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Prescription Retinol or Over the Counter Retinol Products: Deciding Which is Right For You

August 17, 2018 · Leave a Comment

Which is better, over the counter Retinol products or prescription Retinol? It depends. Several factors go into this decision. We’ve tried many prescription and Retinol products at a variety of price points and report on the best features of each so you don’t have to live through Retinol trial and error. To determine the best Retinol product plan for your needs, ask yourself the questions below.

Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer contains a prescription strength 2.5% pure Retinol without a prescription or doctor’s visit

RETINOL HAS A BACKSTORY

Retinol is an absolute game-changer for many skin conditions ranging from acne to sun damage, scarring, discoloration, as well as wrinkles. Retinol, which in prescription form goes by the name Retin-A, comes in cream and gel forms. In the way, way back, Retinol was only available by prescription for severe acne, and in its’ original form, it wasn’t a pretty process. People tolerated the peeling, itching, irritation, drying and redness for months, waiting for acne-free skin to emerge. And eventually, it did. Meanwhile, many people noticed scars, wrinkles and age spots also disappeared. People wanted Retinol for anti-aging, not just acne.

Now Retinol is readily available, so available that it’s difficult to know what to seek in a Retinol product. Key areas to examine are cost, the percentage of Retinol, ability to tolerate the product and its’ active ingredients, buffering capabilities and ease of use.

Consider the following when selecting a Retinol:

COST

Prescription Retinol brand name and generics are expensive, often $100-150 a tube. Insurance may cover this if you are under 35, but often only for the treatment of acne when prescribed by a dermatologist. If your insurance plan covers Retinol for free or the cost of a co-pay, this could be less expensive than purchasing an over the counter Retinol product.

Prescription Retinols can cost as much as luxury skincare products and often require powerful moisturizers to buffer its’ irritating effects.

HOW MUCH RETINOL IS IN THE PRODUCT?

When purchasing a retinol, a good place to start is 2.5% retinol within the product. More than that can be too irritating without much extra benefit, less than that won’t accomplish much. Many drugstore creams and lotions contain some retinol, but not as much as 2.5%. Some doctors only prescribe Retinol in very low doses, which won’t provide much of a beauty boost. Some prescriptions are too much at 5%, which can irritate all but the hardiest of skin. Prescriptions above the 2.5% range best serve those with severe acne, not those with wrinkles or photodamaged skin.

WHAT ARE THE OTHER ACTIVE INGREDIENTS & DO THEY HELP OR IRRITATE MY SKIN?

Retinol does a great deal for skin, but it can also give a pretty nasty accidentally self-imposed chemical peel, and the results are not pretty. It’s easy to give oneself an accidental Retinol chemical peel, because skin starts looking so good, that it is tempting to apply just a bit more. This works for a few days or weeks, until suddenly it doesn’t, and your face goes from looking dewy and younger to looking like a bad, bad, bad sunburn.

Even if you only use the prescribed amount of Retinol, skin becomes more sensitive to Retinol after about two weeks. The reason is now the old, dead skin layer is sloughed off, but the new skin is more delicate. Yet the same amount of Retinol is being applied to the skin, and that new skin isn’t ready to exfoliate yet. So instead, it becomes red and irritated. Some prescription Retinols come with a creamy base, such as Renova. This creamy base makes the skin surface seem flake-free and dewy, but underneath Retinol is still Retinol, and the skin can suddenly appear red and chapped.

BEST PRACTICES: HOW TO NOT BURN YOUR SKIN WITH RETINOL

The key to avoiding burning yourself with Retinols, prescription or over the counter, is buffering. To buffer either apply moisturizer first (if you’re very sensitive) or after applying Retinol, and don’t skimp. Buffering allows for the maximum frequency of Retinol use per week. If you still can’t tolerate the peeling and dry skin, apply Retinol for twenty minutes to an hour, then wash it off before bed. This way you at least get some Retinol benefits.

But ideally, your Retinol product comes with built-in buffering moisturizers. We like Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer because it is SO emollient without being greasy. In fact, it’s gentle enough to use twice a day every day without redness, irritation or dry, flaky peeling. You won’t have to take days off Retinol use due to over-doing it, but it still packs a powerful 2.5% Pure Retinol.

