A few months ago, a blog post stating Trader Joe’s Ultra Hydrating Gel Moisturizer was as good as La Mer Moisturizing Cool Gel Cream went viral to the point that all of the TJ’s moisturizers sold out nationally. The only way you could get it was to buy from Amazon for triple the price. Instead of paying more, I checked Trader Joe’s weekly until it was in stock and bought 6 of them!

I have been holding off on writing this post until I saw the true effects of the moisturizer. The Trader Joe’s version of the La Mer cream is not the same: it has different ingredients and is missing the highly coveted “La Mer Miracle Broth.” However, it has the same consistency, texture, look, and absorption in to the skin. I tested out the La Mer at a Blue Mercury and found both products absorbed into the skin the same way. With both products, after twenty minutes skin has the same appearance and smoothness.

After daily usage of the Ultra Hydrating Gel Moisturizer for over a month, my skin is significantly smoother. I had the beginnings of wrinkles on my forehead (I am 29, I do not have actual wrinkles) and they have since disappeared, even with my stressful job. The downside of this moisturizer is I breakout sometimes along my jawline as a direct result.

In summary, if you are looking to reduce wrinkles while increasing moisture and smoothness to skin, Trader Joes Ultra Hydrating Moisturizer offers the same immediate benefits as the La Mer cream, however if your skin is very sensitive, as a warning you may break out a little. I cannot speak for long term effects comparison as I have not bought the La Mer cream.

I have always been interested in ELF skincare ever since I first saw it at target. The pretty packaging and low price point caught my eye. After months of deliberation, I bought the ELF Bubble Mask and Daily Hydration Moisturizer only to be disappointed.

In case you did not know from my previous posts, I love bubble masks. The ELF bubble mask application is different than a sheet mask- a thick gel is applied on the face and instantly bubbles. Unlike the bubble sheet masks, this has a real thick soapy feel to the skin. Once I rinsed it off, there was still a heavy, soapy residue. After a switching off between the wash cloth and rinsing, I finally got the residue off my skin.

I followed the bubble mask with the Daily Hydration Moisturizer as per the directions on the Bubble Mask. The moisturizer was very heavy and thick. I did not like it at all.

I will not be trying out any more ELF skin care products. You should not either! I will post soon about some skincare favorites for recommendations.

Many people have asked me to review brow pencils. I have very thick, even eyebrows with a natural arch. After watching one of my favorite Beauty Influencers try on and endorse the LA Girl Shady Slim Brow Pencil, I had to try it.

I bought the shade Medium Brown for $5.49 in the hopes my eyebrows would not be too dark. The pencil does work- if you have sparse or light eyebrows, this will really fill them in. My eyebrow arch was definitely more defined.

For me personally, the darkness of the eyebrows did not look good with my blonde hair- I really cannot afford to fill in my eyebrows with a dark color. Even though the color is Medium Brown, I think its actually darker.

I will continue my search for a low price brow pencil. This will work if you have sparse eyebrows and need to define your arch, as long as you go a few shades lighter than your hair color.

# of times I misted Rose Water Facial Toner on my face today: 4. Its only 2:30. I am officially addicted.

For months, I have been walking past the Trader Joe’s Rose Water Facial Toner in line at check out. As a last minute purchase, I decided to buy it as its only $5.99. I figured its worth trying all Trader Joe’s skin care products as they are all under $10.00.

This morning, after doing a mask, I sat at my desk to do work. I took the top off the Rose Water Facial Toner and misted it on my face. The rose smell is heavenly. I feel so glamorous and luxurious applying it. My skin immediately felt more hydrated and smoother.

As an alternative to applying after a mask or whenever strikes your fancy, the Rose Water toner is great for misting on your face after applying serum or moisturizer to reinforce the hydration. I am going to try it out as a setting spray and report back soon!

Like most women, I am on a journey for flawless skin. I have the perfect primer, moisturizer, foundation, glow mist and setting spray. I just need the perfect loose finishing powder for ultimate airbrushed perfection! I have spent weeks researching and trying out finishing powders at Sephora and Blue Mercury.

For luxury, I tried Laura Mercier, Hourglass Vanish, and Huda Beauty finishing powders. The famous Laura Mercier powder and honestly it did not work for me- too cakey. I loved Hourglass Vanish it but could not justify the $50 price tag. Huda Beauty’s finishing powder was fair at best.

I then began browsing drugstores looking for the perfect powder. I was between the L’Oreal Infallible Loose Powder and the NYX HD Studio Photogenic finishing powder. I settled on the HD Studio as it promises it is a “miracle in a jar.” I need a miracle!

