September 2020

We’re big fans of the YouTube Beauty Community here at The Everygirl. We’re constantly talking about our favorite creators, their best looks, and buying pretty much everything they recommend. The YouTube beauty world is honestly what we have to thank for some of the biggest trends in beauty—we’d never be baking our undereyes or curling our hair with straighteners or using men’s post-shave balm as a primer if it weren’t for the beauty YouTubers who taught us how. 

Alongside the various techniques YouTube has taught us, the phenomenon of the ever-so-popular “empties video” has truly taken over our subscription feeds. Every beauty YouTuber has made an empties video (if not five), and everyone who even knows just a glimpse of beauty YouTube has seen one. The concept is simple: show everyone what’s in your trash and talk about if you loved it, if you’ll buy it again, and how long it took you to use up. 

So being the beauty-lovers we are at TEG HQ, we decided to create our own empties series. Every month, all of our editors will share a few of our own empties—from skin, hair, and makeup products to candles and vitamins and home items—and give our unfiltered review on each of the products. Some of them we’ll love and need to repurchase ASAP … and some we’ll celebrate finally finishing them up. If you’ve ever wondered what our absolute favorites (and not-so-favorites) are, this is the right place to be. It’s finally time for our trash cans to shine!

 

Bliss

Pumpkin Powerhouse Resurfacing & Exfoliating Enzyme Mask

Fall is in full swing, and I feel it’s my duty to share that I absolutely love this $12 pumpkin face mask. I bought this last year to see if it would be a dupe for all of the other pumpkin masks on the market (and there are certainly a few). Is this a dupe? I can’t say, but I will tell you that I had a lot of fun with this mask, making it worth the just-over-$10 price point. I loved how soft and smooth my skin felt afterward, and it was the perfect mask to wear while I took a bath. If you’re looking for something fun to add to your skincare routine this fall, try this.

Sunday Riley

C.E.O Glow Vitamin C + Turmeric Face Oil

To be fair, this isn’t even remotely close to empty, but I’m throwing it out and figured I would share as a lesson to myself and anyone reading that vitamin C goes bad and to use your products before that. I went to use this on my face a couple of weeks ago and was utterly appalled at the absolutely rancid scent coming from this tiny little container and knew it had to go. I had it for about a year, so that makes sense. As for how much I liked this, it was so-so. It did absolutely nothing for dark spots, but it definitely made me look glowy and hydrated. Had I used it more consistently, maybe I would have noticed better results, but I realized I really don’t like applying vitamin C in an oil format. Instead, I’ve fallen in love with my #1: Maelove Glow Maker

Neutrogena

Hydro Boost Hyaluronic Acid Gel Face Moisturizer

This is hands-down the best drugstore moisturizer there is. This is the second tub I’ve gone through, and I’m sure I’ll keep buying it. When I want something reliable that I know works for me and keeps me extra hydrated, this is what I use. It’s a gel-cream, so it feels like nothing on my face (was perfect for the summer), but it’s full of hyaluronic acid which keeps my skin plump and full of moisture. It’s a little expensive for a drugstore product, but I promise, it’s worth every penny.

Milk Makeup

Kush Mascara

My love for this mascara
has been expressed at length, so I won’t waste your time with another love note. But I will tell you that if you want thick, long, dramatic lashes, you are missing out if you don’t try this. Everyone I’ve gotten to try it falls in love with it. I’ve gone through about four tubes since it released, and I know I’ll keep buying it. However, I am also trying to go through my other mascaras for now and want to try some drugstore and clean versions first. But there will always be a special place in my heart (and my collection) for Kush Mascara.

 

Equilibria

Mint-Flavored Daily Drops

I've used pretty much every single CBD product that Equilibria makes—and while they each have their own special place in my routine, the mint drops take the cake. I take one full dropper each morning with my coffee and a splash of oat milk—resulting in a delicately minty drink that soothes my stress and helps me feel more focused to take on the day. I have a subscription for these, so I'm shipped a new bottle every four weeks. I never want to be without them!

Weleda

Skin Food

I am not a Skin Food stan (as I know some people are!), but there are truly few things that can tackle suuuuuper dry skin quite like this can. It's very greasy, so I pretty much only use it on the tops of my hands when I'm going to be sitting still. It's not my reach-for-it-all-the-time lotion, but it IS my reach-for-it-when-my-parched-skin-is-desperate lotion.

