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

What I Got For My Birthday

Hello lovely reader! The other day I was trying to get my little space on the internet organized, sorting photos, deleting old notes, etc. and  discovered deep in the depths of my drafts a "What I Got For My Birthday" post from two years ago! I went through what I had and pretty much all of the items are still available and are products that I still use/like and if not I shared alternatives that are similar! I thought I would share it with you today as a "Draft Find". Enjoy!

This exact birthday set is no longer available but they do have a 2018 version!

dw HOME "Birthday Cake" Candle This is one of my favorite candles ever, it smells amazing!

Marc Jacobs "Highliner Gel Eye Crayon"
Marc Jacobs "Le Marc Lip Cream" - Creamy Nude Rose

Benefit "Roller Lash" Mascara

Soap & Glory "Hand Food" Hand Cream This is my absolute go to for the winter months!

Fashion Lives: Fashion Icons with Fern Mallis  Gorgeous book, perfect for a coffee table or bookshelf piece.

Ellie Goulding - Delirium

Chicago Shopping | Mini Haul

Hi lovely reader! Yesterday I shared my "Chicago Photo Diary" with you and today I wanted to share some of the things I purchased while in the city with a mini haul! 

One of the first things that I purchased was from Sephora and it is this "fresh cream" rollerball by philosophy.  It smells absolutely delicious, like cupcakes and frosting at a sweet soiree. It is by far     one of my favorite scents that I have owned and I will definitely be purchasing a bottle when my rollerball runs out!

I love this t-shirt so much! I purchased it from the Disney Store and think it is absolutely perfect. The black bands around the neck and sleeves sold me for sure. The only downside to it was that it was a large, but I think with a careful wash, it might shrink a bit and be perfect with some skinny jeans, classic reeboks, and a scrunchie. 

Speaking of scrunchies, I purchased these two from Topshop. I love the prints because I think that they will go with a lot. They also have the wiring in the bow bit so that you can adjust them to lay how you like. 

I have been really into marbled things lately so I was excited when I found these double sided earrings at Nordstrom. The marbled ball goes in the front and then the gold cubes in the back. I like that they are versatile too, if your hair is down you don't really see the backs as much but with an updo, both sides show and make for a cool look.

Last but not lease, I purchased these Steve Madden "Purfect Flats" from Nordstrom Rack. I was drawn to these because the neutral and black color will go well with most of my closet and also because I see these as being able to be worn with jean shorts and a tshirt, as well as a nice summer dress.

So there are some of my favorite purchases from my time in Chicago, where do you like to shop in the city? Xx

New Makeup & Hair Products

Hello lovely reader! First off, I want to apologize for the lack of true posts. As you may or may not know, I am away at college (or university) and this semester has been insanely busy. The fact that it is already mid March blows my mind! Now this is not to say that I do not still love blogging or am not as into it anymore because it is actually the exact opposite. My mind is filled with different posts that I want to do, I just literally have had no time! (if you're in school or have a regular job, I know you will understand) So, once summer comes for sure expect my posting to go back to normal. 

So after that little preface, onto what this post is really meant to be about. When I was home last, I stocked up on some new beauty products to try and I wanted to share them with you. 

For makeup I tried out two new products, the Covergirl Full Lash Bloom Mascara and the Covergirl Ready Set Gorgeous Concealer. 

Prior to using this concealer, I had been using Rimmel Wake Me Up Concealer (typical) and really liked it. I ended up buying this one because I needed concealer and my store didn't have the Rimmel one. It was definitely an impulse buy, but a successful one at that! It is also oil free which is a definite plus seeing as I was graced with a fairly oily t-zone. The coverage is great and it blends really well. Overall I really like how it makes my skin look. 

Mascara and full lashes is one of my many makeup fetishes. I love lashes!!! This mascara does a really nice job of spreading your lashes to make them look longer and fuller. It also does not clump which is fantastic for me. You can obviously layer more if you want it to look thicker or just go over your lashes two or three times for a less dramatic look. It reminds me a lot of the Benefit They're Real Mascara, as far as how it makes my lashes look. I would definitely recommend this product.

Now onto nails. My mom actually sent me these two polishes for Valentine's Day. The first is by Nails Inc London and is in the shade "Mayfair Lane" and the second sparkly polish is a part of the Maybelline Color Show Jewels line and is in the shade "Mosaic Prism". Both polishes are great quality and they look super sweet layered together. I love pastel shades for spring, so I will definitely be wearing this pink a lot!

