Your Ultimate Autumn Skincare Routine: How to Keep Your Skin Glowing This Fall

There's no season quite like Autumn. The crisp, chilly air can feel rejuvenating after a sweltering and sticky summer. However, as the seasons become colder, humidity levels drop, which can lead to some not-so-rejuvenating side effects, like dry skin. 

You can never over-stress the importance of a skincare routine, but your daily skincare habits become especially important as the weather changes.

Fantasy Weekend at the 2019 Ohio Renaissance Festival

The Ohio Renaissance Festival is my family's favorite annual event. We love everything about the faire — the food, the people, the atmosphere, the shopping — and attend every year. For the 2019 Ohio Renaissance Festival, we attended during Fantasy Weekend. As always, we enjoyed ourselves to the fullest.

Face Washing 101: Method, Products, & More

Knowing how to properly wash your face is important to a healthy skincare routine. Washing helps remove dirt, oil, makeup, and other debris from the skin, reducing the risk of breakouts from clogged pores. However, if you're not using the right technique or not rinsing enough afterward, you could be doing more harm than good.

Let's learn more about face washing techniques, how to properly rinse, and which products to use after washing to keep your skin looking radiant.

DIY Plus Size Women's Pirate Costume with Corset

Pirate cosplay is one of my favorites so when my husband told me that we'll be attending the Ohio Renaissance Festival during Pirate Week, I started looking for pirate costume ideas immediately.

I couldn't find any inexpensive pirate costumes that I felt were suitable for my plus-size frame, so I decided to go with a DIY pirate costume instead. After all, pirate costumes are easy to throw together. To complete my costume, I used several items from a thrift store, my favorite leather boots, and my gorgeous black brocade steel-boned underbust corset from Orchard Corset.

Kids Dalek Costume Tutorial

It all started one cold night when our son, about 7-years-old at the time, mentioned a show called "Doctor Who." He had heard one of his favorite YouTube stars mention it. Wanting to know whether this show was appropriate, I did some research, found the newer series on Netflix, and invited my husband to watch it with me that night.

One episode turned into two, two episodes turned into three, and—well, you get the point. Our son, thanks to the help of a YouTube sensation, had turned his parents into Doctor Who fans. And thanks to our son, you get to see this awesome Dalek costume tutorial for kids!

Upgrade Your Skincare Ritual with These Aloe-Based Products

As the science of skincare continues to evolve, it's important we stay up-to-date on the ingredients we apply to our body's largest organ. Over time, science has shown us certain ingredients are allergens doing more harm than good (looking at you, Benzyl alcohol). On the other hand, we've also learned that some skincare ingredients are superior at protecting the skin.

Aloe is an excellent example of a superior ingredient, and it's one every person should have in their skincare arsenal. Whether you're using raw aloe or aloe-based skincare products, this natural gel deeply offers many benefits, including:

• Deep Hydration
• Skin-Soothing Properties
• Reduces Inflammation
• Enhances Collagen Production

If you don't want to slather sticky, raw aloe on your skin, Aloe-based skincare products, like those used in Lexli's line of skincare, are an excellent alternative. 

"We think of aloe as a pharmacy in a plant." - Dr. Wendell Winters, Professor of Microbiology, University of Texas Health Science Center

 

 Let's dive into some of their most popular products.

Lexli Aloe-Based ALOEGLYC Renewing Exfoliant

AloeGlyC® is an acid skin exfoliant, utilizing aloe and glycolic acid for gentle exfoliation. Despite having a pH similar to chemical peels, AloeGlyC does not have the same risks (burn and redness), thanks to its formulation. It's safe for daily use and designed to soften, smooth, brighten, and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It can even unclog pores and minimize their appearance.

The formula is smooth, creamy, and smells fresh and clean. It's easy to apply to the skin, gliding right on, and absorbing quickly.

INGREDIENTS: Organic Pharmaceutical-Grade Aloe Vera; Purified Water; Cetearyl Alcohol; Glycolic Acid; Lactose; Butylene Glycol; Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride; Cellulose; Tridecyl Stearate; Neopentyl Glycol; Dicaprylate/Dicaprate; Green Tea Extract; Tridecyl Trimellitate; Cetyl Alcohol; Ceteareth-20; Glycerin; Octyl Palmitate; Vitamin E; Salicyclic Acid; Polysorbate-60; Vitamin A; Phenoxyethanol; Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose; Chromium Hydroxide; Green Mica; Black Iron Oxide; Vitamin C; Glycereth-26; Jojoba Seed Oil; Dimethicone; Magnesium Aluminum Silicate; Vitamin B5; Xanthan Gum; Tetrasodium EDTA; Allantoin; BHT; Vitamin D3; Ethylhexlyglycerin; Sodium Metabisulfate; Vitamin C (encapsulated)

Lexli Aloe-Based Night Moisturizer

The Lexli Aloe-Based Night Moisturizer is a face and neck moisturizer that hydrates and softens the skin while you sleep. This is a must-have for those who experience dry skin regularly, as you can use it any time of day. It's rich in emollients and humectants that lock in moisture which minimizes transepidermal water loss (which can lead to dry, dull skin).

