June favorites

It’s now the 30th and I officially turn 31. I’m old and my new ID photo is atrocious. Bright side of this month is that I found some new routine staples. Gotta take the good with the bad, I guess.

As I’ve gotten older body care has become more important to me so my June favorites contains 2 body products. Why spend so much time on your face and hair and ignore the rest? Your body shows signs of aging and wear just as much as your face so taking care of it should be part of your daily routine though, of course, said routine doesn’t have to contain a million products like your face (if you’re me).

Luna Smooth Himalayan Salt Scrub ($14.99 for 8OZ) I only received this a couple weeks ago but I’m already in love with it. I know coffee body scrubs are the hip thing right now but I love a good sugar or salt scrub that isn’t messy AF. The Luna Smooth scrub contains bergamot which means your whole shower, and your skin, end up smelling amazing. The Himalayan salt isn’t coarse and does a good job of leaving my skin Smooth with no irritation after shaving.

Fur Oil ($28 for 14ML, $44 for 75ML) You can read my full review of this oil here but suffice it to say that it’s currently a staple of mine. I definitely see a difference (and not a good one) on the days I don’t use it.

Glossier Stretch Concealer ($18 for .17OZ) So, this concealer is emollient. For some people too emollient but I love it. Yes, I have an oilier than a pizza t-zone but my skin loves this. It sinks into my skin and ends up looking like…skin. It covers up redness and my dark circles and makes me look natural. The natural part is key because I get lazy during the summer so this, Milk’s blur stick and Glossier’s Wowder is all I’ll be using. And you know what? I look decent.

Aritaum Ginger Sugar lip mask ($9 for 25G) So the texture on this is something I think not many will like. It’s thicker than your average baseline and cat fluff sticks to it like no other. I put up with that because it’s the only thing I’ve found so far that keeps my lips moisturized all night. I don’t wake up with dry or slightly peely lips. I also don’t find myself scrabbling for a lip balm after my first cup of coffee which is unheard of for me. I haven’t tried the Laneige or Nooni lip masks yet but I also don’t think I’ll have to. The size of the Aritaum mask is so large that I’ll probably still be using it in my 50s.

From Molly With Love Pacific Beach sea salt spray ($17.99 for 4OZ) I received this a couple weeks ago as well but it’s already my favorite sea salt spray. Most make my hair super crunchy or dry but Pacific Beach doesn’t. The scent is pleasant and it gives me just the right amount of texture and separation on my air dryed hair. Plus they’re local! Pacific Beach is from the lovely Clean Routine Beauty monthly subscription box.

Clean Routine Beauty box sub

A review of Clean Routine Beauty June box! This beauty box focuses on clean and green beauty products. Each month you get 4 to 5 beauty samples (and sometimes a full size). They are also cruelty free if that’s your jam. A monthly sub is $29.99 and you have the option to go for a 3 month sub for a slightly cheaper price. Besides being clean and cruelty free, I really do love that they feature lesser known and up and coming brands!

Veyali is a local San Diego perfumer with the most gorgeous packaging ever. I’ve been eyeing her perfumes so I was happy to see two vials in the box. Oliya is my favorite but I’m partial to anything with jasmine in it. Normally Jasmine in perfumes like these turns dirty on me but not this one. The scent stays strong.

From Molly With Love is another San Diego brand! The Pacific Beach sea salt spray is full size and retails for $17.99. This smells AMAZING! The rosemary pulls through a lot but it’s not overpowering. I also like the mist; it’s super fine and doesn’t drench my hair like most salt sprays. It gives my dry hair some nice texture and separation without making it dry and crunchy which other salt sprays always seem to do. Plus it doesn’t totally mattify my hair.

A mini Makana Fragrance candle was included as well. The scent is super potent, in a good way. I received pineapple cardamom and the scent is so…happy. When burned it smells exactly the same and leaves a full room smelling gorgeous. I just wish that I could use candles more often but my kitten likes to purposely set himself on fire because he’s smitten by flames.

