Tuesday, May 22, 2018

The Redolent Mermaid's 4th Birthday Giveaway!



Four years!
1,223 posts
576,270 views
Top Posts: Tutorial of Paper Piecing and Fandom Quilts, Serge Lutens Water Lip Colour, and Witch Baby Soap
1,000 comments
friends made
memories recorded
amazing things smelled


I am hosting three giveaways. One here for all the items above (and more!), one on my Facebook page and one on Instagram. 

Thank you Julia at Arcana Wildcraft, Freja at Nocturne Alchemy and Tracie at The Candlemart for all contributing to this giveaway. <3

The following are a few of my favorite things and I wanted to share them with you as well:
Arcana Wildcraft 5ml perfumes in Bonfires At Dusk and Filthy Viking
Nocturne Alchemy 5ml perfume in Crystalline and 2ml in Bastet's Amber
Timberwick wood wick candle in Ember Glow from Hannah's Candlemart
Blooddrop Froth Milk Bath and Merci No. 141 5ml perfume
Solstice Scents whipped soap in Lavender Vanilla
ArtiSun natural deodorant in Lavender/Tea Tree
Lasting Scent Candles Aroma Mist in Pink Sugared Spruce
Sunshine & Ravioli bookplates
Candles From The Keeping Room Fresh Picked Strawberry
Glitterati, three chunks of wax in various scents
Alchemic Muse Hair Mist
Dame Perfume samples
Bohemienne Life wax samples
Adagio tea tin
Handmade pottery tea mug
and various wax samples

Hannah's Candlemart gifted ALL my readers a coupon code for 15% off that will never expire. I love their variety of wax and especially love the Timberwick wood wick candles. 
Use code: REDMERMAID15

This giveaway is open to all US readers (I have an international giveaway on my IG account). To enter this giveaway please tell me one of your favorite skincare items. I just made my first ever Paula's Choice purchase for some trial sizes of her retinol goodies and a sunscreen for summer time. 
After commenting, please make sure to follow commenting so when the winner is announced you can claim your prize. If it isn't claimed in 24 hours from announcing, then a new name will be drawn. 

A winner will be randomly drawn on May 29th. 

99 comments:

  1. How fun! One of my favorite skincare items is the Body Deli's Creme de la Rose moisturizer. Skincare good enough to eat and smells heavenly. Great for dry skin. I love many of their products. Thank you for a wonderful blog and for this giveaway!

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    1. Thank you Brenda! I will look into Body Deli. Good enough to eat?! Yep, sounds divine.

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  2. Congratulations Julie! My favorite skincare product right now is Murad's City Skin Age Defense Broad Spectrum SPF 50 PA++++. What a ridiculous name, amirite? :) But it works great and doesn't leave a white cast on my skin.

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    1. That IS a pretty absurdly long name. But I have tried a few Murad products for my acne and they were nice. I will check this out. In Florida, one can never have too much SPF. Thanks, Sarah!

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  3. Have you tried any retinol products before? I saw Britton's video about PC also. Still deciding what brand to try first.

    Ayelet Naturals Collagen Booster Complexion Serum.

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    1. Yeah, I have briefly sampled some skincare with retinol but never actually started a program with it so I am excited. And you KNOW ME. I totally watched Britton talk about her skincare routine and decided to give Paula's Choice a go. The prices are pretty affordable too. I did pick up Britton's hyaluronic acid serum but it won't ship for a bit as I am waiting for her to make a batch of her deodorant that I bought a backup of. The Paula's Choice is 20% off right now if you go through their Facebook page.

      Collagen Booster? I am there for that.

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  4. Wow! What a fantastic, generous giveaway here, as well as IG and Facebook. Thank you for the chance and congratulations so much on your 4 years! I'm glad I found your blog and get into interact with you. <3
    I'm quite obsessed with my Ghoulish Bath Delights Apparition toner. I've really noticeda difference in my skin from using it for a few months and I cannot wait to try more of Amanda's lovely skincare products.

