Spring Blush: MAC Fleur Power Satin Blush

It's finally Spring time! I love Spring - I love the weather, the flowers, and the colors that we typically associate with the season. While I love Fall & Winter, I'm always really happy to break out the pastel nail polishes, bright blushes, and sandals when the weather starts to warm up! This is one of my favorite MAC blushes: Fleur Power. You can probably already tell by the name that it's perfect for Spring & Summer!

I think this is a really great choice for fair skin. It's also a great neutral if you're wearing a bright lip color as it doesn't really clash with much. It's a nice orange-y peach but it's natural enough to wear with other corals, pinks, peaches, and even red lip colors. As with most MAC blushes, a little bit goes a long way. This is a satin finish, so it's not exactly matte but it definitely doesn't have a shimmer. To me, this is the ultimate Spring blush color. Pink, orange, and peach all seem like essential Spring colors. 

As you can see in the swatch above, it's a really beautiful color but very subtle and natural. I love to pair this with Benefit High Beam when I want to brighten up my cheeks even more. However,  I usually wear this on its own without a bronzer or contour because I think it's so pretty that it deserves the spotlight. Because it's not super bright, it provides a tiny bit of a contour, too. With a little highlight on the tops of the cheek bones, this is my favorite spring time look. This would be suitable for natural makeup looks, too. 

What are your favorite MAC blushes? Which products do you love to bring out again when Spring returns? Post your favorite Spring products below!

Products I Love: BeautyBlender & BlenderCleanser

I'm in love with my beauty blender!! I was holding out for quite a while and using off-brand (Sephora, Ulta, etc.) beauty sponges, and I did NOT know what I was missing. This has totally changed the look of my makeup, particularly my foundation. It blends foundation, tinted moisturizer, concealer, and whatever else seamlessly and it's amazing on my dry skin. I know I'm a little late to the party on this one, but if you're like me and you've been holding out because of the hype or the price, I'm telling you it's worth it! It's definitely not your average makeup sponge. I guess it's the material they used, but its so soft and bouncy and it just blends foundation so well and pushes it directly into your skin instead of smearing it around. I have been using mine for a few months now and I still love it so much.

I rinse it out before using and just squeeze most of the water out - leaving it a little bit damp. I dot my foundation onto my skin and then use the damp sponge to blend it in. Then, I repeat the same steps with my concealer. I use the larger end for foundation and the larger parts of my face and the tapered end for under eye concealer so I can easily blend it under my eyes and in the inner corners. 

I got mine at Sephora for around $20 and it has lasted me several months. I just recently picked up the BlenderCleanser Solid which is actually just a little bar of soap formulated for the beauty blender. It's supposedly safe to use with it because it doesn't damage the material. I have heard that if you try to use regular soap or brush cleaner, it can dissolve the material and take chunks out of the sponge. I was a little hesitant to buy the soap, I actually thought to just buy a whole new beauty blender instead (it's only about $5 more), but I picked up a sample with my VIB points and it cleans the sponge SO well! After I was finished washing it, it looked brand new. Definitely worth buying, and you could (and probably should) clean it bi-weekly or so and your beauty blender will probably stay in really good condition.

Have you caved and tried this famous sponge? Let me know your favorite foundation-application methods below and how you clean your makeup sponges!

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

Disappointing Product: Maybelline Dream Lumi Touch highlighting concealer

Sorry, Maybelline, I still love you... but this product was a miss for me. I picked up the Dream Lumi Touch highlighting concealer hoping it would be a similar product (maybe even a dupe) to the YSL Touche Eclat, which is a pricey $41. The Dream Lumi Touch is around $8 so I thought I'd give it a try. I was pretty disappointed with the product. Disclaimer: I have not yet mustered the strength to splurge on the YSL original, so I can't compare the two. I can only tell you what I thought about the Maybelline version on its own - compared only to my thoughts on how it should or is supposed to look. The YSL touche éclat is definitely on my wish list, but a major splurge item. 

There are tons of Maybelline products that I love, but I do find it hit and miss with skin products sometimes. I believe this is solely because of my skin tone. Maybelline tends to be on the warmer side of the spectrum and a lot of their face products can be too warm or too orange on my skin. This is no fault of the brand, it just simply doesn't work as well as some other brands with my skin tone. That being said, I still have several Maybelline foundations, concealers, powders, etc. that do work with my skin and look great. 

