When I purchased Ever Pro Root Touch Up Powder at my local Target, I noticed the packaging looked very familiar.  That's when it hit me:  It looks just like Mamonde Pang Pang Hair Shadow... Do we have a potential dupe here???

Mamonde Pang Pang Hair Shadow Dupe?

Is Ever Pro Gray Away a dupe of Mamonde Pang Pang?

INFO SHEET

Brand:  Ever Pro
Product:  Gray Away Root Touch Up Powder
Shade:  Black / Dark Brown
Price:  $8.99 USD
Availability:  Target, Walmart, Ulta, etc. (Widely Available)
Status:  Potential Dupe

Brand:  Mamonde
Product:  Pang Pang Hair Shadow
Shade:  01 Baby Face Hairline (Dark Brown)
Price:  $14.98 USD
Availability:  Jolse.com, YesStyle.com, Online Only (in the U.S.)
Status:  The Real Deal

I purchased Ever Pro Gray Away Root Touch Up Powder at my local Target to cover up a few gray baby hairs, but then I realized that the packaging looked strikingly similar to Mamonde's Pang Pang Hair Shadow.  It even had the cute little ribbon on top!  The similarities are more than suspect.  I had to find out if I had discovered a dupe.

PACKAGING COMPARISON

The packaging both have the same concept.

Ever Pro Gray Away's packaging has the same overall size and shape as Mamonde Pang Pang.  It has a ribbon on top, a small puff hidden in the bottom, as well as a mirror inside.  The only real difference is that Mamonde Pang Pang Hair Shadow is slightly taller with a visible notch on the front.  Mamonde also has 3.5g worth of product whereas Ever Pro Gray Away Root Touch Up Powder contains 3.7g.  Many sellers for Mamonde Pang Pang advertise it as having 4g of product but that is incorrect:  The actual packaging says 3.5g.

INGREDIENT COMPARISON

Ingredients listed in Pink are a match.

The ingredients listed above that make up the core of each product are nearly identical; aside from the portion of ingredients that make up the color (not listed).  The color portion varies depending on the shade purchased.

BEFORE AND AFTER

Even though Ever Pro Gray Away Root Touch Up Powder is advertised to add color to gray roots; it turns out that it can also perform the same function as Mamonde Pang Pang Hair Shadow.  It did an excellent job shading my forehead to make it appear smaller and lasted all day.  This is great news for those of us who are located in the United States as the product is widely available at many brick and mortar stores (Mamonde Pang Pang is not).  It is also more affordable!  Overall, I am happy with my purchase and feel that it is in fact, a fantastic dupe of Mamonde Pang Pang Hair Shadow.

The verdict?  Yes, Ever Pro Gray Away Root Touch Up Powder is a near perfect dupe of Mamonde Pang Pang Hair Shadow.

Rating

I like to get a Brazilian Blowout done once a year at the start of summer.  Unfortunately, the stylist who normally does my treatment every year no longer offers the service.  Great.  Now I have to search for someone new...

Brazilian Blowout
by a Certified Educator

Is it worth the cost?

WHAT DOES IT DO?

Per Wikipedia as they can explain it better than I can, "Brazilian hair straightening (is) a semi-permanent hair straightening method done by temporarily sealing a liquid keratin and a preservative solution into the hair with a hair iron."  That's pretty much it in a nutshell.

As I was saying, I was in the market for a new stylist to perform my Keratin Treatment this year.  My requirement being that he or she must have an online portfolio and many years of experience.  I would also like them to adhere to the proper ventilation requirements for this treatment.  As far as brands are concerned, I have used both Coppola and Brazilian Blowout in the past and felt that Brazilian Blowout had better and longer lasting results; so I would prefer if the new stylist had experience with this brand.

My search led me to a stylist with over 10 years of experience, who was also a Certified Brazilian Blowout Educator.  We'll call him "John." What caught my attention about John is that Brazilian Blowout sends him all over the USA teaching other salons how to properly perform the treatment.  I also stalked him on Instagram in order to find more candid photos of his work, and to see what other people were saying about him.  Everything looked good.  Though his experience and certification did come with a hefty price tag.  He quoted me for $300 for my length of hair; which is significantly more than what my other stylist used to charge ($120).  My original stylist was... unkempt, but the price was right so I continued to go to him, even though he sometimes missed a few spots... you get what you pay for.  I was interested in seeing the difference in care with the new guy.

