Beauty's Best Kept Secret is a Brand That's Been Around Since The 1940's

Here’s a little background on my skin. She’s a high maintenance b*tch that likes to suck my bank account dry. Boujee on a budget it? 75% of the time for her that’s not the case. I hate her for it. I can’t stand that my skin looks so PERFECT when I applied Pat McGraths skin fetish foundation because this little bottle cost me $68 plus tax!😵 It looks so amazing that I bought two bottles: shade 5 a light neutral undertone for when I’m fair in the winter and shade 14 a medium neutral undertone when I’m the most sun kisssd in the summer. With these two bottles I’m also able to customize my shade when I’m in between shades during the year. Now to be honest I don’t wear makeup everyday. 90% of the time I’m bare faced. I usually put in makeup if I’m going somewhere special such as an event, on a date, feeling creative or when I need to remind myself that I’m still that b*tch. So I’m actually okay with spending a little more on a nice foundation because I know it’ll last me a long time and if it’s worth it. So the question is..is it worth it? For me YES! I bought her toward the end of summer 2019 and it has served me well through the changing NYC weather and my ever adjusting skin. Whether my skin was really dry or slightly oily the foundation sat on my skin perfectly throughout the day. It’s a nice medium coverage foundation that can be built up or sheered out depending on the look you’re going for. 1/2 to 3/4 or a pump is enough for me to get a sheer/light natural coverage where it looks like my skin just the imperfections have been discreetly masked. To get full glam coverage I can get away with one and a half pumps then not even a beauty mark in my face will peak through! In my profile picture was the first time I used the foundation and I really sheered it out because it was a hot summer day. That day I got a little oily in my t zone but the foundation lasted all day. I don’t really blot or powder because I like the dewy look on myself but also I don’t because I’m lazy and I forget and most of the time at the end of the day I genuinely don’t care haha! In my last picture that I added in this post was when I was feeling creative and really used a heavy hand to apply the foundation. In that post I DID NOT PHOTOSHOP OR BLUR MY SKIN!!!! All I did was adjust the lighting in light room and added a filter to make the three images to blend better. But I couldn’t believe how airbrushed my face came out. The proof is in the pudding. I think it shows how far you can go with this foundation.

I don’t have naturally long lashes. Or even full looking lashes. But I feel like I’ve found the perfect combo for naturally long and full looking lashes with the combination. Here is what I do! 1) CURL YOUR LASHES. (AND IN 3 PLACES) shu uemura - Eyelash curler What I mean by curling in 3 places is curling it once at the base of the lashes, once in the middle of the lash-length and once near the tips. This gives a very pretty, soft curl that actually looks like a curled lash compared to a crimped “L-shape” lash that you would get with curling in just one place. I’ve used this same eyelash curler for almost 10 years and it still gives me the BEST curl and actually lasts on my naturally very-straight lashes. (Obviously I have changed the rubber pads every 2-3 years too!) This just helps to fan out the lashes and point them upwards to show the full length. 2) DEFINE THE LASHLINE. DollyWink - Liquid Eyeliner I don’t necessarily draw on liquid liner every time but I’ll usually dot a few dots along the lash line to add some definition that looks soft from afar. This liquid liner is my holy grail liquid eyeliner because it’s super long-lasting and waterproof! 3) USE A LENGTHENING, DEFINING MASCARA. (waterproof helps too!) MAYBELLINE - Lash Sensational Curvitude Waterproof Curling Mascara I love a waterproof mascara because it never smudges or flakes, and it seriously holds a curl! This Maybelline mascara has a really nice curved plastic brush that pushes up the lashes to promote a curl. Probably the most curl-defining mascara I’ve tried in a looong time.

Some acne honesty: Although these worked really well for me, they might not work for everyone. Your skin is unique and might react better to different products. It can be a really frustrating process, I totally get it! What worked for me was finding someone online who had a similar skin type and similar story when it came to acne. Just always remember to take it easy on yourself. Acne is normal and it doesn’t make you any less beautiful. My current skin situation: I currently have combination, acne prone skin. I had very clear skin for most of my life until I went off birth control over a year ago now. I tried almost everything to try and get rid of my acne, but it took months to find a solution. It was just earlier this year that I finally found a couple products that helped keep acne at bay! I barely gets zits anymore (bless) but when I do, it can be very discouraging. My skin scars very very easily and it takes at least a month to get rid of the scars left over from the acne. SO anytime I see a zit pop up, I reach for these two products which help me 1) get rid of that zit quickly and 2) minimize the potential for future acne scars. How I use these together: Benzagel - Acne Gel 5% (face wash version) I usually use this just at night time because I just do a water cleanse in the morning. But when I get a pimple, during the morning I’ll cover the zit with the face wash for about a minute then wash that off. Then I’ll proceed with the rest of my routine, but I’ll avoid using any vitamin c / spf on the pimple. And then this where I’ll add the.... COSRX - Cosrx Acne Pimple Master Patch When I have a zit I will wear one of these during the day and a new one at night. It’s a grossly satisfying product because once you take them off, you can see the amount of oils that it has pulled from the skin / zit (you’ll see a white blob on the patch). The effects: After just 24 hours, the zit will almost fully disappear when I use the two of these together. The spot will be so much smaller than it is when I let the acne heal itself and the scarring is minimal, if noticeable at all. Which is amazing considering my normal pimples almost always scar (even if I DONT pop them). The best part: You can get both of these products for less than $10 CAD!

