Category: Blog

What’s on my iPhone | Photo Editing, Fitness + More

Post author By muffinchanel.com
Post date 10 March 2014

This post may contain affiliate links; all opinions are my own. See Disclosures here

It seems like the phone is the one accessory we never leave the house without. It’s a camera, a calendar, fitness tracker, social media outlet, and of course helps us keep in touch with our friends and family. We use our phones everyday for tons of things, so I thought I’d share some of what’s on my iPhone with you.

Photo Editing

Diptic – Make a quick and easy collage with this app. With lots of free templates to choose from and customization options, this is my go-to for any Instagram collage. You can even adjust the borders’ thickness, shape, texture, and color.

ColorSplash – This app makes it easy to add a splash of color to a black & white photo or vice versa. You start with a color photo and then you can hand-draw the black & white filter, leaving something specific in color so that object really stands out.

LINE camera – The auto-enhance option on LINE is really good, especially for selfies. It corrects the lighting, smoothes imperfections, and can make your eyes look bigger. They have a lot of fun “stickers” to choose from too that make this app super fun.

PixlrExpress+ – I use pixlr to edit photos on my blog, so when I saw that there was an app for iPhone, I knew I wanted to try it. I use this for most of my phone-editing. Lots of filters and fonts for text overlays and powerful basic editing features. Plus, I really love how I can resize the image to keep its full size and clarity. I hate when a great picture end up looking pixilated because the app compressed it — not with PixlrExpress+!

Bokehful – The best app for adding bokeh! Not just a filter or overlay, Bokehful lets you kind of control the placement (puts a bokeh near where you tap; not exactly on the spot). You can also choose the color/color palette and shapes of the bokeh.

A Beautiful Mess – I got this app for free from Sephora and it’s pretty cool. You can add text, doodles, and borders and choose from a few filters. It’s pretty basic. There are some upgrades that I haven’t tried, but the free content seem sufficient for a quick edit.

Social Media

Twitter – I like the official app for Twitter on the iPhone. It’s clean and simple; gets the job done.

Instagram – It’s fun to go through different Instagram feeds and see everyone’s pictures. I never really use the filters in Insta; instead, I’ll upload after using some of the apps I mentioned ^.

WordPress – I mostly just check comments from the WordPress app. It’s a little tricky for me to try to blog from the app, but I have before. It’s good in a pinch!

Health & Fitness

MyFitnessPal – This app is great for monitoring your food intake and calorie goals. There is a huge library of foods you can select and you can chat with your friends so everyone stays motivated. I have it linked with my Fitbit, so MFP automatically keeps track of my activity too!

Nike+ Running – I’ve been slacking on my running goals lately….big time. But I still love the Nike+ Running app for tracking my runs. The Nike Coach update is great and helps you reach your goals without having to think too much into it.

Nike Training – I just recently downloaded this app, but it seems cool so far. Great for a Cross-Training day or its own program — I like how there are lots of sessions you can choose from. It’s like a guided workout with videos so you can see what each move is supposed to look like.

Fitbit – The Fitbit app helps me track the number of steps I have for the day, my sleep cycle, and my ranking among my friends. It’s great to not have to log into a computer to sync up my stats.

Let me know what some of your favorite apps are; I’d love to try out some new ones!

Tags 4, 4S, 5s, a beautiful mess, Apple, apps, blog photos, bokeh, bokehful, camera, color splash, diptic, dslr, editing, favorites, filters, Fitbit, Fitbit Flex, instagram, iPhone, iPhone 5, lens flare, line camera, my fitness pal, myfitnesspal, Nike, nike coach, nike plus, photo editing, Pictures, pixlr express, Running, selfie, top 10, training, Twitter, what's on my iphone

Blog Health + Beauty

Anastasia Brow Duality | REVIEW

Post author By muffinchanel.com
Post date 2 March 2014

This post may contain affiliate links; all opinions are my own. See Disclosures here

Now that my eyebrows are cleaned up, I wanted to buy a highlighter stick to help define them. Of course, I had my eye on High Brow by benefit — I loved it when the esthetician used it on me — but I couldn’t decide whether to go for the matte color ($20), or the shimmer ($20).

