I Did 20,000 Crunches In 30 Minutes And This Is What Happened...

I did 20,000 crunches in 30 minutes. Yup. And that sounds impossible. Because it basically is. But nearly anything is possible when you visit Jeannel Astarita of Just Ageless at 11 Howard.

Astaria is on the forefront of cutting edge beauty technology as she performs everything from laser treatments to silk peel facials to using cool-sculpting machines. 

Although, this time I didn't get my regular facial with Jeannel. I tested out the new Emsculpt machine which is placed on your stomach to reduce fat and build muscle. The machine varies in intensity as a 30 minute session can be equivalent to 20,000 crunches. 

Recently, I have been working on abdominal strength and achieving the perfect six pack. Even though I am close, I needed the extra push (because I am not ready to say goodbye to french fries). The Emsculpt machine not only eliminates your fat, but aids in strengthening your core, which will allow you to complete your abdominal workouts more efficiently and improve in new areas of fitness.

I relaxed as the machine was strategically placed on my lower stomach where I experience the most fat. The machine subtly jolts your core in intervals then goes in to resting periods. Jeannel described these contractions akin to giving birth.

The whole experience was weird - but in the best way possible. At first I had the giggles from even using this machine to begin with, but as I eased in to it, I felt less guilty for having french toast earlier, and learned how cool and innovative this technology really is.

About 2 days later is when I really noticed the change in my workouts. I was able to complete my regular abdominal routine in longer sets while being able to perform new workouts I could not complete under normal circumstances.

Jeannel suggests to get this treatment 3-4 times to see the best physical and visual results. I definitely will be coming back to Astaria's office to do 20,000 crunches - no sweat involved.

 

Interview: Madelaine Petsch On All Things Beauty and Riverdale, and Inside Bioré's Event

You might know Madelaine Petsch as the vindictive Cheryl Blossom on CW's Riverdale, but I can honestly tell you that Petsch has nothing in common with her character besides their hair color and love for the country side. 

I met Madelaine a few days before her Bioré event at the Jonathan Simkhai fashion show, so I was shocked when Madelaine greeted me with a hug as I waltzed over to her. Madelaine is arguably the nicest celebrity I ever met.

As we got to talk about her first ever Fashion Week, Petsch confessed that she likes New York and it's buzz, but would never live here because she is a suburban girl at heart. Right after the event, Madelaine was scheduled to hop on a plane to get right back to filming her hit teen drama show, so it is only fitting that she is Bioré's new brand ambassador; a skincare brand that promotes efficiency and the elimination of acne - very relevant to her demographic, and frankly her schedule (or anybody who has quite the busy schedule).

After our photo op, which included a messy face wash battle, I sat down with Madelaine to get the full scope on her own skincare routine and Cheryl Blossom's beauty secrets.

DAVID: "What is one beauty product you can't live without on set?"

MADELAINE: "The Bioré pore strips... I am addicted to them!"

 

DAVID: "Describe what your skin was like in high school."

MADELAINE: "It was fine in high school, after I graduated high school I had cystic acne for like two years and it was awful. Then, it cleared up again. But it was all stress related, like its all from stress."

 

DAVID: "What is your beauty secret for great skin?"

MADELAINE: "After I've been on set all day and I've got a bunch of makeup on, I will actually triple wash my face with the Bioré Baking Soda Acne Cleansing Foam just to get all of it out, because one wash and even two washes I think isn't enough to get all of that makeup out of your pores."

 

DAVID: "What do you think Cheryl's beauty routine would look like?"

MADELAINE: "I mean I do it every morning in the makeup trailer, and it is long. And I feel like between me and you, and the rest of the people who read your blog, I really feel like Cheryl would have a professional makeup artist come to the house every day, don't you think?"

 

DAVID: "She would!"

MADELAINE: "She honestly would."

 

DAVID: "What brand of red lipstick does Cheryl always wear?"

MADELAINE: "It's a secret!"

 

Shop Madelaine's Favorites

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Let me know what you guys think in the comment section down below! Any feedback, suggestions, tips, and more. Hope you enjoyed this post. Stay Ruff!

