Dr B Sun Shield

New Product Launch from Dr. Brandt Skincare 

Today I’m celebrating the recent launch of Liquid Sun Shield from the one and only Dr. Brandt!

They sent me their new SPF 50 Daily Brightening Sunscreen

to try out and I’m so glad they did! 

For me, I’ve struggled to find a mineral sunscreen (AKA Physical screen that deflects the suns rays) which wasn’t white, thick & sticky, so difficult to absorb with a kinda gunky finish...

So, this 100% mineral sunscreen was a pleasant surprise- it’s a new type of sunscreen for me because it’s a lovely, lightweight, milky serum consistency that’s not at all greasy or sticky and provides a totally invisible finish. I think the finish is my favorite part - so soft and almost a powdered satin finish if that makes sense.

Some details:

☀️ Lightweight 

☀️ 100% mineral (non-nano Zinc Oxide)

☀️ Provides broad spectrum UVA & UVB, HEV/Blue Light, infrared radiation and pollution protection!! WOW

☀️ Promotes radiance with Clary Sage ferment, a natural ingredient 

☀️ Protects against further discoloration, damage & photoaging!

Packed with great ingredients in a very elegant formula, this one is a splurge for those of us on a budget but sunscreen is definitely an ideal category worth the indulgence! I find that the Liquid Sun Shield is ideal for daily use for inside or just out & about, then for longer term outdoors activities switch to an active wear sunscreen which will make both last longer 😁😁 Of course, I field-tested this sunscreen on a hike and it performed perfectly, did not burn my eyes & protected my fair/quick to sunburn skin! A total WIN!

Thanks Dr Brandt for kindly sending this to me! [Gifted/PR]

xoxo -Kate

K Beauty Reviews

Review time: featuring my Stylevana collection!

Stylevana , a Korean beauty & fashion website which offers a wide range of unique products, so kindly sent over these four skincare essentials and now that I’ve had a month to try them, I wanted to share my experience with you...

◾️Black Snail Restore Cream:

This is a skin repair cream created to firm, moisturize & soothe skin. At first I thought it might not be very moisturizing, but turns out to be very ideal for my dry + dehydrated skin! Like everything from Iunik, it has an impressive formula:

✔️Black Snail Extract

✔️ Centella Asiatica Leaf Water

✔️ Fermented Soybean, Mistletoe & Impereta Clyndrica

I love how it really soothes & deeply hydrates my skin. I enjoy using this one as a night cream/sleeping mask.

◾️Radiance Boosting C-Capsule Serum:

This serum was designed for skin brightening, hydration & to help improve dark spots/blemishes/sun damage. It includes a Poncirus Trifoliata Fruit Extract to target hyperpigmentation.

I love this one for it’s non-sticky & quickly absorbed formula, although I’ve not noticed improvement in my sun damaged skin yet, it is very gentle and non-irritating!

◾️Ultra UV Shield Sun Essence:

This SPF 50+ offers me a truly lightweight screen that absorbs beautifully with a clear finish that works great with my other products & makeup. It includes triple Hyaluronic Acid complex for great moisture! Also, it does not have that typical sunscreen smell but instead has a refreshing, light scent. I road tested this on a long walk and it performed admirably - did not melt or sting my eyes! Also - this has a great price point...actually right now it’s on sell at Stylevana for $11.99 for set of 2

◾️Super HA Hydrating Lotion:

This is a nice, light moisturizing skin prep which I use after cleansing and before my Essence and serums. It’s clear with a thicker than water consistency so I just pour into cupped hands and pat on my face. It’s very cool, soothing & non-irritating!

Thanks so much to Stylevana for letting me try out all these amazing skincare products! I have a special discount code to share with you all- it’s good for 10-15% off! Use code INF10PRI 

xoxo -Kate

Dr Ceuracle: product reviews

Product reviews today!

🌿Three wonderful products🌿

💚 Vegan Kombucha Tea Essence: a milky-type cream essence packed with antioxidants like Centella Asiatica & Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract plus soothing ingredients like Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate (fermented yeast extract) rich in essential minerals, amino acids, beta-glucan & vitamins. Especially good for dry, sensitive, or imbalanced skin! It’s a lightweight, bi-phase formula that is never sticky but extremely soothing & hydrating! Vigorously shake the glass bottle to mix the ingredients. I apply this in layers: first a light layer that I pat in then a heavier layer that I gently apply & let soak in on its own. This beauty is fragrance free & retails at US $27.00 for 5oz

