Juggling Work and Blogging - This Week's Losing Battle.

So I completely over estimated my ability to start back to school and post within the same week -- yeah, that so did not happen. Basically I came home every night after work and fell asleep on the couch by nine pm. Week one kicked my ass. My apologies all, but better late than never!! On a side note -- don't even talk to me about my diet and/or excise plan either, that was also not happening last well as well. And, despite an unfortunate finger injury yesterday (see my instagram @lovelyincolumbusblog) we will have a blog post today.

Going back to work after an extended absence (ie, summer) is always tough. I have never been good at doing 0 to 60 -- fast -- and heading back to school kinda hits me in the same way. Thats why, at the end of the day, coming home and removing my make up is a essential for my transitioning process. Continuing with our talk about the numerous options out there to remove one's make up, I would like to feature a stand by in and a new friend.

So I have been wanting to try a Micellar Water for like, ever. The problem is, is that you can't seem to locate one in the greater Columbus area. While shopping at JAvenue off of Kenny Road, I stumbled across the well known and well loved Bioderma Micellar Water, however it was like $36! Given that I had never tried the product before (and there were other, cheaper things I wanted to buy there that day) I passed on the Bioderma. Trust me, I wanted to get it, but for some reason that day my typically silent voice of reason showed up and was like "no way". However, if you are in the Columbus area, and are hard up for your Bioderma Micellar Water this is the only place I have ever seen it.


Still on the hunt I managed to run across Simple Skincare's Micellar Cleansing Water at Ulta -- and since it was only $7.99 I figured it was worth trying out. So by now you are probably asking, what the heck is Micellar Water? Micellar Water is a solution to remove make up from the skin and it is particularly popular in Europe (especially in France, hence my harping on the Bioderma thing...). Micellar Water is just becoming trendy in the U.S. and because the ingredients in the water, or more specifically the micelles (yes, that's a thing) in the Micellar Water are supposed to be non irritating to sensitive skin, people are seeking it out as an addition to their beauty arsenal.

The micelles (tiny microscopic spherical liquid crystals) are also very good at trapping oil, which is why they make such good make up removers. Essentially, it is kind of like a cross between a toner and a cleanser that removes make up but doesn't strip the skin. After using the Micellar Water this is what I have found. I like it to remove my make up. It takes it off easily and my face doesn't feel greasy. It does not irritate my skin in any way or make my skin feel tight and uncomfortable. It also pretty much has no scent so I am not put off by any cloying perfumey smell. In the Simple Skincare formula in particular, the Micellar Water solution also contains B3, which softens the skin and Vitamin C for it's brightening boots and antioxidant properties.

However, Micellar Water does not seem to be a substitute for cleansing. Period. To remove all traces of make up from your skin you have to follow your Micellar Water with a cleanser. The Micellar Water, does NOT remove all traces of your make up. Most of it? Yes. All of it. No. But at $7.99 a pop, if you are dying to try it or want to add it to your regime Simple makes a pretty decent version. But in my opinion it isn't the end all be all product it has been hyped to be.

So what cleanser do I use after my Micellar Water? If you are a reader of my blog you know that Bioelements is one of my favorite stand by lines. So it will come at no surprise that I recommend Bioelements Flash Foam Cleanser . This product retails for $36 however I found it from $21.53 @ Amazon. I really like this cleanser for summer skin (summer only oily or combination skin) or oily skin but it works well on normal skin as well. It also lasts a long time -- two pumps of foam works to clean your whole face. It is also not overly scented with perfumes but has a nice light "orangy" scent. The Flash Foam Cleanser contains papaya and pineapple extracts that act as a mild exfoliant, green tea extract (an antioxidant) and orange oil for toning properties. This product is one of my old stand by products that I keep coming back to over the years, regardless of how many other products I try.

Until next week! I promise!!
Stay Lovely, Columbus!!
XOXO - Ann

Taking Your Face Off - Cleansers that are Sure to Remove Your Make Up!

