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What to Do When Your Moisturizer Just Isn’t Cutting It Anymore

Everyone’s skin journey looks a little different, but I’d be willing to bet my extensive skincare collection that many of our paths began at the same corner of a Gentle Cleanser and Hydrating Moisturizer. In fact, this dynamic duo is practically the adolescent gateway into the world of skincare—so it is no wonder some of us might feel a little betrayed when one of these tried-and-true products decides to turn its back on us.

What are we talking about, you ask? Your moisturizer.

Despite its skincare staple status, moisturizer can be a little finicky when it comes to a long-term skin care routine. If you are constantly slathering on a moisturizer, but still feel like your skin is dry and flakey, have no fear! Check out these 4 tips to help boost moisture and get one step closer to skin that is more soft and supple:

Exfoliate More (or Less)

So, what does scrubbing your skin have to do with moisture? Well, skin exfoliants work by helping to polish away dull, dry skin that sits at the surface of your complexion. Think of the day’s dirt and grime as a barrier. Using a manual scrub or chemical exfoliant helps to break this barrier down, ultimately boosting softness and skincare product absorption.

Like most things in skincare… or life in general, your exfoliating skin care routine should focus on balance. Over-exfoliating can lead to even more dryness, while under-exfoliating can sometimes prevent your moisturizer from absorbing into the skin. Just make sure to stay in tune with your complexion and keep exfoliation between 1-3 times a week.

Add Moisture-Locking Ingredients

Moisturizer is great… but pairing your daily moisturizer or night cream with a hydrating serum is a skincare must. While moisturizers are typically formulated with emollients and plant-based oils, the best skincare serum products tend to feature a concentrated blend of moisture-locking hydrators, such as Hyaluronic Acid or Glycerin. Incorporating these skin-loving ingredients into a skincare routine will amp up moisture, while helping to lock in the nourishing benefits of your moisturizer.

Give It a Powdered Boost

Powered skincare has quickly grown in popularity thanks to its lengthy shelf life and sustainability. But did you know that it is also an easy way to help optimize your moisturizer? Like a serum, powdered skincare boosters are packed with key ingredients that cater to different skin concerns. Mixing your moisturizer with a booster that features nourishing properties—like Coconut and Yogurt Powder—practically gives you free reign over your hydrating skin care routine. Add as little, or as much of a boost as you choose!

Check in With the Seasons

Wouldn’t it be nice if our skin needed the same thing year-round? Unfortunately, like our wardrobe and mood, our complexion also changes with the season. If you have started to notice that your moisturizer just isn’t working like it used to, try to experiment with a different formula. Winter skin usually craves a bit more hydration, where summer skin loves a lightweight formula and Vitamin C. And if your skin still feels dry or flakey, a rich night cream is always a good idea… no matter what the season.

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Backne Be Gone! Help Make Body Acne and Blemishes Disappear with These Simple Skincare Steps

Oh, Backne—the unwanted blemish (or blemishes) that pop up just in time to trample our open-back dreams. Though not as often discussed as facial blemishes, body acne is a common skin concern for many. Body blemishes aren’t confined to the back either—most of us experience these pesky pimples on our arms, chest and lower back, too.

So, what is there to do? The truth is, everything from hormones and diet—even tight-fitting clothes—can affect the clarity of your skin, so it is important to understand the cause and treatment for body blemishes. And, that’s why we’re here!

If you are on a mission to help improve the look of body blemishes, keep on scrolling to learn more:

What Is Body Acne?

Simply put, body acne is the result of congested pores that appear on… well, the body. These blemishes tend to play by the same rules as your face, meaning there are many different factors that can contribute to this type of acne (lucky us). Body acne also comes in many different forms (yes, some of us are already aware of that), with some people experiencing minor red blemishes, while others may avoid wearing a tank top at all costs. Areas like the back and chest are also personal favorites for these blemishes, thanks to the common friction and sweat that they undergo all in a day’s work.

