April 27, 2021

Lunch Time Poll Says Maybe CBD Is Making a Comeback

Today’s Lunch Time Poll is sponsored and inspired by Andrew. Our fine New York governor has legalized cannabis and I do believe it’s somehow made the world of CBD beauty boom again (or maybe it’s booming because Summer’s here! For some reason CBD beauty gets a mighty push and starts to trend in the warmer weather!). Cheers Andrew! I don’t smoke but the rest of the state of New York is very excited about this news.

No but seriously, anyone notice that little trickle of new CBD items popping up here and there. From what I’m seeing drugstore beauty is starting to embrace the use of CBD in some of their latest launches. Flower Beauty just launched their Summer 2021 Collection which is all infused with CBD. Considering the trend has had a run with mid and high-end brands it’s just about time that the drugstore world caught on.

I actually lean towards the gimmick side of things when it comes to CBD. I question how much CBD is used and if it’ll have any skin benefits at all. The hype around cannabidiol is the fact that it’s a great antioxidant and has many anti-inflammatory benefits. But most important it’s an excellent way to treat free radical damage. Those with sensitive skin will experience the most benefits from it.

One thing to note is that if it is formulated into your favorite serum or moisturizer it can be absorbed easily into the skin. However, I think my skepticism doesn’t stem from the actually benefit of using it in skincare but more when it’s used in makeup. For example, I don’t see the point of it making an appearance in concealer, mascara, or lipgloss. Believe me there’s been many times where I stared blankly at Milk Makeup’s kush and hemp products and raised a mental brow.

I’m curious to see who else starts pushing CBD beauty on us this year!

What are your thoughts on CBD?

Will you embrace it trending again?

Or is it an old and tired already?

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April 27, 2021

5X On Select Skincare at Ulta

I receive a small commission if you shop through my link.

Ulta Sale

Head over to your dashboard at ulta.com and you should have an activation for 5X points on skincare purchases from First Aid Beauty, Kopari, Peach & Lily, Clarins, No7, Skyn Iceland, Sand & Sky, Grown Alchemist and Exuviance!

Enjoy!

Where to buy

Ulta

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April 26, 2021

Japanese Sunscreens for 2021 Are Trickling In

I receive a small commission if you shop through my link.

The latest sunscreens from Japan are starting to become more readily available online. As you likely known Japanese brands revamp their sunscreen lines quite often and release a ton of new ones in the Spring. One of the most popular ones here in the US is Biore UV Aqua Rich. It’s a fond favorite and rather funny the way alcohol in the formula is always overlooked thanks to the quick absorbing formula and lightweight wear. It’s that one time in our lives where we simply don’t care it contains alcohol! You totally get me am I right?

Biore is one of the popular formulations that got a revamp this year. The new Biore UV Aqua Rich Light Up Essence is an SPF 50+PA++++ formula that retails for around 8 yen (roughly $7). I’m actually a don’t fix it if it isn’t broken type of girl. I like the old version from 2013 which has been reformulated since. I’m not convinced this new version is for me as although it provides protection it’s also that gives skin a “soft focus radiance”. You know me, I do so hate glow-y or radiant looking skincare products. If you wanna glow use a highlighter but please keep the mica, shimmer, and glitter our of my SPF and moisturizer. I’m not seeing anything about mica in the ingredients so that may be just some marketing jargon they are tossing around!

As always it does contain alcohol but the formula is the same lightweight, quickly absorbing gel we know and love from what reviewers are saying. I’m going to be testing it shortly so expect a review of it and several other reformulations Skin Aqua, Anessa, Allie, and other Japanese brands.

If you’re interested in Biore UV Aqua Rich Light Up Essence it’s currently available at yesstyle.com for $14.

Where to buy

YesStyle

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April 26, 2021

Don’t Let Anyone Make You Feel Less Than You Are

Urban Decay Pandemonium Vice Lipstick

I wrote a post back in 2016 which you can read below that was directed at Aishwarya Rai Bachchan at the time. She was being trolled because she wore purple lipstick to the Cannes a few years ago. There was so much hate directed at her because she simply wore a certain color of lipstick.

I’m hauling out the article below because recently, much to my horror, I’ve seen so many awful comments on Tiktok. When I joined Tiktok on a whim last year during isolation and pure boredom at being home it was a really a safe haven. People were so positive and upbeat on Tiktok. It wasn’t as toxic as Facebook or angry as Twitter or judgemental as Instagram. Everyone seemed like a big, happy family. Until recently anyway. Now I read so many comments directed at some of my favorite Tiktokers and I cringe in horror and I hurt for them because having people throw crappy comments down is something I can relate to. Musings of a Muse is around since 2007 and I’ve had my share of hate. I’ve even cried over one or two things that have been said to me. I’ve developed a thicker skin after doing it so long and I try to let the negativity slide off my back nowadays. 99% of the comments and feedback I receive are amazing but they’ll be a troll or two that sneaks in to spread some suck all over the place.

Just remember……

Never let anyone dim your light. Never let anyone bully or shame you into believing you’re somehow doing something wrong because you made a fashion or makeup choice based off your own likes. Never let anyone make you feel less than beautiful.

Wear the purple lipstick, dye your hair hot pink, make Tiktoks dancing, post goofy selfies on Instagram, DO YOU and have fun. Don’t let anyone judge you or make you cry or make you think or believe you’re not beautiful or smart or funny….

You’re perfect just as you are.

Be good humans to yourself and to others.

The below article was written in 2016.

There’s so much hate and shaming and much of that sadly, stems from women shaming other women or bullying other women. Dude, we’re all sisters. WTH? I see it in youTube comments, I see it across forums, I see it right here on my blog where I’ll get comments pointing what someone doesn’t like about me or what I’m wearing, etc…etc…

The most popular excuse for this behavior is, “Well, she puts herself out there so she deserves it!” Wait, what!? What does that even mean? Someone deserves your hate because they “put themselves out there”. We’re strong, opinionated women we should put ourselves out there every single day of our lives without the fear of being torn down by others. We shouldn’t cower or shy away from expressing ourselves in any manner we choose. We’re all unique and we should embrace our uniqueness without worrying about someone thinking it is ok to shame us into believing we are somehow doing something wrong because we wish to express ourselves in any manner we choose be it blogging, wearing bright orange eyeshadow, or shaving our heads!

A hundred years ago, my dearest Auntie (not by birth but a very good friend of my mother’s) introduced me to the joys of Bollywood cinema (and damn fine Indian food too). 2001 was the year I fell in love with Shahrukh Khan and to this day the soundtrack to Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham plays a very important roll on my Itunes Playlist! It was also around this time that I developed a girl crush on Aishwarya Rai. I mean when I think of Aishwarya Rai, I instantly think of the most beautiful women in the world. She’s stunning! She could wear a paper bag and gym socks and she’d still rule the room.

That’s why I was very saddened to read an article recently about Aishwarya Rai Bachchan being trolled on Twitter because she decided to wear purple lipstick to Cannes. How the very dare she go outside the norm!? Sigh. It’s rather sad because both men and women took to Twitter to express their absolute hate of the shade and how ridiculous they felt she looked wearing! You can Google “Aishwarya Rai purple lipstick” and hundred of images will come up and most of them she looks as polished, posed, and incredible as she always does. Sure, purple is a little different for her but who cares? Maybe girlfriend woke up and decided, “I want to try something new today!” And she has that right. We ALL have that right to change up our look any way we want without having to fear that someone is going to have a sudden need to express how horrible they feel we look.

I’m not going to lie, I look like an idiot in purple lipstick. It’s not a shade I personally reach for and it’s not something I go out of my way to buy. But I’m not going to knock anyone else who wants to rock it. Don’t let anyone tell you what makeup you can and can’t wear. Actually don’t let anyone tell you how you can express yourself, what clothes you should wear, how you should talk, how you should do your hair.

Believe me, I would have stopped blogging a long, long time ago if I let every silly little comment get on my nerves. I feel comfortable and quite at home blogging beauty even if I’m not exactly the “ideal looking” beauty blogger. You either like me (thanks, because I like you too!) or you hate me (although I hope you don’t because we’re pretty much strangers and you don’t exactly know me well enough to hate me!) and that’s your choice but don’t rip me because I don’t live up to your expectations of what a beauty blogger should look like. I’m short, I’m chubby, and I like to eat lipstick 🙂

And if Aishwarya Rai wants to walk around in that paper bag wearing gym socks and purple lipstick don’t rip her either. She knows what makes her comfortable, let her do her thing and may be pat her on the back for thinking outside the beauty box.

Remember, do what makes you comfortable! And don’t cry if someone decides to rip you a new one because they hate that about you. That’s their problem NOT yours!

Be yourself always.

Well, not always, if you can be Batman, be Batman. But any other time be yourself!

Everything else my dear, dear friends is cake.

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