Why I Picked Up the New Fresh Seaberry Skin Nutrition Cleansing Oil

It is no surprise that I love cleansing oils. Not only do they break up makeup very easily, but some actually have very nourishing ingredients for the skin. That leads me to a very important (but subjective) fact: I mostly use cleansing oils as "skin" cleansers instead of just using them to remove my makeup. But why? First of all, it motivates me and reminds me to massage my face instead of wasting the product. Facial massages have an array of benefits and if you've never tried to do them yourself, I highly encourage you to. I love this video by Lisa Eldridge and this other video I found on the Into the Gloss YouTube channel. Secondly, by taking my time to massage the cleansing oil onto my skin, I'll be allowing the ingredients to fully sink in and actually do something to my skin. What's the point of spending so much money on a cleanser if you're just going to slather it on for less than 10 seconds and then let it go down the drain? A third reason why I love cleansing oils so much is because they do a really good job at removing any SPF residue or oils/dirt from the skin while maintaining the moisture levels on your skin instead of stripping it. 

Whenever I shop for a skincare product, I do my research ahead. I'm one of those who stalks the internet for new launches simply because I genuinely adore beauty products. As soon as I saw that there was a cleansing oil by Fresh in the Seaberry family (I've been a HUGE fan of their Seaberry Oil for many years), I jumped and instantly went to the ingredient list on Sephora.com. That's when I fell in love. That's when I knew I had to pick this up on a whim. 

Yes, I have to admit the name is great marketing because it definitely influenced my decision in purchasing it, however I am never fooled by names and I always read and research the ingredients. And that is what I would like to break down for you. My first impressions on this cleanser and why I think it's worth the $42. 

Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, PEG-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate, Caprylic/Capric/Succinic Triglyceride, Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil, Hippophae Rhamnoides Oil, Nigella Sativa Seed Oil, Vaccinium Macrocarpon (Cranberry) Seed Oil, Bixa Orellana Seed Extract, Haberlea Rhodopensis Leaf Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tocopherol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Fragrance, Water, BHT, Benzyl Alcohol, Dehydroacetic Acid, Limonene, Linalool, Citral.

Above is the ingredient list from Sephora.com

The fact that the first ingredient is grape seed oil was a huge bonus for me. Grape seed oil is a great  moisturizing and anti-inflammatory antioxidant. It is also rich in Vitamin E and Omega-6. Camellia seed oil is another great antioxidant which contains Omegas 3, 6 and 9 and essential vitamins like A, B, D and E. Hippophae rhamnoides oil is also known as "seabuckthorn oil" has healing and anti-flammatory properties, omegas 3, 6, 7 and 9, vitamins A and E, and it also helps the skin against UV radiation and free-radical damage. Bixa orellana is an antioxidant. Nigella sativa is also known as "black seed oil" and contains Vitamins A, B, C, potassium, mangensium, calcium and zinc, all which contribute to skin's recovery and repair while also helping remove impurities. Cranberry seed oil is a fabulous anti-oxidant that contains omegas 3 and 6 fatty acids which support skin's hydration. It also has tocotrienols and tocopherols which are a form of Vitamin E. Haberlea rhodopensis leaf extract soothes and repairs the skin. 

So as you can see, this is no ordinary cleansing oil. Because of such excellent ingredients, I have decided to solely use this cleansing oil as a second cleanse or when I want to give myself a long facial massage. It would be a WASTE to leave this on your face just for a few seconds. 

I used it today and really enjoyed its texture. It's an oily-oil that has great slip for massage and left my skin feeling ultra-soft, moisturized and balanced as opposed to other cleansing oils that make my skin feel tight afterwards, like the Tatcha Camellia Cleansing Oil (which might be best for combination-oily skin). And for the record, my skin was patchy and sore today from retinol treatments. I did not feel any discomfort while cleansing my skin nor after rinsing it off, and because of this, I highly recommend this cleanser for those with dry or very dry skin. 

