Another one by Valentia! This time a moisturizer that I was pleasantly surprised with because not only does it illuminate skin while hydrating, it is also 4.0 fl oz!! That's a great size!
This moisturizer is mostly for day-time use, but you can also use it at night because it is so rich. It has natural and organic ingredients and is formulated to provide all-day weightless hydration that doesn't make your skin feel greasy at all! It also gives a natural glow to the skin and helps to lighten dark spots and even skin tone. So basically it's everything you've ever wanted :)
Check out these awesome ingredients:
Botanical Hyaluronic Acid: This plant based substance penetrated deep into the skin to secure moisture, support skin elasticity, and plump the skin from within
Kojic Acid: Known for its skin-lightening properties, this antioxidant helps to naturally control melanin production and prevent dark spots
Ginseng: A symbol of long-life, strength, and wisdom, Ginseng boosts skin-firming collagen, fights wrinkles, and gives the skin a brighter and more energized look
Safflower Oil: Rich in linoleic acid, an essential fatty acid that helps to repair the skin’s natural moisture barrier, providing superior protection
Shea Butter: This wonder nut contains a myriad of regenerative vitamins and essential fatty acids, providing a welcome dose of moisture, hydrating and nourishing the skin.
I love that it has Kojic Acid, because I always look for products that brighten so that I can even out my skin tone, I have lots of freckles, and don't get me wrong, I love them - but I try to diminish my dark spots as much as I can!]
So far I have been using it for a month and it has been making my skin feel supple and hydrated! It is super emollient but absorbs quickly, which I like because in the morning I don't have too much time to wait between skincare and makeup!
I will definitely continue using it throughout the fall and winter because of its awesome properties and because it is so rich and emollient! I love a creamy and more oil based moisturizer for colder months!
If you haven't given Valentia a try yet, I highly recommend you do so! You can shop for Valentia on amazon and on their website !
I love Valentia's products and really loved their rose serum so I was excited for this one.
Before I get into details I want to let you guys know that Valentia is having a Spring Re-Launch Sale that starts on Monday, May 16th and runs until the end of the month!!
For this sale, they were sweet to give you guys 35% Off all products on their site! Just use this coupon code: 35% OFF Coupon code for your loyal readers: REFRESH35 Go shop!
Surprise, I ended up loving this one so much more. And not to mention the SMELL! It's delicious, so yummy, tart and citrusy with a hint of sweetness - I want to drink it.
This serum has really great ingredients such as:
-Wakame Bioferment (My Favorite Seaweed): Increases skin oxygen consumption to detoxify and boost antioxidant defense.
- Gotu Kola: Lessens the appearance of scars and increases skin firmness.
- Lactic Acid: A natural Alpha Hydroxy Acid (AHA) that increases skin cell turnover, for healthier renewed skin.
- Licorice: Lightens unwanted pigmentation and corrects skin discoloration.
- Argan Oil: Naturally rich in Vitamin E, this oil reduced water loss and protects skin's resiliency and elasticity.
And the Clear Lift Revitalizing Serum promises to tone, moisturize, reduce fine lines, increase elasticity, plump, brighten and even complexion.
After using it for about a month and a half, I found that it definitely helps lock in moisture and brighten my skin. I love that it contains AHA's, and Lactic Acid for the matter, because it is so good for your skin; it not only renews skin but it helps with any acne, texture and even sun damage!
I have liked this serum a lot and will continue using it for my night routine and update you on the long term results!
Go check this awesome, all natural brand out, here, they have great products that will blow you away :)
I was sent these two adorably tiny samples from MAKE beauty to test out.
"MAKE is a brand that finds beauty in inspiration. A brand that believes there are no
beauty rules. That each individual is driven by an artistic approach to their own
personal reality. That it’s beautiful to be inspired by your imagination. To embrace a
whimisical approach to life. To be outspoken, intelligent, confident and un-self
conscious. We develop products to spark your own irresistible desire to create. Professionally
formulated but user friendly, every product is designed for personal experimentation –
wear wet or dry, alone or layered, subtle or super-pigmented. The collections for lips,
eyes, cheeks and skin offer rich formulations and rare palettes for an unconstrained
range of colors, finishes and textures. Whether the look is a perfect no-makeup makeup
or modern minimal alongside a more pigmented finish is entirely up to you."
