There’s been a few skincare items I’ve been itching to try this past year, so when several holiday sales popped up I used it as a well timed excuse to finally take the plunge.
and a video for those that got the christmas blues…
It’s that time of year were social engagements and festive obligations are at an all time high. It’s also the one time of year you can get a way with looking like a disco ball with out needing the dance floor. I sifted through my stash and brought out 7 reds, and 7 glows that are all fantastic options for any of your holiday makeup needs…
There are tone of awesome metallic options out there for this time of year, I think Revlonmakes some of my favorite glitter top coats though, I love the stary night feel that Golden Confetti gives. And last, but certainly not least is Bite Beauty’s Creme Lip Gloss in Gold, it makes a great light top gloss on any red lip, but I can’t wait for new years, I plane to wear this baby on its own, and completely opaque!
The Blues
And if you’re just not feeling the holiday’s or really need something to laugh at… check out my video above!
It’s crazy to think we are smack dap in the middle of holiday season already. I feel like it was just last week I was on the hunt for a pair of summer shorts. But here we are, and you know what that means…. lots and lots of shopping. I’m being a little selfish with the theme of this holiday gift post… I think these are two things worth treating yourself too while grinding through your nice list. Don’t worry, I’ve got a couple of awesome gift guides in the works sure to make you everyones favorite giver.
Formula X came out with this great travel friendly travel nail polish set this fall. The City Chic set is a mix of great everyday nail colors along with some fun holiday staples. I think I’ve used all the colors by now, and am rocking the glittery shade, Fine Like Einstein, as I type this. The small size is a fun way to test out a bunch of colors, but great for traveling during this time of year. The formula is long wearing, dries pretty fast and is very opaque!
It’s been a long time since I tried out anything from Algenist, but I jumped on this Luminizing Dou they came out with for Christmas. Champagne and Rose are great everyday highlighters that you can easily build up for some intense party looks. The formula smells really good, and has a mix of skin beneficial ingredients, so your makeup does some extra work during its wear. I wrote a little more about these guys in my recent Autumn Makeup Updates post. But long story short, I love them.
Since I’m such a big natural beauty lover I get excited when I come across new sources. My latest find came via Instagram. When I was searching down some random skincare hashtag I came across URB Apothecary‘s stunning designs and alluring ingredients lists.
The line was started by Leyna Allred in Northern California with the desire to reconnect with simple chemical free ingredients. The line reflects that with being free of parbens, preservatives, and chemical additives. Each product seems carefully crafted to include an ingredient list of powerful herbs and is cruelty free.
Leyna was very generous and sent me both the Prickly Pear Elixir and theCactus Face Polish. I’ve pretty much used them both all up and they are indeed stellar.
The Prickly Pear Elixir is a gorgeous blend of Pomegranate, Rosehip and of course Prickly Pear. All three oils have high amounts of skin nourishing antioxidants, something I desperately need here in Los Angeles. I’ve been a huge fan of both Rosehip and Pomegranate oils and can now include Prickly Pear on that list as well. It’s packed with Fatty Acids like Omega 6 and 9 along hydrating Vitamin E. It also contains collagen stimulating Amino Acids and brightening Vitamin K, making it an all around good daily oil.
Although I had only a trial size, I was able to get a solid 2-3 weeks out of it. It’s extremely hydrating, and the blend of essential oils like Clary Sage, and Geranium help clarify the skin, while the addition of Immortelle helps to restore and calm. I really enjoyed using it and think it would do well for most all skin types, but especially those with mature skin or looking for something to pack a punch with natural anti aging.
The Cactus Face Polish is a great exfoliating treatment for the skin. It’s unique in that it uses nutrient rich Nopal Cactus powder as one of it’s physical exfoliants. Nopal Catus is packed with acne fighting Magnesium, nourishing Vitamin A, and brightening Vitamin C. The formula also contains one of my personal favorite herbs, Horsetail. Horsetail is great at toning skin, being both anti bacterial, anti acne, along with being very calming. It’s a great herb both topically for skin and hair as well as taken internally for vitality. The ingredient list rounds out with Lemon Peel extract, Jojo oil, Rose and another favorite for me, Camellia seed oil.
The Cactus Face Polish can also double up as a mask. I like using it in the AM to exfoliate my skin, then let it sit on my face before I hop in the shower. It smells like a heavenly cup of fresh green tea, and is surprisingly hydrating will also being darn good at exfoliating.
I really enjoyed using up both of these products (well, still got a few more uses left with the Face Polish) and am eager to test out more from this line! I’ve got my eye on their Palo Santo Body Oil and the newly launched Highlighters and Bronzers (fingers crossed they come out with more natural makeup products). URB’s got some great gift bundles right now perfect for the beauty and herb lovers out there this holiday season! Give ‘um a look!
