April Favorites: Beauty.
Can I be insanely cliche and predictable for a moment?
HOW HECK IS IT THE END OF APRIL. ?????
UGH.
I’m seriously freaking out that it is (almost) May already. It’s scary.
Anyway, let’s talk makeup! It’s only my favorite day of the month. And I’m being totally truthful. This is my absolute favorite day because I like discussing makeup-y things with other beauty obsessed people. I have a couple repeats this month which may be annoying, but honestly… they are my favorites and this is what I use. It’s not like I just pick stuff out to put in these posts. This is allllll what’s going down on my face.
Let’s get to it.
First up, lipglass! You might remember that I have major love affair with MAC dazzleglass, but long before those came out I was hooked on their lipglass, as I’m sure many of you were. The above is one of my all-time favorite pinks. This is actually my second tube, which speaks volumes if you’re a lipgloss person, but I flew through my first one last summer. It’s so pretty-pinky-coraly and I just adore it. It’s the Nicki lipglass and it’s always in my purse. It’s actually sort of similar to a NYX butter gloss I mentioned a few months ago (which I still ADORE) but this one is much more opaque. The NYX ones are a bit more sheer.
Okay. Next. This is sort of a funny story. Well, not really. So – I am totally not a lip stain girl. I actually HATE when my lips are stained, mainly because in the past any sort of “stain” has been translated to your lips being hot pink for eons. I also actually love to reapply gloss or lipstick – heck, even change colors throughout the day. I mean, I can never make up my mind. A few months ago, Jessica introduced me to these revlon kissable balm stains and even gave me one for my birthday. While I liked them, I still couldn’t get behind the whole stain (even though these mostly stain in the color they show) and set them aside. But… I used it earlier this month and decided I liked it. So much so that I had to go and buy a few more colors – these are (from top to bottom) darling, charm and cherish.
OMG. After getting these ones, I became freakishly obsessed. I am in love with them, and even more so? I’m in love with LAYERING them! I will mix two different ones and use combos of the three above, plus the first one I had (which is in honey). I still sometimes use gloss on top and I still find that I reapply the heck out of them, but I can’t get enough. These shades are so perfect for spring and summer.
I am also not a lipliner girl but this color is perfect for defining my lips when using these colors and not looking like a crazy person.
Since you’ve listened to me whine about how incredible the Korres Jasmine lip butter is for the last four months, I was super excited to get the little squeeze tube of the same product in a gift set. It doesn’t seem to have the milky wash of color that the tub does, but it still smells the same (aka perfect) and feels like heaven on your lips. If you don’t like dipping your finger into the original tub, this is a win.
Cheek stuff! This is another sample that I’ve had for ages. To be frank, I don’t really like Benefit products. I think they can be sort of hype-y. I REALLY loved them back in high school and wanted everything they put out, so maybe that is why I am not as enthralled these days? There are a couple of blushes that I have and like, but other than that, I’m not a huge fan. Yes, that includes the They’re Real mascara. Don’t like it. It does nothing for me. BUT. Since I’m hooked on coral, this cha cha tint is becoming my best friend. I really have learned to love cream blush (I talked about one of my other favorites in February) and while this is a bit more liquidly, I love how it blends. It’s definitely not as scary as it looks in the photo. It’s super fun! I think it would also look even better on darker skin tones.
And yes, I’m still faithful to my favorite tarte blushes. I’ve mentioned these both before but if I’m in a rush (or just if I… want them), these colors are my go-tos. The one of the left is exposed, which I think will always be in my makeup bag. The right shade is tipsy and is so much fun for this time of year. Again, it’s not scary. I adore it. I love these things.
While on the topic of blushes, I want to smash my entire face into this brush. Holy crap, it is so flippin’ soft. I don’t necessarily use it for blush all the time – sometimes for powder or even bronzer or something, but it is SO FLUFFY. It is by real techniques and I get it at Ulta. It is much cheaper than any brush from MAC and feels like a darn cloud on your face.
Moving on to eyes… yeah, still losing it over the naked basics palette. It’s still strange for this color lover but it’s perfect. I have no other words. Except: adore.
