Get Your Legs Ready for Spring with Somersets Shaving Oil

Winter is finally (sort of) on its way out, and I've been dying to bare my legs. I'm done with cold, and I'm ready for fun spring dresses and sunshine. What I wasn't ready for, however, was shaving. It isn't something that I talk about for many reasons, the primary one being that I just hate it!!  

Seriously, shaving and my dry skin just don't get along, and I put it off as long as I could because I just didn't have a routine that I loved. Enter Somersets Shaving Oil. I had read about this product on a British blog ages ago, but never gotten around to picking one up, so when an email landed in my inbox asking if I would like to trial the line, I jumped. 

*PR Sample

Usually, shaving my legs is a bit of an ordeal. (Is that just me?) "Moisturizing" shaving cream formulas clog up razors and leave my legs with a bit of an uneven shave, and thinner formulas either leave my legs feeling dry or irritated. Plus, my hair is really fine and just generally seems impossible to catch with a razor at all. 

Somersets Shaving Oil is perfect for me - wet skin, use a few drops on each leg, and go. It leaves my skin feeling less dry and doesn't clog up a razor with product. It has given me probably the most even shave I've had in ages. Both the Extra Sensitive and Extra Delicate formulas work wonderfully, and I'm happy to report that neither my legs or underarms have felt itchy a few days after like they normally would. Now if only I could find the perfect razor to go with it! 

I didn't realize that Somersets Shave Oil was even sold here, so for US shoppers check your local Walgreens or Drugstore.com. Also, why haven't more brands made a shave oil? I know it exists for men, but I am seriously loving this version for me and I will definitely be ready for summer when it finally arrives! 

Do you find shaving to be a chore like I do? What are your favorite products to make shaving a stress-free experience? I'd love to know! :)

Fresh Spring Floral Scents

I'm pretty picky about fragrances, but In my mind, these two fragrances are just classic springtime scents. There aren't too many "mainstream" fragrances that I enjoy wearing, but these two are nicely light and fresh. Perfect for spring and summer!

Affiliate Links

Narciso Rodriguez for Her Eau de Toilette
Notes: Honey Flower, Solar Musk, Orange Blossom, Osmanthus, Amberlyn, Vanilla, Tactile Musk, Tactile Woods, Vetiver. 

I've always associated this scent with the ever popular Stella by Stella McCartney, though their notes aren't really the same at all. This one is a slightly powdery floral, one that I've always thought was an "elegant" scent for a classy lady. (Think Charlotte from Sex & the City. Totally random reference, huh?) 

Issey Miyake L'Eau d'Issey Florale 
Notes: Mandarin, Lily, Rose, Musk, White Wood. 
I love the fresh crisp notes in this one - it reminds me of the crispness of cucumber or watermelon, a few scents that I really love. About a year ago, I thought I would buy a rollerball of this, but I found that it really didn't have that airy crispness in that form. 

I'm terrible at describing how a scent develops, so I'll skip that here. I will mention that on my skin, these stay very much the same over the course of a day, no one note overshadowing the others as time passes. I find both scents to be very delicate and totally appropriate for any occasion. 

Have you tried either of these "classic" floral fragrances? Are there any scents that you're loving for spring? I'd love to know! :)

Ode to Glass Nail Files

I’ve talked about glass nail files before, but I haven’t really talked about them. Seriously, if you’re using pretty much anything else on your nails, you’re doing yourself a disservice.

After converting to the things a few years ago after reading about these Mont Bleu Swarovski encrusted files on Makeup Withdrawal. I was excited when the company reached out to me a month or so ago and offered to send me files to try. 

*PR Sample

Look at them - aren’t they so pretty? But seriously, they're not just pretty, but they are super functional as well. I have little glass nail files stashed everywhere now - Sephora has some great travel size ones - but these are by far the prettiest in my stash. 

As a girl who breaks nails frequently and has a bad habit of ripping off the broken bits, nail files are a must. Without them, I just spend the rest of the day picking at my nail trying to smooth them out (ew). Standard nail files take quite a bit of effort and time to smooth out broken edges, but glass nail files can clear them up in just a few swipes! 

These glass files from Mont Bleu perform just as well as the others I own. They also come in a little pouch, which makes it convenient to toss into a purse or makeup bag. And what I love most about glass nail files is that they seem to last forever... or at least until I lose them or manage to somehow break them. I definitely plan to take care of these pretty ones!

A Primer & Foundation Duo

I don't know about you, but I seem to collect SO many deluxe samples of primers, and surprisingly of foundations too. A few weeks back, this duo was pretty well used over here, so I thought it was time for me to share it with you!

Affiliate Links

Illamasqua Hydra Veil
When this first came out, there was tons of hype and I didn't really know what the big deal was. A hydrating primer? Why would I need that, I thought, if I could just moisturize? Now that I've finally tried it though, I can understand. My dry skin soaks this up! 

From a priming perspective, I do feel like this helps the Buxom foundation go on smoother with better coverage. In terms of longevity, I do find that it helps my foundation last at least 8 hours. I also think the texture of this primer is unique - it is almost like jelly, which was a bit strange at first, but once you get used to it, it actually feels pretty nice on the skin! 

Buxom Show Some Skin Weightless Foundation in Meet Me Latte
I saw a video on Sephora's Youtube channel (here) and it looked right up my alley. This formula is light - I would say comparable to a tinted moisturizer. However, it is buildable to get a little coverage, though I find I use more of this to get slightly less coverage than I would use of the Koh Gen Do Aqua Foundation or Nars Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer.

Shade wise, this foundation is described on Sephora.com as a "neutral beige for medium skin tones" and I would say this is accurate. It is not too pink or too yellow, though it is just a bit darker than my skintone this spring. (I suspect that one shade down, You're A Natural, would be more appropriate for me.) 

It wears well, and despite having to use more than I normally would, this foundation never becomes cakey or anything. The finish is completely natural and glowy (in a good way!), so I would definitely recommend this to tinted moisturizer fans who didn't get along with Nars because of skin type, etc. 

I'm excited to use the Buxom foundation this summer, though I don't plan to purchase it when I finish it. I definitely think I'll pick up the Illamasqua once I finish up this little tube, as I suspect I could use any extra moisture each winter. What do you think of my little primer and foundation duo? Have you tried either of these products, or have a favorite duo of your own? I'd love to know!