Self-care was a buzzword last year and it has continued well into 2018. To me, the definition of self-care is simple: it's doing what you need to do to care for yourself, to make sure you're in the best mental state.

Self-care could be saying no to going out on Saturday night, it could be going to the gym to clear your head, or simply having a cup of tea and reading a book. Self-care is taking care of yourself first, whether that is mental, physical, or emotion.

Self-care can be defined differently for everyone based on your interests and what eases you. When I'm in need of self-care, I light a few candles, stay off the computer, do a face mask and watch my favorite TV show.

Maybe if I'm feeling anxious, I'll go to the gym, come home and read a book. The possibilities are truly endless with self-care.

Since self-care and wellness have become their own industry, other industries have been cashing in on the buzz as well. That includes the beauty industry...

While I don't think these are marketed as self-care beauty items, I definitely classify them as that. I use them when I need a pick me up, or just need to better myself.



1. Ole Henriksen Cold Plunge Mask: I have been intrigued by this mask since it came on the scene and I bought it last week. I've used it about 3 times since then and I'm in love. To me, it's the definition of a self-care mask because it's tingly, a gorgeous blue color, and it shows results -- my pores looked tighter after use and my skin looked more fresh & clear. Last week I was having an off day so I decided to take time with my skincare routine and apply this mask. Adding a few extra minutes of relaxation time was key and this mask was a huge factor in it. It also leaves a minty feeling on your skin afterward which I love!

2. AERIN Rose Lip Conditioner: Ever want to pamper yourself or just give yourself an extra luxurious feeling? That's when I use the AERIN Rose Lip Conditioner. Something about the packaging mixed with the rose scent and the balmy texture of this product makes me feel like a million bucks.

3. Jade Roller: Jade rolling is all the rage nowadays and I've had mine for a few months. However, I didn't spend $40+ on it; I bought the Jade Roller from Amazon for around $8 and it works just as well. It's naturally cool so when you roll it on your face, you get that icy feeling which contributes to the depuffing that Jade Rolling does. There's also something very relaxing about giving yourself a little face massage when you're feeling stressed.

4. Clean and Clear Night Relaxing Jelly Eye Sheet Mask: When I received this product for PR a few months back I wasn't expecting to fall in love with it. The point of this mask is pure relaxation; it covers the upper half of your face and eyes where stress and sleepiness show the most. It also has seaweed extract to help replenish and nourish the skin. Whenever I need some help falling asleep or just need to really relax and recharge, I throw this mask on, close my bedroom door, light a candle and diffuse some oil and just close my eyes. It is so refreshing and probably the most relaxing beauty product I have in my collection. I simply cannot get enough and highly recommend for everyone!

5. Josie Maran Argan Oil: Whenever I want to take my time with my skincare routine to give myself an extra boost of self-care, I reach for an oil -- specifically the OG Argan Oil. It seeps into the skin immediately, feels incredible when applying it and leaves your face glowing. I'm obsessed and want to slather this all over my body (which I sometimes do!)

6. LUSH Sleepy Lotion: Whenever I need to really relax, get a good nights sleep or even just wind down, this lavender scented lotion is my go-to. It's super moisturizing, very relaxing, and the scent is just divine. I highly recommend to everyone!!

What are your self-care beauty items?
xoxo
B

I had been meaning to make a trip to Lush for months, ever since my last one. Well, a few weeks ago I took it upon myself to take a solo trip to the mall. I was very proud that I was in and out in less than an hour. It's amazing how fast you can shop when you know what you want/need and when there is no one else with you to slow you down.

I stopped in LUSH as my second store of the day and probably spent the most time in there. I knew I wanted a face mask, and a few bath bombs and that's exactly what I got.

I got a bath bomb I got is Sex Bomb, and I also got a Bubble Bar (which I already used half) that I don't know the name of and can't seem to find on the LUSH website.



I've been addicted to face masks recently and knew I wanted one of the fresh LUSH ones. They have an expiration date, are freshly made, and need to be refrigerated.

I wanted to try the Cup o Coffee mask but my Lush didn't have that one. After looking at all the masks available, I figured the Brazened Honey Mask was best for me. It says it will revitalize tired skin, with herbs and spices, has ground almonds to polish, and honey to moisturize.




The expiration date on my mask is Sept 8th but I still have a hefty amount left after using it three times so I think I may go a little over the expiration date -- even though that probably isn't the best idea.

The mask smells fresh, the moment you open the tub you can smell the freshness of the herbs, honey, and almonds. It's not that bad but I'm not too keen on the fresh smell.

