Tag: beauty

Empties Post – First One Ever!

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Ever since the internet went crazy with “Empties” posts, I’ve been wanting to write one for this blog. The only caveat? Being able to accumulate enough used up products to write a post about. Seems simple, right? Not when you have far too many products and keep switching from one to another, and the guilt of throwing out something you’re not crazy about seems almost wasteful. So for me, using up a product and thinking about repurchasing the same item again means that I need to have thought it was absolutely AMAZING and willing to go through the experience all over again.

So without further ado, here are a few of my empties:

Honest The Younger Eye

I wrote a full review of this product here if you wish to read more details about it. What can I say? I absolutely LOVE this eye cream! It’s everything an eye cream should be and I think it has greatly improved the skin around my eyes tenfold.

Would I repurchase: HELL YES!

Everyone Face For Every Day Tone

I included this product in my skincare routine post. This is one of my favourite toners because not only is it lightweight, but it leaves my skin feeling fresh and clean. It also has contributed to keeping my skin acne-free!

Would I repurchase: YES!

Korres Pomegranate Balancing Cream-Gel Moisturizer

Even for this, I wrote a full review of this product here, if you wish to read a more detailed description. I’m usually not a huge fan of moisturizers cause even the most lightweight ones tend to make me break out, but this one lived up to its claim of being gentle for acne-prone skin, and I fell instantly in love!

Would I repurchase: YES!

Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Eye

This cream is a restorative eye treatment for undereye skin. I like that the cream was thick and emollient, and did work in diminishing fine lines caused by fatigue. I didn’t find anything NOT to love about this cream, but at the same time, I didn’t fall in love with it as much as I did with the Honest eye cream.

Would I repurchase: Maybe

Skin & Co. Roma Truffle Therapy Eye Concentrate

I was sad to see this finish as I added this as one of my favourite eye creams that I recommend. This cream feels luxurious and incredibly hydrating. Even a year later I still love it!

Would I repurchase: YES!

Pixi Beauty Sleep Cream

This cream was just a little too much on the thin side for my liking. I’m more into creams that feel very moisturizing and this was a little on the light side, however, it DID keep my skin hydrated and didn’t cause any breakouts. If you want to read a more detailed description, check out the review here.

Would I repurchase: Maybe

Clinique Moisture Surge

I know this is the holy grail of moisturizers for many people, especially if you’ve got oily skin. I was given this cream as a sample by one of the Clinique reps at a cosmetic shop with the promise that I would love it. Well, sorry to burst anyone’s bubble but this is simply too watery for my taste. I guess the lightweightness of it is what makes it perfect for oily skin, but I kinda love thick creams.

Would I repurchase: No

Medusa’s Makeup Grapefruit Astringent

I’m a big fan of toners and this one simply smells amazing! It left my skin feeling refreshed, and kept it from becoming oily too soon.

Would I repurchase: Yes, but they have two other scents (Rose and Cucumber) and I’m curious about the cucumber version.

There’s a satisfying feeling of completion when you get to the end of a product, and I think this is why Empties Posts are so popular. Do you have similar feelings? Would you try out any of these products?

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Review: Medusa’s Makeup Afterglow Facial Serum

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I’ve been a fan of Medusa’s Makeup for awhile, because not only are their products edgy looking and all around awesome, but they’re vegan which is always a plus in my book. They recently debuted a Facial Serum, and being heavily into skincare I was happy to find it in my September Beauty Box.

Packaging: A cute glass bottle with a dropper dispenser.

What It Does: Keeps skin hydrated, use morning or night.

Active Ingredients: Grapeseed Oil and Grapefruit Oil

Benefits: Grape seed oil is non-comedogenic, treats acne, tightens skin, helps diminish dark circles around the eyes, moisturizers, and reduces scars. Grapefruit oil can help curb hangovers, headaches, mental fatigue, and depression. It is also known to treat acne, prevent oily skin, and help reduce the appearance of cellulite.

Verdict: This serum is amazing! Especially if you have oily or acne prone skin as myself. It is lightweight enough that if can be worn under makeup in the mornings, although I prefer to use it at night before going to bed. It’s never sticky and smells fresh, so if used in the mornings, it feels very refreshing. I find that this serum helps curb my oily skin, leaving glowing but NOT oily skin, looking youthful and fresh-faced. I absolutely recommend this especially if you have problem skin and wish to keep your skin hydrated without clogging up your pores even more so.