Why Might the Pandemic Be Making It Worse?

There is a reason ‘Quaraskin’ has become an official coined term. Like we said, diet, stress and hormones all play into the clarity of the complexion—or lack of—and it’s no secret that we’re all experiencing unique ups and down in our day-to-day life. Personally, my bed has become my new best friend, and we already know that friction can boost blemishes. So basically, that extra time spent on the couch, as well as the change to our diet and workouts, can all be contributing factors to an increase in body acne.

How Can I Help Reduce Body Blemishes?

Cleanse Your Body AFTER Conditioner: Conditioner is great for hydrated locks, but not so much for your chest and back. Make sure to thoroughly cleanse the skin after rinsing out your conditioner to help remove dirt, oil and other pore-clogging impurities.

Exfoliate the Skin: Dry skin is a huge culprit when it comes to body blemishes. The good news is you can easily Polish away dull skin by adding a body exfoliator to your shower ritual. A Dual- Action Body Scrub with ingredients like Lactic Acid, Jojoba Beads and Pumice can help wash away sweat and impurities while leaving the skin velvety-smooth.

Cut the Stress: We know, easier said then done. But if you can take some time for you, do it! Anything as simple as a warm bubble bath and face mask can help you reset and relax. A little “me time” is always necessary.

Moisturize! Preferably with a Vitamin A Lotion: Whether you have oily skin or dry skin, you need to moisturize! Again, dryness can play a huge factor in clogging pores, and ensuring your skin is hydrated from head-to-toe is an easy way to help improve uneven texture. If you are on the market for a new body lotion or Overnight Body Treatment, try to snag one with Vitamin A. This multi-tasking ingredient not only exfoliates the skin, but also helps improve the appearance of skin clarity and fine lines (yes, you get those on your body, too). So, lather up and stay hydrated!

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3 Holygrail Products You Need to Tame Dull Skin and Get that Vday Glow

Ready, set, prep your way to Valentines Day skin that glows! Between the chocolate, candles and romance of it all, it is easy to overlook one of THE most important parts of a good Valentine prep—your skincare.

Whether you are celebrating with the girls or plan to put on a full face of glam, your skin needs to be ready. Show your skin some love the night before and achieve a smooth makeup application the next day with 3 easy skincare steps that add a little love and affection to your nightly skincare routine:

Use an Exfoliating Face Mask

Get your complexion ready for the day of L-O-V-E with an exfoliating face mask. Using a chemical exfoliant or gentle facial scrub before bed will help polish away dull, dry skin and reset the complexion for the swoon-worthy day ahead. If you struggle with blemishes, give them some extra valentine attention by applying a Detox face mask with purifying ingredients like charcoal. And if you are looking to amp up the glow, incorporate a face scrub that contains brightening ingredients like the ever-popular Vitamin C.

Indulge Your Skin to Rich Moisture

Now that the dry skin layer has been washed away, let your complexion drink up ultimate hydration. Applying an Intensely Hydrating balm or mask after you exfoliate is a simple way to help boost product absorption and quench the complexion. Look for skincare products that are rich in moisturizing  ingredients such as Shea Butter, Hyaluronic Acid and plant-based extracts to help soften and plump the look of skin, so you can wake up to a complexion that is ready to glow for your vday fun.

Apply a Lip Treatment

We get it. Sometimes we’re so focused on that star-crossed glow that we forget our lips are actually part of our skincare. But honestly, is there anything more important on Valentines Day than a kissable pout and cupid’s bow? We think not. Prep your lips for Valentine pucker with  hydrating lip products the night before. We love to use a lip exfoliator to gently scrub away dull skin before coating the lips in a rich lip balm or Lip-Plumping Mask to help deeply condition, improve the look of fine lines and reveal a fuller-looking put in the AM.

BONUS! The Day Of:

Add a Vitamin C Boost | Don’t forget to add a dose of Vitamin C into your skincare routine on the day of love. Vitamin C Powder and serum is known to help brighten the look of skin while improving the appearance of skin texture so that you can glow, baby, glow.

