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While I can’t for certain tell you what skin type you have without looking at your face under a magnifying lamp, there are some indicators that you can do to determine exactly what type of skin you have. Take the quiz to find out what your skin type is…

Why Should I Take the Quiz?

It is important to know this so that you can treat you skin for what it needs, not what you may think it needs. For example, it is very important not to over exfoliate dry skin. Over exfoliating is telling your body that you need to reproduce and kill off dead skin cells faster, thus leading to more dry skin and at some point you’re going to start actually causing damage to your skin.

Click each skin type to read more & get product recommendations:

1. Normal Skin

• Almost even texture and tone
• Very few noticeable problems
• Small pores, barely visible
• Natural healthy glow

2. Dry Skin

• Scaly, flaky, dry or red patches
• Tight
• Small pores
• Dull looking
• More visible fine lines and wrinkles

3. Oily Skin

• Appears shiny
• Enlarged pores
• More blackheads and blemishes than other skin types
• You probably struggle with oily hair as well

4. Combination Skin

• Most common skin type
• Medium sized pores
• Usually has an oily T-zone (forehead, nose and chin)
• Typically the rest of the face is either smooth even texture or dry
• Blackheads are often found around the nose

5.Sensitive Skin

• Often has blotchy patches and red spots
• EASILY IRRITATED
• Prone to rash
• Experiences broken capilaries
• Fine pores

Not into taking the online quiz?

Enter, the “tissue test”. While not as extensive (or as accurate) as the quiz above, it is kind of fun.

• Wash and DRY face
• Tear tissue into 4 small pieces
• Places pieces on your forehead, nose, cheek & chin
  • Normal Skin: all 4 pieces will stay for a second and then fall off
  • Dry Skin: all 4 will fall off immediately, like they shouldn’t even stick
  • Oily Skin: all 4 pieces will stick to your face
  • Combination Skin: it will stick to your nose or chin

Let me know if it worked for you or if you have any questions identifying your skin type. As I said before, once you know your skin type, you are able to treat your face for what it needs, not what you THINK it needs- this is super SUPER necessary for maintaining healthy, glowing skin.

xo,

Ash

The post What Is My Skin Type? | Take the Quiz & Find Out appeared first on AshlieHipp.com.

*Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. Keep in mind that I link these companies and their products because of their quality and not because of the commission I receive from your purchases.

Not sure what your skin type is? Click Here to take the quiz!

Products

Having normal skin means that you get to experiment with products a little more than if you had another skin type. The important thing is going to be to never switch out more than one product at a time, and give your body 3-4 weeks to adjust before introducing another new product to your skincare regiment. Not only are you allowing your skin to become comfortable with one new product at a time, you are also able to gage if that product is right for your skin. Additionally, you should exfoliate normal skin no more than 2-3 times a week and I like to use one detox mask and one soothing mask (2 masks) per week, as well. Lastly, I try to wear less makeup in the summer and let me skin breathe. I find that this keeps it happy even when I’m sweating like a hog.

Diet

It is almost impossible for me to write a one-size fits all section about diet and breakouts. I, myself, have normal skin, so I can tell you this for certain. Not all skin, normal or other, is created equal. For example, cutting cream or milk out of my morning coffee was enough to curb all my breakouts (except hormonal because, you know). I don’t eat clean by any means, but I do try to drink at least 64 ounces of water a day, and my skin is clear. I’m not telling you this to brag, I’m telling you this to demonstrate that you have to find what foods are causing your mini breakout and cut them out.

Product Recommendations:

• Cleanser: Pacifica Beauty Sea Foam Complete Face Wash
• Toner: Mario Badescu Aloe Vera Toner
• Serum: Valjean Labs Facial Serum, Combo Pack of Hydrate, Glow, and Firm
• Moisturizer: H2O+ Beauty Oasis Ultra Hydrating Cream
• Detox Mask: Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay Mask
• Soothing Mask: Glamglow Thirstymud Hydrating Treatment
• Sleeping Mask: Soo Ae Donkey Milk Sleeping Mask

Give these products a try & let me know which are your favorites!

xo,

Ash

The post Normal Skin | How to Maintain it & Make it Glow appeared first on AshlieHipp.com.

*Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. Keep in mind that I link these companies and their products because of their quality and not because of the commission I receive from your purchases.

Not sure what your skin type is? Click Here to take the quiz!

Products

First thing is first, stay away from oils. Instead of telling oily skin to stop producing as it does when your skin is dry, using oil on oily skin will tell your body to up the production of sebum. In other words, your body is a well lubed machine, it knows what it needs and when adding more oil into an already slimy situation is only going to make it worse. This goes for all product. Make sure any face wash, toners, masks, moisturizers, foundation etc. have little to no oil and are non-comedogenic. Products that are non-comedogenic do not clog pores and form comedones, which are also known as pimples.

Next, people with oily skin should exfoliate 3-4 times per week to be sure that they are removing all dead skin and build up from within their enlarged pores. Lastly, I’m going to stress one more time that whatever moisturizer you are using needs to be oil-free.

Lifestyle Choices & Environmental Factors

The biggest lifestyle choice effecting oily skin is diet. It is a proven fact that ingesting greasy foods will make you face more oily, as well as potentially cause more breakouts. Additionally the environment can also play a part in how oily your skin is. For example, in the summer you may notice that you’re much more slick than you would be in the winter. That’s completely normal and probably just means you need to be using different products for each season.

Genetics

Often times those of us with oily skin also struggle with acne. This is why sticking to your routine, especially once you find the magic combination for your skin, is so important. It take 21 days to make a habit, stick with it and your skin will show the results you’re looking for!

Product Recommendations:

• Cleanser: Pacifica Beauty Sea Foam Complete Face Wash
• Toner: LAUDA BOTANICALS Oil Control Toner
• Serum: First Aid Beauty FAB Skin Lab Retinol
• Moisturizer: H2O+ Beauty Oasis Hydrating Treatment/Water Based Gel Moisturizer
• Mask: New York Biology Dead Sea Mud Mask

My last words of advice, be patient… you will find the right product combination that makes your skin “perfect”. As always, I’m here to help should you need me!

xo,

Ash

The post Oily Skin | How to Treat & Manage Your Skin Type appeared first on AshlieHipp.com.

*Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. Keep in mind that I link these companies and their products because of their quality and not because of the commission I receive from your purchases.

Not sure what your skin type is? Click Here to take the quiz!

Products

Products can play a large role in what’s causing dry skin on your face and body. Therefore, it’s time to focus on getting and retaining moisture, starting with your products. Get rid of anything that contains large amounts of “alcohol” and grab a rich and nourishing moisturizer. It is your best friend! Try to stay away from too many oils, as it may tell your body not to produce as much, leaving your dryer than before!

Another tip is to only exfoliate ONCE a week. Over exfoliating can also worsen dry skin. My best advice is to get a nice cream cleanser and apply moisturizers and serums to the skin morning and night to keep your skin happy, healthy and looking hydrated.

Lastly, be wary of the types of foundation you are wearing, especially those with a matte finish. By the end of the day your skin will look a lot like this picture of the desert. I recommend trying to stay away from heavy foundations all together and using a tinted moisturizer or BB Cream instead, if possible.

Lifestyle Choices & Environmental Factors

Obviously it is July, so it is Summer here in Pittsburgh, PA. If you spend copious amounts of time in the sun and expect your dry skin not to worsen, you’re insane. Summer’s heat, and adversely Winter’s cold, can do a number on any skin type, but dry skin especially. Protect yourself, lather up with a nice moisturizing sleeping mask at night, and during the day a nice moisturizer with SPF should help you out.

Genetics

Last, but not least, genetics could be what is causing your skin to be so dry. What can you do about that? Well, not a whole lot other than find a routine that works for you a stick to it. As with any genetic skin issue (acne, oily skin, premature aging), it is important to be meticulous in sticking to your routine, especially once you find the magic combination for your skin.

Product Recommendations:

• Cleanser: Pacifica Beauty Coconut Milk Cream to Foam Face Wash
• Toner: Green Tea Matcha Balancing Toner
• Serum: PCA SKIN Hydrating Serum
• Moisturizer: First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair
• Sleeping Mask: Glow Recipe Avocado Melt Sleeping Mask
• Moisturizing Mask: Glamglow Thirstymud Hydrating Treatment

I hope this was helpful! If you have any questions, I am always only a direct message away.

xo,

Ash

The post Dry Skin | What Causes it & How to Treat it appeared first on AshlieHipp.com.

*Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. Keep in mind that I link these companies and their products because of their quality and not because of the commission I receive from your purchases.

Not sure what your skin type is? Click Here to take the quiz!

Products

Product! Products are why I think combination skin is SO FUN. I love skincare products, they are truly my addiction and having combination skin means treating two ailments. Thus meaning, you need more products, honey! Although it can be tricky to figure out which needs more TLC, the best rule of thumb is to treat the worst area first. For example, if your oily T-zone is what is most bothering you, focus on using products to address that issue first.

Combination skin should only be exfoliated one or two times a week, and you should NEVER use products containing oils.

Multi-Masking: Your New Best Friend

Not sure how to multi-mask? It’s easy. Grab your favorite charcoal mask for that oily T-zone & a hydrating mask for the rest of your fact. First, apply the charcoal mask to ONLY your T-zone (nose and forehead). Next, apply your second mask to the remaining parts of your face. BOOM! You’re multi-masking.

Product Recommendations:

• Cleanser: Pacifica Beauty Sea Foam Complete Face Wash
• Toner: LAUDA BOTANICALS Oil Control Toner
• Serum: PCA SKIN Hydrating Serum
• Moisturizer: H2O+ Beauty Oasis Ultra Hydrating Cream
• Charcoal Mask: New York Biology Dead Sea Mud Mask
• Hydrating Mask: Glamglow Thirstymud Hydrating Treatment

Have you tried any of these products? Let me know, I’d love to hear how they are working for you…

xo,

Ash

The post Combination Skin | What Does It Mean & How to Treat It appeared first on AshlieHipp.com.

*Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. Keep in mind that I link these companies and their products because of their quality and not because of the commission I receive from your purchases.

Not sure what your skin type is? Click Here to take the quiz!

Products

Products… As I said above, soothing your skin is going to be the best way to treat your skin. Products with aloe vera, green tea and chamomile will all help to sooth your skin, as well as provide the proper treatment for it to continue looking its best.

Sensitive skin should never be exfoliated, unless done by a professional and/or with a very mild product.

My Best Advice

My best advice for treating sensitive skin is to reach out to a professional. Whether you start booking regular facials with your favorite esthetician or make an appointment for your doctor, they will be able to provide more guidance than I can via a blog.

Product Recommendations:

• Cleanser: Soapberry for Face
• Toner: Mario Badescu Aloe Vera Toner
• Serum: Murad Sensitive Skin Soothing Serum
• Moisturizer: Soothe Anti Inflammatory Natural Face Cream
• Soothing Mask: THANKYOU FARMER Back To Relax Soothing Gel Mask

Again, I can’t stress this enough, my best advice for someone with sensitive skin is to ultimately consult a dermatologist or esthetician in your area. If there is an underlying cause of your skin type, besides genetics, it could require more treatment than a good skin care regiment.

xo,

Ash

The post Sensitive Skin | How to Sooth Your Skin appeared first on AshlieHipp.com.

Do I Qualify to Get Medical Marijuana for Anxiety?

This one is easy, just answer these two questions with “yes” and you’re already one step ahead of the game. Do you have anxiety? Have you been diagnosed with anxiety? Then you probably qualify to be certified to use the treatment of medical marijuana for anxiety.

However… it must be written in your chart prior to your appointment with a certifying physician (more on that below). Therefore, you’ll need to use MyChart or the UPMC Chart app to access your past medical records, or reach out to your PCP or specialist that has documentation of your condition. Once you secure your records, you’re ready to begin the journey to medical marijuana patient certification.

How Do I Get Certified as a Medical Marijuana Patient?

First, you’ll need to register online for the PA Medical Marijuana Program at medicalmarijuana.pa.gov. To do so, you must be a resident of PA with proof of residency in the form of a PA driver’s license or a PA state-issued ID card with current address, and be over the age of 18. This part can be tricky if the information is not entered the way the state has you in the system. *In other words, if you do not type your address into the website exactly how it appears on your license, you will be denied.

