Showing posts with label favorites. Show all posts

What I Wore (WIW) Lace Kimono OOTD

Have you ever bought a piece of clothing that turns into a staple immediately? I recently found a lace kimono at Target that has found it's way into 3 outfits already-I haven't even had the kimono for a full 3 weeks yet! It is safe to say I have a new favorite!

Outfit details: Shorts- American Eagle (similar style currently in stock)// Brown Tank- Old, Wet Seal // Kimono- Target (can't find the link currently) (similar ON SALE option) // Sandals- Forever 21  (no longer available) (similar option here) // Sunglasses- New York and Company
Up close look at my new hair color-loving it still!
Earrings from Buckle.

Sorry for such a lengthy, photo-packed post! Definitely wanted to share this kimono with whoever is interested; it is still available in store (black lace and white lace) but I just can not find it online! 

Thanks for reading,
XO, Kelsey 

Connect with me: twitter here // instagram here// pinterest here // 

Striped Halter Dress Outfit // Affordable Fashion Post

Hey beauties! I hope everyone is having a great week so far...it's almost the weekend so yay! Currently, I am [trying] to bury my head in the books and study for my state board exam for nursing (NCLEX) which is coming up in the next week. If you know anyone who has taken the exam (or you have taken it yourself) you probably know just have nerve wracking and hard it is to even prepare for it. It is sooo overwhelming! I needed a little break from it all, so here I am with an outfit post! Recently, I discovered the wonderful world of the outlet malls-probably a 25 minute drive from my apartment, but totally worth it. Pretty much anything I could want fashion-wise can be found at the outlets, including the dress in this post! The dress was only about $14...what?! Suchhh good prices and so many stores to choose from! I am definitely glad I started going outlet shopping instead of just "normal" shopping. You can save so much money! Enough with my epiphany though, on to the post!
Dress: Charlotte Russe Outlet (similar here and here)
Bracelet: Alter'd State
Sandals: Forever 21 (cute semi-similar option here) // Sunglasses: New York & Company

 I have recently become super obsessed with type of neckline-I am always in search of dresses and tanks with this style! I feel like it is so flattering on me and also is a bit more conservative, yet fun. What do you think?

Have you ventured into the wonderful world of outlet shopping? Do you have any other affordable shopping recommendations?  

Thank you for reading!
XO, Kelsey

Connect with me on twitter here // connect with me on instagram here// pinterest here //

Update // Review of Bella Organics

You know how life gets all chaotic and crazy and you don't know where one to-do list starts and the other one ends? Well, that has been my life for the better part of this past year. My senior year of college got ridiculously busy with deadlines, requirements, and working. I can now say that I made it through it though, and I am one happy Bachelors of Science recipient! At some point this summer I will be taking my state boards and starting a job as a full time registered nurse! Yay! I am literally so excited!
With all that being said, I would like to get back into blogging (on my own schedule that is!) I want to enjoy my time, friends, and family, and as I have always said in my blog posts, I will write when I find inspiration and free-time! That is one great thing about having a blog; you can write posts when you would like, and if someone out there in bloggyland finds interest in your writing, then great-I would love to entertain you with my posts! Now that all of that is out of the way, I want to share a brand with you that I have absolutely been loving for a few months!

Bella Organics 
 " Bella Organics was founded in 2012 in response to a growing concern for the severe lack of all-natural and organic skincare products available. Our mission statement is simple: We believe that we should take care of our bodies, and in turn, our bodies will take care of us. That’s why Bella Organics products will never contain water, emulsifiers, or any of the toxic or unnatural ingredients that are found today in most mass-market products". -The Bella Organics website
A few months back, the Bella Organics company reached out to me to see if I would be interested in trying out a few of their products, since I am trying to change over all of my skincare and makeup to more natural, less harsh/chemical filled products. After looking through their site, I decided the company was one that does align with my concerns in the ingredients in products, so I went ahead and said yes to their email. After having these products for months (literally), I think I have a good opinion on them!

The products I received were the Jasmine & Honey Hydrating Face Cream, the Iced Lemonade Deodorant Creme, the Shea Butter & Sunflower Hand Cream, and Coconut Lime Lip Balm.

