Happy Holidays & New Year Beauté's!

I just wanted to make a little post saying that I'll be taking a bit of a holiday break, just for the rest of the month to spend time with my family and loved ones as the holidays get closer. Will start back up again with usual postings in the start of January of the new year! 

I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who reads this blog, or follows me on my other social media accounts for all your unconditional love and support this year, its really made the year worth while. I do hope that you all will follow me into another new year, filled with beauty. I love doing what I do, even though its not my full-time job (not yet at least!! :D) and you guys make that 100% possible, everyday. So my warmest gratitude goes out to you all for that.

I hope everyone has a safe and well holiday and new year with all whom you love!

Here's to new beginnings, experiences, friends and success!

Love to you and yours,

j.beauté 

Skincare Review: Context Skin

 I blush anytime a beauty brand reaches out to me to give their products a try, that just gives me more incentive to start rearranging to make room for the new products delightfully coming my way. Now, I don't say yes to every offer, and I thoroughly look into every brand's background story, ethos and products before I make a solid decision if its something that would actually help benefit my skin and and this is where Context comes in. They're not a skincare line that's wanting to help benefit my skin, but ALL skins, colors, and sexes.  

With added anti-aging benefits packed with antioxidants and oils, their products are geared to help the skin to provide a clean, healthy complexion. A brand whose products are all made in the USA, does NOT test on animals, hypoallergenic, dermatologist-tested, non-comedogenic, as well as being paraben and phthalate-free. Any fragrance you get is going to be natural, all giving you that advantage to be able to get healthy skin, and feel comfortable with not slathering on a jar full of junk all over yourself.

*The kind people over at Context sent me 4 full size products to try: Micro-Derm Regenerator Cleanser, Oil-free Daily Moisturizer w/ SPF 15, Restorative Night Cream, and the Vitamin C All Day Eye Cream. I have to say, none of the products disappointed me, though I do favor some over others, though thats also not to say that those said unfavored products weren't good, they just didn't fit my needs. 

Micro-Derm Regenerator Cleanser, $35: This cleanser is my least favorite product that I tried, but not in anyway because of the cleanser itself, I'm just personally not a huge fan of exfoliating cleansers generally, though I did try this one a few times to review. Granted, I do love that Clarins Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser, but I can't remember the last time I bought one after that. I prefer to use exfoliating treatments and/or masks, the cleansers don't do much for me. I will say though, if you're looking into getting an exfoliating cleanser for yourself to try, or you love them and want to try something new, this one is pretty stellar. It didn't irritate my skin in anyway, which a lot exfoliating cleansers that I had tried in the past have (hence why I stopped using altogether); no redness, no blotchiness, no new spots popped up either. My skin felt smooth, clean (non-stripping) and hydrated, and another plus, fragrance free (sorry Clarins). It's really everything you'd want in an exfoliating cleanser, if you enjoy using them. I may pass this one off to my mom since she enjoys using exfoliating cleansers a few times a week.

Oil-Free Daily Moisturizer, $40: I really love this moisturizer, it was the first product that I was like 'yes, I love!'. Now, if I had the choice, I'd rather have a moisturizer that wasn't oil-free, but this case was different, because it didn't dry out my skin (combo/dry) and it kept it quite hydrated throughout the day thanks to the shea butter, manuka honey, and vitamin e packed in this bad boy. Another fragrance free product, its light, with an almost-milk like consistency, but just a tad thicker. Its got SPF which protects against both UVA and UVB, and it smooths and silkens the skin, which creates a great base for makeup. Any oily bits were controlled, and my skin felt hydrated all day. Despite all the praise, I didn't see any initial benefits to my skin besides keeping it protected with SPF and hydrated, which all moisturizers SHOULD do anyway, but this one just felt super comfortable, and the fact that I could use it multiple ways just makes it more bang for your buck. Normal/Combo/Oily skin types would love this; Dry/Very Dry skin types would need to add more hydration underneath this moisturizer though.

Vitamin C All Day Eye Cream, $35: This lightweight cream-gel is a perfect morning eye cream. Its really hydrating, while keeping the delicate area around the eyes smooth and brightened. Its also quite comfortable to wear alone, or under makeup, without letting makeup fall into any fine lines. You get a great size tube as well, with a little going a long way, this .5oz tube should last you a good few months if used everyday.

Restorative Night Cream, $45: Moisturizers and creams for nighttime use have been an issue for me; never finding the right one is frustrating at best and I can't ever stay committed to just one, having finicky skin, I never usually use the same nighttime moisturizer every single day of the week, except when I started using this one. I was very hesitant, enjoying every product I had used up to that point, this was the last on my list to try, but I ended up really loving it, and dare I say, kicking myself now, I ended up using it every night.

Its a very thick, rich cream; its sturdy in consistency, and you don't need a large dollop to cover the whole face, less than a nickel size really. My skin soaks this up with in a matter of a few minutes, and I wake up with clearer, less dull skin. I notice that spotty redness subsides as it soothes the skin of the days aggressors. I thoroughly enjoy rich creams because my skin tends to get a bit tight and dehydrated, and this definitely has helped ease it. My only qualm is the smell; I can't actually tell you what the smell reminds me off, but its got this bit of an off putting clean smell to it...No worries though, it fades after a short period after you put it on, so its not something thats going to annoyingly linger about.

Overall, I give all of these products, including the exfoliating cleanser, 4 of out 5 stars on the rating scale. The packaging and products check off all the marks, they're products women and men can both enjoy and that can be used everyday if desired. They also have a Hydrating Toner, a Daily Facial Cleanser (which on their site is described as a 'gel-cream'), and the Intensive Daily Moisturizer w/ SPF 15 which I wasn't sent to try , though I'd love to try eventually. Also, the price points of the range are very much on the reasonable side for a more 'higher end' brand and you definitely get a good amount of product for what you spend.

Currently going on their site, you can get 15% off new orders using the promo code NEW at checkout, and there's always free shipping with every order.

*Disclaimer: The product(s) mentioned in this post were sent to me by the mentioned brand(s) for review. All opinions and comments in this post are of my own from my personal use of them. I am not being paid by any brand(s) to talk about their product(s) that are mentioned, unless otherwise stated by me.

First Impressions: Sunday Riley's 'Blue Moon Tranquility Cleansing Balm'

Raise of hands, how many of you have been coveting this beautiful, blue baby for months?! *both hands raised* It's well worth it, may I add. I picked this cleansing balm up during Sephora's yearly VIB ROUGE event, where ANYTHING and EVERYTHING is 20% off; all brands, all fragrances, no exclusions of any kind. Sephora is the Wonka Factory of highend beauty, the mecca of all beauty lovers. This year has had its fair share of great skincare and makeup releases, and with the holidays right around the corner, the best of what beauty has to offer is popping up all over the place. Its overwhelming at best, but at the same time, what a joy it is to be able to partake in the festivities.

Sunday Riley is that highly coveted, good-stuff for your skin that costs a buttload...yet, you feel and look good with it on, no matter if you look like you just rolled out of bed or just going to the world premiere of the new James Bond flick, you really can't do much wrong when using Sunday Riley products. Granted, with that being said, it may not be for everyone; not every product may be well suited for sensitive skin types (at least to use everyday) but, when it comes down to it, her products speak volumes, and the masses absolutely love what they have to offer.

