Current Skincare Routine | August 2017

my current skincare routine | www.mackenziekendall.com

Hello & happy Sunday! I have been getting so many questions lately via Tumblr about my skincare routine. The last time I shared a thorough skincare routine on my blog was 2015, and I recently realized how much my routine has changed in the past two years. Back in high school, I started diving deeper into skincare, specifically into the world of anti-aging products. I know what you’re probably thinking – ‘Girl, why are you using anti aging products in your early 20’s?!’. I am a big believer that it’s better to start preventing skin damage and aging now than to try and reverse things twenty, thirty years down the road. Though there are a lot of factors that come into play when it comes to skin aging (i.e. genetics, lifestyle, diet/health, sun exposure), I believe that taking care of your skin externally is also very important! I crave routine, so for me personally, having a skincare regimen is essential.

I could ramble on about skincare forever (even though I am no expert or dermatologist by any means); it’s always been such an interesting top for me personally. Today, I wanted to share my favorite skincare products, my current routine, and a few tips I have learned over the years. So without further ado, let’s get into it, friends!

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Dermstore BeautyFix Box

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Dermstore BeautyFix box | August (c/o dermstore & shopstyle)

Hello friends! I received this awesome box from Dermstore last week, and I’m beyond excited to finally get to share it with y’all! This Dermstore BeautyFix box is basically a monthly subscription box where you receive a collection of professional skin and hair care products, handpicked by beauty experts and delivered straight to your door. I was excited when this box arrived because the packaging was so cute, and it was stuffed with more products than I even expected.

As most of y’all know, I am obsessed with beauty products, and I am constantly trying new things out all the time. I absolutely loved getting this BeautyFix box because I got to try out so many really cool products, and I even found some new favorites. The best part about it is that you really get your money’s worth with Dermstore. Some of these products are full sized and retail for up to $60 each. The total box is worth about $158- which is insane that is costs only $12.48 for your first box.

Out of the hair products, the Keranique Scalp Stimulating Shampoo was my favorite. It was super cleansing and really removed any buildup I had in my hair. I also really loved the Alterna Daily Densifying Foam. I scrunched it into the roots of my hair to add some volume, and I was really happy with the results. As for the skin care products, I’ve been using a new routine with the products. I’ve been using the Bliss Fabulous Foaming Face Wash with my Clarisonic brush twice a day. I find that foaming face washes work best with the brush. I especially love the Bliss face wash because it has a very nice scent that leaves my skin feeling refreshed and smooth. The Bliss face wash comes in a travel size in the BeautyFix box, but I definitely plan on purchasing the full size when I run out.  After cleansing my skin, I apply the Paula’s Choice CLEAR Regular Strength Daily Skin Clearing Treatment. I have very, very acne prone skin, and it can be very difficult to find skin care products that work for me. Most acne treatments dry out my face or cause burning- this one doesn’t. I love it because it also looks nice under makeup, which is something I haven’t found before in an acne treatment. I apply the Medicell Labs Redness Relief Hydrating Cream to my cheeks and the outer perimeter of my face. It adds a nice layer of hydration to those drier bits of my face and really does a nice job at combating redness. Lastly, I apply the SmartFX SmartEye Wrinkle Lift. I have been using anti-aging products since I was about 16 years old. I believe that it’s important to start early with anti-aging products instead of later once you start noticing actual signs of aging in the skin.This SmartFX Wrinkle Lift is really nice because it is tinted, so it provides a nice hint of coverage. It also makes the area under my eyes super smooth and even, which makes applying under eye concealer so much easier.

I have absolutely loved getting to try out these products from the August Dermstore BeautyFix box. I would highly, highly recommend checking out these fun subscription boxes! They are a fabulous way to try out new products without breaking the bank. Sadly, this specific box seems to be sold out at the moment, however, hopefully the September box will be out soon! You can check out the Dermstore BeautyFix box here. I linked the individual products from the August box below if you want to check them out!

Thank you again, Dermstore, for sending me such an incredible BeautyFix box to review!

