beautyblog – Alison Viktorin

Baby, You’re Worth it

Skinbetter Science, oh how I love you! Alright my friends, I hope you know by now that I do not write about things that I don’t absolutely love. Welp, I have been holding off on writing this post for a while now…I’ve been wanting to see if this product line is worth the price and Baby, it’s worth it!

Basically, this is almost the entire line…yes, I’m obsessed and once I find something I like, I am veerry loyal.

https://skinbetter.com

The Trio, Rebalancing Moisture Treatment, has done wonders for my combination skin. With this product alone, I don’t need 1 moisturizer for winter and 1 for summer…it does the job all year long. People have been commenting on my skin since I’ve started using these products, they are both a luxury and a need.

The website says: Heavy hydration without the weight. Price is quite expensive, but again if you want to invest in your skin, this is your product line. $140.

Another Hero product: the Even Tone Correcting Serum. It has been great for my melasma issues. Skinmedica Lytera 2.0 also works, but I’m really loving Skinbetter, right now. From the website: A lightweight, multi-action skin tone serum. $145

The newest product I’m liking is the Advanced Mineral Protection. It’s one of their sunscreens, SPF 75. It also has Tone Smart, so it will add a light tint to your skin. Here’s the issue I have with the Tone Smart sunscreens…they are drying. Sooo, I add a little bit of the Trio Moisturizer to it and voila…a lovely sunscreen that lasts and lasts. From the website: Our highest level of sun protection in a tone-adapting, creamy lotion that provides a hint of color. $75

These are my Hero products, the rest are icing on the cake!

This line is super expensive, and they never have sales. I do believe it’s worth the price, though. I’ve used every product out there and have never liked it so much that I buy the whole line and continue to re-purchase, I do with Skinbetter….I believe in the science behind it. All the best plastic surgeons carry these products, that speaks volumes to me. On a superficial note, the thing I really like is that they don’t use celebrities or influencers to promote the products, it’s all based on facts and no hoopla-no smoke and mirrors!

Happy Shopping and Cheers to beautiful skin!! http://www.skinbetter.com

Smart Mouth

The mouth care you never knew you needed, until Masks. Lol! If you’re still wearing masks, you need this toothpaste/mouthwash combo…if you’re not wearing a mask–the people around you, need you to use this combo! Ha! It’s a win win for anyone and everyone. Sorry for the unsexy post–but, you will thank me later.

http://www.amazon.com/shop/alisonviktorin

You’re probably thinking, well this is a boring topic and why is Alison sharing this info…we all have toothpaste and we all use mouthwash. Well, folks, this combo is a freakin’ game changer. I use to habitually chew gum for hours and hours, thinking, hoping, and wishing my breath was minty fresh. It never did the job and I found this out when I had a lil boy–with no filter. He would say, mostly at church, in a loud whisper: Ew, momma, you mouth doesn’t smell good. Ugh, so embarrassing! I’m almost positive there is a lot of relating going on right now. Ha!

I did some research, found Smart Mouth, and I haven’t chewed gum since. If you have coffee breath…use Smart Mouth. If you have morning breath, use Smart Mouth. If you have a significant other, use Smart Mouth. If you’re going to the salon-dentist-medspa and someone will be right near your mouth, use Smart Mouth. I’m telling you the truth, everyone near and dear to you will thank you.

This is a short post, but I think it’s an important one to do. It’s pretty self explanatory…brush your teeth with the toothpaste, then cleanse with the mouthwash. I can always tell a difference when I haven’t used it. You can purchase these items at my store, under Health products: http://www.amazon.com/shop/alisonviktorin

Let me know if you need this and how you feel after using it. You’re welcome!

Self Tanning

As I’ve mentioned, in the past, I have the dreaded melasma. Waaaah! This means that the sun on my face is a no-go. The challenge is that my arms and legs get tan and then my neck and face are as white as a ghost…what is a girl to do?

Glad you asked…in walks self tanning drops. The newest invention in skin care. If you put it on at night, you will wake up with a lovely tan by morning. I did have an issue, before I learned not to listen to the directions. Uh-oh! I used 4 drops, like the instructions stated, and woke up looking like Tan Mom…it was hideous!

Not a happy camper!

