SKINCARE | My Summer Routine!

Hello fun people!  Happy Saturday! 

Today I'm sharing my summer skincare routine with you all.  This routine has been working really well for my combination oily skin amidst the crushing summer heat and humidity here in the ATL.  I mean seriously, what does 88% humidity at 9 p.m. even MEAN?  How is that even possible in a non-tropical locale?  On to the product cornucopia!  

A.M. ROUTINE //

CLEANSE: Olay Fresh Effects {Shine, Shine Go Away} Shine Minimizing Cleanser.  The kaolin clay in this puppy keeps my oily skin in check!  This product has been a game changer for me in the mornings.  My skin feels squeaky clean.  I think it might be too squeaky for people with dry skin, but for combination/oily?  You will loves.

MOISTURIZE: NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer.  The coverage I get from this is fan-tas-tic, it's beautifully hydrating, and it contains SPF 30.  My moisturizer, foundation, and SPF are done in one step!  <insert goal hands emoji> ;)  Original review here.

SET: LUSH Tea Tree Water Toner Water.  Toner??  AFTER makeup?  YAS!  After I finish applying makeup, I mist a few pumps of this genius little product onto my face.  It acts as a setting spray that locks down my look and keeps oil at bay for the entire rest of the day.  Shout out to Corinne at Necessary Nothings for introducing me to this amazing toner by way of this awesome post, and extra grande shouts to my mom for finding said post when I was in the throes of Monsters of Rock-style acne!  This toner's been a huge help at reducing breakouts.  I got the idea to try it as a setting spray one night when I was using it after cleansing and noticed how oil seemed to evaporate from the surface of my skin.  I am very happy to report it works AMAZINGLY well as a setting spray for oily skin!

P.M. ROUTINE //

CLEANSE: Lumene Radiant Touch Refreshing Foam Cleanser with Arctic Cloudberry. LOVE LOVE LOVE this cleanser!  It's gentle on the skin yet powerful at removing all traces of makeup and dirt and has a beautiful light citrus scent. 

SPOT TREATMENT: Formula 10.0.6 Overnight Success Overnight Spot Minimizing Patches.  These things have been heaven-sent.  If you have breakouts, you should get a box of these, STAT.  If I see a tell-tale red bump rising up like an acne phoenix of doom, I place one of these clear patches onto the spot and let it work it's tea tree and grape seed extract magic overnight.  The blemish is greatly reduced the next day and is typically completely gone after 2 nights.  That is a small miracle for anyone with spots that take weeks to fade, sometimes even months.  They go on completely clear and are virtually undetectable; I've actually worn them out on a late-night CVS run!  A tip: apply them to freshly cleansed skin (before moisturizer) so they stick and stay put all night.  

SERUM: Avene Thermal Spring Water Soothing Serum. This delightful serum absorbs effortlessly into skin and leaves it feeling incredibly plump and hydrating.   

MOISTURIZE: Tatcha Supple Moisture Rich Silk Creme.  I won this adorable little pot from a giveaway I entered on The Beauty Look Book!  Thank you so much to Tatcha, and to Sabrina for hosting it!  The Supple Moisture Rich Silk Creme sinks in within minutes and gives the combination part of my skin (it can get painfully dry in places) the moisture it needs without overwhelming the oily part with too rich of a formula.  I tap in a little extra around my eyes because really, why not?  A girl can use all the help she can get!

LIPS: Bite Beauty Agave Lip Mask.  Glory be to Jaa from Hello Jaa for bringing this product into my sights!  It is HG material to the moon and back.  It's thick and silky and transforms the lips overnight.  My lips have never felt better in the morning and they're prepped for whatever lipstick or gloss I want to wear the next day.  I've yet to have a single Napoleon Dynamite "...but my lips hurt real bad!" moment since this lip mask entered my routine.  They've also repackaged it in a plastic tube after public outcry over reports the metal packaging leaked and oozed.  I personally have had no issues with the metal packaging...except for that one time I opened it on a plane and the air pressure caused it to evacuate it's tube at an alarming rate!  However, that would have happened with anything tube-ular, so I don't hold Bite responsible.  That was all me!  As a bonus, since I had gobs of escaped product to use and only two lips, I found out it works amazingly well as a face, hand, and elbow hydrator!

