LA by Diana - Personal Style blog by Diana Marks: January 2018

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January 18, 2018

Winter Skincare Survival Tips

This post is sponsored by Dove Advanced Care Antiperspirant, but opinions are my own :)

Here in LA the weather has been changing like crazy lately. It was rainy, gloomy, sunny, hot and cold several times in one week only! Needless to say that the weather is taking its toll on my skin. I am particularly struggling with dryness and feel like I need a refresh. Luckily I discovered some amazing tips from Dove Dermatologist, Dr. Alicia Barbra, that help me stay on top of my winter care game. 

1) Lay off intense exfoliation and moisturize nightly. It's so true, I kept exfoliating in hopes to clean off dead skin cells but ended up stripping my skin of its essential oil, which lead me to breakouts. It was a long and annoying process to get my skin back to normal. Now I am trying to get my moisturizing game back on track to avoid that in the future by using overnight moisturizing masks.

2) Care for your underarms. Underarm skin is sensitive, Dr. Barba says, and clothing fabrics can irritate it (especially in winter, with layers, sweaters, etc!). Under all those layers we need a protective product that will keep the skin hydrated. Dove Advanced Care Antiperspirant is the one I use personally, it makes my skin feel so soft, fresh and smooth!  I love that it also provides 48-hour odor and wetness protection. Check Dove Advanced Care out for yourself here.

3) Sunscreen for all seasons. Harmful UV rays don't take a break for cold weather. Always protect your skin regardless of the temperature outside. In winter time, consider switching to a moisturizing sunscreen to keep your skin extra hydrated.

4) Invest in a hydrating cleanser. Dry skin is more than just annoying and uncomfortable, it can lead to serious skin problems such as worsening of eczema, psoriasis and can be a major cause of winter itch. A great way to fight this is to use a hydrating cleanser and make sure to moisturize the skin after cleansing. 


5) Moisturize beyond the face. I am guilty of that throughout the year, not just winter. Sometimes I neglect areas outside my face and my skin pays for it. You want to be active in treating neck, chest, hands and elsewhere at all times, Dr. Barba says.

January 16, 2018

Protein Packed Snack to Fuel Your Day


As I keep mentioning on the blog, this year for me is not about committing to new goals, it's about sticking to a long term lifestyle (much longer than a year!). While I keep making progress in finding balance between regular workouts, getting enough sleep and fueling myself right, I stumble across new products, that quickly become my favorites. Like Oikos® Protein Crunch, for example. It's a combination of smooth Greek nonfat yoghurt with tasty toppings to give the yoghurt you love, the crunch you want, packed with the protein you need. It gives you more of the nutrients (protein + fiber) you want, with no artificial sweeteners, to help keep you going. Weather it's a post-workout protein snack, an afternoon pick-me-up, or even a healthy breakfast,  it's a great option for hustlers on-the-go, who are obsessed with healthy lifestyle. The added benefit is that it's available at your local Walmart - so easy and convenient! Try it out and let me know you thoughts, use Oikos Protein Crunch Ibotta Offering for a great deal ;)

January 12, 2018

Neu Year, Neu Daily Beauty Regime


New Year is in full swing. Can't believe we are already almost half way through January! Anyway, I am going to continue my topic of New Year's non-resolutions. What I mean by that is that I actually changed my lifestyle and approach in life instead of making new plans for every year (and let's be honest, resolutions don't work!). Along with my workout routine, I am continuously sticking to my make up routine. I actually had the same attitude towards make up for years, only changed up my products every once in a while. These days I am a fan of Neutrogena Cosmetics for their SkinClearing Cosmetics. I control my breakouts since early twenties and I am always excited to discover new products that help me with that. I try to stay away from heavy foundations during daytime and only wear them when I go out to events, but with Neutrogena SkinClearing Cosmetics I am set for nights out as well! Their SkinClearing Liquid Make Up has a wide range of foundation colors, and it was super easy to find my match, I apply it all over the face with a sponge, add SkinClearing concealer under eyes and necessary areas and finish with a light touch of SkinClearing Powder. Super easy, fast, affordable and so good for my breakout-prone skin! Neutrogena SkinClearing Cosmetics also works to improve skin while covering all the imperfections. Such a perfect solution for my nighttime looks now!
More importantly, the products are available at your local Walmart and on their site. You are welcome ;)

January 5, 2018

How I Stay on Top of an Active Lifestyle After the Holidays


2018 is here! Happy New Year! A lot of us are trying to keep up with our New Year's resolutions, and as for me, I decided to make this year completely different. I don't have any! I do have my overall life resolution though - to be a healthy, active and fulfilled version of myself, and I try to stick by it regardless of the new year ;) 
Active and healthy lifestyle is something I am struggling to keep up with at times, but it seems that over the years I finally got a hold of it. I stopped beating myself up for skipping the gym, found new ways of being active (it got easier after moving close to the ocean and discovering my obsession with bike rides along the beach) and started listening to my body and mind. It is really interesting to see how I transformed, and it's all thanks to letting go of some of my mind limitations. I started doing more weight training, I switched my cardio to outdoor activities like biking and I started taking regular walks again. Every week / month is different, but what I saw is that the key is regularity, not frequency. December was super busy, and I only managed to work out 2-3 times a week, but I found out that it was enough to transform my body and keep my mind sane. Sometimes it's not about killing yourself at the gym every day, it's about doing it right and balancing yourself.
It does help to have a little bit of an energy boost before workouts at times, especially now after the holidays when we actually struggle to get back to our routines. It can be a light pre-workout snack, a cup of coffee or my new trick - Alert Caffeine Gum. It's a caffeinated chewing gum for adults that provides 40mg of caffeine, or about the same as half a cup of coffee, one 12 oz can of soda or a half of one 8oz energy drink. What I love about it is the fact that there is literally no effort involved - just chew your gum and get the boost! It's super portable and does the trick for me. Learn more about it HERE.