drunk elephant Archives - My Inner Shakti

Sephora Sale Picks

So I’m going to preface this by saying that our expense have been cut way down over the past few weeks. Essentially, we spend $$$ on food and that’s it. I don’t see the point in going into the ‘sale’ rabbit hole until we know when this is all going to be “over.”

The Sephora sale is a bit different in my book. Skincare is a huge priority for me…quarantine or not, and a lot of the products I use are pretty pricey, so an extra 20% off is VERY helpful. And I’m not going to lie, I added in a few non-skincare things in the bag because…why not? In my defense, makeup that performs like skincare is so intriguing to me…

With that, here are my picks…

Drunk Elephant Lala Retro Whipped Moisturizer – IMO, this is the holy grail of moisturizers. It’s not greasy, it’s light, and helps balance my skin perfectly.

Drunk Elephant B-Hydra Intensive Hydration Serum – If you’re looking for that extra bit of hydration, especially during drier months, this is the serum you need. It also supposedly helps other DE serums perform better.

Drunk Elephant Virgin Marula Oil – This is one of my top 3 favorite DE products. It’s such a luxurious oil that absorbs beautifully into your skin for that perfect level of moisture. I never thought an oil would be a part of my skincare routine, but I was wrong. This is essential!

If you want to read more about my thoughts on other DE products, check out these posts – daytime and nighttime routine and retinol.

Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask – So I still love my DE chap stick, but I’ve heard such good things about this lip mask that I have to try it out. I will report back ASAP.

Tatcha The Liquid Skin Canvas Primer – Ok, so I know this is pricey for not being skincare, BUT I’ve been looking for a good clean primer for some time now and thought I would bite the bullet with the sale. Even though I hardly wear a full face of make up anymore, I want more staying power. Regardless of what I wear, I definitely get that spotty, end of the day look whenever I do. I want to see if this helps with that. And the Tatcha brand is well known for being good for your skin. Will report back!

Kosas Tinted Face Oil Foundation – This was not a planned purchase, but after seeing a few people on IG talk about this as a must have, I had to try it. I love that this is makeup that serves as skincare, and the concept sounds so cool. I’m really trying to let me imperfect skin shine through, so anything full coverage is a no go for me. I’m not quite sure how well this will work with my skin type and texture, so will share more after I try it out a few times.

bareMinerals BARESKIN Complete Coverage Serum Concealer – I’ve been searching for the perfect concealer that I can use for those no foundation days, and I’m not quite sure if this is the one, but I’m going to give it a try. Hopefully, it works out!

NUDESTIX Blend and Buff Brush – I’ve been searching for a good concealer brush to help me apply concealer on the face. This brush caught my eye because it has a foundation side and a concealer side – 2 for one?! Again, we shall see how it works out!

ANNNND that’s it in terms of what I ordered. I was going to share other picks I would’ve gotten were we not in quarantine but decided not to because there’s no way I can share my actual thoughts on them at a later time (because I won’t actually use them).

Let me know if you have any questions! I love everything skincare and makeup :).

The State of My Skin + Drunk Elephant A-Passioni Retinol Cream

written by Parita Leave a Comment

It’s been a little over two months since I’ve shared a skin update. I’ve been a little silent about the whole situation because I wanted to see how things panned out with my ‘less sugar + dairy’ experiment. Also, I wanted to wait at least a few weeks before sharing my thoughts on Drunk Elephant’s A-Passioni Retinol Cream.

So here we are…

State of my skin

In terms of an overall skin update, I’m happier with the state of my face (ha!) than I’ve been in a long time. Don’t get me wrong, I still have lots of scarring that’s probably going to take a long time to fade. But from a skin condition point of view, it’s a lot smoother and even in terms of tone. I can always tell how my skin’s doing based on how my makeup goes on, and so far we’re doing ok! The dry and crazy Chicago weather is something else, but that’s out of my control!

The less dairy + sugar experiment is still going, but I did hop off the train a few times in the last couple of months. Most recently being Italy! I mean, I can’t go all the way there without eating all the delicious things, right?!

I’m not sure what’s going on, but despite eating a bit more dairy and sugar recently, my skin is generally behaving. I’m going to take us on a tangent for a second and share that I think it’s because food in Europe is so different than the food in the US. There’s less chemicals and processed stuff in Europe. Even the veggies in Italy tasted fresher.

Ok, back to skincare. Other than the above, I should mention that I have had a small breakout here and there, but nothing as extreme as last year. No puss and pain. Just a bump or two that disappear more quickly than ever.

Drunk Elephant’s A-Passioni Retinol Cream

Ok, so here’s my honest review. I’m so glad I added to this my skincare lineup, and I do believe that in the long term I will see amazing benefits from doing so. However, I don’t really notice much of a difference yet, and it’s been three months since I started using it. Maybe this is what’s keeping my skin calm and smooth, but I can’t say with 100% certainty.

