Category: Advice and Tips

Parfum? Cologne? Eau Fraiche? What’s the Difference in Fragrance Concentrations?

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Fragrance concentrations can be somewhat of a mystery for some people. Like what is the difference between Eau de Toilette and a Parfum?  Won’t a Extrait de parfum last longer then an edt? Aren’t all fragrances just variations of colognes? Fragrances come in a variety of styles, prices and concentrations. If you are wondering the differences between each of these variations maybe this little guide can help you out!

A single fragrance can vary in concentrations, the most popular usually being eau de toilette (edt) & eau de parfum (edp). Although the concentration of fragrance compounds is greater in eau de parfum it doesn’t always mean it will perform better or last longer. Truly that depends on the fragrance, it’s composition and most importantly how it reacts on your skin. Sometimes different concentrations might also have different notes as well! It’s always good to sample and research before you make any purchase.

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Here is the run down of concentrations:

Extrait, Extrait de Parfum, Parfum–  (20%-50% aromatic compounds.)

This has the highest concentration of fragrance compounds therefore will likely last the longest and have the strongest projection. Can sometimes be out performed by EdP depending on the composition and formula.

Eau de Parfum- (15-20% aromatic compounds.)

One of the most common concentrations, second highest, and typically performs very well in the longevity and projection category.

Eau de Toilette- (5-15% aromatic compounds)

Another very common concentration and while it’s a step below in the fragrance oil concentration category, it can preform quite amazingly for a lot of people.

Eau de Cologne- (2-4% aromatic compounds.)

One of the weaker concentrations so it’s great for people with sensitivity to smell, and can be applied very liberally. Eau de Colognes work well for situations where you don’t want to overwhelm anyone – great for professional settings, like work or school.

Eau Fraiche, Aftershaves-  (1-3% aromatic compounds)

With the lowest concentration of fragrance compounds but is not to be underestimated! Great for layering scents, or for a more intimate and personal olifactive experience.

 

Just because a fragrance has a lower concentration doesn’t mean that it is worse, then one that has a higher concentration. It all matters how it smells, how it was formulated, and how it performs on your skin!

 

I made a THING, a Fragrance Concentration Shirt! For all you fragheads out there! ❤

 

Luxury Beauty Review :: Creme de La Mer

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I recently did a youtube review on the Luxe product Creme de La Mer, I wanted to expand upon it a bit. The video is below.

 

Overall thoughts

  • I got this over 2 months ago (almost 3 at this point) and I have to say I have seen an amazing difference in my skin. Softer, looks healthier, feels smooth, texture is improved and I have noticed an overall diminish in my pores appearance.
  • Overall I’m incredibly happy with the product. I have tried dupes of this in the past, but for me this is what has worked the best. That doesn’t mean it will work for everyone, and from a lot of reviews I read people had better experiences with the dupes. So it all depends on your skin, and your expectations.
  • I want to also add, that using it everyday at night for almost 3 months I am barely if even 1/3 of the way through the jar. I suspect this will last me at least throughout the entire summer. So even though it is incredibly pricey you get a lot of bang for your buck.

If you were on the fence about this product, or want a very effective and luxurious moisturizer, from my experience and results I would highly recommend. But do see if you can get a sample first (I am a HUGE believer in sampling before buying!) as not all skincare works for everyone, and this is a very expensive product. Hope this helped anyone!

Thanks!

New Skincare Routine for Spring/Summer

~ Beauty Meow ~ 2 Comments

I think I finally got the perfect routine of skincare down. I haven’t seen my skin improve so fast in such a long time. I haven’t had as much irritation lately. my pores are getting so small (areas were they were prominent are completely gone, just smooth flawless skin) and it feels so happy, healthy and hydrated! So here is an updated routine.This is my current skincare routine (with list of products).

Again,I change or try new things every few months, so I will probably be updating this blog with what I have tried and what works and what didn’t. However I am loving this routine so this may stay the same through summer.

