Acne
From acne to flawless skin, one YouTube makeup artist bares all
You know when you get trapped into an infinite abyss of YouTube videos? Well that kinda happened to me, and I as I was surfing some blogs, I came across this video of a YouTube makeup artist, Cassy. She suffers from severe acne, but bares a makeup-less face to show how she achieves a flawless finish with foundation. I just thought it was brave of her to do a tutorial baring her biggest insecurity so she can help others in the same situation:
PRODUCTS USED:
Smashbox Anti-shine
Hourglass Veil Primer125 and 120MAC Studio Finish Concealer in NC30
MAC NC35
Smashbox Halo in Light
Make Up For Ever HD Microfinish Powder
MAC Fix+ Spray
I also thought it was interesting how her voice kind of perks up as she starts getting closer to the finished look. But man, gorgeous girl with or without makeup. What do you think?
A facial at Cecilia Wong: A holistic skin care spa
Cecilia Wong products
You might be surprised to find that as much as I write about about beauty, I’m horrible about getting myself to the spa. When I first moved to NY, I was regular about monthly facials…that is, until my lady moved away and I never made time to find someone to replace her. Enter Cecilia Wong, an NYC-based skin care expert whose focus is holistic and natural treatments. And if there’s anyone who believes about the strong connection between food and beauty, it’s her.
I was invited to get a facial at her spa in Union Square, and after 12 hours on a plane from Argentina back to New York, it couldn’t have been a more perfect time. I was set on trying out her Omega and Vitamin C treatment, a hydrating lymphatic facial designed to brighten and soften skin. When I got there though, I first had a quick consultation with Cecilia and we discussed some of my other issues, including dreaded breakouts.
Inside her spa
Olay Professional Pro-X Clear giveaway!
Weren’t we supposed to leave acne back in highschool with our three-sizes-too-big JNCO jeans (what? Oh…that was just me?). You may be in your 20s, 30s, or beyond and for many of us, breaking out or the occasional zit still manages to pop up. The worst part is, a lot of products are not formulated to treat our type of skin — that is, one that is also deal with anti-aging. That’s why I was BEYOND excited to learn about the new Olay Professional Pro-X Clear Acne Protocol line recently.
Olay Pro-X Clear Acne Protocol line
Olay didn’t just tell us about the adult acne line any old way either — a handful of beauty writers were invited to Exhale Spa on the UES to take part in a Hot Ki Power Vinyasa class with instructor (and creator) Isauro Fernandez. Ki Power Vinyasa is a combination of vinyasa and martial arts. All I know is it was no walk in the park.
My Olay yoga mat 
I'm focused man!
Hot Ki Power yoga at Exhale Spa
After an intense hour-long workout (extra intense for me — I was fasting that day and couldn’t drink any water either!) on our Olay-branded yoga mats, NYC dermatologist Dr. Diane Berson talked to us about the connection between working out and taking care of your skin.
Dr. Ronald Moy at the Four Seasons Hotel in Westlake Village
I'm hungry
New York may be the fashion capital of the US, but when it comes to beauty, Los Angeles reigns supreme. Those of you who don’t believe me should watch an episode of Bravo’s The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. These ladies have been nipped, tucked, tucked again, lasered, lifted, Botoxed, and Juvedermed–all in the name of beauty.
Poolside at the Four Seasons Westlake Village
The great thing about being a native Angeleno is knowing where the movie stars, trophy wives, and reality queens go to get these procedures done–especially when they want to keep it on the down low. Though Bev Hills may be “Mecca” to L.A. beauty junkies, the Four Seasons Hotel in Westlake Village is the secret hideaway to where the elite flock when they must recuperate from plastic surgery.
Giveaway! Skin brightening products from Specific Beauty
Specific Beauty skincare
Specific Beauty is a very interesting brand. They specialize in addressing the issues of skin tones that range from medium (tan/olive) to dark skin tones. Their products are part of a total skin regimen that aims to brighten and even out skin complexions specifically for that skin color range.
Personally, I paid attention to them when I was reading an article about how and why skin pigmentation happens, written by Dr. Leslie Baumann, a leading dermatologist.
My skincare routine…
So I was asked to post my skincare routine (Hi Erica!). I mentioned in the GliSODin post that I change it up a lot because I haven’t found the magic formula yet (isn’t that what we’re all looking for?). Well that, and because I’m constantly scouring for new products to write about. More times than not, I’m disappointed in brands that make grandiose claims that don’t deliver. I also think it’s pretty tough to write about skincare — everyone’s skin type is different and some are more sensitive than others. But since you ask, these few have been pretty good to me lately:
CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser ($12)
CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser
It says foaming, but it’s a gel consistency that stays pretty clean. I used to use stronger face washes, but this has been gentle yet effective enough. I actually felt like I broke out when I stopped using it. Otherwise, I feel like my skin feels pretty balanced and clean when I use this!
Clarisonic ($195)
