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I was seriously sick and tired of paying ridiculous amounts of money for what are supposed to be "high quality" products.  With a little patience and a TON of (ongoing) research I am starting to discover much less expensive ways to get the job done... and with higher quality products to boot!

As I have mentioned before, I was paying $50 for my Vivite moisturizer that I wasn't in love with.  Absurd, right?  I have recently learned the wonders of 100% Pure Hyaluronic Acid Serum.  Hyaluronic Acid (HA) is a compound found naturally in the dermis of the skin.  Starting in our early 20's, our body begins to produce less and less.  Topically applied HA serum is easily absorbed into the deep layers of the skin.  HA is capable of holding up to 3000 times its weight in water.  It absorbs water from the atmosphere and uses it to help moisturize your skin.  Since it is able to hold so much water, you will notice your fine lines and wrinkles plumping up and filling in.  Don't believe me?  Restylane, the injectable filler, is hyaluronic acid.  It also helps to break down the oil that is produced by your skin and acts as a natural antibiotic.  This will help to prevent future breakouts.  HA is starting to be known as the new "acne miracle".  You could literally pay hundreds of dollars for name brand, designer compounds with HA in them, or you could hop on over to Amazon and buy 2 oz for all of $15.  A little goes a very long way, so 2 oz will last many months.  

You can use HA alone, or at night, you can apply some avocado oil over it for an intense moisturizing session in your sleep. I suggest keeping it in the fridge so it will stay fresher longer. Keep in mind that while Restylane is indeed pure HA, it is STERILE and safe for injection.  HA from Amazon for fifteen bucks is NOT SAFE to inject.  Rub it on your skin and that is it... don't be dumb and end up with some gnarly infection rotting your face off because you thought you could get a fifteen dollar facelift.  

Have you used HA?  Please share your experience!  So far I am absolutely loving it.  It's non-greasy and light.  My skin feels moisturized but not oily and nasty.  Cheap and awesome... what's not to love?!

 
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My apologies... I've been so busy working and blinging and researching that I have neglected blogging.  My bad.  Here are my reviews after about a month of using my new products. 


Korres Pomegranate Mattifying Primer
This primer is a rare breed.  It's free of silicones and parabens, but still manages to go on smoothly and creates a wonderful finish.  It helps to keep my foundation from settling into my laugh (and squint) lines.  It also prevents me from looking like a re-enactment of the Exxon-Valdez oil spill occurred on my forehead.  It's water based and has NO comedogenic ingredients.  It has a light, natural scent from the jojoba and pomegranate.  I don't feel like my face is suffocating like I do when I use other primers.  It's light and breathable but still gets the job done.  I absolutely recommend this product.  It can be purchased at Sephora for $33.  One tube looks like it's going to last me several months.


CoverFX Total Cover Cream Foundation
I am truly, truly in love with this foundation.  It comes in a compact and I apply it with a fluffy foundation brush right over my primer.  It's awesome.  It covers EVERYTHING.  I'm not used to my cheeks not being red and freckled, so it took some getting used to seeing myself without all of those.  I look slightly ghostly with just my foundation on.  It does not burn my skin and it has not induced any breakouts.  It wears well all day long.  I've gone for runs and it doesn't.  It stays put.  This product rocks.  I was just looking at the web-site, and I noticed that they have re-done the packaging and color system for this foundation since I bought mine in August.  The ingredients list has not changed at all.  My only minor, teeny tiny, nit-picky gripe about this foundation is that it does transfer a bit.  My phone always has some make-up on it.  It's not so bad that the collars of my shirt wear more than I do though.  Like I said.  Minor, nit-picky fuss, certainly not a deal breaker.  I highly recommend this foundation.  It can be purchased through the CoverFX website or at Sephora for $42.  A little goes a looonnnggg way, and I suspect that this one compact will last me at least 6 months.  If you purchase this foundation, watch the videos on the CoverFX website about how to apply it.


