Smarter ways to exfoliate your skin

100Pure-Skin-Brightening100% Pure is a brand I stand behind due to the fact that everything they sell, is organic beauty products, cosmetics, skincare/bath, etc. Everything is free from harmful toxins, free of artificial colours and 100% cruelty free.

So whenever I use their skincare, I know I’m taking the best care of my skin that I can. While I do still have favourite skin care items from other brands that I’m sure you guys all I know I love (philosophy hope in a jar, and the bobbi brown extra eye repair cream). I do still use those, but I also like incorporating more organic, healthy skincare into my regimen too.

Did you know that they’re based out of San Jose, just like me? Random, but they were first founded in Napa, but are now based here in the same city I’m in. That’s how I found them, at first. When I attended an event at Santana Row my first summer here!

It’s been a while since I’ve talked about them on the blog, but I still use a lot of their products (including their super highly pigmented cocoa bronzer which is insane and I love it). But I wanted to bring it to the fore-front again and talk about their $35 brightening scrub + mask. I exfoliate my body on a weekly basis to prep my skin for self tanner, but I tend to exfoliate my face more on the side of twice a week.

I have to ask you guys. Have you ever used a scrub that actually gave you minor scratches? I used a Newfoundland based product on my skin last week, while exfoliating for my tanner, and I noticed it scratched my lower-calf area and made it bleed! I wasn’t happy with it, and I immediately threw it in the garbage since I thought it was a bit too abrasive for my clearly tender skin lol.

I haven’t used the 100% Pure mask on anything but my face, but it’s gentle yet exfoliating enough to sloth off those gross dead skin cells from the week.

Here’s what I use before/during/after a face-mask time.100PercentPure-and-No7

Cleaning my face using Botanics All Bright Cleansing Face Wipes $6.99Boots-No7-Makeup-Wipes

Here’s what the brightening scrub + mask looks like on! And once you’re ready to wash it off, it gently exfoliates your skin. Love!Mask-on

Wash it off, then spritz your face with some No7 Hydrating Mineral Water Spray $8.39.Boots-No7-Spray

Exfoliating benefits + tips:

  • Exfoliating will give you a brighter complexion.
  • This might be a no-brainer but remove your makeup prior to exfoliating. If not, the exfoliant won’t be able to give you a deep clean.
  • Careful which exfoliants you choose, as some granules are more rough than others, which can damage your skin.
  • Exfoliating helps your makeup go on smoother! Try it if your foundation makes your skin look dry/cakey/rough.
  • The benefits of exfoliating are endless, considering it removes dead skin, reduces skin discolouration and pigmentation.

How often do you exfoliate? If you do, which product/brand do you use?

Keep an eye out for the 100% Pure online sales! They have them pretty frequently where you can get so much money off an item if you spend a certain amount!

100% Pure Cosmetics
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Psst! Don’t forget to enter my giveaway here for a Specialized Women’s cycling jersey!

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I’ve never tried a MAC lipstick. Until now.

MAC-Header

MAC-and-boxed-waterI know. What’s with me? I haven’t tried MAC lipsticks before! I know they’re one of the top tier lipsticks out there, and everyone has tried them. Yet, I have not. Until now!

The two makeup brands that I started using when I first got into makeup around 10 years ago was Clinique, and MAC Cosmetics. I still have a huge freezer-bag full of MAC empties to back-2-MAC. I haven’t gone into the store to pick out a lipstick, because quite frankly… I’m a little overwhelmed on what I should pick out! There are so many good choices, and after all this time I still have no idea what I would pick out. Maybe after writing up this blog post I should pack up that huge ol’ bag and bring it back and get a few lipsticks.

Do you love MAC lipsticks? If you do, what are some of your suggestions? I’m not sure if I want to go bold (an orange-red), or include some easy to wear nude colours. I guess I could do both considering I could get a few with my empties.

MAC-LipsLeft to right: MAC Pressed and Ready (lustre), MAC By Special Order (amplified), MAC Huggable Lipcolour in Cantonese Carnation, and MAC Tendertalk Lip Balm in Side Dish.

MAC-swatchesLeft to right swatches on the back of my hand: Tendertalk Lip Balm in Side Dish, Huggable Lipcolour in Cantonese Carnation, Pressed and Ready, By Special Order, and the final one on the right you’ll have to wait til Friday to find out that fun colour! I’m surprised how light the two on the left swatched. But I’m pretty happy with it considering those swatches are definitely the colours I’d reach for.

I think the only reason why I haven’t chosen a MAC lipstick to purchase or Back-2-MAC is that the selection is enormous and I’m almost overwhelmed on what to choose. There are so many great options.

How they look on my lips/skintone.

MAC-Pressed-and-readyMAC Pressed and Ready (lustre). This would be perfect layered under a nice pink-toned gloss to give it some more colour. I really don’t like it on its own.

MAC-By-Special-OrderMAC By Special Order (amplified). Definitely a colour I’m not normally drawn to, but pretty nice for a date-night!

MAC-CantoneseMAC Huggable Lipcolour in Cantonese Carnation. As it says online it definitely has a feather-light finish. Something easy to pop in your purse and cart along with you for easy touch-ups. I love how easy it is. I think you can tell by my smirk, that this one is one of my favourites.

MAC-Side-dishMAC Tendertalk Lip Balm in Side Dish. This is apparently a smart lip conditioner that creates your own personalized tiny based on your body chemistry (available in 5 shades). I have to say, Tendertalk reminds me of the Tendertone lip balms they had in jars back in the early 2000’s. Anyone remember those? They smelled so yummy. I had a bright red one that I didn’t wear often but I loved it when I did.

Which one is your favourite on me? :) 

MAC-Cosmetics

4-mac-lipsTell me in the comments which MAC lipstick is your favourite, or which one I should buy!

Disclaimer: MAC Cosmetics lipsticks were sent for review.

Psst! Don’t forget to enter my giveaway here for a Specialized Women’s cycling jersey!

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DIOR DIORSHOW ALL-IN-BROW 3D PALETTE

Dior-brow-headerI’m not sure that I can get any happier with my eyebrow products. I’m almost finished my third pencil of Dior Diorshow Brow Styler in Universal Brown, and then I fill in the beginning part with an Hourglass Arch Brow pencil to soften the look. While those two slim pencils are quite travel-friendly, I have something that you’ll want to keep out on your vanity at all times, and not put in your makeup bag because it’s too pretty.

This beauty:Dior-All-In-Brow-3D

Move over brow pencils, there’s a new product in town, and it’s here to stay!

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