I do want to point out that this has fragrance to it and I am terrible at describing scents, so I'm not even going to try to do that. It does smell very similar to the Fresh Seaberry Oil. If you're picky about scents, I would suggest you either go to your local Sephora or Nordstrom to smell it in person. Personally, the smell doesn't bother me, but everyone is different.

I am excited to own this cleanser and I look forward to telling you more about it in a few weeks! 

Shop it on the Fresh website.

PS: FRESH! If you're reading, please make a travel size of this as it would be perfect to throw in a gym bag! 

Beating the Hangover Part 2

I've never been a big drinker. To be honest, I only like beer and red wine and hate the taste of anything strong or anything "burning". However, I will have water most of the time when I go out.

Last week, my boyfriend's best friend came to visit and I had a little too much to drink. I had never, ever gone to bed with my makeup on. I woke up at 4am, saw myself in the mirror, cringed (and took off all my makeup) and then was unable to sleep for the rest of the night. I truly felt like shit. Add to that the following cherry on the top: I got my period later that day resulting in excruciating cramps. It was bad. 

That's why I came up with the idea to either a) write a post or b) make a video on "Beating the Hangover". I went with "a".

Tip #1: Stay hydrated.

When you drink alcohol, your body gets dehydrated. It's most likely you'll be feeling nauseous and dizzy the next day. Drink plenty of water. More than usual. 

Tip #2: Cleanse deeply.

I love oil-based cleansers. Oil acts like a magnet trapping dirt, makeup and excess oil. If you went to bed with your makeup on, remove it as soon as you can. I love using the Tatcha Camellia Cleansing Oil because it doesn't irritate my sensitive eyes (I wear contacts), it doesn't leave an oily film, breaks down all my waterproof makeup and doesn't dry out my skin. I'm already on my fourth bottle. 

 Tip #3: Exfoliate and use your favorite face mask.

Spoil yourself. Exfoliate your skin before using a face mask. The Nude Detox Brightening Fizzy Powder Wash is a treat for the skin. Mix a little bit with water and apply it to your skin using circular motions. It has stabilized vitamin C, so it will instantly brighten the skin, but it's also loaded with hydrating agents and you can actually feel the oils as you're rinsing your skin.

I followed up with the Arcona Tea Tree Mask. I've raved about this mask so much and I still think it's an underrated product. You never hear anyone talking about this yet it's so damn good; so good I'm about to repurchase it for the fifth time very soon. It is minty, refreshing, cooling and a total spa-like product that instantly delivers results. But use a mask that you love. Your skin needs the extra TLC during a horrible hangover!

Tip #4: Add extra weightless moisture to the skin - both eye, face and neck area.

I have been using eye serums since last year and love them. They add extra moisture under the eyes - the area that shows how tired you really are. I have been using the HydraFacial MD ETX Age-Refining Eye Gel and find it moisturizing and tightening. I like to wait a couple of minutes before proceeding to my eye cream, and my go-to for tired times is Sunday Riley Start Over. Some people claim it burns their eyes. Luckily, I don't get this reaction and I love I can apply it on heavily so it acts as an eye mask. This eye cream instantly firms and awakens my eyes.

My skin was so dehydrated that day. I had dry patches on many areas and my skin just felt blah. In the morning I used Tatcha Deep Hydrating Firming Serum because it contains 23-karat gold adds a soft, glowy, undetectable glow to the skin while plumping it. I then sprayed Tatcha Dewy Mist which leads me to...

Tip #5: Don't wear any makeup and let your skin breathe. 

 I find the Tatcha Deep Hydration Serum + Dewy Mist to be the perfect combination for someone with good skin who doesn't like wearing much makeup and just wants the skin to look juicy and healthy. The Dewy Mist has been a favorite for years because it truly gives you "dewy" skin. 

And I don't know about you, but my lips were super dry that day. I suffer from extremely dry, chapped lips in general and my go-to lip balm is the Tatcha Camellia Moisturizing Lip Balm. I actually find it much more effective than Nuxe Reve de Miel.

