Products I Love - My Top 5 Favorite Lush Products

I'm a huge Lush fan. All-natural, hand-made, never tested on animals, amazing scents, real ingredients - what's not to love? I can honestly say I've never purchased something from Lush that I didn't like. Unfortunately, the closest Lush store to me isn't all that close, so every time I get a chance to pop into the store I pick up my old favorites and try out some new things as well. I have several Lush products that are a part of my regular routine, and some that I save for special occasions or pamper nights. 

On a regular basis, I use their Breath of Fresh Air Toner. Don't let the word "toner" throw you off - this is basically just a facial mist. It's not at all drying and doesn't have any alcohol in it like a lot of traditional toners. Facial mists are so refreshing; I love to use this during the summer when it's super hot outside. It's made with seawater, seaweed extract, & aloe vera so it's very soothing and moisturizing. I spritz this onto clean skin and then follow up with a moisturizer. 

Another favorite of mine is the Ocean Salt Face & Body Scrub. I keep this in my shower and use it weekly on my body. It's made with sea salt, lime, and vodka so it's refreshing and gives your skin a very deep clean, but it also has avocado and coconut to keep skin moisturized. When my face is feeling particularly dry, I use this as a facial scrub, too. I love the smell of this! Reminds me of the beach.

One of my favorite cleansers to use in the morning is Angels on Bare Skin. I have very dry skin, so while I remove my makeup and cleanse with a more heavy-duty cleanser at night, in the mornings, I like to use something gentle and moisturizing. I don't like to strip my skin of necessary oils in the morning. This cleanser doesn't really lather or foam up like some cleansers, and because of the ingredients and consistency, it gently exfoliates as well. 

My new favorite from Lush is the Ro's Argan Body Conditioner. I picked this up a few weeks ago and I have been obsessed with it since then. This is a shower lotion. Yes, a shower lotion. This is meant to be applied to damp skin while you're still in the shower and then rinsed off before getting out of the shower. This. Smells. So. Good. I could smell this all day. It's made with rose, cocoa butter, almond and Argan oils. I'm pretty lazy when it comes to moisturizing my skin after a shower and this becomes a bigger issue in the winter when my skin is much drier. Slathering this on in the shower and rinsing it off quickly is much easier and it leaves my skin so soft and hydrated. I have used this every other shower and I have not had any dryness at all. It was a little pricey at almost $35 for about 8 and a half ounces, but I will definitely be repurchasing this. It was totally worth the price to me - it feels so luxurious on the skin, smells amazing, and really works. Also, it doesn't take much to really moisturize a large portion. I still have more than half of the pot left and I've been using this for several weeks now. 

My last Lush staple is their Butter Ball Bath Bomb. I love to try out all their seasonal bath products, but this is one that I always pick up to use when I feel like a nice luxurious bath. It smells so good - like creamy vanilla and cocoa butter. This fizzes up as soon as you drop into your bath, makes the whole room smell like warm vanilla, and rehydrates skin that may have been dehydrated by a hot bath. I keep a few of these in my bathroom and they scent the entire room. 

I love making a trip to the Lush store to see what new bath bombs they have and any other products I need to try. Let me know what you can't live without from Lush!

Until next time! xoxo

Clarisonic Mia 1 Facial Sonic Cleansing Brush - First Impression & Review

I have been checking out the facial brush market for quite some time now and finally made a purchase! I picked up the Clarisonic Mia at Dillard's about a week ago so I wanted to give my first impressions (since I haven't owned it very long) and a review of what I think about it so far. Since this is my first experience in the world of facial brushes, I chose the Mia 1 because it's the simplest and most inexpensive of the Clarisonic products. I thought this would be a good brush to start with. I chose the shade "pink" - they have several colors including purple, electric pink, grey, & white - and I love the color, I think it's really pretty. 

