Monday, February 23, 2026

FEBRUARY BEAUTY HAUL


Needing to restock on a few essentials always calls for a beauty haul! One constant in my skincare routine is always Bioderma Micellar Water. It's the best of the best and always the first step in my regimen. I use it everyday to remove makeup/double-cleanse at night and refresh my skin in the morning. The large bottles are the way to go- they're the best bang for your buck and last for months. I've also been needing some new dermaplane razors and have been curious to try these Kitsch Disposable Razors. I don't really have any preference when it comes to face razors so these looked promising. The reviews are high and the price is low- win win! 

Also from Kitsch are these stretchy hair ties. For years I've used this style and all of mine are wearing out. It felt time for a new vibe and of all places, I found these at the grocery store haha. I was immediately drawn to their soft, stretchy material. I'm always skeptical that the softer hair ties will hold my hair but these state they're for thick, long and curly hair. We will definitely see!! I'll be looking for three loops! 

Just a few more skin things- the Differin Acne Spot Treatment and the Versed Lip Scrub. Both are new to me- I'm excited to try. Also has anyone used the Differin Adapalene Gel? It's suppose to target breakouts while also being anti-aging for fine lines + wrinkles. Would love to know your feedback if so! 

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What product is a non-negotiabale in your routine?

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Wednesday, February 18, 2026

BLISSY SILK HAIR BONNET UNBOXING + FIRST IMPRESSIONS



Okay I never thought I'd find myself purchasing a silk hair bonnet but here we are, haha. Sleeping on silk has a lot of great benefits when it comes to your skin + hair. The highlights for me have always been fewer wrinkles, less hair frizz/breakage and a cool, luxurious feel. My thoughts have always been that if you can can receive those benefits with a pillowcase, what's the point of the added restriction and jump scare of a bonnet?? 

As you can see, there has been a concession because I'm now a new owner and (for now) ex-bonnet-hater. I ultimately decided to try one for two main reasons - the first, to better protect my hair from breakage and see whether I can maintain hairstyles longer to lower my heat usage. Regardless of pillowcase type, my hair usually ends up a bit more disheveled the next day so I'm curious to see if using the bonnet will make a difference. The second reason is for my skin. I'm still dealing with some mysterious breakouts/dermatitis around my mouth and jawline. I can't pinpoint what the root cause is so I'm constantly just doing trial and error. I've wondered whether there could be any correlation from my hair touching my skin at nighttime so we're going to find out!

I'm excited to try it out and see any positive impact or changes there. I did a lot of research on different types of bonnets before purchasing the Blissy. You most commonly find either silk or satin, polyester options. If price isn't a consideration, I think silk is the way to go. Natural fibers are always a better option over synthetic, however you can find some much more affordable options here that I'm sure provide some of the same benefits. 

I ultimately chose the Blissy bonnet because they use 100% Mulberry Silk and had amazing reviews on quality and fit. As expected, the material is very soft and luxurious. It also is much bigger in size than it looks online. Definitely a plus if you have a lot of hair! The stretchy, elastic band is also great to help customize the fit. They also offer a wide color selection- I chose the color "Matcha" which is absolutely beautiful. It's a gorgeous cool-toned, pale jade shade. I love so much! I'm also impressed with the packaging- the box + tissue were a nice elevated touch.  

Have you ever used a bonnet - what are your thoughts?

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Monday, January 12, 2026

NEW AT SEPHORA



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Wednesday, November 5, 2025

ULTA HAUL | 11.5.25


Okay I have a fun little Ulta haul to share with you- it's been a minute since I did a beauty haul here on the blog. Me and my bank account are definitely feeling the holiday shoppies right now- there are so many good things (and deals) out right now! Stay tuned for more hauls in the next few weeks ;) 

Let's get into this Ulta biz. I needed to restock two of my favorite hair products from IGK- their Good Behavior Smoothing Spray and 4-in-1 Prep Spray. IGK is awesome not only for having amazing hair products but for also offering incredible bundles/sets with their products. Right now they have this Frizz-Free Faves set with three full size products from their Good Behavior line: the Smoothing Spray, Prep Spray and their Flexible Hair Spray. Their Good Behavior Smoothing Spray and Prep Spray are phenomenal- I use them everyday. The smoothing spray in particular is a game changer for straightening hair- it protects from the heat and speeds up the process for me. It also leaves my hair silky smooth and shiny- love her. The prep spray is great after washing- it works as a detangler, heat protectant and helps smooth and shine. 

This set retails for $49 and has the three full sized products that would normally cost $106 if purchased separately... immediate add to cart. They are 100% worth the splurge any day of the week but if you can grab them at the set price, it's a no brainer. I highly recommend if you deal with frizz, do a lot of heat styling or just have more thick/unruly hair. I haven't had a chance to try the hairspray yet but I'll keep you posted. Also for hair- I picked up this Sun Bum Deep Conditioning Hair Mask. I've been feeling like my hair needs a little extra TLC and this looks like a good hydrating treatment. 

