Continue that summer glow with Valentia Pure Glow Brightening Moisturizer

*DISCLAIMER - Item sent by company for the purposes of testing/reviewing.  All words are 100% my own unless noted.  I am not being financially compensated for this post.**POWERED BRANDBACKER*

This summer, I was lucky enough to spend quite a bit of time outdoors and this led to my first tan in years.  I had forgotten what it was like to look healthy and bronze.  Now, don't get me wrong, I've got melanin, I know.  But I am always on the lighter shade of things so it was a change for me.  With that tan, I was a rocking a pretty sweet glow that I am was afraid of losing with the autumn here and winter just around the corner.  Thankfully, Valentia stepped in with their Pure Glow Brightening Moisturizer and took care of any concern I had!

Let's get to the details...
Pure Glow Brightening Moisturizer comes in a 4.0fl.oz/120ml dark glass bottle with a pump dispenser.  This moisturizer retails for $25.00 USD.  Moisturizer can be purchased through Amazon HERE.

From Valentia.com...
"Packed with brightening power, this moisturizer helps to lighten pigmentation marks and enhance the radiance of your overall complexion.  With energizing antioxidants like Ginseng and Kojic Acid to control melanin production, dark spots are faded and collagen production is enhanced, revealing firmer more even skin.  Skin moisture is replenished is protected with Botanical Hyaluronic Acid, Safflower and Shea Butter.  Tired and Dull looking skin is restored to unveil a healthier, more vibrant glow." - Valentia

The Pure Glow Brightening Moisturizer is a lightweight yet moisturizing lotion that leaves skin with a radiant glow.  I was surprised because at first pump, the lotion itself seems very basic.  Once blended into the skin, you start to feel how soft and plump the skin becomes.  The lotion is very fast absorbing and leaves no trace of film afterward.  It is softly scented but the smell starts to fade soon after application.  I find that this plays well with my current multi-step facial routine.  This does brighten and make skin glow.  The feeling of moisture lasts for a huge chunk of the day and in areas where I normally get oily when introducing a new cream, I have minimal oil production.  After the first 2 weeks, I noticed a bit of fading on some of my darker spots.  I even used this cream down my neck, decolletage and arms and it has been a godsend on my arms (I suffer from keratosis pilaris) and this has smoothed them quite a bit.

Valentia keeps knocking them out of the park and cannot wait to see what they release next!

Things to remember and check out..!

Valentia is Cruelty Free.

Learn more about their products here

Follow them on Facebook here

Follow them on Instagram HERE

*DISCLAIMER - Item sent by company for the purposes of testing/reviewing.  All words are 100% my own unless noted.  I am not being financially compensated for this post.*

About Face - the basic ins and outs of my skin

So...before we even start, there will be faces of my naked skin, no filters, no creams, potions or lotions.  Just freshly washed skin.

I've wanted to do this post for such a long time.  First, because I am deep in the throws of a skincare obsession that shows no signs of waning.  And secondly, because I review makeup, I wear it and I need to get better about posting FOTD's, but it would be nice to show you what I am working with.  I am hoping that this goes far in helping someone that may share some similarities with me.

Alright, here we go...

Tanned against my will, freshly washed face, no product

So here is my mugshot.  I recently helped a friend move coming on a week now.  I was much paler before this and now am toasty brown.  Anymore sun and I will definitely be hitting brownie status.  But here we are...lets go down the list of exactly what nature is throwing my way!

*dark circles (horrible sleep schedule that I keep)
*hyperpigmentation (Im sure getting sun the other day didnt help, but I've been getting kind of impatient with pimples and bumps recently, so I have been picking more than I usually do)
*fine lines under the eyes (yup, its starting...but hey, I laugh and smile, sue me.  It shows!)
*texture (bumps all over the place!  I try to keep this in check and though I won some battles, I have not won the war yet :( )
*dryness - another war I have not won yet...moisturizers galore and exfoliation to boot and I have yet to find something that will kill the dryness monster altogether!
*oiliness - don't get me started.  Your typical combo-oily gal, T-zone oily poster child...here I am!

Issues, I haz them

Let's start from the beginning...as a teenager, I was lucky enough (thanks mom and dad) that I did not have a traumatic experience with teenage acne.  Mom started me on Noxema cream from a very early age, that and okay, yeah, I let her pick my face.  I attribute the condition of my skin then to those two things.  Slightly oily in the tzone, normal everywhere else, I had no trouble with any makeup or skincare I decided to add to my routine.  I state confidently that I had normal, not in the slightest sensitive, great skin.  This followed throughout my 20's, with hormonal acne taking a bigger bite out of my face, but nothing I could not handle.  Then came my late 20's to early 30's....and here is where it got ... weird.

