Does Greek Yogurt Belong In My Face Cleanser?

Before we dive into this cleanser review today, I want to preface this with my skin type. For similar skincare product posts, please feel free to browse here.

My Skin Trauma:

In November of 2018 I was diagnosed with contact dermatitis for the first time ever. Prior to this, I have only ever had encounters with cystic acne, hormonal acne, and seasonal dryness. Needless to say, the contact dermatitis rendered me helpless. The texture on my skin resembled the SFX makeup for Halloween.

Without delving too much into detail, I experienced a lot of raised bumps. The bumps were a variety of things ranging from acne, to whiteheads, and blackheads. They were super uncomfortable since it was itchy, painful and severely irritated. The prescriptions I received help momentarily. It did indeed ease the redness and the itch. However, the medication did not help with the aftermath. The dermatitis was a reaction from one product, but little did I know that it was going to alter my skincare products drastically.

Now:

My skin has come a long way in terms of healing. I no longer have the bumps, but will occasionally have rash flare ups. The mending process has been long, tedious, and very specific. The flare ups are usually a result of either hormonal changes, dietary habits, and contact with certain ingredients.
P.S. I’ve drafted my dermatitis post at least a handful of times already, but don’t have the courage to post it just yet.

Introduction: Korres the Brand

Korres is an environmentally conscious Greek skincare brand. Their ingredients come from the Grecian lands and are manufactured in a company lab located in Athens. All of their products are completely cruelty free, from start to finish. They also do not vendor their products to countries that require animal testing for distribution. For their packaging, in alignment to the ‘Full Circle Process’, it is 99% recyclable to minimize waste.

During the time of my Sephora career, Korres was one of the brands that I’ve grown to really love and appreciate. I’ve watched the expansion of their brand from just skincare, to apothecary, and even perfumery . They have some of the best smelling body products and come with wallet friendly prices.

Cleanser: Korres Greek Yoghurt Foaming Cream Cleanser $28

Packaging:

Let’s start with the minimalistic packaging, it’s in a white squeeze tube with an alternating white and blue font coloring. The concept is clean and simple and rarely traps debris.

Texture & Routine:

As someone who has transitioned into a more minimalistic makeup regime, it has made me a lot more conscientious on a stricter skincare regimen. My morning routine usually consist of a face mist, hydrating serum, eye treatment, gel-cream moisturizer, and sunscreen to protect the skin from harmful rays.

As important as it may be to apply everything, it is also just as important to wash everything off thoroughly at the end of the day. The first step of my cleansing routine utilizes a cleansing balm. Then as my second cleanse, a foaming cleanser is essential to negate any oily residue left behind by the balm. This product comes out as a gel-cream consistency with a milky color. The product is very smooth, a little viscous, and grain-free.

Korres Foaming Face Cleanser (from tube)

Once dispensed, emulsify with a bit of water and a mild foam will form. This formula uses many sulfate and phthalate alternatives such as disodium lauryl sulfosuccinate, sodium cocoyl isethionate and coco-betaine. These foaming substitutes are less harmful to not only your skin, but also the environment.

With the mild lather, massage into skin for about a minute, and rinse thoroughly. This cleanser is great at washing away grime without over-stripping. A tell-tale sign of over-stripping is the tightness that can result from making post-cleanse facial expressions.

Korres Foaming Face Cleanser Mild Lather

Greek Yogurt, Prebiotics and Probiotics:

Prebiotics are essential for the continued growth of probiotics. Prebiotics from the mass market are usually plant fibers that are fed to probiotics which are essential to maintain healthy flora. These microbes help to balance the bacteria in the skin. Probiotics are also a common ingredient to soothe inflammation.

The highlight ingredient, Greek Yogurt is the main source of probiotics in this product. Not only does Greek Yogurt, soothe and hydrate, but also contains lactic acid. Lactic Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid that helps to resurface the skin without irritation. And unlike their exfoliating counterparts, this acid actually hydrates the skin.

The second ingredient that deserves attention is Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide which is a potent prebiotic patented by Bioecolia*. Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide is an end product of the enzymatic synthesis from natural sugars. This glucose oligomer is a perfect source for probiotics to feed off of and serves as a toxin for pathogenic bacteria. Talk about nurturing all the good and getting rid of the bad!

Ingredient Breakdown:

Ingredients	Definition	Usage
Aqua	Water	Moisturizes
Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate	Surfactant	Sulfate Alternative
Coco-Betaine	Surfactant	Coconut Sulfate Alternative
Cetearyl Alcohol	Fatty Alcohols
Disodium Lauryl Sulfosuccinate	Surfactant	Mild Foaming Agent
Zea Mays Starch	Corn Starch	Emulsifier
Glycerin	Humectant/Occlusive	Attracts/Retains Moisture
Cocomidopropyl Betaine	Thickener	Texture Enhancer
Sodium Chloride	Salt	Binder/Thickener
Magnesium Aluminum Silicate	Mineral Clay	Thickener
Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate	Coconut Derived Salt	Mild Foaming Agent
Glyceryl Laurate	Stabilizer	Skin Conditioning/Product Stabilizer
Sclerotium Gum	Gel-Like Polysaccharide	Skin Conditioning/Product Stabilizer
Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide	Enzymatic Synethesis of Sugars	Protects Skin/Stimulates Healthy Micro Flora Growth
Amaranthus Caudatus Seed Extract	Fatty Acids/Squalene	Lipid Healing/Anti-inflammatory
Chlorella Vulgaris Extract	Algae Extract	Skin Conditioner
Citric Acid	AHA/Antioxidant	Exfoliant
Hydrogenated Castor Oil	Surfactant/Emulsifier	Texture Enhancer, Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Rice Protein	Rice Bran Protein Extract	Skin Smoother/Anti-Irritant
Lactic Acid	Alpha Hydroxy Acid	Exfoliant
Lactis Proteinum	Milk Protein/Peptides	Anti-Aging Ingredient
Lactobacillus	Probiotic	“Good” Bacteria
Lactose	Milk Sugar
Laminaria Digitata Extract	Alginates/Mannitol/Amino Acids	Moisturizes, Protects, Nourishes
Lonicera Caprifolim Flower Extract	Honeysuckle Flower Extract	Skin Soother
Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract	Honeysuckle Flower Extract	Skin Soother
Maltodextrin	Plant-Based Sugar	Moisturizes/Binder
Maris Aqua	Sea Water	Skin Barrier Repair
Pentylene Glycol	Humectant	Retains Moisturize/Mild Preservative
Phenethyl Alcohol	Aromatic Alcohol	Anti-Microbial/Scent Enhancer
Polymnia Sonchifolia Root Juice	Yacon Strawberry Root	Skin Conditioning
Saccharide Isomerate	Plant-Derived Carbohydrate	Skin Soother
Sodium Cocoyl Alaninate	Surfactant	Foaming Agent
Sodium Phytate	Salt of Phytic Acid	Anti-Microbial
Titanium Dioxide		Coloring
Yogurt	Lactic Acid/Probiotic
Yogurt Powder		Soothes, Softens, Rejuvenates
Phenoxyethanol	Preservative
Sodium Benzoate	Organic Salt/Preservative	Anti-Microbial
Parfum/Fragrance

Disclaimer: Most of the ingredients are listed and described to the best of my personal ability. Please do your own due diligence to see if these ingredients may be right for you for their particular purposes.

Conclusion:

If you haven’t already noticed, this cleanser is on my holy grail skincare list. For someone who suffers from dermatitis, having a cleanser that balances the skin’s flora is very important. Aside from the pre and probiotics, this cleanser also features a mild exfoliation without causing irritation. It helps to maintain the glow and clarity of skin texture. This cleanser comes in at $28, which is more mid-range pricing. However, it is important that a little bit of this product goes a long long way.

To Purchase: Korres Greek Yoghurt Foaming Cream Cleanser $28

To Purchase: Korres Greek Yoghurt Foaming Cream Cleanser $28

*Please find attached the link to Bioecolia’s Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide patent.

Disclaimer: Please note that all images unmarked are my own and those marked are credited and not intended for any copyright infringement. If you would like to use my images please just ask for permission. All images and links are affiliated, meaning that with every purchase it will generate a tiny commission for the referral. This post is not sponsored and not paid for, all opinions are my own and always will be.

January 27, 2022January 27, 2022

Top 3 Glossier Favorites, Loving Makeup Minimalism

Change in Mindset, Blog Going Forward

In the last couple of years, I decided to change how I viewed makeup and skincare products. Not necessarily just ingredients, integrity and textures, but also the minimalism approach to cosmetics. It has been a bit challenging, trying to balance the ‘minimalism mindset’ and ‘blog reviews’ are mutually exclusive. However, I was able to find a loophole if you will. Posts such as my 2021 Christmas Gift Guides are one since those don’t require real-time purchasing, but are still equally as helpful. Today, we will focus on a few products that I would categorize as ‘minimalism makeup’ from Glossier.

Introduction to Glossier:

I first learned about Glossier through social media back in 2014. At the time I was hesitant to try their products because their products were only available online. Over the years, influencers became a huge part of Glossier’s product marketing. I eventually caved in 2017 when Glossier opened up their first pop-up store in SoHo, NYC. At the time I was still spending frivolously on cosmetics, e.g. loving new eyeliners, collecting MAC pigments of all kinds, chasing all the latest and greatest limited editions.

