RAZOR BURN

Ok I know I am not the only one so I thought I would share what has been working for me this summer! 

I have had an issue with Razor burn/ bumps in my bikini area since I started shaving. It makes no sense to me because I do not have thick body hair on my body! For the most part I barely grow hair on my arms, and I have never had use any hair removal technique on my face. This blog is going to be a little long because I have tried so many things, LOL!

I have googled many of times what I can do to help me!! I have looked at so many different sites and tried it all.

If you can afford it of course the best thing to do would be to get laser hair removal! But most of us can't shell out the cash for that sooo I am going to share what I have been doing over the years!

I prefer waxing, but being a college student sometimes I just don't like to shell out the money to do this once every couple of weeks. I used to do it myself, but it seems to always be a mess and it's a little difficult, and very easy to accidentally bruise yourself since the skin in your bikini area is so sensitive!

I have tried Sally Henson and Nair hair removal products, and the problem for me with these is that my skin is so sensitive that these tend to irritate me as much as razor burn! Although, my cousin said it works just great for her! 

I asked my dermatologist what I should do about this PROBLEM...
He said to first prep my skin by making sure it is damp with warm water, then clean the area I am going to shave (this help also on your legs for razor burn) with cetaphil body wash. 

I found this greatly helps!!

I also read online to prevent ingrown hairs your should first exfoliate an area before you shave!
I first exfoliate with St. Ives scrub since it is effective and inexpensive, then I wash my skin with the cetaphil skin cleanser. 

 

My dermatologist also told me that I should always use a sharp razor (not the disposable razors) in order to get the best shave and avoid irritation and razor bumps. I personally like Venus the best. I use the Venus Divine Razors or the Venus Vibrance 

 

Another tip that my dermatologist gave me was to make sure I store my razor in a coffee cup in a closet. If you leave your razor in the bathroom it will collect all of the bacteria in your shower, and the bacteria in the air from flushing your toilet. GROSS! By storing your razor in a coffee cup and letting the bladed end hang over the side it allows it to drip dry. He told me if I set my razor flat bacteria would accumulate in the moisture. Letting it "drip-dry" will help this process.

--Also you are supposed to (as most of us know already) shave with the direction that the hair grows. 

--I also find it helps to moisturize the area I shave with Cetaphil lotion which is fragrance free! I have super sensitive skin due to allergies, and dry skin/ eczema... I don't have the eczema that you are used to seeing, but my skin is super dry and if I am not careful my razor will rip up my skin! So I slap on some Cetaphil after I shave and it really helps! 

 I use both of these lotions! I love them because they are not greasy and do not irritate my skin! My dermatologist recommended these for my dry-sensitive skin as well! 

Another thing I make sure to do is change out my razor blades according to the usage directions for the razor. This way I am always using a sharp blade, and the longer you use it not only will it become dull, but it will probably be dirtier. 

My best friend says she uses a separate razor for her bikini area and her legs & body... I have done this before and it helps too because the razor blade for your bikini area is not getting all of the usage on your legs... 

I also try to take time and wax every once in a while because it helps thin out the hair temporarily (at least for me). When I wax I noticed my hair grows back thinner so when I shave I get less irritated. Eventually, it will go back to how it was before, but it really does help even if you only do it every once in a while! There are tons of waxes you can use at home, but I like the GiGi brand that you can buy at Sally's Beauty Supply because it's inexpensive and works well! One of my friends has a cosmetology license and uses this brand when I go to her!


I am sure by now we all know especially if you have skin that is easily irritated, that it is best to use some sort of shave gel! My mom always bought me Skintimate growing up, but my dermatologist told me to use Aveeno non-scented since the fragrance in Skintimate might irritate my skin. 

 Also when I was using Venus and Skintimate alone my legs always had a super close shave! I always got compliments on how silky my skin felt when people would brush by me! So even if you don't have sensitive skin, using a sharp razor with shave gel will help you get a super close shave!

-I have also used Bikinizone. I know it is supposed to help with irritation and razor bumps, but I don't really care for this product. It helps you not feel the irritation, but sometimes (at least for me) the bumps get worse! It probably helps more if you do not have super sensitive skin like I do! 

I know this blog was LONG, but I thought I would share these things because I know first hand how irritating irritated skin can be!

<3 Kristendoll

"A bit of Lusting after someone does wonders for the skin"- Elizabeth Hurley

So I was reading some blogs that are dedicated to skincare today, and it got me thinking. Many people ask me how I do my make up or to do their makeup because my skin looks like it's glowing... But the truth is if you don't take care of your skin, the best makeup artist in the world can't make you look as fresh and glowing as someone who maintains their skin. 

I hit puberty at a young age so I have always been super self conscious about my skin- I had mild acne in the third grade, granted this is before I was old enough to wear makeup to cover it, and all i wanted was to look like a little girl like my friends. So, since a young age I have been on the look out of how to make my skin look as good as possible! 


Kim Kardashian is always accused of getting plastic surgery, but that may not be the case (although she might have). BUT you can tell her skincare routine has changed dramatically. It is sooo so important to not get too much sun exposure on on our faces... It makes the skin lose elasticity, and I am not sure if this is proven science, but but from my perspective it makes the pores appear larger immediately (although it is proven to actually do this over time). 

It is true our diets, exercise routine and water intake are all really important, but so is our actual skin care routine! Make sure you cater to your skin type! 

I have normal/oily skin. I take my makeup off with Neutregena make up removal wipes every night (I know we have all heard great reviews about these, and they are all TRUE). I use Mary Kay eye make up remover to make sure I get all my mascara particles. I then wash my face with Cetaphil face wash! It's amazing because it thoroughly cleans the skin with out making it feel dry and tight like many products do! Then I'm currently moisturizing with Mary Kay time-wise moisturizer (use what you feel best for your skin-type). I then apply either the clientele moisturizer to my eyes (it really helps moisturize my fine lines under my eyes) or I use the Mary Kay eye firming cream under my eyes and on my lips to create a plumping effect (since our lips do get thinner with age). I also use an acne treatment prescribed by my doctor when I have inflammations. 

EDIT:

 Ok this pic is after Kim started using sunless tanner and you can still get a natural glow, but without all the damaging effects and allowing your face to still look stress! I personally do not tan my face naturally and I rarely use sunless tanners on my face, I typically use makeup to blend my face color to match my body, and typically I like my face a little lighter than my body, so this effect is quite simple.