Beauty Review: Medicine Mama's Sweet Bee Magic All in One Healing Skin Cream

 

 

 

I've tried everything for my dry skin and I am happy to announce that I've finally found my secret weapon: Medicine Mama's Sweet Bee Magic All in One Healing Skin Cream. This stuff is amazing. I had heard celebrities raving about Egyptian Magic cream but didnt' want to pay that much money for it. When reading reviews, many people commented that Medicine Mama's was virtually the same product but for way cheaper. I couldn't wait to check it out for myself!  

 

It's an all-natural, all-over, miracle healing skin cream that promotes radiant, supple skin. My skin has been glowing since using this stuff. I put it on my face every night before bed and wake up with the smoothest, softest, clearest skin I've ever had. I also use it on very dry spots on my body such as my feet and have noticed a huge difference virtually overnight.

 

I love that all of the ingredients are natural and there are no harsh chemicals to irritate my sensitive skin. I will be using this stuff from now on as my favorite beauty tool!

Do you have any beauty secret weapons? Share them in the comments!

 

Beauty Rituals in Under Five Minutes

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You don’t have to spend hours grooming in order to take care of yourself. A few minutes here and there is all you need. Try out these tips—they can all be done in under five minutes!

Baby your skin: If you’re sitting on the couch watching television, grab a bottle of lotion and an eye cream. Gently pat the cream around your eye area and let it sink in. You could even put it in the fridge first to cool it off. Massage the lotion into your hands and feet. There’s never really a convenient time to put lotion on your feet—why not do it when you’re just sitting around?

Care for your nails: Have you ever noticed how unkempt your hands look when you haven’t done your nails? Keep a nail file and manicure stick in your purse and pull them out when you have a few minutes. You can push back your cuticles and shape your nails so that your hands don’t look so messy!

Trim your brows: Grab a brow comb and a small pair of scissors. Comb the hairs upward and trim the ones that reach above your brows. You can also brush them down and trim a little, but be careful not to trim too much and throw off your natural shape.

Dress yourself up: No need to buy a fancy outfit or spend hours on your hair or makeup. Pick out a few key accessories and put them on. This might not be a beauty ritual, but accessories will definitely help you look put together!

Try a messy updo: Use a paddle brush to gently backcomb your hair at the roots. Pin back your bangs and place your hair in a low ponytail or haphazardly pin your hair at the nape of your neck. Mist with hairspray. Super simple.

Got any quick beauty rituals to share?

They’re (Almost) Here: DD Creams

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You’ve heard of BB (beauty or blemish balm) creams—those seemingly tinted moisturizers that pack a punch with major skin benefits. They can be used in lieu of a foundation or as a primer and go on flawlessly. It’s no wonder they’ve become so popular.

You’ve heard of CC (color correcting) creams. While the BB cream really focuses on providing skincare benefits with a hint of color, the CC cream really strikes more of a balance between color and skincare.  

And now, the beauty world is getting ready to unveil DD creams. What! Yes, it’s true. DD, which stands for daily defense, is rumored to be a product that focuses more on the body and feet rather than the face. The cream is supposed to be very heavy duty in order to provide serious moisture for skin. 

Supposedly there are a few products already on the market—one intended to help heal cracked and dry feet and the other that has sunless tanning agents. Doesn’t seem like a continuation of the BB/CC trend, but more a marketing scheme to get people to buy. Nevertheless, it will be interesting to see how the new DD creams differ from existing body products and what benefits they offer.

Have you tried BB or CC creams? Will you try a DD cream?

No Makeup Sundays

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Some days I wake up, drag my tired self to the bathroom to begin getting ready and when I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror and look at myself without makeup I want to run away. I can’t help but focus on the unevenness, redness and breakouts (when I have them). Other days, like today, I think hey, my skin doesn’t look half bad. 

