February Favorites: Beauty.
Hi Feb! Ruary. Whomp whomp.
Real life: it’s like negative 54 degrees here and we are still hibernating. We’ve ventured out a few more times, I’ve had some work commitments out of the house and some events that required (or, well, warranted) more makeup that the nothing that I’ve been slathering on my face these last two months. I’m feeling more normal! Not totally back at it, but getting there.
I am still loving, like L O V I N G the philosophy fresh cream scent in everything. Everything! I’ve even been layering it a bit with my bond no. 9 in west side and OMG. Heavenly. Share, because I love knowing this – what is your signature scent???
The kenra blow dry spray has been great, even if I only have blown my hair dry a handful of times. It really DOES shorten blow dry time for me. And with how dry my hair has been in the cold? Macadamia deep repair masque. Every single time. Do you have a hair mask/crazy thick conditioner you love? Please tell.
On to this month’s stuff!
My skin has been CRAZY dry, like drier than usual in this freezing weather. Not to mention that sometimes I’ll run out of the house and… forget… to put on some sort of moisturizer let alone SPF. I’m really good about it at night and I’ll use some rose hip oil along with the first aid beauty cream that I love. This past month though I’ve gone back to the glam glow thirstymud hydrating mask – sometimes I’ll even just put it on my cheeks where I’m the driest and let it sit for a while. LOVE THIS STUFF. I know I’ve talked about it before but I definitely think it’s worth it.
Now let’s discuss something sad:
This is what happens when you are trying to carrying 18 thousand beauty products down the stairs to photograph. WAH. It’s the MAC prolongwear concealer that I adore – and while I often only use this in summer because my under eyes can be dry in winter, I’ve been doing something different with it: mixing it with my moisturizer in the morning for a DIY BB cream thing. I first saw that idea on youtube maybe three or four years ago and it’s awesome. I’m currently mixing it with the andalou naturals daytime cream, but I’ve mixed it with others successfully too in the past few years. Sometimes I will ever mix it with my already tinted tarte moisturizer for more coverage.
I just need a new bottle now.
I know I know I KNOW. I’ve mentioned this concealer like a million months in a row but it’s a MIRACLE WORKER! Especially for a new mom who is lucky to get two or three consecutive hours of sleep. However – this is the brightener shade, the one that is pink. I first used this one a few years ago but had since just been using the lightest shade of concealer. Well. Now I’m using this pink one and holy brightening! It’s wonderful. Some days it is all I will wear out of the house. Other days, I mix it with the lightest shade of the concealer.
So so good.
And oldie but goodie: MAC satin taupe. For some reason, this product is always a no-fail for me. On the days I’ve done a bit more with my eyes, this gives them definition while still looking natural and not like OMG-I’m-a-new-mom-and-trying-way-too-hard. I also really love how it looks on my green eyes. It’s one eyeshadow that I’ve actually gone through completely and repurchased a few times, like urban decay’s sin.
Ooooh something new. And exciting. I’ve eyed the dior healthy glow blush for awhile now and bit the bullet with a sephora giftcard after Christmas. I’m crazy over anything cool-toned pink (you know this by now) and was completely sold by the whole “healthy glow” and “look alive” claims. I am such a sucker for tarte blushes, with those and MAC being the only ones I’ve used for a few years – so I was skeptical about this. I also don’t think I have any other dior makeup aside from the rose lip gloss?
Anyhoo, long story long, this is FAB. Love it. I am very pale with pink undertones and I like how it works on my skintone. It says that it should work on all skin tones, but I’m not so sure. Have you tried this? Love it? Hate it? On a the regular, I will use this, the age rewind concealer, mascara and BROWS.
Yep yep. Done.
Here’s another thing I always talk about but I am the biggest advocate for this very overpriced lip balm. I’ve tried the dupes and can’t find anything that heals my lips like the sugar advanced therapy. The real reason I’m mentioning it AGAIN though? Because, um… Eddie is now in love with it. Like he is using up all of mine. He grabbed it one night a month or so ago when he couldn’t find his Burt’s Bees and now he is hooked. It’s often a love or hate product but… I’m a lover.
