How to Create A Quick Morning Beauty Routine

What energizes you in the morning?

What makes you feel totally prepared for a big day?

Routines are something that helps me feel more energized throughout the day. The less routine I have, the more likely I am to drift, feel anxious, and struggle to complete tasks. But if I have a routine in place where I do the same things upon waking up, then transition into work, I feel energized and more focused.

However, developing a routine when 1) you have a child and 2) you work from home can be a huge challenge.

A huge part of my morning routine has always been my beauty regimen. If you’re leaving the house for work, or school, or whatever, you know the drill: you have to do a few things before you’re ready to face the world. But what those things are can vary person-to-person.

One thing that doesn’t change is the fact that a beauty routine can help us feel more awake and ready for the day—and ready to transition into whatever routine (work, taking care of kiddos, whatever) you have that day! However, implementing a consistent routine that makes you excited can take time and effort. I want to guide you through the process so you can get a routine in place that makes you feel ready to face the day—and most important, makes you feel good every single day.

Why A Good Beauty Routine Matters in the Morning

You want to start your day feeling GOOD. If you’re not a morning person (and let me tell you, I woke up sick today and I’m not feeling the world at all), a good routine that makes you feel your best is a great place to start.

To me, a beauty routine isn’t just putting on make up or washing your face. It’s a combination of things that help you start with your best foot forward. Here’s my morning routine, as an example:

• Make & drink my coffee

• Light a candle

• Make my bed

• Take a shower

• Wash my face & moisturize heavily

That’s it. If I’m not leaving my house, just working, then that’s all I really need. But nothing makes me feel better than having my bed made, my room smelling good, and my body feeling clean. Plus, if I’m not feeling my best (like right now), it gives me something to focus on and put energy into that also revitalizes me.

Now, let’s talk what makes a great beauty routine.

1. Know Your Needs

Your beauty routine might not be mine (although you might find inspiration in it). So first things first, know your needs: what do you want to accomplish with your beauty routine in the morning? Feeling fresh after a night of sleep? Keeping your dry skin moisturized throughout the day or your oily skin matte?

What makes you feel best? Pampering or taking on a task that you don’t really love? What would help you feel energized.

Here are a few places to start:

• Does taking a shower make you feel ready for the day or does it sap your energy? If it isn’t comfortable for you, switch your showers to the evening.

• Do you have a face wash that fulfills all your desires? What about moisturizer?

• What would help you feel most excited for the day? A body lotion that smells like your version of heavy, a new cozy sweater?

2. Pick Your Products

The products you use in your routine are going to make a world of difference. I’ve included a good skincare routine checklist to help you pinpoint specific areas and the most basic steps you need for fresh skin every single day.

However, sometimes, it’s more than just a good, basic routine. What makes you feel luxurious? I want you to think of at least one thing that you love using every single day and start to include that in your routine. No more saving your favorite perfume for special events or that lotion that makes you feel like a queen. Use it today. Use it every day. Make it part of your routine because you deserve it.

3. How Much Time Do You Need?

Time is relative. When I say “quick” what do you think of?

For me, it’s 20 minutes or less. If I’m doing my hair (aka I need to blow dry and/or curl it), it’s 45 minutes. For some people, however, those times might be way too long or way too short for what they want to do.

It’s all up to you.

What time do you wake up in the morning? When do you start work? How much time do you have to get a routine in place? Are you willing to wake up earlier, or do you want to sleep in a little bit more?

Whatever time you choose, make it something that works for you. If you want to spend 5 minutes putting on body lotion and thanking your body, then incorporate that.

4. Makeup Is Optional

It goes without saying: your beauty routine doesn’t have to include makeup. But if you want it to, choose a few items of make up that make you feel your best. If you’re trying to condense your beauty routine, then committing to a full eye look or winged eyeliner every single day might not be something you can do.

However, if winged eyeliner makes you feel good, find a product that works perfectly and stick with it. Incorporate it into your routine so you always have time to get it done. Whatever it is you choose to include in your make up routine, make sure it makes you feel good, whether that’s an eyeshadow look you love or a lipstick that makes you feel more powerful.

5. Keep Your Routine Evolving

No two days are the same, so why should your routine be the same? Being able to adapt, whether it’s with skincare concerns or time constraints, can help you feel more confident when you start your day.

How to Approach Your Routine Every Day

Every evening, I write down a few things I want to start my day with. Like I said, mine usually includes making my bed, drinking my coffee, and focusing on doing one thing that makes me feel really good. (Today, as an example, it was coating myself in Vicks Vaporub and filling my diffuser on my desk with peppermint essential oil.)

You can use the graphic I’ve included to write down your beauty routine in the evening so it’s first thing on your mind in the morning. You know how prepared you need to be for each day, so take that into account, as well as how much time you have allotted and what you need to focus on.

Moving forward, establishing a routine will help you feel more pampered and ready to start each day. Take time for yourself so you can get your work done without feeling deprived.

Beauty Review: January 2020 Ipsy Bag

Starting these Ipsy bag posts… man, what a challenge. I never really know what to say, but I guess one of the best things I can talk about is how my month was and how this bag made me feel. One thing I really want to emphasize is giving yourself little gifts throughout the month; while you’re building your career, or taking care of your child, or whatever… you deserve a few things for yourself.

