Alya Skin

💗 The Power of Pink Australian Pink Clay Mask from Alya Skin 💗

This Pink Clay Mask from @alyaskinaus is said to be safe for sensitive skin which is what first intrigued me - I’ve always loved the idea of clay masks but they’ve mostly been a bit too drying for my skin type. I first dipped my toes (quite literally) into clay masking when I visited the historical red clay mud baths at the Glen Ivy Hot Springs spa in Southern California. My next mud bath experience was in New Zealand when I soaked in the mineral rich muds & sulfur waters in Rotorua...

Fast forward to this unique pink clay from Australia which is not too drying like typical Red Kaolin clay, because it also features the moisturizing effects of White Kaolin clay...💗 Pink clay is said to draw out impurities while also adding moisture to help replenish skin.

This mask is also loaded with anti-inflammatory silica to improve skin elasticity = major points for me!

Claims:

✔️ Detoxifies & Brightens

✔️ Tightens Pores

✔️ Extracts Pollutants 

✔️ Reduces Inflammation 

✔️ Safe for Sensitive Skin

Since I have dry/sometimes sensitive skin I follow a specific routine when using this mask:

First off - the experience is lovely, featuring a light rose scent with a gooey consistency that reminds me of whipped marshmallows. That sounds weird but it’s not 💗 It’s so cool!

I apply to clean skin prior to a shower or bath so the bathroom is nice and steamy - why because I don’t actually want it to dry down. I want it stay moist... I also don’t leave on the full recommended 10 minutes. Instead, I jump on in the shower and with damp hands massage it in for a few minutes.

Just rinse off and then later follow up with all the hydrating products 💗💗 The results for me are an instant glow, reduced redness & decongested pores!

What do you think of clay masks?? Do you already use in your routine?

xoxo -Kate

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#pinkwednesdays #pinkclaymask #alyaskincare #cleanskincare #powerofpink #loveskincareproducts #proaging #agingwell 

Drunk Elephant: Micellar Cleanser

Product Highlight:

E-Rase Milki Micellar Cleanser 

This is the most unique Micellar cleansing water I’ve ever tried! It combines Ceramides, plant oils & vitamin E to achieve a truly moisturizing cleanser that removes all traces of my makeup & sunscreen all while leaving my skin soft, supple & super refreshed! This has a milky color with a light viscosity that glides on effortlessly.

Totally Versatility:

🐘 Use post workout

🐘 Ideal as a makeup fix - I recently started experimenting with a new liquid eye color which I applied way too much of and a tiny dot of this on a Q-tip fixed it right up

🐘 Great as a second cleanse

🐘 I really like this one as my morning cleanse!! Leaves skin so hydrated and totally prepped for am routine.

🐘 Absolutely gentle enough for eyes - no stinging or burning here...Woot! Woot!

🐘 No rinsing required

Have you tried this yet?? I’d love to hear your experience...

xoxo -Kate

Roses and Rose Product Review

Good Morning! What day is it?

Sometimes I can’t keep track...there’s something about all this monotony that makes the days, weeks, months blend together? Do you ever feel like the lack of variety - this inability to get out and just have a bit of pre-2020 style fun, has become so wearisome?

Well, that’s enough of my complaining and I’ll try to refocus my mindset to gratitude and all I have to be so thankful for!! And, I’ll leave you with this pretty picture of one of my go-to skincare products, the Liquid Filler Moisturizing Gel Cream from @rosesnroseco ❤️🌹❤️

When I don’t use this lightweight cream for a few days I really notice a difference and am always so glad when I add it back into my routine because it delivers such super soft, silky & smoothed out skin!!

Do you have a product(s) like that in your collection - the one you grab for noticeable results? 

xoxo -Kate

Product Review: The Brightening Sleep Mask from Thrive

HAPPY SPRING! To celebrate, I have a....Snow Shot, Spring hasn’t arrived here quite yet & it’s gloomy today so a brightening mask seems in order 😉

Overnight Sensation ~ Brightening Sleep Mask from Thrive Causmetics!

I have a thing about sleeping masks! Such a simple concept yet so highly effective when you find the ideal formula for your skin type, environment & climate! 

I have dry skin that’s also dehydrated AND I live in one of the driest climates in the world...ok maybe not THE driest, but it sure does seem like it sometimes, especially during the winter months!! Is it Spring yet?? 

