Mad About Mattes-NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream Collection & Swatches!

Left to Right- Prague, Transylvania, Copenhagen, Athens, Cairo, London, Stockholm, Tokyo, Cannes

 This is my collection of NYX Soft Matte Lip Creams, ain't it a beaute?! I'm head over heels for these lip creams and have pretty much been wearing them exclusively for over 2 months with a couple days of lip balm thrown in for good measure. I mean it was 14 degrees here yesterday. A woman's lips can only take so much! So.... As you can see, I may have a slight problem. Moving on...

 Without turning this into a romance novel about how I would marry these lip creams if I could, I will just give you my quick review. BUY THEM! Buy them all! These things are cruelty free, affordable ($5.99USD and ULTA does BOGO on NYX at least once per month), they are highly pigmented and last for hours! I have turned everyone woman I know onto them and am continuing to spread the word, so go ahead, drink the Kool-aid because you need these in your life. Swatches below!

Left to Right- Prague, Transylvania, Copenhagen, Athens, Cairo, London, Zurich, Tokyo, Cannes

Ingredients List

Standard lip gloss packaging with a doe foot applicator

Lucky Goat Soap Review

While vacationing over the summer in upstate New York I had the pleasure of coming across a new shop that opened in town that I couldn't be more excited about, Lucky Goat Soap.I absolutely LOVE goat milk products because they are SO fantastic for your skin so when I heard about this place opening I made a beeline straight for it. It could not be a more wonderful shop. It's quaint and shabby chic and absolutely filled to brim with hundreds of soaps, lotion bars, perfume oils, lip balm, skincare etc. I honestly felt like a kid in a candy store! It's also family owned and all the products are made from the family's small herd of goats. Everything is made by hand right above the shop! All of the packaging was eco-friendly in addition to the products being all natural and you could also see photos of all the little goats who helped create the products! The story behind the shop and their ethics had me hooked and I knew this place was definitely going to become a favorite.

They also have a website which I'm absolutely thrilled about since I can order from home! Their website tells the story of the shop and their goats and also explains how the products are made and what ingredients they use.

http://www.luckygoatsoap.com/

Here's what I got! Don't they have the cutest packaging btw? The likeness and the name come from one of their goats who fell ill and then recovered, thank goodness! :)

Apple Roonie Full Size Bar- this is the big naked guy up above! It's sitting on a soap tray that I also purchased at the shop that they hand make themselves! The scent of this soap is right up my alley. I love vanillas, apples and spices like cloves and cinnamon. This soap smells like apples and cloves almost like a delicious mulled cider. It's an extremely warm and comforting scent. I've been using this baby for a month and it's pretty much the same size as when I opened it. It lathers like crazy with a pouf or washcloth and leaves you squeaky clean, but not dry at all. My skin has been gradually becoming more smooth because of the lactic acid in the goat's milk. The scent doesn't linger and its unisex enough that even my Hubby uses it in the shower as well. He has KP and this soap helps smooth his arms, so if you suffer from the same condition give goat's milk a try!

Main Street Bakery Pygmy Bar- I could just squeal with joy at the adorable name for the small sized bars, named after pygmy goats of course!! Yet another spicy and food scented soap. This one smells strongly of cinnamon and oranges. Very yummy!

Fireside at Rocky Point Pygmy Bar- Now I mentioned in my previous post that I love bonfires and the way they smell, so when I smelled this soap at the shop I did a little happy dance because it smells so much like your clothes after a bonfire! It smells extremely smokey just like woodsmoke with a hint of balsam and pine. This is definitely one of my favorite scents. I'm waiting for it to get a little cooler outside so I can set this on my sink as hand soap. I just freaking love Fall so much!

