C.O. Beauty Skincare Essentials

I don't have perfect skin, and I've never had "bad skin" but I am somewhat obsessed with skincare at this point in my life. One reason is that I don't wear makeup often (surprise surprise) so when I'm bare faced I want a super clean and clear canvas. Second reason is that when I DO decide to wear makeup, I know that a clean blemish free canvas is the most optimal palette. You can use less product, because let's be honest, as much as we may love it, too much makeup is just not good for the skin.

As soon as I turned 30 my skin went nuts. I started having breakouts and I have never experienced that in my life. I mean hey face, you want to start breaking out at 30?!? Thanks but no thanks.

With all that being said I wanted to share some of my favorite things that I use to get what is perfect skin for me. Just a side note, my skin is dry, doesn't matter the season. so some of the products mentioned may not be necessary for you and your skin type. These are just things that have been working for me.

If you would like a full review on any of the products below just comment and let me know!

C O Beauty Skincare Essentials by candiceobeauty featuring benefit skincare

Product Review: Juice Beauty Blemish Clearing Serum

I received a sample of Juice Beauty's Blemish Clearing Serum in my February Birchbox and decided to give it a try. As I've previously mentioned I'm not wearing as much makeup as I normally would and when I do I'm going for very natural faces. Clear skin and blemish control is the foundation for a flawless face if you ask me, therefore I've been focusing a lot on skincare.

I wash my face daily with Bliss Fabulous Foaming Face Wash, follow with the blemish control serum and then moisturize with my Olay moisturizer with SPF. After on 3 days I noticed that the few blemishes I had cleared up. Bumps went away, as well as dark spots. I was completely sold. So I continued to use it every day until my little sample ran out.

Once my sample ran out I was freaking out to say the least and noticed that in about 3 days small blemishes started to surface again. It was at that point I knew I would have to break my tight budget and spend the $29 for the full size bottle.

FTC Disclosure: I purchased the product with my own money. These opinions are my own. This is not a sponsored post.

xo

Candice Olivia

My March Birchbox

My March Birchbox arrived and I was very hesitant to open it. I was more than underwhelmed by my previous 2 boxes and subsequently told myself that if my third box wasn't to my liking that I would cancel my subscription. I think the beauty gods heard my $10/month cry.

Eureka! A Birchbox with some things that I might use! As I have been grappling with what to do with my hair (change color, cut, keep long, tracks or no tracks) I'm glad that majority of my box has hair care items.

Box Components:

• Annick Coutal | Eau d'Hardrien (fragrance)
• Color Club | Nail Lacquer in Age of Aquarius
• I Coloniali | Invigorating Tibetan Shower Cream with Rhubarb
• Miss Jessie's Origninal | Curly Meringue
• WEI | Pomegranate Buffing Beads

Extra Items:

• Miss Jessie's Original | Creme de la Creme Conditioner
• Miss Jessie's Original | Super Slip Sudsy Shampoo

So far I have tried the nail polish and it's a very fun color as we transition into spring and summer. As with previous boxes I despise the fragrance sample. This one smells like something that should be provided at a nursing home. Not to my liking at all.

Can't wait to try the other products and let you know what I think!

xo

Candice Olivia

Couture DIY: Honey, Egg Yolk and Olive Oil Mask

Last week a friend of mine and I decided to look for recipes for face masks and scrubs, see what we had in the kitchen and whip something up. What we found was a quick recipe for dry skin (which I have) that consisted of egg yolk, honey and olive oil. We gave it a try.

Benefits: A perfectly moisturizing and soothing egg yolk face mask. Honey is a humectant which means it attracts moisture and keeps it where it belongs: under your skin. The olive oil moisturizes even deeper



Ingredients:

•2 Egg yolks


•1 teaspoon organic Honey (the darker the better)

•1 teaspoon extra virgin Olive oil

•4 drops Vitamin E oil (optional)


Directions:

If necessary warm up the honey until it becomes runny (not too hot!) by putting it in a small glass or metal bowl which is immersed in hot water (or a few seconds in the microwave)


Mix the honey with the egg yolk and olive oil until you have a smooth and consistent substance

Spread the paste gently and equally with a facial mask brush or spatula on your clean face and neck; keep the eye area clear

Now lie down again and leave the mask on for 15-20 minutes

Then wash it off with warm water and a soft warm wash cloth and end with a splash of cold; pat your skin dry with a clean towel. Finally tone and apply a moisturizer

For my thoughts read on

Target Haul: Alba Botanica, OPI, and Soap and Glory

This is my second Target haul in a month and I was thoroughly excited by this haul. I got quite a few things and only spent $54.00. May seem like a lot to some considering its a recession and I was only buying a few beauty products, but I couldn't have been  happier. Here is what I purchased:

• OPI polish (I'm India Mood for Love)
• Alba Botanica Pineapple Enzyme Facial Scrub
• Alba Botanica Aloe and Green Tea Oil-Free Moisturizer
• Soap and Glory gift set
• Two vinyl cosmetic bags

O.P.I. (I'm India Mood For Love) - $8.50

I absolutely love love love this polish. As much as I love O.P.I. polishes I haven't found that many colors lately that I like for the summer time in the pink and coral family. Maybe I just need to go to better stores that have better selections. I was so in love with the color I immediately gave myself a pedicure as well as two of my cousins (age 3 and 4). These little girls were so excited and were in love with their pink toes. People will be seeing this color a lot on me this summer. 