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    1. I am so happy I met you too April! Ghoulish Bath Delights you say?! I actually need a toner. I have been using witch hazel as a toner but I read conflicting reports on if the alcohol in it is damaging. So I think better safe than sorry. My skin doesn't bounce back as easy these days.

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    2. Ghoulish Bath Delights operates restock style and always updates Facebook- both the page and group and IG.
      Amanda is an esthetician, always learning and creating. She tests her products so much before releasing them.
      She's currently on vacation, I think or just about, but feel free to browse the skincare section on her website. Check out ingredients. I think there's a blog section with in depth facial mask usage and how to.
      I've seen so much improvement in my skin just from her toner, so I'm definitely diving more into what she offers. And I'm already a huge fan of her body lotion, Corpse Cream. ;)

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    3. This is perfect! I will sign up for her groups and such. Thank you April! <3

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  5. King of Skin from Lush is a must right out of the shower for dry skin. For a good night sleep I use the Sleepy lotion followed by Twilight spray. Thank you for allowing readers to celebrate this milestone with you.

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    1. Oh yes, Elaine! I adore Sleepy too. In fact I need to break mine out and put some on tonight. <3 Thank you for joining me!

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  6. Congrats!! I suck at commenting but look forward to your posts every day. My fave right now is DHS cleansing oil .It took me forever to be brave enough to put oil on my face but so glad I did .Its awesome!

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    1. Hey there Nicollette! I enjoy DHC too. They have some real gems. I stayed at a hotel in Ginza once that had a whole sample pack of DHC that you could buy to use at the hotel and it was the best thing I sprang for. The oil DOES feel weird at first but then soooooo good. <3

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  7. Congrats!! I just love reading your blog and glad you keep at it. Currently my fave skin care product is Hada Labo plumping gel. I think it helps smooth out some issues I face. It doesn't do 100% of what I like, but enough that I will repurchase unlike numerous other products.

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    1. Thank you Leanne! I do enjoy the writing and sniffing and opportunity to share with you. It does take some time and energy that I don't always have on tap but thank you for sticking with me through the lulls. I will check out the plumping gel. I do have plenty of natural plumping (LOL!) but I bet it might help with smoothing too.

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  8. Happy Blogoversary! Keep enjoying what you do and we'll enjoy watching you :)

    For the last year I've been using Paula's Choice RESIST Anti-Aging Clear Skin Hydrator for nights and RESIST Youth-Extending Daily Hydrating Fluid SPF 50 for days outside. And as my office-wear I prefer Laura Mercier's Tinted Moisturizer.

    Do not enter me.

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    1. Hello Undina! Thank you so much for the felicitations. <3 I know you are fully aware of the time and energy blogging requires but I am still loving it so I will keep on trucking. There are so many joys, big and small, to share.

      Lady. I am there for the Paula's Choice. I just ordered these using the 20% off Social Media discount by ordering through their Facebook link. Thank you!! I wear NARS Tinted Moisturizer (on my fourth bottle) but I am always game to try something new. I will sample the Laura Mercier one. Thanks.
      xoxo Hope you and your handsome kitty are doing well.

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  9. Congratulations Julie! My fave right now is the first aid beauty ultra repair cream. I have really sensitive skin and it seems to help. I really want to find a mask that doesn't irritate my skin but so far no luck.

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    1. Thank you Valerie! the First Aid is nice stuff isn't it? The Boscia masks don't work for you? Some of the clay masks can be pretty intense for sure. Maybe you could make a natural honey and fruit face mask for some gentle exfoliating and refreshing. <3

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  10. Oh, how wonderful! Happy Anniversary and many more to come. I found this blog last winter and i love it. i've found so many unique products from reading your adventures. Thank you.

