bubbles and beauty

Jouer Champagne and Macarons Collection Swatches!

2020-07-27T12:03:00.000-04:00

Hi guysss I am back! And today with a seriously gorgeous collection. If you guys even KNOW MEEEE -- you know I'm a complete natural, neutral kinda girl.. so this collection is a no brainer I LOVE THEM kinda collection. This collection features 2 face palettes and 4 lip products and it is just divine! And check down below for a coupon code from Jouer!

Here are the swatches below:

For the lip shades Top to Bottom:
Sheer Lip Gloss in Parisienne $17 (Sheer Warm Pink)
Sheer Lip Gloss in Feministe $17 (Sheer Cool Pink)
Shimmer Lip Gloss in Pearl $17 (Opal with Pink Iridescence)
Shine Balm in Champagne Kiss $18 (Shimmering Champagne)

I honestly have always loved their sheer lip gloss formula and these do not disappoint. They have a slight vanilla fragrance and is packed with nourishing ingredients like jojoba oil, vitamin e, and coconut oil. The pigment is obviously sheer, but it gives the perfect kiss of color for those that need just a little boost. The shine balms are also some of my favorite formulas if you want some nourishing color without the extra gloss. I'm not a huge fan of shimmer or glitter, but if you are, definitely check these out! I adore their lip products because my lips feel AMAZING after I put them on (and my lips are legit like the desert)

The two face palettes from Top to Bottom:
Sweet Cheeks Palette $34 (Citrine, shimmering gold // romance me, matte nude peach // delight me, shimmering pink // suntan bronzer, neutral tan)

Sweet Crush Palette $34 (Skinny Dip, shimmering golden peach // Charm Me, Matte coral // Tempt me, shimmering burgundy // Sungaze Bronzer, rich cocoa)

Both of these palettes are STUNNING and honestly a one stop shop. I naturally gravitate toward the sweet cheeks as its a gorgeous natural palette with options! They are extremely pigmented and blendable -- so although the sweet crush palette is much deeper, it can still be wearable for all skintones. The formula of these palettes are just like their blush and bronzers - super easy to use and wear. Buttery, blendable, and buildable -- the perfect trio!

Overall this collection is stunning. Honestly, it doesn't have anything new or groundbreaking, but it's one of those collections where you think -- OH that's pretty and now it's all in one place. I need it! I would definitely recommend the palettes and the sheer lip glosses (my particular favorite is parisienne!)

You can purchase these products at the Jouer website or sephora -- but I recommend getting it from the Jouer website and using the COUPON CODE: CM-JESSICA4 for 20% off! You cannot beat the price!!!! I think I may pick up some more glosses! :P

Thank you Jouer for sending over this collection to me! All are always my honest opinions. :)

New!! Drunk Elephant Hair + Body Line!

2020-04-20T17:52:00.000-04:00

I've been WAITING for these products to come into my life-- and I was so excited when Drunk Elephant sent these my way. I've been trying these products (except the deodorant) for over 2 weeks and I'm ready to give you my thoughts! :D I have sensitive but oily scalp (that flakes like crazyy) and my hair is thick, dry and frizzy. lol. It's the weirdest and worst mix!

Here is a breakdown of each product!

--Before I go into the breakdown-- I should let you know that the whole line of products has a sweet almond smell. It's one of those smells that's nostalgic for me so I'm obsessed with it -- but wanted to put that out there incase any one is sensitive to smells!

T.L.C. Happi Scalp Scrub $36 for 6 fl oz: This is one of the best scalp scrubs I've tried before. This has an AHA/BHA acid blend to break down and dissolve dead skin and buildup while also using plant cellulose exfoliating beads. (Perfect blend of chemical and physical exoliation!) You use this by putting this directly on your scalp before you shower and leave in for 10 minutes.. then wash hair.

Usually scalp scrubs are very difficult to get into my scalp because I have a lot of hair, so it ends up usually in my hair and never reaches my scalp. I love that this has a little nozzle to get right into your scalp. They recommend parting your hair, putting the product, rub - the repeat all over your head. It was a bit time consuming to put it on my scalp, but completely worth it. 1 minute in, I can feel all the AHA/BHA working in my scalp to break down all the gunk with a slight tingly sensation (so be careful sensitive scalp folks!). It felt SO good. 10 minutes later, I shampooed and showered and my scalp felt GREAT. I highly highly recommend this -- I already picked up a back up from the Sephora sale!

Cocomino Glossing Shampoo and Marula Cream Conditioner $25 each for 8 fl oz each: These two are a match made in heaven -- but you must.. i repeat you MUST purchase them together!! When I first used the shampoo, it made my hair feel so darn clean -- so clean that you DO NOT need to repeat your shampoo process (so you don't need as much as standard shampoos) - but also to the point where it almost felt squeaky and knotty. THEN.. you put in that conditioner and your hair TRANSFORMS into SILK. I couldn't believe it - no combination of products have ever made my hair feel so silky before. Using this for over 6 times, I can tell you, my hair feels so clean, healthy and strong after using these in conjunction with the scalp scrub. I would not use either product on its own (as i feel the shampoo makes my hair feel too squeaky and the conditioner makes my hair too glossy), but together it makes the perfect balance for one another.

Wild Marula Tangle Spray $25 for 4 fl oz: I was most surprised about this product because I don't tend to use any sort of tangle spray or smoothing sprays but I was surprised that I loved this product so much. This is a heat protectant/detangler/smoother/antistatic product all in one. When I used it, it did make my hair shinier and smoother - but my favorite part of it all was that it didn't feel heavy like my hair usually does when I put on antifrizz products!

Kamili Cream Body Cleanser $20 for 8 fl oz: Don't get me wrong - I liked this. I liked that it is a super mild gentle cleanser with plant oils and amino acids to replenish and sooth my skin. It worked beautifully on my skin and felt amazing and moisturizing without feeling like my skin was stripped clean. I would say if you have the money - definitely go for it. However, if you don't - I do feel like they have similar gentle, amazing items on the market for a fraction of the cost. I will use this product and use it well, but I probably will not repurchase this.

Sili Body Lotion $20 for 8 fl oz: This was another product that surprised me because I tend to like thick luxurious lotions where I have to sit and let the product sink in. This was completely opposite of that - this was a lightweight moisturizer that literally sinks RIGHT into your skin. No greasy residue, no trace of lotion on your skin except extremely hydrated skin. It's packed with nourishing plant oils, and butters, squalane, strengthening amino acids, a reparative 5 ceramide blend and barrier supportive sodium PCA. Whoa, that's a lot of stuff - but I can definitely see this being one of my summer staples for sure. I love how it feels on my skin - and my skin loves how it feels after I use it!

Sweet Pitti Deodorant Cream $16 for 2 fl oz: Sorry, but being in quarantine I haven't even THOUGHT to put on deodorant even though I've been working out every day lol! This is a cream deodorant formulated to sooth and moisturize underarms and I cannot wait to try this out!!

Overall, I think this was a great step for Drunk Elephant to branch out to these fun hair and body lines. Products I will definitely be repurchasing are the scrub (which I already did!) and when I'm feeling luxurious - I may pick up the shampoo/conditioner and spray. While I love most of the products, some products I just feel like aren't worth the heavy price tag for what it is.. although if you've got the money to purchase it, it's definitely worth a try!

You can purchase these items at drunkelephant or at sephora. :) Happy Shopping!

**Thank you so much to Drunk Elephant for sending me over these goodies! I have been so excited using all these products!!!

It Cosmetics Bye Bye Pores Leave-On Solution Toner Review

2019-10-18T11:26:00.002-04:00

haiii friends!

Long time no post -- I apologize! it's been pretty crazy with the start of a new school year and a new set of students! However, I've still been trying a TON of skincare and fun things.

I recently tried the new It Cosmetics Bye Bye Pores Leave-On Solution Pore Refining Toner (that is a mouthful) and I SEE IT COMING THROUGH!

If you haven't heard of this product, it is one of their new toners that works to mattify and smooth skin as well as minimizing the look of pores. Some stand out ingredients that it contains are kaolin clay, silk and coconut water. This is a toner that is meant for my more oily skinned friends!!!

I purchased this back in September when my skin was hella oily and it was still very warm. I naturally already have clogged and kinda gross pores (not proud of it) and my skin looks so greasy by the end of the day you might be able to fry an egg on it.

The first time I tried it, it is a nice thin milky liquid. I shook up the product and put it on a cotton pad. And seriously --

INSTANT mattification stuff going on. It kept my skin from becoming too oily throughout the day as well. From that alone, it was pretty impressive to me. Within a couple days, my pores started to shrink. With the addition of a good exfoliator, my pores started to look real decent! So impressed with this!

