ProductWhores

Let's Play Make Believe

You guys, I barely ever buy makeup without seeing it first.  I know that sounds crazy, but I can count on one hand the number of times I've done it.  I like to "see" the products in person first and test drive them because I've found that no matter how great something looks online, in person it can be God awful.  But I'm breaking my own rule for Tarte's Make Believe In Yourself: Eye & Cheek Palette.  Look at it!  I mean, seriously.  LOOK AT IT!  It's an eleven shade palette of unicorn-inspired shades that includes the middle color, a strobing cheek and eye highlighter.  I could not be more into metallics right now and I've basically stalked Instagram to see swatches of this one and people have not disappointed. They're stunning.  And the reviews online have been super glowing too, so that makes me want it even more (social media at its finest!)  The only thing that's annoying is that it won't be available in stores until April (mid April, I think) but I'm so obsessed with it that I'm going to order it from Tarte.com (it's also available on Ulta.com and the previously linked Sephora's website, but Tarte does free shipping with a $40 purchase, so ding ding ding!)  I keep trying to convince myself to wait until Ulta has their next 20% off prestige coupon, but what if it's not there yet or sold out or the coupon expires before I can use it for that specific palette?  I would seriously be so mad at myself for not buying it because with my luck, at that point it would be sold out (it's limited-edition, of course).  So to the internet I shall go to order makeup, for the first time in forever (crazy, I know, but when you live in a big city like Los Angeles, there's really no need since I can just go buy it in any one of the many stores around).  Instagram, you are my kryptonite for makeup swatches!    

It's Time

If there was one thing I would've previously told you I would never wear, it would be blue lipstick.  I mean, it's blue.  On your lips.  I would've laughed in your face if you'd told me I would voluntarily leave the house looking like what I would've affectionately called "a corpse."  But then Urban Decay released their new Vice Liquid Lipsticks and there is a blue metallic in it called Time and well, here we are!  If you're looking to be a little funky or trendy, I highly recommend this shade.  It's just cool (for lack of a better word).  Overall, the Vice Liquid Lipsticks were an mixed bag for me.  I love, love, love the shades.  Seriously, they're gorgeous, especially all the metallics.  I covet them all.  Conspiracy and Studded are two of my favorites, both in the tube and out of it.  (They're a metallic brown and brownish-green, respectively).  But even the cream shades are all gorgeous.  My problem is more with the formula.  I found it drying and for most of the metallics, they seemed to oddly flake off in various places not long after application, leaving me with only some coverage and with lips that looked... not great.  I did not love that part of them.  But that being said, I'm obsessed with some of the shades to the point where I've decided that I'm still going to wear them, I just commit to looking in the mirror more and putting lip balm on over them.  Because seriously, too many shades to even mention how much I love.  Like Purgatory, a metallic plum.  It single-handedly brought back my love for purple shades, so if I have to peek into mirrors more often and carry a lip balm with me, well, I can make my peace with that.  Urban Decay for the win (again)!  

Note: Samples of this product were sent to me by a PR representative working with Urban Decay

The Highlight Of My Day

You know, in the category of products I didn't have that much knowledge about and rarely used, highlighters were at the top of the list.  I just wasn't sure why I needed them.  But NARS' new Banc De Sable Highlighter Palette is awesome.  Seriously, seriously great.  And now I'm totally on board the highlighter train!  The $49 palette (I know it's kinda steep, but you can pretty much make do with only this one palette unless you want to become a highlighting guru, so it's worth the investment) contains three shades - Rivage (a glistening pearl), Salé (a shimmering peach champagne) and Embruns (a metallic rose gold).  I'm obsessed with rose gold everything right now - I even just had a rinse that shade added to my blonde color, but as much as I like it, it's already fading after a week so it's going to be hard to justify the extra expense next time.  Damn you, hair!)  The colors themselves are so pretty, but what really sets this palette apart is that you can use them dry OR wet.  Dry gives you a little bit of shimmer, wet gives you SHIMMER.  It's really nice because you can choose how much you want to glow, which is, after all, the point of a highlighter to begin with.  I like using Rivage on my brow bone and at the top of my cheekbones and it's the perfect shade for that. Emrbruns is so pretty I almost want to wear it as a shadow. Just gorgeous.  Overall, this is one of the first highlighting palettes that made me say, "Ohhhhh, I get why people do this now."  And for someone with as much makeup as me, that's a fabulous achievement!

P.S. I'm also completely obsessed with their Asphalt Jungle Lip Gloss.  It's described as a "shimmering sangria" and it's sooooo pretty.  I kind of think about it as sort of a plummy bronze myself, but either way, it sparkles and shimmers and looks great in the tube and even more amazing on.  It's a limited-edition so it's probably going to vanish soon, but you can still get it online and in some stores, so get thee to a NARS counter soon.  Totally worth the trip.  