Texture and peach fuzz galore!

In my 30's, my skin changed quite a bit.  Gone were the days where I could slather whatever lotion or foundation I could get my hands on and not experience any changes with my skin.  I started to experience sensitivities that I had not in my younger years.  Redness around my nose, dry patches on cheeks, forehead, and corners of mouth, hyperpigmentation, texture that I could not exfoliate off, increased pore size, fine lines (which I expected though).  I am sure there are a myriad of other details but hey, I'm sensitive :p.

I am hoping this gives you a good look into my specific makeup and helps you and I track what future skincare works or doesn't.  You may have my issues, maybe more, maybe less, but let's see if we can't get to a much more improved state together!  I decided to take a break from a lot of the previous skincare I was using to cleanse my skin and also to introduce new products.

You guys will see all the new things I am obsessing over soon :)

Let's start this journey...shall we?

xo, D

Moisture and radiance with Valentia's Royal Rose Hydrating Serum - review

*DISCLAIMER - Item sent by company for the purposes of testing/reviewing.  I am not being financially compensated for this post.  All words and opinions are 100% my own.*

As Spring is about to make its entrance...we leave behind the layers of clothing, sweaters, boots, etc.  But there are some who also like to make a complete switch of their skincare routine to something a little lighter.  Well, here's another option from Valentia to help hydrate your skin with the help of the lightest serum!

Valentia Royal Rose Hydrating Serum

 Valentia Royal Rose Serum aims to hydrate and nourish your skin naturally.  Let's check out some specs first...
1.18 fl.oz/35 ml of serum contained within a glass bottle with pump dispenser
Sturdy packaging and easy to press pump
retails for $35.00 USD

"Royal Rose Hydrating Serum - a lightweight serum that boosts moisture and resilience while soothing and calming the skin.  This hydrating and nourishing serum will deeply moisturize skin, provide antioxidant protection, soothe and nourish dry skin, smooth skin tone and texture and boost skin radiance.

Specially selected ingredients work together to achieve optimal results:
Rose Damascena - One of the most nourishing and skin friendly natural oils, providing balance, moisture and a variety of vitamins and minerals to the skin.

Niacinamide (vitamin B) - This potent vitamin has been clinically proven to fade away hyperpigmentation, sun spots, acne.

Rosehip Seed Oil - Naturally rich in vitamins C & A, these essential fatty acids work quickly to lock in skin's moisture.

Evening Primrose Oil - Provides light, non-oily moisture to the skin, never clogging or irritating the skin.

Bearberry - Reduces melanin production, thereby lightening the skin, revealing a brighter complexion.

Lavender - Heals the skin, treating pimples, wounds and sores." - Valentia

Royal Rose Hydrating Serum - ingredients

I am in the process of researching the ingredients that are currently in my skincare routine so that I have a more thorough knowledge of which ingredients may be causing a flare up, or that my skin just does not react well with.  If you type "skin ingredients database" into Google, you will find a few.

Royal Rose Hydrating Serum texture

The texture of this serum is fantastic.  An opaque liquid, once blended into the skin, turns into a clear and very lightweight, very slippy texture.  What's really amazing is that this light serum moisturizes as heavily as it does.  It absorbs quickly into the skin and leaves behind not a shred of a film and skin looks and feels bouncy and fresh!  As I introduced this into a pretty lengthy and involved skincare routine, it was nice to see that it played nicely with my other items!  No changes, piling, etc.  This is pretty heavily scented like roses, do note that it does wear away and you are left with a subtle rose scent after dissipation.  Those that are really sensitive to scents may want to note that.

Freshly moisturized and feeling awesome!

Once applied to the skin, again, skin drinks it in without any film left on the skin.  I have forgotten primer and applied my makeup base over just this and it works wonderfully.  It has not oxidized my concealer or foundation.  It instantly hydrates and over the time frame of a month, I have noticed dark spots due to acne scarring fade slightly, which is a huge plus!  Perfect hydration for the spring into summer months!

To learn more about the Royal Rose Hydrating Serum and other awesome Valentia products, go HERE.

To purchase Royal Rose Hydrating Serum, visit amazon HERE.

Happy skincare, everyone!


*DISCLAIMER - Item sent by company for the purposes of testing/reviewing.  I am not being financially compensated for this post.  All words and opinions are 100% my own.*