Beauty Reviews in 3s (#1 - Giorgio Armani, Lancôme and NARS)

Giorgio Armani Luminessence CC Cream  - I always have a hard time saying no to lightweight, sheer bases. Tinted moisturizers, BB Creams, CC Creams, Sheer foundations, whatever you want to call them, I'm all in. I stumbled upon the Giorgio Armani Luminessence CC Cream about a month ago and immediately needed it. This product claims to give skin a "well rested appearance", make the complexion look more radiant, protect with SPF 35, color correct, and is infused with "an energizing antioxidant complex that's enriched with jojoba and macadamia nut oils" (Sephora). I have this in the shade number 6, which I initially thought would be too dark for me, but is actually perfect. If you are familiar with Mac foundation shades, I range between an NC35 and NC40, for reference. However, that is one of my cons for this product; there are only 6 shades, 6 of course being the darkest. I'm not dark skinned at all, so for this to be the darkest shade is quite frankly a shame. A wider range of people should be able to experience how lovely this product actually is, from the palest to the darkest skins, but I digress. The texture of this cream is smooth and thin which makes it easy to apply. I apply this with the Real Techniques Buffing Brush to really work this into the skin. Then I use the Real Techniques Stippling Brush to build up more product where I want more coverage. Even though this is a sheer to light coverage cream, I find that it color corrects and builds nicely, whilst never getting cakey or heavy on the skin. I have hyper-pigmentation on my cheeks due to past breakouts (thank you hormones) and I'm really pleased with how much this evens out my skin tone. It's not perfect, but I'm not aiming for perfection. I just want my skin to look like a healthier, more even toned version of what it is, and this product does just that. This CC cream is also luminous, as the name would suggest, without being shiny or greasy. I have oily skin, but I prefer bases that are luminous because I find them to be more natural and youthful looking. This product does not exacerbate my oiliness. I do have to blot a little throughout the day, but I have to do that with everything, so I'm not bothered. Also, for such a lightweight base, this lasts quite a while on the skin. I can wear it for an entire work day without it breaking down oddly or going away in patches. It does breakdown, but it somehow just evenly wears away, and on me, only towards the end of my day (keep in mind that I ALWAYS set any base with a powder to extend longevity). This doesn't accentuate dryness, or highlight imperfections. It just looks like skin and feels as if I'm not even wearing makeup. In other words, it never feels heavy or uncomfortable. It's lightly scented, but nothing cloying or overwhelming. The scent is light and fresh and does not linger. I could go on about this product for ages, but I'll spare you. Let me leave you with this, since purchasing this, it's the only foundation/tinted moisturizer/base product I want to reach for and it's actually become one of my favorites. This is pricey at $55 for a 1.01 ounce tube and I was fortunate to find my shade on eBay for quite a bit less (never underestimate ebay!). To be honest, once I run out of this I wouldn't hesitate to pay full price. It really is that lovely.

Lancôme Tonique Radiance Clarifying Exfoliating Toner - I go through toner like a crazy person. I use it morning and night so every few months I need to purchase a new bottle. I was in a toner rut and wanted to try something new and stumbled upon Lancôme Tonique Radiance. Let me just be upfront. I DESPISE this product! There is not a thesaurus large enough to help me describe how much I hate, loathe, abhor, this toner. This claims to "help support natural cell turnover to improve skin tone, texture and clarity." Oh, how thee sits on a throne of lies! The only thing this toner gave me was cystic acne. No kidding, my skin broke out in these painful, large, cystic bumps. Just what I want, little Mount Fujis resting on my face. NOT! I had such high hopes for this, because overall, it has high reviews. I don't know what it is, but my skin really did not get along with this product. It is heavily fragranced, which I initially didn't care for. It also has such a high alcohol content that it's almost eye-watering. For a $26 product I'm expecting something more than fragranced alcohol. Now, I'm not the biggest fan of alcohol in toners, but it is quite common and I have used some that my skin really gets on well with. Hey, if it works, it works. I can overlook the ingredients. I have used $6 toners from the drugstore that actually treat, and prevent breakouts, unlike this spawn of Satan. Save your pennies and look elsewhere people. Don't be suckered in by the luxurious packaging and fancy French. This little guy is like a wolf in sheep's clothing. 
I could probably use the remaining product that I have as a weapon. Don't even try to kidnap me. I've got Tonique Radiance in my purse and I'm not afraid to pour it on you! "It burns us, Precious!"

