Nude Skincare Miracle Mask

Need a midweek pick-me-up mask? I have been using the Nude Skincare Miracle Mask for when my skin is feeling a little tired and dull. The mask contains glycolic acid with exfoliating rice beads to help reduce the appearance of pores and instantly refresh your face to reveal brighter and smoothing skin. I did not expect it to feel the way it does the first time I applied this because it feels more like an exfoliater instead of a mask. After realizing this way you're getting the best of both worlds I have realized this is genius!

Take a small amount on your hands and gently massage the mask into the skin for 1 minute and then leave it on for about 5-10 minutes before rinsing it off. You are left with super soft radiant skin! A very easy and quick mid-week mask. I'm dealing with a little but of irritated skin (I think I've gotten an allergic reaction from one of my night creams...) so this mask is something I'm looking forward to using. And I really want to try more products from the Nude Skincare line. They're super nice and I know the ingredients are good!


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LUSH Cleanse + Tone

I have never shopped at LUSH (shock!!) I went in for the first time this past weekend and came out with these 2 beauties. I'm super excited for both and I have been using the Tea Tree Water Toner Water all week. The sales associate said I should be cautious since the Tea Tree toner might dry out my skin since it fights and prevents acne, but so far I have not noticed any changes. It's a nice simple toner and I think I'm just a little obsessed with spray toners. Really wakes and freshens up the face.

The Tea Tree Water Toner Water helps with oily acne prone skin. It helps brighten dull tired skin while keeping blemishes at bay. Tea Tree Water helps reduce redness and excess oil - a great way to begin your morning routine!

The UltraBland Facial Cleanser is another product I am extremely excited to use. I tested it at the store but I have not yet used it at home. I am currently using the Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish at night to wash my face and remove all my makeup.

Ultrabland is a rich oily/waxy consistency of essential oils, honey and beewax to help remove makeup and cleanse your face. After you spread it all over your face you can use a wet hot towel to wipe off the cleanser to reveal soft and ultra moisturized skin. This is a cult product that everyone loves so I'm excited to start using it soon!

Do you guys like LUSH products?


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Empties #4

Another Empties post!

It was satisfying tossing a few items during the move to simplify my bathroom medicine cabinet. Although I might have to repurchase some of these products because they were really that good.

REN Glycol Lactic Radiance Renewal Mask
I mentioned this mask in one of my early early posts. In my opinion this is seriously one of the easiest and most effective masks out there. Its a goopy fruity mask that never dries so you just slather it all over your face, wait about 10-20 minutes and then wash off with warm water. I love how smooth, really clean and radiant your skin looks after. It really feels like it take off a layer of dead skin. I will be repurchasing this soon.

Le Labo Santal 26 Vintage Candle
I purchased this candle as a present for my boyfriend and we have finally finished using it. It was a bit too masculine for me, but he really enjoyed it so that made me happy. Online the description says it's a gentle, smokey and leathery scent… you can see why girls aren't really drawn to it. I love the packaging though and Le Labo has some wonderful perfumes I want to try.

Boots Botanics Rosewater Toning Spritz
I definitely enjoyed using this toner a lot. I love spray toners because they are just so easy feel refreshing. They wake me up in the morning. This was a nice simple organic rosewater toner that I could possibly repurchase.

Revlon Lash Potion Mascara
Goodbye to my summer 2013 mascara. I seriously wore this almost every single day. I will say I got tired of using it by the end of the summer and very tired of removing stubborn waterproof mascara. I may suffer from super straight lashes but I don't want to suffer every night anymore removing the product it too.

Amore Pacific Time Response Skin Renewal Creme
This was such a luxurious moisturizer that I really loved using. Read my full review here.

Now that I've used up some products, that means I get to go shopping right?

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Radical Skincare Instant Revitalizing Mask

I have been wanting to mention the Radical Skincare Instant Revitalizing Mask for awhile. It's a really unique mask that gives energy and moisture to the skin. I have been using it for a good few months and I really enjoy how it makes my skin feel. What's unique about it, is that it comes out of the packing as a creme transparent gel but as you apply it to your skin, it transforms into a white mask all over the face. After a few minutes, you feel the mask creating air bubbles on your face and it starts to pop and dissolve! It feels crazy!

The mask includes Sodium PCA to increase the skin's softness and control the skin's moisture balance, Vitamin E to help the skin fight free radicals created by oxidation from pollution, sun damage and age, and Green Coffee! I use this mask twice a week and I think this is a great mask for fall since the weather is getting more dry and our skin needs more moisture to drink up. I discovered Radical Skincare one day walking around Barneys New York and just discovered Sephora is stocking the line too!


