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Essie Gel Couture | First Impressions

Essie has launched a new range of gel nail polish and I love Essie so I wanted to give it a try. muffinchanel first impressions essie gel coutureThis post may contain affiliate links; all opinions are my own. See Disclosures here

Essie has launched a new range of gel nail polish — Essie Gel Couture — and I love Essie so I wanted to give it a try. These gel polishes don’t need a UV or LED lamp to set the color and they’re supposed to last up to 14 days. With so many pretty colors to choose from, I decided to try it out and see how these gel nails hold up.

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Blog Health + Beauty

Josie Maran Argan Milk | Review

This post may contain affiliate links; all opinions are my own. See Disclosures here

I’ve been incorporating the new Josie Maran Argan Milk into my nightly skincare routine and I’m excited to review it. I love the Josie Maran Argan Oil and I love how Josie Maran Cosmetics uses organic ingredients in all of its products.

Packaging

The Josie Maran Argan Milk comes in a sleek 1oz bottle for $56. Similar to the Josie Maran Argan Oil, the Argan Milk is dispensed through a glass dropper. The construction of the rubber-squeeze end of the dropper is more solid that the older bottles of Argan Oil — the stopper in my little bottle of Argan Oil sometimes pops out of the top :/ But the Argan Milk bottle has a substantial weight and the dropper seems durable much like the new bottles of Argan Oil.




muffinchanel josie maran argan milkIngredients

Aqua (Water)** (and) Argania Spinosa (Argan) Kernel Oil* (and) Propanediol** (and) Glyceryl Caprylate** (and) Glyceryl Undecylenate** (and) Phosphatidylglycerol** (and) Sodium Benzoate** (and) Xanthan Gum** (and) Citric Acid**.
*ORGANIC **NATURAL

Essentially, this Argan Milk is just Argan Oil and water. The Argan Milk doesn’t contain any parabens, sulfates, or phthalates. Yay!

Use

Apply 3 -5 drops of the Argan Milk day and night. The applicator is similar to the dropper that comes with the Argan Oil, but the dropper part is slightly more tapered off so you can really control how much is released. It’s recommended that you follow with a few drops of the Josie Maran Argan Oil/Argan Oil Light.

Consistency

MC MuffinChanel Josie Maran Argan Milk Review Application ResultsThe Argan Milk is lightweight, smooth and silky feeling. I try to lightly spread the Argan Milk all over my face with my fingers before pressing it lightly into my skin. The Argan Milk’s silkiness quickly absorbs into your skin and leaves a slightly tacky feeling. The Argan Milk absorbs like a serum, but with a slightly more creamier consistency than a gel-like consistency.




Results

The Argan Milk really preps the skin for the Argan Oil/ Argan Oil Light. It’s quick-absorbing and definitely hydrating. My skin’s texture is more even and those winter dry spots are gone! I’ve actually been using the Argan Milk on the back of my hands as a treatment the last couple of nights and following with the Argan Oil. Even my hands are looking and feeling softer! If you aren’t a fan of the Argan Oil (which is amazing! Try it if you haven’t!), then I still think the Argan Milk would be a good addition to any skincare regimen as a way to get the benefits of Argan Oil without sacrificing your regular moisturizer.

I’ve been using the Argan Milk as a night serum, but I think this would also be great for the day time as well. Again, it’s so light and absorbs quickly, that I think it would work well under makeup. Overall, I love the new Josie Maran Argan Milk. It’s the perfect way to get the added benefits of Argan Oil and long lasting hydration.

❤ Bonus: Even Svetlana loves Argan Milk!

muffinchanel svet love josie maran argan milk review

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Sephora by OPI gelshine |French Manicure

This post may contain affiliate links; all opinions are my own. See Disclosures here

I love the gelshine kit from Sephora by OPI. Gel manicures last so much longer than regular manicures and aren’t harsh on your nails like acrylics. The entire gelshine kit from Sephora costs about $160, but like I’ve told you HERE; it’s worth the price. They have 17 only 9 colors to choose from online now, but I’ve seen more of a selection in the stores.

Today, I used the French Manicure kit that I got in my last Sephora Haul. The kit comes with 2 of the gelshine colors: True Romantic and White Hot, a french tip applicator brush, and some nail decal stickers — all for $29 which is a really great deal considering that each of the polishes alone costs $17.50.




Here’s what I used to get that clean, classic french manicure look using Sephora by OPI gelshine.

muffinchanel sephora by opi gel shine french kit 1After cleansing the nails, I applied the base coat and two coats of True Romantic.

muffinchanel sephora by opi gel shine french kit 1 true romanticAfter my base was cured, I painted on the White Hot onto the tips of my nails using the applicator brush.

muffinchanel sephora by opi gel shine french kit 1 white hotI cured each nail after I painted on its tip and then I sealed everything in with a layer of the Top Coat. 🙂muffinchanel sephora by opi gel shine french kit 1 white hot true romantic

Click HERE if you want to see step-by-step how to apply the gel polish/curing.

