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Five Tips to Transition Your Natural Beauty Routine into Fall

Written By Stefanie Grant-Cassel - September 27 2017

It's finally, officially fall. Yay!

Also... now what?

Should you be doing anything different to care for yourself as the seasons change?

The answer to that is totally up to you (of course!)

If you have a tried and true routine that never fails, then by all means, keep it up!

But if you're looking for a change or want to prepare your skin for cooler temps, fall is the perfect time to try something new with your routine!

Here are my top 5 tips for transitioning your beauty routine into this glorious fall season:

1. Repair Sun Damage

green tea + aloe mask twinkle apothecary

First things first, let's assess the damage. If you had a lot of fun at the beach or by the pool this summer (LUCKY) chances are, your skin is needing some recovery time from all of that sun. I recommend feeding your face with lots of antioxidants (like the free-radical busting polyphenols found in my matcha green tea + aloe mask,) and moisturizing your skin with healing oils like evening primrose and rosehip to soften fine lines and even out your skin tone. Funny thing - I actually made a serum with both, specifically designed for your after-summer skin:

So weird how that works... right?! LOL

2. Bring Back The Moisture

If you got a little lax with your routine when it was super hot out (no judgement, I do it too!) it's now time to start working richer moisturizers back into your rotation. Start with a small amount of Beauty Butter and/or Facial Balm now, and your skin will be so much better prepared for the cool, dry winter air that's coming in a few months. You may even want to try out a facial balm cleanse! And if you were afraid of looking too dewy with a cream blush this summer, you might just love the nourishing effect it has on your cheeks once the air gets a bit cooler - multitasking lip + cheek tint FTW!

3. Experiment

Fall is the PERFECT time to experiment with your skincare and beauty routines. You don't have to worry about sweat running down your face every time you leave the house, and you also don't have to deal with harsh and icy cold air irritating your skin. Take advantage of this perfect weather to try a new facial oil, add something different to your nightly mask, finally try oil cleansing if you were too scared to give it a chance this summer...

Or, maybe you're curious to try out the baking soda free deodorant, or to see if that himalayan salt crystal works for you! I think it's always best to experiment when you know the results won't be skewed due to things outside of your control (like extreme weather.)

4. Don't Ditch Your Summer Beauty Staples!

So, maybe you don't want to walk around looking like a full-on-fresh-from-the-beach mermaid all year. (Or maybe you do... in which case you should totally go for it!) But do not even think about ditching that bronzer and wave spray! You can use the bronzing balm as a subtle contouring shade, or to warm up your complexion any day of the year. It also makes a great creamy eyeshadow, which I also use as a base to layer on powder shadows for maximum color pop!

The wave spray can be used as a setting spray which helps hold the shape of your hair - I always spray a bit in my hair before using a curling iron - or, you can use it to add volume at the root and refresh your style after taking off those cute fall hats!

5. Do Switch Up Your Scent

single note fall fragrances twinkle apothecary

Summer is my favorite season (shhh, don't tell anyone) but I LIVE for fall fragrances. I seriously wait all year to be able to bust out my sultry French Girl, Beau Spice, Cardigan, and straight up Amber. And so far this year I've been rocking my new Asterisk Collection Edition *01 and Smudge oil pretty much non-stop!

If earthy, woodsy scents aren't really thing and you're not ready to give up your fresh & clean summer perfumes, I'd recommend giving them a little depth by rolling on some vanilla, amber, or sandalwood - these three scents will pair beautifully with just about any of the Twinkle Apothecary signature fragrances, adding a little warmth and complexity without being overpowering. If you prefer something more crisp - try cedarwood!

You might end up being pleasantly surprised by how much you enjoy richer fragrances when the air is a bit more cool... (see #3.)

Are you going to be making some changes, or sticking to what works? Leave a note and let me know - I love hearing about how you guys work my products into your routines!

Happy fall!

-XO-

Stefanie

A Beginner's Guide to Using Facial Oil

Written By Stefanie Grant-Cassel - July 20 2017

Facial oil kind of sounds like bad news, doesn't it?

I think we all spent our formative teenage skincare years trying to keep oil away from our face at all costs. I remember that every face wash was advertised as being "oil free" - actually, it might still be? I don't know, I never watch TV or shop for face wash anymore...

As a teen, however, I definitely got the message.

Oil = Bad.

But you know what?

It's actually not. It's not bad at all. Your skin needs oil! That's why it does such a good job of producing its own. Oil protects and moisturizes your face. And stripping it off with harsh cleansers can actually cause your face to overproduce oil, which explains so much our teenage stress, right? We were all like, "Grr... why is my face so greasy??? I just keep washing it over and over with this oil free Neutrogena?? WHY AM I SO GROSS?!!!"

Or was that just me?

Anyway...

One thing I wish I'd known a lot sooner - like before I spent all of that money on those dang Clean & Clear blotting papers - is that all my face needed to balance itself was a little bit of oil. I know it sounds crazy, but adding oil to your face keeps it from producing too much.

So, if you're worried about putting oil on your face because your face is already oily, here's what you do:

1. Take a deep breath.

2. Put some oil on your face anyway.

Like, just try it! What's the worst that could happen?

The end.

Okay, I'm joking.