After this fiasco, I realized I should only use 2 drops to get that sun kissed glow. If this happens to you, don’t worry…get your microdermabrasion machine or an abrasive facial cleanser and use it on your face…the tan will be less noticeable.

And please, please do not use Body tanning on your face…I did, and I broke out like crazy. I got cocky and thought, yeah, no biggie, I’ll just put you on my face and then I woke up with Mt. Vesuvius and it’s 3 sisters hanging out. Not a good look. LOL!

These drops come out clear and you mix them with your fave moisturizer or serum. The clearness of the drops are cool and annoying at the same time. It’s cool, that it looks so fresh and clean, and like you’re just putting water on your face. It’s annoying because you can’t tell where you’ve added color or if you need more color…just keep that in mind.

I have not broken out once with the Pure, Bondi Sands, self tanning drops–win, win! And they have not given me any kind of orange tinge, it’s a nice brown shade and looks like the rest of my tan. If you use too many drops, it will smell, but if you stay conservative…you won’t smell a thing.

Do I approve of this brand? Absolutely. If you’re in the market for getting a nice color without the sun, you can feel confident that this brand will work beautifully for you. They can be found in my store at http://www.amazon.com/shop/alisonviktorin, or at your local Ulta, or Sephora.

Happy tanning! Let me know what your favorite self tanner is.

Acne pimple master patch

Do you have teenagers in your life? Do you have hormonal acne or adult acne? Well, these little patches are the bomb. Whenever I see a blemish popping up, I pull out a patch and place it on the offensive blemish and by the morning, boom, all cleared up!

These patches are easy to sleep with, stay on all night, and are easy to remove the next day. Truth be told, you can wear these during the day and few people will be able to notice.

About this item…from Amazon

Quick & Easy Treatment: This patch effectively protects the concerned area effectively and creates a moist environment, which makes the healing process faster.
24 Patches in Three Sizes: Designed three different sizes to cover multiple pimples all at once.
A.D.F. Hydrocolloid Dressing: Calms redness and keeps skin moisturized to promote faster healing.
How to Use: 1. Cleanse the area around the problem spot. 2. Select a bigger size patch than the problem spot and attach the patch to the spot.
COSRX: Cosmetics + Rx(Prescription) – The best solutions for various skin problems

These patches are about $15 for 96 different size circles. They’re a great choice if you have something small you need to take care of overnight. Ali approved!

https://www.amazon.com/Cosrx-Pimple-Master-Patch-24patches4sheet/dp/B014SAB948/ref=sxts_sxwds-bia-wc-rsf1_0?crid=3CKZ52DVNKWDK&cv_ct_cx=acne+pimple+master+patch&dchild=1&keywords=acne+pimple+master+patch&pd_rd_i=B014SAB948&pd_rd_r=9f171aed-d7c2-4550-b92f-aa7742448897&pd_rd_w=ucAZC&pd_rd_wg=1eXjy&pf_rd_p=5168df84-062d-4bdf-8a6e-2680813bd42f&pf_rd_r=EAS2GQCR9HZ80W3WWQ3B&psc=1&qid=1615743023&sprefix=acne+pimple%2Caps%2C430&sr=1-1-7bf78e84-8ef2-4f13-9926-bee5153e81cb

Go here to shop my Amazon store front.

http://www.amazon.com/shop/alisonviktorin

morpheus8

This Post is to inform you of an interesting procedure, not to show you my results, yet…I will do that in a follow up Post. I want to share what I went through and why I chose to do it.

Ok my friends, I have been on the hunt for something to diminish my college acne scarring. My main problem is that I have melasma, due to lasers–not hormonal. So, I can’t use any lasers on my face. There are soooo many great lasers that would’ve helped me like: CO2, IPL, Resurfx, etc…alas, I cannot use these great options. Please, please make sure you are going to a reputable place or else you will end up like me and have melasma that you never would’ve had to worry about!

So, I’m sure you’re wondering what I was able to find….in walked Morpheus8. According to parkavenueplasticsurgeon.com Morpheus8 is a non-surgical advanced needling treatment. … Using radiofrequency, a Morpheus8 treatment stimulates collagen production to tighten and smooth wrinkles on the face and body. I am here for all that tightening!!! Yaaas!

