Hey guys! I am finally back from vacation and I wanted to film a quick and easy video so I figured updating you guys on how I am liking some of my recent purchases would be the perfect subject of todays video! I hope you enjoy!
It's been a couple of months since I did my last empties post and in that time I managed to amass quit a large amount of products in my empties bin. You know the drill ill be going through what I have used up and my thoughts on them. Keep reading if this sort of thing interests you ;)
1. Bobbi Brown Face Touch Up Palette - This is a perfect travel companion, it contains your foundation, concealer, corrector and pressed powder.
2. Tarte Colored Clay Liquid Foundation - This is a lightweight foundation that gives a natural finish to the skin. It claims to be full coverage but I would say it is more medium coverage that can be built up for a more full coverage look.
3.Urban Decay Primer Potion - There is one thing I can live without and that is an eye primer. I go between this one and the Too Faced Shadow Insurance. It keeps my eye shadow in place for a crazy amount of time.. I mean sleep in your makeup and your eye look is intact.
4.Studio Gear Hidden Agenda Concealer - A completely underrated concealer (and brand in general) I love using this to help hide dark under eye circles. It has a salmon tint that helps hide the blue tint your dark circles give off.
5.It cosmetics Celebration Foundation Illumination - My new favorite powder foundation! I never thought I would find a powder foundation that gives your skin a glow while giving complete flawless coverage. I already picked up a fresh one!
6. Korres Quercetin &Oak Antiageing Eye Primer - I bought this along with several other products from Korres, I was wanting to test out the range some wee hits some were misses. While this is a decent product it just doesn't hold up nearly as well as the Urban Decay Primer Potion.
7.Lorac Breakthrough Performance Foundation - I mostly used this foundation mixed in with others. It was a bit dark on me and the finish wasn't anything to write home about but it did mix nicely with other foundations to add a bit more of a yellow tone.
10. NYX Mineral Set It Don't Fret It - If you are looking for a inexpensive setting powder then this one to try out. It keeps my foundation and concealer set all day and is such an affordable product!
11.Not your Mother's Clean Freak - I go through a bottle of this dry shampoo every couple of weeks. It's the best dry shampoo I have found on the market!
13. L'Oreal Voluminous Mascara - A favorite drugstore mascara option, this is a go to for adding volume.
14. Tarte Lights Camera Flashes Mascara - This is one of my favorite mascaras of all time. I have gone through so many of these through the years! It adds amazing volume and length to the lashes.
15. YBF Perfect Prep Face Primer - This was a deluxe size sample from HSN.I had never tried anything from this brand was a fan of this primer. It helps fill in pores and create a smooth canvas for foundation.
16. Julep Glow Pore Minimizing Bronzer - I got this bronzer in a Julep Maven Box almost a year ago now and it has just finally run out. This is in the shade medium tan and gives a wonderful summer sun kissed glow to the skin.
17.Michael Todd Blue Green Algae Toner - This is my favorite toner, I use it day and night to help treat any acne blemishes. Michael Todd is one of my favorite skincare lines and I always keep back ups of this product so I am never without.
I picked up the Sephora Collection Beauty Closet during their VIB sale. I was drawn to this product because it was full of so many products I have been dying to try. I figured it would be better to try out a bunch of them before springing for the full size products. You can see my full review over on my NEW YOUTUBE CHANNEL! I hope you enjoy the video!
