SKIN SO CLEAR

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Acne is not a topic we openly discuss. But it happens to almost all of us, so I wish we would normalize it.

In the past, when I’ve had heinous seasons of acne, I did everything I could to conceal it. I actually became quite good at covering it up. 

I’ve spent a great deal of time on studio sets with heavy makeup under hot lights (I still do!), which is not ideal for my skin. I thought I was “helping” myself with at home extracting sessions, but what was really happening? I was spreading bad bacteria all over my face. Also, what is hard to understand when you’re younger is the permanent damage you are doing stretching your pores. I had good skin throughout my teen years, so when adult hormonal acne happened, it was all new to me. I was ashamed and embarrassed. I shouldn’t have been, though. IT IS NORMAL.

I had a front burner storyline on THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL in a love triangle and I didn’t want to show my face on screen. I had to have the camera tight on my face in kissing scenes! I was mortified. The acne had gotten bad in areas and was so inflamed, it changed the shape of my jaw line. 

I tried antibiotics, Proactive, salicylic acid, etc. These worked temporarily, but resulted in redness, scabbing sometimes (which is hard to cover up).  Actually, without repairing and nourishing, I would dry out my skin so badly, it would over produce oil to counteract my skincare choices and the acne cycle would continue. 

I finally learned the goal is not to just treat the acne, but to balance and repair the microbiome. 

When your biome is unbalanced, your skin is not happy and acts out with acne. I believe in balancing the inside of the body, as well as the outside. 

Just like when you’re sick and you have to take an antibiotic, it’s so important to take a PRObiotic. You don’t want to wipe out all the bacteria; it’s important to keep the good stuff. The same concept applies to skin. Mother Dirt’s A+O Restorative Mist is what I’ve been using to maintain a balance on the outside. (update: the company JUST gave me a discount code. Ashley20 gets 20% off. I do not get any kick backs from this code— it’s just for you guys. And it works for returning customers, unlike other codes;)

I saw my girlfriend’s daughter recently. She is 16 (let’s call her Sally) and growing up and dealing with the most normal thing in the world- acne. Sally did not believe I ever had horrible breakouts until I showed her the proof (see photos below). And I still deal with it sometimes if I get lazy about skincare. I wanted Sally to know it was OKAY and NORMAL and there are solutions. And while her confidence might grow with clearer skin, her self worth is the same with or without blemishes.

My TOP ideas for Sally:

  1. PLEASE do not touch/pick your face. I did this for years (still do sometimes, I’m human). If it’s a very unsightly white blemish, there’s a process to help rid that but do not use your dirty fingernails.

  2. Clean your skin properly every morning and every night and after every workout. When cleaning, make sure you go all the way to the hair line and behind the ears. Mother Dirt’s Probiotic Cleanser is excellent, but just make sure you properly cleanse. A makeup wipe is NOT a skincare routine.

  3. Invest in a routine that you will stick to and works for you. Don’t forget to moisturize (all over the upper chest and neck area, too).

  4. Drink water and add probiotics to your daily oral intake.

  5. For adult skin (once you get there), incorporate a retinol that works for your skin, but as always, please discuss these steps with your doctor. I’m happy to share my whole routine if there is interest.

  6. Live like you already have the skin you want. Try not to place your happiness on the condition of your skin or the size of your body (I’ve been guilty of both). Find your joy in other areas of your life! This one is the hardest.

  7. Ask your doctor about vitamins and supplements that help skin. Like magnesium and Vitamin D!

I’m hear to answer questions or listen if y’all have any comments. Love y’all and thanks for being here. If you have any tips that worked well for you, PLEASE LEAVE THEM. I wanna hear it ALL!! xoxo

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Keep CALM. Eat Chocolate!

HI! UPDATE. IF YOU DIDN’T WIN THE GIVEAWAY BELOW, DON’T FRET. GOOD DAY CHOCOLATE IS GIVING US 25% OFF THE ENTIRE SITE FOR OCTOBER!! USE CODE ASHLEY25. XOXO

Hi you guys… Boy! So many changes happening. I feel like there are curve balls being thrown at me everyday. As I have said in other recent posts, I wanna keep as much continuity in our lives as possible. Being consistent in small daily habits yields big results in the long run. That I know is true whether you are making major life changes, or starting new diet habits.

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Full disclosure, these photos were taken a bit ago. Hayden was starting pre-school and I was making sure he was getting a probiotic and multivitamin everyday. Being exposed to new germs at school and adjusting to a new schedule can throw a toddler off!

