Wet n' Wild Sweet As Candy Tutorial

I have been reading blogs and watching videos raving about Wet n' Wild's amazing come back, and I finally decided to get a piece of their cosmetics and see for myself if their formulas have changed.  I used to use Wet n' Wild cosmetics when I first started playing with makeup, they were cheap and the quality was pretty much worth the couple bucks it cost.  I bought myself the Wet n' Wild Color Icon Eyeshadow Trio in Sweet As Candy.

After using it a couple times, I'm excited to say this is a perfect trio to travel with or use every day - I love the pigmentation of the shadows, I like the color combination it has, and the looks you can either use a base to make the colors pop or use on it's own for a soft and pretty look.  I go this trio on sale for $2.24 online at CVS's website, I can definitely see myself building a collection of these.
Here's photos of the look I created (I opted for the more POPPING colors):

Here's the tutorial on how to get this look:

Estee Lauder - All Day Lipstick

When I was a tiny little girl, I used to think "makeup" and Estee Lauder were the same thing - Estee Lauder has been a staple cosmetic brand in our family for as long as I can think back.  Earlier this year, I bought my own Estee Lauder All Day Lipstick - it comes in the same styled tube I grew up with - and it has become the only lipstick I grab for when I am going out for an all day event or going out at night for something special.  I purchased the lipstick in the shade Mocha Pink, this is a neutral pink - kind of like my lip color, just a bit prettier.  This lipstick applies very smooth, it's creamy and lasts a good 4 hrs on me without having to reapply.  I usually apply it with my finger by pressing it into my lips and then I lightly blot it and reapply a tiny bit straight from the tube.  This seems to make the color last longer - of course, if you eat or drink it'll probably start to fade earlier.  I absolutely love this color, and I think Estee Lauder All Day Lipsticks are just gorgeous!

The next Estee Lauder All Day Lipstick I want to buy is the shade Rich and Rosy, but at $17.50 it may take me a while to justify buying another soon:

Cosmetic Ingredient Awareness: phthalate

I have been using Barista Bath & Body's Triple Shot 3-in-1 Coffee Shower Gel for a few weeks, and while I was filming my Hautelook Haul video, I noticed the bottle says "phthalate free".  And in my moment of mispronunciation, I admitted I didn't know what phthalates were and began my research to find out what this ingredient is and how is it harmful enough to be advertised as non existent in my shower gel.
First off.. phthalate is pronounced as thal-ate :)
Second.. Here's the first line found on Wikipedia:
Phthalates, or phthalate esters, are esters of phthalic acid and are mainly used as plasticizers (substances added to plastics to increase their flexibility, transparency, durability, and longevity). They are used primarily to soften polyvinyl chloride. Phthalates are being phased out of many products in the United States, Canada, and European Union over health concerns.
My reaction.. wth is this doing in cosmetic products?!?!
On to the top facts about phthalates, I found these to be very interesting and I think everyone should at least familiarize themselves with this ingredient, even if you're not a label reader.

Phthalates are used in a large variety of products, from enteric coatings of pharmaceutical pills and nutritional supplements to viscosity control agents, gelling agents, film formers, stabilizers, dispersants, lubricants, binders, emulsifying agents, and suspending agents.
Personal-care items containing phthalates include perfume, eye shadow, moisturizer, nail polish, liquid soap, and hair spray.
Body-care products containing phthalates are a source of exposure for infants. The authors of a 2008 study "observed that reported use of infant lotion, infant powder, and infant shampoo were associated with increased infant urine concentrations of [phthalate metabolites], and this association is strongest in younger infants. These findings suggest that dermal exposures may contribute significantly to phthalate body burden in this population." Though they did not examine health outcomes, they noted that "Young infants are more vulnerable to the potential adverse effects of phthalates given their increased dosage per unit body surface area, metabolic capabilities, and developing endocrine and reproductive systems."
(courtesy of Wikipedia)

