Skincare, DO ACTUALLY CARE

Regrettably so, skincare has not always been the most important thing to me. Now for most people out there, that is probably the scariest sentence you’ve ever read. If you’ve been with me for a while, you’d know that ever since I was younger, I have had eczema. Eczema, at some levels (mine), is an extremely painful skin condition that causes redness, swelling, irritation and more, that is basically completely out of your control. READ MORE>

NATURE REPUBLIC HAUL | SKIN CARE

I've always been so interested in K Beauty and there really has never been an easy way to try it here in New Jersey. Ever since I started working in New York, I have had endless opportunities to walk right through Koreatown on 32nd Street so that I could pick up absolutely anything I want and trust me, I have taken advantage of that. 

RECENT FAVORITES | LIFESTYLE

Recently there has been a few things that have been getting me through the winter and I felt like I needed to share them. The weather has been insane lately. It goes from 40 degrees to full blown snowstorm, and then this weekend it was 55+ degrees on both days. You really never know what jacket or shoes to wear so you really always have to be on guard and on the weather app if you know what I mean. Here are a couple of things that have been rejuvenating me lately.

4 PRODUCTS FOR SENSITIVE SKIN IN THE WINTER

I've been pretty open on the blog before about how sensitive my skin is and how many problems I have had in the past. It's not easy for me to just go out and buy any old skin product and use it to the point where I have amazing results. For this reason, it has taken me until now to realize what is great for my skin and what I will most likely always use. Today I'm sharing with you in hopes that you'll be able to see why I love these products and why they're worth it if you have sensitive skin.

SKIN WINS | BEAUTY

It is no secret that I have the most sensitive skin in the entire world.  I have talked about it a plethora of times here on the blog and I wont stop talking about it because it is probably the most annoying problem to have during all seasons of the year.  I basically just feel like I cant keep up.  When it's warm out my skin is excessively oily, when it's cold out it's so dry and cracking.  

I know what you're thinking: that's everyone's problem.  Let me tell you though, I have severe eczema and sensitive skin in general and have had it all my life.  Here are a couple of products I have been using lately that have made it a little easier.

IT Cosmetics | Haul

I have been an IT Cosmetics fan for a while now.  Ever since I was told about the CC Cream that helps with redness, I have not used another foundation/tinted moisturizer.  As I don't wear any foundation (or makeup at all really) in the summer, I haven't been wearing anything for the past couple of months and I am excited to start 'glaming up' again for fall.  When I say 'glaming up' I really don't mean much, lol.  I just mean getting back to wearing darker lip colors, tinted moisturizer, a more robust skincare routine and blush.  Also a heavier application of eyeliner and mascara is more probable for me.  Again, when I say heavy, I just mean applying it more often.

My traditional light application of makeup is probably why I love IT Cosmetics so much.  I find that IT is a brand that is not so hung up on how it can change your look dramatically and colorfully, but it is a brand that can help with skincare, and that has been developed with dermatologists.  I first gravitated toward the CC cream when I was in Ulta and one of the employees mentioned it to me when I told her I wanted to conceal redness.  I haven't looked back since. Here are a few IT Cosmetics products that have found their way into my lap for fall.  

I'm With The Brand: First Aid Beauty

Guess who's back with a brand new.. blog post?  That was my sad attempt at being cool I guess.  Well anyway, here is my next post in the 'I'm With The Brand Series,' following my first with Clean and Clear.  When I find something I like, I usually stick with it for a long time when it comes to skin care.  I don't like to really dabble in much being that I have some of the most sensitive skin out there.  As I have explained many times before, my skin is next-level sensitive and there are basically many things that I cannot use which makes me so unhappy.  Also, this winter I had eczema on my face and it was TERRIBLE.  

This post focuses on First Aid Beauty!  I absolutely LOVE this brand for so many different reasons.  For one, the brand is SO easy to find.  You can buy it obviously anywhere online and in Sephora, etc.  There has only been one time where I couldn't find my moisturizer that I use from this brand and when I couldn't, the beauty advisor told me to try the Ultra Repair Cream and it worked like a charm.  Obviously the reason for me not finding the moisturizer was because they were just simply out of it and I didn't want to wait by ordering it online.

