*products kindly gifted, opinions all my own*
I was introduced to Tammy Fender in October when I received a sample size of her award-winning Epi-Peel. At first, I was really skeptical because after looking up what the epi-peel was on her website, I saw that the sample-sized jar that I got was listed for $18. That’s crazy, right?? I didn’t think that such a small jar of a face mask could be worth that price. I was SO wrong. This stuff is insanely good. Like one of those, change your life, can never live without it products. I’ll get more into product details later in this post but bottom line; yes, Tammy Fender products are an enormous splurge, especially for students and those on a budget. With that being said, if you are looking to treat yourself to a few luxurious products made from the absolute highest quality ingredients, Tammy Fender is my first recommendation. Since I am on a budget, Tammy Fender products aren’t in my daily routine (as much as I wish they were). These products are set aside for special occasions and nights where I really want to treat myself.
So, let’s get into it!
Tammy Fender is known for being one of the pioneers in the field of clean beauty and holistic skincare. She is also known for her West Palm Beach spa where she provides facials, massages, guided meditations, and overall incredibly relaxing and renewing services. Since all brick and mortar businesses have been temporarily shut down, Tammy Fender launched a line of two at-home facials kits. These kits come in an option of either the Restorative or Purifying facial and come with all of the products used in a typical Tammy Fender facial, detailed instructions, and an access code to her guided meditation session. This truly is the most thoughtful product launch I’ve come across during this chaotic time.
I was kindly gifted the Restorative at-home facial kit and am totally blown away! I finally broke it out the other night to give myself a true spa night. This kit comes with the cleansing milk, Bulgarian rose water toner, epi-peel, restorative radiance masque, quintessential serum, and the Bulgarian lavender body oil (to be used in this order). Every single product in this kit made me feel like a million bucks and has received my seal of approval but my two favorites are definitely the epi-peel as well as the restorative radiance mask. The epi-peel is a physical exfoliating mask made with high-grade rosemary, kaolin clay, and spearmint. After gently massaging into your face, it is left on for five minutes to really restore and reset your skin. The restorative radiance mask is a creamy and indulgent treatment made of jasmine, chamomile, rose, white hibiscus, kaolin clay, and avocado oil. This pairing of masks left my skin feeling the softest and brightest it has ever been!
While those two are my favorites, the other products in this kit are also wonderful. The cleansing milk is incredibly gentle and didn’t irritate my skin as most cleansers do! The Bulgarian rose water is hydrating and smells absolutely heavenly. The quintessential serum is not quite what I had expected but is extremely nourishing. It doesn’t feel like a typical serum and has a very thick and sticky texture. The texture would probably keep me from using this on a daily basis, but when used in a treatment like this facial, it is the perfect last step on your face and makes a great base for a facial massage. The Bulgarian lavender body oil also smells absolutely delicious and is ideal for giving yourself a bit of a neck massage at the end of your facial!
This truly is an incredibly thoughtful treat for yourself or to give as a gift to a loved one. The full kit costs $185 which I know is a LOT of money. I also gasped when I saw the price. But, an average 60 minute facial at a spa that uses entirely clean products can range anywhere from $150-$300. The sizes of the products within this kit will last for at least 10 facials, bringing the cost to around $19 per treatment as opposed to $150. If you are looking to splurge on yourself during this quarantine or always wanted to try a facial and no longer can; look no further! This kit is it.
After seeing COUNTLESS ads and reviews raving about Necesssaire’s body care products, I finally broke down last week and ordered the body exfoliator and lotion. Spoiler alert: this stuff is GOOD.
I feel like I’m pretty behind the curve when it comes to this sustainable body care brand. I was originally drawn to Necessaire because of their chic and simple packaging. It seemed like every cool blogger or influencer on Instagram was sharing pictures of the beyond-aesthetic bottles of Necessaire. After actually checking out what Necessaire was all about, I was pleasantly surprised to find that they are a clean and sustainable brand! As somebody who appreciates clean beauty products, prioritizes sustainability, and is an absolute sucker for aesthetically pleasing marketing and packaging, Necessaire pretty much had me in the palms of their hands.
