Mini Haul: Yay & Nay!

Hey guys!

It's finally feeling like fall here and I am so excited about it. I went to Connecticut this past weekend and I was so happy to see a range of colors on the tree and the chilly weather. Luckily, when I came home, it was chilly here, too! Lucky me!

So, while I was in Connecticut, purchased a few things and thought I would let you know about them. Let me preface this with: this is a very mini haul. I am currently trying to detox all of my leftover products that are hanging out in my cabinent and I only got these because I have nothing to use as a replacement/completely ran out of the product I was using.

My first "purchase" was actually bought by my great grandmother, but she let me keep two bottles. I forgot to pack shampoo for my trip and I found Avalon Organics Nourshing Lavender Shampoo in her cabinent. Not only did my shower become extremely relaxing because of the scent (thank you, lavender), but the shampoo also made my hair feel so clean and smell good for days. I also have a soft spot for organic/nautral products that work really well for me and bonus: my grandmother got this stuff for $2. I feel less guilty indulging.

It is a more "cleansing" shampoo, but I don't feel like it's over cleasning and my hair will fall out in excess. I warn you: you will need conditioner. I do a deep conditioning treatement regularly and it counteracts the dryness that can come with cleansing. I have naturally dry skin pretty much everywhere on my body, including my scalp, and tend tos hy away from cleasning shampoos, but this one isn't harsh.

This shampoo works really well for me because I wash my hair about two to three times per week and when I do wash it, I like for it to feel really clean. I would not recommend using this as a daily shampoo. My boyfriend, who washes his hair daily, used this shampoo and loved it too. This is saying something because he is very picky!

I read some other reviews online and apparently the formula has changed throughout the product's existence. This has caused some problems for some people due to ingredient changes and allergies of sorts. I would just recommend that you look at the ingredients before hand to make sure that you don't have any allergies to the oils or ingredients in the shampoo.

The one other purchase I made was the Neutrogena Naturals Acne Foaming Scrub. Not going to lie, I am kind of upset with myself for blindly purchasing this. I have been using the Neutrogena Naturals Purifying Cream Cleanser religiously for over a year and it does wonder with keeping my skin clean and soft. I am mad at myself for buying this foaming scrub blindly because it has microbeads and I am not sure if its cruelty free. :/

This kills me.

The only reason I got this scrub is because my local Target was out of the cream cleanser I use, Taylor and I both have been having a stubborn bout with acne and I thought it was much like the other natural products I've used from Neutrogena in the terms of being more eco- and animal-friendly. Nope. The microbeads are not my thing. I cannot stand them. I wish they were never a thing, especially because there are products out there that use other, more eco-friendly, exfoliants to rid the skin of dead skin and dirt.

Whatever, I'm just ready for microbeads to officially be phased out. Aren't they illegal? Either way, I am so so sorry to the animals in the ocean that are suffering from my poor, poor decision.

Does the product work? Yes. I have been seeing an improvement with the acne issues but that is all thanks to the salicylic acid . Will I buy it again? No. Sorry, Neutrogena.

That was my super mini haul! I plan to run to Lush soon because I am running out of stuff that I need and I promised myself that I would go soon. I just won't talk myself out of it this time. :P So keep your eye out for that!

Until next time,
Christina

*Disclaimer: We are not professional skin care consultants. We highly encourage that you do your own research or consult a skin care professional if you have any specific questions about a product. We also do not make any money off these links / these are not affiliate links. We are making it easier for you, as the reader, to find the products we use. We just want to keep it 100% real with you.

Be Kind, Rewind: Kaitlin's Play! by Sephora Review

Welp, I'm late to the party, but I'm here to review. This month, Play! by Sephora championed innovative products that everyone should keep their eyes on. The Cool Cut has six products: two from familiar brands and the rest from beauty brands that are making waves. I'll keep it simple, but all the items I prefer are from newer brands. They are definitely making a name for themselves with these products. Let's dive in!

• Too Cool for School: All-in-One Egg Mellow Cream

This is one of my favorite beauty products of all time. I sampled a little bit about a month ago and was so excited when it was in October's Play! box. The smell is a little weird, but I find it kind of addicting. It has almost like a cinnamon smell, and I love it. It's probably my favorite morning moisturizer. It makes me skin so soft and it doesn't cause my skin to get oily during the day. I highly recommend trying this stuff out. If the smell off puts you, I'm so sorry because this is one of the best skin care products I've ever tried. 

• Skin Inc.: Pure Revival Peel

The Pure Revival Peel is a unique product. You apply to dry skin and massage it in after 10 seconds to peel off dead skin. Honestly, I don't know if it really made my skin that much brighter, but it's an interesting concept. I could see why people enjoy this product, but I don't think I will be buying it anytime soon. 

