If you follow me on Snapchat, (username is genuineglow), then you might have caught a glimpse of how hectic things have been lately. School tests, freelance work, workouts, and of course family commitments. I was just checking my Instagram feed, and realized I hadn’t even posted a photo in a week! It’s been crazy, really. But today I really wanted to make time to write about the things that have been absolutely noteworthy, because it’s been just waaay too long since I wrote a catch-up.
Empties. A few of the things I emptied and repurchased include:
- One Love Organic Vitamin B Cleansing Oil: My favorite makeup remover. Full review here.
- Yuli Skincare Halcyon Cleanser: Perfect morning/second cleanse-cleanser. Full review here.
- Innersense Color Awakening Shampoo: I am on my third bottle of this shampoo and I am still very happy with it, especially when used in combo with the Daily Radiance Conditioner. Full review here.
- Gressa Minimalist Serum Foundation: I still haven’t found a foundation that feels as lightweight on the skin as this one. Full review here.
Eyeshadow Primer with Concealer: I have already raved about the new W3LL People Bio Correct Concealer and my thoughts about it have not changed since I last wrote about it, but I found out that it works great as eyeshadow base too. I can practically go over my entire eye area to correct and brighten any discoloration and darkness. Just like when I apply it underneath my eyes to conceal dark circles, when I use it as eye primer I apply a tiny amount and I blend it quickly before it sets (to prevent creasing). By promptly applying the eyeshadow after I have blended the concealer, it works very well at preventing creasing and making the eyeshadow last longer. Of course the quality of the eyeshadow matters, too. With the Honest Beauty eyeshadow trios and Kjaer Weis eyeshadows I have had zero creasing. If you already own the concealer, try and let me know how it works for you! The concealer is available here. The color selection is limited, unfortunately, but it is great concealer.
Meow Meow Tweet Deodorant Sticks. 2016 has been great year for my armpits, so far. I have been trying a whole bunch of new deodorants, and have not been disappointed by any of them. These ones I have been using the most, lately, are the new Meow Meow Tweet Deodorant Sticks*. The formula contains a blend of plant butters, plant oils, and mineral powders (100% vegan, btw) and he consistency is easy to spread. It contains a touch of baking soda, but the amount must be really, really tiny because I have used it on freshly shaved armpits and have not gotten any irritation, at all. I have both scents, Lavender-Bergamot (which is, btw, bergaptene-free, so there is no risk of sunburning the pits when wearing a tank) and Lemon-Eucalyptus, which to me smells more like a lemon dessert. If you absolutely need to stick to a baking soda-free deodorant, Meow Meow Tweet makes two deodorant creams (Grapefruit, and a new Lavender scent), which are highly effective and completely free of baking soda. All of them are available here.
Maya Chia Skin and Body Care. It is safe to say that I have tried dozens of face and body oils and at this point, I am rarely impressed by any of them. Maya Chia has been a great surprise. I assume that the star ingredient of the line, the Supercritical Chia oil, is a very good fit for my skin type. Chia oil is a rich source of Omega 3 EFA, which provide the skin with anti-inflammatory benefits. I will post a full-review of their products, but if you are on the market for a new body oil or face oil, I do recommend that you give them a try, especially the Pure Supercritical Omega 3 Chia Face Oil*, which I think would suit even the most delicate skin types and is so lightweight that even more oily skin types would enjoy it. You can check them out here.
Gressa Eye Tints. I was very impatient about this launch (they were in the works for quite a while), and let me tell you, these cream eyeshadows were well worth the wait! They are pigmented and easy to apply, but most importantly they wear beautifully throughout the day. Keep in mind I have slightly oily lids, and my eye shape tends to make eyeshadow crease, yet I have not had any creasing nor smudging with these. If you own the W3LL People concealer, try to use it as a base under the tints to correct any discoloration, and then use the eye tints on top. I have found this combination to give me the most polished eye look. Full review with swatches coming soon. I really, really hope that Gressa is going to make more shades for these, because they are truly lovely. Kudos to Gressa for always creating new, innovative formulas with great performance. Brava, Svetlana! Check them out here. You can order samples here.
Handbag Crush. I have been searching for beautiful vegan handbags without a “toxic” smell for a while, and I recently discovered Angela Roi. Their bags are chic, functional, and ethically made in Korea (no child labor and fair wages). I already own a few bags and my favorite one is the Morning Cross-Body, which is the perfect size for daily running errands. It fits my huge wallet, a couple of pens, cell phone, 8X10 planner, sunnies, and lipstick of choice. You can check them out here. Some of their Palette Cross Body are still on sale!
Summer Solstice Sale. If you are running out of some product or you simply want to try something new, take advantage of the Detox Market Summer Solstice Sale. Here is what’s in my cart at the moment: the new RMS Beauty Lip2Cheek in Spell (it’s the one in the photo above. Looks like the perfect pink-nude color, right?), a tube of the Suntegrity Unscented Body Sunscreen, and a couple of other makeup items that I want to mail to my sister for her birthday. Use code SUN10 for 10% off $100, and SUN15 for 15% off $200. You can shop here.
Have a great week, and keep an eye on my Instagram page, because I have a fantastic giveaway coming soon!
*PR sample