Showing posts with label beauty. Show all posts
Showing posts with label beauty. Show all posts
This year has been way more about skincare and body care than my past blog posts in other months and I am quite okay with it. Lately, my skin has needed some major TLC and I have been going sans makeup for awhile, not to say that I don't use it anymore, but my collection has been the same for some time now.
I've talked about both of these two brands, Khiel's and The Body Shop, many times on my blog. They have been two of my all-time favorite brands to use. I love The Body Shop's butters, gels, and lotions so much and Khiel's skincare range is out of this world.
The Body Shop Mango Body Butter & Lotion- The mango scent has always been my go-to Body Shop scent. However, I also love the coconut and strawberry scents just as much! When you walk in the stores, it is so relaxed and doesn't overpower you with a fragrance like many other body care stores do. I love how subtle the mango scent is and how moisturizing the butter and lotions are. I can't find myself using any other body butters except The Body Shop's!
Khiel's Ultimate Strength Hand Salve- When my hands really need repair or any skin on my body that needs extra love, I use this hand salve and immediately overnight it is 100 times more smooth. I also never need to keep reapplying it once I put it on my skin. It's a skincare staple that everyone needs to have.
Khiel's Creme de Corps- Another lotion I love is this Creme de Corps. It is unscented and super rich and moisturizing. When I'm not feeling in the mood for mango (which is rare), I'll use this one as well! I usually have a couple of these lotions lying around when I need it. These small tubes are perfect for travel. The best is when you just shave your legs and moisturize all over for silky smooth skin.
I would say that it takes me a while to go through lotions and body butters, but actually, I really don't want to use them all up so I can have them with me all the time! I just love these body care products so much and need to extend their lives! Are there any lotions, scents, or skincare brands you always use?
If you didn't already know from my instagram or other social media (links on my homepage), I actually just dyed my hair. It was time for a change and I am obsessed with the balayage trend. That said, I've kind of switched up or have been using some fairly new products for awhile for my lob hairstyle. My look when I usually curl or style my hair is with texture and loose hold.
I actually have two dry shampoos that I have been using on occasion. The first one is the Not Your Mother's Beach Babe Texturizing dry shampoo in toasted coconut. It is probably my favorite drugstore dry shampoo so far. It reminds me of vacation and the best part is that it gives your hair more volume and texture while also getting rid of the excess oil.
Another dry shampoo that has come in at a close second is the Herbal Essences Bio Renew dry shampoo in cucumber and green Tea. I honestly am not a fan of cucumber, but the combination is just so refreshing and nice. This one doesn't add texture, but is probably better at cleaning my hair more than the NYM's one. Both are great and inexpensive options! I use them interchangebly when I feel like it.
I also can't seem to like any other hairspray I try, but the Ouai Texturizing Hairspray is the best one I've tried. It's high end in deed and there are rumors that they have changed the scent, so hopefully if I repurchase it won't drastically change my thoughts, but my main love for this is because it doesn't leave my hair sticky and keeps the style held and in place.
My hair journey is very relaxed and isn't as drastic or as adventurous as other people's, but I like to keep trying things every now and again. What have you tried lately?
This is not going to be an entirely uplifting review of a product I know a lot of bloggers love, but I thought this review may be helpful for some people interested in trying the Kristen Ess hair care line that is now available at Target. Full disclaimer—I have only tried the extra gentle shampoo and original conditioner. I didn't know that there were two kinds until they restocked the extra gentle conditioner and original shampoo in my store.
So my experience with the products may have been affected by using the different formulas together, but I don't see how that would be a major issue since it's the same brand. Following many other bloggers and seeing the great reviews, I wasn't too skeptic paying ten dollars for a shampoo and conditioner that has been praised by many. I was just trying to switch it up a bit with my hair care.
Not only are these containers aesthetically pleasing, they are very small and you don't get much product for how much you spend. Since I was the only one using them, though, I found it fine and both lasted me a couple months. Both different types of shampoos and conditioners smell entirely different. The gentle formula smells like coconuts and vanilla which I love, but the signature formula smells very strongly of rose and floral which I did not enjoy at all.
Not only are these containers aesthetically pleasing, they are very small and you don't get much product for how much you spend. Since I was the only one using them, though, I found it fine and both lasted me a couple months. Both different types of shampoos and conditioners smell entirely different. The gentle formula smells like coconuts and vanilla which I love, but the signature formula smells very strongly of rose and floral which I did not enjoy at all.
My main issue with this product is that there is an insane amount of build up. At first, I thought it was my college's really bad water pressure, but I brought the shampoo and conditioner home to see if normal pressure affected the distribution and rinse of the product and I still woke up with greasy and sticky hair. I wasn't noticing it much until I started to style my hair and I noticed combing through it with my fingers that it felt oily and not soft or fluffy.
