Drunk Elephant "The Littles" - An Honest & Unsponsored Review

Hi lovely reader! Hope you are staying safe and doing well! I've been wanting to write today's post for a while but thought it would be best and most helpful to wait and truly have used these products for some time before giving my feedback. I received Drunk Elephant's "The Littles" set for Christmas and have been using them consistently ever since which has given me a good grasp on how my skin reacts tot these products, what works and what doesn't and how long they last. As with most things beauty related I love to do my research before purchasing especially when it involves spending a bit more money, so I hope this post is helpful to anyone thinking about buying this set or any of these products individually! I have also provided links to the products but please not they are not affiliated (this post is not sponsored in any way)

To start I also want to note my skin type as everyone is different and it definitely has an impact on how certain products work with you. I have a very oily t-zone, and deal with blackheads on my nose. My forehead I would say is the least sensitive part of my face and my chin is definitely the most sensitive. So if you can relate to any of that you may have a similar experience with these products.

Beste No. 9 Jelly Cleanser: I use a pea sized amount of this cleanser in the morning and at night. It definitely makes my skin feel fresh and clean and cleared the layer of oil or makeup residue from the day. The nice thing I've found about this cleanser is that a little goes a long way so even the sample size in this kit has lasted me about 4 months. I would recommend this product if you are looking for a gentle yet effect daily cleanser.

C-Firma Day Serum: Of the 8 products in this set, this one definitely surprised me the most! I was a little weary starting out how my skin would react to this, especially my chin area but I did not have any issues. This serum is where I saw a noticeable difference in my skin, I definitely am on the paler side (not mad about it) but using this daily has improved the pigmentation of my skin. Not to say it's made me a bronzed goddess but I can see a visible difference 5 months in with my skin looking brighter. It has also helped even out areas where I have had redness from breakouts in the past. I like to put a pump of the B-Hydra Intensive Hydration Serum and a pump of this serum in my hands, mix them and then apply to my face in the mornings. Like I said before I have been using this since the end of December and this sample size has still not run out.

B-Hydra Intensive Hydration Serum: This serum is really nice especially as it has started to get warmer because it is super hydrating but extremely light weight. As someone with oily skin I wasn't exactly sure how intensive hydration would work but it has actually helped combat the oiliness. I think by using this in the morning and having that hydration, my t-zone doesn't produce as much oil as before which has been nice. It definitely hasn't cured the oiliness but it does help to slow down and I don't shine as quickly as I used to, especially if I'm not wearing makeup.

T.L.C. Framboos Glycolic Night Serum: This is one of my favorite products in the set! I use it at night after I have exfoliated and apply a thin layer all over my face. It just leaves your skin feeling fresh and also helps combat oiliness which is great. I apply a layer of moisturizer on top once it has set and am ready for bed! 

C-Tango Multivitamin Eye Cream: This eye cream really is amazing and I am saying that in all honesty. The texture is great and you can really feel the hydration. I can also notice a difference in the feeling of my skin if I don't use it. I had gotten samples of this last year from Sephora when trying to find an eye cream and I loved it so I was excited to have a larger and longer lasting amount of product to use. I tend to use it more in the morning than at night but you could really use it both or either.

Umbra Sheer Physical Daily Defense SPF 30: One of the first concerns I had when checking out the products in this kit was that the moisturizer didn't have sunscreen to it. I am a big believer in wearing some sort of SPF during the day whether you're out in the sun or not. Especially if you're sitting in front of a computer all day or in your car a lot! So when I saw they had a sunscreen I was like okay let's give this a go, we'll just add another layer. I haven't gotten to give this a proper beach or "day at the pool" go but for everyday it's great. Like everything else it is super light, dries really easily and doesn't leave a greasy feeling like so many other sunscreens. 

Virgin Marula Luxury Facial Oil: This facial oil is by far the cutest "little" in the set. It has a tiny glass dropper and like all Drunk Elephant products, the packaging is super chic. However I am sad to say that this product is the one (and really only one) where my skin was not having it. It's not like I can't use it at all but around my chin area (which is the most sensitive) it has caused me some small breakouts (nothing huge or super dramatic) but I think applying direct oils to my face just doesn't work for my skin type. I could see how this could be really nice though it you do deal with dry skin or dry areas.

