Sunday, April 29, 2012

Super Brightening Activator

When Rae touted this as the best toner she had ever used, it jumped straight to the top of my wishlist. 
Super by Dr. Nicholas Perricone was a brand that was briefly introduced to Sephora stores but has since been removed from their shelves. Enter people like me, who take advantage of the discounted prices as Sephora rids their stock of this product line. 

The line centers around "superfoods", all natural foods that each have their own benefits to the skin. The key ingredient in this brightening activator are the carotenoids in melon, antioxidants that help protect the skin from environmental stress. 

The product is meant to exfoliate the pores and then deliver a dose of antioxidants, active ingredients, and hydration, prepping the skin for moisturizers and treatments. 
It is basically an amped up, amazing toner and I really love it. When you put this on your face it has a serious tingling sensation, which gives me an idiotic sense of fulfillment. Nothing says exfoliation like a good tingle on the skin. 
Most of the toners that I have used in the past tended to leave my skin slightly dry and tight. Now that my skin is on the drier side, I really appreciate how this activator keeps my skin feeling soft and hydrated. I think that adding this step in my routine has helped my skincare products sink in, and has made a difference in the overall quality of my skin. 
It does have a strange smell, but nothing could be worse than the tequila scented witch hazel toner that I once purchased and had to toss. The packaging is great and one pump on a cotton ball is all I need to cover my face. 

I think the activators are definitely the standout products of the super line. Besides the brightening activator, there are other ones that are described by equally desirable traits - moisturizing, clarifying, and firming - all of which, I would like to try. It is expensive at full price, but I have been able to find it discounted on Amazon several times. 

If you're looking for a good toner, I hope you give this one a try =). 

~Vida

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Currently...

Loving this ring from Brandy and Melville. All the benefits of a three-finger ring, without actually being one. 

Testing out this new shampoo by Burt's Bees. The "very volumizing" part definitely sucked me in. 

Excited to wear this cute bikini bottom from Zara in the summer.

Obsessed with the bright colored denim trend. These jeans from Zara are an affordable way to try out the trend.

Loving any iced green tea drink. This frappe was delicious!

I didn't take too many pictures from my San Francisco trip, but I will try to post some soon! 
Hope you're all doing well,

~Vida

Friday, April 6, 2012

Shirt...Dress

Shirt - American Apparel; Black body con dress - Forever21; Belt - Zara; Purse - Zara; Shoes - Asos
Two outfit posts in a row! You all know how much I like my makeup, but recently I haven't made any makeup purchases and instead have been playing around with my wardrobe. 
I have Zara to thank for that - all their new spring collections are to die for and have really sparked my interest in fashion again. And this weather just makes me want to dress up and roam around the city. 

I bought this polka dot chiffon shirt from American Apparel a while ago, and wore it once. Just when I was about to dismiss it as one of those things brought on by my inner fashionista, but never to be worn in real life, I found the perfect way to wear it. 
This shirt is borderline "grandma" on the rack, which is probably why I was so intimidated to wear it out. But, it is so long and drapey that it makes a great shirt dress when belted. It is super sheer, so something needs to be worn underneath - a tight body con dress is perfect. 
The buttons are my favorite part and I love doing them all the way up.

I'm leaving to San Francisco tomorrow to visit my bestie, Nisha! So expect posts on that next week =)
Hope you are all having a wonderful day! 

~Vida

Monday, April 2, 2012

Zara Fringed Mini

I spotted this fringe mini skirt while waiting on the ginormous fitting room line at Zara the other day. It is everything that I had ever wanted from a fringed skirt - incorporating the trend without being overly obnoxious. I've been on a "bottoms" kick and this may be my new favorite thing in my wardrobe. It has all the perks of a tight black mini skirt, but in my opinion, is much more flattering. 
Most of all I love the way it moves.
The skirt has built-in hot shorts underneath which, seemed a little strange at first, but the comfort it provides is happily welcomed. Even though this is a semi-bold piece for me, I think I'll be wearing it often, especially because it is surprisingly versatile. 
My nail polish is essie's status symbol - a favorite for spring/summer. The purse is an old topshop one that I wore for some added color. 
Thank you for reading =)
Happy spring! 

~Vida