you want to: Detoxify and deep cleanse your skin with a weekly mask that uses natural ionic clay action to draw out impurities and control excess oil.
Best for: oily/combination skin
How it works:

• Community Trade bladderwack seaweed and seaweed harvested from the French coast balance skin tone and purify and clarify the complexion.
• 100% natural clay complex cleanses and revitalizes skin; negatively charged ions act like magnets to draw out dirt and impurities from the pores.

I agree with the claims by The Body Shop!

Application:
I have been using it twice a week (Tues and Thurs nights) for 2 weeks now. I wash my face with my most gentle cleaner.  I put about a teaspoon on my damp skin with clean hands.  Then I let it sit for 10 minutes (or more).  It seems to not make a difference after 10 minutes, but sometimes you have to finish writing a blog post before showering/rinsing your face to get it off.  No need to use cleanser afterward.

This mask has a non-drippy very clean application.  It gets harder and dries out as you wear it (I have it on right now!) I like that I can feel it working as it tightens on my face. I also love that the smell is clean and soothing.  It smells like a spa to me.

Effects: The mask is gentle enough for combination/oily skin.  My skin is a bit sensitive as well and I have not had any problems.  And don't worry about it drying out your skin.  You will be fine with your normal moisturizer afterwards.

I have noticed that my pores are MUCH smaller and stay that way until my next application of the mask.

Value: It retails for $20-22, however, online right now it is on sale for $16!  I have also noted that at a good thin (but not too thin) layer of the mask has barely made a dent in the amount of product.  I'd say it's a pretty good value for a middle price range.  It's not as cheap as drug store, but not crazy expensive.

Some Tips:

1) You might notice a few extra break outs 2-3 days after using the mask.  This is a result of the clay pulling the impurities out of your skin.  If you are maintaining a good skin care routine, in about 2-3 applications you will notice that your skin is over all MUCH better than it was before.

2) If your pot of mask is starting to dry out, put a few drops of filtered water into it and it will be good as new!  (This has not happened to me yet, but another reviewed noticed this after about 1/2 of the container was used.)


Shine & Sparkle!

*I am not paid or contacted by any of the companies mentioned in this post.  These are my honest feelings and opinions.

Dealing with Oily Skin

Hi Readers!

PHEW! Just made my 2 post a month deadline!  Today I'm going to talk about something suggested by one of my favorite readers: Zelna Smith!  Zelna wanted to know about products to help deal with oily skin and I have quite a few suggestions to share with all my readers.

Squiggles apologizes for not making and appearance.  This stock photo will just have to do.  I'm sorry about that one.  Like all my images, I'll gladly give someone credit for their image or take it down if whoever owns it throws a hissy fit.

Step 1: Cleanser--

Yep you need to get that oil off of your face since it likes to harbor bacteria and impurities that can lead to break outs.  One of the latest (and definitely greatest) new cleaner ingredients to combat oil and impurities is....CHARCOAL! I know it sounds crazy, but remember when someone said if you eat poison, eating charcoal could help save your life?  I don't know if this old wives tale is actually true, but I do know it works miracles for your skin.  Lots of companies are getting on this trend, but Michael Todd's Jojoba Charcoal Facial Scrub*- $18 for 3.4oz is a really amazing version if you are looking at fairly high end.  In contrast, my absolutely affordable and most favorite (which will be in my cabinet until my skin stops being oily *prays*) Is Shisheido Ultra Black Wash -$11 for 8oz!  You only need a pea sized amount, and it forms a rich lather than tingles nicely as it detoxifies your face, yet does not overly dry it out.  I'm in love with Shissheido's drug store line.  You have to buy online from the US, since we only carry the pricy stuff, but it's amazing. One other charcoal product to try if you are feeling adventurous is Origins Clear Improvement Mask -$25 for 3.4oz  I'm sure there are lots more charcoal products out there, so feel free to let me know in the comments if you recommend any others!

Now if you are thinking charcoal is too out there for you, I suggest really any basic and gentle cleanser to remove oil from your face will be sufficient.  Why not one of the MILLIONS of "oil control" cleansers you ask? Because I think that these are overly stripping.  As you will find out later, the trick to oil control, is actually proper moisture/oil balance. As for gentle cleansers I recommend e Cetaphil Gentle Cleanser-$7-10 for 16oz! Really affordable and effective.

