Bobbi Brown Skincare

We recently got the Bobbi Brown Extra Balm Rinse in at work (I work at a Cosmetics Company Store if you're new) and I snatched it up. Despite Bobbi being my line, I've never really ventured into her skincare as we don't often get it in stock. I loved the rinse so much I decided to go to the counter and try some more products. A lot of my favourite bloggers have been raving about the Vitamin Enriched Face Base so I wanted to check that out.

The Extra Balm Rinse is a conditioning cleanser meant to be good for dry skin. It comes in this 50 ml tube or a bigger jar. It says on the website that it can be used to remove makeup, but the packing says to keep it away from the eyes so I remove makeup with the Clinique Take the Day Off Balm and then cleanse with the rinse. What I really like about this is that it gets my skin really, really clean without a huge lather. I often get very lazy before bed and don't properly cleanse my face because I can't be bothered to wash all of the soap off. But this is super easy to remove! It's also surprisingly hydrating on the dry parts of my face, but doesn't make my oily t-zone greasy. Plus, it has Bobbi's luxurious citrus scent.

I got two little samples at the counter because I wasn't feeling spending a fortune quite yet. The first is the Extra Repair Eye Cream, which claims to help fight dark circles, puffiness, wrinkles, and more. This cream is super hydrating, but definitely sinks in quickly so you don't have to wait long before applying makeup. I think it does smooth to some degree, but I haven't seen any dramatic results yet. I might try the Hydrating Eye Cream as it's a little less expensive. I also tried a sample of the Hydrating Gel Cream. I really like gel-based cream formulas like this because they sink in quickly and don't leave residue like heavier creams can. However, they're still hydrating for the parts of my skin that are quite dry. This also smells like delicious citrus. I've been mostly using this in place of a night cream because I've been using the next product during the day, but love waking up with fresh skin!

The Vitamin Enriched Face Base has been raved about for a long time and I've been battling with my primers recently so I decided to give this a try. It's my new favourite product ever. I don't know how, but Bobbi has somehow perfectly combined a moisturizer and primer into one product. It smooths skin for a perfect makeup application but also hydrates. I was a bit worried because it's very rich and creamy, but it also sinks in without feeling greasy and is oil-free. I don't think I've ever gotten so many compliments on my skin! As always, Bobbi's packaging is absolutely gorgeous but I will say that the germ freak in me slightly wishes these were all in pumps. But it so pretty that I have it sitting out on my vanity so I'm not complaining too much.

Have you tried Bobbi Brown skincare? What did you think?
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What's In My Bag

I've been looking at a lot of "What's in My Bag" posts recently, and although mine doesn't really include anything exciting I thought I'd show you!

The bag I've been carrying lately is the Michael Kors Selma in the large size (which I can't seem to find on the website, perhaps it's been discontinued?). It's big enough for all of my crap, and if I need to put my lapotop in it, it'll squeeze. I used to also use a long Michael Kors wallet, but switched to this little Fossil Bi-fold which I LOVE. It's so easy because it actually fits in my back pocket, is this what it's like to be a guy?! I of course carry my phone, right now I have this cheapy clear case on it which is very dangerous, but I love the way iPhones look and hate to cover it up.

Makeup-wise, I carry a few things around in this Delfonics pouch that I got from Madewell. In that I have my beloved Glossier Balm Dot Calm (Mint), several (thousand) lip colours, the MAC Studio Fix Powder (Mostly for the mirror), and a Bobbi Brown concealer/powder duo for emergencies. I also have my Fossil watch hanging around in there because I'll usually forget to put one on before work. My Rayban Erika sunglasses are also floating around, I've had these FOREVER and they're still holding on (The DesixQuay High Keys should be coming in soon though, sorry Erika).

I try to stay quite organized, so I have a planner (during the school year I have it and most of these things in my bookbag). This semester's is from Mochi Things, I've yet to use it but I like that it's more customizable. I also have this Moleskine journal that I was bullet journaling in, but now I've made it into a list journal and I use it much, much more. Last but not least is my beloved Game of Thrones. I'm actually reading Feast for Crows, which is the book before this but the cover is red (gotta stick with the theme, people!). That's the only reason this one looks so tidy, I'm fairly rough on my books.

There's also of course a smattering of change and bobby pins hanging around at the bottom. What do you guys carry around with you?
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June Favourites

This month has been a minimal makeup month for me. Living in the south means soaring temperature and humidity and I honestly can't be bothered most days. I've also been having weird reactions any time I put on most eye makeup so I've been steering clear of that.