Kind of...

Here are some real tips to keep in mind if you want to balance your skin but are afraid of oil:

1. Start really, really small.

Start with 1 drop. Put it on the driest part of your face. (For me, it's the bottoms of my cheeks.) Not so bad, right? Then if you like the results (and I think you will) maybe you can work up to 2,3,4,5... You'll never really need more than 5 drops unless you're oil cleansing. Just 3-4, okay, 3, measly little drops of oil is all you need. It's really not so scary! Oil is highly concentrated moisture - like lotion, but with out all of the extra stuff (so minimalistic and efficient!) - and a teeny tiny little bit is all you need to see majorly hydrating results.

2. Pick the right oil.

So, your fear of oil isn't totally silly. Some oils can clog pores, so you'll want to make sure you find the right one for your skin type. These are my favorite oils for oily/acne prone skin:

Watermelon Seed Oil

Jojoba Oil

Grapeseed Oil

Rosehip Oil

Sunflower Oil

Red Raspberry Seed Oil

These are the ones that I've had the best experience with on my own face and in my products - they're all super lightweight, soak in really quickly, and get the moisturizing job done. I try very hard to make all of my products appropriate for all skin types, because I hate blackheads and breakouts just as much as anyone else! My Makeup Remover + Cleansing Oil, Original Facial Oil, and Beauty Butter are all perfectly appropriate for oily skin. You'll probably want to work up to trying my Facial Balm as it's a bit thicker and sits on top of the skin longer instead of soaking right in - although it definitely shouldn't cause breakouts.

Other plant based oils you can experiment with if you don't like the ones I offer include Hempseed Oil, Pomegranate Oil, Argan Oil, and Calendula Oil. I mostly don't work with these for cost reasons, but if you come across some you may want to experiment with them for yourself! There are probably tons more, but it's really just a matter of finding something with a texture that you enjoy. I wouldn't recommend starting with coconut oil as it's a bit greasy and can cause breakouts for some skin types.

Obviously, I never recommend using animal by-products because that's just sad and unnecessary, and I avoid mineral oil or any petrol based products because they're not as effective, bad for the environment, and the texture is really gross. You want to look for plant based oils because they're full of beneficial vitamins, minerals and essential fatty acids that will hydrate AND heal your skin.

3. Add Hydrosol or Toner.

Applying facial oil when your face is completely dry is ok, but applying it when your face is slightly damp with a hydrating toner is like a million times better. Not only does it make the oil feel a lot lighter on your face, which you'll enjoy if you're just getting used to using facial oil, but it also helps lock in the hydration.

4. Wait for it to soak in before you move to the next step in your routine.

If your face has a bunch of oil on it, you'll want to give it a couple of minutes before you try to apply your makeup. Otherwise you might end up with mascara all over your face. I have a tendency to be kind of heavy handed with my oils and butters, so I always make sure to prime my face and eyelids with my translucent mattifying powder before attempting any kind of eye makeup.

5. Be Patient.

If all you've ever used on your face is super light weight lotions (or nothing at all) it's probably going to feel really weird to put oil on your face at first. Promise me you'll give it a couple of weeks to a month before you give up! You will get used to the feeling of it on your face, and eventually, your skin will be so balanced you'll be wondering how you ever got through life without your favorite facial oil!

So are you ready to give it a try?! Let me know how it goes!

-XO-

Stefanie

A 90 second hydrating skincare routine to get you glowing in the AM

Written By Stefanie Grant-Cassel - May 02 2017

I've said it a million times before, but I'll say it again.

You don't need soap, suds, or foam to wash your face in the mornings.

Or ever, really...

But especially in the mornings.

If you go to bed with a clean face, try giving your skin a break when you wake up!

THIS is my current favorite routine.

It smells like heaven, makes you glow like crazy, is great for all skin types, and takes less than two minutes. (SERIOUSLY!)

Here's what you need:

1. Rose Hydrosol ($14)

- Hydrating/prevents moisture loss

- Balances sebum (oil) production

- Antibacterial properties (good for treating blemishes)

- Anti-aging

- Soothing

- Smells like a bouquet

2. Facial Oil ($12/$35)

- Regenerating/healing/anti-aging

- Evens skintone

- Dissolves sebum (oil) buildup

- Does not clog pores

- Hydrating

- Soothing

- Soaks in quickly

3. Eye Serum ($14) *optional*

- Reduces puffiness

- Repairs fine lines

- Tightens skin

- There's coffee in it

Here's what you do:

1. Generously spray your face with rose hydrosol. Instead of patting dry, give your face a little massage by rubbing your fingertips in circular motions all over your skin.

2. While your skin is still damp, massage 3-5 drops of facial oil into your skin. The key is to work quickly, while your skin is wet, to lock in the hydration from the rose hydrosol. Plus, the aromatherapy combination of rose + neroli is just the happiest way to start the day.

3. Roll eye serum into your under-eye area and up into your brow bone. Lightly tap/massage any excess oil into your skin. This step is completely optional, for those who want a little extra help with the skin around their eyes.

4. Admire your glow. You're gorgeous. And you just spent less than two minutes giving yourself a hella luxurious facial. With about $40-$60 worth of product, total. Yay you.

