Update Your Beauty Routine With Dove Dry Oil Collection

Springtime is here, ladies! Flowers are in bloom, the sun is beaming brightly, and the time has come to shed layers of clothing and show some skin! I don't know about you guys, but down in the south the temperatures are steadily rising and I'm starting to see A LOT of skin. And it isn't even sundress season yet!

As a mommy and wife who is always on the go, I want to make sure my skin is in the best condition-- no matter the change in the weather nor season. And I want to do so without all the fuss of using so many different products or spending a lot of money. So I've added two new products to my morning and evening beauty routine and I'm sharing them with you today! I’ve partnered with Dove to tell you all about their New Dove Dry Oil Collection featuring their Dove Dry Oil Beauty Bar and Dove Dry Oil Moisture Body Wash.

5 Steps to the Perfect Skin Care Regimen

How do you decide what products to buy for your skincare? This is a question I have been asking myself and others repeatedly for years, as I've always been on the quest for perfect skin. This quest once appeared impossible, as for years I have dealt with acne, hyper-pigmentation, and the oiliest skin ever. I've tried quick fix solutions with makeup, I've tried mail-order products, department store gems that were all the rave, and about every other drugstore miracle product there was. It wasn't until recent years that I decided to take a simpler approach to caring for my skin. And through much trial and error, I have learned what works for me and what doesn't. I would like to share with you guys the five steps in which I tackled my skin care troubles and came up with a regimen that works for me. Hopefully this will be of help to someone else!

REVIEW: Juice Beauty Blemish Clearing Cleanser + Serum

Hey ladies and gentlemen and skincare fanatics alike!  If you have been following me on Instagram for a while, you may have noticed that I shared my excitement in trying Juice Beauty Organic Skincare products for the first time some months back.  And since I have been using these products for quite a while now, I decided it would be a good time to share the results I have gotten from trying the Juice Beauty line with you guys.  When assessing my skin care needs at the time of purchasing these products, I wanted to bring radiance to my dull skin and lighten my hyperpigmentation without using anything harsh, so I chose the Juice Beauty Blemish-Clearing Cleanser and the Juice Beauty Blemish-Clearing Serum.

Juice Beauty Organic Skincare Line Overview:  Founded in California by Karen Behnke and Melissa Jochim, Juice Beauty was created to make healthy, organic, and effective beauty products available to the public. Using a 100% certified organic juice base rather than a water base these products have a total organic content up to 98% in every product. 

Juice Beauty is committed to supporting organic farming and using recycled paper for their packaging. With each product free of pesticides, petroleum, parabens, sulfates, artificial colors or dyes, synthetic fragrances, or phthalates, your skin will get only the best and most pure ingredients from Juice Beauty. (via SkinCareRx)

Juice Beauty Blemish-Clearing Cleanser

Thoughts Upon Initial Use:

• Packaging-  the pump dispenser was the first thing I noticed about this cleanser.  I like this, because it allows one to dispense just enough product with a couple of light pumps.  I don't, however, like that I cannot travel with this bottle.  I've been doing a lot of back and forth lately and it would have been nice if a cap came with the product also.   

• Scent-  This cleanser has a scent similar to that of apple cider vinegar or household cleaner or something. Though the scent is not strong or overpowering, I did have a slight aversion to it during my first trimester.  The smell is probably due to the organic juices in the ingredients.

• Price- Juice Beauty Blemish-Clearing Cleanser is not a product that I would call cheap. In fact, this product costs $21.80, more than I've paid for other cleansers in the past.  The fact that this product is organic, however, really made me feel like the price I paid for this product would be worth it.  Especially since I looked forward to using something "pure" on my hormonal pregnant lady skin. 

Overall Thoughts After Use:  

As the instructions call to apply morning and evening to damp skin in a circular motion, I did so using my Olay Professional Pro-X Cleansing Brush I purchased last year.  The cleanser is a gel formula, so I was not sure how well it would cleanse my skin.  I suppose I'm so used to seeing lather and equating that with a deep cleansing.  To my surprise, the Juice Beauty Blemish-Clearing Cleanser left my skin feeling so clean and refreshed!

Juice Beauty Blemish-Clearing Cleanser is formulated to clarify, inhibit bacteria, remove impurities, prevent blemishes, and hydrate the skin.  I've been using it for the last 3-4 months and I must say I haven't had any breakouts while using it nor have I experienced any dryness.

What I like the most about this product is the fact that it's organic.  Since I'm pregnant, my skin is more sensitive now than it has ever been before and it feels great to know that I'm not putting anything harmful on my skin.  And though this is probably the most I've ever spent on a cleanser, it lasts for a long time! Overall, I think Juice Beauty Blemish-Clearing Cleanser makes for a great basic cleanser for those with sensitive skin.

Recommended: Yes
Pros: organic, gentle to the skin, deep cleanses without drying the skin 
Cons: scent can be annoying
Key Ingredients: Lemon Juice (purifies), Aloe (hydrates), Sage Leaf (antiseptic)
Price: $21.80
Where to Buy: SkinCareRX.com
Overall Score: A-

Juice Beauty Blemish-Clearing Serum

Thoughts Upon Initial Use:

• Packaging- I like the packaging of this serum much more than I do the cleanser.  In fact, I think it's ideal for a serum.  It has a twist-top with a dropper attached, so that one is able to dispense as little or as much product as one needs. 

