I’ve been using POND’S for about 4 years now. Pond’s has great products for people that have dry skin. Anytime I have used their products, I always end up with a soft, glowing healthy skin. POND’S has been a trusted brand in the beauty realm for over 50 years, so it’s easy to see how they’ve nailed down great quality products that are available at drugstores nationwide.
Since POND’S seems to mesh well with my skin, I was excited to give the POND’S Cold Cream Cleanser and POND’S Evening Soothe Wet Cleansing Towelettes a try. The aroma of the Evening Soothe towelettes alone is reason enough to use them. It felt like such a luxurious experience to remove my makeup and cleanse my skin. A little tip I have for removing extra stubborn eye makeup is to run one end of the cloth under the faucet to create a little bit more of a “suds” and press that on your eyes to soften the makeup. I wear a lot of mascara, so I’ve found that pressing an extra-moistened towelette on my eyes before attempting to work the makeup off is much kinder on my lashes.
The POND’S Cold Cream Cleanser is perfect for these dry winter months. And it’s both gentle and effective.
The last thing I want to spend time on in the morning is covering up any blemishes, and these products have helped me maintain blemish-free skin while also keeping it nice and hydrated.
My skin is prone to dryness in the first place, but especially in the winter I find that dry patches and irritation is common. Here are a few tips on cleansing dry or sensitive skin in the winter months:
1. Don’t use piping hot water. I know it’s much more relaxing to use hot water when you are washing your face, but the hot water can end up being a little bit too harsh and cause extra dryness in the end. Luke warm is best!
2. Don’t rub your skin with a washcloth afterwards. Pat it dry instead or let your face air dry! This motion will be a little bit more gentle on fragile parts of the face.
3. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! Drink plenty of water AND use a good moisturizer. Both will contribute greatly to well-hydrated skin throughout dryer months.
Why does the skin around the eyes always exhibit the first signs of aging? Well, this skin is incredibly thin – actually the thinnest in the body. Along with that fact, we are constantly squinting and smiling to form repetitive wrinkles. On top of that, the lack of oil glands around the eyes make this skin especially susceptible to damage from our lifestyle choices. Oil glands keep our skin moist and hydrated and stem cells from the follicles help the skin to repair.
8 EYE MASK RECIPES TO SOOTHE + REPAIR
Since the eye skin is deficient in this ability, it needs some extra TLC. So, let’s talk about how we can step up our eye game to avoid those pesky lines and crow’s feet. A few simple changes will benefit anyone who wants healthy skin around your eyes includes:
hydrate with water – increase your daily water intake. Water will keep your skin properly hydrated and allow your lymphatics under your eyes to drain impurities.
treat allergies – if you have inflammation around the eyes due to seasonal allergies, get to the root of the allergy. If you are itchy, it is especially important not to rub your eyes as this will lead to dark circles. Instead, apply a cool compress or cool chamomile tea bags to the area.
exercise regularly – increased blood flow delivers nutrients and removes waste build up and supports renewal.
get plenty of sleep – this is when it all happens. Your body needs a break to regenerate and repair.
eat whole foods – Processed foods with chemicals make you inflamed, bloated, and it shows with puffy eyes.
protect – wear sunglasses and an under-eye sunscreen. UV radiation is #1 cause of collagen breakdown and thin eye skin is especially susceptible.
use a nightly eye cream – nourish your skin from the inside AND from the outside.
All of the above tips are wonderful for overall under-eye health, but there’s even more we can do to treat this delicate area of the face! Weekly eye masks can help target different under-eye needs, from locking in moisture to de-puffing.
PUFFY EYE MASKS:
Rose + Cucumber Eye Mask
Ever wonder why sliced cucumbers are common additions in photos, television and movie scenes featuring face and eye masks? Rich in ascorbic acid and phytochemicals, cucumbers help tighten and soothe skin.
But instead of placing cucumber slices over your closed eyelids, this blended mask will reach the inner and outer corners of the eyes with concentrated vitamins and minerals.
Cut your cotton rounds into two half moon shapes. This mask should make quite a few pairs, so cut more than you think you’ll need.
