Blueberries for Your Face: Lush Catastrophe Cosmetic

We all know that blueberries are good for you, but Lush Cosmetics has now taught me that blueberries are good for my face too!

I've been meaning to properly try out the face masks from Lush for a while, so I recently traded in 5 of my empty Lush pots for their Catastrophe Cosmetic Fresh Face Mask. 

Meant to soothe the skin, this creamy mask contains the previously mentioned blueberries as well as chamomile and calamine. I love the almost whipped texture of this mask, which also smells lightly of blueberries. It is easy to wash off, and it leaves my skin feeling smooth and looking even toned. It doesn't feel drying either, and is meant for all skin types. 

My fiance and his mom also tried this mask, and both of them enjoyed it as well. I do have to say that I saw remarkable results when my fiance applied this mask after shaving in lieu of aftershave. No redness or post-shave irritation to be seen, and everyone reported less redness overall! 

For those new to Lush, their face masks are freshly made in stores and as a result are not available online. They retail for $6.95, though you can trade in 5 empty Lush pots for a face mask in store. It is also important to note that these masks need to be refrigerated and expire within a few weeks of your purchase, so be sure to plan ahead. 

I definitely plan to get this mask again and look forward to trying other masks from Lush. Have you tried any of Lush's Fresh Face Masks? Do you have a favorite mask that I should try? I'd love to know! 

OSEA Malibu Blemish Balm

A while back, I received some little samples of OSEA Malibu Blemish Balm. Luckily, this has been perfect for battling those random breakouts! 

*PR Sample

At first, I thought this was an spot treatment packed with natural ingredients. Sure, it can be that, but it is intended to be used all over!

From OSEA Malibu:

SKIN TYPES: Oily, Acneic, Combo. 
This light, absorbent, non-greasy moisturizer will heal blemishes and gently hydrate without clogging pores. A natural alternative to harsh retinols and synthetic chemicals, this healing balm reduces inflammation and prevents breakouts. Our proprietary base of three seaweeds combined with a healing blend of Cypress, Juniper, and Rosemary essential oils known for their anti-bacterial, antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties, will leave your skin with a soft matte finish. Can be used under makeup.

Now given my dry, dry skin, I'm usually pretty hesitant to use anything marketed for oily skin all over my face. But, I finally tried it, and I was happily surprised to find that it is not drying! Only a pea size dot is needed to cover my whole face! I've used it both with a face oil underneath and by itself, and miraculously my skin didn't feel dry at all during the day. 

I would say the finish is satin to matte, and it wears just fine under makeup. I'm not certain if it can act as a primer, as I don't really have any bases that don't last on me.

Of course, you want to know how well this treated blemishes. I've had a few of those pimples that hurt as they're growing underneath the skin, and this stuff has really shortened the life of those pimples. On those pimples that have already emerged, this stuff really brought the gunk to the surface overnight. By the end of the day, that white junk came out on its own, no popping needed! Impressively fast healing, that's for sure. I also applied it as a spot treatment to a blemish I felt growing near my nose, and I must have gotten it early enough for it never to emerge! 

All in all, I think OSEA Blemish Balm is a really great treatment for days my skin isn't doing so great. I imagine it could balance out oily skin types, though I can't be certain. Oh, and the full size bottle is a whole 2oz for $42. 

Do you plan to try OSEA Malibu's Blemish Balm? What are your favorite blemish treatments from more natural brands? :)

Everyday Staples ♡ NARS

A few years ago, I was seriously obsessed with Nars. (Wow, 6 years ago now?) I've since let go of my obsession, finding most of their shadows and blushes a bit too shimmery for my casual daytime preferences. 

I recently realized, however, that there are still some products from Nars that I absolutely love, and wouldn't be without. 

Nars Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer in St. Moritz
I love this, and I've loved it since ... the week it came out! It is such a great, dewy tinted moisturizer, and I find that the coverage of it is quite good. I find that it covers minor redness well, and it just looks so natural. The shade range is always growing, so I think there is a good chance there is a shade for you. This one is my summer shade, while I'm a better fit for Groenland in the winter.

Nars Pro-Prime Smudgeproof Eyeshadow Base 
This is another one of those products I've loved since its release. I don't know what it is, but this stuff just makes my eye makeup stick. I never loved UDPP, and found that this one is more true to the color/texture of eyeshadow and blends better overall. 

Nars Larger Than Life Eyeliner in Via Veneto
I've been loving this eyeliner lately - it is not too creamy or too hard. It applies easily, wears very well, and is a lovely deep black. Plus, it doesn't irritate my eyes like some other liners have. I wish I had tried these sooner! 

If you want to see all of these in action, take a look at this video also featuring the NARSissist Eye Palette. Have you tried any of these goodies from Nars? Do you have any favorites from the brand? I'd love to know!

Dove Creme Mousse Gentle Exfoliating & Deep Moisture Body Washes

Growing up, I remember using a ton of Dove's moisturizing body washes, so when I was contacted to try the new versions recently launched in April, I was excited to see what I thought of the brand now.

*PR Samples

You may have noticed that I'm generally rely on Lush's shower gels. Occasionally I will use high end ones from gift with purchases, Neutrogena if my skin is acting up, or the occasional yummy smelling Softsoap variety, but these picks from Dove are among the most hydrating options out there. That is perfect for a dry-skinned girl like me! 

I'm loving both of these right now. The Deep Moisture one keeps my legs from feeling itchy even without moisturizer, and it also works fine as an alternative to shaving cream. (I am still attached to my Somersets Oil for shaving, however.) This one smells like your conventional Dove product, while the Gentle Exfoliating option smells a bit sweeter. It is a bit fruitier to my nose at first sniff, but it may actually be just a hint of vanilla. Whatever the scent is, I like it, and I love the small exfoliating grains in this creamy shower gel. I think it is the perfect all-in-one product for a streamlined routine, or it would be perfect if you don't like the large grains of conventional body scrubs. 

All in all, these body washes are totally working for me and I will make sure I have them in my shower again next winter. Have you tried these new Dove Creme Mousse Nourishing Body Washes? I'd love to know what you think of them! :)