Tag: review

Tarte Amazonian Clay CC Primer + Airbrush Foundation | Review

Post author By muffinchanel.com
Post date 23 April 2014

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

I picked up some Tarte goodies during the VIB Rouge Spring Social at Sephora and I’ve had some time to use the products to give a proper review. I purchased the Tarte Amazonian Clay Airbrush Foundation in the shade Light-Medium Neutral, the CC Primer in the shade Light, and the Airbuki brush.

Routine

I have been using the CC Primer and the Airbrush Foundation everyday I wear makeup since I purchased them. I start by prepping my face with sunscreen (usually the Josie Maran Daily Argan Moisturizer) and then I’ll use the Tarte CC Primer as a base for the powder foundation. I lightly buff on 1-2 layers of the Airbrush Foundation and I’m out the door. It’s all really fast and easy.

CC Primer

This primer is different than others I’ve used. It comes in a chubby tube and twists up like a lipstick. It’s more like a light foundation/cover stick than a silky primer. The POREfessional by Benefit, for example, is super silky and blurs away the appearance of pores. The Tarte CC Primer is divided into four sections, two with the “foundation” color, one with a green color corrector, and one with a pinkish purple color corrector. I just apply the CC Primer directly to my face and blend it out with my fingers.

The CC Primer evens out your complexion, neutralizes hyper pigmentation and gives sheer/light coverage. The CC Primer is perfect alone for running a quick trip to the grocery store, yoga day, or just a “no-makeup” makeup look. The primer makes a perfect base for the Airbrush Foundation.

Airbrush Foundation + Airbuki Brush

First off, the Airbuki brush is super soft! It’s amazing and I haven’t seen any hairs falling out or anything. It’s the perfect applicator for this Airbrush foundation but probably would work well with other types of mineral foundations as well.

The Airbrush Foundation comes in a sleek container with a bamboo screw off lid. What is unique about this powder foundation is the mesh liner/netting between the mouth of the jar and the product.

The lid actually has a little knob that, when screwed closed, keeps the mineral powder from escaping the netting. It’s great because it really helps control how much powder comes out and prevents you from wasting. Unlike other mineral foundations, you don’t need to invert the powder through the sifter and swirl/tap your brush to load the powder. The Tarte Airbuki is made to fit perfectly over the mesh lining. You simply press your brush into the net and get the perfect amount of powder on your brush; not swirling or tapping needed.

This design is awesome, especially for travel since you won’t have to worry about all the powder getting out from under the liner. I like to gently press the powder into my face and then buff it out to blend. The mineral powder gives a beautiful airbrushed finish and feels lightweight.

My skin is dry/normal and when I first used the Airbrush Foundation, I noticed that the powder clung to the drier parts of my face and made the area look flaky and bad. That’s where the CC Primer really helps me — the Primer either makes those areas less dry or creates such a smooth base that I haven’t had that problem since targeted those dry areas more with the Primer.

The Airbrush Foundation is long-wearing although I haven’t won it more than 10 hours. I do find though, that it starts to look even better as the day goes on. I love the fresh-faced airbrushed look it gives after first application, but as the day wears on, it seems to really melt into your skin and gives me a clean, healthy glow. I love it.

The foundation is build able up to medium coverage, but even at that medium level, your skin still looks like skin and not a cake mask. I have freckles and I really want my foundation to even out my complexion and make me look radiant but not cover my freckles and make me look unnatural. This Tarte Airbrush Foundation does just that! I definitely recommend this to everyone!

Tags airbuki, Amazon, amazonian clay, argan, bare minerals, Beauty, best, better, brush, cc cream, cc primer, clay, compare, daily spf, dry, flaky, foundation, hair, Hydrating, josie maran, liquid, makeup, mineral, nails, paraben free, review, Sephora, sephora haul, skin, skincare, summer foundation, tarte, tarte beauty, Tarte cosmetics, vegan

Blog Health + Beauty

Argan Summer Hydrating Skin Savers + Argan Daily Moisturizer REVIEW

Post author By muffinchanel.com
Post date 18 April 2014

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

This super cute set by Josie Maran is perfect for summer! The Argan Summer Hydrating Skin Savers set from QVC comes with the new formulation of the Daily Argan Moisturizer, the Light version of the signature Argan Oil, and the Argan Color Stick in the color Glow.