Alba Botanica Pineapple Enzyme Facial Scrub -$11

I didn't even know this brand existed. The display in the store had Jessica Alba's face so of course I assumed that it was something that she had  her hands on. Once I got home and looked up the line...her face was nowhere to be found on the site. Not even a mention of her name. I wasn't disappointed, however I still was intrigued by their products and might be trying some of the other things that they have to offer. All products are hypo-allergenic and 100% vegetarian products. The line also boasts no animal testing. Now that I have a dog those are things I pay more attention to. 

LIKES: 

• I love the packaging for the scrub. It looks very cute and tropical. 
• The consistency of the scrub was nice and it felt so natural like I could have made it in my kitchen using household ingredients. 
• I like the way my skin felt after using it and the smell was pleasing. 
  

DISLIKES: 

• I didn't like that it seemed like after washing it off my face that the granules from the scrub were still there in some places. When I initially rubbed my face I didn't feel anything. It wasn't until I went to put on moisturizer that I could feel granules on my face. 
  
• I didn't like the fact that it didn't give instructions on how often you should use the scrub directly on the packaging. But a recommendation was found on the website saying up to 2 times per week. I have been using it about every 3 days and haven't had any adverse effects up to this point. So I will probably keep it up. 

OVERALL= I like it. My skin looks and feels good. I will continue to use it. I recommend buying it. 

Alba Botanica Green Tea and Aloe Moisturizer - $17

I saw the moisturizer before I saw the scrub. The moisturizer is what made me buy the scrub. I always like to try products from the same line. I think its just something about the products coming from the same company and having the same ingredients and tested to work well together. My skin has been really dry lately and moisturizers that I have been using just haven't been really working for me at all, nor have they been good enough to use under my foundation. 

LIKES:

• I absolutely adore the consistency of this moisturizer. Its very deceiving. It appears to be thin but it distributes very well. You only need a very tiny dot on your finger and it goes on your whole face and throat. 
• It sort of has a warming sensation when I put it on. I don't know if its supposed to or its just my skin reacting to an ingredient but I haven't had any break outs or red areas as a result. 
• I like the smell. 
• Goes very well under my foundation. Leaves my skin feeling very supple and hydrated. 

DISLIKES:

• NO COMPLAINTS

OVERALL = I love it. Will continue to use it. Recommend it. Because it distributes so well and you just need a dab on your finger I feel its worth the $17. 

Soap and Glory Gift Set - $8

I became familiar with the scrub from watching a haul video on YouTube from DulceCandy87. She said she really liked it. I had never heard of the brand prior to and when I saw it in Target I thought to myself hmmm I'll try it. She said it was wonderful for the legs and I'm especially trying to get my legs in order for shorts and dresses. I didn't want to buy the full size container just to try it out. I was looking all over the shelves and was liking a lot of their products. Then I came across a cute little gift set that had a body scrub, shower gel, and body butter. 

LIKES:

• I adore the smell of all the products. 
• The scrub and the body butter both have shea butter in them. I LOVE ALL THINGS SHEA BUTTER. 
• A little bit goes a long way. I can use these products every day and will have a lot left in my container considering they are smaller sizes. 
• Love the way my skin felt after using the products. 

DISLIKES:

• NO COMPLAINTS

EXPERIMENT!

Since the scrub is a sugar scrub I knew that I could use it before or after shaving my legs. So I decided to do a little experiment while in the shower to see if using the scrub before vs. after made any difference. The result wasn't that shocking but there was definitely a difference. The leg where I used the scrub prior to shaving was much smoother than the leg where I used the scrub after shaving. 

(Sugar scrubs provide moisture as opposed to salt scrubs that pull moisture out of the skin. Salt scrubs should be used prior to shaving  your legs and not after. Just think about putting salt into an open wound... Not a good feeling.)

Target Haul: Soaps and Lotions

So I went to Target a few weeks ago because I desperately needed new soap and lotion. I had previously purchased a shower gel that I wasn't too fond of but I decided to suck it up and just use it until it was almost gone to not be wasteful.

