Five to Try (#2)

September 27, 2016 in Makeup, Skincare

Another month, another "Five to Try" post - I want to try to make this a monthly thing (you can find last month's edition here). I know it's almost time for monthly favorites, but I thought these were worthy of their own post proclaiming how much I think you should try them.

Drunk Elephant TLC Framboos Glycolic Night Serum | Ok, I'll get the outrageous one out of the way first. Yes, this is expensive, but yes, I think it's worth it. It's one of the most effective chemical exfoliators I've tried, using 12% glycolic acid to remove dead skin cells and resurface the skin. I started off slow, using it once every two or three nights, but lately I've been using it every night before moisturizer and have seen a massive difference in my skin. My skin is smoother, and flaky bits and blackheads alike have been eliminated. If you've wanted to try a chemical exfoliator but haven't found anything effective enough, I'd say this is your best bet.

Pixi Black Lacquer Lash Primer* | I'm not normally one to use a lash primer, but this one by Pixi has me hooked. I love that it's black so it can be worn on its own on more minimal makeup days, but it also layers really well underneath other mascaras. It's a dry, almost mousse-y formula that coats the lashes and perfectly lengthens and fans them out while still feeling lightweight and never crunchy. If you're layering another mascara on top, I'd suggest a volumizing one, but its absolutely beautiful even on its own. I'm going to be doing a post on Pixi's new mascaras soon, so keep an eye out to see this in action.

bareMinerals Gen Nude Radiant Lipstick, 'Strip' | I've had my eye on this collection by bareMinerals ever since it launched. I'm surprised I still haven't gone for a liquid lipstick yet (I've heard they're lovely), but the Radiant Lipsticks are definitely worthy of a rave. It's such a nice and creamy formula that feels ultra-comfortable on the lips, and it still manages to last quite awhile without feathering or fading unevenly. The shade Strip is described as a "rich rosy brown," which is pretty spot on - it's a perfect nude for fall.

Milk Makeup Lip Color, 'GRRRL'* | I've already mentioned how much I love the Milk Makeup Lip Color (here), and this beautiful plummy-brown shade is no exception. It's got that same creamy matte formula that doesn't smudge or feather, and the shade is just beautiful for fall. I don't wear bold colors much, but I've actually almost gone to work with this on a few times - that's how much I love it. Mine is a mini size from the It's All a Blur Set.*

rms beauty Master Mixer | I'll be honest, I only bought this because I was feeling sad about missing out on the Becca Rose Quartz highlighter at first (though I've since gotten my hands on it) because it was another pale rose gold highlight. I already knew how much I love rms beauty's formulas from my obsession with the Living Luminizer, so I thought this rose gold offering would be equally lovely - it is. I've got a whole comparison post coming up, so I'll just say that if you like the Living Luminizer, you'll be a fan of the Master Mixer as well. I've also been loving tapping this onto my lips over lipsticks to add a little bit more glow - I'm actually wearing it on top of the bareMinerals lipstick mentioned above in my latest selfie on Instagram.

What are your must-try products of the moment?

Beauty 101: Intro to Onomie

September 24, 2016 in Makeup, Skincare

Onomie is a beauty brand I've been following for awhile - their Instagram is basically goals, and I've always been intrigued by their curated selection of skincare-meets-makeup products. The line consists of three products - the Bright Concealing Elixir,* the A.C.E. Illuminating Eye Treatment,* and the Powerful Priming Serum.* I'm all about simple products to whittle down my morning routine, so these have been welcome additions.

Powerful Priming Serum | The newest addition to the line, this works as a serum as well as a primer before makeup. Over time, it works to even out the skin tone by reducing dark spots, minimizes pores, and increases the skin's natural radiance. It also works to plump up and smooth the skin, leaving the perfect canvas for makeup. It has a soft luminescence to it that gives the skin a lovely glow - it reminds me of a more subtle version of the Becca Backlight Priming Filter. It contains Blackjack Botanical, Daisy Flower Extract, and Willowbark Extract to treat the skin. I've been using it every morning after cleansing to help prep my skin for makeup application, and I've noticed my makeup goes on more smoothly and stays on for longer.