Although most phthalates make vinyl flexible for a wide variety of uses, a few phthalates are, or have been, used in personal care products, such as perfumes, lotions, and nail polish. Recent media reports have erroneously suggested that the use of these products results in unsafe exposures to phthalates. In fact, the level of phthalates in cosmetics and other products is quite small (2 percent or less of the product). An extensive review of the scientific literature by an expert panel of the Cosmetics Ingredient Review, comprised of seven dermatologists and toxicologists, plus representatives of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the Consumer Federation of America (CFA), declared the phthalates “safe as used” in personal care products.
Like all of the phthalates on the market today, those phthalates used in personal care products do not build up in the body, but break down within minutes and are quickly eliminated from the body.
DEP, or diethyl phthalate, is the most common of the phthalates used in personal care products. DEP is a clear liquid with no or little odor. It is the lightest in weight of the commonly used phthalates, and is sometimes used in cosmetics, air fresheners, and other products to make fragrances last longer -- typically at concentrations of less than 2 percent of the total product. Since fragrances are often complex combination of natural and man-made substances, manufacturers are not required to list each individual ingredient in a fragrance. Like all other ingredients used in cosmetic and personal care products, fragrances are regulated by the federal FDA and thoroughly evaluated for safety prior to use in marketed products.
DBP, dibutyl phthalate, has been used in nail polish to make it both flexible and resistant to chipping. Restrictions on its use in nail polish and other cosmetics in Europe have caused most manufacturers to eliminate the use of DBP in nail products. Numerous reviews in the United States and Europe suggest, however, that exposure to DBP through regular use of nail polish products poses little or no risk to humans.
(courtesy of American Chemistry)

They are used primarily at concentrations of less than 10% as plasticizers in products such as nail polishes (to reduce cracking by making them less brittle) and hair sprays (to help avoid stiffness by allowing them to form a flexible film on the hair) and as solvents and perfume fixatives in various other products.
(courtesy of FDA)

Shopping - Hautelook - Barista Bath & Body (B3 Products), Bubalina, BeFine

A few weeks ago I bought a few items off of Hautelook's website - I always check there site daily for awesome deals on beauty products, furniture, clothes, accessories and any other deals they are offering.  I decided to try out some organic products from Barista Bath & Body (B3), Bubalina, and BeFine .  When they came, I was so excited to try them out because I am a huge coffee drinker and lover of coffee scented stuff!  So, the past few weeks my boyfriend and I have been using these products and we both really like them - so I thought I'd type up and film a brief review for you.
Enjoy!

B3 Triple Shot 3-in-1 Shower Gel
Original Price: $15.00
Hautelook Price: $6.99
My thoughts: I absolutely love this shower gel, it smells so good, just like fresh brewed coffee!  It leaves my skin feeling smooth and hydrated all day!  I will definitely be repurchasing this when it runs out.

B3 Room For Cream Exotic Origin Body Creme
Original Price: $22.00
Hautelook Price: $14.29
My thoughts: This creme is thick and luxurious, I love using it at night on my hands arms - it feels amazing when you massage it into your skin.  It keeps my skin super soft and hydrated.

Bubalina Natural Organics Vanilla Natural Treatment Lip Balm
Original Price: $11.00
Hautelook Price: $5.50
My thoughts: Not so impressed - I don't like that this lip balm is so hard and in a deep jar, it's hard to get the product out.

BeFine Facial Moisturizing Bronzer
Original Price: (product is no longer available)
Hautelook Price: $14.99
My thoughts: It's a natural tan shade and will be perfect to blend out tan lines this summer.  I wish I bought another one because I cannot find it anywhere online.


Here's my video review on these products:


Check out Hautelook - you end up saving anywhere from 20%-80% on name brand products!

Burt's Bees Radiance Facial Cleanser

How it Works: This light lotion cleanser removes dirt, oil and make-up, revealing a smooth and radiant complexion. A gentle plant-based cleansing complex plus jojoba beads and a fruit acid complex help encourage normal skin cell turnover. While royal jelly, one of nature’s most nutritious substances, helps enhance skin’s natural radiance. Your skin appears brighter and younger-looking, naturally. 

