Review: Befine Warming Clay Mask

I've been getting in to face masks recently and tried Befine products when they were on HauteLook. I got the warming clay mask to try out.

 

From the website:

 

Warming Clay Mask provides an energizing detox for your skin. It's self-warming formula heats on contact as the natural clay works to purify and refine. Packed with powerful anti oxidants, enzymes and humectants, Warming clay Mask soothes as it infuse your skin with ingredients to nourish and protect.

Benefits: Deep Cleans and detoxifies, leaving skin fresh and radiant. Hydrates so skin looks smoother and softer.
Gives skin a boost of age fighting anti oxidants. Helps stabilize free radicals to keep skin looking young.
Help make-up go on and stay on better.(This is natural benefit of any mask) smoothies and heals the skin

An Instant Facial Detox That Heals Your Skin!

Use twice weekly for skin that is beautifully radiant and soft to the touch. Apply to clean, damp skin avoiding the delicate eye area. Leave on for 5-10 minutes, remove with the Be fine Gentle Cleanser. Follow with Toner and appropriate moisturizer.

 

Review:

 

The product is very hard to squeeze out because it's so thick! I usually moisten my face and then slowly spread the product on to my face a section at a time. If you don't moisten your face enough, the product does not have the warming effect. The product is somewhat grainy and pretty hard to spread as well. I leave it on for ~5 minutes (didn't really feel anything) and once I rinse it off, it leaves a really thick residue layer that I do not enjoy. It doesn't feel like my skin is any different and I really don't like the layer that it leaves behind. I've tried using a toner afterwards but the residue remains until the next day. 

First Impressions: Tieks by Gavrieli

I must not be in the know since I've been holed up with the baby ~ but as soon as I re-entered back in to the working world, everyone has been talking about Tieks by Gavrieli! I have to stand for most of my working day and am an avid flats wearer so was definitely intrigued by these shoes!

Tieks \\, noun. The most versatile designer flats in the world. Made of the finest Italian leathers and designed to fold and fit in a purse. Wearable all day, every day.

 

Tieks is an online only bou-tiek so it makes ordering a little bit difficult since you can't try or even see before you buy. The sizes come in whole sizes only so if you're in-between, you're advised to order up. According to their website, they run true to size. One of the hardest parts about ordering Tieks (besides the price ~ ranges $165-$295!) is deciding which color to go with!!

 

I decided to go with Ballerina Pink and Metallic Pewter since they're a fairly neutral color. 

 

Ordering: It's a pretty simple process going through their website!

 

Shipping: The website says 2-4 day shipping (especially since we're both on the West Coast). However, my order took about 2 weeks to arrive. I had to contact them to ask where my package was and was told there was a delay with their shipping department.

 

Packaging: I'm a sucker for beautiful packing and Tieks brings it up a notch with their "Tiffany-Blue" like boxes. The flower is perfect for my little one to wear as a headband! I've heard that many people get a handwritten note with their order but I did not. I did order several pairs for my coworkers as well so maybe I lost out on that extra personal touch because of my large order.

 

Customer Service: They're also known for their customer service and when corresponding with them, it really felt like I was conversing with a friend since their emails are also filled with emoticons! Nice touch! When my package arrived, I was missing one item and they were able to resolve it in a reasonable amount of time.

 

1st Impressions: I tried on the ballerina pink shoes first and was definitely impressed by the quality. The leather was buttery soft and the soles were nice and thick and looks like they'll last! They were fairly comfortable when I tried them on with no major pinching or rubbing. I did notice that the leather is pretty thin in that you can see where your toes are in the shoe. If you look closely at the picture above, you can tell where my toes are! Not a huge fan of that look but it's definitely more obvious with the lighter color flats. I do like the fact that there is little to no toe cleavage!

 

1st Day: I was not so smart when it came to wearing my Tieks for the first day . . . I was rushing to get dressed for work in the morning and thought since my Tieks were pretty comfy when I tried them on at home, I'll go ahead and wear them to work! I put on my metallic pewter pair and instantly noticed that this pair did not feel like my pink pair! The pewter pair had thicker leather (you can't see your toes as visibly in the shoe) so it wasn't as soft. The backs also pinched a little but I ignored it and thought I'd be able to stretch them out during the day.

 

Unfortunately they didn't quite stretch out that fast and although they did dig in to my feet a little, they did not leave blisters. I was still able to walk in them (which can't be said for other flats sometimes!) but they did leave my feet feeling tired at the end of the day. Also, is there a secret to refolding the flats? I guess you'll probably want to wipe down the soles prior or else you'd be touching the bottom of your shoes!

