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.

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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

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

Is it worth it? Laneige Cream Skin Toner & Moisturizer review

Hello, everyone! It’s been a while since my last beauty product review, but I’m back with another one!

So, for the past month and half, I admit that I’ve been a little lazy when it comes to my morning skin care routine. It’s a process that I usually don’t mind, but my anxiety has been through the roof for a variety of reasons. Admittedly, there also might even be a small dose of depression mixed in with it. My skin care routines, day and night, took a big hit and my skin started suffering from it. Thankfully, I was equipped with what I think could be a game-changer for those with normal-dry skin.

Okay, so a little history on my skin care routine when I get anxious. When my anxiety hits, I tend to forget to take care of myself and become plain neglectful with my mind racing a million miles a minute. Unfortunately, my skin is the one that suffers the most from it. I go days without properly washing and moisturizing my face, forget to put lotion on my body, and there are some days where I don’t do any of this, AT ALL. Trust me, a small voice is in the back of my mind  yelling at me to take care of myself when I’m like this, but I tend to ignore it. After I managed to get myself out of this funk, I go back to my normal morning skin care routine and my skin is back to looking healthy. Alright, enough about me, let’s move onto the product review! 

Photo by me

I got the Laneige Cream Skin Toner & Moisturizer from a little holiday pack that my mom had given to me for Christmas and it’s been sitting on my skin care shelf since then, unopened and waiting for it’s time to shine. While I was in my funk, I felt and saw some dry patches around the corners of my nose and mouth, and my skin looked dull. While I was at war with myself, my beady, little eyes started scouting for something on my shelf to help me with the problem. In reality, I was looking for a quick fix before my mind wandered elsewhere and I would forget. My eyes landed on this little product and I read the back of the bottle to see if it is what it claims to be. I was intrigued after reading it and thought, “Surely, it can’t work that well.” A toner and a moisturizer in one product? Can this little bottle really be as good as both?

Well, I personally have to say yes. I put this product in my hands and patted it on my face like instructed, and I have to say, my face looked a lot better! My dry patches were now hydrated and didn’t feel dry and rough like they normally do. Overall, my face was glowing. The product didn’t feel heavy on my skin nor was it sticky. I was shook! It left my skin looking dewy, though some might think greasy or oily. However, I felt like it gave my skin the glass skin look that is popular in Japan and South Korea. 

Before: no cleansing or anything | After: using the Laneige Cream Skin Toner & Moisturizer only. Sorry for the poor lighting, but it’s the best I can do with my phone and no filter was used for these photos. 

Alright, let’s move onto the ingredients and how they benefit the skin.

Screenshot from sephora.com

Limnanthes Alba (Meadowfoam)

This ingredient helps soften and hydrate the skin. It’s a very popular ingredient that’s used for both skin and hair products since it kind of provides a moisture barrier that helps keep the skin’s natural moisture sealed in and prevent environmental damage. 

Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract AKA Green Tea Leaf Extract

Has antioxidants that help improve the appearance of sun-damaged skin and has anti-aging properties. It can also help with moisture and even out skin tone. It can also help reduce sebum production and has antibacterial properties which can help treat oily and/or acne-prone skin.

This product is marketed towards normal-dry skin and I think it helps, but it’s not the most moisturizing product. If you have very dry skin, this might not work for you and you might need something a little thicker. My dry patches were hydrated and didn’t get flaky, but the redness was still there and once I washed my face, they would tighten up and go back to being very dry. However, if you don’t have this problem, this might be good if you need something quick and on-the-go. Laneige has some kits with a small bottle of this in them so it’s worth trying out without worrying about spending a lot on one item that might not work out for you. 

Have you tried this product yet? What are your thoughts? Leave a comment and let me know.

-simplesarah

Is it worth it? Burt’s Bees Facial Cleanser for Sensitive Skin

Cleansing is a very important part of a skin care routine. There’s nothing better than washing your face to get rid of the sleepiness when waking up or washing it after a long day at work. 