And I want those things to be worth it. So month to month, the one thing I look for in every Ipsy bag is value. Is this bag both valuable monetarily and also to my life? Do the products make me feel good? Or do they make me feel blah?

So often, my Ipsy posts have been reflections of how I’m doing that month. Some of my saltiest reviews came when I was not feeling so great.

For a little context: the last few months have been some of the hardest of my life. I’ve struggled a lot, but I find myself doing better and better as time goes on. But December and January were definitely rougher months in the scheme of things—and honestly, November too.

With that being said, lately I’ve needed my self-care items to be even bigger than before. I’ve needed my therapy sessions; I’ve needed my bubble baths; I’ve needed my evenings to be quiet. Sometimes, I don’t get those things. Sometimes, self-care is just going to bed early or making an extra pot of coffee or closing my office door for 5 minutes to silently scream.

Not to give it all away quite so quickly, but this month’s Ipsy definitely felt like a bit of a let down. The last few months definitely have. But this month’s in particular is very disappointing and I’ll hit why on those specific items. Let’s get started, shall we?

You can read my past Ipsy reviews here. If you want to try Ipsy, you can sign up using my referral link here.

1. Glow Recipe Blueberry Bounce Cleanser, $3.19 value

I love the Glow Recipe, it’s such a great brand, but as I’m trying to repair my skin’s pH barrier, I’ve become more and more picky about cleansers I use. This one has a lot of pure soap ingredients—and it foams in a way I find slightly repulsive, for lack of a better word. The texture is akin to snot. There, I said it. It’s snot-like! It’s a snot-like cleanser and I don’t want to wash my face with it and despite being called “Blueberry Bounce Cleanser,” it smells like a Dollar Store.

I don’t like it! There!

I’m relegating this little sample tube to my travel bin; I think it’s OK for pH (I haven’t noticed any serious issues cropping up), but the weird smell alone is enough to make me avoid it. I give it a solid 3/10 in terms of how much I enjoyed it.

A full size tube is 160 ml and costs $34 (WHEW!). This sample tube is only 15 ml, making it’s value around $3.19. If I was nice, I would have rounded up to $3.20, but… I didn’t.

2. Luxie Fan Brush, $18 (Not Pictured)

I fully forgot to grab this brush while taking photos and didn’t notice until I was editing afterwards and wondering where my 4th item was. Then I remembered, “oh yeah, I got a 4th fan brush.”

You read that correctly: my 4th fan brush.

I have so many fan brushes, I expect to find all my cleanser samples fanning my blush samples in my bathroom any day now. (The blush samples are the kings of all the samples I receive, natch.) I have fan brushes coming out of my eyeballs at this point, which is funny only because no one needs a fan brush. It is the most useless brush. I don’t even wear highlighter anymore! What else is a fan brush used for? That’s right, nothing.

0/10. It is pretty. But… 4 fan brushes, guys. I’ve gotten 4 of them.

3. Urban Juve Lip Balm, $10

I love a lip balm moment, but guys. $10 for a lip balm this big?? For comparison, the Glossier Balm Dot Coms come in a 3 pack for $30, making them $10 a piece. And they have 0.5 fluid oz (which is HUGE!) This little lip balm has… 0.14 fluid ounces. Sorry, but that’s highway robbery. It’s not any different from Burt’s Bees either, it just has hemp in it!

If I’m going to spend $10 on a lip balm, it better be the size of a Moon Pie. I’ll take Glossier’s tubes of lip balm, but they’re on thin ice anyway. $10 for a Burt’s Bees size tube? Girl. 0/10. It’s just minty! It’s not even special!

4. Finding Ferdinand Lipstick in Very Berry, $6

You’ll be shocked to learn that I love this lipstick. Yes, I said it! I love one thing in this bag! And it’s this lipstick. It’s tiny, it’s cute, and it comes in a clear component that literally made me squeal out loud. I like it! What can I say? It’s a nice, bright berry color and perfect for spring. The formula is a little more dry than the average lipstick, which makes it more long lasting than a high shine formula. And at only $6, it’s pretty reasonable for a sample size that you can carry in your purse with ease. I give it an 8/10.

A full size is valued at $30 and the mini is $6. You can buy a set with both for $33 (savings!)

5. REALHER Eyeshadow in Victorious, $3.11 value

So, this shade is apparently in the Conquer from Within palette, but to me, that looks like a completely different color. Mine is a shimmery, pink-brown (I’d describe it as a dusty pink with a gold sheen if I was pressed). That looks like a straight champagne. They describe Victorious in the palette like this: “Metallic light slate. Perfect color to add a touch of highlight to inner corner of eye, or to work over entire lid.”

Ipsy, in comparison, describes it like this: “Rose gold is a universally flattering shade that’s always on-trend—this super pretty, shimmery color will quickly glam up your beauty looks, but it’s versatile enough to wear during day or night.”

Metallic light slate and rose gold are… not the same color whatsoever. So is this the same shade? A different one? With the same name? I don’t know!! Is this an extra that they slapped a random sticker on that they just needed to get rid of? God, I suspect so.

