Life Lessons Learned at the Blogger Conference

I just attended an amazing blogging conference in Sandy, UT over the weekend. (I believe it was created by the women at MormonMommyBlogs.)I'm brand new to the blogging thing, but I'm so glad that I went. Not only did I get to meet some great, amazing, funny people but I learned a lot too. Here's my top 10:



10. Blogging is a lot more work than it seems. Not only do you have to figure out what you want to write about (your niche), you have to find your own, unique voice, then you have to find followers... facebook, twitter, SEO (keywords) and networking. wheeew!!!

9. Blogging is about connecting. When we blog, we take a piece of ourselves and put it on display to share with the world. This can be scary, but you never know who might benefit from your experience.

8. Women build relationships by chatting, men build relationships with action. Hey, you never know what you'll learn at a blogging conference! But, that statement does explain a LOT... think about it.

7. I CAN get organized. That's gonna take some serious time and patience on my part, but I CAN DO IT. Marie Ricks was there and she gave me some one-on-one guidance, that really impacted me on a very personal and spiritual level. That was worth the conference fee, in itself. And I bought her system... even though I said I never would. I'm telling you... you just never know what to expect from a blogging conference.

6. Zupas has yummy food. I will be bringing my husband back.

5. Maybe high fructose corn syrup isn't so bad?? The jury's still out on that one, but at least I know that there are differing opinions on everything. And NO ONE tried to tell me that sunscreen is bad.

4. Companies really like to give away tons of stuff. And I mean, tons. It's all publicity, I guess.

3. Apparently, I'm not very lucky, because even though I had tons of tickets, I didn't win anything. Darn it!

2. Photography is pretty tech-y, but I think I'll give it a try anyway.

1. I have a LOT to learn... and it's going to take me some time to figure it all out. In the mean time, I hope you'll all bear with me. I may have to make some changes a long the way (pivot), but it's all a journey, right?

Comment below and let me know what type of beauty posts you'd like to see.

Why do we buy into the hype?

I just read the latest posting from Paula Begoun's blog, beautybunch.com. I could go on and on about Paula's wisdom, and I probably will in a later post. Needless to say, this post really hit home for me.

The various players in the beauty industry are truly marketing geniuses because they have us buying into (literally) all of their over-hyped promises and false premises. But, who can blame them, really, when we will continue to pay big bucks on our never-ending journey to the fountain of youth, beauty in a bottle and other such hype?

Even my editor, in my day job, often fights me on my claims that these lies just aren't true, and I have loads of research (that I document) to back me up. The fact of the matter is that more money does not equal a better product, eye creams are not necessary, nothing in the beauty aisle can get rid of pesky dark circles and a higher SPF does not always mean more protection ... and many, many more. I promise to write more about each of these topics as this blog progresses.

In the meantime, I challenge you to be a detective and compare ingredient labels. Even if you if you don't understand what each of those super long scientific names means, you'll be able to tell that the lists are virtually the same, regardless of price. Let me know, if there is a particular product that you love and swear by!

What's in my vanity?

I have a little secret... even though I know a lot about what goes into skin care products, I still don't have it all figured out for myself. But here's the thing, our skin is always changing. So we have to understand that the product we absolutely adore today, may not work as well for us a year from now, or even next month. Some of this has to do with seasonal changes, but our age and hormones also affect our skin. The other thing: what works for me, may not work for you. Talk about confusing, right?! But, when you understand the ingredients and how they work, then you'll have a better chance of finding what does work for you. Although, it'll probably take some experimentation. So here's what I use... some of it I swear by, and others I'm not completely sold on.

• Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser - I LOVE this stuff. It's so affordable and it works! It cleans off all of the makeup (although sometimes I have to go back over my eyes a second time), without leaving my skin feeling tight. This works for all skin types, except super dry or sensitive... in that case, you can use Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser (although, you'll need a seperate eye make-up remover... I'm still working on a favorite in that category).

• Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Stress Control 3-in-1 Hydrating Acne Treatment - This is a definite keeper. In fact, I'm a little scared to try anything else. It has salicylic acid, which can usually be a bit drying. But this stuff does not dry my skin out and if I use it every day, it keeps the acne at bay (do you like my little jingle?).
  

• Mary Kay Acne Treatment Gel - You guys, this stuff is soooo good! In fact, it's the only product I use that I can't get at the drugstore. But it's still super affordable. It has 5% benzoyl peroxide, but it does not irritate or dry your skin out.

• Olay Regenerist Regenerating Serum, Fragrance-Free - If this stuff had sunscreen, I would use it in place of my daily moisturizer. I love the way this feels on my skin! It provides all the moisture that my normal-to-oily skin needs, without feeling too heavy or greasy. But, it won't be enough for you if you have dry skin. Plus, I know I'm feeding my skin well with Olay - it has lots of antioxidants and other good-for-skin ingredients.

• Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch SPF 30 - This isn't technically a "facial moisturizer", but it provides just enough moisture for me, especially in the summer. It dries to a slightly powdery finish, that keeps my oil at bay. Plus its a great primer for makeup. A lot of athletes also love the texture of this because it stays put - no running into your eyes when you sweat.

• Olay Regenerist UV Defense Regenerating Lotion SPF15 - I'm not completely sold on this. It has excellent ingredients, but it usually a little to heavy for my slightly oily skin. If you don't have oily skin, you'll probably love it. Don't use it if you have sensitive skin, though - it contains a little bit of fragrance, which can cause irritation.
  

• Neutrogena Healthy Skin Anti-Wrinkle Cream Night Treatment - This is another one that is a little too heavy for my skin type. I want to love it though. It's loaded with antioxidants and retinol (which fights wrinkles). If you have normal to slightly dry skin, this one is a good bet.
  

I'll keep you posted on other products I find. In the meantime, what are your favorite skin care products and why?