New try for me: burt’s bees lip shimmer! In strawberry, of course. Since I can’t stop kissing my baby’s chubby cheeks, I haven’t worn much lipstick. Like at all. This is easy to put on and easy to take off and falls right in to my perfect cool pink category…
I find it at Target. Of course. With everything else that I don’t need but definitely need.
Polish obsessions right now? Anything nude or pastel (I know, I’m so behind the trends), like essie’s urban jungle. Since I am pale it takes a thorough search to find a pastel that looks okay with my skin. Love this.
Also, trying to bring in summer with the formula x in danger zone. Has there ever been a more ME color?! Unfortunately I think this shade may be discontinued. What is wrong with them?
I think this is the third month in a row that I am loving on some soap and glory products. This smoothie breakfast scrub is ridiculous – it smells incredible and is so rich and luxurious for a scrub. It says that it smells like maple… but I don’t love maple and I love this scent. This is very close to my favorite tree hut sugar scrubs. It makes your shower… delicious?
Okay okay, this is new to me and I am in severe lust. A few weeks ago I asked for bubble bath recommendations. I’ve never been a bath person – ever – but we have a wonderful jacuzzi tub and combined with my lack of sleep and complete exhaustion, a bubble bath in a jet tub has sounded wonderful. I bought this origins ginger float cream bubble bath and it.is.amazing. Smells wonderful, isn’t TOO bubbly, makes the water feel soft and moisturizing and lovely.
I am now a bath convert. For sure.
And just because it’s the best for hair when you never (ahem) have time to shower: my favorite batiste! I will never stop loving it. As a refresher for how I use it with dark hair: I hold it far from my roots and spray a few times, then run my hands through my hair and scalp like crazy to distribute it. This way, it doesn’t leave a white cast. Yes, I have tried the dark hair version but it always leaves flakes on my face?
And it doesn’t smell near as good, which is the most important part of course.
You know the drill! Tell me your faves. What new things have you bought? I need to live vicariously through you. Desperately.
{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 “February Favorites: Beauty.”
I’ve been waiting for this month’s beauty favorites because I wanted to warn you not to buy the Tarte chubby lip stains. They’re technically called ‘Lipsurgence Matte Lip Tint’ and they’re these chubby sticks that look so easy to apply. Well, every time I wear it (I bought the color ‘envy’), it disappears from the center of my mouth and makes me look like I’m only wearing a fat coat of lipliner. AND THEN, it sinks into the lines on my lips. I mean, I’m only 30, do I really have wrinkles on my lips already? God maybe I do. Anyway, you have made me a total Tarte lover, but I just wanted to warn you not to buy that one product! I’m wondering if the non-matte versions are better, but I’m too scared to try.
I switched from the Tarte BB tinted moisturizer to the full coverage foundation just for winter, and love it! I’ll probably go back to the tinted moisturizer for summer, but when you need a little more coverage, their product is great.
Thanks for doing these round-ups :)
oh boo!! that totally sucks. thank you for the heads up. :)
I used to be a devout Batiste user until I found Pantene’s Blowout Extend Dry Shampoo. It is amazing at keeping my hair looking fresh, but I have also found that it doesn’t leave nearly as much white cast behind. You have to spray A LOT of it to get white cast, and i have dark brown hair. I swear by this stuff!
i have to try this!!
I am in seriously lust with the Elizabeth and James Nirvana – Black…. its so delicious – my boyfriend even bought me a replacement rollerball when I ran out!
I’m also a huge lover of Nars Orgasm blush (like every other woman), but it really is the perfect colour for my skin tone..
I recently got a Tokyo Milk Dark Salted Caramel lip balm… so delicious! I do find it hydrates too, which is what matters….
Oh and Nars Matte Lip Pencil in Cruella… its the perfect red. I love it !
Do you use your rose hip oil first then the first aid beauty cream at night? I have argan oil but I basically stopped using it when I got the first aid beauty stuff because I didn’t know if I should use them together or not!
i do! a very light application, just pat it into my skin. let it sit for a few minutes, then use the cream!
