Stephie Estie

Native Deodorant Review!

Happy Tuesday everyone!

A while ago, I posted a poll on my Instagram stories, asking followers if they’d be interested in me reviewing my current favorite deodorant.  A lot of people responded that they were interested so here we are. 🙂

First, a little backstory on why I choose to try this one out.  For the most part, I was happy with the Dove Clinical Protection Antiperspirant, however, I always found that my underarms would get really itchy at times.  I became really annoyed with this and while my experience with natural LAVNILLA deodorant didn’t work out, I had seen ads on Native so I decided to test it out.

Native Deodorant- Coconut and Vanilla

Described as, aluminum-free, paraben-free, phthalate-free, and talc-free. We tested thousands of ingredients before finding a recipe that feels light and fresh under your arms, but provides you with effective protection against odor and wetness.”

Pros 

Excellent variety of scented and unscented options

Aluminum-free, paraben-free, phthalate-free, and talc-free

Effective odor protection- daily and through workouts

Smooth application

No need to reapply throughout the day

Doesn’t make my underarms itchy

Cons

A little pricey at $12

Doesn’t really help keep you dry

Can leave behind white residue marks if you’re not careful

Overall: This is my second time purchasing this deodorant so I’ve had ample opportunity to thoroughly test this out and I can say that I love it.  It is pricier that some drugstore ones but just that fact that my underarms are no longer itchy, that alone is worth the investment.  I was able to try this out before I got injured so I can say that it provides great coverage throughout workouts or for daily wear.  I do find that you need to be careful about the residue if you apply too much or if you apply it right before applying a long sleeve shirt.  Although it doesn’t really help keep me as dry as I would like, it’s not a deal breaker for me.  What really piqued my interest, however, is the inclusion of probiotics. With the skincare industry recognizing the importance of the human microbiome, it’s interesting to me how companies are using probiotics for a variety of issues in an effort to help combat bacteria. I’m curious to see how this plays out.

Have you tried Native deodorants? What deodorant do you favor/recommend?

 

 

Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb Review!

Hi everyone! I hope you’re doing well.

It’s my first post of the year and I thought I would start with a product review on one of the most talked about lines in the beauty realm, Fenty Beauty.

After reading and hearing rave reviews about this universal rosy shade, I had to see for myself why this product received so many glowing reviews.  So, after finding a Sephora that had this product in stock, I finally caved and purchased it.

Did this shimmering rose nude lip gloss live up to the hype? Keep reading for my take on this.

Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Gloss Bomb Universal Lip Luminizer

Described as, “an ultimate, gotta-have-it lip gloss with explosive shine that feels as good as it looks—in one universal rose nude shade.”

Pros 

Amazing scent

High-shine

You only need a little bit of product so a tube should last a long time

Beautiful neautral shade (initially)

Decent lasting power (about 3 hours)

Cons

Very thick and tacky feeling

Over-sized applicator won’t suit everyone

Shows up as a clear gloss

Pricey at $18 a tube

Overall:  I really wanted to love this gloss but honestly, it just didn’t work for me.  I hate how thick and heavy this lip gloss feels.  It’s not sticky per se but it feels very tacky and uncomfortable. The bigger than normal applicator might work great for some but for me, it just picked up too much product and I had to constantly wipe off the excess on the side of the tube.  The beautiful rose gold shade turned clear on my lips so there was no color payoff whatsoever.  The scent was addicting and quite frankly, one of my favorite aspects of the lip gloss.  The shine department didn’t disappoint either but it just wasn’t worth the $18.

Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb Swatch

A swatch of the shade. If only it turned up like this on me. 🙁

What are your thoughts on this product?  Any Fenty Beauty items you love? Comment below!

Merry Christmas 2017!

Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas!

May you be filled with joy and peace with all of your loved ones this holiday season.

Blessings,

Christmas Gift Guide 2017!

 

Hi everyone!

We’re inching closer to Christmas and if you need a little bit of gift giving ideas, check out my top picks this year.

1. Soma Cool Nights Scoopneck Long Sleeve Pajama Set, $29 

These pajama sets are incredibly soft and light-weight and come with cute phrases and designs.  My pick?  The pancakes and pajamas set because is there anything better than that on a weekend?

2. Shiseido Facial Cotton, $5-$10 

If you’re looking for an inexpensive stocking stuffer that feels high end, look no further than these. Soft and luxurious on the skin, these leave no cotton residue behind and don’t absorb excess product so you’ll never waste any more product than you need.

