Faded has a slightly unpleasant smell (I’m not even sure what to compare it to) but the results are certainly worth overlooking the mild odor.

11&#47;11&#47;21 Update: Dark spots continue to “fade”. I’m jumping for joy! My skin is brightening more each week. Yahoo!
I want to share my latest obsession: Topicals Faded cream. I got a free trial from Sephora last month and quickly went through it in 2 weeks. In that short period I saw some of my lighter dark spots start to fade! So it was a no-brainer. I was definitely buying a full-size tube of this! Of course I procrastinated and it was sold out! So I had to buy the duo with the Like Butter hydrating overnight mask. But I’m not mad. My dry skin likes it, too! By itself, Faded is $36. The duo is $56. Now Sephora calls Faded a “gel-like serum”. It’s just not. It’s more a lightweight cream. Because I have either dark spots, melasma or post-acne hyperpigmentation pretty much everywhere, I use it as my AM moisturizer under sunscreen.
It’s suitable for all skin types and contains Tranexamic Acid and Azelaic Acid, two skincare powerhouses that fight dark spots and hyperpigmentation.
It also contains Niacinamide, which plays well with the two above and improves skin texture.
I was pleased to also see it also contains Kojic Acid, a pigment inhibitor.
Alpha-Arbutin is another ingredient. This natural antioxidant from the bearberry plant is known to reduce melanin formation.
Other ingredients:
* Licorice Root Extract - Known for skin lightening and soothing.
* Allantoin - Known to promote wound and scar healing, soothe sensitivities.
* Phytic Acid - Mild AHA used for exfoliation and skin lightening.
* Tumeric Root Extract - Loaded with antioxidants, tumeric is an anti-inflammatory known to also lighten the skin and dark spots.
* Shea Butter - Because Shea butter contains several types of fatty acids (including lineoleic, oleic, palmitic and stearic) it’s excellent at improving or protecting the skin&#39;s natural moisture barrier.
These aren’t all the ingredients, but with so many great ones, I couldn’t pass up Faded. I look forward to seeing longterm results.

This is rare, but I have no complaints. Product does exactly what I want it to do. Packaging is great and price is reasonable.

I’m a lip balm addict. So when this Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm popped up in the “new” section at Sephora I couldn’t add it to my cart fast enough. 
I had no idea I’d just found my new best friend!
I bought the balm in Vanilla Beige, which has a nude tint, but it also comes in the clear Vanilla.
I love the sweet vanilla scent of the balm and the sheer nude tint gives just a hint of color to the lips. It’s perfect for those stay-at-home days, for running errands or even for a lipstick topper anytime.
The silicone applicator works just fine and dispenses the product evenly according to the pressure you apply to the tube. With its shea and murumuru seed butters, this balm kept my lips hydrated and did the job so many others fail to accomplish.
A little research after I purchased it revealed this isn’t actually a new product but rather a reformulated and repackaged one.
I never tried the old formula. But it seems from Sephora reviews that it was certainly thicker before. Some like the new formula . Some don’t.
Most agree the new tube is a huge improvement. Customers really disliked the old metal tube which you had to roll up and squeeze. They complained that it would shoot out the product when taking off the cap or the tube would split and leak.
All I know is that I’m loving this new version and already have a backup ready to go as it was included in a recent Sephora Favorites.
The balm retails for $22 for 0.5 oz&#47;15g.
✔️Clean
✔️Vegan
✔️Gluten free
✔️Cruelty free

Mask is hydrating but you’ll still likely need a boost of mousture afterwards. It is, after all, still a clay mask.

