Play! by Sephora: September

Woo another snazzy month of Play! Subscribing to talk about :)

wearing all of this month's box goodies (even post-hair treatment)

This month's theme was 'Anything But Ordinary' (featuring a lipstick themed bag), and I would say this one was a pretty solid win.

 I'm also definitely still in love with these little descriptor pamphlets which are always a treat and totally helpful and bring me so much joy to look through.  

Ok, i'm definitely way happier this month for a few reasons- 1) i was finally able to RSVP for the Play date at my closest Sephora–Something i literally haven't been able to do since i started getting the boxes–so I'm super stoked about that. 2) there was another Atelier Cologne which while i would of course prefer to try a new brand, I'm borderline obsessed with these fragrances and the packaging even the testers come in. 3) EVERYTHING but one small item is totally new to me, and that one thing is actually something i love. Woohoo! Complete success. So let's dive in!

Sephora Collection Rouge Shine Lipstick in Love Spell:

Lipstick IS MY JAM so getting another lipstick in a box is awesome. But ok, Make Up For Ever has totally ruined me for regular lipsticks because this does in no way stack up to the Artist Rouge collection. I also really don't love the color as this is basically a basic baby pink–like Barbie status– and i'm a bit too fair for that. The texture is fine, there are just better out there, and the flavor/scent is a nice fruity one that really isn't overbearing or offensive, it's super shiny without any sparkle, and I'm basically a child with my lipstick, so this doesn't really do it for me. But in all fairness Sephora brand always puts out a solid product and this is no exception. I'd probably be more into it if i liked the color, but this seems like something you could wear even with chapped lips and feel nice about it, as it doesn't seem thick and opaque, more sheer and soft.
0/1

Kat Von D Tattoo Liner in Trooper:



I Love KVD products, I really do. I am not the biggest fan of like 'pen' or 'marker' eyeliners though, so while i've heard a million great thing about this, I never tried it out, so it was super to have it in this month's box. Now, I've tried Stila's marker (which everyone raves about), UD's new Perversion pen (which is actually amazing), and now this, so I feel like I can compare them; Stila's formula is really nice, it goes on smooth and dark–i don't love the applicator and it did wear off of my oily lids pretty easily; UD's new Perversion Fine Point Pen is SO DARK, the pigmentation is to die for, and the longevity is fierce–it's totally waterproof and holds up really well if you don't rub your eyes; KVD's brush however has no equal- the fact it's a brush instead of a felt tip is stupid awesome and goes on so smooth and crisp omg. The Only drawback with KVD is it's just not dark enough. The black is so light and not as opaque as i prefer, but this applicator brush is fantastic and i got The Best lines with it.
1/2 because the brush is too good, and i think in other colors this would be a lot of fun.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Gel:



This is the one item I'd already tried before and actually use on the daily. It's a great product that works amazingly well with absolutely no residue, no flaking, and a totally non-crispy lovely finish. This is THE clear setting brow gel to own/use, so while it's not a new item for me, it's not a negative.
2/3 – i'm giving it a point cuz it's a great product, not due to excitement.

Atelier Cologne Collection Azul-Sud Magnolia:



This gets two pictures cuz i love it.
Sephora is continuing to REALLY impress me with these fragrance samples...this is the second one I've gotten in a box from this brand and i am JUST AS IN LOVE with it as the first! At this point i actually don't know which scent i need to go buy and permanently add to my arsenal of perfume. It's so light yet has a really lovely presence, they're just killing it with these unisex scents. Also, I really can't get enough of the little description cards that accompany the samples, they completely evoke some beautiful feeling and just give a whole story behind the fragrance that is so compelling i want to wear it constantly.
3/4

Ole Henriksen Sheer Transformation:



This moisturizer might even be better than the Lancome gel from last month under makeup. I seriously had such flawless coverage that lasted ALL day with absolutely no flaking or separation, nor oiliness i usually get midday! It absorbed into my skin quickly, made it smooth and soft to the touch without any feeling of greasiness, so was great before even applying any foundation. This is an incredible product, so while i am pretty set in my ways for my current moisturizer, this might have replaced all of my foundation priming needs.
4/5

Living Proof Perfect Hair Night Cap Overnight Perfector:



