How I'm Transforming My Dry, Tired Skin

Do you ever say or write or think a small brag (not intentionally!) and then immediately have it bite you in the ass?

On one of the last beauty posts I wrote, I said something along the lines of, “Despite my acne, I’m really lucky to have oily skin; my skin isn’t dry and therefore, I’m naturally protected from typical aging.”

Friends, I played myself. The moment I said it, I think my skin heard it, learned about it, absorbed it from my brain… and decided to rapidly turn around and do the opposite thing. For the last 3 months, I have noticed my skin really struggling. I break out, then my skin gets dry, then I look ancient and tired. I’ve always struggled with redness and being kind of ruddy, but lately, it’s been dialed up another notch.

My skin has been flaky at times and generally just tired looking. Dull.

As you can imagine, I was not happy about this transformation. My skin routine is aimed around being oily and while I use oil in my routine, it wasn’t the focus of my routine. So right as the COVID 19 pandemic started to take off, I was struggling with my skin.

Then, of course, being home, not sticking to my skincare routine as much, and being stressed as hell made it worse. Two weeks ago, I looked in the mirror and thought, who is this person??

The need to transform was strong, but I knew I wasn’t going to have my tools I usually do. No going to Sephora or Ulta and asking a million questions, consulting both sales associates and Google on my phone. No samples. No trial and error. I had to work with what I had available and what I got in my Ipsy.

Even in the past 2 weeks, I’ve seen a huge improvement in my skin. If you have dry, slightly dull skin, here are a few suggestions (and general methods) to see an improvement in the next few weeks.

1. Drink More Water.

I normally hate when blogs give this piece of advice. We get it! Water! We don’t drink enough water!

Personally, based on what I’ve read, I think a lot of people drink too much water. If you’re peeing constantly, you’re drinking too much water—sorry not sorry! Your body is peeing out the excess! Stop! That being said: for the first 10 days of stay-at-home and quarantine orders, I realized that I hadn’t even thought about drinking water for a while. I drank 0 water. No water. I drank coffee and that was it. No wonder I felt like crap???

So, yes, sorry: drink some water. Really. Drink water when you’re thirsty and with meals. You don’t need to pound 100+ ounces of water a day, I promise, but like… have a sip. Maybe 2 or 3, honestly.

2. Use Up the Serum in Your Sheet Masks.

I have a collection of great sheet masks that I’ve acquired from TJ Maxx and other various stores. If you are doing the same, now is the time to use those babies up! However, my tip for sheet masks is always this: don’t throw away the serum! Once I do a sheet mask, I dope the extra serum into a small tuperware I keep in my bathroom and then use that serum in my routine. Most often, sheet masks have hyaluronic acid in them, which helps absorb moisture; this is a really economical way to keep hyaluronic acid in your routine day-to-day. It’ll help plump your skin and make sure your moisturizer is absorbing as much as it can.

3. Use an AHA Face Wash and/or Peel.

AHA stands for “alpha hydroxy acid,” a series of naturally occurring acids that can do a lot to improve your skin. When I talk about using a chemical exfoliant in your routine, often what I mean is a mix of AHA and BHA acids. If you have dry skin, though, AHAs, are the best for you; AHAs have molecules that love water and help improve the skins moisture content.

Right now, I’m using the Murad AHA/BHA Exfoliating cleanser every other day (usually when i take a shower!); I’ve reviewed it previously here. This product is exfoliating, but because it also contains AHA, it’s great for dry, tired looking skin. I’ve also been using the AHA! Peel so Good Skin Renewal Gel (that I reviewed here) once a week to help with texture on and below my jawline and flaky skin.

4. Pick the Right Toner.

Toner is a tough one. For a long time, I was kind of under the assumption that toner was a scam. A fancy water I splash on my face? PLEASE.

But now I know that toners contain those all important chemical exfoliants. Right now, I’m using the PureHeals Softening Toner (which I got a deluxe sample of for $3 from Ipsy); this is a moisturizing toner that contains lactic acid and niacinamide, both of which are great if you have acne. It also has oils in it to help with moisture. In short: it’s a great option for me right now! I also have had good luck with the Pixie Glow Tonic, but that seemed a little drying for me right now.

5. Use a Moisturizing Face Wash in the Morning.

I got the TonyMoly Moisture Burst Gel to Water Morning Cleansing cleanser in my Ipsy bag. I generally like TonyMoly’s products: they’re good, but sometimes they can be middle-of-the-road, so I never actually seek them out to buy. I’m glad I added this one to my Ipsy bag though (for $3!); it’s a great, gentle morning cleanser.

I used to never wash my face in the morning, aside from a swipe with water. My logic was that I washed my face the night before and how dirty could my face be again? I’ve realized since then, of course, that my skin needs a blank slate in the morning, plus I spend all night sweating with my hair on my face. I probably just need to wash my face.

Adding this cleanser has been a huge help; morning is often when my skin feels the roughest and driest and if I’m not planning to take a shower, I feel pretty grimy all day. I like this cleanser because it’s really gentle and very moisturizing. However, the cleanser you choose is entirely up to you!

6. Mix Up Your Moisturizer.

I rotate between 3 moisturizers for the day and at night:

• H2O+ Oasis Hydrating Treatment (here is an older version that’s still available on Amazon!)

• Aromatica Calendula Juicy Cream

• COOLA Facial Sunscreen with SPF 50 (I actually don’t alternate this, but rather mix with whatever moisturizer I’m using in the morning!)

I switch between 2 moisturizers right now because I try to take my skin’s needs at that moment into account. I might feel really dry and then I’ll use my Aromatica moisturizer; I might be really oily or have just oiled my face, then I’ll use the H2O+, as it’s much lighter. It just depends! At night, I also top everything with the Youth to the People Superberry Hydrating Sleep Mask.

7. Stay Consistent.

The last and most important thing is: you’ve gotta follow the routine that works for you every single day. Every morning, every evening, even when you’re really tired. I’m not perfect; the last few nights, I’ve been exhausted and wasn’t doing my routine. Your girl’s face is blotchy, dry, and pretty gross this morning, so guess who is back on the bandwagon? Me.

