Beauty Archives • Page 2 of 12 • A Love Affair Blog

No More Pores with Bioré Charcoal

March 20, 2018 No Comments

Ever since I can remember enlarged pores has been one of my main skin concerns. I was blessed in my teens and never had acne problems. But, enlarged pores is something I have always had. Everyone has pores, but some of us just has larger, more visible pores. Did you know that we have around 200,000 pores on our face?

Bioré is one of my favorite go-to-brands when it comes to helping me with my pore problems. I am super excited to be teaming up with Bioré for this post. And try out some of their Charcoal products against pores. Pores is often the roots to a ll skin problems. And Bioré uses superior technology and unique ingredients to fight clogged pores. I had never tried any of this products before, so I was super eager to do so.

Bioré One Minute Self Heating Mask

The Bioré Charcoal Self heating One Minute mask is just so cool. Starting with a wet face, you apply the mask and then massage for a minute. Once the mask touches the water it heats up. Its not an unpleasant heat. More so like the warm feeling of putting a warm towel on your face when you’re getting a facial. After massaging for a minute you leave in on for another minute and rinse. Leaving your skin clean and soft. You get 4 individual packages in one box and costs $5.82 on Amazon.

Bioré Deep Cleansing Charcoal Pore Strips

I have used pore strips forever. Its just one of those things that I love to do. And I enjoy seeing all the gunk on the strip when you take it off. To use this you just wet your nose and put on the pore strip. Leave it on for about 10 minutes or until it ha properly dried. While you’re waiting you can read a book, watch a YouTube video or just take silly photos like me. The pore strip is always my lazy go-to-solution for when my pores are feeling extra large. Sometimes nothing else makes it feel as clean. After the strip has dried you take it off and can enjoy seeing just how much gunk it has drawn out. Bioré Deep Cleansing Charcoal Pore Strips comes in a pack of 6 and is $5.99 on Amazon.

When buying skincare. Make sure to do your research. Not all pore strips are created equal! Only Biore Pore Strips are the trusted, and dermatologist-tested way to purify pores. It is recommended to do this weekly to prevent any problems and in the long run minimize the appearance. you can purchase the Bioré Deep Pore Charcoal Cleansing Pore Strips and the Bioré One Minute Self Heating Mask on Amazon or Target.

Beauty, Skincare, Sponsored

Glow up with Olay Cleansing Infusions

March 20, 2018 No Comments

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Olay. The opinions and text are all mine.

One of the most important things during these dry and cold winter months is to hydrate my skin from head to toe. That is why I have absolutely loved the new Cleansing Infusion line from Olay. This Olay line removes impurities and draws in hydration for a glowing, hydrated skin. The scents include Deep Sea Kelp with Aloe Extract as well as Crushed Ginger. The whole line is about taking better care of ourselves and glow up.

One problem that occurs for me during the winter months is that my skin gets dry causing a lot of dry spots. Both on my body and on my face. The Cleansing Infusion Hydrating Glow Facial Cleanser has really helped me maintain a hydrated and glowing skin. Without being harsh on my skin. Although The Cleansing Infusion Hydrating Glow Facial Cleanser has a microscrub formula, it is very gentle so it works for everyday usage.

Olay Cleansing Infusion Microscrubbing Crushed Ginger Hydrating Glow Body Wash and Microscrubbing Cleansing Infusion Deep Sea Kelp Hydrating Glow Body Wash are absolutely amazing. The wash has a smooth and creamy formula with a very gentle Microscrubbing. But after use it feels like it has drawn out dirt and impurities to replace it with smooth and hydrated skin.My favorite one is the lay Cleansing Infusion Microscrubbing Crushed Ginger Hydrating Glow Body Wash. I just love the light scent of ginger.

You can find the Olay Cleansing Infusion products at your local CVS or online here: spr.ly/Infusions-CVS02

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Olay. The opinions and text are all mine.

Beauty, Hair

Long lasting style without stiffness – TRESemmé Compressed Micro-Mist Hair Spray

February 16, 2018 1 Comment

Thank you TRESemmé for sponsoring todays post.