The thick cream doesn't leave the skin feeling greasy, tacky, or heavy. Those who suffer from seasonal dryness or sensitive skin may find immediate relief with this soothing cream. 

INGREDIENTS: Organic, Pharmaceutical-Grade Aloe Vera; Purified Water; Isopropyl Palmitate; Cetyl Alcohol; Glycerin; Sorbitol; Dimethicone; Stearic Acid; Glyceryl Stearate; PEG-100 Stearate; Laureth-4; Glycosaminoglycans; Soluble Collagen; Jojoba Seed Oil; Safflower Oil; Sodium PCA; Isopropyl Palmitate; Isopropyl Myristate; Petrolatum; Polysorbate-80; Carbomer; Botanical Fragrance Extracts; Phenoxyethanol; Ethylhexylglycerin; Triethanolamine

Lexli Aloe-Based Revital-Eyes Rejuvenating Eye Cream

The Lexli Revital-Eyes Rejuvenating Cream is an eye cream that firms, tones, and soothes. It hydrates the thin skin around the eyes and the ingredients also contain anti-inflammatories like licorice root and chamomile. It's rich in vitamins to help reduce any dark spots or redness under or around the eyes.

This sweet-smelling formula is thick and rich, leaving the skin around the eyes feeling soft, supple, and soothed.

INGREDIENTS: Organic, Pharmaceutical-Grade Aloe Vera; Purified Water; Cyclomethicone; Glycerin; Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride; Sorbitol; Cetyl Alcohol; Dimethicone; Hyaluronic Acid; Stearic Acid; Glyceryl Stearate; PEG-100 Stearate; Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5; Palmitoyl Oligopeptide; Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7; Soluble Collagen; Licorice Extract; Eyebright Extract; Cucumber Extract; Comfrey Rhizome/Root Extract; Green Tea Extract; Chamomile Extract; Olive Extract; Vitamin E; Vitamin A; Vitamin C; Chrysin; Allantoin; Vitamin B5; Pentylene Glycol; Xanthan Gum; Steareth-20; N-Hydroxysuccinimide; PEG/PPG-4-12 Dimethicone; Carbomer; Tetrasodium EDTA; Phenoxyethanol; Ethylhexylglyceri; Triethanolamine

Skincare Routine with Lexli Products

Day 1

1. Lexli Aloe-Based AloeGlyC Renewing Exfoliant - Dilute the product with a 1:1 ratio using the Night Moisturizer (per the recommendation for sensitive skin/first-time use). Apply in an upward and outward motion with clean fingers. After about fifteen minutes, do not wash it off, you simply apply a moisturizer over it, as per step two.
   
   
2. Night Moisturizer - Immediately after using the exfoliant, apply the Night Moisturizer. Night moisturizer should also be applied after washing before bed.
   
   
3. Revital-Eyes Cream - Use the eye cream before bed with the night moisturizer.

Day One Tips - It's not abnormal for an acid exfoliator to cause minor redness in a first-time user. However, over time, you will notice a reduction in redness and improved skin quality, usually within the first week.

Days 2-6

Note: The exfoliant is not used on days 2-5.

1. Wash with a gentle facial cleanser. Pat dry.
   
   
2. Apply a facial toner, if needed. Wipe off with a cotton round.
   
   
3. Night Moisturizer - Despite it being a "Night Moisturizer," you can use this product as a daily moisturizer. Use it in the morning after washing and toning and again before bed.
   
   
4. Eye Cream - Apply before bed.

Day 7

As long as the skin has responded well and there is no additional redness, irritation, or breakouts, the exfoliant should be used on day 7, undiluted.

1. Lexli Aloe-Based AloeGlyC Renewing Exfoliant - Use exfoliant without diluting (if you've experienced skin irritation up to this point, you should not use the exfoliant again). Allow the skin to rest for 15 minutes.
   
   
2. Night Moisturizer - Apply the Night Moisturizer.
   
   
3. Revital-Eyes Cream - Use the eye cream before bed.

Repeat this skincare routine each week.

If you're looking for a product that works, soothes skin, and leaves it feeling soft, supple, and smooth, then Lexli Skincare is a fantastic option. For more information and to see a full list of products, visit the Lexli website.

Kids 10th Doctor Costume Tutorial / Shopping Guide

Have you checked out my tutorial for making a kid's Dalek costume?

It's been a year since our kids dressed up as Doctor Who characters for Halloween. Tomorrow we're attending Time Traveler's Weekend at the Ohio Renaissance Festival. Our son wanted to be the 10th Doctor this year, so that's exactly what we made him.