• Verb: Leave-In Mist

While this isn't my best selfie, look at the hair. Let me preface my hair styling routine. When I blow dry, I only use my fingers. This product took out all of the frizz and made my hair silky straight. The only other product that has ever done this is Living Proof. For me to hold this in the same esteem as Living Proof says a lot. Want another great fact about it? It's only $14 for an 8-ounce bottle. That's amazing. Verb is fairly priced for the quality, and I'm looking to invest into more of their products. Final bonus? The scent is nice and light, and this product doesn't make your hair greasy. In fact, you'll have blown out hair until your next wash. Get your hands on Verb now!

• Nudestix: Intense Matte Lip + Cheek Pencil in Belle

I'm actually really impressed with Nudestix. While the color isn't my favorite, it's not bad by any means. The product reminds me of NARS matte pencils, but I do prefer NARS. I'll probably use this product every now and then as lipstick. Cool bit about these pencils, they double as a blush. It feels awesome, but I think I'll stick with my go-to cheek color. I will say this in its favor, though. I don't usually like cream blushes, and it made me feel like maybe creamy blushes aren't that bad. If I did rebuy this product, it would be in a different color (but I probably wouldn't like the color as a blush).

• Smashbox: Always On Matte Liquid Lipstick in Driver's Seat

I know Smashbox says Driver's Seat is a warm pink, but on me, it's an orangish-brown. Not that I'm complaining, I actually love the color. I'm skeptical about the product itself, though. The first time I wore it, it came off on everything. Everyone I know always brags about Smashbox never coming off, but I feel like that is all it did on me. I'll probably wear this again with my rust colored fall clothing, but I'll probably need to carry it around to reapply. Also, not the biggest fan of the applicator. I'm a lip pencil gal because it gives me everything I need to apply lipstick perfectly. Thankfully, I've gotten better with the applicator, but it took a few times before I was used to it. Let it be known that I will use this product up, but I'd probably just try to find a similar color in another product. 

• Tom Ford: Orchid Soleil

When it comes to perfumes, I'm extremely picky. This scent was way too strong and too sweet. If you like the smell of orchids, then this scent might be for you. Although, my question for you would be, "is it really worth 120 dollars?" If the answer is yes, more power to you. For me, it went to the trash and I hope I never have to smell it again. Way too overpowering, but I guess you could deem the scent "romantic." 

Ultimately, I was a fan of this months box. I felt like I got a lot out of it, even if I wouldn't repurchase a lot of these items. More than anything, I'm excited about November's box. Because who doesn't love beauty products that make you glow for your birthday? 

*Disclaimer: We are not professional skin care consultants. We highly encourage that you do your own research or consult a skin care professional if you have any specific questions about a product. We also do not make any money off these links / these are not affiliate links. We are making it easier for you, as the reader, to find the products we use. We just want to keep it 100% real with you.

Can You Paint With All the Colors of the Wind?: Kaitlin's Fall Beauty Look

Fall is when I shine. Fall colors, fall makeup, fall foods: they all agree with me. This is probably because I'm the palest person you have ever met, which means anything bold pops. Thanks to Sephora's newest lip collection, and their collection in general, I've been able to find some of my favorite fall staples. Now, I'm not claiming that this look is the unicorn of fall looks (kind of am), but I'm very pleased with the turn out. Double benefit, I got a lot of compliments on my eyeliner color! Let's dive in.

Just a quick review of my makeup style; I love a nice, simple eye and a bold lip. Hints my barely there eyeshadow, bold berry lip and subtle autumn-colored cateye. I try more than anything to highlight my natural beauty, wanting to really bring out the features that help me sparkle. As you might notice, I have slight scarring on my lower cheeks/jawline. These are a part of my natural beauty, and I don't try to hide it. I've slowly been working on healing them, since they are tiny. In the meanwhile, they are a part of my face and I love them anyways. 

Back to the good stuff. I had a lot of fun with this look. Do I plan on rocking this look again? Damn straight. I'll be wearing this look to the Denver Film Festival as I bask in the glory that will be La La Land. While they'll be dancing across the stars (in the film), I'll be feeling like one with a cute date around my arm. Now let's get to how to achieve this look.

