photo courtesy of Dermalogica

I could bet my last 15 minutes of sleep you have walked pass a Clinique counter walking through a department store which makes it safe for me to say that you've all been introduced to their 3 step program.    I have to applaud them for educating us commoners about the basic daily routine (cleansing, toning, and moisturizing) and brought about awareness of the essentials for proper skincare.  However, this post is not about Clinique as the picture proves.  Did you know there was a step before cleansing?  Don't feel bad I didn't either until I went to school to learn about this stuff.  Dermalogica (my fave skincare line) has the most phenomenal product donned, PRECLEANSE.

Precleanse is an oil-based cleanser that liquifies your skin's natural oils, as well as oil-based debris from products such as make-up.  If you have oily skin this is an excellent product for you as well.  Remember oil attracts oil, so it soaks up the XTRA oil from your skin's surface.  You may be thinking while it is removing the unwanted debris from the surface it leaves a greasy residue, but truthfully it doesn't.  The important thing to understand is that it allows your cleanser to cleanse the skin not what is on the skin's surface.  That was the "AHA" moment for me when I was learning about this product.  Please keep in mind that Precleanse is great for ANY skin type and condition.

Click here for more information on how to use and how it works.

I don't know about you guys, but I've always scrubbed my lips.  However, I was brought to shame when I exposed my dirty little secret to exfoliating my lips (*whispering* I use my toothbrush after brushing my teeth).  YIKES! I never thought about all the bacteria left on my toothbrush after brushing and especially from scraping my tongue (BARF!)  Hey, don't judge me at least I did it, right?  I mean think about it, it is skin and it does chap and shed like the rest of your body.  It is probably the first area that shows sign of dehydration.  What weirds me out the most is that gelatinous, fleshy flap that is exposed AFTER moisture is applied to the lips (ok, why is my own post grossing me out?).  Oh what about kissing someone who doesn't keep up with his lip chap?  LMAO....does anyone remember Saaphyri from Flavor of Love?  I could go on and on anyhoooooo......


Fear no more, Sara Happ, the innovator of The Lip Scrub has received rave reviews about her products from the notable Rachel Zoe.  According to the company, this cute package contains a scrub that "eliminates dry, flaky skin to leave lips ridiculously soft and supple".  The scrub comes in 6 scrumptious flavours and according the website has met it's match with Sara's new lip balm, The Lip Slip.  Click here if you are interested in the great wonders of The Lip Scrub! Enjoy

Am I the only one over of all the anti-aging hype?  I swear if I hear another ad about it I am going on a beauty hiatus (I lie).  Seriously though, am on this journey solo?  It saddens me when you have young people in there 20's psyching out about aging.  I mean really, get it together.  Put on your SPF and call it George...ugh! What really ticks me off are the beauty professionals PUSHING these products like nobody's business.  I understand that is their job, but seriously when will the cosmetic companies get it together and TEACH consumers how to take care of themselves?!?   I get it.  The bottom line is the dollar, but really?

Don't get me wrong, EVERYONE's in "aging" mode.  If you take proper care of yourselves now, you don't have to go broke trying to stay young.  As for our mature counterparts like our moms and aunts (well not so much my mom and aunts...lol), if they are concerned about their appearance then I respect their choices to go in hard on these products or even with cosmetic modification.  However, honestly what's wrong with fine lines and wrinkles?  Aren't they the battle wounds of wisdom and life experiences?  Why do we consume ourselves with staying young?  Do you plan on competing with the "pretty young thing" forever?  We should wear our wrinkles and fine lines as badges of honor.  We earned them for surviving.

My advice?  Oh thanks for asking.  Exercise regularly, rest, and eat an array of fresh, healthy foods.