Ever gotten your hair curled, and an hour later your curls are gone? You’ve lost volume, or you have had to use so much hairspray that your hair looks like it could be a peace of a sculpture. These are just some problems that I have encountered when trying to style my hair. I was blessed with very fine and controllable hair. But with that I also got the flat not so voluminous treat. Volume and hold is two of the most important key features that I look for in my products. But I also don’t want my hair to look brassy or stiff.TREsemmé just launched their new Compressed Micro-Mist Hair Spray and I was beyond excited to try all of them out. In a new more compact bottle. But just as much product as their former design. I am loving the smaller compact. Makes it so much easier to take with me when I am on the go. The cans are specifically created to be easier to hold. TRESemmé launched 4 different Compressed Micro-Mist Hair Sprays which includes; TRESemmé Compressed Micro Mist Hairspray Extend. TRESemmé Compressed Micro Mist Hairspray Boost. TRESemmé Compressed Micro Mist Hairspray Smooth and TRESemmé Compressed Micro Mist Hairspray Texture.Because of my fine hair the Compressed Micro Mist Hairspray Texture with a hold level of 1 is my favorite. It gives me that small and very light hold that my hair needs. And it doesn’t matter how much of it I spray, it never gets stiff and keeps my hair light and bouncy. I will usually go for a flowing wavy hair and the Texture spray helped it last all day. The new Micro-Mist Hair Spray uses superfine micro-mist particles that penetrate through the top layer of hair to provide deeper coverage throughout your hair. Which means no funky clumps or unevenness when you spray. It also has humidity and frizz resistance all without the heavy weight.It is easy to say that I have fallen in love with the new TRESemmé Compressed Micro-Mist Hair Spray line and will definitely continue to use these products. Hair is more fun when you find the products that works for you. You can find the TRESemmé Compressed Micro-Mist Hair Spray products at your local Walmart.

Beauty, Makeup, Skincare

Simple on-the-go look with Neutrogena Hydro Boost

January 12, 2018 No Comments

Self care is my number one priority this year, besides from doing well in school. I have never been the person to wear a ton of makeup to cover anything up. On the contrary I love the on-the-go natural look even more. Makeup is fun, but wearing too much is not good for my skin. Neutrogena recently introduced their new Hydro Boost line. Top rated by several beauty publications, whom better to try it out than me? The products have hyaluronic acids in it to help naturally hydrate your skin. This makes them extremely lightweight and not at all oily. Neutrogena is an extremely affordable makeup and skincare brand. You can find the Hydro Boost collection at your local Walmart. I was very pleased to se a well stocked isle at my Walmart.

I picked up three products from the Neutrogena Hydro Boost Cosmetics line. The hydrating tint foundation, hydrating concealer and hydrating lip treatment. Honestly, the lip treatment excited me the most. Although my skin in general gets very dry during the Winter season. My lips are the worst at any season. A lot of times I find drugstore brands to not be as good as brands with higher price point. Needless to say, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked the Hydro Boost Lip Treatment from Neutrogena. I applied it in the morning and by the afternoon my lips still felt moisturized! Costing less than $10 this is definitely a runner up to my otherwise $24 lip oil.

Neutrogena Hydro Boost hydrating tint is a very light foundation. You will find a range of colors from fair to dark. Natural Beige 60 was a perfect match for me down to the undertone. The foundation looks flawless and like my own skin. Combined with the Hydro Boost hydrating concealer I have everything I need for a simple on the go look. Using only these three products its a simple three step on-the-go beauty routine to follow that takes less than 10 minutes to do. Although hydrating, the products looks very natural and matte once applied.

Have you tried the Hydro Boost products? If so, what did you think of them? Leave a comment down below. If you haven’t tried the products yet I have a discount code under the next photo for you to use! If you are prone to brake outs, I also have a code for the Skin Clearing line for your use.

Beauty, Skincare

Trying out Panacea Skincare – The Aegis Kit

January 8, 2018 No Comments

Panacea is a skincare brand influenced by Korean Beauty technology. Korean Beauty is way ahead of us when it comes to beauty and skincare products and I was beyond excited about trying these new products. Especially Korean beauty. The skincare line launched early November and is fairly new. Panacea focuses on the few simple things that we need. And that is why they only have three products. We are told that we need a cleanser, a scrub, a exfoliator, a toner, a mist, a moisturizer,a SPF. Different products for day and night. The list goes on. This adds up to a lot of products. That is one of the reason to why I can’t properly keep up with a skincare routine. It is way too much to keep track off and I feel like I am drowning in products sometimes.

With an easy three step regimen Panacea wants to make it easy for you to achieve healthy and glowing skin with the bare minimum. The line includes a Daily Facial Cleanser, Daily Facial Moisturizer and a Daily Facial SPF. Purchase the products separate or as a bundle. Product pricing ranges from $22-$46 and the kit is $92. All products are cruelty free and vegan as well as paraben and sulfate free.