Either way, I did use the cost of that palette to calculate the cost of a single shadow.

Apparently, you can buy this brand in Neiman Marcus. Remember when Neiman Marcus was name dropped in like every song in 2004? What a weird time to be alive that was.

All that being said: I think I’ve received this same shade of eyeshadow about 40 times from Ipsy and I still am not going to wear it. It’s a perfectly fine eyeshadow, but… it’s not new! Ipsy, stop it with the brown-pink eyeshadows! It gets a 5/10: not awful, but I’m not going to wear it, so…

Final Thoughts

The total value of this bag is… $40.30. Womp womp. That’s pretty low. That may be in the running for one of the lowest valued bags I’ve gotten in… quite a while, actually.

If you can’t tell, there were some bummers in this bag. I don’t know why, but I get really annoyed when the cost of the bag is dependent on one item. An $18 brush does not a high value bag make, monetarily or enjoyment wise. I don’t need an $18 fan brush because I’ve already been sent 4 $18 fan brushes! That single brush ups the value of the bag significantly, but the other items are all valued at less than $10—except for the bizarre lip balm, which is so offensive at $10 that I actually find myself getting keyed up and mad.

Did this bag make me feel good? Honestly, not really. It was just sort of another thing, you know? I do love the make up bag—what blogger doesn’t love a bit of marble, huh?—but besides the lipstick, I wasn’t excited to use anything.

Here’s to hoping next month brings me a little bit of joy. I need it, y’all!

Beauty Review: It Cosmetics Confidence in an Eye Cream

Should I have started using an eye cream in my 20s?!

I don’t know the answer to that, but I do know that I have always kind of thought eye cream (that is, specific moisturizers designed for your eyes) was kind of a scam. The skin around our eyes is different from the rest of our faces, but how useful is it to apply a different cream to our eye areas? Should we be doing it? Does it matter? Does eye cream really make a difference?

One dermatologist says this: “The creams you use on your face are just as helpful as eye cream, regardless of name brand.” Basically, what I get from this is: just use moisturizer on your eyelids and eye area, gently, and it’s all good.

However, another dermatologist in the exact same article says this: “Many regular facial creams or moisturizers may irritate the thin skin.” And another says, “I can’t say [definitively that] eye creams really work — but I can say that certain ingredients work.”

TL;DR: there is conflicting information.

But the main takeaway here to me is that we should be moisturizing around our eyes, even if you aren’t using a specifically formulated eye cream. I realized as I was writing this that if I don’t use eye cream, I rarely apply moisturizer to my eye lids (or too close to my eyes). That was pretty jarring to realize; how much dehydration have my poor eyes experienced because I am not moisturizing them correctly?

We may never know.

The point of all of this is to review the It Cosmetics Confidence in an Eye Cream. Yay! I received it as a sample in my Ipsy bag; I paid $3 for a teeny tiny sample. (Ok, it’s actually fairly substantial for looking so small, as you don’t use very much).

Here’s what this eye cream promises:

“Confidence in an Eye Cream features the same hydrating, firming and wrinkle-smoothing benefits as your #1 anti-aging moisturizer*—plus it’s your best eye cream for dark circles!

While the exclusive apricot tint and Drops of Light Technology™ visibly color-correct and brighten, proprietary Anti-Aging Armour Rejuvenating Concentrate™ and other high-performance skin-loving ingredients—including a super ceramide complex, chrysin, licorice root, avocado and squalane—work to hydrate, smooth and refresh. You’ll see powerful results instantly and more dramatic results over time!”

My main takeaways here are that is acts as an anti-aging moisturizer and promises to reduce dark circles.

I’m genetically lucky in that I don’t have dark undereyes; some people naturally get darkness under their eyes, so I cannot necessarily speak to that. However, I do have a large melasma spot under my left eye that developed after I was pregnant. (Pregnancy often causes “pregnancy mask,” aka melasma spots that can worsen if you don’t use SPF. I have a line above my lip and a splotch underneath my eye. They’re fun! By which I mean, they’re not! They’re basically large, irregularly shaped freckles.)

My main concern for my under eye area is handling that melasma; there is not much I can do to make it better, but I don’t want to make it worse. My other concern is keeping the area moisturized and preventing wrinkles. I know that’s incredibly vain, but I really pride myself on my lack of crow’s feet. I’ve stopped squinting at things to prevent them!

(I haven’t really stopped squinting at things. I’m squinting at my computer screen in my non-prescription blue blocker glasses at this moment.)

I have previously really loved the It Cosmetics Confidence line; I love the Confidence in a Cleanser. I even glowingly reviewed it here. However, after doing a lot of work on repairing my pH barrier (learn more about the process I’ve been following for balancing & repairing my skin’s pH barrier here), I’ve come to the terrible conclusion that the thing that is wrecking my skin’s pH barrier is… the Confidence in a Cleanser. I realized this after dropping it from my routine for a month to exclusively use the FAB Daily Cleanser. I reused it a few days ago and my skin was immediately back to where it was before I did all that work!

So, the bad news is: I think the Confidence in a Cleanser is bad for my pH barrier (and potentially other people’s), so I highly recommend being careful if you use it or want to try it.