I hope this helps you all if you’re dealing with dry, tired skin! Have anymore recommendations? Share them with me in the comments!

Disclaimer: Some links in this post are affiliate links! When you click through them, or purchase through them, I receive a small kickback. However, this post is not sponsored and all opinions remain my own—I use all these products! Thanks for visiting Writing Between Pauses. If you’d like to learn more about my disclosure policy, click here.

How to Create A Quick Morning Beauty Routine

What energizes you in the morning?

What makes you feel totally prepared for a big day?

Routines are something that helps me feel more energized throughout the day. The less routine I have, the more likely I am to drift, feel anxious, and struggle to complete tasks. But if I have a routine in place where I do the same things upon waking up, then transition into work, I feel energized and more focused.

However, developing a routine when 1) you have a child and 2) you work from home can be a huge challenge.

A huge part of my morning routine has always been my beauty regimen. If you’re leaving the house for work, or school, or whatever, you know the drill: you have to do a few things before you’re ready to face the world. But what those things are can vary person-to-person.

One thing that doesn’t change is the fact that a beauty routine can help us feel more awake and ready for the day—and ready to transition into whatever routine (work, taking care of kiddos, whatever) you have that day! However, implementing a consistent routine that makes you excited can take time and effort. I want to guide you through the process so you can get a routine in place that makes you feel ready to face the day—and most important, makes you feel good every single day.

Why A Good Beauty Routine Matters in the Morning

You want to start your day feeling GOOD. If you’re not a morning person (and let me tell you, I woke up sick today and I’m not feeling the world at all), a good routine that makes you feel your best is a great place to start.

To me, a beauty routine isn’t just putting on make up or washing your face. It’s a combination of things that help you start with your best foot forward. Here’s my morning routine, as an example:

• Make & drink my coffee

• Light a candle

• Make my bed

• Take a shower

• Wash my face & moisturize heavily

That’s it. If I’m not leaving my house, just working, then that’s all I really need. But nothing makes me feel better than having my bed made, my room smelling good, and my body feeling clean. Plus, if I’m not feeling my best (like right now), it gives me something to focus on and put energy into that also revitalizes me.

Now, let’s talk what makes a great beauty routine.

1. Know Your Needs

Your beauty routine might not be mine (although you might find inspiration in it). So first things first, know your needs: what do you want to accomplish with your beauty routine in the morning? Feeling fresh after a night of sleep? Keeping your dry skin moisturized throughout the day or your oily skin matte?

What makes you feel best? Pampering or taking on a task that you don’t really love? What would help you feel energized.

Here are a few places to start:

• Does taking a shower make you feel ready for the day or does it sap your energy? If it isn’t comfortable for you, switch your showers to the evening.

• Do you have a face wash that fulfills all your desires? What about moisturizer?

• What would help you feel most excited for the day? A body lotion that smells like your version of heavy, a new cozy sweater?

2. Pick Your Products

The products you use in your routine are going to make a world of difference. I’ve included a good skincare routine checklist to help you pinpoint specific areas and the most basic steps you need for fresh skin every single day.

However, sometimes, it’s more than just a good, basic routine. What makes you feel luxurious? I want you to think of at least one thing that you love using every single day and start to include that in your routine. No more saving your favorite perfume for special events or that lotion that makes you feel like a queen. Use it today. Use it every day. Make it part of your routine because you deserve it.

3. How Much Time Do You Need?

Time is relative. When I say “quick” what do you think of?

For me, it’s 20 minutes or less. If I’m doing my hair (aka I need to blow dry and/or curl it), it’s 45 minutes. For some people, however, those times might be way too long or way too short for what they want to do.

It’s all up to you.

What time do you wake up in the morning? When do you start work? How much time do you have to get a routine in place? Are you willing to wake up earlier, or do you want to sleep in a little bit more?

Whatever time you choose, make it something that works for you. If you want to spend 5 minutes putting on body lotion and thanking your body, then incorporate that.

4. Makeup Is Optional

It goes without saying: your beauty routine doesn’t have to include makeup. But if you want it to, choose a few items of make up that make you feel your best. If you’re trying to condense your beauty routine, then committing to a full eye look or winged eyeliner every single day might not be something you can do.

However, if winged eyeliner makes you feel good, find a product that works perfectly and stick with it. Incorporate it into your routine so you always have time to get it done. Whatever it is you choose to include in your make up routine, make sure it makes you feel good, whether that’s an eyeshadow look you love or a lipstick that makes you feel more powerful.

5. Keep Your Routine Evolving

No two days are the same, so why should your routine be the same? Being able to adapt, whether it’s with skincare concerns or time constraints, can help you feel more confident when you start your day.

How to Approach Your Routine Every Day

Every evening, I write down a few things I want to start my day with. Like I said, mine usually includes making my bed, drinking my coffee, and focusing on doing one thing that makes me feel really good. (Today, as an example, it was coating myself in Vicks Vaporub and filling my diffuser on my desk with peppermint essential oil.)

You can use the graphic I’ve included to write down your beauty routine in the evening so it’s first thing on your mind in the morning. You know how prepared you need to be for each day, so take that into account, as well as how much time you have allotted and what you need to focus on.

Moving forward, establishing a routine will help you feel more pampered and ready to start each day. Take time for yourself so you can get your work done without feeling deprived.

Beauty Review: January 2020 Ipsy Bag

Starting these Ipsy bag posts… man, what a challenge. I never really know what to say, but I guess one of the best things I can talk about is how my month was and how this bag made me feel. One thing I really want to emphasize is giving yourself little gifts throughout the month; while you’re building your career, or taking care of your child, or whatever… you deserve a few things for yourself.

And I want those things to be worth it. So month to month, the one thing I look for in every Ipsy bag is value. Is this bag both valuable monetarily and also to my life? Do the products make me feel good? Or do they make me feel blah?