 

This was the first shower gel that I bought. When I did the initial sniff test in the store I liked it. I got it because I was having a hard time waking up in the morning and thought the whole refreshing scent might wake me  up a bit. So I got home and wanted to immediately get in the shower and try it out. Boy was I surprised... First of all I did feel that it would wake me up because the smell was rather strong was I lathered it up on my body puff, but I didn't really like the smell anymore. The next surprise was its reaction on my skin...of sorts. Let's just say I felt a very cool sensation that I was not ready for. I initially thought I may be having and immediate allergic reaction. I pick up the bottle to read (which I should have done thoroughly in the store) to find that there was mint and eucalyptus in it, hence the cooling sensation I was feeling. If you're into that fine...but I wasn't expecting that, nor did I want that out of a shower gel. 

A couple weeks ago when I went back I decided I couldn't take it anymore and I need to find a new one. Although I decided to stick with Dove ( I only use Dove or Oil of Olay on my skin) I made sure I read carefully this time. I picked up the BASIC Dove shower gel (can't go wrong right?) and I also got a different scent from the Dover go fresh line. 

Of course I couldn't go wrong with the basic shower gel. But my LOVE is the nectarine and white ginger scent of the dove go fresh bar. Although it boasts 1/4 hydrating lotion, I found the shower gel more moisturizing than the beauty bar. But the same scent does come in a shower gel. I will have to get that next. The smell is so strong and just lovely. I can't get enough of it. 

I also got a new lotion. Its good for everyday use and I like the smell. Its light yet refreshing. And anyone who knows me knows that I am absolutely obsessed with shea butter. I've used products from Cantu for my hair so its a scent I'm familiar with and like very much. If you have extra dry areas I would suggest using something else for those areas. For example feet and elbows, but for general use I would say it works very well. Light scent and not greasy. 

Bad Spa Experience

Last Friday I had a pretty horrible experience at the spa. I didn't want to blog about it at first because I didn't really want to say anything negative about the establishment. But then again, I feel like I'm doing people a service by telling them certain places to avoid.

I had been very stressed lately (working in the school system will do that to you) and needed some relief. A very good friend of mine gave a gift certificate to another friend and myself to go to a spa and have a girls day together. Manicure, pedicure, massage and facial. Sounds like a good time right? Well, it wasn't. Not for me anyway.

I arrived 30 minutes earlier than my scheduled appointment time. I knew since I was a new customer to this particular spa that I would have to fill out paperwork and create a file. Although my friend was running late, I didn't expect the staff to be so rude about it. They were aware that we were coming together and would like to have our services done side by side. The ultimate girls time. I opted to start the process without my friend (with her permission on the phone) and went on to get my pedicure. This is where it all goes down hill....

The initial person to do my pedicure ends up not even being a nail technician. I was wondering why she had such a hard time trying to help me pick out a nail color. She even got an attitude with me and told me I was wasting time by not knowing what color I want. Rule number 1 when in a spa....I don't care what kind of mood you are in as a staff member; the customer is always right! I am supposed to be relaxed, not stressed and not rushed. If it takes me 45 minutes to pick out a nail color then so be it! She then decides that she's not going to do my pedicure anymore and tag teams with someone else. I know have a woman that speaks little English and is rather rough with my feet. I opted to skip the manicure and allow my friend who arrived late to get a pedicure as well so we could have some time to chat side by side. They looked good at the end....but customer service wise I wasn't satisfied.

On to the massage. The room was not very inviting, calming or relaxing. There was no changing area with lockers to place your things in. I had to fold my clothes up and just put them in a corner on the floor! Not acceptable. The massage itself was pretty good, but I don't appreciate her rubbing her ultra oily hands in my hair. That made me angry. After the 50 minutes was up, there was not a calming voice to say "OK Ms. Coleman our time is up....". Instead I awoke to a blaring voice saying "OK I'M DONE. YOU CAN PUT YOUR CLOTHES ON NOW" and she left the room. Now I know (because I'm not new to the spa experience) that there was to be instruction and a care guide given after the massage. She was supposed to tell me to keep hydrated; that I might feel dizzy, and that she has moved toxins all around my body etc. But that didn't happen.

The facial wasn't that bad. I had never had a facial before (other than some over the counter masks and some home remedies) so it was a new experience. There was some sort of steam treatment that she administered and that I wasn't too fond of. I could just feel every bit of my hair frizzing up as a result of the steam that was being directly blown in my face over the course of 20 minutes or so. What I did not like is how the technician kept leaving the room and not even parting her lips to say "I'll be back momentarily". What if I was having a reaction while she was gone?!? Who was I supposed to call out to? And she had my eyes covered as well. I also did not like how every step she made she didn't tell me what she was putting on my face. I don't care if I put on my sheet that I'm not allergic to anything. When you put something on my skin or do something to my body, as the professional I'm expecting you to tell me what you're doing. I need to be confident and know that you know what you're doing and I want to know all the steps as well in case something happens or I have an adverse reaction I know exactly at what stage of the process it occurred. Call me crazy....

