Skin Care

5 Botanically Based Bodacious Skin Care Products Worth Trying at Space NK

August 2nd, 2017 by Karen 8 Comments

sunday riley kat burki malin goetz — Plant-powered skin care!

There’s a bounty of botanical-based skin care products at Space NK meow, and here are five of my favorites at the moment.

1. Sunday Riley C.E.O. C + E antiOxidant Protect + Repair Moisturizer ($65)

This rich, mega-moisturizing anti-aging moisturizer has an oil-soluble version of vitamin C called tetrahexydecyl ascorbate (or THD ascorbate) that some researchers believe can penetrate skin better than old-fashioned vitamin C.

Vitamin C is notoriously fickle/unstable, but tetrahexydecyl ascorbate is stable and less irritating than other forms of vitamin C, making it suitable for peeps with sensitive skin, too.

sunday riley ceo moisturizer — Hurry, get the C.E.O.!

I just started using this, and my skin, which has been drier than usual, laps it up. Along with THD ascorbate, it contains an exfoliating botanical extract called lime seed pearl, commonly known as “finger lime.” It’s a plant, native to Australia, and it contain hundreds of tiny capsules of lime juice. They look like caviar.

2. Sunday Riley C.E.O. C + E Micro-Dissolve Cleansing Oil ($38)

This cleansing oil also has lime pearl, as well as THD ascorbate, white willow bark, turmeric and evening primrose. It makes quick work of my foundation, concealer, lipstick and blush, but it makes me tear up when it touches my water lines, so I have to grab something else to remove my eyeshadow, mascara and liner.

sunday riley ceo cleansing oil — White willow bark contains salicin, which is the precursor to aspirin.

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Grab the Best of the Best From Space NK at the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale

July 26th, 2017 by Karen 7 Comments

best of space nk exclusive edit — The Best of Space NK Set, a.k.a. “The Out-of-This-World Bestsellers,” a sweet six-piece set of Space NK bestselling products available now during the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale through August 6th.

Did someone say “sale?”

I’m there!

It’s moments like this when I realize that I am truly my mother’s daughter. 🙂

It’s that time of year again. The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale (I LOVE THE DANCING ON THEIR WEBSITE) is happening right now. You can score fab fall clothing, shoes, accessories and beauty products, including some exclusive sets, at steep discounts.

This one, which is kind of weird in that it contains six Space NK bestsellers, but it’s exclusively available at Nordstrom (kind of like how some JCPenney stores have a Sephora inside them), is on sale for $159 (a $237 value). And it comes with a chic bag!

After August 6th, all of the sale prices at Nordy’s go back up again, so it’s a good time to stock up on things you know you’ll use (I bought a sh*t-ton of these Caslon tees and a couple of Zella High Waisted Leggings!). It’s also a good chance to grab a beauty set or two, because some brands will bundle items together and slash the price, like the Best of Space NK Set. It’s exclusive to the Anniversary Sale and comes with six items (seven including the bag), five which are full-size.

The only thing that isn’t full-size is the bottle of Sunday Riley Good Genes All-in-One Lactic Acid Treatment, which is more of a deluxe sample-size. It’s about half the size of the regular bottle (which costs $105 all by itself), so it’s not that small.

best of space nk exclusvie edit 2 — Everything except the Sunday Riley Good Genes is full-size.

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Boots No. 7 Beautiful Skin Quick Thinking Wipes

July 26th, 2017 by Karen 7 Comments

boots beautiful quick thinking wipes — These are fab!

? These Boots were made for walking…right into your makeup bag! ?

I found the best makeup wipes! — and better still, they’re totes affordable and available right down the street at the drugstore. They’re the Boots No. 7 Beautiful Skin Quick Thinking Wipes for All Skin Types, and I randomly picked up a pack one day on a whim at Target because I ran out of the Pixi wipes I’ve been using since last month.

I also wanted to try something new (story of every beauty junkie’s life, am I right?). As luck would have it, they’re amaze-balls! They’re quite possibly the best makeup wipes I’ve ever used.

First, the important stuff: they’re fragrance-free and remove everything, even long-wearing and waterproof stuff. They also do it in the blink of an eye and don’t leave a greasy film behind (like so many heavy-duty wipes do, like the ones from MAC, which had been my makeup wipe standard bearer for years).

The thing I love most about these is that I don’t have to tug or rub at my skin at all. It’s all about light swipes, and that removes all of my makeup. I’m talking ALL OF IT. I’ve even used these on my water lines in a pinch and didn’t experience any irritation.

OK, so, you know how most wipes feel almost dry? They’re just slightly wet? They feel like they don’t have a lot of makeup remover in them? Well, Boots isn’t chintzy like that because these feel wet.

I was gonna type “moist,” but then I remembered how much I hate that word… Moist, moist, moist. The more you say it, the weirder it sounds. Blech!