Buuuut… I still can’t let go of all color. As you can tell, these babies are well loved. From the right, these are MAC talent pool (which I think was limited edition or something but it is YEARS old), trax and steamy. Three of my all-time faves and colors I clearly use constantly. I always reach for these, even if it’s to use a liner brush and put them on my lower lash line with natural shadow on top.
And to continue my pigment infatuation from last month: I know I shared a bunch of (old) favorites, but this is a new one I picked up because I LOST MY MIND OVER THE COLOR. It’s MAC steel blue and the pics don’t even do it justice. In all my old MAC gift sets, there was only one blue pigment and it was such a dark navy that it almost appeared black. I just love this so much. And I’ll probably have it for, like, ten plus years.
Oh oh oh!! Oh my gosh. I am also really excited about this. You guys know I love my 24/7 liners (when urban decay released the liner vault earlier this month it took everything in me not to purchase a $300 box full of eyeliner), but brown is never a color I gravitate towards. HOWEVER. This shade, underground, is such a cool brown. It’s almost like… what’s the word… metallic like? Chromographic? I have no idea but it’s not just plain old brown. If you go to Ulta or Sephora and try it on your hand that move it around, you’ll totally see what I mean. It changes shades in the light!
Since I haven’t mentioned mascara since January, I thought I’d update you on what I’m using. I’m still gung ho about loreal voluminous carbon black, but I tend to combine it with this maybelline falsies flared. I actually don’t know why I didn’t mention the latter back in January – I’ve been using it for probably six months and I feel like it separates my lashes (which are short, stubby and nonexistent, hence why I always wear fakes which prob makes it worse) while lengthening too. I’m all about length – I could care less about volume. So I like the combo of the two – I’ll start with the maybelline one and finish with loreal.
I’m also still using and adoring my YSL color mascaras but those obviously aren’t everyday. Unless your name is Jessica…
Okay. I can’t believe I’m even talking about this product. For two reasons: one, because it’s foundation and two, because it’s cover girl. Ew, I know, I’m such a makeup snob. I admit it. I mean, I will use practically EVERY BRAND out there before settling on cover girl. Just a mental block, I guess. I was proved wrong though…
I don’t want to sound like a broken record, but I’ve talked about how I loathe foundation and just hate having stuff on my face. It’s gotten a little better since I started using the beauty blender last year and I’ve tried out a handful of foundations just to see how they look. If I take my time, I usually tend to LOVE how my skin looks with them – just so even and flawless. Up until now, my favorite has been this YSL le teint touche eclat. That being said, I only wear it MAYBE once a week. Remember… I work from home and don’t have a life.
The only reason I purchased the above was because all the you tube girls I love were talking about it being so great. I figured since it was fairly cheap that I would give it a shot, and I had actually self-tanned my face and needed something a bit darker that usual anyway. OHMYWORD. I’ve only worn it maybe 5-6 times but ummm… it’s been perfect. I’ve applied with both a brush and a beauty blender. I love it every single time. It has kept my blush on my cheeks like nothing else. I still set it with my MAC Fix+ and just love it.
As a random but slightly relevant side note, I also learned this month that BB cream and foundation look so much better on my skin without a primer. Like many others, I drank the primer koolaid after trying tons and tons of samples. It also just FEELS really awesome on your face. But when I’m going to put something heavier on my skin, I’ve learned that whatever is going on looks much better and more natural without a primer. Riddle me that.
Along the same lines as face stuff, I’ve been using this MAC radiant rose concealer under my eyes. Freaking love it. As you can see above, it’s definitely pink toned which always works for me. I still love the maybelline instant age rewind that I talked about in January, but if I am wearing something like foundation on my face, I’ve found that this is easier to use and looks better. I’d say for the last 2-3 months, I’ve used this half the time and the maybelline age rewind the other half.
Let’s talk about moisturizer. What is your favorite daytime moisturizer with sunscreen?