Here is what comes in the box:
Algenist Complete Eye Renewal Balm
Anastasia Beverly Hills Mini Clear Brow Gel
Full-size Ardency Inn MODSTER Smooth Ride Supercharged eyeliner in Gold
bareMinerals Mini READY™ Touch Up Veil Broad Spectrum SPF 15 in Translucent
Full-size Beautyblender® micro.mini sponge applicator
Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector™ in Opal
Bite Beauty BB for Lips in Flush
Elizabeth and James Nirvana Black eau de parfum rollerball
Full-size Formula X Nail Color in Fahrenheit
Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer
Josie Maran 100% Pure Argan Oil
Julep Freedom™ Polymer Top Coat
Lancôme Paris Lip Lover in 355 Framboise Etoile
Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 20 in Nude
Living Proof Prime Style Extender
Ole Henriksen® truth serum® collagen booster
SEPHORA COLLECTION Colorful Mono eye shadow in #32 Pop Idol
Smashbox Camera Ready BB Cream Broad Spectrum SPF 35 in Light/Medium
Stila Convertible Color in Peony
Tarte Amazonian clay waterproof bronzer in Park Ave Princess™
Too Faced Better Than Sex mascara
What I'm wearing from this kit:
Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer in Nude
Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector in Opal
Anastasia Beverly Hills Mini Clear Brow Gel
Ardency Inn MODSTER Smooth Ride Supercharged eyeliner in Gold
Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer
Too Faced Better Than Sex mascara
Lancôme Paris Lip Lover in 355 Framboise Etoile
After running out of the last serum I was using I decided to test something new out. I have used a whole slew of Philosophy products through out the years and was using the hope in a jar moisturizer so why not pick out another item from the line!
When Hope Is Not Enough is a facial firming serum that helps to improve the appearance of all those pesky signs of aging like sagging skin wrinkles and dull looking skin. Its formulated with glutathione, peptides, vitamin C and E, and soy. It's formulated without - Parabens, Sulfates, Synthetic Fragrances, Synthetic Dyes, Phthalates, GMOs and Triclosan.
This is a really lightweight formula that absorbs quickly into the skin. This type of formula means its good for day and night use. You wont be left feeling oily or like you have a lot of product on your face. As you can see it has a dropper style dispenser, to you just drop about 4 or 5 drops in your hands then apply all over your face and neck. I will forewarn you it does have a slightly unpleasant smell but it dissipates pretty quickly so you won't smell it for long.
Now I know I am relatively young but it is never to early to combat signs of aging. One change in my skin I had noticed was the firmness of my skin. It just didn't seem to be the same as it used to be, It felt thinner under my jawline and neck. Hence my interest in testing out a firming serum. After using the serum for a few months I can definitely say the tightness and firmness has improved. I wouldn't say this serum is a miracle product. It does take time and consistent use to see the improvement, but the improvement is there (and really this applies to most skincare).
I really went for it and picked up the jumbo 5.7 oz. size but it also comes in the standard 1 oz. that retails for $45.
Have you ever tried this product before? Any beauty recommendations? I would love to hear from you in the comments!
Years ago when BareMinerals first became popular I was a huge fan of their
mineral makeup. As I got older I ventured into other products and foundation
formulations and never really went back to Bare Minerals. I found that I really
preferred using a liquid foundation over the loose powder. When I heard that
BareMinerals was launching a liquid foundation I just couldn't wait to try it
out! The hype for this product was huge! You couldn't open a magazine or watch TV
without seeing or hearing about it. Over the months since its release I heard a
wide array of reviews from good to bad and finally caved and purchased it when
I saw it on QVC in this set.
Last week I mentioned in this post that I purchased some Michael Todd True Organics products. I was out of all my skincare products and decided to give this line a go. Michael Todd's products are all organic and have tons of reviews online and on YouTube. I have previously tried this night treatment from them, so I figured it can't hurt to try out the whole line. I picked up the oily skin set along with a daily Moisturizer. I figured I would split this up between my day and night time routine with these products so keep reading if you want to hear more about these products. As usual everything is linked!
Day Time
Charcoal Detox Face Cleanser- you can see my full review here. I use this to wash my face morning and night. all I can say is I love it!
Organic Lemon Toner- This toner is made with citrus like lemon and orange along with cranberries, the formula promises to tighten pores, clear skin and reduce dark spots. It contains AHA and DMAE to reduce fine lines and wrinkles.This toner smells so fresh and clean, I use this morning and night after cleansing my face. Not so harsh that my skin feels dried out (that's because there is no alcohol in it) it really just leaves my skin feeling perfectly balanced.
