Category: Skin

Skin

How To Get Rid of Dark Circles and Dark Spots with Vitamin C

by Positively Posie1 Comment on How To Get Rid of Dark Circles and Dark Spots with Vitamin C

Did you know just a half a grapefruit each day can ensure the average adult is meeting at least half of typical Vitamin C requirements!

If you haven’t heard of Vitamin C you’re probably living under a rock. Vitamin C is an everyday thing we consume through citrus foods or a supplement. But truly Vitamin C deserves a place in our skincare routine!

For me Vitamin C is the first steps for fighting my dark circles and pigmentation. There are other treatments people use for pigmentation like hydroquinone, retinol, alpha & beta hydroxy acids. For my skin those treatments created way too much extra inflammation, redness and irritation. Don’t get me wrong they are right for some people but right now for me Vitamin C is my go-to product.

i like Vitamin C for many reasons…

✔️ It’s an antioxidant that goes around sucking up free radicals. Free radicals bounce around in skin cells, causing damage. Free radicals occur from sunlight, pollution, heat/ cold. Pretty much anything that comes in contact with your skin.

✔️ Fights hyper-pigmentation preventing melanin production. Thanks to sun exposure, pregnancy or birth control hormones, we can see an increase in melanin production. Vitamins C helps to break up those melanin deposits over time.

✔️ Brightens your skin even if you don’t have dark circles or hyper-pigmentation. It’s going to help give you that bright glowy look.

✔️ Vitamin C is needed in the creation of collagen. Collagen & elastin are crucial for anti-aging & healthy skin. One of the causes of dark circles is the thinning/loss of volume of skin under your eye. Putting Vitamin C under your eyes will help create new collagen and skin turn over, and hopefully decrease fine lines and wrinkles.

✔️ Decreases inflammation…if your skin gets it irritated and red easily then Vitamin C would be a great addition to your daily skincare routine. If you have acne scars or rosacea think about calming that angry skin with Vitamin C.

Favorite Vitamin C Products

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Vitamin C Gone Bad. It’s important to remember that Vitamin C aka ascorbic acid degrades quickly, making it inactive & ineffective.Vitamin C is really sensitive to light and requires a very specific acidic pH to remain stable. Keep your products in cool dark spaces and if the product starts to turn yellow it means it’s degrading and it’s time for a new bottle.

15minutebeauty. com

15minutebeauty. com

There are lots of options out there to treat dark circles and hyper- pigmentation, it’s important to find the one that fits your skin the best. As always if you have any questions, please leave them in the comments!

Beauty, Skin

Mircocurrent Facials- What You Need To Know With Celebrity Esthetician Sadie Adams

by Positively PosieLeave a Comment on Mircocurrent Facials- What You Need To Know With Celebrity Esthetician Sadie Adams

 

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So this isn’t a new concept around here – I love self care + skin care & wellness.  I’m all about taking care of ourselves in a holistic manner, so when I heard celebrity esthetician Sadie Adams on the Balance Blonde podcast I was totally captivated by her. There is a magical quality about Sadie’s skincare approach, she is a scientist + healer.  So I’m thrilled to have her guest post today and share her knowledge about mircocurrent facials.

Sadie is a natural esthetician, self care & skincare guru. She studied anatomy, Ayurveda, and yoga therapy which led her to create Take Care. Located in L.A. and NYC, Take Care is a wellness collective of esthetician an, meditation and movement facilitators focused on continued education, self-care and balanced living.

Sadie is known for using microcurrent technology and meditative energy to deliver anti-aging facials that will give you that glow-y fabulous look we all want. If you haven’t heard of microcurrent technology, don’t worry I hadn’t either. It’s a subtle electrical current developed for the purpose of regenerating tissue and tissue function. But let me leave it to the expert Sadie Adams to explain the 5 Reasons why mircocurrent facials can change your skin and overall wellness.

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1. It increases ATP

By approximately 500 percent during the course of a treatment, flooding tissue with subcellular support and creating an environment that helps to clear stagnation and balance the fluids and membranes. This increases the cell membrane permeability and the health of the skin and tissue!

2. It works with, and stimulates the sub-circulatory channels, which run throughout the entire body.

Microcurent can balance and amplify the intelligence of vital junctures, where two or more tissues interface, as keys to subtle sub-circulatory systems.

