Drugstore Haul

Can you believe it's been SIX MONTHS since I bought any sort of beauty related item??? That includes personal care items like body wash, hair care, and body lotion. It also goes to show you how much I tend to stock up on products. When you have twins on the way and live in a two bedroom apartment where a grand piano takes up more than half of the second bedroom, reality starts to kick in and you realize buying more products would not help the lack of space situation. Anyway, I happened to walk into Harmon's on my way to Trader Joe's and I couldn't resist picking up a few things.

July 2016 Favorites

July has come and almost gone. Is anyone looking forward to the end of summer and cooler temperatures because I sure am! Waiting for trains underground in a NYC subway and then unluckily stepping on to a crowded train car with no air conditioning is the worst. I could go on a rant for hours about NYC public transit issues but we're not here for that. So, here are a few of my favorite makeup and skincare products for the month of July.

The Saem Mojito Powder Mist in Green Grape ($5.67 at Korea Depart)

This claims to be an oil balancing mist that regulate the skin's hydration levels to avoid too much sebum production and keep the skin looking fresh all day. It contains corn powder that absorbs excessive oil for a mattified look. It's also available in a Jelly Mist Grapefruit and Water Mist Lemon. I can't say I notice a decrease in oil production but I love the scent of the mist and how refreshing it feels on the face. You can also use this to set your makeup since the spray mechanism pumps out a very fine mist.

Laura Gellar Baked Balance-n-Brighten Foundation in Fair ($33 at Ulta)

I cashed out most of my points at Birchbox to purchase this and it was a good decision. I've been interested in Laura Gellar products for awhile and now I'm dying to try the brand's baked blushes and highlighters. The other shades available for the powder foundation are Porcelain, Light, Medium, Golden Medium, Tan, Sand and Deep. Fair is a good shade for me right now but it might be a bit too dark for me in the winter. The shades run a little darker than the descriptions so keep that in mind if you're interested in purchasing this. I've been using a concealer, no foundation, and setting it with the Balance-n-Brighten. It offers good coverage and gives a demi-matte finish while brightening the face.

Cover FX Custom Infusion Drops in C + Lemongrass ($48 at Sephora)

This came as a complete surprise in the mail from an Allure freebie I entered. I've been mixing the drops in with the Pro YouS Wrinkle SC Renewal Ampoule. You can use it alone or mix it with moisturizers, serums, primers, foundation, or any other way you'd like. I love the citrus scent and how it brightens the complexion. A little goes a long way on my combo-oily skin so this will last forever. I like the drops so much I'm considering purchasing the E + Chamomile (calming) one. The other two varieties are F + Neroli (hydration) and A + Jasmine (anti-aging).

Burt's Bees Mama Bee Belly Butter ($10.38 at Amazon)

I've been using this product every day, morning and night, since I was 8 or 9 weeks pregnant. It's a little too thick for the summer but it does a good job with relieving any itching I'm experiencing as my stomach stretches out. You can also use this even if you aren't pregnant. It does have a very slight scent that's neither pleasant nor unpleasant, just smells natural. I don't see any stretch marks yet but they're partly genetic and dependent on the amount of weight one gains in pregnancy.

NYX Powder Blush in Summer Peach ($5 on sale for $2.50 at NYX Cosmetics)

This has been my go to blush that I've been constantly reaching for. It's pigmented so a light hand is necessary and has some shimmer in it which gives the cheek a glowy finish perfect for the summer. It lasts all day on the cheeks so you don't have to worry about any fading.

I'm Meme I'm Lip Tint in Las Vegas Orchid PK652 ($14 at Memebox)

I wrote a short and quick overview about the I'm Meme Lip Tint in Russia Purple and a few other Memebox lip products which you can read here if you're interested. I've been loving this shade, which doesn't pick up as much of the purple undertones on camera, and the pretty stain it leaves behind on the lips well after the product has worn off. It's plenty pigmented so I often just dot the tint on my lips in a few places and spread with my finger. I'm not sure if Memebox is phasing the product out since half of the shades are no longer sold on the site. If you see a shade you like, grab one now in case they don't come back in stock.

Follow or like me on Twitter and Facebook for updates. It helps me out a lot!

Thanks for stopping by,
Jennifer

Pregnancy Update

I realize this is primarily a beauty blog but my life is about to drastically change in a few months with the impending arrival of my twin boys. Of course I still love talking about beauty but I'm equally excited to become a first time mother. It's still a little strange to say I'm pregnant even when my body is clearly changing on the outside. I always knew I wanted children but when my husband and I finally started trying for a child, we never thought it would take almost three years. I feel extremely blessed to be pregnant (and pregnant with two other beings) and to have maintained a relatively healthy pregnancy thus far. Anyway, I thought I'd talk about the changes that have happened so far with my skin and body. At the time of this blog post, I've just entered the third trimester at 27 weeks and 5 days.

Farewell (안녕) Birchbox

Recently Birchbox made a change in their loyalty points program which many of you may already be aware of. While I understand the need for the change from a business standpoint, the subscription service has lost its appeal for me. I've been pretty unsatisfied with the samples in my boxes this year but the ability to earn 50 review points ($5) each month had been the one appealing thing for me about the service. You can still earn points for the July box but I've already gone ahead and cancelled the monthly box subscription.

I was hoping to save the review points and redeem them in November when Birchbox has their Black Friday 25% off promotion. Since I can't do that anymore I decided to cash out the majority of my points and purchase the Laura Gellar Beauty Balance-n-Brighten in Fair. (Little did I know the brand would be appearing on Hautelook this Wednesday.) I might occasionally shop at the Birchbox store or if there's an amazing featured box but it's farewell to the monthly boxes.

If you're a Birchbox subscriber, what is/was your reaction to the change in the points system?

Follow or like me on Twitter and Facebook for updates. It helps me out a lot!

Thanks for stopping by,
Jennifer

J:Dew Green Moist Toner and Essence Review

Ivy from Q-depot contacted me not too long ago to review some products from the J:Dew Green Moist Line. I was given the choice of reviewing the cream, emulsion, essence or toner. Much to my surprise and delight I was sent the special skin care set which includes all four products plus two deluxe sized samples.*

June 2016 Birchbox

Birchbox is a monthly subscription box ($10 plus tax) of personalized beauty, grooming, and lifestyle deluxe sized samples tailored to your profile. You can accumulate points with each box and redeem those points at the Birchbox shop. If you review all your products in each monthly box, you can accumulate 50 points which is equivalent to $5 and half the value of the box.

Spring/Summer 2016 Skincare Routine

It's been awhile since I've shown you the products I'm using in my skincare routine. Before I go into the A.M. and P.M. lineup, let me tell you about about my skin type. Living in NYC, I tend to have combination-oily skin in the fall and winter seasons and oily-very oily skin in the spring and summer. It's not quite summer yet but there have certainly been a few days here and there that have felt like summer. I also struggle with hormonal cystic acne and PIH (post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation). However, pregnancy has changed my skin and for the better. My skin has been a little drier, more on the combination side, and I rarely breakout. It's been amazing not having to deal with those huge bumps from cystic acne. (Apparently if you're having a girl you tend to struggle with pregnancy acne. Not sure how accurate this is but it is in my case...I'm having twin boys.)