Sophistication Sundays - 5 Beauty Rituals

My Sophistication Muse, Audrey Hepburn

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Sophistication Sunday revolves around my favorite beauty finds, techniques, fashion trends and anything else "pretty" that catches my eye. I look forward to sharing these ideas with you and hope to hear your suggestions and feedback as well! I am no expert at beauty or fashion by any means but perhaps that will make my thoughts more relatable. Simply put, I'm just a girly-girl navigating my way through the fabulous finds I come across.

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Since I wrote a post last week about some of my favorite Drugstore products I thought it would be beneficial to discuss some of the items I include as a regular "beauty ritual." I know the key to beautiful hair and skin is healthy hair and skin. So these are some of the products I use on a regular basis to keep my skin and tresses at their finest.

Neutrogena Anti-Residue Shampoo

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Anti-Residue Shampoo is a shampoo treatment that instantly removes up to 95% of dulling residue caused by shampoos, conditioners and styling products. It cleans hair thoroughly and easily rinses away.

Let's face it, many of us use a multitude of products on our hair every week. My hair product sins range from dry shampoo to hairspray to serum to pomade to shine spray. Phew, whatever we have to do to tame our unruly hair, right? After 6 days of product overload this shampoo helps give my hair a fresh start by removing the dulling residue. However, be sure not to overuse this product. Overuse of this product will strip your hair and just create more problems like fly aways and dry ends.

Organix Brazilian Keratin Therapy

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A creamy blend of cocoa butter and keratin proteins drench each strand with moisture while avocado oil and coconut oil reduce frizz, add illuminating shine and lasting smoothness. The rich Brazilian coconut oils and fortifying keratin give a luxurious, salon-style deep conditioning treatment that smoothes, straightens and adds sensational shine.

While it is important to remove product residue it may be even more crucial to restore moisture to hair; Especially during the harsh winters! With this in mind I apply a deep conditioning hair masque once a week. For awhile I used Organix's Moroccan Argan Oil Intensive Treatment but when I fell in love with the Organix Brazilian Kertain line I made a switch! I picked up Organix Hydrating Keratin Masque and couldn't be happier with the results. First of all the scent... Omigosh it is HEAVENLY! I don't even know how to describe it, it's like putting chocolate cake on your hair! haha. Seriously though, the scent is intoxicating and rich. While in the shower I apply this root to tip and twist it up into a clip until the end of my shower. Deep conditioning is especially important during the dry winter months.

Aveeno Nourish + Condition Leave-In Treatment

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Aveeno Nourish + Condition Leave-In Treatment does much more than nourish and condition - it quenches the thirstiest hair with a fusion of deep conditioners and moisturizers, recharging it with healthy new life. Hair is instantly revitalized and scientific studies show that just three uses helps repair dry damaged hair.

Leave-in conditioner was something that was part of my routine as a child; especially when I frequented the pool nearly every day during the summer! I quickly learned that there was no reason to by pass this form of conditioner even though I wasn't a kid at the pool anymore. Once I started using the leave-in treatment I noticed my hair felt softer and looked shinier. I use it faithfully and really believe it helps keep my hair moisturized and protected from the harsh winter weather.

Queen Helene Mint Julep Masque

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Mint Julep Masque is the original natural home treatment developed by a dermatologist that helps dry up acne pimples, rinse away blackheads and shrink enlarged pores. Simply apply Mint Julep Masque to your clean face and neck. Within minutes it firms and hardens, drawing out impurities from your pores. After the masque is removed, your skin will feel clean, refreshed and smooth.

Not only is this masque amazing but it is SUPER affordable! I purchased mine at Walgreen's for around $3 and the bottle lasts forever. I apply this to my face once a week and it helps to treat current breakouts as well as cut down on blackheads. The only downside is that the green masque is a bit stereotypical, i.e. it's gives you the look of the mom on sitcoms that would scare little kids away. My hubby seems to put up with it though so I guess it isn't that scary ;)

Tree Hut Coconut Lime Shea Sugar Body Scrub

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Delight your senses as you smooth your skin with the fresh, botanical combination of coconut and lime. The sugar grains will softly smooth away excess dry skin while Shea and Coconut Oil replenish moisture to your skin.

Since I switched to the non-tanning bed lifestyle last summer I knew I had to find a great scrub for exfoliation. I picked this one up at my local Wal-Mart because I liked the smell (so summery!) and because it was fairly inexpensive. I use the scrub once a week and am always amazed afterward how soft my skin feels.

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So what are your beauty rituals? Do you have a product you use weekly or something you swear by?
Let me know in the comments below! I love finding great new products :)

~Christi