{Skincare} Coconut Oil

 

Hey there! So to kick off my natural skin care series I'm going to talk a little bit A LOT about coconut oil. If you've been reading this blog for a while now you know I'm a busy working girl so I'm game for anything that can be used in different ways and is good for me. Coconut is one of these multi use products for me!!!

So what is coconut oil? Coconut oil is an oil that is extracted from the white meat of a coconut. Predictably, it smells DIVINE! I used to hate coconut scented products because the scent was always very strong, artificial and pungent. This stuff is the real deal and smells amazing. Coconut oil will usually be solid at room temperature (and white) but will melt clear at around 75 degrees, a relatively low melting point.

I purchase my coconut oil from Trader Joe's. I think this large 16 oz bottle was around $6 or $7 dollars, so very very inexpensive when compared to all of the expensive body lotions and creams I've purchased over the years. I also like that it comes in a glass jar instead of a plastic one. The Trader Joe's coconut oil is VIRGIN, meaning that it is COLD PRESSED, so no chemicals or heat are used in the refining process, which is good. In addition, it is USDA certified organic!

The brand of coconut oil you get doesn't really matter. I would just look for the USDA organic certification and make sure that it is virgin or cold pressed. 

Here's what the actual oil looks like. It was about warm outside when I took this picture so it was starting to melt a little bit. I decant a few table spoons into a smaller container that I leave in my bathroom and leave the big jar in my kitchen because I also use it for cooking!

So how do I use coconut oil?

My favorite way has been as a moisturizer. I will take a little glob of it (for lack of better word), warm it in between my hands until it liquifies (just a few seconds) and then smooth it over my freshly shaved legs and anywhere else I want to moisturize. I let it absorb for a few minutes before getting dressed.

I also sometimes mix it with whatever lotion I'm currently using. Although I probably will not be repurchasing most of these lotions, I do what to finish up the ones that don't make me itch. I've spent a lot of money on them and I hate to waste anything.

I've also recently been loving this as a makeup remover! I used to think that you would have to pry that small blue bottle of Almay out of my cold dead fingers but honestly, I can really see myself doing without it as coconut oil works even better for me. It doesn't sting my eyes, doesn't cost a lot of money, removes even the most stubborn of waterproof mascaras, and conditions my lashes. What more can I ask for? And unlike the Almay makeup remover: no mineral oil :)

I also use it on my hair. During the day I sometimes smooth some onto the ends of my hair just to condition them a bit. If my hair is really acting up I will use this as a mask. You have to shampoo really well so that it doesn't feel greasy after, but my hair feels so so so soft after I do this.

Scrubs: Coconut oil works great when mixed with another carrier oil and salt or sugar to make an amazing scrub. On it's own I don't use it for scrubs because it will solidify at room temperature, but if you use less coconut oil and more of another oil (I'm currently loving apricot kernel oil or almond oil) then it stays liquid and smells great. I've been preferring the salt scrubs lately because summer is coming and I'm showing more skin and shaving more often. If you do use salt just remember to do the scrub before you shave and rinse all of the salt off well. Otherwise, it will sting you legs when you shave. 

There are tons and tons and tons of different skin care uses for coconut oil. I just wanted to share with you a few of my favorites. I will definitely have some more posts about coconut oil and show some demos as well as tutorials.

If you have any questions or requests, feel free to leave them in the comments!

xoxo
Natalie

{Review} Cosmedicine Healthy Cleanse Foaming Cleanser & Toner in One

Hey there! This review is for a skin care product. I've really been into skin care lately because all the stress and lack of sleep from uni had my skin breaking out really bad. My focus has been on cleansing my skin very well every single day, and removing all makeup. And any product that makes my skin care routine easier and less time consuming is a good idea to me. That's why, when I spotted this cleanser at TJ Maxx several months back for only around five or six dollars, I didn't hesitate to try it.

