Back in October I posted about my skin having a terrible acne flareup after a bad sunburn. Soon after I updated with thoughts on having extractions done at my dermatologist’s.

I posted a photo of my skin the next day. Here’s an updated version of then and now.

My skin cleared up in December finally. Along the way I tried a lot of different products, many which I did not like and will skip talking about. Benzoyl peroxide & salicylic acid did nothing or made things worse. And I realized I’m mildly allergic to benzoyl peroxide which I discovered after using the prescription cream my dermatologist prescribed me. My skin was dried out. So dried out that it was over-producing oil in an effort to save itself. The oily itchy bumps were a cry for help. I didn’t learn about this until my extraction day. The extraction itself was moot. Most of the clogged pores returned a couple of weeks later.

These are my current holy grail items. The products I purchased and saw real results. I had to add in a new item one by one. Test them individually to keep track of what was helping and what wasn’t. I was more aware of ingredient labels than ever before.

First comes calming

My skin was incredibly itchy whenever I’d sweat. Those red oily bumps were a nightmare under the florescent lights of an office meeting. The first thing I did was find a way to calm my skin. I fell in love with the 7 Wonders Caribbean Coconut Calming Mask available at Ulta. I bought countless numbers of them. At first I used them every day. Then every other day. And now sparingly whenever I see my skin looking a bit dry.

I also picked up a 100% rose water spray. Alteya Organics Bulgarian Rose Water. I had tried versions with extras added (aloe, herbs, collagen,) but the pure stuff was the only truly soothing spray I found. Luckily it was the cheapest as well! I can use this spray whenever I like for a quick moisture burst.

A face wash that works without over-drying

My old cleansers upset my skin so badly after the flareup. I tried out so many different cleansers with no luck. Then a friend suggested Free & Clear Liquid Cleanser. This stuff is so gentle. washes away clean, works with my clarisonic well, but doesn’t over dry.

When I wear heavy makeup I have always needed a double-cleanse or else my pores would clog. I started using NUDE Skincare Purify Cleansing Wash. It’s a jelly that turns milky and removes makeup really well without being harsh. When I started using it I saw a lot of my blackheads disappear.

Oil-free moisture

My skin has always been sensitive to oil. Not just mineral oil but celebrated oils such as argan or grapeseed. So for daily moisturizers I needed oil-free. These moisturizers are actually old favorites that my skin still liked. Eventually I’d like to return to an spf+ lotion but currently I’m using a separate spf when needed. Ole Henriksen Sheer Transformation is the everyday lotion I use under makeup often after applying SANA’s Soy Milk Emulsion to my forehead and chin.

I use SANA’s Soy Milk Cream when I’m feeling a little dry on no-makeup days or at night and Hawaiian Tropic Silk Hydration SPF when I’m going to be outdoors.

The real treatment

These are the heavy duty performers of my skincare routine. These are the products that gave me immediate positive results. I knew that if my skin needed moisture, and I didn’t respond well to oil-based daily lotions, I’d need to find some other way. I had a sample of Sunday Riley Luna Sleeping Night Oil and it was the first oil that didn’t break me out. My skin felt so supple in the mornings after using this. Plus it faded my scars rather quickly. It’s a retinol with the added benefit of a moisturizing oil. I had a cleanser & a cream with retinol from my dermatologist but both of those caused my acne to get worse. I blame the other ingredients (a drying cleanser and benzoyl peroxide.) It is hands down my favorite product.

Next to tackle the bumps, texture, and clogged pores I tried a 5 pack of Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta® Universal Daily Peel and liked it a lot. I used these every few days, maybe once a week now. Instead of using the Luna oil I’ll use this and the next day blackheads will be gone and any tiny pimples will be hurried along to heal. I tried the extra strength version but it was too strong and made things worse.

The last bane of existence were the big, swollen, giant pimples. I had 4 major ones on my forehead that lasted months. Every time they’d pop they’d just return again. I received the Omorovicza Deep Cleansing Mask as a Christmas gift and it was exactly the last phase my skin needed to overcome this huge ordeal. The mask pulls out clogs from deep in the skin. As disgusting as it sounds I know it works because as each zit came to the surface I noticed each had 2 or 3 layers of “clog.” You know… each time you’d squeeze it was like a whole ‘nother zit popped… gross. Gross but over. Seeing what felt like permanents zits finally heal and leave felt so satisfying. I still use this once a week. I have a few texture spots on my chin I’m working through eliminating for good.

The runners up

DHC’s cleansing oil was one of the many things I tried when looking for a non-drying makeup remover. I bought this little guy at Urban Outfitters. Very affordable. Works great. Nothing special but definitely works well.

The Tony Moly pore cooling mask I got at Ulta. It’s a pore-tightening mask so I didn’t use it too much because tightening = drying. But even though it’s a drying type mask I never felt like my skin was left too dry or stretched. It’s really softening actually. Was nice to use after my skin had initially calmed down some.

Final thoughts

This was just my skincare emergency journey and I know not everyone’s will be the same. I wanted to share what’s been working for me. My combination skin (oily t-zone dry cheeks) was in desperate need of deep moisturizing. For me the most important thing was retaining as much moisture as I could while adding in extra amounts.

I also know many of these items are very expensive. The type of product is what’s most important. The calming mask contains chamomile and coconut oil.

The Luna Sleeping oil can be broken down into 2 main parts; retinol and oil. So a good alternative would be a retinol serum plus a facial oil that your skin responds to in a positive manner.

The Omorovicza mask is a mud mask and I’d only recommend the splurge if your acne is the worst it’s ever been. Otherwise a good alternative would be to try the Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay. It’s less than $10 and you could add a drop of tea tree oil or neroli in while mixing it up. I plan on picking it up myself when the Omorovicza runs out.

I did try some physical exfoliaters but boy that made things so much worse! Chemical exfoliters were much more gentle at attacking the texture. And as for Glam Glow I had to terminate using any of their products. They only made my skin itchy or worse after the sun damage. Before I had 2 of their masks and the cleanser and loved them but in a damaged-state my skin responded very negatively to all of their products.

Feel free to ask me questions in the comments. I’m not an expert, and everyone’s skin reacts differently, but if you think we have similar skin and have experienced a similar situation maybe my experience can help in some way. I’m just happy to report that I’m on my way to getting my old skin back!

I said I would update about this so here I am! I had my first extraction + facial ever yesterday. Now I gotta say that this is just my experience. I know there are a 100 different ways this could have gone down. I also know some medical aestheticians are fully against extractions while others do them 100% of the time.