The best part about MAKE is that it is made here in NYC and is paraben-free and never tested on animals. A percentage of their sales are donated to their non-profit partner, We See Beauty Foundation, that supports women-led, worker-owned cooperative businesses across the Americas.
I have their face gloss, which I LOVE so I was excited to try their color cosmetics.
The eye shadow was in Alabaster, a nice matte off white color that is beautiful for a brow highlight or a nice sweep over the lid. It has good pigmentation and long wear-ability - which is really nice! It is made with a crease-resistant, oil-free formula that contains vitamins C and E help to provide antioxidant protection for the delicate eye area. What's really cool about this shadow is that you can apply it dry or wet!
The lipstick in the shade Taffy, is the cutest little lipstick I have ever seen!! At first from the packaging, the color didn't appeal much to me, but on the lips, it is actually a very flattering color. It goes on smooth and has nice pigment. It is a silk, cream lipstick and that is what it feels like - it isn't drying on the lips and isn't overly creamy! This lipstick is meant to condition your lips and doubles as a protective moisturizing treatment with antioxidant vitamins, rosehip, soybean, safflower oils, aloe and chamomile extracts. So not only is it pretty, it's good for you!
They are a super cool, super fun brand who was also nice enough to give you guys a discount code! Go on www.makebeauty.com and useMAKEYOURSELF at checkout!! This discount code is for 20% and good until April 15 so hurry. hurry, hurry!!
This is a Sponsored Post *
After loving Valentia as a brand and loving their True Glow Eye Cream and Hydration Mask I was so excited when they sent me their Royal Rose Hydrating Serum to try!
A little about the product: "A lightweight serum that boosts moisture and resilience while soothing and calming the skin." This Hydrating & Nourishing Serum Will: - Deeply moisturize skin - Provide antioxidant protection - Soothe & nourish dry skin - Smooth skin tone & texture - Boost skin radiance They have great ingredients in this serum that work together to get you optimum results:
Rose Damascena: One of the most nourishing and skin friendly natural oils, providing balance, moisture, and a variety of vitamins and minerals to the skin. (plus is it smells so nice)
Niacinamide (Vitamin B): This potent vitamin has been clinically proven to fade away hyperpigmentation, sun spots, and acne..
Rosehip Seed Oil: Naturally rich in Vitamins C & A, these essential fatty acids work quickly to lock in skin's moisture.
Evening Primrose Oil: Provides light, non-oily moisture to the skin, never clogging or irritating the skin.
Bearberry: Reduces melanin production, thereby lightening the skin, revealing a brighter complexion.
Lavender: Heals the skin, treating pimples, wounds, and sores.
**taken from their website
My review:
I have been loving serums lately, I use at least 3 different ones a day, and this Royal Rose Hydrating Serum has become a part of my night routine! It really is hydrating, just like the name says.
When you apply it, it feels like a burst of water of your face, it feels nourishing and makes your skin feel moisturized and super smooth.
I like that it absorbs fast but leaves skin dewy and refreshed! Great step prior to applying your moisturizer because its like double the hydration.
If you are looking for a new serum or are new to serums and want to try one out, definitely opt for the Royal Rose Hydrating Serum. Its good for all skin types, even sensitive skin, it nourishes skin and smells nice! I promise there is no over powering rose scent, it's just right :)
You've heard me rave about OZ Naturals in a previous post, about how I love their cleanser- and yes I am still in love with it! When I was given the chance to try another one of their products, I was so so excited!
I don't want to get too deep into OZ Naturals (check my previous post) but I definitely want to stress that this company is cruelty free and vegan!
This time I received an eye cream - well an eye GEL. The Super Youth Eye Gel. It is 75% organic and 100% natural.
The packaging was simple and cute, just like the cleanser, but this color blue was more of a grey toned blue, almost like a lavender and very pretty. The product packaging itself is cute, a nice chunky little pump bottle that contains 0.5 fl oz.
The ingredients are awesome; it contains plant stem cells, matrixyl 3000 (one of their trademarked ingredients), peptide complex, hyaluronic acid, vitamin E and many many more! All these ingredients are so beneficial in aiding with anti-aging. Plus it's non comedogenic, which means it doesn't clog pores!
