Burt's Bees BB CREAM

I am all about BB creams. I love them, I use them everyday. What is a BB cream exactly? Well the 'BB' means different things in different places, but here in the U.S. and other western markets it generally means 'Beauty Balm'.  Beauty balms in general are supposed to be an all-in-one/ multi-tasking type of product. Each brand has different benefits, but from what I've seen they all seem to conceal, moisturize and include some kind of SPF. Different brands have different added benefits, so shop around and read reviews to make sure you get the best BB cream for you! 

Now let's talk about the star of today's show here...

I purchased the Burt's Bees BB cream about a week ago and have used it every day since. This is a product that has its ups and downs but first i'd like to get into the benefits that this BB cream offers. 
Clearly written on the box, this product claims to offer 9 benefits in one easy step. The easy step is to just put it on a clean face, Yep thats pretty easy! Here are the 9 benefits: 

• Protects with broad spectrum SPF 15   
• Moisturizes
• Smoothes
• Visibly Firms
• Illuminates
• Evens Tone
• Conceals
• Reduces appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
• Perfects Skin

Let me point out, on the box it says that this BB cream contains noni extract. Noni has many uses all over the world. It's mainly used as a medicine for different ailments and for healing. When you apply noni extract to skin it can be very moisturizing and reduces signs of aging. So I assume that the noni is one ingredient that gives us those benefits listed above.  

Blended

Swatched

My experience with this BB cream has been a love/dislike type of relationship. I purchased the shade Light/Medium because they were out of the shade light. I was nervous about it being too dark because I have an extremely fair complexion. To my surprise it was perfect! 

It's a beautiful BB cream. It goes on smoothly and blends really well. It is very moisturizing, I mean VERY moisturizing. This is one of the things that I just don't know how I feel about. I have extremely dry skin so I always purchase moisturizing face makeups. This BB cream was almost too moisturizing, which is a shock for me. BB creams are supposed to be a product that you can wear without anything else, but for this I have to set it with a powder and even then it doesn't dry. It feels like a lotion that won't absorb into the skin. It's not unwearable by any means but for me it feels like it won't absorb into my skin.

I do see and feel the smoothness and firming. That is an awesome benefit. I'm not sure if it's the noni playing in here or what but I like it! I never noticed any illuminating. I feel like an illuminating product should have like a sheer shimmer or glow to it, but no. This didn't illuminate at all in my opinion.

I do feel like I have a more even skin tone while using this product, and it conceals well. It does feel a little heavier than other BB creams that I've tried but it wouldn't deter me from using it. I did notice that it will start wearing off throughout the day, but by the end of the day I still had a small amount of coverage. 

The only thing that I'm having a hard time with is the smell. It has like this natural almost medicinal smell that's a little off putting. Overall it's a lovely BB cream that has some amazing benefits. I am intrigued by the benefits of noni extract. The pros and cons pretty much outweigh each other in my opinion, so I will keep this product around for awhile! 

What do you think? 

If you click HERE it will take you straight to the Burt's Bees website where you can purchase this product or others! 

Enjoy xo

Garnier Skin Active Micellar Cleansing Water

Let's talk about the new trend in makeup removal. 

I had been hearing rave reviews about the 'Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water', So I went out and bought some to try for myself.

I have terrible problems with makeup removers, I know it's bad but I almost never use them because I'm so sensitive especially around my eye area. I usually just rely on my facial wash to remove the makeup which does a fine job with the exception of my eye makeup, and to remove it I usually use LUSH's 9-5 cleansing lotion which I love for that. However I'm always looking for something that really cleanses and gets the makeup off easily and thoroughly while also saving time. 

I have to say, this Micellar Water is it. I've been using it for a few days now and it's been doing an amazing job. I use it on my entire face and even my sensitive eye area and its phenomenal! I could never use those makeup removers made just for the eye area because they made the areas around my eyes burn and were very irritating. The Micellar Water though is made not just for the eyes but the entire face and it's so so gentle. 

The directions are extremely simple. Just shake it up, squirt some on a cotton pad and wipe your face until the makeup is gone. It takes me about 3 pads on a heavy makeup day. It's such a light cleanser it really feels like water on your face, and it smells like water too. It's so mind blowingly effective, I couldn't believe it at first. It has to do with the formulation of the product. A blurb off of the Garnier website reads: "LIFTS MAKEUP LIKE A MAGNENT Micellular Cleansing Water features micelle cleansing molecules that pull dirt and oil away from the face. Our all-in-1 cleanser gently takes all makeup off, no rinsing, no harsh rubbing"

Which is totally amazing, I love that there are molecules in this that literally pull the makeup/dirt/oil off of your face. The only downside about this that I've dealt with so far is that my face does get really dried out after using this. However I have super dry skin so that's completely normal for me and will not deter me from using this product in any way. It's definitely a permanent member of my facial skin care regime and I will be repurchasing this in the future. 

