Mask Review

Hello, hello.

Today, I am reviewing a mask I received in my June ipsy bag. Getting these glam bags each month is so much fun for me! I am constantly trying out new products so I can review them and make sure what I am using is indeed my favorite. How else would I know the products in my bathroom are my favorite if I haven't tried other things on the market?

When I get a new glam bag I research the products before I use them. I am constantly looking for products that are paraben free and mostly natural. Now, I'm no saint. Not everything in my cabinet fits into these categories but that is because I haven't found a product to make me want to give up the one I currently use.

Befine makes this cucumber mask so of course I hopped on the internet and read all about the company and they're products. I also looked at some of the reviews on Amazon. All of Befine's products are paraben free and made with nutritious super-foods. Many customers had nothing but good things to say about the mask, so I had to get a piece of this.

I first washed my face, which you are to do before applying a facial mask. Then I applied a thing layer to my face. The directions say to leave on for five minutes however, I leave it for about ten. A few things I instantly realized is the mask was very gentle. It did not irritate my skin as many masks tend to do. You can see me rockin it on my Instagram page with my pup.

After ten minutes I rinsed off my face and applied moisturizer. My skin felt rejuvenated and tighter. I've had this product a little over a month now and I can honestly say it is the best I have tried thus
 far. It is fragrance and allergen free so those with sensitivities don't have to worry.

Has any else used this or any other of Befine's products? What did you think of them?

You can purchase the mask here.

Do you want to become an ipsy subscriber? You can sign up here.

For more on skincare check out my blogs on natural products and skincare tips.

Have you used befine? Are you an ipsy lover too?

Kisses, Shavon.

Want to stay connected and up to date with me? Don't forget to follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest.

How to take care of your skin

                                       

Taking care of our skin is so important! We are given one body and it is our job to take care of that body. Proper skincare can be a little high maintenance but it is important to take the time in making sure it is properly cared for. Healthy skins looks radiant and young. And I think its very important as women to be proud of our natural beauty. When we treat ourselves and love our skin it makes that easier.

Since, I am such an advocate for proper skincare I am breaking this up into two posts. So today I will talk about taking care of our faces. I wanted to talk about this first because the skin on our faces is a lot more delicate and requires extra care. 

I have one major rule that I try to never break and that is NEVER EVER sleep in your makeup. Now I'm not perfect but I have had a few nights that I got home to late and was too tired to wash my face, but it is so bad for your skin! Sleeping in your makeup breaks down collagen and produces more wrinkles. Foundation stretches your pores and sleeping in eye makeup can cause styes. Then, there's the obvious acne from bacteria.

Washing your face in the morning may seem daunting but it is extremely important. Unless you change your pillow cases every night you still collect bacteria and toxin on your face. With that being said, my morning routine is a little bit different than my evening routine. 

Morning Routine

First thing in the morning I cleanse my face with a gentle cleanser.This is a Neutrogena cream cleanser. 

Twice a week I exfoliate to scrub away the dead skin cells. I am loving this apricot scrub but I'm on the hunt for an all natural product that I really like. 

I take a toner and clean away the dirt that was left behind from cleansing and I finish up with a light-weight day moisturizer. This is Neutrogena toner and I have literally used it off and on since I was in middle school.

 The moisturizer is target brand. I like how light-weight it is.

Evening Routine

At night I use these Mary Kay makeup remover cloths before I begin to wash my face. I'm not sure if they're still available but I bought them in bulk a long time ago. 

I've noticed taking this step gets a lot more makeup off than when I skip it. Right now I am using the same cleanser day and night. Sometimes when I am trying out other products I will use a stronger one during the night. Again I follow up with the toner to remove access dirt. Even if I skip this step in the morning I make sure to use toner at the night because I want no trace of makeup on my face. 

Then, I use a thicker moisturizer to be sure my skin is hydrated and stays young looking. I started using the Burts Bee's night cream and I LOVE it! Its natural and very moisturizing, 

I finish off with a retinol gel from Ulta  around my eyes to reverse the process of wrinkles. Now, I know I am only in my twenties but I think it is never too early to start fighting against wrinkles. 

When I really want to spoil myself I use my eye mask from Ulta. It has gel beads on the front so I put it in the refrigerator an hour before bed, The cooling feeling feels amazing on my eyes and is so relaxing.

So, to wrap this up my two BIGGEST points are never sleep in makeup and moisturize, Moisturize, MOISTURIZE.

The cleansers, toner, and moisturizers I use can be found at your local drug store.

Get the retinol gel here.

Get the eye mask here.

Check out my other blogs about skincare and makeup!

Kisses, Shavon.

Want to stay connected and up to date with me? Don't forget to follow me  on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter & Pinterest.

