Bedtime Beauty

April 21, 2016

I mentioned in the AM/PM Routine Tag that I always like to take my time with a nice, relaxing evening routine. While going through my usual steps I picked up on a few patterns in the products I'll always use before bed without fail - my routine may not be using the exact same products every night, but I often use the same kinds of products.

THE SMOOTH LIP DUO | I've said before that I absolutely can't sleep without first putting on some lip balm. For the longest time now my staple has been the Bite Beauty Agave Lip Mask - it's so thick and beautifully nourishing, so it definitely sticks around till morning. Lately I've been squeezing in an extra step with the Bite Beauty Whipped Cherry Lip Scrub. It's a nice balmy texture with just a little bit of grit - it's not as scrubby as something like the Lush Lip Scrubs, but I like that it's not super abrasive so I can use it almost every night. This duo ensures I wake up with the softest lips possible, and it really helps keep them conditioned despite wearing lots of matte liquid lipsticks.

THE OVERNIGHT EXFOLIATORS | I'm really into chemical exfoliators, especially ones you can just slap on and let them do all the work. They give a glow and help to just remove all the excess gunk hanging around your skin - two things my skin always needs. As a more affordable option I've been loving the Pixi Overnight Glow Serum - it's kind of a thick, syrupy consistency (the pipette can get a little messy), but it spreads over the skin easily and you can feel it immediately get to work. This feels quite moisturizing on its own, but I like to follow it up with a moisturizer after letting it sink in and do its thing for a bit. A similar product I've been obsessed with is the M-61 JetGlow Serum* from Bluemercury. This has a thinner formula, like a lightweight oil, so it sinks in so quickly. Like the Pixi offering, this one also has glycolic acid as its exfoliant (which my skin loves), but it also has some other skin lovelies like red seaweed to promote skin firming and goji berry to improve skin elasticity and fight free radicals. I wake up with especially peppy and radiant skin when I've slapped this on.

THE RETINOL TREATMENTS | When I'm not using a chemical exfoliant, I like to use products with a form of retinol in them to help resurface the skin - they really help keep acne at bay for me. You probably all know my obsession with the Sunday Riley Luna Sleeping Night Oil (review) by now, so I won't bore you too much. It's just my favorite face oil ever, and I always wake up to much nicer, more even skin. A newer bit I've been trying is the Trufora Night Serum 85*. It doesn't contain retinol (or its derivatives) like Luna does, but it's got peptides that display retinol-like effects. It absorbs into the skin quickly and really helps to smooth the skin. This also promotes a more even skintone for me, and I can absolutely tell a difference in the hydration of my skin when I've used this.

THE HEAVY DUTY CREAMS | I mentioned in my Lovin' Lately last weekend my love for the Kiehl's Ultra Facial Deep Moisture Balm. It's a super thick, rich cream that instantly soothes the skin and delivers intense moisture. I love using it after a facial oil to really lock it in and leave my skin looking juicy come morning. Another bit from Trufora that's been perfect for my skin is the Intensive Night Treatment*. It's designed to be used with their Night Serum, and they really make the perfect pair. This cream isn't as heavy as the Kiehl's but still packs quite a punch in the moisture department, courtesy of two forms of hyaluronic acid among other intense hydrators.

THE HAND HEROES | The last step before hopping into bed is slathering on some hand cream. My hands can get easily dry and cracked, but as long as I keep up with hand cream every night I'm fine. When I'm really needing to relax I reach for the Aesop Resurrection Aromatique Hand Balm - it sinks in quickly and leaves no greasy residue. The real winning quality to me, though, is the smell. It smells quite herbal and it really relaxes me. The other hand cream I'm always reaching for (it's quite a bit more nourishing than the Aesop) is the Skinfix Ultra Rich Hand Cream*. Despite being ultra rich as the name suggests, it doesn't leave a greasy film on the hands. It's scentless and really softens the skin - I really love it.

What products do you reach for at bedtime?

*Some products included have been sent to me for consideration, but all opinions are my own. Please see my disclaimer for more information.

First Impressions: Milk Makeup

April 19, 2016

Do you ever try something from a new/new to you brand and love it so much that you suddenly need everything else from the line? Because that was me with Milk Makeup. Born of the NYC/LA-based media company Milk, the line promises to be cool, eco-conscious, and perfect for the person on the go. Being more and more in the mindset of "stay in bed as long as possible," lately, the "on-the-go" aspect really spoke to me - to me, "on-the-go" products mean "easy and quick to apply." Most of their products come in handy twist-up sticks that are definitely perfect for quick applications and touch-ups. The line is cruelty-free as a whole, and many of the products (they say 60% of them) are also vegan. I got the Matte Bronzer for my birthday at the beginning of the month, and after trying it once I knew it was love. I immediately picked up three more products in the Sephora VIB Sale the following week. Here's what I've been thinking so far.

Matte Bronzer, 'Baked' | The one that started it all. I first saw this being used in an article on XoVain, and I knew immediately it was my kind of product. I've been more and more into bronzers lately, and I love me a cream product, especially when it comes in a stick. The Matte Bronzer in Baked is the absolute perfect shade for creating warmth in the skin (of which I have none), though it is not orange in the slightest. I love applying it in a "3" shape on the sides of my face and blending with either my fingers for the Real Techniques Expert Face Brush for a little bit of sculpting and bronzing in one. The formula is so creamy (it has "Milk Melt Technology" to melt on contact with body heat) and just melts into the skin, though I'm not worried about it melting off in the summertime. This was love at first swipe for me, so I of course added more to my collection.

