What's Fix+?

Fix+ is really awesome.  It's a spray that can be helpful in many different ways.  Many makeup gurus suggest using Fix+ as a way to set your makeup, but I do not necessarily agree with them on this, because if you finish your makeup off with a finishing powder, Fix+ would wet and thereby clump the powder you have on your face.  Then you would have to redo your makeup all over again because you had to wipe the stuff off. 

Another method for using Fix+ is to use it as a refreshing spray in the middle of the day.  I would agree with this method if by the middle of the day I have lost that powdered finish on my face.  On top of which, I would highly recommend that you not spray Fix+ so close to your face because you don't want to ruin your makeup.  I would hold Fix+ back real far, so that your face receives just a mist of the solution.

And if you are only using Fix+ as a refreshing spray for the middle of the day, it might be cheaper to just go to the drug store and buy yourself a canister of Evian water.  Evian water would do the same job, as it has proven to be helpful for refreshing and reviving makeup.

Fix+ has also been suggested as a mixing medium, and I have to admit I have yet to try this technique out.  I have had no experience in which I found myself having to use Fix+ in this way, but many women find it helpful to mix some of Fix+ with their dry eye shadows and apply it wet.

Personally, I find Fix+ most practical as a toner in the morning, and especially on days I find myself with a pimple.  This is because Fix+ has anti-inflammatory properties, and so it helps to calm the skin.  Applying it to my face is still a strange feeling because I feel like it's counter-intuitive to spray something in my face, but once it's on your face, it feels nice and refreshing.

Whatever the method, I would suggest that you incorporate Fix+ into your makeup routine because it is really good for your skin, and at the same time it is very pleasant and refreshing.  You can get your hands on Fix+ at a MAC store, or online at www.MACCosmetics.com for $18.00.  Good luck!

Love,

Geneys  :o)

Skin Care Routine

Currently I am split between two skin care routines, so I alternate between the two.  But first let me explain my skin.  When I have acne, it is BAD acne.  It's not like, oh look, I made a little friend, let me just pop it after it cultivates for a day or two.  No.  It's deep, it's swollen, it's painful, and it's very conspicuous on my face.  It was a LOT worse when I was in high school: oftentimes it looked like I had a golf ball-sized bump sticking out of my face.

Needless to say, my acne totally ruined whatever social life I had.  It has gotten a lot better over the years, especially after a round of Accutane that nearly wiped me out.  Sigh, sometimes I wonder if I should have children at all, because it would really suck if I had a daughter that had to go through this!

Anyways, if your skin is anything like mine (oily and acne-prone), the first skin care routine I will talk about was recommended by my dermatologist.  It is a brand called La Roche-Posay, and this consists of a cleanser and moisturizer, namely, Effaclar and Hydraphase.  This skin care routine is awesome, it really helps my acne.

The Effaclar is a great cleanser because it is soap-free with a pH of 5.5, which is great for sensitive skin, and even though it is very gentle, it still rids your face of excess oil and unclogs your pores.  Hydraphase is a good moisturizer because it's non-comedogenic, and it keeps moisturizing your skin at an intense level for about half a day.

Listen, this sounds contradictory, but if you have acne, it is important that you moisturize your skin.  I used to over-wash my face to try and dry it out, but little did I know that this would cause even more acne: dry skin flakes contribute to pore blockage and therefore more acne.  If you moisturize your face, the dirt and oil will have a path out.  Does this make sense?

The other skin care regimen I use is by Etude House, a Korean cosmetics company.  Their Aqua Sherbet skin care set is really good, especially during the summer (it's fall and it's still hot here in Nevada, so I'm still using it).  Their products are light, and refreshing, so your skin feels clean, clear, cool and moisturized.  The moment you spray the Ice Toner on your face, your face feels almost like ice, but it is such a nice, clean feeling.  The lotion, serum, and gel cream are all geared toward moisturizing your face.

I know it seems like a lot of steps: toner, lotion, serum and then gel, but these are all essential and in the end you will touch your skin and notice how light, cool, clean and soft it feels.  It also helps your skin avoid acne by moisturizing your skin, and it does so with some of the purest and most refreshing ingredients (Alaskan glacial water and grapefruit water).  I would highly recommend taking an afternoon break (especially when the sun is the hottest and you are feeling oppressed by the sun) to go through this skin care routine so you can feel fresh and renewed.

Unfortunately, good skin care is not that cheap.  But if you have acne, I would ask you to take a moment and ask yourself if the acne is worth it.  Personally, I think it's worth it so I don't have to go out in the public feeling gross.  Below are the items with their prices, along with where you can make the purchase.

Aqua Sherbet set - $54.99 at www.EtudeHouseUSA.com

Effaclar Purifying Foaming Gel - $19.95 at www.Amazon.com

Hydrophaser Legere - $28.09 at www.Amazon.com

Let me know if you have any questions about any of these products and I will try to get back to you asap.  That's all for my skin care routine, and good luck!

Love,

Geneys  :o)