With winter just around the corner, and it now being December… (so basically winter), I thought it was high time I talked about all the Autumn makeup I added and tested out these past three months. I’ve got several new loves I’ve been rocking in these colder days but also some guys I’m still trying to get the kinks figured out of. And sadly there’s even a couple of duds I tried, but just couldn’t fall for… (Like that seasonally themed pun? Yeah, me too..)
I’ve heard a lot of lovely things about the Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage Concealer, and seeing as my beloved Make Up For Ever one is near the end of it’s life, I figured I’d try something new. It’s supposed to be great for covering spots, redness and pretty much everything… not so sure about that yet. This is one of the products I am still working the kinks out of. As you can see it comes with two color so you can mix it to be your perfect shade. I’ve heard a variety of things about needing to warm it up first on your hand to get it to blend… like I said, still working out how to best use this.
I was killing time (as you do) on the Sephora app, and came across this highlighting duo from Algenist. The Luminizing Drops have got a mix of skin care in the formula so it’s supposed to help your glow will adding to it. I adore both of these shades! I never thought I’d be into a pink toned highlight, but I’ve been reaching for Rose nearly every day. It’s beautiful. And come the Holiday’s, I can see Champagne being my highlighter of choice. The formula is really concentrated and you can blend and build however you want.
I fell for the hype and picked up a Marc Jacobs Air Blush during the VIB sale. I needed a more neutral blush in my collection and Flesh & Fantasy is just down right perfect for my skin tone. It goes with pretty much every lip color and eye look I’ve been throwing on lately. It even doubles up well as an eyeshadow and even a light bronzer. It’s a pretty price tag, but this is a piece I’ll have around for years.
Yup. Finally got my mitts on the Anastasia Beverly Hills Modern Renaissance Palette and it sure is a lot of fun to play with! I haven’t braved too much into the more orange browns yet, but I’ve loved using the different reds and coppers this fall season. Surprisingly though (which I didn’t see coming) the purple shade Buon Fresco is my most favorite in the whole palette. It’s been my go-to eye color on light makeup days or if I’m in the mood to create a feminine romantic look. I think I’ll be buying the single shadow soon since I’ve already created quite a large dent in this one…
I’ve been wanting to experiment more with color in my daily makeup. I’m pretty use to playing it safe and neutral. I finally got comfortable wearing reds as eyeshadows so I felt like it was a good time to graduate to some other colors. This is where the Sephora Collections Waterproof Eyeliner in Olive comes in. It’s a beautiful medium olive green with just the faint bit of shimmer. It contrasts nicely with my brown hair and eyes. The formula though is where I’m having some issues. It’s a bit clumpy and doesn’t wear the smoothest. But– I’m also no makeup expert so this is another one of the items I need to do a bit more fussing around with to get the gist of.
It might look like I went lip crazy by the photo’s but I actually only bought the three large one’s! The small neutral shades I got as gift with purchases. Funny enough, neutral and browns on the lips have been out of my comfort zone, so getting these two has really been a great bit of free training wheels for me.
I like both of these neutral shades, and they both pair lovely with bolder eyes or even in a monochrome look. Swoon by Ciate being a little bit more on the pink side. Sell Out by Too Faced though just might be my brown shaded liquid lipstick soul mate… and it’s got incredible staying power without feeling like a desert on my lips. Will be purchasing full size very soon.
As you can tell by the other three shades…. I’ve had a bit of a thing for bold lips lately. All three of these fit the bill in different ways and are very different styles of formulas. Vampira by Kat Von Dis such a great vampy liquid lipstick that last all day, albeit a tad drying. The Lipgloss from Anastasia is in the color Bordeauxand it’s an incredible wine colored lip. I’m getting back into lip gloss, but I’ve a hard time not getting it all over my face. Any tips? And last but not least is Belly-Dancing from the Sephora Collection. This is a great creamy red lip with a twist. It makes my teeth look whiter and my hair shinier. It’s going to cross over into the Christmas season very very well.
And now for the duds… I ordered this metallic set from Nailsinc online and took one look at it in person and could tell right away these colors, especially the copper and glitter one, were not the right tone for my skin. Even resting my hand against them I could tell it brought out the redness in my skin tone I don’t want to showcase.
