Skin Deep

During my shower this morning, I realized I was running low on my skincare regimen and needed to reorder more. That also reminded me it was time to spill the beans on my skincare regimen, which to date includes the greatest products I've ever used to keep my skin healthy and blemish-free.

During my teen years, I had occasional breakouts, but nothing too crazy. But for some reason when I hit my late 20s, all hell broke loose on my face. I had really bad cystic pimples and nothing seemed to cure them. I was at my wit's end and was considering going to a dermatologist or finally buckle down and try Proactive when I found out about Acne.org. The site was created by just an every-day Average Joe who suffered from acne and ended up developing his own acne-fighting products. The site also includes message boards, his blog and tons of product reviews from users on just about every product you could think of for your skin.

After reading reviews that Acne.org products were better than Proactive -- and cheaper! -- I took the plunge and gave them a shot. After day one I was hooked...the combination of cleanser, medicine and moisturizer was insanely effective for me. My skin has never looked better.

The other part of my skin regimen is something you wouldn't think would work on combo-skin, but it does! It's from a Japanese company called DHC and it's their Deep Cleansing Oil. I know, oil on an oily face so makes no sense! But this stuff is amazing...I use it at night to remove my make-up and impurities from my face before I use the Acne.org cleanser. The Deep Cleansing Oil removes everything without stripping moisture from your skin, so your body does not feel like it has to produce more oil to compensate. My face has never felt more smooth and soft than it has using the oil. Tip: I've been able to find the Deep Cleansing Oil for much cheaper on eBay.

Here's an outline of how I use these products:

Morning

• Cleanse with Acne.org Cleanser
• Lightly apply Acne.org Treatment in trouble areas
• Apply Garnier Nutritioniste Skin Renew Anti-Sun-Damage Moisture Lotion SPF 28

 Night

• Apply DHC Deep Cleansing Oil and rub gently in a circular motion for approximately 1 minute. Wet hands and rub face so Cleansing Oil begins to foam, then rinse off.
• Cleanse with Acne.org Cleanser
• Apply Acne.org Treatment all over face and let dry completely
  
• Apply Acen.org Moisturizer

Alternate: 2 nights a week instead of applying Acne.org Treatment and Moisturizer I apply Acne.org AHA+

Feelin' Good Friday -- My Path to Fitness

While fashion is a big passion of mine, of recently attained an even bigger passion -- fitness. My weight has always been a battle for me. As an adult, I decided to give Weight Watchers a shot. Although a few years ago I hit my goal weight and attained Lifetime status, Weight Watchers has two major problems: 

1. They don't really teach you how to eat healthy.
2. They don't really factor in fitness. They'll tell you to get some exercise in there, but it's not as major a part of the plan as it should be.

So while I hit my Lifetime goal I never stayed there because I was still eating the same crap I was before (just less of it!) and I wasn't really exercising as I should. I was doing cardio, but no weight training, which I've learned is what you really need to see a difference in your body and get your metabolism revved up.


About a month ago, I decided enough was enough and I seeked out a personal trainer on Craigslist. I was lucky to find an amazing trainer who can give me guidance on nutrition and fitness like I need. After only training with him for about nine sessions, I've already lost body fat and inches. I'm already getting definition in my body, which is so exciting. And I'm down a size in my jeans! And I know as I apply myself and keep working harder, the benefits are only going to increase. Trust me, this method isn't cheap, but I'd rather spend the money on this than buying larger clothes! 


I'll periodically post updates on my fitness journey and sharing intersting tidbits as I go!

Happy Turkey Day!

Gobble, Gobble! :D

I have to say today was a FANTASTIC Thanksgiving. I spent the morning gorging on freshly-made Alton Brown's Cinnamon Rolls while watched the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade in my PJs and Snuggie. If you haven't tried these Cinnamon Rolls before, I urge you to do so. They seem like a lot of work, but they're really not...it's just a lot of prep beforehand. We make them each year for Turkey Day and they're just the best!

Then I went to my BFF's house for Thanksgiving dinner, which was amazing food, lots of laughs and just tons of fun!

Top & Blazer: New York & Company

Jeans: Old Navy

Bag: Isabella Fiore

Boots: Payless

Broach: Vintage from eBay

Earrings: Vintage from antique store in Sacramento

(Close-up of earrings and broach below).

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Website Wednesday -- Designer Discount Shopping Sites

I'm certainly not a label snob, as my love for Tar-jay and Payless can attest to, but sometimes a girl just wants some designer goodies! And why not get them at a discount price when possible? 

Thus my latest obsession -- member-only shopping sites that offer designer items at a discount. I've seen everything from Chloe handbags to BCBG dresses to tarte cosmetics on these sites. Some even offer housewares as well...just the other day one had those Department 56 holiday houses that you can make your own "Christmas village" with. I also love that each morning the sites send you an email with the sales of that day, so it's a constant reminder to check out what's available. 

But of course there's cons to these sites. While signing up for them is free, some offer a "premiere status" where if you pay a membership fee, you get first crack at the good stuff, while those of us that are free have to wait another hour to get out hands in there. Also the shipping can be a bit high on these sites. Some things are returnable, but some are not, so make sure you read the fine print before pushing the purchase button. And lastly, there's the whole "sales goggle" syndrome -- just because the deal is good, doesn't mean you really need it.

Here's a list of the ones I'm currently on:

• Gilt Groupe -- This includes Gilt (high-end labels) and Gilt Fuse (low to medium-end labels). Click here if you would like to be invited to join.
  
• Ideeli -- Free to sign up, but offers an paid upgrade to "First Row" status so you can purchase items an hour before they open to everyone else.Click here for an invite to join.
  
• Editor's Closet -- Click here to join.
  
• Beyond the Rack -- Click here for an invite to join.
  
• RueLaLa.com -- Click here for an invite to join.
  
• Billion Dollar Babes --  Click here for an invite to join.
  

A Chilly Day in November

Wow, today was chilly! Plus today was my "Friday" as I'm off for six days from work! Yay! So I wanted to be comfy and cozy, which to me equals soft boots and tights.

Dress: Nine West

Tights: Assets by Target 

Boots: Payless

Necklace: Vintage locket from eBay

Watch: Anne Klein

I got my dress for a total steal on Gilt Groupe ... I'll be talking about that site plus others like it in my "Wednesday Website" post tomorrow.

However, I'm not still sure if I love this dress or not. I don't normally wear stuff that's so Bohemian-looking...my boss calls this my "gypsy look." LOL But it's very comfy and I love the pattern.

My First Post!

Hello and welcome to my little space on the Interwebz! :) At 33, I'm finally finding my "style voice," which is a mix of classic and vintage with a splash of modern sensibility. My "passion for fashion" really comes from the hunt for items that fit me and my style, but also don't break the bank! My closet is full of a mix of high-end to low-end items, from Lockheart handbags to Payless shoes.

But my love of style doesn't end at just clothing and accessories...beauty and health are also important parts of my style mix. I'm a total beauty product whore, from make-up to hair products. And health and fitness have also become very important ... I've recently signed up with a personal trainer and after nine sessions with him, I'm so impressed with what a change he's already made in my body, self-esteem and health. So these are all things that make up my journey and that I'll be posting about on my blog.

I hope you enjoy being part of my style journey and enjoy the ride as much as I am!