Moisture Lite Non Oily Lotion - This is the one product that didn't come with the Oily/Acne skin care kit. I needed a daily moisturizer and I was looking for something that was light enough to not leave my skin feeling heavy while still keeping my skin moisturized during the day. This has been the perfect addition to the other products I have been using. I only use this in the morning after washing and toning, the formula soaks into the skin nicely and makes my skin perfectly prepped for my foundation.
Night Time - I wash my face with the Charcoal Detox cleanser then use the Organic Lemon Toner just like my morning routine.
JoJoba Charcoal Facial Scrub - Not my favorite facial scrub but is still a great option especially if you are looking for an organic option. I think I just prefer a more intense scrub like philosophy's microdelivery exfoliating wash ( I mentioned it last here). I use this about once or twice a week to help get rid of dirt and skin cells that clog pores.
Kaolin Clay Detoxifying Facial Mask - This mask is seriously my new best friend. it's meant to tighten pores and deep clean the pores of dirt and bacteria. I will have to warn that this mask is not meant for sensitive skin. When you put this on and it starts to dry your face will tingle and sort of feel like its heating up. I personally love that about this because I feel like it is really doing its job. I like to use this after I use the facial scrub to get the best results. After washing this mask off my skin is left feeling so soft and clean.
Antioxidant Carrot Serum - This product is formulated to help control those with acne prone skin. Over the years I would always look for benzoyl peroxide products to try and dry up my acne but really I was destroying my skin by drying it out so much it started to become oilier. This serum uses natural ingredients like licorice extract to treat acne. I have noticed such a difference in my skin tone since using this product. I use this every night after washing and toning my face. If I do a mask or scrub this one goes on after those. In the last month I have seen my acne clear up and skin tone improved. I will definitely be keeping this one in my routine.
{The Oily skin set, you can purchase here for $70}
I couldn't be happier with my current skincare routine! I have always battled with my oily acne prone skin and I feel this line has really helped balance that out and reduce my breakouts. You can check out all of Michael Todd's products at Michaeltoddtrueorganics.com
These adorable nail polishes debuted a little while back and every time I am at the grocery store I am tempted to pick a couple up. Finally last week these were on special, that combined with the adorable packaging was too hard to resist. I scooped these up in two colors Ginger Melon and Apricot Nectar.
If you haven’t heard about these yet they are scented nail polishes from Revlon. I must admit I usually stick to the same couple of brands for polish ( Essie, Deborah Lippmann, Sally Hansen, and OPI) but the sweet apothecary style packaging on these drew me in and the fact they were scented was an interesting concept too.
Revlon has a full line of 24 shades to choose from ranging in scents from sweet and fruity to flowery and spicy. I really love both shades I picked up and think they are perfect for spring and summer. They apply nicely in thin even coats you can get away with two coats but they will look best if you apply three. These smell like regular polishes when wet but once dry are very fragranced. Ginger Melon is a very girly tropical pink (perfect with a summer tan) and smells like cotton candy when dry. It is super sweet so if that is your thing I would recommend this. Personally it is a little too sweet but I really love the color.
Apricot Nectar is a lovely coral cantaloupe shade that I think is very similar to Essie’s Tarte Deco (a total favorite of mine!) Apricot Nectar is scented much lighter and with more floral notes and I actually quite like it a lot. The scent lasts for a few days and I definitely catch myself sniffing my nails while at work (which I am sure looks very strange to my co-workers!). In all I really like these polishes, the color range is great and I don’t mind them being scented one bit. I would buy the whole line just to display these cuties on my counter! These should be readily available at your drugstore or Ulta if not you can buy online from Revlon.com.
April's box was all about bright fun colors for spring and summer. I decided to take a break from nail polish and chose the all make up box (Modern Beauty). My box came in last week and as usual I was a kid in a candy store when opening it. My box came with the light diffusing pore minimizing blush and bronzer. I saw a preview of these two on Instagram (yes I follow Julep on Instagram @julepmaven)before the monthly selection window opened and I knew I had to get them! My blush came in the color Peach Bellini and the bronzer in Medium tan.