EASE OF USE

Even if your insurance covers Retinol, the added ingredients in Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer make it an all-in-one product: Retinol plus Vitamin C serum plus moisturizing buffer cream in one easy to apply bottle. No need to wait for the Retinol to dry down before applying moisturizer in the morning or being left sticky by a Vitamin C serum. A product that has everything in one makes skincare much easier.

One pump is all you need for face, neck and decolletage.

One pump of this 3-in-1 product is all you need to meet your Retinol, Vitamin C and moisturizing needs

PRODUCT PICK: WHY WE LIKE LORDSBURY RETINOL+C CREAM MOISTURIZER

Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer combines the power of a prescription 2.5% pure Retinol with Vitamin C, Hyaluronic Acid, and several natural moisturizing agents that make it gentle enough to use twice a day with no irritation, peeling or redness. The Aloe Vera, Jojoba, Green Tea and Shea Butter nourish the skin while buffering. It dries down without being sticky, greasy or leaving a film-like residue, make-up and sunscreen can go directly over the cream. Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer also comes at an outstanding price point in a generous 2.8-ounce pump bottle.

Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer contains prescription strength Retinol plus Vitamin C to combat KP, along with Jojoba, Vitamin C and Aloe Vera to soothe irritated skin

Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer contains prescription strength Retinol plus Vitamin C along with Jojoba, Vitamin C, and Aloe Vera to soothe irritated skin

WHERE TO FIND IT

Find Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer at Amazon here:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M3PSEQX/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&linkCode=ll1&tag=lordsbury-20&linkId=80ce0c85b497e19a5480f6b096cc3147

Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer for the strength of a prescription Retinol for less than the cost of a Vitamin C serum

Style Chicks received compensation for our time and effort as Brand Ambassadors of Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer. However, our experience with the product and the opinions expressed in this review are 100% ours.

Home Spa Day Facial: KINGDOMCARES Facial Steamer

August 13, 2018 · Leave a Comment

I remember my first professional steam facial: the cool feel of the Hyaluronic Acid applied to my face, and then the twenty minutes of soft, billowing steam. It was so relaxing!

And while professional facials are great for pampering and specific skin concerns, you can get the benefit of a steam facial at home. We like the KINGDOMCARES Facial Steamer for at-home facials.

KINGDOMCARES FACIAL STEAMER is lightweight, easy to carry, and delivers a strong, even stream of warm steam

TEN THINGS WE LIKE ABOUT THE KINGDOMCARES FACIAL STEAMER:

It has a built-in mirror. This is really nice because it means that you can do your steam facial anywhere and you have the ability to relax. You aren’t confined to standing in front of the bathroom mirror. If you apply a topical skincare serum before or after you steam your face, the built-in mirror makes it much easier!
Built-in adjustable angle mirror for applying product while steaming
It has an adjustable angle nozzle. This is nice because you can adjust the nozzle to your comfort. A lot of at-home facial steamers have fixed nozzles, so you have to adjust your position to accommodate the steam. That isn’t relaxing! The adjustable nozzle on the KINGDOMCARES Facial Steamer allows you to relax and sit comfortably. It also allows you to adjust the area you are treating – perhaps you are only steaming the lower portion of your face, or you are doing a throat treatment. You can position it comfortably without a problem.
Adjustable nozzle can be angled into three positions
Its’ easy-to-refill, no mess water tank holds enough water for a full uninterrupted steam session and then shuts off. This is your time to relax and beautify. You shouldn’t have to be looking at the clock or waiting for your phone alarm to go off. Fill the tank and it will automatically shut off when your treatment time is over.
Easy to fill water tank makes for relaxing steam sessions
It has ceramic heating elements to produce a nano-ionic steam. You are probably familiar with the concept of ceramic nano-ionic steam from higher-end straightening irons. In this case, it produces a finer mist that more easily penetrates your skin, and drives any topical products in deeper.
It has a strong and even stream. We have tried other facial steamers that barely produce any steam, or the steam is inconsistent. The steam from the KINGDOMCARES Facial Steamer is on-par with a professional machine in terms of strength, and the steam is consistent from beginning to the end of treatment.
It produces a deep clean. I like to take off my makeup with Micellar Water and then use the KINGDOMCARES Facial Steamer to steam out any extra dirt, makeup, or buildup that is left on my face at the end of the day. Then I use a very gentle cleanser to wash away what the steam brought to the surface, and then I apply my nighttime skincare products onto my clean skin. My skin is so smooth after!
It is sanitary. The unit has a sanitizing feature inside, so the steam that is produced is clean and will not add bacteria to your face. This is a fantastic feature because if the steam on your face has bacteria or mold spores, they will get into your pores! You can be assured that you are getting a cleansing steam with this product, not one that will leave you with more skincare problems!
It is silent. This is a dealbreaker for me when it comes to a relaxing steam treatment. If I’m going to enjoy at-home spa time, I don’t want loud machine noises disrupting my relaxation!
It allows for gentler blackhead extraction and exfoliation. We can’t advocate at-home blackhead and pimple extraction that should be left to a dermatologist, but some blackheads naturally work their way out if they are properly steamed out.
A tip: apply Jojoba Oil to areas that have blackheads, and then use the KINGDOMCARES Facial Steamer. When the treatment cycle is done, gently rub the area with your (washed) hands and you will be amazed at how many blackheads come out!