I've been trying to focus a lot on skin, as I often get quite clogged pores in the summer. I've been trialling a bunch of things as far as cleansers, but have found two moisture products that I love. I've been using the Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream for a while, but recently started using it regularly as a night cream. It's quite thick so not the best for using daily in this summer heat! But using it as a night cream I wake up with fresh, perfectly moisturized skin! This is one of those products that I think will stay in my skincare routine for a very, very long time. We got a bunch of samples of the Estée Lauder New Dimension Shape and Fill Serum at work so I, of course, snatched some and took them home with me. LET. ME. TELL. YOU. This crap is some kind of magic. I don't know about shaping or filling, but after using this for a few days this texture and tone of my skin had completely changed. I didn't wear any foundation for a few days and had several people ask me what I was wearing! I'm definitely going to get the full size once we stock it (it's quite expensive but check your local CCS!).

I decided to get a new shade of the ABH DipBrow. This has been a favourite of mine for several years (as you well know), but I've only ever used Chocolate. I switched to Medium Brown and I think It definitely matches me better and looks a LOT more natural. When I've been brave enough to go for eye makeup with this weird reaction-thing going on, I have swiped H&M Shiitake all over my lid. I have a review of these here. I haven't debuted any pictures on social media (you can see it in my sidebar), but I recently cut my lower-back-length hair up to my shoulders. I've been loving using the Bumble and Bumble Thickening Dryspun Finish to add some volume. It's worth mentioning that I absolutely hated this when I had long hair. I've also found what I think is a drugstore dupe in the Garnier Texture Tease Spray.

Last month was all about my EyeBuyDirect frames (follow me on insta peeps! ameliaasays) but this month I went back to my Warby Parker Baker frames. I've had these for about six months now and they are just so comfortable to wear. They're the perfect shape for my face and don't hide my makeup as much as some of my other frames. I've also gone back to one of my older watches. I got a new gray strap for my Fossil Original Boyfriend Chronograph and I've been wearing it with absolutely everything.

What have you guys been loving this month?
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Origins Face Masks

Hi loves! Long time no speak, but I'm back with a review of these tiny little Origins face masks that I got in a set at work (check your local CCS, super cheap!). I love Origins skincare products and am obsessed with the Original Skin mask, so I wanted to try out some others.

First is the GinZing Refreshing Face Mask, which I think has been discontinued now. But, if you have a CCS near you they should still stock it. This formula of mask is one that I'm not a huge fan of, I generally prefer clay masks. This is like a cooling gel-based mask which is super nice for the summer. It's supposed to be energizing and refreshing, but I didn't notice too much of a difference after using. It is a nice one to slap on when it's hot outside, but it's not a major winner for me.

Next I tried the Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask. This is a creamy "mask" that is basically just a super intense moisturizer. It contains avocado oil and mango butters, among other ingredients, meaning it is seriously going to moisturize your skin. I really, really, really liked this one. When I woke up, I still felt like I had product on my face but I just cleansed like normal and my skin looked brilliant! I saw a noticeable difference in the plumpness of my skin and it overall looked brighter and more healthy.

The Clear Improvements Active Charcoal Mask has been raved about for years, so I was quite excited/nervous to try it out. I was surprised to find that it's not a super-thick, clay based mask; but instead a light-weight almost dry texture. Activated charcoal is meant to suck dirt out of your pores, and while it doesn't seem like it, the mask contains White China Clay that absorbs toxins. This sucker dries down and tightens up pretty quickly, so I only left it on for about 10 minutes. I was expecting my skin to be a bit dry since this is a clarifying mask, but it was actually really smooth and felt clean. This one I might have to get a full size in!

Last but not least is the Out of Trouble 10 Minute Mask. This one is meant to help with oily skin and breakouts, so it's perfect for me in the summer. It contains zinc oxide and sulfur to help absorb oil and reduce redness. When I first started trying this mask, I had pretty oily skin and a few more breakouts than usual (wah). I was absolutely amazed by the results, when I took it off my skin looked calmed and radiant. I've used it every other day for a week and my breakouts are almost all gone! A lot of people complained about the smell, but I think it smells like Vick's VapoRub so I don't mind it, hehe. Definitely one I'll be buying the full size of!

Have you guys tried any Origins face masks? Which ones do you love?
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