I don’t have sensitive skin, but after a Nair facial hair removal cream incident, my skin, in particular my cheeks, were not happy! I think the skin heavens were frowning on me for trying a “painless” way of trying to remove my facial hair and punished me by giving me a red spot that took forever to go away and a dark spot that’s still hanging around. I ran out of my cleanser around that time and was in the market for a new one to help me with my new problem. Now, the red spot wasn’t burning or bothering me, but it was noticeable and looked like I burned myself. I didn’t want to spend a lot of money at Sephora or on other department store brands because I didn’t have much on me at the time. Thankfully, my favorite corner store, Walgreens, was there to rescue me!

I used every little bit I could. Price is between $7.99-$9.99

Now, I’ve known about Burt’s Bees since I was a teen and loved their acne care products, but some of the products are a little on the expensive side for drugstore prices so I wasn’t able to use it often. It was my splurge brand during those days. It had been a while since I used any of their products, but I noticed their items while walking around the skin care aisle. I don’t remember seeing as many products as they have now, but I was happy to see that they had a sensitive skin care line which is what I was looking for. In particular, I was looking at the cleanser. I admit, I’m a little picky on what I use on my face and I blame/thank attending esthetician school for that. My personal rule for me when buying skin care is if I know at LEAST three ingredients and their benefits, then I’ll buy or consider buying it if it’s within my budget. Since my skin was in a bit of delicate state, I wanted to make sure I was familiar with some of the ingredients and that they would help.

Alright! Let’s move onto listing some of the ingredients and their benefits for the skin.

Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil AKA Sunflower Oil

Sunflower oil is a well-known ingredient in the skin care world that is great for helping soothe red, sensitive, acne-prone, and/or irritated skin. It’s very rich in vitamin E which is known for its moisturizing properties and an antioxidant which helps protect the skin from UV rays. It also has linoleic acid, AKA omega-6 fatty acid, which helps decrease inflammation and helps the development of new skin cells.

Cocos Nucifera Oil AKA Coconut Oil

One ingredient that a lot of skin care enthusiasts are very familiar with. A very versatile and inexpensive ingredient that can be used for a lot of things. It has all the benefits that sunflower oil has, but it can also be used as a treatment for hair as a hair mask, help with frizz, breath freshener, and many other things. When used by itself, it can be very moisturizing though it is up for debate if it actually moisturizes the skin or just traps moisture in the skin. On a personal note, I know my aunt used this for her skin to help ease her psoriasis and it helped for a while, but eventually it stopped working for her. I’ve also used this as a hair mask, and while it did help a little with my hair, all it did was make my bathtub very slick.

Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice AKA Aloe Vera

Like coconut oil, aloe is another popular ingredient known by a lot of skin care enthusiasts. It helps with soothing redness on the skin, gives a cooling effect, and gives a moisturizing effect. It contains a lot of vitamins like A, B1, B2, B12, C, and others that protect the skin from free radicals. Very versatile to use in the beauty world as it can be used for hair, face, and body. 

Quillaja Saponaria Bark Extract AKA Soapbark

A natural foaming agent that has water-attaching elements and is used in some skin, hair, and body products. 

Oryza Sativa Extract AKA Rice Extract

An ingredient that helps with softening the skin and is very rich in enzymes which helps remove dead skin cells so that new and healthy skin can come to the surface. It also helps brighten skin. This is also one of the main ingredients in Dermalogica’s Daily Microfoliant which has this and rice starch and is one of their best-selling exfoliants.

Gossypium Herbaceum Flower Extract AKA Cotton Extract

If you’re thinking that just because it’s cotton extract, it’s going to make your skin soft…well you’re right. It contains vitamin E which helps with keeping the skin hydrated and fatty acids that protect the outer layer of the skin and reduce the appearance of redness. This ingredient helps with sealing in the moisture and keeping irritants away.