So often, my Ipsy posts have been reflections of how I’m doing that month. Some of my saltiest reviews came when I was not feeling so great.

For a little context: the last few months have been some of the hardest of my life. I’ve struggled a lot, but I find myself doing better and better as time goes on. But December and January were definitely rougher months in the scheme of things—and honestly, November too.

With that being said, lately I’ve needed my self-care items to be even bigger than before. I’ve needed my therapy sessions; I’ve needed my bubble baths; I’ve needed my evenings to be quiet. Sometimes, I don’t get those things. Sometimes, self-care is just going to bed early or making an extra pot of coffee or closing my office door for 5 minutes to silently scream.

Not to give it all away quite so quickly, but this month’s Ipsy definitely felt like a bit of a let down. The last few months definitely have. But this month’s in particular is very disappointing and I’ll hit why on those specific items. Let’s get started, shall we?

You can read my past Ipsy reviews here. If you want to try Ipsy, you can sign up using my referral link here.

1. Glow Recipe Blueberry Bounce Cleanser, $3.19 value

I love the Glow Recipe, it’s such a great brand, but as I’m trying to repair my skin’s pH barrier, I’ve become more and more picky about cleansers I use. This one has a lot of pure soap ingredients—and it foams in a way I find slightly repulsive, for lack of a better word. The texture is akin to snot. There, I said it. It’s snot-like! It’s a snot-like cleanser and I don’t want to wash my face with it and despite being called “Blueberry Bounce Cleanser,” it smells like a Dollar Store.

I don’t like it! There!

I’m relegating this little sample tube to my travel bin; I think it’s OK for pH (I haven’t noticed any serious issues cropping up), but the weird smell alone is enough to make me avoid it. I give it a solid 3/10 in terms of how much I enjoyed it.

A full size tube is 160 ml and costs $34 (WHEW!). This sample tube is only 15 ml, making it’s value around $3.19. If I was nice, I would have rounded up to $3.20, but… I didn’t.

2. Luxie Fan Brush, $18 (Not Pictured)

I fully forgot to grab this brush while taking photos and didn’t notice until I was editing afterwards and wondering where my 4th item was. Then I remembered, “oh yeah, I got a 4th fan brush.”

You read that correctly: my 4th fan brush.

I have so many fan brushes, I expect to find all my cleanser samples fanning my blush samples in my bathroom any day now. (The blush samples are the kings of all the samples I receive, natch.) I have fan brushes coming out of my eyeballs at this point, which is funny only because no one needs a fan brush. It is the most useless brush. I don’t even wear highlighter anymore! What else is a fan brush used for? That’s right, nothing.

0/10. It is pretty. But… 4 fan brushes, guys. I’ve gotten 4 of them.

3. Urban Juve Lip Balm, $10

I love a lip balm moment, but guys. $10 for a lip balm this big?? For comparison, the Glossier Balm Dot Coms come in a 3 pack for $30, making them $10 a piece. And they have 0.5 fluid oz (which is HUGE!) This little lip balm has… 0.14 fluid ounces. Sorry, but that’s highway robbery. It’s not any different from Burt’s Bees either, it just has hemp in it!

If I’m going to spend $10 on a lip balm, it better be the size of a Moon Pie. I’ll take Glossier’s tubes of lip balm, but they’re on thin ice anyway. $10 for a Burt’s Bees size tube? Girl. 0/10. It’s just minty! It’s not even special!

4. Finding Ferdinand Lipstick in Very Berry, $6

You’ll be shocked to learn that I love this lipstick. Yes, I said it! I love one thing in this bag! And it’s this lipstick. It’s tiny, it’s cute, and it comes in a clear component that literally made me squeal out loud. I like it! What can I say? It’s a nice, bright berry color and perfect for spring. The formula is a little more dry than the average lipstick, which makes it more long lasting than a high shine formula. And at only $6, it’s pretty reasonable for a sample size that you can carry in your purse with ease. I give it an 8/10.

A full size is valued at $30 and the mini is $6. You can buy a set with both for $33 (savings!)

5. REALHER Eyeshadow in Victorious, $3.11 value

So, this shade is apparently in the Conquer from Within palette, but to me, that looks like a completely different color. Mine is a shimmery, pink-brown (I’d describe it as a dusty pink with a gold sheen if I was pressed). That looks like a straight champagne. They describe Victorious in the palette like this: “Metallic light slate. Perfect color to add a touch of highlight to inner corner of eye, or to work over entire lid.”

Ipsy, in comparison, describes it like this: “Rose gold is a universally flattering shade that’s always on-trend—this super pretty, shimmery color will quickly glam up your beauty looks, but it’s versatile enough to wear during day or night.”

Metallic light slate and rose gold are… not the same color whatsoever. So is this the same shade? A different one? With the same name? I don’t know!! Is this an extra that they slapped a random sticker on that they just needed to get rid of? God, I suspect so.

Either way, I did use the cost of that palette to calculate the cost of a single shadow.

Apparently, you can buy this brand in Neiman Marcus. Remember when Neiman Marcus was name dropped in like every song in 2004? What a weird time to be alive that was.

All that being said: I think I’ve received this same shade of eyeshadow about 40 times from Ipsy and I still am not going to wear it. It’s a perfectly fine eyeshadow, but… it’s not new! Ipsy, stop it with the brown-pink eyeshadows! It gets a 5/10: not awful, but I’m not going to wear it, so…

Final Thoughts

The total value of this bag is… $40.30. Womp womp. That’s pretty low. That may be in the running for one of the lowest valued bags I’ve gotten in… quite a while, actually.

If you can’t tell, there were some bummers in this bag. I don’t know why, but I get really annoyed when the cost of the bag is dependent on one item. An $18 brush does not a high value bag make, monetarily or enjoyment wise. I don’t need an $18 fan brush because I’ve already been sent 4 $18 fan brushes! That single brush ups the value of the bag significantly, but the other items are all valued at less than $10—except for the bizarre lip balm, which is so offensive at $10 that I actually find myself getting keyed up and mad.

