Let's Talk About Acne (Yikes!)

Unless you were miraculously blessed with flawless, dewy skin, listen up. I've struggled with mild to moderate acne since probably 9th grade. It's gotten better and worse through the years, and I promise that I've tried everything. I got Proactiv when it first came out, and it kept my skin mildly under control. But soon I was frustrated with the spots I still had so I tried Neutrogena, Clean and Clear, Acnefree, and even Purity by Philosophy. Harsh cleansers just seemed to irritate my face and make breakouts redder, but mild cleansers just weren't effective for what I needed them for. If you're in this position, read on.

A couples years ago, I cured my mild back acne using 1) a scrub brush in the shower and 2) rubbing alcohol on a cotton pad twice a day (I know dermatologists, I know). But it worked. Not a spot since.

I once worked with a girl who had the most beautiful skin I've ever seen. Of course I asked her about what she uses and she told me a tea tree oil cleanser from Trader Joe's. Well, of course it took me forever to try it, but my skin has never looked better. I'm using a few different things at the moment and I don't know which is causing my good skin, so I'm going to keep using them all. Ready for a list? Of course you are!

1. Burt's Bees Deep Cleansing Cream
Best feeling cleanser I've ever used. It's soft and non-irritating. It smells like lemons and is all natural. Best of all, it uses soap bark and chamomile and is mentholated, so my skin feels cool and clean after I pat it dry. Love that feeling.

2. Trader Joe's 100% Tea Tree Oil
I wet a cotton round slightly and then put three drops of oil on it. I use this as a toner. It also feels mentholated and can sting a little if your skin is dry.

*After this I use a vitamin C moisturizer by Lumene but I'm not particularly sold on it. It's not better or worse than any other moisturizer I've used.

3. Benzoyl Peroxide Spot Treatment
I use Acnefree's 3rd step as a spot treatment, but I would like to try Burt's Bees roll-on tea tree oil spot treatment. Maybe next paycheck.

4. Fish Oil Supplement
I take these for heart health as well as skin and hair health. I'm not a big fan of eating fish (I mostly follow a vegetarian diet). The Omega 3 fatty acids are supposed to do wonders for your entire body. Possibly this has something to do with my skin's miraculous turnaround? Just in case it is, I'm not stopping.
I also take a multi-vitamin (when I remember :D).

Once or twice a week, I use a face mask. Right now I'm alternating between Lumene's peat mask and a deep pore cleaning mask by 10.0.6.

That's pretty much all I do for my skin. Fingers crossed that this is the answer I've been looking for since I was a wee lass. Just kidding. I'm not Irish (just 1/4). Or British (just, some fraction smaller than that). I just pretend sometimes.

Have you tried tea tree oil? I want to know about it!

Love, and smooth skin,
Sophie

Go With the Glow: Pale is Fab!

I've struggled to transform my pale, somewhat freckly skin into a golden beachy glow since the tender age of 11. The first fake tan product I used was terrible! It smelled revolting and turned me an orangey color. As if I needed another reason to be made fun of in gym class. Since then, a lot has changed in the world of the "tan in a can". After trying multiple products (in an affordable price range) I settled on a gloves method of applying Jergens Natural Glow, and was quite content with the results. But it took me so many years to realize that 1. I absolutely CANNOT stick to the routine of applying sunless tanner due to the lengthy process of exfoliation, application, drying, and rinsing and 2. that pale skin is actually fricken awesome and women who choose to care for their skin instead of altering it look great in every stage of life. It wasn't until after I went from blonde to red that I realized the true potential of my white "marshmallow" (thanks, brother) skin.

Here are some tips I've found and come up with to get the maximum return on investing in your pale skin.

1. Sunscreen Obviously, daily. Everyone should be doing this. I know it's hard, but I put on my face sunscreen under my foundation and usually remember the rest of my body in the car, so I keep a bottle in my console. Don't forget important places like your hands (no age-revealing sunspots, please!) and your lips.

2. A good skin care regime Pale skin is often sensitive and a nice, gentle skin care routine is a good idea. Use a gentle acne cleanser if necessary because red spots (as well as pink, agitated areas) on pale skin stand out twice as badly. Pick a nice, paraben-free body lotion and stick to it. Fair skin isn't as resilient as other skin and needs a bit more protection and pampering. Commited moisturization is a tried and true method of holding onto youthful, dewy skin. In fact, marry your lotion if the situation seems appropriate. (*Right now I'm using & loving Nuance Rosehip body lotion. We're in a civil union.)