I was so excited to try this Glow Recipe Hyaluronic Clay Pore-Tight Facial because it’s unique for a clay mask to be marketed as “hydrating”.
So was it? 
Yes, but… Let me explain.
I’ve been using and loving the Erno Laszlo Pore Cleansing Clay Mask for quite awhile so this Glow Recipe mask had tough competition!
Because of my perpetually parched skin I was drawn to the hyaluronic acid in the mask and the claim of it being hydrating. Most clay masks leave my skin feeling so dry afterwards. That’s why I always follow up a clay mask with a hydrating sheet mask or a sleeping mask to pump in that moisture.
I definitely did find the Glow Recipe mask left my face feeling more hydrated than most clay masks and it did a great job as a clay mask. But I still felt the need for a moisture boost afterwards. Perhaps that’s just me.
Let’s talk other details:
Not too thick or too thin. Pleasant but not overpowering scent. Slight tingle upon application lets you know it’s working but isn’t uncomfortable. Dries down pretty quick but doesn’t crack up. Easy to remove. (Nothing worse than a mask that causes you to damage your skin to get it off! This isn’t that.)
All in all, a definite win for Glow Recipe and I’d repurchase it.

I have nothing bad at all to say about the product itself. I took off one star for the price. The packaging is luxe, for sure, and the product is amazing. Still, I think it’s overpriced. There are other products for less money that accomplish similar results: For example, the Ren Evercalm Ultra Comforting Rescue Mask can be left on like a cream and is $50 for 50mL (same size as the Tatcha).

I knew Tatcha wouldn’t disappoint me on this one.
The Tatcha Indigo Overnight Repair Serum in Cream Treatment had been on my wishlist for months since its launch last year. I only took the $88 plunge because my skin had been through the ringer thanks to a bout of breakouts and I was curious if this would help. My attempts to combat the unusually severe flareup only exacerbated my already dry skin, leaving it in a vulnerable state.
This cream is recommended for sensitive, dry to mature skin with uneven texture, fine lines and wrinkles. I check all those boxes except the sensitivity. My skin is reactive, not sensitive. 
After my at-home facial treatments (manual/chemical exfoliation, dermablading/shaving or microneedling) my skin needs something to calm it down a bit and ensure the moisture barrier is protected.
Note: This 50 mL glass jar comes with a little gold scoop that’s magnetized to stick to the top of the lid. I love thst!

👃🏻Scent?
Fragrance free with no discernible scent.

💧Texture?
Buttery smooth and rich cream that glides on the skin effortlessly, absorbing quickly. A little goes a long way.

📝Ingredients?
* Mondo grass root to balance the skin’s microbiome (that’s the skin’s good bacteria, its natural defense barrier).
* Ceramides to restore the skin’s moisture barrier, which helps with dry patches as well as fine lines and wrinkles.
* Japanese indigo extract to soothe irritated skin.

🤔Thoughts?
This cream did as it promised. It got my skin in tip top shape with just a week of daily use. I then cut back to 2x/week after at-home treatments. It’s come in handy, too, in combating occasional dry patches that pop up because of my prescription tretinoin. 
So many uses! It’s a true warrior for your skincare arsenal.

I have zero complaints about this cleanser except that it’s not in stores yet!

This Apto cleanser was gifted to me with no requirement for a review, but I’ve been happily telling everyone about it since I integrated it into my routine and started seeing the results. In fact, I’ve already purchased another bottle with my own money.
Normally I shy away from foaming cleansers because of my dry skin, but this one doesn’t suds up too much and I havent found it to be overly drying. Perhaps that’s because it contains propanediol, an ingredient included in skincare to prevent water loss. It’s less irritating than the more commonly used propylene glycol.
It also contains grapeseed oil, which can increase cell turnover and collagen synthesis, two things someone of my age is certainly looking for in a cleanser. (However, I think this cleanser would be great for any age!)
After two weeks of daily use, AM and PM, my skin looks brighter and I can actually say my skin is glowing. I dont think I’ve ever been able to say that about my bare face. In the interest of full disclosure, when I added this cleanser to my routine I also added the Apto Coconut Water Toner. So I can’t be sure if it was the cleanser, the toner or the combo of both that’s made my skin look so good.
The fresh citrus scent is invigorating in the morning and the packaging is bright and cheerful.
I can’t wrap up this review without saying a few words about the company because I love Apto’s philosophy.
It’s a family business run by women in the NY&#47;NJ area and all their products are made in the USA. They have a focus on sustainability, going so far as paring down their product offerings from 30 to just 7 essentials recently. They make a point to ship using as littke wasted packaging as possible and all their products are in completely recyclable containers.
It’s responsible skincare and I’m here for it.

fabulousinflorida