The shade I picked out is a pink-toned highlighting color. I knew I would be using this as a highlight rather than a concealer. I understand the same is true with the YSL product - it's not so much an under-eye concealer as it is a highlighting pen - meant to highlight, not necessarily cover up. Because I had read reviews on the touche éclat, I went for a pinky/salmon shade rather than a normal "ivory" shade because I wanted to test this out as a YSL dupe, rather than just another under eye concealer. I was planning to use this on my cheekbones as a creamy highlighting product.

My first complaint is the packaging. I'm not a big fan of the twist-up brush applicators. As you can see in the photo, things get messy pretty quickly. The packaging also felt very light and cheap, which is probably true as it only costs $8. Also, I had to twist forever to get any product to come out. Another reason I hate this sort of packaging is because you can't tell how much product you're dispensing. I might twist 5 times and get nothing... so I twist another 5 times and tons of concealer comes spewing out. My advice is twist slowly and be patient. The color is my second complaint. I know I chose a rosy shade (radiant 310), but it's much too pink. It comes off as a salmon color that's a little too orange and a little too pink. It just doesn't look good on my skin. I think I could possibly make the shade work better if it had a different formulation, but the consistency of the product is my biggest and final complaint. It's thick and dry... it doesn't blend well or easily and it ends up just being a cakey mess. You can see the lines where the highlight ends and your skin begins. It never seems to blend in seamlessly no matter what application method I try. 

You may be able to tell just from the photo how it settles into fine lines, looks thick and cakey, and doesn't have the right silky consistency that these type of products need to look good. You can also see the color here - it's a very bold salmon color that just isn't flattering on my skin tone. I have not tried any other shades of this product simply because I wasn't a fan of the formulation, but I could have just picked the wrong shade for my coloring. Maybe I should have gone with my trusty "ivory" pick, instead. I don't think I'll be finishing this product as I can't figure out a way to use it that works. 

Have you tried the Dream Lumi Touch highlighter? What were your thoughts? I'm also open to other drug store highlighting pen suggestions! I will still keep the YSL touche éclat on my list - let me know your thoughts on that as well! Is it worth the splurge?! Let me know in the comments!

Until next time! xoxo

MAC bronzing powder & Sigma F05 Brush Reviews

MAC Bronzing Powder in "Golden" & Sigma Small Contour F05 Brush

Bronzer can be really tricky when you have fair skin. It takes a lot of trial and error to find the perfect one, and when you do - you tend to stick to it. I have been using this bronzing powder by MAC for years, and I always come back to it. It is probably my holy-grail bronzer. As always, the quality is very good and it's just formulated really nicely. I don't use a lot of bronzers, but this has always been a staple in my makeup drawer. It's not matte, but it isn't shimmery either. It has a glow to it, but it's subtle enough that this can still be used as a contour shade. I use this not only as a cheek bone contour  but all over my face, too. Golden is the lightest shade, and it's the perfect color for my skin tone. I struggle to find a good bronzer because they're always much too dark and I have to dip my brush in very lightly, be sure to dust off most of the product, and then blend like crazy to make sure it doesn't look scary. I also struggle with finding bronzers that don't show up orange. In my opinion, an orange face is one of the biggest makeup faux pas. This is light, but buildable. I start off with just a little, and if I wanted a more intense contour, or to add more color to my face, I can build up the color to be pretty dark. I definitely see myself continuing to repurchase this - even if I try out other products, it's nice to have this as a trusted back-up. On darker skin tones, this would give a really nice glow all over the skin, perfect in the summer. 

I recently placed an order with Sigma specifically for a small counter brush. I found the F05 small contour brush and knew it would be perfect. I'm a big fan of Sigma brushes - I always check their website before I look anywhere else. They are really high quality brushes - right up there with MAC brushes, but they're a fraction of the price. Literally, they are half the price of MAC brushes. This small contour brush is $21 which, in my mind, is still a lot to spend on one makeup brush. The MAC version of this particular brush is a whopping $35. I still think the $21 was a splurge, but I had really been wanting a small brush with this exact shape just for contouring, which is something I do quite a lot, so I felt it would be worth it. As usual, I was not let down! I love this brush - it's perfect for contouring. It gets right into the hollow space under my cheekbone for a really precise application. As with all Sigma brushes, it's super soft and never sheds. Another perk about shopping with Sigma is that they always have a promotion or sale going on. Free shipping? Yes, please!

