It's a fresh year and a fresh month! I want to become more social with you guys and hear your opinions on topics so I can get to know you better! So, let's chat!

This week I received an email from Sephora about their digital customized skincare assistant. All you  do is fill out a survey and they provide you a list of products others have reviewed with your skin concerns. It sounds pretty simple and I like the interactive property but I can't help but wonder, would a real life person have a better understanding when they are meeting with me, looking at my actual skin, asking me in depth questions... etc.?

Now, I took the survey myself and it was two questions - "what is my skin type" and "what is my main skin concern"? I answered combination, because it can get oily on occasion but it is winter and my skin is dry as the desert. Just because I'm inching toward my 30's and want to get a head start, signs of aging was my main skin concern.

The results - They give you a list of different products to try out according your answers which include the following categories - moisturizers, facial serums, and face washes/cleansers. I would be willing to give some a try after reading reviews. But what about skin sensitivities? Allergies?

Don't get me wrong, I do think this is a good tool to find a product quick. But for the sake of my skin and what would really make a difference, I feel like a more personalized approach would do more good.

First I want to say I am so sorry for being MIA this past week. I have tried to blog when possible but have been fighting a sinus infection/cold all week. That time of year... but I hope you are feeling 100% and I am glad to be back. :)

I can't believe it but It's been almost a year since I talked about what I use for skincare. I thought I would give you guys an update. Thanks for reading! :)


Philosophy is a well known brand in skincare but it took me a while to look into them because I always thought it was more perfume and scented body washes than face cleansers and moisturizers. Pleased to have received a sample of their Purity cleanser from Sephora, I used it for probably 3 weeks. It takes every ounce of makeup off with ease but also doesn't leave my skin feeling tight and irritated. After loving it so much I decided to buy the large bottle and saw a deal on QVC that came with a big bottle of their Micro-delivery Exfoliating Wash. I love both and find them to be a great duo. My face feels smooth and clear. I love knowing that when I wash my face, it's really clean. Find Purity here and the duo here. Their Miracle Worker Cleanser and Brightening mask is also on my list of faves. I use it once a week for a brightening treatment! Find it here.

Makeup remover... I recently started using Clinique's Take the Day Off Cleansing Balm (find it here) and I really love it. I've only been using it for a week but the soothing texture is wonderful and it washes away super clean. I like to use this when I wear a full face of makeup and when I pile on my Younique Fiber Lash Mascara. I feel good knowing I can use this and then my Purity face wash without drying out my skin. Pure perfection. I know this will be a favorite in the winter months.


As for Moisturizers.... I've been using Philosophy's Hope In A Jar (find it here) mostly every night. I like it but sometimes I need more moisture so I might have to change to something different as the winter arrives. I also use my Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Night (here) a couple times a week. Garnier Skin Renew BB Cream in Light/Medium (here) is my favorite for the morning before my makeup.


When it's come to serums and oils I find myself reaching for my Josie Maran Argan Oil (here), my Younique Uplift Serum (here), or my coconut oil (here)... morning and night.


I have been trying to find an eye cream. I use the Younique Uplift Serum on my eyes but I also wanted to try and incorporate a cream into my routine. I've been using a sample of Origins GinZing Refreshing Eye Cream (here) and have felt like it does brighten up my eye area. I am definitely open to suggestions though if you guys have any!

Frank's Coffee Body scrub has been my new favorite lately for exfoliating. I use it all over my body including my face about two times a week. I use the one with the coconut oil in it and I just love the scent. It is like desert, so yummy! My skin feels wonderfully soft and moisturized after I shower. Find it here.


My lip balm is still Bite Beauty's Agave Lip Mask. I will never be without it. Definitely holy grail status for me! Find it here and in a champagne color here. My favorite lip scrub is from Lush (here).

Body moisturizer has always been hard for me. I don't know why but I never find one I am completely happy with. So far I have been liking Jergen's BB Body Cream. It smells very fresh and clean and it moisturizers very well. Find it here.

