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10.27.2016

Skincare Edit: Five Gentle Cleansers For A.M. Routine


Hello! I wanted to discuss gentle cleansers which are great for sensitive, oily or dry skin. I use these cleansers during my A.M. routine. I usually use toner, essence, serum, night cream and follow up with an oil so I love using a mild calming and soothing cleanser in the morning that plumps and refreshes my skin. I don't prefer double cleansing in the morning, a gentle cleanser gets the job done just right. Sometimes finding the perfect cleanser for your skin can be difficult so today I've gathered up 5 cleansers that will suit different skin types. Let's begin!
 

Philosophy Purity Made Simple Ingredients:
  • Sodium Lauroamphoacetate: Acts as a mild surfactant that gently cleanses the skin without irritating or residue. 
  • Meadowfoam Seed Oil: Lightly hydrates and leaves skin comfortable.
  • Sodium Trideceth Sulfate: Pulls dirt, debris and makeup from the skin and dissolves them.
  • Twelve-Essential Oil Blend (including Rosewood, Sandalwood, and Sage): Helps soften, soothe, and rejuvenate the skin. 

Water, Sodium Lauroamphoacetate, Sodium Trideceth Sulfate, Limnanthes Alba (Meadowfoam) Seed Oil, Coco-Glucoside, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Alcohol, Peg-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate, Aniba Rosaeodora (Rosewood) Wood Oil, Geranium Maculatum Oil, Guaiacum (Guaiacum Officinale) Extract, Cymbopogon Martini Oil, Rosa Damascena Extract, Amyris Balsamifera Bark Oil, Santalum Album (Sandalwood) Oil, Salvia Officinalis (Sage) Oil, Cinnamomum Cassia Leaf Oil, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil, Daucus Carota Sativa (Carrot) Seed Oil, Piper Nigrum (Pepper) Seed Extract, Polysorbate 20, Glycerin, Carbomer, Triethanolamine, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Citric Acid, Imidazolidinyl Urea, Yellow 5 (Ci 19140).

Philosophy Purity Made Simple ($36.00 for 16oz) has been a favorite of mine for many many years, I even got my mom and sister hooked on it. This is an award-winning, highly effective facial cleanser to tone and hydrate skin and it's also formulated for all skin types. The packaging is a plastic bottle with a press flip cap. Purity Made Simple is a light yellow color with a milky consistency and it's got a light fresh herbal scent to it. This cleanser lathers up very mildly it doesn't get quite soapy and although it removes most of the makeup I wouldn't rely on just this cleanser to remove every trace of makeup. It doesn't strip away the natural oil nor does my skin begs to be moisturized right after cleansing, it leaves my skin feeling clean and refreshed. If you're going to use this face wash to remove makeup I suggest doing the double cleansing method after you use a makeup wipe just to ensure you're removing all makeup residue from the skin. With winter approaching this would make an ideal cleanser for sensitive dry skin. This is available at Sephora and Nordstrom.



Derma|e Purifying Gel Cleanser Ingredients:
  • Kimarine Wakame and Bladderwrack Marine Algae helps boost skin purity and resiliency. It is potassium rich, magnesium rich seaweed that is clinically proven to protect skin against environmental pollutants.  
  • Activated Charcoal eliminates toxins from skin's surface.
  • Green Tea delivers potent antioxidant defense.
  • Aloe Leaf Juice revives skin with fresh, healthy hydration. 

Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Glycerin, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Cellulose Gum, Charcoal Powder, Fucus Vesiculosus (Bladderwrack) Extract, Undaria Pinnatifida (Wakame, Kimarine) Extract, Epilobium Angustifolium (Canadian Willowherb) Extract, Organic Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract* (.1%), Xanthan Gum, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin. 

Derma|e Purifying Gel Cleanser ($15.50 for 6 fl oz.) is a gel cleanser that's targeted toward normal to oily skin. This cleanser comes in a tube and it's a certified organic product it's fragrance-free, sulfate-free, pH-balanced formula that lathers away sweat, oil and toxin build-up for a clean, refreshed, glowing complexion. The consistency is very thin and soft and it lathers up really well, leaving skin soft and smooth. I started using this cleanser a few months ago when the weather was much warmer so far I'm really impressed by this product. I only use this cleanser during my morning routine and I would recommend this for the A.M. since its quite mild. Also a little goes a long way when it comes to this face wash it's been about 4-5 months and as you can see the tube is still full. It's 100% vegan with minimal ingredients which makes it the perfect face wash to get your skin refreshed and plumping for the day. I have oily skin and this really helps keep the oil at bay without getting any dry patches. Despite being a cleanser for normal to oily skin type I can see this cleanser working well on dry skin too since it does contain some hydrating properties. I absolutely recommend this cleanser it's a good one! This is mineral oil free, cruelty-free, paraben free, gluten free, lanolin free, GMO-free. It's available at Wholefoods, Target, Ulta and Derma|e.  


