Review: Forea Luna Mini

I love trying new things. I could spend hours wandering around Sephora, picking up every tube, jar, and box. I don't even care if I buy anything necessarily. My favorite days are when a consultant comes up and offers me a sample of what I'm looking at. Yay! Sometimes I'm too shy to ask for samples.

Certain things can't be sampled though, and that includes this next little gadget. The Forea Luna Mini is a skin care tool that would be in direct competition with the Clarisonic (which I've never tried). My reasoning for wanting to try the Luna Mini is I really like the idea of having every last bit of makeup removed. I ALWAYS take off my makeup before going to bed. Being on the other side of 35, I also want to be sure that the skin care products that go on after cleansing are being absorbed fully, which apparently doesn't happen if your skin isn't properly cleaned.

So why not Clarisonic? I did some research and realized that with Clarisonic, you have to buy replacement heads. The Luna Mini has no heads to replace. I also didn't like the idea of what might be lurking in the Clarisonic bristles, no matter how well you rinse them. 

I had a decision to make with the color, as it comes in several shades. The turquoise won. It matches our countertop.

I've been using the Luna Mini for about two months now, and I haven't had to recharge it. I wet my face, apply my cleanser of choice directly to my face, then turn on my mini. When you turn it on, it buzzes for about 15 seconds and then there is a pause, which prompts you to move on to the next section of your face. I do left side of chin and left cheek, right side of chin and right cheek, nose, and then forehead last. After one minute it pauses three times, and then I turn it off. I don't use it to take off eye makeup. I do that after using the Mini, with a dedicated eye makeup remover. 

I rinse my face well with water, then pat dry with a towel. 

So, what do I think of it? 

I like it! Admittedly, I don't have what you'd consider "problem skin". I'm not prone to breakouts, nor do I have oily skin or large pores. Since there wasn't really anything I was trying to fix, I can't speak to how well it resolves skin issues. I can say that it makes my skin really soft and feel super clean. I'm glad I bought it, and I will absolutely continue to use it, but if it broke, I don't know that I'd rush out to replace it unless I noticed issues with my skin after stopping it. 

Here's a photo of what I'm using right now for my skin at night. 

Washing face: Luna Mini and either Body Shop Nutriganics Foaming facial Wash or Peter Thomas Roth  Anti-aging Cleansing Gel

Treatment: Either Body Shop Vitamin E Overnight Serum in Oil or Ole Henrickson Pure Truth Youth Activating oil

Moisturizing: Body Shop Nutriganics Smoothing Night Cream

Eye cream: Body Shop Nutriganics Smoothing Eye Cream

Do you use a facial cleansing tool? Please share your opinion!

The Luna Mini retails for C $159 at Sephora.

XOXO

Glitterary Girl

Wedding Wednesday: Night Skin Care Routine

A little while ago, I shared with you my daytime skin routine. I'm trying hard to be diligent with my skin in the months and weeks leading up to the wedding.  Nighttime skin care is quite important as your skin is very clean, allowing for anything you apply to really be able to sink in and do some magic!

I start by cleaning with the same thing I do in the morning, The Body Shop Nutraganics Foaming Cleanser.

Second is my Olay Regenerist Intensive Repair Treatment. I use this on my forehead and the smile lines around my mouth. It doesn't cause me any sensitivity, but my skin isn't very sensitive as a rule. I bought it quite some time ago and it was on clearance, so I'm not sure if it's been discontinued.

Third is The Body Shop Nutraganics Smoothing Night Cream. This leaves my face feeling really soft and well-moisturized.

Last is The Body Shop Nutraganics Smoothing Eye Cream. My eyes never feel dry after using this product. I love how the dispenser allows you to get the exact right amount, so you're not wasting anything.

That is my basic routine and then once per week I exfoliate and on another night I use a mask.

My go-to exfoliators are The Body Shop Aloe Gentle Exfoliator and The Body Shop Vitamin C Microdermabrasion.

I've usually been using some samples I've had of masks from The Body Shop, but last week I used a mask I found at Target, the Cucumber Peel-Off Mask by que bella. My face has been so soft ever since! I can get rough spots on my cheeks at times, and I have had none since I tried this mask. For $1.99, it was a great deal and I have enough left over to apply it again.

I buy my products from The Body Shop when they are half-price (happens once per month or so, although the products last a lot longer than that).

Do you have any night time products that are must-haves? I tend to be a product junkie! I'm happy with what I'm using now, but admit I really would like to try the new Clinique Smart Custom-Repair Serum.

XOXO
Glitterary Girl

Wedding Wednesday: Daytime Skin Care Routine

I like to think I generally take good care of my skin. I've been wearing SPF every day for over ten years, I've been using night cream and eye cream faithfully since my late 20's, and I never EVER sleep with makeup on.

With the wedding a few months away, I questioned whether I had to make any big changes to my routine. After some careful thought, I decided to invest in a few more products and actually use them rather than spend a lot of money on facials. I LOVE facials, but wedding prep s expensive enough and where I don't have any major skin issues, I need spend my dollars on something else.

My daytime routine is more simple than my nighttime routine.

1) After working out (which I will share the details of in another wedding prep post) I wash my face in the shower with The Body Shop Nutriganics Foaming Face Wash. 

2) Once I'm out of the shower and dried off, I immediately apply The Body Shop Nutriganics Drops of Youth. I've been using this product for almost a month now and it is ahhhh-mazing. It gives my skin a glow that nothing else does. I can tell if I forget to use it (which doesn't happen often) and it does wonders to reduce the little lines on the sides of my eyes.  A little goes a long way - I only use a drop or two.

3) I'm not too picky with that I use for SPF. I've tried a few from The Body Shop, but I'm not a huge fan of their SPF 30 product. In the winter, I use SPF 15, but in the summer I always wear SPF 30. Right now I'm using Olay Complete.

4) The last thing I use before make-up (which in the summer is often just concealer and BB cream as far as face products go) is my Vitamin C Skin Boost. from The Body Shop. It makes my skin really soft and acts as a primer. Plus, it smells like oranges which is a great scent to energize you for the day!

I am by no means an expert on skincare, but this routine has been working for me! I'm going to be diligent with it all the way up to the wedding. I have a Love Your Body membership from The Body Shop, which always saves me 10%, and I also only buy my products when they have 50% off skin care (which happens about once a month). I don't have to restock often as it takes me at least three months to get through the products. I just keep a mental note of what I'm getting low on, and when a sale pops up, I buy.

Did you do anything special for your skin before you wedding?

XOXO
Gltterary Girl