Did this bag make me feel good? Honestly, not really. It was just sort of another thing, you know? I do love the make up bag—what blogger doesn’t love a bit of marble, huh?—but besides the lipstick, I wasn’t excited to use anything.

Here’s to hoping next month brings me a little bit of joy. I need it, y’all!

Beauty Review: It Cosmetics Confidence in an Eye Cream

Should I have started using an eye cream in my 20s?!

I don’t know the answer to that, but I do know that I have always kind of thought eye cream (that is, specific moisturizers designed for your eyes) was kind of a scam. The skin around our eyes is different from the rest of our faces, but how useful is it to apply a different cream to our eye areas? Should we be doing it? Does it matter? Does eye cream really make a difference?

One dermatologist says this: “The creams you use on your face are just as helpful as eye cream, regardless of name brand.” Basically, what I get from this is: just use moisturizer on your eyelids and eye area, gently, and it’s all good.

However, another dermatologist in the exact same article says this: “Many regular facial creams or moisturizers may irritate the thin skin.” And another says, “I can’t say [definitively that] eye creams really work — but I can say that certain ingredients work.”

TL;DR: there is conflicting information.

But the main takeaway here to me is that we should be moisturizing around our eyes, even if you aren’t using a specifically formulated eye cream. I realized as I was writing this that if I don’t use eye cream, I rarely apply moisturizer to my eye lids (or too close to my eyes). That was pretty jarring to realize; how much dehydration have my poor eyes experienced because I am not moisturizing them correctly?

We may never know.

The point of all of this is to review the It Cosmetics Confidence in an Eye Cream. Yay! I received it as a sample in my Ipsy bag; I paid $3 for a teeny tiny sample. (Ok, it’s actually fairly substantial for looking so small, as you don’t use very much).

Here’s what this eye cream promises:

“Confidence in an Eye Cream features the same hydrating, firming and wrinkle-smoothing benefits as your #1 anti-aging moisturizer*—plus it’s your best eye cream for dark circles!

While the exclusive apricot tint and Drops of Light Technology™ visibly color-correct and brighten, proprietary Anti-Aging Armour Rejuvenating Concentrate™ and other high-performance skin-loving ingredients—including a super ceramide complex, chrysin, licorice root, avocado and squalane—work to hydrate, smooth and refresh. You’ll see powerful results instantly and more dramatic results over time!”

My main takeaways here are that is acts as an anti-aging moisturizer and promises to reduce dark circles.

I’m genetically lucky in that I don’t have dark undereyes; some people naturally get darkness under their eyes, so I cannot necessarily speak to that. However, I do have a large melasma spot under my left eye that developed after I was pregnant. (Pregnancy often causes “pregnancy mask,” aka melasma spots that can worsen if you don’t use SPF. I have a line above my lip and a splotch underneath my eye. They’re fun! By which I mean, they’re not! They’re basically large, irregularly shaped freckles.)

My main concern for my under eye area is handling that melasma; there is not much I can do to make it better, but I don’t want to make it worse. My other concern is keeping the area moisturized and preventing wrinkles. I know that’s incredibly vain, but I really pride myself on my lack of crow’s feet. I’ve stopped squinting at things to prevent them!

(I haven’t really stopped squinting at things. I’m squinting at my computer screen in my non-prescription blue blocker glasses at this moment.)

I have previously really loved the It Cosmetics Confidence line; I love the Confidence in a Cleanser. I even glowingly reviewed it here. However, after doing a lot of work on repairing my pH barrier (learn more about the process I’ve been following for balancing & repairing my skin’s pH barrier here), I’ve come to the terrible conclusion that the thing that is wrecking my skin’s pH barrier is… the Confidence in a Cleanser. I realized this after dropping it from my routine for a month to exclusively use the FAB Daily Cleanser. I reused it a few days ago and my skin was immediately back to where it was before I did all that work!

So, the bad news is: I think the Confidence in a Cleanser is bad for my pH barrier (and potentially other people’s), so I highly recommend being careful if you use it or want to try it.

That has slightly colored my experience with the It Cosmetics Confidence in an Eye Cream because I was worried about the eye cream being responsible too. However, I used it throughout my month-long repair process and didn’t have any issues.

Here are a few things I noticed while using this eye cream for a month:

• My undereyes were able to hold concealer better without creasing or getting dry and flaky.

• I noticed my melasma faded slightly. (My husband even said it looked a little lighter, but this may have to do with sun exposure in the winter.)

• Plucking my eyebrows has become a lot easier. (Who knew moisturizing my eye area would make that easier?)

This eye cream includes a few key ingredients that are common in eye creams: collagen, specifically, which is supposed to firm the skin; and ceramides, which are natural lipids that help “reinforce the skin barrier.” The inclusion of ceramides is what makes me feel confident that this eye cream won’t damage your pH barrier. It also includes niacin, which can help even your skin tone, peptides, and licorice root.

All in all, if you’re in the market for an eye cream, I think this one is a strong contender. I really love It Cosmetics; they are one of my favorite brands. However, in terms of eye creams, it’s not the most affordable; it is $38 for 0.5 fluid ounces. That being said, you use such a small amount day-to-day, it will probably last a significant amount of time.

I’m debating repurchasing or trying a different eye cream; if you have suggestions, let me know!

How to Restore Your Skin's pH Balance & Barrier

In the last few years, it felt like I’ve learned more about how to take care of my skin—and yet, it becomes increasingly more complicated.

There are so many methods to good skincare: Korean beauty methods, long 15+ step skincare programs, stripped down programs, cruelty free, all natural, low pH… it can get really, really overwhelming.

But in the last few months, I’ve started to focus on a simplified routine with one main focus: nurturing and taking care of my skin’s pH barrier (sometimes called the acid mantle). If you’d told me 10 years ago that I would be focusing on something like this, I would have probably short circuited. Skincare feels like it should be easy: pick up something in the store that says it will fix your problems, use it, and success! But it’s not quite so easy.