Thank you so much for reading my review on the Garnier Micellar Water. If you click HERE it will take you to the Garnier Micellar Water page for more information. I purchased this at Walgreens but I know it's available at pretty much all drug stores and beauty stores.  


Enjoy xo

Lush Toner Waters

Hello Loves! Today I'd like to share my review the toner waters from LUSH!

  

I've bought all three of the toner waters that are currently available in-store/online (in the U.S) over the past five months and have tried each one for a little over a month at a time. 

So let's start with the first one I purchased: 

Eau Roma Water

Eau Roma Water is a great toner water, It's very calming to my skin. The ingredients are so gentle and it's actually very soothing and relaxing. The front of the bottle reads: "A gentle rose and lavender tonic for everyday use that helps hydrate dry, sensitive or mature skin without causing it to over react. Soft, comfortable skin is only a spritz away- eau my!" 

The smell is very light, I'm not a fan of rose at all but it's so light in here that it just adds a touch of floral to the lavender. I will actually spray this on my face and chest to get the scent all over before bed. The scent dissipates quickly but it's a nice little relaxation boost. 

The overall effect on my skin was wonderful. The toner waters over all have made my skin brighter, smoother and healthier. Eau Roma having lavender in it is perfect for my combination skin because lavender helps the skin even out and stay on the same page.  There were only two things I didn't like about this product. One is that my skin was not at all hydrated after this dried. It actually felt like it made my skin the tiniest bit dryer. I'm used to having unbearably dry skin so this was not a deterrent at all. The second thing is that it didn't do a thing for my breakouts, but then again it never stated anywhere on the product that it would so that's not really a fault to this product. It's definitely a product I will repurchase and keep in my routine and I love it!

The next toner water I purchased is:

Breath of Fresh Air

This toner water is definitely a breath of fresh air! I really love this one, its an extremely well rounded toner and has amazing effects on the skin. The front of the bottle reads: "The mineral-rich sea breeze captured in a bottle. Treat your face to cooling aloe vera, soothing rose and clarifying herbs, expertly blended for smooth, balanced skin." I'd say that description is quite accurate for what it does for my skin. This is my favorite toner out of the three, because my skin really looks so healthy when I use it. I did see results with better skin when I used the other two also, but for me breath of fresh air gave me the best results. It also makes my skin feel soft, which is such a great feeling. I will be repurchasing this again and again to keep using in my daily routine!

I really love the ingredients in here. Aloe vera is one of my favorite skin-soothing products. I really like that there is actual sea water and herbs to smooth and balance skin. It even has some rose absolute and patchouli oil which smell great as well as love on your skin. The smell of this product is really light also, if you don't like rose or patchouli don't count this one out at all. It really does smell like a fresh sea breeze! 

And last, but definitely not least...

Tea Tree water

I was so apprehensive about buying this one. I usually order off of the website but for this I went into the store so I could try it. The reason why I was so apprehensive was the tea tree water in this product. The only thing I could imagine it smelling like is the actual tea tree oil. I hate the smell of tea tree oil, but to my surprise the tea tree scent in this toner water is so so so mild. I almost think I can only smell it because I know it's in there. It really pairs wonderfully with the grapefruit and juniper berry, it's quite pleasant! 

It also is the best thing for my breakouts. It really helps me with that which is a huge plus for this product. Anytime I have a breakout I switch to this toner water and it usually only takes 24-48 hours for it to disappear using this. It is drying, but it's designed for oily skin so that makes sense that it would dry me out considering I already have super dry skin. 

The description on the front of the bottle reads: "Cleansing tea tree, astringent grapefruit and balancing juniper berry keep disasters at bay. Beneficial for anyone with oily skin" It's an overall great toner, especially for my problematic (at times) skin. Its definitely a product I will purchase again to keep in my arsenal of acne fighting supplies.

So as were at the end of my review I'd just like to share one more little tid-bit with you, for the past week I've been using breath of fresh air in the morning and eau roma at night and my skin has been at it's absolute best. They are a great pair.  This is my new daily routine, using the tea tree as needed for breakouts and my skin has been amazing!