The downside is that this is a product for a very specific demographic -- oily girls. As the weather is beginning to change, my skin is also changing with it. It is becoming more sensitive with dry patches, and isn't as oily anymore.. and I find that it does give a little sting to my face. Although the product still works fine, I think that using a more hydrating toner would be more beneficial for my skin at this time.

I would say, if you fit the bill -- definitely pick this up. If you are combo/oily or oily, have big pores, have a greasy face, you will LOVE this product and definitely give it a try! At $34 for 6.8oz, it's a great product!!!

Are you a fellow oily girl and gonna try this?! You can pick this up at Sephora + ItCosmetics

Jouer Lip Enhancer Shine Balm Review + Swatches

2019-08-20T12:25:00.003-04:00

I've been dying to try these since I was away this summer and I finally got to get my hands on these and boy, did these not disappoint! These are glossy and shiny and I'm loving this easy, on the go product!

The Jouer Lip Enhancer Shine Balm comes in 6 different shades at $18 per balm. If you order off of Jouer's website, there is always a 15% off code (CZoff I believe) that Christina (founder of Jouer) always offers. That means each lip balm ends up being $15.30.

In this six shade range, it ranges from a clear shade to a deep berry shade. Many of the shades lie in the neutral, wearable, every day shades. Personally, I love this mix - one clear, 3 neutrals, a red and a berry. I think the only thing that might have been missing is a brighter pink (but I don't care for those, so I"m happy with these shades! lol)

Below are the swatches and the shades on my lips:

L-R: Naturel (Translucent Light Pink), Peony (Tinted Peachy Pink), Amaryllis (Tinted Warm Brown Nude), Rose (Tinted Warm Pink), Poppy (Tinted Warm Red), Dahlia (Tinted Deep Berry)

Naturel

Peony

Rose

Amaryllis

Poppy

Dahlia

Here are my thoughts on these balms:

Packaging: Its a beautiful, weighty packaging with a standard twist up product. Each package has a different (and beautiful) floral gold design. So far I've have no problems with it -- and it definitely feels more luxurious than that price point.

Moisturization: This is a definite YASSS! These are super hydrating and balmy despite the fact that they are tinted. It helps my lips reduce flakes and they do feel plumper after I use it.

Texture: The texture is more slippery than I thought it would be. It is a shine balm, so it adds LOTS of shine which I think can attribute to the slip. It's not thick or heavy, but leaves your lips feelings really nice and moisturized.

Pigmentation: I was pretty pleasantly surprised by how buildable the pigmentation is. Usually for tinted balms its either you get moisture or you get color, and this you definitely get both! Although it's not like full on the color of the tube, it gives you the perfect tint.

Lasting ability: Like most balms, this lasted 1-2 hours before it faded, however it's easy to reapply and keep in your bag. Some of the darker shades left a bit of a stain and left my lips hydrated even after the lip product was gone.

Overall, I'm loving these! I think that these are perfect for every day wear and that dahlia shade is going to be my go to shade for the fall and winter!!! For the price, I think it was worth every penny! I happen to pick them up at a bundle price which actually made them $13 and some change. I'm SO happy I picked them all up because I seriously am in love with every shade!

You can purchase yours on the jouer website or at sephora!
Which shade is your favorite?

Hourglass Unreal Volumizing Lip Gloss Swatches and Review

2019-07-16T10:25:00.001-04:00

WHY AREN'T THESE ALL OVER THE INTERNET!!??

I guess the idea of lip glosses isn't something brand new or trending, and in all honesty, this type of product isn't something so incredibly new... but it's basically all the things you love about a lip gloss in one.

Here's the Hourglass Unreal Volumizing Lip Gloss! Just a bit about the product: It has .2oz of product for $30, so it is considered a luxury item. Hourglass also says:

An innovative formula infused with powerful active ingredients for rich hydration and a long-lasting look of volume. With supernatural volume and ethereal shine, lips appear fuller without the sting of traditional lip plumpers. Light-reflecting shimmer and brilliant luster give multidimensional shine that’s unreal. Unreal Volumizing High Shine Lip Gloss is available in 18 high-shine shades.

It also has: *Volulip™ and Hyaluronic Acid: Delivers rich moisture to enhance the look of lips’ natural shape for long-lasting volume. *Shea Butter and Avocado Oil: Hydrates lips.

Below are the swatches of the shades I have:

L-R: Halo, Provoke, Solar, Canvas, Icon

Halo - clear with gold shimmer

Solar - coral with gold pearl

Provoke - mauve nude

Canvas - true rose

Icon - blue red

Here are my thoughts:

Packaging: The packaging is in any standard lip gloss package. It does feel weighty and luxurious with a golden cap. I love the round but flat doe foot applicator that really allows to carry a lot of gloss in one go. It almost looks like a paddle, so it's able to conform to my cupids bow as well!

Formula: is SO SMOOTH! It's NOT sticky at all and feels thick enough to feel hydrating and luxurious, but not too thick that it feels overwhelming. It has a bit of a minty flavor to it to help "plump" your lips, but it's not overwhelming or stinging. It's incredibly comfortable on the lips!

Moisture: This is SO moisturizing! I got a sunburn on my lips the other day and didn't have anything else but this gloss in my bag, so I used it, and it really did hydrate my lips so nicely! With shea butter, avoid oil and hyaluronic acid, there's no doubt this product hydrates ur lips nicely!

Pigmentation: I mean - LOOK AT THEM! They give just the right amount of pigmentation for a gloss. The neutral colors are not fully opaque, but you can still SEE the colors for a while. Then you have the bold colors that are -- well, as you can see in Icon ... bold!

Lasting ability: I would say they last as any standard lip gloss. It was about 2-3 hours before I had to reapply.

Overall: LOVE. If you have an extra $30 lying around, I definitely recommend trying this product out. Although it's not a super new type of product, they really perfected the lip gloss formula to give you everything you've ever needed! Like.... I'm waiting for the 20% off sales so I can pick up more!!! :P

Thank you Hourglass for sending me some of these! :)

Drunk Elephant Reformulated LALA Retro with Ceramides!

2019-07-02T22:17:00.000-04:00

GOSH -- guys, when I heard they were reformulating LaLa Retro, I was a bit freaked out! I (along with so many people) loveee this cult favorite product. It's a great staple moisturizer for me during the winter month when my skin needs a bit more moisture and love.

The original LaLa Retro is a whipped moisturizer that is a blend of six African oils and locks in intense moisture. It also has plantain extract (to brighten skin), sodium hyaluronate cross polymer to release long lasting hydration and antioxidant rich fermented green tea and omega acids to combat aging. Personally for me, I lived off of this moisturizer during the winter months. It kept my eczema from flaring up because the texture was lightweight but extremely hydrating.

Now insert my freak out when I heard they were reformulating it. WHY!? I asked. lol. According to Allure, Tiffany Masterson, the brand founder said:

"I believe there is always room for improvement," the brand's founder, Tiffany Masterson, tells Allure. "When it occurred to me that ceramides needed a more prominent place in my line, I decided to add them to a product that was already great instead of making a whole new product. I didn’t know I could like it [Lala Whipped Retro Cream] more, but I do."

Here is the new formulation of the LaLa Retro (with Ceramides) that I received from the Drunk Elephant Pop Up Shop!

So this product apparently is the SAME formula as the original LaLa Retro, but now has added ceramides. According to Drunk Elephant's instagram, they said the new formula has the power of plant ceramides AP, EOP and NP. (I honestly have no clue what that means lol and had to look it up) They further explained:

Derived from plant sources, ceramides are identical to the moisturizing lipids and fats that occur naturally in skin. In [the new Lala Retro], they help sooth and maintain the moisture balance of skin while protecting against water loss.

Ok. SO.. luckily, I was able to stop by the Drunk Elephant Pop Up Shop where they were giving out samples of the new LaLa Retro and I was able to try the product out. I tried it for a week. Of course, the last time I used lala was in the winter time, but this formulation seems very similar... maybe, just maybe I would say it's a bit creamier, but even a bit more lightweight than the original formula. Below you can see the left is the new Lala, and the right is the old Lala. I honestly, can hardly tell a difference!

For me, the original product doesn't work for me in the summer time because my skin gets HELLA oily. Last year when I was still trying to finish up Lala, I had to stop because it was too much moisture and made me have to wash my face more often because it was getting too greasy (I was scared to break out!). When I tried it out last week (for a week), although it was still more moisturizing than I need, it didn't cause me to want to wash my face off. I would still save the rest of this product for the winter time when I really need it for my dry skin days, but at least I know that it has an extra added boost to help maintain my moisture balance. Below you can see it leaves a slight sheen but melts right into your skin.