Note: A sample of this product was sent to me by a PR representative working with NARS

It's The Bomb!

So my face had been really dry lately.  Probably from a combination of being sick for weeks, the weather being really hot again, and other variables.  But whatever was causing it, it sucked.  I was realllllly at my wit's end because I'd tried all of my moisturizer staples and nothing was getting rid of the dry patches by the sides of my nose.  (Seriously, is there a worse place to have flaky skin?  Why didn't the Skin Gods just go ahead and give me a huge red zit on the tip of my nose to complete the look?)  Then I got sent a sample of Garnier's SkinActive Moisture Bomb and the clouds parted and the sun shone down on my face once again!  The moisturizer itself is a gel/cream formula and really light, so I wasn't expecting fantastic results, but I was so, so wrong.  I've been using it for about ten days or so now and my skin is noticeably softer, the dry patches are 95% gone, and dare I say it?  I'm kind of glowy! (Glowy is a very technical term us bloggers use).  It has a fresh, clean scent and isn't greasy at all, and it absorbs quickly, but for such a thin formula, it really packs in the moisturizing power.  And it's a drugstore deal at around $15 a jar (less if you wait for a coupon, which at CVS is like, every other day).  This one's a must buy!

Note: A sample of this product was sent to me by a PR representative working with Garnier

Note: A sample of this product was sent to me by a PR representative working with Garnier

Almond Milk and Honey

I have fairly sensitive skin, so I'm always on the lookout for products that'll do their job without irritating it even further. It seems like that would be easy (or at least easy-ish) but it's actually a lot harder than you'd think.  Products either aren't that great, smell terrible, or somehow make me break out in hives.  (Thank God for Tide's Sensitive Skin laundry detergent. Highly recommend!)  And then I got introduced to The Body Shop's new Almond Milk & Honey collection and little birdies sang, clouds parted and I suddenly started skipping everywhere I went (just kidding, but how awesome would that be?)  The collection consists of seven different products - a Shower Cream, Body Butter, Body Lotion, Body Scrub, Hand Cream, Bath Milk and soap.  I love when brands do this because it means you can layer the scent.  (Much like how I insist on my bra and underwear matching every morning, I refuse to use competing scents in the shower.  Who are these people that can use a floral body wash and follow it up with a fruity scrub?  MONSTERS!  Monsters, I tell you!)  I love the scent - it's warm and comforting, a little sweet, a little nutty... super pretty.  I'm especially digging the Shower Cream/Body Scrub duo.  The Shower Cream cuts through all the grime I accumulate walking around Los Angeles (L.A., I love you, but you're now known for your clean air) and the Body Scrub is strong enough to get rid of dead skin without being irritating.  I'm also really into the hand cream - it's super moisturizing, but not greasy, and when I use it, I get the bonus of getting a whiff of the delicious scent every time my hands are near my nose (which happens a lot more than you'd think). Even better, right now if you use the code SENSITIVESKIN on their website (just click here to shop) you'll get 20% off the collection.  I'm not sure how long the offer lasts though, so get your credit card out and start shopping!  

(Side note for all you L.A. people - the event to introduce this collection was held at Gracias Madre in West Hollywood.  I've been DYING to try that place forever and was super happy to finally get the chance (nice work, Body Shop!)  I highly, highly recommend checking it out.  Great food, great drinks, great atmosphere... a must try!

Note: Samples of this collection were sent to me by a PR representative working with The Body Shop

Foam It Up!

Can I tell you a secret?  I mean, not really a secret, more an embarrassing confession that I should probably keep to myself because no good can come of admitting it.  But here goes.  I'm ALWAYS looking for an excuse to go to Target or a drugstore.  I know I'm an adult and no one cares if I go and I could hang out in the light bulb aisle every night and no one would know, but still.  I feel like I should have reasons to go there as much as I want to (because let's be honest, it's just to check out the makeup displays).  So good news, fellow drugstore lovers!  I have a reason for YOU to stop by and that reason is Dove's new Shower Foam Deep Moisture Body Wash.  Love this stuff!  At around $7 (give or take a dollar or two, depending where you buy it) it's a bargain.  It smells fresh and clean, foams up right out of the pump (awesome) and gets me clean (even after a sweaty workout) without drying out my skin at all.  It also only takes a single pump on my loofah to wash my entire body, so one container will go a long way.  Plus, it's kind of a fun change to use a shower foam instead of a gel for once.  (I mean, "fun" might be a stretch, but it's at least a little different!)  Definitely pick one of these up on your next drugstore excursion and get your foam on!    

Note: A sample of this product was sent to me by a PR representative working with Dove