It's been almost 8 years since Sisley last released a face mask (the Black Rose Cream Mask), so I was ecstatic when their newest Velvet Sleeping Mask arrived in the mail! If you haven't yet tried any of Sisley's masks, they are cult classics. Here is a quick rundown of the three most popular ones:
Express Flower Gel Mask - This is an intensely hydrating mask that feels like a shot of water for your skin. It's cooling and immediately helps to replenish moisture in the skin.
Black Rose Cream Mask - This one is my personal favorite. It's a thick cream texture that nourishes the skin, plumps, smooths and firms. It's a great mask to wear before a big event or when you need to whip your skin into shape very quickly. Leave it on for 20 minutes and then tissue it off pressing the excess into the skin.
Radiant Glow Express Mask - For an instant glow, this is the mask to use. It helps to exfoliate, brighten and give the skin a deep cleanse. I love to use this and follow it up with either the Express Flower Gel Mask or the Black Rose Cream Mask.
The Velvet Sleeping Mask is an overnight mask designed to help nourish and restore your skin as you sleep. Normally sleeping masks are a bit too heavy for me to wear overnight, but I was able to use a small amount with no issues and my face didn't feel tacky or stick to my silk pillowcase as I slept (the worst!). I noticed that it immediately calmed my skin after I applied and when I woke up, my skin looked fresh and felt incredibly supple and soft.
In addition to using it overnight, I also love using it as a wipe off mask for a more immediate treatment. I apply a thick layer of the velvety cream and leave it on for 20 minutes. I tissue it off with a warm cloth and press the excess into my skin. My face feels so plump and looks instantly revitalized. For more of my Sisley favorites, scroll through the widget below.
Space NK is having one of their amazing GWP events again starting August 7th and going through August 18th (while supplies last). With every $175 Space NK purchase (either in-store or online), you will receive the above GWP bag valued at over $300! And if you spend an additional $30, you can receive a deluxe gift from Dr. Barbara Sturm. Here is a quick recap of the samples in the bag:
Chantecaille Blue Light Skincare Solution, Oskia Renaissance Cleansing Gel, Christophe Robin Cleansing Purifying Scrub with Sea Salt, Bumble & Bumble Fine Hair Styler, Omorovicza Cleansing Foam, Briogeo Don't Despair Repair Deep Conditioning Mask, Mila Moursi Anti Wrinkle Cream, Coola Sunless Tan Firming Lotion, Rodial Vitamin C Brightening Cleanser, Sunday Riley A+ High Dose Retinoid Serum, Eve Lom Moisture Cream, Oribe Flash Foam Finishing Spray Wax, By Terry Hand Cream, Goldfaden MD Line Smoothing Concentrate, Malin + Goetz Brightening Enzyme Mask, Kat Burki Bio-Correcting Face Creme, Diptyque Do Son Fragrance, Ilia Mascara.
If you need some recommendations of things to pick up during the event, here are 10 of my top picks:
1. Joanna Vargas Daily Serum - I've been through countless bottles of this vitamin c serum - it's like a green juice for your face.
2. Vintner's Daughter - Truly as good as everyone says. It targets so many different concerns and is great for any skin type.
3. Tata Harper Regenerating Cleanser - This is an exfoliating cleanser that is gentle enough to be used a few times a week and it makes your skin so smooth and bright.
4. Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing Balm - One of THE best cleansing balms I've ever tried. Creamy and full of rich oils, this cleanser will nourish your skin and give it a deep cleanse.
5. Sunday Riley Good Genes - This serum is one of my all time faves. It targets anti-aging concerns, brightening, firming and you will see results within the first few days.
10. REN Bio Retinoid Anti-Aging Face Oil - The one face oil I will never be without. It is designed to target anti-aging concerns, but for me I find that it does wonders in helping treat my breakouts.
As if we need another reason to go shopping at Target! Now there is a new skincare line that they are carrying that really impressed me. It's a clean skincare line called Versed and I have been testing out a few products and had to share my thoughts. The price points are amazing and the quality is phenomenal!
1. Day Dissolve Cleansing Balm - The first product I had to try from the line was the cleansing balm (no surprise there #cleansingbalmlover). The texture is firm but immediately breaks down as soon as you start massaging it into the skin. It turns to an oil and removed every last bit of makeup so easily. I found using a muslin cloth was the best way to rinse it off the face and my skin was left feeling so clean and smooth!