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Skin Care Routine

* Updated Skin Care Routine here! *

skin88Hey y’all! I get asked all the time on my tumblr about my current skincare routine. I’m constantly trying different products and testing out new things. Just to give y’all a quick lowdown of my skin- I have very oily, very acne-prone skin. I have finally found a skincare routine that I am happy with! Here is what I’ve been using & loving the past few months

The morning:

When I wake up, I start by washing my face with the Lush Fresh Farmacy cleanser. I reviewed it a few months ago along with my other Lush skincare products, and I still really, really like it. It’s very soothing on the skin and really helps calm any redness. It also lathers very nicely, which is something I like. After washing my face, I spritz a little of the Lush Tea Tree Water on. I am honestly not sure if this product makes the world of difference, but it definitely feels refreshing. Tea tree is awesome for keeping breakouts away and oil at bay. I then apply my Lush Imperialis moisturizer. I have almost finished the entire tub of it, but I don’t think I will repurchase it. I absolutely love the way it makes my skin feel, and it’s definitely a fantastic moisturizer. However, I would rather find a morning moisturizer that has SPF in it and is a little better for oily skin! I would still highly recommend it though!

The night:

At the end of the day, I remove all my makeup with some makeup remover. Then I wash my face with my Lush Coalface cleanser and warm water. I then wash it for a second time with Coalface, but this time, I use my Clarisonic skin cleaning brush. My Clarisonic is probably the best beauty related investment I have ever made. It really does the most awesome job of getting every inch of makeup off your skin. If you don’t cleanse your skin thoroughly enough and get all of the makeup off, it will lead to serious breakouts. I’ve only been using the Lush Coalface cleanser for about two weeks now, but I think I prefer it to Fresh Farmacy. It doesn’t lather very well, but I think it is much better suited for breakouts and acne. I would highly recommend it if you are looking for a good cleanser for acne prone skin that is perfect for traveling. After really cleansing my skin and removing all of my makeup, I apply my Burts Bees Herbal Blemish Stick to all of the breakouts on my face (I definitely plan on reviewing this product in detail soon). When that dries a little, I apply my Clean & Clear moisturizer to my entire face. I have only been using this moisturizer for a few weeks now, but I do really like it. I was previously using anti-aging products at night. Because my skin has been so angry these past few months, I’ve decided to switch to a nightly moisturizer that that is better suited for  acne prone skin. I really do think it helps keep the breakouts away!

Once to twice a week, I use my Glamglow Powermud facial mask. After seeing tons of reviews and raves about Glamglow, I decided to give it a try. I do think it does a great job of really cleansing the skin and helping my pores. It’s not the very best face mask I’ve used, but I’m trying to finish it all up before purchasing another mask. When I finish this small container of Glamglow, I am going to head to Lush (shocker) and pick up on of the fabulous face masks they have!

So that’s my current skin care routine at the moment! Let me know if y’all have any product suggestions for oily/acne prone skin. I always love trying out new things!

xoxo

The Lush Lowdown – part 2

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parttwo

Lush Fail #1 – Black Stocking

I was really optimistic about this product when I first purchased it. A cute heart shape bar that will make me tan? Oh yeah! However, this product ended up being more of a flop for me. Though it does have a nice scent, it’s incredibly difficult to use. When you rub it onto the skin, it is extremely shimmery, streaky, and hard to rub in evenly.

Pros: has a nice smell, similar to licorice. It also has a nice bronzy color.

Cons: Applies unevenly, and is very difficult to blend. Looks streaky on the skin.

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Lush Fail #2- American Cream Conditioner

The sales associate talked me into purchasing this conditioner for my dry, coarse hair. After smelling it, I was sold. It is honestly the most delicious smelling conditioner I have ever come across. It definitely reminds me of a vanilla and strawberry milkshake. However, when it comes to how well this product works, I am less than impressed. I had to apply a very large amount to my hair for it to even work as a conditioner whatsoever. After getting of the shower, and brushing through my hair, it felt very frizzy and dry. When I looked at the ingredients I noticed it has sulfate, something I don’t usually put on my hair. The conditioner is such a light formula and I would not recommend it for thick, coarse hair.

Pros: Smells amazing- best scented conditioner I have ever used. The scent lingers throughout the day, which is something I do really like.

Cons: Very light and not moisturizing enough. You have to use a large amount for it to even work at all. I would not repurchase even though the smell is amazing.