Now,  I know Cosmedicine is a brand that isn't as widely used simply because it is a more expensive brand. That being said, I think they pulled out of Sephora and a lot of their products were available at Marshall's and TJ Maxx for a while. I think you could probably find some of their products on sale online. They make a lot of products I don't see from other brands, which is why I've been loving trying out some of their stuff at a discount.

The product I'm reviewing today is their Foaming Cleanser & Toner in One. According to the container it "Cleanses away excess oil, dirt, and makeup, removes mascara, doesn't sting eyes." That's a tall order. I don't know if you can tell, but I've actually pretty much finished this product. There is the barest amount in there for me to pump out for this review, but then I'm tossing it.

One thing I love about this product is the dispenser. It is a foam dispenser that is very sanitary and user friendly. I love how light foam cleansers feel on my skin. And if you wanted to, you could probably recycle this product and use it to store your own foaming cleanser. Simply put about an inch of regular liquid cleanser and fill the rest with water. Give it a shake and you're good to go. You can do this with any foaming container, and that's how I reuse my Bath & Body Works foaming soap containers. Not only is it more Earth friendly, but it's also much cheaper too!

The actual foam is very light. Given the manufacturers claim that it will remove makeup, I was a bit unsure at first because it seems very light.

How well does it work? Well is certainly doesn't remove mascara, waterproof or not, that's for sure. That doesn't really bother me because I always, regardless of my cleanser, use my Almay Moisturizing Liquid Eye Makeup Remover. It's my favorite, I'm on my fourth or fifth bottle and I'm not looking for a replacement. As as far as face makeup is concerned, this will remove it all. When I used my regular toner after to see how much of the foundation, concealer, powder, and bronzer was removed, the cotton pad came away clean which is great. It also claims not to sting eyes, but even when I tried removing my mascara with it, I kept my eyes firmly shut. I am a contact wearer with sensitive eyes and I've already had one infection, I'm not looking for another, thank you very much.

As far as this product being a cleanser and a toner, I really can't say much about that claim. I don't regularly use a plain toner. If I do use a toner, I tend to go for more of the astringent ones. They are the only ones I feel really make a difference when I use them. Other toners, while they feel good, don't really do much for my skin. If I don't use them for a week, I really can't tell the difference. That being said, my skin did not feel tight at all after I used it, so perhaps it's just a little bit more moisturizing than the average foaming cleanser.

All in all, this is not a bad cleanser. It got my skin clean, but I can say that I probably wouldn't purchase it for full price. It felt really refreshing, removed my face makeup, didn't have any noxious odor, but that's it. I think I would have liked this product more if the manufacturer hadn't made all of those claims on the package. I review a product based on those claims, and because of that little blurb on the container I find this product lacking. Had it been marketed as a regular cleanser I think I would have reviewed it a bit more positively.

Info:

Price: $24.99 (full price for 4.2 fl oz)

Ingredients: Purified Water, Sodium Lauroamphoacetate, Cyclomethicone, Sodium Trideceth Sulfate, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Water, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Isopropylparaben, Isobutylparaben, Butylparaben.

{Review} Biore Restore Skin-Boosting Night Serum

Biore Skin-Boosting Night Serum

Biore is a company I've got a love hate relationship with. On the one hand, a lot of their products are great. I think they have a few very good products that don't get the credit they deserve. However, I also feel that some of their products are ineffective and a lot more hyped up then they should be (ahem, pore strips). That and they changed their packaging!! I liked the green, loved it!! Now it's blue and white and bulkier in my opinion and more, I don't know, high school ish. If they are trying to appeal to a younger audience, I can see how that would be a good thing, but it doesn't appeal to me. Not to mention the majority of their more adult products (SPF moisturizer, eye gel, etc) are discontinued. According to their website, they no longer carry a single moisturizer. WHAT??? How is that even possible given that they've got like four or five cleansers/scrubs? I don't get it. That being said, I've seen a lot of their products cropping up in Big Lots so I've purchased a few of the past couple of months, and will be reviewing them and/or stocking up. 