Space Masks is right up my alley. I hate full face masks and these ones are for your eyes only (get it?) They’re self heating and helps to destress you with both the heat and essence of Jasmine. I used it the other night and it was amazing. Allowed me to decompress after a long stressful work day. Definitely grabbing one (or two) for my boyfriend!

Overall I feel like if you want a green beauty box that features smaller companies Clean Routine is for you. I’m really pleased with the assortment I got in this box! I can’t wait to see where this sub ends up leading because it has a lot of potential.

If you’d like to give this sub a shot use code JESS20 to get 20% off! No kickbacks, just a great code from a great company!

www.cleanroutinebeauty.com

May Favorites

It’s already June which means it’s my birthday month! I discovered quite a few new things in May and it was hard as fuck to narrow them down into a manageable favorites post. Some will probably make an appearance next month!

28Litsea wild citrus body oil ($22 for 1.69OZ) I’m normally not a body oil fan. I hate feeling sticky and I’m pretty oily on my own. This is the first one I’ve really fallen in love with. It’s a dry oil so it sinks in quickly but keeps my skin moisturized. No irritation after shaving and the orange scent is nice and light.

28Litsea melted balm ($12 for .17OZ) This is single handedly saved my nightmare inducing nose after my major sinus infection. It’s all I used while it healed and it worked amazingly well. It can be used as lip balm, lip primer, a salve for dry skin. It’s the best.

Kiehl’s cactus flower & Tibetian gingseng mist ($27 for 4.2OZ or $17 for 2.5OZ) This is hands down the most moisturizing mist I’ve ever used. I even used it solo one morning and my face didn’t turn into Death Valley. It does smell medicinal upon spray but that dissipates fairly quickly and you’re left with plump skin. I use it both AM and PM and I think it’ll be turning into a “holy grail” for me.

Salty Girl multistick in Lindsey ($22) Okay, I’m not really a blush girl but I’ve been really interested in cream cheek products for some odd reason. The Salty Girl multistick gives me a gorgeous flush with just a hint of shimmer. Staying power is also fantastic and it doesn’t feel heavy or like I’m wearing anything.

Milk Kush mascara ($24) This can be a pretty polarizing mascara but I’ve been really enjoying it. It’s a natural look so if you want bold dramatic lashes I’d look elsewhere. It’s wetter than I’d normally like in a mascara but the hold is great when I curl and there’s no flakes or smudging even on my oily skin. Plus the aluminum tube is super luxe. So luxe that it could double as a weapon. If you don’t want to drop the $24 they now make a mini for $14!

Joanna Vargas daily serum ($85 for 1OZ) You can read my full review of this in this post from last week but I’ll just say that my wallet will cry when I run out. I normally don’t spend this much on a product but I’m seriously considering repurchasing it. Here’s hoping I win the lotto! P.S. save 20% with code JESSICA20 if you wanna give it a shot.

Fur Oil review

I’m 30, about to turn 31, and talk of grooming your pubic region has really only ever focused on shaving, waxing and trimming. Nothing about taking care of your skin or hair down there so I was excited to learn about a company that promotes that.

Fur is a company that doesn’t care about your gender, it is all inclusive. It was founded by women who believe in natural care for everywhere on the body for everyone. Fantastic! You can be a shaver, a waxer, an au natural person; their products can be used by anyone.

I recently got sent their signature product to test out, their Fur Oil ($28 for 14ML, $44 for 75ML). The oil claims to prevent ingrowns and soften pubic (or beard!) hair. Fur oil contains an essential oil blend that includes grape seed oil, jojoba oil, clary sage seed oil and tea tree oil. There is also lemon peel oil, peppermint oil and lavender oil so if you’re a bit sensitive to those patch test.