I have used Living Proof in the past, and while i've had ok results, i just haven't really found a standout product that just really does it for me from them. This product definitely delivered what it promised on the quick absorption and pillow-safety–my hair felt dry immediately after application and my pillow couldn't tell the difference. But after using it, i can say my hair was a bit softer, although frizzier, and my normal detangled that i use didn't work at all while i was trying to dry my hair, which has pretty much never happened before, so i would have to say this had an impact. I don't know that this is best for curly-haired people because of the frizziness and tangling i experienced, so this is something i definitely won't go back for.
4/6

I'm really happy this box gave me a lot more hope for boxes to come, as I have a great time trying new things, and it's always fun to find gems you never would have given a chance before! can't wait for next month, especially since it's my favorite month! WOOHOOOOOOOO

Liquid Lipsticks: A Definitive(ish) Guide

SO MANY LIPSTICKS. SO LITTLE TIME. 

Ok, so first things first, I am OBSESSED with lipsticks. This is not an exaggeration. And liquid lipsticks are even more my favorites. No jokes here.

I even made a spreadsheet guys, this is superserious.

I have Lime Crime Velvetines, Beauty Bakerie Lip Whips, Kylie Kits, Colourpop Ultra Matte Lips, Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick, OCC Lip Tars, LASplash Lip Lustre, Sephora brand liquid lipstick, have tried Stila and I don't even know what else. 

So believe me when I say I take my lipstick game super serious. So let's get started- spreadsheet up top, reviews after, and i would say after trying all of these and talking to friends and taking recommendations, I will say that lipstick superiority is ALL A MATTER OF PERSONAL PREFERENCE. I hated brands others love, and am obsessed with some others hate. I would say it's tough to do a definitive 'this is best/this is worst' list, so i'm just sharing my personal experiences, listed in price order.

Kylie Lip Kits... and Colourpop:

Now, I want to get into the debate of Kylie Kits vs. Colourpop right away, cuz this seems to be a pretty serious deal on the interwebz, and for good reason. If you can get the same quality shit for a third of the price, I would 100% make a big deal out of that, along with the fact I completely support avoiding putting money into the hands of anyone in the Kardashian/Jenner family, but we need to get real here. Despite any similarities in ingredients list (read: identical) the formulas are Definitely different. Like, night and day. This is ONE HUNDRED PERCENT a case of you get what you fucking pay for. Hands down. 

Let me explain. 

I have 2 Kylie kits, 2 Kylie Metals, 2 Colourpop Ultra Mattes, and 2 Colourpop Lippie Sticks. So at this point I feel like I can make some fairly solid comparisons. First with swatches and buying online- shipping time for Colourpop is significantly longer, although cheaper. The swatches are Not accurate to the color you're getting however, whereas with Kylie the swatches are correct, however they may change over time as the formula is changed. I definitely like the packaging for Kylie over Colourpop, although it's still pretty fun. And the whole buying a lipstick with its coordinating liner really works for me---the liners are The Fucking Best I have ever used. It boggles my mind how much I love these damn lipliners. They glide on like heaven, don't get all lumpy if you go over the same spot, and hug every curve and wrinkle in the lips. They're like goddamn butter. So, those alone are worth the money for me. 

Ok, formula comparison, Kylie's last longer than Colourpop. They just do. They also dry faster and don't smudge, while one of my Colourpop smudges hardcore, and the other flakes, but my darker color has significantly more staying power through food and drink than the other, even though it does transfer color. The Only negative I have for the Kylie colors, is that godawful smell. They seriously smell like the tri-colored lip smackers lipgloss in Birthday Cake from way back in the day. I don't need that shit. However, the scent goes away as the color dries, so it's really not that bad. As far as drying goes, I felt like the Ultra Matte were drier than Kylie, but not by much. And neither are really that bad. In my experience if you just exfoliate and put on a lip mask the night before you wear your liquid lipstick, you're not gonna have a bad day of liquid lip wearing. So the moral of the story here, is Kylie lip kits are worth the $20-something, Colourpop is worth the $5-6. This isn't necessarily a bad thing- they're two different lip companies that offer similar yet different products. And it all comes down to preference. I prefer my lip colors to look exact, even though I do like the colors they turned out to be, and I have no problem buying a fun lip color for hella cheap and then splurging when I can. This just simply isn't a case of them being the same thing and one is just cheaper. Also, if you want to read a pretty good article about the debate, here's a professional story. 

