Beauty Blogger

I Got A Lash Lift + Tint And Here’s What Happened…

I’ve been wanting to try this for a long time! And I’ve heard of so many people loving their new lashes, all about how it saves them time in the morning or not needing any makeup at all after getting a lash lift and tint done so with my birthday and a trip coming up, I figured it would be the perfect time to do it!

I did my research, asked other people (even asked people on my IG Stories) and finally found a reliable place close to where I live, with great reviews and with fair prices so I booked an appointment.

MY MAIN CONCERNS AS A FIRST TIMER:

-That I might be allergic to the formula ( I have super sensitive eyes ).

-The 2 hour long process ( I can’t stay still for that long ).

-That my lashes were not long enough to give it a nice effect.

-That the tint wouldn’t be that noticeable on me since my lashes are already dark-ish.

-That my lashes would end up looking AND feeling crazy fake.

So anyways… I went in last week, a day before my trip to Cabo and I got both the Lash Lift and Tint.

WHAT TO EXPECT:

I arrived without any makeup on, but either way she wiped my eyes before she started. Then taped my bottom lashes (eek… made me a little anxious), it doesn’t hurt at all and within 2 min I forgot about it for the rest of the process. At some point I did get a slight itchy sensation, but it was mostly from having this foreign thing touching my eyelids and lashes. She also kept brushing my lashes a few different times to make sure they were all spread out and perfect. Then she went ahead and applied a cold gel-like substance to my upper lids, then applied a solution to my upper lashes. After a few minutes she applied the other solutions to lift and tint while brushing my lashes yet again and that was it! I was told appointments are recommended every 6-8 weeks, she removed the tape from my eyes and handed me a mirror.

RESULTS / THOUGHTS:

Within the first 15min I was relieved to see I wasn’t going to be allergic to the formula. My eyes are super sensitive so I would have felt it right away! A week later I still haven’t had a reaction and don’t think I’ll be getting one at this point.

The process did take close to 2 hours! Which drove me a little crazy to be honest, but I should mention that I don’t really enjoy things like these… getting my nails done, getting a massage, doing anything to my hair, etc. I get them done every now and then because I like the results, but the process is always a drag for me. However the place was extremely relaxing and she was great! It’s just an Erika thing. So if you’re like me, be prepared to be there for a while (or at least that was my experience).

Also I was right about the tint not being too noticeable. My lashes are already dark-ish brown so if yours are the same and they’re charging extra for that part, then go ahead and skip it! Not worth the extra cost. I paid $80 and the price was the same with or without the tint so I decided to go for it.

NOW FOR THE ACTUAL REVEAL…

I was sort of right about my lashes being a little too short BUT at the same time it is a very noticeable change. Please keep reading. What I mean by this is that the expectation I had was that my lashes would look dramatically different, almost like when you get the more natural looking Lash Extension, you know what I mean? But I feel that a big part of this expectation is because 99% of the Lash Lift photos out there are of people with long lashes (not fair or helpful in my opinion) then it’s no wonder you (or at least me) kind of forget your own reality. So when I opened my eyes and looked in the mirror my first thought was “Oh is that it??” I walked to my car, got in and immediately pulled down the mirror and stared at my lashes for a while! And then I started noticing things like… “Okay I like how they’re all perfectly spaced out, they do look and feel natural (even though I wasn’t supposed to touch them yet) and most importantly they did look 100% lifted.

Fast forward to two days later when I was now allowed to get them wet and use mascara, waking up to my eyelashes looking so nice and lifted first thing in the morning was SUCH A GOOD FEELING! I always joke that I look like a teen boy because I’m all skinny looking, have no real curves AND the 3 lashes I have are all short and straight! So growing up this all made me look even more like my brother Edgar LOL so I always always wear mascara. But after getting them Lifted/Tinted last week, if I don’t wear mascara they still look like I put 1 good coat on and they look perfectly curled and nice. They don’t look extra long by any means, my length is what it’s always been but I do look more feminine now. And when I do apply mascara I noticed that it goes on way easier, I don’t need to apply as much and they actually look way nicer than they’ve ever looked. Bottom line?? I would do it again. I can definitely suck it up for 2 hrs if I can go out and not need a single drop of makeup on my face but my SPF.