MuffinChanel Anastasia Brow Duality Benefit High Brow Matte Shimmer highlighter eyebrow

I swatched them both in Sephora but couldn’t decide….but then I found the Anastasia Brow Duality ($23) and I didn’t have to! The Brow Duality pencil has both a matte and shimmer color in one pencil! Yay!

MuffinChanel Sephora haul anastasia brow duality review pencil

I bought the Matte Camille / Sand Shimmer color and it’s awesome. It’s a great highlighter and the consistency is nice. I prefer it over an eyeshadow because it’s slightly creamy and I can blend it out better for a more natural look. Plus, it’s compact and easy to throw in your purse for an on-the-go brow lift.

I’m really pleased with this purchase. I also bought a sharpener separately, as the pencil is chubbier than a “normal” pencil. The color/highlight lasts all day and isn’t greasy or chalky.

Tags Anastasia Brow Duality, anastasia brow express, anatasia, benefit, brow bar, concealer, eye lift, eye shadow, eyebrow routine, eyebrows, haul, high brow, highlight, Matte Camille, matte color, review, Sephora

Blog Health + Beauty

Urban Decay Electric Palette

Post author By muffinchanel.com
Post date 25 February 2014

This post may contain affiliate links; all opinions are my own. See Disclosures here

Urban Decay is coming out with a new eyeshadow palette that promises to be electric!

urban decay electric palette

The palette is going to be full of fun bright colors — a nice contrast to the Naked palettes! I’m really excited to see these new electric shades for summer.

Urban Decay’s teaser ad.

UPDATE: Alleged swatches from the Electric Palette.

UPDATE: ^ It’s real. They are “pressed pigments” and some of the colors are “neon” and shouldn’t be used on the immediate eye area. :/ Kind of a deal breaker for me…what do you think? Check out this review by Temptilia. The Electric Palette will be released on March 18th for $49 at Sephora, Macy’s and Ulta stores.

Tags avoid eye area, bright colors, chaos, coming soon, electric palette, eyes, eyeshadow, eyeshadow palette, freak, fringe, gonzo, jilted, makeup, Naked, neon, pressed pigments, revolt, savage, slowburn, sneak peek, spring, summer, swatches, thrash, urban, Urban Decay

Blog Health + Beauty Lifestyle

Benefit Brow Bar Experience

Post author By muffinchanel.com
Post date 22 February 2014

This post may contain affiliate links; all opinions are my own. See Disclosures here

I love a nice, thick eyebrow. I fill my eyebrows in with the ANASTASIA BEVERLY HILLS Beauty Express For Brows and Eyes and I’m usually pretty pleased with how they turn out, but I haven’t ever really had them “shaped”.

Filled in with Anastasia Beauty Express — Surprise! Lots of stray hairs; not a very “clean” look + my “brow-hawk” ^

I’ve attempted to use the stencils in the Anastasia kit but they never worked for me. I’ve drawn the lines for my “perfect ratio”, but was always reluctant to tweeze in case I took too much and messed up my face. So, I left my caterpillars alone and I told myself that I was “growing them out so I could get them professionally done”.

So, when I started hearing more about the Benefit Brow Bar, I thought this would be a good time for me to clean up my brows and get them professionally shaped. I’ve had my brows waxed at the nail salon many years ago and I thought it turned out alright, but they just cleaned up the stray hairs; they didn’t map out the best shape for my face.

There’s a Brow Bar in a nearby Macy’s and an Ulta, but I opted to go to the one in Ulta because the Macy’s one had a few bad reviews. I’m all about the reviews; I always check places that I’m interested in going! If any of you are the same way, I hope this experience review helps you out! 🙂

So, I go over to the Benefit section of Ulta and two estheticians are already with clients. One of the girls asked me if I had an appointment, and I told her no & asked if they took walk-ins. She said that she could take me in 5 minutes. So I looked around for a while before she called me over.