If you have dry skin or just love to be extra, follow with a light layer of facial balm or beauty butter. (If you're not sure which one, read this.) If you have acne prone skin, follow with acne spot treatment over your problem areas.

Otherwise, that's it! Get on with your day!

-XO-

Stefanie

A rosy, glowy DIY facial

Written By Stefanie Grant-Cassel - April 02 2017

I know it's been a while since I've shared a skincare diary with you guys...

Every week I intend to write down what I do to my face but then I realize that by about Tuesday afternoon I've completely forgotten to keep track!

To compromise, I'll share this lovely facial masque recipe that I enjoyed last week.

I call it my rosy, glowy facial, because it's pink, full of roses, and makes my skin G L O W !!!

Here's what you need:

1. Cleanser + Masque $10/$30 Honestly, this simple, exfoliating, skin-brightening, healing cleanser is probably my favorite product that I make. It has completely changed my face, and I don't think I could ever wash my face with regular soap or liquid foaming cleansers again.

2. Pink Kaolin Clay Add-in $6 French pink kaolin clay is actually a combination of red and white kaolin clay. It's a step up from the white kaolin clay that's already in my cleanser in terms of pulling impurities from your pores, but it's more gentle than red kaolin clay. I use this when I want a good, deep clean but don't want to fuss with a charcoal masque. Also, there's just something about it - (the pink color perhaps?) that makes my skin look so radiant and glowy!

3. Rose Hydrosol $14 I've been loving my rose hydrosol lately. It's hydrating, smells amazing, balances your skin's oil production... I mean, why use regular water on your face when you can use water that comes out of roses?!

4. Facial Oil $12/$35 Because it's absolutely chock full of amazing goodness for your skin. It's cleansing, anti-inflammatory, healing, helps even skin tone... it's my powerhouse do it all serum!

Bonus if you want to be really fancy:

5. Sandalwood Powder Add-in $16 This isn't necessary to get all of the benefits of this mask, but it is so, so lovely and totally worth the cost. Sandalwood powder has antiseptic properties that help heal/stop breakouts, and it also has moisturizing/antiaging benefits. Plus, it smells like sandalwood and makes you feel so luxurious! My favorite!

What to do:

1. Remove your makeup. Always start a masque on a clean face. I highly recommend doing a quick oil cleanse first.

2. Wet your face with water. (Or, if you want to be really fancy, rose hydrosol.)

3. Sprinkle about a tablespoon of cleanser into the palm of your hand.

4. On top of that, sprinkle about 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of the pink kaolin clay (and optional sandalwood powder.) Note that these measurements are approximate. If you follow my instagram stories, you can probably tell that I just eyeball it while standing over my bathroom sink. If you're uptight about that stuff, feel free to get out measuring spoons and mix this up in a little bowl!

5. Add 3-5 drops of facial oil to the powder mixture.

6. Use your free hand to turn on the sink and sprinkle a bit of water onto the powder oil mixture to make a paste. Go slowly by adding a few drops at a time. You want to make something that you can spread onto your face easily that isn't too runny. It may take you a couple of tries to find the consistency that you like!

7. Let it sit on your face for as long as you like. I like to wait a few minutes then...

8. Mist on rose hydrosol to keep the mask moist so it can stay on longer! The thing about clay masks is that once the clay dries, it's kind of done working. So if you really want your skin to get a good, luxurious facial, you'll want to keep it from drying out too quickly. Or, you can keep it short and sweet and rinse it off as soon as it dries. Up to you!

9. Rinse it off with warm water. If you're having trouble getting it off, use a warm, damp washcloth to gently wipe it away.

10. Tone with rose hydrosol or toning mist. You'll want to make sure to clear your pores of any excess clay. Spritz the hydrosol (or toning mist if you have it on hand) onto a cotton ball and wipe it all over your face. You'll see why this is a necessary step when you look at the cotton ball.

11. Moisturize with facial oil. I like to move quickly - while my face is still damp from the toner/hydrosol, I massage 3-4 drops of facial oil all over my face and neck. Doing this while your skin is still damp helps lock in that lovely hydrating hydrosol.

12. Follow with your usual nighttime routine. For me, that typically means a layer of beauty butter all over my face and eyes, and lip balm. I pretty much always do facials at night, because it seems weird to me to do all of that work and then go put on makeup or expose my skin to environmental pollution. Plus, I love to wake up to baby soft, glowing skin! If you want to do this in the morning, I highly recommend following with facial balm for a protective barrier before you put on makeup or head outside!

I mean... can you believe you're just $42 from radiant, healthy skin?

I love DIY beauty!

Let me know what you think!

-XO-

Stefanie

Which Facial Oil Should I Choose?

Written By Stefanie Grant-Cassel - January 24 2017

If you've been browsing my website or reading my skincare blogs, you might have noticed that I tend to use both my Facial Oil & my Makeup Remover + Oil Cleanser interchangeably. Sometimes I use them each as a cleanser, sometimes as a serum... so it's no wonder that some of you may be wondering which one is actually right for you? Or should you get both?

What's the difference, Stefanie?!

Well, I'm glad you asked!

Let me break it down for you...

