Showing posts with label skincare. Show all posts
Showing posts with label skincare. Show all posts
I know it's taken a while for me to actually generate a consistent skincare routine and I do have a multitude of products like cleaners and creams. I thought I would share a few of my luxury skincare products that I have grown to love and received from a very good and generous friend who had a family member work at Sephora and give samples to. I am always up to trying new skincare products because my skin constantly changes and I am never one to keep up with one routine.
Also, I linked all of the full sizes I could find just because most of these are either travel or sample sizes. Obviously, I don't use these every single day because I like to use them sparingly, but I do have to say that I have tried all of them out for a few months now and really love how they've all transformed my skin.
Also, I linked all of the full sizes I could find just because most of these are either travel or sample sizes. Obviously, I don't use these every single day because I like to use them sparingly, but I do have to say that I have tried all of them out for a few months now and really love how they've all transformed my skin.
Lancome Renergie Lift Volumetry Lifting and Reshaping Cream- When I do want a little lift and I want to prematurely start to prevent any wrinkles, even if it may seem like I don't need to. I love how soft this cream is on my skin and it also has spf which is another vital thing to have in a moisturizer/cream.
Clarins UV Plus Sunscreen- Speaking of spf, I like this Clarins sunscreen a lot and I have trouble finding a nice sunscreen that won't break out my skin. I have tried Neutrogena, but I am so in love with this mini sample. It's so cute and easy to take with me to the beach!
Clinique All About Eyes Cream- I am so bad at taking care of my eyes and I am so obsessed with Clinique's full moisturizing range. I love this cream so much because not only does it depuff my eyes, it completely gets rid of redness and wakes me up after I apply it at night. I wake up refreshed and not tired eyed.
Shiseido Wrinkle Resist 24 hr Softener- Only recently have I started to use this Shiseido Wrinkle Resist because I have this problem with a wrinkly forehead and I will just shake a drop or two onto a cotton pad and pat it on my forehead and upper cheek area. I know I am very young to use any anti aging or wrinkle products, but it has been a constant struggle when your foundation creases into your wrinkles and laugh lines! It has really helped smooth my skin, too.
Clarins Toning Lotion- I love toners, especially during these hotter months. I have normal to oily skin and recently I have noticed that my skin is less oily because I will use this every other night on my face. Toners can be harsh to my skin sometimes, but I love the way this really prevents shine and breakouts.
First Aid Beauty Cleanser- This has probably been my favorite cleanser this year by far. It smells so fresh and does a great job at getting everything off my face. Dirt, grime, dead skin, makeup, literally anything. It is so gentle and actually reasonably priced for the full size. You only need to lather a pea sized amount and you're good to go, day or night!
Kate Somerville Exfolikate Treatment- I have been getting used to this "2 minute" mask and am so surprised at how it makes my skin feel so refreshed and soft. I think it smells like cloves or gingerbread and I apply it in the shower while I do other things and then after a couple minutes, I wipe it off and my face is exfoliated and smoother than ever. I might purchase more of these mini sizes because a little goes a long way!
Lancome Renergie Microlift Lifting Cream- This is another lifting cream that I have tried out by Lance, and I have to say, they do not mess around. This and the other cream are probably the best lifting creams and treatments I have ever tried. I am so impressed by the results and how much my face looks awake and revived when I use these two. I am so gonna put these on my wishlist.
High end brands don't mess around. I am so grateful for a "no makeup" bestie that was just willing to let me use all of these and keep all of these amazing products. It's not everyday you get to use very nice skincare or products and I think everyone should find some type of product that they love and treat themselves to because you and your skin deserve it. I hope that my reviews helped anyone deciding on skincare products or are just curious as to what these products do. I know I always am.
Have you tried any really good skincare lately?
Skincare has especially been a big and important part of my daily routine over these past few months. I've been travelling and also prom is just a few days away! I need the best skin and the softest skin and Clinique has allowed my skin to recover and has immensely repaired my dry and cracked skin. Over the past couple of weeks, my skin has suffered from major dry patches. I don't have normally dry skin, but I wonder if it's from the season changing or what not. One of my best friends gave me these two products to try out and I have never tried Clinique's products before.
