skincare routine

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18 April
Beauty
7

An Awesome Skincare Brand for Eye Treatments

Since growing our family I’ve also grown my eye bags and a few wrinkles.  Actually, I thought I had some major baggage and darkness pre-children, but my eye bags have taken on a whole new zip code.  Sometimes, the puffy little buggers seem to have a zip code other than my house!  Not cool.  Thankfully, there are some eye treatments I’ve been using that have helped migrate my bags back to their appropriate zip code.

And with the grown family came some new eye wrinkles. All the worrying and not sleeping…ugh! Thankfully I have VIIcode skincare products in my life to revive the skin around my eyes! Let me tell you about them read more

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What's in My Beauty Bag: Spring Skincare Edition
27 March
Beauty
6

What’s in My Beauty Bag: Spring Skincare Edition

I have soooo many goodies in my beauty bag this spring.  In this post, I’m sharing skincare products that are totally essential to my daily routine as I try to beat the winter skin blues!  Stay tuned for a makeup bag post in the near future.

Did you know Ulta is having their 21 Days of Beauty Sale?  They have daily beauty steals until April 7!

SHOP THE SALE

What's in My Beauty Bag: Spring Skincare Edition

Skincare

Face

I have been seeing skincare products with rose this and rose that everywhere, so I decided to grab this Garnier SkinActive Soothing Facial Mist with Rosewater when I ran out of my favorite mist.  I actually love it, and I think I will alternate between the two from now on.  It’s super soothing and seems to reduce any redness, and I love hydrating my skin with it right after cleansing.  Sometimes I use it as a toner at night.

What's in My Beauty Bag: Spring Skincare Edition

For daytime, I top my Garnier mist with  Neostrata Sheer Hydration SPF 35.  Although it provides light hydration, I have really enjoyed using it all winter.  My skin has seemed fully hydrated all day long, and I love knowing I’m not forgetting sun protection just because it’s winter!  Not familiar with NeoStrata?  Get some more details here.  It’s an up-and-coming brand!

Check out my fave skincare, haircare, and makeup products of 2017!

Every other night before bed, I have been using  Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair.  (If I use it every day, the Retinol dries out my skin.)  If you don’t know what Retinol is, it’s basically just Vitamin A, which is great for combatting wrinkles and acne.

lace front wigs

On the other nights, I have been using Saranghae Firm and Lift Regeneration Cream.  It’s a Korean anti-aging cream.  Find out more about it and Saranghae’s 5-step routine in my review!  Saranghae uses some very unique and effective ingredients found in the volcanic soil of South Korea!

What's in My Beauty Bag: Spring Skincare Edition

Eyes

As for my eyes, I have been caring for them with IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye Cream because it brightens and depuffs!  Totally need this and won’t stop using it.  #mommingainteasy

photography backdrops

At night, I love to apply a layer of Saranghae Focus Renewal Eye Cream, which is available in this bundle.  It, too, diminishes puffiness, but it is also very anti-aging, which is why I love to use it at night.  Your skin repairs itself the most when you sleep!  Read my review of Saranghae’s 5-Step Anti-Aging Routine.

Cleansers

I’ve been kind of on the Neutrogrena train as of late.  I need an exfoliating cleanser in spring, mostly because my skin is still dried out from the harsh winter.  This

Hydro Boost Exfoliating Cleanser read more

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MD Complete
13 February
Beauty
3

Look Like You Went to the Dermatologist with MD Complete

Give me all the skincare.  That’s my motto.  So when MD Complete wanted to partner with  me, I jumped on the opportunity!  Dr. Zelickson created MD Complete so that people can enjoy professional skincare without having to visit a dermatologist.  Today, I’m discussing my experience with MD Complete’s anti-aging line.

MD Complete
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Eye Wrinkle Corrector

I apply the Eye Wrinkle Corrector first out of the three products by patting a pea-sized amount around my eye area, concentrating on outer corners.  I began using it morning and night as soon as I received it.

Here are some key ingredients:

• Peptides- to target fine lines and wrinkles
• Vitamin C- improves radiance and skin tone
•Ceramides & Essential Fatty Acids- highly-concentrated to strengthen the skin barrier and stimulate collagen production
• Fruit Seed Extracts (Cranberry, Raspberry, Borago, Nigella Sativa)- support healthier looking skin. Vitamin E works with C to improve texture.  Vitamins A and B nourish and further reduce appearance of fine lines
• Hyaluronic Acid- plumps and firms skin

MD Complete

My thoughts

The texture is not greasy or too thick or thin and absorbs quickly into my skin.  I definitely feel that my eye area looks plumped up!  With more usage, I bet my skin will look even more radiant.  Here are some added bonuses:

• You can also use it on fine lines around your mouth!
• Excess product is good for your cuticles- a major plus for me in winter!

