HUM Nutrition Supplements

Today I’m focusing on wellness so I want to talk about supplements...

I’ve been taking HUM supplements for three months now, but only just signed up for their membership which comes with substantial savings, free samples & the ability to connect with a nutritionist. HUM offers supplements for everything from skin & hair to joints & bones, basic daily vitamins to gut health. Yay!

I’m really looking forward to trying the Mighty Night supplement! It’s an overnight cell renewal for both skin & body - sounds amazing, right!

Claims:

Helps skin cell turnover

Improves texture & tone

Promotes optimal sleep

Key Ingredients:

Ceramides

CoQ10

Ferulic Acid & Valerien Root

These say to expect results in 4 to 6 weeks...so I’ll let you know.

I’ve also started with the HUM Collagen POP supplements which are made from premium marine collagen and vitamin C to replenish and hydrate your skin - which is something I really need especially now during the cold winter months! Just pop on tablet into 8oz of water which will upgrade a boring water into a fizzy, strawberry & lemon tonic. To me it’s reminiscent of a strawberry Jell-O shot without the vodka of course! Ha ha.

Be sure to Check out HUM Here!

Nailcare: product review

Nail care is self care!

Lately, It’s been a bit difficult keeping my nails in good shape but these nail care products do help!

I love the Diamancel nail files which are made with actual diamonds! They’re durable, flexible & easily cleaned with warm, soapy water. AND, guaranteed to last a lifetime!! Whaaat?? 

I use the #2 file which is recommended for natural nails & ideal for daily nail maintenance. They also offer a nice range of other sizes/products.

I appreciate how easily they file my nails, with very little effort AND that they can be cleaned/sanitized.

I randomly picked this up at Sephora years ago and so glad I did!!

Do you have an impulse purchase that became a go-to product?? 

Could I HAVE anymore Toners??

Three Mists, a toner & one Essence...a True Story. 

Truth be told - I use all of these in my different skincare routines, depending on how my skin is feeling 😉

I’ve just recently incorporated the Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence from CosRx and I’m really enjoying it! I’m kinda into that sticky snail 🐌 mucin stuff. 😂 It definitely delivers an instant soothing effect. I purchased it due to its claim to provide long term hydration, plump the skin, support elasticity & improve radiance. I’ll have to let y’all know how it lives up to these noted benefits...

<Bonus: it was 50% off at ULTA so WIN-WIN!>

Do you change up your toners, Essence or mists due to daily skin conditions??

Brand Highlight: Iris and Romeo

✨Brand Spotlight: Iris&Romeo ✨

The Iris&Romeo mantra is “Less makeup. More you”. Created by former Smash-box executive Michele Gough Baril, she developed a beauty routine to help us feel more confident in our skin. Their mission ~ to support women who are finding their voice while hitting their stride by providing a simplified beauty wardrobe that makes you feel like you can do anything you set your mind to! Powerful!!

Best Skin Days in Light: the daily 5-n-1 cream with a cult following...”The hardest working day cream on your vanity” ~ says Michele.

•It’s makeup - meets skincare - meets sun protection! I’m totally obsessed with this because it offers the ideal combo of serum + moisturizer + light coverage + protection against UVA/UVB & blue light! That’s A LOT.

•Claims ~ it’s a skincare meets makeup game changer that can restore hydration, elasticity & natural radiance for firmer & glowing skin. WOW!

•My experience: It’s a whipped, spongy & bouncy texture. Very blend-able & buildable, melts into my skin quickly.

Offers even coverage that does not just sit on my skin. Makes me look & feel just...more like the best version of me.

•Verdict: Total GAME CHANGER!

Power Peptide Lip Balm in Peony: this little cutie features a 3-n-1 formula of buttery balm + plumping/hydrating treatment + buildable color. I love all these combos... In my experience, it’s a very long lasting balm with a silky soft feel & delightfully pink color - this color is indeed reminiscent of pretty pale pink peony flowers. This skincare balm also has collagen boosting peptides for the perfect pout. I think it’s true love.

Product Review: Laneige Water Sleeping Mask

The Water Sleeping Mask - Already a Legend!