Glossier Minimalism Makeup ProductsPerfecting Skin Tint, Boy Brow, Stretch Conealer

Product #1: Glossier Perfecting Skin Tint $26

Let’s begin today’s review with the top selling product from Glossier. The Perfecting Skin Tint was the product that I was first most intrigued by. At the time, Lancome Teint Visionnaire was my go to foundation. It was a serum-like consistency that had buildable medium coverage. Eventually it was discontinued and the subsequent versions performed below par.

Glossier Perfecting Skin Tint G11 Swatch

This skin tint is exceptionally light-weight and does not cause close comedones. The formula is quite light, but the product is buildable to an (almost) medium coverage. It also seems that Glossier may have tweaked the formula over the years to provide more coverage. The G11 shade was purchased in early 2019 and the G9 shade in late 2021. In the pictures provided, there are clear differences in terms of texture and coverage.

The tint has a fluid-like consistency, so the formula is quite runny. The texture provides enough ‘give’ in terms of time for blending purposes. This provides lots of time for foundation brush’s circular motions, or beauty blending dabbing before it can set into the skin. There are a lot of popular foundations and tinted moisturizers on the market with fast-drying formulas, sometimes TOO fast which causes the product to set in patchy bits. This often results in what know more commonly as ‘caked’ look.

Glossier Perfecting Skin Tint, Swatches & Blended G11, G9

My advice for picking out the right color for this product is to go with a shade that is a little bit darker than your actual skin tone. Due to the nature of it being sheer coverage, going with a slightly darker shade will actually give the appearance of a healthier complexion. The coloring will balance out once concealer and setting powder are applied.

Product #2: Glossier Boybrow $16

Glossier advertises the Boy Brow as a ‘grooming pomade’, a brush on wax that will lengthen, build and hold. It has built in fibers and feels like a strong hold brow gel.

The brush tip is quite small and great to create corners and smooth edges. The built-in fibers help to create volume and mimic brow hairs to create a natural fuller brow. There are a total of five different shades including a clear one perfect for those with bold thick brows that want something to tame and hold. The shade I have here is in Brown since I prefer my brows to be in the same color range as my eyeliner to prevent stark differences.

Product #3: Glossier Stretch Concealer $18

Next up is the Glossier Stretch Concealer, I have it here in G9, but there are a total of 12 shades which is quite generous for a ‘minimalism’ line. Having 12 shades means that the range is quite inclusive. The colors range from very light to very rich dark tones.

The formulation features ‘micro wax’ particles, which I assume are more similar to microcrystalline wax particles. These are significantly safer than paraffin wax which has a similar reaction when included in cosmetics and applied to the skin. Paraffin wax being a byproduct of Petroleum can cause clogged pores.

Glossier Stretch Concealer in G9, Swatch

The texture of the Stretch Concealer is quite unique, it reminds me of a cream blush without the powder finish. An eye cream is imperative prior to concealer application. Not only will the eye cream help to smooth out the area, but will also treat the issue while the concealer helps to mask the cosmetic flaws.

The consistency upon application feels decently thick, but as you tap it into the skin, it blends in quite seamlessly. This is a must have concealer if you are looking for a ‘no makeup makeup look’, or just into having basics in your daily routine.

That’s all for today folks! I hope that you enjoyed my mini reviews of these three products. Let me know if there are any products that are part of your own staple stash and I would love to explore a bit more in this area.
With Love, Li <3

To Purchase Products Mentioned:

Glossier Perfecting Skin Tint $26
Glossier Boybrow $16
Glossier Stretch Concealer $18

Disclaimer: Please note that all images unmarked are my own and those marked are credited and not intended for any copyright infringement. If you would like to use my images please just ask for permission. All images and links are affiliated, meaning that with every purchase it will generate a tiny commission for the referral. This post is not sponsored and not paid for, all opinions are my own and always will be.

May 5, 2021May 5, 2021

Indie Lee CoQ10 Toner, Love for Soothing and Hydrated Skin?

Welcome back to BeautywithLi!
Today we’ll be exploring my thoughts on the Indie Lee CoQ10 Toner.
Is this toner worth it? Texture, efficacy, scent, and balancing?

Toners:

If you’ve been to my blog before, you’re no stranger to the importance of toner in a skincare routine. However, if this is your first time coming here — welcome! For more in-depth content regarding the importance of toner please check out this post, Herbivore Toner Reviews where I go into greater detail on usage and types.

✨•Product Integrity:

Vegan, cruelty-free and gluten-free (only 12 ingredients)

✨•Consistency:

Hydrating toner that does require a bit of a pat-pat motion for it to soak in faster

✨•Formula Heroes:

•CoQ10 (CoenzymeQ1: high impact antioxidant that helps protect the skin from free radicals)
•Hyaluronic Acid: Allows for adequate hydration to the surface of the skin to enable more plumped complexions
•Aloe Vera, Chamomile, Cucumber: Soothing ingredients that help to dissipate redness and irritation
•Sage, Papaya Extracts: Can help with dryness, redness and help kill fungal and bacteria

✨•Price Tag:

$34: Mid-ranged pricing

✨•Final Thoughts:

As a whole, this toner is one that every skincare enthusiast should try. Not only does it provide instant gratification by allowing the skin to have the initial softening and plumping effect, but it will also allow the skin to fight off dehydration for a longer duration.

This toner is more mid-ranged coming in at a $34 price point, but the contents will last 4-5 months with twice a day usage.

When my skin feels more on the dry side, I will opt to use this toner as a spray-on to allow for the hydration to settle into the skin. When my skin is experiencing more oil or grime, I will take a cotton round and spray this toner directly on the surface of the cotton before gently swiping away any impurities that may still be on my face.

To Purchase: Indie Lee CoQ10 Toner

✨Key Note:

There is one thing to note for this toner which did not bother me at all but may bother those that prefer a ‘nice scent’. This toner has a very green, earthy and sage-like scent. (It kind of reminds me of the mosquito-repellent perfumes that every Asian household owns.) So, if you’re going into this expecting it to be fruity and fresh, think more sage and spa.

✨P.S:

This is probably a one-off situation, but the lid on this particular toner did come shattered, despite it being in a very sturdy box.

November 12, 2020November 13, 2020

Hair Sweet Hair(HUM); Want hair that you love?

Is Quarantine Hair Loss a Thing?

Quarantine and this new normal has definitely done a number to our mental, physical and emotional wellbeing. As our country is coming to a mend with new changes and a ‘moving forward’ concept, it’s about time we take better care of ourselves!

If you haven’t read Part One(Drunk Elephant Lippe) and Part Two(Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Eye), please check out the links.

Let’s get straight into it!

Quarantine has not only increased my stress and anxiety to a new level, it has also decreased my hair dresser visits to none. I have not seen so much dark brown/black hair in literally five years.

During any other time, if I allowed my hair to go natural I think it would be healthy and thick, but during these unprecedented times it has only resulted in a lot of stress-point hair loss. Since March, I have been in work-from-home mode and the center of my hairline has become quite sparse in the front part of my scalp. This is due to the constant tugging from tying and clipping up my overgrown hair.

Somethings I’ve Changed:

(Please keep in mind to consult with your doctor/nutritionist prior to attempting any of these. Also, don’t forget to check supplement ingredients thoroughly prior to consuming! These are some of the solutions which have helped in assisting me with my issues — your experience may be different.)

Trim-Snip-Cut!:
Due to a lot of split ends, dead bits, and dryness I decided to take off 6-8 inches with a pair of scissors. This will enable the gears of hair growth to go into active mode. It will also prevent hair loss resulting from dry ends tangling up.
Scalp Exfoliation:
This is a step that I have skipped for so many years, guilty as charged! Not only does the exfoliation help to get rid of any dryness, flakiness, and buildup of product. It also helps provide extra stimulation when massaging the product into the scalp.
Christophe Robin Purifying Scalp Scrub w/ Sea Salt ($53)
Alternate Haircare Lines/Products:
Don’t just constantly go back to the same products over and over again. As human beings we are such creatures of habit. It’s actually more beneficial if you evaluate the condition of your hair over time and search for something suitable for your hair type at that given moment.
Olaplex No. 4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo ($28)
Olaplex No. 5 Bond Maintenance Conditioner ($28)
Alterna Caviar Anti-Aging Replenishing Moisture Shampoo ($34)
Alterna Caviar Anti-Aging Replenishing Moisture Conditioner ($34)
Incorporate Ingestible Supplements:
Lastly, and certainly not least is the topic of the day; do hair supplements work? My short answer is yes, but continue reading to find out my thoughts in detail.

HUM, Hair Sweet Hair (First Impressions):

Let’s start off with the packaging. As a beginner to supplements, the HUM packaging made the product contents very easy to comprehend. The label is able to highlight dosage intake as well as key ingredients that is expected of a hair-growth supplement. Additionally, the lid of the product also features a built-in mechanism in it to prevent it from being confused with other consumables. It requires a push-down prior to twisting to release the lid from the rest of the container.

