Hi everyone! I finished my first Project Pan! You can read about the start of it here and my update here. I started this in January to focus on using up some skincare I’ve had for a while.
I began with ten products, but used most of them up quickly. So I added a few more at the end of January. I didn’t do a check in at the end of February because I thought I was almost done. But I had a Pur Cosmetics mask that took longer to use up than I thought it would.
I’m not going to list the products here, but you can go back to my original posts to see what was included. I used up all of the products in the photo above and am pretty proud of myself!
The big thing I got out of doing this is that I made sure to use the products every day. Before this, I hadn’t been great about removing makeup and using my skincare at night. I now take of my makeup and use my skincare almost every night and I think my skin looks better! I also make sure to use skincare, including one with SPF in the morning, too.
I’m going to start another 3 month Project Pan this weekend. This time, I’m going to include some other products as well as skincare. Probably not any pressed powders yet, because I’m not even close to pan on any of my eye shadows, blushes, etc! But this will help me use up some of my stash!
Have you done or are you doing a Project Pan. How’s it going?
H2O+ Beauty has some amazing new skincare and bath and body care just released this spring. I love this brand because the products contain natural ingredients and innovative formulas.
One of the new collections I’m reviewing products from are the Rapids Collection that features champagne and yuzu extracts, a balancing and enhancing probiotic skin care collection that makes your skin look and feel immediately healthier:
H2O+ Rapids Soothing Probiotic Bubble Mask
H2O+ Rapids Soothing Probiotic Bubble Mask ($6 for one pouch, $25 for 5 pouches) – This bubble mask foams up before your eyes and helps calm and soothe skin, promoting a more even looking complexion. Perfect for combination skin.
What I think: Once you massage this mask in, it bubbles up thickly. At first it tickled my nose and I didn’t know if I could keep it one, but the bubbles pop and leave a film on the skin. I rinsed it off after 10 minutes and my skin was smooth. It wasn’t calm though at first, it was a bit red. But it did calm down and I really liked how soft my skin was. One pouch contains about three uses.
H2O+ Rapids Gel to Powder Probiotic Mattifier
H2O+ Rapids Gel to Powder Probiotic Mattifier ($22 USD) — This unique mattifier balances combination skin and blurs imperfections as the gel transforms to a light powdery texture before your eyes. Featuring Probiotics and Champagne and Yuzu extracts, it absorbs excess oil and shine and leaves skin with a visibly flawless, even skin tone. Dermatologist tested. Non-acnegenic. Non-comedogenic. Clinically proven to not clog pores and to reduce the number of blackheads after 2 weeks.**when used as a regimen.
What I think: This is really nice under makeup or on its own to keep oil at bay. I usually only have oily skin in the summer, so for me it will be perfect when it gets hot. I think this will be nice for those who have oily skin all year long.
H2O+ Rapids Probiotic Champagne Illuminator
H2O+ Rapids Probiotic Champagne Illuminator ($22 USD) — A pearlescent highlighter that enhances your best features while also helping skin better retain moisture. Featuring Probiotics, and Champagne and Yuzu extracts, its water-based jelly texture gives you a subtle glow in all the right places. Dermatologist tested. Non-acnegenic. Non-comedogenic. Clinically proven to not clog pores and to reduce the number of blackheads after 2 weeks. **when used as a regimen.
What I think: This is such an interesting highlighter. It’s a peachy-golden glow that applies like skincare. It really feels nice on the skin. It goes on a little wet but dries down. It’s a more natural glow, but looks amazing in the sunlight. The only negative is there is very little product in the container.But a little does go a long way.
The second collection I have been testing is the Coconut Verbena Bath and Body Collection:
Coconut Verbena Body Wash ($18 USD 12.2 Fl oz) — These Coconut Water enriched suds feature Coconut Water, Vitamin E and Verbena extract, cleansing and refreshing skin. So lather up those bubbles and breathe in the crisp, citrusy verbena scent. Cleanses and refreshes with coconut and verbena.
What I think: This is a really refreshing, light scented body wash. It also bubbles up nicely in the bath (I love baths)! It also hydrates the skin and leaves it soft after use. So lovely for warmer weather!
H2O+ Coconut Verbena Body Butter
H2O+ Coconut Verbena Body Butter ($22 USD 8 Fl oz) This deeply hydrating body butter features Coconut Milk and Verbena extract, nourishing and softening skin while treating your senses to the crisp and citrusy scent of verbena. Deeply hydrates and softens with coconut and verbena.
What I think: This smells just as pretty as the body wash. It hydrates the skin and leaves it so soft!
Have you tried H2O+ Beauty products? Are you going to pick up any of these new releases?
I have been testing new skincare, which I have been enjoying. I have been using up some skincare from a project pan I have been doing, (I will be posting results soon), so I was ready for some new products!