This overnight sleeping mask from Laneige says it’s a 

“moisture-recharging gel mask that quickly absorbs to deeply hydrate your skin.”

Stated as ideal for all skin types, in my experience it does not deliver quite enough hydration for my overly dry + dehydrated skin that’s especially sensitive to the dry winter weather & the heater running all night long 😢

Formulated with Ingredients like Hydro-Ionized Mineral Water (sounds cool 💦) and apricot & evening primrose extracts. this beauty claims to deliver moisture, a relaxing & calming scent, visibly brightened skin that’s ultimately more radiant + refreshed + soft glowing skin!

Ok, let’s break this down - it definitely has a very relaxing, light scent that I adore. And, I feel it really delivers soft & glowing skin. However, for me it just not hydrating enough because I still awake with slightly tight skin...but that’s just me and my skin is very dehydrated. I do really enjoy this sleeping mask and I think I’ll get better results during the summer months which aren’t as dry?

Do you use a hydrating overnight mask that you love?? 

Affordable Luxuries: BLISS World

A Basket full of BLISS 

💙🤍💚💖💛

My love affair with all things BLISS World started way back in the 90’s when I received my very first copy of Bliss Out (the Bliss Spa Catalog) introducing me to Bliss Girl & all things Bliss - like the now iconic Lemon & Sage Body Butter!

I would peruse each page with glee and even saved those catalogs for many years 😊😊

I dreamed of someday visiting the Spa in NYC - eventually making it there and when they launched in W Hotels I also was fortunate enough to visit the one in Chicago. Yay!!

I credit BLISS and Marcia Kilgore (founder of Bliss Spa) with launching my lifelong obsession with all things skincare, beauty & wellness! 😘

Some of my FAVE Bliss products:

• Lemon & Sage Body Lotion
• Rose Gold Rescue Cleanser
• Pumpkin Powerhouse Mask
• Rose Gold Toner Mist

The Double Cleanse: Zero Cleansing Balm

This Zero Discovery Kit was the perfect way for me to find the Zero Cleansing Balm ideal for me. For just USD $6.49 at ULTA - this mini kit includes all four balms to try:

🤍 Original: removes makeup, hydrates & cleanses skin

💚 Revitalizing: removes makeup, hydrates & cleanses + offers antioxidant protection

💛 Nourishing: removes makeup, hydrates & cleanses + moisturizing

💜 Purifying: removes makeup, hydrated & cleanses + soothes

The front-runner for me is the Purifying formula 💜💜

I think these balms are ideal for dryer skin types but also great for all skin when included as a double-cleanse routine. For my super dry + dehydrated skin I didn’t feel the need to double cleanse as this balm left no residue or film. I love how it starts off applied to dry skin then dissolves into an oil ideal for a face massage prior to rinsing.

Don’t you just love it when Brands offer these cost-effective mini kits?? DO you "Double-cleanse"??

Glossier: The Skincare Edit

Glossier’s minis kit - The Skincare Edit!!

Glossier’s skincare bestsellers done in diminutive sizes so ideal for dipping your toes (ahemmmm... your face) into their fabulous products!

The Skincare Edit Includes:

• FutureDew Oil Serum Hybrid
• Milky Jelly Cleanser
• Super Bounce hydrating serum 
•  Priming Moisturizer Rich
• Balm Dotcom in original & rose
• Pink Headband 

FutureDew has quickly become one of my absolute favorites: nourishing but not greasy featuring light-reflecting minerals for that dewy dumpling glow. I love how it helps my makeup glide on effortlessly & hydrates my super dry skin! xoxo 

This Kit is the ideal way to try out this iconic brand!

Another new Fave:

I’m adorning (and adoring 😉) these darling, dainty stud earrings from Maison Muri

Product Review: Naturium Retinols

Retinol ~ the gold standard?

Here is my full review of the Retinol Face Oil & Retinol Complex Cream from @naturium

💙 Good to know: Retinol is the over-the-counter version of tretinoin/retinoic acid. Both are within the Vitamin A category known as Retinoids. When Retinols, a weaker version of the retinoic acids, are used on the face they help stop the breakdown of collagen & stimulate elastin

production.

