Showing posts with label skincare. Show all posts
Showing posts with label skincare. Show all posts

LUSH COSMETICS BODY SCRUBS YOU NEED!

LUSH COSMETICS is all about natural ingredients and helping give back to our lovely planet. Everyone flocks to see the adorable bath bombs and zillion bubbles from the bubble bars but everyone is missing this diamond of a product! I personally feel their line of shower scrubs is one of the best products they carry.

Continue reading to hear why YOU NEED a body scrub from LUSH!

On a recent visit to LUSH, I was telling the associate about how I enjoy blogging and from time to time I blog about LUSH. She asked what is one of my favorite products (which is the rub rub rub shower scrub) and she loaded me with samples of their other 'tubbed' scrubs to review about.
*These scrubs are all in the classic black tubs that LUSH packages their products in. There's also solid scrubs that you can purchase as well - package free. Today I was only reviewing items that will be sold in the black tubs.*



Mama Mia - it's a bright pinky color scrub that has a kick of grapefruit. Reminds me of the same texture and results I get from Magic Crystals. It has fine Sea and Himalayan salts as its exfoliant.
Cost: $28.95 21.8oz


Magic Crystals - A fun minty scented scrub with Epson salts and sea salts. The bold purple color gives me total Halloween vibes.
Cost: $17.95 10.5oz


Scrub Scrub Scrub - total sister to the rub rub rub. Same buffing effect but the difference is color and scent. This has some cleansing charcoal mixed in + salt for its exfoliant and the scent is a berry-sweet scent.
Cost: $17.95 11.6oz


Rub Rub Rub - Like mentioned above, similar to Scrub Scrub Scrub but light blue color and floral scented. This has fine sea salt as its exfoliant. My ultimate favorite.
Cost: $22.95 11.6oz


Ocean Salt - Super salty scrub that has an ocean like scent to it. You can use both on face and body; though its main focus is for the face. Honestly, my least favorite on the scrub collection - but the first scrub I ever tried. I might revisit this beaut down the road to see if I notice any difference.
Cost: $21.95 4.2oz

FACT: The prices versus the size of the product might be different compared to others. Remember the prices is based on the ingredients used.

TIP: Anytime you're near a LUSH drop by for a sample or two! You can even test the product in-store! The first time I tested Rub Rub Rub I was in-store and the associate gave me a full hand/arm massage with it.

I hope you enjoy this post and as always follow Instagram for daily posts! Your follow on IG will bring me one step closer to goals I hope to reach!
- Brittney

What to Buy: It Cosmetics *And What Not to Buy!*


Today I wanted to dive in on what is worth buying from the “It Cosmetics” line. Over the years I’ve been testing many of their products and noticed some major hits while others aren't reaching the “you must own this” mark. Here are the products I feel everyone needs in their makeup and skincare bag.

Continue below to see What to Buy: It Cosmetics!

Buy


- Confidence in a Cleanser 
I really enjoy using this product. The overall texture of this cleanser is nice and I feel for the price its totally worth it.



- Bye Bye Under Eye Concealer
Seriously this concealer is amazing. I noticed a major difference with my under eye area when I used this. I also use this concealer to touch up small areas that need extra love as well.
- Bye Bye Under Eye Cream
I’m currently using this and so far I’ve enjoyed the product. I will have to update it the future. Currently, it does do the job on some under eye wrinkles but as of now it doesn’t irritate my skin, has little to no fragrance, and leaves me feeling positive about my future results. 




- It Cosmetics Foundation
My girlfriends all use this product and all claim its worth the investment. I personally haven't tried it yet because I'm currently on foundation overload but as soon as I empty one of the foundation bottles I will hop on the 'it cosmetics foundation' bandwagon and grab me some too!




Avoid
- Brow Power Universal Eye Pencil
I honestly didn’t see much amazement in this. I felt it was like a regular eye pencil that if you wanted to make darker you just needed to press down harder. Stick with a Covergirl pencil and save your money.
- Super Hero Volumizing Mascara
I bought the full size of this hoping to do wonders. Honestly, I didn’t see much difference and noticed it had a weird odor. In a recent shopping trip, I was given a small deluxe sample which I plan to try again and see if they improved the formula.
- Confidence in a Cream:
This product is generally an okay product. But I didn't notice much of a difference compared to other drugstore face creams. 