The light version of the Argan oil is super light and absorbs quickly into the skin. It’s described as having a semi matte finish and, compared to the regular version, it is more matte, but it’s still an oil. Since it is so light, it would be perfect for day time, wear in warmer months, or if you have oiler skin.

I love the Argan Color sticks; my favorite color is Dreamy Pink. This Color Stick is a beautiful pink with some silver shimmer/glitters. It can go on lips and cheeks and is a perfect travel item because of its multiple uses.

The new formulation of the Argan Daily Moisturizer is great and with SPF 47, perfect for summer or wearing year round. If you are a fan of the old formulation of the Daily Moisturizer, but aren’t sure about trying the new formulation, here is a quick comparison:

At first glance, both formulations look the same and smell similarly. Both are slightly more runny than traditional sunscreens. The new formulation is more like a traditional sunscreen in that, as you rub it in, it leaves a white residue. Both formulations absorb quickly, but you have to rub the new formulation in a little longer for it to absorb completely. This may be because it has a higher SPF (47 vs. 40).

The new formulation actually seems to hydrate the skin more than the older version and it smells great. I feel like it gives more sun protection and helps prep my skin for makeup. I love the new formulation and this amazing gift set!

Blog Lifestyle

Erin Condren Life Planner | Review

Post author By muffinchanel.com
Post date 5 April 2014

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

I’m so excited to do this first impression/review for the 2014 Erin Condren Life Planner!!

I use my phone’s calendar and reminders to help me keep track of everything, but I find that I’m more organized when I’m writing things down. It helps me remember things and it’s nice to be able to see everything all mapped out.

I’d been looking for a cute planner that I could be excited about writing in and considered getting one of the Kate Spade agendas like my sister has. KateSpade.com was only selling the filofax-style refills and not the actual agenda to use with them. I was a little bummed and checked around on amazon and ebay with nothing I was looking for.

But in my search, I started hearing more about the Erin Condren Life Planners and I thought I’d give it a try. I went to the website and clicked the Life Planner section (there’s all sorts of stationary, wedding planners, and teacher planners too!). There was a choice of “Classic Edition” or the “Gold Edition” and I chose Classic. There are so many fun, bright covers to choose from and you can even customize and add pictures, change colors, or fonts.

Planners are usually $50, but since it’s later in the year, they’re only $30 now! If that still seems like a lot for a planner, you can get an extra $10 off by creating an account through my referral. This is a great way to try out the Life Planners and see if it’ll work for you!

I chose the Charcoal Party Pops Life Planner and customized it to say MuffinChanel. I selected to have my Planner start in April since I knew I wouldn’t be using the months past. I ordered the planner on March 17 and it arrived on March 25. The waiting was the hardest part because I was very excited to start using it!

*UPDATE: The new 2014/2015 Life Planners are out. Check out my review & comparison.

The planner arrived bubble wrapped in this cute box with bright pink tissue paper and some fun sample stickers. I also ordered the three pack of elastic bands to keep the planner closed + they look extra fun.

I love the way the customization turned out. The cover is laminated and it feels pretty thick which is great. The spiral binding feels super strong and won’t bend like normal notebook binding. The planner measures 7.25″ x 9.25″ and can fit nicely in my purse.

The inside of the Life Planner is standard for any style cover you choose. There is a ruler/bookmark that you can pop in and out of the spiral binding to mark your place.

I really like the way the planner is laid out. You can look at the month view at the start of each new month and then a weekly view after that. The week view starts on a Monday and each day is mapped out vertically into “morning”, “day”, and “night” sections. There is space on the side for notes and goals and space on the bottom for anything from lists to meal plans, to exercise, thoughts/inspiration, or whatever you want.

There are laminated tabs for each month and section,

and a cute folder pocket in the back as well as a thick, large zip lock pouch.

There are twenty pages in the back for notes and colorful stickers (blank and labeled with things like “date night”, “doctor’s appt”, and “birthday”) to help you stay organized. It’s just a super fun planner that encourages you to use it with its intuitive layout and beautiful design.