The facial lasted for an hour and the entire time that I was laid on my back and stiff, I started experiencing sharp pains in my back, neck and shoulders as a result of my massage. I think there was even a point where I wanted to let out a single tear. When the facial was over she just left...and that was the last I saw of her.

Eyebrow Threading

A lot of people ask me where I get my eyebrows done and look at me funny when I say I get them threaded. So I thought I would share a little bit about the art of threading. Its way more common than many people think. Although I'm still skeptical about getting them done at the kiosks in the middle of malls that are popping up everywhere. Not that I don't trust them...I just rather partake in my beauty regimens in a closed room.

Eyebrow threading is a hair removal technique which originated in India, although it is also widely practiced in the Middle East. Salons in Western nations offered the service to Middle Eastern clients for decades before European and American women became interested and the popularity of eyebrow threading skyrocketed.

The hair removal technique is not just for the eyebrows: threading can be used to remove other facial and body hair as well.The technique is sometimes listed on salon menus as khite or fatlah, which are both Arabic words for threading. Eyebrow threading involves twisting a piece of thread, usually cotton, into a double strand. This double stranded thread is used to pick up a line of hair and then remove it, creating a very clean, precise hairline. Eyebrow threading is the technique preferred by Indian movie stars, who are often distinguished by their crisp brow lines. Eyebrow threading can be used to eliminate a uni brow, raise the arch of the eyebrow, or add shape and definition to the brow.

Because it removes hair by the follicle, it is a reasonably long lasting hair removal technique as well. Repeat visits after three to four weeks are standard. The technique is also not terribly expensive because it is easy to do quickly and does not require costly chemical ingredients. For women who would like to pursue a more natural beauty regimen, eyebrow threading is a good choice, since it does not use harmful products. Eyebrow threading is a preferred hair removal technique for a number of reasons. Unlike tweezing or plucking, eyebrow threading removes one clean line of hair all at once, making it much quicker and easier to shape the brows. Eyebrow threading also will not harm the skin like wax and some depilatory creams can. If done correctly, the skin should not be red or irritated for more than a few minutes after the eyebrow threading session. Some aestheticians also find it easier to shape eyebrows using this technique than other methods available.

It is important to find an aesthetician who is experienced at eyebrow threading. Inexperience can result in uneven brows, hair breakage, ingrown hairs, or unnecessary pain. Most urban areas have a wide variety of spas offering eyebrow threading. If you are unsure about a spa, look for one which is frequented by Middle Eastern and Indian clients with perfect eyebrows.

Product Review: Kiehl's

Ok I'm back. I know its been a while but I had to take a break and get my mind right on a lot of things. But enough about that, lets talk about products!

It's taken me some time to do this review since I was trying out the products for quite some time. I was referred by a coworker a few months ago to try a hand lotion by Kiehl's. I was skeptical at first but after i borrowed some one day I knew I had to have it. So I went to Nordstrom and got my own. Then I made the mistake (or not so much) in telling the girl at the counter that I had never used Kiehl's products before. She immediately got excited and wanted to give me tons of samples. I must say, I love it when employees stand behind the product they sell and can offer opportunities to try new things. Nothing like brand quality and integrity!

The product I originally went there for was the Ultimate Strength Hand Salve. I can't get enough of this product. I'm not too keen on the scent but it goes away pretty quickly. I love how creamy and thick it is. It coats the hands very well without leaving them too greasy. It lasts a long time. Definitely worth the price.

I also got a sample of the Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado. You can use it every day (in the morning and at night). I'm not 100% sure what it's supposed to do, but I tried it anyway. What I can tell you is that its a non migrating product and safe to use around your eye. None of the components of the product will travel and enter your eye. Its cooling and refreshing. You only need a dab and pat it around the orbital bone of your eye. Its a very generous sample and lasted me more than 2 weeks. The full size product is $24.50 and worth it. I've been wearing quite a bit of eye make up lately and constantly washing my eyes and I noticed they had become very tender and a bit red in the corners. This cream alleviated that. Gets a thumbs up and a must buy from me.

My second sample was the Powerful Strength Line Reducing Concentrate. Yes I'm young and I don't really need it, but its not only for reducing lines and wrinkles. This product also improves complexion and over all texture and tone of your skin. I noticed after only a week that my skin felt really smooth and the tone was evening out (my skin tends to be quite blotchy at times). This was another generous sample and lasted about 2 weeks. The full size serum is quite expensive at $55. I wouldn't advise buying it unless you have tried a sample and really feel that you need it.