Origins GinZing Scrub Cleanser & Eye Cream - Review

Origins GinZing Cleanser & Eye Cream

I recently added on a 100-point sample of the Origins GinZing eye cream at check out in Sephora. I had been wanting a new eye cream, but wasn't able to narrow it down and choose one. I had given up, deciding to research some at home later, but was pleasantly surprised when a sample of the eye cream was an option for a 100-point perk. I had heard of the GinZing cleanser from Tanya Burr's October Favorites video, and was interested in trying the eye cream, but hadn't read any reviews on it.

I loved the sample so much that I went out to buy the full size before I had finished up the miniature. Although I don't usually get dark circles under my eyes, I do suffer from bags & puffiness. Especially when the weather is changing (which in Texas is pretty much all the time) I get congested and my allergies start to act up - leaving my with pretty puffy eyes every morning. I picked this up at the Origins store for $30. It's a 0.5oz tub, but I've had the sample tube for about a month and, using it almost daily, I haven't used it up yet. It takes just a tiny amount, so I didn't mind the price. The GinZing range includes coffee beans, Ginseng, & Magnolia extract and claims to clear up darkness, de-puff, and get rid of bags. I put this on directly after I cleanse, follow up with moisturizer, and then apply my makeup. By the time I finish doing my makeup, I no longer have any puffiness or under eye bags.

Another nice aspect about the eye cream is that it seems to be a fairly natural skincare product. It's formulated without Parabens, Phthalates, mineral oil, Petroleum, animal ingredients or synthetic fragrance. This has never irritated my skin, and feels really nice on my eyes in the morning. It's cooling and refreshing, and I do like to keep things as natural and chemical-free as possible.

When I went to pick up the full size of the eye cream, I also got the GinZing Refreshing Scrub Cleanser. I love scrubs - they really help my dry skin, and I was looking for a morning cleanser that will prep my skin for makeup and get my skin ready for the day. This was just under $20 which I thought was a really good price. Definitely worth it, as you really get a lot of product for your money with this one. The first thing I noticed about this cleanser was the smell. This smells amazing! It has definitely become one of my favorite scents. Like the bright orange bottle suggests, the cleanser smells like oranges. It reminds me of candied orange peels. I love this smell in the morning, it's really invigorating and wakes you up and gets your skin ready for the day. I wish I could attach a scratch & sniff here - it's really an amazing scent. If I smelled this in the store, I would have purchased it just for the smell alone. 

Like the eye cream, this has Ginseng & Coffee beans. It has "grains" in the cleanser so it feels like a scrub and it gently exfoliates. I think this is really nice for a morning cleanser because it helps smooth out your skin so your makeup goes on flawlessly. Like I said, I use this only in the morning, so I don't use it to remove makeup. The instructions say to keep this away from the eye area, so I just lather this all over my skin - avoiding my eyes - and wipe it away with a wet cloth. If you do use this as your regular cleanser, I would suggest using a makeup removing oil or balm and then following up with this scrub. It is very slightly drying, I definitely have to moisturize immediately after use, but I love the exfoliation that it provides and it has really seemed to brighten and refresh my skin.

The range also offers a tub of moisturizer and a face mask. I definitely want to try out the mask - it's meant to brighten and refresh skin. If it has the same smell as the cleanser, I'm sure I will love it.

Have you guys tried any products from the GinZing range? What are your favorite Origins products? Let me know in the comments!

Emergency Rescue Pamper Night

Blemishes happen. It's important to take care of your skin and maintain a good cleansing routine, but the occasional spot is inevitable. While I would like to stay at home during a break out, that isn't always possible. Here's my nighttime emergency rescue routine to quickly clear up my skin. This regimen helps deep clean, clear up spots, and repair damaged skin so you can wake up with clearer looking skin.

My first step is to cleanse. I think it's important to stick to a fairly strict cleansing routine so your skin doesn't get too clogged up with different skincare products. I like a small group of really good skincare products that I use regularly and then a few other products that I just use as needed. This Philosophy cleanser is my go-to face wash for everyday use. It keeps my skin clear, so I use this even through a breakout, to keep things consistent and help clear my skin. I've mentioned this product before.

