August Sayonara Products

 By the end of each month, I am astonished by how many products I finish up and it always seems that I run out of everything at once. On one hand, empty bottles assure me that I am actually using the products I spend my hard earned cash on; on the other, it can be a little overwhelming to need to replenish my stash of products all at once. I said sayonara to a whopping thirteen products this month!

 Yes to Tomatoes Daily Volumizing Conditioner

Of all of the natural conditioners I have tried, this one is by far my favorite (read my full review here). However, I wouldn't say it is a miracle product. In fact, I was seduced back to the dark side, at least temporarily, and picked up non-natural shampoo and conditioner (from the John Frieda Sheer Blonde line, which made my August favorites list). I am still on the hunt for a superior natural shampoo and conditioner- suggestions?

Macadamia Healing Oil Healing Oil Treatment

This small 1oz. bottle lasted me about 3 months- while I didn't use it daily at first, I really started to fall in love with this product just as it was getting low. It smells divine and keeps my hair hydrated and frizz-free. I am not sure I want to invest in the full sized, $25 bottle just yet, so I am on the hunt for a cheaper alternative. I am curious about VO5 Miracle Concentrate. Or should I bust out some cash and try out the classic Moroccan Oil? What do you all suggest?

 

 Revlon Grow Luscious Mascara

There are things I really like about this product: I can layer and layer and layer this mascara without it getting clumpy, it doesn't flake, and it offers nice length and respectable volume. However, it doesn't hold a curl very well and can leaves my lashes a bit heavy and stick like if I apply too many coats. I just opened a backup of this that I need to move through, but I don't think I will repurchase after that.

Loreal Voluminous Carbon Black

As of now, this is my HG mascara although I am still curious to try others. Voluminous Carbon Black offers incredible volume, but the formula is a bit finicky- one coat too many can leave you with clumpier lashes than the late Tammy Faye Baker. I wish this was a bit more lengthening as well, but I would still buy this again.

Sephora Perfecting Tinted Moisturizer

I have a full sized bottle of this and just wanted to get this little deluxe sample out of the way. On its own, this is a ho-hum tinted moisturizer- but then again, I prefer more coverage and oil control than a tinted moisturizer can typically provide. However, I mix this daily with matte finish full coverage foundation (either Revlon ColorStay or Estee Lauder Double Wear) to achieve a lighter, more natural finish. 

Benefit "That Gal" Brightening Face Primer

 I received this in my Benefit Confessions of a Concealaholic kit. "That Gal" is a thick, creamy pink primer that initially made me very hesitant. I assumed a brightening face primer with thick, creamy formula would clash with my oily skin and exacerbate the appearance of shine. However, I really grew to love this primer. It gave me a non-shimmery, lit from within glow that made my matte foundations look more natural, and I never noticed a problem in terms of oil-control. I have a hard time dropping the cash for a full sized bottle of this, but I would consider it in the future.

Josie Maran Bronzing Argan Oil

By now we have all been informed enough times about the miraculous benefits of argan oil, so I figured this product would blow me out of the water. I received this in a Sephora kit in the winter, but couldn't imagine using it any other time of year except the summer. Since I couldn't imagine applying this to my  face, I rubbed this onto my legs when wearing skirts and shorts. It left a nice sheen but nothing that I couldn't achieve with a bit of my standby coconut oil (which smells way better anyway). Once rubbed in, the bronzing effect is not even visible. This one isn't worth the investment for me.

 AHAVA Purifying Mud Mask

As an oily skinned babe I love a good mud mask, but this one didn't wow me. I was really perplexed by the instructions, which insist you wash off the mask only 2 minutes after applying it. I liked that this has a slight exfoliating effect while rinsing it off, but I wouldn't seek this out in the future.

Yes to Cucumbers Facial Hydrating Lotion

This is some good stuff. My partner and I have moved through several bottles of this natural facial lotion- it is gentle enough for his hypersensitive skin and light enough for my oily prone skin. It is incredibly hydrating, quick to soak into the skin, and has a lovely cucumber scent.