I had mine done at the same dermatology office that I received prescription retinol cream from 2 weeks ago. This office is a cosmetic and dermatology clinic so they go beyond just skincare there and into botox, etc. I thought the procedure would be more cold and clinical but rather it was much like that of a spa massage. Celtic music in the background, lavender scented mists, and shoulder/neck massage included.

The extraction itself hurt. It doesn’t help that the pain is on your face so it feels more intense. I would say that it hurt more than getting my tattoo or piercings due to duration. Coupled with how problematic my skin has been it took a while. Afterwards I had a chemical peel done. That was fine. Normal stinging, disinfecting feeling. Hot towels, creams, and a cooling coconut scented mask and I left feeling supple and renewed.

Later that night the red scars began to show out of the pinkish plump skin. My skin was sore; almost bruised feeling. Today it’s about the same. Sore with a few new zits that have risen to the surface. I was told I could wear makeup right away but I decided to skip it when I went out last night. Judging side-eyes be damned I really did not care. Though I will likely wear makeup to the office tomorrow and definitely when I go out this weekend. I’m sure I’ll have the red spots for a few more days.

TL;DR

Would I get a professional extraction again? No.
It was too harsh and the damage is too overwhelming to tempt me into trying it again, even elsewhere. I can do extractions I need at home if I’m so inclined. While I don’t think the aesthetician did a terrible job, I just don’t see paying a bunch of money to have someone else to blame for creating new zits is worth it. I also think she over-extracted. At the time I had 1 zit and a handful of blackheads on my forehead. I saw she tackled some spots that were really just larger pours. And I’m a bit worried she might have caused pox scars which I rarely ever get (we’ll see.) The swelling in my forehead and nose are still bad the next day as you can see. Yeah… there’s hardly a part that isn’t red and super swollen.

Would I get a chemical peel/facial again? Yes.
I wouldn’t do it often but maybe once a year I could see a benefit in it. I like the low-grade peels you can buy on the market and the medical grade stuff does seem worth the extra time and costs.

Regret? Not really.
I don’t regret the appointment entirely. I learned a lot of valuable information from discussing my routine and products with the aesthetician. She offered a more detailed understanding about how and why I had this acne flare up while my doctor just threw a prescription at me and told me to come back in 2 months.

The aesthetician told me the blackhead flare up looks related to the skin being stripped of too much oils. She mentioned having oily skin herself (which true or not made me trust her) and when I mentioned all my lotions and cleansers were oil-free she felt more sure that my issue was thirsty skin. Which makes sense given that the sunburn is what triggered this mess in the first place.

And oh the sunburn. She pointed out that I had been using a nightly chemical exfoliator weeks before getting out in unusually intense sun. AH! I didn’t even think about that! Of course! I should have chosen a higher SPF than my usual stuff because now my skin was more photosensitive! This really helped put things in perspective.

It’s not easy to find a way to get extra moisture when you have sensitive, acne-prone skin. But over the years of all the things I tried, Sunday Riley’s Luna Sleeping Oil has given me the most moisture and least amount of zits I’ve ever seen. So I bit the bullet and purchased a full-sized bottle. Hopefully this will be the extra balance my skin so desperately needs.

Updated

I wrote this post then a day later made an appointment to see a dermatologist who has since started me on a prescription retinol gel. I’ve been on prescription acne medications twice before in my lifetime and I will say I’m very skeptical. They tend to cause my skin to get worse before it gets better. Of all the products listed below the only ones I can use now with the prescription gel are GLAMGLOW Daily Clearing Cleanser, Ole Henriksen Sheer Transformation lotion, Simple Micellar Cleansing Water, and Roberts Florentine Rosewater Cleansing Gel. I actually go in for a facial treatment (& extraction) in a few weeks which I hope will help more than anything else has.

A few weeks ago I was visiting family on the coast. Out in the sun a ton and always wearing sunscreen. But on the last day I was careless and forgot to reapply sunscreen in time. I ended up quite badly burned; especially on my forehead. I haven’t dealt with a burn in years. In the past there wasn’t much issue but this time my skin was very damaged. I kept it moisturized but it still took about 2 weeks for the burn to actually diminish. Next was peeling. Followed by leather-like dark patches of skin left. And now? Well it’s a mess. It has caused a bad case of closed comedonal acne. I’ve never had this type of acne. It is very much out of control and stubborn to treat. My usual products were not helping clear it completely. It was only getting worse. So I started buying new things to try.

One of the things I purchased was Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta Universal Daily Peel 5 pack and Pixi’s Glow Tonic. I was finally seeing a change after using them. But I felt the peels were too gentle as my usual Ole Henriksen Invigorating Night Treatment felt much stronger. So I bought the 30 pack of the extra strength formula.

Bad idea. The acne got worse within 3 days. I even had bumps in my eyebrows now.

At the same time I also purchased Fresh’s Rose Toner to calm my skin after cleansing but before moisturizing. It made my skin feel tacky though; not moisturized.

I also had a sample of Sunday Riley’s Good Genes (which I felt was helping clear me up as well.) And added Simple’s micellar water to my routine for makeup removal just in case I wasn’t getting a deep enough clean.

You see the problem here? Too many new products at once. I couldn’t pinpoint exactly what was helping and what wasn’t. Let alone was it too much exfoliating or too little? My face never felt dry or burning.

Well not until I ditched EVERYTHING and reverted back to my old classic Clinique’s Acne Solutions Kit. After using it since Saturday my acne is shrinking in size and amount. However… now my face is so dry and peeling in some spots. I’ve been keeping my mist diffusers directly pointed at my face to calm down my skin.

I don’t have a real point or message for this post. :) I’m not looking for random advice or a home remedy that worked for your sister’s sister-in-law’s half cousin 2nd removed. Just letting you know what’s been up with me lately. And besides my car being in the shop, work being busy, and the free time I fill with TV, ice skating, camping, and scheming, this has been on my mind on a near daily basis and something I’m still dealing with apparently.

I just ordered Paula’s Choice trial acne kit. Because Clinique is just too harsh for me these days. I also purchased Mario Badescu Botanical Exfoliating Scrub after seeing that Glamglow’s Youthmud Tinglexfoliate made it worse. However Glamglow’s Supermud Clearing Treatment was still really helpful in the larger acne spots that popped up every other day. I’m still using that one often.

GLAMGLOW’s daily face wash and Roberts Florentine Rosewater cleansing gel are the two cleanser I’ve been using for months. The gel is very mild and good for removing excess makeup while the Glamglow’s daily cleanser is like their mask in a lighter form.

