fave products // furtuna skin rituale luminoso transformation set

Furtuna Skin had been on my must-try list for quite some time now. So I was super excited to get the opportunity to try out a specially curated set, known as the Rituale Luminoso Transformation Travel Set, which includes a micellar essence, a face & eye serum, and a moisturizing face oil. For those who don’t know, all of Furtuna Skin's products originate on their own organic farm in Sicily! This set includes sweet-smelling, wild foraged botanicals designed to help transform your skin.

Furtuna believes in the fundamental pillars of skincare, and that is reflected in the dual action formulas of each of these products. First up, in pillar one, you’ll prepare skin with Acqua Serena Micellar Essence, a cleanser and toner in one that removes impurities, balances pH, and soothes for a radiantly bright complexion. Pillar two involves treating the skin with Porte Per La Vitalità Face and Eye Serum, a dual-use, supercharged treatment for the face and eye area that absorbs in a flash for an instant glowing transformation. Key hydration comes into play in pillar 3 with Due Alberi Biphase Moisturizing Oil, a two-in-one bioactive blend for plumping moisture, antioxidant protection, barrier moisture repair, and Vitamin C to help support skin’s natural collagen synthesis. These three essentials create a transformative ritual (like the name of the set implies) that leave skin luminously smooth and protected, while helping to soften fine lines and restoring the skin’s overall resilience.

Thanks to natural ingredients like olive oil and anchusa azurea, both of which are packed with vitamins and fatty acids to nourish, rejuvenate and soothe your complexion, you’ll be saying hello to glowing, luminous skin in no time. Not to mention, this set is already the perfect size for on-the-go, so you can take it with you on all your travels as well. Since Furtuna is not exactly a budget-friendly brand, it’s also a great intro set to get you acquainted with the brand, in case you’ve been interested in trying it out for yourself!

 * This post may contain affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, it won’t cost you a penny more, but I’ll earn a small commission. This allows me to continue to generate content for you, and helps keep the site up and running. Thanks for your support! 

fave products // ilia beauty super serum skin tint spf 40

I’m pretty minimal when it comes to my makeup routine. I tend to focus more on skincare, so makeup sometimes gets the short end of the stick. Not to mention there’s not always time, with a busy toddler pulling at you in every direction. That’s why multipurpose products and crossover skincare/makeup hybrids are so appealing to me- two birds with one stone? Sign me up!

ILIA Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40 is just that- a clean, light-coverage, tinted mineral SPF 40 serum that boosts skincare benefits. Give it a good shake before using (nature separation can occur due to the super clean ingredients list), and then apply like you would a typical serum. It looks great on clean skin, but I really love it on top of my ILIA True Skin Radiant Priming Serum. And not to worry- although it may look a bit light at first, it’ll adjust to its true color within a minute! I love that the weightless serum leaves my skin looking like actual skin, because there’s nothing worse than a caked-on foundation look, am I right?

Hyaluronic acids, plant-based squalane, and niacinamide work their magic to help even tone, soften fine lines and imperfections, leaving you with glowing, dewy skin. For a little bonus, Skin Tint also creates a natural barrier for your skincare by sealing in hydration, plumping skin, and boosting any antioxidant effectiveness by 200%. Impressive!

A huge part of why I love ILIA products is because they are free of silicones, fragrances, and many other irritating ingredients, making them great for sensitive skin. No pore clogging nasties here. Plus they’re totally vegan and cruelty-free as well. It’s no wonder Skin Tint has won numerous beauty awards, including the famed Allure Best of Beauty Award! I highly recommend trying it out for yourself- it’s worth the hype.

