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Valentia Retinol Serum [ review ]

About the Product (as per Valentia):
Valentia Night Revive Retinol Serum - A transformative retinol serum that fights wrinkles and provides hydration, for visibly smoother, rejuvenated skin.

This Retinol Serum Will:
- Diminishes wrinkles
- Stimulates collagen
- Improves skin tone
- Manages breakouts
- Conditions skin

Specially selected ingredients work together to achieve optimum results.

KEY INGREDIENTS:

- Retinol (Vitamin A): Works at the cellular level to stop winkles, manage breakouts, and evens out skin discoloration.

- Vitamin C: Guards skin against environmental free-radicals to prevent premature aging.

- Vitamin E: Provides intense hydration to diminish the drying effects of retinol.

- Squalane: Derived for pure olive oil to soften and condition delicate skin.


My Review:

Valencia products can never do me wrong. I usually never have any complaints about it. This time I am coming to you with a serum. This may be the last product I will be reviewing from this company. I haven't seen myself draw to the 'Valentia' products when I have A LOT of other skincare products on my vanity (just to be very honest). However, if you do want an inexpensive option, these products are very much the products to use. With their natural ingredients and catering to sensitive skin you cannot go wrong. Best part, it is cruelty FREE!!

The serum itself looks very milky and is really fluid in texture. Leaves your skin very supple and moisturized. It is not thick on your skin but a perfect layer underneath your moisturizer. It is a good product, I can't complain. It makes my skin smooth and soft after application.

As for long term results, I'm not sure if I saw a huge difference or even any.

If you are interested see the website here
& you can also purchase it on amazon!

xoxo

Products have been sent to me by Valentia however, words are 100% my own

Etude House - Any Cushion Cream Filter [REVIEW]

The cushion hype is real and it's not going away any time soon because they're coming out with more and MORE products! Today I will be giving you a short review about the new 'Any Cushion Cream Filter.' What is different about this one is the packaging. It is not your average sponge with bb cream infused it but there is a netting on top giving you the perfect amount for each application. The sponge may give you an uneven distribution on the product but with the netting it gives you a even thing layer of product.

Now first off, how CUTE is the packaging. It's now a lot more sleek and compact than previous cushions but has the same amount of product. Also, it's PINK!

They did make a make up brush just for this product and it reminds me of the Real Technique contour brush from their metals collection. The brush is very dense but very soft!

Pros

• Natural look
• light to medium coverage giving you the "I woke up like this" look
• Has more shades
• I got the darkest shade "tan" and it works pretty well with my skin tone
• Dewy finish
• I have dry skin so this formulation is perfect for me - no dry patches
• Lightweight
• you can't even feel it on your face
• Brush helps with coverage

Cons

• Those sensitive to smell, may not like this product. It has a heavy floral scent to it
• but me personally I love the smell
• Light to medium coverage
• again, this maybe a con to some people wanting a full coverage bb cream
• Leaves sticky texture
• I'm sure this is how it gives you that dewy look but it's too much for me.
• Product transfer
• this product does transfer on to things, so avoid hugging those with white shirts lol
• Not sure how it's going to be one the product starts running out. At least with the sponge we would flip it over to get more product, but I'm not sure about the new one. Not sure how we will be able to utilize everything single drop of it's goodness. 
• It does need time to oxidize 
• meaning, you will have this white/grayish tint that will eventually go away and blend into your skin tone. 

Overall I give this product 4 out of 5 stars. The formulation can be better in terms of stickiness but I guess you can't help it if you want that dewy finish. I wish the coverage was a tiny bit better than what it is now but I can't complain to much.

Would I re-purchase this? MAYBE. This seems first of it's kind in terms of "packaging" next to the Missha one, so I can only see room for improvement, but I am happy with this product! 

Watch Demo video here

Blends out really well!

Valentia Pure Glow Brightening Moisturizer [review]

I'm back at it again with another skincare product review. And it's by a brand you've probably seen many times on my blog. I continue to review their products because I want to show that there is a cheaper alternative when it comes to skincare products which also gives amazing results. Valencia is one of them. They a brand that use all natural ingredients and is perfect for my sensitive skin. 

This Brightening Moisturizer Will:

• Lighten dark spots
• Restore skin radiance
• Even skin tone
• Diminish fine lines
• Provide all-day hydration

Specially selected ingredients work together to achieve optimum results.

