The Skin Fight: Honey, Beads, Acid

Lately, my face has been freaking out like a tween who has just been told by her parents that they are taking away her smartphone for a month.

I always assumed that pimples, blemishes, and cystic spots from hell would be something that I would look back upon as the wayward skin habits of my youth. Instead, I am a seemingly full-fledged adult who still wakes up with lovely surprises. As mentioned, my skin has been a nightmare this past month and if you've ever experienced problem skin, you know that referrals are your best friend.

I spend way too much time online reading; I don't need to spend another hour trolling the Sephora review section. Below are a few items that I've been using that have helped significantly in my quest for clearer skin. 

Honey Masks: While Mariah sang it best, honey is a natural remedy for acne-prone skin. The best way to use it is to simply pour a few globs in your hands, warm it up with your fingers and apply directly to the face. Honey is also anti-bacterial and healing. Try to use an organic brand to get the most out of the mask. I leave mine on for 20 minutes. 

Flake Off: Exfoliation is the key to good, no wait, great skin. I recently bought REN's Micro Polish Cleanser which uses microbeads to remove old crusty scales to reveal fresh, out of the womb skin. It's also made with gentle ingredients and doesn't include icky things like synthetic fragrances, parabens or sulfates. 

Acid Trip: Clinique's Acne Solutions Clinical Clearing Gel (with salicylic acid) has been my little helper in spot treatments. Salicylic acid is used as a topical treatment to heal and prevent acne, and this gel version is my new motorcycle sidecar, sidekick.  

Beauty - The Best Products for Winter Weary Skin

It's snowing. We know. Blah blah, beauty blah. While blathering on about how skin, feet and lips have become the consistency of sandpaper I thought I'd share my top beauty picks for the season. While the usual suspects of the season appear on most magazine pages, I've included beauty products that are mostly chemical free, gentle on the bod and not as well known on the drugstore.

How to Fix Winter-Weary Skin (as featured on The Kit).

1. For fresh feet
Tired of paying for pricey pedicures? The Solevation mat sticks in a shower and gives tired, rough feet an easy way to exfoliate. It’s hands-free and provides the same experience of a loofah, with personal pressure from standing up. With a few weeks of use, your feet will already feel like you’ve been walking on a beach. Minus the sunburn.

2. For tired skin
Looking for a cream for parched winter skin? The Cherlyn Bio-Restore Cream, which contains a concentration of five botanical extracts (bilberry, sugar cane, sugar maple, orange, lemon) leaves skin feeling smooth and fresh, without any chemicals. The company is also 100% Canadian, and the cream works to restore the skin’s own power to heal over time.

3. For a winter glow
While the weather outside is frightful, that oh-so-gorgeous glow can become dim from the outside. Tata Harper’s Replenishing Nutrient Complex provides antioxidants to the skin in the form of face oil. A swipe on the forehead, cheekbones and chin gives an outer glow for thirsty skin.

4. For a smoother pucker
Sure, lip scrubs have made their comeback this year but Lush’s Popcorn sugar and salt scrub is the best solution for dry chapped lips. The scrub is natural enough that with one lick of the tongue, you wont feel guilty slurping up salt. Think kettlecorn rather than butter popcorn.

5. For a softer shake
While gloves and mitts can protect frigid hands from the frost, there will always be a need for a luxurious moisturizer in the winter. L’Occitane’s limited edition Date Bouquet hand cream provides a super high concentration of Shea butter to condition the hands, while the slightly sweet scent of dates can trigger memories of nutty desserts. The 30 ml bottle is also perfect for slipping in a clutch for a night out.