Next, you will visit a board-approved certifying physician to complete an in-person examination and to review your records. If you’re not sure where to find one in your area, click here. *If you’re in the Pittsburgh area, may I suggest Dr. Adam Rothschild. I met him a few times during my stent in the industry and honestly, I’ve never met a more down-to-earth doctor in my life. Which is why I made my appointment with him as soon as I found out medical marijuana for anxiety had been approved! Please note, these appointments are not covered by insurance and can cost anywhere from $150-$250. Also you need to get re-certified every year.

Finally, after getting approval from the Doc, head back to the DOH website and complete the online registration by paying for a medical marijuana ID card ($50). Then, in the next two to four weeks you will have your MMJ card. After that, as long as the “date issued” is after the date it is received you can head to your local dispensary. In Pittsburgh, I hear Maitri is the place to go!

Other Conditions Approved for Medical Marijuana Treatment in PA

• Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
• Anxiety Disorders (7/20/19)
• Autism
• Cancer
• Crohn’s Disease
• Dyskinetic Disorders
• Damage to the nervous tissue of the spinal cord with objective neurological indication of intractable spasticity
• Epilepsy
• Glaucoma
• HIV / AIDS
• Huntington’s Disease
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease
• Intractable Seizures
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Neurodegenerative Disorders
• Neuropathies
• Opioid Use Disorder
• Parkinson’s Disease
• Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
• Severe chronic or intractable pain
• Sickle Cell Anemia
• Terminal Illness
• Tourette Syndrome (7/20/19)

Questions, Comments, Concerns…

That’s all folks! Feel free to reach out to me personally through Instagram or the comment section below! I would love to talk you through any questions you may have about treating your condition with medical marijuana!

XO,

Ash

The post Get Medical Marijuana for Anxiety in Pennsylvania appeared first on AshlieHipp.com.

*Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. Keep in mind that I link these companies and their products because of their quality and not because of the commission I receive from your purchases.

Mental Health

This is why writing about my life is hard. For most of 2019 my mental health has been filled with more peaks and valleys than I can count. I’ll find myself on a high for a day or two, and then come crashing down for the next several. I try to keep my struggles to myself, however a good friend (her name is Liv) told me that I need to open up and talk about it. Not just for myself, but to let anyone else going through a low-point in their life that they aren’t alone.

I’ve started a few things to try to help get me into a better mental state like meditation, journaling and even a new job! Although I have a long ways to go as far as learning to meditate productively (I guess that’s how you’d say that) and keeping consistent with my journal entries, I’m trying and getting better everyday!

Making Self Care a Priority

Over the past six months, I’ve come to realize that self-care is super important. Not only that, self care isn’t just slapping on a face mask and sitting in a bubble bath. While relaxing is helpful, the things mentioned above have been even more helpful. Another thing is that I haven’t worked out regularly, as I was in the beginning of the year, and it’s taken a toll. I realize now that even if I don’t need it for my body, I need it for my mind. So next on my list is to make up a challenging, but also lazy-girl approved at-home workout program for myself. If it works, I’ll be sure to share it will all of you!

New Job

As some of you know, I was on the job-hunt most of the Spring because I felt I needed a change of scenery. I had a chance to be choosey, until I didn’t because I was now unemployed and NEEDED income fast. After what seemed like a million phone interviews with direct marketing companies, I decided to go a different route. I am now a full-time employee at Impulse Beauty inside of Macy’s! I started roughly a week ago and I LOVE IT. I’ve done pretty well with sales (getting that commission, sis) and my coworkers are amazing.

Though it isn’t the position I see myself in for life, it gives me more time to pursue modeling, bring on more freelance clients and to building my own personal brand. With that being said, if you know of any small to medium businesses looking to bring in a social media consultant or need a model for their next campaign, send them my way!

What’s Next

As I said, I plan on modeling more, as well as bringing on more freelance clients and growing my personal brand. What does that even mean?

I’ll tell ya… On June 13th of this year AshlieHipp.com turned TWO (2) YEARS OLD. I can’t believe that I’ve stuck with it through the trials and tribulations in my life, but I’m happy I did.

