No more Itchy legs!!!

Hey Chicas!

So this topic is a little in left field, but I think its uber important with summer coming, and being able to ditch the pantyhose :D  Well it's not here yet, but it's best to be prepared!

Shaving cream just seems to be one of those things where you grab the one on sale (well for me it is).  But my legs always get itchy, and I mean super duper itchy after I shave my legs, like if I don't put the cream on, I think that I could scratch the skin right off!  Gross but, I'm sure I'm not the only one feeling the itch.

I have tried ones from Aveno, Gillette (yup for men) the list goes one and one, but the all did the same thing. Until now....

I picked on eos at shoppers a while ago now, in the purple bottle (the one with lavender and stuff in it).  Now it didn't totally remove the itchiness factor, but it decreased it by enough that its all I'll use now!  Its nice a moisturizing, and a big plus they say you can shave wet or dry.  

So I did, when wet, it doesn't foam up it just sits on your legs like a heavy cream (I use about 1-2 pumps for half a leg), and its a little harder to see where you've done because you don't get the tell-tale sign of foam free strip!  But I liked it!  Next was to try the dry, now I didn't just go dry dry, I had a shower then once dried off, applied the cream, and these is where you really notice the moisturizing effects.  

You know how when you were just starting, (well for me anyway) it was dry, with those disposable shavers, yeah so anyway this is soooo much better then that, one really shouldn't even put them in the same sentence!  My skin didn't feel a bit dry or itchy :)  And it shaved just as close!

So I am totally sold on it, and yes it's a little more pricey, but way worth it, as you use less, so it comes out to be same, and its better for your skin!

Happy Shaving!!

Caitlin xoxo

Q & A: Dry Winter Skin

Hey Chicas!

We have been having a little cold weather on PEI lately and lots of snow...that is pretty rough on the moisture level of you skin.

I was asked by a follower of my blog what she could do with her skin.  She lives in Ottawa and nothing she does improves the dryness level of her skin.

My suggestion is a 3 part answer of sorts.
1. You need to exfoliate your skin, not just in the summer but in the winter as well.  If you have a layer of dry skin cells on your body, this will act as a barrier to any moisture that you put on it.  In order for the moisture to penetrate beyond the outer layer, you must remove the dry skin.  My favorite exfoliate is not a scrub....but a glove...the Renaissance Exfoliating Glove.

It is a 2 part package that you can find at most salons.  It now comes with a facial pad too.  All you need is your skin moist and the glove wet, and working in circular motion it will get off the dead skin.  It will hurt a little at first but your skin will get used to it.  I love this glove, I've had one for about 4 years..you can throw it in with your towels, and let it air dry...so easy!


2. The next part is not groundbreaking by any means, but it works!  Baby Oil, yuppers good old baby oil.  Now the key to this is when you are finished of your shower/bath, before you dry yourself, grab the baby oil.  Apply the baby oil all over your body (if your chest or back has issues with acne or breakouts, avoid these areas).  You should now be dripping with oil, take your towel and pat yourself dry.  No rubbing you want to help push the moisture into the skin.  Your skin will feel super smooth and moisturized.  It doesn't matter what kind of baby oil (ie, the smells) what ever you prefer, I like the Lavender :) 

3.  A good moisturizer, which is easier said then done.  I have a few that I continuously go back to. Now if you have one that you prefer that's totally ok. Hempz Cream is wonderful, you can always count on it to do the job well.  It is a little more expensive but I love them. Next is the Nivea Smooth Body Lotion or Dry or Extra Dry Skin, the key to this one is its a lotion not a cream, it will sink into your skin more, but it doesn't disappear it gives you a soft silky feeling.  The texture of it takes a while to get used to but by the end of the day my skin isn't dry.  The last one is Johnson Baby Lotion, I know some people will not like this, but I love it.  First of the smell is wonderful, you know it won't bother your skin, and with the different ones, there is sure to be one that you'd like.  Its not super super moisturizing but I always have one in the cupboard, because it is soo soothing!

So I hope that this helps you battle the winter dryness, and if you have any additional tips, leave them in the comments!


Caitlin xoxo

My Fav Winter Facial Creams

Hey Chicas!

Crap, it has been freezing here, like -40 something with wind chill.  That has got to do some harm to the moisture level of your skin.  So that got me thinking about a previous conversation with my friends (Katelyn, Ashley and Tina) about skin care and more specifically cream.

Now there is a perception among people, that the best cream is the most expensive.  Now there is some truth that that statement, but not fully.  Expensive products do not ultimately mean better.  The price for a large part comes from the packaging, and the amount of adverting that the company does.  Granted there are some really good expensive products, but there are some really good non expensive ones too.

I am an esthetican by trade, I have tried many expensive products and many drugstore products.  What I use now are all drug store products.  I use them, for many reasons, they are reasonably priced (even the most expensive drug store ones are still pretty good), easily available, and they work just as well.

These are my favorite drugstore creams.

1. Impruv Cream - This was recommended to me by my doctor, was I was training and had numerous products being used, and my face just revolted!  It was horrible, they were sore and wouldn't go away.  This cream I used morning and night, and it helped to bring much needed moisture back into my skin, without breaking my skin out.  It is my go to cream, when my face revolts against me.  It is awesome!  I recommend it to everyone, especially for dry/dehydrated skin and mature skin.  Its wonderful for redness and it helps to keep the moisture level up where it needs to be.  And if you have dry skin type or mature it really helps to give you the dewy look to your face, which is key to good healthy looking skin.  I have used this cream for over 6 years, my mommy too!! :)

2. Clean and Clear Finishes Pore Perfecting Moisture - First off this has SPF of 15 which isn't wonderful but it has something which is good, the website states "softens the appearance of pores with light diffusing minerals to give you a beautiful, smooth finish".  It is great for dehydrated skin, that still has oil issues, it gives you the moisture you need without adding any excess oil.  I started to use it in July 2010, and haven't stopped yet!  I really love it, your face will feel smooth and moisturized, and almost silky like, but not oily.  It is works wonderfully in the winter as well, if your skin gets really dry, likely not enough for you, but it works for me.

3. Clean and Clear Soft Night Moisturizer - The website states that it "is a lightweight and oil-free moisturizer that has been specifically designed to clarify and infuse moisture into young skin without clogging pores. The unique formula features glycolic acid, natural fruit acids, a Specially Formulated Moisturizing Complex and an antioxidant, white tea, that work through the night to clarify and soften, promoting beautiful, healthy looking skin now and in the future."  It is a great cream, I like that it has a pump, I use about 2-3 depending on my skin.  I bought it in August and the same bottle is still going.  It really does make your skin soft, the product does what it says it does.  I have even used it as a day cream when my skin is super dehydrated, the makeup wears well, without going shiny.

So I have a video that you can watch if I'm too wordy on here....



All products can be found at a drugstore.  Impruv is found at Shoppers, Lawtons and Sobeys, the small bottle is about $15 and the larger one around $30ish, but lasts a long time.  The other two are fairly inexpensive at $10ish I would guess.

The one key item that I would mention, is to check the ingredient list!!  If the product is boasting a key ingredient that the products has to make....well something happen, check the list if its at the top then there is a larger quantity, if its near the bottom of the list the quantity is  smaller.  So if the ingredients work from largest quantity to smallest quantity.  So for example, the Clean and Clear Soft Night Moisturizer, they comment on fruit extracts and white tea, those are at the bottom of the list, now the product works well regardless, but always check that out, if that ingredient is the reason for you buying it.

These are my own opinions and experiences, and hope they help you fix any problem issues you are having.

Caitlin xoxo