Redken

Blondage Conditioner

This has been my favorite conditioner in the entire world for YEARS. I use it about once a week, and it truly makes my hair its shiniest and bounciest self. It's frowned-upon to overuse purple hair products (despite how great they are at banishing blonde brassiness)—but if I could, I'd use this every wash. Whether you're bleached and beachy or just have some sunny streaks, you will LOVE this conditioner as much as I do.

 

PFB Vanish

Ultra Triple Action

Now that I’m back to my regular wax appointments, I made sure to stock up on products recommended by my esthetician that will help with any new irritation or ingrown hairs. This post-waxing roll-on serum has been my go-to for care right after wax appointments. It helps soothe any inflammation and helps treat dark spots and discoloration caused by frequent waxing. I noticed less bikini line discoloration, which was a big issue for me when I tried a new esthetician in the past. This is a must if you are prone to having skin issues from waxing.

Freeman Beauty

Cleansing Sheet Mask

I am all in on the sheet mask craze, and Freeman Beauty has a lot of my favorite products for mud masks—and now sheet masks. I use this right before or during a breakout on my face from product build-up. After 15-20 minutes, this face mask leaves my skin clean, but moisturized as well. I love all-things charcoal in my products, as it’s been proven to work for me, and the charcoal in this 100 percent bamboo mask helps clear my pores and preps my face to absorb my overnight cream. My at-home spa nights are not complete without a good sheet mask to top it all off!

 

Living Proof

Dry Volume Spray

I am my best self with a giant cloud of hair. I want my hair to have a separate zip code and precede me into every room. And there is no achieving this without my beloved Dry Volume Blast. It's basically a dry shampoo and texturizer hybrid that is perfect to add grit to freshly washed hair or revive falling day five hair. I use it last before I breeze out the door, buoyed by my locks like a hot air balloon.

Tree Hut

Shea Sugar Scrub

In the winter, my skin is positively parched and needs a good body scrub + body oil combo to remain in fighting form and not peel off in one go like a snake shedding. I like to use my scrub basically every shower, so I needed an affordable version since I've been known to go through a full jar every two weeks. This one is effective, has a light scent that doesn't linger too long, and tops out at about $9. Win, win, win.

 

Danessa Myricks Beauty

Waterproof Cushion Liner

I purchased this liner on a whim and thought for sure I'd use it once and give up. Well, that was certainly not the case since I'm out of it. I love that this liner is so vibrant and easy to work with (once you understand how the formula works). I already have this in my cart ready to repurchase this week.

Glossier

Boy Brow

I was once a Boy Brow skeptic. Could a brow product *really* be that amazing? The answer is yes. I haven't waxed, threaded, or plucked my brows in over a year. When I want my brows to look done, I add a few swipes of this, and I'm out the door. I already have a backup to my empty, and will always keep one on deck, so I'm never without it.

 

Nécessaire

The Body Wash: Eucalyptus

This body wash is truly my favorite product I’ve purchased for my skin in years! Normally, I buy (the super cheap) kind from my local pharmacy, but during this crazy summer, I treated myself to something out of the ordinary and I’m so glad I did. I love the smell and texture of this body wash so much. Every time I use it I feel like I’m at a spa. It gives me a much-needed mini break from 2020 reality. I’ve tried to use it very sparingly but as I’m now out, I’m sure I’ll be reordering it again soon.

 

Lumene

Nordic-C Glow Boost Essence Serum

I thought it was finally time to get on the Vitamin C serum train after hearing all about the amazing benefits, so I decided to give this one a try. I picked it based on the affordable price point and excellent reviews. Overall, I feel kind of *meh* about it. It feels nice and refreshing and smells good, but honestly I didn't notice a huge difference in my skin. I'm not going to totally rule it out because I'm not sure if I used it long enough (this small size doesn't last very long—I had it for about six weeks), but I will say that I replaced it with a different Vitamin C serum to try. Stay tuned to see if I like that one better!

The Ordinary

Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5

I very rarely run out of and repurchase beauty products because I like to try new things so often (bad habit, I know). However, I DID just repurchase this hyaluronic acid serum. As soon as the air even begins to cool off during the fall, all of the moisture is sucked right out of my skin and I deal with extreme dryness all winter long. This product is one of the few things that really makes a difference and provides my skin with some hydration.

 

Sun Bum

Curls & Waves Whipped Mousse

As a girl with unruly naturally curly hair, I’m always on the hunt for any stylizing hair product. This mousse is hands-down the best curly hair product I’ve tried this year. It keeps my curls in place all day but doesn’t leave your hair with that stiff, crunchy feeling. I will definitely be purchasing this again.

