R&D: Revlon Nearly Naked Foundation

As a foundation junkie I have accumulated quite the assortment of both drugstore and high end face base products. Today's review is on a much more negative note than the last foundation R&D I put together. I find it so easy to just abandon the products that I don't enjoy and focus my blogging and youtube attentions to the products that deserve the hype and attention. However, I must remember that a negative review is just as important and informative as a positive. I hope you enjoy the video!

Thanks for watching!

Claire

Review: REN F10 Smooth & Renew Mask

If you have sensitive and irritable skin, but still want to refresh and brighten your complexion, then I have the perfect mask for you. The REN F10 Smooth & Renew Mask uses bio extracts from Mexican Papayas, Barbados Cherries, & Arctic Blackcurrents to gently exfoliate without irritating the skin whatsoever. The sticky, marmalade-like mask not only feels relaxing and refreshing, but there are noticeable improvements in the texture of the skin when the mask is removed. 

There are times when a mask with acids and clays is too much for my easily irritated skin. Many times, I turn to fruit acid/extract based products like this one. I would definitely add this lovely mask to the list of products to try ifyou are interested in testing out chemical exfoliation. If you are looking to slough away that dead skin and brighten your pretty face in a gentle and effective way, you can find this natural and cruelty free product at many online retailers. A bit on the pricier end, at $37, I still find it to be well worth the investment. 

Be sure to leave your face mask recommendations in the comments below. I love the effectiveness and spa/relaxation time that at-home masking can provide. 

Top 5: Face Masks #2

Since my most watched video on my YouTube channel is my Top 5 Favorite Face Masks, and that was over a year ago, I decided it was time for round 2. Five more face masks for your viewing pleasure. As with last time, this video features a variety of masks targeting different concerns. Be sure to let me know if you have tried any of these masks in the comments below. 

I hope you enjoy the video!



Love,
Claire

Brand Review: Bite Beauty

After hearing so much hype about Bite Beauty over the last few months, I decided to throw in my two cents about the brand. In this video I go over the products that I have tried from one of my favorite lip products companies. I also talk a little about some of the information I learned from doing a little online research. Definitely check out the video below to see which products I recommend, and which products to avoid from Bite Beauty. I hope you guys enjoy!

Thanks for watching!

Love, 

Claire

Evening Skincare Routine

As a natural follow up to my morning skincare routine, I bring you my evening skincare routine. The video explains and shows you how I remove my makeup after a long day of work, cleanse, and nourish my skin. My skincare routine is very important to maintaining the health of my skin. Since my skin is so sensitive and acne-prone, if I skip even one night.morning of my routine, my skin will show it, via a break out or increased discoloration. Make sure to leave a comment telling me your favorite skincare products below! I hope you enjoy the video!

Products Mentioned:

Bobbi Brown Cleansing Oil

Elemis Tri Enzyme Resurfacing Facial Wash

Mario Basdescu Glycolic Grapefruit Lotion 

Mario Badescu Facial Spray with Aloe, Herbs, & Rosewater

The Balm Pomegranate Restorative Facial Serum

Origins GinZing Energy-Boosting Moisturizer

Pai Rosehip Bioregenerate

Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado

Nuxe Reve de Miel Ultra-Nourishing Lip Balm

Thanks for watching!

Claire

Morning Skincare Routine

A long awaited and much requested video, I bring you My Morning Skincare Routine. I love my skincare, there is no doubt about that, and in this video I give you mini reviews and show you how I use all my morning products. I also share a little on my philosophy behind my morning cleansing and moisturizing ritual. Do note, and proceed with caution, everyone's skin is different and may react differently to various ingredients and products. Something that works beautifully for me, can have adverse reactions on you. Thus, take advantage of samples and testers at your locals stores and counters. And always remember to patch test new skincare on a hard to see area on your neck/chin before going hog wild! Be sure to watch the video below to see how I start my day and the products that give me clear and hydrated skin! 

