My Lush Adventure Part 1: Angels on Bare Skin, Eau Roma Water, Enzymion, and Grease Lightning

If you guys have been keeping up with my skincare segments, you would know that my main reason for skincare product hopping is because  I would preferably like to find products that are natural and help with my acne and the overall dullness of my skin. I discovered a Lush store in the local mall upon moving in with my fiance. Lured in by the packaging, nice smells, and promise of natural products, I started my relationship with the Lush brand.

The first cleanser I was suggested by the clerk was Angels on Bare Skin. I was really there for Herbalism, but they were all sold out. When I told her about my acne and brightness problems, she immediately reached for the container and told me she used it all the time.

My first impression of using Angels on Bare Skin is that it was kind of a pain to use. Some of Lush’s cleansers are what they call “cleansing rolls” and you have to take a small pinch of the product and roll on your hand with a couple of drops of water. You roll it until it turns into a paste then rub it into your damp skin. As you can imagine, I soon learned that this was very messy and started only using it in the shower.

I liked the smell just fine. It smelled like lavender and somewhat herbal. But after using the whole tub of this stuff, I saw no change in my acne or any improvement in the brightness of my skin. I wouldn’t buy this product again.

 

I love using toners. They are actually my favorite part of my skincare routine. After I use a cleanser, they get any part of your face you might have missed and they make the face feel so fresh. I opted for the Eau Roma Water Toner from Lush because tea tree never works for my acne. I’ve had really good luck with rosewater based toners for brightening and acne. They also smell really great.

I found that I had better luck with cheaper rosewater toners than this one. There was no change in my acne nor did it help with the dullness. Though it did smell good, I wouldn’t buy this again either.

A clerk suggested this moisturizer to me when I told her I had oily skin. Lush’s moisturizers are very expensive, so I left with a sample. I’m really glad I didn’t buy a whole container. I just can’t get past the smell. This stuff smells really funky! Not to mention, I didn’t like how it felt under make up and I could just get a cheaper moisturizer that I actually like.

I really liked this product…at first. When I bought my first bottle, it did really help keep my acne at bay. However, when I bought my second bottle I noticed that the scent was off. I actually liked this scent a lot better, however since these products are handmade I was guessing that the ingredient ratio was off. The second batch really didn’t do as good and I have since discovered that products with stronger acne fighting ingredients help my skin better anyway. So, this is another one I won’t be buying again.

Just because I didn’t like any of these products doesn’t mean I have totally given up on Lush. I actually have a lot more products from them to review and will try more. What I have learned is that a Lush facial routine isn’t for me and sometimes cheaper brands are the way to go.

Back from M.I.A.

Hi everyone! I know I’ve been off the radar for a while now. Things have been a bit busy lately. I’ve been swamped with my freelance writing lately. I took my library test last week, so now it’s just a waiting game. Hopefully, I passed my exam so that my resume will be sent out to all those libraries. That would be my dream job. I must admit it was much harder than I thought it would be. But the instructor informed me that all I needed was a 60.

It won’t be too long till I post another book review. I’m getting closer to the end of Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.  I’m reading the whole collection in one book, so I’ll review each individual novel separately. I’m going through it slower than I would like. It just isn’t holding my attention too much just yet.

As for my beauty reviews, I’m stilling going through the Body Shop products. At the moment, I’m not too impressed with the results. However, I’m still working on the Vitamin E line and there is still the Aloe Vera line sitting in my bathroom. I ran out of moisturizer though, so I have tried the Aloe Vera moisturizer. Meh.

I have discovered LUSH recently and decided to try their “Grease Lightening” acne fighter because my Terminator Ten acne fighter wasn’t as good as the one that came in the AcneFree set. Wow. I love that Grease Lightening stuff! It really reduced some of my larger zits fast. It is really pricey though. It’s about $15 a bottle. But the nice packaging and promise of handmade natural products have reeled me in. The Aloe Vera moisturizers for the Body Shop are really small, so I have ordered the Imperials moisturizer from LUSH and I can’t wait to try it.

Before I end this entry, I want to give a shout out to http://veganneeds.com/ for nominating me for the Bloggers Recognition Award. Thank you so much! Sorry, I didn’t post it up. I’m a little burned out on typing now. Hopefully, it won’t be too long till the next entry.

Job Interview #1

Yay! Things are finally happening! I had my first real job interview today and I think it went well by my standards. Usually my social anxiety takes over and I can’t make eye contact and I stutter, but I gave myself an internal pep talk before the interviewer called me in. I managed to keep my eyes on the interviewers when I spoke and if I did stutter it was only once or twice. I honestly don’t remember stuttering though.

