Review: Mizon All-In-One Snail Repair Cream

Disclaimer: This product was not bought directly from the brand/company.

Hey guys! Today I'm super excited to share about this product. *Drum roll here* Mizon Snail Cream!!

I can't remember when or how exactly I heard about snail extract being super beneficial for skin, but I do remember that I was very skeptical of it.  From previous posts as well as previous videos, you may very well know that I enjoy it when products smell pleasant, and I couldn't imagine anything relating to snails being well-fragranced.  However, I decided to do some research on it, and here are just a few things I learned about snail extract:

• Helps erase acne scars
• Tightens pores and firms skin
• Helps clear complexion
• Moisturizes

With these few nuggets of knowledge, I decided to splurge and try this cream.  The first thing I did when I got my mini-haul of skincare products in the mail was grab this cream, opened it up, and smelled it.  It hardly smells like anything, to be honest, but in a good way, if that makes any sense.  I actually made a few friends and family members smell this before I told them what it was and everyone of them said that it smelled very nice.  The texture is a bit more slimy than a normal moisturizer, due to the fact that it's 92% snail extract filtrate– the highest concentration of snail extract that I've seen in a skin care product so far.  

The cream absorbs amazingly into your skin and feels great.  There are some sites that have done reviews that say that you're supposed to dab the cream onto your skin, not rub, and others don't state what method is best.  It doesn't help that everything on the Mizon box, save the ingredients, are in Korean, but to be quite honest, I think either way is fine.  Dabbing takes up more of the cream, and it takes a bit longer to absorb, but it's really your prerogative.  I tend to gently rub it onto my skin in small circles, but for the days when I don't wear any makeup, I'll dab it on in the morning to make it last a bit longer.  I use it morning and nights, and sometimes throughout the day if, again, I'm not wearing makeup.  It makes my skin feel amazing and I've yet to find a moisturizer that has worked this well for me.  I have sensitive skin and a few dry spots, such as my T-zone, and before this cream, I would try several moisturizers as well as exfoliators to help, but this cream alone has already helped my T-zone tremendously in the two weeks that I've had it. 

This product definitely gets 5 out of 5 daisies, I recommend it for anyone and everyone.  I couldn't find a website for Mizon that was in English, but some places to buy it are from Urban Outfitters (from which I bought this product), Peach and Lily, and even Amazon or eBay.  This is a product I will definitely re-buy and suggest to anyone who's willing to give it a try!

That's it, thanks for reading my little rant about this gem of a product. Comment if you guys have tried anything with snail extract in it, and how you liked it!

Stay Resplendent!

-Regan

First Impressions: Kaia Juicy Bamboo All-Natural Facial Cleansing Cloths

Disclaimer: Product was not purchased from brand's own website.

Upon first getting these Kaia Juicy Bamboo All-Natural Facial Cleansing Cloths in the mail, I instantly gave the mental award of best packaging of the six products I purchased at the same time.  Shown below, it's packaging looks like a juice box, complete with cute bendy straw.  Not that it really effects the quality of the product itself, but it's a nice bonus.  I have yet to get rid of it's carton-shaped outer-shell, it's that cute.

The cloths smell clean and citrusy.  After looking at the ingredients list on their website (link here), I was impressed with their paraben-free list.  It's also infused with grapefruit, lime, and tangerine essential oils, which caused for the delicious smell.  The cloths themselves are super soft, which is great because my skin is and always has been sensitive.  Not just with chemicals, but sensitive to touch (for example, I used Pond's makeup-remover wipes for a bit but I had to stop after a few tries because the texture of the wipe was too rough).  These felt so nice on my skin, and although the cloth was smaller than I anticipated, it was plenty enough for my face and neck.  It's gentle around the eyes and helps remove excess makeup, though I would not claim this to be a makeup-remover.  Definitely remove as much makeup as you can, then use this wipe afterwards.

There's not much else to say about this product.  I've used it every night since I got it in the mail, and I would definitely buy these cloths again.  They can be purchased through the first link I posted, which is the brand's site, or through other ways, from Urban Outfitters, Amazon, drugstore.com, etc. (I purchased mine through Urban Outfitters)

On the daisy scale, I would have to give it 4.5/5! A half-daisy off because I do wish that they were just a bit wetter, though it's nothing to deter me from the product.