The largest dud, or rather disappointment, was the ever popular Hourglass Stick Foundation. This sucker is fucking loved on youtube! But it just didn’t check any boxes for me. It didn’t have very good lasting power, looked really cakey and clung to the wrong parts of my face in the wrong ways… And lastly the amount of product to price ratio: I’ve used it less then 5 times and it’s already got a big dent in it! I’m still figuring out if I should re-home or just return it…
Now that it’s heading into winter I’ll be rotating my collection yet again and probably adding some festive pieces in as well… I think a lot of these guys will carry into the next season perfectly though! What did you add this Autumn makeup wise?! I’d love to know!
There’s no denying that I’m a lover of skincare, I love testing, researching and most importantly, the ritual of it. Also there’s no denying that I’m a lover of deals. That’s why sales, promo codes and Black Friday’s become a true excersize in restraint for me… and not always something I’m particularly good at.
I went with a sort of theme this holiday shopping season. That theme being K-beauty websites. There’s so many great curated ones out there right now, they ship the best and most interesting bits from Korea right to our doorsteps! I’ve got some items coming from OhLolly, SokoGlam! (mainly makeup that you’ll see in post and video form real soon…) and this lot from Peach & Lily that I’m sharing with you today!
I haven’t tried any straight up K-Beauty moisturizers yet. Sure I’ve slapped a few essences and toners on my face but I wanted to test out something rich but gentle for this upcoming, probably dry, winter season.
Aromatica’s Calendula Juicy Cream so far has been fitting the bill. It’s a lovely rich texture that’s thick but soaks in really well. I have yet to test it during the day to get a feel if it’s too heavy or not, but so far it’s been a great evening skin cap. I’ve been dabbling it on my eczema prone legs and using it on my cracking knuckles to much success. It’s really gentle and formulated with 48% calendula extract, so here’s to hoping it helps with redness like one of my all time favorites: the Calendula Redness Rescue from Jurlique. (read review here!)
I’ve also been on the hunt to test out more Propolis based skincare. I’m a massive fan of all things honey in skin care, I find it super effective on my skin, so I thought The Propolis Sparkle Ampoule by Tosowoong would be good to check out.
It’s a massive portion, coming in at about 100ml, which makes it’s $30 price tag seem like a bargain. It’s delicate glass but sturdy packaging looks tres chic on my bathroom skincare shelf. It’s got a jelly sort of texture that’s not the least bit greasy. I’ve been putting it on after my evening toner, and under my morning moisturizer during days my skin needs a little extra something. I have yet to detect any spark tough… but it is early in the relationship.
The Damask Rose Soothing Gel by Aromatica is actually the product I’ve used the least so far. I put it on the other day after doing an intense AHA mask that left my skin a little red and tender… so I can attest to the soothing effect it promises by name!
I’ve read a few reviews that recommend leaving it in the fridge to use in the morning to help cool skin after a hot shower, and get you bright eyed for the day. So I am eager to follow suite and test out this bit of advice very soon! I can see this being a stressed or even hanger over face helper. 🙂
It’s been a tumultuous Autumn to say the least. For those of us here in the States, whatever side of the political aisle you find yourself on, we can agree on at least one thing- this election season has been fuckingrough. Personally I was hoping the stress would diminish after election day, but for me, it’s only gotten worse.
But let’s not go down that road right now! On to happier things! Favorites! They have been a small beacon of shinning light for me these past months. Remembering to stop and enjoy the little things, however frivolous, makes my day move forward.
I picked up a few new Elf Eyeshadow Brushes to help cash out a lingering Target gift card, and these were a great last minute decision! New favorites for sure! I’m consistently impressed with elf brushes, got any favorites from the line I need to know about?
Nail wise I’ve been re applying Camisole by China Glaze for the last 5 weeks. I love the look of metallic nails, and this light reflective copper color is very flattering on my pale skin tone, and forgiving of my terrible painting abilities.
It’s been a touch and go time for my skin lately. Between testing out too many products, poor hydration, stress and even some medications side effects, my skin has been paying the price. But Alas! Some products have helped me travel back to the recovery road! Hemish All Clean Balm has been my go-to for makeup removing. It’s got a really pleasing unique texture and gentle formula. I’m super intrigued by this Korean Brand- think I’ll be picking up some more from this line in the near future (i.e. tomorrow….)
The Face Moisturizer from Lyeska has been my hydration of choice for my fickle skin. I won’t blab too much about it since I recently did a review that you can read here. But long story short- it’s lovely. Congestion and discoloration wise RestAsphere by Kate Somervillehas been a god send. Pretty bummed it’s about gone. And lastly I recently bit the bullet and purchased the full size of Cover FX’s Invisible Sunscreen after my deluxe sampler ran out. This is an awesome clear, fast absorbing, never greasy formula that makes for a great primer to boot.
