How Should Netflix’s You End?

Time to say Good-Bye to Joe Goldberg and His Shenanigans

It’s a little hard to believe, but season five of Netflix’s You will be the final season of the hit show.

Honestly, I’m glad that it’ll be the final season. I think five seasons is a good stopping point and keeps it from overstaying its welcome. Needless to say, that means the writers have a lot to do to quench the needs of their viewers. There are some loose ends that need tying up and Joe’s sendoff needs to be spectacular. The show started off strong and needs to end strong or stronger. 

I thought this past season was good, but not the best. I liked that we got to see Joe become more unhinged, but the overall feeling was meh. But now, it seems like Joe Goldberg has managed to scrub himself clean of his crimes, returned to the U.S., and now has all the resources in the world to cover up any wrongdoings he’ll do thanks to Kate and her money.

To be honest, I think Kate is a pretty boring love interest, especially if compared to Love Quinn. Call me crazy, but Love was the best out of all the ladies that Joe has obsessed over. However, Kate seems to be willing to do whatever it takes to keep Joe safe even if he does horrendous things. That makes her just as bad as him, and honestly, I’m here for it. It’ll add more to her character which I found very bland. Compared to Love, Marienne, and even Beck, Kate was just boring and I was struggling to see what Joe saw in her. Even with all of his internal monologuing, I really couldn’t feel the same chemistry as I did with previous ladies. Heck, his talks with his illusion Rhys had more chemistry than him and Kate. But now that she’s entering what seems to be her Villain Era, I think it’ll give her the boost she needs to be a more interesting character.

How Joe Goldberg’s story ends remains to be seen, and fans are going off on all the possibilities.

WARNING: spoilers of the show are ahead.

Questions That NEED To Be Answered

There are a lot of loose ends that need to be tied up, and I could sit here all day and be nitpicky. But I’m not going to do that because that would be WAY too long. Here are some questions I have that I need answers to.

What Happened to Joe’s Mother and (Half) Brother?

In season 3, we saw Joe’s memories of his mother and last saw that he found her when he was still a child. However, Joe’s mom seemed to have moved on with her life without him and appeared to have another child. But there was no mention of her and his potential half-brother after this. It’s possible that Joe murdered them, but we don’t know yet. 

If they’re alive (or one of them), it would be an interesting storyline to see play out. But at the very least, the writers need to let us fans know what happened.

What About Nadia?

Poor Nadia. Her heart was in the right place and she was so close to catching Joe. But alas, Joe has once again avoided being captured for his crimes. He pinned Rhys’s murder on Edward, murdered Edward, and framed Nadia for it. Sad as it is, Nadia knew that talking wouldn’t help as all the evidence now points to her. However, she is a very smart girl and maybe she’s biding her time to find a way to get him. But this is just hopeful wishing on my part. 

As much as I would love for her to come back, You isn’t known for bringing back supporting characters like her. So the chances of us seeing her return in the final season, unless it’s in prison or via flashback, are slim to none. 

Is Marienne Going To Stay Away or Get Justice?

By the grace of the heavens (and writers), Marienne is the only woman who’s managed to escape Joe by faking her death. It was a risky plan, but she and Nadia were successful in pulling this off. However, the last we see of is reading the article about Joe’s return to the U.S. and how he “escaped” Love Quinn’s murder attempt. She didn’t seem happy that he’s a free man now, but she knows what he’s capable of. That’s why she didn’t have Nadia call the police because Marienne has seen firsthand that Joe knows how to get out of anything. 

If she tries to go after him, it’s not going to be easy. She’s going to need some hardcore evidence and luck to bring him down once and for all. Marienne doesn’t seem like the person to let something like this go, but at the same time, she has to think about her daughter, Juliet. All she wanted during her time in the cage was to get back to her daughter alive. Letting him be free may not be something she likes, but something she might have to do if she wants a peaceful life with Juliet.

Will Joe Get Henry Back?

Joe mentioned his son Henry a few times throughout season four, but now that he’s back in the States, will he get him back? At the end of season three, Dante (Joe and Marienne’s former coworker) and Lansing (Dante’s husband) were raising Henry and it seemed like Joe and Love’s son was thriving under their care. Love’s last words to Joe were about how they were both bad for Henry, and it seems like Joe took it to heart. Leaving Henry behind with Dante and Lansing is probably the best decision he’s made on the show.

However, he promised their son he would be back for him. So will Joe try to take him away? He has the money and resources to get him back. Joe is embracing his murderous side so maybe he’ll leave his son in their care so he can grow up in a normal home. Neither he nor Kate are what we would consider parent material. But never say never, and there’s always a small possibility he’ll get Henry back.

Who Should Return in the Final Season?

There are a lot of characters in the You series, and we got to see some familiar faces come back for a cameo. I’m sure we’re going to get a new cast of supporting characters, and Joe and Kate will be back (obviously). But there are some characters I’d like to see return even if only for a cameo.

Marienne

As much as I would love to see Marienne get justice, I want her to live her life with her daughter. If she attempts to get justice, she would be risking their lives. Kate seems just as cold and ruthless as Joe and thanks to her, he has all the resources in the world to wipe Marienne out once and for all should she threaten him. But at the same time, Marienne is constantly going to be looking over her shoulder so maybe her coming back to get justice is the way to go. 

He doesn’t know that she’s still alive and that could work to her advantage. If anything, I would like to see Marienne come back as a dream figure or illusion similar to Rhys Montrose that’s constantly taunting Joe. 

Joe’s Illusion of Rhys Montrose

This is just because I think Ed Speelers, the actor for Rhys, did a fantastic job as this character. It was the perfect mix of terrifying and charisma since he was not only encouraging Joe to embrace his true nature, but also as a voice of reason. Though Joe seems to have embraced his darker side, we last saw that his reflection still showed Rhys’s face. This could be an indicator that Joe hasn’t completely accepted this side of himself so there’s a chance we’ll see his illusion of Rhys again. 

Love

Honestly, Love is still the best love interest so far. She was such a great character that left me torn between rooting for her and being terrified of her very similar to Joe. To me, she was the perfect one. If Joe had embraced his murderous side sooner, the two of them would’ve been completely perfect for one another. To say I was happy when I saw her make a cameo as a dream figure would be an understatement.

I would love to see her come back again and haunt his dreams again. Love knew Joe was a killer deep down, but he didn’t want to admit it. 

Beck

Beck made a surprising cameo as a figure in Joe’s dream. Though I don’t consider her the best love interest in the series, I would love to see her come back again. I really want her and Love to haunt the absolute heck out of Joe in his dreams. Beck didn’t deserve to die and I want her ghost to yell at him for it. Sure, Beck had her flaws, but her story didn’t deserve to end the way it did.

Joe ended up being the innocent boyfriend whose girlfriend cheated on him with her therapist, and Dr. Nicky was framed for her murder. Plus, Joe made sure to finish her story in his own words so he would look innocent in all of it. Justice for Beck!

Candace

Ah yes, maybe some fans have forgotten her, but I was honestly surprised we didn’t see a cameo from her this season like Beck and Love. Considering that her “death” still haunted Joe throughout season one and she appeared (and died for good) in season two, leaving Candace out was strange. Perhaps Joe no longer feels any kind of guilt for her death? Granted, Love was the one who killed her, but Joe still played a part in it. 

Candance was so close (much like Nadia) to bringing Joe to justice, but sadly lost her life all because she thought she could trust Love. I would like to see her come back one last time to haunt him again. 

Ellie and Delilah

Turns out that Ellie was supposed to return for season four, but Jenna Ortega’s schedule didn’t allow her enough time to do so. If there’s one character I would like to see bring Joe to justice (aside from Marienne), it would be Ellie. Her older sister Delilah didn’t deserve to die and Ellie doesn’t deserve to live her life on the run because of Joe and the Quinn family. As for how can she bring Joe down, that could be very tricky. Unless she has hardcore evidence, Ellie most likely doesn’t have the resources to get him locked up.

As for Delilah, it’s a bit of a far stretch to see her return, aside from the obvious fact that she’s dead because of Love and Joe. But if she pops up for a cameo, I would not be mad. She was a fling for Joe, but she was a pretty big supporting character in the second season. I’d like to see her ghost pop up and remind Joe that she’s dead because of him (since he locked her in the cage) and how her sister is living life on the run.

Peach

This is an even further stretch, but I would LOVE to see Peach return as an illusion. Besides Love, Peach is still one of the best villains of the series and I honestly miss her. Shay Mitchell deserves all the kudos for making this character so horrible that fans love her. I would just like to see her pop up in a dream and taunt him.

How Should Joe’s Story End?

There are plenty of ways this show could end, and I’m trusting the writers to finish strong. They’ve done a pretty solid job so far in keeping the show going, but the ending could change how fans see it and its legacy. We don’t want a Game of Thrones situation where the show was so good until the final season. I hope they don’t rush it, cram too many storylines, and leave too many loose ends. I’m sure there will be some loose ends, but this is not the season to have a lot of them.

To be honest, I don’t think killing Joe would be the way to go. Killing him off at the end would be too easy, but at the same time, it’s also fitting. All of his surviving victims wouldn’t have to look over their shoulders in fear that he’s stalking them and live relatively peaceful lives. Locking him up in solitary confinement seems fitting too, but if Kate is alive by the end of the show, she can easily get him out. And that’s one other thing to be concerned about. Kate can now easily buy anything she wants now that her father is dead. And if she’s willing to let Joe get away with murdering the real Rhys Montrose, murder her father, murder Edward, and frame Nadia for it, then Kate is someone to be worried about.

Until then, we can only wait and speculate on how we think the series will end.

Personally, I want Marienne to be the one giving Joe the killing blow or the one responsible for putting him behind bars…or in the cage and leaving him to rot.

How do you think You will end? Think Joe will ever face any kind of justice for his crimes?

-Sarah/S.H.

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The Cure for Keratosis Pilaris/Chicken Skin? No, but these products might help.