There you have it! I've been using these wipes once every night for the past two weeks and it's been nothing but beneficial for my skin.  Keep checking in for more reviews, they're coming along slowly but surely!

Stay Resplendent!

-Regan

My New Year's Resolution

This is just a post to state my apology for my complete lack of activity on my blog and vlog since September/October.  I don't believe I understood how hard I would have to work to balance work, classes and a blog and vlog.  Long story short, I have learned my lesson and have made a New Year's Resolution to give this blog/vlog another shot. Currently working on getting this hooked up to my own domain, as well as looking for a new theme for it, so please bear with me on this! I'm also editing a new video introducing some of the stuff I'm planning on doing in the next year, so keep an eye out for that.

Have a Happy New Year! Be safe and stay Resplendent!

-Regan

Wishlist Wednesday

It's that time of week! To be honest, this Wednesday really sprung up on me. I don't know where all the time went, but nevertheless here we are, and it's time to get started! Disclaimer: I own none of these images. They were taken from the sites I linked below.

1. Skinfood Hydro Fitting Snail Mask Sheet

This really intrigues me because I read an article a few weeks back on how good snail guts (for lack of a better term. Gross) are actually really good for our skin.  Korea is really on the ball with this whole snail-skin treatment stuff, and this product/brand is actually from Korea.  Normally, with makeup and skincare products, I like to link back to the brand's site itself.  However, in this case, the websites is Korean made, and although you can view it in English, it can still be a bit confusing.  Here it is, if you still want to check it out. 

2. MAC Trend Forecast Spring 15/Eyes

A weird fact about me: As of right now I only own MAC Lipsticks and nothing else. Weird, right? There's really no in-depth explanation as to why that is; it's motley just because when I stop by the MAC stand at my local Nordstrom, my attention just automatically goes to the lipstick section.  When I saw this palette, though, I wanted to add it to my collection of eye shadows.  There isn't really much to say other than I really want to give this palette a shot and hopefully I will!

3. Whitney Collared Two-Piece Bodycon Dress Cream

I absolutely adore two piece dresses, as well as all black/white outfits, and this covers both perfectly.  Just saw this honestly a few minutes ago and had to add it to the list.  What I especially like about this is that if you click on the link and view the pictures, you will see that these pieces are actually attached together by the back zipper, which is pretty nifty (didn't expect to throw the word "nifty" out so soon on this blog but it's too late to turn back now).  I very much want to get my hands on this dress as soon as possible– hence why it's now on my wish list! 

4. UNIF Badsport Logo Bra

I think I may have a slight obsession with bras/bralettes. I acknowledge that and accept that. With that being said, there's a complicity about this particular bra that I love.  This could be thrown under relatively anything and looked incredibly comfortable, so for that reason I would love to own this. They also have it in black with a white waistband! 

5. Banks- "Goddess" LP Vinyl

Now, I've already mentioned Banks on this blog– in yesterday's "Tuesday Tunes" post, actually! Which only adds to why I can't wait to get ahold of this vinyl. What I love about vinyls coming back is that they almost always come with the digital music download, so I can have it both on my phone and playing on my Crosley. This LP has some of my favorites by Banks, including "This Is What It Feels Like", "Drowning", "Change", and "Warm Water". 

And that's it for this week! Let me know your opinions on these items, especially if you have any of them/anything similar! 

Stay Resplendent! 

Tuesday Tunes

Another weekly post I'm going to give a try is "Tuesday Tunes", which is pretty self explanatory, but nevertheless, a quick synopsis: A few of my favorite tunes that I have had on repeat as of late. (See? Really quick!) Music is such a huge part of my life and my family's lives that I couldn't just not incorporate some music into this blog along with beauty, personal style, lifestyle, and all the other things that I have posted/will soon post on this blog! Disclaimer: None of the videos nor the images are mine. 

1. "This Is What It Feels Like" by Banks

I discovered Banks online through a YouTube playlist on Lorde's channel back in late June/early July of this year. The song that I first heard was "Drowning", which I will say that I listened to that on repeat for quite some time, and I still do, actually, though I want to only have one song from each artist in my Tuesday Tunes posts so as to share the wealth, so to speak. Or else this week's Tuesday Tunes would be all Banks' songs (but let's be real: it would certainly not be a bad thing). The moment I heard this song, however, I instantly fell in love. The background track alone is so well-produced, with the synths and unique beat, tied in with the backing vocals faint and distorted just slightly, but her voice in this song is so amazingly different. I keep finding myself humming the chorus throughout the day.