My Skin

I have a very pale complexion, with combination sensitive skin. I also suffered from enlarged pores. I have lived in South Florida my entire life, and would wear sunscreen everyday on my arms and neck but not my face. As such I had some sun damage, and some issue with a nice texture on my skin. At 30 (I’m going to be 32 in a few months) I decided it was time to put on my big girl pants and start really taking care of myself. Diet, exercise, and SKINCARE!

I don’t like under-exxagerating how bad my skin was, because truly whats the point- I had bad skin. Breakouts, pores, flaking. All because I didn’t take proper care of it. It was MY FAULT. So when I owned up to that (rather then blame genetics) I started to see a VAST improvement.

After trying new products, and really refining my regimen  I can say that my skin hasn’t felt this healthy, or looked this good ever! I have been doing this routine for about 3 weeks now.

My Routine

Morning

  • Oil Cleanser – Clean It Zero From Banila Co. This is a great first cleanse in the morning. Sometimes I do not do a double cleanse in the morning, but if I wake up and my face is extra greasy then I do this. I can say I usually do a double cleanse in the morning. at least 5 times a week.
  • Foaming Cleanser –Secret Key Snow White Foaming Cleanser. I love this in the morning,. my complexion looks brighter and my face feels great.
  • Toner –SK-II Facial Treatment Lotion
  • Exfoliate – Cure Natural Aqua Gel (twice a week, I love this) or Freeman’s Charcoal Sugar Scrub (this one is ok, just using it up right now since I don’t like to waste product)
  • Essence – SK-II Facial Treatment Essence- Put a small amount in my hands and gently pat into my face. I let it absorb completely before moving on, BHA Blackhead Power Liquid by Cosrx – I put a fair amount on a cotton pad and dab in on my entire nose and chin. I wait for the SK-II to absorb before I move onto the other.
  • Serums –Tatcha Firming Serum, Then Red Tea Antioxidant Serum from Ole Henriksen
  • Eye Cream –SK-II Eye Cream, this one has been one of the better ones I tried. Although I am still a fan of the ETUDE House Moistfull collagen one.
  • Cream- Perricone MD Cold Plasma, this is a dream product. It smells horrible but it makes my skin look amazing.
  • Moisturizer – Indigo Soothing Triple Recovery Cream by Tatcha.
  • I also apply Nature Republics Aloe Vera Gel all over my body and chest and neck area.

Evening/nighttime

  • Oil Cleanser – Tatcha Camellia Cleansing Oil. This leaves my face clean, and takes off all my makeup and gunk from the day.
  • Foaming Cleanser –USUALLY Jeju Clay Pore Cleanser from Innisfree, which is my holy grail cleanser. But If I wore a very heavy face of makeup I use La Mers The Cleansing Gel, which is amazing, and during hormonal breakouts I use Tatcha’s Rice Enzyme Cleanser. I found a big difference when I catered my cleansers to certain times of the month, and different instances as well.
  • Toner –Benton BHA Aloe Vera Toner
  • Exfoliate – Cure Natural Aqua Gel (twice a week, I love this) or Freeman’s Charcoal Sugar Scrub (this one is ok, just using it up right now since I don’t like to waste product) I used to just exfoliate at night but I was still getting clogged pores. Now that I do it twice I have seen a huge difference in the amount of blackheads I get
  • Mask– Either a foaming mask, clay mask or sheet mask
  • If I am using a sheet mask I skip this step/ If its a wash off, peeling or clay after I rinse it off then I will wipe my face off with the Green Tea cleansing water from Innisfree
  • Tone Again- SK-II Facial Treatment Lotion
  • Essence – SK-II Facial Treatment Essence- Put a small amount in my hands and gently pat into my face.
  • Serums –Tatcha Firming Serum, Then Red Tea Antioxidant Serum from Ole Henriksen
  • Eye Cream –SK-II Eye Cream
  • Cream– Perricone MD Cold Plasma, this is a dream product. It smells horrible but it makes my skin look amazing.
  • Moisturizer – If my skin is irritated at all I will use Tatchas Indigo Soothing Triple recovery Cream. If my skin isn’t irritated I use Creme de La Mer from La Mer
  • I also apply Nature Republics Aloe Vera Gel all over my body and chest and neck area.