I had also texted several other stylists to get prices.  One charged $250 but her online portfolio did not look polished.  I also thought, if she charges $250 and the certified educator guy charges only $50 more then I should just spend the extra $50.  Another lady I texted said she charged $275 and included the after care products such as shampoos, etc.  This isn't my first rodeo so I already knew how to take care of treated hair.  She also did not have an online portfolio and when I did find her on LinkedIn... she had only been working at a salon for the past two years.  Before that, she worked at Whole Foods and a bunch of other non-beauty related retail stores.  Yeah... no.

At this point I was feeling pretty justified in spending $300 on the Brazilian Blowout Certified Educator with many years of experience.  Hey I only do this once a year.  Might as well be fab, right?

THE PROCESS

When I arrived at the salon John was already waiting to greet me.  He took me to his chair and asked what my desired end result would be.  I was wondering what he meant, but he explained that with the Brazilian Blowout brand, you can customize your results.  Unlike Coppola, or other "Keratin Treatment" brands - you can only get one result.  For example, if you prefer your hair to still be curly, but not frizzy; Brazilian Blowout can do that.  If you want your hair to be mostly straight, Brazilian Blowout can do that too.  I told him I would like to still have the beach wave when my hair dries naturally, and he agreed that leaving some wave would be the best look for me.

John also explained that the Brazilian Blowout brand and other Keratin Treatments are completely different.  Apparently the formulas are not similar and achieve their end result in different ways.  He said Keratin Treatments (like Coppola) break the bonds of the hair to get the shaft to lay straight, but as the treatment wears off the bonds are still broken; so your hair ends up frizzier and more damaged than before.  He said Brazilian Blowout uses an "Amino Acid based" (sounds gimmicky) formula that does not break or damage the bonds of the hair.  So when the treatment eventually wears out, your hair will not be worse off than before.  With this brand, your hair can't get protein overload and won't start to break if you do it often.  But considering what happened to Jennifer Aniston's hair... who knows if that's true... I'm exactly not sure what brand she actually used though.  People often refer to the keratin treatment as a "Brazilian Blowout" but not actually use the Brazilian Blowout brand.  Like when we refer to adhesive bandages as Band-Aids but they are not actually Band-Aid brand.

Everything he said above sounded like a sales pitch so I just smiled and nodded.  On to the process...

STEP 1:  Clarifying 
John took me to the washing station and rinsed my hair thoroughly.  He then used a liberal amount of a product called Brazilian Blowout Professional Ionic Cleanser.  He massaged it into my hair and scalp vigorously and rinsed it completely away.  He did NOT shampoo or condition my hair.  This is the only product used to wash my hair, and I believe it did a good job.

STEP 2:  Application
John poured the Brazilian Blowout Professional Smoothing Solution into a bowl and parted my hair into four equal sections.  He explained that this and the next step will be the most time consuming because he has to work with very very small sections of hair at a time to ensure even application.  Focusing on one section at a time, he would take about a half inch width worth of hair and apply the product evenly throughout until my whole head was done.

STEP 3:  Blow Dry
Starting one section at a time, John blow dried my hair with a paddle brush until it was completely dry.  He also pulled my hair taught as he was drying to stretch and straighten the hair.  He didn't focus too much on smoothing it out completely, but he did make it somewhat smooth.  He also took time to work through my cowlicks to undo them in order to prepare them for the next step.

STEP 4:  Flat Iron
John used a 1" Brazilian Blowout brand flat iron.  I didn't even know they had their own brand of flat iron.  The iron was set to exactly 429 degrees (Fahrenheit).  Once again, he took extremely small portions of hair which were half inch width or smaller, and did six passes with the iron for each bit.  Sometimes he did eight passes in the problem areas.  It was at this time he worked hard to undo my cowlicks and even used a 0.5" size flat iron on the cowlick in my bangs.  He did get close to my scalp as he said treating the roots are very important.  Overall, this step took the longest.