St. Moriz

Instant Self-Tanning Mousse

I’m a girl who always feels most confident with a tan. With the cooler weather coming, I started using this tanning mousse whenever I felt like getting ready. The product is only $13 dollars and it feels like a high-end product.

e.l.f.

16HR Camo Concealer

I bought this product because of Tik Tok ( oh yes–I went there) and it disappointed me. When I used it under and on my eyes it was very drying. I like creamy, moisturizing concealers and this was not one of them!

L'Oreal Paris

Telescopic Original Mascara

This mascara is my holy grail! I will repurchase this for the rest of my life. It makes my eyelashes long and never ever clumps.

 

Versed

Overnight Facial Peel

Confession: I used to have skincare commitment issues. There's something about night creams, treatments, and oils that is apparently so alluring to me, I could never settle on just one. That is, until this Overnight Facial Peel found its way into my routine and became my go-to nighttime treatment. Even though it's formulated with lactic acid, glycolic acid, and vitamin A to brighten skin and exfoliate, it feels like putting on a lotion and never dries out my skin. As if that wasn't enough, it's non-toxic, vegan, and under $20, so yes, I will be purchasing again. And again and again and again.

BYBI Beauty

Blueberry Oil Booster

I always mention this facial oil whenever I talk about my morning routine because it's as essential to my day as a cup of coffee or making my bed. Rosehip gets all the attention when it comes to face oils, but let me introduce you to blueberry seed oil, which is the only ingredient in this genius product. The cold-pressed blueberry seed oil helps defend your skin against blue light damage by absorbing blue light before it penetrates the skin. In other words, you may feel guilty for sitting at your laptop from the minute you wake up until you fall asleep for many reasons, but the damage it's doing to your skin doesn't have to be one of them. Plus, it contains powerful nutrients like beta-carotene and omega 3, 6, and 9, which have made my skin glow and helped fight inflammation. It's a little bottle but you literally only need a minuscule drop to cover your whole face so this one bottle has lasted me for six months.

 

Hourglass

Veil Translucent Setting Powder

I bought this powder over a year ago at Beth's recommendation in an attempt to find a powder to set my super-dry face, but somehow not make it even dryer (it somehow eats makeup so even though it's dry, I like to set my face for longer-lasting makeup). This powder is truly witchcraft. It's the least drying setting powder I have ever used in my life and I don't think I will ever buy another powder again. It gives a natural finish but doesn't ever make me look dry or cakey. This is the travel size, and since you need such a small amount, it has lasted me 12+ months. I can't imagine anyone who wouldn't love this—it's a holy grail for sure.

Living Proof

Perfect Hair Day Dry Shampoo

We have a bit of a dry shampoo rivalry in our office—each of us is partial to a different cult-classic one, and this is mine. I will argue anyone to the death that this is the best dry shampoo on the market, and I could recite a full dissertation on just way that is, but I'll spare you that and give you a few details. This leaves absolutely no white cast, reside, or weird film, and it's the only dry shampoo I've ever found that can salvage post-run hair. I can't count how many of these I've gone through and I always have one in my bathroom.

 

 

Want more empties? Check out the previous months below!

August 2020

May 2020

April 2020

March 2020

February 2020

January 2020

The post September Empties: Honest Thoughts on The Products Our Team Finished This Month appeared first on The Everygirl.

In 2020, there’s no shortage of information on all of the ingredients people claim you absolutely need for your skin, from retinoids to acids to creams promising to give you new skin overnight. And when I subscribed to the idea that I needed to try them all, my skin got worse—way worse. It didn’t take a genius to figure out why: I was using too much, and all the harsh ingredients I was slathering on every night were actually hurting my skin’s natural microbiome, leaving me with irritation and dryness abound. And with the culture surrounding skincare right now, I think this is happening to more of us than we might think.

Enter: Mother Dirt, the pioneers of probiotic skincare. You probably already know about the potential benefits of taking a probiotic, but why would you want them in your skincare? In the past, there was a healthy, peacekeeping bacteria that existed on human’s skin called Ammonia-Oxidizing Bacteria (AOB), but with harsher chemicals being incorporated into skincare and our lifestyles changing over time, the bacteria have gotten wiped away. In 2015, the founders of Mother Dirt—who were MIT scientists—recognized this and started a brand that incorporated AOB into its products to help balance the skin. They didn’t believe there was such a thing as bad skin—just bad skincare. 

