Face of the Day

I love my Saturday off. It usually involves me spending time with family or running errands. So I like to be comfortable. And I like my makeup to be kind of comfortable too. It's not really a no makeup look but it's a no-fuss look. Something I can throw on and know that I look put together without trying too hard.

So for skincare I have my current morning routine. I always start with my La Bella Figura barbary fig seed oil and then apply either argan oil or lately I've been trying LBF's barbary fig renewal serum. Eye cream has been by Kahina which I'm testing out and will have a review up in another week or two. My SPF has been the same 100% Pure one I've been using forever. Last but not least we have lips and it's my current favorite LBF la curacio. Not that I'm having a current love affair with LBF or anything...

My makeup for the day was simple and easy. I went with fresh skin thanks to Vapour Luminous Foundation (shade 115), and Illusionist concealer (shade 010). I followed up with Vapour Aura Multi-Use in Torch and a little rms living luminizer. I never leave the house without brows so I use my trusty Jane Iredale Bitty brow kit in blonde. Josie Maran mascara and Bite beauty lipstick in Fig and I was out the door. 

Today was spent baking cookies with my mom and trying on new lipsticks!

Nourish Organic Body Lotion

On a recent trip to ULTA I scored this Nourish Organic Body Lotion in Almond Vanilla. I'd been looking at the Nourish product line recently and was pleasantly surprised to find it close to home. I was pretty sure I'd have to order it. NW Ohio isn't exactly a green beauty mecca. Anyways back to the lotion. I debated between this and the body butter but decided that I wanted something that would hydrate but absorb quickly. So far this does the trick. It goes on great and leaves my skin hydrated all day without ever feeling oily or sticky. The Almond Vanilla scent is nice and warm without being overpowering. 
I would definitely recommend this if you happen to stumble upon it like I did!

*Purchased by me. Reviews are my own opinions. 

Barbary Fig Seed Oil

This product is a total gem! I was lucky enough to receive this sample of La Bella Figura Cold Pressed Barbary Fig Seed Oil* in my recent Goodebox. Originally it was supposed to be the famed Decouverte Under Eye Repair serum but I think fate intervened. My skin has been so in love with since first application. I had read about Barbary Fig Seed Oil for helping with under eye circles and was anxious to try some.  I read more on La Bella Figura's website that Barbary Fig Seed oil is brimming with antioxidants, Omega-3 and Vitamin E. Ingredients that  help to hydrate skin as well as soothe skin that is sensitized or stressed. Pretty much everything I look for this time of year in my skincare. 

So at first I was just applying this twice a day as an eye treatment. Then one night out of desperation for help with my dry tender skin I applied it all over and headed to bed. I woke up with the most beautiful clarity to my skin. It was soft and hydrated and I was just astounded. Argan oils really help with my dryness but often don't take care of my redness/sensitivity. Finding something that takes care of both was kind of amazing.

I've played a lot with this sample since I've gotten it and have found that not only is it great alone but it also pairs well with other oils. (I tried RMS beauty oil and Olie Biologique Argan) 

It also works well under makeup as long as you give it a few minutes between oil, sunscreen and makeup application. 

I've just ordered a full size** of this as I decided my face cannot live without it. 

Also if you have any questions about LBF they have a Twitter @labellafigura10

*sample provided by Goodebox a paid sampling service. All opinions are my own as always. 

**Full size retails at $90 USD

The Dry Skin Battle

I am dry. Dry enough to be flaky even though it hasn't been terribly cold this winter here in the Midwest. But wait! I'm breaking out too. I have my friends what I call "confused skin". It's not any one thing ; it's a little bit of everything. This time of year I tend to search for a moisturizer that is for dry skin. I break out occasionally but oil-free moisturizers don't have the ability to chill out my flakes.

Argan oil is one of my favorite moisturizers. I tend to use it all year, most often at night as a treatment for those pesky flakes. Most mornings I wake up well hydrated without being too greasy.  Argan oil is said to have tons of antioxidant properties so it helps to neutralize free radicals. It also contains Vitamin E and essential fatty acids that help to soften and hydrate skin. For me it is something that I use constantly. I notice a difference when I'm not using it. My skin just seems ... blah (for lack of a better word). I've tried both Josie Maran as well as Kahina Giving Beauty. Both are nice as they are 100% organic.Kahina's is a touch more expensive but the consistency is divine. I'll be purchasing it when I run out of the Josie Maran.
Josie Maran runs about $48 USD for 1.7 oz and can be found at Sephora stores and online. Kahina Giving Beauty runs about $82 USD for 3.3 oz

Sometimes when I'm feeling as though there is no end to the dryness I reach for something to layer over the argan oil. I've tried a variety of moisturizers this winter but the one that has truly made a diffrence is from a company called SPROUT. I had no idea about SPROUT until I got a grab bag from Lovingeco.com that had a sample of the cream from the SPROUT line. SPROUT makes products that are in their words "truly all-natural sustainable skincare". I love that it doesn't have tons of fillers and other odds and ends. All that this moisturizer contains is - fair trade shea butter, organic coconut oil and organic olive oil. That's it! It's the perfect consistency for me not too heavy and melts right into the skin. I wake up feeling baby soft when I layer argan and the SPROUT cream.
SPROUT cream runs $32 USD for 3.75 oz.

I haven't had a problem with breakouts with this current regimen. But I will keep you posted on it. For now though I am feeling soft and flake-free.