6 Amazing Facial Cleansers I'm Loving Lately

For as long as I could remember, I have had problem skin the majority of my adolescent and adult life. Acne prone, oily and extremely sensitive. Great combination, right? Doesn’t help that a lot of what I do, I need to be in front of the camera so I try to beat any chance there is of a bad skin week. I actually like to use quite a few cleaners on and off throughout the week so that my skin never gets used to just one. I’ve found that actually makes a difference in how long a clear complexion lasts on me - much longer than my skin would be if I was just using one single cleanser multiple times a day per month!

Ultimate Repair Cleanser by Doctor BABOR

A mild, rejuvenating cleansing cream. Supports the skin's natural moisture barrier and leaves my skin silky smooth and moisturized after. Some days, I don’t even have to put on a moisturizer afterwards because my skin feels so hydrated.

Yes to Tomatoes Daily Clarifying Cleanser

I am addicted to how this one smells! It leaves my skin feeling smooth and looking radiant after. Love that it is made for acne prone skin with tomatoes, watermelon and red tea to keep the skin clear.

Collosol Eu De Lait

One product, 3 uses! This cleanser smells so luxurious, and is French so it adds to the fabulousness of this. But on another note, it’s super effective. It can be used as a makeup remover, a face and body cleanser, and can even be used as a tranquil soap in the bath.

Dream Clean Cleanser - LimeLife by Alcone

This amazing cleanser gently foams as a result of its natural fruit extract, Soapberry. This ingredient also combats acne-causing bacteria and inhibits melanin production, reducing the appearance of age spots and sun damage. Love how it’s very soothing and light on the skin.

Lytic Gel Cleanser by Epionce

A must-have for oily and problem skin types!  It effectively dissolves dirt, oil and makeup, and calms the visible appearance of irritated skin without over-drying or leaving the skin feeling tight or stripped of its natural oils. Once you towel dry your face, you’re left with a very fresh, almost light minty feeling.

#GETWOKE Exfoliating Cleanser & Mask - as|if by Nassif

Dr. Paul Nassif is legendary, and is a total skincare guru. He kills it on E!’s Botched, but his latest skincare line targets millennials with a mission to prevent future complexion problems. To put it simply, it helps to erase the sins of yesterday to set skin up for a fresh start each day for years into the future. Three-in-one formula cleanses, masks, and exfoliates skin all at once. In minutes, the purifying clay-cleansing mask dissolves makeup, oil and cell build-up.

Brunch to Babe Bod | 5 Tips for Detoxing and Toning After Overindulging on the Weekend

I am the first to admit I have a hard time avoiding the temptation to indulge on the weekends. I love my brunch (that’s no question), an impeccable libation, and welcoming alllll the carbs into my tummy whether it be french fries (my ultimate fave) or a thick slab of avocado toast (I know you’re probably laughing because avocado toast isn’t that bad, but the feeling after you eat a huge piece of bread isn’t always the most comforting, haha).

Although I like to give into my cravings, I find that I am even more addicted to feeling lighter, both mentally, physically and energy-wise. Having no boundaries with food and drinks over the weekend definitely contributes to that good old bloated, fatigued feeling first thing on Monday morning.

However, through my avid years of dedicated brunching, I’ve figured out a couple methods that help me reset and feel good for the week. Here are my recs for going from brunch on the weekend to getting back to your BABE BOD.

A GREEN DETOX JUICE FIRST THING IN THE MORNING

I specifically love the Toxin Flush juice from Nekter Juice Bar. It’s made with parsley, spinach, apple, lemon, and ginger. This drink will help your body to naturally rid itself of toxins in the blood and liver. I always ask for extra ginger too! I feel like it helps to jumpstart the cleansing. I feel best when I drink this in the morning. I don’t even necessarily feel like I need a second coffee during the day (which is a miracle in itself) because it gives me a good natural boost of energy.

