Early Morning Beauty

Ever since we've moved, Lilo has been even more rambunctious in the mornings and makes sure I'm up by 5:45am. I've been reaching for lots of products to pep up my skin and help me look like I got enough sleep and wasn't awoken by a big orange fluff begging for treats.

In the last few months I've somehow transformed into a morning shower person - they really do help to wake me up. One step I'll always do in the shower if I'm feeling especially tired/lackluster is the Blithe Patting Water Pack - the Energy Yellow Citrus & Honey version is just the best. It instantly makes my skin feel so smooth, and the citrus scent really perks me up. Speaking of citrus, the Origins GinZing Refreshing Scrub Cleanser* is also the most perfect cleanser for the morning. It reminds me of those old school face washes with the bursting citrus beads, but this one actually feels good for the skin.

Once I'm out of the shower, I try to go for the most plumping and hydrating skincare. I've been loving spraying on the Missha Time Revolution First Treatment Essence Mist.* It's an aerosol spray, so the fine mist feels super refreshing. The Time Revolution Essence is one of my favorites, and I definitely notice an improvement in the texture and tone of my skin when I'm using it consistently. I swear by Hyaluronic Acid serums every morning, but I find them especially crucial on tired mornings. They really plump up and energize my skin, and they work well with lots of other products. Right now I've been loving the Dr. Roebuck's Ultimate Hydrating Serum* - it has a thicker texture than I'm used to, but it sinks into the skin easily and really keeps it hydrated all day. When I really need some perking up, the Origins GinZing Refreshing Eye Cream* is a must-have, too. The eye cream is a godsend for puffiness, containing caffeine as well as a tiny bit of iridescence and salmon pink tint, so it really depuffs and camouflages dark circles. I find I need a lot less concealer under my eyes when I use this. The J.One Jelly Pack is also sure to give the skin a boost - it's incredibly plumping and firming, creating an incredibly smooth, moisturized canvas for makeup. My makeup lasts so much longer on top of this.

Speaking of concealer, my go-to all summer long has been the Milk Makeup Flex Concealer. It gives great coverage, but still looks skinlike and isn't drying. I find it works well both under my eyes as well as on the rest of my face. I typically wear mascara every day, even with mostly no other makeup, and I find it's an essential step to looking awake. And on lighter days I swear by the Glossier Stretch Concealer - it's got the same skinlike look and feel as the Milk one, but with lighter coverage. It's like the tinted moisturizer of concealers. To perk up my cheeks I've been relying on a healthy dose of the Glossier Cloud Paint* in Beam - I normally go for Puff or Haze, but the peachy pink Beam makes me look so well-rested and healthy. All four shades are must-haves for sure, really. (You can get 2 for $30 now and save even more with my rep link!)

What are your skincare and makeup picks for disguising early mornings?

*Products mentioned have been sent to me for consideration but all opinions are my own. Please see my disclaimer for more information. This post contains affiliate links.

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Introduction to Willing Beauty

Recently I was contacted by Willing Beauty to try their HY+5 Regimen, and I jumped at the chance. I loved the story of how the brand started - two mother/daughter duos pairing their strengths to create one great brand. One of the two mother/daughter pairs is also behind the skincare brand willa.

So, what is the HY+5 Regimen? It's a set of five products for simple three-step morning and night routines. The HY+5 name comes from the fact that the products contain hyaluronic acid as well as five "forces of nature" - Vitamin C, Prickly Pear Seed Oil, Antarctic Glycoproteins, Alpine Edelweiss Flower, and Deep Sea Hydrothermal Enzymes. Together, they're supposed to hydrate, protect, and brighten the skin to keep it looking youthful and glowy. The products included in the regimen are the Do Over Nourishing Cleanser, Daydream Illuminating Day Moisturizer, Partner in Time Age-Defying Night Serum, Get Set SPF 30 Tinted Primer, and Sleepover Replenishing Night Cream.

Do Over Nourishing Cleanser | I always prefer creamy cleansers to foaming gel ones, so this has been an instant hit. I saw Cindy's review of the same regimen and she said this was like a thicker version of Glossier Milky Jelly, and ever since I saw that I can't get the comparison out of my head. It feels super soft and cushion-y, and it leaves the skin feeling cleansed and conditioned. I've only used it as a morning cleanser and as a second cleanse in the evenings (I prefer oil cleansers to remove my makeup/waterproof mascara), but once I try it to remove makeup I'll also report back.

