Top Secret ::: Skincare Routine

All photos by {accordingtoame}

I am a creature of routine and habit for the most part. That extends through most facets of my life, unrelated to diet and exercise, of course, but most definitely though my beauty regimen.  My skincare routine is pretty streamlined and doesn't really change too much, save for testing something new, or when I am on the retinoid rotation I discussed back in the Aloe post. Those simply add or subtract one or two steps within my regular routine.  

Top Secret ::: Aloe Vera Gel

All photos by {accordingtoame}

A totally natural, and totally cheap, skin care staple, and something anyone using retinoids (which should be everyone!) should have on hand is Aloe Vera Gel.  

Why, you ask? 

My Top 5 ::: Skincare Favorites

Photos by {accordingtoame}

I get asked frequently by readers, and by friends and family, what my favorite and must-have daily driver products are, things I cannot get by without in my vanity arsenal. I saved those lists for this month, because as you know, I discover and try out new things constantly, and share my reviews with you pretty often, so they kind of evolve over time. "Favorites" can change on a dime, but it's the ones that you go back to that end up being "the ones." 

Loving Right Now ::: Best Gift Ideas for He and She!

Photos: Tumi, Nordstrom, Michael Kors, Razer, Brookstone, Uggs, Malin+Goetz

It's prime time for gift shopping, with great deals abound. This year introduced some fantastic new gadgets and gizmos to the world, and of course, a few came out just in time for the holiday season.  

Loving Right Now :::

Photos: Collage by me, Gooey Butter from Pearls & Coffee, Everdock Kickstarter, 

MegBiram.com, My photos of the Fruit Snacks, Purseblog.com

Test Driven::: Elizabeth Dehn for One Love Organics

When rumblings were popping up around the internets, first from Elizabeth Dehn herself, about "new products", naturally my interest was piqued.  I love my Vitamin C Serum from this line, very dearly in fact, and was hoping to see what they would come out with next, perhaps in a facial spray (a product Elizabeth used to have in a former line in a former life) or sunscreen moisturizer to rival the Josie Maran I also love dearly.

Top Secret::: Chagrin Valley Soap & Salve Company

Chagrin Valley Soap & Salve has been among my daily favorites since learning about it on a skincare forum, when it was declared by a self-proclaimed "resident expert" that the Whipped Squalane Face & Eye Mousse was the "best non-actives moisturizer out there", in part because it was natural and inexpensive.  When multiple other posters started chiming in with similar proclamations of agreement, and the reviews in the product reviews section are glowing, naturally one is intrigued, especially if one is looking for a non-actives moisturizer to just moisturize alongside her armory of actives.

Must Have::: TRUFFLE Clarity Pouches

About a year ago, I read about Truffle on both Luella&June and A Piece of Toast, and all three ladies (Bradley, Sally and Molly, respectively) were quite in love with these amazing pouches.  I even messaged the lovely Bradley to inquire about her experiences travelling with the pouches and if she'd have any issues with TSA in regards to it (she hadn't.)  

Product Line to Check Out: ONE LOVE ORGANICS

I read about this line, One Love Organics, about maybe 2 months ago on BeautyBets, when I was looking for a new Vitamin C serum to replace the Mario Badescu I had been using, and found only "meh", in part due to the propylene glycol in it, and in part due to it just not seeming to really *do* anything.  It also didn't seem to place nice with retinoids or any of my other products.

I picked up a bottle of the Vitamin C Serum along with a few samples of the other items, and started in on them. So far my absolute favorite IS the Vitamin C. It's a cushy texture, not at all what I expected for some reason...and nothing like the Mario Badescu which for lack of a better description was kind of like rubbing alcohol in a dropper bottle.  This stuff is dreamy on the face and smells DIVINE. I apply one pump right out of the shower after cleansing, and rub it in all over (I probably should press?) and down my neck. Once that sets in, I apply a tiny amount of the Vitamin E eye balm, and then my moisturizer if I'm "patchy" or "molting" from retinoids. Then I'm done. I did have some trial and error in the beginning to figure out if I needed one pump or two.