*** I also want to note that during Steps 3 and 4 my eyes started to water.  I didn't notice the fumes too much at first, but then my nose and throat started to bother me, but what was the most irritating was my eyes.  He asked me to keep my eyes closed during these steps and gave me some plastic glasses to protect them.  I did have to remove the glasses when he got to my ears and sides of my head.  I also noticed that there was not much ventilation or even a fan, but I guess if you use the right amount of product the formaldehyde content (< 0.2 %) is still considered safe by the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Board.  It's hard to really know the actual percentage of exposure though because it depends entirely on the product and the application of the stylist... Since I only get this treatment once a year, I often forget how uncomfortable this can be.  A fan would have been helpful.

STEP 5:  Rinse
Back to the washing station where my hair is rinsed thoroughly with luke warm water immediately after flat ironing.  He said the purpose is to rinse off excess "unused" product that didn't fuse to my hair in the previous step.

STEP 6:  Blow Dry Again
The Brazilian Blowout Ionic Bonding Spray was sprayed throughout my damp hair.  John then blow dried my hair on High with the paddle brush again.  He said it is very important to always blow dry your hair thoroughly to protect it from humidity.  If you still feel a cold spot on your head then it isn't fully dried.  He passed the paddle brush through my hair repeatedly until it was completely smooth.

STEP 7:  Oil 
He put about a quarter sized amount of Açai Brazilian Dry Oil into his hands, rubbed them together and smoothed it throughout my hair.  He then went over my hair with the paddle brush again and the blow dryer set to Cool.  And we're done!

BEFORE AND AFTER

Brazilian Blowout - Before and After

Brazilian Blowout - Before and After (air dried curly hair)

The first set is the Before and After of me at the salon.  The second set is a Before and After of me at home.  The purpose of the second set is to show how air dried curly hair looks AFTER the Brazilian Blowout.  Most of the before and after photos you see online only show the hair straightened; which I don't think is very helpful to people with curly hair who prefer to air dry and be done with it.

Before I got the treatment, the weather was starting to get hot and humid again and therefore my hair became increasingly hard to deal with.  You can see in the before photos that my curly hair was quite frizzy and was only going to get much, much worse as the day went on.  Because of the Brazilian Blowout, I can let my hair air dry and not have to worry about frizz too much.  It still has a bit of a curl to it, but it is far more calm.  If I choose to straighten it, it can now be done in about 25 minutes as opposed to an hour like before.

FINAL THOUGHTS

This isn't my first time getting a Keratin Treatment nor is it my first time using the Brazilian Blowout brand.  I did notice that the Certified Brazilian Blowout Educator was very thorough and proud of his work.  I also liked how he explained every step along the way (it made writing this review a lot easier).  John did not cut corners like the previous stylists I've used.  He said they were most likely not Certified.  None of them did the rinse from Step 5, the bonding spray, nor were they anywhere near as thorough.  The end result of my hair is also significantly softer than my past experiences.  Like... really soft.  It doesn't even feel like my hair.  I have to admit that I did go home and flat iron my hair a teeny bit because I think it helps smooth out my hair more than just blow drying.

One thing I didn't like was that I felt a little too pushed to buy the Brazilian Blowout shampoo and conditioner.  I know how to maintain this treatment but he said that their brand shampoo and conditioner will make it last even longer than any sulfate / sodium free shampoo.  In the end, I agreed to buy just the shampoo at $22  as he said it was the most important out of the two.  At first he refused to sell just the shampoo as he said he only sells it in a set... but then when I no longer seemed interested he changed his mind.  John also gave me a free 3.4 oz bottle of the Ionic Bonding Spray from Step 6 to take home, as it was included with the service.  He said to use it once every four washes in lieu of conditioner because it will reinforce the treatment.  As far as other after care is concerned, he said I can wash my hair tonight or put it up if I wanted to and it wouldn't effect the results; as opposed to other keratin treatments which require you to not get your hair wet for 72 hours and to not put your hair up as it will create permanent kink.

