Irresistible Me Diamond Flat Iron

May 26, 2016

I don't talk much about hair products round these parts, and that's because I'm simply awful at doing my hair. I usually just let it air dry and pull it back into a ponytail for work, but I've been getting sick of the hair rut I've been in for years. I've been experimenting with styling tools more and more lately, so today I'm here to talk about the Irresistible Me Diamond Hair Styler Ceramic Flat Iron.* My hair is naturally wavy with some curls in the bottom layers, but it usually becomes quite frizzy no matter what the humidity is. I've tried to do fancy blowouts like they do when I get my hair cut, but I can never do it (and I'm a wimp and holding the hairdryer up for too long makes my arms hurt). So straighteners and curlers are the best option for me.

I've used a few flat irons in my time (mostly throughout high school), and I can say that the Diamond Flat Iron from Irresistible Me is my favorite one of all that I've tried. They really seem to have put a lot of thought into the user experience. The tool itself is extremely lightweight, so it's perfect for me - I have a lot of hair to straighten, but my arms never get tired or sore. It also has a little divot on the outside of the iron just under the plates, right where your thumb goes. It makes it super easy to hold and I'm never worried about it slipping out of my hands. There's different temperature settings, something none of the previous flat irons I've used ever had, so it's really convenient and I can avoid frying my hair. The buttons to control the temperature and the power are also located inside the iron (as in on the same side as the plates). This is enormously appreciated, as this means I never accidentally change the temperature or turn the whole thing off while I'm straightening my hair.

I don't know if this is common, but my hair seems to very willingly come out - as in, something as simple as running my fingers through my hair causes me to come away with a somewhat alarming amount of strands stuck in my fingers. All my old straighteners used to catch and pull out lots of my hair, but that hasn't been an issue at all with the Diamond Flat Iron. You can definitely tell it's a much better quality than the flat irons from Target I had been using. It makes my hair super smooth (with some straighteners I was still left with frizzy baby hairs all over the top layer of my hair), but I don't feel like it's incredibly damaging. I do always make sure to use a heat protectant beforehand, though. The thing I love most about these straighteners is that they really preserve the amount of body in my hair, as I'm sure you can see in the before and after photos above. Some straighteners almost straighten the hair too much, making it super flat and stringy. This definitely still straightens out my waves, but the natural amount of volume in my hair isn't lost. My hair is usually quite stubborn when it comes to being straightened, but with the Diamond Flat Iron I only have to pass over each section of hair once - I can straighten all of my hair within 15 minutes.

If you're looking for a new pair of straighteners, I'd definitely recommend these ones from Irresistible Me. I'm working on perfecting the technique to curl my hair with these, so keep an eye out for a little tutorial-type post I'll put up about that soon.

Do you straighten your hair? What's your favorite hair tool?

*The Diamond Flat Iron was kindly sent to me by Irresistible Me for review. However, all opinions are my own. Please see my disclaimer for more information.

The Spring Morning Skincare Routine

May 24, 2016

In recent weeks I've had a bit of a skincare shake-up, and I'm trying to be more consistent in the products I use. Since adopting more concrete routines, my skin has seen a major improvement. I've picked through my collection to put together the perfect routine for spring mornings - it cleanses my skin of any dirt and product from the night before, and it also prepares my skin for the day ahead.

CLEANSE | I've still been completely obsessed with the Glossier Milky Jelly Cleanser. It's definitely my favorite facial cleanser I've ever tried. It's perfect for mornings because it's great at cleansing the skin, leaving it feeling refreshed, clean, and nourished. It's so lightweight and doesn't leave any kind of film on the skin, and it's just perfectly suited to a spring morning.

ESSENCE | Has anyone else noticed the jump in the hype around the SKII Essence lately? I'm a sucker for hype but there was no way I was going to drop around $100 on what just feels like fancy face water, so I ended up pulling the lone essence in my collection to start using again. I don't know why I ever stopped using the Mizon Water Volume EX First Essence,* but it's now a rediscovered favorite. In a typical Korean skincare routine you'd use an essence after a cleanser and a toner, but seeing as I'm pretty rushed in the mornings I go for this without toner first. It's the consistency of water but it really penetrates into the skin and leaves it healthy and hydrated. After using this consistently I've really noticed an improvement in the brightness, tone, and overall hydration of my skin.

