Let's Start with the Basics: Good Skin Care.

Why Suffer?

To get good skin, everyone knows that water, avoiding soda, and taking your vitamins are a must.  The real reason why I have great skin?  Because I'm a major proponent of preemptive care!

My whole life, I've had people tell me I have great skin and that I [said with a hint of annoyance] "never get" acne.  My first secret is that when I got my first blemish in sixth grade, I rushed straight to the dermatologist for treatment.  This was probably one of the first warning flags that my mom saw, telling her she was raising a perfectionist (I prefer "strong attention to detail").  Since then, I've tried relatively mild topical and oral solutions, but post-college, I didn't want to be committed to putting unnatural things into my body.

For day-in, day-out use, I swear by:

Neutrogena's Complete Acne Therapy System (Three step skin care process).  Be careful with colored towels and sheets, because it will bleach them.  I always use white sheets and towels for this reason (the night cream has a little bit of Benzoyl Peroxide in it).

Here's my skin sans makeup - On a safari in Africa, nonetheless!  Definitely no concealer.

However, I usually swap out the Neutrogena daily moisturizer for Shiseido's The Skincare Day Moisture Protection SPF 15, because I find it less greasy.

I also alternate face washes with good ole St. Ives.  I love St. Ives Apricot Scrub, as well as their Green Tea Scrub.  I usually use my Clarisonic Mia face brush in the morning with a St. Ives face wash, and save Neutrogena for the evening.

For on the spot treatment, I recommend Clean & Clear's Clear Advantage Acne Spot Treatment.

For a gentler treatment system (no Benzoyl Peroxide), I also love La Roche Posay's skin treatment system: Effaclar Purifying Foam Gel and Effaclar K Duo Dual Action Acne Treatment.

More on vitamins and nighttime skin regime later.  This covers your basic foundation for good skin.  Your best face forward is always a clear face!  You should be confident enough in your skin to not need to wear foundation to the gym.

Welcome Beauty Lovers!

My inaugural blog: I generally think blogs can be pretty self-involved...

However, I repeatedly have my friends and family ask me for my favorite brand of lotion, perfume, mascara, you name it.  So I thought YOU, my dear readers, might want to know as well.  When I find something I like, I stick to it.  I'm a stickler for quality.  If only I had a dime for every recommendation I've ever made - I would have kept my beloved Bain de Soleil lotion from being discontinued!

A little about me...I grew up in beautiful Napa Valley, where I cultivated my taste for the hedonistic lifestyle and oh yes, food and wine.  I then chose to expand my narrow world view by going to U.C. Berkeley, where I learned what "keeping up with the Joneses" meant in my lovely, albeit semi-shallow sorority.  And I also learned to not give bums money (I prefer giving monthly to the Humane Society).  I then moved to San Francisco, where I worked for a major retailer for four years.  I learned to never buy anything full price; I also refined my taste for cashmere, sensible ballet flats, and the value of "investment" pieces.

After shopping too much and not saving enough, I then decided to take out massive amounts of student debt to attend Kellogg School of Management in Chicago-land.  I generally dislike the hearty food and lack of mountains, but find the people to be really nice and am hoping that by affixing "M.B.A." to the end of my signature, I'll make a good ROI on my investment.  This summer I'm headed to NYC to try my hand in the beauty biz, where I'll be marketing for a luxury beauty brand.*

My new favorite word (thanks Operations professor) is "Kaizen," which means continuous improvement in Japanese.  I think there is always room for improvement - intellectually, spiritually, emotionally, and since this IS a beauty blog, physically too!

P.S.  There I am as a two year old - with the blonde hair that I've been striving for ever since :)

*This blog reflects my opinions and preferences, and those alone.