The two products I have been loving are from N07 and Philosophy. I have received them for my honest review. I have been using them for over a week. Here is what I think:
No7 Early Defence GLOW ACTIVATING Serum
No7 Early Defence GLOW ACTIVATING Serum ($24.99 1 oz) — This product claims to give glowy skin after 7 days of use. In one week, 87% of women saw a more radiant complexion. This clinically proven serum delivers:
Visibly brighter skin
Reduced appearance of pores
Smoother texture and improved clarity
No7 Early Defense GLOW ACTIVATING Serum, with Ginseng and Vitamin C boosts skin’s natural renewal process to clear and refine pores for a glowing complexion. This powerful formula also supports your skin’s natural defenses, calming skin¿s reactivity to stress and protecting by neutralizing damaging free radicals caused by the sun & pollution.
What I think: I have been using this twice a day for over seven days. It is a white gel/cream and is unscented. It has almost a primer-like feel on the skin — it glides on and smooths out my skin tone. I have noticed that my skin has been looking really nice every morning. My skin tone is even and my pores look a little less noticeable. And I do have a glow! I will continue to use this and see if my skin continues to improve. I do recommend it if your skin needs a bit of a glow.
Available at Ulta stores
Philosophy Purity Made Simple Ultra-Light Moisturizer
Philosophy Purity Made Simple Ultra-Light Moisturizer ($25 4.7 fl. oz.) — I was excited when I saw this new moisturizer, because I love Purity Made Simple cleanser. It is an ultra-lightweight formula that claims to leave skin looking dewy and smooth with less-visible pores—pure and restored to its ideal state. learn more! More claims are:
Clinically proven to keep skin hydrated for 24 hours Immediately feels like a reset for your skin In just 3 days, see makeup-optional skin In 7 days, skin looks young and healthy like the skin you were born with!
What I think: This has the soft lavender scent of the cleanser, which I love! It is very light and absorbs into the skin very quickly. I have been using it over my N07 serum at night (I use an SPF day cream). I don’t like to use heavy night creams at the moment, as I am hot all the time (my own personal summer). This is perfect as it does hydrate without weighing down my skin. I think this will be amazing in the summer when I need moisture without using any heavy creams.
Arbonne RE9 Advanced Retexturizing Serum in Lotion
I was sent some amazing Arbonne RE9 Advanced body and neck products for my honest review. I have only been using these for about a week, so I haven’t seen the long term benefits yet. This is more like first impressions.
A big release is the RE9 Advanced Retexturizing Serum in Lotion ($50 USD) — This double-duty body lotion contains serum that not only delivers amazing all-day hydration, but also offers gentle exfoliation.
What I think: I love how this feels on my skin. It immediately hydrates and leaves my skin silky smooth. It isn’t greasy at all. I can tell that it has serum in it, because it sinks into my skin and my skin glows and appears smoother. My dry patches on my elbows already look better! The only issue is that I don’t really care for the scent. It’s lemony, almost like a home cleaner. I am going to use it up to see what it does to my skin.
–
Arbonne RE9 Advanced Age-Defying Neck Cream
RE9 Advanced Firming Body Cream
Two other products from the collection are the RE9 Advanced Firming Body Cream and the RE9 Advanced Age Defying Neck Cream. Here are the descriptions from the Arbonne website:
RE9 Advanced Age-Defying Neck Cream ($85 USD) — This heavenly cream, formulated with peptides, helps improve the appearance of firmness by adding moisture to your delicate neck and décolletage area, while stabilized vitamin C boosts and maintains moisture to support collagen.1.7 oz.
RE9 Advanced Firming Body Cream ($75 USD) –This luxurious cream deeply nourishes the skin with hydration, formulated with red algae extract, to smooth the appearance of dimpled skin and promote a shapelier-looking silhouette. 6.7 oz.
What I think: The neck cream is hydrating and smoothing. And the body cream is really rich and gives a ton of moisture. I will be trying it out to see if they both firm.
This exclusive four-piece collection features is valued at $173.43 and it is on sale today for $59.96! It contains the following products:
2.53-fl oz CC+ Cream Illumination in Fair, Light, Medium, Medium Tan, Tan, Rich, or Deep
0.192-oz Bye Bye Pores Blush in Sweet Cheeks, a peachy-pink shade
0.057-fl oz Je Ne Sais Quoi Hydrating Color Awakening Lip Treatment Serum
Heavenly Skin CC+ Skin Perfecting Brush
I have tried all of these amazing products before, except for the brand new lip treatment serum. Here’s more info on each product:
It all begins with the super-size CC+ Cream Illumination. It’s your complete skin care, your SPF 50 UVA/UVB sunscreen, and full coverage in one step. There is no shimmer or glitter, but a lit-from-within look! Infused with hydrolyzed collagen, peptides, hyaluronic acid, and other skin-loving ingredients, Drops of Light Technology helps give your skin a beautiful radiance. Paired with the Heavenly Skin CC+ Skin Perfecting Brush, CC+ Cream helps improve the appearance of dry fine lines and wrinkles.
To brighten the look of your complexion, Bye Bye Pores Blush in the new shade, Sweet Cheeks, instantly diffuses the look of pores and imperfections while giving your skin the perfect kiss of peachy pink. Hyaluronic acid, antioxidants, and peptides infused in your blush? That’s what makes IT Cosmetics so different. What’s more, it’s and talc- and paraben-free!
Infused with butters, oils, hyaluronic acid, and antioxidants, Je Ne Sais Quoi Hydrating Color Awakening Lip Treatment Serum delivers hydration with your perfect flush of soft, pink color.
You get a HUGE tube of the CC+ Cream Illumination. This applies so nicely to the skin and makes you look flawless. Using it with the amazing brush will give a pretty even coverage. I love IT brushes — so high quality!
I actually have the blush in Sweet Cheeks already and use it every day. It looks super shimmery in the pan, but when applied, my skin looks so glowy!
The lip product feels nice on. The Je Ne Sais Quoi shade has been made into so many lip products by IT because it is so popular. It goes on very light pink, but deepens to a different shade for each person. On me it’s always super bright pink. So I don’t wear it often. If it stayed a light pink, I would love it!
All in all, this is a great deal, especially if you love IT Cosmetics’ fan favorite CC+ Cream. The jumbo size of that is worth the cost of the whole kit!
I have just received Julep Maven box recently came! This is the March subscription box. The cost is $24.99 a month ($19.99 a month with a 3-month subscription).
I have been a subscriber for 5 years now. And I love it! You don’t have to take a box each month, you can skip if you want to. Which is so nice if I’m short a month or if I’m not feeling any of the items. I skipped December, because I was a bit short of cash and I didn’t really need any of the products.
I also love that you can customize your box. When I first started subscribing, I could choose from curated boxes, but now, I get to curate my own! This month I chose the Dream Big Nightly Renewal Pressed Serum with BHA and two metallic matte nail polishes. I received some cute shamrock nail decals as an extra!
Here’s a closer look!
I was excited to try the new Dream Big Nightly Renewal Pressed Serum with BHA ($36 or $28.80 for Mavens) — This claims — An innovative stick streamlines your nighttime serum and moisturizer steps into one. It deeply hydrates as it gently exfoliates to unveil smoother, more refined skin overnight.
I really wasn’t paying attention to this, because I didn’t realize that it was a stick until I got it home! I haven’t tried it on my face yet, because I’m trying a new No7 brightening serum (review to come). But I have swatched it on my hand. It’s very hydrating. I hope it’s not to heavy for my face, but we will see!
These cute little shamrocks will be perfect for a St. Patrick’s Day manicure. I have a new green polish that will look amazing with them!
These shades are from top Polly Ann –Cool Aubergine Matte Shimmer and bottom — Sonia — Blue Steel Matte Metallic.
I took this when the day was almost done, so the lighting isn’t perfect. The top is more purple and the bottom, teal. These look a bit like fall shades to me. I picked them out. I guess I’m not ready for spring yet!
Do you get Julep Maven? What products did you choose this month?
I think exfoliating skin is so important at any age. I try to do it as much as my sensitive skin will allow.
I was recently sent some Nip + Fab Glycolic Fix products for my honest review. Here’s what I think:
Nip + Fab Glycolic Fix Foaming Pads
Nip + Fab Glycolic Fix Foaming Pads ($14.99 USD) — This is a very cool product! It’s a wet, foaming pad that you cleanse the skin with, Then rinse off for smooth, cleans skin. Enriched in 2% glycolic acid and moisture-rich ingredients, switch between the textured side to exfoliate and the smooth side to polish skin and lift away dirt, oil and impurities.
These are thicker than the normal Glycolic Fix pads and the textured side is a bit rougher. I find that they cleanse and exfoliate in one step. Use a day or night cleansing pad afterwards for double exfoliation.
Nip + Fab Glycolic Fix Daily Cleansing Pads
Nip + Fab Glycolic Fix Daily Cleansing Pads (12.99 USD) — 60 radiance-boosting pads, soaked in exfoliating glycolic acid (2.8%) retexture + resurface skin whilst witch hazel helps to tone. Also includes hyaluronic acid + soothing blue daisy helps to reveal brighter + smoother looking skin.
First of all, all of these products smell very nice. Mild and fresh. These are easy to use after cleansing, swipe them on skin, moisturize. Gorgeous! Skin is ready for makeup. These really help the texture of my skin by making it smoother and pores less noticeable.
