Review: Montagne Jeunesse Masks and a Giveaway!

I've been so impatient to get this post out. But I wanted to make sure I had all of my ducks in a row first. And now, they are! So, drum roll please....

Montagne Jeunesse was kind enough to send me a generous package of their face masks because there were none in my area. I know, I live in Atlanta, but the only ones I found were a slim selection that never changed. It was pitiful and heartbreaking, because I had tried one of the clay masks before and loved it.

Needless to say, I will be doing all of my ordering online in the future because I am now ADDICTED to these masks. Ho, boy. Let me start from the beginning.

I didn't get pictures of all of the masks because honestly, I was just too eager to dig into them. My apologies. They were a mess afterwards, but the insides were worth it.

This mask was tough to get through at first. It had a really strong smell. Not wholly unpleasant, just a little overwhelming at first. However, after I had the package open for a while, the smell drifted away and I was left with an awesome clay mask. 

This one left my skin super hydrated and squeaky clean. It also helped with a couple of blemishes I was battling at the time. It wasn't irritating, like some masks can be, and the aloe made my summer skin feel absolutely fantastic. Like a cool drink of water after a day spent in the pool.

This mask was a blast and a half. My mom was in town, so her and I split the pack (there's tons in these thing, so you can easily share). It was so delightfully exfoliating. It made my skin tingle, and my nose had trouble coping with the spearmint, but it was worth it. The cool sensation, the crystals clearing away a week's worth of dead skin. Even my mom said it felt like a spa facial in a little plastic packet. 

And afterwards? My skin was silky soft. All of the natural oils were a breeze to rinse away, but they left my skin softer than ever. Easily one of my favorites, Montagne Jeunesse hit the nail on the head with this combo. A one-two punch for dry, damaged skin.

This sheet mask scared my husband, but I think it felt fantastic. It was super cleansing and smelled like the woods. Seriously, it smelled like pine trees and snow. I don't know how they did it. I left this on while I watched some TV and painted my nails. I patted in the leftovers, and bam. Instantly refreshed skin. It felt nice to take a moment for myself.

Now, for some of the ones I didn't get pictures of. 

The pomegranate peel? Fantastic! I put some on my husbands nose and it pulled away some of his worst blackheads. And since was purple, I was able to find and peel off all of those bits and pieces that tend to stick around for the long haul. My skin felt undeniably clean after that mask.

I also share the hot chocolate orange with my best friend, and we both agreed that it felt amazing. It was weird that it warmed up, but once we got used to, it was great. My only complaint is that it was a pain to wash off. My sink looked like it belonged in a haunted house that had never been cleaned. And the next day, I kept noticing spots that I'd missed. I loved the mask, it made my skin ultra soft, but I will probably relegate it to shower use when I can make sure to scrub it all off. 

Overall, an extremely pleasant experience. These guys know their skincare. I wasn't disappointed in any of the masks. Not by a long shot. All of the Korean style sheet masks took a while to soak in, but after they did, my skin looked vibrant for days. 

And now, for the even better news....

Montagne Jeunesse has offered to give away a wonderful prize pack to one lucky follower of this blog. It'll be similar to mine, and it is so absolutely worth it!  Just fill out the RaffleCopter below and I'll send the results to Gladis at MJ. She'll get your pamper package off to you in a jiffy. 

Contest ends three weeks from today, on October 24th. At that point, a winner will be randomly chosen by Raffle Copter's math wizards. 

Thanks for reading, and good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: Primavera Calming Eye Contour Cream

**This product was provided to me by a representative of the company. I am reviewing without being asked. My review is not influenced in any way.**

What exactly is a contour cream? That I still don’t know. The instructions say to pat it in on the bones around your eyes, so I did just that.

Much like with the moisturizer I reviewed earlier, this is a little on the heavy side. Very moisturizing but also pretty thick. It did reduce some of the redness around my eyes, though, which is awesome. I looked more refreshed and not like I had just spent the night sitting in front of my computer to type up blog posts. In fact, it looked like I had just woken up.

Overall, it’s a good quality eye cream. I wouldn’t necessarily call it a “contour cream,” but it has good qualities and doesn’t make my eyes burn or tingle.

Thanks for reading!

April Birchbox: Simple Revitalizing Eye Roll-On

Simple is a brand I have heard about through various avenues for about a month now. I was excited to be receiving a rather large sample in my Birchbox this month.

I would like to think that my under-eye circles aren't that bad. Relatively speaking, they're not. I get some decent sleep most times and try to drink lots of water. But sometimes, I just look tired. 