The Coconut Lime Lipbalm was probably the product I enjoyed the least; not to say it was a bad product, but compared to the other items I was sent, it was a little lackluster. It did moisturize my lips, but it could be compared to any run of the mill chapstick (except its 100% organic!)

The Iced Lemonade Deodorant Creme was realllly interesting to try out-I found it to control excess sweat, mask any odor, and just be an all around enjoyable product. The scent of this stuff is amazing! I mean the name of the scent is so spot on...I just wanted to eat it! (Don't worry, I didn't!)

The Shea Butter & Sunflower Hand Cream was a nice product; I found it to moisturize my hands and cuticles pretty well, but it was a bit greasy. Since it still is a good product, I work around the greasiness by using it before bed, which means I wake up with soft hands!

The Jasmine & Honey Hydrating Face Cream is the total star here! I was blown away the first time I used this. As you can see in the picture, the product has a whipped-like texture (as does the deodorant and hand cream). When the product is taken out of the container, within seconds it sort of melts down(probably due to all the oils in it). After applying it to my face, it does feel a bit greasy, but I sometimes find that I am using way too much-you only need a small amount to cover your whole face. It does absorb into the skin (but if I am too impatient, I just blot off the excess). Once absorbed, my skin feels soooo soft and healthy...but this isn't even the best part! When I wake up after a night with this stuff on, my skin feels plump, soft and brighter all around. Until today, I had only used this at night before bed, because I thought it would be too moisturizing for daytime. In order to give a good review, I decided to use it as a daytime moisturizer. I am definitely happy about how it works during the day too; using this cream seems to help balance out all my extra face oils (your girl right here is usually an oil slick!) This product would be great for dry skinned and oily girls alike!

Overall, I am super impressed with this brand, and would order from them in the future. If you are interested in natural, non-toxic, organic skincare products, I definitely recommend looking into this brand!

Thanks for reading!
XO, Kelsey

Connect with me on twitter here // connect with me on instagram here// pinterest here //

**The Bella Organic products were sent to me free of charge; I was not paid nor guided to say anything about these products. All opinions shared are my own.

Bright Eyes // Three Favorites For Waking Up Tired Eyes

Hey lovelies! Today I wanted to let you in on a few of my current favorites for not only my everyday makeup routine, but for waking up dark, tired eyes in general. Dark under-eye circles tend to run in my family, so I am constantly trying to come up with ways to brighten the area. Pair that with some seasonal allergies causing redness in my waterline and we are just a hot mess in the morning! This post will feature the Rimmel Volume Accelerator Mascara, the Rimmel Scandaleyes Nude Eyeliner, and the IT Cosmetics Bye Bye  Under Eye Brightening Concealer. A few posts ago I wrote about my favorite combination for concealing my under-eyes, and I still LOVE that combo; I will never take it out of my beauty routine probably! However, this concealer I would like to review packs in the same brightening and long-wearing properties without having to mix two different concealers!

No makeup...scary!
In those photos, I am makeup free and bearing my dark circles in all their glory, as well as my reddish/pink waterline. In the next picture below, I have applied the Rimmel Scandaleyes Nude Eyeliner

Taking this one step already makes such a difference! The lighting is a bit off throughout these photos, but hopefully you get an idea of how just a few steps can wake up your look!

Mini Review: This nude liner is the perfect shade for brightening your waterline, without looking like you tried really hard. It has the best creamy consistency and glides on with no problems, sort of setting itself in less than a minute so it doesn't come off. I would say it lasts 6 hours or so before needing to be touched up, although most of the time I don't worry about that! Price: Less than $5 at most drugstores.

The next product I use is the IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Undereye Brightening Concealer. This stuff will pretty much wow you if you ever decide to try it!

