NEW SKINCARE + SELF TAN HAUL

It's haul time, ya'll. I finished opening some new beauty purchases I picked up during Prime Week this year- I snagged some awesome skincare buys and some new self tanner! Skincare is definitely my favorite beauty category to buy these days- it makes all the difference both with and without makeup on. This year I discovered the brand Minimalist on Amazon which is a new favorite. I wanted to switch things up in my routine by trying their Marula Oil Hydrating Moisturizer which is an absolute dream for dry skin! I picked it out specifically for that reason and in all honesty- because it came in a tube packaging. I wanted something a little less fussy than a jar cream for the mornings, as silly as that sounds! 

I immediately was impressed and after going through an entire tube, I repurchased it again during Prime Week. I don't think this product was actually "on sale," however it's only around $11 which is incredible. It's super hydrating and gives my skin a healthy glow. I've also tried this Sepicalm Sensitive Skin moisturizer also by Minimalist which I enjoyed. They have tons of different products- all formulated according to skin preference in need which I love. New in this haul is this Aquaporin Booster Cleanser- a gentle, hydrating cleanser also for dry skin. I've now been using it for a week or two and so far, I'm enjoying the formula. 

For the eye area, I picked up both a variety pack of the Grace & Stella Under Eye Patches and this Beauty of Joseon Retinal Eye Serum. I'm excited to try out all of the different eyepatches in the box- there is a mix of different ones for anti-aging, de-puffing/dark circles, smoothing, hydrating + more. They also included a free Grace & Stella Hydrating Lip Mask during the sale which I definitely need. My lips always get so dry- I will let you know how it is! It smells so good, just like strawberries! 

Last but first on my buying list was this Coco & Eve Self Tanning Kit. I've heard so many great things about their tanning mousse so I can't wait to try! The kit is a great value and sold me because of the back applicator! I've always struggled with tanning my back so this has to help! 

What are your skincare must-haves?

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MINI AMAZON SKINCARE HAUL

This month I've been working to replenish my skin with lots of extra hydration and moisture. I made the mistake of derma planing a few weeks ago when my skin was on the dry side which resulted in even more dryness and lots of redness and irritation. I was running low on my hyaluronic acid serum and moisturizer (both of which I love + highly recommend) so I thought I'd try out some new products with a few added ingredients to help calm and restore my skin. 

After hearing a lot of positive reviews on this TIRTIR Milk Skin Rice Toner, I purchased it as a first step post-cleanse for my daytime routine. It's a hydrating toner with niacinamide (vitamin B3) which has a lot skin benefits such as treating acne and inflammation to targeting wrinkles. The toner also contains rice bran, ceramides and some other ingredients to help deeply moisturize and brighten the skin. 

For even more added hydration, I also picked up this ANUA Rice Ceramide 7 Hydrating Barrier Serum to layer on top of the milk toner. This one has a few similar ingredients including rice extract and niacinamide, however it also has hyaluronic acid, honey extract and glycerin. 

To seal all of the moisture in, I wanted to try out this Minimalist Face Moisturizer for Dry Skin. It seemed like a good layering option for daytime with 5% Marula Oil and hyaluronic acid. 

I started using these three together in the mornings after cleansing (lately I've just been using my micellar water + a cotton pad so I don't over wash my skin) and before applying my tinted SPF. I noticed an immediate difference after two or three days in my skin and it's done a complete 360, ya'll. All of the dryness is gone and it looks so vibrant and glowy! I even had someone compliment my skin this week and say that I had a glow going!

So far I'm super impressed and excited to keep trying these out. Compared to a lot of the skincare I typically buy, they were also very affordable (especially the moisturizer- it's like $7!). As of now, I definitely think they're worth trying if you're needing some extra hydration. I also have very sensitive skin and I haven't found them to be irritating at all. I'll continue to keep using them and will update you again a little later on! 

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I love sharing my picks + hauls 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? :)

KIEHL'S SKINCARE HAUL

I've been looking for a new skincare routine that's simple, effective + manageable. Ever since I started seeing a few fine lines pop up on my forehead, I've become even more paranoid about my skin. I was fully convinced I needed to order an entire fleet of medical grade skincare to start using and while I haven't completely written that idea off, I thought I'd go back to the basics first. This entire haul was inspired by a video I came across on TikTok basically explaining that a lot of the symptoms I have are caused from dehydrated skin. I always seem to have dryer skin so boosting my moisture level definitely can't hurt. The creator also said the true game changer for those pesky forehead lines is to use a hyaluronic acid serum, a gentle exfoliator and a moisturizer. 