KEY INGREDIENTS:

• Botanical Hyaluronic Acid: Floods skin with moisture, supports skin elasticity, and plumps skin from within.
• Kojic Acid: Controls melanin production and prevents dark spots.
• Ginseng: Boosts skin firming collagen, fights wrinkles, and gives the skin a brighter and more energized look.
• Safflower Oil: Repairs skin's natural moisture barrier and provide superior skin protection.
• Shea Butter: Infuses skin with a myriad of vitamins and nutrients for superior skin hydration and nourishment

Now, I've been using this for about 2 weeks and so far I can't find any complaints. I haven't broken out yet and it is very light weight and moisturizing. Sometimes I even just put this moisturizer on without any other skincare products before work and my face is ok for majority of my shift. I do not think this lasts the entire day for me because of my skin type but you have to understand that every skin is different. My chin area gets really dry but then my nose and forehead gets super oily (in general). After applying this product, it cannot withstand both. By the end of my shift, my T zone area is a bit oily and my chin area is again dry - but I don't necessarily blame the product for that - i think that's just my skin going back to it's natural state pre-moisturizer. This is why I say that I don't think the moisturizer lasts 24 hours. However, in my opinion it is a good time to wash your face again and reapply. They say the best skincare method is to just keeping your skin clean so just like you brush your teeth midday, why not wash your face in the process as well?

They provide a good size product in such a sleek packaging. My only issue I think with this brand is that EVERY SINGLE PACKAGE LOOKS THE SAME. The label is also the same, with the same font so if you have more than one product on your vanity, you will get confused. You have to really look and read the product before using and although this is not a bother to most people, but I know there are others who usually just choose their skincare products off their vanity just by looking at the packaging itself. The moisturizer does stand out because it is bigger than the other products that I have by them however, if they start coming out with more products with that size, it may be confusing again. 

I give this product a 3.5/5. I can't give it the full 5 because I have other products that I love so much more BUT I probably will fit this in somewhere in my skincare rotation. 

If you want to check out other reviews I've done by Valencia, click the following links:

• http://thegracerysh0p.blogspot.com/2014/08/review-first-impression-valentia-even.html
• http://thegracerysh0p.blogspot.com/2016/05/revitalize-and-detoxify-skincare-for.html 
• http://thegracerysh0p.blogspot.com/2016/07/roses-are-red-wrinkles-give-you-blues-i.html

xoxo

**This product was sent to me by Valencia, words are 100% my own*
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01H582SGI
http://valentia.com
https://www.instagram.com/valentianatural
www.facebook.com/valentiabeauty

Feel like a mermaid on land with AQUATION - Super moisturizing Super hydrating [REVIEW]

Another brand I've never heard of and never would have tried without this opportunity and boom, game changer. This literally makes you feel like a mermaid on land. The hydrating effect is so good that no moisture will leave your skin.



If you've been here for awhile I've talked about my skin type. It is very sensitive to products and I have super dry acne prone skin. I have a lot of blemishes from past breakouts and acne scars. So finding a product that works for me is hard sometimes. & if it works in the beginning, after awhile it just stops so before this review I used it for sometime before reviewing to get the full effectiveness of the product.



Cleanser - Reminds ms of the Cetaphil cleanser, however, the feeling of this cleanser is a bit more heavy to the touch. BUT, once washed off it doesn't leave any residue, it only leaves your skin super smooth and clean. Doesn't have a scent and it's very gentle on the skin.



Cream - This cream reminds me of First Aid Beauty. In my opinion it's an affordable dupe. It leaves your skin little heavy in the beginning but it quickly goes away. I like this because you can tell it's keeping the moisture sucked into your skin. If the short term heaviness bothers you - definitely use it at night and your face will be so supple and smooth in the morning.  I also love the packaging! It's a pump! So sanitary and efficient.



Lotion - For those who want less of that heavy feel of the cream, try this one out. Does the same thing  but thinner consistency. You can also use these product on other parts of your body not just your face! Multi-functional and a bang for your buck!

I highly recommend these products. I've been using it for about 2 weeks now and I haven't even touched my higher end products even as a back up plan so you know these are working! If you're looking for products solely for acne prone - I wouldn't recommend these products alone because I think these are just for cleansing in general. But if you add on a acne product along with these, I'm pretty sure it'll do that job keeping your face super clean and smooth. Just like the name "Aquation" it keeps your face super moisturized like a mermaid on land - no need for extra hydration because the products alone are enough.

xoxo

Disclaimer: Products have been provided to me by Aquation but words and opinions are 100% my own

Fashion Finds - June 2016 Edition

I feel like I haven't done one in a very long time, but here are a few of my recent fashion finds that I wanted to share with you guys & also how I shopped for these items.

Pictured on the left

Brandy Melville Studded purse
One of the most coveted pieces of Brandy Melville that a lot of girls are STILL trying to get their hands on. They do not sell this in stores anymore so the only way you can get your hands on these are through sample sales (at least that's what I heard) and the internet. I've seen them on ebay, poshmark, and a lot of other selling websites. But what I did notice is that a lot of the sellers marked up their prices. This is common when searching for items that are in hot demand (supply and demand ring a bell?). This bag retailed for $35 or so but now I see them on sale for $50-60 & even more! It made me totally regret not buying it when I saw it in stores many moons ago. But why did I join this hype? Well here are my two cents on why this bag is great. It's trendy. Duh G, that is why everyone wants it. Well not only trendy but it's simple with a punch. The studs give it a great accent and it's not too crazy because it is hidden at the bottom. This is right up my ally. another thing is that it is pretty well made. It's hard sometimes to find a decent quality inexpensive bag. Also the size is perfect. It may seem small but when you start shoving all your junk, I mean things into it, it will literally fit EVERYTHING (minus your laptop). Plus it's a knock off of the infamous Alexander Wang Rockie. What's not to love about that bag? Now how much did I pay for? $35 flat shipped. To me this is a good deal because it is not available in stores or on their own website and you most likely would have to buy it off of someone. Since a lot of the bags were marked up so high when I found this seller on Mercari, I thought it was too good to be true. I think I even negotiated with her. It was brand new, even came in a dust bag with labels and all. I know it is same as buying it at the retail price but the $35 also came with the purse being shipped to my doorstep. I didn't have to move my butt anywhere. So I bought it, and I don't regret it at all.

