Aspara Skin Care: Natural and Ayurvedic

I recently have been reading and learning about Ayurveda, the oldest system of healing in the world. I love trying natural remedies for health issues instead of heading to the doctor for antibiotics. Even when it comes to skin care, I try to find products that will naturally heal and treat my skin, rather than slathering on products full of chemicals.

Ayurveda takes advantage of herbs and oils to heal the body for many ailments. I know this because I recently started seeing a holistic doctor that used Ayurveda to treat digestive issues I was having. After one treatment I was already feeling back to my old self. Fascinated by my results, I started reading books about Ayurveda and researching different skin care brands, which is how I found Aspara.

Aspara uses natural active ingredients including essential oils and extracts to cleanse and treat the skin. After telling a member of the Aspara team which skin type I had (combination, acne-prone, with mild rosacea on my cheeks), they sent me the Neem Herbal Facial Cleanser ($20).

I have to say, I was reticent to abandon my CeraVe cleanser, but after I started using the Aspara cleanser I found it to be equally as gentle and hydrating. The great thing about the Neem Cleanser is that it’s all natural and PH balanced. The essential oils, Neem, Eucalyptus, and Vetiver, reduce excess oil and leave your skin smooth and supple. I squeeze a dime size of cleanser (you only need a teeny bit) and rub my hands together before gently rubbing it in circles on my face. The cleanser foams up (but not too foamy) and it smells fresh and eucalyptus-y (yes that’s not a word). I always say, even if you have acne, to only use a gentle, PH balanced cleanser. The acne treatments can be applied after cleansing, but you really don’t want to scrub and damage your natural skin barrier with a harsh cleanser.

Overall, I’m really happy using this cleanser and would definitely buy more products from this company in the future. I’m already looking into their face masks and hair care…

Sponsored. All opinions are my own.

What are your favorite natural products? Please tell me in the comments below!

Luxury Makeup Haul!

I love a good makeup haul, especially when it’s full of those luxury products you’ve heard about forever and finally get your hands on them. As much as I love high end makeup brands, I will be the first to admit which products aren’t worth all the hype, or high price tag. That’s what I’m telling you about today…what products surprised me and which ones I wouldn’t repurchase.

I’m going to start with the brand that I had never used and now, after this haul, I’m obsessed with: Ciaté London! My favorite product from the entire haul was the Cooling Shadow Slick ($16) in the shade Snow Cone. It’s a metallic cream eye shadow primer that is so beautiful and easy to apply (I apply with my fingers); you don’t even need to add a shadow on top because it’s pretty just on it’s own. I’ll take these in every shade please!

I also got two Skinny Shadow Sticks ($15) from Ciaté, in Double Take and Maneater. These applicators are awesome and the colors are so great I want to buy them in every shade! They’d be perfect for travel or just throwing in your purse because they’re small and the applicator is built in for a no mess, no fuss application.

Makeup Forever Aqua Cream in 03, Silver ($23): This is my first eye shadow from Makeup Forever and I love it! My favorite look using this is to start with a neutral eye, an earthy pink or smokey gray. Then, I apply the Aqua Cream with my fingertip on the center of the lid. Blend it out a bit and voila!

Urban Decay Moodust Eyeshadow  in Shockwave ($21): Urban Decay has one of, if not the best eye shadow out there. The formula, the pigment, the colors…I grabbed this pretty purple and it does not disappoint. The second picture up above shows the swatch up close, so you can really see the pink and purpely pigment.

Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer in Vanilla ($29): Here’s the thing with this super hyped up concealer. Do I like it fine? Yes. Am I dying over it? No. Granted I’ve only used it a few times so far, but it’s not blowing me out of the water. I find it works best tap it in with your fingers a bit before blending it out with a Beautyblender to warm up the formula a bit. I’m happy with it, but not over the moon like everyone else seems to be.

Yves Saint Laurent TOUCHE ÉCLAT Radiant Touch ($42) in Luminous Honey: A product totally worth the hype, I love love love! They were out of Radiant Silk, which is the shade that I would have gotten to use as a highlighter. I got Luminous Honey instead to use as a bronzer, which is not its intended use, but I’ve been wanting to try this product forever and nothing was going to stop me 😉 Anyways, I love it as a bronzer, I apply it right under my cheek bones and set it with a touch of Tarte Amazonian Clay Waterproof Bronzer ($30).