I've tried two SR products prior this, but they ended up not working out because I got them surrounding their hype, not really based on my skin needs (tisk Jewels!), I just couldn't help myself though...but this cleansing balm, on the other hand, can suit almost every skin type, except maybe the extremely oil.

This balm has vanilla, tangerine, sweet orange, chamomile, and blue tansy essential oils; thrown in with organic cocoa and moringa butters (Emma Hardie fans rejoice!). And it smells almost distinctly of cocoa, but not in anyway overpowering. The blue balm itself is absolutely lovely to look at, and the consistency and formula of the balm is quite creamy without being thick, and never feeling heavy on the skin. You just need a little to do the trick, rub those palms together for a few seconds than start massaging that makeup off your face! Its a very therapeutic experience with all the aromas you get from the lush ingredients thats thrown in, and something I see myself reaching for my evening cleanse.

Out of a 5-star rating, I give it a 4, reason being: The packing and the product itself is absolutely stunning, would look grand on the vanity, floor, bookshelf, it's just so beautiful. The smell is comforting while not being strong, has a great slip, great at removing makeup and impurities; but, at the end of the day, its just a very nice, hydrating balm cleanser. Its more beautiful in appearance than anything else, and normal/dry skins would certainly love the feeling of this, especially when used as a mask. 

If you're looking for a basic, does-what-it-says-on -the-tin balm, go with Clinique's Take The Day Off Balm; its a no fuss, no muss kind of cleanser, fragrance free, and does great with all skin types, especially sensitive. On the other hand, if you want a more luxurious experience, with a rich, thick, and creamy balm that will take off your makeup punched with a little something special in between, than I'd pick Emma Hardie's Moringa Cleansing Balm. If want something in between but different, with just a bit of UNF, than go the Blue Moon route. Or, if you haven't tried anything from the Sunday Riley brand before, I think this one is a good choice to try first, or one of their many oils. This isn't the BEST of the best of balm cleansers I've ever tried, if I had to pick out of the 3, I'd go with Clinique because it's simple and efficient, and sometimes I don't need all the extra goodies in a cleanser that I'm just going to end up washing off my face anyway.

Either way, I was satisfied with this cleanser and I'd repurchase on the account if I wanted to put something interesting back into my routine, if I was bored of the same old boring balm (sorry Clinique). I do think its worth a look, especially if you're a Sunday Riley fan, you certainly won't be disappointed. 

Its now available at Sephora online or in-stores (call to check for availability) and retails for $50.  

Product Review: Clarins' Instant Light Lip Comfort Oil

The most gooey, lovely oil that your lips will feel. I believe Clarins has mastered something that I have yet to come across in this big, beauty world of ours and have executed their first try spot on perfect with their Instant Light Lip Comfort Oil ($24).

From the formulation, to the cushiony dow-foot applicator, to the way it makes my lips look and feel, I fell in love with this product from the first nights use. I woke up the next morning to see my lips plump, full, as well as looking and feeling hydrated, soft, and smooth.

The texture is that of a lip gloss, though a bit more oily (duh), on the thicker side, with a slight tacky feeling after application; the intensity of the fades after sometime. For someone who loves lip gloss (not me), you will LOVE this on top of a matte lip to add that extra bit of unf, or for those who aren't much of a fan of lip gloss (over here!), this won't feel like a lip gloss at all, in fact you don't even have to wear out and about as a lip gloss, but as a nighttime treatment for your bedtime routine like I do.

I only wear/use this as a nighttime lip treatment within my skincare routine, and my lips are all the ever grateful for it. I don't own any lip glosses, I hate them rather, because of the gooey, sticky, tacky textures they leave behind...not to mention when half my head of hair gets glued to my lips, doesn't make a great look, personally.

At the end of the day, anyone that picks this up will love it! Whether you use it with your makeup look or throw into your skincare routine to pamper them lips up a bit, this is an all around winner for lips.

They come in 2 'shades'; I emphasize shades because the colors are very faint; you're not going to get a bold, glossy lip of color with these guys. I own just one of the shades, 'Honey' and the other shade from this collection is 'Raspberry' which is a nice berry-pink shade.

I'm absolutely thrilled that Clarins' decided to bring these babies back, hopefully permanently, since the praise of them are through the roof! It would be a smart move on their part I think ;)

You can find both shades still available on the Clarins US online store here!

Cleanser Review: Clarins Extra-Comfort Cleansing Cream vs Extra-Comfort Anti-Pollution Cleansing Cream

photo credit: amazon.com

When a brand discontinues your favorite product, the usual follows: crying, screaming, pulling your hair,  giving the company nasty looks through your computer screen...listen, we have all been there. I know I have, hence why I'm making this post about Clarins' Extra-Comfort Cleansing Cream. The Goddess of Skincare herself, Mrs. Caroline Hirons, got pretty much everyone on this planet in love with this jar of goo, even me. You can read her quick little review on the original here, and her thoughts about the new reformulation here.

Its a thick, rich, cleansing cream with that dynamite smell that Clarins is known for and that all fans of the brand absolutely adore. Its such an experience on the skin with using this cleanser, that I couldn't really remember loving a cleanser as much as this one prior. It makes you forget about every other cleanser that you've ever used (a bit of a stretch, maybe?) , because you never want to use anything else...except on the day that you found out it's no longer going to be sold, and that they are coming out with a reformulation of the product... whilst throwing in the verbage 'anti-pollution' in the middle of it.  ?!?!!? If you're feeling a bitch-face through your screens, its because I'm making a hard one. 

Listen: Clarins, next to La Roche Posay, are two brands that I hold very dear to my beauty heart, they were the first brands that I got into when I started my beauty adventure. I'm their ride or die chick so-to-speak, but sometimes you need to take a step back and literally be like, 'WTF BUT WHY?!' Even to your favorite brands.

At the same rate, I can't knock the new one till I try it, right? So, thats what I decided to do, I took the plunge once my Extra-Comfort ran (almost) dry (I left just a bit in the jar...no matter how much I got the urge to scoop it all out and slather it all over my body...just so I can compare the 2 for this post. The sacrifices that were made...). Long story short, I ended up loving the Anti-Pollution version as well, thus I deserved a swift kick in the arse for giving this one the cold, hard shoulder in the beginning. 

photo credit: clarins.co.uk

Its in no way shape or form like the original,  nothing beats it, nothing tops that luscious, glorious cream in jar. I still find it a shame that Clarins decided to do away with it, truly. But honestly, this new formulation isn't all that bad, really. YET, it fails to replace it.   

Differences: The obvious packaging change, from tub to tube. The color of the cream is also slightly different; the original was cream in color, while the reformulation has a very slight pink tone to it. And the consistency is quite different; the original being just a bit thicker and I feel a bit more easier to work with. 

With all that being said, I can't say anything negative about the reformulation itself, if anything, it gets the job done just as well as the original, and my face is just as happy with it. It still works well for dry, sensitive, normal and even combo skins types; oily and acne skins, you may need to step back from this one, it may be a bit much.