I just wanted to say that my skin type is normally acne prone and oily. It has only started to become dry. I wonder if it's because I haven't been moisturizing that much and these two products have made the biggest impacts. I have the Clinique Turnaround Revitalizing Serum and the Clinique All About Eyes cream.
This serum has claimed to be for all skin types; oily, combo, dry, acne prone, sensitive and normal (for all of you lucky ducks out there). It helps to renew your skin and to also aid dryness and "dullness", which I don't really understand what that means, but I'm going with it. It's oil and scent free which I love in serums. It actually isn't very thin and liquidy like many other serums are. It comes in a very convenient pump and almost feels like a very light moisturizer. I only need one and a half pumps and it covers my entire face and neck. I love using this after I shower at night and in the morning after cleansing. I have noticed that my dry patches have cleared and my skin has visibly looked healthier and clear of oil.
I have always enjoyed eye creams and gels because nothing feels better than putting a cooling eye gel on after a long day of school and activities. It's so refreshing to wake up and apply a nice cream under my eyes. This cream is so lightweight and has really minimized my puffiness under my eyes and helps with my laugh lines.
I'll dab a pea sized amount with my ring finger under both of my eyes and instantly feel like I have brightened and revitalized my face. It's just a great product and I think everyone should have a great eye cream that works for them and sometimes, for skincare, I think it's good to invest in a more expensive and high quality product that'll actually treat your skin type.
I have gone through many different brands before Clinique and I have to say, Clinique knows what they're doing. I have rather sensitive and hormonal skin; Clinique has been really good to me! I know these products aren't cheap and I am thankful for my best friend who was so incredibly generous to give me these to use. What's your favorite skincare product?
It's never too late to start with firming facial serums! To be quite honest, I'm not sure why I never thought about using serums. I was always intimidated by them because many that I have seen reviewed, were very pricey and were not for skin types like mine; oily, acne prone, dry, and sensitive. However, one of my good friends, who isn't into the makeup scene, gave me this serum to use and I am so happy she did!
I was really interested to try this product out because I've never heard of this brand or product before. Granted, it is from Oprah's beauty box subscription so, I knew it was going to be good. This Balance Hydrating and Calming Serum made by Jean Seo is one of the most popular products sold on the site. The brand is called Evolue and has very eco friendly products. From what I researched online, the Lue products are targeted directly to acne prone skin types (win!).
I was sort of oblivious to how you use serums and I just assumed that they're similar to moisturizers. You hardly need a lot to fully cover the face and I just drop some on my fingers and massage it outwards on my face, especially focusing on the upper part of my face like my cheekbones and around my cheek bone and trouble areas.
This serum is supposed to not only hydrate dry skin, but create a flawless, poreless finish and I really love the way it smoothes out my skin and blurs my pores. For the most part, it does a very nice job covering up my pores and I can notice the difference when I put on makeup with and without using the serum. I like to use this morning and night time; my skin feels so fresh and bouncy after I apply a thin layer onto my face. It's very refreshing and makes my skin have a healthy glow without looking greasy.
I was very happy about trying this product out. My first impression was a great success and hopefully I can try out more of Jean Seo's products. If you're reading this Jean Seo, please hook me up! I'm always trying to find new products that can really make a difference on my teenager skin. I have found this to be very effective with controlling my breakouts and bringing back moisture to my face.
This serum is not available in stores, to my knowledge, and it is a little bit more than you would pay for a drugstore serum, but you don't use a ton to get the job done! Plus, when it comes to skincare, it truly shouldn't matter all that much when you are treating your beautiful skin. Have you guys tried this out yet or any other products from Jean Seo's line?
Happy Thursday everyone! I was recently going through some of my body/skincare products that I have hoarded in a basket in my closet and came across all of these awesome Body Shop butters and gels. I love the Body Shop so much, but I've been trying so many other new things lately that I've been kind of distracted to be honest. It also takes me a lifetime to use up a single tub of body butter so I always hesitate before I open one because I know I'm gonna have to continue to use that same one for the next couple months before I can open and start a new one.
These body butters are priced at a whopping $22 and are not inexpensive at all. However, smart Natalie figured out that TJ Maxx (or TK Maxx for my British folks), Marshalls, Nordstrom Rack, and Ross normally have these full sized body butters for about $6. Please do not go to the Body Shop or Ulta unless you are looking for a specific scent. I would highly recommend checking out those places for some really good deals on Body Shop products.