At night I followed the same routine for my eyes but changed things for the rest of my face. I used HydraFacial MD Antiox-6 which is an antioxidant enriched serum with hyaluronic acid. This product is like water for my skin. It instantly gets rid of dryness and is completely weightless on the skin. I like to use a pump for my face and another one for my neck. I then followed up with the Fresh Seaberry Oil and set it with Caudalie Moisture Recovery Cream. All of these are great for normal to dry skin. 

Tip #6: Get plenty of sleep.

 Go to bed earlier than usual. The sooner you go to bed and the more you sleep, the better you'll feel the day after. 

Updated Skincare Collection: Tatcha, REN, Caudalie, Skinceuticals, Bioderma, Darphin + more

You know I love skincare and you know I love to share my thoughts with you. My friend Fiorella Basso, a long-time friend and graphic designer teamed up with me again to kindly film me in her space and create this video. I hope you find it informative. 

Beauty Oils

If you had asked me four years ago to put an oil on my face I would have looked at you in a very weird manner and said "No." For many years I kept treating my skin as if I was still in my teens - acne-prone. Little did I know that my skin was actually dehydrated and "normal" in my twenties.

I started taking my skin care more seriously when I turned twenty-two, but I had always been intrigued about oils and creams you slather on your face thanks to my mom - who at (almost!) sixty-one years old looks absolutely glowing and beautiful. In fact, she's never been a fan of makeup (and doesn't really need it). 

So back to my skin. I'm turning twenty-five in July and things have definitely changed. I am a huge fan of oils now and I have even stopped using my Clarisonic because to be honest, I love oil based cleansers so much more. But we are just discussing beauty oils today. 

What to love about them?

• They penetrate the skin deeper and quicker than a traditional moisturizer.
• Many of them are multi-functional. 
• Many contain many nurturing ingredients. 
• Massaging your skin can allow you to relax and you could even do a manual lympatic drainage on your face. 
• There is an oil out there for every skin type.

I really want to touch on that last point for this post. There is an oil out there for every skin type. Yes! Even for you combination-to-oily skin gals. I know adding oil to an oily complexion may seem odd but it can actually help produce less oil and balance out your skin. And contrary to belief, they won't clog your pores. 

I'm using as reference three beauty oils I currently have on rotation.

Fresh Seaberry Oil 

Thoroughly reviewed here. This is an oil that I reach for when my skin is on the drier side because it is packed with such moisturizing agents: grape seed, camellia, cranberry and almond oil just to name a few. 

Great for: Normal to Dry to Very Dry Skin

Formulated without: Parabens, sulfates, synthetic fragrances, synthetic dyes, petrochemicals, phthalates, GMOs, triclosan. 

Tarte Pure Maracuja Oil 

Though Tarte claims this oil brightens and firms, it actually just contains really good anti-inflammatory ingredients (Thanks Paula's choice Beautypedia). It's a lot thinner on consistency than the Fresh Seaberry Oil. It almost feels like a dry oil which makes this an excellent gem to grab when my skin is acting against me and develops cruel zits bumps. I can definitely tell it helps with the swelling. 

Great for: Combination to Oily Skin

Formulated without: Parabens, sulfates, synthetic fragrances, petrochemicals, phthalates, GMOs, triclosan. 

Tatcha Camellia Beauty Oil

The newest addition to my collection, the Tatcha Camellia Beauty Oil is a multi-purpose oil that can be used on the hair, skin and body. I was hesitant to try it on my face after using the Caudalie Divine Oil as a facial oil - resulting on my face with three to four pimples. I usually keep away from my face any products which state you can use anywhere else on your body. I am happy to share with you that I've been using the Tatcha Camellia Beauty Oil just on my face for the last month and it did not break me out but rather makes it feel comfortable and hydrated with just one drop. I opt for this beautiful bottle when my skin is feeling normal, because it's more of a dry oil. 

PS: It contains real 24-gold flecks which impart a subtle, healthy glow.

Great for: Normal to Combination Skin

Formulated without: Mineral oil, synthetic fragrances, sulfate detergents, parabens, PEGs, PPGs, DEA, TEA, urea or phthalates. 

Which beauty oils do I need to try next? Share your thoughts or recommendations on the comment section down below! 