2. "Here With Me" by Susie Suh feat. Robot Koch

A few episodes into "The Blacklist" on Netflix and I had a deep-rooted respect for James S. Levine, who is credited for the music, along with everyone else who takes part in creating the very intriguing show. This song has a nice, slow feel to it, and for some reason it just makes me think of a chilled Autumn day, which is perfect seeing as though it is now actually Autumn and starting to cool down.

3. "She Way Out" by The 1975

I discovered The 1975 at my last job, actually. A different retail store that had mostly a loop of the same few songs, though occasionally I would hear one that stuck out to me. "Chocolate" by The 1975 was one of them, which lead into this small obsession for the almost-uncomprehendable British accent from the lead singer, Matt Healy. This song's definitely more energetic than the first two songs on this week's post, which I believe balances it out nicely.

4. "99 Problems" by Hugo

I remember first hearing this song during an episode of something on Netflix, though I can't seem to remember which show specifically (I made the horrible mistake of starting about three different series around the same time. I know, it was a dangerous move that I'm already paying for). The fact that Hugo made his own interpretation of Jay-Z's song of the same title with a bluegrass feel is just astounding and I honestly would love for him to do that with a lot more hip-hop/rap songs, to be quite honest. How crazy would it be to hear a bluegrass version of something like "Drunk In Love" or "All I Do Is Win"?

5. "Punch Drunk Recreation" by Jesse McCartney

Shout out to my momma who showed me this just within the past week. You go mom. Jesse McCartney was probably my first massive celebrity crush that I ever had, or at least it's the first one that I remember (est. 2004. Yeah. Ten years). I knew every single word to his album "Beautiful Song", and still do, probably. I wouldn't put it past myself. When she showed me this song I instantly had to have it on my playlist and it helps be become more awake in the mornings, which, with college classes, is very helpful.

There you have it! My five favorite songs of this week. Stay tuned (ba-dum tsss, music pun) for next week's list, and let me know if you've heard any of these and tell me what you think of them!

Stay Resplendent!

Wishlist Wednesday

I've decided to start being proactive with this blog and try to post on a regular basis. To help me do this, I'm going to have themes for certain days of the week. Wednesdays will be "Wishlist Wednesday" from here on out! Here I will just share a few things that have caught my eye in the past week or so and explain why I would love to eventually have my hands on. Let's get started!
(Disclaimer: These pictures are all taken from the sites I found them on, I do not own them!)

1. Craie Boutique Craie Convertible Backpack

I saw this on Free People's site and instantly fell in love; a love that quickly turned to heartbreak when my eyes scanned over the price. I love satchel-styled bags in general and the one that I have now is adorable, however very much a spring/summer purse (pastel yellow with scalloped edges). The wine-colored leather is to die for and this can be worn as both a satchel and a backpack, depending on how you adjust the straps. I feel like I could wear this throughout the city because it's small and convenient that I would feel comfortable having it across my back.

2. Oh So Lovely "Julianne" Bralette in Blanc

 Lately I've been a huge fan of bralettes and laced, wire free undergarments. They've become not only a necessity but an accessory, for example with a large tunic or sweater falling off one shoulder and having a peak of a soft blue bralette strap. Another reason why I love bralettes? They're far more comfortable than stiff-underwire bras. For days when you want to be cute and comfortable, a bralette is the one you want underneath a few warm layers. I found this store on their Instagram and was drawn to their cute designs. The fact that you can order your bralette with custom measurements is definitely bonus. Pretty sure I've said bralette at least once in every one of these sentences but oh well.

3. Baum Und Pferdgarten Eira T-Shirt with Slogan

I love this shirt. When I first read the right-side-up writing I nodded in approval. Good quote, great song, figures that it would end up on a shirt. It's the upside-down part that made me actually laugh out loud. I'm always a fan of sassy shirts that aren't too in-your-face about it. In my opinion there is a fine line between funny and too-much when it comes to sarcasm on clothing, but I would definitely wear this shirt with pride.

4. Benefit Cosmetics "That Gal" Brightening Face Primer

I bought a box of Benefit Cosmetic samples around the beginning of August, and one of them was "That Gal" and I fell in love with it. On the days where my skin decided to cooperate with me and not have too many flaws I would wear only that, no foundation, and my face would glow the entire day. I'm almost out of this sample now and have to use it sparingly, but I hope relatively soon I will be able to get a full-sized one.

