High End Corner: Nerium AD Day & Night Creams (Review)

Hey everyone! If you follow me on Instagram, you probably saw a post about a high end product I was sent to try and review. If not, I'll give you a little background info about the product and then jump right into the review. While on vacation, I met a lady who is a Nerium AD salesperson. We exchanged contact info and she gave me information, books, and brochures about the product, and I was really excited when it came in the mail two weeks ago. This is an anti-aging product that is said to tone the skin, reduce the appearance of dark marks/hyperpigmentation, smooth, and also tighten the skin, reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. The active ingredient in Nerium AD products is Nerium oleander, which is an evergreen shrub. I won't get into the specifics of it, but if you want to read more about it, here's a link: http://www.kew.org/science-conservation/plants-fungi/nerium-oleander-oleander. These are high end products, most definitely. If you get it directly from the company, there are two packages that are sold, $500 and $1000. These packages include several bottles of the day cream, night cream, and other miscellaneous Nerium AD products. If you find them online for purchase, such as on Ebay or Amazon, the day and night creams usually come together for no less than $100. Alright, let's get right into the review!

 

I used these products for 2 weeks from the date that I received them, which ended yesterday. The first thing that I noticed was the smell. The night cream doesn't smell great AT all. It's heavy and sits on the skin, which I don't mind since it's supposed to work overnight. Once you put it on, your skin feels smoother instantly, and I absolutely loved that. The day cream feels light and has a pretty pleasant scent. Within the first few days, I noticed improved smoothness in my skin...which was awesome! However, a few days later, I began to get really deep and painful cystic pimples. I used to get these years ago, but I had gotten them under control for the most part. These cystic pimples, once they went down, actually left additional scarring on my skin. Looking at the before and after pictures, you can see some additional scarring, as well as the pimples that it caused. In my opinion, my skin didn't improve at all aside from feeling smoother. I personally wouldn't recommend trying this expensive, high end product out. Everything doesn't work for everybody, and this definitely didn't work for me. I give it a 4/10.

Ok everyone, I hope you enjoyed this review! If you do decide that you're still interested in trying out these products, let me know and I'll put you in contact with the lovely lady who gave me the opportunity to try them, as well as send you some additional info about them. If you have any budget beauty products that you would like for me to review (makeup, skin care, hair care, and related items), please send your request to me at lindsi.green@gmail.com. Looking forward to hearing from you! ;)

Blemish Control and Concealing! (Review)

Hi all! Sorry for the hiatus, I've had some personal tragedies and haven't wanted to post much. I may address it in another non-beauty related blog post. That being said, I'm back to review three new products I've been testing out, one facial wash, one moisturizer, and one foundation! Those of us with acne prone skin know that with acne, especially cystic acne like I experience from time to time, comes blemishes and hyperpigmentation...annoying right? Well, I've been trying products to help control and minimize the appearance of my acne scars, and so far I love them, so I decided to come share! I won't ramble on. Here's the review of each product. Enjoy!

1. Neutrogena Visibly Even Foaming Cleanser (Target, $5.89) - This is a new product from Neutrogena. I hadn't heard anything about it so I decided to be a guinea pig and try it out. I absolutely love this product. I've been using it for about 2 1/2 weeks, and my dark spots have lightened up significantly. My skin tone is also more even overall. It smells fresh and clean, cleans makeup off well, and has even helped to cut down on new breakouts because of the deep clean it gives. The only thing I dislike is how it burns the eyes a bit. 9/10

2. Ambi Even & Clear Daily Moisturizer, SPF 30 (Target, $11.29) - I was hesitant to get this, because I hate buying products that cost more than $10 lol, but I have not been disappointed. This moisturizer is lightweight and non-greasy, a common problem with moisturizers with SPF, and doesn't have much of a smell, perfect for people with sensitive noses. In addition, it has prevented my hyperpigmentation from darkening, unlike the SPF 15 moisturizer that I was using previously for daytime. The price is my only gripe. 8/10

