​Hi friends. 2021 was a weird one, wasn't it? It's obviously not a surprise that I have been MIA if you pay attention to things like that. I wasn't just absent here, I took what I like to call a "social media quarantine" for most of the year. Which, I'll get into later at the end just in case you're only here for the beauty and product-related content. 

​So while I've been gone, I never stopped working and trying things out. From skincare mainly, to makeup, and a bunch of things in between that I've found on Tik Tok. Which is my latest obsession and the only thing I ever check or watch in regards to social media. I find it far less toxic and packed with great ideas, cool products, and plenty of motivation. I watch "cleantok" the most, as well as "coffee tik tok". I started cleaning and organizing my entire house as well as redecorating it and doing some very cool upgrades that I would love to show you in a separate post if you're into cleaning, organizing, and home stuff in general. I'm not great at home decor but I like simplistic stuff and I've really loved making coffee, tea, and hot chocolate stations. As well as adding some very affordable but cool home gadgets and stuff. So I think I will do a post about it. 

In regards to the beauty world, I got burnt out looking at content all the time but that doesn't mean I stopped trying stuff and taking note of good products. I didn't wear as much makeup because I never had a need to really. In the last few months though I definitely have. I tried a TON of skincare though, especially retinols and acid exfoliators because I never left the house. Therefore, I just babied my skin as much as possible while I was trying stronger "treatment" products. 

So, let's just get into skincare since it's the longest:

I've been trying to get through some of my cleansers. I always seem to acquire several cleansers without meaning to. Lately, I've been rotating between Oskia Renaissance Cleansing Gel from the Caroline Hirons kit, Jordan Samuel Aftershow Cleanser, and Kate Somerville Goat Milk Cleanser.  I've still been using cleansing balms as well. I use Glow Recipe Papaya Sorbet Smoothing Enzyme Cleansing Balm, more so in the morning as a gentle cleanse because it has some natural AHA properties to it. I've also been using Banila Co Zero 3 in1 Balm Cleanser for a makeup remover and first cleanse when I do wear makeup. The Oskia Cleanser is my favorite right now though. I definitely want to try more of their products, especially their other cleanser. Mainly I want cleansers that are very gentle on the skin without stripping it but also make the skin feel like it's been thoroughly cleansed. 

Next up: treatments. I've tried a lot of retinol-type products. I mean A LOT this last year. I've stuck mostly with the Medik8 Crystal Retinal 3, Shani Darden Retinol Reform, Alpha H Beauty Sleep Power Peel (very strong), Alpha H Vitamin A Serum, and finally Kate Somerville +Retinol Vitamin C Moisturizer (at night only). The Medik8 is my favorite but I'm really liking the Shani Darden one right now because it seems just a little more gentle. 

I always love some acid exfoliation, you all know that that. I've not tried a bunch of new ones but I've definitely gone through some. Lately, I've been using the Algenist Bi-Phase to try and use it up because it's been discontinued I guess. However, I did buy the Murad Multi-Acid Peel toner due to it having a similar feel to it and having the separation in the bottle that needs to be shaken up to mix. I used up the Alpha H Liquid Gold Glycolic Acid toner. 

I've really gotten into some antioxidants and new peptide products. Specifically, NIOD CIAS 3 serum (this is amazing, everyone that talks about it are right), Alpha H Vitamin B with copper tripeptides, Summer Fridays CC Me Serum (vitamin c), Youth to The People 15% Vitamin C Caffeine Energy Serum, Ordinary Ferulic + Reservatrol Serum, Ordinary Amino Acids + B5 Serum, Ordinary Pycnogenol 5% serum, Inkey List C-50 Blemish Night Treatment, Algenist Blue Algae Vitamin C Serum (this one is new and I really love the texture). 

Finally, for soothing products and creams, I've kept things kinda simple. For instance, I really love the Curel Moisture Facial Milk. It's just all-around quite nice. I'm still using plenty of oils. I've been loving the Lancer Omega Hydrating Oil,  Algenist Repairing Oil, YENSA CBD Superfood Facial Oil, and some others occasionally. Like Sunday Riley UFO oil when my skin is congested. Also, the Ordinary Borage Seed Oil is nourishing and soothing to dry skin and it's suited for irritated and/or dry skin conditions. I've been using two different mists quite a bit to calm my skin. Those being, Zelens Provitamin D3 Fortifying Mist, and Bliss Rose Gold Rescue Mist. They're extremely soothing to irritated angry skin. Also, I've been using the Algenist Hydrating Essence Toner. I've been using two barrier style products when I use especially strong treatments: the Dermalogica Barrier Repair and Summer Fridays Jet Lag Masque. Just applied very thin layers at night after I'm done with my stronger treatments. If I've not done anything super crazy I keep it simple with just Curel Facial Milk, a Bliss moisturizer (I really like the rose gold line and the vitamin c peptide line.) or the Farmacy Honey Drop lightweight moisturizer, and used up the rest of my Skinfix Barrier+ Triple Lipid-Peptide Cream and I'd like to try more of their products because it's very good. 

Two random things I've been using are blemish/acne patches or dots. I've been using Peach Slices Acne Spot Dots currently. They have different sizes. It's impressive how much they work at drawing out any gunk inside of a spot. It basically heals itself overnight and there are other brands that are thinner that I've used in the past that you can put on and it basically blends into the skin so you can use them and apply makeup over top as normal and mask the spot completely. I just find them super cool because they do work and I've not found a brand that doesn't work so far. I've also been using the Dermaflash Dermapore Ultrasonic Pore Extractor and Serum Infuser. I don't use it very much lately because I don't have as much texture and dead skin that needs to be removed. I will say that it's very cool how much it can work. It doesn't get out every single blackhead or anything actually I've not seen it get out very many blackheads period but it is very helpful for congested/textured skin in general. Not sure I'd purchase it again because it's so expensive and doesn't get out very many blackheads as promised, but I still use it. 

​I've also got into Loccitane Almond Concentrate body cream, Jergens Wet Skin Moisturizer, and using a salicylic acid product on my arms because I currently have KP or "chicken skin" on my upper arms currently.  I'm using the Bliss Body Acne Spray right now but there are products directly formulated for KP specifically. You can get products for KP over the counter but First Aid Beauty also has really nice products for it that I've talked about before. Also, I use First Aid Beauty Oat and Hemp Multi-Fix Salve on the corners of my lips a lot to either prevent me from getting those little splits in the corners when I notice the skin there feels "tight" or I use it when I already have those little cuts. However, I don't think it's available anymore or at least I've not seen it if it is still available.

​As for makeup, I've been trying to use cream products like cream blush and bronzer to see how well I like that because I like the natural look it gives to the face when you aren't wearing a lot of makeup. I've also kind of gotten away from liquid lipstick and started using regular lip liners and bullet lipsticks again, which I've absolutely loved. 

Starting with cream products there are a few blushes that I'm obsessed with. First is the Rare Beauty "Nearly Neutral" cream blush in the cute little pink compact and it is so good along with being the perfect color, I know everyone uses the liquid blushes from Rare Beauty but I'm sticking with creams I think. I've also been using Merit cream blush in "Cheeky", the LYS Beauty Cream Blush (very affordable and lots of shades), and finally I tried some cream sticks from Westman Atelier that are very expensive but I got the trio set of the highlight, blush, and bronzer cream sticks and they're very nice. On the opposite side of that spectrum in regards to money I've also loved the J.Cat Beauty Master Class Face Palette in Medium Deep for corrector, bronzer, and contour creams. It's super inexpensive but works wonderfully as well as being easy to customize what you need. 

I still like my powder products though so I just bought the Charlotte Tilbury blush in "Pillow Talk" that I love. I also really like the Clinique Flower Power bronzer in "Solar Pop". I'm trying the Charlotte Tilbury sculpting palette right now but I don't have an opinion on it so far. 