I’m prone to lots of sinus issues and face puffiness because of my deviated septum, so I’ve gotta recommend my Jade Yu-Ling Roller if you deal with any face discomfort. These ancient beauty tools go for all price ranges. My Yu Ling one is on the moderate side but you can find lots of dupes on Etsy. The jade is super cooling on the face, and it’s just a plain stunning piece to have in my collection!
If you follow me on Instagram, you might have caught on that I’m a massive Mary Oliver fan. I’ve got handful of poems and quotes from her on there. Recently I’ve been feeling the romantic call, so I’ve been turing to her collection of love poems called Felicity. It’s such a perfect light read to muse your mind and your heart. Her poetry is stellar- I think people of all poetry loving degrees will enjoy her work! If your in the mood for a bit of a poetry reading… watch my video below! (don’t worry, no bongos… this time)
Recently, I’ve been super lucky to test out a number of amazing brands, one of my favorites has to be Brooklyn Based skincare line Lyeska.
Centered around the richness of Siberian Cedar Nut Oil, Lyeska makes responsibly produced, all naturals product out of Brooklyn New York. The brand was founded by Russian born Katya Hegg. Katya grew up around the women in her family utilizing the ingredients found naturally in their gardens and forests to nourish their skin.
I’ve been using theMoisturizing Facial Lotion and Facial Cleanser these past two months, and love the gentle hydrating formulas. Both products are packed with Siberian Cedar Nut Oil which contains strong amounts of Vitamin E and lots of essential fatty acids.
The Facial Cleanser is rich in Vitamin A from plenty of Apple Extract and Rose Oil making it a great healer for aging or parched skin. It contains lots of antiseptic/anti acne ingredients like Burdock Root, Rosemary, Willow Bark and Blood Orange Extracts. And to calm the skin there is plenty of Aloe Vera and Calendula.
This is a very hydrating creamy formula that I think works best for dry and dehydrated skin types. It’s got a lot of antI septic qualities though so it could be good for those with the occasional spots and hormonal congestion. I’ve loved using it as my morning cleanser. It’s very hydrating and is full of vitamins to help start my day off right. It’s non foaming, and I would not recommend using it as a makeup remover- It’s formula would be pretty waisted as such anyways.
On the other hand, I think theMoisturizing Facial Lotion would work well on most skin types. It’s wonderfully moisturizing, but doesn’t feel greasy. It absorbs very quickly and works really well under makeup. It’s a very build-able moisturizer that layers nicely over other skincare products. On days I’m feeling pretty oily one layer is all I need and when my skin is feeling particularly tight, two layers works great!
This Moisturizer is rich in calming ingredients like Rose Water, Aloe Vera, and Chamomile to help ease inflammation and redness. I love the high concentration of Barley Seed Extract along with Rose Hip and Cedar Nut Oils. All are full of antioxidants that help protect the skin from free radicals as well as replenish the skin with needed vitamins and moisture.
I was super fortunate that Lyeska let me test out some of their stellar products! I love that this company has such strong values put into every aspect of production. From the recycled packaging, to the quality control and ethical sourcing, they hit all the right marks! If you are looking to invest in effective, natural but also independently made skincare I highly suggest checking Lyeska out!
With the election taking a turn I didn’t expect, I’m finding myself feeling a little lost today. I, like many, thought this was going to go in a completely different direction. And honestly, I’m in a state of shock and even grief I was not prepared for.
As an artist, storyteller, and yes even beauty blogger, I find myself turning to my work to process these unexpected feelings, as well as looking for the closest distraction to ease my anxious mind. Just the act of putting on my makeup this morning was immensely therapeutic and helped add a little self care and sense of escapism I needed.
I had many plans today to write about lipsticks, cleansers and a bazillion other beauty related things, but I decided it was a good time to put out a post I’ve had in the back of my mind for weeks now. As we head into a rocky feeling time for many of us in the country I encourage you to turn to your work, your passions and to your art as well as the art of others.
Personally film has always been a place of solace for me. A place to not only escape but to explore. We are lucky that Award Season and Election Season fall at similar times of the year. So many enticing, enriching and mobilizing films come out around now. Ones that help start conversations, sooth our hearts and even ignite our imaginations.
Here’s a list of 7 Films out now or coming very soon that have me excited about the rest of the year. And I hope add a little charm, escape, inspiration and maybe even therapeutic release you might need. The trailers alone added a bit of energy I needed today.
Paterson
I am a big BIG fan of Jim Jarmusch films and I feel like Paterson is going to be a favorite before even seeing it. The story centers around a bus driver that shares the same name as the city he lives, with a beautiful gift of poetry. The trailer alone give me joy, from it’s subtle wit to profound observations of the simplest of things. Adam Driver has such unique talent and charm, he always lights up the screen.
