Summer Skin Edit: What I Love

Oh hello, Golden Gate Bridge!

HELLO HELLO!  I figured I'd try to not let a long time go before I wrote another blog.  I'm awful at making time for myself much less anything else that isn't either work or theater.  However, you can see in the photo above that when I travel FOR work, I will make some time to take in the sights!  

I was fortunate enough this past week to be in San Francisco for work and since my best friend Heather lives just about a half hour outside the city proper, she generally plays tour guide for me when I'm there. (Bonus!  work fun AND bff time!)

Anyways, that's not really the point of the post, so let's just get right into the skincare, shall we? 

I begin by saying (as always) that I have an extremely dry skin type.  In the summer I tend to lean a little more normal but by no means do I have enough oil to be considered combination.  So I tend to stay with my creamy formulas, but they tend to be either oil-free or still hyper-hydrating.

In the photo above (my very messy bag o' skincare) you'll not see a cleanser because it's in the bathroom...but it's the Sephora Collection Supreme Cleansing Oil (which is sadly, out of stock right now!)  It gets my skin super clean (especially when used in tandem with my Clarisonic Aria!) and I absolutely love using oil cleansers!  I'll have to do a specific post on them soon!

Then you'll see the Josie Maran Argan Milk - this is one of those hyper-hydrating products that I absolutely love especially in the summer months.  It gives me all the hydration of argan oil, but without the heavy feeling -- I'm actually not a lover for the pure argan oil on my face...I much prefer the texture of Argan Light if I use Josie's...but then again, I'm a total Fresh Seaberry convert (see my post here!)

I mix a few drops of that Seaberry oil (or any oil really...in my bag is a trial version of the Kate Somerville Dilo oil...more on that later once I've made up my mind about it) into the Ole Henriksen Sheer Transformation moisturizer.  This is a must-have product for me.  I love the lightweight whipped texture, and it has licorice and pea extract for brightening!  This container is probably the third full size jar I've gone through in the past three or four years so I'm always trying new things, but eventually I get back to this one.

I also am trying out a trial of the Kate Somerville Age Arrest eye cream.  I like the dense texture that immediately sinks into the eye area...and it leaves my skin very velvety feeling which I adore!

There are a few other things you're seeing in the bag and they're more like my ancillary products...not necessary but nice to have every once in a while...Peter Thomas Roth Lashes to Die for serum (LOVE!), Amore Pacific enzyme peel scrub, GlamGlow Supermud trial, Murad Acne Spot Fast Fix, Clinique healing gel, and the Peter Thomas Roth 40% peel.

If you have any questions or would like anything more in-depth, leave a comment!

Some products shown in this blog post were received as gratis from my job.  This does not influence my thoughts or opinions on any of the products I choose to show on my blog.  I am not sponsored by any of the companies featured in this blog post - I do not make any commission by including links, nor am I blogging on behalf of my employer.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Working and Theater and Life, OH MY!

Oh heeeey.
Again...Long time no blog - but I suppose you're used to that by now, yes?  I haven't posted since...JANUARY?!  Seriously?  Woah.  Ok, quick catch up.

March:  Traveled to San Francisco for another training...was so much fun (someday, I will move there, I swear...)
 
April: Performed as Ronny/WhiteBoys Lead Soloist for a local production of HAIR (so much fun!)

 

April was also World Book Night and I got to be a giver for the 2nd year in a row.  It's a fabulous thing, but as the adage goes, all good things must come to an end and sadly, they are not going to be holding this AMAZING night of book giving in the United States going forward as costs were too high.  I cry a little every day knowing that next year I can't do it (although, I may start collecting books throughout the summer/year at yard sales and things and give them out myself next year without the organization - keep the tradition going!)

 

May:  Performed as Doatsey Mae in a production of The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas - this was quite possibly one of the best roles I've ever had, and I loved every single moment of giving life to Doatsey.  This is the kind of role you SHOULD want when you do a show :)

  

 

 June was full of WORKWORKWORK and now it's July and I'm in a production of Songs for a New World (as Woman #2), and I'm gearing up to leave next week (21st) for yet another trip to San Francisco (sneak preview of the reason for this trip: Beauty Classes will be coming to our store in the fall!)

Sorry I've fallen off the radar yet again, but hopefully I can put together some amazing posts for you to go through the end of the year, because I miss blogging!

Xoxo,
-A-

Winter Edit: Skincare Routine January 2014

Winter Skin = Dry, flaky, itchy, irritated.  Oh wait, that's my skin all year long!

So when winter comes, it's time for richer textures, oils, and lots of exfoliation (sorry it's not pictured, but I will list and link everything that I use in my routine in the post!)

Being that I work where I do, I have a plethora of skincare in my arsenal, and so I try a lot and rotate a lot.  I wanted to make sure I give you everything that I'm currently using so with that in mind -- here we go!

