Products I Love: Smith's Rose Salve Balm

I am obsessed with this lip balm. I have been using this for so long - I remember always having a tin of this when I was a little girl. When I rediscovered it years later in Sephora, I was dying for that minty rose scent again. I picked up the Rosebud Perfume Co.'s Minted Rose Lip Balm tin and have gone through several since then. It smells amazing, it's adds the slightest pink tint to my lips, it's very hydrating, and makes my lips look instantly soft and moisturized. 

When I was in Sephora again recently, I had already browsed through the mini items near the register and was actually on my way out when salve tube caught my eye. I had to go back and purchase the tube because I love the tin version so much but it's not as convenient or hygienic. Sephora calls it a "cult-favorite" and I have to agree; I have loved that balm for years and it's perfect for anyone at any age! 

I also love the packaging! It's very antique-looking and classic. The tin seals really tightly as well so it never gets dirty or opens up when it's floating around my handbag. These are both technically salves so they can be used for other things such as scrapes and burns, although I haven't tried them for anything other than dry or chapped lips. Their website claims that the salves can be used to tame unruly brows, flyaway hairs, to add a dewy finish on cheek bones, etc. 

The tin version definitely adds more shine and a bit more tint to my lips, but the tube is super easy to throw in my handbag and quickly apply some balm on the go. Also, I believe the tube is just rosebud scent rather than minted rose. I have to say I prefer the minted rose option, but I love the smell of roses and Rosebud Perfume Co. manages to capture the rose scent without it being overwhelming or too floral. These are perfect for everyday wear; they can be applied alone or on top of lipsticks or pencils to add a glossy finish. 

Like I mentioned, I picked both of these up at Sephora, but you can also find these (and tons of other products) on the Rosebud Perfume Co. website. I also have the strawberry lip balm and I love it as well. Again, it's a scent that reminds me of when I had this as a child. The tins go for $7 and the tube for $6 so they're super affordable and last forever! I have a feeling I will get through the tube much quicker since it's so easy to apply.

Have you tried any Rosebud Perfume Co. products? Do you regularly use salves? Let me know in the comments!

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?

October Obsession: Boots No 7 Beautiful Skin Hydration Mask

I have been using No 7 Beautiful Skin Hydration Mask from Boots everyday this month. I have always loved this product, but for some reason I've been obsessed with it throughout the month of October. I have the formula for dry/very dry skin and it hydrates my skin so much. I struggle with extremely dry skin especially on my face, and this mask solves my dry skin problems every time. It's meant to be a mask that you apply and then later remove, but it can also be used as a deep moisturizer. I apply a thin (actually, not so thin because I love it) layer to my skin and let it sink in overnight. When I wake up I never have any residue or a greasy feeling - my skin always drinks this stuff right up. Even if I use a cleanser for dry skin, I always feel much dryer at the end of the day after a shower or after washing my face. I apply this directly after cleansing or right before bed and it seems to cure my dry skin overnight.

I was reading through the reviews when I first purchased this product, and I noticed some people complained about the smell and about it tingling sensitive skin. I love the smell, I think it smells new and clean and it doesn't bother me at all; I don't ever find it offensive. I also haven't had any irritation problems with this. It's so silky and soothing that I can't imagine it would ever bother my skin. I would say I have sensitive skin, and I often find that certain products burn or irritate my skin, but this isn't one of them. I love the packing as well - you can dispense the desired amount of product, it stays clean, you can see how much you have left, and the pump works seamlessly. An all-around love for me!

I get mine at Target but you can also find it at Ulta and online at Boots. Your local drugstore like Walgreens or CVS may carry it as well.

