Pixi Flawless Beauty Primer | Review

Today I'll be reviewing a product I've owned for some time, but didn't use until late last year and fell in love with it.

I received this little guy in an ipsy bag when I was still subscribed to them. Because many of the products in ipsy bags didn't suit me or just weren't to my taste, I often put most of them aside and didn't use them. I let this primer sit for several months before pulling it out one day to try.

This primer claims to "even skintone" and add a "youthful glow" with its hydrating formula. That was what sold me on using it, as I have quite dry skin and any product that claims to be hydrating for my skin is worth a try. 

It is quite hydrating, especially if you're applying this after you've gone through your skincare routine. It can add that lovely dewy glow that some people seek without being too overpowering, which is what endeared it to me. I love that dewy look, but often have a hard time achieving it as my dry skin sucks the moisture out of everything. A little goes a long way, and as far as the primer aspect of it, I'd say it does a fairly good job of keeping my makeup in place. It may not be the best primer, but it does its job.

It comes out almost the exact color of the packaging. I'm not sure if it's made to conform to your skin color, so I'm not sure how this would work on darker skin tones. I'm very pale and it blends into my skin quite nicely, but I can't be sure if it would be the same for everyone, unfortunately. ): And, I'm also not sure how this would work on oily skin, so I have no information about that either. It also smells somewhat like sunscreen. 

I'll most likely be buying this primer again, just because I like it that much. I also want to try other primers, of course, but I have found one that actually works for my dry skin and I intend to keep it in my stash.

Batiste Dry Shampoo | Review

Everyone and their mother has heard of Batiste dry shampoos. It comes in many different types, some not as well-received as others, but generally there are pretty good things to be heard about Batiste.

I have never tried dry shampoos before this, so I wasn't sure what to expect. I use it when I feel my hair needs an extra boost, or seems limp and dull, and most often on my "second day hair". At first, it was difficult for me to remember that this wasn't hairspray. But I kept using it, and have finally decided to give a small review on it.

I don't feel like this one, the cherry one, in particular does anything special for me. I may try the 'normal' type at some point, as well as other brands. The smell of this is slightly off-putting to me. It doesn't smell bad, just odd, even though I generally love cherry scents. It makes my hair feel somewhat dusty, even after running my fingers through it, combing slightly, etc. I'm not sure that I'm very fond of it.

My hair is very thin and fine as it is, and I have to wonder if dry shampoo may benefit those with thicker hair more. If I ever find some amazing sort of dry shampoo that knocks my socks off, I'll be sure to bring it up here, but for now my foray into that world has been less than rewarding.

I will say, though, I love the packaging! It's very vintage looking. I quite like it.

Thanks for reading!

Ology Gently Soothing Facial Towelettes | Review

I bought these make-up wipes on a whim a few weeks ago while out in Manhattan. I have a cream make-up remover already, but wanted to try some old fashioned wipes to see how they would work for me. These were ~$5 at a Duane Reade, and of course I decided to buy these instead of the $10 wipes right next to them. I've tried a few different brands of make-up wipes in the past, and none of them have really impressed me. But, that doesn't stop me from trying new ones!

The packaging is very simple and pleasing. The wipes themselves seem to retain moisture very well, and remain wet while I wipe off my face (which is very nice, nothing worse than it getting dry half-way through). It does pull a little at my skin, but it's not harsh or bad enough that I dislike them.

I'm actually quite fond of these! For $5 they're very good. They remove almost all of my make-up, and what it doesn't get (usually leftover mascara that runs to my under-eye area), I just remove with my cream remover. They don't dry out my face too badly, but I also make sure to tone and moisturize right after. I'm left with that lovely satisfied feeling that you get when you see all your make-up wiped off onto the little towel. For being rather inexpensive, these guys do a pretty great job.

I'd still like to try other make-up removing wipes to see if I can find my holy grail wipes, but I feel as if I'll definitely repurchase these in the future. For a cheaper alternative to some wipes that likely does just as good of a job, these wipes are a really great option. 

Journaling

Some people don't often think to keep journals. Or, maybe, they're intrigued by the idea but never pursue any actual journaling for themselves, as they find the task too daunting or have no idea where to start. I admit I still have trouble keeping up with any sort of journal or diary, due to my perfectionist nature. If it doesn't look right, I tend to put it aside and hope it goes away forever.