Hello readers and fellow skincare fans!

I have suffered from keratosis pilaris, sometimes known as chicken skin, on my upper arms for a LOOOOOOOONG time. I honestly can’t remember when it started, but it seems like it’s been there forever. There really hasn’t been a moment where I haven’t it, and I just sort of accepted my fate that I’m stuck with it until the day I die. 

But once I moved from Texas to Colorado, it got worse! 

It seems like the bumps multiplied, got bigger in some areas, and breakouts were appearing like crazy. Plus, my arm got itchy, like REALLY itchy. I decided enough was enough, and I’m going to find something to help me with this.

I researched multiple websites on what to do to minimize because fun fact: there is no actual cure for KP. 

Exfoliating is always the recommended thing to do to minimize it, but that’s not going to be enough. We need an exfoliant with AHA, BHA, and PHAs. Here’s what they are in a nutshell: 

• AHA = Alpha Hydroxy Acid: this is going to be acids that are made from certain foods like sugar cane, fruit, and milk. Examples of AHAs are glycolic acid, lactic acid, and tartaric acid.
• BHA = Beta Hydroxy Acid: these are mild acids often used to treat acne and oily skin. Examples of BHAs: salicylic acid, trethocanic acid, and tropic acid. 
• PHA = Poly-Hydroxy Acid: a chemical exfoliant that’s known for being gentler than AHAs and BHAs, and great for those with sensitive skin. Examples of PHAs: gluconolactone, galactose, and lactobionic acid.

So, where does one begin to find an exfoliant with these ingredients? There are a lot of products you can find with them, but having an exfoliant won’t be enough. You’re going to need the right serum and moisturizer. Yes, we’re going full-steam ahead on minimizing this KP because it’s so annoying and I want it gone, but I’ll settle for it being reduced in appearance.

WARNING: it’s going to take a lot of time and PATIENCE! Don’t expect this to work overnight or be a cure for KP. Also, the following products are going to exfoliate the absolute heck out of your skin, make sure you put sunscreen on if you go out during the day regardless if the sun is out or not. Nighttime is the only exception for not putting it on. Also remember, what works for me might not work for you. Everyone’s skin is different.

DISCLAIMER: I’m not affiliated with or sponsored by any of the following brands I will be talking about in this blog. Most of these items I’ve bought with my own money and tried for myself. The ones I haven’t bought, I’m just suggesting based on ingredients.

My Journey and the Products I Used

My journey to minimize my KP took a long time to figure out. At first, I used a scrub and lotion with AHAs and BHAs (more on what I used later!), but I found that this wasn’t going to be enough. Also, the products I used were good, but I wanted to try something new. So, I decided to add a serum to my routine. So for my arms, I use serum, lotion, and SPF (whenever I go out during the day regardless if my sleeves cover my upper arms).

Here are what my arms looked like back in December when I started my new routine. This was after I took a shower. I realize now that I should’ve taken a photo before the shower because my arms looked a lot worse, and my after photos are after I’ve taken a shower. Sorry about that. 

As you can see, my arms are pretty bad with a lot of breakouts and red bumps that stand out. At the time of this photo, I used the Peach and Lily KP Bump Boss Microderm Body Scrub a few days before. 

I decided to add the Good Molecules Overnight Exfoliating Treatment and Shea Moisture African Black Soap Soothing Body Lotion to my routine since I ran out of my Dr. Teal’s lotion and the Truly Beauty serum. 

Without further ado, here is my routine on how I treat my KP, and my thoughts on the products themselves.

Photo by me.

Good Molecules Overnight Exfoliating Treatment

Good Molecules is a brand I’m sure we skincare enthusiasts have seen at Ulta whenever we walk through the skincare aisles. Their products are at a very good price (like cheap!), and when looking at the ingredients, they make it simple by not only listing them on the box but also showing what percentage the ingredients are at. Very transparent, which I love. I had this product for a while and initially used it to treat some dark spots, but I decided to try it out on my arms because it has a lot of AHAs and BHAs, which help in reducing breakouts and exfoliating the skin.

Oh boy, does this product deliver!

This photo was taken the night AFTER that photo above. Yes, that before photo was taken on December 5th and this picture right here was taken on December 6th. And this photo was taken the next morning before I put anything on. 

To say that I was impressed by this overnight treatment would be a huge understatement. I was not expecting my breakouts to minimize so quickly, but that’s exactly what this treatment did. 

The Overnight Exfoliating Treatment works, but let me give you a warning: IT WILL STING. 

Yes, it stings when applied, but it doesn’t last long. Use this only at night because this has salicylic acid, lactic acid, and glycolic acid. These are some pretty potent exfoliants so please don’t use this during the day. But if you do, you MUST put on SPF, which you should be doing anyway if you go out during the day. 

Now…you’re probably thinking this treatment must cost a pretty penny right? Results like this usually cost around $20 to…well insanely expensive. But prepared to be surprised!

It’s $6.

Yes, $6 as in SIX dollars. Not $16. Not $60. But $6 as in the single number. Don’t believe me? Check it out here on Ulta’s website.  

So, is this product worth trying out? Absolutely! I would recommend it to anyone asking my opinion. I’ve kept this as a part of my routine since December and it keeps my KP to a minimum. One pump is enough to cover one arm for me. I use it 2-3 times a week. Sometimes I use it on the same day when I use my Peach and Lily scrub, and it stings the absolute hell out of my arms, but my arms feel so smooth afterward.

SIDE NOTE: If your skin is on the more sensitive side, please don’t use these two products on the same night. I only use them on the same night because I know my skin’s tolerance, and it’s not sensitive. 

It’s not the perfect solution for KP, but it’ll definitely help in reducing it, and helps with breakouts. Plus, you only get 1 oz. of product, but mind you this was made to be used on the face. But I’ve made my last for about three months, so really it’s not a bad choice to try out.

Peach & Lily KP Bump Boss Microderm Body Scrub

On its own, this scrub is pretty good and worth the $29. It has AHAs like lactic acid and glycolic acid and PHAs. When using this scrub, it feels pretty gentle which is surprising since most body scrubs I’ve come across are pretty abrasive and a little hard on the skin. While this product is good on its own, I feel like it’ll need a little help if people want to see results for their KP. 

Paired with the Good Molecules Overnight Exfoliating Treatment, I feel like this duo is a great set. This scrub is also good for all over the body and helps with preventing ingrown hairs from shaving, and it does temporarily brighten underarms (which I also use it for). Overall, I would say this scrub is good if you can find a serum and/or lotion that has AHAs, BHAs, and/or PHAs in it. 

More info on this product on Ulta

Shea Moisture African Black Soap Soothing Body Lotion

Now, some might think that KP equates to having clogged pores which might cause them to think that their skin is oily or producing too much of it. But this isn’t the case. KP is a build-up of a protein called keratin that develops around the hair follicle which causes the red bumps to appear and is often accompanied by dry, scaly skin. 

So, this means you’re going to need a good body lotion. I know most of us love our body lotions with fragrances and want to smell nice after a shower or whenever you apply it. However, you might have to make an exception (and sacrifice) for your upper arms, or wherever your KP is. 

Yes, I’m saying you’ll have to get a different lotion for the area affected by KP if you want to keep it to a minimum. 

For me, I’ve been using the Shea Moisture African Black Soap Body Soothing Lotion (that’s a mouthful!) for about six months. It has ingredients that are great for treating dry skin and reducing redness like vitamin E, oats, and aloe. There aren’t any AHAs, BHAs, or PHAs in it, but I personally felt that I’m doing enough with my scrub and serum/overnight treatment. My skin is tough, but I’m not going to tempt fate just yet by getting a lotion with those exfoliants. Plus, it keeps my body from getting itchy during the cold months. 

I use this all over my body because it’s so dry where I live, and this lotion is great at keeping my skin moisturized. It’s a little on the thicker side, so try not to put too much on when applying it. 

More on this product at Ulta

Other Products I Used That Could Work, & My Thoughts on Them

I did try Truly Beauty’s Blueberry Kush Body Oil for a few months until I ran out. I used it at the time I was using Dr. Teal’s lavender lotion.

At first, I was considering getting Truly’s KP kit, but I didn’t because one: it was out of my budget, and two: looking only at the ingredients, I figured the Blueberry Kush body oil would be a better choice for me. I saw on Truly Beauty’s website for the KP kit they chose the Purple Rain serum and think the ingredients are good for the serum they chose, and maybe with the other products in the kit, it’ll be great. But that price tag was a little much for me.

These are the ingredients for the Purple Rain, Blueberry Kush Face Oil, and Blueberry Kush Body Oil. 

Photos from the Truly Beauty website

As you can see, the face and body oils are almost the exact same. The main difference is that the face oil has tea tree oil and baobab oil. Also, it’s a smaller bottle. I decided to go with the body oil because I felt it was at a better price point and it has more AHAs and BHAs than the Purple Rain oil.

Overall, I think the body oil is good and could work with other products that have exfoliating ingredients. But the $44.90 price tag is a bit too much for me, especially when compared to the Good Molecules Overnight Exfoliating Treatment. If you want to try it out, go for it, but make sure you pair it up with a good scrub and moisturizer.

More on this product at Ulta

Skinfix Resurface+ Duo

Photos from the Sephora website

I found this duo on Sephora’s website about a year and a half ago and decided to try them both out even though my bank account begged me not to.

Both of these products have glycolic acid, lactic acid, and willow bark extract (a natural form of salicylic acid). My KP wasn’t as noticeable when using these products, but it was obvious that these two weren’t enough. I think a serum with exfoliating ingredients could’ve given them a much-needed boost. Overall, I felt that they’re good, but their price tags are VERY hefty. I personally won’t be buying them again, but I think paired with a good serum, this duo can help in minimizing KP.