My absolute favorite is my Trish McEvoy beauty booster cream that I talked about last year. GAH. I love it so much. It has a consistency that I’ve never felt in any other moisturizer. It’s perfect for my slightly sensitive, sort of dry but pretty normal skin. It’s just amazing under makeup or worn alone. However, it’s freakishly expensive and I’m also not thrilled that it’s filled with parabens. I know, I know… a lot of my other products are stocked with them too, but not things that I necessarily use on my body every single day of my life. I know that there is even research out there that parabens aren’t terrible and respected dermatologists that think they may be harmless, but I’m torn. All things in moderation… and my facial moisturizer used every single day is not moderation. I’ve never found anything else that I love as much. I have been using the above aveeno moisturizer and it’s pretty good. I’ve used yes to carrots in the past and when this is gone I may try an Olay one. But thoughts on your favorite?
My favorite eye creams in the past have been by kiehls and shiseido, but I received this tarte eye treatment in a little set at sephora and really like it a lot. I’m not so much concerned with something decreasing wrinkles – I don’t entirely believe that is possible and at this age, I’m going more for preventative care, but my main goal with any cream for my eyes is moisture. If my under eyes are dry, my concealer can get cakey and then I look even older. Ick. So I tap this on before bed and before I put on makeup. I don’t like that it doesn’t have sunscreen though, so sometimes I will just use my daytime moisturizer as a makeshift eye cream and tap it on so I have some SPF up there. Do it, people. You don’t need a little expensive jar of stuff!
…says the girl who just told you about an $85 moisturizer. Hi, I’m a hypocrite.
Moving right along…
Last summer I purchased the wonderfulness known as St. Tropez after sky high recommendations from Heather. Um, it’s the best. As someone with insanely pale skin (no seriously – I am always the first shade in any sort of face makeup and often, the first shade is still too dark), I have tried every self tanner on the market since I was in high school. I never wanted to buy into the St Tropez hype but man… it is not hype. This is not streaky, it is not orange, it dries immediately and has never transferred on to my clothes once.
I can’t really be bothered to self tan that much, but I’ve done it a handful of times now and just love this product. It’s very subtle.
Once I have a little color in the summer, I occasionally like to use those pretty, sparkly lotions because I will forever be a 7th grade girl. Let’s talk about this pacifica coconut crushed pearl body butter. I spied this in Whole Foods a few years ago and nearly toppled over when I saw the price tag was near $25. UM WHAT. If I am paying $25 for lotion it better give me legs like Carrie Underwood. And a lot more.
Luckily, around Christmas time it was 50% off at Sephora. Win. It smells like the tropics. Someone take me there please. Only splurge on this if you find it on sale.
Don’t mind this upside down photo as I was too lazy to actually remove this bottle from the shower, and therefore climbed in the shower with my camera to take a photo. We have both been using this body wash for the last two months and it’s super gentle and wonderful. (And yes, the men’s facial scrub belongs to my husband.) I still use my Nuetrogena grapefruit body wash with salicylic acid right after workouts or sparingly, but this is our go-to soap. It smells pretty good too.
Speaking of showering, I haven’t been a shave cream person since my mom told me I wasn’t allowed to shave my legs and I disobeyed her on the first day of sixth grade, but this EOS shave cream from target smells so good I want to eat it. It’s like FROSTING.
hair hair hair!
Alright. 2013 has been the year I’ve become enamored with dry shampoo. Yes, this translates to I-work-from-home-and-work-15-hour-days-and-barely-shower-let-alone-wash-my-hair but hey – who cares? I’m alone most of the day, thank goodness. I know I shared this back in January, but my Ulta has since starting carrying so many more scents and I am in love with the two above. They are my daily favorites. They smell DELICIOUS. The one on the right is my personal fave, but they were out of it last time I went (and it’s pretty much empty) so I grabbed the cherry. I like it a lot.
As another random but slightly relevant side note: I refused to fall victim to the dry shampoo trend for years. Since I don’t have oily skin (I mean, it never gets oily, ever) – my hair rarely, if ever, gets oily or greasy. And that’s with workouts. It doesn’t need the dry shampoo for that reason, but once I started using this, I fell in love with the volume and texture it gives. Which also says a lot, since my hair has a good bit of volume on it’s own.
Oh hi. I saved the best for last.