In a blender, puree the cucumber and rosewater until liquified. Transfer to a bowl, then soak the cotton rounds in the mixture, squeezing out excess and then re-soaking for optimal absorption. Store the extra soaked cotton rounds in a Ziploc bag in the freezer for future use.
Thaw the eye pads for about 10 minutes before you use them, but make sure they are still cool as the temperature will also help with reducing puffiness. To apply, place the half moon eye pad underneath the eye, making sure to apply close to the bottom lash line. Leave on for 10-15 minutes.
Coffee Mask
For a morning wake-me-up, in addition to coffee in your mug, try it under your eyes as well! For an easy mask, combine coffee grounds with the vitamins and proteins of egg white, which tighten and firm skin. Puffy eyes and pesky crow’s feet, be gone!
1 egg white
2 teaspoons unused coffee grounds
Beat mixture together with a fork until frothy, about 1 minute. With clean hands or a brush, apply the mask around and under the eyes. Let sit for 10 minutes. Use a soft, wet towel to gently clean off the mask. Follow with a caffeine-infused eye cream.
Soothing Chamomile Eye Mask
You can make chamomile tea anywhere, even in a hotel, as kettles are usually available in every room. Simply apply the tea bags to your tired eyes and enjoy a soothing warm mug before bed.
2 chamomile tea bags
mug
hot water
wash cloth
Steep two tea bags for 3 minutes in hot water, remove and set aside to cool to room temperature and then place over your eyes for 15 minutes. You can layer a cool washcloth over your eyes to keep the tea bags wet. Remove and follow with your moisturizer and eye oil.
WRINKLE & CROW’S FEET EYE MASKS
Egg White Eye Mask
You’ll find egg whites in many anti-wrinkle masks for the face, and the eye area is no exception. Egg whites have been known to reduce the appearance of fine lines, while antioxidant rich vitamin E fights free radicals.
Vitamin E is extremely hydrating and often is used to treat eczema or psoriasis, thus a great ingredient for the dryer area around the eyes. Vitamin E can be extracted from vitamin E capsules or purchase a separate vitamin E oil for the following eye mask recipe.
Beat the egg whites until they’re frothy and then mix in the vitamin E oil. Apply the mixture with your fingertips or a makeup brush to the under-eye area, careful not ignore the outer edges of the eyes where expression and squint lines form. Leave on for 10 minutes.
Carrot Eye Mask
This wrinkle-fighting eye mask uses carrots, egg white and aloe vera, which makes it a power combo of retinol, vitamins, and protein. All the fancy ingredients you would find in an expensive eye cream, but completely natural, and definitely on the cheap side. You can apply this mask to the rest of your face as well, or you can use it as part of a multi-masking combination.
Combine egg white, carrot and aloe vera in a small bowl and whisk with a fork until frothy (about 1 minute). Let the mask dry for at least 15 minutes or up to 30 minutes. Use a soft, wet towel to gently clean off the mask. Finish with moisturizer.
Mega Moisturizing DIY Eye Mask
This mega moisturizing eye mask is made with coconut oil and vitamin E, to visibly smooth fine wrinkles and cool tired eyes right away. A trick for the long term is to avoid exposing your eyes directly to the daytime sun, by wearing sunglasses and hats, and applying SPF cream.
Combine ingredients in a bowl. Cut cotton pads to fit the under-eye area. Soak cotton pads in solution and freeze for a few minutes until icy cold. Apply to eye area and place eye cotton pad on top. Let sit for 15 minutes and remove. Follow with eye cream.
DARK CIRCLE EYE MASKS
A cure for dark circles that only costs 99 cents? Sold! Vitamin C, chlorophyll and vitamin K in parsley help lighten skin discoloration, diminish age spots and reduce puffiness. So go ahead and add that bunch of parsley to your shopping cart, even if you’re not planning on making soup any time soon.
Handful of fresh, organic parsley
1 tablespoon yogurt
Roughly chop parsley then grind with a wooden spoon until the leaves release their juice. Add yogurt and stir. Apply with fingers or cotton balls and let mask sit for 10-15 minutes. Repeat twice a week to reduce discoloration.
Milk & Turmeric Eye Mask
Turmeric masks are excellent for brightening complexions and evening out skin tone, and they even work on pesky dark circles. Combine with milk for a bit of gentle exfoliation.
