Elissah Bio P2 Facial Pack

Probiotics have been on our radar for at least a decade now. It started with those yogurts commercial and hasn't stopped. I've always been pretty regular when it came to my gut so probiotics weren't something that I ever considered. That has changed once I saw that I could take advantage of probiotics for my skin.

As a quick recap, probiotics are live bacteria and yeasts that hold amazing benefits to overall health. When it comes to skincare, probiotics help to bring balance back after we scrub every spec of dirt from our face that, while leaving it squeaky clean, messes with its natural resources. This is why I was very excited to try Elissah's Bio P2 Facial Pack for a skincare trifecta.

I very recently got into the essence and have been on the hunt for the perfect one. The essence by Elissah is really easy to apply and has both pre AND probiotics. It helps strengthen the natural defenses of our wonderful skin and replenishes moisture. And because it's Australian it contains concentrated native plant extracts with powerful antioxidants that help against all of the nasties that try to ruin our skin.

 Hydro Moisture isn't anything crazy. The only difference between this and my regular moisturizer is that it's got the probiotics I've been writing about, as well as prebiotics. Aside from that, it's a great moisturizer that's got some fun ingredients that really do the trick leaving my skin feeling hydrated. This Hydro Moisturizer also helps reduce the appearance of wrinkles which is something I'm aggressively fighting!

I use a ton of oils but have never heard of a skin barrier oil before so it was all new to me. Before I go into the benefits of this oil, I have to say that I was very happy with the texture, scent and overall appearance of it. Honestly, the benefits of this particular product are so hard for me to explain, I'll let them tell you!

           "SKIN BARRIER OIL is a rich oil with a unique lipid profile. It is easily and readily absorbed into the skin leaving a non-greasy feel, minimising lipid loss. With a very high concentration of oat oil, it provides skin with identical lipids, powerful anti-oxidants, skin active ceramides and membrane phospholipids. Oat oil is rich in linoleic acid helping to maintain the epidermal water barrier and enhance skin barrier function. It also contains anti-oxidants including alkyl phenolates and Vitamin E in the form of tocotrienols and tocopherols, which protect skin lipids from free radicals. Another important active in oat oil is ceramides, which support the barrier function and help to keep skin in a healthy condition, maintain the stratum corneum and act as a penetration enhancer."

All in all, I really enjoy having a 3 step regiment from the same brand with ingredient focused on replenishing my skin after I scrub and clarify the hell out of it! Plus, anything that'll help with wrinkles and moisture will always be a winner in my book, and should be in yours too! So join me in welcoming Elissah into the medicine cabinets and skincare counters of the world! And because they want everyone to give this facial pack a try, using promo code "FREESHIPPING" by June 30th to get free shipping!

Sunday Riley Luna Sleep Oil

Sunday Riley Luna Sleeping Night Oil

Retinol something that needs to be a part of your skincare regiment if you are in your late 20's. When I started using retinol many years ago my motto was "delaying is easier than reversing" and at my age, I can say that it couldn't be truer. Retinol is a class of anti-aging compounds used to help fight acne, collagen production, cellular turnover and reduces wrinkles. Sunday Riley's Luna Sleeping Night Oil also contains blue tansy, which I seriously have fallen in love with ever since I got my Sephora Play with a sample of Herbivore's Blue Tansy Mask. The azulene in blue tansy, as well as the German chamomile and cape chamomile oils, work wonder for soothing any kind of redness.

Love It

With only a few months of use, I have to say that I have fallen very hard for Luna. I used Help Me by Philosophy in the past and while I don't have anything bad to say about it I'm all over the oil craze which makes this a star in my eyes. Plus I noticed my skin looking less tired in the morning after a few days which is pretty rare for someone that usually has a rough time getting a full night of sleep. 

Ditch It

The price tag of Luna is steeeeep! Before I starting using this product the total cost of my skincare regiment was under $105. Now it's almost triple that amount thanks to this and other products I'm using. And I buy this about once every 6 weeks. And if you're not diligent about applying sunscreen whenever you're out, no matter the season, this is not recommended. Anytime you use a product with retinol you must apply sunscreen in the morning to not damage your skin. I use a tinted moisturizer with SPF that covers the three basics: light coverage, moisturizing, and sunscreen.

Quickies

Price: $55 for .5oz/$105 for 1.18oz

Usage: After washing and drying your face with your favorite cleanser massage a few drops onto the skin. I prefer mixing this with a few drops of my Acure Seriously Soothing Blue Tansy Night Oil.

Scent: I'm not gaga over the scent (prefer the scent of Herbivore's Lapis Facial Oil) but it's not bad. It has an herbal tea vibe to it which goes away in less than 5 minutes

Consistency: It's a thin serum that doesn't easily mix with others which is a good sign.

Would I use it: Would I or do I? I use it religiously and not only has it been doing wonders for my skin, I really like seeing this on my nightstand when I do my nightly skincare routine!

Where to find: If you're an in-person shopper or want to keep on redeeming your Beauty Insider points Sephora is the way to go. They always have it in stock so you're guaranteed to not miss a beat. BUT, if you order this from sundayriley.com you can save 10% with the subscribe and save option. If you're going to use this nightly it's a good idea to always make sure you have your next bottle ready and a .5oz bottle will be delivered every month for $49.50 with the 1.18oz coming out to $94.50.

Oh, but it gets even better. I recently started ordering most of my skincare products from Dermstore because not only do they have Luna for 15% off with their subscribe to save offer but you can choose to receive it every month, every 2 months or every 3 months which is a better deal. The larger bottle lasts me about 2 months so I don't feel pressure to saturate my skin in it to avoid having a ton of bottles on reserve. At Dermstore getting these anywhere from 1-3 months will cost $46.75 or $89.25 so it's obvious where I'm shopping.


FYI: This post isn't sponsored by any of the linked brands or stores. Clicking on a link will direct you to the corresponding site but they are not affiliated links so I won't receive any benefits or rewards.

Creating a Shabby Chic Living Space

I've learned from years of obsessing over decor blogs and magazines that if you don't have a pretty coffee table then you don't really have a coffee table at all. A cute coffee table is totally the key to not only having a showable living space but also a really enjoyable one. It's a great place to keep your tablet/laptop, a few magazines and yes, even that infamous cup of coffee when you're getting ready to get your day started.

5 things I do to relax

Photo by Theo

Whenever sleep actually hits me I think it's safe to say that I'm a great sleeper. I'll wake up in the same position that I went to bed in and I feel 100% rested. These days are super rare but when they hit they're pretty damn amazing!