Even since I mentioned my favorite perfume in January, people have been coming out of the woodwork telling me I need to try Jo Malone scents. I think that my current perfume will be my forever perfume, but since it’s wildly expensive, I’ve been looking for a scent that I could wear in between to make my favorite last longer. After the taylor swift perfume disaster of 2013, I decided to go with this ginger biscuit cologne and AHHHHHH. This is to die for. After wearing Burberry Brit and Prada for the last almost ten years, I just kinda wanted a change, and now I’m set. Though I have to admit… I still spray that West Side perfume on my body when I’m home alone because I love it so much.
PS: I think this scent is limited edition. Wah.
Whew. I feel like I just talked FOR.EV.ER. Because I did. You know the drill. Tell me your favorites!
[none of this post is sponsored; I bought all of these products myself because I’m a beauty junkie/hoarder. none of these brands know who i am and after listening to me ramble, probably never want to. a few links above are amazon affiliate links.]
106 Comments on “April Favorites: Beauty.”
I need to try those dry shampoos. I’ve been cutting back on the washings and I need to try a dry shampoo for some of those in between days. They both sounds great, but I think I’ll try the one on the right first.
I totally agree with your mascara recommendations, but have you tried Rimmel Scandaleyes? I know, kind of stupid name, but I find the regular one works great!
I’ve wanted to cut back on washing my hair (I’m a twice-a-dayer!), but I have such oily hair. There is no way I could workout and then not wash my hair or wake up in the morning and not showering (thanks dad for this lovely hair!). I’d be interested in what experience others with fine/straight hair have with a dry shampoo.
Love your photos!
I have very fine, straight hair (but a lot of it!) and I used to be a 1-2x a day washer! Then I started experimenting with different dry shampoos and I have found my holy grail! I use the Suave Keratin dry shampoo (at Target, etc) – look for the GOLD bottle with the BLACK cap. The trick is to use it before you go to bed. Spray the crap out of your hair at your part, and under it, sectioning it off quickly with your fingers before blasting some dry shampoo.
That way you wake up in the morning and your hair hasnt’ accumulated greasyness in the night. I SWEAR this works. That being said, I have to wash my hair after I work out – but that’s because my head sweats. But for normal every-day , I wash my hair in the morning before work, day goes by, dry shampoo it before bed, and when I get up in the morning and brush it out – VOILA. It looks better 2nd day!
My daily moisturizer is the one from Trader Joes with SPF 15. I like to keep things simple!
Ok, OK Ok. I wish you were my older sister!! Seriously! I grew up with ALL brothers and know nothing about makeup. See, my mom has never worn much make up. She does not really need it, plus she had six kids to run around after so make up was the last thing on her list! Anyway, I am totally brain dead in this department. Well, wait I take that back. I know ALL about St. Tropez. My mom has ALWAYS uses this stuff and therefore I use this stuff!! My skin is as pail as it gets, so I love this stuff come summer!! Anyway, my little sister is ALL about makeup. She needs you! No joke you guys would love each other!! Damn, I wish I still lived in Cleveland so I could come to Pittsburg and have you do my makeup (Sorry, that is SO not meant to be creepy!)! I a LOVING these post. Learning so much!
Alright, I am done with the insanely long comment.
Hi Jessica!
Just wondering if you’ve ever tried Bare Minerals or one of the other mineral foundation sets? I have oily skin and have always felt like foundation makes me greasy and gets all over my clothes. Bare Minerals really changed my makeup life. I absolutely love it and will never go back to a liquid or cream foundation. Of my closest girlfriends, I would say 8 or 9 out of ten of them are addicted as well. The only drawback is that it can get all over your bathroom, vanity, car….wherever you do your makeup…
Best,
Leslie
i have! i’ve tried it sooo many times over the last, probably 15? years or so because i WANT to like it but i just… don’t. it may be because i have drier skin? i really just don’t like powder products! agree it gets everywhere… haha!