So what's all the hoopla about these babies? Well according to Julep they are part of the new jewel dusted line which are enhanced with diamond powder ( diamonds, real diamonds!) They claim this diamond powder helps give a dewy sparkle that minimizes the appearance of pores among other things.
{P.S. the nail polish I am wearing is also from Julep it's called Elisa. I mentioned it in my March favorites here}
Glow Blush in Peach Bellini: I was really excited to get this color in my box. (The other color was a much brighter pink which I have many similar colors in my collection already.) Peach Bellini is the perfect peach pink that has the slightest shimmer that gives just enough radiance to the cheeks. I am always straddling the line between too glittery and too matte, this one is the perfect compromise! The formulation is amazingly soft and pigmented. It does have some fall out from the powder being extremely soft but that is fine with me because the texture is smooth as butter. You only need the slightest tap of this on your brush to achieve the perfect blushed cheeks. This is definitely my new favorite blush.
Glow Bronzer in Medium Tan: A girl can never have too many bronzers, so I was more than excited to receive this in my April box. I was pleasantly surprised with the texture of this bronzer. It is just as soft and buttery as the blush. The color is a bit lighter than I thought it would be so this might not be the best color option for those with darker skin tones. With that being said it is a great color for my fairer complexion. I barely have to use any to achieve color pay off and it blends like a dream. This bronzer give a nice lit-from within glow that this girl loves.
Both of these were a total steal in this months maven box at 19.99. The blush retails for $24.00 and the Bronzer for $28.00. If you are interested in either of these beauties you can go here and use code GLOW25 and receive 25% off. As always if you are interested in signing up for the monthly box you can go HERE and take the intro survey (if you end up signing up I do get points) use code FREEBOX to get your first box free!
I have long been a fan of the Tarte product line. Last week I mentioned a recent QVC purchase of Tarte products. One of the main reasons I bought the set was to try out the CC primer. About a year ago I jumped on the bb/cc cream bandwagon and had tried out a few different brands and really loved the concept. I have acne scaring and some hyperpigmentation that I like to cover up so a CC cream seamed the natural thing to try.This CC primer claims to brighten skin, even skin tone, blur imperfections and neutralize redness and discoloration all while giving a soft, matte finish. Sounds pretty perfect right? I should also mention that all of Tarte’s products are paraben free which is always a plus in my book!
To use this product you just apply the stick applicator to your face starting in the center and blending out. I like to use my fingers but you could use a brush if you preferred. Easy peasy! Honestly Tarte did a great job with packaging this one, you can take this anywhere for touch ups and the stick formula is completely no hassle. I have really enjoyed using this primer; it really does work as described! The color correcting aspect evens out my skin tone and gives me an overall brighter appearance. I am left with lines and pores nicely blurred and the formulation glides right on but isn’t so slick I feel my foundation will slide right off. The formula also won’t leave your face feeling weighed down and is nice and breathable.
I like to use this solely as a primer and wear it under my foundation. I did read a lot of reviewers who felt they were able to wear this on its own but for me it isn’t quite enough coverage. This does wear pretty well through the day, I do find touching up a bit more with my powder during the day but this product doesn’t claim to be 12hr + long lasting so this was to be expected. One thing I find common with Tarte products is their color range is a bit darker than you think. Normally I am a medium beige range but in Tarte products I have to buy products in fair. Overall I would definitely re-purchase this and if you have problems with redness and other discoloration you might want to test this product out!
Have you ever tried this product? Love another CC cream? Leave me a comment I’d love to hear from you!
I am on a continuous hunt for the perfect bronzer. A couple of years ago I decided to quit using tanning beds so I am always looking for the best bronzers to keep me from looking my palest. I decided to pick up this bronzer from Bare minerals after finally chunking out my last bronzer that didn’t work to well (fyi it was this one from NYX). I read a lot of reviews on line and headed over to Ulta to do some serious swatching.
