Skincare

  • Mama Mio Products

    Mama Mio Products

  • Mama Mio O mega Body Cream

    Mama Mio O mega Body Cream

  • Mama Mio Tummy Rub

    Mama Mio Tummy Rub

  • Mama Mio O Mega Body Buff

    Mama Mio O Mega Body Buff

  • Mama Mio Lucky Legs

    Mama Mio Lucky Legs

Pregnancy is supposed to be when your complexion glows, have hair that could rival any Hollywood starlet, and only gain the recommend 15-25 lbs. Oh if life were only that simple. Instead women across the globe deal with stretch marks, swollen ankles, sore legs and a host of other unmentionables.

So when I became pregnant with my first child, I became instantly obsessed with finding the perfect natural creams and oils to help with my ever expanding aching body. Lucky for me, I didn’t have to go far as I was recommended the Mama Mio line of products. I started out with one product my message therapist brother uses for pregnancy massages. I loved the product so much I decided to purchase specific items that catered to my personal needs. Here is my Mama Mio experience deconstructed:

  1. Mama Mio Tummy Rub Oil ($38.50): What I enjoyed most about this product are the natural ingrediants (such as rosehip, argan, and avocado) utilized that helped bring fast relief to my itchy belly. And while it did not keep me from getting a few stretch marks, they were considerably light and could only be detected upon close inspection.
  2. Mama Mio Lucky Legs ($21.50): Oh my did my feet thank me for this magnificent gel. I used this product religiously because it soothed my aching swollen feet. It also has an amazing cooling component (probably the infused spearmint) that is felt from the moment of application.
  3. Mama Mio Body Buff and Mama Mio Super Rich Omega Body Lotion ($35): Both of these lotions worked great to moisturize and replenish my skin with natural hydration. I’ve become such a fan of all these products that I continued to use them post pregnancy.

So if your on the hunt for natural products that are safe for use during pregnancy and that will target all your pregnancy body woes, look no further because the Mama Mio line is the one!

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Daily Facial Cleansers

In previous posts, I’ve written about the importance of incorporating masks and peels into your beauty regime. However, before you can even indulge in these products, you must begin with a clean makeup-free face. Deciding on a daily cleaner and makeup remover can be a daunting task given the sheer volume of products in the market. So we’ve broken down our top cleaners based on affordability, ease of use and effectiveness.

Best Budget Cleanser and Makeup Remover:

Best “I Have No Budget” Cleanser and Makeup Remover:

Best Makeup Removing Wipes:

 Best Makeup Remover “After-Feel”

  • Jart+ Dermaclear Micro Water ($32): I want to express how amazing this product is. If you hate the feel of your face after using a makeup remover, then look no further because Dr. Jart’s Dermaclear Micro Water is it. This product feels and looks like water, just as it claims, and you only needs a few drops to remove makeup. The best part is that you don’t have to wash your face afterwards because the product is so light and also works like a toner. What confirmed the greatness of this remover? When I went to my local Sephora and asked for some makeup remover, guess what they handed me…yep Dr. Jart+ Dermaclear.

 

 

 

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  • Birchbox March 2016

    Birchbox March 2016

  • Birchbox March 2016 Product List

    Birchbox March 2016 Product List

  • amika Perk Up Dry Shampoo

    amika Perk Up Dry Shampoo

  • theBalm cosmetics - Stainiac in Beauty Queen

    theBalm cosmetics - Stainiac in Beauty Queen

  • treStiQue Color & Smudge Shadow Crayon in Aspen Pine

    treStiQue Color & Smudge Shadow Crayon in Aspen Pine

  • Wilma Schumanna Skin Care Hydrating Collagen Eye Pads

    Wilma Schumanna Skin Care Hydrating Collagen Eye Pads

Included products in this month’s Birchbox:

  1. amika Perk Up Dry Shampoo (Full size, $24)
  2. FHI Brands Hot Sauce Thermal Heat-Activated Conditioner (Full-size, $16)
  3. theBalm cosmetics Stainiac in Beauty Queen (Full-size, $17)
  4. treStiQue Color & Smudge Shadow Crayon in Aspen Pine (Full-size, $26)
  5. Wilma Schumann Skin Care Hydrating Collagen Eye Pads (Full-size, $18)