Shopping Tip: research because someone always has a better price. Don't go overboard and wait couple years to buy something but find a few reasonable listings and negotiate if you can to get the best deal!

Pictured on the right

Dooney Bourke Pebbled Vintage Purse
Dooney doesn't make purses like these anymore. This is a vintage design from back in the day. Not so hard to find but hard to find in a good price these days. A lot of second hand sellers and stores sell them for probably about $50+ This beauty I found at a thrift store for 14.99. However, I paid $1.00. How? Thrift stores! A friend of mine introduced me to a thrift store that is a chain - a concept I never really heard of except for like good will or salvation army. Not only is this place a chain but they also have coupons? like whaaaattt? They day I went they had a promotion where everything was 50% off and then I had a coupon for $10 off my purchase because I was referred to by a friend for signing up on their app (yes they have an app as well). So I picked up a few other items along with this bag and BAM! The cost was so little I couldn't even handle it.

Shopping Tip: THRIFTING! Something that I've only recently gotten really into. Someone else's garbage can end up being your treasure. Check out your local thrift stores for interesting pieces.

Calvin Klein Bralettes
Yes these are slightly different than the ones you usually see because the lining with the logo is a bit thinner, but trust me, these are exactly the same. They are just as comfortable and absolutely amazing. No these are not knock offs. I purchased this as a set in TJ Maxx and they were less than $20.

Shopping Tip: Go to stores like TJ Maxx, Marshalls, Nordstrom Rack, etc. to find designer pieces. Their prices are affordable and the pieces are great. Certain things may be "last season" but who cares?!?!!

Victoria Secret Work Out Pants
Also pictured above are a pair of gray work out pants from VS. Super comfortable SUPER versatile. I honestly wear these as regular pants as well because it's just so comfortable and great for lazy day outfits.

Shopping tip: Pick items that are verstile/multi-functional. You will get more bang for your buck!

 

 

Banana Republic Floral Dress, #3 shorts, #2 floral pants
I put all these in the same category because they were all from Banana Republic, and my shopping tip for this group is the same as well. Beautiful as these items look, the prices was beautiful as well. Banana republic has a lot of sales, and along with that a lot of coupons and rewards that comes with having their stores credit card.

Shopping Tip: Coupons and Rewards from store credit cards. You hear horror stories about having too many credit cards and not being able to keep in track, but if you shop at a certain store all the time, you mind as well open up their credit card (if they have one) and collect the rewards. Usually it depends on how much you purchase at the store but in the end it'll all add up and you'll get a lot of benefit from it.

Zara Long black Button Town
This is not only great for fall or winter time, but also the summer. The flowyness of the piece makes your outfit breathable and lets the wind rush in. Zara was having one of their big sales were half the store is on sale and bought this piece for $19.99.

Shopping Tip: Wait for sale periods. Stores like Zara, Victoria Secret, Forever21, any store you can think of will have an annual sale or a HUGE sale of some sort to get rid of inventory. There is always going to be that one big sale that will break or bank probably but you'll get a "bang for your buck."





Triangl Neoprene Bikini
I honestly don't know the name of this particular style nor do I really care so yes I bought into the hype. And the hype is real - now I can see why. This swimwear is amazing quality and very comfortable. the most comfortable I've worn yet. Although the price is pretty steep, I see it as an investment piece. I mostly likely won't wear any other swim suit besides this one.

Shopping Tip: Investment. This may not seem like a 'discount' tip but it is also a very crucial one. Making an investment on a expensive good quality piece may save you money in the end. Instead of buying cheap quality things repeatedly that will only save you money temporarily - you should buy pieces that will last you a long time. And for this to work, invest in pieces and items that are classic and won't go out of fashion. So no trendy items! Trends come and go. Go classic.

"Stop Following Me" T-shirt from Forever21
Basics are a must. This is not exactly the perfect basic T-shirt but it is enough to state my point. Basic top will go with anything and everything; especially neutral colored pieces. Pair it with some crazy prints and you'll be golden.

Stay tuned for an upcoming lookbook styling White Ts. 

Shopping Tip: Get Basic. Basics goes with everything and anything (you just said that). It's true, one basic T-shirt can be turned into at least 100s of outfits to mix and match and this will save you money rather than buying multiple crazy print outfits. Do the math!



Check out my online shopping tips for more tips and tricks!

xoxo