How to Use It: Wet your face and apply the cleanser with your fingertips or a washcloth, massaging gently to loosen and remove dirt and makeup. Rinse thoroughly with warm water and follow with a cool rinse. Complete your daily regimen with a toner and your favorite Burt's Bees cream or lotion.

Featured Ingredient: Royal Jelly — Very nourishing, royal jelly is made of nectar, pollen, flower parts, vitamins, minerals, bee hormones and other natural ingredients.

99% Natural

Retails: $10.00

I really like Burt's Bees products, and have been even using their baby products on my little girl.  Last week I decided to try out the Radiance Facial Cleanser in my skincare routine.  Unfortunately it only took me a week to stop using this product all together.  I had stopped using my Juice Beauty Milk Cleanser during this trial, and by the 2nd day I noticed my forehead, nose and chin became red and dry like it used to be before I began using my Juice Beauty Milk Cleanser.  My cheeks were even dryer than normal, and after rinsing my face it felt tight and drying up quickly.  I would be rushing to get a moisturizer before my dry skin began peeling or flaking.  It was just not right for me, and I was honestly disappointed because I really hoped this would work out.  The cleanser consistency is thin, almost watery and when you pump it out and begin to massage it into your facial skin, it starts to lightly lather up.  It does help loosen your makeup and make it easy to remove with a wipe - but it is still very drying.  I looked through the ingredients and I can't figure out what exactly made it dry out my skin.  I'm truly perplexed and very sad that I actually dislike a Burt's Bees product!
Another thing I wanted to point out - I read up on Royal Jelly, and apparently it's thought to brighten and lengthen the longevity of the skin, but in reality it doesn't really do anything at all.  I did not see any brightening after my one week use of this product.

I don't think I would recommend this product to anyone, because if my combo skin couldn't stay moisturized and red-free, then I'm not sure who this would work for.  Maybe if you have very oily skin, this might help reduce the amount of oil produced on your face.  Now I have to rehab my skin to get back my healthy glow I got from the Juice Beauty cleanser. 

UPDATE 4/27/11: My boyfriend has been using this cleanser for a few weeks and likes it a lot - it's not drying on his skin (I think his skin type is normal, while mine is combination/oily) so this cleanser is good for people with normal skin.

*Product(s) were received for trial/review; these are my honest opinions 

Beauty Palettes - Krystal's Collection and Recommendations

I have never been a huge fan of beauty palettes - they're messy and I hate particles mixing in with other pans - yuck!
But... Since I started doing other people's makeup, I have slowly built a small collection of palettes that I actually like and enjoy having.  They are quick and easy for travel and setup, they hold more colors and it's easier to just hold a palette and brush than to have a ton of single items in your hands.

Here are the palettes that I own:
E.L.F. Studio Endless Eyes Pro Mini Eyeshadow Palette - $5 - 32 Eyeshadow Shades

E.L.F. Studio Endless Eyes Pro Eyeshadow Palette - $10 - 100 Eyeshadow Shades

E.L.F. Studio 83 Piece Essential Makeup Collection - $35 - 64 Eyeshadow Shades, 8 Lip Gloss Shades, 4 Blush Shades, 4 Bronzer Shades

Crown Brush Blush Palette - $16 - 10 Blush Shades

Crown Brush Color Warm Palette - $24 - 88 Eyeshadow Shades

BH Cosmetics Color Matte Palette - $20 - 88 Eyeshadow Shades

BH Cosmetics Color Shimmer Palette - $20 - 88 Eyeshadow Shades

E.L.F. Essentials Beauty Encyclopedia - Eye Edition - Everyday, Basic, and Sparkle - $5 ea - 12 Eye Shadow Shades, 2 Cream Eye Shadow Shades, 1 Eyeliner, 1 Eye Shadow Brush

E.L.F. Essentials Beauty Encyclopedia - Face Edition - $5 - 4 Shimmer Creams, 4 Concealers, 1 Bronzer, 1 Blush, 1 Face Brush