💚 Tea Tree Purifine 95 Essence: a thin, light & watery Essence featuring the anti-bacterial + anti-inflammatory properties of tea tree oil! The ingredients list is also packed with soothers like Witch Hazel extract and Trehalose. I find this gentle, calming & moisturizing. And don’t worry, it does not smell like tea tree oil, nor does it sting or irritate skin/eyes. I like to use this as a “targeted treatment” focusing on acne breakout zone like chin/jawline & have seen marked improvements since introducing this to my routines! This is k-beauty at its finest! US $18.00 for 1.69oz

💚 Hyal ReYouth Night Cream: a deeply nourishing + firming night cream/sleeping mask is ideal for dehydrated skin which is what first piqued my interest. It looks like whipped cream with a silky feel that immediately phases into an oil once applied to skin. It does take a minute of massaging to absorb but then has a glowing finish. This is loaded with HA’s - featuring 1,000ppm of a “6 Hyaluronic Complex” plus Vitamin B5 & B3! Because I have dry skin & live in a dry climate, I like to use as a sleeping mask, layered over my fave moisturizer. This does have fragrance but it’s very light, I can barely detect it... US $25.00 for 2.11oz

For me, the Kombucha Tea Essence is a must-have fave!! Do you have a new K-beauty HG?

xoxo -Kate

Shiseido - Timeless Japanese Skincare!

Shiseido is an iconic Japanese brand that for over 145 years has been creating, redefining and sharing innovative skincare!

A few weeks ago, Influenster sent over Shiseido’s cult favorite Firming Cream AND the new Radiance Serum for me to try and I thought I’d share my first impressions with you today...

💜 The Vital Perfection skincare range was designed to lift, firm & give skin fullness & bounce. 💜

The Uplifting & Firming Cream Enriched:

~ Silky smooth nourishing cream

~ Glides on effortlessly

~ Luxurious texture & feel

~ Great for dry skin

Delivers a very high-end experience with the gorgeous packaging, soft aroma & indulgent formula.

The LiftDefine Radiance Serum is new to the Vital Perfection Line:

~ Light & luscious 

~ Gives instant radiance to my skin

~ Absorbs quickly, but there’s enough time to use for face massage

This lightweight serum comes in the ideal packaging with a pump that delivers exactly the right amount of product (in just one pump) to massage into entire face, neck & décolletage.

 

Both are high-end, luxury products created with Shiseido’s powerful cutting-edge science & J-Beauty traditions! 💜

After using for a full four weeks, I’ll come back with updates and comprehensive reviews.

[I received these products for free from Influenster and Shiseido in exchange for my honest review.] Thanks @influenster and @shiseido 

xoxo -Kate 

Korean Skincare to the Rescue!

Korean Skincare Brands know how to deliver hydration!! 

I’ve just recently been introduced to the Korean Skincare brand, Dr. Ceuracle - a cosmeceuticals pioneer who was formerly known as Leegeeham...

Their skincare products feature skin-friendly ingredients derived from nature which the brand refers to as “botanic science”.

The standout Vegan Kombucha Tea Essence is a cream essence packed with antioxidants like Centella Asiatica & Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract plus soothing ingredients like Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate that’s rich inessential minerals, amino acids, beta-glucan & vitamins.

Especially good for dry, sensitive, or imbalanced skin!

Vigorously shake the gorgeous glass bottle to activate & mix the ingredients and use as a toner or Essence - I like to actually apply this in layers: first a light layer that I pat in then another heavier layer that gently apply and sorta just let it soak in on its own 😉 It’s a very lightweight formula that is never sticky but extremely soothing & hydrating!

Have you tried this #kbeauty brand yet? I hope you get the chance to very soon 😁

xoxo -Kate

Ingredient Spotlight: Tea tree Oil

Tea Tree AKA Melaleuca Alternifolia is best known for its astringent, anti-inflammatory & antibacterial qualities. It’s usually ideal for oily & acne prone skin. Benefits include healing & skin barrier balancing properties. Did you know: Melaleuca/Tea Tree is a small tree native to Australia... the oil has been used by Aborigines for centuries!

I most often utilize Melaleuca oil as a natural remedy acne spot treatment - this is not for everyone because it has a very strong scent...but I actually really love it (although my husband can’t stand it). It can also be drying and sometimes  cause irritation.

For years, tea tree oil has been showing up in skincare and haircare products - I first found it at my neighborhood health food store...but now, brands like Sunday Riley, Iunik, CosRx, Dr. Ceuracle and many more have developed innovative new ways to utilize the power of this oil in highly refined formulas - and I say thanks so much because I’m really loving the soothing benefits of these elegant serums, toners, essences, and treatments!

