Stephie Estie

Skin Tip: Sensitized Skin!

Happy Friday readers!

If you’ve never really had sensitive skin but all of a sudden you’re experiencing irritation, you may have sensitized skin.  Sensitized skin can be a result of  stress, hormonal fluctuations, smoking, alcohol, poor diet, medical procedures, over-exfoliated skin and fragrance.  Eliminating or controlling these factors should help you get your skin back to normal.

Have a great weekend!

Stephanie 

Revlon Ultra HD Matte Lipcolor Review in HD Kisses and HD Embrace!

revlon-hd-matte-lipcolor

Happy Thursday everyone!  This week is flying by as it’s almost Friday-what?! That’s the perk of a long weekend I guess and I’m not complaining. 😉

I have another review on some budget friendly lippies so let’s get started.

Revlon Ultra HD Matte Lipcolor

Described as a, “lightweight, high definition velvety matte color. Moisturizing, velvety feel. 100% wax-free, gel formula.”  I picked up HD Embrace, a nude pink and HD Kisses, a raspberry mauve shade.

Pros 

Cost effective at under $10

Sleek packaging

Clear tube allows you to see the color

Color glides on smoothly

Good lasting power

Good array of colors

Excellent pigmentation

Cons

Not truly matte

Dry down time takes about 30 minutes

Lighter colors accentuates any imperfections

Sweet scent may not be for everyone

Overall: I’m a big fan of these lip products.  They are reminiscent of the NYX Soft Matte Lip Creams in both the feel and sweet scent.  I found that the formula glides on smoothly provided your lips aren’t chapped. Both leave behind a stain while eating and drinking, with HD Kisses more pronounced than HD Embrace.  The pigmentation on both are great and usually one swipe is all you need to get excellent coverage. Even as these dry down, I don’t find that these are completely a true matte because I can still rub my lips together and feel a bit of slip to them. With this said though, they aren’t really that moisturizing after they dry down either. I’d describe it as in between a satin and matte. The packaging on these is very sleek and the color you see is pretty much the color you get.

revlon-hd-kisses-and-embrace-swatches

Some swatches of the shades.
revlon-hd-matte

Have you tried the Revlon HD Mattes? What’s your favorite matte lipstick? 

Stephanie 

ColourPop Review on Flitter and My Jam!

colourpop-lippies

Happy Tuesday everyone!  I’m still recovering from my long and fun-filled weekend!  I attended a wedding so it’s always fun to get glam for an event.  You can check it out on my Instagram.   Did you do anything fun for Labor Day weekend?

A few weeks back I purchased two new items that ColourPop released so if you’re curious about what I thought, keep on reading!

ColourPop Ultra Metallic Lip in Flitter 

Described as, super intense color with high impact metallic pearls and a non-drying formula that is extremely long-wearing.  The shade Flitter has a warm pinky undertone with flash of gold on top in a Metallic finish.

Pros 

Cost effective at $6

Beautiful and unique shade

Smooth application

Good lasting power

Cons 

Tube looks about half empty

Not very hydrating

Accentuates dry lips

Overall:  As soon as I saw swatches of this shade on several beauty blogging sites, I knew I had to have it.  The color itself is ah-mazing! It’s a nice pink shade that has gold swirled in it and pictures don’t do this shade justice. It glides on smoothly and lasts a decent time without heavy drinking or eating.  I sometimes pair this with my Lancome Juicy Shaker to get a more hydrated feel.  It does accentuate any lip imperfections so it’s a good idea to prep them beforehand. One of the biggest cons is that this tube looks half empty. As soon as I took the applicator out, I could see through the tube.  I know it’s priced at $6, but all the other glosses are filled so I’m not sure what happened here. Other bloggers have complained about this issue too. I love the color so I would repurchase this again-I just hope they fix the half-empty issue.

cp-my-jam-and-flitter-swatches

Top to Bottom: ColourPop Flitter and My Jam Swatches

ColourPop Ultra Glossy Lip in My Jam

Described as, “a full coverage gloss with a smooth pearl metal finish that does not contain any glitter.” (Note: This is the description for the Ultra Metallic finish).  The shade My Jam is depicted as a warm golden nude shimmering with silver and gold in a Metallic finish.

Pros 

Cost effective at $6

Hydrating

High shine without the glitter

Tube was filled with product

Cons 

Not long lasting

Shade on website doesn’t match the actual color

Slightly sticky

Sheer

Overall: I like this color but in all honestly, it was very different from the picture on the ColourPop website.  I was expecting a warm golden, sort of peach nude but when I pulled the tube out, the shade was more copper/brown like.  It’s still a nice shade that has a high shine and is great for layering but I was kind of disappointed with this one.  Though hydrating,there is little bit of tackiness and the color is pretty sheer so the lasting power isn’t the best.  I would not repurchase this shade again.

cp-flitter-and-my-jam

Have you tried any new ColourPop items?  Which are your favorites? 

Stephanie 

 

August 2016 Favorites!