I won't lie, it has been a tough week -- so forgive me, my good natured snark is just not on point right now. This Monday, we lost a dear member of our extended family, my parent's older miniature schnauzer Cookie. She had been a part of our family for many, many years, and although she lived a long, full and happy life the loss of a beloved pet is never easy. Additionally, it is t-minus four days and some odd hours until school starts for me and the serious freak out has set in -- due in large part to some last minute ridiculousness. I have recently been reminded of this thought -- a failure on your part does not constitute an emergency on mine -- or something to that effect. But I think that thought sums up my work stress pretty accurately.

Being a bit stressed means there is nothing more important to my sanity than being able to come home, remove all my make up, pull on my favorite Target lounge clothes (seriously they have the best crap) and curl up on my couch with my Pieper and a good book. I know I must take extra special care of my skin when I'm stressed, otherwise the stress breakout will rear it's ugly head. Making sure I do a thorough and complete job of removing my make up is key to keeping a skincare emergency at bay -- as well as giving me a bit of a pick me up. Because, let's face it, although you look fabulous with make up on, removing it makes you feel like you have somehow freed your face from some sort of pigment prison.

I know I have said this before but I will say it again -- I am a firm believer in the multiple step cleanse. This means I have at least one dedicated cleanser to remove my make up -- right now I am favoring an oil cleanser -- and at least one cleanser to clean my skin once the make up is removed. Think of it this way, if you use make up remover to remove your eye make up and mascara you don't skip washing your eyelids, etc., when you wash the rest of your face do you? My double cleanse is simply a take on this concept. I use one cleanser as a make up remover and a second cleanser to clean my bare face -- removing all impurities left in and on my skin. For today though, I'm going to share my favorite make up remover for the first step in a double cleanse regime.

I am a big fan or Bliss' Fabulous Make Up Melt Gel to Oil Cleanser. Even though I tend towards oily skin, I often feel like my skin is stripped by your typical oily skin or acne products. That is why I like to remove my make up with this gel to oil cleanser. The Bliss Fabulous Make Up Melt goes on like a cleansing gel over dry skin, but, as you work it over your skin it becomes slick and collects all your make up. I can literally see this stuff capturing my foundation and removing it from my skin. It washes off easily, requiring no extra product to remove it from your face and doesn't leave my skin feeling dry or patchy.

The Bliss Fabulous Make Up Melt Gel to Oil Cleanser contains multiple oils -- olive oil, tamanu oil, mirabelle plum seed oil and abyssinicia seed oil to cleanse your skin. It also contains peppermint oil, sage leaf oil, orange oil and lavender oil to refresh and calm your skin. The squeeze bottle doesn't leak, it has a light smell and there is no oily/messy residue! The only downside to this product is that I do tend to use about a quarter sized amount to clean my whole face and at $28 it is a bit pricey -- however it works like a champ. On the up side I did recently score this product at the Sawmill Nordstrom Rack for around $15, so deals can be found!

Using a gel to oil cleanser is not the only way I like to remove my make up at the end of the day, however, you will have to wait for Sunday's post to find out about my other make up removing recommendations! Until then....

Stay Lovely, Columbus!
XOXO - Ann

My Love/Hate Relationship with Cleansing Cloths

So I've got about a week and a half before I go back to work so I will try to get a couple more posts in before I get swamped at school and disappear briefly under a mountain of stress! Ahh! Just thinking about it gives me the beginnings of a panic attack. Ok, breathe -- smile, move on. Anyways, one of my favorite beauty items are cleansing products and I'd like to devote the next several posts to some of my favorites. Don't worry, this isn't my first post to include cleansers and it certainly won't be my last.

I am a huge sucker for cleansers of all kind -- they rank right up there with my love affair with masks! I kind of have a serious stock pile going on right now. (Don't tell my husband, he has no idea what I keep in the linen closet!!) I also like to have multiple cleansing products to choose from on a daily basis. (You never know what kind of skin you may have on any given day!) In my opinion, there simply is nothing like the feeling of freshly cleaned skin! Don't get me wrong, I love my make up, but there is something very mood altering about coming home from a long day of work and wiping all that gunk off your face. One reason I love cleansers is that there are so many to choose from -- gels, foams, scrubs, oils, cloths.... and you know I just have to try as many of them as possible!