Lime Crime:

Now, I've totally gone into the awesomeness that is Lime Crime Velvetines, so I won't go hard on the subject here, but if you want to read more about my Lime Crime love, you can find the post HERE. As far as liquid lips go, this probably ties with Kylie as my fave. I love the range of colors, I love the consistency, I love the lack of smudging, and they don't need as many passes as other brands to be totally opaque. In short, I wear them All The Time for a damn reason. They're really fucking good, however they can totally be drying, so if you don't take care of your lips in advance, you're gonna have a bad time. 

Ok, Black Moon Cosmetics:

I'd been wanting to try this brand for a while since my fave youtuber (Ahitsrosa) has used them and the colors are gorgeous. And let me say, they did not disappoint. So, they definitely don't Dry dry, they more so dry to a certain level of tacky, but this isn't a bad thing. They are still a matte lipstick that's not sticky, and its not coming off everywhere on everything. Where you place it is where it stays. I would say you could compare the texture to the Kylie Metals, in that it's a whipped formula, but BM is significantly thicker and smoother. I love love love this texture, and building it up after eating isn't a problem. The color is smooth, precise, opaque and crisp, and they look So Good on I just can't say no. 

Beauty Bakerie:

I've had one great experience and one not so great. The great experience the color is opaque, the finish is a little shiny, and this shit Does Not come off. You need a serious oil-based lipstick remover for this nonsense. So if you wear it a night in Vegas and plan to wear another lipstick, definitely don't forget your serious lipstick wipes or you're gonna have a bad time. The other experience was ok as far as longevity, but the lighter color I couldn't get opaque and even for the life of me, unless i covered my lips in concealer, then layered a primer, and then did two coats, which is most unfortunate. Plus they don't do returns so I'm a little iffy on this. 

NYX Lingerie:

I love how insanely lightweight the formula is- it glides on like whipped air and has great coverage while being easy to get on nice and crisp. My complaint is that it's a bit sticky and doesn't dry at all, and unlike Black Moon Cosmetics, it's not a dry tacky, but like, sticks, however it doesn't transfer onto anything. But overall it wears nicely and is easy to layer, but the longevity is definitely on the short side. I would say I prefer Black Moon for a liquid that is more cream. 

NYX Liquid Suede (New):

So I definitely prefer the lingerie after this test drive. This formula fries really sticky, and I also couldn't tell that it Had dried. The applicator and formula is not as precise as I'd like, so it was hard to get a crisp line or even make it smooth and even. The color is nice, but I had to go over the same spot to make it opaque, which isn't too bad as it didn't build up, get cakey, or need me to wait for it to dry before adding more. However after it dried, I did have to fill in spots that weren't solid and as it dried I could see problem areas. It also tends to settle in cracks of lips, which isn't my favorite, and is only good for 6 months. SIX MONTHS. It takes me minimum a year to go through a lipstick. This isn't so chill. Oh, and it transfers onto everything off of your lips. Also, as the day went on and I continued to apply more, eventually it was Incredibly dry, was balling up at the corners, flaking, and for super cakey. The long wear is not a thing on this, so overall I would say not a win. 

Smashbox Always On Liquid Lipstick:

This is a really nice smooth texture that goes on easily and dries quickly and somewhat powdery, but isn't crispy as it doesn't fully dry- i wouldn't say it's tacky, but it definitely transfers surfaces even though it stays on your lips. Like after eating your coverage is still pretty solid, but there is definitely a lip mark on your chin. I like the pointy applicator too, as it gave me a nice defined Cupid's bow which I feel is usually the hardest part of application for me. The color is also very smooth and opaque, with any transparent spots being easily coverable and the formula doesn't build up. The wear is super smooth too, originating from the center of the mouth and working itself off without flaking, and it's incredibly comfortable to boot. Overall I would definitely purchase in other colors. And this Grey is so flattering! One of my faves already. 

Stila Stay All Day:

I am officially a believer. This lipstick feels like heaven, doesn't transfer, and is the Most flattering nude I've encountered. It even matched my natural lip color so much, this seems more like a foundation for lips! They look so smooth and like the idea lips I wish I had every day, this Baci color is a strong investment. And it didn't get all over my chin when I was eating either, so yeah, this is a hella win. I'm not generally a big fan of Stila, but this they definitely nailed. It does have a tendency to bleed though so wearing something like UD's Ultimate Ozone, at least around the edges, is a good idea. 

Jeffree Star Velour Lipstick:

So I really really wanted to like this, but I'm not convinced with Unicorn Blood. Not only did it crazy bleed, but the applicator was hard to use, it transferred on everything, and even got on my teeth. So the color is gorgeous and completely opaque, but I def couldn't be kissin boyfriend with this on. And it also wore unevenly. So I'll try another color, I know reds can be tricky, but I was seriously disappointed. 