Starting with the Ultra Repair Instant Oatmeal Mask, I have to say that I am so surprised at what it has done for my face.  Being that I normally am a pretty big fan of face masks, I picked up this one knowing that it would be especially great for my sensitive skin.  I remember grabbing this one from Sephora in, I would say, March.  That being said, we were just starting to kind of enter the territory of spring, but still freezing cold weather and my face was still acting up.  That was absolute perfection for doing the job of clearing up my face, while remaining extra gentle.  I continue to use it now (as my face has completely cleared up) and it really helps thoroughly clean and soften the skin.

The face cleanser is super awesome.  I know I have spoken about this cleanser in a video that I filmed on my YouTube channel before talking to you guys about it.  I love it for an everyday cleanser because it works perfectly for my Clarisonic and for days that I feel too lazy to even use my Clarisonic.  This makes me very happy.  Also, I have to mention it again but it does wonders for sensitive skin.  And by 'doing wonders for sensitive skin' I actually mean it does nothing.  As in, it doesn't break you out in a rash, irritate your skin/eyes or the surrounding areas or anything else like that.  Check plus in my book!

Ultra Repair Face Moisturizer.  Where do I start with this?  This was the first FAB product that I tried because I was in search of a perfect moisturizer that I could use on my skin during the colder months that was good enough for sensitive skin.  Now, even in the warmer months, I still use it.  This is definitely my new go-to facial moisturizer.  Although sometimes I do apply it in the morning, I am more accustomed to applying it at night and then waking up with a stunningly soft feeling face.  LOVE IT.

The Anti-Redness Serum is something that I never really considered using before to be honest.  I figured though that if I was going to try it out, this would be the brand to do so and I could not be happier that I did.  I have to say, it was such a strange sensation on the skin, but when I applied it and after 30 seconds, everything was perfectly fine.  It does take a while to see a difference with this product but I don't hate it for that!  If there was something from the line that I don't plan on repurchasing, it would be this.  Not because I hate it, but because I don't think it's absolutely necessary.

The Ultra Repair Cream is probably my second favorite in the line.  I don't know, it's a close second with what I will talk about next.  As I mentioned when I was talking about moisturizer in the intro, I stumbled upon this product in the line because I was looking for the moisturizer in Sephora and they didn't have it at the time.  I needed something else and I trusted this brand, so the beauty advisor told me to that essentially this formula is just thicker than the regular moisturizer but has most of the same ingredients in it.  After speaking with her some more and asking a few more questions, her assurance was enough for me to purchase and she was absolutely right!  I am thrilled to have this as a backup moisturizer.  I haven't use it anywhere other than on my face but perhaps I will try it on my legs!

The Detox Eye Roller is something I have never tried before.  This is wierd because there are tons of products that come in roller ball form, but I have just never tried them.  When I heard about this dark circle offering from the brand I knew I had to try it immediately.  Something for sensitive skin that was a solution to the debauchery that is dark circles is *eVeRyThInG* to me.  I have been using the product for the past month pretty consistently and I have seen a difference!  I have to say, it is a slow process, but I have actually seen a difference and that makes me happy.  If I was even more diligent with it, I would probably see that happening a little faster.  But hey, what can I say #lazygirlprobs.  I am really happy with this though for the progress it's given me (I have severe dark circles under my eyes) and the cooling sensation underneath your eyes is interesting too, it wakes you up in the morning.  Love this!

Overall, I would definitely recommend checking out First Aid Beauty, 100%!  I will be using their products for a very long time and would say to you that you should as well.  I cannot wait to give more of their products a try and I will sure let you know what I think when I do.  Have you ever tried FAB products?  What am I missing?  Send me a tweet or let me know in the comments if you have!  -Brit.

PS- Fun fact.  While I was photographing these products, it was very windy on the water and they kept falling over, lol.  Very difficult but you know.  #BloggerProbs .. we've all been there.  

ECZEMA and DRY SKIN care for the dreaded winter!

I have been talking a lot lately about dry skin and let me tell you, I just about feel like the authority.  Ever since I was a kid, I have always had eczema.  When I was younger, I had it awful.  It was all over my hands and that was the only place, but it was SEVERE.  I used to sleep with socks on my hands and vaseline covering them until it just wouldn't go away so my dad took me to the doctor and I got something prescribed.  For what seems like all through my teenage years, I didn't get it as bad and only through the winters.  Because I hated going and getting something prescribed, I tried to always just use lotion on my hands or vaseline but it never did the trick as well as a prescription of course.  For the past couple of years of my 20's I have had it a small amount during the winter just like during my teen years, but this winter it has been the worst it has ever been in my entire life.