NARS Translucent Crystal Light Reflecting Setting Powder (Pressed) - Let's end on a positive note, shall we? I was searching for a setting powder that was lightweight, not mattifying, but still properly set my makeup without altering the finish of whatever base I wore underneath. For a while, my holy grail setting powder was the Rimmel Stay Matte , but I actually find it to be too heavy looking on my skin. I have very soft skin that can easily look overdone. Powders can especially look cakey on my face. I kept hearing wonderful thing about this NARS Ridiculously Long Name Powder but shied away from it for a while because of the price. I mean, $37 for a powder? I THINK NOT! But I was really getting fed up with the Rimmel looking heavy on me (still holy grail underneath the eyes though, peeps. This is a good powder. Go get you some.) and did a little eBay search. WHAT?! $24!? Yes, please. Put it in my cart. Mail it to me and then get on my face. Seriously, one of the best $24 in makeup spent. This powder is so lightweight, when I apply this I can't even see it on my powder brush and it feels like I'm sweeping nothing on my skin. It doesn't mattify the skin, so the integrity of the finish of whatever base this is applied over isn't completely compromised. This is literally invisible on the skin. But when I touch my face after application I can feel that my makeup has been properly set. I get the same longevity with this product as I do with the Rimmel Stay Matte and I don't get shiny or oily any sooner than I normally would with the Stay Matte. The Rimmel sets makeup well and does offer good oil control, though I still need to blot with it. I get the same benefits with the NARS powder without my makeup looking heavy. If you are weary of face powders. but still want to set your makeup to increase its wear time, I highly recommend that you look into this little gem by NARS. It is really something exceptional and it has become my absolute favorite face powder. NARS, you've done it again. You've reached into my wallet and took my money and I don't regret it one bit. I say, "Take it again!"

Always, 

Alana 

Skin Care 101: Setting the Record Straight About Your PORES

I started getting passionate about skin care about three years ago when I started dealing with non-stop breakouts in my early twenties, during my last year of college. I was determined to find skin care products that would whip my skin back into shape. Searching for new products led to me start researching and learning about skin in general. All of this research also shed some light on quite a few myths that are floating around in the beauty industry.

There are so many myths out there about pores and it blows my mind. There are reputable skin care companies that are stating myths on their products as a marketing ploy to sell more products. They are banking on the concept that the average consumer doesn’t know any better. We also live in the age of YouTube. A lot of self proclaimed “beauty gurus” are also stating these myths. These YouTubers are not proclaiming the gospel! It’s important to do your research! Please, don’t be an average consumer and stop buying into the myths. Then, you’ll have a more realistic expectation on what to expect from your skin care products.

Oh, the rant is just getting started. So please, grab a cup of coffee or tea and get comfy. It’s time to set the record straight about the pores on your face.

Photo Credit

1.     Myth #1: You’re pores open and close.

a.    No! Just no! You pores DO NOT and CANNOT open and close. Period. They are not doors, thus they cannot swing open and closed. Your pores do not have muscular walls that allow for them to contract. You’re pores just are.

b.    Also, hot water/steaming your face does not open your pores and cold water does not snap them shut. Please see above. Steaming your face may help to loosen up dirt in the pore, allowing it to be removed, thus causing the pore to appear smaller. Caution: be careful if you decide to steam your face. If the water is too hot, you can actually damage your capillaries. Not good.