I’ve been using the Fur oil for about two weeks now. Both post-shave and just after a shower. Post-shave I get no irritation what so ever. I normally get some small pinprick red bumps and stinging from lotion but none from the Fur oil. My skin feels moisturized but not greasy, the Fur oil sinks in quickly. My pubic hair does feel a bit softer. Still thick (obviously), but I do see a difference in softness and manageability. I can’t say anything about the ingrown claim because those are few and far between for me but I do feel like the tea tree oil and clary sage seed oil will definitely work for that issue. I can also see the Fur oil working well as a beard oil (especially after a shave) so if your man has a coarse beard, check it out.

Overall I’m really happy with the Fur oil and will definitely be checking out other products by them. It’s become a post-shower staple for me. I also love that they’re focusing on areas of the body that have, unfortunately, become taboo when they shouldn’t have.

Joanna Vargas daily serum

It’s been a hot minute since I’ve done a blog post! The last few weeks I’ve been dealing with the worst sinus infection I’ve ever dealt with or seen. Now that I’m off of antibiotics it’s time to pick up where I left off!

I’ve been using Joanna Vargas’ daily serum ($85 for 1OZ) in the AM for the past few weeks. The serum claims to clarify and restore skin’s balance and resilience. The key ingredients in the serum include galactoarabian (boosts cell turn over), hyaluronic acid (moisture powerhouse), chlorophyllin-copper (protects against sun damage), avena sativa (potassium, magnesium & zinc) and vitamin F. The rest of the ingredients list is short and sweet which left me pleasantly surprised. Most higher end brands tend to stick unneeded ingredients or perfume into their skincare and I really love that Joanna Vargas stuck to the minimum.

The scent reminds me of toasted marshmallow jelly beans. The serum is green tinted but goes on clear and sinks in quickly.

I will admit that the first few days all I could think was, “This is $85?” It felt nice going on but that was it. After the first week I definitely saw a difference in my skin. My skin showed less redness and dry spots throughout the day. There was a “glow”, for lack of a better term, to my skin and while you could still see my pores I do feel like the look of them was diminished. I also think this combined with LJH’s Cica serum have been making a persistent cyst disappear (this was a leftover from a really bad cystic pimple from well over a year ago).

I’m sold on this serum. I can definitely see a difference in my skin the days I don’t use it. I look slightly dull and my dry spots reappear. The price tag is the one big draw back of this serum. My wallet is already crying because, jesus, $85 for 1 ounce! I feel like if you can afford a serum at this price the Joanna Vargas daily serum is worth a shot. If you can’t, birthday or Christmas wishlist maybe?

If you’d like to give the daily serum (or any other product) a shot use code “JESSICA20” for 20% off! I don’t get a kick back, it’s just something amazing that Joanna Vargas wanted to extend to my readers.

April Favorites

I can’t believe that it’s already May. I guess time really does go by quickly when you’re old.

I’ve tried quite a few new things this month but the following are the ones that really stuck out to me. The YSLs aren’t new to me but the shades I purchased are what made them end up on my list. I also had quite a few misses but I won’t go into those because the list is heftier than this short and sweet one.

Bliss What A Melon overnight mask ($16 for 1.7OZ) Please note that this mask is only $12.99 at Target unlike the $16 at both Bliss and Ulta. I feel like this mask does a decent job of brightening up my skin and dealing with pesky dry spots. I wouldn’t be able to tell you how well it compares to Glow Recipe’s but I’m happy with the Bliss version. It isn’t that moisturizing on it’s own but I definitely do see a brightening effect the morning after using it. I use it 2 to 3 times a week with an oil on top to lock things in.

Bliss Make-Up Melt cleanser ($12 for 16.4OZ) This is definitely a dupe for Glossier’s Milky Jelly cleanser. It’s so close that I won’t try Glossier’s again because the Bliss is so much more reasonably priced. It’s a great AM cleanser, gentle and doesn’t strip my skin. It also works great as the first step in my double cleanse routine. I’m lazy as fuck so being able to massage this in dry before wetting my face is a huge plus.