 

Lesson learned that all Tieks are not made equal! Some may need more of a breaking in time than others but hopefully once they are broken in, they'll be more comfortable!



Review: Fresh Umbrian Clay Mattifying Serum

Let's get right to it . . . I have oily skin and half-way through my workday, I can direct boats in the dark with my shine.

 

I've always been interested in fresh's products and was excited to try out their Umbrian Clay Mattifying Serum. 

 

Product Details
Umbrian Clay Mattifying Serum is a treatment formula for normal to oily skin that tones and hydrates while minimizing the appearance of pores and controlling shine.

The Proof*

• Proven to have a significant moisturizing effect for 6 hours
• Proven to provide 24-hour antioxidant protection
• Proven to have a significant mattifying effect on the skin
• 93% noticed healthier-looking, hydrated skin
• 90% felt their skin was more toned
• 86% reported their skin was more supple, smoother, and softer, and their complexion was balanced

*in vivo

Needless to say I had high hopes for this product. Unfortunately it didn't work on my skin. Half-way through my workday I was still shiny. I can't comment on whether it tones and hydrates my skin since I use it before a moisturizer, but it didn't minimize my pores and I still had visible shine ~5 hours after using the product.

It also has a very herbal scent which I'm not a huge fan of either.

Review: Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream

One of my favorite purchases is skincare - you have to invest in your skin right? So I've recently been trying out Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream and love the feel of it!

Its claims:

A 24-hour, light-textured daily hydrator that leaves skin comfortable and visibly well-balanced, particularly in harsh weather conditions.

• Helps reduce moisture loss while drawing and absorbing moisture from the air
• With continuous moisture replenishment throughout the day, leaves skin smooth and healthy-looking

It's definitely a light-weight formula with a whipped-like consistency. I love the feel of this on my skin - it's luxurious but light enough for summer too! My skin just drinks this up and it leaves it feeling comfortable and moisturized without being too greasy, sticky, or break me out!

A great basic moisturizer but if you're looking for added oomphs (i.e. anti-aging, acne, brightening, etc) you'll have to add on a second product to it!

Review: Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash Pink Grapefruit Foaming Scrub

I am a huge sucker for anything grapefruit scented . . . the citrusy sweet yet bitter scent gets me all the time! I love H20+ Grapefruit Bergamot and Love + Toast Sugar Grapefruit, so when I came across Neutrogena's grapefruit scrub, I was really excited to try it!

I love products with scents - unfortunately, this one doesn't deliver in terms of its grapefruit smell. It's a very chemically scent and not very refreshing.

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION

Neutrogena® Oil-Free Acne Wash Pink Grapefruit Foaming Scrub powerfully clears blemishes and blackheads with maximum strength Salicylic Acid acne medicine plus an uplifting blast of grapefruit.

With 100% naturally derived grapefruit extract and vitamin C, Neutrogena® Oil-Free Acne Wash Pink Grapefruit Foaming Scrub features gentle microbeads that smooth away roughness without over-drying or irritating your skin.

• Oil-free
• MicroClear®
• Salicylic Acid

As far as its effectiveness as a cleanser, it's okay. I could give or take this one (though I'd probably pass since I don't like the scent). It claims to be foaming but I can never get a nice foamy lather with this product. I've been fortunate post-partum not to have too many blemishes so I can't say whether or not it actually clears it but as far as my blackheads, I think those are here to stay. Only the Biore nosestrips can clear those out!

The microbeads are more like nanobeads - it's definitely very gentle so I don't feel like my skin is truly exfoliated. There are some rough patches that remain after I use this scrub. I haven't noticed any overdrying effects and my skin hasn't broken out because of it though, which is always a plus!

I'll finish it up but I probably won't be repurchasing this after!

What are some of your favorite scents??

Review: Chanel Stylo Eyeshadow in Moon River

Chanel currently has a limited edition eyeshadow as part of their summer 2013 collection. The description from the website:

A smooth-gliding pen applicator delivers a new lightweight, long-wear shadow that highlights eyes with gleaming colour. A cooling, water-infused formula creates a shimmering veil on lids. An exclusive creation from the L’ÉTÉ PAPILLON DE CHANEL Collection. ($34)

I got the color in Moon River which is one of the more neutral colors in the collection. It's a sparkling taupe color that tends to leave a little glitter fall-out.

