Review: Dessange Paris Replenishing Conditioner and Oil

Posted on May 30, 2016 by Adie

 

I don’t think I’ve ever really blogged much about haircare before; my hair has mostly been easy to deal with and I’ve always been careful to avoid applying much heat and only recently started coloring my hair again. Blah, blah blah.

Yet I started having real trouble with my hair and it seemed like it came out of nowhere. My hair became stripped over the course of a few months no matter how much of my fancy, expensive-organic-no-yucky-chemicals conditioner I applied. My hair was dry, had lost its shine, and the cuticle appeared to be mysteriously damaged. To be honest, I avoided my hair stylist/colorist for a while simply because I was terrified of causing more damage! Two months ago, I bucked up and went in for what I thought would be a drastic cut to my highly damaged hair. Indeed, she took one look at my hair, washed and conditioned it, and then trimmed a mere 1/4 inch off the ends. What? By some miracle, she had returned my hair to its prior state! My hair was normal again. It was shiny and looked healthy.

Continue reading →

Posted in Beauty | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Hello, May: Time to Lighten Up, Brighten Up

Posted on May 17, 2016 by Adie

Lighten Up Brighten Up

I know that I’ve mentioned this before– I am a blush enthusiast. I can’t help it; having a very flat, neutral-toned complexion, it’s blush that gives me life! And I decided to start this spring with a brighter, glowier face after a long winter of 90s-inspired matte skin.

Hourglass Incandescent Strobe Light Powder

I’ve never mentioned Hourglass on this blog before– thus missing out on all of the hype around their ambient lighting powders and blushes. It wasn’t because I didn’t give the products a chance– I did. The ambient lighting powder just didn’t suit me and the blush was super pigmented in exactly the right shade to make me look terrible.

I decided to give them another shot upon seeing the Hourglass Incandescent Strobe Light Powder; it’s absolutely gorgeous and perfect for someone who wants to stick with a subtle daytime look. I’ve used both a brush and sponge for application, and even used my fingertips to highlight the inner corner of my eye. The product is buildable, too, for when you really want to strobe out and make a statement. Second chances can definitely work out!

Laura Mercier Lotus Pink Bobbi Brown Pastel Pink

Now on to my soft spot– blush! I’ve hit pan on some of my favorites recently, MAC’s Well Dressed and Nars’ Oasis to name two. Instead of repurchasing right away, I decided to branch out with Laura Mercier’s Lotus Pink (warm tinged pink pink) and Bobbi Brown’s Pastel Pink (cooler toned pink).

I honestly can’t say which I love more. They are easy to wear, blend-able blushes with staying power that don’t change color throughout the day. It’s the first time I’ve tried blushes from either of these brands and I am absolutely satisfied if not outright happy with my purchases.

Bobbi Brown Pastel Pink Blush

Be sure to share your own recommendations in the comments! A girl like me can never have enough blush.

Posted in Beauty | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Spring Fling: Face Masks for both Dry and Oily Skin

Posted on May 15, 2016 by Adie

sheamoisture peace rose oil complex sensitive skin mud mask and origins clear improvement active charcoal mask

This time of the year the temperature goes a little crazy where I live; one day it’s almost triple-digit-sweltering hot outside and the next it’s cool and breezy. These fluctuations definitely play a role in how moisturized my skin feels. The colder and windier it gets, the dryer my skin and the hotter it gets– you get the picture.

I like to give myself a facial every weekend and face masks play a crucial in that process, helping me to clear impurities, fight inflammation and improve clarity. These days I find myself going back and forth between the SheaMoisture Peace Rose Oil Sensitive Skin Mud Mask and Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask. (Note: If you’re wondering– I am currently laying off my Aztec Secret / apple cider vinegar mask as it was becoming a bit too irritating with my current skin routine)

SheaMoisture Peace Rose Oil Sensitive Skin Mud Mask
The SheaMoisture Peace Rose Oil mask is great for when my skin feels dry and thus needs a bit more nourishment. The  mask definitely smells like rose oil, which can either be a little bit of heaven or a little overwhelming depending on how well you tolerate a strong rose fragrance. For me, it’s a nice aromatherapy interlude during my facial. I know that some people have experienced a burning sensation while the mask is drying– to be honest, I have a very high tolerance for this feeling because of regular chemical peels and retinoid use, so I wouldn’t trust my judgement. However, I’ve never noticed any irritation after using the mask. In fact, my skin usually feels so moisturized and soft to the touch when I remove this mask that I just end up wanting to put it on again.

Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask
Origins Clear Improvement mask is amazing on days when I lean a little too close to my magnifying mirror and thus get a terrifying tour of my pores. I wouldn’t say that I have very visible pores but any time I have even a little congestion– the blackheads come out in full force on my nose. There is something very satisfying about covering those blackheads in a mask, knowing that they’ll be mostly gone within ten minutes. If you have truly stubborn blackheads, the annoying kind that require extraction (I had one of these last month)– this can be a good supplement to your skincare routine but it won’t completely clear your pores.

Let me know if have any questions about either mask and be sure to leave a comment if you have a good mud or clay mask to recommend! Thanks for reading.

sheamoisture peace rose oil complex sensitive skin mud mask and origins clear improvement active charcoal mask 1

Posted in Beauty | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

April 2016, Body Care Haul: L’Occitane Amande Shower Gel and Refreshing Aromatic Deodorant, LUSH Karma and Honey I Shrunk the Kids soap

Posted on April 25, 2016 by Adie

l'occitane refreshing aromatic deodorant amande shower gel, lush karma and honey i shrunk the kids soap

May is right around the corner but El Nino is still bringing the chills and high winds to my area of California. It aggravates my allergies and even chaps my skin so I thought a little pampering might be put me back in high spirits.

lush karma and honey i shrunk the kids soap

I’ve been using bar soap lately– or should I say solid soaps? I have already gone through quite a variety from Whole Foods and Sprouts but these two from LUSH smell so amazing that I had to share (especially Honey I Shrunk the Kids– it fills my bathroom with the most delicious scent).

l'occitane refreshing aromatic deodorant

I’ve been using The Healthy Deodorant from LAVANILA for years and years now but I keep hearing great things about this L’Occitane deodorant. While LAVANILA’s is a solid, L’Occitane’s is a liquid with a rollerball. I’ll let you know how it works out.

l'occitane amade shower gel

This shower gel from L’Occitane is an absolute favorite of mine from a long way back. It caught my eye while I was already in line and even though I had just bought a couple of soaps from LUSH, I couldn’t resist grabbing this as well. When my skin is really dry and/or irritated this really helps me calm things down. It also smells amazing and is a genuinely a nice way to add a little luxurious restoration to your grooming routine.

If you have any suggestions or questions, be sure to comment! Thanks for reading.

Posted in Beauty | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Review: Kat Von D Shade + Light Palette

Posted on April 16, 2016 by Adie


Kat Von D Shade and Light

Believe it or not– this is my first Kat Von D beauty product! I have heard a ton of raves about her lip and eye products but this palette definitely caught my attention. However, I didn’t pick one up for myself until Sephora’s latest 15% off sale. So far this spring, I’ve been skipping eyeshadow in place of contouring and highlighting powders on my lid and crease along with sculpting my face in general, which was another reason that I decided to expand my makeup arsenal.

I have a light hand when shaping my face so the effect is quite natural (I hope!); and this spring, it has been the fresh change that I needed.

What I like best about this palette is the range of colors, from cool to warm. While I have a light-to-medium skin tone, I have found uses for every shade in the palette and especially love the darkest shade blended into the outer corner of my eye. Because the powders are pigmented, a little goes a long way. They also blend well, which is always my first concern when choosing shaping powders. There is nothing worse than applying a product that leaves a harsh, unnatural line that just won’t blend no matter what you try.

Kat Von D Shade and Light Palette

Please feel free to share your favorite sculpting products in the comments; I plan to carry on this new makeup look well into the summer and definitely need to expand my collection. If you have any questions, let me know, and thanks for reading!

Posted in Beauty | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment