Hello! Hope everyone is doing well. I’m excited to be blogging again. Makes me really happy to share!
Today we took a trip a trip to the mall. I got an Apple Watch for my Birthday.
But, I also took some time to look at some makeup! I wanted to share some of things I checked out that look nice. Maybe future reviews of these products will be coming up.
Bobbi Brown Longwear Cream Eyeshadow Stick
I swatched these today, they are definitely long wearing. They weren’t coming off. I’m interested in the shades Golden Pink (gorgeous!), Pink Sparkle (fun!), and Nude Beach (Basic, but pretty).
Bobbi Brown Highlighting Powder
I’ll need to do more research on these, but they look really pretty! I swatched these and liked the shades Afternoon Glow and Pink Glow best for myself. Bronze glow was too dark for me, but a nice gold.
Bobbi Brown Lux Eyeshadow
Ugh these shades. I’m a sucker for gold eyeshadow! I have always loved a gold eye, gold and copper tones are the best for brining out blue eyes anyways. There’s like 5 different shades of champagne/gold… I’ll have to research which shade I think would be best.
Tatcha Vitamin C Radiance Mask
I love masks. I’ve heard mostly good things about this, plus it’s a pretty purple color haha.
Mac Soft & Gentle
Okay, I can’t find mine… plus its like 3 years old, I LOVE soft & gentle. A classic for a reason.
NudeStix Cream Blush in Cherry Blossom Babe
I actually picked this one up! It looks like a really dewy cream blush in a rosy, cool pink color. Stay tuned to learn if I like it…
Inglot Pigment 118
Okay another gold eyeshadow…
I have a problem. This one looks really glam and kind of wet on the lids! looks stunning.
I don’t like too yellow of a gold or too dark. This one looks great.
I think that’s everything I’ve currently got my eyes on! Hope you guys have a great weekend, I’m hoping to post my January favorites tomorrow.
I’ve been super busy over the past few weeks, vacations, Fourth of July, there’s a lot to do in the Summer. I thought I’d come back with an intensive blog post… my skincare routine. I think my skin is in the best place it’s ever been honestly, it’s hydrated, rarely breaks out, and radiant. I’ve always had really good skin generally, because of this my standards for my skin is basically perfect, like a tiny pimple is a problem to me. I’ve tried loads of skincare of the years, and these are my current staples I see myself using for a long time.
I’m currently 25 years old and I’d say the pillars of my skincare are a cleansing balm, a gentle yet clean feeling cleanser, a vitamin C serum, a gentle retinol, and all the moisturizing products to keep it hydrated. I also love face masks, but I think I’ll do a separate post on that or this will be far too long. So without further ado, here’s everything I use!
Cleansing Balms
I love a good cleansing balm to take off any makeup at nighttime. My favorites include the Clinique Take the Day Off ($31) Balm and the Then I Met You Cleansing Balm ($38). The Clinique one is amazing at taking off makeup easily and is fragrance free, whereas the Then I Met You balm is more of a luxurious experience it’s thicker and smells like a citrus dream.
Cleansers
I consistently use 3 different cleansers, that may seem very extra but it works for me. I like to use an extremely gentle one or I skip cleansing in the morning entirely, if I wash my face twice a day it gets extremely dry. If I cleanse in the morning I’ll use the Cerave Hydrating Cleanser ($13.99), in the evenings for a deeper clean I’ll use either the Youth tothe People Kale and Spinach Cleanser ($36) or the Tatcha Deep Cleanse ($38). The Tatcha cleanser has very little exfoliating beads in it and makes my skin feel so fresh.
Serums
I’d say the most essential serums to have are a good Vitamin C, a retinol, and maybe an acid, I prefer to do face masks for acids though instead of serums. Vitamin C is a recent addition to my skincare routine and boy is it amazing, it’s got so many benefits, brightening, exfoliating, can improve the effectiveness of your sunscreen if worn together, hydrating, reduces redness, fades hyperpigmentation, boosts collagen production. Now you best belief something this amazing does not come cheap…. hence why I’ve never really used vitamin C before. The reason it’s so expensive, is because Vitamin C is largely unstable… and goes bad rather quickly. I keep mine in the fridge to preserve it longer.
I’ve tried other Vitamin C serums in the past and they didn’t do anything, but l LOVE the Drunk Elephant C-Firma Serum ($80), now it doesn’t smell very good and the texture is pretty sticky.. but it WORKS. I saw instant results when I first starting using it. It also isn’t a terrible price compared to other serums.