Here's the thing: I originally designed my (original) facial oil to be a multipurpose moisturizer, anti-aging serum, and cleanser. I LOVED it, but I never felt like it was great for removing makeup. It seemed a bit too thick, and besides that, using it to remove my mascara just like a waste of really fantastic, healing ingredients.

I spent some time testing several different formulas and makeup removing methods before settling on my makeup remover + cleansing oil formula. I wanted to make something lighter, more slippery, and more simple - i.e., less expensive - something you could use a full dropper of without feeling wasteful; but also multitasking, like all of my other skincare products. I wanted it to be something really lovely that you could leave on your face if you wanted to, instead of just washing off right away.

So, let's look at the ingredients in each and compare, shall we?!

Original Facial Oil:

watermelon seed oil, grapeseed oil, rosehip oil, red raspberry seed oil, tocopherol oil (vitamin E), neroli oil, carrot seed oil, lavender oil, ylang-ylang oil

Watermelon seed oil (AKA Kalahari oil) is really the star of the show in this formula. I love watermelon seed oil because it's non-comedogenic (meaning it won't clog your pores - and PS pretty much EVERYTHING I use is non-comedogenic cause blackheads suck) it dissolves sebum buildup and helps balance your skin's oil production, but it also has a ton of anti aging benefits and helps to restore your skin's elasticity.

To that I add astringent grape seed oil, healing rosehip oil (another anti aging powerhouse that works wonders to even your skin tone,) and anti-inflammatory red raspberry seed oil.

Tocopherol oil (vitamin E) is an antioxidant that prevents the natural oils from becoming rancind. Its antioxidant properties also add to the healing, moisturizing properties of this formula.

Neroli is a wonderful skin healing essential oil, carrot seed is full of vitamins that fight the signs of aging, lavender soothes and hydrates, and ylang ylang balances and repairs.

So, you could absolutely use this as a cleanser. But the ingredients are so luxe that I typically prefer to use it as my moisturizer or as a serum under my beauty butter at night, or sunscreen/makeup during the day.

Makeup Remover + Cleansing Oil:

jojoba oil, watermelon seed oil, chamomile oil, ylang-ylang oil, geranium oil

Lightweight jojoba is the main ingredient in this one. Jojoba is actually a liquid wax that is very similar to the oil our skin naturally produces.

Oil cleansing works because like dissolves like. You're dissolving/removing the oil (and dirt) from your face, and replacing it with fresh, clean (and essential oil infused) oil.

It sounds weird, but if you have oily skin, washing your face with oil or using it as a serum will help, because you're basically tricking it into thinking it doesn't need to produce any more oil. Seriously. I used to think I had oily skin, but it magically never seems oily these days.

Anyway...

To the jojoba I simply add my favorite watermelon seed oil (for the sebum dissolving, balancing, anti-aging properties we've already discussed.) ;)

Chamomile essential oil, while mostly known for it's soothing properties, also has powerful antibacterial properties, so it's great for acne prone skin as well. Ylang ylang balances oil production. Geranium also balances, while leaving dull skin looking radiant.

Do you see why this is my oil cleanser of choice?

But I love it as a serum too!

I tend to use this in the morning, and my original facial oil at night.

Mostly... it kind of just depends on my mood, really.

Bottom line, there's no wrong way to use either of these oils.

Hopefully this info helps clear up any questions you might have about how and when to use them in your own skincare routine.

I'm working on another skincare diary blog this week so you can get another glimpse of how I actually use these products in my everyday life... but definitely let me know if you you have any questions in the meantime! I love hearing your thoughts!

-XO-

Stefanie

Stefanie's Skincare Diary: Part 1

Written By Stefanie Grant-Cassel - January 18 2017

Hello, it's me, Stefanie - owner & creator of Twinkle Apothecary!

Welcome to my website, my brand, my blog, my life.

This is part 1 of a new blog series where I take you through a week in my life from a skincare perspective.

I get TONS of questions about how to use my products, and since I basically made all of my facial care items for my own personal use, I thought it'd be fun (albeit a slightly embarrassing amount of internet overshare) to show you all exactly how I do use them.

Before I begin, let me just say, that

although natural products and skincare has always been an interest of mine, I never, ever, in a million years dreamed that I would end up with my own beauty brand. To be honest, I have mixed feelings about it. I think that the mainstream beauty industry is pretty gross, actually. When I turn on the TV or flip through a magazine, I feel like I'm being bombarded with p r o d u c t s. Each of them a special little miracle that's going to make my life better because it's going to get me one step closer to perfection.

Clearly, perfect skin and hair = perfect life, didn't you know?

GROSS.

I'm so over it. Perfect isn't real. It does not exist.

You know what I want my customers to feel?

Comfortable.

I want you to feel comfortable in your own skin and with your own body, how ever it looks in this moment. Because this moment belongs to you, and you should be making the most of it... not worrying about how you look. (Or what you're going to look like after your next facial, or what you're going to look like when your 40, or what you'd look like if you bought that amazing sounding miracle cream you just read about in a magazine...)

I do want you to feel free to take care of yourself - mind, body, and spirit - so that you can live your best life.

Your skin is always changing, and it's a constant reflection of your life. How much sleep are you getting? (Not much over here...)

Are you exercising? Eating healthy foods? Drinking too much coffee and wine? (Guilty!)