These two products are a match made in heaven. I have been using them together daily and have a feeling they will be making their way into my January favorites! What are your favorite bronzers? I would love to try out a good drugstore bronzing powder. Let me know in the comments!

Until next time... xoxo



PS - Don't forget to check out my "52 Books in 52 Weeks" book giveaway! 

Foundation Friday: Laura Mercier, Revlon, & NARS

#FoundationFriday

I wanted to put the spotlight on these foundations that I've been loving recently. There's something for every skin type and every budget. I've tried and tested these so that I'm able to do a complete review on them and share with you exactly why I love them so much. If you're looking to change up your foundation routine in the new year - this post is for you. You won't be disappointed with these fab foundation options.

I wanted to start out with the most affordable option - the Revlon Nearly Naked foundation is a beloved staple I've used for quite a while. For just around $10 (1 oz.), this is super affordable, which makes it the easiest to try out. It has very light but buildable coverage - one layer will give you a really natural finish, but you can add another layer or two in any areas where you like more coverage. This never cakes or clings to dry patches and it always looks like natural skin. I have this in the shade "ivory," which is their lightest shade. I love Revlon's color ranges, especially if you are fair. Their "ivory" shade is a perfect match for my skin at its palest and never looks orange or too dark. This could easily be your new "everyday" foundation. If you have oily skin, you can set this with your favorite setting powder for all-day lasting power. If you're like me and have dry skin, this on it's own has great staying power and never breaks up or sticks to dry skin after a long day.

NARS Sheer Glow foundation is a fan favorite - I was a little late to jump on the bandwagon but I'm glad I finally did! This goes for around $45 (1 oz.) at Sephora, so it's definitely pricier than my drugstore favorites, but I think the quality matches the price. The packaging is really luxurious and nice (you can purchase a pump for an additional $6) and the formula truly feels like a nice high-end foundation. It's smooth and creamy, but it has a thin consistency so it's still sheer and perfect for dryer skin types. I use this in the shade Siberia and it's a good match for my skin tone. This foundation (or, at least, this particular shade) has very yellow undertones to it. This is really nice if you suffer from redness or have pink-toned skin. This helps even out my skin to give me a neutral complexion and it masks any redness (including redness from breakouts). If you have oily skin, there's a sheer matte option. This doesn't ever irritate my skin as it's fragrance-free and non-comedogenic. A little bit of this foundation goes a long way and it can get cakey if you apply too much. If you do apply too much on the first application, don't set it with a powder, use a damp beauty blender and give it some time to sink into your skin. After it oxidizes and settles, it looks much more natural. I will definitely repurchase this when it runs out (which will be a while since a little goes such a long way) and it pairs perfectly with the NARS radiant creamy concealer. I apply this a little at a time with a damp beauty blender and sometimes set my under eye area with a translucent setting powder.

Laura Mercier Smooth Finish Flawless Fluide has easily become my all-time favorite foundation. This was definitely a splurge at $48 (1 oz.), but I really love it. It's oil-free but it has "reflective waters" that add a glow to the formula so it looks really nice and dewy on dry skin. This is packaged in a sort of tube that you have to really shake well to mix up the "two part formula." I shake this for a good 10 seconds before I apply it. The only thing I'm not a fan of is the packaging - when you open it, because the foundation is thin, it leaks into the cap and you lose some of the product. Sometimes it squirts out after shaking, too. That being said, the formulation more than makes up for the packaging. It looks so beautiful on - I get compliments every time I wear this and it really does give a flawless finish. I use it in the shade "creme" and it's a good match for my skin. Again, it's lightweight but you can apply several layers to add coverage. I don't use this everyday because it's the priciest of my foundation options, but it's perfect for a night out or special occasions. It's definitely worth the price, in my opinion. It's also the slimmest out of the 3, so it would be perfect to throw in a makeup bag or for traveling. Before you buy - make sure to test out the shades, as I thought I would be the lightest (as usual) but actually went for the 3rd shade as it matched my skin tone better. The range is not necessarily sorted from lightest to darkest.

Are you a fan of any of these foundations? What are your #FoundationFriday favorites? Let me know below!

