A few weeks ago I got to try the Summer Fridays CC Me Serum in exchange for sharing my experience.

I had already tried the Jet Lag Mask by then so I knew Summer Fridays products were amazing and got so excited about the opportunity to try even more of them.

If you’ve never heard of Summer Fridays before, it was founded by Marianna Hewitt and Lauren Gores Ireland, two amazing and inspiring women who live a very clean lifestyle.

Any time I try new skincare products, my biggest concern is making sure it will work with my super sensitive skin with mild rosacea.

However, I know that Summer Fridays takes clean beauty very seriously and that really eased my concerns.

After weeks of using their products, I wanted to share my Summer Fridays review.

CC Me Serum

The trial was for 6 weeks, though I’ve been using the product ever since and now it’s been 13 weeks since I first started using it.

I use it once a day in the mornings before applying my moisturizer and sunscreen.

Overall I saw a significant difference in skin glow, an even tone, and overall hydration.

My skin is usually very dry, sensitive, red, and pretty dull. However, the CC Me Serum adds an immediate glow.

It’s hard to describe but it feels like a glow from within. As if I had been very diligent about drinking lots of water, sleeping and eating healthy.

Obviously, if you use skincare products and actually sleep well, stay hydrated and eat healthy, your skin will look 10X better.

However, this glowy skin happened without altering my diet or even drinking more water than usual.

I’m very happy with the product and totally recommend it. In fact, two of my friends told me they bought it because of my positive experience and have seen a significant improvement in their skin to the point where they don’t even wear makeup anymore!

Jet Lag Mask

Before I got to try the CC Me Serum or other Summer Fridays products, I bought the Jet Lag Mask because I had heard so much about it.

Let me just say it lives up to its hype!

I use it as an overnight mask and I wake up looking as if I had gotten 8+ hours of sleep when in reality I have not.

Not only that but my skin feels a lot more hydrated, firm, smooth, and soft.

As a friend of mine put it, her mom was asking her if she had gotten any botox when in reality it was all from Jet Lag Mask!

Now I will add a disclaimer that we’re both in our 20’s and obviously with younger skin it might be easier for fine lines to fade. However, I’m fairly confident Jet Lag Mask will hydrate, firm, and smooth all types of skins just based on other people’s experiences I’ve read about.

R&R and Overtime Masks

I use the R&R and Overtime Masks less often since they’re meant to be used only a couple of times a week.

Exfoliating our skin is very important, however it should only be done once or twice a week, especially if you have sensitive skin like I do.

I alternate using the R&R and Overtime masks once a week and have had no issues with either.

The key is to very gently apply the masks and wash them off without rubbing your skin. 

I love that the R&R mask leaves my skin soft, glowing, and very hydrated. It not only exfoliates skin, it leaves oils after washing (I promise it is not oily though) that are important for hydrating your skin.

The Overtime mask smells amazing! I’m a sucker for Fall and the pumpkin smell won me over the second I opened it.

In my experience, the R&R mask is a bit more gentle on my skin as opposed to Overtime. However, I found that Overtime mask was still gentle enough to use on my sensitive skin.

It’s great to exfoliate skin and brighten it, all while smelling like a luscious Fall day.

Super Amino Gel Cleanser

While I normally use my Dermalogica Ultracalming Cleanser, I decided to try the Summer Fridays Super Amino Gel Cleanser.

I use it after my Dermalogica Pre-Cleanse Balm and before applying my Summer Fridays CC Me Serum.

The Super Amino Gel Cleanser has no synthetic dyes or fragrances, however it smells fresh and clean.

Seriously, the second I started using it I immediately felt like everything was so clean just from its smell.

The good news is not only does it smell clean, it’s really good at cleansing skin too!

Like all other Summer Fridays products, it’s very gentle and I have had no issues with it washing my face morning and night.

Plus, not to mention the bottle is so sleek and cute. Truly, all the Summer Fridays products look beautiful and are definitely very instagrammable.

Lip Butter Balm

Last but not least in my Summer Fridays review is the Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm.

It makes my lips super glossy but not in a sticky way. Sometimes lip balms will be so sticky to the point were my hair gets stuck on my lips and that drives me insane.

However, this Lip Butter Balm smells heavenly, hydrates my lips, adds gloss and best of all, my hair stays away from my lips.