New YouTube Video: The Best Face-Masks To Do With Your BFF

I collaborated with my fellow blogger bestie, Katie Sands, also known as ‘Honestly Kate’, to show you guys the best masks to do with your BFF from Dr. Brandt, whether it be at a sleepover or getting ready for a night out on the town.

SHOP THE MASKS

Let me know what you guys think in the comment section down below! Any feedback, suggestions, tips, and more. Hope you enjoyed this post. Stay Ruff!

#IWokeUpLikeThis Status: How To Save Your Skin Over-Night

We all have those days, and sometimes those days turn into weeks, and unfortunately even months. If you still don't know what I am hinting at - it is skin concerns; whether it be acne, dullness, dryness, oiliness, redness, irritation, or whatever your issue may be... this mask is here to save your skin (and you), overnight. 

Recently, stress from finals sent my skin into a frenzy, so naturally, I am in full-on recovery mode. It is important not to over or under exfoliate, and many don't realize as you strip away the surface layer of your skin, you need to equally hydrate. Hydration is the ultimate form of recovery for your skin. Diet, stress, antibiotic intake, and even harsh beauty products, are all factors that disrupt your skin's normal equilibrium, and in-turn, you can say goodbye to your once perfect complexion.

Now, the question is: how can one save such a disaster? And even further, achieve Beyoncé's "#IWokeUpLikeThis" status.

Dr. Brandt® Skincare's Hydro Biotic Recovery Sleeping Mask is the answer to all your prayers, leaving your skin effortlessly glowing. 

The way this mask works is that you apply it before you sleep, and leave it on throughout the night. You don't even need to wash it off the next morning! The mask targets your skin's barrier by repairing the damaged cells, giving off a healthy natural glow. 

As stated by Miami-based Dermatologist and Dr. Brandt Skin
Advisory Board member Dr. Shasa Hu, "Recovery and repair is
just as important for our skin as it is for our muscles. At the end of the day, our skin has been exposed to UV damage, thermal damage, environmental pollutants, and physical stressors. The nourishing blend of biotics and antioxidants in the Hydro Biotic Recovery Sleeping Mask offers what I call ‘Active Recovery’ for the skin, so we wake up with that morning glow." As I would like to say, no "halo" needed (Beyoncé pun).

Also, (the skincare nerd within me needs to share that) a really cool thing about the Hydro Biotic mask is that it isn't sticky like most overnight masks are. Bonus points for the amazing smell, kudos to the manuka honey and tea extracts. 

Apply this mask every night, and "sweet dreams". I do not apologize for the reoccurring Beyoncé puns.

Hydro Biotic

$52, Sephora

Shop Here

Let me know what you guys think in the comment section down below (and if you "woke up like 'dis")! Any feedback, suggestions, tips, and more. Hope you enjoyed this post. Stay Ruff!

Buy or Bye? The Millennial Pink Beauty Products That Are Worth All The Hype

The holy grail of beauty products are the ones that you want on your vanity at all times - for the 'gram and for it's magical wonders it does for your skin. How does one distinguish the beauty product that does both? In the Instagram Era, you are never quite sure if the opinions on the product are authentic, especially when certain sought-after packaging traits and brand names often take the lead, instead of the consumer. After using these products for weeks, and some even a couple months, I'm dishing out which pretty products also make you look pretty. 

The Exfoliator

Totally dying over Drunk Elephant's T.L.C Sukari Baby Facial! Baby Facial has three of my essential ingredients when looking for a product that will get the job done; glycolic acid, hyaluronic acid, and salicylic acids. This product is primarily glycolic acid as it peels your skin, killing dead skin cells, leaving your skin as soft as a baby... hence the name. The salicylic acid heals acne scars and destroys any remaining pimples, while the hyaluronic acid plumps the skin, giving it it's natural dewy glow. This product is a strong one, so incorporate it in your routine slowly, and know what ingredients do and don't work for your skin type. 

 

The Hydrators

Saturday Skin has been the latest brand I am obsessing over. Their sheet masks revive my skin after a long monotonous week of school, lack of sleep, and myriad of pizza consumption. I just throw on a brightening mask and chill out, and when I feel the mask getting a bit dry, I drench my face in their Daily Dew Hydrating Essence Mist - which is great to carry around for hydration all day. 