The only other serum I use is Retinol occasionally, like maybe once/twice a week. My favorite for years has been the Sunday Riley Luna SerumSleeping Night Oil ($55). I think I first tried this out Freshman year of college…. I literally didn’t know what a retinol even was I just saw other beauty reviewers raving about it. Retinol in a nutshell speeds up cell turnover, kinda of like an exfoliator and reveals new cells underneath. This can prevent wrinkles from settling in from constantly turning over, but also helps clear up any acne spots you may have. This is a pretty gentle and non drying retinol, which is why it’s been my favorite for years. There’s a lot of reviews saying this is too gentle of a retinol for some, but it’s perfect for me. I remember my senior year of college, I still didn’t know what a retinol was and I just thought this was just like an oil to moisturizer so I was using it constantly and my skin looked amazing.
Moisturizing
My all time Holy Grail is the Krave Beauty Great Barrier Relief ($28). I just keep repurchasing. It’s Tamanu Oil and is formulated with Niacinamide. It is so soothing on my skin and overall one of the best products.
I also enjoy the Drunk Elephant Marula Oil ($40), this hydrates really well and is very quick to absorb.
My top 3 favorite moisturizers are the Khiel’s Ultra Facial Cream ($32) and the Drunk Elephant Protini ($68) and LalaRetro ($60) creams.
I love Hyaluronic Acid as well and recommend the Ordinary Hyaluronic ($6.80)
Mists and Essences
I adore the Caudalie Beauty Elixir ($18), I’ve been using this since freshman year of college. It has a lovely scent and it’s uber refreshing, so spraying this on my face anytime.
Avene Thermal Water ($15) is another favorite super soothing, great for sunburns! Love keeping this in the fridge during the summer to spray after workouts.
I am super new to essences, I started using one last winter for added hydration, I used the Neogen Essense ($22), I liked it for Hydration in the winter, but I didn’t notice any brightening effects.
SPF
Lastly and most importantly is SPF. Wear one as often as the sun is out. It’s all about finding one you like, doesn’t smell like sunscreen, and isn’t super greasy to wear one daily. My favorite is the Elta MDUV Clear SPF 46 ($29) at dermstore.com. I took this to the beach recently and now I can’t find it, so I’ll need to pick up another… $29 is pretty good price.
There you have it! I’ve been a skincare junkie as long as I can remember, these are my current favorites and tried and trues! I think I’ll be sticking to this for a while, I don’t really feel a need to try anything else. Hope you found this helpful if you’re looking for some skincare recommendations!
There have been some GOOD summer launches this. Summer and the holidays have the best new releases for beauty.
I was perusing the internet and saw that Nars had released a new Limited Edition Sunkissed Bronzing Cream for summer. Then I got to looking at reviews and everyone was RAVING about this and the Laguna shade was out of stock everywhere. Obviously, this made me decide I needed to try this bronzer out haha.
It restocked on Macy’s and I was able to pick it up there, but I also emailed Nars’ Customer Service asking if it would be restocked and they said it would be. So you should have a chance to get it if you’re interested!
When I opened it I smelt the classic Nars Monoi scent, I love the scent. It’s very summery and a little masculine but very good. I went straight to application, I like using a stippling brush. Things can go very wrong if I have too much bronzer and I can always pick up more.
This blends like a DREAM. So easily. Literally anyone could look good in this. No technique needed. Reminds me of the Chanel bronzer that is so easy. It’s also very light and not super thick and creamy which I love. I find with the thicker more emollient formulas I pick up too much product. I ALWAYS use stippling brushes with cream products, they’re the best for not picking up too much product and blending seamlessly.
Left to Right – Tom Ford Intensity 1, Nars Laguna Sunkissed Cream Bronzer, Fenty Cream Bronzer in Butta Biscuit
Anyone who’s ever had Laguna knows this color is really nice. Not too cool and not too warm it’s pretty neutral.
Overall, one of my favorite beauty purchases this year. Highly recommend picking it up if you’re interested in a good cream bronzer. Right now it’s Limited Edition, but hopefully they’ll make it permanent since everyone seems to love it!
It has been way too long since I’ve created a new post, hopefully I can get back in my grove again. Super busy month, went to a Wedding, spent a weekend with my family, and graduations.
I wanted to make a post of my 3 favorite perfumes for summer. I love scents. I just love how they can remind you of certain seasons or moments in your life or occasions. Plus, who doesn’t like to be complimented on how good they smell? For the summer months, I want something light, airy, fresh, floral, and easy. You know those summer days where you’ve been outside swimming or sweating outside then you come inside to get ready for a dinner out in 20 mins? And you go out with wet hair and throw on a dress because it’s easy. This is all acceptable in the summertime, everyone is happy it’s sunny and warm.
I digress, but these are my 3 favorite perfumes for the Summer!