3. Revlon 24 Hour Colorstay Makeup for Combination/Oily Skin (Target, $9.99) - I've had my eye on Revlon Colorstay for quite some time, and I finally decided to take the plunge and try it out. This foundation applies and blends beautifully, whether you're using a sponge, brush, or even your fingertips. It dries fast, but gives ample time for blending. And yes, it really does last 24 hours and beyond! After accidentally falling asleep in it a few times (and it didn't break me out either) and awakening, the foundation was still in place and looked great! It also doesn't rub off or transfer easily, so don't be afraid to hug a friend :). I do, however, recommend using a toner or astringent (depending on your skin's needs) after washing this off, just to get it all off. It can be a bit stubborn once it settles onto skin. Also, I don't have to use a concealer with this! The coverage is opaque without being caky. The wide range of colors is also a huge bonus! 9/10


Hope this review helps, especially for those of you with hyperpigmentation and acne scarring like me. If you try any of them out, please let me know how you like them! Your opinions and feedback on the items I post and talk about here are always welcome! If you have any budget beauty products that you would like for me to review (makeup, skin care, hair care, and related items), please send your request to me at lindsi.green@gmail.com. Looking forward to hearing from you! ;)

Controlling Oily Skin

Hey all! Happy Spring! The weather is getting warmer (in most places) and the sun is showing its face a little more. If you're like me, the changing of the seasons has an impact on your body. One of my personal struggles with spring and summer is oily skin! I have oily skin year-round; however, warmer months prove to be even more of a challenge. Below, I'll share a few tips that can be used to help combat oily skin, any time that you experience it!

1. Moisturize you skin! Yes, I did say moisturize. You may think that using a moisturizer will make your oily skin worse; however, the opposite is true. If you don't moisturize properly, EVERY time after washing your face, you will dry out your skin. This may cause premature aging OR cause your skin to produce even more oil. I learned this lesson the hard way. It's also important to choose a moisturizer with SPF for daytime wear. Usually, oily skin is also acne prone. This will help prevent any hyperpigmentation/acne scarring from worsening.

2. Use products that specifically cater to oily skin and are oil-free. Every product you use, from your facial wash to your foundation should be tailored to suit the needs of your skin. Key terms to look for are "mattifying", "oil-free", "non-greasy", "oil-absorbing", etc.

3. Use mattifying powder! When you powder your face, you may want to use a fluffy powder puff to really press the powder onto your skin, as opposed to a powder brush that will just do a light dusting and may not be as effective.

4. Get oil absorbing sheets! They're absolutely amazing and provide an easy way to pull the oil right out of your pores and off of your skin without disturbing your makeup much (if you're wearing makeup). Practically any brand will do, but I do not recommend the white, ELF brand ones. The blue oil blotting sheets work best, in my opinion.

There are some people who recommend using Milk of Magnesia as a primer, but I prefer not to recommend it directly. What I will say is do some research on it if you would like to try it out. I used it as a primer for a period of time, but I discontinued usage after my skin 'outsmarted' the product. It only worked for me for a few weeks before my skin found a way around it. If you want to try it, please do research before doing so. I've heard lots of things, some good and some bad, so I would recommend proceeding with caution if you decide to try it out. That's all folks! Hope this helped in some way. If you have any budget beauty products that you would like for me to review (makeup, skin care, hair care, and related items), please send your request to me at lindsi.green@gmail.com. Looking forward to hearing from you! ;)

Managing Breakouts During Hormonal Fluctuation

Hey everyone! This post will be speaking specifically to my ladies, but gentlemen, feel free to share it with your sisters, friends, mothers, or the special lady in your life. Ok, now ladies, I know I'm not the only one who breaks out around the time of my cycle. Some of us break out a lot, some of us may get a pimple or two, but most of the women that I know experience some form of skin changes around the time of their monthly cycle. I'm going to give a few really quick tips that will be helpful during this time that will work for every skin type. Keep in mind, it is not always possible to completely prevent breakouts due to hormonal changes; however, you can significantly decrease the severity of the breakout or pimples by following these tips.

1. Learn when your cycle is coming. For some of us, this may prove to be very difficult since every woman's body is different. However, when you know what to expect, you can start preparation ahead of time.

2. Drink lots of water before and during your cycle. It's always good to drink water, but it's important to increase intake during this time to flush out any toxins that may cause breakouts or a pimple to pop up.

3. Cut down on greasy and fried foods around the time of your cycle. We shouldn't be eating much of this anyway, but I digress lol.

