Encapsulated Retinol contains a more gentle slow-release retinol that helps reduce visible signs of aging.
Lactic Acid exfoliates to smooth and brighten for immediate results.
Pyrus Malus (Apple) Fruit Extract provides antioxidant defense against visible sun damage and pollution.
Verdict: For many this is dubbed the holy grail of retinols. I’ve tried various ones in the past and for me, the majority of them have been far too harsh. This one performs well especially under a moisturizer. It zaps away fine lines like you wouldn’t believe and hyperpigmentation is a thing of the past. You can start seeing results by the third week, one of the fastest working retinols there are! I highly recommend this if you’re looking to invest in a retinol that will give you results and dramatically change your skin’s look and texture.
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Adopted Frankie struggles to see eye-to-eye with her mother—who would rather ignore a problem and preserve their “perfect” life than stand up for what’s right. Jo just wants her mom to accept her queer identity—and is totally crushed when Frankie, the only person who really gets her, finds herself infatuated with someone new. Phoenix tries to find his place at the new school and balance wanting to spend time with Frankie but knowing he also has to help out with his sick sister at home. Bella wants to enjoy the end of high school and just head off to college without a hitch. Everyone expects Frankie’s brother Nick to be the golden boy, but even though he just got into his dream school, he’s not even sure he’s a good person. Each of their stories intersects when Bella is sexually assaulted at a party, and it looks like the perpetrator might get away with it.
Moving, heartfelt, and raw, Jagged Little Pill: The Novel draws on the musical’s story and gives readers deeper glimpses of the characters. It’s a story about the power of voicing your pain, standing up for what’s right, and finding healing and connection.
GRADE: B
REVIEW:
If you grew up in the 90’s then you can’t help but have listened to Alanis Morrissette’s breakthrough album Jagged Little Pill. It recently became a musical too, and now there’s a book based on the musical. I wasn’t sure what to expect when it came to a book based off of a musical written around a 90’s album. Let’s just say that the story takes place in contemporary times and NOT the 90’s and it’s very woke riding high on the #METOO movement.
I enjoyed the various POV’s in the novel, as it gave a better sense of what happened when Bella, gets raped during a party. The book focuses on the downfall of trying to keep up appearances and how that often leads one to bury secrets about themselves that should’ve been dealt with instead.
As much as I enjoyed the overall story, I was also expecting a little bit more. I can’t quite explain. I liked the characters but they kinda felt forced at times.
I recommend this novel if you’re a fan of the musical or just want to check out what a novel based on such an iconic album could be like.
*Thank you so much to NetGalley and Amulet Books for the digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
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Probiotics: Help lock in the moisture & calm the look of irritation
Prebiotics (beet root): Helps balance skin
Hyaluronic Acid & Kiwi Fruit Water: Help hydrate & brighten the appearance of skin
Ligonberry: Helps protect from the damaging effects of pollution and blue light.
Verdict: When it comes to face mists, there are only a few that I truly enjoy and think are actually doing something for my skin. This one from Tula is absolutely amazing. First of all, it smells delicious and instantly relaxes you, secondly the fine spray delicately distributes the mist on your face without it feeling like it’s hosing you down or not splattering water on you unevenly (this has happened with various face mists). This face mist can be used before and after makeup. Personally, I love using this after my nightly skincare routine because the scent is so relaxing that it helps me wind down after a very busy day. But I also find that the ingredients in this face mist also help nourish my skin and that’s a win/win.
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What It Is: An age-defying exfoliator that gently polishes, smooths the look of skin, and buffs away dead surface skin cells for a smoother, brighter complexion in minutes.
Active Ingredients: Lactic Acid
Skin Types: Normal, Dry, Combination, and Oily
Skincare Concerns: Dullness and Uneven Texture, Fine Lines and Wrinkles, and Acne and Blemishes
Verdict: This very well might be the holy grail of exfoliators. I’m usually not a huge fan of exfoliating creams/cleansers because many tend to be harsh and create actual lesions/cuts on the skin (I’m looking at you St. Ives), however, these exfoliating beads are so minuscule and so delicate that it manages to rid your skin of dead skin cells AND be gentle enough for sensitive skin. I was pleasantly surprised by this exfoliator because I’m usually not a fan of exfoliators, but this one really does what it promises to do. It leaves your skin feeling smooth like silk and incredibly soft. I recommend this if you’re looking to amp up your skincare routine.
Price: $79
Where To Buy It: Ulta or Sephora
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The last time Maeve saw her cousin was the night she escaped the cult they were raised in. For the past two decades, Maeve has worked hard to build a normal life in New York City, where she keeps everything—and everyone—at a safe distance.
When Andrea suddenly reappears, Maeve regains the only true friend she’s ever had. Soon she’s spending more time at Andrea’s remote Catskills estate than in her own cramped apartment. Maeve doesn’t even mind that her cousin’s wealthy work friends clearly disapprove of her single lifestyle. After all, Andrea has made her fortune in the fertility industry—baby fever comes with the territory.
The more Maeve immerses herself in Andrea’s world, the more disconnected she feels from her life back in the city; and the cousins’ increasing attachment triggers memories Maeve has fought hard to bury. But confronting the terrors of her childhood may be the only way for Maeve to transcend the nightmare still to come…
GRADE: A
REVIEW:
I knew that I had to read this book the moment I saw the creepy doll on the cover. This book definitely delivers on all things creepy. Crazy cult. Check. Creepy dolls. Check. Psychobitches. Check.