Here’s more info on the scrub

Here’s more info on the lotion

Final Thoughts

There are plenty of skincare products out there that have AHAs, BHAs, and PHAs, and it’s all a matter of researching products and seeing what their ingredients are. But I think it’s safe to say that scrubs alone aren’t enough. You’re going to need a serum since it goes deeper into your skin to treat it and prevent more bumps from developing. You’re going to need a good lotion. I know we all love our fragranced lotion that smells amazing, but a lotion with exfoliants and/or calming ingredients.

If you’ve made it this far, thank you for taking the time to read this. What are your tips for treating KP? Have you tried any of these products? If not, are you going to? Leave a comment down below. 🙂

-Sarah/S.H.

The Elder Scrolls Online: Necrom Has Fans Excited for its New Horror-esque Chapter

Yesterday, Zenimax had its Global Reveal Livestream for the next chapter of The Elder Scrolls Online. With a new zone, new story, and a new class, it seems like this MMORPG is still going strong almost 10 years after its release and isn’t slowing down. The reveal has fans excited about what’s coming this year and crossing their fingers that some bugs and other things will be fixed.

Watch the cinematic reveal trailer here:

Shadow Over Morrowind Casts A Dark Spell Over The Dunmer Province…and Nirn

Familiar yet new areas of Morrowind

It looks like we’re heading back to Morrowind for a new storyline known as Shadow Over Morrowind. Fans will be exploring the eastern side, which hasn’t been seen since The Elder Scrolls: Arena. Assuming that a good number of Elder Scrolls fans haven’t played the game (it’s been almost 30 years since Arena came out), this is basically a new area. From what the global reveal showed, the story will take place in Necrom, a large city where the Dunmer/Dark Elves bury their dead. This city has quite a history behind it, and there was nothing revealed about the story itself. However, we do know that we’ll be seeing some familiar faces like fan-favorite Naryu Virian in this next chapter.

A necropolis with some unique history

Known as the City of the Dead, Necrom is a city that rests on the eastern shores of the province and is one of the eight major cities of Morrowind. Unlike most cities that have an affiliation with one of the Great Houses, Necrom is a neutral city despite being surrounded by House Telvanni lands. The city is surrounded by a large shield-like wall known as the Ghost Fence. This fence is made from the bones and remains of deceased Dumner leaders and great heroes. For the common Dunmer, they can use the remains of their deceased clan members to protect their own ancestral tomb.

The city is said to be built from the remains of GULGA MOR JIL, the eighth and most powerful monster that Vivec, the Warrior Poet God in the Tribunal, has ever faced and it’s a very popular Tribunal myth. Whether the Warrior Poet himself will appear isn’t known, but it wouldn’t be surprising if he makes a cameo or plays a small role in the story. It should be noted that CJ Grebb, ESO’s Art Director, said this.

“Lord Vivec, known as the Warrior-Poet, spun some wild stories about the city’s foundations, which may or may not be true.”

Necrom was built before the Tribunal’s establishment, but it’s up in the air whether Vivec’s stories about the city are true or not. Vivec, much like any other deity in the series, doesn’t answer questions directly and tends to give elaborate explanations that sound fictional. Though it would make sense for the Warrior-Poet to appear to provide some clarification about these stories, fans shouldn’t get their hopes up as he wasn’t mentioned as one of the characters that would appear in the Shadow Over Morrowind. 

The Daedric Prince of Knowledge Comes Out To Play

A familiar plain of Oblivion…

Another area that’s going to play a significant role is Apocrypha, the realm of Hermaeus Mora, the Daedric Prince of Knowledge. Fans of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim are already familiar with this realm as it appeared in the Dragonborn DLC, but ESO is going to be expanding on this. There will be more areas to explore, but there will be familiar beings like Seekers and Lurkers haunting this realm. What will happen here in the main storyline is unknown, and will keep fans on the edge of their seats.

It’s well-known that Hermaeus Mora is neither a good nor bad Daedric Prince, but at the end of the day: he’s a Daedric Prince. They are known to strike up deals and bargain with mortals so long as it benefits them and their goals. If innocents get hurt or die, so be it. 

In Hermaeus Mora’s case, he craves knowledge and will do whatever it takes to get it.

The Arcanist Rises

One thing that was revealed was a new class that’ll be released.

Enter: the Arcanist.

Fight your enemies and support your allies with the powers and knowledge of Apocrypha

This class looks a little different than most classes in the game. This class doesn’t seem to have an element or status effect connected to it.

For example, the Sorcerer class is a lightning/thunder elemental, Dragonknights are fire and poison, Wardens control nature and ice, Templars are the light and sun, Nightblades are darkness, and Necromancers are death. 

From what was seen in the trailer, the Arcanist appears to use powers from Apocrypha to take attack their enemies, and are able to create portals to teleport a short distance away. As of right now, it’s not known if there will be a specific element or status effect that tie into it. Like the other classes, there will be three skill lines that’ll let players choose what kind of build they want. 

Either way, ESO fans are excited to have a new class to play.

Future Plans

Get ready for a new story and overhaul

Like other chapters, The Elder Scrolls Online: Necrom will have two dungeons released before the chapter is released. However, in a rare move, Zenimax won’t be releasing two dungeons after the chapter. This surprised most fans, but Rich Lambert, ESO’s Creative Director, said that Zenimax will be focusing on improving quality-of-life and performance, adding new features, and fixing bugs in the second half of the year. 

“Last year we had a bit of a bumpy ride in terms of stability,” Lambert said. “A lot of self-inflicted wounds. So we want to shore up a lot of those processes and clean up a lot of that stuff.”

Though this sounds like a good thing that Zenimax will be fixing a lot of problems ESO has, some people are skeptical it will keep its promise. Zenimax has a long history of fixing bugs in the game, but more bugs pop up (especially for console players) from these fixes and when new features are added. All fans can do is cross their fingers and hope that Zenimax will come through. 

The Elder Scrolls Online: Scribes of Fate will go live on PC on March 13, and on Xbox and PlayStation on March 28. The Necrom chapter of The Elder Scrolls Online will be available on June 5 for PC and June 20 for Xbox and PlayStation consoles. Fans can pre-order now Necrom now.

-simplesarah

Honest Beauty Reusable Magic Silicone Sheet Mask Review

Hello everyone!

It’s been a while since I wrote something. I’ve been busy with school, but here’s a short review of the Honest Beauty Reusable Magic Silicon Sheet Mask. 

I was browsing through the Target website, not looking for anything in particular, and saw this mask. I thought, “Why not?” and bought it. 

Photo from the Honest Beauty website

I love a good sheet mask and I have a lot of them. I can’t help it, and I love how they make my skin feel. However, there’s usually a bunch of the essence left over and yes, I know I can use it on my neck and chest. BUT! I feel like there’s a little too much leftover and I don’t like going to sleep with my face, neck, and chest drenched. Plus, my skin feels a little tacky or sticky with too much product on. So, what was my solution to this problem? I put the excess product in a jar and use this mask. 

This silicone is supposed to help with product absorption and I have to say…it works pretty good. I put some of the excess essence on my face and put this mask on, and it’s like having a normal sheet mask on. Depending on how much essence is left from my sheet mask, I basically have another 2-4 days worth of sheet masks thanks to this item. Yes, I know I can just use the essence by itself, but I love having a sheet mask on for two reasons. 

One: because I just love the feeling of a mask on.

Two: I love scaring my boyfriend. His reaction is hilarious.

Here a TikTok video that I made to show what I do with the excess serum and using the mask.

@simplesarah1629

I know a silicone sheet mask can be used w/any essence or serum, but I love a good hydrating sheet mask. Think skinfluencers & beauty gurus approve? 😬 (sry for poor quality) #skincare #skincaretips #skintok #fyp #fypシ #foryoupage

♬ She Share Story (for Vlog) – 山口夕依

You can also put this mask over your face when wearing a sheet mask, but this is just how I prefer it. So far, the elasticity of the mask has held up pretty well and not stretched out. Be aware that using this mask a lot can stretch out the ear holds which will cause the mask to be loose when worn. I personally haven’t had that problem yet, but I’m aware that this can happen. If you’re looking for ways to make the essence of sheet masks last a little longer, this is one way I recommend doing it. 

To wash the mask, I usually use soap and warm water. Using soap isn’t necessary as Honest Beauty’s website says that rinsing it is enough, but I just like using soap. Make sure to dry it completely with a towel and store it back in the bag so that it’ll last for a long time. I’ve had mine for about a year now, and while I use it about once a week, it’s still holding pretty well. 

Is this mask necessary? No, absolutely not.

Like I said above, I just love having a mask on my face and find this item fun to wear. If you love wearing sheet masks and have a lot of essence left over from it, this mask is great to have around. 

What are your thoughts on this mask? Will you be buying it? Let me know in the comments! 

-Sarah/S.H.

Updated on February 28, 2023 to show TikTok video

Brand Review: Nekoyanin Cosmetics

These days, I’m not much of a makeup wearer. I’m usually at home and when I go out, it’s usually to the store. I don’t go to any place where it’s needed, but when I do wear it: I either keep it simple or go all out. I used to have a lot of makeup, but I’ve thrown a lot since it was either really old or hardly any left. 

While scrolling through TikTok, I came across this brand Nekoyanin by Yinnypooh (her name on Instagram) and I was intrigued. The packaging is so cute and I’m a huge fan of anime. I checked out her website and said, “I want all of it.” I waited a few months before actually buying anything and would see her TikTok videos pop up on my feed. I started following her on the app and continued watching them whenever they would pop up. 

All the products I bought. Very cute and amazing packaging.

I admit, I was a little scared of buying from here because I was afraid of it being a scam, but I took a chance. If you’re wondering if Nekoyanin is legit and not a scam? I can say with confidence it’s safe to purchase items from it. Yinnypooh not only sells makeup, but she also has a makeup bag, wireless charging station and LED mousepad hybrid, a regular mousepad, makeup brushes, and lashes. She’s come out with more makeup items since I’ve purchased from her and I can’t wait to place another order because I saw she came out with an eyeshadow primer and I want to try out another color of her liquid liner.

