Skincare in the summer is always a focus for me. The heat and sun really amplify my oily skin which then leads to me noticing breakouts, larger pores in my t-zone and cheeks and of course the makeup just sloughs off. This summer, though, I entered the warmer months with a game plan. Just like I did this winter, I was proactive with my skincare regimen rather than reactive. I focused on nourishing from the inside out and then used products that were meant to detox and keep my skin fresh and clean.
When it comes to working from the inside out, I focused on vitamins, staying hydrated and balancing out my stress with my continued yoga practice (Check out Yoga with Adrienne). The Z- Skincare pack helps to balance out acne prone skin from the inside out. I notice that when I don't pay attention to my nutrition, I eat terribly and don't focus on balance from a mind, body and soul perspective, my
skin has a tendency to act up.
The Z-Skincare system makes my routine so much simpler. Not only does it offer a complete line of vitamins, but it also includes a serum that helps detoxify and balance your skin while locking in moisture. The Clear Skin System minimizes blemishes, evens skin tone, calms dry sensitive skin and promotes a strong skin barrier. The vitamins are enriched with antioxidants, marine lipids and powerful skin pre and probiotics. The system comes with pre-packed daily vitamins dosed out for each day of your week and comes in either a 30-day or 45-day set. I noted that as I used the product, my skin initially saw a few breakouts as my system detoxed and then my skin has been noticeably clearer over the last 3.5 weeks.
I maintained a consistent regimen that included the vitamins, a day time cleansing and the serum along with a nighttime routine. I utilized Sebamed Clear Face Cleansing Foam wash for my day and night routine. The face wash promotes gentle and effective deep cleansing of pores. This is so important when it comes to proper care of acne prone skin.
The face wash is mild and alkali free and removes excessive sebum, desquamation and dirt particles without drying the skin. This is definitely something I would suggest for those of you dealing with excessively oily skin. It really helps to pull out the dirt. It is best to steam the face first to loosen dirt and open up pores and then wash with luke warm water. The patented coconut oil-based ingredient Montaline C40 helps support an improved complexion keeping your skin feeling soft and smooth. Provitamin B5 supports the natural regeneration of irritated skin. The foam is adjusted to the skin's natural pH value of 5.5, protecting and supporting the skin barrier which in turn helps prevent new pimples from forming. It's gentle enough for every day use, but effective enough that you can tell a difference within 1-2 weeks.
As I mentioned, the summer heat and sun tend to make my pores seem a bit larger. I switched between the Sebamed and Skinn Pure Pore detox on days my pores were noticeably larger. I would typically use the Sebamed products 3 days a week and the Skinn Pure Pore Detox 2 times a week.
When it comes to oily skin, the idea is that you don't want to strip the skin of natural oils. If you do, it ends up making more oil. This product helps to refine the skin with Brazilian Volcanic White Clay and Amazonian Green Clay for a gentle and deep cleansing experience. The product is sulfate-free, oil-free and has a creamy texture. It also includes African Yellow Wood Tree Extract to help tighten and minimize the look of large pores.
In conjunction I also added the Skinn Pore Authority and Skinn Matte Manager serums to my day an night routine. These products are seriously like magic potions in a bottle. The Pore Authority is definitely something you would add to your night time routine. It's a pore reducing serum that you wear overnight. The lightweight serum helps to get the oil under control and evens out the skin tone while minimizing pores. The serum is enriched with detoxifying seeds derived from the Moringa tree to help shield skin from various environmental conditions and to help neutralize free-radicals. It also contains Witch Hazel for it's soothing properties and a skin-refining extract derived from the African yellow wood tree to help tighten and minimize the look of large pores. The Skinn Matte Manager is a great daytime serum. I use it before primer to help minimize my pores. It has many of the same ingredients as the pore authority, but it's much more lightweight and includes Salicylic Acid. The Salicylic acid acts as a mild exfoliant. It helps to smooth the look of skin’s surface for a brighter and more radiant appearance while Vitamin D, Aloe and Cucumber Extract help soothe and hydrate.