2.     Myth #2: You can shrink your pores.

a.    Again, they do not contract. You pore size is your pore size and is largely determined by genetics and your skin type. Those with more oily skins tend to have larger pores.

b.    There are products that can minimize the appearance of pores, but if you see anything on a skin care product that guarantees to minimize the appearance of your pores, don’t get your hopes up. It may. It may not. I can’t stress this enough, your pores are your pores. Embrace them. Stop obsessing over them. Let them be.

3.     Myth #3: You can get rid of you pores.

a.    You cannot get rid of your pores. Trust me, you don’t want to get rid of your pores. Your pores contain hair follicles and your pores also produce sebum. This sebum travels up the hair follicle and makes its way to the surface of your skin and naturally moisturizes and protects the surface of your skin. Without sebum having a way to make it to the surface (A.K.A: not having pores) your skin would become dry and begin to crack. Ow.

·      If you have large pores/oily skin:

b.    Cleanse your face twice daily (you should be doing this anyway regardless of that skin type you have, but I digress…for now). Clean pores are happy pores. When your pores become clogged with excess sebum and dirt, it can result in the appearance of larger pores (and cause breakouts).

c.     Incorporate Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs) and Beta Hydroxy Acids (BHAs) into your skin care routine. AHAs, like glycolic acid help to exfoliate the surface of the skin and helping to prevent your pores from becoming clogged with dead skin cells. If you are prone to acne and have oily skin, BHAs are your best friend. Salicylic acid is a BHA and has the ability to not only exfoliate the surface of the skin but penetrate the pore (AHAs cannot penetrate the pore) and exfoliate the pore from within, thus keeping them clear and happy. Remember, we want happy pores!

·      Please. Stop obsessing over your pores. I assure you, they most likely aren’t as bad as you think they are. They have nothing to do with you being a quality person. Sure, smaller pores are deemed by society as being more aesthetically appealing, but the average person could care less. If a person comes up to you and starts critiquing your pores, they are standing way too close and they are way too judgmental. Not someone worth your time.

4.     Products to consider:

a.     A good AHA/BHA cleanser

                                              i.     Try thebalm White Tea Rose Face Cleanser for Normal to Combination Skin.This is a gentle, barely foaming gel cleanser that contains glycolic acid and fruit acids. This cleanser does a great job at keeping the surface of the skin exfoliated, helping to prevent dead skin cells from making their way into your pores in the first place.

b.     A clay mask

                                              i.     Try thebalm Spearmint Aloe Face Mask I like thebalm skin care, can you tell?). This does a good job of drawing things out of the pore without over drying. My skin always looks visibly clearer and calmer the next day. Another nice clay mask as a fraction of the price is the Freeman’s Dead Sea Minerals Facial Anti-Stress Mask. Lovely smell, cool bright blue color and just gets the job done without making your wallet weep.

c.     A good toner

                                              i.     Look for a toner containing glycolic or salicylic acid and try to avoid one containing alcohol. Alcohol can be quite irritating and drying to the skin, causing your skin to produce more oil. I’m still on the hunt for a good toner containing salicylic acid sans alcohol, but for a glycolic acid option, the Mario Badescu Gylcolic Toner is nice. It does tingle a little, but nothing painful. It can be a bit strong, so you may not want to use this one both morning and night if your skin is more on the sensitive side.

d.     A good serum

                                              i.     The Watts Beauty Acne/Wrinkle Serum contains kojic acid, glycolic acid AND salicylic acid. It does not contain silicones if that is something that concerns you. It’s lightweight, gentle on the skin and packed full of beautiful ingredients. It helps to keep pores clear, which can mean clearer skin, while helping to lighten hyperpigmentation. A win-win in my book!

e.     Start looking into anti-aging products

                                              i.     As we age, we begin to lose collagen in our skin, causing the skin to loose its elasticity. This can cause pores to appear larger as the skin begins to droop. Incorporating anti-aging products into your routine can help to slow the process of aging. Start with the basics: make sure your drinking enough water, eat well, don’t be afraid to sweat a little, GET ENOUGH SLEEP and apply SPF. Also, find a good product containing retinol. Retinol is PROVEN to aid in anti-aging. A good product to start with is the Watts Beauty 2.5% Retinol Gel Serum. 

