Don't Make This Mistake

Do you have a hard time finding the right products for your face? Have you ever returned moisturizers or sunscreens because it felt "too greasy" even though the product is made for oily skin types? Do cleansers dry out your skin or make you break out? It's frustrating isn't it? Well, I'm gonna let you in on a secret...

You probably use too much product!

Many people make the mistake of using way too much product. They become upset because the product isn't "absorbing" or because their skin feels "too oily" and they return it because they don't see any results or their skin condition gets worse. Well, the face is a very small area and you only need a very small amount!

If you use too much cleanser, it's harder to rinse off. Therefore, a residue of the cleanser is left on your skin which can dry it out or clog your pores resulting in acne. If you use too much moisturizer or sunscreen, your face feels greasy because your skin can only absorb so much.

People with an oily skin type sometimes skip moisturizer to avoid making their skin even oilier. If you're one of those people... stop! If you don't apply daily moisturizer, your skin will feel dehydrated and compensate by producing even more oil. The outer layers of your skin (epidermis) will be dry and the deeper layers in the skin (dermis) will stay oily. The dry, dead skin cells from the epidermis and the excess oil from the dermis combine and clog your pores resulting in hard flesh-colored bumps on your face (milia). So hydrate your skin with a light moisturizer and use sparingly. And don't be afraid of products with oil. Tea tree oil for example is a hydrating antiseptic that kills bacteria on your skin which clears away acne.

So don't shy away from face products because you think they don't work. Try using just a small amount and give it a few weeks before deciding you don't like it. Most products take at least a few weeks for any results to show.

If you have sensitive and combination/oily skin like me, try Clinique Youth Surge SPF 15 for Combination Oily to Oily Skin. I recently bought this product and I will give a full review on it later this week but so far I like it a lot. It is not too heavy and leaves my skin feeling smooth and I love the fact that it is anti-aging with spf. Clinique also has this product for Very Dry Skin and for Dry Combination Skin.

Remember: use sparingly!

Exactly the Words I Needed to Hear

Take a moment to read the encouraging words from the blog of one of my fave makeup artists, Kandee! I have been a ball of stress lately and everything she said just hit the spot and I almost started to cry. Always try no matter what... and try your best! You won't get anywhere if you never try. And don't be afraid to fail. Failure only makes you stronger and more successful in the end. Creativity and success is what you make of it. No one can tell you otherwise.

Click here to go to Kandee's blog :)

My Beauty Essentials

Here are some beauty products that I am addicted to. Keep in mind I have combination (oily T-zone), acne-prone, and sensitive skin.

Biore Pore Unclogging Scrub

I LOVE this exfoliating scrub. It's one of my favorite drugstore beauty products. I have been using this for a couple years now and it still works great every time. It has gentle round beads in it so it won't scratch or irritate your skin. There is 2% salicylic acid which helps to clean out your pores and reduce acne. And the menthol feels so soothing and refreshing. I use this a few times a week. Exfoliating scrubs are necessary because it sloughs off dead skin cells (the stuff that clogs your pores) to reveal smoother, brighter looking skin. It also helps to allow moisturizers to absorb better. Overall your skin tone and texture looks and feels better. Always cleanse your face first before exfoliating and moist your fingers so the product glides better on your skin. Use circular movements and don't apply pressure. Since this product is so gentle, you can use it a few times a week. You can buy this scrub for $7.99 at Rite Aid or most drugstores.

C. Booth Derma P 17 Clay Mask

I am so happy I found this amazing clay face mask! It's another drugstore beauty product fave of mine. When I looked at the ingredients I expected it to cost so much but it's only $15.99! Here's a list of some of the amazing ingredients:

*Bentonite and Kaolin - minerals that draw impurities and toxins out of your skin. They control oil production and tighten your pores as well.

*Glycerin - humectant which means it attracts moisture to your skin. So not only are you removing excess oil from your skin with the minerals but you're also hydrating it with glycerin!

*Witch Hazel - eliminates bacteria and absorbs excess oil.

