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!!!