Arrival
I am a sucker for intelligent (seeming) Science Fictions. A big fan of Arthur C. Clarke, this trailer gives me Rendezvous with Rama vibes. Denis Villeueve is an interesting director who seems very apt at communicating complicated matters and delivers suspenseful drama. I wasn’t the biggest fan of Sicario, but thought the performances were directed beautifully. I have high hopes for Arrival. Plus it stars the incredible Amy Adams, she’s one you can always count one for a knock out performance.
Moonlight
Moonlight is one of the films this year that (I hope) adds a bit of diversity into the awards pool this time around. Directed by Barry Jenkins, Moonlight seems to weave several complex narratives about identity and self discovery set in a rough neighbor in Miami. The acting looks top notch from House of Card’s Marhershala Ali as well as several new comers like Shariff Earp, and Duan Sanderson.
Loving
Jeff Nichols is proving himself to be a powerhouse of a director. I was a huge fan of Mud, and can’t wait to see what he does with this true story of an interracial couple fighting for their right to be married in their home state. Loving has been getting rave reviews for not only the film but for the all the performances, specifically Joel Edgerton’s nuanced portrayal of Richard Loving.
The Handmaiden
The newest film from Old Boy director Chan-wook Park , The Handmaiden, looks like a feast for the eyes. I love that the trailer little to nothing about the plot- and I like it that way. His films are such a wild ride that I love the idea of going into it blindly. I highly doubt this will get much notice at the big awards shows due to his usually gruesome plots, but Park is such a master film maker, that maybe we’ll get lucky!
Jackie
Following the days after JFK assassination, Jackie, seems like a shoe in for Natalie Portman’s Academy nomination this year. The trailer has an almost Terrence Malick feel in its editing and voice over. The cinematography looks absolutely stunning. I have yet to see any of the directors, Pablo Larraín, previous work, but this film is getting some many rave reviews that I want to look into his older films: The Club and No.
La La Land
Let’s end this list with a bit of precious escape we could all use. La La Land, looks to be the refreshing piece of entertainment to get us through to the end of the year. A musical love story by Whiplash director Damien Chazelle about two lovers attempting to maintain their relationship while pursuing their dreams in entertainment. Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone have already proven their incredible chemistry in Crazy, Stupid, Love and this third time partnering up seems brilliant.
Sadly when things get labeled “drugstore” or even “affordable” a slight distrustful sheen covers over them. Like they are at the onset dubious in quality. I’m guilty of assuming the worst when it comes to drugstore brands, and it’s not with out justification. I’ve burnt many a dollar on products I couldn’t return that were utter duds.
As I travel deeper into the hole that is the beauty world, I keep unearthing more and more gems at dirt prices. I think this is where Ulta becomes a god send- lots of brands, occasional testers and a glorious return policy.
I had a therapeutic shopping day at the front end of October (I know- it takes me forever to get posts out) and here are my results:
I’ve really been wanting to up my nail game at home. I picked up a few colors from China Glaze, as well as a multitude of tools from Sally Hansen, Soap & Glory,Essie and Tweezerman. I’ve used the Cuticle Remover several times by now and it is so damn good. If you don’t have it- Get it. Also the Essie Natural Nail Polish remover has been a savior for my sensitive nostrils.
Makeup wise I picked up several cult items I keep hearing about. I finally got a hold of theMaybelline Age Rewind Concealer– Yup, it’s as good as everyone says. In fact, I think I even like it more than my Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer. Shocking I KNOW… Also speaking of cult status, I go my first item from Physicians Formula, and I went for a great one. The Butter Bronzer is a perfect light golden brown to add to my pale skin- it gives a nice warmth during this cold time of year.
I’ve had a lot of fun playing with the Makeup Revolutions New-Trals vs Neutral Palette. It’s got a fun range of color with lots of shimmers. I’ve been challenging myself with color this season, both on the eyes and lips, and this guy has been a great set of training wheels.
I think it’s fair to say I went a little over board in the Lip department. I picked up several items from NYX- The Soft Matte Lip creams are such affordable no brainers. I lost my Kat Von D Vampira last month, so Copenhagen stepped in as my deep bold lip of choice. Also I’m so pleasantly surprised by the formula on the Soap and Glory Lipsticks. Pommie Girl is a lovely bright coral that will be a favorite come spring time for sure. I just wish the range had more shades!
I tend to get pretty brand loyal at the drugstore (as you can tell with all the NYX), but want to know of any treasures you love from affordable brands! I haven’t tried much from L’Oreal these days- Is the cushion really really that good??
