It's time for a haul

Hi Everyone,

I hope your having a wonderful day this will be my first haul. This haul is an accumulation of my shopping trip from Target, Marukai, CVS and Yesstyle.com. I think I have bought enough stuff to consider a haul but not a lot to make it super long and boring.

I was at target the other day and just browsing around. I decided to give ELF brand a try again. I heard so many good reviews about their face products so I decided to get a few items.
In the past I bought a set from the essential lind. The set included eye shadows, eyeliner and eyeshadow primer from elf and I must say I was disappointed with the product. The eye shadows were powdery. I had a hard time packing on the color and eyeshadow was just everywhere, it was just a huge mess. The eyeliner was hard and tugged on my eyelid and primer was decent.

So I bought a bunch of stuff from ELF studio line, this is the pro line of ELF and everything cost $3 and they are the one in black packaging. Which is reminiscent of Nars packing.I got the Translucent matifying powder, contouring and bronzing powder, the under eye concealer and highligther, and two studio blushes.

I also bought the Rimmel the max volume flash mascara I always buy mascara just to test them out and figure out what works for me. I'm currently using a L'oreal mascara and Maybeline XXL mascara. I also bought Milani's liquif eye metallic eyeliner in brown 05, eye tech extreme liquid liner in blackest black, Milani duo sharpener with cover. I caved and bought one of the Milani baked blushes in coralina. Physicians formula shimmer strips in the colors Nude eyes, L'oreal magic lumi concealer. Lastly I bought the Soho brand crease brush, I must say this brush is super expensive for a drugstore brand. CVS gives you coupon to use with certain items and this brush retails for $19 but I got it for $9.99

I bought some hair products, I bought some shampoo, conditioner and hair mask my Shea moisture. My husband uses the face and body scrub and he loves it. I figure why not try this brand. I'm almost out of my Argan oil infused hair and conditioner.

I went to marukai and bought some stuff the barrier serum and pore cream. From yesstyle.com I purchased a sample pack of cure aqua gel, Bourjois cleansing water and avene clean-ac moisturizer.

Eventually I will have a review of all the products I have purchased it will take me some time at least 2 to 3 months depends on how often I use them and if I get any kind of reaction from the products. That's about it if you have any questions just leave a comment below and I will try and answer them for you.

from Target Elf studio line face products and m

from Marukai Barrier

CVS physicians formula shimmer strips in nude eyes, milani blush in coralina, milani sharpener,
magic lumi highlighter/concealer

Target Shea moisture hair products, Milani eye tech extreme liquid eyeliner
and Milani liqiuf 'eye

Yesstyle.com Bourjois cleansing water, Cure, Avene  Clean-Ac moisturizer

product review: Tamanu oil

Hi Everyone

This oil is amazing I purchased it not knowing anything about the oil. I must say I was impressed and this oil has a multitude of uses.

Product claims:
Tamanu oil is known as a pharmacy in a bottle. The oil continues to work more effectively against bacterial and fungal infections than many anti-biotics. It has an amazing ability to help promote the formation of new tissue. This property, cicatrization, makes the oil perfect for those suffering from acne, rashes, sunburn, insect bites and eczema, not to mention as a daily standby for razor nicks to speed healing and avoid scarring. Several studies are available to show that large, impossible to treat wounds were successfully treated with several applications of tamanu oil.

Not only has tamanu oil been valued for its ability to heal skin and fight infections, this oil has been highly revered as an anti-aging serum. Slightly waxy, this curry fragrant oil helps skin to repair itself from external damage, fighting off free radical scavengers while improving the tone and elasticity of the skin. Skin will immediately feel softer, more hydrated, and a large decrease in wrinkling can be noticed right away.

My experience:
I use 1 pump of the oil and massage it all over my face and neck.
The first time I used this oil I was put off first it has a very musty scent that I disliked the oil has a thicker consistency with a yellow tinge to it. It's consistency is similar to olive oil but olive oil smells better. Because of the scent I only use this product at night. That way I'm not conscious when I meet people at work. Tamanu oil works wonders on my acne and used it to treat some minor burns I got from cooking.