My favorite scent out of all of the ones they offer is Mango. Mango scented stuff from the Body Shop smells so fruity, sweet, and fresh. I love fruit scented products and Mango has to be the best in my opinion. I have had miniature body butters of this and I walked into a TJ Maxx one day and totally scored.
Everyone has their signature scent and I definitely think this one is mine from the Body Shop. I love using this after I shower as an all-over-body moisturizer.
These next two I got as gifts and really love them, but just not as much as the Mango one. On the left, I have Papaya and the right I have the Fuji Green Tea body butter. The Papaya is a little bit sweet and is similar to Mango; it is just more fresh if that makes sense. The Mango is a lot more sweeter than the Papaya.
These last items were gifted to me for Christmas from my friend Ellaby. This was a mini gift set called the Mango Treats Gift Set which was a small box and it included both this mini gel and lotion, plus a mini loofa. The loofa was so cute because the handle came out of the box like a little ornament! I was really excited to try out more of the different types of products the Body Shop has especially the shower gel (and because I needed a new one). What have been your guys' top scent or product at the Body Shop?
It's always great to put off time to pamper yourself and I am a true believer in it. Among the chaotic week filled with work, school, and other things, we kind of forget to think about ourselves every once and awhile. In the beauty franchise, many brands have their own skincare lines and very nice, high quality (and high priced might I add) skincare products. Most masks you find at Sephora can range from $20-$100+ dollars. For most of us, we find ourselves at our local drugstores looking for the best masks for the cheapest price.
Especially for an easy and inexpensive mask, the Que Bella range of masks are so individually made for different skin types and my friend gave me this awesome pack of them (I think I already used one of them to try it out).
Each mask is priced at around two bucks; there are cream, gel, and sheet masks and are all made with 80% natural products. Obviously, with it being very inexpensive, they are not made with 100% natural ingredients and contain preservatives to let them last for a longer period of time. There's a very generous amount of mask in each packet so, you could easily share these with friends who have the same skin type as you.
So far, I have used a couple more of these masks and really like them. They're not you're 24 karat masks, but these are really great to use as a little pick-me-up on a cozy, Sunday night. These are sold at Target and I believe Walmart and Ulta, as well.
Sometimes, with cheaper masks, I find them to make my skin tingle a bit. I haven't had any allergic reaction to it, so I think they're okay for sensitive skin. A couple of the masks tingled, but I read on the back that it was normal for them to do that. If you are a bit skeptical, I would recommend reading the ingredients to see if you are prone to a reaction from it or just buy one and try it to see. These are super fun to do at sleepovers and parties, so I would definitely recommend these for anyone of you looking for a cheaper way to look gawrgeous! See you guys on Thursday. XX
If you've ever strolled past the Nordstrom cosmetic counters, then you have definitely ooed and awed at the endless amounts of makeup and perfumes. Specifically the Jo Malone counter, or at least I have. I'm going to be honest, the blogging world (and Katelavie, thanks Kate) made me get this perfume and I couldn't be happier about it.
I have had many different types of perfumes in my life and I don't think this one is similar to any of them at all. I've never had anything from Jo Malone and I never knew how much I would love all of their perfumes. To speak very candidly, this stuff ain't cheap. I asked for this perfume as a Christmas gift this year and it was truly generous of my parents to get it for me. Prior to asking for this perfume, I did go into Nordstrom (the only place close to me that sells it) and try out all of the other perfumes to make sure I knew which one I loved the most. I'm not very picky with scents, so one can imagine how hard it was for me to decide.
On Jo Malone's website, I wanted to do some research as well as trying the scents out in store, they have many scents and many other products to choose from. They have colognes/perfumes, candles, lotions, room sprays, diffusers, soaps, body washes, and really nice gift sets for the holidays. They have pretty much every scent for anyone's taste, men and women: citrus, fruity, floral, spicy, woody, and light floral. I was very stuck between this one, the Peony and Blush Suede, and the Lime Basil and Mandarin scent. I'm all about sweet smells and really enjoyed these two. I honestly would have been pleased with any of the scents, though.
The colognes come in two ratherly small sizes: 30 ML (1 oz) or 100 ML (about 3 oz). It seems like a very small amount, but it's not like you need a huge spray bottle to get anything from it. One spritz goes a very long way and I would most likely use this on special occasion. Most perfumes these days come in very small sizes, too so that's another thing you have to consider.
