Planning to be Happy

MY SEPHORA SPRING 2024 VIB EVENT PICKS – WESTMAN ATELIER EDITION

Spring sales are an excellent chance to experiment with color, embracing the season’s trend of bright, bold hues in everything from eyeshadows and lipsticks to highlighters. This season, beauty trends lean towards a more natural, dewy look, highlighting the need for quality skincare products that offer a radiant base. Brands often use these seasonal shifts to launch new products, making spring sales a fantastic time to try out the latest in beauty innovation at a fraction of the cost.

Taking advantage of the Sephora Spring Beauty sales, ensures that your beauty regimen is seasonally appropriate and allows for the exploration of new products and trends. It’s a time to declutter expired or winter-heavy products and embrace the fresh, light, and uplifting spirit of spring in our beauty routines. Sale starts on April 5th.

Westman Atelier products are of great quality and deserve that you take a second look at them. Not only they are amazing and long-lasting, their packaging aesthetics is exactly what pleasing is all about. Have you tried them?

Note: My picks are linked and I may get commission if you purchase directly through them.

MY PICKS FOR THE 2021 NORDSTROM ANNUAL SALE

My sephora spring 2021 vib event picks

Note: My picks are linked and I may get commission if you purchase directly through them.

Shamelessly, I have to admit that I reached Rouge Status with Sephora, last year ! For that reason, shopping starts on April 9th and I have already made my picks. Did you already make yours?  Let me know below.

Today I received a catalog from QVC.  It is their 2020 Holiday Gift Guide and after a quick glimpse, I knew I wanted to make this post. Some of the items from the guide are pretty exciting and you seriously cannot beat their flexible payment options. There are more items in the catalog and seriously, there is something for everyone. I just happened to pick what I would get myself or a close friend, who like me, loves fashion and beauty.  Also, don’t forget to use Rakuten to take advantage of the offers that they have. If you use, my referral code on the right, we can both get a monetary perk. And here is a freebie from kikki.K.  Follow this link and get their Christmas organizer for 2020.

Note: My picks are linked and I may get commision if you purchase directly through them.

Please let me know if you have any questions or comment below if you are shopping the sale and share what you are getting?

xo Kathia

SEPHORA HOLIDAYS SAVINGS EVENT - 2020

Sephora Holidays Sale

Hey!

It is that time of the year again and I am so ready! For a beauty and makeup lover like me, this is the time to stock on the fabulous products that Sephora has to offer.  I am here to enable you and to clarify that I am not sponsored by any means although if you purchase directly through any of the links below, I may earn commissions and that needs to be disclosed because you know, FTC rules. But seriously, who doesn’t just love getting pretty (and good)stuff in the mail and at a discount? Count me in! Thanks to some reviews that I have been watching recently, I was impressed and excited to purchase the Drunk Elephant Trunk and a couple of sets from Fresh. I have been loving Fresh ever since I started using some samples and now I have slowly moved to a couple of full-size products.

The following are my picks for the  Sephora annual holidays. Use code HOLIDAYFUN at checkout and don’t forget to make your purchase through your Rakuten account, so you get some money back.

Also, since we are in a gifting mood, please checkout this freebie from my shop.  There is still time to decorate your planner or print it as a pretty picture.

What did you pick? Have you shopped yet? Let me know below?I

xo Kathia

NORDSTROM 2020 ANNIVERSARY SALE - BEAUTY PICKS

The sale already started so I wanted to come and share my picks. I am in no position of buying clothes or shoes! If you have seen my Instagram lately, you’d know exactly why. Since I have no plans on shopping for anything else, with the exception of the candle below, all my picks are about beauty products that I wish to try or buy again.  I also wanted to add that this year the sale is happening by stages and that most stores are not allowing free for all, roaming around shopping.  Depending on which category someone falls in (Icon, Ambassador, Influencers, Insiders) you get to shop earlier than when it is open to the public, which is August 19th.  So let me show you my picks.

Note: My picks are linked and I may get commision if you purchase directly through them.

As usual, please let me know if you have any questions or comment below if you are shopping the sale and share what you are getting?

xo Kathia
Multi steps beauty routine

my multi-steps beauty routine

Lately, I have been learning about a new method to treat my skin. I seriously want to exhaust all the possible options that I may have to continue showing my skin a little bit of love.  The best part is that now I am making the time and several weeks into this routine, and I can report that my skin is absorbing everything! What I did here is some sort of redesigned method of the 10-step Korean Skincare Routine and with trial and error, I found ways to adapt it to my own skin concerns.  The steps here are for my night routine.  My morning routine is a little more simple.

So follow along and see if I can give you any ideas or food for thought of what you could do for your own skin?  Here you go:

Step 1: Double-cleanse.  I use a cleansing balm and an anti-aging gel.

Step 2: Apply tonic.  Currently using Good Molecules Toner. 

Step 3: Essence. Tatcha has a great one.

Step 4: Eye-cream. Elemis collagen eye-treatment is my favorite right now.

Step 5: Serum. Ahh, the possibilities! There are so many and for so many possible treatments.  I have been loving using trial and error but leaning toward a couple of favorites to deal with dullness and aging skin.

Step 6: Moisturizer. Need we say more.

Step 7: Acids/Spot-Treatments. The Inkeylist are inexpensive and seem to be effective, thus far.

Step 8: Sleep Mask. I like to use one delicious one made by Shiseido.

As mentioned earlier, my morning routine is super simple: rinse the face with water only, tonic, moisturizer or moisturizing pads topped with SPF lotion. The dots on the face print are to keep track by assigning a color to each product and check off from my daily spot on the weekly section of my planner. I track effectiveness of the products by checking how often and how long I have used them.  

