Kat Von D | Lock 'n Load Setting Mist

I've never been one for setting sprays or anything like that. I can safely say, in my books, MAC's setting spray was the only one I was aware of and as far as impressions went it didn't have a good one. To me, it was water and made me looked caked. Sure, I never bought one but I did try it at the store. Not very impressed. Needless to say I never thought I'd getting a setting mist/spray.

I preach about the importance of research. Researching products before buying will save you from ill spending money on crap. However with this I broke my rule and went with le gut. Let me say, I'm actually happy. Whilst checking concealers at Sephora for my mom, I ventured into the Kat Von D area. My purpose was to only check on the concealers from her line since I read they were quite good. Anyway, while my mom was testing the concealer I grabbed the mist and sprayed some on. After checking what was needed and such, I passed a mirror and saw that my face looked renewed. I'd been out for most of the day and my make up looked worn, but I must say that with the mist it just seemed like I had freshly applied make up again. No cakeyness or anything, just fresh. 

After trying it since getting it, its proven to be actually very good. I find it works better when applied after a long day, just to freshen up, rather than setting the make up when you first apply it in the morning. The smell is very nice, like cucumbers, and just adds to the actual joy of spraying it. It's a very refreshing mist that just tidies you up during the day. I swear, if they make a travel size I'm going to always have it with me.

Skin Care Routine

I've been feeling pretty nice about my skin lately and I thought I'd share my routine with you guys. I don't think my routine is too complex and hard to follow. Once you make up your own routine it's pretty easy to just go with it and actually stick to it. One of the things I had to face head on was the fact that good skin care doesn't only mean products but your way of life too. I could use all the products in the world but if I kept with my diet my skin would not improve. Ultimately this skin care journey has been interesting and surprising enough, not hard. 

Origins A Perfect World Cleanser- I use this twice a day (morning and night). I only use a pea size and lather it up. Twice a week I use this cleanser with my Sephora scrub brush.

St. Ives Green Tea Scrub- I use this once a week while bathing. I scrub it on leave it on for 10min and rinse it off.

Freemans Clay Mask in Mint and Lemon- I use this mask once a month to really get in my pores and clean up as much as I can. I apply it evenly around my whole face and leave it on until it dries.

Pond's Cleansing Towelettes in Evening Soothe- This is a very important product to have around. Every time I get home I have to take a towelette and clean my face with it as much as I can before cleansing. This doesn't take all the make up off but it helps provide a better canvas for when you use your cleanser. I also use it when I'm too lazy and sleepy to cleanse (shh).

Formula 10.0.06- Every morning I have to apply my moisturizer, even if I don't use make up that day, to make sure my skin is properly taken care of. 

Nuxe Reve de Miel- I have incredibly chapped lips so lip balms are a must. I use this twice a day (morning and night) to keep my lips in check as much as possible.

Yes to Carrots Night Cream- I apply this almost every night before I go to bed to but some hydration back into my face.

My Beauty Diary Red Vine Mask- Korean face masks are my new obsession and a must have on my book. I have to have a box of them in handy, which I use once a week. This red vine mask is so soothing and an anti-oxidant. I use this at night and when I take it off I don't apply any products and just let the moisture of the mask do its work. I wake up with less dull looking face. It's amazing!

Korres | Wild Rose Moisturizer

 More samples! I'm sorry I haven't shown bigger products this week but as I said, I don't have my camera with me so I'm just using some pictures I took already. Anyway! Regardless of havin the camera or not I did try out more of the things I got with the 500point system at Sephora. I decided to try out the Korres Wild Rose Moisturizer. I really wish I had gotten a bigger sample to be able to try it more than twice but such is life. I wasn't too fond of the smell of this but it was tolerable. I wore this in the morning before applying any make up and at night before sleeping. During the day I didn't notice anything special about it, it was an average moisturizer that happens to be a bit expensive for my taste. However, at night it felt really good and when I woke up I didn't look tired or dull. My skin did have a brightness to it that I was definitely digging. I'd buy the bigger size if I could, I'm having issues with committing myself into buying it (just like I can't commit to buy NARS Laguna). Who knows, maybe I'll buy it one day. But I can't deny that I did see a nice result when I woke up. Do any of you have this? Any thoughts?  

Korres | Antiageing Primer

"Powerful treatment and skin-perfecting face primer in one that instantly fills up wrinkles and provides a very smooth and perfected skin surface, ensuring long lasting make up application."

I got this Korres primer on a 500 point bag I got from Sephora and was eager to try it since I don't tend to buy face primer when I finish the ones I have. It's a tester that has 10mL of product and you truly don't need much to cover the whole face. The packaging, like most Korres products, is lovely and makes my inner graphic designer squeal. In all honesty, I'm not an all knowing Korres person, I have their tinted lip balm and that's it, so trying out the primer was pretty exciting. Now, on to the review.

The product application is simple and easy. It applies evenly and feels velvety soft. There's no distinct smell to the product which I greatly appreciate. For a primer, it does it's job. My make up stays in place for as long as I have it on (usually 4-6 hours) and I don't feel overly oily around my T zone. It's light weight on my skin which is also a plus. However, it didn't have anything that stood out to me making me want to purchase the full product which is $33. I find it expensive and it doesn't do anything that makes me justify that price. I mean, if it were an Hourglass primer I'd be the first to buy it since those primers are to die for, but this one just doesn't make me want to get up and get a full one. It's good but nothing special. I'm definitely grateful I have it, since I ran out of primer, but I'm not purchasing the full one. But, it's definitely a primer you can try out if you want something light weight and low maintenance. 