THREE CHEERS FOR JO MALONE!!! my goodness, i love her perfume to bits. i wear vanilla and anise right now and it is almost out… i am debating getting one of those limited edition ones, i’ll have to go try ginger biscuit! blue agave and cacao is also UHmazing.
your St. Tropez bottle looks like mine, with brown finger prints… that has been my favorite for YEARS – it is all I have ever used in spas, and I tell anyone and everyone I can about it – since it is a BLUE tint (you can kind of see that in the cream based products), you actually turn brown instead of orange. more natural. LOVE it.
okay, I have rambled far too long just about self tanner. it is my favorite.
also, I think the mac pigments just never go away – I have several pots and they all look barely used (when I know the real truth).
Jo Malone. YES.
I had to LMAO at the ilp liner comment. Still can’t stop! There are many “crazy people” in my neck of the woods and it’s all i can do not to stop them, hand them a mirror and ask them to reflect on what they see.
I just had my end-of-the-month freakout too. I loved this post. The lip stains look awesome – I’ll look out for them. As for dry shampoo, I substitute with baby powder because I can never find fry shampoo around here. And I live in Florida!?! It’s always humid here, I need it! Also, love Maybelline Falsies mascara. It’s cheap and does the job.
I literally started reading this post with the intention of asking you for a self-tanner recommendation, but lucky for me you basically read my mind! Any other brands that rival St. Tropez?
i truly have tried every self tanner out there – there is nothing that rivals st tropez for me. and it lasts for 5-6 days (maybe not so much on my face since i wash it more/use a clarisonic) through workouts/sweating/showering. it is totally worth the money!
awesome! thanks for the recommendation – I look forward to this post every month!
I’m still on the hunt for a good face lotion with SPF. I used Aveeno for a long time but have since strayed from their brand trying to find something a bit more natural. I’ve had major problems with the YesTo brand stinging my face from all the vitamin C in their stuff and my skin is not sensitive at all! I’m currently using Nature’s Gate Rice Bran moisturizer during the day and love it and then their avocado night cream, which I could actually see my skin improve from. The rice bran moisturizer doesn’t have SPF, though..so still on the lookout for something a bit more natural with SPF! :) HOW is it almost MAY?? Ahhhhhh
I’ve found the line of Simple products to have two great moisturizers. There is a rich one, a light one and a vitamin enhanced one and I think all of them have SPF. They feel great on your skin, aren’t greasy and lean towards being more natural. Check it out :)
those tarte blushes are amazing. and i AM SO GLAD you shared the st tropez. i am so so so so pale, and i refuse to tan because i tanned way too much in college so this is absolutely a godsend. you are the bomb.com.
I know EXACTLY what you mean about Benefit They’re Real mascara. I bought it thinking that it would do magnificent things to my lashes, but it did nothing. Not to mention it was WAY more expensive than the ones I usually buy. The brush is okay, but the formula is just… too wet? When I put it on, my lashes stick together and I even wiped the mascara wand to try to minimize the amount of mascara goo on it, but it still made my lashes look like crap. Sigh…
Also, I recently bought dry shampoo for the first time and love it! I got Cake Beauty Satin Sugar Sweet Fuss-Free Volumizing Dry Shampoo Spray. Say that ten times fast. Anyhoo, it’s really great and thought I’d mention it :D
I had the same experience with They’re Real. Bought a small tube for $10 at Ulta and did not like it AT ALL. Made my eyelashes look clumpy and terrible. I have gone back to using my beloved & inexpensive Maybelline Full ‘N Soft. If you’ve never tried it, I would definitely recommend you do!
Did you find that the Revlon lip balm stain in Honey turned a completely different shade a few minutes after application?? Mine went basically hot pink (not always a bad thing but alarming all the same) Are the others true to color? Also I’ve been loving the Maybelline Color Whispers!
yes!! i think that’s why i initially didn’t like it. the pink and purple above are definitely true to color. i like to mix them. the coralish-nude share i rarely wear on it’s own since i’m so pale, but i like to mix it with the pink!
As always, I LOVE your blog! Your humor, your amazing photos, your recommendations, all the foody bliss. Just. can’t. get. enough.