Step 2: Tone Gently (if at all)

Honestly, this isn't really a necessary step, but I like to cooling feeling of a toner.  If you use a toner, make sure that it is alcohol free!  This is because alcohol will dry out your skin, leading to more oil (yes, I'm getting to that whole balance point in Step 3. Hold your horses).  If you feel the need to use a toner, there are many alcohol free ones out there.  My favorite is on the affordable end: Simple Soothing Facial Toner- $6-7 for 6.7oz.

Step 3- Moisuize-with oil!

This is the big tip which sounds super crazy.  But your face becomes a big grease ball....when it thinks your skin needs it.  So by putting other moisturizers containing good oils, you actually reduce your skins over production of oil.  A good moisturizer has oils such as jojoba, argan, or some other oil that replaces the oil you have lost from cleansing and toning, and keeps your skin from producing lots of excess oil!  Crazy.  So when you have been searching for oil free moisturizers to avoid oil, you have actually be making your skin produce more of it.  I like to pick a moisturizer I like (such as Olay Complete All Day Moisturizer With Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF15 - Sensitive) and add 1-2 drops of pure jojoba, argan, or teatree (for really bad break outs) oil.  This honestly keeps my skin nice all day.

Mini-Tip:  Let all steps dry and absorb before going on to the next step! It makes a huge difference!

S+SR Reporting Bonus?!  You guys are so lucky!:

Tips to Mitigate Oil When Wearing Make-up

Oil is make-up's worst enemy.  If you ever want to remove really heavy/water-proof make-up fast, take some oil (coconut or olive are my favorites) and rub it all over your face-- the make-up will simply melt into the oil.  Then wash your face.  Forget crazy expensive make-up removers. That being said, your natural face oils try to make your carefully applied make-up look terrible halfway through the day.  I imagine the little oil particles with a monocle, handle bar mustache, and a bowler hat going, "Bwahahaha!".   Lucky for us, there are some great products and steps that can really help reduce oily-ness and extend the wear of your make-up:

Primers:

• Face: While finding a primer you like before foundation is very personal, but they do have ones aimed at reducing oil.  
• Eye:  I find that Urban Decay Primer Potion-$10-20 is the worlds best eyeshadow primer, no matter what your skin type! Makes all your eye make-up last all day!

Set your make-up:

• Powder Setting: After applying any liquid or cream based make-up products (which last longer in general) top it off by setting it with a powder version.  This applies to liquid foundation (set with a powder), liquid/cream eyeliners/shadows (set with a similar shade powder eyeshadow), and cream/stain blush (set with similar powder blush).
• Setting Sprays:  The final step to long-wearing make-up is setting sprays.  If you were ever in dance or theater, an inside tip to long wearing make-up was spraying your face with hair-spray from afar.  We have come a long way since then and there are setting sprays that work much better and are healthier for your skin.  I'm a huge fan of Urban Decay Setting Sprays, which include ones for oily skin.

Blot:  

• Worst comes to worst, blotting papers are your best anti-shine friend.  You can see my review of my favorite E.L.F blotting papers here! 

 Shine & Sparkle!

*I am not paid or contacted by any of the companies mentioned in this post.  These are my honest feelings and opinions.

DIY Mango Tumeric Face Mask!

Hello Lovely Shine and Sparkle Report Readers!

The beginning of April means spring has sprung.  Flowers are blooming and the warm weather means lighter make-up application and general desire to be glowing looking.  What better way to do this than clearing and brightening up your skin?

The quick mask recipe* I'm about to give you is all natural and really effective.  Your skin absorbs good nutrients in a mask, so why have all the chemicals in a fancy and expensive product when you can be more effective with natural ingredients right?  I have found that making my own masks is far more effective than most masks I can buy.  I used this mango and turmeric mask as my weekly mask and instantly saw a calming of my break outs and a more even skin tone. 

As usual, like my last image, I'll gladly give someone credit for their image or take it down if whoever owns it throws a hissy fit.  Otherwise, please enjoy Squiggles being emasculated with a towel turban (at least I made it blue).

