Hot Fun in the Summertime

Oh, how I love this weather. Warm, breezy, cloudless days perfect for tanning, spending the day in the backyard, and having lunch on the patio while the dog frolics on the lawn and takes a huge dump as we're eating. Really, dog? Really? You had plenty of time while our backs were turned to the barbecue, but decided to wait until we raised our forks to drop a deuce right in front of us. Thanks.

On a positive note, I'm actually getting a tan. Could be the high UV index and low SPF of the sunscreen, but hey, it looks good. And I haven't found any sign of melanoma, so I must be doing something right. It usually takes my pale white skin until August to get any sort of colour, but it's only the beginning of June and I don't look so transparent. I've also been playing baseball every weekend with my co-workers on a company team, so that may have something to do with it. I spent this past Saturday in the sun at my mother-in-law's (which made my 5-10pm shift kind of suck) and then played a double-header in the park on Sunday. Sufficed to say, this may be as bronzed as I get. Which is fine, because it means for the first time in years, I might actually get away with moving up one shade in my foundation. Eee! This is exciting to me. 

While we're on the subject of skin, I've recently realized how impressed I've been with mine. It's the smoothes and clearest it's ever been. I have a Garnier regime that I use every day and night, which I've only just realized was a strictly-Garnier regime. I bought all of the products separately and at different times, not really thinking about brand, just needing something (preferably on sale). 

The Skin Renew Gel-Cleanser is really nice; it comes out onto a soft bristle head (there's probably around 45-50 soft rubber bristles) and cleans away a lot of the dirt and makeup on my face. It has Vitamin B5, Vitamin E and Green Leaf extract, which is supposed to make it more 'soothing'. And it is a nice gentle cleanser that makes my skin feel amazing. I don't find it quite exfoliating enough for my skin, so I prefer to use it on it's own in the morning, or in the evening after I use my St Ives apricot scrub. I use the Lift Anti-Wrinkle & Firming moisturizer in the morning, it doesn't leave my skin feeling greasy or dry, it's just the perfect amount of moisture. And with an SPF of 15, I know my skin's going to be protected from the sun. Then I go in with the Ultra-Lift Anti-Wrinkle Eye Roller, which is amazingly refreshing, especially during these hot months. Seriously, can we get a mega-roller ball for the rest of the body? I don't need it to have any sort of anti-aging properties, I just need it to feel like a giant ice cube minus the drippy mess. Is that weird? Probably. 
My evening moisturizer, the Ultra-Lift Anti-Wrinkle Firming Night Cream, is just as moisturizing as the day cream, but a little heavier. It's not greasy or anything, I just feel like it's a little thicker, which I'm alright with since I'm not putting makeup over it and it's getting washed off in the morning. 
I've also tried their Dark Spot Treatment Mask and it's aaaaamazing! Seriously, I've never felt anything like it. It so moisturizing and refreshing, and it makes my skin look and feel 10 times better than it did before. I have combination skin that gets drier in the winter and oilier in the summer.

Are we seeing a pattern here with all of these products? Yes, I'm starting to worry about wrinkles. I'll be 30 next year, and two young kids who drive me to my breaking point on an almost daily basis, so my skin is starting to show some of this stress. We'll see how this stuff works. Fingers crossed. 

-N