Panacea Daily Facial Cleanser

The Daily Facial Cleaner is definitely my favorite product of all three. If you have followed me for a while or read my skincare post you already know my favorite cleanser. It is also from a Korean Beauty brand and both cleansers definitely pars up. The Panacea Daily Facial Cleanser is extremely light but removes everything. Even eye makeup. If you end up looking like a panda after washing your face you know the struggles. The product doesn’t really have a smell and so far my sensitive skin has not reacted to the product. It leaves my skin super smooth and clean. Some ingredients are algae and green tea extract.

Panacea Daily Facial Moisturizer

This moisturizer is everything that it states to be. Even though my skin is a Normal/Combination skin I have very dry skin during the winter. It is strange because I will have these very dry spots but also a very oily t-zone. The moisturizer is the lightest moisturizer I have ever experienced. but it does leave my skin extremely hydrated while leaving a matte finish. Panacea claims that there is no need to use a makeup primer because of the mattifying effect the moisturizer has. Some ingredients include Japanese seaweed and Vitamin E.

Panacea Daily Facial SPF

Lastly we have the Daily Facial SPF. It is an extremely lightweight SPF but it only has a SPF 25 UVA/UVB protection. It is recommended to choose a minimum of SPF 30 for your products even if the bare minimum from the FDA is SPF 15. Sunscreen is extremely important, especially if you live in a sunny climate like California. I would probably only use this on more cloudy days or days where I am only inside. It does however not smell like other sunscreens nor does it leave a greasy look.

Overall I am definitely beyond impressed with this brand and the entire product line. And I would definitely recommend this for anyone with Normal/Combination skin. Whether you need to start a skincare regimen or simplify the one you already have, this is the perfect kit to start with. You can find their website at thepanacea.com

I was not compensated for this post. Panacea did send me products to try.

Beauty, Skincare, Sponsored

This is what happened during the Olay 28 day challenge

November 30, 2017 No Comments

This post is sponsored by Olay. All words and opinions are my own.

During the month of November, I have been replacing my regular moisturizer with the Olay Total Effects Moisturizer with SPF 15 and I have also been using the Olay Eyes Deep Hydrating Eye Gel. Something that is so important for me, especially since I live in Los Angeles, is to use an SPF. The sun does so much more harm than we think, especially in the long run. However, the Olay Total Effects Moisturizer with SPF 15 is much more than a moisturizer with SPF. It has several benefits, evens out skin tone, enhances brightness, smooth’s fine lines and wrinkles and restores firmness, replenishes moisture, and reduces dark spots and circles.

Even though I have amazing genes from my mom, and have absolutely no signs of aging in my skin currently, I still have to make sure to take good care of my skin. But to be honest, sometimes I am really bad about it. So I decided to accept the Olay 28 day challenge! For 28 days I used the Olay Total Effects Moisturizer with SPF 15 and the Olay Eyes Deep Hydrating Eye Gel. In the morning I would apply the Olay Total Effects Moisturizer with SPF 15 and the Olay Eyes Deep Hydrating Eye Gel. And at night I would use the Olay Eyes Deep Hydrating Eye Gel. My skincare problems are mainly enlarged pores, an oily t-zone, acne and redness. My skin is also sensitive to new products at times so I was really nervous to see if the products would work or not.Although my skin did react a bit at first, I did see some improvements almost immediately. My skin seemed more even and radiant. By using these products morning and night, it gave me an overall better routine. It was so easy to use, and took me less than a minute of my day to do! So really anyone can do it. It is not a huge change and it will not take up a lot of your time. My old acne scarring also started to slowly fade which I am so thrilled about. I only started getting acne about a year ago and it was devastating for me. I also can’t keep my hands away so it resulted in a lot of scarring.The results after the Olay 28 Day Challenge.

It’s amazing how such a small change in your daily routine can encourage you to change even more for the better. Therefore, I challenge you to also participate in the Olay 28 Day Challenge. The first 15 people to use my coupon code 28DAYS6555 on olay.com will receive $40 off their purchase! I encourage you to visit the skin advisor to save time and easily fin the regiment best suited for you.

Before

Halfway through the 28 day challenge

After 28 days

Beauty, Health, Subscription boxes

A-Sorted Box, your new favorite subscription box

November 22, 2017 12 Comments

Curated for the person with a modern lifestyle, the A-sorted Subscription box differs from many other subscription boxes out there. And the best part is that it is only $29 with a value of over $100. The Women’s box covers items from Beauty, Skincare, Fashion, Wellness, and more. And the Men’s box includes Grooming Products, Fashion Accessories, Snacks, and more. I was thrilled to receive the Fall box which included items from seven different brands. Based out of Los Angeles each box is curated for quality. That is why the box is seasonal and is limited edition. Several brands in this box were new to me and I love discovering new brands and items. Isn’t it just the worst when you pay for a subscription box and get items that you already have or find it that other subscription boxes has the same items? Most of the items in the box were marked with either organic, vegan, cruelty free, natural ingredients and more. Which, I am totally for! We need to not only better our eating habits when it comes to vegetarianism/veganism but also think about the product that we buy and use.