Biore Skin-Boosting Night Serum

Ok, so enough ranting about Biore, onto the review. This product is a night serum which can be used alone or underneath a moisturizer. The purpose of this product is to give you a more rested appearance in the morning (though you can also use it in the AM). I LOVE THIS STUFF!

Biore Skin-Boosting Night Serum-Swatch

The product itself is a clear, thin gel like consistency. Not really a gel because it does run, but it's get completely like water either. It feels very cool to the touch and a little goes a very long way.

Biore Skin-Boosting Night Serum-Spread Out

Biore Skin-Boosting Night Serum-Absorbe

I think to understand why I love this product you have to know a little about me. I'm a nursing student. Meaning, I have no life because nursing school is HARD. On top of that, last semester I worked not one, but TWO part time jobs. Not only did I have no life, I had no sleep either. By the end of the semester it got so bad that I was pulling three to four all nighters a week! That's crazy, even for me. Needless to say, I looked absolutely horrible in the mornings. Imagine large, dark bags under my eyes, dull, red splotchy skin, crazy hair, and dead puffy eyes. Ya, it got that bad. I would use this stuff with the Biore Enliven Cooling Eye Gel in the mornings after cleansing my face and somehow, just somehow, I resembled something living after I was done with my morning care routine. I don't really know what they put in this stuff, but it is AMAZING. My skin would look bright and fresh and healthy, and most importantly not greasy! This stuff is a very light moisturizer, but it packs a punch. It got rid of my splotchy red cheeks and brightened the dullness around my chin, all the while making my skin feel very very soft. It absorbs very quickly and just feels nice. I stored it in the fridge (even in the winter) because that extra pop of freshness was much needed. I would even mix some with my foundation to make the perfect correcting tinted moisturizer on even lazier days. It does exactly what it says it will which is why I'm in love!

I don't really have any criticisms for this product. It doesn't really have too much of a scent, just a very light one that dissipates very quickly, I love the pump, especially how it doesn't have a cap. When you want to close it, just turn the pump to the side and it's completely closed. I've never had a problem with leaking or anything like that. The pump is very nice, very easy to control and you can pump out as little or as much as you'd like. The only thing I really don't like is that you don't get much at all, only 1.4 fl oz (41 ml), but then again this is a serum, and they are usually smaller and more expensive than moisturizers. Other than that, Biore did discontinue this product as well (but you can get it on their Amazon page), so if you can find it at a Big Lots, get it because it is amazing!

Tried it? Loved it? Hated it? Let me know in comments!

Info:

Price: $8.99 (Retail for 1.4 oz, you can find it for around $3 at Big Lots).

Ingredients: Aqua, Dimethicone, Cyclopentasiloxane, Glycerin, Camellia Sinensis, Cocos Nucifera Fruit Juice, Withania Somnifera Flower Extract, Salvia officinalis, Aluminum starch octenylsuccinate, Chamomilla Recutita, Urtica dioica, Polyacrylamide, Xanthan Gum, Rosmarinus officinalis, Aloe Barbadensis, Ascorbic Acid, Retinyl Palmitate, Chelidonium majus, Rosa canina, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Dimethiconol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Disodium EDTA, Caprylyl Glycol, Methyl Gluceth-20, Laureth-7, Propylene Glycol, Tropolone, Parfum.

{Review} MAC Fix+ (Original)

MAC Fix+

Fix+ by MAC is one of those products I've been wanting to try out for a while, but was never sure of it's place in my makeup collection. Or in my skin care routine. According to MAC, Fix+ is, and I quote, "An aqua-spritz of vitamin and minerals, infused with a calm-the-skin blend of green tea, chamomile, cucumber, topped off with the fresh, natural, energizing scent of Sugi. Adds radiance, finishes makeup. Spray it on. Skin drinks it up!" Which basically tells me absolutely NOTHING. So, prior to purchasing this product, I went online and did some googling to see how other beauty bloggers use this product. What I found was that a lot of people were making their own versions to suit their own skin types for pennies. So I tried it, liked it, and decided to just go with that for a while. Then MAC released these cute little mini's, designed to pass through the TSA checks with no problems and I found that I couldn't resist anymore. Given that the mini version only cost me $10, I decided to give it a try.