Get soft, hydrated, smooth, clean skin with the KINGDOMCARES Facial Steamer
It can also serve as a room humidifier and a towel warmer. Dry air can wreak havoc on skin, so make sure your surroundings have the proper amount of humidity! It is great for bedrooms since it is silent, so it won’t keep you up at night. Also, it can warm up towels, just like at the spa!

Steam warm small towels to complete the home spa experience!

WHERE TO BUY IT

Find the KINGDOMCARES Facial Steamer at https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06XBB1K6M/. Style Chicks readers get an extra $15 off with code 4ZJHSIOD.

Style Chicks received KINGDOMCARES Facial Steamer in exchange for our unbiased review and received compensation for our time and effort. However, our experience with the product and the opinions expressed in this review are 100% ours.

Keratosis Pilaris: How to Treat Chicken Bump Skin at Home

August 9, 2018 · Leave a Comment

Keratosis Pilaris is chicken bump skin. If you know what chicken bump skin is, you probably have it or know someone who does. If so, you know how hard it is to treat, because nothing seems to work. And it is unsightly, especially in the warm weather when you want to wear arm-revealing apparel. Learn about an easy, safe remedy for KP: Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer.

WHAT IS KERATOSIS PILARIS?

Keratosis Pilaris is small, dry white bumps that occur in patches. They are an excess build-up of keratin in numerous adjacent hair follicles within an area. They are most common on the back of the upper arms, the back and can appear even on buttocks. And they don’t exfoliate away, they don’t respond to acne medicine or creams, they seemingly respond to nothing, and they can get itchy. Oh, and they get angry looking in the heat, in the cold, from creams, sprays, clothing, and it would seem for no apparent reason at all.

It is sort of a not problem of a problem until it is one. Keratosis Pilaris can’t really hurt you unless you get an infection from scratching it. You also can temporarily tame the KP beast with a gentle exfoliation with mild soap and perhaps a brush device like Clarisonic, but you can also make a mess of your skin trying to treat it if you use the wrong products. And it is easy to mistake for acne or poison ivy if you don’t know better, starting a vicious cycle of KP inflammation and redness.

KP can leave unsightly and embarrassing red, irritated bumps that appear like acne or a rash on upper arms

WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT KERATOSIS PILARIS

The dread Chicken bump skin will respond to prescription strength Retinol. Retinol gently exfoliates off the dead skin cells entrapping the hardened keratin and replaces that skin with chicken bump-free skin, for the time being at least. It takes a good four to six weeks, but it clears it up pretty well. Further, with regular long-term use, the retinol helps prevent the hardened keratin bumps from forming in the first place, which reduces KP bump formation.

The caveat is that it that Retinol can also make skin dry, flaky and itchy, which make it more difficult to not scratch, which in turn, makes KP all the worse. So the Retinol needs to be buffered. And therein lies the rub: so many other ingredients can irritate KP that not all creams or lotions can be used as a retinol buffering agent.

Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer contains prescription strength Retinol plus Vitamin C to combat KP, along with Jojoba, Vitamin C and Aloe Vera to soothe irritated skin

One product we found that is excellent for treating KP is Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer. It combines a prescription strength Retinol of 2.5% with 20% Vitamin C serum. Together they sack chicken bumps, clearing out existing bumps and eliminating the excess keratin from the skin. This prevents new bumps from forming. There is also the bonus of several natural Keratosis Pilaris friendly moisturizers to buffer the active ingredients. These include the super soothing Jojoba Oil, Aloe Vera, and Sunflower Oil. This not only makes Retinol tolerable but eases the itchiness of existing chicken bumps, which makes it much easier not to scratch.

