How I Cleared My Acne Using These Products

Growing up, like most teenagers, I struggled with acne and acne scarring. I would go to multiple dermatologist appointments only to be prescribed pills and creams that would end up not doing the job of clearing my skin. As my freshman year of college came around, I noticed that my acne was at its all-time worst. I knew I needed to make a change in my skincare routine. Here are the products I used to clear my skin.

1—Cetaphil Oil Control Foam Wash for Acne-Prone Skin. The key to any successful skin care routine is having a reliable face wash. My holy grail face wash is the Cetaphil Oil Free Foam Wash. I used this every day when my acne was bad and it worked wonders on my skin. Personally, I use this face wash twice a day, once in the morning and once before bed. I will use it in the morning before applying my makeup and at night to remove my makeup. It is important when dealing with acne-prone skin to clear your pores of all the dirt before applying your serums and moisturizers.

2—Dermalogica PowerBright Tx Kit. I bought this product solely for the fact that it would clear my acne scars, but it has done so much more than that. At the time, I still had a few active breakouts on my skin but decided to use this kit along with my face wash and see how things went. Just by reading the name of this product you might not think that it would clear acne. But let me be the first to tell you that this kit saved my skin! I rarely ever have active breakouts anymore and my acne scars are noticeably lighter. The kit comes with three different products: The C-12 Pure Bright Serum, Pure Light Moisturizer, and Pure Night Moisturizer. This kit lasted me about three months and that was the perfect amount of time to get my skin back on track. Now that I’ve run out of the products in this kit, I solely use the Pure Night Moisturizer and my skin is better than ever.

3—Humphrey’s Witch Hazel. Now that my skin rarely has active breakouts I also like to use Humphrey’s Witch Hazel as a toner. This product also works great for removing any excess dirt or makeup on your face.

As far as facial cleansing wipes go, I prefer to use the Philosophy Purity wipes because they are gentle on my skin while still removing makeup. Another major tip for you is to remember to change out your towels frequently and make sure you wash your sheets and pillowcases often.

What are your top skincare products? Let us know in the comments below!

This One Product is the Key to a Perfect Beauty Routine

Created with Hawaiian Tropic

If you’re a skincare fanatic, chances are you live for nothing more than finding the ever-elusive beauty routine for flawless skin. You spend your days researching ingredients, finding new products, and meticulously crafting the perfect step-by-step process to achieve that “glow” we’re all striving for. But what if we told you there’s a good chance you’re missing the most important step?

Photo by @brittneyfhughes

Every beauty guru knows that great skin is not achieved with just one product. Between cleansers, serums, oils, and moisturizers, a pared down process is not really an option. Yet—though its benefits are praised endlessly—the one product that should be used daily is most often forgotten. You guessed it—we’re talking about sunscreen. Sun protection is an essential part of every routine; there’s not a single person who is immune to the negative effects of the sun’s rays. But when it comes to actually incorporating it into a beauty routine, panic tends to ensue. When do you put it on? Do you wear it with makeup? Will it leave a strange white cast on your face? These are the burning (pun intended) questions of skin care lovers around the world. So how do you use sun protection in your everyday routine? We’re here to give you our broken down, simplified version for you to easily incorporate it into your life.

Photo by @samanthaneira

If your regimen is as complicated as ours, don’t worry—we’ve got your back with an easy, step-by-step process. Start with your favorite cleanser, and then exfoliate if necessary (one to two days a week should do the trick). Once you’re squeaky clean, there’s only one other step—apply sun protection. Our personal favorite? Hawaiian Tropic Silk Hydration Weightless Face Lotion SPF 30—because yes, it’s as good as its name sounds and you’ll barely feel it on! If your routine is chock-full of products, this lightweight sunscreen won’t weigh you down and won’t clog pores. And if 10-step beauty routines make you yawn, the hydrating ribbons of silk protein and shea butter provide up to 12 hours of skin moisurization making it easy to get all the benefits you need in one product—no serum or cream necessary. And there you have it: The perfect beauty routine, simplified.

Top 5 Must Try Foundations for Combination or Oily Skin

If you are anything like me, you live for foundations. I will never get sick of trying new ones, so I thought I would share my findings with all of you lovely humans with combination or oily skin.

1—Too Faced Born This Way Foundation. This foundation is a medium to full coverage foundation and has a natural matte finish. I use this one on days when I need a little more coverage, but I do not want to wear anything too heavy or an overwhelming amount of product. I never need to set it with a powder, and for me, with oily skin, that’s something I look for in a good foundation.