I’M NOT SPONSORED BY THIS BRAND AND ALL ITEMS WERE PURCHASED BY ME WITH MY OWN MONEY. I’M JUST A FAN OF MAKEUP AND ANIME. 

I placed an order on the October 31, 2021 and the bought the following: 

• 1 Nezuko Cherry Blossom Lipgloss
• 1 Shinigami Palette
• 1 Arcade Baby Water Activated Eyeliner
• 1 Gamer Boy Palette
• 1 Level Up Matte Liquid Lipstick
• 1 Noface Eyeliner in Black
• 1 Paradis Palette

Link to the website: Nekoyanin
Link to Nekoyanin TikTok: Nekoyanin
Link to Nekoyanin Instagram: Nekoyanin
Link to Yinnypooh’s Instagram: Yinnypooh

It was shipped out on November 6 and was delivered on November 12. Pretty fast if you ask me. BUT! I didn’t have anything that was marked as “Pre-order”. If you pre-order an item, Yinnypooh puts a note to let buyers know it’ll take a month before it’s shipped out. So please keep this in mind if you order from her. 

ONTO THE PRODUCT REVIEWS!

NOTE: ALL PHOTOS ARE TAKEN BY ME. SORRY FOR THE POOR QUALITY.

Nezuko Cherry Blossom Lipgloss

Very cute packaging. Frosted plastic container.

Inspired by the fan-favorite character of the popular anime Demon Slayer. The packaging for this gloss is very cute and pretty. The gloss itself is described as a “Soft baby pink color” and I agree with that. It’s a very soft pink that looks a little pale, but it’s not super pigmented. It gives a nice soft pink tint to the lips and can be worn alone or as a topper. Surprisingly, it’s not sticky or goopy. It’s very moisturizing on the lips and I don’t experience any peeling when wearing it.

Sorry, I didn’t feel shaving and I have a little friend at the top left (right from your POV) of my lips.

I personally like wearing this alone when I go out to do errands. The only downside I’ve found, is that the tint it gives doesn’t last a long time, maybe 1-2 hours tops for me. One thing I also noticed, I have to exfoliate my lips before putting this on by itself because it will show dead skin patches. But the moisturizing effect lasted a very long time and lasted me through a very greasy meal (Carl’s Jr burger and fries). For $12, I consider this gloss worth it.

Overall Rating: 3.5 out of 5 (I wish the color lasted a little longer)

Link to it: Nezuko Cherry Blossom Lipgloss

Shinigami Palette

Really beautiful colors. I just wish I had more use for the glitters.

Inspired by the popular anime Death Note. This palette mostly has blue and purple eyeshadows, but also provides some warm colors. It comes with three glitter colors that are  rose gold, midnight blue, and silver. Personally, I’m not a fan of glitter, but I decided to add a little of the rose gold one to my eyeshadow look one time and it was nice. I was very surprised that it wasn’t scratchy and was very smooth to the touch (I used a clean and sanitized finger to put it on). The rest of the colors are pigmented so there wasn’t any struggle to try and make one appear. 

If put on with a heavy hand, the colors will show up pretty strong. But they can also be buildable if put on with a light hand. The matte colors are my favorite, but the shimmer ones are also really nice and not too loud. I like that she added the tan brown matte eyeshadow in this palette because it provides a nice warmth when used with other colors. 

Overall Rating: 4 out of 5 (I’m not a fan of glitter eyeshadows and won’t really have any use for them)

Link to it: Shinigami Palette

Arcade Baby Water Activated Eyeliner

Yes, I’ve used it. That’s why it look like this.

I got this palette mostly out of curiosity because I’ve never heard of such a thing. I was intrigued on how it works. Sure enough, it works as advertised. Wet the brush you want to use and these colors will show up. The colors are quite loud and pigmented, no need to worry about them not showing up! Admittedly, I’m not a fan of most of the colors, mostly because I don’t wear them. 

However, I can see myself using them on my lower lash line to add a fun pop of color. I’ve never been a fan of bright eyeshadows or eyeliners like these, but overall it’s a good palette. The colors go on smoothly and last long (with primer). Personally, I wish there was a black, dark purple, and/or dark brown shade, but I can stick to using my eyeshadows. 

Overall Rating: 4 out of 5. (only because I personally am not a fan of most of the colors but the formula is pretty good and they last)

Link to it: Arcade Baby Water Activated Eyeliner

Gamer Boy Palette

A palette I didn’t know I would fall in love with.

I admit…I got this palette because I loved the packaging and the cover boy looks like he belongs on my list of anime crushes. The colors are a little out there for me personally, but what I love about this palette is that she has equal matte and shimmer shades. There’s no glitter in this one, which I love (mostly because I feel bad that I’m not going to use them) and holy crap, the colors are nice! I admit I haven’t used this one too much, but the few times I have, I love it.

All the colors in this palette are POTENT! Like you don’t have to worry about these colors not showing up. I recommend going in with a light hand when using it because holy moly these colors are strong. If you’re looking for a colorful palette with the perfect blend of matte and shimmer eyeshadows, look no further than this!

Overall Rating: 5 out 5 (colors show up, not powdery, easy to blend, they last, and perfect blend of matte and shimmer)

Link to it: Gamer Boy Palette

Level Up Matte Liquid Lipstick

Even in this picture, the color looks pretty subtle.

Okay! Just to be clear, my lips chap up after a good 2-3 hrs no matter how hydrated I am. I can be well-hydrated and my lips will have dead skin on the corners and my bottom lip is Dead Skin City. There’s no escaping it! And yes, I do prep with lip balm and even used lip primer before…the balm works better than the primer. Please keep this in mind when reading my review for this lipstick.

Onto the review! This lipstick caught my attention because the color looks so pretty and looks like a muted rosy color, but holy crap, this color is quite bright. It’s more of a bright rose color and is quite loud. I don’t wear bright colors on my lips because the redness on my cheeks just seems so bright and out there in a bad way, but I still find myself using this lip color when doing a gradient lip. I usually pair this up with some neutral lip liners and put a little bit on the middle of my lips to add a small pop of color. Formula is pretty good and it stays on for a long time. 

NOTE: this is with flash on. Either way, the color is quite bright.

My lips were okay at the 2 hour mark and at the 3 hour mark, a little crusty on the corners (probably from the liner since this color was only on the center). Overall, I’m impressed by this lipstick and I hope she makes more shades. I did wear this by itself a few times just to test it out on it and it’s the same for me, 3 hour some crusties formed at the corners of my lips, but the color was still on and going strong. 

Overall Rating: 4 out of 5 (formula is pretty good. Color is a little bright, but workable)

Link to it: Level Up Matte Liquid Lipstick

Noface Eyeliner in Black

This liner is not going anywhere once on!

Looking for bulletproof eyeliner? Well, this isn’t technically bulletproof, but you won’t have to worry about this eyeliner going anywhere! I’m a fan of liquid eyeliners and I have been using the Em Cosmetics Felt Tip Illustrative Eyeliner for a while, but I wanted to try something new. So I decided to order this one and I have to say I’m quite impressed! It’s not a matte eyeliner and has kind of a vinyl finish. There’s definitely a sheen there, but it’s not in-your-face shiny. I mean I can always put a little black eyeshadow over it to make it matte so it’s no big deal for me.

The tip is a little stiff, but overall it’s pretty easy to use. There are other colors such as blue, brown, and surprisingly white, which I haven’t really seen as a liquid eyeliner color. I’m interested in the brown color. As for wear, this eyeliner isn’t going anywhere! I put it on around noon one day and it was still good around 10 at night. When I went to take off my makeup, I used a cleansing balm first and this eyeliner took a minute to get off. So if you’re looking for a long-lasting liquid liner, this is worth trying out!
Overall Rating: 5 out of 5 (It lasts for a long time, it’s easy to use, and I personally don’t mind the vinyl finish)

Link to it: Noface Eyeliner

Paradis Palette

I just love this palette. Nothing more needs to be said.

If there is one thing I love: it’s a eyeshadow palette with neutral colors. After throwing out almost all of my old makeup, I had one eyeshadow left and a few single and duo eyeshadows. So I was on the lookout for a good palette with neutral colors. The market is absolutely SATURATED with neutral-colored eyeshadow palettes. I didn’t want anything expensive (looking at you Urban Decay Naked palette), but palettes from brands like ELF and NYX didn’t really catch my eye. When I saw the Paradis Palette on Nekoyanin’s site, I was FLOORED! It has 10, yes TEN, matte eyeshadows and three shimmers. It was like I found my dream neutral eyeshadow palette!

Admittedly, I was a little scared because sometimes matte colors can be too powdery and not pigmented, especially the lighter colors. But I couldn’t help myself and bought the palette. To say it’s my favorite is an understatement. The colors show up, even the lighter ones. The formula is pretty good and I don’t find it powdery, which is good. The shimmers show up and are really nice colors, not powdery either. I honestly just love this palette because of its simplicity and I use it just about every time I wear makeup. 

Overall Rating: 5 out of 5 (might look basic to some, but colors are nice, formula is good, eyeshadows blend beautifully, and it stays on)

Link to it: Paradis Palette

Final Thoughts

I was very surprised at the quality of these items and impressed. I’ll be very honest, I wasn’t expecting it to be so good because most smaller and independent brands I’ve come across just didn’t have the best quality. Not terrible, but I have run into more misses than hits. This brand has pretty good quality makeup and I can’t wait to place another order. I have my beady little eyes on some things, but will need to wait and save up. 

What are your thoughts on this brand? Tried it out yet? If not, will you? Let me know what you think!

-simplesarah1629

My Skincare Routine At The Moment

In October, I made the move from Texas to Colorado. To say it’s been an adjustment, is an understatement. It’s a lot drier and colder up here and my skincare routine and hair maintenance had to change. For my hair, it’s still taking some time to see what’s going to work for me, but I think I found something that works for me. 