Skincare also doesn’t have to be so hard. Yes, you’ll have to try and remember your chemistry lessons; personally, it’s been 14 years since I even thought about chemistry and while science is important, it’s absolutely not my strong suit. I get overwhelmed easily with information, which is probably why I spend so much of my time making lists and journaling, trying to make sense of all this information.

In this blog post, I want to help you figure out what the pH barrier of your skin really is and how it protects your skin—as well as the signs you’ve damaged it. As I wrote recently, I’ve started to notice some serious effects of damage to my skin’s pH barrier—most likely from years of using stripping, oil free products with too much acid or soap in them—and fixing it has become a huge focus for me as I get older. So let’s talk about your skin’s acid mantle: what is it, why does it matter, and how do you know if you’ve damaged it.

What is the pH level of your skin? What does acid mantle mean?

Naturally, skin’s pH level is around 5.5 (on average), which makes it slightly acidic. When we talk about the acid mantle, this is primarily what is being discussed. From the New York Times, here’s a great summary of what composes the acid mantle of your skin: “The acid mantle is the protective film of natural oils, amino acids and sweat that covers your skin.”

For those who aren’t great at chemistry (you can count me among that crew, although I’m trying!) that means that all of our skin has a natural protective barrier, with its own pH level, that can be relatively easily damaged with products that are either too alkaline or too acidic for our skin. Once your skin’s pH barrier is damaged, it can be a huge pain to get it back to rights—and you can begin to experience some pretty severe signs of damage along the way. Let’s discuss those.

What are the signs of damage to your skin’s pH barrier?

As I mentioned in my review of First Aid Beauty’s Cleanser, there are a few classic signs of a damaged pH barrier: acne, dryness, increased sensitivity, patchy, and flaky skin, as well as your skin feeling tight and dehydrated (while sill being very oily). More and more, talk on skincare forums revolves around your skin’s pH barrier; it’s because the products we all have access to tend to be designed specifically to strip our skin of oils.

As well, a damaged pH barrier can make you more prone to struggling with other skin conditions, like rosacea and eczema. I always know something is up with my skin when I start getting red, blotchy spots across my cheeks. This is my sign to start removing products from my skincare arsenal; no more toner, no more acid, just gentle non-lathering face wash and a good, gentle moisturizer.

What causes damage to your skin’s barrier?

As I said, the average skin pH level is 5.5, slightly acidic. However, most drugstore skincare products are highly alkaline; any soap that foams is alkaline and designed to strip your face of any oil. Your skin needs oil! It needs that layer! However, these products may work for some people who have a slightly higher pH; 5.5 is just an average.

However, let’s take a look at the pH level of other products.

Our skin, on average, is at a 5.5—that’s the pH level of our skin’s acid mantle. That’s about the same level as a cup of coffee or a glass of milk. Now, look at soap: it’s alkaline at a pH of 12. Again, from the New York Times: “Cleansing your skin with anything alkaline interferes with the skin’s ability to repair itself and makes it less elastic.” Our skin grows more alkaline as we age, which means that we need more acidic products to help balance the acid mantle and keep it from being damaged.

One further note: check where baking soda is on this list! Baking soda has a pH of 9, quite alkaline, which is why you should absolutely never put baking soda on your face! So many homemade masks include baking soda. This is also why you should never use toothpaste on your skin to help acne. This is a personal bugbear of mine. Stop putting baking soda on your face! Thanks for coming to my TED Talk.

How long does it take to fix this damage?

That depends on how bad the damage is your acid mantle. If you’re noticing signs of damage, including redness that you never had before or worsening acne, it’s time to strip everything back and focus on repairing your skin’s pH barrier. According to Krave Beauty, “This really depends on the severity of the damage and the individual's skin condition. Just like there are people whose wounds heal faster, skin is the same. For healthy skin, it can take 2 weeks and up to a month to repair the barrier function. Once your skin barrier is back on full force, you’ll notice a decrease in redness, skin-sensitivity, inflammation, and dehydration! You will definitely be able to tell when your skin can handle a new product.”

The good news is: it’s not like it will take 6+ months (although if your skin is highly damaged, it might). The bad news is that it won’t be instantaneous. This will be a process that will take a long time.

How do you fix your skin’s pH balance/barrier?

Fixing your skin’s barrier is relatively simple, but requires sticking to a pretty strict routine for a while.

• Strip your skincare down to the basics. For the next month, you’re not going to want to use any acids on your skin, as when your skin barrier is damaged, your skin is more permeable. That means, no exfoliation, no acids, nothing. You’ll be using a face wash (that does not contain soap or alcohol) and a pH balanced moisturizer. You can also use a nourishing facial oil, like jojoba or something that contains a high amount of lipids and cholesterol. That’s it. No masks. Nothing else.

• Focus on lifestyle changes. Reducing stress, getting more sleep, and drinking more water have all been shown to also effect our skin’s barrier. While this is primarily anecdotal, and there isn’t a ton of evidence to it, I do think it’s worth changing any of these aspects to help your skin. You never know!

• Use SPF. Damage to your skin barrier, to repeat it, makes your skin more permeable. That means you’re at risk of increased sun damage. So wear SPF like your life depends on it; if you’re going to be outside for any amount of time, make sure to employ physical barriers as well, such as long sleeves and hats.

• Use gentle products. In the next section, I’ll make a few recommendations that also won’t break the bank.

• Be careful with make up products. I wear foundation and powder every day and I’ve made sure these are good for my skin’s pH barrier. I have been avoiding any unnecessary make up items, such as contour, eye shadow, etc. to avoid having to use anything besides oil and my face wash to remove them.

Product recommendations

• Jojoba oil: Jojoba oil has a high content of wax esters, making is suitable to help repair the skin barrier. It’s anti-inflammatory and good for all skin types. Make sure you buy pure jojoba oil with nothing else added. I use Leven Rose Jojoba Oil.

