Tag: skincare routine

Ultimate Pre & Post-Workout Skincare Routine For Glowing Skin

Published on by Lee1 Comment

As you know, rule number one of working out is to take off your makeup! Doing this alone is a great to start ensuring your skin looks better, not worse, at the end of a workout. But when it comes to working out we don’t often think about our skincare routine, but treating your skin properly before and after your workout will make a huge difference to your skin. When you exercise, your body temperature increases and more often than not, you sweat – a lot – and that makes your pores dilate, making it even easier for makeup and bacteria to make its way in and block your pores.

So, we’re here to share the ultimate skincare routine for before and after your workout to ensure your skin brings its a-game every time. We’ve even discovered some workout skincare products that are giving us incredible results while we exercise – now that’s multitasking at its best!

Pre-Workout Skincare Routine

Step 1: Wash your Face

…Not with makeup wipes!!

A.M.: If you’ve just woken up or you’re not wearing makeup, do a quick wipe with micellar water on a cotton pad or splash your face with a little water. It’s important that your skin is clean, so if you feel like your skin needs it, do a gentle cleanse with a milk or gel cleanser.

workout skincare

P.M.: Double cleanse to remove all your makeup! We love to use the Face Halo, because all you have to do is wet it, and the tiny little fibers will lift off makeup and dirt, so it’s super easy to use on-the-go. To finish, we love to use the Foreo Luna 3 cleansing device with a gel cleanser to remove every last trace of makeup – the T-sonic pulsations and soft silicone bristles help clean extra deep into pores, which is exactly what you need before a workout!

Step 2: Actives That Work

Just because you’re working out, doesn’t mean your skin shouldn’t get a little love. We love to use lightweight, hydrating and protective formulas while we work out, like a vitamin C serum, or an antioxidant-rich gel moisturizer to protect our skin from free radicals that attack during exercise. Avoid anything to rich and heavy, which could feel uncomfortable when you sweat.

Without a doubt, one of our most exciting new discoveries is Face Gym’s Training Sticks, $49, aka heat-activated skincare that gets to work while you do! Since we’ve discovered these, we literally haven’t worked out without them, and we love how they warm up on your skin while you work out, slowly releasing potent actives that penetrate deeper as your skin’s metabolism is accelerated. The controlled delivery system also helps improve your complexion for up to six hours post-workout (even after cleansing).

The Training Sticks are so quick and easy to use – literally just swipe onto your forehead, cheeks, chin, and temples – and we love the different options: Spirulina for lifting and firming, Activated Charcoal for detoxing, and Brazilian Pink Clay for brightening. You can also buy all three in mini version, plus a hydrating Multivitamin stick for $75 – so you can multi-mask to target different issues. The charcoal formula leaves our skin feeling super soft and bright post-workout, and we love that these fight against damaging free-radicals, which are rife during exercise.

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3. Protect

If you’re working out outside in the sun or going for a hike, SPF is essential. We recommend a mineral sunscreen, which means when you sweat your eyes shouldn’t sting (chemical SPFs often sting the eyes). Check out one of my fave mineral sunscreen here.

Finally, don’t forget a little lip balm to keep your lips moist and to prevent cracking. And always tie your hair up to avoid hair and hair products mingling with your skin.

Post-Workout Skincare Routine

Step 1: Cleanse

We know after working out you often have places to be, but it’s so important to wash your face post-workout as soon as possible. If you’ve washed your skin before your work out (we really hope you did), use a gentle water-based cleanser to get rid of sweat and bacteria. We love the Holi Frog Superior Omega Nutritive Gel Wash, $36, which is pH-balanced and deeply cleans the skin while nourishing it with omega fatty acids, probiotics, and antioxidants to replenish the skin. It also has natural antibacterial properties to help prevent breakouts and clogged pores, without stripping your skin.

Finish your cleanse by splashing your face with cool water, which helps to tighten the pores and shrink blood vessels, which will help to reduce redness more quickly.