f.      Find a nice primer

                                              i.     To superficially tone down the appearance of your pores, try a make up primer that is designed to  “hide “ your pores and even out the texture of your skin. These primers are generally packed full of silicones, which cause some people to be wary; they cause some people to break out and others are fine. I personally don’t have a problem with them. Silicones help to “fill” in pores, giving the appearance of poreless skin, which also makes makeup apply more flawlessly. Benefit’s Porefessional is a cult classic.

I do feel as if I need this disclaimer: I am not a dermatologist, nor am I an esthetician. The above is information I’ve gathered throughout out the past few years. If you have specific skin care concerns please consult a professional.

I hope this post was helpful. I have quite a few posts planned all about skin care: cleansing, toners, acne, hyperpigmentation, facial oils, etc. If there is anything you would specifically like to read on this blog regarding skin, please let me know and I’ll be happy to do a post on it!

- Alana 

March 2015 Favorites

I’m going to spare you all from the typical “I can’t believe another month has passed! Where does the time go?” All I know is, even though I actually like cold weather (these born in Massachusetts bones find it refreshing) I’m looking forward to Spring, minus the tiny specks of yellow dust that have been irritating my nasal passageways. However, I will take a few sneezes for this 70-degree weather that is forecasted for this coming week.

 I don’t have many favorites this month, but the items that I do have to share with you all are really noteworthy products.

Feel free to click the image for a larger view

Simple Micellar Cleansing Water. When I ran out of Bioderma, I wanted to find another cleansing water that was significantly cheaper. I didn’t even know Simple had a micellar water until I stumbled upon it in Target. This is a great product. It’s gentle on the skin and really does a great job removing my makeup and prepping it to be cleansed with my other cleansers. At a $5.99 price point, I don’t think I’ll go back to Bioderma. I even like the smell of it; it has a mild, earthy scent.

thebalm Geranium Toner. I’m always on the hunt to find another great toner. The Geranium Toner by thebalm is alcohol free, so it does not feel like it’s burning on the skin. It also contains glycolic acid, which further helps to cleanse pores and even the texture and tone of the skin. It’s also gentle and doesn’t make my skin feel tight and dry. If you’re in the market for a good toner, this is one you may want to check out.

Kiehl’s Rosa Artica Eye Balm. When I first started using this product, I wasn’t sure if I liked it. I’m more accustomed to creamy eye products and this one definitely has a unique texture. When they say balm, they mean balm. When you wipe your finger in the jar, you barely lift up any of the product, save a few white “chunks”, but whether you see it or not, it’s there. It almost has an oily consistency. I only use this at night because it is rather rich and emollient, so much so that I don’t need to use an eye cream during the day. The more I use this, the softer the skin around my eyes becomes. It’s moisturizing and soothing and I look forward to using it every night, even if it is unconventional.

Chantecaille Just Skin Tinted Moisturizer. I briefly touched on this product in my most recent post and I’m only going to mention it briefly here because I’m going to have an entire post on tinted moisturizers. I wore this base the most out of all my tinted moisturizers and foundations this month. It’s got good coverage for a tinted moisturizer, feels light on the skin and has a beautiful dewy finish. It is also incredibly long lasting on the skin for it being a tinted moisturizer.

butter London Cheeky Highlighter Tint. I also mentioned this product in my last post. With the weather warming up, I’ve been craving a warmer glow to my skin and this is the product that I’ve been using to help me achieve that glow. I mix this in with whatever foundation or tinted moisturizer I’m using and it just makes the skin look radiant and healthy.  A little goes a long way, use too much and you’ll end up looking metallic and not in a good way.