I held off from trying out Necessaire’s products for so long because it is a bit on the pricier side at around $25-$30 for each of their products, but they recently had a deal to get a free body exfoliator with any purchase so I picked up the unscented body lotion and got the unscented exfoliator along with it. I went for the unscented versions of both so that I could use them without worrying about them clashing with any perfume I put on. I’ve been using both for almost a week now and so far I am absolutely loving these products! I totally understand the hype now.
The body exfoliator is lovely because it contains both physical and chemical exfoliants in it. This product has bamboo, charcoal, pumice, glycolic acid, salicylic acid, and lactic acid to create a really effective weekly exfoliating treatment. Unlike many body exfoliators, this one is also really gentle. The physical exfoliants in it aren’t abrasive and didn’t irritate my excessively sensitive skin. After using it, my skin felt soft, smooth, and nourished! While I used this a few times this week to get an idea of how I liked it, if used once a week like recommended, this bottle is likely to last for a really long time!
Next up is the body lotion. My skin is always dry so I make sure to put on lotion every time after I shower. Since I use body lotion so often and have such sensitive skin, I’m really picky and this lotion definitely exceeded my expectations. This body lotion is super nourishing with an all-star ingredient list of Vitamin A, Vitamin B³, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Omega-6, and Omega-9. One of the worst parts about body lotion is that sticky or slimy feeling after applying where you have to wait a few minutes to get dressed or your clothes stick to you. This doesn’t happen with Necessaire body lotion! About a minute after applying a generous amount of this lotion all over my body, it absorbed completely! My skin felt soft and moisturized but not like I had just applied lotion.
Overall, both of these products are incredible. Yes, they are a bit pricey but they are worth every penny!
Hi everybody, here’s a review of some of my favorite and most-used lip products! These lippies range from lip balms, to tints, gloss, and full on lipstick. Those of you who know me, know that my lips are really sensitive to products due to allergies including dye and petrolatum (which is in what seems like literally everything) and leads to pretty bad eczema on my lips. Sorry if that’s TMI but that’s just life for me, especially as a beauty enthusiast. So, all of these products are tried and tested by me for quite some time and I think, are fantastic!
I bought this lip balm a few months ago and have really fell in love with it. It’s super thick which I find to be great for the winter, but probably will take it out of my rotation once summer hits. It’s a small thing of lip balm but you really only need a tiny bit and it lasts for hours on your lips! This is definitely a balm for super chapped lips in need of intense hydration! You can get this product from bite’s website or in stores and online at Sephora!
So you’ve probably all seen me post about this product about a hundred times on my Instagram, but it deserves it!! This lip balm is crazy good! It has all of the benefits of a typical lip balm but wears almost like a gloss but not quite. It really is the epitome of “your lips but better.” The mauvey color looks natural on your lips and the subtle shimmer makes your lips look plumper without trying too hard. I like to use this product when I don’t want any color, but still want a bit more than a classic lip balm or chapstick. I also use this over lipsticks and tints to give my lips a softer look. This product is definitely worth all of the hype it gets! You can get this lippie from Saie beauty.com!
I picked up this little guy a few years ago when I went to Savannah with friends and it’s still one of my favorites! The color comes out to a really sheer and shimmery dark red that is so pretty. It’s the perfect amount of color when you’re looking for a bit of a pick-me-up and it also smells great! I usually use this over regular chapstick or under lipgloss because it’s not super moisturizing and I have very dry lips. I had been rationing this lippie thinking I could only get it in Georgia but recently found out that Wholefoods carries Savannah Bee Company products including their lip tints! You can also find this on Savannah Bee’s website.
I really love the look of a red lip but struggled to find a way to rock one in more casual settings. Cue generation G... Zip is the low-maintenance orangey red lip of your lazy makeup dreams. You can start out with a really sheer wash of color if used over chapstick, or can be layered for a full-on red lip moment. This lippie is matte and sheer at the same time and stays put all day long. I find this to be the perfect pop of color that can easily be worn on a regular basis! It’s definitely more of a bright orange-red than a true red, but if that’s what you’re looking for it’s fantastic! You can grab Generation G on Glossier’s website!
