Jolie Bloom Review

I am always on a hunt for awesome skincare products.  I mean who doesn't want flawless skin?  After all my skin is my money maker in my industry.  As a makeup artist we always preach that a great makeup application starts with the care of your skin. So  let me introduce you to Jolie Bloom.  All of their products are handmade with  natural ingredients.  I'm such a sucker for natural skin care products.  There is something comforting in using products that have ingredients you can pronounce.They recently had their 2 year anniversary sale and this was the perfect time for me to give them a shot.  Not to mention I had the opportunity to do the owner Jheanells' makeup for her rebranding website.  If you follow her snapchat she always posts behind the scenes videos of her whipping up the products right here in Orlando to fulfill orders.  Also you will see her husband placing labels and packing orders to ship with the assistance of their 3 year old son! I love knowing that when I make a purchase that I am directly supporting a family who makes each product with love!Now on to the products! The 2 products I picked up was the Wake up Scrub for exfoliation and their Summer Time Shine essential oil body lotion.  I was a little bit concerned that the coffee smell would be too overbearing for me but it wasn't at all.  After you use this product your skin feels amazingly smooth!  You don't even need a moisturizer!  Also, typically I don't like to use oils on my skin but if you do your research oils are very beneficial to your skin. The Summer Time Shine is a good balance of lotion and oil.  I particularly use this as a moisturizer for my face and you really don't need a lot because a little bit goes a long way.  Literally my skin drinks this stuff up.  Also sometimes when I pour a too much out I just rub the rest all over my body.Also something special to know ahout this company is that Jheanell started this company 2 years ago in memory of her daughter.  I think it is amazing that she was able to turn something very deastating into something positive.  She has an amazing story and I'm sure there are many women that can relate.These products are amazing and if you are interested definitely check out the website for more at www.joliebloom.com and instagram @JolieBloom    ***Products were purchased with my own money and opinions are all my own

Neutrogena Alcohol Free Toner Review

So if you have been keeping up with my blog you know that I attended a beauty expo named Premier Orlando recently.  I took a class by James Vincent that talked about essentials for your makeup kit.  One of the things he talked about was using a toner. Toner? Ummm...I've heard of it and I know that you should use it in your skincare routine but I wasn't exactly sure what it's purpose was.  After doing a little bit of research I learned that the average person skips out on toner because most of the time toners contain alcohol which can be very drying and irritating to the skin. James actually recommended using Rosewater as a toner.From my understanding the toner is supposed to reduce your pore size, remove any additional makeup and dirt your cleanser may have missed and regulate the pH in your skin.  Now that we went over the general use let's see if it holds true to this Neutrogena product.Neutrogena Alcohol Free Toner key claims taken from the bottle:

Specifically formulated to provide clean, refreshing toning without the harsh, drying effects of alcohol. Special mild purifiers gently remove impurities and recondition your skin. And because it is alcohol-free, this formula will not strip delicate facial skin of its own natural moisturizers. Your skin will feel fresh and clean without tightness, dryness or stinging.

I have been using this for a week and a half and I have definitely noticed a drastic change in my skin.  My skin feels so much smoother and makeup looks so much better.  I have also found that it has helped control the oil that I have in my T-zone area.  My skin feels hydrated without feeling greasy. There was also no stinging which is a major plus.  It says that there is no tightness but I do feel some tightness when I use it but I don't mind it.  I think the tightness feeling is because it reduces pore size.  But overall I'm loving this product and it has become apart of my skin care routine.  Neutrogena is one of my favorite companies when it comes to skincare.  It retails for about $7.99 and worth every penny!*Purchased with my own money