Beauty Gifts 101: First Aid Beauty & Palermo Body
Now that most of my gift guide posts are doneso (minus candles!!), we can move onto more important shit aka talking about the actual presents 😏 I discussed a LOT of gift sets in my haul or not posts and have picked a select few to focus on in individual posts. If only I had the time, energy, and cash to try out and review every single gift set! Because of the short time frame of the holiday season, I won't be doing dedicated review posts of any of the sets I don't like/ wouldn't recommend. The ones that I did try I briefly reviewed in the anti-haul sections of my makeup, skincare, and everything else beauty haul or not posts.
Disclosure: I recieved both the sets in this post as PR!
As someone with perpetually dry skin and occasional eczema flare-ups, I have a lot of thick balms and creams. This is one of my favorites not only because it works well, but because it's such a good value! It comes with six whopping ounces of rich, delicious cream. I also like that it sinks in quickly and I don't have to worry about it transferring to my clothes. My most common rough/ dry patches pop up on my elbows and knees, areas that are usually covered with clothing in the winter.
I'll also use this on my nose when I have a cold and the skin in that area is peeling from the constant rubbing.
These pads were my intro to chemical exfoliation. Even though I've probably tried more than half a dozen different exfoliating pads since then, these are still the gentlest I've tried. I've used these on a daily basis in the past and didn't damage my moisture barrier. They're alcohol-free and instead include soothing ingredients like cucumber extract and aloe juice.
Unless my skin is very sensitized, I don't find these to sting at all. They're also generously soaked! If you really want to maximize the $$ spent, you could cut them in half and use one half at a time. That way instead of 60 pads you get yourself 120. I also like to soak the leftover liquid at the end of the jar with my own cotton pads and make DIY exfoliating pads.
I'll admit this isn't the most exciting cleanser out there; my least favorite part is probably the scent. It's an embodiment of the word "blah." But boring doesn't equal bad. This cleanser is gentle and effectively cleanses my skin without stripping it or leaving behind a film. I think I've gone through at least 2 minis through the years.
$28.00 value
Out of everything in the set, this is the item I've tried the list. It's one of First Aid Beauty's newest releases from their FAB to go line. But so far so good! It's quite glowy and helps prevent foundation and concealer from clinging to dry spots and healing acne scabs and scars.
I have way too many lip balms but this has quickly climbed the ranks as one of my favorites. My lips are often on the verge of peeling and I'm also sipping on water/ coffee/ tea/ every 10 minutes-- the combination means most lip balms disappear within 30 minutes leading to frequent reapplication. This is one of those that quickly hydrates my lips so I don't have to worry about it rubbing away and reapplying it constantly. It also has a large angled plastic applicator that makes it easy to apply. I was bummed I was almost done with my La Roche-Posay Cicaplast lip balm I bought in Canada but I think this might be even better!
Palermo Body Me-Time Kit
$68.00 available via Palermo Body
I talked a bit about this kit and Palermo Body as a brand on my Instagram story this weekend but the short story even shorter is I'm a passionate fan! The brand is Brooklyn based and they hand make all their products locally. If you follow them on Instagram you can see them making their products, visiting local trade shows, and collaborating with other Indie beauty brands. If you've ever wondered what the behind the scenes at a quickly growing Indie beauty brand looks like-- give 'em a follow on Instagram!
This set was curated the brand's founder and includes some of her favorite products from other indie beauty brands. As you might have guessed from the name, the inspiration behind the kit is a treat yo self kinda night-- a slap on a mask, give yourself a mani, and light a candle kinda night. I'm sure you could come up with a whole list of people who would enjoy such a night 😉
$36.00 value
While I used to be an ardent clay mask user in the past, I've gotten pickier and pickier with them. My biggest issue with clay masks is that they dry up in the jar before I'm able to use them all up. Then I learned about loose clay masks and my world was changed.
You can customize the consistency of this mask by controlling how much water you mix with it. The best part is that the shelf is so much longer and you don't have to worry about it drying it out! I've had mine for at least 6 months and it's still going strong even though I may have accidentally spilled a drop or two of water in there...