Yes To Cucumber Daily Gel Cleanser Ingredients:
  • Cucumber a soothing vegetable extract. 
  • Green Tea a calming herb. 
Water, Lauryl Glucoside, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Chloride, Glycerin, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Seed Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Maris Limus Extract, Alcohol, Copper Chloropyll, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Phenethyl Alcohol,  Fragrance (Parfum).

Yes To Cucumbers Daily Gel Cleanser ($5.89 from 9.99 for 3.38 fl oz.) is naturally derived hypoallergenic, dermatologist tested formulations blend soothing botanicals with other ingredients to help keep sensitive skin supple. This cleanser was recommended to me by my friend Michelle and since we both have similar skin type I had to try it. Yes To brand is a natural beauty line, made with fruits and veggies and it's free from parabens, free of Petroleum and SLS. The consistency is very thin and it smells amazing like a fresh cucumber although it doesn't lather well it does get the job done. I have to admit I go through these tubes within weeks but since it's so affordable I don't find this to be a big issue, I just purchase two tubes at a time. This cleanser is 98% natural so if you have very sensitive skin, then this is definitely worth checking out. This is available at Target and Ulta.



Mila Moursi Cleansing Foam Ingredients:

Water, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate, Disodium Laureth Sulfoacetate, Glyceryl Monostearate SE, Stearic Acid, Prunus Armeniaca, (Apricot) Kernel Oil, Cetyl Alcohol, Panthenol, Resveratrol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Trepenone, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, sh-Polypeptide 7, Distinctive Phytostem Buddleja Davidii Meristem Cell Culture, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Allantoin, Butylene Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Potassium Sorbate, 1, 2 Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Bisabolol, Fragrance (Parfum).                         

Mila Moursi Cleansing Foam ($70.00 for 3.4 fl oz.) effectively dissolve and removes impurities while maintaining your skin's delicate balance. This is pure luxury, I love starting my day with this cleanser and this product quickly became a staple in my morning routine. I love the simple packaging, it smells amazing (like you're in a spa), the consistency is creamy and it lathers up really well. A little goes a long way when it comes to this cleansing foam but to be honest the fragrance of this cleanser is so good that sometimes I squeeze out more product than I should (note: I'm at fault here). This is a lightweight, non-drying, soothing and hydrating cleanser. I think this is a great cleanser for all skin type. I'm running low on this I've been using it for about 5-6 months and I'm definitely going to repurchase this item. This is available at Space NK, Beautylish, Mila Moursi, and Barneys



Estee Lauder Perfectly Clean Foam Cleanser/Purifying Mask Ingredients: 

Water, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Isohexadecane, Glycerin, Hexyldecyl Stearate, Squalane, Petrolatum, Glyceryl Stearate, Silybum Marianum (Lady's Thistle) Extract, Gentiana Lutea (Gentian) Root Extract, Algae Extract, Sorbitol, Caffeine, Isododecane, Sucrose, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Hydrogenated Polydecene, PEG-100 Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Ceteareth-20, Carbomer, Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Zinc PCA, Hexylene Glycol, Fragrance, Potassium Hydroxide, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol. 

Estee Lauder Perfectly Clean Foam Cleanser/Purifying Mask ($25.00 to $28.00 for 5 oz) is a refreshing foam that cleanses gently yet thoroughly. I received this deluxe size (1 fl oz.) tube as a GWP and I fell in love with it the very first time I used it. This cleanser smells divine I can't put my finger on it and it kind of lingers which I love! It lathers into this silky rich foamy texture, you only need a little bit of this and it leaves my skin feeling supple, fresh and luminous. I used this as a mask once and it isn't my favorite way of using this product I like to use this strictly as a cleanser. I noticed after using this cleanser my skin feels a little tight so I would say this is ideal for oily to combination skin. It's been over a month I've been using this cleanser and I still got a good amount of product left so this cleanser lasts a long time. Although EL suggests this cleanser for both A.M. and P.M. I find this cleanser doesn't do a great job removing makeup that well it's more useful as a morning face wash. I will be purchasing the full size of Perfectly Clean Foam soon, this is available at Estee Lauder, Nordstrom, and Sephora


If you made it this far then thanks for stopping by and I hope you enjoyed this post. What's your favorite A.M. cleanser? Please leave it in a comment below, I would love to know your picks. 

