Weekly Favorites & Fails 2.6.15 MAC, Cle De Peau, The Body Shop, 50 Shades of Gray, Sony & MORE!

Now that it's February and my Best of 2014 Makeup Products Series has wrapped up on my channel, I can get back on track with our regularly scheduled programing. This week's favorites focuses on basics and enjoyment.

I get sent a lot of products to test out and review, but very few actually make it to my review list and even fewer make it in my favorites. This body butter whips from Lashea is one of a kind and my new favorite body moisturizer.

The consistency is like a whipped cream that dissolves into an oil when rubbing in with your hands. All the ingredients are basic, you can actually read and understand what is in your product.

The sent of lavender is not over powering, it's very fresh and not offensive at all. I love supporting smaller brands and companies and when I reach out to them, the owner offered my views and readers a generous 20% off your purchase. Shop HERE use DYH20 at checkout the code is good till 3/14/15. 

I'm a huge fan of Sally Hansen and my favorite formula is the Xtreame wear polishes. They are so affordable and last a long time on my nails. Recently in my latest trip to the drugstore I picked up Fan Appeal and I've been loving the deep metallic purple shade.

The Body Shop Honey Bronzer has made it into my everyday rotation of makeup. This bronzer is very natural and gives the most flawless natural finish. The shade range is perfect for fair to medium skin tones. I like to apply this bronzer with a fluffy blush brush or duo fiber brush in a "3" on either side of my face to warm up and add depth.

Since the holidays I've been loving the Skinfood Black Sugar Honey Wash Off Mask. This mask is hydrating, exfoliating, and detoxifying. In the winter time my skin can get dry and irritated, this mask is able to brighten and detox my skin without any irritation.

The honey is anti bacterial and the black sugar is a gentle exfoliant.

If you watch my vlog channel where I eat, play with my dogs, and wonder around LA/OC or just sit at home a lot, you would have seen a sudden quality upgrade, it's thanks to this baby. After months of drooling and research, I finally purchased the Sony a5000. It's a perfect on the go camera for high quality instagram photos, vlogging, and capturing life.

The main reason I decided to get the camera was for Europe. My husband and I will be visiting Europe in the spring, I wanted to be able to take good quality photos and vlog without having to lug around a DSLR and a point and shoot. This had all the qualities I was looking for and is currently at its' lowest price HERE.

The camera has interchange lenses, Wi-Fi, selfie flip up screen, auto focus, amazing built in features.

I've also been loving my MAC Pro Long Wear Concealer in the shade NC 20 and my Cle De Peau Concealer in Beige. I talk more in-depth on both these products in my video here. 

Watch my weekly favorites video to see me talk about 50 Shades of Gray  and The Bar Method, my new favorite way to get in shape. 

What have you been loving this past week? Let me know what I should try out.

XOXO

Serein

My Winter Skincare Must Haves

My skin is combination oily. I get very oily on my nose and dry patches on my chin if I'm not careful. 

Come winter time, my skin goes into crazy mode. It's not sure what it is, it's dry, irritated, and oily. 

Many people don't understand that oily skin needs moisture and so does dry skin especially in the winter time. Here are my current go to skin savers at the moment, mostly oil based. 

Oil! Yes OIL! Especially if you are oily, oil can be your best friend. For my oily skin people, your skin over produces oil because it thinks it needs it. That's why you can be dry and oily at the same time. 

By using a high quality oil, like the Coco Kind facial repair serum pictured above on your skin, you tell your oily skin that you don't need to produce so much and also hydrate at the same time. 

Many of my viewers have been commenting on how glowing and healthy my skin looks, it's because of oil. I apply this oil based serum day and night before my moisturizer. At night I use a cleanse off oil (currently using one from coco kind) to remove all my makeup and dirt. Oil is great at removing stubborn makeup. 

During the day I just use a cleansing water on a cotton pad, then apply a toner, and this amazing oil to refresh my skin. The best part is the coco kind  facial repair serum is only $12! 

I've also been using body oils after my shower. I like the Aromatherapy Associates De- Stress Massage & Body oil which makes me feel relaxed. The packaging is so luxurious and beautiful too. During the day or when I'm in a hurry I'll use my Avene Body Oil, this one is great for travel since it's in a plastic bottle.

Now my hair has been colored and bleaches, so after any heat styling I like to bring back shine with this Agave Revitalizing Shine Spray. A little goes a long way and boy does it smell amazing! Start from the ends and work your way up.

My lips have been just as dry as the rest of my body and this does not work well with the bold red lips I like to wear this time of year. My go to lip scrub for a few years now has been Lush's Santa's Lip Scrub. It smells like cherry cola and tastes great! 

After my lip scrub and before headed to bed I like to apply a very heavy lip mask or lip balm. Currently i'm suing the Bite Beauty Agave Lip Mask. It's super think and hydrating, but smells a bit like tires. Also my husband hates the texture of this, but he loves the way my lips feel in the morning.

Lastly I like to use a exfoliating and hydrating mask once or twice a week. My current favorite is from SkinFoods. If you watch my vlogmas video you would have seen me shop at the SkinFood store in Glendale. This Black Sugar Honey Mask smells divine. It gently exfoliates and hydrates my skin at the same time. My skin feels amazing and plump after using this. 

One more tip before heading off to bed, this is a trick I learned from my voice teachers in collage, but alway sleep with a humidifier next to your head. The steam is great for your sinuses, vocal cords, and skin. I use a warm mist one in the winter time. 

Stay hydrated this season!

XOXO

Serein