My favorite way to use this mask is to mix it in with some water and a dropper full of rosehip oil. I love the scent of this mask and it overrides the stinky fish scent of the Ordinary's rosehip oil. The combo makes for a smooth mask that smooths my skin out without drying it out. Plus it's awesome for scaring the living daylights out of people!
I've been wearing this polish for a grand total of 2 days so I can't say much about how well it lasts. It was easy to apply and has a jelly-like formula. The first coat was quite sheer and you could see my nail ends but with two coats it was almost opaque. I LOVE the color. It's not something I would have personally picked out because I've been burned too much by similar shades-- they're almost always too milky and sheer and look horrible with my skintone. This shade is perfect, especially the jelly finish. I did use a quick drying top coat but the polish dried pretty quickly by itself.
Sundays is another local NYC brand-- they've got their own nail studio! Their formulas are all 10 free and are also non-toxic, cruelty-free, and vegan. One thing I really appreciate is that they focus on social responsibility not only for their clients but their workers as well. I remember reading some article last year about the horrors that nail salon workers in NYC face and it made me wary of getting my nails done (... not that I get them done frequently anyways.)
This candle is described as having a "modern blend of apple, cassis, and guava with notes of fig and pear." My plebian description is that it's sweet in a fruity sorta way but I like their words better! It had a nice throw even before I burned it, and it smelled even better once lit.
The wick looks like a thick piece of wood, I've never seen anything like it before! The perk of that is you don't have to worry about a wandering wick. The candle itself is sustainable, is 100% soy-based, and is hand-poured in small batches the brand's own studio in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
& They Lived Happily Ever After
Well, this is awkward. I have nothing to write in this outro. Thanks for reading...?
Disclosure: I recieved both the sets in this post as PR!
One of my favorite things about FAB as a brand is their reliability. You won't find any glittery gimmicks here 🙃 They've released a few well thought out new releases in 2017 including their skin tint (probably my favorite base product of the year) and their newer ginger turmeric jelly mask (need!) This set features 4 full sized items plus a travel-sized facial cleanser. I honestly think this kit would be pretty much perfect for anyone, any age, any gender, any skin type. All the products in this kit are gentle and effective in their formulations. There is a primer in here, but honestly, you could just use it as a moisturizer.
I didn't realize it until I took photos for this post, but this set is packaged like a boxed book set! I'm a packaging nut and little details like that are always appreciated.
I didn't realize it until I took photos for this post, but this set is packaged like a boxed book set! I'm a packaging nut and little details like that are always appreciated.
Ultra Repair Cream- Full Size
$30.00 valueAs someone with perpetually dry skin and occasional eczema flare-ups, I have a lot of thick balms and creams. This is one of my favorites not only because it works well, but because it's such a good value! It comes with six whopping ounces of rich, delicious cream. I also like that it sinks in quickly and I don't have to worry about it transferring to my clothes. My most common rough/ dry patches pop up on my elbows and knees, areas that are usually covered with clothing in the winter.
I'll also use this on my nose when I have a cold and the skin in that area is peeling from the constant rubbing.
Facial Radiance Pads - Full Size 60 pads
$30.00 valueThese pads were my intro to chemical exfoliation. Even though I've probably tried more than half a dozen different exfoliating pads since then, these are still the gentlest I've tried. I've used these on a daily basis in the past and didn't damage my moisture barrier. They're alcohol-free and instead include soothing ingredients like cucumber extract and aloe juice.
Unless my skin is very sensitized, I don't find these to sting at all. They're also generously soaked! If you really want to maximize the $$ spent, you could cut them in half and use one half at a time. That way instead of 60 pads you get yourself 120. I also like to soak the leftover liquid at the end of the jar with my own cotton pads and make DIY exfoliating pads.
Pure Skin Face Cleanser- Travel Size
$10.00 valueI'll admit this isn't the most exciting cleanser out there; my least favorite part is probably the scent. It's an embodiment of the word "blah." But boring doesn't equal bad. This cleanser is gentle and effectively cleanses my skin without stripping it or leaving behind a film. I think I've gone through at least 2 minis through the years.