 

I CAN SAY THIS. I used to dread cleaning my face a few years ago and now its one of the favorite parts of my day. And I get to do it twice!! I really look forward to it.

Again I have seen the biggest improvement in my skins overall health and appearance since I have switched up my routine. I do know a few of these items are very pricey. So if I had to only recommend one or two to add I would definitely say add the Sk-II essence and lotion, or just the essence. I think essences are one of the most important things in any solid skin care routine.

❤

Favorite Cleansers

~ Beauty Meow ~ 1 Comment

I have a variety of different cleansers I use depending on what my skin needs. What I use in the morning, what I use at night, what I use when I wear a lot of makeup, and what I use when I am having a hormonal breakout, or a lot of skin irritation. Here is a list of my favorites.

Oil/Balm Cleansers – First Cleanse

I do a double cleanse every morning and night. I use a different one for the morning, and different for the evening.

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Banila Co Clean it Zero- I Love this one from Banila Co. It is definitely a cult favorite for people who are obsessed with Korean skincare. I love how clean it makes my face feel. I use this one on the morning.

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Holika Holika Pig Nose Deep Cleansing oil/balm- I used this one before I used Banila Cos Balm. I really liked it, and it gave me a really nice clean. I don’t usually buy it because I have moved on to the Clean it Zero, but it does clean very well and if you have wanted to try it out I would recommend it.

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Tatcha One Step Camellia Cleansing Oil- I love this oil. I use it at night to help remove all my make up, and any gunk that’s been accumulating on my face the whole day. Its’ gentle, leaves my skin feeling healthy and fresh, and super squeaky clean.

Foaming Cleansers- Second Cleanse

Just like the first cleanse, I use a different foaming cleanser at night then I do during my morning routine. It all usually depends on the amount of makeup I have worn that day, stress, and if I am having any hormonal breakouts.

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Secret Key Snow White Cleansing Foam-  This has become my favorite morning cleanser. It creates a great lather, cleans very well, and leaves my complexion glowing.

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Innisfree Jeju Volcanic Pore Cleansing Foam– THIS IS MY HOLY GRAIL CLEANSER. I don’t know what I did before I tried this, and I hope I never have to be without it. It is such an amazing cleanser. It cleanse so deep down into my pores, leaves my face feeling nice and fresh, and doesn’t irritate my sensitive skin. I use this at night, and sometimes in the morning when I am planning on wearing little to no makeup.

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Tatcha Polished Classic Rice Enzyme Powder (I also like the Indigo version as well)- I love this cleanser. It is a little fickle, but once you get the hang of it it leaves the most remarkably clean skin. I use this around the time I get hormonal breakouts, it does a good job of not aggravating my skin and keeping those pesky buggers at bay.

New to the List

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La Mer The Cleansing Gel- I had heard so many amazing things about this I just had to try it out. I have been using it for a short time and I can honestly say it is worth the hype. It is on the expensive side, so I use it on days I wear a full face of makeup, or I feel like I need a ridiculously squeaky clean. If you wanted to splurge on a nice cleanser I would recommend this one. So good!

Lastly are my 2 favorite cleansing tools.

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I’m Dual Pore Brush– I picked this up from Memebox on a whim. Its such a special little brush. It cleans my face and pores very well, and is very gently for my sensitive skin. I use this in the morning.

