FRIDAY FIVE | SELF CARE, GLOWING SKIN: The GLOWWITHJO Way

Just like that...

it's Friday again. This week I have been devoting much needed time to acts of self care. My self care heavily centers around skincare + overall wellbeing and after a very emotional last few days, self-care is the one thing that's perking me up. There is really nothing better than a relaxing evening that leaves you feeling radiant, beautiful + at peace. 

This week i've included products from my favorite CBD brand, Soul Spring, a loofa to help with keratosis pilaris (along with other skin conditions), a mask to brighten your complexion, leopard print shower caps + a juicy giveaway!

​I also would love if you wanted to drop your self-care ritual, tips, etc. into the comments for me + others to be inspired by as well!

VIABUFF

Ok ladies + gents, if you have keratosis pilaris like I do on my upper arms, you need this product. Let's quickly discuss keratosis pilaris. These are those little tiny bumps along our arms, legs, bum, etc. that we scrub + scrub but they seem to last forever. Well, keratosis pilaris happens when the skin produces too much of the protein, keratin, causing a blockage on our hair follicles resulting in the build up we see, the tiny white bumps. Keratin protects our skin from infection, so we WANT this but it can be incredibly irritating or confidence crushing, even though most of us have this! A standard loofa won't do the trick in tackling this.

The viabuff is not your typical 'loofa'. It is designed by skincare professionals to help aid skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, excessively oily skin, acne, ingrown hairs, dry skin, keratosis pilaris + more. I LOVE mine. It has helped my keratosis pilaris SO much in the last 6 months and my skin has felt so much smoother since using. I personally use the white/pink version that is made for keratosis pilaris + dry skin. 

The viabuff comes in 4 different tiers (make sure you look into which is best for YOUR skin!) watch this informative video Suite B salon created discussing the difference of each color!

I have linked this product to amazon as much as I did not want to but sadly, this is the only place I am able to find it currently available. If you are in the Seattle area, specifically the eastside, and would like to support a local business, please let me know as my local salon, Suite B, sells them + this is where I get mine!

VITAMIN E OIL BLEND

So I have used this product for years but it is a staple one in my after shower routine. Vitamin E is so, so beneficial for our skin. Not only is it non comedogenic (meaning it won't clog pores) + has incredible skin repairing benefits as well making it a great post-shave product! I use this in tandem with my Soul Spring or Aveeno body lotion, douse myself in it and then bask in my glowy glory. Prepare - hydrated silky skin ahead. 

This blend does have coconut oil, which hopefully I don't shock too many of you but this is actually NOT  that great for our skin. So, if you are looking for vitamin e for specifically your face, I recommend 100% vitamin E or buying vitamin E capsules, poking a small hole and dispersing that way onto the skin. 

VITAMIN E + YOUR SKIN (blog post to come!)
+ healing benefits (goodbye scarring)
+ hydrating + non comedogenic (won't clog pores)
+ reduces UV + free radical damage (HELLO REPAIRED SKIN)

I pick this product up at my local Trader Joe's but with everything going on in the world, I have linked it on Amazon as well since you can find it there. I believe the price is slightly inflated compared to in store though!

leopard print shower cap

I mean, are we surprised? LOL. Just like Carole Baskin, I love me some leopard print. I also love to use shower caps in between washes because let's be real, we shouldn't be washing our hair daily but we SHOULD be showering at least every other day, even in quarantine. I've tried a few different cap styles but I love that this one is actually tight around the front so water doesn't creep in but the top is roomy enough to wear a ponytail if you want to + for being a shower cap, doesn't make you look like a total dork! :)



Want to see the cap in action? Look no further. V vogue. 

soul spring stress-free cbd lotion

Ok, CBD in skincare is honestly a loaded topic (I will be doing a blog post on this as well down the road) but I want to start with saying DO NOT TRUST EVERY CBD BRAND. There are good CBD skincare products + there are those that are 100% not worth purchasing + honestly you are solely paying for the brand name or packaging. I'll quickly add that when choosing an effective CBD skincare product look for brands that have their own farms as this means their products are actually potent + contain the right amount of hemp or CBD to be effective. 

SOUL SPRING
I have tried quite a few brands but the one I love + use is Soul Spring. I was introduced to this by John because his old company picked this line up for their showroom. They are a small business + I will say im not 100T% sure but I do think they have their own farm or are very locally sourced (what you want!) The brand also Hemp CBD and 100% Natural, food-grade, non-toxic ingredients. I have quite a few of their products (bath balm, soaks, lotions, muscle rubs, etc.) 

I use the stress-free CBD lotion + it has sage, palo santo and cedarwood, i absolutely LOVE cedarwood so I feel really relaxed when i use this. the consistency isn't too thick making it easy to spread + it absorbs quickly and nicely into the skin. I am hydrated with no dry skin and really do feel more balanced and uplifted after using. 

JOANNA VARGAS GLOW MASK

Joanna Vargas gifted me a set of their Dawn exfoliating face mask sets + a few other products to try out last year. I will say, they absolutely did not disappoint, I actually just came across my last mask (yes, I know its old but I still used it b/c i'm not perfect lol) + had the most relaxing end to a very emotional evening last night.  Yes, the price is on the pricier side for skincare but they are a higher-end skincare line that has products that are botanically based (aka plant/herb based). My skin was more hydrated, bright and radiant. I would absolutely use JV products in my normal routine if my budget allowed for it! I am a face mask queen so I loved this face mask.


OH WHAT? A GIVEAWAY?!
JV is hosting a really juicy giveaway to bring happiness to a few members of our community. The contest ending April 30th will have 3 winners with giftcards redeemable on JoannaVargas.com!

The grand prize winner will receive a $2000 gift card, second place will win a $500 gift card, and third place will win a $250 gift card. Self-care for the win! 

SO, if you aren't ready to take the leap for a product in this price range, this is a great way to possibly try out!

CLICK THE IMAGE TO ENTER THE JV GIVEAWAY!

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