Five to Try

One of my favorite things is discovering a love for a new beauty product. I'm trying to cut back on the amount of new things I'm trying at one time, but with so much out there, sometimes it's hard to fight the temptation to try everything. Lately I've found some real gems that are really working well in my routines.

Blithe Tundra Chaga Pressed Serum* | When I first read about this, I knew it was something I wanted to try out. This pressed serum has a gelatinous texture in the tub but instantly melts into a liquid when rubbed between your palms. It has 60% Chaga Mushroom extract, which is full of antioxidants and skin-soothing properties. It also contains fermented argan and olive oils, so it feels intensely nourishing on the skin. I find it really helps to smooth and moisturize my skin without feeling heavy. 

Glossier Lip Gloss | The best lip gloss of them all - I wasn't even that into lip gloss until I started using Glossier's. It gives a super glassy sheen that really makes the lips look more plump and full. It contains Vitamin E so it's actually good for your lips, and it's a thick formula that stays put for hours. You can't beat that super cute packaging, too. You can get 20% off your first Glossier order here.

True Moringa Lip Whip, 'Pink Yarrow'* | Another lip product I've been loving is the Lip Whip by True Moringa. It's super nourishing and full of moringa, a powerful natural anti-ager, as well as cocoa butter, castor seed oil, and Vitamin E to moisturize the lips. It has a lovely sheer bright pink tint that really helps to brighten the complexion. It's perfect for my more minimal makeup days and keeps my lips nourished all day long.

The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution | I just mentioned this in my rundown of The Ordinary products I've tried so far, but this one is the standout for me. It's quite comparable to the Pixi Glow Tonic, and I've seen even faster results due to the higher percentage of glycolic acid. Using this once per night has really been working wonders for my skin, keeping it smooth and clear.

Hairstory New Wash* | This one is *life-changing* - dramatic, I know, but true. The whole idea behind the Hairstory line is that traditional shampoos are incredibly damaging to the hair, and the only reason we need to use conditioners and hair masks is to fix the problems caused by our shampoo. The New Wash cleans the hair with essential oils and aloe instead, and while there was a bit of a learning curve and adjustment period to it at first, I don't think I could live without it now. You smooth it through the hair like you would with conditioner, and when you rinse it out, it really feels like you've conditioned your hair as well. It cuts down on my shower time since it's one less step I need to do, and my hair dries much faster, too. My hair has much more volume and body, and I'm able to airdry it without it getting incredibly puffy. 

Have you tried any of these? What are your favorite products you've tried recently?

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

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Pat McGrath Labs Dark Matter 006

Let's address the elephant in the room here: yes, I said I wasn't going to buy the new Pat McGrath Dark Matter smokey eye kit, and yes, I bought it anyway. I've been making an effort to actually wear eyeshadow lately, and I'm still kicking myself for missing out on the glitter lip kits, so I convinced myself this kit was a must-have. Like all of the other Pat McGrath products and kits I've tried, it's simply stunning and definitely worth the hype and money.

The Dark Matter 006 sets come with a base color pigment (Ultrasuede Brown or Ultraviolet Blue), three powder/shimmer pigments (Dark Matter, Mercury, and Astral White), a black kohl liner, a stunning holographic eye gloss, and a blending brush. You can also get a set without the base color for a lower price. I of course went with the Ultrasuede Brown shade, and it was this Instagram video that convinced me I needed it in my life. I'm in the midst of playing around with the kit to figure out how to best wear the shades in my day to day life, and despite how much I really hate this saying, I'm shook.

The Ultrasuede Brown pigment is stunning - it's neither cream nor powder, but somewhere in between. It applies easily with the included brush or with fingers - my typical mode of applying everything these days. It's so smooth and buildable, and it's already become something I slap on every day, even if I'm not using anything else from the kit. The powder pigments are more sheer, but again, very easy to layer and build up. I love that they're versatile like this so I can ease into using them. I've never before actually used a black eyeshadow, but I've been reaching for the Dark Matter pigment to deepen the outer corners of my eyes. It doesn't look "overboard" at all. The Mercury pigment is beautiful as well, and such a unique shade - kind of gold, kind of silver. I love patting this on the center of my eyelids over the Ultrasuede Brown. Astral White doesn't feel as smooth as the other pigments as it has larger glitter particles rather than shimmer, but it's still beautiful and creates such a cool effect when layered over the other shades. 

Ultrasuede Brown, Dark Matter, Mercury, Astral White, Kohl Liner, Eye Gloss

The one thing that drew me to this set in the first place was the eye gloss. As you'll probably remember from my post on Tuesday, I've fallen hard for the glossy eye look, and this holographic version really caught my eye. I was saying if they sold the gloss separately, I was going to buy it rather than a whole kit. But alas they didn't, and I felt like I needed the whole kit. The gloss is so fun to use - it's a thinner consistency than I was expecting, so it's super easy to spread over the lid and see how the holographic sparkle changes the look. It feels a little tacky, but less so than the options I talked about on Tuesday. It's one I'll be reaching for all the time for sure. I'm also pleasantly surprised with the kohl liner and the brush - the kohl is so creamy and easy to blend, but once it sets, it does not budge one bit. Seriously, I took those swatch photos on Sunday and I'm still washing remnants of it off my arm. The brush is soft and hasn't been shedding, and it applies all the included shadows beautifully.

