Stretch Mark Prevention

I am officially 33 weeks pregnant! It’s crazy to me that 8+ months have already gone by and soon I’ll be welcoming our daughter into this world.

Up until this point, I have gained around 23 or so pounds, and my belly has definitely started to stick out, but not nearly as much as I assumed it would by this point. I’m almost 6 feet tall, so it’s going to take longer for that pronounced bump to show up. Either way, my skin has been itching a bit and I have been diligent with putting on creams and oils at least once daily to relieve the itchiness and hopefully keep stretch marks at bay.

I truly believe that stretch marks have a lot to do with someones size and how much they grow during pregnancy, genetics, and efforts to moisturize regularly. I don’t think its just one of these items but rather a combination of things. However, I would have to assume like so many other things in pregnancy, that genetics plays a large role in whether or not one gets stretch marks or pronounced stretch marks. Either way, the discomfort from itchy dry skin is reason enough for me to find the most moisturizing oils and body butters I can find. Below are a few I have tried and really loved.

1: Matana Oil. I was gifted this oil in order to try and see how I liked it. I have been gifted a lot of items, and often times will never mention them because I didn’t really care for them or felt strongly enough about the product to recommend to my friends. I really liked this body oil though and the ingredients are quality which makes me feel good when putting it on. The oil is moisturizing but not too slick or wet to where it’ll stain or absorb into my clothes, which is key. It’s dewy and makes my skin feel so hydrated but it’s not physically cold to put on, so I use this when I’m not wanting that shock of cold after a shower.

2. Jose Maran Argan Body Butter- My girlfriend Stella uses this and highly recommended it and she is in her second pregnancy. She loves it, and I trust her recommendations so I also got it. It truly feels so good in the skin and is cooling and soooo moisturizing. I got a four pack of different scents and I have to say, I ran out so fast because I used it all over all the time. It’s a great product and your skin feels ultra soft from using it.

3. Mutha Body Butter- My friend Mandy, who is a skin EXPERT, recommended this body butter to me and it’s SO MOISTURIZING. The only down side would be that it’s pricey, but it does come in a large tub and lasts a long time. It also is super clean and smells amazing. I absolutely love it.

At the end of the day, stretch marks can happen to the best of us who are diligent about our daily routines, but I know that if they were going to happen, at least they will be minimized by using quality products that are highly nourishing throughout my pregnancy. After all we don’t know for sure if they are preventable for sure or are genetic, but I like to always do my part!

I believe in doing the best you can do with what you have and what you know. After that, we gotta roll with the punches! If I was genetically predisposed to stretch marks, regardless of my size, hydrating routine, and healthy eating, then I’ll have peace of mind knowing I did my part and my belly will look better than if I didn’t do those other things. Stretch marks are not the end of the world, in fact I have a bunch on my inner thighs and sides my booty from growing six inches in junior high in one summer. However, I always believe in doing my best for the results I want, and then go from there.

I really enjoyed these three products and linked them plus a couple others that came highly recommended by trusted friends. Check them out below and as always, you can shop the post.

Stretch Mark Moisturizers

Mutha Body Butter • Butter Shoes • $95
Josie Maran 6-Piece 4-oz Argan Whipped Body Butter Set • Butter Shoes • $66
Belly Butter by Earth Mama Organics (8oz Butter) • Butter Shoes • $19.95
Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula Complete Stretch Mark Care 4 Piece Gift Set • Palmers • $20.99
Burt's Bees Mama Bee Belly Butter • Burt's Bees • $12.99

Let me know if you have tried any of these and which one you love!

xo, Kim

Glycolic Masks- 3 Things to avoid

Ahhhh glycolic acid. One of my favorite things to treat my skin with. If you guys have been following along, you'll know I have discussed glycolic pads (here) and how effective they are for all skin types. 

I love glycolic acid in products BC-

1. It retexturizes the skin

2. Rejuvenates the skin through cell turn over, forcing it to shed dead cells and produce new ones

3. Helps rid the skin of hyperpigmentation spots from acne or sun. 

Wellll, I loved this stuff so much, I went a little wild on it and learned a few lessons. Hopefully, my mistakes will help you to avoid some painful and embarrassing looking mistakes.

So here is what not to do:

1. Don't apply glycolic masks for any longer than the specified time! That may seem obvious but it's not. You may think you need a little extra treatment, as did I ONCE.  Soooo you leave it on for 45 minutes to realllllly treat your skin rather than the 10 minutes it suggests... Don't do that. Read the instructions and stick to them.