When I lived in Texas, my skin was combination most of the year and got a little dry in the corner of my nose and chin during the cold weeks (it’s Texas, we get like 3-4 weeks of winter lol). However, once I moved to Colorado, my skin just turned dry. My nose gets a little oily, but cheeks, forehead, around my eyes, everywhere else, the moisture evaporates away. Plus, I’ve always had redness near the corners of my chin and nose. I’m assuming I have the redness near my nose because of my allergies so it’s always been a little red there. As for redness starting from the corners of my mouth going down to my chin, it’s because I drool when I sleep. I’ve drooled in my sleep for as long as I can remember. Not much I can do about that. 

Enough about me and my sleeping habits! Onward to the reviews!

I’M NOT SPONSORED BY ANY OF THE FOLLOWING BRANDS OR WEBSITES THAT I WILL BE TALKING ABOUT OR MENTIONING IN THIS ARTICLE. I’M JUST A SKINCARE FAN AND ALL PURCHASES WERE MADE BY ME USING MY OWN MONEY.

**This is going to be a very long article so please keep that in mind. I apologize for the length.

Morning and Night Time Routines

I have two different routines: a morning routine and a night time routine. My morning routine is a little more simple because well…I’m lazy. Compared to my night time routine, my morning routine is pretty simple. It takes me about 30 minutes to start semi-functioning and get fully awake. 

My Morning Routine

• Cleanse
• Toner
• Eye Cream
• Moisturizer
• Sunscreen

My Night Time Routine

• Pre-Cleanse/1st Cleanser to remove SPF and Make-Up (if I’m wearing it)
• 2nd Cleanser
• Exfoliate 1-2x a week
• Toner
• Essence or Sheet Mask
• Serum
• Night Cream
• Overnight Sleeping Mask
• Lip Mask or Lip Balm
• Castor Oil on Eyebrows and Eyelashes 

Pre-Cleanse/Makeup & Sunscreen Remover: Farmacy Green Clean Makeup Removing Cleansing Balm

This thing…

To be honest I don’t know why I bought it, but I did. I knew it was overpriced, but for some reason I got it while shopping on the Sephora website. It does the job, it does wash away my waterproof mascara and super tough eyeliner. Other than that, I don’t really feel like this cleansing balm is anything special. It feels good, it has that going for it, but there are cleansing balms and oils that feel just as good and are cheaper. If you have the money, go for it if you want to try it out. I’m still questioning why I got it in the first place.

NOTE: I threw the container out before I finished this article so I had to use the picture from the Sephora website. Sorry!

Link to website: Green Clean Makeup Removing Cleansing Balm

Overall Rating: 6 out of 10 (gets the job done, but that price though!)

Would I buy this again? No. There are other cleansing balms and oils that are cheaper and just as effective.

Cleansing balm I have my eye on once I’m out of this one: ELF Cosmetics Holy Hydration! Makeup Melting Cleansing Balm (using it now)

Cleanser: CosRx Cica Cleanser

I bought this cleanser because I fell in love with the CosRx Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser and used it while I lived in Texas. However, I needed something a little more hydrating than that and my search led me to the CosRx Cica Cleanser. I read that it’s more hydrating and creamier than the gel cleanser so I decided to try it out. It’s pretty hydrating and doesn’t leave my skin dry or leaves it stinging so that was a plus for me. I don’t get breakouts unless I drink dark soda, eat a lot of chocolate (I love Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups and Snickers), or Mother Nature comes for her monthly visit, so I can’t really say if it’ll help. I’ve seen reviews on YesStyle (the website I got it on) and some reviews said it helps. For $18, it’s a pretty good cleanser, but I don’t know if I’ll buy this again. There are plenty of other cleansers out there that are cheaper and work just as good.

One thing I noticed about this cleanser, it has a pretty noticeable eucalyptus smell to it. I failed to notice that it has eucalyptus oil in it. Fragrance doesn’t bother me or my skin, but holy crap it’s noticeable in this cleanser. I haven’t used it over or gotten it in my eyes, but I’m very afraid to (this is not a cue to buy it and try it over the eyes). It’s not potent like Vicks VapoRub, but it kinda reminds me of the smell of a candle you might smell in a spa.

Link to website: COSRX – Pure Fit Cica Cleanser

Overall Rating: 6 out 10

Would I buy this again? Probably not, but not against buying it if it’s on sale.

Cleanser I have my eye on once I’m out of this one: Pacifica Vegan Ceramide Extra Gentle Face Wash

Toner: HaruHaru Wonder Black Rice Hyaluronic Toner

This.

THIS is my holy grail. This toner is everything I want in a toner and it feels AMAZING! It’s gentle, hydrating, but not greasy. It absorbs into the skin nicely and leaves it feeling nice and hydrated. Plus, it’s a versatile product. Aside from being an amazing toner to use after cleansing, this toner can kind of double up as a hydrating treatment(I think treatment is the right word for this…?). 

The HaruHaru website says that customers can soak a cotton pad with this toner and leave it on their face as a treatment. I tried this, and my skin loves it. I do it once in a while and I soak about 5-6 cotton pads (the ones I have are extremely thin and I have a fat face.) It’s a nice little hydrating pick-me-up. 

Now, this toner does have a pretty noticeable lavender fragrance in it so if you’re not a fan…you can still try this toner, but in the fragrance-free formula! Yes, HaruHaru has a fragrance-free formula for those who are sensitive to fragrance and/or for those who don’t want it. Apparently, a few customers complained about the fragrance and wanted this toner without it. HaruHaru basically said, “Ask, and you shall receive!” Take your pick on which one you want and enjoy this toner which doesn’t have too crazy of a price tag at $37 for the 10.2 oz/300ml bottle and $22 for the 5.1oz/150ml bottle. The fragrance-free version only comes in the 5.1oz/150ml bottle and is $22.

Link to website: HaruHaru Wonder Black Rice Hyaluronic Toner

Overall Rating: 10 out 10 (the fragrance doesn’t bother me, but might bother some)

Would I buy this again? Absolutely!

Toner I have my eye on once I’m out of this one: None

Essence: CosRx Hyaluronic Acid Hydra Power Essence

Ever since I moved to Colorado, my skin is thirsty and crying from being dry and dehydrated. Needless to say, I need a little boost to help. So I went on an internet journey and looked to find an essence that would help me. My search led me to this essence and I decided to buy it because it wasn’t insanely priced and seemed promising. I usually use this essence at night and my skin has been pleasantly plump and hydrated throughout this winter. 

I even started using this on my boyfriend because his skin is DRY and PARCHED. I saw it was a little flakey on his forehead so I started using this along with some moisturizer for dry skin. His skin hasn’t burned or anything from me using it and his skin is a little sensitive. I’ve been using this at night and his skin is a lot softer, hydrated, and not flakey. I think essence has definitely helped along with the moisturizer I got him which is the Bubble Slam Dunk Hydrating Moisturizer.

Link to website: COSRX – Hyaluronic Acid Hydra Power Essence

Overall Rating: 9 out 10 (it’s an amazing hydrating essence)

Would I buy this again? Oh yeah!

Essence I have my eye on once I’m out of this one: Considering Isntree Hyaluronic Acid Water Essence, but not sure right now. 

Serum: HaruHaru Wonder Black Rice Serum

I’ve been using this serum for the past year and a half and I’m obsessed with it. It absorbs into the skin nicely and is pretty thin, so I think combo skin peeps can use this serum. If you’re oily skin, you can probably use this too. During my combo days in the spring and summer in Texas, I never had any problems with excess oil. This serum does have a pretty noticeable lavender scent so if you’re sensitive to fragrance, you might want to avoid this. Overall, this serum helps with keeping my skin hydrated and works well with my moisturizers. 

I recently started using this in the morning and my skin feels really good. With the way I keep the heater on, my skin needed an extra boost of hydration during the day and this helped out big time.

Link to website: HaruHaru Wonder Black Rice Serum

Overall Rating: 9 out 10 (the fragrance doesn’t bother me, but might bother some)

Would I buy this again? Absolutely!

Serum I have my eye on once I’m out of this one: None, but I’ve made this my daytime serum and started using Pacifica Wake Up Beautiful Retinoid Serum at night.

Daytime Moisturizer: Glow Recipe Plum Plump Hyaluronic Cream

I admit…I got this on impulse. It smells like candy (can’t really place which candy) and the packaging got to me. Do I have regrets buying this moisturizer? No, I don’t. It’s very hydrating and my skin looks nice and plump and looks dewy. The flaky areas on the corners of my nose and chin don’t eat this up so quickly, but if it’s a very windy day they will. It’s stood up against some pretty cold temperatures here in Colorado and my face was okay for the most part. I think this product is a little too hyped up, but it’s not terrible. 

Now, what kind of grinds my gears about this product is the refillable pod. Yes, you can buy refillable pods to pop in once you’re out. But they look so small compared to the actual jar and just makes me wonder “Why is this jar so big for something that looks small?”. I haven’t tried this, but you could probably buy two refillable pods and dump them into the actual jar to fill it up. 

Link to website: Glow Recipe Plum Plump Hyaluronic Acid Moisturizer

Overall Rating: 7 out 10

Would I buy this again? Maybe, if there’s a sale.

Cleanser I have my eye on once I’m out of this one: HaruHaru Wonder Honey Green Aqua Bomb Cream

Nighttime Moisturizer: HaruHaru Wonder Maqui Berry Antioxidant Cream

I’ve been using this moisturizer for a few years now and I haven’t looked back. This moisturizer is very rich and thick so if your skin is on the oily side, I would avoid it. If anyone with super dry skin is looking for one, this moisturizer will definitely help in keeping the skin hydrated! A little goes a long way because of how thick it is and this will last a really long time, especially if you use it for night (or day!) time use. Even if you use it for both day and night, I imagine this will last long. This is a really good price for 3.2 oz versus most products that have 1.7. I honestly feel like I get my money’s worth and it lasts me for MONTHS. 