The Mia 1 comes with the "sensitive brush head" and only has one speed, speed 2 (universal) for use with all skin types. This speed is safe to be used daily, or even twice daily if you'd like. The brush heads are interchangeable, so you can purchase new brush heads after a few months to replace the existing head, or you can buy alternative heads for different skin types and uses. The brush heads typically cost around $27 each, so it's pretty affordable to change your brush head every 3 months (as recommended). 

The Mia is also waterproof, so you could use it in the shower and you don't have to worry about keeping any parts of it dry. The charger is actually magnetic so there's no plug or holes for the charger to plug into on the actual brush. You just touch the charger to the bottom of the handle and it sticks magnetically to the handle pretty firmly. It also comes with a cover for the brush head with holes so the bristles can dry while still protected. The power button is a grey rubber button and once you power on the Clarisonic, it is on a 60-second timer. 60 seconds is the recommended daily use time. 

Since I purchased mine at Dillard's, I also received a free gift with purchase. The Mia 1 comes with a sample size of the Clarisonic cleanser, but the gift with purchase from Dillard's provides 2 more sample cleansers and a small travel bag for the Mia. The travel bag is the size of a toiletry kit or rectangular makeup bag. It's purple with yellow trim, so it's not the cutest bag, but it fits all the cleanser samples, the charger, and the Mia itself, so it's handy for storage and/or traveling. It has a zipper shaped like a mini silver Clarisonic brush.

I read quite a few reviews before using this. It's recommended that you charge the brush for a full 24 hours before using, so I had plenty of time to read up on the brush. I read some really scary reviews of users that broke out really badly after starting to use the Mia. I was expecting a few blemishes or spots to pop up as is pretty standard with any new product, especially one that's exfoliating. However, I was hoping it didn't ruin my skin or give me any serious issues.

I'm happy to say, I have had a really good experience with the Mia so far. I did get a few very small spots after the first few days of use, but they went away very quickly and didn't leave any redness or marks on my skin. I had very very minimal "purging" with this, so I was really happy about that. It has definitely helped with my dryness. After about a week of use, I no longer have any major dry patches or peeling. My skin is never irritated by it and I have been using it both at night and in the morning. Most noticeably, I can tell a huge difference in the occurrence of blackheads on my nose and the size of my pores. The pores, especially on my nose, seem much cleaner, which makes them less visible. This is the best result I've experienced and it's what motivated me most to buy the brush. I'm happy with the Mia 1, I'm not sure that I need fancy brush heads or multiple speeds. For $99, I'm very satisfied with this brush and I don't think I would spend more to get a brush that has different speeds. Especially if you're new to facial brushes, I think this is the perfect brush for daily use. They also have a 1-year warranty, so you're covered if you experience any troubles in the first year. 

You can find the Clarisonic at most department stores, online at Clarisonic.com, and Sephora.

Let me know what you think of Clarisonic's products. If you've used any of their cleansers, please let me know! I think I will give my skin plenty of time to adjust to daily Clarisonic use before I try out any new cleansers or skincare products. One step at a time!

Until next time... xoxo

Thanksgiving Pamper Night

It's no secret that what we eat affects our skin. Around the holidays, we tend to put our healthier eating habits aside to enjoy all of our favorite holiday treats. Thanksgiving usually means consuming a more-than-normal amount of comfort food! I can typically tell a difference in my skin after eating certain things (especially foods high in oil or sugar) and Thanksgiving is, unfortunately, no exception. This is one of my ways to pamper skin and help repair it after a day of feasting on holiday favorites.

To remove makeup and cleanse, I stick to my normal routine. I like to keep my skincare simple and consistent, so even when I'm having a pamper night and using new products or special items, I like to stick to at least part of my routine. I think this helps combat spots and it also makes it easier to tell if something new irritated your skin or caused a breakout.  I use The Body Shop Chamomile Silky Cleansing Oil to remove makeup and then cleanse with Philosophy's Purity. You can check out my nighttime skincare routine here.

