Good morning beautiful people and happy freakin Monday.
I know it's been a minute since I've posted {I'm sorry again}; however, a lot has been going on that I won't get into cause it's just a lot of heavy-hearted stuffffffffff.
Soooooo with that aside I figured I would talk beauty and skincare with y'all. If you're new here, HELLOOOO AND WELCOMEEE!! I am a sucker for skincare and LOVE introducing people to products I am absolutely OBSESSED with.
No joke, I have gotten A TON of people using products I love and I have made skincare routines for others. My brother for one is on a new skincare routine {lol I say new like he had a routine before}... I met up with him a couple weeks ago and gave him a few products. I told him what he should be using in the morning after he wakes up and washes his face with face wash I gave him {and recommend to everybody} and I told him what he should be using at night ANDDDDD he even labeled the products "morning" and "night" with Sharpie {talk about ruining the aesthetic of a skincare spread}. One of the products that I'll talk about below I have gotten a MULTITUDE of people hooked on {my god-sister snapchats me every time she uses it} and I have a couple other few of my guy friends using some skincare products as well {I won't use their names because guys are weird and think skincare is too "girly" for some reason}.
Long story short: I am skin obsessed.
NOW -- Let's get into this post because I think y'all are going to need to make some purchases after reading this {or during} because this is a click to shop post to make it easier on y'all AND the goods will open up in another window so you can bounce back to this post.
We are talking empties though...
If you don't know what "empties" are, lemme help you because I truly didn't know what they were the first time I read {and heard} about it so I straight up Googled: what are empties for beauty.
Here's my "Super Sparknotes" version for you: Empties are beauty or skincare products that perform SOOOO well that they get used up entirely. Typically beauty bloggers {and vloggers} would post photos of brand new products; but, #ProductEmpties was once trending on Instagram and YouTube and users utilized it to find the best products to invest in {because who actually uses all of their products?!}.
So now that you're in the know with the lingo, today we're going to be spotlighting some skincare products I have become addicted to and can't stop swiping me card {or inputting my card info in the computer} for.
THE EMPTIES: SKINCARE EDITION
Guys, this is a GAME CHANGER and I know it says its an overnight sleeping mask for your lips but I just use it ALL the dang time. The moment I wake up, when I am driving to my workout, when I am about to go on a walk, after I eat, before I go to bed, etc. I swear, this is a product you will NEVER want to breakup with.
Not going to lie -- I have kissed some frogs while wearing this and they even make comments about it.
Let me just tell y'all. This Laniege lip mask is moisture packed and it will leave your lips feeling nice and moisturized throughout the entire day and night. I personally have been using the Vanilla one since I could remember {and the most recent addition is Apple Lime}, but I swear this is a purchase you won't regret.
It is enriched with vitamin C and antioxidants AND it smells so dang yummy {the fruity ones smell like delicious fruit blends but I'm just biased and a sucker for anything vanilla}!! Laniege also releases limited edition lip masks every so often and I graciously got Sweet Candy from my bff Tatiana {shoutout} for Valentines AND it's actually included in a limited edition set currently to celebrate a Netflix original that I'm sure all my girls know about: To All the Boys I Ever Loved. The limited edition buckets are smaller than the original sized ones though so keep that in mind.
Also if you're stressed out with the fact that it comes in a little bucket, I want to let y'all know that it also comes with a lil applicator. I personally don't use it {cause I use the back of my nail and always have hand sanitizer with me for that reason} BUT if you're into the lil applicator spoon thingy, all you do is dip it in the bucket and transfer that amount on your lips.
BOOM!!
Say goodbye to dryness, dullness, and uneven texture and say hello to luscious and plump lips.
Basically, I am obsessed with this because:
✩ my lips are ALWAYS moisturized to perfection
✩ it will leave your lips so stinkin soft {even ask your SO or hookup buddy}
✩ my lips get the nutrients they deserve
✩ it lasts a long time
✩ it won't melt like chapstick {and that may sound weird but I keep one of these in my car and although it softens up, it will never disappoint you like chapstick does in the sun}
I swear, I have gone through two whole buckets of these bad boys and I have three that are halfway used {one next to my bed, one in my car, and one in my handbag}. I am not kidding you when I tell you the people I have gotten hooked on this product are truly HOOKEDDDD!!