Price: $16

Where To Buy It: Medusa’s Makeup Site

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6 Skincare Secrets to Beautiful Skin!

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Photo courtesy of advanceantiagingskincare.wordpress.com

Exfoliate lips using a toothbrush.

One sure-fire way to keep chapped lips at bay is to exfoliate lips using a toothbrush. I usually do it in the morning, you can use either a lip scrub with it or a pinch of Vaseline and gently scrub your lips. You can either scrub in circular motions or horizontal.

Use a Peel to brighten your skin tone.

Peels are extremely easy to use and can remove dull skin cells from the surface, which in turn helps brighten up your skin tone. Since most peels have acid, I’d suggest once a week usage. I suggest my fave here.

Invest in a good eye cream.

Most people will say that you can use regular moisturizer around your eye area, but they are wrong. The skin around your eyes is thinner and absorbs product much faster, so I recommend using a cream specifically made for the eye area, as it’s easier to cause irritation if you use ingredients that are too harsh for the delicate skin. Need ideas? Here’s a list of some of my favourite eye creams.

Use ice to reduce a pimple.

If you have to go out and have a huge raging red pimple, here’s a quick-trick. Hold an ice cube wrapped in a washcloth against your pimple for fifteen minutes. The ice will help reduce the inflammation and redness, allowing you to apply concealer much more easily. For added benefits, make ice cubes out of rose water for an extra skin-soothing treatment!

Don’t remove eye makeup with a makeup wipe.

Makeup wipes are too harsh when trying to get rid of mascara (especially if you’re scrubbing your eyes, a major no-no since it promotes premature wrinkles and wreaks havoc at the delicate skin). What I do is break up the makeup using Johnson’s Baby Lotion by placing it on a cotton ball and gently applying it to my closed eyes. I let the lotion soak in for a few seconds and then wash it off with lukewarm water. Not only will your eyelashes be moisturized, but it’ll also cause less breakage. Added bonus: this method removes all of your eye makeup in less than ten seconds!

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Erase Cellulite With Grapefruit Juice!

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Every gal deals with cellulite, some more than others, and for many, it’s the bane of their existence. But have no fear, I’ve got you covered, ladies.

One sure fire way to erase those annoying lumps is by drinking grapefruit juice.

Why is grapefruit juice so effective?

  • It boosts blood circulation
  • Burns excess fat in a speedy manner
  • Helps produce collagen
  • It effectively metabolizes sugar

Ingredients:

1 Large Grapefruit

2 Oranges

½ Lime

Directions:

Cut each of the fruits in half and using a manual juice, squeeze the juice from the fruits and place it in a glass. Stir the juices together, and you have your drink!

For best results: Try to maintain a healthy diet free of fatty foods, processed foods, sugars, and deep-fried foods.

Please note: If you’re taking any meds, DO NOT drink grapefruit juice as it can counteract the effects of your meds.

Let me know in the comments below what you think about this juice and if it has worked for you!

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Get Amazing Brows Everyday!

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I’ve always been obsessed with having good eyebrows, and some people are born with naturally amazing arches, whilst the rest of us need a little help. I know that nowadays the instagram brows are the trend, but I personally prefer a more natural brow. Like most people, I don’t have time to spend twenty minutes filling my eyebrows in the morning, the steps below guarantee to give you awesome brows in less than six minutes! So go ahead and press that snooze button, get some extra z’s cause you won’t be needing too much time to get ready in the mornings with these fool-proof brow tips!

First Step:

Outline the shape you wish to have either by using an eyebrow pencil or eyebrow marker.

Second Step:

First, fill in your arch and tail using a darker shadow shade.

Then using a lighter shadow shade, fill in the first half of your brows (closest to your nose) and the top half of the arch.

I’d suggest purchasing one of those duo eyebrow shadows palettes, such as Bobbi Brown Brow Kit ($55 at Sephora).

TIP:

In order for brows to look natural you need to shade in a way where the light would naturally hit, hence the lighter shade on top, and the darker shade in the arch.