Review: The color I use is "Neutral Medium". This product has a pretty thick consistency; when I say that, I don't mean it feels cakey on your skin (although if you use too much, that very well could happen) but it almost has a thick whipped texture to it. When applied, it is noticeable how pigmented it is, which is why you need to use so little. It is long wearing, which will be awesome when I have to work 12 hour shifts at the hospital (I start today!) I don't have a dry undereye area, but I do find this concealer to feel a bit moisturizing, so I am sure those who look for that in a concealer would appreciate that characteristic of this product! I haven't had any issues with it irritating my skin or causing breakouts, which is always a plus. Speaking of breakouts, sometimes I use this for just that; I think it does a really nice job of getting rid of the redness and concealing the pimple or redness. I always set my under eye area (or any are on my face for that matter) with a setting powder. I think that this is a foolproof way to add extra wear time to almost any makeup. Price: $24.

My application technique.
So much brighter! Concealer will always be one of my favorite beauty products-ever!

Review: The last product that really opens and brightens the eyes in the morning is mascara. Trust me, you can see a huge difference just by swiping on one coat of your favorite mascara. My current (and maybe all-time?) favorite mascara is the Rimmel Volume Accelerator Mascara. I'm not going to lie-I didn't love it at first. It was quite "wet" in consistency, which made me think it wouldn't do anything for my lashes. Because of this, I left the cap partially unscrewed one day during classes, which made it dry out a bit, thickening up. Now I am 150% in love with it! It doesn't clump up or  flake, but it does add length and volume. Trust me when I say I used to be the girl with 6+ mascaras on rotation, using a different one each day. I only reach for this one now. Price: One of the best parts about this is that I believe it performs like a high-end product, yet it is less than $10 at most drugstores.
One coat...I don't like to layer on mascara!
Awesome length from the mascara! :)
I hope this post is helpful in some way to someone out there! It is amazing how certain products can awaken your whole face! 

Since this post just needed a few more photos...haha.

What are your tips for brightening up your eyes in the morning?
Thanks for reading!
XO, Kelsey


**The IT cosmetics concealer was sent to me for free for consideration of review. I am in no way influenced by a company when I am sent a product; all opinions are my own and formed after using a product for longer than a few weeks!

Vapour Organic Beauty Review

Hey gorgeous! Today I am going to take some time to review a brand that I came across about two months ago-if you are interested in more organic beauty products, this might be right up your alley! According to the Vapour Beauty website, their products are described as being:
"100% natural with 70% certified organic ingredients and 30% minerals and vitamins. There are no toxic chemicals, no parabens, no phalates, no gluten, no animal testing, no nano particles, and no irradiation".

To be honest, I don't know a ton about every single thing these products are made without; however, I know enough that I don't want those things in my products! This has led me to branch out and want to try to use better products in my everyday life. If you have been around this blog for awhile, you know I tried a bunch of mineral makeup products over the past year, nearly all of them being pretty pure in formulation, without any extra fillers or chemicals. I continue to use these products as I move forward in my quest for what I think is best for my skin!

The products I received for consideration of review are the Elixir Plumping Lipgloss, Aura Multi-Use Blush, and the Elixir Lipgloss. I can't seem to find the link for the plain old Elixir Lipgloss, which is why I didn't provide a link! Just as a general piece of info, I have had these products and have been using them for over a month! Now that all that is out of the way, let's get to the individual reviews!

 From top to bottom: Multi-Use Blush, Elixir Plumping Gloss, and Elixir Gloss. Swatches below.

        
Elixir Plumping Gloss:
In the shade "Coax", this product is described as offering "versatile color, dimension, and shine. Hydrating botanicals and organic plumping liposomes lock in maximum moisture for ultra-hydrated voluptuous lips. Never sticky or tacky, Elixir delivers superior body and shine". 

Personally, I love the formulation of this product. It is one of the most moisturizing glosses I have ever used, which might be surprising as it promises to plump! Many name brand plumping glosses I have used actually dry out my lips, which probably is due to the ingredients in them. Compared to plumpers like Too Faced Lip Injection Color Bomb, the Vapour lipgloss doesn't cause a burning or tingly feeling as it plumps. I don't mind the tingly effect...in fact, I kind of like it (does that make me weird?!) Either way, I think the plumping actually comes from all the moisture this gloss packs...I could be totally wrong, but it's almost like it makes the most of what your own lips can achieve from being moisturized! I don't find this to be sticky or tacky, which could be  a downside to some as this usually makes a product last longer. I would say it wears for a good hour before you start seeing the product fade; this includes drinking and eating! I would say the pigmentation is very sheer, at least in the shade I was sent.The taste isn't the best (not like the typical mint or fruit flavor many glosses offer), but for what the gloss does, I don't mind how it tastes.