*Please take in note that I am NOT vegan but sometimes make the vegan or vegetarian choices.

A-sorted box makes for an amazing gift for yourself or someone else. Right now you can get 50% off your entire order with code BLACK50. This is their Black Friday offer so act fast before the boxes run out!

I am also giving away some boxes, fill out the form at the bottom to enter!

(US only)

Beauty, Makeup

Reviewing The Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-place Makeup Foundation

September 17, 2017 No Comments

I was super excited to receive the Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-place Makeup Foundation in the mail from Octoly. I have heard a lot about the foundation, but I never got myself to pick it up. Supposedly it is proven to have a 24-hour long wear with a medium to full coverage. So, I decided to take it to the test! I have the Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-place Flawless wear concealer and it is my absolute favorite concealer. So I have super high expectations for the foundation. As mentioned it has a medium to full coverage. The foundation is available in 38 different shades, ranging from fair to deep skin tones. Estée Lauder claims that it won’t change color, smudge or come off on clothes. Also that it lasts through heat and humidity with a flawless and natural look. It has a matte finish. The foundation retails for $42 for 30ml. I received the shade 3N1 Ivory Beige and at first look I thought that this would be too dark for my skin. But once I actually applied the foundation I think it blended in flawlessly with my skin. I applied the Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-place Makeup Foundation with a Smashbox Blurring Foundation Brush for a light and natural finish. What I noticed was that the foundation would dry up pretty fast so I had to work with it one area at the time. It is definitely a medium to full coverage foundation that you can easily build up to a full coverage. It covered my redness and almost all of my brake outs.

What I enjoyed most was that even though it is a matte finished foundation it did not grab onto my dry areas. Something I have huge problems with is foundations that kind of makes my dry areas patchy. This did not do that at all. However, something that I did not like was that it doesn’t come with a pump. Not only does it waste product but the chances of your foundation to have more bacterias in it increases.

Besides from that it is really an amazing foundation, at least for me. Remember that not everyones skin concerns or needs are the same and not all products work the same from everyone. I would suggest to go to a store or counter to get a sample and try it out for a day before deciding to buy it. But for me this is definitely something I would buy again.

I received this product complimentary from Estee Lauder. All opinions are 100% my own.

Beauty, Makeup

10 Favorite Lipsticks #nationalipstickday

July 29, 2017 3 Comments

Today is national lipstick day and I wanted to share some of my favorite lipsticks of all time. Lipsticks are something that I have a lot of in my makeup collection. And seriously I need some help organizing them. So if you have any ideas on how to organize lipsticks and lip glosses please let me know! I will cover all of my favorite lip products from brands that are drugstore, high-end and luxury. There is sure to be something for everyone! As usual I will link all the products but I have also found a lot of offers on the products which I will include as well on each product! Hope you enjoy. And please share your favorite lipstick or lip product with me in the comments!

Revlon Ultra HD Matte Lip Color $9.99

There are so many features out this matte liquid lipstick that I love. Revlon really outdid themselves with this product and I absolutely love it. It has a sleek and minimal design. The wand is extremely easy to use and with this price you can’t really beat it. The Ultra HD Matte Lip Color comes in 16 different shades. Some of my favorite shades are Seduction, Forever, Embrace, Flirtation and Kisses. I think that while it is a matte lipstick it is not so matte that it dries down my lips. I also think that it hols up extremely well and it doesn’t stain or come off easily.

Right now ULTA has a offer on ALL Revlon lip products. Yes, all of them. Right now all lip products are ONLY $5. Shop Revlon Lip Products here.

Maybelline Color Sensational Matte Metallics Lipstick $7.49

The Color Sensational Matte Metallics Lipstick is a new release from Maybelline. And yes, it is a Matte metallic lipstick. How can a matte lipstick be metallic you probably wonder. The base is a matte lipstick with a metallic sheer. So it is not like a gloss or a velvet lipstick that has a soft sheen to it. The lipstick itself is matte with a metallic look. I actually have planned to write a full post with swatches of all colors of the metallic lipstick so stay tuned on that. My favorite shades are definitely all the gold ones. White Gold. Pure Gold and Copper Spark.

Although Maybelline doesn’t have a special offer going on their lip products are still extremely affordable. If you spend $20 on lip products at ULTA you’ll receive a free special gift.