Anyway, I never expected to ever get this excited about makeup wipes, but I’ve tried my share, and these are straight-up exceptional. They’re also a pretty good price, but you gotta get them in a two-pack to get the best value. Both Ulta and Target charge $10.99 for a two-pack of 30 wipes each (60 wipes total), which works out to 18 cents per wipe.

Not bad, right? If you get them in a single pack of 30 wipes for $6.99, you pay a little more.

For comparison, my previous holy grail wipes from MAC, which I used to buy in bulk (and which are still great, but I think the Boots ones are better at removing waterproof mascara), are 29 cents per wipe.

Who gets excited about affordable makeup wipes? THIS GIRL RIGHT HURR. 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Shower Tales, and Current Caudalie Body Favorites

July 26th, 2017 by Karen 29 Comments

caudalie body products — Some of the best body products from Caudalie

For the longest time — for MONTHS after Connor was born — and this may or may not sound weird, but whenever I’d take a shower, I’d cry.

Like, bawl my eyes out. My hormones were redonk for months after Connor’s debut. Also, every time I touched or glanced down at my emergency c-section scar, I broke down. I would start thinking about that night and the nurses and the fear and the doctors coming into the room to quietly discuss serious options… It was too much.

Most of the time, I was able to focus on the fact that Connor was born healthy, and that would calm me down, but standing there under the water when you’re looking at your naked body with nothing between you and a huge scar, and wishing that things had turned out differently… I felt let down by my body. It’s hard to explain. Anyway, I couldn’t even talk about it for a really long time.

Like they say, though, time heals all wounds. I’m no longer crying in the shower anymore, yay! It’s back to being the fun, safe, happy place it used to be. 🙂

Now, let’s talk about some bad-@ss body products from Caudalie.

caudalie vine body butter — If I could dive right into a gigantic bucket of Caudalie Vine Body Butter, I totally would.

Caudalie is a French skin care line (available at Sephora) known for adding antioxidants from the grapes in their vineyards in France. They make some of the best moisturizers and body products out there, like my old-school faves, their Vine Body Butter ($34) and Hand and Nail Cream ($15). Both are righteously rich and thick — so rich that you can pretty much kiss those scales on your shins buh-bye.

When you step out of the shower after a day at the pool and your dry skin desperately needs moisture, or if you just need some heavy-duty hydration, they’re great.

caudalie hand and nail cream — Moisturizing mania continues…

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Donna Karan Cashmere Mist Deodorant Is the Beyoncé of Antiperspirants

July 13th, 2017 by Karen 11 Comments

Is it weird to get excited about deodorant?

Wait — never mind. Ya know what? I don’t even care, because Donna Karan Cashmere Mist Deodorant is the Beyoncé of underarm products. A superstar among all the #basicb*tch options for your ‘pits.

It has notes of jasmine, orchid, lily and sandalwood, and I think it smells amazing. It’s like Donna Karan’s original Cashmere Mist fragrance but richer and deeper, and it can even pass for a unisex scent. I’ve read several great reviews from dudes who also wear it.

Even though it’s definitely a “present” scent, I don’t think it negatively interferes with perfumes when I wear them. Doesn’t seem to matter which fragrance families, either. I think it meshes with fruity florals, white florals, spicy scents, masculine fragrances… It doesn’t get in the way.

Funny thing is, though, as I get sweatier and sweatier… I mean, when I’m doing something active, not in general…

What I’m trying to say is that I think it smells better and better the more I perspire. Several times in HIIT class, people have tapped me on the shoulder after I’ve been sweating for 60 minutes like a mofo to ask, “What is that you’re wearing? You smell so good!” and I’m like, “Guess what, fools! It’s my deodorant, haha!”

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The Summer of Skin Care! Caudalie Vinoperfect Essence and Vinoperfect Serum

July 5th, 2017 by Karen 14 Comments

caudalie vinoperfect essence serum — The Summer o’ Skin Care continues…

Back when I was breaking “out on the regular,” Caudalie’s face lotion was one of a handful of products that got me through life. I’m a fiery fan of this French brand, especially their moisturizers. I’ve gone through more bottles of their face moisturizers, body moisturizers and their hand and nail cream over the years than I can count.

I know the brand, and I know their products work for me, so I couldn’t wait to pat-pat-pat and try their new Vinoperfect Concentrated Brightening Essence ($42).

First things first, it is NOT a toner. Let’s get that straight. It’s closer to a super watery glycolic serum, and girl, you know I’ve been all about those glycolics lately.

I just wish it listed the percentage of glycolic acid it contains on the ingredient list, because that would make The Summer of Skin Care sooo much easier.

Remember last week how I mentioned that I’ve been incorporating glycolic products of various strengths into my regimen — one mild, one medium and one strong? So I wish I knew which category to file Vinoperfect Brightening Essence under.

