Pick Your Preference: Makeup Removers

Taking off your makeup, spf, and/or the grime of the day every night is essential and the most important step at maintaining a healthy skincare routine. Sleeping in makeup or spf is a no-no; because overnight it will do more damage and overtime, your skin will only progress in showing your naughty habits. 

There are so many different ways you can remove your makeup completely before getting into the rest of your routine: balms, oils, gels, lotions, waters...SO MANY to choose, you have no excuses to be lazy and not take care of your skin properly. I wanted to talk about some of my favorites, with a few notable mentions (these are w/out photos because: I have run out of product and/or mindlessly forgot to snap a photo whilst posting this)

I'll start with the notable mentions first:

Clinique 'Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm': A favorite amongst all of us beauty bloggers & obsessives, this no-fragrance balm is absolutely a stand-out amongst other cleansing balms out there that do the same thing (still enjoy using my Emma Hardie one though from time to time). This gets off every last bit of makeup and is very gentle for the eye area. It's a very simple, plain formula but it does exactly what it saids on the tin with no fuss. And the price point doesn't break the bank, either.

Clarins 'Extra-Comfort Cleansing Cream': I quietly weep at my keyboard as I type this...because this product has been discontinued by the brand. Well, let me correct myself, the version I have, the one that comes in the big jar, has been discontinued, and since Clarins revamped the formulation by adding 'Anti-Pollution' in the title. I've read more disappointing reviews on the new one, which is why I will not go & try it once I run out of this one. I'm going to try and savior this one till the very last drop. Ok, onto why I love it so much.

It's a very thick cream, you scoop a bit from the jar, rub your hands together for a moment to warm it up to melt it, then gently press the product onto your face & lift, continue to do this about 4-6 times, & the cream lifts all the makeup & grime from the day right off the face; wipe off with a damp, hot cloth & it reveals soft, clean skin. It is such a wonderful product, its a shame Clarins thought the need to change it; whats that saying...why fix something if it ain't broke?

L'Oreal 'Clean Artiste Eye Makeup Remover': I'll start by saying that there are 2 versions of this eye-remover, one is oil-free (blue bottle) & one is not (green bottle pictured at the top of this post). Before purchase, I read reviews of both & the non-oil free version had the best reviews; the oil-free came in with so-so reviews, with people saying that the oil-free one was not best for sensitive eyes because it would irritate/sting the area. I can't personally say that it does because I haven't tried that one but, I'd rather be safe than sorry. The version I do have does not irritate my eyes at all though, it does leave behind a bit of an oily residue so, oily lids beware. 

I love this eye-makeup remover because no matter how heavy you you doll up your eyes, this doesn't leave a speck of eye makeup behind. I shake it up (dual-phase formula), pour some onto a cotton pad, gently press onto my eyes (closed of course) for a few seconds then swipe down. I do this a about 2-3 times max, just to make sure I got every last bit. For $6.99, & the constant deals & coupons going on at Ulta, I almost never pay for the full price of this product.

Now onto the ones I did manage to get photos of...

Vichy 'Calming Cleansing Micellar Solution': This is a great micellar water to remove lighter makeup (tinted moisturizers, bb creams, etc), & up to medium eye makeup. Super gentle & very hydrating, also the most affordable micellar water on this list at $17. It's been a past repurchase for me as well many times over. I also have an unpopular opinion but, I do think that this removes eye makeup better than everyone's beloved Bioderma. Speaking of Bioderma...

Bioderma 'Sensible Make-up Removing Micelle Solution': This has also been a past repurchase for a while. The bottle pictured I haven't opened yet because I wanted to give other micellar waters a shot (Vichy, Institute Esthederm) before returning to this beauty-cult staple. I'm not going to talk too much about this since you can find so many reviews, articles  & videos on it but, its now readily available for U.S. purchase at Beautylish. I'm tempted to try the Hydrabio H20 thats also newly available for purchase at Beautylish here ....tempting, very tempting.

