Category: brands

Thursday Favourites: April 30th

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Hey y’all!

Happy last day of April — it’s been a long month, but we’re finally almost through! 2020 has certainly been a strange year so far, but hopefully May will bring good news and good weather and we can all start to feel a little normal again.

But back to the topic at hand — today’s product! This week kicks off a bit of a two-part segment I wanted to share on the face wash products I use. I’ve recently gotten into double cleansing and I have to say, I’m really into it. I was always worried before I tried it about it damaging my skin somehow or being too time consuming to keep up with every night. But when I finally took the leap and gave it a shot, all my worries about it melted away — not only did it really not add much time and effort to my skincare routine, but the oil cleanser I decided on was non-striping and so far hasn’t effected my skin negatively in any way.

When I was choosing which cleanser I wanted to use, I decided to go for Shu Uemera’s Anti/Oxi Skin Refining Cleansing Oil. If your going to start double cleansing, the general idea is to choose an oil/balm type cleanser as your first product and a water-based cleanser as your second. This way, the oil-based cleanser can break down any makeup and dirt, keeping them from clogging up your pores. As well, oil cleansers work surprisingly well to balance the oils in your skin, meaning that (unintuitive as it sounds) it works great for those with oily skin as well. From there, you’d use your regular water-based cleanser based on your skin’s specific needs, which will help remove any stubborn remaining particles from your skin and ensure you’ve washed away all the oils from the first cleansing.

I chose Shu Uemura as I’d actually used one of their cleansers before, a couple years ago. It had been recommended to me by someone at Sephora, and while I really liked it, I was always a little unsure if I was using it properly. Double cleansing wasn’t a concept I had heard of at the time, so I used it as my sole face wash. I shied away from using too much product as I was worried about making my skin oily (spoiler alert: it never happened) and ultimately ended up switching to a water-based cleanser a few months later.

However, since I was already familiar with the product and I knew it was one that worked for me, I decided to give it another go. This time, I had a lot more confidence that I was using the product correctly, and so far it’s been working out better than I expected. While I admittedly haven’t actually worn makeup once since social distancing was enacted (yet…I wrote this post about a week in advance of posting and I’m hoping to have some time to practice my makeup skills over the next few days) the few times before that I used this product to remove makeup it seemed to work out well. By the end of my second cleansing, all traces of makeup seemed to have been wiped away. Now, I’ve only gotten to test this cleanser’s makeup removing abilities about three times, but when I try it out some more I’ll be sure to report back and update you all on if it works as well as I remembered.

On top of that, this product has been doing a great job of keeping my skin clear and blemish-free. I have had a very stressful couple of months and even with all my stress and occasionally opting to get right to bed and letting my nighttime routine slide, my skin hasn’t looked much worse for wear. The cleanser itself is super lightweight and rich, so while it does everything that an oil-based cleanser should do it isn’t particularly challenging to wash off and my skin certainly hasn’t gotten any oiler since I began using it. For reference — my skin is somewhat combination, but overall it’s definitely on the drier side, in case you were considering if this product would work for your skin’s specific needs.

If you’ve been looking to try double cleansing out for yourself and think this product sounds right for you, be sure to check out Shu Uemera’s Anti/Oxi Cleansing Oil at Sephora! (They also have five other oil-based cleansers, so if you want to try the brand but are looking for something different based on your skin type, they have plenty of options.)

Are any of you guys fans of double-cleansing? I’d love to hear about what products you used, and what the results were when you tried it. Stay tuned for next week’s post, where I’m going to be sharing my holy grail water-based cleanser, which has been a staple in my skincare routine for over a year now.

Have a great week, you guys! I hope you’re all as excited for May as I am — while life is super unpredictable right now, take some time to write out your goals for the month to help keep you on track! If you’re feeling a little lost on how to do this, feel free to check out my post I shared on bullet journaling and keeping track of your life during Social Distancing!

Much love,

Meredith

Thursday Favourites: April 23rd

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Hey y’all!

Today I wanted to share with you a little product that’s been an absolute lifesaver for me. You guys already know how obsessed I am with FabFitFun, and how I’ve discovered so many products from it that I’ve incorporated into my everyday life and routine. Today, I wanted to share one of those products with you, and why I love it so much.

The product in question is Murad’s Rapid Collagen Infusion, which I received in my spring box back in March. This product immediately got my attention, as collagen is such an important aspect of skincare and I was looking for a holy-grail skincare product to add collagen into my everyday routine. And, spoiler alert! — I finally found it, because this stuff is absolutely dreamy.