3. Sara Happ Midnight Bluberry Set, $40 

This chic lip set is perfect for mistletoe season.  It comes with an exfoliator to buff dry lips away and a balm to hydrate and smooth your lips. Bonus: You don’t really have to worry about wrapping this as it already comes complete with a box and bow.

4. Vitality Extracts In-Car Essential Oil Diffuser, $9 

Know anyone who loves aromatherapy?  Gift them this in-car diffuser.  I recently purchased one and am absolutely in love with it.  You can add in a few drops of your favorite essential oil or use plain water to double as a humidifier.

5. Bowers & Wilkins In-Ear Headphones C5 Series 2, $149.99 

These ergonomic in-ear headphones are lightweight and provide an extraordinary audio experience.  Great for any music lover or someone who loves working out and needs something comfortable with exceptional sound.

6. Bourbon Infused Coffee, $19.95 

Elevate a morning staple drink by creating a unique flavor profile using bourbon infused coffee. This blend smells and taste like bourbon, giving your coffee a kick without the side effects of alcohol.

7.  David’s Tea Carry Travel Mug, $34 

This doubled-walled travel mug makes toting hot drinks around easy as it keeps liquids hot for hours and is completely leakproof. It also comes with a hidden tea compartment that allows you to enjoy loose leaf tea on the go.

8. Kat Von D Saint & Sinner Eyeshadow Palette, $62 

Perfect for beauty lovers, this palette comes with 24 pigment-packed and buttery smooth eyeshadows.  The gorgeous shades allow for practically any type of look and the packaging is stunning.

Have any great Christmas gift ideas?  Share them below! 

3 Ways to Reduce Stress!

Happy Friday everyone!

Life in general can be pretty stressful at any given moment and as much as I love the holiday season, stress seems to be amplified just a tad more during this time of year.  Last minute shopping, attending events, increased traffic- the list goes on.  As someone who deals with a chronic illness, keeping stress levels in check is crucial for me, albeit not always easy.

Below are three ways that can help you unwind and relax when you find that your mind and body begin to invoke that flight or fight response a little too frequently.

Water Fountains

I visited my cousin a few weeks ago and she had this water fountain running that was just so relaxing.  There’s something about the sound of flowing water that helps calm your senses and soothe your soul.  Light up some candles and turn off the lights to create your own mini spa atmosphere that is sure to leave you feeling zen.

Deep Breathing

Definitely not a new concept, however, it’s one that I have been putting into place more often since the beginning of the year.  With the help of Nicole, my pelvic floor physical therapist, I’ve learned how to properly deep breathe and just 10 minutes a day of doing this helps ease my mind tremendously.  It’s made such a positive impact in my life that when my clients come in for facials, I incorporate it into their session.

Music

I don’t know about you but to me music is the perfect medium for just about anything.  I can put an upbeat playlist and just dance my worries away or I can play something more low-key when I need to unwind.

What do you do to tackle stress?

Unwind Music Playlist!

Happy Monday everyone!

Whether you need a quick break from Christmas melodies or you’re just looking for new songs to help you unwind, I’ve provided you a playlist to do just that.

Take a look- or a listen. 😉

Half Moon Run- Need It 

Twin Caverns- Undiscover 

Michael Kiwanuka- Love & Hate 

George Ezra- Barcelona 

Tom Walker- You and I  

Sia- Helium 

Mirror Fury- The One I Love 

Allman Brown, Liz Lawrence- Sons and Daughters 

Kodaline- High Hopes

Sam Cohen- The House of the Rising Sun 

Claire Guerreso- Skipping Stones 

Ed Sheeran- Photograph 

Zero 7- In The Waiting line 

Aaron Wright- Build It Better 

fro KING & Country, Courtney- Without You 

JJ Heller- Paving the Runway (You’re Gonna Fly) 

Lilly Allen- Somewhere Only We Know 

Josh Groban- Home To Stay 

Enjoy!

 

 

Happy Thanksgiving 2017!

Wishing everyone a safe and happy Thanksgiving!

From the bottom of my heart, I want to personally thank each one of you for your support throughout the years.  It means more to me than words can ever express.

I have a couple of posts coming up within the next few weeks so stay tuned for that. 🙂

With love,

 

 

 

August Favorites 2017!

Hi everyone!