I know that giving your skin a rest from makeup is a good thing, but I can never seem to bring myself to just not wear makeup. And it’s not even totally about being self-conscious without it—makeup is a hobby of mine and I enjoy wearing it. I love trying out new combinations and techniques and figuring out what does and doesn’t work on my face. 

Sunday is usually my day to get things done around the house, blog, go to the gym, spend time with family or grocery shop. It’s usually a pretty low key day. Even though there’s really not much going on for me on Sundays, I always go through my usual makeup routine which includes foundation, concealer, blush, eyeshadow/liner and mascara. I might go through that whole routine even though I’m just running out to Target! It’s just habit.

So, I’ve decided that going forward I’m going to try to institute a personal no makeup Sunday policy. Those of you reading this who really know me, I’m sure your jaws have collectively dropped. When you think about it though, there are a bunch of great reasons to skip makeup application one (or more) day(s) a week:

• It will let your skin breathe and heal. Not putting foundation or concealer on your face will allow your skin to restore itself. If you’re suffering from breakouts, your skin can just work on repairing itself without anything caked on it. If you sometimes find your eyes getting irritated from your eye makeup or your skin reacts to certain products, you can avoid any sensitivity or irritation by just not putting anything on. 
• It will save you time. I usually take about 15 minutes to do my makeup in the morning. Why bother on a lazy day? Spend those extra 15 minutes at the gym, with your family or even sleeping in a little longer!
• It will save you money. Wear an expensive foundation? Stretch the time one bottle lasts by not using it one day per week.
• You’ll look more youthful. Sometimes foundations, powders and concealers can settle into fine lines on the face or accentuate dry patches. When you skip makeup, those flaws won’t show as prominently and your skin will just look natural.

I totally understand the issue of being self-conscious without makeup. If you can’t commit to or just plain don’t want to not wear makeup, try cutting down a little. There have been days where I’ve skipped foundation and just used some concealer on breakouts or areas of redness. It makes your face look and feel lighter and gives it a break from absorbing whatever makeup you apply.

I still plan to continue with my regular skin care routine, which includes cleansing (exfoliating once or twice per week), moisturizing, using an eye cream and applying lip balm throughout the day.

This is definitely not a new concept, but it’s one that’s new to me. Are there days you forgo wearing makeup? 

Battling Dry Skin

Not only do I hate cold weather, I hate what it does to my skin—dry flaky patches, cracks, more visible fine lines, an overall parched feeling. None of it is fun, but you can do your part to help battle and overcome dry skin during the winter months. Here are a few tips:

Drink water: Enough said—I’m sure you guys already know this, but it’s the easiest thing you can do to help save your skin. If you don’t like water, find ways to spice it up. Add a lemon, lime or orange to help provide some natural flavor. If that doesn’t do it for you, eat foods (like cucumber or watermelon) that have high water content. On the flip side, skip foods that will dry your skin out, like alcohol or anything salty.

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Consider your face wash: Do you use a foaming face wash every day? How many times do you exfoliate per week? If the answers to these questions are “yes” and “more than once,” you’re doing your skin a disservice. Foaming facial products are notorious for drying out skin, which is great for oily or acne-prone skin or for the summer months, but skip it once it gets cold. Try a creamy cleanser, or one made with very gentle ingredients. My year-round favorite is Cetaphil® Gentle Skin Cleanser (starting at $9, available at most drug stores). If you’re exfoliating several times per week, STOP. You might think that because your skin is flaky that means there are layers of skin wanting to be removed through exfoliation. That isn’t the case. Flaky skin is a sign that you and your skin aren’t properly hydrated. The best things you can do in this situation are to increase your water intake or intake of foods with high water content, use a gentle face cleanser and moisturize. Exfoliating once a week, or even every other week, should be fine for winter if you encounter this problem. Some people even recommend only washing your face at night and just splashing water on your face in the morning, but I’ll leave that up to you if you want to try it!

