Project Empties

I’m not the person to go crazy on the minimalistic lifestyle. I’m really envious of the people who can do that but I’m not one of them. That being said I would love to minimize my possessions and subsequently ways in a reasonable way. What I found the best and easiest ways to start is by using all of my products before I buy new ones. Even if I don’t love them I have challenged myself to use them up before going out and buying new ones. This way not only I save money but it is also an incentive to make smarter choices when buying products. I’ve started with my skincare products and hopefully my makeup.

Do you have any tips about how to reasonably minimize your belongings? Let me know in the comments below!

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Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream- Review

The long awaited review is FINALLY here. I’ve been trying and testing this cream in the background and I’m now ready to share my thoughts.

I thoroughly enjoyed this cream. I use it as a night cream because during the day I prefer something with SPF which the ultra facial cream did not provide. Other than that it’s amazingly lightweight and it takes just a minute to dry. It does not dry immediately but other creams that dry within seconds didn’t really work for me. It smells nice and clean but the smell is not strong or overpowering. I personally hate putting strong smells on my face but the ultra facial cream is not one of them. Once it dries you do not smell it. Last it provides adequatemoisture without causing my mixed skin to get oily. All in all, it’s not a state of the art, never seen before product but it is a solid, basic skincare product that performs as it should in a very reasonable price. 

What night creams would you suggest I try? Let me know in the comments below!

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Holiday Glow! Filmstar Bronze & Glow by Charlotte Tilbury

What is it?
A powder sculpting and highlighting palette.

What does it do?

The sculpting side is great for contouring while the highlighting part is great for highlighting the face and even the eyes.

The packaging.

Charlotte Tilbury’s packaging is my cup of tea. There’s not one product that I didn’t love the packaging. It looks luxurious due to its beautiful gold color and also rocks a huge mirror!

The formula.

Both sides are extremely blendable. It is not intense but you can definitely build it up. It gives a really natural contour and highlight. Also the particular combination is perfect for fair skin. If you have trouble finding a contour palette for fair skin you should definitely check this one out! (I also like using the highlight for setting cream highlighters. It’s so natural it doesn’t look cakey)

Would I recommend it?

Yes! For someone who wants a natural highlight and contour or has a fair skin.

Do you prefer a natural or a bright highlight? Let me know in the comments below!

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* This post contains pr package products. All opinions are my own.

3 Simple Tips to Remove Makeup at the End of the Day

Hello, lovely readers!

If you want to wake up with fresh, glowing skin each day, removing your makeup is essential. You’re doing your skin a favour by removing makeup each day. Here are a few tips I like to use when I do not have my favourite makeup remover on hand.

1. Take advantage of steam

Fill your sink with hot water and let your face hover above it for 1-2 minutes. The steam will open your pores and make it easier for cleanser to absorb into the skin.2. Try an oil-based makeup remover to remove lipstick Long-wearing liquid lipsticks can be stubborn to remove. Soak a cotton pad in an oil-based makeup remover to dissolve your lipstick. 3. Make your own formulaI recently made my own balm to remove makeup. It combines oil and beeswax to gently remove my makeup. To create this formula, I combine 1/4 cup of olive oil and a tablespoon of beeswax. I melt the beeswax into the oil, allow it to harden then pour it into a container.

How to Transition Your Beauty Routine into the Fall Season

Hello, beautiful readers!

I adapt my beauty routine at the beginning of each season. Fall means cooler weather, drier skin and a loss of moisture. I change the type of products I use and my routine to combat these effects.

Products to Switch

1. Your Foundation

Your skintone often adapts to the weather. It may transition to a lighter shade once a summer tan fades. I often switch to a foundation with full coverage to conceal the effects of fall weather. If you still wish to use a lighter coverage foundation, try mixing a tinted moisturizer into your favourite shade for richer colour. 

2. Your Overall Colour Palette

A good rule of thumb for any season: Focus colour in one area. I favour a darker colour palette in the fall. I incorporate the palette into my makeup routine by punching up my lipstick with deep burgundy, red and dark pink colours. 

Areas to Increase Hydration

Cooler temperatures are drying for hair, skin, and lips. These areas may require a little extra hydration in the fall. 

1. Your Lips

The lips are one of the first areas of the body to show dehydration. Exfoliate the lips 1-2 times per week to maintain their natural moisture. Exfoliation allows lip balm to penetrate deeper into the lip surface.

2. Your Hair

If you’re like me, the use of your heated styling tools increases in the fall. Applying heat to hair strips it of natural oils. To keep strands hydrated, add shampoos and conditioners that boost hydration into your daily routine. 

Do you have any beauty tips you use for the fall season? 

How to Maintain a Daily Skincare Routine

Hello, beautiful readers!

Finding a skincare routine that works for you can seem challenging. Underlying most daily routines are 5 basic steps. I use each step in my daily routine, and adapt it based on my sensitive, acne-prone skin.

Step 1 – Cleanse 

Cleansing the skin removes excess dirt and oil. These components contribute to breakouts. Cleansing the skin both morning and night keeps your pores clear. I cleanse in the morning with a gentle exfoliator. I remove makeup and cleanse at night with a makeup-remover from Clinique. 

Step 2 – Toner

Toner removes any leftover residue after cleansing. Using toner gives the skin an extra cleansing effect. This minimizes the appearance of pores and preps your skin to absorb moisture. Toner is most effective when applied to damp skin. 

Step 3 – Exfoliate 

Exfoliating removes excess skin cells that build up on the skin’s surface. This step is crucial if you are experiencing acne or blackheads. You should exfoliate 1-3 times per week, depending on the specific needs of your skin. 

Step 4 – Moisturize

This is a crucial step to keep the skin soft and supple. Moisturizing adds an extra layer of protection to skin. Choose a product best-suited for your skin type, then massage it into the skin using an upward motion. You should let the moisturizer sit to allow it to absorb into skin.

Step 5 – Apply sunscreen

The sun is damaging to the skin. Using a product containing SPF protects your skin from UV rays. You should apply a sunscreen with SPF 15 (or higher) to the skin to protect it. 

Kiehl’s: An outstanding first impression

My night face cream is close to empty. Not because it was amazing but because I can’t really afford throwing away full, new products. So naturally I was in the hunt for a new one. The whole web has been raving for quite some time about Kiehl’s ultra facial cream. The amazing reviews in addition to a pretty reasonable price tag made me check out the Kiehl’s booth.

The girl at the booth, Maria, was overly kind. After she introduced herself she asked me if I had some time to talk and to do a test in order to create a personalized skin care routine. Since I wasn’t in some kind of hurry I said yes. At first she talked about the company. How it was established in 1851 and how they use naturally-derived products to heal the skin and help it work as it should. After she applied two strips on my forehead and cheek she told me how moist and healthy my skin was (what kind of sorcery is this). Maria then proceeded to ask me what my skin struggles were. After she wrote all the information down in my newly created electronic file she presented me with a skin care routine she believed would best suit me. Since I only needed a cream and I hadn’t tried the brand I only opted for the cream and promised myself that if I am satisfied with the products I tried I would gradually switch my skincare products to the ones Maria suggested. I also got a magic elixir for my head’s dry skin. Last thing that impressed me is that if you take empty bottles back for recycling for 3 you get a lip balm, for 5 a deluxe sample and for ten a full size product from a specific list. 

All in all I saw a brand that promotes natural products that are kind to the skin while considering the environment by using recycled packaging and rewarding people who recycle. 

What is your experience with Kiehl’s? Let me know in the comments below!

* No trees were harmed during the making of this blog post.