MAC Fix+

So how do I use the real Fix+? I use it several ways. One, I use it to "set" my makeup. I put set in quotes because this is not really a makeup setting spray, per se. Actually, I would say that instead of making your makeup last longer, this stuff will cause it to wear off quicker. I don't use foundation often, but when I do, I set it with powder. What I like Fix+ for is to make my makeup disappear. I powder my face and then I spray a few spritzes of this all over my face, wait for it to dry, and presto, my makeup disappears. You can no longer see my powder at all, which I love. Two, I use it to refresh, somewhat. I add the somewhat because it's not gonna magically rejuvenate your makeup. Not by a long shot. What I do is I spray this on around 3-4 pm, after I've been wearing my makeup for 7-8 hours. I do some blotting, powder again, lightly spritz again and wait for it to dry. My face looks clean and fresh, better than if I'd just blotted and powdered. Three, I sometimes use it as a toner. I spray it on my face, and before it dries I apply a serum or moisturizer. These are just a few ways to use it, and I'm sure there are many more out there.

Here are a few tips for using this product. One: don't spray too close to your face or you will end up very sticky and greasy looking even. Glycerine, one of the main ingredients, is an emollient that sits on the skin, sort of like petrolatum, locking moisture in. Too much and it will make you look greasy. Two: if you are using this to dampen your brush before applying an eyeshadow, again, don't spray too much or your shadows will end up creasing faster. Three: if you're spraying it on your face, spray about 6-8 inches away, and in a quick circular motion. That way you waste less product. I wish the spray was a finer mist. I find that this sprays in a circle, so a lot of it misses the center of my face. My DDF toner spray was so fine that two spritzes and I could get my entire face covered. I find myself using 5-6 sprays each time I use this product. 

MAC Fix+ Locked

One of my favorite things about this product is it's ability to lock and unlock. MAC really outdid themselves with the packaging. I absolutely hate sprays with caps in my purse. The caps almost always fall off, the head of the spray bottle leaks inside my purse, I end up with a big mess and a product I hate. No such problem with this product. There is no cap! I love that! I just twist the lid, toss it in my purse, and no worries! I've never had an issue with any leaking with this this product, which I really really appreciate.

MAC Fix+ Unlocked

MAC Fix+

What it comes down to with this product, in my humble opinion, is a simple question: do you need it?? My answer is no. Why? Well for one, there are a lot of products out there that do a similar task for a lot less. They aren't marketed the same way (usually just sold as spray toners), but they really do the same thing as Fix+. And that is not really much. Fix+ is handy, I'll admit, but nothing in it's formula distinguishes it from other spray toners. In fact, compared to those, Fix+ comes up short. For one, when it dries, it has a tendency to feel sticky/tacky to the touch. I found this out when I when to pat it into my skin one hot hot day. I rubbed to excess into my hands, which, when the liquid dried, felt sticky, like I spilled a bit of juice or something. In addition, this product doesn't really treat my skin. I had no difference in softness, color, hydration, or texture when using this product, where as other toners definitely made my skin softer. If you have very dry skin, I can see you liking this product a bit more. It really does nothing special.  The way I was using this product, I could have easily just sprayed some water and gotten the same result, making spending $10 on 1 oz of product seem a bit much. In my opinion, you don't need this at all. I do however see myself reusing the spray bottle, which I find very convenient. I just don't see myself ever repurchasing this product again.

What do you think about MAC Fix+? Tried it? Loved it? Hated it? Let me know in comments!

