Review: Caudalie Instant Detox Mask

Hello everyone! It's been a few days since my last post, and I'm sorry for that! I haven't been feeling too well lately and have just been downright exhausted. I'm trying my best to write up as many blog posts as I can, but it's proving difficult when I can only seem to manage taking pictures before I poop out again. Anyways, today's post is my review on the Caudalie Instant Detox Mask, which has been getting quite a bit of hype since it came out. 

Here is some info on the product taken from Sephora:

What it is:
A detoxifying mask that draws out accumulated toxins from clogged pores to revitalize and invigorate the complexion.

What it is formulated to do:
True rehab for the skin, this Instant Detox Mask brings life to dull, tired skin. It clears the pores of impurities and toxins, purifies from pollution, and invigorates lackluster skin. Great to use before a night out or after a stressful week, it is enriched with grape marc to detoxify, pink clay and coffee to clarify, and papaya enzymes for a boost of immediate radiance.

What it is formulated WITHOUT:
- Parabens
- Sulfates
- Phthalates

What else you need to know:
This product does not contain animal ingredients and is not tested on animals. Formulated without phenoxyethanol, mineral oils, and sodium laureth sulfate, it is non-photo sensitizing, noncomedogenic, and for all skin types.

Research results:
In a clinical test conducted under dermatological control over 21 days with 21 volunteers:
- 100% saw purified skin
- 100% saw a detox effect
- 95% saw tightened pores
- 90% saw refined skin texture  

I'm not really sure what to say about this mask, other than it's completely changed my skin. For the better! When you apply it and wait for it to dry, you can literally feel it pulling all the gunk out of your pores. This mask makes my skin glow like no other, my pores are significantly shrunk, and my skin just feels better overall. It costs $39 for 2.5 ounces, which is a bit pricey, but it's worth every penny to me. You don't even need to use alot of the product to get the job done. The vast majority of reviews on the Sephora site are positive, and if you have skin like mine (oily, acne-prone, large pores, sensitive) you would like it. Even with my skin being sensitive, this does not irritate me at all. There is a slight tingly sensation when it's applied, but it goes away after a minute or two. 

I can't recommend this mask enough! Definitely give it a try if you feel your skin needs a good deep clean.

Have you tried this mask yet? If so, what do you think of it?

Also, remember to check out my Summer Blog Sale!

Review: Oz Naturals Ancient Orient Rice Enzyme Dermafoliant

*Disclosure* I received this product complimentary from Oz Naturals and BrandBacker for review. All opinions are 100% honest and my own, like always!

Hello everyone! I was given the opportunity to try out this Oz Naturals Rice Exfoliant, and I was really excited because it reminded me of another product by a different brand. I was curious to compare the two, and it's safe to say they're different!

Here is some info on the product:

OZ Naturals FACE SCRUB EXFOLIANT utilizes bamboo to gently exfoliate skin and unclog pores without irritation, drying or stripping.
FINALLY A FACIAL SCRUB THAT contains lactic acid and alpha lipoic acid to further help the exfoliation process by breaking down and removing dead skin cells, revealing the glow of healthy skin beneath, and assists in reducing fine lines, wrinkles and other signs of premature aging from sun damage.
ANOTHER KEY INGREDIENT, green tea extract, is rich in antioxidants and helps to prevent collagen breakdown as well as tone and protect the skin from the damaging effect of free radicals.
THE PRO-VITAMIN B5 IN OUR scrub is readily absorbed by the skin and penetrates deep down, retaining moisture and relieving dry, irritated skin, and Alpha Lipoic Acid provides anti-inflammatory effects reducing redness and blotchiness, shrinking pore size and imparting a healthy radiance to the skin
SAFE FOR ALL SKIN TYPES, our bamboo exfoliant is all natural and free of harmful ingredients.