I finished up my first bottle of Touchland in Beach Coco so I decided to try out the Blue Sandalwood scent. In full transparency- I feel like these are a bit of a silly splurge for me but I do love a little luxury. I also can appreciate a spray design for in the car- less messy than your regular hand sani! 

Lately I've also been revamping my supplement routine and decided to add in a women's daily multivitamin. I use to take one, then I switched to just taking individual supplements. Now I decided I'm probably missing out on something so we're going back to one. We're also doing a gummy because I want to, lol. I quit doing gummies a few years ago because I heard they aren't as effective as a capsule, too much sugar, yada yada. I'm sure it's all true but like anything else, the thing that works is what works. I have a questionable track record with supplements- I'm consistently inconsistent. The one I am the most consistent with just happens to be the Goli Sleep Gummies. Part of that is because they're close by on my nightstand but if you want to know the real reason, I look forward to taking them. It's like a little mini sweet treat before bed, hehe. Short story long- I purchased a bottle of the MaryRuth's Women's Multivitamin Gummies. They get a great review so I'm excited to add them into my routine. 

I cannot wait to try out the Dior Forever Skin Foundation Stick! I've been looking for a new foundation that has good coverage, is hydrating/glowy but not too heavy or cakey. I go through phases with makeup and right now I've been into a more natural, fresh face look. This pick was very sporadic- I actually had a totally different brand and formula in my cart. I was watching some reviews online to shade match and I came across Jeffree's review... that one was NOT Jeffree Star approved, lol. I went down a rabbit hole and ended up opting for the Dior which was, of course, Jeffree approved. I'm excited to see how it goes. What really sold me was him applying it with the Dior foundation brush because I have it, haha. I also love a stick formula since I tend to put makeup on in the car. 

The last few items I picked up are the La Roche-Posay Hand Cream and a Milk & Honey Milk Bath packet. I am constantly on the hunt for good hand creams- my hands get so dry and cracked in the winter. This one has amazing reviews for barrier repair and is super affordable! 

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What have you been shopping for? 

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Wednesday, July 24, 2024

BEAUTY ON MY MIND | JULY WANTS


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Friday, January 26, 2024

A LITTLE HAIRCARE HAUL

Lately my hair has been a bit of a hot mess express in need of a little TLC. Naturally it only made sense to try out some new products and a fresh routine to add some life and zhuzh things up a bit! My hair has always been very thick, a little wavy + curly and prone to some dryness. I'm not a consistent masker so to add some extra moisture in, I scooped up this cute Amika Mask set. It comes with three of their bestselling masks: a full-size of the Dream Routine Overnight Hydration Treatment and two deluxe sizes in the Soulfood Nourishing Mask and The Kure Intense Bond Repair Mask. I can't wait to try them all. I've always been happy with how Amika products work and these all have great ratings-- they also smell amazing! 

Also in the smoothing realm are these goodies from IGK: the Good Behavior 4-in-1 Prep Spray, Good Behavior Smoothing Spray and Crybaby Anti-Frizz Serum. There is lots of smoothing, de-frizzing and softening involved which hopefully transfers to my hair! 

Lastly from Ouai, my sister bought me a little gift set for Christmas that came with their Scalp & Body Scrub, the Detox Shampoo + Hair Oil. I think between these, Amika + IGK, I've pretty much got all of my bases covered. I'll keep you posted on how everything works! 

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Wednesday, July 20, 2022

RECENT BEAUTY PURCHASES


Between fourth of July and Prime Week, I've been doing some much needed damage in the retail therapy depo. I definitely go in waves when it comes to shopping. I either buy nothing or I buy everything! Lol. Anyone else also like that? Since I snagged a few new beauty items from my list, it was the perfect opportunity to share a random mini haul. All for the blog content, right? Here's what I grabbed: 

+ Nécessaire The Deodorant Gel - I'm still on the clean deodorant sans aluminum kick which has turned out to be an ongoing drama. I have yet to find the "perfect" clean deodorant that is clean, smells yummy and doesn't make me sweat or itch. I was loving the Agent Nateur holi(stick), however I later found out that me + baking soda do not get along. That makes finding a good one even harder + I've been through several so-so options. I'm not sure I'll be able to find one that works like an antiperspirant so it better not make me smell or mess up my clothes!

I decided to give this Nécessaire The Deodorant Gel a try because it's pretty clean + has amazing reviews. What sold me were the claims that it smelled great, wasn't irritating for sensitive skin + didn't leave a stain on clothing. It also comes in a glass bottle and is a roll on which I love + love! I grabbed both the Eucalyptus scent and the fragrance free.

+ Sun Bum Sunscreen Lip Balm w/ SPF 30 - I'm also trying to be better about using SPF everyday so I grabbed this Sun Bum Mineral Lip Balm. I love Colorescience and this tinted moisturizer for the face but I always forget about the lips. The Sun Bum lippie is mineral and made with Zinc Oxide which is a must. Always choose physical sunscreens (Zinc Oxide or Titanium Dioxide) over chemical! 

