Nighttime Skin care Routine

Last week I shared my morning skin care routine and today I am back to share my nighttime routine.

I think this is similar to the morning where most things are the same with a few additions/changes.

Step 1: Clinique Take the Day Off Cleansing Balm

I am a huge fan of double cleansing. Especially when I wear makeup or actual sunscreen. (Not just what's in my moisturizer.) This step makes me feel like I am getting off most of the makeup, dirt, grim, etc. before using my regular cleanser. I haven't been using it much during quarantine, but definitely a must on a normal day to day basis.

Step 2: Tula Cult Classic Purifying Face Cleanser

This is still the same cleanser I used in my nighttime routine 2 years ago. I absolutely LOVE this product! I honestly don't know if I will EVER change to anything else. It would have to make some big promises. 

Step 3: Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask

This is one of those "sometimes" steps. I use this mask once a week usually. Every once in a while I will use it twice. This is usually if I have a breakout or an event coming up! This is one of my favorite masks and the only one I use consistently. I usually see my skin clear in a day or two of using it. It's also super reasonably priced! 

Step 4: Origins Super Spot Remover Blemish Treatment

I obviously only use this step when needed. This gel is such a lifesaver. I just dab it on any blemishes I may have and will usually see a reaction the next day. This paired with the above mask will have your skin clear in no time! 

Step 5: Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado

If you need hydration in the eye area this is for you. 

I mentioned in my morning skincare post that I am in the market for an eye cream/treatment. I am on the hunt for a new one. (I think I know what I am going to try.) Once I have one that fights wrinkles for nighttime I will switch this to my morning routine.

Step 6: Kiehl's Powerful Strength Line-Reducing Concentrate

I feel like this is the big shot in my nighttime routine. It's another product with vitamin C but it also has hyaluranic  acid in it. I used to use two different "serums", but switched solely to this one about a year ago. 

Step 7: Tula Hydrating Day and Night Cream

This moisturizer is great. It's super light weight but stills feels extremely hydrating. (This is what I also said I love about my morning moisturizer. I might have said the exact same thing about my Supergoop moisturizer. Can you tell I don't like heavy products?)

I used to use this day and night like the product advertised, but it does contain a small amount of retinol which made me switch to only nighttime. Plus I needed SPF.

Step 8: Herbivore Phoenix Cell Regenerating Facial Oil

Final step in my nighttime routine. I think I started using facial oil a little over a year ago. 

I had heard rave reviews on this one so I decided to spend the money and get a bottle. If my concentrate from Kiehl's is the big shot in my routine this is his little brother that is just as good! 

I have definitely noticed a huge difference since adding this to my lineup. It makes my skin glow and I don't even know what else. Just look better! hah. This is a product I would spend the money on again and again!

So now you know my whole skin routine. There's a few other products here and there, but these are my staples. I might be giving y'all an update on this very soon as I have my eye on a bunch of new skin care items. 

Do you have any holy grail products I should try? I always love hearing new skincare products/brands/etc. I used to love buying new makeup, but I swear as I get older I get more excited about skin care. Give me a new serum over new lipsticks any day now! 

Skincare Routine: P.M.

Back in June I shared my A.M. skincare routine with y’all and promised my p.m. routine would follow in a couple of days. Well fast forward a few months and I am finally getting around to sharing my p.m. skincare routine. There are still some few products I want to add, but this is what I currently do every night. (Except the occasional Saturday, I always try to do this no matter how many drinks I’ve had or how dreamy my bed sounds.)

Step 1. Clinique CleansingBalm

Have y’all heard of double cleansing? If not it’s basically when you use a product to take off all your makeup/dirt & grim from the day before you actually wash your face! That’s where this product comes in. It starts off as a solid and quickly melts into oil and removes all your makeup. I love this stuff! I can definitely tell a difference when I don’t use it.

Step 2. Purity FacialCleanser

After I use my cleansing balm, and wash that off, I use Purity facial wash. The reason I use this over Tula at night is that I really feel this gets any last traces of makeup off. Most people don’t mix cleansers, but this seems to work for me. If you wanted to pick between one of my cleansers I would definitely say Tula. However, I like using both for different reasons.