Have you used products with Tea Tree Oil? Let me know if you have a favorite.

xoxo -Kate 

Blue Light Protection

🗣 What is Blue Light, anyway?? 🗣

Blue Light is made up of short wavelengths which means higher amounts of energy. Once upon a time, the sun was the only source of blue light...but now we are also exposed to it via all our digital screens. Some concerns include eye strain and possible macular cellular damage. Blue Light can also negatively impact our skin by causing wrinkles, hyperpigmentation & redness. Yikes!

Some ways I combat blue light exposure:

1. I wear blue light filter glasses - I got these super cute pink framed, blue light protection glasses on Amazon

2. Also, I use this new Blue Light Filter Protect + Set Mist from Ilia Beauty which is a super easy & convenient way to protect against the harmful waves...this mist which is also a great makeup prep & setting spray is light & refreshing with a subtle lavender scent. It helps to defend skin against Blue Light damage by neutralizing free radicals. It’s also infused with anti-pollution marine actives...very cool 

3. I further protect my skin from UVA/UVB & Blue Light with a moisturizing skin tint like my go-to “Best Skin Days” from Iris and Romeo

It needs no reminder... but wearing sunscreen daily, like the one from Frudia, is always one of the best things you can do for your skin (and health)! I also love to wear hand cream that features sunscreen as well. This one from UnSun has been a great option for me - not only because it protects the delicate skin on my hands but also absorbs quickly with a luminous finish.

What do you do to protect your skin and eyes from Blue Light?

xoxo -Kate

The Ouai Scalp and Body Scrub will change your life!

But first things first - I need help with the proper pronunciation of the brand’s name: Is it “oui” or is it “way” or maybe neither? Who can help? Update: I decided to be smart and visit their website which cleared things up right away,,, It’s pronounced like “way” as in “It’s a Ouai of Life” 

Now, to add to the chorus of praise for this  glorious jar of sugary goodness...

🤩 Smells divine - it’s called “Melrose Place” a dramatic rose scent, but I think it’s the white musk that I notice the most.

🤩 It’s a truly superb scalp scrub unlike any I’ve ever used. A few years ago I started trying out some scalps scrubs yet they just didn’t work out at all! But this one features a unique foaming scrub that lathers nicely and somehow easily spreads throughout my hair.

🤩 The probiotics in this formula really helps to balance my scalps natural biome! My often irritated scalp is left deep clean, perfectly exfoliated & refreshed!

🤩 A little goes a very long way since it magically lathers so effortlessly - I was pleasantly surprised by this because at first scoop it seems too thick & crunchy for hair/scalp. But alas, it is absolutely perfectly formulated for the scalp!!

I intended on using this just as a scalp scrub but then decided to try as a body scrub, I mean hey why not...and it’s phenomenal! A very spa-like scrub that makes my skin so unbelievably soft!!

Who loves this as much as I do?? 

xoxo -Kate

Huxley: Product Reviews

The Secret of Sahara!

Huxley is a Korean Skincare Brand that seeks out unique and effective ingredients. Their first search led to them to the Sahara Desert...what they found was Prickly Pear Seed Oil, a beauty secret from Morocco. (Prickly Pear is a genus of flowering plants in the cactus family, Cactaceae.)

💦 The Cleansing Water: this easy to use cleanser harnesses the power of Prickly Pear Seed Oil known for its antioxidant & anti inflammatory benefits...

Prickly Pear (Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract) is the very first ingredient!

This non-irritating & refreshing formula also uses Micellar technology to trap dirt & oil. This is lovely as a morning cleanse. If using during pm routine, it might require a lot to remove makeup so probably most effective as the second cleanse here. I avoid the eye area.

I found the scent to be nice but just a little bit strong so that’s just something to be aware of if you are sensitive or prefer non scented cleansers.

It’s around $19.50 for 6.76 ounces (I’ve seen this online for up to $30 not sure why there’s such a wide range here??)

🏜 Glow Awakening Cream: this rich moisturizer offers a soft texture that claims to deliver brightened skin and an immediate radiant effect. I agree that it gives skin an instant radiance which I appreciate. Although, perhaps better described as luminous or “soft focus”. This radiance is from the Prickly Pear + HA and ceramides! It’s said that it will deliver increased brightness & a healthy glow with consistent use.

This goes on seemingly thick but then actually it’s not, once applied it’s almost more gel-like...it absorbs quickly with a non-greasy finish (of course, I have dry skin so it might just really soak it up; and I will use more often in warmer weather) The more I use this, the more I enjoy it. The scent here is very subtle, which I like!

$29.50 for 1.69 ounces - I believe this is a very fair price for a high quality product!

Have you tried this brand? Let me know if you have a favorite Huxley product...

[Products gifted with no obligation to post.]

xoxo -Kate