First of all, this stuff smells amazing — it has a nice, light scent that I have a bit of trouble placing my finger on. It’s very refreshing, though, and really helps me feel awake when I apply it in the mornings.

But most importantly, this stuff WORKS. I’ll admit that, obviously, I’m not that old, and wrinkles and fine lines aren’t much of an issue for me yet. However, this serum filled any that I had right in and has even helped my dark, puffy under eye area — which you guys all know is something that I’ve been struggling to fix. Not only that, but the lightweight cream formulation of this serum absorbs quickly, leaving your skin feeling fresh, and not greasy like some serums can.

If this sounds like the serum your skin has been needing, you can find it online at Murad here!

As well, if you’ve been wanting to grab a FabFitFun box of your own, click here and use the code SPRINGLOVE for $10 off your first box with my affiliate link!

I hope you’re all having a fantastic week! Drop a comment below with how you’ve been keeping yourself busy with social distancing — I’d love to get some fresh ideas! This week has been huge for me catching up on my blogging, as well as getting back in touch with friends now that my finals are over.

Much love (and stay safe out there!),

Meredith

My Picks: Sephora Sale Spring 2020!

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Photo by Boxed Water Is Better on Unsplash

Hey y’all! Happy Sunday!

This week marked the beginning of Sephora’s Spring sale, and now kind of feels like the perfect time to treat yourself. I don’t know about you guys, but I’ve actually been saving a lot of money ever since Social Distancing was enacted, and it’s been a while since I splurged and got myself something nice. Not only did I need to do a little restock on items I had been running low on, but I branched out and got a couple of new products I’ve had my eye on for a while. Honestly, I’m already a little too excited to try out my new stuff — waiting on a package is 100% more exciting when you’re on lockdown with not much else to do.

If you’re not already familiar with Sephora sales, they often happen around the holidays and offer special rewards for members. The sale kicked off on April 17th for VIB Rouge members offering a 20% discount, with VIB sales starting on the 21st offering 15% off, and will be open to all Beauty Insiders on the 23rd with 10% off basically everything in store. These sales end on May 1st, April 29th and April 27th, respectively. If you’re not a Beauty Insider, fear not — you can sign up anytime, earn points, and it’s totally free!

I figured that I’d use this time to make a little list of products I’d recommend trying right now — some of my all-time faves that I feel would be perfect for stay-at-home enjoyment. This list ranges from skincare, self-care to spring makeup that you can play and experiment with to combat boredom during this time (and just about everything in between!).

Watermelon Glow Sleeping Mask by Glow Recipe

This mask is absolutely perfect for giving your skin a little extra TLC while working from home. First of all, it is SO lovely to apply — it’s lightweight and smells amazing (it’s made with real watermelon, and you can definitely tell). But past that, it’s gentle exfoliating and hydrating effects help to clear your skin and make it glass-skin level clear and glowy. If you don’t really have a solid skincare routine but have looking to get into the habit, now is the perfect time! If you make a routine now, it’ll be so much easier to keep up your routine when your schedule starts picking back up. Plus, you’ll come out from it all and head back to work with flawless skin, ready to take on anything the world throws at you!

You can buy this product online at Sephora here! (As well, be sure to check out my personal review of Glow Recipe’s Watermelon Glow Sleeping Mask)

Pastel Obsessions Eyeshadow Palette by Huda Beauty

One of the activities I’m most looking forward to now that I’m done my studies is practicing and experimenting with makeup. This is especially true when it comes to eyeshadow — it’s not something I wear often in my everyday makeup, and I’ve been dying to practice and improve my skills both in terms of everyday looks, but growing my confidence when it comes to more experimental looks as well. These palettes are SO cute and perfect for spring, and are something I’ve been dying to try for a while. Huda Beauty’s Obsessions Palettes, as you guys already know, are some of my all-time favourites, so I know the quality of these palettes is going to be next-level, and I can’t wait to see what they can do.

You can buy this product online at Sephora here! (As well, be sure to check out my personal review of Huda Beauty’s Obsessions Palettes — post on these ones in particular coming soon!)

Mini Anastasia Beverly Hills Spring Lip Gloss Set

Credit: @anastasiabeverlyhills on Instagram

This is something I purchased for myself this Sephora sale, as they were just recently released. I’m obsessed with these colours and when I saw them, I knew they were the perfect treat for myself as a pick-me-up during these stressful times. I’ve tried ABH’s lipglosses before and the quality of them is insane — they’re so pigmented and beautiful. These are perfect for a cute, nude spring-time look, and I can’t wait to give them a try.