This lippie is my newest addition in the bunch and I am totally loving it! It’s the perfect everyday nude color and is super moisturizing. It feels like a true lip balm and can be worn alone without a balm or chapstick on under. This product also has spf 15 which is great considering most lip products forgo spf! I really can’t say enough about the color of this product. It’s the perfect chic nude lip color that isn’t too pale, too brown, or too pink. You can grab this lippie pretty much everywhere; Macy’s, Nordstrom, Sephora, Ulta, and the Fresh Beauty website!
Unfortunately this lipstick has been discontinued due to a rebrand by Bite Beauty. I bought this probably 6 years ago on a whim and it has been my all-time favorite lip color since. It’s like a warm but muted red color that magically seems to go with every outfit and makeup look. I have done some research and found that Bite’s lip crayon in calvados looks like a pretty close match! Bite beauty’s lip products are incredible and stay on for so long!! This brand is also entirely clean! You can find Bite Beauty products on their website or at Sephora!
This is the perfect plumping lip gloss that is sheer and shimmery! It doesn’t give your lips a color but looks so good for more of an understated lip that is plump and a tiny bit sparkly. I like to use this lippie on its own with more intense eye makeup looks and also love to layer it over lipsticks and tints! It does make your lips tingle due to the plumping ingredients, but it leaves incredibly healthy and hydrated lips. You can find this gloss pretty much everywhere such as ulta, target, and some drug stores. It’s also super cheap!!
After a few years of having relatively clear skin, my face decided to completely freak out starting in January. I’m talking full on hormonal acne on my cheeks and chin for the first time in years. Since starting to college my skin has been pretty well behaved, only breaking out every once in a while with a pimple or two and always healing in under a week. Yes, I know this is fortunate but it is in no way just luck. I take really good care of my skin. After having HORRIBLE acne in high school, I started taking immaculate care of my skin, and this has pretty much worked for me since then. I am unfortunately allergic to most acne treatments so I’ve had to take a much more natural and holistic approach to skincare. On the bright side, this got me into clean skincare really early in life!
So when my skin started breaking out again at the beginning of this semester, I had completely forgot how to treat and heal pimples. My normal go-to is to just slap some tea tree oil on a pimple and wake up with it gone. Unfortunately, this wasn’t cutting it this time around. I knew I needed stronger treatment, but didn’t want to risk an allergic reaction and subsequent round of oral steroids. Because of this, I researched a bunch of products that would be both effective and gentle. The list of possible products ended up getting narrowed down to two: Maelove’s The Refresher triple AHA cleanser and Versed Just Breath clarifying serum.
Let me preface by saying both of these products have been AMAZING and completely cleared up my skin. That doesn’t necessarily mean it will work for everyone, but this is what works for me. These products are also completely clean, cruelty free, made sustainably, and affordable at just $20 each!
Maelove’s The Refresher has become a new favorite of mine. I still use this every night even now that my skin has cleared up... yes, it’s that good! It smells super minty and fresh and it helps to exfoliate your skin using gentle chemical exfoliants instead of harsh scrubs. Since my skin is so sensitive, I only use this cleanser at night as the second step in my double cleansing routine. For the first step I use Era Organics oil cleanser which is also amazing. Exfoliation is really important when it comes to treating and healing breakouts but scrubs are much too harsh and can physically break your skin. I find this cleanser at night to be the perfect amount of exfoliation when used daily!
Next up is Versed’s Just Breath clarifying serum. I use this serum after cleansing and toning (I use Lush’s Breath of Fresh Air toner). This serum is made to soothe irritated skin, reduce inflammation and redness, and help clear up breakouts, and it really does everything it claims to! This has been such a simple added step to keep my skin clear without much thought or effort. After starting to use this serum, the breakouts I had started to go away and no new pimples have shown up! I started out using this in the morning and at night but have now dropped down to only using at night.
I still use tea tree oil as a more precise spot treatment when needed, but these new additions have helped me tremendously!! Feel free to ask me any questions about these products and how I deal with breakouts if you want to know more!
Hi everybody! I know I’ve been a bit MIA when it comes to writing actual reviews of things but I’m going to make a real effort going forward to to post full lengths reviews of the products I post on Instagram!