Elixir Gloss:
In the shade "Sultry", this gloss is very similar to the plumping gloss, although you may not see the same plumping effects with this of course! Unfortunately, I can't find a description of this on the website, and I don't have the original box with me. Taste wise, I find this to have more of a flavor; one I can't exactly describe but it is better than the plumping gloss flavor! This gloss has a bit more of a tacky texture to it, but it isn't sticky...does that make sense? I want to say that maybe it's better explained as just adhering to the lips more effectively! This gloss wears about 2 hours before I really want to touch up. I adore the shade I was sent; it's more pigmented than the plumping gloss and I found it to pair well with many pink-toned lipsticks. I am actually wearing this gloss with a small amount of the plumping gloss in the picture below.

Aura Multi-Use Blush:
In the shade "Spark", this product is described as giving "a natural flush of color. These universally-flattering core colors work on all skin tones and all ages. Give the Vapour glow to cheeks, lips and eyes with one convenient stick. Aura blends like a dream for a polished look in seconds".

I think this is my favorite out of the three items I was sent. It really is very versatile! I have used it on my cheeks and my lips, but I am excited to see how it would work as a cream eyeshadow. I have pretty oily eyelids, so it would be interesting to see the lasting ability. The way I apply this is directly to my cheeks in an upward slanting motion. After this, I buff it out using a stipple brush. I find that doing this makes me look like I have a natural glow, and really makes it foolproof to apply! For lasting power, I would say that this lasts all day on me. I have pretty oily skin, but mostly in my t-zone, so I am not sure how this would work on someone with extremely oily skin everywhere. I do set it with a translucent powder, as I set all of my makeup, so I think with powder the lasting power should be no issue! I haven't had any problems with breakouts from this product. On my lips, it seems to be pretty moisturizing, although lasting only as long as a chapstick probably would.
Application technique! You can also see the shade on my lips in this photo.
Buffed out.
Voila! End result!

You can find more Vapour Organic Beauty products HERE.

Hopefully you find this review helpful! If you currently use natural, organic, or vegan products, I would love to hear about them! Leave me a comment below or email me at kelseylenay@hotmail; you can find me on twitter @kelseylenayyy or instagram @kelseylenayy

Thanks for reading!
XO, Kelsey

**As started before, I did receive these products free, for consideration of review. Vapour Organic Beauty has no influence on my opinion of these products, as no brand or company ever will! I genuinely enjoy these products and am offering my honest opinion of how they performed on me personally!

Things I'm Loving and Random Rambles!

Happy Monday everyone! I hope wherever you are right now, the weather is treating you right! It was such a nice weekend; although today has been nothing but what feels like torrential downpour!  Anyways, I wanted to share a few things I am currently loving lately...I feel like this is so much easier than doing full blown reviews on products-unless you want more details on something, then of course I would love to share all my thoughts with you!

One-Yes To Tomatoes Clear Skin Daily Balancing Moisturizer
This stuff is soooo good for my oily skin! I feel like it really has helped in balancing out all the excess oils, while also keeping my skin hydrated enough that I am not over-producing oil! It also seems to help with taking away some of the redness in my skin. I am almost out of this, so I will definitely be repurchasing it!

Two-My concealer combo for concealing dark circles
A few posts ago I shared my favorite way for hiding my pesky, dark undereye circles. Putting together Maybelline  Instant Age Rewind Eraser Darkspot Treatment Corrector + Maybelline Superstay 24 Hour Concealer was the best thing I could do for my beauty routine-so mych so that I had to blog about it! You can find that post HERE. I think these two products work together so well...it seems like both sort of play off each other, so I don't tend to use them alone very often. I have even got a few friends hooked on this combo, so I won't be straying for this favorite anytime soon!