To give you something good in 2020, Mother Dirt is giving three of our readers a gift package worth over $200, chock-full of their biome-friendly collection that covers everything from your skin to your hair. Three winners will receive Mother Dirt’s Biome-Friendly Shampoo, Cleanser, Moisturizer, Body Oil, Body Wash, Shave Butter, and AO+ Mist—all formulated to keep your skin’s microbiome thriving, leaving you with glowing, healthier skin.

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

This giveaway is only open to US residents. Ends 10/4/20 at 11:59 PM CST.

 

Get to Know Mother Dirt

use code EVERYGIRL20 for 20% off

Mother Dirt

AO+ Mist Live Probiotic Spray

The AO+ Mist is the world’s first skincare that incorporates live probiotics, which help to restore and balance your skin’s natural microbiome. The AOB it's full of helps to keep the peace of your skin—helping the good bacteria thrive while it fights the bad. The result? Healthy, glowing skin.

Mother Dirt

Biome-Friendly™ Foaming Cleanser

This cleanser uses Mother Dirt's biome-friendly formulation protocol (which means products are tested to ensure they don't disrupt the skin's microbiome) to ensure it rids the skin of dirt and makeup without also stripping it of good bacteria.

Mother Dirt

Biome-Friendly™ Body Oil

This body oil absorbs quickly and is applied as a spray, making it the quickest way to deeply hydrate the skin.

Mother Dirt

Biome-Friendly™ Body Wash

Just like the foaming cleanser, this cleans your skin without stripping it of moisture or disrupting its microbiome.

Mother Dirt

Biome-Friendly™ Shampoo

This preservative-free, fragrance-free shampoo is safe for all hair types and will deliver healthy, shiny hair. Bonus: by helping to keep your hair's natural biome intact, it'll lead you to be able to wash your hair less frequently—win, win.

Mother Dirt

Biome-Friendly™ Moisturizer

Formulated with squalane and linoleic acid, this moisturizer will leave you looking glowing and hydrated—without ever making you feel greasy. Made with only six plant-based ingredients, it's the perfect moisturizer to bring you into the colder months.

 

From now until October 31st, you can get 20% off your Mother Dirt order with the code everygirl20.

 

This post is sponsored by Mother Dirt, but all of the opinions within are those of The Everygirl editorial board.

 

The post Enter to Win: We’re Giving Away $200 of Skincare! appeared first on The Everygirl.

As I’m writing this, I am nursing a two-month-old scar from a cyst that used to be under my arm. This includes replacing bandages with clean ones on a daily basis, checking for any future cysts in the same area, spot treating my beauty marks, and managing scars that will most likely remain on my skin for months. 

This routine isn’t new to me, as I have been battling Hidradenitis Suppurativa for over 10 years. Hidradenitis Suppurativa, or HS, is a skin condition that creates painful and inflamed boils under the hair follicles of your skin. Sweat glands are a major trigger area for HS, as bumps form near those areas of the skin and can create an infection, making these bumps painful, bigger in size under the surface of your skin, and full of pus. In many cases, these bumps need to be drained by a medical professional to avoid the spread of the infection, but unfortunately, sometimes scarring is inevitable after the boil is treated. HS is a skin condition that unfortunately has no cure, according to WebMD, as lifestyle changes and treatments can help alleviate regular flare-ups, but they don’t fully cure the condition. 

When I was first diagnosed with HS in my late teens, I had no idea that I was one of the riskier groups to develop this type of skin condition. According to Mayo Clinic, Hidradenitis Suppurativa is most common in African-American middle-aged women who may have a family history of HS. Weight also plays a role, and once I educated myself on HS, I tried monitoring my weight, changing my diet, and adapting a cleaner beauty routine, but I continued to be left with the marks from past and current flare-ups. 

Finding the beauty in my scars from HS was—and still is—a difficult journey. Although the flare-ups are now few and far between and I am more knowledgeable about how to treat my skin, I am now on a personal journey to accept myself and everything that comes along with HS–both on my skin and within. I remind myself regularly of a few affirmations that help me to embrace the beauty scars caused by HS. 

 

I am not the only one battling HS 

Although it felt like I was fighting a solitary battle with my skin, after doing my research and being more open about my condition, I found out that I wasn’t alone. According to the National Institutes of Health, about 4 percent of the world’s population suffers with this chronic skin disease, and this percentage is growing, as this skin disease commonly goes untreated or undiagnosed. 