I think for me the best part is that even with the added ceramides, this product is still $60. To me that is SUCH A WIN because they are adding even more great benefits to your skin without any added costs, so THANK YOU DRUNK ELEPHANT! lol!

I noticed that the original Lala Retro is now S/O on the Drunk Elephant website, so I believe this product comes out very soon in early July... keep your eyes peeled! ;) I will update when I get confirmation of the launch date!

Will you be picking this up?! :D

Drunk Elephant House of Drunk Pop Up Shop Experience!

2019-07-02T21:18:00.000-04:00

Recently, Drunk Elephant opened up a Pop Up Shop in NYC -- and I wish I got this post up sooner, but life has gotten in the way, and the pop up is gone already :( However, I wanted to show you how COOL and fun it was! The pop up was in the heart of soho from June 14-23. It was a relatively small space, but inside were so many fun, instagrammable spots and of course the best part - free samples!

The pop up shop had an "acid trip" type of theme with their big smiley faces and 'psychedelic' walls. You definitely can't miss the place (I came in torrential downpour and saw the cute little flag and neon signs lol!)

Upon walking in, you immediately see the check out to the left (with fun charms) and to the right, was an amazing lit up wall that looked like a kaleidoscope. WHEN YOU TOUCHED IT, THAT SH*T MOVED! I didn't get a picture, but I had to capture this video for you to see it! :P

When you continued on, there was just a fun room where you could sit that had cool blow up furniture. And to the left, were all there products displayed. There were such sweet people on the floor to help you with all your skincare questions -- however, I literally had all of the products already...... so I really didn't need anything. :P

To the left of that, there was an interactive machine where you can type in the type of skin you would like, and they printed you a ticket so you receive some free samples. You didn't need to purchase anything to get this sample -- and you got three great sized samples! I got the night time one which I received a glycolic night serum, protein peptide cream, and the marula oil (three of my FAVORITES!).

As you continued, there was the perfect little instagram shot of a mouth. I of course made my husband pose for me, even though he was reluctant LOL

Then came the "star" of the show, because they will be launching the new LALA RETRO soon -- with CERAMIDES! -- Now... I feel hesitant because I do love the original LALA, but the lady mentioned that it'll be the same formula, but with added ceramides, which made me feel a bit better. Unfortunately, you couldn't buy it early from there (which I was hoping!!!), butttttt - they gave you a sample on your way out, which was AWESOME!

Before you pay, they also had their DE gear that you could purchase, such as a sweatshirt, a bag, and other logo-ed items that you would otherwise have to purchase online. I of course picked up another Dopp Kit because it's literally the best bag (its like a traveling cube) but cooler, neon and is the perfect size to fit ALL your travel needs -- plus it's only $18 which I find to be a HUGE steal.

When you pay, you are able to receive your sample, they threw in a new lala retro sample as well as a charm of your choice!

What a seriously fun experience! I'm just sad I wasn't able to post this sooner for you to all go if you were able to! However, if you follow me on IG, you would've seen all the good stuff on there! Not sure if they are planning any new pop ups in the future, but I'm sure if they do, they would announce it on their website!

Fresh Sugar Strawberry Exfoliating Face Wash

2019-06-15T22:44:00.000-04:00

Look at Fresh, rollin' out with so many awesome new products and I'M HERE FOR IT!

They recently just launched their new Sugar Strawberry Exfoliating Face Wash. I'm not going to lie, I was skeptical because I love love love their regular soy face cleanser and love their face polish -- but something with fruit? Mmm.... Not sure how I feel about it!

Here's what it says about the product:
It's a gentle exfoliating face cleanser that removes excess oil and dirt without drying. It also states that it refines the look of pores. Some products in this are: a blend of white sugar crystals, strawberry and black currant fruit extracts and grapeseed oil. Also said it's good for normal, dry, combo or oily skin.

How I used this product:
They recommended using the soy fresh cleanser prior to using the exfoliator, so I pre-washed my face (although they say this is a face wash). Then, I put some of this on my damp skin and massaged it into my skin and rinsed it off.

Now here are my thoughts:

Texture: This product is relatively gentle. I feel like this is a good product you can use more than any usual exfoliator. It's definitely something I could use on a daily basis. Although you can feel small granules of sugar, it isn't overly aggressive on the skin.

Moisture: I would say that this product was pretty hydrating. It didn't make my skin dry after I used it, it felt quite cleansed, but not stripped. Compared to other exfoliators, this was by far more hydrating.

Packaging: is in a standard tube that's squeezy similar to their soy cleanser. Easy to control and easy to use.

Smell: The one thing I was disappointed with. Don't get me wrong, I LOVED the strawberry scent to it, but I did notice that there was added 'fragrance' to the ingredients, so for those of you with sensitive skin, you might want to try a sample of this first to see how your skin reacts. Besides that, it smelled lovely and refreshing.

How did my skin look: It didn't feel overly dry, but it did a nice gentle exfoliation. I would say my skin did feel cleaner, but my pores didn't necessarily look anymore refined. It's possible with daily use that my pores will eventually look cleaner and smaller, however after one week, I didn't notice any other different besides some brightness and cleaner feeling skin.

Overall: I really enjoyed this product. I think this is a great addition to your every day routine. It's gentle enough to use daily and gentle enough to do a great job cleansing your skin without stripping it of it's natural oils. I am definitely going to keep this around in my regimen!

You can get the Sugar Exfoliating Face Scrub for $33 for 4.2 oz at sephora or fresh online.

What do you think? Will you be picking this baby up?!

Fresh Rose Sleeping Mask Review

2019-06-02T20:26:00.004-04:00

I've been DYING to try this but it was sold out for the longest time! : ( but thankfully the lovely ladies at fresh HOOKED a girl up and sent one over to me to try. ugh so excited.

So unlike any of Fresh's products, this is a sleeping mask. It's their two step overnight hydration mask. It claimes to lock in hydration for 24 hours, prevent water loss, and increase deep hydration.

Step 1: The Cooling Gel Essence: filled with rosewater, damask rose extract, and hyaluronic acid
Step 2: The Silky Water-Cream Mask: has a time-release technology to form a moisturizing veil and evening primrose root extract to lock in hydration.

How to use:
*I essentially replaced my skincare routine to just use this product, but found it more beneficial to use after my regular skincare routine.
1. After cleansing - apply the apple jelly colored essence to your face and let it absorb.
2. Follow with the silky water-cream mask.
3. Leave overnight.. and wake up feeling awesome.

Now, to let you know a bit about my skin, it's combo/oily during the warmer weather, but it's been pretty temperamental because of the seasons changing and weather being continually strange. It's combo alright, and a bit on the oily side, but I have patches of dry skin from eczema around my eyes and cheek areas. I'm ALWAYS looking for products that will make my skin dewy, but not greasy because I find that even though I have greasy skin, it constantly feels dehydrated in certain areas.

So I tried this baby for about 1.5 weeks so far and used it every other day. (Not sure if it's a daily use item or less?) I cleansed my face, used the rose toner and my vitamin c serum, then used the two step system.

Here are my thoughts:

Packaging: I want to love the idea of the packaging, but it keeps get into each other's sides and I need to get some sort of spatula instead of my fat fingers. I think the dual packaging works... eventually when I use more of the product. However, even though its better for travel because its in a dual container, I need to be a bit more careful using it.

Smell: The smell is pretty strong IMO. I LOVE IT. however, if you're not huge on roses or the "fresh" scents -- it might be slightly overwhelming for you.

Texture: I SERIOUSLY LOVE IT. it's gel-ish, and cooling. This is perfect for the summer time because it feels so nice. I find that as an oily skin girl, it feels great on my skin without feeling heavy or greasy. It absorbed right into my skin, so it didn't leave residue on the pillow.

Moisture: I loved it for my skin. I woke up with plumper skin and with a nice dew. Because of the consistency, I'm not 100% sure how this would be for people with really dry skin, but for me it gave me just the right amount of hydration without it being oily on my face. I think it worked out perfectly that I used it 3x a week. Maybe an every day thing if you have dry skin? (just making a guess lol)

Overall: I REALLY loved this, especially for my face. It gave me the right amount of dew without being too much. It plumped without the extra residue. However, it's $50, so it is quite pricy for a product that has two steps. I could see myself probably going through this pretty quickly. However, if you have a bit of extra cash to splurge, I think it's totally worth it! What a great addition to the beloved rose line!!!

