New Season New Skincare

Hello! The weather is warming up, and you know what that means. New skincare! When the seasons change, that can mean changes in what your skin needs which dictates the products you should be using in your routine.

For me, when the temperature rises and the humidity increases, that means my skin wants moisture. Also, face sweat and increased pollutants in the air are a factor. Spring brings beautiful flowers and blooms, but it also brings pollen. People tend to cut their grass more when the season changes, which shoots all kinds of things into the air.

SPF is a year-round necessity, but especially when the weather warms up, no matter how much time you spend outside. Even if you stay indoors all day, you still need SPF, and you need SPF at night.

In an effort to ramp up my moisture and help my skin stay hydrated but bright and soft, I’ve really leaned into Netrogena’s Hydro Boost skincare line.

I was on a mission to find a drugstore exfoliating cleanser that wasn’t abrasive, but you could feel the exfoliation happening, and I ran across the Hydro Boost Exfoliating Cleanser. I had used the Hydro Boost Water Gel before, and I liked it, so I thought, let’s give the cleanser a try. It smells amazing and does the job I love it. Big plus, it was under 10 bucks at Walmart.

I wanted more intense hydration at night, so I settled on the Hydro Boost Night Pressed Serum coupled with the Water Gel. Both products are packed with hyaluronic acid and are good for sensitive skin. I don’t have sensitive skin, but I like gentle products for my face.

Lastly, I knew I needed a daytime moisturizer with SPF. Again I’m looking for moisture, not something that makes me greasy, with no white residue from the SPF, and something that will work well with my foundation. I settled on the Hydro Boost Moisturizer with SPF and hyaluronic acid. It checked all the boxes. Lightweight, not greasy, has no white cast, and works well with my foundation.

These products have the ingredients I need, and they take care of my skin well. They are perfect for warmer weather, and I’m sure they will carry me right through the summer.

High praise for the Neutrogena Hydro Boost skincare line! I will repurchase. These will be in my skincare routine for a while.

Live it. Love it. Style it.

Review: Makeup By Mario Foundation

Hello! I’m back again with another foundation review. Spring is springing, and that means your makeup is going to change for the weather and your skin needs.

Today we’re talking about the new Makeup By Mario SurrealSkin Foundation.

Reminder: I have combination skin with an oily t-zone; not acne prone.

This foundation gives a nice satin finish with flawless all-day wear. It doesn’t break down on my face, and it doesn’t accentuate my oily spots. This is very much a your skin but better foundation. It is buildable, but I like it for more natural everyday looks.

The shade range is average, and the price is comparable to other foundations with similar features and shades. This foundation does not oxidize on my skin. If you experience problems with oxidation, you may have selected the wrong shade. I always use Sephora’s shade finder for foundation, and it has never steered me wrong.

This is definitely a foundation that can go wrong if not applied right. I typically use a damp beauty blender and always start with a light layer of foundation. Using too much product and the wrong tools to blend will cause cake face, splotches, and uneven wear throughout the day.

Overall I do recommend. I think this will be a staple foundation for spring while the mornings are still cool before the summer comes in and heats things up.

What new products do you recommend?

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Review: Haus Labs Foundation and Blurring Powder

Happy New Year! At the top of the year, I want to start off with a review! I’ve been dying to get my hands on this foundation from Haus Labs since it came out, and I’m in a bit of a phase where I need to get powder to go with my foundation, so I picked up the powder as well.

Haus Labs is Lady Gaga’s makeup line that has been out for a few years now. She started off with some very Lady Gaga products in the beginning but seems to be toning it down a little with this release of the foundation and powder products.

As I said, I was interested from the very beginning in the foundation. The shade range looked amazing, the packaging was sleek, and I was impressed. I heard a few things about it here and there from people who had tried the product, but I wanted to see for myself.

I purchased mine from Sephora, and I used the shade finder through the app to get the right shade. The Sephora shade finder has never steered me wrong! I did purchase in-store, so I was able to test both products to ensure I had the right shades and wanted to fully commit to them.

First up, we have the Triclone Skin Tech Foundation in shade 260 Light Medium Cool

This foundation is medium coverage but very buildable, giving a skin-like natural finish that is long-wearing and doesn’t break down throughout the day. This is very much an everyday foundation. You don’t have to work hard to get an effortless, natural, but nice coverage look. I give this foundation a 10 out of 10. I’m impressed and delighted. I will repurchase this foundation.

Next, we have the Bio-Blurring Talc-Free Loose Setting Powder in Neutral Peach

This loose powder is light coverage and vegan; it blurs, softly mattifies, and gives a smooth look to the skin. The packaging is a pot with a mesh screen that you press your brush into to release the product. I think the mesh screen is genius because it will cut down on overuse and waste, at least for me. The powder is light and airy and gives that look of fresh and natural. This can be used alone or in conjunction with the foundation.

These two products are the definition of I woke up like this, makeup no makeup, and my skin but better. Looking to switch it up in 2023? Give Haus Labs a try!

Live it. Love it. Style it.

Summer Beauty Essentials

Hello! Today we’re talking about beauty essentials for summer! Your beauty routine needs to change in the summer to account for the heat, humidity, and sun exposure.

First up, Makeup Summer Essentials: An excellent glowy bronzer, a golden highlighter, a moisturizing lip product, and a fine setting powder.

Cream products are always a plus in the summer because they sit on the skin in a very natural way that gets better with wear. Choose a lip product with extra moisture ingredients. The one pictured is Dior Lip Maximizer with Hylauronic Acid. A great bronzer and golden highlighter will give you that sun-kissed look all summer long!

Next up, Skin Summer Essentials: A no-brainer: facial SPF, facial mists, and a calming moisturizer.

Face sunscreen is just a must but try one that is mattifying like the Innisfree Matte Priming UV Shield to help cut down on the unwanted shine. A facial spray is a great refresh on those particularly hot days. It gives moisture and a cool down. Mario Badescu has a whole host of facial sprays with claiming, restoring, and refreshing ingredients in them! Lastly, a calming moisturizer, especially at night after you’ve been in the elements all day is a great way to restore and protect your skin.

Last up, Hair and Body Summer Essentials: A thick moisturizing cream for your hair, a scrub for smooth skin, lotion, and balms for smoothness, moisture, and repair.

A thicker creamy leave-in for curly thick hair in the summertime will help hold moisture and tame frizz when the humidity is off the charts. A nice scrub in the summer is also a no-brainer. For silky smooth, show them off arms and legs; any scrub will do, but I like one that smells sweet. Follow that with lotions and balms that condition, restore moisture, and help repair damage from dryness and heat. The Eucerin Intensive Repair Balm is a new discovery that I absolutely love right out of the shower on fresh skin for locked-in moisture and radiance.

What are your summer beauty essentials?

Live it. Love it. Style it.