In the end, the treatment took three hours and fifteen minutes.  It probably could have been faster but there were a few distractions.  I did spend $390.  $300 for the Service, $25 for a bottle of Shampoo (with tax), and $65 for the tip.  Would I go to him again?  Maybe...  He was much more thorough so I do feel like I got my money's worth, but the way he pushed the products on me really rubbed me the wrong way.  Only time will tell if it will last longer with this shampoo though... I will update this article in a year :).

I also want to note that I will be searching for alternatives for this treatment.  The amount of discomfort it caused to my eyes, nose, throat should not be ignored.  I used my trusty NeilMed Sinus Rinse when I got home which helped a lot.  I really wish he used a fan to be honest.

UPDATE:  I did not like the Brazilian Blowout Shampoo.  After just a few weeks I realized the treatment did not seem to last as long as my last treatment.  It turns out it was the shampoo.  I switched back to Shea Moisture Raw Shea Butter Moisture Retention Shampoo and my hair looked much better.  Maybe Shea Moisture weighs it down a little more, but in the end my hair is clean and not foofy looking so I'm fine with that.

My friends know that I love skin care.  So I was was happy to receive the TONYMOLY My Little Pet Patch in my Christmas goodie bag.  It's like they knew I could definitely use some pampering after a long day!

TONYMOLY
My Little Pet Eye Patch Review

TonyMoly My Little Pet Eye Patch Review

INFO SHEET

Brand:  TONYMOLY
Product:  My Little Pet Eye Patch
Scent:  Barely noticeable
Price:  $4.50
Availability:  Scarce

The packaging design for these eye patches have always caught my eye... because hamster.  It contains one pair of hydrogel eye patches in a small plastic carton for protection.  Application is easy - simply remove the protective film over the patches and place them on your under eye area for 30 minutes; then gently remove and pat remaining essence into the skin.

So simple yet so cute >_<

TONYMOLY My Little Pet Eye Patches are advertised to brighten dull / dark eyes as well is hydrate, brighten and refresh.  Let's see if that is true!

INGREDIENTS

Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Citrus Paradisi (Grapefruit) Fruit Extract, Caprylic / Capric Triglyceride, Ceratonia Siliqua Gum, Chondrus Crispus (Carrageenan), Sucrose Stearate, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Glyceryl Stearate, Cellulose Gum, Sodium Polyacrylate, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Prunus Serrulata Flower Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract, Lilium Tigrinum Extract, Malva Sylvestris (Mallow) Extract, Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Leaf Extract, Primula Veris Extract, Alchemilla Vulgaris Extract, Veronica Officinalis Extract, Melissa Officinalis Leaf Extract, Achillea Millefolium Extract, Alcohol, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol.

Notable Ingredients:

• Niacinamide - aka Vitamin B3.  Provides a wide range of benefits including the increase of moisture retention and elasticity, brightening, excess sebum control, and improved appearance of enlarged pores.
• Caprylic / Capric Triglyceride - Emollient that replenishes moisture in the skin.
• Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Extract - Plant based emollient used to replenish and soothe the skin.  
• Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract - An antioxidant that calms the skin with it's anti-irritant properties.  Said to improve the overall appearance of sun-damaged skin.
• Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate - aka Licorice Root Extract.  Plant extract that brightens and soothes the skin.  Improves uneven skin tone.  
• Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract - aka Sacred Lotus Flower Extract.  Powerful antioxidant and soothing agent.

COSDNA ALERTS

BEFORE AND AFTER 

TONYMOLY My Little Pet Eye Patch smoothed out skin texture and slightly diminished fine lines.

Since my under eye area usually looks bright and spry in the morning, I decided to test them at night after a long day of work.  The TONYMOLY My Little Pet Eye Patches felt like a second skin and did not move at all once applied.  They were soothing and cool at first but then matched the warmth of my skin.  In Chizu Saeki's book The Japanese Skincare Revolution, she states that is is important to warm up the product in your hands for maximum absorption.  So the fact that the hydrogel patches became warm and sat under my eye for 30 minutes is actually a good thing!

I did notice though that they kind of stung a little bit, and at times my under eye felt itchy.  In the COSDNA Alerts above, Chondrus Crispus (red seaweed extract) did rank 2 of 5 in the Irritant category.  I have had issues with seaweed extracts in the past so I believe this may be the culprit.  However, the patches did not cause any redness so I left them on.  Aside from the initial sting and random itchies, I did enjoy wearing them.