Consider your moisturizer: As with your wardrobe, your skincare routine has to evolve with the changing seasons. If the skin on your face is dry, maybe all you need is a denser face cream. If the skin on your body is dry, one great thick-and-creamy lotion you may want to check out is Aveeno® Daily Moisturizing Lotion. Apply it as soon as you finish showering or bathing to help lock in moisture. And if you don't use an eye cream, try one out this winter. Cold and dry weather makes fine lines on the face more visible. Keeping the eye area hydrated can help minimize the appearance of those lines.

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Change your makeup: If you use mineral makeup or powder every day, find alternatives for the winter. Switch to a liquid foundation or B.B. cream that can provide a little more hydration. I don’t use powder at all. If it’s a part of your makeup routine that you just can’t let go of, consider using much less during the winter or putting it only in spots where you really need it, like your forehead or nose. You could also skip powder blush and choose a cream product.

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Turn down the water temperature: Yes, I know it’s extremely difficult to take a shower using lukewarm water—especially when you just woke in the morning and are going straight from your toasty bed to the bathroom. But, hot water is a killer for your skin. If you can’t commit to showering with cooler water, at least make sure to turn down the heat as you wash your hands throughout the day. And never, ever wash your face with hot water!

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Ditch your loofah: When you use a loofah or wash cloth in the shower, it’s providing exfoliation for your skin even if you’re using the gentlest of body washes. Try skipping these items in the shower at least a few times per week and make sure you moisturize your entire body when you step out of the shower.

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Baby your hands: If you’re in your twenties or thirties and your hands look like that of an 80-year-old woman’s, the weather could be to blame. Try not to expose your hands to hot water, and make sure you moisturize immediately after getting your hands wet. I usually carry travel-size Jergens lotion in my purse, gym bag and keep bottles on my desk at work and in all my bathrooms at home. While you’re at it, make sure you take the time to moisturize your cuticles. When the cuticle/nail area is dry, it begins to crack and really shows the effects of dry weather. At least once per week, take the time to use a cuticle oil or cream. My favorite is Burt’s Bees® Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream. If you can, do this once per day for amazing results.

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Take care of your feet: Feet easily get dry and cracked during the winter. Fortunately, it’s not too hard to get your feet feeling soft and hydrated. The first thing you can do is to wear socks—all the time. If you walk around barefoot at home, don’t. Every night before I go to bed, I take a handful of lotion and rub it into my feet, and then I put on a pair of cotton socks. Try it once and you’ll be hooked! If you have the time, also use an oil or cream for the cuticles on your toes. If your feet are in really rough shape, try a heavy duty product like Dr. Scholl’s® For Her Ultra Overnight Foot Cream.

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Don’t forget about your lips: Chapped lips are so uncomfortable and they look terrible when they flake. To prevent chapped lips, exfoliate them once per week and use a really dense lip balm, like Carmex. Also make sure to carry around lip balm and apply it throughout the day, particularly after eating, drinking, brushing your teeth or being outside. Stay away from using products like lip stains during the winter—these products tend to be drying on the lips and will just exacerbate the look of chapped lips. 

Do you have any tips to beat dry skin during the winter?

Amanda's September Birchbox

 

I really enjoyed my Birchbox this month. Sometimes it's a hit or a miss but overall I really enjoy receiving these samples each month. I have found some great products I wouldn't have tried otherwise and am so happy that I did!

1. Benefit foamingly clean facial wash and Benefit refined finish facial polish

2. Dr. Jart+ Water Fuse Beauty Balm SPF 25+

3. Birchbox and Color Club® Custom Collection

4. Caudalie Vinexpert Firming Serum

5. twistband™ Hair Tie

6. tili Bags Small Collection 1

1. According to the Birchbox Breakdown: Benefit’s daily cleanser comes in a chic blue tube that will make your other products look humdrum in comparison. Appearances aside, the gentle formula works into a creamy, meringue-like lather that softly removes dirt and impurities. And unlike some cleansers, it gets the job done without drying out your skin.

and

 

We seldom go a day without makeup, which means it’s important to take extra good care of our skin. The beauty experts from Benefit devised this pore-purging facial polish to clear away all traces of product residue and breathe new life into dull skin. Use it to leave skin feeling refreshed and clarified, never dry. It’s formulated for all skin types, making it a no-brainer addition to your cleansing regimen.

