Summer

Wednesday, October 17, 2018

7 Products to Keep the Beach With You Even After Summer Vacation Has Ended

Press Samples Included


It has officially been the fall season for almost four weeks, but with the warm weather sticking around for quite some time, it has only really felt like it this week up here in wine country. As eager as I have been for the return of chilly days so I can enjoy my boots, scarves, and cozy sweaters, there are a few things about summer that I just cannot bear to part with. I am a beach-loving babe to my core, and it used to be difficult for me to part with my beloved beach-inspired beauty products over the cold months. While there certainly are no hard and fast rules in place that state I cannot enjoy my beloved tropical effects, I still feel a little out of place. For today's blog post, I wanted to share my current favorite products that will take your mind back to those hot summer days on the beach with sun-kissed skin while still embracing the colder and drier days we are now facing. Ready? Let's jump in!

Pearl Candle and Perfume Oil

Of our five senses, smell may be the best at triggering evocative memories, so it should come to no surprise that the first item on my list would utilize smell's incredible power. While I have an affinity to tropical fruit smells, I want something a little warmer for the cooler months, and the Pearl scent by The Sage Lifestyle has already become my daily go-to this season. Inspired by the organic gemstone created by mollusks, this fragrance was developed by Sage Machado and inspired by the birth of her oldest daughter, Sophie Rose Annabelle Lee. This scent captures the purity and innocence of the gem by combining base notes of woody sandalwood, fresh musks, and warm vanilla with a fresh, green mousse de chene heart note for a timeless fragrance that will keep you coming back. Even those that are sensitive to fragrances can enjoy this subtle scent that is far from overpowering! Whether you choose to wear it on yourself while out and about or to keep this warm scent close to home, you'll be amazed at how often others will compliment this delightful fragrance!

KBShimmer
Tide Me Over Picture Perfect Cuticle Cream

I may not have been aware of the subtle changes going on around me, but my body definitely has picked up on them over the past month! With colder weather comes drier air and the return of cracked and peeling cuticles, unless you take care of them, of course. My preferred product is the Picture Perfect Cuticle Cream by KBShimmer as it is filled with nourishing jojoba oil, cocoa and shea butters and olive oil, and yet is it still able to be absorbed quickly into the skin without leaving a greasy residue. The cuticle cream in scent Tide Me Over is a favorite of mine as it starts off with notes of fresh coconut before touches of woody sandalwood come in to warm it up. The bottle may be small, but you only have to use half a pea sized amount so it lasts for quite some time. The little opening is also perfect for slipping it on a keychain or carabiner so you can take it with you and apply no matter where your day takes you!

Skin Snob
Midnight Flower Dry Body Oil

Since we've already covered our cuticles, we have to be sure to moisturize our skin during this ultra-dry time as well! I'm usually ambivalent when it comes to body oils, so I was surprised at just how much I enjoyed the Dry Body Oil pads by Skin Snob! The cotton rounds are filled with nourishing argan, grape seed and sea buckthorn oils in addition to vitamins A, C and E to give your skin the ultimate treat. The application method is convenient and easy to use, so there is no worry about oil dripping on the floor to slip and slide on (I may know this experience well from other products). What won me over the most is that within about 5 minutes of application, the oils were fully absorbed into my skin so I could go about my day and not have to worry about oils transferring onto my clothing. The Midnight Flower fragrance brought back memories of my time in Hawaii and Tahiti, so I naturally had to include it in this post. Because floral scents overall aren't my normal go-to for during the day, this is more of a Girl's Night Out kind of product. Obviously if florals are your jam, you may wish to wear it all day long!

Octavio Hair
La Playa Salt Spray

I know what some of you are thinking: Come on, Jen, beach hair is meant for the summer only! I beg to differ! While the long and carefree tousled beach look may not be the most common this time of year, it doesn't mean you have to say farewell to the beach vibe altogether. Bulky sweaters don't pair well with too much lift of the hair, but there are ways to add the beachy elements without being over-the-top this fall. Current hair trends shows the return of both curtain and short bangs, and the La Playa Salt Spray adds a textured wave to your look while still keeping the desired sophistication of the season. I've not yet committed to adding in bangs again as I am toying with having my hair cut really short, but I am still enjoying using this spray on my inverted bob cut.