 * This post may contain affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, it won’t cost you a penny more, but I’ll earn a small commission. This allows me to continue to generate content for you, and helps keep the site up and running. Thanks for your support! 

fave products // timeless skincare anti-aging facial serums

I love a good facial serum, but they typically cost a pretty penny, am I right? While some are definitely worth the investment, it’s reassuring to know there are high quality serums out there that don’t break the bank! I discovered Timeless Skincare at a brunch hosted for fellow mommy influencers, and got the opportunity to try out a wide range of their facial serums. Their expertly crafted serums work to combat a wide variety of skin concerns, including fine lines & wrinkles, loss of firmness and volume, dullness, uneven skin tone, and blemishes. Since adequate hydration is so important for healthy skin, hyaluronic acid makes up the base of each serum in the Timeless lineup. In case you didn’t know, hyaluronic acid is a powerhouse humectant that can hold up to 1000 times its weight in water, making it a key ingredient in any anti-aging routine! This super hydrating base is then infused with high concentrations of proven anti-aging and skin repairing ingredients like Matrixyl 3000™, Vitamin C, Vitamin B5, CoEnzyme Q10, Matrixyl Synthe 6, and yes- even more Hyaluronic Acid!

I’ve been a fan of a similar, highly acclaimed vitamin C serum for a while now, but it ain’t cheap. I’m happy to report the 20% Vitamin C + E Ferulic Serum is a fraction of the price, and still yields amazing results! Known as The Brightener, this baby helps even out dull skintone, builds collagen, and leaves you with bright, glowing skin. It’s been great for pesky hyperpigmentation issues I sometimes deal with, and it also fights free radicals from environmental pollutants! Yes please! Another Timeless Skincare serum I find myself reaching for on repeat is the Matrixyl Synthe 6 Serum, aka The Restorer. This powerful polypeptide is an anti-aging workhorse that works to plump fine lines & wrinkles, improve skin’s elasticity, and heal damaged skin, revealing firmer, younger looking skin. Who doesn’t want that?! I also like to use this on my neck and chest- figured it can’t hurt, right?

Whatever you may be looking for in a skincare product- The Defender, The Calmer, The Essential, The Builder- there’s truly something for everyone. Timeless also offers a Pure Line that boasts no harsh chemicals, no added preservatives, and is free of parabens, fragrances and dyes. So if you’re looking for straight up Hyaluronic Acid or Squalane Oil, definitely check those out as well. Which skincare concerns are you looking to target? I’m thinking the B5 Serum is the next product to incorporate into my routine. Happy (anti-) aging!

 * This post may contain affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, it won’t cost you a penny more, but I’ll earn a small commission. This allows me to continue to generate content for you, and helps keep the site up and running. Thanks for your support! 

sephora spring savings event 2020- my picks!

A couple times a year, Sephora gifts us with savings events that are basically a beauty junkie’s Christmas! If you hadn’t heard, their Spring Savings Event is happening right now and ends officially on Friday, May 1. It’s an amazing event and the perfect opportunity to stock up on not only your favorite skincare essentials, but consider pulling the trigger on products you’ve been eyeing for a while. After all, with this quarantine lasting until who-knows-when, we have all the time in the world to play with products at home!

In case you aren’t exactly sure how the Sephora sale works, here’s my breakdown. 

There are three tiers for Sephora members: Rouge, VIB, and Beauty Insider. 

  • Rouge members have spent over $1,000 with Sephora and had first access to the sale starting Friday, April 17 and receive 20% off their order.

  • VIB members have spent over $350 and began shopping Tuesday, April 21 for 15% off their order.

  • Beauty Insiders were granted access Thursday, April 23 and receive 10% off their order. There is no dollar amount you have to spend to get Beauty Insider membership! Sign up is free and fast, and you can immediately start shopping. 

Most importantly, you’ll need the promo code no matter which tier you belong to: SPRINGSAVE

With all that in mind, I wanted to share the 9 products that I’ve re-stocked since the Sephora sale began. From skincare to haircare, these are the brands and products I love and trust most when it comes to taking care of myself no matter the season.

TATA HARPER

Retinoic Nutrient Face Oil With Vitamin A

I love a Retinol. Truth be told, not being able to use this Retinoic Face Oil from Tata Harper during pregnancy and while breastfeeding is hard (to read more about anti-aging products to avoid during pregnancy, read this). I love this particular face oil because, although it’s retinol-powered, the oil and added vitamin A keep it hydrating and extra gentle on your skin. So many retinols can be drying or cause irritation, and this doesn’t. Looking forward to getting it back in the rotation!