E.L.F. Essentials Beauty Encyclopedia - Lip Edition - $5 - 12 Lip Color Shades, 2 Lip Gloss Shades, 1 Lip Liner, 1 Lip Defining Brush

Hope this was helpful those of you thinking of experimenting with makeup, just starting out with makeup or an avid user of makeup but on a budget.  Just one palette turned me into a lover of palettes, but I recommend keeping it logically - don't go crazy and feel the need to own every single palette every company has to offer.  I suggest only buying what you need, and don't waste your money on duplicate palettes from other companies, because in my experience, they are pretty much the same (for example, all the 88 palettes are very similar and not worth buying every one of them).
Definitely check out E.L.F.'s palettes, they are inexpensive and good quality - with a great color selection for the everyday wearable looks women love to sport!

Cosmetic Ingredient Awareness: mineral oil

The first time I heard of mineral oil, my friend had bought a bottle to help his horribly bad sun burn... I don't know what he was trying to accomplish.  I was looking into skincare products online, and while reading the descriptions, they mentioned the products have no mineral oil.  I didn't know that products even had mineral oil in them.  So I began searching what mineral oil was and is used for and why cosmetics use it.  The information I found is a bit confusing - pretty much the mineral oil ingredient is not harmful unless you have an allergy to it or you use that product everyday of your life.
I don't know... based on what I found, I'm not going to go out of my way to avoid products that have mineral oil, but I will better understand why some products will not keep me as hydrated as they claim to.  Below is some interesting information I found:

(courtesy of Wikipedia)
A mineral oil or liquid petroleum is a liquid by-product of the distillation of petroleum to produce gasoline and other petroleum based products from crude oil.
Mineral oil is generally safe for human contact and consumption and has been approved by the FDA in personal care and cosmetic products, as well as for an additive for food to 10 mg/kg of daily consumption.
Mineral oil is a common ingredient in baby lotions, cold creams, ointments and cosmetics. It is a lightweight inexpensive oil that is odorless and tasteless. It can be used on eyelashes to prevent brittleness and breaking and, in cold cream, is also used to remove creme make-up and temporary tattoos. One of the common concerns regarding the use of mineral oil is its presence on several lists of comedogenic substances. These lists of comedogenic substances were developed many years ago and are frequently quoted in the dermatological literature. A study reported in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology (2005) found that the type of highly refined and purified mineral oil found in cosmetic and skincare products is noncomedogenic (does not cause acne).

(courtesy of Healthy-Communications.com)

The allergic reactions can become quite serious in time leading to arthritis, migraine, hyperkinesis, epilepsy and diabetes.

The fact that mineral oil does not penetrate the skin well makes it inappropriate for use in an absorption base in a skin cream of any kind. In fact, mineral oil-containing cosmetics can produce symptoms similar to dry skin by inhibiting the natural moisturizing factor of your skin. Petrolatum, paraffin or paraffin oil and propylene glycol are other common cosmetic forms of mineral oil.

Has tendency to dissolve the skin's own natural oil and thereby increase dehydration. Mineral oils have been found to be probably the single greatest cause of breakouts in women who use a new product.

China Glaze Spontaneous, China Glaze Medallion, LA Splash Psychedelic

When I played with the China Glaze Crackle Glaze polishes, one of the colors I used as a base was China Glaze's Spontaneous, and I loved it sooo much I decided to use it again today.  It's such a pretty purple, opaque in 2 coats.  I personally like to do at least one of my nails a little different than the others.  On my pinky nails I applied a coat of China Glaze's Medallion, and on my index nails I applied LA Splash's Nail Glitter in Psychedelic on the tips.
Base Coat: Seche Vite Crystal Clear Base Coat
Top Coat: Seche Plus Fortified Strengthener