I decided on the peony scent because I loved the freshness it had to it. The lime and mandarin one was just a tad too strong for me and I think this floral one is perfect for any time of the year because the other one seemed like a very summery scent. If you know me and my love for Soap & Glory's Sugar Crush, then you know why I was drawn to this lime scented perfume! It's very youthful and lasts all day without leaving that icky, old person smell that's not really pleasant at all on your clothes. If I had to buy another perfume, I would probably stick with the florals and might try out the spicier scents, too. I think the smaller size is the way to go if you are wanting to try out more of their colognes.
As for the packaging, I absolutely adore it. It's minimal and very elegant. It comes in a really pretty box (that I want to display in my room cuzz why the heck not) and a really nice bag as well. I'm not too keen on the overly decorated perfume bottles, I think it just gets in the way sometimes and distracts from the actual product like they're trying to hide something. Less is more, people!
I've had a really nice experience with this product and intend on purchasing more from Jo Malone in the future. So far, I haven't noticed anything bad at all with this product. Obviously, if it was priced lower I would love it even more. I guess I am a victim of the blogger bandwagons, but is it that bad? Isn't that what we are for anyway? To review products and open up about our opinions on them. Sounds pretty valid to me :) What's your guys' must have perfume?
During the winter I really try to focus more on taking extra care of my skin. Recently, I have noticed more dryness and breakouts, probably due to different products and the very quick drop in temperature. It's been in the negatives for about two weeks here in Chicago. I've especially been trying to not over use products and make sure I am moisturizing while also treating my acne without drying it out even more.
There have been a lot of products that I noticed that have made a huge difference this season in my skin. I'm all about pamperment and I think it's an important thing to do for yourself every once and a while.
I was wandering around my Target during winter break and literally stopped dead in my tracks when I noticed this on the "new in beauty" shelf. Next to all of the Neutrogena wipes and Burt's Bees holiday gift sets, were these Zoella Beauty Ginger Fizzers. I have no idea where they came from because they were the only products from Zoella's range there. They are not as exciting as the Lush Bath Bombs, but they leave a very warm and spicy scent to any bath. I just love putting things in my baths anyway, so this was a really surprising treat to find at Target since they don't sell her line anywhere.
I really got into all of the facial sprays this winter and have really loved rosewater and everything rose scented. The Mario Badescu Facial Spray is perfectly refreshing and hydrating when I have dry patches on my face. It's also a really nice makeup setting spray, too.
I know I have mentioned the Lush Yoga Bomb before and I had to go repurchase it because it is just a really great, relaxing bath bomb to have. I love coming home from a hot yoga class and soaking into a bath and plopping this bath bomb in.
When I take showers and baths, I like to use my First Aid Beauty Face Cleanser to fully clean out my pores and help reduce some of the oil that naturally builds up. I find this cleanser to be really helpful and is very great with my sensitive skin. It has a fresh scent to it and a little goes a very long way because it lathers nicely on my skin.
I have also been using many different lotions lately (because I'm obsessed and receive them as gifts all the time). Firstly, the Body Shop Mango Treats Gift Set was one gift I received this year and it comes with a loofa, mini lotion, and mini shower gel. I love the mango scented line from the Body Shop and this cute lotion is perfect to take with me to travel with during the holidays. I also pop the Burt's Bees Nourishing Milk and Honey Body Lotion into my purse for travel and to help keep my hands from drying out from the cold.
A nice way to finish off the winter pampering is with a facial mask. I love Lush's masks (and we all know that), but there have been some drugstore masks that I quite enjoy as well. If you are looking for easy and inexpensive facial masks to do, the Que Bella masks are really nice to use. Especially the Deep Cleansing mask and the Pore Minimizing masks are great hydrating and oil preventing masks. These are really fun to do with friends because everybody's skin type is different and you can pick and choose the one best for you. I have a lot more and I think I want to review all of them for you guys, so let me know!
I am a skincare freak and love trying new things. It's cold and unfortunately, the warm months are still far from arriving. My skin is on a roller coaster ride right now and can't decide how to react to this oppressively cold winter. Hopefully it'll get better. What's been in your holy grail winter skincare routine?