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Lush fail #3 – Shower Jelly

I originally purchased this seasonal shower jelly for my mom for Christmas. It came in a gift set. She really didn’t like it, so she ended up giving it to me. I was really excited to try it because I’ve seen the shower jellies many times in the store and have always been tempted to try them. The smell of this specific product is interesting. It’s not exactly pleasant, but it isn’t necessarily bad either. The consistency is the weirdest aspect about it though. It feels like jello. My main issue with the product though is that is kind of difficult to use. I’ve tried many different methods of using it, and nothing seems to work because it is so slippery. When I pinch a small amount and try to use it as a shower gel, it slips out of my hands. I have even tried putting a small amount on a loofa, but that didn’t work for me either. The shower jelly just wouldn’t lather at all for me, and I felt like it would just bounce off my skin. I don’t think I would repurchase another shower jelly again!

Pros: It’s a really fun, unique product that’s definitely worth trying. They’re also really fun to touch!

Cons: Didn’t really work for me. I don’t feel like it really cleaned or lathered. Instead, it would slip onto the floor or bounce right off.

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Lush Skin Care

I’ve always been a drugstore skin care fanatic, trying every cheap face wash and moisturizer on the market. All have worked, but none have really been a ‘holy grail’ for me. When I was in Lush back in the the winter, I was given a sample of a skin care product to try- Coal Face. I was a little freaked out by this black rock I was suppose to rub on my face, but I decided to give it a try. After a few weeks, I noticed great results. I also liked that the Lush product didn’t irritate my sensitive, acne-prone skin. I decided it was time to switch from the harsh drugstore products I had used for year to something more gentle and organic for my skin. What I noticed is that Lush is really not much more expensive than your typical drugstore products. I went into Lush recently to pick up some skin care products, and I have been loving them. Here is a review on my Lush skincare routine:

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Step 1- Fresh Farmacy Cleanser

In the past, I have only ever used liquid cleansers in a bottle. It has been an adjustment to switch to a cleansing bar, but I really, really love this one. My sister, who also has the same skin type as me, has been using this product for months now. She recommended it for me, so I decided to choose this specific cleanser. It is light pink in color and has a nice scent. It is made with calamine, elderflower, and lavender oil, so it’s incredibly soothing on the most sensitive skin. To apply it, I hold the bar under warm water and then rub it between my hands. I put the bar back in a small dish by the sink and then rub my hands on my skin to apply the product. Then, I use my Clarisonic skin cleaning brush to help the product really clean my skin. One of my favorite things about this product is that my skin feels incredibly clean after using it. I think it’s really awesome that you can actually choose the amount you want to pay for each bar depending on the size. I decided to buy $10 worth, which is a pretty decent amount. When I got home, I cut the bar into 9 different pieces. I know my sliced up bar of Fresh Farmacy will last me a long time, and when I do run out, I will definitely, definitely repurchase.

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Step 2- Tea Tree Water Toner

Before purchasing this product, I had never used a skin toner before. After hearing tons of raves and recommendations about the Lush Tea Tree Water, I decided to give it at a try. It doesn’t have much of a fragrance in my opinion, but it feels very refreshing on the skin. The ingredients in this product include tea tree water, grapefruit water, and juniper water, so it is awesome for oily and acne prone skin. To use this product, I spritz the toner onto a cotton ball after cleansing my skin, and then I rub it to my skin, concentrating on the t-zone. The Tea Tree Water feels really light and soothing on the skin. Within just a few days, I noticed a huge difference in my skin. I would recommend this product for anybody looking for a great toner that really helps with breakouts and oil!

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Step 3- Imperialis Moisturizer

This moisturizer is a life saver. It is a balancing moisturizer for combination skin. It’s super soothing because it includes lavender flower, shea butter, olive oil, elderflower, and tons of awesome ingredients! It has really helped the oil production of my skin without making my skin necessarily dry either. I use it twice a day right after using my toner. The Imperialis moisturizer leaves my angry, sensitive skin feeling soft and healthy. Plus, it does’t break my skin out at all, which is awesome! It’s a little more on the pricey side in comparison to the cleanser and toner, but it is well worth the money. The only thing I don’t love about it is the packaging- I would prefer the moisturizer to be in a pump bottle. When I run out, I will definitely be purchasing some more.

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Thank you so much for checking out my two part Lush series! Have a great day!

xoxo