REVIEW | Herbivore Jade Roller

Hi everyone! Today I'll be reviewing Herbivore's Jade Facial Roller. It's a beautiful tool, but is it just a gimmick? I wasn't sold on the idea of using one at first, but after doing some research and Reddit-lurking, I finally caved and bought myself one. This is what I think of mine so far. 

WHAT IT IS

The Jade Roller is a skincare tool that retails for $30 at Sephora. According to the product page on Herbivore's website, the origins of this beauty tool originate in China. It's made of Aventurine Jade (source) and gold metal. A number of brands sell facial rollers of varying materials; most commonly rose quartz and amethyst. As it's quite lightweight and small, the Jade Roller is travel friendly.

WHAT IT CLAIMS TO DO

- Tighten and smooth skin

- Help the absorption of product

- Support the lymphatic system

- De-puff skin and reduce fine lines, dark circles and undereye bags

WHAT WORKED?

1. It's undoubtedly relaxing – it feels really good because of how cooling it is on the skin. It's a happy medium because it isn't freezing, just refreshing.

2. It does help with de-puffing, especially in the morning when my face is slightly puffier than usual. Or when I'm retaining a little extra water.

3. I have noticed a reduction of fine lines. This is probably due to the fact that it helps moisturizer/facial oil to be better absorbed into the skin. Since you're using a stone to work product into your skin, you can be assured your fingers aren't absorbing a lot of the product.  

4. Overall, my skin feels and appears smoother. I don't think this is solely from the use of the jade roller (I'll get to that later), but it seems to be helping my skin look and feel more plump, hydrated, and softer. 

WHAT DIDN'T WORK?

1. I didn't notice an improvement in my dark circles. I've read that some people find success in reducing their dark circles after they started using a facial roller. I think mine are largely genetic and therefore here to stay. I'll just be over here drinking (hopefully) enough water and applying concealer. 

THE FINAL VERDICT

I've been using my Jade Roller for a few weeks, every morning and every night (eh, I might have missed a night or two). I'm pleased to say that I'm enjoying my time using this little guy. If you've been curious about getting one, I'd say it's worth the shot. Also, routinely massaging your face is good for your skin anyway. :P

The most important thing to remember is that the Jade Roller is a TOOl. It isn't magic! It's meant to work alongside a good skincare routine, plenty of water, sleep, and protecting your skin from the sun. If you buy a facial roller thinking it's the only thing you'll need for great skin, you'll be disappointed. A facial roller is best for someone who is diligent and serious about their skincare regime, however simple or meticulous it is.

If you're more lax with your skincare. but want instant results when you do do something for your skin, this won't be a product worth buying (thankfully, face masks exist). Unless of course you're working towards a good routine! 

Thanks for reading! I hope this was a helpful review if you are at all curious about this in vogue little tool. Do you own a facial roller? Do you love it or is it meh? Let me know. :)

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DISCLAIMER: This is not a sponsored post. I bought the reviewed product with my own money. As I am also not a dermatologist, this post is not meant to be used for medical advice. If you are struggling with your skin, please pay a visit to your dermatologist. 

Drugstore + High-End Makeup Haul | February 2019

Hi everyone! I hope everyone's Christmas/New Year/Everything-in-between has been swell (I know we're heading into March).It's been a minute since I've shared anything on here, so we're just going to get straight into things today. I'll be sharing some drugstore and high-end makeup purchases I've made throughout the month of February that I've been playing with. 

1.  PAT McGRATH LABS | LUST: MINI MATTETRANCE LIPSTICK TRIO (SKIN SHOW) ($25.00)

 

I've had my sights set on this little lip trio for a few months. It was always sold out on Sephora's website and in their store (at least the one I live closest to, which is a bit of a hike). A nude, matte lipstick is an everyday essential in my makeup routine; when I saw this was finally in stock, I picked it up. I've also never tried anything by Pat McGrath, so I grabbing a trio of these minis for $25 is a great way to try out the brand.
2.  TARTE | TARTELETTE IN BLOOM 2 PALETTE ($39.00)

This palette has been out for a while, but I don't anything by Tarte other than my eyelash curler which came with their Lights, Camera, Lashes mascara. My thought behind purchasing this was to have a small, neutral palette I could take from day to night if I wanted to. It also pulls slightly cooler (yes, cooler) than shadows I generally use –this is me trying to branch out haha. 

3.  FLOWER BEAUTY | LIGHT ILLUSION LIQUID FOUNDATION ($13.99)

Pretty soon, I plan to write a background story post on why I bought this foundation. The Flower Beauty Light Illusion Liquid Foundation is one I've had in the back of my mind for some time. I'll be playing mixologist when I use these, as I picked up the shades M4 Tawny and M5 Caramel. This is a supposed to be a radiant finish, which is another out-of-the-box purchase for me, considering I gravitate towards matte finish foundations.

I hope everyone's having a fantastic Thursday! I want to get better at posting more often. This almost five month hiatus was a big oof. 

FIRST IMPRESSIONS | Fenty Beauty Universal Lip Luminzer + Mattemoiselle Matte Plush Lipstick

The nearest Sephora is about 40 minutes away from where I live, so I don't go there too often. When I was there a couple days ago, I went in with the intention of swatching the Fenty Beauty Mattemoiselle Plush Matte Lipsticks, and possibly their Gloss Bomb Universal Lip Luminizer.

The only Fenty product I owned before was the Pro Filt'r Foundation. I was so excited about it, and ended up hating it. This stuff separated in areas where my foundation never has that issue, made me break out every time I used it, and created dry patches on my skin that I didn't even know existed. To be honest, I would have tried to make it work if the dry patches and separation were the only problems. But the second I realized it was making my skin unhappy, I knew I couldn't use it any longer. To this date, the Pro Filt'r Foundation has been the only item of makeup I've ever returned. 

Just because one product from a brand was awful, it doesn't mean you should avoid everything altogether. I actually ended up purchasing one of the lipsticks, as well as the lip gloss from. Side note: Rihanna made me buy lip gloss. I don't even wear lip gloss (I guess I do, now).

1. MATTEMOISELLE PLUSH MATTE LIPSTICK IN FRECKLE FIESTA
In the bullet, Freckle Fiesta appears to be a deep terracotta, but against my skin, it looks like a bright red-orange. I can't complain, though; it's a beautifully punchy, pigmented colour that I think would flatter a variety of skin tones. It's also one of the most highly pigmented lipsticks I own. The wear time is good, too. I ate meals and sipped tea with this on. Unless you're eating messily (like a toddler), this stuff has a good chance of not budging. I love that while the formula is matte, it's comfortable and I don't feel like all the moisture is being sucked out of my lips. I may have to pick up a different shade. Maybe. 

1. GLOSS BOMB UNIVERSAL LIP LUMINIZER
This is heavily scented. The website description states it's actually vanilla-peach, but I think it smells like strawberries. The Gloss Bomb is in a universal shade, supposedly designed to flatter all skin tones. It's a beautiful rosy color with flecks of gold and lilac (unless my eyes are lying to me) shimmer. It does lend a tint to the lips, but overall I feel like it's on the sheer side. You can use it alone, but this would be a pretty lip topper as well. The formula doesn't feel extremely goopy, although I do think it's quite dense. I like that it feels hydrating, rather than feeling like it's a layer of product just sitting on my lips and drying them out. One thing I don't like about the Gloss Bomb is that it's tricky to apply in small amounts. The applicator collects a lot of product, so if your lips are on the thinner side, just be careful when using it so it doesn't look sloppy.