I'm sure if you have previously read my posts, you will see that I wrote about a cleanser that burned my eyes.  That ended up not being the case.  What happened was, I got eczema on my face this year.  I don't necessarily know if it had transferred onto my face from my hands, because normally it isn't a 'contact dermatitis' type condition, I think that it definitely just has developed onto my face.  This has never happened before and it was BRUTAL all winter long.  I have also noticed that if I was to fall asleep without removing makeup (bad anyway), the eczema will flare up even worse.

I am not brave enough yet to share pictures with you of what my eyes look like when they are swollen and red, so I won't do that, but maybe eventually.  You may also remember last Monday when I wrote about going to the eye doctor.  At that visit, she gave me a new, more 'allergy-friendly' contact solution which seems to actually have helped the situation and that makes me a little happier as well.

Moving into some products to help combat dry skin.  Let me start by saying that First Aid Beauty literally is exactly what it says: First Aid.  I was using Aveeno for a while which was working fine, but when I started to get the dry skin and eczema on my face, it was all of a sudden not working for me.  Perhaps come warmer weather I can start using it again but I have to be honest and say that I probably won't do that again because I have fallen in love with First Aid Beauty.  I plan to do a full post about their products because I have just yesterday purchased two more things from the line that I want to try out before I write more and comment.

Neosporin has never been anything special to me.  I mean, when do you ever use Neosporin for anything other than cuts and scrapes when you were a kid right?  Well, now there is another reason.  I was walking down the Cortizone aisle at Target looking for their version of Eczema-specialized cream when I saw the Neosporin one instead.  I saw that on the packaging it said 'Eczema Essentials' and I felt like it was a match made in heaven.  This is ridiculous but when you have eczema, it's the little things.  This stuff is MAGIC.  Nothing has helped me the way this has.  Not only does it ease the pain of the condition, but it moisturizes with irritation and improves your skin LEAPS and BOUNDS.  

Cortizone is in here because I figured I would mention that it's the only thing that works on my face.  The Neosporin cannot be put near your eyes, so I have the Cortizone for that.  I actually consulted my doctor and she said that Cortizone is fine to put near the eyes so I trusted her and it helps so much.  Not only does it reduce the swelling, but it calms the skin and slowly takes away the redness.  It does sting extremely horribly when you apply it I must say, but the momentary pain is 5000% worth it in the end.  I would definitely recommend Cortizone 10 Intensive Healing Formula, it's safe for the face.  

Just a quick statement on the products that I have tried by them though: they are amazing.  These products are very tolerant to sensitive skin.  The reason why I picked them up is because I heard about them online.  I knew that if the brand was called 'First Aid Beauty,' there had to be a reason.  When I went and checked the brand out in Sephora, I saw most of it said 'Safe for sensitive skin' or 'dermatologically tested' and instantly I was so happy.  I started with just the moisturizer, then I bought the cleanser and then I bought the redness serum and I am obsessed.  More to come about them later but for now you shall know that they are eczema friendly products and that makes me happy.

I picked up Mario Badescu 'Hydrating Hand Cream' while I was at Blue Mercury not too long ago and as you can see, I have torn halfway through it.  I love this stuff because the scent isn't too bad, which I will talk about with the next product.  This doesn't irritate your hands and it hydrates very nicely.  I really like the application and I feel like a little bit goes a long way.  I think the peppermint element calms and soothes your hands so that makes me the happiest when I know I don't have to worry about something smelling great irritating my hands.  This is definitely great to have at my desk at work and another one in my purse or car for on the go.  Thank you Mario!  

This is my last and final product to talk about.  I LOVE this stuff, it's called 'Dream Cream' by Lush.  Although now I have found the Neosporin, this was what I first purchased and it made such a huge difference.  I immediately got results when I put this on my hand because of the calamine elements woven within the lotion.  The one bad thing I have to say about this though is that the smell is terrible.  I used to have this in my desk at work because it worked so well but it wasn't user-friendly and it did NOT smell good, so I switched to the Mario Badescu, but I switched right back because this one made a better impact and difference on my skin.  Thank you Lush!

Overall, I am so happy that I have found these products as they have made my eczema suffering suck a LOT less.  Although there really is no way to make eczema go away if you don't go to the doctor, these products have made the winter a little more tolerable.  I am going to get back under the covers of my couch and get ready to watch the newly premiering 'Crisis' tonight, you guys stay here!  Send me a tweet and let me know if I'm missing anything.  Talk to you soon and thank you for reading!