Ulta Dual Action Cleansing System

Hey lovelies! I am sure that you have all seen ads and reviews for the famous Clarisonic face brushes. The idea behind gadgets such as these is the same as an electric toothbrush, the premise being that basically, you can only do so much with the power of your own muscles; we simply do not have the speed and motion needed to get the deep clean that our skin and teeth really need. The downside to these wonderful inventions? They are more often that not, expensive (BOOO!). The price of a Clarisonic is anywhere from $119-$225 depending on which kit you choose, and the brush head replacements are another $25 every few months. As much as we all love our skin, what if you simply cannot afford the Clarisonic price tag? Thankfully there are quite a few alternatives and you simply have to choose the best option for yourself, I chose the Ulta version.

The packaging for this product is simple and "assembly" was easy in the sense that only the batteries needed to be inserted (batteries are included). One thing I dislike about this tool is that the battery compartment is very hard to open, it took a good five minutes of pulling, numerous swears and all but attacking it with a hammer before it finally opened. I assume the extreme hold is so that water will not seep in but, I should not have to wrestle something in order for it to open.

The system comes with three pieces: the main tool, a brush (deep clean) and a sponge (everyday clean/buffer). There are a few aspects that differ greatly from the Clarisonic and these are, speed and motion. While the Clarisonic is known for its patented vibrating motion and three speeds, the Ulta brush simply rotates and only has one speed which I would place as medium, it is neither slow nor fast. There is a downside to the rotating motion and that is, if you press too hard not only will it be uncomfortable but you will notice a slight, skin pulling action. Just use a light hand, let the rotating motion do the work for you and this should not be an issue.

How do I use this? I have found that both the brush and sponge attachments soak up a lot of cleanser and I am left wondering if any of that sudsy goodness even reached my face. To counteract this, I use my hands to wash my face and before rinsing, I use either attachment to scrub my face for a minute or so. I do this twice daily with the less harsh sponge piece; as for the brush head, I use this every few days or sooner if I feel that my skin needs it. Another reason for washing my face beforehand is so that I do not stain the attachments, I learned the hard way that this can happen! My sponge now has a purple tint because of some purple eyeshadow awhile back. Both of these pieces leave my skin feeling clean, refreshed and unfortunately, DRY! Because of this, moisturizer is an absolute must. The upside to deep cleaning/exfoliating your face however, all of your skincare products will be properly absorbed and much more effective. I have been using this system for a couple of weeks now and I have noticed that the texture of my skin has definitely improved, my skin is a lot smoother and quite glowy! I have suffered from both large pores and painful cystic acne for years and these too have almost disappeared, I still get a bump or two here and there but, that is by far an improvement from the usual zombie horde of pimples on the sides of my face. This coupled with my DDF Brightening Cleanser is a skincare duo crafted by angels.

Quick Tip: Please be advised that no matter what brush system you end up choosing, your skin will most likely go through a period of what is known as, purging. What is purging? It is your body's natural way of detoxing itself. Since you are now deep cleaning your skin, all of that trapped sebum and gunk (yuck!) in your pores is now rising to the surface; until now it has been trapped under layers and layers of dead skin. Believe me when I say your skin will most likely look a lot worse before it gets better. Now with that being said, please do not confuse purging with a product simply not working for your skin (ex: a reaction) whereas purging will go away in its own time, a reaction will not until you discontinue use of that product. Just keep an eye on your skin and make sure that things are getting better and not worse.

Overall, I really love this system and I feel as though my skin has never looked better. My skin feels cleaner and looks clearer as a lot of my acne troubles have disappeared. Unfortunately, nothing can be perfect and Ulta's brush system does falter a bit. The battery compartment can absolutely be improved upon, it is entirely too difficult to open. Next, this tool is not waterproof so I would advise against sticking the tool under water and just wet the brush or sponge itself before using. I cannot compare this or any of the other systems to the Clarisonic as I have not used them. Would I re-purchase? Well I am hoping this will not break anytime soon but, once it does, yes I will re-purchase.