Drunk Elephant - Get Even Kit

2019-05-21T09:59:00.001-04:00

Whenever I hear Drunk Elephant is coming out with sets, I'm always one of the first to hop on it! All their sets have amazing value and is always a great opportunity to be introduced to the brand.

This Get Even Kit is packed with so many of my favorite products, that I HAD to (lol always have to) pick it up. This is a great set to get your skin back in line -- for smoother, hydrated, even, healthy looking skin.

This kit is worth $100 and here is what the Kit has:
- 0.33 oz/ 10 mL A-Passioni™ Retinol Cream
- 0.5 oz/ 15 mL C-Firma™ Day Serum
- 0.5 oz/ 15 mL T.L.C. Framboos™ Glycolic Night Serum
- 0.5 oz/ 15 mL Protini™ Polypeptide Cream
- 0.5 oz/ 15 mL Umbra Tinte™ Physical Daily Defense SPF 30

This set has a bunch of midi and travel sized products. Below are the prices of each full sized product. And lets take a look to see if the cost is worth it!!!

Full Size Product Breakdown
$80 for the full size C-Firma (1oz)
$74 for full size Retinol (1oz)
$90 for full size Glycolic Night Serum (1oz)
$36 for full size Daily Defense (2oz)
$68 for full size Protini Cream (1.69oz)

This set, the products are worth $136.12
Retinol Cream - $22
C-Firma -$40
Glycolic Night Serum - $45
Protini Polypeptide Cream - $20.12
Umbra Daily Defense - $9

Now if you even KNOW ME!!!! You will know I ADORE drunk elephant products. The Protini, Glycolic Night Serum and Retinol cream are some of my favorite products in their line, so you knew I wasn't gonna hesitate to pick this up!

My skin is combination oily in the warmer weather and combination dry in the cold weather and here are my thoughts on the products so far:

Glycolic Night Serum: I will purchase this maybe til I die! Although I do have more combo skin, I've had friends with more dry skin that love this. This is super effective with their AHA and BHA products that exfoliate your skin to give you super smooth, radiant and even skin. If you have more sensitive skin, I would recommend patch testing it on your skin!

Protini Polypeptide Cream: I've gone through like 3 or 4 of these and its my favorite gel formulation moisturizer! It's hydrating but does not make me oily. It does keep my skin bouncy!

A-Passioni Retinol Cream: I have a whole post on this and I think its the first retinol cream that doesn't dry out my skin. I saw that it definitely made my skin brighter. Definitely check out my post if you are interested!

C-Firma Day Serum: I've tried a small sample size of this, and used it a couple years ago since I do have a bunch of Vit-C products that I love, so I haven't felt a crazy need to try this. However, when I finish up my Vitamin C product, I may opt to try this one again!

Umbra Daily Defense: I think out of all of the products, I was least interested in this one. I am always weary of products that are tinted only one shade. It was a bit hard to blend on my skin and for some reason kept pilling on my face no matter what I did. Although I can see it would work okay for my skin during the cooler weather, it is a bit heavy and greasy for my skin for the warmer weather.

Overall this is such an amazing set for anyone to try, especially if you're looking to brighten and even out your skin. And with the price point, you are definitely getting a great value!!! Another amazing set, Drunk Elephant! <3

You can purchase it at Sephora or at drunkelephant :)

Drunk Elephant Littles Set -- with price breakdown!

2019-04-06T10:53:00.001-04:00

OK DRUNK ELEPHANT! I SEE YOU!! ;) They've recently (well not that recently) come out with a brand new littles set and I'm loving it! If you've never tried Drunk Elephant these are the best little sets for you to test out their products. Although the products are small, they've lasted me 2-3 months to finish all the products. You are able to truly test them out to see which products are right for you.

Their cute sets are always a great value and deal, but the problem is, many times they don't stick around, so snag them up when you still have the opportunity!

Below are the products it has:
-30ml Beste™ No. 9 Jelly Cleanser

-8ml C-Firma™ Day Serum

-8ml B-Hydra™ Intensive Hydration Serum

-8ml T.L.C. Framboos™ Glycolic Night Serum

-8ml Virgin Marula Luxury Facial Oil

-NEW! 15ml Protini™ Polypeptide Cream

-NEW! 15ml Umbra Tinte™ Physical Daily Defense SPF 30

-NEW! 5ml C-Tango™ Multivitamin Eye Cream

-NEW! Bright Aqua Waterproof Travel Bag

The major differences with this and the last Littles set was that this one has Protini Polypeptide Cream instead of Lala Retro, C-Tango Eye Cream rather than Shabu Complex Eye Serum, Umbra Tinte Sunscreen rather than the regular sunscreen, and a blue bag instead of pink.

OK. So PERSONALLY --- I picked this one up because it has SO many of my favorite products. I personally (because of my oily combo skin) like the Protini better than Lala. I'm also a huge fan of the C-Tango Eye Cream. And I've never tried the tinted Daily Defense, so I was interested in trying it.

It comes at a hefty seeming $90, but honestly, each product packs SO much product, it's well worth it. Let me break the prices down for you from full size to these travel sizes:

Jelly Cleanser $32 150mL // $6.40 30mL

C-Firma Day Serum $80 30mL // $21.33 8mL

B-Hydra Serum $52 50mL // $8.32 8mL

Framboos Glycolic Serum $90 30mL // $24 8mL

Marula Oil $40 15mL // $21.33 8mL

Protini Cream $68 50mL // $20.40 15mL

Umbra Tinte $36 60mL // $9 15mL

C-Tango Eye Cream $64 15mL // $21.33 5mL

SO -- with the cost of all of these products broken down, it should be $132.11, saving you over $42 worth of product. (!!) So although the cost seems expensive, it's actually saving you so much money to test and try the products to see if they are worth it for your skin!

Highly, HIGHLY recommend picking up Drunk Elephant sets when they come out!!!!

You can purchase these at drunkelephant.com or sephora.com

Fresh Soy Face Cleanser Review

2019-04-06T10:20:00.002-04:00

I had a couple questions about what my favorite cleansers are. Some of you say that yours doesn't get rid of all your makeup, others say that your cleanser seems a bit too stripping and dry out your skin. I've been using the Fresh Soy Face Cleanser on and off for over 10 years now. I finish one, and use something new, and then when I come back to it... I'm like wait, why did I ever use something different?

If you've never tried this product -- here are some of the details:
A gel face wash that gently removes dirt and makeup. It is filled with amino acid-rich soy proteins, soothing cucumber extract, and balancing rosewater to tone, sooth and soften skin. It's formulated for all different types of skin - I use it (combo oily), but when my skin is at its most sensitive, I always go back to this as well. It leaves you with a radiant, healthy looking complexion. It is free of sulfates SLS and SLES, parabens and phthalates.

Cost: $38 / 150mL or $15 / 50mL

My thoughts:

Packaging - it's a very standard plastic tube that you squeeze.. similar to toothpaste (or any other product that comes in a plastic tube lol). Because of it's thinner formula, you won't have a hard time getting out every last drop. This is one of those - let me give it one big shake and all the product will naturally maneuver its way to the bottom.

Texture - The texture is a gel formula and it doesn't become foamy in any way. It's kind of strange because when you squeeze it out, it kind of looks like allergy snot (lmao), but it's cooling and lovely and although it seems like it wouldn't be so effective because it doesn't foam up, it really does do a good job! I found this gentle enough to use day and night.

Effectiveness - I don't tend to wear too much mascara, but they said it even gets off mascara! I have had many stubborn makeup products on my face. And although I still use a makeup wipe before (it's my standard), it gets rid of the last traces of all my makeup that the makeup wipe didn't get off. It leaves my face feeling soft and cleansed and non-irritated. I found that if my skin was super oily and clogged, because its more of a slippery consistency, it's most effective when I used a clarisonic or some sort of cleansing device to really get the product to work deep down into the depths of my skin.

If you are thinking about getting this product, I say - don't hesitate! They have so many purchasing options with sizes, you can always get a travel size to try first.

You can purchase it at sephora.com, fresh.com, or nordstrom.com

NEW! Drunk Elephant Slaai Make Up Melting Cleansing Balm

2019-04-01T19:17:00.000-04:00

As a double cleansing queen, I live off of a good oil cleanser or cleansing balm. I'm always in the market for good, affordable ones, despite me having ones that I swear by. So... when Drunk Elephant came out with their new Slaai Make Up Melting Cleansing Balm, I did not even hesitate to purchase it.