Ole Henriksen night treatment and oil-free moisturizer had cleared up my previous small breakout months ago and I stuck with them since. I’d say the night treatment was about as good as Sunday Riley’s Good Genes without the lemon-cake fragrance!

This deluxe sample of Luna Sleeping Oil made my day when I got it. When I ran out of the sample my skin felt so dry because this was keeping it super hydrated. It erased red marks in a single night. Great for overnight repair. One of the very very very few oils I’ve tried that didn’t give me pimples.

Before my sun damage I wasn’t using any strict acne medications. I was using Glam Glow’s daily face wash, a MakeUp Eraser with just water, Organic Rose toner, Ole Henriksen Invigorating Night Treatment and Sheer Transformation moisture cream, and Sunday Riley’s Luna Sleeping Oil every now and then. And I was clear. My skin looked near flawless. I had about 2 months of some of my best skin days in recent history before the sunburn.

While I’m frustrated on days that my skin feels uncomfortable, I’m not too bothered by it. My skin has always been extremely acne-prone. At this point in my life I understand there’s an ebb and flow to skin problems. I will also say that it’s become clear this year that my skin is in transition. The items that worked in my early 20’s are no longer effective. I literally removed them from my routine and saw 0 difference. I’m really interested in trying more glycolic and lactic acids and natural flower oils (though I’m acne-prone to others like castor, grapeseed, and coconut) now.

Every product mentioned above:
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta Universal Daily Peel ^❤

Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta Peel Extra Strength Daily Peel

Pixi Glow Tonic

Simple Micellar Cleansing Water

The Original MakeUp Eraser ^❤

Fresh Rose Floral Toner

Meishoku Organic Rose Skin Conditioner toner ^❤

Roberts Florentine Rosewater Cleansing Gel ^❤

Sunday Riley Good Genes Treatment

Sunday Riley Luna Sleeping Night Oil ^❤

GLAMGLOW SUPERCLEANSE™ Daily Clearing Cleanser ^❤

Ole Henriksen Sheer Transformation ^❤

Ole Henriksen Invigorating Night Treatment ^❤

CLINIQUE Acne Solutions Clear Skin System

Paula’s Choice Clear Regular Strength Two Week Trial Kit

GLAMGLOW SUPERMUD™ CLEARING TREATMENT ^❤

GLAMGLOW YOUTHMUD™ TINGLEXFOLIATE TREATMENT

Mario Badescu Botanical Exfoliating Scrub

❤ – loved product

Not related to skincare but a nice perk to having to order so many new products is this Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb free gift set I got with a Sephora order using a promo code. I like Flowerbomb but have never purchased a full sized bottle.

I thought I’d do an “empties” post to show which items I’ve liked so much lately that I used every drop!

Bath Roman Relax Rose bath salt
Urumoa Moisturizing Bath
LUSH Rose Jam body wash
GLAMGLOW Supermud Clearing Treatment
L’Occitane Angelica Hydra Vital Gel
Honeyce’ Moisture Repair shampoo and conditioner
Hawaiian Tropic Silk Hydration After Sun
LUSH Ro’s Argan Body Conditioner

Bath Roman Relax Rose bath salt

Ulmore Moisturizing Bath

Bath Roman is a good staple brand of bath salts. They usually come in large metal containers and last a while. The fragrance and colors are always nice. This Relaxing Rose version was fantastic. The rose fragrance is a rich perfume rose. The powder turns the water into a gleaming pool of rose-pink.

The Ulmore [ウルモア] moisturizing bath cream was one of the best things I picked up in spring. Its “Creamy Rose” fragrance is unique and intoxicating. It’s sweet like rose candy. The milky liquid is squeezed into the cap much like those ACT for Kids mouthwash bottles. You pour it into your bath and it adds a softness to the skin but leaves the tub clean afterwards. I haven’t seen it in the stores since I bought it but next time I come across it I’m definitely repurchasing!

Hawaiian Tropic Silk Hydration

I picked this lotion up because I wanted something that smelled like tanning oil but wasn’t actually tanning oil since I don’t sunbathe much. This has a coconut papaya fragrance that’s really nice. The lotion contains aloe so it’s moisturizing but not tacky like an aloe gel. Plus the bottle is incredibly appealing with its mint green and cream swirled lotion. There was a version with glitter in it but I didn’t pick it up and then I never saw it again… Oh also this was great for when I actually did get very sunburned a few weeks ago.

LUSH Ro’s Argan Body Conditioner

LUSH Rose Jam body wash

I already mentioned these while using them but definitely liked both these rose items from LUSH. The Rose Jam is so sweet in fragrance and the body wash isn’t too drying.

The Ro’s Argan body conditioner is fantastic and the small jar lasted me a long time. I liked using this to add extra softness to my skin. My past products, which were pure oils, sometimes clogged my pores. This didn’t cause any break outs while using it. And the fragrance is like a honey rose mix that lasted long after the bath.

GLAMGLOW Supermud Clearing Treatment

L’Occitane Angelica Hydra Vital Gel

GLAMGLOW… I really wanted this to not be as awesome as it was because, you know, the price. But it was honestly worth every penny for my skin. It cleared me up so quickly. Removed so much redness. I actually stopped using acne creams after purchasing this product. This is all I use for any breakouts now and yes I’ve already repurchased it. There’s also a face wash in this line and I highly recommend it if you suffer from adult acne that doesn’t respond well to a lot of other products. Don’t save this stuff for a rainy dat, use it! I used it as spot treatments more than a full mask and it worked wonders on big morning zits.

The L’Occitane Angelica Hydra Vital Gel is a moisturizer I end up buying every summer. It’s very cooling and moisturizing. It’s good for no makeup days or before bed. It has a really fresh aloe scent that dissipates immediately after applying. It’s calming for blotchy skin and never causes me acne.

Honeyce’ Moisture Repair

Bouncy bouncy hair with a sweet honey scent that lasts. I love this shampoo and conditioner set. The fragrance alone is worth a repurchase but the packaging and formula make it one of the best hair care series I’ve tried in a while.

Like the title says, I’m trying the Ole Henriksen 3 Little Wonders collection. I’ve gotten the C-Booster (orange bottle) before as a point perk. I didn’t see much difference at the time but this was years ago. Then Stephanie Lange recommended it and I figured there wasn’t much to lose with this mini kit being under $30.