Step 3. Kiehls Avocado EyeCream

This stuff is awesome! I had heard/read a ton of rave reviews and thought I would give this a try. I’ve really noticed a difference in my under eye area since using this. You can almost feel it turn from a cream to a liquid as you tap it on your skin. (You could use this product for day and night if you wanted.)

Step 4. Serum

I have two “serums” pictured here because I like them both, and I have yet to commit to one. They are both very different, and I like them both A LOT! I’m almost out and need to commit to one, but I'm not sure which one so I’ll tell you what I like about both of them.

A.   Origins PlantscriptionAnt-Aging Power Serum

This does exactly what it says it does. I feel like the anti-aging part of this really works. I have noticed a big difference in my forehead since using this. I also like that it’s a true serum so it feels lite on your skin.

B.   Kiehl’s Powerful StrengthLine Reducing Concentrate 12.5% vitamin C

This stuff is also V true to its name, and helps reduce lines. I feel like I see almost an immediate reduction in lines on my forehead when I use this. It’s different than a serum and feels almost like a cream. It also has a lot of vitamin C in it and I use vitamin C in my morning routine.

I really have no idea which of these I will choose, but I need to decide.

Step 4. Tula Hydrating Day& Night Cream

I definitely love Tula products. This was the first moisturizer I could use with a serum on a regular basis and my skin would not break out or get really oily. This is definitely my Holy Grail moisturizer!

Optional in-between Step 2 & 3 Origins Super Spot Remover Blemish Treatment Gel

I say optional because you might not have a breakout every night. If you do though, this stuff is AHMAZING! It will literally get rid of your zit in 2-3 days. I put a tiny dab on my zit and continue on with the rest of my routine. I usually notice a difference the next day, and by day 2 it’s barely noticeable!

What is your nighttime routine? Do you use any of these products? I’d love to hear about it in the comments. I’m always looking for new products!

  

Beauty Review: Mascara

If I could only use one makeup product for the rest of my life, it would probably be mascara. (Or lipstick. I love lipstick.) I have very blonde eyelashes so I never feel like a real person until I have mascara on. I have been trying a bunch of new ones lately so; I thought I would do a review of the 5 I’ve been using lately. I always use black, although brown would probably look a little more natural on me but oh well.

1. Marc Jacobs Velvet Noir Major Volume Mascara

I LOVE this stuff. The name says it all. My lashes look so full and thick when I use this mascara. I use it pretty much every day, and I will add an extra coat when I’m going out on the town. This can leave your lashes a little clumpy if you’re not careful; but, again sometimes I like that look. I will definitely be buying the full size when my sample runs out!

2. Clinique High Impact Mascara

If you’ve been following me for a while and have read some of my other beauty posts you know this is my go to mascara. I buy time and time again. I’ve literally been using this stuff since high school. It gives a great amount of volume, while not being too much and helps lengthen and separate. It’s also hypoallergenic so if you have any type of allergy this is the mascara I would recommend. It’s also a great price at $18. 

3. Bobbi Brown Smokey Eye Mascara

This is great for a subtle everyday look. I definitely have to use a couple layers, because I do like my lashes to be bold. It does help really separate my lashes, which I like while giving them a little boost of volume. If you have thick dark lashes you could use a swipe of this and be good to go.

4. Too Faced Better than SexMascara

I have wanted to try this mascara for a long time and just never picked it up. I finally got a sample in my Play! Box a few months back and I am obsessed. It gives me so much volume and really separates my lashes. Sometimes I feel like volumizing mascara can leave your lashes kind of clumpy looking. (Sometimes I like that if it’s the look I’m going for.) I would have to say this is probably number one for me out of all the ones here.

5.  It Cosmetics Super HeroMascara

I tried this one for a few months, and loved it so much I bought the full size. This one is great for adding length. I sweat when I use it my lashes touch my brow bone. My only complaint is lately I’ve noticed it’s been clumping on the brush. I usually just wipe it off however, it seems like a waste.