Third Step:

Using a spooley brush through your eyebrows to better blend the shadows and get rid of any excess product.

TIP:

Run some brow gel if you have unruly hair to keep brow hairs looking sharp and clean all day!

One of brow gels I absolutely love is Maybelline’s Makeup Tattoo Studio Waterproof Eyebrow Gel ($9.48).

peacheye

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Review: Jeffree Star Cosmetics – Velour Liquid Lipstick Summer Collection 2018

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Ever since Jeffree Star launched his cosmetics line, I’ve been a mega-fan! I love how bold his lipstick colour choices are and the fierce packaging, but apart from the looks what I absolutely LOVE about his velour liquid lipsticks is the formula, so far the best I’ve encountered out of the liquid lipsticks I’ve tried in the past year or so.

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Swatch of Cherry Wet.

What It Is: Liquid Lipstick

Important Detail: Cruelty-free and Vegan

Shade: Cherry Wet

Verdict: The moment Jeffree Star announced his Summer Collection 2018 on his youtube channel, I knew that I had to have the shade Cherry Wet as I’m a HUGE fan of cherry red lips. This red shade is a very summery shade as it’s a hybrid between red and hot pink. I absolutely LOVE this colour, and the formula is the same as the other Jeffree Star Velour Liquid Lipstick Mattes, meaning that the pigmentation is HIGH, the power-stay is over 10+hrs. without bleeding/and or smudging, and the product feels absolutely light-weight on your lips, making you feel as though you’re not wearing anything! As all the previous Jeffree Star products I’ve used, I’m very pleased with this one, and do truly recommend it, because although you may find a dupe colour-wise for a cheaper option, what makes me return back and back again to Star’s products aren’t just the colours, but for the top-notch formulas that just can’t be beat!

Tip: If you have particularly dry lips, I recommend that you apply a light coat of lip balm, let it sink into your lips for 5-10mins. and then apply the liquid lipstick.

Price: $18

Where To Buy It: https://jeffreestarcosmetics.com/collections/summer-collection

Pictured above: Me wearing Cherry Wet.

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Review: 3M Nexcare Acne Covers

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June is Acne Awareness Month, and in lieu of that, I’ve decided to dedicate this week to acne prevention. I’ll admit right away, I’m a picker. Whenever there’s a pimple, I can’t help but pick or squeeze it, which of course worsens the situation (usually infecting the nearby areas) and causes redness, bruising, and scarring.

But ever since I’ve found these miracle workers, I haven’t been tempted to pick at my pimples anymore!

What It Is: Absorbing acne covers

What It Does: When placed on a pimple, the covers work like a sponge to absorb pus and oil.

Verdict: I don’t know what sorcery this is, but it WORKS. I’ve tried various others acne covers from other brands, and they rarely worked as well as these. These covers actually absorb the pus from the acne overnight, even cystic acne! I can’t begin to tell you how miraculous these are! They’re a true godsend in zapping zits overnight. All you have to do is wash your face, then apply the cover directly on the pimple, and in then in the morning you remove the cover and you’ll see all the pus has been absorbed on the cover while the pimple is gone! If you haven’t tried these, do yourself a favour, and GET THESE NOW!

Price: $5.98 (if you subscribe to 5 products) or $6.29 for one time purchase

Where To Buy It: www.amazon.com

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1 Secret Ingredient to Zapping Zits Overnight!

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Need to get rid of a pesky pimple pronto? Then read on to find out how Aloe Vera can help you!

Sure, we all know that Aloe Vera is the go-to plant for when we have sunburns, but it can also be very effective in getting rid of a pimple fast.

Aloe Vera is a tropical plant that when cut in half produces a clear gel. Almost any grocery store or plant store has them, so they’re easy to find.

What makes Aloe Vera the holy grail of plants for skin benefits? Well, when applied to skin, Aloe Vera gel has been proven to fight bacteria, reduce inflammation, and speed up skin recovery. Basically, all the things you need when trying to get rid of a pimple.

It’s also been proven that when Aloe Vera gel is paired with a tretinoin cream (that is an acne medication derived from Vitamin A), it significantly reduces existing pimples, as well as not allowing new ones to come to the surface.