• Eyes: Laura Mercier Eye Art Artist's Palette with specific emphasis on Sparkling Dew and Vanilla Nut for this look, a little bit of Fresco in the crease. For my eyeliner, I'm rocking Sephora Collection Colorful Wink-It Felt Liner Waterproof in Bonfire.
• Lips: Another Sephora product, Sephora Collection Rouge Matte Lipstick in Rebel Chic. I love this lipstick more than I thought it would. It lasts all day, and the pigment is amazing. To make sure everything goes on smooth, MAC Pro Longwear Lip Pencil in Absolutely It seals the deal.
• Eyebrows: The only product I love and trust (and it's a drugstore find), Revlon Brow Fantasy in Dark Brown.
• Face: I'm into creamy that don't leave me to oily and aren't too harsh on my skin. That is why every day I'm beyond thankful for bareMinerals. The foundation I wear is bareMinerals Complexion Rescue in Opal 1 (I'm a vampire, the sun doesn't bring me color). For concealer, I use bareMinerals Blemish Remedy Concealer in light. Finally, the sweet peachy color making my cheeks rosy is none other than NARS blush in Orgasm.

Now you know all of my dirty little secrets regarding my beauty products, but I still have a few tricks up my sleeve. I hope you are loving my beauty style as much as I do!

*Disclaimer: We are not professional skincare consultants. We highly encourage that you do your own research or consult a skincare professional if you have any specific questions about a product. We also do not make any money off these links / these are not affiliate links. We are making it easier for you, as the reader, to find the products we use. We just want to keep it 100% real with you.

Dear Carmex, We Did It!

I have had this lip balm for over a year and a half. If you know me, you know I can barely keep one chapstick for longer than two weeks. But, a year and a half ago I bought a little tub of Carmex and decided that 1. I was not going to lose the tub and 2. I would use every single bit of lip balm in the container. 

This was a big commitment to me, but I took it seriously.

I'm the kind of girl who likes a bit of sting with my lip balm. I love the tingle you get when you put on Carmex or Burt's Bees. So, I figured it wouldn't take me a long time to use the entire tub of Carmex.

Oh boy, I was wrong.

This little guy lasted through my last year of college, traveling across the country several times, many internships and moving twice. How did I not lose it? Who freaking knows. It was a miracle. As you can see in the photo above, there is still the tiniest bit left, but it will take maybe a week to finish it.

Since this is a beauty blog, I want to explore what I liked and disliked about Carmex and if I will continue to use it.

Sometimes I like to be a bit positive, so let's start with what I learned that I loved about this lip balm!

The Good Stuff:

• A big plus for me is that Carmex does not test on animals. I will always be drawn to products that are animal friendly.
• It makes my lips really soft if I use it daily.
• I love the tingling sensation caused by the ingredients menthol and camphor. I know it's a placebo effect, but I like to think that it means it is working.
• I've left this in the car on many hot days and without fail, it always cools back to the same waxy consistency.
• It's not sticky.
• It's a perfect moisturizer/primer to use before matte lipsticks.
• Soothes chapped, sunburnt and peeling lips. Trust me, I have had them all.
• It survived two washing machine incidents without leaking onto my clothes!
• If I put the balm on before bed, my lips were extra hydrated in the morning.

The Bad (But Not Really) Stuff:

• If my lips were not super dry, it took too long to soak into my lips.
• Can be messy on hot days. It always cooled back to the same consistency, but when you're outside on a hot day for a few hours, it will melt. This can make it difficult to not waste product when you are opening it.
• I wish the packaging was more eco-friendly. I have the old tub packaging where there seems to be too much plastic, but they have done a redesign so I have to check that out.
• I wish the squeeze tube and the screw top tub had the same thickness. It might be, but I used the squeeze tube version one day and hated it.

Clearly, my love it list is going to be longer than my hate it list. But, there were a few things that I did dislike about the product. Let's be real though, they are very superficial things.

I've included a what my lips look like before and after photo so you guys can have a reference point for how glossy the lip balm is below:

This is the before picture in the morning with slightly dry lips.

This is about 15 minutes after putting Carmex on. It has a nice sheen finish. My lips felt way better.

So, would I challenge myself to keep up with another tub of Carmex? You betcha. I think it is an absolute classic product that everyone should have for those rough lip days. It's not fun to have chapped lips, but Carmex makes it easier to handle.

I bought a tub of Smith's Rosebud Salve when my Carmex was 95 percent done. When I use all of that product, I'll do a comparison of the two to see which one I prefer more. But until then, keep your lips soft and stay beautiful!

       - Christina

*Disclaimer: We are not professional skincare consultants. We highly encourage that you do your own research or consult a skincare professional if you have any specific questions about a product. We also do not make any money off these links / these are not affiliate links. We are making it easier for you, as the reader, to find the products we use. We just want to keep it 100% real with you.

Skin first. Makeup second. Smile always.

Bonjour, mes amis! Today I’m talking about my skin and what I do to keep it as smooth and glowing as possible. Skin is the largest organ of the human body and it’s one of the first things people see when they look at your face. I don’t know about you, but that seems pretty important to me.

Okay, I’m going to be real a second. (For just a millisecond, let my guard down and tell you how I feel a second. Where are my Hamilton fans?) I haven’t always taken the best care of my skin. Removing my makeup before bed wasn’t always a part of my nightly routine. I used whatever drugstore products I could get my hands on without regard for what it could do for - or to - my skin. Signs of this abuse showed on my skin in the form of acne. It wasn’t pretty.

My journey into the wonderland of skincare started when I was working as a cosmetics consultant in a department store. The women I worked with taught me about my skin type, what my skin needed to look and feel healthy, and the benefits of establishing a skincare routine. Their advice was priceless. Since I started building good skincare habits, the results have been amazing. Now that I’m a little older, sign of aging aren’t quite as noticeable. I’ve even had people accuse me of lying about my age.

Here is my laundry list of skincare essentials. I know it looks like a lot, but I don’t use everything on the list all at once or even every day. Please don’t think I’m saying that these are the only products you should use. Not at all. This is just what works best for my skin. Everyone’s skin is different and your laundry list is probably going to be different.

• Clarisonic Mia 2
• Simple Micellar Makeup Remover Wipes
• Simple Micellar Water
• Clinique 3-Step Skincare System - Liquid Facial Soap Mild, Clarifying Lotion 2, and Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel (or DDMG)
• Origins GinZing Collection - Refreshing Scrub Cleanser, Refreshing Eye Cream, Energy Boosting Moisturizer
• Origins No Puffery Cooling Roll-On For Puffy Eyes
• Origins High Potency Night-A-Mins
• Origins Modern Friction Nature's Gentle Dermabrasion
• Lush Cup O’ Coffee Face and Body Mask
• Lush Mint Julips Lip Scrub
• Bite Beauty Agave Lip Mask

        

Now let’s break down my routine and how I use these products.

A.M. Routine

• Cleanse
• Wet the Clarisonic brush head under lukewarm water.
• Use a pea-sized amount (about one pump) of Liquid Facial Soap Mild.
• Complete the Clarisonic two-minute cleansing cycle.
• Rinse with lukewarm water.
• Tone
• Moisten a cotton ball with Clarifying Lotion 2.
• Sweep the cotton ball over clean skin from the center of my forehead out, across my cheeks, and down my nose and chin.
• Moisturize
• Use one pump of DDMG and press it into my skin.
• Sweep No Puffery under my eyes.
• Pat a pea-size drop of GinZing Refreshing Eye Cream under my eyes and around my temples.

P.M. Routine

• Remove makeup
• Sweep a Simple wipe over my face to remove foundation, concealer, and blush.
• Moisten a cotton ball with Simple MIcellar Water to remove eyeshadow and mascara.
• Cleanse
• Wet the Clarisonic brush head under lukewarm water.
• Use a pea-sized amount of GinZing Refreshing Scrub Cleanser.
• Complete the Clarisonic two-minute cleansing cycle.
• Rinse with lukewarm water.
• Moisturize
• Sweep No Puffery under my eyes two or three times.
• Pat a pea-size drop of GinZing Refreshing Eye Cream under my eyes and around my temples.
• Use a nickel-sized amount of GinZing Energy Boosting Moisturizer and pat it into my skin.
• Use a nickel-sized amount of High Potency Night-A-Mins and pat it into my skin, concentrating on my cheeks and neck.

The Extras

• Exfoliation
• Masks
• Lip Care

I give my skin some extra pampering as needed, usually once or twice a week. If I notice any patches of flaky skin, I use the Modern Friction exfoliator after I cleanse. When my skin is looking a little dull, I’ll slather on the Cup O’ Coffee mask and let it work its magic while I read a chapter of my latest book. The Mint Julips and Agave Lip Mask are my go-to treatment items when I’m planning on wearing matte lipstick.

That’s all for this episode, mes amis. Thanks so much for stopping by and sharing some beauty with the world. I’d love to hear what skincare products you’re loving and hating these days. Please leave your comments or questions below. I can’t wait to hear from you! Until next time...

Bisous!

Hillari

*Disclaimer: We are not professional skincare consultants. We highly encourage that you do your own research or consult a skincare professional if you have any specific questions about a product. We also do not make any money off these links / these are not affiliate links. We are making it easier for you, as the reader, to find the products we use. We just want to keep it 100% real with you.