beauty Archives - Page 6 of 15 - Twenty Something Plus

January 28, 2016

My December 2015 Birchbox

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links.

I just got the sample choice email for February, so I figured I should probably get my December Birchbox post up.

For December I went with a sample choice instead of the curated feature box. Not for any particular reason, other than wanting a certain two colors for the Coastal Scents eye shadow palette sample. I also got a sample of shadow/blush by The Balm Cosmetics. I’m not so sure how I feel about it as a shadow, but I’m willing to give it a try.

I’ve sampled a few Harvey Prince fragrances, and now they make a sea salt hair spray. I really like that way it smells. Like, I sprayed some on my hair, forgot I had and kept trying to figure out what that amazing smell was. It was me. Well, it was my hair. I mean it could be complete ineffective as a hair texturizing mist and I would still use it as a hair fragrance.

Not getting the feature box made me think I would be missing out on the Juara hand and nail balm, but nope. I ended up getting it anyways. Not that my purse really needed another hand cream, but who doesn’t like having options?

My last sample was Klorane Dry Shampoo. I never blogged about it, but I tried Ipsy one month a LONG time ago and this was one of the products I’d gotten in my bag. I will say that I started using dry shampoo more often recently, so I will happily take an extra can.

For February, I also added on an item. Which means two Birchbox posts next month too.

If you want a piece of this Birchbox action, sign up here between now and Valentine’s Day and we could both win a Beauty Blender!

January 12, 2016

Notice the Lotus at Target

Even though there are plenty of times I’ve been mistaken for much younger, I am almost basically 30.

I haven’t spotted any major signs of aging, but have given a lot more thought to my skincare routine.

And like many other 20 (almost 30) something year olds, I spend a lot of time at Target.

So, I was very happy to notice the lotus on the the Target shelves. Hearing that derma e, a brand that I use frequently, is now at Target is huge! Not that I’m against online shopping, it’s just so much easier to pick up things while I’m already out.

Plus, it’s motivates me to try new products.

Like their Firming DMAE Eye Lift cream.

Since I don’t really have many to begin with, this was more preemptive on my part.

A little, but helpful, trick that also helps? Use your ring finger to pat on eye creams! The eye area is super sensitive, avoid tugging on it.

Wrinkles and fine lines? Not on my face!
If you need me, I’ll be at Target.

January 6, 2016

My January 2016 Birchbox

I’m skipping my December Birchbox.

For now.

While I am very very very happy that my Birchbox subscription was renewed just in time to still have my December box sent to me, I am super pumped about my January 2016 Birchbox.

This month, I opted for the featured Korean Beauty box curated by Charolette Cho, co-founder of Soko Glam.

I haven’t used the Bio Fresh Mask yet, I know I’m going to love it. How do I know? It smells like chamomile and that alone is good enough for me!

I have tried the radiant primer. Much like a brightening primer it gave my skin a slight glow, without having to use any illuminator, bronzer or anything.

If I didn’t select the On Trend Korean Beauty box, I would have wanted to pick the Delight Tony Tint. And I would have not have been disappointed. This tint is amazeballs! I used it on my lips and cheeks and just, yeah.

Ok, I haven’t used the cucumber mask yet either. BUT, I sense a spa day coming…

As for the Waterest First Essence, I used it after my Proactiv exfoliator and before the serum and moisturizer. I liked this and it left my skin feeling less tight than with some other hyaluronic acid treatments, but no drastic difference aside from the dewy look it gives.

AND there was two bonus samples!
I haven’t opened either of them, but the bubble peeling has pretty good reviews.

Tempted to buy the full size of all of these products, but for now I’ll just add them to my Birchbox favorites list.

January 4, 2016

The Pros and Cons of Proactiv

Disclaimer: This blog post contains affiliate links.

Back in high school, I never thought I’d be someone that needed use Proactiv. I may have gotten a tiny pimple all of like once or twice.

But in college, that changed.

Zits started to regularly pop up all over my face.

In particularly, they favored my forehead, making it look like I slept on pizza instead of my pillow. Here’s proof…

Some of you may be thinking, that this isn’t that bad.

But this photo was taken shortly after I had started using Proactiv. Plus, it was the summer so my skin is in it’s most radiant state.

Except for my forehead.

I tried anything I could get my hands on (thank you work study paychecks)! Proactiv was the only product that completely cleared up my skin.

Recently, I started to break out again. It usually does in the winter, because of my moisturizer usage. But this time it was much worse. It’s been my forehead all over again, only on the bottom half of my face.

I’ve hear of adult acne, but come on! Seriously?

So, I started using Proactiv again (well, Proactiv Plus).

Pros: Effective (like I said, it was literally the only product that cleared up my skin), a little goes a long way and the amount of product you receive can last over two months. I also happened to already have some (after discovering that extreme stress also triggers my skin to breakout).

Cons: One thing I noticed about Proactiv is that typically my skin will get a little worse before it gets better. It’s kind of addictive. Not in a I need it, I need it sense, but more of a if you stop using it your skin tends to go back to looking like pizza really is bae. It can also be costly, especially if you go to cancel your subscription.

For me, the pros outweighed the cons. Plus, this time I noticed that my skin didn’t get at all worse and started to clear up almost instantly!

Do you get break outs? Share how you treat them in the comments below.

December 30, 2015

What I Use for Dark Circles

Disclaimer: This blog post contains affiliate links.

Aside from the occasional breakout, adjusting my skincare routine for the colder weather has been great.

But the holidays have really taken their toll and without makeup on, the dark circles under my eyes make me look even more exhausted than I feel.

Time to readjust. Because I do not want to start the new year off looking tired, these dark circles have got to go.

December 18, 2015

Splurge or Save: Blur Primer

Disclaimer: This blog post contains affiliate links.

Now that I’ve discovered Ulta Beauty, Iet’s just say that I won’t be VIB Rouge for 2016.

The range of brands (and more specifically, the price range) is just way more vast.

Like, I love my YSL blur primer. But if I didn’t get it in a VoxBox, I doubt I would have tried it. I mean I would have wanted to, but probably not enough to buy it. At Ulta, I found out that there is an NYX version of the same product for WAY less!