Miage Skincare AWAKENED Eye Serum Review

What makes luxury skincare line Miage Skincare special is that they are the first to blend isotonic nutrient delivery, human stem cell science, and micro-molecular formulas.

*Disclaimer: This product was sent to See, Shop, Love! in exchange for an honest review.

Miage's philosophy is to be present with your skin, instead of looking to the past for your optimum complexion. Their stem cell activation works in osmosis (permeating the membrane from high water to low water potential) with your skin to deliver key nutrients capable of awakening the dormant stem cells in your skin.

Their waterless products instead contain their proprietary La Milpa Cactus solution, which establishes an ideal environment for skin stem cells to come alive. The La Milpas Cactus has a nutrient-dense juice that helps health skin thrive.

I tried the AWAKENED Eye Serum from Miage. It is the world's first eye elixir to use isotonic absorption technology, meaning the ingredients have the same concentration of solutes, making it easier to absorb into the skin. This ultra-concentrated solution is waterless, like all of their products, so it doesn't have that unnecessary filler and is instead packed with a concentrated solution.

The La Milpa Cactus Solution matches the natural isotonic conditions of a healthy skin cell, and the isotonic nutrient delivery allows skin cells to effectively absorb vital nutrients in the serum. The serum brightens, smooths, and invigorates the delicate skin around the eyes.

The AWAKENED Eye Serum feels so good on my skin, especially when chilled (I keep mine in my skincare fridge). It has a metal roller applicator, making it easy to apply to the delicate undereye area. The cooling sensation feels amazing, too.

I've only been using the serum for about a month and I haven't noticed any brightening effects, but I will say I love the way this feels on my skin. It absorbs quickly and my skin feels soft and hydrated for hours after application.

• Visit Miage Skincare to browse their full line and purchase

Bottom Line: If you want to invest in luxury skincare, the Miage AWAKENED Eye Serum is a great choice. I especially like that the formula is waterless, as water is often the first ingredient in skincare and is nothing but a filler. This serum feels great on my undereye area and is packed with soothing ingredients.

Fall 2022 FabFitFun Review and $10 Off Coupon

I signed up for an annual FabFitFun subscription and I like that I get my boxes on a faster timeline now (as opposed to being a seasonal subscriber). I added a few extras to my Fall box and love everything!

*Disclaimer: This box was purchased by See, Shop, Love! Post contains referral links.

FabFitFun is my favorite lifestyle subscription box. It's a quarterly subscription that has two payment plans, Seasonal ($54.99 every quarter) or Annual ($199.99 ever year). The prices do not include tax and shipping. A bonus of signing up for the Annual option is the ability to choose your items sooner than Seasonal subscribers, and you can choose an item for all five categories, not just the first three.

FabFitFun also runs Add-On and Box Boost sales that allow you to add more items at discounted prices, and you can also choose extra items from the choice categories for a lower price. I added two items from the Add-On sale, one Box Boost, and one extra item, plus there was a bonus item, so I ended up with 10 total products.

I will say that FabFitFun tends to be skincare-heavy, which is something I love but may not be for everyone. They featured Glossier products this month and I was excited to try them out, since I've heard a lot from the brand but never actually used them.

• Briogeo Scalp Revival Charcoal + Tea Tree Scalp Treatment ($32) - I bought this as a Box Boost item for $7. I have issues with itchy scalp and dandruff and haven't yet found a product that's been able to soothe both (except for shampoo and conditioner). I wanted to get this serum to use in-between washes. I've tried it once and it didn't seem to help, but I'll keep using it to see if it balances out my scalp with time.
• Glossier Balm Dot Calm in Birthday ($12) - When I think of Glossier, I think of this product. I love birthday cake scented items and this one is sweet and delicious. It works nicely as a lip balm, but overall I wasn't crazy impressed because it's essentially a fancy lanolin/petrolatum balm and you can get just as effective ones for cheaper. I added this as an extra item and I think it cost $8.

• Mali & Lili Weekender Bag in Black Abstract ($128) - I already have so many travel bags but I can't resist buying more (and, to be honest, the other items in the category didn't interest me at all). This one is well-made with a removable over-the-shoulder strap. I go to Toronto often for weekend trips and this one is great for carrying around my essentials.

• SOROCI Skincare Organic Rice Soothing Skin Toner ($20) - I bought this for $5 in the Add-On sale because I needed a new toner and the price was great. It looks like it's sold out on FabFitFun site now. It's made with rice embryo and David Elm tree/Ulmus Davidiana root extract to exfoliate and rebalance skin's pH levels.
• Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Pink Juice Moisturizer ($39) - Glow Recipe is another brand I've been meaning to try, and I especially wanted to support them because they're Korean-woman owned (I'm Korean-American). This moisturizer is light and great for summer and also smells really good! Watermelon extract and hyaluronic acid keep skin moisturized without feeling heavy.
• Balance Me Wonder Eye Cream ($30) - I needed a new eye cream so I picked this mostly out of necessity, but it still sounds good. It has hyaluronic acid, cucumber, aloe vera, and chamomile to moisturizer, plump, and cool gentle undereye skin.
• Bausch+Lomb Lumify Eye Drops - This appears to be a bonus item. I do like these eye drops; they work great to battle redness.

• Mighty Patch Invisible+ ($17.99) - This was my second Add-On sale item and I got it for $7.00. I always have these patches on hand for breakouts and they work wonders. I would buy another box in the future anyway, so I was happy to pick these up at such a discounted price.
• Sugarbear Sleep Deep Gummie Vitamins ($29.99) - I take melatonin on occasion when I need help falling asleep so I knew these would be put to good use. They have a yummy berry flavor and also include Vitamin B6, L-Theanine, lemon balm, blue passionflower, valerian root, and 5-hydroxytryptophan extract to help you fall asleep and wake up refreshed. These absolutely knocked me out and let me get a full nights' sleep!

