French Beauty Haul/Review

Hello, friends! I was fortunate to be able to spend a week in Paris with my dad at the beginning of this summer. We had a great time exploring the city, trying out different restaurants, and getting our steps in from all the walking! This was the second time I had traveled to Paris, so I wanted to visit places that we had not been to the first time. I also wanted to try out some French beauty products, as I had done some research on French beauty before taking this trip.

French beauty is known to be minimalistic, emphasizing one’s natural beauty in an effortless way. Many of the French beauty products I encountered are intended to be simple, yet effective, helping women to feel comfortable in their own skin. In my travels, I visited a few drugstores and picked up some new products to try out.

Nuxe Reve De Miel: This is a cult French beauty staple and was frequently recommended in my research on French beauty products. This is an ultra hydrating lip balm made from honey and other natural ingredients. I love the frosted glass packaging–it makes the product look and feel so luxurious. I also appreciate that you get a good amount of product. This lip balm is going to last me a long time.

As for the actual product, it smells like honey! The formula is thick and sometimes needs to be warmed up a bit in order to apply it to the lips. However, it is extremely hydrating and makes your lips feel oh so smooth. Since this product isn’t too glossy or shiny, it’s great to use under other lip products.

Embryolisse Secret de  Maquilleurs-Eclat du Regard (Artist Secret Radiant Eye): This  is a refreshing and cooling eye product that is intended to wake up the under eye area and prep it for makeup. It’s a twist balm product that you apply right under your eyes. I love it, because it’s extremely cooling and feels like you’re rubbing an ice cube on your face. It just feels so freaking good under the eyes. I frequently use under eye concealer and I like that this product smooths this area for better application.

 

Bioderma Kit:

The four products on the right of the picture came from a Bioderma kit that I picked up from the drugstore. I was pleasantly surprised at how inexpensive this kit was, especially since it included so many great items.

The kit includes the famous Bioderma Crealine H20 (micellar water), Atoderm Gel Douche (a gentle shower gel),  Hydrabio Serum (a moisturizing concentrate), and Atoderm Intensive Baume (an ultra soothing balm). The kit also includes a clear plastic case to keep everything in–score! I have tried out all of these items except for the shower gel, though I’m sure it’s great.

Bioderma Crealine: I love the Bioderma Crealine for removing makeup and cleansing the skin. The solution is incredibly gentle, yet removes everything from your face. I am amazed at how effective it is at cleansing. This came in really handy when traveling in Paris, as I was able to clean off all the sweat and pollution from the day.

Atoderm Gel Douche: I have not used this product yet, but I really appreciate that the kit gives you a hefty bottle of this. It has a fresh scent and claims to cleanse and soften the skin, as well being good for dry, sensitive skin.

Hydrabio Serum: I have used this product quite a few times and I love it. The formula is light and feels like water, yet hydrates and plumps up the skin as soon as it is applied. It feels super lightweight and can be applied alone or under a moisturizer. I enjoy applying this at night for days when I want a bit more in my skin, then layer a light moisturizer over it. When I wake up in the morning, my skin feels so refreshed and glowy. This product is great, you guys.

Atoderm Intensive Baume: This balm is super thick and is supposed to remedy dry, irritated skin. Since it’s so thick, I have only used it on my hands, but I think it would be great to use in the winter time when my skins gets super dry. Though the formula is thick and moisturizing, it doesn’t feel greasy. This is a great product to have in your kit, though my skin has more use for it in the winter.

 

 

 

I hope you guys enjoyed this post and got some good recommendations for French beauty products. I believe that you can buy some of these items online, as well if you want to try them out.

Let me know in the comments if you have tried any of these products and if you have any recommendations for other French beauty products. Thanks for reading this post, you guys!

-Love Ling

 

My Travel Beauty Must Haves

Hello, friends! It has been a while since I have talked to you guys! This semester has been super busy, with classes, shows, and other college things. I have really been enjoying my sophomore year so far and feel that I have learned a ton so far.

I am currently on Thanksgiving holiday, which gives me some time to relax, spend time with my family, and finally catch up with you guys! Today I’m going to be talking about the products that I brought with me while on vacation. I have tried out a bunch of new products over the past couple of months–even dipping my toes in the high end beauty world a bit! There are a bunch of products that I’ve found to work really well for me and have become essentials for my everyday makeup.

Bare Minerals BarePro Foundation

This is my everyday foundation and I absolutely love it! It gives great coverage and feels so light on the skin. I also love that this foundation has a lot of great ingredients and skin benefits, including SPF protection. It lasts beautifully throughout the day, making its “performance wear” claim very fitting. This is a must have for traveling, because I know that it will always work well for me!

