Product review: Avene spring water spray

I'll admit ... I will fall for just about anything. If you told me this was magical water in a spray bottle that would make all your imperfections just vanish, I'd probably believe you. Probably because I want it to be true; I want a product that blows me away, that single-handedly takes care of all my skin concerns in one spritz. But that's unrealistic. So, let's just take a second to re-calibrate: This is not magic water, but it's also not just regular water in a spray can. 

This, ladies and gentlemen, is Avene Thermal Spring Water.

So, after blowing through my 1.76 oz bottle within a few weeks, spraying multiple times a day, here's what I thought.

The pro's:

• Refreshing! That was my first impression. It felt cool and refreshing on my face. It definitely woke me up a little bit.
• Hydrating! There are a lot of claims with Avene spring water. I had to wonder if I would really notice a difference. But it did in fact make my skin feel softer and smooth.
• Healing! This spring water does a great job of getting rid of redness. Whether it's coming in from the cold, razor burn, using a chemical peel, a rash, or even acne, this works nicely to calm irritations and sooth the skin.
• Sets makeup with dewy finish! I liked spritzing this over my makeup for a luminous, dewy finish. It didn't disrupt my makeup or cause any unsightly runs.

The con's:

• It can only do so much. Avene thermal water is kind of marketed as a "super water," but it can only do so much. It's a nice water "rich in silicate and trace elements," but it's not going to clear your skin of acne, for example. It'll help calm the inflammation of it and fade redness and irritation, but it's not anti-bacterial to my knowledge.
• Limited hydration. On Avene's website, it suggests using their thermal water on keratosis and eczema. I think this is helpful to use in addition to other treatments to combat skin conditions like these. Used alone, it is not going to get rid of patches of scaly or intensely dry skin, in my experience. Avene thermal water definitely cannot replace a moisturizer. Avene does make spring water-based moisturizers though!
• I'd buy a bigger bottle next time. I got the travel size so I could take it for a test run, but I blew through it so quickly. It's the perfect size to take with you on vacation, but for my bathroom counter, I'd buy a bigger bottle.

Would I buy it again?

Yes I would! It's hypoallergenic and non-comedogenic. It makes skin feel refreshed, awake, soft, and even-toned. It's not magic, but it does improve your skin. I like to use it over makeup or on bare skin, and I probably spritz it about 3-4 times a day. It's kind of addicting.

If this sounds like something you'd want to try, I found some awesome discounts on Avene spring water on Amazon! Here ya go:

Best drugstore mascara for volume

If there's one cosmetic product that I'm super picky about, it's definitely mascara. As a natural blonde, I have very light eyelashes. It actually looks like I don't have any eyelashes at all when I'm sans mascara.

As a beauty consultant, I used to get samples all the time. The pay wasn't great, but the perks made it worth it. I got to try all kinds of prestige brands. 

But every now and then, you find a drugstore product that knocks the fancy stuff out of the water. For me, I've been loyal to one such product for years now ... Cover Girl Lash Blast. There are a few variations, but I usually stick with the orange tube or black tube, which is the 24-hour long-wearing version. Having used this product for so long, I thought I'd give you guys an honest review on it!

Cover Girl Lash Blast review:

The pro's: 

• The wand! The wand that comes with this mascara is so perfect for giving volume and length, while keeping lashes separated. My biggest pet peeve with mascaras is when my eyelashes are grouped together. I like my eyelashes to look full, but also nicely separated. This brush combs lashes out while adding major volume.
• The color! I use black mascara. And I like it to actually be black. Have you ever bought a black mascara and had to apply coat after coat to get your eyelashes to look noticeable? I'm not a fan of those light black mascaras that are made to look "natural." I definitely go for the false eyelashes look. If you're looking for a cheap drugstore mascara that makes your eyes look like you're wearing false lashes, this is it.
• Volume and length! Like I said, this mascara gives awesome volume and length. There are some really great more expensive mascaras you can pick up at Sephora that will give this same effect. But that's the thing ... this drugstore mascara can give the same effect as say, your favorite Lancome or Benefit mascara. Looks wise, no one would know the difference.
• Fat tube = easy to find in purse/makeup bag! It's a small thing, I know, but the packaging of this mascara is pretty cool. It comes in a bright orange tube, which is pretty thick, and I find it easy to pick out from my makeup bag.

The con's:

• Won't last 12+ hours. With this Cover Girl Lash Blast orange tube, I have noticed that this mascara will start to flake off by late evening. This is very annoying, as it agitates my eyes. However, the Cover Girl Lash Blast 24-Hour mascara, in a black tube, will not flake off and really does last aaaaaaaalllll day without a problem. When I wear my regular orange-tube Lash Blast, I apply blinc tubing mascara on top to keep it in place, and I have no problems with flaking. Problem solved.

This is me wearing Cover Girl Lash Blast, my fave!

Trends to watch for

As someone who loves all things makeup and skincare (OK fine, a little obsessed), I thought I'd take a few moments to share with you the latest beauty trends that are popping up that you can expect to see more of! If you've tried any of these or are interested, let me know! I'd love to hear what's working for you.

Here are the top three trends I'm noticing in the beauty world this fall:

1. Micellar water: What is it? It's essentially little oil bits suspended in water. It's long been used by makeup artists and models to quickly and effectively remove makeup without having to rinse. You just pour some micellar cleansing water onto a cotton pad and wipe your face clean. Because no water rinsing is needed, many people with sensitive skin are turning to micellar waters as their primary cleansers. One that's really gained a cult following is Bioderma, but brands like Caudalie, Avene, La Roche-Posay, and Darphin carry their own variations as well. Notice a similarity among the brands -- that they all sound french? That's because micellar waters originated in France, but you'll see American brands popping them out soon. Before you know it, they'll be all over the place. Until then, you can order online, or check out Koh Gen Do's Spa Water at your local Sephora.

2. A move toward natural cosmetics: Whether it's trying African black soap followed by raw shea butter for acne, or keeping wrinkles at bay with extra virgin coconut oil, it seems just about everyone is turning to more simple, gentle and natural skin care solutions. Olive oil, coconut oil, jojoba oil, castor oil -- there's an oil for every skin type and concern, and you can get a lot for your money. When you see results that are more effective and save you money, it's really a win-win. Interested in which oils are right for your skin type? Check out this guide.

3. Skinny liquid eyeliner cat eyes: Whether you're scoping out the runways or watching the beauty blogs, this chic look is playful and seductive, retro and cool. If you're not so sure you have the steady hand for painting a perfect cat eye, try a felt-tip marker eyeliner, like Cargo Texas Liquid Eyeliner. My own little tip for you: Start from halfway, right above your pupil and draw outward. This is the easy part -- you can touch it up and it can be a little thicker. Then, when you go inward, use barely the tip because this part should be thinner. Otherwise, just experiment and have fun!