Daydream Illuminating Day Moisturizer | This is a great example of a lightweight moisturizer that still keeps the skin nourished all day. It's quite a thin cream that sinks into the skin quickly, and it really helps to plump the skin up - it's great before makeup. Usually products that sink in this quickly don't give me enough hydration, but this really does. It also gives the skin a beautiful dewy glow without actually being sparkly or greasy.

Partner in Time Age-Defying Night Serum | This feels really similar to the day cream actually - quite thin, lightweight, and sinks in so quickly. My skin loves a good hyaluronic acid serum, and the extra five "forces of nature" really bring this above and beyond. My skin looks so radiant and bright the morning after using this, so I think it's my top pick from the whole set.

Get Set SPF 30 Tinted Primer | This is a velvety, silicone-feeling primer - my skin notoriously does not get along well with those, so this is the one miss in the set for me. I do like that it contains SPF 30 and has that tint to help even out the skin before makeup, and it does feel weightless on the skin. If you usually use silicone primers, then I think you'd love this, especially if you're looking for one that will keep the skin looking hydrated. 

Sleepover Replenishing Night Cream | This is a beautiful cream that feels like a whipped butter when applied to the skin, but doesn't feel heavy or greasy at all once rubbed in. I usually have to load up my face with oils so it won't dry out overnight, but this keeps it moisturized all night long. My skin always feels so unbelievably smooth the next morning, too.

After about a month of using the regimen (I did sub in a few products here and there, like a serum and a dedicated sunscreen in the mornings), I've noticed an improvement in my skin - it feels more supple and smooth. I've noticed my makeup settles less into little lines and crevices and goes on more smoothly in general. You may be able to see from the photos that these products are small in size, but for most of them you don't need much for them to be effective. 

For the rest of the month of August, Willing Beauty is having a deal on the HY+5 Regimen - you can get the set for $98 (regularly $138), and every purchase of a regimen will get you a free Born to Glow Skin Elixir. Willing Beauty also gave me a referral link, which I could eventually earn commission from - money will of course be directed back into improving this space, but don't feel pressured to use it if you're not comfortable.

Would you try the HY+5 Regimen?

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

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Underrated Product | Fresh Sugar Cream Lip Treatments

Lately I just can't shut up about how much I love sheer lip products, and I've got a new favorite to share today. A few weeks ago I was sent the new shades of the Fresh Sugar Cream Lip Treatments,* and I've already added the three original shades to my wishlist. I haven't heard many people talking about these, so I think we've got a bit of an underrated gem on our hands here.

The Fresh Sugar Cream Lip Treatments are meant to combine skincare and makeup, giving the look of a soft, creamy gloss with the nourishment of a lip balm. Everyone talks about their original tinted lip balms, but I think these are even better. They feel so plush and luxurious on the lips, and while the tinted balms can feel a bit slippy at times, these stay firmly in place. Reapplying certain lip balms throughout the day can end up irritating my lips, but these keep them smooth and nourished no matter how many times I apply more. It sticks around for quite a long time for a moisturizing lip product - it actually feels a little like the Glossier Lip Gloss. 

All six shades have a subtle shimmer running through them that gently enhance the lips without ever feeling gritty or goopy. I have the three newest shades, and I've been rotating through them interchangeably over the past few weeks. They're quite sheer, so there's not too much of a difference between shades on the lips. I think this makes them such a good everyday product though, and they make great lip toppers since a lipstick or lip liner color will show through.

The colors I have are Pearl, a subtle pearly pink, Gilt, a warm shimmering gold, and Baby, a sheer baby pink. I think my favorite of the three is Pearl because of the opalescent sheen it gives the lips, but they're all just beautiful. I've been on the hunt for a product that will give me the look of the Desi x Katy Lip Gloss with Dose of Colors that just came out (still trying to limit my spending), and I feel like Gilt gives a very toned-down version of that look. And Baby is perfect for adding a soft flush of color to the lips. It's the least sheer of the three I have.

Like I said, using these three shades has got me itching to get the other three. They all seem like perfect shades for everyday. Have you tried any of the Sugar Cream Lip Treatments?

*Products mentioned have been sent to me for consideration, but all opinions are my own. Please see my disclaimer for more information. This post contains affiliate links.