Is it just me or any of y’all still having breakouts? I am in my early 30′s and I thought breakouts would be a thing of the past…but they’re not! If you’re a regular reader on the blog you know that I’m a huge fan of Mario Badescu facials. And you also know that although I’m offered many free spa treatments that this is where I go and pay full price because I think they’re the best. They’re the only spa in New York that I trust at this point. I have come to believe that the major reason for my skin’s recent success rate of reduced breakouts is because of Mario Badescu products as well as one other new natural company: Citrus Clear. A few friends have asked me lately what I use and which products are my favorite so I thought I would share it with the rest of you as well.

Best Acne Cleansers:

I switch off between Mario Badescu’s Acne Facial cleanser and Citrus Clear’s Antibacterial Acne Wash. Mario’s Acne was gives a super fresh feeling. It contains a combination of soothing as well as acne treating fighters. There is chamomile and aloe vera to heal and also salicylic and hyaluronic acids to help maintain my skin’s moisture balance.

I usually use Mario’s cleanser at night and then use Citrus Clear’s Acne Wash in the morning. Citrus Clear is a holistic skincare line that I found. I love that their acne products use lots of natural ingredients like potent citrus juices and extracts. Plus, it’s a great product to start your day–it smells wonderful! All lemony and refreshing!

Best Acne Treatment Products

Mario Badescu’s drying lotion is probably what put the brand on the map. It’s a cult favorite by celebrities and makeup artists. This spot treatment works on your blemishes while you sleep. It sucks the pimple dry. It has healing and anti-redness properties from the calamine and zinc as well as salicylic acid and sulfur. It’s a genie in a bottle! I’m not kidding. I applied this to a few blemishes I had and when I awoke in the morning they were half the size they were the night before. They had significantly shrunk and were far less red. This is a new and imperative part of my evening cleansing routine. I even chase my husband around to attack any blemishes he’ll let me get!

Another product I like to use is Citrus Clear’s Grapefruit Acne Spot Treatment. It’s basically just a super high dose of salicylic acid. It helps treat as well as prevent. But unlike Clearasil, it’s made with 100% naturally derived grapefruit extract and vitamin C. I use this stuff in the morning on current blemishes but also as a preventative treatment. I love this because it doesn’t dry my skin out the way Clearasil and Oxy products used to yet is just as effective minus that burn you got used to in high school.

Another star treatment product that I adore is Silver Powder by Mario Badescu. This powder works to help loosen clogged pores and blackheads. You use it once or twice a week to keep up a healthy complexion. I love this, it’s like a way more effective version of those dumb Biore strips.

So there you have it. These are the goodies I use to keep my skin looking its best. And notice I didn’t say perfect because I definitely still get breakouts. But after 30 years of dealing with them and trying every single product out there, these are definitely my two favorite brands and these are my superstar products that I use daily. I’ve found them to work better than Retin-A, Differin Gel, Cleocin, and every other product I’ve tried out there.

If you haven’t read, my other favorite product that I use a few times a week is my Clarisonic.

Le Beurre Shop is a skin care company that celebrates, honors, and highlights one of nature's most excellent creations – Shea Butter! What I like about this company though is that they actual keep the ingredients in an unrefined and pure state. Le Beurre Shop's mission is to introduce the world to simple, natural skin care products that invigorate and elevate all skin types to its original state of beauty. They use only authentic, high quality, 100% natural ingredients – incorporating them into a harmonious blend with all things shea.

Le Beurre Shop has created a skin care line where Shea Butter is the star ingredient. All of its products contain over 80% Shea Butter blended with an array of essential oils designed to balance and enhance the tone and texture of your skin. Le Beurre Shop introduces the latest in modern skin care with its signature product, Beurre Essentiel – a nutrient rich, luxurious face and body shea butter cream designed to moisturize, enrich, and revitalize your skin. Infused with skin quenching oils and the natural healing elements of shea butter, Beurre Essentiel feeds your skin with the fortifying nutrients that restore your skin to it soft, supple, natural tone.