I’m really loving my Bite Agave Lip Mask in Champagne. I bought the regular/plain color last year, used it every single day and it lasted me for 9 whole months! I love it. I’m also loving Make Up For Ever’s HD foundation (finding the right shade is crucial though) and using Buxom’s Goddess Luminizer to highlight–it’s the most gorgeous combination (I use it above my eyebrow arch, below my arch, on my nose, right above my upper lip and on my cheekbones–it’s subtle but makes a difference). Last but not least, I’m loving Josie Maran’s Black Argan Oil mascara. I was going to try Too Faced’s Better Than Sex mascara but went with Josie’s instead and I’m really happy with it! It’s not too clumpy, the wand really hugs my lashes, and it’s dark and gorgeous. Also comes off super easily with her cleanser!
oh i’ve been wondering about that mascara!
I love your product round ups!! I bought the trio of the Glam Glow products and love them all. If you haven’t tried the white or black jars, you should- they are great! The white one gets all the scary stuff off your skin and the black one is a great in shower exfoliator. My favorite under eye concealer currently is the Nars one- i have very fair skin and bad circles and it seems to help a lot. I have the Lush bath bombs that I haven’t tried yet, can’t wait! Also, currently loving blue nail polish after watching the Bachelorette– like Essie’s Bouncer It’s Me!!
LOVE the white glam glow too. it sucks everything out of my face, including moisture though, haha.
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I bought that Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Concealer based on your recommendations and holy wow!! It’s amazing. I barely wear any makeup (just moisturizer and mascara to make my blond eyelashes show up), but I also have very pale skin and the dark circles under my eyes just POP out. This stuff is so easy to use and the difference in my appearance is startling. I LOVE IT!! Thank you for the amazing recommendation.
I like Suave Professionals Keratin Infusion Dry Shampoo – it’s really inexpensive, but it works and smells nice (much better than their original dry shampoo – in fact my partner tells me I smell nice every time I put it on and I laugh to myself – yup that’s the smell of not showering :). I have reddish hair so I’m not sure if it would work as well on dark hair, but as long as I don’t go crazy with it, I don’t get the white cast.
I am obsessed with all things Bond No. 9! LOVE that you use West Side. I just got a new bottle of Queens and it is alllllll kinds of wonderful!
I feel like we use all the same beauty products, haha. Absolutely love batiste, the Maybelline brightener, satin taupe is amazing, and I just cannot get enough Glam Glow in my life.
So I am obsessed with these posts (and the baby ones!!) – I bought the Age Rewind on your recommendation as well and now I have all three shades (neutralizer, brightener, concealer) and am so impressed! You also got me hooked on Tarte blushes. Gah, the addiction is real.
I have very curly hair that I’m trying to grow out for my wedding.. the Fekkai Hair Repair treatment not only works super well to moisturize but also smells AMAZING. I’m using it daily on my ends. Obsessed!!!
can you even believe I’ve had a Sephora and Ulta giftcard since Christmas and have yet to even think of spending them?! WHO AM I?! I am going to go order that Sugar advanced therapy right now for my dry-dinosaur-lips. So thanks for the inspiration :D
Dry shampoo for the win! Batise is definitely the best of the best in my opinion.
http://www.ohmyleopard.com
For dry skin (my cheeks especially) fresh Seaberry oil is a MUST. I use it morning & night under the caudalie moisturizer with the green cap.
I’m going to give the MAC satin taupe a try. It looks beautiful, and easy to apply for those days when I should have gotten up earlier…
My absolute favorite scent is Cleopatra by Tocca. I love the standard bottle but they also have it in a rollerball if you want to be a bit more subtle with it!
I was wondering where you get your Soap and Glory products? Do you order them or are you just luck enough to come across them on the shelves?
Yes to the Glam Glow mask! I tried a sample from Sephora and I fell in love. I can’t quite pay for the full size one, but I convince them to give me a sample each time ;)
That Soap & Glory scrub sounds divine! Exfoliating during this season is a lie saver.
M.
Nars highlighting blush in albatross, MAC prolongwear eye shadows in hot paprika and uninterrupted. Albatross is so so pretty, it is ridiculous. And the shadows are definitely more warm-toned, but gorgeous. I use uninterrupted as a transition color along with soft brown. And ugh, I don’t know what it is, but it is amazing. :)
Oh my gosh soap and glory is totally my thing – it smells SO GOOD!