• Dermalogica UltraCalming Barrier Repair: This “velvety moisturizer helps fortify sensitized skin with a damaged barrier” is perfect to use underneath foundation, as it can double as a primer. I would add a dollop of SPF as well.

• First Aid Beauty Cleanser: This cleanser is a pure, unscented basic that doesn’t lather and will help restore your skin’s barrier.

• First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream: This is the OG of repairing your skin barrier: it’s ultra hydrating and very gentle, free of any ingredients that might continue to wear down your skin’s barrier. Also, it’s super affordable.

Beauty Review: First Aid Beauty Cleanser with FAB Antioxidant Booster

When it comes to cleanser, what is something you always look for?

My entire life, I feel like I’ve bounced between a lot of different cleansers, but my favorites always have one thing in common: they’re more of a cream cleanser than a soap cleanser. When it comes to a single shared characteristic of my favorites, that’s about as specific as I can be.

My deciding factor is, of course, how clean I feel like it gets my face. Some cleansers clean, but don’t feel like they do much beyond that; I would say the Body Shop’s Tea Tree Cleanser (which I like!) does that. I’ve recently phased out using it because at the end of the day, it just felt like general soap. Nothing special. I’ve instead been exclusively using the It Cosmetics Confidence in a Cleanser, which is more of a cream consistency and highly moisturizing.

In my most recently Ipsy bag, I added on 3 add-ons. These are products you can add to your Ipsy shipment; they offer $3 deluxe samples, $6 super deluxe samples, ad $12 full size samples. I usually stick to the $3 tier and on Black Friday, they had a buy-2-get-1-free deal. Thus, I got the It Cosmetics Confidence in an Eye Cream sample, a new chapstick, and the Ipsy Skincare Party Pouch. The Skincare Party Pouch was a single velvet sack, intended to be a stocking stuffer. I wasn’t sure at first if it would have multiple small samples—but learned via reviews that it would have one single sample. I was a little nervous because many reviews said the sample was tiny and not worth it.

However, when I unboxed it on Instagram, I expressed how excited I was by what I received! I received a deluxe sample of the First Aid Beauty Cleanser with FAB Antioxidant Boost; this is their basic, cream cleanser.

A full-size tube has 5 ounces and costs $21. The sample size has 1 fluid ounce. That puts the value of this sample size at about $4.20—considering I bought it for $3 and that included a fairly nice velvet bag, that’s a pretty good deal to me. As well, a 5 fluid ounce tube is quite large and will last a while. I would estimate a 1 ounce tube will last me anywhere from 2-4 weeks.

Here’s what this cleanser promises:

“A fragrance-free, gentle cleanser that effectively removes makeup, dirt and grime, leaving skin soft and supple. The whipped texture transforms into a sumptuous cream when blended with water.

Infused with a powerful Botanical Antioxidant blend, it helps safeguard skin against environmental aggressors while also calming irritated skin. This non-stripping, pH-balanced formula works to maintain skin’s natural acidity and helps reduce flare ups, never leaving skin feeling tight or dry.”

My skin lately has been very dry, very sensitive, and very red. I suspect that I’ve damaged the pH barrier of my skin. (If you’re curious about what the hell I’m talking about, here’s a good write up about your skin’s pH barrier!) The tell-tale sign of a damaged pH barrier is inflammation of any kind: that means redness (got it), flakiness (got it), dryness (got it), and acne flares (got it). That’s right, kids; as of this moment, I’m batting 4-out-of-4. Just call me the Babe Ruth of Bad Skin!

But in all seriousness, I’d been looking at ways to repair my pH barrier and this cleanser came up a few times. So when I saw it in the Party Pouch, it was like a divine intervention. “Here,” the skin gods said, “take it. You need it, hunnie.”

Thanks, Skincare Gods!

So, what do I think of this cleanser?

First of all, I like that it’s technically fragrance free, in that it doesn’t have any added fragrance. As much as I love the it Cosmetics Confidence in a Cleanser (love the cleanser, but typing this name more than once hurts), I suspect that the fragrance hasn’t been doing much for my skin. However, just because it doesn’t have added fragrance, doesn’t mean it doesn’t smell; like most FAB products that are fragrance free, I feel like the faintly chemical hospital smell of it is almost a turn off. I would prefer even a naturally scent (can we get an essential oil?) could be added without a detrimental effect, but what do I know?

Secondly, I do really love it. I’ve noticed a slight improvement in my skin (in combination with upping my hyaluronic acid use) in the week I’ve been using it. Most of all, I’m looking for an improvement in my skins flakiness and that has definitely improved in the last week.

Who do I recommend this cleanser for?

I think if you’re dealing with problematic skin related to the weather, this would be a great cleanser to test out to see if it helps. If you have sensitive or acne-prone skin, it’s also a great option. At only $21 for a tube (compare to $30+ for It Cosmetics Confidence in a Cleanser), it’s a fairly affordable option. One of my other favorite cleansers is the Loreal Pure Clay Foaming Cleanser, which is creamy and clay-based; it might be another good option for acne-prone skin and is only $9. It reminds me a lot of this cleanser in some ways!

In short: I’m really glad I bought the Party Pouch; I will probably throw down $21 for this cleanser in full-size; and I think I’ve broken my pH barrier of my skin but this might be the magic key I need to fix it.

Beauty Review: My December 2019 Ipsy Bag

Sometimes, I’m afraid that people think my love of beauty products makes me seem air headed or flighty.

I think that’s a message we all absorb, right? In one way or another, we’re taught that “dumb girls” are the ones who are interested in their appearance, who like beauty products. When I was young, I remember feeling like I needed to keep the fact that I wore foundation a secret (even though it was pretty obvious). Girls might talk privately about make up, but to do so too loud was to admit that you cared what other people thought of you. As I’ve gotten older and society has shifted, that’s changed a lot—but you still see tweets about taking girls swimming on the first date, as if the only reason women use make up to make themselves beautiful in the eyes of others (and that somehow make up changes our entire face to the point of a very good disguise).