I thought back to what I used when I had the best, most hydrated skin and the Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream came to mind. I used it religiously for years and have always been a huge fan of the entire brand. It has always been great for my sensitive skin + just super effective. They also have a hyaluronic acid serum and an exfoliating toner that are both top rated + exactly what I've been wanting to add in.

I'm excited to start a new routine + see how this works all together. Sometimes you can find some great discounts on Kiehl's and they're also sold on Amazon which I love. A few weeks back, I found their Ultra Facial Cleanser 50% off during the Ulta/Sephora sale days and then grabbed the rest of my goodies last week for 30% off on Kiehls.com. I re-purchased the Ultra Facial Cream with the Ultra Pure High-Potency 1.5% Hyaluronic Acid and the Daily Refining Milk-Peel Toner. They also had a fun freebie going on for Mother's Day so I scored this cute little bag with some extra samples! 

I'll definitely keep you posted on how it goes but would love to hear about your skincare routine! What are some must-have products and steps that you always use? 

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I love sharing my picks + hauls 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? :)

NEW YEAR, NEW SKIN | AUGUSTINUS BADER HAUL

I've decided that we're kicking 2024 off not only with a new year but with a new glow up. It's time to start being that b*tch, if you know what I mean. I'm excited to start doing a little re-vamp on both my beauty routines + wardrobe this year. Everything has just been feeling a little lackluster lately so I think a little refresh is only fitting. I've always been a big beauty gal, especially when it comes to skincare. I firmly believe that taking care of your skin is vital- most importantly for your overall health- but also to better enhance makeup and your overall look.

It's also probably no secret that I'm willing to get a little boujee when it comes to my skin. While you definitely don't have or need to buy expensive products, I have fun splurging a little bit here and there. I tend to look for products that are both effective + that have relatively "clean" ingredients. One brand (and product in particular) that I've had on my wish list for over a year now is the Augustinus Bader The Rich Cream. It's very highly rated but very expensive. I went down a rabbit hole on Tik-tok to essentially justify why I shouldn't buy it. I've yet to decide if any products are actually worth this price point, however the reviews didn't exactly do what I wanted. Of course there were some negatives, however the overall consensus I gathered is that it's nice, a little too expensive but no other creams compare or work exactly the same. We'll definitely see about that! 

I decided to bite the bullet but if I'm going to splurge, I'm going to splurge smart. Augustinus Bader offers some various "value" sets and this one called the Skin Renewal System caught my eye. It includes three AB products-- 1 x 1oz. of The Rich Cream, 1 x 1oz. The Essence and 1 x 1oz. of The Cream Cleansing Gel. The entire set retails for $185 which is what just the 1oz. of The Rich Cream sells for by itself. I always love a good set + the idea of essentially getting the other two products "for free" seemed like a good way to test out the brand. I was also able to purchase the set during the December Sephora sale for 20% off which ended up dropping the price down to $148. Here's a little more info on each product: 

AUGUSTINUS BADER THE SKIN RENEWAL SYSTEM

+The Rich Cream: Suitable for normal-to-dry skin, described as "intensely hydrating" to reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles + hyperpigmentation. 

+The Essence: Suitable normal, dry, oily + combination skin, described as a three-in-one mild chemical exfoliant, toner + essence for smooth, soft + hydrated skin. 

+The Cream Cleansing Gel: Suitable for normal, dry, oily + combination skin, described as a daily cleanser to cleanse, purify + renew skin. 

I've only tried everything out a few times so far so I don't have much to report yet. I will say that the overall design, look + feel of the packaging is nice (as it should be). I have seen some videos that show the polarity between how much product you're getting versus the size of the bottle, but that isn't really new to the beauty industry. That seems to be very common, especially when it comes to foundation + complexion products. Logically we all know that a 1oz. product isn't very much, however when packaged in larger bottles you feel as if you're purchasing more than you really are. I'd be willing to bet that most of us would think a little harder about our purchases if everything was packaged in a container perfectly sized for the actual amount of product. I also think while not ideal, it's understandable from a business perspective. Even more so on higher end, luxury products. Keeping my fingers crossed that a little bit goes a long way! 

If you've had a chance to try out anything from Augustinus Bader, I'd love to know your thoughts. I'm excited to see how the products work and I'm also half wishing they do and don't live up to the hype! 

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Spendy or affordable- what's your favorite skincare product?

 I love sharing my picks + hauls 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? :)