Dynamic Duos: Episode #2

DYNAMIC DUO Skincare Series - Episode #2 

Today I’m featuring another one of my fave power couples -

the SUPERDOSE Vitamin C Serum + Qi Energy Super Glow Serum 

🍊The Superdose: it’s a daily, high-dose stable Vitamin C that’s been expertly combined with Ferulic Acid and Tranexamic Acid to create a powerhouse brightener that’s ideal for sensitive skin!

Vitamin C 15%
Tranexamic Acid 1%
Ferulic Acid 0.5%

🍊 This one is a bit sticky, water-like consistency that for me needs to be paired with a hydrating serum or moisturizer 

🍊 The scent is typical VitC serum, but dissipates very quickly

🍊 Has delivered a very gentle experience and brighter, tighter & better looking skin 

⚡️This potent antioxidant powerhouse needs a partner in pigmentation-fighting so I team it with the Qi Energy Serum. This duo work together to remove that stickiness left behind from the Vit C serum + provide an enhanced glow!

⚡️Qi Energy Super Glow is an Energy Boost for your skin

⚡️Made with Ginseng Root + Ginger to provide instant plumping

⚡️The ideal teammate - created to enhance or upgrade everything paired with it!

WOW! What a Dynamic Duo!!

Do you feel like Vitamin C serums need a hydrating teammate??

xoxo -Kate

Bare Butter by She Plants Love

🤎💛 Product Review: Bare Butter from She Plants Love 💛🤎

The Bare Butter is the unscented (sans essential oils) Shea butter version and it’s a true multi-tasking product ~ Slather it on all over...Safe for sensitive skin! 💛 In my experience, this is more elegant & refined than the Shea butters I’ve used in the past...After warming this in your hands, it emulsifies into a rich oil that absorbs quickly.

Some Shea butter facts:

🤎 Natural stimulant for collagen production

🤎 Has anti-inflammatory properties 

🤎 Vitamins A, D & E + Omega-rich fatty acids

Multi-tasking ideas:

🤩 Use as a hand & nail treatment - so great for rough or ragged cuticles

🤩 Rub onto feet at night then pop on your fave cozy socks - wake up with super soft feet

🤩 Also, if your not able to get to your local eyebrow bar but really need a touch up, make your at-home tweeze session A LOT easier by first applying a generous amount to brow area...this makes it much easier to tweeze!

Hair Treatment Rituals:

🤎 Bare Butter is soooo great as a hair treatment - massage onto scalp then apply a good amount to mid-length and ends. Tie up your hair, leave on for a few hours then follow up with a shampoo. Your hair & scalp will feel super soft & hydrated.

🤎 I also really love this as a leave-in treatment! It tames flyaways like nothing else AND is amazing on dry, damaged ends! It DOES NOT weigh down your hair (I have very fine hair) and you can apply a fair amount without it feeling oily or heavy. 

Next I’m going to try The Butter which has essential oils like lavender -

I think that will make my hair smell amazing!

Do you use organic products/ingredients like Shea butter??

xoxo -Kate

Travel-friendly Products

✈️ Minis & Wanderlust ✈️

I’m dreaming of traveling again! 🌍 I’ve always loved to travel - being able to participate in another culture, even for a short period of time is truly one of the most fulfilling endeavors. This wonderful world offers such an abundance of beauty - it’s a blessing to be able to experience it!

✈️ My husband and I had a trip to Japan all planned out - unfortunately it was canceled last year, but we’re looking forward to visiting someday - perhaps next year?

✈️ When traveling resumes, I’ll be sure to bring along my favorite minis like FutureDew from Glossier - their hybrid serum + glow oil that I’ve been crushing on ever since I added it to my lineup back in November! It always delivers the ideal amount of dewy moisture perfect as the last step in my routine, just prior to the makeup phase. A much needed step for my dry skin - it helps my makeup go on so smoothly! A forever favorite for sure.

What’s your favorite travel-friendly product?? ✈️

xoxo -Kate

Product Highlight: The Water Sleeping Mask

The famous Sleeping Mask from Laneige:

• I loved the cooling sensation upon application 
• It does have a hydrating effect but maybe not quite enough for my very dry/dehydrated skin
• You will wake up with very smooth skin
• Delivers plumped and glowing skin

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? 

Mini Monday

I always love getting these deluxe samples with my skincare orders...for me, it takes at least 7 days to make sure I don’t have any negative reaction, let alone decide if I like it or not 😊😊😊

The Superberry Hydrate + Glow oil from YTTP is amazing - totally on par with the exceptional quality & efficacy of all their products! I’ve not tried the others yet, but this one is a keeper.

Don’t ya just love minis?? Have you tried any of these products - have any keepers?? ❤️💛🧡

xoxo -Kate 

Beauty Pie Product Review: The Genius

Superluminous Undereye Genius from Beauty Pie 

Key Benefits include:

• Brightens with “high luminous anti-fatigue pigments”
• Refreshes with Linoleic Acid (an Omega-6 fatty acid) & Vitamin E for “skin barrier repair”
• Utilizes MDI Complex (a marine glycosaminoglycan) to reduce the appearance of dark circles
• Instantly smoothes the delicate under eye skin & minimizes fine lines

How to use:

After applying your fave eye cream, tap on a very tiny amount of the Genius (I use the BP Flawless Finish Concealer Brush 😉) then follow with a light application of concealer. The Genius can also be applied throughout the day as needed (I don’t seem to need to reapply).

