Skincare Favourites | Beauty Review

Hello lovelies,

Being a mother of three and now also nearing 30 (yes I said 30!), I have been putting more thought into my skincare. Recently, I have started to notice a loss of elasticity under my eyes specifically. The skin under my eyes has always been more dry and this has been the case for years - so, I have always been on the lookout for a resolution to my dry under eyes.

For the past month I have found products and a skincare routine that has been working very well for me. I have noticed that my skin looks brighter & more refreshed (even with the lack of sleep that accompanies my crazy life), and the skin around my eyes is a lot more smooth. With all of that said, I am excited to share with you all what I have been using.

The first product is this Rose Quartz face roller. I have always had sinus issues and on the days that I use my roller I can physically feel the difference in my sinuses and in my lymph nodes. I use the roller in conjunction with a product below that I will talk more about. The coolness of the stone allows for the tightening of the skin, which at my age is now something that I need to start focusing on. I use quick strokes starting at my jaw and working upwards on my face in outward motions. I do this for about 4-5 minutes in total.
There are so many rollers out their, but I chose Rose Quartz specifically for the self love healing qualities that it promotes. Get the same one here.

I started using this serum from Shoosha Truly Organic  on my belly and hips during pregnancy and I also would use it under my eyes and noticed a huge difference in the brightness of my skin. I now use it 2-3 times a week all over my face and also when I use my face roller. It is amazoing because it really does help to fade scars, age spots and stretch marks (my belly is proof!) and it is not in any way greasy. It leaves my skin feeling so soft and is so much more amazing than other expensive face serums that I have used in the past. 

I received the Pixi Beauty Glow Tonic Exfoliating Toner in my February Ipsy bag and have been using it as a part of my regular skincare routine. The toner is very light and doesn't dry out my skin. I do it feel it tightening up my skin, but I don't get that burning feeling that can accompany some other toners on the market. I highly recommend trying this toner out if you are lacking lustre or just want a brighter complexion. If you are interested in Ipsy and getting customized delux samples and full size beauty products sent right to your door every month for under $20 then you should totally sign up!

Younique recently launched their new You.ology customizable skin care line and I was super excited to try it out. You fill out a little survey about your skin and it then recommends different boosters for your skin type to add to their base products. Out of the line my two favourite products are the face serum and night cream. The boosters I chose are for skin elasticity, fine lines and wrinkles and brightening up dull skin. I have been using both in my new routine and my skin is so much brighter and the skin around my eyes is no longer as dry and dull as it was before using this routine. I am so happy with the results thus far. For more info about their customizable skincare products click here to fill out your own skin care survey. 

Over, all I have been loving all of these products and have noticed a big difference in the way my skin looks and feels. I on't get very much sleep with three littles and a full-time job and I live off of caffeine. 

I hope that you find this post helpful/inspirational and that you too have found some new items that you want to try out. If you do try any, let me know. Also comment below with what your current skincare favs are.

If you are not yet following me on IG make sure you do for daily fashion and outfit inspo and for behind the scenes into my daily life with my three littles.

Thanks so much for reading and until next time...

xoxo

annpaige

How to Survive the First Trimester of Pregnancy

Hello lovelies,

The news is out!! If you do not follow me on social media, then you may not yet know that.....I am pregnant! This is my second pregnancy and this time around we are expecting twins!!! We both feel so blessed and we are overjoyed to grow our little family. And, of course our little girl is totally stoked to be a big sister!

Finding out that you are pregnant can leave you with a whirlwind of emotions, add pregnancy symptoms and not fitting into your clothes on top of that and it can be quite a challenge to manage. Having been through this once before, I am grateful for the tips and tricks that I had learned and been able to implement into my everyday life this time around. With that said, I am here to share with you all of my tips on how to survive the first trimester of pregnancy. Because, we never receive enough advice while pregnant, right?

Tip #1 

Sharing the news

This is a sensitive and tricky one to manage, as it can be so hard not to want to tell everyone. If you tell people, are they accidentally going to slip and tell others? Are you going to slip and tell people? Also, how long is that teeny tiny bump going to stay teeny tiny?