*Tocopherol (Vitamin E) - an antioxidant that helps protect the skin from the sun's rays and also heals damage on the skin.

*Caffeine - increases blood flow to your skin which plumps and smoothes it. Great for wrinkles!

*Bisabolol - helps provide anti-irritant properties to the skin.

*Green tea extract - superior antioxidant benefits, fights free radicals.

*Cucumber extract - soothes the skin.

*Sage leaf extract - helps purify the skin.

*Tea tree oil - antiseptic, kills acne causing bacteria

This mask also has about 20 other flower and fruit extracts. So amazing! Use the clay mask once to three times a week depending on how oily your skin is. Exfoliate first and then apply a thin layer and leave on for 10 minutes. You can also use it as spot treatment for pimples. If I forget to wash my face at night, then I use this mask the next morning and it works great! My skin stays clear and I don't feel so guilty about not washing my face. Now you know my secret. :) You can buy this face mask at Rite Aid.

Bed Head "Some Like it Hot" Shampoo and Conditioner

I color my hair every month and I blow-dry it almost every day. All the heat and chemicals are very damaging but I keep my hair healthy and smooth with this shampoo and conditioner. The shampoo is sulfate-free which means it won't dry out or strip the color from the hair. Both the shampoo and conditioner have avocado, grape, aloe, and cucumber which guards the hair from humidity. And they both have thermal and UV protecting ingredients which allows me to blow-dry, flat-iron, curl, or bake in the sun without worrying about my hair frying. Yay! Plus they smell super yummy! You can buy Bed Head products in some salons or online. Not sure how much they retail for..

Dermalogica Clearing Skin Wash

This face wash is awesome. I've tried many different brands before finally finding something that works for me. All the other acne clearing face washes either dried out my skin, irritated it, or my skin didn't feel clean (I felt residue on my skin and I hate that). This face wash actually cleared up my skin and normalized my skin's oil production. I stopped having a crazy oily T-zone and the redness from my cheeks went away. This face wash has 0.5% salicylic acid which cleans out your pores and sloughs off dead skin cells. The low percentage is great because I can use it with my scrub which also has salicylic acid in it. It also has camphor which soothes and calms aggravated skin and it has naturally soothing antiseptic ingredients like mint balm, tea tree, eucalyptus and burdock root. And it's fragrance-free! It is so perfect for my sensitive skin and I've completely stopped breaking out. Yay! Wet your hands and rub the wash between your fingers to make bubbles and gently massage your face. You can buy Dermalogica products at some beauty supply stores. Warning: it's not cheap but a little bit goes a long way. It costs $48 for the large bottle (500 ml) and it lasts for about 6 months or so. It's definitely worth every penny.

Clinique Naturally Gentle Eye Makeup Remover

I don't have my own picture because I ran out! :(

I wear waterproof mascara and lots and lots of eyeliner so I need a heavy duty makeup remover. Most makeup removers just don't do the job as well as this one. I have to go over my eyes a few times until the black makeup is all gone. This makeup remover however takes off all the makeup in one quick application. It feels like a light lotion and you rub your eyes gently and then wipe off with a tissue. There is no oily residue and it doesn't blur your vision. I do recommend you take your contact lenses out before using this product. You can buy this for $16.50 at Sephora or any department store.

Brazilian Blowout for silky, shiny, frizz-free hair!

Don't confuse it with the Brazilian Keratin Treatment. They are 2 different brands and 2 totally different treatments! One biggest difference is that the BKT has formaldehyde in it and the Brazilian Blowout is 100% chemical, sulfate, and formaldehyde free!

The Brazilian Blowout is a protein treatment for your hair that seals the cuticles, eliminates frizz and gives amazing shine. It's not a permanent straightener and it won't flatten your hair! Curly hair will become more defined and wavy hair will be smooth. It's a conditioning and defrizzing treatment that helps to cut down blow-drying time in half! Hair will be easier to manage and style. It is 100% chemical, sulfate, and formaldehyde free. It's suitable for all hair types, even fine, brittle, and damaged hair, and it lasts up 12 weeks. A great candidate for this treatment is someone with dry, frizzy, unruly hair or someone with chemically processed hair. It is also great for someone who wants to smooth their hair in between chemical relaxing treatments or japanese hair straightening.