Let me back up for a second. I’ve been underwhelmed by my usual skincare products. Honestly they hadn’t changed much since I started using Clinique’s Acne Solutions years ago. And if you recall I’ve been into trying new products recently. My acne has been different this year. It’s seemingly random and doesn’t react to my usual treatments. My skin has just been same ole same ole for a while. So if I could find a new suite of products, that actually showed results (clearer skin longer, elasticity, pore minimizing, spot reduction,) then I’d be thrilled.

So far the 2 large cyst-acne spots I had have shrank and some sun spots are fading. I’ve actually noticed my skin “looking good” a couple of mornings too! Though today I work up with a clogged pore in an area that I rarely get them. I’m suspecting the truth serum collagen booster because I’ve had mixed results with collagen skincare products and this spot is similar to that I’ve gotten from collagen masks. So, I’m going to discontinue using that product.

I’ll try to update in a week or two.

I’ve been saying it on twitter and tumblr a lot so here’s a real review.

I bought my first one while I was still recuperating from “the injury.” Squeezing bottles just wasn’t in my wheel house at the time. I got the Soak and Float and ended up liking it so much that I bought 3 more versions. Then a few more after that!

LUSH Shampoo Bar Introduction

Now when I find myself going back to my traditional shampoos, even my previous favorites, they just don’t compare. Mostly they all weigh my hair down drastically compared to the LUSH Shampoo Bars. The difference is so great that I never use my old shampoos unless I know I’ll be staying in that day.

Seanik

LUSH Quote – “Solid seaweed shampoo bar for shine and body”

This is one of my favorites. Leaves my very thin and flat hair full of volume! Smells pretty good and the bar itself is quite pretty.

Soak and Float

LUSH Quote – “Sort out itchy, flaky scalps. We’re just going to say it upfront: this shampoo bar smells like campfires, but it is incredibly effective…”

Agreed. At first the bar’s scent was annoying and I left it in a shampoo can. But after a week it grew on me. I even started leaving it out to dry because I enjoyed the woodsy scent in my bathroom. At the time my scalp was all annoyed from being home 24/7 and not being able to do more than just wash my hair. I saw results after just 1 use and by the 3rd use I was convinced this was a way better alternative to medicated drugstore shampoos.

It also left my hair really bouncy and full! More volume than any other bar I’ve tried so far.

Jason and the Argan Oil

LUSH Quote – “Softening argan oil bar”

Yep, softens my hair up pretty well! Doesn’t add a lot of volume or shine but it smells like their rose jam and leaves my hair silky. My only complaint is I wish the fragrance lasted after washing but it doesn’t.

Montalbano

LUSH Quote – “Deep-cleansing lemon bar. Attention, dull hair!”

This one smells nice, adds a little volume, and adds some shine too.

Ultimate Shine

LUSH Quote – “Solid shampoo for hair that shines”
This would be a good one if you wanted something free of fragrance. I didn’t notice too much extra shine but made my hair feel squeaky clean

Lullaby

LUSH Quote – “An irritated and angry scalp is no one’s friend. It’s a calming lavender Shampoo Bar that’s gentle…”

I haven’t used this yet! It smells so good and is so pretty I’ve put it away until my Jason and the Argan Oil is used up!

Conditioning

Conditioning is a bit of a factor. Mostly I would use a lightweight conditioner from a different hair care line, or skip conditioner altogether, or doing a hair mask instead. So I thought I’d try their solid conditioner too since I liked the shampoo bars so much.

Big Solid Conditioner

LUSH Quote – “For big volume and tons of shine”

I wanted to like this. It doesn’t weigh my hair down too much and adds a bit of shine. But it’s so difficult to use! Especially on short hair. You have to soften it up in the water first, then drag it across strands of your hair. It’s gritty with a waxy texture. It rinses pretty clean but the main reason I’m not loving it is because I mostly condition for my scalps health. This bar does nothing for your scalp. I won’t be repurchasing. Maybe if my hair were longer.

I was obsessed with moody plum shades and Rituel de Fille’s “Lovesick” was a perfect winter cheek with pigment that easily lasted through snowy walks and freezing winds. Dab a little on the cheeks, paired with a shimmering eyeshadow, and some chapstick for the lips, and that was my daily winter routine for quite a long time!

Then I was asked last month about how I was liking the blush and I realized it had become my favorite and I wanted more…

It was difficult to choose which shades I wanted. Outside of the official swatches there was little reviewed about them. Usually I don’t feel compelled to review any new makeup because there’s usually already 50 other blogs with swatches and thoughts and nice photos. Rituel de Fille didn’t seem to have as much of a presence unfortunately. So I decided I’d try my best at putting a review together for anyone that may be interested in these cream blushes. It’s my first swing at a video review so bare with me.

Rituel de Fille Inner Glow Cream Blush

Pros
Buildable pigments
Long lasting
Simple natural ingredients and cruelty-free
Fragrance free
Every shade is cheek, eye and lip safe
Captivating sleek packaging

Cons
Takes a few practice runs to master application

What I like about Rituel de Fille’s cream blush is how bare-bones they are with ingredients. There’s nothing extra. No fillers and no synthetic dyes or fragrance. It’s free from paraben, sulfate, phthalate, and cruelty. And even on my very acne-prone skin it hasn’t caused a single pimple. Not even questionably. Some cream blushes make me think, “Oh, is this pimple from the blush? I dunno, I dunno.” But Rituel de Fille hasn’t given me a single skin woe to question.

Deer Cardigan – UNIQLO
Black & White Tree Sweater – JCrew
Black & White tee – Madewell
Blue Sweater – ASOS
Garçons/Filles Sweater – Madewell

Coats from Madewell (left) and ZARA (right)

The two coats were really good sale finds. I liked how they’re both similar in cut but different in overall style. Both worked with whatever I was wearing so I could choose which based on if I was feeling more feminine or masculine that day. They both held up pretty well too. And they were both extremely soft which can be a challenge to find in wool coats.

Switching gears to loungewear. I recently decided to overhaul what I wore at home. When I first injured my arm I bought 3 oversized striped tees that I could get on and off easily. But since I’ve worn loungewear day after day, week after week, and so much of it is look haggard. So I’ve gotten rid of all the yoga pants that have lost their softness. Shirts that don’t feel 100% comfortable. And anything that doesn’t match well. Pretty much everything had to go. It had been worn into the ground by this point anyway. So I ordered two striped shirts on sale and 2 more pairs of soft black leggings and this is what you’re guaranteed to see me in if it’s day and I’m home.

And one last thing I ordered as a “treat myself” item is a bottle of Glam Glow. I had tried a sample a few times and always saw results. Since being at home my skin has freaked out due to various reasons. One being that face cleanser I blogged about recently.