Based on how my skin feels after using it — which I know is completely not scientific AT ALL — I’m guessing that it’s on the very mild end of the glycolic spectrum. After I apply it (following the directions, I put a few big drops in my palm, which I then pat on my face and neck after washing my face), I get less of a tingly kick than I get from Pixi Glow Mud Cleanser, which is a 5% glycolic acid product. My skin just feels like it’s going, “Ah…” and it looks pleasantly plump and hydrated.

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The Summer of Skin Care! Glycolic Acid Goodness With Pixi Glow Mud Cleanser, Glow Tonic To-Go, and Overnight Glow Serum

June 30th, 2017 by Karen 24 Comments

In the many late-night hours I’ve spent ~~watching kitten videos~~ reading about skin care on my phone, a topic that has repeatedly come up over and over again is glycolic acid.

Actually, acids in general. In the skin care world, they’re a big deal, especially when it comes to anti-aging products.

There’s a ton of info available about them online, but this is basically what I’ve gathered: skin goes through a cycle of shedding and renewal, where it sheds old cells and generates new ones, and, as we get older, the cycle slows down. But glycolics kick the cycle into higher gear again, which improves skin tone and mellows out pigmentation, among other things.

In a nutshell, glycolics are today’s anti-aging all-stars, and if I’ve learned anything from skin care goddess Caroline Hirons (a.k.a. my BFF in my mind), it’s that you gotta get an acid up in the mix if you want to get “serious” about anti-aging.

A couple of the skin care peeps I follow, Caroline and Stephanie Nicole, recommend a potent glycolic acid toner called Biologique Recherche P50 1970 Toner, which I want to try eventually, but it’s supposed to be super strong, so I started with a few over-the-counter products first from Pixi.

You know Pixi. They’re a cruelty-free, paraben-free line available at Target, and all of their stuff comes in the cutest green bottles. I love how it all matches. 🙂

Anywho, they have a bunch of glycolic acid products and good-looking ingredient lists. The glycolic acids are usually listed up near the top along with the percentage included, which isn’t something that all brands do (and that’s frustrating!). Pixi also often adds soothing aloe vera (also up near the top of the ingredient list) to help offset the exfoliating power of glycolic acid.

Pixi Glow Tonic To-Go Exfoliating Toner Pads with 5% Glycolic ($18 for 60 pads)

Pixi soaked these travel-friendly pads with their famous Glow Toner, which I’ve used before and like. I think it makes a big difference in the texture and evenness of my skin. It makes it smoother.

I have these slightly darker spots, which I like to call my “freckles,” but let’s get real here. They’re more likely sun spots from sun damage. I also have larger patches on my cheeks that are slightly darker than my normal skin tone, but not as dark as those freckles (also likely from sun damage). Glow Tonic ever-so-slightly evens out the tone of those larger areas of uneven pigmentation.

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The Summer of Skin Care! Thoughts on Drunk Elephant C-Firma Day Serum, Shaba Complex Eye Serum, Lala Retro Whipped Cream and Umbra Tinte Physical Daily Defense

June 28th, 2017 by Karen 14 Comments

drunk elephant skincare review top — This particular elephant is not drunk

The summer of skin care is in full effect! — and I’m currently using and loving the heck out of products from Drunk Elephant.

You’ve probably heard about them already. They’ve been makin’ major waves lately, and it seems like everyone is talking about them (including me!).

For the record, this Drunk Elephant did not have too many Coronas. It’s a cruelty-free brand out of Texas, and I really like their no-nonsense, balanced approach to skin care.

Here’s some cool backstory on their website, but, basically, they see themselves as a “clean” skin care line, rather than a “natural” skin care line, and they incorporate both natural and synthetic ingredients, but the synthetic ingredients are things they believe are effective but aren’t going to disrupt the way your body is designed to work.

And their name, “Drunk Elephant,” comes from an ingredient they use in several of their products called marula oil. Legend has it that when elephants eat the fallen fruit of the marula tree…the fruit ferments in their tummies and gets them completely crunked!

Cheap drunks, those elephants.

drunk elephant k after 2 months — My bare skin

C-Firma Day Serum

The product that lured me into loving the line was their C-Firma Day Serum ($80), which contains 15% l-absorbic acid, ferulic acid and vitamin E.

I heard it was comparable to Skinceuticals CE Ferulic, which I used for years to mellow out my pigmention probs, but I stopped using it when I got pregnant with the Coywolf.

Dude…sh*t is crazy expensive. It works, but dropping $165 on a bottle of CE Ferulic got old real quick.

C-Firma costs half as much ($80), which, I mean, isn’t exactly budget…but it’s A LOT less expensive than Skinceuticals.

Anyway, I’m into it — so much so that I plan to snag a refill when I finish this bottle, whenever that happens…and I have no idea when it will happen because the bottle is opaque to prevent light from breaking down the Vitamin C.

But good luck figuring out how much is left in there, LOL!

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