Benefit Porefessional Primer

I never thought that I would be a primer person, but once I started using this one, I was hooked! It helps my foundation look smoother and last longer, while feeling super light on the skin. I even use it for days when I don’t wear foundation, because it controls my oily skin.

Benefit Ka-Brow Eyebrow Gel

This eyebrow gel has been my go-to for the past couple of months. I love that there is a brush at the top of the cap, so I don’t need to bring a separate brush. The product is great and makes my brows look full and defined for the rest of the day. I actually got this product on sale, so I don’t know if I would recommend it at its normal price ($24) . There are certainly great options at a lower price, but I have really enjoyed using this product.

Wet n Wild Highlighter in Precious Petals

This is one of my favorite highlighters, because it makes me look super glowy and has a beautiful peach-toned shimmer. This is great for traveling, because its compact and won’t cost a pretty penny if it breaks ($2.99).

Tarte Blush in Paarty

I got this blush as part of Sephora’s birthday gift and I really like it so far. I like that this is in a mini size and the mauve-colored blush is perfect for fall.

L’Oreal Lash Paradise Mascara

This mascara has been a favorite of mine for a while, because it does a great job of making my lashes look long and full. It’s definitely one of the best mascaras at the drugstore right now.

Revlon Lipstick in “Rum Raisin”

I brought a couple of different lipstick options for my trip. I love “rum raisin” for the fall time, because looks great with any makeup look. A dark nude is the way to go for an everyday fall look, and this one has been a must-have for a while.

NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in “Copenhagen”

This is the ultimate fall lip product for me, and I look forward to bringing it out every year. It’s the most beautiful berry, matte lip shade and I think it would look beautiful on any skin tone (especially darker skin tones). I love wearing it as a statement lip–it makes an everyday look a lot more fun!

  I hope you enjoyed this post and have a fabulous Thanksgiving! Remember to take this time to think about what you’re thankful for, spend time with family, and enjoy the fall season. Have a great day!

-Love Ling

July Beauty Favorites

Hello, friends! Oh my goodness, summer is really winding down. This summer is being cut a little short for me, as I go back to school next Tuesday for orientation team! I’m still in the process of packing for school, but I’m more than half way. The goal for this school year to to minimize the junk and keep everything neat!

This past month has been pretty wild, because it has been completely filled with work. Though making the trek to uptown every day is a little overwhelming, I’ve appreciated having a routine. In this post, I’m going to be talking about my favorite beauty products that have become a part of my routine and that have really gotten me through crazy July!

Soap and Glory Vitamin C Face Soap

I have been wanting to try this cleanser for so long and now that I’ve been using it for a few weeks, I love it. First off, the bottle is huge. It’s almost the size of a shampoo bottle, so you get a lot of bang for your buck. The actual product is gentle, yet really cleanses your skin. I use it morning and night and it leaves my skin feeling refreshed, but really soft.

Soap and Glory “Scrub of Your Life” Body Scrub

You can’t help but love the cheeky product names that Soap and Glory comes up with. I recently discovered body scrubs this summer, and they have changed my shower game. I like this product, because it’s easy to use, turns into a foam when mixed with water, and washes off really easily.  I use this a couple times a week and it leaves my skin feeling so smooth. It’s especially great to use before shaving your legs, because it makes legs feel softer for a longer period of time. The scent is also really fresh, so it’s a win-win all around.

 

L’Oreal Lash Paradise Mascara

This has been my go-to mascara for this entire month! The brush is so soft and really coats my lashes with product. My lashes are left ultra volumized and lengthened–it honestly looks like I am wearing false lashes. I have tried to going back to some of my other mascaras, but I find that they don’t make my lashes look the way this one does. If you are interested in more information about this mascara, I actually did a review a little while ago! I will leave the link here.

Maybelline Better Skin Foundation/Concealer

I really like this foundation/concealer combo, because it evens out my skin tone while mattifying my face. I apply the foundation with a sponge, then apply the slightly lighter concealer under my eyes. It leaves a soft, natural finish while covering up my imperfections. This foundation wears beautifully throughout the day, though I do need to blot after about 5 hours. These two products are super affordable and one of the best face products in the drugstore.

Benefit Porefessional Primer

I love this primer, because it feels really light on the skin, yet helps my foundation go on smoother and last longer. It’s super soft and blends out seamlessly. I also like to use this on days where I don’t wear makeup, because it helps control my shine throughout the day. This has definitely been a staple product for me during this crazy month.

I hope you guys enjoyed this post! Let me know in the comments below–what are some of your favorite products from this month? Have you tried any of the items I mentioned?

Have a great day!

 

-Love Ling