I sat in the chair and told her that I just wanted a brow wax. They also do brow tinting and lip waxing. She had me sign a waiver that basically says that Benefit is not responsible if you breakout or get a rash from the wax and that you acknowledge that you aren’t taking accutane or using retinol.

Brow Mapping

She walked me through the process since this was my first time and cleansed by brows with a cotton ball and some solution. She then used the Brow Mapping technique to find that perfect ratio for my face and drew lines with a brown makeup crayon. I looked at the outline in the mirror and she asked if I liked the shape or if I wanted my brows to be thinner. I told her I wanted a fuller brow and she told me that she was going to wax everywhere outside of the lines she drew. She then used a spoolie to comb all of my brow hairs up to trim them with scissors and then the same thing after brushing them down.

Waxing

The wax was a pearly white color and she applied it with a thin wooden applicator. Everything was really sanitary and clean. She applied a cloth to the waxed area, pulled the skin taught, and pulled the cloth away. It didn’t hurt but it surprised me at first. The rest of the waxing was easy since I knew what to expect.

Cleaning/Soothing

After the wax, she used a cleanser to help remove any excess wax. She applied Almond Oil to help soothe and calm the redness & then she put on a moisturizer. She really let everything soak in and gave my face some time to relax.

Tweezing

She used a spoolie to comb through the hairs and help her get to the stray hairs that needed tweezing. There wasn’t much to be tweezed after the wax.

Styling

After everything, she used a concealer crayon above and below my brows, some foundation to help cover up the redness, and filled in my brows so that I wouldn’t look like I’d just gotten them done while running the rest of my errands.

Results

Overall, I am super happy with the way they turned out and I will definitely go back. I knew that brows really framed your face and could change your look, but I didn’t realize what I was missing! My eyebrows look so clean and sharp now; it’s awesome! So happy I went! The service at the Benefit Brow Bar was great. I really appreciate how they take the time to explain each step of the process & how they touch up your makeup before you leave.

Tags after, before, before and after, benefit, benefit brow bar, benefit cosmetics, boiing, brow bar, brow zings, brows, clean, esthetician, experience, eyebrows, eyes, face, gimme brow, grooming, hair, hair removal, high brow, macy's, review, San Francisco, Sephora, sharp, skin, threading, tweezing, ultra, waxing

Blog Health + Beauty

GLAMGLOW YOUTHMUD | Review & SUPERMUD Comparison

Post author By muffinchanel.com
Post date 19 February 2014

This post may contain affiliate links; all opinions are my own. See Disclosures here

Packaging

I got the GLAMGLOW YOUTHMUD (.5 oz) as part of a gift set from Sephora. The kit came with the white jar SUPERMUD (1.2 oz.) in a pink/blue “reversible” gift box for $69. The kit is a good value because a 1.7 oz. size of either the YOUTHMUD or a 1.2 oz. size of the SUPERMUD alone would cost $69. Still, 70 bucks is a lot to pay for a face mask. The packaging probably has something to do with the price — that Gift Sexy packaging is quite clever and the actual mask jars are weighty and substantial feeling. The YOUTHMUD jar was sealed with a foil seal (unlike the SUPERMUD).

YOUTHMUD

The mud is a light brownish color with a few chunky bits here and there. The scent was subtle and clean/minty smelling; I actually liked it a lot.

Application

I applied the mask with a flat foundation brush. The mud is not too thick, but does have chunks of leaves and other ingredients in it. I sort of painted it all over my face, avoiding my eye area. The product spreads easily without being runny or super thick. I did apply the mask to my entire face, but you could also just use it as a spot treatment. With the .5oz. size, I estimate that I will get 1-2 more full face uses out of the GLAMGLOW YOUTHMUD.