5. IT Brushes for ULTA Your Airbrush Masters 6 Pc Advanced Brush Set

I've heard a lot of good reviews from fellow makeup lovers, and to be honest, I'm insanely curious. I've never actually bought myself a brush set, because up until this year I haven't been very educated on the specifics of beauty brushes. I own a lot of Eco Tools brushes from here and there and they're good but I'd like to spoil myself with an actual set one day. One can hope!

That's it for this week! Do you guys have any of these items, or something similar? Comment below and let me know how you like them! I'd love to hear any and all feedback. 

Stay Resplendent! 

One Lovely Blog Award–Given by Beauty Thru Glass

First off I want to thank the Academy the lovelies from Beauty Thru Glass, go ahead an check them out if you haven't already! I've always seen these on blogs/Instagram/what have you, and even before my blog was a figment of my imagination I always wanted to be apart of one. So it's really nice, not something I expected so quickly. Again, thank you for the award!! Now let's get started.

The rules of the award:
1. Thank the person nominating you and link back to them in your post
2. Share seven things about yourself
3. Nominate fifteen or so bloggers you admire
4. Contact your chosen bloggers to let them know

Seven Facts About Me:
1. I am incredibly obsessed with Marvel, specifically the Avengers (though not exclusively). I love the comics, movies, animated TV shows, the POP Figurines, etc. etc. I aspire to be like Natasha Romanova because she's a strong, intimidating redhead not to be trifled with (plus Scarlett Johansson is gorgeous and one of my woman-crushes).
2. My hair is naturally strawberry-blonde ("Red Regan" is how my mom tells me she decided), but from the time I was in fifth grade to the end of my junior year in high school I got blonde highlights regularly, so pretty much everyone I went to school with was/is certain I'm naturally light blonde.
3. I watch and re-watch "The Office" like it's my job.
4. I speak in accents when I get bored, regardless of where I am or who I'm with.
5. I have probably over 130 good quality nail polishes. I say good quality because I tend to be very picky about my polishes. I have a special place in my heart for OPI and Julep.
6. I've only been out of the country once, and it was last summer to Taiwan.
7. I've been getting into acting in the past few months and I have found a love for portraying dramatic characters. One of my favorite monologues at the moment is about a sociopath prisoner being interrogated by the police, and another is from "Girl Interrupted". It's insane and really fun to portray the exact opposite of yourself from time to time.

Nominations:
I wanted to do a bunch of other relatively new/unknown bloggers of all sorts, because we little bloggers have to stick together! In no real order:

1. Exquisite Glow - Really nice and easy tutorials
2. Lorilee's London - What a super cute blog, and a super cute girl. Her videos are great, too!
3. I AM SERENE L - A gem of a lady with step-by-step tutorials for popular looks. She likes my humor, too, which means she's awesome in my book.
4. Rach For the Stars - Cute setup (and a cute blog title four for you) A nice mix of both high end and affordable reviews
5. Von Dork - I'm a sucker for a good British Beauty Blog. You guys all have a secret club that I want into. 
6. MarahCAR - A great fashion/personal style blog. Lots of nice pictures!
7. Gemstrends - Easy to read, cute posts
8. Built Like A Boss - A very outgoing health/fitness blog. Fun to read
9. Thoughts of Glitter - A bunch of different types of pieces here, from nails to reviews, makeup to fitness. A one-stop shop of blogs, if you will.
10. For My Love of Style - A cute setup featuring reasonably priced products
11. Behind the Frames - A cute blog with great pictures and a lot of interesting topics.
12. Be and Love You - Lots of cute and helpful reviews. Plus she's having a giveaway right now and you can't just not enter a beauty giveaway. Check it out!
13. Beauty and the Bird - A cute, fun blog that's easy to read
14. Promising Rose - A warm and friendly vibe on this lifestyle blog. I Spy a super cute puppy, too!
15. Live Long Happy and Healthy - Last but certainly not least! This particular blogger is not actually one I found on Twitter; in fact she does not have one. This is one of my best friend's roommates whom I have yet to meet, though hopefully I will within the next few weeks. Thought I'd go ahead and nominate her because I really enjoyed all the stuff she's written so far!