NYC Smooth Mineral Loose Finishing Powder. Since I’ve been wearing more luminous, dewy bases recently I was seeking a setting powder that wouldn’t make me look completely matte. That, and my other translucent powder from thebalm was looking a bit heavy on my skin. I was going through my makeup stash and found this. My mom actually gave this to me ages ago and I forgot I had it. I’m not sure if NYC even makes this anymore. This is a very lightweight translucent powder that sets my makeup without looking heavy or making my skin look totally matte. NYC is such a budget friendly brand with some standout products and this is one of them.

NARS Striptease Lip Gloss. I don’t think there is anything particularly special about the formula of NARS lip glosses, but Striptease is such a nice shade. It’s a warm, peachy nude with subtle shimmer that does not look frosty on the lips. It’s not a very opaque shade, which makes it more wearable. I have quite a few nude lip products, but nothing quite like this color. It pairs well over lipsticks and can warm up a nude lipstick that is too cool toned and make it more wearable.

MAC Blankety Lip Stick and MAC Stone Lip Liner. I was at the MAC store in Chicago eyeballing Blankety. I’ve actually been eyeing Blankety since 2013, but always talked myself out of it because I thought it would be too cool and grey for my skin tone. However, once I swatched this on the back of my hand, I was like “Shut the front door! Slap someone! Throw a tantrum!” This shade is just so beautiful. It’s a nude with pink undertones and dare I say, a touch of taupe. The formula is standard for an Amplified lipstick: creamy, smooth and pigmented. The lovely Sales Associate at MAC suggested I pair it with MAC Stone Lip Liner. I tried not to give her a strange look because when I saw Stone the only thing I could think of was that brown, harsh lined lip of the 90’s. Stone is a cool toned, taupe-brown shade. However, applied with a very light hand just to define the shape of the lips underneath Blankety, it is really stunning. It almost creates a subtle gradient effect. This will be a lip combo that I will sport all year long.

Those are my favorites for the month of March. Have you tried any of these products? What were your favorites for March?

- Alana

Make-up Travel Essentials: The Illinois Edition

Last week my sister and I spent some time in Illinois visiting family. The hardest thing about packing a suitcase is deciding what NOT to bring. I love my skin care and my make-up collection keeps growing, so deciding what tidbits to leave at home for a week took some real thought. So today’s post will be the makeup (and one skin care item) that were the essentials. These are the products that I took with me on my trip that were easy to use, versatile and just got the job done. 

Shisiedo Ultimate Sun Protection Cream SPF 50+. The texture of this actually feels quite powdery, so I was able to use this as a make-up primer as well. The high SPF protection ensured that whether I was out just running errands with family, visiting Lake Michigan, or spending a day in Chicago just exploring, my skin was will protected from the sun. This served me well as a primer, which is great because it’s always nice to have products that can double up. It’s a great way to save space. 

Chantecaille Just Skin Tinted Moisturizer SPF 15. I've been trying a TON of tinted moisturizers lately (a collective post on those soon). On this trip I had a bit of a dilemma figuring out which one to bring. The day before I left, the Chantecaille Just Skin arrived in the mail and I made my decision. I figured it was a good opportunity to give this a test drive. It's perfect for those light makeup days when I just want to even out my complexion but not look too made up. It's perfect for plane rides or running errands with my family here because it's low maintenance but still looks beautiful on the skin. The added SPF 15 is always a pleasant bonus.

Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua Foundation. I wanted to bring a base product on my trip that provided more coverage than a tinted moisturizer but still wouldn’t look heavy. Not only is this the most travel friendly packaging for a foundation, its pretty low maintenance as well. Because foundation dries down nicely and doesn’t make you look too dewy or to matte, you can save yourself a step and save some room in your travel bag and skip the powder. It also wears longer than the Chantecaille Just Skin, so when I knew I was going to have a longer day out and about; this was my base product of choice.

butter LONDON Cheeky Tinted Hightlighter. I actually picked this item up while I was in Illinois in the shade Pence. I love illuminating products that make my skin look like it's glowing without making me look like a greasy disco ball. This is a beautiful warm gold that isn't too brassy. I mixed this in with my foundation or tinted moisturizer for a healthy, warm glow. The packing is also sleek and very travel friendly, no leaks here.

thebalm Hot Mama Blush. This has got to be my all time favorite blush. I wanted to bring a blush that pretty much went with anything and this one always fits the bill. Plus I own this in the sample size so it takes up virtually no space in my makeup bag. Also, because this has a golden sheen, I didn't have to bring a highlighter with me. I also took Benefit's Dallas with me because it's a neutral shade that goes with almost any makeup look, but I really only reached for Hot Mama.

NYC Sunny Bronzer. This is my go-to Bronzer, so there was no doubt in my mind that I would be taking it on this trip. It's easy, quick, fuss free and almost impossible to overdo. It adds just enough warmth to the face so I don't look pasty. My makeup on this trip has pretty much been my standard makeup look, but simpler in some ways. This was a not a Kat Von D Shade & Light palette trip. I didn't need to contour the living day lights out of my face. The NYC Sunny Bronzer provides subtle definition and nothing more.

NARS Lip Gloss in Striptease. Oh NARS, you and your cheeky names. I only brought three lip glosses with me but this was the only one I wore, minus one or two days. It's easy and goes with almost everything. It's a warm, peachy nude that doesn't wash me out. The color is not extremely opaque, which makes it versatile and low-key.

These were my standout products from my trip to Illinois. When you travel, what are your most reliable products?

-Alana

February 2015 Favorites

I don’t understand where February went. Wasn’t it just Christmas? Wasn’t it just New Year’s Eve when I was sitting on the couch bumming it out in my flannel pajamas, a blue clay mask on my face and reading Cold Mountain, while my parents watched a jazz concert on PBS? Cool people stay in on New Year’s Eve by the way…

Even though I’m in severe denial about how quickly time is passing, February was a month of great beauty finds for me. This is a lengthy post, so grab some tea, sit back and relax.  

I tried two foundations this month. The Becca Radiant Skin Satin Finish Foundation is a beautiful product. I have the shade Olive and it is a perfect match for my skin tone. This is a medium coverage foundation that as the name implies, has a satin finish. This works well with my oily skin, blends likes a dream, and wears wonderfully. In fact it looks better the longer I have it on. When I have a long day, this is the base I grab for. If you are looking for a foundation that gives you flawless skin without looking cakey and too made up, look no further. The second foundation is the L’oreal True Match in the shade W6 Sun Beige. I resisted buying this for a while, even though there is a ton of hype around this foundation. I finally caved and purchased it at the end of January. I’ve been missing out. This is a fantastic foundation at an even better price. It’s medium coverage, doesn’t lean too dewy or too matte and wears well. It lasts for hours on the skin and like the Becca Radiant Skin, I’ll reach for this when I know I’m going to have at least a 10 hour day. I like the Becca a little more than the True Match, but you can’t beat the price of the L’oreal; $8 compared to the Radiant Skin’s $42.

thebalm Cindy Lou-Manizer. I’ve lusted after this product since it was release almost two years ago. After finally getting my paws on Cindy’s champagne counterpart Mary Lou-Manizer and loving it, it was time to get Cindy. Cindy Lou-Manizer is a soft, warm pink highlighter. It isn’t as shimmery, pigmented and intense as the Mary Lou-Manizer, so it’s perfect for those days when I’m not trying to have my cheekbones to resemble high beams. It pairs well with my mid-toned mauve-pink blushes like NYX Mocha and Laura Geller’s baked blush in Sateen Subtle Berry.