Wear

I had read that this mask is “extremely” tingly/stingy. All the reviews I’d read recommend not using the mask if you had been tanning or using a retinol recently as it might make your skin extra sensitive and cause a rash/breakout. The mask was slightly tingly about a minute after I applied it & that feeling lasted a couple minutes. It wasn’t uncomfortable at all. I let the mask dry for about 30 minutes and it dried to a smooth, light grey color. The mask felt slightly tight and there were visible chunks of leaf all over.

Removal

To remove the mask, I splashed a little bit of water on my face to loosen it up and get rid of that tight feeling. I then softly rubbed my face in small circular motions. The mask has very fine, sand-like particles inside that worked to exfoliate and remove any dull/dry skin. The mask was easy to remove in warm water and then I patted my face dry with a towel.

Results

I quite like this mask a lot. I didn’t experience extreme stinging/tingling/burning like I’d heard, the smell was pleasant, and the fine exfoliating particles left my skin feeling soft and smooth. My skin was glowing and had a nice, rosy (not irritated) flush look. My skin felt only slightly tight/dry after but I felt that it really prepped my skin to absorb my serums and nighttime treatments.

Comparison

If you haven’t read my full review on the SUPERMUD, you can check it out HERE.

This will be a quick side-by side comparison between these two masks:

Both masks are great and I think they work well together. If I had to choose only one, I’d get the GLAMGLOW YOUTHMUD in the black jar because I like the exfoliation and it’s a better value.

What do you think of the GLAMGLOW mud masks? Which is your favorite?

Tags Beauty, black jar, clay, cleansing, comparison, difference, exfoliate, face, face mask, gift, glam, glamglow, glow, Health, hollywood, mask, mud, pores, review, Sephora, sexy, side by side, skin, skincare, spot, supermud, treatment, white jar, youth, youthmud

Blog Lifestyle

President’s Day | Bonus Star Holiday

Post author By muffinchanel.com
Post date 15 February 2014

If you use your registered Starbucks Rewards Card now through the 18th after 2pm, you’ll receive a bonus star for every purchase!

Tags after 2pm, bonus, holiday, presidents day, rewards card, Star, Starbucks

Blog Lifestyle

Valentine’s Day Love List | Gift Guide

Post author By muffinchanel.com
Post date 9 February 2014

This post may contain affiliate links; all opinions are my own. See Disclosures here

1. Starbucks Gift Card | Starbucks, various denominations

If your Valentine likes Starbucks, gift cards are the way to go. They even have cute, Valentine’s Day themed cards online and in-store. Even just $5 is super sweet to give to school friends, family or a co-worker.

2. Veranda Place Bee Wristlet | Kate Spade, $98

This wristlet is so cute! Pink with bows? You can’t go wrong. It’s great because it can hold your cards & money and be a sort of on-the-go wallet or throw it in your purse to help you stay organized. Perfect for your sister or best friend….or yourself!

3. togoPower Boost Keychain | Photojojo, $40

This keychain holds up to 1.5 hrs of extra battery life for your phone. It’s small and fits on your key ring. This would be great for anyone, even the guy in your life. A boost of power can help you stay connected with your Valentine when they need it most.

4. Valentine’s Day socks | Nordstrom, $10

Everyone loves a cute pair of socks. These pink, heart socks are sweet and cozy. Perfect for your sister or school friends. Tie them up with a ribbon and some candy & you’re good to go!

5. Too Faced Plump Gloss Glow | Sephora, $42

This set from Sephora comes with a mascara, nude lipstick, and a heart shaped pink blush. Very Valentine’s Day appropriate! The blush looks nice and rosy with a shimmer highlighter built in. A great Valentine’s Day gift for the makeup lover in your life.

6. Rue iPhone 5 Case | Marc Jacobs, $48

This iPhone case is so fun and pink! With a black cat with white mascara detail around the eyes, this gift is perfect for your best friend or sister who like trendy things or anything Marc Jacobs. The case bulges in certain areas around the phone so you’ll always have a good grip!