Until next time! xoxo

Review: Sephora Collection Perfecting Ultra-Smoothing Primer

I don't usually use primers (other than the L'Oreal Magic Lumi Light Infusing Primer when I need an added glow), but I picked this up before a big event because I wanted my makeup to look good in photographs and really achieve that flawless face look. This Sephora Collection primer creates a perfectly smooth surface by smoothing over fine lines, wrinkles, etc. to allow your foundation to glide over skin and sit nicely on skin, rather than settling into any fine lines. This really does make my foundation look ultra-smooth and perfect. I don't feel like this is a product I need daily, as I don't usually wear makeup for prolonged periods and since I'm not oily, my foundation doesn't typically slide around on my face. However, this is really handy for an event or special occasion or any time when you need your foundation to stay in place and look flawless and silky all day and night. I paid around $15 for this half ounce bottle and it will definitely last me a while. I use about half of a pea-sized amount for my entire face. 

Again, I don't typically reach for primers unless there's something specific that I'm looking to achieve. For day-to-day foundation wear, I wouldn't use a primer, but this is affordable and effective enough to be used daily if that's something you need in your makeup routine. It's a really nice silky, velvety consistency, blends easily into the skin and does all that it claims to. There are a few other varieties that Sephora offers for anti-shine and other issues, but this seems to be the standard option. It's packaged nicely in a sleek bottle with an airless pump and secure lid so it won't leak. It's paraben free and can be used all over the face, including eyelids, so it can double as an eyeshadow primer. 

I would definitely recommend this if you're in the market for an everyday or all-purpose primer that's affordable and really works! I have tried several Sephora Collection products and I've been happy with them all so far. 

What's your favorite primer? Do you use a primer daily or only on certain occasions? Let me know in the comments!

Until next time! xoxo

Disappointing Products: Clinique Take the Day Off Cleansing Oil

I recently made a trip to Sephora to pick up some skincare items for a special event I had coming up. I love Clinique and wanted a few skincare products - some I've tried and loved and some I have not yet tried out. As you know, I'm a sucker for cleansing oils. A while back, before I was into cleansing oils, I remember Tanya Burr mentioning a Clinique "Take the Day Off" cleansing balm. I kept that recommendation in the back of my mind and when I was at Sephora last week, I decided to finally check out the range. Included in the Take the Day Off range is a cleansing oil. Obviously, I had to try it. 

Clinique take the day off cleansing oil

This pains me to say it was a disappointing product because I absolutely love Clinique products - especially their skincare. Unfortunately, I was really disappointed by this product and cannot continue to use it. I love the formula - it's so silky and smooth and it really dissolves makeup quickly and completely. There's no obnoxious smell and at first, I was really pleased with the oil. However, as soon as I began to remove my eye makeup, it started to sting my eyes pretty badly. I realize this will not be a problem for everyone - as different products react differently with each person, but it was so intense that I definitely won't be using it again. I'm sad that I have to return this. I'm not sure if there's a particular ingredient in this formula that isn't in my other cleansing oils, but this does seem to be a lot less natural than The Body Shop version. I ended up with red, watery eyes that stung all night.

Although the ingredients didn't agree with me, I thought the name of this range was really cute and unique. I definitely want my evening skincare products to "take the day off" and leave my skin feeling fresh and clean. I also love the packaging. I wish all cleansing oils would take note of this! The pump lid twists into a locked position so that it doesn't leak (perfect for traveling). It's also in a pretty translucent purple bottle which looks nice and would be suitable to be displayed on a bathroom counter. It's definitely the best packaging out of all the oils I've tried. If this didn't burn my eyes it would be a definite winner. 

Even though this product isn't for me, it hasn't put me off Clinique. Some of my favorite skincare products are made by Clinique and I will continue to try out their other lines. I don't think I'll be trying any more from this particular range, but my quest for the perfect cleansing oil will continue! Another thing to consider if you're looking to try this product is the price. It's the priciest oil so far - going for $27 for 6.7 oz. The Garnier oil is the cheapest at just under $8 for 4.2 oz., and The Body Shop oil goes for $18 for an even larger (6.75 oz.) bottle. 

Have you tried this oil or any other products from the "take the day off" range? If so, let me know your thoughts in the comments. As always, I'm still accepting recommendations for other cleansing oils!