China Glaze Spontaneous, China Glaze Medallion, LA Splash Psychedelic

Pinky: Medallion on top of Spontaneous, Index: Psychedelic on the tip of Spontaneous, Ring, Middle, Thumb: Spontaneous

oxoxo
Krystal

All About Brushes: Synthetic Brushes

When I first started using makeup brushes, I hated synthetic brushes because they used to be stiff and hard to use.  But over the years I have found some interesting information about synthetic brushes, and some amazing companies that supply synthetic brushes that feel like natural hair brushes.  Synthetic brushes are a great alternative for people who are eco-friendly or vegan because they do not include any natural animal hairs.  These brushes are polymer filaments specifically made and tested to mimic natural hairs.  Just as with natural-hair brushes, manufacturers may blend different synthetic filaments to achieve desired characteristics.  Natural hair may be part of the brushes as well, so be sure to check if the brush(es) are 100% synthetic.  Synthetic brushes can be used with all mediums; short-handled, soft brushes are preferred for lighter products such as powders.  While thick, tougher fiber will not hold as much liquid, but can carry and manipulate thicker products such as creams.

 Nylon

photo from www.brushes-manufacturers.com

Texture: stiff, slick

Usually used for eyebrow groomer or eyebrow brush as it is harder than Taklon. Nylon is a common cheaper substitute for natural bristles which are naturally stiff. But, some big cosmetic companies are using nylon for concealer brushes, eyeliner brushes, etc, and not as a substitute for natural bristles but for Sable instead.

Taklon

photo from www.indeustch.com

Texture: stiff, slick

These are the most economical grade of synthetic fibers. Though these hairs retain a very good point (tip) they have limited strength and spring. Usually orange or white in color, are commonly used as concealer brush or liquid or cream foundation brush. Taklon is used as a more affordable substitute for Sable but lacks durability as it tends to 'fan out' and become stiffer with each use.

Toray

photo from www.indeustch.com

Texture: strong, flexible

Toray is the best quality hair in synthetic fiber. Its consistency makes it ideal for use in oil and acrylic. The hair retains the original shape after use and give correct degree of strength & spring

Teijin

photo from www.indeustch.com

Texture: fine, smooth, strong

Teijin hairs are better version of Synthetic Fiber. Very shiny in color and fine in texture, these are good for usage by artists. These hairs score high on strength and spring as well

Tynex

photo from www.indeustch.com

Texture: thick, tough

These are straight cut filaments, much harder and thicker than other synthetic hair- a good substitute for bristle brushes for amateurs

Websites used to obtain this information:
Brushes Manufacturers
A-Squirrel
Indeutsch Industries

Recommended brands to check out for synthetic hair brushes that feels like natural hair brushes:
Sigma Beauty - synthetic brushes
Crown Brush - synthetic brushes
MAC Cosmetics - synthetic brushes

Beauty By Krystal - Top Beauty Blogs to Watch in 2011

This morning I woke up to the most exciting news ever!  Beauty By Krystal was chosen to be listed on beautyschool.com's Top Beauty Blogs to Watch in 2011!  If you haven't noticed, I also got an official badge to post here on my blog!

A few weeks ago, I was socializing on My Social Beauty, and noticed a contest to enter your beauty blog for a chance to be featured on a list of top beauty blogs of 2011.  I thought, why not enter?  Then last week I got an email notice congratulating me for making it on the list - at that point I didn't even mind not making #1 - I was ecstatic for actually being chosen for the list of top blogs to be mentioned on their website!
I'm pretty proud of my blog, I put hours into research and tutorials and taking my own photos.  I started this blog at the beginning of this year, mostly because I have strong opinions that I just have to share with people.  I started out with the only readers being my boyfriend and cousins, and then in the past few months I have been plastered all over the internet!  I started a youtube channel, joined numerous beauty networking sites, and most importantly I have met some amazing people in the process.  I love the connection I have with my readers and viewers - I look forward to my few hours at night where I get to respond to everyone's comments and messages.  I'm always so happy to hear what my blog and videos do for people - and how much they look forward to my posts.
Well, before I start rambling on and on - I'll end it right here :)
Thank you for all your support and for finding my blog interesting enough to follow and subscribe to!  It really does mean so much to me!