Now, let’s discuss the gummy’s texture and taste. It is also important to point out that this gummy does not contain Gelatin nor does it contain Agar Agar which is often used as a Gelatin supplement. So if you proceed to consume this and expect it to taste like Haribo Gummy Bears, you will be extremely disappointed. These gummies have a stiffer consistency and are more reminiscent of Swedish Fish and Jujubes.

Ingredients:

Primary Name	Secondary Name	Purpose of Ingredient:
Biotin	Vitamin H, B7, B8	Assists in protein synthesis, production of more keratin
B-12	Cyanocobalamin	Synthetic B-12, assists in production of oxygen rich red blood cells to feed hair follicles
Folic Acid	Synthetic Folate/B9	Promotes healthy cell growth
PABA	Para-aminobenzoic Acid/B10/Bx	Reduces hair loss /graying of follicles
Zinc	Zinc Citrate	Zinc helps with hair tissue growth/repair & balances out oil glands surrounding hair roots
Fo-Ti Extract	He Shou Wu	Adaptogen herb to prevent pigment loss
Evaporated Cane Juice	Sugar Cane Molasses (Diluted)
Tapioca Sugar		Sugar from Tapioca Starch
Purified Water
Pectin		Thickening Agent
Citric Acid
Organic Fruit Powder Blend	Organic (Strawberry, Raspberry, Blueberry, Tart Cherry, Pomegranate, Cranberry, Orange, & Lemon)
Natural Flavors	(Mixed Berry)
Potassium Citrate		Food Preserver
Natural Color
Vegetable Oil
Carnauba Wax

All of the key ingredients in this product help with hair growth and scalp health the most. However, I was shocked to learn that PABA is in it as well. Para-amino-benzoic acid is often used to treat autoimmune diseases that cause loss of pigmentation in skin.

Here’s a brief, but interesting read titled “Darkening of Gray Hair During Para-Amino-Benzoic Acid Therapy”. It was a small study done with only 20 patients who were administered the medication for a primary disease but also experienced other non-targeted changes as well. In the study’s result, PABA had a 25% chance of success at regenerating pigment of hair follicles. However, it is also important to keep in mind that this is a very small sample size and lacks additional data to prove that PABA can in fact return color to hair strands. Additionally, those being treated with PABA generally consume a much higher dosage measured in grams versus milligrams.

Hum’s Product Philosophy:

All of Hum’s products are formulated without GMOs, soy, gluten, artificial colors, flavors and preservatives. Although their products tend to have mid-ranged price tags, their ingredient lists are short and concise for the purpose of the product. Hum’s ingredients are also sustainably sourced and independently tested.

Efficacy:

Even though I’ve only been trying out these gummies for a little over a month, I do find that it enhances hair growth. Due to the sheer amount of breakage from the first 6 months of quarantine, it is visibly obvious that baby hairs are sprouting in the sparse area. The long term efficacy of this product will require a 3 month and/or a 6 month check-in.

Price & Value:

Hum’s Hair Sweet Hair are at a $25 price point for a monthly supply. A similar contender would be the Olly’s Heavenly Hair that cost $20 for the same quantity. Olly’s products are more for the mass mainstream market, while Hum’s products are seen as more niche. Additionally, Hum’s gummies fit under the vegan category so if consumption of animal byproducts is a no no for you, then the Hair Sweet Hair is the more suitable choice.

Final Thoughts:

These hair growth gummies are definitely worth the money. Initially I had purchased two bottles of these because I wasn’t expecting quick results. As someone who has had a lot of experience with skincare products, reactions, healing, pigmentation and dermatitis — nothing happens overnight. However, I was pleasantly surprised that I was able to see gradual differences by week 3.

Even though supplements really help our bodies utilize nutrients and resources efficiently, it is also important to prioritize other tasks that help with hair growth. There is no point in hair growth if the strands are also constantly being damaged by heat, products, and treatments. In order for strands to grow long and healthy, scalp treatments, periodic trims, emotional well-being and balanced diets are all crucial in a healthy hair journey.

Cheers to better, healthier and stronger hair! Hope you enjoyed it!

To Purchase: HUM, Hair Sweet Hair Gummies ($25)
& For Limited Time: Hum, Hair Sweet Hair Gummies Duo Pack ($35)

October 26, 2020October 26, 2020

Love Brighter Under Eyes? This eye cream might be it!

Did my eye cream just save me?

Stock Photo of the Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Eye — Photo Courtesy of Sephora.com

Welcome to the 2nd post of my unofficial sequel to the ‘new normal’ series where we evaluate some of the skin issues that have been triggered by quarantine and how I’m choosing to treat them.

This post will focus on how I was able to get rid of stubborn dark circles that had developed during my mini episode of insomnia with an eye cream treatment.

If you are interested in reading the first post on how to deal with my newest #1 concern of dried chapped lips from donning a face mask all day, please check it out here.

My Under-Eye Journey:

First, let’s talk about how my under-eye area may be the most resilient feature I possess.

Despite all the abuse that my under-eye region has gone through — it is still in rather excellent condition. During my early to mid-20ties a lot of nights were filled with excessive drinking, lack of sleep, and ‘baking of concealer’.

By the time I reached the ripe age of 26, there were noticeable dehydration lines that had developed in the inner and outer corners of the skin surrounding my eye. This is when I called it quits, I no longer ‘baked’ my concealer and would just apply a thin layer of translucent powder over the area.

The excessive over-drying of the region was causing long-term issues that resulted in product to settle into my expression crevices.

My Under-Eye Savior:

My biggest saving grace was that I was introduced to skincare so early on in my life.

By my late teens I was already incorporating eye creams and gels into my simple skincare routines.

It is in my deepest belief that if I hadn’t been so proactive about my skincare, my under-eyes would be in detrimental condition at this point.

However with a few tweaks to my daily routine as well as changing to corrective eye treatments; I can genuinely say that most of the issues were gone before I turned 30.

Other than Quarantine; What Else Changed?

So, what impact did quarantine have on me? This is the healthiest weight-wise I have been in over a decade and I’m definitely drinking enough water — so where am I going wrong?

It actually has nothing to do with diet or weight, but it has everything to do with how I’m feeling. Between all the current events of 2020, the months of quarantine, and the impending threat COVID has on our communities — it leaves me feeling very unsettled. These feelings work up my anxiety and power of over-thinking. The combination of all of this is resulting in quite a few nights of restlessness and insomnia.

Due to an uptick of sleepless nights — the dark circles, puffiness, and general eye fatigue have never been so prominent in my entire life as it was during quarantine. This is when I decided to rummage through my entire bin of skincare and chose the Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Eye to start off my corrective journey.

Let’s explore some ingredients:

Class	Ingredient Name	Alternative Name	Purpose of Ingredient
Base	Aqua	Water	Hydration, Solvent
Fatty Acid	Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil	Sunflower Seed Oil	Omega 6/9, Vitamin E
Emollient	Simmondsia Chinensis Oil	Jojoba Seed Oil	Regulates Sebum Production
Emollient	Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil	Apricot Kernel Oil	Helps To Retain Moisture
Emulsifier	Alcohol Denat.	Denatured Alcohol	Formula Stabilization
Emulsifier	Cetearyl Alcohol	Fatty Alcohol	Formula Stabilization, Softener
Occlusive	Glyceryl Stearate	Lubricant	To smooth and soften skin, also re-enforces skin barrier
Emulsifier	Stearyl Alcohol	Fatty Alcohol	Texture Enhancer, Softener
Emulsifier	Cetearyl Glucoside	Cetearyl Alcohol/ Glucose	Formula Stabilization
Emollient	Oenothera Biennis Oil	Evening Primrose Oil	Nourishing & moisturizing fatty acids
Emollient	Butyrospermum Parkii Butter	Shea Butter	Soothes Skin & Antioxidants
Preservative	Phenoxyethanol	Glycol Ether
Emulsifier	Lithium Magnesium Sodium Silicate	Silica Based Clay	Texture Enhancer
Preservative	Chlorphenesin		Bacteria Prevention
Emulsifier	Xanthan Gum		Texture Enhancer/Emulsion Stabilizer
Soother	Ruscus Aculeatus Root Extract	Butcher’s Broom	Astringent/Toning
Soother	Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder	Aloe Vera	Soothe, Hydrate, Anti-Inflammatory
	Tocopherol	Vitamin E	Hydration
Essential Oil	Lavandula Angustifolia Oil	Lavender Oil	Reduces Wrinkles & Darkness
Anti-aging	Adenosine	Yeast-Based	Soother & Skin Restoring
Fragrance	Linalool	Lavendar/Coriander	Can Natural And/Or Synthetic
Antioxidant	Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil	Rosemary Leaf Oil	Fights Off Free Radicals
Essential Oil	Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil	Rose Geranium Oil	Antioxidant/ Anti-Microbial
Emollient	Glycine Soja Oil	Soybean Oil	Soother, Antioxidant
Fragrance	Citronellol	Geranium/Rose	Sweet/Floral Scent
Fragrance	Geraniol	Rose-like Scent	Anti-Microbial
Fragrance	Lavandula Hybrida Oil	Lavendar Oil/ Camphor
Soother	Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract	Cucumber Fruit Extract	Anti-Inflammatory, pH-repairer
Fragrance	Limonene		Antioxidant, Skin Calmer
Fragrance	Citral	Lemongrass/Verbana Oil	Antioxidant, Skin Calmer
Antioxidant	Curcuma Longa Root Extract	Turmeric Root Extract	Fights Off Free Radical/ Skin Brightener
Fragrance	Sclareolide	Clary Sage	Skin-lightener
Antioxidant	Rose Flower Oil		Fights Off Free Radicals
Soother	Jasminum Officinale Extract	Jasmine Extract	Helps to Calm, Soothe & Rejuvenate
Active	Citric Acid	Alpha Hydroxy Acid

Top 3 Ingredient Call-Outs:

As you can see in the ingredient listing above, there’s A LOT. However, there are three ingredients that the marketing team focuses on for the Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Eye treatment.

