There are so many primers and creams and tinted moisturizers and such on the market that it can get confusing on what to put on your face first. It can also be intimidating to try something new, especially if it strays much from your normal routine.
Stila has become a brand I like to try new things from (at least to me). There stuff seems to be innovative without being too crazy and intimidating. This latest find, however, was one of the more 'edgy' ones, at least for me. Stila One Step Bronze just looks intimidating, to start. All sorts of bronze colors swirled in a clear liquid. What is this stuff??
Well, it does a lot, it seems. Get this... this revolutionary new formula contains three illuminating bronzers: Matte bronze with copper undertone - to bronze, Bronze with pink undertone - to enhance skin tone and illuminate, and Kitten - to brighten, illuminate and help diminish the appearance of sun spots. But even further along, this primer, illuminating, bronzing, color-correcting skincare serum contains Stila's Youth Revival Bio-Available Mineral Complex that instantly: Reduces imperfections, Improves skin texture, Diminishes the look of fine lines & wrinkles, Minimizes pores, Hydrates, balances and nourishes the skin, and Controls oil production.
Wow... that's a mouthful! In short, though, it's almost like a BB Cream. But not quite. There's something slightly lighter about it. The first time I used it, I used too much and quickly learned that one quick pump is plenty! It give that dewy, sun-kissed look without covering up your skin with a layer of color. In other words, it doesn't conceal. But it doesn't claim to, either.
This is one of those products that grew on me. The first time I used it (too much of it), I shook my head and put it on the shelf for a bit before using it again. But once I figured out how much to use and how to make it work with my make-up routine, I became sold on the little extras it did. This is worth it if you have the space in your routing for it, even if it's not everyday.
Convenience is the way of our society nowadays. While every girl knows it's important to wash your face every night and get all you make-up off before going to bed, we all can get a little rushed, or just lazy. So whenever I see an opportunity to short cut, I have to check it out.
One sure way to cut some time off of the night time ritual is a make-up remover in a wipe form. The LA Fresh Facial Cleanser wipes do just that. Truth be told, I don't that there's much difference between these and other make-up remover wipes on the market. But regardless, these are a great thing to have on hand.
One big plus LA Fresh has is the fact that they sell packages of individual wrapped wipes. This makes for a great way to travel without getting bogged down with bottles of beauty care. For that reason alone, this become high on my list of 'good buys' that I have... and the price is right, too.
I tend to think my eyes are my best feature, but with my blonde hair, even though my lashes have decent length, disappear if I have nothing on them. So mascara is one of my most important daily beauty needs.
Enter Dior Diorshow Extase. I usually can tell you almost instantly if a mascara will work for me or not. While I'm not extremely picky, I know what I like and expect from mascara. First and foremost, it has to make my eyes pop without any other eye make-up. I will typically go with no other eye make-up, so if the mascara doesn't pop, then it's worthless to me. But this Dior mascara makes my eyes pop! It give a volume to lashes without overdoing it.
My mascara better stay put, too. I love going to waterproof mascaras, since they're designed to not move, no matter what. But so long as we have a smudge proof, relatively flake-free mascara, I'm good. Again, this Dior mascara has that.
Now the bonus... Dior took its classic volume-boosting formula and added a patented ceramide complex to help your lashes grow thicker and stronger over time. While I didn't see this in the small sample I had, this could be a nice added bonus if you're looking for a lash treatment.
The only downfall I see to this is the price. While I'm not against paying for something good, the nearly $30 price tag for this even stops me and makes me think. But you are getting a 2 in 1 product - mascara and treatment.
So bottom line, good stuff, but you pay for it. Depending on my need will determine if I actually buy it. In the meantime, there's so many mascara out there that come close to this, at least in daily use and look. The treatment part may be the determining factor for someone, and then it may be well worth it.
I have fine hair, but I often go between haircut longer than I should. And what happens then? Split Ends. Which leads to flyaways. I HATE flyaways... especially when it's humid out, because then it's just straight-up frizziness!
I got to sample a full size product from Pantene - Split End Repair Keratin Protection Creme. 
I wasn't really sure what to expect. Keratin has been hitting product line-ups in full force recently. It's always been around, but I think with the popularity of the Brazilian Blowout, Keratin became a headliner.
So how does it work? I was actually pretty impressed! Not only did it help with my split ends, it left my hair so silky soft and manageable. I loved the way it felt. I didn't feel like it was something I HAD to use everyday... the effects of the Keratin seem to really penetrate the strands and actually do some good.
Shocking, I know!
I think this is well worth the money (less than $10) if you've ever wanted to play around with Keratin, but aren't ready to dish out the big bucks for a professional treatment. And you only use such a small amount at a time - since I received a full sized bottle to try, I still have some of mine!
I know everyone has their own personal preference when it comes to fragrances, so it's hard to judge perfumes and such. But since I get to sample some, I still like to talk about them.
Taylor Swift's Wonderstruck has a very light, fruity scent. It has more of a sweet berry scent verses a citrusy scent. Personally, I like these type of scents verses woodsy or musky scents. The scent didn't stay overly strong for too long, so I think it's an ideal casual scent.
I think the scent fits the persona Taylor Swift presents, and any younger fans would also enjoy this scent. It's not too young, but I also can't see someone older wearing this scent. Unless you are just one of those that feels young. This could be a scent on my list of likable perfumes. But I see myself buying this for my niece before I buy it for myself.
I have to admit, the first time I saw Supergoop Sunscreen Swipes, I was a little turned off by the name... it just didn't sound pleasant. But you know what? They freakin' rock!
Personally, I love the individually wrapped swipes. But they also come in a 40 pack, which if you have a family to pass them out to may work better. I first tried these at an ultimate test spot... Wrigley Field Bleachers. It's always so hard to put sunscreen on there, especially once the crowd gets going, but these are so quick and easy... and MESS FREE! But the best part it that they really work!
They can be used all over and they're water resistant. One wipe should do the whole job, at least if you're in shorts and a t-shirt. I'd assume it's cover you in a swimsuit, too. And if you're not into wipes, they do have a full line of products. But the wipes are what make it awesome... I highly recommend them!
I've had the opportunity to try a few different BeFine products now, which I've loved, but the BeFine Gentle Cleanser left me wanting more.
It has several claims of helping rejuvenate you skin and such, which may be all well and true, but it was like water. Literally. Typically, cleaners foam or come in a gel or lotion/creme like form that you can see as it goes on and feel it as you cleanse - some sort of texture. But this... it had the consistency of water and I couldn't tell when I have put it on my face or if I still had some left in/on my hands. Which really bummed me out.
On the plus side, it smelled nice and it did leave a nice tingle on the skin... but even with that, I wasn't left satisfied my skin was cleansed. So I gotta say, unless I just got a bad sample, I can't say I'd recommend this particular product, even though everything else I've tried from BeFine has been awesome.
Stila has become a brand I like to try new things from (at least to me). There stuff seems to be innovative without being too crazy and intimidating. This latest find, however, was one of the more 'edgy' ones, at least for me. Stila One Step Bronze just looks intimidating, to start. All sorts of bronze colors swirled in a clear liquid. What is this stuff??