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. 

Current Night Time Skin Routine

Hi dolls! Today's post will be an updated version of my night-time skin routine. I'm constantly testing and rotating products, but these are the ones I've been using for the last three months and I've been loving them. Enjoy!

Face of the Day (16.05.13): Teal and Gold

Hey gorgeous! 

I've been waking up pretty early these days, so I have been experimenting with makeup before going to school. Today I created a look inspired by lots of pictures I have seen on Instagram lately. Basically, you pick two colors-- one added on the inner and outer corner, and the second color should pop on the center. I chose to work with teal and gold. If you're interested in finding out how I achieved this look and which products I used, please 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

Face of the Day (10.04.13): Pin-Up

Hi dolls!

So today I went for the classic pin-up which is my absolute favorite look (on myself).

Product List

1. Fresh Seaberry Moisturizing Face Oil (to prep the skin)

2. Smashbox BB Cream shade Light-Medium

3. Mac Studio Finish Concealer NC 30

4. Stila Convertible Color shade Lillium

5. Stila All Day Liquid Lipstick shade Beso

6. Hourglass Ambient Powder shade Ethereal Light

7. Mac Fluidline Eye Gel Liner shade Blacktrack

8. L'oreal Voluminous Mascara Original shade Black

9. Rimmel London Scandal Eyes Waterproof Kohl Eyeliner shade Nude
10. Clinique Ultra Fine Liner for Brows shade Soft Brown

Tips When Wearing Red Lipstick

• Make sure you conceal any blemishes and redness on your face. You want your lips to be the center of attention. 
• If you're using a lip stain (which I did), the application can be tricky, especially when the formula is liquid. Start little by little. If you make any mistakes, grab a thin brush and use concealer to perfect the edges.
• If you're going with a bold lip color, make sure your eyes are completely neutral. In contrast, if your main focus are the eyes, neutralize your lips. 

Chit-Chat

I went to Whole Foods today and had lunch with my mom and my sister. Then we all wandered around in different directions. I went to the essential oils section which is my favorite. If you're new to my blog,  you now know I love aromatherapy and essential oils. 

I left with three products: A large Herbal Mint Shower Gel from the line Whole Foods itself which was on sale for $4.99. 32FL OZ for $4.99!!! It's not too concentrated though, which is a con for me. But hey, for the price, why not?

I also got Deep Steep Rosemary-Mint Dry Oil. My mom had gotten a lavender one days ago and she found it really moisturizing and the smell was amazing. Since I'm a mint freak, I got this one for me.

Ingredients: Cocos nucifera (coconut) oil, punica granatum (pomegranate) seed oil, prunus armeniaca (apricot) kernel oil, squalane (olive) oil, infusion of organic herbs; rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) leaf extract, geranium maculatum (geranium) flower extract, mentha piperita (peppermint) leaf extract, aroma (organic and wildcrafted aroma blend).

I also got a versatile product - one you can use at home to spritz anywhere, in your car or on your body - Aura Cacia Peppermint Harvest Aromatherapy Mist.

Ingredients: AQUA (WATER), MENTHA X PIPERITA (PEPPERMINT) OIL, CITRUS SINENSIS (SWEET ORANGE) OIL, MENTHA SPICATA (SPEARMINT) OIL, CANANGA ODORATA (YLANG YLANG) OIL.

Super Sephora Haul!

Hi dolls! And guys if you read me, too.

I have no idea how I'm still awake. It is 9:45pm Eastern Time and I've been awake since 2AM. Yup. The flight went fine. The jump from Maracaibo to Miami is pretty quick - two hours and forty minutes. 

I told you I was bringing all of you with me, so I'm taking as many pics as I can!

First of all, here are some pictures I took off the plane. This is the Caribbean Sea.  

This is the view from our condo. I have so many memories of this place... I've been coming here since I was a newborn!

The area is called Aventura - it's very safe and quiet. I love it because you can walk at any time of the day. My mom, my sister and I took a shuttle to Aventura Mall which is a mile away, and we came back walking at 8pm. 

Now onto the haul... 

