It's been a few months since I have done a beauty favorites video so I decided to combine both January and February into one! Enjoy and don't forget to subscribe!
My January and February favorites are:
Showing posts with label Rodial. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rodial. Show all posts
12/9/14
Changing Of The Cleansers
It is no secret that I am a cleanser fanatic. Cleansers can provide instant results, are easy to interchange in and out of almost any skincare routine and they are one of the biggest reasons I my skin has become so clear. I typically double cleanse (and plan on doing a post as to why I find this effective), so I go through quite a lot of cleansers regularly! And since I just finished up a slew of them recently (this one from Tata Harper, this one from Sunday Riley, a First Aid Beauty cleanser and one of my favorite cleansing balms) I felt there was no better time to try a new crop of cleansers.
1. Rodial Dragon's Blood Cleansing Water - It's been a while since I have used a cleansing water, and I forgot how refreshing they can be for the skin. After falling HARD for the Rodial Dragon's Blood Hyaluronic mask and it's amazing hydrating properties, I was excited to give the cleansing water a try. I find it best used in the morning or when wearing light makeup, because it definitely will not remove a full face. But that being said, it is incredibly refreshing and calming to the skin. A perfect addition to my winter skincare routine.
2. Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm - My heart will always lie with cleansing oils and cleansing balms. I truly attribute my skin's appearance to their ability to give me the most thorough and deep cleanse possible. And this Elemis Balm is another one I can add to my list of cleansing balm favorites. It's quite thick but has a surprisingly smooth and buttery feel. Once applied, it spreads easily on the skin and then after adding water, it rinses away with little to no effort. I do prefer to use a muslin cloth (or wash cloth) with it to give me an added boost of slight exfoliation. I recently decided to try it as a mask as the directions instructed, and then wondered why the heck I hadn't been doing that all along with my cleansing balms! I applied a thicker layer and left it on for 10 minutes and my skin felt unbelievably soft after removing. This is definitely going to become a regular ritual for me now that it's colder out. Hydrated skin is happy skin.
3. Murad Renewing Cleansing Cream - My winter skin prayers have been answered with this cleanser! Holy richness! I didn't find it to completely remove all of my makeup, but as a second cleansing step it is amazing. While most cream cleansers do the standard soften, hydrate, blah, blah, blah, this cleansing cream took it to a whole other level with the light exfoliation and brightening it gives. If you can see from the above swatch, there is a slight opalescent finish that really helps to impart a nice glow to the skin. Another interesting point about this cleanser is it actually helps to protect the skin's moisture barrier and has ingredients which help attract water to the skin and retain it. Basically it's the answer to my winter dehydration problems.
4. Sisley Lightening Foaming Cleanser - I hesitate to even say this, because I have found cleanser after cleanser to contradict my feelings, but I tend not to be a foaming cleanser fan. They dry me out, give me that squeaky clean feeling (which I hate and know is NOT good for my skin) and make my skin uncomfortably tight. Welp. This Sisley cleanser can not be farther from that reality. It is absolute heaven on the skin. It's a light gel texture that foams up ever so slightly. It may seem like an odd explanation but it almost feels like its cushioning the skin as I cleanse with it - that is how delicate and soft it feels. And the fact that it has ingredients in it to help brighten and even out the complexion - that's just icing on the cake.
5. NUDE Omega Cleansing Jelly - So maybe there is something wrong with me or my tactile senses because I love when things have a gelatinous and jelly-like texture. I like it in my food (jello - yum, jelly - yum, oatmeal - yumyum, custard - get in my belly) and now I can confirm that I like it in my beauty products. I first caught wind of this Cleansing Jelly on twitter many months ago and practically shook with excitement until it finally debuted in the US. And boy is it glorious. This does a superb job of removing makeup and giving the skin a thorough deep cleanse. It goes on as a thick jelly (make sure to use dry hands and a dry face), and then as soon as you add water it melts into the softest milk. My skin has fallen head over heels in love with this stuff.
* pr samples included
Shop some of my other cleanser recommendations:
9/23/14
Skincare Products That Help Target Large Pores
Large pores are the bane of my skin existence. I can deal with oily skin and maybe even a break out or two, but large pores are permanent. Though I take extremely good care of my skin, my pores are the size they are and much like height or natural hair color, there is little I can do to change it. Now that being said, I am constantly on the hunt for products to help minimize the appearance and deal with any dirt, debris and congestion that comes from living in a big city, wearing makeup everyday and regular daily activities. I've been testing out a ton of different products over the past few months and these 4 are the ones that stood out the most to me and gave me the best results. A clean pore is a happy pore, right? Right.
1. Rodial Super Acids X-Treme Pore Shrink Cleansing Pads - I mentioned in my last Youtube video that although my First Aid Beauty Blemish Patrol Pads are my holy grail, I was testing out other facial pads that help to target blemishes and large pores. I gave myself a 2.5 week break from using any facial pads before using these to see if I really would see a difference. And I am happy to report that I did! These Rodial pads are designed to help sweep away dirt and oil and minimize the appearance of large pores.....and I did not break out once while using these - which tells me they work! I didn't find that my pores looked any smaller but I did notice the congestion I had from not using any facial pads for a few weeks went away immediately after a week on these Rodial pads. I use after I cleanse and before I apply my serum and moisturizer.