Le Beurre Shop was generous enough to send over a few samples of their glorious and rich creams. I am obsessed with how ungreasy I felt after slathering them on my winter-worn skin. I usually steer away from scented products since they are usually artificial, however in this case since I knew LBS only used essential oils I felt comfortable trying out the Lavender and Vanilla. The vanilla was my favorite. It is so sweet and natural. My husband loved it too. He thought I smelled like fresh cookies! And ladies, trust me, you want to smell like cookies!!!

As Le Beurre Shop continues to grow, they will be adding a skin care line for men, babies, people with sensitive skin and a luxury line which will introduce you to exotic oils and fragrances from around the globe.

Le Beurre Shop products are available online

There's a fine line between looking beautifully sun-kissed and resembling a member of the Jersey Shore cast. Here's how to avoid the latter from Total Beauty Experts!

When it comes to flawless faux tans there are a few celebrities fighting for the top spot: Jennifer Lopez, Jennifer Aniston, and Kate Hudson. While the Jens have certainly mastered the art of golden skin, no one glows on a red carpet quiet like Kate. So how can you be a bronze goddess like her? Simple: Score the best products and know exactly how to apply them.

Follow these tips and you'll look fresh off a long weekend in Bora Bora — minus the jet lag.

Step 1: Exfoliate

Before you even remove your tanner from under your bathroom sink, be sure your canvas is as smooth as a Justin Timberlake song. This means exfoliating from head to toe. Women with sensitive skin should opt for a sugar scrub, such as Fresh Brown Sugar Body Polish, $38:http://www.totalbeauty.com/reviews/product/6147051/fresh-brown-sugar-body-polish

It won't cause irritation but will rid your body of any flaky skin.

 Another essential step before using self-tanner is to shave your legs. This will keep splotches and streaks from appearing during application.

Step 2: Apply the tanner

While there are tons of terrific tanners out there, we recommend Bliss A Tan For All Seasons, $36:

http://www.totalbeauty.com/reviews/product/162619/bliss-a-tan-for-all-seasons

The spray is easy to apply, dries quickly, and you can turn it in every direction. Be sure to mist evenly and go slowly to see exactly where the color is landing. To avoid dark patches, apply a dab of lotion to elbows, knees, and ankles to ensure they don't absorb more color.

Step 3: Layer bronzer

To make sure your face matches your glow from the shoulders down, apply a tinted moisturizer all over your face and neck. We recommend Nars Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30, $42: http://www.totalbeauty.com/reviews/product/6492932/nars-pure-radiant-tinted-moisturizer-broad-spectrum-spf-30

 Next, layer a shimmer bronzer such as Lauder Bronze Goddess Soft Shimmer Bronzer, $32:http://www.totalbeauty.com/reviews/product/6007911/estee-lauder-bronze-goddess-soft-shimmer-bronzer

You want to apply this to all areas the sun would natural hit first: your hairline, bridge of your nose, chin, cheekbones, shoulders, and collarbone.

Step 4: Even out any streaks

Hopefully your tan looks as flawless as Kate's, but if you spot a few streaks, lighten up uneven dark spots by scrubbing with lemon juice. Or darken missed areas by applying shimmer bronzer.

Conveniently located just outside of Grand Central Station, this celeb-favorite is a one-stop-shop for all of your beauty needs. You can get anything from a skilled haircut to expertly done makeup to a manicure. The salon, however, specializes in customized hair-extensions and hair loss solutions. You know, after you go to the other salons and they make your hair fall out, these guys will fix it. Or you could just come here in the first place and save yourself a headache.

The salon, which is a favorite of discerning celebrity clientele, offers a high level of professionalism and privacy. In fact, for celebrities wishing to remain anonymous, they can get off the elevator and be quickly ushered into a private room. But these private rooms aren't just for the celebrities. If you're going to be in the salon all day getting hair extensions in, you can have your own room where you can unwind, relax and basically make into your own private space.