So I recently ordered some undies from Parade and am so excited to share what I think! I’m pretty sure everyone with an Instagram account has heard of Parade as they rule the platform with their size and gender inclusive ads and photos. I was first drawn to Parade because of the statement they are making on inclusivity in lingerie. I’ve grown really tired of lingerie brands like Victoria’s Secret that make really uncomfortable underwear and has been so reluctant to feature real women in their campaigns. Parade has brought such a modern perspective on the lingerie industry and do so in such an impactful and lighthearted way. Once I found out their undies were also made from sustainable materials and that a portion of their profits go to Planned Parenthood, I was hooked.
After patiently waiting for my order, I’ve gotta say these are 100% the comfiest undies I’ve ever owned. I’ve been pretty loyal to Aerie since middle school because of their body positive message and comfort but oh boy, Parade takes the cake. I ordered one of their signature material thongs and then also a high rise thong and cheeky in their new silky mesh material. The picture I posted on my Instagram is their high waist cheeky! Not only are these undies comfy, they are also super cute and flattering. The waist bands don’t cut into you or squeeze you, avoiding the dreaded muffin top look most undies give. These undies are sexy without trying too hard and are FUN. Finally there is underwear that makes you feel confident and sexy while also being comfortable enough to wear all day!
I’m already trying to decide which pairs to buy next and can’t wait to have more! If you’re interested in getting some Parade undies yourself, be sure to use one of their ambassador’s links in their insta profiles and you’ll get one free pair! To do this, go to Parade’s tagged pictures on Instagram and you’ll find plenty of their ambassador’s accounts! Hope you’ll enjoy Parade as much as I do!!
I recently started using Prose, the Instagram cult-favorite line of customized haircare products. For a while, as much as I loved their extremely aesthetically pleasing Instagram feed, I held off on purchasing Prose. Instead, I continued to reach for my go-to shampoo and conditioner from CVS every few months.
As I’ve gotten older, my struggle with eczema and irritation on my scalp has only increased to the point where I am usually in constant discomfort. After trying every dandruff and scalp treatment shampoo with no results, I decided to invest in quality haircare products. After doing some research, I realized all of the harmful ingredients that are in typical shampoo and conditions and that propane (yes, literal propane) is one of the main ingredients in aerosol dry shampoo.
From here, Prose seemed like my best option. Being free form parabens, sulfates, and harmful ingredients, with the option for fully vegan formulas, Prose’s products were already off to a great start. On top of all of this, every product you receive from Prose has been made specifically for you with ingredients meant to treat your specific hair concerns.
A lengthy questionnaire on their website finds your perfect formula by asking about your hair type, hair problems, and hair goals. They even go so far as asking for your zip code to factor in environmental stressors that affect your hair. Personally, my formula focuses on treating dandruff, scalp irritation, and oiliness. I started out with the pre-shampoo mask, shampoo and conditioner. The pre-shampoo mask is, in my opinion, the shining star of the Prose line-up. It helps soothe my scalp before shampooing and reduce oil production for the week.
After loving these first few items, I also went ahead and ordered their new dry-shampoo. As someone with annoyingly oily hair, I have tried many different dry shampoos. My usual go-to’s have left my scalp angry and my hair with a tacky residue. Prose’s dry shampoo has been absolutely incredible so far. Its powder formula allows them to skip the harmful additives like propane and alcohol, and once again, it’s completely customized to you!
I have been extremely pleased with the results Prose has shown after only three weeks. I have noticeably less dandruff in my hair, can go an extra day between shampooing, and my hair has so much more volume! As someone who doesn’t often have the time or patience to heat-style my hair, products that allow me to go all-natural are very important. Prose definitely gets the job done and makes my hair look soft, voluminous, and smooth without the blowout!
In the off-chance that you aren’t impressed, the Prose team works with you to either create a new formula or give you a refund, but all-in-all, Prose is 100% worth the splurge.
This post features my entire current nighttime skincare routine. Having a consistent skincare routine is key for healthy-looking skin, but let’s be honest, completing a multi-step skincare routine at the end of a long day isn’t always realistic.
Taking care of my skin at the end of each day is something I have been trying to keep myself more accountable on, and since starting have found really great improvements in my skin.
All of the products featured are safe for sensitive eczema-prone skin, and are gentle enough to use on a daily basis. Also, the majority of these products are all-natural and sustainably made. I hope you enjoy!
The first step in my nighttime routine is removing my makeup with this gentle oil cleanser. This cleanser effortlessly melts away all kinds of makeup and will leave your skin nourished, not stripped.
