14 Of My Best Kept Secrets To Glowing Skin Plus The Products That I Can’t Live Without

Apr 6

I remember the day my mom took me to the local mall to pick out my own makeup for the very first time. It was magical! I remember getting my very own mascara, bronzer, eye shadow and blush at the MAC counter. I was so excited to go to school (I was only in 6th grade so this was a very big deal!) and show off my new look. My love for beauty started at a very young age. I loved going to the hair salon and watching the hair artists and I loved peeking through my moms makeup bag (anyone else do this when they were a child?!). I had taught myself to braid by the time I was 5 years old! I just loved everything about beauty. Naturally I became a hairstylist and my love for beauty has grown even more since. Not only has my passion for beauty grown, but it has also evolved in so many ways. I discovered through my hairstyling career that beauty can’t just be found in a bottle. I discovered that beauty starts from within and can be enhanced through the power of food and the right regimen for our hair, skin and body (my core mission at Live Well by Kimmy). Since I was able to purchase things on my own, I tried many different products, foods and diets. I didn’t really have a good skin care regimen (mine was basically soap and moisturizer and sometimes an eye cream). I also didn’t really know how to properly care for my skin. I thought products were the answer to everything. Turns out that is wrong. Taking care of your skin starts with what you put in your body, how you take care of yourself and the ingredients that are in your skin care products. I went from a very low maintenance (drug store products) to an expensive routine (expensive products filled with additives) to finding a clean beauty care routine filled with real ingredients.

Okay, now that I have shared my background on beauty, here is the part you came here for- my best kept beauty secrets.

Below are some of my favorite beauty tips that I have learned from diligent research and experience.

beauty Secret #1: Wear sunscreen

I know that you’ve heard this over and over again… but it is time that you actually start (especially in the spring and summer). Sunscreen needs to be apart of your daily routine. It is important to protect your skin not only from skin cancer, but also from sun damage! UVA & UVB rays penetrate into the skin and damage the fibers of the skin which eventually lead to wrinkles. It can also cause dark spots on the skin as well. Sunscreen will block out your ability to absorb essential Vitamin D, in this case I recommend taking a Vitamin D supplement or going outside early in the morning for 10-20 minutes before applying sunscreen. No, sunscreen in your makeup is not enough! I suggest getting a facial sunscreen that you can apply after your skin care products and before makeup. Like other beauty products, you will need to try different facial sunscreens to find which works best for you! This sunscreen here is one of my favorites.

Beauty secret #2: Chia seeds

Chia seeds are my ultimate skin and hair supplement. Chia seeds are small but mighty! They are packed with omega 3 fatty acids which are essential to healthy hair and skin. Chia seeds also help to keep you better hydrated which in turn will help keep your skin hydrated (less wrinkles, plumper and glowing skin). I love adding chia seeds to my post workout smoothies and chia seed pudding. Check out my blog post here about the benefits of chia seeds.

Beauty secret #3: Clean beauty products

There is a lot of crap in most beauty care products, even the ones that claim to be clean. Toxic chemicals can be hazardous to your health as well as damaging to your skin (even though they claim to help you achieve better skin). Using apps like the EWG app and Think Dirty app, I was able to clean up my beauty counter. I found brands like True Botanicals, OSEA and Vapour Beauty whose products are filled with real ingredients that help you achieve better skin health.

Beauty Secret #4: Coconut

I am a big coconut lover. It is my favorite flavor ice cream and my favorite scent (mostly because it reminds me of vacation). I am not just obsessed with the taste of coconut products, I am obsessed with the benefits coconuts have. Coconut oil has SO many benefits. It is filled with healthy fats which are amazing for achieving healthy skin from the inside-out and it is also an amazing luxurious full body moisturizer (I always keep a jar in the bathroom for using after the shower, plus it works as an all natural lubricant *wink, wink*). I am also obsessed with the flesh from the coconut. I add it to my smoothies for additional healthy fats.

Beauty Secret #5: Facial Oils

I went from being a wash and moisturizer kind of girl to a wash and facial oil only kind of girl. I haven’t used moisturizer in a long time and I have gotten more compliments on my complexion more than I ever have before. I was always told to steer away from oils when I was younger, I used oil free face wash and oil free moisturizer. I was stripping my skin of oil because I was afraid of acne and I was drying it out in the process. I started using facial oils a couple years ago as a recommendation from another blogger who was sharing how she prepped her skin before getting her makeup done. After careful research, I realized how genius it was! Skin needs oil to stay hydrated and healthy. I began incorporating pure argan oil and rose hips oil. I then went on to discover non toxic oils (which can be found below). You don’t need to toss your moisturizer, but I do recommend applying a facial oil to your skin before moisturizer.