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Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Daily Face Peel Review

I am a huge fan of at home treatments and this caught my eye awhile ago because the reviews for the Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Daily Face Peels on Sephora are amazing. I have always had acne prone skin and while my skin has already drastically improved over the past 2 years, I still have quite a bit of scarring and overall I'm not completely satisfied with the texture of my skin.

First off, although it says Daily Peel, I still think it's too strong to use daily. The first few times I tried the peel my skin tingled/burned a little and was a little irritated. After a few more times using this my skin adjusted but then I started getting little red bumps around my cheek area. I decided to cool off on the product and not to use it so frequently. I use this now about once a week and it no longer irritates my skin.

First open the moist towellete from the Step 1 package. It's just a plain sheet that's a little awkward to hold, but you rub that on your face in circular motions until the towellet becomes dry. Then you wait 2 mintues before using the treatment in Step 2. Same instructions - apply to face and neck until dry. You do not wash this product off afterwards and I recommend only using this at night before bedtime. Your skin will be highly sensitive and should not be exposed to sunlight.

While I do think this product helped minimize breakouts and possibly reduced pore size, I'm not sure it helped with evening skin tone and reducing dark spots. It was not super noticeable for me, but when I wake up in the morning my skin does look very clean, tight and fresh.

I like the packaging. I think it's great for traveling and while I did enjoy using the 30 day supply I do not think I will be repurchasing it because of the price.


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Aesop Purifying Facial Exfoliant Paste

This lovely Aesop Purifying Facial Exfoliant Paste lives in my shower where I occasionally use it about once a week to exfoliate the skin. For some reason I tend to leave all my exfoliating products in the shower. On the packaging it says it contains fine quartz, rosemary leaf and lactic acid. If you can get over the extremely herbal earthy scent, it's a great cream-based exfoliator. I love the way the scrub feels. It's grainy but not abrasive. It is a little bit on the expensive side ($49) but Aesop is a brand I want to try more and more of. I love the packaging and pretty much all the packaging in general for Aesop products. I love just walking around in one of their stores to look at all their lovely products. This leaves my skin feeling soft and refreshed and I do love using it.

As you can see there are fine little grains that help gently exfoliate and remove dead skin. It almost looks like lotion there but feels really smooth and refreshing on the face. As I said before I think it's pretty gentle and does not irritate the skin. I think it's very important to exfoliate the skin twice a week. Whenever I get facials, the estheticians always say I need to exfoliate more so hopefully this product is working its magic. 

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Empties #3

Another round of Empties! Here are a few products I have just finished using!

1. Origins Zero Oil Pore Purifying Toner
This lasted me a pretty long time and I really did enjoy using it morning and night after I washed my face. It didn't sting my face at all and I think it did help control the oil on my face.

2. C.O. Bigelow Lemon Body Lotion
I'm not a huge fan of the lemon scent (I love lemon hand washes but was sad the lotion is not the same) but the consistency was good.

3. Sephora Fleur de Coton body wash
I did not like this smell either. It really smelled like baby powder which was really odd in the shower. It got the job done I just really didn't like the way it smelled.

4. Clinique Even Better Clinical Dark Spot Corrector
I enjoyed using this a lot but I ran out really quick! I'm not sure I saw a huge difference but I do think my skin feels over all pretty even toned.

5. Dr. Brandt Glow Ruby Crystal Retinol Hydracrème
I have used this before and this was my second sample size bottle. The sample size is a pretty good decent amount that lasts you almost an entire month! I definitely enjoy using this product at night after I tone and would like to try it again.

6. Anastasia Brow Wiz in Brunette
I want to go out and purchase this again immediately but I've been holding back and using a different combo this month for my brows (MAC eyeshadow in Brun with Anastasia Brow Gel)

What products have you just finished and need to repurchase again?

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Essie Smokin' Hot

The other night I was at the US Open and it got really chilly! I still cannot believe it's already September and basically Fall. I love the transition from summer to fall because the nail polishes, lip colors and clothes get darker and I love layering clothes so I'm very excited for the transition to Fall.

A nail polish I know I will be wearing this fall is Essie Smokin' Hot. It's a deep eggplant purpley color that looks very elegant and chic on the nails. I use two coats and seche vite top coat. What color are you excited to wear?

And here were our seats at the US Open! Serena Williams playing on the right!