My Results: appearance of dark circles are minimized and I notice a soft, subtle luminosity that does brighten my under eye area. I like this because it downplays my under eye bags 🤪 

This product comes in two colors: light/medium and medium/deep. I use light/medium. The medium/deep appears to have more of peachy undertone whereas the light seems to be more of a pale pink tone.

xoxo -Kate

Wellness Products: HUM Supplements

💕 POP 💕 POP 💕 FIZZ...It’s Selfcare Sunday!

💖 The Collagen POP from HUM has become a favorite way to encourage me to drink more water AND help add in hydrating my skin! 💖

 This beauty tonic was created to help:

💗 improve skin elasticity - which I REALLY need!

💗 boost collagen levels with its premium marine collagen + vitamin C - YES PLEASE

💗 lock in moisture for plumper, smoother skin - definitely NEED this!

💖 The Science 💖

“Studies show marine collagen can help improve skin appearance and minimize unwanted signs of aging. It can also improve dermal rejuvenation and may increase skin collagen metabolism.”

💖 This comes with a 30-day supply that’s packaged in 3 travel-friendly tubes with 10 fizzy tablets ideal for on the go use...simply dissolve 1 tablet in 8oz of water. I love the strawberry flavor which reminds me of strawberry Jell-O shots (but without the vodka 😂😂) Very tasty & refreshing!

I’ve been using this tonic for over three weeks now, but it’s suggested to use for 4 to 6 weeks to realize results so... so I’ll continue on 💖

Dynamic Duo!! New Skincare Series

New Series

Dynamic Duos!! I’ve noticed lately that I have some products that are wonderful alone but when paired with a friend they become a total superhero team! So I thought I’d start a skincare series featuring some of my favorite Dynamic Duos...kicking off today with...

The Overnight Exfoliator + Hyaluronic Acid from Good Molecules!!

The Overnight Exfoliator: this nighttime treatment features a 10% AHA + BHA combo punch  to combat the visible signs of aging & blemishes! It claims you will wake up with smoother, more radiant skin... AND YOU WILL!! You might feel a bit of a sting upon application but that disappears quickly. I let it absorb, then immediately layer on their HA. The recommended dosage is 3 times per week, which is just about what I’ve been doing. I really appreciate the quality & efficacy of this affordable product - (1oz at $6.00 USD) making high quality skincare much more accessible!! ❤️

The Hyaluronic Acid: a lightweight, water-like serum created to draw moisture to your skin. This one contains three different types of HA and is the ideal weight & formula to layer with all your other products! I love to pair with the Overnight Exfoliator during PM routine for the perfect Dynamic Duo! ❤️❤️  I also layer with my morning serums as it helps my skin absorb other products like essence & moisturizer. Priced at $6.00 USD/1oz.

Tip: I love how the Good Molecules website offer suggestions on how to pair their products, creating a “bundle” for easier shopping.

Have you tried this brand yet? What’s your fave Dynamic Duo??

Product Review: IT Cosmetics

Confidence in a Cleanser from IT Cosmetics:

I bought this one a whim during the ULTA 50% off sales - and so glad I did!!

Did you know: the co-founder of IT Cosmetics was a news anchor who collaborated with plastic surgeons to create the best skincare products when she was unable to find the ideal solutions for her own skincare issues. Cool!!

This skin softening cleanser is:

•Ultra hydrating serum/cleanser hybrid.

•Ideal for sensitive skin

•Sulfate & soap-free formula packed with ceramides, collagen & HA! 

It’s a very pleasant cream-serum formula that does indeed gently clean my skin & delivers a lot of hydration. YAY!

Rave views on Sephora, Ulta & the brand’s website with the many reviewers saying they would highly recommend. A very common review was “pleasantly surprised” - which is exactly what my initial thoughts were! 

Next - I think I’ll try their Confidence in a Cream Hydrating Moisturizer...

Product Reviews: Caffeine eye cream

Wake up and smell the Caffeine?? ☕️

Caffeine Eye Creams, that is. 

 ☕️ Coffee Bean Caffeine Eye Cream from 100% Pure says it’s an anti-inflammatory cream that’s formulated with caffeine-rich green tea & coffee beans + the extra benefits of anti-aging vitamins, antioxidants & rose hip oil.

Sounds good? Well, it smells delicious...

☕️ Claims to depuff & increase circulation to “brighten dark circles”. Also will make your eye area “more awake & youthful”.

☕️ It is a very delectable cream that delivers smoothness but I guess my “puffy” under eyes are now more like under eye bags that probably can only be improved with surgery?? Ugh!! Still, it’s a lovely eye cream.

🌿🌿🌿

☕️ The Caffeine Eye Serum from The Inkey List is a lightweight, treatment eye cream to helps combat puffiness, dark circles & fine lines. It feels/looks more like a serum but delivers a rich cream finish.

☕️ once again, I guess my under eye bags are just too far gone, because this formula did not help me with the “puffiness”  but it is a nice hydrating cream that works really well with my concealer - so that’s a win.

Stay Calm: Skin Calming Trio

Calm Down!! Calming Skincare Trio for stressed out skin...

Sometimes I wake up with angry skin that feels tight & looks red!  I think this is happening because the heater runs all night long...ugh!?! So, I grab my little trio of skin calming saviors to help sooth my skin:

The Niacinamide Skin Mist is my first step towards relief.  Niacinamide + Hyaluronic acid = hydrated skin.

The Centella Green Level Serum is my next step because it helps to reduce redness & inflammation.

10Balm is my final step to provide an intensive soothing effect while repairing my dry skin.

And now my skin is not so mad at me & we are friends again, for now...