Have you tried this before? If so, did you have a different experience? Let me know your thoughts below, I’m curious to know. Also, feel free to head to my IG Stories to take a closer look at the final results! As always thank you for reading,

My guide to clear, hydrated & glowing skin with found beauty!

Following up with last month’s post on bright & clear skin ( in case you missed it it’s HERE ) I want to go deeper into my skin care routine with my fam over at found . As I mentioned back in May, I have partnered up with them this year to share my favorite natural inspired products and how they help my skin! Honestly, incorporating skin care and makeup products that are safe for my skin has been a real life changer for me so here it is… my Guide to beautiful glowing skin!

I’ll start with a product that has quickly become my #1 and for good reasons! I’m talking about found’s Seaweed Water Cream. This little gem is unbelievably light! Every time I apply it, the texture feels like water on my skin. I love skin care so of course I had tried other brands that came up with a similar concept —that water feel on your skin, but truthfully none that feels as refreshing and light as this one, not to mention that it’s 92% Natural and so affordable! This hydrating cream is also under the brightening collection which has had the best effect on my skin so far, so it’s no surprise that this is a must have on my everyday routine.

Next is the Cucumber Cooling Stick and if you can’t guess by the name, let me tell you this glide stick leaves my keeps my skin calm and soft through out the day. This once is 98% Natural and it’s meant to de-puff the skin so in my opinion it’s a great morning product —when I look my most vulnerable and need the extra help— this product comes to the rescue. I use it right before the Seaweed Water Cream and I’ve found that the effect of both is the perfect combo because my face feels cool and moisturized all day. Although it’s so small that I sometimes carry it on my purse in case the weather is acting up and I need a little pick me up!

Moving on to the cleansing part of the routine, I’ve recently been trying the 90% Natural Makeup Removing Balm. Last month I talked about how much I LOVE the Tea Tree Gel Cleanser and I still do! But on the days that I wear makeup I like doing a 2 step cleansing routine to make sure I am addressing both the makeup removal issue and the everyday impurities that the skin goes through everyday. So I first used the Makeup Removing Balm ( a little goes a long way ) and next I use the Gel Cleanser that way my skin is fully clear!

After cleansing my face I’ve been applying this Red Clay Facial Mask to get rid of impurities and toxins. I leave it on for about 10min but the stick says I can rinse off in as little as 5min, so those who don’t really have much time these days for face masks this is for you. I like the idea of boosting my skin and making sure it’s reenergized so I’ve been using it twice a week. To be honest I’m more used to the typical fabric soaked masks so I wasn’t sure this one was for me, but I found that this is more convenient because the stick just glides easily across my face so it’s not as messy. I’m not saying I’m done with my other found face masks BUT when I don’t have time to lie down and apply those, this is a perfect and quick option! So of course it’s a new fave of mine.

Every skin comes with a different set of needs and that’s why found has created several collections to choose from. This guide I just shared is my personal experience and real opinions I’ve made by following their number system in the packaging! It makes it really easy to use because they label their products with a step number of 1-3 to customise your own routine:

Cleanse
Treat
Hydrate

And *Enhance which are the non-daily products that are meant for extra skin improvements

I encourage you to try them for yourself! It is such a joy when you find the collection that truly fits your needs. This year I have been really enjoying getting to know found beauty products and there’s so many more I want to share! Specially on their makeup line, more on that soon. But the fact that this brand is so honest, takes such great care about the ingredients they use and how these products are made, makes me feel really good about using them on a daily basis. To be honest, I wish I had started paying more attention to what I apply on my body sooner, but ever since I’ve been switching to more naturally based products I have noticed a big improvement so I am happy I came across a brand like this one that I can fully trust. Until next time!

Short & Wavy

This post will be short & sweet!