4. Avoid sweets and sodas/sugary drinks! Sugar already breaks some of us out, but when your body is under the stress of a menstrual cycle, it can get a LOT worse.

5. Increase your fruit, grain, and vegetable intake. Berries, grapes, tomatoes, watercress, fennel, broccoli, kale, and more have all been shown to help improve skin in ways varying from flushing toxins to improving overall tone. For a more detailed list of these skin clearing foods, please visit this site: http://www.glamourmagazine.co.uk/features/health-fitness/2011/02/top-20-skin-clearing-foods

6. Don't fall asleep with makeup on. Falling asleep with makeup on is already bad, but it can make a breakout that is coming much worse, since sleeping with makeup on clogs up your pores.

7. Invest in a good spot acne treatment. There are times when even if you follow the steps above, a pimple or two will still surface. When this happens, it's important to be able to deal with it, and a spot treatment is the way to go. My two favorite spot treatments are Clean & Clear Advantage Acne Spot Treatment and Noxzema Original Deep Cleansing Cream on pimples and small areas where there is a breakout. Both are awesome! Noxzema Deep Cleansing Cream can also be used as a facial mask (it's AMAZING!)...but I'll talk about that in another post.

Hope you enjoyed these tips and that they're useful to you in some way! If you have any budget beauty products that you would like for me to review (makeup, skin care, hair care, and related items), please send your request to me at lindsi.green@gmail.com. Looking forward to hearing from you! ;)

Let's Talk: The "Kim Kardashian" Highlighting

Hey y'all! If you've been a makeup lover for quite some time, you're probably familiar with the highlighting craze that was created by Kim Kardashian's makeup. If you're not, I'll explain it a little bit here and will show a picture. Underneath her eyes in a triangular shape, Kim usually has a concealer a few shades lighter than her natural skin tone. The purpose of this is to erase any bags that may be underneath her eyes and to bring light to the center of her face. This creates the awake, youthful look that she has become known for rocking.

In the picture above, she is shown with it before blending (left) and after blending and adding the rest of the makeup, including her contour, blush, etc. (right). I absolutely love the concept and the look! However, the issue that has arisen from it is unfortunate. Many people, too many, are walking around with the "before blending" look! Even I have been guilty of it, as much as it pains me to admit. But makeup is a learning experience that is often filled with trial and error, lots of it for some of us. Makeup trends don't last forever, but the pictures that we took while the trend was hot do. Some of us will look back at our pictures five years from now and wonder, "Why didn't anyone tell me I looked crazy?!" much like we do with some fashion trends. I'm still learning about techniques and what works on and for my skin, but in this area I think I've pretty much learned what works for me, and I'd like to share it. As you all well know, I'm not a professional, but I enjoy sharing in hope that you'll benefit as well.

1. Choose concealers no more than 2-3 shades lighter than your skin tone for your undereye area. There are some professional MUAs who use products 4 or more shades lighter, but they're pros who may know how to make it work better than those of us who are just enthusiasts. Be sure to consider your undertones when making your selection.
2. If you will be taking pictures with flash, avoid using makeup products that contain titanium dioxide. They will make your skin look washed out and will make under eye concealer look whitish!
3. Be sure to blend really, really well, although that goes pretty much without saying.
4. Don't forget to set your concealer, either with a translucent power or a flesh tone powder close to the color of the concealer you chose.
5. If you feel the concealer looks too light, mix in a bit of the regular concealer that you use on your blemishes, or set it with the powder you use on the rest of your face. This should tone down the brightness.
6. Contour! Highlighting and contouring go hand in hand in terms of sculpting and shaping your face. Learn your face shape and how to appropriately contour for the specific shape of your face. Everyone's is different. There's a great questionnaire to help you determine your face shape at The Beauty Department's website, here is the link: http://thebeautydepartment.com/2012/11/finding-your-face-shape/ . There's also a wonderful blog post by Jade (from Make Me Stunning) with instructions on how to contour for your face shape right here on blogspot! Here's the link to that: http://makemestunningjade.blogspot.com/2011/11/contouring-for-all-face-shapes.html. A basic face shape chart to help you get started is below.

