Beauty, Home, Makeup, Uncategorized

How To Clean Your Makeup Brushes

First of all, apologies for the very long hiatus from the blog! Laziness and life happened, and after I found myself sharing more/new information with friends, I was like wait a minute….I need to write again! Today’s topic is an important one. Like…a really important one. Washing your makeup brushes is soooo important for staying break-out free and ensuring the best makeup application. I know it doesn’t sound super fun but I promise it will improve the condition of your brushes, your skin, and dare I say…your life.

I know girls that have NEVER washed their brushes, and I am talking years (you know who you are.) This is horrible for many reasons, but the main one is that your brushes are now crawling with bacteria and you are letting that touch your skin over and over again. The only brush of mine that gets daily usage is my powder foundation brush and I aim to wash that once a week. I am in no way saying that you need to wash all of your brushes constantly, but the ones that get frequent usage definitely need some TLC. It prevents product from building up and that, in turn, helps with a smooth application of whatever makeup you are using. Continue reading “How To Clean Your Makeup Brushes”

Beauty, Home, Skincare, Uncategorized

Review: My Favorites From COSRX

This post has been very long overdue and it’s because these products have been part of my skincare routine for so long that I kind of stopped actively thinking about them. When Korean skincare first became popular in the states, COSRX was one of the first brands I heard about. They have a pretty extensive range that incorporates effective ingredients without creating any further damage to the skin, a philosophy that I am always behind. All K-beauty products that I have used have a big moisture component, which for a majority of my life I was not accustomed to. I always thought that by using more drying products, I was doing my naturally oily skin a favor. Boy, was I wrong. Moisturizing your skin is so important, it can plump up your skin, balance oil production, and give you a very natural looking glow. Therefore, it is super important to use products that address your concerns without stripping your skin and causing further irritation. COSRX hits the nail on the head with this 🙂

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Beauty, Home, Makeup, Uncategorized

Review: My Favorite Mascaras

Who doesn’t like big, full lashes? Mascara is one of those things that can take your look to the next level. Whether it’s a more natural makeup day or full on glam, mascara is a must for framing your eyes. I have tried so many different kinds (high end and drugstore) and honestly, the affordable mascaras take the cake when it comes to formula, volume, and lengthening. The ones I will be talking about are all non-waterproof/original formula.

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Beauty, Home, Skincare, Uncategorized

Review: Neutrogena Light Therapy Acne Mask

So, this is a weird one. I was first intrigued by the idea of light therapy when I stumbled upon Caroline Hiron’s video about new and interesting skincare gadgets where she gave this product a mention. I’ve seen light therapy products in the market before and I’ve heard of people getting it done alongside their facials…but I thought it was just one of those things that sounds amazing and fancy but doesn’t actually do anything. The Neutrogena Light Therapy Acne Mask is the most affordable option for light therapy on the market right now and when it came out I definitely wanted to see what all the buzz was about. But, not without doing some research first.

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Beauty, Home, Skincare, Uncategorized

How Probiotics Helped My Skin

It all started towards the end of my trip to Iceland. I started to break out the day that we were leaving. I did my normal skincare routine and spot treatments and figured that, like usual, it would go away in a day or two. But something was different this time. I started experiencing more breakouts as the days went on and was beginning to panic a little. I initially attributed it to traveling and all the things that come with it – poor diet, less sleep, not drinking enough water, etc. However, I had gone back to my normal routine of drinking plenty of water and trying to eat as healthy as I could. I wasn’t using any new products so I couldn’t immediately point to a culprit. Weeks turned to months and my skin was the probably the worst it had been in years.

I tried everything to get it back under control – tea tree oil, manuka honey, sulfur, charcoal, varying strengths of chemical peels, etc. Nothing was working. It then occurred to me that the cause was most likely internal. I’m very familiar with the fact that diet and overall health can heavily attribute to the condition of your skin, which is why I’m always trying to stay hydrated and eat my greens. But this was strange because nothing had really changed about what I was eating. Soo…what gives? Continue reading “How Probiotics Helped My Skin”

Beauty, Home, Skincare, Uncategorized

Review: My Favorite Products From The Ordinary: Part 2

More favorites from The Ordinary! Check out part 1 if you missed it here.


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Beauty, Home, Skincare, Uncategorized

Review: My Favorite Products From The Ordinary: Part 1

The Ordinary

The Ordinary is a new skincare line from the brand Deciem. Their approach to skincare is no-frills – no fancy packaging or filler ingredients. Just active ingredients that do what they are supposed to. I was extremely intrigued by this brand, but more so by the price point. These products are very affordable so I jumped on the opportunity to try some products out and here are my thoughts!

Also, I have made an Instagram account to go with this blog so it will be easier to get updates! Follow me there 🙂 @loveneepa Continue reading “Review: My Favorite Products From The Ordinary: Part 1”

Beauty, Home, Makeup, Uncategorized

Review: Lancome Teint Idole Ultra Wear Camouflage Concealer

I’m extremely picky about concealer. As someone who does not use liquid foundation daily, I place a lot of importance on having a good concealer. I have searched high and low for the perfect one to cover hyper pigmentation while also looking natural on the skin. A couple years ago, I actually had found one that I really liked and it was a super random one…the Revlon Age-Defying Targeted Dark Spot Concealer. I used this one for years and loved it. I can’t even tell you how many times I have repurchased it. But, then I noticed that many stores were not carrying it anymore and I started to get worried that it would get discontinued. Why does this always happen to me? *Sigh* Continue reading “Review: Lancome Teint Idole Ultra Wear Camouflage Concealer”

Beauty, Home, Makeup, Uncategorized

Review: Milani Multitasker Face Powder

Our relationship started years ago. I was searching for the perfect foundation and after almost giving up entirely, the Milani Multitasker came into my life. I’ve never been the biggest fan of liquid foundation. High-end, drugstore…you name it, I’ve tried it. It didn’t matter the formulation or the method of applying…I could always feel it on my face and I hated that. Emilynoel83 (OG youtuber) talked about this powder and said it had the coverage of a liquid foundation, so I knew I had to check it out.

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Beauty, Home, Skincare, Uncategorized

Review: EltaMD UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46

Daily sunscreen usage is one of those things that every skincare expert says is an absolute must to protect your skin and it’s one of the most effective ways in preventing signs of aging. For years and years, I kept hearing this advice but never really took heed because I hated all sunscreens that I tried. Too thick, too smelly, too greasy…the list goes on. I knew of the benefits but I wasn’t willing to risk my skin breaking out so I put off trying to find one that worked, especially since it seemed like I had tried them all.

In a recent trip to Austin, the topic of sunscreen came up between some of my girlfriends and one of them mentioned the EltaMD UV Clear being her absolute favorite. She said she found it through all the amazing reviews it had. I was definitely interested so I looked it up and she was absolutely right…raving reviews. It actually baffled me that somehow this product had gone under my radar, because I am always reading about skincare. I immediately purchased it and after trying it for the first time…never looked back. Continue reading “Review: EltaMD UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46”