I struggled with hormonal pustule acne for a long time, as well as pustules and whiteheads from oil overproduction. It was moderate to severe, covering my left and right cheeks. Three specific products helped to reduce my breakouts in frequency, coverage, redness, and the level of pain associated with the inflammation. PAULA'S CHOICE - 10% Niacinamide Booster is amazing. Just 4% Niacinamide has been shown by a couple studies to be as effective at reducing moderate acne as clindamycin- a topical antibiotic! I can attest to its acne fighting prowess, as I saw distinct reduction in not only the amount of acne I had, but also how intense it was- it was less painful and not nearly as red a few hours after application. Niacinamide normalizes pore lining and controls oil production so I saw immense improvement in whiteheads and pustules when using twice daily. But this prevented my oil-caused acne more than my hormonal acne, though it eased both. DRUNK ELEPHANT - B-Hydra Intensive Hydration Serum was the first product I used that gave me relief. I hadn’t known it, but my oil overproduction was largely in part from dehydrated skin. Since I used no moisturizer or serum, my skin produced extra oil after I cleansed. Incorporating B-Hydra replenished my skin with water, glycerin, panthenol, sodium hyaluronate (a form of HA), and sodium hyaluronate crosspolymer. I saw quick reduction in the number of whiteheads I developed! Using it before applying an exfoliant helps prevent dryness associated with peels. PAULA'S CHOICE - 10% Azelaic Acid Booster should be in nearly ever acne arsenal. It is antimicrobial and anti inflammatory to help fight acne, plus it lightens dark spots dramatically in my experience. Applying this in the AM shrinks pustules by nighttime and makes the area around the blemish much less red. I find this gives the quickest acne-minimizing results of all the products I’ve used. When treating acne, always make sure to eliminate possible irritants such as fragrance and essential oils, as well as drying alcohol. Acne can be a sign of inflammation and using gentle products can ease the pain associated with (as well as the prevalence of) acne tremendously. As well, I always recommend salicylic acid for treating acne, but I wanted to highlight these specific products because they’re not mentioned as often and they played a huge role in my acne journey.

My skin type is combo oily that can lean more dry during the weather changes or just randomly. My skin concerns are acne, oiliness throughout the day and also dehydration. I’ve ranked these popular hyped sunscreens based on how they worked for me personally (going from favorite to least favorite). My favorite is Unseen because it’s a primer and sunscreen in one, is lightweight and I haven’t had an issue with pilling. I prefer SPF 40 or higher. . Supergoop! - Unseen Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 40 Key Ingredients: Complex Derived from Meadowfoam Seed (increases hydration levels), and Red Algae (helps protect against blue light emitted by electronic devices). Texture/Consistency: Gel Scent: None Price: $34 for 1.7 oz / 50 mL Experience: Is designed to be used as a primer, makes it quicker to get ready. It feels so lightweight, I can’t even tell that I’m wearing it throughout the day, doesn’t pill or make me oily. Repurchase/Recommend?: Yes, I definitely am going to purchase the full size of this! It simplifies my routine and lightweight. . Supergoop! - Play Everyday Lotion 50 Default Title Key Ingredients: Sunflower Extract (protects your skin from external environmental elements) and Rosemary Leaf Extract (has a calming effect on the skin and is rich in antioxidants). Texture/Consistency: Lotion Scent: None Price: $32 for 5.5 oz / 162 mL OR $58 for 18 oz / 532 mL Experience: It was too heavy on top of a moisturizer and made me look greasy, but applied by itself it was lovely (have a glow, but wasn’t too heavy). It also doesn’t pill when I put my makeup on. Repurchase/Recommend?: Yes, it would be more for people with dry skin, but it’s moisturizing enough to act as my moisturizer too so I apply it by itself (or on top of serum). . FIRST AID BEAUTY - Weightless Liquid Mineral SPF 30 Key Ingredients: Zinc Oxide (physical sunscreen that helps filter harmful UV rays) and Alteromonas Ferment Filtrate and Vitamin E (both help protect against environmental aggressors). Scent: None Texture/Consistency: Liquidy Price: $34 for 1.5 oz / 44 mL Experience: I love that this is tinted, it doesn’t leave a white cast at all! It is lightweight, easily sinks in, and doesn’t make me oily throughout the day. It also doesn’t pill at all, so easy to put makeup on after. Repurchase/Recommend?: Maybe, I just wish it was a higher SPF. . DRUNK ELEPHANT - Umbra Tinte Physical Daily Defense Broad Spectrum Sunscreen SPF 30 Key Ingredients: Zinc Oxide (physical sunscreen that protects from harmful rays) and Algae Extract and Sunflower Sprout Extract (both protect against free radical damage). Scent: None Texture/Consistency: Lightweight Cream Price: $36 for 2 oz / 60 mL Experience: It feels heavy and doesn’t sink in all the way, plus pilled and made my CC Cream look cakey and terrible. Repurchase/Recommend?: No, it pilled badly and doesn’t work well with makeup on me.