I believe that the most essential part of any skincare routine is washing your face. I know it seems obvious, but I’m pretty crazy about making sure my face is clean and free of any make up. Your skin is the basis of what you put your make up on so working with a great base is really important and washing your face is the first step to that. I have dry skin so I’m always careful about what I use to wash my face. A lot of products tend to dry out my skin even more and make it feel tight and uncomfortable. I’m happy to have found a product that has been great for my dry skin! I’ve been using the Olay Daily Facials Daily Clean 4-in-1 Water Activated Cleansing Cloths to wash my face every night. Most other makeup removing cloths that I’ve used are already moistened but these come dry and you have to wet with water and then lather to use them. I really love that as you never have to worry about the cloths drying out and I think you end up getting a better clean with them.
These are more than just your regular face cleaner cloths, they take care of 4 very essential steps for any skincare routine: 1. Face Wash – washes away dirt and makeup 2. Toner – tones skin with an essential cleansing formula 3. Mask – hydrates with specialized Olay conditioners 4. Face Scrub – exfoliates to smooth skin’s surface. It’s just amazing that one cloth can do all that! But it really does and makes my skin feel so clean and moisturized afterwards. I am usually someone that uses a ton of products before bed so I love that these cloths really consolidates my routine. Did I mention that my skin feels so great after using the Olay Daily Facials that I can go make up free? I just love that #NoMakeupRequired look!
I love to use these to remove my makeup as it really takes off everything, including eye makeup. It’s also still really gentle on my skin. I think my favorite part is that it also exfoliates while I use it. Exfoliating is so important to me since I have dry skin, so it’s great that I can just do it all while I’m getting my makeup off. I’m such a multi-tasker when it comes to everything that I do, so it’s no wonder why I love Olay Daily Facials so much!
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Olay . The opinions and text are all mine.
I’ve been trying out products from Derma E and wanted to share a few reviews of the products I’m really loving for my skin.
YOUTH SERUM: This is a really great mineral rich treatment that uses natural ingredients to protect skin against environmental pollutants. It’s a nice lightweight serum that you can wear underneath your makeup. I really love having something like this when I’m out and about all day and know that my skin can be protected. VITAMIN C SERUM: I am a big fan of using Vitamin C products to help brighten my skin and smooth out uneven skin tones. This one goes on smooth and absorbs into the skin quickly. I use it as my step right before I put on my moisturizer. CHARCOAL MASK: I think this is my third tube of this stuff, it’s my favorite mask by far. Not only does it get all the gross stuff out of your pores, it also exfoliates your skin when you remove it. My skin always feels so good afterwards. RENEWING MOISTURIZER: This works similar to the serum but is also a great moisturizer. I use them both daily.
Disclosure: Samples were provided by the brand for consideration. No reviews were promised or compensated for. All opinions are mine.
OK guys, I did it, I got lip fillers! It’s been about a month and I can honestly say that I am so happy with them and they are SO worth it. I have always envied girls with nice full lips. My sister has really great full lips and any lipstick looks great on her. I have thin and somewhat crooked lips that I always hated in photos so after some research and making sure my husband was OK with it (not that I needed his permission but he does have to look at me every day! LOL I just wanted to make sure he was comfortable with it too), I booked an appointment at Skin Spirit in Bellevue. They recently expanded this location and it is so big and beautiful!
I had a really great experience there and I highly recommend it. They are in Bellevue Square so parking is super easy and convenient. After living in Seattle (mostly the core of downtown Seattle) for over 10 years now, any time I can get easy and free parking I’m happy!
I met with Amaris, my nurse, who asked me a couple of questions about what I was looking for and I also asked for her suggestions of what she thought I should get. I wanted to make sure that you could actually see a difference but not like crazy full so I told her around a 20-30% difference. She recommended to use Juvederm Ultra and she used 1 full syringe.
Here’s the before and after. The “after” was about 5 days after I had gotten it done. The first two days my lips were gigantic and scary looking. My mom told me I looked like a snapchat filter! But after those two days it totally calmed down and looked great! They were slightly sore for those two days mainly because you do have to get quite a few injections in the lips.