I got to the mall and went straight to Sephora! I wanted someone to pinch me... these vacations are my only time to shop because everything is too overpriced in Venezuela. Aside from that, you can barely find anything.

I'm a VIB member, which means "Very Important Beauty Insider". You get a few extra perks like discounts, invitations to private events, etc. I got a one on one session with a beauty adviser who was so kind. She gave me tons of advice on skincare and haircare. I talked to her about my blog and about my passion for skincare and makeup, and she gave me tons of samples (you'll see that at the end).

Please excuse my lousy pictures. I took them with my phone. 

The lady strongly suggested the Clarisonic. She said it really makes a difference in ones' skincare regimen. She advised me to go with the cheapest one, because it gets the job done. She used it on me today and it felt quite nice. 

The lady also put this mask on my face, and WOWZA! My skin was glowing afterwards. She left it on for thirty minutes and then peeled it off. It hurts a wee-bit when its being peeled, but it's tolerable. This is a detoxifying mask. 

There are SO many face oils in the market right now. I told her I was confused because there are people raving so much about Josie Maran's Argan Oil, Marula Oil, the one by Nude, one by Fresh. She recommended me the one by Fresh (I love the brand anyway) and she added a few drops of this on my face after removing the mask. My skin was pink and glowing. Loved it, so I got it.

She also applied this Ojon hair mask and told me to leave it on overnight. She even braided my hair :)

I needed a cleanser for my to use with my Clarisonic, so I got the Peter Thomas Roth Anti-Aging Cleansing Gel. I had tried this on a kit before and loved how a little went such a long way. It also has glycolic acid = exfoliating = glowing skin.

This product by Kate Somerville is one I had been wanting to try out. It's supposed to be amazing to clear out nasty pimples.

Another product with glycolic acid, the Perricone MD Firming Facial Toner. This brand is the most sold in Sephora.

And more hair stuff. I was hesitant about this one... have any of you tried this? I saw it on an infomercial the first time... and I'm always dubious when it comes to infomercials. A lot of them seem fake to me. But after reading many, many reviews online before coming to the States, and after noticing there was a try-it-out-kit, I decided to get it. According to the Sephora website:

What it does:
Cleanse, condition, nourish, and repair your locks with this collection of WEN favorites for all hair types. The five-in-one Cleansing Conditioner will pamper and invigorate your stressed-out tresses with its luxurious formula of herbal extracts like aloe leaf juice and sweet almond oil. The Re Moist Intensive Hair Treatment is a super-nourishing, weekly mask that promises to give your hair more body and a beautiful, healthy shine. The Replenishing Treatment Mist is a lightweight, hydrating formula specially designed as a quick pick-me-up to increase volume and body between washes. 

This set contains:
- 12 oz Sweet Almond Mint Cleansing Conditioner 
- 2 oz Sweet Almond Mint Re Moist Intensive Hair Treatment 
- 2 oz Sweet Almond Mint Replenishing Treatment Mist 

What it is formulated WITHOUT:
- Sulfates 
- Synthetic Dyes
- Petrochemicals
- Phthalates 
- Triclosan 

And finally, THE SAMPLES!!!!! She gave me tons! I will be reviewing all of these products individually in a few months to give you proper and genuine opinions.

Enough for tonight. I should take a nice warm shower and go straight to bed. My eyes are achy. 

Have you tried any of these products? 

My New Year's Eve Look

Hi everyone! I haven't been here in a while. I want to start off this post by wishing everyone a happy 2013 - may this year be better than the last.

Due to the amount of positive feed back I received on Instagram on my New Year's Eve look (thank you!), I decided to share with you what I used and how I used it to achieve the look.

Originally, I was thinking on doing a simple gold-toned look, but I was feeling inspired and I started experimenting/playing with blues and the result was a blue smokey eye which really made my already-big-dark-eyes pop even more.

@makeupbypatricia on Instagram

I wanted to make my skin look fresh and dewy, even though I live in a ridiculously tropical place.

@makeupbypatricia on Instagram

Want to see how I achieved this look? If so, keep reading!