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The Face Shop Volcanic Clay Blackhead Aloe Nose Strip

I usually don't use nose strips because I'm afraid they're a little too rough on the skin, but once in awhile I think it's nice to remove white and black heads with something stronger (plus my boyfriend loves seeing the instant result of nose strips and it's kind of fun to do together). before I have only tried the bier nose strips which I think are really effective but a little pricey. when I found the Volcanic Clay Nose Strip by The Face Shop, a korean brand, it was only $1 each so i was curious to see the difference!

Here is what the nose strip looked like. I did a little research online and there are different types of these nose strips. The one I'm using is Aloe based. I saw there are other ones such as Charcoal and the nose strip is black (now I want to try that). Overall it was super easy to use. Wet your nose and strip and then wait for it to dry. I personally love taking them off super slow and then oohing and ahhing over the white and blackheads that come off. Your nose looks really shiny and feels incredibly smooth after. I think I will repurchase again!

Here's the description:
The Face Shop Volcanic Clay Blackhead Aloe Nose Strip, formally known as the Blackhead EX Pore Strip, is your go-to product for removing close to 100% of the white and blackheads. The product contains New Zealand Volcanic Clay and has strong blackhead and oily secretion absorption properties. Supported with pore minimizing ingredients, the Volcanic Clay Blackhead Aloe Nose Strip will leave your skin feeling tight and smooth.

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Blue lines

For a subtle change in my every day makeup look, I've been wearing blue eyeliner instead of the usual black. I've been using the Smashbox Jet Set Waterproof eye liner in Deep Navy. I apply it with a Real Techniques Fine liner brush and while I used to think it would be really hard it's actually super easy to apply and get a nice defined line. Especially since I have such dark brown eyes, it's nice sometimes to have a little surprise in your eyeliner or mascara color to play up your eyes.

I topped it off with Urban Decay Big Fatty mascara which seriously gives you insanely full lashes. The wand is huge and can get a little messy but your lashes look fat. I don't wear this often because I usually go for waterproof formulas but for days when I know I don't want to be removing that waterproof mascara later in the night... this is the better option.

What do you think? Do you guys like wearing different color eye liners?

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Dior Addict Lip Glow

I've rediscovered the Dior Addict Lip Glow by Dior after a few months of sitting at the bottom of my lipstick pile. It looks like a sheer balm but the formula is super cool because it uses color reviver technology reacting to the chemistry in your lips to create a unique shade for everyone's lips. Basically it's supposed to enhance the natural color of your lips. I love the packaging. It's super feminine and a great addiction to carry around in your bag. (Have I mentioned the amazing packaging??)

As you can see it looks like a sheer balm but after a few swipes it gives me light dewy pink lips! It's pretty moisturizing and I love how it adds pink glow to your lips. It is a little on a pricey side... I purchased mine last year during the Sephora Friends & Family sale. Not sure if I will repurchase again but I love using it while I have it!

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Jurlique Herbal Recovery Gel

Since I have finished up my morning serum product, I have recently introduced a new product into my AM routine: the Jurlique Herbal Recovery Gel. First of all, I have loved using Jurlique products in the past. Jurlique uses all natural ingredients (many from their own farm in South Australia) to nourish the skin and maximize our natural beauty in all their products. I love how Jurlique works on sensitive skin and I feel good about the ingredients that are being absorbed into my body. I want to be more conscious of what ingredients I am putting into my skin.

As you can see it's a dewy gel like formula that is very lightweight and gets absorbed quickly into your skin. At first I thought it was going to leave my skin feeling sticky but the feeling only lasts a second and you're left with smooth and hydrated feeling skin. Shake up the bottle before you use it and apply about 2 pumps all over your face after you wash and tone.

The Herbal Recovery Gel is a potent botanical anti-aging concentrate that helps to reduce fine lines, dryness and dullness to increase the skin’s elasticity, hydration and radiance, while also protecting the skin against environmental aggressors. It all sounds fantastic doesn't it! I was lucky to find this at Costco for only $30 something dollars. I'm really enjoying using it and I want to try more Jurlique products!

Final shot of all the lovely ingredients!

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Goodnight Skin

Here are the skincare products I have been using every night. First I have been taking off all my makeup with Bioderma Crealine TS H20. I just did a blogpost if you want to know more about the product: here. After that I wash my face with the Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cleanser. When I purchased this online I was hoping this would be more foamy but it's not really. It's very gentle and pretty scent-less. I enjoy using it but I think I want something a little more refreshing feeling (like when I used to use the Jurlique Purely Bright cleanser). I pat my face down with a towel and apply eye cream next. Currently I'm trying to finish up an Origins GinZing eye cream that I have been using. It's a little shimmery for my taste but overall it's a nice eye cream.