Yves Saint Laurent TEINT RADIANCE Radiance-Enhancing Flawless Foundation ($58) in shade 2: This has since been discontinued and reformulated, but I’d imagine it’s very similar to the new formula. (For those wondering, I just bought this at half price from a celebrity makeup artist that hadn’t used it, which is why I have a discontinued product in my haul). I like this foundation, but in all honesty I prefer my Maybelline Fit Me Foundation Dewy + Smooth in shade 120 Classic Ivory that you can get at the drugstore for $8! The YSL foundation looks too cakey for me around my nose and T-Zone, so I actually mix the YSL with the Maybelline. I added the Maybelline foundation to the swatches above so you can see it next to the YSL. If you like a really full coverage, the YSL is a good one. I personally prefer a more natural finish.

Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector ($41) in Rose Gold: Obviously Becca’s highlighters are having their moment. I was so excited to try this liquid highlighter and it did not disappoint. I got Rose Gold because I already have a few highlighters that are pearly/peachy. This one’s perfect for a rosy blush. It’s really beautiful and will last me a longgg time (the bottle is huge for a highlighter).

Tarte Marajuca Blush & Glow Luminizer and Cheek Tint in Moonlight ($13, on sale): This product is kind of cool because it comes with a blush and matching highlighter. It’s on trend right now to match your cheeks to lips, so I think it’s kind of cool to match your blush to your highlighter. The blush could be used on the lips too! The highlighter is beautiful, it’s creamy and illuminating. I’d definitely recommend grabbing this for $13! (It used to be $32).

Tarte Clean Slate Flawless 12-Hour Brightening Primer ($31): Another Tarte product, I’m a huge fan of the brand. This is actually my second time buying this primer because it’s a silky, hydrating formula packed with vitamins A, C, and E. I swatched it on top of the highlighters, but you can’t really see it (which is a good thing!).

Diorshow Iconic Mascara in Rich Black ($30): Last, but not least really is an iconic mascara, Diorshow. I’ve been using this off and on since high school. It really is a great mascara, it lengthens and coats the lash with a rich black formula. It’s definitely a good product to splurge on, but is it that much better than L’Oréal Voluminous Carbon Black Volume Building Mascara ($9)? I don’t think so.

That’s it! I’d love to hear what luxury products you think are worth the splurge in the comments 🙂 

 

 

 

 

That Pixi Glow

Today I’m reviewing the Pixi by Petra Glow Mist ($15) and Glow Tonic (S15). I’d been seeing Pixi products everywhere, so my curiosity was officially piqued. Who doesn’t want to glow? Once I saw Jourdan Dunn post on Instagram that she uses the Glow Tonic in her morning skin care routine, I was sold. In case you don’t know who she is already, she’s a gorgeous model who have very GLOWY skin. See below:

Image: Jourdan Dunn’s Instagram

The best part about Pixi is that it’s available at Target! I use Pixi Tonic as my toner after cleansing with these cotton pads; it contains 5% glycolic acid (to exfoliate and brighten), as well as aloe and ginseng (to hydrate and treat). I love the tonic because it smells fresh and makes my face feel squeaky clean. I don’t know if it’s the tonic or the combination of new products I’ve been using, but my skin is clearer than it’s ever been. Check out the glowing reviews (no pun intended) for this UK cult product.

I use the Glow Mist as a makeup finishing spray, and sometimes to prime as well. The glow comes from the 13 oils inside; argan, jojoba, and avocado oil to name a few. You can use it before and after makeup, or just as a refresher during your day. I love the formula, but I have a problem with the spray bottle. It doesn’t allow you to “mist,” so much as squirt on your face. I’m going to continue using the Glow Mist because I love the glowy-ness it provides, but I’m going to have to transfer it into another bottle that allows for an even application.

 What Pixi by Petra products have you tried? I’d love to hear below!

Dry Shampoo: My Pick

If you have healthy hair, that probably means you don’t wash it every single day. Washing your hair every day strips the natural (good) oils from your hair, causing it to become dry and brittle. However, when you go several days without washing your hair like most women do, it can get a little oily. Don’t fret, there’s a brilliant invention called dry shampoo that I’m sure you’ve heard of. Dry shampoo cleans your hair without water, keeping your hair smelling and looking fresh in between washes. It also adds some volume and texture to the hair as an added bonus.