Whenever I don’t have time to do my hair, I rely on this little guy to make it beautiful and wavy. For my hair length I spray about 4-5 times of OUAI product, then use my hands to style it and voilà! I get a fresher and more fun look. It’s specially convenient when I don’t have much time to get ready or when I need to retouch my hair mid-afternoon. You all know the struggle…

Plus I love that it leaves my hair soft and smells so nice! <3

I’ve been truly enjoying OUAI Spray that’s why I thought I would share. I plan on doing a post dedicated to the hair products I use and how I style it, but for now this is a sneak peak of one of my faves on the moment.

I’m sending lots of love!!

Update: My Skin Care Routine!

I have shared some of my favorite skin care products before, but since then I have found other ones that work great for me so I thought it was time for an update! I have combination skin and depending on the seasons I sometimes get really tiny bumps on my the sides of my face. I usually let it run its course, until now! And you will never guess where I found this miracle worker…

But first, this isn’t a sponsored post. Not to say that if it was, this wouldn’t be my real opinion. I am just excited I found products that actually work for me, so keep reading if you want to find out why <3

First a couple of products that I rely on every week. I don’t use these daily but definitely game changers on my skin care routine:

1. Skin Authority Acne & Oil Control. This is the first product I try from them. It helps with acne cause bacteria and minimize oil. I get some acne around my cheeks, not crazy bad but I decided to try it! After 3 months of using it, I am convinced this is what helped my skin look much healthier. I don’t use it daily, I started with 3-4 times a week at first and now only once a week and that has been enough. My face has really cleared up and I am now much happier! I wouldn’t be writing about it if I wasn’t <3 I would encourage you to look into this brand, talking to one of their representatives like I did and find out about your specific needs.

2. SK-II Facial Treatment Essence. I first tried SK-II after receiving it in one of my goodie bags at a blogger event. I was very curious to see for myself and I am so glad I did! My skin looks more radiant, I can see the tone is more even and even a bit more firm. I honestly had my doubts about it but now it’s part of my routine. The only thing I don’t like is that it costs more than I care to spend on a beauty product but to me it does work so I will continue to use it.

MY DAILY ROUTINE:

1. First Aid Face Cleanser w/ Antioxidant Booster. This product is very very gentle on my skin but it gets rid of all the dirt and any makeup residue left from my makeup remover. I have been using it for over a year now and it’s still my No.1 cleanser.

2. Plantioxidants Power Seed Menagerie Oil. I use this product daily and have been using it for 4 months now. I am beyond in love with it!! Like I said I have combiantion skin so I was scared of trying any oil but ever since I started using it my skin went from dull to radiant, fresh and hydrated. TRULY ONE OF MY FAVORITES!!

3. First Aid Eye Duty Triple Remedy AM Gel Cream. I know I mentioned this brand above but again this isn’t a sponsored post, just products that I’ve been loving so I wanted to share. Anyways, this eye cream has made the skin around my eyes look much more illuminated and hydrated so I use it every day. Also it’s light weight so it doesn’t mess up my makeup afterward. I have been using this product for almost a year now and I am very happy with it!

4. Eucerin Baby ECZEMA RELIEF Body Creme. I use it for my Face, neck and chest area. Okay I realize I don’t have ECZEMA and that it’s a baby product BUT somehow this cream helped me get rid of the tiny little bumps I was talking about earlier. I don’t think it’s acne but it shows up from time to time depending on the seasons (very annoying). My mom has actually used this brand for years and I’ve had a good experience with their other products in the past, so I decided to try it.

I have been using it daily and I swear after day 1 results were immediately there. I couldn’t believe it! I don’t know how but this product gave my face a smoother look and feel and it’s crazy to think I found it at my local supermarket. After spending so much money on products that never worked, I finally got rid of this problem so I had to tell you guys!! Plus even though this product is rich, it does not feel pasty or oily. My skin feels moisturized and so healthy! It’s now a favorite in my drawer.

5. As far as Sunscreen depending on the sun exposure I will be under that day, I still use my Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Face & Body Stick SPF 70 (which I posted about before) and I have recently been using the IT Cosmetics CC Cream SPF50 plus the powder for touch ups from IT Cosmetics as well, in shade Medium Tan. IN LOVE WITH THESE 3!!