The Seaweed Bath Co.
Hydrating Seaweed Bath

One only has to look at the brand to realize The Seaweed Bath Co has been inspired by the ocean! All of their products utilize their seaweed-based proprietary ingredient, AlgaDerm Complex and Marine Tri-Peptide to repair and restore the skin's protective moisture barrier. This fall season, I am particularly gravitating towards the Hydrating Seaweed Bath. Argan oil, vitamin E, and Hawaiian Kukui oil naturally nourishes dry skin while Maine bladderwrack seaweed restores and calms troubled skin. It is available in lavender, eucalyptus & peppermint, and unscented options, but if you elect to use the scented versions, please be aware this bath product still has a rather strong seaweed smell. Given that seaweed is one of the main ingredients, it's not surprising the scent isn't masked completely, and it may be a turn off for some potential readers. I'm personally fine with it, but I still had to put this warning out for those that might not be a fan.

Alba Botanica
Hawaiian 3-in-1 Clean Towelettes
Deep Pore Purifying Pineapple Enzyme

I have a strange relationship with facial wipes- I both love and dislike them at the same time, and it really depends on what I want to accomplish as to whether or not I use them. On days that I wear a full face of makeup, wipes never feel like they get my face fully clean, but on makeup-free days, wipes always leave a weird residue that I have to wash off anyway. I picked up these Alba Botanica Hawaiian 3-in-1 Clean Towelettes to try because it contained two key words on the packaging- hawaiian and pineapple. These wipes actually work quite well at removing my makeup, particularly due to the addition of the pineapple enzyme. They do leave a little bit of product behind and some residue and a follow up with either micellar water-soaked cotton pads or a gentle wash to be a necessity, but when I want a little tropical "fix" this fall, these wipes fit the bill nicely. I should mention that those with sensitive skin will likely want to limit these to occasional use only and be aware that you may feel tingling or a slight burning due to the pineapple enzyme. I didn't notice it on my sensitive skin, but I don't use these daily nor on a relatively clean face to begin with. These are more for ultra-grimy cleaning after spending hours hard house-cleaning kind of wipes.

SoapyBliss Bath & Body Bakery
Mermaid Body Butter and Cupcake Bath Bomb

With a "Mermaid" scent, it is hard to not think about the ocean! The SoapyBliss scent is a delightful combination of creamy coconut with the salty ocean air, and it can be found in many products in the brand's lineup. The Deliciously Whipped Body Butter is just that thanks to the coconut oil, mango butter and coconut milk powder. That being said, my preferred go-to product is the mini sized bath bomb. After wearing those boots all day, these are the perfect pedicure treat! Whether you have a designated foot bath or convert a plastic tub, your tootsies will appreciate the little tlc. The "cake" portion is filled with both mango butter and avocado oil to treat your skin while it fizzes away in the water. The "frosting" serves as the perfect sugar scrub to slough away the dead skin although you can opt to just let it melt into the water and enjoy the extra essential oils that way if you wish.


As you can see, just because summer is over, it doesn't mean to have to permanently say goodbye to the beach over the next several months! The days may be shorter and the days colder, but with the right products with scents that evoke the crashing waves and still give your skin the added luxury it needs over the drier months, you can still relive your summer days, if only in your mind, until summer comes back again!

Also, I wanted to include a special thank you to Sage Machado and The Sage Lifestyle, whose Pearl fragrance unknowingly inspired this blog post!

Have you tried any of the products in this post? What scents bring back some of your favorite summer memories? I'd love to hear from you!

Until next time, dear readers, have a wonderful day!
XO!


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Friday, August 17, 2018

Creating Looks with the Violet Voss Flamingo Palette

While the first day of fall may be officially over five weeks away, summer has come to an end around here: school has started up! This even includes my oldest child who started kindergarten yesterday. In spite of the start of school and the days noticeably cooler than they were just two weeks ago, I am clinging to the brightness of summer. After all, it felt like the summer season was never going to start for awhile there, and I intend to enjoy what is left of it!


It has been a little over a month since I shared my swatches of the Violet Voss Flamingo palette, and I am still enjoying playing with the shades in it! For today's post, I wanted to share photos of some of the looks I have created utilizing this beautiful palette. Let's jump right on in!

If you've been reading my blog recently, I'm sure this look is awfully familiar! I shared this look previously when I wrote my review on about the Danessa Myricks Beauty Waterproof Cushion Colour. While the eyeliner certainly took the lead in this look, the Flamingo palette made for the perfect supporting shades to really complete the look.