The Super Youth Eye Gel claims to be effective in anti aging and is "designed to treat every major eye concern & is hands down the best eye gel for dark circles, puffiness & wrinkles." Now on to the product review:
The texture of it is a gel (obviously) which is different from most eye products, I usually see creams but never gels, so I liked that. When applied it has a cooling effect which feels nice on the eye area because my under eyes are super thin and sometimes dry. So I really enjoyed the consistency, feel and sensation of it!
It is very cooling and super hydrating, but unfortunately I haven't seen any differences with the fine lines that I have. I may not be the best person to critique this because I don't have dark circles or puffiness under my eyes, so I cannot say anything about that. It hasn't blown me away as an eye cream; it's nothing different in my opinion. I have been using it daily and I do love that its a cooling gel with awesome ingredients that also wears well under makeup, but I really cannot give my opinion on whether it helps dark circles/puffiness!! BUT, I will give it to my mother to try for her puffiness and write out her thoughts on it below!
My mother really ended up loving this eye gel and she said it helped with the puffiness under her eyes! So YES, it works!
If you're looking for an all natural, cruelty free, GEL eye cream, look no further! You can purchase OZ Naturals Super Youth Eye Gel here on Amazon
I am so excited to write this blog because Alterre did it again!!! Alterre hosted a New York Fashion Week kick off party at The Slipper Room in the LES in NYC to show their Spring Summer 2016 collection.
Now this night was full of fun, "hanky panky", great drinks, burlesque and laughter - all mixed in with beautiful shoes!!
The Alterre girls, Shilpa and Harmony, always know how to have a good time; they invited me out to this awesome party and little did I know I was going to have the best time I had had in a while!
When we arrived, my boyfriend and I got our coats checked, a gift bag and our picture taken. We walked into the room and immediately went to say hi to Shilpa and Harmony, we spoke a while, joked around and they showed me the new collection before the Glitter Gutter show started.
As you have read in my past Alterre posts, their shoes are so, so, so worth every penny. They are easy on the feet, incredibly soft and comfortable, super versatile, can go from day to night and are great to travel with. The new collection is so chic and fun, with a name like "tropicalia" what else would you expect? Tropicalia was inspired by the vibrant colors of Brazil during Carnaval! Perfect timing for this collection to come out, the day after Mardi Gras and also during the coldest days of winter to help shake off our "winter blues" and get us ready for spring. The collection includes the classic styles: the sandal and the heel lifts and the Jackie, the Marilyn, the Elsie, the Billie and the Tilda. The difference is that the heels and looks have fun colorful geometric "carnaval" patterns and bright pops of colors that are just too cute!! AND they came out with a new color: cream! Perfect for the summer and your all white parties! With their patent-pending technology, you can easily achieve over 125 combinations; how easy is it to fool people into thinking you have that many shoes?
Took this straight from their media kit:
"Tropicalia bursts with pops of blues, greens and yellows while keeping to our classic aesthetic.
It’s perfect for spicing up last season’s Alterres.
Don’t worry, Tropicalia still has all the favorite classic styles, but with a few new twists.
We’ve added a festive Carnaval print to some of the heels and brought Cream into the mix.
Which means we’ve got you covered for that next White Party in the Hamptons!"
"Excitement" is the word perfectly describes the feeling you get when you see the collection. I'm ordering either the cream or blush carnaval starter kit - I can't decide which one I want yet!! (maybe both?? woops!) ;)
Below you'll see a preview of the new collection that you can pre-order and receive in March!
Now on to the PARTAY!
In one word, this party was AMAZING!
The drinks were great! Alterre was sweet enough to give everybody two drink tickets, so, of course, I got the Hanky Panky, which was the signature drink of the night. It had gin, sweet vermouth and fernet branca -yum, yum, yum! Shilpa and I took a beautiful picture together, because I had to show off her sexy dress! Harmony I could not find you!! They both found their super glittery, super glam dresses on Stylelend.com (my new favorite site)
There were several acts that were all incredibly entertaining, But my favorite had to be the couple that put on a mind blowing show! They were so strong, they danced and did the impossible, and unfortunately I can't remember their names (so embarassing.)
Others who performed were: Hazel Honeysuckle, Dangrrr Doll, Deity Delgado, The Sentimentalists, a go-go dancer, the Uni-cordion, Cecil Sinclair and Carla Rhodes. The cool part was that every performer was wearing a pair of Alterre shoes!
