Intro to Self Care

June 30, 2019 by briannacbenitez ♥ 2 Comments

When thinking of self-care the first things that may come to mind are hydrating facials and lavender infused bubble baths. Although those both sound pretty amazing, self-care is more than just a nightly pampering session. Self-care is basically what it sounds like, caring for yourself. Sounds simple, so why do so many of us seem to struggle with this concept?

For some, self-care can be viewed as selfish. The idea of putting your needs before someone else can feel inconsiderate. However, learning and accepting the idea that it is necessary to care for yourself before you can care for anyone else is crucial.

To me, self-care is the practice of healthy living. It’s the action of being aware of the things that negatively affect your mindset and esteem. Self-care is both expressing compassion and kindness to yourself. In order to be able to express those acts of endearment, you must first figure out what is preventing you from doing so.

If there is a form of toxicity in your life, you must be brave enough to discover where it is coming from and you must have the courage to remove yourself from it. Take a moment and think:

Is there someone in your life who is constantly speaking negativity into your space?

Perhaps you’re in a relationship that feels onesided?

Is your Instagram timeline dimming your self-esteem?

Whom exactly are you comparing your life to and why?

As someone currently undergoing a journey to self-acceptance and self-love, I understand how it feels to be trapped in a mind overflowing with thoughts that do nothing but bring you down.

I’m still learning how to practice self-care and although I’m not always the best at giving myself the patience and positive affirmations that I need, I have begun practicing a few mechanisms that have helped.

One of my biggest struggles is comparison. I’ve literally always compared myself to others and I hate it. Something that has helped me cope with my comparative tendencies is changing my routine.

Every morning the first thing I would do was go on social media. As much as I love Instagram, it just wasn’t healthy for me to start my morning off comparing my life to other people. Even if we do not intend to compare ourselves to people, sometimes it just happens. When it does happen it can really impact our mood and can trigger us to overthink our existence. I love social media but once I start seeing all the influencers living it up in Mykonos, I know that’s my cue to log off.

Something else I struggle with is feeling present in the moment. In my defense, I am a Leo so I daydream way more than I should, mostly on how I’m going to take over the world. I’m kidding… kinda.

On a serious note, I have noticed my lack of being present in my everyday life. Sometimes it’s a little light-hearted like when I’m practicing my speech for the Grammy I’ve convinced myself I’m going to win or when I envision myself as the “super fun cool girl” in a music video. Other times it can be a little more serious like when I’m literally zoning out of conversations. I haven’t quite figured out how to combat this habit of mine, but for now, the best I can do is just snap myself out of it and try to bring myself back to reality.

One of the biggest concepts to be aware of while practicing self-care is to identify the things that are negatively affecting your mood and mental state. For example, maybe we shouldn’t listen to sad songs when we’re sad. As simple as this idea may sound it has actually really helped my overall day to day mood. When I’m feeling sad I may allow myself to listen to breathin by Ariana Grade once and then I just have to put on my party girl playlist and dance it out.

In reality, there are many simple ways we can practice self-care. What works for me may not work for you and that’s okay. You just need to figure out what makes you feel recharged or what gets you excited for the day. Personally, when I start my day off early with maybe a little reading and a homemade smoothie I feel great.

At the end of the day, we are human and there are going to be days where you wake up and the only thing you want to do is have a blueberry donut for breakfast and rewatch David Dobrik’s vlogs. If that’s what you need to laugh and feel happy, by all means, do it.

Self-care is a work in progress. It can get difficult because unfortunately, it can be a mind game. If you take anything away from this post, I hope you never give up. I want you all to be happy because I know how it feels to be sad and it sucks. I’m not perfect and I’m still struggling with this whole self-care thing, but I’m not giving up and neither should you.

Thank you for reading. I’m here for you and I’m rooting for you. Feel free to comment your own self-care techniques, you just might help someone out.

Brianna.

3 Ways to Treat Breakouts

April 30, 2019April 30, 2019 by briannacbenitez ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Breakouts. We all get them. Whether it be from stress, poor eating habits, hormones or simply just not washing your face, one way or another we’ve all had our experience with a breakout. I know it may feel like the end of the world when pesky red bumps form around your forehead and cheeks, but trust me when I say, it will be okay!

In this post, I will be explaining three different ways I treat my breakouts. Before we begin, it’s best to know what type of breakout you’re dealing with. If you’re dealing with a breakout due to an allergic reaction, then it’s probably best you to sit this post out and apply a prescribed ointment instead.

1. Spot Treatment

Whenever I’m breaking out, I immediately reach for spot treatment. If you aren’t familiar with spot treatments, well it’s exactly what it sounds like. Before going to bed, simply apply a spot treatment on all your blemishes and in the morning, your blemishes should be gone or at least significantly minimized. If you’re looking for an effective spot treatment, I would recommend the Mario Badescu Drying Lotion.