Oily Skin Face Serum 0.5oz-When I noticed they had a skincare section I went straight for it. When I say I have a bath and body product addiction, that includes the face and any products you use on it! It's all skin eh? They sell two sizes of all their serums, the 0.5oz and 2oz size. Since I'm always looking for more natural alternatives in all my products I decided to give this stuff a try. I bought the smaller size just in case my acne prone crazy skin had a fit. Fortunately for me I didn't have any negative reactions to the serum. I've been using it as my night cream since July and haven't had any clogged pores, breakouts or acne cysts.You only need a few drops for your face and neck. I let mine soak in for an hour or so before I lay down so it doesn't just get wiped away on my pillow! It makes my face and neck feel baby soft and I am in LOVE with this stuff. I'm not even half way through the bottle, but when I run out I will be purchasing the full size for sure!

I highly recommend taking a peek at the Lucky Goat Soap website and trying a few things for yourselves. Many of their products come in smaller sizes so you can test it out. I already have my next order planned out! Have any of you ever tried goat's milk products before? Make an order from Lucky Goat Soap, please tell me what ya ordered! :)

*All products were purchased by me with my own money.

Haus of Gloi + Alchemic Muse Fall Haul + Review!

As I sit sipping my morning tea what better post to do than a recent haul of some bath and body products from one of my favorite shops, Haus of Gloi and; a shop I've never ordered from before on Etsy called Alchemic Muse. Fall is my absolute favorite season and I await the Fall scent releases all year long!

Here is what I got....for now muahaha!

Haus of Gloi products on the left and Alchemic Muse on the right!

I will start with Haus of Gloi! Haus of Gloi is an online cruelty-free vegan body shop run by two amazing owners! They have great customer service and their products are top notch and made fresh by hand! Not to mention the prices are fantastic for such high quality products. They have a permanent scent collection and also run limited edition scents for each season. This is their website: http://www.hausofgloi.com/

 I ordered:

Pumpkin Queen Emulsifying Scrub 7.5oz- HoG scent description is Gentle hay pillows, pumpkin, ripe peaches dusted with clove and nutmeg, dried summer herbs, and lastly, a lovely crown of amber.

This is a fantastic scrub! It's extremely grainy and is moisturizing without leaving an oily film. This smells of peaches, nutmeg and clove with a strong spicy herbal scent added to it. It's not a gourmand or foody scent at all. It's a very unique scent that to me leans more on the masculine side because its so spicy.

Olde Cider Haus Pumpkin Butter 2oz mini size- HoG scent description is  Old oak, sweet drying hay fields, crushed apple pulp and vanilla bean husks.

 I tried this scent last year and absolutely fell in love! It is probably one of my all time favorite Fall scents. Every time I smell it I think of being on a farm going on a hayride and picking pumpkins. A very sweet scent that smells like apples and vanilla with sweet hay and oak. A yearly repeat purchase for me! The pumpkin butter itself is one of my favorite products from HoG, it's the best body butter I have ever come across. Its extremely moisturizing, sinks in and leaves your skin feeling like silk and the scent lasts all day long, but they also sell unscented!

Saft Ernte sample vial- HoG scent description is  A merry drink of harvest and glowing with warmth: Peach juice simmering with sweet spices, pumpkin, silken hazelnut cream and made completely curious with a drop of orange blossom water.

  I was really excited to get my sample vials from HoG because there were a few scents I had yet to try and this was one of them. On wet sniff out of the vial I immediately get chocolate orange with a soft hint of mint. On the dry down on my skin all I can smell is peaches and nutmeg/clove. The peach smell begins to turn into a slightly plastic odor on me after wearing for a few hours. This one just doesn't work with my body unscented!

 

Ghost Puffs sample vial- HoG scent description is Buttery popcorn and marshmallow goo orbs, presented on a wooden stick.

This was another scent I had yet to try, but I know that it's one of their best Fall sellers and according to hearsay it might be added to the permanent collection eep! Around the various online beauty realms I hear people going crazy over Ghost Puffs, everyone seems to be in love with the scent and I can finally see why! On wet sniff it smells like the sweetest, most sugary cream cheese frosting I have ever had the pleasure to sniff! On dry down the scent doesn't change on me at all.  I am definitely ordering more of this scent in any and every product HoG released it in! I suggest readers that if your interested in this scent that you try a sample vial first, many people had it turn to a butter scent on their skin or could actually smell the wooden stick note, which I can't imagine could be too pleasant!