 BIOSSANCE

Squalane + Tea Tree Balancing Oil

Biossance has a cult following for a reason. Its main ingredient in most of its products, Squalane, is a 100% natural, plant-derived moisturizer that is gentle on all skin types. This particular oil is both clarifying and balancing for the skin. I’ve noticed it helps me most with breakouts and redness and is great when it’s that time of the month and your skin is getting a little too hormonal!

SUNDAY RILEY

C.E.O Glow Vitamin C + Turmeric Face Oil

Another cult classic in terms of face oil is the C.E.O Glow Face Oil from Sunday Riley. Vitamin C is a hero when it comes to anti-aging and that, mixed with the calming effects of Turmeric make this product one of my all-time favorites. This oil does it all: brightens, hydrates, and leaves skin with an unmistakable glow, which we could all use more of nowadays.

DRUNK ELEPHANT

T.L.C. Sukari Babyfacial™ 25% AHA + 2% BHA Mask

I love my spa visits as much as the next girl, but there’s no telling when we’ll be able to go back to relying on an expert to pamper us. The importance of at-home self care has become even more vital to me over the last month or so to feel some sense of normalcy and calm. I love Drunk Elephant’s T.L.C. Sukari Babyfacial for this reason. It truly is as close to a facial in a bottle as you can get! Apply it once a week for 20 min and watch in awe as your skin is suddenly glowing again. It has almost 5 stars and over 2.1K reviews on Sephora for a reason!

 SUPERGOOP!

PLAY 100% Mineral Broad Spectrum Lotion SPF 50

Speaking of treating your skin, just because you’re not taking a beach vacation anytime soon doesn’t mean you shouldn’t still be protecting your skin via SPF daily. I swear by this Supergoop! 100% mineral, broad spectrum SPF lotion. Because it’s mineral based, it’s much less irritating making it ideal for sensitive skin. You can use it all over—on both your face and body—and you should! Have I mentioned how important SPF is?

ILIA

Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40 Foundation

Speaking of SPF, ILIA is quickly becoming a new favorite in clean beauty for me. I wrote about the brand back in January, and I’ve since added another product to my arsenal: the Super Serum Skin Tint Foundation with SPF 40. This is the perfect option for springtime into the summer months. When it’s warm outside, the last thing you want to do is apply a heavy foundation to your face. This ILIA Skin Tint is lightweight and gives you a dewy finish thanks in part to its serum and hyaluronic acid! Plus, the SPF is perfect for every day, but especially pool or beach days.

MILK MAKEUP

KUSH High Volume Mascara

Another essential for spring and summer days when minimal makeup is what you’re going for is a great mascara. I love the KUSH High Volume Mascara from Milk Makeup. It’s volumizing without looking clumpy (huge plus) and is 100% vegan! Plus, the hemp-derived cannabis seed oil simultaneously conditions your lashes while thickening them. Just a few coats of this is all it takes to look and feel glam with minimal effort.

OLAPLEX

Olaplex Hair Perfector No. 3

If you haven’t seen or heard of Olaplex, you must not be active anywhere on social media because this line of products is everywhere and for good reason. With a team of legitimate scientists and industry experts behind Olaplex, their hair care product delivers serious results. I love the Hair Perfector No. 3 the most. It isn’t a leave-in conditioner; the No. 3 is a concentrated hair treatment that reinforces and strengthens all types of hair. Personally, I’ve found it’s great for color-treated blondes. By applying it for at least 10 min once a week (or more for severely damaged hair), it works to repair breakage and general hair damage.

SLIP

Silk Sleepmask

Lastly, to really round out the list of ultimate treat yourself Sephora skincare, I love this silk sleepmask by Slip. Sleeping on a silk pillowcase has proven to do wonders for haircare, and this sleepmask promises the same for your skin. Friction from tossing and turning can cause you to wake up with those oh-so-attractive “sleep lines,” but treating yourself to this mask made from the highest grade mulberry silk will prevent that and so much more. It’s one-size-fits-all and available in 8 different colors and patterns to fit your exact sleeping beauty personality, not to mention it’s hypoallergenic. It’s the small luxuries like this mask that are carrying me through quarantine, so I hope you’ll treat yourself to one, too!