The ideal formula for me is one that will truly hydrate my skin throughout the entire night (seriously, I don’t want to wake up with dry, tight skin!)

The Overnight Sensation Sleep Mask definitely delivers hydration while also giving my skin a smoother, brighter feeling upon waking up! It features a cooling formula with a light scent of lavender & citrus.

I gently massage this in at the end of my nighttime routine. It absorbs nicely & quickly enough. The Melatonin, HA, Licorice Root extract, Vitamin C, Lavender & Rosehip Oils + Aloe Vero all combine to give my skin much needed hydration!

Happy Spring!

xoxo -Kate

How to stay Hydrated!

How I stay Hydrated...from the inside/out!!

On this Selfcare Sunday I’m focusing on staying hydrated, which for me goes beyond drinking water...

💦I get the biggest hydration boost from Collagen Pop - it’s drinkable skincare from @humnutrition which instantly upgrades a glass of water into a collagen boosting beauty tonic!

💦I’ve been adding this fizzy supplement to my daily routine for a few months now and really enjoy how hydrated my skin looks & feels - a lot less crepey & a noticeable improvement in my skin’s elasticity! Yay!!

More fabulous skin & body hydrators include:

CosRx: The iconic Snail Mucin Essence which needs no intro and is definitely one of my must-haves in both am & pm routines!

💦💦💦

Biossance: The glow achieving Rose Face oil featuring Squalane + Vitamin C truly delivers plumped, hydrated skin!

💦💦💦

Beauty pie The newest member of the famous Japanfusion line, the Elixir is my skin savior when extra hydration is required!

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Olaplex: Avoid dry, dehydrated hair with the much-loved No.6 Bond Smoother...a truly moisturizing leave in conditioner!!

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Ilia: offers an ideal lip hydrator with the introduction of their Lip Wrap Hydrating Mask - I swipe on a small amount during the daytime then slather it on at night to wake up with thoroughly hydrated lips!

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Paula's Choice: has created a truly hydrating + treatment body lotion with their Retinol Skin Smoothing Treatment which gives me both hydration & firmer skin!!

What are you doing for Selfcare Sunday?

xoxo -Kate

K-beauty for the WIN!!

K-beauty products I will definitely repurchase...

I guess I’m officially obsessed with Snail Mucin 🐌🐌🐌 The snail secretion filtrate featured in the Snail 96 line from CosRx is an incredible humectant, which works to repair and calm my skin. It’s so ideal for when my skin is irritated or being sensitive.

CosRx

💚The Essence is my must-have in both am & pm routines! Can’t live without this, ever...

💚The All In One Cream* is a newer addition to my lineup and I’m absolutely loving it! I think it will be ideal for warmer months - since I have dry skin, I layer it with a thicker cream and then finish with sunscreen.

💚I really enjoy using the Green Hero Calming Pads, especially nice when my skin is being particularly fussy.

Iunik

💚I adore this Tea Tree Relief Serum* probably because the use of tea tree leaf water in this formula is much more gentle than the essential oil.

Purito

💚The Centella Green Level Buffet serum definitely helps my skin barrier stay in tip top condition!

Do you have a K-beauty product that’s a must-have in your skincare routines?

xoxo -Kate

*Some products were gifted/PR

#kbeauty #snailmucinessence #snailmucincreams #cosrx #purito #iunik #calmingskincare #snailsecretionfiltrate #snailsecretion #teatreeleaf #kbeautyskincare #kbeautyproducts #kbeautyroutine #kbeautyjunkie 

Sephora Spring Sale: My Mini Haul

Today I'm featuring my Mini Haul from the Sephora Spring Sale 💗🌸💗🌸 This time I think I did a good job at editing my shopping cart and only purchased items I really “needed”

💗 After reading the glowing review of the E-rase Milki Micellar Water from @landon I knew I had to try it...and I’m totally impressed! I’ve never seen or used a Micellar cleansing water like this - not at all water like - and truly hydrating! Ideal for my morning routine!

🌸 I’ve had a hit or miss experience with Glow Recipe, but I must say this Pink Dream Water Cream is totally delish! It features that lovely, light watermelon scent & it’s very moisturizing, sinks in quickly & indeed smooths the skin!

💗 I originally received the Ouai Scalp & Body Scrub via Sephora points and loved it so much I just had to splurge on the full-size container which I know will last a long time since not much is required for a good scalp cleaning!