I don’t have any lines or wrinkles that I’m worried about. I use this as a way to prevent aging and keep my elasticity up. I even use a VERY little amount around my eyes at night. Eyes look hydrated when I wake up. My skin looks a little glowy in the morning. PLUS! It stays on really well considering that I move around a lot when I sleep and end up sleeping facedown half the time. This moisturizer also has a scent to it, kind of lavender-ish. It’s noticeable, but it doesn’t stay around for long after applying it to the skin. 

Link to website: HaruHaru Wonder Maqui Berry Antioxidant Cream

Overall Rating: 9 out of 10 (It’s THICK, but I love it!)

Would I buy this again? I’ve bought it 3 times so…yeah

Nighttime Moisturizer I have my eye on once I’m out of this one: None, sticking to this one for now.

Eye Cream: The Inkey List Caffeine Eye Cream

I know there’s mixed reviews on whether an eye cream is necessary or needed. I personally think it’s situational and depends on the person and their skin. At night, I put a thin layer of my nighttime moisturizer as my eye cream. For the morning, I use The Inkey List Caffeine Eye Cream because my eyes are usually a little puffy and I have dark circles. Dark circles can happen for many reasons whether it’s lack of sleep, allergies, pigmentation, etc. 

I decided to try this eye cream because…why not? Also because it’s $10, not very pricey, which I love. I started using it everyday and my dark circles have diminished, but they haven’t completely gone away which is what I expected. It’s light and I love using this eye cream with my Dieux Forever Eye Mask in the morning. My eyes are usually puffy which could be from me sleeping on my stomach so my face is facing down and probably also from salty foods. Overall, I love this eye cream for the mornings and it keeps my under eye area from looking too sleepy.

Link to website: The INKEY List Caffeine Eye Cream

Overall Rating: 8.5 out 10

Would I buy this again? Yes

Eye cream I have my eye on once I’m out of this one: None at the moment, but always open to suggestions.

Exfoliant: Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant

I know the name says “Daily”, but I use this exfoliant 1-2x a week. My skin is dry, but my nose does get oily and the pores on it gets clogged. I’ll see little white-ish looking stuff that looks like they’re poking out of them and if I wear makeup, it’ll look uneven because of the texture. This exfoliant has been my savior here in Colorado. Is my skin dry after using this? A little, but not much. But no matter what other exfoliant I use, I end up crawling back to this one. When I was in my early-mid 20s, it was gentle on my breakouts (I would avoid the area around active/angry red breakouts that looked ready to burst). 

Back when I worked at a spa, this exfoliant was one of the most popular sellers and one of my favorites to use. It’s great for any skin type, dry, oily, combo, acne-prone, and even sensitive. I’ve used this exfoliant on and off for years since I was 23 (I’m 31 in case anyone is wondering) and I always remember why I love it, but I also cry a little because it’s so expensive being $62. I know, let’s all take a gasp together and cry a little. BUT! There is an option to buy a refill packet for $52. I know, not much better, but just throwing it out there. 

A little goes a long way and it lasts for a while so I personally feel like I get my money’s worth. Just please, PLEASE make sure to add water when you use this. Just put a little of the Daily Microfoliant on your hand or fingertips and add a little water to make it foam up then massage GENTLY on the face. Please be gentle, I know some of us (I’m guilty of this too) want to scrub our faces off, but please don’t. Now, if you’re feeling a little playful or want to be extra (nothing wrong with that), you can put a little bit of Daily Microfoliant in a small bowl and use either a silicone face mask brush or a fan brush with thin bristles (not one with a lot of hair!) to whip this up into a nice foam and brush it on your face. 

NOTE: I didn’t take a picture of my Daily Microfoliant because…well I forgot to and didn’t feel like getting up to grab it. Sorry!

Link to website: Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant Exfoliator

Overall Rating: 9 out of 10 (that price though!)

Would I buy this again? Absolutely, even it makes me and my wallet cry while doing so.

Exfoliant I have my eye on after I finish this one: Considering Dear Klairs Gentle Black Facial Polish or I’m from Rice Mask, but knows deep down inside she’ll most likely/definitely/inevitably end up crawling back to the Daily Microfoliant.

Sunscreen: Rovectin Skin Essentials Aqua Soothing UV Protector SPF 50

I have mixed feelings about this sunscreen. It’s okay, but not great. Putting this sunscreen on, I swear I had a white cast over my skin. The redness on my cheeks looked diminished from using this sunscreen and not in a good way. It stays on for a long time. However, this sunscreen says it’s great for normal to dry skin (which I’m dry), but it seems like it’s more suited for combo and maybe oily skin. It dried to a matte finish and my nose (the only oily part of my face) looked pretty good and didn’t get too oily throughout the day. 

But on my dry spots, which are the corners of my nose and mouth, it did not look good at all. It would crust up a little on those areas and overall just felt drying. 

Link to website: ROVECTIN Aqua Soothing UV Protector

Overall Rating: 4 out of 10 (maybe it was one the I got, but sunscreen is just a “Meh…” from me)

Would I buy it again? No

Sunscreen I have my eye on after I finish this one: Frudia Ultra UV Shield Sun Essence SPF 50

Overnight Mask: CosRx Ultimate Nourishing Rice Overnight Spa Mask

I’m a huge fan of night masks, especially during the winter. I need them now more than ever because Colorado is a LOT different than Texas. While I was shopping on YesStyle, I was looking at different ones and this CosRx one caught my eye. I’m already a fan of the brand so I decided to try it out because it seemed like it’s good for dry skin and CosRx hasn’t disappointed me yet.

This mask was kind of a “meh” for me. It was nice and hydrating, but not too thick. My skin did seem a little brighter the next morning, but overall it was okay. My really dry and crusty patches on the corners of my nose ate this mask up as a late night snack. It did pretty good on keeping the areas around my mouth and chin hydrated against my drool. Overall, it’s pretty good, not great in my personal opinion.

**NOTE: I would’ve taken a picture of my bottle I had of this, but I cut it open to get the product out because there was a lot still in it. So yeah, it was pretty much butchered and it wouldn’t have looked good.

Link to website: COSRX – Ultimate Nourishing Rice Overnight Spa Mask

Overall Rating: 7 out of 10 (not great, but good)

Would I buy it again? Maybe during the summer.

Overnight mask I have my eye on after I finish this one: Purito Dermide Cica Barrier Sleeping Pack

Lip Care: Care: Nel Lip Night Mask in Berry

If you’re looking for a cruelty-free dupe for the Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask in their Original/Berry flavor, this is it. It’s cheaper too! The texture is practically the same. The scent is almost the same too. I got the smaller 5g jar and it lasted me for months! My lips were soft and supple the next morning. However! Even though it’s nice, you will run the risk of putting on too much and getting a little gloopy. A nice thin layer goes a long way. They do have a larger jar that’s 23g which is a little bigger than the Laneige and it’s a little over $10 cheaper. If you’re looking for a dupe for the Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask, look no further than this! 

NOTE: I threw the container out for this one too because I’m an idiot. Sorry again!)

Link to website: CARE:NEL – Berry Lip Night Mask (can also buy this on YesStyle.com)

Overall Rating: 10 out of 10 (perfect dupe and I just love this.)

Would I buy it again? Absolutely.

Lip mask I have my eye on after I finish this one: Smith’s Rosebud Salve (not a lip mask, but I saw it was cheaper and want to see how it works when I put it on at night.)

If you’ve made it this far, congratulations! I hope this was helpful and somewhat informative. I also use some skin care tools, masks, and other things. I think I might do a review on those products, and maybe do some hair product reviews. But for now, I think this article is long enough. 

Have you ever tried any of these products? If you have, what do you think of them? If you haven’t, do you plan to try any of them? Leave a comment!

-simplesarah1629

Elder Scrolls 6 Won’t Be Released Until After Fable 4

Fans will be waiting a long time at this rate.

If fans are expecting for Elder Scrolls 6 to be released anytime soon, they probably shouldn’t hold their breaths. After appearing on IGN’s Unlocked Podcast, Xbox head honcho, Phil Spencer, said that Elder Scrolls 6 won’t be released until after Fable 4’s release.

Fun fact: Fable 4 doesn’t have a release date yet.

So fans shouldn’t be holding their breath for Xbox or Bethesda to give them more information about Elder Scrolls 6. Bethesda has made it clear that Starfield is their main priority even though they’ve released very little information about it. The official teaser trailer of it did give fans more of a visual, but not much is known about the story or anything else. However, a release date was finally released: 11/11/2022. Fans finally rejoiced at knowing this bit of information and knew they were getting a little closer to the Elder Scrolls 6 being released.

ENTER: REDFALL

When word got around about Zenimax trying to trademark Redfall, many Elder Scrolls fans assumed this was part of the title for the Elder Scrolls 6. It did sound like a title for it. There’s The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall and The Elder Scrolls Adventures: Redguard. Many fans assumed that it was maybe a combination of the two names and plenty of theories started pouring in. Most fans assumed that it would take place in either High Rock, Hammerfell, or both. Some fans were questioning this since the Elder Scrolls games usually take place in a different province. However, after the teaser trailer was released, plenty of theories with strong arguments are floating around. Some fans thought that Hammerfell is a strong candidate for the next game to place in based on what they’ve seen in the trailer.

Then, their hopes were dashed when the trailer for Redfall came out. Instead of a fantasy RPG world that looks familiar, it was a post-apocalyptic world with vampires and a cool-looking cast of characters.

While fans were excited at a new game that looks good, they were also disappointed that they’re back to square one when it comes to Elder Scrolls 6. Of course, this hasn’t stopped the theories from coming in, but it has slowed them down and left fans wanting to know more.

There’s really nothing fans can do at this point except wait. Bethesda has remained unmovably strong and standing their ground when it comes to the Elder Scrolls 6. They have consistently told fans that it will be a long time before it comes out and Starfield is their main focus. With this news from Spencer, it seems like fans will be waiting a very long time.