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Kashoen Cleansing Brush– Oh baby do I love this! Seriously, this is the best facial cleansing tool I have. It cleans my face so well, feels so nice, helps with circulation, and overall is such a pleasure to use. I use this at night, and it is really helpful to create a lather with the Rice Cleanser from Tatcha. ❤

 

Those are my favorite cleansers, and I use a few others but these are my die hard ones I go to.

Top 3 Essential Beauty Tools

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I always talk about makeup and skincare must haves, but sometimes skip the tools. Here are 3 tools that I can’t live without. These are tools I love and swear by!

Mason Pearson Hairbrush

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Nothing works for my hair like these Mason Pearson Hairbrushes. The mixture of boar bristles and nylon make this brush preform spectacularly. It makes my hair look nice and healthy, detangles without much resistance, and if you have frizzy hair just brush your hair with this to reduce frizz (great for when it is super humid where I am at). I have been using these almost all my life, and although they are expensive, they are well worth the splurge! They are an investment!

Beauty Blender

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I think if you have never used a real beauty blender before you may wonder what all the hype is. I mean it is just a sponge. But I don’t know what it is about this little sponge but it is a miracle worker. I use it everyday! Make my foundation flawless, and blends my contour and concealer beautifully.

Nice Large Fluffy Powder Brush

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I think when it comes to makeup brushes you can never have enough. I have dozens of brushes, some are higher end, others are budget. When it comes to brushes I recommend getting a nice large fluffy powder brush that is the nicest quality you can get. I get so much use out of my giant fluffy powder brush. Favorites are Sigma F30 (pictured), and  MAC 134. Must have in my opinion. I use mine for bronzer, finishing powder, and sometimes blush.

 

 

Top 3 Essentials for my Sensitive Skin

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I know I have stated before that I have combo skin on the sensitive side. And since I am constantly trying out new products my skin gets irritated easily. I have a few products I use that are amazing for soothing my skin during times of irritation, or breakouts. Some of these I have mentioned before, and others I haven’t!

Nature Republic Soothing Aloe Gel

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I keep bringing this up and for good reason. This little jar of goop is AMAZING! It softens the skin without being sticky (it absorbs super fast),  smells nice and refreshing, and soothes any irrupted skin I have. If I use a product that causes burning, irritation, redness or swelling (yes swelling) I wash my face gently and lather this on. My skin feels super refreshed and the redness and irritation disappear. It’s a miracle worker!

Benton Aloe BHA Skin Toner

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I don’t know if this works for other people but it works amazing for me. If I try a new mask, or treatment and I notice it hurts, burns, and gets irritated  want to clean it all off (before I add the aloe gel) I usually use a foaming cleanser and then I use this toner all over my face, It always feels really nice, and it cleans off the oppressive product without irritating it more.  use this almost everyday as a toner (I am using the SK-II Facial Cleansing Lotion as well) but this is a favorite of mine for my sensitive skin.

Tatcha Indigo Soothing Triple Recovery Cream

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This is another product I talk about all the time. I mean I adore Tatcha as a whole. Their brand is amazing, but this is the product that really made me fall in love. I use this every night as my night cream (sometimes as a moisturizer, sometimes a bit after, after my moisturizer has absorbed). This soothes my skin, leaves it feeling hydrated, plump, and looking amazing. Even after my skin is red, swollen and irritated this calms it right down and feels like a dream. I have tried to see if there was anything comparable because I use this so much, and it isn’t the cheapest cream in the world. But I just haven’t found anything like it. I just love this!

 

I use these 3 religiously and swear by them. If you want to know the others feel free to ask in the comments

Skincare Tips :: Busy Morning Routine

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I know some mornings I have an appointment to get to or I wake up way to late and just want to start my day with little fuss. But it is never good to skip your morning routine. Rather amend it. I have several products lines up for when I am feeling super lazy about my skincare. Using these in the am, still gives me a fresh, clean, and moisturized face, without the 12 steps.

