Thursday, August 29, 2013
Fall Video Schedule 2013
Starting this coming Monday, my new "Fall Schedule" will be in affect. There will be new videos every Monday and Friday, and new blog posts every weekday here on Dreaming in Blush. I'm so excited for this! Leave me a comment with video requests, and tell me what you think of this series!
Thursday, August 22, 2013
Review: Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask
The Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask is a product that I have been dying to get my hands on ever since I first read about it on several beauty blogs. It was just a matter of time before I picked it up, and sure enough, a few weeks ago I did.
I have tried overnight masks before, with the Sisley Express Flower Gel mask coming to mind as the best, and I have always loved them. I adore the idea of going to sleep with an intensely hydrating mask on your face to moisturize and soothe it through the night, leaving you with baby soft, dewy, and plumped skin in the morning. The problem with the Sisley one was the price… it was $136 for 2.1 oz. I know that’s a lot, and because of that I found it hard to recommend it whole-heartedly (even though it’s lovely).
So imagine my happiness when I tried this one and realized it worked just as well! And it’s only $24! And for more product - that's the price for the bigger size, 3.4 oz. I’m sure the Sisley one has ingredients that are lovely for your skin, and trust me, I’m going to use it up completely and enjoy every drop, but this one is a much more budget-friendly option that does the job just as beautifully.
It smells of fruit and the scent doesn’t linger too long after application. I like to apply this quite thick, after my serums, in place of my moisturizer, and let it “sink in” for about 10 minutes. By that point my dry skin has "drunk it all up" (Get it? Cause it's called "Drink Up"?), so I apply a bit more on top and go to sleep. It goes on clear, but is a tad bit sticky so I always rinse my hands after and let it sink in for a bit before snuggling into my pillow. In the morning my skin appears more healthy and plump, and just better looking overall. I swear guys, this stuff is what dreams are made of.
This mask has avocado and apricot kernel oil to deeply and instantly hydrate your skin, and Japanese seaweed to repair your skin's barrier and prevent future dehydration and signs of premature aging. It also has my favorite ingredient ever, hyaluronic acid. If you look at the ingredient list it contains a ton of different flower waters and extracts, which the Sisley mask also has, and are meant to be lovely for your skin.
This mask has avocado and apricot kernel oil to deeply and instantly hydrate your skin, and Japanese seaweed to repair your skin's barrier and prevent future dehydration and signs of premature aging. It also has my favorite ingredient ever, hyaluronic acid. If you look at the ingredient list it contains a ton of different flower waters and extracts, which the Sisley mask also has, and are meant to be lovely for your skin.
I highly recommend this… it’s for all skin types, but especially for you normal to dry skinned girls – try this! Your skin will thank you! This is honestly one of my all time favorite skincare products - you need this.
Ingredients:
Water, Rosa Damascena (Rose) Flower Water, Myrtus Communis (Myrtle) Leaf Water, Citrus Aurantium Amara (Bitter Orange) Flower Water, Anthemis Nobilis (Chamomile) Flower Water, Glycerin, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Polymethacrylate, Dimethicone, PEG-75, PEG-8, Glycereth-26, Sorbitan Stearate, Citrus Aurantium Amara (Bitter Orange) Flower Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Amara (Bitter Almond) Kernel Oil, Rosa Damascena (Rose) Flower Oil, Cinnamomum Camphora (Shiu/Camphore Leaf) Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Sweet Orange) Oil, Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel Oil, Osmanthus Fragrans (Osmantus Absolute) Flower Extract, Ribes Nigrum (Blackcurrant) Seed Extract, Linalool, Limonene, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Cladosiphon Okamuranus Extract, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Extract, Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernel Extract, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Extract, Triticum Vulgare (Wheat Bran) Extract, PEG-100 Stearate, Sucrose, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Wax, Panthenol, Pantethine, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Mangifera Indica (Mango) Seed Butter, Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel Oil, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Butylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Punica Granatum (Pomegranate) Sterols, Tocopheryl Acetate, Oryzanol, Bisabolol, Caprylyl Glycol, Caffeine, Hexylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Dextrin, Potassium Carbomer, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Phenoxyethanol
Ingredients:
Water, Rosa Damascena (Rose) Flower Water, Myrtus Communis (Myrtle) Leaf Water, Citrus Aurantium Amara (Bitter Orange) Flower Water, Anthemis Nobilis (Chamomile) Flower Water, Glycerin, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Polymethacrylate, Dimethicone, PEG-75, PEG-8, Glycereth-26, Sorbitan Stearate, Citrus Aurantium Amara (Bitter Orange) Flower Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Amara (Bitter Almond) Kernel Oil, Rosa Damascena (Rose) Flower Oil, Cinnamomum Camphora (Shiu/Camphore Leaf) Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Sweet Orange) Oil, Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel Oil, Osmanthus Fragrans (Osmantus Absolute) Flower Extract, Ribes Nigrum (Blackcurrant) Seed Extract, Linalool, Limonene, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Cladosiphon Okamuranus Extract, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Extract, Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernel Extract, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Extract, Triticum Vulgare (Wheat Bran) Extract, PEG-100 Stearate, Sucrose, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Wax, Panthenol, Pantethine, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Mangifera Indica (Mango) Seed Butter, Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel Oil, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Butylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Punica Granatum (Pomegranate) Sterols, Tocopheryl Acetate, Oryzanol, Bisabolol, Caprylyl Glycol, Caffeine, Hexylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Dextrin, Potassium Carbomer, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Phenoxyethanol
Wednesday, August 21, 2013
Review: Clarins Bright Plus Gentle Renewing Brightening Peel
You
guys know of my love for my Cane & Austin Retexturizing Treatment Pads,
which are filled with Glycolic Acid, so it probably comes as no surprise that I
have dabbled in a few other chemical exfoliates. Since my skin is sensitive and dry, I
find that chemical exfoliates are a lot more gentle on my skin than physical
ones (you know, the ones with the little gritty bits that scrub your skin?) I
have a few more that I am also trying out, including the infamous Alpha-H and the Pixi Glow
Tonic, but since those are harder to get in the States I picked up one that’s
readily available – the Clarins Bright Plus Gentle Renewing Brightening Peel.
This
one has Alpha Hydroxy Acid (AHA), and it works as a very
gentle exfoliate. I find this much more gentle than the Cane & Austin pads,
so I don’t mind using this liberally – twice a day if I feel up for it. I apply
it after cleansing and before serum/moisturizer, as you do with all
toner/exfoliates.
This
one in particular is meant to eliminate dead skin cells to reveal luminous,
bright skin with a soft, rosy glow. It is also said to help tighten pores, and
to leave your skin smoother than before. It has “tamarind, white nettle, and
mimosa tenuiflora extracts, which help your skin naturally exfoliate while
surrounding it in gentle, soothing freshness.”
My
thoughts? I think it’s a very nice, soothing product, but it’s a bit too gentle
for me. I like a bit of a “kick” or a “sting”, so this product doesn’t give me
the same satisfaction as the Cane & Austin pads. That being said, I am very
happy to have this for nights where I don’t want to bother my skin too much – I
just want to cleanse and go to bed. It refreshes my skin without irritating my
skin in the slightest. I could also see this being quite enjoyable when I’m not
feeling that well and therefore don’t want stingy things on my face. This would definitely be a great "starter" toner, for people who want to start with the chemical toners but are a bit wary of them. Oh, and don't let the word "peel" in the name scare you - this is VERY gentle.
In
a medicine cabinet full of skincare goodies, this one is labeled my “gentle
chemical toner”, otherwise known as my “toner for when I can’t be bothered to
treat my skin”. And by treat I mean, “get in there and rough it up a bit”… not
“treat” as in “apply a luxury product” – this product is still quite luxurious.
I recommend.
P.S. It does worry me a bit that "alcohol" is it's second ingredient... although it is followed up with glycerin in third place, which counters that nicely. But still.
Also, I think this is the same toner as the "Clarins Gentle Exfoliator Brightening Toner"... not sure if it's a repackage or if that's the British version since I read about it over on Caroline Hirons blog. But the ingredients look the same, and Caroline loves it, which makes me feel much better about it having alcohol so high up on the ingredient list.
Ingredients:
Water, Alcohol, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Tromethamine, Glycolic Acid, PPG-5-Ceteth-20, Tartaric Acid, Cellulose Gum, Arginine, Tamarindus Indica Extract, Disodium EDTA, Salicylic Acid, Lamium Album Flower Extract, Fragrance, Sambucus Nigra Flower Extract, Hydrolyzed Opuntia Ficus-Indica Flower Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Sorbic Acid, Mimosa Tenuiflora Bark Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Sorbate, Benzyl Salicylate, Geraniol, Citronellol, Benzyl Benzoate, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Hydroxyisohexyl 3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde, Limonene, Hexyl Cinnamal
Tuesday, August 20, 2013
New Products I'm Testing #2
This morning I thought I'd do a second edit of "New Products I'm Testing". Since starting my blog I've been sent a slew of new products from some great PR companies, including a bunch of skin and hair stuff, which is great for this beauty-obsessed girl. These are the next ones up for testing... a great mix from some amazing brands. I can't wait to give all of these a proper try!