I need to get my paws on that blush ASAP. And I want to try GlamGlow but i’m worried it will be almost TOO hydrating for my skin since I’m so oily… HELP!
try the white glam glow!!! you will LOVE it.
I love Bond No. 9 Scent of Peace. That is definitely my scent
Love all the products you mentioned except I haven’t tried the concealer so I will have to check it out
The only thing that has been keeping my skin from totally drying out this month is Aquaphor! At night, I wear it on top of my (already super thick) moisturizer. I’ve even been putting a thin layer on during the day as if I’m going skiing, instead of just bracing the NYC winter.
Thanks for the ginger bubble bath recommendation. I’m not much of a bath person…but i LOVE ginger!
I bought the Sugar Advanced Therapy and was underwhelmed by it. It’s fine, and I’ll use it up, but probably won’t buy again since it’s so pricey. There’s got to be something in between the 99c Chapstick and $25 Fresh. Burts Bees is going to be my next experiment.
However, I also bought the Maybelline concealer this month and I’m LOVING it. Today, as an experiment, I put that under one eye and Nars concealer on the other and by 3:30 I can proudly say that I can’t tell a single difference.
I have a huuuuuuuge shipment in the works from Ulta. I bought UD Sin single. I have Naked2, but I just needed Sin added to my collection after seeing you rave about it last month. I’m stoked!
i bet burts bees will be the winner!! i constantly cart a burts bees around with me everywhere, mainly because i don’t want to lose the pricey fresh balm.
First of all, I remember you had said you wanted to try the Miley Cyrus Viva Glam lipstick from MAC.. Well, I got it a couple weeks ago and LOVE LOVE LOVE it!! I didn’t get the gloss because they were out but I have a feeling it would be too glittery anyway. The lipstick is a perfect bright pink and goes on smooth and creamy and stays put for like ever. You MUST get it! Oh! and they have a lipliner that goes with it perfectly called Talking Points. New fragrance for me has been NEST Indigo in a rollerball. I love it so much that I think I need the spray too.
i absolutely am DYING to try it!! maybe i’ll just order it along with a new concealer.
UGH what I would give to have that scrub and a WARM FREAKIN’ SHOWER right now. That sounds like a dream. (My town is without water thanks to the freezing temps, hooray.)
I use the Glam Glow mud mask and LOVE IT. And of course, the Age Rewind concealer is a fave. It’s okay to dote on it every month. It’s just that good. :)
xx
Jenny // Mish Mosh Makeup
I have been making my own dry shampoo for dark hair out of cornstarch, cocoa powder, and a little cinnamon. It works perfectly and I smell like a mexican hot chocolate! :)
um omg that sounds dreamy!
Becky-
How do you apply it?
I look forward to this post every single month!
Hair mask/crazy thick conditioner I love… Evo “The Great Hydrator” http://us.evohair.com/collections/hair/products/the-great-hydrator-moisture-mask
aaaaammmmaaaazzingggg. I have notoriously dry, curly hair and have tried (what feels like) hundreds of treatments (including the macadamia mask). Just bought this a couple of weeks ago and I am in love. It’s an Aussie company and their products are free of all the “bad stuff”.
Ohh I’m so sorry about your concealer!! lovely post though <3
https://aspoonfulofnature.wordpress.com/
Ooh, I’ve heard great things about Satin Taupe. I’m eyeing it for my next MAC eyeshadow. I also want to try the Fresh lip balm! I’m sorry about your concealer though. =(
Anyhow, my signature scent for the past year has been Fresh’s ‘Citron de Vigne’. It’s so fresh (go figure) and lovely!
Mandy | http://www.mandydreams.com
I’m obsessed with Citron de Vigne! I’ve been wearing it for about 4 years and have gone through so many bottles. Have you tried Fresh Life? It’s still citrusy but a bit sweeter.