I ended up deciding on Bareminerals Ready Bronzer in The High Dive. I was drawn to this one for the waterproof formula that claims to last up to 8 hours. With any of my makeup purchases key words I look for are waterproof and long lasting. I have oily/combination skin and need to count on my makeup not sliding all over my face by lunch time. I love the sleek black matte packaging and the nice big mirror in this compact is a definite plus in my book.
The color of this bronzer is a perfect golden bronze not too matte or shimmery. I went with the darker of the two shades they offer since its spring now and summer comes pretty fast here in Texas. I wanted something that would work for when I have a bit of a tan on my own. I have been using this for a couple of weeks now and I am obsessed. The formulation of this bronzer is so buttery and smooth. I can use it as an allover color or as a contour, either way this blends out so effortlessly and leaves you looking perfectly bronzed. I highly recommend picking this one up! What are your favorite bronzers? I always love a good recommendation!
I bought this night cream quite some time ago and used it for a couple months until I purchased something new and then this was pushed to the back of the drawer. A couple weeks ago I cleaned out all my beauty products and decided that I would dust this off and start using it again before it expires. I have to say I completely forgot how much I enjoyed using this product! I had heard a multitude of reviews for Michael Todd True Organics on YouTube and had found a promotion to get this product on discount (which you can always find discounts for this brand online just search for “Michael Todd True Organics Coupons”).
Here’s a rundown of what they describe this product to be. “Promotes healing, repair and natural collagen and elastin production over time for reduced density, volume and depth of wrinkles and loss of elasticity. Powerful antioxidants protect against further damage. The result - gorgeous skin that radiates youth. Our formulations are made without added water, parabens, sulfates, artificial dye or synthetic fragrance. Never tested on animals.”
This product is simply amazing! The formulation is not too heavy or greasy so it’s just perfect for my oily/combination skin type. You immediately feel your face tightening once this product is on and your skin starts to absorb it. This product really evened out my skin tone ( a major point in my skincare routine as I have hyperpigmentation from acne and other scarring) and left my face feeling toned and tight after a week or so of use. I don’t know why it took me so long to start using this product again because I love it! At regular price this is $150 dollars which is way more than I would be willing to pay to be honest but like I said above I always find discounts on livinsocial.com or Groupon.com usually bringing the cost down to around 30 dollars. I even decided to go back to the True Organics website and try out some new products, so be sure to keep an eye out for those soon! I also received a 25% off code (25off4me) this is good till midnight tonight so if you are interested in picking anything up now is the time!
Everyone loves a great looking tan. I always feel my best when I have that just back from vacation bronze. When I was younger I would tan in tanning beds but as I got older and wiser I knew that this was my skins enemy. I haven’t used a tanning bed in years and instead I resort to the self –tanner method. I try to keep up with a weekly schedule of using self-tanners and have reviewed several brands in the past (currently I’m testing out a new brand so keep an eye out for that.) but sometimes a girl doesn’t have the time! For those times my go to product is Lorac’s TANtalizer.
Lorac TANtalizer Body BronzerLuminizer is a streak-free body bronzer that gives you the most amazing glow. It’s an instant tan that only needs a few minutes to dry. This product goes on evenly and can even be mixed in with your everyday lotion if you want a lighter application. You have to know going into this product that it is not a self-tanner; this product will wash away when you take a shower. For the most part I never have issues with this rubbing off on my clothes (as long as you let it dry for a few minutes before dressing). I seriously love using this on my legs it gives such a nice luminizing effect that I pretty much use this every day during the summer. I usually just buy the small bottle and it lasts me a pretty long time since the smallest amount is needed.
Lorac Face Self Tantalizer:I recently picked up the Face Self TANtalizer to try out since I have loved the regular TANtalizer so much. This is supposed to be a gradual face self-tanner, so the more you use it you will build up a tan. This is also a bronze color so you will get an instant tan as well. While I do like this product it’s not as great as my beloved TANtalizer body bronzer. At first I was a bit worried with the dark color and while rubbing it in I found that it seemed a bit splotchy and not a smooth application (as always I exfoliated beforehand so this wouldn’t be the reason for the splotches). After a few minutes of it adjusting to my skin the splotches tended to disappear. I do find that it’s a little too much of a red base for me but still works well when I wear a foundation over it. As for the gradual tan build up I have yet to see any real tan form so that seems to be a bit of a bummer. It’s not the best product but definitely not the worst either. I did get this on sale so it wasn’t a huge bust for me. If I were you I would stick to trying out the TANtalizer Body Bronzer.