Three-The end of the semester!
YAYAYAY is all I have to say...oh, and I am a senior in college now. More YAY's ensuing!

Four-Spring and Summer trends
I don't even know where to begin. Basically, if it is involved with either season, I probably love it. I can't wait to have a little extra cash for non-necessities so I can buy some new staples for my wardrobe! If you want to find everything adorable and fabulous in one place, I would suggest checking out Monica's Closet Essentials! Monica is a blogger that I have mentioned many times, and I've loved her blog for basically ever. She doesn't know that I am mentioning her boutique in this post, and I don't know if she will even see this, but trust me-her shop is so worth checking out. Here are a few pieces I love:


So cute! I always have my eyes on items from J.Crew, Madewell, and Express too!

Five-The little things
Today, I called my stepmom to catch up, but my five year old brother answered her cell phone because they were at the store. Sammy, my brother, is ridiculously smart, witty, sarcastic, and adorable for his age. So anyways, I never know what to expect from him. He told me that he was getting the "music for the Frozen movie", aka the soundtrack. Me: "Oh really?! That is so cool Sam! We will have to watch the movie together and sing the so-" Sam: "I'm going to sing you a song from the CD, okay?!" He then proceeded to sing the whole Let It Go song to me...I wish I could have recorded it. It was the most precious thing ever, and he didn't miss a word. I couldn't stop smiling! It's the little things guys!

I am pretty sure I could list a few more things I am loving, but I will just keep the list to a minimum since this post is already getting a little wordy! Besides all that, lately I have been looking forward to starting my co-op job at a local hospital (let's be real here, I am SO nervous too!) It should be an interesting and educating experience, so I am excited to see how it goes. On another note, I have randomly been thinking about putting my nose ring back in. I know, I know, some people hate it and some people love it...I always wore a super tiny stud that was barely noticeable, like ones from the Fresh Trends site; most people didn't even know I had my nose pierced, but I loved having it!
 (Super old picture-but you can see that I liked the tiny diamond studs!)
What do you think? If I do put it back in, I will just have to put in a clear plastic retainer when I am at work. Decisions, decisions! Could this post get anymore random? I am definitely rambling at this point, but I have so much to say! I'll just cut the post short here, so I can relax for the rest of my night! I hope everyone had an amazing weekend and a good start to the week...and-don't forget, cherish the little things!

Thanks for reading!
XO, Kelsey

Makeup Talk: 100% Pure Makeup Review

Hello lovies! Today I want to talk about the brand 100% Pure. This brand is one that I have been looking into closely lately-if you have been following this blog for awhile, you would know that over the summer I went mineral-makeup crazy. I am always looking for ways to change up my skincare and makeup, and realistically, I would like to make it more natural based, as I feel it is best for my own skin type. Straight from the website-100% Pure is "truly 100% Pure-no synthetic chemicals, chemical preservatives, artificial fragrances, artificial colors, harsh detergents or any other unhealthy toxins!" I was lucky enough to receive a few samples, and after more than a month of trying them out, I think I am ready to honestly review them. I should preface this by saying I went into trying these products thinking they wouldn't perform well because they were all natural, vegan, free of preservatives, etc., something I wasn't 100% familiar with...so seeing how they worked was pretty interesting to me.

I received the Coffee Bean Eye Cream, Fruit Pigmented 100% Natural Juicy Lip Gloss in "pink peach", and the Fruit Pigmented Blush in "cherry". At this point, I will start by saying I can't pick a favorite between the three-you'll see why!

 Wearing all three products! No idea why this picture looks so soft focused-I think I may have had it on the portrait setting when I took the picture! Ooops.

First, I want to talk about the Coffee Bean Eye Cream.
Description:
 Clinically proven to de-puff and brighten dark circles.
Clinically proven to lessen lines and wrinkles.
Caffeine rich eye cream makes you look more refreshed and awake.