Finding a community online and through other friends who suffer with the same condition (or something similar) was a comfort, connecting with those on how they embrace the long-lasting effects of HS, including the unsightly scars all over the body from where the boils formed. After finding others who struggle with the same insecurities from HS or other relatable conditions, it helped me come to terms with my own visible skin marks and learn to accept them.

I found tips on how to treat discoloration and scarring, including different products specifically designed for harsher blemish marks. I also found the encouragement I needed to live with my beauty marks on a daily basis, becoming more comfortable with my skin and its imperfections. Opening up about my struggles with this skin disease helped me find a whole community dealing with the same issue of embracing their skin and gave me the camaraderie I needed to find confidence in my condition. 

 

 

HS does not define me or my beauty 

When struggling with a medical condition that affects your skin, it’s easy to feel embarrassed or ashamed of it, especially when it leaves behind spots, marks, discoloration, and other evidence of what your body is going through internally. Growing up with less than problematic skin, dealing with HS changed my definition of beauty. Where I once took pride in my skin, now with HS, I had to change what pride looks like when my skin was less than flawless. 

According to a 2019 National Institutes of Health study, the psychological effects of those dealing with HS greatly impacts their quality of life the most, including how they see themselves physically and sexually. 

An affirmation I have to continuously remind myself of is that HS does not define how beautiful I am: no matter how many scars I incur, how much pain I may be in during flare-ups, or how visible it may be. These marks are just a small part of who I am, but isn’t what makes or breaks my beauty. 

When actively dealing with HS during a flare-up, I try to practice self-affirmations on a daily basis, treat myself to self-caring spa days, and give myself more grace and patience when showing parts of my body that have scarring or discoloration. When getting dressed for the day, I actively highlight the parts of my body that I love, but make sure not to feel ashamed of those parts that may be affected by HS. Since HS primarily flares up in less noticeable areas of the body like the groin and under the arms, it can sometimes be harder to hide without discomfort, especially during the summer months, so defining my own beauty and embracing how my body looks all over was key to helping me gain more self-assurance. 

 

My scars are unique—and unique is beautiful 

Since being diagnosed with HS over 10 years ago, I’ve had my fair share of scars, from a treated lesion right in the middle of my chest that never closed after being lanced (which is always mistaken for a dermal piercing!) to a discolored quarter-sized scar on the underside of my right breast. Although these scars do not define me, they make for interesting and unique marks all over my body, marks that I had to embrace and allow others to embrace too. 

Now when I see my scars, especially the ones that are highly visible, it reminds me of how unique my condition and my body is–and how beautiful and resilient I am. My scars and beauty marks reflect my struggles with HS, but also reflect my strength and uniqueness. The shame of a skin condition like HS can sometimes take that confidence away from you, but recognizing and giving praise to the story each beauty mark on your body tells can help you embrace your beauty from the outside in.

 

Helpful Products for those suffering with HS: 

Here are a few products I found helpful when dealing with or preventing an HS flare-up on my body, helping you to feel more comfortable in your own skin:  

Amazon

Razor Bump Stopper Skin Care Treatment with Chromabright Dark Spot Remover

This roll-on treatment was recommended by a few other HS sufferers as well as my esthetician for dark marks, especially after shaving or waxing sensitive areas that might attract ingrown hairs and further boils due to chafing.

Amazon

Dr. Bronner Hemp Peppermint Pure Castile Oil

This soap is my go-to in the shower, especially after a workout, to wash and cleanse my body thoroughly. It’s easy for sweat glands to become inflamed and bring on another HS breakout, so it’s great to have this antibacterial soap to get a nice, squeaky clean to your skin. Make sure to follow it up with a more moisturizing soap afterwards!

Amazon

Bali Women's Shapewear

Shapewear isn’t just for sculpting your body; it could be a great addition to your daily wardrobe to help with rubbing and chafing in areas like the inner thighs, which could cause a boil to form from the skin-to-skin contact. I wear mine with pants, jeans, leggings, and sometimes as workout gear (so glad biker shorts made a comeback!).

Amazon

On The Go First Aid Kit

With HS, it’s always great to have a travel-sized pack of bandages, just in case a boil decides to drain on its own or you need to change an already healing bump. I always keep a cute pack of Band-Aids in my bag wherever I go in multiple sizes. This also prevents a breakout from becoming even more infected.

The post Embracing My Beauty Scars With Hidradenitis Suppurativa appeared first on The Everygirl.

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