That has slightly colored my experience with the It Cosmetics Confidence in an Eye Cream because I was worried about the eye cream being responsible too. However, I used it throughout my month-long repair process and didn’t have any issues.

Here are a few things I noticed while using this eye cream for a month:

• My undereyes were able to hold concealer better without creasing or getting dry and flaky.

• I noticed my melasma faded slightly. (My husband even said it looked a little lighter, but this may have to do with sun exposure in the winter.)

• Plucking my eyebrows has become a lot easier. (Who knew moisturizing my eye area would make that easier?)

This eye cream includes a few key ingredients that are common in eye creams: collagen, specifically, which is supposed to firm the skin; and ceramides, which are natural lipids that help “reinforce the skin barrier.” The inclusion of ceramides is what makes me feel confident that this eye cream won’t damage your pH barrier. It also includes niacin, which can help even your skin tone, peptides, and licorice root.

All in all, if you’re in the market for an eye cream, I think this one is a strong contender. I really love It Cosmetics; they are one of my favorite brands. However, in terms of eye creams, it’s not the most affordable; it is $38 for 0.5 fluid ounces. That being said, you use such a small amount day-to-day, it will probably last a significant amount of time.

I’m debating repurchasing or trying a different eye cream; if you have suggestions, let me know!

How to Restore Your Skin's pH Balance & Barrier

In the last few years, it felt like I’ve learned more about how to take care of my skin—and yet, it becomes increasingly more complicated.

There are so many methods to good skincare: Korean beauty methods, long 15+ step skincare programs, stripped down programs, cruelty free, all natural, low pH… it can get really, really overwhelming.

But in the last few months, I’ve started to focus on a simplified routine with one main focus: nurturing and taking care of my skin’s pH barrier (sometimes called the acid mantle). If you’d told me 10 years ago that I would be focusing on something like this, I would have probably short circuited. Skincare feels like it should be easy: pick up something in the store that says it will fix your problems, use it, and success! But it’s not quite so easy.

Skincare also doesn’t have to be so hard. Yes, you’ll have to try and remember your chemistry lessons; personally, it’s been 14 years since I even thought about chemistry and while science is important, it’s absolutely not my strong suit. I get overwhelmed easily with information, which is probably why I spend so much of my time making lists and journaling, trying to make sense of all this information.

In this blog post, I want to help you figure out what the pH barrier of your skin really is and how it protects your skin—as well as the signs you’ve damaged it. As I wrote recently, I’ve started to notice some serious effects of damage to my skin’s pH barrier—most likely from years of using stripping, oil free products with too much acid or soap in them—and fixing it has become a huge focus for me as I get older. So let’s talk about your skin’s acid mantle: what is it, why does it matter, and how do you know if you’ve damaged it.

What is the pH level of your skin? What does acid mantle mean?

Naturally, skin’s pH level is around 5.5 (on average), which makes it slightly acidic. When we talk about the acid mantle, this is primarily what is being discussed. From the New York Times, here’s a great summary of what composes the acid mantle of your skin: “The acid mantle is the protective film of natural oils, amino acids and sweat that covers your skin.”

For those who aren’t great at chemistry (you can count me among that crew, although I’m trying!) that means that all of our skin has a natural protective barrier, with its own pH level, that can be relatively easily damaged with products that are either too alkaline or too acidic for our skin. Once your skin’s pH barrier is damaged, it can be a huge pain to get it back to rights—and you can begin to experience some pretty severe signs of damage along the way. Let’s discuss those.

What are the signs of damage to your skin’s pH barrier?

As I mentioned in my review of First Aid Beauty’s Cleanser, there are a few classic signs of a damaged pH barrier: acne, dryness, increased sensitivity, patchy, and flaky skin, as well as your skin feeling tight and dehydrated (while sill being very oily). More and more, talk on skincare forums revolves around your skin’s pH barrier; it’s because the products we all have access to tend to be designed specifically to strip our skin of oils.

As well, a damaged pH barrier can make you more prone to struggling with other skin conditions, like rosacea and eczema. I always know something is up with my skin when I start getting red, blotchy spots across my cheeks. This is my sign to start removing products from my skincare arsenal; no more toner, no more acid, just gentle non-lathering face wash and a good, gentle moisturizer.

What causes damage to your skin’s barrier?

As I said, the average skin pH level is 5.5, slightly acidic. However, most drugstore skincare products are highly alkaline; any soap that foams is alkaline and designed to strip your face of any oil. Your skin needs oil! It needs that layer! However, these products may work for some people who have a slightly higher pH; 5.5 is just an average.

However, let’s take a look at the pH level of other products.

Our skin, on average, is at a 5.5—that’s the pH level of our skin’s acid mantle. That’s about the same level as a cup of coffee or a glass of milk. Now, look at soap: it’s alkaline at a pH of 12. Again, from the New York Times: “Cleansing your skin with anything alkaline interferes with the skin’s ability to repair itself and makes it less elastic.” Our skin grows more alkaline as we age, which means that we need more acidic products to help balance the acid mantle and keep it from being damaged.