🌸 I’m already in love with the Liquid Powder Chromatic Eye Tint from Ilia. This color is called Umber and it’s a gorgeous burnt copper/red that’s so richly pigmented with a chrome-like shimmer that’s definitely smudge proof and long lasting! For me, it’s easier to dot it on (not swipe on) then set in with fingertip. Beware - this dries very quickly! It’s water based & comes off easily with eye makeup remover which for me is super important.

💗 I’ve not tried the Bluelight Filter mist yet...

Did you get some fun new skincare products from the Sephora Sale? What’s your fave??

xoxo -Kate

Product Highlight: dpHue Gloss+

Today I’m sharing my favorite hair gloss treatment from dpHue!

dpHue Gloss+ is a semi-permanent hair color crafted into a deeply moisturizing conditioner. Offered in 10 gorgeous colors, ranging from Black to Strawberry plus a sheer/transparent option. Designed to be used on either natural or color-treated hair!

The Gloss+ in Copper (pictured here) deposits a rich, deep copper red which beautifully enhances your current hair color - great for medium brown or darker. Leaves hair super shiny & superbly soft!

How I use it:

When I want a color boost & extra shine, I apply this right after shampooing. I leave it on for about five minutes. Then rinse thoroughly. This is a semi-permanent formula that fades out after about ten shampoos.

Pro Tip:

For my color-treated hair, I get the most bang for the buck by applying to dry hair....saturate hair with the conditioner, clip up and put on a plastic cap. Leave on for about 20 minutes then shampoo. Use gloves to avoid any staining 😉

Have you ever tried a conditioning hair colors?

I’ve tested out quite a few and this is by far my favorite one because it features a salon-quality formula that’s easy to apply, does indeed deeply condition hair & the bottle gives you at least 4 to 5 applications!!

P.S. the dpHue root touch-up kit is amazing!! My absolute favorite.

xoxo -Kate

Hair Treatments for clean scalp & gorgeous locks!

Goldilocks and the 3 (or more) Hair Treatments! 

Recently I’ve started feeling a bit like Goldilocks “this scalp treatment doesn’t wash out” “this one dries out my hair” “that one makes everything way worse”

Unfortunately, I have an irritated scalp + dry hair & damaged ends. So, I’ve been on the hunt for a good solution to all my hair woes.I’ve tried quite a few scalp treatments ranging from drugstore to luxury.

Included today are some of the “just right” treatments that have worked for me...

René Furterer: Astera Fresh pre-shampoo Concentrate. This is a truly decadent treatment from a legendary French brand which addresses sensitive or irritated scalps. The luxe formula, which comes in a fancy glass bottle ~ includes Asteracea extract to instantly calm & soothe. Comes with instructions on how to create a lovely spa-inspired scalp massage + special scalp massager tip which really makes it so easy to dispense without it dripping in the eyes!

Act+Acre: Cold Processed Scalp Detox

This is a luxurious vitamin rich oil treatment to cleanse & moisturize the scalp. A 1x/week treatment - just use a few drops per sectioned hair then gently massage into scalp & leave-in for 20 minutes for a truly nourished scalp. My scalp is always so relieved after this!

Olaplex No.0 Intensive Bond Building Hair Treatment. Probably needs no introduction, it works beautifully with the Olaplex system to strengthen & repair dry hair. Makes my hair so soft & smooth!

Oribe Hair Care: Serene Scalp Soothing Leave-on Treatment. An instantly soothing formula that can be used on either dry or damp hair. Great for using at evening skincare routine.

Cult & King: Tonik Spray-in Conditioner & Scalp Potion. This is my “hometown” favorite created by local master stylist/salon owner Jared Briggs

~Ingredients like organic aloe, saw palmetto, green tea + salicylic acid & other botanicals were masterfully combined to create this herbal tonik. It’s ph4.5 works on scalp, hair, even beards to refresh & rejuvenate for the healthiest scalp/hair. Comes in a sleek, vintage inspired black glass bottle with eco-chic refills available!

Share with me your “just right” hair treatments...

Vitamin C Cream Cleanser - one to try!

Vitamin C Cream Cleanser + my Facetheory Mini Facial Routine!