MY NIGHT CARE ROUTINE:

I use the same face cleanser I mentioned above and then…

1. 100% Pure Multi-Vitamin + Antioxidants Potent PM Serum. I cannot say enough good things about this brand! I love it all! From their makeup products like their lipsticks (MY CURRENT FAVORITES) to their skin care products, I am obsessed. They are commited to creating the purest products and the results have been clear to me! Truly one of the best brands I discovered this year.

2. ESTÉE LAUDER Advanced Night Repair Eye Synchronized Complex II. On the contrary from my day eye cream, I love how rich this product is! When it comes to night time creams I feel like heavier ones are better for my skin. And I love the results I get from this one. It’s on the more expensive side for such a small container, but I personally feel like it’s been worth it. That said, I always encourage you to try for yourself! Maybe ask for a sample and see if this is right for you.

3. For moisturizer I have recently been using Eucerin Baby ECZEMA Relief Body Creme mentioned above since its been working so well on my skin, but for the past 7 months I had been using Perricone MD H2 Elemental Energy Hydrating Cloud Cream. It’s been so amazing on my skin that I still carry it everywhere I go. I will continue to use it and begin going back and forth between both.

These are all products that I have come to love. I believe in every one of them and I hope they help others too.

As always thank you for stopping by!

Summer Talk: SPF Safe

Now that Summer is here, I find myself going to the beach every single weekend. It’s close to where I live, it’s a great way to spend time with my friends and boyfriend and nothing makes me happier than having my toes in the sand. So whats the problem? Sun damage is the problem. Too much sun can be harmful for your skin, believe me I know! My mother has been scaring me with wrinkle stories from the minute I turned 25. But I am also not willing to compromise my beach time. So this is how I turned into one piece swimsuits and beach cover-ups. It’s the perfect solution! One piece swimsuits are very flattering, they make the body look longer and I always feel more comfortable in them anyways. I have one in every color! And since I don’t want the awkward tan line from the one piece, I have found that a beach cover-up is the way to go! I will still wear bikinis from time to time but I love that I have found the perfect combo for those days where it is too sunny and I want to be safe <3

Now, I have wanted to write about this topic for a long time so for this shoot I hunted down a location that best represented my fears: wrinkles + sun damage. So this is why I picked this rocky scene, its the perfect reminder of how I DO NOT want my skin to look like by the time Im 30! Am I right? So lets get to it.. I put together this look, hope you guys like it!

Now I rarely review products usually stick to fashion but since I am already in the SPF subject, I wanted to include my top suncare products below! *I did NOT get paid to promote any of these products or received them for free to review. This is 100% my honest opinion and I hope you find it useful…

I LOVE this moisturizer because it is the lightest product I have ever tried! Women, believe me when I say I have tried them all and finding a moisturizer that also has SPF was beginning to feel like a nightmare. But Shiseido came to save the day! I use this for everyday life and doesn’t leave my skin greasy, I love it!

Neutrogena Face & Body Stick is my favorite of all! I use this one if I know I will be spending more time in the sun. The Ultra Sheer part does not lie!! No more white sunblock spots and no more greasy looks. I also love how easy it is to use therefore I find myself reapplying more often than with liquid ones. I’ve been recommending it for years and have yet to receive a complain:)

Yes to this delicious therapy! I have tried more products from this brand and I have to be honest, I haven’t loved them all BUT their lip balm is perfect! I love the coconut flavour, its unbelievably hydrating and its as natural as it gets! I love this for everyday life, I have one in practically every purse I own.

Nivea is a brand I have trusted for years. Often the pharmacy finds are the best ones! I use this one on the weekends and I love that its waterproof. I can honestly say I will continue to use this one for more years to come

My last one I use daily. When Summer arrives I don’t trust any body lotion that doesn’t include SPF. And I have found that Aveeno makes a wonderful one! Its light in texture and perfume and it doesn’t leave my skin feeling sticky. I believe its important to be safe and it starts with the morning moisturizer. To me it’s the perfect summer companion!

If any of you have other favourites you think I should try please let me know by commenting below! I would love to hear your experiences.

As always thank you for reading!