💙 The face oil is an advanced retinoid featuring a non-irritating formula to boost hydration & overall skin plumpness. It’s not greasy & absorbs fairly quick - a few minutes for me.

💙 The Complex Cream is formulated with a 2.5% retinol + bakuchiol complex to hydrate skin & reduce the signs of aging like fine lines, lose of elasticity, hyperpigmentation... all the things I need help with.

💙 Overall: These products are gentle, non-drying, and seem to be helping to smooth out my skin which looks & feels more refined with a plumper, hydrated end result.

<I’ve used every other night for almost 1 month>

Do you think Retinol is indeed the gold standard ingredient for anti-aging skincare products??

Don’t forget about your hands!

It’s Hand Care Awareness Day!

Not really - I just made that up, but it should be a thing!! I do adore a good hand cream though...

🖐 I know everyone’s washing their hands more than usual & doing lots of disinfecting so using copious amounts of hand cream is probably part of the new norm.

🖐 However - it’s ideal to use hand cream products featuring anti-aging formulas like the Super Retinol Anti-Aging Hand Treatment from Beauty Pie which provides smoothing & renewing. 

This is a fab nighttime cream.

🖐 Fun Fact: I also like to use anti-aging products that perhaps didn’t work out so well on my face - like the Retinol treatment from The Inky List,  repurposed as a nighttime hand treatment - I follow this with a rich hand cream 👉 During the daytime, be sure to wear sunscreen!!

Product Review: Benefit Cosmetics Brow Gel

I recently received the Benefit Cosmetics 24-hour Brow Setter Clear Brow Gel complimentary from influenster YAY! 😃

I have very sparse eyebrows and as I get older they seem to be thinning out even more - how is that even possible 🤪. I love this brow gel because it really helps to shape my brows (they need all the help!! 😉) and locks on my other eyebrow makeup like Benefit Goof Proof Brow Pencil or Precisely My Brow Pencil 🥰

Features: an invisible gel finish that’s flexible & flake-free 🙌

Two sided: longer bristles ideal for evenly coating the brow hairs. The shorter bristles are used to shape & sculpt brows - think Wolf Brows 🐺 (aka the laminated look).

I always look & feel better when I define my eyebrows...how about you?? 😊

Manic Mondays??

No more Manic Monday’s 🎵 

Well, not for me...not for awhile now 😉

Although I’ve not been leaving the house much, I still like to put on a bit of makeup- mostly for when I catch a glimpse of myself in a mirror 🤪

My minimal makeup routine includes only the basics:

+ A good primer - I like the probiotic infusion breathable primer from... you guessed it... Beauty Pie 😍

+ A lightweight tinted moisturizer like Les Beiges from Chanel 

+ The perfect concealer like Dior’s Diorskin Forever Undercover concealer 

+ A charming cream blush like Supercheek Universal Pink from Beauty Pie

+ A hint of sparkle from Colour Chameleon from the one & only Charlotte Tilbury 

+ Finish off with an easy-going mascara like one from Ilia, Boy Brow of course and lip conditioning lip oil from Lilah b. ❤️

Done & Done 😉

Have a Good Hair Day!

Currently Having a Good Hair Day!

Although I’ve not been able to visit my hairstylist for professional cut, color & style (Dear Jordan, I Miss You!😘)

I still want my hair to look it’s best - with a very simple salon-quality routine:

-Verb Ghost Oil

- Naturelab Repair Leave-in Treatment

- Kitsch Microfiber Towel Scrunchie

- T3 Folding Compact Hairdryer 

📌The Repair leave-in treatment has helped to restore my hair back to its pre at-home coloring debacle. It’s a light foaming formula that is easily distributed from roots to ends, featuring Prickly Pear oil that really softens & hydrates my hair!  

📌I use the Weightless Hair Oil from Verb as the last step in my hair styling routine for a nourishing finishing touch that does not leave my hair a greasy mess!

📌On non heat-styling days (most days) I let my hair air dry utilizing the Kit•sch towel scrunchies. Later I smooth a few drops of Ghost Oil through my strands & twist into side buns to finish drying - this gives my wavy hair a little extra oomph and the oil keeps it soft & shiny.