What are some of your summer skin superheroes?  Does your routine change much from season to season?  

REVIEW! | I've got {nearly} nothing but love for the Lumene Time Freeze CC Cream

HEY YOU GUYYYYS!  If you follow me on Instagram, you've seen this product over and over again.  Today I'm finally reviewing one of my favorite products of the YEAR, Lumene Time Freeze Anti-Age Color Correcting Cream.  If I could give the world a hammer cc cream, this would be the one!

Packaged in a squeeze tube, the Lumene Time Freeze CC Cream gives beautiful near-full coverage.  As you probably know by now from numerous mentions, I'm combination-oily.  This cream sets to a semi-matte finish and stays put from sunup to sundown.

From the Lumene site: "Representing the latest technology, this unique 6-in-1 foundation is light and yet it provides good coverage. It spreads evenly, following all contours of your skin and smoothing out uneven skin color and redness. One product has several features, a handy solution for consumers who like a product that is easy, quick and comfortable to use. The end result is a semi-matte, flawless and even-looking skin. Your skin will feel fresh and light, and you can trust that your makeup will stay on all day. CC Cream's 6-in-1 properties: Foundation, Concealer, Primer, Illuminator, Long-lasting, Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 20."

There's a reason every review of this product at the Lumene site is five stars.  It's just THAT good.  I was urged to try this CC cream by my friend Katie who also has combination skin and lives in the humid jungle portion of the U.S. known as "Florida".  She loved it because it was impossible to apply unevenly and took all of sixty seconds to smooth on.  She also raved about it's lasting power.  I figured if it could stand up to Florida's sun and humidity, it could certainly work for me here in "Hotlanta."  And it certainly does!  At the end of the day, it still looks freshly applied; no caking, sliding, or oiliness.

In the words of Tracy, it's "swatchy time!"  Gird your loins!

Top: bare skin / Bottom: Lumene Time Freeze CC Cream

Top: bare skin / Bottom: Lumene Time Freeze CC Cream

Prepare for ze split screens!  

Also, what a treat, you guys!  I happen to have several angry red blemishes so you can really see the difference the Lumene makes.

Left: Lumene CC Cream in Medium / Right: no foundation (indoor lighting)

Left: no foundation / Right: Lumene CC Cream in Medium (indoor lighting)

Left: no foundation / Right: Lumene CC Cream in Medium (indoor lighting)

Left: Lumene CC Cream in Medium / Right: no foundation (direct sun)

My sole beef with this product is the color range.  It only comes in 2 shades: Light and Medium.  I wear medium.  I have more color now than I would in, say, February, but I'm not exactly getting confused with Pharrell Williams.  Though I wish I was because have you seen his skin??  GORGEOUSNESS.

Anywho, I just wish they offered a Medium-Deep and Deep option at least because there are so many people who aren't going to fall into the Light or Medium options.  Lumene, if you're reading this, you're missing out on a huge opportunity to appeal to a much broader market around the world.  Please offer more shades!

Shade range aside, this is hands-down the best CC cream I've ever used, and one of the best foundations I've ever used.  If you typically have trouble finding foundation shades that are light enough for your skin, take a look at this CC cream.

Price: $14.99 USD
Where to Buy: CVS, Dermstore, Drugstore.com, ULTA, Walgreens

#FOTD

FACE

Lumene Time Freeze CC Cream in Medium

MAC Prep + Prime Highlighter in Radiant Rose (under the eyes) 

Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Bronzer

NARS Deep Throat Blush

Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Pomade in Blonde

EYES

MAC Extended Play Lash

LIPS

Revlon Lover's Coral Lipstick

NARS Salamanca Lip Gloss

Do you have a favorite CC cream?  Have you ever tried anything from Lumene?

FAVORITE! | June 2014 ❤

Summers here in Atlanta, GA are hot and incredibly humid.  I don't even know what a dry heat is?  What the hell IS that?  I want to sample it!  That being said, last month I focused on bronzed skin, healthy hair, and relaxed feet, with just a wee bit of makeup.  These were my go-tos!