LORDBURY RETINOL+C CREAM MOISTURIZER IS A COST EFFECTIVE KP TREATMENT

If you are in the market for KP products, you will notice they pretty much all have one thing in common: a steep price tag for a not so big bottle. Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer comes in a large and generous 2.8-ounce size for under $30, which makes it the most cost-effective treatment I’ve found to date for the Keratosis Pilaris on my upper arms.

My chicken bump situation is pretty mild, but I’m self-conscious about the area during the summer, and I’m happy to report the Lordsbury Retinol+C moisturizer took care of the problem without any irritation to the area. So this summer, I am chicken bump free!

Treat KP on face, decolletage, and arms with Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer

Looking to try a Retinol with all the prescription strength benefits and none of the irritation? Try Lordsbury Retinol+C moisturizer, a twice a day 2.5% retinol with 20% Vitamin C and loads of natural moisturizers to keep skin soft and dewy.

WHERE TO BUY IT

Find Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer at https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01M3PSEQX/

Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer contains 2.5% Pure Retinol, 20% Vitamin C, Hyaluronic Acid, Jojoba, Wildcrafted Green Tea, Shea Butter and many other natural ingredients that help skin heal from KP

Time Travel Skincare: Morganna’s Alchemy 10 Years in 30 Days Treatment Kit

August 7, 2018 · Leave a Comment

The other day I came across a picture from late 2007 (back then we called them pictures, not selfies.) I didn’t like the picture at the time, so I’m surprised I didn’t delete it immediately. But now, I would give my left arm to have the supple, plump, glowing, collagen-rich skin I had in that picture.

Fortunately, I get to keep both of my arms thanks to Morganna’s Alchemy 10 Years in 30 Days Treatment Kit. This innovative kit targets the major signs of aging and leaves beautiful, youthful skin. It isn’t a radical treatment regime, it is just you, but better. Ten years ago better.

While you had me at the promise of taking ten years off my face in 30 days, I have to wonder how exactly that’s going to happen. Well, we tried the kit ourselves and I am pretty impressed both with the approach and the products.

And you can try it too, enter to win your own free Morganna’s Alchemy 10 Years in 30 Days Treatment Kit in our giveaway. See the Style Chicks Instagram for details.

Want to know what makes Morganna’s Alchemy 10 Years in 30 Days Treatment Kit special? Read on!

THE PANIC OF LOOKING OLDER THAN YOU WISH TO LOOK

A certain benchmark birthday prompted me to buy and use all the anti-aging things at once. This overkill plan backfired, too many products all at once were too rough on the skin. There are many effective, fantastic products to target very specific concerns, such as wrinkles and fine lines. But in all likelihood, after the fine lines are addressed, one won’t suddenly be mistaken for once again being a high school student.

Youthful skin is more than just the absence of these signs of age. And capturing this elusive reversal in skin time requires addressing what is actually making skin look, well, not young. And it isn’t just your crows feet. This is where Morganna’s Alchemy 10 Years in 30 Days Treatment Kit comes in.

Four Products for four targeted skin objectives

WHY Morganna’s Alchemy 10 Years in 30 Days Treatment Kit WORKS

Morganna’s Alchemy 10 Years in 30 Days Treatment Kit is different than the way I thought of anti-aging skin care, but now that I have used it, I can see why other specific, targeted skin concern products couldn’t accomplish the overall appearance of youth. Despite all that I look at my face, I didn’t really understand what made me look older. I couldn’t see the forest for the trees, so to speak, and I focused only on the individual manifestations of age. That approach is shoveling against the tide, and at best leaves one looking not actually younger, but “good for their age”. I hate that phrase. Morganna’s Alchemy 10 Years in 30 Days Treatment Kit addresses both the source and the symptoms of aging skin.

This approach has an excellent success rate on targeted concerns including skin hydration, pigmented spot reduction, skin tone, skin firmness, texture, and a reduction in roughness, redness, enlarged pores, lines, and wrinkles.

WHEN AND HOW DID I STOP LOOKING YOUNG? AGING SKIN IS SNEAKY

When one thinks of aging, do you think wrinkles? Sagging? These are factors, but not entirely what makes us look older. Morganna’s Alchemy addresses the four chief factors of aging skin. The biggest factors are discoloration and roughness from sun damage, environmental pollutants causing dullness, and *THEN* crepey skin/sagging and wrinkles. The worst amongst them is sun damage and the resulting discoloration and rough skin patches. A whopping eighty percent of what ages the face. YIKES.