Follow up:

I tried 'I'm Royalty' and had a totally different experience, and the only differences were I applied Ultimate Ozone as a base on the edges and applied using a lipstick brush rather than using the actual applicator for a really precise effect. It wasn't sticky, didn't transfer, and lasted forever through drinking. So idk if this Unicorn Blood was a fluke, but I'm super down for I'm Royalty! 

MAC Liquid Lipsticks:

So I don't have a lot of pros for this, except it's not super drying and the applicator is nice and pointy. It's not really opaque, it bleeds, it transfers when drinking, it wears splotchy and it's tacky. Buuuuut I can give a few kisses without problems so I guess there's that. I won't be buying more. 

Kat Von D:

So i've worn this lipstick a few times and i'm just not in love, but that doesn't mean i'm totally ruling out this line, i just think the darker colors may not be as solid as the lighter ones. It's just so hard to get even, it transfers, and i have to wait for it to completely dry (a long-ass time) before trying to even out the color. Plus it chunks up and collects at the corners of the mouth, so that was also not fun. I intend to try others though as I've heard such great things, but i'm not convinced

Finally, I was having so much fun, I had my friend Alex draw on me with my lipsticks! A good time was had by all, especially when these suckers really don't come off! Fun fact: liquid lipstick doubles as body paint...

Play! By Sephora: June

Woo! Just got my second box from my Sephora subscription with the theme of 'The Minimalists' and I have to say it's not as exciting as last month, but it's still fun!

I did this one a little out of order as a few of these things didn't really work using together or I had to wait, but I still got through all of them. 

They're Real! Mascara by Benefit:

I've actually had this mascara since it came out and it's one of my favorites. It separates and gives lashes definition while lasting all day without flaking. It's a great mascara and works even better with the matching tinted lash primer from Benefit or Subversion from UD. 1/1 (but I already had this so does that cancel out? 🤔)

Also pictured above,

BECCA Primer:

This is really light and nice, though it won't be replacing my go-to primer from La Roche-Posay. The subtle glow underneath my foundation have a dewy appearance, but I feel this is best for an evening time makeup look than daytime, as it looks more sweaty and oily than dewy with the sun hitting it, and it doesn't have any SPF which I prefer in a primer. So evening is great, daytime not so much. It didn't ball though went on super smooth, even lighter than usual primer. Overall a win cuz it's something fun and different. 2/2

Bare Minerals Bare Skin liquid bronzer:

This definitely isn't really my thing. I'm super fair, and this product definitely works better mixed with foundation than placed overtop. I don't need my whole face looking even darker than my already lighter neck, and it doesn't blend into my contouring spots as well as a nice powder bronzer, so not a win. 2/3

Also pictured above:

Bumble & Bumble Don't Blow It:

This cream is supposed to be used in lieu of blow drying your hair to have it air dry in a stylish way, but all it accomplished for me was a huge amount of frizz and craziness. I'm thinking this isn't the best product for people with curly hair. 2/4

Tarte Tarteguard 30 Sunscreen Lotion:

The intent behind this product is nice, but I feel like there are just better ones out there. I mean, if you're short on time you should still always put a least a form of sunscreen on, but I prefer something a little less greasy. And I like having the option to put more makeup on later in the day, so I personally prefer using a primer with SPF 50, significantly more than this, and the finish is more powdery than a usual sunscreen, so I feel like this isn't the best fit for me. Even for a day at the beach, I need something higher. 2/5

Tocca Beauty Florence:

I've never really been a fan of fragrance samples as I'm super picky about perfumes. I get migraines super way from scents, so I always prefer something gentle and light, and this particular perfume is very strong, and particularly floral- a scent I'm not fond of too. So this isn't for me but that doesn't mean anything about quality. 2/6

So overall this box really didn't do it for me, but that's ok! There's always next month and the quality overall is so strong, much better than anything Ipsy ever had to offer. Plus I think I just have so much makeup and skincare at this point, shit needs to be special and super effective to do something for me. 

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Play! By Sephora: First Unboxing

May 2016 - The Forces of Nature

So after being on the waitlist literally since this program was announced, I finally got in and just received my first box! Check out the whole program here.