I hope this review has helped you, Thank you so much for taking time to read it! Ill leave you with the link to the lush website HERE, and you can click HERE to go straight to the LUSH Toner water page! 

Enjoy xo

Fortune Cookie Soap: Pack your bags 2016

SO I got this in TODAY and I'm in LOVE. I'd like to introduce you all to... *drum roll* 

Fortune Cookie Soaps 2016 'Pack Your Bags' mini collection!

You guys I love it! It's all kinds of amazing. I have been with FCS for a little over a year now and missed last years 'pack your bags' collection, so I was thrilled I got to snag one this year! The idea is just a collection of minis that are portable for traveling. This years theme was magical/mythical/mystical places. Let's get into the details. I'll just go in order of how I pulled them out of the bag..

 Item number one: 

Emerald City (Deodorant)

So I love their deodorants, the only downfall is that they are not antiperspirants. Meaning you're going to smell hella good using this stuff but the sweats will still be flowin'. The Scent of this is hard to describe but it's great. I would have to say it's a tropical man scent... almost like a mens shaving cream I've smelled before. I would love to be more descriptive but from what I read on the FCS website it's a summer twist on a favorite fall scent called 'The Shiz', so I can't say what exactly it is, because the scents they used to make it are not listed. 

It's definitely a gender neutral scent, and it's very pleasant. Can you guess what movie this little guy is from?!  Wizard of Oz of course!  

 Item number two: 

Ice Palace (Aloe Me, Body Whip)

What is Aloe me, Body whip?! Why it's the best summer product under the sun (Well besides sunscreen. Protect your skin peeps) It's a brilliant combination of aloe and whipped cream. The whipped cream from FCS is the most moisturizing, creamy, softening product I've ever purchased. It's like a whipped body butter, so you use it as a lotion. I try and stock up on the Aloe me's for summer because the aloe is great for sunburn, but I use it daily during summer to keep my skin healthy. The aloe makes the whipped cream a little lighter but you're still getting that wonderful moisturization and softening effect.

Now this little nod to the ice queen herself, Elsa, is beautifully scented. The description from FCS reads: "A frosty blend of iced strawberries dusted with sweet vanilla sugar and a fresh sprig of mint."

I can definitely pick up on the strawberry and vanilla, the mint is very light but it all blends together wonderfully. It is very lightly scented but it works. I could wear any perfume with this without having to worry about the smells overpowering each other. I will definitely be putting this to good use. Oh, and it has SPARKLES!! 

 Item number three: 

Storybrooke (Shower Oil)

I love the FCS shower oils. They make after-shower moisturizing so easy, and they really work. This little visitor from Once upon a time is a travel sized version of the larger shower oils FCS makes. All I do is spray the shower oil all over right after I get out of the shower and Violia! Your skin will be soft and moisturized for hours. The smell is one of my favorites, If you've ever smell 'Belle' ( an older FCS scent) this is exactly that. It in the description on the FCS website that there's a twist to the 'Belle' but I'm not really picking up on anything different. If you haven't smelled 'Belle" the best way to describe it is a tropical floral scent with the smallest hint of fruity at the end.

 Item number four: 

 Lost City (Crystal infused perfume oil)

This stuff smells great! I get that beach/summer scent from it. The description from the FCS website reads "Exotic marine waters swirling with fresh yuzu, sweet plums and salty driftwood. " I'm definitely picking up on the marine waters scent (which is perfect for the lost city of atlantis motif here), the yuzu and salty driftwood add more complexity to the perfume and it's a beautiful combination.

Another special detail here is the crystals inside the bottle. It makes the perfume so unique and pretty. I found on the FCS site that crystals are used for holistic healing and chakra balancing, so there was definitely a lot of thought put behind this little add-in and I love that. FCS is always finding ways to put little twists on there products, and who doesn't love beautiful little details like that?!

 Items number five and six: 

Who lives in a pineapple under the sea?!

Bikini Top and Bikini Bottom (Shampoo and Conditioner)

I think I'm most excited about these two. These are just the PERFECT summer theme/scent!! I've loved spongebob for forever and my kids do too. It's not only the theme here that's perfect, it's the scents. Bikini Top Shampoo is a super floral/fruity combo that works amazingly well together. The FCS description reads "Tropical flowers, bright citrus and shaved coconut." and it's exactly that. 

