Dry Skin- Let's Address This

Fall is on it's way and while summer can certainly dry out your skin and scalp, it's a lot easier to remedy when it's warm out than when it's cold.
  First things first; the cause. What are things that cause our skin to dry out so much? Well good question! There are more factors than you may think. Of course the weather is a major culprit, then there's showering, shampooing, even conditioner can contribute. Hereditary factors, even the type of water you bathe in. Lets investigate!

  1. Weather. Cool, brisk weather- often dry, can leave your skin looking leathery, and feeling parched. The cooler seasons also seem to be times when we hydrate less- where warm summers push us to stay on top of our h2o intake.
           Add to the amount of water you drink. Instead of aiming for the usual 64oz. try aiming for 100 oz. This way you're more likely to actually reach the 64 oz your body needs and add a little bit to help recoup.
  2. Another factor is the temp of baths and showers. Since it's colder, it's a given that we are prone to take warmer showers than usual. This can also mess with our ph balance, making for dry skin. Some solutions; Try to take warm baths/showers as opposed to hot. I know it's tempting and you're just sooooo cold, but trust me and drink some cocoa instead.
         -While we're on the topic of bathing, take a good look at your shampoo. If you are overdosing on it you may not be rinsing everything out-which, when left on your scalp can cause irritation. Be sure to check the ingredients list and see if there are any that you know contribute to drying out your skin, if so, switch.
        -As hard to believe as it may be, conditioner might be causing your scalp, and body for that matter, some serious irritation. This is because of residue that can build up and sit on your skin, causing it to be itchy and dry. Be sure to rinse thoroughly before you jump out of the shower. Don't forget to rub your body down in areas like your neck, shoulders and chest as well so the conditioner isn't leaving breakout causing residue there either.
         -Product overload may also contribute to dry scalp and thus flakes. Once a week, use a clarifying shampoo to nix the problem. I actually like to use baby shampoo, it's inexpensive and gentle.
         -Go fragrance free. No I don't mean skip deodorant or perfume, but when considering a body wash, try something sans fragrance for a while since it may irritate skin and add to the problem.
         -Test your water. That's right! Test your water for ph levels and also determine whether you have hard water. Chemicals in regular city water that are added to it may bother your skin, and hard water can also contribute. You can find test kits at your local hardware store and most are pretty easy. Once you have your results you may want to install a filter on your shower head and believe me you'll notice a difference.
   Other scalp remedies include using essential oils; like tea tree, rosemary and lavender. Oil treatments, and hair masks also help.
   If you think you have heredity to blame; talk to your doc about diagnosis and treatments.

So, some contributors to dry skin are; weather, water temp and ph, fragrances, residue or product build up, poor diet, and heredity. Try some of these tips and see what works for you- It could be easier than you think.


Disclaimer: I am not a doctor, nor are these tips/statements meant to treat, or cure any serious skin conditions. I am not a professional, these are my own thoughts derived from my own experiences and readings.

Summer Faves- Most Worn Edition!

Alas! Summer is coming to an end and in good cheer we bid adieu to warm days in the sun on the beach, shorts, crop tops, flip flops and the like. Here are some of my most worn summer faves. Lets start with the face/hair, naturally.

   Cosmetics from left to right; we have: EYESTUDIO by Maybelline NY- 20 Sapphire Siren. I liked this eye shadow set because you could really mix and match. The hues were perfect for hot summer days and sultry nights. Baby Lips by Maybelline NY- 05 Quenched- really loved this because it already has spf in it which is really important to keep your pout looking healthy and full. Santee Plus Nail Lacquer- I think the sticker with the color name fell off but it is a great color- champagne/bronze. Goes great with everything! Pink Leopard bronzing powder by Too Faced- always a fave when sporting a faux glow! Glazewear by Avon- Ice Pink- this is the gloss I did a review on a couple weeks ago- great shade! Glamour Gloss by Too Faced- Pillow Talk, Crackle Overcoat by Sally Hansen- Distressed Denim, Pink by Victoria's Secret- Fresh and Clean- the perfect scent for summer, there's really nothing better for me. Matte-Nifficent Oil Absorbing Powder by Mark.- Ivory Nude- this powder is amazing to have with you on those extra hot/humid days in addition to blotting sheets. Bio Oil- the best for accidental sunburns. Dream Fresh BB by Maybelline NY- Medium Sheer Tint this was just about the only thing I wore as far as an all over face product. It's got great coverage, and it's light weight. EyeStyle Shadow Box by Bonnebell- Cafe Classics, Perfect Eyebrow Pencil by Avon- Blonde, Great Lash mascara by Maybelline- Very Black, Shadow Insurance by Too Faced- Original, Secret Outlast- Completely Clean. No one wants to constantly re-apply deo or pack it with them and this is my new fave. Naturals Body lotion by Avon- Sugar Plum & Vanilla, Into The Wild by Bath and Body Works. Both are also great summer scents, especially if you feel like going with out perfume or forget all together.

  Hair accessories; a rhinestone barrette, bobby pins, and giant clippy. All based on what I was wearing at the time. Lately I've been noticing more kinks in my hair and so I've been trying more styles that are achieved with bobby pins or clips- as opposed to hair ties.

Fave style, a side part on the right and bangs swept and clipped/pinned up on the left with beachy waves. I also liked doing an inverted pony- easy do when you're going out and in a hurry!

  Fave bag/clutch; VS tote- This is my catch all, my big bag of tricks haha! I have just about everything in here. I throw a clutch in there with essentials for when I want to leave the tote behind. Not sure the brand of the clutch although I think I remember buying it at Payless a few years back.

  Now these are my fave pieces for summer; not most worn- shame on me I know- but I just didn't have a most worn outfit.

 For the majority of summer all anyone wants to wear are shorts and a tank which is good enough for me. 

My favorite tops were very loose and breezy feeling, light fabric. On the left is an oversized tee from Agenda- not sure if the beading is visible in the center, very pretty; on the right- an embellished top from Vanity- Love the back on this one!

The shorts I loved wearing the most this summer were a pair of cut-offs from Old Navy and a distressed pair from City Streets.

   Last but not least, the final look of summer. This was by far my favorite outfit! The bright blue color of the blouse is perfect for the last days of summer. I almost went with denim skinnies but this acid wash/tie dye pair was funner, and a little bit more of a risky choice- both of which I think add sexy factors. I like wearing colors that are opposite each other on the color wheel because they are complimentary, so I paired this outfit with red heels and pulled it together with the red belt. By the end of summer I was obsessed with these red heels from Fioni and didn't mind walking around in them a bit!

Hope you enjoyed my summer faves list as much as I did! xoxo -Ashley