Are you drinking enough water?

Do you see where I'm going with this?

It's not about products, you guys.

That being said, I do think that whatever you're putting on your skin should be as clean and wholesome as possible. It just doesn't make sense to have a healthy, whole foods based diet and then slather a bunch of petroleum jelly on your face, you know?

Okay, I'll stop rambling and get on with it!

I hope this gives you a bit of inspiration on how to create your own self care/beauty routines and fit them into your own life.

I also posted a link of all of the products mentioned at the bottom of this post if you want to check them out for yourself!

SUNDAY, JANUARY 1

Morning

Happy new year!!

Definitely passed out in my makeup last night, oops! I rarely wear anything on my face, but last night I was wearing Mineral Fusion's BB cream. I don't think too much damage was done, but my face does seem a bit more dry than usual.

I'm staying at my boyfriends house, but I always bring my travel skincare set, my makeup remover + cleansing oil, eye serum, and acne spot treatment.

I run hot water over a washcloth while I massage the cleansing oil into my skin. Then I go for the eyes. When the water is good and hot I heat up the wash cloth, wring out excess water, and lay it on my face for a minute. Once it's good and steamy, I use the washcloth to wipe all of the oil and makeup. Then I rub some eye serum under my eyes, and acne spot treatment over my trouble spots - jawline, chin - trying to stay on top of those hormonal breakouts and stop them before they start!

And that's it!

Usually I would use toner and more facial oil, but I was feeling lazy and wine hungover.

I leave my face bare today.

makeup remover + cleansing oil twinkle apothecary

Night

Back home: I'm feeling like a good, luxurious facial would be a nice way to start the year, and also I have a sample of rose otto essential oil that I've been wanting test on my face - it's supposed to have amazing anti-aging and skin healing properties.

I mix my powder cleanser with a bit of sandalwood powder and water, and leave a masque on while trying to read and relax and not think about work (haha.) The smell is heaven. I rinse it off, apply toner with a cotton ball, and add a drop of the rose essential oil to my usual 4-5 drops of facial oil. Oops - one drop is definitely more than enough! If I were to add this to a serum, there would probably only be a few drops in the entire bottle. The scent of the rose is a bit overpowering, (and I LOVE rose, so that's saying something) but maybe it's making some magic happen?

I lightly massage a bit of beauty butter into my under eye area and up into my brow bone.

Bed time!

MONDAY, JANUARY 2ND

Morning

Okay, yeah, there was definitely a bit of magic in that rose oil and sandalwood powder. My skin feels super soft, looks smooth, and seems a bit brighter. Nice!

Technically, it's a holiday, but I've got lots I want to do, so I roll out of bed and get straight to work!

At some point in the mid-morning (or afternoon?) I spritz and little toner on my face, pat it dry, and massage a couple of drops of facial oil into my skin. Then eye serum.

No makeup today.

Evening

I've just taken a hot yoga class, and while I wait for my shower water to heat up, I mix my powder cleanser with water and give my face a quick (gentle) scrub. I rinse it off in the shower. Then toner and facial oil.

Night

Before bed I massage a bit of beauty butter all over my face.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 3RD

Morning

Toner, a few drops of cleansing oil as a serum, then eye serum.

Bare face all day (again - I work from home in my pjs y'all... typically covered in tapioca flour.)

Evening

After a treadmill workout (ugh - PS I do NOT run - I walk at an incline.)

I hop in the shower and just rinse my face with warm water.

After the shower I spritz with toner, pat dry, and apply a few drops of facial oil.

Night

I mix my powder cleanser with water and leave it on as a masque while I brush my teeth. Then toner, facial oil, and beauty butter.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 4TH

Morning

My typical routine before pre-school drop off

no makeup (like, ever, apparently... haha)

Afternoon

Post hot yoga: I rinse my face well with warm water in the shower, then apply toner with a cotton ball, facial oil, and eye serum

While in the shower and pondering how I can answer everyone's questions about how to use my products, I get the idea to start a skincare diary blog. Wait... do I even remember what I've done so far this week? Yes! Perfect. Let's snap a selfie to commemorate the occasion:

So here is my bare, unretouched, far from perfect 33 year old face, fresh out of the shower post yoga.

Now might be a good time to address another FAQ about my products: "Will your facial oil turn my face orange?"

The answer is yes, a little bit, but only for a moment.

As you can see here, my face is a little bit golden, because I had just applied facial oil a few moments prior. I'm not turning permanently orange. I'm just letting my skin soak up that lovely wildcrafted chilean rosehip oil. If I were to put on a little makeup (or my translucent face powder) any orange-ness would disappear completely. But I kind of like the extra glow!

Anyway...

Night

I do a coconut milk masque and let it sit while I put away my laundry. Just living the life of luxury over here! But really though, it makes my skin sooooo soft and bright. Must remember to do this more often!

Follow with toner, facial oil, and beauty butter as an eye cream.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 5TH

Morning

My usual routine

(No makeup today either)

Afternoon

I rinse my face well with warm water in the shower, follow with toner, facial oil, and eye serum.

Evening

Same shower routine as afternoon, after my hot pilates class.

Night

I mix a little aloe powder into my cleanser and do a quick masque, just for fun.