Bonus Splurge!

DR. BARBARA STURM

Super Anti-Aging Serum

I somehow (?!) didn’t know Dr. Barbara Sturm products were carried at Sephora until now, but boy am I glad I do! With a background in anti-inflammatory medicine, Dr. Sturm focuses on non-aggressive natural extracts and scientifically-proven ingredients to treat the skin from within. Her super anti-aging serum is packed with antioxidants like purslane and skullcap to promote skin rejuvenation, leaving you with a firm, youthful complexion. Yes please!

 * This post may contain affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, it won’t cost you a penny more, but I’ll earn a small commission. This allows me to continue to generate content for you, and helps keep the site up and running. Thanks for your support! 

fave products // tata harper beautifying face oil

As the weather changes during the fall and winter months, and my skin feels like it needs an extra dose of hydration, I constantly find myself reaching for my Tata Harper Beautifying Face Oil. This oil really pumps up your glow factor- essentially improving skin’s radiance and revitalizing its appearance all at once. If your skin is starting to feel dry, dull, or has a somewhat uneven tone, Tata’s Beautifying Face Oil could really come in handy thanks to all the essential nutrients it packs into your skin. I love that although it’s somewhat of a powerhouse in terms of the numerous high performance botanical ingredients it boasts, it doesn’t feel heavy or greasy on my skin. Rather, it absorbs quickly and gets to work delivering ample moisture and hydration. Vitamin B from camellia oil helps revive dull or fatigued skin, while several antioxidants help fight the effects of free radicals, leaving you with smooth, supple skin. Yes please! After adding it to both my morning and night routines lately, my skin definitely feels more glowy and luminous. Of course, as with all Tata Harper products, this oil is completely non-toxic and free from any harsh ingredients like synthetic chemicals or artificial fragrances, making it great even for those with sensitive skin. I highly suggest picking up a bottle of Beautifying Face Oil for yourself- the sooner, the better!

fave products // fresh beauty black tea age delay serum, eye concentrate & mask

Black tea in your skincare products? Yep, you heard me right! And not for the first time either. Remember this Fresh Beauty Black Tea Kombucha Facial Treatment Essence from a while back? This age-delay, anti-pollution toner is great for fighting pesky environmental stressors that cause your skin to age. I was and still am a big fan to pat some on post-cleansing! Lately I've been trying out some more products from Fresh's black tea line, and am happy to say I'm super pleased with the results! 

Let's start with the Fresh Black Tea Age-Delay Firming Serum. It works to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, offering an overall corset-like effect on the skin with its lifting and tightening properties. Ingredients like black tea ferment (aka kombucha) and extract, blackberry leaf extract and lychee seed extract fight free radicals that increase signs of aging while also improving your skin's elasticity. I love the combo of a super concentrated blend of peptides along with the antioxidant-rich honeysuckle leaf extract- this baby is no joke! I definitely feel like it helps define and contour the skin with continued use.

The serum pairs wonderfully with the Fresh Black Tea Age-Delay Eye Concentrate, which is great for any puffiness and dark circles you may have, and is also extremely hydrating for the delicate skin around the eyes. Black tea is obviously at play here as well, along with noni fruit juice, a powerhouse ingredient known to retain and increase moisture and protect the skin. The cooling formula is great for use both morning and night!

Whenever I feel like I need to take it to another level, I reach for my Fresh Black Tea Firming Overnight Mask. This leave-on mask provides intense moisture to dehydrated skin, and leaves you with a firm suppleness come morning. In addition to the ferments and extracts featured in most of the black tea products, the mask boasts belle de nuit extract, which is a real game changer when it comes to soothing and rebalancing your skin. Plus, super hydrator hyaluronic acid is present to provide and lock in ample moisture! I love waking up to wonderfully hydrated and plump skin. Now I'm craving a kombucha- thanks Fresh Beauty!

 * This post may contain affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, it won’t cost you a penny more, but I’ll earn a small commission. This allows me to continue to generate content for you, and helps keep the site up and running. Thanks for your support!