- Bye Bye Melting 3-in-1 Cleansing Balm
Seriously this is my #1 on the worst things to get. Maybe better for someone with dry skin that needs an oily/balm-like product on their skin but for me it sat on my skin and didn’t melt the makeup off. I plan to keep trying the product but I haven’t enjoyed it at all. And super scared to use my Clarisonic with it. 

I hope this post gave some insight into what I feel is the hits and fails of the It Cosmetics collection! Now I would like to ask everyone; What to Buy from It Cosmetics that I didn't mention! I love trying new makeup so drop me some suggestions! 
- Brittney 

What Makeup Products to Splurge on


When it comes to makeup, I feel there are some products you need to invest a little in and some you don’t have to invest a lot in. Today I will talk about Makeup Products to Splurge on! 

Continue reading to hear what Makeup Products to Splurge on:


Foundation - This is a product I always invest in. Foundation is on your skin all day and is something you don’t want moving or fading after a few hours. There are some low price foundations that work well but my most favorites for all day wear are higher priced.

Cleanser - This is one of the most important products I recommend investing in. Your skin cleanser takes all the dirt and toxins off your skin. If your skin cleanser isn’t doing the best job then your makeup won't sit well and look good. 


Lotion - Another major skincare item I invest highly in. Your lotion is protecting your skin from the elements and is helping reverse signs of aging. Invest in this product if you want your skin to be healthy, balanced and glowing for your makeup canvas.


Deep color lipsticks/lip stains - I’ve always had a hard time finding low price lip stains and lipsticks that stay well throughout the day. When I need a stain or deep color I invest a bit in the product.



Eyeshadows in shades of purple - I mention this because, in the makeup color world, purple colors are challenging to get right. I watched a Youtube video where Jeffree Star spoke about how purple pigments sometimes don't transfer well. 

Eyeshadow with large glitter pieces - Makeup glitter is totally different from craft store glitter. Craft glitter is sharp-edged while makeup the glitter has to be rounded (so if there's any fallout into your eyes the glitter won't cut your eye!) I tend to shop higher quality with super chunky glitter shadows just because of how serious this health safety is. 


FAST TIP: I love finding affordable products. Be EXTREMELY CAUTIOUS when shopping at off-price retailers (Like TJmaxx, Ross, Etc) sometimes the makeup could be expired or opened. This also goes for products you might find at Ulta's clearance rack. Make sure the products aren't opened and once you take the item home do a smell test.  *I plan to do a future post about tips on beauty products; similar to this tip!*



Beauty + Skincare EMPTIES


Its that time again where I grab up the basket of "empties" and go over how I felt about the products! I've been really enjoying this because I can really sit back and dissect the product (from packaging, quality, short/long term results, etc). The best part is I'm using up items I've had sitting around and making space for new items to try!

If you would like to hear what EMPTIES I have and what products I plan to repurchase continue reading!



- Kristin Ess Extra Gentle Shampoo & Conditioner
So shocked. I used up an entire set of haircare products! Honestly didn't see anything 'amazing' when I used these the first few times. The results were 'eh'. Depending on the weather  conditions the product would either do its job or leave my hair extra oily and flat. The smell is also a bit too perfumey for me. I do think the packaging was nice. The bottles have some natural weight to them which feels pleasing. For the price, I feel you should just go to Ulta and buy a Salon set.


- Eyelure Wispy N152
When I have the time to wear false lashes I love em. This brand has always been an affordable favorite and the wispy is so great for a 'natural glam' look.


- Garnier SkinActive Micellar Water *Pink Bottle*
Best product ever. I have to stress the pink bottle because I did a repurchased but grabbed the blue bottle (and I'm not enjoying it as much.) The pink is an All-in-1 and good for sensitive skin. I also love it comes in smaller travel size bottles!




- Too Faced Shadow Insurance
I have been slowly using this up for ages. It really does lock in the shadow and keeps it from sliding or melting off (which says A LOT because I live in Florida!). I will probably repurchase down the road but I'm currently wanting to try out a few new brands of eyeshadow primer.