    My favorite skincare product is actually a hair care product. It's when by Chas Dean. I've been using this line for the past ten years and will not be without it. I use it on my hair face and body. what it does for my skin is keep me clear. I have awful acne everywhere and when i use this like i'm supposed to, my skin is clean and clear and smooth. It keeps my African American hair soft and manageable, too. whenever QVC offers the jumbo vat-sized cleansing conditioners in June, i'm there to get mine for the year usually in several different formulas. This is some great stuff!

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    1. Hi Karla! Thank you for joining me! Nice to meet you. <3

      I have heard great things about Wen. I will have to try some soon. I haven't ever ordered from QVC but it seems kinda fun. Thank you for letting me know! I hope you have a great weekend!

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    2. Hi Julie. My weekend was great. Hope yours was too. I've been a QVC shopper for about 25 years and i absolutely love it. I'm totally blind so shopping, as you can imagine, is sometimes a bit of a challenge. QVC makes it easy for me. when i first started, i was a fiend, but i've calmed down allot in the past five years. Getting rid of cable helped with that. Out of hearing out of mind means a safe budget...lol. now, i only go up there when i really need something. I've ordered just about anything you can image from them and i've never had an issue (knock wood). I've even branched out to HSN, but they aren't as good as QVC if you ask me.

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  11. Congrats right now I am enjoying Candy Panda sugar scrubs they are amazing

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    1. Thank you! I love Candy Panda scrubs too. I just used up my Fir Sure and probably should watch and see when the next restock is. You don't happen to know by chance do you? What is your favorite scent?

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  12. Congrats! My favorite right now is The Body Shop's Tea Tree line.
    Thanks for the amazing giveaway!

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    1. Thank you! I am a huge tea tree fan. I love the stuff. I haven't been to a Body Shop in years. I will have to hunt one down. Good luck! <3

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  13. Congrats! I’ve been using CeraVe facewash for a few years now and it’s been the best so far in keeping my acne at bay. It gets tempting to try newer things with prettier packaging but I have to stick by the “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it” saying.

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    1. I totally agree! My skin keeps changing as I get older though and I constantly am having to change things up. I do have a face scrub I adore but other than that and eye maker up remover, I am game for trying anything.

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  14. Hi Julie! Wow, four years! Congrats! I absolutely love your blog. My favorite skin care right now is the Doterra line. My skin has cleared up quite a bit, and it smells amazing!

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    1. Hey there sweet friend! Time has flown by hasn't it? Thank you for supporting me <3 I didn't realize DoTerra had a skin care line. How exciting!

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  15. Happy anniversary! I have very fussy skin. Very bad rosacea with the “breakouts” it can cause but my skin is super dry too (though I have moments of t zone oiliness). I’ve got a lavender EO facial cream from southwest lotions that has CBD oil infused in it and it’s perfect. Hydrating without making anything oily, calms the rosacea and it’s breakouts, and it absorbs pretty quickly.

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    1. I have heard CBD is good for the complexion as well. I will have to check this out as I love lavender EO. I am so happy you found something that helps your skin heal too. This sounds wonderful!

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  16. PacificRedhead - KristinaMay 28, 2018 at 12:27 AM

    Congrats on 4 years!! That's so awesome. My favorite skin care item is Liquid Gold from Stratia, it's saved my dry skin which is now drier thanks to pregnancy.

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    1. Thank you! I love your blog. You do such a fabulous job with it! <3

      Congratulations on your pregnancy! Yes, the sweet baby does change so many things about the body. I hope you have a safe and healthy pregnancy and delivery.

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  17. Congrats on four years!

    My favorite skincare item at the moment is Sunday Riley’s UFO. It has all the essential oils I love to use neat for breakouts and toning and clarifying my skin, but it also adds salicylic acid to keep acne at bay. Love it so much! If you haven’t tried it, Sephora will give you a tester, which is how I first got hooked. I’ve purchased three bottles this year from one small sample! :)

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    1. Hi Mandy!! Good to see you. Thank you for the well wishes.

      My mom loves Sunday Riley. I need to give it a go too. I will definitely get a tested of it next time I am in store. Thank you for the rec! I still suffer from acne pretty bad from time to time.

