Tag: the better skin co.

Updated Skin Care Routine 2020

.Reading time 8 minutes.

Hey hey, it’s MJ,

            So last year I wrote a blog that talked about my skincare routine and a lot has changed since then and I mean a lot. I have been using different products and my current routine even with my recent add-ins has actually been really clear and my break outs are down so much. Usually that is my main concern and so that is the thing that I really monitor when I change anything in my skin care routine.

            There are no products that have carried over from my last routine from last year. That’s actually really crazy for me because I have had such a turnover of products and that means that I wasn’t a huge fan of them in the first place. I do also feel like my skin care routine is cyclical and so a lot of things change until I can find something that really works. As someone who used the same products for years and then branched out I guess I’m just trying to find that combination that really and truly works 

            My routines for morning and night are pretty much the same except for the lotion I use at night but other than that most everything is the same so let’s run through it. 

            Face Wash: I am currently using Tula Probiotic Skincare Purifying Face Cleanser and I actually really like it, it’s a rather thick cleanser but it does work and I really like it. Before that I was using the Paris Hilton Beauty face wash and that was actually pretty good too. I have been finding some pretty good facial cleansers after I finished off the Peter Thomas Roth cleanser late last year. The Tula cleanser smells like skin care should smell, I have no way else to describe it.

            Toner: This is really new, like I have only used it a handful of times and it has amazed me so far. I am currently using the Sunday Riley Martian Mattifying Melting Water-Gel Toner. It is a calming formula and it hasn’t been really adverse to my skin so I was really excited to even have a product that is kind of like that. I got this so recently, actually in my April ipsy Glam Bag Plus (spoiler alert that post comes out next week) but I have been using it since then. 

            Serum: I have been using The Better Skin Co, Epik C Serum, I got that in my spring fabfitfun box this year and I have been using it since. It is a pretty thick serum and it is probably the best I have tried so far and I am a huge fan of it. I have tried other serums and I have liked them but they broke me out more than I would like.

            Eye Cream: Sunday Riley Auto Correct Brightening and Depuffing Eye Contour Cream, this is just a sample size but I actually would purchase the full size of this product, my only issue with samples is they are just too small to actually get a good wear test out of them. However after my Mary Kay one went from being great to leaking out of the bottle like crazy. 

            Facial Moisturizer: 

            Day: Tatcha The Water Cream, this was for sure a sample as well and I got it last month and I have been using it since and I would consider buying a full sized version of this as well even though it is really expensive but so far it is completely worth it to spend money on good skin care. 

            Night: Korres Wild Rose Vitamin C Brightening Sleeping Facial, I have been using this for a while and I really like it and it smells amazing; this is another product that I would purchase again. I went through a lot of moisturizers that just made my skin retain its redness but with all of the changes in my routine I’m not as red as I used to be.

            Masks: I use Ahava’s Hydration Cream Mask about once a week or so and I leave it on all night instead of washing it off after a few minutes. I love it.

            I also still use sheet masks about once a week so I can get some extra skin care time in. 

            Overall there has been a bunch of changes and it’s a really great feeling to know that my new combination of skin care products is actually working for my skin and keeping all of my problems at bay. 

            I’ll see you all in another few days with another post, stay happy stay healthy.

            -MJ

Spring 2020 FabFitFun unboxing

.Reading time 11 minutes.

Hey Hey, it’s MJ,

Welcome to the first fabfitfun box of 2020 and it feels like I should be on my third box of the year because March has taken a good six months to get through and February felt just as long for different reasons. This box was a bright shiny spot in my life right now, so I am going to go through it. This box was a little different than boxes in the past because it had the option for “throwback” items which was interesting but a little strange. I don’t disagree with bringing back fan favorites after a few years so people can rediscover past favorites. It was also different because almost all if not all of the items had multiple choices instead of there being items that were in every box. 

So what did I get? The first three items I chose so we are going to go through those first. 

Revive Light Therapy Glo Wrinkle and Anti-Aging Light Device

            Infrared light therapy is a really interesting thing, granted I don’t have a lot of wrinkles yet, I am only in my late 20’s (it’s so weird to say that). Preventative measures are always a good thing because I do try really hard to take better care of my skin and if reducing fine lines and wrinkles from laughing and smiling that is not a bad thing to look out for. It’s a three minute treatment and it shuts off after the three minutes so that’s nice that it gives you that time frame and understanding on how long you need to have it on your skin in a stationary position so you don’t do damage to your skin. The other options were the Donni: Ribbed Sweater Coat, the Caravan Diamond Woven Rug, Summer & Rose Navy Diamond Tote, the West Elm Indigo Tie-Dye Bowls, or the Elemis Peptide4 Night Recovery Cream.