 

My review: I LOVE BOTH OF THESE. Sorry for the caps but honestly they smell amazing and left my face so clean and soft. I suffer from dry skin and most of my face washes dry it out even more. Not these products, they left my skin feeling more hydrated then before I washed my face. I couldn't believe how much I liked them and will be purchasing them once my samples run out.

 

2. According to the Birchbox Breakdown: We desperately try to adhere to the less-is-more philosophy, and Dr. Jart’s Water Fuse Beauty Balm helps us minimize our routine. A moisturizer, sunscreen, and treatment serum all-in-one, this tinted BB cream even helps hide imperfections—so there’s no need for foundation or cover-up. Think of it as the Swiss Army Knife of your beauty cabinet.

 

My review: When I opened the tube it looked like the product had already been used. There was BB cream all over the lid and top of the bottle and I wasn't sure if it happened during shipping or if someone had previously used it. After disinfecting the top, I applied what was left to test it. It covered well and matched my skin tone fine (I'm tanner than normal so I'm not sure how it would look in the winter) but it wasn't as moisturizing as my normal BB cream. I would not purchase this.  

 

3. According to the Birchbox Breakdown: If you update your polish nearly as often as you check your Twitter feed, you’re not alone. We designed this share-worthy custom collection with Color Club for all the social media addicts out there. You’ll be inspired to tweet, pin, tag, and post these four gorgeous shades with your followers.

 

My review: I've received another Color Club polish in a past Birchbox and enjoyed the color, but it didn't last long before chipping. Sadly, I experienced the same issue with this one. I got a fall/winter shade this time  called Status Update and it was a darker grey/slate color. I am always looking for more colors to add to my growing nail polish collection so I was not totally disappointed. I just wish it lasted longer before chipping.

 

4. According to the Birchbox Breakdown: It’s a fact of life: as we get older, our once-firm skin begins to lose its elasticity and fine lines start cropping up. Instead of flying into a panic, we’re enlisting Caudalie’s lab-proven anti-aging serum. It’s formulated with grape-based actives and other botanicals that soften the look of wrinkles, plus tightening agents that go to work right away to lift sagging skin.

 

My review: I tried this a few times before bed and in the morning before I started my beauty routine and didn't notice a difference in the firmness of my skin. Perhaps after regular use this product would start working, but it didn't dazzle me.

 

5. According to the Birchbox Breakdown: We never paid much attention to our hair ties before Twistband came into our lives. Now we can’t go anywhere without one (or three) of their snag-free, super soft elastics. They keep hair secure without leaving ugly creases behind, and look as good on our wrists as they do in our ponytails. These colorful collections come with twelve ties, so you’ll always have plenty of spares on hand.

 

My review: I have seen these hair ties everywhere and was curious to see if they worked. I was so excited to get on in my box this month and couldn't wait to try it. It left my hair crease free and didn't pull out any hair like my normal hair ties do. I also like to wear them on my wrist if I might need to put my hair up at some point and was pleased that these did not dig into my wrist like my other ones do. I would definitely purchase these!

 

6. According to the Birchbox Breakdown: Traveling can be a stressful experience—whether we’re going through airport security or catching a subway during rush hour. After spilling the contents of our purse in public one too many times, we turned to tili’s stylish reusable bags. They’re small enough to fit inside your purse or carry-on but large enough to hold all your lip glosses, loose change, or travel-sized toiletries. Each pack comes in three colorful varieties.

My review: I thought these bags were cute. I wouldn't mind throwing one into my purse to keep all of my lip glosses and loose items organized. I don't think I would purchase these, but I'm glad I was able to try one. Perhaps if I traveled more I would be willing to drop down some cash for fancier plastic bags.