For now, I'm throughly enjoying the Anti-Pollution Cleansing Cream, regardless of all the gripe and fuss I keep making about Clarins discontinuing the original one, and will probably end up repurchasing it again once I run out. This cleanser is more on the expensive side, in most places I've checked, it ranges but usually goes up to being about $44 for the 200ml tube; though I purchased mine here for over $10 less than that; and I found another online beauty shop that has it for even less than that price, at $26, here, which seems to be the best price I've found thats available to ship to the US. 

If you tried both cleansers, how did one over the other fair for you?

Glossier: Phase 1 Set Review

"Skin Is In!" Three words have not rung truer for the beauty brand, Glossier. But, you shouldn't expect nothing else from a brand that creates skincare, right? Thats what I thought, thinking all their catchy lingo was just to gain press but, they are all bark and bite, and their products definitely bite my beauty bug!

Since this post has gone up, Glossier has just newly released their Boy Brow eyebrow product, as well as cheekily announced that there is also a face cleanser in the works for a 2016 January release (excited!!!) so, keep your eyes peeled sometime in the beginning of next year for reviews on those products. For now, I will be reviewing and talking about my favorites from the Phase 1 Set. I do also have both of the masks from the range, the Mega Greens Galaxy Pack and Moisturizing Moon Mask, but I will pair those together in a separate post after this one goes up (probably the following week).

The Phase 1 Set includes: Soothing Face Mist, Priming Moisturizer Buildable Hydrating Creme, Balm Dotcom, & the Perfecting Skin Tint (shade Light). Each product in this set is sold individually on the brands site, which is a lovely option because I had started to run very low on the mist & primer before I typed this post, so instead of repurchasing the whole set again ($80), I was able to repurchase the individual products that I needed instead of dishing out a load. The P1 Set is priced at $80; it doesn't cost you more or save you money because each product, if purchased individually, would also come out to $80, the fact that the option is given is nice nonetheless.

Phase 1 Set

Soothing Face Mist: This is your very typical rosewater facial mist. Its lovely, fresh, smells of roses, no fuss-no muss kind of mist. Its very gentle, super hydrating, and great for any time of day. I use this one in the morning always, after I cleanse, before I moisturize. It mists out beautifully, the way all bottles of that sort should; it lightly gives a nice dewy finish. This isn't anything special but, unlike most facial sprays, this, if not all Glossier products, are all: hypoallergenic, dermatologist tested, good for all skin types,  non-comedogenic, non-irritating, paraben free, alcohol free, and not tested on animals. Which gives all their product two big thumbs up from me already!

Priming Moisturizer, Buildable Hydrating Creme: Firstly, I probably should have done a separate blog post on this primer alone, because I feel like a lot of love is going to come pouring out of me and I'm not going to know when to stop, so brace yourselves.

This primer was a huge win for me, which came to also be a huge surprise considering my general dislike for primers. As mentioned in the beginning of this post, I already repurchased this product, still shocked! I fell absolutely in love with this priming moisturizer.  My lack of lust for primers usually stems from their silicone feeling, which, if you guessed, I normally detest. Those types of primers almost always clog my pores and make me break out, and/or make my makeup melt off or break apart after some point in the day...This primer on the other hand, so hydrating, so plump, so nice!

My skin feels healthy, plump, fully hydrated, and foundation just sticks to it so well without clogging the pores or breaking up. It has a very light creme consistency, sinks into the skin quickly, and pumps that moisture into the skin without leaving a residue or making the skin oily. This soft, unscented primer can also be used just as a regular, everyday moisturizer, though since none of this brands' range have SPF in them, its best to remember to add that into the mix as well before stepping out the door.

At $22, this is a considerably reasonable price for such a wonderful angelic creme in a cute tube. Its worth every penny in my opinion, & a little goes a long way so you'll get a good use time out of it. Everything negative that I've ever said about primers...well, still stands, though this Glossier one is the exception. This will be a continuous repurchase until they stop making (which if thats ever the case, I hope there's a heads up ahead of time so I can stock pile the hell up!).

Balm Dotcom, Universal Skin Salve: You can say that this is almost (but not entirely) like a $12 tube of vaseline with pretty packaging. I find this to be less tacky than vaseline, and though not as thick, its still just as moisturizing and very comfortable on the skin. I've only used this on my lips, but it saids you can also use this on pretty much any little dry bits you may have, even scratches. Its helped my lips stay hydrated all day long, even if I were to wear a matte lip product; they look full, plump, and healthy. This little wonder tube will come in handy during the winter season, especially if your prone to drier lips, and with its cute size at only .68oz (20ml), its purse and pocket friendly.

Perfecting Skin Tint: This is NOT a tinted moisturizer, foundation, BB Cream, CC Cream, etc...this is an extremely light veil of color that adds just that little extra UNF to the skin, but just a little. Its your skin, but slightly better. A very light, watery, thin formula that comes in a 30ml dropper bottle helps: slightly even out skin discolorations, while smoothing out the skin, whilst giving it a subtle, dewy finish (especially so when paired with the mist & primer beforehand). This will not help cover blemished prone skin, scarring, dark and/or sun spots.

This shouldn't throw you off with not being a full coverage makeup base, this is supposed to help enlighten the skin a bit, your real skin, not mask it, which is really what Glossier is trying to achieve with their range, and they do so, so well.

I got mine in the shade light, though I probably could have gotten away with the medium shade as well. This is great for:

- the 'makeup-no makeup' look lovers

- running-late-this-morning-but-need-something-on-my-face people

- non-makeup wearers that want to change things up a bit

- people that love their skin

At $26, again, a little goes a long way but, as previously stated, you will need to put an spf underneath or on top of this. That is the only gripe I can honestly say about all of these products, especially the moisturizer and the tint, is that none carry SPF in them.

The absolutely beautiful white and pink packaging, the type, the products themselves...everything about these products was instant love as first sight/use for me. I think this set would make a great gift for any skin and beauty lover, or a nice little treat for yourself this holiday season, or really anytime of year! 

Glossier wants you to love your skin, appreciate it, embrace it, but most of all, take care of it. The brand makes skincare fun, with its adorable and vanity-worthy packaging, they also always throw in a fun sticker sheet with every order, so you can decorate your products or stick them anywhere you like. They focus on their audience while stepping out of the box, while sticking to their mantra: 'Skin Is In'!

You can purchase the Phase 1 Set, or any of these products individually over at Glossier here

Brand Review: Lilfox Botanicals

Finally have the time to sort this post out and my reviews. I have been trying to get around to it the last week but, unfortunately my work life outside of this beauty world has been a bit chaotic as of late and has been permitting me from doing such. Now, as I take a deep, long, relaxed breath, I can finally do it!

Let's get right into it, shall well?

You may have seen a few posts back that the lovely green-goddess beauty Alexis, the creator and botanical-skincare mastermind behind Lilfox Botanicals, **sent me a lovely care package of some of her top products to try out. I couldn't be more pleased with everything she sent, truly.

Here's the rundown of what I received: an oil-based makeup remover, a toning mist, face serum,  eye butter, and a lip balm. All are really lovely in their own, different way. Alexis' products really stand out among other 'all-natural', organic', 'green-beauty' products I've tried in the past; she knows what she's doing when she makes all these products using fresh, all-natural ingredients, and doesn't stop with the packaging either. Her products are kept in beautifully labeled, dark glass jars and bottles for the safeguard and protectiveness of the ingredients.