I'm pretty stoked on it, not gonna lie. I LOVE Sephora and their products, so unlike something like Ipsy where I probably only use one product in 3 boxes, I get to try out things that I might actually really love from brands I either already use or want to try! And on top of this, it's actually really adorable. The package, bag, and informative poster are all super cute. I need to find out how to work for whoever does their design cuz it's flippin great. 

I figured I'd go through the products in order and kind of just go over how they all work, as I really want to get the most out of this happy little box. So let's get started!

I generally don't like perfume samples cuz I'm Super picky about scents- the littlest smell can give me a raging migraine, so a perfume I like is few and far between. Also, I don't typically enjoy those fairly 'feminine' scents of florals, musk, or sweet, so usually wind up going for something light and crisp. This Atelier Cologne in Orange Sanguine is so so so wonderful. I absolutely love it. The tiniest dab of the sample put out a ton of citrusy goodness that I can really smell without it being too overpowering. It's crisp and citrusy without being too 'Orange' and all the sweetness that usually comes with that. I'm really really digging it. It almost reminds me of a cross between method soap and like a nice herb garden. I don't even know why, but it calls to mind a gorgeous spring day right before summer when you get a whiff of fresh laundry on the air that's been hung to dry. 

Definitely take a sec to read the description on the postcard, I feel like it captured the essence of this fragrance quite lovely. So far, this is a 1/1 win. Love. 

Next we have the Bite Beauty Amuse Bouche in Kimchi, from their new lipstick line. I've used Bite in the past, and Love their agave lip mask, so getting to try out one of the new shades is great. Their whole natural philosophy is wonderful, and the packaging and branding is so clean and easy on the eyes. I really like the simple deviation from the usual lipstick tube look with the little scoop out of the top- reminiscent of how well-loved lipstick tends to wind up looking. So far, I love this! It smells and kind of tastes like berries, the pigmentation is Huge, it glides on crisp and smooth hugging all of my dents and creases, and isn't too shiny. Kimchi is a super bright pink, but wearable for sure. I definitely can skip a balm underneath this lipstick with how nourishing it is. The only problem I've had with Bite in the past is since it is so natural, it tends to go bad before I have a chance to use the whole tube, but I really am down to invest in these, they feel so good!

Yaasssss bright bold lipsss. 2/2 wins. 

Ok next up, Tarte's Tarteist Lip Crayon in Latergram. I've only used a Tarte mascara in the past so I'm not too familiar with the brand overall, but I am intrigued by this teeny tiny little sample. It's so cute and little! I had to use my hand as a size reference cuz it's too adorable. It definitely doesn't match the bright pink Kimchi sample, that's for sure, but it's a decently nice dark mauvey-nude shade. 

I do like this color, but the texture is not agreeing with me. I had such a hard time trying to apply it to my lips I decided to just do a little search on my hand. It's kind of waxy and hard, an I personally prefer a softer lipliner formula so I don't have to fight going over and over on my lips just to get some coverage. So we're 2/3 now, but that's ok. More fun coming. 

Ok, now on to Origins Maskimizer + Drink Up & Clear Improvement Masks. What the heck. I've never even heard of. Maskimizer. What is this?! Well, apparently it's a primer for your goddamn mask. What. Even. This I'm totally interested in finding out what it's all about, but it's supposed to increase the efficacy of your mask. I have definitely used this Clear Improvemens charcoal mask before, and totally owned a full size one for quite some time, so I am familiar with how it works. Which means it'll totally help me find out if the Maskimizer really makes a difference. 

Woo such charcoal. Many brushstrokes. So using the Clear Improvements mask, I tested the Maskimizer and took the tips to heart to apply this with a flat brush. Two things definitely occurred to me-- a brush totally makes a difference in the speed and ease of mask applying. Dayam. Two, the Maskimizer also made the goop slide right on. I didn't have to pull from one spot to evenly distribute, a little went a long way, and it felt a lot more wet as a whole. And cool too, the Maskimizer immediately felt chilly on my skin, but not in such a bad way, more like a tingling sensation. So long story short, I truly can't tell if the Maskimizer made a big difference, but the mask itself did go on a lot easier and was easier to remove, plus my skin feels nice, soft, brighter and more even, without being oily or dry. I always put moisturizer on after masks, so that might play a factor of course, but I will definitely use this Maskimizer with any other masks I do, if nothing else for the ease of the whole mask process. So we'll call this a win at 3/4. 