 

Want to try Birchbox for yourself? Sign up here.

 

 

15 Tips for Clear and Healthy Skin

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Whether you’re a skincare pro and know exactly what works for you or you have yet to figure it all out, the following tips are ones that everyone should follow in order to get clear and healthy skin. 

1. Try not to sleep with your facial skin touching your pillow. The hair products you use combined with the natural oils of your hair rub onto your pillow as you sleep and all that can wind up on your face and clog pores. Additionally, sleeping on your face causes creases on your face. Over time this can cause permanent wrinkles.
2. Regularly wipe down your cell phone. This seems like a no brainer, but not enough people do it. 
3. Trying out new skin care products and not seeing results? Your skin may need several weeks to respond. If a product doesn’t immediately work, give it at least six to eight weeks before you give up. The exception to this is if you immediately have a bad reaction to the product.
4. Use separate towels for your body and face. Though you’re clean when you come out of the shower, your hair may still have conditioner residue that can transfer from your towel to your face and clog your pores.
5. Every night before you go to sleep, moisturize your feet and put on a pair of socks. When you wake up in the morning, the soles of your feet will be incredibly soft. 
6. Wear SPF every day – even during the winter. If you can, try to reapply throughout the day. You’d be surprised how much sun exposure you get while doing things like driving in your car. Don’t forget your neck and very sensitive upper chest area.
7. Exfoliate, but not too much. Exfoliating every day can actually dry out your skin. Start with once per week and see how your skin responds. If you have oily skin, try twice per week.
8. Wash your makeup brushes as often as possible (at least once per week). And make sure you clean your makeup products as well.
9. Moisturize all of your skin every time your step out of the shower. 
10. Drink lots of water and eat a healthy diet. Avoid smoking and limit your alcohol intake.
11. Do everything you can not to touch your face throughout the day. If you touch your face without washing your hands first, you’re transferring any bacteria from your hands to your face.
12. Apply your facial moisturizer while your skin is still damp. 
13. When washing your face or taking a shower, avoid using water that is too hot. 
14. Remove your makeup before you go to sleep every night. Better yet, remove your makeup as soon as you get home if you know you’re staying in for the night.
15. Don’t forget to exfoliate your lips! Moisten a washcloth and gently run it across your lips. Be sure to add lots of lip balm afterward.

Do you have some great skincare tips to share? Leave them below in the comments!

Kiehl's Dark Spot Corrector Testing and Review: Part Two

In early June, I posted part one of my review of Kiehl’s Dark Spot Corrector. Click here to read it.

The first positive thing I have to say about the product is that it lasted A LOT longer than I anticipated. Even with going a bit above and beyond the recommended usage, the product lasted until the beginning of July (I bought it in mid-April). That’s just over two and a half months of being able to use it twice daily! I am really impressed. When spending $50 on one skincare item, I want it to be able to use it for a while.

After a few weeks of using the product, I was pretty skeptical. Before I purchased the dark spot corrector, I read a bunch of really positive reviews – some even said the product was a miracle. Unfortunately for me, I wasn’t seeing those instant results some reviewers saw. At the time I posted part one of my review, I thought I could see a few signs of improvement but I really wasn’t sure.

So, did it work?

I’m happy to say it absolutely did! Though the spots I wanted to get rid of are not completely gone, I’ve seen a dramatic improvement from the time I began using the serum. My skin tone is a lot more even. What made me realize that the serum had begun to work is the fact that I was using less foundation and concealer to cover those areas. Now that I finished one bottle of the serum, I don’t even need concealer in some areas.

Here are the before and after pictures:

I think the results are especially apparent in the first before and after picture!

Lastly, here’s a quick rundown of my thoughts on the product:

• Easy to use? Yes.
• Price? Expensive, but worth it.
• Value? Excellent – lasted much longer than expected.
• Does it work? Yes, but you may need more than one bottle to completely get rid of dark spots.
• Would I purchase again? Absolutely.