2—Becca Ultimate Coverage Foundation. My go-to foundation for special occasions or when I just want to go all out with my makeup is this one. It’s full coverage and has a matte finish. This one is AMAZING. I have tried so many full coverage foundations, looking for one that doesn’t get cakey or separate on my oily areas. This is everything I have ever hoped for and more. It never separates or creases or sinks into lines or looks greasy ever. I cannot say enough good things about this foundation.

3—Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Water Foundation. On days when I want something lighter, this one is the best. It is classified as a medium coverage foundation with a natural finish; the cool part about this one is that it is water based, making it extremely buildable. Also, the packaging is to die for. It has a dropper, so one to two drops gives you light to medium coverage. For more coverage simply add a couple more drops. Since it is water based, it is so lightweight and feels like nothing on your skin.

4—Make Up Forever Ultra HD Invisible Cover Stick Foundation. This one is a full coverage foundation with a natural finish, this one I like more for every day. The stick makes it super quick to apply, and the formulation of this one is lighter than the Becca foundation, so it’s a little easier to wear every day. This one is a holy grail for sure.

5—L’Oreal Infallible Pro Glow and Pro Matte. My all time favorite foundations are these babies. They are a medium-to-full coverage, Pro Matte is a matte finish and Pro Glow is a dewy finish. I’m obsessed and they can be bought at the drugstore! I love both of these for the same reason: they have no flaws. They never sink into lines, feel heavy, cling to dry areas or separate. I have never been in love with a foundation more than I am with this one.

Have any favorites for your oily or combo skin? Let me know in the comments below!

Sun-Kissed Glow

Are you looking for that summertime glow, but not looking to commit to the sun? Sunless tanner may be the perfect solution for you! This method allows you to get that sunkissed glow you want without the harmful sun rays ruining it. Becoming a slave to sitting for hours in the sun or a tanning bed can not only be a waste of precious time but also can be detrimental to your health causing skin cancer. With sunless tanner products like the amazing Loving Tan, tanning just became fast, convenient, and so easy to achieve.

Loving Tan is the product I’ve been using for years now and is the only sunless tanner in my opinion that provides an all over, even color, that has a pleasant sunny smell and no orange undertones. This deluxe bronzing mousse, in the shade medium, brings me to my perfect shade right after I apply it.

Everyone has their own tanning routine and if you’re stuck on where to start there are tons of tutorials that can be found on Youtube. To start off this tanning process you first have to shower because the mousse works best on clean, shaven, and nicely exfoliated skin. To achieve this, I use exfoliating gloves that work perfectly to make my skin so silky smooth. After I hop out of the shower, I start to apply my bronzing mousse with a self-tanning mitt to protect my hands from the product. I usually tan at night and sleep with the product on my body so when I wake up I can just wash it off and go about my day. It’s that easy!

The tan usually lasts about four to five days until it gets spotty and then the rest of the tan can be exfoliated off and a fresh new tan can be applied. A big tip for self-tanning is having another set of foundation/concealer for when you tan just to make sure your body and face match.

Sunless tanners always get a bad reputation for making people look “orange” or giving them a “chemical smell,” but with how amazing Loving Tan is, all the rumors get tossed aside.

Will you be rocking a faux tan this summer instead? Let us know on social media by tagging our handle @Cfashionista.

This is How to Rock That Summer Glow

The sun isn’t going to be the only thing glowing this summer! One thing that comes with new fashion trends, is new makeup trends, and I can’t wait to see what the summer of 2017 has to offer our Style Gurus.

With weather in the high ’80s, two of our biggest fears is for our makeup so smear throughout the day and the look of oily skin. Lucky for you, this Fashionista’s beauty hacks can help you glow this summer without the fear of blotting every minute.

The first step is to apply a base coat of primer before your foundation. The primer acts as a stop sign to stop oil from ruining your look. Once you have applied the primer, then you can apply your foundation and continue on with your look for the day!

This Fashionista decided to go with something subtle. First, she went with a light tone of eye shadow to compliment her outfit. Afterwards she added striking winged eyeliner to make her eyes pop. Since her outfit is neutral toned, she applied a dusty rose matte lipstick for her pop of color.

She then completed her look with a powerful highlight. A great way to create the illusion of non-oily skin is to apply a strobe of highlight on your cheeks and nose. Her last step was to spray setting spray so that her makeup would last throughout the hot summer day.

How do you do your makeup? Show us on social media and don’t forget to tag us at @Cfashionista!

3 Quick and Easy Ways to Spice Up Your Everyday Makeup Routine

We all have that one makeup routine: our everyday makeup routine. We can do it with our eyes closed and we always use products that we know work and that we are comfortable with. Though this routine is perfect for going to class, going shopping, or hanging out with friends, we all have those moments that make us want to be adventurous and switch things up a little bit. Now don’t be intimidated, I’m talking about easy, quick techniques that can be done occasionally to spice up your everyday makeup look!