Usually, for me, the culprit is stress. I'm at a very transitional time in my life, so my stress is at an all-time high. 

I was excited to try this product to see if it could help me look more alive after a long, restless night spent worrying. And honestly? It kind of delivered.

The product goes on smooth and easy, and is absorbed quickly. Always a plus. And the coolness of the roller and the extracts did remove some of the puffiness from under my eyes. 

But it really wasn't such a huge miracle product as I was expecting. It works pretty well, but for dark circles, I don't think it's going to cut it. I think other than getting more sleep and drinking more water, concealer is still the best for those under-eye circles. Or Benefit's FakeUp. 

Over all, though, I think it's going to be nice in the summer when my eyes need a little pick me up. Not to mention this stuff is super affordable and the ingredients are awesome. This is something I feel ok with putting near my sensitive eye area. 

Thanks for reading!

A to Z: M is for Microfiber (And Minerals)

Apologies for the late post, guys. I went on a spontaneous road trip with my best friends yesterday. And let me tell you, getting out and about for the day was absolutely marvelous. I'll make up for it by reviewing two products today! That's right, two for the price of one!

Not that my posts cost you anything, but y'know...

First up is a dollar store find that has completely changed my skin. 

This little thing is about the size of my palm, made of microfiber, and is perfect as a facial scrubber. In fact, the packaging once said that was what it was for. 

Before using these microfiber scrubbies, I used my hands to wash my face. A little squirt of cleanser, some gentle rubbing, bam. Done. And during that time, I had pretty bad acne. 

Now, I didn't know this then, but apparently that wasn't cutting it for my skin. I needed exfoliation. I needed a deeper clean. And then the dollar store stepped in. 

Ever since I have started using these little green circles of amazing, my acne has mostly cleared up. The scrubs on one side are perfect for daily use. Exfoliating, but gentle about it. Not so intense that my skin is dry and red afterwards. The other side, the mesh side, is perfect for days when I feel really grimy or think my skin could use an extra scrub. It's a little bit more exfoliating. 

And the best part is, I can throw these into the washer and dryer with my regular clothes. Completely reusable, over and over again. In fact, I have rotated between the same three of these for over two years now. Once a week or once every two weeks (depending on when I remember), I toss them in the laundry and use a clean one. And on and on it goes. 

My skin is happy, and healthy, and glowing. No complaints from me, especially since I only spent a dollar on all three.

Next is my mineral makeup. Now, I know this is a hot topic right now, but here's my two cents. For what it's worth. (Two cents.)

I use the standard BareMinerals powder in fair. It's fast, it's simple, it does exactly what I need it to do. I've mentioned that I don't like wearing a lot of heavy makeup, and this stuff is about as light as it gets. 

I personally love that I can just brush some on and immediately look more put together than I did before. It's awesome before work because if I'm running behind, I will still look like I woke up brilliant and beaming.

And another great thing? It lasts all day! I don't refresh my makeup much throughout the day, but this stuff holds up to the standard work day just fine. In fact, when I wash my face at night, I still take some of it off. 

The blush that I use is also BareMinerals. It's The Natural High, one of their recent special collections. I didn't go into the store wanting blush, but after the salesperson applied some, I loved the way it looked. So I walked out of the store a little poorer, but happier. 

This blush is a nice, light pink with a slightly peachy undertone. My photos all seem to pull out that peach color. It's actually a little more pink in person than it is in the above pictures. Here's a picture from a beauty blogger I absolutely adore, Temptalia, that captures a better image of the color.

This is a very buildable color. I can apply just a little for a naturally fresh look. Or a little more to look like I'm super vibrant and flushed. It's an absolutely wonderful color. 

Now, for a mini discussion. I know that right now, there is an article circulating that mineral makeup isn't as good as everyone says. That it clogs pores. Makes your pores look bigger. Has bad chemical reactions for some people. Doesn't have enough SPF for what is advertised. 

In fact, some out there absolutely hate mineral makeup for these reasons. 

But for me, I have never had these problems. I don't notice a difference with my pores. I haven't had any bad reactions. And it doesn't make me break out (unlike some liquid foundations I've tried). I feel that just like with any makeup, you need to find the one that is right for you. Liquid, powder, cream, whatever. The beauty industry is vast and specialized. So go out there and find what is right for you. What makes your skin and soul happy. 

Thanks for reading, and again, apologies for being late!

A to Z: G is for Goop!

SuperGoop, that is!

This is one of the samples that I got in my Birchbox but didn't necessarily feel the need to review on this blog. I mean...it's sunscreen. I go through the stuff like it's my day job.

