Four Easy Steps to Getting Perfect Pores

My infatuation with Asian beauty and skincare started a couple of years ago. So it was a dream, A DREAM, you guys when Peach & Lily reached out to me about this amazing product launch from Caolion. (I may or may not have teared up while reading their email because I’m a freak like that.) 

I still have not ventured out to Flushing to visit their first brick & mortar store but plan to in the very near future (i.e. tomorrow). Although it’s a bit of a trek, I would totally go for their skin analysis machine and the ability to test out cult beauty favorites they carry from Korea and Japan. Try before you buy na mean. After shopping, I’d obviously dine in that neighborhood too since the cuisine is so bomb - but that’s a post for another day.

Peach & Lily curates and sells some of the most innovative products on the market. So, it’s no surprise they’re teaming up with Caolion (my favorite) to sell their Perfect Pores Kit (a total of 3 masks) at a special price with a cleanser included for free. If you want to be daring you could buy each separately for a total of $35ish or be shop smart at Peach & Lily for $84 (was $106).

“But what exactly are pore packs?” 

GOOOORL, I am so happy you asked cause we about to get into it.

Pore packs (essentially masks) work to clear your pores of all the dirt and grit that creep into skin. At the same time, these masks are so heralded because they don’t strip your skin of hydration.  If you’re looking to tighten and “de-clutter” your pores, these are a better (& less painful) solution compared to rip-off strips.

This pore pack set comes with a Freshly Chitosan Foam Cleanser, Premium Blackhead Steam Pore Pack, Premium Original Pore Pack, and Pore Tightening Memory Sleeping Mask. This might sound like a lot at once but I gotchu and we’re going through this one by one – get your shopping cart ready boo.

Freshly Chitosan Foam Cleanser
Before applying any mask, you got to get rid of that top layer of grime. (Taking this opportunity to remind everyone to always wash your face before bed – even if it means using a makeup remover wipe). I tend to use a makeup remover wipe before a cleanser but to put this to test, I bypassed that step and used this instead to see how effectively it removed everything. It did. Although, my face did feel a little tight after use it did leave my face feeling a little tight but refreshed nonetheless.

Premium Blackhead Steam Pore Pack
Alright, I’m going to be totally honest here and say I’m fully stocked on this and the Original Pore Pack for the next three years. I’ve already known of this cult classic, tried it, and fell in love with the powerful duo. The Premium Blackhead Steam Pore Pack is a bubbling self-heating clay mask that works to deeply cleanse your skin. It’s made of 100% natural sparkling water, charcoal powder, and natural oat grains, which gently buff dead skin cells while keeping you hydrated. In the end, you’re left with firmer-looking skin.

Premium Original Pore Pack
After you get the gunk out, you slather on the cooling Original Pore Pack, which tightens up enlarged pores, calms, and revitalizes your skin. This purifying mask is made with Glacial clay, Alaskan glacial water, and menthol.  I absolutely love using this solo on a hot summer day for the cooling sensation alone – so good! After one use (or at least on me), your skin is left with a luminous healthy glow.

Pore Tightening Memory Sleeping Mask
The last and final step, and only before bedtime, is applying the Pore Tightening Memory Sleeping Mask. Sleeping masks are generally used to intensely hydrate your skin, as you guessed it, sleep. These masks are not messy and won't leave stains on your pillow. Think of it as a heavier night cream that gets massaged into your skin. (P.s. No needs to use your moisturizer when using a sleeping mask.) You will, however, wake up with soft, dewy skin. I tend to use one twice a week, but when the temps drop so does my usage. This product is new to me so I was extra-excited to sleep in this. It’s advertised as using a shape memory technology, but if we’re being honest I have no idea what that means. I do know that I woke up with brightened and tightened skin and went barefaced to work because of how amazing my skin looked.

My general consensus after trying out Caolion’s Perfect Pores Kit – obsessed with the results. For those of you looking to tighten pores or add masking to your regime, I’d highly recommend diving head first into this kit. And yes, the kit was gratis but like I said before – I already own loads of the Pore Pack duo because it does work.

Time for a Change...

Today's shop has been sponsored by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. As always, all opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that make this blog possible! 
#RethinkYourColour #CollectiveBias

Happy Monday friends! I’ve spent my entire weekend indoors, secluded from the world as I planned out my April shenanigans. You know – the post-breakup sort. A lot of traveling internationally as well as domestically to places I’ve never thought of venturing to (Nashville this weekend!). The other half of my shenanigans involves doing something drastic… to my hair.

After a lot of back and forth, I decided to pamper myself and my virgin hair to something I always wanted to do but never been ballsy enough to do – go lighter. Yea, it’s drastic and will probably cost an arm and leg but I have my reasons and research.

On the hair change being drastic… well, after a breakup (which are never glamorous) I wanted to look inwards at myself and do the things I’ve always wanted to do in all aspects of my life such as: traveling, running a marathon, living on my own, changing my hair & more. As they say, it’s time to do me and learn more about myself while in the process.

And in a weird way, switching up my hair feels like announcing my arrival in the dating world. Weird, right? Or do you do the same thing haha.

With this breakup comes a new apartment (goodbye savings account) but I still want to go lighter. This is where the research I was talking about comes into play.  Heading into a salon for a double process can cost upwards of $300+. Trust me, I looked everywhere but couldn’t find a salon that could promise me brassy-free curls without going over budget.

Not being a fan of that price-point I went to my local Walmart and cruised their color wall of at-home coloring sets. None of the colors seemed to fit what I was looking for and again the idea of turning into a brassy Sally scared me. PLUS, I have a lot of hair. Doing an at-home coloring project would be a fail before I even started.

