February 2014 Beauty Favorites (Video)

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Fresh Seaberry Moisturizing Face Oil Review

My love for facial oils initiated a couple of years ago when I was introduced to the Clarins Blue Orchid Face Oil. I was extremely hesitant, like most people with combination/oily skin, to add oil to my skin. The idea of it seemed absurd to me, but then again, I was clueless as to how certain oils could actually benefit the skin, and even better, control the production of sebum. 

I'm excited to review the Fresh Seaberry Moisturizing Face Oil because I have literally used it every single day for the last three months. Which says a lot considering I tend to switch things up for testing reasons. Enjoy. 

There's Something About Kevyn Aucoin

I have never felt so strong about a foundation before. Actually, I have never felt so strong about a makeup product in general. Most things come and go. I fall in love with a blusher, and then the feeling subsides as my attention shifts towards another makeup product.

How To: Achieve A Sexy Glow

Glowing skin looks like healthy skin, which is why it's what I always try to look for when I do my makeup, regardless of what eyeshadows or lipstick I go for.

If you're a follower, you know this already: I have combination skin. My t-zone tends to get oily and sometimes even dry, while my cheeks are normal. But even those with combination or oily skin can go for dewy looks-- it's all about the products you use and the order in which you use them. 

I've compiled some tips and tricks for you, and at the end of the post I will show you one of my current favorite highlighters. If you're interested, continue reading.

Boscia Super Cool De-Puffing Eye Balm

My Vichy Aqualia Thermal Eye-Roll On and my Clinique All About Eyes Serum have been tossed to a side. I introduce you to my new favorite under-eye de-puffer: Boscia Super Cool De-Puffing Eye Balm. This stuff is a-m-a-z-i-n-g.

I had my eye on it about a month ago, and decided to get it a few days later. Boy, oh boy. 

If you're interested in this little gem, continue reading.

April Favorites

Products Mentioned
- Illamasqua Cream Blusher shade Brazen
- Dior Creme De Rose
- Urban Decay Naked Palette
- Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick shade Beso
- Pureology Serious Colour Hair Hydrating Shampoo and Conditioner
- Desert Essence Coconut Soft Curls Hair Cream
- Kate Somerville Eradikate
- Lush Mint Julips
- Fresh Seaberry Moisturizing Face Oil
- Philosophy When Hope Is Not Enough
- Deep Steep Rosemary Mint Dry Oil
- Aura Cacia Peppermint Harvest Refreshing Aromatherapy Mist

An Important Mention

Hi everyone!

Quick post today just to show you a video on someone who has been such an inspiration lately. 

I've never taken any makeup lessons/courses. I've simply always adored makeup and have learned everything that I know thanks to: Wayne Goss, Lisa Eldridge, Ruth Crilly, the Pixiwoo sisters, Emily Noel and Jaclyn Hill.

I found Jaclyn randomly on YouTube. I fell in love with her videos because she takes the time to explain you every single step she does in her makeup routine, her videos have great quality (including very close zooms when she does her eyemakeup) and I think she's just the queen on blending. She has made me really appreciate neautrals - which I think it's already a given if you follow me on Instagram. 

I want you to learn what I've learnt, which is why I'm sharing this with you today. If you have a particular adoration for someone on YouTube, please let me know! 

Thanks so much for your support. I can't come up with the right words, but I'm genuinely very thankful, flattered and happy. I never thought I'd ever receive the positive feedback I've received from all of you. 

Philosophy Turbo Booster C Powder Review

The benefits of Vitamin C for the skin and overall health have been around for a long time. A strong antioxidant powerful enough to slow the rate of free radical damage, which are basically molecules that harm and decrease collagen production and cause the skin to become dry. Dryness on the skin causes  fine lines and wrinkles. Which brings me to the next point: many skin care brands nowadays include vitamin c in their products. But wouldn't it be nice to be able to add and control the amount of vitamin C in your favorite serums and/or lotions? Philosophy allows us to do it!

Turbo Booster C Powder by Philosophy is a 99.8% high potency topical Vitamin C which is mixed fresh daily with your SPF, water-based moisturizer or serum of choice. Simple as that.

You're probably wondering what it looks like. 

It's a white powder. It looks yellow on the last picture because the glass bottle has a yellow tint to it. 

I've had this bottle for five months with perhaps 2-3 weekly use and I still have a long way to go.

I have written about this product on Instagram in the past, and the most common question that I got was: What happens when you mix it with something else? Doesn't it look white on the skin?

So... 

How do you use it?

The product comes with a little tool to scoop some product from the bottle. 1/2 scoop is recommended for sensitive skin or beginners, while an entire scoop is advisable for the rest. 

I use an entire scoop because my skin is now accustomed to the product. 

Note: When I first started using it, it stung a little bit, but it was tolerable and it went away usually after a minute or two. I no longer feel any stinging whatsoever.

I usually mix it with my Effaclar Mat moisturizer by La Roche Posay.