2. Hydration Station Booster with HA - I always have a hydrating serum or essence in my morning and evening routine and this booster was amazing. It may actually be my favorite product out of all three that I tested. It's lightweight, absorbs instantly and gives my skin an instant shot of moisture! I was super impressed with it and even more so when I saw the price was only $20. Such a great deal.
3. Look Alive Hydrating Plumping Mask - If I'm not applying a hydrating serum, then I am using a hydrating mask. Keeping my skin well hydrated and full of moisture is so key to helping my skin stay looking its best. This hydrating plumping mask felt like a spa treatment in a pouch. The texture is a lightweight gel and you can instantly feel it hydrating the skin as soon as you apply it. I've been using this nightly as a way to help replenish the moisture in my skin after playing outside on the deck with Miles almost every day. The summer sun and heat can make my skin even more dehydrated than it is in the winter.
I already have my eye on a few other things from the line that I want to try because these three really impressed me. I linked below all of my picks.
If you follow my blog regularly than you know I am a HUGE cleansing balm lover. I prefer balms or a cleansing oil to remove my makeup or deep cleanse my skin every night. Years ago cleansing balms were scarce and only a few brands had them. Fast forward to today and it seems like every brand out there either has a cleansing balm in their range or is launching one. And to that I say - THANK YOU! I find that cleansing balms break down makeup, dirt, sunscreen etc better than a regular cleanser and my skin feels cleaner without ever being stripped of it's natural oils. There are two new luxury cleansing balms I recently tried that I had to put on your radar.
1. Argentum Apothecary La Lune de Velours Facial Cleanser - Argentum is a new brand to me and they sent over this cleansing balm and this face cream for me to try. As soon as I opened the cleansing balm jar, I just about fell on the floor. The TEXTURE!!! It looks like creamy, buttery goodness and I went right into the bathroom to wash my face with it. It contains argan oil and sweet almond oil so it is incredibly hydrating to the skin and made my skin feel so soft and supple. It's thick but breaks down as you massage it in, and then I use a muslin cloth to remove it. It's wayyyy too luxurious for me to use regularly to remove makeup because I want all the amazing ingredients to get on my bare skin so I have been using it as a second cleanse most nights. Pure luxury in a jar!
2. La Prairie Supreme Balm Cleanser - I could not have been happier when I opened a package from La Prairie with all their new products and saw they had launched a cleansing balm! The texture is a bit stiffer than the Argentum but as soon as I dipped the spatula into the jar, the cleanser looked like creamy butter. It feels smooth and silky when massaging it onto the skin, breaks down to an oil and cuts through all makeup, sunscreen and dirt effortlessly. I add warm water and it transforms into a soft milk rinsing away without any residual greasiness on the skin. You only need the smallest amount to cleanse the face and I am using it so sparingly because I want to make it last as long as I can! Ha! A round of applause to La Prairie's first cleansing balm - it is stellar.
The brushes were the first things I tested because well....I can't resist new makeup brushes. LOL I shared a tutorial of me using the loose powder brush in this video and that one is hands down my favorite out of all three. I even think it may be my favorite loose powder brush of ALL TIME. The bristles are some of the softest I've ever used and it manages to pick up just the right amount of product and spread it evenly across the face. I first tried using the powder foundation brush with powder blush and didn't like the application. It has a flat kabuki-like top so it is best for buffing in product rather than swiping it on. I tested it again with the powder foundation and later with a cream blush and found that it was perfection! It buffs product in smoothly and evenly leaving a flawless finish. The liquid foundation brush is equally amazing and for me I enjoyed using it to blend out my under eye concealer. If you are someone that likes to use a brush for your liquid or cream foundation, this is a splurge-worthy option.
Moving on to the Skin Caviar Loose Powder and Pressed Powder foundation. I don't use loose powder too often because it doesn't last that long on my combination skin and can make my face look too flat. I did not have any of these issues when using this loose powder. The only way I can describe it is powdered silk. It is THAT smooth. I was sent Translucent 0 and it has a slight pink undertone which looked gorgeous on my complexion. It set my makeup, blurred imperfections, mattified the skin without looking dry and lasted ALL DAY LONG.
The Pressed Powder foundation (I wear the shade Porcelaine Blush NC-10) offers buildable powder coverage that can be worn alone or layered over another liquid/cream foundation. I recommend using the powder foundation brush to buff it into the skin when wearing alone as it provides a sheer/medium coverage. It can also be applied lightly with the loose powder brush for more sheer coverage over top another liquid or cream foundation. I personally like using this with a very sheer liquid foundation underneath and I will add the powder over top to set my makeup and add a touch more coverage.