Next I apply a thin layer of the dr. brandy glow ruby crystal retinol hydracreme. I really like retinol creams for the PM. They will really help your skin in the long run. I have been using different brands for the past 2 years and I really have seen an improvement overall on the texture of my skin. I can see my old scars (slowly slowly) fading but I know it is working. I also like to add a thin layer of the La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo on my t-zone and a little on my cheeks where I have acne scars. And finally to finish it off I apply the Aesop Camilla Nut Facial Hydrating cream all over my face and down on my neck. And then it's time to hit the bed!

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Nails Inc Portobello

I picked up my first Nails Inc polish in Portobellow recently because a couple of bloggers I follow always go on about it. And I'm a sucker for recommendations. In my opinion what you see online is never the truest representation of the color so this was much more orange than I expected but it's still such a fun summer color and has this transparent/gelly feel to it. It's super easy to apply and has lasted pretty long on my nails. Nails Inc is a London based company and I am definitely interested in trying out more from their line!

Online:
A professionally formulated, catwalk-inspired neon nail polish with an exceptionally glossy long-lasting finish.

This formulation has been specially created and developed using the latest professional technologies for instant and exceptional results. The formulation is long lasting, ultra glossy, and easy to apply so that you get the best possible results every time. All of nails inc. polishes and products are named after iconic places in the UK and streets in London in order to celebrate the brand's British heritage.

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Bioderma Crealine H2O

Hello most talked about makeup remover! After hearing people go on and on about this on youtube, I was so happy to receive it as a birthday gift from a good friend this year. I waited awhile to use it and now I use it every single night to remove all the makeup from my face. The best thing about this as a makeup remover is how non-oily and smooth it feels. It just feels light as water and yet it delivers the same results as an oil-based makeup remover. Very simple. It's really amazing and my skin feels nice and clean instead of oily and shiny. It doesn't leave my skin feeling very dry either which I dislike and it's unscented.

I noticed the 500 ml bottle I have is the "TS" version which is for sensitive skin so if you want the regular one look for the bottle without the "TS". There is also another version with green packaging named Bioderma Sebium H2O Micellar Solution and that version is more for oily skin. I think after this runs out I will be curious to try it.

I became a quick fan of this stuff and when I saw there were mini bottles I had to get one. I ordered my mini travel sized bottle on ebay and this time I got the regualr Bioderma Crealine H2O formula. I'm leaving tonight for a weekend trip in the Catskill mountains so I will be bringing this with me!

How I use it:
I simply pour a little of the solution onto a cotton round to remove all the makeup on my face. It's not hard work at all. The makeup just slides off and onto the cotton round and you're left with clean skin. I use a different makeup remover on my eyes first since I wear waterproof mascara but I always go over it with Bioderma. There's also a pump version but after hearing some negative reviews about how it's hard to control and how much product gets wasted, I'm fine with using this version.

I buy my Bioderma on eBay but I've seen some Asian makeup stores in Flushing and Chinatown carry Bioderma. Also, Sears of all places is now carrying it online as well!

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Empties #2

I seem to be finishing up my products a lot lately and it's about that time again I share with you what I've completely used up! I love finishing products because it's always good to be trying new things so your skin does not get used to the same routine.

1. Jurlique Purley Bright cleanser
I used this cleanser all summer and it was included not only in my May favorites, I even included it in my June favorites! I had no idea ha. I really did enjoy using it every morning. It wakens up the skin and makes you feel refreshed for the day.

2. Boots No7 Eye Make-up Remover
I wear waterproof mascara every day so I really need a strong waterproof makeup remover. After you shake this up to blend the product, put it on a cotton round and then hold it over your eye area to let it hold onto the makeup and remove it. It's gentle and I will consider buying it again.

3. Sephora daily Brush Cleaner
I have had this forever. It's quite a small bottle but it lasted me a very long time. It's nice to have a brush cleaner spray in your cabinet for days when you're a little lazy to thoroughly clean your brushes. I'm a big fan and I'd be interested in trying other brands.

4. Caudalie Nourishing Body Lotion
This was a nice travel size product to bring with me whenever I was on vacation. I'm not sure I was in love with the scent although I know a lot of people like it but it was very moisturizing and not sticky at all.

5. Ole Henriksen Invigorating Night Gel
I normally don't use gels on my face and I do think this was a little too lightweight for me. The description online sounds super fantastic but I'm not sure I'd purchase a full-size. I got this in a small holiday set and I liked using it but I don't think I will be using it again.