In recent months, I moved away from writing about beauty and skincare, not because I don’t like it anymore—but just because in terms of my headspace, I just wasn’t there. I couldn’t. All my energy, both mentally and physically, has gone into starting my freelance business, networking, and taking care of my home and family.

I feel like I finally have the mental energy to focus on myself, and my beauty products, again—but there is still that niggling little fear. What if people think I’m vapid because this is what I like writing about? How can I fully combine the idea that you can be a mom who gets shit done but also is very invested in double cleansing? The truth is we all contain multitudes and the attitudes and ideas we’ve absorbed from society about beauty standards are basically 100% bullshit. You can be an entrepreneur, a high level employee, a badass mom, a very dedicated college student… and still care about the new eyeshadow palette you just bought, or the skincare routine you perform every single day. We all deserve to feel good about the things we like and none of them are vapid, empty, or meaningless.

So this is my way to say: if you want to get Ipsy, but are worried about collecting too many products, or being “too invested” in beauty products, or if you’ve worried about those things and have never really let yourself indulge in a really good, expensive moisturizer… here’s your permission. I’m handing it to you. Go to Ulta, buy the moisturizer, subscribe to Ipsy, luxuriate in your oils to your hearts content. It doesn’t make you less of anything to care about those things if they make you feel good.

Whew! Now that that is out of the way, let’s talk Ipsy, shall we? You can read my past Ipsy reviews here. If you want to try Ipsy, you can sign up using my referral link here.

This month’s bag is sparkly, silver realness. Ipsy has slightly changed since my last review (in October). It now costs $12 a month and you get to choose one product in your bag every month—if you remember to log in and choose it in time. There is only a 24-hour window to do so, so if you, like me, are kind of busy and see the email and think, “I’ll do that later!” it will probably be too late by the time you log in the next day. As a warning.

That’s something I think Ipsy needs to readjust or change; not many of us have time right upon receiving an email to act on it. I try to spend less than 10 minutes in my email inbox at a time, just so I actually work on my to do list instead of, say, constantly reply to emails and click links.

That being said, even though I didn’t get to choose an item this month, I still like everything in my bag. Plus, I got 3 bonus items (which I haven’t included in this review) because they were having a buy-2-get-1-free deal on Black Friday. i love the monthly option to add on items for $3 a sample. I almost always choose one or two just so I have something new to try. I’ll actually be reviewing one of my add-ons at the beginning of January, so stay tuned for that!

Let’s walk through everything I got this month, shall we?

1. Hanhoo Watermelon Illuminator Daytime Facial Oil, $8 value

I love a facial oil! You probably know that by now. This facial oil contains watermelon extract and niacinamide; here’s what niacinamide promises: “niacinamide has been getting lots of love lately—and it’s a star ingredient in this face oil. It helps to refine pores, even skin tone and texture, treat acne-prone skin, and get you glowing.” That sounds… pretty good, right?

This facial oil reminds me a lot of the bliss drench moisturizer; it’s more of a cream-to-oil texture instead of a straight oil and has quite a bit of water in it, according to the ingredients list. I really like how it feels on my skin, but it doesn’t feel like a facial oil at all. That’s not necessarily a problem. It’s a good moisturizer! It just doesn’t contain any actual oil; it contains cyclopentasiloxane, which is a common ingredient to act as a lubricant in things like anti-aging creams and conditioner.

Facial oil is a popular term these days and this strikes me as an example of marketing versus what the products actually is. That being said, I don’t hate the product; I actually really like it! It’s just… not a facial oil.

A full size bottle of this products is 1 fluid oz and costs $16; this sample is 0.5 fluid oz and therefore has a value of $8. Pretty good!

2. Jolii Cosmetics Luxe Creme Matte in Lavanda, $18

I love a liquid lip and this one has a great, creamy texture. I received the color Lavanda, which is described as “a vibrant violet shade that’s surprisingly versatile and flatters every skin tone.” Violet is close to how I would describe it; it’s pretty bright in person, and almost grey-beige (greige). It’s really pretty, but there is something about a grey-toned purple lipstick that makes my teeth look yellow as all hell. So I will not be wearing this shade until I get my teeth whitened to roughly the shade of snow.

This is a full size product, though, and I love when I get a full size product in my bag!

3. Cela Black Gold Supreme Coffee Scrub, $3.70 value

I’m not a huge fan of coffee scrubs; I find them messy and slightly useless, as you never receive enough in a sample to really get the job done. That being said, I like this one. It smells good (like coffee, of course). And the packaging is gorgeous. If body scrubs are your thing, this one is a great option.

A full size tube of this product contains 200 grams and costs $37. This sample tube is 0.7 oz or 20 ml. It’s hard to convert between mls and grams as they are two different types of measurement, but in this case, it’s most likely a 1-to-1 ratio. Therefore, this sample tube, at 20ml or 20g, has a value of $3.70.

4. Space Case Cosmetics Blush in It’s Not Me, It’s My Sign, $9

I love blush! It’s my favorite thing to receive in my Ipsy bag because it’s my favorite step of my make up. The funny thing about make up, for me, is that I spend a lot of time taking all the color out of my skin via foundation, then I have to put a little bit of color back so I don’t look like a corpse. Hence why I love blush so much.

This blush is in the color It’s Not Me, It’s My Sign, which is a cute name. The shade is described as “an orchid pink with a semi-matte finish.” However, I would call it closer to a true pink—not necessarily floral or natural. I have a lot of rosey blushes like it, but I do quite like this one. It’s a bit more sheer than the average blush.

This is another full size product. It is sold out on the Space Case website, but the other blushes are also valued at $9 each and look just as lovely.

5. Tarte Amazonian Clay Waterproof Bronzer in Park Avenue Princess, $3.33 value

This is the funniest little product. I don’t wear bronzer and no matter how many times i tell Ipsy not to send me bronzer, they tend to lump it in with blushes. To them, they’re the same sort of product, so why wouldn’t I want both? This one is from the Amazonian Clay line, but comes in a package totally different from other sample blushes I’ve received from the same line. It’s tiny! It clocks in at 1 gram; a full size is 9 grams! The packaging is a cheap plastic and the unit of bronzer itself is pretty small, more of an eyeshadow size really! In terms of color, it’s quite yellow for a bronzer and very light.