Shilpa handed out dollars to give to the dancers and she was even called up during The Sentimentalist's show! They are mind readers, and they had asked the audience to think of a show. Shilpa was thinking of the show "friends" and Dr. Mysterion guessed it!
I will most definitely be going back to The Slipper Room because it was such a great time. Nicky and I loved it.
It was so great, I never wanted to leave, but the LES parking rules reflect those of Cinderella's and gave us no choice but to leave at midnight :(
Onto the gift bag, which was filled with glorious life: glitter, glitter and more glitter, popcorn, a stylelend giftcard and some Uye Surana goodies.
I fell deeper in love with Alterre, they are killing the game right now: modern with a vintage twist and I am loving everything about it. I can't wait to see what else Alterre has in store for us; see you lovely ladies next time!
Can you wait to get your hands on the Tropicalia collection? I know I can't!
And, let me know, What's your Alterre Ego?
Thank you Valentia for giving me the opportunity to review two of your newest products!
I'm going to start with a little info on the Brand!
"Valentia products are made in a beauty lab owned and operated by women"
This sentence is so empowering. Especially for someone like me, who is an aspiring cosmetic chemist. As soon as I read that line, I wanted to know more about this brand!
"Luxurious natural and organic anti-aging solutions combining the purity of nature and the power of science"
Valentia is the name of the Roman Goddess of Healing. It is said that she used nature to heal the citizens of Umbria, to help keep their youthful look and help with sunburned skin. In doing so, she used nature's gifts: berries, herbs and natural ingredients. Valentia, they brand, does the same!
They are such an interesting brand and so inspiring, not to mention cruelty-free and organic. I love that they use all natural ingredients with the help of scientifically advanced products to cater to every skin type and skin need.
Their mission is to make your skin happy without the use of harsh chemicals "that dry out, stretch, burn and prematurely age the skin." Their formulations are all natural ingredients, free of toxins and parabens, that have been scientifically proven to work wonders, such as giving skin a youthful glow. Valentia has found that natural organic bases for their ingredients are most effective at repairing skin damage, preventing fine lines and dark spots and reversing the effects of oxidative stress.
Now on to the products, Valentia sent me two products for review, they are the True Glow Eye Cream and the Ultra Plumping Hydration Mask.
The True Glow Eye Cream is a luxurious antioxidant rich eye cream that helps lock in moisture, repair and tighten skin for a youthful looking glow around the eye area. The active ingredients in it are:
-Astaxanthin: A powerful antioxidant that increases moisture levels, smooths fine line and wrinkles, and restores elasticity to the skin.
- Resistem: Natural Plant Stem Cells repair and protect the skin from harsh environmental pollutants and stress related aging.
- Vitamin C: Leaves the skin smooth and visibly brighter for a well-rested and bright eyed look.
- Organic Rosehip Oil: Provides intense hydration to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
- Arnica: A key anti-inflammatory agent to the restorative process that works to diminish the appearance of dark circles.
The Ultra Plumping Hydration Mask is blend of amino acids and hyaluronic acid work together to flood the skin with moisture providing intense hydration and nourishment and the active ingredients in it are:
- Silk Protein Amino Acid Blend:These natural miracles increase moisture content and help in the production of collagen and elastin which decreases the appearance of visible lines.
- Botanical Hyaluronic Acid:Penetrates deep into the skin to secure moisture and plump skin from within.
- Organic Sea Buckthorn Oil:An anti-aging wonder berry that results in fewer fine lines, diminished sun spots, more even skin tone, and firmer more supple skin.
- Japanese Green Tea:Contains catechins that provide anti-aging, anti-inflammatory, and anti-irritant effects to the skin.
- Aloe Vera:This botanical moisturizers skin and fight aging by improving skin firmness.
Review:
The secondary packaging is very sleek and clean, which I like, and the primary packaging is just the same, only downside was that the mask's label was crookedly placed on the jar. The eye cream is a small glass bottle with a pump. I loved that fact that it was heavy duty glass.