This is another look I created where the Flamingo palette played the role of supporting actress (in this case, to a vibrant lip  Ella+Mila Lips in It's Complicated), but in truth, this look was more a proof of concept. When you first look at the Flamingo palette, or at least when I do, it's so easy to see all the vibrant colours and not treat this palette as something that can be used for soft every-day looks. Obviously your every-day look preference may be more subtle or far more dramatic than this, but here I wanted to show my muted eye look using this palette and to show off the versatility. A soft peachy pink with a sparkled center halo is my kind of everyday look when I just want on a touch of colour without having to worry about blending and packing on shades. This look works really well for my extra early mornings when I choose sleep over complex makeup!

I loved every shade in this palette when I first saw it, and I knew I would wear just about every colour in it. The one exception, and a little confession on my part is, while I love the shade Bikini in this palette (the light-medium purple shade), it is a colour I never wear and knew I would never use. Naturally, after playing around with this palette, I just had to break my normal rules for myself and do something, anything, with it. This particular look was inspired by that shade and my desire to break out of my normal colour comfort zones. I'm so glad I opted to push myself outside my usual colour tendencies as I just love this eye look! I'm not crazy about the combination with the lip colour (Kokie Cosmetics Lip Poudre in Infamous) although I do love this lip shade when paired with a different look.

Have you picked up the latest Violet Voss Flamingo Eyeshadow Palette this summer? What colour combinations are you enjoying the most? I'd love to hear from you!

Until next time, dear readers, have a wonderful day!
XO!



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Friday, July 27, 2018

A New Season, A New Skincare Routine: My Summer Morning Product Picks

Press Samples and Purchased Products


Ah, summer, the time of year when school is out, the days are long, and some of the best times include lounging by the pool or going on a fun adventure with friends! When you're an adult and in the working world, summer isn't quite the same as when you were a kid, but there are some noticeable changes, particularly when it comes to your skin. The higher temperatures, changes in humidity, and some summer activities has an effect on your skin; often we kind ourselves having to switch up our skincare products and routine to meet our skin's current needs. These are the products I've been using this summer.


Clean & Clear Essentials Foaming Facial Cleanser (Sensitive Skin)

Some products are my tried and true year-round, and this face wash is just that for me. The sensitive skin formula removes dirt and grime without stripping my skin. It removes light makeup application reasonably well as well although I am a stickler about not sleeping in makeup so that isn't something I deal with for my morning routine.


There was a time when I was younger when washing my face was enough, but that is definitely no longer the case! As you age, your skin often starts to shed dead layers unevenly, resulting in a dull appearance. While I do exfoliate my skin once or twice a week, I like to use this mild exfoliating toner for day to day gentle smoothening and brightening.


Pixi Skintreats Nourishing Lip Polish

Because the lips are on your face and this is part of my daily morning routine, I wanted to include the Pixi lip polish in today's post. This product is dispensed from a textured silicone tip that massages your lips to help stimulate circulation for a healthy, plumped effect. This product is geared towards dry and sensitive lips, and I originally picked up my first tube after my long spell of illness after illness to treat my poor, suffering lips. Even though my lips are no longer dry, I still keep this as part of my routine to gently slough off any dry spots. I massage on a thin layer and let it soak into my lips while I finish up my morning routine. The lip polish has soaked in by the time I'm ready to put on my lipstick and run out the door to start the day.


Able Skincare Mandelic Acid Expert Age Spot Corrector

The Mandelic Acid Expert Age Spot Corrector is a new to me product this summer, and while it is still pretty early for a final opinion, I really have been enjoying it thus far. Mandelic acid is infused with Coralline algae and squalene to target hyper pigmentation due to aging, blemishes, or uneven skin tone while improving skin texture and elasticity. It leaves my skin feeling ultra-smooth, and I really love that it sits well under my makeup.


Malin + Goetz Revitalizing Eye Gel

The Revitalizing Eye Gel is a newer product to the Malin + Goetz product lineup, and I have been loving it! My skin doesn't perform well with heavier creams over the hot summer months, and this gel is the perfect solution to brighten my eyes and treat any dryness. The lightweight formula is absorbed quickly into my skin so I can finish up my routine and get out the door sooner.


L'Oreal Hydra Genius Daily Liquid Care (Oily Skin)

I opted to pick up this light moisturizer on a whim while at Target one day, and I am so glad I did! Over the summer, my skin only needs a light moisturizing boost during the day, and the Hydra Genius fits the bill perfectly. It smoothes onto my face quickly and is absorbed quickly. The oily skin formula is described to have a matte finish, although I find the finish to be more satin than a true flat matte. I really like that it contains aloe water and hyaluronic acid for both an instantaneous and continuing moisturizing effect. I'm skeptical that this moisturizer will be enough for me in the drier winter months, but I certainly am enjoying it for now until my skin needs more.