First off, Happy New Year! I am so sorry it has been so long since my last post. But 2014 is here and I am working on getting back into the swing of things. :)

So lets get back to dry skincare starting 2014 with face and body oils...

Facial oils (being a cleanser or moisturizer) in general seem to have grown in popularity in the past couple years. Sephora even has a link on their site recommended certain oils for different skincare concerns you may have... check it out below.

Sephora's Recommendations on Oils

Toning is another important aspect to a good skincare regime. First you wash and or exfoliate then you tone before moisturizing. Toning will take off the last bit of dirt and bacteria so your serums and lotions can absorb much better. Depending on your toner it can also be your exfoliator. Toners that have alpha and beta hydroxy will exfoliate in the sense that those ingredients take off the dead skin without having to scrub your face. They can also be drying though so watch out.

People with dry skin want to look for toners that don't have any harsh ingredients. Alcohol is something that will dry out your skin so you want to look for something with little to no alcohol. Sometimes they will say "alcohol free" on the bottle.



Boots Expert Sensitive Gentle Refreshing Toner - This toner is definitely a number one in my book. It is so refreshing and gentle you can even use it on your eyes. It feels like cool soothing water on your face. Sometimes in the summer I use this just to freshen my face on a day when I don't wear foundation. I think I might even put it in a spray bottle so I can spritz it on my face every now and then to freshen my foundation! Target also sells this in store which is great! I heard it was a drugstore dupe for Bioderma but I can't say since I've never tried Bioderma.

Thayer - Witch Hazel Toner-Rose Petal - This toner smells divine if you like roses. It does come in different versions though such as cucumber if that is more your thing. The rose is the only one I've tried. It is not overpowering, the scent is very light. Roses are also supposed to be very brightening and nutrient rich for your skin. I will get into a few other rose items I like in my future posts.

I'll admit, I do not always tone after washing my face but I do notice a difference when I do. My skin is much clearer and brighter.

Another product that is similar to toner is facial mist. Many brands are coming out with these now and they can be great. Mac was one of the first I bought. Their Fix+ is supposed to keep your makeup on and fresh. They came out with their Mineralize water and that is a really great freshener throughout the day.

These do seem like a waste of money to me sometimes unless they have a purpose like keeping my makeup on longer, moisturizing, or brightening my complexion. Otherwise why buy bottled water for your face? Here are a few facial mists that I like and think if you are in the market for one or have been intrigued by them you might want to try one out.

JURLIQUE Rosewater Balancing Mist - another rose scented item... this is really refreshing and has rose extract and marshmallow to moisturize and balance the skin. This is nice to spritz on after cleansing and before your night time creams. It smells lovely and is a relaxing ritual before bedtime. I have not used it every single day so I can't tell you if it has necessarily improved my skin in any way.

Mac Fix+ - definitely a regular in my collection from now on. It does help my makeup stay fresh and it is a great refresher when my foundation becomes dried out during the day. This is also a great product to mix with pigments and other loose eyeshadow and such. It gives you a much truer pigment and helps the product stay on longer without creasing.

Murad Essential C Toner - This is new to me but I am definitely becoming a fan. As I have said in my earlier posts, I love anything that will even out and brighten my tone. This helps with its vitamin c addition. This does sting a little if I use it after doing an intense exfoliation (from the citrus extracts) but for other times it works great to make my skin feel clean and fresh.




I do not think any of these are essential. Out of the three I think Mac's Fix+ is a great thing to have, or any other makeup fix spray for that matter. I am currently trying out different mists to see if Mac really has the best of the best so I will keep you posted on that! If you have any mists you recommend please let me know!

This is going to be a series of entries all dedicated to dry skin. I find a lot of the people on the web who write beauty blogs have oily skin. I have dry skin myself and I am always on the lookout for tips and product reviews or suggestions. So I thought this is a good opportunity to share some of my finds along the way with you guys, so here is goes...