Time for Toning

I started this blog because I realized how confusing and difficult it has become to navigate the beauty aisles and counters. As a consumer you're bombarded by marketing messages, pushy sales clerks and pitch-happy media. Who can really decipher between all these recommendations? What's real, what's not? What should you be buying? What should you splurge on? These are valid questions that we ask ourselves daily. So this week's topic is going to skincare basics 101. We will cover what I consider to be the cornerstones of an efficacious, fool-proof AM and PM beaute regimen.

It's funny how we have these preconceived notions of how things should be. I remember as a teenager always thinking that turning 16 would mean independence and 25 would ring in wisdom and all the answers to the big questions. The interesting thing about life is it never goes as planned and those expectations? Well maybe it's better to just keep an open mind. Which brings me to the beaute presumptions we all experience. I always thought that breakouts and acne were reserved for my teenage years. Turns out not so much, and apparently this nagging problem plagues almost half of all adults! We all know the importance of cleaning our face twice daily but do you also use a toner? Most people think cleansers are able to remove all dirt, makeup and residue. I have not really found this to be the case. While cleansers are thorough, I find that toners are able to clean up any remaining traces of these dulling, aging and breakout-causing culprits. To be clear not all toners are designed for anti-breakout action. There are plenty of mild toners that remove trace impurities while gently hydrating skin and prepping it for treatment products. Since I am a proud member of the 50% pimple-prone adult population I thought I would share my favorite toner that helps keep breakouts at bay.

Breakouts are caused by blocked pores. There's a multitude of aggressors that can cause this blockage like thick, non-absorbant products, body's naturally produced oil/sebum and even stress. Cleansers wash away the bulk of these things but often that's not enough to ensure pristine skin. I rely on Clean & Clear Acne Clearing Astringent to keep my pores clean and clear! One of my favorite beaute ingredients is BHA's (beta hydroxy acids) like salicylic acid. This plant derived ingredient helps exfoliate dead skin cells to prevent pores from clogging and allowing for new cell growth. While the Clean & Clear toner is formulated with this impurity fighting agent it is mild leaving behind a much needed moisture balance to keep skin soft. Many anti-bacterial toners can be quite aggressive not only because of the salicyclic acid but because of the high alcohol content. Clean & Clear does not treat skin abrasively and will not leave your skin tight or uncomfortable. Rather you can bask in cleaner, breakout free skin. This product treats a multitude of pimple related conditions from "once in a blue moon" breakouts to daily acne so you can use it daily or just when you experience a flare up.

Usage tip: Use both morning and at night directly following your cleanser. Apply a nickel size amount to a cotton pad.

The result: Acne or in-frequent breakouts are banished to your adolescent "spin the bottle" kissing days!