Moving on to the Briogeo Deep Conditioning Hair Mask, I gotta say I'm not a big fan. I've got all the colors in my hair, so I take hair care pretty seriously, and have used the whole gamut of what's available from Olaplex to R&Co and Matrix and beyond, I am firmly sticking to ColorPhlex. I'm even finding it unfortunate that I chose to use this treatment for my weekly hair washing instead of the magic that is ColorPhlex. But anyhow, we're talking about Briogeo right now. My hair was snarly instead of detangled, it was rough instead of soft, and it even took longer to dry. I'm out. 3/5 now. 

Finally, there's the Korres Wild Rose Sleeping Facial, which is supposed to brighten and moisturize. I've had good experiences with Korres in the past, but this particular product is not a good fit for me. I'll start off by saying I loved how it smelled like roses- it's one of my favorite scents in skin products- but I expected it to be more like a gel or serum texture, but it was actually more of a cream, which kind of acted more as a heavy duty moisturizer than anything else. This isn't really something I need, and woke up with a slew of brand new breakouts all over my whole damn face. Well, any product that makes my insanely sensitive skin break out is not a friend to me, so I'm definitely skipping this in the future as well. 3/6 is the final wins tally for this box, but that's really not bad! Considering I had no expectations really, and typically am annoyed by fragrance samples, I wound up liking 3 things I both wasn't anxious to try or hadn't heard of. 

Overall, I am sticking to the idea that this monthly subscription is FAR SUPERIOR to the other options out there. Like, no contest. In all fairness, I am a diehard VIB, build up those points like nobody's business, am always down to take one of the Sephora classes, and will Definitely be taking my Play! pass to my nearest Sephora to learn more about the awesome shit that came in my box, but all the same, I really feel like this box has some quality products that mostly fit what I would be looking for in new things, so the fact that half worked out is significantly higher than any monthly box I've tried in the past. Can't wait for next month!

E V E L O M & other fun things

So I've been eyeing this brand for a bit after I tried out a sample and totally needed it in my life, so I finally bit the bullet and bought some of this cream cleanser I've heard so many good things about from Eve Lom. First off, this shit is expensive. Like, it's a cleanser and sizes range from $50-135, but it's also been the number one selling cleanser in the UK for the past 17 years straight. So ok, I'll give it a shot... And look at all the swag I got with it! I also joined the Space.NK shindig at bloomies for all the rewards, cuz i'm obviously a sucker who is easily duped by shiny things and rewards.

So many freaking samples!!! (One of those is even a foundation, which I'll talk about in another post cuz I've been going foundation crazy lately)

So first things first, I'm going to start with the eye cream that I got as a sample. I normally use Lancôme Absolue Eye Premium cream every night before bed (not the actual night cream, just regular type) and it's pretty magnificent. No complaints and my eyes have been better for it. So comparing this to that is a no brainier, cuz unfortunately this Eve Lom stuff burned the shit out of my eyes. Like firey beacons of pain that won't stop watering holy shit it is hellfire. So no. This is so a no for me. I know this brand is esthetician tested for sensitive skin and the cleanser totally didn't do this, but damn. The eye cream is Not my jam. 

This cleanser is where it's at though. Like holy crap dude, my skin felt like angels. The heavens opened up and there was a choir of songs kind of soft. I woke up, and it wasn't greasy, just moisturized, amazing skin. I had to remind myself constantly not to touch it, cuz that's all I wanted to do. It's kind of interesting stuff, cuz you rub it into your skin really well, get it all melty, then slowly work it into the eyes, getting all the makeup. My eyes didn't burn even a little. It was heaven. Then you take your Muslin cloth with warm water and pat your face, letting it steam up a little, repeat that three times, then wipe off all the cleanser and makeup, finishing by wiping with cold water to close your nice clean pores. 

So far so good, I'll keep posted on it cuz my skin is so sensitive, I could see this as being an overstimulant and my face breaking out as a result. But it's already decently broken out cuz stress. So we shall see!

Next up- moisturizer! The Radiance Lift Cream is reallyreally nice man. So I always moisturized after a shower to restore pH balance as if I don't, my skin over-compensates and produces WAY too much oil. I typically use Benefits moisturizer, and it really is wonderful...but this might actually be better. It smells like rose oil, absorbs into the skin almost instantly, and isn't oily At All. Ugh, my skin feels So Good. I can't even get over it. It's like how good my skin feels after the cleanser (which I just use at night to take off makeup, it's not my shower face cleanser. So complicated) and I might wind up buying this shit too. My skin just feels so ridiculously hydrated. It's unbelievable. 