But I needed something for G, and I figured someone out there in the ether might be interested in hearing about this brand.

This is a very fancy packet of sunscreen. The large, industrial bottle clocks in at about $50, which is way more than what I would traditionally pay for sunscreen.

To be fair, though, this is a really nice product. 

It's smooth and creamy, not greasy, but it still has that delightful sunscreen smell that everyone associates with the beach. 

The coverage seems to be pretty even, although I haven't gone out in the sun yet to test it. There are no application issues whatsoever, which is nice, since that can be a problem with a lot of "all natural" sunscreens.  I'll just be blunt here: I've gotten a lot of streaky, nasty sunburns because an "all natural, non greasy" sunscreen wasn't good enough. 

The good news? This product is good for your face! I always hate putting sunscreen on my face because it makes my skin tingle and burn unpleasantly, then it leaves me greasy and oily, and the next day I'm covered in acne from the oils. This product doesn't seem to have that effect, though. 

I don't know if that's because it's super good for you, with no parabens or oils, or if they just put more effort into Supergoop! than other brands put into their sunscreen.

Whatever the reason, if you would like to have a nice, high quality sunscreen that's good all over, this is a wonderful product. Unfortunately, I go through way too much sunscreen to spend so much money on it. I'll just stick with a normal one and a gentle one for my face. Unless I get rich, in which case, this stuff will become a household staple.

Thanks for reading!

A to Z: E is for Equate

And why generics can be awesome!

Now is the time you get to hear about the generic moisturizer that won me over for all moisturizers ever.

See, there was a time in my life (Ahem, college) where I didn't moisturize often, if at all, because I didn't think it was necessary. My skin wasn't that bad. How much could it really help?

But after a really bad bout of dried skin in the middle of summer, I decided to go shopping for some moisturizers. But I was on a really tight budget. And so, after trying several different types on my jawline. In the store. Around other people. I finally settled on this:

It's basically the knock-off version of Aveeno's Positively Radiant moisturizer. When I tested it, it seemed a tad heavy, but it sank in quickly. Didn't leave my skin oiler. And (thankfully) has built in SPF. As pale as I am, that's a HUGE plus.

And nowadays, this is the only stuff I'll use. It takes a little longer to soak in than some people are comfortable with, but I put it on right when I'm out of the shower and it immediately takes away the tight, dry feeling that starts to settle in. Not to mention this stuff is still cheap and it lasts FOREVER. 

See, that's why generics can (sometimes) be awesome. You don't have to buy the $8.99 bottle of moisturizer when the $3.99 bottle does just fine. 

There are some things I don't like to compromise on (like mascara), but in general, I will always go with generic if it looks/feels/smells/tastes the same or contains the same ingredient ratios. 

Like polish remover. I have never ever bought a bottle of fancy nail polish remover. Why? Cause the generic stuff that everyone sells works just fine. Now, I do step up and use the "nourishing" stuff cause it doesn't dry out my cuticles as bad. But I don't need expensive polish remover when I'm probably going to moisturize my hands after using it. 

So before you buy that crazy expensive brand of whatever, check out the generics. Read the labels and try to see if will fit your needs. Then, you can spend more money on the things you really want (like that Deborah Lippmann Gel Lab).

Thanks for reading!

A to Z: C is for Cleanser

Facial cleanser that is!

For this post, I'm going to review my current face wash, which is Biore's Combination Skin Balancing Cleanser.

I'm usually not one to be swayed by names, but when I was in desperate need of a face wash because I was out, I had no choice. I ran to the CVS by my work and picked up this bottle of Biore because I recognized the name, it said it was for combination skin, and it was relatively cheap. I have owned a few Biore things in the past, and they worked pretty decently, so I went for it.

This product is...alright. I have mixed feelings about it. 

I figured, with the nice price tag and the talk of moisture and balancing, it would be great for my dry, winter skin. 

And really, it's ok. It's not some miracle product. It's not perfect by a long shot. After using this product, my skin still feels a little tight and dry, like with most cleansers. And it doesn't seem to "balance" my skin as well as I was hoping. 

I wish that, since it's such a well known brand, it worked a little better. I still have serious dry spots on my cheeks and an oily T-zone. It just helps keep my face clean without making the problem worse.

For now, I rely on my moisturizer (which you'll see in a couple of days) to keep my skin healthy. I hope that soon I'll be able to find a cleanser I can absolutely adore. And when I find it, trust me, you guys will be the first to hear about it. 

Thanks for reading!