I also feel like when I meet someone who whips out the Laniege lip mask and I make a comment about being obsessed too, their eyes brighten up. This bad boy has a following!!
ALSO -- I am going to be VERY forward with you. Laniege also has a Lip Glow Balm and because I LOVE the mask so much I am not the biggest fan of the balm. Although it is much easier to apply because it comes in a tube {remember Juicy Tubes?!}, it is a lot stickier and I have NEVER been a fan of sticky gloss. Honestly, the only time I will ever put gloss on is if it's Buxom {I use Amanda and it also plumps my lips} but truly most of the time I just put my Laniege mask over my lip liner and lipstick.
Started by two boss babes Marianna Hewitt and Lauren Gores and exclusively sold at Sephora and online, Summer Friday's Jet Lag Mask is one of my absolute favorites.
If you have been following along my YouTube channel OR this blog OR my insta-g for some time now, you would know that I am addicted to face masks... I am not kidding you when I tell you that I have a huge container of different face masks under my bathroom counter {and a separate container for all my sheet masks}.
Basically, with all the abrupt weather changes {and traveling which I'm not complaining about} my skin gets sucked dry so easily and this moisturizing mask has worked like magic for me. If I am going to do a lineup of face masks I always make sure this is my last to use before I go to bed because this mask is a nourishing mix of vitamins, ceramides, antioxidants, and gently exfoliating extracts. This mask also does NOT have to be washed off your face so when you wake up, it feels just as though you used a super nourishing moisturizer and woke up with renewed skin.
Additionally this mask helps to combat puffy, inflamed, over-worked skin, so I also LOVE packing the smaller size in my carry-on for flights {that are especially cross country} and if you didn't know, flights make you puff up like no other hence why this is PERFECT!!
Also -- as I mentioned above, this mask does not have too be washed off SO if you are needing a thicker moisturizer, I have used this as moisturizer in the morning after my favorite Vitamin C serum and prior to using my primer of course.
The Jet Lag Mask is truly one of my favorites which says a lot considering how many face masks I have tried and used.
I'll be honest, this is one of the newer additions to my skincare collection and I LOVE it!!
With the constant use of face masks to help clear my face during my period AND Differin {which I will get to below}, I use moisturizer in the morning before I workout, post workout after my shower, and again before I go to bed {all different moisturizers though} to help replenish my skin. I also have EXTREMELY sensitive skin and I can break out super easily so I have to be extra careful which moisturizers I use on my face.
The Josie Maran Daily Tinted Moisturizer has become one of my favorites because I absolutely HATE wearing makeup, also did I mention that it's extremely affordable {compared to a lot of skincare products I own}?!
Basically when I wake up I use the Clinique moisturizer and then after my workout and when I'm showered I use this moisturizer because it replaces the use of foundation {although depending how much sleep I've had I still use my favorite Tarte concealer} AND it has sun protection in it... I'm not trying to get wrinkles before {or really any time near} my quarter life crisis!!
Also -- If you're a guy, you can use this moisturizer too because Josie Maran has this daily moisturizer in an untainted form as well.
With a blend of antioxidants, skin-soothers, and hydrators that work in tandem with natural sunscreens to boost sun protection while conditioning and nourishing the skin, the moisturizer also has a total of 100% pure argan oil and green tea provide soothing nourishment while natural SPF and antioxidant-rich SunBoost ATB™ delivers powerful UVA/UVB protection and anti-aging benefits.
Now, if I had the money I would absolutely love to try the Crème de la Mer Moisturizing Cream because my great aunt uses it {as well as a couple of other people I have talked to} and they all RAVE about it. So mark my words: I will one day become really successful and I will one day have a whole collection of La Mer skincare products but in the meantime the Josie Maran tinted moisturizer is what I will count on, OR if you're looking for another tinted moisturizer I have used the one by Elta MD and have enjoyed the results of that one as well.