This product retails for $25.00 and can be purchased here
Replacement brush heads retail for $8.00 and can be purchased here

Check out other versions here (prices may vary):

Clarisonic $119-$225

Olay Pro-X $10.99

Olay Fresh Effects $14.99

DDF Revolve Micro Polishing System $50.00

Neutrogena Wave (Original) $10.99

Neutrogena Wave (Sonic) $15.99

Neutrogena Microderm System $13.99

Pretika SonicDermabrasion Face Brush $50.00

Acne Free Advanced Cleansing Brush $14.99

CVS Facial Cleansing Power Brush $19.99

Much love xo

Favorite Product Of The Month! January

Hello lovelies! So sorry that I haven't been putting out as much content as I used to. Things have been a bit hectic for the past couple of weeks but thankfully now I can breathe and I'm back to blogging.

This month I've had a TON of things to try out and review, from new makeup to skincare to a backpack even! (Reviews will be coming shortly). It's all been so exhausting but I love it. Thankfully, most of these products were very good and a few of them are even staples in my routine now. Overall though, there were two products this month that really stood out to me and they were, TheBalm's Balm Jovi Palette and Philosophy's Purity Made Simple 3-in-1 Facial Cleanser. The latter I will be talking about in this review!

You might have noticed that this product is labeled as being a 3-in-1, that's because in addition to being a cleanser this product also acts as a toner while it helps to dissolve makeup. According to Philosophy, it's supposed to lightly hydrate the skin as well. While I didn't notice any hydration per se, I did notice that it didn't strip my skin and leave it feeling "squeaky", uncomfortable or tight. This cleanser is great for removing oils because it leaves my skin looking matte but somehow does not strip my skin. How it does that I will never know! I really love the toning aspect because it leaves my skin looking bright, awake and refreshed so I've been using this mainly in the mornings. As someone with dark acne scarring on the sides of my face, I'm always looking for non-harsh products that will not only brighten my skin but, keep it from looking dull as well. This, along with my trusty DDF Brightening Cleanser are now staples in my routine. I'm especially impressed by this product because unlike usual toners, it doesn't dry out my skin or make my skin flaky which the DDF Brightening can do on occasion.

When using this cleanser, I start with a damp face and using only a dime size amount, I rub it into my skin for a few minutes before rinsing. If you are using this product to remove makeup, I would recommend doing this twice to make sure that everything was removed. You can also use this product on your eyes but, I personally haven't tried that yet.

Ultimately, I think this is a great product all around. It cleanses, tones and removes makeup in one step so for that alone you can't beat it. The prices are a bit expensive but, since only a dime size amount is needed it will last a long time and you no longer have to buy makeup remover and or toner separately so that in itself, helps to save a bit of money as well as, take extra steps out of your routine. If you are planning to purchase a full size version of this product, I would recommend buying a pump as well. The reason for this is because, the packaging is a very rigid bottle which quickly becomes an inconvenience as more and more product is used, it becomes almost impossible to get product out and not crush the bottle in the process.

*This product does contain sulfates* as well as: Water, Sodium Lauroamphoacetate, Sodium Trideceth Sulfate, Limnanthes Alba (Meadowfoam) Seed Oil, Coco-Glucoside, Coconut Alcohol, Peg-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate, Aniba Rosaeodora (Rosewood) Wood Oil, Geranium Maculatum Oil, Guaiac (Guaiacum Officinale) Extract, Cymbopogon Martini Oil, Rosa Damascena Extract, Amyris Balsamifera Bark Oil, Santalum Album (Sandalwood) Oil, Salvia Officinalis (Sage) Oil, Cinnamomum Cassia Leaf Oil, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil, Daucus Carota Sativa (Carrot) Seed Oil, Piper Nigrum (Pepper) Seed Extract, Polysorbate 20, Glycerin, Carbomer, Triethanolamine, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Imidazolidinyl Urea, Yellow 5 (Ci 19140)

Full sizes are $22 // 8oz, $33 // 16oz, $41 // 24oz, $50.50 // 32oz of product
Travel size is $10 // 3oz of product

You can purchase this product in it's various sizes here, here, and here

Much love xo

My Skincare & Haircare Story

Hello lovelies! I thought I would share a little bit about me today. Like so many others, I've been through countless things trying to find the best products and the best routine and let me tell you, both my skin and hair have really been on a journey. From horrific to bad to decent and everything in between. Over the last year or so I have really taken an initiative to get my skin and hair healthy and on track. Like all things, no matter what you do on the outside, it all needs to start from within first and foremost. Because of my PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome) condition, my skin, hair and nails have always been in a constant brittle state and no amount of love could really turn that around, until now.

