Boscia Cool Blue Calming Mask Review

Good day,

Continuing on with the skincare theme, I thought I'd talk about one of my all time favorites. As I've mentioned before, my skin type is oily and is acne prone. I don't break out often but when I do I'm usually just applying a quick treatment over the blemish and I call it a day. I don't really own any acne related products in my skincare wardrobe. I was presented the Bosica Cool Blue Calming Mask in my gratis and the poor thing sat in my bag for a couple weeks before I finally tried it out. I didn't think it was going to be a bomb as I think it is now.

I pulled it out a couple months ago and now I'm hooked. I can't say that I quite mastered layering the product on to get a good grip to peel. If I feel that I am having difficulty with it, I just rinse my face with cold water and it melts away. I found that out when I was tired a night and was struggling the real way. This method also helps me to use less product as well. Once rinsed, my skin is fresh and I definitely feel the cooling sensation.

I don't experience any irritation to my skin when I use this product. I do notice that it calms any breakouts that I may be experiencing. I usually get an occasional breakout, so nothing crazy. For those who are acne, as I usually say, sample it. Try it out to see how your skin reacts to it. I really do hope that it gives you an amazing spa like experience that I received from it.

Disclaimer: This product was given to me through Sephora's gratis program for employees. I did not purchase this product. All opinions expressed in this post are solely of my own.

-Naasika

Philosophy's Back To Nurture Oil Gelee

Good Day!

I have been experiencing great skin as of late and I thought that I should continue sharing the products that I have been using. In this post I will be talking about the Back To Nurture Oil Gelee from Philosophy.

I have never been one to care for oils and serums. When I had received this product in gratis I do admit to being a bit wary to try it out. I decided to use it in the evening like I would with most of my oils and serums. I used it in conjunction with First Aid Beauty's Ultra Repair Hydra-Firm Sleeping Cream and let me tell you guys. It was AMAZING.

I have never experienced such soft skin until I have tried this product out. It absorbs into the skin very smooth. Applying a nice hydrating moisturizer to seal it in would be ideal. You can pair it off with their Back To Nurture moisturizer as well. I do have oily skin.  The only breakouts that I do experience would be hormonal (just to give you all a look at what my skin is like).

 I often times find myself having so so skin in the morning if I don't use an oil or serum in the evening. Oils for oily skin may seem a bit absurd but it's one of the most logical things that one could think of. A few years back, I would produce so much oil in my skin that I wouldn't apply a moisturizer. Yes, I wouldn't even use an oil free moisturizer. I found myself being so greasy that I wouldn't ever think of wearing makeup. With knowledge and new products, I was able to revisit and educate myself on skincare. My skin was so oily because I was depriving it of moisture. It was using it's own natural oils to help hydrate my skin in overdrive.

Now that I apply a moisturizer and incorporate oils in the evening, my skin has not been as oily. I definitely look to skincare first to help my makeup look better. Your face is the foundation to the makeup so you might as well take care of it. Please stop by Sephora and ask for a sample... No, just buy it! Buy it and be a believer of how soft and glorious your face will look and feel after using the Back To Nurture Oil Gelee.

Disclaimer: This product was given to me through Sephora's gratis program for employees. I did not purchase this product. All opinions expressed in this post are solely of my own.

-Naasika

TarteGuard 30 Sunscreen Lotion Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Review

Good Day,

I always take these month long hiatuses. I'm going to try and make time for this blog from here on out :D!

I've never been one to be into sunscreen or sun protection but I'm slowly embracing it. It's a no brainer now especially during these hot summer days. In high school I used to use Olay Complete All Day Moisturizer SPF 15. Most of the time in gym class my face would melt & I'd have this appearance of "milk" dripping down my face. It was horrible to say the least. I just wanted something to moisturize & melt off of me like wet paint.

In a recent gratis, I received Tarte's TarteGuard 30 Sunscreen Lotion Broad Spectrum SPF 30.  Ever since I've received it, I've used it every single day. I'm not quite there with applying it every two hours but I do wear it under my makeup.

I massaged the lotion on my hand so you could see. (Pardon the lighting. It was a bit cloudy today).

I haven't had any problems with the formulation disturbing the color and finish of my foundations. It's smooth and absorbs well. I have to let the product sit on my face for a bit to be absorbed. I use just a pump on my face and neck. I love this product not only for the performance but the ingredients as well.

As most tartelettes would know, Tarte doesn't work with:

• Pthalates
• Parabens
• Mineral Oil
• Triclosan
• Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
• Gluten

I already throw a heap of chemicals from my makeup on my face almost everyday so it's nice to have my skincare be free of those chemicals. Skincare products are the first to penetrate your skin before your makeup. Always make sure to apply serum, moisturizer, and/or primer to create that barrier before the cake.

