More than Skincare

Not being one to push anything on anyone, I was not super comfortable with the idea of direct-sales.  The whole "pyramid" thing confuses the heck out of me, and my mind is completely blown with all the  jargon and levels of achievement, etc.  With everything sounding so overwhelming, I would mentally peace out before you could even say "but wait…you can get a luxury CAR!"

But then I started hearing about the product more and more.  Next, I would see friends of mine (SMART friends of mine…because you KNOW you have some of those friends that if you saw them doing something, you would do whatever the opposite of that was! Don't lie…!  :) promoting themselves as Consultants of Rodan + Fields on Facebook.  Lastly, I would start running into these smart friends and see their skin and think "DANG!  I have to have that!"  I'm kinda known in my circle of friends as "the beauty obsessor."  Maybe it was the 3 sisters growing up, or the pageants, or the short stint in TV…whatever the case…aging for me is not an option.  No ma'am, no sir.  I am a Sephora employee's dream; they see me walking in, and I immediately glaze over and soak up every word they have to say as if they were infusing life into my body.  I can't walk out of there without spending $200!  It's worse than Target for me!!  But I digress…  

All this to say - it became a no-brainer, and boy was I right!  I am already seeing the return on my initial investment, and am watching my business grow and grow.  Being able to see the beginnings of the path to financial freedom and flexibility is beyond exciting!  But the BEST part….. I have the opportunity to start a God honoring business and be a blessing to others through my financial offering to Justice Ministries.  I am committed to donating a percentage of my proceeds to this amazing organization that is committed to combating sex trafficking and sexual exploitation of women, with a focus on rescue & housing.   As Justice Ministries strives to end this inhumane crime, we can each help in promoting this cause through my give back program.  R+F's motto is "Changing Skin, Changing Lives."  I refuse to allow this change to start and stop with me.  I want to be a vessel of love to pour out onto my customers, my team and my ministry!  I want a business that is always pointing back to God,  Honoring Him first which will allow me to be my best for others.  

Join me in the fight against Human Trafficking!  For more information about Justice Ministries, please visit their website.  

Your Attitude is Aging You

Tip, Tip, HOORAY!!

It's that time of the week again when I open up my Treasure of Tips and pour out wisdom to my 10s of readers.  (Cyber-High Five to my fans!)

Ladies - you want a skin tip???  Today's is short and sweet:  Get those eyebrows out of your hairline!  "What is she talking about?" you ask.  I'm talking about our attitudes.  Too often, we allow our situations to take over our faces, causing us to scowl, squint and stretch our eyebrows to the heavens.  But all that reaction does is contort your face and cause wrinkles.  That situation, be it a silly boy, a micro-managing boss, a pushy friend, a sassy sister, a misbehaving pet, whatever it is -  it will pass!  I promise you!  But what will last are those wrinkles that you caused with your attitude.

One of my older sisters once said to me, "learn to respond, not react, to situations."  (Clearly, wisdom runs in my family.  Ha!)  That simple rule of thumb will not only save relationships and your reputation, but it will also help you fight the signs of aging.  Now, I'm not saying to go through life expressionless, but raising your eyebrows every time someone ticks you off is just not becoming.  Take a page from The Chive and "Keep Calm and _______." Save your lines for the good times, the laughs, the sweet moments when your significant surprises you with a romantic surcee, nights out with your girls, etc.

Goooooooooooooal!

Each week I like to start out with a strong focus on my goals.  In the Romero home, "goals" are a BIG focus right now.  With 2015 just days away, everyone starts making their resolutions - thinking back on the previous year and the fails and flops, and looking forward to a new year with an optimistic outlook on what's to come.  If only there was something magical about the flipping of a calendar page that made our lives more resolved.  But, alas….

Here's what our buddy, Mirriam Webster, has to say about resolutions:  

res·o·lu·tion

 noun \ˌre-zə-ˈlü-shən\

: the act of finding an answer or solution to a conflict, problem, etc. : the act of resolving something

Let's break that definition down a little bit.  "The act..." - whoa!!  Stop right there!  You mean to tell me that my resolutions are not just magical wishes I make to the New Year Fairy who has the power to make them come true without any effort on my part?!?  I have to actually DO something??  Shoot!  

A dear friend once said to me, "If a dream wasn't hard to get to and fulfill, it would be called a given."  Can I get an "Amen!"  We can dream about a great body or an awesome job or the perfect guy all day long, but when it comes to actually going to the gym, attending the networking events, or saying NO to the guy who just texts (ahem, ladies.)…we fall short.  Everything starts with an action.  And the best actions start with a plan.    Is that committing 3 days a week to going to the gym? Reaching out to one person each week about setting up a time to talk about a career interest?  Name it. Claim it. Set it. Do it.  