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  18. 4 years of greatness! Looking forward ti even more <3. My heart has been stolen by Low Ph Good Morning Cleaner by Corsx. It's gentle but so cleansing!

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    1. Thank you so much Lattisha! That is very sweet. I need a good cleanser. I just always use my bar soap (though it is handmade I still worry it might not be best for my skin?). Thanks for the heads up!

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  19. Congrats on 4 years! My fave skincare item is anything by Korres! I swear by their moisturizers and wear them every night.

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    1. Thank you! Korres does carry some great items. I should get some samples at Sephora next time I am in store.

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  20. Since becoming a reviewer/promotr for small shops here on Instagram, I've been lucky enough to find two handmade skincare products I cant live without. One is Firming Eye Salve made by Christina Fiore @hippyheartnaturals. Most of my skincare products come from her; she's a magician! But I have a bottle of Facial Serum by Alexandra Toth @tothicumusaromatherapy, and it is everything! It's organic ingredients include calendula,rosehips,grapeseed oil, vitamin E,neroli oil, and frankincense. I can use it alone, but usually i mix a couple drops into my moisturizer, my body lotion, and even my perfume oils so I can spread them over a wider area and have the help moisturize and make me smell amazing at the same time!!! And at 50 years old, I love the fact that all the ingredients are specifically used together to help with aging skin!!!
    Thanks for this opportunity, Julie!

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    1. Hi Karen! So happy to see you! <3 I need an eye cream for sure. I just tend to use whatever moisturizer I am applying on hand to my eye area as well. I will look into these great vendors. And that serum sounds divine. I love frankincense. I hope you are doing well, sweets!

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  21. Congrats on four years!! My favorite skincare right now is my Aphrodite face soap from Witch baby soap!

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    1. Thank you! I have not tried any skin care from Witch Baby but I do know I love their bath bombs and bath potions. I will have to pop something in my cart soon.

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  22. Thank you for doing this! My current favorite skincare item is Acwell Bubble-Free PH Balancing Cleanser.

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  23. Happy anniversary! My favorite skincare product at the moment is pure squalane oil from Sweet Essentials :)

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    1. Thank you Maysie! I had some squalane sheet masks that I enjoyed a while back. I will have to look into this.

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  24. My favorite summertime skincare is EltaMD sunscreen! Congrats on 4 years!!!

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    1. Thank you! Honestly, here in Florida I feel like sunscreen is something I lather up in all the time. I can never have too much. So I will look into this one!

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  25. Great giveaway and congrats on 4 years!!! So exciting!
    My favorite skincare item rotates. Right now it's this small jar of "Glycolic Formulations" 25% glycolic cream. I just stumbled upon it at a TJMAXX and this thing is my face's life saver right now!

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    1. Thank you Krystie! It has been a fun 4 years. <3

      TJMaxx really has some treasures doesn't it? My mom picked up some face masks there and they are great. I will see if I can find this next time I am there. Have a great week!

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  26. Congrats in 4 years! My favorite item right now drunk elephant. They have a sleep mask that is awesome!

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    1. Thank you Iris! Drunk Elephant has some great stuff. They were in a skin care sampler I got from Sephora once and I loved the product. I will have to try the sleep mask.

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  27. Congrats on four years!! My favorite skincare is mostly all from Paula’s Choice, I love their resist barrier repair night moisturizer in particular.

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    1. Oh Amanda. I have fallen into the Paula's Choice hole. They keep having this 20% social media code and I keep finding things I want to try. I have the RESIST travel kit and a full sized Barrier Repair. I love it. I am going to use it all summer and see how my skin does but I am really liking it all.

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  28. Congrats! I use a whole bunch of items from Perfectly Posh, everything they sell is amazing, but Cackle Spackle is one of my favorite deep cleaning face masks that they have

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    1. Thank you! Perfectly Posh does have some great stuff. And lots of masks!