One super easy way to amp up your makeup look is by applying a pop of color to your waterline! I find this technique to be extremely easy and is very noticeable and flattering on everyone. To execute this look, I personally like to use the Colourpop Crème Gel Liners because they are great quality in addition to being very affordable! But, if you want to splurge on a high-end liner perfect for this technique, I highly recommend the Marc Jacobs Beauty Highliner Matte Gel Eye Crayon! Below are the Colourpop gel liners in shades DTLA, Honeydude, Crybaby, and Prance.

Another way to spice up your everyday look is to add a bold lip! Adding a bold lip color is guaranteed to catch the eye of others and will be sure to inspire others to get creative with their looks as well! Whether you choose a bright orange or a punch of pink, any bold shade will work! I personally love to use Jeffree Star Cosmetics Velour Liquid Lipsticks for this technique! A more budget-friendly option that could be used to achieve this technique are the Maybelline Vivid Matte Liquid Lipsticks. Below are Jeffree Star liquid lippies in shades Androgyny, Abused, Gemini, and Redrum.

One last tip I have for anyone trying to change up their everyday look is to add a foiled shadow to the lid! This technique is a super quick way to ensure your everyday look will be kicked up a notch! In my opinion, Makeup Geek has the best formula of foiled eyeshadow for a good price! Each foiled shadow from Makeup Geek is $10. An even more affordable product that is comparable to these shadows are the shimmer shadows in the Rimmel London Magnif’Eyes Shadow palettes! Whether you use a brush or your finger, a foiled shadow on the lid is always stunning without being overwhelming. Below are Makeup Geek shadows in the shades In The Spotlight, Grandstand, Curtain Call, and Shimma Shimma.

So there you have it, three quick and easy ways to spice up your everyday makeup look! I hope this was helpful! What techniques do you use to spice up your everyday makeup look? Let me know in the comments below!

The Everyday Makeup Look

Summer has arrived and it’s a time to be, to quote the Fresh Prince of Bel Air, “Chillin’ out maxin’ relaxin’ all cool.” For students, it’s a break from the stressful schedules they maintain 10 months out of the year, and from having to feel “put together” all the time. Summer is a time to relax with friends without a care in the world.

It’s a known fact that all girls struggle when trying to find the perfect outfit for hanging out. We are always thinking… and over thinking what we should look like for every situation. This struggle also goes as far as how our makeup should look because every outfit needs a good face of makeup.

Here are a few steps you can take to create the perfect summer makeup look for all situations:

Step One

Foundation is every girl’s best friend! During the hot summer season, applying a lot of makeup can make you feel sticky and gross. Using a small amount of foundation can help hide unwanted blemishes but still give the effect of a full face of makeup.

Step Two

Eyebrows must be on fleek…or so people say! Filling in your eyebrows can also help give the effect of a full face of makeup with minimal effort or application.

Step Three

Blush, bronzer, and highlight… oh my! These extra products can be applied to the face to give-off a “natural” look. There is no need to use all three every day! Choosing one of the three can help bring a little color to your cheeks during the summertime.

Step Four

For some girls, lipstick is their day-to-day armor—they don’t go anywhere without it. Choosing the perfect lipstick can be tricky—it can’t feel too thick or clumpy on your lips, it can’t wipe-off easily, and it has to compliment your complexion. So many things to consider! A great summertime color, while hanging with friends, is a simple red that can be pulled off (almost) naturally.

What are some of your go-to products for the summer? Let us know in the comments!

The Perfect Lightweight Skin and Hair Products for Summer

During the summer months, I tend to forget about caring for my skin and hair. I let the sun help with any acne or blemishes I have lingering, and I usually forget about my hair and embrace its natural texture. Yikes. Lately, I’ve been in the habit of using a couple lightweight products religiously, and I swear by them.

Lightweight Hair Products

I have very fine, dry hair and the sun completely destroys it every summer. I’ve tried everything from salt water spray to all different kind of oils. Nothing ever seems to work, but recently I bought an amazing product made by Kenra. This product is called Revive Complex, and it’s a creamy oil that you apply to damp hair. I promise you, it works wonders. My hair gets smoother and healthier each time I use it.

