Egg Tries

Hello! I am a skin care obsessed twenty-something living in California. All photos are my own unless otherwise specified.

[eggtries-blog]

PRODUCT: Boscia Tsubaki Oil Deep Hydration Hydrogel Mask

I know right, another mask review? I warned you all, I’m obsessed. And with masks like this one, I have good reason. 

As I’ve written before, I’m all about hydration, so when I saw this one at Sephora, I was intrigued. I have a treasure trove of cloth sheet masks, but haven’t really used many gel masks. This one is especially neat because it comes in a top sheet and a bottom sheet to help better fit your face! So, stinking, cool!

REVIEW: I was really skeptical when I first opened the pouch, because this thing was not easy to pry apart from the pieces of plastic it was gripping onto. I applied the bottom sheet first and the top second, but I don’t think it really matters. For having so much serum in the pouch, I was expecting the mask itself to be just dripping with goo, but I was pleasantly surprised to find out that once I applied it, there was absolutely no mess. It stuck to my skin just fine! 

Usually, when I do a mask, I sit back and listen to a podcast, or watch something on Netflix, so I didn’t experience any of the issues with the mask slipping off that some of the Sephora online reviewers did. For the first 15-30 seconds the mask was on my face, I didn’t experience any cooling sensation, and thought to myself “Wow, this is going to be a really lame 25 minutes.” I mean, what’s the point of a mask if you don’t feel something while you have it on? But about 30 seconds in, my face began to tingle pleasantly. I didn’t want to take the mask off when I hit the 25 minute mark! 

Unlike a lot of other masks I’ve tried, this one was especially nice to take off because not only did my skin feel great, but it felt cool to the touch, and there wasn’t a big sticky mess on my face. The tsubaki oil did wonders! Waking up this morning my face was bright, moist, and glowing. 

Bottom line, I love this mask. I want to apply it all over my body. But at $8.00 a pop, I will probably refrain. I will definitely be repurchasing this mask, but as the price tag on it is a little steeper than a lot of the others I use, I will use it sparingly.

Cheers,

Egg

[eggtries-blog]

PRODUCT: Kiehl’s Creamy Eye Treatment

One of my first blog posts was about my quest to find eye cream. I busted with Benefit’s It’s Potent (sad face), but I struck major gold with this little pot of green/yellow goodness!

I love Kiehl’s products. I have had really good luck with their products being very compatible with my skin, so it keeps me coming back. I picked up this eye cream with the intention of it becoming my go-to night cream. This little pot has taken up residence on my nightstand for a little over 2 months, and I legitimately look forward to applying it every night. Sometimes, if I’m having a lazy day in bed (it happens more often than I care to admit), I’ll reach over and grab a little to dab on just for some extra refreshment and moisture. 

REVIEW: I am in LOVE with this product. I definitely noticed that my face has looked more awake, refreshed, and the skin around my eyes has been brighter and more moisturized. I used to get little patches of dry skin right below my lash line or in my eyelid crease during the summer (and winter), but this summer I’ve been free of all of that! 

There is no smell that I’ve noticed from this product, and that’s how I generally like my skincare: fragrance free! The consistency is smooth and you definitely don’t need more than a small button head sized dollop to do the trick. As suggested by everyone ever, I apply it using my ring finger (it’s the weakest finger on your hand, aka, the most gentle) in tiny little taps around my orbital bone. It sinks into my skin pretty quickly and I never have problems with it rubbing off onto my pillows or straining anything. 

The formulation is a little too thick and creamy to wear underneath makeup (at least for my skin), hence why I typically use it at night or during a time when I’m going makeup free. Also, as far as eye cream goes, it’s pretty reasonably priced! I scooped up the biggest pot, and it was under 50 dollars. You can definitely grab the smaller one for around 30, and it will still last you a very long time. Overall, I’m absolutely tickled by this product and will definitely repurchase!

Cheers,

Egg

[spaciy]

LUSH Giveaway!!!

Like i promised, heres my next Lush giveaway! Im so excited for this one because I’ve been saving for it for a while and it’s going to be bigger than the rest with more (3!) winners and tons more goodies!! Good luck everyone and PLEASE READ ALL INFO BEFORE ENTERING! Thank you!

To Enter: 

Must be following Me!

Reblog this post! (likes can be used for bookmarking!)

For another (1) entry you can follow my Instagram: lahudgins 

If you follow my Insta make sure to message me your username, here on tumblr, so i can add your entry! (please no fanmail! i cant reply if you send fanmail)

Please do not tag as #giveaway because it could get deleted!!!!!

No giveaway blogs, thats not fair, and DO NOT spam your followers bc thats not cool!

Prizes for each winner!: 

Winner #1:

❤️ Lush Fight Animal Testing Bag!!