Having a careful conversation with your partner on who and when to tell is a definite must, as soon as possible. You may both have different ideas on who should be the first to know, however having that initial conversation will make it so much easier to respect each others wishes.

Tip #2

Dealing with Nausea 

Every woman and every pregnancy is different. With my first, all I really experienced was motion sickness vs. full blown nausea. I had a few days that I took my prenatal vitamins on an empty stomach and quickly learned my lesson not to do that ever again. However, with this pregnancy it has not been the same. Yes, a multiple pregnancy is accompanied by the symptoms of double the hormones, but no one ever knows what that really means. To combat nausea, I keep water on my night stand and ensure that I eat within a half hour of waking up; crackers are a perfect small snack to devour before breakfast and in between meals. 

Mints!! I have mints in my purse and sitting on my counter at home, as they always help when either motion sickness kicks in, or for just nausea in general. Anytime I feel a little motion sickness on transit or in the car, I always pop a mint or two to help it pass for a little while. They are also great for getting rid of pesky after tastes that can bring up nausea after a meal.

Tip #3

Fitting an ever changing waistline

Depending on your body frame you may show quickly, or if you have a longer torso or are carrying further in your back, you may not show as early. Either way, a tighter waistline is inevitable. Do not, I repeat DO NOT think that you have to live in leggings, because there are so many options available now to help you look and feel great. With my first everyone recommended I get a Bella Band and it totally does the trick for helping you fit into your favourite jeans without having to zip them up! Comfy pants also work wonders, especially loose joggers. 

For tops, I typically stick to longer tanks and looser fitting tops, especially if you haven't shared your joyful news yet.

Tip #4

Skincare

Face First

Restless nights and all day nausea got me looking like a Walking Dead extra, but no one needs to know how I really look! ;)

A good BB cream, concealer and luminizer = my trick to glowing skin!

I mix my favourite concealer and luminizer together for a luminescent glow and top it off with a moisturizing BB cream to give my skin life and hydration, so no one has to know that I did not "wake up like this".

My EOS lip blam, Batiste dry shampoo and of course  prenatal vitamins are all essentials that I cannot live without while pregnant and recommend that all pregnant women have!!

Stretch Marks? No, thank you!

To prevent stretch marks (hopefully) and also alleviate itchy, dry skin, I use a combination of Vaseline Radiance coco butter moisturizer and Shoosha Stretch Mark Oil. I start by putting the moisturizer all over my upper half, including my butt and hips (because yes, your skin will also stretch there too) and then I layer on my oil.

Using both seriously and truly eliminates the mid day tummy itch and keeps my skin feeling supple all day long. I do this routine twice a day; once in the morning after I wake up and then in the evening before bed. I used this same routine with my first pregnancy and thankfully never got a single stretch mark (here's hoping this round will end in the same results ;)) 

Tip #5

Stay Hydrated

Staying hydrated during pregnancy helps your body on so many levels. Getting enough fluids, helps your skin retain moisture (keeping stretch mark prevention on top of mind), and helps to flush out everyday toxins. Sometimes feeling lightheaded and nauseous can also mean that you are not getting enough fluids. I always have a water bottle with me and I usually end up refilling it about 4-5 times a day while I am at work. 

Tip #6
Write it Down

Get a pregnancy journal! I had one with my first and I bought one for this pregnancy as well. Having a pregnancy journal is a great way to keep memories because we all know how forgetful we can be (especially while pregnant). Being able to jot down important notes along the way, like when you first felt your baby kick or when you feeling your first bay hiccups. All are amazing memories and they are great to share with your little one when they are older. A pregnancy journal is also an excellent way to stay organized, as they typically include appointment reminders, baby shower guest lists and how to organize your thank your cards. A definite must have and the one I use is What to Expect When You're Expecting organizer and you can get it at online or in-store at Chapters/Indigo.

I hope that this post has been helpful, as I wish I had come across similar advice while pregnant with my first. If you have some of your own favourite tips that have helped you along your journey, share them below! And, if you too are expecting comment below and let's share in our joy together :)!

Stay tuned for my next post which will include some of my favourite Fall maternity looks, that I will be strutting this season! Let me know your favourite trends for the season and I will try to include them.

As always thank you for reading and until next time...

xoxo

annpaige