JewelMint Oyster Earrings

Lovely gold oyster earrings from Jewelmint's January selection.

I love the unique yet classy design. Fancy jewelry with a little bit of edge. 

The packaging is fancy and gorgeous!

They use the same packaging for all their jewelry.

Designed by Kate Bosworth and Cher Coulter.

Jewelmint is an online jewelry service created by actress Kate Bosworth and celebrity stylist Cher Coulter. When you sign up, you take a quiz to determine your style and then they personalize jewelry for you (you can always pick things yourself though). Every item costs $29.99.

What I dislike about Jewelmint is that you need to be a member to purchase anything. This means that they will continue charging you and sending you jewelry monthly if you do not take initiative and contact them. While some of their items are exquisite and beautiful, some can be tacky. Their shipping and customer service are amazing though. I bought my jewelry and closed membership without hassle.

I might reopen my membership with them in the future. I love jewelry and they have great services and some wonderful designs. Unlike other membership-based sites, JewelMint is simple, honest and was a pleasure to shop.

First Impressions: Drugstore Haul

I picked up some products this past week: 

CoverGirl CG Smoothers Tinted Moisturizer in Light to Medium

Biore Deep Cleansing Pore Strips

Biore Even Smoother Microderm Exfoliator

Frownies for Corners of Eyes and Mouth
St. Ives Timeless Skin Collagen Elastin Facial Moisturizer
Physicians Formula Matte Collection Eyeshadow Quad in Classic Nude

This is my third CoverGirl tinted moisturizer in the past few months. It contains SPF 15, evens out my skintone and looks absolutely natural. I really recommend it for those who don't want to splurge on the Laura Mercier tinted moisturizer.

Although I swear by the egg white blackhead mask, I still use the Biore pore strips when I lack the time for a full face mask. It's a quick fix when the blackheads take over (which they do too often). This is my first time buying the Biore exfoliator. I have very sensitive skin and it didn't irritate me so I actually like it a lot. The box says that over 90% of women noticed softer, smoother skin after just one use - so I am probably the minority 10%. I didn't notice much the first time I exfoliated, but I'm optimistic.

I have heard good things about the St. Ives collagen moisturizer. It costs about $4 for 10 oz of the product, so I would say that it is definitely worth the try. A little goes a long way and you only need to use a dab of the product. It has a slight smell of flowers, which I don't particularly like but it doesn't bother me. I really don't like to put any sort of scented creams on my face. I think scent takes away from the feeling of purifying and conditioning the skin. I am still in the process if testing this product for irritation. It just made its way to my cheek this morning.

I haven't used the Physicians Formula quad for makeup yet, but the first impression isn't good. Firstly, the packaging feels cheap. I know it's a drugstore product, but Physicians Formula usually packages their products a little better. The eyeshadows all look like they are ready to fall out of the pan (not that they will). The colors do not impress me either. I have to use a base for the colors to even show up well enough to differentiate. And even then, the pigmentation is not great. The lightest color doesn't even show up on my skin.   Although I'm disappointed, I think these neutral matte colors will work wonderfully for a workday when I want a truly matte, no-makeup kind of makeup look.

I haven't tried these Frownies yet but I'm super excited! I know the concept seems a bit ridiculous. The application is too: you pretty much stick pieces of cardboard to your face. I've read a lot of good things about it though so I have a hunch it might lead to something good.

I also picked up this silver/gray Bebe clutch. It's a big clutch that opens up to be an even bigger purse! The wrist strap feels extremely sturdy (read: heavy) and the bag just looks so gorgeous I knew I had to get it.

Before I forget, I also bought Essie Mink Muffs the other day. The color looks vastly different in different lighting. I love the taupe-ish color of it, but Mink Muffs can be a bit too brown for my liking sometimes. But then again, I kind of like that the polish "changes color."

Disclaimer: I bought everything with my own money. Opinions are always my own.

Cellnique Review

Cellnique Skin Action Sebum Gel
"This is a phyto bio-engineering formulation gel for all skin types to reduce both blackheads and whiteheads on affected skin area without painful extraction. This daily maintenance gel also reduces sebum secretion, leaving the skin clear and producing smooth visible results within 10 days of application."

First Impression: This product is a thick clear brown gel. It smells like peppermint and feels very minty and refreshing on my face. I love the minty feeling but I wouldn't recommend this for anyone who dislike the minty cooling sensation on their face (although it is a mild cooling and goes away in less than five minutes).

The Promise: The Skin Action Sebum Gel promises to control excessive sebum, reduce the formation of blackheads and whiteheads, reduce skin inflammation, control and prevent breakouts, increase skin moisture, improve skin elasticity and fight against skin irritation.

Before and after using Cellnique Skin Action Sebum Gel for six weeks.

The Results: I used this product everyday for six weeks. I did not notice any increase in my skin moisture, which is fine because my main purpose of using this product is to reduce blackheads. I don't often breakout or get too many whiteheads, but I have definitely noticed a reduction in blackheads. It isn't a significant reduction, but it is a noticeable result within two week. It does not fight against skin irritation (whatever that means), although it did not irritate my skin, which is great because most things irritate my skin! At $54 for a 15 mL bottle, this product is pricey. I recommend sampling it before you buy.

Cellnique Contour De-puffy Jewel
"With its unique combination of Acetyl Tetrapeptide Gold Dipeptide and Rhodochrosite Extract, this breakthrough eye formulation helps alleviate eye puffiness and dark circles by increasing blood circulation and deep moisture the eye areas. Consists SPF15 which protects skin from again UVA and UVB rays."

First Impression: This product is a clear, thin gel that applies smoothly under the eyes. It feels hydrating when you apply it, but no sensation other than that. It feels very light and water-like. It has a distinctive smell that I can't quite make out. It smells almost pleasant, but not quite anything good or bad.

The Promise: The gel is supposed to soothe, soften, and hydrate the delicate eye-area skin, reduce puffiness and dark circles, minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, strengthen and regenerate skin tissues.

Before and after using De-puffy Jewel for six weeks. (I tried to keep the lighting the same but it didn't work out.)

The Results: This product definitely hydrated my skin and reduced my fine lines and dark circles. I don't have wrinkles or problems with elasticity. These results are quite typical of any good eye moisturizer. Although the gel worked wonders for my eyes, $54 is still quite expensive and I have to wonder if I can find an eye moisturizer just as good for a portion price.

In the end, the Skin Action Sebum is my favorite of the two products. Nothing ever reduces my blackhead production. I pull them out, they come back again. This gel actually reduces the production of blackheads on my nose.

Disclosure: This post contains product(s) sent to me for testing or reviewing consideration. I am neither paid nor compensated for my opinion. As always, my priority is to my readers and I express only my honest opinion in every post.