The Serum

Glossier's Super Glow serum gives me life... literally. The thing about this product that I love is that it give your skin instant gratification all while training your skin long term. The vitamin C brightens while the magnesium energizes, so to translate; you will look like the epitome of a Glossier ad. When Glossier sent me this serum, I was in love, and so were all of my friends and family. They all noticed a difference in my skin, complementing me on my skin's luminosity. You put this bad boy on before your moisturizer, then all your products glide on your face as the watery texture of the glow serum absorbs into your skin.

For extra dewiness, I love this rose oil, which smells heavenly, contains SPF 15, and is 50% off.

The Device

I Jade-roll so much that I can put it on my resume. This Mount Lai rose quartz facial roller is perfect, I like to put mine in the freezer and use it over a sheet mask, and also after I pile on all of my products. For those of you who don't know the many many benefits of jade-rolling; it reduces puffiness and inflammation, improves blood circulation, minimizes the look of pores, promotes lymphatic drainage, and relives facial and jaw tension.

The Lips

Chapsticks and lip moisturizers are a necessity for the cold Winter months. These are my three favorite that I keep in my bathroom, jacket pocket, and backpack at all times. (Left to Right) Glossier Balm Dot Com, C.O. Bigelow Rose Salve, Bliss Fabulips. 

Shop The Post

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Let me know what you guys think in the comment section down below! Any feedback, suggestions, tips, and more. Hope you enjoyed this post. Stay Ruff!

New YouTube Video: 5 Petroleum Jelly Beauty Hacks

Oil Is Not Counterintuitive When It Comes To Curing Acne / Oily Prone Skin

Acne has always been a battle of mine - despite it emerging rarely but always in the same stubborn vicinity of my T-zone. Sunday Riley sent the Ultra Clarifying Face Oil to me in the mail, and it has been such a lifesaver. These past two weeks my breakouts have been worse than ever, and my normal go-to products were not getting the job done. I always moisturize and dry-out my pimples, and the conflict is usually resolved within days. However, these couple of stubborn guys sitting on my forehead have not been bulging. With so many tests in school, my skin tends to mirror that of my stress level.

I had this unopened face oil on my desk for a little while now, and I had the perfect excuse to use my new goody. So I decided to breakout my Ultra Clarifying Face Oil from Sunday Riley (and yes, pun intended). I was a little skeptical at first, although, I heard great things about this product, I thought it was counterintuitive to apply oil on an area of my skin that was already oily. After I did my research, it actually trains the skin in producing less oil, causing your skin to breakout less!

When looking for a face oil make sure it is "non-comedogenic". Don't get scared by that big word - it simply means that the product wont clog your pores. This face oil specializes in getting rid of stubborn acne and blackheads by clearing congested pores with Salicylic Acid. Use this oil regularly about three times a week and allow yourself about three drops of the oil if you are using it on your whole face. And ladies - a cool tip that Sunday mentioned on the box is that you can incorporate it into your foundation.

When you pop open the oil it has a rustic plant-like scent and a green pigmentation. The green eventually melts into your skin, so don't be frightened by the pigmented color as it first hits your skin. This is all because there are a lot of organic ingredients within this oil, including, cucumber, black cumin, pomegranate, cranberry, apricot, licorice, eggplant, basil, turmeric, and  jojoba. By the way, I love jojoba oil because it resembles the oil that our own skin produces which helps maintain clear pores as I mentioned before.

After using this product - I highly recommend it. I thought I had my acne routine down but this was a total game changer in addition the drying and moisturizing of those little pimples. It turns out adding oil to breakouts isn't counterintuitive at all nor complicated to comprehend. Shop the product by clicking here!

Let me know what you guys think in the comment section down below! Any feedback, suggestions, tips, and more. Hope you enjoyed this post. Stay Ruff!