Ingredients:
- 1-2 tbs of ripe fresh mango (organic is best!): Mango fruits have pigments called carotenoids,which can improve color and brighten the skin.  Also rich in antioxidants and pore cleansing properties.  Needless to say, Yey mango!
-2 tsp olive or coconut oil (or both!):  Oils have moisturizing properties, help balance oil production of the skin and are generally great for it!  Both of these oils have anitoxidants (which we know are great to fight aging).  Coconut oil also has some antibacterial properties that can also help fight acne.
-1 tsp turmeric powder:  This powder can help even out hyper-pigmentation of the skin.  It also has anti-bacterial properties that can reduce inflammation and acne.  This might not be a staple in everyone's spice cabinet, but it should be! It's also super healthy to ingest and is used in a lot of Indian foods such as curry.  DO NOT use curry powder...that would burn like crazy...zomg...
Warning: Too much of this can temporarily stain the skin a bit yellow.  To remove staining, use some oil (olive or coconut are my favorites) to cotton pads and gently use to remove the staining.  Alternatively, do the mask on a day you wont be doing much.  A couple washes should take care of it no problem.

Assembly and Application:
1) Mash ingredients together. Want to use a fork? A blender? be my guest.  Whenever you make a mask it's not an exact science.  Just make sure the consistency is thick enough to not fall off your face.  If you have a waterier mask, don't worry, just use a thinner layer or add more dry/thick ingredients.
2) Cleanse and pat dry your face.
3) Apply mask all over your face.
4) Leave the mask on as long as you want (no harsh chemicals here, longer the better!) but I suggest at least 15 minutes.
5) Remove mask with warm water and cleanse again (if you find the turmeric has stained).    
6) Eat the rest of your fresh mango.  It is good for your insides too! 

Optional Ingredients:
Go nuts with your DIY masks.  Make your own.  Here are some other ingredients to consider if they are hanging out in your kitchen.
-Oatmeal: Very soothing and calming to your skin.  Best turned into powder though blending--it's hard to get oatmeal to be a powder with a fork.  Mortar and pestle it if you are old school.  Heck, you can use a mortar and pestle to make all your masks if you get down like that.
 -Plain yogurt: Also very calming, moisturizing, and excels at relieving sunburn. Woo.  Some people say it is anti--bacteriala and anti-fungal which is good to help acne, though make sure the source is hormone free.  Dairy hormones can make it worse =(
-Green Tea: Everyone knows about green tea's anti-oxidant and toning powers, so I'll just let you think about making a cup of tea and adding a bit to your mask.
-Honey: Moisture, acne-fighting, glowing goodness.  
 
 Let me know if you have any favorite mask ingredient combos I should try out.  I'm thinking of trying out a cucumber honey recipe next.

Shine & Sparkle!

* As usual, just note I'm not a doctor or professionally trained.  I just spend a lot of time researching things and experimenting on myself and friends (even though I do have a guinea pig).  Please consult with your doctor, especially if you are taking medications or may/are pregnant.  This is the internet you know.

Green Tea in Products and DIY

Greetings Lovely S+SR Readers!

I'm an indecisive person and thus I'm doing a combo-style blog post.  Who doesn't like combos?  Combo meals, combo washers/driers, video game combo attacks, the combos are endless!  Well in this post I will be combo-ing a product review and DIY skin care solution.  Heck, it's even guy friendly so it's a triple combo! Whoo! Getting crazy up in here. Anyway, most combos need a theme, Like food, clothes washing, or video games.  So the theme of this combo is "Green Tea."

If you are just jumping into...well the world...you should know green tea is praised for having lots of anti-oxidants which (in a nutshell) are good.  They are good inside your body and outside.  That is why it is a combo theme.  If you want a lot of good research and ridiculous nonsense about benefits of green tea, Google "Green Tea Benefits."  If I get a request for sorting out what is real and what is not, I will do a post on that.  I can assure you that green tea can help you shine and sparkle (and who doesn't want that?!)

GIANT mug of green tea (because I LOVE it.  Happens to also be super healthy. Win-win combo!) and Elf Shine Eraser Oil Blotting Sheets.

Fist for the Product Review!

e.l.f "Shine Eraser Oil Blotting Sheets"*

Effectiveness: 10 of 10
Smell/Taste: N/A
Packaging: 10 of 10
Economic:  10 of 10
Good for Sensitive Skin: Yes **
Overall Rating: 10