Granted, this product was given to me by Tarte through Sephora's gratis program and I didn't purchase this item. I can say that I will definitely purchase this product in the future. Remember to continue using SPF all year round and not only during the summer. We still receive rays indoors from light bulbs and other electronic devices. Physicians recommend at least SPF 30 sun protection. Skincare is a very serious matter, not just for vanity purposes. By working on keeping your skin hydrated and protected, you can lessen the chances of skin cancer, skin disease, and other diseases as well. Health is wealth!

Disclaimer: This product was given to me through Sephora's gratis program for employees. I did not purchase this product. All opinions expressed in this post are solely of my own.

-Naasika

My First Shop Miss A Haul

Good Day Lovelies!

I received my package from Shop Miss A!! I haven't gotten so excited about a package in a while. Shop Miss A sells jewelry, cosmetics, & accessories galore! I was in dire need of false lashes so I hobbled on over to see what it was all about. I've been interested in trying a new style of lashes so I decided to add about 28 of them to cart, shamelessly. I then waltzed over to the face & body section to check that out. I stumbled across face masks. I love those sheet face masks that I used to get when I lived in St. Croix, USVI. I picked up 8 different masks to give a go. I hope I like these masks from SMA. The ones I used were extremely nourishing & I would often get compliments. I then I picked up my all time favorite E.L.F. liquid eye liner & oil blotting sheets for my mother.  I decided to try out the temporary tattoos that have been trending as well. This haul is just so lush. Please do check them out. Everything is a DOLLAR! Shipping is a flat $3.95. Best shipping in the universe next to free!

Packaging is superb!

I ordered 5 days ago and got shipping confirmation 2-3 days ago

Still unraveling...

Look how NEAT!

E.L.F. blotting sheets and liquid eye liner in black

I got 8 of EL118, 8 of EL048, 4 of EL047, 2 of EL005, 2 of EL079, & 6 EL218 

Temporary Tattoos

Healthy and Lifting Sheet Masks

-Aloe Vera

-Pomegranate

-Pearl

15 Minute Healthy Skin Collagen Masks

-Moisture Green Tea

-Sweet Honey

-Fresh Aloe

-Brightening Arbutin

-White Rose

Until next time...

-Naasika

DISCLAIMER: I purchased all these items with own money. All opinions expressed in this post are solely of my own. 

Brookside Dark Chocolate Crunchy Clusters Review

Good Day Lovelies!

I received a product in the mail recently to review through Crowd Tap. I've been rocking with Crowd Tap since last December. It's a free membership site that looks for insight on new products, services, and marketing skills from the professionals...YOU, the consumer. They have a slew of companies that have "missions"/tasks & questionnaires that you can participate in for fun. Some companies have giveaways or products to send to group of people to test out. Fortunately, they chose this foodie right here. I received a pouch of Brookside Dark Chocolate Crunchy Clusters in the Berry Medley Flavor.

These clusters are like small pebbles. Some are stuck together and they kind of remind me of chocolate covered raisins. The dark chocolate coating is surprisingly sweet & not bitter at all. The berries in the center are nice & sweet as well. The crunch reminds me of rice puffs like Rice Krispie Treats. The back of the package reads: Brookside Chocolatiers have artfully blended exotic fruit juices and flavors from around the world to create the ultimate chocolate experience. Clusters of crispy multi grains and soft fruit flavored centers with sweetened cranberry bits, covered in smooth dark chocolate are another extraordinary pairing from Brookside. 

Amounts Per Serving: Calories 190; Calories from fat 80 

Servings per container about 3.5

Total Fat 10g 15% DV (Daily Value)

Sat Fat 7 g 35% DV

Trans Fat 0g

Cholesterol 0 mg 0% DV

Sodium 75mg 3% DV

Total Carbohydrate 27g 9% DV

Dietary Fiber 1g 4% DV

Sugars 21g 

Protein 2g

Vitamin A 0%   Vitamin C0%

Calcium 2%   Iron   8%

I could eat a pouch in a span of about a week or sooner, depending on how I'm feeling :). I like the nutritional values. Not bad at all. Almost guilt free in my books :-D.

I sometimes like to pair the clusters with peanuts. So delicious! 

You can find this gem at Sam's Club and on Amazon as well. I don't know where else to find these but be sure to check your local grocery stores. These are definitely worth a try. Now I'm going to finish off what I have left. Until next time...

-Naasika

DISCLAIMER: I received this product from Crowd Tap to review. All opinions are solely of my own. 

Bath & Body Works Haul from Semi Annual Sale (SAS)

Good Day!