-Butcher’s Broom Extract (Ruscus Aculeatus Root Extract): this is the power house to get rid of stubborn puffiness and water retention.
This herb is actually used in medicines to enhance blood circulation.

-Squalane: an anti-inflammatory agent, but also helps with hydrating and smoothing
This is a more refined version of Squalene, it has the same benefits but is less likely to clog pores and trap bacteria. It is also more stabilized and less prone to auto-oxidation.

-Evening Primrose Oil: a great source of Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids
This magical ingredient is also a great supplement if you suffer from severe dehydration. It helps to retain moisture, soothe, plump and promote elasticity in skin.

Consistency & Texture:

The consistency of this eye treatment is somewhat of a cross between a cream and a serum. It is marketed as an eye serum, but described to have a light-weight cream texture.

I would generally use this daily, in the evenings as my only eye treatment and just a little bit more than a pea-sized amount. This amount is more than enough for both eyes and made my eyes feel supple and properly hydrated.

In my personal experience, I’ve witnessed people douse themselves in eye cream and that is just a waste! A little bit goes a long way and your skin can only absorb so much at once.

Before & After:

Eye treatments like a lot of moisturizers are products that can actually give you instant gratification. Shortly after an application, the product will meld into the skin seamlessly as well as provide ample hydration to make the skin visibly more plump, smooth, and more youthful.

If you take a look at the photo on the left, I had squeezed out roughly a pea-sized amount of the Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Eye onto freshly washed and dried skin. The skin is visibly dehydrated with flaky bits, accentuated lines and crevices. Now take a look at the photo to the right, where the product has been blended thoroughly into the skin. Shortly after that application, the skin is visibly smoother, brighter, and younger.

Eye Treatments, A Lie?:

Some people will say that eye treatments are just a sham and that you can use face cream all over — this is just plain false. The skin in the eye area is roughly 40% thinner than the skin on the face.
And although this is a farfetched comparison: Would you ever apply your face cream on your lips? I’m going to guess I heard a lot of “No’s”.
So don’t apply face cream on your eye area!

Affordability & Price:

The Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Eye treatment comes in at a very affordable price of $40. That is a very reasonable price tag for a treatment that works overnight to promote firmness in the eye region and diminishes undereye darkness.

The entire tube lasted roughly 5-6 months which is quite some time especially for the price point. This product definitely provided long-term results by basically eliminating the dark circles of fatigue that I had struggled with from the first few months of quarantine. It also provided consistent hydration to the area to prevent any moisture-loss.

Conclusion & Repurchase?

This eye treatment was definitely worth the value. Not only did it provide instant gratification, it also helped with long term issues — dark circles and puffiness. These are two of the most stubborn issues in the eye area.

Think of this treatment as the last glass of water that is to be consumed before bedtime to promote adequate digestion while being in a dormant state.

Hope you enjoyed!

To Purchase: Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Eye Treatment ($40)

October 4, 2020October 4, 2020

This or That (Hermes) Luxury Love Tag #thisorthat

Welcome back to another lovely Sunday BeautywithLi followers!

Hermes Square from SS18 featuring bright floral prints of blues, reds, greens, and pinks.

Come join me today to explore the nitty gritty details of Maison de Hermes. We will be tackling the last portion of the ‘this or that’ luxury tag created by Tarina of @LuxHandbagLover. If you want to see the Louis Vuitton and Chanel portions of this tag, direct links are provided.

Happy Holiday —

Linked 'This or That' Youtube Video for @Leanzatang — @leanzatang

Side note, I hope that everyone who celebrated had a lovely Mid-Autumn holiday filled with mooncakes, peanuts, taros and all your favorite dishes. A day to celebrate the great harvest is also a day to be grateful for the food that I have, roof over my head and clothes on my back.

Linked 'This or That' Youtube Video for @myfavoriteswithmaggie — @myfavoriteswithmaggie

Let’s move on and see what Hermes has to offer us today! (chuckles)

This or That (Hermes) Tag, here we go!

1. Clic H or Clic Clac H

Clic H in Noir with Gold Hardware versus Clic Clac H in Marron Glace with Rose Gold Hardware — Photos Courtesy of Hermes.com
(Clic H in Noir with Gold Hardware: $620)
(Clic Clac H in Marron Glace with Rose Gold Hardware: $690)

Clic H
This was an easy question for me, the Clic H is definitely more versatile between the two. Since it has a slimmer width, the possibilities are endless when it comes to stacking arm candy. It would be lovely with a Cartier Love or a Just un Clou.

2. Oran Sandals or Oasis Sandals

Oran Sandals in Gold Box Calfskin versus Oasis Sandals in Noir Box Calfskin — Photos Courtesy of Hermes.com
(Oran Sandals in Gold Piqures Ecrues in Box Calfskin: $630)
(Oasis Sandals in Noir Piqures Ecrues in Box Calfskin: $730)

Oran Sandals
As much as I would love to choose the Oasis for the added height towards my mighty 5’2 frame — I decided to go with comfort. As I age, nothing feels more comfortable than a pair of slip-on shoes with no added heel height. Anything closely resembling flop flops or slip-on mules would be my first choice. Comfort aside, it’s also really convenient. The only con about this shoe category is that it is very season limiting, and can get quite dirty (so go for a darker color).

3. Etoupe or Gold

Etoupe Bearn Compact Wallet versus Gold Bearn Compact Wallet; both in Palladium Hardware — Photos Courtesy of Hermes.com
(Bearn Compact Wallet in Etoupe with Palladium Hardware: $2225)
(Bearn Compact Wallet in Gold with Palladium Hardware: $2225)

Gold
Hermes is well renowned as the creme de la creme of craftmanship, leathers, and abundance of colors. Within their wide range of colors, there are a few neutrals hues that are extremely popular. In this comparison the two colors are Etoupe and Gold, but there is a third sister Etain that is equally as popular.
Between Etoupe and Gold, Gold possesses a bit more warmth making it more wearable despite changes in seasons and outfits. Etoupe on the other hand has a decent amount of dark brown undertones making the color seem more suitable for Autumns and Winters. It essentially gives the piece a more mature and serious vibe. The third sister Etain is a mid-toned grey. This particular hue is perfect for giving leather pieces a more casual feel.

4. Togo or Epsom

24/24 29 Noir with Palladium Hardware versus Constance 24 in Rouge Tomate in Palladium Hardware — Photos Courtesy of Fashionphile.com
(24/24 29 Noir with Palladium Hardware: $9250)
(Constance 24 in Rouge Tomate with Palladium Hardware: $10,300)

Epsom
This was a hard one to answer because it ultimately depends on the bag model.
If Hermes ever offered me a Kelly Retourne 28, (maybe in 50 years) I would prefer it in a more malleable leather. However, if Hermes were to offer me a Birkin 30, Epsom would be the leather of choice.
Ultimately, I chose Epsom because it is extremely resistant to surface scratches and significantly lighter than Togo.

5. Evelyn or Picotin

Evelyn 29 in Bleu Nuit with Palladium Hardware versus Picotin Lock 18 in Bleu Nuit with Gold Hardware — Photos Courtesy of Hermes.com
(Evelyn 29 in Bleu Nuit with Palladium Hardware: $3375)
(Picotin Lock 18 in Bleu Nuit with Gold Hardware: $2725)

Picotin Lock 18
Now, don’t get me wrong — I love a crossbody bag because you can just throw it over your shoulder and be completely hands-free. However in this comparison, the cost of each bag also weighed in on which one came out on top. The Evelyn, although beautiful lacks a leather crossbody strap as well as a secure top closure. Instead it only offers a matching canvas strap and a small leather loop fastening.
While on the other hand, the Picotin offers a distinct design, featuring a lock and four feet — all for less than the Evelyn pricing! So due to the extra features and unique factors of the Picotin, it was a sure win in this comparison.

6. Birkin or Kelly

Birkin 30 in Taurillon Clemence Leather in Sauge versus Kelly Retourne 28 in Evercolor Leather in Anemone — Photos Courtesy of Fashionphile.com
(Birkin 30 in Taurillon Clemence Leather in Sauge: $10,900)
(Kelly Retourne 28 in Evercolor Leather in Anemone: $10,700)

Kelly
Wow, this question is probably just as hard as choosing between Chanel’s Lambskin and Caviar. The two most recognizable Hermes bags, Birkin an exclusively top handle tote bag or Kelly with a top handle and a shoulder strap.
As previously mentioned, if Hermes were to ever offer me a Birkin 30 or Kelly 28, who am I to say no?? However, between the two, Kelly 28 tops the Birkin 30 just by a smidge. Having a single top handle and a shoulder strap option is quite useful. Additionally, since the original shoulder strap is removable, it provides options to switch out the bag straps to something shorter or longer depending on personal preference.