The Bikini Bottom Conditioner is a creamy pineapple masterpiece. This may very well be my favorite product in the set. The FCS description reads "Fresh squeezed pineapple juice with a strawberry garnish" And yes it very much is all of that.

This is my first time using a liquid shampoo or conditioner from FCS, but I have high hopes because I love their solid shampoo and conditioner bars so much that that's all I use now! Plus I think these two scents paired together will be epic. 

Item number seven

Cupboard Under the Stairs (Body Wash)

So this is the grand finale. I've always loved the scent that FCS makes called Polyjuice potion, newly renamed PJP. This body wash is PJP with a "magical twist". It smells exactly like PJP to me, which is a very fruity scent containing notes of "fresh oranges, grapefruit, strawberries, ripe melon, peaches and kiwi..sprinkled with a touch of sugar" I can't figure out the twist because it really smells identical to PJP in my opinion. I love it anyway. I have a stock of their body washes so this little one will definitely be accompanying be on my travels along with the rest of this wonderfully mind-blowing collection. And if you couldn't guess it, this green (practically glowing) little gem is named after Mr. Harry Potter's living quarters in his younger years. Brilliant!! 

OH and I can't forget the extra that all of these collections come with. Including the nifty little travel case all of these products are beautifully packaged in, you get an exfoliating sponge!

It's a nice little add-in and it's perfect for this set. 

Overall I'd say that this year's 'Pack your bags' collection by Fortune cookie soap was a hit! I'm so glad I purchased this set and look forward to next years. The theme was so fun and I loved that there was a  nice mixture of their products and I'm so thrilled that they added a brand new product for us to try (The liquid shampoo/conditioner). Click Here for the Fortune Cookie Soap website. This collection is sold out, however FCS makes tons of amazing products to chose from. Have fun shopping! Thank you guys so much for reading my review and comment below to tell me what your favorite product from this little collection is! 

Enjoy xo

LUSH Angels on Bare Skin cleanser

Angels. on. Bare. Skin. This my friends is the most amazing facial cleanser I've ever used.  I love it! Before I go on with my own personal opinion on this life changing product let me put the description off of the LUSH website for you....HERE:

"Angels on Bare Skin

Face And Body Cleanser

Balancing lavender cleanser

For heavenly soft and perfectly balanced skin, take a bit of Angels on Bare Skin, mix with a little water and massage all over your face and body. The kaolin clay base deep-cleanses while finely ground almonds and lavender flowers gently exfoliate away dry skin. We add lavender oil to soothe and balance, and rose absolute to calm redness. If it’s smooth, radiant skin you’re after, this is the cleanser for you!" -From the Lush website 

Yes. Yes exactly.  Ill add the fact that it's also PRESERVATIVE FREE and magical. Well the magic isn't proven exactly but if you ask my face that's what it'll tell you. I have a strange form of combination skin.  My T-zones switch between dry and oily and then the rest of my face is either dry or normal. The lavender in this facial cleanser is great for keeping my entire face on the same page. The ground almonds are so gentle and exfoliating, I use this everyday and it's never been too rough on my skin. The smell is earthy in a good way. It's a little girlie to me with the lavender but honestly I could see the manliest men loving it. It honestly relaxes me. I love that there is actual lavender in the product that you can see.

The way I use this is just by taking a small chunk of it, about the size of a dime. If you use that much it should last for a while. I've been using the one in the photo above everyday for a week and you can see how full it still is. After i've gotten my dime size chunk I just add a couple of drops of water to it and rub all over my face for about a minute then rinse off and pat dry with a clean towel.  I follow it with a toner water and moisturizer also from LUSH but i'd like to focus on one product for now.  

Thank you all for reading my review on LUSH's Angels On Bare Skin cleanser! I'm going to leave a few links for you.  The first will be a link to the cleanser ->LUSH Angels on Bare Skin the second will be a video made by LUSH giving some tips on how to use the product properly -> Lush Quick Tips and lastly (and my favorite) LUSH manufacturing's video on how Angels on Bare Skin is made-> LUSH Manufacturing: 'How it's made' I absolutely love the 'how it's made' videos, so I hope you like it! 

                                                                      Enjoy xo

Hello...

So here it goes.  I feel like I keep so many things inside of me that I want to put out in the world. There are so many things I love that I want to share with you all. I hope you enjoy what I have to say. :) This is where I will review products and give my honest opinions. Thanks for taking time out of your day to read my writing! 

 Peace and Love xoxo