YSL Tatouage Couture liquid lipsticks ($36) Now, I’m still on the fence about these being my favorite liquid lipstick formula. They’re comfortable and gorgeous but the Armani Lip Magnets (really just the reds) hold a special place in my heart. I will admit that the colors on my favorites list are absolutely stunning and fairly unique. Black Red Code pulls a dark blackish rust red on me while Violet Conviction is a gorgeous reddish berry. I also love the applicator and it may have the Lip Magnets beat. I hate normal doe foots and the ones on the YSLs allow me to get crisp lines and fill in color without over doing it.

Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery concentrate ($47 for 1OZ) Okay, I’m gonna admit that I may or may not have picked up 2 deluxe sample sizes of this so I can wait until next paycheck to pick up a full size. This stuff has been magic on my skin. I wake up with a glow and redness disappears. I also feel like my fine lines have calmed down a lot more but I have only been using it for a few weeks and time will tell.

Marin Bee Detox masque ($48 for 2OZ) Okay, if you haven’t read my review of this, read it. This is a power packed version of Farmacy’s Honey Potion and I am so glad to have received this. I have never seen such results with a mask before. Reduced swelling and redness on monthly zits in no time fast. It’s a clay mask but packed full of moisture. Plus it helps the bees. Who doesn’t want to help the bees

Marin Bee

I was recently sent some Marin Bee products to try out and couldn’t wait to put them to work over the past week. I received both the Detox Masque and the Lip Repair.

Marin Bee is a small company based out of Northern California. Their products focus on using organic and natural ingredients. All the products contain California wildflower honey. The owners of the company also founded Planet Bee Foundation which helps to educate children about honey bees. A part of the proceeds from all sales goes to the Planet Bee Foundation which I love because the honey bees need help!

The Detox Masque ($48 for 2OZ) contains a powerhouse of excellent ingredients. Honey, kaolin, pumpkin enzyme, aloe and so on. I was dealing with monthly breakouts so I used this mask a couple days in a row. It’s super thick and 2 pea sized drops were enough to cover my whole face. The mask is slightly warming upon application and not drying at all even though there is kaolin in it. I saw some reduction in redness and swelling in my pimples the first night, even more the second and they were completely gone on the third. I didn’t expect such good results from a mask so I was shocked that it actually calmed down some fairly painful zits. I will admit that the mask is fairly pricey ($48?!?) but Farmacy’s Honey Potion mask is $38 for 1.7OZ and all that mask does is make me feel fancy and I’d probably get the same results by slathering my face in honey I bought at the grocery store. If you’re looking for a honey mask that you will actually see results with I suggest taking a look at Marin Bee’s. I think Marin Bee’s option is great for both dry and oily skin and is perfect for those that deal with acne or want to see a reduction in redness from leftover spots.

The second product I received was their Lip Repair ($26 for .32OZ). This product ended up just being okay for me. It was moisturizing and pleasant to use but I didn’t see any miracle results. Normally I’d say this would be a repurchase because I do like a moisturizing lip balm but the $26 price tag is pretty hefty. It does have a nice sheen and slight rosy hue but I think I will stick to Farmacy’s $10 lip butter option because it feels better on my wallet.

Overall, a hit and a sorta miss! Once I run out of the Detox Masque I will seriously consider purchasing my own tube. I haven’t seen results like that on breakouts in a long time. The Lip Repair is a pass for me. I will use it up but stick to cheaper options. I do like the company and hope they will be successful.

Billie razor subscription

I used to subscribe to Dollar Shave Club up until I got tired of having to skip all the time and the nicks and cuts I would get from their razors. A razor sub is a good idea but I really wanted one geared towards women. I found that last week with Billie.

Billie is a razor subscription geared solely towards women. The razors are sleek, packaging is on point and I like the delivery options. You get a choice of 4 different razor colors and I ended up with the blush pink (or millennial pink as i call it) since coral was out of stock. Your first delivery contains the razor, 2 razor blades (5 blades enclosed in aloe soap for a smoother shave), a magnetic razor holder and adorable packaging. plus it’s only $9 each delivery. I was sold mainly because I’m a sucker for good packaging but also because it’s an affordable razor. They also carry shaving cream and body lotion that you can tack onto your order. Can I also mention that it’s free shipping?

