My Skin Savior: Midnight Recovery Concentrate

At the ripe old age of 22, I have come to the conclusion that it is always a good idea in invest in skincare. I have struggled with my skin for many years (mostly blemishes and the subsequent pigmentation with a bit of dehydration). For the longest time, I tried to stick with drugstore brands. I was convinced that there was not a "high end" or "luxury" skincare brand that I could afford. However, I have come to find that there are a number of skincare brands that use quality ingredients that are well within my budget.

I follow a group of beauty bloggers and ALL of them, at one point or another, raved about the Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate. This little blue bottle touts claims of restoring your skin's appearance and leaving your complexion smoother and more radiant by morning. It uses pure botanical oils which gives it a wonderful fresh scent. Out of curiosity, I googled the product and held my breath as the page loaded the price.

And I was pleasantly surprised. The 1 oz bottle is $46.00 and the 1.7 oz bottle is $70.00. I know that that might still sound expensive to some of you but trust me when I say it is worth it. I usually get the 1 oz bottle and it lasts me MONTHS. I had my first bottle for about a month or two before it spilled in my travel bag and was completely emptied. It's safe to say I was devastated and may or may not have kept the plastic baggy and wiped all of the remnants out with cotton swabs. This stuff is that good. Now that I have a fresh bottle, I apply three or four drops (depending on the condition of my skin) to my moisturizer before applying it in the evening.

As for the claims it makes, they have all held true. My skin was noticeably more radiant and hydrated after just a few days of using the product. I have had a poor experience with serums in the past and was concerned my skin would react poorly again. But there were no bumps or irritation in sight and my skin has continued to improve. It doesn't irritate my incredibly sensitive skin and does not make me break out (My diet on the other hand...). I included the picture above, hyper-pigmentation and all, to show the healthy glow that this product gives my skin. When you struggle with blemishes and dehydration like I do, it can be incredibly difficult to actually achieve healthy skin beneath the imperfections.

All in all this product is a big win in my book! The scent is light and fresh and it feels glorious on the skin AND it does what it says it does. What more could a girl ask for? In fact, I have fallen in love with Kiehl's as a whole since I started using this concentrate. I now use a Kiehl's moisturizer and eye cream and am looking to purchase their facial SPF for the summer.

Let me know in the comments if you have any "holy grail" skin products or brands that you love! Thanks for reading and don't be shy- get in touch!

This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are my own.

August Favorites

Hello There! Welcome to my....

This month is a short favorites list. I was fairly busy this month with work and preparation for fall semester starting next week so I didn't have much time to try new things. That being said - here are the things that I have had time to love this month :)

1. S Factor True Lasting Colour Shampoo and Conditioner - I had initially gone into ULTA looking for the S Factor Smoothing Shampoo (which smells very strongly on strawberries and cream - a bit to sweet for me)  but then saw that they had a line for color treated hair. I picked up the bottle, smelled it, and was instantly sold. It smells of coconut and almond oils yet still fresh.  After the first use I saw a difference in my hair. Not only did it look healthier (much more shine and body) but it also felt like silk. As for the color preservation, I think it has done well. My blonde hasn't gone brassy at all and I've gone a long time in between salon visits. You can find the shampoo here and the conditioner here - also ULTA is having a buy two get one free with TIGI products! 
2. Murad Clarifying Mask - I heard about this product from Zoe of Zoella on YouTube and decided to give it a whirl. I suffer from mild acne which used to be far worse and since I use two different topical treatments on my skin, sometimes it seems a little lackluster. Therefore, I am always on the look out for new products that will make my skin look and feel refreshed. This little puppy does the trick. I use it on nights when I need to recoup from a long and tiring day. It leaves my skin feeling clean and strong. I will say that I do apply a moisturizer right after rinsing the mask off because my skin feels a little tight, but I'm not sure if that is the product or the fact that I live in dry Colorado. If you want to give it a try you can find it here!
3. Rose Water - There are many benefits to using rose water on your face. It acts as an anti-inflammatory and provides a smoother look and feel to your skin. I had heard about it before but had never really had much motivation to try it. However, a friend of mine had a bottle of rose water she had gotten from a family member and never used and gave it to me. How I could I not try it if it was a free gift? So I tried it and I love it. The smell is a little strong at first but then dissipates and it leaves my skin feeling quite nice. I apply it using a small cotton pad all over my face. You can find it in some local grocery stores but I would get mine at the local middle eastern market. 
4. CamilleStyles.com - I have been so incredibly inspired by this site! They have created a place of creativity and inspiration in so many different areas- fashion, beauty, life, food, and entertaining. I can't get enough. It serves as a inspiration for my blog, not only asthetically but for content as well. Go check it out and let me know what you think!
5. Flower of the Month - Carnations! Now, I am not usually a huge fan of carnations. They are pretty little flowers but my memory of carnation is giving and receiving them on valentine's day in elementary school plus they have never struck me as a particularly inspiring flower. However, they were on sale at the grocery store and I loved the two toned color of these - a peach and orangy-pink combo! I bought two bouqets, one for my desk and one for my bedside table. I love them. They make me happy and have lasted the entire month!
6. Revenge Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger - This book is the sequel to the book The Devil Wears Prada (also a popular movie). I hadn't read the first one but I had seen the movie and loved it. So when my aunt had sent Revenge Wears Prada in a box among other things I thought I'd read it. GOOD CHOICE. I love it! It is just as witty and relatable as the movie. You follow the story line of Andy Sachs as she moves on from Runway and Miranda and starts her life as a married woman with her own bridal mag on the rise. It looks like you can get it from Amazon here!

What have you been loving this month? Leave it in the comments - I'd love to hear from you! If you enjoy reading my posts, please subscribe in the side bar! x

DIY | Lavender Ginger Body Scrub

Hello There! Not long ago I came across a DIY tutorial by LEAF on YouTube and was inspired to make my own body scrub. I tinkered with the recipe a bit, more out of necessity than anything, and I absolutely love the finished product!

Ingredients:

- 2 tbsp ginger, chopped
- 1/2 cup coconut oil
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup kosher salt
- lavender essential oil (I used pure lavender salve, which is made from lavender essential oil, as a substitute and it worked nicely)

The Process:

1. Combine coconut oil, ginger, and (in my case) lavender salve in a small saucepan and heat on low for about ten minutes.
2. Strain the mixture into a medium size bowl and allow to cool to room temperature. Be sure not to let it cool for too long or the coconut oil will settle and begin to harden.
3. Once cooled down, add the sugar and salt to the mixture.
4. At this point, if you are using lavender essential oil add a few drops of the essential oil into the mixture.
5. Jar the mixture and Voila! I recommend using a mason jar with a screw-top lid to ensure that the scrub does not get watered down in the shower. 

I am thoroughly enjoying my scrub and am excited to tweak the recipe to get different scents and benefits! I find after using this scrub my skin feels both quenched and silky. The salt and sugar work to exfoliate and help gently remove any dead skin and the oils keep my skin healthy and soft. If you'd like to take a look at the original recipe check out LEAF's body scrub here! This is not a sponsored post I just enjoy sharing things I love! 

Have you tried any DIY scrubs? I'd love to hear from you and maybe even swap recipes! Stay tuned for more DIYs to come! If you like these posts, please subscribe in the side bar! x