Protini Polypeptide Cream: Last but not least this lovely luxurious moisturizer. It's light, creamy, not greasy at all and hydrating. It feels really nice to apply and my favorite part is how quickly it sets into my skin. It absorbs almost immediately so there is no residue or greasy feeling. 

Of the 8 products my top 3 that I would say would be worth the full size splurge would be the Protini Polypeptide Cream, C-Tango Multivitamin Eye Cream, and the C-Firma Day Serum. The nice thing about all of these products is that a little goes a long way and I have noticed visible improvements in using them regularly!

I hope those notes were helpful to you if you are considering purchasing the set or any of the products individually. Would love to hear your experience with them as well and what your favorites are. XX

My 2020 Quarantine Skincare Routine

Hello lovely reader! Happy almost New Year! I put together a little summary of my "Quarantine Skincare Routine" aka the products I have been using and loving over the past few months. The great thing is that the majority of them are drugstore brands meaning you definitely don't have to break the bank to create a nice little routine. As far as a skin type, I have a very oily t-zone, and deal with blackheads on my nose. My forehead I would say is the least sensitive part of my face and my chin is definitely the most sensitive. So if you can relate to any of that I would highly recommend giving any of these products a try. I have also provided links (which are not sponsored or affiliated) in case you want to check anything out!

Soap and Glory Vitamin C Facial Wash
This product is great for getting some exfoliation into your routine. It leaves your face feeling fresh and smooth, especially if you use it with some type of spin brush. It also has a great scent to it!
Dermalogica Clear Start Foaming Wash
This face wash is a bit more of a splurge but I have found that it really works well with my skin type. It definitely helps to control the oil on my t-zone and is also great to use as a follow up to the Soap and Glory wash. 

PMD - Personal Microderm - Classic
This was my quarantine "self-care" splurge. I ordered it in the spring and can honestly say that it is worth it! When you factor in how much Microderm facials cost and the fact that a lot of places are closed right now it actually is a great deal. I have found that using this once a week has helped with the redness/scars left behind by breakouts on my chin area and the oiliness of blackheads around my nose. I will say that this doesn't suck out blackheads but removes layers of dead skin cells, so if you use if consistently it can help with appearance of black heads but will not remove them all at once. It also makes your skin super smooth and helps it to absorb any product that you apply afterwards. A lot of places carry this product too and I have seen it go on sale a lot so keep an eye out if you're looking for a deal.

Thayers Witch Hazel Alcohol Free Toner
This is a great product to try if you are looking to introduce a toner into your skincare routine. It is extremely affordable and I have found it to agree with the sensitive areas on my face which was my main concern. They do offer an unscented version which I would recommend over this Rose Petal one (bought it by mistake) and even offer it in little travel sizes if you don't want to buy a big bottle to start. 

Ole Henriksen Banana Bright Eye Creme
This product would also fall under the splurge category in my book but again it is definitely worth it. The cream has a great scent and texture to it. It gives you a glow for those days when you don't wear makeup (everyday since March) and really does feel hydrating when applied.

Aveeno Positively Radiant Daily Moisturizer
It's a classic and it works! This moisturizer is great for the winter because it is a bit heavier and I don't know about you but since turning the heat on, the air in my house is dry!! It also has SPF in it which is important to wear year round.

Kiehl's Ultra Facial Overnight Hydrating Masque
This mask is perfect to use if you feel like your skin needs a moisturizing boost. Even for someone who has oily skin this is great to use every so often, the next day I can totally notice a difference and it doesn't cause breakouts for me in my more sensitive zones when is a huge plus. I would recommend using this once a month if you have oily skin and if you have more balanced skin every few weeks.
Origins Clear Improvements Active Charcoal Mask
Tried and true, and much used as you can tell in the photo, this mask is great for detoxifying your skin. I can tell for even for a day or two after as I have less redness in areas that were previously irritated and again it doesn't aggravate anything either. I try to use this once a week, typically at the end of the week.
Feeling Beautiful Facial Polishing Masque with Charcoal and Black Sugar
This mask is great and I actually use it in the shower. I'll apply it right about halfway through and then scrub it off at the end. This is also a great option to bring some exfoliation into your skincare routine especially in the winter months! Great to use a couple of times a week!

And that is my routine! I hope these reviews were helpful and maybe inspired you to try out some new products! Xx