Maybelline SuperStay Matte Ink Lip Color $9.49

Another favorite form Maybellines new releases is the SuperStay Matte Ink Lip Color. Now the first thing that I noticed about this matte lipstick is that it will just not budge at all. The formula is super creamy and extremely easy to apply. I was pleasantly surprised of this lipstick. It is not very drying on the lips yet it will stay on all day. And when I mean that it stays on, IT STAYS ON! I have never seen a matte lipstick hold so well and this is at this moment my favorite matte liquid lipstick ever. It comes in 10 different shades and my favorites are Loyalist and Lover.

You really need to swatch or try it for yourself to understand just how well this lipstick stays on. I couldn’t get it off with any makeup removers until I finally got an oil based one which required two tries to wash i off. Even though this is a love or hate thing, thus lipstick will surely last you all day and night.

BHüe Liquid Matte Lipstick $18

BHüe is a fairly unknown brand for many people. I came across their products when the owner contacted me last year and wanted to send me some o their products to try out. I was a little hesitant at first, as you always are of brands you have never heard of before. But I gave the brand a shot and oh my god. These liquid lipstick are amazing. First of all, they wear extremely smoothly and they don’t dry out your lips. But, what I was most impressed by is how well they stay on. Even though I had been drinking water and eating food the lipstick still looked the same after hours of wearing it.

I really don’t know how well known this brand is or how many people know about it. But it is definitely a brand that you need to discover! You can shop BHüe beauty here. My absolute favorite shade is Poppy. A bright orange.

Bite Beauty Amuse Bouche Lipstick $26

Bite Beauty has been one of my absolute favorite brands when it comes to lip products. Besides from their Amuse Bouche Lipstick being a favorite I love their Agave lip treatments. The best thing about Bite Beauty is that it is all natural and produced in small batches. I think its really cool that they are so dedicated to quality products that are good for you. I have several shades but my absolute favorite is the one pictured, Pepper. The Amuse Bouche Lipstick has a satin finish and comes in over 40 shades. You will definitely find one that you love.

Kylie Cosmetics Matte Liquid Lipstick $17

For a period of time I was obsessed with buying basically all products that Kylie Cosmetics released. I made a crazy try on video of all the lipsticks and glosses that I have from them. You can check out the video here. The quality of the lipstick really differ depending on the color. Some of them I love and some are just unwearable. The nudes are my absolute favorites and for the price that you pay these are actually really good. You can think and say whatever you want of Kylie Jenner, but her makeup is actually really good. Well, at least most of it! I haven’t tried any of the newer shades that she has released and actually haven’t purchased anything new from her in a while. Maybe I will soon though.

My favorite shades from Kylie Cosmetics are Exposed, 22, and Mailboo. The single lipsticks are $17 but if you want to buy a kit with a lipstick and lip pencil it will cost you $30 and that isn’t a bad deal.

Urban Decay Vice Lipstick $17

I have so many shades of the Urban Decay Vice Lipstick. but my favorites must be the new shades from the heat collection. There are a ton of different collections and finishes on the lipsticks. I love the matte and the satin finishes. Super easy and smooth application that i very comfortable to wear on the lips. The Heat shades comes in two metallics and one satin finish.

Clarins Instant Light Lip Comfort Oil $26

Claris Lip Oil is my absolute obsession. That is how good it is. I am currently using this daily and it is so comfortable to wear alone or under any lipstick. It had really helped my dry lips being restore to healthy and hydrated lips. There are several different formulas, honey and red berry are my favorites. And today is your lucky day because these babies are on sale for only $15!

I can really not rave enough about this product and if you follow me on Instagram you have definitely seen me post about it a couple of times already.

Smashbox Always On Matte Liquid Lipstick $24

Another new lipstick from Smashbox is the Always on Matte Liquid Lipstick and it is so comfortable to wear. Smashbox has never really failed when it comest to any of their products but these lippies are so good. Smshbox was kind enough to send me the entire color range and I am swoon. This is one of their best selling products and I can definitely understand why. The formula is so smooth and creamy. It dries up fast and holds for so many hours. There are currently 20 different shades from the deepest red to a really cool gray one.

Dose of Colors Matte Liquid Lipstick $18

The rave about Dose of Colros was something that I really never understood. Until ULTA started selling the brand and I decided to give it a go. And now I kind of understand the hype that was around this brand. Besides from being vegan, cruelty free, gluten and paragon free. The Matte Liquid Lipstick is also super smooth and long wearing. I absolutely love the packaging and it seems to be a classic as they have kept it the same. ULTA does have a Free gift with purchase if you spend $25 or more on Dose of Colors.

The nude shades are a usual my favorites as well as Mood, a muted dark plum shade.

SHOP MY CURRENT FAVORITES