Tag: Ulta

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

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