Let's start with the Ultra Plumping Hydration Mask: first of all, I cannot put my finger on what this smells like!!! But it smells nice, herbal and fruity at the same time. It looks like pudding and is that consistency as well. Once applied, it feels cooling, but that changes really quickly! I feel like I haven't used this product enough to see if it has improved my skin or anything, but I will say that my skin does feel very nice when I use it. At first it starts tingling and then at one point it feels like it is burning my face. I'm not crazy about that sensation; but the next few times I used it, I used less product and the sensation was not as strong. So far, its a nice mask to use after a long day to rejuvenate your tired skin. I will continue using it and update you on it! In fact, I'll use it tonight :)
Now, for the True Glow Eye cream: THIS STUFF IS GOOD! Yes, now this product I love! I was thoroughly impressed with it. Usually, I don't like to wear eye cream during the day under makeup because I feel like it slides my makeup around and is too greasy. But, I decided to give it a shot to use this eye cream during the day. It worked wonders! I have a problem with my concealer creasing, and this eye cream helped with that problem! My concealer did not crease as much and my under eye area seemed to be more plumped. What I like about True Glow Eye Cream, is that when you apply it, it hydrates so well and absorbs quickly, after a few seconds it mattefies your under eyes, this makes it easy to wear under makeup! Although, it is mattefying, it doesn't mean it is drying; you under eyes feel super smooth and plump. I LOVE IT! I've already recommended this eye cream to my friends. You do see results quickly with it and it wears so well. Valentia you did a great job with this one!
I just want to re-mention that I love that Valentia's products are all natural and organic; I love the back story behind the name and brand. Most of all, I love the girl power this brand was built on! So excited to continue using their products, and I will definitely be trying more.
Today, I want to just briefly write about my daytime skincare routine. Now this is my WINTER skincare, of course it changes as the seasons do, but since we're in the middle of January., lets get to it! :)
So first off, I always cleanse my skin in the morning (obvs) and the cleanser I am currently using is the OZ Naturals Ocean Mineral Cleanser! I just wrote my previous post on it and if you haven't read it yet, go check it and the brand out! :)
After cleansing, I apply a serum. Here I have two options:
Borghese Cura Viso Brillante - which is a brightening serum
This stuff is supposed to plump your skin up and reduce fine lines and wrinkles, and clinical results say you'll see the difference in 4 weeks. Its made with awesome ingredients such as Hyaluronic Acid, Ceramide, Arginine and Collagen - all these ingredients are great for your skin, plump it up, protect and regenerate and strengthen your skin. It hasn't been 4 weeks yet, but I'll let you know if I see differences! In the meantime... I really like this gel cream, being that it is gel makes it feel more hydrating on my skin as well and being a great humectant!
** great tip, mix a facial oil in with your moisturizer for an extra boost of moisture!!
3. Finally, don't forget to give your lips some lovin'! I have 3 favorites lately!
Dior Creme de Rose Smoothing Plumping Lip Balm - this is my top favorite, keeps your lips plump and moisturized for long and i like that it stays on and doesn't absorb quickly! Added bonus, smells like fresh roses!
Tony Moly Banana Lip Balm - Got this in Korea and instantly fell in love! Its super smooth and hydrating, stays on for a while. And the banana smell is yummy!
These steps are essential, especially in the winter! You need to make sure you keep your skin moisturized, hydrated and humectified!
- Lips are the first to go, make sure to apply lots of balm so they don't crack and chap!
- Make sure your face has moisture locked in
Hellloooo,
First off I want to say thank you OZ Naturals for the Ocean Mineral Cleanser!
Now don't get me wrong, I love makeup and getting glammed up but, taking my makeup off is my favorite part of the day! So when I received this cleanser I could not wait to try it out.
The great thing about it is that it is all natural and 72% organic, so for all my organics and natural lovers, check OZ Naturals out!