Step 2: Hydrate

First things first, drink plenty of water to hydrate your body and skin – the best hydration comes from within! Then use plenty of hydrating ingredients on your skin. Start with a toner that’s soothing and calming, so look for ingredients like chamomile and aloe or opt for hydrating milky formulas. We love the Pixi Rose Tonic, $18, which helps to reduce redness and calm the skin while balancing your skin’s pH levels. Follow with a lightweight serum or hyaluronic acid, like the Sarah Chapman Intense Hydrating Booster Moisture Serum, $98, which is formulated with Bioecolia and Beta Glucan to activate the skin’s natural defenses against bacteria and irritants, plus hyaluronic acid and soothing rose water. We love how fluid this serum is and how easily it melts into the skin to instantly hydrate and repair the skin after the stress of working out.

Step 3: Lock it in

Now your skin is well hydrated, lock it all in with a moisturizer. We prefer to steer clear of thicker formulas post-workout (save that for nighttime), instead, stick to gel-like or lightweight moisturizers like the Biossance Squalane + Probiotic Gel Moisturizer, $52, which helps to reduce redness (great for after a workout), tighten pores, and balance your skin.

Now enjoy that glow-up and feel proud of yourself for working out and showing your skin some love at the same time.

Still looking for the perfect fitness essentials? Look no farther check out GIFT GUIDE: AMAZING FITNESS ESSENTIALS. WHAT DO MY HELLO BEAUTIES THINK?

KYLIE SKIN LAUNCHES FACE MASK & LIP MASK

Published on by Lee2 Comments

When Kylie Jenner first announced she was launching skincare, thoughts were mixed if it fits in with her brand or if it’s best left up to skincare pros. And then the first collection promptly sold out and Kylie Skin was officially a hit. Next came a summer collection and now, a face mask and lip balm are here. “The @kylieskin family is growing,” Jenner wrote on Instagram. “My hydrating lip and face mask are available NOW on KylieSkin.com! My secret to moisturized skin all day long.”

Since Jenner has dry skin, her first face mask is a moisturizing one. The Hydrating Face Mask is fragrance-free and contains niacinamide (one of two forms of vitamin B3), shea butter, glycerin and sodium hyaluronate (a water-soluble salt form of hyaluronic acid). Jenner promises it keeps her skin soft and moisturized. And she keeps that hydration on her lips, too. The Hydrating Lip Mask—a fancy way of calling it lip balm—features pomegranate sterols, shea butter, sunflower and kiwi seed oil. You can use it anytime throughout the day or layer it on thick overnight for “mask” action.

What’s especially nice about masks is that, unlike the rest of the products in the brand’s lineup, they don’t necessarily have to be used every single day, so you can work them into your current routine when you need a little hydration boost, without having to sacrifice your regular faves.

I’m a face-masking fiend, and even though my collection is already quite large, I’m curious as to how much Kylie Skin’s Face and Lip Masks cost, as I can almost guarantee I’ll be adding them to my collection. According to Jenner herself, the brand’s first-ever masking products guarantee hydrated, happy skin, and with cold winter weather here, a little extra hydration doesn’t sound half bad. Will the new duo end my seasonal chapped lips and dry skin for good? Fingers crossed, y’all.

What I love about this instead of using just a regular balm, is this is more like a treatment for your lips,” Jenner explained in a video on the Kylie Skin Instagram account. It definitely locks in the moisture in my lips and keeps them feeling good all day,” she added. As far as formula goes, Jenner dishes that the Lip Mask features nourishing oils, shea butter, and vitamin E, and can be used whenever you’d like. I love to put it on before bed — I feel like my lips feel the most chapped at the end of the day,” she said in the video. Apparently, it’s also a great option for no-makeup days: “It gives it a little bit of a sheen, so it almost looks like you’re wearing lip gloss, which I love,” she raved.