Speaking of CT, I've fallen in love with her lipstick and lip liners. I can't wait to get more. I've also picked up some old staple lip liners from MAC (shades: Soar, Whirl, and Spice) because there's just not much that can beat a MAC lip liner. I also got their Mini Lipstick Vault from their holiday release when it went on sale. It has 12 of its most popular lipsticks. I also got my mom some of the mini lipstick trios for a stocking stuffer. I'd also like to point out that (assuming they've not stopped doing it) MAC has a recycling program that you can bring in 6 of your used up containers, for instance, an empty fix plus, paint pot, compact, etc and get a free lipstick at a MAC counter or store (so you can't do it at ULTA). I got a new YSL rouge shine lipstick balm in shade 44 "Nude Lavalliere" to carry in my bag. Plus I'm loving the YENSA Super 8 Silk Lipsticks, mainly "Virture" right now. It's a great neutral shade with the coolest packaging. My most used lipstick though is "Pillow Talk" from Charlotte Tilbury though, it matches my natural lip color perfectly. I haven't totally left liquid lipsticks behind yet, I did pick up some Essence Stay 8h Matte Liquid Lipsticks and they're really nice. 

I've also been into just mixing foundations and tinted moisturizers lately. The main thing I use the most though is YSL NU Bare look Tint. I can use it on its own just fine but I love mixing it with liquid foundations for a little more coverage. It doesn't cling to any dry areas on the skin and it's got a fantastic base color for my complexion. I've also liked mixing Wet n Wild Tinted Hydrator with other foundations because it is so hydrating just like it says. I've been using the Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream as my moisturizer before makeup and I never thought I'd be into it for the price but I got it free with my purchase and I must say it's very nice. So I think I'll use my points from time to time to keep getting free deluxe samples of it to add back into the jar that I got because it was a free half oz jar with purchase from the website. I also tried the Tatcha Liquid Silk Canvas primer and I thought for sure I'd hate it because I don't like primers but I have to say that I really like it a lot. It came in a "favorites" set from Sephora and I was very surprised that I liked it so much. I've been using Vasanti Liquid Cover Up in "V02" for my dark circles while I've been sick and that's been very helpful for me along with hydrating concealers like ILIA True Serum Concealer, ELF Hydrating Concealer, and KOSAS concealer, and occasionally I'll use the Rare Beauty concealer when I need a little more coverage with a little less hydration. 

I've not been using liquid liner very much because my eyes water easy so I still like using regular mascara and false lashes to makeup up for it. My favorite mascara is Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes (I know I'm late to the game, but I can safely say I've been using it and repurchasing it, for over a year), but I also really like the ILIA Mascara, and Benefit They're Real Magnet Extreme Lengthening Mascara. I like the Benefit one on its own or combined with a thinner mascara when I don't want to wear false lashes but the Tarte and ILIA both work well and don't smudge on me through the day. I finally tried Armani Eyes To Kill mascara because it's now available in a travel size on Sephora and I only buy travel-size mascaras due to how quickly mascara expires and how much you waste, and I didn't like it at first, but now that it's dried up some I do like it. It's not life-changing but it looks great when used with the Benefit Magnet Mascara. I'm still using the Real Her definer brow pencil, it's so smooth but if you'd like something more convenient then I still use the Wet n Wild Micro Brow pencil when I have to. I don't do a lot of sculpting of the brows lately. I just fill in with the brow pencil, the Rodan and Field's Brow Defining Boost in Black and then I take a very very thin winged liner angle brush (which is from Vamp Stamp actually, I've had it for years.) and get some of the Rodan and Fields defining boost on the brush and make hair-like strokes or even out the shape on each side. Then I smooth it all out or blend it by doing another thin coat of the Defining Boost. I have been wearing Maven Beauty matte shadows mainly and that's about it. It's just simple. I've also been using Viseart matte shadows lately as well as the Tati Beauty palette which is now discontinued. I've only been using Sigma and Zoeva brushes, except for some Luxie Brushes that I need to finally talk about. Flat Top Kabuki and the 4d Brush from Sigma is my go-to for the most coverage on the face and it's the best for using the most product possible without wasting any. Plus, it presses the product into any fine lines and so on. Which is the thing that I tell people when I'm asked about masking fine lines, especially under the eyes. Hydrate the skin as much as you can and also use hydrating concealers if you can and then press the product into the skin with your ring finger (under the eye especially) or with a very dense brush. When you press these hydrating products firmly into the skin instead of sweeping them or whatever they tend to plump everything up more and don't move around as much and if they do move all you have to do is use your ring finger to blend it back out again. I don't set my face or use powders, I do carry a pressed powder with me though and a travel-size flat top kabuki so I can absorb oil or blend out my t-zone again if I'm oily that day or it's just humid/hot outside, I never use loose powder unless I'm doing an SFX look and need to glue down my brows. In my experience, loose powder clings to dry areas of skin, can make you look older, is messy, causes camera flashback, and is unnecessary for the most part. Particularly baking, do whatever makes you happy and what makes you feel good but baking is not something I think people need, especially under the eyes because in my experience of not just my own makeup but doing people's makeup a lot that makes the whole area look "crepey", but even under the cheekbone I find it unnecessary. I don't use sponges much anymore (except for applying cream contour and blush) because they absorb a lot of liquid product whereas I want to use all the product and keep it on my skin. Plus, I find it more hygienic to not use a sponge. 

​Lastly, hair products. I love Living Proof Dry Shampoo and that's all I've been using for dry shampoo when I do use it. I also use OUAI Texturizing Spray when I'm fixing my hair and still using the Nature Lab Oil Shine Mist. I found a new brand of shampoo and conditioner called Real Raw Shampoothie at Walgreens, I got it in the Collagen, Healing, Biotin, and Apple Cider Vinegar versions. What I like to do is mix and match shampoos and conditioners. I rarely ever buy the same line for both shampoos and conditioner. So for example I like my shampoo's to either be good for color-treated hair when I've just had it done or I like them to really clean the scalp and get rid of build-up. Then for conditioner, I like it to be nourishing, repairing, strengthening, or help with frizz and shine. So that's why I have Shampoothie shampoo in Apple Cider Vinegar and one in Biotin and the conditioners in Healing and Collagen. I've also been using LOreal Dream Lengths 8 Second Water all year, plus Loreal Extraordinary Oil Conditioner and Loreal Dream Lengths Shampoo. As soon as I'm out of the shower I use the Briogeo Farewell Frizz Rosarco spray because my hair tangles so easily. I tried the shampoo and conditioner in the Rosarco line but it just doesn't clean my hair (I typically will wash my hair 2-3 times with shampoo, until I get a good lather, before doing my conditioner just so I get it real good and clean because I don't wash my hair every day nor every other day) and it made it feel like I never even washed it. Thus, that's why I don't get shampoo and conditioners from the same lines. 

Now, part 2, what's been going on and where have I been. 