Calpak Set of 3 Packing Cubes in Sorbet (or Tutti Fruity, I don’t remember) 

            I don’t travel much but I want to, I have always liked to travel and I love to keep things organized so having something to pack into my suitcase so I don’t actually just shove everything I’m taking with me just haphazardly into the bag and hope for the best. That is my normal trick, stuff everything in to the suitcase and hope for the best. They are mesh fronted so they have a little give to them and I am really excited to eventually have a chance to use them. The other options for choices were the Murad Rapid Collagen Infusion, Shoshanna Umbrella, Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Drink of H2O Hydrating Boost Moisturizer, Tarte Tartist Pro Glow Highlight & Contour Palette (which I got in one of my first fabfitfun boxes), or the 111Skin Rose Gold Radiance Booster.

Wei Two in One Purify and Glow Mask Collection

            Do I need any more masks, probably not but I chose this one anyway because I liked the look of it. I like that you get four treatments out of it with an exfoliating brown sugar exfoliating mask and then a golden root purifying mud mask. I like the brush too it feels really nice. I am excited to give it a try because I don’t have a lot of mud masks, I am much more of a sheet mask kind of human but with skin care and beauty I am willing to give like I’ve said most things a try at least once. The other options for this was the Amber Sceats Double Coin Necklace, Gravity Weighted Sleep Mask, Cosmedix Pure C, Green Goo Hibiscus Plant based Body Scrub.

Next are the set of items that are only choices for select members, one day I will do that but that day is still not today.

Stone Cole Fox Tea Towels

You can’t ever have too many tea towels, right? Well these ones are super simple in the best way, a nice clean design and a nice material that I can’t wait to wash an put in my kitchen. I really like versatile household items and having a non-beauty or skin care item is really great and something that I have missed in past boxes. The other options were the Aria Beauty Luxe Detangling Electroplated Brush, Jaboneira Marianella, Imperial Jade Body Oil, or the Aveda Damage Remedy Daily Hair Repair. (which I have and I love!)

The Better Skin Co. Better Skin Epik C Serum Power Trio Complex

            This was a surprise item in my box and it was a mystery so I was totally cool with getting a mystery item. I don’t use a lot of serums and many that I have used just aren’t compatible with my skin so I am excited to give this one a try. I love the packaging on The Better Skin Co.’s items and it looks like a pretty thick serum. It smells really good and a little really does go a long way. I used it on my hand first to test it out and it melts into the skin so I am hopeful that maybe this will be a serum that I can use and not have the same adverse effects that I have had with some in the past. The options in the magazine were the AG Hair Fast Food Leave-on Conditioner, Smith French Dublin Aromatic Hand Wash in Fresh Green Leaves, Lovescript Body wash, Speaqua Cruiser Bluetooth Wireless Speaker, Ciaté London Fierce Flicks Precision Tip Liquid Liner, or the Eparé Dual Salt and Pepper Mill.

This Works Deep Sleep Body Cocoon 

            I don’t want to break the seal on it because I don’t want it to go bad but I really hope that it smells like lavender or something to that end, some nice relaxing calming scent so I’m just going to have to Google it and find out, it does and I am excited it smells like lavender, chamomile, and vetiver and those are all nice calming scents and my regular night time body lotion from Bath and Body Works, which they have now discontinued is lavender based so this is still exciting to have a new lotion to try with my nighttime routine. The other option was the Whish Beauty Blue Matcha Restoring Mask.

Chic & Tonic Silicone Straws

            I actually really like reusable straws, I have tried really hard to cut down on my use of single use plastics that aren’t recyclable. It’s four straws and a small pill shaped silicone carrying case. These are foldable so they are easier to take into public and use instead of a standard metal straw. The other options were the Wander Beauty Mile High Club Volume and Length Mascara, or the Spongellé Body Wash Infused Buffer in “Black Orchid”. 

Pūrlisse Watermelon Energizing 2 Minute Polishing Peel

            I love watermelon scented things and Pūrlisse has some great watermelon smelling things in their product lineup. I will have to spot test this one because it is a polishing peel but I am hopeful that it doesn’t irritate my skin. I don’t know what else to say about it until I actually get a chance to try it out. The other options were the Winky Lux Rainbow Lip Balm or the Avéne Thermal Spring Water. 

            I really liked my box this season even with all of the options, in this time of uncertainty having something like this in my life brings a smile to my face. 

I’ll see you guys later in the week so have a good few days!

            -MJ