The twist top opener is kind of annoying because I end up getting the powder everywhere. Despite that, the scrubbing grains are pretty nice for exfoliation. They're a bit rough, but if you're gentle, it's fine. I'm confused with rice being in the name of the product because I'm not quite sure which ingredient contains it, it could be the sucrose, but I'm not 100% sure. The directions say to take a nickel size amount and add some water to make a paste, then gently rub into skin in circular motions, and leave on for 5 minutes. After I rinse it off, my skin is pretty darn soft and I notice my serums and moisturizers that I put on after sink in alot better. When I first received this, I thought it would be like the Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant, but this is more abrasive than that one is. 

This exfoliator costs $24.95 on Amazon, and I do find that to be a fair price, but I personalyl would not purchase this myself. 

Would you try this exfoliant? What exfoliator do you like?

June 2015 Ipsy Bag

Hi guys! I finally have received my Ipsy bag this month, after realizing how late it was getting. At first I wasn't really paying attention because alot is going on at the moment, but then others were posting what they got in their bags. I received mine yesterday, which is fairly late for me, but at least it didn't get lost in transit! Anyways, lets see what I got this month, as I have mixed feelings about it.

The theme this month is called Swim into Beauty, so to me that means these products will be waterproof/good for Summertime use when everyone sweats more. I really actually like the bag everything came in. It's really soft and has a waterproof feel to it. It's got a bright neon orange zipper, which I could do without since I'm not the biggest fan of orange. I see myself carrying this around with me if I ever go swimming or for travel. 

The first product I got is a trio of BioRepublic Skincare Sheet Masks in the scents Green Tea Detox, Cucumber Breeze, and Aloe Rescue. I haven't had luck with sheet masks in the past, but I will try these and see how they are. I'm trying to revamp my skincare and be more aware of the ingredients in products I'm using, and these seem to pass my test. 

The next product is the Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer. I've gotten a ton of these samples before, and I can't quite remember if I ever got one in an Ipsy bag. Ipsy promises to give you new products with each bag without any repeats, but if this one is a repeat for me, it's ok because I can always use a good primer. 

Next up is the J. Cat beauty Liptitude Hydrating Lip Stain, and I have no idea what the shade name is because the two colors they sent out look so similar, and the name is nowhere on the packaging. In any case, it's a pretty color and smells minty, which I do enjoy. 

The next product is the Ofra Eyeliner in the shade Turquoise. This is a pretty color but when I was swatching it, it felt pretty dry so I'm not sure if I will get use out of it. 

The last product I got is the tre'StiQue Mini Shadow Crayon in the shade Kona Coffee. This is a gorgeous dark brown color and it swatches beautifully. I'm pretty excited to use this as a base underneath different eyeshadows. 

Swatches of lip stain, eyeliner and eyeshadow crayon

That's everything this month! Overall, I do have mixed feeling about this bag. I like the eye crayon, lip stain shade, and the Smashbox primer, but I'm waiting for that one bag where I absolutely love everything!

If you want to subscribe to Ipsy, feel free to use my referral link here. You get a cute bag with 4-5 deluxe sized samples, sometimes full size, for only $10 a month, plus shipping for some.

If you're already subscribed, what did you get this month?

Review: L'Oreal La Palette Nude 2

Hi guys! Today I'm going to finally be giving my review on the L'Oreal La Palette Nude 2. I was so excited to see a palette type product enter the drugstore, and my taste leaned more towards this second one.

Here is a description of the palette taken from the L'Oreal site:

Inspired by makeup designers 'Must Have' palettes, the La Palette Nude offers everything you need to master the art of nude eyeshadow. Makeup Designer Nude looks curated exclusively for each palette with step by step instructions and live tutorials. 10 highly pigmented shades range from light to dark to flatter every skin tone in 3 shadow finishes: shimmery satin, buttery matte & lustrous sheen.

Eye-designer brush & mirror for effortless application 

This palette retails for $19.99, but I have seen them at Walmart for around $15. I had purchased mine at Ulta when there was no sale, but I had a 20% off coupon, so that brought it down to about $15.