FINAL THOUGHTS

I was actually pleasantly surprised by the TONYMOLY My Little Pet Eye Patch.  They definitely helped plump up and brighten my under eye area at it's worst.  I am not sure of the long term effects of these patches, and at $4.50 a pop I don't think they are economical to use as part of a skin care routine.  They are effective, so I will most likely reserve them to use before a night out on the town or a "Treat Yo Self" evening with wine and cheese!

Rating

I was in the market for a new concealer that looked good both with and without foundation.  Since I had a few ULTA Gift Cards on hand, I decided to go to the nearest store to play with the concealers.  The swatch of the Tarte Shape Tape Concealer settled nicely so I purchased it for this review. 

Tarte Shape Tape
Contour Concealer Review

Tarte Shape Tape Concealer:  Is it worth the hype?

INFO SHEET

Brand:  Tarte
Product:  Shape Tape Contour Concealer
Shade:  Light Medium
Coverage:  High
Dewiness:  Matte
Scent:  Very Subtle, Fresh
Oxidation:  YES! (see below)
Price:  $27.00
Where to Buy:  Amazon, Tarte, Ulta

Tarte Shape Tape Contour Concealer is advertised to have a "hydrating, longwearing formula delivers natural, radiant coverage across all skin types so you can instantly brighten and cover acne, dark circles and redness while softening the look of pores and fine lines." It is also said to be cruelty free, gluten free (what?), and vegan. The packaging style is standard among many concealers, with a familiar tapered wand applicator.  I do like the classy purple and gold design on the cap that just screams "Tarte!"

I like to apply this concealer by dabbing one small dot on the back of my (freshly washed) hand and gently patting it into my under eye with a clean finger.  I have heard that it also works well with a mini beauty blender.

SWATCH

Tarte Shape Tape Concealer in Light Medium is a good match for NC37 (after oxidation).

Tarte Shape Tape Concealer in Light Medium oxidizes significantly.

BEFORE AND AFTER

Tarte Shape Tape Concealer has coverage that just won't quit.

Before we begin, I would like to note that I did not wear foundation for this review nor did I set the concealer with a setting powder.  I also did not blot during the day, for science!  This is just pure, unadulterated, Tarte, my friends.  I chose it in Light Medium because it appeared to be a good match for NC37 at the time.  As you can see above, the Tarte Shape Tape concealer instantly brightened my undereye area and evened out the area around my nose and laugh lines.  It blends well, but dries quickly so you have to work fast.  So far, so good, though!  But how did it fare on a warm day with combination / oily skin?  Very well actually - pretty much as advertised.  Except I don't see how it could qualify as "hydrating."  I do think this concealer might not work for people with dry skin as it might make flaky areas become more apparent.  As for oily skin - I'm used to concealers sliding around my face, but this didn't happen with Shape Tape.  It does settle a bit into the fine lines under the eyes, but many concealers do...  The best way to get around this is to gently press a tissue under the eye after applying in order to absorb excess moisture, and then setting it with a setting powder.

What did happen though, is that it Oxidizes. Like. Crazy.  I think if you were to buy this concealer in a shade that matched your skin tone right out of the tube, you will be sorely disappointed.  The oxidation rate is staggering - leaving it several shades darker than the original application (it's worse in person).  You can test the oxidation by swatching all of the concealers out when you first get to the store, and then continue shopping for at least 20 minutes.  Only then will the true shade be revealed.  Notice that the Light Medium concealer was initially lighter and more yellow than my skin tone, and then it turned slightly darker than NC37 and more pink (you can see it better in person); so simply going lighter might not be the solution.  This may make finding the right color pretty difficult, and I wouldn't buy it without swatching it first.

FINAL THOUGHTS

I like this concealer.  Though it is not perfect as it oxidizes way too much, can settle into fine lines without additional preparation, and might accent dry areas.  A little goes a long way though so the $27 price point is justified.  The Tarte Shape Tape Contour Concealer has coverage that just won't quit.  As a matter of fact, after I swatched it on my arm I tried to wash it off with regular hand soap and it took some serious elbow grease to get it off.  This concealer will definitely require the use of an oil cleanser or makeup remover at the end of the day (which you should be using anyway).