Garnier Fructis Damage Erase Strength Reconstructing Butter, $5.99 USD.  AMAZEBALLS!!!  As most of you know, I went from brown to blonde to brown in the space of 3 weeks (if you didn't see it, the full story is at the bottom of this post).  Needless to say, my hair wasn't feeling like bunnies and angel wings post-bleaching insanity.  I needed to call in the big guns of moisturization, and this beaut fit the bill.  You simply apply this thick conditioner to your hair from root to tip after shampooing and leave it on as you go about your other shower business.  Rinse it out after 3-5 minutes and voila - shiny, slippery mermaid hair!  I have fine, oily hair (less so now after my hair coloring adventures) and this conditions my hair perfectly without leaving it lifeless or greasy.  The clean scent reminds me of Finesse.  If you have dry or damaged hair, you need to try this!

Garnier Summer Body Moisturizing Lotion Deep Sun-Kissed Look, $10.00 USD.  I am normally not a huge fan of gradual self-tanners, but for some reason, I just had a good feeling about this one.  I heard about it from Sam Schuerman and, while it's a UK exclusive product, I was able to find it for sale at Amazon.com.  I bought it from a seller called The Blush Beauty Box and they were a dream to work with; the item arrived quickly and was packaged with care.  Back to the lotion!  It delivers believable bronzed skin in 2 applications and from there, you can maintain your color by applying it every 2-3 days.  I normally feel like gradual tanners take EONS of time before they're even noticeable, so I LOVED that this one worked right away and didn't leave any weird tanner scent.  It's a great hydrator, to boot!  

Southern Hospitality Sweet Tea Foot Soak, $5.00 USD.  I'll admit that previously, I wasn't huge on foot care.  However, after one soaking sesh with a Sweet Tea Foot Soak, I had an epiphany!  Your feet do SO much for you, why not do something nice for them every once in awhile?  They're called "Sweet Tea" soaks because they're packaged like a giant tea bag.  There's something ultra relaxing about soaking your feet, and they come out of the tub extra soft and clean.  I swear I sleep better after a quick 20 minute foot soakeroo.  So far, I've tried four of the twelve scents and I've yet to meet one I didn't love.  I plan to try Sweet Almond next!  Even if you're thinking, "Meh, feet.  Who cares?!", I swear you'll change your mind after trying it just once.  Even my husband loves soaking his feet now!  Full Southern Hospitality review {here}.

Lumene Time Freeze CC Cream, $14.99 USD.  I'm not going to get too crazy with the proverbial Cheez Wiz and spend an hour talking about this but only because I plan to dedicate a full review to this beauty!  To briefly rave, my friend Katie who lives in Florida told me about it.  Her high points were that it had great coverage, didn't get oily/slippy in the humidity, and it was easy to "slap on" and get out the door.  She was right on all counts!  The coverage is incredible - medium to full without feeling like anything on the skin - and it stays put.  I can't say enough good things about this!  Stay tuned for the full review.    

Maybelline Pumped Up Colossal Volum Express Mascara, $5.99 USD MSRP.  I have tiny eyes.  Large mascara brushes are constantly crashing into my lids like the surf against the sand.  Hence, I typically avoid jumbo wands, or anything labelled "VOLUME CRAY CRAY PANTHER EYEZ" and other such descriptors.  However, I do lurve me some Maybelline mascaras, so I took a chance.  The wand isn't mega, but it's not small either.  It's shaped like a lava lamp.  If I'm dating myself here, think of an elongated pine cone with a spindly point.  The fine point is perfect for working the corners (like a hockey player, eh?!) and I have never hit my lid with the brush.  Win!  LOTS of volume, too.  I literally love this mascara.

So what do you do once your skin is bronzed, your feet are soaked, your hair is sublimely conditioned, your face is perfected, and your lashes are voluminously vivacious?  You light a candle from Bath & Body Works and call it a day!  I have so many favorites from this line, including Gelato, Coconut Leaves, and my summer staple this year, Sunset Beach.  I have a Gelato one that I've never lit sitting on my bedside table and I can smell it whenever I'm in that room.  I just love these candles and find them to be an excellent value.  Plus, you can reuse the jars after you burn them to make amazing storage solutions for makeup brushes, cotton balls, small perfumes, pens, etc.!  The 3 wick candles are generally $20.00 USD but I've never paid full price for one because they have 50% off sales all the time.  Also, if you're not ready to commit to a 3-wick, wait for a 3 for $10 sale on the minis and test drive whichever ones tickle your fancy.  

What products were you reaching for the most last month?  How do you like to unwind in the summertime?