Recently I've picked my old, unfinished journal back up and decided to have a go at it again. I bought this moleskine probably five years ago, started to use it as a sketchbook, then let it collect dust in a drawer for a few years. I finally brushed it off and decided to use it for sketches again, but also clippings, findings, tickets, odd thoughts, pictures, anything! And it's been teaching me how to not be so nitpicky about what I create. 

And, more than that, I love the feeling of completing something. I'm more than halfway through with filling this journal up, and I'm holding off on buying a new one until this one is done. 

I have trouble keeping up with things and have a sort of "routine," I suppose. I also don't believe I've ever finished a journal or sketchbook in my life! And yet, I get such satisfaction when I see photos of filled up journals and diaries, mounds of completed sketchbooks, and I longingly wish for a pile of my own. But, that won't happen unless I do it.

It's also a great place for me to try and get back into writing and drawing regularly. I've severely neglected both through the years I've been at college (despite my being an English major, which is the only writing practice I get any more). I long to do some writing for myself again, and to draw and actually feel proud of what I produced instead of cringe at the jagged lines.

It's also very, very relaxing. 

Do any of you keep journals or diaries or sketchbooks? Do you ever feel inspired to?

Fabulous Beasts

I have lived in this vast city for two months now. My home still does not feel like a home yet, something I am working on every day. I have not yet begun to truly explore, partly because I am afraid. Everything feels so new to me still; moving out for the first time, and so far away, has impacted me more greatly than I ever expected it to.

I have yet to find beauty here. The old brick surrounding me feels ugly and tired. It doesn't feel welcoming. When it does, I know I will be happier, but right now I am overwhelmed by the loneliness of these buildings. There is razor wire outside of my bedroom window. Rust trails descend from beneath them - clearly they haven't been bothered in quite some time. I can't access the back of our home, so it feels like a patch of destroyed earth.

I sit inside avoiding the black snow, reading the books I was able to take. Fabulous Beasts is full of creatures from every pocket of the world, creatures I could never dream of. I enjoy trying to imagine what a fuath would look like, and poring over the several pages dedicated to dragons. The illustrations feel old-world and the book smells like home. Real home.

I'm getting better every day.

Innisfree Sheet Masks | Review

Hello again! I have another little review for you, and this time I'm doing sheet masks. I bought a bulk packet of Innisfree sheet masks from Amazon in December, as I got a gift card for Christmas and decided to use it on these. Innisfree is a Korean beauty brand, and I'm actually dying to try some of their makeup products. But, for now, I've got some of their sheet masks! The set included 15 masks, all formulated for moisturizing and hydrating the skin, and it was about $20. Not bad at all, I'd say! As you can see, I also got a few sample packets of other products (the Liole product in the blue packet was like heaven for my skin!! I adore it!)

I only use about one a week, on my "pamper days" where I really treat my skin. Since moving to New York, my regular moisturizer just isn't cutting it in the dry, cold air, so it's really been suffering. After getting these masks (my mom had to mail them up to me), my skin has been feeling sooo much better. They are truly SO moisturizing, hydrating, and just generally amazing and everything you want in a sheet mask. 

They have masks such as 'blackberry,' 'aloe,' 'strawberry,' and many others, and I'm honestly so excited to try each one. I'm wearing one right now as I type up this review! 

I'm wearing the bamboo mask, which I brought with me for my Georgia visit: 

It's extremely cooling as well. I leave it on for ~20 minutes, and then take it off and just pat the remaining product into my skin. I don't even apply moisturizer after - there's no need, though you can if you like for some added hydration.

Basically, if you have dry & dull skin like me, give sheet masks a try. It doesn't necessarily have to be innisfree, but I am so impressed with them! Definitely buying them again when I run out.

Now for a silly picture of me wearing the mask.

A Short Life Update

Hello everyone! I'm terribly sorry about my short little absence here. I came back to a handful of new followers and some lovely and amazing comments which really made me smile. Thank you all for your time and decision to read what I put on my tiny little corner of the internet, it really makes my day!!

The reason I've been a little scarce, if you haven't loosely guessed already, is that my mother was recently diagnosed with breast cancer. I spent some time worrying over her, talking to her, and last Saturday I flew back to Georgia to see them. I'm still with her, and she just had a bilateral mastectomy and is now home recovering from that. I'm so proud of how strong she's been for everyone, despite how scared and small she might be feeling. I'm so happy I was able to be with her for her surgery and see her through it. She's an amazing and strong woman and I'm so proud of her! 

Thank you all for sticking around, and I promise I'll be back and regularly posting soon. xx