MY HOLY GRAIL - DHC CLEANSING OIL

Happy Sunday Lovelies!

One of my goals this year is to bring you all new content every Sunday night! My blog is something that truly brings me so much joy and when work and life get crazy it is the first thing to get put on the back burner... not this year though! With 2018 being my year of balance - I'm making it a priority to find the time each week!

Today I realized I hadn’t posted a beauty related post in over a year and due to the fact that I work in the Beauty Industry, I felt it was well overdue! Working in the industry definitely has its perks one of which is having the benefit of getting to sample the latest and greatest beauty products on the market. Honestly, if it wasn’t for my job I don’t think I would have ever discovered the Japanese Skincare Brand DHC.

I had always suffered Mild Acne in Florida, however, when I first moved up to Chicago I swear my body freaked out and I developed some pretty nasty acne all over my cheeks and jawline… my dad literally asked me “Lauren… Did someone hit you in the face?” “Nope… that is just my acne… but thanks for the confidence boost!”…. Love you Dad! Ha!

I’ve come to love a lot of DHC’s products but I honestly swear by DHC’s Deep Cleansing Oil and will tell anyone that will listen how much I adore this product. I know what you’re thinking “Why would I want to rub oil all over my face if I already have oily/acne prone skin.” Well what you might not know and what I definitely didn’t know was that most of the time our skin over produces oil because the skincare products we are using are stripping natural oils from our skin.

Source: DHC Skincare

The DHC Deep Cleansing Oil does an amazing job removing every last bit of makeup off your face and leaves your skin feeling squeaky clean without feeling tight and dry like most facial cleansers. The one weird part about this product is that you use it on dry skin and heat the oil up in your hands before applying it all over your face. I only need two pumps and all my makeup just melts right off.

I'm currently on my 5th bottle of the Cleansing Oil with no end in sight! If you get a chance to try this product or feel like you need a mixup in your current skincare routine I highly recommend this oil!

If you have tried this product comment your thoughts below!

JANUARY EMPTIES

I am so proud of myself for using up so many products this month! I am slowly eating away at the excessive amounts of beauty products under my counter! But before I throw away this months trash I figured I would share with you all and tell you which products I loved, hated, and would repurchase! So lets get started...

Batiste Dry Shampoo: This is a staple product in my hair routine! I will repurchase this product over and over again! I'm waiting to use up the rest of my Pssssttt Dry Shampoo before repurchasing this one but don't worry I will be back to this product in no time!

It's a 10 Miracle Leave in Spray: Another staple product in my everyday hair routine! No matter how much conditioner I use I seem to always have tangled hair when I get out of the shower! However, this product detangles that mess in less than 10 seconds with just a few sprays! I am working on finishing up a Biolage spray similar to this product but I can't wait till I am done so I can go back out and purchase my beloved It's a 10!

Skintimate SkinTherapy Lotionized: Nothing special about this product... it did its job and that is all I can ask for!

Hypoallergenic Cosmetic Rounds: These are super cheap from Publix so what is there to complain about!

Blonde Care Weightless Conditioner: I liked this conditioner but I wasn't crazy about it!

Bath and Body Works Hand Sanitizer: This stuff smelled great and I loved using it before applying my makeup so I knew my hands were germ free!

Chanel Correcteur Perfection Concealer: This stuff worked amazing but it isn't worth its hefty price tag! I'll be sticking to cheaper concealers from now on!

YSL Babydoll Mascara: Hands down one of my favorite mascara's I have ever used! Now if I could just use up the other 10 mascara's I have so I could go out and repurchase this one!

Clairisonic Sensitive Head Brush: I love my clairisonic but my skin is on the more sensitive side so this works great! I apologize that it looks so dirty in the picture! At least it did its job!

L'Oreal Ideal Clean Towelettes: These were sent to me from L'Oreal when I was apart of Rent The Runway's On Campus program. I was not a fan of these and would use a cleanser after using these wipes to remove the oily layer left on my skin! Even though they did remove my makeup I couldn't get over the feeling they left on my skin so I will not be repurchasing them!

