I know that picture is totally unrealistic – but it’s the best I could find! When I have friends over with their kids it doesn’t look quite so serene – you’ll have to use your imagination :).
Hello Friday…did it sneak up on you too? I needed a few extra days to get everything done before the weekend! My next move is quickly approaching and it just occurred to me that I best start packing :). Anyhoo…
A couple weeks ago on our newsletter I announced a new weekly column that I hoped to roll out this Fall – The Weekly Huddle. The idea is to do what you do when gathered with friends walking, at play dates, or that desperate phone call to a friend that will understand – seek advice, tap into expertise, and just relate and empathize with what we’re going through in life as Mothers.
I asked everyone to reply with a question they would love to have answered not only by us, but opened up to our community. I was overwhelmed with the response! I received questions from new Mothers, seasoned Mamas, Grandmothers, a couple of “I’m not a mom, but I love your blog”, and even one dad! The questions were pretty well rounded and I couldn’t wait until Fall to get it rolling.
So I’m going to need your help! I know that we are all passionate about something, and each have a little bit of expertise and knowledge we can share. Don’t be shy – the only way this is going to work is if a have your involvement!
Eventually I would like to use a video platform, but until I have moved and settled in I thought we could just start with what we’ve got. So without further ado…our first weekly huddle.
The Weekly Huddle
Since Friday is our Beauty & Style segment I thought answering a question on the subject would be fun.
Our question comes from Sydney in Wisconsin:
“Thank you so much for this opportunity, I think it will be great! I hope my question isn’t too generic, but it is something I have struggled with for over a year. I am a mother of two and I have noticed that since having kids my skin has completely changed. It’s splotchy, dry, and just overall lacking that “youthful glow”. I am only 26 and feel like I look 10 years older than I am. I have tried product after product and just can’t find that “one” product I love. I have never been a beauty buff, so I’m clueless. I would love to know what everyone’s go-to skin product is – help!”
First, hi Sydney! Thanks so much for your question. I was excited when I read it because I can certainly relate, it seems lately I have this adult acne that would put my teenage years to shame. I am assuming since you are a mother of two, you don’t really have the time for a lengthy routine and that is the reason for that one life changing product. But I’m going to offer two:
- Water! I know, like you haven’t heard that before. I just know I don’t get enough, and when I make the effort to get in 8 glasses a day I can really see it in my skin.
Now for my gotta have it, life changing product:
Origins’ Modern Friction is by far and away the best product I have found to give me instant gratification. If you were at my house right now I’d be running to my bathroom and slapping some on your hand just to show you the difference it can make!
I used to work for Origins and I sold at least twenty a day, simply because the results sold themselves. It literally transforms my skin after one use. I haven’t been very good at being consistent, but when I use it regularly dark spots are significantly reduced (you notice a huge difference after the first use), the texture of my skin is soft and less tight, and I feel like I’ve taken years off. I could go on for days, but just click on the link above and you can find more information on it. The size shown is $37.50 and lasts quite a while.
So there is my two cents! Now, let’s hear from the Huddle.
In the comments below, share your must have beauty product. Feel free to share your experience and struggles on the subject. You can reply to specific comments by clicking on the reply link under each comment. Links welcome (no affiliate links please).
I hope you’re as excited about the new segment as I am – I think it will be a great chance to build a supportive and encouraging network of women.
Thanks so much for your participation and have a great weekend!
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{ 23 comments… read them below or add one }
Oh I love this question! I always thought my skin would be easier to manage after the high school breakout phase but now I have to deal with breakouts every time it’s that time of the month PLUS dark spots – boo! I’m definetly going to try that Orgins product! Another thing I would highly recommend is using a primer along with your moisturizer. Make up artists have been telling me to do so forever and I finally let one convince me recently. It really helps with that dry, lackluster feeling you were describing :).
You know what’s sad – I have one! It came with my bare minerals and I never thought it would do much. Now if I can just find it.
Thanks Steph for chiming in!
My skin started looking better when I gave up the harsh cleansers and went with natural ones. It sounds crazy but I started using a combination of olive and castor oil on my face and letting it set before getting in the shower then washing it off with my kids’ very gentle, natural wash. My skin is oily and, if you think back to chemistry, you know like dissolves like. (Google OCM face cleansing for more info.) After washing I use squalane oil and leave it on my face and mist my face with some rosewater spray. My skin glows! The fine lines and wrinkles that had started (I’m 35) have gone away since I started using the squalane and my acne is going away!
Oh you have my attention! I grew up in a dry environment, and have moved to a humid environment. It’s been great for wrinkles – but I have never had to fight acne like this before.
Have you tried coconut oil? Just curious – I have heard a lot of people have loved it for their face too.
Thanks so much for joining the conversation Andrea!