If my skin is extra dry, I use this cleanser in place of the Purity or the GinZing Scrub. This is super milky and creamy and doesn't leave my skin feeling tight and stripped. It keeps spots at bay but it's gentle and very good for sensitive skin. This doesn't remove makeup very well, so be sure to use a makeup remover of some sort before cleansing with this Clinique Liquid Facial Soap in extra-mild. This is formulated for dry to very dry skin, so it's perfect for my skin during the colder months. Also, if I'm doing a mask that targets breakouts, I usually use this for a few days as those masks tend to be more drying than others. This thoroughly cleans my skin without stripping it and leaving me with dry patches. 

This was the focus of my pamper night: the Peter Thomas Roth Pumpkin Enzyme Mask. Peter Thomas Roth skincare is pretty pricey, but I picked this up in a set from Sephora. It was part of the mini mask magic kit for $20. I love mini masks or sample sets, especially for more expensive products, so I can try them out and decide what I like and don't like, and if it's worth the money. Also, with creams and masks, a little pot of product lasts quite a while. I would definitely say this mini magic kit is worth it - I've loved all the masks so far. This pumpkin enzyme mask claims to resurface skin and act as an at-home chemical peel. It's meant to smooth and revitalize skin while clarifying. I love that you can really tell this is made from pumpkin. It smells like a pumpkin dessert and has pumpkin enzymes that act as the "scrub" agent in this mask. PTR claims that this mask targets "congested" skin, which is exactly how my skin feels after a holiday. Between the makeup, the food, the long days, etc. my skin always feels congested and can use a clarifying and rejuvenating mask. This is a resurfacer and has the word "intensive" in the description, so I would recommend testing it out on a patch of skin before applying. This can definitely be intense - it's a scrub that tingles while it sits on the skin. I didn't experience any discomfort or burning, but the sensation is definitely more intense than a typical scrub or mask. I also think this makes a nice festive and fun gift during the fall, or a good star for a girls' fall-themed pamper night.

After a good exfoliation and a few layers of skin have been sloughed off, I like to moisturize heavily to ensure that my fresh skin stays hydrated. I use my standard Boots No . 7 Beautiful Skin Hydration Mask (featured in many posts). I feel like I have new skin the morning after this pamper routine. I love to try new masks and I thought using this pumpkin mask would be festive and fun, but also clarifying and beneficial for my tired skin. Don't let your skin suffer during the holidays! If anything, treat yourself to even more pamper nights with luxurious products.

What are your favorite products during the holidays? Let me know so I can try them out, too!

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!

Nighttime Skincare Routine

Removing your makeup at the end of the day is one of the most important aspects of skincare. I can't remember the last time I slept in my makeup but I do admit I'm not always diligent with my nighttime skincare routine. Give yourself plenty of time to remove your makeup properly and cleanse your skin. My nighttime routine is much longer than my morning routine so I can make sure I'm taking care of my skin and putting back what the day took away. 

My first step is to remove my makeup. I use this Garnier Cleansing Oil and massage it into my face and eyes to remove even waterproof mascara. It feels a little odd at first to put oil on top of your makeup, but this cleansing oil melts away all the makeup on your skin so you can wipe it away with a warm towel. 

My next step is to cleanse. I use the Philosophy Purity cleanser to clean my skin now that there's no makeup there. Purity will also remove any remaining makeup (even eye makeup) and it gently and naturally cleanses the skin without being too drying. This keeps my skin clear without irritation. 

If my skin is particularly dry, I use a scrub. I choose between the LUSH Ocean Salt Scrub and The Body Shop Vitamin C Microdermabrasion to smooth my skin.

A few nights of the week, I use a face mask. I choose a mask depending on what issues I'm experiencing at that time. If I'm dry, I use The Body Shop Vitamin E Moisture Mask. If I'm experiencing a break out, I use The Body Shop Tea Tree Mask. If I'm feeling oily or I suspect a breakout coming, I use one of the Formula 10.0.6 Mud Masks - I get these at Ulta and I LOVE them. They're under $10 for a large tube of the mask and it lasts forever. These smell so amazing and they use really good and natural ingredients. Since these are mud masks, they dry out my skin a little so I have to moisturize heavily after I use them.