Summer Makeup

Hey guys!

How is everyone's summer going so far? It has been an amazing summer so far and its just starting! So, I have a huge obsession with makeup. I'm a little embarrassed to admit how much makeup I own to be quite honest. I am always trying out new looks and different products.

I apologize in advance for the picture overload but I wanted to show you all the step by step. Secondly, I apologize for my hair in these pictures. I have some serious bed head in the mornings.  So back to the makeup, my look changes a lot but for the summer I like to keep it pretty simple. I am by no means a makeup artist, but I know what I like and what works for me in the warmer months.


Before we get to the makeup we need to talk about skincare. Taking proper care of your skin will do heaps more than makeup can ever do. If your canvas isn't prepared, makeup wont do what you intend for it to.

Now to the routine! I always start with a daily cleanser. Currently I am using Neutrogena oil free wash. Twice a week I use a gentle facial exfoliate. Next I use a toner to clean anything left behind and I finish off with a day moisturizer.

Before I get to the makeup I use a face primer on my T-zone (nose and forehead).

First I start with my MAC Studio Fix foundation to even out my skin tone.

I let that sit and go to my eyes. Lately, I have been using the Maybelline Nudes pallet

so I take the gold shadow and apply it to my lids up to my creases,

and I use the black for the outer corner.

Taking this taupe color and a fluffy shadow brush I apply above my creases up to my brow bone (this step also blends the shadow I applied to my lids so there are no harsh lines).

For filling in my eyebrows I use this pencil from Clinique and I finish up with this cream color on my brow bones. I'm growing out my eyebrows and those that know me know how hard it is for me to not get them done.

Then I apply a decent amount of liner to both my bottom and top lid.

Then I move back to my face and allow my liner to fully dry. I always like to add a little bit of depth to my face so I will switch it up between blush or bronzer. If I'm feeling glamorous I will do both. I apply bronzer in the hollow of my cheeks

and blush to the apples of my cheeks.

There are a lot of articles out there about the proper way to apply blush and bronzer for your face shape. I have just found that I like this look on me.

To set everything in place I take a large face blush and apply MAC mineralization all over.

 I am not a fan of reapplying my makeup throughout the day so I take these extra steps to be sure it lasts. I finish up the setting with mist and set spray by ELF.

I do this before my mascara because sometimes it makes my mascara run if it hasn't fully dried. Lashes are probably my favorite thing to play up. If I am doing something really special I will apply falsies but today I am just going to use mascara. I always apply two different types, two to four coats of each depending on how bold I want them. And ALWAYS curl lashes before applying mascara.

Voila!

That is my summer makeup routine. It may seem a bit much for everyday but I like I said, I have a minor makeup obsession. Comment below and tell me what you think. What brands/products are you in love with right now?

Kisses, Shavon

My Top 3 Natural Products

Hello lovies!

Today I wanted to talk a little bit about natural products. I have been doing a lot of research on the use of body washes, lotions, and deodorants and the studies that have been found linking the ingredients in these everyday products to serious health issues. To say I was shocked by the facts would be an understatement. Parabens and phthalates are two of the more known and debatable ingredients in beauty products and have been linked to increased risk of breast cancer and fertility problems.

Now, I have some good news!! There are surprisingly a lot of natural products available that are fairly inexpensive. A lot of them arguably work better than their chemical-induced counter parts. In looking at natural options I found that a lot of labels are 99% organic or 97% natural. There are definitely 100% organic products out there, you just have to look a little harder.

In my switch (which is ungoing) to natural products I found that my face was not so eager to accept natural products. I'm not sure what it is about my face but it is REALLY sensitive so I have yet to switch to "completely" natural because I need to find a product that works well with my sensitive skin. So, I wanted to share some of my favorites with you guys, especially if you are thinking of switching to a natural regimen. Now there are some brands that have a mostly natural line of products such as Burt's Bees and Yes to Carrots and both of these lines can be found in local drug stores.

My top three picks:


1. Weleda skin food

I love this stuff! It is a very rich body cream but it absorbs quickly and doesn't leave a greasy residue. I use this especially right after the shower when my skin is still damp to lock in that moisture and the skins natural oils.



2. SheaMoisture Olive and Green Tea Body Scrub

Exfoliating your skin regularly is really important and this is by far one of my favorite products. Its a gentle scrub but instantly reveals healthy younger looking skin.

3. Burt's Bees Extra Energizing Citrus and Ginger Body Wash

What I love about this body wash the most is the smell! I thought switching to natural products would mean that everything would smell natural. But this fresh citrus smell is perfect!




So, there you have it. My three favorite natural body products. Let me know what you guys think!



Kisses, Shavon