Candle: My Aunt got me this candle for my Paris inspired bedroom and I should have just used it for decoration because it burned so unevenly that I only got 2-3 uses out of it before I had to throw it away!

Hope you all enjoyed this type of blog post! I will be doing monthly updates on the products I am going through as I work towards my goal of living a simplified lifestyle!

TOP 14 OF 2014

With 2014 coming to a close I wanted to share with you all my Top 14 Products of 2014! This year I have found my holy grail products and I know they will continue to be used well into 2015! 

1.) Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion: This is my absolute favorite moisturizer for everyday use both morning and night!

2.) Naked 3: I own all of the Naked palettes but it is something about the rose gold hues of this palette that has kept me reaching for it time and time again. 

3.) Laura Mercier Silk Creme Foundation: I rediscovered this product this year and it makes me wonder why I ever stopped using it in the first place! Aside from its pricey sales tag, it truly provides the most flawless finish on your skin. Even my mom uses and raves about this foundation!

4.) Tarte's Lights Cameras Lashes: I usually opt for drugstore mascara's but after using this one I think I am going to be stuck on it for life! This mascara makes my eyelashes super long and never clumps!

5.) Batiste Dry Shampoo: What more do I need to say than this product is a life saver for college students! After a long all night studying for a test I will spray this throughout my hair, for fresh hair that looks like its straight out of the shower.

6.) Bioderma: I discovered this product while studying abroad this summer! I've never had a product take of all my makeup so easily! 

7.) Real Techniques Brushes: I have Sigma and MAC Cosmetics brushes and I still find myself reaching for my Real Techniques brushes more! If you ever find yourself in a Ulta pick yourself up one and I promise you won't be disappointed!

8.) Conair Curling Wand: Ever since cutting my hair short at the beginning of 2014, this product has given me the most effortless looking beach waves in 15 minutes or less!

9.) Murad Clarifying Cleanser: I've suffered from hormonal acne since going through puberty but this cleanser keeps my face clear throughout the year! If I could only have one product this would be it! Having clear and healthy skin is one of my main priorities!

10.) MAC's Lipstick in Rebel: I love vampy lips and this one is nothing less than perfect!

11.) MAC's Bronzer in Refined Golden: I am very pale by nature and actually avoid prolonged exposure in the sun because of my fear of developing wrinkles later in life. However, this bronzer keeps my skin glowing all year long!

12.) It's a 10: This might be the best hair product I have ever tried! From it's ability to detangle my bleached blonde hair, to providing my hair with a heat protectant from hot tools, this product does it all! It's so good you'll just have to buy it to experience it for  yourself!

13.) Clarisonic Mia: I absolutely love to use this product to start my day! I use it with the "Gentle" exfoliating head and I can't say enough positive things about it!

14.) Hope in a Jar Night: Occasionally I suffer from dry patches on my chin and around my nose during the winter months! With a little dab of this my skin is completely rehydrated by morning!

What were your favorite products of 2014? Leave me a comment below!

MASIK COLLEGIATE FRAGRANCES

Recently I received two samples from the Masik Collegiate Fragrance* line! What a cute idea to make perfumes and colognes that relate to scents found around each college campus. I received the Louisiana State University women's perfume and University of Kentucky women's perfume (even though I was secretly hoping I would receive the Florida State one since this is after all where I go to school lol). These perfumes and colognes would make such a cute graduation gift for any girl or guy going to a big state school in the fall. 

A signature scent exclusively created to capture the essence of the University of Kentucky.  The Mesmerizing Spirit of Big Blue Nation, The Special Symbolism of Memorial Hall and the Unbreakable Bond between the UK family. Thrilling, Bright and Blue. 

Inspired by the majestic spirit of the Fighting Tigers, LSU for Women opens with Juicy Plum and Golden Bourbon, symbolizing the time honored school colors of Purple and Gold, pumped up with a splash of Sparkling Mandarin. Dewey Evening Jasmine, Egyptian Tuberose and Turkish Rose Petals dance throughout the heart inviting you to boost and invigorate your school spirit while Warm Honey, Black Agar, Deep Patchouli and Soft Oak lend strength to the base creating a fragrance that is as fierce and confident as the Tigers themselves.  A sensual, golden, woody fragrance for the LSU woman.

Let me know if you try out any of these fragrances and if so what you think about them! I see myself buying the FSU women's perfume in the near future since I liked the University of Kentucky and Louisiana State University perfumes so much!

CLUTCH MAGAZINE ISSUE XVI

GENTEEL

If there is one color in this world I am obsessed with it would have to be blush pink and by blush pink I mean that color that is just the most elegant, gentle, delicate, soft, most perfect shade of pink. If you don't believe me check out my wedding board on Pinterest HERE...told you it was my favorite color...Luckily my big bought me the color "Genteel" by Sinful Colors during big/little week. I actually don't understand how I have waited this long to try out this color on my nails when big/little reveal week was back in October. It has the most subtle iridescent shimmer that makes it that much more beautiful! So big if you are reading this... THANKS I LOVE IT!

What is your favorite nail polish color? Leave me a comment below! I'm always on the hunt!

JULY AND AUGUST EMPTIES

Hey girly girls!

As explained in a previous post I have been trying to clean out all of my beauty products and get down to only having the absolute essentials! Let me just say this is going to take a lot longer to accomplish than I originally thought... but I am slowly but surely getting there!

This is a combination of both July and August empties since neither month had enough to really do a full post for itself.

I received these deluxe samples in one of my magazines that I am subscribed to and I must say I absolutely loved these!!!! My hair has never felt so soft and luxurious in a while... I am actually quite bummed that I still have so much Biolage shampoo and conditioner to go through before I can go and purchase these from the drugstore! 

This also came in the same magazine subscription as the L'Oreal products above. I thought this left my legs extremely silky but I can't say that it provides a closer or longer lasting shave. 

This was a sample from one of my Birch Boxes. The scent was a mix of coconut and mint and lingered on your hair long after taking a shower. I can't say that I would go out and repurchase this again but it was nice while it lasted :)

Okay so this is my absolute favorite face wash in the entire world and I am pretty sure I will be using this product for a very long time! I actually used up the toner that goes along with this product as well but forgot to save the bottle! 

A daily skincare routine will be coming soon!

There is nothing really to say about these besides that they are mascara lol. I would have to say that the Falsies is probably my favorite when it is brand spanking new but the Clinique one runs a close second! I am not picky when it comes to my mascara so I would most likely repurchase any of these.

This was definitely not one of my favorite products and it actually took me over a year to finish this thing but I am glad it is finally used up and GONE! When I first purchased this I thought it was like a deep conditioner but it proved to just be a basic conditioner with a thicker texture.

These makeup wipes might be my all time favorite! I can not even count how many packs of these I have gone through because it would honestly be in the 30's or 40's. I love using these to remove all my face makeup before washing my face for the morning or night. 

The MAC cleanse off oil is truly something special but I don't know if it is worth the price that comes along with it... However, if you ever need to remove excess amounts of waterproof mascara this thing does the trick and fast.

ADMITTING I HAVE A PROBLEM

I don't even know how to begin to introduce this page... Basically I was searching through YouTube one day when I discovered Rebecca Kelsey's channel and I will be honest if it hadn't been for the first video that I watched from her to have been learning to live minimally I probably would have ignored her channel and kept on going. However, after watching just one video on Rebecca's goal to learn how to live more minimally I was hooked.

Now I could sit here and explain to you exactly what she talked about and how it inspired me to undergo this challenge as well but I would rather just let Rebecca do the talking and inspire you as well instead. You can see Rebecca's video about learning to live minimally by clicking HERE.

Basically I found that everything Rebecca said was true ... I too have excessive amounts of products just sitting under my bathroom cabinets/ all over my shower ledge/ stuffed into the medicine cabinet/ etc. I am now to the point where I had to move my body lotion and and body sprays into my bathroom because they no longer fit... Don't believe me just look at the following photos listed below....

WARNING THE PICTURES YOU ARE ABOUT TO SEE MIGHT MAKE YOU THINK I AM ADDICTED TO SHOPPING... that would be correct... HOWEVER I AM TRYING TO CHANGE MY WAYS.