Pros:
-The texture is so smooth-almost like it is whipped.
-The tube has a pump attached (love this!)
-It smells amazing.
-It is absorbed easily into the eye area, and leaves the under eye really smooth...if you have ever used the Philosophy Miracle Worker, you know how awesome the eye area feels after it is absorbed...you get a very similar outcome with this which is amazing in my book!
-It makes a great base for concealer.
-I have noticed my under eye is  brighter after using this...immediately after applying and in the long run (with no makeup on!)

Cons:
-Sometimes the pump doesn't work correctly. I looked this up somewhere on the website and it does say that if you unscrew the pump, it can alter how well it works....which I unfortunately did. So, lesson learned! 

Price: $21 for 1 fl oz.

Fruit Pigmented 100% Natural Juicy Lip Gloss in"Pink Peach"
Description: 
100% natural, 100% vegetarian, gluten free.
Colored with fruit and vegetable pigments instead of minerals or synthetic dyes.
Made in a base of vitamin e to moisturize and soften lips.

Pros: 
-Really moisturizing on the lips.
-Not sticky.
-If you just so happen to lick your lips, it's pretty tasty!
-The color is build-able, so if you want to wear it alone, it will be a really pretty shade, but it looks gorgeous layered on top of lipstick!
-There is no chunks or pieces of glitter in the gloss.

Cons:
-Some may think the sheer color is a con (although I like to layer!)
-It isn't extremely long-wearing (probably 2 hours if you are eating and drinking).

Price: $15 for 0.24 fl oz.

Fruit Pigmented Blush in "Cherry"
Description:
This fruit pigmented blush to make you sparkle and shine!
This blush is colored with the antioxidant and vitamin rich fruit pigments instead of minerals or synthetic dyes.


Pros:
-Long wearing; I could put this on early in the morning and you can still see it very well into the night.
-Extremely pigmented! When I first got it, I thought it would have to be layered a ton for any color to show up....SO WRONG! You just get a little on your blush brush and use a light hand to apply; I would say this is just as pigmented as MAC blushes or any other high-end brand. 
-The finish looks gorgeous, like you're glowing from within (with no sparkles or glitter of course!)
-The packaging is adorable! I can't get over the design of what it is packaged in.

Cons: 
-If you are particular about fingerprints, the packaging really can attract them.

Price:   $28 for 9 grams (0.32 oz)

Overall, this brand has been nothing but great so far! I am really interested in expanding my makeup collection to include more natural and vegan products, so I will definitely be looking into this brand more! They even have foundations, tinted moisturizers, body washes, hair products, etc. which is awesome for someone who really has interest in products geared to be more natural and chemical free!

Do you buy any vegan, natural, or gluten free makeup products? If so, what are your favorite brands? 

Thanks for reading!
XO, Kelsey  

*All 100% Pure Products reviewed were sent to me for free in consideration for review. Any opinions stated are all my own and are in NO way influenced by the brand. You can always count on an honest review! 
**Linking up with more pieces of me and on the daily express. All other link-up buttons can be found on the "link-ups" page!

Makeup Talk: Mac Sheertone Blush in "Breezy" Review

MAC [powder] blushes are amazing. I am just going to say it-put it out there now and let you know that I adore them! Granted, I haven't used a blush from each  type of finish they have (frost, matte, satin, sheertone, and sheertone shimmer) but I have tried my fair share. I also have not tried their cream blushes, but that's a different story. I wanted to do a fairly quick review on a specific blush I have been using nonstop for the past 4.5+ months; as soon as fall hit I gave myself the green light to add it into my makeup routine!


 The shade I want to talk about is "Breezy", which like the title of this post says, is a sheertone finish. Since it is berry toned I feel it will best suit my skin in the fall and winter months, which explains why it has only been absent from my cheeks only a handful of times!

Application: As it is a sheertone blush, you can lightly layer it to get the look you want-but don't let the word sheer fool you...it is pretty pigmented! It goes on smoothly to my skin, and with the light hand I use, gives a really pretty wash of color to my cheeks! The finish on my skin is like a healthy glow, even with my combination/oily skin, I find it to be very flattering.

Top is more of a heavy swatch; bottom is very lightly swatched.