 

The pen applicator makes it really easy to sweep across your lids for those of you who are on the go. I usually blend it out with my fingers or a brush. The color is gorgeous and I love the cooling effect that this gives on your lids - perfect for a hot summer makeup look! I've used this several times and it hardly made a dent in the product, so I'm hoping it'll last a long time.

 

Overall it's a beautiful easy color to wear, smooth application, but with some glitter fall-out.

 

Have you tried any of the other colors in this collection? Let me know your favorites!

Mommy Diaries: Unnecessary Necessities

Before I had my baby, I thought that I would not be the "type" to buy a bunch of toys, swings, bouncers, etc. I mean, the world is her playground right? They end up playing with the box for hours on end anyways, right??

Yeah . . . needless to say, I got her her toys and let's just say they're my BFFs now!

One of the first things I got was the Boppy Lounger. Basically it's just a giant bean bag like cushion for your little one but it's great for her to sit it! I actually think she prefers it to me holding her sometimes!

They are super cute with a variety of prints to choose from. They have a convenient carrying handle, lightweight and portable (I often throw it in the car when I'm on my way to grandma's), easier to manage than a swing or bouncer (says the description - but yeah, it's true, you just place them on), easy-clean, wipeable fabric (it's actually a little hard to get spit-up off of it but I actually threw it in the washer just once and it came out still ok!), and perfect for newborn.

These loungers are good until they're able to roll over and are not recommended for them to sleep in. I love placing her in this after a feed since it keeps her upright and helps to prevent reflux. We also put her in there so she can look around her and pull her up to the dinner table (on the floor) so that she can "join" us for dinner!

Another "lounger" that we got is the Rock 'N Play Sleeper. This thing is soo cute and features a gentle rocking action with a little push from you, soft fabrics to cradle baby, lightweight and easy to use.

Again this sleeper is good until they're able to pull themselves up. I also place her in here after a feed to prevent reflux since it keeps her upright. The sides slant upwards so it gives them a feeling that they're being held and keeps them nice and warm. It's actually too warm for her in the summer due to the fuzzy fabric but I like how all the fabric is removable so that you can easily throw it in the wash. She slept in here tons as a newborn! I bring this over to other people's house so that she has somewhere to sit that's not on the floor to prevent someone from accidentally tripping over her.

A swing was definitely something that I did not think I would invest in . . . but lo and behold, we got the Fisher-Price Rainforest Open-Top Cradle Swing!

It moves both side to side and can be adjusted so that it swings front to back. There's 6 different speeds and 3 different musical sounds. Some people in my parenting group mentioned that their baby sleeps in this all night (though it's not recommended). The seat is recline-able so you can adjust it to your baby's comfort.

This swing is great when your baby is fussy and wants to be rocked! It also gives you a place to put them safely while you go and do stuff. My little one doesn't always fall asleep in this but it does entertain her for a good 15-30 minutes and then she's had enough! She likes looking at the mobile and seems to calm her down when she's a little fussy.

We also got the Fisher-Price Rainforest Bouncer which you can set on vibrate mode and had a bouncing motion when they move. There's a waterfall with lights that move that she loves looking at. The toy bar is removable so you can get them in and out of it easier and there's a variety of settings - one for continuous music and the other is activated when the baby moves.

She LOVES this thing - every time we put her in it her legs and arms starting kicking and moving! It's really cute to watch. She just stares at the lights and sounds and gets really excited. And with all the excitement, somehow she wore herself out and fell asleep in this! I hardly ever use the vibrator mode since it doesn't get any reaction from her. And although the hanging toucan and monkey are cute and she'll grab for them, she kicks so vigorously sometimes that her knees hit the animals so I ended up tying them up and out of her legs' ways!

Even though she gets a lot of excitement and fun from the bouncer, I would choose the swing over the bouncer. She usually only plays on the bouncer for 10 minutes before she starts whining to get out. Plus, she falls asleep more often on the swing than the bouncer.

Last but not least is the Skip Hop Treetop Friends Activity Gym (aka tummy time mat). This would have to be another one of my must-haves for her! There are multiple fabrics on the mat - crinkle leaves, squeaker flower, and fuzzy leaves along with a mirror for them to see themselves when they're on their tummy. There are 5 hanging toys with various activities (rattle, crinkle, or mirror) and it comes with a little "travel" pillow for them to hang out on when they're on their belly.

Out of all the activities that we put her in, the activity gym is the one where she can spend the most time at. She loves looking at the hanging toys (not so much the mat features quite yet) and will kick her legs in excitement. She is now learning to bat around the hanging toys with her hands and seems to really enjoy them.

What are you unnecessary necessities for your baby??