For me, after using a makeup wipe, my second step is always to use an oil cleanser or a cleansing balm. Generally speaking, I tend to stick to oil cleansers, but then when I'm traveling or on the go, I always use cleansing balms. One of the only reasons why I stick to oil cleansers is because i hatttte sticking my finger into a balm (getting under my nails and knowing its not at hygienic), but I mean, those are just my little things. My step after that, is I use a foam cleanser to really wipe all the residue clean.

Along came this Slaai Makeup Cleansing Balm, and I swear it's like Drunk Elephant read my mind because this product is so intricate details that totally make it easier for a consumer to use a product. Details that you wish you had in other products, but you just began to accept that it was going to be this way. lol.

An overview of the product:
DE Cleansing Balm - 3.88 oz of product (they say about 120 uses)
Bamboo Booster - .10 oz of product (they say about 80 uses)

Packaging: It is a standard twist off cap cleansing balm... but you will not believe this. (lol because I nearly fell over with this one) It has an applicator spoon... that is MAGNETIC TO THE CAP. I can't tell you, how many times I lost applicators to cleansing balms and then had to dig my finger into it. This is just perfection.

Ingredients: As usual with Drunk Elephant products, it is all clean - no suspicious 6 products (essential oils, drying alcohols, silicones, chemical screens, fragrance/dyes and SLS) It also says to have a Fruit Salad Blend - which is a mix of non-fragrant fruit extracts and fruit oils from blueberry, strawberry, kiwi, cranberry, watermelon and acai. It also has a nourishing oil blend such as marula, baobab, kalahari melon, mongongo, and ximenia.

Extra Exfoliation: This is so innovative though.... instead of needing to use a completely different product, you can occasionally add in your bamboo booster into your cleansing balm which is bamboo and charcoal powder to gently exfoliate dead or dry skin. Creates a whole new, amazing product! (although I do wish this was magnetic too lmao!)

How I use: The way I use it, is I take a spoonful and apply it on my dry skin. I massage it around my face and then around my eyes. It's such a relaxing, therapeutic feel to be able to sit and massage this thick, luxurious oil all over your face (til you look in the mirror and see how crazy you look because all your makeup came off and is all over your face lmao). You then add water and it turns into a beautiful milky, creamy product that allows all the dirt and what not to come off. You can use a cloth (I do with all my cleansing balms), but unlike the other cleansing balms, I feel like my face is already clean without needing it. I still follow up with a foam cleanser, because that's what I'm used to, but my face feels beautiful, supple and cleansed already.

When using the bamboo booster, I was worried about it being too harsh, but the pieces are so fine that it was such a lovely exfoliation. It felt like it was so fine that it was really working deep into my darkest pores lmao. They say that if you use retinol, to try and rotate between these two as using both may be too harsh.

Upon first use: So I've only had this for 2 days and used it twice - but I'm already loving it so far. I have combo oily skin with a bit of dry patching, and I think no matter what skin my skin is in, this product will still work nicely. Although not an incredibly unique product, I feel like the fact that it is CLEAN, I feel more safe knowing that this will take better care of my skin. With the amazing packaging, magnetic spoon and the innovation of having the exfoliation added in, I feel like this will be a staple in my rotation of skincare products.

This product is $34 on sephora.com and on drunkelephant.com

Will you be picking this baby up??

Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Ultra-Fine Mist

2019-03-30T10:39:00.001-04:00

OKAY. a new lil baby was emerged from the Glow Recipe Watermelon family and I am LIVING FOR IT!!!! Their new Watermelon Glow Ultra-Fine Mist has arrived and it is the cutest little member of the fam!

What is it: They claim that this is an "ultra-fine, hydrating mist formulated with a juicy blend of 84% watermelon, hyaluronic acid, and hibiscus to refres skin and enhance makeup."

Details of the product: 2.53oz of product for $28

Packaging: Comes in a little, compact bottle that is easy to hold and carry in your purse. There is a cap that unveils a nozzle that sprays the finest of all sprays. It's literally the thinnest mist I've ever used (really does almost produce like a "fog")

Ingredients: Watermelon to sooth and hydrate skin with essential vitamins and amino acids, Hyaluronic Acid to hydrate skin, Hibiscus Flower AHA to smooth look of texture, soften and hydrate skin for optimal makeup application

Before you shake it up!

How I used it: You definitely have to shake the product really good to get all of the goodness mixed together. I give 2-3 spritzes on my face. I used it alone when I wanted to just give my skin a refresher (like this is DEFINITELY a product that is amazing in the fridge and then use it when you need a boost!), I've also used this before I began makeup application and also sprayed afterwards to see how it would work as a makeup setter.

Skin Refresher: This was the BEST! Mind you, I have combination/oily skin, but my skin in the winter is a bit more dehydrated. It added such a lovely feel to my skin. I've heard reviews saying that if you have SUPER dry skin, this doesn't hydrate as much as other mists, however, for me, it was just enough. It wakes you up and livens your skin.

Before Makeup Application: I didn't see too much of a different when I spritzed this before my makeup application. I want to say it was a smoother application but I feel like it was just my imagination lol. My makeup application didn't really feel different or smoother.

As a makeup setter: I'll be completely honest with you, my makeup doesn't run that much - and I definitely didn't go out for a night of dancing to test it lol. So my makeup seemed to set just fine. I will say though, what this product did do was provide me with a STUNNING dewy look. If you want that glass skin, this did it. I didn't even need to wear a highlighter or anything because my skin was like WHOA. I LOVED that!

Smell: THIS SMELLS SO GOOD - kind of like watermelon jolly ranchers. It was just the perfect blend of sweetness -- but don't open your mouth like i did, because it tastes disgusting lol.

My thoughts: I love the idea of this! I love that it's such a special little treat. If you are crunched for money, is this a necessity? No. It's an extra little booster treat that makes life so much more fun, but it's not a necessary staple in your every day makeup or skincare routine. Also, I'm worried that with the crazy ways I'm spraying this (because I love this, and it reminds me of back in the day when I used to spritz Evian water on my face), that the $28 of product will drain very quickly, making this an expensive investment. HOWEVER - if you have the money to splurge on an extra little treat, this adds SUCH a fun little addition to your routine! It's definitely one of those items I would buy as a gift for a friend, but may not splurge on myself!

You can purchase this $28 gem at sephora.com or glowrecipe.com

Clinique iD Custom-Blend Pop-Up Shop!

2019-02-08T14:52:00.002-05:00

I remember that I used to always be obsessed with the Clinique Dramatically Moisturizer, and now it's got a completely new revamp! You can now pick your own base moisturizer and customize a booster on what your skin concern may be. This way no matter what kind of skin you have from dry to combination.. and what ever concern you may have - whether its pores, dullness, uneven skin tone, fine lines and wrinkles or redness.. there is something for YOU.

Clinique has their first ever Pop-Up Shop for the iD Custom Blend Hydrator! Here's a sneak peek into the shop itself!

The first thing you do when you walk in is you can get your skin analyzed. You take a picture of you face and it tells you what your skin concerns should be (lmao). Each concern correlates to a different cartridge/booster that targets the concern. You can also choose different bases for three different type of moisturizer.

There are five booster cartridges to choose from: blue to target pores and uneven texture, green to target irritation, orange to target fatigue, white to target uneven skintone, and purple to target lines and wrinkles.

At the pop up shop you can even CUSTOMIZE your own bottle. OMG! How cute is mine! You can choose from plenty of designs and even put your name on it. They even have a station where you can further decorate it with stickers. Lastly, the pop-up has a green screen area to take a picture and a VR station (which i forgot to do!)

One of my favorite parts though..... this little photo op!

You can check out the pop up which is open today at: 132 Prince Street, NY NY

You can purchase the Clinique iD hydrator here :)

Tatcha Violet-C Brightening Serum

2019-02-07T13:24:00.003-05:00

Oh man, you guys know i LOVE my Vitamin C- so I was so excited for the Tatcha Violet-C Brightening Serum (20% Vitamin C + 10% AHA) to arrive. I picked it up right when it came out!

So what is this: It's a lightweight, clean serum with 20% Vitamin C, 10% Mild Fruit AHA and Japanese Angelica Root Extract. This product says its good to soften, smooth, brighten and even out skin tone. It's great for all different skintypes that are worried about dullness and uneven texture, fine lines, wrinkles and dark spots.

I've been using this product for about 2 weeks now and here are my thoughts:

I only needed about 1-2 pumps on my face. There is no strong particular smell, which I liked (usually Vit C products smell like burning or strong citrus). Another thing I found interesting was that it was super lightweight and almost essence-like. It felt almost like I was putting water on my face. This means that it absorbed straight into my skin without extreme tackiness or other heavy feelings! This did not sting my face in any way. It was extremely gentle and pleasant. I would use this product after toner and before I put on my moisturizer.

