Things I Have Purchased For Winter Ravaged Skin/Hair/Everything

 Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask- $24

This overnight mask is best for dehydrated dry skin

Mario Badescu Strawberry Face Scrub- $15

This scrub is good for all skin types.  It is made with real strawberry seeds that gently buff away flaky dead skin while AHA's unclog pores. Feels luxurious on the face!

Homeoplasmine-$22

This hasn't arrived yet and is probably my most eagerly awaited product to get my hands on!

This is a homeopathic ointment made for skin irritations such as cracked/dry skin, dry lips, and it can be used many different ways even as a makeup primer.

Macadamia Natural Healing Oil- $39.95 for 4.2oz
 (but I paid $20 on Amazon..I am too cheap)

This provides intense nourishment for tangle and frizz free hair.  Makes hair smooth, shiny, and manageable.  Reduces drying time 40-50% (or is claimed to)

WEN Fig Cleansing Conditioner- $60 for 32oz

Originally I thought that this was a 2 in one product (shampoo and conditioner) but according to the company it is a 5 in 1.  This Fig cleansing conditioner is ideal for anyone with thick, coarse, curly/wavy hair. Or hair that is extremely dry/damaged. I haven't tried this yet as I am still working on a limited edition bottle of Wen we had laying around but I am obsessed with Wen as of right now!  You pop this on at the beginning of your shower and let it sit in your hair until the very end.  It feels so nourishing and moisturizing, I have noticed a drastic improvement in my usual static prone hair.  My brush glides through it so easily, there are never any tangles in my hair now.  It is so much more easy and convenient to use this one step versus shampooing, conditioning, putting in leave in treatments, etc.  It is a time saver as well as a life saver at the moment!

Review: Lush Angels On Bare Skin

This is a facial cleanser as well as a scrub that is gentle enough for daily use.  The Kaolin clay base cleans while ground almonds exfoliate the dead skin away.  Rose and lavender are also added to balance and soothe combo skin, according to the Lush website. You pinch off a piece of this clay like ball, put it in the palm of your hands and add water.  It makes a milk like substance you then rub all over your face.  

It is definitely one of the most unusual things I have ever put on my face.  When I first opened the jar, the earthy smell came out and smacked me right in the face.  When taking a piece of it out to cleanse, I often feel like a 5 year old in art class playing with clay.  Oddly enough I really don't mind any of that! I enjoyed using it and I loved that it smelled/looked/felt all natural and good for my skin.  I have to admit I don't like what happens after i cleanse/scrub my skin with this though.  It almost leaves a greasy grimy feeling to the skin, I often had to follow it with my Mario Badescu toner or face wash just to get my face feeling clean.  I don't think that should happen with a "cleanser" or a facial scrub even.  It didn't do anything wonderful to my skin either, I couldn't tell a difference when I used it from when I didn't.  So this was kind of a flop for me, and I had such high hopes for it as I have heard rave reviews!  I was so eager to get my hands on it I think I paid $30ish for the smallest amount sold (which usually would be $13) because they were sold out on the actual Lush website for days.  It is a let down because I doubt I will finish this jar, not on my face anyway.  I might start using it as a body scrub just to use it up.

Review: Tarte Amazonian Clay 12 hour Full Coverage Foundation SPF 15

I have been wearing this foundation for a few weeks now and i am really pleased with it.  It claims to be a long lasting, full coverage, skin perfecting foundation with "skin smart" technology.   They say that the Amazonian clay adjusts to your specific skin type whether you are oily, dry, or combination.
Well, this foundation is great for oily skin! It keeps me matte the longest and surpasses the MUFE Mat Velvet+ and the Estee Lauder Double Wear in my opinion.  It definitely lasts well over 12 hours (for me anyway) when set with powder.  It comes in 16 shades and is priced at $38.  I find that this foundation covers very well when applied with my Sigma F80 brush.
Although i am loving this foundation at the moment, I have to say not all of those claims have been found true.  The only negative to this product is that it clings to every single dry spot on my combo face.  I moisturize right before applying it and it still emphasizes any dryness on the face.  Maybe i got a defective formula in my bottle but It surely doesn't seem as though it has skin smart technology that adjusts to any skin type, that's for sure.  If you have dry skin I would definitely not purchase this foundation, if anything get a sample from your local Sephora before buying.  

Other than that con, I have nothing bad to say about this product!  I love that even though this is a foundation, I feel like it isn't as bad for my skin since it is Tarte.  It covers well, it lasts, and it makes my skin feel and look good.

Tarte is having a 30% off sale!

use code- DECFF

The Holy Grail of Skincare: Clarisonic Mia 2

I admit I am a little late to jump on the bandwagon for this one.  It took me a long time to bring myself to purchase the Clarisonic Mia 2, but it did not take long to work it's way into my heart forever!  I have a feeling that this will remain the most important part of my nightly skincare routine for years to come.

My skin has always been clear for the most part, except for the occasional pimple here and there.  About 5 months ago I started getting injections as treatment for a medical condition and all was going well until a week later when I started noticing tiny bumps developing on my forehead, cheeks, and chin.  It had been all downhill from there (it doesn't help that I am a picker..)

Jaclyn Hill had recently done a review video of the Clarisonic, and had mentioned it helped her get rid of her textural issues.  I tried waiting until a 20% off rolled around, but i couldn't waste another day bumpy faced.  So I took the plunge!

I purchased this a couple of months ago at the nearest Ulta and since then my forehead (which is my main issue) has been doing so much better and is much more smooth.  My skin used to get really oily and I have noticed now that it doesn't get half as oily as it did prior to using this.  Dry spots and scabs (from picking of course) come and go quickly as well thanks to the exfoliation from the brush.  My skin overall has improved and i owe it all to this little device!  