My cleanser(s) of choice still remain to be oil cleansers.  Do not let them scare you, especially if you're oily...they are fantastic at helping control your oil production and keeping you hydrated!  They also rinse clean which means no greasy feeling!  Currently, I have the Sephora Supreme Cleansing Oil, and a couple samples of the Dior cleansing oil that I'm working through.  My ultimate favorite is the Boscia Makeup Breakup and I've tried the new Tsubaki hybrid cleanser and that's ace as well!

As far as exfoliation goes, I'm still loyal to my Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Peel Pads as well as throwing in some Bliss Steep Clean or Peter Thomas Roth Clinical Peel and Reveal.  Also, I have a Clarisonic Aria that I pretty much keep on the highest speed ;)

So after I've cleansed and exfoliated, I move onto serum.  I've been using my Fresh Black Tea Age Delay Serum for a month now, and it's so cooling and fresh feeling on my skin!

I then layer my moisturizer mixed with 2-3 drops of Fresh Seaberry Face Oil.  For day I'm using the Caudalie Vinexpert Riche (the packaging has changed but it's great for some serious moisture and a gorgeous radiant glow!) and for night I have the Sephora Collection Age Defy night cream.  Both textures are richer than a typical moisturizer (aka my favorite texture! the richer the better!) 

My eye cream right at this moment is the Active 7 Radiant Eye Gel from Ren.  Again, this has gone through a package switch.  Some days I think that I should have saved it for this upcoming spring/summer because I don't think it's giving me as much as I want as far as moisture right now, but it's not leaving me parched in any way.  I love the texture and the cool feeling of a gel around the eyes too -- especially since I have allergies and wake up with super puffy and irritated eyes most mornings ;)


That's my current skincare routine...sometimes I'll throw in an Ole Henriksen Lemon Strip Flash Peel to really get the flakies away...

If you have any questions or want a more in-depth review of any products, please let me know!

Some products shown in this blog post were received as gratis from my job.  This does not influence my thoughts or opinions on any of the products I choose to show on my blog.  I am not sponsored by any of the companies featured in this blog post - nor am I blogging on behalf of my employer.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Dupe Dossier: Benefit "Peek-A-Bright Eyes" vs. WetNWild "Walking on Eggshells"

Makeup Junkies.  I'm one.  If you're reading this, you're probably one.  We always are on a mission.  To find the most amazing products.  To find the perfect foundation.  Sometimes it's to find the better deal on things.  But my favorite thing to do is to be challenged to find a duplicate of something (when I'm at work, that is). 

Nine times out of ten, I'm honest about it and what we find will not be the exact same color/texture/finish/etc but you can usually find things that are pretty darn close.

The other day I decided I wanted to have something super simple that I can just toss into a makeup bag when I know I'm either staying at friends' places/traveling for work and I don't have to think about it -- I can jazz it up with a funky liner or a fun lip color but it will serve me well to look put together.  I remembered that I wanted to try the WetNWild trios (wait, just because one works at Sephora doesn't mean that one is a makeup snob?! Haha! I'm here to debunk THAT rumour - the looks that people give me when I'm told that their Maybelline mascara is amazing and they don't want a high end one and I say "well, my favorite mascara if I'm honest will probably always be the original LashBlast!" is probably the best reaction ever!)

I ran into the local RiteAid and grabbed one for $2.99.  I got "Walking on Eggshells" which is undeniably the most popular and just an easy addition to my travel bag as far as natural and pretty.

The next day I brought home some gratis and found the new Benefit "Peek-a-Bright Eyes" palette.  I was flabbergasted when I opened it and found that it pretty much duplicated what I just purchased the night before!

seriously? after I just spent money? SERIOUSLY? LOL!

 swatched.  can you tell the difference?

Top: Benefit

Bottom: WetNWild

So basically my major differences that I noticed are:

• Benefit's pink tone is brighter and brown is cooler and slightly deeper
• WetNWild's pink tone is more champagne pink, brown is warmer
• Benefit's applicators are superior to WetNWild's craplicators (yep, that's what I call them!)
• Benefit has a cream eye brightener and instruction booklet included.

The textures are similar across the board...WetNWild has come a LONG way in terms of taking shadows that used to be chalky and frankly, quite painful to put on to having such a buttery smooth texture with fabulous one swipe payoff!  Benefit never disappoints in their eyeshadow department.  Buttery, pigmented, and a dream to work with.

Is one better than the other?  Truthfully, no.  I think that both are quite good for different reasons and I'm sure that both will find homes in travel bags and everyday makeup looks alike!

*Benefit Peek A Bright Eyes was gratis'd to me through my employer.  This does not sway me on my own thoughts or opinions*