After 2 weeks for my combo skin, I didn't notice major differences. I did notice that my skin was smoother and a bit more radiant. Some of the dark spots and hyper pigmentation on my face became ever so slightly lighter, but not enough for me to really notice a difference. I'm interested to see down the line how this might affect my skin more.

As you can see in the picture above, you can see the very watery, texture. It is quite lovely and easy to pat into your skin!

Overall I'm liking it so far. I haven't seen major differences, but I am seeing them. I'm looking forward to seeing how this may change my skin!

You can purchase this item on sephora or tatcha for $88. Will you be picking it up??

Glow Recipe Avocado vs. Watermelon Sleeping Mask

2019-01-16T09:02:00.000-05:00

I got a lot of questions about which one is right for you. People are wondering if they should pick up the Avocado or the Watermelon sleeping mask (UH... I would say, get both if you can ;P)

Similarities:
These are BOTH products for hydration and work overnight to help give you a nice exfoliation your skin glow in the morning. They are both great for uneven texture and dullness of skin.

Now for the differences:

The Watermelon Sleeping Mask - for me, is best used during warmer weather when I have oily skin. This is more of a oil free, gel like formula that is more lightweight and bouncy. It provides AHA to gently exfoliate off your dead skin cells to give you the glow you want! It is packed with hylaronic acid and watermelon extract to add hydration to plump up the skin! Your skin will be hydrated, soft & smooth, and brighter.

The Avocado Sleeping Mask - is good for all skin types, but best for more dry skin. For me, this is the perfect mask for the wintertime! This is a more creamy texture, that adds a bit more thickness and depth into your hydration. It adds avocado to add that dense hydration (and collagen). This also exfoliates, but instead of AHA, it has PHA (which are larger in molecular size, so it works more closely to the surface of your skin rather than the deeper layers of your skin). It also has kaolin clay and manuka honey to help pull out impurities of your skin while providing soothing properties for stressed out skin. Your skin will be hydrated, smooth, brighter, but also firmer (since it also helps with the elasticity of your skin)

---

So for me, it depends on how my skin is. When it's oily, the Watermelon sleeping gel provides a better hydration without my skin feeling greasy in the morning. The Avocado one is way more creamy and intense in the hydration and does a more gentle exfoliation on the surface on my skin to help with my eczema that might flare up during the cooler weather.

You can purchase both products at sephora here or here or on the glowrecipe site :) Will you be picking any of these products up?? :)

What's NEW at Wander Beauty!?

2019-01-11T12:16:00.000-05:00

I recently went to a Wander Beauty event and they just launched their NEW No Days Off Discovery Kit! This is their new kit that features 3 new products of beauty essentials for on the go -- especially when you have no days off!

It includes:
-a mini Drift Away Cleanser (1oz) This is a gel-to-foam cleanser that cleans makeup and impurities gently to give a double cleansed effect to nourish and revitalize all in one step.

-mini Dive In Moisturizer (.67oz) This is a 72 hour moisturizer (WHAT?!). It packs in Pentavitin and 13 fruit extracts to hydrate, brighten and protect for healthier looking skin.

-mini Extra Mileage Hair Refresher (.94oz) THIS I WILL NEED A FULL SIZE!!! lmao. This is so innovative! This is a liquid hair refresher that has silica powder so it duals as a hair texturizer and kind of like a dry shampoo to help keep you fresh -- especially after a work out or what not! I tried this after the workout and I did NOT look sweaty or greasy at all!!!

-the cutest clear, peach and gold (with words "no days off") cosmetics pouch

Testing the products out - so I can't wait to let you know how they are! Already love the cleanser and hair refresher, but have yet to try the moisturizer!!

Currently this item is not out yet, but it will be $38 and you can pre-order!

Drunk Elephant A-Passioni Retinol Cream

2019-01-11T09:20:00.001-05:00

OOOOOK - this new highly anticipated retinol cream from Drunk Elephant arrived as a fun little gift the day after Christmas .. and I've been testing it out for a couple weeks and I'm ready to give you my thoughts!

First off, I want to mention, I've tried some retinols in the past and it has been a disaster for me. So much that I feel scared to try retinols! I must've also been young and dumb, because anytime I've tried them my face would peel and get very sensitive, so I'm always weary of how much I put. Mind you, I have combo oily skin (sometimes combo dry in the winter), and it is not sensitive (except for my eye area).

So insert the DE A-Passioni Retinol cream! I've been into Drunk Elephant for some time now and I legitimately get excited any time they come out with a new product. So this new product is a Retinol cream that is a CLEAN product that has 1% vegan retinol to diminish fine lines, wrinkles and sun damage.

According to the website, here are some of the highlighted ingredients in this product:

- 1.0% Retinol: Improves the look and feel of uneven skin tone and texture and addresses the damage from daily exposure to UV rays, pollution, or other free radicals.- Triple Peptide Blend: Helps visibly firm and strengthen, boosting the visible results of retinol.- Vitamin F: Works to improve the appearance of texture and suppleness and calms signs of sensitivity.

Also, to go over what these ingredients do:

Retinol and supportive peptides restore bounce, resilience, and clarity to skin while helping to even tone and texture without redness and irritation. Vitamin F and a curated blend of oils replenish lipids and moisture while antioxidant-packed ingredients defend against environmental stressors.

Now for my experience:

They said to start 1-2 times per week and then increase from there. It also says to use a pea size amount, so I also started with less than that. In addition, they recommend mixing with an oil or serum if needed - I did, because it allowed a bit more of a 'buffer' for when I was putting the retinol on my face. (Can you tell how worried I was to try this? LOL)

On the first day, I put half a pea size with the B Hydra Serum and the Marula Oil. When I placed it on my face, it gave a slight tingle, but nothing my face wasn't used to. When I woke up, my skin did not feel dry or peely like past retinols, but I didn't see any visible differences in my skin.

Here's the mix of products I tend to use: Marula Oil, B Hydra (white bottom right) and a tiny pea size of the retinol. When I felt like I was putting more retinol, I added the protini peptide cream.

I wanted to try again after 2 days, so on the third day as I looked at my skin, it looked smoother.. seems to continue to heal as the days go on! So on the third day, I tried again and mixed it with B Hydra, Marula Oil and the Protini Peptide cream, but I used a little bit more of the Retinol. Still a bit of tingling, but no burning or worrying sensation. I woke up the next morning, skin looked good! smooth and a bit more radiant.

I continued this routine for 2 weeks and I will say that I have had NO peeling (because I was very careful and really started with a little bit to work my way up.) I want to try and use it more because I know that this is a WAY effective product... however, I also know if I increase too quickly, my skin won't be accustomed to it and it may peel and be dry.

The only thing that I've had trouble with is the packaging. I know that the foil packaging was designed specifically to help the product keep better and what not, but even with squeezing from the very top, I find that the product starts to come out of the tip. Because of that I'm scared as I continue to use it, I might end up wasting product because I use such a small amount at one time.

Long story short -- a little bit goes a long way, but this stuff has been ROCKING so far! Not sure if it's because of the mix of products, or because this has more hydrating ingredients or because this is Drunk Elephant, but this is the first time I've used retinols for more than a week without it peeling on my skin. <3

This product costs $74 for 1oz and you can purchase it at Sephora or Drunk Elephant. (And mine even came with a mini B Hydra to get ya started!!!)

Have you ever tried Retinols? What are you thoughts!?

Glow Recipe Avocado Melt Sleeping Mask

2019-01-07T08:45:00.001-05:00

With winter in full force, my skin's a mess! It cant handle the weather changing and my skin has been patchy and oily and dry and all sorts of strange things. When I heard about the Glow Recipe Avocado Melt Sleeping Mask, it sounded like a great item to try.

The new Glow Recipe Avocado Sleeping Mask is a creamy mask with avocado, honey and PHA to moisturize dry, dull skin overnight! It's a super rich cream that helps with dryness, dullness, uneven texture and loss of firmness and elasticity.

From sephora.com - here are the ingredients in product:

Highlighted Ingredients:- Avocado: Helps provide hydration and support natural collagen.- Manuka Honey: Provides antioxidants and soothing properties to refresh stressed out skin.- PHA (Polyhydroxy Acid): Provides a gentle exfoliation while you sleep.- Kaolin Clay: Pulls impurities from the skin without causing redness or irritation; and absorbs excess oils, decongests pores, and diminishes shine.

