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Dr. Yates, MD Lifestyle Med Skincare Review

November 8, 2019

Hello, my dears! I hope you’re doing well, and that you’re thoroughly enjoying these first days of winter (or I guess Autumn, if you’re still on the West Coast!)!
If you’ve been following me on Instagram for a while, you probably know that I LOVE testing out new skincare products. One thing I haven’t done in years though, is to test out a whole skincare LINE.
I was gifted 6 products from Dr. Yates, MD Lifestyle (the in-house brand of a luxury med spa in Chicago), and I’ve been using them exclusively for 4.5 months! No cheating with any masks, serums, anything like that! I’ve continued to use the same makeup remover wipes that I have for the past 15 years, and moisturizing primer, and that’s it. I honestly do a little eye roll when people use skincare for 2 days and then make claims about it. It’s one thing to use a hydrating mask and substantiate that it helps with immediate moisture level.. It’s another to test out an anti-wrinkle or anti-acne product and claim your skin was transformed overnight! That’s why I wanted to do such an in-depth exploration of these products and their effects.

The products I received as recommended by my aesthetician Nikelle, are face wash, face polish, eye cream, moisturizer/sunscreen, neck cream, and a night cream. I had to wait a week after a chemical peel to start them, but after that, have used them every day since the beginning of June. Now, for a breakdown of all of the products:

Antioxidant Wash
This is a foaming wash, that you use a small amount of in your palms and work into a lather before lightly massaging in to skin and rinsing off. I didn’t find this to be an effective makeup remover, but my skin did feel very clean and not tight after using. The container is HUGE and wouldn’t be great for travel, but you could always pour some in to a travel-friendly container.
Scent (ratings on a scale 1-5): 4, pleasant and mild.
Cost: 3, it’s $47.50, which I find to be really steep for a cleanser, but you do get SO much product at 6.7 oz.
Packaging: 4, Easy to disperse, the label is very clinical-feeling (makes sense).
Would I repurchase: No, but only because I have other cleansers to use up first. This is a perfectly good face wash.
Overall rating: 4.

Brightening Polish
Very mixed feelings about this product. I use it in the shower, because I feel that’s the only way to get all the granules off (same with any face polish/physical exfoliator I use). The smell is… Off-putting. When in use, it smells like a mix of lemon cleaner and ammonia. I think the granules are really nice though, and kept my skin relatively blemish-free in the acne-prone summer months.
Scent: 1, not a fan.
Cost: 4, it’s a little higher than I normally spend for this type of product, but it’s also in the 6.7 oz. size, so not too bad.
Packaging: 4, same thoughts as above.
Would I repurchase: No, I think I can find similar products without that intense scent.
Overall rating: 3.

Total Eye Repair
I go through eye cream more consistently than any other product.. Although I’ll admit to never being loyal to any particular brand, because I generally feel like they all work pretty well for me! I look for hydration, line prevention, and some depuffing action. I feel like this one did a great job at all of the above, and I love the packaging. The pump dispenses the perfect amount of product every time. It is super pricey, but I’ve been using it for over 3.5 months, and I’m still not out of it.
Scent: 5, seems unscented to me, which I prefer for an eye cream.
Cost: 2, Wowza, at $97.50 for .5 oz.
Packaging: 5! Love the dispenser, although I wonder how “good to the last drop” it will be when I get to that point.
Would I repurchase: No, solely because of the price.
Overall rating: 4.

Antioxidant Moisturizing Sunscreen
I’ve had mixed results with 2 in 1 products like this, but I am LOVING this SPF/moisturizer combo. The moisturizer is so smooth and hydrating, and gives me a bit of that “glass skin” appearance. It isn’t heavy feeling or tacky, and just pleasantly sinks on in. One thing about the container is that the product does tend to gather and get a little crusty, so I will just unscrew the lid instead of popping the top. Doesn’t take any more time, and just as easy.
Scent: 5, I actually like the smell of sunscreen, and this one isn’t coconutty or too tropical.
Cost: 4, I think $45.50 for 4 oz. of product is quite reasonable.
Packaging: 3, for the aforementioned issue.
Would I repurchase: Yes! Would be happy to continue using this.
Overall rating: 4.

Phyto Repair PM
I was nervous that this rich cream would be too heavy on my skin, especially during the warmer summer months, but I was pleasantly surprised! I slept comfortably and didn’t wake up greasy, as sometimes happens. I will say that the packaging is great because it dispenses the perfect amount of product by pushing down on the top, and doesn’t expose the rest to air. I’ve noticed a small difference in the intensity of my laugh lines, which is my main trouble area.
Scent: 5, soft, pleasant and mild.
Cost: 4, I think $81.50 for the 2 oz. of product is reasonable, and I’m still on the same container after 3.5 months.
Packaging: 5, love the dispenser!
Would I repurchase: Yes, I think it’s a great product.