The horizon is looking pretty dark from here For some fans…

If the wait isn’t making fans anxious enough, there’s a new problem some will have to worry about…

Microsoft owns Bethesda.

Microsoft makes the Xbox.

See the problem here?

Starfield is going to be released for PC and Xbox, but not PlayStation as far as we know. Fable 4 is going to be for Xbox as well as Redfall. This leaves fans worried that the Elder Scrolls 6 will be for only Xbox and PC. A valid worry since it’s no secret that Microsoft and Sony are known for making popular games exclusive to their consoles. The upcoming Final Fantasy 16 game is going to be exclusive to the PlayStation 5 and be strong competition for Microsoft, possibly making them lose a lot of money. Bethesda has yet to say if Elder Scrolls 6 will be Xbox exclusive, but fans who own PlayStations should brace themselves for the possible bad news.

Now, would this be a wise choice to make it exclusive for PC and Xbox?

Naturally, it would be best to release it for both consoles and PC. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim alone has made approximately $620,000,000 since its release back in 2011 and is one of the best-selling games of all time. Excluding PlayStation users will affect those numbers heavily. While it might not result in a huge financial loss, the Elder Scrolls 6 might not get close to making that much. Plus, the fan backlash is also something that they probably won’t want to deal with.

I’m no expert when it comes to business and numbers, but I would think that releasing it on both consoles would be beneficial for everyone. However, the rivalry between Sony and Microsoft is not something fans should blow off as a petty rivalry. I’m pretty sure Microsoft wasn’t too happy when they learned that Final Fantasy 16 would be PlayStation 5 exclusive. This could give them enough reason to make Elder Scrolls 6 Xbox exclusive just to get back at Sony.

Until Bethesda tells more, us PlayStation fans are left waiting on the edge of our seats and hoping Elder Scrolls 6 will be released on the PlayStation too.

Thoughts on this? Leave a comment down below.

-simplesarah

Are Blue Light Glasses Worth Buying?

Thanks to the pandemic, a lot of people are working from home. Looking at the computer screen is inevitable and looking at it for long periods of time can exhaust a person. The strain on the eyes is going to happen and people want to find a way to prevent that.

Enter blue light glasses.

Blue light glasses are glasses that have a tint to them that is supposed to filter out the blue light that a computer screen emits to help prevent eye strain. There is no official study to prove that blue light glasses actually help prevent this and if they work. These are glasses that are tinted to help diminish the blue light that supposedly emits from the computer screen. It’s supposed to help ease eye strain, help with sleeping, and reduce the risk of macular degeneration. They have mixed reviews from anyone that’s tried them so it’s tough finding a pair that’s trustworthy. So the questions remains:

Are blue light glasses worth buying?

During the middle of the pandemic last year, I was furloughed and in quarantine. I decided to go back to school and attend online classes during this time to get my bachelor’s degree. Shortly after this, I accepted a position as an office aide at an elementary school. Then I accepted a position as a writer for Game Rant. My eyes are practically glued to the computer screen now. If I’m not working for Game Rant or the school, my eyes are still glued to the screen because of schoolwork. My eyes have very little time not looking at a screen when I’m awake.

This meant I was (and still am) spending a lot of time looking at a computer screen. My eyes were fine at first. Then as time went on, I could feel the strain on my eyes from looking at the screen for long periods of time. One other thing that alarmed me was some slight dizziness I would feel from time to time. I would lie down to go to sleep and my head would get slightly dizzy from doing so. Now, I know it couldn’t have been from dehydration because I drink a lot of water throughout the day. Not eating enough was out the window too because I ALWAYS make sure I eat.

The only time I felt like this was usually after long day of working and doing my schoolwork. I figured my time looking at the screen was the cause of it and that’s when I started on my journey to see what I could to help with the eye strain and prevent it.

My search led to me blue light glasses. I looked up and down on the internet for weeks, reading reviews and doctors thoughts on them. After about three weeks of looking up information on them, I decided it was something I would risk buying and try it out for myself.

Where to buy them?

Like many people, I decided to go on Amazon to find me a pair. Naturally, there are lot of options to choose from, but I look through the 1–3 star reviews and decide from there.

The one thing I noticed through most of the 1 star reviews was that people were claiming that it was just plastic for the lenses and that they spent on fake glasses. This kind of put me on the edge of buying from Amazon because I wanted to make sure I get my money’s worth. Thus I began looking on the internet again to find out what websites I should buy blue light glasses from. There were a lot of websites that popped up with recommendations with a lot of the same brands popping up on their lists.

After another week of looking through the brands, I decided to with Eye Buy Direct. Their website was pretty simple and easy to navigate along with the buying options. They have a really price range from $6 to $199 for frames so there’s something something for every budget then pay for the lenses. For the lenses, they have a lot of options and unfortunately I don’t know the price range for the other options besides blue light. For the blue light options, Eye Buy Direct has four options ranging from $19 to $59 and they give an explanation on the differences between them. I choose to with the $19 option and see how that would work for me. My frames cost $9 and I bought a small case ($3.50) for them so I paid about $31 overall because of tax and shipping and handling. If there is a free shipping and handling amount, I don’t know it and didn’t mind paying for it. I knew I wouldn’t have to worry (much) about the glasses being fake at least whereas with Amazon, there was a higher risk of that.

It took about a week to a week and a half for my order to come in. Everything was safe and in one piece. Experience with Eye Buy Direct was overall pleasant and I had no problems.

Me wearing my glass from eyebuydirect.com (this is NOT a sponsored post!)

Now about the glasses…

Admittedly, I was a bit skeptic of these glasses, but I was willing to try wearing blue light glasses to help with my eye strain and slight dizziness if it meant not going to the doctor.

Looking at the glasses, the lenses don’t look like anything special at first glance. To be rather blunt, they look like just regular plastic shaped like lenses and fitted into the frames I ordered. Putting them on, I didn’t notice a difference either. It seemed like everything was the same. It wasn’t until I looked at my laptop screen that I noticed the difference. Now, it wasn’t a huge difference, but I saw that my screen wasn’t as bright as it was before. Upon closer inspection, I noticed there was a yellowish-tint to the glasses. It’s really noticeable when I go outside during the day and I take them off.

I started wearing these whenever I was working on my laptop. So that’s about a good 8–14 hours a day looking at a computer screen. After about two weeks of wearing these, I did notice that my eyes weren’t feeling as strained as they normally would. The dizziness I would feel when I lie down went away too.

Now, if you’re thinking I’m writing this after two weeks of wearing these glasses. I’m not. It’s been months since I’ve had them and I will admit that I’m wearing my glasses everyday.

Screenshot of when I purchased the glasses. Took about a week and a half to come in.

Final Thoughts

My experience with blue light glasses has been positive overall. My eyes don’t hurt like they used to and I don’t get dizzy either. The one thing I noticed that hasn’t changed is my sleeping pattern. Apparently there are some claims that it’s supposed to help people sleep better at night. Because most people (myself included) look at their phones right before they go to sleep, there are some claims that the blue light from devices (i.e. phones and tablets) reduce melatonin levels. Personally, my sleep pattern is more or less the same as it was before I got the glasses. But overall, worth buying.

If you plan on buying blue light glasses, check reviews. Admittedly, after looking at reviews on Amazon, I decided I would buy my glasses from a glasses website. My search led me to Eye Buy Direct and I will have to say it was worth it. Yes, it would’ve been a lot cheaper to buy from Amazon, but I was afraid of buying blue light glasses and ending up with clear plastic shaped like lenses. Read reviews and determine if it’s worth the risk from sites like Amazon.

Of course, there’s the obvious solution of helping with eye strain looking at a screen: which is to lessen it. But some people make a living looking at a screen and it can’t be helped. It could be a placebo effect, but I feel like after months of wearing the glasses that my eye strain has lessened and the dizziness I felt is gone.

What are your thoughts about blue light glasses? Do you plan on trying them out?

-simplesarah

Holo Taco Review

I wore it for a month on my toenails and even tried it on my fingernails. How did it hold up?

Hello everyone! Today’s beauty blog is all about Holo Taco by YouTuber, SimplyNailogical. I’ve been a fan of hers for a while and I will have to say, her videos and podcasts have made this quarantine bearable. One day, while watching her video for her rainbow collection, I decided I was going to check out the Holo Taco website and see what they have. While looking around, I ended up purchasing a few nail polishes from there and decided to try them out and see how they hold up against my clumsiness with my feet and hands. Yes, I’m very clumsy. There’s not a week that goes by where my poor pinky toes don’t hit something hard, usually the corner of the bed frame, fireplace, or the closet door when I’m opening or closing it. More or less the same for my hands, they usually end up hitting something very hard and my fingernails are usually the ones that pay for it. It’s not my fault the wall or door knobs like to jump out and attack my hands! 

Okay, back to why I decided to try this brand out! One, SimplyNailogical is one of my favorite YouTubers. Two, the nail polishes are pretty and sparkly, and if there’s one thing I love, it’s sparkly things. Three, this brand is little pricier than most drugstore brands so I decided to see how they are against them and if it’s worth buying. I decided I would polish my toenails with Midnight Spark and leave it on for a whole month and see how it looks at the end of it. 

Now, for full disclosure, I did not get any of Holo Taco’s top coats because at the time of my first purchase, they were sold out so I ended up buying Sally Hansen’s Miracle Gel Top Coat from Walgreens. At the time of my second purchase, their Glossy Taco top coat was back in stock, but I didn’t want to buy it since I want to finish using the top coat I already have and not waste money. So please keep this in mind if you read my review.

Also, this is not a sponsored post. I’m not getting paid by Holo Taco for this. I’m just a nerd wanting to write and a fan of Simplynailogical.

Let’s spill some tea!