2. DO. NOT EXFOLIATE with any harsh brush or device prior to use! Im referring to something like a PMD (personal microdermabrasion handheld device) or even a Clarisonic if you have sensitive skin at all. I made this mistake (which now seems silly and obvious) and exfoliated prior to using the mask. When I put the mask on, my skin started to sting and it burnedddd and I thought, HA! It's working! No, it was burning my skin! When I took off the mask, my skin was a little pink and felt a bit like it had wind burn. The next morning I woke up with this dark brown/purplish scab down my face in a line, where I had dragged my exfoliator. It took two weeks to heal and left a scar for a while (adding to my collection of hyperpigmentation and hormonal acne spots that take forever to fade on my face!)

3.Rinse off fully with lukewarm water and rehydrate the skin with a very moisturizing serum or cream. I suggest doing this at night so you don't have to bother with the sun and SPF blah blah because that's one added step.( I don't like unnecessary steps.) I love to use a super moisturizing cream like Eminence Coconut Age Corrective Moisturizer or their Firm Skin Acai Moisturizer. Both of these creams are super moisturizing, organic, and calming to my skin with natural age defying products in them. Seriously in love with them.

If you use glycolic masks, which I SERIOUSLY advise from all of the research I've done, just make sure you follow instructions and don't try to combine too many products before or after. I am a skincare junkie these days and sometimes get a little too excited and ambitious when it comes to application. More is not always better when it comes to your skin.

I hope you guys can learn from my mistakes and get the benefits of Glycolic without the aftermath I faced from using too many amazing but non cohesive products and devices together. 

See you guys soon. xo,

Kim

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Pro Tip: Transluscent Setting Powder

By a show of hands, I'd love to know who has known about this glorious thing called Transluscent Powder? 

Okay, just what I thought. We all kinda know about transluscent/setting powder and maybe even some of us have it in our arsenal of must-have products, but I truly didn't realize how effective and essential this powder was for me to look natural and flawless without too much makeup.

So let's rewind for a sec. I have been modeling a long time as many of you know and really feel like I have been introduced to almost every product under the sun. I have technically known about translucent powder/setting powder/finishing powder (so many names for it, they might all be different, but for me they essentially deliver the same results, flawless smooth matte skin) for a long time, but truthfully didn't quite get what it did... Like, does it cover up zits? Is it foundation? Is it powder? Why is there no color to it? Why do I need to "set" makeup anyway? Cant I just use bronzer over my foundation without this step?

Okay so here is the skinny:

I spoke with my sister in law who is a makeup artist (well I have two, but this sister is 19 and in the middle of training so is super knowledgeable on certain things because she is in the middle of her schooling and retaining lots of useful info! And she does the MOST AMAZING makeup, I am obsessed)

1. So setting powder is not like typical makeup. You don't use it to cover up like you would a foundation. You "set" the makeup with it, meaning its a finishing step. However, you can also use between foundation and bronzer/ blush to mattify and tone anything down.

2. You use it after liquid foundation or even foundation powder, to absorb oil and help mattify the face.

3. You would also use it to make the makeup last longer, blur fine lines and wrinkles, and get rid of any greasy looking shine. I feel like it really helps give a flawless cohesive look to my makeup when otherwise it can be randomly good, and then randomly a little too shiny which turns to grease midday. 

4. This type of powder is also great for using on the lids! I have the hardest time putting on eyeshadow evenly because, with the skin products I use prior to makeup application, my skin gets moisturized but also a little slick with product. I love dewy skin, but I don't love that my lids stay greasy and make any pigment impossible to look evenly distributed.  Setting powder is awesome for this purpose. It smooths and mattifies the lids so pigment is smoothly and evenly brushed over for a flawless and clean lid.

5. Minimizes spots and scars. My foundation does this for the most part, but when I evenly brush on my setting powder, any underlying color fades evenly and smoothly. I love this because it truly feels like the powder is doing its work by setting my look.

6. Setting powder isn't meant to be cover-up or foundation so it's not going to give strong coverage for things like zits or scars on its own, but paired with a cover-up or foundation, it will do a great job in blurring these imperfections.

7. You can use bronzer or blush immediately after foundation, but it might have a more dewy look and won't last as long. I love the dewy skin look but my skin starts dewy and ends greasy with mascara running down the side of my face. No good. I need setting powder.

I hope this helps you to have more clarity on what the heck this stuff actually does and why it's so useful! I was skeptical for a while thinking it was one more thing that we were being sold at makeup stores that were useless but I was so WRONG! 

I love this Laura Mercier Translucent Powder, and apparently so does a lot of people because it's the number one selling powder! Highly recommend.

If you guys are looking for a great transluscent powder to set your makeup and blur imperfections, this one is a great one! I linked ot throughout the post and you can also buy below by clicking on the link. I got you:) 

xo,

Kim

Laura Mercier Loose Setting Powder, Translucent, 1 Ounce

Mainspring America, Inc. DBA Direct Cosmetics

Buy on Amazon

My new must have product for Hormonal Acne

Okay, so I don't know about you guys, but as I have gotten older, my skin has changed.... like A LOT. I was a little annoyed at first but thought, "eh, it'll go away and everyone gets little imperfections here and there so whatever." Welllll, not whatever.