Make A Spectacle! | Firmoo.com Glasses Review + Coupon Code

Let’s talk spectacles.  Whether you wear glasses out of necessity or for the sake of fashion, a great deal on frames and lenses is always something to celebrate!  Firmoo.com contacted me to test drive a pair of glasses and share my experience with you lovely people, and I’m happy to report it was FANTASTIC!

Rocking my best mugshot face!

At the Firmoo site, you can create an account and upload your own picture so you can see what any pair of glasses or sunglasses will look like on your face!  I LOVE this feature!  It really takes the guess work out of selecting flattering frames.  

You can order any of the glasses as non-prescription if you just want a pair to change up your look, or you can enter your prescription information and get a fresh pair of glasses for a pretty amazing price point.  In the past, I’ve always bought my glasses from my vision care provider and spent an arm and a leg.  I’m due to go in for an eye exam soon and I plan to order my next set of glasses from Firmoo.  They also offer regular and prescription sunglasses, too.  Love!

I ordered this pair of Wayfarer-style tortoise shell frames on June 8th and received them 8 short days later.  Firmoo provided me with a shipment tracking number so I could watch my glasses’ sojourn, which I always enjoy.  The glasses were packaged with care and came with a super cool case (love the map design!) and a cleaning cloth.  The glasses fit my face perfectly and have the same quality feel as my old pair of glasses that I paid nearly $200 USD for.

They have a First Pair Free Program that includes one frame, a complimentary case, a cleaning cloth and other accessories. You only pay for lenses & shipping.  They ship to a TON of countries, click here for their full list.

-------✄ COUPON TIME! ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

The fine folks at Firmoo (alliteration win!) graciously offered to share a voucher code to reward 5 of my lucky readers!  The first 5 readers to shop through this link and enter "GLAMBUNCTIOUS" at checkout in the coupon code box will save $30.00 on the frames!  Hurry though, because the code expires on July 31st!  

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Do you wear glasses?  Have you ever ordered from Firmoo?  

A  H A I R Y  S I T U A T I O N

I have returned back to my brown hair!  Long story short, the blonde hair wasn't really the plan to begin with.  I wanted light brown hair with blonde highlights.  This was my inspiration picture:

Image via Pinterest

The initial color appointment left my hair brown with orange streaks.  It looked AWFUL!  I went back to the salon (my first mistake - I should have gone to another salon!) and their solution was to bleach my whole head and add blonde toner.  After about 4 hours, my hair was still highlighter yellow.  So they added a bit darker toner.  And the bleached blonde look above was what I left with.  Initially I thought maybe I would get used to it, but it was still very much not what I wanted and was very crayon yellow.  I used purple shampoo for blondes and washed my hair less than usual, but the color still seemed to look worse and worse.  It just didn't look remotely natural, and it didn't help that there were no lows/darker tones.  it looked very amateur.  I did have a few people who saw it in person ask if I went to a salon, which implies that they thought I did it at home myself.  I also had bleach burns on my scalp which were painful and itchy.  3 weeks to the day of the first appointment, I went to another salon and had a long, honest consultation with the salon owner.  Based on the condition of my hair (bleached out, porous, and spongey when wet), we decided to color my hair back to an espresso/chocolate toned brown.  They could have tried to give me the original light brown with blonde highlights, but were hesitant because lifting the hot yellow toner off the sections that would be highlighted could have damaged the hair even more.  Plus, I was just ready to get off the hair color roller coaster!  The salon owner was so adorable.  He looked at me and said, "You're done gambling, aren't you?" in the kindest way!  I thought that was the perfect description.  So they had their most experienced colorist (46 years!!) take care of me and I left with a gorgeous head of chocolatey hair!  As soon as I saw myself with dark hair, I felt giddy and overwhelmingly happy!

Who's that brunette kissing my husband??  Oh wait, that's me! :)

I will have to go back a few times once the brown fades since it's over blonde hair, but they said after a few colorings, my hair would hold the dark pigment.  So, the #1 lesson I learned?  Go to an EXPERIENCED colorist, one who is especially familiar with taking people from whatever color your hair is to the polar opposite color on the spectrum.  And also?  I now have a better appreciation for the brown hair I was born with!          

  

Image via cvsflags.com

Happy Independence Day, America!