Brighten, exfoliate and hydrate - basically my skincare mission. I want products to target all of these things and if I can find them all in one set even better! Volition Beauty's Best of Volition set contains three of their top selling products that are designed to do exactly that - brighten, exfoliate and hydrate the skin. If you are unfamiliar with the Volition Beauty brand, they are a clean beauty brand (and cruelty free!) that uses Safe Science formulations free from harmful ingredients. The skincare range from the line is quite extensive (everything from cleansers and masks, to serums, eye creams, SPF and more), and there is also a body and makeup line as well. The Best of Volition set is a great place to start if you are new to the brand because it contains three of their most popular products all in one set. After testing each one, I now understand why they are top sellers and have so much buzz surrounding them.
1. Turmeric Brightening Polish - I am a huge turmeric fan and love when beauty brands use amazing nutritional ingredients in their skincare. Many scrubs can often be too harsh for me to use, but this one feels wonderful on my skin. I like to massage it gently into damp skin and then leave on for 3-4 minutes letting the olive oil and sesame oil in the formula nourish and moisturize my skin. Then I gently remove it with my hands or a warm washcloth and my skin is left glowing! The other morning I put it on while in the shower, rinsed it off and when I went to apply my foundation, it glided on effortlessly. My face looked so fresh and radiant the whole day.
2. Strawberry-C Serum - I had no idea that strawberries were chock full of vitamin c! I always like to have a vitamin c serum in my morning skincare routine to help with brightening and protect against free radical damage. The texture of this serum was an instant hit for me because it's silky and creamy with no tackiness. In addition to vitamin c, this Strawberry-C Serum also has one of my favorite (and necessary) ingredients - hyaluronic acid! It really helps to hydrate and plump the skin and wears beautifully under makeup. This serum is the perfect addition to a summer skincare routine.
3. Apple Cider Vinegar Resurfacing Peel Pads - As someone that already uses and loves apple cider vinegar for so many things (I drink it, have used it on my skin, washed my hair with it, etc), I was so excited to try these resurfacing peel pads! They are easy to use since it fits over two fingers and you can simply sweep it across the face. Along with apple cider vinegar, it contains glycolic acid to help even out the skin tone, fruit acids to smooth the skin and witch hazel to remove dirt and excess oil. I love to use this in the evening after I've cleansed and then follow it up with a quick spritz of a hydrating mist and then my serum and moisturizer. It's not too strong where my skin felt irritated, but it's effective enough to really resurface the skin.
In addition to this Best of Volition set, I also linked a few of their other products that I want to try in the widget below. The entire line can be purchased individually at Sephora, but this Best of Volition set is exclusive to the Volition Beauty site and currently 30% off! When you shop the Volition Beauty site you can receive a complimentary sample included with each purchase (so you can test out the product before opening to make sure it works for you) and free shipping!
Shop more Volition Beauty products:
Thanks to Volition Beauty for sponsoring this post!
I have been a long time lover of the Armani Eye Tints and have featured them in countless videos and have had them on some of my Best of Beauty lists. The formula was fantastic and I especially loved shade 9 and 11. I actually went to repurchase one of my favorite colors but realized they were discontinued. *cue a mini freakout* However, I recently saw that they were back in stock in different packaging so I ordered a bunch to see if they were still the glorious formula I had known and loved.
I purchased an array of neutral shades, along with the two that I originally loved (9 and 11) and thankfully am just as much in love with this new formula as the old one. I forgot to take a picture of the applicator which is a bit smaller than the previous one and doesn't pick up as much product, but it doesn't bother me that much because the formula is still amazing. It applies evenly, wears all day, is suitable for day or night and have the most perfect neutral color options. The only shade I wasn't too jazzed about was 12 because it it too sparkly and applies a bit patchy. Other than that, I am so happy these are back! I highly recommend trying one if not a few for the easiest summer eye look.
The Velvet Sleeping Mask is an overnight mask designed to help nourish and restore your skin as you sleep. Normally sleeping masks are a bit too heavy for me to wear overnight, but I was able to use a small amount with no issues and my face didn't feel tacky or stick to my silk pillowcase as I slept (the worst!). I noticed that it immediately calmed my skin after I applied and when I woke up, my skin looked fresh and felt incredibly supple and soft.