Working with these systems offers immediate access the body as a whole. There are points on the surface of the body that can be used to detoxify tissue and as diagnostic tools, giving the practitioner insights about the client’s constitution and imbalance. Microcurrent can enhance the adaptogenic qualities of these points, stimulating the body’s biochemistry to produce exactly what one needs to strengthen (or pacify) and to heal – aligning body, mind and consciousness.

 3. Measurable increase in natural collagen and elastin production.

Ones age, health, and self-care strategies (including the frequency of microcurrent application -professional and/or home treatments) will influence the percentage of increase over a given time period. Some reports boast 10-15% in collagen production and even up to a 50% increase in elastin production in just a few weeks time.

4. Product penetration, circulation, reduced acne, acne scaring and fine lines.

Research shows the having a reserve of ATP encourages collagen and elastin formation which can soften and intergrade scar tissue and mitigate inflammation discoloration, pigmentation and fine lines. Having such a reserve triggers lymphatic drainage and over time dramatically clarifies fluids and increases blood circulation.

Microcurrent supports the tissues ability to process information, including nutrients, increasing the efficacy of topical products. There is also a specific application of microcrrent that is used to drive products into deeper layers of skin.

 5. Energy clearing and balancing tone

This delicate current is a simulation of the vibration of the human body. It galvanizes proprioception, helping the cells become aware of themselves and increasing the communication between the muscles, tendons, ligaments and bones.

As an energy worker, I find that augmenting a treatment with microcurrent enhances coherency in the various layers of tissues as well as the peripheral and central nervous system. I feel that there is a lot possible, in terms of supporting the processing of stagnant energy and perceived trauma, depending of the intention and participation of the client

And that my friends is what I call mixing science AND healing energy to prevent aging. I mean what I’ve learned over the years is we have to be proactive people with our skin & health.

We can’t be waiting until we are 50 to start working on our skin, we have to start now. Obviously, a mircocurrent facial is on my skin to- do list. Until then I will just be using my at home high frequency machine which is a little different but still fantastic. Gosh, you guys I’m a huge fan of facial tools I think that should be my next post, leave me a comment if you would want to see a post solely about KILLER facial tools?

Thank you Sadie Adams for sharing your beautiful work with us, I hope we all can try a microcurrent facial in the near future!

 

Hope you enjoy! x

Here is Sadie’s Instagram 

Here is My instagram

Beauty, Motherhood, Skin

4 Tips To Help Avoid Stretch Marks While Pregnant

by Positively Posie2 Comments on 4 Tips To Help Avoid Stretch Marks While Pregnant

 

 

Stretch Marks, Stretch Marks, Stretch Marks

Unfortunately, there is no miracle cream that prevents stretch marks.  Research is showing that genetics play a role in who gets stretch marks. Also, gaining a lot of weight quickly or woman having twins/triples all have increased chances of new stretch marks.

You know me PREVENTION, is everything.

When I found out I was pregnant with Blakely I knew that there was a good chance I would see some new stretch marks. I already had some on my thighs from having a QUICK growth spurt in 8th grade ( 5’6″- 6’0″ over the summer WTF). SOO–I wasn’t going to sit back and not try everything out there to prevent new ones from showing up.

I did a lot of research and found some of the best ways to prevent stretch marks while pregnant, and duh I implemented them all. Why not, right!

I’m here to say I didn’t get ONE new stretch mark while pregnant.Obviously- – folks I can’t say it is JUST because of these 4 things that I didn’t get new stretch marks but I think it helped BIG TIME!

So let’s get into it: 4 Things To Help Avoid Stretch Marks While Pregnant.

Moisturize: I wouldn’t say I’m the best at moisturizing daily, but staying moisturized while pregnant definitely helped alleviate any itchy skin (a symptom of stretch marks). Definitely later in my pregnancy my skin felt tighter (obviously) and at times itchy. So I knew it was time to lather up my skin and I used a couple products depending on my nausea.

Bio-Oil is what I used most of my pregnancy, it has a mild smell and gave me lots of moisture. Another product I used and is more of a lotion if you don’t like oils is Tummy Butter for Stretch Marks by Spoiled Mama. Every morning and night I would lather up  mybelly, thighs, breasts anywhere that you are gaining weight or stretching needs that  moisture.

Another great option is rosehip oil, it’s like the Mother of All oils.  Rose hip seed oil is packed with trans-retinoic acid, a natural form of vitamin A and omegas that will protect the skin and encourages it to regenerate faster. So oil up girls, it’s truly beneficial!