7. “Love Edge” Stud Earrings | Marc Jacobs, $42

Sleek, simple heart earrings are perfect for a casual day or a romantic Valentine’s Day evening. Delicate & dainty and perfect for the girly girl in your life.

8. Hanalei Triangles iPhone 5 Case | Pura Vida Bracelets, $20

This case is fun and beachy. Perfect for your friend who isn’t really into Valentine’s, but you still want to get them something. It has a slightly romantic feel with the layers of colors, but it’s perfect to give year round. Check the site for other fun case options!

9. Heart Compact | Marc Jacobs, $7

This mirrored compact is super cute to give to your teammates, school friends or anyone who would like a heart shaped mirror. At just $7, it’s a cute gift for everyone.

10. Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb Gift Trio | Sephora, $120

My favorite fragrance of all time! Flowerbomb is a super floral scent that just makes you happy when you smell it. This set comes with the fragrance, a shower gel, and a body cream. And if you get it from Sephora with your Beauty Insider card, you’ll earn triple points. This gift is great for a girlfriend/wife.

11. Josie Maran Argan Matchmaker Complexion Kit | Sephora, $68

This set is perfect for your mother, your sister, or anyone who likes makeup/skincare. The set comes with a bottle of the Josie Maran Argan Oil Light, Cheek Gelée, Matchmaker Powder Foundation, and Matchmaker Serum Foundation. It’s limited edition and there are three color options.

12. Dior Creme de Rose Lip Balm | Sephora, $27

Love this lip balm! It’s amazing! Perfect for the bestie or family member in your life who cares about skincare or lip products. This balm will heal chapped, winter lips and can be used as a primer, on its own, or as a treatment. Plus, it’s sheer pink and romantic in its embelished white case.

Blog Creativity

Quick & Easy Valentine’s Day DIY Gift

Post author By muffinchanel.com
Post date 8 February 2014

This post may contain affiliate links; all opinions are my own. See Disclosures here

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner and if you’re looking for a quick and easy DIY gift, look no further. I found this simple Valentine’s Day themed candy jar idea through Pinterest from thefrugalgirls.com, so I thought I’d re-create it as a perfect gift for friends and family.

I love the Valentine’s Day themed M&M’s! Even though they taste the same, all Pink’s and Red’s seem magical. ❤ Anyway, it’s pretty straight forward — separate your M&M’s by color and layer them into your mason jar.

Then, to make it a little extra special, I cut out a few hearts out of the red construction paper and wrote some fun Valentine’s Day themed notes — “I love you” & “You’re sweet”. I slid the hearts into the side of the jar so that they’ll show through the glass.

As an extra detail, I cut a circle out of the construction paper to cover the lid of the mason jar. Then I cut a ‘tag’ out of the construction paper as a To: label and attached it to the jar with some red yarn. Super easy! Just make sure to get a smaller/cuter sized mason jar so the M&M’s can fill it all the way. 🙂

I’ve been wanting to get more into Pinterest, so if you have an account, I’d love to start following you. Post your links in the comments! ❤

Tags #pixlrlove, 2014, construction paper, craft, diy, easy, february 14, gift, gift for her, gift for him, guide, idea, quick, thoughtful, valentine, valentine's day

Blog Health + Beauty

Lush | Mini Haul + Neon Love Soap

Post author By muffinchanel.com
Post date 1 February 2014

This post may contain affiliate links; all opinions are my own. See Disclosures here

I popped into Lush to get a few favorites, but I was also excited to see their Valentine’s Day items. I got the Comforter Bubble Bar (my FAVORITE!), two Sex Bomb Bath Bombs, and a small chunk of the new Neon Love Soap.

The soap is limited edition for Valentine’s Day and is a super pretty reddish-pink color with a white heart running through the middle. The hearts were cut all weird in the blocks at the store, but one of the sales associates was super nice and cut me a piece with a perfect heart! ❤

From Lush “With fresh passion fruit juice to cleanse and soya yogurt to nourish, Neon Love is one we want to use all over our bodies in the bath and shower. A new perfume was blended for this bar, and includes citrusy bergamot, rosewood and spicy cinnamon leaf oil. Hiding inside the huge heart-shaped soap are little white hearts to ensure every slice looks just as beautiful as it smells.”

