skincare

FabFitFun Summer 2021- My Last Box

/ darphynia / Leave a comment
The contents of my box (minus the towel).

I had kept FFF because, truth be told, it’s fun getting a package in the mail. Is it the most sustainable thing to do? No. But it provided me with a little bit of joy once a quarter. Unfortunately, the boxes have gone downhill. This season, Annual Members were able to choose everything in their box, which I liked. There is a lot of plastic, in terms of product packaging. It’s frustrating because these are all products that work well with my skin. Anything I ended up not using was gifted in my local Buy Nothing group. I’m not sure if the same applied Seasonal Members, but most things sold out right away. I’d been wanting to try PMD’s face cleaner, but realized I have more devices than I could possibly use, so I opted for the towel. I chose things I needed, or would genuinely use, like the sunscreen and ceramic bowls. Unlike previous boxes, there was way less plastic in my box this go around. I can’t help but feel like FFF is going the route of greenwashing with their more “eco-friendly” packaging and product options. There were add-ons that are “sustainable” but, as with many other cases, there is no evidence to back up those claims. Anyway, I’m getting on a tangent.

Continue Reading

🌞 Some of My Favorite Things 🌙

/ darphynia / Leave a comment

Finding the right products for your skin can be a tedious task. Since my skin reacts when the weather changes, I’ve been trying out some products to help combat my skin’s issues. As much as I don’t like the waste, there was no other way to test out skincare. I was able to post up the items that didn’t work in the Buy Nothing group so they didn’t get tossed. The following are some of the products that I love.

Continue Reading

FabFitFun Summer 2020

/ darphynia / Leave a comment
A screenshot of my box’s contents. All images belong to their respective owner(s).

Note: FabFitFun recently discontinued their affiliate program, so any links here are not affiliate links. I received the FabFitFun summer 2020 box last week, and have to say that I was really disappointed. My box contained a foot & a hand cream, suncare, pillow cover, hyaluronic said serum, eyebrow pencil, cooler bag, and credits for a food subscription as well as one for wine. The overall value for this box was marked at $265.50.

Continue Reading

Liquid-Free Travel

/ darphynia / Leave a comment

Whether you are going on a road trip, or flying the “friendly skies”, the last thing you want is for your liquids to explode.  Okay, maybe that’s a bit dramatic, but you know what I mean.  You have everything packed, and let’s say you’re taking a flight, which can be stressful enough.  You get to the screening area, and unless you have TSA Pre-Check, you will need to remove your liquids bag.  Unbeknownst to you, the shampoo cap came unscrewed, leaking product all over everything.  Just when things couldn’t get worse, there is a small hole in the bag, and the shampoo has leeched out into the bin.  You’re out of shampoo, have to wash out the bag and wash off its contents, and now you have a bin to clean.  There is a line of people behind you, and the feeling of holding people up just adds to the current stress level. Continue reading →

FabFitFun: Summer 2018! + Add-ons

/ darphynia / Leave a comment

So, we’re a little late to this un-boxing.  Illness is the worst, especially when you don’t know the cause.  Anyway, onto the highly-anticipated FabFitFun summer box for 2018!  Disclaimer:  This post contains affiliate links.  We get a small something to use for add-ons when our affiliate links are used.

A quick look at our box items and add-ons.

The Box

Continue reading →

Sunday Riley: UFO

/ darphynia / Leave a comment
Sorry for the dark image!  The flash just wasn’t working out.