As you can see in the picture below, the product dissolves, leaving no residues on the skin. 

Note: It does feel sticky for about a minute or two, then you're left with soft skin. It is fragrance-free.

Benefits of Vitamin C For Skin

As I mentioned earlier, Vitamin C is a well-known antioxidant that protects the skin against environmental attacks. Aside from preventing premature aging, it also helps with hyper-pigmentation by brightening and evening out the skin tone.  

I did not believe this at first, but it has been a surprise to my eyes how radiant my skin looks minutes after adding the Vitamin C + Lotion to my face: my skin glows without any makeup. I can tell a difference in the appearance of my skin when I don't mix my moisturizer with Vitamin C. Of course, I love the results with the added powder, but I also love knowing that I'm putting something extremely good on my skin. 

I have been naughty in the past and have skipped SPF when going to the beach or just when wondering around the city. Never again, of course. The point is, I do have uneven skin tone. The sun has clearly damaged my skin. After using this product for several months, I have noticed an improvement in my skin tone. It definitely looks better than it did before.

Another benefit of using Vitamin C on your skin is that it shields it from sunburn caused by exposure to ultraviolet B radiation, thus, preventing consequences caused by long-term sun exposure which is the main cause of skin cancer. 

My Thoughts

I love Philosophy as a brand, and I am glad they have this available for everyone. I don't have any negative comments to say about this product. I think it's a great because it's preventative. It doesn't leave a residue or film on the skin. Also, it has never broken me out despite the fact I have sensitive acne-prone skin. Regardless of how old you are, you should always protect your skin from the sun. 

I hope you found this post useful. As always, thank you for taking the time to read what I write. 

Have a wonderful day! x

REN No.1 Purity Cleaning Balm Review

Hi everyone!

Those who follow me on Blogger or Instagram are familiar with the fact that I love the REN No.1 Purity Cleansing Balm. For those who are new readers, it is a cleansing balm that I got little over a month ago. Despite the fact I loved it the first time I tried it, and it even made it to my January Favorites, I wanted to test it out for a little while and give you a real, in depth opinion about it. So consider this an update, and I will write another one in a couple of months to tell you how my skin has reacted to it long-term. 

What is it?

A rose-infused rich balm for all skin types that turns into an oil once massaged to a skin, then a milk once you add water. 

You get a massive amount of 150ml that comes in a big plastic jar. As I mentioned earlier, I have been using this for a little over a month - daily - and I still have lots left. 

What is the texture like?

It feels like a balm but it easily transforms into an oil. 

It's good to know that...

- It has NO: petrochemicals, sulfates, parabens, synthetic fragrance, synthetic colors or silicones. 

- It's based off almond oil which is very good for your skin. 

- Other skin-friendly ingredients include: roman chamomile, rose oil, shea butter, castor oil, grapefruit oil, lemon oil, tangerine oil, lime oil, sunflower oil, tangerine oil and vitamin E. 

- It includes a muslin cloth meaning that you get to cleanse and gently exfoliate the skin using just this product. 

- This product has not broken me out. 

- This product dissolves make-up.

- Even though REN states this even dissolves water-proof eye-makeup, I wouldn't let this get into my eyes because it does sting. 

- All the natural essential oils will condition your eyebrows and eyelashes.

How do you use it?

Apply an almond-size to your fingertips and gently massage it to your skin for one or two minutes. 

The consistency will turn oily once you massage it. 

Once you're done massaging, add some warm water to emulsify into a rich milk. Thin grab the muslin cloth the product comes with and run warm water over it.

Use the dampened cloth to remove the product off your skin. 

Who would love this?

- Those who love rose scents.

- Those who have the patience to cleanse their face for a minute or two.

- Those who want to try natural products. 

- Those who love oils. 

Why is it a favorite?

I have combination skin, but dry areas on the skin means that they are dehydrated, and after using tons of acne-prone-skin cleansers for years, I knew that its harsh ingredients were stripping away my skin's natural oils, thus, my skin was becoming thirsty. 

I decided to step away from heavily-fragranced cleansers or cleansers that were full of very harsh ingredients and I wanted to try out more natural products. Cleansing the skin is an extremely important step in achieving a healthy-looking complexion. If I could give you all one of my top beauty secrets, it would be: never go to bed without washing your face and removing all traces of makeup. 

I don't use this product to remove eye-makeup. I'd rather use by Bioderma Sensibio Micellar Water just because it's the only product I find removes my eye-makeup without irritating my sensitive eyes. So, I first remove my eye-makeup with the Bioderma Sensibio, and then I cleanse my skin with the REN Cleansing Balm.

I love this product so much because it has made a significant difference to my skin texture and appearance. Immediately after cleansing my skin, it feels plump and smooth, not tight. My skin glows because it's been gently cleansed and nourished. 

Some long-term changes I have noticed are: less breakouts and more even-looking and softer skin. Your skin should look radiant without makeup. This product gives you that. 