I really like the way this smells and kind of wish I’d gotten a larger piece. It smells warm and cinnamon-y but not spicy; and sweet and citrus-y; very clean. The scent lingers for a while. Plus, it makes a sweet pink lather which is amazing. It did made my hands feel kind of dry after washing with it & I had to use some hand cream to get rid of the tightness. :/

Have you tried the Neon Lush soap? Or any of the Valentine’s Day items from Lush? What did you think? 🙂

Tags bath, Comforter, Comforter Bubble Bar, haul, lush, lush cosmetics, neon love, Neon Love Soap, Pink, sex bomb, Soap, valentine, valentine's day, Valentine's Day items, vegan

Blog Lifestyle

The First Star Dash of 2014 | Starbucks Rewards

Post author By muffinchanel.com
Post date 28 January 2014

This post may contain affiliate links; all opinions are my own. See Disclosures here

It’s that time again — Star Dash time at Starbucks that is. This Winter Star Dash is a little different than the ones we’ve seen in the past. Rather than earning a $5 or $10 gift card upon reaching your star goal, this time you’ll just earn more stars.

Check your email or your Starbucks app to see if you’ve been selected to participate in this offer. If you don’t have a registered Starbucks card, you can sign up here and start earning stars for your purchases.

The Winter Star Dash is running from now until February ~~9th~~ 11th. If you earn 25 stars, you’ll receive 10 bonus stars, and if you earn 40 stars, you’ll receive 20 bonus stars.

What do you think of this Star Dash? Do you prefer a gift card or bonus stars?

UPDATE: The Star Dash ends on February 11th. And Rewards will be distributed by February 18th.

I am nowhere near completing my Star Dash goal! Hopefully, I get an easier offer next time. How are you doing with your Star Dash? Check where you are by logging into your account. Did you reach your goal?

Tags 2014, my starbucks rewards, star dash, Starbucks, winter star dash

Blog Health + Beauty

Josie Maran Complexion Care Package | Review

Post author By muffinchanel.com
Post date 27 January 2014

This post may contain affiliate links; all opinions are my own. See Disclosures here

I’ve had some time to get familiar with the Josie Maran Complexion Care Package that I got from QVC. This set was such a great value with five full-sized products for under $60.

Argan Tinted Moisturizer

There are four color choices with the Argan Tinted Moisturizer (Fair, Light, Medium, Dark), I picked up the Light 1 color.

The Tinted Moisturizer has SPF 30 and really evens out the skin tone without looking greasy or heavy. Similar to a BB Cream, the Tinted Moisturizer blends best with the fingers. A little bit goes a long way and it settles into the skin to give a nice finished look.

There is a yellow undertone to the Light 1 color I got which works to neutralize redness. Coverage is light and makes skin look dewey which may look over shiny if you have oily skin.

Argan Creamy Concealer Crayon

Your color selection for the Tinted Moisturizer also dictates your Concealer Crayon color in this set. I’ve never used any kind of concealer crayon before, so I was excited to see what this argan-infused one would be like.

I know other concealers I’ve used in the past have seemed drying or chalky; settling into fine lines under my eyes. This concealer is far from that; it’s very creamy and glides on easily. For me, however, it’s a little too creamy. Maybe I’m just using too much, but it seemed to slip all over my under eye area and eventually crease in those fine lines.

It would probably work best with a light setting powder, but if I’m going for a quick, fresh-faced look, I don’t want to have to set everything with a powder.

Infinity Cream Intensive Creamy Oil

There are many uses listed for the Argan Infinity Cream — from smoothing down fly-aways to an intensive hand cream. The Infinity Cream seems to be a more concentrated version of the Argan Oil. It has a Vaseline/petroleum jelly feeling even though it does not contain any of that. The Infinity Cream is all organic and contains 100% pure Argan Oil.