I got the clearing treatment since my lifetime #1 issue is acne. And I wish I could say, “It’s not worth the cost,” but I can’t! I can’t lie. This stuff is the fastest-working clearing product I’ve ever used and that includes prescription creams and gels. This little bottle has gotten me back to clear skin. Now I’m just working on fading the left over scars…

Natur Savon Washing Foam

This is a face wash from the Kose brand line Softymo. It’s free of paraben, mineral oil, and silicone. Sounded great! My face had been clear for a while so I was willing to take a risk on a product that was free from many of the things that tend to break me out. However, I was disappointed. First thing I noticed it that it was definitely not fragrance free as the fragrance was very strong. Second, it made my face feel a bit itchy after using it. I used it a handful of times and eventually it broke me out really badly.

Natur Savon Washing Foam

Pros
Super clean skin

Cons
Itchy skin
Causes a major breakout
Very strong fragrance
Bottom line, I won’t be buying this again

NATURAL RESOURCE Moisture Cream

This hypoallergenic moisture cream improves skin tone and complexion by keeping moisture in the skin. Dermatologist-tested, non-silicon, fragrance-, colorant-, mineral oil-, oil-based surfactant-, alcohol-, parabens- and synthetic antioxidant (BHT)-free.

A SANA line of skincare, NATURAL RESOURCE boasts both natural ingredients and being “8 free” of many common skin agitators. It’s a very thick cream and a little went a long way. I used almost this entire container. I found this to be a middle-of-the-road moisturizer. Not bad but not great either. Wouldn’t buy it again but may try something else from the brand line.

NATURAL RESOURCE MOISTURE CREAM

Pros
No break outs!
Moisturizing

Cons
Leaves an all day film that gets flakey
Cannot be worn under makeup
Didn’t notice any special improvements of my skin

RO’S ARGAN BODY CONDITIONER

I got this with LUSH’s rose-themed gift set. It’s a thick lotion you use in the shower or bath. It contains “cocoa butter, cupuacu butter, almond oil and Argan oils, and the fragrant scent of fresh rose petals.” It smells really, really great and softens my skin similar to sing bath oils would but without that slick oily feeling. The first time I used this I was blown away at how soft everything I touched felt because of it. Suddenly I owned the softest PJs and softest bedding and softest couch! It does leave a slight film on the skin that I only notice while still in the bath. I prefer it’s texture to the Skin-So-Soft bath oil texture which is my usual go-to in bath skin softener.

RO’S Argan Body Conditioner

Pros
Super softening
Great rose fragrance without being too floral or heavy
Easy to use

Cons
It’s expensive D;
A little doesn’t seem to go a long way

Caress Forever Collection

I wanted to post these up too because they are cheap and easy to find plus roses! It’s a new body wash line from Caress. It uses what they’ve termed as “fragrance touch technology” to continually surround you with fragrance. And I’ll admit, these sort of do really work. It’s not an obnoxious lingering scent. It really comes and goes as you move or sweat. And the scent that stays is more subtle than when you first apply it. The body wash is quite thick and reminds me of cake batter. The fragrance is less of a pure rose and more of a deep perfume smell. It’s rich and sensual in my opinion so maybe not great for someone super sensitive to fragrance. I’m pretty sensitive to these sort of smells but didn’t notice any headaches or annoyance with it at all. I’ve been using these for weeks now. I literally saw the commercial where roses are falling off this woman and ran that same night to Target and bought a 4-pack that was on sale for the same price as 2!

Caress Forever Collection

Pros
Really works, fragrance is touch-sensitive
Moisturizing!
Even the soap is pretty in color with tons of wash-away shimmer
Rich romantic fragrance

Cons
No “true rose” scent yet
While the black packaging is meant to be seductive, I think a clear package would take better advantage of showing off how attractive the wash itself is

So here they are in no particular order.

I made a set of mini apple and mini berry pies last week. Baking a whole pie feels like a much bigger hassle than whipping these guys. Basically within an hour I’m eating pie and ice cream. Having this one with Starbuck’s iced coffee. I was giving the brand a try. I prefer Illy’s more bitter taste for quick cold coffee.

I bought some essential oils from muji because they restocked their yuzu. Their yuzu is alright. The yuzu Anna sent me was a million times better but I can deal. Plus the other two scents I got from Muji are really great.

I learned that ivy is another plant that you can propagate and grew in just water. So I clipped a few vines from the shared fence with the neighbor and started growing some in my existing topiary jars. Now I have devil’s ivy with lavender and english ivy.

I found the “Harmony Aroma” body washes from Bathclin. These are really nice and different. The soap is creamy and creates a thick lather. The fragrances have a woodsy, herb note to them, even the rose version.

I also bought Lee magazine. It’s a casual, natural lifestyle magazine for women in their late 20’s to mid 30’s. It includes casual looks for the office, at home, out on dates, or out with young kids. I thought it might be too family oriented but it’s actually pretty balanced between family, working, single, etc. The home section is fantastic with simple aesthetics and recipes. The makeup and clothing is great too. Not too high-end but not overtly trendy and cheap.

I got to have some real German food for the first time in ages as well as remind myself how potent kirschwasser is.

Lastly I’ve started yoga. Though I feel “yoga” is a loaded word full of expectations of health, juice cleanses, studio visits, and kale chips. I didn’t start that yoga lifestyle. I just started Yin Yoga for my back and legs. Yin yoga focuses on stretching the skeletal muscles. There are fewer and easier positions. And I’ve kept doing it because I’m feeling the results. My back and legs are far less tight. I was having troubles walking recently from my calf muscles being so tight even after massages and muscle relaxers.

I do the stretches about every other night usually after a hot bath or right before bed. You keep the positions longer than in traditional yoga. So even though I didn’t get into it for the “peace of mind” you are sort of forced to relax and almost meditate as you keep some positions for 3~5 minutes.

The Petal Pusher Oil is fantastic! Everything about this feels nostalgic. The preserved rose buds, the fact it’s a roll-on, and overall fragrance of the oil. Reminds me of a rose soap scent. Very light and very clean.

The Mermaid Perfume has notes of orange blossom and the overall fragrance reminds me of honeysuckle. It’s very light and airy.

These 2 new perfumes plus the Oceane I bought in February are new for me. I usually like to stick with fragrances I know. I’m sensitive to some notes and can get headaches easily with the wrong perfume (Chloe even causes me nausea even though I think the fragrance is very nice.) The bottom 4 are my “usuals.” The Living Grace is only a little new to me as I bought it last summer because of Supernatural. I’d consider Bvlgari’s au the vert my signature scent. If I could only own 1 it would be that forever & ever.