The only issue with the overwhelming popularity of dry shampoo is that every brand seems to carry one, making it difficult to choose among the options. I’m here to tell you which one is my favorite. Klorane Dry Shampoo with Oat Milk ($20) is my dry shampoo of choice. It’s gentle, affordable, and smells neutral. Not like chemicals, not like roses, just neutral. It doesn’t contain parabens, silicones, sulfates, or sodium chloride, and the oat milk soothes and protects the hair. It’s also an Allure Best of Beauty pick for 2015, so I’m not the only one who loves it 🙂

This dry shampoo is also available in travel size, perfect to throw in your purse or travel bag! For more of my favorite hair care products, click here.

Go Buy Now: $10 Makeup Brush Set

This BS-MALL brush set has over 5 thousand reviews on Amazon and 4.3 out of 5 stars. Naturally, I had to find out for myself if these $10 brushes (!!!) were worth the amazing reviews. There are 10 brushes, which is more than I’ll ever need. The intended use for each one is printed on the package (contouring, foundation, concealer, etc.), and it’s even printed on the handle of each large brush. They smell like paint when you first open them from the painted handles of the brushes. However, with one wash the smell dissolves.

I’ve previously bought $30 brushes, but these work just as well, if not better. They’re soft, sturdy, and my makeup applies beautifully. I immediately texted my girlfriends to share my new discovery. I’ll never spend $30 on brushes again (thank goodness).

Liebster Award!

Hello everyone!

I was nominated by Ciara for the Liebster Award, thank you Ciara! I love Ciara’s blog, CRA, so if you haven’t already go check it out. It’s basically a fun way for my readers to get to know me a little more and for me to get to know other bloggers  

How this works is:

• Thank the blogger who has nominated you.
• Answer the 11 questions given by that blogger.
• Then leave another 11 questions for the 11 blogs with under 200 followers that you have chosen.

Now for the questions…

What makeup product is top of your wishlist right now?

The Becca x Jaclyn Hill Champagne Pop Collection Face Palette,  which is probably at the top of everyone’s wishlist right now! The colors look beautiful.

What would your perfect relaxing day involve?

Laying on the beach with my girlfriends and a book.

What motto do you live by?

You can’t live a positive life with a negative mind.

Where have you not visited but would love to?

Australia!

Three things you would take if stranded on a desert island?

Water, a radio, and my boyfriend.

Favorite meal of the day?

Dinner, because I’m home from work relaxing and usually eating pizza 🙂

What’s your favorite part of your body?

Probably my eyes because they seem to change colors.

Most embarrassing moment of 2016 so far?

I have no sense of direction (lol), but it doesn’t really embarrass me anymore unless I should really know how to get somewhere, like home.

Best buy of 2016?

My Nike Free Flyknit 4.0 shoes. So comfy and cute.

Do you have any pets if not would you like one?

I have a kitten named Alfie that I’m probably unhealthily obsessed with.

Favorite thing about blogging?

Sharing my favorite products, tips, and research with people! I was sharing with my friends and coworkers anyways; now they can just read my blog 🙂

Here are the 11 questions for my nominees to answer:

1. What skincare product can you not live without?
2. What’s your go-to foundation?
3. What’s your favorite thing to do in your spare time?
4. Where is your favorite place you’ve ever visited?
5. Contouring or strobing?
6. Favorite restaurant to eat at?
7. Mexican or Italian food?
8. Favorite part of 2016 so far?
9. What’s your favorite highlighter?
10. Favorite celebrity account to follow on Instagram?
11. Why did you start blogging?

 

The 11 blogs I have chosen are ones I love to read and please check them out if you haven’t already:

CarrieBeautyPouch, PerfumeandPolitics, StylishlyElle, OwlUNeedIsLuv, TheBeautyDivaBlog, Seldane, JessicaJadeBeauty, LashEyedBeauty, PolishedByAmy, MyFaveRaves, LaleeLovesBeauty

To my nominees: this is just for fun, so if you don’t want to participate, no worries! 🙂