Spring Skincare Must-Haves

Hey guys! I think skincare is obviously important all year round, but as the seasons change, your skin does too. I think of Spring as the ultimate transitional period. The weather is really nice and calm, but can also fluctuate - today it was forty five degrees and on Sunday it was eighty three degrees. As a result, we have the tendency to breakout. If you were worrying about finding the perfect products, have no fear. The best SPF, moisturizer, face-mist, black-head remover, night cream, and more is included! Below I selected a bunch of different products that are great for Spring (and the Spring themed ones are my faves), that you can shop by simply clicking on the image of your selected must-have. I mean how cool are the floral printed nose strips from Bioré?!?!! 

Let me know what you guys think in the comment section down below! Any feedback, suggestions, tips, and more. Hope you enjoyed this post. Stay Ruff!

My 4 Favorite Carry-On Skincare Products

Tomorrow as I am flying to LA and packing my carry-on bag, I thought it might be cool to share with you guys my four favorite essentials to bring thirty thousand feet above the ground. First of all, when taking products they need to be less than eight ounces, so mini sized products are best! An important thing to remember when flying is that your skin can get super dehydrated and dry. So my favorite moisturizer and oil is a no-brainer. This moisturizer from Anita Celia MD is my favorite because it is light and gets the job done (bonus points because it makes my skin look extremely dewy). I love the rose stem cell oil from Peter Thomas Roth because of its smell, it smells like real roses and rose flavored pastries. Its extracted from six rose stems and contains SPF! I have talked about this oil countless times on Instagram and on my latest product haul video! But, before all of this I love to do a sheet mask. Sheet masks are so portable, easy to do, and clean - doing a clay mask on a plane is not smart at all. This pearl sheet mask from Tony Moly leaves your skin with a dewy glow! After all of these products, lets face it you are probably tired and you have the time to take a nap. I recently got a silk eye mask from Slip Silk Pillowcase. I love it so much - they are chic and soft. Silk is great for your skin, it allows antioxidants and amino acids to help repair skin cells, and condition your skin to keep it tight. If I have the energy and the time I also enjoy doing eye masks, nose strips, and/or a quick face mist. When you get off your plane you will look like you just got a facial! 

Let me know what you guys think in the comment section down below! Any feedback, suggestions, tips, and more. Hope you enjoyed this post. Stay Ruff!

New YouTube Video: Get Ready With Me / Saturday Morning Vlog

A lot of you guys have asked me many questions about my daily life and routines, so I took my camera around today to show you how I get ready on a typical Saturday morning.

Let me know what you guys think in the comment section down below! Any feedback, suggestions, tips, and more. Hope you enjoyed this post. Stay Ruff!

Flawless Skin 101: The Product That Will Prevent Cancers and You Have It Sitting In Your Home

Hey guys! So as many of you know, I just uploaded my new YouTube video, where I did a huge skincare product haul. I briefly mentioned the importance of SPF, and I got a couple e-mails afterwards asking more in depth questions. I felt it was appropriate to make this blog post, since SPF is my number one secret to perfect skin.

Here on my blog, I am always talking about the latest skincare gadgets and coolest luxury face masks, but today I am sharing with you the most effective weapon of them all, and you all have it sitting in your closet or travel bag somewhere. It is SPF, or more commonly known as sunscreen. The power of sunscreen is often unappreciated by many. I am going to change your perception today in this blog post. 

Having said that, I have hated sunscreen for years. When I am on a vacation, my parents force me into smearing it all over my face, body, and especially my nose, to prevent sunburns and skin cancers (don't worry, sunscreen actually makes your tan last longer). Over the past six months, I reevaluated my perspective on the long term and also present effects of sunscreen. Consequently, SPF has been essential in my everyday skincare routine - even on cloudy and rainy days.

Here's why: UVB Rays from the sun are constantly damaging our skin. And with the ozone layer deteriorating, and with the lack of protection from harsh rays from the sun, our skin is mirroring that of the ozone layer. SPF is that extra layer of protection to help not only prevent skin cancers but even wrinkles, dark spots, uneven skin tone, acne, oily skin, dry skin, and more! Whether you are a teen or an adult you want to prevent all of the above. Sunscreen or products infused with SPF are your secret weapon to keeping your skin flawless.