I absolutely love mine! The only thing I would like to see improve in the planner is the paper thickness. Since you’re using both sides of the paper, you will be able to see the writing through to the next page. I usually use the fine point Sharpie felt tipped pens, and I don’t have any bleed through, but I would prefer not to see through to the other side. ❤

Definitely check out erincondren.com if you’re looking for a new planner. And don’t forget to use this link to make your account for $10 off 🙂

**UPDATE** May 4, 2014: Planners are only $20 now! And with the link, ^ you’ll get $10 off! So awesome!! Check it out!

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Blog Health + Beauty

FRESH Sugar Lip Polish | Review

Post author By muffinchanel.com
Post date 4 April 2014

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

I picked up the Fresh Sugar Lip Polish at the Spring Social event last Sunday at Sephora. I’ve been using it every night and have noticed a difference in my lips already!

I prefer this lip scrub over the Lush ones because the scent/flavor is better and because it is more hydrating. I have the Bubblegum and Mint Julips variations of the Lush sugar scrubs but I stopped using them because I didn’t really like the scent anymore. I never liked the Bubblegum & Mint Julips was ok, but it was weird to me to smear chocolate-mint flavor on my lips. The FRESH Lip Scrub is a plain, sweet brown sugar scent; very neutral and clean.

The Lush lip scrubs are more abrasive than the Lip Polish from FRESH. I always felt like they were really getting off the dry flakes, but they seemed to make my lips drier. I’d follow with a nice balm but the next day my lips would be peeling and uncomfortable; it was a horrible cycle. The FRESH Lip Polish is so much better! The sugar pieces seem finer and there are oils built into the scrub. So, I feel like it’s gently buffing away and dry or rough areas while hydrating at the same time.

My lips have been in better condition anyway since I began using the Dior Creme de Rose Balm. But now using the FRESH Lip Polish in conjunction with Creme de Rose, my lips feel soft and amazing. I gently rub the Lip Polish on my lips and then let the sugar sit for a couple of minutes and just wipe it away with a tissue. I then follow with the Creme de Rose as usual and wake up with happy lips.

You don’t have to use the Lip Polish every day…probably once to two times a week would be fine. It’s a nice way to pamper yourself and help your lips to be soft and hydrated! There are no parabens, sulfates, synthetic dyes, petrochemicals, phthalates, GMOs, or triclosan in this scrub, so your lips will be happy and healthy!

Tags Bubblegum, chocolate, comparison, dry, flakey, fresh, haul, hydrated, lip, lips, lush, lush cosmetics, lush sugar, mint, mint julips, review, scrub, Sephora, sephora haul, soft, spring social, sugar, sugar scrub, vs.

Blog Lifestyle

Photojojo Lens for iPhone and Android

Post author By muffinchanel.com
Post date 2 April 2014

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

I love taking pictures! I have a point and shoot camera that I like to use for blog pictures, but lately I’ve been using my iPhone since I always have it with me and it’s easy to quickly take & edit a picture. Check out my most recent Instagram pics on the side. —————->

And with these lenses that I got for my birthday last year, I can take some really cool photos.

I have the wide/macro lens, telephoto lens, and a fisheye lens & they just stick with a magnet to a small ring around the camera lens on my phone.

The lenses just pop on and off to change them out, but the magnet is strong enough to keep it in place as you compose your picture. I keep the lenses in a small pouch in my purse, so it can be a little awkward to try and whip out a lens for some split second photo op. But to me, it’s just like changing the lens of a DSLR. When I’m having a photoshoot (of some flowers, or my newest makeup, or pretty scenery), I definitely use these lenses to get the best shot!

Macro (my favorite)

Fisheye

Wide

Telephoto

You can get these lenses online. They have two new lenses (super fisheye and polarizer) that come with the complete set for $99. Or you can buy each lens individually — they range from $15-$30. I love them!

Tags agenda, android, blog photos, camera lens, dslr, erin condren, fisheye, fisheye lens, how to, instagram, iPhone, lens, lenses, life planner, macro, muffinchanel, photo, photographer, photojojo, photos, Pictures, potd, review, telephoto, telephoto lens, wide

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

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 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 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?

Blog Health + Beauty

DIOR Crème de Rose Smoothing Plumping Lip Balm | REVIEW

Post author By muffinchanel.com
Post date 27 December 2013

CREME DE ROSE PACKAGING

muffinchanel-dior-creme-de-rose-lip-balm-smoothing-plumping-2-1024x768 — This post may contain affiliate links; all opinions are my own. See Disclosures here.