Happy holidays everyone! I hope you all had a very nice break and enjoyed the time and maybe still are enjoying your time off. I have had a really relaxing break and haven't traveled anywhere. I think there will be a trip to my Grandpa's, but that is still to be decided since I have another full week off. I decided to get back on the blog and share some things I bought yesterday at Lush's BOGO (buy one get one free) sale. I mean, you all know this was a hit for me since I am obsessed with Lush. Yesterday was the day after Christmas, or Boxing Day, as many other people call it and celebrate this very commercialized, Black Friday-like "holiday". In America, there's really no such thing as Boxing Day--just a ton of post-Christmas sales that many people go to (like me).
So, my sister, friend, and I walked into Lush, to find it absurdly filled with people and Christmas products galore. Now, I'm not one to love going into stores that are compacted with people, but Lush seems to never have enough space because it's so incredibly popular (can't blame 'em!). I tried to make my way around as I shimmied through people and displays. I knew I wanted a lot of buy one get one free stuff and I headed over to all of the labeled products. It was all surprisingly full of product and there were a lot to choose from. I was scared that a lot of the products would have been picked over, even at 3 in the afternoon.
The first thing I really wanted, from the Fall collection, was the Autumn Leaf bath bomb. I tried this out earlier this year and fell in love with the crisp and fresh scent it gave off. Had to add that to the basket!
Then I kept looking around and really wanted more bath bombs for this season that I didn't get to try out when they weren't on sale. I got Lord of Misrule, which reminds me of having a bonfire on Christmas Eve. It is very spicy and warm.
One thing I was really excited about was the Santasaurus Bubble Bar. It's so sweet and citrusy. It just makes bath time fun, even if you're not a kid! Definitely a great deal to find.
With being at Lush, there was no way I could leave without picking up a face mask (even if it's in order to reach my 5 clean containers to receive a free mask). They are simply the best for all skin types and are super fresh and paraben/chemical free. The Cupcake face mask is probably my favorite mask because it treats my oily and acne prone skin to the max! It smells really yummy, too.
Another favorite of mine that I picked up was the Yoga Bomb. I love soaking with this bomb after a very well deserved yoga class that made me sweat and wore me out. The best thing to come home to is this lavender-citrus smelling bomb.
Last, but not least, I wanted another bath bomb and Mistletoe was the perfect choice for a warm, spicy bath. It's infused with Jasmine and smells divine. Everything you could want in your bath this time of year.
I'm sure there will be more sales from Lush, but this one sure beat the others. I'm glad I got to be a part of it and find the products I never got to try. I think I will be back on schedule this week with many new posts and exciting reviews to be shared. A big Christmas post will be up on Thursday, so stay tuned!
What was your favorite Lush Christmas product? Did you go to the sale, too?
Xoxo, Nat
As the holidays vear closer and closer, my schedule has become so jam-packed full of events and things like that recently. After this week, I am going to take a break from my blog to enjoy Thanksgiving break. I feel that in order for me to write great content, that you all will enjoy, I need a new start and a break from it all once in awhile to spark more inspiration. I'll be back in a week for Christmas and all of that but, I think I'm going to take some time off from here.
Anyway, I had to make a quick shop for some of my favorite skincare products that I have been loving and using constantly. Is it bad that I get excited when I run out of these things so, I can buy more? Nah.
The first thing I ran out of was this Body Shop Body Butter in Mango--my all time favorite scent from the Body Shop. It honestly smells so delicious and their body butters are incredibly moisturizing on the skin. I use this every night and love it so much. The best part about it was that I only bought it for $6 compared to the original price of $22 at TJ Maxx! Whatever you do, do not buy it for that insane price and go get it for practically free there.
The next thing I bought was another one of the Simple Micellar Waters. It was last year when I really got into micellar waters and I have tried the Garnier Micellar one and have been switching back and forth. I noticed that they had come out with a larger 13.5 fl oz size and was very happy about it since I use it every morning to wash and cleanse my face. It's great for when you don't have enough time to pull out all of your face washes and moisturizers because it cleanses and hydrates at the same time.
A common known product, the Neutrogena Makeup Remover Wipes, have been in my skincare collection since middle school. You can't go wrong with makeup wipes (even if they're like banned by all makeup gurus because they don't actually "cleanse" your face). On those really late nights, though, everyone can agree that taking off your makeup is the last thing you want to do. These are also great for travelling in case you need to touch up your makeup on the plane or some disaster occurs and messes up all of your makeup.
