Friend and Foe

It's your hair's worst enemy and makes you miserable during the hot summer months, but it's your skin's best friend during the winter: humidity. Scientifically speaking, humidity is the amount of water vapor in the air. Too much makes my hair look like a poodle's and too little makes my skin dry and flaky. During the fall and winter, we turn on the heat to keep it nice and toasty inside. This dry heat zaps any moisture in the air within your home and causes dry skin, chapped lips, and even nose bleeds.

During the winter in NYC it can get pretty chilly, and I feel like the wind is always blowing (doesn't seem to be the case during the summer when it's hot and there's no sign of a breeze at all). Combine the brutal weather outdoors with the dry air inside and it's the worst scenario for my skin. My skin becomes tight, itchy, flaky...it's just really gross. Sometimes, even my favorite serums, exfoliators, and moisturizers can't beat it. What's the solution? Putting more moisture in the air in my home to give my skin some relief.

Air Innovations Clean Mist Ultrasonic Humidifier. Source: qvc.com

I'm a huge fan of cool mist humidifiers for several reasons. I have one like the above next to my bed and I crank it all the way up when I lay down at night. I normally don't use it during the summer, but I can tell by my skin when it's time to start. It puts the necessary moisture back into the air inside and my skin looks refreshed, smooth, and dewy. Plus, Dennis even notices how much better he breaths at night and he doesn't wake up coughing and hacking when I have the humidifier running. Even more, it's so relaxing to have the mist delicately fall over your face while you're winding down from your day and you start drifting off to sleep. My humidifier is silent as well, so it doesn't disrupt my sleep. One full tank will last through the night if I have the the humidity control turned all the way up, and it has a ceramic filter that doesn't need replacing. Now, I have to get one for my office as well!

Who would have thought a humidifier is a skincare must-have?!

 My mom gave me this humidifier for Christmas several years ago, and it has been one of the best gifts ever. Thanks Mom :)

Hello, Beautiful Skin

I have a new product obsession and I'm so excited to share it with you! A few weeks ago Dennis and I had dinner with our friends Marissa and Jon. Boys will be boys and talk about boy things; girls will be girls...and we talked about skincare. 

Marissa and I share a skincare obsession, and she has a beautiful complexion. She's partnered with the creators of Proactiv on their new skincare brand: Rodan + Fields Dermatologists. She gave me some samples...and I've got to be honest...I've never been so excited to try new products.

If you haven't heard about Rodan + Fields Dermatologists you might be living under a rock...their skincare products have received excellent reviews and recommendations from publications like Allure, Self, and Women's Health (you can see their entire press clippings here). 

So what is this incredible product I'm newly obsessed with? It's the Enhancements Micro-Dermabrasion Paste. If you know me, or have kept up with my blog thus far, you know I have dry and sensitive skin. My skin can get flaky and dull at times, which is always a signal that I need to do a little exfoliation to buff away that top layer of dead skin cells ruining my complexion. Since I have sensitive skin I used a small amount of the paste, which is a sugar and salt scrub with vitamins C & E, and followed the instructions to use on dry skin and massage for 60 seconds. I then rinsed and was AMAZED at how soft and smooth my skin was! I've used exfoliants and scrubs once or twice a month for years...and I've NEVER gotten results like this! I'm hooked! 

Now that I don't have that extra layer of dead skin on my face, my skin is brighter and more radiant...and my other skincare products can be absorbed better....it's a win/win situation. I used the paste last night and didn't even bother to wear makeup today while running errands. It's seriously good!

Interested in Rodan + Fields Dermatologists products? They have several lines that are catered to your individual needs. Check out Marissa's website and browse their products, testimonials, and FAQ page to learn more!  You can also purchase Rodan + Fields products on her website. 

Jon, Marissa, Dennis, and I

By the way...this isn't the only R + F product I've become obsessed with...but you'll read about those later :)

Back to the Basics

How can I write a blog about my skincare obsession and not start with the first and most crucial step in skincare 101? Your skin is a blank canvas...you've got to make sure it's in tip-top shape before slathering makeup all over it. Otherwise, you'll never achieve the "flawless face" that's so popular today. 

My skincare regimen has changed drastically over the years...especially after moving to NYC and trying to figure out how to care for my dry skin during the cold winters. Now don't get me wrong, moisturizing and treating are definitely important steps in skincare, but I've found that how I cleanse my skin makes such a difference in the overall appearance of my skin. I swear by this gadget and don't go on trips without it! 

It's the Clarisonic Mia 2 cleanser.

My mother introduced it to me (she's a product whore as well...she just doesn't admit to it). She saw a demonstration on TV and ordered one for my younger sister. I traveled home to Mississippi during Christmas and found this little monster in the bathroom. I was curious and eager to try it out. I have dry, sensitive skin, so I was concerned the bristles and the movement would irritate my delicate skin. Not the case! I continued using it while I was at my parents', then after returning to NYC, I noticed that my skin didn't look the same. I first blamed it on coming back to such cold, dry weather, but finally realized it was the Clarisonic Mia 2 that I was missing. Immediately I purchased one at Sephora and it's become my skincare BFF.

Not to toot my own horn, but I get lots of compliments on my skin. I very rarely have a breakout (and if I do it's because I haven't cleansed with my Mia 2), and I have never gotten a professional facial. Don't really need one now with this thing!

Clarisonic Mia 2 with Delicate brush head

Ok, so enough about why I'm OBSESSED with this product, let's get technical.
You can buy the most expensive moisturizers and anti-aging products, but if you're not thoroughly cleansing your skin, you're wasting these products (and let's be honest...some of these amazing creams and treatments aren't cheap)! You must deep cleanse and get rid of the dirt, bacteria, and dead skin so your serums, creams, and moisturizers can be absorbed and more beneficial. Makes total sense, right? 

There are two speeds and a 1 minute timer that pulses to alert you to move to a different section of your face (20 seconds on your forehead, 20 seconds on your nose and chin, and 10 seconds for each cheek). There are also several types of brush heads to choose from (normal, deep pore, sensitive, gentle, and acne). I prefer the gentle brushes because my skin is so sensitive. Brushes should be changed every 3 months and you can buy twin packs. Oh, and another perk? It comes with a handy travel case so you can take this bad boy anywhere!

Here's my skin without any makeup...love lazy Sundays with our boxer, Brooklyn =)

I swear by this mean little machine and it has completely changed my skin! I have even skin tone, my pores have minimized, and I'm getting the most from the rest of my skincare regimen. Check out the Clarisonic and Sephora websites.