Wear time: I find this to be extremely long-wearing. If I apply it in the morning, it still looks nice by the end of the day. I don't notice it to get splotchy when it does begin to wear off, which would probably be around 10+ hours.

Wearing "Breezy"; applied lightly! Also don't judge me for the Christmas tree behind me, hah. This was taken back in December! 
Pros:
-Long wearing
-Pigmented
-Easily layered
-One compact will last you a LONG time (no joke!)
-Has never broke me out

Cons:
-The price ($21.00 USD). I really find that it is worth that price however. I have had another blush by MAC for 3+ years, and I haven't even hit pan because they are so pigmented (and I rotate my blush use!) It might expire before I can finish it. The struggle.
-You may become obsessed with this shade and then any of your other blushes you thought you liked will be left behind, not used, and they will have a pity party full of jealousy until you start using them again. True story

You can buy this blush HERE

What is your favorite blush at the moment?

Thanks for reading!
XO, Kelsey  

Stay in touch! My links:

Sibu Beauty Sea Buckthorn Facial Cleanser Review

My first post of the new year is going to be a review of a face wash I have been using for about the last month...and I have to say I love it! If you remember any of my posts from the summer, you would know I went mineral makeup crazy in search of more natural alternatives to cosmetics...well, that kind of is a running theme in my life haha. I really do try to use more natural products any chance that I get-so when I was approached by Sibu Beauty with the chance to try out their face wash for free, how could I say no? I have used this for long enough to have a really well formed opinion about it, which is why I would like to share my thoughts now!


Product Claims: 
-Leaves skin looking and feeling radiant and refreshed
-Removes excess oil and impurities
-Contains micro-particles for a gentle exfoliation
-Great for removing make-up
-Non-foaming gel formula for all skin types

What is Sea Buckthorn? 
"Known as the “beauty berry” across Europe and Asia, sea buckthorn contains over 190 bioactive compounds that restore, revitalize, and protect youthful beauty – from the inside-out AND outside-in. These hardy berries help nourish skin, hair, and nails with powerful antioxidants and essential fatty acids, including the rare Omega 7 – a key building block to healthy skin, hair, and nails, and also aids digestion and may help you maintain a healthier weight". In addition, it is key to know about Omega 7; "the often elusive Omega 7 is found abundantly in the sea buckthorn berry, the key ingredient in all Sibu Beauty products, in addition to the more common Omega's 3, 6, and 9.  All four of these are critical in providing cellular support for healthy skin, hair and nails".  (Information gather from Sibu Beauty site).

How I use it:
I use this morning and night-at night I don't use anything beforehand to remove my face makeup; I only use this and it takes everything off. I will use a makeup remover around my eyes, as this contains really tiny particles for exfoliation which I clearly don't want in my eyeballs! Speaking of the particles, they are definitely "micro"...I haven't had any issues with using this twice a day, because the exfoliation is very gentle!

My thoughts:
I agree with the claims of this product, and not because this was sent to me for free. I would have no second thoughts on buying this product once my trial runs out, because it is a very good cleanser. If you remember my mineral makeup reviews, you would know that I think "balancing" products are a godsend for us combination/oily skin girls. You don't want a product that completely soaks up all your oils-that will just make you over produce more sebum and you'll be a bigger oily mess (trust me, I learned my lesson by now!) This Sibu Sea Buckthorn Cleanser seems like it would work for all skin types, because it isn't drying in the slightest. One of my favorite things about this is that after I wash my face, my skin feels extremely smooth and almost seems to have a healthy glow to it, which I am assuming is the result of the Sea Buckthorn Berry that is in it! This, paired with my new favorite facial lotion, has really changed my skin in the past month. I will be reviewing the lotion that I am referring to in the coming days!

This cleanser retails for $17.95 on the Sibu Beauty website, and contains 4.5 oz. 

What are your favorite skincare products right now?

Thanks for reading!
Xo, Kelsey 

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*I received this product for free for consideration. All thoughts and opinions are my own and have been formed solely off using the product in the past month.

