When You Need Your Makeup to Look Perfect — I'll Be Ready in Five Minutes

Which is any time you're wearing makeup, right?? One of my biggest skin pet-peeves is when you can SEE makeup on your skin. I hate looking in the mirror and seeing any cakey-ness or flaky-ness. I CAN'T DEAL.

It's usually a result of dry skin. So how do we fix it? EXFOLIATE + HYDRATE, babes. And one of my favorite skincare tips does just that.

LEMON PEEL PADS

After first discovering these babies, I immediately ordered two more and shipped them to my mom + sister. They worked so well, I just couldn't keep it to myself.

HOW TO USE

I keep them in my shower and use them every other day. They've got a handy little flap that you stick your fingers in and buff away!

Use the scratchy side first and gently buff in small circles all over face + neck
Flip it over to the soft side and use that to wipe away all dead skin in outward motions ((the goal is to not end up with dead skin sitting on your face))

Immediately after, your skin will feel sooo soft, actually hydrated, and ready to absorb serums and moisturizers. Not to mention, with continued use, your complexion evens out and gets brighter.

WHY THEY WORK SO WELL

A couple things! They are the perfect blend of physical + chemical exfoliation. You buff away dead skin, which allows it's main ingredients to penetrate deeper.

WHAT ARE THE MAIN INGREDIENTS?

So glad you asked! ONE, LEMON, obvs. Full of Vitamin C, this will brighten you right up. And TWO, Lactic Acid! Don't freak out about "acid", I already told you these are gentle enough to use every other day...

LACTIC ACID sounds intense, but actually isn't. It's an alpha hydroxy acid ((AHA)) and it's naturally derived from milk ((hence LACTIC)), plants, or fruits + vegg. Despite its intense-sounding name, it's very gentle, yet effective. It's great for reducing breakouts + fine lines. It is a chemical exfoliant that ALSO hydrates you. MAGIC.

SO BACK TO MY MAKEUP LOOKING PERF

Now that your skin has shed any flakiness AND been moisturized, makeup goes on smoothly! It can no longer highlight any dry spots or weirdness because there's none there! I will tell you... MORE THAN ONCE, I have put on my makeup, seen the dry weirdness, taken it all off and whipped out a lemon pad. When I put my makeup back on, we are GOOD TO GO. Better late than cakey!