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  29. Congrats on 4 years!
    One of my fave products is You Skincare’s Barrier Repair Cleansing Balm. Smells so good and takes off my mascara perfectly (no more raccoon eyes even after rinsing finally).
    Also loving their Moisture Replenishing Essence sample I received.

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    1. Thank you Katie! I am a sucker for good smelling product. I will have to try this!

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  30. How time flies! My most favorite skincare item on LUSH Ocean Salt. It tones and brightens my skin so well that makeup is unnecessary. A very close second would be Haus of Gloi pumpkin butter...THE perfect moisturiser for me. ❤

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    1. It really does! <3 I will get a sample of Ocean Salt next time I am in Lush. Thanks! And I am right there with you for HoG Pumpkin Butter. I have been going through my Cosmic Cleanse Miracle Budders but come fall I will be stocking up on my Pumpkin Butters.

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  31. My favorite skincare product is The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc. It helps a lot with pore size and I've found that if I use it at night, I wake up with really a really bright complection.

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    1. Thanks, Ale! I have huge pores and nothing has ever reduced their size for me but I would be willing to look into this. <3

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  32. The skincare product that has made the most difference in my skin is Strstia Liquid Gold. I have very dry skin, and this made a huge difference in helping my skin retain moisture. Plus it's an indie brand, and I love supporting indies when I can.

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    1. Another vote for Liquid Gold! I love supporting indies too. I tend to like the ingredients they use more along with supporting small business. Plus it is just plain fun. <3

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  33. While for luxury and soft skin, Black Phoenix Trading Post's soaps are awesome for the skin softening and aromatics. But for utility and facial cleansers, I go with Swell Skin's Sea Buckthorn Facial Treatment Soap Bar. It really gets off a lot of grit and decreases blotchy skin redness. *Edited specifics*

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    1. I have never tried BPAL's soaps. I will look into that. They came out with some candles recently but sold out of the scent I wanted lickety split. I will keep following along and hopefully get both one day. Thanks for the heads up.

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  34. Congrats again Julie! Lush sympathy for the skin & skin drink :)

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  35. Congratulations on the birthday!

    My favorite care product is super boring, but I love Lubriderm's Daily Moisturizing Lotion. It's 15 SPF as well, which is huge with my Celtic skin. It's the only moisturizer I've found so far that doesn't make my skin really oily and clog my pores. If you've got tricky skin, I highly recommend it!

    Thanks so much for the giveaway!

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    1. Thank you Kierstin! Not boring at all. A classic is a classic and works reliably so I would stick with it too.

      Thank you for stopping by! xoxo

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  36. Congrats Julie:) This got too good to pass up when I noticed pottery tea mug! Who am I kidding, it's all fab. I do zero fancy products for my face and really need a dark spot corrector but the one product I've stuck with is Laura Geller's bronze and brighten-I got the largest size 5 years ago and still have some left even though I use it everyday. I wear the light and it gives my ghostly complexion a lil pinkish hue.

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    1. Thank you, Jay! xoxo Sometimes a simple routine is best. I like to wear makeup when I am at work or when the fancy strikes (but in summer it rarely strikes) so I like to have some product to cleanse and moisturize. Trying to take care of my face skin as it ages. :-) I am naturally oily so I think that helps that I don't need too much moisturizer.

      Your Laura Geller sounds amazing. I love a light tint of dewy color. I am definitely not a fan of full coverage foundation. Tinted Moisturizers are my fave.

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  37. I love Dove face cream the thick creamy one in the blue jar!! It’s a must have and really the only thing I put on my face!!

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  38. I'm in a five year committed relationship with DHC Cleansing Oil. My skin is always so unhappy when I cheat on it!

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    1. LOL! Sounds like a marriage made in heaven. <3 It really is good stuff. I need to pick up a full size. I used up my sample.

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  39. I am in love with Hexennacht's scented soaps and I'm just now diving into Ghoulish Delights Bath Shop's skincare products such as Tokyo Pore Police, which is divine.