I can’t imagine being someone with a darker skin tone receiving this product. It doesn’t look like this bronzer is offered in any other shade, at least on Sephora; it’s just one shade of bronzer and maybe 20% of the population can wear it. It’s so light! This is probably the biggest disappointment of the bag because I just won’t use it.

A full size clocks in at 9 grams for $30. (WHEW!)

Final Thoughts

The total value of this bag is $42.03. In terms of value, that’s one of the lowest valued bags I’ve ever received, but I do like 4 out of the 5 products! I can’t complain too much, but for $13, I feel like I do expect a slightly higher value.

Did you receive an Ipsy bag this month? What did you think?

My Favorite Products of 2019

It’s been a minute since I’ve written about beauty products, or products in general. In terms of my blog, I’ve been focusing more on personal and professional development—that’s just where my head is right now!

But that being said: we all deserve to take care of ourselves. We can’t be 100% business, goal-focused, super productive all the time. That’s unsustainable. And besides, it’s fun to take a break and talk about products that make it easier for us to live our lives with minimal hassle and maximum results. (I’m all about that life.)

And ultimately, my goal with my blog is to always push the point that you can be successful at whatever it is you choose (your job, or parenthood, or hitting that personal goal) while also taking time to pamper yourself and indulge in the things you love.

2019 was a big year for me. As Kylie Jenner so famously said, “I feel like this year is really about, just the year of realizing stuff.”

I’ve realized so much stuff.

But in all seriousness: 2019 was a big year for a lot of very good and bad reasons. I feel like I’m taking more steps towards being a better person than I was at the end of 2018, that’s for sure. I’m a lot less angry and scared this year than I was last year. More than that, I feel comfortable where I am professionally for the first time in a long time and I’ve learned how to take better care of myself.

When it comes to the products that really improved my life in 2019, I think of a few things: things that made me happy, that gave me more time, or just worked really, really well. In a year where so much was happening, especially in the 2nd half, some days I just needed things that made me feel really, really good. So, here are my top 5 products (mostly beauty-related) for 2019.

1. Apothehair by Scapes

I received a sample of Apothehair by Scapes in my Birchbox. As of right now, you can only buy it from Birchbox—which is what I did. It was fairly expensive, but you don’t use much of it at a time. It is an herbal leave-in conditioner that I highly recommend if you have dry, damaged hair. I always let my hair air dry, which can give me some flyaways… but I like that Apothehair helps calm those down, while also making my hair so dang shiny.

I got really into hair care products this year. I started keeping regular hair appointments for the first time in years (shout out to my stylist, Lindy); even though I don’t necessarily need a trim every 4-6 weeks, I like to go anyway. Sometimes, I get a scalp treatment. But mostly, I’ve realized that taking good care of my hair is one way I can take better care myself. That’s why I like Apothehair; it’s one product that helps me really feel like I’m taking care of my hair every single day without fail. It smells good. It feels good. It makes my hair look good. Honestly, it doesn’t get much better.

2. First Aid Beauty Oat & Cannabis Seed Oil

I got a (fairly large) sample of this in my most recent Ipsy bag and let me tell you: if you’re looking for a good oil to finish your skincare routine with, let me recommend this one. It’s a combination of oat-based oil and cannabis seed oil. You don’t need many drops and you can add it to your moisturizer or apply it afterwards to seal the skin.

Throughout November and December, I’ve been struggling hard with my nose being dry. I mean the skin on my nose. And around my nose. It looks awful. The skin was scaly and peeling and just kind of nasty looking. My nose is usually incredibly oily, but I actually stopped using powder because my nose was so dry. I started religiously applying the FAC oil in the morning and evening (sometimes twice in an evening, just for good measure) and it cleared up in a few days. All that hemming and hawing only for it to go away, and improve, over a few days. Sometimes, I surprise myself.

I fully plan to buy a full size of this oil once the new year starts (even though I’ll be on a mild spending ban to start hardcore saving for taxes next year) because I’m not sure I can live without it at this point.

3. It Cosmetics Confidence in a Cleanser

I reviewed this cleanser in November and I’m not sure I have much else to say about it except that: it continues to be my favorite cleanser of the year; I still love the smell of it; and I love how moisturizing it is, especially with the dry winter air.

4. My Diffuser

I have never been much into essential oils; I don’t think they do even 10% of what some people claim and I think the consumption of them is incredibly dangerous and misguided. That being said: essential oils smell very good and I like when my house smells good. I resisted essential oils in diffusers for so long for everything I just listed, but let me tell you: my life improved dramatically when I just started using them for smell alone! This is the diffuser I bought at the beginning of the summer; I ended up buying a second one for my bedroom. I like that it came with a set of basic essential oils; however, it was about $10 cheaper when I bought both of mine, so I don’t know what to think about that!

My favorite oils to diffuser are bergamot anything; jasmine + eucalyptus; and tea tree and eucalyptus. I do find some scents help me feel better or more energized, but I think that’s just because I particularly like them—not because they hold any real medicinal properties.

5. Aveda Shampure Thermal Dry Conditioner

My hair stylist recommended this on my very first visit and I bought it right then and there. And I love it. The link above is to a similar product; I can’t find the one I actually use on the Aveda website, but you can read a blog post about it here. It is a dry conditioner that you can use on your hair when its dry to add a bit more moisture and shine, as well as to provide a small amount of heat protection (if you are curling your hair or anything). It also smells amazing. (The entire Shampure line from Aveda smells fantastic!) I like using it to refresh my hair throughout the day, or if my scalp is being particularly problematic; I spray, brush, and let dry. My hair is shinier and softer afterwards, which is always a plus.

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There you have it! My favorite products of 2019. Do you have anything you’re particularly loving from the last year? That you recently discovered? That changed your life? Tell me about it!