A to Z: B is for Blemishes

This post is inspired by my good friend's post for the letter A. Check out her blog, BookishGeek.

Growing up, we're told that our acne and blemishes will go away once we get older. It's a teenager thing. A puberty thing. It'll go away with time.

But here I am, 23 years old, and I am currently dealing with two large pimples on my face. They're taking up way more realty than they should, considering they shouldn't be existing, right?

But here's the truth not many people will tell you: Adult acne isn't some weird freak thing. It's completely normal. Heck, if you go to Birchbox's video, you'll see their gorgeous editor talking about her own blemishes. And you know she has a skincare lineup that could put everyone else's the shame.

So here are some facts about blemishes, because I'm a nerd for knowledge.

Blemishes are more common when you're a teenager, that much is true. It's all about hormones and stress and your skin trying to find its right balance.

That being said, every little thing can cause a pimple. And honestly? Age doesn't matter. Stress, diet, exercise, water intake. All of that contributes to how your skin deals with intruders like dirt and oil. Your own natural body chemistry matters, too. My husband is 24, but his skin is very oily naturally. That means he's going to have more acne than someone like me, with combination skin. It's just a fact of life. It's something you need to figure out for yourself.

Another fact? There is a huge industry revolving around that reduction of blemishes. There are tons of of products out there that swear to make your skin pimple free in two weeks, to make you prettier, happier, more popular. And honestly? It's all a lie. An expensive marketing lie.

I spent tons of money on the proactiv regimen for a couple of months. And honestly? My acne got so much worse. My skin got so dry it started bleeding, but I thought that's what I had to push through to get better skin.

I was wrong. What works for me is creamier products that don't dry out my combination skin. Cream cleansers, not acid cleansers, work best for my particular skincare woes.

But as I said, that might not work for you.

The final fact is that despite everything the beauty industry tells you about zits, and how many products we are told to buy to help us look better, zits are going to happen. There are ways to prevent them, like having a healthy, whole foods diet, drinking lots of water, and exercising regularly. But they're an inevitable part of life. You can find a product that you adore that helps prevent them or stop them before they get too bad. But they're still going to exist.

And one tiny bit of advice from me? Don't. Pick. I know everyone says that. And I know it's hard. Heck, one of the zits on my face right now is a giant scab because I've picked it into oblivion. But you know what? If I hadn't picked at it the first time, it would be gone by now. Instead, I have a painful splotch on my face that is way more noticeable than the zit was.

My trick to help prevent picking (although it doesn't always work) is to give it 24 hours. Tell yourself that if the pimple is still bothering you in 24 hours, you can pick at it. Pop it. Whatever. Most of the time, I forget about the zit in the first place.

Thanks for reading! Hopefully tomorrow I'll have a better plan of attack for my A to Z challenge.

A little late to the game: A to Z challenge!

This is for the A to Z challenge. I didn't make the original sign up because I'm a little slow on the uptake, a little nervous to try new things, but on of my friends encouraged me, so here we go!

A is for Avocados! 

Wait, what? Isn't this a beauty blog? 

Why, indeed it is. And now...I'm going to share with you the ultimate DIY hair and face masque that has saved me time and time again. 

It's really simple, actually. I discovered it when I was going through my fridge and needed to clear out some stuff. I remembered the beauty benefits of each of the ingredients and thought that they might work well together. And lo and behold, they did!

Mash one avocado with two to three tablespoons honey, a teaspoon of lemon juice, and two egg yolks. 

Mix together until a thick paste is formed. 

Work the mixture into your roots and scalps, then comb through the rest of your hair. If you have really bad split ends, work a little into the tips of your hair to give them a quick boost of nourishment. 

You can also use this as a purifying face mask. Simply smear all over your face, like any good mask, let sit for several minutes, and then rinse with warm water. 

It's as simple as that! 

You see, avocados (in addition to being delicious) are wonderful for your hair and skin. The fatty acids help to soften your skin and bring nourishment to the driest areas. 

Honey is a skin balancer. It is especially useful with combination skin and oily skin, as it can help to even out all of the weird areas you may have. This is important for me, because I have the absolute worst combination skin. Dry and flaky on my cheeks, oily and acne prone on my T zone. 

Lemon juice is an acid. Pretty straight forward. It works as a slight stripping agent to wash away dead skin cells and increase cell turnover rate. That's important for a fresh-faced look. 

And egg yolks, like the avocados, are nourishing and fatty, without being oily. The omegas also help to increase cell turnover rate. 

So there you have it. A little late, but better late than never!