1 tablespoon turmeric
1 tablespoon milk or buttermilk
Mix ingredients together in a small bowl and then use a brush to paint onto your under-eye area (avoiding the eyes). Leave on for 15 minutes and then carefully wipe off the mask.
Potato slices
Potato slices offer the same effect as cucumber—the cooling of the skin can reduce the vascular congestion to improve the appearance of this area, according to Dr. Ilyas. Her only concern surrounding the application of potatoes on the skin is that they may contain catecholase, which can actually darken the skin. “Catecholase is an enzyme that can promote melanin production,” she says.
What home remedies to you use for your eyes? We’d love to hear your tips and tricks!
When it comes to wearing makeup, we’re all weary of having it smear or disappearing and having to touch up. I almost never touch up because the thought of having to reapply makeup on dirty skin grosses me out. So, the idea that setting sprays can keep our makeup in place all day is extremely attractive. When Huda Beauty released her waterproof setting spray and I saw what it could do I ordered it immediately. I tested this out over the last week and here’s what happened.
𝓒𝓵𝓪𝓲𝓶𝓼
Huda Beauty’s Setting Spray offers “extra-hold” with a waterproof matte finish. This is a non-aerosol spray. You get 100ml of product for $33.
𝓘𝓷𝓰𝓻𝓮𝓭𝓲𝓮𝓷𝓽𝓼
Well, this is like looking at a not so good report card. There are quite a few hazardous ingredients-Benzyl Salicylate, Coumarin, Hydroxycitronellal, and Isoeugenol. Alcohol is the first ingredient listed and alcohol tends to dry out your skin which is a no-no. The last three are all fragrances and I think everyone has heard just how bad the fragrance is in this spray. Benzyl Salicylate is associated with allergies and contact dermatitis and also works as an ultraviolet light absorber. Actually, almost half of the ingredients in this list function as fragrances!
To be fair, this never claimed to have any sort of skin care benefit. I mean, what do you expect from something that claims to be waterproof and was inspired by extra hold hair spray? If you’re particular about the ingredients in your cosmetics, then run far, far away from this!
𝓡𝓮𝓼𝓾𝓵𝓽𝓼
First time using this, I sprayed directly to my face then on my makeup sponge and applied my foundation with it. In hindsight that isn’t what the directions said to do, but oh well! When applied directly on face, I did find the fragrance to be a bit much. My friend also tried it before we went out and she said the Resting Boss Spray irritated her skin. She felt this burning sensation and was kinda sticky to her. But, after a while that feeling went away.
This spray smells like perfume which normally wouldn’t bother me but it can be overwhelming. The spray does control oil pretty well. Normally, my T-Zone would start to get greasy after 3 or 4 hours, but the Huda spray kept it in check. Side note- It did cause me to have a migraine and I did feel sick. The setting spray was applied at 10pm and lasted throughout the night until 6am, when I finally came home to go to work. You know what was amazing though? I had gotten some of the spray on my eyelids and my eye makeup was creaseless. I didn’t use eye primer, so I was impressed! Overall, not bad for the first time.
I tried different ways of using the spray- spraying directly onto the face, doing it Huda’s way, and spraying targeted areas. If you spray directly onto the face, the fragrance is over-powering and cue in all the bad reviews on Sephora. Spraying directly onto the face will also lead to unevenness with more product on one part of the face than the rest. This formula really is like extra hold hair spray!
Primp Tip: Spray after your skin prep rituals and at the end, apply Huda Beauty Resting Boss Spray onto the beauty blender for less irritation and for more coverage. The fragrance is a little tolerable this way.
If you are wondering if Huda’s setting spray is waterproof, I can’t really say right now. February 15, 2020 was a rainy night but my friend and I makeup stayed in tact.
Compared to other setting sprays, Huda’s setting spray is significantly stronger and longer lasting.
If your skin is really oily then the spray will keep your face looking fresh throughput the day. For the normal to dry skin people, makeup will still look fresh and radiant. But since this has a matte finish, I would suggest don’t use it as much because like I previously stated, alcohol does dry out the skin. For the sensitive skin type, try applying with your beauty blender sponge instead of directly onto face.