❤️ Angels on Bare Skin cleanser

❤️ Intergalactic bath bomb

❤️ Luxery Pod bath bomb

❤️ Big Bang bubble bar (np)

❤️ Ceridwen’s Cauldron bath melt

❤️ Wash That Man Right Out of You Hair shower gel

❤️ Yummy Mummy shower gel

❤️ Dream Cream lotion

❤️ Dirty Massage bar

❤️ 1 Tooth tab of choice

Winner #2:

💜 Avobath bath bomb

💜 Shoot for the Stars bath bomb

💜 Granny Takes a Dip bubble bar (np)

💜 Floating Island bath melt

💜 Yuzu and Cocoa shower gel

💜 Charity Pot hand and body lotion

💜 Shimmy Shimmy massage bar

💜 Latte lip int

💜 1 Tooth tab of choice

Winner #3:

💛 Big Blue bath bomb

💛 Yuzu and Cocoa bubble bar (np)

💛 Mmmelting marshmallow Moment bath melt

💛 Beautiful shower gel

💛 9 to 5 cleansing lotion

💛 2 Tea Tree steamers

💛 1 tooth tab of choice

Extra info!: 

This giveaway is international, I’ll ship anywhere!

All of the prizes are vegan so anyone can enjoy them!! (if you win and you do have a problem with any of the prizes just tell me and we can work something out!)

If you remove or add any text to this post you will be disqualified! (the text wont show up on your blog anyway)

Each time you reblog this post is another (1) entry! (pls pls dont spam)

The winner will be chosen on Sunday, September 25th around 8:00 pm

I will be using a random generator to choose the winner. The winner will have 24 hours to message me back or I will choose another.

Banner gotten from Lush Instagram, but edited by me (with help from @queenopeace ❤️❤️) 

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to message me anytime!!

Best of luck to everyone ily!!!

[eggtries-blog]

PRODUCT: Leaders Daily Wonders Too Much Fun in the Sun? Sheet Mask

A few weeks ago, I tried another sheet mask by Leaders, and was not super hyped on it; So I was a little reluctant to throw this into my carry-on when I jetted off to Nashville for a bachelorette party this past weekend. But I figured that it was worth a try (sheet masks take up virtually no room), and at the very least I would have a product to review right when I got home. 

The maid of honor had let me know that our Saturday activity was a booze cruise on a lake outside of Nashville, so I knew that even though I was packing enough SPF for the apocalypse, it would still be good to have a mask in my bag as well. 

REVIEW: This mask was a million times better than the other one I tried from Leaders, mainly because it actually fit my face! The pack was FULL of serum, and being my typical messy self, I did spill a little of it while trying to extract the mask and open it up. When I got back to our AirBnb after spending 5 hours on and in a lake in 100 degree heat (plus thunderstorms...welcome to the South!), I was so excited to pop this bad boy on my face. 

The cloth this mask is made out of is paper thin, but I really like that because it allowed me to stretch it a little bit to meet the dimensions of my face better, a quality that the previous Leaders mask had not possessed. Immediately, my face started to tingle with a nice cooling sensation that lasted the entire time I had the mask on. Once again, there was too much serum to really absorb onto my face, so I swiped a tiny bit of toner on a cotton pad over my face after trying to massage the excess into it, but my face still felt really refreshed afterwards. 

Thankfully, my SPF held up and I didn’t have even the slightest bit of burn to worry about, but after swimming around in a lake all day, my skin just felt really icky. It was dry in some parts, and sticky in others. I felt like this mask restored some much needed good hydration to all of my pores. While I am not looking for an opportunity to get a sunburn, I’d be really interested to see if this mask was able to sooth and calm one, as the primary ingredient in the mask is aloe. I will probably repurchase one of these masks to keep handy should such a situation arise. 

Leaders, you’re back in my good graces!

Cheers,

Egg

[eggtries-blog]

PRODUCT: Laneige Water Sleeping Mask

In about 3 months I have gone from someone who only ever washed and moisturized at night, to being someone with an all out, 9 step nighttime skin routine. I know that might sound exhausting to you, but I find a lot of comfort in routines, and taking some time to pamper myself before bedtime also helps me try and mentally wind down before bed.

When I first started this journey, I kept worrying that everything I was strategically massaging into my face at night would just end up rubbing off on my pillowcase (stomach sleeper, remember?). So I did a little internet browsing and found that 1) no, it’s not all rubbing off onto my pillowcase and 2) there exists such a thing as a sleeping pack. 

The job of a sleeping pack is to provide a moisture barrier that locks in all of the good stuff you put on your face before you go to sleep and help those products really do their job. This is not a very common practice in American beauty routines, but has been exceptionally popular in countries like Korea for years.