It’s the last day of August and I’m quickly sharing a few of my favorite items I couldn’t get enough of this month.

Let’s dive right in.

Rhonda Allison Cherry Jubilee Enzyme  

I won this product in an Instagram away hosted by a fellow esthetician friend and just like the name implies, this smells (and feels!) like a tart cherry puree.  What I love about this (aside from the scent) is that the natural polyphenols provide great antioxidant properties for your skin and the “potent pro-youth value that mimics the strength of lactic acid,” allows for gentle exfoliation.  My face looks nice and glowy after using this.

m-61 SuperSoothe E Microdermabrasion Scrub 

I found myself at a Bluemercury counter returning an item that unfortunately didn’t work out when this caught my eye.  I liked the fact that this contained kaolin clay mixed with natural pumice to help exfoliate and clean pores and it worked well with the hot, humid weather we had.  I applied a thin layer over my face, let it sit for about 2 minutes and then rinsed it off with circular motions.  Although seaweed and goldenberry are added to provide some moisture, I found it a bit drying, so in my opinion, this is best used for combination/oily skin.

Glen Ivy Hot Springs Body Lotion Lavender Eucalyptus 

Back in July, I went to Glen Ivy Hot Springs and had such a great experience!  I’ll admit that it was a bit hard for me to just relax and not worry about anything but it’s kind of easy to do after a few minutes soaking in a hot spring. 🙂  Anywho, the lotion dispenser had a lavender scented cream and of course I had to buy the bottle.  The calming scent of lavender with a burst of eucalyptus does not disappoint and I use this at the end of day to wind down.

Estee Lauder Pure Color Love Lipstick in Raw Sugar

As soon as I got wind that Estee Lauder was launching a new lipstick collection, you better believe I was busy stalking searching which stores would be the first to carry them.  Hey, I’m a lippie addict, what do you expect? 😉  After finding them at Ulta, I ended up taking the shade Raw Sugar home with me.  Guys, the packaging on these are gorgeously chic and the matte formula is comfortable to wear as long as your lips are smooth and not overly dry.  Raw Sugar is a nude apricot shade (see swatch above) and is great for any day, anytime, anywhere. The applicator is a bit difficult to work with at first but it’s easier if you treat the edge like a lip liner and apply it that way.

Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation SPF 15

If you’ve followed my blog for a while, you know I’m a big fan of foundations that look more like second skin.  This Bobbi Brown foundation does just that.  A few drops of this water-based, oil-free formula is enough to cover up my redness and can be built up for medium coverage.  My skin looks flawless and I receive a ton of compliments with this one.

First Aid Beauty Hello FAB Coconut Skin Smoothie Priming Moisturizer 

I received this product in one of my Sephora boxes and I will definitely add this to my list of things to buy when the Sephora sale comes in November, if not sooner.  Smells like coconut, does not irritate my skin, the texture is so light-weight and addicting, and it has a nice dewy finish that is not overwhelming. My makeup goes on smooth and although it doesn’t keep shine at bay per se, I’m not overly oily either. Very happy with this one.

Living Grace Podcast Episode

The last item that I loved, a non-beauty item, was my podcast interview I did with Kami Lingren from Living Grace Blog.  In this episode, we talk about my life in the moments leading up to being diagnosed with Interstitial Cystitis, the alternative method I discovered to treat IC and much more.  If you missed it, you can read and listen to it here.

What did you love in August?

 

 

Living with IC and Thinking Outside of the Box for Treatment

Hi everyone!

I know it’s been a while since my last post but I’m currently dealing with some issues, both on a personal and professional level and I haven’t quite had the necessary mindset needed to write posts.

However, I did want to hop on here and share that I recently stepped out of my comfort zone and did a podcast recording with my dear friend and fellow blogger, Kami Lingren from Living Grace Blog. We delve into my journey through my life with Interstitial Cystitis, what it means to trust your instincts, and what skincare means to me in the wellness context.

So, if you’re interested in knowing more about me (and hear my voice, haha), grab some headphones and click here.

Thank you for your continued support and I’ll see you back here soon. 🙂

With love,

Skin Tip: Easy Way to Depuff Eyes!

One simple trick you can do to soothe tired eyes is to stick your eye cream in the fridge.  The coldness can act like a compress to depuff eyes.  Although you can try this trick anytime, it’s perfect to try in the summer for a quick cooling effect during heat waves.