Sunshine, Heat and A Bit of Balance

Sun is shining, sandals are on our feet and we are ready for that summertime weather, but is your skin ready?

There is always factors at this time of year with being prone to breaking out from a product or your face developing a burn from the sun because the necessary steps were not taken in preventing this.

First thing you need to make sure you do, whether you burn or tan, you need to be wearing a minimum of SPF 25 either alone or in your moisturiser. 

Whether you burn or you tan, you are still doing damage to your epidermal layers and you are increasing your risks of cancers, premature ageing and severe burns that scar. A tan is still part of burning your skin, you are just burning the layers faster. Either way, you are not helping your skin. Please stay protected.

Second thing, if you find you are developing more oil and you are perspiring more in the summer then you need a gel moisturiser which will help in balancing your skin's oil production and it will also be light enough so your skin can still breathe and take on the effects and heat. 

Here are my Top 3:

#3:       Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel

$31.00 The Bay, Sears

 This is a lightweight lotion that helps smooth, soften and improve the skins texture. It also helps with balancing the oil production in the skin's layers over time.

Apply it twice a day (morning and night) for best results.

#2:    Shiseido Pureness Moisturising Gel-Cream

$40.00 The Bay, Sears, Shoppers Drug Mart

This is also a lightweight gel-cream and it helps balance as well as clear the skin of any imperfections that have developed over time to our skins surface.

With regular use you will notice a change in the feel and look of your skin, as this product softens and improves the skins texture.

#1     Estee Lauder Clear Difference Oil Control Lotion

$40.00 Sears

This is a great moisturiser for anyone who is prone to oily skin and has trouble with breakouts. Not only does this help balance but it also is so lightweight that it feels like you are getting enough moisture but it isn't heavy. 

It gives you a matte finish as well and helps your make-up go on smooth and a matte finish. 

The only downside to these moisturisers is they do not have SPF in them so I personally will recommend adding in a SPF booster which you can pick up at any skincare counter. It just adds a bit of protection into your moisturiser.  If you have trouble finding these items, just add your facial sunscreen into your moisturiser and apply it to your areas of concern. 

Happy Following!!!! :)

FYI Men: Shaving Results 101

I have been asked this question a lot and I decided I would finally post something about you handsome men and the importance of skin care in your world!

Taking care of your skin is not just for women, it is for men and women equally. So take advantage if the benefits there are for you gentlemen!

The #1 problem men have in a skin care routine is shaving and developing those terrible ingrown hairs and discomfort. When men shave, they are using a very sharp metal object along the epidermis and that cuts the hair right down and leaves a "smooth" result.

Little do they realize, that once you shave the hairs all the way to the epidermis you are actually cutting off the hair making it sharper, so you get that "prickly" feeling and when the hair is cut so short, the potential for the hair to curl under the skin has increased and that is what creates an ingrown hair.

An easy way to diminish the ingrown hairs is to use a shave oil or cream. Preferably with either salicylic acid or glycolic acid, as it will help to remove the dead skin cells. Using shave oil will help with lubricating the epidermis for an easier glide of the blade, rather then shaving gel which doesn't have the right amount of moisturizers in it and dries the skin out more!

Also, use a razor with a single blade rather then a razor with five blades. Reason is, yes you will get the closer shave with the five blades but you are just creating a problem for when your hair starts to grow in because some hair so short that it has curled under the skin's layers. Just remember to shave in the direction the hair grows! It is important!


To finish off, moisturize your face. There are a lot of skin care companies out there that have a skin care line specifically for men, so take advantage and embrace it. You dont have to have scented face products which wouldn't help anyways on trying to calm any razor burn or ingrown hairs, it will just make it worse. So pick up an unscented face cream/gel and apply that moisture back into your face that it lacks and you will look more handsome and refreshed!

Take some undivided guy time and focus on you every once in awhile. It really is worth it!