Eating Healthy: I already have a pretty clean diet, so I knew going into pregnancy that I wanted to maintain that same diet and increase calories gradually, as specified by my doctor. As a nurse I know that amount of food a woman needs during pregnancy is dependent on a variety of things.

For A LOT of people the topic of food and weight gain can be very touchy (myself included), so remember to face it head on with your doctor and come up with a plan. I believe because I gradually gained weight throughout my pregnancy I was able to keep those stretch marks away.

Hydrate: Yes, drink water we hear it all the time and this was the hardest one for me to keep up with. Especially going into my third trimester with the baby sitting right on my bladder. But I did my best to drink 1-2 liters of water daily. Remember the more water you drink the more your skin can take in and hydrate–and hopefully help not develop stretch marks.

Workout and Stretch: My workout routine while pregnant also helped me to maintain that STEADY weight gain while pregnant. My doctor and I had a “chat” at my first appointment just keep me informed on how to work out while pregnant. She told me that pregnancy exercise can vary from my non- pregnant routine, so I needed to be aware of how hard I was pushing myself.

Most exercises you are doing prior to becoming pregnant are safe to continue during your pregnancy, but the body can react differently so be aware of any aches and pains. Most exercise while pregnant is beneficial and can help with constipation, backaches as well as increase your mood and self esteem. Here is a link to some FREE online videos I used while pregnant.

unnamed-1When I feel like something has really help me, that’s when I usually dedicate a whole post to it. These 4 things were so helpful to me while I was pregnant!

GUYS- – I hope this information is beneficial to you or just a good reminder of things you can do while pregnant to better PROTECT your beautiful skin: it’s the only skin you are gonna have so treat it well.

Have a super productive week my little loves & don’t forget lets friends on INSTAGRAM too!

xo- Whitney

Skin, Wellness

It’s True: My Favorite Beauty Products- – Are Vitamins

by Positively PosieLeave a Comment on It’s True: My Favorite Beauty Products- – Are Vitamins

Hum NutritionHum Nutrition

GUYS I feel like I’ve hit the beauty product jackpot!

I’m all about popping a pill for the pursuit of beauty. Some people might not think of vitamins as a beauty product, but I 100% do. Not gonna lie just looking at these vitamins makes me happy- – the packaging is just so pretty you’ll want to display them around the house.

ENTER – –  Hum Nutrition, the more natural way of helping beauty concerns. Let me just say if you are dealing with major skin issues, it is always best to consult with a dermatologist first to help you come up with a game plan. Reminder: vitamins vary from person to person, these are the products that I like and that have worked for my body.

So why Hum Nutrition? As a nurse I’m super particular about the vitamins I take and have NEVER promoted any until now– because well these are LEGIT!

▴ sustainably sourced

▴ gluten free

▴ non- GMO

▴ pure & potent

Hum Nutrition has scientific evidence behind each and everyone. I’m all ALL ABOUT that, it’s so important if you are going to take any supplement that you know the research behind the ingredients in them.

How Hum Works

Before you randomly choose some products, take their 3 minute evaluation, and get exactly what your body needs. Then a registered dietitian reviews your results & sends you nutrient recommendation, I mean how awesome is that.

Okay, lets get into the products and the specifics of what I’ve been taking.

 

Hum Nutrition

Arctic Repair 

The last 3 months I have been taking Arctic repair is full of Lingonberry Seed Oil +Omega-3 +Omega-6+Omega-9+Vitamin E +Vitamin A. Lingonberries are packed full of antioxidants. OH how I love antioxidants- – they help protect us against damaging free radicals on the cells. Studies show that these Lingonberries help with hydration and dryness, which I’m all about since I have super dry skin.

Collagen Love

OKAY something I love about HUM is that they are science backed. On their website when you find the product it has a tab just about the SCIENCE behind ingredients. Collagen is provides so many benefits- you want glow-y wrinkle free skin and maybe killer hair and nails then add in some collagen. This is the easiest way to get it in your daily routine- – Collagen Love has collagen peptide + vitamin c + chondroitin sulfate+ Hyaluronic Acid +Red Wine Extract + Grape Seed Extract.

GLOW Sweet GLOW

I’ve fallin MADLY in love this Glow Sweet Glow. Anything with hyaluronic acid in it and I’m sold- -Hyaluronic acid is like the queen of hydration. If your like me you’ve just been putting hyaluronic acid on your face. But Hum Nutrition has taken the science behind actually ingesting hyaluronic acid and made into a yummy gummy. Quick, easy and OMG so delicious – – Glow Sweet Glow is full of Low Molecular Hyaluronic Acid+ Vitamin C + Vitamin E + Amla Fruit.