The Dior Creme de Rose lip balm comes in a .25oz white, circular pot inside of a small box. The white pot is quite sleek and feels substantial but not overly heavy. There is a nice filigree around the edges of the lid of the pot and the ‘CD’ initials are engraved in the center. Very simple but it has a quality feel. The lid twists on/off and when you first open it, there is a thin protective layer of plastic covering the balm.

There’s always the concern of potted balms not being hygienic because you’re dipping your fingers into the same pot and then smearing it on your lips, but I think it’s fine as long as you’re keeping your hands clean. You really should avoid touching your face at all unless your hands are clean but sometimes that’s just not practical. In the end, I’m more concerned with the results, so back to the review!

ROSE SCENT

The rose scent is amazing; not synthetic. I love roses and this smells just like the flower, but it’s subtle. I know some people aren’t a fan of rose scents so this may not be the product for you. The scent does, however, seem to wear off after 15-20 minutes.

BALM TEXTURE

The balm is light pink but is sheer on the lips. When you open the pot, the surface of the balm is quite firm; it’s like a barrier on the top because the balm is more creamy once you break through that layer. I don’t recommend just ramming your finger through the top layer though. Just keep using it like you’d use any balm, lightly rubbing your finger over the top. Otherwise, you’ll just end up wasting product and creating an unattractive crater in the balm.

The balm is thick, but not sticky or greasy. It feels smooth and silky on the lips — less waxy than Chapstick, but thicker and creamier than Rosebud Salve.

APPLICATION

You can use the Creme de Rose balm as a treatment — applying a thicker layer at night to the lips and area around the lips. When I wake up, my lips are always soft and feel hydrated; it really soaks into the lips.

Use as an everyday balm. Creme de Rose has SPF 10, so your newly soft lips will be protected from the UV rays. The balm penetrates deep down into your lips so you don’t need to reapply often to get that moisturized feeling.

Or you can use the balm as a primer for your lipstick or lipgloss. I like to use the Benetint lip stain on my lips and then apply the Creme de Rose on top. My lips feel great, but I have a festive red shining through without having to think about reapplying color throughout the night.

MY RESULTS

I’ve been loving this balm! During these winter months, my lips have been smooth and soft which is amazing for me. My lips were always peeling or cracking before and I definitely didn’t help the situation by peeling the skin; gross, I know. My lips seemed to be really sensitive too. I’d been on the hunt for a hydrating/healing lip product and used all types of drugstore products, even medicated products, from Blistex to BabyLips with only temporary relief. So, the Creme de Rose lip balm definitely makes good on the “smoothing” claim.

As far as “plumping” goes, I don’t see my lips looking fuller, but I do feel that slight tingling feeling (very slight) that you feel with those plumping lip glosses. If anything, I can see how a healthier, more moisturized lip could appear fuller and plump.

I recommend Dior Creme de Rose to anyone who has dry, chapped lips or someone just looking for a nice hydrating lip treatment. I’ll continue to use it for many years to come.

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Tags balm, Beauty, creme de rose, Dior, Dior Creme de Rose lip balm, face, lip, Lip Balm, lips, makeup, packaging, plumping, review, rose, Sephora, skin, smoothing

Blog Health + Beauty

GLAMGLOW SUPERMUD Review

Post author By muffinchanel.com
Post date 3 November 2013

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

There is a lot of hype around the GLAMGLOW SUPERMUD clearing treatment mask; I’ve heard everyone rave about it. I wanted to give it a try but at $69 a jar, I wanted to see if I could find a better deal.

You can buy the mask from Amazon for $37! But it seemed a little too good to be true, so I opted to buy the mask from Sephora (still slowly working my way to VIB Rouge…). You can buy the single cleansing mask for $69 OR you can buy it in a couple of kits that have bonus gifts HERE for the same price. Obviously the gift set is the best value, but I still didn’t want to pay $69, so I used a gift card I had and a 20% friend and family coupon. I ended up paying about $30 which felt like an acceptable price for this “miracle mask”. But does the SUPERMUD live up to the hype?

Packaging

This kit was packaged nicely in a pink box that showcased both the SUPERMUD (1.2oz) and the YOUTHMUD (.5oz) . The box does a jacob’s ladder kind of fold that inverts the box so that blue packaging is revealed. Kind of neat; I guess if you’re giving the mask as gift and want to “customize” the packaging.