Also, from keeping the mask in the refrigerator, it's extremely cold when you first apply it which I LOVE. It's so refreshing and nice.

The texture is definitely rough, which I think is because it's packed so tightly and because it's so fresh.

I apply it on my forehead, cheeks, nose, and chin, and then leave it on for about 10-12 minutes. I like to feel as if the mask hardened a little bit to make sure I'm getting the most out of it. Because of the fresh ingredients, this mask doesn't get extremely hard to the point where your face can't move an inch, like the other store bought masks.

After the allotted time, I remove the mask with a wash cloth soaked in warm water, and my skin feels clean. It doesn't feel overly clean but a nice refreshed clean. Like I said, I've used this mask three times... I don't know if I notice a significant difference in the evenness of my skin tone, but I do think it helps deep clean.

I had a lot of breakouts which seemed to be whiteheads and clogged pores and with using this mask, in conjunction with my other skincare routine, I saw a significant decrease and they haven't come back.

I think this face mask has sealed the deal for my love affair with Lush. I need and want everything. I will for sure be going back for more face masks and maybe some more skincare items.

PS: If you're a LUSH addict like I'm quickly becoming, don't forget to save your black tubs because once you have 5 empty tubs, you can bring them back to LUSH and get a free face mask! That is a good deal.

What other products from LUSH do you think I should try?

Being the beauty junkie I am, I know the importance of skincare. The most expensive foundation will look horrible if your skin isn't properly prepped.

I've always been content just washing my face... and even when I started to get into beauty, I was very lazy with my skincare routine. I only stuck to moisturizer, and I would forget to apply it almost everyday.

When I got home from school last year, that's when my beauty love expanded, and I started realizing the world of skincare. Since then, I've been trying lots of skincare products and trying to figure out what works for me -- both from the drugstore & high end.

People always say that you need to pay a lot for skincare, and I do believe that you should invest in skincare, if it works for you. If your holy grail product is from the drugstore, you do you.

I've learned a lot about my skin in the past year, and I've figured out what helps my skin, and what irritates it. Ever since realizing I'm allergic to fragrance, I've had to pay closer attention to what I'm putting on my face, and I know immediately if something is going to irritate my skin.

These are my go-to holy grail items that I've repurchased, or will repurchase. They work for me, and have transformed my skin.



 1. Clarisonic: I've mentioned this lovely little item before but I figured I'd start off with it because it's very important. I will love this baby forever-- it completely changed my skin, and has helped make my complexion better. I was having so many skin issues last year and after a few weeks of using the Clarisonic, I noticed a significant shift. My breakouts were at bay, my skin was smoother, and the little bumps along my cheeks were gone. It's amazing and it's definitely an investment, starting at $99. There are so many different brush heads that you can choose from, depending on what you need or what your skin type is, and you can use any cleanser you please. (My favorite is the Fresh Soy Cleanser which came with it when my mom ordered it from HSN for Christmas) If your skin is having trouble and you don't know where to start, start with this.

2. Murad Renewing Eye Cream: Oh eye creams -- I have the biggest love/hate relationship with them. I have an obsession with under-eye products because of my dark circles and bags, and eye cream is a product I just felt like I needed. I couldn't find one I loved, and I was switching back and forth between a lot, before I had those major under eye issues last year. After that, I only found one eye cream that worked, and it was this one. I got a deluxe sample from Sephora, and I knew Murad wasn't cheap. I didn't think I'd fall in love with it because I've never adored an eye cream before. Boy was I wrong, and when I ran out of the sample I was crushed-- especially because this has a $70 price tag. Well, Murad was having a 20% off, Free Shipping, and 16% cash back on Ebates a few months ago and I took the plunge, ordering the full size. It's very nourishing, moisturizing, and gives a brightening effect. I've seen my under eye circles & bags decrease over the past few months and this eye cream is to what I owe it too!

3. Tarte Eye Brightener: Here we are with another eye cream. I've been wanting to try this FOREVER and then I saw it was included in a little set with the Tarte Maracuja Oil, on sale at Sephora a few months ago. I used this at night until it ran out (and since it was so small, I went through it pretty fast) and this will be my next eye cream purchase after the Murad runs out. This brightened my eyes like no other -- other people eve noticed! My mom looked at me one day and was like "Wow, your face looks different!" I knew then that it was the brightening effect. This didn't irritate my eyes or make them dry, and it was a smooth, silky consistency. Oh I miss it just thinking about it ...