As you now know, I typically don't speak about anything personal on here or on my social media. This time I thought that it might be helpful if you understood or were at least aware of my health conditions, and just maybe it could help someone else. So, I have a lot of chronic conditions and medical problems, and I won't get into all of those but long story short I deal with pain every day, I deal with fatigue every day, I have very little to no immune system, and I'm sick A LOT. Over a decade ago when I was the healthiest and most physically fit I'd ever been, I got sick with pancreatitis and gall bladder problems and after gall bladder surgery, they discovered many health problems. As the years went on and I decided to start this blog to get my mind off being sick, they found more problems and autoimmune diseases, infections I couldn't get rid of that required a brand new type of treatment/procedure that I was only the 8th person to get at the time (which worked), a mostly paralyzed stomach that they didn't know what to do about when they first found it and then later as science and medical technology progressed I was one of the first to get a gastric pacemaker in my state. That pacemaker or "neurostimulator" is attached to my stomach with leads that attach at different places as well, and it's been most beneficial especially for my quality of life, along with nausea and vomiting or motility. You don't take the phrase "quality of life" into serious consideration until you have to answer a questionnaire at your doctor's office every time at your check-up that asks you "how's your quality of life?" with a scale of 1-5 beside it (1 being not great and 5 being great). All the things that I've faced though and continue to face while managing them really pale in comparison to this past year of sickness. So far I've had covid twice and I am vaccinated but that doesn't mean you won't get it, it just made the 2nd time getting it easier to get over, and luckily didn't put me in the hospital. The first time I had it before the vaccine was available, it took me months to get over it. I feel like all we ever hear about is covid and it's variants so I don't want to talk about it too much but I do want to say that it is a different beast on its own and unlike any flu or virus I've ever had. I also have had Trigeminal Neuralgia for years and it hasn't flared up too often because we've been able to kind of maintain flare-ups, but in the last month or two I had a flare-up and it is by far the worst pain I've ever felt in my entire life. I consider myself lucky because I don't have very many flares of Trigeminal Neuralgia or haven't the past few years and often they've not lasted very long but this lasted for over 2-3 weeks, 24 hours a day. The longest and most intense episode ever. It feels like there is someone plunging a screwdriver into my ear and also like someone has put shocks on my teeth on that side because when they touch it sends pain radiating everywhere. Even down my neck and up into my eye. Along, with a touch of numbness in my lips and parts of my cheek. So with my regular problems, and some new unforeseen issues in the past 12 months including some things that need to be checked out to see if I may have other underlying problems, it's been a bit of a blur for a while. Especially in the last 3-6(ish) months, where everything health-related just intensified or reared it's ugly head.

All that aside, my husband works in an ER, and let me tell you right now: if you don't think our nurses, doctors, health care workers of any kind deserve a standing ovation or a medal for the hell that has been "covid" then you must not have one in your life that you're close with or love dearly. I got so stressed about covid and the hell on earth that it was causing for my husband and friends that I started cleaning and organizing our whole house all day, when I could, to get my mind off not just my sickness but the shit our health care workers were having to see day in and day out. I couldn't look at social media at all without having extreme anxiety or aggravation because it was either incredibly sad or irritating, or I just didn't have the energy to look at products or these "perfect" moments captured just for social media sake knowing that whatever we post is only 5% or maybe 10% of what someone's life is actually like these days. Because I feel like everyone, for the past two years, has just been trying to survive. It's no longer about "how to get this makeup look" or "what's in my bag", it seems, even though those are great. It just feels like we're all just looking for an outlet that doesn't remind us of what's really going on in the world and lets us escape for a few minutes, without making us feel super self-conscious about our looks, our outfits, how clean our homes are, how organized and put together our life is, etc. 

This brings me to TikTok that I mentioned earlier (and if you want to follow me I'm "loveand_mascara" and I post mostly ASMR videos like my lip mixing videos), the only social media platform that I have paid any attention to. Mainly because I find so many cool hacks and ideas for cleaning motivation or repurposing stuff (like glass candle holders, etc), how much stuff the Dollar Tree has that you can use to make decor, and even self-defense videos which inspired me to get a punching bag to take out my aggravation on as well as learn how to do all different punches, jabs, elbows, etc. It also showed me what cleaning products are worth getting and what aren't, plus where to buy them the cheapest. "Coffee TikTok" has become my latest passion. I love watching people make a coffee or tea station/bar, I even made my own. I get a lot of recipes on there for lattes and iced coffees and it brings me so much relaxation to watch people make different lattes as their morning ritual. I also made a hot chocolate station, as well as a candy station for Valentine's Day coming up. Plus all the things you need to organize your home and your life is right there readily available in whatever way you want, including how to make a digital planner on your tablet or a regular physical planner and how to decorate it. Before I found all this though, I used Tik Tok for funny stuff. I have found so many funny people that it's insane and weirdly I don't follow a single celebrity on there, like Kevin Hart or Will Smith or anyone that's supposed to be a "funny person". I follow everyday people that make me laugh so hard and cause me to send their videos to my husband, best friends, brother, etc. Plus there's so much positive motivation on there. Like genuine positivity that really does help when you're listening to a pep talk at 2 am that you didn't even know you needed from some stranger that just showed up on your "for you page". I found Kallmekris and I'm obsessed, she's so funny. I also love listening to Christianna_Burke, not to mention I think she lives in TN and you know I appreciate that. Another one that literally makes me laugh so hard my stomach hurts is "Carolannemiljavacomedy" she's an author and a comedian. There are too many to list but a major thank you is in order for opening a door and letting me escape for just a few minutes every day and giving my serotonin a boost by laughing when I was getting ready to cry or was in the worst mood ever. 

Before I leave off, after 4000+ words, I want to thank all our healthcare and essential workers who have had an unimaginable burden put on their shoulders for the last two years. Who's shown up when the rest of the world decided to sit this one out. We are in your debt far more than we'll ever know or even acknowledge for some people out there. There is one positive change that my husband and I have done these last 6+ months and that is: every morning when he gets up at 5:30 to go work a 12-hour shift, I wake up too and we pray together. Not just for him or me but for his coworkers and our hospital and dr offices. We pray for my health, we pray for others who are very sick in our family and his patients. We pray for those who have lost loved ones to this terrible virus or due to something else because not only has the last two years been filled with a lot of sickness but it's been filled with a lot of grief for many people. Including us.  It seems that at this especially difficult time that it's not enough for the world to just be difficult but it's also quite cold and heartless right now as well. 

And that's why we pray. That's why we try to do better as humans, to BE better humans. You will get nowhere and nothing in your life will do very much changing unless you at least try to do better and be better. It doesn't matter how confidant you are, how successful you are, or how much money you have if you aren't at least trying to be a decent human being. So to end this off, I'm going to tell you what I always do: I love you, but more importantly, God loves you. Thank you for reading, especially if you've gotten this far. Hopefully, this is me coming back regularly now, and expanding topics. Not talking about strictly beauty-related stuff all the time but everything that involves self-care for me including house stuff and organization ideas and hacks that are super helpful. I'll still be a "beauty blogger" though. My passion begins and ends with skincare and makeup at the very core of my being, and that will never change.    

Love, (and mascara)
Erin      

​Hey folks, got a review for you today. Especially those of you who suffer from Keratosis Pilaris (or "chicken skin") on your arms or thighs.

​ Before we start, let's just get the logistics out of the way. KP is not contagious, it's not a fungus, and not due to bacteria. It's simply clogged hair follicles from too much keratin. Literally, "keratosis" is an overgrowth of keratin which is the main protein in hair and skin, "Pilaris" is Latin for "hair". So together it's an overgrowth within the hair follicle/pore causing raised bumps that look like you have "goosebumps", but even though it's quite common, it's still quite aggravating and noticeable for those who suffer from it. KP can come and go, it often shows up when the air is dry and in colder weather but not all the time. It's currently July and my best friend is having a flare-up so take that for what you will. Thankfully brands are starting to come out with options for it because the simple solution is using "acid exfoliation"  to get rid of it, just like the acid exfoliation we do on our face, neck, and chest. 

​One of my very favorite brands has stepped up to attack this issue head-on and that is, of course, First Aid Beauty. They sent me their "KP Bump Eraser Body Scrub" and "KP Smoothing Body Lotion" both having 10% AHA in the formula. Which is a good percentage of acid exfoliation whether you have KP or you don't. AHA is coming up in more body creams and body products these days because it's proven time and time again that it does work for signs of aging on our face, neck, and chest when we start to lose our elasticity, along with benefits for reducing texture and stimulating the cellular turn over and brings forth new skin faster. 