I’m excited to have more variety for the summer :)

I listed over 50+ mini-reviews! They’re divided into the 4 categories below.

Skin Care

Makeup

Nail Polish

Hair Care

Juju Peach Whitening Water

A moisturizing and whitening toner. I really like using this in the summer. It smells wonderful and helps lighten acne scars and red, irritated patches. It’s not drying like a lot of toners and I can use it in the mornings since it absorbs completely into the skin. Really really love this stuff.

Juju Mary Mary Skin Conditioner Gel

This gel smells GREAT, like lemon meringue pie, and the formula is composed of very simple ingredients making it a fantastic night cream. Doesn’t break me out or leave a sticky feeling to my skin. It’s not particularly moisturizing but doesn’t leave the skin feeling too dry either.

My Beauty Diary Rose and Peony Sleep Concentrate

Favorite gel based moisturizer! It is so, so moisturizing and smells amazing. It’s really subtle and calming and the gel just left my skin so ultra-moist. And my skin was so clear and bright when I was using this! I was really sad when I ran out of it.

Meishoku Organic Rose Moisture Cream

Loved this cream! I used it as a night cream and it smelled so great and kept my skin super clear and bright! Really moisturizing too. I love this whole line.

Meishoku Organic Rose Moisture Emulsion

A more liquid’y version of the cream, this emulsion offers a lighter way to moisturize. Another one I’d use at night, and especially when my skin was feeling dry or sensitive, because this product is very mild.

Meishoku Organic Rose Moisture Lotion

A moisturizing type of skin toner, I only ever used this at night because it’s a little heavy for wearing under makeup. It adds a nice layer of moisture that I could then top off with a night cream. Might be too heavy for oily skin.

Meishoku Organic Rose Skin Conditioner

A clarifying toner, I use this in the mornings. It dries clear and does a good job at brightening skin and shrinking pores. It can be a bit drying so I only use it on my T-zone (oily areas of combination skin.)

Meishoku Organic Rose Skin Conditioning Gel

A moisturizing gel lotion I use as a night cream. It only takes a little and skin is hydrated immediately. Some of the gel can dry and peel off if applied too thickly.

SANA Nameraka Honpo Soy Milk Arbutin Toner

Though I like this series this toner didn’t really have any amazing effect for my skin. It didn’t break me out but it also didn’t really brighten my skin or fade acne scars or shrink pores either. A bit useless and non-effective.

SANA Nameraka Honpo Soy Milk Face Cream

Love to use this as a night cream. A little goes a long way so a single jar lasts a while. It really locks in moisture and helps fade dark spots. It’s also really gentle and never caused me any acne. I buy this again & again. It’s a great default night cream.

SANA Nameraka Honpo Soy Milk Q10 Essence

Very nice essence lotion! Lightweight and brightens skin by fading dark spots such as acne scars. Never broke me out. I would often use this after work after removing my office makeup. Because it’s very moisturizing and gives a clarifying glow to the skin I would sometimes wear it alone on makeup-free days.

SANA Nameraka Honpo Soy Milk Q10 Cleansing Wash

Broke me out. I have awful luck with washes. Nearly everything new I try breaks me out. I have a daily face wash from Clinique that I use but sometimes I like to try new stuff. This stuff was really gentle and thorough but gave me some zits.

SANA Nameraka Honpo Soy Milk Wrinkle Eye Cream

This is a decent moisturizing eye cream. It helps keep my lids from getting too puffy. I apply it at night because it didn’t wear well under makeup. Not great but not bad either and keeps the skin moisturized.

Hadabisei Moisturizing Facial Mask (30 Day Wrinkle Care)

A daily mask that comes in a pop-up pack. It’s a quick 5 minute mask that I’d use for a refreshing moment or immediately after removing my makeup after work. Moisturizing and brightening. Nice for a daily treatment since the mask isn’t too wet and stays in place easily.

MSH EyesCream Liquid Eyeliner in chocolatte

Great rich brown shade with a good tip and formula for creating intricate lines. However it dries quickly which makes fixing mistakes somewhat difficult. The pen ran out really quickly too!

Bison Sweetsalon W liquid eyeliner and powder combo in bitter chocolate

Wow this was the worst thing I have ever tried ever. I actually threw this away after trying to use it a handful of times. The liquid side was a runny mess when applying. The liner bleeds as it dries not to mention the tip is so thick that you can only do super thick lines with it. The powder side was useless. I could get some of the color to show but not easily. It was very blotchy, uneven coloring from the powder. Just… wow, so bad.

Dolly Wink Black Liquid Eyeliner

Nice smudge proof liquid liner. It goes on easily and doesn’t pull. The tip is a little wide so it’s better for thicker lines. Dries quickly and easy to remove. A nice straightforward liquid liner!

Dolly Wink Brown Liquid Eyeliner

Decent brown liquid liner. Very similar to the black liner version. The shade is a very dark brown almost close to being black. I liked it but it wasn’t my favorite brown liner. There are better brown liners out there.

Dolly Wink Brown Mascara (Long)

Fantastic light brown shade that adds smudge proof length and is easy to remove. It’s not as dramatic as the black version though and can take a bit long to completely dry.

Dolly Wink Black Mascara (Long)

Great lengthening mascara that’s easy to remove with just warm water. This is the only brand I’ll apply to my bottom lashes because it’s the only formula I’ve found to be completely smudge proof.

Dolly Wink Black Mascara (Volume)

Volumizing mascara that’s easy to remove with just warm water. This mascara adds volume but also tends to clump and takes some extra time to dry. Not my favorite for volume in look but super love how easy it is to remove.

Lovedrops Mascara (Long, Deep Brown)

This mascara gives lashes a really natural look. I use 2 coats and my lashes always look a little longer and really feathery, no clumping at all. The formula smells like roses too. The mascara doesn’t smudge and is easy to remove with warm water. A very lightweight mascara.

Lovedrops Liquid Eyeliner (Deep Brown)

I like this eyeliner formula a lot. It’s a vivid brown color that looks good with both brown or black mascaras. The formula is really silky and dries nicely. You can draw really fine lines or use it to draw thick winged liner. It’s waterproof but removes easily with makeup remover. Also it smells like roses!

Bonavoce Liquid Eyeliner (Royal Brown)

Loved this liner for big cat eye looks! The brown shade is very light and super sweet. Only complaint is that it can get runny while inside the cap. A definite favorite!