Daily Cleanse

LOVE A GOOD DETOX: Detoxing doesn’t have to be intense and scary. I hate seeing people do these crazy detoxes that are just so not necessary. Your liver is your filtration system, it literally converts toxins into waste products, cleansing your blood. I have been taking this cleanse and it’s super gentle and is filled with ingredients that are proven to detox – – Organic Chlorella + Beetroot + Red Clover + Dandelion Root +Oregon Grape Root + Milk Thistle + Alpha Lipoic Acid +  Zinc + Selenium + Copper + Manganese + Spirulina  Matcha Green Tea. . .  OMG so many good things, I can’t stand it!

Red Carpet

The #1 seller at Sephora: the Red Carpet has Black Currant Seed Oil which is a source of GLA, ALA, plus it has sunflower seed oil which is packed with Vitamin E. I mean lets be honest these are all the ESSENTIALS if you are wanting glow-y dewy fabulous skin- – Black Currant Seed Oil, Vitamin E

Raw Beauty Super Food

Wake up, Brush teeth, Lemon water, Coffee, Morning Shake with Raw Beauty Super food. Literally I don’t go a day without this – – the proof is in the pudding, this is the ultimate beauty powder. Guys, it has 39 superfoods and the goal is for it improve your energy, support radiant skin and boost your metabolism. I know it has made a difference in my skin, it’s literally one of my FAVORITE products I use.

There you have it my go-to beauty products in 2018. You know I am all about taking care of our skin by having a great skin routine and wearing sunscreen– I mean those things are great but I think we can do more than that.

I wanted to share about HUM Nutrition with you not to preach but to share the potential benefits. And of course to ENCOURAGE you guys to try something new & always do your research- – trust me this time, it’s totally worth it.

xo- Whitney

▴ what else: ENTER the Instagram giveaway– 3 people will WIN a bottle of Red Carpet & a HUM gift card.

▴ check out my previous post for more on HUM nutrition

▴ this post is in collaboration with Hum Nutrition, but all of these opinions are mine.

Hum NutritionHum Nutrition

 

Beauty, Skin

Erin the Aesthetician: Tips For Healthy And Flawless Skin

by Positively PosieLeave a Comment on Erin the Aesthetician: Tips For Healthy And Flawless Skin

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Erin and I connected through Instagram(of course)!  She works at Restore SD Plastic Surgery, so naturally we connected over skin and skincare.

She was nice enough to share her tips for Healthy And Flawless Skin, which now I get to share with you all. AND she also  gave me one of these amazing Blue Stone Sun Shields — GUYS how can I be from Arizona and not already have one of these … yes yes it’s a little over the top but seriously it’s the best.

Erin the Aesthetician Here- – I’m sure we can all agree that the sun is a wonderful thing, but it also has the potential to do serious damage to the skin.

The sun emits UV waves which can cause up to 80% of aging in the skin. Because of that we often see skin cancers, wrinkles, brown spots and age spot. The first places this damage shows up is on our face, neck, and décolleté.

This premature wrinkling and damage from sun exposure is called photo-aging.  Obviously guys– prevention is easier than reversal. However, there are plenty of options out there to treat your already damaged skin.

Okay let’s get into the fun stuff…

 SUNSCREEN

Sun damage is cumulative, which means it builds up over time starting when you were just a baby.  The Skin Cancer Foundation suggests that your skin has already experienced almost half of its UV exposure by the time you’re 40!  Basically it’s never too late to start wearing sunscreen.

+ Reminders

  • Dime size amount to your face, rain or shine, and re-apply every two hours if you’re going to be out in the sun. Shot glass size amount when spending a day at the beach or by the pool.
  • On my face I prefer to use a physical sunscreen which contains Zinc or Titanium Dioxide. This REFLECTS the UV waves instead of absorbing and scattering them in your body.

+ Favorites

 EXFOLIATION

When we exfoliate we’re clearing off the dead skin that builds up on the top layer of skin called the Stratum Corneum.

+ Reminders

  • Removing those old cells helps to brighten the skin, minimize fine lines and wrinkles, and give you a radiant glow.
  •  Don’t over exfoliate, it will damage the protective layer in your skin. Use facial scrub or enzyme/acid peel 1-3 times a week.

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 DARK SPOTS

There are several ways to do this and it all depends on what you’re comfortable with.