August Favorites 2016

Happy first day of September everyone!  It’s time again for my monthly favorites and you’ll notice that most items here are skincare.  Well, my skin has been acting up lately and I had to pretty much stop wearing all products until I could try to figure out what the culprit was.  I’m thinking I have a slight sensitivity to something in my kickboxing class.  These products have been instrumental in keeping my face calm so let’s get to it.

Shiseido Synchro Skin Lasting Liquid Foundation Broad Spectrum SPF 20 

Described as, “flawlessly undetectable like it belongs on your skin, this innovative formula features medium, buildable coverage and a modern matte, natural finish that feels uniquely airy and silky on skin.”  On a whim, I decided to pick up this foundation and I absolutely love it. It silky texture melts right into your skin and enhances it in the most natural way.  You’ll forget you’re wearing makeup.  I haven’t really heard much about this foundation but I highly recommend giving this a go.

PCA Skin CliniCalm 1% 

This product contains 1% hydrocortisone to soothe and provide temporary relief of itching and irritation, both of which I’ve been experiencing lately. While the formula is safe to be used for 7 consecutive days, I find I only need to use it for 2 days before my symptoms start to clear up.

PCA Skin Sheer Tint Broad Spectrum SPF 45

Not pictured above, I received a few sample packets of this and I have to say I am impressed.  This is a universally tinted, water resistant physical sunscreen (Titanium dioxide and zinc oxide) that can be used alone or layered under makeup. Since it’s a purely physical sunscreen (titanium dioxide and zinc oxide), this has been perfect for my sensitive skin.  The coverage is very sheer, so a tiny bit of redness still peeks through but overall, it’s a great product and I’ll be picking this up at the trade show this month.

Skin Script Green Tea Citrus Cleanser 

Most of my cleansers were off limits for a bit and this one was really the only one that didn’t feel irritating.  With a blend of antioxidant rich green tea, grape seed extract to counter skin irritations to offset redness and inflammation, and wild cherry bark extract to help soothe skin, this gentle foaming cleans without stripping skin dry.

Caudalie Resveratrol Eye Lifting Balm

Featured in this month’s Play! By Sephora box, this eye cream absorbs quickly into skin and provides a nice brightening effect. Read review here.

Dermalogica After Sun Repair

One of my most cherished items from Dermalogica, this is my holy grail skin saver.  I keep it in the fridge and when my skin feels like it’s burning, I apply a generous amount of this to my face and the coolness instantly calms my skin.  This product is left on and is formulated with lavender, cucumber, chamomile, yucca and algae extract to restore moisture loss and aid skin recovery.

Stephie Estie Skincare

Another huge favorite this month has to be of course my new business doing skincare.  I opened up the first weekend of August and I’m so blessed and thankful to God for this opportunity. It’s a work in progress and pretty stressful but so far a lot of people have been so supportive and I couldn’t ask for more at the moment. 🙂

Facial Room

Note: For the most part, my skin is slowly returning to normal.  I notice that once I stop the kickboxing class for a few days, my skin feels better. I’ve participated in other fitness activities where I sweat just as much, but I don’t get a reaction.  I’m assuming my skin is either sensitive to the cleaning solutions they use or perhaps the gloves/punching bags.  Of course I don’t want to give up the class because I really enjoy it so I’ve found that right after completing my session, I immediately remove my wraps, wash my hands and arms thoroughly with soap and water and then rinse my face with cold water. This process has helped tremendously in reducing irritation/sensitivity.  

What are your favorites for August?  And, have you experienced any skin reactions when exercising? Share your thoughts below! 

Stephanie 

 

 

 

Play! By Sephora Unboxing August 2016!

Sephora Play August

Hi everyone!  I know took an extra week for my summer blogging break but I’m back!  I’ve been keeping pretty busy with my new business, getting ready for a wedding I’m attending this weekend, my regular work, researching, and working out.  Sending a huge thanks and welcome to all my new followers. 🙂

I’m bringing you a review for the August Play! By Sephora, which is a monthly $10 curated subscription box featuring samples of different brands available at Sephora.  The theme for this month is The Eye Openers, with products meant to refresh and recharge your beauty routine.

Clean Reserve Blonde Rose

A classic yet edgy bouquet of rose, jasmine and peony with a sandalwood base that is supposed to evoke feminine sophistication and allure.  I typically love rose scents but this smells awful.  Definitely not my type of perfume at all.  Doesn’t help that it has a combination of peony and jasmine, which is way too overwhelming for my taste.

Make Up For Ever Artist Shadow in I-544

An eyeshadow described as a, “highly saturated, iridescent pink granite eyeshadow made with a unique gel-powder formula and ultrafine pigments for smooth color.”  I like this shadow and the fact that you can create a smokey effect that’s subtle and pretty.  It shows up kind of purple on me but it can be sheered out or built up to more intensity.