As you know from my posts, I love to put big promises to the test. When you use the powder, be careful- it gets everywhere. The potential dry cleaning bill could be more expensive than the powder. Immediately after applying the powder and using a setting spray, I found my makeup to be a little cakey. I decided to give it time- maybe it’ll settle into the skin better.

It is 9:31 PM now. I did my makeup at 11:30 this morning. 10 hours later, my skin is more flawless and glowing than ever. If you apply this loose setting powder a few hours before leaving the house, you will get the airbrushed, flawless results you are looking for.

One day, I will break down and spend $50 on Hourglass Vanish. I will do a wear test and compare it to NYX HD Studio to tell you which works better.

Garnier Fructis Sleek Shot In Shower Styler promises to “cut sleeking time in half” because there is no longer a need to flat iron hair. I have used this product a few times. The way it works is you mix it with your shampoo, condition as usual, and your hair should miraculously dry quickly and smoothly with a blow dryer. I followed instructions on the bottle exactly. I even followed up using only Garnier blow dry creme and heat protectant. Not only did my hair frizz more, it took longer to dry. The results were so bad I had to use my Beach Waver. My hair did not hold a curl properly so I had to fuss with it another 20 minutes.

If you are looking to cut back on styling time, I suggest using the Bumble and Bumble BB Straight blow dry creme. Even though its $32, it consistently works for me and lasts for months.

Leave a comment on what products cut back on styling time. I would love to hear!

I don’t know about you, but damaged, split ends as a result of heat straightening has been a constant struggle for me. I previously tried the GhD Platinum+ Iron from Sephora for $250 as it promises to limit/reduce damage to hair. I returned it- while my hair was very straight, my ends looked totally fried and split.

My goal is to have the same smoothness of an iron but the volume and style of a blow dryer without having to go through all the work of round brush blowdrying.

A few weeks ago, I bought the Revlon One-Step hair dryer for $60 after watching countless YouTube videos by Beauty Influencers extolling it for smooth, sleek results with a lot of volume.

The Revlon One Step achieved my goal, however it takes a few steps: I rough blow dry my hair to prepare it for the Revlon One Step and after using the One Step, I run flat iron just over the top pieces. This entire process takes thirty minutes- round brush blowdrying usually takes more than double the time and my hair is still a little frizzy.

With the Revlon One Step, my hair looks even better the next day and the style holds for a few days. Then, my hair perfectly prepped for when I go to curl it with the Beach Waver.

The Revlon One Step takes the time and work out of round brush blowdrying with the same results. I would definitely recommend it for those looking for. a smooth, silky blowout with a lot of volume!

I have been intrigued by the Glam Glow Gravity Mud Firming Treatment mask for $59 ever since I saw one of my favorite Beauty Influencers use it. Even though the company promises firmer, more tightened, and toned skin with use of the mask, I cannot justify $59 for a peel-off mask. I noticed the Wet n Wild Glitter Mask for $8.99 and Glam Glow mask appear identical in the jar and did some research- they have almost identical ingredients.

To reward myself for a long week of hard work, I bought the Wet n Wild Detox It Purifying Glitter Mask for $8.99. The mask is fun- it is charcoal with a lot of glitter!

After doing the Wet n Wild mask, my skin feels smoother. The ingredients between the Wet n Wild and Glam Glow masks are so close, I doubt the Glam Glow mask would be any better.

If you are looking for a fun, glittery peel off mask to smooth out your skin and want to save $50, the Wet n Wild mask is perfect for you!

Have you ever been in the situation where you saw someone wearing clearly the wrong lipstick and did not say anything because you were being polite? This would happen if you left the house wearing the Maybelline Made for All lipstick!

None of the colors worked! The Pink for Me had this weird brown undertone, the Mauve for Me was too dark and the Plum for Me was too severe. The colors may work for olive or deeper skin tones. This is why I believe Maybelline Made for All is actually Made for Very Few.

If I learned anything from this experience, it is that lipsticks need customized to suit skin, eye color, hair color, etc. The next time I buy lipstick, it will be from a Department store or Blue Mercury where I will have someone help me try on many options.

In a future post, I will write about how to find the perfect lipstick!

Every Monday, I will be trying out a new polish! Note: there has been a delay in posting due to the editing process.

Last summer, I was at a Happy Hour and I saw this girl with the perfect light blue gel manicure. That night, I went out and bought Wet n Wild 1 Step Wonder gel polish in “Air Apparent.” I ran out of the polish this week and desperately needed light blue nails (who doesn’t?) and bought Sally Hansen Hard as Nails Xtreme Wear polish in Babe Blue for less than $3 while I was at Target. As you can see, the color applies beautifully.

Light blue nail polish is perfect for the spring or summer if you want to change things up! Comment on colors you want me to try out next week.