Spotlight | Dear, Klairs

January 19, 2017 in Skincare

A few months ago, I was sent a few products to try from a brand called Klairs. Klairs is a Korean beauty brand with the motto, "Simple, but enough." It's all about the basics that are really effective and will become staples in your routine. They use mild ingredients that won't irritate the skin, they don't test on animals, and are reasonably priced for the quality. I fell in love with the three products I was sent, so I recently treated myself to another product (in my recent Korean Beauty Haul).

Supple Preparation Facial Toner* | This is my favorite product I've tried from the brand, and it's also one of their most popular products. I use it morning and night right after cleansing, patting a few drops into my skin with my hands. It's definitely been helping my winter skin, keeping it hydrated and supple (as the name would suggest). It balances the skin's pH levels, which is important after cleansing, and it also works to reduce inflammation with wheat amino acids. I've noticed my skin feeling overall more clear and even.

Rich Moist Soothing Serum | This is the product I purchased myself, and it's another one I've been using morning and night. My biggest issue with my skin is general dryness and irritation, so this is perfect. It feels instantly cooling and calming on my skin, and like the toner, it really ups my moisturization game. It doesn't feel heavy on the skin at all, so I can definitely see myself using this in the warmer months, too.

Midnight Blue Calming Cream* | This cream is a lifesaver. It uses guaiazulene, a hydrocarbon extracted from chamomile oil, to soothe the skin. Guaiazulene calms inflammation and helps to regenerate skin cells. It also has Tiger Grass, or Centella Asiatica Extract, which also regenerates skin cells and reduces scarring. It's not meant to use all over the face, but rather on places with more irritation or stress. Sometimes I break out in hives along my jawline (I have yet to figure out the cause), but dabbing this on calms them down right away. I also love using it on spots - the cream isn't heavy, so it doesn't further clog up my skin, but instead helps calm the skin down. I really think it reduces the mark left as well.

Mid-day Blue Sun Lotion* | One of my resolutions for this year (that I forgot to mention in my Beauty Resolutions post) is to wear more sunscreen. Some of my family members have had skin cancer, and being so fair-skinned has made me hyper aware of my sun exposure. Just like the Calming Cream, this also contains guaiazulene to reduce redness and calm flushed skin. I love that it doesn't feel thick and greasy on my skin, which is what most SPF products feel like on me. It feels like a light, refreshing lotion that sinks in quickly, and I've really been loving it. But someone please enlighten me - should I be wearing SPF every day even if I work in a place with not much daylight and my morning and evening commutes are both in the dark? I would gladly add a step to my skincare routine every morning to use this.

Have you tried any products from Klairs before? I've got my eye on the Freshly Juiced Vitamin Drop next! (The name and the packaging got me).

*Products mentioned have been sent to me for consideration, but all opinions and results are my own. Please see my disclaimer for more information.

The Everyday Eye

January 18, 2017 in Makeup

I may have written a post similar to this last year, but around this time of year I start getting super lazy with my makeup. Last year using only one eyeshadow was my form of lazy, while this year I haven't been wearing any eyeshadow at all. I decided I'd revisit some of my favorite "one and done" eyeshadows to motivate me to start wearing them again. I actually took this photo over the weekend and left all the eyeshadows out where I do my makeup, and I've used one every day this week!

As you can tell from the photo, I certainly have a type. I typically go for neutral soft shimmer shades that are either quite mauve-y/rose-y or taupe-y. I really don't discriminate when it comes to the choice between creams and powders, too. For creams I like formulas that are pigmented enough that I only need a thin layer on my eyelid - this lowers the chances of it creasing on me. I had such a moment with the By Terry Ombre Blackstar in Misty Rock a while ago - I've actually almost worked my way through this entire eyeshadow stick. It's such a stunning plummy bronze shade that really seems to complement my brown eyes. It super shimmery as well, but still in a chic looking way. Then I moved on to the Charlotte Tilbury Eyes to Mesmerise Cream Eyeshadow in Marie Antoinette. It's the perfect bronze shade for me - a little taupe-y to keep things from going orange on my skin. My newest cream eyeshadow love has been the Surratt Beauty Prismatique Eyes in Style Eyes. It's a super thin formula that blends effortlessly, and there's also a matching pressed pigment to press on top. This is the epitome of "chic sparkle." I'm in love.