Beauty Secret #6: Hyaluronic Acid

You may have seen hyaluronic acid products everywhere, since they are gaining popularity, but did you know that the body naturally produces hyaluronic acid too?! Its number one job is to help keep your skin hydrated and supple. Foods that help produce more hyaluronic acid in the body are Vitamin C and amino acid rich foods: oranges, kale, red peppers, brussels sprouts, etc. I also love adding hyaluronic acid into my skin care routine. Check out my favorite hyaluronic acid product in the product section below.

Beauty Secret #7: The perfect lip balm

I see dry lips everywhere (this is not pointed at anyone or to poke fun at anyone in any way shape or form). I see A LOT of lip balm products that people are using and they are not working! I learned through reading an article from Allure Magazine a few years back, that your lip balm should be oil based or else you will still have dry lips (and yes, healthy lips is healthy skin). If you don’t use lip balm, it is time to start! Your lips are apart of your skin and it is important to take care of them as well! Find my favorites below in the product section!

Beauty Secret #8: Ceramides

Ceramides help your skin retain moisture which benefits the complexion of your skin. As I mentioned above, hydration is key for skin health- it keeps skin moist, prevents wrinkles, keeps it plump and promotes healthy elasticity. You can find this in beauty products, but I love taking it in supplement form. Below in the product section is my go-to supplement Mighty Night that contains ceramides.

Beauty Secret #9: Collagen

Collagen is what makes up your skin as well as other parts of your body. Over time you lose collagen and wrinkles begin to take over. I was always skeptical about collagen supplements (I heard mixed reviews about how effective it really was) but I was willing to give it a try. After trying it out, I fell in love. On top of everything that I was already doing for my skin, it only added to the glow. I can say from experience that it helps with glowing skin and improves the health of skin. For more about collagen check out this blog post here that explains everything you need to know.

Beauty tip #10: Facial Oil before Facial cleanser

Something that I learned, throughout the process of finding the right skin care regimen, was that washing twice is the way to go. I don’t mean double washing with face wash, I mean doing a pre-cleanse and then face wash. I always start my night time skin care routine with a pre-cleanse: a facial oil. This takes off any makeup or dirt from the day. Then after removing the oil, I follow with my regular cleanser to get a full cleanse. This will ensure that all makeup and dirt is removed.

Beauty Secret #11: Invest in a good tinted moisturizer

Forget about using foundation every day and make tinted moisturizer your new best friend (especially in the warmer and humid months)! I save my foundation for days when I am shooting photos and videos, and I used tinted moisturizer on the other days. A good tinted moisturizer will leave your skin dewy and hydrated and not clog your pores plus it makes your complexion look fabulous. Makeup should be meant to enhance your natural beauty, not hide your natural beauty! Check out my favorite tinted moisturizer, in the product section below, that I have been using for years!

Beauty Secret #12: Exfoliate

Exfoliate 2-3 times a week! This is what is going to help rid your skin of SPF, product and dead skin buildup. I also recommend exfoliating your lips too! If you are prone to blackheads, this is an important action step to take to prevent and get rid of them.

Beauty Secret #13: Mask On the W’s

Wednesdays and Weekends (one day per weekend). I choose these days because it is easier to remember to do a face mask that way. Always exfoliate first then apply a face mask. I love face masks because they can help hydrate, tighten, tone and resurface the skin. I also love doing and under eye mask to help get rid of puffiness. I have a few face masks that I alternate between which you’ll see below!

Beauty Secret #14: Gua Sha or FAcial Roll

This is how I combat puffiness (especially on days I am exhausted). Check out my blog post here for the benefits of gua sha!

Products

True Botanicals Pure Radiance Facial Oil (If I were to recommend 1 product for you to splurge on, this would be it)

Lip Balm

Cocokind MyMatcha All Over Moisturizer Stick (especially great for under eye are and lips)

Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm

Exfoliator

Cocokind Sea Moss Exfoliator

Sunday Riley Good Genes All In One Lactic Acid Treatment (my go- to for fixing sun damage) (I leave this on overnight)

Facial Mask

True Botanicals Resurfacing Facial Mask

Summer Fridays R & R Mask

Hyaluronic Acid

Summer Fridays Cloud Dew Oil- Free Gel Cream (fabulous to use on top of facial oils)

Tinted Moisturizer

BareMinerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Hydrating Gel Cream Broad Spectrum SPF 30

Clean Makeup

Vapour Beauty Velvet Glow Foundation

Ilia Multi Stick (I use this for lip tint)

Ilia Limitless Lash Mascara

Bare Minerals

Supplements

Mighty Night from HUM Nutrition

Skin Squad Pre & Probiotic from HUM Nutrition

Red Carpet from HUM Nutrition

Kimberly Lee