Dolce and Gabbana Light Blue Intense
This is my most recent addition and I am so excited to break this out all the time this summer. If you love citrus notes you’ll love this. I read and watched a lot of reviews and 99% of people were saying definitely get the intense version, it lasts longer and is a deeper scent. They were right, this is an amazing blend of lightness and fresh citrus with a hint of something deeper. It’s beautiful and lasts fairly long.
Key Notes: Lemon, Jasmine Petals, Musk
Chanel Chance
I wear this all year, but I think it’s especially good in the summer. It’s fresh, light, and floral and a little bit sweet but not too much. It’s SO good. It’s extremely popular for good reason.
Key Notes: Jasmine, Pink Pepper, Patchouli
Marc Jacobs Daisy
A classic. This scent is really pretty and simple. It’s light and perfect for throwing on in the summer. This a scent that really couldn’t offend anyone.
Key Notes: Strawberry, Violet Leaves, Jasmine
There you have it! These are my go to perfumes that I will be putting to good use this summer. Hope you found this useful and let me know if you have any favorite perfumes to use in the summer!
Hi Guys! Today I wanted to do a comparison of two very comparable skincare products that have a steep difference in price. This is the Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution and the Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Sakura Facial. They are both high percentage acid peels.
Drunk Elephant vs The Ordinary
How to Use
For me personally, I apply these like any other face mask on clean skin. The Ordinary recommends leaving this on for a max of 10 minutes. Drunk Elephant recommends leaving theirs on for a max of 20 minutes. I would definitely not do this more than once a week. I usually do a peel every week and half or two weeks. These are pretty strong and you need to be careful to not overdo it on the acids. I would not use this with any other acid treatments during that time.
Price
I’d say the most distinct difference is the price. The Ordinary Peel is $7.20 whereas the Drunk Elephant T.L.C is $80. I don’t use acid peels very frequently, so this is something you probably won’t go through terribly fast.
Ingredients
The Ordinary contains 30% AHAs and 2% BHAs whereas the Drunk Elephant contains 25% BHA and 2% AHA. The Ordinary is known for having simple formulas at a very affordable price. The ingredients for The Ordinary is pretty bare bones, mostly containing the acids and glycerin, whereas the Drunk Elephant T.L.C. contains a lot more soothing ingredients such as oils or fruit extracts.
Experience
I got The Ordinary Peel first. This one is STRONG. It will give you the smoothest, softest skin, but there are still some drawbacks to it. I would only ever do this at night, your skin will be red and little sensitive afterwards. Also this STINGS. I don’t do it that often because of that. But it will reveal amazingly smooth skin afterwards.
I then wanted to try the Drunk Elephant. This one doesn’t sting nearly as much and your skin won’t be red, so you can do this whenever. I find my skin isn’t as smooth as with The Ordinary one, but my skin is much more soothed when I use this one than The Ordinary.
Which is Better?
This is actually an interesting question as I don’t have a straight answer for which one is the best. Obviously I’d say price is pretty important to your decision. You can get similar results for a very cheap price with The Ordinary. If you have sensitive skin, I would 100% recommend you go for the Drunk Elephant, it’s much gentler and less likely to cause irritation. They’re both fantastic products and I love how my skin feels afterwards. Hope this helped if you were trying to decide between the two.
If you’ve tried either, what are your thoughts on these masks?
It has been very cloudy, dreary, and cold here. It feels like it has been a long winter, one of the most crucial steps in my beauty routine is constantly reapplying a lip balm all winter long. I HATE when my lips are chapped abd I’m also on the hunt to find the perfect one. Plus, the no makeup – makeup look is pretty in these days, so I feel like the lip balm market has exploded recently. I’ve branched out from my trusty Aquaphor to find pretty, glossy, and yummy smelling lip balms. So I thought I’d share my top 4 picks!
Fresh Sugar Lip Balm
This is an OG. This was THE higher end lip balm to get back in the day and for good reason. It’s VERY comfortable to wear and smells great. Once of the best parts it’s in comes in a bunch of pretty colors, I have the nude one but they have a whole shade range and they’re decently pigmented for a balm.
Summer Fridays Butter Balm
I got this as soon as it was released! This was right up my ally and Summer Fridays does such a good job with marketing. This is super glossy, I’d say the glossiest one of have, it’s gorgeous. You can honestly wear this as a lip gloss on top of other lipsticks. It’s a standard vanilla scent, really lovely but it’s pretty strong. If you’re sensitive to fragrance this may not be the one for you. But, overall a fantastic balm to have.
Glossier Balm Dotcom
One of the most talked about products from Glossier and for good reason. It’s very similar to Chapstick in consistency, it’s definitely not glossy at all (odd as it’s Glossier), but still a great hydrating balm. These also come in a variety of shades and scents plus they’re aesthetically super pleasing.
Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask
I first picked this up the winter of 2018 when my lips were dying of dehydrating. This wasn’t as hyped up then as it is now, but I picked up the berry shade and fell in love. This is probably the first lip balm I bought that I was obsessed with. The idea of a sleeping mask for my lips sounded luxurious, plus the scents do not disappoint. I’ve had berry, vanilla, and the apple lime scent and they are all so good. I know they have a ton of scents now, you can basically collect them all. But other than the scents, it’s a phenomenal product, feels super nice and is shiny! It’s so beautiful if you just want something natural and glossy on your lips.
But yes! There you have it, my top picks for lip balms I adore.
Thanks for reading and let me know if you have any favorites I should try!
Welcome back! Currently sipping on a lemonade from Chick Fi La and ready to share my beauty empties with short reviews.
I have a lot of skin and haircare products, it takes FOREVER to go through makeup products….
Bioderma SensiboMicellar Water
This product is raved about for a reason. It’s so so good. It’s effective in removing makeup and it’s super gentle! That’s probably my favorite part. I can use this with my contacts in and it doesn’t burn or do anything to my eyes. If you have sensitive skin/eyes, this is the makeup remover for you. I can also use this multiple times per day and it never dries my skin out at all.
Then I Met You – Living Cleansing Balm
This is MY favorite cleansing balm currently. I believe this is a K-Beauty product and it’s really great. First, it’s a very luxurious experience, smells like mangos and it’s super smooth and silky. Works great for removing makeup and as the first step in a double cleanse routine. It melts really nice when you apply it to your face, so you don’t really need to use a lot. I learned from Youtube, that a lot of cleansing balms have tiny pieces of plastic in them (polyethylene) that is detrimental to coral reefs if it gets in the water, but this one is free of that and fragrance, and mineral oil.
Krave Great Barrier Relief
One of the BEST products I’ve found this year. It’s just amazing. This a very lightweight serum with Niacinamide and Tamanu Oil in it. My skin loves this stuff. When I put it on, it feels so soothed, glowing, and hydrated. In winter, I’ll apply this and a moisturizer on top but in the Summer I’ll just apply this serum as my hydrating step.
Neccessaire Body Lotion
A simply wonderful moisturizer, non greasy and fragrance free. Wish they sold a bigger tube.
Briogeo Don’t Despair Repair Hair Mask
AMAZING. I first tried this in 2018 and was hooked from then. It’s free of silicones, so it doesn’t leave a residue or weigh hair down, but it’s deeply nourishing. I really like the smell. It’s very natural smelling, not like a perfume.
Cerave Moisturizing Cream
Another simple moisturizer. This is thicker than the Necessaire one, so it absorbs slower, but is more affordable. Great for winter.
So there you have it! I love empties videos and reviews, I have a lot of different products, so if I finish one it means it must be really good. Also, I find I can trust someone’s review when they’ve actually finished a product, it’s not just initial thoughts, they’ve tested it over months to form their opinions. But yes, thank you for reading! Stay tuned for some new posts coming soon.
Oribe is a VERY expensive haircare line. Sephora recently added Oribe as a brand they carry, so I definitely recommend picking these up when you have a coupon code or during the VIB Sale in April. i thought I’d share my top 3 favorites picks from Oribe if you wanted to pick something up!
Best Oribe Products
I remember back in maybe 2013 or 2014, the Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray was absolutely everywhere with rave reviews. So of course, I had to pick it up. I bought a travel size for around $25 and it was so small haha. But I tried it and I was hooked. It’s SO GOOD. And their cult product for a reason. It has a very high end perfumery scent, noticeable but not overwhelming. But guys. The VOLUME. If your hair is feeling flat, you need this. It doesn’t leave any sort of residue really. Doesn’t make your hair sticky or gross. This product is just perfect. I’ve tried other texturizing sprays, but this is the one.
Before
After – Increased Volume
Next up is the Apres Beach Wave & Shine Spray, this one is to be used on waves or curls to achieve a sort of beachy look. The smell of this one is less perfume, and more fruity and beachy. This also adds a bit of shine to the hair. This stuff is truly amazing. It doesn’t leave a sticky residue and you’re left with volume, texture, and some shine. It’s perfect for waves or curls to add that beachy effortless vibe to them.
Lastly, I adore the Oribe Gold Lust Dry Shampoo. This just works. It smells kinda powdery, but in a clean way. When I use this, it leaves my hair feeling refreshed, lighter, and like I can go just a little bit longer before washing. It doesn’t a leave a heavy film or residue. There isn’t a white powder left behind to rub in either. It’s probably my favorite dry shampoo I’ve ever tried.
There you have it! My picks that I would recommend if you were looking to purchase something from Oribe. I’ve heard that Oribe really shines on their styling products, and I would completely agree. They are easily some of the best I’ve ever tried. I highly recommend giving these a try to make your hair look even better!
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