*UPDATE: After a few days of wearing the True Romantic pink color, the pink begins to fade. It is no longer a clear bright pink, but it turns in to a almost “opaque cream” color — not pink. It looks fine with the french manicure, but it’s definitely no longer any shade of pink. You’re better off using Bare To Be Different from the same Sephora by OPI line if you want a clear/pinky color that lasts.




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Blog Health + Beauty

Sephora Haul!

This post may contain affiliate links; all opinions are my own. See Disclosures here

My last Sephora Haul was back in August when they were having that promotion to earn 3x’s the points for VIB’s. This time, I had a 10% off coupon code from the “Beauty Fall” promotion and a gift card that my Prima gave me for my birthday. Thanks Prima 🙂

sephora beauty fall muffinchanelSo, I bought a couple of things, redeemed some beauty insider points, and of course got some free samples! Yay!

sephora haul muffinchanel opi gel benefitBENEFIT COSMETICS – It’s A Love Fest

This set is Limited Edition and Exclusive to Sephora. All I really wanted was the POREfessional face primer (because I got a free sample in my last Haul and loved it), but for only $6 more dollars, I get a full sized POREfessional, a full sized They’re Real mascara, a mini SunBeam highlighter, and a mini Coralista lip gloss! Yay!




sephora haul muffinchanel opi gel benefit love fest porefessional Such a great value. And it all comes in a cute “collector’s” tin which I can use to store things in. I’ve never used the SunBeam or Coralista so it’s nice to get to try out new products.

SEPHORA BY OPI – Gel French Manicure Kit

I selected this kit because it was a great value as well. Also Limited Edition, it comes with 2 gel polishes (White Hot and True Romantic), nail decals, and a applicator tool.

I prefer gel nail polish to regular polish because they’re easy to do and they last so much longer. (See application process HERE ). Plus, with this kit, I get everything for less than the two gel polishes would cost separately! (See what I used to create French Manicure gel nails HERE)

VIKTOR & ROLF – Flowerbomb

sephora haul flowerbomb muffinchanel opi gel benefit flower bombI redeemed 250 points to get this mini sample of my favorite fragrance. This is a great little travel size and it comes in the same signature bottle. Super cute!





Samples

I always like selecting the three free samples when ordering online. This time I got:

  • LANCÔME ÉNERGIE DE VIE Dullness Relief & Energy Recharge Daily Cream
  • Bumble & Bumble – Thickening Shampoo
  • BENEFIT COSMETICS – The POREfessional

P.S. I’m about $100 away from VIB Rouge.…kind of excited!

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Blog Health + Beauty

MARC JACOBS BEAUTY | Genius Gel Super-Charged Foundation REVIEW

muffinchanel genius gel marc jacobs 22 bisque light reviewThis post may contain affiliate links; all opinions are my own. See Disclosures here

Back in August, I told you about my Sephora haul where I picked up the MARC JACOBS BEAUTY Genius Gel Super-Charged Foundation for my birthday. I’ve had a couple of months to use the product and I’m ready to give a review!

First off, there is NO SPF in this foundation and I am all about protecting my skin from the sun’s UV rays. I’ll use a sunscreen (usually Neutrogena’s dry touch SPF) as a moisturizer before applying the foundation.

Cost

$48 for 1oz. Kind of pricy, I think, for what you really are getting.

Packagingmuffinchanel genius gel marc jacobs 22 bisque light top off

The foundation comes in a sleek glass bottle with a shiny black cap that removes to reveal a pump dispenser. I always prefer a pump because it allows me to control the amount of foundation I use and it’s more hygienic than an open bottle or compact. The bottle is very substantial, and I’m sure that it’s part of that high price tag, but it’s heavy and kind of bulky if you were to travel with it.

Consistency

The formula really is different than other liquid foundations. The “gel” is almost smooth like a primer. It’s still runny like a liquid, but thicker and very light weight. The gel does make it nice to apply though and a little goes a long way. One pump can give me light coverage for my face and neck.

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Blog Health + Beauty

Sephora Birthday Haul

This post may contain affiliate links; all opinions are my own. See Disclosures here

Yay for my birthday month and 3x’s the points at Sephora!

muffinchanel sephora birthday haul korres eyeliner marc jacobs foundation free giftI’m super excited because I picked up some awesome things at Sephora, I received a special VIB samples pouch with my purchase, and a great VIB birthday gift….AND i earned triple points!

First off, I tried out Sephora + Pantone Color IQ device to help me find the perfect foundation color for my skin tone.muffinchanel sephora birthday haul korres eyeliner marc jacobs foundation free gift pantone color iq match

The device takes pictures of your skin and tells you your Color IQ number. I’m 4Y06 — then you take your Color IQ number and plug it into your phone or their iPads they have at the makeover station and it’ll tell you what foundation colors will be the perfect match for you in each brand.