Next, I use two essential oils on my skin. I use Tea Tree Oil and dab it on any spots or areas prone to breakouts. It always clears up my skin quickly. I also use Lemon Oil on my skin. Lemon oil helps keep skin clear and bright. Lemon oil can reduce scarring from breakouts as well. I do not use lemon oil if I have used a scrub or exfoliator because it can burn. 2-3 drops is plenty. 

Before moisturizing, I spritz a little bit of this LUSH toner water to help my moisturizers sink in.

On my eyes, I use the Origins A Perfect World for Eyes and just dab this around my eye area and the delicate skin underneath. I love the smell of this whole range. It has white tea in it and vitamin A to firm the skin. 

My last step is to moisturize. Typically, I use my trusty Boots No 7 Beautiful Skin Hydration mask. I've talked about this before, so I won't go on too much about it, but I use a light layer of this as a nighttime moisturizer to moisturize my dry skin. 

Just before bed I dab a little of this Yu Be skin cream onto my lips so I can wake up in the morning with smooth and moisturized lips. I love this stuff!

What products are in your nighttime routine? Share them below so I can try them out!

For the Love of Makeup Wipes...

I LOVE makeup wipes. I fully depend on them. If I'm out of makeup removing wipes I make a mad-dash to Target no matter what time of day it is. I've been using them for years and while I do have my favorites, it's hard for me to turn down a makeup wipe. Here's why I love them...

Late nights. Makeup removing wipes are perfect when you're too tired to get up and wash your face. If you've been out late and you need to fall into bed immediately... they're a lifesaver. I keep a pack in my nightstand for nights when I've already gotten into bed but then remember I haven't taken off my makeup (the worst feeling ever). I used to think this is a horrible habit and that it would leave me terribly broken out in the morning, but it actually doesn't (more on that later).

Pre-face wash. When I wash my face, I typically like to remove my makeup before I use my facial cleanser. That way I know that my cleanser got to actually do some work on my skin, and it wasn't wasted simply removing my makeup. Sometimes I'll use a wipe to do this, sometimes a cleansing oil, etc.

Quick. I don't know about you, but I love the feeling of removing makeup. It doesn't bother me to have a full face of makeup on all day, but I enjoy the feeling of a freshly cleansed face. Especially in the summer. Sometimes if I get home from a long day or I come home and know I'm done for the day, I take off my makeup as soon as I get in. I just remove it with a wipe and then when I'm ready for bed I can cleanse and go through with my usual routine, but that way you don't have makeup sitting on your face for unnecessary lengths of time. This is a good idea when you're having a breakout. Let your skin breathe as much as possible. This is also handy sometimes when you're putting on makeup. Wipes can be useful to clean up liner or shadow or a mascara fleck. I also usually carry a pack of wipes in my yoga bag, so that if I come to yoga with makeup on, I can take it off before class to avoid running mascara/breakouts/etc.

I can't get away with using wipes as my ONLY cleanser, but I do find that they clean my skin well enough to stave off breakouts if I use them periodically. My favorite wipes at the moment are the Burt's Bees Facial Cleansing Towelettes with White Tea Extract. The towels have just enough liquid, they're not greasy, and the smell is really nice and fresh. I tried the Cucumber & Sage version and they were a little rough on my under-eye area, and I wasn't a fan of the smell. The Burt's Bees wipes are one of the cheapest options, which is (pleasantly) surprising because they're all natural. I also like the Simple Skincare Cleansing Facial Wipes. They're also all natural, have a non-offensive smell, and I like to formulation. For many years I used various Neutrogena wipes, but haven't gone back to them because they're usually the priciest and I've been enjoying my other options.

Do you ever rely on makeup wipes? Which are your favorites and how do you use them?


Products mentioned in this blog:
Burt's Bees Facial Cleansing Towelettes
Simple Skincare Cleansing Facial Wipes
Neutrogena Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelettes