Hi friends, hope you had a great week and a wonderful 4th!  I was out and about shopping last Friday and I found some beauty products I’d love to share with you. I figured I’d start a “beauty finds” post series sharing my thoughts & first impressions, then follow-up in a few weeks to let you know how they work out.

One of my favorite discount stores to shop is Burkes Outlet! They offer a 15% off discount on Fridays so I always check them out to see what deals I find. Here’s what I picked up.

I saw this little kit and it reminded me of the gold infused sheet masks I’ve seen everywhere. It’s infused with gold extract, and is supposed to reduce the appearance of fine lines & wrinkles. It also says it offers “intense hydration to revitalize, smooth and soften your skin.” I have combination skin and occasional Rosacea flair ups on my cheeks. Anything that is soothing and hydrating is a plus for me. I also liked that it came with the silicone applicator.

First Impression:

You can definitely see the gold shimmer in the gel! The applicator helps smooth the gel on mess free, and it’s a nice, light consistency. You just scoop out a little at a time and “paint” it on your face. All together I think I used a quarter sized amount on my face. Once I applied the gel all over it’s not as dark-colored on my skin tone as the woman pictured, but I’m more interested in the benefits and not so much the color.

I started with a fresh clean face and I left the gel on for 10 minutes and then rinsed off with warm water. My face did feel really refreshed and soft after rinsing. I followed up with a small amount of Vaseline sensitive skin moisturizer and headed off to bed. In the morning, I noticed my face was pretty smooth and moisturized. I don’t think any wrinkles went away over night, (lol) but I feel the overall texture of my skin was better.  I give this a thumbs up and will definitely be incorporating this into my skin care routine.

The next product I found was this charcoal tooth polish. It claims to whiten your teeth the natural way with Activated Charcoal. It says, “the charcoal binds to stains on teeth, such as coffee, tea, and wine, to help remove them, leaving teeth whiter and brighter. The antibacterial and anti-fungal properties of Activated Charcoal promote good oral health by helping to fight against cavities, bad breath, and gum disease. It’s naturally abrasive White Clay gently scrubs and polishes teeth while stimulating the gums.”

First Impression:

That’s the charcoal there ready to use. You dip your wet toothbrush into the powder and then brush your teeth and gums the way you normally would with toothpaste.

So…When you start to brush your teeth the charcoal gives off a somewhat unpleasant odor. After about a minute into it, it goes away. Imagine eating a mouthful of Oreos…that is exactly what your teeth look like while brushing them. You get a tiny bit of a warming sensation while brushing and you do feel the grit polishing your teeth.

This can get super messy if you’re not careful. I made sure I leaned down into my sink so there wouldn’t be a big mess. The good thing is, I was able to rinse the sink & my hands with soap and water and there were no stains. The packaging says the charcoal has a peppermint extract in it for freshness which you get a hint of, but I definitely wouldn’t leave the house without brushing with regular toothpaste or using a mouth rinse!

I feel like my teeth looked brighter but it’s too early to tell. I will definitely use this a couple of times a week for the next month and see if it makes a difference.

Lastly, I found this twin pack of Almay eye make-up remover. This was a score because normally one bottle is about 4.99 and I got 2 for the price of one!

It’s oil-free and infused with aloe, cucumber and green tea. It says it’s Dermatologist & Ophthalmologist tested, and safe for contact lens wearers (like me).

First Impression:

My eye make-up came off pretty easily and there was no oily residue after. My eyelids and under eye area feel really moisturized! It smells similar to other eye make up removers and it didn’t irritate my eyes. I really like this eye cleanser and will continue to use it.

That’s it for today. In a few weeks I will do a follow-up post and let you know how these worked for me. Thanks for stopping by to visit. Let me know if you’d like to here more first impressions!

*Also, I just want to add…I am not a Dr. or Beauty Professional. I’m just a gal sharing my thoughts and opinions on products I love and find good deals on. I love reading reviews and hearing other ladies stories about products they use and what works for them.