I. Love. This. Product.  As noted by the stellar rating of 10, I think this product is perfect for anyone who experiences a little (or a lot) of extra shine on their face throughout the day.  These sheets help absorb oil and shine,  mattify shiny skin, and has green tea extract to help re-texturize, minimize pores and mask imperfections.  I have tried a lot of oil blotting sheets.  They can range from about $4-$10 depending on how fancy they are.  Well these come in at a whopping $1!  Yes.  $1!  You get 50 sheets for $1 which is $0.02 cents a piece! Not only that, but it really works to eliminate shine.  If you blot carefully you wont mess up your make up either.  It has no smell and has a very natural feel (unlike the clean+clear ones that a lot of people use).  It also only has 3 ingredients:
-Microcrystalline wax- Which is a much smaller molecule version of the more familiar paraffin wax (Used in toiletries and cosmetics as a moisturizer or emollient.)
-Caprylic/Capric Triglyceridean- An oily liquid made from coconut oil
-Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract- Is...well...green tea leaf extract.
As far as cosmetic ingredients go, this is a refreshingly short and understandable list.  This makes me quite pleased to highly recommend this affordable, effective, and healthy product for everyone to use!

Now, I bet you are thinking "Green tea leaf extract, in the blotting sheets helps re-texturize skin, minimize pores, and mask imperfections.  Why shouldn't I just go to the source.  Green Tea!"  Ok, well you might not have been thinking that, but I did.  As a result, I have the most simple DIY I have done so far:

DIY Green Tea Toner:

As stated above, this toner will help make your skin toned, oil free, and phuuuurty.  Ideally you would use this on freshly cleansed skin (up to once a day or whenever you feel like it) before your normal product regime.  In reality, I often do it at work (on days when I wear no make up on my skin) after I finish drinking my 3pm green tea...I wait until nobody is near my cube so they don't think I'm a weirdo, though it might be too late for that.

Ingredients:
~ 1 green tea bag (preferably organic)--Side Note:The reasoning behind the organic product in DIYs is to avoid chemicals that might have been part of non-organic processing of the ingredient. 
~ Hot water--Side Note: The amount of water is completely dependent on how much tea you are interested in drinking. So if you are me, that mean a HUGE mug.

Step 1: Brew your bag of green tea.
Step 2: Take out your tea bag and let the tea bag cool a  bit (don't want to burn yourself).  I suggest enjoying your cup of tea while waiting.
Step 3: Take the warm tea bag and run it over your face in upward motions.  The heat will help open your pores to the green tea.
Step 4: Let your face air dry (the cooling associated with the water evaporating will help close up the pores).

Ok your done. So simple right?  Your face will feel really smooth and happy.

Did you like this combo post?  Let me know in the comments!

Shine & Sparkle!

*I am not paid or contacted by any of the companies mentioned in this post.  These are my honest feelings and opinions. 

**Take my advice at your own risk...that being said, I think it's great advice! Consult with your doctor, especially if you are taking medications or may/are pregnant.  If you don't, "it said so on the internet" is not a great explanation to St. Peter.

 

Two DIY Facial Masks

Hi S+SR Readers!

For the first July post, I wanted to share two of my favorite DIY facial masks** that are really easy to do at home.  I try to do one or the other once a week.  These masks are great and don't cost the crazy prices ($60-$300) you find at spas!
Quick tip for all facial masks: Avoid putting product on the sensitive eye, nostril, and lip areas.   

Mask Ingredients: Egg.  Honey, Sugar, Olive Oil, Water/Milk

 

Egg Mask

While I'm not the one to invent this mask, it is a really easy mask that is one of my staples in my routine.  It is great because the whites packs a lot of protein, while the yolk provides nutrients and moisture.  This is a face cleansing and skin tightening mask.

Ingredients: 

~1 egg (preferably organic)

~2 small bowls

~1 fork

Step 1: Cleanse your face with you favorite face wash.

Step 2: Separate the white of the egg into one bowl, and the yolk into the other.

Step 3: Beat the whites with a fork until frothy.  Then use the fork to break the yolk and stir until it's a liquid.

Step 4: Apply the foamy whites to your face in a thin layer.  Wait about 10 minutes for it to dry (you will feel it tightening on your skin) then rinse it off with warm water.

Step 5: Apply the yolk to your face in a thin layer.  Wait about 10 minutes for it to dry (you will feel it tightening on your skin) then rinse it off with warm water.

Tada! You're done! Sooooooo easy right?!

Exfoliating Honey Mask/Body scrub

This is a slightly harder (but still easy) mask/body scurb.  All you need to do is increase the amount of product you make to use it as a body scrub in your shower. The honey is really moisturizing and also provides some anti-bacterial benefits for those that are acne prone.  There is also anti-oxidants in honey.  The extra virgin olive oil adds a second level moisture (replacing any natural oil you scrubbed away) while sealing all the good nutrients and moisture in. The optional milk reduces redness/puffyness.