The body scrub is in an 8 oz squeeze tube. It's not intended for facial use so DON'T go there. You're getting exfoliation from the dermabrasion and chemical acid all at once. It's going to improve skin texture, help with smoothing the bumps, and rough and scaly areas.  The AHA's in this are Glycolic and Lactic (which are the most common and most effective). The dermabrasion is pumice micro-crystals. So in traditional fashion, the acid combo will loosen it and decongest while the dermabrasion sloughs the skin away. It also contains  Bisabolol and Colloidal Oatmeal to soothe the skin as well. You use this 1-2 times a week. Use it once, kinda like a patch test while showering if you're new to acids, to gauge how your skin is going to react. A tingle is ok and normal, straight up burning is not. Quit immediately if you have that reaction. If you handle acid exfoliation well, then I don't think you'll have a problem. Since this is a scrub, remember that you don't have to apply too much pressure and massage this gently onto the skin.

To follow the body scrub is the KP Body Lotion in a 6 oz squeeze tube. It's to be used after the scrub, I think if I could only get one I would choose the lotion. Simply because I've seen body creams/lotions with AHA's before do so well plus you get more skincare benefits from the Lotion. While it has the 10% AHA, it also has Urea, Ceramides, and again Colloidal Oatmeal that work together to deeply hydrate the skin as well as smooth it's texture. This can be used daily, where the scrub should be 1-2 times a week. 

Remember to use your sunscreen. Really feel like I shouldn't have to tell you that but you'll want to be especially generous with your sunscreen when using products that have acids in them or retinol of any kind. However, I know you guys are out there being super careful and making sure you use your sunscreen and re-applying as you should be, right? Lookin' at you mom.....and dad.....


KP Body Scrub is $28 for the 8 oz but also comes in a 2 oz travel size for $10 on Sephora and ULTA.

KP Body Lotion is $26 at ULTA.

Of course both are available on the FAB website. 

That's all I got for you guys. I hope very much that this helps you find something for yourself if you suffer from KP, etc. 

As you know, I love you but more importantly, God loves you. Thanks for visiting the blog and thanks for reading. 

​​Hey guys. It's been a while since I've posted anything, anywhere. I took some time away, for my own health and also because there was a major health emergency that came up in our family. I also took the time to learn as much as I could to better the blog and all content that I'm putting out. However, I missed you and I missed blogging. So I'm back, with a lot to talk about for the next little while.

​Since this is the first post back, I thought I'd just start with what I've been using the most and loving while I was away. 

I've focused more on skin rather than makeup, although I do have some makeup gems in here. 

I've become obsessed with Alpha H. I keep getting more products from them every time I order from Sephora. Recently they were on sale, so that's usually when I buy them. They can be very strong just to warn you, but I'm crazy about the Vitamin B serum which is a peptide serum, as well as the Liquid Gold toner which is an acid exfoliation toner, and trust me you'll feel it so if you don't enjoy the tingle from acid exfoliation then avoid. I've also been enjoying their Vitamin A serum which is a retinol style serum. 

​I've been using Jordan Samuel After Show Gel Cleanser every day, mostly. I've had flaky skin recently due to treatments I've been trying and I'm flaking like crazy so that cleanser is perfect for getting everything off my face no matter what it is. It's a great start to my skincare routine because I have such a fresh, clean face afterward.

I also started using Kate Sommerville +Retinol Vitamin C Moisturizer. This was on sale and I picked it up on a whim. You use this at night. The texture is magnificent and goes on so well at the end of my skincare routine and plays well with other products I put on before it. It's different from the other moisturizers from the brand and by far my favorite formula.

​Makeup-wise I've been loving the Sigma brushes I've gotten. I picked some more up from Kohls that were on sale. The quality is much better than my original set from years ago. 

​I also have been using the brow pencil from Real Her. It's a thin precision tip and it's super creamy so it just glides on and blends in beautifully. It has a spoolie on the other end. They sent me 4 and at first, I wasn't using them very much cause I wasn't wearing makeup but now I'm obsessed because it makes the brow process so much faster. 

​I've also gotten into the Too Faced Lip Injection glosses in all the different formulas. I put those on first before I do anything to my face and just let it plump my lips while I work on my makeup. Then when I'm ready to apply my lip products I wipe the gloss off and they're nicely plumped and ready for lipstick. The "extreme" formulas are really intense so if you don't enjoy that "tingle" sensation then don't go for it. 

I also fell in love with Pat McGrath Labs Love and Lust Gloss Duo that is the shape of little hearts. I wish they would come out with more because they're so adorable and perfect size. Regardless these are great neutrals. I have one in my bag and one on my vanity at all times. 

​I've also fallen in love with the Redken Oil for All. You just need a few drops. It smells amazing and makes my hair so shiny. I don't use it all the time because I'm very careful with hair oils. I always apply it to wet hair from mid-shaft down. 

​Keeping with hair products I use NatureLab Perfect Shine Oil Mist all the time when styling my hair. This smells amazing as well and while it is an oil mist it's very lightweight. It's also a "color and heat protectant" though which is the actual reason I use it so much.

I've been crazy for jewelry lately. I've ordered several personalized rings lately from Etsy, so I have so many rings on right now. I've loved smaller chain necklaces that are different styles of chain links and mainly I've gotten them all from Ettika pretty much. I'm not much of a "statement" jewelry person right now, I'm more into layers and delicate/simplistic styles. If I do go for a statement piece it's usually in the form of earrings. I've had a lot of fun experimenting with all of the jewelry. That's probably been my favorite part.

That's about it. I hope you all have been doing well. As you know I love you but more importantly, God loves you. There's a lot of good reviews and hauls coming up that I'm excited about. I think you're going to love them! 

As always thank you for reading and hanging out with me!

​So, this last year I really discovered Jaime French. I'd always seen her viral stuff but I started watching, literally, all her content this past year. She's hilarious and relatable. She made me laugh when I was sick and I also appreciated her being extremely honest with her own life. Due to how much I enjoy her, she kind of got me back on the Sigma Brushes train again and I hadn't used Sigma brushes in years. 

*the picture above is from  the Sigma  website*
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I completely stopped using Sigma brushes except for the face brushes occasionally, years ago. However, seeing her use the sets that she put together, made me notice that the ones she was using were working SO well on her skin and blending everything perfectly. So I give you that back story to also say that this specific post is dedicated to Jaime French's "Trendy and Blendy" brush set only. I will have a follow-up post about my experience with the Sigma brushes from a decade ago and then retrying them these last few months. I bought some more outside of this set that I'm getting ready to talk about, to compare them to what I used to have and then to see if there's a difference between the brushes that are featured in collabs. This post, however, is only on the collab, brushes featured, and how well they performed.

There are actually two sets that she done but I just wanted the face set. I'll tell you why. There are brushes in here, that I have nothing that looks like them and that's unusual. I have hundreds of brushes, so that's impressive to not have duplicates.

The main reason I went for this is that I loved how the 4DHD Kabuki (which I'm pretty sure is a design that Sigma owns, I believe) performed on camera and blended for her. I had nothing like it. I wanted to see if it was that good in real life....and it was. I have never had a brush that could get into the small and tight areas and really apply product and blend it like this. It is Heaven for concealer application under the eyes and into that inner corner. It's also perfect for the sides of the nose as well which I'd never paid attention to until using this and it really does make a difference.

 Also, she had a very interesting "blush brush" choice for this set. It is the F37 "Spotlight Duster". I never would've used, or thought to use, this long tapered brush for blush. I would use it for a light dusting (hence, the name I guess) of powder more than likely. I watched her explain each brush though and demonstrate how she uses them, and it made sense man! I was sold! Sure enough, I used it as she had explained and it was really nice. It's a delicate way of applying it so that the blush isn't too extreme. It's a very cool way to try a new application technique. 

She also included the F80 Flat Top Kabuki, I have several of these. I have one or two older ones from Sigma, I have a bunch from other brands though so I'm very familiar with it because it's my favorite foundation brush. I noticed that it was softer than my other ones, and possibly not as dense but I'm not sure just because I've had them so long. So there's always going to be a difference between a new brush and a "well-used" brush obviously. I used it and of course, it performed great like always. It's always going to be Top 10/Hall of Fame for me regarding brushes. 