I use it throughout the day and at night as an overnight lip mask.

My lips get chapped quite easily, especially in the Florida heat since I get dehydrated so easily. But thanks to the Lip Butter Balm I’ve had no chapped lips since I started using it!

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I hope you found this Summer Fridays review helpful.

Let me know in the comments below if you’ve tried any of their products and which one is your favorite.

The post Summer Fridays Review: My Experience appeared first on Dear Moscato.

A few months ago, Living Proof reached out and asked if they could send me some new products they were releasing.

If you follow me on Instagram you know I am obsessed with Living Proof, especially their dry shampoo.

Ecstatic, I told them I’d love to try the new product!

Fast-forward to January and I received a beautiful box with the three new hair masks.

At that point I realized I’ve never shared my hair care routine on the blog.

For that reason, I decided to test the masks first and then report back with my thoughts on it plus my overall hair care routine.

Before I share everything about it, I’ll share a bit more about what my hair is like in general.

I love having long hair, and try really hard to keep it that way. However, I try to trim it at least twice a year to make sure my hair stays healthy.

I’ve never dyed my hair, and I’m honestly dreading the day I have to, so I think that’s another factor that goes into keeping the hair healthy.

However, much like my dry skin, my hair runs a bit on the drier side. Because of that, and because of the wavy nature of my hair, I have to take good care of it since I often get split ends.

For that reason, I’ve been sticking mostly to the Living Proof Restore hairline and it’s been magical.

Hair Care Routine During Hair Washing Days

I try not to wash my hair every day because I know it’s not good for it. However, I work out every day and at some point you really gotta wash that dirt off.

So when I do wash my hair, I use the Restore Shampoo and Conditioner. I also use the Restore Hair Mask about 2-3 times a week and my hair feels so soft!

Before brushing my hair, I use the Restore Perfecting Spray and it does a great job at detangling my hair, which really helps prevent the split ends.

I then follow it by using the Restore Repair Leave-In and either air drying, or using my Revlon One-Step Hair Dryer and Volumizer.

I try not to use it every time I wash my hair just because I also enjoy letting my hair air dry to ensure it stays healthy.

However, as someone who is honestly awful at using a hair dryer, this device has changed my life!

So if you’re looking for a great blowout and you’re not the greatest at using a hair dryer, stop waiting and get yourself that Revlon.

Hair Care Routine During Dry Shampoo Days

As the header reads, when I don’t wash my hair I live by the Living Poof Dry Shampoo. 

I try to wash my hair every other day, which means every other day I use dry shampoo.

I’ve tried other brands in the past but what I like about Living Proof Dry Shampoo is that it doesn’t leave the white powder on your hair.

It truly cleans it and leaves your hair looking so fresh.

Plus, I recently found out that the person behind the magic of this dry shampoo is a woman, which makes it that much more inspiring. 

When I use dry shampoo I either leave my hair as is or take the opportunity to curl it or use a straightener.

Since the heat can do major damage to your hair, I love using PhD Heat Styling Spray to protect my hair when using a curling or straightening iron. 

It smells really good and leaves the hair shiny.

Finally, when I feel like my hair is getting frizzy (thanks Miami humidity), I like to spray some Instant De-Frizzer on my hair before I go.

It leaves my hair so smooth and really tames down the frizz.

Final Thoughts

I hope this blog post was helpful if you’re looking for new hair products.

Living Proof has multiple lines for different hair needs, but overall I love the products I use.

They’re clean, cruelty-free, there’s real science behind them, and there’s a product for every need.

If you’re interested in learning more, take their quiz so you know what product is best for you!

And be sure to let me know if you’ve tried Living Proof and what your thoughts are. 

The post My Hair Care Routine appeared first on Dear Moscato.

A while ago I had shared my skincare routine.

I was very excited about it and really kept up with it, however, I started noticing it wasn’t really getting the job done. 

My skin is very sensitive and runs on the dry side.

Although I was religiously using the products, I felt like my skin was still really dry.

Granted, before buying those products I didn’t really have a skincare routine, so it makes sense why they worked at first.

But still, they weren’t really helping my dry skin.

That’s when I learned about Dermalogica.

A New Skincare Product

During Miami Swim Week, they creatively labeled it as Miami Skin Week, and hosted an event with Lindsey Harrod.

When I first heard about the event I was super excited because I’d been following Lindsey for a while and working out with her sounded like a dream.

Plus, Dermalogica facials and products? Sign me up!
So, naturally, that’s what I did. And I convinced my friend Phylicia to join me.

The workout itself was super intense (thanks for the burn, Lindsey!) but it was so fun.

Then we had a yummy lunch followed by a Dermalogica facial and a skin masterclass.

I got to learn everything about what my skin needs and which Dermalogica products I should use.

My favorite part is that the products are perfect for people with sensitive skin because they contain no fragrances or chemicals that can harm your skin.

They’re natural products with ingredients you can pronounce – exactly how I like to live my life!

Morning Skincare Routine

Just like I had with my previous skincare routine, I’m doing a morning, nighttime, and mask routine. 

My morning routine consists of pre-cleanse balm, followed by the ultracalming cleanser mixed with the daily microfoliant. 

I use those specifically because they work with my sensitive skin without irritating it. And it gets the job done. 

I was surprised to learn double cleansing is good for you, but I learned that since the precleanse balm is oil-based, it’s really good at removing impurities. 

Plus, it leaves my skin feeling so soft! 

After cleansing, I follow with the toner, biolumin-c serum, and moisturizer. 

I mix my moisturizer with barrier defense booster to help keep my dry skin even more hydrated!

It honestly feels so soft and refreshed all day, I love it! 

Nighttime Routine

My nighttime routine is pretty much the same as my daytime routine, except I just use the barrier defense booster instead of mixing it with the moisturizer. 

Since the moisturizer has SPF and I don’t really need that for bed, I use the oil to keep my skin hydrated. 

Safe to say I also always remove any makeup before going to sleep. 

And to add a note on that, I choose to either not wear any makeup or just CC cream because my skin does not react well to make up. 

Masking Routine

In addition to my daily morning and nighttime routines, I also have a masking routine!

It’s important to keep my skin hydrated by masking twice a week with the hydrating mask. 

What I like about it is that I can put it on and continue to do things around the house. 

Sometimes, masks feel like they freeze my face and I can barely talk, but not this one!

Plus, my skin feels so soft and hydrated afterwards. 

I also take this opportunity to apply the stress positive eye lift that feels like heaven honestly. 

The applicator is cool to the touch so my eyes feel refreshed and the actual product revitalizes my under eyes. Bye bye bags! 

It’s definitely a great treat yourself making routine and I love it. 

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Overall I am so happy with the results after using Dermalogica. 

My skin feels so hydrated, soft, and alive. 

I’m not breaking out anymore because the products are clean and use minimal ingredients, something my skin loves. 

If you’re thinking about a new skincare routine or would like to add some products, I highly recommend trying Dermalogica.

And if you’ve tried them already, would love to hear your experience in the comments below!

The post My Updated Skincare Routine appeared first on Dear Moscato.

I recently did some much needed Spring cleaning but realized there are so many things I have that I constantly use.

I’m a huge fan of skincare products and for that reason I have a ton of them!

That Spring cleaning really got me thinking about the products I can’t seem to live without lately. So naturally I decided to share the 10 things I can’t live without!

Water

First and foremost, hydration is key to functioning.

I tend to have really dry skin so staying hydrated is so important for my skin.

Plus, I workout every day so I need to recover.

Let’s not forget our bodies are made of 70% water, aka you need lots of water.

I personally drink half my body weight in ounces so I keep a water bottle with me at all times to remember to stay hydrated.

Snacks

If you guys know me you’ll know I am literally always hungry.

Okay fine, not literally but basically every 2 hours I need food.

And let me tell you, I get hangry! So I keep snacks on hand.

I love Tone It Up protein bars because they’re super easy to keep around, tasty, filling, and nutritious. 

Other snack options I’m a fan of include Skinny Dipped almonds, Perfect Bars, Biena Snacks, and RX Bars.

Scrunchie or Hair Tie

Most girls will always have a hair tie with them. It just comes with the long hair territory.

Since I have long hair, I always keep some handy because you never know when you might need them.

You also never know when a friend will need one and hey, gotta help a girl out!