Even if you're just coming in for an expert cut or color, the salon offers every new client a complimentary consultation in one of their private rooms where they'll analyze your hair and suggest the best solutions. 

I was lucky enough to be asked by the salon to do a review for you guys and I must say I am very impressed, not only with the service I received, but with my fabulous new haircut. When you walk in you are immediately offered coffee, tea or cookies, a gesture that goes a long way with this girl. I then had a wash and cut in the main room, which is minimalist yet cozy. From the instant I sat in the chair, I could tell that I was in the hands of an expert. Those of you who know me know that I don't let just anyone trim these locks. Usually I go for the 2-inch trim but this time I let my stylist get carried away cutting angles and layers galore. Although I was silently freaking out every time I saw a four-inch piece of hair drop to the floor, it was totally worth it. It is as if my haircut was given CPR, all of a sudden it has life again! 

No more Cher looking haircut for me! I will have to post a photo of me in the future when I am in Paris. Although the stylist did an insanely amazing job, he couldn't help my tired eyes and puffy face. And I just couldn't let that picture circulate on the internet. 

I highly recommend this salon if you need a salon you can trust that's conveniently nestled in the convenience of Midtown NYC. 

For more information about Angelo David, visit its website or in person:

48 E. 43RD STREET, 2ND FLOOR
New York, NY 10017
646-666-7300 | 212-883-6620
INFO@ANGELODAVID.COM

There's a chair waiting for you….

Oscar winner, Jennifer Lawrence is one of my favorites. I just love her say-it-like-it-is attitude and her dead-on honesty. I have yet to see Silver Linings Playbook but this makes me want to. She's so adorable and I love her commentary about mental health stigmas. Even better, her response when the press asks if she is peaking too early in her career. She nailed these interviews with her effortless cool yet adorably awkward ways. 

Are you obsessed with the ombre hair look like I am? I just adore it. Problem is, I don't really want to dye my hair for a trend like this. I mean, I won't even commit to platform sneakers. So there is no way I'm bleaching or dyeing the bottom of my do.

That's why I was so psyched when HAIRUWEAR offered to send me their new ombre extensions. The entire hairdo collection is inspired by styles that Ken Paves created for his celebrity clientele. They're super affordable (only $49.00), lightweight, and easy to attach. You can put in these extensions in a matter of minutes. All color selections are made from a blend of seven to 11 shades to get the most believable result. I tried out the Black Plum and it really blended so well.

These are great for any woman who wants to add ombre color, length, and volume to her hair without having to make a commitment. One size fits most.

They're super easy to stick in, I did it without a mirror. But have someone double-check that you can't see them peaking through the back. That would be no bueno.

For more information, find these fab ombre extensions online.

Fragrance is a classic gift to create romance and warm ambience. Lighting a candle transforms your apartment into a peaceful sanctuary in moments. Just picture it, reading a book on the couch on a Saturday night, kinda lame. Reading a book, curled up the couch with a snuggly blanket next to a luxurious scented candle? So much better. I particularly love Krigler fragrance candles, which are sheer, warm, and sexy. I was lucky enough to receive a sample in the mail just yesterday, perfect for Valentine's Day, right?And it's the Sparkling Diamond candle! 

Created in 1922 in Monte Carlo, the unique Sparkling Diamond 22 is based on nectar of Champagne with strawberry, coconut, musc. An intense, fresh, refined fragrance, perfect for setting a romantic mood in your apartment. I used to think that candles at Duane Reade would do the trick but it's just not true. Cheap candles' fragrances are overwhelming and frankly they just smell cheap. Krigler, a noted perfumer nails its candles' scents perfectly with just the right amount of zest. You can smell them but they doesn't overwhelm your senses. 

You can pick up a Krigler Candle online for about $65. I'll be on the couch snuggled up by mine…

*Sample was provided as consideration for this post but as always, opinions herein are my own. As always, no one can buy my love. Except my husband.*