Follow with toner, facial oil, and beauty butter as an eye cream.

(Apparently I'm on a major masque kick this week! Trying to focus on taking care of myself now that the craziness of the holiday season is behind me I guess...)

FRIDAY, JANUARY 6TH

Morning

It SNOWED last night, and my kiddo is dying to get out and play.

Instead of my normal routine, I just apply copious amounts of beauty butter to my face before getting out in the snow. The temperature is in the teens. I lasted a full 30 minutes.

(I MISS LA!)

Afternoon

Rinse my face well with warm water in the shower, then toner, facial oil, eye serum, and beauty butter.

And guess what? I actually put on a little makeup.

(Because I'm going to visit my boyfriend again, yay! He lives in Tulsa, about two hours away.)

Here's what I look like with a little translucent mattifying powder, blush pink lip tint on my cheeks and lips, and mascara.

(I use Pacifica dream big mascara, and I think it's awesome.)

I also look stressed because I'm running way late (lots of orders to ship today, hooray!) and I'm terrified drive two hours in the snow. Clearly I am crazy in love. Or maybe just crazy?

Night

I wash my face with my powder cleanser, follow with a spritz of toner, facial oil, and beauty butter as an eye cream.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 7TH

Morning/Afternoon

After sleeping in, I wake up and wash my face again with my powder cleanser and rinse it off while I'm in the shower. I don't normally wash my face in the mornings, but I was in the mood for a little scrub today. I always follow with toner, facial oil, and eye serum - have you noticed?

I think I put on a little bit of my blush pink lip + cheek tint in the car on the way to a movie...

Evening

I put on makeup! BB cream, eyeliner, and all. Berry lip + cheek tint on my lips. So fancy!

Night

I use my makeup remover + oil cleanser with a warm washcloth to remove my makeup, followed with toner and facial oil.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 8TH

Morning

My skin seems a little dry - maybe I had too much wine last night? Or was it the BB cream?

I use my powder cleanser to scrub off the flakiness around my nose, and rinse it off in the shower. Follow with toner, facial oil, eye serum, and beauty butter all over to combat the dryness.

Translucent mattifying powder, mascara, and lip + cheek tint today for brunch and the museum!

Night

Back home! I add a little activated charcoal powder to my masque tonight. Then I follow with my oil cleanser to remove any dark residue. Then toner, facial oil, and beauty butter as an eye cream. The next morning my skin is sooooooooo soft and clear.

I'm a bit tired from the weekend, and suddenly a fighting cold, (or allergies?) but ready to get to back to work!

So, that's it! Things you may have noticed:

1) I rarely wash my face, and never ever use soap. It's necessary on the body of course, but I think it's totally pointless on my face. I happen to think that my powder cleanser is EVERYTHING - even on my combination, acne prone skin.

2) I experiment a lot and don't really have a set routine - I don't necessarily recommend adding a different ingredient to your masque every night - simple is better! I test things out often because it's my job to know the effects of everything I offer.

I do however, recommend leaving yourself open to trying new things, and being flexible enough to break from a strict routine. Like I said, your skin is always changing, so how you care for it might need to change from time to time too. I love that my products are customizable and multi-tasking, and that there are so many different ways to use them. You just have to find what works for you. I hope this helps!

I'll share more diaries like this in the future so you can see how it evolves. I might even consider doing a much shorter version of this every week...

What do you guys think?!

-XO-

Stefanie

Oil, serum, butter, or balm? A guide to Twinkle Apothecary's moisturizers!

Written By Stefanie Grant-Cassel - July 19 2016

My goal in creating Twinkle Apothecary's skin care line was to make a set of multi-purpose, no-nonsense natural products that would work for all skin types and be adaptable as one's needs change throughout the seasons, and even years. This is mostly because I personally have combination/acne prone/maturing skin and require products that can deal with oiliness, dryness, breakouts, fine lines and wrinkles all at once - but also, because I love offering a practical, minimalistic approach to skincare in a world that is constantly trying to sell people things they don't really need.

So, at this point, you're probably wondering what these miracle products are, and why you need them, yeah?

First of all, you may not actually need all of these products, depending on your skin type!

Second of all, I do not believe in miracle products.

I firmly believe that the best thing you can do for your skin is to take care of your whole body. Get plenty of sleep, stay well hydrated, eat whole, plant-based foods, exercise, wear sunscreen, and accept the fact that (despite what you see on TV) gravity is real - so unless you undergo surgical procedures or inject your skin with fillers, wrinkles will happen eventually... and it's really no big deal!

With that being said, since I do use all of these products on my not-so-perfect self (definitely lacking in the sleep, hydration, and sunscreen areas... oh my...) I thought it might be helpful to give a quick run down of what I use, when, where and why!

FACIAL OIL

I call this "Facial oil" because that's exactly what it is... it's a blend of oils that are good for your skin! Many people/brands use the term facial oil and facial serum interchangeably, and since "serum" is a term for a lightweight moisturizer that penetrates deeply into your skin, (which is exactly what this does,) we can call it a facial serum also!

I use it...