You can read more about the brand from this post here, so let's get onto those long-waited reviews...

First up, the 'Chamomilla Infusion Makeup Remover': A very light, oil-based makeup remover; this would be my 'first cleanse'. It only has 4 ingredients: jojoba wax, chamomile buds, lavender buds, and frankincense resin; which all are organic. And like majority of all products in her line, it is vegan, cruelty free, gluten free, & free of parabens, sulfates, and synthetic fragrances.

Chamomilla Infusion Makeup Remover, $22

This cleansing oil is truly remarkable and absolutely lovely and gentle on the skin. I feel like the word 'lovely' is going to be thrown around a lot in this post, just word of caution. Its a very light cleansing oil that rids of makeup and all elements from the day off the face, leaving an incredibly smooth and soft canvas, prepping the clean skin for the following step in the routine. No strong fragrance; the oil itself is runny, and about 2 1/2 pumps does the trick for me in making sure every area of my face is covered. I love massaging this in all over, do that for about a minute or so, and rinse away. I'm a huge fan of Una Brennan's cleansing oils, her Vitamin C & Rose specifically, but this one has scooted its way right up to the number one spot.

My only gripe, which isn't really a gripe about the product itself, but the packaging for my own personal preference, is that I wish the bottle was a bit bigger (would totally spend the extra $$ for that) and that the pump was replaced with a dropper, or something that I have more control with getting the product out. I'm not saying that the pump causes inconvenience in that aspect, like I said, just a personal preference.

Aphrodite Rose Toning Mist - Rose Quartz Infusion, $32

Next up, 'Aphrodite Rose Toning Mist with Rose Quartz Infusion': If I had to pick what my favorite product was out of the bunch, it's between the eye butter and this toning mist. The first time I sprayed this onto my skin and got this absolute breathtaking scent of roses that took me to this beautiful, fairy-tale like world in an instant. It's strange, really, that a skincare product had such an effect on my pschye but, with its calming, relaxing, and energy opening experience I felt with this spray, its been unlike any other I've ever tried before. You guys are probably thinking I may had a few cocktails before typing this post, but really I just misted the product all over me before I started typing up this review, so I'm in a bit of an angelic daze at the moment!

Again, the ingredients are pure and organic, just containing Rose Distillate (organic) & Rose Quartz. The mist itself is nicely hydrating and helps calm my skin of any tightness or very mild sensitivities I may be dealing with. I particularly find this very good to use after the face serum ('nectar'), but it works just as grand before any serum or moisturizer, or just as a nice pick-me-up throughout the day. I have also noticed I sometimes like to spray it on my hair, not only to make it smell like a rose garden, but to help add a little bit of shine and tame those little pesky flyaways when need be. Out of all the rose toning mists, and just toning mists in general that I've tried, this one has to be the most relaxing, calming, and beautiful experience. Honest, I really do feel like a goddess after I've immersed myself in this spray, maybe not Aphrodite specifically, but like her cousin or something.

Cucumber + Black Seed - Youthful Vixen Eye Butter, $52

Since we're on the topic of what my top favorites were, let's talk about the second one I mentioned, the 'Cucumber + Black Seed Youthful Vixen Eye Butter'. This definitely feels more like a balm /butter, think the consistency of Clinique's 'TTDO Cleansing Balm' for reference. At first it was a bit of a task to get some product out but, gently rubbing your ring finger in the little pot for a few seconds does the trick, and helps get the right amount of product out so you can never over-do it (though, I'd recommend over-doing this one whenever you want because it's absolutely-freaking wonderful and such a delicious treatment for the eyes).

Ingredient List breakdown: *certified organic, **grown organically, *** wildcrafted [NOTE: ALL ingredients are fully listed on the beauty brand's website]

Mango Butter**, Black Cumin Seed Oil*, Cucumber Seed Oil, Rosehip Seed Oil*, Coconut Oil*, Candelilla Wax, Argan Kernel Oil*, Marula Kernel Oil***, Pomegranate Seed Oil*, Avocado Fruit Oil*, Red Raspberry Seed Oil*, Tocopherols (vit.E/non-GMO), Pumpkin Seed Oil*, Elderberry Extract, Lavender Buds + Oil Infusion*, & Frankincense Resin + Oil Infusion***

It has an oily slip to the butter-balm, and can/may leave an oily residue behind around the eye contour after application so, oily eyes beware. I don't find this a turn off, but to some people it may. Personally, I love a really oily, hydrating eye balm/butter/cream since I have dry, sensitive eyes. After a long day, it shows in that area, more than others sometimes, and this little miraculous gem comforts, relaxes and protects it from the days' woes. The mango butter really helps cling that moisture to the skin, some nights if I pack it on heavy, I can still notice some remnants of the eye butter left clinging to my skin the next morning. I wake up with smooth, hydrated, plump eyes, ready for the new day ahead. Everything in this products helps with moisture, fine lines, wrinkles, and overall comfort for the sensitive eye area. If you are looking for a multi-purpose, heavy-duty eye treatment, look no further!

Seabuck + Neroli Face Nectar, $72

'Seabuck + Neroli Youthful Vixen Face Nectar': Face Nectar = Face Serum. Alexis has a very cute and unique way of describing her luxe-green products, which is another tick mark of excellence because sometimes its just about the little things, really. A much thicker oil than the 'Chamomile Infusion', as well as having a 'stronger' scent; I use the word 'strongly' loosely, considering the scent isn't overpowering in the least but, you can pick up on the natural essence of it.

Ingredient List breakdown: *certified organic, **unsprayed, ***wildcrafted. Vegan, cruelty-free; free of gluten, sodium sulphates, and synthetic fragrances.

Grapeseed oil*, Watermelon Seed Oil, Pomegranate Seed Oil*, Jojoba Seed Wax*, Maraca Seed Oil, Sea Buckthorn Seed + Berry Oil*, Argan Kernel Oil*, Red Raspberry Seed Oil*, Tocopherols (Vit.E/non-GMO), Neroil + Orange + Pettigrain Oil*/**, Sandalwood Oil*, Palmarosa*, Grapefruit Oil*

This oil-serum is best suited for Combination/Oily or Acne Prone Skin types; Normal/Combo can benefit from it as well; though very  dry/sensitive/reactive skins may need to stay weary of this one and/or you'll just need to top it off with a really hydrating moisturizer. The serum is packed full of nurturing antioxidants though, which helps revitalize the skin and plump it up to give it a natural, healthy glow and appearance. The Sea Buckthorn & Red Raspberry Seed Oil gives the skin a high dose of Vitamins A (retinol) & E. While Neroli, Watermelon Seed Oil, and Palmarosa help balance oily skins' sebum production. The other ingredients, such as the Grapeseed Oil, & Grapefruit + Bitter Orange are all used as a gentle astringent and antibacterial force to help aid blemish-prone skins.