Institut Esthederm 'Osmoclean Osmopure Face and Eyes Cleansing Water': The last micellar water on the list is another great one, especially for summer. It feels so cool, fresh, & hydrating on the skin and is just as spectacular as the others at removing traces of impurities & makeup, gentle on the eyes as well. This one is more higher up in price & harder to find in the U.S. but, I'll post a link here to where you can purchase.

Bobbi Brown 'Lathering Tube Soap': Kind of a weird name for a great product. I already posted about this remover here, so I will leave it at that & read at your will!

La Roche-Posay 'Physiological Cleansing Gel': This is a new cleanser I threw into my routine only for about a week now, but I thought it deserved a mention. I love the LPR brand through & through, it was the brand that got me into taking care of myself and my skin, properly. I owe La Roche-Posay a lot, so thats why you will see every few posts or so me mention them. Getting back to the product at hand...I have been using & loving this one product to remove all of makeup, including eyes. No cotton pads to waste with this one, just a damp, hot cloth & off it goes! Its so easy, gentle, & never wasteful. You get your bang for your buck with this one, & this will be saving me money on having to buy cotton pads every month. 

I did hear through the grapevine that La Roche-Posay is discontinuing this cleanser (please correct me if I'm wrong!), if thats the case, I'll need to stock up on this ASAP! Why do brands keep discontinuing the best products?! Arg, its so very frustrating!

What are your favorite makeup-removers? Let me know! 

Getting Ready for Summer series, Part I: A Very Clarins Summer

If you have been following my instagram for a while, you know I am a Clarins girl through and through. From their skincare, bodycare and makeup, they always (for the most part) get the nail on the head. And when it comes to sun protection & enhancement, its no different.

With summer comes the dreadful rays & heat, we need to protect our skin from that (everyday though folks, not just during the summer!). With my Getting Ready for Summer series, this first part is going to get into what I use to stay protected from the sun, getting that summer glow,  and ending with 2 little figure-boosting lotions to help define and contour the silhouette for the bikini season ahead. 

The most important step to prep for summer is some good SPF protection. Clarins has a different variety of ways to protect yourself this summer, depending on your own personal preference, with a lotion or oil; and they are known and widely popular for having some of the best suncare products out on the market today. In lotion form, I love to use their Sunscreen Care Cream Broad Spectrum SPF 30 ($36) option. It smells lovely and doesn't leave any greasy or oily residue; it dries into the skin nicely. What I really love about this, its targeted and recommended for sensitive skin types, so even the most sensitive will stay protected with no irritations whilst promoting a more evened tan, on top of being water resistant. Another option if you're not a fan of lotions, they have a sunscreen oil spray, with the Sunscreen Care Oil Spray SPF 30 ($36). This is great for both body and hair, while not making you an oil-slick on either areas. This also helps get an even tan, while being water and sweat resistant. Also, don't forget that you always have to reapply sunscreen (after 80 minutes for the lotion and 40 minutes for the spray, respectfully).

*Non-Clarins sun-protection notable mentions: I have loved the Korres Red Vine Year-Round Hair Sun Protection for a few years now & it continues to be my staple year-round when it comes to hair sun-protection. This is strictly for use on the hair only, wet or dry, and can be used everyday if desired. It doesn't weight the hair down and smells divine. This one is a bit harder to find in the states; I managed to find one from feelunique.com for $16 here. NOTE: UK shipping to the US takes longer and times vary from state to state. Another notable mention is by La Roche-Posay with their Anthelios 60 Ultra-Light Sunscreen Fluid. Another brand for having top-notch suncare, this sunscreen for the face is absolutely outstanding. I am on my second bottle of the stuff; with its slight-matte, non-oily finish...on-top of having an SPF of 60 thats works great for sensitive skins, its worth the $29.99 tag. The packaging and size is also so convenient for travel. You can find LPR and their sun-range numerous places in the states, such as Ulta, CVS, and Walgreens to name a few.

If you're not a big fan of messy spray tans or laying out for time on end to get that natural, tanned glow to the skin, than you're in luck!! The Golden Glow Booster's for face ($30) & body ($45) are probably the most easiest way to get that 'natural', sun-kissed glow to the skin that I've found on the market. All you need to do is take a few drops (number of drops vary for face & body) of the glow booster and mix it into your moisturizer(s) (it doesn't have to be Clarins-brand) and apply as you normally would with your day cream and/or body cream. NOTE: you can not use this alone. you must use a moisturizer with this; they advise this on the packaging and online. After one use of this, my skin has this 'natural', light glow to it; you can also build it up with everyday use to your desired tan-level, the more you use, the more glow & tan you get. I like to use it about 2 days straight, just to add a slight touch of color to my skin, and I absolutely love how it comes out. No streaking, no funny smells, no orange-skin, and you really can't mess up with this one. You can't get much easier when it comes to self-tanning! The sizes are small & great for travel as well.

SPF? Check! 
Tan? Check! 
Now, just a little lift and contouring of the figure...

With continued use, the Super Restorative Redefining Body Care ($94) & Body Lift Cellulite Control ($70-$99) will help redefine your 'silhouette' as well as help correct and prevent cellulite in troubled spots. Whether these actually do their full purpose, I can't say 100% that I have seen turnaround results, yet these feel great on the skin nonetheless. I feel more of a difference with continued use of the Redefining lotion, but love the consistency of the Cellulite Control; at the end of the day I do love both, and it doesn't hurt to apply a little extra help where needed (it gives me that little extra boost of confidence, don't judge!). 

I'm all set and ready for summer! 

What are some of your favorite, summer-time must-have products that weren't mentioned? Or any of these that you tried and loved as well? Share your products and experiences below in the comments!

***disclaimer: i was not sponsored or paid for by Clarins (though would love to be :x) or any other brands mentioned in this post. i bought all of these products on my own.***

An Inside Look at my Beauté Cabinet

I posted a picture of whats inside my bathroom beauté cabinet  some time ago on my instagram page, though I failed to list what exactly is inside it...than again, characters are limited on instagram just as twitter (expect with a bit more wiggle room), so I couldn't list every single bit. Well, today's post was a spontaneous one, but thought since I have some extra free time to knock out a post today, thought this would be a good one to do. This has changed and been updated a bit since and I won't be going into any descriptions or reviews of these products on this specific post, but I will try my best to direct link every product mentioned with where you can purchase. If you guys would like a post with more in-depth detail(s)/reviews/etc on everything here, leave a comment below on this post or send me a message on instagram or twitter!

Now, let's get on to it...I will be starting from the bottom to top, left to right.

1st shelf: Cleansers/Mists (& 1 eye cream)

• Emma Hardie: Amazing Face Moringa Cleansing Balm, (200g, $78.40)
• Diptyque: Multi-Use Exfoliating Clay, ($65)
• Clarins: Extra Comfort Cleansing Cream (discontinued, bummer)
• Mario Badescu: Chamomile Eye Cream, ($18)
• Institut Esthederm: Osomoclean Hydra-Replenishing Cleansing Milk, (on sale for $25.50)
• Super Facialist Una Brennan: Rose Hydrate Calming Creamy Cleanser (not available in the U.S.)
• Tata Harper: Purifying Cleanser, ($58)
• Clarins: One-Step Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser with Orange Extract, ($35)
• Boscia: Clear Complexion Tonic, ($24)
• Caudalie: Grape Water, ($18)

2nd shelf: Makeup Removers, Tonics, Moisturizers/Creams

• Institut Esthederm: Osmoclean Osmopure Face and Eyes Cleansing Water, (on sale for $32.10)
• Vichy: Purete Thermale 3-in-1 Calming Cleansing Solution, ($17)
• L'Oreal: Clean Artiste Waterproof & Long-Wearing Eye Makeup Remover, ($6.99)
• Sephora Dispense Pump Bottle: Bioderma Sensibio H20, (prices vary)
• Bobbi Brown: Lathering Tube Soap, ($29)
• Pixi: Glow Tonic, ($29)
• Clarins: Toning Lotion with Camomile, ($24)
• Clinique: Mild Clarifying Lotion, ($13.50)
• Institut Esthederm: Osmoclean Hydra-Replenishing Fresh Lotion, (on sale for $25.50)
• Embryolisse: Lait-Crème Concentré, (2.6 oz, $28)
• La Roche-Posay: Toleraine Soothing Protective Skincare, ($28.99)
• Clarins: HydraQuench Cream-Gel, ($49.50)
• Antipodes: Rejoice Light Facial Day Cream, ($36.70)

