I feel like a couple of years ago sheet masks were all the rage and these days I don’t see them talked about as often.
I personally love using them but I find them to be a hassle. This is mostly because I don’t particularly enjoy the wet texture of the mask as I’m taking it out of the package and when I’m applying them.
Recently though, I was watching someone in YouTube and they mentioned they didn’t think face masks had any skincare benefits and it made me want to use one again.
In the past when I used them, I would still walk around and do some cleaning or decluttering but now I really give myself 10-15 minutes to just close eyes and relax.
I’m no expert on skincare or active ingredients but I can say that after using the mask my skin felt hydrated. After massaging in any remaining serum, I applied my regular skincare and my skin stayed hydrated. I can’t say that the mask did or didn’t do anything but, it was a nice and relaxing 15 minutes.
I was first introduced to Indie Lee when I received a complimentary Retinol Alternative Cream. I was intrigued by the product and the commitment to clean ingredients and environmentally friendly packaging.
The only skincare product I never have a surplus of is toner, so I figured I’d give that a try
“Balance and refresh your skin with this hydrating toner. Alcohol-free and formulated with antioxidant powerhouse CoQ-10, Aloe Vera, and Cucumber, this non-drying skin spritzer primes and softens skin exposed to environmental aggressors.”
I found the packaging of this product interesting. It’s in a glass bottle and has a spray nozzle. I have not seen this spray nozzle dispenser on a toner in the past. To use, I spray some product onto a cotton pad (I use Makeup Eraser toner puffs) and rub on my skin. I use this directly after washing my face to give instant hydration.
Since I already have fine lines *sigh* I can’t speak to whether or not the product works in preventing them but given the hydrating effect I could see how it would prevent them from getting deeper or help prevent more lines and wrinkles.
Some information on CoQ-10 in skin care:
Helps reduce appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
Provides skin energy helps to support the production of collagen
Helps reduce dullness
It works well with hyaluronic acid, collagen and retinol
Retinol helps breakdown CoQ-10 and helps it absorb into the skin faster
I’ve been testing out new foundations/BB cream/CC creams lately and today I used the Maybelline Dream BB Fresh 8-in-1 Skin Perfector
I purchased it at Ulta which carries 5 non-inclusive shades, not sure if the brand carries a larger variety elsewhere.
I purchased 120 medium which looked to have a neutral undertone in the swatches provided. It came out a little darker than I thought it would but it applied nicely once I spread it out and matched my skin.
Since it is a BB cream the color of the product is more forgiving.
I set the cream using the new elf Camo pressed powder. I think they look nice together but either my skin is too dry for this or I need something more skin smoothing.
It’s a nice light BB cream that helps even out skin tone and provides you with spf 30.
I went over some areas I wanted more coverage on with concealer.
This is a product I’ll keep using before I give my final thoughts.
Have you tried this? What are your thoughts and do you have recommendations of other light to medium coverage products I should try?
This has been in my drafts for a cool second and since then I’ve misplaced the product *face-palm*
I recently received this Indie Lee Retinol Alternative cream to test.
“This high-performance cream is formulated with Natural Retinol Alternative Rambutan for improved appearance of elasticity, firmness, fine lines and wrinkles. Paracress extract reduces the visible signs of aging while Squalane and Orange Milk Tree extract plump skin and boost moisture retention.” Indie Lee website
The first thing I noticed is the packaging. This product comes in a refillable outer pump package. This means you can purchase a refill for a smaller cost. Both packages are plastic and if you look at the website, the company’s goal is to use at least 50% PCR (post-consumer recycled) plastic in all of their packaging by 2023. I wasn’t able to find, and didn’t think to check the packaging, if this product’s packaging is PCR plastic but it’s still great that the company is working towards sustainable packaging. In addition, they have a recycling program that earns you points for money off your orders.
Now, for the product. It’s a nice thick, scentless cream that absorbs quickly without feeling heavy or thick. I haven’t noticed adverse reactions to adding it to my existing skincare routine which includes a toner, some facial oils and a spf cream.
As for results. I can’t say that I’ve noticed a difference, but I’ve only been using it for a couple of weeks. I always forget to do “before and after” pictures but to be honest, I try so many new products that it’s hard to do a true comparison. Which might make you wonder why you should trust my review…
This is a first impression in case the brand is something you’ve seen or are interested in. At $72US it may be too expensive to trust a first impression review so I will try to focus on using this product and report back on results.