They seemed impressed by some of the work I’ve done in graduate school. So, I have that going for me. The only thing that bothered me was I felt very differently dressed from the other candidates. Granted, most of the other applicants were men, so of course they would be dressed differently. I just felt my look was more “the cute professional” rather than just “professional.”

I wore a dress style top that’s black, but has black and grey plaid on the top of the blouse. I had the the matching tights and some cute black ankle boots. It kind of screams “cute librarian” (especially with my black frame glasses). That’s my thing. I like to look professional, but I still want to wear what I like. I just seemed more cutesy, than the few other ladies. Do you think it was a mistake?

There was a lot of people applying for this position, so the competition is fierce! I will get a call by Thursday if they want me back for a second interview. I also have a pre-interview lined up on Thursday afternoon. That will take place online and from there I will be able to schedule a face to face interview! This is all so exciting!

Now, I’ve been having to tell myself that if none of this works out I can’t just wallow in despair. I just have to keep going. I went for months with no luck and now doors are opening! I probably will get down again, but I’ll find something. I also have a back up gig that might start in August.

I also wanted to say something about my natural skincare series. I know I said I liked the Naturally Rosy toner, but it’s just too little for $10. I wanted something a little more cost effective, so I ordered two more toners. The first is the papaya toner from FacenEarth. Turns out, it’s still pretty small for the price, but I’m still going to review it. The other one is the one I’m really excited about. Rose water has done amazing things for my skin, so I ordered one from Amazon that’s a whopping 8 ounces for $8!

I’ll be testing those out soon, so watch out for the reviews. I’m still trying to navigate through the moisturizers. But we’ll get to the end! I also have some natural make up samples coming in. Very excited about that!

Furthermore, I haven’t stopped doing book reviews. I’m just reading a VERY large book.

Hang in there kids! Lots of exciting things will be happening here at Ruined In All The Right Ways!

Product Reviews: “Naturally Rosy” Rosewater Toner

I’ve found it, guys. I’ve finally found the holy grail of toners for me. Gosh, I’ve been searching for years. I’ve heard that rosewater can do wonders for your skin and really brighten it up. I was always very eager to try it out. I just had to get rid of other toners I bought first. I noticed a different in my skin’s tone after the first use!

Here are the benefits of rosewater that is listed on the toner’s Etsy page:

Rose water prevents and or reduces eye puffiness. Rosewater helps to maintain your skin’s pH balance.
It helps fight acne, dermatitis and eczema. Rose water helps to hydrate, revitalize, moisturize, and smooth out the skin. It also helps to heal scars, cuts and wounds. Rose water calms the skin to help ease any stress and anxiety. It helps tone the skin, while offering anti-bacterial properties. The antioxidant properties of rose water help to strengthen skin cells along with regenerating skin tissues. It also helps to revitalize aging skin while keeping fine lines and wrinkle at bay.

Another good thing about this toner is that the other ingredients besides rosewater are not only natural, but they also are very good for your skin. The other ingredients include aloe vera, chamomile, green tea, and raw honey.

The only downside I found is that it’s $10 for a 4 oz. bottle, but you must factor in that you are paying for quality ingredients. I just replaced the normal cap with a cap that squirts, so I can control how much I use. Also, the owner is very accommodating. I asked them if I could pay extra for a bigger bottle, but they don’t have one. However, they said they could keep a look out for a recyclable glass bottle. It never hurts to ask! You can find this toner at the Etsy shop NaturallyRosyRiley and here is a direct link to the toner: https://www.etsy.com/listing/227467494/rosewater-toner?ref=shop_home_active_1

Now, let me catch you up to speed on my natural skincare series. Here’s the parts of the routine we have found.

• Cleanser:Colloidal Silver Acne Face Wash
• Toner:Rosewater Toner
• Acne Medicine: AcneFree Terminator 10 (you can find this at Walmart or just look it up online)
• Body Shop Facial brush for night time washing: http://www.thebodyshop-usa.com/skin-care/skin-care-accessories/rounded-handle-facial-brush.aspx
• Moisturizer: Still testing

Extras:

• Bio Oil for Post Acne Marks: You can purchase this at Walmart or look it up online.

This means that we almost to the end of the natural skincare series. It makes me a little sad, but honestly I’m glad I’m finding the right routine for me. Of course, it will never actually really be the end because I’ll always be trying new products. I’ll actually be searching for organic make-up once I get rid of the stuff I already have.

I Feel My Inner Grunge Goddess

I’m sure you guys have noticed from my blog that I absolutely love the 90s decade and in particular the grunge and alternative scene. Well, I finally got my hands on something razor to go with my babydoll dresses and band shirts. But I’ll save that for the end of this entry.