I like to use this cream on my cuticles, knees & elbows, and on my hands. It absorbs nicely and hydrates dry flaky areas.

100% Pure Argan Oil

I love the pure Argan Oil. Click the link ^ for the ways I like to use it. Definitely my favorite product in the kit.

Argan Color Stick in Dreamy Pink

The Argan Color stick is the perfect on-the-go color stick. It’s compact and infused with argan oil to give your skin a nice, healthy rosy glow. Definitely would repurchase this.

Because it’s infused with argan oil, the color stick was quite creamy when applied to the cheeks or lips. It appears bright at first, but it blends nicely into the skin for a natural looking flush.

Have you used any of these Josie Maran products? Let me know what you think! 🙂

Blog Lifestyle

Make your own | Chipotle style Guacamole

Post author By muffinchanel.com
Post date 23 January 2014

This post may contain affiliate links; all opinions are my own. See Disclosures here

You know I love Chipotle, I always get a sofritas burrito with fajita peppers, green & corn salsa, sometimes sour cream, and guacamole. Their guacamole is amazing; no wonder they charge $2 extra!

Looking around online, I found a video of how to make Chipotle’s famous guac!

This recipe served 6 – 10 people (or just me for 2 days. lol. I love guacamole!) You’ll need:

6 large ripe avocados – pitted and peeled. (Don’t skimp on the avocado; get the best you can find!)
3 cups fresh cilantro – chopped
1.5 cups red onion – finely chopped
12 large serrano chilies – seeded and finely chopped
12 tsp lime juice (I used 2 limes)
1.5 tsp salt

And that’s it! This recipe is so easy and tastes so perfect.

Combine all your avocado in a large bowl and lightly mash with a fork, large spoon, or a mashed potato press.

Add your peppers, cilantro, onions, salt, and lime juice and combine/mash together. I prefer my guac to be a little chunkier so I combine all the ingredients lightly.

And ta-da! You’re ready to enjoy the best guacamole EVER!

Tags avocado, best ever, broncos, chipotle, guac, guacamole, lime, make your own, onion, recipe, seahawks, super bowl, vegan, vegetarian, yum

Blog Health + Beauty

Josie Maran Argan Milk | Review

Post author By muffinchanel.com
Post date 20 January 2014

This post may contain affiliate links; all opinions are my own. See Disclosures here

I’ve been incorporating the new Josie Maran Argan Milk into my nightly skincare routine and I’m excited to review it. I love the Josie Maran Argan Oil and I love how Josie Maran Cosmetics uses organic ingredients in all of its products.

Packaging

The Josie Maran Argan Milk comes in a sleek 1oz bottle for $56. Similar to the Josie Maran Argan Oil, the Argan Milk is dispensed through a glass dropper. The construction of the rubber-squeeze end of the dropper is more solid that the older bottles of Argan Oil — the stopper in my little bottle of Argan Oil sometimes pops out of the top :/ But the Argan Milk bottle has a substantial weight and the dropper seems durable much like the new bottles of Argan Oil.

Ingredients

Aqua (Water)** (and) Argania Spinosa (Argan) Kernel Oil* (and) Propanediol** (and) Glyceryl Caprylate** (and) Glyceryl Undecylenate** (and) Phosphatidylglycerol** (and) Sodium Benzoate** (and) Xanthan Gum** (and) Citric Acid**.
*ORGANIC **NATURAL

Essentially, this Argan Milk is just Argan Oil and water. The Argan Milk doesn’t contain any parabens, sulfates, or phthalates. Yay!

Use

Apply 3 -5 drops of the Argan Milk day and night. The applicator is similar to the dropper that comes with the Argan Oil, but the dropper part is slightly more tapered off so you can really control how much is released. It’s recommended that you follow with a few drops of the Josie Maran Argan Oil/Argan Oil Light.

