Spring Cleaning

Spring has finally arrived! How will you be doing your spring cleaning this year? Fresh new wardrobe? Colorful home decor? Well, as for myself I've decided to "clean" up my skincare routine by switching to Dermalogica this spring season.  I haven't been too happy with my skin care routine lately because it has been all over the place with different brands. My skin felt congested and under stress for a while until Dermalogica© was introduced to me. Dermalogica© is what I've been working with since the start of March [When I started esthetics] and my knowledge about this brand has been growing not only within itself but with skincare in general. I've been learning about different ingredients and their benefits as well as the digging deep into each and every product/treatment catering to every kind of skin type and condition. Developed by highly passionate professional skin therapists, Dermalogica uses ingredients that keep "skin at an optimal level of fitness" which keeps skin at its healthiest showing amazing short and long term results. With MANY products to choose from, they are customizable to fit every kind of lifestyle routine and skin. Our skin is the largest organ of our body and is also the last organ to receive any nourishment you consume/exert to your body. Skincare is an essential understanding because skin reflects who we are today and who we will be 10 years from now. I've learned that having the proper education about your skin and body has to be the best investment of your time. Honestly guys, anyone can talk make up and beauty, but it takes energy and proper understanding to know skin skin deep. How can you get a gorgeous make up application without a beautiful canvas?

Another reason why I've switched to Dermalogica is because I've been recently taking clients for face/body treatments and waxing services. Why would I prescribe my clients with products I have no experience with myself? For those of you "product jumpers" who have a consistency of switching products every week because "it doesn't work", that's probably it. It take approximately takes 60-90 days to see an actual result [Good or bad] with consistency use of a product within that time frame. Also, I've learned that using the same skincare brand within products works best because they are all formulated to work together giving you a better system to see results you want.
There are many myths people swear by when it comes to skin care and that is also why people don't see good results in their skin. So I've made a list of the top ten common mistakes/myths people make within their skincare. Each week I will go down the list [I won't go in order] talking about each topic and I will dive deep into the specific to give you guys a better understanding. I will talk about ingredients, include skin anatomy and biology if I have to just so I can make a difference in skincare regimens! Stay tuned, guys, I think this will be fun. It's never too late for education because twenty years from now you don't want to wish you could have started today.

1. Skin Conditions

2. Sun Protection

3. Skin Diseases

4. Oils

5. Exfoliants

6. Free Radicals and Antixoidants

7. Parabens and Silicones

8. Chemicals, Acids, and Active Ingredients

9. Melanin and Tanning

10. Waxing vs. Shaving

Disclaimer: I am not a doctor nor know everything in the world. I just want to share with you guys the amazing education I've been receiving because for the past eight weeks I've been having such an incredible experience at SFIEC. The way I'm intrigued into every demonstration and lecture, I've never experience in any other classroom.  I know most of you don't have the opportunity to experience what I'm experiencing, so I want to give you guys a little piece of that.