- Ole Henriksen The Clean Truth Foaming Cleanser
It has a good foaming pump. Citrus scent. And removes dirt easily. Worked great with my Clarisonic. This is a cult classic but I doubt I'll repurchase because I'm in need of a cleanser that fits all my needs.


- Sephora Collection Avocado Face Mask
This mask was in a collection set I purchased and wow I'm so glad I got to try this! The way the mask was packaged is 100% high quality. I felt the mask is like most sheet masks as in there was a lot of product and the results were normal. I'm going to look more into Sephora's sheet masks next time I'm in-store.

- Abercrombie & Fitch Perfume Sampler
I was given this sample set on a trip to the store. Was super excited to try 3 of their newest perfumes and the package even had a $10 off coupon! The samples had a good 7-9 pumps in it which is great! Ellwood is definitely a beautiful scent.




- Batiste Dry Shampoo "Cheetah bottle"
Like most Batiste Dry Shampoos this one did what was expected. I like the packaging and the scent wasn't too bad either. Definitely, plan to restock on some dry shampoo in the near future! Also watch for this, you can get them at Tjmaxx for much less!

- Dr Jart+ Ceramidin
I received this in a Sephora Play! Kit. It wasn't too terrible of face cream. But definitely isn't my Charlotte's Magic Cream or La Mer. I don't plan to repurchase because I have so many face creams I need to test out and the results from this wasn't that amazing.

- Dirty Works Coconut Body Scrub
Not sure where this came from... It was in my basket of shower scrubs and I thought it was worth using. Definitely had amazing exfoliants in it! The scent felt like a vacation and the exfoliants knocked all the dry skin off in one use! If I could find this product again I would definitely repurchase for prepping my skin for tanning.

- Chapstick
I mean, its Chapstick. Classic. Everyone uses it. Will always have one in my purse!



- Benefit's Bad Gal Lash
I love benefits products - Hoola Bronzer is my jam. But I'm not a fan of this mascara. The brush was very chunky and I felt the product didn't transfer off well. It seemed really clumpy at times and for the cost, it's not worth it.

- Two Neutrogena Makeup Remover Towelettes
I live for these things. Especially when I visit the spa. But I will warn everyone to not skip on using a face cleanser or wiping down your face with some water. These wipes remove makeup but there are some oils and perfume that will leave a strange film-like layer on your skin. If you apply makeup after using one of these it might alter the appearance of your makeup too.

As always don't forget to follow the instagram! I post daily style, beauty, and lifestyle posts! Also when I reach my 'speical' goal I plan to do a huge giveaway! Thanks for all the support! 

- Brittney

Ultimate Skincare Routine - Why I love my Clarisonic Brush


For 2019 I decided to focus on my daily skincare routine. My goal is to have smooth skin and never ever have to deal with breakouts + aggravated pores again. Luckily I found the solution. Read about my skincare past, present, and why I feel the Clarisonic is important for my Ultimate Skincare Routine!

Skincare Past “college days”: I really didn’t care about what I was using to remove dirt and toxins from my skin so I constantly resorted to the cheap makeup remover wipes and washing my face in the shower with whatever soap was an arm reach away. 


Skincare Present: having a baby (well being pregnant) things changed. My skin started to react more towards what I used and how often I cleansed. A night without removing my makeup (like I did in college) the next day my skin would look tired and I’ll spend a week getting the balance + healthy glow back. I noticed fine lines and exaggerated pores if I didn’t cleanse well.

So, I created the ultimate skincare routine with products that worked well for my skin (AKA: ditched the wipes and invested into products I could trust) + purchased an amazing tool; the Clarisonic Mia Brush. *I understand a lot of people turn away when they see the price but let me explain the amazing features this product offers and some affordable ways to purchase one!*






The Clarisonic has magnetic brush attachments that last 3 full months. From a foundation brush, massage brush, and the classic lineup of different skin cleansing brushes. The Clarisonic has a smartphone feature where you can customize your skincare routine. It’s water proof (so you can hop in the shower with it) and a charging port so no battery changes. A full charge holds for 60 minutes - most brush timers last 40-90 seconds.
Around holidays Clarisonic website does promotions on the full lineup of Clarisonic tools. You can also purchase gift sets that come with cleansers, additional brush heads, and more. A great tip is Clarisonic is sold at Ulta where you can use your Ultimate rewards points + shop Ulta catalogue for when they have a special promo sale! - I personally purchased my Clarisonic at Ulta during my birthday month (double points!) and I had a 20% off promotion. 





