5 BEAUTY PRODUCTS WORTH TRYING: MARCH

In continuation of my new monthly series that features favorited beauty products including skincare, makeup & beauty tools. This month’s picks include a few skincare items, a favorited face sheet mask and a drugstore worthy mascara. Now days with so many products on the market, it can be hard deciding which ones are worthy of spending your money on. So, each month I’ll be testing and trying out 5 beauty products and giving you my honest opinion of them. This way you can hopefully find some new products to try for yourself or recommend for a friend. And if you have any products you want me to try, let me know in the comments below and i’ll add them to my must try list to review.

Here are 5 beauty products from this month that have become part of my beauty & skincare routine.

Neutrogena Hydro Boost Moisturizer

While recently shopping for a new moisturizer, my best friend recommended this one. So I grabbed a trial size from Target to test it out. My skin has been super dry lately. After just one day of using this moisturizer, my skin felt and looked more hydrated. I tend to have oily skin, so I love how it quickly absorbs without leaving my skin feeling greasy or heavy. And has hyaluronic acid which keeps your skin hydrated longer. I’ll definitely be buying the full size version to continue using in my skincare routine.

Mario Badescu Facial Spray

This is my holy grail skincare product that I’ve been using for a few years now. I use it daily, once in the morning after cleansing my face for added hydration and at night to soothe my skin before bed. I also use it as a setting spray for my makeup. And I typically keep a travel size bottle in my tote bag for a quick refresh throughout out the day. It’s one of my go-to skincare products that I use year round to keep my skin hydrated in colder temps and refreshed during warmer months.

Tula Skin Reviving treatment Pads

I’ve been using several Tula skincare products the past 6+ months. And this is most recent purchase from their skincare line. These dual ended treatment pads are great for exfoliating your skin to help remove any impurities and clogged pores. They are so easy to use and leave your skin feeling renewed just after one use. Use 1-2 times per week for a mini facial you can do at home. I especially love that they come in individual packets making them perfect for travel.

L’Oreal Voluminous Superstar Mascara

I discovered this gem of a drugstore mascara through fellow blogger Cristin Coooper, who recommended it on her Instagram page. I tend to keep a few mascaras in rotation and this one has quickly become one of my favorites. It’s a dual ended wand with primer on one end and mascara on the other. It’s great for building volume and length with your lashes. I love how easy it applies and how it creates dramatic lashes. I buy the Blackest Black for added drama. Best part is that it’s inexpensive and you can find it at your local drugstore.

Garnier SkinActive Moisture Bomb Sheet Mask

This sheet mask is literally the bomb! It’s feels soothing and refreshing plus it has hyaluronic acid which leaves your skin feeling super hydrated. You can apply this mask weekly to give your skin a boost or use right before you apply your makeup for an added glow. It’s one of the best sheet masks I’ve used and continually purchase. And you can find it at your local Target or drugstore.

What beauty products have you tried lately that you love?! Tell me in the comments below.

SHOP PRODUCTS:

XO, Rae

WHY I MADE THE SWITCH TO NATURAL DEODORANT + REVIEWS ON BRANDS I TESTED

Over the past 6+ months, I’ve been making the transition over to using a natural deodorant. Honestly, I’ve never really been conscious of the ingredients in my deodorant, much less beauty products in general. But after doing some research and learning more about chemicals found in everyday products, I decided it was time to start looking into incorporating some safer alternatives. And switching my deodorant seemed like a great way to start using more natural products.

I ended up purchasing four well known brands and tested each one individually over a period of time. I went based off of reviews and recommendations from friends on which ones to try. Below you will find my review of each one with a list of pros & cons. Keep in mind that everyone’s body is different and what may have not worked for me, could work for you. I highly recommend trying a few yourself in order to find the right one. I definitely did not expect for it to take months in order to find one that worked, but I’m so glad that I didn’t give up in the process and eventually found a natural deodorant that works great for my body.

A few things to know:

1. Most antiperspirants contain aluminum, which actually causes your sweat glands to be blocked and stops you from naturally sweating.

2. Natural deodorants typically do NOT contain aluminum and are paraben FREE as well. Therefore natural ingredients are better for your skin and keeps the good bacteria working even when you’re not wearing deodorant.

3. It is recommended to detox your underarm area prior to switching to a natural deodorant. There are a few ways to do this and honestly, I think it’s personal preference. If you literally search “how to detox your armpits” on Pinterest, you will find a ton of articles. I personally chose to use witch hazel + a charcoal scrub a few times in between testing each deodorant. I can’t really say if it made a huge difference or not, but I think it’s worth doing to prep your skin initially.

4. Natural deodorant is not meant to prevent you from sweating. So you may still experience some underarm wetness in the process.

5. Try and then try again! I say this because, I found myself frustrated in the process and assumed that certain brands should be the “one” for me based on friends recommendations. Keep in mind that your body may respond differently to certain brands. And it may take trying a few different ones before you find the one that works for you.

Schmidt’s $4.69 2.56oz

Pros

• Scented with essential oils *Lavender & Sage

• Available in several scents

• Aluminum + Paraben FREE

Cons

• Rough texture upon application (feels gritty to touch)

• Caused irritation & redness after a few uses (likely due to the baking soda)

• Experienced underarm wetness after application

• Discontinued use within 5-7 days

Lavanila $8.00 .90oz

Pros

• Light fresh scent *Vanilla

• Smooth application + dries clear

• Aluminum + Paraben FREE

Cons

• Experienced some underarm wetness

• Needed reapplying at least once throughout the day

• Noticed that even with light activity, it would wear off by end of day and caused underarm odor.

• Discontinued use within 2-3 weeks

• Product ended up breaking off inside cap (not sure if this happens typically or if mine was defective)

Native $11.99 2.65oz

Pros

• Smells great *Coconut & Vanilla

• Available in several scents

• Smooth application + dries clear

• Aluminum + Paraben FREE

Cons

• Experienced some underarm wetness

• Noticed that even with light activity, it would wear off during the day.

• Caused strong underarm odor by end of day within 6-8 hours (this started around week 3)

• Discontinued use within 4 weeks

Kopari $14 2oz

Pros

• Smells amazing *Coconut oil

• Glides on skin + non-sticky application

• Does not stain or transfer to clothing

• Aluminum + Paraben FREE

• Allure Best of Beauty Award Winner 2018

• Lasts all day without having to reapply

Cons

• Price

  
  Honestly, I can’t say anything bad about this deodorant other than the price point. I’ve used it for the past month and it continues to last all day without reapplication. I haven’t tested it while working out, so the jury is still out on that. But for me, it’s been the best natural deodorant I’ve tested out by far. I’ve even had a few friends who have started to use it and they love it as well.

Have you tried using Natural Deodorant? If so, what was your experience like? Share in the comments below.

XO, Rae