I know it was mentioned before, and that you probably don’t have the time, but I would so love to see you wearing some of these amazing beauty products! I know it takes a lot of time and energy. Maybe you could choose one product to spotlight each month and show us how fab it looks on a human? :)
I, too, am eternally searching for the perfect daily facial moisturizer with SPF. I keep going back to Olay. They seem to be tried, tested, and true. Good stuff. But the search goes on! Thank you for all you do. :)
Totally agree with you about the Jo Malone perfume…. SMELLS LIKE GINGERSNAPS and makes me happy every time. My mom is a major baker and judges me so hard for it because she just smells like that all the time from baking. Maybe that’s why I love it? I don’t know what I’ll do when I run out, since it is limited edition. I have a hunch that combining the vanilla/anise perfume they also do with orange blossom might be similar?
For moisturizers I finally sucked it up and stopped using crappy CVS-brand fake-Neutrogena oil-free SPF 15 when my mom gave me the Malin and Goetz SPF15 for my birthday and it.is.amazing. It feels incredible and my skin has gotten 1000000x better.
Great list Jessica. I still have to try the Korres jasmine based on your recommendation. I bet it tastes amazing. I loveeeeeeeeeeeee the Nars Laguna bronzer, you should try it, it would give you a sunkissed glow, looks like you would like that. Currently I’m using Estee Lauder’s Time Zone SPF15, it’s good, it works, helps with my combination dry skin. i also love bobbi brown’s protective lotion with spf.
I am probably going to go get that Pacifica body butter today after reading this. I am a sucker for anything coconut. If you want a paraben and all other gunk-free face lotion, you should try the Yes To Grapefruit face moisturizer with SPF 15. I love it, and it smells like grapefruit. These are my favorites posts of yours. Keep them coming!
Oh, you should try the E.L.F. brand mineral mascara from Target. It is my absolute favorite, and it’s only $3!! I hear it is like the generic brand of MAC mascara.
I also had a hard time purchasing the CoverGIrl foundation, but I absolutely love it as well…and I’ve tried soooo many foundations. Also being of the super pale population, I love that they had a color that matched my skin!
Girl so many products and your detailed assessment of all of them is worth its weight in gold. I love those blue MAC pigments; nice to know they dont go on black-like. I love wearing sparkly blues but have to be careful with my light colored eyes they don’t get too black on me or I look like a raccoon and good to know you like those. And that Nicki lipglass…what a great pink. And everything else you mentioned..wow. This took some time! thank you!
I love anything coconut! That Pacifica lotion sounds amazing! I just found this online at sephora, but looks like its sold out — http://www.sephora.com/coconut-pearls-luminizing-lip-quench-P290303?skuId=1340041
I’m so happy you’ve come around to the light with the balm stains. AREN’T THEY AMAZING?! Obviously I’m a little excited :)
I’m so glad I popped your balm stain cherry. <3
OMG. Urban Decay Underground. My absolute favorite! They discontinued this eyeshadow color a few years ago but I’ve been able to find it on Amazon. It’s my all time favorite shadow. You’re so right about it not just being “brown”. It’s amazing. I love the urban decay showdow liner things too. They glide on like buttah.
I too can’t believe that in a few days it’s already May! This month flew!! Agreed…totally scary! Loved reading about your beauty favorites! I’ve heard so much about St. Tropez, but have always been hesitant to try it (I have pale skin too). I may just have to go ahead and take the plunge!
I’ve been using a neutrogena daily moisturizer SPF 30 that is like tone correcting or something? But I really want to mind something more natural that wont break te bank. I’m addicted to the Korres pomegranate gel but its $32 a pop and I go through so quickly! Aveeno moisturizers never work for my skin bc I’m on the oily side and they are super thick.
I do love the boing concealer by benefit, the erase paste is a joke but boing gives me the coverage I need for spots and dark circles.
Also I loooove Anastasia lash genius, its am amazing top coat and separates so well.
Love these posts and it would be cool to see some pics of the shadows and liners on your eyes!!
My favorite post of the month too!
1. You have to try Tarte Airbrush Maracuja blush in shimmering pink. I wasn’t a believer in cream blush, but this is so perfect for summer.
2. Beauty blender! Maybe I’m every marketers dream, but holy face. So weird, but I swear it sinks the foundation into your face and makes it look crazy smooth in a natural way.
3. Enjoy luxury shampoo/conditioner.
On a side note, any plans to incorporate fashion into your blog? I would love to see your picks in that area as well!