Jessica, I love your beauty posts! It’s motivated me to try so many new products including the macadamia deep masque (I thought it was ok), the maybelline concealer (awesome but switched to benefit erase paste excuse it offers more coverage) and tarte blush ( already a huge fan of the cheek stain and LOVE the blush). And um, I’m pretty sure I’ve had satin taupe since high school (late 90s!!). Thank you for doing this every month!
Okay so I am late to the game and hope you still see this, but I get SO many compliments on my scent I just have to share. It’s by Clean and it’s called Skin. Even though I feel like a total weirdo telling people when they ask what I’m wearing, “Clean Skin” because it sounds like something a serial killer would say, the scent is to DIE and it really, seriously lasts. I have a few rollerball ones of it and I like to put it on scarves and gloves and coats and things that I re-wear a lot and the scent stays forever.
Also, dying over the brand-new Ultra brand highlighter in pink beach or something like that, and the NYX contour stick in universal.
i agree with the commenter on the tarte lip crayon things. a bit underwhelming and the colors turn on me : (
I LOVE michael kors perfumes. i love tuberrose and so i think thats why i love MK so much !
Lately ive been having dry skin too and have cut back on lots of things and just doing bare bones cetaphil, basic lotion, and some basic Rx products from my derm. My cheeks have been so dry my blush looks so ridic but if i use to much moisturizer i am getting blemishes. yep – dry skin + blemishes + wrinkles = BLAH.
I did get a tarte blush and like it and have been using lancome hypnose with the tapered brush (not sure the version of hypnose) but really like it. i just ordered some batiste and cant wait to use it. i was using pantene and no likey. i have to try out some soap and glory products ! loooooove these posts !!!
I love Glam Glow! If you haven’t tried the Glam Glow under eye mud treatment, you should! It is super hydrating
I always get excited for these posts. I need a shopping trip now!
I do, too!!! I seek these out! I have purchased SO MANY things that she has posted about!
That dry shampoo was my saviour when I had straight hair. I have curly hair naturally and used to try and push washing it for an extra day and this would come in super handy! I also recommend highly.
Jess X
chasinglifeandme.blogspot.co.uk
I love the breakfast scrub!! It´s amazing product. I have to use it more often :)
I am really curious about the Maybelline concealer, have to buy it asap
Poor concealer! The same thing almost happened to mine this past week. I don”t know what would have been worse…the clean up or it breaking.
My newest favorite beauty product is a perfume called Hello by Harvey Prince. I received a sample in my Birchbox this month and I am obsessed. So much so that I’ve already purchased a full size bottle! I think it’s only exclusive to Birchbox but it is definitely worth checking out!
Every time I read your favs I remember I should buy the miracle eraser – and then forget – this time I’m doing it!
Also, with an eclectic mama-brain, my thought process as I was reading this was “Oh, we go on vacation next week, I should look at travel size products” (No more frigid PA!) and thru random links, found this….http://www.amazon.com/Knicker-Sticker-pcs-Garment-Guard/dp/B00FP6L5QW/ref=sr_1_1?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1425043364&sr=1-1 – you’re all welcome!
I am going to have to try that Soap and Glory scrub, it sounds amazing! I have been trying to go more natural with my beauty routine and this month I am loving Heritage Rosewater spray under my moisturizer, and also Haus of Gloi’s hair oil for protecting my hair from the cold and dry air!!
*sheds a sympathetic tear for your concealer*
I just went to Ulta and spent entirely too much money to get the little hot pink makeup bag full of ‘freebies’, which I am no longer sure qualify for the name. But I did love the bag, so there’s that.
While there, I picked up the trial size Benefit They’re Real Duo- I love the mascara for its lengthening capacity! (But only in the trial size. That tube dries out perfectly and I can use the whole thing; the full size version dried up at the open end and then stayed wet and gloppy after I pushed through the crust.)
But. The duo’s other half was a trial size They’re Real Push Up liner. LOVE IT. And I am not usually a liner person at all.
And I’m just about out of my MAC shadow in All That Glitters. When I reload I am totally going to pick up a Satin Taupe as well. Thanks for the recs! Us pasty, green-eyed girls have to stick together!