After my skin has been cleansed, I stick on a couple pore strips. This is a combo pack that has both nose and face strips so you can use the rectangular strips anywhere else you're prone to blackheads. I feel like this product helps open your pores so anything you apply after this will really sink in. I hate removing the nose strip but I do think it's worth it. 

This is the star of the show. This tea tree mask is one of my favorite masks of all time. I've done a couple posts about this mask previously because I really love it and I think it works fabulously. I apply a thin layer - you could even just apply it to problem areas - and let it dry. I remove it with a wet cloth and then apply my moisturizer. I love the smell of it, I feel like it truly cleans my skin, and tea tree oil is really amazing for clearing up spots. If I'm having a particularly bad problem area, I'll dab on some straight tea tree oil directly.

After all those combatants, it's important to give some moisture back to your skin and calm it. I use the CeraVe moisturizer when I'm having trouble with my skin. This is a very medicinal and non-irritating product. If you struggle with eczema, this is an excellent moisturizer. It has no fragrance, nothing fancy, just straight moisturizer that's not going to irritate or break out your skin. I think this is a good product to use after you've treated your skin with all these other harsh products. It's easy to overdo it when you're panicking because of a break out, but keeping the other products simple, and focusing on the anti-blemish products can be really beneficial. I also use the YuBe moisturizing skin cream for intense hydration. I typically apply this to my lips, but if I'm suffering from severe dryness due to the weather or as a result of a drying mask or something, I dab on a bit of this. A little bit goes a long way and it works like magic. 

This regimen definitely helps speed up the healing process when you're suffering through a breakout. Unfortunately, there is no magic cure, and it really just takes time for blemishes to clear up, but these products do help at least speed up that (sometimes slow) process. I take some extra time in the evening to pamper my skin, relax, and give my skin some time off. I always feel better in the morning!

What are your go-to products for breakouts? Do you use any preventative products? Let me know below!

NARS Sheer Glow Foundation - Review

I finally jumped on the bandwagon and purchased my first NARS Sheer Glow foundation. I was especially interested to try this formula because of its claims that "sheer glow." I like lighter coverage foundations that you can wear daily but also build up to add more coverage. Also, since I have dry skin, I tend to stick to brightening foundations. I chose the shade "Siberia" and it's a good match, but I was surprised at how yellow it looks. At first, I was afraid it would be way too yellow on my skin - I have pink undertones and usually go for more neutral shades. I've been using the NARS concealer for a while and it is very yellow-toned as well, but I appreciate that for the under eye area to counteract any blue/purple bags. 

Once I applied the foundation, the first thing I noticed was that it blends really well. It's very thin and light and a little bit of product goes a long way. I used less than a dime-sized amount and it was plenty. The yellow works really well to counteract any redness from blemishes, dry patches, etc. It also helps conceal any dark areas or bags under my eyes. Once it's blended into the skin, it doesn't seem too yellow, it matches well and helps neutralize the color of my skin. 

This is definitely a good everyday foundation - it's light and doesn't stick to dry patches. It gives a nice healthy glow and blurs imperfections without looking like a heavy, full-coverage foundation. You can apply an additional layer for more coverage, but I found that it wasn't really necessary. A light layer of the foundation and some additional coverage from the concealer is plenty to give a flawless foundation look. 

I apply this with a damp beauty blender (the concealer as well) and set my under eye area with a translucent powder. I've been using this daily and it seems to be agreeing with my skin. It doesn't have any scent (that I can tell) and doesn't irritate my skin or cling to dry patches. Definitely one of my favorite high-end foundations!

Let me know what you think of this combo in the comments below...

The Body Shop: Vanilla Brûlée Body Butter - Review

I recently made an online order at The Body Shop. I have several of their products that I love but I don't have a store very close to me. I can find some of their products at Ulta but I had quite a few things that I wanted to try so I decided to go ahead and place an order online. If you read my blog, you may know that I love The Body Shop face masks. I typically buy them in single-use sachets, but I wanted to order the full sizes and the Chamomile cleansing oil based on an Amelia Liana recommendation (review coming soon). Just before check out, I added the Vanilla Brûlée Body Butter. Unfortunately, I had to add this to my list of disappointing products.