+ UNITE 7 Seconds Leave-in Hair Detangler - Sydney Adams influenced me on this one! My hair is a hot mess most of the time and because it's so long + wavy, it get pretty tangled up. After I saw her recommend the Unite 7 Seconds Detangler, I looked it up and was immediately sold after reading the reviews. It detangles, adds moisture and has sun + heat protection. 

+ Dior Backstage Face Brush - Jena influenced this one, haha. I've been wanting to try the Dior Airflash Foundation for years now and she recently said this brush works so amazing paired with it. I'm still trying to figure out what shade to order in the foundation but I have the brush now! It also looks like it would be great for cream bronzers too. 

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What have you been buying lately?

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Monday, May 23, 2022

MY SHOWER ROUTINE



Aveda-botanical-repair-hair-shampoo-conditioner-masque-the-Kristen-diary-blog

Is it weird to admit that I've been on a "shower kick" lately? I think it has to be weird... heh. If you're new here on the blog- I am a bath girl through and through. I live for a good bubble bath and take one religiously almost every single night. I always describe it as a cathartic process for me + it's been my way of relaxing and winding down before bed for years now. While I have always still showered too (lol-- things are getting progressively weirder), lately I've found myself showering more than the norm. It may or may not have something to do with all of this 90 degree whether we've been having here in TN and my journey experimenting with natural deodorants, lol. Have you had enough TMI yet??

On a totally random (but related) note, the shower fests have also transpired from me wanting to test out cold showers. It's more like adding a burst of cold in the shower. I think I briefly mentioned this a few posts back, but there is something called the Wim Hof Method that is involved cold therapy and breathing. It's purpose is to increase your overall immunity and health. When I get a shower, I try to spend the last minute the freezing cold water. It's also great for your hair! 

Alright on to the shower routine! I keep things pretty simple which is typically wash hair, shave + cleanse. Lately I've been testing out the Aveda Botanical Repair line. It's a plant-based haircare line that is suppose to help strengthen and repair damaged hair. I picked up the shampoo, conditioner + masque. So far I'm really happy with the results-- I definitely notice my hair is smoother and it seems to help tame some of the frizziness too. 

The shave + cleanse steps are currently the EOS Sensitive Skin Shave Cream, this Venus razor for sensitive skin + the St. Ives Shea Butter body wash. Easy peasy! Every once in awhile I'll also use the Josie Maran Sugar Scrub which is great. Love that it's clean + the vanilla scent is yummy. I usually apply the Nécessaire Body Serum after I get out but it's nice for a little extra moisture + to seal everything in. 

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Friday, January 21, 2022

CUTE HAIR SH*T



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Friday, October 22, 2021

JUPITER HAIR CARE UNBOXING


Scalp issues are the worst. I've been struggling for the past several years with a dry, itchy scalp and enough is enough! Definitely a little TMI and gross but it is what it is. I've made it my mission to *hopefully* find products that will help knock this sh*t out. After doing a little bit of research in the name of Google, I think I have some version of scalp psoriasis or seborrheic dermatitis. While I'm no doctor, it looks like the treatment options for both can be similar which is a plus for me! Right now I'm being stubborn and avoiding the dermatologist. Ideally, I would much rather find a solution on my own that isn't super medicated or toxic so we're going the trial + error route first!

One day I came across an ad for the hair care brand Jupiter which has an entire product line made specifically for scalp and dandruff issues. I was immediately intrigued that everything is formulated with clean, safe ingredients and by their simple and sleek packaging. I had never heard of the brand before so I obviously had to order some new things to test out. They carry six different scalp products on their website: a shampoo, conditioner, serum, elixir, mask + scalp brush. You can also find them here on Amazon. I decided to start with the basics so I grabbed the Balancing Shampoo + Nourishing Conditioner and then added in the Restoring Serum for an extra leave-in treatment. 

Balancing Shampoo - 1% Zinc Pyrithione, Coconut Oil + Algae Extract 
Nourishing Conditioner - Probiotics, Vitamin E + Colloidal Oatmeal 
Restoring Serum - 0.125% Zinc Pyrithione, Green Tea + Aloe Vera 

The shampoo and serum both have Zinc Pyrithione, an anti-fungal agent that targets dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis. From what I've researched, it's considered safe and effective in doses up to 1% for rinse off hair products and 0.1% for leave on products. I was also excited to see Vitamin E as an active ingredient in the conditioner. I've heard it's a great supplement to take alongside selenium for psoriasis and I've have considered adding it to my supplement routine. I'm always intrigued when vitamins + supplements you would normally take orally or digest through food are also used in products applied topically. 

Like the bottles, the packaging of everything was also very clean + minimal which I love. They included a free travel pouch with my order and a little how-to with helpful tips and info. Also a little FYI-- when I purchased, there was a shipping delay due to the shampoo being out of stock. I think they sell out quickly so keep that in mind when ordering or use Amazon if you want it a little faster. When ordering I also wondered about the scent-- I like it, very subtle but with a minty hint. I'm looking forward to trying and hopefully seeing positive results. Will keep you posted on how things go! 

I love sharing new finds with you all! Should you click on or make a purchase through the links in this post, I'll earn some money to keep on shopping! Pretty cool, huh? :)