Want proof?

Have you seen Anthony Cerniello’s “Danielle“? It’s an artists’ simulation of a female gradually becoming older over time, the real aging of the face occurs when the discoloration and dullness happens, not the gray hair or the wrinkles. The two images below are screenshots from this video. You will notice she has some drooping, binasal folds, undereye bags, even when her face was young. Notice the big change in tone and texture in the second photo.

Digitally aged face shown young before discoloration (original video C. Anthony Cerniello)

Digitally altered face shown aged at the onset of skin discoloration.

The discoloration makes the face seem harder and sterner, doesn’t it? And the dullness makes her look so tired. The skin tone, redness, and rough patches belie age more than the wrinkles. If she used just a wrinkle cream, would she look much younger to you?

DISCOLORATION AND DULLNESS: HOW TO LOOK OLD ON PURPOSE

When makeup artists’ “age” a young actor for a movie role to make them look old, they emulate aging with applying discoloration into the contours of the face and obscure the natural vibrant look of young skin. Even wrinkles look older because of the discoloration in their valleys making them appear deeper and more prominent. So they “paint on” what sun damage and environmental factor do to skin over years of time.

So we need to stop THAT from happening ASAP. That is where Morganna’s Alchemy 10 Years in 30 Days Treatment Kit comes in.

HOW Morganna’s Alchemy 10 Years in 30 Days Treatment Kit WORKS

APPLICATION

The directions on the back of the box are simple to follow.

Apply Steps 1 and 2 in the morning before makeup, and Steps 3 and 4 in the evening before bed. The smell is natural but dissipates, my makeup went on smoothly over the products without being oily, tight or tacky. Both morning and night my skin feels and looks smooth and hydrated. I like how it makes my skin appear immediately – soft, dewy and supple.

Directions

THE FOUR PRODUCTS

STEP 1 Beauty Starts With Even Skin Tone

Morganna’s Alchemy Step 1 is to even the skin tone. The product is designed to protect the skin from sun radiation. This step alone makes a surprising difference. I hadn’t realized how much discoloration I got overtime on the top of my cheekbones and on the cheek area below the eyes, lots of little freckles and spots that made the overall contours of my face seem not like my own face. The collective impact of all those tiny discoloration spots was an overall darkening on what should be the lightest part of my face. It was as if I applied contour or bronzer where there should be a highlighter.

Sun damage causes spots, lack of firmness, and roughness. It does this with a gentle but effective natural ingredient: Lingonberry Stem Cells.

HOW DOES IT WORK? Lingonberry stem cells increase natural antioxidant mechanisms of skin cells and decrease skin irritation and inflammation, a fantastic combo when seeking to remove unwanted discoloration and get your natural skin tone back. Lingonberry is a “superfruit” rich in vitamins C and E, both excellent for repairing *AND PREVENTING* sun damage on the skin.

RESULTS: I find this product is far more gentle to the skin than other products geared towards discoloration. It does not sting or irritate my skin, even when used with other Morganna Alchemy products. My skin is not dry, itchy or peeling, but the discoloration looks much better. While I have been a sunscreen devotee since my twenties, one cannot fully escape the effects of sun damage and I am excited to see some discolored areas on my cheekbones fading.

Step 1 addresses the ravaging impact of sun damage, reversing old damage and helping to prevent new damage

STEP 2 Radiant Skin

You probably have seen gray-haired women with plenty of wrinkles and while you wouldn’t mistake them for 20, they still look younger than their years. How? Likely, their skin is vibrant, glowing and not dull. No amount of highlighter or dewy makeup trick and fake the vibrant glow of youthful skin.

Step 2 is designed to protect skin from environmental damage. It is applied once Step 1 dries down. It goes under makeup.

HOW IT WORKS: Environmental damage makes skin dull and sensitive, which leads to redness and inflammation, which in turn, makes one look older still. Fortunately, skin can recoup from environmental damage if given a chance.

RESULTS: Step 2 is a light gel that serves as a protective shield all day while it repairs and refines the skin, allowing it to get its’ glow back. I have always considered my skin sensitive, but now that I have had Step 2 as a protective barrier on my skin, I think it is more likely that my skin was aggravated by environmental irritants.