1. As a cleanser - The main ingredient in this product is watermelon seed oil, which increases the skin's elasticity while dissolving sebum (oil) build up. It's seriously great when mixed with my powder cleanser, and I also love to massage it into my damp skin using a konjac sponge first thing in the morning. After cleansing, I rinse, spritz on my toning mist, pat dry, and use the facial oil again...

2. As a lightweight serum/moisturizer - I massage about 5-6 drops into my skin and neck after cleansing and toning and my skin soaks it right up! This amazing blend of oils is chock full of repairing essential fatty acids, antioxidants, and vitamins that moisturize, repair, soothe, and balance my skin. I know it seems counterintuitive to put oil on your face if you have oily skin, but adding oil actually keeps your skin from producing too much oil, so it has a balancing effect. On the other hand, if you need more moisture, you can always add more!

EYE SERUM

I created this product specifically to nourish the skin around my eyes after cleansing and toning, because I noticed that my eye area needed a little extra love and hydration. It's a potent blend of deeply penetrating carrier + essential oils that uplift, repair, and soothe, and the rolling action really helps to de-puff first thing in the morning! If you're happy with how your skin feels after applying the facial oil, you can always skip it, or, if you prefer using a cream/need a lot more moisture, you can skip ahead to the...

BEAUTY BUTTER

I call this product beauty butter because it's a super simple, yet rich blend of non-comodegenic (non-pore clogging) shea butter combined with my favorite moisturizing carrier oils and healing/soothing essential oils. It turns into an oil-like consistency as it warms up to your skin, and soaks right in to make you feel extra soft. Pro tip: do not leave this product out in the heat, because it will melt and make a mess! If it does melt, pop it in the fridge to get it back to a solid consistency.

I use it...

1. As an eye cream - before I created my eye serum, this was my only eye product. They contain many of the same ingredients, so the main difference is in the texture and application method. A teeny, tiny bit of the beauty butter gently massaged/pressed into the skin will go a very long way to moisturize, repair, and soothe the eye area. I also love to use it...

2. All over my face - I don't use this all over my face every single morning and night. I do use it all over when my skin is dry, when the weather is cold and windy, when I've gotten too much sun, when I'm extra tired, or just when I know I've got a long day ahead of me and want to look extra glowy and feel supple! Mostly, I use it...

3. On dry patches - I haven't had much of an issue with dryness lately (hello summer) but occasionally I'll get a little flaky patch on my face or lips, so I'll rub in a very small amount to those targeted spots, and they heal super quickly! This also applies...

4. All over my body - I put this on any and all scratches, bruises, scars, bug bites, dry feet, elbows, cuticles, and sunburns. It's basically my all purpose healing cream. The rosehip oil is what gives this butter its funky orange color, but it also helps to even out your skin tone, while the chamomile really helps to calm and soothe itchy dryness. This brings me to my next multi-purpose product...

LIP BALM

Now, I call this product "lip balm," because it is a balm that's good for your lips, but it's also good for many other things! (Maybe I should have just called it "balm"? "beauty balm"? "healing balm"??? Nah, "lip balm" is good enough... right?!)

It's a blend of extra moisturizing oils combined with plant based waxes that will act as a protective barrier on top of your skin while leaving a slight glossy sheen, as opposed to soaking right in like the Beauty Butter. At 1/2 oz, it's much larger than most traditional lip balms, but it's still very portable, making it the perfect product to tote around when your skin needs help in a pinch!

I use it...

1. On my lips - Obviously! The funny thing is, my lips don't really get chapped much since I started using it... but I still like to apply it before bed and throughout the day to add a little gloss. Also because it just feels (and smells) so darn luxurious!

2. On my brows - I don't feel like my brows need extra color, but they do tend to have a mind of their own, so I've found that a touch of balm (I rub it on my fingers first) followed by a few strokes with a brow brush helps tame and add a little polish.

3. In my hair - I rub the balm into my palms and use my hands to smooth flyaways. I also rub it into the ends of my hair to create a little texture. It makes a great moisturizing pomade, but a little goes a long way - too much can make your hair look greasy!

4. All over my body - Again, just like with my beauty butter, I put this on scratches, bruises, scars, bug bites, dry feet, elbows, and cuticles. My lip balm is waaaay more portable than my beauty butter (especially in the heat) so I often find myself using it as an all purpose moisturizer when I'm on the go. The soothing chamomile and lavender work wonders on mosquito bites too!

Can you tell that I'm really into this multitasking idea?!

I think I've covered everything here, but I'm also always coming up with new ways to use my products, which I've been posting on my snapchat as they come into my head... (for instance, right now I have a terrible cold and the beauty butter + lip balm is definitely keeping my nose from getting chapped!)

Add me @ twinklestef (or snap the pic below) for real time updates, or feel free to send me emails with any questions you might have about my products!

***XO***

Stefanie

Let's talk about... Lavender

Written By Stefanie Grant-Cassel - February 11 2016

I think it's pretty safe to say that I am OBSESSED with my ingredients.

I obsess over choosing what goes into my products, and I obsess even harder when they end up performing the way I thought they might... nothing is more satisfying!

I have so much overflowing love for all of this natural, plant based goodness that I've decided to share it all here with you on the shop blog... one lovely, sweet smelling botanical at a time.

First up:

L A V E N D E R !