I don't hate this product, but it wasn't as impressive as I had hoped it would be. The smell is amazing - I definitely wasn't disappointed by the that. It smells so rich and creamy and the tub is a good size. I got this on offer for $10 (half price) and I was pleasantly surprised by the size of the tub - I think that's a fair amount of product, especially if it's half-off. It's been cold here lately and my skin is definitely suffering, I've been exceptionally dry and have been trying out various products to see what works best. I was hoping this new body butter would be my new best friend. When I first dabbed into the lotion, I liked the consistency - it's thick and creamy, just as you'd expect a body butter to be. As soon as I began to rub it in, however, I noticed that it doesn't seem to spread very well. It's so thick that it doesn't work into a larger area of skin. I end up needing a huge amount of product for a small area of skin just because the lotion doesn't spread out. It does leave you feeling a bit greasy, but I expected that since it's considered a "butter." I felt like at least that sticky feeling would mean that I would be nicely moisturized by the morning.

The problem was that I didn't feel all that moisturized the next morning. It seems as if all the lotion disappeared and my skin wasn't able to drink up any of the moisture. Especially since it's called a "body butter" I expected this to be an intense hydrator and something to use when I'm feeling exceptionally dry - to perk up my skin overnight even though it may be thick and a little greasy. Those are all things I can deal with if the moisture payoff is worth it. I just didn't feel like my skin had made seen any major improvements overnight, and for the amount that I had to apply, I don't see the tub lasting very long. I may just use this for hands and feet before bed and forget trying to use it as a body lotion. 

In the future, I may opt for a smaller size to throw into my handbag as a hand lotion, but I probably won't purchase this particular product again. I love the smell and the formulation is nice, but I just wasn't that impressed, overall. That being said, I LOVE all the other products that I have tried from The Body Shop and this definitely won't deter me from continuing to try out their products. Everyone's skin is different and just because it didn't moisture my skin as I had hoped, doesn't mean it couldn't work for a different skin type. 

Have you tried a body butter? If so, what did you think? What are your favorite The Body Shop products?

Fall Lips!

When fall finally arrives in Texas I not only switch up my foundation routine, but I also begin to choose more autumnal lip & cheek shades. Of course, certain trends come into play, but traditionally, fall colors are deeper, darker, and more plum or berry. And of course, a red lip is always on trend. These are my current favorite fall lip products...

Stila Lip Glaze in Majesty - I believe this was a limited edition holiday shade. It was part of a holiday set, however, it looks like the shades Berry & Black Cherry would be very similar. These are definitely sticky glosses, but the pigment lasts a really long time. Even after the gloss has worn off, the pigment remains. If you're bothered by sticky glosses, these glazes are definitely not for you, but they are very long-wearing especially for a gloss. They are also super shiny. 

Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipstick in Rose Blush - This is one of my all-time favorite lipsticks. It's moisturizing and the color is a nude rose - like a your-lips-but-better nude shade. It's a deep rose color so it's perfect for the colder weather without being too dramatic. I like to dab this on if I'm sporting a more dramatic eye look or a neutral makeup look for a subtle lip color. 

Maybelline Color Sensational Vivids Lipstick in Brazen Berry - I love this range of lipsticks. They're bright and highly pigmented, but moisturizing and long-lasting. This is a bright berry shade; it's perfect for a day-time autumn look. This is the most purple shade I have chosen, it's a cool tone with less red in it. 

Maybelline Color Sensational Lipcolor in Blissful Berry - this is a true berry shade. It reminds me of a cranberry shade; it's reddish with just the right amount of purple. To me, this is the epitome of dramatic autumn and winter lipsticks. I love the color and the formulation is creamy, moisturizing, and highly pigmented. This is perfect for a bold lip look.

Make Up For Ever lipstick - this is in my GIVEAWAY! Check out that blog post to learn more.

