fave products // dermalogica biolumin-c eye serum

I love me some Dermalogica. It’s one of those brands I keep coming back to for their potent, gentle, yet effective products. I fell in love with their Biolumin-C Serum a while ago, so I was super excited when I learned they were coming out with a Biolumin-C Vitamin C Eye Serum. Yes please! This lightweight serum is packed with antioxidants that work to brighten, hydrate, and firm the area around your eyes. I’m sure you’ve noticed how delicate the under-eye skin is, and it’s also one of the first places to show signs of aging. That combo calls for perfectly balanced serum that will work to fight free radicals and environmental pollutants, but one that will also hydrate the skin and keep it supple. Biolumin-C Eye Serum uses Vitamin C Complex, a stable form of vitamin C that boasts both brightening and anti-wrinkle benefits, while ingredients like chia seed oil and tremella mushroom extract help to depuff and firm the skin. I love that the serum is free of sulfates, phthalates, and parabens (among other nasty ingredients), and is also vegan, cruelty-free and comes in recyclable packaging. Any move that helps the environment is a huge plus in my book. Be sure to grab one for yourself, stat!

 * 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 // paula's choice calm exfoliant, serum & moisturizer

If anyone out there has skin that is sensitive to certain ingredients, chemicals, or fragrances like I do, calming skincare products are of the utmost importance. I’ve been a Paula’s Choice fan for a while now- their affordable, yet effective products are hard to beat- so I was excited to try some goodies from their Calm line. After using a gentle cleanser (you could use their Calm Nourishing Cleanser) to wash my face, I apply the Calm 1% BHA Lotion Exfoliant to dry skin with my fingertips. It’s a slightly milder version of their cult fave Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid you may have heard about, but still seems to work its magic thanks to potent exfoliator salicylic acid. It feels smooth going on, and gently exfoliates to minimize pore size and smooth the skin. Next up, I followed with the Calm Repairing Serum, which is the perfect overall pick-me-up for sensitive skin. It’s lightweight, yet super hydrating, and is packed with antioxidants that help calm redness and fight signs of aging. I like to use it both morning and night, before applying moisturizer. In the mornings, I follow with the Calm Mineral Moisturizer with SPF 30 to keep my skin protected from UVA & UVB rays from the sun. I always prefer to use sunscreens that are mineral-based (zinc oxide & titanium dioxide) as they don’t irritate my skin like the others. Hyaluronic acid and apricot oil add a wonderful hydrating effect, and help protect the skin’s delicate moisture barrier. Plus, this one doesn’t leave that annoying white film on your skin, and goes on perfectly under makeup! I just discovered there’s a Calm Restoring Moisturizer with hydrating squalane and jojoba oil I think I’ll try next as an evening moisturizer too. Sign me up! I highly recommend checking out Paula’s Choice 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! 

fave products // ilia beauty true skin radiant priming serum & serum foundation

ILIA Beauty is one of the original clean beauty brands, and one I’d been interesting in trying for some time now. I love their motto, skincare-powered makeup, because I truly believe the two should go hand-in-hand in everyone’s routine. Finding the right balance between product safety and product performance can be tricky, but ILIA has really nailed it down. By using clean, effective ingredients and focusing on organic bases, vivid color, and active botanicals, they’re able to make mindful decisions about products that truly make your skin glow.

ILIA Beauty True Skin Radiant Priming Serum is the perfect product to help you transition from your skincare to makeup routines. Hibiscus extract, aloe, and beta-glucan create a super smooth base for makeup application thanks to their firming, moisturizing, and soothing properties. Plus, they help protect the skin from free radicals and harsh environmental factors that cause signs of aging. Pores and fine lines appear smaller, improving the texture of your skin and leaving you with a radiant glow! I especially love that it’s silicone-free, and leaves my skin baby soft to the touch.

The ILIA Beauty True Skin Serum Foundation is a killer two-in-one product. All the skincare benefits of a serum, plus the light but buildable coverage of a foundation. I love how weightless it feels on my skin, and- big bonus- it never gets cakey or flakey, but rather helps blur imperfections, leaving you with a velvety soft finish. Botanical actives like aloe leaf, rosehip, jojoba, and marula oils help sooth irritation and calm redness, and also boast some anti-aging properties thanks to their aid in plumping fine lines! Luminous skin is what you’re left with, and most importantly, your skin looks like skin! If clean beauty is important to you, and I hope it is, I highly recommend checking out ILIA Beauty soon!

 * 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 // w3ll people bio brightener & bronzer creams

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I'm pretty minimal with my makeup looks. Curled lashes (with or without mascara), concealer where necessary, and a bit of highlighter on my cheek and brow bones makes me feel fresh and not too done. Highlighters come in powder and cream forms, so depending on your skin type and preference, there are several great options to choose from. W3ll People Bio Brightener Cream is an easy-to-use illuminizing cream stick, so no brushes or sponges are needed- just draw it on and blend out with your finger. It instantly gives you that hydrated, youthful glow, but without any heavy or greasy residue left behind. If you're looking for a little more of a sun-kissed color, then the W3ll People Bio Bronzer Cream is just the thing! I like applying this just below my cheekbones and up to my temples, creating that nicely bronzed, yet subtle tan complexion. These two products complement each other perfectly, so keep both in your bag to give you the ideal glow you crave, anytime!

* 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 // innersense hair products

I’ve talked a lot on here about natural, organic skincare products, which are obviously super important to me. But what about that same level of quality for the products that go in your hair?! Enter Innersense Organic Beauty, an organic haircare brand using clean, natural ingredients making products for all hair types. I’ve been testing out their Hydrating Cream Hairbath & Hydrating Cream Conditioner, as well as the Refresh Dry Shampoo, I Create Waves Salt Spray, and Harmonic Healing Oil, and so far I’m really loving everything! Sometimes with products that are “too natural” I feel like my hair doesn’t even get clean, or looks greasy soon after a wash. But with the Innersense shampoo, I get just the right amount of “suds”, with no leftover residue after rinsing. I’ll admit I was a bit skeptical of the dry shampoo before I tried it- a foam to powder formulation with a pump dispenser? I’m used to the more standard spray models. But I was pleasantly surprised that the tapioca starch and witch hazel help eliminate oil while giving my second (or third?) day hair that extra oomph it really needs. Now, whenever I want to fake that Cali beach babe hair, I’ve been grabbing the salt spray, and I love the subtle texture it creates without leaving my hair dry and crunchy. Just spritz, scrunge, and go! I love using the healing oil on my ends post-shower. It’s super hydrating thanks to a blend of emollient oils and flower essences (& smells great to boot!). It even makes for a soothing scalp and nail treatment as well. What’s better is that all Innersense products are formulated without any of those nasty ingredients (think phthalates, sulfates, silicones, parabens, artificial dyes & synthetic fragrances), and are all cruelty-free and non-GMO! No matter your hair type, there’s a product for you in this lineup, so I highly recommend you check them out soon!


 * 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!