I feel like once you've found the best or right products for your skin type, there seems to be no going back. I hope I will find more products that I will use on the daily like these three but, I do love these dearly. I think a lot of people have their go-to face and body products that they keep on repurchasing; comment below which products you can't seem to stop buying like me down below! Have a great week guys.
Xoxo, Nat
It's been awhile since I have been to a Lush store. The one closest to me had to close for remodeling and I have really been missing out on all of the new Lush products being released. I was so jealous of everybody who had access to them! Thankfully, over the past month, our Lush has reopened and is bigger and better than ever. I always find Lush stores (or at least the ones I've been in) to be incredibly cramped and packed with people. It was a much needed renovation but, took the whole summer to redo! At last, I was able to go visit the new store and picked up a couple bits.
The first thing that I have been dying to use is the Yoga Bomb. Of course I have been wanting to use it! I do yoga and it has everything you would want in a bath bomb after you do yoga! Infused with essential oils to calm you, this bomb has notes of sandalwood and ho wood oils that add more of a sweetness to it. Sounds inviting after a hard vinyasa flow!
Whenever I can go into Lush, I try to pick up a new face mask. I love their promotional deal when you use five pots and bring them back, you get a free mask. Their masks are incredibly fresh and they have so many for every skin type. This Cupcake face mask was created for acne prone and oily skin (keeping teenagers in mind). I love how smooth this makes my skin and how it gets rid of any dirt or grime in my pores.
I was in the mood for another bath bomb that was more fall based; I saw this beautiful Autumn Leaf bath bomb and was instantly pulled in. The website says that it's made with sandalwood, bergamot, and neroli oils. It really does smell crisp like autumn leaves. Imagine jumping into a huge leaf pile and rolling around in them--that's what it smells like. I can't wait to see what the colors look like in the bath! I love Lushes bath bombs because they're self preserving and last a very long time (without the harsh, synthetic preservatives). You can save it for whenever you're feeling stressed or just need a pick me up on those days.
I am really looking forward to Lush's Christmas collection and all of their festive scents! What have been some Lush products you guys have been dying over? Any ones I should try next?
Xoxo, Nat
It's rare for me to find a face mask as great as any fresh Lush face mask but, boy do I have news for you all! I've done it. One of the best and easy sheet masks I have tried in a long time. I have always been a follower and user of Yes To products and when I was at the store the other day, I strolled upon a kiosk full of these Yes To face masks. They had many different types of sheet masks to choose from; I choose the Yes To Tomatoes Clear Skin mask for my oily and acne prone skin.
Infused with tomato extracts and salicylic acid, this mask does wonders for my sensitive skin. I'm a sucker for anything beauty related that's great for making my skin glow and feel amazingly soft.
Like all sheet masks, this one is very easy to use. After I cleanse my face, I pull the mask apart and place it on my face! So simple. It only takes about 10 minutes to fully react to the skin and all you have to do is wipe off some of the excess product when you're done (which I don't mind all that much).
I used this right before I got my period and I think it really did prevent bigger breakouts from appearing. Especially on those nights when you want to pamper but, you're a lazy oaf like me, this is really convenient to use. It can also be great to do at a party or a sleepover with your best buds!
If you love the other Yes To products like the facial wipes, you'll love their new masks. I might have to go pick up all of the other ones that they just released. Have you tried these out yet?
Like all sheet masks, this one is very easy to use. After I cleanse my face, I pull the mask apart and place it on my face! So simple. It only takes about 10 minutes to fully react to the skin and all you have to do is wipe off some of the excess product when you're done (which I don't mind all that much).
I used this right before I got my period and I think it really did prevent bigger breakouts from appearing. Especially on those nights when you want to pamper but, you're a lazy oaf like me, this is really convenient to use. It can also be great to do at a party or a sleepover with your best buds!
If you love the other Yes To products like the facial wipes, you'll love their new masks. I might have to go pick up all of the other ones that they just released. Have you tried these out yet?