So there you have it folks, the Luxury ‘this or that’ handbag tag is now complete! I hope you enjoyed this little fun tag and that you will join me in choosing some of your favorites out of these ultimatums. Do you think next week will be filled with skincare reviews? Or will it be another handbag blogpost? Let me know down below what type of content you prefer!

Disclaimer: Please note that all images unmarked are my own and those marked are credited and not intended for any copyright infringement. All images and links are not affiliated. This post is not sponsored and not paid for, all opinions are my own and always will be.

September 27, 2020October 3, 2020

This or That (Chanel) Luxury Love Tag #thisorthat

Happy Saturday Folks!

Welcome back! Today we will be exploring part 2 of the ‘this or that’ Chanel luxury tag video originally created by Tarina of @LuxHandbagLover. This is a sequel to my first post, where we went through This or That LV Luxury Tag.

How was your week?
I definitely underestimated mine, considering we are here now 6 days after my original post to do part 2 of this tag! My overly amibitous expectations of myself… 3 posts, 1 week! Ha! Who was I kidding??

This or That Luxury Tag, AlwaysAntonette Youtube Video — @AlwaysAntonette

Welcome to Part 2, where we discuss the world of Coco Chanel!

This or That Luxury Tag, LuxuryinModeration Youtube Video — @LuxuryinModeration

This or That (Chanel) Tag, here we go!

1. Caviar or Lambskin

(Small Classic Flap with Caviar Leather & GHW: $5800)(Medium Classic Flap with Lambskin Leather & GHW: $6500) — Photo Courtesy of Chanel.com
(Chanel Small Classic Flap with Caviar Leather & GHW: $5800)
(Chanel Medium Classic Flap with Lambskin Leather & GHW: $6500)

Caviar Leather
This is a classic Chanel aged-old question, it is deemed as one of the most classic dilemmas when making your first purchase.
– Caviar is a pebbled calfskin leather and more scratch resistant.
(There are exceptions to this rule, but when it comes permanent classic flaps, this is generally the leather used.)
– Lambskin is a smooth buttery leather and more prone to surface scratches, however a lot of the light scratches can be buffed out and repaired.
For my classic flap purchase, I decided to go with caviar, simply because it is more scratch resistant. I don’t believe that emotionally speaking, I can withstand sustaining a scratch on precious lambskin.

2. Quilted or Chevron

(Small Classic Quilted Caviar Flap in Violet: $5800, Medium Classic Chevron Lambskin Flap in Blue: $6500) — Photos Courtesy of Chanel.com
(Chanel Small Classic Quilted Caviar Flap in Violet: $5800,
Chanel Medium Classic Chevron Lambskin Flap in Blue: $6500)

Quilted
It actually pains me to answer this question in this way, but in my eyes Quilted is quintessential Chanel. If this is your second piece, or you’ve got your eyes on a mini square or rectangle then Chevron would add wonderful variety to your collection.

3. Slingbacks or Espadrilles

Photos Courtesy of Chanel.com
(Navy Blue Tweed Slingbacks: $875, Pink Tweed Espadrilles: $725)

Slingbacks
In this scenario, I would personally choose the Slingbacks because they are more suitable for all occasions. The heel height enables the shoe to be dressed up for a night out, and casual enough for a teatime date!

4. Coco Handle or Trendy CC

(Coco Handle in Medium (previously known as Small) 20K Burgundy Caviar with GHW: $4000)(Trendy CC in Small with Black Lambskin and GHW: $5600) — Photos Courtesy of Chanel.com
(Chanel Coco Handle in Medium (previously known as Small) 20K Burgundy Caviar with GHW: $4000)
(Chanel Trendy CC in Small with Black Lambskin and GHW: $5600)

Coco Handle
Once again I went with one that would be more practical and carefree. Trendy CCs are beautiful and aesthetically pleasing, but lack the durability I want from this style of bag. The Coco Handle essentially has all the features that the Trendy CC has but costs $1500 less.

They both feature a top handle, removable shoulder strap (this may have changed for newer models on the Trendy CCs), and internal partitions. The Coco Handle has two sections, while the Trendy CC has three sections in an accordion-style expansion. Personally I feel that the Trendy CC costs a premium because the lambskin is beautiful, and there is a huge metal plate running across the top of the bag that has “CHANEL” embossed on it.

5. Chanel 19 or Deauville

(The 19 in Burgundy with Shiny Crumpled Calfskin: $4800)(Deauville Small Tote in Mixed Fibers: $2600) — Photos Courtesy of Chanel.com
(Chanel 19 in Burgundy with Shiny Crumpled Calfskin: $4800)
(Chanel Deauville Small Tote in Mixed Fibers: $2600)

Deauville Tote
Sadly due to COVID, the Deauville Tote that I purchased has never had a chance to make it’s debut into the outside world yet. The Deauville tote was to create more diversity in my tote collection (I find myself gravitating towards my Iena MM and Longchamps a lot!).

Although the Chanel 19 is a very intricate and beautiful bag, it doesn’t add enough variety to an existing collection. For a person to be looking at a Chanel 19, they usually already own a Chanel flap bag of some variation. And, for those that are attracted to the mixed hardware may already own a Gabrielle. The Chanel 19 isn’t special enough to fill in voids within bag collections. Nonetheless, the bag is absolutely beautiful and features a full length back pocket which is definitely a pro in my book!

6. Boy or Gabrielle

(Old Medium Boy Bag in Yellow Caviar Leather with Shiny GHW: $5000)(Small Gabrielle Hobo in Metallic Gold Aged Calfskin with Mixed Hardware: $4100) — Photos Courtesy of Chanel.com
(Chanel Old Medium Boy Bag in Yellow Caviar Leather with Shiny GHW: $5000)
(Chanel Small Gabrielle Hobo in Metallic Gold Aged Calfskin with Mixed Hardware: $4100)

Gabrielle
This question is a no-brainer for me — although a lot of people dislike the shape of the Gabrielle hobo, I find the different ways to wear it to be very intriguing. The Gabrielle line gives more versatility due to the multi-colored hardware, regardless of the jewelry that you may wear day to day.

Although the Boy bag was a much earlier creation by Karl Lagerfeld, it features more cons than pros.
Here are my three cons for the Boy bag:
– The clasp mechanism on the bag requires applied pressure to the leather in order for it to close properly.
– The leather part of the strap can sometimes thread itself through the metal rings which causes the bag to be lop-sided.
– Even in brand new condition, there is always a gap between the arch of the flap and the main body of the bag which can result in losing personal items.

7. Classic Flap Bag or Reissue Flap Bag

(Medium Classic Flap in Ecru Tweed Ribbon with Champagne GHW: $6400,Small Classic 2.55 Reissue (225) with Aged GHW: $6400) — Photos Courtesy of Chanel.com
(Chanel Medium Classic Flap in Ecru Tweed Ribbon with Champagne GHW: $6400,
Chanel Small Classic 2.55 Reissue (225) with Aged GHW: $6400)

Reissue Flap Bag
This may come as a shock to a lot of bag lovers out there. If I were ever given the option to choose a Reissue or a Classic for free, I would still choose the Reissue. For those that know me, know that I really take a lot of pride in brand heritage and purse knowledge.

My preference of the Reissue is due to it’s direct connection to Coco herself. Karl Lagerfeld released the Reissue in 2005 after retrieving Coco Chanel’s own Reissue from storage. The newly released Reissues would feature as many of the same attributes as possible to the original bag that he had found.

Chanel Portion: Completed
Well, it seems that I’ve managed to post twice in a span of 7 days — it shall get better!
I hope that you had enjoyed my picks for the this or that Chanel luxury tag. Some of these decisions were quite the challenge because what is not to love about Chanel bags? Feel free to let me know in the comment section down below, which ones you would have chosen out of each #thisorthat question!

**All bags featured are either from 20C, 20A, or 20B**

September 21, 2020September 21, 2020

This or That (Louis Vuitton) Luxury Tag #thisorthat

Youtube Video Link for MelinMelbourne #thisorthat #luxurytag — Originally Viewed Video @MelinMelbourne

Happy Monday everyone!

For this week, I decided that it would be best to break up my content and do a ‘this or that’ Louis Vuitton luxury tag for fun instead.

Although I had every intention on continuing my #quarantineskincare series where you and I get to look deeper into how our skin is reacting to everything going on in 2020.

However, as I continued to draft my next blogpost — it became apparent how emotionally heavy it is to articulate all of my thoughts into words. It almost feels as if I am facing some subconscious inner demon at the moment. If you’re going through it like I am – I would recommend you to take a read at my latest review here regarding chapped lips from utilizing face masks.

So, back to the luxury tag!

YouTube Video Link for the Tag's original creator LuxHandbagLover, Tarina #thisorthat #luxurytag — Tag Courtesy of @LuxHandbagLover

LuxHandbagLover originally designed this tag to be a rapid fire Q&A session, but due to the nature of this being a blogpost — I will be adding short explanations to each response.

