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! 

fave products // tata harper hydrating floral essence

I love a good face mist as much as the next skincare junkie, but one that hydrates, refreshes, and boosts my skin's appearance? Even better! Tata Harper's Hydrating Floral Essence works as a moisture boosting toner by helping to increase your skin's elasticity and reduce fine lines and wrinkles. Since the mist is said to improve the effectiveness of your serums and moisturizer, I sometimes add a spritz of it post-cleansing, before finishing the rest of my skincare regimen. As with all Tata Harper products, it's made from a completely natural and non-toxic formula, making it great for those with sensitive skin like me. I like to toss the travel size bottle in my purse for an easy pick-me-up whenever my skin is feeling a little blah. It's also a nice way to refresh your makeup after it's been sitting on your skin all day. A couple spritzes and I'm feeling refreshed and ready for what's next!

* 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 // osmia organics black clay facial soap

I know I've mentioned this before, but I have very sensitive skin, and am therefore quite conscious of the products I use. Over the last couple years, I started to get small outbreaks of a condition known as perioral dermatitis, which caused me to pay even closer attention to certain ingredients, in particular. After multiple dermatologist visits and tons of personal research, I discovered there are many different causes and triggering ingredients, which vary from person to person. One of the best changes I made in my own skincare routine, however, was switching to Osmia Organics Black Clay Facial Soap. Australian clay and Dead Sea mud work their magic to balance and tone the skin, while almond, avocado, and castor bean oils condition and nourish it. I can honestly say this has been a game-changing cleanser for me, as it has greatly reduced any dermatitis outbreaks and does not irritate my skin in the least. Although these days a bar soap may seem a bit out of the norm, this little guy lathers up wonderfully thanks to coconut oil, and lasts for a very long time. Not to mention it's super convenient to toss in your travel bag! Don’t forget to snag a Soap Saver to keep your bar clean, and give it a nice spot to dry once you’re finished using it. The exceptional, natural ingredients found in Osmia Organics products have completely sold me, and make this a skincare brand worth investing in. 

fave products // true botanicals nutrient mist

I don't know about you, but come summer time, I find myself reaching for a refreshing facial mist on a pretty regular basis. I love a good mist anytime of year, but if it's hot and humid out, literally nothing feels better on my skin! Whenever mine needs a bit of a pick-me-up, a spritz of this True Botanicals Nutrient Mist does just the trick. This one is packed with nutrients and antioxidants, including green & white tea, algae extract, and kombucha, which help to hydrate, nourish, and repair the skin. Even better, these ingredients help fight free radical damage, keep your skin nicely plump, and leaves you perfectly dewy and glowing! For something a bit more affordable, and also more basic, I really enjoy Avène Thermal Spring Water Spray as well.  I always keep a mist or spray in my purse for that extra boost when I'm on-the-go, and it's especially refreshing at the beach on a hot summer day!

glow facial mask

While I have a daily skincare regimen that I like to follow, I also have some "once-a-week" or "once-a-month" rituals that are just as important. Face masks can be a great way to hydrate & rejuvenate your skin, and these days you can find them in several versions- think sheet, gel, or clay. One of my favorite ways to mask is by creating my own in the comfort of my own kitchen! That way, I know exactly what's going into it, as well as the benefits each ingredient offers my skin. Think about it this way- you cook your own food to control what you put into your body, and to nourish it from the inside out. Creating your own face mask allows you to take the same approach, and nourish your body from the outside, in! While it may look like baby food, I'd happily eat this mask any day (it's that delicious)! My glow facial mask will help take your skin from dry & dull to healthy & glowing! It boasts many impressive qualities to help your skin look & feel its best- Greek yogurt acts as an anti-inflammatory & can calm the skin; avocado works as a soothing moisturizer; oats are used to exfoliate & remove dead skin; apple cider vinegar has anti-inflammatory properties & helps reduce redness; lemon juice acts as an astringent to brighten & tighten skin; honey fights off bacteria & hydrates, leaving your skin soft & supple; turmeric reduces inflammation & pigmentation, and is high in antioxidants. So as you can see, this is a nutritional powerhouse for your skin. Glowing & radiant skin awaits, so get to masking!

Glow Mask:

  • 2 tbsp Greek yogurt, plain & unsweetened
  • 1/4 cup avocado, mashed
  • 1/4 cup rolled oats
  • 2 tsp apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tsp fresh lemon juice
  • 1 tbsp raw honey
  • 1/2 tsp ground turmeric

Mix all ingredients together in a bowl, making sure everything is incorporated evenly. Set bowl in refrigerator or freezer for 15-20 minutes to chill, which allows ingredients to come together & adds a bonus cooling effect bonus for your skin. Massage evenly onto skin, and leave it to set for 15-20 minutes. Scrub off thoroughly with warm water. Pat skin dry. Spritz face with rosewater & moisturize. Makes enough for two masks. Can be kept fresh in the refrigerator for 3-5 days.

*Because turmeric can stain your skin if left on for a long time, you may want to wear gloves when applying this mask. Also be sure to fully remove it when rinsing (a wash cloth helps)!

**If you prefer a smooth mask, you may choose to blend before chilling. Pulse until no chunks remain, and the oats are pulverized.

britt's picks // aesthetician

I started going to Hillery Sklar for facials a few years ago, and quickly become a devoted customer, as have many others. From cleansing to steam to extractions to mask to the final massage, it's a good 'ol classic facial from start to finish. But one that continues to leave my skin glowing time after time. I make sure to schedule my next appointment as soon as we finish my current treatment, as Hillery books up way in advance. She also uses highly effective products I love, from Mario Badescu and OSea, and treats both men & women! I especially love the high-frequency machine, which can improve the skin's complexion, reduce fine lines & wrinkles, and help to treat & prevent acne. My skin never fails to look (and feel!) fresh & rejuvenated after a facial treatment with Hillery. It's always a relaxing & enjoyable experience, and I'm glad to call her a friend.

 * 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!