Get Rolling | Are you feeling a little puffy before your Galentine’s party or Date Night in? No problem. Use a facial tool—like a Rose Quartz Facial Roller—to help roll away the look of tension and puffiness for a more radiant-looking complexion.

Amp Up Hydration | Give your skin a little pick-me-up throughout the day (or night) with a refreshing facial mist or Hydrating Face Treatment. These are a great and on-the-go way to add the lightweight hydration our skin craves throughout the day—plus they naturally add a dewy appearance to the skin for the ultimate Vday glow!

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Time to Think Beyond Basics: A Next-Level Way to Help Transform the Look of Blah, Winter Skin

Parched winter skin got you down?

Winter is truly a lively time for our complexion, with dry and flakey skin making the comeback we never asked for. Not to mention, the cold weather trifecta of heated rooms, frigid temps and dry air can breed a less than ideal environment for skin—especially for those with sensitive or dehydrated skin types. No, thanks.

So, how do we combat these winter skin woes? With hydrating skincare products, of course! Just like you would bundle up in your favorite winter coat to help cut the chill, you need to bundle up your skin, too. And incorporating hydrating skincare ingredients that actually lock-in moisture (not just sit on top of the skin) is the perfect place to start.

Liquid Crystals are one of the hottest hydrators to pop up on the skincare market, and if you are looking for a wintertime (or any time) boost, adding these skin-quenching ingredients to your skincare routine is a must. Not only do these eye-catching crystals make for an aesthetically pleasing Instagram pic, but they also boast a plethora of hydrating skincare benefits that cater to all skin types. 

Keep on scrolling to learn more about these dazzling, skin-quenching crystals and why Liquid Crystal Technology needs to be your next skincare investment:

1. Liquid Crystals are Super Hydrating

In a nutshell, Liquid Crystal Technology is designed to work below the skin to help restore hydration and quench the complexion with essential moisture. Liquid Crystals work by nourishing the component of the skin that encourages a healthier-looking skin barrier, ultimately helping to lock in moisture and help ensure that the complexion remains hydrated and plumper-looking. The good news is, adding these moisturizing benefits to your skincare routine is as easy as incorporating a liquid crystal-based serum or moisturizer.

Try: Emulsion | With Liquid Crystals, Shea Butter and Jojoba Oil, this Intense Hydrator is a moisturizing face cream helps restore moisture and renew the look of dry skin for a face that is softer and smoother-looking.

2. Liquid Crystals Help Improve the Look of Dark Circles

Thanks to their uber-hydrating properties and iridescent shine, Liquid Crystals are also excellent for helping improve the look of undereye circles. Dark circles can be the “lucky” outcome of anything from genes or sun exposure to lack of shut eye (guilty). So, if you are looking for an uber-nourishing skincare ingredient to help your tired eyes appear more rested and awake looking, choose a skincare product that is infused with Liquid Crystal Technology. 

Try: Opti Crystal | This Liquid Crystal Sye serum isspecially formulated with powerhouse ingredients to radically reduce the look of dark circles and improve the look of fine lines, wrinkles and sagging around the eyes.

3. Liquid Crystals Help Reduce the Appearance of Fine Lines

Fine lines and wrinkles are often at the top of the list for skincare concerns. If you (like many) are invested in helping prevent fine lines and wrinkles, why not incorporate Liquid Crystal Technology into your skincare routine. The hydrating properties of Liquid Crystal Technology not only nourishes a complexion in need of a moisturizing pick-me-up, but it also helps to plump the look of skin for a smoother appearance. This also makes this skincare ingredient a must-have for often overlooked and delicate areas of the complexion, like the lips.

Try: Lumi Crystal | Coat your lips in an iridescent shine that helps protect your pout from environmental stressors while helping to plump the look of lips and improve the appearance of fine lines.