My Secret Skincare Arsenal

I've never believed in hiding my age. I've always thought the entire idea of hiding your age to be laughable and absurd. I refuse to believe that a mere number should serve to shame me into lying or submitting to some ridiculous notion that we get less beautiful with age. Honestly, I feel that my beauty has only just begun. I take care of what I have, however, and I am very selective when it comes to health and hygiene.

This is my very affordable, and effective, skincare routine:
I rarely wash my face with soap or water. Maybe a cold splash or two in the morning to wake up, that is about it.Tap water is usually sterilized and chlorinated, and the harsh chemicals can take a toll on your skin. 

 My Secret Skincare Arsenal:

Tea tree oil cleansing pads - instead of soap and water, I use these makeup removal pads after cleansing with coconut oil to ensure that every trace of makeup has been removed. Not only does it smell nice, tea tree oil is also an amazing antiseptic!

Virgin coconut oil - I use this as a cleansing oil and a makeup remover. I gently massage my face in circular motions and under my eyes before wiping clean with a soft towel. Sometimes I also use a bit more at the end of my nighttime routine if I need extra moisture. Makes a great overall skin conditioning treatment and gives you that glow usually reserved for swimsuit models - shiny!

Beauty balm - I like to have a thick, waxy beauty balm available for those extra dry days, but I also often use this on top of my retinol serum to reduce the risk of any redness or excessive dryness that the serum may cause. Also does wonders for moisturizing tired eyes and lips!

Organic retinol serum - this is still relatively new to me, but if successful, I will write a review at a later date. Although I have no discernible lines at 31, I can still see a slight difference in texture and a few developing lines in a few spots, so I just wanted to act quickly. Even though as a girl I used to get that bronzed glow, I made a conscious effort to stop tanning in my early 20's (in spite of the strange looks I got from my peers living the Laguna Beach lifestyle!), and I can say that I feel very lucky that I don't have any sun spots or premature wrinkles from my reckless romps in the sun!

Olive oil - when anyone asks me what I use on my skin, this is my answer. No expensive creams here. Pricey doesn't necessarily equal effective, remember that! Although I currently keep my complexion pale and in my natural state, at heart I am a Mediterranean girl and I spent much of my childhood bronzed by the ancient Balkan sun. I naturally have the lightest golden-olive skin that bronzes very quickly and I can get quite dark. I used to sneak small amounts  of olive oil from the gigantic metal can in the kitchen to use to moisturize my skin, and to this day I still use it. It is truly liquid gold.

Daytime lotion with SPF - it is imperative that you find a day-time lotion with SPF in it, just to take the proper precautions.

Unsweetened Cranberry Juice - a true glow comes from within! The tartness might make you pucker, but trust me, it works wonders for the skin and your immune system! I can honestly say that I've noticed a change in my skin texture from drinking this 1-2 times a day (in the morning and before bedtime). It is imperative that you get 100% cranberry juice, not from concentrate and NO sugar added! 

A Smart, Sensible Diet - I indulge on the weekends or whilst traveling, but during the week I eat sensibly. Listen to what your body is asking for. I am very lucky that my parents never bought soda and rarely bought junk food, it taught me to crave real food and this is why I maintain a healthy weight. I don't have a sweet-tooth, so sugar is never really a temptation - I love salty and savoury, but I limit indulgence to the weekend. When you wean yourself off of unhealthy eating habits, you will begin to hear your body asking for what it needs. Skip processed foods altogether and make things from scratch. Choose food that is in its natural state. You can prepare good food quickly, you don't need to resort to a frozen or packaged meal. Simple. It just takes knowledge and discipline.

Maintaining a healthy weight - I know that this is going to be different for everyone, however, when I weighed 110 lbs. at age 25, I could definitely tell that my skin was suffering. In high school I weighed anywhere from 110-115 lbs and that was perfectly fine then, but when I developed as a woman, such a slight weight definitely was not ideal for my body. I lost weight due to an extreme amount of stress, so that also contributed to the poor skin condition. Being too skinny will make your skin lose elasticity more quickly and have wrinkles show up sooner (trust me, too skinny isn't pretty!). Being too heavy is also not good - it can contribute to hormonal imbalance and give you a double chin! Everyone has a different ideal weight, listen to your body and not to the "mean girls" or the latest issue of "Cosmo Girl".

The bottom line is this:

I am very particular about what goes into my body and what I put onto my skin, and since you only get one shot at it, you might as well look after it properly!

Comrade Von Pussycat