Tarina (LuxHandbagLover) designed this tag with the top three fashion houses in mind, Louis Vuitton, Chanel, and Hermes. Louis Vuitton and Chanel consists of 7 questions each and Hermes 6, for a total of 20 questions.

This or That (Louis Vuitton) Tag, here we go!

1. Key Cle or 6 Ring Key Holder

Picture comparison of Louis Vuitton Classic Key Cle & 6-Ring Key Holder (both in monogram canvas with gold hardware) — Photos Courtesy of LouisVuitton.com (Key Cle: $225, 6-Ring Key Holder: $265)

Key Cle
This first question is one of the most debated on questions within the luxury community. These two items appear frequently on top recommendation lists when starting a luxury collection. However, like Mel and Tarina – I would also have to go with the Key Cle. It is the more versatile piece out of the two in my collection. This piece is able to fit into my lifestyle for use during my travels as well as day to day. On my travels I’ve used it to store knick-knacks and it fits well in my small to medium sized bags. And on an everyday basis it serves as my main key pouch to prevent scratches in my leather-lined pieces.

2. Damier Azur or Damier Ebene

Photo comparison of Damier Azur and Damier Ebene on the Louis Vuitton Croisette — Photos Courtesy of LouisVuitton.com (Croisette: $1790 Damier Azur, Damier Ebene)

Damier Ebene
For any Louis Vuitton collection to be complete, Damier Ebene is a staple. Damier Ebene, previously known as the Damier Canvas was first introduced in 1888 by Mr. Louis Vuitton himself. Not only does Damier Ebene carry LV heritage, it’s also a great canvas to own as your first piece since it features coated leather parts making it suitable for all weather.

3. Mini Pochette or Pochette Accessoires

Photo Comparison of the Louis Vuitton Mini Pochette and the Louis Vuitton Pochette Accessoires (both in monogram canvas with gold hardware and vachetta details) — Photo Courtesy of LouisVuitton.com (Mini Pochette: $365, Pochette Accessoires: $630)

Pochette Accessoires
Out of all the questions in the Louis Vuitton portion of this tag, this is definitely one of the harder questions for me. I purchased the Mini Pochette way before I ever even considered the Pochette Accessories. The Mini Pochette would have been chosen if LV ever makes modifications to the pouch to fit modern-day sized phones. Due to the fact that it cannot fit my current phone, it fails as a grab and go wallet. Instead, I find myself reaching for my Pochette Accessoires as a handbag, clutch, and bag organizer.

4. Alma PM or Speedy 30

Photo Comparison of the classic Louis Vuitton Alma PM and the Speedy 30 (both in Damier Ebene) — Photos Courtesy of LouisVuitton.com (Alma PM in Damier Ebene, Speedy 30 in Damier Ebene: $1160)

Speedy 30
The Alma PM and the Speedy 30 are two of the most recognizable pieces within the Maison de Louis Vuitton. Personally, I prefer the more malleable canvas, one that molds to the body easily. Therefore, I chose the Speedy 30 over the Alma PM. However, if you prefer a more structured piece, then the Alma PM should be at the top of your wish list.

5. Neverfull or On the Go

Photo Comparison of the Louis Vuitton Neverfull MM in the Limited Edition color Galet and Burgundy glazing with the On the Go Tote MM in the Bi-Color Turtledove color — Photos Courtesy of LouisVuitton.com (Neverfull MM Epi Leather in Galet: $2260,
OntheGo MM Empreinte in Bi-color Turtledove: $3500)

On the Go
Although these two are equally beautiful totes in my opinion, the On the Go tote offers just a bit more despite the higher price point. In the beginning of every Neverfull’s journey, the straps require a breaking-in period. On a new Neverfull, the straps are not particularly flexible and don’t have the most comfortable drop length. In comparison, the On the Go tote features longer straps that have a really nice shoulder to hip ratio along with two shorter handles for crook of the arm or hand-carrying.

6. Petite Malle or Boite Chapeau

Photo Comparison of the Petite Malle in classic monogram canvas/ black leather/ metal details and the Boite Chapeau in classic monogram with pre-treated vachetta — Photos Courtesy of LouisVuitton.com (Petite Malle: $5500, Boite Chapeau: $4850)

Petite Malle
These two bags are designed to be smaller versions of the ever famous Louis Vuitton traveling trunks. Imagine taking a mini-laser and shrinking Louis Vuitton trunks so that it can fit in your hand. This was a tough decision due to the sheer factor that they are quite similar despite the differences. If I was choosing based solely on capacity and practicality, I would have chosen the Boite Chapeau, except I’m not very fond of fussy closures. That’s why the Petite Malle came in on top. It features the trunk shape, the ability to fit bare essentials, and has an opening that is quite easy to use. The Boite Chapeau’s opening and closing mechanism requires you to work around the top handle therefore making it a bit more complicated to get in and out of.

7. Nano Speedy or Nano Noe

Photo Comparison between the Nano Speedy and the Nano Noe, both in classic monogram with vachetta details — Photos Courtesy of LouisVuitton.com (Nano Speedy: $1180, Nano Noe: $1180)

Nano Speedy
This is a no brainer for me — having a bag that has top handles and a zipper is high on my criteria list. The Nano Speedy is near perfect in my book for an everyday bag that has a crossbody strap, top handles, and a secure top-zip closure. The only downside of this cutie and the only reason why it is not in my collection yet is due to the non-adjustable crossbody strap. For someone that’s only 5’2, this bag basically lays on my thigh — not exactly flattering. The Nano Noe is an adorable bag, but in order for a bucket bag to work for me it has to have more depth to it because I enjoy just dumping everything into it.

Louis Vuitton Portion: Completed
That’s it for now guys — I’ve decided to separate this into three different posts to reflect each of the fashion houses that Tarina discusses in her video. As a treat — all three posts will be up by the end of the week! Feel free to let me know in the comment section down below, which ones you would have chosen out of each #thisorthat question!

September 6, 2020September 7, 2020

Want Juicy Lips? Drunk Elephant Lippe To The Rescue!

Forewarning: The beginning of this post will be a little bit heavy, but I promise it will get better.

This year, 2020 has been anything but normal. As adaptive creatures we are trying to cope and cultivate a better understanding of what our ‘new normal’ looks like — some of us doing much better than others in dealing with these new changes.

The fact of the matter is that some people would rather have their so-called ‘freedom’ over the safety of someone else’s well-being is absolutely beyond me. It is proven that utilizing face masks, face shields and gloves properly will enable adequate protection for not just other people, but even yourself — so what’s the problem?

Sighs, okay rant over.

Most Common Issue: Chapped lips

The dryness that I experience generally settles in after wearing a face mask for 3-4 hours. The chapped-ness doesn’t necessarily hurt, but you can feel the pruning dryness along the surface of your lip. In comparison, it is a completely different sensation than that of a brutal 20 degree New York City winter evening, but nonetheless still uncomfortable. As these days of our ‘new normal’ carry on, I will continue to try-out new lip balms to combat this excessive dryness and keep you guys updated!

So Let’s Begin: Drunk Elephant Lippe Balm $18

Drunk Elephant is able to keep their packaging very clean and slim line looking, yet also very mood lifting. All of their items are color-coded, but they all feature very pretty and spiritually freeing colors.

Their Lippe Balm is no exception, featuring a traditional twist-up mechanism, a wider based packaging and a light sunflower yellow cap. The bright colored cap makes it very easy to find especially in a black lined bag. These minor details were definitely not overlooked.

Now, let’s see what the packaging claims that this item is capable of achieving on my poor dry lips.

It reads: “An anti-aging and protective treatment balm that moisturizes, volumizes, nourishes, and rejuvenates the lips for a noticeably more youthful pout”

Suggested Usage: “Apply throughout the day and before bedtime. Can be used alone as a sheer, moisturizing lip balm or under any lipstick.”

Let’s also take a peek at other things that get featured on the outer packaging as well, such as the three featured ingredients, net weight of product and other claims.

Ingredients List:
1. Mongongo Nut Oil
2. Avocado Seed Oil
3. Peptides
Claims List:
1. Product has a 24 month shelf life from the moment the opened product is exposed to oxygen
2. Packaging is Recyclable
3. Donations are made to International Elephant Foundation
4. Cruelty-free