Once I made the discovery that Estee Lauder Double Wear Maximum Cover was my gonna be my "forever" foundation, I've been getting a lot of compliments and questions about my foundation routine. If I haven't mentioned in my previous posts, I do have a Port Wine Stain that covers my entire right cheek. A Port Wine Stain is a skin disorder that I was born with and had also dealt with growing up [That's a whole different story]. Anyways, I hence the term camouflage because I actually don't recommend this foundation for everyone because not everyone needs this heavy of a coverage for their skin especially when they have nothing to camouflage [That's a good thing!]. It's called Double Wear MAXIMUM COVER CAMOUFLAGE Makeup for a reason. If you really want a coverage of level 900, go for it, it's that you're desired look but ideally this formulation is for birthmarks, intense bruising/hyper pigmentation/scarring, tattoos, Vitiligo, and Rosacea.  Whether if it's on your body or face, this foundation will cover without a corrector/concealer or building it with layers. But if you guys don't have any of which I mentioned, I highly HIGHLY recommend the Estee Lauder Stay in Place Foundation; I've read amazing reviews and seen beautiful results.
I am in the shade N42 Spiced Sand and I've actually went through three shade changes when I was back home in Hawaii. I'm gradually getting a bit lighter now that I'm back in the bay area, so hopefully I'll be back in store for a lighter shade and restock. For $37 you're paying for 1 FL. OZ/30 ML that will honestly last you 4-5 months. I go to school and work, so I use make up at least 4-6 days a week. Guys, trust me when I say a little goes a long way, because it does. And of course, if you wear makeup less than I do it'll probably last you triple the amount of months.
Oily and oily/combo skin types out there will love this foundation because this is MATTE to the wall. Not semi-matte, not satin-matte, this is TRUE 110% MATTE because of the fullest coverage it will display.  What I recommend to my dry and normal skin types that do want to try this foundation is to moisturize moisturize MOISTURIZE [This goes for you oily people too!] You do not want your skin look drier than it already is and you're face will thank you even more if you top it off with a hydrating setting spray as well.
Let's talk more about how matte this bad boy is. When a foundation like this is this matte, your face will be flat and lifeless because it'll take away the dimensions and contour with one all around shade. Like other traditional foundations, this is NOT the foundation you slap on and you're ready to start your day, NO [Unless you want to look like the moon emoji then by all means]. This foundation will need at least a touch of blush, bronzer, or contour on your face. Guys, I promise that this foundation will give you an AMAZING canvas for your make up but blending some life and color back onto your face will do you even better. I love using shimmer sheen blushes and gold/orange tone bronzers to give my face that glowing complexion that will balance out that matte finish.
It claims to wear for about 12 hours and that can true because depending what you're doing throughout the day/night it doesn't hurt to touch up here and there [Why else do we go to the bathrooms?] And how does a foundation go wrong when they have SPF 15 Broad Spectrum? Here's a tip: When your sun protection/moisturizer/foundation does not have "Broad Spectrum" it has not been tested to defense against UVA/UVB protection.
This is honestly my skin in liquid form inside of a 2 inch tube. I know that I can finally trust in the beauty industry to cater to different skin types, conditions, and even colors because it's challenging finding the right foundation for you skin type, condition, and shade. Many people struggle with foundations because of the different tones and formulations to keep in mind. So overall guys, don't give up. Don't give up finding something that'll make you feel confident or accomplished because in the end when you do find it, it'll be worth it all. It's like finding the right pair of jeans that'll fit like a glove. Perfect jeans is too a hard one to find right? When I did some styling work at Macy's a couple years ago, it broke my heart meeting woman that didn't like trying jeans on because they thought that their search for the perfect jean was impossible. But when I got them into that fitting room and kept pulling sizes and styles for them to try on, I was able to change some lives because I never wanted them to leave another store feeling defeated. Who knows how ONE thing can make a woman feel beautiful and confident. Listen guys, no matter what shape, color, length you are there is something out there MADE FOR YOU.

http://www.esteelauder.com/product/643/13015/Product-Catalog/Makeup/Face/Foundations/Double-Wear/Maximum-Cover-Camouflage-Makeup-for-Face-and-Body-SPF-15

http://www.esteelauder.com/product/643/22830/Product-Catalog/Makeup/Face/Foundations/Double-Wear/Stay-in-Place-Makeup

March 2015 was seriously MAD. I started my esthetics program at the San Francisco Institute and landed a job with Sephora in Union Square. So much has been going on and my urge to blog killed me inside. But honestly guys, the amount of information I've received in the past five weeks was insane and my inspiration to blog more is growing and growing because I have so much to tell you guys! So, with 35 hours a week of school plus another 25 hours a week with work including sleeping and eating, I think I want to challenge myself to a blog post at least ONCE a week. Think I can do it? Let's see. Well anyways, HELLO APRIL! Yesterday was Easter day and I thought I'd post these Lush bath bombs in honor of colored eggs and bunnies [Can't wait to try these cuties out!] Spring is here. The season of blossoming, colors, and fresh warmth. If mother nature is blooming, why can't we as well? Spring is a time where we can "shed" and wake up from the cold, dry winter . Whether if it's shedding away our current wardrobe and replacing it with fun colors or even shedding the things that hold us back from being happy and achieving our goals. I think this spring I wanna shed into something new and different and really start making things happen for myself. How 'bout that Estee Lauder foundation review I promised?