CoverFX Matte Setting Powder 
This powder is necessary to keep the foundation in place.  I just press some on with a fluffy foundation brush after I am through applying foundation.  It serves its purpose well, but I really have nothing to rave on about.  I see they just released a new Illuminating Setting Powder, and I will probably give it a whirl soon.  They also released a bronzer, which I must check out.  This is $32 for a big jar, and I'm pretty certain this one is going to last me half of my life.  I recommend this product to make the most out of the foundation.


Epicuren Facial Emulsion Enzyme Moisturizer
I was a little frustrated with my Vivite moisturizer since it was pretty expensive ($50/2oz) and I was running through a jar about every 4-6 weeks.  I also felt like it might be the culprit behind some tiny bumps all over my chin and jawline.  I got a moisture balance facial at the Four Seasons in Austin (ahhhmazing) and this Epicuren moisturizer was recommended to use under my make-up.  It doesn't have any comedogenic culprits in it, so I decided to give it a whirl.  I paid $42 for 4 oz, so I decided that this was much better.  It's a very light moisturizer, so if you have super dry skin, this product will not do much for you.  Sorry.  I do like it beneath my makeup and I don't feel like it has caused any bumps.  I appreciate the price point and the pump bottle, but I don't have much more to say.  If you have oily or combo skin, I would suggest this moisturizer.  Go to the Epicuren website and see where you can purchase it near you.

 
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First things first... decide what you want and what matters most to you.  I've discovered that you really CANNOT have it all.  Do you want organic products, environmentally friendly products, or ones that won't break you out?  

Tree Hugger?  If organic is what you are looking for, I recommend a line of cosmetics called Juice.  They have selections available at Ulta.  To learn more about the line, visit http://www.juicebeauty.com.  Due to my allergies and sensitivities, it isn't practical for me to use something organic and filled with fruit and vegetable and nut oils.  My mom has pretty sensitive skin, but isn't as allergic as I am, and she is liking it.  Her only complaint is that she feels like it "moves" around on her skin.  It's choc full of natural oils so I'm sure it does migrate.  Like I said though... you can't have it all.

For me, I'm sick and tired of having the skin of a teenager.  My breakouts have been consistent for years.  Never awful, thank God, but consistently obnoxious.  My most recent makeup, BobbiBrown, didn't really seem to break me out, but I wasn't pleased with the texture and finish.  I felt like a greaseball by the end of the day.  Bare Minerals is not an option for me.  I'm intolerant of the bismuth that is in it.  It burns my skin like battery acid and it caused awful, painful cystic acne.  That's certainly a no go in my book.  I felt like everywhere I went and everyone I asked was only trying to sell me their most "exclusive" and "beneficial" products... which is basically code for most expensive!  So frustrating!  I decided to educate myself and seek out the perfect products for me...

I discovered that many products that claim to be non-comedogenic or dermatologist tested or hypoallergenic are full of CRAP!  Talk about disappointing.  I discovered a Comedogenicity Scale that ranks pore clogging ability of common products on a scale of 0-5.  Check your current products with the ones on the list provided at the pink link.   If you're not incredibly prone to acne, it may be ok if you have a couple of "3" ingredients far down on the list of your products.  

After countless hours and a ton of Googling, I found a line that I approve!  Cover FX.  It doesn't have any bad boys in it at all!  Awesome!  I've only been using it for two days so far and I'm already loving it!  It's buildable coverage is smooth and amazing.  I don't feel like I'm wearing any makeup.  I don't feel greasy and nasty at the end of the day.  I'm using the Cream Foundation in E10 and the Setting Powder in Light.  I'm experimenting with a few primer samples from Sephora before I make my final choice.  So far I've tried two from the Cover FX line.  The SkinPrep primer went on smoothly.  It didn't feel like I was wearing anything, but it finished nicely.  Not too shiny, and not too matte.  Today I used BritePrep.  It's supposed to be illuminating.  My mom complimented how my skin looked, which is always nice, but it felt a bit sticky.  Tomorrow I'm trying one from another line, Korres Pomegranate Mattifying Primer.  It's water based but sounds pretty promising.  The girl at Sephora swears by it, and it's cheaper than the CoverFX primers, so it must be awesome.  I'll get back to ya on that one though.  