Pricing & Availability

AmazonTarteUlta

I know Tarte Shape Tape gets a lot of hype, but it is a good product.  I do think it is better suited for the younger crowd though.  Personally, I prefer Clé de Peau Beauté' Radiant Corrector for Eyes since at my age my under eye needs a little more nourishment from makeup - not just coverage (massively different price point though so there is no comparison).  At any rate, Tarte Shape Tape is a good product and can be all you need in a concealer - assuming that it matches you after it oxides.

Rating

I usually prefer lip stains over lipstick because I feel they have more staying power with buildable coverage.  I saw TONYMOLY Delight Tony Tint at Urban Outfitters and decided to try it out.  It was only $6, so why not?

TONYMOLY
Delight Tony Tint Lip Stain Review

TONYMOLY Delight Tony Tint Lip Stain

INFO SHEET

Brand:  TONYMOLY
Product:  Delight Tony Tint Lip Stain
Shade:  02 Red
Coverage:  Medium - High
Scent:  Fruity
Price:  $6.00
Where to Buy:  Amazon, Jolse, YesStyle

The packaging is pretty run of the mill compared to other lip stains.  It comes with the standard tube with doe-footed applicator; though it does have a cute little heart shaped cap which I like.  It does a good job staying sealed and has never leaked out in my purse or on an airplane.

SWATCH

TONYMOLY Delight Tony Tint Lip Stain in Shade 02 Red

STAYING POWER

TONYMOLY Delight Tony Tint Lip Stain is long lasting.

The deep red color is what initially caught my attention for the TONYMOLY Delight Tony Tint lip stain.  You can see that this stain is highly pigmented, and should be applied with a gentle hand.  If you apply too much in one go it will settle into the creases of your lips and not look very nice.  I learned this the hard way.  Now when I apply it, I wipe off the excess from the applicator and then do one sheer layer at a time; allowing a few seconds to dry in between coats.  This helps prevent too much product from settling into your lip crease.  For best results, gently exfoliate your lips with a lip scrub or soft tooth brush.  It will not look good if your lips are dry or chapped.

The stain has a gel-like consistency that is not too thick or watery.  You can see above that it does transfer a little bit, but after drinking hot tea it still looked great.  Out of all the lip stains I have tried, this one seems to last the longest.  Even through some meals.  I've gone out to eat sushi and it did not budge.   However, if you are eating greasy food then you may need to reapply as it will not last through a cheeseburger!  For the most part it does not transfer onto surfaces such as clothing or on your significant other's cheek; unless you are really trying to rub it off.

FINAL THOUGHTS

So far this is my favorite lip tint and the only one I keep in my purse.  I like how you can use it with a light application or build it up for a more vibrant look.  I have used other lip tints such as Etude House Dear Darling Tint (not as long lasting), Etude House Fresh Cherry Lip Tint (too oily), Benefit Cosmetics Benetint Cheek & Lip Stain (too watery) and I feel that TONYMOLY Delight Tony Tint has exactly what I'm looking for.  

As winter comes rolling in, you may notice your HG packed skin care routine just isn't cutting it.  What if I told you that you could winterize your skin care regimen with a few small tweaks to your current routine?  It's easy!

Skin Care for Cold Weather

What is the best way to take care of that dry winter skin?

1.  Cut Down on Morning Cleansing

Say No to Foam.

You wake up in each morning with your face feeling soft from your evening routine the night before.  Don't strip that all away by over washing.  Embrace it!  It is winter after all.  Dry skin folks often recommend to simply rinse your face with warm water instead.  However, since I have combination / oily skin, I use a small drop of foaming cleanser and massage it onto my sufficiently wet face (I splash my face at least 20 times beforehand).  It is just enough to "slosh off" the occlusive, sweat, and oils from the night before.  Instead of the cleanser looking foamy on your face, should leave a milky residue instead.  Rinse that milky stuff off with warm water.  You will notice that your skin still feels nourished, but also clean and ready for the next step in your skincare routine.