I knew I wanted to give a sleeping pack a try, but didn’t want to go all in on something that I either didn’t like, didn’t do anything for me, or worse, irritated my skin. After reading a lot of reviews, I settled on this product from famed Korean skincare company, Laneige. They have a great reputation internationally, and cult status here in the US. But all that might be about to change, because Target is now carrying Laneige in their skincare section!! Naturally, I sped over to my local Tar-jay and scooped it up!

REVIEW: I really, really, really like this mask! I am withholding the world “love” until I’m done with the jar, but I’ve been using it for 3 weeks about every other night, and I’m in serious like with it. A little bit goes a long way, so I anticipate it will be awhile before I “hit pan.”

The gel has a slight cooling sensation to it, so I haven’t had the urge to put it into the fridge yet (but if I lived in a warmer climate, I totally would!). It slides onto my face like butter and seeps in with ease. I typically wait about 5 minutes after applying before I put my face onto my pillow, but I do keep it right by my bedside. I also don’t typically like using face products that have a fragrance, but this one smells floral...like roses and maybe something else, and it’s really lovely! If you don’t like the smell of roses, but are curious about this sleeping pack, Target is also selling a little travel size of it with another mask! It’s super cheap, and totally worth it if you want to try it.

When I wake up in the morning after I’ve used the sleeping pack, my skin always feels plump, dewy, and it looks like I’ve gotten a really good night’s sleep (even if I cut short the number of Zzz’s I should’ve caught). There was one night when I felt like the product pilled up on my face and just wore off, but I had been a little heavy handed with the application and hadn’t waited very long before hitting face to pillow. But other than that, I have had no bad experiences with this product whatsoever. I love waking up smelling like roses!

Cheers,

Egg

[eggtries-blog]

PRODUCT: Neutrogena Extra Gentle Eye Makeup Remover Pads

I never responded well to makeup remover. It just makes my skin kind of blotchy and red, hence why I spent 15 years using Olay Daily Facials (they seriously do it all). But with the addition of my Foreo, I’ve been on the hunt for an eye makeup remover that would be gentle with my sensitive skin.

This stuff was strategically placed in Target, and jumped into my cart! 

REVIEW: I’m so wishy-washy on this product after a week of use. I’ve put it through all the paces: barely any makeup days, to my most pesky and stay-put mascara on top of layer and layer of liner and shadow. The pads are definitely gentle, and seem to take off a lot of product, but they definitely don’t get all of it...which means I have to turn to my toner to do the trick (which I am weary of doing because toner shouldn’t get so close to your eyes). The pads definitely do okay on the days I am just wearing a light coat of mascara and a tinsy bit of shadow, but when I throw liner into the mix, it seems to take some vigorous scrubbing to get a majority of it off.

The pads don’t have the same level of “wetness” as I would expect. I’m not sure if that’s the goal of the formulation, or if I happened to pick up a tub that is especially dry? The price point is fairly low, so maybe I’ll try another tub? But overall, I’m just not impressed enough in spite of the price to go out and grab another once this tub is empty. I guess I’m still on the hunt!

Cheers,

Egg

[eggtries-blog]

PRODUCT: Yes To Cucumbers Cooling Hydrating Mist

So remember that bad sunburn I got a few months ago, aka, the catalyst for my skincare journey? I was wincing at even the thought of applying any lotion or aloe to my super angry skin, so I went in search of some aloe spray...at 9:30pm. Naturally, I headed to Target, the superstore I can’t seem to get out of without dropping major $$$ even though I went expressly for two things.

I hobbled up and down the skincare aisles, looking for some kind of spray, but alas, my Target is always out of stock in pretty much every product I need. Major sad face. 

I’ll be honest, I really don’t take a lot of time to browse the “natural” skincare section...ever. I just assume it’s all Burt’s Bees and some wonky stuff that is homeopathic. I don’t know why I have a huge bias toward natural skincare items? I clearly shouldn’t, because I’m nearly positive that every item I’ve tried from these sections as met, if not exceeded, my expectations. Every time I come on here to write a review of a natural skincare product and go to address this bias, I just have this playing over and over in my head. 

REVIEW: THANK GOODNESS FOR THIS MIST. My skin was doing a little dance of joy every time I applied this cooling bad boy. I legitimately went through one and a half bottles. 

I one hundred percent realize that this is supposed to be a face mist, but it did wonders for my sunburn (which was everywhere BUT my face). It did make my skin a little sticky, but aloe spray would’ve done the same thing, so I did not mind. It soothed my burn, and kept my skin perpetually hydrated. I did not use this in lieu of lotion, but as a supplement to it. It was so good, that when a few friends got some bad burns a few weeks later, this was the first thing I recommended to them (besides a vinegar compress to pull out the heat). 

This spray is 96 percent natural, and free of so many of the ickier things I prepare to pretend aren’t in most of my skincare and beauty products. I will be sure that my cabinet is stocked with this stuff year round, as any self-respecting Californian knows, sunburns can be acquired 12 months out of the year on the west coast.

Cheers,

Egg

[eggtries-blog]

PRODUCT: Glossier Moisturizing Moon Mask

I, like many other girls who want to be oh-so-hip-and-cool, have fallen into the Glossier trap. I’m a huge, huge fan of their Boy Brow and Haloscope products, that I figured “Okay, I trust you to put makeup on my face, let’s see how the skincare side of this works for me.” 

Because my skin is pretty balanced, but sensitive, I always lean towards products that are moisturizing, rather than products that claim to “draw out impurities.” But chances are, I will likely go all in for the Mega Greens Galaxy Pack as well, because Glossier claims that they are best used together!

I was feeling particularly worn down this afternoon after having worked an opening shift at my part-time summer job, so after a warm shower, luxurious hair mask, and slipping into some comfy PJ’s, I lathered this mask all over my face.

REVIEW: Glossier says not to skimp when applying, so I made sure that my face was covered in a liberal layer of this smooth, creamy mask. I didn’t even use a brush to apply it, just slathered it on with my clean fingers, and it immediately began to tingle and gently sooth. After 20 minutes, I went to rinse it off with warm water, and most of the mask had just seeped into my skin. I’ve read a few reviews from beauty editors who opted to just keep the mask on in lieu of a night cream, and I might give that a try in a few weeks. 

After I took it off, I applied a vitamin C serum and some moisturizer, and my skin felt AMAZING. Very plump, cool, and dewy. The mask is packed full of amazing ingredients, yet is just perfect for my sensitive skin! Also, this is another cruelty free find!! If I wasn’t a Glossier convert before, I can officially claim to be one now. I will definitely repurchase this.

Cheers,

Egg

[eggtries-blog]

PRODUCT: First Aid Beauty Vitamin Hydrating Mist

One of my favorite podcasts features two women who talk about everything from politics, to celebrity beef, to that time of the month. Occasionally, they will share what they call “opulence purchases” with one another. These things usually fall into the category of: things-you-do-not-need-to-survive-or-even-live-a-productive-life-but-you-earned-it-be-happy-and-get-it-girl. It’s kind of like the “Treat Yo’self” a la Tom & Donna from Parks and Recreation attitude, but on a smaller scale. 

So of course, I walk into Sephora, having just been exposed to this idea of the low-key “opulence purchase” and buy something I had previously looked at as being the height of ridiculousness, “mist.” Seriously. Like, spray water in a bottle. Here is, in my head, how I justified the purchase:

1. This is actually a great thing to bring with you on a long car trip or plane flight. It’s like a grown up squeeze breeze, minus the battery powered fan.

2. FAB has packed some great vitamins and extracts into this mist that give it a citrus based/herbal scent, and I totally believe that that makes it better than just water.

3. Sometimes, in between some of my skin routine steps, I get distracted or pulled away from the task at hand and then need to apply a product that would absorb and provide more moisture if my skin was damp. In walks: mist!

Okay, okay, these are kind of BS reasons to buy mist, I get it. But that’s not the point of the “opulence purchase” and my gift card told me not to worry about it. So I scooped this up because of the simple, vitamin packed formula and the brand’s reputation for being very gentle on sensitive skin.

REVIEW: I use this nightly after I tone, right before I apply my facial essence. Personally, I enjoy the smell and find it refreshing, and my skin has not complained a peep! I have read reviews where some people claim this product can be used to set makeup, but that’s something I haven’t tried and frankly don’t plan to. 

If you work in an office environment that is either stuffy or filled with recycled air,  this would definitely be a godsend for those moments wen you need a little freshness on your face, and I definitely intend to keep one in my desk drawer when I head back to work in August. I also think it’s going to be a travel staple for me, as my skin gets absolutely dried out on airplanes and long car rides. 

Will I repurchase this? Yes, probably, but I might try some other mists in the same price range to see if there is one I like better than this. But all told, I have zero complaints and look forward to my nightly mist.

Cheers,

Egg

[eggtries-blog]

PRODUCT: Leaders Kalahari Melon Moisturizing Sheet Mask

I LOVE SHEET MASKS. You know that Weight Watcher’s commercial where Oprah forcefully boasts about her love for bread? So I feel the same way about sheet masks that Oprah does about bread...except I am screaming it at the top of my lungs (I love bread too, btw)! 

In my previous post, I mentioned how important to me self-care is, and that pampering myself is such an easy way for me to get my zen on and feel like I’m taking care of both my skin and my soul. I know, touching words here people. When I don’t feel like I have the time or energy to both apply and then wash off a mask, I opt for the sheet variety. K-Beauty has taken over my life, and I now find myself swimming in sheet masks.

I picked this one up because the thing I’m routinely looking for in a sheet mask is hydration. Also, I’m a sucker for melon scented/flavored/infused anything. 

REVIEW: SO, MUCH, SERUM! When this mask says it’s moisturizing, it does not lie! Unfortunately, I had many more complaints with this mask than anything else, so here’s my breakdown:

-The serum is everywhere, and it gets allllllllll over your hands (and lap, if like me you are clumsy and drop it after having just opened the pouch).

-The shape of the mask is VERY circular, and having an oval face, it just didn’t fit my face very well in some areas.

-The cloth is pretty thick, which I initially was like “Whoa, good quality!” but then as I was applying it to my face, it was SO hard to get the excess areas to fold and stick. I constantly felt like the mask either wasn’t sticking to my skin in some places/about to fall off.

I had stashed this mask in the fridge before I left the house in the morning, so after cleansing and toning, I popped it on and the cooling sensation was amazing, as was the smell. In the end, those were the biggest selling points for me: cooling feeling and smell. 

When I took the mask off after 25 minutes, there was still so much serum on my face. I tried massaging it into my skin, but it was sticky and goopy. I ended up having to swipe a little bit of toner on a cotton pad over my face (probably neutralizing all of the good things this mask was supposed to do) to get the sticky feeling to go away.

I really wanted to love this mask, but sadly, it just didn’t suit me well. I have a few more from Leaders that I will probably give to my friends and ask them if they had a better experience than me. Maybe if my face was a round/square shape, it would’ve solved all my problems? Who knows.

Cheers,

Egg

[eggtries-blog]

PRODUCT: Mario Badescu Cucumber Tonic Mask

I am a little mask crazed. Part of it is that I have a job that can be kind of stressful, and I’m already (as previously discussed) a little anxiety prone, so self-care is SUPER IMPORTANT to me. The other thing about face masks is that they can often provide the kind of treatment, ingredients wise, that you might get at a spa, and I just legit don’t have the money to drop on bi-weekly spa visits. So face masks are kind of my favorite thing. I find the process of pampering myself from the comfort of my couch while wearing my favorite worn in sweatpants to be really gratifying. 

I have a huge stock pile of sheet masks (that I will begin to debut soon, don’t you worry, dear reader), but when I want to feel like I’m really pulling impurities and gunk out of my pores, I generally opt for the good-ole-smear-all-over-your-face variety of mask. 

I picked up this mask because I know that Mario Badescu’s line of skin care items is really simple, cruelty free, botanical based, and generally affordable. My skin is pretty balanced, so sometimes clay masks can be too drying and moisture rich ones can actually leave my skin too oily (still on the hunt for the best argan oil treatment for my skin). A clerk at Ulta let me test a little of this out on the back of my hand, and I could tell right away that the consistency was just right for my skin needs. 

REVIEW: I cannot say more positive things about this mask! There is a really generous amount of it in the tub, because a little bit goes a long way. I kind of had to race to apply it, because it starts to set very quickly. I used an old concealer brush for putting it on, you clean fingers would also do the trick! The smell is cucumbery, but not in a sugary way, a la Bath & Body Works early 2000s. I left the mask on for about 10 minutes, at which it had hardened everywhere. 

Getting the mask off was less problematic than getting a clay mask off, but definitely more labor intensive than taking off a sheet mask. I used warm water and massaged my finger tips into my face to get it wet again before continually splashing warm water and gently rubbing it off my face. I really enjoy this part of the process, it’s all part of my self-care routine, so I don’t mind that it takes me about a minute to get the mask off. 

After getting the mask off, I quickly swiped a little bit of toner on a cotton pad over my face to make sure I’d gotten everything off, then finished with my nighttime skincare routine (essence, serum, retinol cream, eye cream, moisturizer). My skin felt SO good after I took the mask off! It was so soft, smooth, and tight! My pores weren’t any smaller (sorry people, but nothing is going to make your pores smaller...those are the pores you’re born with, and they’re the pores you’ll die with), but they did look and feel cleaner, which makes them appear less noticeable.

I will definitely be re-purchasing this mask once I’m done with it!

Cheers,

Egg

[eggtries-blog]

PRODUCT: Skyn Iceland Hydro Cool Firming Eye Gels

As we’ve discussed already, under-eyes are one of the core focuses of both anti-aging and skincare in general. And while my twenty-something skin is still very plump and dewy (that is, with the time and energy I put into it everyday), nothing makes me look 5 years older, slightly ill, or just plain grumpy like puffy under eyes. 

I recently read some article that claims that millienials are the “most stressed out generation,” and my immediate reaction was: duh, tell me something I don’t know (let it also be known that as someone with a master’s degree in counseling psychology, I find this study to be a tad dubious due to the lack of baseline data, sample size, and validity info). Regardless of how I feel about the study’s claims, I am definitely the first person to admit that I’m a human stress ball, and frequently bury my head inside my t-shirt to cope with anxiety. 

What stress and anxiety have have yielded in my life are more sleepless nights than I can count. I wake up looking absolutely miserable, and then try every “look more awake” trick in the book that I’ve ever seen a YouTube video about (seriously, who is tired of smearing white eyeliner on their lower lash lines besides me?). So if there is some kind of product out there that will help me look like I got even an hour more of sleep than I did, I’ll try it.

REVIEW: I’m being totally honest, I am obsessed with all things Nordic, so the biggest draw with these cooling gels for me is the fact that this brand is called “Skyn Iceland” already put a point in the win column for me. I follow a few beauty blogger/vloggers on Snapchat, and one of them received a package from Skyn Iceland containing some products, and she cooed about being excited to try them. 

Fast forward a few weeks later and I am wasting time going through every aisle in my local Ulta when I stumble upon a Skyn Iceland section! I immediately scooped up these cooling gels in the trial size (half the price/quantity to what I was able to find online...sorry) to test out. I tried them at home that night, and was immediately delighted by the cooling relief and the consistency of the gels once they were on my face. I definitely left them on longer than recommended because I wanted to enjoy every second of “cooling” they would deliver. And even though I have tried them at a moment where my eyes weren’t at peak puffiness, I still noticed a small difference when I was done with them. My under eyes just appeared to be tighter and more healthy looking.

I have since used these in the morning while I eat my cereal after frustrating nights of terrible sleep, and have seen good results...for a few hours. This patches aren’t a miracle fix, and they don’t do anything but temporarily remove the puffiness and redness from your under eyes. 

Something that I definitely love about these gels is that they’re so EASY to use. This is not my first rodeo when it comes to using “eye masks” of the sheet variety. I am so used to having to peel paper thin, ultra soaked in serum, delicate sheets of cotton apart from one another, and then wipe all the excess goop off onto a towel (or if I’m being honest, my jeans/thighs). With these gels, there is literally NO MESS. It’s probably the biggest selling point the product has going for it, apart from the instant gratification of feeling the cooling sensation.

All told, this product is a big toss up for me. I love the way they make my face feel, and they do provide some kind of relief for puffiness...but it comes at a high price. Will I buy them again? Maybe if I can find them in the four pack, or maybe if I anticipate a number of sleepless nights or bouts of crying in the future. If I was still going to music festivals where you camp out (a la, Coachella or Sasquatch), I would DEFINITELY bring these with me. I am flying to Nashville on Friday, and plan to bring my last set of gels with me to use on the plane. Who knows, they could become a travel staple? I’ll keep you all updated! 

Cheers,

Egg

[eggtries-blog]

PRODUCT: Nip + Fab Gylcolic Night Pads

While I have been fairly lucky to avoid bad acne on my face, my chest hasn’t been quite as lucky. It’s never been so bad that I’ve felt the need to see a dermatologist about it, but it was a little embarrassing having a couple formulating whiteheads on my chest on my wedding day (shout out to my wedding photographers/photoshop for erasing that memory for me). 

I’ve tried using baby wipes on my chest throughout the day, using acne specific spot treatments, not spraying perfumes on my neck/chest, wearing a different bra 7 days a week, only wearing cotton tops, etc. I’m pretty convinced that it is hormonal, and just likes to pop up and take FOREVER to go away. 

I decided to give these pads a try (mainly because it says “EXTREME” on them), and if they didn’t work, pass them along to my husband, I wipe them on my neck and chest about 3 times a week at night before bedtime, even when I have no breakouts, and allow about 30 seconds for my skin to dry before putting on a cotton t-shirt (my preferred sleepwear).

REVIEW: Bye-bye breakouts!! So far, I have nothing but rave reviews for these little wonders! I think I’ve finally found the formulation that helps banish congested skin, but also keep it healthy and fresh. These glycolic pads pack a punch with: glycolic acid, salicylic acid, lactic acid, DL-Mandelic acid, and hyaluronic acid. Nip + Fab claims that this formulation of “AHAs and BHAs help to improve the skin’s natural exfoliation process and decongest duo skin...pores appear more fined and the complexion brighter to rival results of an acid peel.” These pads are mostly intended for use on both the face, and neck/chest, and because it’s actually really difficult to examine your neck/chest pores, I cannot say with confidence that my pores “appear more refined,” but they are definitely less congested. 

My breakouts go away faster, and acne has been popping up less and less. Fingers crossed this product continues to keep them at bay! Totally two thumbs up.

Cheers,

Egg

[eggtries-blog]

PRODUCT: Silk Pillowcase & Deep Sleep Pillow Spray

I am a stomach sleeper. Even when I have the worst sunburn, or the chilliest flu, I cannot sleep on my back (or even side, really). And something I never really thought about was how this sleep position is affecting my face. According to beauty bloggers and dermatologists everywhere, sleeping on your stomach is basically inviting wrinkles to come and wreck havoc on your face. 

I am also a worrier. This can lead to some restless nights of tossing and turning, which means that not only do I wake up on the wrong side of the bed, but my husband has a case of the grumpies in the morning as well. So I did a little research and have implemented a couple of potential solutions to help out my sleep situation: silk pillowcase and some calming pillow spray!

REVIEW: The switch to a silk pillowcase just felt downright luxurious! I definitely didn’t pick out the “top of the line” pillowcase (and I only bought one), because I was a little skeptical that this would do anything, but I was pleasantly surprised that when I woke up in the mornings, a lot of those pillow crease indentations I was so used to waking up with on my face were either super duper light, or not even there. I am hoping this means that I’ve found a way to mitigate the amount of wrinkle welcoming I’ve been doing. Bonus: hairdressers are super pro-silk pillowcases because they aren’t as harsh on kinking, knotting, and tangling your hair while you sleep! It’s only been 1 week, but I think I might be a silk pillowcase convert?! I will definitely be asking for a slightly fancier/higher quality silk pillowcase from Santa this year.

As far as the pillow spray goes, the verdict is still out. It does smell nice (lavender, vetiver, and wild chamomile), but I don’t necessarily find myself falling asleep any faster, or sleeping any deeper. I’ve only been using it for 1 week, so I’ll keep on spraying away in hopes that my body will start to associate the scent with sleepy time. 

So, if you are a fellow tummy sleeper, go get yourself a silk pillowcase! If you just enjoy the smell of lavender and such (and are not savvy enough to just create your own spray), then go out and grab some spray too. 

Cheers,

Egg

[eggtries-blog]

PRODUCT: Burt’s Bees Deep Cleansing Cream

I’ve been using the same facial cleanser for 15 YEARS! It’s safe to say it’s the longest relationship I’ve been in, and I’ve been really happy with my trusty Olay Daily Facials Cleansing Cloths. They have cleaned off all the makeup, dirt, and grime that lands on my face, and kept me relatively acne free throughout my teenage years, college, and adulthood. But there has always been something that makes me feel like this relationship wasn’t meant to last: they are NOT environmentally friendly. I throw away 2 cotton cloths a day, sometimes 3! And ever since my Foreo came into my life, I knew it was time to look for another facial cleanser. 

So here’s the low-down on my skin profile: I have very balanced skin, but it’s extremely sensitive. The wrong products (chemically harsh, or ultra drying) leave my skin red, itchy, and generally upset, so I have been very cautious about trying new products. 

After a little research, I decided to give Burt’s Bees a try.

REVIEW: I’ve been using this cleanser with my Foreo for about 2 weeks, and so far so good. My face hasn’t reacted negatively to the formula, and it smells fantastic. I legitimately get excited to wash my face because of the smell!

I prefer using cream or gel based cleansers, I just find that they are less harsh on my skin, and do a great job. This one is cream based, so it doesn’t lather quite as much as I’m used to, but I always feel satisfied about cleansing. Bonus: it’s 99.9% natural! I’ve never been one to actively seek out natural based skin and beauty products, but if I do naturally gravitate toward products that are cruelty free (not tested on animals), and Burt’s Bees checks that box off for me. 

My favorite part of this cleanser is the menthol in it. It provides a little cooling sensation on my face that leaves my skin feeling tight and refreshed! Another compelling factor for me is the price point. As you will soon see, I’m not above dropping some serious cash on skin products (if they work!), but I am a girl on a budget. If I’m buying $45.00 night cream, I need to balance that expense out somewhere else. So being able to grab a big tube of this cleanser at just a little over $8.00 (and it looks like it’ll last me about 2 months, if it a little more), that’s two big thumbs up!

I totally recommend this product! 

Cheers,

Egg

[eggtries-blog]

PRODUCT: Benefit It’s Potent! Eye Cream

Another part of my “skin awakening” was realizing that it’s time to start adding eye cream to my daily routine. Even though I’m still in my twenties, NOW is the time to start  taking care of that precious skin in my eye area if I want to combat signs of aging, like crows feet and dark circles. 

The skin around your eyes is the most delicate and sensitive skin on your face. It can also be some of the driest as there aren’t many glands in the orbital area that will let natural oils hydrate the skin there. Honestly, there is no time that is “too early” to start using an eye cream. But once you’ve decided on using an eye cream, now you have to figure out which one! 

In my haste to hydrate my skin, I did something a little rash and picked up an eye cream based solely on brand recognition. I’ve been wandering around Benefit counters for years, and they’re products have always worked for me. And the glance I gave the reviews on Ulta’s website (it has 4 out of 5 stars), I just grabbed it and thew it into my basket.

BIG MISTAKE. I used this as a nighttime eye cream for about 3 and a half weeks before calling it quits. 

REVIEW: This is simply not the eye cream for me, and I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone else. The formula appears to be light, but it slides around on my face, and kept winding up getting in my eyes, causing them to water and feel itchy. Even when I applied just the tiniest bit, it still managed to not stay put. 

On top of the discomfort the product gave me, it also didn’t really do anything worth noting. The first few mornings I think maybe the puffiness under my eyes was a little bit reduced? But it definitely didn’t do anything to brighten my under eye area.

The formulation also made it impossible to wear this underneath makeup, hence why I had to make it a “nighttime eye cream.” My foundation would just run underneath my eyes and leave the skin looking oily (not a cute look).

Overall, for the price, tiny quantity, and lackluster results, this product left me extremely under-whelmed. 

The eye cream search continues!

Cheers,

Egg

[eggtries-blog]

PRODUCT: Foreo Mini 2

A few things that became apparent when I dug into the skincare blogosphere were that everyone had a dermatologist or facialist they saw frequently, there is evidently tons of grime on your face that needs to be scrubbed off, and you’re either Team Clarisonic or Team Foreo.

I’ve seen these cleansing brushes everywhere for awhile and always assumed that I didn’t need one. “I do well with my washcloth, thanks!” But after doing a little more reading, I began to see some added benefits to investing in a brush. 

Reason One: I don’t have a facialist! I’ve never had a facial in my life! I’m generally a firm believer in the philosophy that if I can replicate what someone else can do at home, then I don’t want to pay for it. I adhere to this idea 3-fold when it comes to my skin. I’m VERY particular about what I put on it, how I clean it, etc. 

Reason 2: Washcloths breed bacteria and dirt. I live in an apartment complex with coin-operated laundry services (and at $2.00 to wash and $2.00 to dry, it’s not cheap), so I maybe get around to doing laundry every 2 to 3 weeks. I have to remember to get enough quarters, the machines have to be free, and I have to walk up and down several flights of stairs to get it all done. In a perfect world, I’d have a week’s supply of washcloths available to use throughout the week and then be able to wash them weekly as well, but that’s just not my situation. 

What ultimately led me to purchase a Foreo over a Clarisonic was the up-keep cost. Needing to replace brush heads every so often seems like a hassle, and I already have a hard time remembering to clean my makeup brushes in a timely manner, so I didn’t want to add more to the list. The Foreo is silicone, and bacteria doesn’t live on it, so that was the perfect solution!

I chose the Mini 2 version of the Foreo because it’s very compact. I have seen the Luna PLAY Foreos in the check-out line at Sephora (the most dangerous place on earth for beauty/skincare fiends like me!), but I didn’t like the idea of spending money on a product that I could only use 100 times and then throwing it away. It seems both financially and environmentally irresponsible. So I went with the Mini 2 because it’s rechargeable, but also small enough to take with my when I travel. 

REVIEW: I’m really pleased with this product!! I’ve had it for about a month and I use it every other day at night. My skin can be sensitive, and I’ve read articles from dermatologists saying that people who own cleansing brushes can sometimes over-exfoliate with this things, so I’ve been taking it slow and seeing how my skin adapts.

The silicone “bristles” on mine are a formulation for Normal/Sensitive skin, and I find that my skin has adapted really well. It delivers a pulsing vibration to my skin that helps dig out dirt and grime, and leave my face feeling smooth and polished! Think of it as an electric toothbrush for your face! There are different intensities you can use, and I’m still figuring out exactly how they work, but I’ve been really happy with it thus far. I also have yet to charge it at all, which is a HUGE plus! It’s completely waterproof, and I can just plug it into a USB port when it needs charging!

The only issue I had with this was the price point. Luckily, I had an old Amazon gift card stowed away waiting for a splurge purchase, so it took down the amount of money I had to spend on this bad boy. Honestly, I think it was worth it to me, and I would’ve caved and bought it regardless eventually. 

Have any questions about the Foreo Mini 2? Let me know!

Cheers,

Egg