Naris Up Wink Up Maxigrade Liquid Eyeliner (Black)

Really great, intense black liquid liner. Goes on smooth and doesn’t smudge. Good for medium thick lines but the tip is a little too fat for ultra-thin lining. I bought this one over and over in the past. Easy to remove with makeup remover.

K-Palette Real Lasting Liquid Eyeliner (Black & Brown)

One of my favorite brands for both black and brown liquid liners. The brown is a deep, deep brown almost black. This liner never fades, smudges, or bleeds. It comes off easily with makeup remover and the pen lasts a long time. Love this brand for daily liquid liner!

La Rose de Versailles Princess Antoinette Lovely Eyes Liquid Eyeliner (Dark Brown)

One of my all time favorite brown liners. It’s a dark brown but still a soft color that’s not mistakenly black. It goes on extremely well and lasts all day. It also smells like roses!

Love Switch Pink Brown Liquid Eyeliner

One of the prettiest shades of brown liner out there! The formula is just OK but the color makes up for whatever it’s lacking. It’s such a soft and shiny pink brown shade that makes beautiful wing-liner looks!

Love Switch SWEET Pink Pearl Brown Mascara

Pretty! Very lovely color that does a great job of giving even the blackest of lashes a sweet look of pink brown. Color reflecting flecks in the mascara add a pretty sheen. The formula is clumpy and thick and takes a while to dry though. Also difficult to remove but does add volume because of the thick formula.

Love Switch Pink Brown Curl Mascara

Didn’t love it. The color was pretty enough but the formula was too thick and caused clumps plus impossible to remove! It stayed tacky and wet for so long and I didn’t notice any extra curl look.

Love Switch Pink Brown Mascara

The original version of Love Switch’s brown mascaras, this gives lashes a great light brown shade. The formula adds a little bit of volume and drama though takes a little longer to dry and is a little difficult to remove. It’s not the best formula but it’s a good brown mascara staple to have.

Majolica Majorca Lash King Black Mascara

Amazing volume and length! Makes my lashes look like falsies. This stuff says POW! Down side is it’s pretty difficult to remove but for ultra-knockout black lashes it’s KING!

Majolica Majorca Lash King Brown Mascara

Great volume adding mascara in a neutral brown shade. Not as dramatic as the black formula but adds a lot of natural looking drama. A little difficult to remove still.

Dejavu Fiberwig Extra Long Mascara

I’ve bought this mascara in black, brown, and wine red. It’s a fantastic daily-wear mascara. It’s extremely easy to apply and remove. Lasts all day, doesn’t smudge, and adds noticeable length to lashes. Easily one of the best (and original) fiber mascaras out there!

Dejavu Fiberwig Lash Knockout Mascara (Black)

I was disappointed with this mascara. I love the extra long version from Fiberwig but this mascara did next to nothing for my lashes. I couldn’t even tell a difference.

KISS Mix Heart Shade Blush (Dolly Pink)

A spontaneous purchase of an inexpensive brand, this blush is my favorite pinkest-pink shade. I wish I had bought all the shades in this series. The color is highly pigmented while the highlighter is shimmery but not overdone and blends really well. Even the included brush is good enough for application. I feel this is a really overlooked brand that deserves more attention!

Ettusais Zero Pore Coat

Broke me out. Made my pores disappear but what’s the point if it causes me zits? I was so disappointed because it’s oil-free, color-free, everything free, but I don’t have much luck with pore fillers to begin with due to my acne-prone skin.

Ettusais BB Mineral Cream

My bb cream for years now! I use the Light shade and it’s such a great color match. It’s really lightweight to wear, lasts all day, and doesn’t break me out.
Love it!

Ettusais BB Mineral White

Though I love my Ettusais BB Cream this “white” version, which has sparkling flecks that reflect light, clogged my pores a bit. I ended up switching back to the original after this whitening version broke me out.

MISSHA BB Cream

I like both Vita M and Perfect Cover. They’re a little heavy but the coverage is amazing. I never break out from MISSHA bb creams either. My only problem with them is color match. Sometimes I’m too light for the Vita so I go with the lightest of the Perfect Cover but sometimes I need to blend two shades of perfect cover to get a good match.

Bison Baby Pink BB Cream

I tried both shades of this bb cream formula. The color match to my fair skin was OK but the formula broke me out. It’s lightweight and has good coverage but clogged my pores badly.

Dior Addict Gloss “No Angel”

Favorite gloss because it’s gorgeous, adds a healthy pink tone, and I always get compliments on it. I can put it on without a mirror too which is a huge plus.

Ettusais Lip Essence

I used to really like these but over time I stopped. The formula has a sorta strange underlying smell. I tried various versions of it and they all have it, it’s sort of oily smelling. I don’t like them anymore.

Lavshuca Flower Syrup Gloss red

Meh. Very tacky texture. The color is really nice and the gloss lasts a while after applying but I have to use a mirror to make sure I apply it cleanly or else it’s very noticeable.

Majolica Majorca Honey Pump Gloss Neo pk246

Smells and tastes amazing! Outside of that it’s just a typical gloss. It does feel a little moisturizing though and adds some pretty shimmer.

Estee Lauder Nail Lacquer

My favorite nail polish. This stuff can last an easy 5 days chip free. When I used to wear it with Ettusais gel top coat it would last 7 days chip free and 10 full days looking decent. Usually only needs a single coat for perfect color. Plus their Pure Red is pure perfection.

Ettusais Nail Polish Gel Top Coat

All time favorite top coat! It’s shiny as frick and looks gorgeous for days. It does crease a little after a few days but it’s only noticeable up close. A lot of people complain about this polish but I think you have to know how to apply it correctly. It dries to the touch so quickly!

Dior Gel Top Coat

I use this because Ettusais is hard to get in the States. Looks gorgeous, dries fast. Apply it using 1 drop per nail. It doesn’t go on like regular top coats. Adds lasting power to the underlying color polish. Can form hairline fractures after 4 or more days of wear but doesn’t start chipping until around day 6.

Majolica Majorca Glass Drop Gel Coat

Good & dries fast! Beautiful glossy gel look. Forms small cracks and scuffs easily after a few days but never thickens in bottle. I used an entire bottle of this because it was so nice.

Essential Ultra Honey Hair Mask

Best hair mask I’ve ever tried ever. It was perfect for my thin, flat hair! It added a ton of shine and volume that lasted multiple days even after shampooing. Also it smelled really great and uplifting. This hair mask is THE BEEEEST.