Make sure to stay tuned for my evening skincare routine and a third part featuring sunscreens, exfoliants, and treatments.

I hope you guys enjoyed the video and be sure to subscribe to my youtube channel and follow my blog to see more!

Thanks!

Favorites: April 2014

Another favorites video is up and live on the TUBE! There are some really stand out products that I'm looking forward to doing more extensive blogposts/videos about (the Elemis cleanser and the NARS Sheer Glow Foundation). I hope you enjoy the video and be sure to leave a comment letting me know what your favorite products were over the month of April!

Products Mentioned:

Lorac Pro Palette

Laura Geller Blush N Brighten Down to Earth (Limited Edition)

Marc Jacobs Magic Marc'er Precision Pen

MAC Studio Fix Boldblack Lash

Bite Beauty High Pigment Pencil Madeira

NARS Sheer Glow Foundation Mont Blanc

OPI Kiss Me I'm Brazilian

OPI Live.Love.Carnaval

Nuxe Serum Merveillance

Elemis Tri-Enzyme Resurfacing Facial Wash

Jo Malone Blackberry & Bay Cologne

Hope you enjoyed!
Love,
Claire

Review: Estee Lauder Idealist Even Skintone Illuminator

Costco was definitely the last place I thought I would find beauty products that would spark my interest. Surprisingly enough, a few months ago, I ran across the Estee Lauder Idealist Even Skintone Illuminator. I quickly pulled out my iphone and realized that it was half off! Price aside, I thoroughly enjoyed using this product (I went through it completely). 

In the mornings, after toning I would apply this thin, but yet moisturizing serum all over my face and neck and follow with other serums or directly with my moisturizer and sunscreen. Not only did it sink into the skin quickly and made me feel more hydrated, but the slight sheen/shimmer in the product gave my skin a beautiful glow that was perfect to go under makeup or barefaced. Since this product sinks into the skin so easily and doesn't feel greasy or pore-clogging at all, I would recommend this for all skin types.

Definitely browse your local bulk food supply store for this beautiful skincare bit (I also see it often at CCO's). Unfortunately, as much as I enjoy it, there are other serums I prefer and I don't think it's worth the full sale price.

Hope you enjoyed and let me know if you have ever tried any other Estee Lauder skincare in the comments below!

Love,
Claire

R&D: Liole Triple the Solution BB Cream

Another new series? Yes! I decided it was time to share with you my obsession with foundation/base products. To do so informatively and effectively, I've put together the first of many (hopefully) R&D videos. For those who may not know, typically, in the non-youtube/blogging would, R&D refers to Research and Development. Conveniently enough, it also stands for Review and Demo. Thus, comes the infinitely creative name of "Foundation R&D". This is where a graduate degree has gotten me...

Jokes and self-deprication aside, the first installment of Foundation R&D is focused on the Liole Triple the Solution BB Cream. One of my all time favorite foundation products of all time (featured in my Top Favorite Foundations video), this is the product that sparked my interest of Asian cosmetics. 

In case you are interested in purchasing this product, it can be found on Amazon (like everything else), however I have personally only purchased it from brick and mortar locations. One of those is local to me (here in Portland) and conveniently has an online store as well (with free shipping over $50). Pretty and Cute is an adorable (not surprisingly) beauty supply store right on the edge of Portland that is known for their great customer service and access to hard-to-find Asian beauty products (and no I am not affiliated with them and they have no idea who I am or that I'm writing these wonderful words about them). Hope you guys enjoy the review and demo and let me know in the comments below what you thought of this new type of video!

Love,
Claire

Haul: OPI Spring/Summer 2014 Brazil Collection

It's been a while since I've bought any new nail polish. I've been trying to be a bit more discerning with the little glass bottles I bring home; making sure I don't have a dupe, and/or it's even a color I would wear. However, the most recent OPI Spring/Summer 2014 Collection has really caught my attention. After a long and arduous winter, there is nothing more hopeful for spring than slapping some bright coral lacquer on your nails; am I right? I may exaggerate a bit, but for a beauty junkie, the change in finger nail color means it's a new season ahead! 