 

On to Alchemic Muse! This is another company you hear a lot about if you frequent beauty forums and blogs. I had plotted an order last year, but just never got around to it. This year I wouldn't make that mistake again. Alchemic Muse is another all natural and cruelty free company, but I don't think this one is vegan. They are also palm free. Like Haus of Gloi they carry a variety of bath and body products and have a permanent scent collection and also release seasonal limited edition scents. I received my order in record time and the customer service was superb! Here is the link to the shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/AlchemicMuse

 

Like I said before I had never ordered from this company before so I thought I would start with a perfume sampler in a few Fall scents.

I ordered:

Zombee sample vial- AM scent description The sweet, earthy aroma of this creation is sure to resurrect your deepest passions! A thrilling concoction of sickly-sweet honey and warm beeswax over a layer of aged patchouli, crushed clove, and darkened vanilla pods.

On wet sniff I can smell very strong patchouli that almost has an acidic note it along with a strong floral honey scent. On dry down the scent becomes warmer and just a hint sweeter. It's a very sensual scent and I think it would layer really well with any vanilla scents! I received this one as a free sample with my order :)

  Samhain sample vial- AM scent description This breathtaking blend captures the sweet-smelling, musky bouquet of autumn. Light notes of blood orange rests atop a heart of roasted walnuts, brown sugar, and hazelnut java fused with black anise seed, earthy patchouli, and black vanilla winding down to a rich musk base.

Aptly named, this scent is like fall in a bottle! It's an extremely layered and complex scent. On wet sniff I can smell walnuts and sugar with a hint of coffee. On the dry down it smells musky and sweet like vanilla with just a hint of walnut and patchouli. In all the fall collections I've sampled I've never come across one quite like this. 

 Countrycide sample vial- AM scent description Scratch the surface of this beautiful scent and you’ll find many layers leading to a shadowy center. A crisp veneer of sweet, earthy autumn leaves with top notes green fig, bergamot, golden hay, and dried flowers masks a darkened heart of musky clover, caramelized benzoin, beeswax, and black vanilla absolute. At the center is a corrupted foundation of bitter almond, tonka bean, gaiacwood and sandalwood, waiting to be revealed for a sensual and unforgettable experience.

This scent is one that I was a little disappointed in. A lot of reviews on the forums and blogs raved about this one again saying it's the epitome of fall. Unfortunately to my nose it's not even close to that. On wet sniff I immediately smell Froot Loops cereal, which I imagine is the bergamot which has always reminded of that colorful cereal. I can only smell a slight hint of something herbal and woody. On dry down on my skin it smells exactly like it did on wet sniff. All in all a very fruity but not foody, wet scent which leans masculine for me.

Bonfire sample vial- AM scent description Evocative of the vibrant colors of autumn, this unique scent is sure to engage the senses. An inviting and familiar blend of crisp fall air, mulled cider, burning maple leaves, and a crackling bonfire.

Doesn't this one just sound yummy? I absolutely LOVE bonfires and there smell so I couldn't resist this one. On wet sniff I smell a citrus scent which is probably the mulled cider, but its comes off slightly lemony. You can begin to smell some spices. On dry down I still get the strong apple/lemon scent and start to smell strong spices from the mulled cider note. The longer you wear it the more the crisp fall air scent comes out as well! 

Have you guys tried any of these scents before or any I haven't mentioned? I'm pretty sure this won't be my only Fall scent order this year considering I have absolutely not self control....

*All products mentioned were purchased by me with my own money. 

 

Makeup Artist's Choice (MUAC) Haul

On my journey to eliminate my acne scars I came across many skincare forums that recommended doing peels on a regular basis. Many people had show tremendous results in the lightening and elimination of their acne scars, so I was convinced! Most of the threads I read mentioned doing them at home for a fraction of the cost of a salon. Being a skincare junkie I immediately started searching where to buy these peels and how to use them. In my search I came across a company called Makeup Artist's Choice or MUAC for short. You can visit their website here:
http://www.makeupartistschoice.com/
I immediately started browsing their products and was looking mostly in the category for acne scars. There a cam across a plethora of peels! I was completely overwhelmed. So I started reading reviews and researching the types of peels they have available. Some of the peels they carry are Mandelic Acid, Salicylic, Glycolic, Lactic and TCA. Mandelic, Salicylic and Lactic are considered to be some of the lighter peels. Even though I've used Retin-a Micro for over a year I was still a little nervous about trying a chemical peel for the first time and especially at home. I didn't want to end up like this.....