• Epare Mini Vegetable Chopper ($19.95) - Not the sexiest item, but I picked it because it's incredibly functional. I hate chopping onions and garlic and this one will come in handy for those and more when cooking.
• Epare Milk Frother ($24.95) - I've also been meaning to buy a milk frother, so this was an obvious add to my box. It works well to whip up frothy milk for lattes but I also like it because it mixes protein shakes way better than the little balls they include in protein shaker cups.

The overall retail value of my Fall FabFitFun box is $358.88, not including the Lumify sample, for $76.99 ($49.99 for the box plus the extra items I added). 

• Visit FabFunFit to subscribe - Use my link for $10 off your first box

Bottom Line: I'm happy with my Fall FabFitFun box! Having an annual subscription makes the box way more enjoyable because I have more control over what I'll receive. Every item I picked will be put to good use and is great quality.

Artistscent Candle Review

I'm obsessed with candles and I have two shelves full of them in my linen closet, so I'm always on the lookout for new scents to try. Artistscent works with various artists to create candles inspired by their artwork and I was very excited to see what they were all about.

*Disclaimer: This product was sent to See, Shop, Love! in exchange for an honest review. Post contains affiliate links.

Artistscent was born after founder Natalie Kuhles and her husband, John, purchased an original painting by Ohio artist Ursula Brenner. While admiring the painting one day, Natalie imagined what the artwork would smell like, from the artist's perspective.

Artistscent partners with artists to create scented candles featuring their original piece of art. The artwork is permanently screened onto reusable glass vessels that make a beautiful addition to any home. The candles are proudly made in the USA and packaged in eco-friendly boxes that are plastic-free.

I received the Berry Crush candle from artist Elizabeth Karlson's collection. It's scented with notes of sweet berries, orange, peach, and a hint of sugar. Elizabeth states that her inspiration for this work and candle scent comes from when she would pick blackberries in the summer with her mom, which had a beautiful magenta color when first crushed that turned to a purple with blue tint.

The purple and blue artwork is beautifully screen-printed onto the glass vessel. It's a great match for the scent, which I was worried might be too sweet for me, but it actually smells barely sweet when burned -- not too overpowering at all.

The candle is made with a high quality soy wax blend and cotton wicks for an even burn. It weighs in at 297 grams and has a burn time of 55 hours. The wax is free from phthalates, parabens, sulfates, and synthetic dyes and is also cruelty-free. 

I think the candle is beautiful and I love the purple hues on the glass. It's nice that they're reusable once the wax has burned down. I think I'll use it to hold my makeup brushes.

The scent throw is strong enough to fill my living room without being overpowering. It has a sweet scent overall, but I noticed it is less intense once the candle starts burning. It was very strong when I first took it out of the box, which is why I worried it may be too sweet, but the other notes balance everything out.

• Visit the Artistscent website to browse their full line and purchase

Bottom Line: The Artistscent candles are so interesting and I'm interested in trying more scents from other artists, as well as the rest of Elizabeth Karlson's line. I'm impressed by the quality and I think it's great that they work with artists to bring both a visual and scented expression of their art!

Luma & Leaf Clean Beauty Skincare Review

Plant-based products are popping up more and more these days, and these types of ingredients are especially effective in skincare. Luma & Leaf is bringing plant-powered skincare to meet all skin types and needs!

*Disclaimer: These products were sent to See, Shop, Love! in exchange for an honest review.

Luma & Leaf uses a science-backed approach when it comes to formulating their products. Their Greenhouse Blend, one of their specialty concentrations, uses nutritive botanicals to soothe and hydrate. They use clinically studied and proven ingredients, like bakuchiol (a retinol alternative), to craft effective products.

Their products are vegan, sustainably-sourced, made in the USA, and cruelty-free certified by PETA. 

One of the products I got to try was the Relief & Repair Moisturizer, which is a soothing and gentle moisturizer that cools dry skin while improving rough texture and reducing inflammation. It's good for reactive skin types, eczema-prone skin, itchiness and dryness, and inflammation and redness due to wild oats (soothing, anti-inflammatory), niacinamide (retexturizing, protecting), Shea butter (softening, conditioning), and hemp seed oil (moisturizing, balancing). 

I like that the moisturizer comes in an airtight pump, making it easier to dispense the perfect amount and keep the product itself free from bacteria from hands and fingers. It can be used in the morning and at night. I liked that it had a creamy texture and absorbed quickly into my skin. I have redness and issues with oil, so niacinamide is a perfect ingredient for both issues.

The Clear Slate Serum is another great product for oily skin. It helps decrease blemishes while lessening hyperpigmentation with bakuchiol, aloe vera, Centenella Asiatica, and niacinamide.

The ingredients here are a dream for me! Centenella Asiatica (or tiger grass/cica) is one of my all-time favorite ingredients for soothing redness and sensitivity. Niacinamide, as mentioned with the moisturizer, helps to balance out oil production and also works to lighten dark spots. Bakuchiol is a retinol alternative that's great for anti-aging and smoothing, and of course, aloe vera is extremely soothing.

The serum can also be used in both your morning and nighttime skincare routines. It has a silky texture and two pumps were enough for my face. I keep it in my skincare fridge so it feels extra soothing during application!

• Visit Luma & Leaf to browse their full line and purchase
• Luma & Leaf is also available at Anthropologie and Urban Outfitters

Bottom Line: Luma & Leaf has a great line of plant-based skincare! Their products are all affordably priced and I have thoroughly enjoyed using both the Relief & Repair Moisturizer and Clear Slate Serum.