Xoxo, Nat
Autumn, unlike all of the other seasons, is when I feel most compelled to use a lot of pampering products; it's cold and rainy. Frankly, it's the best time to do so. I think every girl needs time to herself to do nails or use a nice face mask. We deserve it at the end of a long week, anyway! Especially during fall, the only thing you could want more is to just lay in a warm tub, throw in a couple Lush bath bombs, light some pumpkin candles, and play some music if you ask me!
Across the blogger world, I feel like fall is one of the highest written about seasons and many people, including myself, are very excited about it.
You can never go wrong with a berry or a metallic nail polish during fall and I love Essie's, In The Lobby, and their mesmerizing silver shade, No Place Like Chrome. I found that I really like using metallic colors on an accent nail paired with this berry shade. It adds a little edge to any look and acts as a piece of jewelry. Essie's selection of colors is never-ending; there's a shade for everyone and everything.
Usually after I do my nails, I'll start a warm bath (very rarely do I take baths but, boy do I love it when I have a Lush bath bomb and only a Lush bath bomb). I gotta say, there's nothing like a tub full of color and delicious smells that could be more appealing. Even though this is a springy and fresh bath bomb, the Sakura bath bomb has been a constant favorite. I don't love strong scents anyway when it comes to what I use all over my body, so this is great for those of you who don't love overpowering fragrances. It's floral and citrusy; great for any time of the year in my opinion.
Speaking of Lush, their Catastrophe Cosmetic face mask is great for sensitive skin and does a magical job at cleansing my skin and ridding excess oils without making it even oilier. It's made of fresh blueberries (awesome) and natural essential oils (even more awesome).
Smelling of fresh Bergamot and Peppermint, Origin's Modern Friction Gentle Dermabrasion Cream, has been one of my holy grail skincare products. I do have the mini size, which I use very sparingly but, love as a light exfoliator for my skin every couple of days. It really helps clear out my pores and soften out my face.
Another mini pamper product, and a strong one at that, that I normally use following the exfoliator is the Fresh Soy Face Cleanser. I have been using this since I received it in my Sephora Birthday Gift set and sadly, I am almost out! I haven't found a better cleanser that is as strong and as light as this one. It doesn't dry out my skin and gives my skin this weird but, goddess-like glow in the morning after I have used it (maybe that's just my imagination but, who cares! I think it even makes my makeup look better).
I will have to do more shopping and looking around for more pamper products. Especially from Lush, I am oh-so-excited to try out some new fall things! If you guys have any products you love using this time of year, please share! I'd love to try something new.
Xoxo, Nat
Hey guys! I have been on one of the weirdest schedules this week. School has finally picked up and I have been a very "busy bee" lately! We had Labor Day Weekend which is just an extra day for everyone to sleep in or go to Labor Day parades and whatnot but, it totally set me off and I thought Tuesday was Monday! Knowing silly, old me, I totally forgot to post something and so I posted my August Faves two days ago. Now that I have everything messed up, I am just going to post this today and start next week fresh!
Speaking of keeping things fresh, unlike my schedule, I have my new and fully updated skincare routine that has taken a couple months for me to figure out. You guys can go read my older skincare routine, here, to read about what I used last year and what I have changed or added this year!
Morning:
Garnier Micellar Water- Every morning for me seems to repeat itself: my alarm goes off, I hit the snooze, I'm late, and I have no time to actually do a full on skincare routine. However! This micellar water has saved me so many times. I use a cotton pad, pour out a little, and rid of any grime or oil that was on my face overnight. No rinse and I'm out the door!
Soap & Glory 3 in 1 Daily Detox Cleasner- When there is enough time for me to do the whole "shebang", I like using this cleanser from Soap & Glory. It's very refreshing and minty! It also gets rid of oil and leftover grossness.
Simple Replenishing Rich Moisturizer- Before I leave the door, I can't forget to add a little bit of moisture to my face. Moisturizing is super important even though some of you, including me, have pretty oily-combo skin. I love this Simple one because it's light and also leaves my skin very smooth.
Night:
Origins Modern Friction Dermabrasion Cream- This was one of the first Origins products that I have ever tried and I have been really loving it. This cream is an exfoliant and just helps to even out spots and discoloration. I've been using this every couple of days just because it's pretty harsh for your skin to be exfoliated every single day.
Origins Checks and Balances Frothy Face Wash- This face wash was the second Origins product I have ever owned and I am so impressed by these products! I think this face wash does an A+ job at removing all of my makeup from the day. I like to do all of my face washing in the shower to save some time and water!