Click here to see what Nicole Richie has to say

about Brazilian Blowouts.

I am certified in the Brazilian Blowout and offering a special price for those who are interested in getting this treatment done. For information on pricing, please email me at sorabeauty@gmail.com.

Healthy, Beautiful Skin

Keep your skin moisturized and healthy with these 10 steps.

1. Wash your face before going to sleep. During the day you accumulate dust, dirt, grime, oil, and bacteria on your face. That's a lot of microscopic grossness causing clogged pores and breakouts. Studies have shown that your face repairs itself at night while you sleep. That is why concentrated treatment creams are recommended at night and not during the day. So no matter how tired you are, remember to let your skin breathe by removing your makeup and washing your face.

2. Keep your skin hydrated with moisturizer. Don't skip the moisturizer just because you have oily skin. If you don't moisturize, your skin will will react by producing even more sebum (oil). If you want to have steady sebum production in your skin, always moisturize after cleansing. Try a light mattifying moisturizer for oilier skin and a cream moisturizer with hyaluronic acid for dry skin. Hyaluronic acid is the best hydrating ingredient out there for dry or mature skin.

3. Hydrate your skin from the inside out with plenty of H20. The skin is the largest organ of the body so when you're dehydrated, it shows on your skin. In general, it is recommended that you drink eight 8 oz glasses of water a day. But if you are very active, or if it's a hot and humid day, then you should drink more water to replace lost moisture from perspiration. As a rule, you should drink a cup of water with every meal and inbetween.

4. Maintain a healthy diet. Just like the other organs in your body, your skin needs nutrients to stay healthy. Vitamins A, C, E, and fiber are essential for young and healthy looking skin. The vitamins protect the barrier of your skin and repair your skin cells while the fiber helps release toxins in your body that could lead to skin problems. Cut down on unhealthy, fatty foods and eat more fruits and vegetables with these nutrients.

5. Exercise regularly. It is not only great for your overall health and physical appearance but it is also great for your skin tone. Exercising gets your blood and oxygen flowing which gives you that natural glow.

6. Get plenty of sleep. Unless you like the look of dull, lifeless color or dark circles and bags under your eyes, make sure to get 8 hrs of sleep every night.

7. Wear sunscreen every day. UV light can be beneficial. It produces vitamin D in your skin and also has a germicidal effect which helps improve acne. But excessive tanning can be extremely harmful and result in freckles, sun spots, premature wrinkles, and skin cancer. Prevent sun damage by applying sunscreen daily. Remember: botox is not cheap!

8. Clean your makeup brushes and launder your pillow cases. Bacteria and oil build up on these items causing clogged pores and breakouts. Wash these items weekly to prevent spreading bacteria on your face.

9. If you are using treatment products for acne, discoloration, or wrinkles, then you need to exfoliate your skin. Exfoliating helps get rid of the dead skin cells at the top layers of the skin for better absorption of these treatment products. I don't recommend grainy or harsh scrubs. These exfoliators can irritate the skin and worsen your skin problems if used without proper care. Use a gentle scrub with round beads. It will do the job without damaging or irritating your skin. When exfoliating, don't apply pressure and don't exfoliate too much! Once a week is sufficient.

10. Don't do drugs.

These pictures visually document the effects of drugs over a time span of 10 years. Need I say more?

Hair Extensions

Here are a couple photos of one of my hair extension clients.

I used the hair locs method: no glue, weaves, braids, wax, or mess!

This client had fine, thin hair and wanted volume and some length.

The extensions were used to add fullness and thickness to her hair.

Before: Client has fine, thin hair.

After: Client has thick, beautiful hair!

**More pics to come soon!**

I am currently offering extensions at an affordable rate.
For my rates on hair extensions, please email me at sorabeauty@gmail.com