If you’re interested in learning more about this amazing skincare tool send me a private message on my Instagram, comment below or click these links! I hope this post was insightful on one of my favorite tools I use in my Ultimate Skincare Routine! 
- Brittney 

Pokemon Korean Beauty


Yes, there's a beauty collection themed around Pokemon! Korean beauty company Tony Moly X Pokemon is a collection that literally came and passed so quick and quietly I honestly don’t think beauty gurus knew it was happening. 

From research, the collection launched in March 2017 and was limited edition. It was mainly sold in Korea, Japan, China, and Europe. I did see where it was sold in US but only in shops that catered to Korean Beauty and/or in big cities like NY or CA.
Frankly, in FL and NC this was NOT sold anywhere. 

I discovered the collection via an instagram ‘sponsored’ link. The link was a Korean beauty subscription kit NoMakeNoLife. [See images below]





The only websites I could find any info on the collection was sites overseas and a few Ebay pages trying to sell products for $xxx.xx
After hours of searching I found 2 and ONLY 2 sites in the US that sold the collection still. Both sites have large portions of the items sold out but there was a few items I was able to scoop up. Below I will give the info on what I purchased, how well the products are, and where you can still get them too! Here are the links to the two sites: Beauty Joint and Crystal Cove Beauty





Hand creams $3.00
These I snagged on a special sale at Crystal Cove Beauty. I purchased 4 and fell in love. In fact, I have a second order cause the Squrtile one smells SO good. 

10/10 recommend.

Body Moisture Cream $7.00
This I snagged on a special sale at Crystal Cove Beauty. I'm on the fence about this one. The honey scent is nice and it does give good moisture but it was super jelly like (which freaks me out) and it left my skin sticky since I rarely have dry skin. For someone with dry to extremely dry skin; you’ll find this as an essential item in your skincare routine.
7/10 recommend.

Face Cleanser $7.00
This I snagged on both sites; Beauty Joint and Crystal Cove Beauty. I honestly enjoy this. I read some negative reviews about how it doesn’t remove makeup but A) Its a cleanser NOT makeup removed and B) it did remove my makeup. I’m a luxury skincare kind of gal (I use a $95 daily cleanser) but this $7 wash I grab more often than my La Mer.

10/10 recommend.

Foundation $7.00
This I snagged on a special deal at Crystal Cove Beauty. Sadly only available in 2 colors so limits who can actually purchase this affordable makeup product. I tried this 3x and each time I was truly impressed with my makeup. Now I will say, I put my makeup on at 7am and by 4pm my skin looks a little ‘ehh’ in some spots (mainly my nose area) but around 4pm everyday (no matter the makeup brand) my skin needs a makeup pick me up. I honestly would wear this for days I’m running quick errands. The coverage is a medium (maybe a light medium)… But I was impressed. The sponge that was provided is SUPER cute but tiny. I prefer to apply this with a brush. I recently ordered 2 more!
10/10 recommend.

Face Sheet Mask $2.50
I grabbed up a few of these from Beauty Joint. I really enjoy these and luckily this site has tons of face sheet masks to pick from. Each mask is designed for different skincare targets and all work well. 

10/10 recommend.

****I haven’t tried is the blush from Beauty Joint. I really want to try it but I can’t process spending $17.50 on the product - so I’m watching for a special promo or sale. 

Hope this was fun and interesting. Please don’t forget to follow the instagram for daily posts and see what’s coming up soon! Also follow the Facebook page as well. 
- Brittney

Product Review: Charlotte’s Magic Night Cream


Details: The Charlotte’s Magic Night Cream is the mate to her daytime Magic Cream [You can view my review of the Charlotte’s Magic Cream here]. This nighttime elixir is to stop the aging process at night with firming and plumping with its time release retinol. It is sad Charlotte spent 5 years creating this product. For a drastic $145 for a 1.7oz (50ml); this is the luxury of Charlottes skincare.