Pangea Organics Facial Toner

Love love love this product, but I don't love the price. I received this deluxe sample in a Birchbox and quickly used it all up. It is an amazing organic toner that helps remove any grime my cleanser left behind and preps my skin for my lotion. Also, a quick mist sets makeup and refreshes skin. However a full sized bottle is $28, which means I will be searching for a more affordable option.

fresh Citron de Vigne Eau de Parfum

I have complained here before on how difficult it is to find women's fragrances that are warm and earthy or aren't cloyingly fruity and flowery.  This one is different, and venture I say this may be my "signature scent." It is an alluring citrus scent with notes of wine- yum!

Korres Fig Shower Gel

My partner and I both love the earthy, dark, and slightly sweet scent of this shower gel, and the fact that it is all natural makes me even more excited. I cashed in my Birchbox points before I canceled by subscription and picked up a full sized bottle of this.

Sally Hansen Advanced Hard as Nails

 This got a bit thick towards the end, but overall I love this stuff. I apply it on clean nails underneath a base coat and it keeps my nails incredibly hard and strong. Try it out!

What did you use up in August?

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Posted in Ahava , Benefit , fresh , Josie Maran , Korres , Loreal , Macadamia Natural Oil , Pangea Organics , Revlon , Sally Hansen , Sayonara Products , Sephora , Yes to Cucumbers , Yes to Tomatoes

Summer Essentials

I know, I know...we are at the tail end of summer and fall is quickly approaching. I am eager for the crunchy leaves and fall collections, but you best believe that I'm squeezing every last drop of summer out of  August! It is still hotter than hellfire in my neck of the woods, so I have a feeling I have quite a bit of sunshine weather left. If you follow my blog regularly, you have probably seen these items in heavy rotation this summer! Here are the products that have been my essentials this summer and will carry me through the end of the season.

Nail Polish

L-R: Sally Hansen Insta Dry Snappy Sorbet, Zoya Gaia, Essie Topless & Barefoot, Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear Caribbean Coral

 This has been the summer of coral for me! Two favorites have been Sally Hansen Insta-Dry in Snappy Sorbet and Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear in Caribbean Coral. When I am not in the mood for a bright coral, I have been loving Essie Topless & Barefoot, my perfect nude, and Zoya Gai, a soft white with subtle golden shimmer, is divine against a summer tan!

Eyes

 After neglecting my beloved Urban Decay Naked Palette for far too long, I made it part of my daily summer routine. Being the versatile product it is, it has been perfect to create simple, natural looks for when it is too hot to bother much with the eyes, as well as golden eyes, my summer staple.  Regardless of my eye look, I have been using NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Milk as a base- it is super creamy and makes my shadows pop like no other. Also, e.l.f. cream eyeliner in black is easy to apply and doesn't budge, even in the heat.

Face

Depending on the coverage I need that day, I go back and forth between foundation and tinted moisturizer in the summer. But without fail, I always mix in a little of my Tarte Smooth Operator Amazonian Clay Illuminating Serum to control oil and add a natural glow to my skin. I set my face with e.l.f. HD Powder, which has been great at keeping my shiny forehead at bay. And it is not summer without a good bronzer, and I have been surprisingly loyal to the one that is in the Sephora Sculpting Disk- it is matte and a great shade for my skin tone.

Lips

 As much as I adore lipstick, the summer is when I get the most use out of my glosses and balms. When I know I will be in the sun I apply my Yes to Carrots Conditioning Lip Butter with SPF 15 in Pomegranate to protect my lips. It leaves a bit of a white cast, so if I am wearing it beyond the poolside I layer a gloss on top. I have been favoring the Sally Hansen Diamond 12 Hour Lip Treatment Glosses in the shades Baguette, a hot pink, and Flawless, a coral orange.

Cheeks

 My cheeks are naturally a little pink, especially in the summer, so my summer blushes can't be too overpowering and also need to be long lasting. Two of my go-to blushes are Tarte Amazonian Clay 12 Hour Blush in the shades Tipsy, a matte coral for when I want a little pop of color, and Exposed, a lovely matte pinky nude. Both of these hold up to the summer heat and my oily prone skin incredibly well. When I want to channel my inner bronzed goddess, it is all about my Laura Geller Blush-n-Brighten Blush in Honey Dipped.