The palette is made from plastic and has a sturdy snap closure. The mirror at the top is kinda small for my liking, but it's still usable. I absolutely love how the back of the palette has different shadow combos you can use, since it can be helpful for people just starting out in makeup. The shades are labeled 1-10, but I wish they had names. 

Swatches of shades 1-5. I love this half of the palette because you can create simple, everyday looks. Shades 1, 2 and 5 are shimmery, while 3 and 4 are matte.

Swatches of shades 6-10. These shades can be used for more smoky, nighttime looks. The only shimmery shade in this section is shade 7, the rest are matte. 

What I really appreciate with this palette is the amount of matte shades there are! Out of the 10 shades, there are 6 mattes, which I find pretty awesome. A few of the shades were chalky while I was swatching them, but for me, they applied to the eyes nicely. With a primer, they last a good 5 to 6 hours before I notice any creasing or fading. With a base over primer, they last all day long, no joke! I find them to blend alright, they can get muddy if you're not careful, but I end up with a pretty look still. I somehow misplaced the brush that came with it, but I won't miss it if it's totally lost. I find the $20 price point to be a bit high but if you wait for a sale and use coupons, you can get it fairly cheap. One review I read, this girl got hers for under $8! Compared to the first one, this one seems way more cool toned, and I'm a big fan of purples which is why I chose it. I'm happy with the way it performs for me and I do think it's a nice palette. Do you need this? If you have a ton of palettes like I do, probably not, but I like it, find it to be a decent drugstore palette, and have reached for it alot.

Have you tried this palette, or the first one? What do you think of it?

Review: Adovia Dead Sea Salt Scrub

*Disclosure* This product was provided for review courtesy of Adovia and BrandBacker. All opinions are 100% honest and my own, like always!

Here is some info on the product, taken from Amazon:

THE SEA SALT BODY SCRUB: Made with Real Dead Sea Salt - 100% Pure and Genuine for an infusion of 21 Minerals Essential to Proper Skin Function. Great Exfoliator and Moisturizer.
THE BENEFITS: Fine Grain Dead Sea Salts Exfoliate the Top Layer of Dead Skin Cells to Reveal a New Younger Looking Layer of Radiant Skin. Deeply Moisturizing Oils Infuse Skin With Luxurious Hydration that Lasts All Day
Works Great in The Shower or Bath - Also a Great Hand Exfoliator to use in the Sink or Foot Scrub 

I find this scrub to be super effective at exfoliating the skin. I used it on my arms and those nasty, red bumps on the tops of my arms were pretty much gone after using this. The oils in this scrub don't seem to mix very well in the container. I constantly have to shake it up before using. It's also pretty messy and makes my bath tub pretty slick. Despite that, the oils leave my skin incredibly soft and smooth, and the salt particles aren't too abrasive where they hurt, they're just right for a good exfoliation. The Ocean Breeze scent smells like a spa, even a bit overwhelming to be honest. This would also be great to use before shaving your legs as well. 

For only $14.95 on Amazon, I find that to be a fair price for what you're getting here.

You can also read more about this product here!

Does this scrub seem like something you would like?

My Tips On Getting the Ultimate Summer Glow!

Hey everyone! with Summer coming up pretty fast, you want your skin to be in the best shape possible. You'll want to wear more dresses and shorts, and probably less makeup as well. Today I wanted to share some of my tips for gorgeous, glowing Summer skin!

You're probably thinking it's odd that I'm showing a bottle of lemon juice, but lemon is great for your skin! You can make you're own face scrub by using a bit of lemon juice with baking soda, or bits of salt as a body scrub. My favorite way of using lemon juice is by adding it to my water. I always buy cases of bottled water at the grocery store, but usually don't drink alot because of the bland taste. Lemons are said to be high in Vitamin C, B-complex Vitamins, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Potassium, and Fiber. You probably get better effects when you buy lemons and squeeze them yourself, but who has the time for that? Lemon has so many different benefits such as aiding in digestion, boosting your immune system, helping fight viral infections, and it helps keep your skin blemish free! Everyone wants blemish free skin, right?