My review: Like always, I’m 100% transparent and honest on these reviews. And as of right now this is on my worst list. I really (and I mean really) wanted to like this product but there was too many negatives for me to.
First the smell; it has like a honeysuckle scent which is nice until you get the undertones that to me smells terrible. I can’t even explain what the undertone is… chemical scent? Old lady perfume scent? Its just awful.
Second the texture; when it comes to lotions in a jar I assume you would be able to dip your finger and product comes up. But this stuff is like vaseline jelly. I have to scoop it with a small spoon cause its so jelly thick. 


Third the sticky feeling & extreme oil shine; this product once applied to the skin has a bit of a tacky feel which I cant stand. It sticks to my pillow and makes my sheets feel oily afterwards. And to top it off, your skin is super oily shiny. My husband laughed and took a picture to show how wet my face looked and it was embarrassing. NOW, if you have extremely dry skin and struggle with getting moisture: this product would work great! But if you have normal skin, oily skin, acne prone skin AVOID this. 

I plan to retry this skincare when I visit my family in NC early December. Maybe with the cold/dry air of NC it’ll be a useful product for me. 




Pros: If you have extremely dry skin, this will work. Nice Packaging.
Cons: Cost too much, undertone scent is off, tacky/sticky feeling is a turn off, and oily appearance on skin + product transfer to bedsheets.
My Rating: 1 Star. I’m honestly not a fan at all. But I know if someone struggles with dry skin especially in the winter time this would be like lotion gold. 

Rodan + Fields “Give it a GLOW” package

Hello lovelies!
I recently received a package from an instagram follower of a skincare product to test. Ever since I moved closer to the equator and had a baby (plus lets be real, I’m getting close to 30!) my skin is becoming a huge priority in my daily routine. Anyways, the package was the Rodan + Fields Redefine kit.



The sample sizes was generous amounts of the Daily Cleansing Mask (I got 3 uses), and 2 single capsules of the  Lip Renewing Serum (I was able to get 2 uses) and Intensive Renewing Serum (I got 1 use).



Daily Cleansing Mask. I did research on the website and saw you were to let this mask dry before washing it off. I actually used this as a cleanser by massaging the product for the 2 minutes straight then washing it away.  There was amazing exfoliation and the scent was very pleasant! This product is $43 for a 4.2oz.

Lip Renewing Serum. This serum was packaged in a silver pod capsule. Its recommended for nighttime use and I understand why. The product is quite glossy (some what vaseline like; but doesn't slide around). The Lip Serum is to reduce the appearance of lip wrinkles and make your lips more plump. The glossy texture definitely gave a plump-look but the actual lip wrinkles I feel you would need to use the product for a few weeks to see a true difference. But I TRULY enjoyed this product the most! This product is $56 for 60 capsules.



Intensive Renewing Serum. This serum was packaged in a blue pod and was to prevent signs of aging and give your skin a fuller and more firmer appearance. When applying this product it felt very nice. I can compare it to how your skin feels when you apply a high-end face primer (I’m thinking like Hourglass Veil). I feel if I had a 2 week supply of this product I would be able to document some difference. This product is $99 for 60 capsules.



After using all 3 products my skin felt like I just had a nice facial at a spa. Out of all three products if I had too recommend one for people to purchase I would highly suggest the Lip Renewing Serum. I feel like the results from this product overtime would reduce lip wrinkles and help with lipstick application.

I hope you enjoyed this review and if you would like to learn more about this product line PLEASE follow this link to meet Amber and she will give you the most insightful advice on what products would be best for you!

As always,
Brittney “Pomp and Palms”

This post is not sponsored.

10 Day FAB (First Aid Beauty) Radiance Reboot

Hello everyone, on recent shopping order I picked up a free 10 day Radiance Reboot kit from FAB (First Aid Beauty). This was a Sephora perk for spending $50 online and I thought “Why not! A skincare challenge to prep for the cooler months is just what I need!”.
Before hand I didn’t expect too much, I assumed I wouldn’t see any results cause 10 days isn’t a long time to replenish and repair skin.... BUT LET ME TELL YOU, WOW. JUST WOW.
I would totally purchase this if FAB sold this 10 day challenge in store. If you have the opportunity to order this kit or order the 2 products within this kit I highly recommend it cause I saw TRUE results. 