Heres my quick routine and the products I use

  1. Cleanse once – I use either a cleansing cloth or Jeju Volcanic Pore Cleansing Foam from Innisfree
  2. Toner – I am still using and loving Aloe BHA Skin Toner by Benton
  3. Essence – Currently using SK-II Facial Treatment Essence 
  4. Eye Cream – Moistfull Collagen Eye Cream by Etude house
  5. Moisturize – Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion

This routine takes me no longer then 5 minutes or less, and leaves me with a clean fresh face. If I am super rushed I usually slather some BB cream, powder, blush, and mascara and run out the door. I can get ready in under 10 minutes, and still look put together, and not sloppy at all!

This routine is also a great way to jumpstart  a new skincare routine, especially if you want to go to 10-12 steps. Get used to this first, and find the right products for you then you can experiment with new steps and products, and have a good core regime down!

Good Luck ❤

Skincare Tips :: Improve your Routine with an Essence

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So when I jumpstarted my skincare routine I spent a lot of time looking into what products would be worth adding (in matter of time and money spent) and what might be overkill. I remember learning about essences and thought that it might not be important, so I skipped it for a few months. I got an essence to try as a deluxe sample and decided to give it a whirl, and oh buy was my mind changed! Now it is an integral part of my skincare routine, and I kinda kick myself for thinking it wasn’t important.

What is an Essence?

An essence is a concentrated treatment that is usually liquid or gel (can be in other forms but rarely)  that works to help revitalize complexion, decrease/minimize fine lines and wrinkles, and helps with uneven skin tones. They work really well because they address the issues on a cellular level.

When do I add it into my routine?

I would recommend applying your essence after your toner and before your serums, or moisturizer. I have heard some people add it before their toner, but I use it after my toner.

Should I see a difference right away?

That depends on you and your skin, and what essence you are using. Generally Id say you should see real results within 28 days (when you have newer skin) but for all the essences I have used I have seen results in as little as 3-4 days.

 

I love essences, I am practically obsessed with them. Its one of the skincare products I have no problem dropping huge bucks on. I love and adore my SK-II Facial Treatment Essence. But by no means do you have to spend a fortune on them. I listed below some popular essenses and links to where to buy them. I recommend giving them a shot!

  • Missha Time Revolution Essence – Available at certain beauty websites, and Amazon!
  • SK-II Facial Treatment Essence – Sephora
  • Hera Cell Essence – KoreaDepart.com
  • Innisfree Soybean Energy Essence – Amazon

There are so many other essences out there, give them a shot! If you have a favorite, comment below. I’d love to check out different ones! ❤

 

My Current Skincare Routine

~ Beauty Meow ~ 2 Comments

This is my current Skincare routine (with list of products) I change or try new things every few months, so I will probably be updating this blog with what I have tried and what works and what didn’t.

My Skin

I have a very pale complexion, with combination sensitive skin. I also suffered from enlarged pores. I have lived in South Florida my entire life, and would wear sunscreen everyday on my arms and neck but not my face. As such I had some sun damage, and some issue with a nice texture on my skin. At 30 (I’m going to be 32 in a few months) I decided it was time to put on my big girl pants and start really taking care of myself. Diet, exercise, and SKINCARE!

After almost 2 years my skin looks a bazillion times better. My pores are considerably smaller and cleaner. My complexion is more even, my creases are diminishing and the smoothness of my skin is vast improved. Its very soft now, which is so nice.

I don’t like under-exagerating how bad my skin was, because truly whats the point- I had bad skin. Breakouts, pores, flaking. All because I didn’t take proper care of it. It was MY FAULT. So when I owned up to that (rather then blame genetics) I started to see a VAST improvement.

