Disclaimer: This post is sponsored and paid by Plenty but my thoughts remain my own.
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When Olay approached me to test the new Retinol24 line over the next month I was so excited to jump at the opportunity to transform my skin! I’m going to share EVERYTHING with you.Before and after photos… close up with no makeup on. I know for myself, I can get a bit frustrated when I only see ads for skincare that are edited, photoshopped or the model is wearing skin makeup! I want to see the skin, am I right? With that said, I’m both excited and nervous to bare it all. So please come back in about a month to see my results, for now let’s chat all things Retinol and answers you may want to know before starting your own skin transformation.
What is retinol? Actually, retinol is a form of Vitamin A – there are many other forms which are collectively named retinoids. They can brighten and smooth skin while fading signs of damage, like scars, sunspots and wrinkles. Many retinol products can be irritating, causing redness, flaking, dryness and sensitive skin – the opposite of a new-skin glow. Don’t. Panic. This might mean the retinol level is too high, you’ve been given the wrong type of retinol for your skin type and concern, or the formula was not optimized for daily use. In the past, I’ve used a pricey high % retinol product and had just that: so much irritation. I quit it and definitely was a bit apprehensive about using it again.
How does retinol works? It works by encouraging your skin cells to turn over faster than they would normally, making way for new (and improved) skin. Basically it’s like spring cleaning for your skin: out with the old and in with the new. I was almost shocked in my first week how much dry dull skin came off!
Continue readingWe are so excited to finally share this space with you. And with everyone’s extra time at home maybe it’ll inspire you to tackle a home project too! First off, I know what you may be thinking my “before” photos don’t look that bad. When we first moved into this home, we quickly updated this bathroom from it’s previous 90’s glory. (See one image of what this space looked like when we first moved in) We had tons of other projects on the go with the house and we just needed this space to function quickly. We learned ALOT from this bathroom’s first minor facelift. What you can’t see are those tiny dots on the wall are covering up holes and imperfections throughout the room. The white floor that was beyond stained, even a professional cleaner couldn’t figure it out how to clean that tile. The floor tile was like a dirty white golf ball with tiny divots and never meant to be installed on the ground. And on top pf it, a sink that wouldn’t drain within only a few months of installing it! Did I mention this is our main floor bathroom, the one all our guests see and use? So when Wayfair and Kohler asked if we would partner with them to renovate this space, we were so excited for the opportunity to get some design choices right this time. Welcome to our new powder room with a Palm Springs vibe!
The lighting is dimmer than you would see in a full bath. Because this room is a powder room only and will not be a bathroom we use to get ready we didn’t need to install bright task lighting. I love the moody dramatic feel this level of light gives to the space. Enough for lipstick touch ups in the mirror but not blinding when standing at the vanity.
A few years back we decided as a family to tone down the excessive gift giving and try to focus on traditions that create quality time together. With that said, yes there are still gift giving moments included in the way we celebrate the holidays. But there just isn’t the same level of stress we experienced in the past. This year I’m so excited to partner with Duracell and London Drugs to share how we make lasting memories that don’t break the bank.
One of my first memories related to anything skincare was watching my Grandma apply her Olay night cream to her face and neck. I fondly remember our bedtime routine – the smell of the Olay night cream and how that routine made my Grandma feel… relaxed and cared for. Sometimes looking back I think this is why I absolutely love the ritual of skincare and how it creates those little self-care moments for you to stop, breathe and do a little something for yourself. I’m so excited to partner with a brand I recognize from childhood, and have used for years myself, to share the new products with the same science-based reputation they are known for. If you’ve followed me for years, you would know I have had my fair share of sensitive skin issues when trying to find products that work for my skin as well as my family’s. I have winter dryness coupled with itchy, sometimes reactive, sensitive skin. While both my children have their own skin challenges: one with seasonal eczema and contact dermatitis. We have over the years adapted a few strategies for finding products that can fit into our lives and help ease some of our skincare issues. With our journey in mind, I’m so excited to share my four top tips I’ve adopted for living with my sensitive skin:
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