One kind of cleansing product that I have had major trouble with over the years is the cleansing cloths. Every single one I have tried has caused a seriously scary reaction on my face. I can remember the first time I used a cleansing wipe -- let me set the scene for ya -- I was a freshman in undergrad and it was the night before my fall trimester History final. I broke out a box of the Olay Cleansing Cloths (a brand new beauty item at the time!) and used one before bed. Well, the next morning I woke up with tiny, itchy, red bumps ALL OVER my face. I went to my final with my head down and as soon as I finished, I headed home to Ohio and went straight to the doctor. That was 15 years ago and I have been wary of these things ever since. I have tried several different brands, and come out with various degrees of the same results. Always some sort of allergic reaction, albeit never as bad as my freshman year, but still concerning enough that in the trash they all went. Well, all but one...

The last time I was in Sephora (shocker, me in Sephora) hunting for a new foundation, they had me remove my make up with the Ole Henriksen The Clean Truth Cleansing Cloths: Brightening. Immediately I balked. I didn't want to use yet another cleansing cloth on my skin only to wait about three hours for a nasty allergic reaction to rear it's ugly head -- NO!! Reluctant, and seeing no other alternative to removing my make up I took a deep breath and a risk and used the cleansing cloth. Well, right away I loved the smell, very sweet and fruity (citrus vanilla) but not in a Bath and Body Works way. Also, I noticed the brightening effect on my skin the minute my make up was gone. I was sad, cleansing cloths and I have had several nasty break ups -- this product was not my friend -- I just knew the other shoe would drop though I would have yet another allergic reaction to these cloths. But I waited and waited and waited.... and no nasty surprises. Needless to say I went back the next day and bought a pack.

The Ole Henriksen The Clean Truth Cleansing Cloths: Brightening contain ingredients like vitamin c for brightening, micro algae to firm the skin and boot collagen production, COQ10 to increase skin cell turnover and green tea (anti-oxidant) to slow the break down of the collagen you do have. It also contains grape seed oil, jojoba oil, rosemary leaf oil and black current seed oil, which I had never heard of, which supposedly is full of fatty acids (the good kind of fatty!) for hydration. At $8.00 for 10 and $15.00 for 30 @ Sephora, these will not break the bank. I found them even cheaper -- $21.65 for 30 @ Amazon.

I like to use this product in the evenings to cleanse my skin and remove light make up. I use these cloths when I am wearing light or weekend make up -- this product is great for those days when I do not need something so heavy duty to remove what I have put on my face. I am a firm believer in the double cleanse, using an additional cleanser after I use the cloths to remove my make up.

Stay Lovely, Columbus!
XOXO - Ann

Fighting the Summer Oil Slick Series - A Lazy Girl's Oil Control Foundation Routine

Happy Saturday everyone! Seeing that it is Saturday, I thought today would be a perfect day to talk about my "lazy girl" foundation routine! Some days -- like today maybe -- you just don't feel like putting on a ton of make up -- that being said, you also don't want to scare the kiddies when you leave the house. That's why having a good "lazy days" foundation routine is great! Despite what people think, I do not leave the house daily in full make up. But, I do like to keep some sort of barrier between my skin and the sun whenever I am planning to leave the house. Also, since I'm an elementary teacher by day, I really prescribe the the notion that one does not leave the house in anything you don't want to see students in. Trust me, if you run out in your pjs and no make up you will run into a student or two or three -- it is like some sort of screwed up teacher karma.

I always start with cleaned, moisturized skin and a good primer. I use a primer every day -- whether I am doing a full face or a "lazy girl" foundation routine. Using a primer gives me a good base to work with and, in the summer, it is a mattifier for my oily skin. As mentioned in the previous post, for summer I love Rimmel's Stay Matte Primer. It is my favorite kind of product -- cheap, easy to find and performs as advertised. I do not believe you need to spend a fortune on a good primer. I love Benefit's POREfessional Face Primer, (seriously, it's great!) but at $31 a pop I will stick with my $6.99 Rimmel primer thank you very much.