The product itself: 
I didn’t set my goals too high. I assumed it would just be 2 (or 3) small sample packs that I had to ‘squeeze’ the 10 days to make it work. But, it wasn’t. This kit was packaged in a clean box with 3 Facial Radiance Intensive Peels + 10 Facial Radiance Pads (which was packaged in a travel size resealable package; similar to a makeup towelette package). There was MORE than enough product especially in the Intensive Peels. 

Package Results:
The package states
Day One - 100% said skin felt smoother + silkier.
Day Ten - 100% said skin looked brighter and showed an improvement in clarity/overall appearance. 97% said skin looked more even and youthful. The products made it easier to apply makeup. 


The Intensive Peel! I wore mine only for 3 minutes. 
I used these two skincare products AFTER my peel. I waited about 30 minutes before applying my moisturizers.
Here’s my skin after 6 days of using the Reboot Kit! 
The Reboot Kit! I recommend these products! I wish Sephora would start selling this 10 day kit because it TRULY works wonders.
My Results:
Day One - I didn’t notice much. I felt the products was nice quality. The peel I left on longer than I should’ve so my skin was sensitive for about 30 minutes but that was my fault for assuming I could handle 5 minutes when I should’ve only wore the peel for 2 minutes.
Day Six - On this day I did my second intensive peel and I was already loving my skin results. I could tell there was some improvement in appearance and I felt my skin looked brighter. I wore the Intensive Peel for 3 minutes and had some rosey cheeks for about 10 minute after but that was about it. 
Day Ten - On this day I did my final Intensive Peel for only 4 minutes and used my last Radiance Pad. I loved the results. My skin felt smooth, appearance was even and had a bright healthy glow. I was very impressed with how in 10 days I was able to see real results (and the results last!). I really wish this was sold in Sephoras travel size bins near the register because I would purchase this for my ‘after heavy traveling’ skincare clean up and as holiday gifts for my girlfriends. 

Product Review: Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream


I’m reviewing a product that not a lot of beauty bloggers are speaking about because it’s a costly item but also the beauty line isn’t sold everywhere; until now. You can now purchase Charlotte Tilbury’s makeup + skincare line at Sephora’s website. With this new launch at Sephora I wanted to go in depth on if this ‘magic cream’ is really worth the hype (1.7 oz is priced at $100.00!)





The details: A high powered moisturizing cream with patented anti-agin, hydrating and youth boosting ingredients. Helps support and rebuild collagen production and cell energy while fighting off wrinkles. This product carries SPF 15 and is told to rehydrate dull, stressed and tired skin.
Star ratings: 5 stars 259, 1 star 6. 91% recommend rate with over 420 reviews. The low star reviews state some skin breakouts and the cost. 



My review: I was a bit flip floppy on if I should REALLY purchase this. I’m in my late 20’s and with the 3-0 just around the corner I really want to start reversing any signs of aging. I watched a Jeffree Star youtube video where I was hooked on Charlotte and made the final jump to purchase. The cream is quite thick which I like. I was able to massage and work the product into my skin well and seriously a little bit goes a LONG way. After 1 month of using this product I really do love it. My skin feels amazingly smooth and the collagen production I feel has helped because my skin has more elasticity and feels pump. The cost is extreme and I hate the size options ($29 for 14.7ml or $100 for 50ml). If you’re on a budget but you want a designer moisturizer I highly recommend Shiseido Essential Energy Moisturizing Cream [Read my Shiseido post here]. I have used an entire jar of Shiseido moisturizer and I’m in love with it and have seen identical results.  

Pros: Smells nice. Product is smooth to the touch. Quick drying. Shows instant results!
Cons: Cost. Product size.
My Rating: 5 Star. I must give it a 5 star cause it really works well and I enjoy the product. THOUGH, the price is high I suggest Shiseido Essential Energy OR testing a few products from Sephora/Ulta.

Traveling Abroad? Here's The Big Three

Maybe it’s “something in the water” but traveling abroad is currently on everyone’s mind. But, before you book that hotel or request that PT...