Ingredient Callouts: Free of sulfates SLS and SLES, parabens, formaldehydes, formaldehyde-releasing agents, phthalates, mineral oil, retinyl palmitate, oxybenzone, coal tar, hydroquinone, triclosan, and triclocarban, and contains less than one percent of synthetic fragrances. This product is also cruelty-free.

To me, it sounded like the perfect thing for my skin - it encompasses everything I needed for my dry but oily skin. It has products to help hydrate and plump (avo and honey), but also had products to exfoliate and pull out impurities (PHA and Clay).

I've tried it about 4 times. This product is to be used about 2-3x per week. After my whole skincare routine (double cleanse, essence, serum, moisturizer + oil), I used the spatula to scoop out some product. They say to use just a dime size (and do just use a dime size, because the first time I used too much) and I tap it onto my skin. This product was so thick and creamy and didn't slip and slide on my face.

It melted into my skin and absorbed pretty quickly, so I knew I wouldn't have a problem with the product getting all over my pillow. I could feel a slight tingling sensation which I supposed was the PHA (YASSS). When I woke up and washed my face, the first thing I noticed was that my skin did not feel dry or tight (hydration centrallll!). I also noticed that my skin patches had diminished a bit and were smoother. My skin also felt smoother and brighter. I will also say, that I saw some teeny "pimple" looking things around my chin area, and my guess that it was helping to purge out impurities. This did not scare me because this tends to happen to my skin a lot when I try new products that help to "clean out" my pores. It also clears up within a couple of days.

By the 3rd use, my skin patches were still visible, but also visibly smaller. My skin had no more break outs and seemed plumper (although sometimes its hard to tell because my skin is always plump in the morning because I'm probably all swollen from all the drooling and sleep lmao). My favorite part of this product was seeing my hydration levels increase and seeing my skin looking brighter. It seemed less uneven and dull, which is my biggest problem in the winter.

Overall, I really enjoyed this product! I think that it's definitely worth trying. If you have sensitive skin, I would definitely get a sample to try on a patch of skin because if the PHA tingled on my skin, chances are someone with sensitive skin's reaction will be stronger.

You can purchase it here at sephora or on the glow recipe site for $45 for 80ml of product.

5 Products/Brands that Gave me Confidence in 2018

2019-01-04T14:16:00.003-05:00

Here they are - 5 products that gave me confidence in the 2018. These are products that I'm for sure bringing into the new year... and probably longer. These are products and brands I found that have really changed my thoughts about myself.

1. Too Faced Multi Sculpting Concealer - This has single-handedly changed my makeup look. I haven't been able to find a more hydrating, high coverage concealer that stays on my oily, but dry and patchy skin. You only need a little bit, and it doesn't cake under my eyes (like other super high coverage concealers) and makes my skin look brighter and more awake.

2. L'oreal Unbelieva-Brow Longwear Brow Gel - This was a love/hate product at first, but after I got over the learning curve, THIS PRODUCT CHANGED MY BROW GAME! usually my brows are pretty solid, but throughout the day if I sweat or touch any part of my brow, it starts to shift... but this product..! Once it dries, it DOES NOT move. It's so good, you HAVE to use an oil product to clean it off. It comes with a separate brow brush, which took a bit of trial and error to get it to shape my brows correctly. I would say this takes as much practice as it does getting a perfect eyeliner wing! Let me know if you guys want a tutorial -- SO GOOD!

3. Jouer Rose Gold Palette - This is unlike any other palette I've used. It's not overwhelming with only 12 colors, but the palette that it offers is so beautiful. It allowed me to do my usual day looks, but allowed me to experiment with a couple new colors. It was the first time I didn't feel intimidated to try new colors with my old and after a while, I started using colors I wouldn't necessarily use and people were complimenting me on my looks.

4. Drunk Elephant - This brand was introduced to me this year and it, along with some other products have really changed my skin. Being Clean beauty - it's free of fragrance, essential oils, etc... it's non-toxic, healthy for your skin... and my skin was happy for it. With a regimen of all Drunk Elephant, my skin began to clear and change (first it purged and broke out a bit). The products that I LOVE LOVE are the framboos glycolic night serum and the protini peptide moisturizer. They really work for my combination skin!

5. Fresh Beauty - I've always LOVED fresh beauty but these two products.. not sure if it's one, the other or the mixture of both have really made my skin so supple, plump and hydrated. The Fresh Rose Toner and the Fresh Kombucha Treatment Essence made such a great duo for my skin. Because of both thin formulas, it allows the product to really skin deep down into my skin. I'm seriously obsessed and am not sure I can stray from these two products!

What are some products that you're bringing in from 2018?! :P

HiMirror Overview + GIVEAWAY!

2018-12-10T07:49:00.000-05:00

Oh mannnn -- so I got the HiMirror (first generation like way back when) a while back and although I felt like it was SO cool - it had many updates that it needed. For example, you had to wave the mirror in order to move it from screen to screen and there were no online functions you can use.

BUT O M G.. their new HiMirror (mini) is updated and SO DARN COOL! Now it is a touch screen and has so many more functions!

If you don't know what HiMirror is, it's a "virtual beauty and health consultant featuring the Amazon Alexa-Enabled feature." It's basically a "smart mirror" -- a mirror that can help to personalize your skincare routine and can analyze what you need to make your skin better. It has a face detection thing, so you are able to log in with just your face!

Here is the face detection!

What it does:
The biggest and coolest function I believe is the skin analyzer. It allows a camera to take a picture of your skin and analyze to see the condition of your skin. It discusses the texture, pores, wrinkles and more. Once you use this every day, you can see how your skin may be changing for the better (or maybe not) with the current skin care routine you are using.

Here it is analyzing my face!

Here's all the stuff my face needs help with WAH!

It even shows you your problem areas on your face! Here's where all my dark spots occur.

Other features:
Amazon Alexa Enabled - I don't have Alexa, but I could see how cool this could be if you are commanding Alexa to do things for you! lol :P

Make up Light - My original HiMirror light ONLY turned on with the camera, so this one is amazing because you have an LED light to apply makeup or to look at your skin. You can even adjust the brightness and warmth.

Virtual Beauty Box - This is a way to manage all the skincare products you are using. This is SO cool. It not only tells u the products you are using, but allows to track how certain products are affecting your skin. They also tell you if your products are about to expire.

Internet / Entertainment - OMG!!!! You can stream youtube, spotify and go on IG and FB. WHAT. It also has weather and news!!!

Below you can see how it has a bunch of different functions as well as the light that you can freely turn on to use as an actual mirror with lights!

Add ons:
HiMirror also has 2 different devices that you can add on with the mirror itself. There is a Smart Body Scale ($99) which provides accurate measurements of your body index. Also it has the HiSkin ($49.99) which measures your skin's hydration and pigmentation.

Honestly for me, this is a do it all mirror. I love that it analyzes your skin every day, but I think for me the most exciting part is knowing that it will help to track how each skin product works for my skin. Especially because I have my daily regimen and I always have so many products to try, it's nice to be able to see if products are truly effective for my skin.

I also love that since my skin is constantly changing because of weather, it helps to let me know what is going on with my face. It shows the specific places my face needs more hydration or more attention because it's porous or wrinkly. This way I can even target the specific spot on my face that I need to work on!

Overall, I am really loving this. There is a learning curve with all the functions that it has. And like any fancy piece of technology, it does has some ticks here and there like being frozen, but a simple restart usually fixes it all.

and GIVEAWAY!??? yes!! within the next couple days, I'll be hosting a giveaway on my IG to celebrate this awesome device! Come find me @beautybyjessicalee

The HiMirror retails for $119, but there is a $25 discount on amazon

You can also purchase from the HiMirror from the website - here are the discount codes you can find!

BM668 Mini $119+Free ground shipping ($25 off coupon code: OFF25)

BM608 HiMirror $139 +Free ground shipping

BM618 HiMirror Plus $189 +Free ground shipping

BM619 HiMirror Plus+ $239 +Free ground shipping

Products for Dry, Itchy Scalp

2018-12-07T10:28:00.000-05:00

Ever since I began getting eczema on my scalp, it has been such a huge blow to my confidence in so many ways. My head is not only itchy, but also flaky. This causes so many embarrassing things :( When I scratch my head, all of a sudden there are flakes all over my clothes and on the floor. I have to start thinking about ways to wear my hair as well as clothes that will mask all the flakes in case I do scratch when I'm not thinking.

Your shoulders are made for greatness, not dandruff

That's what my husband ALWAYS tells me... when he runs over to help me clear off flakes when he sees that I've been scratching.