  • Topical products that contain natural lightening agents such as kojic acid, vitamin c, mandelic acid and mulberry extracts.
  • Prescription products like Hydroquinone and Retinol will work quickly. Make sure to track your usage of RX strength with your aesthetician or doctor as they can injure the skin if used incorrectly.

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 LASER TREATMENTS

 Sun damage laser treatments have made huge advancements in the last couple of years. Any laser treatment will require a consultation before treatment and are not always suitable for darker skin tones.

+ Check Out

  • Ablative Laser Skin Resurfacing which high-energy light to burn away damaged skin. It also treats pigmentation, wrinkles and scars. Ablative laser treatments can generally be performed once every couple of years and carry 7-10 days worth of down time.
  • Non-ablative lasers which do not burn away or remove the top layers of the skin.  Non-ablative lasers can be performed as often as once a month and no down time.

 ANTIOXIDANTS

UV radiation causes free radical damage in our skin, which are responsible for breaking down collagen & elastin. This results in sagging, lines, and wrinkles. Look to topical cream or serums containing Vitamin C or Green Tea to help. Antioxidants are the powerhouse that block the effects of free radicals and help to repair the damage. Consume at least one food a day high in antioxidants like blueberries or oranges.

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RESTORE HYDRATION

Moisturizers will often “glue” the dead skin cells you try to exfoliate away back onto your skin. Moisturizers attempts to hydrate the skin from outside to inside.  Look for serums that contain Hyaluronic Acid, which binds water in the skin allowing you to truly hydrate the skin.

+ Favorites

None of this will matter if you don’t wear sunscreen, so be sure to wear it every day, and see a board certified dermatologist annually for skin and mole checks!  We all have busy lives, but it’s better to be safe than sorry.- – ERIN

Thanks for all these awesome tips Erin and I love love love like every product she recommended!

AND- – – as always I wanna hear from you guys! Do you wear visors or crazy hats to stay away from the sun. I mean girl’s gotta do, what a girl’s gotta do to avoid the sun, right!

xo- WhitneyFacetune-18-05-2018-16-03-54.jpg

Skin

What Skin Care In Your 30’s Looks Like

by Positively Posie9 Comments on What Skin Care In Your 30’s Looks Like

unnamed-6Well here I am.. in my 30’s I would like to say I made it here quite gracefully–HA!

If I am being honest my 20’s were good to me, when we are talking about the world of skin. My 20’s was all about PREVENTION and SIMPLICITY! I did my best to prevent fine lines from getting deeper with botox and a good skincare routine. I don’t know about you but when I hit 30 and all of the sudden I was seeing slower cell turnover rate slows, major dryness, dullness and discoloration. It freaking sucked and I was using facetune way more than I needed to be #truthbomb

Life now is totally different than in my 20’s —babies, stress, just not having the time to care. But it kind made me fall even more in love with the world of beauty, more importantly my skin. I’ve been watching my mom proactively take care of her skin for years, so I said to myself  it’s time to get serious about your own skin.

I guess this would be an overall skin care routine I am going to share with you. I’m not going into major details, like this is AM or what I use in the PM. That is a whole different post and maybe I’ll work on that next. I really just want to share what I am using and why I use them.IMG-3010 2

▴ Hydrating Toner– Okay guys lets talk toner, there is nothing better than lathering on a bunch of toner in the AM. I literally can feel my skin drinking it up. I naturally have super dry skin, that plus being in your 30’s talk about DRY.  Recently I have jumped on the Korean skin care train and I am obsessed with this toner by Hanskin, it’s just so soothing so after I wash my face AM and PM, I use a huge cotton pad and basically soak my face in this an essence toner 7 times. When I jumped on the K-beauty bandwagon I  went full force doing the “7 Skin Method,” a multi-application toner technique. Guys- this sounds a little crazy but its fantastic, you are just putting layer upon layer (7 to be exact) of hydration on your skin. So if you are like me and have super dry skin, try this method and let me know what you think.

▴ Exfoliation will become your best friend! This has been the biggest game changer for my skin, it’s about boosting cell turnover to have that fresh and glowy skin. I have three different exfoliation methods I have tried over the last 6 months and I really love them all, don’t make me choose what one is my favorite! First Dr Lancer’s the method, Dr Gross Alpha Beta Universal Peel Pads and lastly Exfolikate by Kate Somerville. All of these will wonders for your skins texture, I promise.