Let's keep digging.  "The act of finding an answer or solution…"  Ok, good.  So we are not just aimlessly wandering.  A resolution is connected to an answer or solution.  If you flip this around…a resolution is admitting that we have a problem or issue.  Are you willing to admit that?  If so, GREAT! Let's get to working on that action plan for the solution! YES!!!   If not, then you need to seriously reconsider your resolution.  Not recognizing the problem while simultaneously trying to fix it is like buying a FitBit and expecting that purchase alone to make the pounds melt away. (Side note, my husband got me one of these for Christmas.  Trying really hard not to look too much into this....)  I digress...  It doesn't work that way.  You have to OWN the issue and OWN the plan to resolve it.  

Lastly, "The act of finding an answer or solution to a conflict."  Oh man….bring it home, Carla!   Again, this is emphasizing that our current situation is in conflict with a better outcome.   Unhappy situation or a better life?  Hmmmm….what to do…what to do?  Oh, I know!  Let's make that action plan and set some gooooooooooooooooooooooals!  (Anyone else out there still got the World Cup bug?)

My goal, or resolution, for 2015 is to embark on a journey with Rodan + Fields in order to empower myself and impact the lives of others through great skin care and profit contributions to a local ministry that is dear to my heart.  I will do this through annoying the tar out of my Facebook friends with embarrassing pics of me with bouffant hair, wrinkly eyes and brown spots, and following up with each and every interested prospect about the amazing power of the product line that I so confidently stand behind.  I will not allow the NOs to dictate my progress, but rather allow them to better shape my own understanding of the products and business.  I will commit to excellence in how I serve all of my customers and consultants, pouring into them with all the skin care knowledge I have gleaned over the years of my obsession.  That is my goal.  That is my 2015.  Pumped!!!  

Why Rodan + Fields

There are so many reasons why people sign up to become consultants of Rodan + Fields:

• extra money

• discount on great skin care products

• replace current job

• getting behind a brand that has a history of greatness

The list goes on and on.  For me, it all comes back to my passions.  I LOVE all things related to the face - skin care, makeup, false eye-lashes, threading, etc.  You get it.  Being able to combine that passion with my other passion of TALKING to people about skin care...well, this was just a no-brainer for me!  

I've been approached by Reps of other brands in the past that have similar multi-level marking structures, but something inside of me just couldn't get on board.  Timing was definitely a factor, but, let's be honest...when you believe in something..you make time for it.  Other lines had the hype, but not the results.  Some had results, but not the support.  Whatever the reason, I just didn't want to join.  

As I mentioned before, I am a product junkie when it comes to skin care.  So, in preparation for my wedding, I wanted to get a new/good eye cream, as this is an area of my face that I never seem to like.  The R+F eye cream had a lot of hype around it, so I thought, why not?  I bought it, tried it...and fell in love with the results!  I remember first noticing it at the gym.  My, then, fiance and I would workout at 6am every day, and I would always look about half dead walking in there.  But after about a month of use of my R+F eye cream, I remember looking in the mirror and not thinking about how I wish I had some concealer on!!  I looked refreshed and alive, for a change!  

That got my wheels turning.  Never had I seen results so effortlessly and so quickly!  I started quietly researching the company, asking casual questions here and there to my friend who was my Rep, and reading a few articles online.  Knowing that I was in the trenches of planning my wedding, I didn't think it was a good time to add something like this to my plate.  So after the dust of the wedding calmed down, and I could actually start remembering the current day of the week, I talked to my, now, husband about signing up.  Being the business guy that he is, he wanted to do his own homework.  After a few days and long hours of that, he gave me his full support!!  And I couldn't be more excited!!

Rodan + Fields is not only a company that has amazing products that WORK, but they are also a company with an amazing structure and support to help you build your business successfully!  Whatever your goals are, they give you the tools to help you reach that.  On top of that, all of the consultants are so nice and willing to help and encourage you!  They celebrate your success and lift you up when you feel down.  It's awesome!  

So what's your why?  Or your why not?  I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Ready to join my team and write your own WHY?

#yourRFexpert

Be Gentle!

One of the best tips I can give for taking care of your skin is: be gentle!  I cannot stress this enough! Treat you skin like it is silk, hand-woven by blind nuns.  Seriously.  

Often times people use very aggressive instruments to wash their face.  Those cheap hand-held brushes, LOOFAHS (omg!!) and even some wash cloths can be so abrasive on your delicate skin.  I often hear people say.  "Treat it like it's a baby's skin."  Sooooooo I do just that - I use baby washcloths to wash my face!!  Brilliant.  

Not only are baby washcloths cheap (you're welcome), but they are so soft and perfect for washing your delicate skin!  Even the "rough" side is smooth - perfect for the cheeks and forehead, while the softer side is great for any reminisce of eye makeup left behind from your makeup remover (yes...remember, we are talking about washing your face, not removing your makeup...that is a separate step!  See Friday's post for more information on that).  