3rd shelf: Oils, Serums, Masks, Treatments

• Super Facialist Una Brennan: Rose Hydrate Miracle Makeover Facial Oil, (not available in the U.S.)
• Bella Mechelle Cosmetics: Citrus Boost Oil Serum, ($10.99; get 15% OFF your first order with promo code 'JBEAUTE', ends 6/20/15)
• Klorane: Smoothing and Relaxing Patches w/Soothing Cornflower, ($21)
• Antipodes: Divine Face Oil, ($27)
• Clarins: Blue Orchid Face Treatment Oil, ($53)
• Sephora: Pomegranate Eye Mask, ($5)
• Freeman Beauty: Pineapple Enzyme Mask and Facial Clay Mask with Avocado & Oatmeal, ($4.29 each)
• Kypris: Antioxidant Dew, ($67)
• Decléor: Aroma Cleanse Clay & Herbal Cleansing Mask, ($42)
• Super Facialist Una Brennan: Rose Hydrate Intense Moisture Mask, (not available in the U.S.)
• Charlotte Tilbury: Goddess Skin Clay Mask, ($70)
• La Roche-Posay: Effaclar Duo Acne Treatment, ($36.95)
• Super Facialist Una Brennan: Vitamin C+ Brighten Glow Boost Skin Serum, (not available in the U.S.)
• Bite Beauty: 5 Night Fix For Lips, ($15)
• Sheyn Skin Co. : Breakout Control Mask & Spot Treatment (sample, full size is $53)

Beauty Brand Spotlight: La Roche-Posay

This post is a beauty brand spotlight of a brand that comes right out of the French pharmacy, the ever lovely La Roche-Posay. This French beauty brand is what initially got started my beauty journey…and am I ever so grateful. 

During the year of 2013, I was having an awful time with breakouts. There was literally a new spot [almost] every day of the week & I couldn’t figure out what was going wrong (stress? hormones? diet? all 3?). Since nothing I did seemed to fix the problem, I researched heavily for months on end & tried products to help calm down my sensitive, red & severely acne-stricken skin… and nothing worked, until I stumbled on this brand. Let the clearer-skin journey begin…

** DISCLAIMER: I am NOT an expert/licensed in skincare/dermatology/etc. It took my skin almost a year to fully get back to “normal”. This was not an overnight success or even a few months; it took a lot of patience, alongside trial and error. I did NOT see a dermatologist during this period or any facial specialist; this was all on my own. It is STRONGLY advisable that you see a dermatologist/skincare specialist for any and all skincare concerns. **

One of the first products I tried from LPR was their Effaclar DUO Acne Treatment. In a few days time, spots that I was having a hard time getting rid of started going away, with some completely overnight. It says on the tube to apply it 2-3 times daily; I was doing max 2 times a day (morning & night) & that seemed to do the trick. I did get a few slight reactions with first use: a little redness, dryness, itchiness, & some very slight peeling; though this is normal when using this medication (for me it went away over time with continuous use). Since I saw such a positive reaction from this product, I decided to do more research into the brand in hopes of being able to find other products to help better my skin more.

Next, I picked up their  Toleriane Soothing Protective Moisturizer & Rosaliac Skin Perfecting Redness Moisturizer (not pictured). The Rosaliac moisturizer helped calm down the redness in my skin tremendously, while also pairing it some days with the CC cream from the same line. Miracle workers! The Rosaliac moisturizer also proved to be a very good base before I applied makeup; another product of theirs that I fell in love with (& finished till the very last drop!). The other moisturizer, Toleriane, proved to be just as effective and compatible to my skin as the previous. It helped seal hydration & ease any discomfort my skin was going through without fragrance & being greasy. I still currently use this moisturizer today despite my skin being under control now. It’s a wonderful product that I always reach for & couldn’t imagine my skincare routine be without!

On the topic of moisturizers, I have to also throw in my two cents about Lipikar Lait. The skin on my face and the skin on my body are completely different; though both are sensitive, the rest of my body tends to be very dry all year round (especially in winter). This body milk is a staple when it comes to hydrating my skin (sometimes I also like to pair it with their thermal water spray). It leaves my body soft and supple without a dry patch in sight! I usually slather it on at night, after a shower, on days where my skin isn’t feeling its best and the hydration lasts until the following evening. 

Once my acne started to clear up with the help of the products above, I started to notice that acne spots were being left behind by blemishes that overstayed their welcome. I picked up the Pigmentclar Serum (not pictured). If you haven’t guessed already, this worked wonders! My dark spots were almost a thing of the past by the time I got done with the bottle. Granted, it is to say that it did not get rid of them completely or overnight, but it helped tremendously in the process of lightening them up; to a point where I barely had to use my concealer excessively anymore.

With all these products going onto my face, I couldn’t forget the most important part of my daily routine, applying SPF! I must admit, for a while I was naughty & didn’t apply sunscreen everyday, but once I started to see the work I was putting to end the AcneFest of 2013, it would just be pointless to have put in all that hard work and effort if it wasn’t properly protected. Now, in comes my FAVORITE/MUST-HAVE from La Roche-Posay, the Antheolios 60 Ultra Light Sunscreen Fluid. Never have I enjoyed applying sunscreen on my face as much as I do with this product; fragrance-free, non-comedogenic, light formula that is even safe for sensitive skin types. No greasy feeling or residue & dries rather quickly. It dries normal/matte, though I haven’t found it to be too matte for my combo skin. I have experienced absolutely ZERO irritation, stinging, breakouts, clogged pores, etc with this sunscreen. I have always hated applying sunscreen to my face because of the smell, feel, and the fact that some actually irritated my skin [WHO PUTS FRAGRANCE IN SUNSCREEN THOUGH?].  I also want to mention how much I love the size and packaging of this sunscreen; it's small enough to throw in the purse or to pack away when traveling. This has become an everyday essential staple within my skincare routine.

Ending this post with my other LPR favorite/must-have is their Thermal Spring Water. This is the key ingredient throughout the brand’s line, & for good reason. This natural anti-oxidant helps soothe and hydrate any sensitive, dry or irritated areas. It can also be sprayed on for a quick refresh after the gym or hot day. I personally use this after every shower in the evening before I apply anything else, & throughout the day when needed. It just feel so good when spraying it on, sometimes I think I can overdo it because it just feeling so refreshing. With the inexpensive price tag, you can't go wrong & your skin will thank you later.

La Roche-Posay is no longer strictly a French pharmacy brand with its vast expansion throughout the globe, including over here in the states at places such as: Ulta, CVS, Walgreens, & Target to name a few [if i forgot any, leave them in the comments!]. I am so happy that this brand is more widely recognized and known in the beauty world. I have never had such luck from one beauty brand like them before and it’s safe to say that I have placed my spot as a La Roche-Posay customer for life.

All products mentioned & where to find them are linked below:

Effaclar DUO Dual Action Acne Treatment, Target: $24.99

Rosaliac Anti-Redness Moisturizer, $28.49

Rosaliac CC Cream SPF 30, $29.99

Tolerance Soothing Protective Skincare, on sale currently at Target for $21.99

Lipikar Lipid-Replenishing Body Milk, $38.99

Pigmentclar Serum, $35.99

Anthelios 60 Ultra Light Sunscreen Fluid, $29.99

Thermal Spring Water, $12.99 (5.2 oz)

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