Skin & Hair

For skin, I have been obsessed with my Pangea Organics Facial Toner. I spritz this on after I cleanse to balance my skin and maximize my moisturizer's effectiveness. After I apply my face makeup, I mist this on to eliminate the powdery look. Sunscreen is a must all year round, and this summer I have been using the Neutrogena Pure & Free Baby SPF 60+ Sunscreen, which doesn't leave a greasy residue on my face. I have also been loving my Batiste Dry Shampoo to add volume and absorb any excess oil. Last but certainly not least, my Macadamia Natural Oil Healing Oil Treatment has kept my hair soft, manageable, shiny, and hydrated despite all of the time I have spent with my hair in the pool and in the sun!

So that's what I have been faithful to this summer.

What are your Summer must-haves?

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Posted in Batiste , E.L.F. , Essie , Laura Geller , Macadamia Natural Oil , Neutrogena , NYX , Pangea Organics , Sally Hansen , Sephora , Tarte , Urban Decay , Yes to Carrots , Zoya

Review: Yes to Carrots Gentle Exfoliating Facial Cleanser

I went on a bit of a Yes to binge last month when I stumbled upon a clearance sale at my local Walgreens.  After using the products for a few weeks I can now offer my full reviews on them. I started off with my beloved Yes to Cucumbers Soothing Eye Gel, and today I present Yes to Carrots Gentle Exfoliating Facial Cleanser.

Product:
The Yes to Carrots Gentle Exfoliating Facial Cleanser is a cream-based exfoliator with incredibly fine exfoliating particles. This is indeed very gentle...too gentle for my liking actually. I use as directed by massaging the cream in to my face for one minutes, but the exfoliation it delivers is not intense. Not that I want to sandblast my face, but this product is so creamy that it doesn't work well as a weekly treatment to slough off dead skin cells. I will say it is very moisturizing though. Because it is so gentle and mild, it is much more suitable as a daily cleanser. However, I find that foaming cleansers are better suited for my combination skin for daily use.  Though this is a bit of a miss for me, those with normal to dray skin might like this a lot if you find other exfoliators, like the St. Ives Apricot Scrub, to be too abrasive or are looking for a gentle, moisturizing exfoliating daily treatment.

Packaging:
The plastic tube is fine, but since it is so fall and skinny I have a hard time getting it to stand up right in the shower. A shorter, wider squeeze tube would be more stable.

Price: 
I pick this up at Walgreens for $5.49, though it retails for $9.99 on the Yes to website.


Overall, this particular product doesn't really do it for me, but I am pretty certain that this product is intended for people with different skin types and needs. In other words, oily and combo skinned gals should look elsewhere, while those with dry and normal skin might enjoy this. Yes to is a phenomenal natural brand with a wide array for products for various skin needs so it is worth checking them out!




Check out this and other Yes to products at their website!

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Posted in Macadamia Natural Oil , Skin Care , Yes to Carrots

April Favorites & Flunkies

Where did April go? I spent most of this month in front of a computer screen finishing up my MA paper (and taking a blogging break every now and then, of course). This past few weeks I was introduced to a few fantastic products, as well as a few disappointing ones. So what have I been loving and regretting?

Favorites:

 

•  Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in 674 Coral Berry- I have been wearing this shade all month. Coral Berry is a rich creme orange coral that leans towards a strawberry pink. It definitely isn't a subtle lip,  but it is totally wearable, especially when paired with neutral eye looks. This coral has ushered in my spring in a sophisticated, juicy way!