I’m a huge fan of the Sincerely Jules x Target scrunchies because they’re useful and adorable.

Lip Balm

Clearly I’m a fan of hydration in general.

I always keep a lip balm with me and my latest obsession is Glossier’s Mango Balm Dotcom. 

It smells like my favorite fruit and keeps my lips hydrated.

I’m also a huge fan of the Coola lip balm and Kopari Beauty.

No More Baggage

Thanks to FabFitFun I recently received dr. brandt’s needles no more no more baggage eye de-puffing gel and let me tell you I’m hooked!

My eyes have never looked better since I started using it.

I tend to have bags and dark circles under my eyes but this product has been a game-changer. 

It works instantly and over time I’ve noticed a significant decrease in my dark circles.

Needless to say, I’ll be buying it over and over again!

Leave-In Conditioner

Just like my dr. brandt eye de-puffing gel, I received the OUAI leave-in conditioner in my FabFitFun box.

I used it right away and haven’t stopped since.

The smell is fantastic and it’s great for detangling and making my hair extra soft.

I had been considering it for the longest time but for some reason I never bought it.

If you’re on the fence about it like I was, do yourself a favor and buy it!

Jen Atkins is a hair genius and I am now obsessed with OUAI products.

Dry Shampoo

Although I work out every day, I try not to wash my hair daily to avoid drying it out.

That’s where dry shampoo comes to the rescue. 

I got the Living Proof dry shampoo thanks to the Create & Cultivate swag bag and I love it.

It smells amazing, makes my hair soft, gives it volume, and makes it look like I didn’t sweat at all!

Disclaimer though, I don’t use it on HIIT days. That sweat is too intense for dry shampoo LOL.

Moisturizer

Remember when I said my skin is super dry? Hence the need for moisturizer.

I’ve been using the Mario Badescu products for some time now but recently switched to the Honey Moisturizer and it has made all the difference.

It’s really helped hydrate my skin and leaves it so soft.

My skin is super sensitive and delicate but this moisturizer is great for most skin types, including sensitive skin.

I suggest exploring products for your skin type until you find one that works!

Eyebrows on Fleek

I generally don’t wear much makeup but I always fill in my brows.

I’ve been guilty of over plucking and thus my brows need a bit of help.

I swear by the Chella brow pencil and believe me, I’ve tried tons of brow products.

Just make sure you get the right tone so you don’t end up with super dark brows.

I personally use taupe because I like to go just one shade lighter so it looks more natural.

Vitamins and Supplements

Recently I started taking HUM Nutrition and Moon Juice vitamins and supplements and I feel great.

SuperYou has definitely helped me feel less stressed and Daily Cleanse has helped detox my body.

A lot of people recommend it to clear your skin; I don’t really suffer from breakouts so I can’t speak to that.

However, I bought it to help cleanse and detox my body and I have felt less bloated and yucky. 

Well there you have it friends. That’s my current list of things I can’t live without!

Knowing me, I’ll probably find even more products I can’t live without but for now, this is where I stand.

Let me know if you’ve tried any of these products or have a recommendation!

The post 10 Things I Can’t Live Without Right Now appeared first on Dear Moscato.

A while back I asked on Instagram what my followers wanted me to write about on my blog.

A few people responded saying they wanted to learn my skincare routine.

Truth be told, I did not really have a skincare routine at that time, which is why I kept putting off writing this post.

However, about a month ago I attended a Nordstrom Skincare Event and my life (skin) was completely changed.

My Skin Needs

To give you some background, I’ve always had very sensitive, delicate skin. Luckily, I’ve never struggled with breakouts but I do struggle with a lot of sensitivity issues.

My skin can’t really handle the cold weather, direct sunlight, or certain makeup and skin products. I get red very easily and struggle with allergic reactions all the time.

For that reason, I was living a ‘less is more’ skincare routine, however my skin was lacking hydration and moisturizing.

During the Nordstrom Skincare Event, the esthetician looked at my skin and realized right away it was very dry and sensitive.

For that reason, she recommended sticking to one brand so my skin is not exposed to multiple different ingredients that could create an averse reaction.

She recommended Mario Badescu because it’s great for sensitive skin (there are different lines from Mario Badescu for different skin types) and it’s very affordable.

She tested the products on my skin and I quickly realized these were the products I had been looking for.