I noticed the device had 24 needles and a red pulsing light. The light seemed to heat up my skin to an extent that I smelled burning flesh, think tanning salon. Tee Hee! I went to Charity at North Texas Plastic Surgery and for an extra $50, I was able to receive Pronox, nitrous oxide. This seemed to help my pain level because I was able to focus on something. The cost of 1 treatment was $750, a package of 3 is $2,100. This is definitely not a cheap procedure and when I say procedure, I mean my recovery time was not 24 hrs. I’m on Day 4, and still have tons of scratches on my face. My son informed me that I look like an 80 yr old and I shouldn’t have wasted my money. Ha! Little does he know that my skin is going to look GORGEOUS in about 3 weeks. So, Boom! I, specifically, asked for my money’s worth in aggression levels, you can choose to have a less aggressive approach…therefore, your recovery time might not be as long as mine.

Did it hurt? Not really. At NTPS, they let me pick a movie/tv or listen to music. I chose the French music I like so much, the chair was comfy, I had my Pronox…so, all in all, the ambiance was so nice that I didn’t feel much pain. The immediate after effects…my face was slightly swollen and I had visible raised ridges, and scratches. My face also looked like I had large pores, these were just where the needles went into my skin. Have I scared you yet? I really hope not. From everyone that has gotten this done, I have heard nothing but rave reviews.

I was numbed for about 45 min. I say take the extra 15 min. if you are given the option.

This video is immediately after the procedure.

Day 2, my face was still a bit tender, but by day 3 and 4, I have scabbing and no pain.

I can’t wait to see how my skin will look in the next couple of weeks. I’m also glad there’s an alternative to lasers. I’ll keep ya posted on how I’m recovering and what results I notice.

This video shows the entire process.

This video shows the aftermath…days directly following the procedure. Still healing almost a week out, no pain, just a lil red in certain areas…skin feels tighter.

Charity had me put on a SkinCeuticals Biocellulose Restorative Mask and a dermal repair cream…Magic happened. I’m on Day 7 and am healing quite nicely. That mask is a game changer and I highly recommend. I’m used to the cheap masks on Amazon and this one is a whole other level.

For our men…

Hello my Beauties! If you’re in Texas and have dealt with a hellacious winterscape, I salute you. It’s been a rough ride…Texas Strong.

This post is geared toward the men in our lives. Does your man have hair in unsightly places? Back, shoulders, hands, feet, back of the neck?? Well, boy howdy, do I have a solution. It’s working like a charm on my very own manly beast. Tee Hee!

https://smile.amazon.com/Tria-Beauty-Removal-Laser-Women/dp/B00DLJ7N2U/ref=sr_1_5?crid=FPN1ASR04HLH&dchild=1&keywords=tria+laser+hair+removal&qid=1613842217&sprefix=tria+las%2Caps%2C196&sr=8-5

I have owned this Tria Laser for over 10 years and it still delivers. Originally, I bought it for myself, and it worked ok, but now that I’m using it on my husband I really am noticing how it delivers. There are tons of newer versions, that are way cheaper…so do your research and find one that works for you.

The main reason I’m shining a light on this topic is because my husband would rather die than go to an actual med spa and pay to get laser hair removal. If you have one of these handy dandy devices at home, it’s a heck of a lot easier to sneak up on them and blast away their unsightly hair. Just sayin’.

A friendly reminder, this laser hurts if you crank it up. So, if you don’t want to scare your man, keep it on a bit of a lower setting to begin. Gradually, you will move up higher when you see less and less hair growing back.

Ladies, I hope this post helps in your struggles to tame your wild, manly beast! Your husbands will EVENTUALLY thank me, they will really hate me at first–don’t worry, I can take it. Ha!

Peace and joy, my friends.

Below, you will find a quick video, showing the Tria Laser in action.