While I appreciated the easy-to-close cap and how it was paraben-free, sulfate-free, and aluminum-free, there are way more options that work better than these two do. I haven't tried any of Kristen Ess's other products, but I'm not entirely swayed by these two to give the rest a go. Tresemme and L'Oreal have some great products that I always fall back on.
I'll be honest, I am the type of person to buy things because they look pretty or because a majority of people enjoy a product. However, I've tried to stick to my own opinion when it comes to products because some just don't work out for some people, and that's okay! You don't need to spend much for great beauty products and this goes to show that not everything is as great of quality as it seems.
While I try to embrace the beginning of Chicago spring, I've lately been drawn to a lot of floral scents even though my city has lack of flora to be seen. Perfumes and finding scents I like can be very hard because I don't want anything too strong and I'm very particular with what type of flower it is or what other notes the perfume has in it. I'm still trying to decide my favorite perfume, as the Jo Malone peony and blush suede is high up on the list, I have a couple other favorites that I can't put down.
This first perfume is the Daisy by Marc Jacobs which I know is a classic and very popular perfume choice for many women. I would say that this perfume is on the sweeter side of the spectrum as it has notes of strawberry as well as jasmine and violet leaves. I love it when a perfume can be balanced with fruit so you don't get that overly dramatic wave of grandma that I truly despise in a perfume (sorry grandmas). It is very feminine and is the perfect flirt for any occasion.
The next scent that I have been reaching to lately is this Michael Kors Rio de Janeiro perfume. It leaves a springy and summery scent. The notes are mango, honeysuckle, and jasmine. I'm obsessed with anything mango scented. It reminds me of being on the beach and enjoying the summer rays. It also has a nice blend of fruity and floral which makes this perfume not as overpowering.
I think these two will be on my perfume tray for a while as I hope the sun actually comes out sometime soon. Perfume and wearing specific scents always bursts my mood depending on the day. What's your spring scent this season?
St. Patrick's Day is always a fun and vibrant holiday. I will be in Florida living it up in the sun, but I thought it would be nice to make a post as I usually do about what to wear. I love being festive and adding some subtle touches make the celebration a bit more exciting.
Show some bronze and gold for this holiday with a few sweeps of bronzer and highlight. I always love the Rimmel Natural Bronzer that I have been using since highschool. It is the perfect bronze shade and isn't too orange. It blends really nicely into makeup, too. Using some white and green facepaint to add some cute shamrocks is a nice touch!
Show some bronze and gold for this holiday with a few sweeps of bronzer and highlight. I always love the Rimmel Natural Bronzer that I have been using since highschool. It is the perfect bronze shade and isn't too orange. It blends really nicely into makeup, too. Using some white and green facepaint to add some cute shamrocks is a nice touch!
Decorating your nails is always a must. This orange and gold is perfect for showing a pot 'o' gold off on your fingers! I'm a fan of Essie and OPI products as you all know. You can't go wrong with a vibrant nail color for a holiday celebration. The OPI Gel shades are long lasting and my now go-tos.
Go all out with these huge and oversized "Irish" glasses! I know I'll be bringing these along with my shamrock beads on my trip. Add some touches of green and you'll be good to go for any parade or party! Mix in some gold and silver bangles or rings. These pieces and touches are festively tamed and everyone can get in the mood, I know I will be! How do you celebrate St. Paddy's Day?
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I have become a pretty big Jo Malone fanatic and I have been loving the scents that Jo Malone offers in the collection. It's been hard for me over the past couple of years to find scents that I truly love and can see myself constantly wearing and liking. I think I have found a couple of my signature scents.
Now, I like a number of different notes and scents when it comes to perfumes, but there are a lot that I don't like in particular. I love light florals and fruits, but I do not like rose or extremeley sweet fruit scents that are sickening to smell. I don't want to smell like a 12 year old's PINK body spray blew up in their locker. I'm passed that now, haha. I love notes of peony, sandalwood, citrus, and jasmine. These two perfumes really stood out to me.
Peony and Blush Suede
This one is probably my all time favorite. I know a lot of beauty bloggers rave over this and claim that it's their favorite, too. It has notes of red apple and jasmine. It's a very fresh and flirty scent. I love it especially in the spring and summer. It's warm and sweet. Just two sprits will do and the staying power is amazing.
Pomegranate Noir
This is my newest addition to the Jo Malone family. It is more of a warmer and spicier perfume. This has a balance of pomegrante, plum, and raspberry. It also has notes of pink pepper and spicy woods. This is a perfect fall and winter scent. I would say that it is a bit muskier and stronger, but is sexy and sophisitcated as well.
I'm sure that my collection will grow and I want to continue to smell all of the great scents in the range! There's probably a scent for everyone. I would definitely recommend going into the store and trying a few out to see which is perfect for you! The 1oz bottles are just the right amount because one or two sprits goes a very long way. Have you used a Jo Malone perfume before?