So, I picked up the new MARC JACOBS BEAUTY Genius Gel Super-Charged Foundation in shade 22 Bisque Light. (See my review HERE)muffinchanel sephora birthday haul korres eyeliner marc jacobs foundation free gift bisque light medium 22

I also picked up the Korres Lip Butter in Mango (they didn’t have the pomegranate kind in stock).muffinchanel sephora birthday haul korres eyeliner marc jacobs foundation free gift mango lip butter

And this awesome eyeliner from Sephora. The design is perfect for your finger to wear like a little claw. It gives you a lot of control and the felt tip gives you a precise line. Yay!

muffinchanel sephora birthday haul korres eyeliner marc jacobs foundation free gift liquid wingedThen, as extras for being a VIB, I got a deluxe samples pouch and a free birthday gift! So Great!muffinchanel sephora birthday haul korres eyeliner marc jacobs foundation free gift vib freemuffinchanel sephora birthday haul korres eyeliner marc jacobs foundation free gift watts up

I’m very happy with my purchases and my freebies! Happy Birthday to me!

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Blog Health + Beauty

Sephora by OPI – gelshine™ At-Home Gel Colour System

This post may contain affiliate links; all opinions are my own. See Disclosures here

The Sephora by OPI gelshine™ At-Home Gel Colour System  is do it at home gel nail kit. It costs $160 and you pick your own color to include with the kit. Additional colors are $17.50.

The kit comes with:

  • 0.29 oz gelshine™ Base Coat
  • 0.29 oz gelshine™ Top Coat
  • 0.29 oz gelshine™ Gel Colour (must add to cart separately)
  • gelshine™ LED Light
  • 25 x Nail Pads
  • 3 x Removal Nail Wraps
  • 2 oz Nail Cleanser
  • Buffing block
  • 2 oz Nail & Gel Colour Remover
  • 0.3 oz Brush-On Cuticle Oil
  • Cuticle pusher
  • 3 x gloves
  • Instructions

Prep the nails

Gently buff the surface of the nails with the Buffing Block





muffinchanel sephora by opi gel shine 1Spray some Nail Spray onto one of the Nail Pads and clean the nails

muffinchanel sephora by opi gel shine 2Apply Base Coat

Apply a thin layer of the Base Coat to your thumb. It’s super important to use a thin coat!

muffinchanel sephora by opi gel shine 3Cure the gel polish under the LED light





muffinchanel sephora by opi gel shine 4muffinchanel sephora by opi gel shine 5muffinchanel sephora by opi gel shine 7Cure the thumb first, then apply Base Coat to the other finger nails and cure them. The polish isn’t going to “dry” on it’s own, so you’ll want to do the thumb separately so it doesn’t smudge before it cures.

Apply Gel Polish

I used a super pale pink “Bare to be Different”, but Sephora offers 14 different shades on its website.

muffinchanel sephora by opi gel shine 6Thin coats! If you apply the polish too thick, it won’t last as long. Your manicure should last up to two weeks. Cure after each application of polish

Apply Top Coat

muffinchanel sephora by opi gel shine 8Cure your top coat and clean nails with the Nail Spray again to remove the tacky feeling.

Follow up with Cuticle Oil

muffinchanel sephora by opi gel shine 9This Gel Nail kit is awesome! You no longer have to wait for your nails to “dry”. After 30 seconds under the LED light, your manicure is safe. You can tell by the formula that it is professional quality. Use thin coats of polish to get a professional, long-lasting manicure.

I would like to see Sephora offer more colors of gel polish, but really you can use any LED gel polish you want.

In fact, I’ve done a gel base coat, a layer of regular nail polish, and then sealed it with a layer of gel top coat. Just make sure that if you’re going to layer in a “regular” nail polish, you let it dry completely before applying the gel top coat.

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Blog Health + Beauty

Teeth Whitening with Pearl Ionic Teeth Whitening System

muffinchanel pearl iconic whiteningThis post may contain affiliate links; all opinions are my own. See Disclosures here

The Pearl system is unlike any other teeth whitening kits I’ve seen. The kit comes with the Pearl ionic handheld whitening unit and lots of individual tubes of whitening gel.

muffinchanel pearl iconic whiteningWhat makes this unique from other at-home whitening kits is the ionic whitening device — which won’t even activate unless you disperse the whitening gel evenly so all the contacts are fully coated

muffinchanel pearl iconic whiteningAccording to the website, your teeth can get up to 10 shades whiter, by using the device twice a day for only 5 minutes at a time. Ten minutes a day is definitely worth it to achieve a whiter smile.

Compared to Crest whitening strips, this system seems to give faster results, but also seems to get deep down into the crevices that Crest whitening strips may not reach.

The system is quite expensive at $195, but for a “professional” teeth whitening at home the price is worth it. There are additional tubes of the whitening gel sold separately for $50, so if you continue using the device, the cost isn’t that great.