Hello FAB Coconut Skin Smoothie Priming Moisturizer- Full Size
$28.00 valueOut of everything in the set, this is the item I've tried the list. It's one of First Aid Beauty's newest releases from their FAB to go line. But so far so good! It's quite glowy and helps prevent foundation and concealer from clinging to dry spots and healing acne scabs and scars.
Ultra Repair Lip Therapy- Full Size
$12.00 valueI have way too many lip balms but this has quickly climbed the ranks as one of my favorites. My lips are often on the verge of peeling and I'm also sipping on water/ coffee/ tea/ every 10 minutes-- the combination means most lip balms disappear within 30 minutes leading to frequent reapplication. This is one of those that quickly hydrates my lips so I don't have to worry about it rubbing away and reapplying it constantly. It also has a large angled plastic applicator that makes it easy to apply. I was bummed I was almost done with my La Roche-Posay Cicaplast lip balm I bought in Canada but I think this might be even better!
Palermo Body Me-Time Kit
$68.00 available via Palermo Body
I talked a bit about this kit and Palermo Body as a brand on my Instagram story this weekend but the short story even shorter is I'm a passionate fan! The brand is Brooklyn based and they hand make all their products locally. If you follow them on Instagram you can see them making their products, visiting local trade shows, and collaborating with other Indie beauty brands. If you've ever wondered what the behind the scenes at a quickly growing Indie beauty brand looks like-- give 'em a follow on Instagram!
This set was curated the brand's founder and includes some of her favorite products from other indie beauty brands. As you might have guessed from the name, the inspiration behind the kit is a treat yo self kinda night-- a slap on a mask, give yourself a mani, and light a candle kinda night. I'm sure you could come up with a whole list of people who would enjoy such a night 😉
Vitamin C Facial Mask - Pink Clay + Rosehip
$36.00 valueWhile I used to be an ardent clay mask user in the past, I've gotten pickier and pickier with them. My biggest issue with clay masks is that they dry up in the jar before I'm able to use them all up. Then I learned about loose clay masks and my world was changed.
You can customize the consistency of this mask by controlling how much water you mix with it. The best part is that the shelf is so much longer and you don't have to worry about it drying it out! I've had mine for at least 6 months and it's still going strong even though I may have accidentally spilled a drop or two of water in there...
My favorite way to use this mask is to mix it in with some water and a dropper full of rosehip oil. I love the scent of this mask and it overrides the stinky fish scent of the Ordinary's rosehip oil. The combo makes for a smooth mask that smooths my skin out without drying it out. Plus it's awesome for scaring the living daylights out of people!
Sundays Nail Studio 10-Free Nail Polish - No.49
$18.00 valueI've been wearing this polish for a grand total of 2 days so I can't say much about how well it lasts. It was easy to apply and has a jelly-like formula. The first coat was quite sheer and you could see my nail ends but with two coats it was almost opaque. I LOVE the color. It's not something I would have personally picked out because I've been burned too much by similar shades-- they're almost always too milky and sheer and look horrible with my skintone. This shade is perfect, especially the jelly finish. I did use a quick drying top coat but the polish dried pretty quickly by itself.
Sundays is another local NYC brand-- they've got their own nail studio! Their formulas are all 10 free and are also non-toxic, cruelty-free, and vegan. One thing I really appreciate is that they focus on social responsibility not only for their clients but their workers as well. I remember reading some article last year about the horrors that nail salon workers in NYC face and it made me wary of getting my nails done (... not that I get them done frequently anyways.)
Simply Curated Travel Candle - Guava Fig
$14.00 valueThis candle is described as having a "modern blend of apple, cassis, and guava with notes of fig and pear." My plebian description is that it's sweet in a fruity sorta way but I like their words better! It had a nice throw even before I burned it, and it smelled even better once lit.
The wick looks like a thick piece of wood, I've never seen anything like it before! The perk of that is you don't have to worry about a wandering wick. The candle itself is sustainable, is 100% soy-based, and is hand-poured in small batches the brand's own studio in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
& They Lived Happily Ever After
Well, this is awkward. I have nothing to write in this outro. Thanks for reading...?
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