With all that said, I use this sparingly. This is not a serum I use every night due to the high potency of all these natural products. If your skin is used to it or can take the punch, than this is something I would definitely recommend using everyday, especially if you deal with the occasional blemishes. Overall, the product is quite comforting, perfect for a pamper night when a face massage is required, the smell pleasant, and gives that spa-like touch to your skincare routine.

Coco Lime -Tinted Lip Balm, $8

Lastly, the 'Coco Lime Lip Balm' is the only product that came in a little metal tin opposed to the glass jars like all the others.

Ingredients breakdown: *certified organic, **wildcrafted. Again, Vegan, cruelty-free, gluten free; free of parabens, sulfates, and synthetic fragrances.

Coconut Oil*, Jojoba Wax*, Vanilla*, Alkanet Root**, Candelilla Wax, Tocopherols (Vit.E/non-GMO), Lime*

Extremely hydrating and comforting lip balm that gives a slight red hue to the lips. The lime scent is not strong in any sense, thanks to the added vanilla that calms the sometimes overpowering, citrus aroma that straight-up lime can give off. Great packaging though to throw in the bag or for travel and/or great for the 'no-makeup' makeup look as well.

I have to say, every product that the lovely Alexis was kind of enough to send me, I was in no way disappointed...I wasnt expecting to be, but I was happily taken aback by all the wonderful ingredients and time it took for her to produce these products. All of these ingredients are carefully selected to make each individual product standout from the next, and to help provide every skin type and concern with a treatment that could truly help benefit it. I can't wait to try more products from this luxury green beauty brand in the future! All of the products she sent me will definitely be future repurchases, as well!

Again, here is a link back to my brand overview post of Lilfox Botanicals. You can shop all the products mentioned in this post over at Lilfox here, plus the rest of her gorgeous green line! You can also follow the creator and botnatical-goddess Alexis herself over at Lilfox's IG here.

 **Disclaimer: The product(s) mentioned in this post were sent to me by the mentioned brand(s) for reviewing purposes.  All opinions & comments about product(s) are from my own personal use of them. I am not being paid by any brand(s) to talk about their product(s) that are mentioned, unless otherwise stated by me.

Miracle In A Can: La Roche-Posay 'Serozinc'

photo credit: laroche-posay.com

I can barely begin to get into my explanation onto why this has been one of the best, newly introduced products I've tried out so far this year. If you missed it, I did a UK Beauty Swamp with the lovely Jess over at MakingItUp, & LPR's Serozinc was one of the lovely items I was gifted during the beauty exchange. Its been a few months now & I have yet to put it down from the moment I received it.

If you're a beauty junkie, you'd have heard, read, seen, and/or tried this blue-beauty-in-a-can already, so you know all the rave and hype surrounding this is pretty amazing. I talked a little bit about my love for it early back in that swap post, but todays post is going to be my full thoughts on the product, and how I use it in my day-to-day routines.

In the beginning, I used it as a toner and/or mist after my cleanse, predominantly in the evening hours, and my skin reaped its lovely benefits but, with all the other stuff I was putting on top of it after, I felt slightly bad that it wasn't getting its upfront recognition that it so rightfully deserves. For whatever reason, the way I use it now came to me rather randomly...I thought it would serve and benefit as a great setting spray for my makeup...wait, what?!

My indecisive skin is combo, so more days than not, my skin can get oily midday, and with makeup on and no real time to take a break and blot/retouch/what-have-you, my face looks half grease pan, half goddess-perfection, which can be very (half) aggravating! After all my makeup is on, I spray lightly up, down, & across my face to set it, as you would a normal setting spray. Not only has this method kept my oily bits at bay during the day with its mattifying properties, its helped my makeup stay in place longer than without it! When my skin gets oily, the makeup starts to slide (nose & chin mostly) and by days end, might as well not have put on any makeup at all.

I wasn't seeing everything I wanted to when I was using it as a toner, so I chose this nonconventional route; this was a whim that worked for me. This doesn't mean to neglect it as a toner/mist, with everyones skin being different, listen to what yours wants and go with whatever method best suits you.

Sadly, I'm more than half way through the can already and I haven't been able to find it any place that sells it to ship it to the U.S. Its frustrating that La Roche-Posay hasn't released it over here; theres been no mention or hint at it either that it ever will, so without further ado, my plea/love letter to the brand:

TO La Roche-Posay,

If you're reading this, please, PLEASE take into huge consideration of releasing this absolutely outstanding product that is Serozinc across the pond in the States! There are a plenty acne/oily skin sufferers that can greatly benefit from this gentle & effective product, we would greatly appreciate your it!

For those of you in the UK & France, its readily available to you almost anywhere that sells the La Roche-Posay brand!

The Battle of the Body Scrubs: Clarins vs Soap & Glory

Theres nothing like a good body scrub, am I right? A few times a week at the end of the day, gently exfoliating the dead skin and grime off, only to reveal, soft, smooth, new skin that you never want to stop touching: thats what body scrubs are great for. A little at home treat that your body needs in order to regenerate skin and help cure any rough patches that may take hold on it; your skin is brighter and glowing and clean, just like a car coming out of a car wash. Ok, I think you get it, body scrubs should (if not already, tsk!) be apart of your shower routine a few days a week, though if I could do it ever night without damage I would!

Highend: My favorite body scrub for the last year has been Clarins' 'Exfoliating Body Scrub for Smooth Skin'. Like most Clarins products, the fragrance is a loveliness of medicinal serenity and calmness while being super gentle on my sensitive skin. I pretty much have sensitive skin head to toe, and Clarins has never irritated with its fragrances (which they are known for). It claims to soften (check!), smooth (check!) and firm (?!). I'm not completely sold on the firming capabilities but, that doesn't bother me in the slightest because my skin always feels so lovely and wonderful when using it. I've been using it for so long now, I forgotten how long I've had this bottle for already, but I am almost out!

Drugstore: Thats why I had put a hold on the Clarins before I finished the bottle, and started using the Soap & Glory 'The Scrub of Your Life' that I received in my UK beauty swap with Jess, the lovely lady behind one of my favorite beauty blogs,  MakingitUp.  Right off the bat, I fell absolutely in LOVE with the scent of this body scrub! It took me to such a sweet place that I never wanted to put it down and get on with the day, just wanted to sit and sniff the crap out of it from the tube. The first time I used it and felt my skin, I literally squealed in shock at the smoothness of it, that well, I couldn't stop feeling how smooth and soft I was, and that was before any moisturizer was slathered on! I get baby-soft, reborn-again skin from this scrub, skin so soft that I didn't even think it was possible until.

Now, to get to the bottom of this post... which one is better? To be honest, they are both quite top-notch products. They both do an incredibly phenomenal job at getting rid of annoying dry patches and smooth the skin with ease and no irritations. But, if I must choose one...it would be...the drugstore's Soap & Glory! The reason being, it made me squeal upon first use, and that never happened with the Clarins scrub. You won't be disappointed either route you take, if you're looking for a great body scrub, give one of these a go!

Dry Brushing: Why Its Worth The Hype

I mentioned a few weeks ago about this (not-so) new beauty trend thats making its way back into the beauty world, dry brushing, and how I've been giving it a go, thanks to the generous Jen at Jen Charming. Prior to Jen reaching out to me, I was reading a few articles on Cindy Crawford for beauty research & curiosity, and in almost every article that had to do with her beauty must-haves, dry brushing was always mentioned more than not. For whatever reason, it sparked my interest, than again who doesn't want to know the beauty secrets of one of the worlds top  acclaimed models such as Crawford. So, I did my dry brushing research, & a lot of it.

