Category: Beauty

Spring Products Refresh

LeahLeave a comment

Happy Monday, y’all!

A month or two ago I decided to switch umm routine a bit with spring being right around the corner. I happened upon these products by Pantene and Olay and am so glad I did!

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First in the line up is the deep detox & restore pre-wash! I love how it gently exfoliates my scalp and helps remove product build up. I use it once or twice a week when my hair seems to be hanging a little heavier, just remember that a little bit of this goes a long way!

With all of this social distancing and sheltering in place, I may be reaching for my dry shampoo more during the day than if I was out and about.

The miracle moisture boost shampoo is made with rose water and gives me all the spring vibes! Not only does it smell good without being overpowering, but it is so moisturizing!

I’ve always been a fan of lots of suds when I lather up my hair, and this does not disappoint. Even after just the shampoo my hair is left feeling softer and smoother! Once dry, it doesn’t get as frizzy either!

Even though I feel like I might not need it, I always follow up the shampoo with the miracle moisture boost conditioner. Just like the shampoo, the conditioner leaves my hair feeling so much better!

I’m all about having smoother, softer, and more voluminous hair. The fact that these are sulfate free is an added bonus! These products give me a high end feel without the high end price tag, and the packaging is too cute!

Last but certainly not least is the Olay cleansing & firming body wash with B3 and collagen. It feels so silky and smooth. I don’t think I can ever go back now that I’ve found this!

Paired with a loofa and it’s like a spa treatment in the comfort of my own home! The loofa helps to exfoliate while the body wash seems to wrap my skin in moisture and helps it stay toned.

If you’re in the market too switch up your normal routine and wanting to try something new, I’d definitely recommend these! After trying them out, they have quickly become my new go tos!

XOXO,
Leah

Winter Skin Savers

Leah1 Comment

Happy Monday, y’all!

The older I get, the more I crave having an easy and reliable skin care routine. I don’t need a million products, just a few that are tried and true!

With all of the new products constantly being released, it can be so easy to get caught up in trying them all; trust me, I’m guilty of it too! And what works for your favorite blogger might not work for you. It’s definitely a game of trial and error!

1. Tula Glow & Get It Cooling & Brightening Eye Balm. In the winter, my skin can get pretty dull looking if I don’t stay on top of things with the cooler temps and dry air. This eye balm from Tula helps me achieve that bright under eye look that I love. It also minimizes the appearance of my under eye circles when Baby K insists on late night parties at his crib!

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2. Tula The Cult Classic Purifying Face Cleanser. I’ve tried out my fair share of face washes over the years; high end, drug store, even a few prescription ones. Nothing ever really worked long term though. My skin has always been prone to breakouts, especially around that time of the month. I’ve been using this face cleanser by Tula for several months now and haven’t had a single breakout! I love that it’s gentle enough to use everyday, but effective enough to keep my skin clear.

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3. Nivea Shea Daily Moisture for Dry Skin. Not going to lie, y’all; sometimes my skin gets dryer than the Sahara Desert! I’ve used so many moisturizers over the years that I’ve lost count. While this is technically a body lotion, I’ve found that it works best for my face too. I like that it doesn’t leave my face feeling or looking greasy while still providing my skin with exactly what it needs to stay hydrated!

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What products are your ride or dies when the weather gets cold?

XOXO,
Leah

 

 

 

Testing It Out: Tula Glow & Get It Cooling & Brightening Eye Balm

LeahLeave a comment

Happy Monday, Y’all!

Today, I wanted to tell you all about another product I’ve been testing out lately and loving; the Glow & Get It Cooling & Brightening Eye Balm by Tula!

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Generally speaking, my skin looks and feels it’s best when I’ve had plenty of water and sleep, but as we all known, life happens. Sometimes that means I need a little extra help, but I still try to only focus on a few products.

On their website, Tula claims that this product “Instantly cools, hydrates, and brightens the look of undereye dark circles. Tightens & hydrates the look of lines & wrinkles. Wear under or on top of makeup for a natural dewy glow.”

I was definitely skeptical at first when I ordered this product! I had heard so many of my favorite bloggers hyping it up for months, but couldn’t help to wonder if it really worked or not.

After almost three months of putting it to the test in this hot and humid North Carolina weather, I am so happy to have nothing but good things to report back!

This is my new go to product! I love that it comes in stick form and is easy to throw into my bag when I’m on the go. It gives a nice and healthy look to around my eye area without being shimmery like a highlight. Think more natural and glowing from within!

Living in the South, I am no stranger to heat, so the fact that this is cooling is always nice! I’ve noticed that my dark circles and undereye puffiness are both gone within minutes of applying this which is a huge plus when I’m trying to get makeup on and out the door.

Speaking of makeup, this product can be applied over a full face! I’m not sure how, but whenever I do use it on top of makeup, it never seems to get smudged or removed!

I love that it’s also packed full of ingredients that help hydrate my skin and lock in moisture! If all of that wasn’t good enough, this product is cruelty free and free from things like fragrance, parabens, and alcohol!

Over the last few months of using the Glow & Get It Cooling & Brightening Eye Balm, I have definitely noticed a difference in my undereye area! Not only do I no longer look tired (even when I am!), but I can really see the transformation in how radiant my skin looks now.

I highly recommend this and can’t wait to try more out from Tula!

XOXO,
Leah

Testing It Out: St. Tropez Self Tan Bronzing Mousse

LeahLeave a comment

If you follow me over on Instagram (@alongftride), you might remember that, a few months back, I shared that I was trying out a new self-tanner; St. Tropez. Well, today I’m sharing all the details about it!

Like I said, I’ve been using the St. Tropez Self Tan Dark Bronzing Mousse for a few months now. There’s just something about being tan that makes me feel my best!

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As a former pageant girl, I love a good spray tan, but sometimes there just aren’t enough hours in the day to go to a tanning salon for an appointment. This product helps give me that glow right at home and for a fraction of the cost!

I always start by using a good exfoliant, especially around my elbows, knees, wrists, and ankles. My favorite is a homemade body scrub that has ground coffee, brown sugar, and coconut oil in it! (Recipe will be coming soon!)

If you’re more on the pale side, I would recommend that you start out with the Classic Bronzing Mousse since dark may be too dark for you. What I do like about this is that it is buildable to a degree!

In the winter and spring months, the Dark color is perfect for me since I am naturally tan with being Asian, but I will probably make the switch over to the Extra Dark color.

To apply, I do use the St. Tropez applicator mitt since it came with my self-tanner, but any mitt should do the trick! I use three pumps of the product per leg and two per arm. My stomach, chest, neck, face, and back definitely depend on the day as far as how many pumps I use!

I just pump the product directly onto the mitt and apply it to my skin in circular motions. I do use this on my face most times. So far (fingers crossed) I haven’t noticed any irritation or breakouts which is always a plus! Since my back isn’t always visible, sometimes I’ll just skip it altogether, but I recruit my husband to help if I do!

It does have a faint scent to it. While it doesn’t bother me, it is something to be aware of! I also don’t love that it goes on a bit sticky until fully dry. This is normally around 30 minutes, but I have noticed that having the ceiling fan on high helps cut down on that time a little!

What product would you like me to try out next?

XOXO,
Leah

Spring Products Refresh

LeahLeave a comment

Happy Monday, y’all!

I don’t know what it’s like where you live, but here in North Carolina, the sun is finally out consistently and the temperatures are getting warmed. Now that it is officially March and we’ve sprung forward an hour, I’m in full on spring mode!

It’s also the time of the year where I refresh and revamp what I’m using (or restock on my faves). Today, I’m talking all about some of my favorite products going into this spring season!

1. Physician’s Formula Butter Bronzer. This product is no stranger in my makeup collection! If you read my 6 of My Fall Beauty Faves post, you’ll know that this is the only bronzer I use anymore. The light and tropical scent of this makes it a must have, for me, for spring! I love how it gives me my skin that perfect sun kissed glow that looks so natural and beautiful!

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2. Mario Badescu Facial Spray With Aloe, Herbs, and Rosewater. This is another oldie but goodie for me! It’s the perfect light and refreshing facial spray that I always love to have on hand. I love that I can use this whether it’s a full face of makeup kind of day or just a day getting things done around the house too! It’s perfect for setting my makeup or even just when my skin needs a little refresher! At under $10, it really can’t be beat!