Consistency

The Argan Milk is lightweight, smooth and silky feeling. I try to lightly spread the Argan Milk all over my face with my fingers before pressing it lightly into my skin. The Argan Milk’s silkiness quickly absorbs into your skin and leaves a slightly tacky feeling. The Argan Milk absorbs like a serum, but with a slightly more creamier consistency than a gel-like consistency.

Results

The Argan Milk really preps the skin for the Argan Oil/ Argan Oil Light. It’s quick-absorbing and definitely hydrating. My skin’s texture is more even and those winter dry spots are gone! I’ve actually been using the Argan Milk on the back of my hands as a treatment the last couple of nights and following with the Argan Oil. Even my hands are looking and feeling softer! If you aren’t a fan of the Argan Oil (which is amazing! Try it if you haven’t!), then I still think the Argan Milk would be a good addition to any skincare regimen as a way to get the benefits of Argan Oil without sacrificing your regular moisturizer.

I’ve been using the Argan Milk as a night serum, but I think this would also be great for the day time as well. Again, it’s so light and absorbs quickly, that I think it would work well under makeup. Overall, I love the new Josie Maran Argan Milk. It’s the perfect way to get the added benefits of Argan Oil and long lasting hydration.

❤ Bonus: Even Svetlana loves Argan Milk!

Tags argan milk, argan oil, Beauty, cats, cream, cruelty free, gel, healthy, hydration, josie maran, Josie Maran Argan Oil, josie maran cosmetics, natural, new, organic, paraben free, qvc, review, Sephora, serum, skin, skincare, sulfate free, treatment

Blog Health + Beauty

2014 Nighttime Skincare Routine

Post author By muffinchanel.com
Post date 17 January 2014

This post may contain affiliate links; all opinions are my own. See Disclosures here

One of my resolutions this year has been to wash my face every night. I’m usually really good about it, but we all have had those late nights where you just want to fall into bed rather than washing your face. On nights like that, I would sometimes use the Neutrogena makeup removing face wipes which seemed to get the job done. But this year, there will be no excuse for being lazy and not washing my face.

Your body repairs itself while you are sleeping; how can you expect optimum results when you are leaving a mask of the day’s dirt and bacteria on your face all night? I’m sure everyone’s heard the saying, “The best makeup is good skincare!”

To remove my makeup and cleanse my face, I start with my trusted Clarisonic Mia and Philosophy’s Purity Made Simple cleanser. I recently got the sensitive brush head for the Mia and I am really liking it.

After using the Clarisonic on my face, I’ll use my fingers and some more of the Purity to gently remove my eye makeup/cleanse my eye area.

If I have any blemishes or problem areas, I’ll use a pump of Grease Lightening from Lush. It’s called a cleanser but it works more as a toner or spot treatment for me.

The newest addition to my nighttime skincare routine is the Josie Maran Argan Milk. It works with the Argan Oil to be an intensive hydrating treatment. Full review here.

I use the Josie Maran Argan Oil right behind the Argan Milk — just a few drops for your face and neck. I kind of pat/press it into my skin so it really sinks in. Check out some other ways I useArgan Oil here.

Next up is my under eye area. I find that I don’t really like the feel of a night cream under my eye, but I really love the Lancome Genifique Yeux eye concentrate. It’s like a cooling serum to help de-puff and brighten the eye area. The secret is in the application because the wand has a pivoted “pearl” at the end that helps gently massage the under eye area.

I then seal everything in with my favorite night cream ever — the Lancome Absolue Night Cream. It smells amazing and isn’t too thick or greasy.

Then to moisturize my chest and the rest of my body, I use Josie Maran Whipped Argan Oil. This stuff has been amazing for me! Click for my review. This is the jumbo sized jar from QVC in the unscented version.

And, of course, I couldn’t forget the Dior Creme de Rose lip balm. I use this at night as a lip treatment and, as you can see, I’m going through it pretty quickly. See my full review here.

And that’s it for my nighttime skincare routine! It may seem like a lot, but skincare is important to me. No matter your age, it’s never too early to start really taking care of your skin. What’s your current skincare routine?