Current Skincare Loves #4

August 29, 2015 in Skincare

It’s been a few months since my last Current Skincare Loves post because after my huge skincare extravaganza/buying spree this past spring I was just working my way through and testing those products. Recently though, I’ve gotten a couple new things I’ve been loving along with a product I’ve had for a few months but am only just now realizing how much I love it.

Starting with the oldest product in my collection, I’ve been absolutely loving the Glossier Soothing Face Mist. I got this back in February - winter isn’t really the prime time for testing out face mists, so I thought this was nice enough, but wasn’t doing any cartwheels or anything. But come summertime, I have become addicted to this. I use it every morning after cleansing (it really wakes you up), and then I throw it into my work bag to be able to spritz it up throughout the day. It’s got rosewater, aloe, and glycerin in it, so it feels so nice and really nourishing on the skin. This has been great when feeling overheated as it really does calm and soothe the skin. And I’m a sucker for anything containing rosewater/roses - it takes so much of the redness out of my skin.

Going in order of application, my next current favorite is the Vichy Aqualia Thermal Serum. I had heard so many raves about this, so I just had to see what the fuss was about. It really works to hydrate the skin and for me it sinks in quickly without getting sticky. Serum is a step I never really skip, and this one has slotted into my routine nicely. I also really like the scent as well - it reminds me of something nostalgic, but I can’t think of what!

Lastly is probably the thing I was most excited about when I got it, the Kate Somerville Goat Milk Cream. I was realizing I didn’t really have a good moisturizer for day to day, and I was getting sick of trying to slather on my night moisturizer in the morning before applying makeup. I finally bit the bullet and parted with my cash for the Goat Milk Cream and I couldn’t be happier with that decision. It really is probably my favorite moisturizer I’ve ever tried. It does an amazing job at plumping up and moisturizing the skin, and I’m always surprised at how smooth my skin feels after using it - since it has goat milk in it (obviously), it also contains lactic acid which gently exfoliates the skin. It feels really lightweight and sinks in easily without being greasy, and yet it keeps my skin feeling moisturized all day long. My skin has been loving this and drinking it up lately, and I already know it will be worthy of a repurchase.

What skincare products have you been loving lately?

Essie Favorites (The Neutrals)

August 27, 2015 in Nails

When it comes to nail polishes, I’m pretty much only loyal to one brand - Essie. I’ve got a couple Sephora Formula X polishes and some Nails Inc in my collection too, but Essie is just my favorite. There are so many colors to choose from, new shades coming out every season, and most of the shades I’ve tried have an excellent formula. On me, with a base coat and top coat, they don’t chip for days. I thought I’d run through my top favorites, and it turns out they’re all in the same kind of color family - very neutral, of course.

The palest of my favorites is Ballet Slippers. It’s a milky pale pink that is a little sheer, so it takes about three coats if you want a pure opaque color. But this is one of those super pretty “my nails but better” colors when worn more sheer-ly, so I really like that it’s versatile. This is probably my most-worn shade because I just find it so pretty. If you’ve been wanting to try a while manicure but are worried about it looking too stark, try this one - the soft pink hue won’t leave you looking like you’ve painted your nails with Wite-out.

My next favorite is the only one that’s not a typical creamy finish - it’s a metallic. It’s called Buy Me a Cameo, and it’s a beautiful rose gold. This one applies really evenly despite metallics being notoriously streaky. I really like using this color as an accent nail with Ballet Slippers on my other nails.

The perfect neutral shade for me is Ladylike. It’s like a mix of rose, beige, and gray, with maybe a little bit of lavender thrown in the mix too. It’s incredibly flattering on my pink-toned skin and adds a little something-something without being too attention-grabbing. This is reminding me I need to break this one out for my next manicure.

If you took Ladylike and deepened it by a few shades, you’d have Merino Cool. Like Ladylike, it just adds a nice definition to the nails without being a crazy color. But since it is darker, it makes a bit more of a statement. This is a perfect color to wear as the weather starts cooling down.

Lastly is the newest of the favorites, and it’s Angora Cardi. This one is another perfect color for fall because it’s got a berry tone to it, but it’s not dark and vampy like some other Essie loves (Sole Mate being the one that didn’t quite make it into the top 5). It seems like it has a bit of gray in it to tone down the color and make it seem like a neutral. This would be a good one if you normally like red nails but are looking for something a little more toned-down.

What’s your favorite nail polish?

True Life: I Only Wear Drugstore Mascaras

August 25, 2015 in Makeup

Who else watched True Life on MTV when they were younger? Let me start with a little story. When I first started getting into makeup, I was probably the biggest makeup snob there was. I turned my nose up at the drugstore halls where I had long been buying my essentials (liquid eyeliner, mascara, and red lipstick - that's it. I was having a "I wish I was in the 1940s" phase in my teenage years) in favor of the tempting aisles of Sephora. I probably replaced every makeup product I owned with something from a higher end brand. The one thing I couldn't give up, though, was my mascara. Sure, I dabbled in the world of Benefit They're Real, but when I just wasn't feeling it anymore, I turned back to my drugstore favorites. And there I've stayed. I've now got four drugstore mascara favorites to suit any mood.

For minimal makeup: L'Oreal Telescopic Shocking Extensions Waterproof Mascara & Maybelline Full 'N Soft Waterproof Mascara

These two are my ultimate go-tos when I want a more natural look. They give a soft definition to the lashes without looking ultra-dramatic. The L'Oreal Telescopic has been a favorite for about a year now, and it's one I still reach for when I want to oomph up the length of my lashes without going overboard in the volume department. It adds a nice doll-eyed look that pairs well with softly blushed cheeks and a my-lips-but-better lip color. It's also the best mascara for holding a curl in my experience - the curl you get out of your lash curlers in the morning will still be hanging around by the time you wash this off at night. The Maybelline Full 'N Soft is a newer discovery that knocked my only high(ish) end mascara, the Clinique Lash Power Feathering Mascara, out of my rotation. It does pretty much the same thing, beefing up your lashes ever-so-slightly to give you a naturally fuller look. Think of it as the best mascara for a my-lashes-but-flutterier (I guess that's a word now) look. This has been my number one pick for my everyday makeup routine recently (check out my latest Makeup Lately post to see what else has made it into my everyday routine).

For drama: L'Oreal Voluminous Miss Manga Waterproof Mascara & Maybelline Lash Sensational Waterproof Mascara

When I'm wearing a bit more makeup, whether it's a special occasion or I'm just feeling fancy, I reach for one of my two favorites for more drama (or sometimes, I layer them both like I did in my Mascara Match post). Similarly to the more natural options above, I've got one pick for when I'm craving volume and one that's more lengthening. When I really want to amp up the volume of my lashes I'll always reach for the L'Oreal Miss Manga. The wiggly wand makes application a little tedious to get the right amount of volume, but if you persevere you've got one of the best mascara formulations on the market in my opinion. This does give me some length, but it's main strength is the volumization. When I'm wanting more length I reach for the Maybelline Lash Sensational, which is actually a great all-rounder - it adds an insane amount of volume and curl to the lashes as well. The result is a perfectly fanned-out look that if layered properly can really mimic the look of false lashes. It may be worth noting that this one probably lives up to its waterproof claims the least, but I have the most smudge-prone eyes ever and I only get some faint smudges after about 6 hours of wear.

So now that I've found a drugstore option for just about any lash-mood I may be in, I don't think I'll be making any more high end mascara purchases. Are there any (drugstore or high end) that you think I'm missing out on?