If I had to rank them in order it would be as follows:

1.    Clinique (because this is the one thing I’ve consistently stuck with. You will always find at least one tube in my makeup bag.)

2.    Marc Jacobs & Better than Sex

3.    It Cosmetics

4.    Bobbi Brown

What are your favorite mascaras? I would love to hear if you use any of these, or if you like something not on this list. I’m always open to trying new mascaras. (I just bought Lash Paradise to see how it compares to Better than Sex.)

Come back next week to see how I get all this mascara off. I’ll be reviewing 5 makeup removers I’m currently using! I hope everyone has a wonderful Tuesday and thanks for stopping by!

Recent Beauty Buys

Cheers to the fact that it’s almost the weekend! Is anyone else so ready for the weekend? 

Today I wanted to talk about some of my recent makeup purchases. I like to do this from time to time. This lets you know what I loved and didn’t love so much.  As well as what worked and didn’t work for me.  

Let’s start with the skin care products; specifically my new Holy Grail product… Clinique take the dayoff cleansing balm. If you watched my insta story a couple weeks ago, this was featured on there. It starts as a balm but, as you rub it in, it turns into oil, almost. If you have ever taken your eye makeup off with Vaseline (#DancerProblems), this is just like that but, for your whole face. I use this first to take everything off then wash my face with Tula. (This is the video I watched to convince myself to purchase.) 

Next in the skincare department are the Purity face wipes. These are also a makeup removing product that I recently added to my arsenal. I had wanted to try these since I use the face wash, but just hadn’t pulled the trigger on them. When they were part of the Ulta sale I decided why not. I like having make-up wipes in my night stand. But honestly, I think the drug store version works just fine. I wouldn’t re-purchase for full price. 

Next up I want to talk about this brow kit.  

The main reason I bought this was for the Ka-Brow. The Ka-brow is like $24 I think, and this kit is $36. It’s totally worth it. Anyway, Ka-brow has changed my life. Not just my brows but also my actual life. Okay maybe I’m being dramatic, but if you are like me and have very light eyebrows, I can’t recommend this enough. I use a powder to fill my brows a little and then go over it with this product. (Every time I face time my best friend he’s always like “dang girl what happened to your eyebrows?!? They are looking fierce!” Haha) 

The other make-up product in this post is NYX butter gloss in Praline. I’m usually not a gloss person but, have been using them more and more lately. I actually bought this one because my friend had it and I loved it on her. I really like the formula, and for the price you can’t beat it. Also for all you Southern Charm fans, I always see these on Cameron’s Instagram. That’s a win in my book because I want to be besties with her. 

Lastly let’s talk about the hair products in this post.  

I love living proof products because all the ones I have tried work really well, and they smell AMAZING! This hair spray is no exception. I got it as a sample in my Sephora Play box and will definitely be purchasing once I run out. It has a sticky, full hold texture but it doesn’t leave your hair crunchy. It also smells so freaking good. Honestly if it didn’t work that well I would probably repurchase just for the smell.  

And finally we have the wet brush. I kept putting off purchasing this and I have no idea why. If you have long hair that tangles easily when wet you seriously need this in your life. I would never comb my hair after the shower because it was so tangled and so much came out. Ever since I got the wet brush I use it every time I wash my hair. It takes 2 seconds to brush and doesn’t pull all my hair out. It also helps my hair dry better when I let it air dry. Best $8 I ever spent!   

Cleansing Balm: Clinique | Makeup Removing Wipes: Purity | Brow Kit: Benefit (I got the medium one) | Lip Gloss: NYX Butter Gloss | Hair Spray: Living Proof | Wet Brush: Wet Brush

I hope y’all find these posts helpful. I know they can be super lengthy but I want to give you as much information before you purchase or decide not to purchase a product.  

Let me know if you would like to see more of these in the future. 

Thanks for stopping by and I hope everyone has a fabulous weekend!