Getting Rid of Acne: Skin Care Boot Camp with Jane Norman-20 Days to Clearer Skin

Have you ever met someone who inspires you in every way? Someone who is so passionate about what they do that it could make you cry knowing you have finally met the one who can actually help you? I met that person and can not believe how much my life has changed in a matter of moments. I can't wait to tell you how spectacular this will be and share the results on camera.

I began this blog for one reason:
To show people that things aren't always as difficult as they may seem with a little help from someone who has been there, done that and willing to share that experience. It is my mission to increase the confidence of my readers one tip at a time by demystifying beauty, fashion, health and wellness one tip at a time. To make intimidating subjects more approachable while remaining accessible and affordable. I rely on industry experts resources to keep my information current and valuable. Sometimes I am the one in need a tip too. Here's my story...

Heartbreaking Acne
Most of my adult life I have had acne. As I moved from a teen to an adult, I started experiencing extreme hormonal breakouts on my chin and near my jaw line. It was painful, hard to look at and made me feel terrible. It was crushing.

In the last three years, I have lost my confidence on more than one occasion due to an extreme break out on my face, back and even my chest. I am always conscious of how I am standing, which side is to the camera and if my tank top shows too much skin. The kicker in all this, is that it is getting WORSE with age. The reality of it is that I am a thirty something with worse acne than when I was a teenager.

I have experienced many different treatments, many different products, spent numerous dollars, exhausted time trying to figure this out for myself with some results but nothing earthshaking. The bottom line: I don't know what I need, I know what I want. I need an expert.

Last Friday, I experienced a glimmer of hope.

Hope that this will one day pass and with the right care, stay away for good. I met a trusted authority who places my needs first. One who genuinely cares about who I am, what my skin care goals are, and remains conscious of my budget. For the first time in fifteen years, I feel beautiful without makeup and this is just the beginning.

I invite you to join me on this journey and see my progression as I begin to experience the treatments that are customized to my skin care needs. Understand that this is a lifestyle change not a 20 day hiatus. With any change, new habits are formed and I will share those with you. The photo below illustrates the redness throughout my nose, blemishes on my cheek and jawline, scaring near my mouth and on my chin, the inconsistent coloring throughout my cheeks, age spots, freckles and other sun damage. Let's see how this changes!

<-------sun damage on forehead

<-----sun damage, dark spots around eyes and on cheeks

<------redness throughout nose and lower cheeks
<------Blemishes near ear and on cheek
<------Acne scars on chin near end of lip

Sunday Supper: Spinach and Garlic Chicken Sausage Over Fresh Fettucini

Close your eyes and imagine that you are sitting street side at a small table in a European restaurant. The streets are made of cobblestone and you have a panoramic view of the Mediterranean Sea and the beautiful architecture that was constructed by individuals far before our time.  The locals are casually coming and going from the market with raw produce and freshly made pasta in hand. Your server brings you a glass of the house wine and you order in anticipation of what is to come.

Like may places in Europe, the menu consists of five choices all of which are prepared that day with unprocessed ingredients. You aren't offered 45 menu choices or fifteen different dressings. You are offered seasonal slow cooked meals that can be enjoyed slowly and savored over great conversation. Your salad is simply tossed with olive oil and sprinkled with salt. Your wine is small glass and costs only a few Euros. It is a simple way of living well. Whenever I want to escape the pressures of the American lifestyle, I turn on some French or Italian music and begin to experience therapy in a whole new way by preparing a meal with fresh, local fare and paired with a beautiful glass of wine.

Today's dish is reflective of that mindset. It is simple and delicious made with fresh pasta and two of my favorite spring vegetables; spinach and english Peas. There is truly no comparison to freshly made pasta. An associate of mine to a trip to Italy to unwind after a family hardship and met her husband at a small cafe. They fell madly in love and returned to the states to start a family and a life here in San Francisco. We had the pleasure of dining at his restaurant where freshly made pasta is the only pasta that is on the menu. With every bite, you wanted more of this delicate brilliance. Since then, I seek out freshly made pasta whenever I can and I hope that you will too.

What You Will Need

Fresh Fettucini Pasta
English Peas
Fresh Organic Spinach (Why Organic? Click here)
1 Myer Lemon
Olive Oil
Sea Salt
Cracked Black Pepper
1 Small Yellow Onion
Garlic and Spinach Chicken Sausage

***Sugar Tip: You can find chicken sausage at your local butcher counter or you can buy it from Aidells

What To Do

In a large pan over medium high heat, add 2 T. olive oil. slice or crumble the chicken sausage.. Add to the pan. Dice onion and add to the pan. Stir to combine. Allow onions to sweat and caramelize approximately two-four minutes scraping the brown form the bottom of the pan. Stir in the English Peas. Bring water to a boil in a large stock pot. Your pasta will only take 2-4 minutes to cook so keep that in mind while cooking. It will be the last thing you do before serving. Ensure that your sausage is thoroughly cooked then add spinach and reduce heat to low. Cover the pan so the spinach wilts from the heat. Drop your pasta into the boiling water and allow to cook for a few minutes. Drain well- do not rinse. In a large bowl toss pasta with a touch of olive oil and a drizzle of lemon juice. Top with sausage mixture and toss. Plate in bowls and serve with a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc.