P.S. How cute are the Bachca Paris rose gold Bobby pins 😉

Product Review: Sweet Pitti from Drunk Elephant

Don’t have a Pity Party ~ Use Sweet Pitti Deodorant Cream from Drunk Elephant

I love that it’s Made without Baking Soda ✅ Essential Oils ✅ Aluminum-derived ingredients ✅ Fragrances ✅or Drying Alcohols ✅

💚 Ideal for sensitive skin!

💚 pH 4.0

💚 Soothing & replenishing formula 

✅ Created with Mandelic Acid which kills odor-causing bacteria. Also features soothing Shea Butter for skin-barrier protection.

My assessment: it works!! 💚

It’s a moisturizing, creamy formula with a lovely, light scent - is it the sweet almond?

It takes a minute or two to absorb which is not an issue for me. 

🌱 Pro tip: this is packaged in a fully recyclable container with a dial mechanism at the bottom - click/turn just about an 1/8 turn to release a minimal amount because less is more seems to work well with this one! 🌱

Product Review: Grown Alchemist

Minimal Monday vibes with Grown Alchemist...

Grown Alchemist utilizes a holistic scientific approach to create innovative formulas capable of slowing and even reversing the signs of skin aging.

🌱The Mandarin/Rosemary Leaf Body Cream has been a lovely introduction to their “Biological Beauty” products. 🌱

💚 Soothes dry skin

💚 Restores elasticity 

💚 Powered by Bioactive ingredients like Shea Butter, Almond & Rosehip oils, and Vitamin C.

✅ Pros: Excellent for very dry skin - think knees & elbows. Glides on easily & absorbs quickly

✅ Cons: At US$26 for 4.23oz it’s a wee bit pricey but a little bit really goes a long way and you “get what you pay for” with this cream.

Some of their best-sellers include the Hydra-Restore Cream Cleanser, Age-Repair Serum & the Antioxidant+ Facial Oil. Next I think I’ll grab one of their serums...💚

🌱 Have you tried any of the products from Grown Alchemist? Which is your favorite?

My FAVES: Sunscreen

The Sunscreen Addition

Sunscreen: a tale in three parts☀️☀️☀️

👉 Part One

BEAUTY PIE This is my go-to daily sunscreen. The Ultralight Daily SPF 30 is a broad-spectrum screen that glides on smoothly, absorbing quickly leaving no residue. It has the added benefits of green tea and plays nicely with my other products & foundations. Best of all - it also creates a soft focus blurring effect on your skin. Yes, please.

👉 Part Two

100PERCENT PURE The Tomato Lycopene SPF20 is a UVA/UVB skin protector + moisturizer that sounds amazing. It’s natural, non-toxic, cruelty free & vegan but unfortunately it did not work for me. I couldn’t get it to absorb, it left a very stubborn white cast and pilled when applied with other products and/or makeup. Such a bummer!

👉 Part Three

SUPERGOOP I just adore Glow Screen SPF40!! Can’t say enough good stuff about it - it works beautifully layered with my other products & acts as a lovely illuminating primer pre makeup...also amazing all by itself. I like to pair it with my daily screen, adding to cheekbones & other high points for a gorgeous glow.

I’m looking forward to trying Supergoop’s newly launched Super Dose Vitamin C + SPF ☀️

Product Review: Nail polish

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

New Year - New Nails...

✨✨WE MADE IT TO 2021✨✨

This year I’m going to be sure and take good care of my nails & hands. They say that your age really shows on your hands - I’d like to avoid that if I can.

Today I’m featuring a new (new to me!) nail care lineup from LONDONTOWN.

LONDONTOWN nail polish is a 16+ cruelty-free, Vegan nail care collection! Their Illuminating Nail Concealer gives you the perfect minimal-chic milky pink manicure. I combine this iridescent brightener with the Fresh Glow Cuticle Remover (my absolute favorite!!) + protective topcoat & the Accelerating Drying Oil for a simple and super pretty manicure.

CHEERS to 2021