Pros:
Multitude of uses, as moisturizer, acne treatment, skin burn treatment, minor cuts etc.
Again glass bottle with a pump
Price 2 oz bottle for $24.00

Cons:
Can only be purchased at sheaterraorganics.com
The smell can be off putting
It's a thicker oil can be hard to massage on to skin.

Tamanu oil is a great oil if you give it a try. Never judge an oil by it's looks and scent even though it has a weird scent you know there is nothing artificial that has been added to this oil. To purchase this product http://www.sheaterraorganics.com/100-Pure-Madagascar-Tamanu-Oil-Certified-Organic_p_55.html

product review: Moroccan Argan oil

Hi Everyone,

I'm so excited about this next oil that I am going to review for you, it's 100% all natural and unrefined Argan oil. Now I know there are plenty of argan oil in the market and all claim they are authentic argan oil but have to stopped and looked at the ingredients listed in the back label? I have a I must say I was disappointed by one of the expensive argan oil in the market. What I saw a oil that full of filler and they claimed they have 100% oil.
Well enough rant I just had to get that out of my chest so on to my review.I purchased the Moroccan Argan oil by sheaterraorganics and let me tell you it's an amazing product I use it at night as a moisturizer for my face, neck, hands, hair you name is I have used it.

Product claims:
Recommended for for dry, mature, aging skin and as a hair conditioner.
Argan oil is rich in vitamins A & E. It has a high plant squalene content similar to olive oil and is high in healing sterols. The non-clogging, non-greasy oil absorbs into skin upon contact. Amongst all of the oils tested over several years at Shea Terra Organics, argan oil appears to last on the skin the longest, offering a full day of moisture protection.

My experience:
I use 1 pump of the argan oil and massage it on to my face and neck after cleansing, I make sure to massage it on to my eye brows and eyelashes. I then take another pump and distribute is on to my hair at night. Whatever left on my hands I rub on to my cuticle and hands.
The argan oil like the kalahari ootanga oil is a dry oil, but don't be fooled is does moisturise well and leaves your skin moisturized for hours. When I wake up in the morning my skin feels moisturized. My hair feels soft and seals in moisture.

Pros:
It moisturizes really well
Product is in a glass bottle and a pump
Has multiple use not just a face moisturizers but hair and body moisturizer
price $24.00 for a 2oz bottle
100% natural
certified argan oil
No artificial fragrance

Cons:
Can only be purchased through sheaterraorganics
The scent, it's unrefined, unprocessed oil so it retains its natural scent.
Does not contain an spf

Moroccan Argan oil is a wonderful product that has many uses even though their are plenty of fake oils out there it is worth it's price in gold. I love this product I'm trying to share it to any one who is willing to listen. To purchase http://www.sheaterraorganics.com/Moroccan-Argan-Oil-Certified-Organic-Beauty-Oil-of-the-Berbers_p_56.html

product review: Kalahari Ootanga Oil

Hi Everyone,

Back again for more beauty reviews, this time I'm going to focus on the items I'm currently using on my skin care routine.
I came across this oil because I was looking for a good moisturizer. My skin has changed drastically since my 20's. I always had oily combination skin that frustrated me so much. A few years ago I noticed that my regular moisturizer was not working as well. It was leaving my skin so dry and tight even after I have massaged the moisturizer on. I know what were supposed to switch moisturizer depending on the season. I usually use a lighter moisturizer in the summer and a more hydrating moisturizer in the winter. That being said I happen to find a YouTube guru Ms bentleyblonde and she was raving about banana's and baobab's moisturizer from sheaterraorganics.com
I looked around the website and realized it has a ton of other products that might help with my problem. Sheaterra has 100% all natural products, that's Eco-friendly and also help create work in Morocco.

The product claims:
Recommended for for normal to oil skin, removes makeup and sebum build up
With a multitude of uses, Kalahari Ootanga Oil (locally referred to as tsamma) is a must have in every beauty cabinet. Basking under the intense sun of the Kalahari Desert, seeds of water-laden, indigenous watermelons, tsamma melons, intensify in their hydroxyl radical-scavenging anti-oxidant powers. The results is a powerful oil, non greasy and non clogging, that penetrates skin's surface to eradicate toxins and debris while offering gentle, yet effective moisturization.