3. Yogurt masks & Milky baths Yogurt and milk have whitening properties that can help to even out a pale complexion. Use full-fat yogurt for dry skin and low fat for oily skin, and apply after using cleanser. You can consider adding in other skin-soothing ingredients such as oatmeal or honey (an excellent antibacterial). Lemon juice can also be added for additional skin lightening. The lactic acid content of the yogurt will leave your skin soft and your pores clarified. You will get the same results for your entire body by adding 2-4 cups of milk or buttermilk to bath water as the tub is filling up. Soak in this milk bath for at least 20 minutes, and then rinse off with clean water. Channel your inner Cleopatra.

4. Shimmer Just like Edward, but better. Use face powders and body lotions with mica for a delicious glow that will make the girls down at the Gym, Tan, Laundry jealous.

5. Angelic apples Use a pale pink or apricot blush to set your pale off right.

6. Rock glam lips Shades of red, from bright cherry to deep scarlet, look fantastic against light skin. Nothing says drama, romance, or intrigue like a solid red lip. For wonderful instructions on how to achieve this perfect red lip, check out xparkage's video.

The key to feeling good in your pale skin in a world infected with tan fever, is confidence. Feel comfortable in your own skin and wear things that set it off to advantage. If you want to, go crazy and dye your hair like me! I've found that an auburn copper red sets off my shade of fair perfectly, and am sitting with a full head of henna right now. This was a personal choice due to my monochromaticism. Spell check says that isn't a word, but I've just created it so, SO THERE.

Happy Pampering! With love and paleness...

                                                        Found on: http://lohaze.tumblr.com/page/2 

NUANCE New Line by Salma Hayek

Salma Hayek's new line, Nuance, was just released to my store with samples. First off I must say that I LOVE the Dark Cacao and Coffee Firming Body Cream. Being a fan of both smells, I was in heaven wearing the sample all day. However, and this for me is a big however, I wouldn't pay the $15 for it. Even with an employee discount I'm not the type to spend so much on a body lotion.

There is also a tinted moisturizer, shampoos, conditioners, a body wash and body scrub, and a small selection of make-up. Although some of the shampoos look intriguing (one is honey, another quinoa *protein*, and mamey fruit), by looks I am unimpressed by the make-up. The point to the line is subtlety, and was developed with Salma's grandmother, a cosmetologist who used natural- and tribal-inspired cosmetics and remedies, in mind. The colors in the make-up are simple and unobtrusive, but I could easily find duplicates among the colors of L'oreal, Revlon, and Covergirl. This may just be a personal thing, but I also don't really like the advertising photo:

To me, for a woman of her undeniable beauty, this photo doesn't do her justice.

Now, for something I've been using for a few weeks and really love, Burt's Bees Naturally Ageless day lotion. It's full of antioxidants from pomegranate. It's completely natural and feels so soothing after my toner in the morning. It (obviously) smells amazing and works really well when I mix it with my foundation to create my own tinted moisturizer. Definitely worth the $23 I paid for it. Especially considering you get 2 oz, which is more than you usually get for the same price. Also a plus- it has a pump. No squeezing a tube to get the last bit out.

I know I'm 22, but I don't think it's ever too early to start using creams marketed for older skin. Prevention is better than Botox. I would probably not use something with Retinol, but anything that preserves the youthful glow of your skin can't be bad. The more antioxidants, the better! No more reliable way to combat free radicals that age your skin (except maybe drinking water, which matches antioxidants in potency).

Now, about my thrift finds- I can't decide how best to photograph them. I have no photographer, so modeling them would pose a challenge (haha pun NOT intended). But it's hard to get the effect of a nice jacket or a skirt without seeing them on a body. Maybe I'll find someone to model them for me...I promise to figure it out within the week. Have a loooovely day! (think Home Alone 2)

First Post in My Blog of All Things Beauty!

So, I'm really excited to share my experiences with you and for you to share with me in return. Mostly I am interested in skincare, make-up, hair, and fashion and I have been reading and writing about them for as long as I can remember. I'm a 22-year-old thrift store ADDICT and employee of a drug store, which gives me unadulterated (& discounted) access to the newest beauty products. Sometimes, when my meager income allows, I am able to purchase select products from Sephora and the like. I'm also a fan of Ulta.com and Lush.

My name is Sophie, but my nickname given by my friend's boyfriend is Little Red Thing- thus the unconventional name. I assume this is due to my reddish hair. Otherwise I'm offended.

Occasionally, I'll share other things about my life (unless you object). But only if something interesting happens. Promise that I won't bore you with stories about my Aunt Sue (purely fictional) or my carpal tunnel (mostly fictional). I'll try to include lots of pictures, because that's what makes cyber life more interesting and relatable I think. Maybe even some videos/tutorials? I'm not that high tech, but we'll see. My iPhone practically sets my life up for me...

What kinds of things do you like to read in beauty blogs? I'll read and try to apply all comments and suggestions.