Maeve hasn’t seen her cousin Andrea since the night she escaped the all-female cult The Mother Collective. Whilst Maeve is still dealing with the aftermath of the cult, Andrea seems to be doing amazing and has a multi-million dollar home and enterprise.
Throughout the book, you can’t help but feel this increasing sense of dread and you begin to notice that the book is a cross between Rosemary’s Baby and The Stepford Wives. Personally, this book is one wild ride and I enjoyed every crazy second of it.
I recommend this book to anyone who loves twisty cult stories that don’t focus on a cult led by a man and if motherhood has ever terrified you. You will find this read absolutely unsettling!
*Thank you so much to NetGalley and Tor Nightfire for the digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
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What It Is: A hydrating mask, best for dry sensitive skin.
What It Does: Soothes, hydrates, and restores.
Active Ingredients: Green Tea, Madecassoside, Tumeric, Rhubarb, and Ginseng.
Verdict: This is by far the softest hydrating mask you’ll ever experience. If, like me, you have oily skin, then you may use this hydrating mask once a week, applying a thin layer of it all over your face and keeping it on for 20 minutes. However, if your skin is more on the dry side, especially during the winter when skin tends to be parched, you can also apply a thin layer of this mask all over and keep it overnight. Once you remove this mask (using a cloth and lukewarm water) you’ll unleash the softest skin you’ve ever imagined possible. It seems to eliminate bumps and any dry patches you may have. I tend to exfoliate my skin prior to putting this mask on, so that the skin can easily soak up all the hydrating and soothing ingredients found within this mask. I really recommend this product if you’re in need of some major hydration. Personally, I can’t wait to try out other skincare products from Topicals.
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Verdict: I’ll be honest, I’ve been wanting to try this out ever since all the It-Girl’s of the past decade have always relied on this lipliner/lipstick shade. Alexa Chung was always seen wearing this shade and looks wonderfully effortless in doing so. My only problem is that the price tag is kinda high if you’re unsure whether the shade will look good on you or not, so I was very excited when this showed up in my latest Allure Beauty Box. I’ll admit that this shade is AMAZING, and the lipliner is very soft and has a smooth application. I decided to apply clear lipbalm over it to help the liner to not look so matte or dry out my lips, but I will be purchasing the lipliner and lipstick in this shade now, as it has become my go-to shade to wear every day. I recommend this if you wish to look put together as in “your lips but better.”
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What It Does: Prevents the forming of fine lines, crow’s feet.
Active Ingredients: Retinoids, Niacinamide, Asiatic Acid, Red Poppy Seed Extract, Daisy Extract, Ceramides, and Olive Oil.
Verdict: First and foremost, I love how this serum feels, it’s hydrating and thick, and I prefer eye creams on the thicker side, especially for night. I wore this for three night straight though before I started noticing that my eye area was getting dry and the skin had a slight sting to it. I think this serum is best applied on top of a moisturizer to serve as a barrier, because the retinoids in the serum seriously dried out my skin where it was applied. Does it work with smoothing fine lines? Yes, it does. That’s why I suggest to use this serum on top of another eye cream because the retinoids in this are seriously powerful and will work but will leave your skin feeling a bit fiery. If your skin is more on the older side, then you’ll probably won’t have this reaction to it.
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Why It’s Special: Three buildable finishes – Matte, Satin, and Metallic.
Verdict: Now I know that Glossier prides itself in being makeup that enhances your natural beauty and that their products are very sheer, however, I was expecting more oomph from this eyeshadow palette and I fear it never delivered how I hoped it would. Is the application easy and silky? Yes. Are the colours vibrant or pop? No. I’m on the constant look out for the perfect matte peach shade and I’m sad to say, this palette doesn’t deliver in that regard. The matte shade in this palette is so sheer that it doesn’t even look like you’re wearing eyeshadow (and it’s not even the variety of “your eyelid only better” either). The frosty shades deliver better in color and pigment, but honestly not enough for me to recommend it as an absolute purchase. Maybe the other palette shades are more pigmented but as far as this one goes, I wasn’t too impressed by the shades, although the quality is excellent as you’d expect from Glossier.*
*I used primer when applying eyeshadows so w/out primer I imagine the colours would be even less noticeable.
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Verdict: I don’t know where I was when Dior first launched these lipstains seeing that I’m a HUGE fan of lipstains (my only defense is that they were released when I was obsessed with liquid lipsticks). Anyhow, I recently came to know about them because Cyrano star Haley Bennett’s makeup artist Andrew Colvin used these to create Haley’s lipstick look for the NYC Premiere of Cyrano (the result was very gorgeous and I wish I could find photos to share but haven’t been able to). That being said, these Dior lipstains are phenomenal. They’re long-lasting and ultra-precise (they have an ultrafine tip) so even the shakiest of hands can manage to draw a precise line to define. You can then turn the liner on its side and the flat tip dispels more colour on your lips. The only downside is that the lipstain CAN be a little drying but that’s why I always top it off with lipbalm or lipgloss to add some moisture. Other than that, these lipstains are really amazing. Sadly, they’ve been discontinued and you can only find them now on sites that still have them in stock.
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The Inkblotters 