𝓞𝓿𝓮𝓻𝓿𝓲𝓮𝔀
The Huda Beauty Setting Spray is some heavy-duty stuff! If it wasn’t for the bad ingredients, I would be singing more praises because it works better than its competitors. I love that I don’t have to do any touch-ups when using this product, but I value my skin more.
** Please consult your physician before adjusting your nutritional diet **
Before I dive into WTF IF is and why I’m such a proponent of it, let’s get something out in the open: I AM NOT A DOCTOR ( surprised? I know ). But seriously — what I’m about to share with you in regards to intermittent fasting is knowledge I’ve picked up from doctors and specialists throughout my own journey. If you have a history of eating disorders, blood sugar issues, or live a lifestyle that always keeps you hungry, IF is more than likely NOT for you. Always consult your doctor or specialist before changing your diet.
Now that that’s out of the way, let’s dive in.
INTERMITTENT FASTING | a specific eating pattern that structures the time of day you eat and the time of day you are in a fasting mode. This is not a diet.
What does it do?
♡ increases human growth hormone which aids fat loss
♡ lowers insulin levels which increases access to stored body fat
♡ cell repairs in the body due to not being preoccupied w/ digesting food
♡ increases release of the fat-burning hormone noradrenaline
This was actually a question I have been asked on my stories and is something I tried last year. Fasting has made a huge difference in not only my bodies appearance but also my sleep and my mental health. This does NOT mean I don’t eat, it just means I intake my calories for the day between 2 pm and 10 pm and fast the morning and night after these times where I have water, herbal tea, and black coffee. There is a lot of science that goes behind this that I don’t completely understand but I encourage you to research it for yourself before you start.
Intermittent Fasting shortens the time frame in which you’re eating throughout a given day. For example, instead of eating between 8am—10pm, you’d choose an 8-hour timeframe to consume all your food for the day— like 12pm-8pm, 10am-6pm, etc. While practicing intermittent fasting, most people fast for 16 hours of the day, while some prefer 14 hours or 18 hours. It’s totally up to you to find a time frame that works for your body, mindset, and schedule. Some people practice IF every day, and others keep it to 3-4 days a week. That’s why it’s called a “practice.”
PRO’S |
Done for a short time it can boost your fat loss, get you concentrated on your goals, give you a schedule to abide by to diminish the chances of excess eating, speed up the fat loss, give you mental clarity, lower sugar cravings. This is why I have started it again but only for 4 weeks. Sharing about this 4 week reset below.
♡ Promotes weight loss
♡ Increases longevity
♡ Acts as an anti-aging catalyst
♡ Regulates insulin levels
♡ Enhances hormone stability
♡ Decrease meal planning stress
♡ Clears the mind
Of course, IF isn’t a “magic pill” that will fix all your problems, but it is a very realistic and effective step that will more than likely make a positive impact on your overall health and who doesn’t want that! Might as well try it, right?
CON’S |
This way of life should not be continued long term due to the damage it can have on your metabolism, muscle maturity, and energy levels. I made the mistake of doing this rigid schedule for 5 months and started to really see the negative consequences of it. I was ALWAYS tired, my muscles were weak, and I plateaued in my workouts/fat loss.
MYTHS |
♡ Skipping breakfast makes you gain weight.
♡ Eating more frequently burns more calories (it ALL depends on the thermic effect of the specific food NOT the frequency).
♡ You need to eat often for brain function (our bodies can burn the glucose storage in our bodies for brain function w/o extra food).
♡ Fasts put your body into starvation mode, this is more or less a mindset. You can easily go from not eating to eating everything in sight if you have no self-control.
♡ You will lose too much muscle during fasting, this is ONLY true if you are not consuming the needed nutrients the rest of the day including your protein intake.
4 WEEK RESET |
♡ Intermittent Fasting 8 – 10-hour window
♡ Calorie deficit (gradually lowering not extreme)
♡ 3 days of 1 hr long cardio
♡ 3 days of lifting and 30 minutes cardio
♡ 21 Day Detox by Flattummyco
♡ 96 oz of lemon water a day
♡ 5 high-fat calorie days, 2 high carb calorie days
What other questions do you have about IF? Comment below!