Sephora Collection Contour Eye Pencil 12hr Wear Waterproof in Flirting Game 

An easy-to-apply pencil that has a 12-hour waterproof formula in a shimmery taupe shade.  So confession, I have been wearing this as eyeliner only.  I confused this with eyeliner but it’s actually supposed to be used on the contour of your eye.  Whoops. No worries though, it works just as well as an eyeliner and the taupe shade is a perfect enhancing shade that gives definition without a stark harshness. It lasts all day yet by the end of the day, it has smeared a bit.  I doubt it would hold up for 12hrs without a primer on my oily lids. The Make Up For Ever shadow and this are great shades for transitioning into the fall season.

Swatches below: Sephora Contour Eye Pencil (top) and MUFE Artist Shadow (bottom).

MUFE Artist Shadow and Sephora Contour Eye Pencil

 

Urban Decay Perversion Mascara

A lengthening and volumizing mascara that has a triple-black pigment formula to coat lashes.  I like this mascara as it makes my lashes look thicker and the pigment is intense.  However, just like the Perversion eyeliner, the formula does make my eyes water and sort of burn by the end of the day.  Because of this, I won’t be purchasing the full size.

Caudalie Resveratrol Eye Lifting Balm 

This eye cream is said to lift and smooth the eye area with a breakthrough patented formula while reducing the look of dark circles and puffiness. This eye cream does have a brightening effect on me- like a very muted opal iridescence. It works well under makeup and doesn’t irritate my eyes.  Will definitely keep this on my wishlist.

Lancome Energie de Vie Smoothing & Glowing Liquid Care Moisturizer 

A concentrated energizing liquid lotion that visually relieves dullness, diminishes signs of fatigue, and promotes a healthy-looking glow.  I haven’t tried this one yet because my skin has been acting up and I’ve been keeping my skin care routine simple until I’m back to normal.

Play by Sephora August

Since I liked about 4 of the six products included here, I’d say this was a good box overall.  Curious to see what next month holds.

Any particular favorites that you see here? Let me know in the comments below! 

Stephanie 

 

 

 

 

Skincare Routines for Every Season!

Year Round Skincare

Happy Thursday everyone!  Anybody else ready for the weekend?

I have a special post today about seasonal skincare that was inspired by the people over at Dollar Shave Club.  As a company that provides an economical and convenient way to deliver razors each month, they also recognize the importance of a good daily skincare routine. They reached out to me to share my tips for keeping skin healthy and glowing all year long so let’s get to it!

Spring

Spring brings with it the renewal and resurrection of nature but, unfortunately, for most of us it also brings one not so great feature-allergies!  The watery eyes, itchy throat and nose, and constant sneezing coupled with allergy medication can leave your skin sensitized.  Make sure to wear plenty of sunscreen as some medications can cause skin to become more sensitive with sun exposure and keep your skincare routine basic (cleanser, toner and moisturizer) until you’re in the clear.

Summer

Arguably the most favored season, summer signifies endless days at the beach and camping trips which can also bring about sunburns if you’re not careful.  It’s imperative to not only wear sunscreen but to also remember to reapply it every two hours or as directed.  In the event of a sunburn, ingredients like aloe vera, chamomile and yucca extract can help calm the burning and itchy sensation that often accompanies a sunburn. Dermalogica After Sun Repair is a personal fave!

It’s also good to include some type of exfoliation to help get rid of buildup that can clog pores.  Skip skincare products that contain retinols and AHA’s and instead use scrubs that contain spherical jojoba beads for a more gentler form of exfoliation. Low foam cleansers remove oil and debris without stripping skin.

Fall 

With summer over and temperatures dropping, now is a great time to step up your skincare routine and address any damage/sun spots that might have surfaced.  Incorporating a vitamin C serum in the daytime under sunscreen can help brighten and fade spots over time. Using a retinol serum at night can smooth the appearance of skin and using AHA’s like lactic acid can help both exfoliate and hydrate the skin.

And, with the pumpkin craze that hits the market this time of year, why not add a professional pumpkin peel to your facial.  Pumpkin peels are great for stimulating collagen and elastin production and reducing the sings of aging by softening fine lines and wrinkles.  A perfect skin treat right before the holiday madness and they smell amazing!

Winter

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, celebrating the holidays with dear loved ones and hanging out in the snow filled mountains; however, cold harsh weather can wreak havoc on skin, making it feel dry. Add in all the indoor heating, and you’re left with skin that is tight and itchy.  Combination to dry skin can benefit from a cream cleanser which is more hydrating and a richer moisturizer that contains ingredients like glycerin, squalane and shea butter. Oily and acne skin can still use a low foam cleanser but can implement a hyaluronic acid serum underneath their moisturizer to keep skin hydrated without feeling heavy or greasy.

If your skin is in good condition, you can schedule chemical peels to really resurface your skin and bring about a nice and healthy glow.  Just remember that sunscreen is still a must this season and every season.  Snow reflects about 80% of UV radiation so you want to make sure you’re protected.

I hope you find these tips helpful!

What are your tips for seasonal skincare? 

Stephanie