fave products // natura bissé stabilizing mask, essence & serum concentrate

Natura Bissé is a Barcelona-based skincare brand that creates some wonderful, high quality and effective products. Their stabilizing set is one I’d been eyeing for a while, as it seemed like the perfect combo of cleanser, toner/essence, and serum to help combat breakouts or problematic skin. After incorporating this trio into my routine for a while now, I’m definitely loving the results!

The Stabilizing Cleansing Mask can be used as either a daily cleanser as part of your normal routine, or a weekly clarifying mask for something a bit more thorough. Kaolin clay, menthol and zea mays work to gently remove makeup and debris, while salicylic acid helps unclog pores. I love its creamy texture, and thanks to aloe vera, it doesn’t leave your skin feeling stripped or dry.

The Stabilizing Resurfacing Essence is powered by a trio of exfoliating acids, including AHA, PHA & BHA, that work to gently remove dead skin cells and unclog pores. This is great for those with oily or breakout-prone skin, and can be used daily post-cleansing. Whenever my skin is acting hormonal, I reach for this, and apply it with a reusable cotton round all over. I’ve definitely noticed a more even toned and balanced complexion!

Next up is the Stabilizing Anti-Aging Concentrate, which is essentially a firming, oil-control serum that produces “retinol-like” results. Yes please! Once again, three exfoliating acids work their magic to leave you with glowing, radiant skin. I’ve found an overall brighter complexion after incorporating it into my routine for a few weeks! Also important to note- all of these products are careful not to disrupt the skin’s natural pH levels, which can cause further irritation. So key! Definitely look into adding some Natura Bissé to your routine to boost your skin’s overall radiance and glow.

 * 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 // the ordinary niacinamide serum & azelaic acid cream

Skincare comes in many price ranges, and just because something is on the cheaper side, does NOT mean that it isn’t just as effective as some of the higher end products out there. Enter The Ordinary. Perhaps you’ve heard of this budget-friendly brand with a serious cult following by now. For whatever reason, I was late to the game in trying them out, but I’m so happy I finally did! I started with two products I’d heard rave reviews about: the Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% Oil Control Serum and the Azelaic Acid 10% Suspension Brightening Cream.

First up, the Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% Oil Control Serum is the perfect serum to reach for if you suffer from acne or blemishes. This high-strength vitamin-and-mineral blemish formula with 10 percent pure niacinamide and one percent zinc PCA is great for targeting pores and oiliness, and really helps keep breakouts at bay. Niacinamide (aka aka vitamin B3) works to reduce the appearance of skin blemishes and signs of congestion, while also visibly brightening skin tone, and zinc PCA: Visibly helps regulate excess sebum activity. For only $6.50 per one fluid ounce bottle, it’s truly worth a try for those with problem skin!

The Azelaic Acid 10% Suspension Brightening Cream is a multifunctional cream that targets numerous skincare concerns, from dullness to texture to acne. Azelaic acid works to brighten the skin tone, improve the evenness of skin texture, reduce the look of blemishes, and even offers impressive antioxidant support. If you suffer from any sort of hyperpigmentation or melasma, I definitely recommend adding this $10 product to your skincare routine! The Ordinary products are free of parabens, formaldehydes, phthalates, mineral oil, oxybenzone, coal tar, and sulfates SLS & SLES. Plus, they’re also vegan, gluten-free, and cruelty-free! I’d say all that plus their appealing price point makes them practically a must-try!

 * 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 // omorovicza skin savior mask & midnight renewal serum

I’ve been an Omorovicza fan for a while now, so I was pumped to try some new (to me) products from their line up recently. If your skin has been acting up, whether that’s in the form of blemishes, clogged pores, or just overall dullness, I highly recommend checking out the Skin Savior Mask. This baby is the perfect targeted treatment for blemish-prone skin thanks to powerhouse ingredients like colloidal silver and niacinamide. Colloidal silver has long been associated with skin health and is known for its antibacterial and healing properties. Combined with niacinamide, it provides a potent blend that combats blemishes and breakouts. Salicylic and glycolic acids are at play here as well, working to unclog pores to reveal clearer, smoother, healthier skin. Yes please! I like using this mask once a week or so to help keep blemishes at bay, or whenever I feel a pesky breakout coming along!