2.  Start with Damp Skin

One of the biggest things that has helped the dry areas around my mouth is starting my routine while my skin is still damp - right after cleansing.  You want to lock that moisture in and not dry it away.  It really makes a big difference and will also help with the next step!

3.  Take Your Time

You should really be doing this regardless of the season, but in order to get the most out of your skin care products you need to really massage them in for maximum effectiveness.  Think of it as restoring an old dry leather boot :).  When it's cold out, take more time massaging your serums, essences, toners, and creams into your skin (pretty much all of your hydrating products).  You might want to consider using a little more as well.

I remember chatting with a friend while she started her evening skin care routine.  Imagine the horror I felt when I saw her pour an essence into the palm of her hand, dip her finger into it and then dab it all over her face.  I had to say something.  I shrieked like a banshee "WHAT. ARE. YOU. DOING?!" This isn't finger painting, son.  After explaining that the products should be massaged in to get the most out of them, I went home.   A few days later she came to me and said her skin never felt better!  So the moral of the story is:  Don't just use your finger tips, but your entire hand!  Don't scrub, vigorously rub, or pull your skin.  Be gentle, but make sure it gets all up in there.  Not only will it feel great, but will also help protect your skin from the cold.

4.  Wear an Occlusive During the Day

Using an Occlusive can be a game changer.  I use Petroleum Jelly (Vaseline is the name brand).

Yes this even applies to oily skinned ones!  You can get a straight up occlusive like Vaseline (petroleum jelly), or use a moisturizer with occlusive properties.  According to this reddit thread, here are a few recommended products to achieve this:

• Aquaphor
• Benton Snail Bee Steam Cream
• Dr. Jart+ Ceramidin Cream
• Etude House Honey Cera Cream
• Vaseline

The application amount may vary depending on your skin type.  For my combination / oily skin, I apply a very thin layer of Vaseline as the second to last step of my winter skin care routine (the last step being sunblock).  This creates a barrier to lock in the hydrating skin care products I applied in the previous routine steps, as well as shield my skin from the elements.  Vaseline doesn't make my skin more oily, but can be sticky if you apply too much.  You may have to experiment with the amount in order to get a result that you are comfortable with.  My skin feels noticeably softer since I started doing this.

5.  Switch to a Heavy Duty Evening Moisturizer

Pamper your skin in the evening with a moisturizer that has a bit more gusto!  CeraVe in the tub comes to mind with it's sweet sweet ceramides.  Massage it in really well and then follow with an occlusive.  Make sure your moisturizer is water based for maximum hydration.  You can also choose to beef up your current moisturizer by adding a few drops of squalane to help prevent moisture loss.  The Ordinary has a 100% Plant-Derived Squalane for less than $10.

Note:  Never combine ingredients within the packaging.  Always do it in your hand for each use.  For example, don't dump squalane into your moisturizer tub.  Place the amount of moisturizer you are going to use in your hand and then add the squalane before applying.  Skin care products are carefully formulated to balance the appropriate amount of preservatives to the other ingredients within.  Don't offset that balance with your Frankenstein mixture, or you'll end up with your very own mold farm!

6.  Lip Care

Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask is a good way to treat dry winter lips.

One of the worst things about the cold is dry, cracked lips.  It's painful!  One product that I often see highly recommended on the kbeauty forums is Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask.  This mask seems to bring those sore lips back from the brink.  It's simple - apply a generous amount before bed and wipe it away in the morning.  Maybe try a small amount for daytime use as well if it is that cold.

7.  Don't Forget Your Neck and Hands!

Winter weather is harsh on your face, but you shouldn't ignore your neck and hands!  Try to extend your skin care routine down to your neck, rubbing the excess onto your hands.  Sometimes when I use an eye mask, I'll pour the remaining product from the pouch onto my arms, neck, and hands and massage it in.  Why waste it?  You don't want a soft supple grape face on an old raisin body, do you?