You can buy this product online at Sephora here!

Crushed Amethyst Exfoliating Body Polish by Herbivore Botanicals

I’ve already made about a billion posts mentioning this product, so you guys all know by this point that it’s one of my all-time favourites. I’m going to refrain from saying TOO much right now, as I’m FINALLY going to be writing a proper review on this product soon (I know — it’s about time!). All I’m going to say right now is that this really is the best exfoliator I’ve ever used (and I have used so, so many). It smells heavenly, exfoliates gently but thoroughly, and is infused with all kinds of oils to leave your skin feeling as smooth and soft as it ever has when you’re done. 10/10, perfect way to treat yourself during these times.

You can buy this product online at Sephora here! (As well, be sure to check out my personal review of Herbivore Botanical’s Crushed Amethyst Exfoliator here — it’ll be getting a full post of it’s own soon, I promise!)

Treatment Masque by Ouai

I’d highly recommend this product if you’re looking to come out of Social Distancing with the shiniest, healthiest hair of your life. Similarly to exfoliators, I’ve also used many, many hair masks in my life — they were a real lifesaver back when I was bleaching my hair regularly. I’ve come to learn what makes a hair mask just “good” compared to what makes it great — and this hair mask is FANTASTIC. My hair is healthier than it’s ever been — its so smooth and shiny that it basically reflects light and really shows the depth of my hair colour. It achieves all this without being heavy, too — after all my time using this mask, I’ve never once accidentally ended up with greasy hair or heavy roots by accident. This stuff, no joke, has totally revived my hair and I couldn’t be happier with it.

You can buy this product online at Sephora here! (As well, be sure to check out my personal review of Ouai’s Treatment Masque)

Sugar Hydrating Lip Balm by Fresh

I know I just posted a review of this product, but it really is the best. It’s just so lovely and smooth, and it works wonders on chapped lips. If you’re looking for the perfect lip balm, this is it. And if you were looking for the perfect time to buy it, the time is now! After all, this sale is only on for a few weeks — and this is the perfect little self-care item to avoid dry lips when you’re cooped up in your home all day long.

You can buy this product online at Sephora here! (As well, be sure to check out my personal review of Fresh’s Sugar Hydrating Lip Balm)

Pillow Talk Instant Eyeshadow Palette by Charlotte Tilbury

You guys already know how much I love this palette. It is THE perfect palette for fresh, glowy everyday looks. It comes with four pre-set looks, that range from every day to nighttime looks. Whether you’re looking to experiment with makeup in your newfound new time, or just want to stock up on staples while this sale is on, this is the perfect time to get your hands on this limited-edition palette.

You can buy this product online at Sephora here! (As well, be sure to check out my personal review of Charlotte Tilbury’s Pillow Talk Palette)

Lover Rubber Face Mask by Dr. Jart+

If you’re planning an upcoming spa night, these masks are a must. First of all, the rubber mask-element are SO fun. But past that, these really are the best single-use masks I’ve ever tried. They legitimately change your skin within a single use and leave your skin looking brand-new. If your skin is looking a little worse for wear lately, or you’re feeling stressed and just need a little pick-me-up — invest in one of these and take a night off for self-care. Trust me, it’ll be worth it.

You can buy this product online at Sephora here! (As well, be sure to check out my personal review of Dr. Jart’s Lover Rubber Masks)

Solid Brush and Sponge Cleaner Mini by Sephora

If you’re looking to do a little spring cleaning right now and get your life together during this time off, this is the perfect purchase to grab during this sale. This brush cleaner, which is only $10.50 (!!!) will leave your brushes looking brand new. Not only is it a crazy-effective cleanser, but it doesn’t leave behind any residue and has never damaged any of my brushes in the least. Plus, it comes with a little silicone cleaning pad to help scrub out every last little bit of makeup and grime out of your brushes and leaving them in perfect condition.

You can buy this product online at Sephora here! (As well, be sure to check out my personal review of Sephora’s Solid Brush Cleaner)

I hope you’re all holding up well in quarantine, and have plenty of tasks and hobbies to keep yourself busy! While, yes, this is the perfect time to catch up on work and be productive, its also a time to relax and take time to enjoy yourself. If you’ve been looking to unwind, take care of your skin and practice your makeup I hope you found plenty of inspo from this list! Just remember, it’s important to be working towards goals, but it’s also just as important to take care of yourself. Don’t worry about using this time to constantly be working on all of your tasks — it’s okay to take a day off to relax, unwind, and do absolutely nothing at all. This is an unprecedented and stressful time — don’t let anyone tell you how you should be spending it! Just do what’s best for you and be sure that you’re taking care of your mental health.