The Midnight Renewal Serum is a nighttime serum designed to help stimulate skin's optimal repair while you sleep, renewing skin's youthful vitality. While some forms of retinol can be irritating for those with sensitive skin, this product is formulated with retinal, an innovative, non-irritating form of vitamin A that helps to smooth your complexion while reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and preventing premature aging. It also utilizes bakuchiol, a natural alternative to retinol, which smoothes and resurfaces skin, so you still get the best benefits of retinol without the irritation! Plus, the skin's self-renewal process is stimulated, which enhances cell DNA repair and counteracts the effects of UV-induced aging.

Omorovicza products harness Hungary's healing waters using a patented process called Hydro Mineral Transference™, which makes for super nourishing products that help leave skin firmer, suppler and more youthful. Plus, they are all cruelty-free as well, so you can feel good about using them on your skin. Some other Omorovicza faves of mine are their cult fave Acid Fix, along with the Balancing Moisturizer, which I highly recommend checking out as well!

 * 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 // iS clinical warming honey cleanser

iS Clinical is up there with some of my all-time favorite skincare brands. Known for their technologically advanced treatments using the best active ingredients, they make some of the highest quality, most effective products on the market. I have yet to be disappointed in anything I’ve tried, so I was pumped to try their Warming Honey Cleanser. I love the facial-like experience I get from this cleanser- the rich, luxurious honey gel texture gently warms and exfoliates my skin, leaving it smooth and refreshed! I slowly massage it onto my face, and sometimes even leave it on for a bit to prolong the spa vibes (and for that extra dose of hydration). Papaya enzymes work their magic to help unclog pores, and honey is a well-known antioxidant for fighting blemishes, making this an ideal cleanser for those with problematic or hormonal skin. I find myself reaching for the Warming Honey Cleanser on the regular, blemishes or not, especially as the the weather turns cooler. It just feels so right! Definitely jump on the iS Clinical bandwagon if you haven’t already!

 * 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 clarifying cleanser & moisturizer

I love me some Tata Harper. The brand is known for its use of potent, highly effective ingredients, while also remaining completely free of toxins. The perfect combination in my opinion! Their clarifying line of products in particular is great for those with blemish-prone skin, and I find myself reaching for these whenever my skin gets a bit irritated or hormonal. The Clarifying Cleanser and Clarifying Moisturizer provide a powerful one-two punch that target blemish-causing impurities while providing key hydration and moisture for your skin. As with all Tata's cleansers, you're instructed to apply a few pumps to dry skin, massaging it into a lather, then rinse with warm water. I love the cooling effect it has from mint extract, and sometimes will even leave it on for a few minutes as a flash cooling mask! Active ingredients like prickly pear flower enzymes create an exfoliating effect to help clear buildup and also promote cell renewal. Wild-crafted juniper fruit helps balance oil and sebum, while chlorella soothes redness and calms irritation. 

Once cleansed, I like to apply a few spritzes of Tata Harper's Hydrating Floral Essence before moving onto a serum and moisturizer. The Clarifying Moisturizer makes my skin feel nicely balanced and hydrated, without being too greasy, thanks to plumping hyaluronic acid as well as a clarifying mineral blend of copper, magnesium, and zinc. These natural astringents help remove buildup from the surface of your skin and aide in soothing. A super fruit healing blend including elderberry, sandalwood seed, sea buckthorn, tazman pepper, and palmetto berry works to minimize the effects of free radicals, while also calming redness and promoting healthy, radiant skin. Equally as important, sea fern helps reduce the appearance of any skin discoloration you may have leftover post-blemish, as well. I'll be honest, these products aren't cheap. But what I can tell you is they are made from the highest quality ingredients with absolutely none of the harsh or irritating chemicals. I'm willing to pay more for something that I know works and makes my skin look and feel its best- so if you're considering trying out Tata Harper, I highly suggest you do!

* 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!