EYE CREAM | I've been really keeping up with applying an eye cream lately, as I've noticed my concealer doesn't crease nearly as much when I've remembered to apply one. My favorite is the Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado - this is definitely worth every bit of hype it receives. It's super thick when you first get it out of the tub, but as you warm it up and work it into the skin it becomes much thinner and spreads and sinks into the skin easily. It's so hydrating without making the eye area greasy (a dealbreaker in my book, because eye makeup smudges on me as it is!).

SERUM | I'm not sure if the Dr. Jart+ Ceramidin Liquid (review) is meant to be used as a serum, but that's how I use it. It's a thin fluid that I pat into the skin, and it immediately gives a nice hit of hydration. I've found it really helps to keep my skin from drying out throughout the day, despite working in a super dry cement lab.

MOISTURIZE | Although I still use quite a bit of hydrating products, I need to start picking slightly lighter textures when the weather warms up. I don't have oily skin by any definition, but thicker creams tend to just feel too heavy in the heat. My absolute favorite right now is the Purlisse Pur Moist Hydra-Balance Moisturizer.* This has a slightly runny texture that still feels ultra nourishing on the skin. What I love most about it, especially for warmer weather, is that it seems to set down to a more velvety finish. It's not mattifying, but it's not greasy like some creams can be. It's an absolutely beautiful moisturizer that's just a dream to use.

PROTECT | If I'm not wearing makeup with SPF or if I'm planning on spending time outside, I'll opt for the Josie Maran Argan Daily Moisturizer SPF 47 to make sure my skin is protected from the sun. This comes out of the pump with a thin, runny texture, but it feels quite thick as you rub it into the skin. I think it's because this is a physical SPF rather than a chemical one - they tend to feel a bit heavier on the skin. But this moisturizer is nice and lightweight, and once it sinks into the skin you don't feel it at all. I love that it has a higher SPF rating as well, being such a pale-skinned gal.

What products do you reach for in the morning?

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

Valentia Skin Detoxifying Clay Mask

May 21, 2016

Lately I've had a bit of trouble with my skin. All of a sudden I was just breaking out in areas of my face I usually break out, the most annoying spots being around the bridge of my nose - that made wearing safety glasses at work all day so much fun. I knew I just needed a good ole clay mask to pull out whatever was bothering my skin, and I turned to the Valentia Skin Detoxifying Clay Mask.*

I've never tried a mask that's this effective at clearing the skin while also not being drying in the slightest. It's got Kaolin Clay to pull out impurities, Spirulina to hydrate the skin's surface and help with tissue regeneration, CoQ10 to reduce wrinkles, and Hibiscus and Cranberry Fibers for their anti-aging properties. The directions say to leave it on for 15-20 minutes (until it dries) and remove it with a washcloth, rubbing in circular motions to get some extra exfoliation out of the cranberry and hibiscus fibers.

When I applied the mask for the first time, I noticed it tingles quite a bit on my skin. It doesn't irritate my skin, however - I think the tingling sensation is telling me it's working. I've found I only need to leave it on for about five minutes rather than the suggested fifteen - if your skin is on the sensitive side (like mine), I'd suggest you do the same. But cutting down the time I leave it on my face doesn't seem to decrease its effectiveness. This literally feels like I've taken a vacuum cleaner to my face once I've washed it off. Every single pore seems to be cleared out and shrunken down. It's amazing. What's even more amazing is that I don't experience any dryness or tightness that typically come with an effective clay mask.

The breakouts I mentioned above have pretty much come to a stop since I've been using this, and I haven't experienced any purging of the skin either. This is now my go-to when my skin's feeling congested or when I feel like it needs a good clean - I spent Mother's Day traipsing through Boston with my mom and my sister, riding the T for most of the day, and when I got home I immediately slathered a bit of this mask ok. It definitely felt like it got all the gunk from the day out of my skin. I think it'll be the perfect addition to my skincare routine, especially with warmer weather approaching.

Have you tried the Valentia Skin Detoxifying Clay Mask? What's your favorite clay mask?

You can follow Valentia on their Facebook or Instagram.

*This post has been powered by Brandbacker, but all opinions are my own. Please see my disclaimer for more information.