Here’s what I do know. If you plan to use this product, GO SLOW! I started using it every other night from the get go and experienced quite a bit of peeling and pain. This is strong stuff, people! I learned that the hard way. After researching a bit more, I turned the dial waaay down, and only used A-Passioni once a week for about a month. Then I slowly transitioned to twice a week and now I’m about three times a week. My goal is to use this every other night, but now I understand that my skin needs to build tolerance for it first.

How do I use this exactly? Well, you guys know, I switched to a 100% Drunk Elephant skincare routine. So I apply a pea size amount of A-Passioni + a pump of B-Hydra (hydrating serum)+ a pump of Lala Retro (moisturizer) all over my face. On the other nights, I apply a pump of TLC Framboos (a glycolic night serum) + a pump of B-Hydra + 3-4 drops of Marula Oil (facial oil). So far so good!

Also, I should probably share a little bit about what retinol does. I’m no expert on the science, but from what I’ve read, it helps even skin tone and texture from within the deep layers of the skin (re: lots of cell turnover). It’s also great for anti-aging stuff. Drunk Elephant’s retinol is vegan and is made without the suspicious six ingredients. It also contains nourishing oils to help decrease irritation.

You guys, I can’t tell you how much Drunk Elephant has changed the skincare game for me. From what I’ve read about other people’s experiences, my results have been slower to come, and that’s probably because I had/have a long way to go, but the amount of patience I’ve had to show has been worth it. I can’t tell you how amazing it is to wash my face and not feel any bumps. As someone who’s dealt with acne most of her life, I highly recommend trying Drunk Elephant to see if it works for you. Like I always say, it’s expensive but 110% worth it.

Adult acne is the worst! If you feel alone or stuck, feel free to send me an email. More than happy to share more of my experience(s).

Drunk Elephant Daytime and Nighttime Skincare Routines

written by Parita 5 Comments

I’ve been raving about Drunk Elephant (DE) for a while now and finally managed to get a post together with my thoughts on the products I own. Yahoo!

Ok, first things first. DE products are expensive. There’s no way to sugarcoat it. However, as someone who’s never invested in a real skincare routine, I can say it’s 100% worth it to do so.

My overall take on the DE skincare line is that it’s one that could work for everyone. I love the founder’s perspective about there being no skin types and how we create issues by using products with harsh ingredients (and obviously diet plays a huge role as well) or the suspicious six as DE calls them. I’ll share more on this philosophy in a minute.

With that being said, let me share how and why I got hooked on DE.

I believe it was August of last year when I bought the DE C-Firma day serum and TLC Framboos (nighttime) serum. After talking to my friend Thea (also my beauty/skincare guru) about how they work and what they’re good for, I decided to give them a shot. Then, when I started using Differin, I had to give up the nighttime serum. Fast forward to April when I decided to take a huge leap of faith and transition over to all DE products, giving up the Differin.

It was a good choice!

Like I shared in my postpartum acne journey post, I’m obsessed with DE. While my skin still has a ways to go, these products have definitely helped in several ways – tone, texture, appearance of acne, appearance of dark spots, etc. I can’t wait to see where continued use will get me!

Ok, enough blabbering. Here are my favorite DE products grouped according to my daytime and nighttime skincare routines…

DAYTIME SKINCARE ROUTINE

Thea told me about how you’re not really supposed to wash your face in the morning (something to do with your skin’s acid mantel). Well, after reading more about this concept, I now solely rinse my face with cold water in the morning.

The first products I use are a pump of the C-Firma Vitamin C serum and a pump of the Protini Polypeptide Cream. I mix the two together in the palm of my hand (all of the products can be mixed together before application) and apply to my face and neck.

Before applying my makeup, I take a small amount of the Umbra Tinte Physical Defense SPF and apply to my face and neck. On weekends, when I don’t want to wear a ton of makeup but have places to go and people to see (haha), I’m starting to use the D-Bronzi Anti-Pollution Sunshine Serum for that extra sun kissed glow. I mix it with the Umbra tint SPF along with a couple of drops of the Virgin Marula Luxury Facial Oil before carefully applying it to my face and neck. Seriously you guys, these products work so well together and give my [acne] scarred face an even look and feel.

NIGHTTIME SKINCARE ROUTINE

I start my nighttime routine by washing my face. I still use the Dessert Essence Thoroughly Clean Face Wash because it does a great job of removing my makeup and creating a clean base for the other products.

I then apply one pump of the TLC Framboos serum and one pump of the LaLa Retro Whipped Cream (mixed together of course!) to my face. If I feel like my skin could use a little extra love, I add a drop or two of the Marula Oil to the mix as well.

I haven’t tried DE’s under eye creams yet but plan to in the future. I’m still finishing up the belif Moisturizing Eye Bomb sample I got a while back (a little goes a long way).