Ohmygoodness this brilliant! I love this idea! ( and i have been on vacation for ten days so I guess I missed the initial call for ideas….you know I have a ton of questions!) I am a product junkie and inmay not be a supermodel but my skin is something I have always received comp,iments on. I am a hardcore believer in Cetaphil face wash and was recently converted to the Clarisonic for washing. However, my go-to product for my skin in Josie Moran’s 100% argan oil. Don’t let the woed oil scare you….it soaks right in and my skin is glowing and healthy. I put it on my hands, chest and even the ends of my hair! It is truly amazing!
Best,
Tina
Here’s a tip: shop around! Argan oil is magical, but argan oil is argan oil. Josie Maran’s argan oil is $48 for 1.7 ounces. If you look around, you can get twice as much for half the price (the only difference is the brand). This one is $24 for 4 ounces! http://www.amazon.com/Beauty-ArganGoldTM-Certified-Organic-Pressed/dp/B005H37238/ref=pd_sim_bt_1
Okay, it’s official – I have to get some! I have heard so much about it recently. I too love Cetaphil – my dermatologist turned me onto it when I has eczema. Maybe I need to get some more :)
Yep water, sleep and sun protection!!! Our skin becomes more sensitive so that last one is a must…even in the winter, even In wi….I’m from wi!! Also make sure to have one that is cancer foundation approved….NOT all sunscreens are created equally!!! In winter a moisturizer w protection…..all that said I love my Mary Kay skin care!!
Second that. I am so regretting the younger days… :)
BRILLIANT, I love this! I use squalene oil for a moisturizer as well. I’ve heard wonderful things about argan oil, which I would really like to try.
Thanks Melissa, so glad you’re excited!
I am hooked on Clinique facial soap and clarifying lotion for a daily product and I love their 7 Day Scrub Cream. Remember the peach scrub back in the 80′s that had bits of peach pit in it? I used that has a teenager occasionally and it hurt! The Clinique 7 Day scrub is nothing like that. It’s gentle but I am so much happier with my complexion. I also use Mary Kay’s tinted moisturizer. Love, love, love what it has done to my skin!
And Destri….this is a great idea! Nothing like women helping each other out! :)
Thanks Jileen! See, I have been wondering if I needed just a tinted moisturizer – I just worried it wouldn’t work that well with humidity. But I know you know all about that – so it must be okay? Do you use it year round?
Yep! I use it year round. My face isn’t near as oily as it used to be and it has sunscreen in it too. Lots of things to like about it. :)
I’ll second the seven day scrub nod! That is the best facial scrub I’ve ever used. I’ve recently switched to Arbonne and have fallen in love with their products. I’ve also become a Big believer in primer as well.
I have found my #1 product. It’s called Skincerity and it allows your own body to repair and heal itself by holding in the bodies moisture, while still allowing your skin to breath, while you sleep! More info and videos can be seen on my website (www.mynucerity.com/christinacollazo) or the company website http://www.nucerity.com.
Among other thinks it help reduce fine lines, wrinkles, sun damage, acne, acne scars and stretch marks.
And the nice thing is you don’t have to change your regular skin-care regime. You just roll the mask on at night a few minutes after applying your regular moisturizer.
Thanks Christina, I will have to check it out!
My go to routine is a natural, gentle soap (yes, I said soap) (AND I make it myself, so I do know what is in it). While washing, I exfoliate once a week with a soft brush in a circular motion. When I’m done, I use jojoba oil directly on my still-damp face. Viola! Love my skin.
Am thinking we need a recipe :). Do you sell it?
Well, I’m another who goes for natural wherever possible.
I use bar soap to clean all of me except my hair (the liquid soaps seem to dry my skin out terribly).
To get rid of dry skin, I use a cotton washcloth in the bath/shower every day to exfoliate gently. For more serious dry skin (my hands after dishwashing) I put roughly equal amounts of olive oil and sugar into the palm of my hand (say 1/2 tsp of each) and rub it in, then rinse with tepid water.
For out-and-about I use Palmers Olive Butter formula (works better for me than the cocoa butter version.
HTH.
Oh I love olive oil and sugar scrub too! I have just started using coconut oil instead and love it.
Thanks for sharing!
I’m in my 50′s and have used Mary Kay skin products nearly all my adult life. Each time I’ve tried some other product, I go back to Mary Kay as nothing else is as good. Also, as a side benefit I’m often mistaken for a much younger woman! I live in a hot, humid location and this line of skin products has formulas for everyone, really!
Thank you!! I have been on vacation and missed that you answered my question! I really like the natural remedies – I have been doing some reading on what we put on our skin and it’s some scary stuff.
I also have a friend who sells Mary Kay, so I’ll have to get a hold of her it sounds like.
Thanks to everyone, I have moved to a place I don’t know anyone, and I love the we can have this community here.
Off to check everything out and I’ll report back.
Sydney.