First, we’re just going to admit that we’re also confused slash annoyed by the word “clean.”
It’s a phrase we use on occasion, always with some hesitation. Because what does it even mean? Is it an actual label that holds any significance for the food and beauty products and everything else that we touch on a daily basis?
Does “clean” mean “better?” Or does “clean” simply mean “free from toxins?” And for those of us who don’t hold a degree in chemistry, have we collectively deluded ourselves into pretending we understand what these “toxins” are and why they’re bad?
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Ok, a “catch” might be a touch clickbaity, but there are absolute pros and cons to this wildly popular, often magical new-ish beauty trend.
I live in a big city. Los Angeles. And I’m lucky to have an embarrassment of riches in terms of finding almost any practitioner of any kind. Not everyone has such a luxury, so it might take some digging to find someone you love and trust. And even still, once you find someone, there’s essential questions to ask, and required sleuthing to be done if you want brows that err more on the side of Brooke, as in Shields, rather than on the side of Bert, as in Ernie.
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If you’re a makeup fanatic, you’re probably aware of this dark horse which received huge accolades when it came out a few years ago. If you’re not, allow me to introduce you to your newest under $10 obsession:
The Flower Beauty Ultimate 3-in-1 Makeup Sponge.
Zero disrespect to the $20 Beauty Blender, but there is something SO bouncy and almost lived-in about this sponge. Run it under regular tap water, let it really expand, then squeeeeeze out. The shape of this sponge, once wet, is almost comically plump, and it seems to be able to absorb twice the amount of water as other sponges, thereby morphing into a perfect blend of soft and dense, and blends nearly anything on your face effortlessly and flawlessly. Case in point:
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Adult acne. Two words that should never go together.
I come from a long line of oily, well-meaning people, who just want to go through life without an inflamed face. Genetics have always been against me, but in my late twenties, I found a way to cheat fate. I’m not a doctor, but this is my personal story, and I hope you find it helpful.
I was the classic pimply teenager with T-zone issues that escalated to cystic acne in high school. I went on Accutane when I was 17, and experienced one glorious year of perfect skin (and my first boyfriend) before breakouts returned.
In my twenties, I tried everything from DIY microdermabrasion (huge mistake) to Proactiv to Retin-A. I remember coming home from one facial with scabs on my face that lasted for days. I lived for the moments when I had only a smattering of zits and no big cysts.
Finally, in my late twenties, I found an esthetician who changed my skin by explaining how certain ingredients work on acne-prone skin. For those of you in the Los Angeles area, her name is Jennifer Kramer, and she is founder and clinical director at Corrective Skincare LA. She offers customized treatments, and a thorough education on skincare.
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