The benefits of dry brushing are:

1. Reduction in Cellulite: I can't say first hand that this achieves this for me personally, though the consensus thats tried it saids thats what its supposed to help, maybe I haven't been doing it long enough yet to see such dramatic results like that...I'll take the pros word for it, though!

2. Exfoliates Dead Skin: This I can most definitely say this does. Since you dry brush before a shower on dry skin, the bristles from the brush help relieve the skin of dead skin cells to provide a smooth canvas, much like an in-shower body scrub can do, but less abrasive.

3. Decongests the skin: I don't have body acne, so this one I can't vouch for, either. Though studies and trials have stated that this can help decongest and unclog pores for clearer skin with continued, everyday use.

4. Lymphatic System: This simply means that dry brushing helps release and eliminate toxins from the body that can potentially make you feel unwell. Dry brushing is usually recommended during the day for this reason, it kind of jump starts your body and gives you more energy.

No wonder why Cindy Crawford raves about this every chance she gets! I was easily hooked on trying this technique, so when Jen reached out to me about a week or so after I read these articles, I didn't hesitate to jump on board to give this trend a try.

I have to say, I absolutely love that I did.

Steps on How to Dry Brush:

1. Before you shower, morning and/or night, on dry skin.

2. Legs: Start from the ankles, with a firm grip on the handle, gently sweep UP the leg in medium strokes gently, all around the calves and thighs, working your way up to the heart.

3. Arms: Start from the wrists, same technique and process as the legs, sweeping up towards the heart with gentle, medium strokes.

4. Stomach: gentle, circular motions.

5. Proceed onto your normal shower routine.

What I love about Jen's brush so much is that its double-sided: one side provides the dry-brushing bristles, while the other is a gentle, completely relaxing body massager that you can work around all over the body. The massager portion provides the proper blood flow and circulation throughout the body.

After my shower, I pat most of the excess water off, then cover myself in Target's up & up light sesame formula body oil (Neutrogena dupe for half the price), per Crawford's ritual; I then use the body massager side and take a few minutes to gently massage every part of my body in this oil, starting from the ankles up. My skin feels smooth, hydrated, relaxed, and comforted. I find this is the best way I can get a great nights sleep when I just take the time to do this step every night. 

If I find myself being a bit lazy (which happens some days, guilty!), while still in the shower, I'll massage Sanctuary Spa's 2-Day Moisture Shower Oil, and repeat the same steps with the body massager, than rinse off. Either route I take, my skin still feels so wonderful and my body and mind feel enormously relaxed afterward. I notice that on those odd days where I don't dry brush, my skin can get irritably dry the next morning, so I make sure its done (almost) every night!

I love how this brush in particular feels on my skin. This is a great brush to get yourself into the habit of dry brushing. Its very gentle, with a a long and sturdy handle to help better control and reach in those harder to reach spots! I love supporting up and coming skincare companies, and Jen's done an amazing job with this brush, so please go check her out here & get a brush of your own to start your dry brushing journey!

Lilfox Botanicals: (Affordable) Luxe-Green Beauty + Offer

Green beauty can be a luxury without having to break the bank. When you think or see the words all natural, organic, handcrafted, naturally you'd assume it would cost a lot like how organic food usually costs more than non-organic at the grocery store; that doesn't have to be the case anymore with LilFox Botanicals.

Madame Fox, aka Alexis, the owner & botanical apothecary connoisseur of this new, straight out of Miami skincare brand is making itself known in the green beauty world with her luxe-without-the price-tag skincare range. Her extraordinary, information-filled brand website of every single product she makes is worth a checkout and read. With every product listed, she gives a background on why she created the product, every ingredient that she's crafted into it, and the functions and purpose of each ingredient in the product. I probably sat in front of my computer screen for a good half hour reading every single page; she writes with such eloquence. It shows the time she's spent on the research and the thoughtful consideration of every product and their ingredients. If that hasn't gotten you excited, please go and check it out for yourself, you will be overjoyed with all of the insightful information without leaving anything into question, and something that excites the skincare addict. 

Aphrodite Rose Toning Mist w/ Rose Quartz Infusion, 100ml/$32

With that being said, she graciously reached out to me recently and asked to give some of her products a go, after having such a joyous experience from reading her website alone, I was excited to be able to incorporate more organic and natural skincare into my routines. She sent a lovely care package, and I gleed with each delicate unwrapping of the beautiful, dark glass bottles and jars she stores her products in with its simplistic packaging; something that'll look splendid on the bathroom vanity. I love that she uses dark glass by the way; she's helping keep the integrity of the products and extend their longevity. A lot of companies make the mistake of putting delicate ingredients in light or clear colored bottles; with constant light exposure, this, overtime, ruins the product and its use and cuts the longevity in half.

Now, this isn't going to be a review post, forgive me for not making that clear earlier but, the main reason why I am making this post, besides to introduce you to LilFox Botanicals, is that the lovely Madame Fox has given my followers on my blog & all other platforms, here & here, an absolute outstanding offer on all her products on LilFox's website, starting now and ending October 15th!!

With using the promo code 'ALWAYSAVIXEN' at checkout, you guys will receive the following promotion(s):

- 15% off ALL orders + some free samples.

- Orders $150 & over  will receive the 15% OFF, FREE samples, FREE domestic shipping (U.S. residents only), & a FREE 'Chamomilla Infusion Makeup Remover' (pictured below, full size).

Chamomilla Infusion Makeup Remover, 20ml/$22

- If there are any specific product(s) that you would like a sample of instead getting a few at random, leave a message in the 'order note' box at checkout!

LilFox Botanicals is being so incredibly generous to myself and my followers, that I had to make a post about it to make sure everyone can take advantage of this amazing offer! Keep your eyes on this page in a months time, I'll be giving my full review on the products she sent me and how they faired. For now, you'll be able to see how I am incorporating them in my skincare routines throughout the next month here. 

Again, don't forget the offer above ends October 15th!!!

Drugstore Gems: That Pixi Glow, Tonic & Mist Review

'Drugstore Gems' is well, it says what it means in the title: drugstore beauty products, skincare or makeup, that I find to be standout gems in the drugstore. Drugstore items tend to be more misses than hits with me, solely due to the harsher (& cheaper) ingredients used in them. Needless to say though, I have found some pretty good ones & I'd like to share them with you guys with this series. I don't know how often I'll have these up, may be every week, or every other, or once a month, who knows. I shouldn't really keep a set schedule with this blog because I am never good at keeping up with having things more 'tidy' and set; I'm a bit scatter-brained as you can notice by now, hope you don't mind. '

Anyways, onto it!

I haven't had Pixi's Glow Tonic in my skincare arsenal for a while now (only on my first bottle still) but I can say thats a product that I will end up going back to once I've run out; I am absolutely love the stuff. The hype surrounding this product is all true; an extremely gentle, hydrating, exfoliating toner that is alcohol-free. It soothes the skin with its aloe & ginseng content, plows away at removing dead skin cells for a clearer, healthier, & brighter complexion.