My skin has been changing; also, the more I stress the more I’m break out.  My go-to product has always been calamine lotion.  I either mix it in my lotion or use it as a spot treatment, but I wanted to try something new.  Sunday Riley has a fantastic(ally expensive) serum, Good Genes, which I love because it works.  Continue reading →

FabFitFun: Summer 2017

/ darphynia / Leave a comment

I absolutely LOVED the spring edition of FabFitFun (I should probably finish my review), and was equally impressed with the summer box.  Since I don’t subscribe annually, and I probably should, I never know which designs will be in my set.  Everyone knows I hate pink, with the exception of the Cheshire Cat.  The summer box had pink in three of their items:  bkr bottle, Michael Stars ruana, and travel tag/passport set.  Continue reading →

Valentia: Night Revive Retinol Serum

/ darphynia / Leave a comment

I have been using Valentia‘s Night Revive Retinol Serum for a little over two months.  It is meant to hydrate and rejuvenate skin, while fighting wrinkles, for a youthful, glowing look.  The serum comes with a drop applicator, and has a watery consistency.  The formula absorbs fast, and can be added to your nighttime moisturizer or used alone.  If you choose to apply this during the day, be sure to use an SPF.  You always want to protect your skin.

I’m sorry.  I cut of the top of the bottle,
but you can see the dropper lid in the
photo to the right.
Bottle, dropper cap, and serum.

In the time I have been using the serum, I have noticed a difference in my skin’s texture.  It feels smoother, and my face always feels fresh when I wake.  Since the weather has been all over the place, my skin has been flaky and dry around my hairline as well as at the start of my eyebrows.  This serum doesn’t deliver the amount of moisture my skin currently needs, so I combine two to three drops with No. 7 Beautiful Skin Night Cream in Dry/Very Dry.  It is recommended to apply the serum two to three times per week until your skin adjusts.  Then, you can increase use to every day or every other day.    

This little jar contains all sorts of effective ingredients such as:  Retinal (Vitamin A), Vitamin C, Vitamin E,  Aloe Vera, and Olive Oil Squalene.  Want to know more about the ingredients?  You can read the full ingredient list here.  If you are unsure  about how your skin will react, I suggest doing a patch test on a small area.  Should your skin react negatively, discontinue use.  The serum is currently on sale for $35.00/35mL (normally $59.99).  You can keep in touch with Valentia on Facebook or Instagram for updates, new products, and promotions.

Stay beautiful!

**I received this product in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.  Powered by BrandBacker**

//www.brandbacker.com/trk/bb_clk_trk.js

Valentia: Pure Glow Brightening Moisturizer

/ darphynia / Leave a comment
My bottle had a misprinted date.  I did contact them,
and everything was worked out.
I have been using Valentia products for some time.  This review is for their Pure Glow Brightening Moisturizer ($25.00/4oz here).  Normally my reviews are done after 30 days, but there has been a lot going on, which I will address in a different post.  Therefore, this has been about two months in the making.  After my typical day and night cleansing routine I apply this combined with their Night Revive Retinol Serum.  The pump controls the amount of product dispensed.  Typically I use two to three pumps.  Texturally, this lightweight moisturizer feels similar to a light lotion, and has a slightly citrusy-floral scent.  I don’t find that it makes my skin oily after it is applied, but every skin type is different.  This moisturizer absorbs fast, and I have noticed that my face looks more even, but I don’t really feel a difference.  Ingredients like kojic acid, Vitamin E, shea butter, and green tea work together to help brighten, moisturize, and protect all skin types.  If you would like to read the full ingredients list, click here.  You can also stay in touch with Valentia by visiting their Instagram and Facebook page.  
The amount from one pump.
Since the weather has been changing, my skin is starting to become more dry along my hairline and at the start of my eyebrows.  I hate it because it looks like I’m peeling.  How do I combat it?  Well, most use Clarisonic a couple or few times per week.  I use it daily, as it does most of the work.  If I don’t use Clarisonic for a couple of days, my skin gets worse.  That being said, I also need a stronger moisturizer.  I couple Valentia’s Pure Glow Brightening Moisturizer with No. 7 Beautiful Skin Night Cream for Dry/Very Dry Skin.  They keep my skin hydrated and the dryness lasts for about a week.  Prior to this regimen, it would last for at least a month.  
What are your weather-changing skincare go-tos?
Stay beautiful!
**I received this product in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.  Powered by BrandBacker**

//www.brandbacker.com/trk/bb_clk_trk.js