GUEST SPOTLIGHT: My Darling Chic Sissy

For those of you who don't know me on a personal level I have an older sister named Corie. We are 2 1/2 years apart in age and growing up we were always pretty close. I remember just always wanting to be just like her as kids. I always wanted to dress like her, act like her, do what she was doing. However, I did notice the older we were both getting the more we had different interests, different style and different goals.

When I was a freshman in high school she was a senior. She always had this thick, gorgeous hair that I never had. Whether she knows it or not she had really developed confidence within herself by the age of 17 and I remember being envious of that. The early years in high school for me were totally uncomfortable and awkward. I had a hard time figuring myself out and who I wanted to be at that age but I remember thinking, "Man, Corie has it together!" And I admired that in her. She was a tough chick and already braver than she knew.

The years went fast but now that Corie and I are adults we have both developed our very own individual styles. I really enjoy when we get together because I'll share beauty tips with her while she is always a huge help in putting the perfect outfit together. Being sisters we're always VERY honest with each other so it helps to have someone like her to turn to!!

Corie has always been huge into fashion, shoes and trends. She has a knack for it and always looks awesome! Last summer her and I finally had the idea that we should start our own website called "Darling Chic" We started to add both her fashion blogs to it and tie in my beauty blogs. We have both have had talks of starting our own business together or something so we could incorporate this passion of ours. Check out our website and "Like" us on Facebook at Darling Chic.

However, Darling Chic has been put on hold for just a little bit. My sister was offered an amazing position this year to work in Switzerland for 2 years. When the news struck, the feeling of it was the exact definition of bittersweet. My sister has always had the dream to live in Europe and she is now living that dream with her wonderfully supportive husband by her side.While it stinks to not have her home, knowing she is happy and making it happen for herself is more than enough to make me so so so happy for her.

They say you should surround yourself with people who inspire you and she is one of them. So here's a shout out to my beautiful sister. Thanks for the constant inspiration. Love, love, love you!

NORMAL/COMBINATION SKIN: My Summer Skincare Regime

Another summer is coming and going way to fast of course and as I continue to battle my ever changing skin I figured I'd write a review of the new products I'm using and trying for the summer.

Skincare experts say not to use the same moisturizers in the Winter as you do in the Summer because your skin changes with the climate. While it is a little annoying to switch up products throughout the year I had some help with finding some new items to try this summer.

Thanks to IPSY , my monthly glam bag I received a couple months back helped me to try all sorts of new products. Not to mention Sephora just gave me a new item to try as well which I liked. I really enjoy trying out products SO much that I'm testing out some new Mary Kay skincare items for a friend/representative I know from there. This is also helping me to personally figure out what works best for my skin since this summer has called for some imbalances in my skin.

I've been lucky enough to have really clear skin most of my life with the occasionally pimple here and there. I have a decent diet and workout at least 3 days a week, drinking lots of water at work but no mater what my skin gets pretty oily in the summer.

This summer however, my chin has been my problem area. I've never had an issue with breakouts and this summer I have. Here are some of the products and tips I've been using that seem to be helping.

Refrigerating my daily moisturizer. 

Sounds insane but I follow several beauty bloggers on YouTube and I learned a few months back to try this trick of putting your moisturizer in the fridge and that it'll help keep your face matte all day cause it helps shrink your pores. It really has worked not to mention it's a refreshing way to wake my face up in the morning.

This is the moisturizer I've been using for the past few years:

I switched up my nightly moisturizer. 

 

I am basically addicted to PREVAGE Anti-Aging Night Cream. It's expensive but so worth it. I've been using this at night since I was 23 years old and I feel like it's prevented a lot of damage and wrinkles to my skin. It really helps restore skin overnight with some super special ingredients but I've always felt like this is a better Winter night cream. It's pretty thick so it's better for when my skin gets drier in the Winter.

IPSY gave me a sample of Josie Maran's Argan Oil and I put it on my skin before bed one night and I woke up the next morning and saw an immediate difference. My skin looked so soft, toned and rested. I don't know if it was a case of switching skin care that I could tell a huge difference after one night but I instantly loved this. I use this in place of the Prevage every night before bed and it's been a great substitute for a Summer moisturizer.

Vitamins!!! 

I went to Sephora recently to pick up a birthday gift for my Dad and received a sample of Pure Truth Activating Sample by Ole Henriksen 

This oil is made up of 100 percent pure organic rose hips seed oil, a natural source of active vitamin C, vitamin A, and essential fatty acids. These ingredients help brighten skin, improve tone and help fights wrinkles.

I've been using this oil like a serum under my daily moisturizer for a week or so now and it definitely helps give your skin a natural looking glow. It's orange which is a bit funny to put on your face at first cause it almost looks like you're applying an instant tanner. It has a funny smell but nothing too terrible and it absorbs really fast. I feel like this has helped fade old acne scars as well as give me a brighter look in the day.

Bye-bye scars

 In order to aid in fading some of the spotting on my chin from the acne I've gotten this summer I purchased this new product by Garnier called Skin Renew Clinical Dark Spot Corrector. I use this on my chin every night after I've moisturized and have been using it on and off for a week or two and am slowly seeing a difference. It says to give it about 4 weeks to see results and that sounds about right. It has mixed reviews from customers but was awarded the Readers Choice Award by Allure in 2012 which is typically pretty promising from my experience. I wasn't looking to spend major bucks on a treatment so this works fine for me. A little goes a long time and this should last awhile as the tube is a little smaller than a toothpaste tube.

Keep in mind, this is what has worked for me and we all have different skin types and makeup but I hope if any of your have experienced some similar problems that these tips will help!

Thanks for reading!