Another Day Another BPAL

Started my Dragon*Con workout routine (my back and legs are sore today!) and fixing my diet again this week. Last night was steak, shrimp, roasted broccoli and cabbage salad for dinner. To quote a friend who ate dinner with me last night, "When Ash cooks she is a baller." (Mostly I think that's what he said. ;) )

Getting ready for Dragon*Con is one of the most stressful times for me. I pride myself on having all costume pieces 'just so' and I really worry that I'll fall flat. In truth, that's mostly all in my head. None the less I think I enjoy the rev up and stress of getting everything done, then feeling accomplished. I'll be wearing a Harley Quinn costume this year. Yes it'll be over done, but I'm feeling pretty good in the fact that mine will be pretty spot on (minus a thing or two on the jacket lettering).

BPAL Scent of the day: Comparison of Celebrated Beauties.

I am not much of a fan of citrus, but man...orange blossom gets me in all its scents. I love it! Then you stick some cream in it and I'm done for. I feel that I smell #RAF.

Comparison of Celebrated Beauties - BPAL

Natural Facial Moisturizer - Whoa, this is some great smelling stuff!

Natural Facial Moisturizer with Retinol Today I attended a wonderful event held by the Barony of Sacred Stone.   Luckily I wasn't in direct sunlight all day, so no sunburn, but that doesn't mean my skin doesn't feel like its been put through the ringer.  I always wear sun screen and do my best to shield my face from the sun with a hat.  Too bad sunglasses aren't medieval in the slightest.....

Today's face care routine was the following:

1. Wash with warm water
2. Apply Valentia Clear Lift Revitalizing Serum
3. Apply Natural Facial Moisturizer with Retinol
4. Apply makeup.
5. Lightly apply 100 SPF Aveeno sunscreen.

What? I said I was serious about keeping any additional wrinkles off my face.  I mean, at least it wasn't 100 degrees out side today.  I still came back with a little bit of red.  So after a quick settle in, I headed up stairs to wash my face and apply Valentia Clear Lift Revitalizing Serum once again.  This product really soothes my face and helps take the red out.  While I didn't have a burn, my skin was flustered today from water loss and the general temp.

My review of Valentia is below.  I am a firm believer in serums.  They are the most important in your skin care routine followed by your moisturizer.

As time ticks away, so does the elasticity of my skin and the firmness of it.  I am often on the lookout for a product that helps my skin hold on to its moisture as well as smoothing the wrinkles that seem to be growing around my face.  I will preface that I’ve only been using this product for 4 days now, so I cannot attest to its long term results but what I can say is this: The Valentia Clear Lift Serum comes in an easy to store glass bottle, with a pump that works quite efficiently.  Two pumps is more than enough for my entire face and neck.  The product goes on smooth, absorbs quickly and leaves my skin feeling tight, without feeling pulled.  I personally use this under my daily moisturizer during the day and then in the evening as my base before applying my Retinol cream and emu oil.   The product itself is not watery, but has just enough creamy texture to give it some body that sticks to my skin.  I really feel like I’m putting something on my face that is soothing it.  Which is one of the best qualities; It instantly takes the red out. 

I am not giving it 5 stars, merely because I’d like feel more moisturized after the product is on my face.  But short of that it is excellent.

A little added benefit, it smells heavenly and is cruelty free.


You can buy it here on Amazon: Valentia Clear Lift Revitalizing Serum

I received this serum for free in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

#valentia

BPAL Scents - Part Duex - Sugar Skulls

Today I was feeling a bit down and my thoughts drew to New Orleans, which usually cheers me up. Sadly, I think only a trip there will do it. Those lazy mornings lounging at a cafe or restaurant with husband, enjoying the people watching, with absolutely no time table are the greatest moments of my life. So, as I was getting ready this morning, I reached over for my morning Black Phonenix Alchemy Lab scent for the day. I chose: Sugar Skull. The description is: Vibrant with the joy and sweetness of life in death! A blend of five sugars, lightly dusted with candied fruits. Sugar Skulls always remind me of New Orleans and this is no different. Its sweet, so tooth rotting sweet that you smile, because there is so much whimsy in it. As you smell it though...you just might die from it. Its a lovely scent and the description is exactly the smell that will waft from your skin, with a decent amount of throw and lingers for a long time.

It is currently out of stock (because it is a limited edition) but it does pop up from time to time:

Sugar Skull - Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab

Sprinkle Cake, by Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab

This.is.glorious. My first post, all about Bpal which is my favorite perfume company. Here is the scents description: "This is the scent of the cupcakes that her (kind, generous, and wonderful!) Aunt Sarah made for her birthday! Lilith's request was for sprinkle flavored cupcakes ("sprinklecakes!") with pink and purple glitter frosting, and that's what she got. That's what you're getting, too: this cupcake fragrance is the sweetest of the sweet, the sugariest of the sugary! Rainbow sprinkles baked into rich vanilla cake with thick, creamy frosting topped with glittery candy flakes." WoW. I love this......so freaking awesome and I smell like vanilla cake heaven. SMELL ME!!!! Ok. Don't smell me, but know you should smell this.