To stick with my 2017 health goal, I have created a bedtime ritual to help me relax. One of the biggest things I struggle with is stress management. Between work, the blog, and life it can be tough to unwind. Taking a bath several days a week has made a world of a difference.

When I take a bath, I typically add in some bath salts and light a candle. If I’m feeling extra fancy I’ll have some wine. Then I use the following Pixi products:

Bedtime Ritual with Pixi Beauty

1. Nourishing Cleansing Balm. This balm is made with sweet almond oil and is Paraben free, keeping the skins natural oils intact. It also removes makeup and is formulated for all skin types. However, I found that it’s not great for oily skin since it’s super hydrating. It left my skin feeling greasy.
2. Glow Tonic is a classic astringent that cleanses pores and exfoliates. It’s gentle and is suitable for all skin types. I’ve only used this toner a couple of times, and am curious if my skin will look and feel more smooth like product claims.
3. Rose Oil Blend. With just a few drops it will help improve your skin’s elasticity and glow. For extra hydration, you can mix with your daily moisturizer. Ingredients include sweet almond, rosehip, jojoba, pomegranate seed, and rose geranium. I’m obsessed with the smell.

📷’s by Luba Kochubey Portraits

If I’m applying these products during the day, I’ll also use:

1. Beauty Blush Duo (light/pastel). A blush and highlighter in one. Great for the girl on the go. This set hydrates while staying put and is light-diffusing. Use the included kabuki brush to buff the pink shade onto the apples of your cheeks. Then apply the highlighter to the high points of your cheekbones, brow bones, and down the center of your nose for some extra glow. The color palette is beautiful and super easy to use. Since the powder is hydrating, it’s not ideal for oily skin. After a few hours, my skin looked oily.
2. Liplift Max (Honey Sheen). This pretty gloss is a lip plumper that hydrates and also looks pretty. It’s a great dupe for the Charlotte Tilbury Lip Lustre (Ibiza Nights). Love the shimmery translucent color. It can be worn on its own or layered over your favorite lipstick.

What helps you get a restful sleep? Share your tips in the comments.

See my other Pixi Reviews:  (1) Capture Your Natural Beauty with Pixi  (2) The No Makeup Look with Pixi by Petra

*Pixi by Petra provided me with these products, but all opinions are my own.

📷’s by  Luba Kochubey Portraits

I recently became a brand ambassador for Pixi by Petra beauty. So expect to see monthly product reviews from this brand. I didn’t realize you could shop Pixi at Target. It’s such a great company and I love their mission “simply to bring out the natural beauty in all women – to make women look like themselves, only better.” I have since purchased the translucent powder, which is great for face baking and comparable to high-end options such as Tarte Amazonian clay pressed setting powder, but at a better price point.

This Month’s Pixi by Petra Products

1. Lengthy Fiber Mascara I received this mascara in my previous shipment. If you’re looking for a fiber mascara this is a great option. Your lashes will look super long and full. As mentioned before, be careful, as you don’t want to over do it and look like a furry animal.
2. Endless Brown Gel (medium) I recently got into taking better care of my brows and am obsessed with the Anastasia Beverly Hills eyebrow pencil. So I was disappointed that I didn’t receive the pencil in black. After reading the reviews on the Pixi site, the overall verdict is that the application is nice and easy to use if you can get the color to match. However, once you have to sharpen the pencil, it was a unanimous fail. All the reviews mention how the pencil is hard to sharpen and it is left unusable when you do.
3. Endless Silky Eye Pencil I was excited to receive this one since I just ran out of my usual eyeliner and am looking for something new, one that doesn’t bleed. This liner claims to be waterproof, long-wearing, no-smudge, no-budge. Sounds like a dream. First off I love the consistency, it’s so smooth and goes on like butter. It stays on all day but still bleeds a bit, but for $12 I’ll definitely be picking up the black option. This pencil is better than most I’ve tried.
4. Shea Butter Lip Balm (Ripe Raspberry) I love the idea of treating your lips while simultaneously applying color. I am super picky when it comes to lip balms and I hate anything sticky. This is not sticky and the color is beautiful. It’s super pigmented and leaves my lips with a bright raspberry hue and provides great moisture to my lips. I am excited to try the other colors.

*Pixi by Petra provided me with these products, but all opinions are my own.

📷’s by  Luba Kochubey Portraits

If you’ve been reading this blog for a while, you might know that I’m obsessed with mascara and voluptuous lashes. I’ve even contemplated lash extensions but can’t get past the hefty price tag and maintenance.

I recently had the opportunity to try Pixi’s four-part mascara application. This seems a bit much for daily use, but the end results are decent.

Step 1 – Prime & Protect

You can use the Black Lacquer Lash Primer as a base coat before mascara, afterward to set mascara, or by itself for a natural tinted look. I chose to use it as a base coat. The color of the primer is black. This makes applying mascara simple. You won’t need to spend time covering up the color like you do with white primers.

When I first tested this product, I applied two coats and the texture of the primer became crunchy. This made it hard for the mascara to take in step 2. One coat was sufficient for me.

Step 2 – Waterproof & Lift

The Lash Booster Mascara is meant to add volume with a “push-up” effect. The formula is smudge-free and waterproof. My lashes definitely looked voluminous after applying. Love it!

Step 3 – Lengthen & Tint

Fiber mascaras are interesting since you can actually see the fibers (they look like hair!). The Lengthy Fiber Mascara defines and lengthens. My lashes are long already, so I used it sparingly. I don’t want to look like a spider.

Step 4 – Define & Detail

The Lower Lash Mascara is water resistant and formulated for sensitive eyes. I did notice that the formula bled throughout the day and my eyes felt itchy, though it does do a good job of coating the lashes.

All of these products in tandem are hard to remove. My normal cleanser didn’t cut it. I recommend using makeup remover to get rid of any black residue.

Keep in mind that all of these products can be used on their own. You can also go the traditional route and use their Large Lash Mascara. Be sure to check out Pixi online or at Target.

*Pixi provided me with these products, but all opinions are my own.