Ingredients (note amounts are approximate): 

~1-4 tablespoons honey (preferably organic, I really like using Trader Joe's raw organic honey* (it is more solid than regular honey but is affordable and works great)

~1/2 -1tbs raw sugar (for a more course scrub) or sea salt (for a more gentle scrub) 

Note: You can eliminate the sugar/salt to just have a mask with no exfoliating action.  

~ 2-4 teaspoons of extra virgin olive oil.

~Milk (preferably whole) or Water-Just enough to loosen up the raw honey/oil mix to a thick liquid consistency.  If you are using regular honey, I suggest around a teaspoon.  

~Bowl (for mixing) 

~Fork (for stirring)  

Step 1: Cleanse skin with your favorite facial cleanser.

Step 2: Mix ingredients together in your bowl with a fork (note the amounts are approximate, so add more or less of something if you feel it is necessary, great thing about DIY products is none of it is dangerous since you can eat it!)

Step 3: Use your fingers to apply the product to your face and/or body in circular motions to exfoliate away the dead skin.  I start with my face, wait about 5-10 minutes, get into the shower (bringing my bowl of body scrub).  I cleanse my body (letting the steam help the mask soak in more) then use the body scrub.  

Step 4: Rinse off the scrub from face and/or body (don't use soap after rinsing, you wash off all the benefits of the mask!)

Step 5: Dry off and resume your life.

Hope you enjoy these quick and fun DIY mask recipes!  Leave any comments, questions or concerns in a comment below.  Let me know if you want more DIY masks too, I have quite a few up my sleeve.

Shine & Sparkle!

*I am not paid or contacted by any of the companies mentioned in this post.  These are my honest feelings and opinions. 

**Take my advice at your own risk...that being said, I think it's great advice! Consult with your doctor, especially if you are taking medications or may/are pregnant.  If you don't, "it said so on the internet" is not a great explanation to St. Peter.

Anti-Aging Skin Care

Salutations S+SR Readers!

I come to you today with a requested blog post from a dear friend of mine. Today's topic is "Anti-Aging."  Now that all my friends and I are hitting our late 20's and early 30's we are starting to think about this area of beauty products.  So what do we need to know?  I think it is good to remember that we all have different skin with different needs.  Some people might see wrinkles in their 20s, while others don't until they are in their 40's.  No matter what, do what feels right for your skin**!  This being said, I have a few general things first.
 

Seeing as this is more a discussion than about specific products, it seemed like a great opportunity for another silly stock image!  I have a great time looking for these cheesy stock images.  Anyway, like my last stock image, I'll gladly give someone credit for their image or take it down if whoever owns it throws a hissy fit

General Anti-Aging Tips:

• Drink lots of water!
• Wear sunscreen, hats, and generally protect from the sun (though 10-15 minutes of sun a day lets your body produce vitamin D which is a good thing.)
• Eating healthy helps too because it promotes healthy shedding and regeneration of skin cells.
• We are all different!  Genetics plays an important role in aging.  Some skin types are more sensitive to damage from the sun than others. There are also just some people that get really lucky and don't develop wrinkles as easily. While your years of life are a general indicator of steps you might take to prevent aging, make sure you try and adjust for your specific skin type!

"Blah blah blah...drink water, sunscreen,  eat heathy...blah blah blah.  I want to fight wrinkles with an army of products and spend some money!"  I get it, quick fixes are quite appealing, but they are also costly and some don't even work. I'm staying far away from the plastic surgery debates (who really wants to get sliced open anyway?) This is what I have come up with as reasonable steps one can take without spending too much money.

I  broke this out into approximate age ranges so that you can better adjust for your own skin:

Before 25 years old:
Note that the corner stone of anti-aging products is extra moisture and promoting skin renewal.  Before 25 you skin is regenerating quickly and probably is not lacking that much moisture.  Caking on the anti-aging products at this point might actually make your skin worse by making it extra oily or extra dry.