NYX Jumbo Lip Pencil in Soft Fuchsia - these are a cross between a lip liner and a lip crayon or chubby stick. It's part liner pencil, part lip balm, and part lipstick. These don't last for hours, but they're super easy to apply and I love this shade. This is a perfect everyday fall nude. It's a deep, dusty rose color, and you can dab these on a for a more natural/sheer look, or build it up to look like an opaque lipstick. They're slightly glossy but not at all sticky. They're very creamy and don't dry my lips out. I keep this in my purse during autumn & winter for a go-to lip color that I can swipe on quickly when I need it.

From left to right: Majesty, Rose Blush, Brazen Berry, Blissful Berry, Copper Pink, & Soft Fuchsia.

Don't forget to enter my giveaway going on now! Check me out on Instagram & Twitter.

GIVEAWAY - Products I Love (closed)

**Giveaway is now closed**

I've reached my first blogging milestone and I wanted to do a giveaway to thank my viewers. I have tried (and loved) all of the products in the giveaway and wanted to share them with you. Thank you for your views, your tweets, your comments, and support! I would love to continue to do this routinely to show my thanks and gratitude. I will list the rules for the giveaway at the end of the post. Here's what will be included in the giveaway...

e. l. f. Eyebrow Kit - This is my favorite dupe for all those brow duos - HD Brows, Anastasia, etc. This is a staple in my vanity. I use the gel side everyday on my brows to add shape and also help keep them in place. I've included this in the shade "medium."

Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara - I've done a review post about this mascara here. Love this!

Benefit Hervana Blush - Raved about this blush here.

e.l.f. Plumping Lip Glaze - these are double-sided glosses that plump and add color & shine. I've included these in the shades "oasis," "fuchsia fanatic," and "baby doll." Love these shades for fall.

The Body Shop Face Masks - I talked about these masks in my Nighttime Skincare Routine. I picked up the Tea Tree Mask, Vitamin E Sink-In Moisture Mask, and the Vitamin C Microdermabrasion (not technically a mask) sachets. I've done an in-depth review here. I also included the Seaweed Ionic Clay Mask, which I haven't tried (because it's not meant for my skin type) but it's part of the collection so I wanted to put that in the giveaway as well. 

Make Up For Ever - Mini Rouge Artist Natural moisturizing soft shine lipstick in the shade "Copper Pink" (N9). This is a sample size to test out the shade. I also have the mini version of this and I love it. This is a pricier item so it's nice to be able to test it out before you go for the full size. These lipsticks are infused with mother-of-pearl and they're super moisturizing.

Make Up For Ever Sens-eyes - This is a waterproof eye makeup remover. It's a creamy consistency similar to a cream cleanser, rather than the typical oil formulation. Sensitive on the eyes but gets the job done. This is also a miniature - perfect for traveling. 

NYX Butter Lip Balms - I recently discovered the butter lip balms and fell in love. I went back for more shades because I could wear these everyday. They're moisturizing and soft like a chapstick but they have a tint to them. I picked these up in the shades "red velvet" and "biscotti" - the perfect red and nude.

Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure Nail Polish - One of my all-time favs! I did a review on this nail polish collection here. I wear these polishes all the time and I love this grey shade ("Commander in Chic") for fall & winter. It lasts for ages without chipping.

L'Oreal Voluminous Original Mascara - My all-time favorite mascara! I love to try other mascaras, both high-end and drugstore, but I always go back to this one. It's just the absolute best. It's dark black, it thickens and adds volumes to lashes, but it also lengthens like crazy. I don't use this on bottom lashes because it can flake and smudge, but paired with the Clinique bottom lash - it's the perfect combo! 

Wet 'n' Wild Megalast retractable eyeliner - This is smudgable, very black, and retractable. This means it's always perfectly pointed and tapered at the tip. It even comes with a smudger on the other end. It lasts all day and it's super affordable. Always a handy staple.