First Impressions:

amika Perk Up Dry Shampoo: From the get-go, I was thrilled to see this dry shampoo in my Birchbox. I use a dry shampoo at least once a week, in between hair washes. First thing I noticed was that the scent (described as obliphica) was not overpowering like other dry shampoos. In fact, I will go so far in saying that the amika Perk Up Dry Shampoo has the lightest and nicest scent of the bunch I’ve ever used! In terms of end-of-the-day results, my hair continued to look fresh without a trace of oiliness. I can officially say I’m hooked and will purchase the full-sized version as soon as I run out of my Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Dry Shampoo ($22 / 4oz. at Sephora).

FHI Brands Hot Sauce Thermal Heat-Activated Conditioner:  I live in a hot, humid city and am always going to the beach or swimming in a pool. As a result, I’m always on the look out for a hair leave-in treatment that can help me combat my often frizzy, dry and mistreated hair. The FHI Heat Hot Sauce Thermal Heat-Activated Conditioner is a lightweight cream that smells heavenly. After washing and conditioning my hair, I applied it liberally and then flat-ironed. I noticed a change almost immediately. The tips of my hair looked less frayed and it left the rest with a healthy shine without looking greasy. While I will have to use it on a more continuous basis to get a full read on how well this product works, I would not hesitate to buy a full-sized FHI Thermal Heat Activated Conditioner given the early great results.

theBalm cosmetics Stainiac in Beauty Queen: Anyone obsessed with makeup has probably heard about theBalm cosmetics line. If not, than this trial size of their cheek and lip stain would be a great introduction to their amazing range of products. As huge fan of thebalm, I was so excited to get this product and try it on especially because of my affinity for lip & cheek products (stay tuned for a later post on this topic). I applied this stain to both my lips and cheeks and fell in love with not only its natural rosy color, but also the staying power. This stain looks like a watercolor painting when placed on the cheeks giving one a natural flushed look. I must say that I prefer the stain more on my cheeks than lips, but that’s because I have a natural rosier lip and so it does not stand out as much as it could on someone of a different tone.

treStiQue Color & Smudge Shadow Crayon in Aspen Pine: I love cream shadows. I have a collection of Bobbi Brown and Marc Jacob shadow sticks and was more than happy to add this little guy to the batch. The packaging for the treStique Color & Smudge Shadow Crayon is plain and unassuming. However, once you open the cap and apply to your eyelids, I have only one word to describe the results: WOW! This shadow crayon packs an intense opaque punch and will not budge under any circumstance. And while I personally don’t care for green shadows, this treStique Color & Smudge Shadow Crayon in Aspen Pine would convert any nonbeliever. The color is a deep rich forest green laced with speckles of gold shimmer that transforms under natural light. I certainly look forward to exploring other colors in their shadow crayon set in the near future.

Wilma Schumann Skin Care Hydrating Collagen Eye Pads: Skincare is high on my list these days…especially as I approach my 40s. And while my affinity for Korean brands is no surprise, I am a newbie when it comes to European brands. Wilma Schumann Skin Care Hydrating Collagen Eye Pads targets the eye area with precision. The pads have a cooling effect that hydrate upon contact and certainly brightens the under eye area. As for plumping and softening my wrinkles, I would say it would take extended use of the product to give a more thorough review. However, I was more than pleased with my first test run with this European skincare product and hope to discover more.

INSIDER TIP 

Once I decided to purchase the full-size amika Perk Up Dry Shampoo, I quickly researched where to purchase it. While the Birchbox website sells it for $24, I found Sephora selling it for 2 dollars less at $22!! The other advantage to purchase the amika Perk Up Dry Shampoo vs. Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Dry Shampoo, which had been my go-to dry shampoo, was that for the same $22, I get way more product…amika’s 5.3 oz. to Living Proofs 4.0 oz.! Talk about the ultimate deal.

Final Verdict: Splurge

Kiss Kiss Kiss

Makeup Deconstructed Rating System:

1 Kiss = Purge: Only one of the products in the box/bag is worth keeping.

2 Kisses = Merge: Two to four products make this box/bag worth merging into your makeup collection.

3 Kisses = Splurge: All five products are amazing and worth splurging on!

 

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