There's even Sunscreen! Now, I am really into sunscreen, especially for my face cuz I am pale as death. Buuuut this made me break out! No idea why, it's supposed to be non-comedogenic, but I was not totally broken out before I put on the sunscreen, didn't wear anything else on my face, and by the end of the day and the next day I was totally pimply like All Over. I don't even understand. But will not be doing that again cuz now I have to like hardcore cold turkey detox on my skin before I can go back to the regular regimen. So bummed, cuz the texture is so nice and absorbs so well, totally not greasy at all. if it doesn't break you out, get on this shiz.

And finally, the moisture mask. So this is pretty intense. I waited to use it til after a shower and my skin had been dry for a bit, so this was also post-using the Cure cleaner (discussed in my past skincare post) which runs off all the dead skin. So my face really could use a serious drink of water. 

That being said, it's pretty interesting and I'm not quite sure how I feel about it yet. It comes out in a viscous cloudy gel, and you smear it on pretty thick. It's not really a run in kind of material. So my skin was pretty sticky. You're supposed to leave it on 10-15 mins and then wipe off excess, so after doing that my face still felt a little tacky. But after waking up in the morning, I haven't broken out, my skin is soft, and it doesn't feel oily. So overall, this might actually be a pretty solid product when Serious moisturizing is needed, especially cuz my skin started to get a bit greasy around 4pm. Otherwise I'm still all about that other Eve Lom moisturizer.

I'd also love to try the blemish cream, but that'll be another day.

My first group of other brand samples is something called Goldfaden MD. 

Energizing Eye Cream:

So this doesn't burn or anything, but I feel like it didn't do anything either and definitely didn't absorb into the skin. If I'm supposed to put this on in the morning I don't really understand how I'm also supposed to wear eyeshadow. It's got a texture that's super watery so a teeny bit goes a super long way, but I'm also not seeing the point to it. The most painful part of this for me, if I don't mind spending money on skin care, but it's gotta wow me, and this really didn't :(

Night cream:

This absorbs really quickly and goes on super smoothly, also doesn't irritate, but I did wake up with like way more crusties in my eyes than normal. So this is fine and all, but I still don't feel like it trumps my Lancôme Absolue. Another painfully expensive one i just wish would do a lot for me.

On to a new brand R+Co! Oh hai color shampoo and conditioner. Go to the link and look at that packaging! It's so pretty 😍😍😍 (I might buy it on packaging alone)

This stuff smells delicious. I love it. I don't feel like it stripped my color, and I feel like the conditioner was nice and thick, but I think I'd be ok with just the shampoo, as I prefer Overtone12 color conditioners. But this wouldn't be bad to do occasionally. And the shampoo even helped my hair be super duper soft (i tried my nomal conditioner with another shampoo and then with this one and there was clearly a winner in the softness category).

Something else I tried was their Death Valley Dry Shampoo, which while successful, still didn't blow me away. It is however a nice substitute until i get the real dry shampoo mate to my heart, Kevin Murphy, shipped to me. Kevin Murphy Fresh Hair dry shampoo is everything. It smells like heaven, coats my hair evenly so i don't need to spray a ton on, doesn't build up so i can really go a while in between washings, and you can even get every little bit out of it–you're not left shaking the bottle and feeling product that won't spray out. It. Is. Everything.

ok last brand of samples– Miriam Quevedo:

I only used a couple things here, but first up Caviar Intense Anti-Aging Luxe Masque! I definitely enjoyed this. it gave me a nice boost of moisture without having to use my Olaplex treatment, and it's not greasy! which i feel like is the hardest thing for me to find. I really want to use this all the time. It just feels like it's giving my hair a happy little hug of softness.

Other thing i tried, the Platinum & Diamonds Luxurious Serum:
uggghhhhhh why do i like this so much. my hair felt like magic. almost as soft as coming straight from the salon WHICH IS IMPOSSIBLE IF YOU'RE NOT AN ACTUAL HAIRSTYLIST. omg omg. i know it's pricey ($65) and i just bought a car, but i might have to figure out a way to swing it. my over-treated, heat-damaged, fine, crazy, curly, hair thanks me for this magic.

So moral of the story, go to your local bloomies, find a Space.NK boutique portion of the beauty department, join, and get allll the samples and try ALL the things. you never know, you might find your unicorn of skin care.