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3. Go With The Lava Flow Nail Lacquer by O.P.I. There’s just something about springtime and the warmer weather that makes me want to have a pretty color on my nails. I’ve always been a big fan of reds and corals, so when I saw this shade at Ulta, I knew I had to have it! It’s the perfect golden red that reads a little more coral than red. It’s the perfect pop of color that really goes well with any look too!

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4. Endless Weekend Ultra Shea Body Cream by Bath & Body Works. This is one of my most favorite scents from Bath & Body Works, but especially when the weather is warmer and nicer out! It’s light with a touch of tropical that keeps me coming back for more! The aloe butter, cocoa butter, and shea in the formula leave my skin feeling soft and moisturized without that greasy feeling left behind.

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5. Jergens Natural Glow Daily Firming Moisturizer. If you’re like me, you’re skin’s shade range varies greatly throughout the year. I like to call it my winter Asian and summer Asian times! Spring is that awkward in between time, when I’m not super pale anymore (thank goodness), but I’m not tan either. This lotion is the perfect boost of color my skin needs, and the scent reminds me of days spent on the beach!

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What are the products you’ve been loving as the weather gets warmer? Let me know in the comments below!

XOXO,
Leah

7 Winter Skin Savers

LeahLeave a comment

I don’t’ know about you, but my skin can get to feel pretty rough during the winter if I don’t have a skincare routine in place and really stick to it. After growing up in Michigan and going through my fair share of winters, I have a tried and true routine that I can’t do without! Today I’m talking about my ride or dies when it comes to keeping my skin healthy and happy!

1. Grown Alchemist Polishing Facial Exfoliant. This is, by far, my favorite exfoliant that I’ve tried. It is a little on the pricier side, but a little of this goes a long way, and I really do notice a difference when I use it and when I don’t. It’s gentle on my face, but still effective in removing dry and dead skin cells. It always leaves my skin looking brighter and smoother after I use it. I’ve noticed that my moisturizer is also absorbed much better on the days I use this first! If that’s not a win, I don’t know what is.

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2. Coco Shea Coconut 24-Hour Moisture. This moisturizer pulls double duty for me! Not only is it a great full body lotion, but I have also been loving using a tiny bit on my face! The coco and shea butters leave my skin feeling so soft and hydrated while the coconut oil helps to nourish and nurture my skin. The faint scent of coconut is also nice during the cold winter months as I’ve always associated it with warmer and more tropical weather! At least I can pretend that I’m not freezing with snow and frost around me!

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3. Vaseline Intensive Care Aloe Soothe. Just like the last moisturizer, this lotion is also a great full body lotion. When I’m not really feeling the scent of coconut though, I opt out for this one by Vaseline. In my opinion, it’s just as good! The aloe in it is great for soothing my skin if it’s a little irritated from the cold wind outside. Even though there’s Vaseline jelly mixed in, I never feel like it leave my face oily or shiny looking. If you’re someone that loves being outside during the winter, it’ll also help relieve any wind burn or chafing from scarves, headbands, etc.

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4. Tea Tree Skin Clearing Toner. When my pores need a little help and I see the beginning signs of a breakout on my face, I always reach for this toner! It’s a great formula that helps cleanse my skin of impurities that would give me full blown breakouts. It also helps keep those excess oils from wreaking havoc! It’s also very cooling and refreshing! I love using it first thing in the morning to help wake me up a little. I just dab a little on a cotton round, wipe it all over my face, and go!

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5. Breakout Box 3-In-1 Ace Treatment Kit. I received this complimentary of Influenster to test out in my latest VoxBox. Each kit comes with 24 Pimple Shrinking Salicylic Acid & Tea Tree Dots, 24 Whitehead-Absorbing Hydrocolloid Dots, and 3 Blackhead-Eliminating Nose Strips. The dots are my new favorite spot treatments! Their design makes them super easy and convenient to use. Just peel one of the dots and stick it where you need to. The nose strips are perfect to help get rid of dead skin, decongest and minimize pores. Peeling this off along with seeing and feeling just how deeply it reached was unlike any other strip I’ve tried before!

