I love skincare products which double as makeup. For example:
- tinted lip balm hydrates lips and provides sheer color
- bb cream moisturizes and protects the skin from the sun while covering imperfections 
- brow gel contains nourishing ingredients and also colors and keeps brows in place.

What are some of your favorites?

Favorite skincare makeup hybrids

If you are lazy like me and never do clay or mud masks cause it's too much work, try this tip!

Keep your mask in the shower and put it on while you do other stuff. I wash hair then hair mask then face mask then wash body. 

Bonus is that the mask will never feel too drying since there is steam from the shower.

Lazy maskers

How do you test if a product suits you? In Sephora there are testers but almost all are disgusting 😢 even if I scrape off the used layer, I wouldn't apply those products. I typically swatch the product on my hand but honestly have no clue about the performance of the product. I can only gauge the shade by comparing with my skin tone.

Testing makeup

I was wondering why sheet masks have a hole for the mouth. Is it for mouth breathers? 😂 But even then, I think a slit would be better, because while masking I find my lips getting dry. What do you do to combat this? Apply a lip balm before the mask? Just random thoughts.

Sheet masks - what about lips?

Happy NYE PICKIES!!!

If you have hair like mine which can get greasy roots by day 3, something which has worked for me is to apply dry shampoo after washing hair to extend the appearance of clean roots. I still wash every third day since I know it's dirty, but the roots look much better this way. Instead of being flat and oily, it looks voluminous and clean.

Pro tip for greasy roots

Absolutely nothing at all, other than it's sold out on SKIN1004's website :)

I received this product for free from Picky and SKIN1004 in exchange for my honest review.

Introducing my favorite sunscreen 💖: SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Hyalu-Cica Water-Fit Sun Serum.

📝 Description: "This unscented sunscreen is super lightweight & hydrating, and quickly absorbing with a non-greasy and dewy finish."

🧴 It is a SPF 50+ PA+++ chemical sunscreen containing the filters Uvinal A Plus, Uvinal T 150, Iscotrizinol, and Tinisorb M.

There is a reason this product gets a lot of hype 🔔. Why is it the best?

My experience using it:
✅✅ ✅ No stinging or burning the eyes, despite being a chemical sunscreen. I had sworn off chemical sunscreens until I met this one because I am sensitive to common ingredients such as Avobenzone and Octinoxate. Even some mineral sunscreens give me trouble! However, it is important to protect all exposed skin including the eye area. A common area for skin cancers is the eyelid.
✅ No white cast, since it's a chemical sunscreen. It blends in seamlessly and could work on any skin tone.
✅ Texture is lightweight as described. It is more of a light watery lotion rather than a typical thick sun cream. 
✅ It plays well with other skincare products and never pilled.
✅ The finish is beautiful. It leaves a natural finish which is glowy but not overly shiny.
✅ Re-application is a dream. It layers with no problems like pilling. I could apply over makeup with a sponge.

Ingredients:
✅ No fragrance or other sensitizing ingredients.
✅ Features the beneficial ingredients Hyaluronic Acid and Centella Asiatica which hydrate and soothe the skin.

Other:
✅ Pump packaging is hygenic and easy to control. The sleek tube is easy to take on the go.
✅ The price is right. It retails $19 for 50 ml / 1.69 oz.

📢 In summary, I think this product could work for anyone: dry, oily, light, or dark skin. SKIN1004 nailed it with this formulation, and this easy-to-use product has quickly become a staple for me.

❌ It foams up slightly which I don't like in toners. I double cleanse so I don't use toners to cleanse. I also don't use a cotton pad, I prefer to pat it in with my hands to avoid wasting any product.
❌ Contains Bergamot oil which could be irritating to some.

I received this product for free from Picky and Acwell in exchange for my honest review.

Using this product in conjunction with the serum in both the AM and PM for two weeks helped soothe and brighten my skin 😍

✅ Leaves a pretty, dewy finish, which I did not expect from a watery toner. The effect is more noticeable if you layer it 2-3x.
✅ I felt it calmed down my skin and made my PIE less noticeable!
✅ I personally like the herbal scent. To me it smells peppery.
✅ Does not pill. I layered the acwell licorice serum over it.



I received this product for free from Picky and Numbuzin in exchange for my honest review.

✅ Watery and lightweight texture
✅ Simple effective ingredients
✅ Can be layered for deep hydration
✅ Somehow the packaging dispenses just the right amount of product!
✅ Soothed and calmed the skin by taking down the redness and irritation 

❌ Many ingredients which can cause sensitivity for some

I received this product for free from Picky and Numbuzin in exchange for my honest review.

✅ Watery essence texture
✅ Feels hydrating during application
✅ Easy to blend, no whitecast
✅ Doesn't sting the eyes
✅ Precise nozzle tip

❌ Contains a fragrance which I don't mind, but people may be sensitive. It's a sweet perfume smell.

I have a limited edition full size Givenchy lipstick which is my absolute favorite, Grenat Initie. It prompted me to get 4 minis as part of the holiday 2022 set from Sephora. It includes 2 of these intense silk formulas (black caps) as well as 2 velvets (pink caps, those are awesome as well btw) for $50 retail but I got it for $30 on sale at Sephora.

The intense silk shades are 116 (dusty rose) and 37 (blue based red).

Overall, I love them for everyday and the set is great especially since you get to try out 4 shades and formulas. I use them as a quick lipstick and blush (and even dust it across the eyes) to instantly look more alive.

✅ Shades are very well done, they mesh well with my light olive skin which can be difficult.
✅ Formula is silky soft. They are not too creamy that they slide around but they also are blendable enough to be used as a sheer stain or blended on the cheeks.
✅ Longevity is good, they last decently through eating and drinking. 
✅ Packaging is luxurious. The minis don't feel heavy but they still mimic the full size. The black caps are made of leather and the pink caps are made of velvet. The lipsticks are also embossed with the Givenchy logo. I actually prefer the mini size for travel, for instance I just took 2 on a trip for more shade options.

vanicream