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10.15.2016

Narsissist Dual-Intensity Cheek Palette Review & Swatches


Narsissist Dual-Intensity Cheek Palette
Price $59.00 for 0.08 oz. 2.5 g (x4)
Where To Purchase: Nars Cosmetics, Sephora


Narsissist Dual-Intensity Cheek Palette

Product Info
#Narsissist Dual-Intensity Blush Palette work your angles with an all-in-one cheek palette. Highlighter, blush, and contouring tones double up with a dimensional, wet/dry formula. Universally flattering. Ultra-versatile. Set Features:
  • Soft Tulle- It's a soft iridescent silvery shade with a frosted finish.
  • Damask with Gold Sheen- It's a warm peachy shade with a gold sheen. Kind of reminds me of the famous Nars Orgasm blush.
  • Peony- It's a vibrant bright pink shade with a satin finish. 
  • Titian- It's a rosy brown shade and it's a satin finish, with a hint of shimmer. 

Narsissist Dual-Intensity Cheek Palette


A while back I purchased two Dual-Intensity blush duo called Frenzy and Jubilation, it was love at first sight. So needless to say I'm a big fan of Nars Dual-Intensity formula, it can be used wet/dry and it's very pigmented with a beautiful metallic/sheen finish. The mirrored case with Narsissist printed on the compact gives the packaging a very sleek look. Inside, there is a total of four shades:A highlighter, two blush, and a contouring shade. On my medium to tan skin, the contouring shade can be passed as a blush. I have large pores on my cheeks and I usually prefer matte blushes but these blushes despite having a sheen to it didn't emphasize on my pores. All four shades are perfect for all skin tone, however, the highlighter shade can be a little too frosty for deeper skin tone. Also, the highlighter lacks in pigmentation I had to go over it a few times to get it to show up on me. As for the other three shades they performed beautifully, these blushes are blendable and gives you a nice glow especially if you have a tan it just looks stunning! I personally like to use them dry but if you want intense pigmentation you can use them wet. I use my favorite Hakuhodo J210 and J4004 brush to apply the blush and the highlighter, both brushes fit perfectly in the pan. This palette is also perfect to travel with, it's so nice and compact it can fit in your makeup case without it taking up too much space. Let's take a closer look at the shades.

Narsissist Dual-Intensity Cheek Palette Soft Tulle & Damask


Narsissist Dual-Intensity Cheek Palette Peony & Titian

Narsissist Dual-Intensity Cheek Palette


Narsissist Dual-Intensity Cheek Palette Ingredients

Overall
I totally adore this little palette it's a great multi-tasking palette since you can use the shades as an  eyeshadow as well. I've taken this palette with me while I traveled this summer and it served me well, it lasted about 8-9 hours even with all the hot and humid weather. This palette is Limited Edition so if you're interested, it's still available on Nars Cosmetics and Sephora website.

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10.12.2016

KaplanMD Glow-Getters: Clarifying Toner & Hydrating Essence Review

KaplanMD Hydrating Essence $95.00 for 1.0 oz
KaplanMD Clarifying Toner $35.00 for 3.4 oz
Where To Purchase: KaplanMD, Dermstore

KaplanMD is a luxury skincare brand created by Beverly Hills Dermatologist, Stuart Kaplan, M.D. He's a world-renowned anti-aging expert for both medical and cosmetic Dermatology. As I am getting closer to the big 30 I'm more open to skincare products that will help my skin in the long run. I've been testing out this Glow-Getters Set for a while now so keep reading to find out my thoughts on these products.

KaplanMD Clarifying Toner

KaplanMD Clarifying Toner- This refreshing mist spray is infused with Rosewater and 22 Certified Organic Extracts to tighten pores and refine skin texture. The water-based Salicylic Acid is gentle for even the most sensitive skin and combined with the Eucalyptus Extract, works to break down any oil residue for a soft, dewy complexion.

Key Ingredients:
  • 22 Organic Extracts- An exclusive complex of 22 potent plant extracts that provide exceptional skin nourishing, skin healing and skin soothing benefits.
  • Rosewater- Has astringent qualities to soothe and tone the skin for a balanced complexion, without dying the skin.
  • Eucalyptus Extract- Purifies the skin by breaking down oil and other residual impurities, it's healing, and soothing properties work to reduce inflammation and refine the texture.
  • Salicylic Acid- Its patent water based version and it has mild exfoliating properties to remove pore-clogging dead skin.
  • Biofusion-3S- An exclusive complex of plant stem cells obtained from the Alp Rose, Gamay Grape, and Swiss Apple to help increase the skin vitality, protect against environmental stress and regenerate new collagen.

