April Favorites: Beauty.
Hey hey end of April!
I loved this month. It was fast and I think it even snowed but I still loved it nonetheless.
A bunch of you have asked to see where I keep my makeup but I don’t have anything special. I keep almost everything in one of those train cases you can get at ulta (think a newer caboodles!) and mine is about ten years old and falling apart. I have a makeup bag (you can see it here) that has my everyday products in it, and I rotate the things in there. I keep eyeshadow palettes stacked under my sink next to the train case and keep lip glosses/sticks in a little basket there too. The train case holds all single eyeshadows (mostly MAC & urban decay), blushes (a couple tarte & MAC), liners, powders, brushes, etc – everything! We have little to no cabinet space in our bathroom so I can’t hoard as much as I’d like.
Let’s talk about face stuff. After all those months of waiting for the Josie Maran moisturizer to be reformulated, I bought it last month and totally HATE it. It’s insanely sticky. I’ve given it three weeks of use and it’s crap. I can barely move it on my face, it’s that thick and sticky. Makes no sense. I’ve read some reviews saying the new version seems more moisturizing but I do not agree. It’s like I’m wiping glue into my skin. I can surely keep it on hand for sunscreen emergencies, but there is no way I can use it as a daily moisturizer. Which means I’m still looking for one, preferably without tons of junk in it. Since it’s something I wear on my face all day everyday, I’d like to keep it as simple as possible. With sunscreen, of course.
I’m still using the beauty booster serum that I talked about last month and am l-o-v-i-n-g it. My skin isn’t quite as dry but I’m sure that’s due to the weather. Sooo below is what I’ve really been reaching for all month.
Speaking of sunscreen, remember this sun bum stick I bought last summer? It’s almost finished now but it’s been perfect for late afternoon walks. I keep it in my kitchen and come mid day if I venture out on a little walk, it’s perfect to add some quick sunscreen to my face since it’s been hours since I applied moisturizer. Plus, it smells like wonderful fruity bananas or something. I adore it. Also perfect to keep in my purse. Definitely going to get another one of these this year. I find mine at Ulta.
Another little sunscreen I grabbed was this Shiseido 50+ at Sephora. This is actually a mini bottle (the 1 ounce) so again, fits perfectly in my purse. The consistency of this stuff is awesome. It’s not greasy by any means and some days I could probably get away with using it as moisturizer. They have larger versions too, but I doubt I’ll grab one of those since they are pretty pricey. I like the neutrogena sport face SPF 70 too, which costs much less.
Lip things! Still love on the NYX butter gloss. I like this because I don’t even need a mirror to apply it and it smells like cake. I want to eat it up. Yeah yeah, I sound like a broken record.
Last month I bought a bite beauty cashmere lip cream in moscato. It happens to be super close color-wise to MAC’s candy yum-yum, which is one of my all-time favorite lip colors and one I’ve lost. I’m sure it’s stashed in a pocket or purse somewhere but I haven’t been able to find it for months. The texture of this lip cream is awesome – it’s not totally matte but it’s close. It is still moisturizing though too. And gorgeously bright and wonderful. LOVE. I want more of these.
I also got one of the bite beauty matte creme lip crayons and this one is in kumquat. Again, so super smooth and not drying at all. These kind of remind me of the revlon matte balm stains, but the bite beauty versions are supposedly “better” for you – like food grade ingredients. This color is perfect for spring and summer and doesn’t quite match the other two revlon matte balms I have. Really like these things.
I know I’ve mentioned this MAC paint pot quite a bit, but it’s easily my favorite shade. I’m not completely nuts over these paint pots because I feel like they dry out quickly (I actually like the maybelline color tattoos better), but this matte shade in stormy pink is so pretty. It’s a pinkish/purplish/grey shade and is awesome underneath the naked 3 palette…
Which brings me to my next favorite. Last month I had whipped out my naked 2 palette but I think I can say for certain that my choice out of the three would be this third one. I love these shades with my green eyes. For everyday, I get a lot more use out of the first seven shades, but I also use the other half quite a bit too. This was just MADE for me.
Mascara loves of the month are loreal voluminous in carbon black and maybelline the falsies flared. I’m pretty much done buying expensive mascaras because I love these two so much – unless we are talking about the purple and burgundy versions of YSL fauxcils because those… I flip over.
Sometimes I mix these two, sometimes I wear them alone, it just depends. I find that there are days when I prefer one over the other but it’s never set in stone. Both work on my super stubby lashes.
Another oldie but goodie is my milk chocolate soleil bronzer. I KNOW. I won’t shut up about it. Perfect shade, smells like chocolate. There is nothing else to be said. If you have fair skin, you need this.
This blush is one of my only estee lauder products and I bought it last spring. I think that I love it so much because it reminds me of something I’d have in the 90s. Actually, it’s so 80s. This is the gelee blush in tease and is the prettiest shade of shimmery pink. As long as my eye makeup is fairly natural, this adds a pretty glow to the cheeks. But if I have a ton of eye makeup on? Then I look like 1987.
Still working through my little high beam sample and loving it. I have checked out all the other shades of benefit’s highlighters and this is easily my favorite. I actually can’t find another liquid/cream highlighter that I like as much. And I only use a few drops on my cheeks. This.lasts.forever.
If you follow me on instagram, then these nail choices should come as no surprise. These two shades are from butter london’s spring collection last year – fruit machine and molly coddled. They are just the perfect radiant orchid-like colors. I’m a sucker for those.
I’m also still really liking the the nirvana white elizabeth and james fragrance. I wore the black a good bit in winter but this seems more springy to me. Definitely a change from my usual, but it smells like heaven.