▴ Say Hello to the Best Acid: Glycolic Acid. The smallest of all the acids, which means the molecule can more easily to get into the skin, which gives us the most dramatic results.  It helps to clear pores, retexturize skin and is in most anti-aging products on the market. I’m obsessed with KD Glycolic Acid Cleanser, which has 10% Glycolic acid and blend of antioxidants, vitamins A,C,E and Green Tea extract in combination with Co-Q10. It leaves my skin so smooth after using it, and who doesn’t want to use a product that regenerates collagen & evens skin tone.

▴Brighteners are now a must have in my daily routine. Unfortunately, the melasma train hit me hard when I was pregnant. I’m just constantly battling the build up of pigment under my eyes and on my forehead. I’m all about a good concentrated serum for this issue, serums are the best because your gonna get a higher concentration of active ingredients on your face– and after you put on a serum you can build on top of it with other products.

▴ Retinol- I’m fighting the good fight of fine lines with a retinol and lots of collagen too. I’m all about retinol because it helps with pigmentation, dullness and yes fine lines– I mean who doesn’t want that. I’m currently out of my favorite and that shows you how often I use it, it really is a winner. And of course I can’t forget my favorite collagen right now, which I throw in my HUGE pill case every morning.

▴ Sunscreen + Supplements– talk about something that is crucial to your daily routine. Random side note, I wish I could go back in time and be that girl that was just way to cool to sit out in the sun with the rest of the crew. We all remember that friend and if your like me, you would totally kill for her skin now! Okay back to it, the main thing you should think about is the sunscreen formula. Get a physical sunscreen which contains minerals ingredients like zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. I like a physical sunscreen because they deflect and scatter UV rays away from the skin, there are just so many pros the list could go on and on.

Also, don’t forget that you can help your skin by supplementing with products like Arctic Repair and Red Carpet from HUM Nutrition. I’ve was given some products to try a month ago and I am totally sold on them. They are packed with things like antioxidants, vitamin E, lingonberry seed oil– all the good stuff to really give your skin a boost. I personally take Arctic repair everyday, plus their Raw Beauty Green Superfood powder, man what a combo I love them.

▴KD Glycolic Acid Cleanser

▴HANSKIN- Hyaluron Skin Essence

▴Dr Lancer’s- The method

▴Dr Gross – Alpha Beta Universal Peel Pads 

▴ Kate Somerville ExfoliKate Intensive Exfoliating Treatment

▴ SkinMedica Lytera 2.0 Pigment Correcting Serum

▴Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Ferulic Acid + Retinol Brightening Solution

▴ COSRX- Triple C Lightning Liquid

▴ Biossance-SQUALANE + VITAMIN C ROSE OIL

▴Drunk Elephant – T.L.C. Framboos Glycolic Night Serum

▴Replenix- Antioxidant Sunscreen Moisturizer SPF 50 

▴SUPERGOOP! Antioxidant-Infused Sunscreen Mist With Vitamin C  SPF 50

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Okay guys I know this was a long post but there was a ton of info to tell you. Let me know what products you like from my list or if there are any I should try out– I’m always up for that. Have a fabulous week!

xo- Whitney

Beauty, Skin

5 Things You Can Do To Minimize Your Stretch Marks

by Positively PosieLeave a Comment on 5 Things You Can Do To Minimize Your Stretch Marks

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As you guys know from my previous post I have stretch marks!

Yes- I’m saying it loud and proud, listen most women do— it’s nothing to feel ashamed about. I mean of course I don’t LOVE them, and I’m all about improving one’s self.

So why not treat those stretch marks, to help them fade. I hate to say this but there is no magic solution to make them completely disappear, but I got you covered with a few ways to minimize them. Here’s the thing: I’ve tried a few of these so I can definitely say there are ways to fade them, they aren’t completely gone but they are way better. OKAY, with that lets get into it, 5 Things You Can Do To Minimize Your Stretch Marks.

 ▴ Retinol Cream to save the day. I’m sure you guys have heard of retinol to treat acne, but it’s gaining more popularity because it’s treats stretch marks as well. It is filled with vitamin A that stimulates collagen- which the more collagen the better! The trick with retinol is to use them on the fresh red stretch marks, that is the key! So if you have fresh stretch marks talk to your doctor ASAP if a prescription would be right for you.

▴ Microneedling with PRP is gonna sound really intense but don’t let it scare you. Basically mirconeedling is punching little holes on both the outer epidermis and the inner dermis layer of the skin. The whole goal with this is to trigger the healing response on those stretch marks.