• Prevention is really the key for you.  That water, sunscreen, eating healthy?  Yes, that is you.  You are young and growing.  Your cells are regenerating rapidly as a result.  You are stressing out about love, life, and who you want to be.  You really don't have to add aging to the mix!
• If you insist on doing something to prevent aging at this age, moisturizing is your friend.  Most facial lotions SPF will do just fine, if you want to pay more for that lotion to say "anti-aging" you can, but it most likely is a waste of money.  You can also remember to exfoliate with a scrub or mask to promote skin regeneration.
• Many acne products actually will help prevent aging, so do not feel like you need to double up acne products and aging product.  For Example: "Salicylic Acid," "Glycolic Acid," and "Benzoyl Peroxide" are all ingredients that promote skin peeling.  These chemicals increase skin turnover to clearing pores, reducing bacterial count, and are anti-microbial.  This also works to turnover skin cells to prevent aging.  For more information see my report on effectively treating acne. Acne can happen at any age, but I figured I'd throw this point here.

 Between 25-35 years:
You can probably start to add some anti-aging products to help ramp up your war against wrinkles.  I would focus on the most at risk areas (eyes and around the mouth).

• There are a host of brands that want to sell you a million products but I suggest just finding one eye cream and one face cream.
• You probably do not need a deep wrinkle/collagen heavy eye cream at this time.  Moisturizing (I like Burt's Bees Queen Bee Jelly Eye Cream*) or ones for fine lines are just fine (no pun intended!) for now.  
• The main difference between day and night creams is that day creams have SPF and less moisture than night creams.  Night creams tend to be so heavy in moisture that they can leave your skin oily.  I suggest that your one face cream be one that is worn during the day.  It will mean that you get extra SPF protection and you can just use your favorite regular moisturizer at night (avoiding the more expensive anti-aging night products)

• A great alternative to anti aging face cream is making your foundation (if you wear it) an anti-aging foundation.  You eliminate a product step in the morning and have one less product you have to buy!  There are many brands that offer "age defying" foundations.  I personally prefer using a BB creme (like ones from Skin79-I use the "Super VIP Gold") that has anti-aging properties.  I love BB cremes because they have so many benefits in one.  Anything to save time!  

After 35-40 years: 
You are now in the market for all the best in anti-aging care and there is a lot to pick from.  There are companies that boast instant solutions and sky high prices for itty bitty jars.  It is really confusing.  The fact of the matter is that with out surgery, you are still dealing with the same corner stones: quickening your natural exfoliation process to generate new skin, and adding extra hydration to try and defy gravity.   Below are some tips to keep in mind when selecting your regimen.

•  Love your skin, first and foremost, while it might be nice to not have wrinkles or fine lines, it is also a result of living life and growing older which is an amazing thing.  Life is about the journey and you should never feel insecure about your skin.  You shine and sparkle from the inside!  Heck, this bullet belongs in all the age categories...
• The above bullet is important because once you have wrinkles, there is no magic cure.  All anti-aging products can do is help reduce their appearance and prevent future skin damage.
• Moisturizing is an easy way to plump up saggy skin cells. Any moisturizer that works well on you earlier in life is still just as valid today.  Moisture is moisture, so I do not think expensive anti-aging moisturizers are necessary as long as you are also using sun screen.
• Active Ingredients:These are normally going to be the things that promote skin renewal.  Pay attention to what they are an in what % concentration.  There is no need to have a million products with the same active ingredients. I would like to direct you to this Mayo Clinic-Guide to Winkle Cream Ingredients. In this article they break down (in easy language) the differences between retinols, hydroxy acids, coenzyme Q10, copper peptides, kinetin, and tea extracts. All the other stuff in XYZ's "Super Ultimate Fantastic Signature  Anti-Aging Cream of The Century" are going to be moisturizers, fillers, anti-oxidants, fragrances, and dyes.  I personally prefer products to be as free of fragrances, dyes, fillers, parabens (basically preservatives) as possible, but no matter what, the active ingredients are what are going to make the biggest (if any) difference.
• As long as you are aware of active ingredients, I suggest trying different products to see which work for you and your budget.  You can either have a few products or a bunch.  If you want to add, experiment, and have fun with your beauty routine, be my guest! There are tons of fun anti-aging masks, washes, foundations, and all manner of things to try if you'd like.  If you are more of simple beauty routine person or a product junkie, you are sure to shine and sparkle! 

So I hope this helped you navigate the wide spectrum of anti-aging products a bit better.  And as always...

Shine & Sparkle!  

 *I am not paid or contacted by any of the companies mentioned in this post.  These are my honest feelings and opinions. 

**Take my advice at your own risk...that being said, I think it's great advice! Consult with your doctor, especially if you are taking medications or may/are pregnant.  If you don't, "it said so on the internet" is not a great explanation to St. Peter.