Alright folks, I've rambled on long enough lol. Bad highlighting can make even the most beautiful of people look ridiculous. Hope this helps in some way! Be sure to let me know if it did. ;-)

Take care,
~ Lindsi

Aveeno Clear Complexion Cream Cleanser and Daily Moisturizer Review

Hey all! I'm back with a review of 2 of the new products I have tried out in the past month. About two weeks ago, I posted on my Instagram that I was going to try out the new Aveeno Clear Complexion Cleanser and Moisturizer and do a review, so here it is! I usually wait until I've been using a product for about 2 weeks before I do a review, and it's just shy of a day so I think it's appropriate to do so now. I purchased them in a set for $6.00 at Walmart (which is an awesome deal considering the individual prices which I will list below). In the review of each product I will list the price, pros and cons, overall opinion, and rate it between 1-10 (1 = completely awful, 10 = completely awesome!). Just as a disclaimer, I purchased all the products I have reviewed thus far with my own money. I was not sent any products to review or sponsored by the companies. Hope you will find this helpful!

1. Aveeno Clear Complexion Cream Cleanser (5 oz.), $6.99 (Aveeno.com)

Site Description: "This creamy cleanser gently exfoliates while helping treat and prevent blemishes and breakouts with salicylic acid, a proven acne fighting ingredient, without overdrying. The ACTIVE NATURALS® moisture-rich soy formula helps visibly improve skin tone and texture, for healthier-looking skin. Oil free, hypoallergenic, noncomedogenic and gentle enough to use every day."

Pros: Light, non-offensive smell, exfoliates gently, softens skin

Cons: Doesn't completely clean face, does not remove dark spots/blemishes

Overall: Eh, I must say I'm underwhelmed by this cleanser. When I read the description, I was under the impression that it would be more of a cream, but the texture is more true to that of a product that is exclusively an exfoliant. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but the name "Cream Cleanser" is a bit misleading in my opinion. This product also does NOT completely clean your face, especially if you're washing makeup off. I found that I had to run a washcloth over my skin to completely remove the makeup from my face when washing it with this product, which has usually not been the case with any other cream cleanser I've used of any other brand. I have noticed that it has prevented new blemishes from popping up, but as far as my old blemishes are concerned, they have not lightened or improved in any way. The texture of my skin has improved, and I have not had to use a separate exfoliant due to the exfoliating properties of this cleanser, so that is convenient. I give this product a 5 out of 10. 

2. Aveeno Clear Complexion Daily Moisturizer (4 fl oz.), $16.99 (Aveeno.com)

Site Description: "This unique, skin-nourishing daily moisturizer harnesses the power of ACTIVE NATURALS® Total Soy Complex and salicylic acid to help clear up blemishes and improve the health of your complexion. This oil-free formula, with a proven acne-fighting ingredient, clears and helps prevent breakouts, and helps even out skin tone. Oil free, hypoallergenic, noncomedogenic, and gentle enough to use every day."

Pros: Helps control oily skin, does not clog pores, assists in preventing new breakouts

Cons: VERY strong and lingering smell, can feel heavy on skin, does not contain any SPF to prevent premature aging and darkening of blemishes

Overall: I have a love/hate relationship with this moisturizer. The smell is strong, entirely too strong. My nose wrinkles before I even get the stuff onto my face. Also, considering the fact that it is supposed to help clear blemishes, I would think that it would contain at least SPF 15 (which prevents darkening of blemishes and hyperpigmentation due to sun exposure), but I digress. The moisturizer also "sits" on the skin, meaning that when I wash it off of my face at night, I smell it. I also have not noticed any lightening of the blemishes that I already have, but new ones have been prevented. It has also helped greatly with controlling my oily skin (along with NYX's Shine Killer which I will discuss in another post) and I absolutely love that. I have also noticed that it is helping prevent new breakouts, which is a great thing. The amount of pros and cons are the same, hence, the love/hate relationship. However, due to the fact that it is helping with breakouts and oil control, I rate this product a 6 out of 10.

That's all! Hope that I didn't ramble on too much, but I wanted to be thorough in my explanation and opinion of the products. If you try them out, please feel free to let me know if they worked better for you than for me! If you have any budget beauty products that you would like for me to review (makeup, skin care, hair care, and related items), please send your request to me at lindsi.green@gmail.com. Looking forward to hearing from you! ;)

The Importance of NOT Sleeping in Makeup (And Changing Your Pillowcase...)