Info:

Price: $10 (for 1 oz, $20 for 3.4 oz)

Ingredients: Water, glycerin, butylene glycol, cucumber fruit extract, chamomilla, camellia leaf extract, tocophryl acetate, caffeine, panthenol, hydrogenated castor oil, fragrance.

{Review} The Body Shop Cucumber Cleansing Milk & Freshening Water

I was at the Body Shop several weeks ago and they had a great promotion going on: get any two items from the Originals line for $10. That's not a huge savings, only a few dollars, but I'd been eyeing the two items above, the Cucumber Cleansing Milk and Freshening Water for a while now and figured it couldn't really hurt to give them a try.


First off, they both smell absolutely delicious!!! Like the most fake but delicious cucumbers you could ever smell. TBS says that the cleansing milk will cleanse skin and lightly moisturize. It does that, and a bit more.


It is a light cream cleanser, more runny than a typical cream cleanser.


I know people with oily skin are probably cringing right now, but honestly if you want to do without a moisturizer during the day, using this in the morning might just work for you.

What this cleanser is good at is helping remove base makeup when washing your face. IT IS NOT AN EYE MAKEUP REMOVER!!! I was reading reviews on TBS website and people were saying that they use this to remove waterproof mascara and stuff, but trust me on this one, you do not want this near your eyes. With a cheapie face brush (TBS sells one for $3, Sephora has one for $5) this cleaning milk will get rid of most of your foundation and concealer without drying out your face. It rinses off, but it does tend to leave a film like most cream cleansers (and cleansing milks) do.

I've been using this mostly in place of my Noxema, which I finished a couple of weeks back (stay tuned for many empties at the end of the month!). I just massage a generous amount of this cleanser onto my face and neck for about one minute, tissue off, and the cleanse with my normal cleanser. I'm not rally a big fan of the film this cleanser leaves, but to remove base makeup it is perfect. And I've even used it to shave my legs a few times, too! Very handy.

A word of warning: both of these products are HEAVILY scented. I don't have very sensitive skin, but every now and then it does make even my skin itch. If you have sensitive or dry itchy skin these are not the products for you.


The Cucumber Freshening Water is a cooling and soothing toner. To be perfectly honest, other than feel nice, it didn't do much for my skin at all. I used it following the cleansing milk to make sure all of my makeup was off, but it didn't really moisturize, exfoliate, clean pores, or anything like that that other toners claim to do.

Unfortunately, this toner doesn't really sooth my skin at all. TBS claims that this toner will not dry out, but it did dry my skin a bit, especially around the nose. And it does,surprisingly, for a product advertised for sensitive skin, contain alcohol. As I mentioned above, it is very heavily scented so the first few times I used it it irritated my skin quite a bit and made me itch. What I later did was add about a teaspoon of glycerine to it. It no longer irritates or dries my skin out, but if you have sensitive or dry skin I would still really stay away from products that are as heavily scented as these.


This toner comes with a flip top but I usually just unscrew the top, otherwise I end up wasting a lot of product.


In conclusion, for the price these were average products, but definitely not meant for sensitive skins like TBS claims. If you do have sensitive skin TBS has a great aloe line that will probably work a lot better for you.

Have you tried these? If yes, how did they work for you?

Info:

Price: $5.99 ea (retail)

Ingredients:

Cleansing Milk: Water (Solvent/Diluent), Glycerin (Humectant), Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride (Emollient), Cetyl Alcohol (Emulsifier), Stearic Acid (Emulsifier), Triethanolamine (pH Adjuster), Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil (Emollient/Skin Conditioner), Benzyl Alcohol (Preservative), Lanolin (Emollient), Phenoxyethanol (Preservative), Cucumber (Cucumis Sativus) Juice (Natural Additive), Fragrance (Fragrance), Hexyl Cinnamal (Fragrance Ingredient), Geraniol (Fragrance Ingredient), Butylphenyl Methylpropional (Fragrance Ingredient), Citronellol (Fragrance Ingredient), Linalool (Fragrance Ingredient), Hydroxycitronellal (Fragrance Ingredient), Benzyl Salicylate (Fragrance Ingredient), Green 5 (Colour), Yellow 5 (Colour).