Out of the entire collection the colors that reflected my excitement for spring were Live.Love.Carnaval (the coral on the left) and Kiss Me I'm Brazilian (the pink on the right). I've worn both, even though Live.Love.Carnaval is the only one shown on the nail, and can say that they apply true to what you seen in the bottle. Typical for a good OPI polish, these apply evenly, and with two coats you have full opacity. I'm so happy that I've added these spring/summer staples into my collection. 

I definitely recommend picking these beauties up. There were other intriguing shades, like the red and the nude, but I held back...for now...

Hope you enjoyed and let me know in the comments below if you picked up any of the colors from this collection!

Love, 

Claire

Get Ready With Me #4: NARS Spring 2014

Watch my latest Get Ready With Me Video featuring my picks from the NARS Spring 2014 collection that I've done a previous post here. Hope you enjoy this casual and chatty style of video. Let me know in the comments if you would like me to continue with these kinds of videos!

Did you pick out any products from the recent NARS collection? If so, make sure to comment below!

Thanks for watching!
Love,
Claire

Review: Bite Beauty Matte Creme Lip Crayons

A brand that I have loved for over a year and a half is Bite Beauty. Focused on using primarily food grade ingredients, Bite Beauty is a lip product brand that truly deserves more attention. A line full of high quality products, they recently released limited edition Matte Creme Lip Crayons in bold and beautiful colors. During the VIB Rouge 15% sale I picked up three colors that I thought I would share with you today. I chose Kumquat, Sweety, and Satsuma.  

First things first, the lip pencils are creamy and incredibly pigmented. Not only are they a bold spring/summer statement lip but they are long lasting and comfortable to wear. I was curious to see if I had anything in my collection that was comparable (including limited edition shades). As you can see below Sweety is the closest to Milani Fruit Punch, but still not an exact dupe. 

While Satsuma is probably the shade that I had that most similar lippies, like Nars Yu and Mac Embrace Me, it still doesn't compare to them because the texture is unlike anything else I have. The faint citrus smell is pleasant and adds to the entire experience of this product. My only gripe is that they didn't make more shades. All the released colors are bright and bold, and for those that don't feel comfortable with such a statement look, cannot partake. However, a very similar product, the Bite Beauty High Pigment Lip Pencils are equally creamy and pigmented. However, they are glossy and don't come in a matte finish.

If you are a fan of the bold lip, I say run to your closest Sephora, the exclusive retailer of Bite Beauty, for the Matte Creme Lip Crayons. I have really fallen in love and look forward to wearing these in the upcoming warmer months. 

Hope you enjoyed!

Love, 

Claire

Empties: March 2014

Only after a mere two weeks, I completed enough products to fill up an entire bag to talk about! Many of the deluxe samples I tried ended up being full size purchases during the Sephora VIB Rouge 15% Sale. Check out the video below to see my mini reviews of all the products I used up during the last half of march (aka since my Current Empties video).

Products Mentioned:

Shiseido Facial Cotton

Julep Quick Dry Drops

Philosophy Fresh Peaches with Cream Body Lotion

Bath & Body Works Aromatherapy Honey & Vanilla Dream Body Wash & Foam Gel (discontinued)
Tresemme Fresh Start Dry Shampoo
Rene Furterer Fiorvanti No-Rinse Detangling Spray
Joico K-Pak Shampoo
Joico K-Pak Conditioner
First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Pads
MAC Prep + Prime Face Protect SPF 50
PCA SKIN Clearskin
Estee Lauder Idealist Even Skintone Illuminator
Origins Plantscription Anti-Aging Serum
Marc Jacobs Lash Lifter Gel Definition Mascara 20 Blaquer
MAC Prep + Prime Lash