This months box was the Riviera Collection which is filled with fun colors for spring and summer, each box came with two polish colors and one Lip gloss. I love that the Julep boxes always ship so fast! I received this box last Monday and was ecstatic to open up the box and see what I got! Right now Julep has a mystery box featuring a 100 dollars worth of products for 24.99 (you get to pick 1 St. Patricks day themed polish and the rest is a surprise!). I seriously love getting these boxes at 19.99 they are a steal, this months products would cost you almost 50 dollars if you bought them separately!Like always if you are interested in signing up you can take this Quiz and get your first box free with code FreeBox.
Julep Lip Gloss in Adored- I love Julep lip glosses! they are not sticky in the least bit and smell like yummy vanilla! Adored is a perfect bubble gum pink. This gloss is sheer and looks perfect over nude lips or paired with a pink toned lipstick.
Julep polish in Elisa (Purple Shade) - This is a crème polish that is described as a Soft wisteria shimmer. I currently am wearing this shade and have gotten so many compliments on it the last few days! Its perfectly on trend for spring time! So far the staying power has been great, usually nail polish tends to chip after a day or two but this has stayed on chip free for almost 5 days now!
Julep Polish in Harriet (Coral Shade) - This polish is also a crème finish and is described as Guava Coral. This polish is nicely pigmented and covers perfectly with only two coats. I already know I will be wearing this color all summer long!
This was a limited edition set part of the Wonder Vision series Smashbox put out for the holidays. This set included five of Smashbox's luxe, high-shine lip enhancing glosses. I picked this up on sale at Ulta for a whole 14 dollars! That's right I definitely scored on this purchase. The set comes with 3 cream finishes and 2 shimmer finishes. The glosses have great pigmentation and the color range works well on there own or paired with your favorite lipstick. The colors in this set are Radiant, Pout, Tease, Luster and Ruby. These glosses go on incredibly smooth and don't leave your lips feeling sticky at all. You can still find this set on Amazon or find these and other colors in this line at Smashbox.
Radiant: A rose color with a beautiful golden shimmer, this one really enhances your lips with a great shine.
Ruby: This is more of a true red and gives off great color but is more sheer than wearing an opaque lipstick.
Tease: This is an amazing deep berry color. This is similar to Ruby as it has a definite color payoff. This is great to use when you want a berry colored lip but no so bold.
Pout: A cream finish, and is a pale baby pink color which comes off sheerer than the others so it perfect for just a hint of color.
Luster: Is the other shimmer shade in this set and is an amazing shimmer sheer gloss that looks great on it own and really enhances any color you may put it over.
A couple weeks back I attended an event for the Ronald McDonald House Houston. The theme was girls night out and they had all sorts of beauty related booths set up for everyone to try out. I naturally was super excited when I saw that the DIOR counter was one of the booths. Of course I signed right up to get a make over. While the makeup artist was working her magic I explained to her that I always felt I picked the wrong shade of lip color and was open to any suggestions she had. Instinctively she told me I had to pick up the lip glow. A balm that enhances the natural color of your lips, reacting to the chemistry of them you get the perfect shade every time. I was sold! This product doesn't disappoint. Lip Glow leaves your lips satiny smooth and the perfect shade of natural pink to wear everyday. The color has great staying power and sometimes I will add a clear gloss for a little something extra. I have been slathering this on my lips obsessively and I suggest you do the same. You can purchase this online or at a DIOR counter nearest you.
A couple weeks ago I told y'all about a gift with purchase for Lancome at Dillards. I received my order so fast, literally with in three days.I ordered two things along with receiving the free gift.