INTENSE SWEATING

I am the biggest advocate for barre because it’s a super fast-paced cardio work out that also incorporates isometric movements and serious toning segments. I have been doing it for years and it has been the one thing that continuously keeps me sane! There’s nothing worse than feeling flabby, especially after overindulging and just by taking a few of these classes, you honestly feel such a difference in muscle tone and it’s soooo satisfying. I also love a good hot yoga session. You could just FEEL the toxins release and there’s nothing better than feeling that. Both are great anti-inflammatory practices and get you back into your regular long, lean and toned regime.

GO VEGAN

For the most part, I do try to stick to a plant-based diet excluding any time when I am ordering out. I find that sticking to just fruits and veggies gives me a natural energy and rejuvenation that I don’t typically get when I eat animal products. Quite frequently, when I consume anything that has animal-derived ingredients, I not only feel sluggish but I actually break out on my face. Even if you’re not 100% vegan, going a couple days without eating meat or dairy can definitely be a good switch-up and reset for the body.

ZONE OUT

I find that in a lot of ways, a healthy body stems from a healthy mind too. After the weekend concludes, I like to take some time to just be alone, go for a walk or sit somewhere quiet and peaceful and clear my mind out. It helps me to refocus my energy, set intentions for the week and turn the motivation back on.

DRINKING LEMON OR CHLOROPHYLL WATER

Both are soooo cleansing and have great benefits to help rid of toxins in the body. So necessary for a hangover, too. I try to drink a ton normally, but on a Monday it really helps to get your system back into gear. I find that if I am drinking significant amounts of either on a Monday and continue through Tuesday, usually by late Tuesday or early Wednesday I am feeling back to my normal self.

Look, at the end of the day eating and drinking things you wouldn’t normally consume during the week is inevitable. You’ve got to ENJOY your life! But now that I’m in my late 20s I realize and acknowledge that I can’t just bounce back as easily as I used to at 22. But, luckily with some dedication, I (and you can too!) can feel back to normal a-sap.

A Life Changing Work Out with Mark Wahlberg | Motivation, Dedication & A Good Cause

The last 2 days this week have been absolutely killer in the best ways possible. I was fortunate enough to experience an incredible cause: AQUAhydrate hosted a functional-training session at F45 in West Hollywood to support Wounded Warrior Project, alongside the legendary Mark Wahlberg. Wounded Warrior Project is an initiative that Mark stands behind; it is a charity and veterans service organization that offers a variety of programs, services and events for wounded veterans of the military actions following September 11, 2001. Wounded veterans and service members include those who incurred a physical or mental injury, illness, or wound while serving in the military on or after that timeframe.

Before our first work out on Wednesday, WWP had veterans attend the class as well. Specially, one incredibly strong vet with prosthetic legs spoke about his experience with and talked about how supportive the organization has been since day one of being admitted into the hospital. He spoke confidently that although he has this disability, it didn’t define his life which I felt was incredibly inspirational. The fact that he could do the work out we were about to do just as efficiently, if not even better than us was really moving.

I actually got the chance to speak with Mark along with my friend Taylor, and he explained to us why he is so passionate not only about the organization, but about the work out as well. For him, strength, motivation, dedication and supporting others is a top priority for him and every time that he works out at F45, he sees people from all walks of life gain strength, smile and continue to build each other up. He even went into detail about his own life changing trip to Afghanistan to visit troops in 2010, and how he viewed little villages from a helicopter. He went on to say how unbelievable it was and how dramatically different life is there. It was so evident that in our conversation, you could see where Mark’s passion for helping others lies. Seeing firsthand things that soldiers have to experience is something he holds close to him and takes with him every day. It was a totally unexpected conversation, and we talked about it for quite sometime.

Not only was the story eye-opening, but it was so refreshing to talk to someone in the celeb world who isn’t jaded at all; in fact, Mark is quite the complete opposite. He is so humble, personable, down-to-earth and he exudes that he is naturally just a good soul with good intentions. He went on to say that no matter your political view or religion, it’s important to recognize and honor those who have served.

We went on to do the F45 work out on Wednesday (which was filled with crazy-good cardio - no seriously, by the end of the 45 minute session I was drenched in sweat and beyond flushed, haha! but in a good way) but thankfully maintained hydration with AQUAhydrate, the ideal water for working out: it’s ultra-purified, supplemented with all natural electrolytes and trace minerals and then elevated to an alkaline pH of over 9 using electrolysis. It is this powerful synergy between alkalinity, electrolytes and minerals which fuels ultimate hydration, balance and performance.

We went to another session on Thursday morning at the Sherman Oaks location. It was awesome to see Mark again and see a whole new bunch of people (a massive group) who are so dedicated to improving themselves mentally and physically. The entire work out is truly uplifting and you get support and motivation from everyone in the room. Day 2 was a lot of lifting which I loved, and it was good we got a break from the cardio! But it still was an insanely intense work out. The great part is you can go at your own pace, and you still can get the results you desire. BTW - Mark is a b e a s t. His strength is incomparable!!! It’s evident that he is a big inspiration in the gym.

I wasn’t familiar with the F45 work out before this, but it’s safe to say now I am addicted! I am looking forward to incorporating this workout into my usual fitness and wellness routine. There’s no going back now!

Huge thanks to AQUAhydrate, Wounded Warrior Project, F45 and Mark Wahlberg for an amazing workout and for a newfound awareness of these awesome initiatives.

The $5 Product That Will Change How You Shower

[This post is sponsored by Olay, all opinions are my own]

When I have a brunch outing, it’s typically an all day affair. Especially here in SoCal, with the weather being endlessly warm and sunny, there’s always an option to continue spending the day dining alfresco and brunching til the sun goes down. I like to always be prepared and of course smelling as fresh and smooth as possible. You know in this summer heat, there’s a lot of no sleeve and dress moments happening! 

That being said, in the mornings pre-brunch I always make time to wake up and feel rejuvenated with a nice shower or bath. I make it a point to incorporate an enjoyable and relaxing moment of my day before the craziness begins. My new favorite go-to for the most delightful cleanse? Olay Foaming Whip Body Wash! 

Picture this: a dreamy, foamy, silky smooth marshmallow-like cloud on your skin that smells sweet and fresh and rinses off leaving only lusciously soft skin from head to toe. Sound too good to be true? Far from it. 

The foam literally is the silkiest, fluffiest formula that gently cleanses, and once shaken and dispensed from the bottle, comes out as a thick and luxurious foam. Once you smooth it on, it’s the creamiest lather! Not to mention, it smells beyond amazing. It comes in 3 scents: Shea Butter, White Strawberry & Mint (my personal fave) and Birch Water & Lavender. The scent lingers for hours which is perfect for my long days of being out and about. I can count on the body wash to keep my skin fresh for so many hours. I love that it's super inexpensive too - only $4.99 at most retailers.  

All you need is a small amount because the foam truly goes a long way. In each bottle you can get 30+ shower uses! I’m able to savor my body wash for multiple washes instead of going through the bottle in just days – something I find myself continuously doing.

Until I rub the wash in, it stays perfectly in the swirly shape that it was dispensed in my hand or on my arm, like a puffy little meringue! It doesn’t get any sweeter than that. Seriously, I’ve put the foam wash on my hand, flipped my hand over and it stayed in the exact same place the entire time. I don’t know of any other body wash that does this and actually works.

The fact that it does not fall off your hand or melt away the moment it hits the skin makes for an even deeper clean and smoother skin texture. Not going to lie, I have a little bit too much fun playing with the foam – it’s so satisfyingly soft and foamy you can’t help but lather a small mountain of body wash in your hand and continue rubbing it in for minutes!

Since incorporating Olay’s Foaming Whip Body Wash into my shower routine, it has completely made my shower experience more enjoyable and made me feel fresher and softer than ever. Needless to say, the Foaming Whip Body Wash is my newest obsession! You can find it at your favorite local retailer; in-store at Walgreens or on Olay's website.

Photography by: Rebecca Gnasso