Instead, I decided to go with something a little more seamless that would work with the color I already have. Enter John Frieda Visibly Brighter® Line which lightens your brunette locks without having to step foot into a salon.

Alright, so the new line is made of the John Frieda Brilliant Brunette® Visibly Brighter™ Subtle Lightening Shampoo and Conditioner – together this duo gradually brightens your hair for those sun-kissed locks. Not only that, but used daily (or when you wash) these two keep brightening and illuminating your brunette tones. The other portion of the line is the John Frieda Brilliant Brunette® Visibly Brighter™ In-Shower Treatment which instantly lightens up your locks one entire shade lighter and in your hair’s natural spectrum too (no need to worry about looking brassy with this). Like I mentioned, I basically have virgin hair with my last dye job being over 15 years ago so I feel better knowing this line is safe for natural, highlighted, and color-treated hair.

Altogether, I spent under $40 on the line, which feels so much better than fainting in a salon after viewing their bill. The perils of having thick curly hair.

I’m going to go all in with this line and in two weeks I’ll report back. Hope y’all don’t mind but I felt like it easier to show the transition on blown out locks as opposed to my frizzy-when-it’s-time-to-shoot hair.

Also, how much fun would it be if we did it all together? You can scoop up the line at your local Walmart or online at Walmart.com! The new line is located in the hair care & styling aisle. Your Walmart might have it set up differently than mine but I found these guys right next to all the John Frieda styling products.

Are you going brighter or darker with your hair this season or for summer? Tell me about in the comments!

Photos by Lydia Hudgens.

The Essentials: April 2015

Well, daddy was right. Never move in with your honey until you're married or truly en route to getting married.

These past few months have been so incredibly stressful, crazy, and annoying. I'll elaborate more in the next Breaking the Fourth Wall post, but for now, things are starting to settle down (by a smidge). That also means I have more time, or, at least, feel organized enough, to come back to blogging.

I got April all figured out (when it comes to the blog not my living situation) and expect to see new posts on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Don't forget you can also find me on Instagram or Snapchat (search thestyleboro).

One thing, I've really missed doing has been my Monthly Essentials. However, since my last Essentials post, I've come across so many amazing brands and an awesome subscription box called Pearlesque (perfect for the natural skincare junkie). I honestly can not wait to share all of my discoveries with y'all. You're going to love all of it - get your shopping carts ready! Pearlesque (perfect for the natural skincare junkie). I honestly can not wait to share all of my discoveries with y'all. You're going to love all of it - get your shopping carts ready!

Hair: It's pretty apparent how much I love Carol's Daughter and their Leave-In Conditioner is no exception. I use it to freshen up styles and right before styling fresh hair for extra hydration and frizz control. They started selling the line at Target so it's even easier to find in-store.

Skin: Aside from the Pearlesque Box, I've been living for Skinn's Olive & Enzyme Makeup Wipes. They smell amazing, have this great texture that takes everything off, and leaves my skin feeling so smooth. I've mentioned before my love for matte lip color, unfortunately, they make my lips super dry. After a lot of googling and testing, I've fallen for Bite's Lip Mask. They return my lips to a more supple state. I use it once a week and during the week I layer on the Vaseline at night.

Body: I never thought I'd write about a razor on here but then I used the Gillette Venus Swirl. The Flexiball on the razor makes shaving more seamless and faster since it contours to your body more easily.

Misc.: Listen up bauble lovers, I found a way to conveniently clean our jewels and restore their shine. The product is called Shine by Collé and found it randomly after stressing out over my pieces looking lackluster. Easy to use and store.

Shop my essentials below:
one (use AILEEN15 for 15% off) // two // three // four // five // six // seven // eight // nine // ten
eleven // twelve // thirteen

Now, let's talk about this Pearlesque Box - it's a new semi-new subscription service that focuses on introducing and educating us on all-natural and non-toxic skincare brands found around the world. Every month, they'll focus on one region + brand and send 1-2 full-size + 1-3 travel size products. Sample sizes are great, but at the same time, they don't allow you ample time to determine its effectiveness in your routine. Shipping is always free and those outside of the States can also get in the on the subscription (shipping rates do apply for international addresses). As far as pricing goes, you're paying $39.99 per box however the value is over $120. Sign up before April 5th with my discount code AILEEN15 to pay 15% less.

This month their focus is OSEA Malibu and after a few weeks of trying out their bestsellers - I'm falling in love with the vegan line. What makes this line different from the rest is how their history and formulas always traces them back to the ocean - which is why they always Ocean preservation as a brand.

OSEA Ocean Cleanser: A classic from their line and my absolute favorite from the box. It has this amazing scent, easily removed my makeup (didn't take my mascara off completely), and didn't strip my skin of moisture. Instead my skin felt hydrated and refreshed by the minerals, algae, and vitamins in the formula. The glass bottle was easy on the eyes too.

OSEA Sea Minerals Mist: After we cleanse, we mist. I found this mist to be refreshing and hydrating due to its nutrient-packed ingredient list. Although I wouldn't carry this in my purse I would definitely make the exception once summer hits. I could only imagine how soothing this feels on sun-kissed skin.

OSEA Ocean Lotion: This daily fragrance-free moisturizer loaded with good for your ingredients (Macadmaia, Rosehip, Red Algae Gel & more) left my body silky to the touch. It also left my skin feeling hydrated for a longer length of time and without that greasy residue.

There's an Atmosphere Protection Cream included as well, but sadly mine broke in transit (sad face). Besides that, I've been introduced to a brand I would've never known about and basically fell in love with their line. I already have their Sea Vitamin Boost on the way to me thanks to the free shipping code inside the Pearlesque Box. If you want to indulge in this month's box don't forget to use my promo code AILEEN15 for 15% off your first box!

For more info visit Pearlesque.com.