2. Dr. Dennis Gross Clinical Concentrate Purifying Booster - After having excellent results using this booster from Dr. Dennis Gross, I was excited to rotate this into my routine once the other ran out. Though I love a good radiance product, I have so many peels, moisturizers and masks that help with that so I felt this booster would be one that I may benefit from even more. And I was right. I added this into my morning routine, using it on its own first and then eventually mixing it with my trusty Clarins Double Serum, which I have been using for quite a few months now. During the first few days of using the booster, my skin was noticeably less oily and there was a slight appearance of smaller pores. I even added this into my evening routine as a spot treatment under my trusty Clinique acne treatment and found that any small blemish I had cleared up quickly. I love the idea of a booster and the ease of adding it to any routine rather than having to substitute it for anything is what appeals to me the most.
3. Dr. Jart+ Pore Minimalist Mask - I love a good detoxifying mask and I immediately fell in love with it after just one use. It has a cooling sensation and gave me the best overall results out of all 4 products. My skin looked noticeably clearer and gave me the best appearance of smaller pores after using. After leaving on for 7-10 minutes, I remove the sheet mask and massage in the remaining product which leaves my face feeling incredibly fresh and clean. Skincare is as much about the experience of using the product as it is the results. This mask was so pleasurable to use and left my skin feeling so great which automatically makes it memorable and definitely a repurchase product.
4. Dr. Jart+ Blackhead Master Patch - Just the name alone let me know I was in for some serious pore cleansing. Much like the ever-famous Biore pore cleansing strips, these are applied to the nose area and are designed to pull out dirt and debris. I remember the Biore strips to be quite mild, whereas this patch was extremely heavy duty. It adhered to my nose immediately and while removing it was a bit tedious because it went on so effectively, it did a phenomenal job at decongesting my pores. And as gross as it sounds (we all do it, so just admit it), when I looked down at the patch after I was amazed to see how much dirt it had removed. The best thing about this patch is the treatment doesn't just stop with the initial removal which can leave the skin dry and irritated. It has a wet patch you apply after and leave on for 10 minutes. This helps soothe the skin, calm down any irritation and keep the pores purified. That final step is what takes this blackhead patch to the next level and makes it more effective.
*pr samples included
8/21/14
Hydrating Masks For Every Price Point
I love hydrating masks for a multitude of reasons.They are suitable for almost any skin type, work in any season and can give instant results. I have been testing out a slew of different ones that were sent to me over the past few weeks and thought I would highlight the ones I enjoyed the most. They range from moderately priced to a complete splurge, so if you are looking for a new hydrating mask, you are bound to find one in this group. Here are my thoughts on each:
1. SK-II Facial Treatment Mask - Big time splurge, but big time results. This is definitely a special occasion mask for me. I used it before going to a wedding because I wanted an extra boost of hydration and radiance - and boy did I get it. Wow! I applied it an hour or so before I put on my makeup, left it on for 15 minutes, removed and pressed the remaining essence into my face. It was like an instant facial, and my makeup applied like never before. For a true pampering experience, this is a must have in your skincare arsenal.
2. Amore Pacific Moisture Bound Sleeping Recovery Mask - After having such a great experience with the other two sleeping masks I been have using (this one and this one), I was happy to add a true hydrating one to the mix. The Amore Pacific Sleeping Recovery Mask has a cooling gel-like feeling when applied and a little goes a long way. It does take a few more minutes than my other sleeping masks to dry down, but nothing that is unreasonable. The first thing I noticed the next morning was how plump my skin appeared and it was as if I had been drinking the recommended 8 glasses of water a day for my entire life (which sadly I do not all the time). There was not a dry spot in sight and barely any sleep lines, which I always get because I sleep on my stomach or side. Great to use once a week or more if needed.
3. Arcona Wine Hydrating Mask - I always expect a thin, watery gel-like consistency when I use hydrating masks. And this Arcona hydrating mask served to break me of that misconception and stereotype. As soon as I squeezed some out of the tube, the thick rich cream texture told me that it would be different than other hydrating masks I have tried in the past. Instead of being solely for moisture renewal, I found this mask to be great at nourishing, calming and replenishing my skin. With ingredients like shea butter, hyaluronic acid and grapeseed extract, it's no wonder the results were so substantial.
4. Rodial Dragon's Blood Hyaluronic Mask - The Arcona mask may have thrown me for a texture loop, but this Rodial Dragon's Blood Hyaluronic Mask brought back the expected hydration mask texture I have come to know and love. A gel-like consistency that feels refreshing from the moment it is first applied. I don't typically like masks in the morning because I am running around like a chicken with my head cut off trying to get ready, but I have been applying this after I wash my face and before I step into the shower. I don't know if it's the shower intensifying the moisturizing properties, but my skin feels glorious when I rinse the mask off. I have even skipped my usual morning serum combo (this and this), in favor of just adding some SPF and applying my makeup straight away. It feels like a new secret I just discovered and I am loving the way my makeup looks after using this. I can't say this new addition makes me any more of a morning person (I wish I was), but at least my skin can fake it, right?
Have you tried any of these masks? What are your thoughts? Do you have a favorite hydrating mask? Leave me a comment below!
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