Have you tried Kiehl’s Dark Spot Corrector? If so, did you have good results? If not, would you consider trying it?

Adrianne's June Birchbox

It’s June Birchbox time!

Here’s what I got:

1. BORGHESE Bagno Di Vita Soak

2. Eyeko Fat Eye Stick in Chocolate

3. theBalm cosmetics Stainiac in Beauty Queen

4. Yu-Be Moisturizing Skin Cream

5. LUNA Bar in Chocolate Peppermint Stick

1. BORGHESE Bagno Di Vita Soak: When I spend money on beauty products, it’s usually not in the bath/shower department. For me, bath oils, powders or bubbles are a luxury item that I really can’t justify. 

I tried this bath soak and was a little surprised. I opened the packet only to find a black powdery substance. Aren’t bath powders usually white or a lighter color? I dumped it under running bath water, as instructed, and waited for the water and powder to mix. Unfortunately, the powder sank right to the bottom of the bathtub and I had to mix it by hand. Once I mixed it, my bath water turned a murky green color. Not really what I pictured for a relaxing bath time, but I tried it anyway. The powder does smell nice (a bit floral), but I didn’t notice that it had any benefits for my skin. Not something I’d go out and purchase. 

2. Eyeko Fat Eye Stick in Chocolate: Hooray for makeup in my Birchbox! This is the reason I signed up for Birchbox – I’m obsessed with trying out new makeup. Eyeko is a brand I’ve heard quite a bit about, so I was really excited to receive this sample. 

I used this as an all-over eyelid color. The color is pretty – brown, but it looks a bit purple in sunlight. I did end up liking the product, but it’s really difficult to blend. If you try out an Eyeko Fat Eye Stick, make sure where you apply it is exactly where you want it to be. I made the mistake of coloring the product on in sort of a messy and quick fashion because I figured I could blend it out, but I ended up causing myself a lot of work by doing that. Next time I’ll be more precise. Here’s how it looks on me:

3. theBalm cosmetics Stainiac in Beauty Queen: Eek! More makeup in my Birchbox! Stains are really hit or miss for me. Sometimes stains can be over-drying and end up making the area where you apply it look parched. I tried this stain both on my cheeks and lips, as the product suggests. Before you blend the product in, the color looks like it may turn out to be too intense. But it turns out to be a very subtle pink, and just gives a really pretty glow. Here’s how it looked on my lips and cheeks:

One thing that I would advise is to really consider which other lip products you wear with this stain. I always put on lip balm before I apply any type of lip gloss, lipstick or stain, so I did the same with this product. On the day I first tried the stain, I wore a Body Shop lip balm that had a bit of shimmer in it. The products must have combined in a weird way and I ended up having to re-blend everything. It seemed like the stain just settled into certain spots on my lips – not pretty.

4. Yu-Be Moisturizing Skin Cream: This was probably the strangest product I’ve received in a Birchbox and I’ve been a subscriber for seven months now. This skin cream comes from Japan, so I was excited to try it since lots of great cutting-edge beauty loot comes from Japan. The little booklet that came with the product said the cream is intended for dry skin (perfect for me) and that it could be used on the face, lips, hands, cuticles, feet, elbows or wherever else you might experience really dry skin. I was skeptical to apply the cream to my face (you’ll know why after I describe it), so I went ahead and tried it most of the other areas the booklet suggested: my lips, feet, hands, cuticles and elbows.

The cream looks exactly like Carmex and the scent is a dead ringer for Vicks Vapor Rub. Kind of an odd combination for a skin cream. This is why I was hesitant to apply it to my face – my skin is way too sensitive and I figured I’d have a bad reaction. But, it really is effective. It feels a little greasy after you apply, but it does a great job of softening and moisturizing the skin. 

5. LUNA Bar in Chocolate Peppermint Stick: I’m not sure quite how to review a mini energy bar other than to say it tasted good! 