Samples

Aqua di Parma Colonia Intensa

 Prada Infusion d'Iris Eau de Parfum

Peter Thomas Roth Mega-Rich Body Lotion
Amika Oil Treatment
Phyto Phytobaume Hydration Express Conditioner
Phyto Phytojoba Intense Hydrating Brilliance Shampoo
Alterna Caviar Anti-Aging Replenishing Moisture Shampoo
Alterna Caviar Anti-Aging Replenishing Moisture Conditioner
Fresh Soy Face Cleanser 
First Aid Beauty Face Cleanser
Urban Decay B6 Vitamin-Infused Complexion Prep Spray
Sephora Age Defy Moisture Cream SPF 15
Origins Plantscription Anti-Aging Eye Cream
Dior Capture Totale One Essential
Ole Henriksen Truth Serum Vitamin C Collagen Booster
Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes 4-in-1 Mascara

Candles

Bath & Body Works Wild Strawberry (discontinued)

Hope you enjoyed, 

Claire

Favorites: March 2014

Over the last few weeks I found a few new favorites that I wanted to bring to your attention. One of my favorite skincare lines, First Aid Beauty is back in my life in full swing. Featuring both a cleanser and exfoliator from the line in the video, I'm only scratching the surface on plethora of amazing products First Aid Beauty creates. Stay tuned for a Brand Review video of First Aide Beauty in the next couple of weeks. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy my March Favorites!

Love, 

Claire

Beauty Haul #5

A pre-recorded haul from the end of January. I wanted to share some of the new items that I have added to my makeup/skincare arsenal. This haul features all high end products from Nordstrom, Sephora and Beauty.com. 

Definitely make sure to watch the video below to see the new products that I recently picked up. Be sure to let me know in the comments if there are an specific products you wanted me to review or feature on the blog.

Hope you enjoy, 

Claire

Review: First Aide Beauty Face Cleanser

As of late I am falling madly in love with many products from the First Aid Beauty Range. Not only are they reasonably priced for high quality products, but they contain no nasty ingredients, are safe for all skin types (including sensitive), and are incredibly effective. In the past I've only used the shaving cream, and was very impressed, but recently I've gotten my hands on some of their most basic and best selling products. Today's review is on the First Aide Beauty Face Cleanser. 

Creamy and foaming but without stripping the skin, this white cleanser has been great for my hyper-sensitive skin. The last few weeks have also proven to be intensely stressful and my skin shows it! First Aide Beauty to the rescue with this calming and fragrance-free cleanser. After makeup removal I lather this all over my face with either my hands or in combination with my Clarisonic, I feel refreshed and cleansed, without that "tight-skin feeling". I definitely recommend this delicate and lovely cleanser for anyone and everyone. If you are suffering from irritated and acne-prone skin (like me) the First Aide Beauty Face Cleanser with surely calm your woes. 

Love, 

Claire

Review: Koh Gen Do Cleansing Spa Water

As promised, this year I'm making sure that I give credit to the stand out products that I love and recommend wholeheartedly. I have found that many a "holy grail" item has slipped through the cracks and never been put on stage to receive it's well deserved applause. Today's standing ovation goes to the Koh Gen Do Cleansing Spa Water. Compared to the famed Bioderma, along many others, I have come to the conclusion that this is the best cleansing water I have ever used.

After soaking the Shiseido Cotton Pads and holding it over my eye makeup for a few seconds, I am able to swipe away all of my makeup. Without any oily residue, no rubbing or tugging needed, my makeup comes off almost magically. It honestly feels like water, hence the name, without any burning or irritation. Two reasons why this takes the cake versus Bioderma. The first is that it is ever so slightly more effective at makeup removal and second, it is incredibly easily accessible via Sephora.com, Barneys, and even Hautelook. I recommend trying the Koh Gen Do Cleansing Spa Water for anyone interested in an easy, effective, and high quality makeup removal product. Do note that I highly discourage this to be the sole cleansing step in your routine, this is only for makeup removal, not cleansing. 

Hope you enjoyed, and let me know in the comments below if you've tried anything from Koh Gen Do!