If you are still with me, thank you for reading and as always, please let me know what you think?

xo Kathia

My 12 picks for the Sephora Spring 2020 Beauty Insider Event

There is a Sephora VIB event coming and for some of us, online shopping seems to be the new “normal”.  Sephora only has this event twice a year so right now is a good opportunity to stock-up on those products that you love, wish to love, need or want and much better if they come with a great discount. Also, remember to shop through your Rakuten link. You will get some cashback for each purchase.  If you are not registered with Rakuten, please use my referral link above. It gives both of us, a cash perk for your registration.

My strategy to figure out the cost of my wish-list is to do a mock-up of my shopping cart by adding them all to the cart and then doing the math. Also, I compare the products that I currently have with the products that I am wanting, along with their ingredients list and their claims. More importantly, I check reviews and see how they fit to my current skin needs.

This list was made with research and reviews that I have collected on my own.  This is only my wish-list but you are welcome to borrow it. I may not get everything listed but will give me time to continue my pursuit of the ultimate beauty product. It will be definitely be added to my current wants, for future reference. As always, kindly let me know if you have questions or comments about my picks and by all means, share your top picks.with

How_to_clean_your_makeup_brushes

Clean your makeup brushes in a simple way

So you are done with the household chores? Your kitchen is cleaned, dishes are away, floors are shiny and now you are going to put time on the fun stuff?  If you are like me, I like to dedicate time to my hobbies and my makeup brushes need love, too!! Let me share a quick but more importantly, effective way to give your brushes a fresh and clean treatment.

All you need is olive oil, a gentle dishwasher soap, a couple of bowls and water.  Note: do not use hot water.  Hot water may affect the stickiness  of the glue that holds the bristles to the handles and can cause them to shed.  Also, note: all these suggestions and products are better for non-expensive brushes.  Most brands sell makeup brushes cleaners, so please keep that in mind if you baby your brushes .

Olive oil, the extra virgin kind, will help with softening up the residue of makeup, skin oils and dirt that could have built over time. Gentle dishwasher will break down the residue of the olive oil and remaining dirt.  I bought olive oil in a spray. You can also pour some in an empty and clean spray bottle.  Or pour a little oil in a bowl and swirl your brush on it until you see the oil changing colors.  For the dishwater soap, same concept: swirl and watch until it looks clear.  Then rinse and rinse well so to make sure that there are no residues.

The drying part is the easy part.  Once they are clean, gently remove the excess water and place them on a clean drying-mat or towel and roll them inside of it.  At some point, let them air dry. Drying time would vary depending on the temperature of the room where they are located but usually overnight is a good time to wait. Don’t dry them standing up. Water may affect the glue and loosen the bristles. 

How does this sound? Do you clean your brushes often? Do you use special remover or just whatever you can find? Let me know. Also, if you have any other ideas, I will love to hear from you!

xo Kathia
Chanel Review

On Wednesdays We Shop – Products Review

Have been meaning to share Part A of my (morning) routine.  I call it Part A since I don’t use these products every day.  I am a firm believer on area treatment and that routines should vary depending on your current needs and progress. I do try to give the products, at least 4 weeks to decide if they are great for me or not, but skin, like anything else will adjust to those products over time and they may not do for your skin, what they are supposed to.  The only two items, that I don’t move around are my melasma fading cream and SPF.  Those are non-negotiable for obvious reasons. 

Also, I try to only post what works for me, meaning that they have already passed the 4 weeks test. Stay tuned for Part B and even C and of course what I use for my nightly routines.

  1. Step 1: Clean – Currently loving Youth to the People Kale + Green Tea, Spinach Vitamins Superfood Cleanser 

From their website: “Our powerful, but gentle daily face wash is formulated with cold-pressed antioxidants – kale, spinach, and green tea – to give your skin the ultimate cleanse. It works effectively to prevent buildup in pores, remove makeup, and balance pH without drying or stripping. This is the green juice cleanse for your face.”

My opinion:  It is light and it does clean well.  Very light fragrance and works great for lazy nights when I don’t want to remove my makeup with creams, so I go straight to YTP.

  1. Caudalie Concentrated Brightening Essence 

From their website:  Benefits : Visibly restores radiance and luminosity. Evens the look of skin tone. Moisturizes the skin

Formula :98% ingredients of natural origin. Oil-free formula and as with all Caudalie products, no parabens, phenoxyethanol, phthalates, mineral oils or animal-derived ingredients are used.

My opinion: Since I don’t use tonic in the morning, I replace that step with this essence.  Love the fragrance and how it wakes my face up and prepares it for moisturizing. After I use it (applying drops directly to the face with my bare hands) not with cotton balls since I think that it wastes product, my skin looks shiny with added softness.  Because of this, I am considering the whole line of Caudalie products.

        3.  Regarding the Chanel Hydra Beauty Camellia Water Cream and the Chanel Essentiel – SPF 50.  I stick to them because my face loves them.  It is amazing how both products are fast absorbed by my skin so there is no lingering product or white cast, prior to makeup application.

     4.  Eye Cream is Chanel Le Lift Eye Cream.  

From their website: “a delicate eye cream that delivers a combination of nature and efficacy for a smoother more youthful and radiant appearance.  83% of its ingredients are natural products.”

My opinion:  it is worth the shot and the price.  I bought it based on reviews and the fact that it is sold-out in some places.  Not disappointed.  I never knew how much my eyes needed a great eye-cream, until I started using Le Lift.

I have been fascinated with Chanel products and this one was a no-brainer addition because I am constantly looking for a fabulous eye cream.  I went from only night time use to twice a day because this great product does everything for my eyes that I need. 

For your convenience, I linked these beauties below. I’d love it if you leave me a message about this review and what you currently using! As usual, looking forward to your comments!

xo Kathia