Oooh such a great post! I’m curious – how do you apply St. Tropez to your back? I live alone and have no clue how I could evenly apply it to my own back…
Try Paula’s Choice sunscreens, they are the BEST out there! The moisture boost face wash is amazing and so is everything else. Oh and the shave gel is fantastic. I’ve been using Paula’s Choice for over 10 years, freaking love it.
I’ve used Neutrogena Healthy Defense Daily Moisturizer for years and love it. I have the SPF 50 but they have a few different strengths. Also, I just got the BEST eye cream in my BirchBox with SPF — Supergoop Advanced SPF 37 Anti-Aging Eye Cream. I’m seriously obsessed with it – here is a link: http://www.birchbox.com/shop/supergoop-advanced-spf-37-anti-aging-eye-cream
Thank you for sharing your faves – love these posts! I look forward to them!
Ok you mentioned Jo Malone – switch to the body lotions and just apply to your shoulder area and then get dressed. I’ve been using Amber & Lavender for about a gazillion years. I stopped using spray perfume when a sales person at JM converted me. The scent stays all day but it’s not annoying like some perfumes can be. People will ask me….wow you smell so good. Yeah because it’s light and doesn’t.t knock you to your knees. Ask for a few samples…you’ll be a convert too!
Hi!
You might want to know that I am going to buy the BEAUTY BLENDER and the COVER GIRL makeup. I’m like you, I work mainly from home and hate putting paste on my face. But, at times…
For Dry Shampoo, I use KLORANE.
And for JO MALONE, it’s been my best for the last decade at least. With different fragrances.
You have to try the liquid handwash from MOLTEN BROWN – Rosé Granati scent. You will thank me for that each time you use it. AND their shampoo called Lili-Pili. Take my word on this one. I still OMG every time I use it!
SO, if you think you are talking to a wall, or a web, well…no! Some of us are paying attention.
Hi! I love your monthly makeup posts (: Would you mind doing a post where you post your top 10 beauty blogs? (doesn’t even have to be 10 but you know, 10 always seems to be the stereotypical number). Or maybe even websites where you get your makeup inspiration/advice/suggestions/ideas from? Thank you! Have a lovely day! x
I would love this too! I’m so curious who your favorite you tube girls are.
Try Jo Malone Vanilla Rose or my fav blue agava cacaco
Love your monthly beauty faves! Thought I’d mention this body lotion that a friend recommended – its scent is coconut fig, its at Ulta and its a crazy good value (so you can spend more on other products!)
http://www.ulta.com/ulta/browse/productDetail.jsp?productId=xlsImpprod600142 (if that doesn’t work its the C. Booth 4-in-1 Multi-Action Body Lotion in Coconut & Fig
I love my Aveeno positively smooth shave gel. I used to shave my legs every two to three days now only twice a week. I don’t know if you have tried it yet if not you need to its great.
I love the Batiste dry shampoo! I’m obsessed. I actually find a ton of it at TJ Maxx/Marshalls for 1/2 price, so I kind of bought a lot and am hoarding it. Day 3 dirty hair has never looked so good!
I also love the Tarte blushes and falsies mascara (I layer it with a Tarte mascara to get ridic volume).
And I’ve been waffling on getting the St. Tropez…AND I AM SOLD. Do you apply it with the mitten?
I would love to see these products on you! Some of the lip/cheek colors look crazy, so it would be great to see them (especially since I’m fair skinned too). I’ve been a Bare Minerals and dry shampoo fan for a long time, but I have oily hair/skin. I love the urban decay 24/7 though – it actually stays in place despite my oily skin. I really like theBalm ‘Stainiac’ Cheek & Lip Stain – it’s a nice sheer dark pink and it great for layering with favorite sheer glosses. I use that Aveeno lotion too, and like it well enough. Thanks for reviewing your favorites!
Have you talked about coconut oil? That’s all the rage, and it took me forever to cave, but I started using it once a week and my hair is so soft! Wet hair, apply, wrap in a towel for about 10 minutes, then wash and condition as usual. Love it!