Morning Routine

My morning and nighttime routine are very similar, except for the moisturizer I use.

In the morning, I cleanse my skin in a circular motion with the Enzyme Cleansing Gel and then use a cotton pad to rub the Witch Hazel & Rosewater Toner on my skin.

Once that has dried I proceed to use the daytime aloe moisturizer with SPF 15. It is important to rub it all over your face except the eye area.

For my eye area, I use the Hyaluronic Eye Cream which is great to protect your skin from the sunlight. The eye area is very delicate and it is important to protect it from the sun, debris, and prevent wrinkles.

Once I’ve applied the moisturizer and eye cream, I can apply makeup if I want to (I like to go makeup-free most days).

The final step is the aloe, cucumber & green tea spray that feels incredibly hydrating and can also work to set your makeup.

Nighttime Routine

At night, once I’ve removed any makeup, I can proceed with a similar routine.

I also start by cleansing my skin with the Enzyme Cleansing Gel and proceed to use the toner.

Instead of using the daytime moisturizer though, I use oil. 

Say what? I know it sounds weird to use oil on your skin but it’s not as bad as you think and it really helps keep my skin hydrated.

I alternate every night between the Rose Hips Nourishing Oil and the Vitamin C Serum. 

It only requires a tiny bit and it dries up pretty quickly so it does not stain my pillow and I wake up feeling so refreshed.

Exfoliating and Masks

In addition to my daily skincare routine, I also exfoliate and use a mask twice a week.

I use the Botanical Exfoliating Scrub on Wednesdays and Sundays while I shower and it leaves my skin feeling amazing.

All you need is a tiny bit and you rub it in a circular motion all over your face. It’s important to do it gently since the scrub can hurt if you’re harsh about it.

After that I apply a Cucumber Tonic Mask for 20-25 minutes. 

It dries up fairly quickly and makes your skin feel so firm it feels kind of funny.

However, after you wash it off your skin feels like a baby’s skin!

Find What Works For You

I highly recommend Mario Badescu products because I’ve had a great experience with them so far and know other people who have used it and love it as well.

With that being said, I encourage you to visit an esthetician or dermatologist to learn more about your skin and what products it needs.

We only have one skin and protecting it from any harm (sun, chemicals, debris, etc.) is so important.

If you’ve tried Mario Badescu or have found a skincare routine you swear by, share with me below!

The post My Skincare Routine appeared first on Dear Moscato.

If you know me, you know I usually don’t wear much makeup. But, I am very girly and love getting all glammed up. So I do wear makeup on occasions and wanted to share my favorite makeup products!

Cover up any blemishes

I have very sensitive skin and therefore have to be very careful with the products I wear.

I’ve been very lucky and have always had clear skin. But I still need a good concealer to cover the evidence of a long night (aka dreaded dark circles).

My favorite concealer is shape tape by tarte in ‘fair neutral.’

Karli, the most amazing makeup artist at Mario Tricoci Naperville taught me the dot dot dot trick for concealers. Simply apply 3 dots of concealer under your eyes and blend with a brush!

It’s all in the brows

The one thing I cannot live without is my Chella Eyebrow Pencil in ‘Tantalizing Taupe’ and the Clear Eyebrow Defining Gel. There is nothing better than good eyebrows (as I learned thanks to Lauren Bushnell) so this is KEY.

Make the eyes POP

I love Urban Decay’s Naked3 palette. It has all the pink hues I love and it gives you a natural look. Since I don’t usually wear much makeup, I prefer wearing something a little more subtle.

A good mascara is always a must, in my opinion. I love Christian Dior’s DIORSHOW mascara. It gives my lashes length and volume without clumping them.

Bronze and Blush

I usually wear bronzer at night when I want to define my facial features. But it’s amazing when you want to look slightly tan and get that summer glow. I love benefit cosmetic’s HOOLA bronzer because it’s subtle but really makes a difference.

As for blush, I love NARS blush in ‘Orgasm’ because it has the perfect pink tone for my cheeks.

Finish it off

As the last step, I apply MAC Cosmetics Blot Powder to avoid any shiny spots.

I’d love to hear about any makeup products you swear by! Let me know in the comments below.

The post My Favorite Makeup Products appeared first on Dear Moscato.