It's been a journey, that's for sure... but I found some products that have definitely helped to alleviate some of the itch or flakiness and I wanted to share them with you in case you are like me.. struggling with flakiness.

Philip Kingley:

Flaky Shampoo
-I've been using this product (and finished it and threw it out!) and it has been amazing on my scalp! If you just have a dry, itchy scalp, I think this will help clear it up without stripping your hair of its natural oils or feeling overly dry. It left my hair still nice and shiny! I rotate this in with my medicated shampoos and find that it still keeps my scalp at bay without feeling dry! And another plus is I love the slight apple scent!

Flaky Toner
THIS. I love the applicator that makes it easy to get to all the spots of your scalp. This really works though, and helps keep your itching at bay. NO residue and I find myself itching less with this product! Definitely does a beautiful job soothing your scalp!

DpHue:

Apple Cider Vinegar Salt Scrub (not pictured, because it looks SO dirty in my shower since its a tub you scoop! lol)
SO this one is super difficult to use if you have long hair like mine. HOWEVER, I think this is a product that can be super effective if you have short hair or have the time to sit and separate your hair. When I sat and separate my hair, placed the product in the itchy, infected areas, gave it a bit of a rub, it seriously made a huge difference in my hair. I think it was the longest that I felt my scalp without an itch. It also felt SO clean, and I was SO happy about that!

Lotus RX:

Shampoo and Conditioner
-This is a great shampoo and conditioner that is paraben, sulfate and salt free. This was developed specifically for dandruff with prescription strength while gently washing and nourishing scalp and hair. This stuff is SO creamy and provides such a nice lather and is excellent at soothing and moisturizing my scalp. When my eczema on my skin is bothering me, I also use the conditioner and lather it on my skin! It definitely calms the redness and irritation but feels so nourishing! And the creamsicle smell... OMG. so delish!

Hope some of these products will help you! I am definitely adding to the list as I continue to use more products! <3 Hope some of you on this scalp journey with me find comfort that you're not alone!!!

Drunk Elephant -- Inspector Drunk Holiday Set

2018-10-29T08:01:00.000-04:00

If there is any set you NEED to get this holiday, it's the Drunk Elephant Sets!!! If you've always wanted to try their products, or even restock, this is a great way to get a hold of their products and try a bunch of samples as well!

Today we'll be chatting about my personal favorite set of the bunch, the Inspector Drunk Set! I'm the biggest fan of their Framboos glycolic night serum -- however, it's an expensive little number (at $90 for the 1oz), but it has worked wonders for my skin. In the Inspector Drunk Set, you get the full sized Framboos, along with 4 other little minis (which aren't that mini!) for a total of $98. That means you're getting all of those travel sized products for ONLY $8!

Here are the products you receive in the set:

Full size Framboos Glycolic Night Serum - here is the description of the product:

This high-tech gel resurfaces dull skin, lifting dead skin cells away by gently dissolving the glue that holds them to the surface. The results are greater clarity and a smoother, more even-looking complexion. Formulated with a dream-team AHA/BHA blend including glycolic, lactic, tartaric, citric, and salicylic acids, and blended with raspberry extract, T.L.C. Framboos™ sinks in easily and delivers an effective level of chemical exfoliation without the harsh side effects like dryness or sensitization. Fine lines, wrinkles, and discoloration, along with excess oiliness and the appearance of pores, appear dramatically diminished over time. Horse chestnut, bearberry, and white tea help to calm and soothe, while improving the appearance of broken capillaries. Go from a drab complexion to an absolutely luminous one—practically overnight. (From Sephora.com)

- 1 oz/ 30 mL Beste™ No. 9 Jelly Cleanser
- 0.27 oz/ 8 mL B-Hydra™ Intensive Hydration Serum
- 0.5 oz/ 15 mL Lala Retro™ Whipped Cream- 0.17 oz/ 5 mL C-Tango™ Multivitamin Eye Cream

As you can see, they aren't skimpy travel sizes - these minis will still last you a couple of weeks!

I personally have been using these products and saw a huge difference in my skin. I loved using this skincare regimen! I would use the Jelly Cleanser to get rid of my makeup and cleans my face, then I would make a little cocktail of bhydra, framboos, lala retro and a bit of marula oil. After I would apply the eye cream. It has made my skin so incredibly soft and clear since I've used them. I don't notice as many random acne spots and blackheads popping up, and I noticed my skin looked more consistently clear, smooth, and even -- even despite the cold weather change!!

FYI -- Drunk Elephant is also a CLEAN brand. Here are some of its promises:

Drunk Elephant is committed to using only clean ingredients that either directly benefit the skin’s health or support the integrity and effectiveness of the formulations. They never take into account an ingredient’s synthetic or natural status, but instead choose based on its safety and bio-compatibility. You won’t find what Drunk Elephant calls "the suspicious six" of any kind in their products (1. silicones, 2. chemical screens, 3. sensitizing colorants/perfumes, 4. sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) 5. essential oils, 6. drying alcohols), making them appropriate for all skin. They believe that these six ubiquitous ingredients are at the root of almost every skin issue. When formulating the products, they focus on pH and toxicity, always making sure that the actives are at efficacious levels. This is the Drunk Elephant difference.

They also have another (Agent Ellie) set which has a full size C-Firma Serum, specific for the daytime as well as a Rescue set with a full size La La Retro, and The Big Reveal Kit which has a full size Sukari Baby Facial.

Of course during this time, Sephora is starting to have its 20% off sales. So these are a MUST HAVE to pick up! With the 20% discount, the Inspector Drunk set is only $78.40 before tax, which means its LESS money than even just the full size framboos! HOLY COW! (Yes.. I picked up another set. LMAO). Will you be picking this gem up!?!

Jouer Essential High Coverage Liquid Concealer Swatches!

2018-10-08T19:45:00.002-04:00

Alright!!! I feel like i've been anticipating the launch of these concealers for SOSO long because Christina, the founder of Jouer, has been hinting at this product for so long!! SO EXCITED IT IS HERE -- and is completely worth all the wait and hype!

Here is the description from the website: Essential High Coverage Liquid Concealer offers full coverage with Hyaluronic Acid and Resveratrol to achieve a creaseless, soft matte finish while correcting and smoothing skin imperfections. Apply thin layer to desired areas, can be applied directly from the applicator while using finger tips to blend, or with the Essential Precision Concealer Brush.

Hyaluronic Acid
Resveratrol
Matte
Paraben Free
Dermatologist Tested

I'm excited to know that this is beyond just a makeup product, but is also a product that packs in skincare benefits! Below are swatches of all 25 shades!

Snow: very fair skin with pink undertones
Lace: fair skin with yellow undertones
Creme: fair skin with peachy pink undertones Shades Swatches // Blended Out

Chiffon: light skin with yellow undertones

Custard: light skin with neutral pink undertones

Wheat: light skin with neutral undertones

Shades Swatched // Shades Blended Out

Creme Cafe: light skin with neutral yellow undertones

Macaron: light skin with peach undertones

Macadamia: medium skin with neutral undertones

Shades Swatched // Shades Blended Out

Toast: light medium skin with peachy pink undertones

Creme Brulee: medium skin with yellow undertones

Biscotti: medium skin with peach undertones

Shades Swatched // Shades Blended Out

Honey: medium skin with golden-olive undertones

Dulce de Leche: tan skin with olive undertones

Butterscotch: tan skin with peach undertones

Shades Swatched // Shades Blended Out

Ginger: tan skin with pink undertones

Rich Ginger: tan skin with golden undertones

Dark Ochre: dark skin with peach undertones
Shades Swatched // Shades Blended

Coffee: dark skin with neutral undertones

Cafe au Lait: dark skin with olive undertones

Amber: dark skin with golden undertones

Shades Swatched // Shades Blended Out

Cappuccino: deep skin with neutral undertones

Filigree: deep skin with olive undertones

Hazelwood: deep skin with red undertones

Ebony: very deep skin with neutral undertones

Shades Swatched // Shades Blended Out

First Impressions: I'm LOVING IT! This product feels like second skin and doesn't feel heavy at all. It's incredibly smooth and definitely is creaseless. It's high coverage, and doesn't make my skin greasy or oily by the end of the day. I will have to try it out some more and let you know more thoughts!!!

Overall, I'm really liking this product! What I think sets this product from others on the market are that it has skincare benefits in it. You use a makeup product, but not many makeup products provide skincare along with it. Because of that, I feel like it FEELS GOOD on my skin as I'm using it!

You can purchase this product for $22 from sephora.com or jouercosmetics.com :) Will you be picking it up?

*Sent by Jouer, but all opinions are my own!