After I apply my primer, I mix my L'Oreal Magic Skin Beautifier BB Cream Anti-Redness with an impossibly difficult to find product -- Dr. Brandt's Pores No More, Hint of Tint. I'm not even sure if they make this anymore since the only place I seem to be able to find it is Ebay. If you do end up finding it -- stock up -- and email me because I am running a little low. You can use the Pores No More, Hint of Tint on it's own, however, I like to mix it for application purposes. It can be a little thick on it's own so I use the Anti Redness BB Cream to smooth it out and make the application process with my Beauty Blender easier. But if you are super lazy or in a rush, go ahead and use it by itself or mix it with your favorite moisturizer. I also like the Dr. Brandt's Pores No More, Hint of Tint for my summer skin because I typically sport a little bit of a tan in the summer months. The color compliments my slightly tan skin, however, this product would not be good for me in the winter month because it would be too dark. Ladies that are fair year 'round -- this may be too dark for you.

Lastly, I always set my foundation routine with a translucent powder and as in my previous post, I'm currently using Bare Minerals Ready Touch Up Veil Pressed Powder SPF 15. Any translucent finishing powder will do, but since the other products I use in my "lazy" routine don't have any SPF in them, I typically will finish off with this particular product because it is SPF 15. I would prefer my SPF be in one of my liquid make up sources (and be at least SPF 25 or above) but for this routine it didn't happen that way.

Have a great weekend and... Stay Lovely, Columbus!
XOXO - Ann

Fighting the Summer Oil Slick Series - Foundation Routine and Recommendations

Happy Wednesday everybody! Today finds me a bit "hangry" with the new diet. Yes, I am attempting to diet yet again -- for like the millionth time -- and as always I would deck someone for a donut about now. We will see how long this will last, typically at about a month I give up but maybe admitting my failings publicly will help to keep me on track. Doubt it, but we'll see. Anyways, continuing the discussion on how to work with your skin when it is hot and humid out, I thought that I would highlight a good foundation routine.

Now, if you are like me -- I don't really like to leave the house without at least a BB cream on and some powder to protect my skin with some SPF and even out my skin tone so that I don't scare the children. Also, I HATE when I start to sweat and get all disco ball shiny. There is nothing more frustrating than making yourself up in the comfort of your air conditioned home and then to going out and about and in less than 5 minutes feel like your make up is slowly sliding down your face! Ick! So here is my typical foundation routine that has worked to keep the disco ball at bay!

This is my standard "summer skin" foundation routine. I start with Rimmel's Stay Matte Primer ($6.49 at Target) pretty much over my entire face. I love this because it is a primer and mattifier in one -- it is also inexpensive and helps to keep me un-shiny! Next, I run my Beauty Blender under some cold water, wring it out and set it aside. You can find these at Sephora for $20 but Amazon sells them for $13.98. I am a firm believer in the beauty blend and I make sure I replace mine every 3-6 months. 

Since I tend towards some redness in my skin, especially during the summer I mix a little L'Oreal Paris Magic Skin Beautifier BB Cream - Anti-Redness ($7.99 at Target) with my summer BB cream. This is a green tinted cream that works to neutralize the redness that I get sometimes on my checks when I'm too warm. I mix it with my regular BB cream for a lightest coverage possible look. I want my face to look like my skin, but better. Let's face it, sometimes you just don't feel like going to the grocery store all made up to look like you are ready for a date night.

For foundation during the summer, I use either Estee Lauder DayWear Anti-Oxidant Beauty Benefit BB Cream SPF 35 ($40 @ Nordstrom or really any place that has an Estee Lauder counter) or Cover FX BB Gel Mattifying Anti-Blemish Treatment ($45 @ Sephora). Although it isn't a perfect match for my skin tone -- only coming in a few shades like many of the BB Creams out there, I like the Estee Lauder DayWear for every day use because it a multi purpose product. The DayWear is full of anti oxidants that protect my skin from aging, SPF 35, oil free and is an oil controlling formula. Because let's face it, in the summer I don't need to add any more oil to my skin.

I use the Cover FX BB Gel during the summer when I'm dealing with pesky break outs. Extremely lightweight, it comes in a seriously surprising number of different shades. Cover FX BB Gel is specially formulated with a hydrating clay (they don't specify) to retain moisture while at the same time providing a matte finish with what I can only assume are several of the company's patented mattifying ingredients. Cover FX BB Gel also contains Thyme Extract and 1% Salicylic Acid to help treat and prevent break outs. It is also inflammatory ingredient free, if you are into that sort of thing. One thing I have noticed in using this is that it sets and dries fast. On the days that I use the Cover FX BB Gel I blend it in like a speed demon because if I don't, I tend to get that cakey effect. Cutting it with the green BB cream helps with this too.