6. Lipfusion XL
This is a night time lip treatment that I would put on right after I washed my face. It makes your lips tingle and for me I LOVE that feeling. It was quite pricey and while I won't be purchasing this any time soon again, I can see myself picking it up again as I get older and my lips start to thin...

Thanks for reading!

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Diptyque Choisya

The diptyque room sprays are a great alternative to candles for the summer.  I love candles throughout fall/winter but for summer I trade that in for a nice light citrusy scent: Diptyque Choisya room spray. Have I mentioned how obsessed I am with diptyque packaging? This beautiful room spray isn't over powering, it's sweet and floral and really freshens any room with a few sprays. Described as the scent of Mexican Orange blossoms, I love having this around the apartment to brighten the atmosphere and put a smile to my face. I got this at a diptyque sample sale this past year and I've barely made a dent in it! It's pretty strong so I don't need to spray much and I'm happy it's going to last me a very long time!

Description of Choisya on the diptyque website:
Referred to as golden apples in mythology, Jupiter offered oranges to Junon on their wedding day. The orange blossom symbolizes the eternal bond of marriage.

Message: As pure as it is beautiful

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August Birchbox

I was a little disappointed with this month's birchbox samples. I think I get more excited when I get makeup bits and the majority of this month's samples were all skincare. The only real makeup thing here is the BB Cream. I also think it's a bit weird when they include things like a tea bag. But ok.

On the left in the MIYU pouch, I got a de-stress mi beauty essence spray which says it's a fusion between a facial mist and a serum to help calm down irritated complexions. I do love facial sprays so I am excited to try this out but not that excited to try the tea bag it came with. Next are the Whish deodorant swipes (???) i guess I'll have to try this out to talk about it. I guess it's for when you're on the go, such as after the gym or something. Another Whish Body product included this month was the Whish exfoliating body wash. This will be good for travel. I am going away again this weekend so I will bring this with me.

Next is the Dr Jart Premium BB Cream with SPF 45 which I already have been using and love because not that many BB creams have such high SPF. I love almost all the Dr Jart BB creams (I love the Dr Jart Waterfuse BB cream. It's super light and natural looking!) And finally I got samples of the OC8 Professional Mattifying Gel (8 hour matte finish) which I just read about in Refinery29 and am excited to try! I definitely suffer from oily t-zone so hopefully this will keep my face looking fresh all day!

Are you guys subscribed to Birchbox??

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What's in my bag: A Night out

Tonight I will be going out to an event and I thought I'd share what I will be toting around with me. My clutch for the evening is the 3.1 Phillip Lim Snakeskin 31 Minute Bag and it's the perfect size for just carrying around a few essentials.

First, I will be carrying around my iphone (of course!), my miu miu card case and my house keys with my awesome moomin x kidrobot keychain . I don't go anywhere without these. Then onto makeup bits: I always always try to carry Clear Eyes eye drops because my eyes are pretty sensitive and I've had a few cases where one eye will get irritated and then be red for the rest of the night. Not attractive. Taking the YSL Touch Eclat in #2 for any touch ups or makeup disasters. The Chanel blush is super compact and it has a little mirror so I like throwing that into my bag daily. And finally I'm bringing the lipstick I will be wearing for any touchups throughout the night. Tonight I will be wearing MAC Heaux from the Rihanna RiRi Hearts MAC Summer collection.

Have a great weekend everyone!

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Review: Missha Super Aqua Ultra Waterfull Cream

The first thing you notice about the Missha Super Aqua Ultra Waterfull Cream* is that it smells amazing. Usually the smell of my moisturizers don't excite me, but this one is pretty darn good. It's super creamy and is absorbed so easily into the skin. The cream reminds me of the Amore Pacific creams. It feels thick, smooth and really hydrating. Even though it does feel like a heavy cream when you first take it out of the pot, when it's on your face it feels lightweight and really smooth. Something I am super excited to be using this fall when the weather gets colder and my skin gets drier. It doesn't break me out and a little bit of product goes a long way which I really love.

On the Missha website:
Inspired by the moisture preserving ability of desert plants, the Super Aqua Ultra Waterfull Cream activates the moisture preserving ability to keep skin hydrated throughout the seasons.

Step1. Aqua Lock
Imperata Cylindrica Extract creates a protective shield that prevents moisture from evaporating and from skin adapting to harmful elements

Step2. Aqua Sponge
Adenium Extract helps absorb moisture like a sponge to increase skin elasticity

Step3. Aqua Tank
Baobab Tree Extract activates the moisture energy inside the skin to stop the cycle of dryness

*PR Sample