•  Urban Decay Eyeshadow in Gash- Metallic rust red might not sound like the most flattering shade for your lids, but I am finding this shadow really versatile. I have rocked a few smokey eye looks with this, but it is also nice blended into the crease for an interesting contour (check out my Fierce Femme FOTD for an example). More detailed images and a swatch can be found here. Green eyed babes like me will particularly love this.
• Slathin & Co. Candle in Salty Carmel from Bath & Body Works- We all know that Bath & Body Works sells some awesome candles, but in my opinion this one tops them all. Salty Carmel is an fantastic scent to start your warm season with. It smells just like going to the fair as a kid! Absolutely delicious!
• Sonia Kashuk Blending Sponge- I had heard raves about the Beauty Blender, and while I do not know how this compares, I have been loving this blending sponge. It doesn't eat up much product and gives me a natural finish without compromising on coverage. The little pointed end makes it ideal for applying foundation around the nose or concealer under the eyes. This has totally replaced my old foundation brush.
•  Macadamia Natural Oil Healing Oil Treatment- A dime size of this on my wet hair keeps my long locks manageable and fizz free. With continued use I can tell it is improving the texture of my hair and keeping it moisturized. It doesn't leave me feeling greasy, and smells divine. The price tag for the full bottle of this is steep, but a little goes a long way and for the quality seems completely worth it.
• LAVANILA The Healthy Body Butter in Vanilla Lavender- This came in my April Birchbox, and I am definitely going to invest in a full sized bottle of this. It is moisturizing and soaks into my skin quickly. Also, I love that LAVANILLA is natural and packages their body butters in sanitary tubes instead of tubs like other brands. I associate lavender with sleep, so I keep this by my bedside table to apply at night. I am interested it trying out other scents as well.
• Tarte Smooth Operator Amazonian Clay Illuminating Serum- This stuff has totally transformed my foundation. This combo skinned babe now can have longer-wearing foundation, oil control, and a subtle luminous finish. Check out my full review here.
• Zoya Pasha- This month I have picked up quite a few polishes, but I can't help but come back to this one. It is a gorgeous silvered taupe with mushroom, almost purple undertones. Check out my full review and swatches here.
• E.L.F. Cream Eyeliner in Black- I wasn't too fond of this at first, but have really gotten into this liner this month. It is creamy and easy to apply, and once it dries this stuff doesn't budge or flake. I have been using it to line my upper waterline and it lasts all day.
• EOS Shave Cream in Vanilla Bliss- My legs and underarms have never been softer or more closely shaved. I can't find anything to dislike about this natural, deliciously scented, smartly packaged product. Check out my full review here.
• EOS Lip Blam Smooth Sphere in Summer Fruit- This lip balm makes me want to abandon all of my others. Clever packaging, hydrating, natural, great taste- I love it! Check out my full review here.
• Tarte 12 Hour Amazonian Clay Blush in Tipsy- I am not even tempted to buy another blush in the near future, unless it is other shades of this Tarte blush. The formula is that amazing, and Tipsy is an awesome coral for spring. My full review and swatches can be found here.

 Flunkies:

•  Revlon CustomEyes Mascara Waterproof in Blackest Black- The only reason I bought this is because I had a CVS coupon for it, a tactic that unfortunately sucked me in. The selling point of this mascara is that the brush is 2-in-1: with a twist of the dial, the wand changes between 2 settings, one for "Length & Drama" and the other for "Length & Definition." More like "Spikey & Clumpy" and "More Spikey & Clumpy." Total gimmick! The formula isn't bad, so in the spirit of Project 10 Pan sometimes I apply this as a first coat and use another mascara with a better brush as the second.

•  Yes to Tomatoes Deep Cleansing Facial Pads- I love the brand Yes to Carrots so this is upsetting for me. To be fair though, I am almost certain that the reason this product is sub-par is my own fault. I should have know better than to pick up an item like this from the discount bin at Walgreens, because I discovered at home that all the pads were totally dried up! I might give these another go, but pick them up from YTC directly.
• E.L.F. Super Glossy Lip Shine in Goddess- This sticky, cough syrup flavored gloss does not make me feel like a goddess. Good thing it was only a buck! Read my full review here.
• E.L.F. Essentials Natural Lash Kit in Black- These lashes are inconsistent, leaving me with one fluttery cute eye and another crazy, blinking doll one. Read my full review here.

Pheww! So there it is! What are you loving and regretting this month?

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Posted in Bath and Body Works , E.L.F. , EOS , Favorites and Flunkies , LAVANILA , Macadamia Natural Oil , Revelon , Sonia Kaschuk , Tarte , Urban Decay , Yes to Tomatoes , Zoya