She first “lined” my lips and so she had to go in and inject the entire outer line which I’m not going to lie, hurt A LOT. But if you know me, you know that I don’t mind pain for beauty, it’s just a few seconds and the results are worth it! After filling in the outer line, it was a few more injections to plump up the lips and then I was done! The whole procedure took about 15-20 mins. If you look at the before photo you can see how my bottom lip was uneven. One side was always a bit droopy. It was something that always bothered me and I never knew I could fix it. I spoke about it with Amaris and she did an amazing job filling it in so that my bottom lip is now even. It’s kind of funny the small things that we are insecure about that I’m sure no one else notices. Even though getting the lip fillers weren’t necessary, I’m happy that I did it as it does make me feel a bit more confident and less self conscious.
I went back for a follow up appointment about 2 weeks after and she massaged out a few little lumps that I had but gave me the thumbs up and said everything was looking great. I didn’t have any other side effects except that my lips were extremely dry which Amaris said is pretty common. She gave me some Aquaphor for it and that was it!
Again, here is me before, I wanted to give you a full face look so you could see the difference.
And here I am now, I took this photo just a few days ago so you can see how they look like about a month after the injections. I think they look really natural and I’m very happy with the results. My husband loves it and my mom agrees and thinks they look very natural (which we all know with Asian moms, she is always very truthful and wouldn’t hesitate to tell me if they looked terrible!) I think the photos are a bit harder to tell but my lips are a lot more “plump” and I can really tell a difference when I put lipstick on.
The injections will last around 6 months, but she told me that the first time, it may not last quite as long but if you continue it and follow up it should last you a bit longer after that. One thing that made me feel better is that they can actually dissolve it so if you end up with something that you don’t like, it’s easy for them to dissolve it and have it go back to what you wanted. I felt like what I got was great for me and I’m super happy with the results. It will definitely be hard to go back to having small, thin lips again!
Of course when doing something like this you want to feel comfortable with wherever you are going and so make sure to read reviews and ask around for recommendations. I had only heard amazing things about Skin Spirit and when they reached out to me to come check out their new space I thought it was perfect timing. They have another location in University Village and I’ve had a few friends go there who love it as well. They do so much more than lip fillers, make sure to check out their full service menu. I will definitely be heading back there for a few other services. They have 3 locations in Washington and several in California! Also if you plan on visiting SkinSpirit for any service, please put down I am Style-ish as your referral you will get 15% off your first treatment!
I feel like I haven’t done a favorites post in awhile! Just wanted to share some new products that I’ve been loving and what I got in my latest Popsugar Must Have box!
MARC JACOBS LIPSTICK SET MARC JACOBS MASCARA
I adore Marc Jacobs Beauty! Not only are the products great, the packaging is so pretty! Marc Jacobs sent over these gorgeous colored mascaras and I’ll admit I’m not one to be too creative with my makeup so I’ve never tried colored mascara before but I have been having fun with these and honestly they are so subtle that you really only see it in certain lights but it really enhances your eyes.
How cute are these mini lipsticks? I love the pink case that they come in and it makes for such a good gift! Oh and it’s on sale now which makes it such a good deal! I love all the colors that come in the set and I think it would work for any skin tones. Also check out the Face and Eye palette that’s on sale too!
This month’s PopSugar Must Have box was full of pretty things! I’m obsessed with this pretty trinket tray and ring dish. I don’t know about you but I always manage to take my rings and earrings off in the most random places and then I forget where I left them! Now that I have these trays I just keep everything in there and I haven’t lost anything yet 🙂 If you want to get your first box, make sure to use code SHOP5 to get $5 off!
I got the most amazing package from Maybelline to try out quite a few of their products. I’ve been going crazy trying them all (crazy good, I love trying out new makeup!)