Now, to be clear, by "washing" I really mean "rinsing." Splashing, while very gentle, can not only cause a HUGE mess at your vanity, but it can also leave behind a lot of your cleanser on your face.  Without fully removing your cleanser, not only can it dry out your skin, but you are also creating a barrier and more work for your next products (toner, serums, creams, etc.)  Simply use your baby washcloth and lukewarm water to effectively and gently rise your face.  

So instead of ruining all of your nice washcloths with makeup stains, shell out an extra $6 the next time you are at Target and get a pack of baby washcloths.  Your skin will thank you! 

Join Me in the FIGHT!

As we kick off another week of amazing R+F stories of how their products have changed the faces and lives of so many,  I want to share how I will be using my role in this business for the greater good.  

When you think of Charlotte, NC, what comes to mind?  Panthers Football?  Financial District?  Some Mayor scandal?  Well, what you may not realize is Charlotte is one of the top 8 cities in the country for human trafficking.  Right here!  In my own backyard!  It's really easy to close a blind eye to things that don't involve us, but what we don't realize is how quickly this crime is growing.  Take a look at these numbers:

• Every 30 seconds another person becomes a victim of human trafficking.

• Human trafficking generates $9.5 billion yearly in the United States. (United Nations)

• Approximately 300,000 children are at risk of being prostituted in the United States. (U.S. Department of Justice)

• The average age of entry into prostitution for a child victim in the United States is 13-14 years old. (U.S. Department of Justice)

• A pimp can make $150,000-$200,000 per child each year and the average pimp has 4 to 6 girls. (U.S. Justice Department, National Center for Missing and Exploited Children)

• The average victim may be forced to have sex up to 20-48 times a day. (Polaris Project)

• Department Of Justice has identified the top twenty human trafficking jurisdictions in the country:” Houston
• El Paso
• Los Angeles
• Atlanta
• Chicago
• Charlotte
• Miami
• Las Vegas
• New York
• Long Island
• New Orleans
• Washington, D.C.
• Philadelphia
• Phoenix
• Richmond
• San Diego• San Francisco
• St Louis
• Seattle
• Tampa  (Department of Justice)

• A pimp can make $150,000-$200,000 per child each year and the average pimp has 4 to 6 girls. (U.S. Justice Department, National Center for Missing and Exploited Children)

• One in three teens on the street will be lured toward prostitution within 48 hours of leaving home. (National Runaway Hotline)

• An estimated 27 million people are enslaved today worldwide.

But we CAN do something about it!  I have joined with Justice Ministries here in Charlotte, NC to partner together to bring awareness to this crime and refuge for its victims.  For every sale that I make, I will be donating portion of my proceeds directly to this amazing organization!  I will make my donations known on a quarterly basis as a way to show you how YOU are helping put an end this crime.  

Remember - Stop!  Look!  Listen!  And call the National Human Trafficking Resource Center if you see ANYTHING!  1-888-373-7888, or SMS: 233733 (Text "HELP" or "INFO")

#1 Skincare Tip

One of my BIGGEST skin care tips is one that, I feel, is simple, common knowledge.  But you know what they say about "common knowledge"?  It ain't that common.

Ready…???

Ok…here it is….

REMOVE YOUR MAKEUP!!

Argh!  So many women that I know think that their face wash IS their makeup remover.  NO!!  Would you get into the shower with your clothes on and expect your body wash to get your skin clean??  Umm, no.  So in the same way, we cannot expect the desired results from our face wash if we are first not giving it a face…to…wash.

My all time favorite makeup removers is Mac's Cleanse Off Oil.  So easy and so effective!  I have been using it for YEARS!  If you have oily/prone to breakouts skin, I know what you're thinking: "No way would my face take kindly to that."  (Ok…maybe your thoughts aren't as Southern sounding as mine, but still…)  Well, I am the queen of breakouts (or was), and I have the oiliest skin on the planet - you could open a funnel cake stand with the oil that my face can produce. But this cleanser is super gentle, non-comedegenic, and mineral oil-free.  Perfect for ALL skin types.  So many of my friends with all different types of skin use this, per my recommendation.  And they all love it!

Here's how it works:
1.  Pump the product into your clean, DRY hands. (One pump is all you need for your whole face)
2.  Gently rub the product into your hands and then apply to your DRY face.  Continue to rub until you feel that all of your makeup is broken down (including eye makeup, lip stains, etc.)
3.  With warm water, rinse your hands and then apply your damp hands (note:  do not splash your face) to your face.  When the water and the oil/makeup mix, it will turn a milky-white.
4.  With a gentle cloth (or even just a few splashes of water), rub the makeup off your face.

Easy peasy!  Now your face is makeup FREE and ready for your face wash product.  Personally, I am loving the Reverse Deep Exfoliating Wash.  It makes my skin feel super soft, primed, and ready for some anti-aging goodness!

#beauty #RodanandFields #yourRFexpert