Step 2 provides a protective layer to the skin to shield it from environmental damage

Step 1 and Step 2 address issues you may or may not have realized are making skin older. Step 3 and 4 address target areas you may already be treating but may wish for better results than you have acheived to date.

STEP 3 Youthful

If you pinch your skin, what happens? Young skin snaps right back, older skin takes a bit longer. When our skin lacks moisture and loses collagen it becomes deflated, resulting in a sluggish sort of crepiness and sagging.

While there are plenty of skin-friendly ingredients in Step 3, the star of the show is Platinum, which binds to the peptide ingredients and helps them penetrate into the deepest skin layers. It is this layer where sagging can be repaired by these peptides that boost collagen production. Any collagen you can get helps, but most topicals can’t reach this deep of a skin layer, so their results are superficially helpful but not so great for reducing sagging. The deeper active ingredients like peptides can get into the skin and make collagen, the better. Once you can get hydration and peptides deep enough into the skin to re-plump or re-inflate from the lost moisture and restore the collagen, it firms up quick, sagging skin becomes up to 40% firmer in one month.

RESULTS: Skin does quickly seem more hydrated and supple. I would not have thought of myself as having dehydrated skin but I can’t argue with how much more supple it looks now. Extra collagen production gets better and better over time, I am 14 days into my 30 days as of now, and I am excited about this Platinum plus peptides collagen producing combo!

Step 3 promotes deep skin level collagen production to meaningfully reduce sagging

STEP 4 DefyAge

DefyAge tackles the issues you can likely see on your skin right now, enlarged pores, redness, fine lines. It minimizes the appearance of all of the above using Elfe Flower and Red Rose Wine to thicken skin. These anti-oxidant powerhouses not only make the skin less subject to new wrinkles but reduce large pores and redness.

RESULTS: Redness around the nostrils, and eyes sneaks up on you, and does make one look older. The idea of thickening the skin is wonderful to not only help old wrinkles but to prevent new ones.

Step 4 promotes collagen production to meaningfully reduce sagging

Step 4 also promotes collagen production and helps skin combat fine lines

CONCLUSION

So that is our impression and overview of Morganna’s Alchemy 10 Years in 30 Days Treatment Kit. What a kit! This is an easy to use system, with all-star ingredients, combined into highly effective treatments for impressive results that restore a youthful glow, remove sun damage and give a healthier look to the skin. It is effective without irritating or drying the skin, my skin was soft during the entire process, not peeling, red or irritated. It addresses skincare needs that I didn’t even realize I was missing and the result is hydrated, soft skin that looks like my skin, but lovelier and younger.

WHERE TO BUY IT

Find Morganna’s Alchemy 10 Years in 30 Days Treatment Kit at http://www.morgannasalchemy.com/product/10-years-in-30-days-treatment/

GIVEAWAY

Don’t forget to enter the free Style Chicks Instagram Giveaway for a chance to win your own Morganna’s Alchemy 10 Years in 30 Days Treatment Kit!

GIVEAWAY! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Want to look 10 years younger in 30 days? It sounds impossible, but you can take a decade off your face in a month with the right ingredients, and @morgannasalchemy 10 Years In 30 Days Treatment Kit has honed in on the perfect blend of plant stems cells, peptides, antioxidants, protective and exotic plants to get your skin in top shape. Our results? Our tester tried it for 14 days and used computerized skincare analysis before starting the treatment program and after two weeks. According to the analysis, her skin clocked in at 6 years younger after 14 days of using the treatment protocol! She can't wait to see what happens after the full month! Read more about the Treatment Kit here: http://www.morgannasalchemy.com/product/10-years-in-30-days-treatment/ To enter the giveaway: 1️⃣Follow @morgannasalchemy 2️⃣Follow @StyleChicksDotCom 3️⃣For an extra entry, tag a friend in the comments who would love this kit so they can enter too! 🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱 Contest ends Tuesday, August 14th, 2018 at 11:59pm EST. Winner will be chosen at random and contacted by Direct Message to arrange delivery. 🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱 #Giveaway #Contest #SkincareGiveaway #BeautyGIveaway #MorgannasAlchemy #10YearsIn30DaysTreatmentKit #NaturalBeauty #NaturalSkincare #Skincare #SkincareReview #LuxurySkincare #HealthySkin #FreshSkin #GorgeousSkin #BeautyRegime #SkinRepair #Over30Skincare #SkincareIsImportant #BeautyTipsAndTrick #GoodSkin #SkinRegime #SkincareBlogger #SkinCareTips #SkincareCommunity #SkincareBlogger #Beautygram #SkincareLuxury #Spon