 It comes with the sensitive brush head but many others are available to purchase for $25.  The brush head should be replaced every 3 months.

Since i am still on the medication for 7 more months i don't think that i will have flawless skin for quite some time, but the Clarisonic has definitely improved my skin and made it the best it possibly can be at this time.  I can't wait to see what it does to my skin after i am done with this treatment and back to normal! I think everybody needs this brush in their skincare routine ASAP.

Can't Stop. Won't Stop.

Just when i think i'm doing really good at refraining from purchasing beauty related items- it happens.  I didn't go all out, super crazy, shopaholic, huge haul or anything..but i definitely spent more than i intended to over the past couple of weeks.  I have good, legitimate reasons for each purchase though! Well, kind of..not really..at all..

These are my most recent purchases (starting with the top row, across)

1. Sedona Lace Synthetic Duo Fibre-813- $15.95 on sale for $12.76
2. Sigma F35 Tapered Highlighter- $21.00
3. Sigma F80 Tapered Kabuki- $21.00
4. Tarte Amazonian Clay 12 Hour Full Coverage Foundation- $38
5. Josie Maran 100 Percent Pure Argan Oil Light- $48
   
   

The way i am going to justify spending the money (..more money) on beauty products is because Sephora was having 20% off for VIBs, Sedona Lace was having $5 off each purchase, and Sigma was having 10% off.  I have to take advantage of those things!  I plan on applying blush with the Sedona Lace Duo Fibre brush.  I will use the Sigma F35 Tapered Highlighter to set my under eye concealer.  The Sigma F80 Tapered Kabuki will be used to blend out my MAC Prolongwear Concealer under the eyes.  Josie Maran Argan Oil Light is basically the only moisturizer I use anymore, so i had to repurchase the full size bottle during the sale.  Then i figured since i had heard such great things about the Tarte Amazonian Clay Foundation that now was the time to get it! 

Money will come and go, but striving for a flawless face will always remain. 

Review: Too Faced Primed & Poreless Powder

The Too Faced Primed & Poreless Powder is something I always seem to go back to using.  I have tried other powders but none that have come close to this one.  It is marketed as a translucent powder that minimizes pores, fine lines, and imperfections for an airbrushed finish.

 I can say that this is the silkiest powder i have ever used, it makes your face super soft and smooth.  It is translucent and will adjust to any skin tone while drastically minimizing the appearance of pores. I don't notice that it minimizes fine lines but I also don't have that many on my face to begin with to notice a difference.  You can use this as an all over face powder or to set your under eye concealer.  I usually use this all over my face and it literally erases pores from my forehead and cheeks like magic.  I always apply it using my Real Techniques powder brush, which I love.  I was put off by this powder at first, worried that it would make me appear even more pale than I already am but it doesn't.  You don't have to use a large amount of this to set your makeup, as a little goes a long way.

The reason I have stuck with this powder as long as i have is not only because of the minimization of pores, its because of the oil absorbing power it has.  This controls my shine for 5+ hours until I even have to think about touching up, which is something I really look for in a powder to set my foundation with.  However, I can't say that this is my holy grail powder (still searching for one.)  I believe that there are a few downsides to this product..sadly.

• One negative would be that as great as this powder is, I sometimes feel too powdery.
• The second issue I have with it is the fact that it is a loose powder.  It is so easy to lose product with loose powders anything.
• The third negative to mention is that most of the time when you open it, tap your brush in and apply, you feel as if you are inhaling particles of it.  

They do have this in a pressed powder now as well which I have not tried as I have heard it isn't nearly as good.  However, I would like to try the Too Faced Primed & Poreless Skin Smoothing face primer.  It has 1,330 reviews on Sephora and is rated with 4 1/2 stars.

l always end up reaching for this one as i can not find a powder that doesn't cake, controls oil, erases pores, and makes skin feel silky smooth.  Aside from the negatives I enjoy this product and will continue using it to set my foundation until I find a better replacement!

Review: Tarte Off The Cuff Amazonian Clay 12 Hour Blush Palette

The Tarte Off The Cuff Amazonian Clay Blush Palette is a limited edition palette.  This palette is worth $110 but is priced at $42 and also comes with a black bow bracelet.  The bracelet is cute but not exactly my "style," although it may be perfect for somebody else!  I have always wanted to try Tartes Amazonian Clay Blush so i thought this was the perfect opportunity to get my moneys worth.  It comes with four blushes and one bronzer, and they are all equally beautiful. 

I am obsessed with the packaging! I think this palette is as beautiful on the outside as the shades are on the inside.  Once opened you can see that it has a pretty decent sized mirror in it, which is a plus for me.

The swatches on top are taken in natural daylight, on bottom are photographed using flash.  From left to right: Crave, Dazzled, Darling, Dollface, Park Ave Princess Bronzer.  These swatches are pretty true to color and the blushes are even more pigmented than i had thought they would be. Tartes Park Avenue Princess Bronzer may be a little warm for my super fair skin tone but it doesn't differ that much from Benefits Hoola Bronzer when swatched. These are all matte shades except for Dazzled which has a subtle shimmer running through it (you can kind of see it in the second photo) and they truly last 12+ hours as claimed.

Overall, I am very pleased with my purchase!  This palette should last for a very long time, and it is a deal that you shouldn't pass up on.  It would also make a great gift for a wide variety of ages.  Who wouldn't be excited about getting makeup on their birthday or Christmas?! One blush is usually priced at $26 so to get this whole palette for $42 is definitely a steal! Love it.