From left to right, we have:
Darphin Aromatic Cleansing Balm with Rosewood*: I've already given this a go but I need to try it a bit more before giving it a proper review. It's a balm cleanser, which I love, that emulsifies into a purifying milk to remove dirt, oils, and eye makeup without causing irritation. It has marula oil to condition and hydrate your skin, while sage, ylang ylang and rosewood oils tone, brighten and rejuvenate your complexion. I was recommended this on twitter actually by a reader so I'm quite enjoying using it.
Kiehl's Skin Tone Correcting & Beautifying BB Cream*: I was sent this in a few different shades, but I'm thinking either "Fair" or "Fair/Light" will be "the one". This is a dual-action product that conceals with lightweight coverage while clinically correcting skin tone irregularities. It has a high level of Vitamin C, which is great for your skin, along with SPF 50 PA+++ to help fight future sun damage. It's also paraben, silicone, and mineral oil free, and since my skin is slightly allergic to silicones that is great news for me. I think on paper this product sounds like such a winner, so I will definitely let you know my thoughts after testing it.
Bumble and Bumble Surf Foam Wash Shampoo and Creme Rinse Conditioner*: I have heard amazing things about this duo from just about every beauty blogger, as it seems to be making its rounds around the online beauty community, so this is another one that I was particularly excited to receive. It's meant to give you tousled, beachy waves with lots of texture and bounce. This would have been great to have over the summer while I was actually at the beach, but maybe it's best to test it when my hair isn't actually being immersed in ocean water daily.
Bumble and Bumble Thickening Dryspun Finish*: I hadn't heard anything about this prior to being sent a sample, but I like the idea behind it. It's basically a translucent dry spray that adds fullness and texture to your hair, similar I imagine to the Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray. It has raw silk powders with light holding polymers to adhere to your hair and make it look weightless and full for the whole day. Some bold claims - I can't wait to test this one out.
NUDE Perfect Cleansing Oil*: This is another one that I have read positive things about and so I was quite excited to receive a sample. It's packed full of omega 3 and 6, and is meant to deeply cleanse and hydrate. It is 100% natural and good for your skin. This is something I can't wait to try! *Puts by sink to use tonight*
Benefit Cosmetics Bathina Body Oil Mist*: Benefit has the best packaging, don't they? This is marketed as a "Silky and Seductive Body Oil Mist" that absorbs immediately for immediate hydration. It has sweet almond, olive and avocado oils to leave skin feeling soft and moisturized, plus Vitamin E to help keep it firm. It also has a slight sheen and a bit of a fragrance, to up the flirtation factor. I plan on trying this after my next shower - I think I'll know immediately if I like it.
You might see some of these in upcoming blog posts - Write a comment below if there is one in particular you would like to see a full review on!
* = PR Samples
Monday, August 19, 2013
Tea Party is CLOSED!
Starting right now (9pm PST), and running for the next hour, I will be answering questions and giving advice to any comments left below (on this post). Try to limit your comment to one question.
Make sure to skim through the last couple tea parties questions before deciding what to ask... one question per person please! Last time I got a lot of repeat questions so if you read through those you can get lots of answers and then ask me one that you haven't seen me answer yet, so in a way you get more than one answered!
Just like last time it will be first come, first served. I will try to answer them as best I can!
Make sure you click that little "Join this site" button on my sidebar, as shown here, in order to be able to comment! :) Talk to you soon!
Review: Kate Somerville Deep Tissue Repair Cream with Peptide K8
Jeez this a hard product to photograph. Something about the silver of the canister and the reflective light I use to brighten my photos made this impossible to photograph. Alas, it is done, albeit not that beautifully.
I’m quite on the fence with this product. On one hand, I adore Kate Somerville, and both her Goat Milk Cream and her Nourish Daily Moisturizer are regulars around my bathroom sink, but this particular product gives me pause.
Maybe it’s the price. Maybe it’s the scent. Maybe it’s that I don’t know what Peptide K8 is. But whatever the reason, I am stumped.
First of all, the Kate Somerville Deep Tissue Repair Cream with Peptide K8* is $150, for the smaller size. The bigger size is $500 (I know!). That’s INSANE. I was gifted this by a PR girl (I purchased my other Kate Somerville creams), so I didn’t pay for it, but still. Now, I’ll be the first to spend huge monies on a cream if I think it’s heavenly, and in fact have over and over with my beloved Pevonia Myoxy-Caviar Cream, which costs nearly as much at $188 for 1.7 oz (the smaller Deep Tissue is only 1 oz, so it still works out to be more expensive), so it would be hypocritical to say that the price is the reason I’m on the fence with this product. But, on top of that, it has a funny smell. Personally I think maybe it’s just my nose because I tend to think that all of Kate Somerville’s products have a “funny” smell, but since her other products work so beautifully I ignore it. It is said to be "floral" on Kate's website. Then again, the website claims her "Goat Milk Cream" has no scent - and that is definitely not true.