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    1. Hexennacht has been on my radar. And now Ghoulish Delights is. I just signed up for their FB group. <3

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  40. Congratulations on your 4th anniversary Julie! My favorite summertime sunscreen is made by EltaMD. I don't go anywhere without it!

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    1. Thank you Terrie! Another EltaMD vote. <3 I love how you guys are taking great care of your skin. I am loving sunscreen as I get older too.

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  41. Neutrogena sunblock! You have to stast with a classic.

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  42. Congratulations on your anniversary! I have just recently begun reading your blog, and I have really enjoyed it so much. You have such a wonderful mix of topics, and such beautifully curated items. Through you, I discovered Pitch Pine Pottery. It has been a difficult year, and I thought I lost my spark/interest in decorating: their beautiful work awakened that part of me, and I have you to thank for it.

    My favorite face care product is from an Etsy shop named PureLips, and it is Coffee Face Cream, although I love so many of her products. Unlike so many other products, I notice a material difference in my skin when I use it - I guess others do, too, because someone walked up to me, touched my face, and asked what products I use! :)

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    1. Thank you Strawberry Patch! Welcome! I really appreciate your kind words. Sometimes it is hard not having a themed blog where the focus is on one main thing. But I would quickly get bored if I could only write about wax. I am so happy you enjoy a wide variety of topics and features. <3 Pitch Pine Pottery has some amazingly beautiful creations. Every time I look at their IG feed I see a newly envisioned version of something I loved.

      I will check out this vendor. What a great compliment! I have heard of coffee scrubs but not face creams. This sounds really cool! I hope you have a beautiful week.

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    2. Thank you for your nice reply. You really do a beautiful job with your blog: it’s the only one I’ve consistently read, and it’s already made a positive difference in my life.

      I hope that you love the products! I’ve loved almost everything I’ve tried.

      I hope that you have a wonderful week, too. :)

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  43. I might dabble in other, more expensive skincare products, but my love is ever for Queen Helene’s Mint Julep Masque. It keeps my face soft, my pores clear, and smells reasonably nice.

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    1. Dabbling. Yes I love to dabble. I did try some Chanel samples of goodies but nothing grabbed me so I was actually happy about that. No need for more money to go out needlessly. I will look into this mask. I love mint anything so I have a feeling we will get along. Thank you!

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  44. I 100% love the Yes To Tomatoes detoxifying face wipes. The Yes Too stuff is so my jam.

    And congratulations!

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    1. Aren't face wipes the best thing ever?? Thank you!

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  45. I love your blog and I agree with most of your reviews <3
    Thank you so much for this giveaway. :)
    As for my favorite skincare items, my HG are from Cerave. They're affordable and they never steer me wrong. I have normal to dry skin and I love the hydrating facial wash and Cerave PM. Cerave PM was my HG moisturizer for the longest time until I found my greatest moisturizer love to date, STRATIA LIQUID GOLD! Oh my Lord, it is so gooooood! Someone on reddit described it as Cerave PM on steroids and I quite agree! It's excellent at repairing your moisture barrier without being too heavy, so it's perfect for day and night use. LOOOOOOOOOVE! <33333

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    1. Thank you Cosmos! That is very kind.

      This Stratia Liquid Gold does seem to have quite the following! I admit I am intrigued!! Once I get through some of my Paula's Choice samples I will be looking into this Liquid Gold for sure. And Cerave too. Thank you! <3

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  46. 4 awesome years! Hope you had a great holiday weekend with your family- It won't stop raining in Atlanta. Congrats to the lucky winner, Julies favorites are the best ever!! Take care, Ellisa

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    1. Hey there dear friend!!! We ended up doing some landscaping (more to do still when the edging bricks are delivered today) but it was a nice weekend. I hope yours was too. The rain HAS been pretty intense lately. It is perfect for reading and tea sipping though. How have you been?? Miss you!

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