But the kicker is adding in PRP–let me explain PRP. Platelet Rich Plasma are the elements of the blood that initiate the healing process, they have all the good stuff, the growth factors. The process is really cool- they basically paint the platelets on your skin and then do the mirconeedling. This method then drives those healing growth factors in through the hole and into the deeper layers of the stretch marked skin. With this process you have new collagen being formed plus your platelets adding in growth factors, it’s a winning combo!

▴ Fraxel laser will zap those stretch mark almost right off your body. Okay-so right now the AMA says using a combination of lasers to treat the new and old stretch marks will give you the best results.

One of them being the fractionated Co2 lasers  which resurfaces the skin, and helps boost new collagen which then fills in the stretch mark. The wonderful thing about this laser is it works on all skin colors and on new or old stretch marks (50% better).

▴ Self Tanner-– Yes, you’ve heard it before, this is my weekly way of minimizing my stretch marks. Slathering on a bunch of my fave- St. Tropez Self Tan Express really helps fade those annoying little white lines. And if your a babe on a budget, like me this is the easiest and most affordable option.

▴ Rosehip oil for my all natural beauties, here is an option for you. So I was recently introduced to this rosehip oil and it’s like the Mother of All oils. I have been all about coconut oil and rose oil for years, but I have a new favorite!  Rose hip oil is packed with trans-retinoic acid, a natural form of vitamin A plus omegas that encourages the skin to regenerate faster. I’m also trying right now this Noni glow body oil ( I’m in total prevention mode), it’s filled with organic noni extract, rosehip and sunflower seed oil.  I’ll let you know what I think of this combination oil on IG stories later this month.
I’m all about prevention or in this case for me minimizing the damage that is already done, these are all great options.
Let me know if you have tried any of these and your thoughts on them, I love all your feed back!
xo- Whitney
▴ if you liked this post checkout my post, how to prevent stretch marks while pregnant.
Beauty, Skin

Yes, I’ve Tried Laser Hair Removal, Lets Talk About It

by Positively Posie2 Comments on Yes, I’ve Tried Laser Hair Removal, Lets Talk About It

Smooth sexy hairless skin is in, okay it is if you are me! I wanted to do laser hair removal for years because I FREAKING hate hair and no matter what razor I used I would end up with razor burn.  I was that girl that with rashes all over my legs and even my lady business. YES – That’s right ya’ll it wasn’t fun, so I finally said enough is enough I needed to get laser hair removal ASAP.

Laser hair removal has been life changing, yes that sounds cheesy but that is how BAD my razor burn got! If you have hair that grows thick and fast like me, and constantly get razor burn and can take a little bit of pain- – plus the whole process of it. Then guys you’ll really never have to shave much again!!

But you guys if you are fine with your body hair and razor burn, of course — that decision is completely up to you. Okay enough already, lets dive into the world of laser hair removal.

WHAT IS LASER HAIR REMOVAL 

Laser hair removal targets hair follicles that are about to enter the (active) phase of hair growth, with the goal of destroying the follicle itself which will end hair growth to a specific area. The goal is to hit the different growth cycles of your hair, because not every follicle goes through each cycle at the same time and speed. Which leads us into the next question…

HOW MANY SESSIONS DO I NEED

On average most people need 10-12 sessions. The length between sessions will depend on the body part your lasering. Facial hair sessions are spread to every 2-3 weeks, and then body hair like legs is every 6-8 weeks depending on how fast your hair grows.

HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE TO COMPLETE TREATMENT

Because the goal is to hit the different growth cycles of your hair. You’re looking at a few months to complete treatment. It is important to remember that with each session your hair is going to become less dense and more fine.With each session you will notice that shaving becomes much easier with less razor burn and ingrown hairs. For me I have crazyyy hair, unlike any hair they seen or so they say. Basically my hair is really stubborn and I had to get more treatments than the average person. YAY ME. But again I didn’t care the razor burn was so bad, I would do 1,000 treatments to get rid of my body hair.

HOW DO I PREPARE FOR MY TREATMENTS

Okay so it is really important to prepare your skin prior to each treatment. Make sure to shave prior to each treatment, and it helps if you NOT super tan prior to your session. Sorry guys no spray tan a week or two prior to treatment, you’ll survive. Why you ask, well to avoid chances of the laser targeting the skin pigment and not the hair.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST

The price is going to vary based on the size of the treatment area, as well the med spa you choose to go to. Most places will have a package deal of 5-6 treatments for X $ amount and then a smaller fee for yearly touch ups. But before you spend the money make sure that you are a good candidate for laser hair removal. If you have blonde, gray or red hair ALL laser hair removal treatments WILL NOT respond the way you want because the laser targets melanin, the pigment in the hair follicle. JUST a friendly reminder to do your research before trying any beauty treatment.