According to her website, this anti-aging moisturizer has an exclusive blend of peptides designed to provide intense hydration. The Peptide K8 is designed to dramatically improve skin's texture and tone, while Babassu Seed and Hemp Seed help increase the look of firmness. It also has a Ceramide-infused Peptide which is formulated to reduce the visible depth of wrinkles (fascinating...). And lastly, an advanced moisture complex helps to prevent water loss and helps keep skin more evenly balanced.
The product works well – it goes on beautifully, sinks in quickly, and makes my skin feel baby smooth, but I’m just not sure it’s $150 worth of wonderful. Maybe if I was a bit older and really needed the anti-aging benefits, but for now I think other creams work better for my skin. Maybe if I had wrinkles to reduce the depth of, ya know? Cause that's cool. (And for those of you that are all “OMG you look SO OLD! You are aging so BADLY!” - Bah humbug to you. I’m sure you look like a rose.)
I am the type that likes every aspect of my skincare routine to be one big "ahh" moment; I think the more you enjoy it the more likely you are to actually DO it, so the scent thing bothers me. Scents are personal, and you might give this a sniff at Sephora and love it, but I find myself reaching for my Pevonia Caviar cream in the evenings instead of this stuff. Now that is one product that I LOVE the smell of. It smells like my favorite facial, and instantly relaxes me.
So yeah, those are my thoughts on this product. It’s nice, I’ll use it up (happily), and I'll think $150 thoughts every time I apply it, but I won’t be purchasing it when I’ve used it up. I just think her other creams are better.
BTW I highly recommend her Goat Milk Cream if you have sensitive/dry skin and her Nourish Daily Moisturizer if you have sensitive/dry skin and want anti-aging benefits as well… both are lovely and much more affordable, while still being high-end.
Ingredients:
Water/Aqua/Eau, Stearic Acid, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ceteareth-20, Glycerin, Isopropyl Myristate, Isocetyl Stearoyl Stearate, Dimethicone, Cyclopentasiloxane, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Orbignya Oleifera Seed Oil, Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil, Squalane, Cholesterol, Urea, Sodium PCA, Cetearyl Alcohol, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Silk Powder, Tribehenin, Triethanolamine, Xanthan Gum, Butylene Glycol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Allantoin, Trehalose, Citrus Grandis (Grapefruit) Peel Oil, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Ceramide 2, PEG-10 Rapeseed Sterol, Triacetin, Copper PCA, Polyquaternium-51, Sodium Hyaluronate, Palmitoyl Oligopeptide, Disodium EDTA, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Chlorphenesin, Fragrance (Parfum), Hexyl Cinnamal, Butylphenyl Methyl Propional, Limonene
Sunday, August 18, 2013
Review: Ulta Instant Nail Polish Remover
I recently picked up the Ulta Instant Nail Polish Remover on a whim, whilst browsing the nail section at Ulta. I haven’t tried one of these sponge polish removers in years… I remember having one as a young teen and using it until it quite literally dried out (and turned purple – yuck). I thought, “Why not? I’ll give it a go!” and into my basket it went.
Well? The verdict is in, and I love it. I had forgotten how convenient these little pots are, and it’s quite nice to not have to use a ton of cotton pads. Just a quick couple of swipes into the hole in the middle and my nail polish was completely off, except for my thumb which was at quite a weird angle and therefore needed the little “brush wand” to help it along the way. I don’t think it’s just my thumb, for the record. I think all thumbs will struggle with this type of remover pot. Also, I took one for the team and attempted to remove my pedicure with this; it’s not easy, I wouldn’t recommend. I think that’s what the wand is for.
I haven’t tried other brands so I don’t know how this stacks up to others, but I can definitely recommend this one. Give it a go next time you’re at Ulta, and if you are at another store and they have “their” brand, try it out!
Let me know if there is one in particular that is your favorite… but until I find a better one this will be a regular in my medicine cabinet. At $3.99 it's a bargain for something that works so well.
Hooray for an easy nail polish remover! Nothing is more curse-worthy than a nail polish remover that refuses to remove!
Ingredients:
Acetone, Propylene Carbonate, Aqua, Dimethyl Glutarate, Deimethyl Adipate, Dimethyl Succinate, Glycerin, Fragrance, Denatonium Benzoate, Benzophenone-1, Gelatin, FD&C Yellow 11.
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