Love, 

Claire

2013 Favorites: Skincare

2013 Favorites or not the following products below that I talk about in the video linked are all time favorites. These are the products that really stood out to me over 2013. In truth, I would have very much like to have uploaded this video when it was filmed in January, but due to life, moving, surgeries, and an inability to handle my sh*t, I bring you the second installment of my 2013 favorites today! I definitely felt as this was still relevant and quality content and I certainly hope you guys enjoy!

Products Mentioned:

Koh Gen Do Cleansing Spa Water

Lancome "Eau Fraiche Douceur" Micellar Cleansing Water

Clarins Instant Eye Makeup Remover

Bobbi Brown Soothing Cleansing Oil

Shiseido Facial Cotton

Clarins One Step Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser

Laura Mercier Flawless Skin Face Polish

Origins Modern Friction

Alpha-H Liquid Gold

Kiehl's Over-Night Biological Peel

Mario Badescu Glycolic Grapefruit Cleansing Lotion

Mario Badescu Facial Spray with Aloe, Herbs & Rosewater

Kiehl's Cucumber Herbal Alcohol-Free Toner

Origins Plantscription Anti-Aging Serum

Estee Lauder Idealist Even Skin Tone Illuminator

Ole Henriksen Truth Serum Collagen Booster

NUDE Radiant Day Moisturizer

PCA Skin Clearskin

Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate

Pai Rosehip Bioregenerate

Origins Plantscription Anti-Aging Eye Cream

Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Eye

Clarins UV Plus HP Multi-Protection Day Screen SPF 40
Shiseido Sun Protection Eye Cream Broad Spectrum SPF 34
Kiehl's Acne Blemish Control Skin-Clearing Treatment
Clinique Moisture Surge Overnight Mask
Mario Basdescu Healing & Soothing Mask
GLAMGLOW SUPER-MUD Clearing Treatment
Skin 79 Rose Moisture Mask
KORRES Lip Butter Guava
BY TERRY Baume de Rose

Love,
Claire

Review: Aesop Parsley Seed Anti-Oxidant Facial Toner

Recently I've been experimenting with a few Aesop skincare goodies. Over this past holiday season I bought a gift set which included a cleanser, toner, and moisturizer. Today I'm reviewing the toner, a new favorite that I featured in my most recent video (see previous post). The Aesop Parsley Seed Anti-Oxidant Facial Toner is geared towards rebalancing the skin's natural pH (which can be adversely affected during cleansing) and is suitable for all skin types, including dry and sensitive. 

The number one ingredient listed is aloe, known for calming and soothing red and irritated skin. I find that when my skin acts up and I'm not inclined to use an exfoliating toner (which I like to do to keep my acne at bay, and have continuous cell regeneration) I like to turn to this toner to calm my skin, and keep it healthy. The antioxidant properties are not only great for overall skin health, but are also great for anti aging. We all know anti oxidants are great for our bodies, why not include them in our skincare?

I definitely recommend this beautiful, slightly herbal and floral scented toner for all skin types. If you have been interested in trying out Aesop products, I recommend the Parsley Seed Line as a whole. Also, if you have a local Aesop store, they are great for having already prepared sample packets to try; perfect to check if you are allergic and if you like the product since it is a higher priced line. The Aesop Parsley See Anti-Oxidant Facial Toner can be found on the Aesop website here.

Hope you enjoy!

Love, 

Claire

Favorites: January to Mid-March 2014

After months of no posts, I am back with the hopes of consistent blogging and video making. After having surgery and moving house, life got the best of me and took me away from one of my favorite hobbies. Today I bring you the products I've been enjoying as of late. Old favorites and a few new loves grace the screen in the video linked below. I hope you enjoy!

Products Mentioned
Josie Maran Argan Oil Hair Serum
Aesop Parsley Seed Anti-Oxidant Facial Toner
Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Eye
Liole Triple The Solution BB Cream
Laura Mercier Second Skin Cheek Color Soft Iris
MAC 168 Large Angled Contour Brush
OPI My Very First Knockwurst

Love,
Claire