After reading horror stories and seeing extremely frightening and disheartening pictures online, I decided to try one of the more gentle peels, Lactic Acid. MUAC carries two Lactic Acid peels. One is 40% and one is 55%. I opted for the 40% because it's the lowest they sell. I chose Lactic Acid because I wanted to start out slow and work my way up to a TCA peel. MUAC recommends using a peel for 5-8 weeks to prep your skin for another peel or if you've never done a peel at all. Other companies do carry lower percentages of Lactic Acid, but I was really intrigued by MUAC's philosophy. I really wanted to try their products and I liked the fact that I was supporting a local business since I live in Baltimore. MUAC also has exceptional customer service. I had many questions about the peel and the size that I was ordering and they answered every question I had. My products also came in record time and they always ship for free! Plus you can join their mailing list and get lots of great discounts!

I ordered the 0.5oz 40% Lactic Acid Peel and it came with a 0.5oz bottle of their PH Prep. It was $17.75 and I was told it would last at least 5 peels. But! as you will read in the review, it will last way beyond 5!

I also ordered their 1oz bottle of Argan Oil since it's supposed to be really great for your skin and also help heal after peels! It cost $10.00. I also received 15% off of my entire order because they were having a promotion at the time.

Reviews of both products to come!!

*I purchased all these products with my own money!*

Acne Scar Journey

*WARNING-ACNE SCAR PICTURES AHEAD*

In the past year my skin has suddenly changed from problem free to cystic acne, oily to dry to combination and has been total hell. The only change I made in my life was stop taking BC pills. I'm 22 now and I had been on them since I was 15 so apparently my hormones had a hard time adjusting after being on medication for so long. (I'm not in anyway advocating staying on BC just for your skin, overall I feel much healthier and less moody!) But, due to my skin freaking out after stopping the medication I had major cystic breakouts on my cheeks. They involved huge under the skin bumps that were red and painful. After dealing with it for a few months I finally went to a dermatologist. My dermatologist prescribed Benzaclin for spot treatment and Retin-A Micro as a nightly treatment. I had pretty good success with these products. My acne is now under control, maybe due to the products and maybe due to my hormones balancing out after a year and a half. I only get the occasional breakout.


Since the acne is cleared up I don't have much to worry about skin wise except for the fact that I have two cheeks full of raised, dark red scars. I find it almost impossible to cover the scars with concealer and foundation because of their dark, almost purple color. They are also still noticeable because of their raised texture. The scars make me feel extremely self conscious and take a toll on my self esteem. I feel embarrassed and am completely fed up. To make matters worse I'm getting married in 7 months. I absolutely refuse to have scars all over my face on my wedding day and in my wedding pictures, they definitely aren't something I want to remember for the rest of my life.


I began researching scars and visiting skincare forums and the wonderful site acne.org. I found out a lot about scars and decided to take action because I realized I didn't have to live with my scars. The first change I decided to make was absolutely wear sunscreen everyday because any hyper pigmentation you have will only darken with sun exposure and will be harder to get rid of in the long run. I also found the absolutely amazing company Makeup Artist's Choice or MUAC. I recently ordered some products from them that should dramatically lighten my scars and possibly get rid of them all together.

I wanted to share my journey of lightening my scars in the hopes of helping someone else get back their confidence and not be ashamed of their skin. These pictures are of the scars I have on both my cheeks and were taken in natural daylight. These pictures were taken before doing any treatment.

I will be uploading photos after I use the treatments I purchased from MUAC as well as, reviews and photos of the products.