This mini routine has got it all ~ a creamy cleanse, a gentle exfoliation & overnight hydration. I love this quick routine when I’m too tired for a full 10-step nighttime ritual but still want to deep clean & condition my skin...

🛀 First step: The Vitamin C Cream Cleanser is offered in a Mandarin Orange scent (also in unscented) which to me smells just like an orange creamsicle. It’s a lusciously rich cream featuring stabilized Vitamin C (Vitamin C oxidizes very quickly especially when exposed to air so when it’s stabilized like in the cleanser, it can be a much more effective antioxidant).

I really love facial massage and this cream cleanser makes it really easy - I use a fair amount, massage in for a minute then let sit on my face for one more minute...

It provides a very deep, pore cleansing experience without making skin feel tight - instead my skin is left very clean & hydrated. WIN-WIN

Step Two: The Glycolic Acid Scrub provides the gentle yet highly effective exfoliating phase in this routine. It has glycolic acid, salicylic acid & jojoba beads.

Last Step: The Relaxing Night Cream is the ideal final flourish to this mini facial because it’s so soothing & relaxing! I lightly massage on a decent amount and breath deeply that calming lavender scent...ahhhh 💤💤💤

Full reviews of both the scrub & night cream can be found on my blog.

xoxo -Kate

Merit

Merit a female-founded minimalist beauty brand!!

Some words that I think describe this new brand from Katherine Power include:

✔️Luxe

✔️Chic

✔️Elegant & Refined

✔️Minimalist 

✔️High Quality 

✔️Clean Beauty

What I ordered: Clean Lash in Perfect Black and Brow 1980 in Brown...

▪️Brow 1980 is described as a volumizing, tinted pomade to shape & groom brows. What sold me on this luxe clean formula was the claim that it would stay all day and never smudge or flake... to me that’s a lot to live up to AND...it delivers!!  Not only does it apply very easily with a fool proof formula & tapered brush...it’s a nice option for when I don’t feel like a perfectly filled-in brow pencil + brow gel vibe. The Pigmentation is perfect for my brows which are fairly light & very sparse - this pomade easily creates a natural, fluffed up look for me that absolutely does not smudge (even after a hike in a snow storm ).

▪️Clean Lash is a lengthening mascara that says it will tint, lengthen & lift your lashes...all with No.Smudging.Ever. Sounds good to me! 

I often have problems with mascara because I have such sensitive eyes - most are too irritating. Ugh! But this Clean & Vegan formula that’s gentle & conditioning offers an ideal option for me. I love how this creates length & lift without clumps. This uses “tubing” technology so I wouldn’t say it’s super duper easy to remove, but as a great smudge-proof mascara, I don’t mind. ☺️ If you have sensitive eyes but still want a high performance mascara that doesn’t clump or flake then this is totally worth it!

I don’t wear mascara every day, but I might just start...

P.S. What do you think of that oh so chic makeup bag that comes with your very first purchase...so cute, right?

xoxo -Kate

Crème du LOCH - Product Appreciation Post

💚💛Crème du Loch - Age with Confidence 💛💚

This is a luxurious age-defying cream; an elegantly refined moisturizer expertly crafted with innovative Kelp Extract from the Scottish Coast - nature’s superfood known for its abundant skin benefits!

💚Family Owned

💚British Skincare Brand

💚Cruelty Free

💚Vegan

💚Responsibly Sourced Ingredients 

From the moment I opened the jar and caught the sumptuous scent of cucumber, rosehip & sweet almond oils, I knew I would enjoy this one. A densely rich & thick cream replete with kelp + a retinol complex, offers the most luxuriously relaxing ritual when I gently massage onto my face, neck & décolletage. I’m always pleasantly surprised at how effortlessly this absorbs into skin without any heavy feel or oily residue.

It’s said to reduce fine lines, tighten pores, improve texture, even out skin tone & promote a radiant glow...I can’t say for sure yet about these claims but I will say that my skin feels softer & looks plumped & hydrated! I’ll be sure to come back with an update after using for a few months.

Key Ingredients from Nature:

💚Kelp Extract

💚Cucumber Seed Oil

💚Globe Daisy

💚Cranberry Seed Oil

💚Rosehip Oil

💚White Poppy Seed

💚Chamomile Oil

💚Alfalfa 

I’m so pleased that I was able to grab this during their sale!! And, so looking forward to the upcoming launch of their new age-defying serum...