This is also something I had read nothing about, but simply saw it in a magazine and decided to give it a try. The concept that caught my attention was volume extend. I have thick hair so keeping volume on top can be a challenge. I have used this dry shampoo multiple times and overall I would say it is a good dry shampoo. I will spray it in my hair before I go to bed and then more if needed once I wake up and actually style it. It has a really nice smell to it and keeps my hair from looking oily on top, I do think it does help keep the volume as well. It is also nice to use if you are teasing your hair and want an extra boost. 

Finally is this lovely lip set which includes a Satin Lip Pencil in the shade Rikugien and a Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in the shade Cruella. If you are a beauty insider with Sephora you will know that each year during your birthday month you can go into the store and get a freebie, a birthday gift. This year it was these two Nars lip pencils. First off, yay because it's free NARS makeup, and second yay because they are awesome! I've used the Rikugien shade a few times and I absolutely love it. The color is really pretty and it is a satin lip pencil so the consistency makes application super easy.

Have you used any of these products? What did you think? Xx

July Favorites (Beauty)

July is sadly coming to an end. Am I the only one who felt that this month flew by? Anyway, there are many beauty items that I have been loving this month, but I have narrowed down my summer essentials for this post. I would also like to say, because I know some people are quick to assume, that I am in no way affiliated with any of these companies, I am just simply giving my opinion of these products. 

My first favorite is something that I know I am a little behind on seeing as they've been popular for some time now. But nevertheless, I'm glad that I finally tried it because I really like it.  It is the Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream. I did my research before buying a BB cream and this was the one that seemed to suit my skin. (the price was good too) The coverage is great. I got the shade Light/Medium and it blends so that it is unnoticeable and natural. The one downside to this product though is that I did not find that it kept me from getting a "shiny nose". I have an oily t-zone so if I am going out I will apply powder just to set it. It also has SPF 30 so your skin is protected. Overall I really like this product. The coverage is good and it blends well, it also protects your skin, giving it a smooth and clear appearance. 

My next favorite product is not necessarily new, but I have fallen in love with it again. It is the L'ORÉAL Paris Lineur Intense Liquid Eyeliner. I LOVE this liquid eyeliner. It stays in place all day no matter what conditions you are in. I have applied it in the morning, been outside all day, come in and it has not smudged or faded at all. I even wore it recently in the pouring rain, came home and it looked the exact same! AMAZING! I use the shade J400 Carbon Black. It also makes the lovely sound when you shake it:) Mine is a bit different because it is older and has sponge tip as opposed to the new version which has a brush tip. I personally like the sponge because it allows me to create a thin or thick line and stays steady. I love this liquid eyeliner!!

Now onto lips! I have three favorite lip products, so I will keep my descriptions short:)

First is the Sugar Lip Treatment SPF 15 by Fresh. If I'm laying out or going to the beach I apply this and it keeps my lips from getting dry or chapped. I love how smoothly it applies and the smell is quite nice too. It does not have a color which I don't mind because I find my lips get some color when I'm out in the sun. I just keep it in my beach bag and glide it on while laying out. 

Next is the Maybelline Baby Lips. I think these are great! They give color and are moisturizing. I find that some lip balms are sticky or last for two seconds and then are gone. This lasts long and is so smooth. I definitely pop my lips a few too many times after applying it:) My current favorite shade is Coral Crush it is not as orangey (not sure if thats a word) as it appears, it is a very nice shade. 

Finally for the lips is the Sephora Lovely lips lip balm duo. I got this on sale and have checked and it is no longer available on the Sephora website. I have seen some on amazon or eBay if you wanted to get it. As the title says it is a pack of two lip balms. The shades are Saumon Salmon pink and Rose clair Light pink. The colors are both very nice and light. Rose clair has a shimmer to it and Saumon is more matte but both leave your lips looking moisturized. I think they are just two really sweet shades.

The final of my July beauty favorites are three nail polishes. 

The first is by OPI in the shade Strawberry Margarita. Because it is a bit darker, it is not streaky and will cover in two coats. I just think its a pretty pink!

This next color I bought in a burst of wanting to try something different. I had seen pictures on Instagram of yellow nail polishes and liked it but was unsure if I should try it. One day I was out and thought why not, it's summer and a perfect time to try this color. I got the Maybelline Color Show in the shade 230 FIERCE N TANGY. I really liked it! Again I applied two coats and it covered well. 

The last nail polish I have been loving is the Revlon 680 Revlon Red. I don't think you can ever go wrong with a classic red nail. It's not too dark or too bright and is not streaky after two coats!

Thank you for taking a look at my July beauty favorites! Let me know if you have used these products too and what you think of them or what your July beauty favorites are. Also, if you have a July beauty favorites post, leave the link in the comments! I'd love to read it!