The kits are sold out on the Pat McGrath website for now, but they'll be available at Sephora starting tomorrow! Are you going to get one?

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Glossier 101 | The Makeup

If you've visited my blog for even just a second, you'll probably know what a Glossier fangirl I am. Even before I was a rep for the brand, I needed to order every new release the second it came out and I fell head over heels for everything. Since their range is just growing and growing, I thought I'd take a couple posts to go over the current products in the lineup - what I like, what I dislike, and what you need right now.

The Perfecting Skin Tint was one of Glossier's original core products, and it now has a new home on the website's makeup section. It's just like the name sounds - a sheer tint for the skin that evens out skintone but won't cover blemishes. I love light coverage bases, so this is one of my favorites I always go back to. It seems to gently lift and firm the skin as well. It leaves the skin looking super dewy and fresh, so much so that I treat it as an extension of my skincare. I pretty much use it no matter what.

Glossier's first foray into legitimate, makeup-makeup was with the cult-favorite Boy Brow. This has become my holy grail brow product, sometimes being the only thing I need to put in my brows. It's basically an all-in-one product: it thickens, fills in, and holds your brows in place. Rather than crunchy gels, it's a creamy wax formula that stays soft and pliable instead of crispy. Your brows look like your own brows, just super well-behaved. Brown is my go-to for day to day, but I've been loving Clear* on no-makeup days to keep my brows in check and looking groomed.

After brows came the Stretch Concealer. Like the Skin Tint, this focuses on keeping a skin-like look and finish. It's not a super high coverage concealer, but it gets the job done for me. It doesn't cake up or dry out my skin. In fact, it keeps a bit of a dewy finish on the skin so everything looks natural and glowy. It's formulated with elastic micro waxes that move with the skin, hence the "stretch" in the name. This is my holy grail for undereye circles.

Completing the Phase Two Set with the Boy Brow and Stretch Concealer are the Generation G Sheer Matte Lipsticks. These are the first of their kind that I had ever used - they apply like a lip balm, but are somehow sheer and matte at the same time. They give the lips a subtle, popsicle-stained effect. They've updated the formula, which I'm really happy about - the original was a bit drying. The new formula actually feels balmy on the lips while still having a matte finish - I'm tempted to pick up Like, my favorite soft pink shade, in the new formula. There are six shades with something for everyone, from a peachy nude to a deep berry. They're quite adaptable as well because they're so sheer - you can apply a subtle wash to let more of your natural lip shade show through, or build them up to a more intense stain.

If I had to choose one favorite makeup product from Glossier, I think it would have to be Haloscope. I'm a highlighter fiend as it is, and Glossier has made the most perfect one. These contain real crystal extracts around a solid oil core to give the dewiest glazed-donut sheen. Quartz is my absolute favorite, although I love Topaz for a bronze look and Moonstone for an opalescent, other-worldly glow. They're super smooth on the skin and don't feel tacky, although if your skin is oily you may want to apply with caution (just tap it on with your fingers!). I apply it most heavily on my cheekbones and blend upward to my browbones.

My favorite blush formula is now from Glossier - the Cloud Paints have quickly become a favorite since their launch at the beginning of March. I thought I would only use two shades, Puff and Dusk, but I've found all four shades incredibly flattering and wearable. They seem super pigmented at first glance, but the gel-cream formula sheers out easily and applies like a second skin. Collagen and blurring powders help to plump up the skin and apply seamlessly. These have really made me embrace blush - before I was afraid my cheeks were already too rosy for it, but now I just own it and like a healthy flush.

The last makeup bit in the lineup for now is the Lip Gloss. This was released as part of a limited edition holiday collection last year, but it's recently made a comeback. It's just a beautiful clear gloss that's a must-have in everyone's collection. It's a thick, balmy gloss that contains Vitamin E to keep the lips hydrated. It never feels goopy or too sticky. There is a little tackiness, but it's the good kind that lets you know your gloss isn't going anywhere. Before I tried this last fall, I was all about a matte lip, but thanks to the Glossier gloss my mind has been changed - I'm so into a glossy lip.

If you want to try Glossier, you can get 10% off on your first order through my rep page. I do make a small commission on orders through my page, so even if it's not your first order, you can still use my page to support me! Or if that makes you uncomfortable, no worries - you can just shop directly through their website! I love Glossier and would never partner up with a brand I didn't truly use and stand behind.

Edit 9/27/17: Since publishing this post, Glossier has come out with another makeup product: Wowder. It's a lightweight, practically invisible setting powder that lets you control just how dewy you want to be. I love the glossy skin look I get from Glossier products, but I also really like that now I can take down the shine on my T-Zone. It's so finely milled and really blurs out pores. I haven't noticed any issue with flashback, either. I wasn't much of a powder-user before, but now I can't go a day without slapping a little bit of Wowder on.

Have you tried anything from Glossier?

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