Flowerbomb - This is a sample of my favorite perfume - Victor & Rolf's Flowerbomb. I save this fragrance for fall and winter because it's my absolute favorite and it's such a special scent. I definitely consider this a luxury because it is pretty pricey. This is a great sample - it's large enough to get tons of wear out of it so that you can test it out before you make a big purchase. It's slightly floral - with notes of orchid, rose, and jasmine, but has a muskier scent from the patchouli. The bottles (sample and regular sized) are all really beautiful as well. 

Sephora VIB Tote Bag - I will also include the Sephora VIB exclusive tote/shopping bag (pictured in back). 

**Giveaway Rules**

- Subscribe to my blog - you can do this with or without a google + account.

- Comment on this post telling me one of your all-time favorite beauty products.

- Follow me on Twitter (@beautyhisandlos) & Instagram @beautyhighsandlows

This giveaway will close on Friday, November 14th at 11:59pm (CST). A viewer who has subscribed to this blog, and followed the associated social media accounts will be chosen at random.

Get Ready With Me: Autumn Foundation Routine

The days are getting shorter and the weather is finally starting to get colder. At the first inkling of cool weather, I switch up my foundation routine to make sure my skin stays moisturized and glowing all day long. I tend to stay away from matte foundations, and while I don't typically use a dewy or luminous foundation during autumn and winter, I still like my skin to look healthy and hydrated.

I start off with a moisturizer. I use the Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion+ some nights and every morning. I love this moisturizer and while I do like to try others, I always keep this as a staple in my vanity.

I've been reaching for this primer since the start of fall to add a highlight and brightness to dull, dry skin. I apply this after letting my moisturizer sink in and I concentrate it mostly on my cheekbones, but blend it into my entire face. This adds the perfect amount of highlight for fall - it adds a little something to your foundation without looking shimmery or dewy. I don't use a powder highlight when I use this primer in the fall.

This has been my go-to everyday foundation lately. I wear it in the shade "ivory." It's a lightweight foundation that really looks like skin and provides just the right amount of coverage. You can add a second layer to add coverage, but I usually find that a light layer of this conceals and blurs imperfections perfectly for an everyday look. I apply this with a damp beauty blender being sure to blend it out to get that natural finish.

I apply my NARS concealer under my eyes and anywhere I else I need a little extra coverage. I use the shade "Chantilly" and also blend this out with my damp beauty blender. This is my all-time favorite concealer. It brightens the under eye area and blends seamlessly without settling into fine lines. 

On special occasions or days I need my foundation to look flawless for a long day, I use the Revlon ColorStay foundation in "ivory." This foundation lasts forever! When I tested it, I swatched it on the back of my hand, and found the pigment remained on my hand until the next day. It really doesn't budge and keeps your skin looking perfect all day and night. I have the formula for dry skin, and I was surprised that it didn't cling to dry patches even after hours of wear. This isn't as natural of a look as the Naked foundation, but it's perfect for an event or a long day when you need your foundation to last, and it provides more coverage than the alternative.

That's it! I don't usually powder my skin, I just finish up with a blush and use a clean powder brush to blend it in and make sure I don't have any harsh lines and my makeup looks blended and flawless. I've been loving this combination, especially for a more autumnal/wintery look. I will definitely continue using this into the winter months as well.

What is your favorite autumn/winter foundation? What are your tricks to keep your dry skin looking hydrated when it's cold outside? Let me know in the comments!

PS - Be sure to follow me on social media for updates! I'll be doing a giveaway soon, so make sure you're subscribed to stay in the loop so you can enter!

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October Favorites!

It's my favorite time of year! I love fall and the clothes, food & drink, decor, weather and everything else that comes with it. Unfortunately, we only had a few days of autumn weather in Texas, but towards the end of the month it finally started to cool down. I have several beauty and non-beauty favorites that I have been loving all through the month of October!

LUSH lip scrub - LUSH makes several different flavors of lip scrubs. This is their winter version - it's cola flavored and bright red. You apply this and gently scrub it into dry lips. It's made from castor sugar & coconut oil so you can lick it off and you're ready to apply your lip product. It has cherry & date extract, so it's a bright red and tastes like cherry cola. It will run you about $9 and I have had mine since last December, so it lasts quite a while.