One further note: check where baking soda is on this list! Baking soda has a pH of 9, quite alkaline, which is why you should absolutely never put baking soda on your face! So many homemade masks include baking soda. This is also why you should never use toothpaste on your skin to help acne. This is a personal bugbear of mine. Stop putting baking soda on your face! Thanks for coming to my TED Talk.

How long does it take to fix this damage?

That depends on how bad the damage is your acid mantle. If you’re noticing signs of damage, including redness that you never had before or worsening acne, it’s time to strip everything back and focus on repairing your skin’s pH barrier. According to Krave Beauty, “This really depends on the severity of the damage and the individual's skin condition. Just like there are people whose wounds heal faster, skin is the same. For healthy skin, it can take 2 weeks and up to a month to repair the barrier function. Once your skin barrier is back on full force, you’ll notice a decrease in redness, skin-sensitivity, inflammation, and dehydration! You will definitely be able to tell when your skin can handle a new product.”

The good news is: it’s not like it will take 6+ months (although if your skin is highly damaged, it might). The bad news is that it won’t be instantaneous. This will be a process that will take a long time.

How do you fix your skin’s pH balance/barrier?

Fixing your skin’s barrier is relatively simple, but requires sticking to a pretty strict routine for a while.

• Strip your skincare down to the basics. For the next month, you’re not going to want to use any acids on your skin, as when your skin barrier is damaged, your skin is more permeable. That means, no exfoliation, no acids, nothing. You’ll be using a face wash (that does not contain soap or alcohol) and a pH balanced moisturizer. You can also use a nourishing facial oil, like jojoba or something that contains a high amount of lipids and cholesterol. That’s it. No masks. Nothing else.

• Focus on lifestyle changes. Reducing stress, getting more sleep, and drinking more water have all been shown to also effect our skin’s barrier. While this is primarily anecdotal, and there isn’t a ton of evidence to it, I do think it’s worth changing any of these aspects to help your skin. You never know!

• Use SPF. Damage to your skin barrier, to repeat it, makes your skin more permeable. That means you’re at risk of increased sun damage. So wear SPF like your life depends on it; if you’re going to be outside for any amount of time, make sure to employ physical barriers as well, such as long sleeves and hats.

• Use gentle products. In the next section, I’ll make a few recommendations that also won’t break the bank.

• Be careful with make up products. I wear foundation and powder every day and I’ve made sure these are good for my skin’s pH barrier. I have been avoiding any unnecessary make up items, such as contour, eye shadow, etc. to avoid having to use anything besides oil and my face wash to remove them.

Product recommendations

• Jojoba oil: Jojoba oil has a high content of wax esters, making is suitable to help repair the skin barrier. It’s anti-inflammatory and good for all skin types. Make sure you buy pure jojoba oil with nothing else added. I use Leven Rose Jojoba Oil.

• Dermalogica UltraCalming Barrier Repair: This “velvety moisturizer helps fortify sensitized skin with a damaged barrier” is perfect to use underneath foundation, as it can double as a primer. I would add a dollop of SPF as well.

• First Aid Beauty Cleanser: This cleanser is a pure, unscented basic that doesn’t lather and will help restore your skin’s barrier.

• First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream: This is the OG of repairing your skin barrier: it’s ultra hydrating and very gentle, free of any ingredients that might continue to wear down your skin’s barrier. Also, it’s super affordable.

Beauty Review: First Aid Beauty Cleanser with FAB Antioxidant Booster

When it comes to cleanser, what is something you always look for?

My entire life, I feel like I’ve bounced between a lot of different cleansers, but my favorites always have one thing in common: they’re more of a cream cleanser than a soap cleanser. When it comes to a single shared characteristic of my favorites, that’s about as specific as I can be.

My deciding factor is, of course, how clean I feel like it gets my face. Some cleansers clean, but don’t feel like they do much beyond that; I would say the Body Shop’s Tea Tree Cleanser (which I like!) does that. I’ve recently phased out using it because at the end of the day, it just felt like general soap. Nothing special. I’ve instead been exclusively using the It Cosmetics Confidence in a Cleanser, which is more of a cream consistency and highly moisturizing.

In my most recently Ipsy bag, I added on 3 add-ons. These are products you can add to your Ipsy shipment; they offer $3 deluxe samples, $6 super deluxe samples, ad $12 full size samples. I usually stick to the $3 tier and on Black Friday, they had a buy-2-get-1-free deal. Thus, I got the It Cosmetics Confidence in an Eye Cream sample, a new chapstick, and the Ipsy Skincare Party Pouch. The Skincare Party Pouch was a single velvet sack, intended to be a stocking stuffer. I wasn’t sure at first if it would have multiple small samples—but learned via reviews that it would have one single sample. I was a little nervous because many reviews said the sample was tiny and not worth it.

However, when I unboxed it on Instagram, I expressed how excited I was by what I received! I received a deluxe sample of the First Aid Beauty Cleanser with FAB Antioxidant Boost; this is their basic, cream cleanser.

A full-size tube has 5 ounces and costs $21. The sample size has 1 fluid ounce. That puts the value of this sample size at about $4.20—considering I bought it for $3 and that included a fairly nice velvet bag, that’s a pretty good deal to me. As well, a 5 fluid ounce tube is quite large and will last a while. I would estimate a 1 ounce tube will last me anywhere from 2-4 weeks.