The PCOS causes thinning spots in my hair but lately I've found that my hair is a lot thicker, stronger and overall much healthier. I start by washing my hair every 7-10 days or so. I know this might seem like a loooong time to some people but because of my extremely dry hair (we're talking BONE DRY here!) this is what works best for me. I've been using John Freida's Frizz Ease Hydrating shampoo & conditioner and I really like these two. Unlike other shampoos that I've used, this one does not make my hair feel dry or like straw, my hair actually feels really silky and soft after using it. After washing, conditioning and towel drying my hair. I use Organix Extra Strength Moroccan Argan oil in my hair, about 2 quarter size amounts, because my hair is so dry, I use this daily. I then use a quarter size amount of John Freida's Frizz Ease Straight Fixation Smoothing Creme. I brush my hair well and blow dry my hair on low hot until it is about 90% dry and I finish by letting it air dry. Every 2 weeks I deep condition my hair with pure olive oil and egg yolks, I mix the two together and leave in on my hair under a plastic cap for an hour before washing it out. My hair has really come a long way since I started this routine and trying to eliminate as many chemicals and heat sources as I could.

For my skin, again because of the PCOS, my skin is VERY acne prone. For as long as I can remember, I've always picked at my face and spots. Horrible I know. Even though I know better now, the damage has already been done in the form of dark spots and acne scars all around my face. Add that to never using moisturizers and you can see why my skin was in such a horrid state. For awhile I had been interested in skin lighteners but I've always been weary of using them out of fear of what might go wrong. Thanks to Birchbox who sent me the DDF Brightening Cleanser which is now a holy grail product for me, it has lightened my spots and scarring and really helps keep my breakouts at bay as well. For a moisturizer I use the Philosophy Miracle Worker Anti Aging serum and moisturizer. I like to leave my skin pretty natural and so I don't use foundation, I personally try to stay away from caking makeup on my face and more so, I just don't like the way it feels. I use a primer + powder for a matte airbrushed face. Every few weeks I like to give myself a whipped egg white facial, I use one egg and let it sit on my skin for 15 minutes.

Because of my condition, it is very vital that in addition to my medication, I supplement with a multi-vitamin, echinacea and probiotics. Not only have these helped my overall health but they've done wonders for my nails. I also drink tons of water and have altered my diet to include lots of fruits and veggies. I have always had trouble with my nails breaking and peeling. The only product that I've found to help this has been Revlon's Calcium Gel, I use a coat of this under all of my nail polish. It took a long while but my nails have gotten a lot stronger and they don't peel nearly as much. I might not ever see a day where my nails are completely problem free but as of right now I couldn't be happier.

My biggest problem overall was stress, eliminating stress from my daily life has been the hardest thing to accomplish by far and even though I haven't mastered it completely, I've noticed that just doing simple things have helped my health so much more. After battling these problems for so long, it finally seems like my skin and hair have taken a turn for the better and I can only hope that it continues from there. I cannot explain the sheer embarrassment and low self esteem that I used to experience because of this and I know that even though that's all better now for me, people everywhere are still dealing with it. I encourage you to do like I did and take the initiative to turn it around and remember that no matter what, always love yourself. You are gorgeous just the way you are and all of your flaws are what make you perfect. Also, if you are a woman battling PCOS let me know in the comments below, send me an email and share your story with me, I would love to hear from you.

I love you guys but please, please, please consult with your doctor before adding any supplements to your diet. It's for your own safety.

Much love xo

JUARA Skincare- A Review

As the winter months are vastly approaching, I've been on the hunt for new and awesome things to add to my skincare regime. You can imagine my excitement when I stumbled upon Juara skincare. I had honestly never heard of this company before I joined the MakeupTalk forums and started really getting a lot of suggestions and advice.

After hearing some amazing things, I contacted the company and explained my specific skincare needs in hopes that they might offer some suggestions of the best products to try out. I explained that I had dry/combination skin with an oily t-zone and dark spots and acne scars on my face. After settling on the Rose & Willowbark Blemish-Free Mask, Rice Facial Cleanser & Turmeric Antioxidant Mask, I was sent small samples of each to see what I liked before I made a purchase. I've always been a girl who prefers natural, homemade beauty remedies but lately, I've been starting to enjoy a lot of store bought skincare like the Philosophy Miracle Worker line and the DDF Brightening Cleanser (links to both of these reviews will be at the end of this post) I realize that some things can't be made at home.

Juara prides itself on products without animal testing, parabens or sulfates. Everything sounded perfect until I actually received the products, I'm sad to report that these products sent my skin into an uproar! About 10 minutes after using the rice cleanser my face started to itch horribly and sure enough, later that night I had pimples and redness everywhere, my face was also extremely oily. I know it was this cleanser because I hadn't seen a breakout nor oiliness since I started using my DDF Brightening cleanser. I don't know exactly what ingredient caused this but something certainly did not agree with my skin. Before this happened I had actually really liked the cleanser, it was very light, silky and creamy with a nice, soapy floral smell. It was very gentle and left my skin feeling soft, clean and refreshed. Another perk was that it did not make my face feel tight or dried out or flaky up until the breakout. Another con that I have with this is that the sample bottle I received did not have a pump and the bottle could not be squeezed so it is very difficult to pour out and use. The full size includes a pump however and can be purchased here: Rice Cleanser. I'm glad I got to try this product out but because of the reaction this had with my skin, I definitely will not be purchasing the full size.

After the rice cleanser made me breakout, I figured there was no better time to try out the Rose & Willowbark Blemish-Free mask that I was also sent to see if I saw any difference. The mask is lilac colored and grainy. I'm also sad to report that just like the rice cleanser, this mask did not agree with my skin whatsoever. After putting it on, it immediately made my face feel hot and like it was burning. OUCH! In Juara's defense, I don't know if this was because my skin was already irritated from using the rice cleanser or if my skin was going to react to the mask this way regardless. I started by splashing my face with cold water, I did not by any means want to cleanse my face again because it was already so irritated. Next, I applied a thin layer and let it sit on my face for about 10 minutes before washing off in cool water. While my skin did look and feel a little better, it was a lot softer and it got rid of a lot of the redness, it caused a few dry patches around my nose later on and overall did not give the results that I was hoping for.

All in all, it seems like Juara skincare is a big no no for my skin even though I really really wanted to love this brand. It's not that the products are necessarily bad, they just did not in any way agree with my skin. So if your skin is like mine, dry/combination, oily t-zone, or acne prone. I would probably stick clear of the rice cleanser and the rose & willowbark mask. As for the second mask that I was sent, which was the turmeric antioxidant mask, I think i'm just going to put it away in my stash for a later date for now. Not only is my skin way too irritated at this point but I am admittedly a bit hesitant. I won't throw it out but I will definitely be cautious about using it in the future.

In conclusion, you definitely win and lose some when it comes to skincare. I'm glad that I tried these products but I will definitely not be purchasing either and hopefully tomorrow I can go back to my trusty DDF and all will be well. I think Juara is a good company and I think that they offer a lot of really good products but in my opinion I believe they are going to be something that you either love or you hate and I definitely suggest inquiring about the samples before you make a purchase just in case.

As with any new product, if you experience any irritation then immediately discontinue use. 

You can find these products and many more at Juara Skincare

Much love xo

UPDATE: This morning I woke up and my skin was a lot better from yesterday. Most of the pimples and redness are now gone so maybe the rose & willowbark did help with that. I however, still would not purchase but i'm happy to see that it did at least produce some results. :)