CōTZ Face Tinted Sunscreen

The final step in my skin care routine is sunscreen, and I don't know if I even have the words for how much I love this one from CōTZ! This mineral-based sunscreen is tinted; long gone are the days of having the dreaded post-sunscreen white cast on my face! The formula is a little on the thicker side, and once applied and pressed into the skin, my face is incredibly soft. As if this wasn't enough, what really sets the CōTZ facial sunscreen apart from others I have tried is that it primes my skin perfectly for makeup application. I've skipped adding a true makeup primer all summer, and my makeup is holding up beautifully throughout the day. While my foundation does eventually start to break down, it lasts just as long when I've used the CōTZ Face Tinted Sunscreen verses one of my makeup primers.


Looking at this photo, it seems like I use quite a few products in my morning routine, but everything applies quickly for me and I can go about my day in no time.

What skincare products are you enjoying this summer? I'd love to hear your top picks!

I'm going to be Las Vegas bound later today for Cosmoprof North America, so be sure to follow me on social media to see what products I discover!

Until next time, dear readers, have a wonderful day and enjoy the weekend!
XO!

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Wednesday, July 18, 2018

Have a Pastel Summer with Londontown's Newest Duo for Summer 2018

Press Sample

I love sumer- the warm weather, the trips to the beach, the bright colours, but sometimes, I want a break from it all. Neon nails can get a little overwhelming for me, and I enjoy breaking it up with clean and refreshing shades. Often I would have to pull nail polishes from previous seasons from my stash to get my softer look, but this summer, Londontown has stepped up to the plate to offer two new shades that offer a breath of fresh air this season.


While their colours are beautiful, Londontown goes above and beyond by infusing their nail lacquers with botanical and mineral oils to restore your hands and nails to greatness. When paired with their kur Nail Hardener and Top Coat, nail strength and durability is reinforced all while sporting a long-lasting, high-shine look. Let's get a closer look at the newest shades to join the brand's colour lineup!

Briolette

It takes something special to turn me on to soft purple hues, and Briolette certainly has what it takes to catch my attention! A soft lavender hue, Briolette is definitely a clean look for the summer with an added twist. While it may look like a simple lavender creme, closer inspection shows flashes of iridescent shimmer as your nails catch the light just right. The first coat applied a little unevenly, a feature I expect from this type of colour, but it self leveled out nicely with the second coat. I added a third for full opacity in addition to the Londontown Gel Genius Top Coat for these photos.

Opal

As gorgeous as Briolette is, Opal is my personal favorite from the new summer duo. The base shade is a touch more of a dusty lilac and the shimmer is really amped up with what appears to be blue and pink microflakes. The formula is also fantastic with two coats of flawless application to opacity. Again, I used the kur Gel Genius Top Coat over my base shade for these photos.


Both Briolette and Opal are available for purchase from Londontown now for $16 each. All nail lakurs from Londontown are 9-free, cruelty-free, and vegan.

What colours are you wearing this summer? Will you be adding Briolette or Opal to your nail polish lineup? I'd love to hear from you! XO!


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Wednesday, July 11, 2018

Summer = Bring on the Bright Colours with Violet Voss Flamingo Palette



Summer is here (in the northern hemisphere anyway), and if you're not already wearing brighter colours for makeup, I've got a darn good reason to start! Violet Voss Cosmetics has officially launched their Flamingo eye shadow palette and you will want to add this to your summer makeup routine pronto! After sharing sneak peeks of the palette on their IG account and the extremely positive response, they opted to release it for a very short window early for those that happened to catch the details from incessantly stalking watching their account. I believe the pre-launch was only open for a single day, and while I know it was also on Sephora, I'm not sure if Sephora's preorder was a pre-launch or literally just a preorder. Whatever the case, I snapped up this baby the moment I saw the delicious "Add to Cart" button appear on the Violet Voss website. I also picked up a second one so I hope you're following me on Instagram to see the post I put up earlier today. *hint hint*


The Flamingo palette consists of twenty vibrant hues that will make you think of summer vacations at the beach. Each shade pan consists of 0.06 oz/1.8 g product.

Let's get a better look at all the colours as well as my thoughts on the formula!