A little about OZ Naturals: Angela Irish is the co-founder of the brand, who is very passionate about "healthy skin, anti-aging, natural ingredients, and utilizing the latest technology to formulate the highest quality skin care products on the market." She had her own skin concerns and knows how it feels to drop $$$ on products that did not do what they said they would, so she came up with OZ Naturals! Oz Naturals was founded to help create healthier, better skin care to help people who were not born with the best of skin, Angela believes that everyone deserves the perfect skin they always dream about and truly effective skin care products to help reach their skins goals! To learn more about the company check them on their website! This Ocean Mineral Cleanser claims to cleanse deeply to unclog pores and fight toxins, moisturize and balance the skin and be gentle enough for any skin type. It has over 92 ocean minerals to soothe, heal the skin and even stimulate cell regeneration! Let's see what this cleanser's all about! Now on to my review: You can definitely tell this product is all natural, reading the ingredients I saw that most of them are fruit oils and extracts, along with a few gentle surfactants and glycerin. It is also unscented because there is no "nice" smell that you get from shampoos, cleansers, etc. it is straight up natural, which I love, because many products claim to be natural and when you check the ingredients only 1 or 2 of them are "natural." Their products are paraben free, sulfate free, mineral oil free, lanolin free, gluten free and most importantly, cruelty free! As I squeeze some in my hands I notice it is very runny, one downside for me but it is 100% forgivable because as I said before, this shows it is all natural. In order to have a more viscous product and a "harder" cleanser that stays as a dollop on your palm, you need fillers and thickeners and many more synthetics! So I cannot dislike that it is runny, it is simply just showing off :) Lathering it on my face, it feels really cooling, refreshing and gel-like. It doesn't produce much bubbles or foam but that is because it doesn't contain sulfates! (surfactants that make soaps foam) (did I mention this cleanser's natural?? :-P) Nonetheless, you don't need foam to show that it's working because once I rinsed my face and patted it dry, I noticed my skin felt super refreshed, soft and energized. So far I have been using this cleanser for several days morning and night, and it has not disappointed. It does a great job breaking down any left over makeup and it purifies the skin super nicely and leaves it feeling enriched and nourished. All in all, I recommend this cleanser to anyone because it is amazing for any type of skin, even sensitive! It does the job well and your skin doesn't feel tight and dry as it sometimes does after cleansing. It truly does leave your skin feeling soothed and as if you came out of a spa! I have not used this product long enough to notice and long-term changes or if it has improved my skin exponentially, that usually takes about 4-6 weeks to notice! But I will keep you all updated! Definitely check OZ Naturals out, they have numerous amounts of skin care such as masks, cleansers, moisturizers, serums, toners and even SPF! I'm intrigued and impressed by them and will definitely be trying out some more products!
To Purchase OZ Naturals products click on either of these links!
On the 17th of December, Alterre Shoes hosted a quaint & cute little holiday trunk show with Uye Surana, an exquisite lingerie brand that has its studio in TriBeCa.
That is exactly there the trunk show was held! When I arrived, I was warmly welcomed by Harmony (who remembered me and it made me smile) who told me to come in, relax, have a drink and stay a while! And that I did.
There were two different cocktail oils made from Lavender and Rose and whiskey, seltzer and lemonade to mix them with. There was Uye Surana's beautifully articulate lingerie spread out on a table with their home made natural fragrance oils and in the back a table set for Alterre. An old fashioned suitcase packed Alterre style with their incredible shoes, which were also laid out and two frames asking who is your "alterre ego?" Jackie or Marilyn? It was all adorable!
Everyone was super friendly and we all discussed how amazing both brands were, and what was to come in the next year! Alterre's shoes are made in Brazil in a super chill factory where its always a party! Within that conversation we spoke of how crazy the weather has been,, Seriously what is up with it? 70 degrees in December!!
We all drank, ate cupcakes and were merry! I had my horoscope read and it seems 2016 will be a lucky year for me! As I am sure it will be for both Alterre and Uye Surana!
If you have yet to check these brands out, please do so, they are so unique, detailed and charming - just like their founders! Shilpa you were definitely missed!
If you want to learn more about Alterre, check my previous blog post on their Launch Party!
Below are some pictures of their awesome versatile shoes, which you can switch out the straps depending on the mood you're in that day. Their shoes come in different styles such as The Jackie, The Marilyn, The Billie & The Elsie. Another great thing is that they give back! 5% of their profit is donated to Restore NYC.
I left with a sweet goodie bag containing a mini bottle of Jameson, Uye Surana goodies & a She Who Rose roller ball (which smells delicious), with a smile from ear to ear because of the great company and even more love for these brands!
PLEASE drop everything and go check them out now! Alterre & Uye Surana GO GO GO!
Cheers to 2016, you Alterre, Uye Surana and to you all <3
* This is a sponsored post, powered by Brandbacker