Lastly, is the F03 High Cheekbone Highlighter. I, again, listened to her explain how she uses this and the fact that you have more control over where you apply the highlight instead of it getting everywhere. She's totally right, it will work very well for that. I don't do highlight very much and when I do it's with a sponge. I do notice that it's handy for setting powder under the eyes for me. I also like it to just set my primer on the eyelid before I start applying eye shadow, or I use it for my blending/transition shadow. It's handy.

The versatility in the brushes here is what justifies having them, for me. I could get a lot done if I only had these brushes on me. 

I ordered these on sale from Sigma. It was $56. Regular price is $66. They also have "Afterpay" which breaks the total down to 4 payments. There's a lot of coupon codes for Sigma as well. I'm definitely ok with the price for these specific brushes. I'm glad I was able to get my hands on them because I believe this was like the 4th restock and they are limited edition.

This is a solid set of really good quality brushes. If you're needing some new face brushes, I think this would be more than sufficient for you. So easy to use, does most of the work for you, and gets everything done faster. 

I think Jaime killed this. If you haven't seen her on youtube then definitely check her out, I promise you will laugh like crazy. 

Thank you to Rodan + Fields for sponsoring this post. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Hi friends! I'm back to update you and talk more in-depth about the Rodan + Fields REDEFINE Regimen that you can now customize to suit your needs. I discussed the new "customizing" option in a previous post that I'll link here. However, I hadn't been able to try the products very much then but now, I can give you my fully formed opinion and which products I prefer in the line.
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I've worked with Rodan + Fields a few times and they're a dream to work with, so I'm excited to be doing it again. Also, my sister-in-law absolutely loves their products which is what made me really aware of the brand initially.

First, I'm going to walk you through the customizing options from the website on how you can choose which products you want in your routine/set.

• The first thing you will do is choose which set you want to customize in the REDEFINE Regimen. REDEFINE Regimen also comes in sets like the REDEFINE AMP It Up Special, the REDEFINE + Lash Boost Special, and the REDEFINE Power Up Special.
• You're going to choose which cleanser you want. Either the REDEFINE Daily Foaming Cleanser or the REDEFINE Daily Clay Cleanser.
• The next is toner. There's only one in this line.
• You'll then choose which daytime moisturizer you want. REDEFINE Triple Defense Cream Broad Spectrum SPF 30 or REDEFINE Triple Defense Lotion Broad Spectrum SPF 30.
• Then you'll choose which nighttime moisturizer that you want. REDEFINE Overnight Restorative Cream or REDEFINE Overnight Reparative Lotion.
• Lastly, if you chose a set that had extra items like the Lash Boost or other products outside of the core products in the line, they will be listed as well.

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The REDEFINE Regimen is the four products of your choice which is the same for every set in here. You get to choose those four products to build your 3-step skincare routine.
The REDEINE + Lash Boost is the four products of your choice with the added Lash Boost.
REDEFINE AMP It Up Special is the four core products you choose and the AMP MD system.
REDEFINE Power Up Special is the four core products you choose and then the Pore Cleansing MD System.

​So, let's discuss the products that I prefer. First, let me say that my skin is pretty normal and doesn't get aggravated too much. So, there's truly no product here that I genuinely don't like.
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For the cleanser, I prefer the Daily Foaming Cleanser over the Daily Clay Cleanser because the Daily Clay Cleanser has a little bit of grit to it, and I don't usually need that in a cleanser. It's a very, very gentle scrub though so it wouldn't be an issue for most people I don't think. The Foaming Cleanser instantly goes into a thicker lather rather than a big foam. It doesn't leave your skin feeling tight nor does it strip the skin. It does have AHAs (alpha hydroxy acids) in it though as the form of chemical exfoliation, which I really like in cleansers. Both of these are a very nice size coming in at 125ml or 4.2 oz, and it has a light but very pleasant scent. I notice it more with the Clay Cleanser than the Foaming Cleanser. Regardless, both of these leave the skin feeling very smooth and soft. I will leave ingredients for each product at the bottom of the post. 

​The Pore Refining Toner is next and also comes in at 125 ml or 4.2 oz. It smells lovely and again very light which makes sense when you learn what's inside. This is pretty straightforward in how it helps with natural cell turnover, it's a very gentle exfoliating toner. I do not mean exfoliation in the form of a "scrub." I mean it in the "resurfacing" sense. This works on resurfacing, softening, and brightening the skin. Again, it makes sense due to the ingredients which are: Niacinamide which is like shrink-wrap on the pores, antioxidants to feed the skin (you know I love my antioxidants), and then a medley of fruit acids like Pineapple and Papaya which I just discussed the other day about how they are a natural and gentle acid exfoliation used a lot in toners and masks. It also has Watermelon, Lemon, Grape, and Mango. It’s very refreshing, I tend to like stronger toners in general BUT when using a gentler toner I apply it with a gauze pad instead of cotton pads. I picked that up from a veteran skincare facialist in London. The gauze is just a little more abrasive, so it helps with the resurfacing. However, using this with a cotton pad is just fine. 

​For day creams, it's was very hard for me to choose between Triple Defense Cream Broad Spectrum SPF 30 and the Triple Defense Lotion SPF 30. It's still quite cold here in Tennessee and we've also had some very harsh weather, that tends to dry out the skin. So, when I'm feeling like my skin needs a little more help with the moisture barrier, I tend to use the cream. It's a smooth creamy texture that feels amazing and absorbs so well. It was designed for the more normal to dry skin types. However, if I've used other products that morning or if I just need something to be extra lightweight because my skin has changed into "combo" skin type where I'm dealing with more oil, I use the lotion. It was designed with combo to oil skin types in mind. It's quite thin and absorbs in just a matter of seconds. You don't have to use very much but be sure that you're using enough to cover your face because you want that SPF protection that it has. That goes for both products. And yes, it doesn't matter if it's cold and winter, you still need SPF every single day. Both of these use R+F’s Peptide Technology and you know how I preach about peptides needing to be in your skincare routine all the time. I like peptides in your moisturizer because it's one less step that you have to do. Peptides take some time to show visible results because they're working deeper within the skin surface, but they are pretty vital in my opinion, in regard to how they help address the look of aging skin, by keeping the skin plumper-looking. Both of these products are 30 ml or 1 fl oz. 

​For the night products, I honestly like both and it's truly whatever you're looking for. So, the Overnight Restorative Cream is a little rich but not very heavy and it's loaded with really great oils and shea butter for the skin to nourish it while you sleep. It also has a great blend of peptides that I discussed above as well as Bakuchiol and Glycolic Acid. Bakuchiol is plant-derived and is a very popular ingredient right now because of its "natural retinol type behavior." Glycolic Acid is often used to resurface just like other acids and retinol types. Its resurfacing method is to help the look of fine lines by helping that cellular turnover. This doesn't tingle when I put it on so don't worry about it being too strong, but I can feel it on the skin which doesn't surprise me based on the oils and shea butter inside. The Overnight Reparative Lotion is a favorite because once again it's a lightweight lotion (but not as thin as the daytime lotion) with Niacinamide that delivers hydration but also houses a retinol blend. It's easy to layer if you're like me and have a lot of steps in your skincare routine. Retinol or retinol-type products are truly the keys to helping the look of aging skin. It's definitely what I would recommend if you're looking for something to help your fine lines, yet you don't really need something that's very rich or gives you too much moisture. For myself, I've rotated both, but I find that I like the Overnight Restorative Lotion the most instead of the cream. Both of these are also 30 ml or 1 fl oz.

I'd also like to touch on the REDEFINE Multi-Function Eye Cream. I don't often change up my eye creams. I tend to just use the same one over and over. This is a dandy eye cream. You can use this morning and night and I do notice, especially in the morning, under makeup that my under-eye area doesn't look as "crepe-y" or dry and the lines are usually there are much smoother. My under-eye area is naturally just more sunken in so anything that can make that appear plumped up, I completely enjoy. This is 15 ml or .5 oz.