A post shared by Style Chicks (@stylechicksdotcom) on Aug 7, 2018 at 6:36pm PDT

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Style Chicks received Morganna’s Alchemy 10 Years in 30 Days Treatment Kit for review purposes and received compensation for our time and effort. However, our experience with the product and the opinions expressed in this review are 100% ours.

Precision Makeup Application with Miracos Makeup Essential Luxury Eye Brush Kit

August 5, 2018 · 5 Comments

Quality brushes are key to precise makeup application, especially around the eyes. Brushes are also more hygienic than dipping a finger or sponge repeatedly into a makeup jar or pan. But most of the time, the applicator brushes that come with makeup are low-quality, difficult to use, and deliver inferior results. They are in general, kind of awful. Quality brushes are hard to find and often pretty pricey, so we were pleased to find Miracos Makeup Essential Luxury Eye Brush Kit, consisting of four attractive, quality brushes with long, balanced handles in a lovely rose gold design.

From left to right: this luxury brush set includes the Miracos Makeup Eye Shadow Brush, the Blend Brush, the Dual-End Eyeliner & Brow Brush and the Flat Concealer Brush

ABOUT THE Miracos Makeup Essential Luxury Eye Brush Kit

This is a luxury brush set that can be useful to a novice makeup user or a makeup expert. The Miracos Makeup Essential Luxury Eye Brush Kit contains four luxury makeup brushes:

Dual-End Eyeliner & Brow Brush
Flat Concealer Brush
Eye Shadow Brush
Blend Brush

The rose gold tone is so pretty on my makeup table!

CONSTRUCTION & AESTHETIC

Each Miracos Makeup brush is a metallic, shiny rose gold tone and bears a simple yet elegant M insignia logo. The brushes are well-made with bristles that hold up to use and to washing without shedding. The bristles are soft on the delicate eye area but contoured well enough to get the job done.

Miracos Eyeshadow blender brush head closeup view

LONG BALANCED HANDLES: Something I especially like about this Miracos Makeup set is the long, easy to grip handles that are just heavy enough to be weighted well for use, but not uncomfortable in my hand. There is an ergonomic bend to the curve for ease of grip.

Each brush has a long handle with a sloping curve inward for easy grip and balance during use

Each Miracos brush has a long handle with a sloping curve inward for easy grip and balance during use

ABOUT EACH Miracos MAKEUP BRUSH IN THE SET & HOW WE USE THEM

Miracos Makeup Dual-End Eyeliner & Brow Brush

The Dual-End Eyeliner & Brow brush is intended for use on the eyebrows and creating a soft eyeliner line. One side has a large quality spoolie brow brush.

HOW I USE IT: I use the spoolie end of the brow brush both to generally groom my brows and to best apply brow product.

I first brush my brows down so I can best assess where to apply eyebrow powder, gel, liner or product. This also helps me draw in my arch.
I apply the brow product, generally a gel or cream, with the angled end applying in short, natural strokes not a straight harsh line. I find the angle and thin precision top of this Miracos brush creates a more hair-like line.
Then I brush my brows back up with the spoolie end and use the spoolie to blend in the brow product.

I find this brush down technique highly useful for filling in my arch and tail and getting a natural look that creates a strong, youthful and even brow but not full on obviously fake Joan Crawford Mommy Dearest brows.

Spoolies are also useful for applying a bit of gel or hairspray to the brows to keep them in place. In a pinch, they are also useful for combing through dry mascara for any unexpected clumps.

Spoolie end of the Miracos Makeup Dual-Ended Eyebrow and Liner Brush

The other side of the Dual-End Eyeliner & Brow Brush is an angled liner brush. The bristles are slightly stiff but not too hard for delicate skin. The angle is sharp and the bristles come to a tidy thin line for precise product application. I like how thin a line it creates and how I can place eyeliner or brow product exactly where I want it. I like it for a soft line on the lower lid.

Super-precise angled tip is soft but stiff enough to load product

2. Miracos Flat Concealer Brush

I have been guilty of sticking my finger in a pot of concealer and likely contaminating the whole thing, which is especially bad around the eye area or any blemish you are intending on concealing.