Let's admit it, most of us have fallen asleep a time or two in our makeup, right? What are the effects on your skin the next day? I've heard, and personally experienced, everything from complaints of trigger happy sebaceous glands to breakouts to rashes. The skin is the biggest organ that the body has. That's right, your skin is an organ. It functions in covering the other important organs and organ systems in the body to prevent them receiving from external damage and also from the bacteria, viruses, and pollutants found in the air and on surfaces that the skin touches. Despite the beauty and wonderful effects of makeup, it is a foreign substance to the skin. There are some makeup items that can aid in improving our complexion, preventing breakouts, etc., but aside from those, we're placing essentially foreign substances onto our skin. Throughout the day, our skin is accosted with all sorts of problematic bacteria, fungi, and pollutants. In addition to that, those of us with oily skin fight with our sebaceous glands throughout the day. Those of us who don't have oily skin are faced with sweat beading and sitting on our faces, especially during the summer months.These issues, in addition to the makeup on our skin can be breeding ground for problems ranging from breakouts due to bacteria, to clogged pores, to premature aging! It's also important to change your pillowcase. I recommend changing your pillowcase (or pillowcases) at least ONCE a week. As lovely and soft as our sheets may feel, they hold onto everything that sits on top of our skin. Imagine if someone is sleeping in their makeup AND not changing pillowcases frequently! Two of the many blessings of skin are its resilience and regenerative qualities; however, it's best to avoid causing problems in the ways that we can. Our skin is a precious, beautiful organ, take care of it well! I leave you with this, the British woman in the picture below slept in her makeup for a month, and these are the results. Do you REALLY want your skin to look like this? Love you all, and Happy Holidays!

Source: Daily Mail UK
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2380419/What-sleeping-make-does-skin-Our-shocking-experiment-exposes-happens.html

Quick Site Recommendation

http://www.buymebeauty.com/buy-revlon-cosmetics.aspx?gclid=CISkj6qKmLoCFUOe4AodylsAkQ 

A good friend of mine shared this site with me the other day. There are lots of cosmetic and skincare products on this site and they have great prices.You can also buy your favorite products that have been discontinued here for a discounted price! Most of the items on the site are reasonably priced, and I think it's well worth checking out. Happy Shopping!

* If you have any budget beauty products that you would like for me to review (makeup, skin care, hair care, and related items), please send your request to me at lindsi.green@gmail.com. Looking forward to hearing from you! ;)

The Wonders of Baby Powder

Ok, so you may be asking, what on earth is the connection between baby powder and beauty? You might be surprised. This post is geared toward those of us with combination skin and mainly those who suffer with oily skin, but there's also a cool tip that everyone can use at the end! Even with all of the mattifying primers, creams, etc. that I use, I still have very oily skin. It's so frustrating sometimes, because it can turn a cute makeup look into a messy oil slick! No one wants to have to constantly powder their nose or go through tons of oil blotting sheets and (which are amazing, btw! I'll address that in another post ^_^), wasting them. Mattifying powders are a great option...but they can be expensive! Urban Decay's De-Slick Mattifying Powder is $32.00, MAC Blot Powder is $25.00, Lancome's Translucence Mattifying Powder is $29.00, and many other brands have costly products of this sort. But what works without having to dish out this kind of cash? Baby powder! That's right, baby powder that you can find in Walmart, Walgreens, CVS, and any local "dollar" store. The largest bottle generally costs less that $6.00, but travel sizes are usually $1 or less! Baby powder absorbs the oil on the skin and works to keep the skin matte from anywhere from 8 hours or more, depending on how oily the skin is.

How to use the Powder:

What You'll Need: 

• 1 container of baby powder (any brand, any size)
• 1 Makeup Sponge (excuse the color of mine, used it today lol)
• 1 Dense, large powder brush

If you won't be wearing makeup, simply place the powder onto the back of your hand or onto a clean, flat surface, fold the sponge, dip in into the powder, and press onto your skin. Let it sit for a few seconds, then brush off of the skin THOROUGHLY, making sure no white marks OR streaks are left behind. If you will, do your normal makeup routine, and then follow the same steps listed above. It's very important to dust ALL of the powder off so you don't end up looking like a ghost. ;)

Bonus tip: You can also do this with lipstick! Simply, easy, and cost efficient. Check it out below!