Firm RX Neck & Decolletage Repair
TBH, I don’t know if I can give this one a fair review. My weight has been fluctuating, so it’s difficult to judge the efficacy of something meant to tone the neck area. The packaging leaves something to be desired. When I picked it up a couple weeks into using it, the faux lid came off in my hand, and the rest of the product dropped to the floor, cracking the outside. Also, not a fan of having to stick something into the product to scoop it out. Will try to follow up on this product a couple months from now!

Overall, I think the standout from this line is the Moisturizing Sunscreen, I highly recommend it. These picks were selected just for me by Nikelle, and if you’re local, I’d recommend visiting her at Dr. Yates Med Spa for a 1 on 1 consultation and evaluation of your skin. Check out my progress over the last several months using these products! And side note, I think I look SO odd when I’m not smiling 😂 Hope you enjoyed my Dr. Yates, MD Lifestyle Med Skincare Review!

Don’t worry, I DID trim my brows after this 😆 I was growing them out to get them threaded!

New Skincare Review

October 2, 2018

This post contains affiliate links. Purchasing items through them may provide me with a small commission. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Happy Tuesday, loves!
I hope everyone is having a great start to their week. With this new chapter of my life starting after moving to Chicago, I decided it was the perfect time to give my skincare routine an overhaul as well! I was sent all of these products to test out and wanted to share my thoughts on them after using them for several weeks. Side note, I’ve linked the least expensive version of the products I could find online! Keep scrolling to read my new skincare review! 😀

1) From Neostrata, I received three products to test out, and I’ll start with the Skin Active Retinol + NAG Complex. Quite a name and quite the price tag to match. At $78, it is definitely a higher end product, but I don’t mind paying that much when the product WORKS. I’ll admit, I have skipped a couple of nights using this product (you know those nights when you’re so tired that just getting your makeup off feels like the most you can do), but even with skipping a bit, I still have been able to notice a difference. I think continued use will yield even more reduced lines and wrinkles, because I’m already noticing them lessened on my face. I will caution though, because of the retinol ingredient, make sure you up the sunscreen use during the day.
2) Next up is their Oil Control Gel. This product is also on the more “luxurious” side price-wise at $42, but again, this stuff is saving my skin from looking dewy by noon. The Chicago humidity is more than I anticipated, and when I layer this product over my moisturizer and under my foundation, I notice my skin staying nice and matte until at least dinnertime. I took it with me to NYFW and I think it worked well in a pinch as a primer since I forgot mine at home!
3) On the moisturizer side of things, I was sent several of the items from the new Hydro Boost collection from Neutrogena, and haven’t found a bad one in the bunch. I wanted to especially highlight the Water Gel with Hyaluronic Acid ($20), which I truly look forward to applying every morning. I think it gives my combo skin the right amount of moisture and doesn’t feel heavy or tacky. I can’t stand those types of creams, especially when it’s warm or humid out. My trick with this type of tub is to shake the product with the lid on, so that some product distributes on to the lid when you open it, saving you from dipping a finger into the bulk of the product and getting it under your nails or contaminating it.

4) From a brand called D’OR 24K Cosmetics, I tested out their Regenerating Facial Cleanser, and I unfortunately don’t have the most favorable things to say about it. The scent is the first thing that struck me, like a very fake strawberry aroma. It gives me a little headache and seems very cheap. The cleanser is OK to use in the shower, but every time I used it with just rinsing off over the sink, I’d manage to discover the little pink beads near my hairline, ear or chin. I also didn’t feel the beads did much in terms of exfoliating, or regenerating as the name would suggest. Can we also talk about how underwhelming the packaging is… Their website was not in operation when I was writing this post, so I’m not sure exactly how much this retails for, but regardless of price, I’d pass!
5) Another gem from Neostrata (how had I not used this brand before?!), their Sheer Physical Protection SPF 50 ($37). I’ve actually switched to using this product as my face base instead of foundation on days when my skin is blemish-free. I love that it’s two steps in one.. A VERY sheer layer of coverage, along with a high number SPF. I actually wasn’t expecting the tint for some reason, but I do think it would work on 90% of skin tones. I think on very dark skin, it might leave a little ashy cast, but from very fair to medium-dark, it should just give a very faint evening of tone. I’m quite fair and this wasn’t yellow or orange on me. Definitely great to use when you’re in a time crunch to get ready, and this will definitely be my go-to product come next summer for the beach, pool, camping, etc.
6) In the mask realm, I’ve been testing out the Farmacy Bright On Massage-Activiated Vitamin C Mask. I’ll admit, the color-changing bit did seem slightly gimmicky, but the more I thought about it, I realized it’s actually helpful so you know you’ve massaged in the product enough. I leave it on for 10 minutes (recommended is 5-10). After each use, I’ve felt my skin tighten and there was a visible brightness to my skin’s tone. I think I need to up the frequency though, because I’ve been trying it once a week and I feel that the brightness/glow doesn’t last that long between uses. I also wouldn’t recommend this one for dry skin, because of the tightening element; I think it’s best for combo or oily skin. It’s $38, so not the cheapest, not the most expensive out there for this type of product.