I often do a lot of steps in my routine, but I must say that these have been a great addition. I've been using them for several months now and when I ran out, I really noticed. Especially in the morning routine. My skin just wasn't as healthy as it had been or as plump. There's far more information than I can give you, on their website and I'd recommend you take a look at it. There's some amazing before and after photos.

I will include ingredient decks for all of these. It does look like there is "fragrance/parfum" listed on them all some of them coming in very low on the ingredient deck though. With ingredient decks, you usually have your highest percentages at the top and then the lower an ingredient is the less there is of that ingredient in your product. So that's something to bear in mind or maybe it's just a fun fact for you.

REDEFINE Daily Foaming Cleanser
Glycerin, Water/Aqua/Eau, Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate, Butylene Glycol, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Stearic Acid, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate, Diglycerin, Artemisia Capillaris Flower Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Morus Alba Root Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Zizyphus Jujuba Fruit Extract, Glycolic Acid, Lactic Acid, Glyceryl Glucoside, Ectoin, Panthenol, Fragrance/Parfum, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Methyl Oleoyl Taurate, Lauric Acid, Myristic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Coco-Glucoside, Lauryl Glucoside, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Magnesium Silicate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Citric Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Benzoate.
 
REDEFINE Daily Clay Cleanser
Water/Aqua/Eau, Glycerin, Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate, Polylactic Acid, Propanediol, Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Diglycerin, Kaolin, Montmorillonite, Myristic Acid, Lactic Acid, Maltooligosyl Glucoside, Glyceryl Stearate, Panthenol, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Glyceryl Glucoside, Ectoin, Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Fragrance/Parfum, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Methyl Oleoyl Taurate, Coco-Glucoside, Lauryl Glucoside, Tocopherol, Caprylyl Glycol, Hexylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate.
 
REDEFINE PORE REFINING TONER
Water/Aqua/Eau, Glycerin, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Water, Butylene Glycol, Bis-PEG-12 Dimethicone, Niacinamide, Sea Water/Maris Aqua/Eau De Mer, Magnesium PCA, Manganese PCA, Sodium PCA, Zinc PCA, Ananas Sativus (Pineapple) Fruit Extract, Carica Papaya (Papaya) Fruit Extract, Citrullus Lanatus (Watermelon) Fruit Extract, Citrus Limon (Lemon) Fruit Extract, Passiflora Edulis Fruit Extract, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Fruit Extract, Mangifera Indica (Mango) Fruit Extract, Methyl Carboxymethylphenyl Aminocarboxypropylphosphonate, Glyceryl Glucoside, Trehalose, Fragrance/Parfum, Alcohol, Alcohol Denat., Diglycerin, Polysorbate 20, Sodium Bisulfite, Disodium EDTA, Caprylyl Glycol, Benzoic Acid, Chlorphenesin, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate.
 
REDEFINE Triple Defense Cream Broad Spectrum SPF 30
Active Ingredients: (w/w): Avobenzone 3%, Octisalate 5%, Octocrylene 7%
Inactive ingredients: 1,2-Hexanediol, Alcohol Denat., Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Aqua/Eau/Water, Benzoic Acid, Beta Vulgaris (Beet) Root Extract, Biosaccharide Gum-4, Butylene Glycol, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Calcium Gluconate, Carnosine, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Chlorphenesin, Cynara Scolymus (Artichoke) Leaf Extract, Dehydroacetic Acid, Diglycerin, Dimethicone, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Disodium EDTA, Disodium Lauriminodipropionate Tocopheryl Phosphates, Fragrance/Parfum, Fructooligosaccharides, Gluconolactone, Glycerin, Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Lactic Acid, Methyl Carboxymethylphenyl Aminocarboxypropylphosphonate, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Niacinamide, Pentylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Phragmites Karka Extract, Polyacrylate-13, Polyisobutene, Polysorbate 20, Poria Cocos Extract, Potassium Lactate, Propanediol, Red 33 (CI 17200), Silica, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Sorbitan Isostearate, Tocopherol, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Juice Extract, VP/Eicosene Copolymer, Yellow 5 (CI 19140).
 
REDEFINE Triple Defense Lotion Broad Spectrum SPF 30
Active Ingredients: Avobenzone 2%, Homosalate 6.8%, Octisalate 3.4%, Octocrylene 4.4%>
Inactive ingredients: 1,2-Hexanediol, Aminomethyl Propanol, Aqua/Eau/Water, Benzoic Acid, Benzyl Alcohol, Beta Vulgaris (Beet) Root Extract, Biosaccharide Gum-4, Butylene Glycol, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Calcium Gluconate, Carbomer, Carnosine, Citric Acid, Cynara Scolymus (Artichoke) Leaf Extract, Dehydroacetic Acid, Diglycerin, Dimethicone, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Disodium Lauriminodipropionate Tocopheryl Phosphates, Fragrance/Parfum, Fructooligosaccharides, Gluconolactone, Glycerin, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Lactic Acid, Methyl Carboxymethylphenyl Aminocarboxypropylphosphonate, Niacinamide, Phenoxyethanol, Phragmites Karka Extract, Polyacrylate-13, Polyisobutene, Polysorbate 20, Polysorbate 60, Poria Cocos Extract, Potassium Lactate, Propanediol, Silica, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Carbomer, Sodium Potassium Aluminum Silicate, Sorbitan Isostearate, Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Tocopherol, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Juice Extract, Xanthan Gum.
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REDEFINE Overnight Restorative Cream
Water/Aqua/Eau, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Dimethicone, Diglycerin, Hydrogenated Castor Oil Isostearate, Niacinamide, Oenothera Biennis (Evening Primrose) Oil, Rosa Canina Seed Extract, Butylene Glycol, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Isododecane, Glycerin, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract, Tetrapeptide-21, Tetrapeptide-4, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-11, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-9, Bakuchiol, Honokiol, Magnolol, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Butter, Fragrance/Parfum, Glycolic Acid, Jojoba Alcohol, Olive Oil Polyglyceryl-6 Esters, Potassium Jojobate, Sodium Polyacrylate, Sorbitan Caprylate, Steareth-20, Phenylpropanol, Polyglyceryl-6 Laurate, Polysorbate 20, PEG-75 Stearate, Ceteth-20, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Polyurethane-35, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Citric Acid, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide, Caprylyl Glycol, Methylpropanediol, Propanediol, Benzoic Acid, Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891).
 
REDEFINE Overnight Reparative Lotion
Water/Aqua/Eau, Niacinamide, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Glycol Stearate, Ethyl Macadamiate, Alcohol Denat., Isododecane, Nylon-12, Tetrapeptide-21, Tetrapeptide-4, Retinal, Retinyl Palmitate, Malic Acid, Hydroxyapatite, Fragrance/Parfum, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer, Beheneth-20, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Xanthan Gum, Tocopherol, Aminomethyl Propanol, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol.


So that's the update and my thoughts on the products. You can customize your own set through the website, it's very easy to do. I'll leave the link here.
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I hope that this was helpful and that you get the perfect routine for yourself. Thank you again to Rodan + Fields for working with me on this. 

​Guys!! I've never been more excited during my love of skincare than I am right now. Caroline Hirons released her Winter Kits. There are two. I got kit one. I took SO MANY notes during the reveal video, from what the products were, the donations they were making, the price of each product, and the total combined cost if you bought everything individually. She also done a Instagram video of how to use the kits which I'll leave here. There was also a ton of brand offers that she shared on her blog if you weren't able to get a kit. So let's get right into it!

​The previous blog post and gift guide was all about what would be good gifts, in my opinion, to give to others. This one is going to be the "Treat Yourself" guide, and I'm doing it on Valentine's Day weekend since there are usually sales, you might just get gift cards or cash for a gift, you might get to pick out your gift, so I'm here to help.