Gel Nail Polish Removal Process: Before and After Photos

I really liked having the gel nail polish on my fingernails for the past 13 days but it was time to take it off. It still shined but the edges were beginning to look grown out and I must say that my nails grew longer and faster with this polish on. Or at least it seemed so. I really like short nails and when I started to feel them tap on the keyboard, I wanted to cut them all off. I included the picture on the left for you to see how much they grew in the 10 days between photos.

I went to the same salon that I went to the first time. Typically if you go to have the polish put on there they will give you a discount to take it off. The process itself took a total of 15 minutes and I was on my way. The scraping and filing was the part I wasn't such a fan of. I would have rather let them soak longer so they could easily lift off.

My overall thought when I left was that I wasn't sure if I would do it again in the near future in order to let my nails breathe. My nails look good today, 24 hours later and my fear of ruining my nails has subsided. They look healthy which was my main concern. I love the gel polish and would recommend it for long vacations or events but maybe not as an everyday thing.

Previous Post: Are You Jellish? The Life Cycle of Gel Nail Polish

The Process:
My Manicurist filed the top layer off of each nail with a large file to expedite the acetone process. 

Acetone soaked cotton is applied directly to the top of the nail and wrapped in tinfoil to hold in place for 5 minutes.

The nail is then scraped in layers to remove the gel polish and the clear undercoat.

All the little flecks of polish.

The tops were filed with a small filing block and the tips were shaped to remove any leftover color. You can see the scrape marks that made me regret my idea. I came home to trim the nails and add nail oil to rehydrate. The photo below is what they look like 24 hours later. They look so much better today than when I left the salon.

Neutral Kind of Love: Romeo and Juliet Couture Tank

Swept up in the flurry of acquiring juicy rich hue after juicy rich hue as we charge furiously through the breezes of spring straight into the heat stricken arms of summer, I seem to have neglected my neutrals.  In a bad way.  And for that, old friends, I am deeply sorry. 

I make it a practice to limit my intake of jet black drama when the rays of sun are beaming down on my little piece of earth, however there is nothing more refreshing than a spot of creamy white and a whisper of cocoa or caramel.  With tiny ribbons of accents in charcoal and ebony.  Sounds kind of beautiful, no? 

I think I’ve found my perfect neutral for the season, thank you Neiman Marcus Last Call.  You never cease to amaze me.

The Semi-Sheer Printed Tank by Romeo and Juliet Couture, originally priced at $97…marked down to $55…and then on sale for 30% off…sold to me for less than $40.  I’m in serious neutral kind of love.  The print is so subtly striking, and reminds me of hand painted watercolor brushstrokes encircling the entire piece.  The print is set off perfectly on a chiffon fabric with pretty little buttons adorning the chest, and an empire waist for an airy sweeping boho style.  It is dreamy, beautiful, cool, perfect…oh yes, and made in the U.S.A. 

Neutrals, please forgive me, my neglect of you is inexcusable.  Thank you for understanding. 

***Sugar Tip:  Sign up for the mailing list at Last Call and receive coupon codes via email for savings on future purchases, free shipping and more!

 Style Tips

• Pair this with a pair of dark denim or navy shorts with a tall neutral wedge. The neutral colored shoe gives the illusion that your legs are longer. 
• Add long layered necklaces to draw the eye down offering contrast to the horizontal waves in the pattern. 
• Add a pop of color by choosing a bright colored clutch in coral or kelly green.

Want A Lift? Bumble & Bumble's Texture Adds Volume

I have always loved the way models have their hair styled in surf an swimwear magazines with their loose locks, partial waves, and semi matte look that win all the boys hearts.

I went to see Christina and she asked me if she could make a messy matte look on my hair and of course I said YES! I was headed to an event that night and was looking to switch up my style a bit. Other than getting rained on, it was perfect!

I found that I was having trouble getting volume around the crown of my head. She added some short layers and introduced me to Bumble & Bumble's Texture product. She said it creates a matte look with a playful tossed touch. Fabulous! I want it.  

She used a combination of products but the star was Bumble & Bumble's Texture. She gave me a sample to take home and try on my own and I have been hooked ever since. I use it for extra volume and semi-matte fun. It's even cute for a trip to the beach. I used it in the Zansus Photo Shoot as well (see below) and had serious lift that lasted the entire shoot. I love this stuff.

Cyn's Style Tips:  ***You will want to apply the texture to damp hair or towel dried hair.

• For a semi-matte look with volume around the crown: Apply a small amount to the palm of your hands, rub then smooth through hair at the root. Blow dry hair in layers from the base of the head to the crown with a bristle roller brush.
• For a matte, undone look: Apply about a quarter sized dollop of product to your palm and rub through the middle and to the ends. Apply any remaining product to the roots. Use a diffuser on your blow dryer and gently wrap hair around fingers as you dry to create light waves with texture. Lift hair near root to create volume as drying. 

Want More Fun? Go to Bumble & Bumble's website and enter your take on texture for a chance to win Bumble & Bumble products.  Sign in with your facebook account to upload photos and have some fun! 

Related Articles: 

Christina's Winter Hair Tip:Bumble & Bumble's Quenching Hair Masque

Color Your Hair Perfectly: Tips to Compliment Your Skin Tone and Add Depth

I Whip My Hair Back and Forth: Kerastase Hair Treatments for Immediate Visible Results

I Love Curls, Curls, Curls, Curls...Curl's I do Adore!