For the first time in 1.5 years, I’m talking about something different in hair! You know I’m obsessed with the macadamia oil deep repair masque (and I still am), but I saw this alba mask in whole foods a few weeks ago and grabbed it. It was much cheaper than the macadamia one and I tend to love alba products. I’ve used it about five times so far and I’m really liking it. I’m currently out of my macadamia tub, but I want to compare them on consecutive days and see which I prefer.
And this one smells delicious too.
And talking about good enough to eat: desert essence coconut lotion. GAH. This stuff. Sometimes whole foods has it on sale and that’s when I’ll grab it. I’ve used multiple bottles of this stuff over the years and never get over how delicious it smells. I think I like the scent better than the trader joe’s coconut body butter. Adore. My creme de corps is almost finished so I’m alternating between this and the estee lauder bronze goddess I talked about last month.
That’s a wrap for this month. Let me know what you’re loving! I’m eyeing that too faced chocolate bar eye palette but I sooooo do not need another eye palette. I have all the naked palettes and a few more on top of that. It’s so not necessary. Trying not to cave. What are you freaking over? Please tell me you have a fantastic daytime moisturizer you love.
{as usual, none of this is sponsored and all of these products were purchased by me. i am not affiliated with any of the companies above, nor do i accept free products. just love to talk about what i like, makeup junkie to makeup junkie. there are a few amazon affiliate links above. thank you for being here!}
94 Comments on “April Favorites: Beauty.”
You HAVE to try Revision Intellishade tinted moisturizer!! It is 45 SPF. I have annoyingly dry skin and this stuff makes my face feel like it died and went to smooth satiny heaven. It’s a little pricey for only 1.7 ounces but it really lasts a long time. I bought my last tube in January and still have 1/2 left and I use it every.single.day. Definitely must try!
You can get the Too Faced Chocolate Bar palette on hsn.com for only $29 right now with coupon code “20newspring” ! It’s a good way to justify buying it….. :)
oh no… justification!
Have you tried these?!? I wanted something in the orchid trend and I am OBSESSED with this. It’s a glossy stain so its not super drying and you can later it for a more intense color. I just wish they weren’t $35 since I want to but like ten.
i haven’t tried them, but i always see them and am very intrigued!
Oops try this. ASAP.
http://m.sephora.com/rouge-pur-couture-vernis-a-levres-glossy-stain-rebel-nudes-P381177?skuId=1511492
I am old (65) with reasonably fair, extremely fine and sensitive skin. Some months ago I tried an anti-dandruff shampoo to try to deal with my dry scalp but it made the skin on my face flake off. Like I had really bad sunburn. Very disconcerting. So I got some lanolin which is ultra sticky, smells awful and is horrible to use but it saved my face. And once it was back to normal I switched to a cheap as chips Nivea moisturiser for dry/sensitive skin which i think is brilliant. I am allergic to Estee Lauder, Clinique and Clarins and I am not game to spend big $ trying any more expensive brands so when a friend (who is loaded) told me she used the Nivea stuff and even gave me my first tube, I was hooked. Maybe you should give it a go as well with your fair dry skin. And you might save some $ to spend on edible goodies. LOL.
Have you tried Naturopathica products? They are simple, gentle and smell amazing (not quite as good as lush products smell, but still great)! I use the Lavender Protective Cream, SPF 30 daily. Works really well as a moisturizer. Here’s the link! http://www.naturopathica.com/skin_care/113-lavender_protective_cream_spf_30
Best moisturizer ever. Feels like swimming in a pool with the cool water on your face! ha Only down sides are that it’s not cheap and no SPF.
http://www.sephora.com/product/productDetail.jsp?keyword=PHILOSOPHY%20Take%20A%20Deep%20Breath%20Oil-Free%20Energizing%20Oxygen%20Gel%20Cream%20Moisturizer%20P311182&skuId=1417260&productId=P311182&_requestid=37817
Sometimes I get lucky and find the Shisheido sunscreen products at my local Marshall’s. I love them and check every time I’m there!
oh i will have to look!
I was in love with the Josie Maran moisturizer too and was so bummed when they reformulated. I recently found Elta MD UV Physical facial sunscreen and have been using it as a daytime moisturizer. LOVE IT. I got the lightly tinted version and wear it under the Josie powder foundation. It’s cheapest on Amazon so check there first!
I am so upset the reformulated Josie Maran is not the same! I hadn’t gotten the new one yet, so thanks for the heads up.
I started using First Aid Beauty 5-in-1 Face Cream this winter because my skin was getting so dry and I love it! It’s super lightweight, has no fragrance and it has SPF 30.
http://www.firstaidbeauty.com/categories/shop-by-product/moisturizers/5in1facecream.html
I always have been (and likely always will be) a Clinique Superdefense girl… it has tons of SPF, is nice and lightweight, and comes in different formulations for your skin type. I used to work for Clinique so I got it free all the time, but the fact that I actually buy it now with what little money i have really says something.
ALSO – they make a new eye cream with SPF! I’m super fair and need all the help I can get. (I’m also gerascophobic, so anything that can help me keep wrinkles away is my best friend.) I bought it but haven’t tried it yet, since Spring seems very reluctant to show up here in CT – I am super excited to try it, though.
If you want something more natural, I’m also a huge fan of Origins skin care – their A Perfect World line is amazing and they offer a daytime moisturizer with SPF now, too. I want to try it so bad!! But how many different products does one person really need?? Lol
Juice beauty makes a great organic daily moisturizer with SPF. Definitely worth a try and you can usually find it at whole foods!
Coola Matte Tinted Sunscreen is a great option for a daily face moisturizer! I just started using it and am in <3
Love that Nars palette. Definitely going to have to pick that up. This month’s list is great!
I can really recommend Clarins for moisturizers. It doesn’t dry out my skin and they have one with a wake up booster (and SPF). Win/Win! :)
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