Class	Ingredient	Alternative Name	Purpose of the Ingredient
Fatty Acid	Cocos Nucifera Oil	Coconut Oil	Hydrates
Fatty Acid	Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil	Marula Oil	Hydrates
Occlusive	Butyrospermum Parkii Butter	Shea Butter	Plant lipid that hydrates and smooths
Occlusive	Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride	Coconut Oil/Glycerin	Hydrates, smooths, antioxidant
Antioxidant	Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2	Bisabolol	Protects and soothes
Occlusive	Cera Alba/Cire d’abeille	Beeswax	Protects and thickener
Enhancer	Ozokerite	Mineral Wax	Texture Enhancer
Enhancer	Polyisobutene	Polymer of the hydrocarbon isobutylene	Texture Enhancer
Occlusive	Glycine Soja Oil	Soybean Oil	Plant oil to hydrate
Enhancer	Copernicia Cerifera Wax	Carnauba Wax	Texture Enhancer
Enhancer	Euphorbia Cerifera Wax	Candelilla Wax	Texture Enhancer
Antioxidant	Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract	Green Tea Leaf Extract	Prevents free radical damage
Antioxidant	Dictyopteris Membranacea Extract	Brown Algae Extract	Anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial and prevents free radical damage
Antioxidant	Magnolia Grandiflora Bark Extract	Birch Bark Extract	Prevents free radical damage
Fatty Acid	Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil	Safflower Seed Oil	Hydrates
Fatty Acid	Persea Gratissima Oil	Avocado Oil	Contains Omega 3, 6 and prevents water loss
Occlusive	Schinziophyton Rautanenii Kernel Oil	Mongongo Oil (Apricot Kernel Oil)	Plant Oil that moisturizes, smooths and an antioxidant
Antioxidant	Vaccinium Macrocarpon Seed Oil	Cranberry Seed Oil	Source of Polyphenol, antioxidant and skin healer
Antioxidant	Tocopheryl Acetate	Vitamin E
Anti-inflammatory	Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate	Isolated bit of Licorice Extract	Anti-Inflammatory Agent
Occlusive	Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1	Palmitoyl Oligopeptide	Supports and Repairs skin
Active	Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate	Vitamin C	Skin Brightener
Occlusive	Ethylhexyl Palmitate	Fatty Alcohol/ Palmitic Acid	Texture Enhancer
Occlusive	Dicaprylyl Ether		Skin Conditioning Agent
Occlusive	Tribehenin		Skin Softener
Stabilizer	Sorbitan Isostearate	Thickener	Texture Enhancer
Occlusive	Lauryl Alcohol	Fatty Alcohol	Helps with Pentration
Fatty Acid	Linoleic Acid		Unsaturated Omega 6
Emulsifier	Caprylyl Glycol	Humectant	Conditioning Agent
Stabilizer	Phenoxyethanol		Preservative

Let’s Be Honest: Is this product worth $18?

As you can see on the left, I have now resorted to scooping the product out of the bottom of the container since I can no longer twist the product any further up. Every ounce costs money! Just kidding, but not really.

This lip balm is by far one of the most comfortable feeling lip treatments I’ve ever used. Not only is it light-weight and non-greasy — when used at night it results in softer and more plush lips by morning.

As you can see from the ingredient list above, this product contains a ton of antioxidants and fatty acids to help compensate for the fact that this lip balm does not have SPF. These other ingredients will really help to prevent and neutralize any free radical damage (sun damage included) from absorbing into the skin.

It isn’t uncommon for lip balms to leave out sunscreen from their formulations. The reason being is that due to the thinness of the lip skin, a lot of people can actually experience sensitivity towards SPF in lip products. It can cause dryness and long-term peeling which results in more harm than good for the lip area.

Despite how shiny the product may look on my hand as shown above, it is really comfortable on the lips and you can hardly feel it. Drunk Elephant has really achieved the ultimate consistency for a comforting lip balm that doesn’t feel overwhelming.

Additionally, this entire container has lasted me throughout quarantine so far — so roughly already seven months. My frequency of usage is generally only at night since I don’t suffer from dryness too often during the day.

Unique Factor:

Drunk Elephant and their team were able to create a lip balm that is able to moisturize, hold moisture, and protect the lips without the use of silicone, petroleum, and/or urea. Generally a lot of lip balms that are able to hold moisture in the lips for a prolonged period of time will rely heavily on any of those three ingredients — and Drunk Elephant does not use any of them as a barrier in their formula.
Instead they use a lot of high quality waxes to help lock in all the fruit oils that are incorporated into this lip treatment.

Final Verdict:

The Drunk Elephant Lippe Balm is definitely worth $18 and is something that I would re-purchase and also purchase for all of my friends and family in the near future.

To Purchase Drunk Elephant Lippe Balm $18

_{Disclaimer: Please note that all images unmarked are my own and those marked are credited and not intended for any copyright infringement. If you would like to use my images please just ask for permission. All images and links are affiliated, meaning that with every purchase it will generate a tiny commission for the referral. This post is not sponsored and not paid for, all opinions are my own and always will be.}

August 15, 2020August 15, 2020

How To Fix Dull Skin: Sunday Riley C.E.O. Brightening Serum

If I received a dollar for every time someone asked me –
‘What is one product that you would recommend to change my life?‘
I would be absolutely rich. Filthy rich at that. And why?

Unfortunately, members of the skincare world would consider that an absolutely loaded question. Truth of the matter is every person needs a skincare routine. It matters less of how simple or complex the routine is, but it matters most that you have one.

Without a consistent routine your skin has no sense of normality. One day your pH levels can be all the way up to an 8 and down to a 4 the next day — there isn’t anything to help your skin in adjusting to weather, wear, or healing.

Consider your skin another muscle of the body. In order to obtain better toning results, would you have to consider committing to that arm workout at least a few times a week? The answer is obviously Yes! Every single day introduces new challenges for your skin, your protein bonds are constantly breaking down everyday — and in order to help them recover you have to have a daily routine.

So let’s begin:

Product Background:
Sunday Riley already had a pretty impressive line-up by the time she introduced the C.E.O. Brightening Serum in April of 2017. At that time, her brand already had two other flourishing products, Good Genes (the lactic acid treatment) and Luna (the retinol resurfacing oil).

Skincare is rarely ever a one size fits all — in fact this is why learning to incorporate the appropriate products into your routine becomes so important.

So where does the C.E.O. Brightening range fit in?

Let’s first discuss what Vitamin C as a whole does for your body and skin.
Since it is a powerful antioxidant it helps to decrease oxidative damage and makes it an ideal candidate for daytime routines. Having powerful antioxidants in your daytime routine will help to protect the skin from free radicals that are often absorbed from UV exposure which leads to hyper-pigmentation, fine lines, sagging and age spots. Additionally Vitamin C can also inhibit melanin production in the skin, so that it can color-correct skin tone in the long run.
(I will be saving onto my to-do list to write a post that explains the relationship between Vitamin C, E and their effects on Free Radicals.)

In regards to the Sunday Riley routine, up until this point many consumers were utilizing the Good Genes during the daytime and the combination of Good Genes and Luna Oil in the evenings. This allowed for a repeated lactic acid treatment to work during the day and at night while the additional retinol helped in sloughing away dead skin while rejuvenating beauty sleep was being activated.

So this is where the Sunday Riley’s C.E.O. range comes in, by incorporating Vitamin C into the daytime routine — it helps to build additional collagen, provide better protection, and with a few other ingredients enhances the overall glow in the skin.

Ingredients Breakdown:

Class	Ingredient	Alternative Name	Purpose of Ingredient
Base	Aqua	Water	Hydration, Solvent
Active	Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate (THD)	Vitamin C	Brightening, Even Skintone
Active	Squalane	Hydrogenated Squalene	Brightening, Hydrating, & Healing
Emulsifier	Polyglyceryl-6 Disterate	Botanic Glycerin	Skin Conditioning, Natural Ingredient Blender
Emulsifier	Peg-8 Beeswax	Ethylene Oxide & Water	Hydrophilic, Penetration Enhancer
Antioxidants	Limonene		Calm Skin
Antioxidant	Citrus Sinesis Oil	Sweet Orange Oil	Deep Hydration, Antimicrobial
Antioxidant	Citrus Tangerina Peel Oil	Mandarin Rind Oil	Hydration, Fragrance
Sterol	Glycine Soja Sterols	Soy Based Alcohol	Lubricant, Emollient
Copolymer	Ppg-12/Smdi Copolymer		Texture Enhancer
Stabilizer	Sodium Phytate	Phytic Acid	Natural Chelating Agent
Antioxidant	Tocopherol	Vitamin E	Hydration
Preservative	Phenoxyethanol Glycol Ether
Occlusive	Acetamido- ethoxyethanol	Humectant	Draws In Moisture
Copolymer	Hydroethyl Acrylate/ Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer	Gelling-Agent	Creates Melt-In Consistency
Copolymer	Sodium Acrylate/ Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer	Texture Enhancer	Creates better texture and film to minimize water-loss
Occlusive	Jojoba Esters	Emollient	Softens & Smooths
Resurfacer	Glycolic Acid	Hydroxy Acid	Sugar-Crop Based Resurfacer
Occlusive	Caprylyl Glycol	Humectant	Texture Enhancer/Anti-microbial
Emulsifier	Cetyl Alcohol	Alcohol	Ingredient Blender, Stabilizer
Stabilizer	Polyglyceryl-3 Beeswax	Fatty Acid Ester
Stabilizer	Chlorphenesin Glycerin	Alcohol
Emulsifier	Sorbitan Isostearate
Upper Lipid Mimic	Saccharide Isomerate	Hydration	Mimics Carbohydrate Fraction in order to bind and hold hydration for longer
Fragrance	Linalool		Naturally Derived Citrus Scent

Ingredient Focus: Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate 15% (THD)

Sunday Riley was part of the handful of companies to come out with a Vitamin C based serum during early 2017 that included Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, commonly marketed as THD.

Although it is still in the same Vitamin C family as L-Ascorbic Acid, it is said that THD is a more stable form of Vitamin C because it is fat-soluble.

The fatty acid portion of THD makes it slightly more superior because it allows for a better delivery and deeper penetration into the dermis layer that contains collagen producing amino acids; therefore making this a faster-acting ingredient.