Freshening Water: Water (Solvent/Diluent), Rosa Centifolia Flower Water (Natural Additive), Polysorbate 20 (Emulsifier), Sodium PCA (Humectant), Alcohol Denat. (Solvent/Diluent), Potassium Sorbate (Preservative), Cucumber (Cucumis Sativus) Juice (Natural Additive), Benzyl Alcohol (Preservative), Fragrance (Fragrance), Hexyl Cinnamal (Fragrance Ingredient), Glycerin (Humectant), Citric Acid (pH Adjuster), Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Extract (Natural Additive), Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice (Skin-Conditioning Agent), Geraniol (Fragrance Ingredient), Methylparaben (Preservative), Butylphenyl Methylpropional (Fragrance Ingredient), Butylparaben (Preservative), Ethylparaben (Preservative), Isobutylparaben (Preservative), Propylparaben (Preservative).

{Favorites} March 2011

Not a lot this month, but more than a few cheap and effective goodies!

1. Skin Care

Noxema Deep Cleansing Cream and L'Oreal Skin Genesis Deep Purifying Foaming Cleanser.

I've really really been trying to get my skin looking as great as I can, that's why most of the RIP posts lately have been filled with skin care items. I've really been just wearing less makeup and being more conciencious with my skin care routines, making sure to almost never skip it.

L'Oreal Skin Genesis Deep Purifying Foaming Cream Cleanser

I wouldn't say that this cleanser is foaming. It does lather, but not enough to qualify as a foaming cleanser. That makes this cleanser so different from others I've tried is that it contains clay. I've been washing my face with this cleanser for the past month and every two nights or so I leave it on as a mask for about 15 minutes before washing it off. It really cleans out my face and since the clays are a little abrasive, it gives me a good dose of exfoliation as well. It's just a really good all in one cleanser.

Noxema Deep Cleansing Cream

Now, I know that the idea of a cold cream type product seems very old fashioned, but I have to say that I've seen a drastic improvement in my skin ever since I started first taking off all of my face makeup and only then cleansing. As good as a face wipe is, it's not going to dissolve all of my makeup. If I just use a face wipe to clean my face and then use a bit of toner on a cotton pad, the cotton pad almost always ends up with makeup that I've missed on it. If I do the same but use Noxema instead, my makeup is completely gone. There will be nothing on the cotton pad, and that really leaves my skin cleaner when I finish with my cleanser.

Noxema Deep Cleansing Cream

How I use it (and I will have a full review posted soon), is I scoop a little bit out with my hands and massage it into my face and neck after I've removed my eye makeup with a liquid eye makeup remover. I make sure to get the hair line and neck very well because I apply makeup there but tend to neglect the area when cleaning. At first the cream feels thick, but it gets thin very very quickly. Because it is oil based it will dissolve all of the makeup, everything. I then use a cotton pad or a face wipe to remove it, but you can also wash it off. I love how clean but moisturized my face feels after using this stuff.

L to R: Noxema and L'Oreal.

Although the texture of Noxema seems solid in the tub it thins out as your hands warm the product and spreads very easily. ANd if you zoom in you can see the little particles in the L'Oreal cleanser.

2. Makeup

Sally Hansen Carmindy Fast Fix Concealer All Over Neutralizer, NYC Smooth Skin Pressed Powder in Translucent, MAC MSF in Petticoat, Benefit High Beam, Maybelline Moisture Extreme Lipstick in Nude Blush, Shiseido Color Stick in Champagne Flush, and Chanel Glossimer in Seashell.

NYC Smooth Skin Pressed Powder in Translucent and MAC MSF in Petticoat.