I use a dry shampoo called Blow Pro that I absolutely love. I have long, thick hair that’s also oily (yay!) and this is the only powder I’ve found that works for me.
I want to try that perfume!
JESSICA!
I love reading your make-up posts! Oh baby they make me so happy because I can relate to so much of it!
As for moisturizers my current favorite is Tarte BB smooth operator, I got it after you mentioned it earlier! Also be sure to try the EOS strawberry pomegranate shave cream-SMELLS SO GOOD!
It sounds like we are the same shade of pale…I might just have to give in and splurge for the St. Tropez stuff.
It’s so funny that you mention that dry shampoo, I have passed it in various stores multiple times wondering whether or not it is any good. Guess it is!
As always love when you share your make-up hoarding habits because I am right there with you!!
xo
M
if you are fair skinned, like me, you have to try MAC tinted lip balm in “stay warm”
for moisturizers, algenist is BY FAR the best, but pricey also :/
I can’t wait to try some of these products. I am usually a Clinique foundation person, but I’m going to try the Covergirl Outlast foundation since it is definitely easier on my wallet. I’m also going to check out St. Tropez to see what all the hype is about. I haven’t been a fan of self tanners because of the unnatural color they give me and the wierd odor they leave on my skin, but I’ll give it a try. I LOVE the EOS shave cream in the vanilla scent. I have used the EOS lip balms for a couple of years now and bought the shave cream out of curiosity a couple months ago. I will never go back to Skintimate again. For eye creams I use Yes to Blueberries eye firming treatment. I’m not a fan of really thick moisturizers and this is a perfect consistency for me and absorbs into the skin around my eyes nicely. Are you a beauty box subscriber? I just signed up for Beauty Army and I’m happy so far with it. Thanks for sharing your faves!
and now I am on my way over to Sephora. I have a problem with nice smelling products and in nice I mean, a yummy, sweet, dessert, type smell. maybe it is just that feeling of baking only not so messy.
Jessica – Thanks for the tips! I don’t like lipstick and didn’t like the new gloss I had just bought. The revlon kissable balm stains are great – I got them in adore and charm. Love how they feel and taste. May need to try the lip pencil….
I use Aveeno positively ageless youth perfecting moisturizer SPF 30 and Aveeno smart essential anti-fatigue eye-treatment. Both are really great products. Finally, the best shampoo I have found is Oscar Blandi. The tip to using it is to mix it in your hands before running your hands through your hair. 8-)
what are your thoughts on sigma brushes?
oh wow. What an amazing amount of information and so many products to try. I think I might have to try that EOS shave cream. Anything that smells that good that you want to eat it has got to be good.
Totally with you on the expensive products – you don’t always have to spend big to find a gem but at the same time, I have gone cheap before and my skin let me know about it. So if I don’t know it (or it doesn’t come recommended) I tend to give it a pass.
GAWD, I have wasted so much money on foundations, and with my combo skin, I have yet to find one that works really well. I will try the Cover Girl! I totally agree about the primer/BB thing — today I tried a new primer and then the BB and all of a sudden, I had a goop-face! had to take it off and start all over! Mineral powders just seem to flake up on me.
Also, I have used the Aveeno body wash for-EVER, and it is the only thing that keeps my skin from feeling like it’s going to crack (but I do cheat and use a fun smelling wash on my shoulders so I can smell it during the day — my latest fave is a Sicilian Orange body gel from Birchbox).
Thanks for a fun and informative post!
The best day moisturizer I’ve found yet is Josie Maran’s: http://www.sephora.com/protect-daily-sun-protection-argan-oil-infused-spf-40-P261006?skuId=1242304
It has a ton of SPF but doesn’t feel like it, creates a super nice base for makeup (smooth, not oily or shiny), and isn’t fill with tons of chemicals. It’s seriously one of my favorite beauty finds ever.
JUST commented sharing that! My favorite! Worth the price for no yucky chemicals and to know it’s not tested on animals.
I love these posts!! I also wanted to let you know that I tried the deep conditioner you posted about a couple of months ago, the Macadamia Oil from Ulta and I LOVE it, it makes my hair so soft!!! I get it highlighted, so it is on the dry side and this is the best deep conditioner I have tried!.