Evening Skin Care Routine

As promised, here is part 2 of my skin care routine - what I do in the evenings.


If I've worn makeup that day, I will first go in with The Body Shop Camomile Sumptuous Cleansing Butter to remove it all.  I massage the balm into dry skin, and it melts into an oil and breaks down my makeup, even waterproof mascara.  I clean that off with a warm washcloth.  Next I go in with another cleanser to make sure all traces of makeup and the cleansing butter are removed.  I've been loving the First Aid Beauty Face Cleanser at night as well as in the morning for this.

After cleansing, I go in with an acid-based toner.  I absolutely love the Pixi Glow Tonic - I've only been using it for about a month and I can already tell it has saved my skin.  Uneven texture and tone have been eliminated.  Next I'll use eye cream and a spot treatment if I have any blemishes - Mario Badescu Chamomile eye cream and Origins Super Spot Remover gel do the trick.  For serum, I've been using a sample of Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair, which I will be gutted to see run out. This, as well as the Pixi Glow Tonic have dramatically improved my skin. I might have to bite the bullet and buy the full size when my sample runs out.  Lately, because of the weather change, I've been craving a bit more moisture, so I've been layering on a face oil next. I'm loving the Rosehip Oil by Eve Hansen Beauty. I may do a separate post on this product because I'm loving it so much.  Once I give the oil a minute to sink in, I layer on a healthy dollop of the First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream. It's so thick and rich that it feels almost like an overnight moisture mask. 

I love both of my skincare routines - they're a great way to prepare for and wind down from the day.

What are your favorite products to use before bed?

Boston Haul: Taylor's Buys

Hi there!

I’m Taylor and I am Kelsey’s sister/shopping buddy. I’m currently living in Boston at my first semester at Northeastern! So Kelsey came to visit me this past Saturday, and I think it’s pretty obvious that old habits die hard and neither of us forgot how to shop together.

The first thing I picked up when we got into Sephora was the NailsInc Nail Polish in Holland Walk. It’s a dark berry color and I’m positively obsessed. I have it on my nails right now because I couldn’t wait. This nail polish is so smooth and thick and honestly looks like gel once it’s on. I was never one for the matte nail trend, so this is right up my alley.

The next splurge of the day was on the Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Colour in amethyst.  As mentioned I’ve only just started school and I haven’t quite kicked the sleeping-in habit that formed this summer. Because of this, I tend to not leave myself enough time in the morning to do a full winged-liner look, which is something I prefer for my eye shape (which is big. That is basically my eye shape.). However, this eye shadow solves all my problems. I can quickly draw it along my lash-line and smudge it out, still giving me definition with very little actual work. Plus the purple in the shadow enhances my green eyes and helps me look a little bit less exhausted. And once it sets it is not going anywhere. Like you better have a pretty awesome makeup remover for this baby.

Up next in the accidental berry-themed shopping trip was the Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment in (you guessed it) Berry. There’s a reason these are a crowd favorite- it has exceptional color payoff for a tinted lip balm but keeps my (usually dry and chapped) lips hydrated for hours. Worth literally every penny.

And last but not least was the true sister bonding product of the day, the Clinique Cheek Pop in Berry Pop (of which Kelsey got the same color. But it went with my color scheme for the day and I’m sticking with the fact that she copied me.) . Now I am a huge fan of blush. I have more than is wholly necessary in a wide variety of colors and textures. But I’ve established that the most natural-blushing shades are my favorite. And this blush just hits it out of the park. Not only is the color natural, brightening, AND compliments my (extremely pale) skin tone, but the creamy consistency blends easily into the skin so it looks like nothing is there. I’ve only had a chance to wear it once and it’s already my favorite blush.

How much money do you spend when your sister comes to visit you at school even though you were trying to be really good about saving your money?

Boston Haul: Beauty Buys

Since my sister and I always loved going on shopping trips together before she moved away to school, we just had to have a shopping day together the first time I visited her out in Boston.  We may have gone a little crazy.  Here's everything I somehow talked myself into buying, and keep an eye out for a guest post by Taylor to show what she got!

First we went into The Body Shop because I was running low on the Vitamin E Aqua Boost Sorbet that I mentioned in my Morning Skincare Routine post.  I love using this in the mornings because it's very cooling, so it wakes me up.  Like I said in the skincare routine, it sinks in and leaves an almost satin finish, unlike any of the moisturizers I've tried, and is lovely to use under makeup.  I also decided to pick up the Vitamin E Face Mist, and so far I'm loving it.  It has the same smell as The Body Shop's other Vitamin E products (like roses), and it feels lovely and refreshing to spray on. Lastly I picked up the Aloe Lip Care (as if I needed another lip balm: see my Favorite Lip Treatments for evidence of that).  It feels so thick and hydrating, and it's quickly becoming a new favorite.  I tried using it overnight and it didn't do as great of a job as my Bite Agave Lip Mask, so this will be one I cart around with me in my bag to reapply during the day.

And then Sephora happened. Damage is always done in Sephora.  I decided I was finally going to cave and pick up one of the Clinique Cheek Pop Blushes after hearing so many good things about them.  I was drawn to the Peach Pop color at first, but ultimately went with Berry Pop because I thought it would be good for the fall.  I also went in with the intention of getting a new base product, with various BB creams on my list to try in the store, but instead I picked up the Origins VitaZing SPF 15 Energy Boosting Moisturizer.  This is a moisturizer meant to be applied in the mornings, and as you apply it to your skin the white lotion changes into a sheer tint and evens out your skin.  I was thinking I could use this as my only base on very good skin days, but it would also be helpful under other bases on not-so-good skin days.

I also picked up another thing that had been on my wishlist for awhile: the Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment in Tulip.  This so pigmented that it looks like a lipstick when it's applied, but feels so lovely and nourishing on the lips.  I picked a more spring-appropriate color, but the color is very brightening on my skin and one I will still wear all winter. Lastly, and the thing I am most excited about, is the Marc Jacobs Remedy Concealer Pen in the shade 1 Rendezvous.  I'm thinking this will be great to use to cover up under-eye circles because of its pinky tone (it cancels out the blue-tinge of the dark circles) and because of the metal-tipped applicator.  I not only wake up with dark circles, but also with puffy eyes, so the cooling effect of the metal tip will help to depuff.

Keep an eye out for Taylor's haul, too!

Have you bought anything you're excited about lately?