For the last 6 months in a row, I have had major issues with my skin, on my face and body, from hives, breakouts, to cystic acne(I hate even typing that because it sounds so disgusting, but it's true and I don't like to sugar coat things). I could not go ONE MONTH without some major flare up that not only looked ugly but left a FREAKING SCAR, not to mention could be painful!

Does anyone know what I'm talking about? This was foreign to me at first, so I finally cracked and went to get a facial because I was getting desperate. Well as soon as I laid down, I got right into it with my aesthetician and started asking her a million questions and told her about my skin issues. She was nodding the entire time I was talking and finally said, "oh yeah your skin changes every 7-10 years, " ( Apparently due to skin regeneration and after around 7 years every skin cell in your body has been replaced). I DID NOT KNOW THIS. I felt so lucky to have had clear skin my entire life, and figured that was just my skin type. I can't tell you how frustrating it has been to get breakouts. It's really made me empathetic to people who have struggled with skin issues their entire life. Don't get me wrong, I have dealt with sensitive skin my whole life where one bug bite turns into 20 and my skin breaks out in hives, but acne hasn't been one of the main issues until recently.  It can take a huge toll on your confidence because whether you like it or not, we lead with our looks because that is what people see before we have a chance to speak. 

I asked my aesthetician what she recommended and she said she swears by a couple products:

CE FERULIC!! SHOP BY CLICKING

This is my all time favorite staple FYI. I want everyone to try it! It's that goooooood.

1. Skin Ceuticals CE FERULIC which you guys already know I LOVE and can read more about that HERE

2. iS CLINICAL ACTIVE SERUM which I knew nothing about and really had never heard of. Well she swore by it and said since I had acneic skin (Im sorry what?!) this would significantly help with clogged pores, bacteria, pigmentation, and fine lines and wrinkles! ALL AT THE SAME TIME.

IS CLINICAL ACTIVE SERUM- THE STAR OF THE SHOW

OKAY. So I was a little (ALOT) offended she said I basically had adult acne because truly it doesnt appear that I do, but it can be small clogged pores no one sees! But they are still there and can get worse, which mine were,

She also said since my skin was so hormonal, proven by my random cheek and chin breakouts every month, this serum would help calm those flare ups while targetting my hyperpigmentaion (from years of water polo in the sun), and fight aging all while softening my skin.

I didnt really think it would work thaaaaat great but I was desparate and, although pricey, decided to give it a try. 

I LOVE IT. Seriously, I LOVE IT. I am not sponsored or paid to say this, I really love this product and will purchase it again and again. I have seen a difference in my skin, especially the breaking out, and can feel it working. Upon application of iS Clinical Active Serum, it feels cold and tingly and smells great and is so soothing and medicating to the skin. I highly recommend it and am loving being able to control my breakouts. Just a dab of this stuff on my problem areas and each breakout healed quick, and without pain or scarring. 

If you are like me and experiencing hormonal breakouts, I would highly suggest trying this! I have been scarring from my zits and that is a no-can-do for me, so I am stoked on this new product.

I hope you loved this tip as much as I did! Comment below if you love it too or have tried another product that works similarly. I would love to get all your secrets! xo,

Kim

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Makeup For a Sun Kissed Glow

Hello everyone! As you read this, I am on my way to France to spend 10 days in the South of France and Ireland! I am so excited! I am so looking forward to spending some time in the sun and sipping on chilled rose! However, as much as I love to soak up the sun, I try my best to keep my face covered. So, I tend to need a little bit of bronzing on the makeup side to keep my face looking as golden and glowy as my sun kissed body! I packed these items on my trip to the Cote d'Azur so I can keep my face looking as fabulous and fresh as my  (hopefully) newly tanned body under the Mediterranean sun. CANNOT WAIT! 

1. CHANEL Soleil Tan De Chanel

2.HOURGLASS Bronzer

3. BOBBI BROWN Shimmer Brick

4. LAURA MERCIER Primer

5. BITE BEAUTY Lipgloss

6. RMS Master Mixer

7. RMS Magic Luminizer

Shop Here for Most Featured Products:

Chanel Soleil Tan De Chanel Bronzing Makeup Base 30g/1oz

Soleil Tan Bronzing Makeup Base

Hourglass Ambient Bronzer Radiant Bronze Light

Hourglass

Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick - Bronze Shimmer, .4 oz

Bobbi Brown

Laura Mercier Illuminating Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20 - Bronze Radiance 50ml/1.7oz

Laura Mercier

RMS Beauty - Master Mixer

RMS Beauty

RMS Beauty Magic Luminizer

RMS Beauty