1. The Effacernes Waterproof Protective Under Eye Concealer – this concealer comes in a .52 oz squeeze tube and Lancome describes it as a long wearing, crease resistant, hydrating, and a soft matte finish. I think this concealer works really well. It offers good coverage with out looking to cakie. It goes on smoothly and can be built up from a sheer coverage to a heavier one. I have worn it for about a week and a half and can attest to the staying power. I use under eye concealer everyday and don’t think I could live without it. The only problem with this product is the price at. I think there are other concealers that could give just as good a coverage for a cheaper price.
2. Hypnose Doll Lashes Mascara – This mascara contains .22 oz of product and claims to give volumized extended and lifted lashes. First I will say I have never tried a Lancome mascara before so I was extremely excited to try one out, I decided to get the Hypnose Doll Lashes because the tapered brush intrigued me. I felt it could really help get into the small inner and out corners. This mascara is very lengthening but I find it isn’t very volumizing at all. This made me a little disappointed because I am often a two types of mascara kind of gal and had high hopes this one would do it all. I do think this is still a great mascara for lengthening, making my already long lashes really stick out. The price is a bit expensive but if you like that look it is worth the money.
The Gift with purchase came with six items including an adorable blue and green bag that is great for summer make up storage. I chose these products out of several different options. I haven’t had a chance to really test out these products yet but I will keep you posted on the ones that impress me.
1. La Base Pro – A perfecting makeup primer with a smoothing effect and oil free. I have used this pretty much everyday since I got it. I was getting tired of using my other primer so this was a nice switch in my routine. Its a good primer although I don't see anything that makes it stand out against others.
2. Star Bronzer Natural Glow in shade 01 Lumiere - This is great to take when traveling since its the perfect mini size. The color is nice although I usually prefer a matte bronzer and this has some gold shimmer in it. I do think the gold shimmer is nice for a summer time glow.
3. Color Design Lipstick in "It" Girl sheen - I have not used this yet but the color seems to be a nice peachy pink shimmer and could be a good light everyday color.
4. Bright Expert Dark Spot Corrector and Radiance Activator- For all skin types, instructions say to apply to entire face AM and PM under your regular moisturizer. I have used this everyday twice a day since it arrived and I can already see the difference in my skin. It has really reduced the appearance of my skins acne scarring and I will be most definitely buying this product full size.
5. Genifique Eye Youth Activating Eye Concentrate- For all skin types, instructions say to pat daily morning and night over brow bone and under eyes. I seem to have a few eye creams in my cabinet so I have only tested this out a couple times. I do notice a slight decrease in my dark circles when I use this and would probably work really well with consistent use.
The clarisonic is pretty much a cult product that I am sure everyone has read many reviews over. With this being said I still want to give my opinion on this product. I bought the clarisonic back in November from QVC. I have wanted to purchase the clarisonic for quite some time reading many articles and blog posts on the amazingness of the tool. For me it was all about trying to clear up my skin, I have oily skin most of the time. I am very prone to breaking out and seeing that I am 22 I really want to get it more under control. I thought that the clarisonic would help with this by cleaning my skin of every impurity and stitch of makeup off my face every day.
Now I must say that while I do like the clarisonic and have seen improvement in the texture of my skin it has not really helped improve my breakouts. My skin is much softer now and absorbs moisturizers much better and I could tell the difference with this almost instantly. On the other hand my face still breaks out just as much as it did before and I know what your thinking yes but it has a "purging" stage where you will get some bumps here and there as the impurities in your face make their way out….. well I can say that I definitely went through this stage and was miserable I had so many spots pop up I almost gave up on the clarisonic, but I resisted and kept using it.
Over all I would say that this is a pretty good tool and I do feel like my skin is in much better shape than it was before. I am still working on other aspects of my cleansing routine and maybe I will find the perfect combination of products and tools that will help combat those nasty spots that pop up. I will keep you all updated as I figure out what works and what doesn’t. You can buy the Clarisonic in different version at several stores including Ulta, QVC, and Sephora. Do y'all have any rave worthy skin care products that are worth a try?