I picked up the pressed version of NYC Smooth Skin Loose Powder because while I love the loose version, it simply isn't convenient for every day use. I was really surprised with the pressed version as well. It goes on almost invisible (not completely, but doesn't really add too much coverage) and doesn't look cakey or anything like that. I usually use the loose version in the morning just after applying my makeup and take the pressed version with me to go for touch ups. And because the case isn't as sturdy as more expensive drugstore powders, I make sure to keep it in a makeup pouch. It hasn't cracked/opened on me yet, but I don't want to risk it.

MAC's Petticoat MSF I bought last year around the time that Pret-A-Papier collection came out. At first I was absolutely in love, but after a while I kinda forgot about it. I found it again a few weeks ago when I was cleaning out my vanity and fell in love again. I even found a better way to wear it. I used to just use it as blush, but now I layer it over my bronzer and it gives the most natural finish and keeps my bronzer from looking too matte. I'll show you pics of this later.

And how stunning is the veining!?

Benefit High Beam, Shiseido Color Stick in Champagne Flush, and Sally Hansen Carmindy Fast Fix Concealer All Over Neutralizer.

Whenever I'm breaking out because of stress I try to focus on concealing and illuminating, highlighting the good areas on my skin and concealing the bad. I found the Sally Hansen Carmindy concealer at the Dollar Store (I'll post a haul in a bit) and I love it!!! I completely gets out the red or the purple!!! It can look a bit heavy so I only really use it on pimples, not all over the face.

L to R: Shiseido Color Stick in Champagne Flush and Benefit High Beam.

I love these two highlighters. I actually bought both of them because I couldn't ever find the Boots No. 7 Highlighting Lotion at Target, and I actually found the Shiseido one at TJMaxx for around $16! I usually just use them in the inner corners, cheekbones, and the cupids bow. I find that the pink highlighters don't work on the brow for me. They just end up looking unnatural. I use the Shiseido one when I need a more subtle highlight and the Benefit one when I want a little bit more oomph.

And I love the packaging of the Shiseido one!!! So chic and pretty!

Sally Hansen Carmindy Fast Fix Concealer All Over Neutralizer.

I've always been a bit skeptic about color correcting concealers. Before this one, just about every single one would look unnatural, even under regular concealer or foundation. This one doesn't. It blends in seamlessly and looks barely there, even without regular concealer over it. It doesn't look too yellow either, which I like. I actually wanted the lavender version of this concealer, but they didn't have it :(

L to R: Chanel Glossimer in Seashell and Maybelline Moisture Extreme Lipstick in Nude Blush.

I've been wearing one of these every single day. That says a lot because I'm not really much of a lip person. I easily get annoyed with something sticky or something that transfers easily. For me, Nude Blush is the perfect my-lips-but-better color. It barely shows up but evens out my lips and gives me just a bit more color. Oddly enough, it also makes my eyes look bluer, which I love!

L to R: Maybelline Moisture Extreme Lipstick in Nude Blush and Chanel Glossimer in Seashell.

I love the formulas of both as well. Nude Blush smells like watermelon and goes on very thin, almost like a thin balm. It's very moisturizing. The formula of the Chanel Glossimers is unlike any other lip gloss I've ever used. It's more gel than liquid, a bit thicker but not sticky and always very shiny!!!

Swatches:

Top to bottom: Chanel Glossimer in Seashell and Maybelline Moisture Extreme Lipstick in Nude Blush.

Top to bottom: Benefit High Beam and Shiseido Color Stick in Champagne Flush.

Sally Hansen Carmindy Fast Fix Concealer All Over Neutralizer.

It looks a lot more yellow than it actually is when blended out. I'll do a full review to show just how well it works!!!

Top To bottom: NYC Smooth Skin Pressed Powder in Translucent, MAC MSF in Petticoat: lightest shade, middle shade, darkest shade, and all swirled together.

That's it for March. No special perfume and you already saw my hair favorites earlier! Hauls and reviews coming up!