I am more particular of using this tonic in the morning because it's like the equivalent of splashing coffee on my face; it looks less dull, glowy, and awake! The fragrance to this is non-irritating and doesn't linger on the skin, its quite relaxing and refreshing to smell when first waking up to be honest.  Granted if you still wanted to have coffee splashed on your face at night, have at it because its just as pleasant in the evening as well, it comes down to personal preference.

The Glow Mist is just as good except I use this as a refresher throughout the day. I wouldn't compare this to the Tonic, yet it still nourishes the skin with a touch of dewiness & glow. The reason for the incomparability coincides with my con of the product: after I sprayed it to refresh my makeup, about 2 hours or so later, my face looked more oily than it normally would be if I didn't use it. I deduced that it was the argan oil, which tends to always be heavy on my skin, unless its toward the bottom of the ingredients list. This doesn't steer me away from still using the product, the composition is still quite lovely, especially during the spring and summer months, sans makeup for me. 

If you don't want to spend the $29 on the Glow Tonic (8.5 fl oz) & argan oil does you more wonders than worries, this comes at a more affordable price of $15 (2.70 fl oz); the size is also quite convenient for travel, a great little skincare treat to pack on your summer holiday.

Institut Esthederm: Active De Jour, Tinted Day Care

With a mouthful of a name, a top-notch product stands behind it. My love for Institut Esthederm is strong, as seen in a previous brand spotlight post I did sometime back. It shouldn't be any surprise than that I still try out more of their products with the success rate I've had with them, which only continues with their Tinted Day Care.

This can certainly be put in the 'tinted moisturizer' category, though with such light coverage, can also be more well suited for a CC Cream, just with more science behind it. It helps protect the skin against environmental irritants and climate changes. Though I live in a suburb, I work in a more bustling part of town where a lot of pollutants reside, and this has protected my skin more than other tinted moisturizers have. I've noticed with use that less grime and dirt comes off my face by days end, which shows on my cotton pad the effectiveness of this product.

Now, this next part is something I'm not completely sure I understand scientifically speaking, but I'll try to explain it as best I can. This doesn't have an SPF rating, though does have a UV protection agent to help protect your skin from:

Special UV cellular protection without screens or filters helps prevent photo-aging, cell damage and inflammation 

So, I'm not sure if this actually helps protect broad spectrum (UVA & UVB), but I put an spf underneath anyway since I'm not so understanding of this part of the product. Regardless, I don't see any irritations or redness from the sun with use.

There is no color range for this product, though the product itself comes out in this tan color, which at first was a bit daunting to me considering I'm more light/medium skintone. I'm happy to say that it blended into my skin beautifully, with only a subtle notice of color, but not off-putting in anyway to notice a shade difference. If anything, the shade helped reduce the appearance of my common redness and other discolorations on my skin, which in turn makes it look more toned & refreshed, a "my skin but better" look. I get away with using this as a base, little concealer, little setting powder, & a quick setting spritz & I felt confident walking out the door. With all that said, I wouldn't recommend using this in hopes to help cover blemishes, because the coverage is very, very light. 

Overall, this product happily surprised me, and I notice a difference when using this on my skin; it looks less dull, less beaten up by environment and weather pollutants throughout the day, less grime gets attracted to the face, and the overall appearance of the skin looks healthier. 

Despite all my praise, there are a few unfortunate downsides: it only comes in 1oz; though most foundations and the like come in this size, you get more bottle than product, kind of similar to a bag of chips! Also, its hard to find in the US, like really hard to find. I have probably found about 2 websites that actually sell this product, and one of the places (where I purchased from) was Amazon because it was the most inexpensive (though usually with these kind of hard-to-get products, they tend to be more overpriced than under, this was luckily the exception). If this product wasn't so hard to find in the US, I would have stocked myself up with a few more by now! Its just my luck to find an amazingly wonderful product like this, only to notice that it's not even readily available for purchase here, like, anywhere! Such a drag.

Institut Esthederm, if you happen to stumble upon this post, can you darlings be kind enough to hook a girl up and send some more bottles of this my way, please! Your generosity would be undoubtedly appreciated, tenfold. 

Makeup Stash: Contour & Highlight

I am not all about contouring my face every time I put on makeup; sometimes I just need a little fluffing up & out the door and can't be bothered by it. While other times, its nice to shape my more round face into...not as round? And when I do contour, I don't go in heavy-handed because for me, a little does go a long way. I'm not opposed to others doing it that way, if it works it works, you know?

Anyway, it's small, but here's my contour & highlight stash.

NARS 'Olympia': This may not have been my very first contour palette, but I consider it to be due to the fact that I've used this one for so long, so often. It's a very basic, yet well made palette. I could have probably gotten away with going a shade darker than this one but, I wanted to play it safe. Needless to say, I've loved Olympia & I'm surprised I haven't hit pan yet! I've put it to the side for the time being; I think some NARS products have been irritating my skin suddenly, & I don't know why. Until my skin decides to figure its fuss out, I won't be using this for a while.

On the other hand, its not the worst thing to have happened...

Lancome 'Le Duo Contour & Highlighter Stick' in 'Buff': Out of them all, this probably is the one where you can accidentally go in a little heavy. I don't know if its to take into consideration that its a creamy-stick formula but what have you, I still really dig this. It blends in quite nicely, with a few strokes of a brush buffing it in (fingers do the job well, too), you get a very nice, deep contour & lovely, slightly shimmery highlight. Honestly, I love the contour end more than the highlight end, thats not to say that its rotten, it just doesn't WOW me as much as I thought it would. This is a clever idea to do with contour, the size is absolutely perfect for traveling and with its very sleek black and gold packaging to add a bit of luxury and style, Lancome gets the nail on the head.

Charlotte Tilbury's 'FilmStar Bronze & Glow': 2 words, absolute perfection. If there ever was a perfect contour palette, this is it; but I wouldn't say this is perfect all across the board because it isn't too adaptable for every skintone to use. Now, if Tilbury decides to come out with more shades of this, than yes, this would be the most best contour in all the land, seriously. UPDATE: Oh happy day! Tilbury announced recently that they are coming out with a darker shade of this. I don't know when or where it will be released just yet, though keep your eyes peeled for that if this one wasn't the right match for you!

The shades and formulation in this palette are absolutely divine, they come out beautifully on the skin and are buildable, as well as blending into the skin perfectly. You can never go too heavy handed with this but even if you do, you just end up looking better & better. The highlight is SPECTACULAR, with more highlight than shimmer. This is just a great compact to own and invest in and the packaging, hold me back. Just a rose-gold beauty, as is most of Tilbury's line. I have seriously promised myself I wouldn't be purchasing anymore makeup (HA!) for a while until I am able to get more of Charlotte Tilbury's, she knows what she's doing. With every product I have tried & own, she has blown me away with how great they are. I'm CT obsessed, & can't wait to continue to get & try more of her line in the months & years to come.