Here’s what this cleanser promises:

“A fragrance-free, gentle cleanser that effectively removes makeup, dirt and grime, leaving skin soft and supple. The whipped texture transforms into a sumptuous cream when blended with water.

Infused with a powerful Botanical Antioxidant blend, it helps safeguard skin against environmental aggressors while also calming irritated skin. This non-stripping, pH-balanced formula works to maintain skin’s natural acidity and helps reduce flare ups, never leaving skin feeling tight or dry.”

My skin lately has been very dry, very sensitive, and very red. I suspect that I’ve damaged the pH barrier of my skin. (If you’re curious about what the hell I’m talking about, here’s a good write up about your skin’s pH barrier!) The tell-tale sign of a damaged pH barrier is inflammation of any kind: that means redness (got it), flakiness (got it), dryness (got it), and acne flares (got it). That’s right, kids; as of this moment, I’m batting 4-out-of-4. Just call me the Babe Ruth of Bad Skin!

But in all seriousness, I’d been looking at ways to repair my pH barrier and this cleanser came up a few times. So when I saw it in the Party Pouch, it was like a divine intervention. “Here,” the skin gods said, “take it. You need it, hunnie.”

Thanks, Skincare Gods!

So, what do I think of this cleanser?

First of all, I like that it’s technically fragrance free, in that it doesn’t have any added fragrance. As much as I love the it Cosmetics Confidence in a Cleanser (love the cleanser, but typing this name more than once hurts), I suspect that the fragrance hasn’t been doing much for my skin. However, just because it doesn’t have added fragrance, doesn’t mean it doesn’t smell; like most FAB products that are fragrance free, I feel like the faintly chemical hospital smell of it is almost a turn off. I would prefer even a naturally scent (can we get an essential oil?) could be added without a detrimental effect, but what do I know?

Secondly, I do really love it. I’ve noticed a slight improvement in my skin (in combination with upping my hyaluronic acid use) in the week I’ve been using it. Most of all, I’m looking for an improvement in my skins flakiness and that has definitely improved in the last week.

Who do I recommend this cleanser for?

I think if you’re dealing with problematic skin related to the weather, this would be a great cleanser to test out to see if it helps. If you have sensitive or acne-prone skin, it’s also a great option. At only $21 for a tube (compare to $30+ for It Cosmetics Confidence in a Cleanser), it’s a fairly affordable option. One of my other favorite cleansers is the Loreal Pure Clay Foaming Cleanser, which is creamy and clay-based; it might be another good option for acne-prone skin and is only $9. It reminds me a lot of this cleanser in some ways!

In short: I’m really glad I bought the Party Pouch; I will probably throw down $21 for this cleanser in full-size; and I think I’ve broken my pH barrier of my skin but this might be the magic key I need to fix it.

My Favorite Products of 2019

It’s been a minute since I’ve written about beauty products, or products in general. In terms of my blog, I’ve been focusing more on personal and professional development—that’s just where my head is right now!

But that being said: we all deserve to take care of ourselves. We can’t be 100% business, goal-focused, super productive all the time. That’s unsustainable. And besides, it’s fun to take a break and talk about products that make it easier for us to live our lives with minimal hassle and maximum results. (I’m all about that life.)

And ultimately, my goal with my blog is to always push the point that you can be successful at whatever it is you choose (your job, or parenthood, or hitting that personal goal) while also taking time to pamper yourself and indulge in the things you love.

2019 was a big year for me. As Kylie Jenner so famously said, “I feel like this year is really about, just the year of realizing stuff.”

I’ve realized so much stuff.

But in all seriousness: 2019 was a big year for a lot of very good and bad reasons. I feel like I’m taking more steps towards being a better person than I was at the end of 2018, that’s for sure. I’m a lot less angry and scared this year than I was last year. More than that, I feel comfortable where I am professionally for the first time in a long time and I’ve learned how to take better care of myself.

When it comes to the products that really improved my life in 2019, I think of a few things: things that made me happy, that gave me more time, or just worked really, really well. In a year where so much was happening, especially in the 2nd half, some days I just needed things that made me feel really, really good. So, here are my top 5 products (mostly beauty-related) for 2019.

1. Apothehair by Scapes

I received a sample of Apothehair by Scapes in my Birchbox. As of right now, you can only buy it from Birchbox—which is what I did. It was fairly expensive, but you don’t use much of it at a time. It is an herbal leave-in conditioner that I highly recommend if you have dry, damaged hair. I always let my hair air dry, which can give me some flyaways… but I like that Apothehair helps calm those down, while also making my hair so dang shiny.

I got really into hair care products this year. I started keeping regular hair appointments for the first time in years (shout out to my stylist, Lindy); even though I don’t necessarily need a trim every 4-6 weeks, I like to go anyway. Sometimes, I get a scalp treatment. But mostly, I’ve realized that taking good care of my hair is one way I can take better care myself. That’s why I like Apothehair; it’s one product that helps me really feel like I’m taking care of my hair every single day without fail. It smells good. It feels good. It makes my hair look good. Honestly, it doesn’t get much better.