This toner sounds like a dream for those who have sensitive skin like mine. The second ingredient on this toner is Aloe Barbadensis Leaf juice, which helps soothe skin and serve as an anti-inflammatory. Sometimes my skin flares up and during those time this Clarifying Toner really came in handy it really helped soothe my skin, it works like a charm. This is a very gentle toner and it leaves your skin feeling refreshed and glowy, the best part is the smell of this toner is not overpowering it's a pleasant scent. You can use this directly onto the face which is what I do or you can spray onto a cotton pad, this toner can also be used as to set your makeup. I've used it to set my makeup and it did give a natural dewy look, as the colder seasons are approaching this will be an ideal setting spray or a midday perk me up spray.

KaplanMD Clarifying Toner Ingredients

KaplanMD Hydrating Essence

Hydrating Essence- A nourishing complex of 8 essential oils to promote firmness and elasticity while preventing dryness. It's formulated without Parabens, Sulfates, Gluten, Petrolatum and Castor Oil.  
Key Ingredients:
  • Acai Oil- Heals and nourishes the skin with its abundance of Vitamins B1, B2, B3, Vitamin C, and E. 
  • Argan Oil- Fights free radical damage, while soothing and hydrating the skin by restoring the skin's hydro-lipid layer. Argan oil also contains rare plant sterols, which have anti-inflammatory properties to help heal and calm skin.
  • Kukui Oil- Harvested from the Hawaiian Kukui Nut, which has been used for centuries by native Hawaiians to protect and heal skin exposed to harsh sun, drying winds, and salt water. It was also used as a natural remedy for skin conditions such as sunburn and dry, patchy skin caused by eczema. Absorbs quickly and easily without blocking pores.
  • Grapeseed OilContains essential fatty acids and potent antioxidants that fight free radicals, and helps diminish the sun’s damaging effects on the skin.
  • Borage Oil- Harvested from the Starflower, it helps reduce skin redness and inflammation, while restoring the skin’s moisture content.
  • Passion Flower Oil- Superior emollient rich in vitamin C, calcium, and phosphorus. Contains a high content of essential fatty acids and antioxidants to nourish and hydrate the skin.
  • Soybean Oil- Bursting with antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, proteins and fatty acids that aid in healing, maintaining and restoring the health and the balance of the skin. In addition, Soybean oil is very instrumental in helping to control and prevent the development and appearance of wrinkles.
  • Lavender Essential Oil-  Aids in skin healing, soothing, and calming.  Provides wonderful aromatherapy benefits to calm and relax the senses.
  • Vitamin E- Known  for its antioxidant properties, it relieves dryness and promotes healing of the skin. 

This Essence helps hydrate and repair dry skin and the wind damaged skin, you can use this on your hair, skin, hands and feet. You can also mix this with your foundation to add hydration and a dewy finish, however, if you have oily skin that might not be the best way to use this Essence so I suggest this method for very dry skin. I use this Essence with my night time routine and you only need a little bit of this since the consistency is quite thick so a little goes a long way. Also, I would like to point out this essence didn't cause any breakouts and my favorite way of using this is, mixing it with my night cream and hand cream. I use 1-2 drops of this mix it with my night cream and hand cream (right before bed) and I wake up with ultra soft skin. This Essence smells quite nice just like the Clarifying Toner. When it comes to skincare products, I hate when they smell like perfume so I'm quite impressed with both, the packaging and the soft aromatic scent of the KaplanMD products.

KaplanMD Hydrating Essence

Ingredients:
Argan (Argania Spinosa) Oil, Grapeseed (Vitis Vinidera) Oil, Kukui Oil, (Euterpe Oleracea) Oil, Passion Flower (Passiflora Edulis) Oil, Soybean (Glycine Soja) Oil, Borage (Borage Officinalis) Oil, Vitamin E (Tocopherol), Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil.

Overall
This Glow-Getters set is quite impressive, both products quickly became my favorite over the past few weeks. I must admit these are a little bit on the pricey side and if I had to pick one out of the two, I would definitely recommend the Clarifying toner. As for me, I personally love them both and I will continue incorporating this amazing Glow-Getters set into my daily skincare routine.


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