My next tip is taking a fish oil supplement, or eating salmon. My husband is not a fan of salmon (or fish in general), but once in a while I'll get some for myself. Salmon, especially wild caught instead of farm-raised, is a miracle for your skin and general health because of the Omega-3 fatty acids it contains. It helps maintain brain health, can protect skin from sunburn, helps reduce depression, and protects your body against Free Radicals. Since I don't usually have salmon in my fridge, I turn to these Nature Made Fish Oil capsules which have 360 mg of Omega-3's. If I had it my way, I'd be eating salmon about 3-4 times a week, but it can be expensive. For healthy recipes, you can check out Aloha, which can help you make good-for-you, but yummy meals!

My last tip is adding skincare products with Vitamin C into your routine. My favorite way to get vitamin C in is through serums. My two favorites have been the Radha Beauty Vitamin C Serum, and the Amara Organics Vitamin C Serum. Vitamin C is an antioxidant that slows the rate of free radical damage. Free radicals are molecules that damage collagen and cause dryness, fine lines and wrinkles. I know no body wants that! Because Vitamin C helps boost collagen in your skin over time, it will help to plump up your skin making it look more even, hydrated, and less wrinkled. If you're acne prone like myself, when you add Vitamin C to your skincare, you may break out a bit at first. Stick with it though, it goes away!

Since I started using these tips myself, I have noticed a big improvement in my skin. I can especially tell the difference with the lemon water because it's helping to get nasty stuff out of my system (aka, going to the bathroom alot) and my skin looks healthier and just feels better overall.

What are some of your tips for healthy, glowing skin? I would love to know!

Makeup & Body Care HAUL! Clinique + The Body Shop

Hello everyone! I went out to the mall a few days ago, and to my old job to use up some of my discount that's left. I also went to The Body Shop because they have their Summer Sale going on where alot of their products are up to 75% off, so of course I had to pick up a few things!

I'll start off with the Clinique products. I'm sure I mentioned before, but I worked at Macy's. I still had some of my discount left to use up, so I went to the Clinique counter there and got all 3 of these products for just under $30. I picked up two of the Pop Lip Colour + Primers, the first shade being Fab Pop and the second shade being Punch Pop. I've been hearing so many rave reviews about these and the shades I got are so pretty and they seemed to swatch in the store nicely. I will do reviews on these as I use them more. 

I had also heard really good things about the Cheek Pop Blush Pops, so I went with the color Pink Pop. This color swatched beautifully, but I have yet to try it out. I will definitely report back on this one as well!

I love when The Body Shop has their sales where certain products are heavily discounted, but that usually means they will be discontinued. I first picked up their Chocomania Sugar Body Scrub. This stuff smells heavenly, and I do have one of their body butters in the same scent somewhere in my stash. The body butter was also discounted, so I have a feeling they're getting rid of this line. *Sadface*

I was also surprised to see their deep Sleep Dreamy Body Mist on clearance. I used to use this stuff back when I worked at The Body Shop years and years ago. I actually used this as a pillow spray at night to help me sleep. I absolutely loved how this smelled, and it really did help me to fall asleep and stay asleep, which I have problems with quite frequently. I may actually go back and pick up another one of these as a backup for when I really need it. 

The last product I got was their Brazil Nut Body Butter. Now if my brain is remembering correctly, they got rid of the Brazil nut line a few years ago, but brought it back due to popular demand. As far as I know, I had never even tried this scent, but I always was a fan of how it smelled. It's very nutty and also smells like shea butter. It smells amazing, so I'm glad I got my hands on this if they do end up discontinuing it. 

With the sales plus my Love Your Body discount, I only spent just under $27 for everything, which isn't bad at all. The Body Butters alone cost $20 normally. 

Is there anything you've picked up lately? Are you purchasing anything from The Body Shop's sale?