This! There is nothing like this,” exclaimed Jenner in her Instagram explainer video, “This is the most moisturizing mask you can find. This helps smooth, soothe, brighten, hydrate… it’s ideal for anytime use. I love to put this on, again, at all times of the day. I didn’t want to just say Night Mask for this, because I use it all the time,” Jenner explained, adding, “You don’t have to wash this off, although you can. She also uses the mask prior to applying makeup – applying it 15-30 minutes before she does her makeup and then washing it off like any other face mask.

While the Hydrating Face Mask has a thick, moisturizing formula, it still feels lightweight and easy to blend, much like a classic moisturizer:

As for ingredients, Jenner describe the lineup as, “Pretty much just a magical mixture of things to really help out your skin.” That includes vitamins C, E, and B3, as well as shea butter, hyaluronic acid, and kiwi seed oil, so she’s certainly right about that.

I love that she’s listening to her buyers’ requests! And honestly, I can’t help but wonder what’s next. Another type of face mask? What about a clay mask, or a sheet mask? You can’t deny that a pink Kylie Skin sheet mask would be cute AF. While you wait for her to announce her next drop, shop the Hydrating Face and Lip Masks now on the Kylie Skin website.

Our mission at BEAUTYLEEBAR is to bring beauty to the people, and we only feature products we think you’ll love as much as we do. Please note that if you purchase something by clicking on a link within this story, we may receive a small commission of the sale.

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Glow Recipe’s New Banana Moisturizer Just Became Our Go-To

Published on by Lee5 Comments

In less than two years, K-beauty aficionados Glow Recipe has created sell-out product after sell-out product. The trend-quenching brand has transformed some of the most iconic fruits in pop culture – watermelons, avocados, pineapples – from pool float and phone cover necessities into bomb skincare products that feed your skin and your #shelfies with goodness.

From juicy watermelon to the revered avocado, Glow Recipe has made it its M.O. to craft the most fun, at-times viral skin-care products from nature’s fruit basket. Well, insert banana emoji here, because their latest launch has arrived, and unlike anything they’ve done before.

The latest super-fruit to join their family has less of an Instagram following, but its skincare powers are definitely on par with the rest. Meet the Banana Soufflé Moisture Cream, $39, that harnesses the moisturizing, nourishing and calming properties of banana, which launches online at Sephora.com on Dec 5th (and today on the Sephora app)! We were lucky enough to get a first try of this moisturizer, and we’ve been using it non-stop for the last two weeks to ensure we can give you a thorough review!

What it is: The Banana Soufflé Moisture Cream is a lightweight moisturizer bursting with banana, turmeric and chia goodness to give you plump, hydrated and happy skin that smells like banana cream pie filling.

What it does: This bouncy, banana-packed formula helps skin recover from dryness, dehydration, stress, and irritation by delivering an intense hit of magnesium naturally found in bananas to balance moisture levels and recover skin barrier health. Potassium works to hydrate the skin while manganese gets to work on healing stressed skin – aka when you’ve overdone it on AHAs or your skin is hella thirsty.

The ingredients: Well, if not for the color. Glow Recipe’s $39 Banana Soufflé cream is a telltale shade of pastel yellow that looks like the dreamiest, creamiest, banana-filled smoothie ever blended into existence — even though the formula relies on banana water, according to Byrdie’s behind-the-scenes look at how the moisturizer is made. The intriguing ingredient acts as a source of hydrating potassium and useful magnesium, which helps keep your skin barrier happy, healthy, and properly balanced, moisture wise. Take that, other superfruits.

Soothing Centella Asiatica (aka cica, a classic K-beauty ingredient) and turmeric are full of antioxidants to protect the skin while the essential fatty acids in chia moisturize deeply. Added vitamin A, B, and C reduce inflammation and help brighten dull skin. Jojoba seed oil also makes an appearance and is amazing for repairing the skin barrier as it naturally mimics your skin’s sebum while squalane, hyaluronic acid, and glycerin boost hydration.

glow recipe banana souffle moisturizer

Who it’s good for: This is great for all skin types. It’s light enough for those with oily, acne-prone or sensitive skin and will help regulate and balance your skin while it’s also really hydrating so it’s great for dry and normal skin types too. It’s not too heavy for daytime and rich enough to hydrate all night long.