Highlighter, 'Lit' | I bet you're not surprised I bought the highlighter - they're my weakness. This has the same melting technology as the bronzer, so again, it's ultra creamy and blendable. It's a soft pale golden champagne shade that leaves the loveliest sheen on the skin. Needless to say, I'm hooked. I sweep this on the tops of my cheekbones, down my nose, and dab a little bit on my cupid's bow and on the inner corners of my eyes with my fingers. I can definitely see myself dabbing this on my collarbones too in the summertime if I'm feeling extra fancy.

Lip + Cheek, 'Rally' | The third chubby stick-type product I've got is a color for the lips and cheeks - I picked Rally, which is a mauve shade (of course). The color payoff of this is more sheer than the bronzer, which I like because with my rosy complexion, I need to be careful about color on my cheeks. Just like the bronzer and highlighter, it blends beautifully into the skin. It also contains mango butter, peach nectar, and avocado oil for hydration - it doesn't feel greasy on the cheeks, but it's incredibly nourishing on the lips. I dab the stick on my cheeks and blend with fingers when I want to use it as blush, but I apply it to my lips using my fingers. I'd love to try the deeper berry shade ("Quickie") next.

Ubame Mascara, 'Inked' | I was in the market for a new everyday mascara, and this one looked promising. I love that it comes in a squeezy tube, although I don't really know why it pleases me so much. I also really like the wand, a fiber brush composed into three balls (although the models in Milk Makeup's demo videos saying "It's got balls!" over and over is a little grating). It grips every lash and really helps lift them up. I get a really great curl and impressive length with this. Despite not being waterproof, the curl hangs around until the end of the day, too. I usually have to wear waterproof mascaras so they won't smudge on me, but this one doesn't cause any major issues. If I'm having a particularly oily eyelid day, I'll have to wipe away a few tiny smudges under my eyes in the afternoon, but that's it. I'm so impressed with this mascara, and it's one I'll definitely keep repurchasing to use on an everyday basis.

Milk Makeup is available to from Sephora, Urban Outfitters, and the brand's website. Have you tried anything from Milk Makeup?

Lovin' Lately

April 16, 2016

With this month being my birthday month and also the month of the Sephora VIB sale, there are a lot of things I've been trying. And I've been loving everything. So I was worried that if I saved all the products I loved till the end of the month for my April Favorites, it could probably qualify as my first novel. I decided to divide these favorites in half and today talk about some things I've been loving since the end of March.

Sunday Riley Tidal Brightening Enzyme Water Cream* (review) | I completely raved about this cream in my recent review. It does exactly what it says on the tin - brightens the skin. It leaves my skin feeling plumped and as soft as velvet, especially when layered over the Luna oil. Since using it I've noticed a nice improvement in my skin's texture and tone - everything is just a bit more even.

Kiehl's Ultra Facial Deep Moisture Balm | The other moisturizer I've been obsessed with comes from the Kiehl's Ultra Facial family. It's a super rich and thick cream that's been perfect for my dry and dehydrated skin. I've been using a tiny scoop of this spread over my face as the last step of my evening skincare routine to lock everything in. By morning, I'm left with super hydrated skin.

Glossier Generation G & Stretch Concealer (review) | At this point, I'm totally convinced that Glossier can do no wrong. The Stretch Concealer has pretty much already reached holy grail status for me, as much as I hate that phrase. It's so creamy and keeps its dewy finish so it goes perfectly with the rest of the look I'm always going for in my skin. It's equally lovely on undereye circles and spots, and because it's so creamy it doesn't get hung up on any dry patches. The Generation G Matte Lipstick is one of the most unique products I've ever tried - it glides on like a balm but is matte and looks like a stain. I've got the shade Like, which is a really pretty pink color for everyday, and Jam, which looks like your lips have been stained by red wine or a grape popsicle or something.

Wander Beauty Exquisite Eye Liquid Shadow | This is another product I've been reaching for almost every morning. I have the shade Bronze and it's absolutely perfect for everyday. It's super quick and easy to apply as well, and over a primer it lasts all day long. I've got my eye on the Dove Grey shade next.

Lune+Aster Moonrise Glow & Contour Bronzing Palette* | I was very kindly sent this beautiful palette from Bluemercury at the end of last month, and I haven't been able to go a day without using it since. The powders are so creamy and finely milled, and the shades are perfect. It really reminds me of the Charlotte Tilbury Bronze & Glow in that you get a hybrid bronzing/contour shade and a soft golden highlight. I can definitely see myself hitting pan on this eventually.

Jouer Longwear Lip Creme Liquid Lipsticks (review) | As you know, I haven't been able to get enough liquid lipsticks lately. I've been reaching for the four shades of the Jouer Lip Cremes I've got as often as I can. They really are some of the most comfortable liquid lipsticks I've tried. And they really hit it out of the park with the neutrals.

What products have you been loving lately?

*Some of the products included have been sent to me for consideration, but all opinions are my own. See my disclaimer for more information.