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 // lord jones acid mantle repair cbd moisturizer

It’s fair to say that CBD is having a moment lately, don’t you think? Call it what you want- a trendy fad or the new staple ingredient- but regardless, I have to say I’m a fan. Lord Jones produces quite the collection of hemp-derived CBD products including skincare, confections, and daily supplements. They were also the first CBD brand to launch at Sephora! I’ve been trying out their Acid Mantle Repair Moisturizer with 250mg CBD & Ceramides, and I’m really loving the results. You may be saying- acid mantle? What even is that?! Truth be told, I was in the same boat at first, but I’ve since gotten much more familiar with the essential, delicate component of the skin. Few people are aware of the acid mantle and we all have one. It’s actually a delicate film that acts as a barrier against bacteria and other environmental contaminants, making it a super important factor in achieving healthy skin.

Lord Jones Whole Plant Formula Acid Mantle Repair CBD Moisturizer is a soothing pH balanced CBD moisturizer formulated to help maintain the acid mantle, support the skin's moisture barrier and rebalance the appearance of stressed skin.  It features a 5-ceramide complex that works in harmony with full spectrum hemp-derived CBD oil and sunflower seed oil to rebalance skin. Ceramides are lipids that help form the skin’s barrier and retain skin moisture, which keep the acid mantle healthy. Plus, hyaluronic acid and sustainably sourced squalane replenish skin barrier moisture for smooth, supple skin. Like I said, everything working in harmony! Each jar contains 250mg of full spectrum hemp-derived CBD oil and is equipped with a weighted golden spoon. PS- the spoon can also be used to massage the ultra-creamy formula into your skin and pressure points. For another bonus tip, I suggest storing your spoon in the freezer before using on those days when your skin needs a little extra TLC. Trust me on that one. And, if you’re looking for an extra boost of CBD, may I suggest applying the Lord Jones Royal Oil (1000mg pure CBD oil!) on top of the Acid Mantle Repair CBD Moisturizer for an ultra-soothing treat. To top it all off, the High CBD Formula Bath Salts are calling my name- I think a relaxing, sudsy bath is on the agenda in the very near future!

 * 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! 

Hello, World!

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! 

gettin' glam

 

In general, I don't wear a lot of makeup in my everyday, non-working life. I find that since I wear it so often on shoots, it's nice to give my skin a break & let it breathe on my days off. However, if I'm going out, I will step it up and give myself a bit of that "no-makeup" makeup look. I love a defined brow, curled lashes (with or without mascara), and highlighter on my cheek & brow bones. Below are some of my favorite products- I will use a mix of some or all depending on my mood!

 
 

For the face, I love Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer as an overall base. I don't wear foundation, but I like the sheer, lightweight coverage that this provides. Plus there's SPF 20 which is a great added bonus. I use RMS Beauty "un" Cover-Up as a concealer to hide any blemishes or redness. It's coconut oil-based and doesn't clog your pores, so you can feel good about putting it on your skin. The Beauty Blender is a great sponge-like applicator that helps apply & blend your base for natural-looking skin. Make sure to wet it before use and always clean it after! I'm also a huge fan of RMS Beauty Living Luminizer, which I use as a highlighter on the cheek bones (applied with a stippling brush!), brow bones, and cupid's bow after I've applied the rest of my makeup. Lastly, I use a couple spritzes of Caudalie Beauty Elixir so that everything sets together nicely. This is also nice & refreshing whenever your skin needs a pick-me-up throughout the day.

 

 

Once the base is applied, I may add a bit of NARS Bronzing Powder to my cheekbones, along the sides of my nose, outer edges of my forehead, and along the jawline. I then use an angled blush brush to apply blush to the apples of my cheeks. NARS Blush in Orgasm is a long-time favorite that seems to flatter every skin tone. I then use a short, blunt brush to blend upwards and outwards.

 
 

 

For the eyes, I keep it pretty simple unless I have a fancy event to attend. I curl my lashes with Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler, then apply a couple coats of mascara. Right now I'm using Smashbox Hyperlash Mascara, but I like to switch it up. I will separate any lashes that get clumpy, and brush through my brows with the brow brush. I apply Anastasia Beverly Hills Tinted Brow Gel to the brows to fill in any sparse areas, and then add definition with the Dior Eyebrow Pencil. I'm almost out of brow gel, and am anxious to try Glossier Boy Brow  (if it ever comes back in stock!) next.

 

 

I usually keep my lips free of color, but highly moisturized. Lately I'm loving Glossier Balm Dotcom, which you can use as a skin salve on cuticles as well. If I want an easy-to-apply color, Clinique Chubby Sticks are a lovely moisturizing mix of mango & shea butters, and I have them in several colors. Every once in a while, of course, I love a strong red lip. YSL Rouge Pur Couture Lipstick in Le Orange is a bright reddish-orange hue that adds a great pop of color to any look.

 
 

Check out some of my fave recent makeup looks: