fave products // tata harper clarifying cleanser & moisturizer

I love me some Tata Harper. The brand is known for its use of potent, highly effective ingredients, while also remaining completely free of toxins. The perfect combination in my opinion! Their clarifying line of products in particular is great for those with blemish-prone skin, and I find myself reaching for these whenever my skin gets a bit irritated or hormonal. The Clarifying Cleanser and Clarifying Moisturizer provide a powerful one-two punch that target blemish-causing impurities while providing key hydration and moisture for your skin. As with all Tata's cleansers, you're instructed to apply a few pumps to dry skin, massaging it into a lather, then rinse with warm water. I love the cooling effect it has from mint extract, and sometimes will even leave it on for a few minutes as a flash cooling mask! Active ingredients like prickly pear flower enzymes create an exfoliating effect to help clear buildup and also promote cell renewal. Wild-crafted juniper fruit helps balance oil and sebum, while chlorella soothes redness and calms irritation. 

Once cleansed, I like to apply a few spritzes of Tata Harper's Hydrating Floral Essence before moving onto a serum and moisturizer. The Clarifying Moisturizer makes my skin feel nicely balanced and hydrated, without being too greasy, thanks to plumping hyaluronic acid as well as a clarifying mineral blend of copper, magnesium, and zinc. These natural astringents help remove buildup from the surface of your skin and aide in soothing. A super fruit healing blend including elderberry, sandalwood seed, sea buckthorn, tazman pepper, and palmetto berry works to minimize the effects of free radicals, while also calming redness and promoting healthy, radiant skin. Equally as important, sea fern helps reduce the appearance of any skin discoloration you may have leftover post-blemish, as well. I'll be honest, these products aren't cheap. But what I can tell you is they are made from the highest quality ingredients with absolutely none of the harsh or irritating chemicals. I'm willing to pay more for something that I know works and makes my skin look and feel its best- so if you're considering trying out Tata Harper, I highly suggest you do!

* This post may contain affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, it won’t cost you a penny more, but I’ll earn a small commission. This allows me to continue to generate content for you, and helps keep the site up and running. Thanks for your support! 

fave products // love beauty and planet coconut oil & ylang ylang shampoo & conditioner

There’s just something that feels right about supporting companies who do good, both for your own body as well as Mother Earth. Love Beauty & Planet is all about small acts of love that make you and our planet a little more beautiful every day! I’ve been trying out some of their newly launched shampoos, conditioners, and body washes, and so far I’m really impressed! Sometimes products that are too “all natural” don’t seem very effective, but I can tell you that’s definitely not the case. LBP offers six unique collections, each infused with signature natural ingredients. I’m partial to the Hope and Repair line made with organic coconut oil and ylang ylang- it’s the perfect treatment for damaged hair! Their conditioners even uses something called fast-rinse technology, which helps keep your hair tangle free and not weighed down, allowing you to cut down on rinse and overall shower time!

Ethically sourced oils and extracts (like French heirloom lavender!) are used as opposed to irritating synthetic fragrances. In addition, their labels separate easily so that the bottles are easily reused, and all their bottles come from 100% recycled plastic! Talk about a commitment to doing good for our planet! Even better, Love Beauty & Planet has formed planet-focused partnerships that help fund environmental changemakers as well as programs that help reduce carbon emissions. Good for me and the planet- what could be better? Safe to say I’m a total LBP fan, and I plan to check out their dry shampoos next!

* This post may contain affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, it won’t cost you a penny more, but I’ll earn a small commission. This allows me to continue to generate content for you, and helps keep the site up and running. Thanks for your support! 

fave products // dermalogica biolumin-c serum

I’m sure by now you’ve heard about the benefits of vitamin C. This potent antioxidant works wonders for your skin, boasting some seriously impressive anti-aging qualities. The truth is that various natural and environmental triggers are working against your skin every single day, causing hyperpigmentation, wrinkles, fine lines and loss of elasticity. That’s where Dermalogica’s BioLumin-C Serum comes in. Using advanced biotechnology, it delivers the maximum amount of vitamin C specifically where your skin needs it the most, essentially enhancing the skin’s natural defense system and giving you brighter skin from within. Their version is also ultra-stable, so it actually delivers three times more vitamin C serum into your skin than other similar products!

I’ve been using the serum for a while now, and have been seriously impressed with the results. Lately I’ve been dealing with slight hyperpigmentation in certain spots, and I’ve definitely noticed my skin has become brighter and more balanced since using BioLumin-C. Not to mention if feels more firm. It’s clear that vitamin C is a true skincare powerhouse, but Dermalogica takes their product a step further. Besides neutralizing free radicals and helping defend against oxidative stress, this supercharged serum goes beyond the surface to actually help stop damage before it even starts. And of course, it gets major bonus points in my book for being cruelty-free, paraben free, and formulated without artificial fragrances or colors. If you haven’t incorporated vitamin C into your skincare routine yet, I highly suggest you do so, and this product is a great place to start!

* This post may contain affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, it won’t cost you a penny more, but I’ll earn a small commission. This allows me to continue to generate content for you, and helps keep the site up and running. Thanks for your support! 

fave products // sk-ii facial treatment masks

Sheet masks are all the rage these days. I’m sure you’ve seen the (slightly eerie looking) selfies posted by models and bloggers alike, faces covered in serum-soaked masks with small cut outs for the eyes and mouth. There are tons of these on the market, but one I continually come back to is cult-favorite SK-II Facial Treatment Mask. Drenched in pitera, this sheet mask immerses your skin in intense hydration, leaving it plumped and renewed. What’s pitera you ask? It’s a bio-ingredient rich in vitamins, organic acids, minerals, and amino acids that work together to enhance skin cell renewal. And yes, that’s the same pitera that’s in SK-II’s Facial Treatment Essence- the same amount of pitera in a 30 mL bottle to be precise!

I love to pop one of these babies on whenever my skin needs a little extra help looking its best. Dullness, uneven skin tone or texture, and loss of firmness or elasticity are pretty common issues, and this mask helps you regain a healthy glow. They’re also great for post-travel, since recycled airplane air can be so drying, and can even work their magic mid-flight! That is, if you don’t mind a couple strange looks from your fellow passengers (speaking from experience here)! Heads up, these aren't the cheapest masks out there, so if you want to try out one before buying a whole pack, I don't blame you! Give it a go, and see what you think about the results!

* This post may contain affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, it won’t cost you a penny more, but I’ll earn a small commission. This allows me to continue to generate content for you, and helps keep the site up and running. Thanks for your support! 

fave products // fresh beauty black tea kombucha facial treatment essence

I love a good facial mist any day (as evidenced here, here and here!), but come spring and summertime, when the weather gets a bit warmer, they truly hit the spot. As the temperatures have risen here in Los Angeles over the last few weeks, I've found myself reaching for Fresh Beauty's Black Tea Kombucha Facial Treatment Essence on a pretty regular basis.  This potent age-delay essence is especially helpful for those like me who live in urban areas where smoke and smog can cause oxidative stress to your skin. I mean, who wants accelerated signs of aging?? Not me! Kombucha, another guilty pleasure of mine, is the star ingredient here thanks to vitamins and organic acids that work to protect your skin from pollution and free radicals. My husband and I even learned to make our own kombucha at home, and I highly recommend it!

This powerhouse product protects your skin with antioxidants, replenishes moisture, reduces the appearance of fine lines, and enhances luminosity all at once! I love that with a good facial spray or essence, highly concentrated ingredients with specific, targeted benefits are quickly delivered and absorbed into my skin. Talk about efficient! It also makes for the perfect first step post-cleanser, prepping your skin for any other products you may be using. Another bonus- when TSA-friendly, a facial essence can also make for a great mid-flight skin refresher to counteract all that nasty recycled plane air. Sign me up!

* This post may contain affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, it won’t cost you a penny more, but I’ll earn a small commission. This allows me to continue to generate content for you, and helps keep the site up and running. Thanks for your support! 

fave products // true botanicals pure radiance oil

I have sung the praises of True Botanicals on many occasions. This safe, potent, and proven skincare brand boasts a seriously impressive ingredients list, and is highly effective to boot. After loving their Vitamin C Booster and Cellular Repair Serum, I was pumped to try the Pure Radiance Oil. The Clear oil, in particular, has balancing properties that work to regulate sebum and clear your skin while allowing its natural radiance to shine through. I love that while this oil is deeply hydrating, it doesn't feel too greasy or heavy, and I can wear it year-round thanks to its quick absorption. Antioxidants and potent antibacterial ingredients help heal any infections and clear congestion, leaving your skin vibrant and revived. As always with True Botanicals products, their facial oil is certified MadeSafe, and formulated with natural ingredients like helichrysum, hemp, pumpkin & grape seed oils, and algae extract. No scary ingredients here! A potent acne treatment and glow-inducing moisturizer in one?? Sounds like the perfect combo- I'll definitely need to restock soon! While I'm at it, I'm excited to try some of their newer releases, like the Antioxidant Booster, Resurfacing Body Mask, and Deep Repair Eye Serum, as well.