Botox is a game changer. Without fail, every time I get my botox done ( every 3 months), someone will say to me "Wow, you look so refreshed!" At first I used to smile and say "Thank you!!". Now? I laugh and say "Oh yes, my botox kicked in!" I used to be shy to admit that I get botox done. Today I am proud to say I get botox every 3 months and have done so for the last 4-5 years. Botox has helped me get over a major insecurity and it's 70% the reason I am wrinkle free at 31 years old. The other 30% is my beauty secret #2.

So you're probably looking in the mirror and wondering, Should I get botox? I'm not a doctor so what I'm about to say next is solely my personal opinion. ( I suggest you get a medical professionals opinion before deciding to get botox.) If you wait too long to do anything about the wrinkles that bother you, and your wrinkles get too deep, you will need more than just botox. When my friends and clients have asked my personal opinion on whether or not they should get botox, this is what I say: "Everyones face wrinkles up when we have an expression, laugh, or cry. It's when your face is relaxed; are the lines still there? If so, does it bother you?" If the answer is yes, then you may want to make an appointment for a consultation with a medical professional to see whether or not you would be a good candidate for botox.

I get botox in my forehead, where my 11's are, and recently started to get a tiny amount where my crow's feet have started to come up. I ask for a natural smoothing over the forehead with a slight brow lift. I no longer have wrinkles in my forehead and I look more rested and awake. My botox provider, Vanessa, gets it perfect every time! If you're local to Bergen County, I cannot express enough how much I absolutely love Vanessa and her team at Bare Aesthetic in Closter, NJ. If you want touch notch customer service, education on what you're getting done, AND a ton of patience and understanding? You've got it at Bare Aesthetic.

My skincare routine is NO JOKE. My skincare routine is my top priority every morning and every night. "I don't have time" is the laziest excuse I've ever heard. Are you a lazy girl? I think not!

Morning Routine: I tone my face with Muah's Papaya Enzyme toner, then rub 2 drops of Muah's Rose Facial Oil all over my face including under my eyes and eye lids. If my skin is dry I will also use a facial cream that's meant to really hydrate. Right now, I'm really loving Charlotte Tilbury's Magic Cream.

Tip: Avoid rubbing your cream all over your eyes and brows as your lashes and brows are hair meant to protect your eyes from dirt, dust, and pollen. They will hold onto the face cream and cause pimples in your brows and raccoon eyes when you apply mascara.

Night Routine: Washing your face and removing all of your makeup is rule numero uno. If you tend to break out use a wash that has Salicylic Acid. I wash with Neutrogena Acne Face Wash. Before I apply my face oils and creams I use Muah's Dual Action Makeup remover to remove all of my eye makeup and eyelash glue. This is literally the only makeup remover I have found in the market that removes waterproof makeup and lash adhesive. At night, my routine is a little different. I spray Fresh's Rose Water Toner on my face, apply Muah's Rose Facial Oil, then apply eye cream by Tatcha. I lightly apply under my eyes and on my lids up to the bridge of my nose. I always apply a lip balm of some sort and leave it by my nightstand. I really love Dr. Roger's Healing Balm.

EXFOLIATE! Gently scrub your face every 2-3 days. I cannot tell you how many makeup classes I have taught where I've asked the room "Who exfoliates their face??" and maybe 1-2 ladies will raise their hand. Exfoliating your skin is SO important. You need to help remove the dead skin cells so your new skin can come through and glow. I love to use Muah's Micro Derm Scrub because of the tiny crystals that I feel gently scrubbing without serious abrasion.

What's the point of a skincare routine? If you want your makeup to look smooth and look like you're not wearing any, you have to start with your skin. Soft, supple, hydrated skin = No need for makeup and / or the perfect canvas for any makeup you do put on. Cakey and textured face makeup is usually because of it's canvas. Not so much the product! ( I know, a hard truth, but it's true!)

I do my best to hydrate from within. Yup. This beauty belief is about hydration but also de-hydration. Do you know as a makeup artist, I know when someone drinks enough water? I also know when someone drinks a lot of alcohol. Crazy right?? When someone drinks a lot of water there’s a beautiful bounciness to their skin and their eyes are bright and sparkling. When some has had a rough couple of nights, I can see it in more ways than one. Want your skin to glow? It’s simple. Cut back on the wine and start sipping more on H2O. Lately, I’ve been sipping on hot tea 1-3 times a day. Yogi Tea Skin Detox is a current fave! I've also jumped on the biotin train back in quarantine. These GF / Vegan Biotin gummy vitamins by Mary Ruth Organics are life changing. My hair has never grown so fast and my skin stays clear!

Self care is super important. Yes, technically everything I have listed above is self care. However, I believe taking the time to give yourself love yourself starts from within. When you feel good on the inside, you will most definitely look good on the outside. We have all had a stressful 12 months. Take a second and think: What do you do to be kind to yourself?