We all know that our bodies absorb the outside stress in our lives. Stress from simple things like traveling to major life changes like moving can affect our health. If you’re feeling like anything is “off” with your body, TRY A GREAT PROBIOTIC—- sometimes something that simple with a lot of water can help tremendously. I’m reminding myself of this as much as reminding you!

Hayden gets his yummy probiotic after dinner. It helps keep things regular and moving, if you know what I mean;) Plus, he thinks it’s dessert!

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And for me, a morsel at night helps sleep. The probiotic, turmeric, calm… I’m eating all the good chocolates. I mentioned in my instagram stories recently that you can grab all of their flavors at Whole Foods now!! I was so excited Good Day Chocolate was in Whole Foods. I had to do some stories right there with Huck and Hayden. You can also get them all on amazon.

This brand has been a part of our lives for a while. If you’re new to this blog, check the posts HERE and HERE and HERE. We are real fans. Today I get to share the love…. we’re doing a fun GIVEAWAY with GOOD DAY CHOCOLATES because we just love you all that much!! They are making a generous variety pack for one of you to try all the different products. Make sure you LIKE THIS POST here on instagram and leave a comment here on the blog. That’s it! You’ll be entered. I’m really loving these giveaways. It’s a fun way to connect with you guys and give a little something back. It gives me joy. Hope you are liking them, too!

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Have a GOOD day (chocolate)!

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Hey y’all... sharing something too "good" to keep all to myself. No, it's not another baby (I keep getting asked) or what show I'm working on this week. But, I do get to reveal that soon! Actually headed in for wardrobe fittings in a few minutes. I'll try to share some hints in my stories if I can. SHHHh;)

This little secret is sweet goodness.

The wellness series is full of a lot of stuff I don't necessarily love doing, but know is good for me to do. Like swallowing huge supplements, downing all my water, working out, etc. I'm learning to love those things, but let's be real. So, I wanted to share a treat with you guys. Y’all asked for some of my favorite items from the Bloom Summit Health and Wellness day. I didn't forget. I've just been using some products and researching to find the ones I love the most. Now, part of what I think is cool about learning and experimenting with new products is two part: 1) I like switching things up occasionally and 2) not everything works for everyone's body. So, it's nice to throw ideas out there and see what might work well for you. 

One of the things I learned about is Good Day Chocolate. The creators are self professed “supplement geeks with a chocolate obsession.” It’s a chocolate vitamin (in the cutest packaging you’ve ever seen). Yes, it might sound confusing….a complete treat that is good for you? But, in the name of chocolate, I simply embraced the concept and have since enjoyed many a good days;) It is really hard for me to get everything I need from just food or one or two supplements. I really appreciate creative ideas to mix it all up!

I tried the “energy” chocolate first and loved the taste and gentle pick-me-up. Then, later that evening, I tired the “sleepy” version. I munched on a couple bite-sized chocolates and downed a large glass of water. I woke up refreshed. Hayden must have gotten the memo ‘cause he’s handing us the sleepy time version in the picture above! lol This mama could use a little extra sleep! He must know!

I'm interested in the turmeric supplement. Do y'all take turmeric? I looked up reasons why it's beneficial and was blown away. So, I would like to integrate these antioxidant bites into my weekly supplements.

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I did a bit more research and….this is why I like this company:

1) They support SmileTrain. (One of the founders is a plastic surgeon). 

2) Hayden and Huck beg for them (check out the kids section). Also, check my stories today on instagram. And for kids, they have a daily multi-vitamin that I love giving the boys. They are highly-tested, non GMO and made with fair trade chocolate. Your kids will remind YOU to give them their vitamins.

3) I can have a little sweet tasting something and know it’s beneficial. My go-to is one probiotic and one vitamin D in the AM. If I take one at night, it’s the sleepy time one. Since I'm trying to eat clean and drink the water right now (er...always!), it's a treat I'm adding that I don't feel guilty about. How fun to get a bite of something sweet that is packed with goodness in more ways than one? Really FUN. Great gift, too. Who wouldn’t want to receive this sweetness!? This variety pack is a fun hostess gift.

Warning for toddler moms: if your child is anything like Hayden, he likes to put any treat in his mouth, then hold it for a while in his hands, then put it back in his mouth. We’re working on this, but in the meantime, the chocolate does rub off on his little hands, so keep an eye. For more great info on this company, please visit: GoodDayChocolate.com where you can purchase (they also can be found here on Amazon and the kids' line can be found at your local Target). I have to give them a thank you shout out for sponsoring this portion of the wellness series! 

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