And remember: adding additional oils to your skin isn't bad. If you choose the right ones, they can balance out the skin. So don't be scared if you have combination to oily skin!

I use the REN Cleansing Balm once a day (at night). 

Official Website

http://www.renskincare.com/

Thank you so much for taking the time to read, as always. I'm off to bed after finishing watching the Grammy's. Have a lovely night, and have a lovely morning to those who are reading from the other side of the world. x

A New Favorite: Farmhouse Fresh One Fine Day Flawless Face Polish Review

Hello!

I am excited to share with you this amazing product. I was introduced to it by a local cosmetologist and I immediately fell in love.

Farmhouse Fresh is a brand that originated in Texas, USA. They have a wide range of products that are 90-99% natural. They gained a lot of recognition once they were featured in Oprah's magazine, claiming that it is one of her favorite brands. 

On to the product...

What is it?

One Fine Day is a 98.5% natural cleanser/exfoliator that is powerful enough to remove dirt, oil and impurities, gentle enough to remove dead cells with sugar and moisturizing enough to leave your skin dewy afterwards.

You get 6 oz. of product in a fairly large and heavy glass container. 

What is the texture like? 

Gooey. I hadn't used that word in a while...but yes, it's gooey and somewhat sticky. It goes on clear, but once you start rubbing it in, it turns into a white paste that washes off easily with water.

It's good to know that...

- Sugar gently exfoliates.

- The skin is moisturized with amazing goodies such as: castor oil, shea butter, grapefruit oil, lemon oil, lime oil, tangerine oil, vanilla oil, sunflower oil and vitamin E. 

- It's paraben-free, sulfate-free and gluten-free.
- It has no synthetic fragrances.

- It doesn't strip off your skin's natural oils, therefore, you won't get that "tight" feeling after cleansing. 

- It is gentle enough for daily use. 

- The skin GLOWS afterwards, and it feels SO smooth!

- The scent is absolutely amazing. Fruity and vanilla-ish, but not over-powering. 

- A little goes a very long way. 

- This is a great product to use before a mask as it will open up pores.

- This product has not broken me out. 

How do you use it?

- Apply to face and neck using circular motions, then rinse with warm water. Follow with your favorite moisturizer. 

Why is it a favorite?

I love the fact that it contains so many natural ingredients - I don't feel like I'm adding more junk to my face. Instead, I can feel the sugar exfoliating my skin and the oils moisturizing. I had been using an Avene cleanser in the morning (Cleanance Range - for acne) and my skin would feel so tight afterwards. On the other hand, after using One Fine Day, I am left with a radiant complexion that feels ultra-soft. 

Official Website: 

http://www.farmhousefreshgoods.com/index.html

Thanks for reading! Goodnight! x

Andalou Pumpkin Honey Glycolic Mask Review

If your complexion is dull and lacking luster, you will love this mask. And if you can tolerate the smell of pumpkin pie (I like it!).

Interested? Read more!

Dior Crème de Rose Smoothing Plumping Lip Balm Review

If you follow me on Instagram, you already know the Dior Creme de Rose Lip Balm made it to my Top 2012 Beauty Products - and I only had a few.

I normally wouldn't purchase a Dior "lip balm", but I'm always hunting for the perfect lip balm. I have a bad habit of biting my lips, so they tend to get dry and chapped easily.

I absolutely love everything about this - its rosy scent, smooth texture and amazing results.  Definitely the best lip product I've used. It's more of a treatment and it makes my lips feel luscious and soft.

Interested in finding out more? Continue reading!

Clarins Blue Orchid Treatment Oil

Yes, I have mentioned before that I have combination skin. So, why put an oil on my face? Especially one that's meant for Dehydrated Skin?

Let me share my story: for a long time, I was stubborn about moisturizing my face because my skin was so oily. I would say to myself "Why put anything on your skin? It's just going to make it oilier!"
Then I started getting these weird dry patches on some areas of my skin, and others would be oily.

I love Clarins. I've always had. I think they have natural, incredible and very effective products. I had read about this treatment oil before the face oil trend came out. 100% natural pure plant extracts and zero preservatives? That is sounds lovely. This wonderful product contains:

• Rosewood, Patchouli and Blue Orchid: tone the skin and restore its radiance
• Hazelnut Oil: helps prevent moisture loss and the formation of fine lines 

What a lovely and healthy cocktail for the skin! I gave it a shot and I got it. Interested? Keep reading!

My Top 4 YouTube Beauty Gurus

The beauty industry has become a lot more interactive thanks to all the wonderful technological advances. You no longer have to be sitting in a classroom or read a book to learn all the secrets from professional make-up artists.

The following people are extremely hard workers who are modest while successful. All four are British - randomly, I swear! For some reason, I've fallen in love with these people thanks to their genuine opinions, quirkiness, sense of humor and immense talent and creativity. I have truly learned a lot from each and one of them.

Lets check 'em out!