2. First Aid Beauty Oat & Cannabis Seed Oil

I got a (fairly large) sample of this in my most recent Ipsy bag and let me tell you: if you’re looking for a good oil to finish your skincare routine with, let me recommend this one. It’s a combination of oat-based oil and cannabis seed oil. You don’t need many drops and you can add it to your moisturizer or apply it afterwards to seal the skin.

Throughout November and December, I’ve been struggling hard with my nose being dry. I mean the skin on my nose. And around my nose. It looks awful. The skin was scaly and peeling and just kind of nasty looking. My nose is usually incredibly oily, but I actually stopped using powder because my nose was so dry. I started religiously applying the FAC oil in the morning and evening (sometimes twice in an evening, just for good measure) and it cleared up in a few days. All that hemming and hawing only for it to go away, and improve, over a few days. Sometimes, I surprise myself.

I fully plan to buy a full size of this oil once the new year starts (even though I’ll be on a mild spending ban to start hardcore saving for taxes next year) because I’m not sure I can live without it at this point.

3. It Cosmetics Confidence in a Cleanser

I reviewed this cleanser in November and I’m not sure I have much else to say about it except that: it continues to be my favorite cleanser of the year; I still love the smell of it; and I love how moisturizing it is, especially with the dry winter air.

4. My Diffuser

I have never been much into essential oils; I don’t think they do even 10% of what some people claim and I think the consumption of them is incredibly dangerous and misguided. That being said: essential oils smell very good and I like when my house smells good. I resisted essential oils in diffusers for so long for everything I just listed, but let me tell you: my life improved dramatically when I just started using them for smell alone! This is the diffuser I bought at the beginning of the summer; I ended up buying a second one for my bedroom. I like that it came with a set of basic essential oils; however, it was about $10 cheaper when I bought both of mine, so I don’t know what to think about that!

My favorite oils to diffuser are bergamot anything; jasmine + eucalyptus; and tea tree and eucalyptus. I do find some scents help me feel better or more energized, but I think that’s just because I particularly like them—not because they hold any real medicinal properties.

5. Aveda Shampure Thermal Dry Conditioner

My hair stylist recommended this on my very first visit and I bought it right then and there. And I love it. The link above is to a similar product; I can’t find the one I actually use on the Aveda website, but you can read a blog post about it here. It is a dry conditioner that you can use on your hair when its dry to add a bit more moisture and shine, as well as to provide a small amount of heat protection (if you are curling your hair or anything). It also smells amazing. (The entire Shampure line from Aveda smells fantastic!) I like using it to refresh my hair throughout the day, or if my scalp is being particularly problematic; I spray, brush, and let dry. My hair is shinier and softer afterwards, which is always a plus.

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There you have it! My favorite products of 2019. Do you have anything you’re particularly loving from the last year? That you recently discovered? That changed your life? Tell me about it!

Beauty Review: It Cosmetics Confidence in a Cleanser

Winter is a rough time for our skin. In the past week here in Oregon, the weather has gone from normal October weather to bitterly cold; I woke up this morning to the temperature being 22 degrees. 22 DEGREES! Fahrenheit! That’s low. My skin, of course, did not get the notice of the weather and therefore, was not fully prepared. I have thus been left with dry patches on my cheeks (typical), as well as my elbows, knees, ankles, and anywhere else that really feels like rebelling.

In short: I’m quite the sight right now, but I’m working on it.

One thing that has been helping a lot is the It Cosmetics Confidence in a Cleanser, which I’ve been using for about a month. I first got it in my Ipsy Bag as an add on sample, then decided for my birthday to buy a full size bottle. The sample size lasted me quite a while and the full size is 5 fluid ounces, which will probably last me quite a while. (This is all to say: when I talk about the price, I definitely feel like it’s worth it for the amount.)

Here’s what Confidence in a Cleanser promises:

“Developed with plastic surgeons, Confidence in a Cleanser™ is your skin-loving cleanser and serum in one game-changing product! This breakthrough one-step skincare solution gently cleanses and moisturizes while leaving your skin feeling soft, refreshed and perfectly balanced. Ideal for all skin types and ophthalmologist-tested for your sensitive eye area, this sulfate-free and soap-free facial cleanser instantly removes all traces of makeup—even waterproof eye makeup—and improves your skin’s vitality.”

Basically: if you have dry skin, oily skin, acne prone skin, or aging skin (or the very fun combination of all of the above) this is a great cleanser for you.

I have to agree. The thing I like most about this cleanser is how thoroughly it cleans my skin without feeling like I’ve just sucked all the oil off and out of it. It leaves my skin softer and smoother without being super harsh.

One thing to note: it does have fragrance, which I know is a turn off for some people when it comes to their skincare. It smells like citrus fruit to me, which I quite like. My skin isn’t sensitive to fragrance (although perfume does give me headaches), so I don’t mind.

I usually use this after I use Micellar water or jojoba oil to remove most of my makeup. As I’ve written before, this two-step process is often the best for me to get my skin actually clean.