• Scent-  This serum, unlike the cleanser, has a refreshing citrus smell. I like it!

• Price- The Juice Beauty Blemish-Clearing Serum is $29 for 2 oz. Again, while the price of this product is higher than I would normally pay, it is a lot of product in the bottle.  And I have no problem spending more money for a product with quality ingredients.   

Overall Thoughts After Use:  

As the instructions suggest, I used the Juice Beauty Blemish-Clearing Serum morning and night after cleanser and before moisturizer.  Now the key to using this product is making sure you apply an oil-free moisturizer afterwards--otherwise you will be looking like an oil-slick!  At first, I was applying the serum all over my face twice daily.  But after feeling a bit greasy in the mornings when I woke up and as the day progressed, I decided to just use it as a spot-treatment under my moisturizer.

Juice Beauty Blemish-Clearing Serum is formulated to reduce breakouts, lighten scars, and renew skin for a fresher, clearer complexion.  These three things are always the top things I look for in skin care, so I was pleased to see that this product did its job! My skin feels smoother and I've only had one pimple in several months. My scarring has even lightened a bit (though it did take time to see results).  I didn't even realize it until I noticed I haven't had to wear full-coverage foundation in a while.

One main thing I like about this product is I didn't experience any tightness or stinging while using it, as I have with other serums in the past.  Like the cleanser, this serum is very gentle.

Recommended: Yes
Pros: functional packaging, light pleasant scent, lightens scars, improves texture
Cons: can be a bit greasy when applied all over
Key Ingredients: Salicylic Acid (purges the pores of oil), Lemon Juice (purifies), Sage Leaf (antiseptic)
Price: $29.00
Where to Buy: SkinCareRX.com
Overall Score: A-

Have you tried the Juice Beauty skincare line? I highly recommend these products for those of you looking for skincare made with organic products and may have sensitive skin.

These products were purchased with a gift card I received from SkinCareRX in sponsorship. I had the freedom to choose whatever product I desired and was under no obligation to purchase or review any items. The content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

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My Skin Care Regimen

At the beginning of the month, my fellow blogger friend Ashley over at Glam No Labelz announced that she was doing a skin care challenge.  Though I had participated in a couple of hair care challenges and self-improvement challenges, I had never taken part in one for skin care.   So since I currently have a skin care regimen in place and would like to chart my progress (as well as hold myself accountable for sticking to this), I decided  to participate and share my regimen with you guys.

Skin Care Regimen

Daily: Cleanse with mark Calming Effect Cleanser

& moisturize with mark. See Things Clearly Moisturizer

Nightly: Cleanse with Ambi Complexion Cleansing Bar 

(not pictured)

& apply Avon Clinical Luminosity Pro Brightening Serum

I also use Avon Anew Clinical Eye Lift around the eye area to decrease fine lines and puffiness.

Bi-weekly (Tuesdays and Thursdays): 

along with daily cleansing and moisturizing,

I exfoliate with Lemon Juice and Sugar

On Fridays I add an at-home steam facial to the regimen:

I simply heat distilled water and rosewater, grab a towel, and WAA-LAH!

Sometimes, when I am experiencing dryness, I use mark’s Calm Yourself Hydrating Mask

My Skin Type is Combination:

It tends to be quite dry in the winter, however.

Most of the time my skin is semi-dry with a very oily t-zone.

This has made it tricky to care for over the years.

My Skin Care Goal:

Clearer, Brighter Skin

Are any of you participating in the skin care challenge over at Glam No Labelz?  What is your skin care routine? Also, if you have any questions or comments about my routine, feel free to share them in the comments!

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Product Rave: Anew Clinical Advanced Dermabrasion System

I've only been using Avon's Anew Clinical Advanced Dermabrasion System for three short weeks, but I'm sold on it!  I've been looking for a product for the longest to help clear up the hyperpigmentation (i.e dark spots) on my face.  Finding the perfect product has been a lot of trial and error for years, because nothing ever really clears them up without drying out my face or giving me an ugly rash.  So I was skeptical about using this product in the beginning.  After reading lots of reviews, I finally got the nerve to try it for myself.  And I'm so glad that I did!

After your nightly cleanse, you are instructed to use this product 2-3 nights a week at each level for 2 weeks. For example, you would use the products 2-3 nights during your first two weeks at Level 1.  After 2 weeks, you would change the dial to level 2 and repeat this process until you reach Level 4.  In total, you are to use this product for 8 weeks for maximum results.

I am currently at the end of my 3rd week using this product.  So far, my face is smoother to the touch and my dark spots have lightened a lot.  They haven't disappeared completely, but they are noticeably fading.  My husband has been asking me for the last two weeks have I been doing something new.  He says I have "a glow or something" lol!

At Level 4 (in about 2-3 weeks) I will be giving you more updates on this product and actual pics of my progress.  This is what the product looks like:

Try the product for yourself by purchasing it at www.youravon.com/alee0230.  It is currently on sale for $20. You can also receive free direct shipping with your online order with a purchase of $30 or more.

NOTE:  Please know that I am honest about every product that I review.  Though I do sell Avon/mark. products, that does not affect my review on their products.  If I like them, I will tell you so.  If I do not like them, I will tell you that too.