Moisturizers are a big culprit too.  Personally, my dermatologist recommended Vivite Replenish Hydrating Cream.  I've been using it for about a year and a half and I really do love it.  It's very light, but effective.  I might try the night cream, just to have something heavier for nighttime repair.  It does have cetyl alcohol in it, which is listed as a "3", but it's the 5th ingredient down, and I don't feel like it breaks me out, so it must be ok.  

I also just bought new shampoo and conditioner.  They're free of SLS, Sodium Laureth Sulfate... which is a 5!  I haven't used these yet, but I will tomorrow, and I'll let you know how it goes!

This is a continuing work in progress for me.  Check back for updates!



 
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Proper cleansing of your face is of the utmost importance.  I use Skinceuticals LHA Cleansing Gel, as recommended by my derm.  It is for oily/combo skin that is prone to acne, but is also great for aging skin.  (At 24, I'm not quite aging, but I'd like to get ahead of the game and prevent it as much as I can.)  This cleanser has lipo-hydroxy acid, salicylic acid, and glycolic acid.  These acids unclog and decongest pores to help prevent breakouts.  They also slough off dead skin to make the skin tone appear more even and fight whatever breakouts you might already have.  Pretty awesome.  I use it nightly to eat through my makeup grime.  It's slightly foamy and doesn't leave a residue.  This may seem like a splurge at $36, but a bottle will honestly last me about 9 months.  It's worth every penny.  I use my brush cleanser when using this product.

In the mornings, I use something a little different  I like to gently exfoliate before applying my makeup.  To accomplish this I use Eminence Strawberry Rhubarb Dermafoliant and Eminence Stone Crop Gel Wash.  The dermafoliant is a powder that I mix with the gel wash to create a paste just the way my aesthetician instructed.  I add a couple of drops of water and massage it into my face with my finger tips until it all starts to dry up and roll off.  It's icky, but boy does my face feel clean afterwards.  Eminence is an organic line so I have to be careful with allergens, but both these products are amazing.  Also, the cleanser is sulfate free as sodium laurel sulfate can clog your pores and create breakouts.  You never want to use a brush cleanser with particles.  This is way too rough on your face.  Also, be leary of things with salt, sugar, walnuts, etc as they are very abrasive and can create micro tears in the skin.  The dermafoliant is $48 and the wash is $38.  The dermafoliant will last me YEARS and the wash is going pretty slowly too because I use just a bit more than a pea sized amount.   I feel like both these products are worth it it also, but any gentle exfoliant will do.

Take home messages... Cleans TWICE daily.  In the morning, exfoliate gently.  At night, remove all your make up and use a cleanser with salicylic acid.

 
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I don't know about you guys, but I find it very frustrating trying to find the right skin care products, routines, and make up.  I have multiple allergies, and sensitive, acne prone skin.  All of these things combined can create quite a conundrum when trying to keep my skin looking decent.  Throughout the years I have learned many things about my skin and skin care from my personal research, aestheticians, and my poor dermatologist.  

The first, and most important step, is getting to know your skin.  What is your skin type? Checking out this link can help you determine: http://www.womenshealthmag.com/beauty-and-style/skin-types  
For me... I'm combination and sensitive.  Now that you know your type, you just have to figure out what you need to do to make it look perfect.  Easy enough, right?  Ha!  Right now my skin looks better than it has in years, so I will share with you my products and routines, as well as what products are worth splurging on and what items you can pick up at Wal-Mart.  I can't promise daily updates, but I will surely try...