Day 1 on fingernails and Day 14 of toenails

Day 1 on left hand: One Coat Black with Aurora Unicorn Skin on ring finger and Purple Slushie on other fingers

Day 1 on right hand: Purple Slushie

Day 14 of left foot: Midnight Spark

Nail polish is on my fingernails and looks pretty good considering it’s been a while since I’ve had nail polish on my nails. It was my turn to wash dishes and thankfully there weren’t too many, but I was afraid that it would chip off especially since I had to use the metal scouring pad for some heavy scrubbing. Also, I’m wearing the color Purple Slushie on all my fingernails except my left ring finger which has One Coat Black with Aurora Unicorn Skin on top.

Day 2

Two days since the polish has been on and it still looks good. I cleaned the bathroom and it’s still holding strong. Toenails are still looking good too.

Day 3

One small chip on my index finger on my right hand. Nothing more.

Day 4

Two of my fingers are now chipped, middle finger and index finger. Not too surprised since they seem to be the first ones to chip when I usually wear nail polish.

Day 5

Okay, middle finger and index finger on the right hand chipped more and now the corner of my thumb has chipped. Toenails are still good and my pinky toe on my left foot is holding strong considering I accidentally hit it on the corner of my bed frame so I’m impressed. One Coat Black and Aurora Unicorn Skin are still going strong on my left ring finger though I wonder how this combo would hold up on my right since it’s my dominant hand. I might take the polish off and try one of the chunky glitter polishes like Party Punch or Play Rosé. 

Day 7

Switched to Play Rosé on Day 7

Some chipping on my ring finger on my left hand and on my right pinky, along with more chipping on my index fingers. I took these off and put on Play Rosé to see how it holds up against my everyday life. Unfortunately, because I forgot, I don’t have a picture of what my nails looked like before I took the polish off.

Day 13

So far so good! I think a small piece chipped off my middle finger on my left hand, but it’s barely noticeable. Toenails are still going strong, but it’s obvious some growth is going on.

Day 15

Okay, a chunk of the polish chipped off yesterday while I was washing my hair, but it was only on the tip of my index finger. Other than that, it seems my nails are still looking pretty snazzy considering I clean the bathrooms every three days, wash dishes and wash my hair every other day. Plus, this review has made me realize that my hands hit a lot of things throughout a single day. Yesterday alone, my hands hit the side of my desk, a wall, doorknob, and the handle to my car. This whole thing has made me realize just how clumsy I really am.

Day 17 for fingernails and Day 30 for toenails

Day 30 for toenails

10 days after switching polishes on my left hand

10 days after switching nail polish colors on my right hand

Well, it’s been a long time coming! Day 30 for my toenails is finally here! 

As you can see, the polish held up very well against me, my clumsiness, and life on my left hand. My right hand is not too surprising, but considering all the things that my poor hand goes through on a weekly basis, this is actually not that bad! I think if I had put a top coat on, this would still be smooth and have very little chipping.

Now that the tea is spilt…

Is Holo Taco worth it? Well, I definitely say it’s worth buying if you’re looking for a brand that can deliver its promise of lasting long with great color and glitter payout. Now, I know this review is mostly about the thick holo glitter polish, but for the short time that One Coat Black with Aurora Unicorn Skin was on, it held up very well against me and my clumsiness. I’ve been using other polishes along with using the different variety of toppers Holo Taco has like the Gold Flakie Holo Taco and Solar Unicorn Skin together on One Coat Black and they hold up very well on my fingernails. Even on my toenails One Coat Black is holding up after a rather hard collision my pinky toe did against the fireplace. Surprise surprise, no chipping happened!

So that concludes my review for Holo Taco! Have you tried Holo Taco? What are your thoughts on it? Will you try it if you haven’t yet? Leave a comment!

P.S. From the nail polishes named after her cats, I’m more of a Zyler the Cat fan. I love the Menchie the Cat polish, but Zyler the Cat is just more me. Team Zyler!

July Beauty Favorites

Hello, everyone! It’s been a while, but I haven’t been slacking off. Last month was crazy trying out new things and a small COVID-19 scare, but thank goodness I came out negative. Last month, I decided to treat myself to some nail polish and polish my toenails since I haven’t given myself a pedicure in a while. Plus, my toenails have been needing some love since they’ve been naked for a few months and deserve it.

WRITER’S NOTE: The following brands are not sponsoring me for this post and I have no affiliation with them. I honestly just love these products.

Holo Taco Nail Polish in Play Rosé

Starting off the list is a nail polish that is from one of my favorite YouTubers, SimplyNailogical’s Holo Taco brand. While I was locked in my room during my COVID  scare, I managed to paint my toenails when I was feeling okay. One coat of this nail polish is pretty impressive that I almost didn’t put on a second coat of this, but I did. It’s a very opaque color and the holo glitter is really nice and pretty especially when shining in the sun. The color itself is pretty subtle, but that holo glitter gives it a nice touch that makes it stand out without being too in your face. I wore this color for about two and a half weeks and there was absolutely no chipping. Taking this polish off was a bit of a pain, but that is a common thing for glitter nail polish. If you’re looking for a nice rose gold color with glitter, this one is worth checking out!

Holo Taco Smoothing Base

While I was stalking around Holo Taco’s website, I was looking for a base coat since I had thrown away my old one. My toenails do get ridges in them and it’s very tedious trying to buff and smooth them, especially my pinky toenails. So after reading this one’s description, I figured I would give it a try to see if it stands up against my ridged toenails. I have to say I’m very surprised! I’ve never used a ridge filler base coat, but I was skeptical because my baby toenails have ridges FOR DAYS! Low and behold, my toenails are smooth to the touch (once it dried!) and my nail polish went on very smoothly. This base coat will give your nails a milky finish, so it’s not very opaque unless you just glob it on. Overall, this base coat goes on easily, dries very quickly, and stays on for a long time by itself. Worth looking into if you’re in the market for a ridge filling base coat.

Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Top Coat

I bought this top coat when I got my first order of Holo Taco in and I didn’t buy the top coat from them because they were sold out at the time. So during my weekly trip to Walgreens, I decided to stalk around the beauty aisle and see if any of the top coats would catch the attention of my beady, little eyes. There are plenty of brands to choose from and I think I spent a good twenty-something minutes looking at a variety of brands for a top coat. I ended up settling on this one. It was on the pricier side compared to most brands, but thank you Walgreens member points for helping reduce the cost! This top coat did a pretty good job on making the polish on my toenails look shiny and smooth, plus it dried pretty quickly considering it looks like it’s on the thicker side. 

Korres Meno-Reverse™ Volumizing Serum-In Moisturizer

I got this product as a sample from an online purchase I made on Sephora’s website and tried it out this past month as a day time cream when I wasn’t using my Laneige Cream Skin Toner & Moisturizer. This sample lasted me a while since a little goes a long way. If you have normal-dry or dry skin, this moisturizer is worth checking out. Now, I know I’m NOT in the target group that this moisturizer is made for. I can only say that this product keeps the skin very hydrated, soft, and smooth. If you’re looking for a moisturizer that helps with aging, this one does have ingredients that are supposed to help with that. I would read the reviews first and make a gut decision based on that. If you’re looking to prevent aging, then moisturizer might be worth looking into!

Laneige Water Sleeping Mask

My love for Laneige runs deep and I don’t think I’ll ever resurface. My love for the Lip Sleeping Mask is still going strong and now it’s time for me to say how much I love the Water Sleeping Mask, which is for the face. I’ve been using this mask for about 2-3 years and I cannot imagine my life without it! Got dry patches? Put this on those patches. Need to give your skin some extra hydration at night? Put this on. Drool in your sleep and wake up with dry, crusty corners on your mouth? PUT. THIS. ON. After doing my night time skin care routine, I put this mask on about 2-3 times a week, depending on the weather and my skin condition. During the summer, my skin is normal-dry so I’ll end up using this as a spot treatment for the corners of my mouth and nose, the two driest areas on my face because of my drooling problem when I sleep and allergies (for my nose). Sometimes I’ll put this all over my face if I feel like I need it or to treat my skin. It’s safe to put on everyday, but you don’t need to unless you want to. In the winter, I’ll put this one about 3-4 times a week since it doesn’t get that cold where I live (Texas). You don’t need to put on too much. A light layer goes a long way and you put it on after moisturizer. Pairing this up with my Burt’s Bees Intense Hydration Night Cream has helped my skin a lot. The corners of my nose feel better and soothed and the corners of my mouth are well hydrated! A full size of this can last a long time and it usually comes in packs with other Laneige items. Definitely worth checking out if you’re in need of an overnight mask!

Equate Beauty Rose Quartz Roller

Yes, you’ve seen these everywhere and if you’re wondering if it’s worth buying…then my answer is yes. My eyes are usually a little puffy when I wake up especially during the summer because of my allergies so I was looking for something to help depuff them some days. While at Walmart, I saw this little beauty and figured why not? This has been a game changer in my skin care routine. When I use it in the morning, it helps a lot with depuffing my eyes and my face and at night, I use it to put my serum and essence on and I don’t have to worry about them absorbing into my hand, plus it’s a nice little massage treatment. Sometimes I put it in the fridge overnight and it’s a nice cooling treatment for my morning routine. Simple to use, easy to use, and plenty of stores have them so they’re easy to find. A nice little tool to give yourself a mini treat yo self. 

Final Thoughts…

At the moment, I am trying out a different color from the Holo Taco brand on my toenails and I’m going to see how it looks after a month and see if it holds up or if there’s any chipping. I will also try out the brand’s nail polish on my fingernails and see how it holds against me hand washing my dishes, showers, and other everyday general life tasks. The price for Holo Taco is a little pricey compared to most drugstore brands ($11-14), but it is good quality and worth the splurge if you’re looking for glittery nail polish. I might do a more in-depth review of Holo Taco at some point, but after some testing. 

Have you tried any of these products? What were your beauty favorites throughout July? Let me know in the comments!

-simplesarah