What we thought: Another little glass jar full of goodness! This richly-scented moisturizer is just as potent as its sisters, and although it has no synthetic fragrance, the first thing you’ll notice is the smell – which, as banana pudding fans, we LOVED! The texture is super lightweight and feels whipped, just like a soufflé, with a seriously addictive, gooey-bouncy consistency that melts into the skin and blends out beautifully with no need to tug or pull your skin. A little goes a long way, and once applied the formula sinks in quickly with no heavy feeling, which is rare with a product this nourishing and moisturizing.

The results: True story, trying products non-stop is testing on your skin, and the Banana Soufflé could not have come at a better time. After testing a new toner, our skin was pretty parched, sensitive and tight, and not only did we feel immediate soothing effects with this moisturizer but, within days – we used it morning and night – our skin felt hydrated and plump again. This moisturize really came through to hydrate our skin and help it feel balanced and comfortable. In 10 days, our skin is feeling its best, healthy self, and definitely looks less dull and feels fuller.

We also tried their hack of combining the Banana Soufflé Moisture Cream with the Glow Recipe Pineapple-C Bright Serum, and we loved the feel and the brightening boost this gives.

The verdict: Naturally, Glow Recipe made it easy to integrate the new cream into your pre-established skincare routine. You can pat on a dollop of Banana Soufflé cream as the next step after your serums both in the morning and before you hit the hay, or create an extra-brightening version by mixing in a drop of Glow Recipe’s Pineapple-C Bright Serum.

If you need a moisturizer to keep your skin glowing on happily, we highly recommend this. Although it doesn’t contain ingredients to target any more problematic skin issues, mix this up in the evenings with one of Glow Recipe’s sleeping masks to target other skin concerns. For us, this is the perfect everyday moisturizer that will keep your skin supple, nourished, protected and balanced, which is especially important at this time of year. It works great under makeup too, which is always a win!

Launched Party: The new fruity creation from the brand dropped on Dec. 4 for pre-sale on the Sephora app, and the following day, Banana Souffle will be available to shop online at Sephora. If you do want to test out and feel the product before purchasing, don’t worry. It will be coming to Sephora stores a few weeks later on Dec. 27. The new product will retail for $39 making it the same cost as the brand’s existing Pink Juice Moisturizer.

The Banana Souffle Moisture Cream marks one of the first products to launch from the brand since founders Christine Chang and Sarah Lee decided to eliminate their K-beauty curations. Back in June, the brand announced that it would be focusing on its in house projects (Glow Recipe and affordable brand Sweet Chef) in order to launch more innovative and exciting skin care. Now, one of those creations is here in the Banana Souffle Moisture Cream.

If you were one of the thousands of people who joined Glow Recipe’s wait list when it first launched with the Blueberry Bounce Cleanser and Watermelon Glow Mask, there’s a new product to be added to your wishlist, and this time, you can avoid that waitlist.

Glow Recipe Banana Souffle Moisture Cream $39

SEE ON SEPHORA

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Hype or Not: Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay Review

Published on by Lee9 Comments

While there are hundreds (if not thousands) of face masks options available, you’d be hard pressed to find one that boasts more five-star reviews and celeb love than the Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay Mask. Amazon customers are practically writing novels about how it has transformed their skin, sharing astonishing Aztec Clay Mask before-and-after photos.

Since going viral a few years ago, the mask has racked up over 13,000 positive reviews from Amazon shoppers who have referred to is as the “holy grail of face masks” for acne—and it makes sense because it’s made with 100 percent bentonite clay, which helps to draw out the skin’s impurities. Unlike most face masks—which come ready to apply—you’ll have to whip up your own concoction using equal parts Aztec Indian Healing clay and apple cider vinegar or water. Yes, it’s a little extra work, but reviewers and stars alike agree it’s totally worth the time because it leaves their pores feeling so refreshed.