The previous one would work as a "Treat Yourself" guide as well but this one is specifically dedicated to skincare, makeup, and body care. It's quite long because there are so many products. Therefore, I'm not going to delve too deep into each product on why it's so wonderful. It's going to be a full-blown list.

​Bath and Body

• LUSH. They have released so many new bubble bars. That I've placed two orders. It's part of their Harajuku release. Last year it was bath bombs, this year it's bubble bars. They also have their limited edition Valentine's Day collection as well. I also got the Conga shower jelly. I wish I'd gotten the larger size because it smells amazing.
• Country Market Crafts. They're my go-to brand for bath products. At a reasonable price and an excellent turn around time for shipping. They have a Valentine's Day collection up. I recommend the Strawberry 'Nilla bubble bars (or anything in that scent). My all-time favorite scent is the Rainbow Berry Crunch. They've not put the bubble bars out just yet but they do have the bath bombs as well as a body lotion in it that I'm totally going to get. They do bath sprinkles too which I love to put in my "bath cocktails". I currently have the Rainbow Berry Crunch wax melt going in my wax warmer right now so the whole room smells like it. I need to pick up some wax melts in Strawberry 'Nilla if they have any and I'm definitely going to get some in Blueberry 'Nilla if they do any. They're an indie brand on Etsy. I've talked about them a million times though. Definitely check them out though. 
• L'Occitane has amazing body products that can be quite pricey but they smell and feel wonderful. I love their shower gel, their creams, the body oil that smells exactly like the shower gel, they do a good job. I stick to the Almond scented products but they have others in the hand creams, foot creams, etc. They have a set right now on Sephora for the almond products which is their staples I would say. It's $50 and you get an 8 oz shower gel, and a 3 oz milk concentrate cream, and then you get both in the travel size version as well. It's a good set if you're just wanting to try them out. 

There you have it guys. I hope that if you made it this far, then you enjoyed it or found something you like. I hope you have a good Valentine's Day. I love you (and God loves you). Also, some of these products were sent to me at some point in time, some of them I bought, some of them I've used for years. However, none of the codes in here benefit me, none of the links are affiliate links, the codes will not get me any commission. So no worries there.  

​Alright, people, Valentine's Day is around the corner. I've been trying to get this guide together but there was so much stuff that I'm going to split it into two parts. This part will be accessories, tried and true traditional gifts, etc.

​So let's start with traditional gifts. Flowers and treats. I absolutely love Valentine's Day. I always have. I give gifts to everyone. I give candy bouquets to my dad, I get my momma some flowers and her favorite Dove Chocolate Truffles. I used to get my grandparent's boxes of chocolate. I usually make my husband a "Valentine's Day basket" full of his favorite things: candy, drinks, etc. So I dig the traditional gifts. I love making chocolate-covered strawberries for people or receiving them. Lately, my favorite thing is getting cake pops or cakesicles, the breakable chocolate hearts that are filled with candy, and macarons. They're a little different and, to me, it feels a little more special. As for flowers, I still love fresh flowers. I always go in person to pick them out. Sometimes I make my own arrangement. A much cooler option, and my personal favorite, is the forever roses or year-long roses". I've got some and I've also given them as gifts and I must say I love them. I usually get mine from Rose Forever.

​Next up, jewelry. I've been sticking with just two brands lately. That is Miranda Frye and Ettika. I get to pick out pieces from Ettika sometimes and they rarely disappoint. Especially, when you're picking out "everyday" pieces. This leads me to Miranda Frye, they have the best "everyday" pieces that range from delicate to a little heavier. Mostly all the designs are simplistic and can be worn on their own or layered which is my personal choice. I also really love bracelets and watches stacked. More importantly, I like simple gold cuffs. I'd been looking for some hammered cuffs for a while and I've still not found a good set yet. However, I do have a set of simple gold ones from Moon Magic that I do love entirely. They're lightweight, they don't rattle around, and they go with everything. As always, I'm a big fan of sentimental or personalized jewelry. I've talked about it many times so I won't bore you but Etsy does have some of the best personalized jewelry options out there. I'm still in love with my "saddle/flip ring" that has my grandparent's initials on either side. 

​I've come across some bags that I really love and would love to share. My favorite right now is the Senreve Maestra Bag. It's so multi-purpose, in how you can wear it. These were designed specifically to be "work bags" I believe so you can fit your electronics in it. It also has plenty of room and is super durable. I LOVE camera bags. That's been my obsession for the past year. I never thought I could pull them off but they're my favorite size right now, I've shown them before so I'm trying not to be too redundant. Tory Burch bags I love and in general, that's in my top three brands for bags. I also came across a Kate Spade purse I'd been looking for, for over 5 years. Literally, it had been on my Pinterest board for 5 freaking years and I love it. I finally found it on eBay one day. Now I usually get my bags "preloved" from Poshmark. I've never had an issue with it, my friend J got me into it. I like it way better than eBay. Especially when looking for bags that have been discontinued like the Tory Burch one I'm gonna show you.

​Some other cool items that I think make fantastic gifts are crystals. I get mine from Southern Leigh Essentials. She has some beautiful points, towers, and palm stones. She also usually has sage bundles, palo santo sticks, and dried flower packets to make your own rollerballs or body oils with. Very cool.

​Lastly, I'm obsessed with Sunglasses. I have two favorite pairs out of my collection and that is a pair of tortoise Gucci ones and then a pair of Miu Miu Stardust sunglasses. 

I realize that if you're giving a gift to someone that it can be hard to figure out what would suit them, especially when it comes to bags, sunglasses, or even jewelry. This is where I give you my main tip and that's: check out Pinterest, man. Especially, their Pinterest boards because there is often a board of "fashion" or "accessories", or something of that nature. My other tip is to check out their Instagram to see what they like (for instance: books, or things they collect) and what type of jewelry or accessories they wear. Although you can't go wrong with a "Valentine's Day basket" or candy bouquets of their favorite treats and drinks. 

That's it for part one. Next, will be a very long post of skincare and makeup in the whole "treat yourself" realm. 

​Hey folks. Let's talk about Fashion Nova's new makeup line, Maven Beauty. 

​So, I've been trying these products for over 2 months. There was so much to try. The first and mainline is the "Basic Beat" line, they quickly followed with a shimmery, colorful, and duo-chrome line called "Cosmic Drip". The Basic Beat products are in orange packaging, the Cosmic Drip items are black packaging. This is going to be a long review along with so many swatches, prices, thoughts, pros, and cons, etc. If you aren't interested in seeing all that, I'll go ahead and tell you that aside from just a few gripes, these products are great. Especially the shadows and more specifically the matte shadows. Also, everything they sent me is Vegan. So if you're interested in trying it, go for it. I notice they're have a sale right now that is buy one get one 50% off.

Now let's start breaking it down.

Let's start with the shadows. These come in a simple but sturdy, clear,  4 pan palette so you can see what shades are inside easily. What I absolutely love is that they did 4 quad palettes of neutral-toned matte shadows in the "Basic Beat" line and one quad of neutral shimmers. In the "Cosmic Drip" line, they are all foiled shimmers/duo-chrome. I have three quads from the "Cosmic Drip" line. 

The "Basic Beat" palettes are $19 and the "Cosmic Drip" palettes are $23. The shadows are phenomenal. Especially the matte shades. Those are like buttah. All the shades whether it's the matte shades or the shimmer/duo-chrome, are extremely pigmented and the matte shades are so easy to blend and I've not noticed any "patchiness". So far they wear very well, they don't really move around throughout the day. So I'm very pleased. 


They also released "Liquid Glitter Eyeshadows" in the "Cosmic Drip" line. These are nice, but I prefer them over a shadow and not by themself. There are 5 shades. A beautiful blue that is quite pigmented as a blue base and glitter on top. What I've used the most are Aurora and UFO. Those are my favorite to use for a "halo" eye and in the inner corner of the eye and lower lashline. I always use them on top of a similar shadow so that it packs more of a punch when I'm using it on the actual eyelid.  I use them by themself on the inner corner and lower lash line. I also love these as a base for loose pigments or glitters cause......sparkle. Ya know?

