August 2024
Welcome to the month of August! I am very excited to continue the summer mood as I have gotten to spend so much quality time with my family and daughter. She heads back to school this month, so I will get to enjoy some more time to work on personal projects while still in the summer vibe, which is a bit more laid back and restful. August is always post vacation for me so I am slowly still coming off of that energy, which always puts me straight into this state of gratitude and appreciation. We just closed out an amazing Glam Bag event & I couldn't be more thankful for all of you who support and shop with us during your summer! It means more than you know and I am feeling so beyond blessed to have this platform where I can share my personal journey with beauty & wellness. It’s my intention to help elevate your life and spread the message of a clean lifestyle so I hope you enjoy my exciting favorite picks for the month of August and that they help you get your glow on as we really enjoy the last moments of our summers!
This fairly new launch from Ayuna is this incredible protective serum. If you know me, you know I absolutely love Ayuna for their unique, revolutionary skin care ingredients and technology and of course, this does not disappoint. It works by fusing together eight separate defense mechanisms to help shield the skin from not only the usual UVA and UVB rays from sun etc., but also from the exposome. They define the exposome as a term coined in 2005 by scientist Christopher P. Wild and refers to the set of external factors that act on the genome and influence the skin. Factors including solar radiation, chemical and toxins, stress and environmental pollution.
![Citrine sells Velo[X]](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/2109/3735/files/MeetVeloX.jpg?v=1722061257)
This is such an innovative and amazing way to approach skin care. I want to do anything I can to really keep my skin’s defense levels up and avoid the deterioration of my skin. We all know how harsh our modern world is, between pollution and the toxic chemicals and substances that are so abundant, so this product feels so aligned for me to add into my daily ritual. I tend to stick to certain skin care routines, especially when I fall in love with a product, and I have a feeling that this one will stick. Protection of the skin is so important to me, as you know with my holy grail everyday obsession with Antioxidant Dew.
If you’re looking to even out your skin tone and prevent future hyperpigmentation, this would be an excellent choice to get started on. It helps to reduce dark spots and dyschromia. It has a skin-toned tint so it works nicely under makeup!
I have been really into this vibrant peachy serum lately because it gives your skin the ultimate summer glow. The kind of glow that we know we can achieve from a day basking in the sun. While the vitamin D we get from the sun is crucial to our health, we all know the downsides to sun exposure & want to be very mindful of how often we indulge. On top of that, with our drastic heat here in Arizona, it makes it difficult to spend extended periods of time in the sunshine before we literally melt. Ayuna created this formula to mimic the effects of that beautiful vitamin D. Its incredible technology prompts our skin to stimulate the natural production of Vitamin D by utilizing a molecular biotechnological component from “Living Stone” Stem Cells… I mean, talk about serious skincare ingredient innovation. Ayuna always takes their formulations to the next level & there’s really no other brand on the market that sources such a vast, highly advanced, unique & potent source of scientifically proven, edgy ingredients that gives us some serious efficacious results.
By optimizing the vitamin D levels in the skin, the skin is able to restore elasticity and produce more firming collagen. It also works to improve the microcirculation of the skin, which helps to even skin tone and texture while keeping it light and lifted. It also contains bio-sugars that are similar to hyaluronic acid to assist in the production of vitamin D & restoring moisture to the skin barrier. On top of all of that, it contains an incredibly potent antioxidant, Astaxanthin, which helps to further protect your skin & prevent premature aging. Since starting to use this serum I’ve noticed that my skin feels substantially more plump, voluminous, smooth and strong. Overall, this serum imparts the skin with such a luminous radiance and the transformation you can see on your skin makes it truly worth the small investment.
Our latest internal beauty supplement has made a place in my nightly wellness ritual and I have to say that this is one of my current favorites in the whole store. I was able to test it out a couple months back when the founder of Agent Nateur, Jena Covello was in town hosting a Masterclass event at Citrine. She gave me a couple days supply and I was just leaving on a trip to Disneyland with my family. Normally I would experience disrupted sleep, but I found that taking it even while traveling, I was able to get a great night's sleep. I loved the product right away and fast forward to when it launched earlier in the month, I’ve been taking it consistently almost every night.
The main ingredients in this supplement are Taurine and Spermidine. Taurine is a naturally occurring sulfur-containing amino acid that has a similar structure to GABA and glycine. It’s a neurotransmitter that has cell-protective properties and helps to regular the nervous system, inducing a calm state of being. I can definitely feel it working to gently settle my energy down and you feel that subtle feeling of serenity wash over you. With use over time, you’re going to experience reduced anxiety, improved sleep and an elevated mood. Spermidine, the other ingredient, has been rising in popularity in the wellness industry for its ability to reduce the effects of aging, supporting longevity within the cells. It works to reduce inflammation, support mitochondrial health and cell autophagy. These two ingredients work in tandem to give you that lit from within glow that’s often a result of getting your beauty sleep, staying in your lane and being a vision of peace and serenity. You guys are so aware by now of the negative effects stress has on your beauty and health.
I wear an Oura ring and have noticed an actual increase in my deep sleep levels which is very cool to see. I keep calm (beauty) on my nightstand and just rip the packet open and put it directly into my mouth most nights. If I have a bit more time to wind down and want to make a little drink, I add it to a sparkling water. Either way is delicious, the tart cherry tastes fairly good and elevates the body’s natural melatonin levels. This is something that I am very excited about and can’t wait to continue to hear the feedback from all of you regarding the benefits you experience!
This is my ride or die favorite concealer of the past two years now. I chose this as a favorite for August because during the summer months I have a lot more casual ‘no makeup makeup’ days and this works perfectly for those days where I want to pop something on and get out the door while still feeling polished. Between this and my holy grail RMS Blush, I’m out the door and feel complete!
I love a good full coverage concealer for my under eye area where I tend to have the most discoloration and this does not disappoint. While the coverage is full, it still melts right into the skin for that seamless finish. It’s very color corrective which is important to me because of my fair skin tone, my under eye is the area I need to concentrate on the most when it comes to coverage. It also has SPF, which I love, because I tend to freckle under the eye so the SPF is super important to me to keep the delicate area protected. It covers blemishes and imperfections flawlessly while keeping the skin hydrated so it doesn’t dry out your problem areas. It also helps to smooth the fine lines under the eyes. It comes in a wide range of shades so there’s something for everyone!
Between being in the pool and melting in the Arizona heat in these hot summer months I find that my scalp needs some TLC. This scalp scrub is a game-changer if you want to get your hair thicker, longer and healthier because it has these finely-milled exfoliating particles that gently remove build-up, excess oils and impurities from the scalp. Utilizing this about once a week is going to really give your scalp optimal conditions for hair growth. Not to mention, it feels so luxurious to really scrub this in because it invigorates the scalp and also enhances microcirculation which helps ensure that the hair follicles receive the nutrients they need. It’s one of those extra little steps in your hair care routine that is so often overlooked but makes all the difference. If you want to read more about doing a little detox hair ritual, we have one here on the blog! Not a bad idea at all while we’re still in the dog days of summer.
