The Cosmetic Carousal of a Skin Care Junkie

Hella vain. Will reblog your photogenic makeup things. Occasionally reviews products but ehhh

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Vintage Inspired Bath & Body Products from TheParlorApothecary

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[makeupbox]

MY QUICK GO-TO “DAYTIME SMOKY EYE” PICTORIAL

I’m quite a fan of wearing a smoky smudgy eye in the day as long as you pair it with neutral cheeks and lips. It’s a way to look casually sultry. AND it brings out any eye color.

There ARE ways to keep the look softer  (AND not spending too much time on it).

Stick with cream-to-powder shadows. They are fast to blend, don’t fade, and have no fall-out to clean up off your cheeks. I used Dior in the pictorial, but also mixed in Colourpop. In the final full-face shot, I had on Maybelline Bad To The Bronze. Use whatever you like as long as it’s the type that dries and sets.

If you have sensitive/watery/smeary eyes in general, use something like Urban Decay 24/7 Waterline Pencil in your inner rims and leave the soft smudgy stuff to above the lashes.

Don’t wing your liner or shadow upwards in a typical catty smoky shape. The point to this look is keeping a doe-eyed, rounded expression, so it’s softer and more approachable. Not too vavavoom for the day.

Recreate the look using any cream shadow shade and smudgy black liner. Remember the black is just there to create that smoky shadow near your lashes. It’s not meant to be a visible line.

Use your matte bronzer in your socket line as a transition color if you’re lazy. It’s only there to soften out any harsh lines and to contour your socket

For blending cream color onto the lid, look for synthetic shadow brushes that are medium softness; not too stiff and flat, not too soft and floppy.

Products used:

Keep reading

[kaffeinefiend]

[cosmeticcarousal]

I have the 2 Hr Express mousse formula. I like it so far. You can rinse it off as soon as 2 hours after (hence the name) and the color will continue to develop over the course of 10 or so hours. The color payoff is very satisfying and beautiful, not orange or unnatural. It can sink into my pores and leave tiny dark pinpricks (mainly on my legs but some on my chest) but overall nice, especially since you can’t see them so much unless you’re up close. Definitely worth trying if you want a rich summer tan while trying to avoid sun exposure.

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[skinknowledge]

Quick tip!

To all my hijab wearing friends. If you can, choose one that’s made of a breathable material like cotton or silk. Synthetic materials can cause your skin to sweat and bacteria to breed. Not good for your skin at all, especially for acne sufferers.

[skinknowledge]

But why are we constantly being told to drink water to get clear skin!? 💧

We all have sebum, it’s that greasy, shiny fluid that comes out of our pores. When we are dehydrated, or just not as hydrated as we should be, that sebum becomes thicker and stickier. For people with acne their sebum is already naturally thicker and gloopier and clogging pores. When sebum is thick it’s gets stuck and clogs our pores which is the start of the lifecycle of a pimple.

Being dehydrated also thickens our blood, our blood is one of the ways our body gets rid of toxins. When there isn’t the water there should be it’s more difficult to remove those toxins and free radicals.

So now you know why you’re constantly being reminded to drink water, go take a sip 💧💧💧

[art-woonz]

Art By IG: @alysontabbitha

Instagram: @artwoonz

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[skinknowledge]

My opinion on skincare brands (MASTERPOST)

Updated. Send me brands you want to be added!

Obviously these are MY opinions, others may differ. I am not a dermatologist I’m just a skincare obsessed individual who’s spent a lot of time researching products and a lot of money on products. I hope this helps you all!

Neutrogena: meh. Your acne products are a big no no.

St Ives: No. No. No.

Dr organics: I have loved every product I have tried from them.

Faith in Nature: I like that it’s vegan, cruelty free etc. but the products don’t deliver.

Lush: Some really great products, especially for dry skin and for acne prone people. However they do include alcohol and fragrance in a lot of their products so if you’re sensitive to that be careful.

The body shop: Some great quality products but often over priced.

Innisfree: Not used them or even heard of them but I researched them and they look great! Good ingredients.

Lunik: Apparently they’re new and I tried researching but found nothing on them sorry.

Pixi: I’m in love with this brand. I recommend it to every one. Every skin type.

Nip n fab: A lot of good products, do check the ingredients though for things that may be an irritant to your skin. But overall I like them.

Liz Earl: Its ok. It’s not going to necessarily mess up your skin but I doubt their products will fix any of your skin problems.

Sukin: Some good products. They’re a good choice for sensitive skin types as they have minimal ingredients.

First aid beauty: Some really effective products.

Clinique: Super basic. Not ideal for any skin with issues.

The Ordinary: Amazing. Great products at great prices.

Origins: Eh, they’re not awful but I don’t really like them.

Ole Hendrickson: Lots of hype, very popular but a bit pricy.

Glossier: Love their style and the look the products creates but for the basic ingredients they are over priced and not high quality.

Estée Lauder: Way overpriced.

Cetaphil: Really nice basic products for all skin types, unless you have a sensitivity to fatty alcohols.

Burts Bees: Nice idea, bad ingredients for acne prone/oily people. But lovely hand creams.

Aveeno: Heard lots of good things, especially for dry skin and body care.

Philosophy: Utter shit.

Nivea: Some good products, especially for dry skin.

CerVe: Excellent. For most.

La Roche posay: I am in love. I recommend them to everyone, especially acne suffers.

Clean and clear: Often way too harsh to skin and causes more problems.

Palmers: Nice body care.

Juice beauty: Good face masks.

Biore: Overall okay, but some shocking products, like the nose strips.

Drunk elephant: I know they’re pricy but I’ve heard great things.

Proactiv: Will fuck your skin up.

Cosrx: Really good. Very nice gentle products. Good for all skin types. A brand that actually understands PH levels.

Physiogel: Will moisturise you within an inch of your life.

Nature Republic: ehhhhh, I’m not gonna purchase their products. Just not great.

Laniege: Their main ingredients are water. The same water you get free from a tap. They are robbing you of your money. And their products will have no real impact on your skin.

IUnik: Looks like some lovely quality skincare

Boots botanicals: Not good. A lot of alcohol. If you’re super duper oily they may seem to help but the alcohol is going to be stripping.

L'Oréal: Very overpriced. Fragrances and very rich and heavy products.

Skinfood: Some great ingredients but some may be too rich for oily skin types.

Philosophy: Luxury high end indulgent body and bath care but don’t put their stuff near your face.

Ponds: Goooood stuff for that moisture.

Clarins: Too much money.

Avon: fuck no.

Dove: Good for body and sensitive skin.

Glamglow: Certain products are raved about. Go for the masks.

Dr Bronners: Yes yes yes to all products.

Kiehl’s: Good stuff but veeeery expensive stuff. You can get the equivalent from The Ordinary for a fraction of the price.

[best-esty]

Products for Oily, Acne Prone Skin Master Post

Alright as requested here is the next product recommendations masterpost!

Cleanser: Pacifica Kale Detox cleanser, Neutrogena oil-free acne wash, and Origins zero oil deep pore cleanser.

Toner: Murad clarifying toner, Mario Badescu glycolic acid toner, Missha time revolution clear toner, and Nip and Fab’s bee sting fix toner.

Exfoliate: Nip and Fab extreme glycolic fix pads, The Ordinary salicylic acid 2%, and foods like pineapple, papaya, and pumpkin. 

Moisturizer: Pacifica kale luxe lotion, Aveeno ultra calming daily moisturizer, and juice beauty oil free moisturizer. 

Serum: The Ordinary’s AHA peeling serum, Mario Badesu’s vitamin C serum, and Perricone MD intensive pore treatment. 

Spot treatment: The body shop tea tree oil blemish gel, Mario Badescu drying lotion, and honey with cinnamon.

Sunscreen: Kiehls super fluid UV sunscreen, Neutrogena clear face sunscreen, and the Sun Bum facial sunscreen.

Masks: Aztec Indian healing clay with apple cider vinegar, Queen Helene mint julep mask, and Murad’s clarifying mask. 

Those are my recommendations! I’ve tried to really be conscience in picking products in all different price ranges so there are some higher end ones, but also some very affordable ones!

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currently loving ✨✨

[cosmeticcarousal]

“You shouldn’t point out things about people’s appearances if they can’t fix it in ten seconds.”

— Something my sister said once, that’s become an important thing to me (via legally-undead)

[cosmeticcarousal]

Last Post-Absorica Update, Probably

So I began making these posts in like 2013ish when I was 22 and I went on absorica (a brand of isotretinoin, AKA accutane). I am 27 now and my skin has since fallen into what I feel like will be its pattern for a while. For that reason, I think this series of posts is officially done until further notice. However, I know personally that isotretinoin can be a difficult treatment. The whole purpose of this series was to keep track of the changes in my skin and body and, hopefully, provide insight of how it affected me to people thinking about trying it or currently on it. For that reason, my asks are always open to answer questions about my own experience if it helps you in any way. ❤️

That being said, the short version is that my skin has done just fine since I finished my course of treatment. I was on it for less than a year and only had to do one round to clear up my breakouts. After some initial issues that I attribute to my body adjusting after going off such a strong medicine, things mellowed and I really don't have breakouts anymore on the level I did before isotretinoin. I no longer suffer painful, cystic acne whatsoever.

My skin now:

In the summer, combination to dry. I can use lighter moisturizer gels and such and get by. In the winter, my skin becomes very dry - not as dry as accutane, but I tend to have to reach for thicker more hydrating cleansers and creams to keep my skin from becoming scaly. With dry winter months also comes itchy, dry scalp/hair and keratosis pilaris (tiny bumps all over my upper arms), so I have to combat that as well. I do get blackheads off and on, mainly on my nose, which I combat with scrubs or pore strips periodically.

Although my skin is generally clear by default, it's still easily irritated and broken out by products, so I have had to figure out over the years what bothers my skin and adjust my regimen accordingly. For example, I can't use hairspray; without fail, I will develop a painful breakout wherever even the tiniest particle of hairspray settles on my body. A lot of hair products do that to me, actually - especially sprays and serums. Cutting these out of my routine has helped keep my skin clear.

Products I use:

I have tried several products over the years since finishing absorica, some of my favorites of which have been unfortunately discontinued. These are the products, for one reason or another, I continue to use today.*

Cleansing

- For face: Recently repurchased Philosophy's Purity cleanser and I like it.

- For body: Usually dial gold bar or Cetaphil bar soaps. I also really like charcoal bar soaps you can find at retailers like TJMaxx and Marshall's

Moisturizers

- For face: I variate between different brands depending on the time of year. In the summer, I prefer lighter formulas like Nivea Soft or Dior Hydralife Intense Sorbet. In the winter, I like classic Nivea and Cetaphil moisturizing lotion. I also like to supplement an oil; my current favorite is a sample I got of Tarte's Maracuja oil.

- For lips: I still use a ton of lip balms (I hate them feeling even slightly dry), preferably less waxy/tacky and more slick in texture. My favorites are Aquaphor healing ointment (yes, after all this time), Nivea lip balm, Babylips, and Blistex in a pinch. I've also bought Rosebud Salve and I like it (even if I'm pretty sure it's just glorified Vaseline with rose scent), but I do have to reapply it more frequently when I use it.

- For body: Jergens firming natural glow is my favorite, it doesn't break me out, gives me some color, and helps control my keratosis pilaris. Sometimes I still use philosophy firming body emulsion but I haven't bought any new in a while.

Treatment

- Masks: Glamglow Thirstymud feels really good on my skin when it's dry and doesn't clog my pores.

- Acne treatment: I no longer require prescription strength acne medicine. Mario badescue drying lotion helps topically shrink up my breakouts when they occur. I sometimes use pore strips and scrubs on my nose where I develop blackheads periodically.

Hair

- Shampoo/Conditioner: Neutrogena TGEL is stinky but it relieves my itchy, dry scalp in winter. Otherwise I like CHI argan oil shampoo and conditioner. Theorie also makes a sulfate-free shampoo for dry hair that I like OK.

- Leave in: It's a 10 Miracle Leave-In spray treatment is a staple after every hair washing and doesn't seem to break me out. I also like Drybar's Southern Belle mousse.

Makeup

- Primer: I have both Smashbox's classic clear primer and Benefit porefessional, both help with pores and fine lines and neither break me out.

- Foundation: Bareminerals has been my tried and true, I use their original powder during the summer and like to use their Bareskin liquid during the winter.

- Blush/bronzer: I have some of TheBalm's Instain blushes and their darkest Take Home the Bronze bronzer and use them regularly. (I also have Bahama Mama but I like the newer bronzes better.)

- Eyes: I don't know if it's related to having been on isotretinoin but my eyes have become sensitive to eye makeup and easily develop stys with some formulas of liner and mascara. I can comfortably use Sephora's waterproof liquid eyeliner (not actually waterproof) and Maybelline's full & soft waterproof mascara (actually waterproof).

Self tanner

As I said above, I like the Jergens lotion that has some gradual tanner in it, but my favorite instant tanner is still St. Moriz tanning mousse, which I believe I've posted about before. It has great color, doesn't streak when applied correctly, and doesn't clog my pores.

*Not sponsored.

I think that's all! If you somehow managed to stumble onto my blog, thank you so much for reading and feel free to reach out if you have any questions or product recommendations. I wish you lots of love and great skin days ❤️

Sincerely yours,

Cosmeticcarousal

[cosmeticcarousal]

Keratosis Pilaris?? WHAAAAT

So I am now dealing with an issue that I did not have before I took Isotretinoin. For the last week or so, I have noticed these tiny bumps on my biceps that are hard, clogged hair follicles. 

A quick trip to Dr. Google seems to have diagnosed me with keratosis pilaris, which… basically sounds exactly what I just described. Built up keratin plugs your hair follicles and creates hard white bumps. It occurs to sufferers of dry skin in particular, and especially in the wintertime when skin is even drier. 

Well. That sucks. I have enjoyed having scarcely-oily skin since getting off the hard stuff and after finding a moisturizer I love (DIOR🙌) I have had basically flawless skin up to this point. 

Now my skin has been looking rather tired and dry since January or so (to be expected), but I’ve been moisturizing regularly. There have been a few times the last couple of weeks I skipped daily lotion, which I regret at this point. 

For the next week, I plan on trying to nurse my poor biceps back to health with moisturizer and salicylic acid gel. As common of a skin issue as this is, the prognosis is kind of lame because from what I have read the bumps will likely reoccur and usually clears up with time or with the end of cold weather. So who knows, I may be married to it. 

Ugh.

[cosmeticcarousal]

I got the first tangible zit on my back since coming off Isotretinoin.

It wasn’t cystic just a little jerk that I didn’t realize was there until I scrubbed him in the shower and he was sore.

Whatever, it was a stressful week and I’d just finished period time so I’m not worried about it too much.

Other than that, the only breakout I’ve really had is on my arms I sometimes get little clogged pores. Idk why, I’ve not used any different lotion than usual. Maybe it’s all the sweaters and hoodies?

[cosmeticcarousal]

Isotretinoin Follow-Up (roughly six months later...)

so I finished my last dose of Absorica back in May, so I will have been off the hard stuff for about half a year. This is an update for people who are curious as to how skin behaves after they’ve finished treatment. This is my experience:

With regards to my complexion, it’s still very relatively clear compared to what it was like pre-treatment. My face generally doesn’t break out unless I do something to make it, such as sleeping in my makeup or using pore-clogging products. The pimples I do get tend to be either tiny whiteheads or blackheads - absolutely no cystic acne. :-) My back (knock on wood) has not broken out once since finishing Absorica. My skin is producing oil again, but it is much more manageable. I don’t have to blot or touch up my makeup due to shininess anymore. 

I have heard horror stories about skin misbehaving following treatment, so I am going to continue posting updates periodically if I have any issues or change with my own. Thus far, things are going fine.

I still try to keep up a skin care regimen of cleansing and moisturizing because I feel that the key to prevent skin from misbehaving post-isotretinoin is to continue to cleanse and hydrate religiously, no matter how tempting it is to sleep in makeup or skip moisturizer.

Here’s a list of products I either use or have used that have been helpful and have not irritated my skin post-treatment:

Cetaphil Antibacterial bar soap (all-over cleansing), $11*

Cetaphil Oil Control foam cleanser (face and neck), $9

Pond’s cold cream cleanser (but I have to follow with regular cleanser b/c it’s very heavy and hydrating… but it feels good for winter weather!), $5

Lush’s Let the Good Times Roll scrub, $13

BareMinerals’ Purely Nourishing Moisturizer for combination skin, $28

Derma-E’s Tea Tree and E Antiseptic Creme, $11

Dior’s Hydra Life Pro-Youth Sorbet Creme, $56

Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion (but ONLY on body, this breaks out my face now!), $12

Lush’s Lovely Jubblies skin toning lotion, $26

Philosophy’s Firming Body Emulsion, $36

Tried and true cosmetics: 

BareMinerals’ Bareskin Serum Foundation, $29

BareMinerals blushes and bronzers, $19

Shiseido Matifying Oil-Free Compact, $21

Lancome Blush, $30

Benefit Highbeam liquid highlighter, $26

Lancome Effacernes Waterproof Undereye Concealer, $31

*Prices may be different at different retailers

[cosmeticcarousal]

Update on my skin

So a while back I was bitching about getting clogged pores on my face as early as a month after finishing the hard stuff. This was both frustrating and stupid but I think that eliminating some of my heavier products may be helping. For example I’ve cut Cetaphil cream and my Pop Beauty Face Magnet primer out of my regimen and I’ve not had as many bumps. I’ve also taken up using my Clarisonic brush to cleanse my face about once or twice a week, as well as a salicylic acid treatment at night whenever I see fit (2-3 nights a week). I’m hoping this all will help, it’s pretty annoying to go through all that trouble and still have to fight with your skin. If anyone has any suggestions of products to use while coming off of Isotretinoin please feel free to message me I love u

Current products:*

- Cetaphil Gentle Cleansing bar

- BareMinerals Purely Nourishing Moisturizer for Combination Skin (night)

- Derma E Soothing Moisturizing Gel (day)

- Philosophy Clear Days Ahead facial wipes with salicylic acid

- Alternating between BareMinerals Matte loose powder foundation and BareSkin serum foundation

- No primers I’m comfortable using atm

*I’m currently playing with a few different samples of eye creams because I have a fear of commitment. I have like samples from Origins, Christian Dior and Shiseido and I’m not totally in love with any of them but what do you do