WHAT IS IT: AZTEC SECRET INDIAN HEALING CLAY is natural Calcium Bentonite Clay from Death Valley, California, where it is sun- dried for up to six months in temperatures that sometimes reach 134 degrees. The unique structure of the molecules in Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay carry a negative electron charge. This comes from the valance electron count from the specific minerals found in Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay. This Indian Healing Clay lifts the pimple and blackheads into the clay bed to cause accelerated healing and nourishment to the skin with over 50 minerals.

  1. 100% NATURAL
  2. Deep pore cleaning with 100% natural calcium Bentonite Clay
  3. Does not contain: additives, fragrances or animal products
  4. Use for acne and blemishes. Use it once per week

HOW TO USE: After mixing with vinegar, apply the smooth, paste-like substance to the skin using your fingertips or, as reviewers recommend, with a silicone brush applicator, and allow it to dry for up to 20 minutes. (Note: Dry time can vary depending on your skin’s sensitivity.) As it dries, you’ll feel a pulling and tightening sensation, which is just the deep pore cleansing in action. The mask is so powerful that many customers recommend only using it once a week and moisturizing right after, as it’ll leave your skin feeling a tad on the dry side.

WARNING: Please note that when you rinse off the mask your face may be red and this is normal with this clay mask. This redness will be gone within 20 to 30 minutes.

PRIMP TIP: It’s easy to customize this clay mask depending on your skin’s mood. If you want a shot of moisture, add a teaspoon of raw honey to your mixture. For a more soothing formula, add some Aloe Vera gel, and if blemishes are an issue, a few drops of Tea Tree Oil will do the trick. Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay is as powerful as it is versatile.

“This product is AMAZING. It’s an official Holy Grail product of mine,” another reviewer wrote. “I ideally use it once-a-week, and it feels as if angels themselves have taken the time, to delicately renew my skin with the magical touch of their wings.”

Dramatic, yes, but the mask is so popular, it even has a long list of celeb fans, including Kourtney Kardashian—the latest A-list to chime in on her love for it. In a recent post on her website, Poosh, she shared that the Aztec clay mask is one of three products she rotates in her “self-care Sunday masking routine.” As it turns out, her sister Khloé Kardashian is also a huge fan, along with Mindy Kaling and Lili Reinhart.

In 2015, Kaling shared a photo on Instagram wearing the Aztec mask that she mixed with Bragg’s organic raw apple cider vinegar (also available on Amazon).

PRIMP TIP: I learned from some people that you should spray a hydrating facial mist on your face while the Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay is on your face. That way it will be kept moist and easier to remove and the clay will not take moisture off from your skin. It’s the same logic with sheet masks.

MY EXPERIENCE: This pulsating sensation is pretty intense as the clay mask is working hard to rid your skin of all the dirt and grime. You will feel some tugging! After the recommended 20 minutes, the clay concoction hardens and makes your face feel a little tight. That’s your cue to wash it all off. I was left with slightly reddish skin, but this dissipated after five to ten minutes. I looked in the mirror, and an unbelievably squeaky clean face greeted me. “Is this really MY skin?” I marveled.

That’s not all. After prolonged use, you will find that your skin is no longer as prone to breakouts. And there’s still so much clay left in the tub!

This clay mask is truly no joke. It leaves a wonderful sensation on your skin but more than that, it is healing. It heals by getting rid of all the grit and sebum that causes breakouts. With a great price to boot, great reviews by thousands of users and some pampering time on offer, you can’t go  wrong with this one.

*This product may or may not help you. If the pimple persists, you may need to know the type of pimple you have or better, consult a doctor.

Did you try the Aztec Secrets Indian Healing Clay Mask – the world’s most powerful facial!? Lemme know about your experience….