The steps are the same as how you do it when using the baby powder to mattify your face, the only difference is you blend it by pressing your lips together and dusting the excess off of the colors of your lips. If you use this method, be sure to apply very generous amounts of your lip color before using the powder, since some of the color vibrancy can get lost when using this method to mattify your lip color. I didn't apply enough lip color before doing this lol. Hope you enjoyed the post, and thanks for reading!

* If you have any budget beauty products that you would like for me to review (makeup, skin care, hair care, and related items), please send your request to me at lindsi.green@gmail.com. Looking forward to hearing from you! ;)

Exfoliation!

Exfoliation is one of the most forgotten aspects of skin care. Because our skin regenerates and sheds on its own, and many people know this, a lot of people forget that it is important to assist the skin in the process sometimes. High end exfoliation products can get COSTLY, from the Clarisonic to tube products, and are sometimes $25 or more, depending on the brand. But there are a few reasonably priced products that I would recommend, all skin types, 2 are from Aveeno and 1 is from Clean & Clear. For dry skin types, I DO NOT recommend frequent exfoliation. With skin that is already dry, over-exfoliating will dry out the skin even further and may cause cracking, redness, and extreme dryness. For ALL skin types, it is important to use a good moisturizer afterward. With that said, each of these are easy to find, from well-known and trusted brands, and cost efficient! ;)

1. Clean & Clear Morning Burst Skin Brightening Facial Scrub

Description (on container): "Clean & Clear Morning Burst Skin Brightening Facial Scrub is a specially designed formula, intended for all skin types, that contains skin nutrients and Bursting Beads® that burst with energy, and removes dirt, oil, and impurities deep down to the pores. This scrub, with a blend of caffeine, lemon, and papaya, also invigorates your senses and contains microbeads that sweep away dull surface skin. Skin looks instantly brightened, leaving you ready to day. Oil-free, Won't clog pores"

My Opinion: The scent is absolutely amazing! It has a sweet, lemony fresh smell. The beads feel very refreshing and gently break apart the layer of dull, dead skin leaving a noticeable brightness to the skin. Very good at cleaning off makeup, dirt, and oil buildup without being harsh or drying. I would recommend this for normal, combination, and oily skin types. I rate it an 8 out of 10.

Retails between: $5.35-$6.99 (5 fl oz)

2. Aveeno Positively Radiant Skin Brightening Daily Scrub

Description (site): "This daily facial scrub helps improve skin tone, texture, and clarity to reveal brighter, more radiant skin. Its unique formula combines moisture-rich ACTIVE NATURALS® Total Soy Complex with smooth, round microbeads to gently exfoliate while you cleanse, leaving skin soft, smooth, and even-looking. Oil free, soap free, noncomedogenic, hypoallergenic and gentle enough for everyday use, even on sensitive skin."

My Opinion: This one is my favorite, hands down! The scent is very light and the exfoliant beads are gentle and very effective! I have acne scarring from several deep pimples (cystic) that I have had and get occasionally during "monthly visits" due to hormone changes, and endure frustration from the dark marks that I get. This product has noticeably helped to reduce the darkness of the scars. I would recommend this product to those with dry skin, but NOT for daily usage. My only complaint about this product is a recent discovery. Allegedly, the microbeads contain plastic, which is not very environmentally friendly. If this is true, it will affect my rating (I will have to do further research), but if not, I give the product a 9 out of 10.

Retails between: $5.27-$7.99 (5 fl oz)

3. Aveeno Positively Ageless Resurfacing Scrub

Description (site): "Help reveal younger-looking, naturally beautiful skin with this scrub. Formulated with ACTIVE NATURALS® Natural Shiitake Complex and fortified with vitamin C, this gentle exfoliating scrub, with retexturizing microbeads, removes impurities while polishing away dead skin cells for a smoother, more even tone."