This spot treatment is packed with blemish-fighting ingredients such as salicylic acid, sulfur and calamine. Keep in mind this treatment is specifically designed for white-heads (pimples that are on the topmost layer of the skin and contain a white bulb). However, if you’re someone like me who doesn’t really get white-heads but more minor breakouts such as pre-pimples, I would still suggest trying this spot treatment. Just keep in mind that the drying lotion probably won’t make your minor breakout disappear overnight. However, if you are someone with more dominate breakouts this might work perfectly for you.

2. Clay Mask

There is a range of reasons why breakouts occur, however, one of the main causes of breakouts is a rise in androgen levels. An increase in androgen levels can lead to the growth of oil glands beneath the skin. Enlarged glands produce an excess of sebum, an oily liquid, which then causes cellular walls in pores to breakdown leading to bacterial growth.

When it comes to breakouts, sometimes all you can really do is put on a face mask and hope for the best. One of my favorite mask to use when I’m breaking out is the Loreal Paris Detox & Brighten Pure-Clay Mask. This mask contains charcoal which helps detoxify my skin by unplugging impurities such as dirt and pollution. After using this mask, my skin feels like it can breathe and my complexion overall just looks brighter.

Another one of my favorite masks when I’m breaking out is the Tea Tree Skin Clearing Clay Mask from The Body Shop. This mask feels incredibly cooling and refreshes my blemished skin without over-drying. It contains tea tree oil from Mount Kenya which helps clear impurities and absorbs excess sebum. The mask is also 100% vegan and cruelty-free, which I love. Even if I may not see an immediate difference in the appearance of my skin after using these masks, I do notice a difference in the way my skin feels.

3. Pore Strips

When I’m dealing with breakouts such as blackheads and clogged pores, I usually like to reach for pore strips. My favorite is the Charcoal Pore Strips from Biore. As I mentioned, charcoal is an effective ingredient when it comes to detoxifying pores. If you’re looking for a product with immediate results, pore strips are the way to go.

The pore strips from Biore, in particular, remove excess oils and blackheads from beneath the skin surface. These strips leave my skin feeling clean and oil-free. Although removing the nose strips can be a little painful, it is so satisfying (and a little gross) to see all the gunk that was nestled underneath my skin.

There are a variety of products that can help with breakouts. However, try not to get too caught up in getting rid of your breakouts. Remember, too much product can be a bad thing. If you’re not seeing immediate results after using a spot treating or mask, just be patient. I promise, you’re skin will clear up. The best advice I can give you is to try not to touch your face with unwashed hands, make sure your phone is sanitized, wash your pillowcases and most importantly, let your skin breathe.

I hoped you enjoy this post. If you have any questions or have some breakout remedy recommendations, feel free to comment down below!

5 Things Wrong with your Skincare Routine

March 25, 2019 by briannacbenitez ♥ 3 Comments

It’s time to get serious. Skincare is no joke and it’s time to stop making the same mistakes. All these beautiful products will not do your skin any justice if you are not using them correctly. I’m by no means a skincare expert quite yet, but I have picked up some helpful tips along my skincare journey. I encourage you to take a look at your skincare routine and identify aspects that can easily be improved. Our skin is our largest organ, therefore we should treat it with as much love and care as possible.

1. Dirty Hands

Before you even think about beginning your skincare routine, it’s probably a good idea for you to wash your hands. It may seem silly that I’m even mentioning washing your hands, but after asking around and seeing other people do their skincare routine, I was shocked to see how many people didn’t wash their hands. I promise you, you will not be doing your skin any good by rubbing in your gorgeous cleansers with gross, grimy hands.

There are literally a million germs e v e r y w h e r e. On our phones, keyboards, door handles, elevator buttons, you name it there are probably germs.

If you’re not thoroughly washing your hands before beginning your skincare routine, you’re most likely spreading those ugly germs all over your beautiful face, which can then lead to breakouts. I kid you not, I literally wash by hands about three-times throughout my skincare routine. Do yourself a favor, and wash your hands!

2. Cleansing Incorrectly

Even if you already removed your makeup with a wipe or didn’t even wear makeup that day, it is still important that you wash your face. Left over makeup, dirt and sweat can still be lingering on your skin even after using a wipe. Taking the extra step to wash off that gunk will do wonders for your skin. However, you need to make sure you’re cleansing your face thoroughly. A lot of times we can be so exhausted from the day that the last thing we want to do is wash our face so we only do it for like 15 seconds. Washing your face for that long won’t do much. Try washing your face for at least 60 seconds to ensure your skin is free from all the gunk of the day.

3. Bad Ingredients

A variety of ingredients found in skincare products have been linked to causing cancer and hormonal imbalances The more natural your products are the better off you’ll be in the long run.

Sodium lauryl sulfate is an ingredient often found in face wash. The main concern with this ingredient is that it can cause skin irritation, it disrupts the skins natural oil balance and is “a major contribution to acne around the mouth and chin”.

A common ingredient found in skin exfoliates is butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA). BHA has been linked to causing skin pigmentation and studies show it can cause liver damage and stomach cancers.