You can purchase this product or similar items, with different price points, here: http://www.amazon.com/shop/alisonviktorin

Moroccanoil & Olaplex

MoroccanOil

Sooo, as you all know I did a rave review over Bumble & bumble Hairdresser’s Invisible Oil product line. My talented Hair Stylist (Anne Wright) recommended the MoroccanOil line, so I thought I’d try the moisture Shampoo/Conditioner.

http://www.moroccanoil.com says: Infuse dehydrated, dry hair with much-needed moisture. Moroccanoil® Hydrating Shampoo conditions hair with argan oil, Vitamins A and E and moisturizing red algae—for hair that looks and feels healthier. This moisturizing shampoo is gentle enough for daily use and provides optimal hydration for both normal and color-treated hair. Increase your hair’s manageability, smoothness and shine. Color-safe. Sulfate-free, phosphate-free and paraben-free.

My hair back story: It’s suuuuper dry…kind of like hay, and wavy, and color treated. My stylist said all the ingredients are natural (good for you) and you can even leave the oil on your hands after you run it through your flowing locks. Win Win…Optimum MOISTURIZATION for the whole body!

Welp, this lovely product did nothing for me. My hair is still a frizz bomb and does not feel moisturized. But, if you have a different hair type…you might like it. One of my friends, who has lovely curly hair, swears by the whole MoroccanOil line.

Olaplex

This is another favorite of stylists everywhere. http://www.olaplex.com says: N°4 Shampoo repairs and protects hair from everyday stresses — including damaged hair, split ends, and frizz — by re-linking broken bonds. Leaves hair easier to manage, shinier and healthier with each use. N°4 is color-safe and proven to reduce breakage and strengthen all types of hair.

What’s my review? FAIL, big fail! First, I don’t feel it gives my hair any added shine and definitely does not fight the frizz. The biggest problem I have is that it makes my scalp itch. Lest you think I’m a hypochondriac, my husband and son say the same thing. I have not heard one civilian (civilian = non stylist), in my circle of friends, say they like this product. Let me know if you disagree, I’d love to hear why you like it!

I’m still on the journey of finding the perfect product…and when I do, you will be the first to hear about my discovery. Trying to fight frizz, one day at a time. Share your fave products with me, so we can fight this bitch together. Tee hee!

You can purchase these items here: http://www.amazon.com/shop/alisonviktorin

All About Brows

Microshading/Microblading

Just do it! Hahaha! If you’ve been on the fence about getting your brows microbladed or shaded, I’m here to tell you…it’s worth it.

First, let me give you a definition from healthline.com: Microshading is a procedure where a cosmetic technician applies semipermanent makeup to your eyebrows. It’s a type of cosmetic tattoo procedure. Using pigment ink and a handheld tool, the technician places tiny, pin-like dots over the brow area to fill in thin spots.

My brow journey started because my left eyebrow is higher than my right. Whenever I wear sunglasses my left eyebrow played peek-a-boo with the rim…It’s like Hey World, do you see me?! Ugh, so frustrating. So, I started getting them waxed, to help shape them and make them look at least, related. This didn’t work, so I started getting botox to bring my right side up to my left. This worked better, but I was still self-conscious, when the ‘tox started wearing off. In came Brow Lamination, this will be another blog post. The BL got me used to growing out my brows and seeing what they’d look like with more oomph. The problem was the price, I was spending over $100 every 4 wks and that was adding up, sooooo…

Cut to me looking at more permanent solutions, which led me to Microshading. Many moons ago, I worked in a Maintenance Dept. of a school and a coworker had shaved off her brows and tattooed new ones turned green…looked like prison brows, no joke! This was my only reference of “tattooed brows.” So, I was quite concerned as I started my research. Let’s just say the art of tattooing has come a looooooong way and I promise your brows won’t turn green or look like you got them done in a prison yard. Lol!

To find your perfect artist…google is your friend, word of mouth, and insta/Facebook for pix. Look closely at the artist’s pictures. If you like their work, you will see every brow (that they’ve done) and think how great it looks. Every artist has different styles: some like heavy, thick brows and some are more delicate. The price can be anywhere from $500-$800. Some will give you a touch-up included in the initial price and some won’t.

The procedure itself takes a couple of hours and does not hurt. They numb you before they begin. My brow artist was able to make my girls pretty even after all these years! I am thrilled! No more peek-a-boo with my sunnies. The week after the treatment, your brows will be itchy and flaky. Do not get them get soggy wet for about 4 days and moisturize, moisturize, moisturize. My brows started out a reddish color, but have settled to a nice brown. Below I will show you some pix.