Lightweight Skin Care Products

I’ve also found a solution to my year-round dry skin. I have three products I’ve used on my face every morning the past couple weeks, and all of them are incredibly lightweight and easy to apply. First, I wash my face, dry it, then follow up with a Garnier facial moisturizer. It’s very lightweight, and you can use it anytime of the day without worrying about your face looking greasy. Next, even if I’m going to apply minimal makeup to my face, I use a primer. I use one that smoothes out pores, because my pores tend to be a little large. Using one pump is a perfect amount for one layer. Finally, I use a Mario Badescu rosewater spray. This spray is perfect to use when you want to refresh your skin or set your makeup. I first use it to set my makeup, but during the day I spray it a few times to freshen up!

Trying a few lightweight products like these can make a huge difference in your skin and hair care. There are thousands of similar products to go for, but all of these are affordable and illuminating. After getting ready with these products, I always spritz a little bit of body mist on me. But then again…who doesn’t?

Do you prefer lightweight products like these in the summer? Let us know in the comments below!

So You Bleached Your Hair…Now What?

Trends in skincare and makeup are pushing the au naturel look. While, sure, that can be attributed to the natural beauty movement, perhaps it’s actually a strategy to reserve all your energy for maintenance of the extreme hair color trends.

A scroll through Instagram will have you craving a fresh dye job. From silver strands to fantasy locks, getting bold hair color doesn’t stop when you leave your salon. Choosing to bleach your hair, turn your blonde locks brown, or even go crazy with blue dye requires upkeep to maintain that Insta-worthy look. Using the right products can be a game-changer when it comes to taking care of color treated hair. But one product does not fit all (dye jobs).

So in order to keep your summer mane stunning, check out how to treat your specific color below!

To Prevent Blonde Brassiness: As they say, blondes have more fun. But you want to keep your blonde color bright and ashy, not brassy. Bleaching your hair can be a long process. If you have dark hair, you can’t turn your locks silver in one visit to the salon. It is a long step-by-step process to achieve the color you are looking for. You’ll have to stick it out until you reach your desired shade. Once you’ve got your platinum hair or perfect highlights, you’ll want to keep them looking fresh. I recommend using purple shampoo (and even conditioner!) to maintain your color. The violet shade of the shampoo will continue to tone and nourish your hair.

To Prevent Color Fading: If you’ve dyed your hair, you’ve committed to the shade you picked out. A good way to prevent dullness and fading is to limit the amount of heat styling, and to try not to wash your hair every day. Every time you use heat on your hair, the color’s shine is stripped away. Try to use other products like mousse or texturizing spray for a wave or curl, and if you must use heat, make sure it’s on a low setting.

Every time you wash your hair the color is leeched away from the strands. Try to use dry shampoo more often and use shampoos and conditioners that are meant to maintain color and shine, and are sulfate free. If you have a hair color like pink or blue, there are conditioners available now that have some of your color in it, so it continues to maintain your shade. Also, washing with cold water will maintain your color as heat opens up the cuticles and rises the color away. This goes the same with the heat of the sun. Try to skip tanning or wear hats to keep your color bright.

To Prevent and Heal Damage: Sometimes there is a price to pay for dyeing your hair, and it comes as fried ends and dry texture. Especially if you’ve bleached hair, it takes time to heal and repair the damage of the processing. Deep conditioning masks on the hair can fix some of the dryness, and, once again, avoiding heat tools gives it time to repair. Run argon oil through your wet hair to make it easier to comb and to heal split ends. Have some patience and diligence, and your will be back to it’s fabulous self.

Do you have any haircare tips? Let us know in the comments!

BEAUTY BAR: Slay Every Day

I can’t believe it’s my last post of the semester. I guess time does fly when you’re having fun. For my last post of the school year I decided to go outside of my comfort zone a little and do a BEAUTY BAR post.

I’m guilty of spending hours on YouTube binge watching makeup videos, but I still haven’t mastered the art of eyebrows and winged eyeliner. That isn’t the case for this Fashionista. Her eyebrows are always on fleek, and Anastasia is her BFF.

For this look she kept it simple with an off-the-shoulder top, jeans, and some sandals. The simple outfit lets us focus on her flawless makeup. Even though it was a Tuesday, this Fashionista still beats her face because why not? The makeup look has a dewy foundation that left her skin looking flawless. She added the new Anastasia Beverly Hills highlight on the high parts of her cheeks to finish off the face.

For her eyes, she chose a shimmer bronzed eyeshadow. Summertime is the perfect time for bronze eye looks because they complement the bright summer colors, plus it looks good when you have a tan.

Okay, now can we talk about her eyeliner. The intense winged eyeliner complemented the dramatic eyelashes and the overall eye look. When I asked this Fashionista about her eyebrows, she said, “Since I don’t have eyebrows I just draw them on.” She needs to teach me her ways so that I can slay every day like she does.