The actual jars are heavy and have a quality feel. I opened both jars and the black jar was sealed with a foil, but the white jar didn’t have a seal. In fact, there was mud coming up around the edges a little bit too, as if it had been opened. I read online that others have gotten the mud without a seal too, so maybe the white jar doesn’t come sealed? :/ It seemed odd, but the box the jars were in was sealed and the jar seemed “full/unused” so I just went with it.

SUPERMUD

The mud is dark and has a slightly minty smell — minty like the goo they use to take a mold of your teeth at the dentist, not the good kind of minty like breath mints. It’s not awful; don’t worry. There are small chunks of green tea leaves in the mask and it’s slightly watery. I think this mask would dry out easily if left open for longer than necessary.

Application

I stirred up the mask with a plastic stick before using. I used a flat makeup brush to apply the mask, avoiding my lips and eye areas. Since the mask is kind of watery, I didn’t need to apply too much to get coverage. Plus, I didn’t want to waste any or use more than necessary, so I just painted on a thin layer.

Tags face, glamglow, mask, review, Sephora, skincare, supermud, youth mud

Blog Health + Beauty

MARC JACOBS BEAUTY | Genius Gel Super-Charged Foundation REVIEW

Post author By muffinchanel.com
Post date 15 October 2013
2 Comments on MARC JACOBS BEAUTY | Genius Gel Super-Charged Foundation REVIEW

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

Back in August, I told you about my Sephora haul where I picked up the MARC JACOBS BEAUTY Genius Gel Super-Charged Foundation for my birthday. I’ve had a couple of months to use the product and I’m ready to give a review!

First off, there is NO SPF in this foundation and I am all about protecting my skin from the sun’s UV rays. I’ll use a sunscreen (usually Neutrogena’s dry touch SPF) as a moisturizer before applying the foundation.

Cost

$48 for 1oz. Kind of pricy, I think, for what you really are getting.

Packaging

The foundation comes in a sleek glass bottle with a shiny black cap that removes to reveal a pump dispenser. I always prefer a pump because it allows me to control the amount of foundation I use and it’s more hygienic than an open bottle or compact. The bottle is very substantial, and I’m sure that it’s part of that high price tag, but it’s heavy and kind of bulky if you were to travel with it.

Consistency

The formula really is different than other liquid foundations. The “gel” is almost smooth like a primer. It’s still runny like a liquid, but thicker and very light weight. The gel does make it nice to apply though and a little goes a long way. One pump can give me light coverage for my face and neck.

Tags buildable, cosmetics, coverage, dry, face, flawless, foundation, gel, Gel Super-Charged Foundation, genius, genius gel, haul, jacobs, make up, makeup, marc, marc jacobs, medium, oily, review, routine, Sephora, sheer, skin, stippling, vib, wash

Blog Health + Beauty

Aveeno Clear Complexion vs. Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream

Post author By muffinchanel.com
Post date 7 July 2013

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

Just a quick comparison of these two drugstore BB creams — the Aveeno Clear Complexion BB Cream and the Maybelline Dream Cream BB Cream.

Both BB Creams have a Broad Spectrum SPF 30. The Aveeno BB Cream is around $15 at drugstores and the Maybelline BB Cream is less expensive at around $9.

I had started using the Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream and really liked it. Application is easy and it gives medium to light coverage. The finish is slightly greasy, so I set it with a translucent powder and it lasts all day.

When I ran out of the Maybelline, I decided to give the Aveeno Clear Complexion BB Cream a try. The formula is much thicker than the Maybelline and it seems more dense. I prefer the pump on the Aveeno bottle; seems more sanitary. But the first pump of product always pushed out a clump of product that had dried and hardened inside the tip of the spout; gross. I’d find myself squirting out a pump onto a tissue just to get rid of the clump and wasting all that product.

Application of the Aveeno BB Cream was “smeary”. I’m not sure if it was my sunscreen underneath, or just the product itself, but it was always streaky on me. I’d set it with the translucent powder and it’d be fine, but only after blending/rubbing it off with my fingers. I’d find my skin looking shiny near the end of the day and my skin is never greasy.

So, I’ve switched back to my trusted Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream. It looks kind of scary-orange out of the bottle, but it blends into the skin quite nicely as an alternative to foundation.

Let me know what BB Creams you like. I’m interested in some high end ones as well.

Tags Aveeno, BB Cream, Maybelline, review