I told you guys that the lady from FacenEarth was sending me a couple of free sample face scrubs. Well, that’s what I thought. But I actually got a whole box full of samples! Thank you! I gave a few to family, but I tried out the Grapefruit cleanser and it smells great! Unfortunately, it doesn’t keep my rosacea at bay like my normal cleanser does. I also tried out the rosehip moisturizer and my skin was absolutely glowing! So, this moisturizer may be a contender! I’ll see how it goes. I thought the smell was a little too strong, but my fiance loved it so much that he took a big wiff of my face. Which was weird.

Today, I went shopping and I bought the bio oil, so that review will be coming soon. I also bought a new bookshelf for my books. I also stocked up on fruits and healthy snacks, as I am trying to drop the weight. It’s hard to do that when my in-laws love their sugary snacks. So, I decided to combat the temptation with snacks of my own. I’ve already kicked soda out and I drink water with the occasional bit of lemon juice.

I know some of you have been looking forward to the rosewater toner review. It will take a bit longer because a sample toner was in the box and I am trying to use it up. But it won’t take long.

And…as I am listening to 90s alternative on Pandora, I’ll show you guys what I got.

Black Floral Doc Martens!

Doc Martens usually run for $200 these days, but Journeys was having a sale and I got them for $50. These will be perfect for all my clothes and the fiance and I are discussing a possible grunge wedding theme. My grandma will love that. HA! I’m sorry the quality isn’t so good. I’ll take some more pictures soon.

Product Reviews: Shea Moisture’s African Black Soap Problem Skin Moisturizer

I finally got around to using the last bit of a moisturizer I wasn’t too fond of and started using the moisturizer that came with the African Black Soap Kit. The results were kind of mixed.

What I Liked: This moisturizer uses the same ingredients that are in the African Black Soap toner. I really liked that toner and the only reason I decided to switch to a rosewater based one is because I heard it could brighten up skin tone and help with post acne marks. The ingredients include tamarind and tea tree oil. I didn’t know what a tamarind was, so I looked it up. Turns out that it is a tree that grows a date-like fruit.

The moisturizer does not feel light and feels a little heavier than most moisturizers advertise. Most might not find this endearing, but I found that the more a moisturizer is advertised as “light,” the greasier it is. Which is funny because light is also advertised with non-greasy. It also gave my face a nice, bright dewy look.

The moisturizer also comes in a very nice sized pot.

What I Didn’t Like: Pew! This stuff stinks! It smells exactly like the facial scrub I told you guys I hated.

Conclusion: Honestly, if I don’t like the white tea moisturizer I bought, I could see myself keeping this one around. It has more pros than cons and the smell fades throughout the day.

What’s Next For the Skin Care Adventure: 

• Rosewater Toner
• Sample Face Scrubs from FacenEarth
• White Tea Moisturizer
• Bio Oil (for acne marks)

Product Review: Body Shop Facial Brush

When I finally got this brush in the mail last week, I think I was most surprised by how small it was. Many users actually said that it was really small in the reviews, but I didn’t expect to fit in the palm of my hand! Of course, the size of the brush has both pros and cons.

The pros is that this brush is great for traveling and it doesn’t take much to wash it out. However, it can be somewhat frustrating to use because of its size. I find myself dropping it a lot, but I have a serious case of the butterfingers. Another thing I liked about the brush is that it comes with a lid. When you are not using it, you don’t have to worry about it getting dusty or dirty from your counter or where ever else you would keep it. But of course, the most important question is how does it perform?

I use mine every night before bed. I think you should probably use it once a day because too much friction could lead to irritated skin. That’s another reason why I chose a manual brush over one of the more fancy spinning ones. I think it’s more cost effective and better for your skin.

Every morning I wake up with brighter, softer skin,  so I definitely think it was worth it. The only thing I am worried about is that some of the bristles tend to stick out, so I’m wondering if I’ll have to buy one once a year or something. It’s only three dollars though, not bad at all.

If you don’t want to spend the money on an expensive facial brush, I would suggest this brush!

What’s next on my natural skin care adventure: I’m almost out of the moisturizer I’m trying to use up. Then once that is gone, I’ll have two to test out to finally find out I like enough to stick with. My rosewater toner also came in, so once I use all of the African Black Soap toner, I can try it. I’ve also been using lemon juice to get rid of dark marks, but I’ve heard good things about bio oil. I would like to do an entry comparing the two. Also, the lady that makes my homemade cleanser was so happy about my review of it that she has decided to send me some free samples of facial scrubs!