oxoxo
Krystal

All About Brushes: Natural Hair Brushes

I have been using makeup brushes for years, and I still find myself researching information about them online.  I knew that popular makeup companies provided brushes made of goat hair and sable, but I had no idea that there were other animal hairs incorporated in those brushes or just used on their own.  Each hair type has a different feel and performance, and when some of them are mixed together in a brush, you have a high quality brush that multitasks and can cost a pretty penny.  I thought it would be informative to provide information on the types and quality of the different hairs for people who are just getting into using cosmetic brushes or people who use them daily but don't know much about them.  I hope you enjoy this, it was very interesting to familiarize myself with the look and quality of the hairs I see in my makeup brush collection.

Squirrel

photo from www.indeustch.com

Texture: Very fine, thin

Squirrel hair is taken from the tail of the brown squirrel (Kazan) to make quality lining brushes. Squirrel points as well as Kolinsky, but it has very little “snap” and is much less resilient. Squirrel works best with liquid and cream makeup. Squirrel hair brushes  have thick "bodies" to hold product, but they lack the "snap" or springiness of a Kolinsky.

Goat

photo from www.indeustch.com

Texture: Soft, strong

Wide usage for make-up applications due to its softness and strength. Goat hair is the most commonly used hair type in making cosmetic brushes as they are the least costly to make as the hair is widely available. The softest goat hair is the first-cut with the tips still intact. Lower-cut (blunt-cut) are used in the manufacture of mass produced (not hand made) lower quality cosmetic. The top quality goat hair type makeup brush range, is hand-made like any other high quality cosmetic brush to preserve their precious tips.

Badger

photo from www.delong.cc

Texture: Stiff, long, bushy

High Quality Badger hair (referred to as Badger 'Tapers') is similar to squirrel, kolinsky sable, weasel or red sable, in that Water Badger Hair 'tapers', hence it also has a 'conical' shape. This means that high quality badger hair makeup brushes would also have thick bellies and thin pointy tips. Badger brushes comes from various parts of the world and is more readily available than most animal hair, although the quality varies greatly. Badger hair is thickest at the point, and relatively thin at the root, so it has a distinctive "bushy" appearance. The top grade is very soft and makes is excellent for blending.

Kolinsky Sable

photo from www.indeustch.com

Texture: Fine, soft, long

Derived from the tail of the mink, sable is the best cosmetics bristle: Its strength, spring, and snap are unsurpassed, and the hair comes to a very fine point. With proper care, Kolinsky Sable brushes will last many years. Kolinskies have a 'spring' resilience. Most Kolinsky brushes are made with a 60% female to 40% male mixture. The best brushes will spring or snap back straight after bending, while the brushes made of mixtures will hold a slight bend.

Pony

photo from www.indeustch.com

Texture: Soft and slightly coarse, strong, cylindrical, fine, resilient, absorbent. Derived from an animal that is at least two years old. The finest pony hair comes from the belly, and fine hair comes from the mane of the animal; and this is often blended with lesser-grade hairs for economical touch-up brushes. Pony hair is usually cylindrical in shape, this means that pony hair has little or no 'belly' and has less 'pointy' tips compared to squirrel hair or kolinsky sable. Pony hair makeup brush is less expensive than squirrels but more expensive than goat hair to make. Pony hair doesn't hold its shape well. It is used as a filler to reduce the price of a brush.

Raccoon

photo from www.indeustch.com

Texture: Soft, bendable

Grayish, brown tail hair from mammal found in North America. It has execellent springback. The double toned hair is generally used for high-grade make-up brushes.

Pahmi

photo from www.indeustch.com & www.delong.cc

Texture: Soft, strong

Good for make up applications . Soft hair with ideal strength. Used in premium brushes. makeup brushes are made from a weasel-like animal but smaller and thinner. The hair is slightly stiffer and the tip is short. It is often used as a filler in other brushes.