I also apply some Aquaphor to my lips and some castor oil to my eyebrows.

That’s it!

WHY I LOVE EACH OF THESE PRODUCTS

Now that I’ve shared what I use, how I use it, and when I use it, let me tell you more about why I love this brand and these particular products.

First and foremost, everything is made without using the suspicious six ingredients – 1. silicones, 2. chemical screens, 3. sensitizing colorants/perfumes, 4. Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) 5. essential oils, 6. drying alcohols. This alone makes DE a great line for most everyone.

Secondly, the packaging is not only beautiful and sleek, but it serves a purpose. For example, a lot of brands package their Vitamin C serum in clear bottles, whereas DE packages their serum in a non-opaque white bottle with a pump (not a dropper). Additionally, their moisturizers also come in containers with airless pumps to ensure you’re not ‘double dipping’ so to speak. It keeps everything super clean.

Ok, on to the products themselves. You can read about the ‘technical’ details by clicking on the product links, but I’m going to share more of my personal take.

C-Firma Vitamin C serum – I really feel that by using this serum on an almost daily my skin is brighter and more glowy. This is also the product I attribute to my more even skin tone. Again, I still have a ways to go, but C-Firma is definitely giving my skin life!

TLC Framboos serum – This exfoliating serum is what I like to call my ‘keep breakouts away’ serum. Even though it’s not technically marketed for that. I love how I wake up to smoother skin when applying this the night before.

Protini Polypeptide Cream – This moisturizer is marketed as a shot of protein for your skin. Personally, I love using this during the day because it’s so light and does a great job of prepping my skin for SPF and makeup. It’s also not greasy at all.

LaLa Retro Whipped Cream – This is probably one of my DE favorites! I love love love this moisturizer. It’s thicker than Protini but still super airy. It’s made with 6 African oils and is honestly a dream! My skin has never been smoother and so hydrated. LOVE!

Virgin Marula Luxury Facial Oil – This is another favorite of mine! I love adding this to any of my mixes for that extra glow, moisture and softness. It’s also great on the lips and under the eyes. There’s nothing this Marula Oil can’t do!

Umbra Tinte Physical Defense SPF– Ah! Another favorite. This SPF is so perfect under makeup or on it’s own. It doesn’t leave any white residue on your skin. The formula is super light and creamy, and the tint aspect is awesome. I’ve heard many different skin tones can use this and it works well on everyone. Truly universal!

D-Bronzi Anti-Pollution Sunshine Serum– This is DE’s newest product, and what I personally love is that when mixed (2 pumps for me!) with the SPF and Marula Oil, it truly gives my skin an even finish and a sun kissed glow. No joke! I used this as my ‘base’ when we got our professional pictures taken and loved how my skin looked ALL DAY! Not to mention all the other benefits.

PRODUCTS I’VE TRIED BUT DON’T USE OFTEN

B-Hydra Intensive Hydration Gel – So this hydration gel can be used with any of the other products to give your skin more intense/long lasting hydration. Given the price point of everything else, I find this one unnecessary in my routine right now. I find the other moisturizer do an amazing job of keep my skin smooth and balanced.

TLC Sukari Babyfacial – This bad boy is an award winning resurfacing facial ‘treatment.’ People RAVE about this product. I want to love it so bad, but I find that after I use this my skin goes haywire. It looks more irritated and bumpy. Thea mentioned that this may be too strong for me, so I even tried mixing it with a pump of Lala before applying. No go! I may reduce my use of this to once a month (I was using it once a week before) and see if that helps.

OTHER THINGS TO KNOW/CONSIDER

If you’re a cheapo (like me initially), there is a way for you to try all of these products before committing to full size versions. DE sells a kit called “The Littles” to give people a chance to try a lot of their line at a $90 price point. And from everything I’ve read, the set should last you 4-5 weeks if not longer.

While you should always consult with your doctor before starting something new, all of DE’s products are safe to use during pregnancy with the exception of the Babyfacial.

If you have ‘damaged’ skin like me, real results will take time. I’ve been using DE products consistently for over 2 months, and while my skin has improved for sure, it still has a ways to go. It’ll happen…be patient (says the least patient person in the world!).

If you’re really serious about cleaning up your routines, be sure to research and look into the ingredient lists of everything else you put on your face, including other creams, cleansers, make up products, etc. Personally, I still use a few ‘suspicious’ products like blush, powder, and bronzer, but I plan to do more research and try safer brands.

I think that about covers it! If you have any questions, shoot me and email or leave a comment below.

No portion of this post is sponsored. However, affiliate links are included (minus the DE links – those all directly link back to the DE website). There is no extra cost to you, but I do receive a small commission on anything you buy through my links. Thank you for reading and supporting My Inner Shakti!

Sephora Sale Picks

The State of My Skin + Drunk Elephant A-Passioni Retinol Cream

Drunk Elephant Daytime and Nighttime Skincare Routines

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