Clarins Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector in 01 Rose Shimmer. This is another hyped up product I resisted for a while. I just didn’t believe a lip gloss/lip balm hybrid could really be. That. Good. And even after I got this, I wasn’t initially blown away. When I first tried this I was like, “Okay, it’s just a lip balm that smells nice and barely adds any color to my lips.” Duh Alana, that’s the point! This gives the lips a beautiful sheen that isn’t too glossy. It’s moisturizing and just enhances the lips. It’s supposed to be understated, plus it smells lovely, like vanilla. The texture is smooth, creamy, not too thick and not too thin. There is a very subtle shimmer, but it is so subtle it doesn’t translate to the lips at all. In fact, it took me weeks to see that there was shimmer in this product. I have used this product everyday this month. It stays in my handbag and I grab this whenever I need to moisturize my lips throughout the day.

NYX Butter Gloss in Crème Brulee. This is a beautiful gloss. It’s creamy, nicely pigmented, smells of vanilla and melts into the lips. Crème Brulee is a milky pink-nude shade. I’ve been wearing this alone when I’m in the mood for a paler nude lip and I’ve also been layering this over MAC’s Cremesheen lipstick in Peach Blossom. Those two are a match made in heaven. If you’re a fan of soft nude-pink lips, this is your combo. Go do yourself a favor and put these two on your face.

Maybelline Mega Plush Mascara (non-waterproof). It was time for me to put the L’oreal Miss Manga mascara down and give another mascara a chance. I decided on the Maybelline Mega Plush because I liked the color of the packaging. Once I tired it out, I decided that I also like the product. That’s always a bonus. I favor length over volume in a mascara and this gives me great length. I have really long lashes anyway, so I can generally make any mascara work, but this one is quite nice. It doesn’t make my lashes as long as Miss Manga, but I sill like it. It doesn’t smudge on me, even though it’s not waterproof and people have asked me if I’m wearing false lashes, even my parents. Dear Parental Units: No, I am not wearing false lashes. They scare me. No glue is going anywhere near my eyeballs.

I acquired two more Real Techniques brushes this past month. I’ve been eyeballing the Expert Face Brush for a while now and I’ve really been enjoying it when I use it to apply foundations that tend have a more fluid texture. I really like it with the Becca Radiant Skin, L’oreal True Match and the Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua. Because this is a denser brush, I can really get precise application and it blends foundation in flawlessly. I’ve also been putting the Stippling Brush to good use. I strayed away from concealer this month (except underneath my eyes, because the hereditary dark circle struggle is real). I’ve been using the stippling brush to apply more foundation where I think I need it, mainly on my cheeks and it covers up any hyper-pigmentation flawlessly without looking cakey.  

Fresh Umbrian Clay Face Lotion. I was in the market for a moisturizer to use in the morning. I stumbled across this Fresh one that was formulated with oily skin in mind. It claims to control oils while gently hydrating and toning the complexion. I really, really like this stuff. It really does keep my face less oily and I find that I don’t need to blot my face as often throughout the day.  I also like how it smells, like cucumbers and citrus with a hint of floral. I have a back up.

Origins Plantscription Face Oil.  I like this face oil so much that if I were to describe to you in person my love for it, I would just make incoherent noises. My skin drinks this oil up. I use three drops at night and one drop in the morning and my skin is more radiant, bright, even, smooth, soft and more youthful. Granted, I am in my 20s, so my skin is already youthful, but it’s still improved the texture of my skin. My skin has the texture of my 17 year old self and that almost 7 year gap makes a difference. If you’re into facial oils, you may want to look into this gem by Origins.

Those are all my monthly favorites for the month of February. This was definitely a long post, but I hope you enjoyed it. I like taking the time to write these more lengthy posts, there is something satisfying about it.

What were your favorite products from this past month?

-      Alana

Winter-Proof: Products for Dry Winter Hands

February may be over and the first day of Spring may be three and a half weeks away, but you wouldn’t know it due to the amount of snowfall and below zero temperatures we’ve been experiencing across the States. I live in an area that typically doesn’t see much snowfall, but we got hit with substantial amounts of the white stuff two weeks in a row.