Honorable Mention - Urban Decay 'Naked Illuminated Shimmering Powder for Face and Body' in 'Luminous': This is strictly a highlight, so to speak. Its very much glittery in every single way but, what I love about this is that it does highlight and accentuate where you put it noticeably well. I usually put this on my collar bones & shoulders to give off that gleam & lean kind of look/highlight. I find it too strong and glittery for my face, so I just stick to using it on the body with this one. If you're into the glitter and the shimmer in a highlight, this will not disappoint.

UK Beauty Swap w/ MakingItUp Blog

I had the honor of doing a beauty swap with fellow beauty blogger & UK resident Jess, from the lovely blog MakingItUp. We met through instagram, having in common our obsession & love with all things skincare and makeup. We instantly hit it off, got to chatting, and she asked if we should do a beauty swap not soon after, with a quick & excited YES, we got into even more chatting.

During the chatty process, we were able to get a feel of what each other's skin types were, what products we were looking for (& any special requests) before we headed off to shop. The point of a beauty swap such as this is to find beauty products to send to your person that aren't available or as easily accessible in their country, & vise versa; as well as things you personally love yourself, and to share that love with someone who will (hopefully) appreciate it as much as you do.

I seriously had such an amazing experience, her & I have talked about doing another one in the future, which I can't wait for. If any of you get the chance to do a beauty swap with another beauty blogger, do it! It introduces to you a whole different world of beauty, & if you're lucky enough, you end up making a great friend in the process. :)

I will post links to where you can find Jess on all her platforms so you can follow her & read her blog (which I am obsessed with as well) at the end of this post.

*Note: Most of the products I have already given a little go; some may have little reviews, some may not because I haven't tried them yet. Full reviews for all will come later, though.

On to the UK products....

SKINCARE

Liz Earle 'Instant Radiance Collection' for Normal/Combination Skin: Liz Earle is a very popular UK-based skincare line. I have heard of them before, especially their renowned product, the 'Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser', which was one of the products that came with this set. The other products include 'Instant Boost Skin Tonic', 'Skin Repair Moisturizer', & the 'Eyebright Soothing Eye Lotion'. I have given all of these a try, and must say, 3 out of 4 products are a win for me. I fell in love with the 'Hot Cloth Cleanser' almost instantly, it has done such a noticeable improvement on my skin in the short time I've been using it (been using it once a day for almost 2 weeks now) that I have already added it to my 'skincare wishlist' once I run out. Thankfully, Liz Earle has a US website which you can purchase all of these products above, as well as Birchbox which carries a good amount from the line, also shippable to the U.S.!

My second favorite product from this set is the 'Eyebright'; have been using this every morning & its so gentle, soothing, cooling, & hydrating! Its a marvelous little concoction that has also been added to my wishlist. I have used the 'Tonic' only twice now, its very calming & hydrating, but its nothing out of the ordinary. My least favorite product was the moisturizer; I found this too light for a moisturizer, though this is based off from one use. The moment I put it on, I know I didn't like it. I may or may not go back to this to give it a better chance but, we'll see.

Masque Bar 'Brightening Sheet Mask': By reading the box, this seems to be a Korean beauty brand which I've never heard of before, which is exciting! I know the craze about Korean beauty, they always seem to be 10 steps ahead of everyone else in terms of the technology they put forth with their skincare products. I don't own any skincare thats from Korea, so I will have to wait and see how this one fairs. Sheet masks aren't usually what I grab for either, but again, they seem to be all the rage nowadays so, I can't wait to give this one a go soon!

Super Facialist Una Brennan 'Salicylic Acid Anti Blemish Pore Purifying Clay Mask': You know I love myself a good clay mask, & this is turning into a new favorite of mine! With just a few uses, I have seen any angry red spots subdued. Its not an overnight miracle worker in the sense that you wake up with blemish free skin the next day...give it about 2-3 days (at least with my frustrating skin!) for that to happen. I'm not aware of the percentage of salicylic acid thats in this, but my skin hasn't had any irritations while using this (recommended 1-2 times a week). It may or may not make the skin purge a bit; so if you're dealing with some blocked pores, you may see 1 or 2 new ones pop up & go away within a few days times, just a heads up! I like using this on weekends and/or on nights where I know I have the following day off, just in case my skin does develop any bumps.

La Roche-Posay 'Serozinc': This spray is that 'I can never live without it now that I know it exists' kind of product. A complete turnaround on my skin, which has been unbelievably frustrating this summer. After I'm done cleansing and/or an acid toner, I give this a quick spritz on the face or cotton pad & pat it on and let it dry for about minute or so before I apply my oil/serum/moisturizer. I love using this just at night so I can get the full benefits & wake up with clearer skin the next day. With just 3 ingredients: water, sodium chloride, & zinc sulfate. The ingredients benefit those with oily, blemish prone skins by targeting the pesky spots & helps rid of them, as well as help keep excess oil at bay with its mattifying properties. You can really use this any time of day but, since this isn't available for purchase ANYWHERE in the U.S., I don't have that luxury of being able to that, just yet. Looking at you, La Roche-Posay!!

BODYCARE

Sanctuary Spa '2 Day Moisture Shower Oil': Could this be a dupe for L'Occitane's 'Almond Shower Oil'? Not completely, but it can definitely be a more inexpensive substitute. Like L'Occitane's shower oil, this one smells absolutely divine (when not in use, I like to take a quick sniff from the bottle because its so relaxing. don't pass judgements unless you smelled it first!). I have only used this once so far, but it is very hydrating on the skin & your bathroom smells like a luxe-spa palace after. Its so wonderful to use after a long day to relax or everyday if your heart desires, like mine does (though trying to savor the product since its not sold here)! I can't wait to be able to give this one a full review soon.

Soap & Glory 'The Scrub of Your Life Smoothing Body Scrub': First things first, the smell is absolutely phenomenal. I've only tried one other S&G product before, and that also smelled just as fine  This one has a floral, yet citrus aroma without being overpowering; I can't put my finger on the other scents I'm getting from this, but its lush and wonderful. I'm actually super glad Jess scooped me up a body scrub since I am almost out of my fave Clarins 'Exfoliating Body Scrub' (going to have to be cutting open that bottle to get the last remnants out). With one use of this, I was in love; it felt like my skin has never felt smoother, hating to admit that this might be better than my beloved Clarins but, only time will tell with more use.

MAKEUP

Collection 'Lasting Perfection Ultimate Wear Concealer' shade 'cool medium 2': As you can see, most of the label has rubbed away already, thats how often I've been reaching for this concealer. Every single day I've done my makeup, this has been going on along with it. This is probably, hands down the best concealer I've used to help conceal redness, blemishes, & darks pots without feeling heavy or cake on the skin; as well as being exceptionally blendable. I'm going to have to ask Jess to stock me up on a few more of these next swap around!

Bourjois 'Cream Blush' in 'Nude Velvet': Haven't tried it yet, though the color looks right up my blush alley.

Soap & Glory 'Solar Powder': Have yet to try it, only because I've been currently obsessing over my Charlotte Tilbury's 'Filmstar'. I'll have to start putting that down so I can give this one a try. I have swatched it already on my hands a few times, the colors look subtle, yet smooth and buildable, very exciting.

Where you can find 'MakingitUp' beauty blogger, Jess!

BLOG

INSTAGRAM

TWITTER