My Opinion: Although this product is from Aveeno as well, it's from the anti-aging line.You may ask, what in the world does a 20 something person need with an anti-aging product? Many dermatologists agree that the best time to start using anti-aging products is in the 20s and 30s as preventative measures ;). The consistency is similar to that of the previous Aveeno product, however, there is less of a smell (great for those with sensitive noses), and this product is fortified with vitamin C, which can help with dark spots on the skin and also brightening the skin as well. The main thing I dislike is the roughness of the exfoliating beads. I would not recommend this product for those with dry skin. After usage, there were a few times my skin appeared to be peeling or flaking, despite the product being labeled as "gentle". I give the product a 7 out of 10.

Retails at: $8.97 (5 fl oz)

* If you have any budget beauty products that you would like for me to review (makeup, skin care, hair care, and related items), please send your request to me at lindsi.green@gmail.com. Looking forward to hearing from you! ;)

Merle Norman Review

Ok, so how many of you have heard of Merle Norman? When I think of Merle Norman, I think “old lady makeup”. I've NEVER met any women around my age that use Merle Norman products. There are several reasons for this I think: 

1. It's not really marketed toward young women
2. There aren't many commercials or advertisements for the brand
3. It's mostly on the pricey side  (well, some products)

However, my brother’s girlfriend recently bought her own boutique in Tennessee from an older lady who is retiring, which means what? Samples! I've received countless samples from her, but 2 of these products were good enough to buy, despite being what I consider on the pricier side. The 3rd is a large sample, which I will probably end up buying once I run out anyway. My biggest gripe, however, is that you can’t buy it online. You have to find a Merle Norman boutique near you =/ lol. The 3 products I’ll be reviewing are as follows (in order): Clarifying Clay Mask, Brilliant-C Toner, and Foundation Primer plus SPF 15.

1. Clarifying Clay Mask

Site description: "For Normal to Oily skin types. 

Control oil and unclog pores by going to the matte with this skin-refining mask! Kaolin Clay draws out impurities and minimizes the appearance of pores. It glides on smoothly to provide a deep-down clean feeling while eliminating excess oil. Leaves skin brighter, refined and radiant for a healthy-looking appearance. Oil-free. Non-acnegenic. Non-comedogenic."

My opinion: Works like a charm! The scent is very pleasant and light, and it does exactly what it says. However, it absolutely must be used as directed, or it WILL dry out your skin. The directions say to leave on for 5 minutes, any longer and it will leave skin feeling a bit dry. I would not recommend this for people with dry skin at all, as it can be drying even on very oily skin types such as mine. I give it a 9/10.

Retails at: $22.00 (3.4 fl oz.)

2. Brilliant-C Toner

Site description: “For all skin types and aging concerns. 

Keep skin on the “bright” track by sweeping away any dulling residue or impurities left after cleansing. It delivers a second dose of our exclusive Bright+ Complex® to help diminish the appearance of spots and discoloration. Leaves skin looking and feeling comfortably fresh, even-toned and more youthful. Helps maximize moisture absorption too!”

My opinion: Works well. Brightens skin effectively and helps lighten dark spots caused by acne because of the high concentration of Vitamin C. The smell is extremely citrusy, so if you’re not a fan of citrus smells this is not the toner for you. Fast drying if you don’t use too much! The smell is very overpowering, but I do like the product overall. I give it a 7.5/10.

Retails at: $20.00 (6 fl oz.)

3. Foundation Primer Plus SPF 15

There is no site description available. I do believe this is a fairly new product!

My opinion: I love the consistency. It’s a gel, something I've never seen in a foundation primer before. It glides on really smoothly and doesn't clog pores up, so it won’t cause acne. It mattifies the skin really nicely and blends really well. A little goes a long way with this product. The SPF 15 also provides protection from sun exposure while helping keep any dark spots from acne scars from getting darker. The only complaint I have is that the oil starts to peek through your foundation after about 6 hours if you've got very oily skin, but if used in conjunction with oil-free and oil-controlling products it should be just fine! I give it an 8.5/10.

Retails at: $31.00 (1.25 fl oz.)

* If you have any budget beauty products that you would like for me to review (makeup, skin care, hair care, and related items), please send your request to me at lindsi.green@gmail.com. Looking forward to hearing from you! ;)