A lot of people with oily and breakout-prone skin (myself included) avoid oil cleansers in fear of creating even more oil on their face. But don’t worry! This cleanser won’t increase the amount of oil on your face and is much less irritating to breakouts than makeup wipes.
To use this product I will use two pumps and apply it to DRY skin. Then I’ll massage the oil into my skin, focusing on my eye makeup, for about a minute. From here, rinse of the oil and move on to step #2!
After removing my makeup, I’ll complete my double cleanse with this water-based foaming cleanser. This gentle cleanser by Drunk Elephant is great for removing any last traces of dirt, oil, and makeup from your face. While this cleanser is non-irritating, it can be a bit drying so always follow up with a moisturizer.
Drunk Elephant is one of my new favorite brands because their products are made from ethically sourced natural ingredients and produced in the USA. Their products can be found at Sephora where they will be more than happy to share free samples for you to try for yourself.
To use this cleanser I’ll put a dime sized amount in my hands and apply it to wet skin. Create a lather and then rinse it off of your face with water. Continue to step #3!
After cleansing I’ll follow up with a toner to balance my skin and reduce oil production. This specific product was recommended and given to me as a sample by one of the lovely employees at the Georgetown Lush. I’ve been hooked ever since. Breath of Fresh Air includes sea water and rosemary oil that both smell great and do wonders for your skin.
To apply this product you can either spritz it directly to your face, or you can spray it on a cotton pad and apply it that way. Continue with step #4!
After toning I’ll apply a serum to my skin. Serums are great because there are so many different options that you can really tailor to your skin needs. Currently I’ve been using Dermelect’s beauty sleep serum which is an overnight exfoliant.
I received this product in my fall 2019 FabFitFun box and was pleasantly surprised to find that it didn’t irritate my skin. After three weeks of use I’ve noticed an improvement in both the texture and complexion of my skin.
To apply I’ll use the dropper to apply the serum directly to my face. A little goes a long way with this serum, and make sure to quickly massage it into your skin. It should fully absorb within a few seconds. Continue to step #5!
After applying serum I’ll put on an eye cream. Being a busy student who doesn’t always sleep enough, I constantly have swollen dark circles under my eyes. I bought this product on a whim at WholeFoods and have again, been pleasantly surprised.
This natural eye cream includes peptides and pomegranate to help reduce the appearance of dark circles and puffiness. While it won’t completely cure your dark circles, it will help with swelling and make them much easier to cover up with concealer.
To use this product I will lightly pump about a pea sized amount of cream and massage it into the area under and around my eyes. Continue to step #6!
After applying eye cream I’ll finally put on my face moisturizer. This one by Era Organics is really rich and creamy but never oily. It is full of skin loving natural ingredients that you’ll feel safe putting on your face.
If you have more acne-prone skin, Era Organics has another really great moisturizer made specifically for you. I’ve also used this tea tree oil-infused moisturizer in the past and can attest that it is another wonderful product by Era Organics.
Since this moisturizer is so rich, you don’t need much to cover your face. Massage a dime sized amount into your face and instantly feel softer skin.
In the case of a breakout or pimple on my face, I’ll apply a spot treatment directly before going to bed. This oil based treatment by Blume is the holy grail of spot treatments for those with sensitive skin.
I’ve found out the hard way that I am extremely allergic to benzol peroxide and many other traditional acne treatments. This product is made solely of a concoction of essential oils and natural ingredients that fight breakouts without the harsh chemicals.
Blume also creates other skincare products but mainly, they sell period products. I haven’t yet tried their period products but perhaps I’ll give them a try at some point.
To use, apply one drop to your finger and use to cover any and all breakouts on your face.
I’m Mackenzie and I’m an overstressed, overworked and overtired student and young professional living in Washington, DC. I’ve started this blog to 1. Serve as a creative outlet for myself and 2. Help me share the products and places I love with all of you.
Any of you who know me, know I have extremely sensitive skin and very expensive taste (without the salary to support it). After lots of time and energy, I’ve found products that work for me and that I love. My plan is to share those with you as well as try out some news things.
Here’s to hoping you’ll find some products, pieces of clothing, or places you also love, and that you won’t see me have too many allergic reactions in the process.
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