YSL Rouge Volupte Collection + Swatches

So every girl has her own type of cosmetic that she just can't get enough of, whether it's eyeshadow, blush, bronzer etc. Every girl has the one she falls back on and probably hoards ungodly amounts of. For me that particular type of item is lipstick. I admit it, I absolutely love lipstick. I cannot go to a cosmetics counter without buying one and I usually don't leave the house without at least lipstick on! I feel like lipstick can completely change your look. You can go light and demure or bright and daring!
My particular favorite brand of lipstick is YSL. At first I did not believe the hype and one afternoon while shopping with my future mother in-law at Neiman Marcus I just mentioned in passing that YSL has this type of lipstick, Rouge Volupte, that gets absolutely rave reviews online and is apparently THE BEST lipstick money can buy. So we went over the YSL counter and tried a few colors on, and that was the moment that I knew I could never turn back. We each purchased a lipstick and over the past two years my collection has slowly grown. Now I don't wear YSL exclusively, I do indulge in MAC every now and then, but I tend to wear YSL the most. YSL has an amazing selection of reds, darks and brights and those are the colors I wear on a regular basis. I personally don't wear light pinks or nudes. The only two nudes that I own are from YSL.

YSL Rouge Volupte has distinct packaging that I'm sure everyone in the beauty world is familiar with. I'm not a sucker for packaging I strictly buy for quality, but Rouge Volupte does have a signature look that is quite striking. Rouge Volupte is packaged in shiny gold, previously with a mirror on the cap, and with a band of the lipstick shade and the YSL logo around the middle. The case itself is pretty sturdy and feels like its made of a thin metal, but unfortunately the YSL logo around the middle is made of plastic and can move around a bit, I have yet to have one break or fall off. Rouge Volupte comes in many different colors, from lights to darks, and there is a shade for every skin tone. The lipstick has a distinct smell that most describe as melon. It does have a soft, fruity scent that is not overpowering, although the smell does linger on the lips. The lipstick itself is extremely creamy, so much so that you can barely twist the lipstick up when applying it or it will break off. The lipstick is very easy to apply because of the creaminess and texture. Rouge Volupte lipsticks last ages because the texture is so smooth and blend-able that you barely need to swipe it across your lips to get the full color. Since the lipsticks are so creamy, they don't apply well if you have dry or cracked lips. The lipstick will settle in all the dry places and just emphasize your dryness. The texture can also make some of the lighter Rouge Volupte shades to look chalky and opaque. The staying quality is not very good unless you wear a gloss over them and the darker shades will stain your lips, which can be both an upside or a downside depending on how you look at it. YSL Rouge Volupte lipsticks retail for $34 at most luxury department stores such as Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus, but you can also order them online.

My YSL Rouge Volupte Collection consists of four lipsticks. From left to right: #112 Spellbinding Violet, #11 Rose Culte, #2 Sensual Silk and #7 Lingerie Pink. All photos were taken in natural daylight.

#112 Spellbinding Violet- is a Rouge Volupte Perle, so its not as opaque at the regular Rouge Volupte and has more of a chapstick feel on the lips. This color is very light on the lips and almost looks like a tinted lip conditioner. I personally like to intensify the color by filling in my lips with MAC Half Red lip liner and putting #112 over the top.

#11 Rose Culte is an almost neon pink and looks more hot pink than the swatch. The color on the lips is very true to how it looks in real life. This color is very high maintenance and stains your lips bright pink, which I personally like. You definitely have to use lip liner with this one and carefully apply it because it will also stain your skin.

#2 Sensual Silk is a nude shade that has hints of peach and pink in it. I have very fair skin and this is one of the only nudes that doesn't make me look ill. It can be extremely chalky if you apply too much, applying a gloss really helps smooth this color out.

#7 Lingerie Pink is probably my least favorite. It's an extremely bright, cotton candy pink. I purchased this lipstick when I had a tan and find that I can't use it when my skin was back to its normal color. This one is the chalkiest Rouge Volupte I've ever used and I always have a hard time making it look presentable. I tend to use it by mixing it with other colors. Again, like #2 a gloss really helps improve the appearance of this one.

*All of these products were purchased by me, with my own money!*