Love you all!

Xo,

Meredith

Thursday Favourites: April 16th (+Some Exciting News!)

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Hey everyone!

Sooooooo, I’m finally back and I have some exciting news! As of yesterday, I’ve officially completed my last final and finished up my Undergrad!!! It’s been a long time coming, but I’m so excited to be done and I’m ready to move on to the next phase of my life. However, since life as we know it is kind of on hold right now, you guys are now getting my full, undivided attention!

I hope you guys are all ready, because I have SO many posts I’ve been wanting to share with you all over the last month or so that I just haven’t had time to write out. I have a feeling being stuck inside all the time with no job or schoolwork is going to get kind of tiring after a while, but right now I honestly couldn’t be more excited for this break.

This week, I wanted to share with you guys one of my all-time FAVOURITE lip balms — Fresh’s Sugar Hydrating Lip Balm! I first bought the Coconut one around April 2018, and even with regular use it lasted me forever. Ever since, I’ve only just purchased a new flavour even though I’ve been wanting to try more for a while now. These balms look pretty small in person, but they last forever which was a pleasant surprise (especially since they are a little pricey — but very worth it, I promise!).

But apart from the value for your money, these lip balms have lots of other bonuses. Personally, I do like Fresh’s Sugar Lip Treatments — which I feel like are much more well-known — in my opinion, these ones are WAY better. Not only are they crazy soft and smooth, they’re incredibly lightweight. They have the same silky smooth quality the Sugar Lip Treatments do, but they’re not as heavy and you basically don’t even notice this balm once you’ve put it on. However, most importantly — these balms really do an amazing job of hydrating your lips and keeping them ultra-soft. Every time I’ve run into problems with my lips being chapped, no matter how bad they get, this balm has it fixed QUICK. Even today, for instance, after a couple long weeks of stress and being inside I’ve been feeling kinda dried out and my lips were super chapped. I applied this balm right after I took the photo and right before I starting writing this post out, and they already feel just about perfect — which is crazy considering how chapped they were just before. There’s a lot of lip balms out there that don’t really do much for helping dry and damaged lips (or even dry them out intentionally so you’ll use them up quickly and buy more) but rest assured, these balms SERIOUSLY work.

If you’ve been looking for the perfect new lip balm to try, you can check out the Lime-Mint (and all the other new flavours) as well as the Coconut (a classic favourite of mine) online at Sephora!

I hope you’re all doing well and social distancing, hang in there! Spring is coming and the weather is just going to keep getting better from here, so hopefully you have access to outside and can go enjoy it.

Love you all,

Meredith

Thursday Favourites: March 26th

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Hey y’all!

Hope everyone’s social distancing is going well! I finally feel like I’ve adjusted to it all, in fact, I’m actually starting to be super productive in studying for my finals! The first few days were definitely a bit weird and anxiety-inducing, but with time I feel like it’s starting to become normal and even a little relaxing. (If you’re still struggling to adjust, be sure to read my 15 Tips To Survive Social Distancing!).

I was hoping to keep up the de-stressing vibes in today’s post, so I decided to share a product I adore for self-care nights and when I need to relax a little — Lush’s Sleepy Body Lotion!

I received this lotion as a gift a while back, but it kind of helped rekindle my love of Lush’s products. Not only are their products top-notch quality, but they’re all formulated to be 100% vegetarian, handmade with ethically-sourced materials, and without the use of animal testing. Basically, you should never feel guilty when you’re splurging on their products because they were made safely and with care, all while causing as little harm to others.

I personally love this moisturizer for when my skin needs some extra TLC. This stuff is THICK, but it does an amazing job of keeping your skin hydrated and soft. While I personally find it a little heavy for everyday use, I know others (such as my friend Erin) absolutely love it for day-to-day. (You can catch it on her feed all the time!). For myself, this lotion is my go-to on a self-care night. First of all, the lavender scent is just heavenly — it always relaxes me and puts me in the mood to get a good night’s sleep. But on top of that, the ingredients in this lotion help to make it really penetrate into your skin — it really is the perfect final step in a self-care night before bed to help you wake up feeling your best.

If this sounds like the uber-relaxing body lotion you’ve been looking for, you can check it out on Lush’s site here!

I hope you guys are all doing well and staying safe — be sure to plan out a self-care night this week to help yourself relax! We’re going to get through this, and in the meantime, there are ways to learn to love this time off!

Xo,

Meredith