That’s it for now, babes! I actually have a new crop of makeup to review as well, so I’ll be working on that post soon. Hope everyone has a great rest of the week!
xoxo

VIICode Eye Mask Review

April 23, 2018

This post was sponsored by VIICode. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

Hello, loves!
So happy to announce that my time spent away from posting on here has been used very productively, planning content and events and reviewing all types of products to share with you all!
First up are these Oxygen Eye Masks from VIICode. They sent me a package to test out and I’ve been using them for the past couple weeks. The package comes with 6 treatments, and I would recommend wearing them twice a week for 3 weeks. The first time I tried them out was after I returned from Palm Springs to attend the Create & Cultivate event at the Ace Hotel. It was such a fun day, filled with such inspiring and empowering speeches from a plethora of boss babes, but my skin definitely felt the heat and dry climate of the desert when I came home.
The patches were a little bit confusing to me to apply at first because I thought I was supposed to peel off both of the white sheets. Upon a little research, I learned that you only need to remove one of the sides and affix the sticky side to your skin. I used a little mirror to apply them, but I didn’t try to make it took perfect. As long as they contour and wrap around the eye a bit, they’re going to do their job.
The masks are actually able to be worn two different ways, and for that I’m grateful. When I first signed on for this review, I did not yet have eyelash extensions. Wearing the masks overnight (recommended is 8 hours max), I knew would not be an option because the ingredients in them would break down the lash glue. Thankfully, they can also be worn for 2-4 hours during the day, making them the perfect after-work skin treat for my skin!
When I know I want to do a mask, I’ll remove my makeup and/or wash my face when I get home, give it a few minutes to dry, and then apply the gel-like patches to my face, then go about my evening… Making dinner, watching TV, etc. I take them off before I go to bed and wake up feeling refreshed, and the skin around my eyes feeling smooth, hydrated, and plump.
I don’t have a lot of lines to soften, so I can’t speak to that effect that the product claims, but I absolutely love it for the moisturizing and calming effect it has on my under-eye area.
The masks are just the tiniest bit annoying at times when I try to look out of the corner of my eye, but other than that, I can’t really feel when they’re on. A pack of 6 sets of masks will cost you $55 and last you up to 3 weeks. I hope you enjoyed my VIICode Eye Mask Review! I’d love to know, what types of masks have you tried that you loved? Have you tried masks specifically made just for the eyes?

Eye masks c/o ViiCode // PJ’s c/o Adore Me // Book / Beauty by Lauren Conrad

November Adore Box

November 23, 2017

This post contains affiliate links. Clicking on these links or purchasing items through them may provide me with a small commission. Products in this post were provided to me for reviewing purposes.

Another month, another fun new subscription box to try out!
I recently received the November Adore Box and have had fun playing around with all of the goodies inside. To be completely honest, the knit headband isn’t totally my style but I know it will make a fantastic gift for one of my friends. That’s one of the things I’ve always loved about these subscription boxes… If there’s ever something in it that isn’t totally my style or I know that I won’t ever use it, I can store it aside for when someone’s birthday is almost forgotten, or I need a hostess gift on the fly.

I received in my box two skincare samples from Hippie Skin, and although they look small, the product is quite concentrated, so you really don’t need a whole lot. I’m always looking to try out innovative new skincare brands, and I’m excited to see what else this one has to offer. The little jars are also perfect for traveling!
I have not tried out the blister balm yet, because I tweaked my ankle and haven’t been able to wear heels recently, but I will definitely be utilizing it during these upcoming holiday months.

I would say that the most impressive item, and the one I will use the most often, is the cuticle oil pen from OPI. I have been doing the powder dip technique on my nails for the past couple months, and find that my cuticles do need a little extra love. This one is in a super convenient click-pen, with a brush that lets you disperse as much product as you want, where you want it. I can’t tell you how annoyed I get trying to squeeze out oil from a tube only to have it squirt out everywhere. Definitely a repurchase when I run out.

All in all, this box was worth the $15 it sells for and more, especially since I got to try out a new skincare brand, and have a gift for a friend in a pinch. If you’re interested in signing up for Adore Box, you can take 50% off your first month with code HALFOFF.