These are priced at $15 and the swatches for these are included in the second set of swatches below of just shimmers and it's the bottom right box. From top to bottom are Interstellar, Celestial, Supermoon, Aurora, and UFO.

The swatches for the shadows go as follows: the first set of swatches is the Basic Beat line. So 4 quad palettes of matte shades and then the neutral shimmer quad palette from the same line. 

The top left is the Soft Blend palette, the top middle is Medium Blend, the top right is Bold Blend, the bottom left is Define, and the next two are both the shimmer palette Spotlight with flash and without. 

The second set of swatches are all shimmer and from the "Cosmic Drip" line. The top left is Stargate, top right is Nova, bottom left is Cosmos, and bottom right is the Liquid Glitter Eyeshadows I mentioned above.

​They also have five options of eye primers or "eye base". These are in a handy, travel-friendly, squeeze tube. You don't need very much either. I'm happy to see the different shades ranging from light to dark. You can do so much with a light base and then do something totally different with a dark base under your shadows. In my experience super light bases help make shadows "pop" and with dark bases, they tend to give shadows more "depth" or brings out a different shade in the shadow you're using especially if the shadow happens to be multi-chrome.  Normally brands do a plain eye primer that doesn't really have a color. These things don't budge. Shadows go on them very well, there's no patchiness, and I do feel like they keep your shadows in place as well as covering veins in the eyelids and being very pigmented by creating an even canvas for you to work on. I will have a swatch below showing you the shades of course but also I'll show you what happened when I tried to wipe them off with just a damp cloth. I had to use actual makeup remover to get them off. 

The "cream eyeshadow base" is $13. The shades are as follows from top to bottom. Alpaca, Coquito, Brulee, Cool Caffe, and Teddy.

​Moving on to the "Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner". Here's where I have a lot of thoughts. These liquid eyeliners are a brush tip ("Calligraphy-worthy brush applicator and no-wastage delivery system") with a twist function on the bottom to push the liquid liner through. This is to keep the liquid itself more "fresh". I understand what they're going for but if you've ever used a twist-up function product like brush tip concealers, etc you know that you twist for a while to get it going, and then too much comes out at once. This is better than other products out there that use this type of product application because you don't have to "twist" forever. It does flow out very quickly though sometimes if you aren't careful and can waste product which is not the goal they were going for. Aside from that, they do apply very well. I was intimidated at first because I was afraid this would be messy and too much product would be dumped on my eye. I was very surprised though at how well it worked as long as I was paying attention to how much liquid I had brought up. There were a few times when I needed to wipe off some excess liquid. These are very pigmented. They aren't patchy. I don't really recommend doing layers of the liner though because I think they could possibly start to flake off.

These come in matte and shimmers. There are 9 shades available and the price is $14. From top to bottom the shades are as follows, Black (matte), Brown (matte), Lagoon (shimmer), Atlantis (shimmer), Herb (shimmer), Mamajuana (shimmer), Sangria (shimmer), and 24K (shimmer).  There's also a purple shade called "Dark Star" and it's not in my swatches. I'm not sure if I have it but it looks beautiful online. My favorite is the Brown one so far. It's no incredibly dark on the eyes like most, where it looks nearly black. It's a medium brown that really stands out. In the swatches, you'll once again see how they hold up against trying to rub them off and then trying to use a damp cloth. I would consider these "waterproof", especially the Black shade. 

​There are two highlighters in the "Basic Beat" line, "Draped Up" and "Dripped Out". Draped Up is a little more rose gold with some silver pearlescent reflects in it. It's a bit more cool-toned when you look at it. Dripped Out is a yellowish gold. These are very "wet" looking and remind me of a Becca formula in highlighters somewhat. Neither one really looks good on my skin tone. So I don't have very much to say about these.

The swatches are "Draped Up" (top) and "Dripped Out" (bottom). The price for these is $15.

​They also sent me the lipsticks. There are 5 lipsticks from the "Basic Beat" line 4 which are lovely neutrals and 1 that is a brilliant red. The packaging for these feels so luxurious and heavy with a magnetized lid so the lipstick is securely shut so you don't have to worry about the cap coming off in your bag, etc. I appreciate this so much. Out of every product, this one feels very "high end". Everything else is very secure don't get me wrong but this takes the cake. The price of the lipsticks is $14.

My final thoughts are, they have some solid products. I didn't have very many issues out of any of these, except the highlighters but that's not on them. The price is fairly good because the quality is of the actual product is quite nice. I don't have any gripes with the packaging being "cheap" or "flimsy". It feels very good, feels like something you'd pick up in Sephora. I'm excited to see what they come out with next. They also have a beautiful looking range of false lashes as well as some gorgeous brushes. I don't have any of those so of course, I can't tell you much about them. I'm looking forward to them doing some bronzers, blush, just "base" makeup pretty much. I think they'll do a great job. 

If you're interested in checking these products out then you can visit the website here: 
https://mavenbeauty.com/
Also to see the products in action you can check out their Instagram here: @mavenbeauty

​Hey guys! I know it's been a minute since I've checked in, but I took a short break. Lately, the way the world is currently, I've had quite a bit of anxiety looking at anything online. So I turned off all notifications on my phone. I can tell you that without notifications, I rarely look at social media. I've also spent some time exploring new apps to make "Love and Mascara" a little more fun and jazzed up. 

​Currently, I'm using Grammarly to help me write, and so far it's been a real joy. So if you write a lot in your everyday life, to or for various projects, I recommend looking into it.

Let's get into the latest box from Allure, shall we?

To start, this came with a Ciate "Trend Edit Palette". It's a 9 pan, warm-toned palette, with 4 matte shades to blend with, and 5 shimmery-foiled shades. One of those shimmers being a gorgeous foiled pink-red shade. The packaging of it doesn't feel very secure, which might just be my palette but it's not something I'd feel comfortable traveling with. 

They included a full-size Pixi Skintreats "Rose Oil Blend" facial oil. These oils are just lovely. I feel like people hesitate with Pixi skincare and trust me, you shouldn't. They have some real hidden gems. 

There's a full-size liquid liner from "ByMe x MyBeautyBrand". It's a felt tip but it's quite long. I like it but I'm curious as to how long it will last because it feels a little dry. However, I appreciate a liquid liner anytime. 

Also included is a travel size Cetaphil Deep Hydration Healthy Glow Daily Cream. This is a very affordable brand but it's not a brand that I use. The ingredients look decent for this but I've had several bad experiences in the past with other products from this brand. So, I tend to steer clear from it. 

Next up is a travel size of Caudalie Vinosource "S.O.S Thirst Quenching Serum". I really love Caudalie. I don't feel like this will last very long, due to the size. I'm happy to try it though. 

There's also a small "deluxe sample" size of La Roche-Posay "Retinol B3 Serum". I love the brand. They're also quite affordable and readily available for nearly everyone. They also do some great treatment style products. This is very small, I will likely get through this in about a week. When it comes to "treatments" though, it usually takes a few weeks to see a difference in the skin. We'll see though. I love "retinol" products though, so I'm always excited to use them. 

Lastly, they included MUDMASKY "Leave-Me-On Winter Mask". This is 40 ml which is 1.35 oz, so I don't know if this is "full size" or not. It's a pretty good size tube though. I've been using this under my makeup and sometimes at night as the last step in my routine and it's been lovely. I've had no "congestion" while using it. It has a heavy amount of Vitamin E to help heal and soothe the skin. It doesn't feel heavy at all. I really like this!

That's everything in the box. It was a very nice box. It had many full-size products whereas it normally has 1 or maybe 2. Let's remember this is a box that you now get every other month. Per usual, they sent this to me. All opinions are my own though. 

I hope you had a wonderful holiday and New Year. I love you (and God loves you, as my Sunday school teacher used to say, lol). See you soon for some REVIEWS of new products!