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Basic Facial Cleansing

Today's post is on the basics of home cleansing. It is very important to take good care of your skin. In other words, if you love your skin, your skin will love you back.

Step 1: Cleansing. It is important to pick a cleanser that is best for you skin type. There are several different types. Dry/dehydrated, oily/acne, combination, pigmented, mature, congested, and normal. You should take good care of your skin, in order to have gorgeous and pure skin. The face skin is likely to be damaged much more than the skin on your body. A through cleansing of your skin is essential to maintain a beautiful complexion and amazing look. You should cleanse your face every morning to remove all impurities and oil. Cleansing should be the first step in your routine in order to eliminate all the impurities and the left makeup. Try to avoid soap-based products, because they leave the skin more vulnerable and can promote wrinkle formation. , because as we all know – the beautiful skin comes from clean skin. It is also important to cleanse every night to get rid of dirt and debris picked up during the day, and to remove makeup. Never sleep with any makeup on your face. It will only clog your pores.

Step 2: Exfoliation. New skin cells are constantly being created in the lower skin level (dermis), and the cells migrate to the surface. Over time the natural process of skin erosion becomes uneven, which gives skin a dry and rough character. Exfoliation removes the outer layer to reveal the newer skin beneath. This shedding of the outer layer unclogs pores, keeps skin clean, and helps reduce acne breakouts. You should exfoliate 2-3 times a week. Be careful what exfoliating products you are using. Make sure the beads in the scrub are perfectly spherical. Though apricot scrubs are the most common, the beads are not perfectly round and over time may cause microcuts in your skin.

Step 3: Toner. Toners are a mixture of water, alcohol, and other ingredients that remove dirt and make up residue, complement the cleansing process, refine pores and tighten pores temporarily, make skin feel fresh and clean, remove excess oil from skin, refresh tired complextion, whisk away impurities, reduce the appearance of fine lines, increase blood circulation, restore your skin's natural pH balance, improve skin tone, reduce oil secretion, improve the elimination of toxins, speed up cell turnover, and promote sloughing of dead skin cells. A toner should always be applied to a cleansed face. It should be applied with a cotton pad. Saturate the cotton pad and pat the toner gently over your face and neck area. Apply it to the forehead, cheeks, chin and nose, or to the whole face. Never rub your skin when applying toner. Do once a day, usually in the morning.

Step 4: Moisturizer. Every skin type needs moisture, protection and nourishing to function normal and to be healthy. Moisturizers protect your skin from the sun, wind, cold, from the environmental pollutants and nourish your skin. They plump and comfort your skin and make the foundation easier to blend smoothly and to stay put longer. Moisturizers improve your skin quality and act as a protective layer to help trap the moisture in the skin and stop it from evaporation. They slow down the natural moisture loss throughout the day and prevent further skin dehydration. Moisturizer applied prior to makeup will help to retain moisture and keep the skin smooth and supple.A moisturizer should be used every day, both in the morning and in the evening to keep your skin hydrated and healthy looking. A good moisturizer will increase skin’s resilience and boost its ability to protect itself from environmental irritants. Moisturizers should be applied both in the morning and at night everyday.

Step 5: Sunscreen. Using sunscreens products now would deliver benefits later in life and that's for sure, although unfortunately many people don't use such products. The sun protecting products deliver long-lasting moisture where it is required, vitamin D and vitamin E to combat the free radicals, they help prevent premature ageing and most importantly ensure a more even and longer-lasting tan. Protecting your skin from the sun is also important in reducing cancer risk later in life. The sun impacts collagen production in the skin and without collagen skin won’t be able to maintain its health and beauty. For your face you only need to use an SPF of 15-30. Make sure to apply sunscreen everyday after you moisturize in the morning.

Life in Utah

Well here I am, in Provo, Utah! I moved into my appt with my sister (pictured singing with me on the way here). We actually don't see each other very often due to the fact we have very different schedules. But once a week she still makes me dinner. Usually boxed pasta. But that's what we do!

School started on Aug. 31 and by the time I'm done I will be a master esthetician! That's right, I will be able to do manicures, pedicures, waxing, facials, chemical peels, microdermabrasion, body treatments, and so much more. I could pamper you for days. I'm not sure how much I love school yet. I love the things I'm learning but I'm surrounded completely by girls. Sometimes it's such a drama fest. I miss you boys! I am currently a basic student esthetician. Hopefully by December I will be in orientation to become a master student esthetician.

I'm not sure I love it here in Provo. Things are a bit lonely. With a small class of girls, most are not willing to branch out and meet new people. But i'm working on getting them to be more open. Ha we'll see how that goes. And all this traveling is making my face break out, big time. Normally I would just suck it up and deal with it, but going to school with a bad face is a no go. It's like a cosmetology student going to school with bad hair. It just shouldn't happen. My recommendation? Make sure your washing your face everyday (2x), exfoliating your face 2-3x weekly, and ALWAYS ALWAYS wear sunscreen on your face.

So I've decided that once a week I'm going to post information about the things I have learned in class to help you take care of your skin. The most important part of taking care of your skin is Home Care. It accounts for 75% of success. Special treatments by themselves are not enough to give you a clean, clear, beautiful looking face. So tune in weekly!!

My Scooter

As most of you know i recently graduated high school and have decided i'm going to move to Provo, UT for college education. And everyone knows that almost all of provo's population drives a scooter. I have discovered there are many benefits to owning a scooter. I can about 80 miles/gallon of gasoline and my tank can hold a little over a gallon. The most i have ever paid to fill my tank is $2.76. Not to mention the parking spots are pretty convienent.

Most of Grand Junction can be very impatient. Mainly people drives cars or motorcycles. So i'm beginning to understand when people pass me in anger due to the fact that i can't go more than 40 mph (and let me tell you, that's pushing it). So i'm setting off in high hopes that Provo is a little more understanding.

The Beginning of my Blog

hmmm, well where do i begin...that's me - on the right. and on the left is my sister and best friend in the whole world, Kenzie. i've lived in grand junction almost all my life and during that time i have done some pretty crazy things. some examples are.... jumping out my grandma's second story window (ended up with a pretty huge bruise), dying my hair every month for over a year (what can i say, i like variety), and just recently i purchased a scooter (hopefully i won't get run over)!
i recently graduated from Fruita Monument this year and will be headed off to beauty school the end of august!!
i love my family they are the world to me. they are the ones that stick right beside me through all the wonderful adventures i take. hopefully i never end up in jail because no one will bail me out. :(
so keep reading to stay on top of the new and exciting things i'm doing!!