Listed below is a round-up and quick blurb of the products/things that I reached for frequently during the month of May. If you follow me on Instagram and especially watch my stories, then you’ve probably seen these products displayed a few times.

**Please note: Some of the items featured were gifted to me. My opinions on the products remain my own.**

Skincare

Drunk Elephant Slaai Cleansing Balm

Price: $34 for 3.88 oz

I was kindly gifted the Slaai Cleansing Balm over a month ago and I haven’t been able to put it down ever since. I’ll admit, I wasn’t always a fan of balm cleansers, but I really do like the convenience of them. You may have remembered my initial post regarding the cleansing balm and my thoughts on it. If you’re interested in seeing it, click here. Being that I’ve had the balm now for quite some time and have been able to use it on a consistent basis, I have to say I really enjoy it!!!

I’ve been wearing makeup more and I find this makes the process of removing a full face of makeup so easy! The Slaai balm is conveniently place in a tub with a magnetic top and scooper attached. The scooper provides the perfect portion to use and also helps prevent cross contamination as I don’t need to place my fingers directly into the jar. I literally take the one scoop and warm it up in between the palms of my hands. From there it quickly turns into an oil; making it very easy to spread all over my face.

Sometimes after using the balm cleansing I’ll follow-up with a gel cleanser, but for the most part I stop here and then move on to the next step in my routine which is masking. The cleanser leaves my face very soft and hydrated. I think the Slaai cleanser does a great job of cleansing. Sometimes I’ll add in the bamboo booster. However, it’s not exactly a favorite of mine for exfoliation. I’ve been exfoliating more by using serums and non-physical exfoliators. Even though I still have many uses left in the container, I’m pretty sure I’ll be purchasing Slaai once it’s completed.

Ingredients: Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Oil, Lauryl Laurate, Polyglyceryl-3 Laurate, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Wax, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Oil, Actinidia Chinensis (Kiwi) Fruit Extract, Fragaria Ananassa (Strawberry) Seed Extract, Vaccinium Macrocarpon (Cranberry) Seed Oil, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil, Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil, Polyglyceryl-2 Caprate, Citrullus Lanatus (Watermelon) Seed Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Schinziophyton Rautanenii Kernel Oil, Vaccinium Angustifolium (Blueberry) Fruit Extract, Ximenia Americana Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Glycerin

Fleur and Bee: Eyes Eyes Baby Anti-Aging Eye Cream

Price: $34 for .5oz

I’ve been using the Eyes Eyes Baby Eye Cream for a couple of months now. I was lucky to be gifted the product along with a few other products back in April. The brand Fleur and Bee products are made with natural ingredients and is cruelty free. I’m not extremely finicky when it comes to eye creams. I’m aware that there’s certain predisposing factors that an eye cream may not be able to fix. For example if lack of sleep is the cause of your dark circles, I don’t think an eye cream will solve that. In reality you’re lacking rest and that is what will eventually fix that problem.

I get very little darkness under my eyes. It’s nothing a light coverage concealer won’t fix. With that being said, hydration is an important ingredient for me when looking for an eye cream. Being that I wear concealer and powder under my eyes, I try to pay extra attention to this area during my night routine. For me this means incorporating more hydrating products. The Eyes Eyes Eye Cream is of a thicker consistency. Only the tiniest bit of product is needed. After applying the eye cream the area feels and appears hydrated and smoother. The next morning my area still feels hydrated.

I can’t attest to the eye cream preventing/reversing the signs of aging as I haven’t used it that long. I do like that it’s as a no fuss hydrating eye cream.

Ingredients: Deionized Water, Glycerin (Kosher, Vegetable), Organic Sunflower Seed Oil, Stearic Acid, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Safflower Seed Oil, Organic Aloe Vera Leaf Juice, Squalane (From Olive Oil), Niacinamide (Vitamin B3), Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Tocopheryl (Vitamin E) Acetate, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Caffeine, Organic Gotu Kola Extract, Italian Honeysuckle Flower Extract, Isopropyl Palmitate, Japanese Honeysuckle Leaf Extract, Decyl Glucoside, Wild Geranium Extract, Glyceryl Caprylate, Sodium Carbomer, Horsetail Extract, Butylene Glycol, Carbomer, Organic Dandelion Extract, Polysorbate 20, Lecithin, Alcohol, Algae Extract, Escin, Potassium Phosphate, Lavender Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Organic Green Tea Extract, Pomegranate Fruit Extract

Supergoop Unseen Sunscreen

Price: $32 for 1.7 oz

I picked up the Unseen at the end of April during the Sephora VIB Sale. I haven’t been able to put it down ever since! Instead of choosing between this and the defense mist by Supergoop, I acutally have incorporated them both into my skincare routine. If you’re interested in seeing how, check out my last post of my Summer AM Routine. As I mentioned in that routine, the texture of the unseen is very different in the sense of conventional sunscreens. Instead of the formula being a cream, the consistency is more like a primer. I use it after my skincare but before my make-up.