It's already February and I am still in awe at how fast the weeks go by. Time flashes! This week and next is midterms, so this will be the only post for this week and there will be one post next week, as well. Education comes first kids!
Over this past year, I have learned a lot about my routine and what I truly like wearing. I've come to realize that my makeup collection has significantly decreased. I only wear a couple face products and some products on my skin and hair. I'm embracing minimal makeup and it honestly takes so much time out of my morning when I have to put on makeup.
I have really been loving light foundations and tinted moisturizers on my face. I normally just apply it below my forehead, just because it gets into my lines and looks funny. The Bobbi Brown BB Cream has to be my favorite foundation so far this year. I have used it a bit in the past, but it's one that I grab regularly.
I have also been obsessed with Ouai's haircare line. The Texturizing Hairspray is the only wave texturizing hairspray that is so flexible and smells just like the beach. This is a hair product to splurge on in my opinion. If you're done with sticky hairsprays! For face cleansers, I am drawn to ones that are unscented and are great at wicking away oil, dirt, and makeup all at once. The Kiehl's Facial Cleanser is my go to in the shower and whenever I need a deep cleanse (which is always).
I have just discovered Milk cosmetics and am so intrigued. I got this little guy in a sample box and actually love it. This Blur Stick primer smells almost like candy, I can't describe it, but it's great. It glides on and leaves my skin really smooth and my makeup lasts really long when I put it on. Definitely will have to try out more in the future. Along with this primer, I have been trying out the Nars primer which has also really impressed me. No surprise because I love Nars so much!
I have also become a huge Origins fan and was in the search for a great charcoal mask. I found this travel-sized charcoal mask that is so great for clearing out pores and dead skin. My face always feels refreshed after this.
I also just got another Benefit They're Real and I swear, I have no idea why I stopped using it in the first place. It does all the things I want a mascara to do! I've tried many others and whenever I use Benefit's, I truly can't go back.
Something that I recently discovered from some Youtuber was that she was using only lip liner to fill in her lips. It gives the best, nude look! I tried out the Essence Lip Pencil in the shade, In the Nude. It is the perfect nude color and gives me the matte, natural lip I'm looking for!
I'm pretty sure that I have talked about all of these products shown above, but I'll write a little blurb about them as a reminder. Both of the Glossier products are amazing. I am truly in love with this brand now. The Cloud Paint in Beam is a versatile cheek and lip color that has vibrancy and warmth. It is so easy to blend and apply, too. The Balm Dotcom is just a great hand and skin salve for everyone, especially during these cold months.
I've also been drawn to Fresh products. They also remind me of Glossier in that they are minimal and really pay attention to the ingredients and quality of the products. The Fresh Lip Caramel I think cheats as being a lip balm, but I love it anyway. It literally tastes and smells like caramel.
I know that this year I won't be buying as much makeup because I have a lot that I already love, so I apologize in advance for a decrease in new makeup reviews or hauls. It isn't bad to just love what you already got! I will see you all next week with another post as I nestle down for my second college midterms. Woo. What's a product you can't ever seem to stop using?
Chicago is currently in the home stretch of cold weather, and that means I still have to keep up with my skincare and making sure my face doesn't dry up from the oppressive wind in the city. I feel like I have a stable routine—that is, I haven't really added anything new since before December. Some of these products are small samples and I think I'll have to purchase the full sizes once I run low.
This year, I have been putting way more focus on taking care of my skin. A lot of my money is probably spent on quality skincare products instead of makeup. I just feel like taking care of your skin and clearing it up means that I won't even have to think about covering it up with makeup to hide imperfections when there aren't any. If I was that blessed enough to have a regimen where I could literally wake up like a goddess every morning, I'd let you all in on a secret. However, that's sadly not the case for me.
So, the first product I have is one of two lip products I'm currently using. This one is the Fresh Lip Caramel and it tastes exactly like caramel and feels so smooth and hydrating. It's slightly tinted, which I actually love. I use this a lot for when I want to add a bit of color to my lips. If I'm really looking for something to repair dry lips, I am always grabbing for the Kiehl's Lip Balm #1. It's not like petroleum jelly or Vaseline, but it's more of an unscented salve. It's really good when none of your other lip products seem to be helping really chapped lips. For my hands, I've been reaching for the Kiehl's Creme de Corps and use it all over my body. I love it because it reminds me of a body butter. It isn't oily and is really rich. It feels super nice after you take a shower and shave everything! I've also become a lover of Glossier, and the Coconut Balm Dot Com hand and face salve is perfect for cracked anything. It smells delicious, too. I love the versatility of it.
On my face, I've still been using this Caudalie Vinoperfect Radiance Serum. I'll drip two drops on my cheeks and massage it in upwards to reduce lines and to energize my face! Whenever I wake up when I use this, my face immediately feels refreshed and really soft. I've never used Caudalie before, so I'm really impressed with this.