So I especially like that this Flat Concealer Brush has lots of bristles but a good contoured taper to it to get in just where you need to conceal and not get excess concealer all around the spot. It is also flat which helps me angle into position, and to tap it lightly on the skin and not rub, which is something I tend to do with my fingers, stretching my skin AND just moving product around instead of setting it in place.

The concealer brush works with creamy thick concealers or liquid to apply and blend a thin, precise layer of coverage.

The Miracos Makeup Flat Concealer Brush works with creamy thick concealers or liquid to apply and blend a thin, precise layer of coverage.

HOW I USE IT: This Flat Concealer Brush gets very nice thin layers of a liquid or creamy concealing product down on the skin without streaks. I find this useful for actual concealer placement, and especially useful for pre-concealing color corrective concealers, such as a light peach shade for purple undertone dark undereye circles, or a green tint for red acne blotches.

Ideal for applying a very thing layer of pre-concealing color correcting tone such as peach tone concealer

The Flat Concealer Brush is ideal for applying a very thin layer of pre-concealing color correcting tone such as this peach tone concealer that conceals dark circles and makes the eye look wide awake, but a thin coat is key!

Close up of using the brush to apply peach corrective concealer to an area of discoloration on the skin. Use on dark circles, acne blemishes, discoloration or small bruises to conceal.

I find the coverage of this brush, using both the thin tip and flat edge to create layers of concealer that are well blended and very buildable which makes the brush highly versatile for lighter or heavier concealer coverage needs.

3. EYESHADOW BRUSHES: The Eye Shadow Brush and Blend Brush

The eyeshadow brushes: Eye Shadow Brush and Blend Brush

Nice long handles make applying eyeshadow easy even for a novice

There are two eyeshadow brushes in this set, an Eye Shadow Brush, and a Blend Brush. The Eye Shadow Brush is seen above at the left, it is the one to use to apply color in a “packing” application on the crease. The other brush on the right is the Blend Brush, which is to blend and use on the entire eye for a base shade. This is especially useful for a smokey eye look. The brushes are soft but defined enough that color goes where I want it.

Blender Brush packed with light metallic copper shadow to blend a smoky metallic eye. I can use shimmery metallic shades without fallout because the brush holds product well

Color loads well onto these brushes, they hold product without dropping powder debris onto my cheek and undereye area.

HOW I USE IT: I use the Eye Shadow Brush for darker, intense, or brighter colors that can be messy, because I can control how much product goes on my crease and exactly where it goes.

The Eye Shadow Brush is precise enough to perform an eye makeup trick for heavy or sagging lids: By tapping it all along the contour of my crease, but just above the crease, it provides a little bit of lift to the eye, as the crease seems higher. It can also be used the traditional way of aiming for the crease itself and moving back and forth inside the crease, windshield wiper style. Blend with the brush on the right.

Even I can do a smokey eye look with these brushes because they don’t have product fallout during application.

I like being able to wear darker and deeper, moody shades and metallics like these, but I hate when they get all over my eye and fallout onto my cheeks. These brushes reduce fallout, making for easier application. I am excited to try these rich plum and copper tones in the fall!

CONCLUSION

Makeup application is so much easier, precise, and hygienic with a good set of brushes. These four brushes together make for much easier makeup application as well as better results. My makeup looks more natural because it is precisely applied and better blended. I love the long handles for better control and they are also sleek and attractive. The brushes withstand washing and hold product well. An excellent addition to the makeup bag of eye makeup novices and ninjas alike!

WHERE TO BUY IT

Find the Miracos Makeup Essential Luxury Eye Brush Kit at https://miracosmakeup.com/

Style Chicks readers get 25% off the Miracos Makeup LIMITED EDITION: Essential Luxury Eye Brush Kit with discount Code LUXEYE25

OFFER DETAILS: Get 25% Off Miracos Makeup Essential Luxury Eye Brush Kit
One time use. Can not be combined with any other offers. No cash value.

Miracos Makeup LIMITED EDITION: Essential Luxury Eye Brush Kit

Style Chicks received the Miracos Makeup LIMITED EDITION: Essential Luxury Eye Brush Kit for testing and evaluation purposes and we were compensated for our time and effort. However, all the opinions expressed herein and the photos are 100% ours.