Mary Kay Indulge Soothing Eye Gel- Recently I have been getting into eye creams and gels. I know a lot of people like to use gels for their eyes in the mornings but, I personally like to use them before bed and then I can wake up with smooth and refreshed eyes!
EOS Lip Balm in Coconut Milk- I am so addicted to this lip balm. I. Kid. You. Not. This has changed the way I appreciated lip care. It smells absolutely delicious and my lips have never been smoother (woah Natalie, calm down it's just lip balm...but is it?).
Soap and Glory Sugar Crush Mini Body Butter- I have a huge pump size of this lotion but, I thought I would just include this mini version of it as a body butter instead. I have raved about my love for Soap & Glory's products so much before. They're just amazing!
For Special Occasions:
Fresh Soy Face Cleanser- It's been a struggle trying to use these two Fresh products very sparingly; they have done wonders to my skin. You don't even need more than a quarter sized amount of this cleanser to remove a full face of makeup! I might have to repurchase this in a larger size.
Fresh Rose Face Mask- I have only used this once and I'm trying to stretch out the rest of the product for another go. The packaging is just so small for how great this product is! Obviously this was from a birthday kit that I received from Sephora a couple weeks ago but, I wish there was more. It smells so floral and smooths my skin very well.
Glam Glow Youthcleanse Exfoliating Cleanser- This was another cleanser that I have still been trying to save because it's just one of "those" products that you want to last for ever and ever! It's great because I only exfoliate ever so often and it only takes a very small amount to do the job. Love Glam Glow!
I hope you guys liked this new, updated skincare regimen! I apologize for any confusion about this weird schedule, I promise that I will be back on my feet next Tuesday. Until then, what have been some great skincare products you guys can't live without?
Xoxo, Nat
It's that time of year again--my birthday! And with that, comes loads of promotional birthday treats and goodie goodie gumdrops from my favorite stores. My birthday was on the 22nd and I wanted to spend time with family but, I thought I would share with you guys what Sephora has in store for you all during your birthday month.
Personally, the only reason I'm on the Beauty Insider rewards program at Sephora is for the free stuff. That's basically what the purpose is for the card but, you have to spend X amount of money to get more money if you know what I mean. I think I look like a fool when I go up to the register and just ask for my birthday gift but, then I'm like, "Who cares--it's my birthday!".
Anyway, Sephora usually changes the gift that the Insiders receive. Normally, you can choose either a mini makeup kit or skincare kit of two samples. This year I chose the sample sizes of the Fresh Soy Face Cleanser and the Fresh Rose Face Mask instead of a sample size Marc Jacobs Gel Eye Crayon Eyeliner and a Marc Jacobs Le Marc Lip Creme in Kiss Kiss Bang Bang; simply because I own enough black eyeliners and pink doesn't really look good on me! I felt like trying some new skincare products from Fresh and I was pleasantly surprised.
The two products came in really cute packaging that specifically states it's a birthday gift. You have to be a rewards member (super easy to sign up) and all you do is tell them your email and chose which gift you want--no purchase necessary!
I was really excited that the products were from Fresh. I have heard so many great things about the brand and was really impressed with the way the Soy Cleanser cleaned off all of my eye makeup. The description says that it's for all skin types and it left my skin feeling really smooth and not dried out. The one thing that I didn't really care for was the subtle, nutty smell. Soy doesn't smell great anyway but, it's just something I thought to include in the post.
I was very surprised that they added a sample of a face mask and was very excited to try it out. I only had enough to use one time and it was probably the best face mask I have used next to the Lush ones I have used in the past. Speaking of Lush, this mask did not resemble or feel as "fresh" as the Lush ones are. However, it did feel very nice on my skin and also toned it and left it very oil free. I woke up the next day and did not feel like I had to wipe off any excess oil that usually forms around my T zone. The rose scent was great but, a little artificial-like to me. I like that they included real rose petals into it, though.
Overall, I was pretty happy with my choice and I think I want to try out some more Fresh products. I'm always looking for better skincare to help combat oily skin and I think Fresh is something right for me! If your birthday is coming up soon, I highly recommend signing up for the Beauty Insider Reward Program at Sephora. You could really get some great stuff! Have any of you received your Sephora birthday gift?
Xoxo, Nat
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