My experience:
I use Kalahari oil in the morning as my moisturizer, I just use 1 pump and massage the oil all over my face and neck.
As a make up remover, I just rub 2 to 3 pumps of the oil all over my face, making sure to really work the product where I need it. I just wipe the oil with a facial tissue and cleanse my face like I would normally do.

The product feels like a dry oil, what I mean by dry oil is that it's very light and not greasy. When I massage the oil on to my skin it just gets absorbed right away and I notice that it doesn't leave me my skin looking greasy in a few hours like my normal moisturizer. The oil doesn't have a fragrance in it, it does smell nutty it's because it's a cold pressed 100% certified pure oil.
I have used it as a make up remover and it does break down face make up, heavy duty eye liner like my urban decay 24/7.

Pros:
The product is all natural 100% certified
It's a great moisturizer that will not leave you looking greasy
The product is glass bottle and has a pump making it Eco-friendly and sanitary
price is decent $18 for 2 oz bottle

Cons
You can only get is online through sheaterra website.
The scent, it doesn't have one can smell organic, nutty.
It gets messy when used as a make up remover.
Does not contain an SPF

All in all I love this product and use it religiously, I feel it has helped my skin a lot and it's something that makes me feel and I can feel good about. So to purchase just head to http://www.sheaterraorganics.com/Kalahari-Ootanga-Oil-Prehistoric-Watermelon-Seed-Oil_p_51.html

Skin care routine

I know there's plenty of skin care routine but this one works for my combination dry skin. I broke this down to morning routine, evening routine and once a week treatments that I like to use. The products will get reviewed at a later date because if I added the review with this blog post will be very, very long. I will also add info to where you can purchase the products that I use.

Morning routine
In the morning I like to wash my face with lukewarm water for several minutes. Then I pat my face dry and with a cotton ball I use witch hazel as my toner. I use an under eye gel,use my clinique spot treatment for any zits I have then apply 1 pump of kalahari ootanga oil to my face let it get absorbed and dry a bit then I place either another moisturizer with an SPF of 38 or more to my face.I know most experts recommend that you wash your face with a cleanser in the morning, I find that using a cleanser in the morning dries my skin so much. Also I make sure to really cleanse in the evening so using a cleanser in the morning is too much for my skin. That's pretty much it for my morning routine, I usually don't use make up I reserve that on special occasion. :)

Evening routine
At night is when I perform my deep cleansing since I have more time to devote at night and I find that my night cleansing routine is a nice party of de-stressing.
At night I like to use my black soap and rose hip cleanser or my rose hip soap on my face. Depending on what I did that day I either use my hands to work the cleanser on to my skin or on days that I feel I need that extra cleansing I use my nutra sonic. Nutra sonic is a cheaper version of clairasonic. After I have cleansed my face I pat my skin dry and use an under eye gel use my tamanu-e cream on my zits. Then I use 1 pump of tamanu oil and massage this on to my face, let is get soaked up for a minute and then use 1 pump of argan oil and also massage on my face and neck. That concludes my evening routine I know your asking why I don't use a toner at night. I find that since I cleaned my face really well with my nutra sonic or my cleanser that I don't need a toner.

Once a week routine.
I have large pores around my nose, forehead and chin so I use some sort of pore strip to clean those gunk out of my face. I have several that I have tried so far I'm liking the skin food nose strip It's cheap and works the best in my opinion.
I use face scrubs once a week I use my ghassool purifying paste mask.

That about sums up my skin care routine, I have been using this products since November of last year and I haven't had any break outs except when I try new products. It works for me.
to purchase argan oil, kalahari ootanga oil, tamanu oil and ghassool scrub/mask sheaterraorganics.com. clinique spot treatment any department store or sephora will carry clinique.the nutra sonic I purchased online at hautelook.com on one of their sales. Witch hazel I purchased it from Walgreen's.