A Few of My Favorite Things [Currently]

Hold on a second. Christmas is in 12 days guys. Twelve! This year has flown by! Since I have been so busy the past two weeks with the end of the semester and finals, I decided to try and make up for it by sharing some of my favorite things at the moment! I love hearing about what products, songs, and non-material things (and anything else!) that people are liking, so I thought this post would be a fun one!
1. Bath and Body Works "Velvet Sugar" Body Mist: This stuff smells SO good! It is sweet and sugary just like the name implies...and I think it is perfect for the holidays! I have really enjoyed spraying this on me throughout the day if I don't want to wear a heavy perfume.

2. Yes to Tomatoes Clear Skin Lotion: This lotion is one that is supposed to balance your skins moisture levels as well as clear up or prevent acne. I really think it has been doing what it says, and may write a whole post dedicated to it! I have been using it morning and night!

3. Becca Ever Matte Poreless Priming Perfector: You may remember seeing me review this primer recently...and I am still loving it and using it daily! Definitely the best primer I have ever came across! For using it everyday, I am so surprised that I have so much left still!

4. Sibu Beauty All Natural Sea Buckthorn Balancing Facial Cleanser: Well that was a mouthful. I have been using this cleanser lately and have fallen in love with it! Expect to see a full review of this product when I review the lotion I mentioned above! The two of them together are like magic! I also noticed that the website that sells this is having a 40% of sale right now-check it out if you are interested in some natural skincare!

5. Dove Refresh + Care Dry Shampoo: This is a lifesaver. I have tried so many brands of dry shampoo and this is one of two that I have found that works amazing for me. I can't go without this! It does leave a bit of a gray tint to your roots if you have darker hair, but once you run your brush through your hair it is completely gone. Perfect for the days you skip washing your hair!

6. Benefit Gimme Brow Gel: If you fill in your eyebrows, this product is definitely worth looking into! I have pretty dark eyebrows that are full on their own, but I do like to fill in the tails of my brows just to look a bit more put together. It is crazy how filling in your brows just a little bit can add so much more to your look-in a good way! I have mine in the shade "medium/deep".

7. NYX Butter Gloss in the shade "Maple Blondie": This lip gloss is exactly what it sounds like...like butter. I mean imagine the softest gloss ever on your lips. The lasting power is really nice, and the subtle scent just adds to my love for this gloss! I have been pairing this a lot lately with my Mac lipstick in the shade "Spirit".

8. Virtual "Try on" Websites: If you know anything about me, you know I like to change things up a lot; because of this I kind of play around with looks online before I actually go for it. Over the summer, I reaaaaaallly wanted to chop of my hair-and I did. Before I did though, I "tried on" hairstyles and hair colors to be sure I would look okay with the big change. I also like to try before I buy, so it has been really useful to try on virtual glasses before making any big decisions. If you ever get bored...seriously do yourself a fun favor and look up virtual try-on sites...you will have a blast, haha.

9. Maybelline Color Sensational Lipstick in the shade "Blissful Berry": This color is so dang pretty for fall and winter, and I just can't get enough! Like many others, I adore a darker lip color in the colder months, and this one is perfecto! You may have seen me wearing it in this outfit post!

10. Rimmel Scandal Eyes Wateproof Kohl Eyeliner in the shade "Nude": Since buying this about 2 months ago, I haven't went a makeup-wearing day without it! I line my waterline with this and it really brightens up my eyes and makes me look a bit more awake...great for those who didn't get enough sleep the night before!
Swatches, from top to bottom: Rimmel Eyeliner in "Nude", Maybelline Lipstick in "Blissful Berry" and NYY Gloss in "Maple Blondie".

11. The song "Story of My Life" by One Direction: I shouldn't even bring this up because it means it will once again be playing in my head. I am not kidding when I say this is probably day 6 or 7 that my roommates and I CAN'T for the life of us get this song out of our heads. None of us even really listen to One Direction, but somehow this song creeped into our minds and totally took over. You think you are safe from this song, and then someone else plays it in our apartment, and the cycle repeats. Someone should ask me a week from now if the song is out of our heads... if we don't go crazy by then.

What are you loving lately?
Thanks for reading!
XO, Kelsey

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