Alas the Bath & Body Works haul. I didn't spend as much as I thought I would. I generally try to make a list of the products that I know I'd want in order to stay within my budget. Sadly, there wasn't anything in particular that caught my eye. I just knew that I needed to stock back up on body wash, body cream, and hand soap. The candles didn't make a significant impression on me either. Through out the holidays I only purchased ONE candle : Mint Mocha Bark , a White Barn candle. It smells just as it is supposed to. A beautiful blend of mocha and mint. Every time I burn it, I want mint chocolate chip ice cream. I would've picked up Merry Cookie but I didn't get a chance to take a sniff. I also think if there were better deals on the candles, I would've picked some up. The same day that I went to B&BW, the candles were going for $12. I got 12 products for $30.12 with my first transaction with a $20 off of $50 coupon and I can't recall how I did the two hand soaps but I used 1 coupon and it came out to less than $3.50 in the second transaction. I thought I did pretty good. Here's what I got:

I purchased the Sugar Plum Dream body cream before the sale with a free body cream coupon and I got so many compliments of this scent that I had to pick up 2 more. Frosted Wonderland smells like a smooth creamy coconut confection. French Lavender Honey smells like a smooth lavender and hints of honey, definitely not overbearing . I'm no stranger to the sensual Amber Blush, warm notes of vanilla musk and amber. Lastly, the Pink Jasmine Kiss & Blackberry fragrance reminded me of the Black Raspberry Vanilla that I got at the last SAS in June 2014, so I had to give this one a go. Smells like a glass of blackberry moscato :).

Vanilla Bean Noel, an unexpected love. This fragrance is my favorite holiday scent. In store, I wasn't able to get a good sniff of it until I got home. I usually don't buy more than one of the same fragrance just in case I disliked the scent. This was completely accidental & I'm so happy that I have these babies. The body scrub on the far right was way at the bottom of the bin. I was digging for quite a while. Smells like a vanilla cupcake to me. I didn't purchase the body cream with this haul. I had a coupon for the BOGO free body cream that I got with the Frosted Wonderland (pictured above). I pray that smell as heavenly on my body like they do in the bottles. Definitely looking into buying more.

I've had the Pumpkin Cupcake candle and it was just so divine. Buttercream frosting and gentle pumpkin. Not strong at all. The Iced Ginger Bread smells like a legit ginger bread cookie. I also picked up Moroccan Fig & Honey in the deep cleansing formula which is in my bathroom. One of the best scents in life! Luxurious honey with a nice deep wood in there. I can't explain it, you gotta try it for yourself.

I had to get a pairing body wash to the Kiss body cream that I got (first pic). The Vanilla Tini just struck my eye because I'm a sucker for a good vanilla. It's an airy vanilla. Not bakery scented more like a pure essence. Cannot wait to switch my Winter Candle Apple body wash (purchased in this haul but not pictured, in the shower) for one of these babies. I don't like WCA in the body cream, body lotion, or body spray. It's overbearing sweetness is enough for the shower and vanishes. I think it's weird that I prefer it that way but I just do. I'm not touching my VBN stuff until I get my hands on some more.

There you have it. All the stuff I got from SAS...so far. I will update the post if I decide to purchase anything else. Until next time...

-Naasika

Ole Henriksen: Ultimate Lift Eye Gel Review

Good Day and Happy New Year!

I've been slowly adding more products to my skincare regimen and I've been indulging myself in the Ole Henriksen Ultimate Lift Eye Gel

I sampled some of this eye gel from a gratis bag I received a while back & it was so good that  I had to purchase a full size. I currently don't have any problems with my eye area but it's always great to be preventative. There are a few lines under my eyes that are really small. Eye makeup is a great part of my regular make up routine & it's just nice to have the area hydrated. I like how light-weight and cooling the product feels around my eyes. If I had been crying or I haven't had the proper amount of sleep, this product erases the bags from under my eyes. I simply store the jar in the cabinet in my bathroom. I scoop just 1/2 the size of a dime onto my nail and massage it under my eye and up underneath my brow bone. 

Most of the time when I'm home, I don't wear any make up & I like to use it in the morning not just in the evening. Being a soft contact lens wearer, I haven't had any problems with the product. If I choose to wear the gel in under my makeup, I have to wear a small amount because the product gets a little tacky. 

Overall, I give this product a 10/10! It's a great product to use if you're getting into skincare products for the eye area. I will definitely look into repurchasing the product as well.

You can find this product at Sephora - Ole Henriksen Ultimate Lift Eye Gel $42USD

If you've tried the product or if you have any questions about the product please feel free to leave any comments/questions down below & I'll be able to answer them as promptly as I can.

-Naasika

**Disclaimer: The product discussed in this post was purchased by me, unless stated otherwise. All opinions are of my own.