Since using the Unseen this way, I noticed that moisturizers that have similar textures to it will sometimes cause the product to pill. Products are known to pill when they aren’t fully absorbed into the skin. This could be the cause of a product being too thick or perhaps applying too much product. Also silicone based products are known to cause this. I could possibly be using too much moisturizer prior to the sunscreen or not letting my moisturizer fully absorb prior to application of the sunscreen. Either way I’m willing to continue testing this out as I love the ease of the Unseen and matte finish.

Ingredients: Avobenzone 3%, Homosalate 8%, Octinoxate 4.5%, Octisalate 5%

Inactive Ingredients: Isododecane, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Dimethicone/Bis-Isobutyl PPG-20 Crosspolymer, Isohexadecane, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Meadowfoam Estolide, Polyester-8, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Lithothamnion Calcareum Extract, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Jojoba Esters, Diethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate, Mannitol, Olibanum, Lecithin, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Diatomaceous Earth, Zinc Sulfate, Silica, Tocopherol

Make-up

Fenty Sun Stalk'r Instant Warmth Bronze

Shade: Mocha Mami

Price: $30

I purchased the Fenty Beauty bronzer during the Sephora VIB sale and ever since I haven’t been able to put it down. I use it each and everyday! The Sun Stalk’r is described as a long wearing and transfer resistant bronzing powder. I picked up the shade Mocha Mami. I thought the shade may be too dark, but I like that the I can easily build up the color without it looking too harsh. With just a light stroke I’m able to achieve a vacation bronze look that will last all day long.

Although I purchased it on sale, I do think the full retail price of $30 as being more than reasonable for the amount of product and quality. The formula is very smooth. Unlike other bronzers the formula does not contain any shimmer and also the product to be multi-functional. Depending on the shade that you select the powder could be used to bronze, contour or even as a an eyeshadow shade.

Anastasia Beverly Hills

Price: $21

Shade: Dark Brown
The Anastasia Brow Wiz seems to be a commonly loved and used product within the makeup community. The brow wiz is a mechanical brow pencil and the other end has a spoolie to comb out the brow hair. The point of the pencil is ultra-fine. My brows are very sparse and require quite a bit of filling it, so for me a brow product that has a finer tip helps me to achieve a more precise look. The only problem with this is I go through brow products frequently. I love how my brows look using the brow wiz pencil. I’m able to achieve a more natural looking brow.

I purchased 2 during a sale at a Ulta. Instead of paying the full price $21 I paid half the price so I picked up 2! My only qualm is that the brow wiz pencil will only last me a little over a month. I can’t see myself repurchasing this at the full price every month. Now that I know places like Ulta will sell it at a discounted rate during different beauty promotions, I’ll be sure to stock up on it as often as I can.

Kosas Cream Blush & Highlighter Palette

Price: $34

The brand Kosas appeared on my radar a several months ago. The first thing that caught my eye was the sleek and sophisticated black and white packaging. The second was the wide color options of complexion products. After doing some research on Kosas I was happy to see that they fall under the umbrella of clean makeup. This means that that they’re products are formulated without parabens, phthalates, mineral oil, propylene glycol, phenoxyethanol, synthetic fragrance and never tested on animals.

They were so kind to send me a few products to test out. The first product I couldn’t wait to try out was the blush/highlighter combo. I usually don’t wear blush and cream formulas tend to scare me (oily skin problems). I’m not used to working with these types of formulas so I was a bit skeptical at first. Although I was unfamiliar with using products of this formula, I found them both to be quite easy to work with. For my skin tone I found the rose gold highlighter to give a great subtle glow from within type of look. The blush in the palette is a pretty burnt orange type of color. As someone with normal-oily skin, I find that even with the products being cream formulas, they lasted all day!

Etc.

DW Home: Santal Musk Candle

Price:$6.99

FRAGRANCE PROFILE: Warm sandalwood, oriental amber, and incense embrace sweet, dark plum and blackcurrant lifted by floral orange blossom, white cedar, and milky vanilla bean

I purchased this 8oz candle over a month ago during one of my trips to Marshalls. From the first smell of it not even being lit I loved it! I typically go for candles that are very fruity or very clean. This scent took me by surprise as the scent is neither. I really like how warm the scent is and I love amber and sandalwood accent notes. I have the candle in a single wick. I typically burn the candle for a couple of hours at a time. The scent is not over powering, but leaves a nice aroma in the air.

Even with burning the candle for multiple hours at a time and almost every day since I purchase it, it’s only about 1/2 finished. The majority of the candles I purchased in the past were from Bath and Body Works. Yes, they smell great, but I noticed I was going through 3 wick candles in the matter of a month. Whereas, this 1 wick candle is going strong after a month. I will be definitely be purchasing more candles from the DW Home brand. I’m hoping I can find it a large triple wick in store.

May 2019 Favorites