Under my eyes, I have been using the Tarte Maracuja C-Brighter Eye Treatment and I love it. It's so rich and moisturizing to prevent my eyes from feeling dry and look red. I definitely think Tarte has done a great job with some of the skincare they've come out with.
I want to be better with sticking to the products that I love and using them up until they're completely empty. It can be so hard because the temptation is insane. This year is going to be a year full of new discoveries, but I hope that when I find what works, I stick to it! What's a product that you stick to?
This past month I have finally caved in and bought some Glossier products to try out. I really haven't been buying new makeup, but I have been hearing a lot of great things about these products across the internet. I have been drawn to how minimal and sleek all of the packagings are. Glossier is one of those minimalist brands and I really appreciate it. For someone who doesn't wear a lot of makeup anymore, these products are more than enough.
The first product I bought was the Coconut Bomb Dot Com Universal Skin Salve. Now, I was never really a fan of salves or Vaseline type products, but this salve isn't as oily or sticky as some that I've tried in the past. I mostly use it on my lips, but this is really moisturizing on knuckles and elbows, too.
I especially love the coconut scent. I'm curious to try out the rose and the mint scented one. I have added this to my nighttime ritual and can't go to bed without putting a bit on! I think the size of this is perfect because a little goes a long way.
The last product I got was the Cloud Paint in Beam. I am really drawn to orange or coral shades for my cheeks, so this was a great purchase. I was always hesitant with cream blushes and pigments, but this one really blends in well and again, a small amount goes a far way. I kind of wished I bought the Puff shade, which is like a cotton candy pink. However, this one really brings warmth to the face and looks amazing with bronzer.
This will be another shorter post for this week. I'm still trying to figure out some upcoming things for my blog and may or may not post them on Thursday. I feel like this break is just going to be very flexible and loose as to how much or what I am going to post.
It can get so hectic this time of year, so I am taking small steps and getting more creative as I collect new things and am inspired by other bloggers. So, lately I have been using this one mascara and I really can't put it down.
The Rimmel Scandaleyes mascara has really proven to lift and curl my lashes so well. I love my Tarte Lash, Camera, Lashes and my Better Than Sex mascaras, but this one is probably up next to those two in terms of how great it is. Yeah, and I've used the Maybelline Lash Sensational, and that's good too, but I am trying to branch out and this one really does it.
I am in the process of trying out so many new makeup products because there are so many gift sets and whatnot. I do have some gift guides in store and might post both the same week because Christmas is a' comin! Jeez time flies. What are you doing to prepare for the holidays? I just finished my Christmas shopping, yee!
My final festive post of the season is going to be a small review of my new favorite high-end skincare brand. Khiel's skincare is great for sensitive skin types and all of the products don't have artificial fragrance or harsh chemicals. I was always kind of interested in the brand, but it was until recently that I decided to finally give it a shot when I saw this limited edition Khiel's X Disney Skincare Set that actually contribute to Feeding America, which is another reason I wanted to pick this up. Plus, uh Mickey Mouse? Yes, please!
I was really impressed with these products and can't decide which ones are my favorite because I love them all.
On the far left is the Ultra Facial Cleanser. I am always up for trying out different facial cleansers to see which ones work the best. I love the First Aid Beauty Facial Cleanser, but this one might be a new winner. I think it does a better job of keeping my skin soft and smooth while taking off all of my eye makeup that never comes off.
I am also loving the Creme de Corps Hand Cream. It is unscented, like all the products, and is the most moisturizing and healing for my dry hands and legs. I always make an effort to put some on before I go to bed and it is definitely a nightstand staple. If I feel like my hands or elbows need more love, I'll use the Ultimate Strength Hand Salve. It reminds me of a very thick ointment, which instantly relieves really harsh, dry or cracked skin.
I also really like the lip balm that they have. It's more of a salve and is very powerful for helping dry lips. I feel like Khiel's a very heavy duty skincare brand that works better than a lot of drugstore skincare does. I always try to spend less on skincare, but now that I realize it, spending a little more on one of the most important, protective barriers on your body (skin, duh) are worth it.
I think I gravitated way more to the Facial Cream and actually wished there was more of it. This is probably the first one I have used in a while that doesn't burn my dry skin. Can anyone relate? Every now and then I get dry patches by my mouth and my forehead. I've only had this set for a couple of weeks and am almost out of this! NEED MORE! I think this set is awesome for beauty and skincare lovers, Disney lovers, Moms, Dads, Sisters, Brothers, Friends, or all of the above. It's actually a very reasonably priced set for $30. A steal! I want to wish everyone a warm and cozy holiday and will probably be back with a New Year's inspired post, because 2018 is almost here baby!
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