The cold, dry winter weather was really starting to take its toll on my hands and cuticles. Even though I was constantly applying hand cream throughout the day, especially after washing my hands, by the end of the day my hands were so dry it was almost painful. And my cuticles! My cuticles looked like they’ve never come across a moisturizer! They were dry, peeling and borderline unsightly. I needed products that would really penetrate my skin and keep my hands from getting dried out as quickly, especially since I wash my hands a lot.

These four products together have really done a number on my hands. My cuticles are pristine and nourished and my hands don’t get nearly as dry throughout the entire day. My hands have NEVER been this soft before. I kid you not; my skin feels at least a few years younger.

LUSH Helping Hands Hand Cream. I went looking for a product for nighttime use before bed and settled on this. This cream is thick and rather greasy, but that’s what I was looking for and because this is a thicker cream, a little goes a long way. I don’t mind heavier products at night because I’m usually just lounging in bed reading and don’t mind if I get a few fingerprints on things. I use a generous pea-sized amount and really take the time to massage this in. It doesn’t have much of a scent, but I faintly detect the scent of donuts (wishful thinking…). When I wake up in the morning my hands are unnaturally soft and moisturized, even after a few washes. I credit this hand cream for keeping my hands nourished throughout the entire day. This may be the best hand cream I’ve come across thus far.

Christian Dior Abricot Nail Cream. This is another new product to me. I stumbled across it on the Internet and became curious. It has a plethora of rave reviews, so I figured, why not? I was looking for a product that would save my cuticles and this sounded like it would do the job. I was previously using the Qtica Intense Cuticle Repair Balm, but it wasn’t doing the job for me. I was applying it as a night treatment for my cuticles, but I still felt like my cuticles were lacking something. I like the Qtica Cuticle Balm, but my cuticles needed something more. The Dior Abricot Cream is my “something more.” It’s thick, gooey and emollient. It will make your hands feel greasy, which is why it’s instructed for nighttime use. The first couple of nights I used this, I woke up and my cuticles looked good, but the more I use this, the better my cuticles look and remain. They don’t dry out as badly and I found that when it’s time for my next manicure, I don’t have to work so hard to get my cuticles back in tip-top shape. This combined with Helping Hands is a dynamite duo. Two things to keep in mind about the Abricot Cream: It smells so weird to me. I don’t care for the scent; like fake apricots and something akin to earwax. However, I’m so pleased with the results I could care less. Also, this product does contain mineral oil, which some people are completely against. This doesn’t really bother me because again, I’m getting the results I want.

Crabtree & Evelyn Ultra-Moisturizing Hand Cream. This is a great product. It’s lightweight, doesn’t feel greasy on the skin, absorbs quickly and moisturizes well. This is the product I use during the day. I was using it at night, but it wasn’t heavy enough. This comes in a variety of scents, so almost everyone will find something they like. I keep one tube by my bed, one tube in my handbag, and a spare in my drawer of goodies. This is one of the better hand creams I’ve tried, though it comes with a hefty price tag. A 3.5-ounce tube retails for $20. However, keep your eyes peeled at TJ Maxx. I was able to find my tubes there for $7 each. Whenever I see them at TJ Maxx in a scent I like, I snatch them up!

Burt’s Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream. This is a staple product for me. I started using this in 2011 and when I run out, I purchase another. It smells lovely, like tart, fresh lemons. It has more of a balm-like texture than that of a cream. This is lightweight and non-greasy, so it’s great for daytime use. I use this with the Crabtree & Evelyn hand cream and keep it in my handbag to keep my cuticles hydrated, especially throughout the workday. When I apply this immediately after washing my hands, it prevents my cuticles from getting dry beyond repair and you don’t need to use a lot of product either, so one tin should last you a while. For $5-6 a tin, it’s a quality product to incorporate into your hand and nail care routine.

What are your favorite products to keep your hands, nails and cuticles in prime condition during the brutal winter months?

- Alana