Finally, I've been going to my Arbonne Primer more often than not throughout the summer. The lightweight formula holds moisture and keeps my makeup looking fresh throughout the day. It's a great option for the oily skin girls as it preps the skin to hold on to the makeup lengthening your wear time. The primer just glides on effortlessly and doesn't leave you feeling like you have a million layers on. It visually diminishes the appearance of fine lines and pores, creating a smooth surface for makeup application.
Their Aloe Vera + Macademia Nut Shampoo and Conditioner is a great alternative to your salon choices and the body wash smells wonderful! The rich formula of the shampoo and conditioner coats the hair beautifully leaving you with softer strands. After a day at the pool, the conditioner always works well as a hair mask. The best part of the product li e is that they all are Vegan, Non GMO, Paraben Free, Gluten Free, Soy Free, Cruelty Free. They also contain NO – Sodium Lauryl/Laureth/Coco Sulfates, Phthalates, Butylene Glycol OR Artificial Colors. If you're looking for something safer for your family, this is a good option.
Speaking of family safe options, I have also been utilizing California Baby Detangler and Gel for my two daughters (and myself sometimes too!). Hair washing, showers and hair combing, in general, ends up being a nightmare. I'm not sure if birds are building nests in my girls hair as they sleep, but let's just say tangles are a daily encounter. Launched by a mom who cares (founder: Jessica Iclisoy), the California Baby brand is all about offering organic and safe products for the ones that need them the most - our little ones. With a mission to examine each baby product on the market and figure out a way to make it better—no matter what it took—she grew California Baby exponentially over the next decade, proving all of her detractors wrong. She proved that mothers would pay more for a cleaner item; she proved that a woman knows what other women want; and she proved that a woman could create it, no matter what the men around her said.
The product range focuses on organic ingredients that are safe for your little ones as well as yourself. The Calming Hair Detangler features herbal emollients and light, fresh aromatherapy essential oils. These two ingredients work together to detangle and soften hair. The Natural sunscreens of willow and pansy help protect baby's hair from the harmful rays of the sun. After a bath in the morning I will work the detangler into my girls hair and brush out their locks from top to bottom, sectioning off the hair to make it easier to manage. The Jelly Mousse Natural Hair Gel is my go to for my youngest who has curly hair. I run a bit of the gel throughout her hair and let it air dry. It creates beautiful soft wave locks.
Finally, for my Body I've been focusing on keeping it moisturized and feeling fresh. The humidity in Chicago had us all feeling a bit sticky. Due to that, stopping by pool for a dip and the deeper sun tan that comes with left my skin feeling dry. My showers consisted of Krudd Soaps (made with guys in mind, but a product that most girlfriends are likely to steal) and I would finish off my bath routine with a rubdown using JaQua Caramel Cappuccino body lotion and topping it off with the JaQua Body Mist.
The JaQua Caramel Cappuccino body lotion features a hydrating formula containing shea butter, aloe, and mango extracts. The fragrance is decadent, but not overpowering and leaves you with a lingering sweet smell throughout the day. This is their sheerest Shea Butter Formula- so it is meant to be lightweight. The body mist is a light formula that I found lasts throughout the day and is an acohol-free formula with Aloe, Fruit Extracts, and Vitamin E for hydration.
Krudd is an indie brand to the core, but with quality that the big companies are sure to notice. Handmade in Beacon NY the products are inspired by a global world. The soaps are great for shaving, washing and even shampoo. Each bar is made with frankincense and myrrh which are known for their anti fungal and antiseptic properties. Their Bombay scent is entrancing. With notes of patchouli, ginger and black pepper, it leaves you with a warm and clean scent.
Make sure you check these brands out and I hope you enjoyed this latest edition of The Beauty Beat! Let me know if you've tried any of these before and what your thoughts are on them in the comments below!
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Jen
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