It’s not new, hip or trendy…but I’ve used Lancome’s Dual Finish for a million years and it’s amazing. It’s a powder and/or a foundation. You can use it dry or wet. It gives great coverage. You can go lighter or heavier with it. I have pretty good skin so it’s my quick and only foundation on most days and then I’ll use it as my powder over a liquid foundation. I couldn’t do without it.
I’m a new fan of Tarte blush. Loving it and I swear I’ve been using it for a couple of months and yet it doesn’t look like I’ve put a dent in it. I guess it either has more pigment or the color is denser within the pressed powder? i don’t know, but I love it and the color stays with me.
I need to pick a dry shampoo to have on hand. I’ll be checking into Batiste and Pantene based on this post. I will say though…the cornstarch cocoa DIY works in a pinch…
And…I must try the Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Concealer…putting on the list now…
AH – I thought dry skin under eyes was just me. What concealer do you use in the winter?
the maybelline age rewind above!
Speaking of Macadamia deep repair masque, I use the oil spray by the same brand, esp on frayed ends. Works AWESOME!
I would like to see some of these products on your face :)
Also, this is my fav hairspray and is worth every penny. A few sprays is all you need and you can’t even tell you’re wearing anything. https://www.birchbox.com/shop/number-4-non-aerosol-hairspray
I also tried the new Fit Me foundations (forgot the brand) but I’m loving it!
I have to try that Dior blush! Love color. We have pretty similar skin– very fair with pink undertones, very dry in the winter.
I’ve settled into something of a routine with makeup lately, but two purchases I am LOVING are Benefit’s Ooh La Lift eye brightener (never used a brightener before because under eye circles have never been an issue, but now I’m a convert. LOVE how it makes that area look!) and Dior’s Diorshow Black Out Waterproof mascara.
Dying to purchase the Naked on the Run palette for travel!
LOVE these posts! It’s so silly but I literally get excited when it’s time for your beauty faves. I adore fresh cream too — especially in the winter. My signature scent is (almost) anything philosophy. Love Baby Grace right now (although they discontinued it — grrrr) but I also love the fresh cream (of course), amazing grace, pure grace, and summer grace in the summer. Unconditional love is yummy too.
Sidenote: I don’t normally splurge to this extent, but if you want to try the best mascara EVER, try Chanel. My favorite used to be Lancôme but Chanel just blew them out of the water.
Love reading your posts and seeing photos of your gorgeous baby!!
Have a great day!
thank you!! it makes me so happy that you get excited!
Mac’s Satin Taupe is my favoriteeeee eye shadow! I have been using that for years! So perfect for a night out.
My latest new fave is Jack Black’s Intense Therapy Lip Balm in Black Tea and Blackberry. It’s rather thick but not gloppy, and it’s still there in the morning if I put some on at bedtime. I’m constantly fighting dehydration because of some rxs I take, and my lips used to dry out & crack or peel regularly, even when I used Aquaphor. But I haven’t had one dry lip day since buying the JB Lip Balm 3 weeks ago. That’s HUGE. It comes in four other flavors as well- SPF 25, and is only $7.50 a tube on Amazon. Seriously, if you are plagued with dry lips, give it a go. Also, if you’re looking for a sub for the Formula X nail polish, Covergirl’s Outlast Stay Brilliant Nail Polish #250 (My Papaya) is a very close match. Zoya also has a few (Wendy and Elodie). Cheers!
i’ve always heard amazing things about jack black! may need to try.
My favorite scent is Voluspa’s Mokara. I found it at my facialist’s place. It’s a room and body spray so my biggest complaint is that it doesn’t last long enough on my body. Smells amazzzzzzzzzzzing!
I have really been loving my konjac sponge! I bought the Boscia Konjac Cleansing Sponge with Deep Hydrating Clay at Sephora. I have a Clarisonic but this helps if you have sensitive skin. I can use it everyday twice a day. It has helped get rid of blackheads and my skin feels amazing. I want to try different brands. I have used it with Philosophy Purity and a new Avalon Organics Cleanser I found on sale. I love it!!! I highly recommend giving it a try!
i have been eyeing those sponges for MONTHS!! need to try for sure.
I am not looking, my husband won’t let me. Ha. I do so love the Fresh lip therapy. That stuff is the overpriced best.