BUT NOW, I want to expand my brand because I’m slighting convinced that Instagram is going to go away or change sooner than later. Being that Instagram is where 75% of my reach lies, I need to grow elsewhere.

Subscribe to My New YouTube Channel

SO… I have decided to hop onto YouTube! By the middle of next month (July ’19) I am hoping to be able to upload AT LEAST one video per week. I would greatly appreciate it if you watched my latest video from start to finish and “Subscribed” to my channel! For those of you who don’t quite understand how YouTube works, in order to monetize a channel needs to have over 1000 Subscribers and over 4000 minutes of watch time. Help a sister out…

I think that’s all for now!

xo,

Ash

The post My Life These Days appeared first on AshlieHipp.com.

However, we’re not here to talk about the HydraFacial, today I want to talk about the service that is buy one, get one, this month only… the Oxygen Dome Therapy facial. This service is becoming HUGE in places like LA and New York, but hasn’t quite made it’s way to the 412… UNTIL NOW!

“What is an Oxygen Dome Therapy facial?”

You may ask. It is a full facial, that includes a Diamond Microdermabrasion (I like to think of it as the the HydraFacial’s more intense cousin) and an enzyme peel. However, at the end of your service you sit in what I like to call a “bubble” (Dome) that pushes 90% pure oxygen onto your skin, thus helping with product penetration and MANY other things. This service boasts super charged skin, a more hydrated appearance, not to mention it clears acne and leaves you with a glass skin appearance. ALL TRUE. As I sit here writing this I am almost two weeks post service with not one pimple on my face, the light scaring from picking (I’m a picker) is all gone and my skin is glassy, sis!

“How Much Will It Cost?”

The hour long treatment will run you $199.00, but is WELL worth it. There is also a cheaper, more condensed Oxygen Dome Therapy facial that will run you $150.00 per visit. Additionally, you should get an Oxygen Dome Therapy facial every 4-5 weeks for best results. However, Rain may suggest coming more frequently depending on your skin type and what you are looking to accomplish.

If you’re local and struggle with acne or other skin issues, I have great news! Since Rain is THE BEST, she is willing to work out special pricing just for you if you have a skin condition that requires more frequent visits. I can’t think of any other spa, salon, WHATEVER that helps their clients like that.

Intrigued? Lucky for you, WE RECORDED THE WHOLE SERVICE. Check it out…

Here are the steps you’re seeing in the video…

1. Deep cleanse then Tone
2. Diamond Tip Microdermabrasion
3. High Frequency Treatment (an add-on due to a hormonal breakout)
4. Oxygen Bomb Whipping Mask to deep clean and detoxify
5. Pure Himalayan White Tea Hydro-jelly (helps calm breakouts, also an add-on)
6. Rose Quartz Rolling… sooo relaxing
7. An Oxygen Gun is used to penetrate ampules deep into the skin (peptides, antioxidants, skin brighteners, hyaluronic acid and skin vitamins)
8. Caviar serum is applied
9. Lotus stem cell is then used
10. Moisture mask is applied and topped off with green tea eye patches, PCA lip plumper… then it’s time for “the bubble”

“What Are Add-ons?”

Add-ons are essentially things that you need, but aren’t included in the service. For an example, since I was breaking out Rain added the High Frequency treatment and Hyrdo-jelly mask into my facial. However, they do come at an additional cost!

“Is There Any Downtime?”

Since you are getting a microdermabrasion, you do leave a little red, and you’ll definitely want to wear SPF for the next few days. Also, I had some pimples come out more in the days after, but that’s completely normal because of the additional acne treatments I received. Even though I left with my skin looking dewy and glass-like, I would recommend getting this service about a week out from any BIG events, or even getting several in the months leading to it. If you’re worried about the silky appearance fading out after a week, don’t… like I mentioned, I’m two weeks out and my skin has NEVER looked better.

If you are looking for a facial treatment with ZERO downtime, as I also mentioned above, Rain offers Hydra-Facials. It is perfect for anyone looking for a relaxing, deep clean.

Just a reminder, that this service is BOGO this month and next month (June & July 2019) ONLY!

BOOK HERE!

xo,

Ash

The post Oxygen Dome Therapy at Rain’s Skin Prescriptions appeared first on AshlieHipp.com.