Bright Concealing Elixir | It's an undereye concealer that also works as a dark circle-correcting eye cream - why haven't more brands thought of this? This is officially my favorite undereye concealer as it pretty much eliminates my dark circles right away. It doesn't even seem like a super high coverage formula, so it's basically magic. It's a thin, emollient texture that just glides on and blends in super easily. It also doesn't crease throughout the day, and since it has those eye cream properties, it doesn't leave my undereyes looking dry or crepe-y like some concealers do. It contains Night Sleeper Extract to increase blood flow, Egyptian Lupine Extract to limit dehydration, and Alfalfa Extract for anti-inflammation. It also comes in 10 shades, from something pale enough for me (I've got the lightest shade, Trotula) to some impressive deeper shades.

A.C.E. Illuminating Treatment | Meant to be used in tandem with the concealer, this illuminator helps to brighten and bring life to the eyes. It's a mousse-y formula that just glides onto the skin so easily and really adds light to wherever you use it. I add this to my cheekbones and blend it up onto my brow bone in a "C" shape, and it works as a really nice base for other highlighting products on a normal makeup day or on its own on no-makeup days. It works to reduce wrinkles and fine lines over time with Vitamins A, C, and E (hence the name!).

Using all three products together in the morning really helps perfect the skin without feeling like I'm wearing makeup - they feel like steps within my normal skincare routine. I'm really interested to see what Onomie comes up with next because so far, I'm hooked. I also really really love that all of their shade names are named for different inspirational and strong women, from Marie Curie to Sojourner Truth. I've linked all three products separately above, but you can also get the eye products in a duo (save $5) or a bundle of all three (save $10).

Have you tried anything from Onomie before? Do you like more minimal, makeup/skincare hybrids or is more full-on makeup your thing?

*Products mentioned have been kindly sent to me for consideration, but all opinions are my own. Please see my disclaimer for more information.

Valentia Pure Glow Brightening Moisturizer

September 22, 2016 in Skincare

If you know one thing about me by now, it should be my penchant for any product with the words "brightening" or "glow" in the name. So when I got the chance to try out the new Valentia Pure Glow Brightening Moisturizer,* I jumped at it - I mean, how dreamy does it sound by the name alone?

This moisturizer boasts many lovely-sounding claims and ingredients. It contains botanical Hyaluronic Acid to plump up and moisturize the skin, Kojic Acid to reduce and prevent dark spots, Ginseng to energize the skin and boost collagen production, Safflower Oil to repair the skin's natural moisture barrier, and Shea Butter for superior hydration and nourishment. Despite containing all these nourishing ingredients, it isn't greasy or sticky in the slightest. It's incredibly lightweight and fast-absorbing, making it perfect for use in the morning underneath makeup.

The Pure Glow Brightening Moisturizer is supposed to help even out the skintone while providing all-day hydration, which is basically music to my ears. My main skin concern is uneven skintone, from blotchy redness to old acne marks. I've been using this moisturizer every morning before my makeup, and I love how it instantly plumps up my skin and makes it feel so smooth. It's more lightweight than the creams I'm used to using, but it still keeps my skin well-hydrated. Once the cream sinks in, my skin is left with a velvety-smooth finish, making it more than ready for makeup. My makeup has been applying much more evenly since I started using this. I've seen some improvements in my skin's tone as well - everything just seems to look more bright, even, and glowy. I've found a new moisturizer that I love using every day.

Have you tried the Pure Glow Brightening Moisturizer? What's your favorite moisturizer?

You can visit Valentia on their website, and also on Facebook and Instagram.

*This post has been powered by Brandbacker, but all opinions are my own. Please see my disclaimer for more information.