I love how this cleanser makes my skin feel. It’s more moisturizing, which in the winter and fall can be a huge issue for lots of people. Combined with a good chemical exfoliator and a good moisturizer + sealant combo, it’s pretty much the dream cleanser.

In terms of price, a 5 fluid ounce tube (the size I’m holding) costs $29. The sample size (less than 1 fluid ounce) lasted me about 2 weeks, so I suspect this will last me 6-8 weeks, maybe up to 3 months. That’s pretty good! If you are diligent about your skincare, you end up using a lot of cleanser, so for this product, I feel like that’s not a bad price, especially as it comes from a prestige brand.

Have you tried a new product lately? Or have you wanted to try something, but haven’t? Let me know in the comments. What’s working for you lately?

Beauty Review: Maple Holistics Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoo*

A few weeks ago, Maple Holistics approached me to review their Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoo. I love Maple Holistics products and whenever they approach me with a product to review, I really can’t turn it down. The reason I love Maple Holistics is because their products are all-natural, paraben and sulfate free, and good for the environment. They are also cruelty free, which makes me feel better about the products I buy and use. (And I know many of my readers are also concerned about how their products effect the world around them!) In short: using Maple Holistics products make me feel better about my impact on the world.

I’ve previously reviewed their Tea Tree Shampoo and their Silk18 Shampoo. To sum up these reviews: the tea tree shampoo helped my scalp a lot. The Silk18 shampoo made my hair gorgeous and silky, but didn’t do much for my highly sensitive scalp. Both products are totally worth their cost—which isn’t even “high end,” but highly affordable—and can be beneficial to lots of different hair types.

To summarize all my hair issues (sorry if this is old hat for you!), I have a lot of straight, fine hair and a very, very sensitive, dry scalp. I’ve tried just about everything for it, but in the past 6 months I’ve fallen into a fairly good routine:

• Monday: A clarifying shampoo followed by a heavy hair mask mostly on my scalp

• Thursday: Wash with the Paul Mitchell Tea Tree & Peppermint Shampoo**, follow with half hair mask (I use BRITE’s Unicorn Hair) and half Paul Mitchell Tea Tree & Peppermint Conditioner**

• Daily: use Aveda’s Shampure Dry Conditioner Spray

My weekly clarifying shampoo is usually a revolving door of samples I get from Birchbox (I swear I get one a month, which has been handy if nothing else). However, I’ve been wanting to pick a more solid addition to my routine that I can use weekly and really get benefits from.

(**Note: Would you like a review on this shampoo & conditioner set? Let me know in the comments!)

So when Maple Holistics asked me to review the Apple Cider Vinegar shampoo, I knew I needed to go for it. I’ve done ACV rinses on my hair before and noticed it helped a lot with my scalp’s sensitivity. However, using apple cider vinegar so much made my hair kind of smell, so I was hesitant to do it too frequently.

Here’s what Maple Holisitics has to say about this shampoo:

“Remove buildup, restore volume and boost shine with our new, hotly anticipated apple cider vinegar shampoo. One of the most powerful ingredients in personal care, apple cider vinegar provides a variety of benefits for hair and scalp alike. We tap into its full potential in our apple cider vinegar shampoo, providing you with a shampoo that soothes the scalp, removes buildup, clarifies and adds or restores shine. Enriched with natural ingredients like sunflower, argan and jojoba oil, our apple cider vinegar shampoo is sulfate and paraben-free making it great for all hair types, color treated hair, and sensitive skin.”

The reason I use a clarifying shampoo once a week is because my scalp tends to suffer from any product build up during the days I don’t wash; this includes not just the products I use, but also my dry skin itself (flakes!), oil, and anything that’s in the air (pollen has been an especially big issue for me this year). A clarifying shampoo really helps me ensure that my scalp is at its optimal health. However, clarifying shampoos can be incredibly drying.

That’s the first thing I like about the Apple Cider Vinegar shampoo: I get the clarifying aspects of apple cider vinegar, without the extreme dryness caused by some shampoos. As well, it has all the benefits of an ACV rinse without making my hair smell like an (admittedly delicious) salad.

This shampoo also has jojoba and argan oil, which means that it is also moisturizing; again, this leaves my actual hair looking much nicer. I did use this shampoo combination with my usual hair mask and only once a week for about 3 weeks. However, I did notice an improvement in my scalp by the second week. My scalp tends to get really red and irritated if I use a shampoo I’m not supposed to (aka every time I go on vacation and use Head & Shoulders or a hotel shampoo that I know is going to murder me), and I didn’t experience that at all with this shampoo.

After I used it the first time, Danny asked me: “so what does it smell like?” Interesting enough, it has kind of a green apple scent to me—however, it’s not strong and it’s not strongly scented, period. It smells almost neutral—so don’t worry about that ACV smell, seriously.

If you’re looking for a good clarifying shampoo that will revitalize your hair, without breaking the bank, this is a great option. It costs $12.95 for 10 oz, which is incredibly affordable. A 10 oz bottle of Maple Holistics usually lasts me about 3-4 months, depending on how often I use it. To purchase, click here.

Disclaimer: As noted by the asterisk (*) in the title of this post, I received products in exchange for review. However, all opinions remain my own! To learn more about my disclosure policy, click here.