MA CHERIE Air Feel Treatment

Nice treatment that adds a bit of shine and a lot of softness. Effects last about 2 days. Smells really nice like the other items from this series with a sort of fruity floral scent.

Elence 2001 Twin Scalp Hair Pack EX-2 (For Fine Hair)

This hair mask focues on the scalp to promote healthy hair from the root. It smells pretty great! Fruity but not too sweet. It works nicely adding some softness and body for a day or two.

Elence 2001 Straight Water (Juicy Apple)

Smells great and works well to create sleek straight hair when used on damp hair and blow dried. But the scent fades immediately and the formula is a bit heavy. Looks greasy if applied to dry hair or not blow dried.

Elence 2001 Twin Scalp Treatment Water EX-2 (For Fine Hair)

A healthy scalp spray that guards your hair from styling damage. I guess it works? I didn’t notice any difference.

MA CHERIE Perfect Shower Smooth

Great for bedhead since it’s for use on dry hair. I really like this stuff. Adds a bit of shine, a bit of body, smells nice, and when used with a quick blow dry it makes hair look freshly washed.

MA CHERIE Perfect Shower Wave

For use on dry hair, I didn’t like this as much as the Smooth version. Adds a bit of body and leaves any waves you might have. Probably best for those with perms or naturally wavy hair.

Prostyle Morning Reset Water (Rose)

Fantastic reset spray for use on dry hair. Just spray it all over, brush and let air dry or blow dry and any waves, crimping, or messy bedhead is gone! Plus the scent, which I would describe as “clean rose,” is subtle but lasts throughout the day.

Venus Spa Hair Fragrance Spray (Marrakech Rose)

Disappointing. I used this on damp hair in hopes of adding some shine and fragrance. The scent doesn’t last at all and the spray is heavy leaving a greasy feeling behind.

Loretta Fluffy Hairspray

The packaging is cute as hell! This “hairspray” is less about hold and more about adding a light, airy texture to styled hair. I like it. It’s not too heavy but still adds some definition. It doesn’t have a fragrance which I found disappointing.

Baby Veil Floral Champagne Hair Fragrance

A light hair fragrance that smells of rose and helps neutralize odors like cigarette smoke, food smells, and anything else. This spray was really great at neutralizing odor but the rose scent didn’t last very long after applying it.

Sala Rose Hair Fragrance

MY FAVORITE JAPANESE HAIR COLOGNE! The rose scent is so luxurious and heavenly. Plus it lasts hours and hours. It goes on so light and easy and the can last for quite a while because the fragrance is so strong. It easily masks any unwanted odors like food.

Je l’aime Secret des Bois Shampoo + Treatment

Very nature-focused hair care with a strong eucalyptus and tea tree scent. It smells and feels very clean! It’s a lightweight formula that leaves hair looking ultra-shiny and fresh.

Bene Premium Bluria Shampoo + Treatment

Really nice rose scented hair care that focuses on maintaining a healthy scalp. This shampoo and conditioner gives my hair a little body and a lot of shine. Pretty great shampoo especially for colored or permed hair.

Rose of Heaven Shampoo + Conditioner

I love this line! The rose scent is luxurious and last all day. The shampoo and conditioner add a nice volume and softness to my hair.

Well, they’re here! …
Some of them at least

One Amazon store called Beautyworks sent the Angel Heart Hair Wash instead of the Hair Treatment I ordered. They were actually out of the treatment when I contacted them so they refunded my money and told me to just keep the Hair Wash. OK, that was really cool of them and I would order from them again. :)

The other Amazon store sent me a single tracking code for my order. When it arrived there was only 1 item in the package! When I contacted them they apologized and said the other items were “lost in transit.” These items were now sold out so they refunded my money and shipping for those items. I was disappointed because I wouldn’t have ordered this body spray if I wasn’t already ordering the Angel Heart items. On the plus side the spray smells pretty good. A nice apple and does soften the skin some.

I get the feeling that ordering these things on Amazon can be really unpredictable. I had figured Amazon was a last ditch effort to get hard to find items and it seems proven right. Also it’s rare to find any of these items available for Prime. However, in the end, I did at least get my 1 bottle of Angel Heart Hair Wash so I’m still happy :)

I’ve been trying even more overnight face masks from Etude House after liking their Moonlight in Spoon masks. I got these from Yesstyle here. There are 7; one for each night of the week. Each sleeping pack has a different key ingredient. And with each different pack the textures change.

So the Royal Jelly mask has a honey-like texture while the Aloe mask has a jelly feel to it with bits of aloe to it. For each one you just add it as the last step to your normal night return. After it dries you leave it on throughout the night and wash it off in the morning. These all dry clear. You forget you even applied it until you wash it off the next morning.

Etude House I Need You, Everyday! Sleeping Pack

Pros
Each pack offers different qualities
Each type is really effective with overnight results
Plenty of product in each pack
Didn’t cause any breakouts

Cons
The fragrance might be too strong for some. It’s more of a perfume version of the natural scents but disappears once the mask dries. I’m sensitive to strong scents and it didn’t bother me though. :)

Let me tell you about these little spoon mask packs I tried recently. I LOVE THEM. No… I L O V E THEM. They smell great, moisturize great, feel great, and no breakouts!

So after I tried Etude House’s It’s Real Pumpkin Mask I really wanted to try more from them. I got these Moonlight in Spoon night creams courtesy from Yesstyle. I tried the Evening Primrose and the Rosehip versions last week.

You peel back the film then break off the handle of the spoon. Use it to mix together the two gel cream formulas within the spoon. Then just apply to clean skin before bed. I applied mine about 40 minutes before actually climbing into bed. It gave the cream enough time to become fully absorbed so you don’t have to worry about a sticky pillow or transfer of the cream. In the morning just rinse it off with warm water. Honestly I forgot I put it on until I got under the shower and felt the mask washing off. It really does stay on top of your skin all night and works its magic.

Etude House Moonlight in Spoon Blending Sleeping Cream

Pros
Very moisturizing and nourishing
Easy to apply and less fussy than a mask
Loved the natural scent (not too perfume-like)
Didn’t cause any zits
Face looked fresh in the morning
Can be used on top of other nightly regime products

Cons
Slow drying with about 30 mins of a sticky texture
Tons of leftover product (makes me feel wasteful because there’s enough for 2 people which might be a pro for someone else)

The rosehip version smelled really, really good! The scent lessens after the mask dries but I just really liked the rosehip fragrance so much. The primrose had a nice fragrance as well but it was much weaker compared to rosehip. Hope to try the others soon as well!

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