Wintertime Dryness

It's officially fall (or Autumn, depending on where you live) and although it doesn't feel like it in Texas, cold weather is approaching. This is both good and bad news for me; good because I love cold weather, and bad because I have dry skin. When I say dry, I mean really dry. If I'm not on top of my moisturization routine, it's not a good situation. When dealing with dryness, flakiness, and peeling, there are a few steps you can take to ensure moisturized skin. These are my go-to products for dry skin care:

Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion

This is my everyday moisturizer. I put it on before applying makeup and I use it at night after my skincare routine. A little goes a long way so I think it's priced fairly. I keep a travel-sized tube of this in my nightstand and I use the large pump for my everyday use. They make a different version that's a "gel" for other skin types. 

Boots No 7 Beautiful Skin Hydration Mask

I rarely use this as a mask, but as a deep moisturizer. I apply a thin layer to my skin (in lieu of my regular moisturizer) and go to sleep. It's a little greasy so it wouldn't do well under makeup but its perfect overnight. When I was reading the reviews, a lot of users reported that they didn't like the smell, however, I don't mind it. It does have a clean/plastic smell to it but it isn't too strong so it doesn't bother me. I imagine if a thicker layer is applied as a mask, the smell would be stronger but I don't find the smell offensive. My skin drinks this up and it really helps moisturize my skin when I'm having a particularly dry day, or if I've just used a drying skincare product. 

LUSH Oatifix Fresh Face Mask

I love LUSH products and this face mask is one of my all time favorites. It's made with oatmeal, bananas, and vanilla, so it smells amazing! It's fresh and all natural so it needs to be refrigerated and it has an expiration date. I take it out of the fridge for about 10 minutes before I apply it so it's easier to spread. I apply a generous layer and leave it on for about 10-15 minutes. Then, I use a warm cloth to remove it and follow up with moisturizer. It's just over $6 and lasts for several applications. 

Yu-Be Moisturizing Skin Cream

This stuff means business. I use this on my lips when they're dry and cracked, my feet and any rough skin patches, and any severely dry areas on my face during winter. The smell is similar to Vicks, so it's not great but this moisturizer absorbs SO quickly that you won't even have time to be bothered by the smell. It's formulated specifically to absorb effectively into your skin and it definitely works. I keep a small tube in my nightstand to put on my lips before bed. When I've had this on all night, I wake up with super soft lips that have been totally restored. I also have the 2.5 oz. tub in my bathroom for feet, rough patches, cuticles, etc. It's perfect for anyone because it's non-greasy, absorbs quickly, and moisturizes deeply. I'm interested to try other products by Yu-Be. You can find this at Sephora. 

LUSH Breath of Fresh Air Toner

I usually run in the opposite direction of a toner. In my mind, a toner is an astringent and it usually dries my skin terribly. But, when I was in the LUSH store and tested out Breath of Fresh Air, I was hooked. It's a cross between a moisturizer primer and a refreshing spray. It contains rose and aloe, so it helps to soothe and moisturize skin. I spray this onto my face after cleansing, and immediately follow up with moisturizer while my skin is still damp. It's also nice in the summer, on a plane, or any other time you need a cool refresher. The huge bottle lasts forever and is reasonably priced. 

Vaseline Spray & Go Total Moisture

This is a body lotion in a spray bottle, that applies as a fine mist. Genius. You still have to rub it in, but it takes seconds and it's much more convenient than conventional lotion. I wasn't convinced that this could be moisturizing because it feels very thin and it's not at all greasy, but this moisturizes SO well that I can feel its effects for days after applying. I like the smell and my favorite part about it is that it disappears quickly with absolutely no greasy residue. You can apply this after a shower and hop right into bed without sticking to everything. The spray is continuous and it can be sprayed upside down, so it's convenient for the entire body.

Last, but not least: water. If you're dehydrated, you can bet your skin is, too. I can tell immediately when I'm dehydrated from my lips, and later, from my skin. It's important to drink plenty of water for many reasons, but dry skin is one of them. If you struggle with dry skin, try upping your water intake and see how your skin improves. 

I'm always trying moisturizing products, so leave your favorites below so I can try them, too!