Spring is always a time of reflection for me, even more so than January 1st.  Today is the beginning of a new day, a new week and a new year for me; it’s my 34th birthday.  It’s also just a few weeks past Bare Beauty’s 3rd anniversary.  I feel so fortunate to be able to write this blog and contribute to the Clean beauty and lifestyle movement.  I am constantly humbled by the support of my friends, family and readers, and I want you to know how thankful I am for each of you.  I wanted to offer something to my followers to say thank you, so I asked my favorite skincare company, True Botanicals, to team up with me for an exclusive Gift with Purchase (no code needed, but you do need to use the links in this post, as it’s a private offer).

I’ve shared my love for True Botanicals many times with you.  After having near-perfect skin my entire life, I went off the Pill, turned 30 and had a miscarriage, and soon after, I was plagued with out-of-nowhere hormonal cystic acne.  It covered my cheeks, and each boil had its own throbbing heartbeat.  My face hurt, and my confidence took a real beating, too.  I wasn’t excited to go out anymore, and I didn’t even want my husband to see me without my makeup on.  I tried so many different skincare lines, and many were great, but none totally rectified the problem.  My dermatologist (whom I love) recommended a number of prescription medications, but I refused to subject myself to harsh, dangerous chemicals, plus I trying to become pregnant, so that was not at all an option for me.

Fast-forward: after 2.5 years of constant cystic acne, I was getting desperate.  I cut out dairy (which does work wonders), and I even (begrudgingly) went back on the Pill.  It still wasn’t enough.  Just when I was about to lose hope, Kevin from True Botanicals reached out to me and offered to send some samples of their new Advanced Anti Aging Kit for Blemish Prone Skin.  It sounded too good to be true; products that fight both the first signs of aging as well as acne.  I grilled poor Kevin on the ingredients in each product; I think we talked on the phone for almost two hours one day!  I decided to give True Botanicals a try.  Two weeks later, my skin started to clear.  A month later, my acne was… gone.  That was over 1.5 years ago.  I’ve since gone back off the Pill, and my skin is still totally clear.

If you have been thinking about trying True Botanicals, now is a great time.  For this week only, (May 1st – May 7th) when you purchase the Advanced Anti Aging Kit for Normal Skin or the Advanced Anti Aging Kit for Blemish Prone Skin you will receive a full-size bottle of their new Pacific Eye Serum (a $90 value).  I recently reviewed the eye serum here.  (I love it, and I’m really picky about eye formulas.)  These products are not cheap, but you really have nothing to lose –  True Botanicals offers a 30-day guarantee.  Not many other skincare companies do this; to me it says a lot.

Many readers ask about my skincare routine, and how to use each product, so I’ve detailed it for you, below.

My nighttime routine is as follows:

1. Cleanse with Pacific Cleanser
2. Spray Pacific Mist all over face and neck (3-4 sprays)
3. Apply Pacific Balancing Face Oil all over face and neck (4-5 drops)
4. Mix Pacific Topical Vitamin C Treatment with 5 pumps of Pacific Night Serum with Retinol (to mix them really well, pour both in the palm of one hand and rubs hands together vigorously before applying) and apply all over face, jawline, neck and chest.  **Note: a lot of people ask Isn’t retinol toxic?  No!  Retinol is the non-toxic, gentler cousin of tretinoin, which you’ll see in products like Retin-A and Renova.  It promotes collagen production and stimulates cell turnover at warp speed without irritating even the most sensitive skin.  It also includes a host of active marine peptides that put La Mer to shame.  Pacific’s Topical Vitamin C Supplement delivers potent antioxidants to the skin, which brighten and even tone, refine texture and fade hyperpigmentation, all while actually strengthening skin and promoting collagen production.  Every morning I wake up with clearer, brighter, more even skin than the day before.

Since my nighttime routine is so effective, my morning routine is simple!

1. Cleanse with Pacific Exfoliating Cleanser
2. Spray Pacific Mist all over face and neck (3-4 sprays)
3. Apply Pacific Balancing Face Oil all over face and neck (4-5 drops)
4. Apply Pacific Everyday Sheer Coverage SPF 20 all over face and neck (I use Light Tint in the fall and Winter and Medium Tint in the Spring and Summer.)

I have turned so many friends and readers on to this skincare line.  If you are at your wits end with your complexion, or if you just want to start using something better, I hope you give True Botanicals a try!  And, let me know how you make out!  I love hearing from you!

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