Nip + Fab Glycolic Fix Night Pads Extreme
Nip + Fab Glycolic Fix Night Pads Extreme ($14.95 USD) — A more potent version of the bestselling glycolic fix pads, these extreme night pads contain the ighest level of glycolic acid at 5% and have been further enhanced with the addition of salicylic acid, making these your ultimate night treatment to refine pores, brighten the complexion and de-congest the skin through the improvement of the skin’s natural exfoliation process.
This is not a daily product, I use maybe once or twice a week. I can really feel it re-texturizing my skin, but it doesn’t irritate it at all, and I have sensitive skin!
If you want an easy to use and not messy exfoliation at a great price, I highly recommend these.
It is fragrance free. It is very hydrating and works well on my skin and hair. I like applying it to the ends of my hair. My hair is really dry right now and it makes it more manageable. I also like using it on my elbows and legs, and any other dry skin I have.
Derma E 3-in-1 Hair Protection Serum ($10.99 USD) works so well on my damaged hair. I apply it when my hair is damp, and also when is dry. It can be used before drying or as a finishing serum. For perfect hair I do it both ways. I think this an affordable way to get really shiny and manageable hair. I’ll be great on my frizzy hair in the summertime too.
Valentines Day is just around the corner. It’s time to prep skin and get makeup ready for the big day.
Below is a brightening skin serum plus pink and red liquid lipstick and nail polish to help get ready for a big night out — and in!
ISDINCEUTICS Flavo-C serum
ISDINCEUTICS Flavo-C serum ($84 USD) — This serum protects against damaging free radicals caused by UVA, UVB rays and pollution. The serum evens skin tone for a firmer, brighter complexion thanks to the extremely powerful combination of two anti-oxidants: Vitamin C and Gingko Biloba.
Available at Isdin.com/us
Fire Starter
Heartbeat
Get ready for a bold, matte lip-look that stays on. Rimmel London introduces Stay Matte Liquid Lip Colour, ($5.79 USD) a new liquid lipstick with high-intensity colour, a velvety matte finish and a long-lasting, comfortable wear. Shades shown are Fire Starter and Heartbeat.
Purchase at mass market retailers near you
Peppy Le Fuchsia
Watermelon Wizz
Sally Hansen Insta-Dri® Nail Color ($4.99 USD) — This newly upgraded 3-in-1 formula with built-in base and top coat offers shiny, extended wear in a single step. The new Insta-Dri is housed in an updated bottle adorned with a gorgeous new logo and comes complete with color-matched caps for a modern, sleek feel and easy shade navigation. The revamped formula delivers an extra day of wear and chip resistance, so you can take that nail look to go- anywhere, anytime. With up to 33% longer wear and chip resistance, up to or almost 3x as many consumers preferred the new formula versus the former. Get ready on the go with Insta-Dri’s brush that covers in one stroke. One stroke, one coat, and you’re done! Shades shown are Peppy Le Fuchsia, ASAP Apple, Watermelon Wizz
My Julep Maven box recently came! This is the February subscription box. The cost is $24.99 a month ($19.99 a month with a 3-month subscription).
I have been a subscriber for almost 5 years. And I love it! You don’t have to take a box each month, you can skip if you want to. Which is so nice if I’m short a month or if I’m not feeling any of the items. I skipped December, because I was a bit short of cash and I didn’t really need any of the products.
I also love that you can customize your box. When I first started subscribing, I could choose from curated boxes, but now, I get to curate my own! This month I chose the So Awake eye cream and Eyeshadow 101 in Champagne Shimmer. I also got nail decals since I had a little room left in my selections.
So Awake Depuffing Gel Eye Cream ($38,$30.40 Maven) — From the website — A lightweight, multitasking eye cream that handles all your everyday eye woes. It hydrates and depuffs the delicate eye area as it reduces the look of dark circles. Plus, illuminating micro-pearls perk up the look of tired eyes instantly.
I’ve only used it a couple of times, but I love the texture and how quickly it absorbs. It’s called a gel, but it’s white and creamy, so I was a bit confused at first. It is very light, though, and refreshing.
Eyeshadow 101 Crème-to-Powder Eyeshadow Stick ($18.00,$14.40 Maven price) — A waterproof, crème-to-powder shadow stick on top with a spongy smudger on the other end. Expect huge color payoff and crease-proof, stay-all-day power.
The color I chose is Champagne Shimmer. It’s a gorgeous light neutral. It’s super shimmery and so versatile. This does stay all day and looks so pretty one. I think I might have to pick up a darker color next month to try a complete look.
Do you subscribe to Julep Maven? What did you get this month?
Hi everyone! I finished my first Project Pan! You can read about the start of it here and my update here. I started this in January to focus on using up some skincare I’ve had for a while.
Forty, Flirty & Fabulous 