Showing posts with label skincare. Show all posts
Showing posts with label skincare. Show all posts
I never thought I would be writing about deodorant on my blog, but I think that over the past four years, I have gone through many and have officially found the one that works for me. I have very sensitive skin, so it's hard to find the right skincare products that won't react badly. I have used multiple different deodorants throughout my lifetime and while many seemed to be "keeping me fresh and stink free for 8 hours", many actually weren't and many actually broke me out and caused the undesirable red bumps.
I was doing a lot of research on different options of deodorants and natural types that might help, but some natural deodorants that I tried, while they didn't break me out, still made me stink after a couple hours. I found out that the main ingredient in most drugstore deodorants is aluminum and that's what was breaking my underarms out.
My best friend actually was using the Tom's of Maine toothpaste and introduced me to the brand. None of the products have harsh chemicals or fragrances and aluminum in their deodorants. I have one of the Long Lasting deodorants in Woodspice, which is a bit muskier and I think is for men and women until they created one specifically for women that's an antiperspirant in fresh meadow.
I love both of the fresh scents and the long lasting deodorant is more of a solid gel and the antiperspirant is a solid powder. Both don't leave any residue under my arms and they really do last for a very long time, maybe not 24 hours (or at least I haven't tested it). I thought this might be helpful for anyone looking for a better option for sensitive underarms. I know no one wants to spend an absurd amount of money on it. What deodorant do you use that actually works?
It's not often that I get to try out asian beauty and I am always willing to try new and foreign products. My sisters best friend was in South Korea for a couple months and was very kind to bring back some goodies. I have heard about snail masks around the internet and beauty world, but never thought they would be any good--heck I thought it was kind of gross. When my sister's friend brought them home I was super excited to try these out.
I researched these Nature Republic masks and they actually do contain snail "goo". It is to help firm and brighten skin, which I am all about. Not only did it get five stars, it is currently sold out on the US store's website.
My roommates and I had a lot of fun trying these out and the mask is a sheet mask that comes in two parts: the eye mask and the mouth mask. It is extremely slippery and kind of hard to get off the wrapper, but it pretty soothing and moisturizing. There is no distinct "snail goo smell". It is pretty fresh and left my face smooth the next day. I am usually skeptical with masks because of my sensitive skin, but this one did no harm.
I am always up for trying new skincare products and I will definitely like to try out more Korean beauty products. Shout out to my sister's best friend for these cool masks! I would really recommend them for fun, girly nights in or just a chill evening after class. What type of facial mask do you want to try?
Of all the masks I have tried in my life, there have been many that have impressed me and some that haven't. One that I have heard of are the "bubble" masks and Elf has come out with their own version which I am very impressed by.
I love doing face masks with my friends and this one is the best for sleepovers or cozy nights in. I have realized that Elf has really stepped up their skincare game and I was interested to see how it works.
The packaging it comes in is really sleek and innovative. The dispenser is so convenient and leaves no guck to clean up or get stuck in the lid. It comes out like a gel and is very refreshing on the face.
Once it is on your face, you kind of get a fizzing sensation and then the gel becomes white and bubbly.
After about 10 minutes, the mask will "rise" and become bubbly and it might tickle a lot. I love how fresh and clean my skin feels after it and the clean up is really simple and mess-free which I appreciate.
I would really recommend this mask for oily skin types or anyone looking for a fun mask to do. You get a lot of product for a drugstore mask and normally drugstore masks are expensive and don't have much in the container. Elf ceases to impress me, so I would really suggest getting this mask!
It's the middle of July (woah) and that means oppressive heat and sunny days...and chapped lips. I know that no one desires to have chapped lips and recently I have been consistent with moisturizing and exfoliating my lips.
I have always been a chapstick and lipstick obsessor, but lately I have been loving lip scrubs and exfoliators. They leave you with amazingly soft lips and there are even some great ones at the drugstores.
Before I use any lip products, it has been added to my makeup and skincare routine to exfoliate my lips because I have forgotten how important it is to take care of them. I was at Target a while ago and stumbled across the Elf section and was wondering why there was a mint green lipstick! To my surprise it was a lip exfoliator. The best part? It's in a tube! No mess and great minty taste. I also got this other clear one that tastes like Shea butter or cocoa butter. You just apply it to damp lips, massage in circular motions, and try not to lick it all off (hehe). These are so inexpensive and great for on the go and no more sticking your clean fingers into sugar scrub pots.