Sephora Waterproof Eye Makeup Remover - This is a waterproof eye makeup remover from Sephora's own collection. I have the 4.2 oz bottle and a little bit goes a long way so this will last me a lifetime. I typically use this in the morning if I have any mascara or liners smudges around my lashes or under my eyes before I apply my moisturizer and makeup for the day. I also use this to clean the gel liner off of my angled liner brushes. You shake it to mix it up, and the bottle dispenses it drop-by-drop. The packaging hasn't ever leaked on me, so it would be a good travel makeup remover as well. I picked this up for $10.50 near the registers at Sephora. 

Rimmel Stay Matte Liquid Mousse Foundation - I have been loving this lately as a tinted moisturizer. I typically stay away from matte foundations because I have dry skin, but I wanted to give this a try since it was a mousse. The finish of this foundation depends on how I choose to apply it. I sometimes dab it on with my fingers quickly as a sheer "tinted moisturizer" just to smooth and slightly blur my skin. When I want a little more coverage, I use a damp beauty blender. I make sure to moisturize well before applying this and use a damp applicator so that it doesn't look cakey or dry on my skin. It matches my skin tone perfectly and it's lightweight and easy to throw on for a quick cover-up. I don't use this on a daily basis, but its a good product to swipe on if you're in a hurry but want to look put-together. I picked this up at Walgreens for around $6.

Sephora MicroSmooth Baked Luminizer  - I have this in the shade "Stardust." It's a highlight powder with a gold shimmer to it. It doesn't have glitter or any chunky sparkle to it - it's so smooth and flawless and adds a beautiful highlight to cheek bones. I use this on my cheek bones, brow bones, and even as an eye shadow sometimes. It's versatile and compact and never looks chalky on the skin. This is a good highlight for fair skin but I think it will work for so many other complexions as well. It costs $14 at Sephora. 

Stardust

If you've been reading my posts, you already know how much I love Benefit Hervana blush. If you haven't, you can read about it here. It has been my go-to blush during the month of October.

MAC pigment in naked - I've rediscovered this! I bought this years ago and forgot about it until recently. It's slightly shimmery and it's the perfect nude. I sweep it all over the lid & crease and pop on some mascara and go. Love it. MAC pigments run around $21, which is only slightly more than the basic shadows, and you get a ton of product.

Naked

Vince Camuto Perfume - I have actually been wearing this all year round, but it's especially perfect for fall and winter. This is a slightly floral, vanilla scent but it has more musky notes like leather, patchouli, and amber. The floral notes are rose and jasmine. I always get compliments when I wear this and I can't get enough of this scent. Besides the lovely fragrance, the bottle is so pretty and looks really nice on display on a vanity or dressing table.

Glade room sprays in Pumpkin Pie & Red Apple - These smell SO good and make me really feel like it's fall. The scents linger for days and when I use these, guests always say the house smells amazing and so much like fall. The pumpkin scent smells like pumpkin spice, and the red apple is a crisp and fresh apple scent. I also bought the Glade plug-ins in the Red Apple scent as well. Glade always comes out with really amazing fall and winter scents and I always go crazy buying them up. They have recently released their holiday/winter scents and they sound amazing. Can't wait to check them out!

Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte & Oprah Chai Tea Latte - I always anxiously await the arrival of the PSL, and this year it was released early. We had a few cold & rainy days early in October and I quickly made a Starbucks run to have my first PSL of the season. I'm not a huge coffee drinker, I typically prefer tea, but I'm not a big fan of to-go hot teas at Starbucks. My standard Starbucks order is usually a soy chai tea latte and I switch to the frappuccino in the summer. I waited quite a while before I gave the Oprah Chai a shot and I'm sorry I did because I love it! It isn't drastically different than the original chai, but it is a bit bolder and the flavors seem more pronounced. Also, a portion of proceeds go to Oprah's education foundation. I'm currently sipping a chai tea latte and loving that they've brought out the festive red cups!

What were your favorites this past month? What are your favorite fall staples? Happy fall everyone!