Basically, I am obsessed with this because:
✩ it keeps me from using up my favorite Dior foundation {also t-god for lash extensions, am I right?!}
✩ the product is gluten-free, cruelty-free, and GMO-free
✩ it's lightweight and nobody would know that you're wearing sun protection
✩ there is anti-aging benefits in the ingredients
I have raved about this before and I may be bias cause one of my best friends works for Perricone BUTTTT she got me hooked on this Chlorophyll Detox Mask and I can't get enough of it!! I have personally found that not THAT many masks truly clear up my face but this mask has definitely done me justice... I have even gotten my mama hooked on it and when I went to Joshua Tree with two of my guy friends, I made them try it out too... No complaints from anyone thus far.
Okie, maybe I'm not THAT bias cause my mama and I have used a few Perricone products before my friend {shoutout Meggypoo} started working there and made me try this mask BUT I have gotten more hooked to the company and now I have an excessive amount of Perricone products. A couple other Perricone favorites of mine include: the Overnight Firming Mask, the Pore Minimizing Toner, and the Exfoliating Peel.
Before I get carried away with the other products though I wanna just tell you the perks of this product because I have been through around four whole buckets of this mask {as has my mama} and it will be a product I will continue to use until the end of time {or until they change the ingredients}.
The Chlorophyl Detox Mask is full of copper complex which supports skin strength and hydration, papaya enzyme which exfoliates and brightens, AND chlorophyll microcapsules which burst upon application and effectively clean and detoxify your facial skin. Also, the exfoliation is not too harsh on your skin so it won't leave your skin feeling raw and you can continue in your nighttime skincare routine by using another mask {or peel} following this one... Be careful of the Drunk Elephant Babyfacial though {another one of my favorites} because with sensitive skin {and if you're breaking out}, your skin may burn for a lil bit.
Meggy, if you're reading this: Thank you for introducing me to this product.
To everyone else: I know it may be a bit pricey BUT I promise y'all that it's 112% worth it.
I will no joke lather this mask all over my face, pour myself a glass of wine {or matcha... or water depending on my mood}, and binge watch Love Island. It kinda makes me laugh when people freak out when they leave their face masks on longer than the packaging says because I don't know if I'm an overachiever or what {I definitely am} but two hours is the new twenty minutes, right?!
You know how dry your skin gets when you go on a boating trip in the desert? Well, that's how dry your face will get with this product BUT it will do wonders to your face if you're breaking out {and I'll share some secrets my dermatologist told me before I started using Differin a couple of years ago}.
I will warn you prior to using this product, after using Differin your skin will become more sensitive to the sun so be careful if you're going to be going on any sunny vacations soon or spending any time on the beach or on a boat. This gel has a topical retinoid called adapalene which is actually the only acne-fighting retinoid approved for over-the-counter use. I have had such amazing success using this and after using it a while it will restore your skin’s natural tone and texture by clearing and preventing acne long-term.
Now as I warned earlier, this does suck your skin dry SO my dermatologist had me start off by mixing a pea size amount of Differin with some CeraVe Night Cream in order to help balance out my skin and keep it from getting too dry. Once I discovered the goodness of Summer Friday's though, I started applying my Differin after my shower and then following up with the Summer Friday's Jet Lag Mask before bed.
My tip to you would also to maybe start out using it every night when you start to notice breakouts; however, use it less and less as they begin to disappear to keep your skin from getting too dry and peel-y. I personally use the Mario Badescue Drying Lotion when I feel like my skin is getting too dry and I want to take a break from the topical gel because the Drying Lotion you only put on your breakouts and the Differin you put over your entire face.
Basically those are my unhealthy skincare addictions... And I mean unhealthy for my bank account because these babies are LIFE CHANGINIG for you and your skin. Since I got into doing this post though, it kinda has me thinking and I want to maybe post this kinda thing for haircare as well {and maybe continue to update my empties edition every month or two to match what I am using and obsessing over at the time}.
I want to know what YOUR empties consist of though, so please please PUH-LEASE let me know cause I am always looking for products {instead of boys... duhhhhh} to get attached to. Either slide in my DMs on insta g OR shoot me an email!! I'm going to look into adding a comments section to follow each post as well, so also keep your eyes out for that on future posts.
In the meantime though, happy Monday and I hope y'all have a fabulous rest of your week!! I have a sh*t ton to get done and I am still doing that dang job search {that I've talked about in past blogs} so I gotta go and get clicking around on my LinkedIn.
xoxo V