Camel

photo from www.brushes-manufacturers.com

Texture: Soft, durable

Camel hair is actually an industry term, coined after Mr. Camel, who invented the brushes: It includes the finer grades of squirrel hair, and other grades like pony and goat hair. Actual camel hair is too woolly for brushes and they range greatly in softness, quality and cost. These soft-haired brushes are made of pony, ox, goat or other inexpensive hair, or a mixture. Camel hair is also used for filler in other pure hair brushes.

Websites used to obtain this information:
Brushes Manufacturers
A-Squirrel
Indeutsch Industries
Cinema Secrets

Juice Beauty - Cleansing Milk

Last month I did a huge review (click here for that blog post) on Juice Beauty, a California based organic cosmetics company, and from that review I received a lot of questions about their skincare line - mostly about their cleansers.  Having sensitive skin, I was a bit hesitant to try their cleanser - I'm always scared something will burn my skin and give me really bad redness and irritation spots.  But I toughed it out and have been using their Cleansing Milk for the past two weeks.  I am deeply impressed with this cleanser, it is gentle enough to use daily - even morning and night, it helps loosen the makeup on my face to remove completely and smoothly, it is soap free - which really makes a huge difference because it doesn't leave that dried out feeling after using it, and it is packed with anti-oxidants and vitamins to help keep your skin healthy and strong giving it a natural glow.

You know when you read descriptions on products, and your first reaction is something like "ya, ok, we'll see how this really works out" WELL, I decided not to read the description until after I had my own opinion about it.  So yesterday, I made a list of what I like about it and how I feel it's changed or effected my skin - then I went back and read the description of the product on their website.  I was SO shocked to see that my list was almost exact to the description they had about the products performance!

This soap-free Cleansing Milk gently removes make-up. The blend of certified organic ingredients, including antioxidant-rich raspberry and white grape juices, soothing aloe vera, nutrient-rich grapeseed oil and vitamins gives your skin a comfortable cleanse and a dewy radiant complexion.

I began using this product once a day for three days, then I bumped it up to morning and night every day.  My skin felt no irritation what so ever!  My face used to always get dry on my chin, around my nostrils and in the center of my forehead - since using the Cleansing Milk I have had no dryness, no flaking, not even tightness!  And then my favorite part about this cleanser - it has REMARKABLY reduced my red areas.  I have always had areas of red/pink in the spots where I would get the dryness, and I have noticed that I no longer have those red/pink colors in my skin anymore!  This is the first time since my pre-teen years that my skin has been one uniform color!  People, I am too excited about this to articulate my appreciation for this product.  I have never experienced something working so well on me and to actually see positive results - it's almost unbelievable!
Here's an HD photo comparison of my skin without makeup from February and one from March - you can clearly see the redness is gone and my skin looks more evenly pigmented!  (in the March photo I am wearing makeup in my eyebrows - but that is all)

I still use my Murad Exfoliating Cleanser about 2-3 times a week, which I still love, but I have made this Cleansing Milk a permanent part of my daily skincare routine.  Every morning I wake up, I splash my face with lukewarm water, then gently massage my face with the Cleansing Milk and rinse it off - I don't usually apply a moisturizer - and I go about my day.  Then at night before bed, if I have makeup on or not, I splash my face with lukewarm water, then gently massage the Cleansing Milk all over my face, I rinse and then use a makeup remover wipe afterward to just make sure all the makeup is off my skin.

I never used to have skincare routines or staple products - hell, I barely even washed my face every week just because so many products have torn up my skin and made it horrible.  This Cleansing Milk has changed my whole idea of skincare - I actually do my routine without even thinking about, I just do it automatically now.  And I'm loving the fact that I can just sport my tinted moisturize and HD powder and be on my way for the day - without any insecurities about the condition of my skin!
OMG!  This review is so long!  Haha, hopefully you get the picture I'm excited about this product and I COMPLETELY urge people to try it out - it's amazing and organic and it helps refresh your skin to give off it's own naturally healthy glow!

*Product(s) were received for trial/review; these are my honest opinions