How to Use Aloe Vera Gel for Acne

  1. Scrape the gel out of the aloe leaves with a spoon.
  2. Apply gel to the skin at the same time as other acne treatments. You may want to try mixing it with your other treatment, and then apply this to your skin. Or, you can apply the other acne treatment first, with the aloe gel over top.
  3. Repeat 1-2 times per day, or as desired.

In summary, applying Aloe Vera to the skin can help treat burns, heals wounds, but also fight inflammation from acne. Give Aloe Vera a chance, and you may just be on the way to beautiful skin!

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Review: Yves Saint Laurent – Touche Eclat Blur Primer

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I was really excited when I received this in one of my Allure Beauty Boxes, because the packaging for it was incredibly elegant that I was certain that the product inside would also be of excellent quality. This primer is to be primarily used before foundation, but since I don’t use foundation, I actually use primers as a base for underneath my eyes before I apply concealer as it helps keep my eyes hydrated as well as help the concealer glide on the skin without any problem.

What It Is: Blurring and Illuminating Primer

What It Does: Maximizing Skin Radiance

Active Ingredients: Corn Oil, Apricot Kernel Oil, Rice Bran Oil

Verdict: I absolutely LOVE this primer! If there’s one word that best describes this primer is luxurious. When you apply this on your skin it just feels so opulent and hydrating. Upon application, you instantly see how it helps create a blurring and radiant canvas on your face (in my instance, it truly helps with brightening up and blurring the dark under eyes I have). The primer has tiny gold flecks that help capture the light and brighten up any dull skin. It’s very rich and nourishing feeling. Not only that, it seems to erase pores, creating an even, smoother skin. If you really wish to have a top-notch primer, I suggest investing in this one, because it’s truly one of the best!

Price: $52

Where To Buy It: https://www.sephora.com/product/touche-eclat-blur-primer-P397615

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Avoid These Hidden Sugars to Lose Weight & Acne-Free Skin!

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Hidden sugars is one of the reasons why the average adult in the U.S. is culprit of consuming around 22 teaspoons of added sugars every day. Many times, these sugars are hidden in foods meant to be “healthy.” Normally, one should only be consuming around six teaspoons of sugars a day if you’re female (that’s around 100 calories) and nine teaspoons a day (around 150 calories) if you’re male.

Why is sugar such a huge no-no? Well, apart from sugar being one of the leading causes associated with diabetes, heart disease, obesity, high blood pressure, and cognitive disorders (such as dementia and Alzheimer’s disease), sugar is now even linked to cancer.

Now, apart from all those scary diseases, sugar is also a huge culprit when it comes to teenage and adult acne and any other skin conditions (because sugar is known to cause inflammation).

But not all sugars are created equal. The issue isn’t with sugars found in fresh fruits or vegetables, but rather it’s the added sugars found in the majority of the meals we consume that are the so-called bad sugars.

So how are we to avoid such hidden sugars? How do we know where they’re lurking? Below is a list of ten most common “healthy foods” that in reality have more sugar hiding in them than junk food.

TOP TEN HIDDEN SUGARS FOODS

  • Cereals and flavored oatmeals
  • Packaged breads (even those of the whole-grain variety)
  • Granola bars
  • “Lower calorie” drinks such as coffees, energy drinks, juices, and teas
  • Protein bars and meal replacements (think Slim-Fast)
  • Sweetened yogurts and other dairy products
  • Frozen waffles or pancakes
  • Bottled sauces, salad dressings, condiments, and marinades (think ketchup, relish, barbecue, or teriyaki)
  • Dried fruit and other fruit snacks (such as Fruit Roll-Ups)
  • Restaurant foods (sugar is found is almost anything cooked at a restaurant, it’s added in various sauces, desserts, and dressings)

So how are we to avoid hidden sugars? Basically, the issue is you must consume the majority of your foods in their natural state (such as fruits and vegetables). Once foods are processed or prepared in factories or restaurant chains, then that’s when unneeded sugars and sodium are added.

I’m not saying that you must avoid all of those foods on the list above ALL THE TIME, but try to consume them in moderation, that is the key to maintaining a happy and healthy lifestyle.

Need a healthy alternative for breakfast? Check out my recipes for GREEN SMOOTHIE and STRAWBERRY KIWI SMOOTHIE.

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