My Routine

 

  1. Oil Cleanser – Clean It Zero From Banila Co. After removing makeup from my face if there is any there I put a small amount on my face and massage for 20-30 seconds then gently rinse off.
  2. Foaming Cleanser –Jeju Volcanic Pore Cleansing Foam from Innisfree. I lather this on and then very gently use a pore brush to lather the last bit.
  3. Toner –Aloe BHA Skin Toner by Benton. I use a cotton swab and gently swipe across my face, I like this one because it is very soothing.
  4. Exfoliate –  Cure Natural Aqua Gel (twice a week, I love this) or Freeman’s Charcoal Sugar Scrub (this one is ok, just using it up right now since I don’t like to waste product)
  5. Essence – SK-II Facial Treatment Essence- Put a small amount in my hands and gently pat into my face. I let it absorb completely before moving on
  6. Essence –BHA Blackhead Power Liquid by Cosrx – I put a fair amount on a cotton pad and dab in on my entire nose and chin.
  7. Mask -(I only do this twice a week. Either a sheet mask, Lindsay makes an AMAZING Pull away charcoal mask, or the Milky Piggy Carbonated Bubble Clay Mask by Elizavecca)
  8. Brightening Oil – Wild Rose Vitamin C Active Brightening Oil by Korres – Alittle goes a long way. I just take the dropper and put 3 drops in my hands and gently apply to face and neck
  9. Serums –ULTIMUNE Power Infusing Concentratefrom Shiseido (I use this first) Then Serum Vitamin C Collagen Booster by Ole Henrikson, For the Ole Henriksen serum I do like the results of it, however it makes my face EXTREMELY red right after application and it stays red for 15 minutes, so I don’t think I will be rebuying. I am looking for another serum that has vitamin C thats a bit gentler. I think Etude House or Innisfree has one.
  10. Eye Cream –Moistfull Collagen Eye Cream by Etude house – I gently pat this under my eye and gently apply it to my lids
  11. Moisturizer –Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion+ from Clinique. Gently put a small amount on my face and neck
  12. OK if it is the morning I will use a BB cream + primer and do make up and skip this last step
  13. Night Cream – Indigo Soothing Triple Recovery Cream by Tatcha. Its a Japanese brand, and they have amazing products, however they get a bit pricey. I might look for something else to see if it compares, if not I will get this again. I do adore this.
  14. I also apply Nature Republics Aloe Vera Gel all over my body and chest and neck area.

It took me several months to really get into this routine. I used to just wash-tone-moisturize at night so going from that to this twice a day  was something I had to do slowly. I recommend adding in 1-2 steps every 2-3 weeks. First I would add essence and eye cream, then night creams, and then serums. This will let you get used to the routine, and will let you see how each product improves your skin. I realized that a good essence and night cream are what really worked for me. Rather then get some super expensive serums. But for other people may be the other way around.

I CAN SAY THIS. I used to dread cleaning my face a few years ago and now its one of the favorite parts of my day. And I get to do it twice!! I really look forward to it.

My absolute FAVORITES from this list are Jeju Volcanic Pore Cleansing Foam,Aloe BHA Skin Toner,Indigo Soothing Triple Recovery Cream and Nature Republics Aloe Vera Gel, and the SK-II Facial Treatment Essence.

As for products I hated my old moisturizer I just changed. I used to use Oil of Olay anti Aging, but I switched to the one with an additional spf 30. Sounds good right? WRONG. It broke out my entire face after only one application UGH so I switched to another moisturizer and stopped using that one for now. The Clinique Moisturizer isn;t the best as far as moisturizers (for my skin) go. But it is much better then the Oil of Olay stuff I was using. I NEVER throw away products. I usually suck it up and use them unless I get a super bad reaction. So thats what I had to do with the Oil of Olay One. Also Truth Serum Vitamin C Collagen Booster give me great results but right after application it makes my face EXTREMELY RED, and little tender. So I still use it for the results but I will not be rebuying it. So sad 😦

Also although I have nothing bad to say about BHA Blackhead Power Liquid, I don’t see much of a change or results. my pores are alittle better. I may or may not rebuy this! WE will see what happens after I use the entire bottle.

Thank you all for reading, comment below if you have any questions!

❤