My favorites: Dream Cushion Foundation – this foundation has such good coverage and I love the “cushion” to get the product out. So easy to use and it last all day. Big Shot Mascara – I’ve always been a fan of Maybelline mascara, they make the best mascara, hands down. This new mascara gives me such full lashes! I absolutely love and recommend it. I have the worst luck with mascara when it comes to flaking or leaving racoon eyes. I think it’s just the way my eyes are shaped and my under eyes can be a little oily so makeup tends to smear but this mascara has been holding up all day. I’m so impressed with it! Brow Highlighter – In case you missed it, I recently posted my microblading experience on my youtube channel. If you don’t know what microblading is, it’s basically permanent eyebrows! It’s pretty amazing as they tattoo on strokes of ‘hair’ so that it looks like the real thing. I’m super happy I did it and love waking up to perfect brows every day 🙂 Anyway, I don’t add any additional make up to my eyebrows anymore but I love using this highlighter to apply right underneath the brow bone to enhance them even more. Eyeshadows – I haven’t been able to use all the colors but I have to say that the ones that I’ve been using I’m very impressed by the color payoff and the range of colors. It promises 14 hour wear and I do agree that it has super long lasting powers! Best of all these are only $3.99 each!
And let’s just talk about these Matte lipsticks as they are one of the best lipsticks I’ve ever used. I’ve been really into matte lips lately and so am always on the hunt for matte lipsticks that are not too drying. These are so creamy and look so pretty on. The color is very true to what is in the tube. I love all of these nude tones too.
This last thing was something that I’ve been wanting to try for awhile. Have you heard of bubble masks? Basically you put on the masks and then it starts to bubble up as it removes dirt and cleans your pores! I love it! One warning, it totally tickles as it bubbles up but so worth it as my skin feels so good afterwards. I use the bubble mask once a week to really clean my face. When I want an extra bit of moisture I use the Hydrating Gel Mask. It’s very cooling and feels great when it’s on and definitely give my skin the much needed moisture during these cold winter months. Oh and the pore refining mask and brush tool is the tool that you didn’t know you needed! I love using it to apply my masks and not worry about any extra dirt or oil from my finger tips. It’s only $5 and much needed in your skincare bag!
You know I love my beauty products so I had to share some of my favorite products that I’ve been using this summer and especially at the end of summer.
Ole Henriksen Power Bright – LOVE this 3 step system that makes your skin instantly brighter. My skin was so much softer, smoother and just generally felt better after using it. It can be time consuming with each process but totally worth it.
Murad Rapid Resurfacing Peel – After spending time in the sun this summer I really like to use these products with Vitamin C to give my skin a nice refresh. When I don’t have as much time on my hands to use the Power Bright system above, I use these resurfacing peels which is very similar but these also use glycolic acid which I love as I still battle with acne occasionally. This definitely takes care of any breakouts but also leaves my skin so soft and smooth. I use these about twice a week at night.
Completely Bare Body Moisturizer & Hair Inhibitor – I haven’t tried this out for too long so I don’t have the full results but this is supposed to make your hair grow slower so that you don’t have to shave as much. Sounds amazing right? They instruct you to use it twice a day for 28 days and well I am not great at remembering to use it twice a day every day but I have been using it almost daily for a few weeks now on my legs and I do think that my hair has been growing at a slower pace. I’ve never been too hairy so it probably is good for someone like me? But after I shave I apply the lotion and I can go another week with having to shave again.
OGX Voluminous Mousse – I love the OGX line of hair products. I have been using quite a few products for the past few months and these ones with the argan oil are the best hair products I’ve used in awhile. Everything is so lightweight and I feel like none of the products weigh my hair down or make it feel greasy. I love adding a bit of this mousse in my hair after I’ve blow dried to give it a bit more texture and bounce.
OGX In Shower Oil – This stuff is so good! There’s so many different ways you can use it. You can use it before you shampoo to revive dry and damaged hair, you can mix it in with your shampoo to add some more moisture back into your hair or use it as a leave-in treatment. AND you can even use it on your skin. It’s best to use it on damp skin after you shower as it really asborbs and makes your skin feel super soft. Love love this product and I’ve never used anything like it or even comparable to it.
Also I didn’t get an individual shot of this but the Weightless Oil & Lift Tonic is also a fave and daily product of mine. I always use it after I’m done styling my hair and just give my hair the extra bit of lift and shine it needs.
