janie ilona's beauty rants

Olio E Osso Balm Review I had seen them all over skincare/french-esque makeup social media— the shiny, colorful balms from Olio E Osso. However, the idea of a $28 balm made me squirm… I didn’t want to risk not liking them. Eventually, a sale emerged. Or rather, a discount code. Matilda, my favorite beauty content creator and a HUGE inspiration for my blog, came to the rescue. I got two for less than the price of one! I was so pumped.  Olio E Osso Balms are lightweight balms made with a mixture of oils including shea and olive oils. The balms are great for layering— so you can have a sheer wash of color or build up to a translucent colored sheen. However, I can’t speak on the colorless balms, due to the fact that I did not buy any. The balms mositurize and make the lips pretty and glossy, depending on how much you apply.  The first shade I got was No. 8: Persimmon, a beautiful orange-apricot shade, which has been my makeup color mood for the past couple months. I ...

Laneige Eye Mask & Water Bank Moisture Cream Review *Before I begin: Laneige is NOT a cruelty free brand— I was not aware of this before I purchased these products. Laneige is a Korean brand, so the laws and standards of skincare products are different than in the United States, in which they may be required by law to test on animals. I try my best to do my research, but I failed on this account. I wanted to make this clear. I was not aware that this brand may test on animals, but I will finish the products that I have and do not plan on repurchasing.*  Laneige has been a favorite of mine— the Korean skincare that puts moisture, moisturizing, and nourishment above all else. Their Sleeping Mask and Lip Sleeping Mask are some of the best overnight products on the market. But I wanted to try more. Here’s the review.  Laneige Eye Mask: An Allure Best of Beauty Award Winner, the leave-on eye mask is great for moisturizing and de-puffing. Very liquidly— feels li...

Why Vitamin C Serums are That Girl Vitamin C is commonly used in skincare, especially serums. But what does this ingredient actually do? How does it help the skin? According to a dermotologist interviewed by Allure, it is “ a potent antioxidant that can neutralize free radicals”. The article also mentions that the antioxidants fight off free radicals (unstable atoms that cause illness and aging), helping to produce collagen, correct uneven textures wrinkles, and sun damage— and brightens the skin. It’s a bit of a powerhouse, if you couldn’t tell.  In terms of application, that’s where things get a bit tricky. The general consensus seems to be that wearing Vitamin C during the day is the best way to go, considering that it fights sun damage. But it ALSO makes the skin more sensitive to the sun so piling on SPF afterwards is a must. I feel like I’m the only person who wears it at night, but another Allure article validated me— wearing vitamin C at night helps the skin prepare...