Even my favorite moisturizers and oils have SPF in them, and that is a plus for me! When shopping for daily products, a huge factor for deciding if I am interested in them, is if there is SPF in it. The Rose Stem Cell Oil by Peter Thomas Roth (which you can shop in my previous blog post or the "Shop My Favorites" section on my homepage) has SPF in it, and I love it because of that, the heavenly smell, and many more reasons! 

Anyways, there are different amounts of SPF in different sunscreens and products. SPF15 and SPF30 are most effective, and higher SPFs don't really work that well, even though any SPF is better than none. Also, fun fact, according to humantouchofchemistery.com, "...the founder of L'Oreal Company, chemist Eugene Schueller refined the invention and the first sunscreen made its debut in 1936."

I really wish that this post gave you a different outlook on sunscreen. This the first of many steps to achieving flawless skin. And when entering the battlefield, SPF is not your enemy. 

Let me know what you guys think in the comment section down below! Any feedback, suggestions, tips, and more. Hope you enjoyed this post. Stay Ruff!

New YouTube Video: Skincare Haul and Product Review

Recently, I visited Alison Brod Marketing and Communications's beauty closet, and received a ton of luxury skincare products! I selected my favorites out of the bunch that I got. Watch the video, and shop all the products in the carousel down below by clicking on the individual photo. 

SHOP MY FAVORITES

Let me know what you guys think in the comment section down below! Any feedback, suggestions, tips, and more. Hope you enjoyed this post. Stay Ruff!

Microneedling Is the Skincare Gadget That Will Change Your Skin

Microneedling is the key to smoother, tighter, and more youthful skin. Recently, it has become a staple in my skincare routine. Basically, the purpose of microneedling is to produce more collagen in your skin. Microneedling is typically done at clinics or with your dermatologist but now there are at home microneedling kits! I am always in love with trying new innovative skincare techniques to spice up my daily routine. Since I have heard so many great things about the GloPro (shop it here), when I got it sent to me, I couldn't wait to try! 

When I put the derma rolling kit from GloPro on my Instagram Stories, I got many questions as to what it actually was and did. When you roll the derma roller on your face, it actually ruptures and destroys the surface layer of your skin in attempt to speed up your collagen production. Most people are scared or intimidated by the idea of putting needles on your face, but I was up for the challenge. You might be saying "Ow! That must hurt!", but on the roller, there are tiny needles pinching your skin so you barley feel it.

It has this unique feeling that you know it is working but is not painful. After your skin is used to it, it feels relaxing. I love microneedling when watching my favorite TV shows (you can read that blog post here). At first, I thought that there would be instant results but you only see a difference after a couple weeks. The instructions suggest that you use the GloPro anywhere from 2-3 days a week. Also, using it during the nighttime is most effective since collagen production is higher. It definitely helps my skin seem tighter, less bloated, reduce fine lines, and even out my complexion. 

Before jumping into using your derma roller there are a few essential steps you need to follow. 

1. Wash your face

Many people tend to skip washing their face before skin treatments, but it is so important to get rid of that excess dirt and oils on your skin. The roller needs to be effective without anything blocking the target points of your skin. Plus, you don't want to puncture any type of "muck" further into your skin.

2. Use a Serum

My kit provided a serum, but any other serum will do! When choosing a serum, make sure it has no alcohol or acids in it. Apply the serum right after you finish rolling so it sinks into your skin. 

3. Clean the Roller

You want to sanitize your roller before using it again, you never want any filth penetrating back into your skin once you use it again. My kit came with an alcohol spray bottle, but you can use just about anything to clean your roller that is safe, such as rubbing alcohol. Cleaning is so so so important, don't get lazy!

Overall, my experience with the GloPro has been amazing! I do suggest you purchase a kit for yourself. But before doing so, know what works for your skin type. If your skin is very sensitive or irritated, I think puncturing fragile areas of your skin will only provoke further irritation. As I said, see if this product is right for you! I can only provide my experiences and expertise, but you should also educate yourself more with other reliable sources such as a dermatologist or magazine article. 

Let me know what you guys think in the comment section down below! Any feedback, suggestions, tips, and more. Hope you enjoyed this post. Stay Ruff!