January Beauty Product Roundup

All of the products I'm loving or about get my hands on - a milky toner that leaves your skin impossibly smooth, a lightweight setting spray that keeps your makeup on lock and a shampoo that keeps your blonde hair from looking brassy.

January has come and gone and it started and ended the same way - with me looking for amazing beauty products to use and tell my friends and colleagues about. If you know me personally or remotely know anything about me then you know I’m a product junkie and have always been. Nothing excites me more than trying new products to add to my collection. I love the look of beautifully package and bottled products on my bathroom counter, vanity and medicine cabinet. Yes you read that correctly- my medicine cabinet. I only use it for beauty products. Anywho… I got my hands on a few items that are worthy of honorable mention and/or worthy of continual purchase and use. Some are now part of my regular skincare and beauty routine and some are in online baskets waiting patiently for me to make that move.

Kiehl's Since 1851 Milk Peel Gentle Exfoliating Toner. When it comes to skin care, I’m old school so I prefer to use a toner. I’m of the opinion that if you aren’t using a toner then your skincare is incomplete. Toner is the middle child of skincare routines. It’s a bridge to the next skin care steps. I know that we all have multiple steps in our skincare routines and toner sometimes takes a back seat to everything else but toner will always be an important skin care step to me.

Now this milk peel toner does the most in the best way. It is of course a toner which helps to remove residual dirt and makeup and returns the skin back to it's proper pH level. However it is also a peel! Key ingredients are Lipo-Hydroxy Acid, almond milk and lactic acid. Lipo-Hydroxy Acid (LHA) gently dissolves and removes dirt, impurities and dead skin cells. It also helps to refine the look of texture in the skin so skin looks more smooth, bright and clear. Almond milk which makes skin soft and hydrated - before moisturizer. Lactic acid, helps refines the look of pores and is also a gentle exfoliant. I use this twice a day on face and neck and I don't think my skin can be any smoother and softer. In fact it’s so good that on a couple of occasions I applied it, got distracted, walked away then came back and put my makeup. I then realized that I accidentally skipped my moisturizer step because my skin looked and felt that good. Great for all skin types.

Kiehls Since 1851 Ferulic Brew Facial Treatment Essence With Lactic Acid. For whatever reason, I have never really bought into the use of an essence because I have never seen the results promised. And trust me - I have tried many from brands that I love. Needless to say I left that step out of my routine. Keep in mind that you don’t have to use an essence - I’m extreme so I will use all of the products and do all of the steps. You know, if I'm being honest, the entire Kiehl's line was always hit or miss with me. Usually more of a miss. Anywhoo…. Someone in the Kiehl's lab has been working very hard and showing off because these latest products have been delivering amazing results and my skin is happy. Launched around the same time as the milk peel, Ferulic Brew leaves my skin very bright and radiant. I mean I'm extra glowy and I will always be ok with that thanks to antioxidant ferulic acid, exfoliating lactic acid and hydrating squalane. Ferulic acid is actually not an acid but an antioxidant which protects skin from free radical damage. Lactic acid exfoliates and squalane has hydrating properties. You can use this daily however I use this a few times a week. Perfect for all skin types and addresses fine lines, wrinkles, dullness and uneven texture.

Sephora Collection Makeup Setting Spray. Now this is the kind of lockdown I can get behind. This makeup setting spray is powered by ginseng to help energize the skin and not only does it help to set your makeup but is also humidity and transfer proof. I do not use this personally on myself but I use this on my brides. I still use a setting powder on them and then spray this on top The feedback is always the same- that their makeup didn’t move. This spray works on all skin types.

Kiss Professional New York Quick Dry Nail Polish. Going to the beauty supply store always makes way for awesome beauty (and sometimes fashion) finds. Now I have my go to quick dry nail polish brand but I'm always looking for new brands to add to my collection. I purchased only a few of the Kiss nail polish initially because I didn't know anything about the product. To my surprise, these polishes live up to the claim of drying 2x faster. Because of that, I bought several more shades. Two coats and a top coat will suffice but I always apply three followed by a top coat. Available on Amazon and beauty supply stores.

Skinfix Barrier + Triple Lipid Boost 360 Brightening Eye Cream. This eye cream is a rich hydrating cream that addresses concerns such as fine lines and wrinkles, puffiness, dark circles and hydration. It's creamy without being too heavy and can be used 360 - on the lids and under the eyes. It's also is a great prep for concealer. I use this cream morning and night and while it's good, I do feel that it isn't as moisturizing as I would like it to be. The search continues.

Fashion Fair SkinFlex Stick Foundation. Don't call it a comeback. Fashion Fair took a bit of a hiatus but have come back strong. When I started wearing foundation years ago, Fashion Fair was one of the first brands that I used. The iconic pink packaging and the scent of the foundations and the lipsticks was heavenly to me. Fast forward to today with an updated products assortment. The SkinFlex foundation sticks are some of the smoothest foundation sticks around and they don't feel heavy and stiff like many other brands. These glide onto the skin very easily and have great blendability. It contains rice bran wax which helps to moisturize and aloe leaf extract which soothes and softens. It's perfect for foundation as well as highlight and contour. Be sure to set with powder.

Biossance 100% Sugarcane Squalane Oil. There is nothing like a multitasking beauty product - something that you can literally use from head to toe. And that's what this squalane oil does. Squalane oil absorbs up to 30 times more that other plant oils which allows for quick and effective penetration. A little goes a long way and love to use this in my hair, face, cuticles, hands and feet. If you have oily skin like me, don't worry. Oil cuts oil and can help to balance your skin.

Olaplex No. 4P Blonde Enhancer Toning Shampoo. I have used many a blonde toning shampoo - to my satisfaction of course but my love for Olaplex runs deep. Whether I'm having my blonde moment or not, I use something from the Olaplex line - usually the shampoo and conditioner. What I love about this newer addition to the lineup is the fact that the shampoo not only tones but it also treats which is something color treated blonde hair always needs. It keeps hair soft and manageable.

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