Sephora | Mineral Brush 45

  I first saw this brush on Essiebutton's blog and youtube channel. To me it looked so soft that I had to see it for myself. After checking it out a couple of times I decided to get it at Sephora. The brush is $26, which is pricey but it's hands down my favorite brush and I swear by it (as the girls from BBPR know). The feel of this brush is to die for! It's so soft and spreads the product so evenly. I personally use this for foundation, but it can be used for blush, bronzer or highlighter. I cannot express enough how I love this brush. The application is superb. You don't need to apply any amount of pressure to be able to buff the product in, the brush just works amazing. This is a brush I will re-purchase again and again and again. I know this was a short review but if it were up to me I'd just write "BEST BRUSH EVER" and be done with it, but you deserve at lest a paragraph, right? BEST BRUSH EVAR!

Hourglass | Skin Primer Tester

 I usually tend to ignore testers when they're given to me but for some reason I decided to try this one out. Although this review will be short, since I only got to use this once, I'll try to go into depth on how it worked for me. First off, I applied this at 7am before heading out to work and took it off at (and I kid you not) 10pm. My make-up was intact. I looked pretty much how I looked at 7am. My skin looked glowing and fresh. The make-up did not budge at all and that's saying a lot, considering how hot it is here. I truly was amazed at how great it worked and I cursed myself for throwing away the packet after opening it. Of course, I searched it online at Sephora and was hurt when I saw the price. You get 30mL for $52 which is way too much for me. I know now that this brand is not just any brand and I should tread their territory lightly and keep my wallet always away from them. Anyway, I hope I get another tester...

Caudalíe | Beauty Elixir

  The infamous Caudalíe Beauty Elixir. I've heard mixed reviews about this guy, which only sparked my interest even more. When I learned they had it at Sephora I just had to go check it out. My main concern was the scent, I'd heard on and on about how strong it was and how it wasn't that good. I was surprised to actually enjoy the scent, although it is strong, it reminded me of oils used for massages. The elixir is said to sooth your skin, make it glow and close up pores. This product goes for $20 30mL and $48 for 100mL, so it's not a cheap product at all. Now, this elixir has essential oils that help the skin out on a daily basis. I spray it on before I apply my moisturizer and wait a couple of minutes for it to sink in. It's a very refreshing and soothing product that helps me relax. It has a strong scent that is not for everyone so I suggest you check it out before purchasing. There is no instant burst of radiance but it's more of a gradual radiance, meaning as you apply it on a daily basis your skin does look healthier but not so much that you'll notice instantly. This is definitely an essential on my bag and in my skin routine. It's not for everyone and you may not get results, but I feel my skin looks better without make up then how it looked before I started using this so it's something I'll definitely repurchase.

Sephora Haul + Shopping Advice

 I've been a bit over 2 years really falling deep into the cosmetics world, especially now that I'm really learning the ins and outs and I've picked up a few pointers along the way. Cosmetic prices vary and one has to be very conscious when committing to buy something and I have a bit of a ritual I do that I decided to share. I do speak about it in the video I will be sharing of mine but I do feel I'm never able to get into depth when I speak since I forget my point along the way so I try to get more into depth when I write.

 I don't do anything to complex before I buy something but since I started doing my little ritual I've avoided certain crappy products and saved a bit of money. Always research the product you're interested in before buying. When I see something I like, either in a magazine, blog or video, I start reading up on it and thinking it over. Always ask yourself if you will have to eat Ramen for a week so you can be able to buy it. If so, then just slowly store money away and don't rush into anything. Also, try the product out in the store: the texture, feel and durability while you walk around. If needed, ask for help on putting it on. You have to pick and choose what you'll buy and when. Sometimes buying a lot in one is okay but not always. These are all things that go without saying, but I do see people buying things they just heard about and later regretting it. Putting yourself in a budget also helps. Research and choose carefully. Hope that helped!

 

[CLOSED] Giveaway!

**Congrats to Yeni for winning the giveaway!**

After such a long time I'm finally able to do my giveaway! I'm so grateful to each and everyone of my readers and I hope to expand my audience doing what I love most. Blogging isn't just a hobby to me, I truly think about things to write 24/7, it's amazing to me and I just love to share. So here is my way to say thanks!

1. EOS Sweet Mint Lip Balm
2. Living Proof Styling Treatment Sample
3. Sephora Face Brush
4. Bettina Nail Polish
5. Leather Bow Bracelet
6. Victoria's Secret Body Lotion
7. Erika Peña Gold Horn Earrings

 Everything in here was bought by me. The giveaway begins today, March 13th and ends on April 1st. It's open internationally.

Rules:

1. Like my Facebook page
2. Follow me on Twitter
3. Follow me here on my blog (The follow button is on the right corner)
4. Leave a comment with your name and e-mail on this post.
5. For more entries you can reblog my Tumblr post about it here.

**NOTE: A lot of people are having problems accessing my Facebook page. I'm looking into it so it can be fixed. I put a Facebook badge on my blog on the right corner bellow my follower button. This should take you to my page without problems. If not, let me know**

Hope you like all of the items and good luck!

Skin Up-date

  While at a photo shoot I started talking to the make-up artist asking her about skin care and make-up brands. She referred me to the Sephora face brush instead of my exfoliating everyday routine (bad bad, Ivo). She told me to wash my face once and use the brush on the 2nd time for 1min two times a day. Surprisingly the brush was $5 and I was eager to try it out. I've been using it for a couple of weeks and guess what? My skin is just so much better. I changed my routine, I know exfoliate 1 day a week, use my cucumber mask twice a week and use the brush everyday very gently. I feel so much better with my skin and it can now breathe. If you're looking for a nice brush then I do suggest you try this one out.