4. LUSH Lip Scrub in Bubblegum: I loved my ELF Lip Exfoliate but when that was finished, I knew I needed a new scrub. I walked into LUSH for the first time, and I got sucked into buying this holy grail item at the register. I knew people on Youtube love & adore this item so I didn't think twice about buying it. I LOVE IT. It's handmade and you can tell it is when you use it. I just take a little bit after brushing my teeth, rub it on my lips, and wipe clean with a towel or washcloth. The bubblegum scent & flavor is a little overpowering so when I repurchase, I'd probably buy a different one, but I will buy this product again. It leaves my lips smooth, soft, and ready for any lipstick!

5. Mario Badescu Rose Water Spray: I've been lusting after this spray for a solid year and finally got my hands on it when I took my random work trip to Chicago back in April! My bottle is more than halfway gone and I'm already planning a trip to Ulta to pick up another one. It's a rose scented mist that has many different purposes; I use it to set my makeup, as a toner after I cleanse my face, and just whenever I feel like my face needs some moisture. It smells amazing but isn't too overpowering, and doesn't cause any irritation. It's perfect -- and only costs $7.

6. Blemish Control Pads by FAB: I talked about these in my July Favorites but they transformed my skin so I needed to mention them again. In May, I started to see little bumps along my cheeks, which I've had before, so I just started using my Clarisonic more regularly. It didn't work. Acne toners, cleansers, and treatments didn't work. Finally, I thought to just browse Sephora's skincare section on the website and I saw this product. First Aid Beauty is one of my favorite brands and after reading these 5 star reviews, I was sold. I ordered them, started using them, and my skin was clear within a few days. I'll never be without these again!

7. Simple Makeup Wipes: I turned to the Simple brand a few months back and it's been a lovely little love affair. Their cleansing make-up wipes are the only ones I will use. They're soft, soothing, and don't irritate my skin. One wipe takes off almost all my make-up and there is no scent. They're perfect & I'll probably never use anything else!

Here are some honorable mentions that I also can't live without: Simple Micellar Water, Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser, Cetaphil Daily Moisturizer 

Shop all my picks below!

I have had this post on my editorial calendar for months, probably since I knew I wanted to try LUSH products and saw that there was a store in my local (45 minutes away) mall.

LUSH Cosmetics is a fantastic company that sells handmade bath and body products. Everything from facial cleansers and masks, to bath bombs and bubble bars, and lip scrubs and balms. Anything you can ever want, LUSH probably has.

The special thing about LUSH is that everything is handmade and shipped fresh to their stores. It's so special that you can't order most of the stuff online (like the facial masks), only in the stores. They also are huge on charitable organizations and are HIGHLY against testing on animals. It's always nice to support a company that has morals.

I've been wanting to try these products since I first heard about them on Youtube; then my sister's best friend started raving about them and I knew I had to get my butt to the mall.

Two weeks ago, I took a shopping trip with my mom, sister, and aunt, and I knew I needed to stop by LUSH.

The store is quite an experience. It was very crowded and smelled incredibly floral. There were so many products and stations set up, I didn't know where to look first but I was in heaven.

I wanted to limit myself to one or two items since I have never used any of it before and didn't know how my skin would react (#sensitiveskinprobs).

I knew I wanted a bath bomb so I went for that station and purchased a Rose Queen. It smelled the best, I had heard great things, and if I'm being incredibly corny, I was crowned the Rose Queen (fraternity sweetheart) of my favorite fraternity my senior year... so I had to get it!

There were too many other products for me to decide what I wanted so I headed to the register. While there, I saw LUSH lip scrubs, which I've heard are fabulous. I have been wanting a lip scrub so badly so I splurged and got the Bubblegum flavored. I wish I had gotten a different scent because it smells and tastes like children's Tylenol but it's tolerable.

Anyways, I used the Rose Queen Bath Bomb this past weekend and I'm officially hooked. I never take baths but I've been converted. These products make any bath better. The bath bomb turned my water pink, released pieces of real roses into the bath, and gave off the most incredible scent. It made my skin stupidly soft and made me smell like literal flowers.

Rose Queen bath bomb!

I want all the LUSH products please!

The lip scrub is also really easy to use. Just rub a little bit onto your lips, wipe off, and bam! instantly soft lips.

I've been on the LUSH website looking for new products to try so I'm prepared when I go back to the store and these are some products I put on my wishlist!

Twilight Bath Bomb Fizzbanger Bath Bomb Amandopondo Bubble Bar Rose Jam Bubbleroon Love Lettuce Face Mask Dreamtime Bath Melt Have you ever tried any LUSH products? What are your favorites? Give me recommendations in the comments!!