There are quite a few different varieties of lavender essential oil out there, but I choose to use an ethically farmed, steamed distilled oil imported from France in my formulations for its sweet, floral aroma. (Some lavender varieties smell more sharp or herbal, but I love this lighter, sweeter scent.)

So, what does lavender do for you?

Well, the question you should be asking is what does lavender not do...

Lavender is a highly versatile oil that can be used to treat a variety of skin conditions.

It's said to soothe irritated skin, calm inflammation, burns, bug bites, eczema, dermatitis...

Heal cuts, bruises, scars, acne, stretch marks...

It's said to be an analgesic, (painkiller) antispasmodic, antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal agent, and bug repellent.

When used in hair care formulations, it's also said to deeply condition and control dandruff.

When inhaled, lavender has a relaxing, stress-fighting effect, and it's said to help relieve insomnia and ease depression and anxiety.

It's no wonder that you can find lavender in so many of Twinkle Apothecary's products!

In our Acne Spot Treatment, the lavender helps to soothe and heal broken skin and inflammation caused by acne while combating breakout causing bacteria.

In our Powder Cleanser + Masque, the lavender hydrates and soothes skin that may be inflamed due to any number of reasons. Same for our toner and facial oil.

It's also added to our hair oil for its hydrating and anti-dandruff properties.

In our Basic fragrance, it adds a more complex, sophisticated floral note to the vanilla-citrus scent;

and in our Close perfume, it softens up the amber and vetiver notes with a relaxing, herbal vibe.

Of course, if you want to bask in the calming, rejuvenating effects of straight-up lavender, you can just grab an aromatherapy roll-on and inhale away!

Personally, I've inhaled lavender essential to ease morning sickness and nausea, and to relax my muscles when I have a stiff neck - it really works!

What about you? Do you love lavender? Never tried it but intrigued? I've only met one person in my entire life who couldn't stand the smell of lavender, (and I talk to a lot of people about fragrances) so chances are you're going to love it!

Let me know what you think!

-XO- Stefanie

Introducing: Our New Skincare Line!

Written By Stefanie Grant-Cassel - January 19 2016

NEWNESS ALERT!!

I am so THRILLED to introduce to you our new skincare products!

I HAVE MY OWN SKINCARE LINE!

I CAN'T EVEN BELIEVE THIS IS HAPPENING!

To be completely honest, I never really saw myself getting into skincare professionally. When I started Twinkle Apothecary I was pretty content with just making fragrances and deodorant. Of course, I've always been interested in natural skincare, (obviously) and have relied on many homemade kitchen remedies for years, (natural byproduct of being a broke single mom) but the idea of telling other people what to put on their faces was a bit intimidating to me... It was one of those things I was interested in doing "someday" but had no idea if it would ever actually happen.

Then, I tried it.

While researching deodorant ingredients I came across an old remedy for acne using tapioca starch, and the idea for a powdered cleanser + masque just popped right into my head. I mixed something up using what I had on hand, having no idea how it would work because I had never used anything like it before, and I ended up being blown away by how immediately softer, smoother, and brighter my skin seemed! After a few weeks I was confident that my skin had less redness, less clogged pores, and that the sun spots and discoloration on my lower cheeks were fading, so I gave it to my family members to try. When my ultra-sensitive sister who gets a rash from literally everything gave it a green light, I knew I was onto something!

I consider toner a necessity to deeply cleanse my combination skin and easily clogged pores, and I am extremely happy with how well this simple-yet-powerful mix of witch hazel and essential oils works to balance and brighten my skin. I packaged it in a big 8 oz bottle because I use A LOT of toner, and not just on my face! I spray it on my back to keep body acne at bay, use it to freshen up my feet and shoes, and spritz it on my face followed by a few drops of facial oil any time I want to freshen up throughout the day.

The facial oil... oh boy! My favorite thing EVER! I developed this for my maturing, combination, acne-prone skin so I am confident that it will be perfect for you, no matter your "type." For dry, maturing skin - it deeply moisturizes and restores elasticity. For oily, acne prone skin - it dissolves sebum buildup and tightens pores; and all skin types can enjoy the skin repairing, balancing, and soothing benefits of carrot seed, neroli, ylang-ylang, and lavender essential oils. I use it to cleanse and moisturize, and I love how my skin just soaks it right up! My combination skin is much more balanced - the dry parts are soft and supple, and the oily-prone parts are less slick, more "dewy." I FINALLY feel confident going without foundation, CC cream, BB cream, etc...

Basically, I feel like a genius.

I love that my products are multi-purpose, customizable, and no-nonsense, with luxurious, powerful ingredients at an affordable price point.

(Seriously, shop around for other 100% natural skincare products with the same ingredients and you'll find that most of them are nearly 2-3 times more expensive - and I believe that my ingredients are even more effective than most!)

Call me crazy, but I'd rather make something awesome that you can actually use and feel like you're getting your money's worth, as opposed to some ultra-fancy thing that's going to collect dust on your countertop because you're afraid to use it up - even if it means earning a lower profit-margin than my competitors.

Life is short - you should use the good stuff and have beautiful, glowing, happy skin right now!

I can't wait for you to try my new dream routine.

I think your face is going to love it!

-XO- Stefanie

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