I also really have been loving the sort of cream/powder hybrid formula that is the Dior Fusion Mono Eyeshadow (review). These just go with anything and are perfect for a quick and easy look. Chimere is such a lovely brightening champagne shade, and Meteore is the perfect bronze. It's warmer than CT Marie Antoinette for sure, but luckily it stays away from orange territory on me.

For traditional powder eyeshadows, you can't go wrong with some MAC Eyeshadows. Sable and Patina are my two favorite shades for an everyday, one-shadow look depending on what I'm feeling. Sable is a beautiful shade similar to Misty Rock, and Patina is a taupe-y bronze that I've heard is a dupe of Burberry's famous Pale Barley shade. Speaking of Burberry, their Wet & Dry Silk Eyeshadow in Rosewood is also a favorite. It really adds a nice warmth to the face with its rosy brown tone. And my other favorite formula is the NARS Dual-Intensity Eyeshadow. I've got the shades Himalia and Rigel, which, again, are perfect everyday shades. Himalia is a shimmering taupe, and Rigel is a stunning rose gold shade. The soft shimmer is perfect for daytime when used dry, but it can really be amped up when used wet.

What are your favorite eyeshadows for everyday?

Milk Makeup Blur Stick | First Impressions

January 17, 2017 in Makeup

When one of my favorite brands drops a new product, I'm all ears. I started hearing some hype building around the Milk Makeup Blur Stick a couple weeks ago, and it really sounded like something I'd want to try. It promises to blur imperfections on all skintones, from pores to fine lines, all while being oil- and silicone-free. Usually I stay away from blurring primers because they break me out in painful cystic acne - I'm pretty sure it's from the silicones. Anytime anything has that slippy texture, I run the other way. Hearing that this could somehow blur the skin without silicone really piqued my interest.

The Blur Stick comes in Milk's typical "chubby stick" packaging, similar to their bronzer and highlighter. This makes it super easy to apply to the skin on areas of interest. It's the most interesting sensation to apply this to the skin - in fact, it feels like nothing. It doesn't leave the skin feeling slick or overly matte. I instantly can see a difference - my pores are smoothed over, and some discoloration seems to somehow be soothed (even though the product is totally clear). Dabbing a bit under my eyes even smoothes over some fine lines I've been noticing there. In the photos below you might be able to see the difference in texture it made around my nose. The photos are totally unedited (so enjoy my mustache and spotty chin).

The Blur Stick claims to be mattifying, which worried me a little, as my skin is normally on the dehydrated side and I'm all about keeping things glowy. But I've found that since I only use it through the center of my face, it keeps those areas from getting greasy throughout the day. It doesn't dry my skin out - it just leaves it looking like skin. My makeup sits really well over it, too, although I have to make sure to only apply a small layer to my nose to avoid foundation breaking up on top. I haven't had any issues with breakouts or clogged pores after using it every day for the past week and a half.

I bought my Blur Stick myself, but last week I got a super exciting package from Milk Makeup's PR Team containing three more - I gave them to my mom and sister to try, and since they have different skin types than I do, I thought it would be helpful to share how they're getting on with it, too.

My sister is 21, and her main concerns with her skin are oiliness and her pores. She says, "I'd say that primers for oily skin make my skin feel tight and heavy, but this one just feels like my skin is naturally that smooth. It also doesn't feel like my pores are being clogged, which is what freaks me out about most primers. It's not the most oil-absorbing primer I've ever used but it does its job really well and feels so great that as of right now, it might be my favorite."

My mom has asked me for recommendations a few times for oiliness and uneven skin texture, and she's really been loving the Blur Stick as well. She says, "I love how it feels when you put it on - almost velvety and so smooth. I put it on my entire face and it stays matte for the whole day, but it doesn't feel like there is even anything on my skin. I really like that although there is no color, it really does even out my skin. It even diminishes a broken capillary I have on my cheek! I will definitely use this every day regardless of whether or not I wear any other makeup because I feel like my skin looks so much clearer and younger."

So it seems like Milk Makeup's Blur Stick will work well on a variety of skintypes as well as skintones as again, it is completely colorless. I'm in love with mine, and I'm super glad my mom and sister have been loving theirs, too.

Have you tried the Blur Stick yet?