Flamingos - Coral - Matte
Donut - Raspberry Sorbet - Foil
Flip Flops - Shimmering Sand - Topper
Bikini - Lilac - Foil

I've played with all four of these shades, and they apply beautifully to the eyes with a brush. While Flip Flops is described as a topper, this shade definitely has some pigment and you can easily get some colour payout and don't have to use it as a topper. I've applied it with a little glitter glue and certainly had a great sparkled look! You can totally use it as a topper if you prefer, but I don't want you to feel like you are limited with its use.


Oceanfront - Soft Mint - Matte
Tidal Wave - Peacock with Gold Shifts - Foil
Beach Ball - Deep Turquoise - Matte
Watermelon - Warm Pink with Sparkles - Matte with Glitter

Oceanfront was a little iffy with my finger swatch here although it isn't super obvious, but it applies and blends nicely with a brush. Beach Ball, on the other hand, does take a little extra attention. I found that it gets a bit on the patchy side, especially if you try to apply a heavier dose of colour all at once. Your best bet with Beach Ball is to go in with a lighter hand and just build it up for a more even look. Watermelon gave me no issues and Tidal Wave is simply glorious!


Lemonade - Soft Yellow - Matte
Pineapple - Sunny Yellow - Foil
Popsicle - Creamy Orange - Matte
Sunbathe - Transition Tan - Matte

I'm generally not one to go gaga over yellows, but these yellows are spectacular! Lemonade blends so smoothly with brushes, and the colour of Pineapple is out of this world! I've not played much with Popsicle and Sunbathe, but what little I have, I've not noticed any major issues with these. What I did find interesting is that while the colours look pretty different in the palette itself, they are extremely similar on me. I actually first thought I swatched Popsicle twice and redid the swatch to be sure that I did, in fact, use two different colours here. I'm really curious if it is just my skin tone or if others are noticing a similar shade between the two.


Surf - Icy Aqua - Duo Chrome Foil
Coral - Pinkish Coral - Satin
Island - Cool Orange - Foil
Sand - Vanilla Cream - Matte

Violet Voss's description of Surf is lacking as it ranges from an icy blue to a golden shade. It, and the other shades in this subset, have applied really beautifully for me. I was a little worried about Sand initially since it was a little patchy with the finger swatch, but I've been using it a lot when playing with this palette and it's been leaving a beautiful smooth (and even!) base for me before I pack in some colour. Between the matte Flamingos, matte + glitter Watermelon (previous photos), and Coral, Coral is my favorite of the three. While all three blend out nicely with a brush, Coral has that touch of overall luminosity that I adore. That's obviously personal preference, but then I suppose everything I post on the blog is personal, at least when it comes to my body chemistry.


Seashell - Shimmering Pink Pearl - Topper
Pinwheel - Reddish Bronze with Pink Shift - Duo Chrome Foil
Sandals - Terracotta - Matte
Sunnies - Soft Black - Matte

No matter how hard I tried, I just never quite got a photo with Seashell that shows how pretty it is. I have attempted to use it on its own, but the colour payout is so subtle, it is probably best as a topper as suggested by Violet Voss. I haven't had the opportunity yet, but I am dying for a date night or glam girl's night out so I can layer it over Sunnies! Speaking of which, I really am liking the formula of Sunnies! This black matte is really smooth and has been blending out quite nicely for me. Pinwheel and Sandals shockingly haven't had much love from me since I've received this palette, so I can't really speak much about them. I don't have anything of note from the one time I did play with them so I can say they blended out acceptably for me without issue.


The Violet Voss Cosmetics Flamingo eye shadow palette is definitely a winner for this summer! Overall, the quality is nice and the colours blend out nicely and have great colour payout. There are a few exceptions as noted above, but even then, you don't have to "work" to create looks on your eyes. What initially attracted me to this palette what the colour variety- you have your palette-popular warm shades alongside some fun purple and teal-type varieties. I also really like that this one palette offers a range of finishes, and the only limit to eye looks is your own imagination.


The Flamingo palette is available for purchase on the Violet Voss Cosmetics website and Sephora for $45.

As I not-so-subtly hinted earlier in this post, I currently have the second palette (unused, of course) up for a giveaway on Instagram. While I do so many giveaways here on my blog specifically, I thought it would be fun to change things up and hold it there. As always, you are MORE than welcome to enter to win it!


What do you think of this palette? Will you be adding it to your summer makeup wardrobe? I'd love to hear from you!

Until next time, dear readers, have a wonderful day!
XO!



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