I received this complimentary to test with no obligation to post about it.
I wasn’t going to apply for the Sephora Squad because I was scared I wouldn’t make it but, I accepted I’d never know if I don’t try.
As a woman in a male dominated industry it took me a while to find my femininity. I didn’t think beauty and success could coincide but now I focus on feeling both.
My goal has always been to set an example as someone who focuses on feeling and looking confident in everyday settings.
I love being able to share my experiences with others in the same work setting or anyone who didn’t grow up wearing makeup or having a skincare routine.
If you’d like to help me make the squad, a testimonal would be a great help and I would much appreciate it!
Something I still struggle with is uneven skintone and texture. My cheeks get red spots that sometimes comes through my makeup and it’s something that still makes me feel self conscious.
Any serum that’s meant to focus on reducing redness or hyperpigmentation immediately has my attention.
Today I’m talking about three products, which are all on sale for 2021 Black Friday/Cyber Monday
Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dew Drops, Juvia’s Skin The Niacinamide Serum* and Good Molecules Niacinamide Serum
From Beautylish.com
The Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dew Drops can be used to hydrate visibly reduce hyperpigmentation and correct the look of dullness. The description also says it provides a “reflective glow” but that’s not something I’ve noticed. I can’t say I’ve used it long enough to notice a difference in my skin but, it is nice and hydrating and feels gentle on the skin.
The Juvia’s Skin The Niacinamide Serum is new, the skincare line in general is new, and it comes in a very similar looking bottle as the Glow Recipe product. It also clames to reduce hyperpigmentation and brighten the skin. With this one, I feel like my skin needs added moisturize.
The difference in the hydration made me take a look at the ingredients. I’m not an any kind of chemist or even someone who often checks ingredients so everything I say here should be taken with a grain a salt (what does that actually mean btw?).
The biggest difference I noticed is that the Glow Recipe product contains 10% Niacinamide and the Juvia’s Skin product contains 20%. Niacinamide is also the second product listed on the ingredient list on the Juvia’s Skin product while it’s listed as the fifth. I vaguely remember hearing that the higher up on the list an ingredient is listed, the higher amount of that chemical is used in the formulation.
There were a few other common ingredients, and some that were not found in one or the other. This got me to wondering which product would be considered the better deal.
I was focused on the Niacinamide. I did some Google-ing and found that you only need 2-5% Niacinamide to make a difference in your skin health. I also noticed that Juvia’s Skin provides 1oz of product for $20US (regular price) and Glow Recipe has 1.35oz for $34US. That actually makes the Glow Recipe product cheaper.
In my Google research, I also found that Good Molecules (found on Beautylish, Ulta, and other places) also has a Niacinamide Serum at $6 for 1oz. This is the only product I haven’t tried but I wanted to include it because of its price and because Good Molecules is a brand I enjoy and feel comfortable recommending.
In the end, I don’t know if a higher amount of Niacinamide makes a difference but, I can say the Juvia’s Skin product was noticeably less hydrating than the Glow Recipe product. Between the three, the Good Molecules product shares more ingredients with Glow Recipe product which leads me to believe it would be more hydrating than the Juvia’s Skin product.
Have you used any of these products? I’m especially interested in hearing how the Good Molecules product is.
Thank you for reading and I hope this was helpful or entertaining in some way.
*Juvia’s Skin The Niacinamide Serum was sent complimentary for review through BzzAgent with no obligation to post.
I received my ipsy August bag this weekend and here is what I got
Lately my favorite part of the subscription have been the bags. These are perfect to organize my bag or to just carry the essentials around with me. I love this design and the clasp feature.
For the products:
BRTC Korea Vitamin B5 Velvet Mask & Vitamin A Velvet Mask Duo m2ü nyc Eye Primer in Nude Shades by Shan Highlighter Single in Irma Tatcha The Rice Wash TheBalm Bronzilla
Well, just realized this never made it out of my drafts and I’ve already received October’s bag. Oops.
The one item I’ve been consistently using from this bag is the Tatcha Rice Wash. It has just a bit of texture that feels like it’s washing away any dirt or oil stuck in your pores.
The only items I haven’t used are the face masks, I haven’t really been using them lately. The rest of the products are all nice and will be perfect for travel or even to keep in your purse to lightly even up after a long day.
My Life in Makeup 