{Favorites} February 2011

So here are February Favorites! I know, a little late but everything's been so hectic lately that this is the fastest I could get them out. Not as many as last month, but I've been using a lot of the same so I figured I'd skip the repeats.

1. Skincare

L to R: Nature's Gate C For Yourself Serum, Philosophy Grace Perfumed Body Lotion, The Body Shop Peppermint Intensive Foot Rescue Lotion.

I've really been loving all three. I'm almost done with the Philosophy Grace lotion (you can't tell, but trust me on that) and I'm thinking about getting the full size. I put this on right after I get out of the shower, all over, and it makes me smell like I've spent the day at the beach! So pretty! I always get compliments when I wear this.

The C For Yourself serum is a bit heavier than I like a serum to be so I haven't been wearing it during the day but rather at night underneath my regular moisturizer. It's a re-texturizing serum and in the morning my skin feels really smooth like I've exfoliated.

The texture of The Body Shops Peppermint Intensive Foot Rescue cream is unlike anything I've ever tried before. It's more solid than a regular lotion, but almost has the consistency of a balm, but softer. It smells amazing though and makes my feet feel so smooth and soft. I put this on before bed, a thick layer, and wear socks. I wake up in the morn with the most soft and supple feet.

L to R: Nature's Gate C For Yourself Serum, Philosophy Grace, and The Body Shop Peppermint Intensive Foot Rescue.

2. Makeup

Clockwise: Dior 5 Color Eyeshadow in Earth Reflection, Nars Single Eyeshadow in Nepal, and L.A. Colors 12 Color E/S Palette in Traditional.

I've really been into neutrals this month. I never really go nuts with eyeshadow but I usually wear a mix of neutrals and a shade of purple or navy. This past month has really just ben neutrals. I've especially been loving pairing my Nars shadow in Nepal with any of the shades from the L.A. Colors 12 Color Palette in Traditional. If you remember, I got this palette for $1 (!!!), but it is really an awesome neutral palette. The Dior palette is great too, but it can bee a bit to shimmery for day so I've been using it at night with a liquid liner.

3. Hair Care:

Garnier Nutrient Spray and H2O Spa Hair Repair Seaweed Mask and Conditioner

I've been using the H2O Seaweed Mask and Conditioner as a hair conditioner. If I use it as a mask it is a bit too heavy for my thick hair. As you can see I'm almost done and I definitely will repurchase this one. It doesn't smell the best, kinda herbal-y, but my hair feels really healthy after I use it.

The Garnier Nutrient Spray is one of those products that has the dual layer (like Lancome's famous Bi-Facil makeup remover). You shake it up and then spray. I use this on damp towel dried hair before I blow dry. If I use it on dry hair I have to be careful not to spritz too much or my hair will be too oily. On dry hair one spray is enough to give me some shine. On damp hair I spray 3 times, rub it in, and then blow dry. My hair ends up looking very very healthy and shiny. You have to remember to shake it before using it otherwise the oil and water based ingredients won't work together.

4. Perfume

Marc Jacobs Splash in Gardenia

All this is is a body spray. It smells amazing. My favorite flower is the white gardenia. I love how they smell and look and everything lol! This spray is light and perfect for everyday use. I layer this over the Philosophy Grace lotion after I shower and then maybe another perfume like my Chance by Chanel. People always ask what I'm wearing when I wear this, especially when I layer it over Philosophy Grace. If you want an inexpensive dupe for this, Bodycology has a body spray in white gardenia. It's around $4 and it smells exactly the same only a little bit stronger. They actually have an entire line of lotions, sprays etc with the white gardenia scent. I've reviewed the lotion from the collection.

I've been using this for most of the month and I've barely made a dent in the MASSIVE bottle. You get an astounding 10 fl oz!!! I've only used a tiny bit over a cm, so this is going to last me forever.

That's it for February! I'll be posting a haul later today so stay tuned!