On this new page I will update you monthly on the products I have used up and give you a little review about them as well :) oh did I mention I am not allowing my self to by an item until all similar items are used up and gone.... For example I will not let myself purchase any more lotion till the 7 bottles I have are completely gone....

Hahah this is gonna take a while... Oh well... JOIN THE JOURNEY!

JUNE EMPTIES

We are... Used up and headed for the trash

1. ) I really enjoyed this conditioner on the tips of my hair!!! I noticed that when I used it on the scalp and all over it weighed down my hair... Which goes against what it claims... However for the tips of your hair this stuff is awesome.

2.) Okay I know you are only supposed to have mascara for a maximum of three months but I have had this one over 2 years... yes I know... YUCK! However because it was so used up it was literally just perfect for coating my bottom lashes with just enough mascara to make them look black instead of brown. However, I do remember loving this stuff for my upper lashes when I first got it. I will definitely repurchase this sometime in the future. I actually only have two mascara's right now, both of which are due to be thrown out so I am excited to get a new one soon! Even better I won't be breaking the "Learning to Live Minimally" challenge since I am completely out of a product I am allowed to repurchase.

3.) I saw this at Ulta at check out and had heard great things about it and decided the deluxe sample was the best way to test it with out purchasing it full price. I loved this product the first 3 or 4 times then I feel like the quality of the product started to decrease. When I shook the bottle I could hear product but would get no "Fresh out of the shower Hair" results. However, I have had this same problem with the TIGI Rockoholic Dry Shampoo... Loved it the first 4 times then it did nothing. 

I will have to think about repurchasing this one but if I do it will not be any time soon. 

4.) This has to be my all time favorite scent ever! I would repurchase this over and over! I look forward to finishing all my other lotions so I can go buy I new bottle of this.

5.) This was gifted to me when I rented a dress from Rent The Runway. I fell in love with it and am once again wishing I could just use up all my face washes tomorrow so I can go repurchase this one... It was super gentle on the eyes and skin.  My skin never once felt dry or tight after using this product. However my forever favorite is the Murad Acne cleanser but I will do a whole separate post on that!!!

6.) These were also gifted to me as well from Rent the Runway and are probably hands down the best makeup removing towelettes I have ever used! They get all your eye makeup off (you do have to rub a little but not much)

7.) I absolutely hated these and the only reason why I ended up using them is because my mom bought them for herself than ended up not liking them either... So of course being the nice daughter that I am said I would finish them for her. They were no where near wet enough to cleanse your face and I would find that when I would wash my face with a cleanser after using one of these... my wash cloth would have tons of makeup on it.

8.) Last but not least I finished a little sample tooth paste. There isn't really anything I can say besides it was tooth paste and cleaned my teeth lol.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS - JUST RELEASE ME

So after many months of being too lazy to go to Ulta and purchase a new eye makeup remover I finally did it! I really wanted to get something worth my money and that was going to remove every trace of waterproof mascara on my lashes. I used to use the waterproof makeup remover from Sephora (it's the one that is like half blue/ clear). I really liked that one a lot but I felt like I had to use so much of it to get all the mascara off my lashes. Well today when I was in Ulta I narrowed it down to two removers - The Philosophy Just release me and The Clinique Rinse-Off Eye Makeup Solvent. They were both priced at $18.00 and had 5 star reviews on about every website/blog I looked up. What was the final deciding factor was that with the Philosophy one I got 6 fl. oz. vs. the Clinique which came with 4.2 fl. oz.

Okay so enough about why I chose the remover that I did... Let's get into first impressions!

I am obsessed with this product so far! Removing my eye makeup tonight was the easiest it has been in months. After shaking the product up inside I poured some on a cotton pad and than let it set on my eyes for about 5-10 seconds before rubbing the dissolved mascara and eyeshadow off. This is an oil-free makeup remover with the power of an oil without the greasy feel of an oil remover. This product is truly remarkable and I can tell me and this remover are going to have a long relationship!

Did I mention it looks great sitting on my bathroom counter top as well... I'm a sucker for pretty colored products and packaging.