Parabens is probably one of the most common ingredient found in beauty products. The main issue with parabens is that they can lead to breast and skin cancer.

Lastly, one of the main products to avoid is fragrance. Federal law doesn’t require corporations to list the ingredients in their fragrance formula. “Recent research from Environmental Working Group and the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics found an average of 14 chemicals in 17 name-brand fragrance products”, which are not listed on the ingredient label.

Next time you’re shopping for a new face mask or moisturizer, take a look a the ingredients to make sure your product is as natural as can be. Rubbing in these harmful ingredients into our skin is very dangerous. These ingredients can easily find their way into our bloodstream and can cause numerous health problems.

4. Breakup with the Wipes

I’ve been there, I’ve done it. It’s been a long, wild night and the last thing you want to do is wash your face, so you reach for a makeup wipe. You tug at your eyeliner, try to erase the smeared lipstick and drag the wipe all over your face in an attempt to remove that 24-hour foundation.

It looks like all your makeup has been removed, right? Wrong. Using a makeup is just not the way to go honey. You’re literally massaging all this makeup and dead skin all over your face, and I can guarantee you there is still quite a bit of makeup lingering around.

Trust me, I understand the convenience of a makeup wipe, but do your future self a favor and stop using them! You are fabulous and your skin really deserves a good wash after a long day.

Using a makeup wipe can also lead to irritaiton and wrinkles. Basically, makeup wipes are pure trash and you really shouldn’t use them.

I understand that there are those nights were you really can’t bring yourself to wash your face, but if you stay tuned for an upcoming blog post, I’ll tell you all about a miracle product that will remove your makeup better and faster than a wipe.

5. Forgetting Your Neck

I truly am so proud of you that your moisturizing that beautiful face, but honey, don’t forget your neck! She needs some loving too.

The neck is probably the most forgotten when it comes to skincare. I know you’re blending that foundation down to your neck, so you need to be sure that you’re taking the time to cleanse it properly. Also, cleansing your neck also stimulates your skins “inner cleaning system, also known as the lymphatic system”.

Since our neck skin is so thin, it is the first to show aging, therefore it is so important to moisturize. Remember, apply moisturizer in an upward motion, never downwards.

Like I said in the beginning, our skin is our biggest organ and we need to treat her right! I’m not perfect and sometimes after a long day, there is no way that I will be washing my face. It’s totally fine to have those days where you take a wipe and say goodnight, but as long as you’re taking the initiative to care for your skin is all that really matters.

I encourage you to check out these tips and make some changes in your skincare routine. Let me know if you see a difference and be sure to comment your skincare routine tips down below.

Thanks for reading and be sure to follow me on Instagram for more beauty content.

Product Review: Oils of Life from The Body Shop

February 28, 2019 by briannacbenitez ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Enrich your skin with this hydrating duo designed for dull, dry skin. If your skin is anything like mine, you understand the struggle of dealing with dull, dry skin. Especially in the colder months, my skin noticeably lacks radiance and hydration. For those that deal with more of a combination to oily skin texture, I would recommend you do without this hydrating duo. (I promise there will be more product reviews suitable for oily skin coming very soon!) Without further ado, let’s get this review started.

For those that aren’t familiar with the Oils of Life collection from The Body Shop, let me give you the run-down. First and foremost, the entire collection is 100% vegan and is never tested on animals which is absolutely amazing! Furthermore, this collection is specifically designed for dry skin for it restores moisture and hydration which helps the skin look super smooth.

I tried two out of the seven products in the collection, the Intensely Revitalising Cleansing Oil-In-Gel, and the Intensely Revitalising Sleeping Cream. I used the products after removing my makeup with a makeup wipe just to be on the safe side.

First, I began cleansing my face with the Intensely Revitalising Cleansing Oil-In-Gel. From the start, I could tell the cleanser was extremely gentle, but very oily which is why I strongly suggest this product for dry skin only. As I massaged the cleanser throughout my face, the consistency changed from an oily, gel texture to a more creamy, lotion texture. After washing off the product, my skin felt instantly silkier and smoother.

The cleanser’s formula contains black cumin oil from Egypt, rosehip oil from Chile, camelia oil from China and organic olive oil from Italy. Furthermore, the cleanser claims to keep skin moisturized for up to 72 hours.

After cleansing my skin, I applied my usual toner and serum then proceeded to apply the Intensely Revitalising Sleeping Cream. The next morning, I noticed that my skin was noticeably brighter, I didn’t have any dryness around my nose area (which is pretty common for me) and my skin felt pretty soft. Like the cleanser, the sleeping cream contained the same three oils. However, it didn’t feel as oily.

Overall, the products were extremely moisturizing and nourishing. However, due to the rich, oily consistency, I don’t plan on using these products on a daily basis. For me personally, I will use these products only when my skin is feeling extremely dry and dull.

I hoped you enjoyed this review and found it to be informative. If your skin is on the dryer side, give this collection a try and let me know how it goes. Lastly, if you have any questions on these products, feel free to leave a comment down below.

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Brianna Celeste

Tag: beauty