Until next time! xoxo

The Body Shop Camomile Cleansing Oil: Review

I ordered this cleansing oil based off of a recommendation from Amelia Liana. I have been using the Garnier Cleansing Oil for many months and I love it. I like to remove my makeup before cleansing so I can be sure that my cleanser is working to clean my skin rather than just remove my makeup. A cleansing oil is really great option for me because I have dry skin and it gently but thoroughly removes makeup without stripping my skin or drying it out.

The Body Shop Camomile Silky Cleansing Oil is more than double the price of the Garnier version (Garnier cleansing oil retails for around $8) but is still affordable at $18. I use 3-4 pumps of this every evening to remove a full face of makeup, so both bottles will probably last my quite a while. I like the smell of the oil - it smells just like camomile tea. Comparing it to the Garnier version, the camomile cleansing oil is a bit more viscous and I find it melts and removes makeup better and quicker. I have noticed that this formulation very very slightly stings my eyes sometimes, but nothing too crazy and it never leaves me with red eyes or any irritation. Once I wipe it away I don't experience any discomfort. That's my only complaint about the product. I definitely feel that it removes makeup quicker than the Garnier oil and it feels very silky and luxurious on my skin. I have also noticed that The Body Shop Oil bottle does not leak. My Garnier oil leaks all over the counter and sits in a puddle of oil where I store it. It makes a big mess so I do like the packaging of this oil much better. I'm not sure if I would repurchase it just because there are so many other cleansing oil options - with the Garnier oil I can even open my eyes without any irritation, so I will probably keep trying other oils until I find my favorite. I still use this every night and will probably finish off the bottle, but I don't see myself repurchasing it at this time.

This oil is made with Fair Trade camomile, which is a nice bonus. It also claims to be for all skin types, not just dry skin. It definitely feels less greasy and it moisturizes but doesn't leave skin with any greasy residue. If you're looking to try out a cleansing oil, I would definitely recommend it, especially if you have dry or easily irritated skin. Either the Body Shop or the Garnier oils are really good at removing makeup and are affordable enough to try out - everyone is different and everyone's skin will react differently to the formulations. I love The Body Shop products and will continue to use them!

What are your favorite cleansing oils? Have you experienced any eye irritation with The Body Shop's oil? Let me know in the comments!

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!

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?

Benefit 'They're Real!' Review (Mascara & Liner)

     This summer, Benefit launched their "They're Real!" range. It includes a mascara, push-up liner, and eye makeup remover. I purchased the mascara and liner from Sephora in August and I wanted to share my review of them with you. These products have received tons of reviews and most of them seem to be positive. If you haven't jumped on the bandwagon yet, read my review and you can decide for yourself.

Benefit 'They're Real!' Mascara - I have really loved this mascara. I'm usually not a fan of plastic brushes, but this mascara has changed my mind. It's not only a plastic brush, but it has some bristles on the tip of the brush so that you can use the wand vertically as well. This is great for outer lashes and the inner corner. I love the formulation of this mascara, too. It's a thin consistency and it separates lashes, but mostly, it adds serious length. It really gives the appearance that you're wearing false lashes. One coat of this is plenty, and I even like it for bottom lashes since it's waterproof. It's priced perfectly at $23; I will definitely repurchase when it's used up! 

Benefit 'They're Real!' Push-Up Liner - I'm sorry to say I hated this product so much I returned it immediately. The concept has potential... I like the idea of the flexible chisel tip, but the consistency of the liner was way too thick. It was really difficult to apply and I wasn't able to ever get the wing right. The liner was too thick so it was difficult to apply accurately and ended up being clumpy and all over the place. It seems like you have to push some liner out and then wipe it on the back of your hand to get rid of the excess product. When I tried to clean up my mistakes, I could not get it off. I had to dig around for all different kinds of eye makeup remover until I found one that could remove this and even then I had to scrub. I don't like anything that's too difficult to take off my eyes because the skin around the eyes is so sensitive and delicate I hate to agitate it. I put this liner back into its box and returned it the next day. I have read reviews saying it took some time to get used to, but I just couldn't handle the consistency long enough to get better at application. Maybe I was too impatient but this was a very disappointing product. If you DO end up purchasing, I would definitely try out the makeup remover also, because it's impossible to get off otherwise. The liner goes for $24 at Sephora.