Ingredient Focus: Squalane
In the beauty industry there are a number of combination of ingredients to curtail all signs of aging. The combination of Vitamin C and Vitamin E are known for their capabilities to fend off free radical damage from everyday UV exposures. Squalene and Squalane are part of the Vitamin E family to help condition and nourish skin.

By hydrogenating Squalene, it will yield the saturated portion known as Squalane. Squalane is a much higher quality ingredient since it is a lot more stable and less prone to auto-oxidation. It also has a lighter consistency making it more ideal for those that have easily congested or acneic skin. It also helps to reduce fine lines and chronic dryness. Squalane is a very hydrating ingredient and provides many essential fatty acids and antioxidants.

How To Use:

On the instructions in the back of the packaging, it states to use 1-2 pumps which I consider overkill. I personally think that if a moisturizer is going to be applied on top of the serum, one pump of this emollient serum is all you need.

Short Term Effects: Hydrated & Glowy
Please excuse the wonky white balance that my phone camera has, but you can see a clear difference from the left compared to the right. The right photo is a lot more hydrated, lines are smoothed out and the skin is drastically more glowy and dewy.

Prior To Blending C.E.O. Brightening Serum

Long Term Effects: Hydration & Hyper-Pigmentation Lifting
I incorporated this item into my routine roughly 8 weeks ago and have finished close to 60% of the bottle. Prior to this I had quite a rough patch right underneath my lip area on my chin as well as a significant amount of sun spots/freckles along the tops of my cheeks. The hyper-pigmentation has decreased significantly and the dry-spot is completely gone, it is almost baby-butt smooth at this point.

What you should be aware of when you using this product?
Since the C.E.O. Brightening Serum contains a lot of emollient ingredients it is crucial to remember that less is more. Do not slather this serum all over your face at first use, you want to allow your sebum levels to acclimate to the hydrating ingredients in this product.

Also, this item contains Glycolic Acid in it’s Hydroxy form — so wearing a sunscreen is absolutely imperative! If you’re trying to get rid of hyper-pigmentation or hypo-pigmentation it is crucial that an SPF of at least 30 is worn on a day to day basis and if you plan to have excess sun exposure, using a 50 SPF will give you the best protection in the long run.

Would I recommend this product? & Repurchase?
At an $85 price point for 1oz, this cost is quite hefty, but at the same time you are getting 15% THD. If you look at other Vitamin Cs on the market, generally they are either L-Ascorbic Acid or a blend of both L-Ascorbic and THD without stating how much of each is in the mixture.

THD being the more premium ingredient, it will naturally cost more — but if it means that your Vitamin C can stay stable and active for longer I would say that it is worth it. I would repurchase this product, but perhaps in the winter because it is quite rich in texture. I have been pairing it with Gel moisturizers to keep the consistency light and less sticky on my skin.

To Purchase Sunday Riley C.E.O. Brightening Serum

August 6, 2020August 6, 2020

Wishlist Items: Discontinued Luxury Designer Handbags

When Minks4All uploaded this video in regards to the 10 discontinued bags on her radar, it motivated me to write this blog post. As someone who thinks so long and hard about her purchases, there have been many instances where I’ve been offered something and I either:
1. didn’t want to go into debt for the item
2. just purchased another item recently
3. had some other thing going on in life and didn’t feel right splurging at that moment

P.S. Her original tag featured 10 bags and although I probably could have found another bag to finish off the list; it didn’t feel right due to the fact that these 9 bags are the only ones that I would consider buying at this point.

So enjoy my 9 picks!

Without further ado, let’s begin:

1. Louis Vuitton Speedy 30 in Blanc Watercolor:

This beautiful piece was part of a Spring/Summer 2008 collection collaboration between Marc Jacobs and Richard Prince. Although I would consider myself a luxury lover of sorts, I am no art connoisseur so the name Richard Prince was a mystery to me. Richard Prince is an American painter/fashion photographer that famously manipulated mass-marketed media in the late 70’ties to show how easily swayed consumers are by media that portray bias and stereotypes.

I discovered this bag in the early 2010’s via the internet. Despite how stunning this piece was, I only stared from afar since I was drowning in student loans, homework, and studying. I was in no place to make such an extravagant purchase, but perhaps some day!

2. Louis Vuitton Kabuki Speedy 30:

With the recent passing of Kansai Yamamoto, this bag has climbed all the way to the top of my list. This piece was part of the Kabuki Collection that launched in 2017 as part of 2018 Cruise. It was a collaboration between Nicolas Ghesquiere and Kansai Yamamoto. In case you are not aware of who Kansai Yamamoto was; he was more well known as David Bowie’s costumer.

I had the pleasure of attending the capsule runway show in the NYC Louis Vuitton HQ on 57th and 5th. When I first saw this collection, I was absolutely enamored by the Daruma Dolls. I walked away with a pre-order receipt for the 4 Key Cle, but in retrospect the Speedy 30 should have been my splurge of the year.

3. Louis Vuitton Montaigne BB in Lila:

If I could describe myself in a luxury bag, this beautiful embossed Empreinte Montaigne BB in the color Lila would be it! Lila is a cross between a periwinkle and a lavender, essentially making it the color of my soup.

This combination was launched as a limited edition in Spring of 2014, no bags were purchased — I was still drowning in student loans.

4. Chanel Chevron Statement Flap Bag in Iridescent Beige:

The Chanel Statement Flap is a seasonal style that first debuted in the Fall collection of 2018. During Fall-Winter season a majority of the statement flaps were in calfskin which are more prone to scratches. However, the following year in Fall of 2019 they launched the bag in Iridescent Beige — but I was so blind-sided by the 19S Iridescent Beige that I let this one slip by.

Between the countless purchases and price increases — I am becoming a stronger advocate for seasonal flaps that mimic the look of a classic flap, but have an alluring 25% price difference.

5. Chanel Reissue 225/226 in Medium Beige:

Personally, I would choose a Reissue over a Classic Flap any day, simply because it’s so understated, elegant, and the epitome of Gabrielle Chanel. This beautiful bag is a highly sought after color that was launched in 2017. Truthfully, I searched high and low for the 225 size and before I knew it, even the 226 size ones were completely sold out.

I first saw this bag featured in Mel in Melbourne’s video and fell head over heels because I think I only owned a pre-loved Black Reissue with Aged Gold Hardware in the 226 size at the time. I thought to myself that if I could have a black and a beige version, I would have a complete collection… yeah okay, keep lying to yourself honey. Haha!

6. Chanel Small Classic Flap in Iridescent Blue Grained Lambskin (Caviar):

If I ever had to verbalize and compare myself to a Chanel classic flap, this bag would be it.

I was never able to find the small size in the U.S. market, but I had the wonderful privilege of trying this bag on in the medium/large size. This color was launched as part of the 19S unicorn iridescent grained lambskin collection. The grained lambskin made this bag more pliable than some of the thicker smoother lambskin bags. It was obvious that for this collection Chanel did not want to give up lambskin’s ability to pick up color, so they made it into a grained texture to provide more durability and ultimately turning it into the look of ‘caviar’.

7. Celine Horse Carriage Canvas Bag (Sulky):

Next up is a classic vintage Celine piece, back when Celine still utilized the horse carriage in combination with their monogram canvas.

It is a shame that Phobe Philo left Celine before the re-launch of this style. It was rumored that in the next season, Celine was going to bring back their horse carriage closure details aligning with all the fashion houses reissuing throw-back pieces.

If you are an avid lover of Celine bags, you can tell that this bag looks very similar to the current day Box Bag. The interior even features the same type of accordion style compartmentalization.

8. Dior Small Diorama Flap Bag:

The next bag on this list is the Dior Diorama in size Small Grained Calfskin and Shiny Gold Hardware.

This is a beautiful Chanel Boy Bag alternative at an almost 30% savings. In comparison, the Diorama also has significantly better structure than the Boy Bag. The bottom of the Diorama rarely sags and the gussets on the sides do not leave any gaping holes so your lip products and pens will remain safely secured inside the bag. Additionally, the Diorama has a traditional adjustable strap versus the bolted version on the Boy Bag which gets caught in my long hair EVERY SINGLE TIME.

9. Hermes Garden Party Tote 30 (TPM) in Gris Asphalt:

Photo Courtesy of L’ecrin Japanese Consignment Store

This beauty is one of my BIGGEST regrets, I was offered this bag in the CDG Airport Hermes on our way flying out of Paris. At the time I had already splurged on the trip and could not justify adding this beautiful piece to my collection. This was the ultimate combination for me — in the newly released color of 2019, Gris Asphalt in the Country Leather. Little did I know how hard it was going to be for me to come by this bag after that unexpected offer at the airport. It is rare to see the Garden Party Bag in Country Leather, but even more rare in the Gris Asphalt color.

There is one thing that I am sure of, over the years I’ve learned more and more about Hermes colors and leathers and feel much more confident about choosing a bag that is 100% suitable to my taste. And although perhaps Hermes wont launch this color a few years from now — I am sure there will be another color that will fancy my interest.

Well, that is the end of another wonderful YouTube inspired blog post. Hope that you had as much fun reading through my picks as I did writing this post. If you have any favorites that you think I should look into, comment below and I would love to see what may have tickled your fancy!

Remember to stay safe and vigilant.