I have always been a huge EOS fan and all of their products have been mentioned if not loved. I was that teenager who was obsessed with lip balms and tints and I had one of every flavor or color and couldn't finish any of them, but just didn't care. It may sound pathetic, but it might show how much I actually love and continue to use them. I have never found that the Blueberry Acai has been a current favorite and I also really love Summer Fruit.
Another balm I have been using, which is also a classic favorite of mine, is the Burt's Bees Bring Back the Bees Coconut and Pear lip balm. It is so summery and I will always support environmental movements or campaigns that companies do. It's nice to switch back and forth to have options. Both give very smooth and soft lips. What has been your favorite lip balm?
So, Victoria's Secret was having their semi-annual sale and I totally didn't buy four perfumes?? Well, actually my sister and I did, but I just love all of them so much and am so proud of how cheap I bought them for. This very nice and amiable salesperson handed my older sister and I two coupons if you buy a beauty item, any beauty item, you get a free roller ball perfume.
We thought it was a great deal and so, we decided to each just get a body mist and pick out a roller ball on their little beauty kiosk by the cash registers. I'm never one to buy tons of perfume, but it was such a great deal that we both couldn't resist. Victoria's Secret does have some pretty amazingly smelling perfumes and I knew they all wouldn't be there the next day. Since each fragrance spray were marked down to $6 we only paid that amount and got a free roller ball each which was awesome.
My sister loves the Tease scent because it is so floral and seductive with the lace. I'm personally not drawn to these types of scents, but she loves how strong and powerful it is on. She got both the roller ball and the mist.
For my mist, I got Heavenly, because it has Vanilla and White Peony which is my favorite scent. It is light and fresh and isn't overpowering. It's perfect for this time of year. Then the roller ball was Very Sexy Now. I think it might be discontinued and a limited edition one, but I found it on Amazon for you guys. It's extremely fruity and fresh and probably my favorite of them all. It is fun and summery and isn't just a "teenager" scent. I am obsessed! What's been your summer scent?
It has been a while since I have used up my last Lush mask that broke me out, so when I walked into Lush the other day, I knew I wanted to try something a little different. If you know me and have read some of my posts on here, then you might have seen that I like to review many gift sets and boxes. I don't think gift sets should be exclusive to gift giving--even when it comes to yourself! I love gift sets because you can get such a variety of products to try out and sometimes you can save a little more money.
I also think that this Lush Fresh and Fancy gift set is totally worth it for anybody looking to try out some new Lush goods or give as a gift to a friend. I wanted to initially just buy the Ocean Salt Scrub, but since it's about $20 for a big container, I decided to use my money towards this set that is only about $10 more and comes with more stuff. Great smelling stuff, might I add.
This bar of soap brings back great memories of my family and I traveling to Mackinac Island and going into all of the cute shops and boutiques in Northern Michigan. This Outback Mate soap is so fresh and fruity. For being the first Lush soap I have ever owned and tried, I am really wondering why I have never tried them out.
This soap contains eucalyptus, lemongrass, and peppermint and is the ultimate wakeup call on early mornings or even after workouts.
This soap contains eucalyptus, lemongrass, and peppermint and is the ultimate wakeup call on early mornings or even after workouts.
The Ocean Salt has been an all time favorite face and body scrub of mine. I love the citrusy lime, avocado butter, and coconut oil. It's so important to exfoliate and this really gets the job done.
I haven't really been that big of a Shower Jelly fan, but I thought I would give this one another go. Only because they are pretty hard to use. This 93,000 Miles Shower Jelly consists of eucalyptus, peppermint, and cinnamon leaf oil to help sore muscles--which intrigued me since I like to work out. It is a very warm smelling jelly and you basically take a small bit out and lather it like shower gel or soap.
I was super excited to try out this bath bomb, Big Blue. It has lavender, lemon, sea salt, and seaweed! The ultimate post yoga treat. I have tried the Yoga Bomb there, too. This one is more citrusy and I think that is the constant theme for this gift box.
It's summery and very fresh for anyone who enjoys fruity smelling products. It reminds me so much of going to the beach and I can't wait to use them all! What's your Lush fave?
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?
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