The first time I used my Billie razor I went sans shaving cream to test out the aloe soap that encloses the razor blades. I felt no drag on my armpits or forearms (yes, I shave my arms  because I have tattoos…) and the shave was extremely smooth. My legs, on the other hand, had a bit of drag and it wasn’t as comfortable as a shave as I’d like but then again, I have fairly sensitive and bump-prone legs. Shaving my legs with added shaving cream definitely made my experience better. Also, that magnetic razor holder is amazing and I may have spent more than a few minutes playing with it.

Overall, I’m enjoying my Billie razor quite a bit! If you were thinking about trying DSH and are a lady, maybe give Billie a shot first. I like that it’s a woman geared business. I think next delivery I’m going to try out their body lotion (matte and still hydrating is perfect for San Diego springs and summers).

Bliss What A Melon overnight mask

Remember when Bliss used to be sold exclusively at Sephora? I do. And then I started to find more and more products at Marshall’s while Sephora had a constant sale on them. Recently they’ve rebranded and can now be found at Target and Ulta.

I recently picked up their What A Melon overnight mask because 1) I adore minimal packaging and 2) it seemed like it may be a dupe for Glow Recipe’s Watermelon Glow sleeping mask. I’ve been wanting to try the Glow Recipe but it’s $20 for an ounce and $45 for 2.7. Kinda steep. Bliss’ mask is much more reasonable at $12.99 (at Target) for 1.7 ounces.

Bliss claims that the overnight mask will bring stressed out skin “back to life” and will remove dead skin cells and toxins. I don’t know about the toxins part but the exfoliation reminds me of Glow Recipe’s so why not try it out?

I’ve been using it for the past week and a half. Directions say to use it two or three times a week and to use a thick layer. I decided to do two thin layers since my skin absorbs product better that way and kept the application at 3 times weekly. The smell is reminiscent of watermelon candy but not overly sickeningly sweet. It absorbs fairly quickly but will leave your skin feeling a bit tacky. If you have dehydrated or dry skin I wouldn’t recommend using just this at night. It left my skin feeling a bit tight (I have an oil slick of a t-zone and dry cheeks) until I topped it with an oil ~15 minutes after applying the mask.

I have seen a reduction in redness and my dry spots seem to have gone down quite a bit. I have also seen leftover redness from monthly acne heal quite a bit faster. I can’t say if it actually exfoliates or not (nothing in the ingredients list is jumping out at me) but so far I’ve been really enjoying this overnight mask since I have seen some decent results.

If you’ve been on the fence about Glow Recipe’s version and don’t have an aversion to added fragrance i would definitely give Bliss’ version a shot! It won’t break the bank and is fairly soothing.

When you want to look like you put effort into your hair

I’ve always been exasperated by my hair. I have a lot of it (thanks mom!) but it’s also fine, frizz prone and I have a couple cowlicks (thanks, dad!). I’ve gone through too many hair products to count trying to find the perfect combination. I’ll admit it was super frustrating. Nothing really wowed me and I felt like I was wasting money.

Thankfully this year I’ve found some of my holy grails. Products that give me that undone model off duty hair (“Oh, my hair? I just woke up like this”) with little to no effort. I will admit that when it’s rainy or Misty out my hair still decides to freak out but what can ya do?

The one standout product on this list is Ouai’s finishing creme. It separates, adds texture and shine, smells amazing and keeps my frizz down. It’s a miracle product and I hope they never discontinue it. It’s what all the texturizing products I’ve tried want to be in the typical minimal millennial packaging. HnP’s hair placenta has also helped to strengthen my hair. I spray it liberally after every shampoo and my hair just feels thicker and stronger. I recently had to repurchase a bottle and it’s only $6!

Products:
Kristin Ess Air Dry Creme
Kristin Ess Beach Wave Spray
Ouai Finishing creme
R&Co Death Valley dry shampoo
Paul Mitchell Awapuhi and Ginger styling treatment oil
HnP hair placenta leave-in conditioner