MD Complete

Retinol Vitamin C Concentrate

I massage in 2-4 drops of Retinol Vitamin C Concentrate before I apply the Wrinkle & Radiance Remedy.  It’s way more concentrated than your average serum and provides 5-10 times more retinol than drug or department store skincare.

Some key ingredients are:

• Pure Retinol (Vitamin A) and Vitamin C (Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate)- for radiance
• 

Vitamin E (Fruit Seed Extracts, Tocotrienols)- read more

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Splurge-worthy Intensive Eye Therapy - NeoStrata Skin Active Intensive
14 November
Beauty
9

Splurge-Worthy Intensive Eye Therapy

I have a little skin treat to share from a skincare brand I love!  Many of you read my review of NeoStrata Sheer Hydration SPF 35, which I still use every single morning.  NeoStrata also makes SKIN ACTIVE Intensive Eye Therapy.  I’m going to tell you a little bit about its unique formula, which contains patented ingredients that lift the eye area and promote an overall brighter appearance. Keep reading to find out if I think it’s splurge-worthy!

Splurge-worthy Intensive Eye Therapy - NeoStrata Skin Active Intensive

 

NeoStrata SKIN ACTIVE Intensive Eye Therapy: Key Ingredients

So what potentially makes NeoStrata SKIN ACTIVE Intensive Eye Therapy  Splurge-Worthy?

  • SynerG Formula–  multi-faceted approach to help build and plump the layers of the skin
  • Apple Stem Cell Extract– can help skin behave like younger skin by
  • Peptides– to target collagen
  • NeoGlucosamine®– helps reinforce collagen when working with peptides
  • Caffeine– Yes, please!
  • Hyaluronic Acid– It’s the fountain of youth with it’s natural moisture magnetism.
  • Vitamin E- yes to antioxidants!

    • read more

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    The Best 5 Step Korean Skincare Routine
    27 October
    Beauty
    18

    The Best 5 Step Anti-Aging Korean Skincare Routine

    I had never before tried any sort of Korean skincare routine.  And a cohesive 5 step skincare routine?  Not even close.  I always pieced various brands and products together.

    But trying a 5 step Korean skincare routine by Saranghae (It means I love you in Korean!) is a total game changer.  I’m giving you the rundown on the 5 skincare products in the Saranghae anti-aging routine.  I hope this Saranghae review will inspire you to savor your skincare regime and step it up to a 5 step routine!

    The Best 5 Step Korean Skincare RoutineThe Best 5 Step Korean Skincare RoutineThe Best 5 Step Korean Skincare Routine

    Background on Saranghae

    Saranghae really embraces the concept of love.  As I mentioned earlier, Saranghae means “I love you” in Korean!  So what’s with all the love?

    “Saranghae’s active ingredients are derived from rare and powerful Asian Botanicals that grow in nutrient rich volcanic soil on the island of Jeju, South Korea.”

    I mean, hello!  That information had me at hello.  What’s better than natural ingredients to repair and regenerate your skin?!  Saranghae uses only the best and most natural ingredients, mainly from botanical sources that grow in volcanic soil.

    Did you know?  Volcanic soil is so rich with minerals and nutrients that green tea leaves harvested from the soil carry 250% higher concentration of antioxidants than your standard green tea.  What?!  Now I won’t feel bad when I drink my Cabernet tonight… Many of my favorite wines come from grapes that grow in volcanic soil!  Bring on the antioxidants!

    All of this love is the reason Saranghae is the fastest growing Korean skincare brand in North America!

    The 5 Products

    The Best 5 Step Korean Skincare Routine

    Saraghae Nourishing + Moisturizing Cleanser

    This botanical-based cleanser effectively removes my foundation, concealer, and powder.  I’m not even left with any tan residue on my towel after I dry my face!  That’s a rare occurrence for me.  Plus, it even removes my (non-waterproof) mascara!  Never underestimate the cleansing power of botanicals!

    Because the cleanser is based with botanical oils, my skin feels so soft immediately after I dry my face.  It cleanses my skin but doesn’t strip it, leaving my face properly hydrated and nourished.

    Saranghae Deep Radiance Essence + Serum

    I never understood the importance of serum until recently, and I 100% regret not using one for so long.  I have come across some good ones, but the Saranghae Deep Radiance Essence + Serum goes above and beyond.

    The Best 5 Step Korean Skincare Routine

    My skin seems to immediately absorb the serum (and its antioxidants, amino acids, and vitamins), giving it the perfect platform for the next skincare step.  I also find comfort in the fact that the serum + essence is packed with tons of ingredients that help my skin regenerate, such as:

  • Phellinus Linteus Mushroom extract (a rare and unique ingredient that the founders of Saranghae carefully cultivate)
  • plant-based placenta
  • collagen
  • elastin
  • hyaluronic acid (also known as The Fountain of Youth)

    • read more

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