On paper, this cleanser sounds like it would be a great choice for those with sensitive skin, but does it actually help?

I can’t say if it’s the holy grail for those looking for a cleanser to help with redness, dryness, and sensitivity, but I think it is worth checking out if you’re in the market for a cleanser to help with those conditions. It has nice creamy consistency that doesn’t feel too thick so it can be good for those with normal-dry and dry skin. After washing my face, I didn’t feel any stinging or tightening like I usually feel with most cleansers so that’s a plus in itself! After toning and moisturizing, my skin was very hydrated throughout the day and I didn’t see any dry spots on the corners of my nose and chin, which tend to flake after a while. 

Now, did it help with the red spot that appeared after my Nair facial hair removal fail?

Yes, it did! Now, it didn’t go away overnight or within a week. It did take about two weeks of using this and also using Burt’s Bees Sensitive Night Cream for the spot to fade and about a month into it, the spot was gone. This bottle lasted about two months for me, so it will last a while for anyone wanting to give this a try. It was definitely worth the money and I was very happy with the results I got. My skin recovered from the trauma and my skin is back to being the way it was before. 

I hope this review helps! If you’ve tried this cleanser, what are your thoughts? Let me know what you think!

-simplesarah

Is it worth it? Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask review

Shopping for skin care can be a little daunting, especially these days in quarantine since most stores are only doing curbside pickup and the customers can’t get samples of products they wish to try.

I hope this review on what is probably the best selling lip mask in Sephora will help you in your next shopping trip.

This lip mask was launched exclusively in Sephora stores back in 2017 and it has remained one of the best-selling lip products in the store. I decided to try this mask out while I worked there during the holiday season and I have to say, I’m very impressed!

This lip mask can feel a little goopy if you put it on too thick. It almost feels a little bit like a lip gloss, but not as sticky. You don’t need to put on too much (unless you want to!), and it lasts a long time. Now it does say it’s good for twelve months, but I decided to keep using it since I barely got to the halfway point and to see if it does change consistency after it’s supposed to be tossed. So far, it’s still the same and it’s been about two months since the twelve month mark was up.

When I wake up, most of the mask is still on and my lips feel very soft and well-hydrated. I just clean up any leftover mask and put on my lip balm and go about my day. Usually if I wear lip balm to bed, my lips get dry and sometimes it’ll peel and get flaky. With this mask, I don’t have that problem. Also, you can use this mask to treat your lips before putting on lip make-up. Just put a thin layer on while you do the rest of your make-up then wipe it off and put on your lipstick, lip gloss, etc. and your lips will be well-hydrated! I’ve also worn this just as a glossy balm and it works just as good as any other lip balm if not better. Another use is putting it on top of matte lipstick, liquid or traditional, and give it a glossy shine without the stickiness that most lip glosses give. It does have a nice smell to it which I’m guessing is from all the berries (strawberries, blueberries, cranberries, and raspberries) that’s blended into it and it’s not overwhelmingly fragrant. I personally haven’t tried the Apple Lime, Vanilla, or Sweet Candy so I can’t say if they smell like their names.

So is it worth the twenty dollars for this small, cute, 20 gram jar of lip mask?

My personal answer is yes! This jar has lasted me well over a year so it definitely will last a long time unless you just pile the mask on super thick. It definitely helps keeping lips hydrated throughout the day and I did do one touch up after my lunch break at work, mostly because I tend to wipe off my lip products while eating. Other than that, my lips didn’t peel or anything like they usually do, even with lip balm, and after wiping it off, my lips remained soft, supple, and smooth. I say it’s worth checking out if you’re looking for something to help with dry and chap lips or to prevent them. If you can get a sample of it, try it out. I know this mask does come in some kits that Laneige has for sale and even that little jar will last a while!

Have you tried Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask? If so, what are your thoughts on it? If you haven’t tried it yet, did this review help? Leave a comment and let me know your thoughts!

-simplesarah