Last, but certainly not least, I set this process with a translucent powder. Really any translucent setting powder will do, Cover FX has one that is also mattifying if you are super, duper oily -- but right now I am using the old faithful -- Bare Minerals Mineral Veil Pressed Powder in Translucent ($23 @ Sephora). After my foundation is set I can add blush, bronzer or highlighter to complete my overall look -- however, if I am just going to the Giant Eagle around the corner this will pretty much do.

For those of us that need even less coverage and are more or less on the lazier side of the beauty routine -- check my next blog post -- a lazy girl's summer skin foundation routine! Less steps and less product look!

Stay Lovely, Columbus!

XOXO - Ann

Fighting the Summer Oil Slick Series - Moisturizers are Still Important

Happy weekend! I hope everyone is having a great first weekend in August. It really is beautiful out right now and the heat seems to be losing it's grip on our fair city! I am continuing with the current discussion on how to treat summer oily skin. Moisturizing in the summer is still an important step in your skin care routine, despite the fact that you feel like your skin is slowly melting off your face. People sometimes want to skip this step during the summer -- especially if they tend towards oily skin, but please, please, please do not make this mistake! Because those of us who have oily skin use so many harsh products on our face to keep it de-slicked, and blemish free -- often times our skin ends up really super dry and thirsty. That is why I DO NOT skip moisturizing in the summer and today I thought I would highlight a couple of summer moisturizers that I rely on when the weather gets hot.

First Up SkinCeuticals Daily Moisture (pore minimizing moisturizer for normal to oily skin)

This is the lightweight version of their daily moisture moisturizer. Good for oily summer skin or for people that are concerned with the size of the pores on their face, the pore minimizing moisturizer for normal to oily skin lightly hydrates -- sinking into the skin quickly leaving your skin matte and disco ball feeling free! This product does NOT leave a greasy finish at all! It contains active botanicals and vitamin E to minimize pores and leaves your skin feeling balanced and protected. It also works well for acne prone skin and does not irritate blemishes or cause excess oil production to create any more unwanted spots. At $60 a pop it is on the pricier side of things, however you can find it cheaper at Amazon ($39.60).

Why I Love It: No oil slick, lightweight and non irritating.

Note of Caution: Can be pricey but you can find it for less on other websites!

My Second recommendation comes from the generally unknown indie brand called Speciale Decouverte 1764 By Dr. Jules. I actually received this product through a subscription box I belong to called BeautyDNA. This service has almost never steered me wrong product-wise and this moisturizer was another winner for me. I am now a firm and devoted believer in their Anti Aging Facial Moisturizer.

For my personal needs this is hands down the best moisturizer I have EVER used. It not only hydrates my skin but it doesn't leave it feeling greasy after use. This moisturizer is also formulated to help prevent break outs -- and with summer skin issues this is a must for any moisturizer I use.

Dr. Jules Anti Aging Facial Moisturizer is full of swoon worthy ingredients that are winners for your skin and great anti agers to boot. Lavender, cucumber, aloe, sunflower oil, orange peel extract, oat, mandarin essential oil, safflower oil, botanical hyaluronic acid, a silk protein amino acid blend, jojoba oil, shea butter and green tea are just a free of the awesome ingredients in this moisturizer. The products are all natural, organic, paraben free, contain no artificial colors or fragrances and are not tested on animals. This brand has literally been around since 1764 so they must be doing something right! I am so happy with this product that I have been eyeing the serum on their website as well -- hell, I would try the whole line if I could!! Although a little difficult to hunt down (I have only ever found the products on their official website) the price is pretty reasonable at $40 a jar.

Why I Love It: Hydrates without creating that disco ball effect, anti aging and break out prevention, premium ingredients at a fair price.

Note of Caution: None! Hop off the fence and buy the product.

Stay Hydrated and Lovely, Columbus!
XOXO - Ann