It seems like subscription boxes have become extremely popular over the past year or two. If you’re interested in trying some higher end beauty and lifestyle products without committing to buying a full-size item and possibly not liking it, a subscription that delivers tester sizes is an excellent option. There are subscription boxes featuring all natural/green beauty items and even health products. And there’s one for every budget. Check out SubscriptionBoxes.com for information on all types of subscription boxes, including those geared toward food, crafts, baby and more!

Stay tuned for Amanda's June Birchbox review!

Benefit High Beam Review

Typically during the week my makeup routine is quick and light due to the fact that I am not a morning person (at all) and I have to leave my house way too early to get to work on time. One staple in my beauty routine for both daytime and nighttime looks is Benefit's High Beam. I use this as a primer for my eyeshadow and also as a highlighter for my cheekbones.

This stuff is amazing. When I first purchased it I wasn't sure if it would live up to all the hype I had heard about it. The bottle was also intimidating because it looked like nail polish and even has an applicator brush similar to what you would find in a typical bottle. I didn't think it was big enough for the price tag it has but I bit the bullet and tried it anyways.

First of all - the hype is totally spot on. It makes me look like I'm glowing when I wear it and it lasts all day. And the small bottle? Very deceiving. I thought for sure I would run out right away but I've had this stuff for almost a year now and have yet to go through an entire bottle.

I just dab a little on my eyelids and cheekbones and lightly blend into my skin. I sometimes go sans eyeshadow with this product and still feel done up. It's such a simple quick addition to my beauty routine that takes virtually no effort.

If you're looking for something to amp up your typical look without having to spend a ton of time you should check this stuff out.

Do you use a similar product for primer and a highlighter? What are your simple makeup tricks?

Kiehl’s Dark Spot Corrector Testing and Review: Part One

I used to think that once I got to my late twenties, I could stop worrying about getting breakouts. While I don’t get them nearly as often as I used to, I find that now any breakouts I do get leave lovely red marks on my face once they've healed. Super annoying.

I’ve tested various spot fading serums and lotions, but have found them to be ineffective for my skin. Here’s what I’ve tried:

• Mederma: Just didn’t work for me.
• ScarZone: This product is great for fading scars. I had heard it could be used for acne spot fading, but unfortunately the formula is a little thick to use on the face. The company makes a product called ScarZone Acne, which I tried, but found that it really didn’t make much of a difference for my skin.
• Clinique Even Better Dark Spot Corrector: I splurged on this. I went through one whole bottle, which lasted me just over one month. Unfortunately I didn’t even see the beginning of any results, so I didn’t purchase again.

I even tried visiting a dermatologist. She gave me a few samples to try, but they were too harsh for my sensitive skin. I had given up for a while, but recently started thinking about summer coming up. As much as I LOVE makeup, once in a while it would be nice to not have to worry about putting on foundation or concealer. It would be great to forgo those things and be able to feel confident about my skin.

Since the middle of April, I’ve been testing a product called Kiehl’s Dark Spot Corrector. I read rave reviews about the product. It’s not cheap, so I was hesitant to buy it, but I figured this would be my one last hurrah before I throw in the towel.

The product is a serum – it almost feels a little bit thicker than water. I purchased the product from Nordstrom’s and the saleswoman advised me to use two or three drops on my face twice per day. The serum is very easy to apply, but I’ve found that I need more than two or three drops of the product to cover my face. Once I’ve applied, I go on with my regular skin care routine.

It’s a few days into June and I’m a bit more than halfway through the bottle. (It’s lasting a lot longer than I thought.) I’m planning to provide a part two to this post to give my thoughts on whether the product has worked. I’ll do that once I’ve finished off this first bottle. So far it’s not been the miracle product I hoped for, but I think I’ve begun to see some results.

Here are some before pictures:

Thrilled to be sharing my no-makeup face with you!

Stay tuned for the after pictures and to see if the serum works!