So Cozy Swim Leave-In – This is for my daughter and I had to mention it as even though she is little and still doesn’t have much hair, I want to take care of it as best that I can. When we’ve been out in the sun for a long time or she’s been in the pool, I love using this to help restore and repair any kind of damage that could be done to her hair. It’s lightweight and just a simple spray that you can even use to detangle hair. I’m glad that they are making products like this with kids in mind! I also have the 3-1 shampoo/conditioner/bodywash pictured and we love it too! Best of all you can get it at Target!
One of my very favorite things that I like to do for myself are getting facials. I LOVE the feeling of clean skin and just having that one hour of my day dedicated to my skin. I recently had a chance to get a facial at Massage Envy and had to rave about it! I did not know this but Massage Envy only uses Murad products and since I’m a huge fan of Murad already, it was the perfect spa for me.
My esthetician was fabulous and walked me through each step and what ingredients were in each product. I got the Vitamin C facial which helps with brightening the skin and anti-aging. I loved all the products that she used and along with the facial I got a hand and arm massage as well. Talk about relaxing! Even when she did the extraction (which I know can be painful!) I still felt relaxed and was happy to see when I left that my face wasn’t bright red and splotchy which has happened to me after facials before. I even headed to the coffee shop around the corner after my facial and I’m not usually one to go anywhere without makeup but I just felt great!
There are quite a few Massage Envy spas all around Seattle and all around the US so it’s pretty easy to find one near you. During July 5 to August 2, they are running a special to receive $10 off a Massage Envy facial and if you pre-book an August facial in July will also receive a special Murad® skincare kit! I highly recommend booking a facial to give your skin a summer refresh. There are 4 types of facials you can get and you can choose or work with your esthetician with which one is best for you.
Murad has offered a FAB giveaway for my readers! You can win the exclusive Environmental Shield Healthy Skin Regimen Kit sold only at Massage Envy Spas! We used some of these products during my facial and I already use quite a few products from the Essential-C line so I definitely do recommend these products. My skin has never had an issue from Murad products and I tell anyone I can to try it out as it’s by far my favorite skincare line!
I received the Spring L’OcciBox and I love everything! Had to share with you since I shared the winter one too late so it was out of stock but this one is still available and you can get it for $20! Use the coupon code SUGAR to get it for that price.
Here’s what it contains
o 1 Jasmin & Bergamote Eau de Toilette, 0.04 fl.oz
o 1 Immortelle Precious Serum, 0.23 fl.oz
o 1 Immortelle Brightening Essence Sample, 0.03 fl.oz
o 1 Shea Butter Hand Cream, 10ml 0.3 .oz
o 1 Shea Whipped Hand Cream, 30ml 1 .oz
o 1 Bonne Mere Rose Soap, 3.5 .oz
o 1 cube of Sugarfina Champagne Bears®
I will admit I love these boxes mainly because of the handcream, it’s my favorite ever and love getting them in these boxes. The rose soap smells so insanely good and will be perfect for our guest bathroom. And hello, a box of champagne gummy bears? That was just icing on the cake! I’ve never had them before but they are right up my alley.
If you haven’t gotten your mom anything yet for mother’s day, they have some really great gift sets right now. I don’t know about you but I tend to love nice skincare sets as gifts because it usually is something that I want but don’t tend to buy myself so it’s nice getting them as gifts!
My favorites for my mom:
I mentioned I love the hand cream but I’ve never tried this one before. I’m sure it’s just as good but I love that this one comes in different scents and is packaged up all pretty, perfect for my mom!
I love rose scent, but nothing too strong, just a hint of it which is why I love this collection. My mom loves the scent too which is probably where I got it from so I think she would love everything that came in this scent!
– Roses et Reines Silky Shower Gel 8.4 fl.oz
– Roses et Reines Beautifying Body Milk 2.5 fl.oz
– Bonne Mere Soap – Rose 3.5 .oz
– Roses et Reines Hand & Nail Cream 1 .oz