8.  Other Thoughts

If you live in a place that experiences extreme cold weather, please keep in mind that everything that touches your face should always be clean.  This should go without saying, but if you wrap a scarf around your face - make sure you wash it regularly.  That tuque of yours?  It touches your forehead.  Keep that clean too.  Maybe buy a few more so you always have clean scarves and hats on hand.  Just be mindful of what touches your face so you can have happy, healthy skin!

Philosophy Renewed Hope in a Jar Skin Tint's description reminded me of a "natural" or "n" type BB Cushion - which I love.  It states that "this whipped water-gel formula offers the all-day hydration and glow benefits... for flawless-looking skin with a healthy, shine-free glow." Okay, now you have my attention.

Philosophy Renewed Hope in a Jar
Skin Tint Review

Philosophy Renewed Hope in a Jar Skin Tint

INFO SHEET

Brand:  Philosophy
Product:  Renewed Hope in a Jar Skin Tint
Shade:  5.5 Beige
Coverage:  Light / Sheer
Dewiness:  Neutral - Not Really Dewy or Matte
Scent:  Very Subtle, Earthy
Oxidation:  Yes - Approx. 12% Darker
Price:  $39.00
Availability:  Ulta, Sephora, etc. (Widely Available)

Philosophy's Renewed Hope in a Jar Skin Tint has packaging very similar to their Hope in a Jar moisturizer.  If you look closely at the simple, no-frills, plastic jar; you will see that its interior contains a false bottom with only 1.0 oz of product inside.  If you normally do not pay attention to product weight, then this may leave you feeling cheated in the end.

The Renewed Hope in a Jar Skin Tint ingredients has some goodies such as Wu Zhu Yu Fruit Extract (aka Evodia Rutaecarpa Extract) which is used as a skin soothing agent in traditional Chinese medicine.  It also contains Saccharomyces Lysate Extract which is a type of yeast and antioxidant said to have potentially positive effects on inflammation.  In addition to these ingredients, the tint is also formulated with many types of silicons and skin conditioning agents; which on paper tells you that the product will have a soft and smoothing effect when applied.

SWATCH

Initial application of Philosophy Renewed Hope in a Jar Shade 5.5 Beige appears light.

However, the level of oxidation is significant (12%) and ends up being a great match for NC 37 skin tone.

BEFORE AND AFTER

Philosophy Renewed Hope in a Jar Skin Tint's coverage is sheer.

My skin above looks very sad and dull because I paused my use of Biologique Recherche Lotion P50 so I could write a review for it.  This worked out for the Philosophy Skin Tint review though, because now you get an idea of the level of coverage it provides.  As you can see above, the coverage is sheer and settles into fine lines just a little bit.  The product description states that the coverage is buildable, but I would argue that it is only to a point.  It did look nice when I applied more than a light layer, but it left me feeling a bit cakey.  I think this product is definitely not meant for high coverage applications, and may be better suited for people who simply want to nourish their skin and even out their skin tone.

Philosophy Renewed Hope in a Jar Skin Tint does have an overall nice consistency, not unlike a whipped mousse.  If you don't put too much, the tint feels light and refreshing when applied.  It also feels a bit hydrating like a water-based moisturizer, and yet it is not runny at all.  Since I have highly reactive combination-oily skin, I often shy away from products that advertise as "hydrating" because they tend to make me look and feel like an oil slick.  However, I was pleasantly surprised with Philosophy Renewed Hope in a Jar Skin Tint because it did not add to my oiliness, nor did it break me out.  Don't get me wrong - it does not prevent oiliness at all, but it does not add to it either.  It may be best suited for people with dry to combination skin though.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Overall, Philosophy Renewed Hope in a Jar Skin Tint is a nice product.  The $39 price is a little high (false bottom jar? come on.) but for me, a little goes a long way.  While it does blur the line between makeup and skin care, I do not think it should be treated as anything more than a foundation.  The ingredients do make it marginally better for the skin compared to other skin tints, and may be a great product to use during the winter.  In the end, I believe it is simply a good quality tinted moisturizer which leaves your skin feeling soft and hydrated, and I do see myself purchasing it again.

If you are like me and prefer a light coverage foundation then this product may be for you.  However, if you have blemishes and uneven skin texture that you would like to cover up, then I would skip it.

Rating

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