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6. Shea Butter Hand Cream. Ever since I was little, this has been a product that my mom has sworn by. She always had a tube of it on her nightstand, and I felt so grown up when she’d let me use some too! Now that I’m older and appreciate good products, I understand why this has always been a favorite of hers! The quality and results don’t lie! A tiny pea size drop of this is all I need to use on my hands, but it leaves them feeling so soft and smooth without feeling oily. With colds being spread and caught so easily in the winter, I wash my hands tons which is not the best for my skin. This hand cream helps combat that while still letting me keep the germs away!

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7. Energie de Vie The Smoothing & Plumping Water-Infused Cream. You know what they say, there’s no time like the present! I may only be in my twenties, but it’s never too soon to take care of your skin. Another product shared with me by my mom, and I love it just as much as the last! I use this twice a day; once in the morning and once before bed. I’m not going to lie and say I eat a perfectly balanced diet, drink plenty of water, and always wear sunscreen because I don’t. This cream helps me combat everyday life though. After using it for months, I definitely notice the bags under my eyes aren’t nearly as bad, the fine lines on my forehead have smoothed out, and even if I’m feeling tired, my skin doesn’t look it nearly as much as it used to!

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What are your must have skin care products to make it through another winter?

XOXO,
Leah

 

6 of My Fall Beauty Faves

Leah6 Comments

Today we’re talking about beauty products! I’ve rounded up 6 of the products I’ve been loving the last few months to share with y’all today!

1. Morphe 35F Fall into Frost Palette. I am by no means a beauty guru, nor am I really that good at doing makeup and creating looks. I can count on one hand the number of eyeshadow palettes I have owned in my 24 years of life, but when I saw this one at Ulta, I knew I had to have it! It’s full of colors that are perfect for fall and winter, which I love, but there are also neutrals that can be used year round! I’ve been having so much fun playing around with the different colors to try and get myself out of my gold and bronze only comfort zone! I’m excited to see what looks I can come up with since holiday season is quickly approaching!

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2. Stila All Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner. This may sound weird, but my eyelids can get pretty oily, so I’ve had trouble finding an eyeliner that stays put and doesn’t make me look like a raccoon. This is hands down one of my favorites! I always get it in the shade Jet Black. The felt tip is fine and so easy to use! It really just glides across my eye. If you know my history with makeup, or lack thereof, you’ll know how good of a thing that really is!

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3. Physician’s Formula Butter Bronzer. This is the only bronzer I use anymore, and I always have an extra on hand! After hearing about from friends, I figured I’d give it a shot. The first thing I always notice when I open it up is how amazing it smells! For some reason, it reminds me of being somewhere warm and tropical! My skin can get pretty dry in the winter, so the fact that this doesn’t make me look even more so is a definite plus. I love that it comes in a few different shades too! It has a nice buildable formula and seems to just melt into my skin! It’s easy to see why so many people rave about it!

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4. Mario Badescu Facial Spray With Aloe, Herbs, and Rosewater. I love good skincare and am always looking for great products that don’t cost an arm and a leg! A friend told me about this facial spray, and said that I just had to try it out! Gosh, am I glad that I listened to her! For under $10, this really can’t be beat. I use it every single day for everything from a refreshing spritz to wake up to setting my makeup. The Aloe, herbs and rosewater always leave my skin looking and feeling great, even on no makeup days, and they smell amazing too!

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5. 7th Heaven Peel Off Masks. I’m a fan of almost any kind of mask, but my favorites are the 7th Heaven ones by the brand Montagne Jeunesse! They have a little bit of everything from detoxifying to moisturizing and soothing. Even my husband likes them! We always have a stash of them on hand in our bathroom cupboard so they are ready to go whenever we want to use one. I love using one first thing in the morning if my skin is feeling a little dull or dry, but it’s also a great way to wind down at the end of a long day of work!

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6. Anastasia Beverly Hills Lip Gloss in Warm Bronze. If you see me out and about, chances are I have this lip gloss on! What initially drew me to it was that it smells faintly like a vanilla frosting Lip Smackers from back in the day! The fact that it is such a pretty dusty rose shade doesn’t hurt either. I love how I can pair it with very minimal and more natural looking makeup for running errands around town or with a full face of makeup for a date night out!

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What beauty products are you loving right now? I’d love to hear your recommendations!

XOXO,
Leah