Have any of you tried laser hair removal? Are you thinking of getting it, I would love to know your thoughts and your experiences.

Have a great week guys!

Xo- Whitney

 

 

Beauty, Skin

3 Beauty Essentials Products for Spring and Summer

by Positively Posie1 Comment on 3 Beauty Essentials Products for Spring and Summer

IMG-0942.jpgI quickly wanted to share 3 beauty essentials products that are a must for spring and summer. I can’t go anywhere without these 3 things items. I am so in love with these because they have helped change my skin for the better. Okay- lets get into it!!

+ Dr Lancer’s the Method  is a game changer for skin texture. The polish is life changing and unlike any product I have ever used. I literally have my husband and sister using the method too! My pores are smaller and my makeup goes on so much better because it changes the texture of your skin to this creamy smooth texture (it’s hard to explain the difference). Try the travel size collection if you don’t want to commit right away, that is what I did at first and later bought the full sizes.

+ Caffeinated Sunscreen. I’m a huge fan of the Skinny Confidential she the QUEEN of skin and I totally appreciate her love for her skincare. She is obsessed with caffeinated sunscreen and after looking into it I had to try it. Guys, it really is as good as she says it is, it’s the best base under my makeup. Also thanks to a study at Rutgers University, it shows that caffeine promotes the destruction of cells damaged by sunlight before they have a chance to to mutate into anything. Try it out, I know you are gonna thank me!

+SkinMedica Lytera 2.0 Pigment correcting serum. While pregnant with Blakely mama got melasma AKA not so cute brown patches all over my forehead and under my eyes. Which I think gave me weird little raccoon eyes, not cute guys!!!  Over the last 6 months I have religiously been putting this serum on AM/PM and it has made a world of a difference. My only tip is you have to do this everyday AM/PM to see those spots fade, I wasn’t being consist at the beginning and so my raccoon eyes stayed around longer than they should have. Consistency is key!

Okay loves that it, I’m addicted to loving and taking care of my skin (I wish I was like this when I was 20) BUT better late than never! THREE products you won’t be disappointed in I can promise you that, they haven’t disappointed me yet!

xoxo- Whitney

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Beauty, Skin

Best Brow and Beauty Spa in San Diego- High Brow Beauty

by Positively PosieLeave a Comment on Best Brow and Beauty Spa in San Diego- High Brow Beauty

unnamed-8.jpgHappy Friday babes. I don’t know about you but when I was a little girl I remember watching my mom take care of her beautiful skin. She always made it priority to use great products and wash her face morning and night. I carried that with me into adulthood . So for me taking care of my skin is really important and an everyday thing. So when I got the opportunity to try some of High Brow Beauty’s amazing beauty treatments I said “HELL YES”. I’m so excited to share my experience, so lets get into the details.

Talk about a darling little beauty spa set in downtown San Diego. High Brow Beauty offers Brow Design, Eye Lash Extensions, Keratin Lash Lift,  Waxing, Sugaring and a variety of Facials .

They have the total dream team working there with years of experience in the world of beauty. First, I got my eyebrows shaped and they designed the perfect brow arch for me with a “no stencil” ! My eyebrows hadn’t been touched in months, so I definitely needed some shaping and cleaning up. Here is the before and the the following photos are the after!

High Brow Beauty- Waxing

After eye brow shaping I went straight into the Organic Medi Facial. Which they describe as the perfect marriage of medical science and luxurious pampering, this gentle yet effective facial is 100% natural. They used this incredible pumpkin enzyme mask that left my face so smooth and I’m still glowing two days post facial.

High Brow Beauty- Facials

We finished the morning off with Keratin Lash Lift, which I had never done or even heard of (I’m way behind in the lash department). Being honest I think this is awesome for people who need to curl their lashes daily.But I need to curl my lashes, so for me I had some MAJOR curl post treatment and I probably wouldn’t do it again.

I can’t thank High Brow Beauty enough for hosting me. If you are in Sa Diego and  interested in trying some really great beauty treatments check them out!

Xo- WhitneyHigh Brow Beauty- Eyelash Lift

Brows, Facial and Lash Lift, were provided to Positively Posie free of charge. These are all my opinions though!