ProductWhores

Replenish Your Moisture

So my skin has been really dry lately.  Really, really dry.  I've used a couple of good moisturizers that helped a lot, but once I stopped using them to test something else (a hazard of liking products so much!) the dryness would come back.  So when they offered to send over goop by Juice Beauty's Replenishing Night Cream, I was all about getting it on my face as soon as possible.  I figured a good night cream could only help the situation.  (Also, I know it's popular to mock Gwyneth Paltrow, but I've always had kind of a soft spot for her.  I mean, let's be honest.  She has quite possibly one of the best lives of all times - she's gorgeous, rich, talented... I mean, if I could have all that but be mocked on the internet sometimes, well, that's a trade I'm making every time).  So they sent me over a jar of it, which I've been using for the last few weeks.  You guys, this stuff is great.  Really, really great.  Here's the official description:

"The Replenishing Night Cream is a luxurious, highly active night cream that works to plump, brighten, and firm skin overnight.  The nourishing formula visibly improves skin texture, reduces the appearance of wrinkles, and increases luminosity for a noticeable, healthy glow.  Sandalwood nut oil helps to increase elasticity, while linseed extract and hyaluronic acid hydrate, lift and firm.  The Replenishing Night Cream is formulated with USDA certified organic ingredients and contains approximately 79% total organic content."

All of that is a gloriously descriptive way of saying that it's a fantastic cream to put on before you go to bed to let it work its magic while you sleep.  (Or if you have insomnia lately like me, while you watch creepy ID Network shows about murder and play Dice With Friends against random people on your phone).  The cream itself is thick and luxurious and feels great on your skin and it doesn't have an overpowering scent.  To me, it just kind of smells... fresh.  Once on, it's not oily or greasy (my pet peeve in a moisturizer).  It just makes your skin feel great.  As for results, I can't testify to the reduction of wrinkles (only because I don't have a ton yet - thank God - and because I've only been using it for a few weeks) but it's definitely made my skin super moisturized and glowing.  And I love that it's almost 80% organic.  Anytime you can use organic ingredients, it's always better than chemicals.  The one and only drawback I can find to bring up is its price.  Like Gwyneth, it doesn't come cheap.  At $140 for 1.7 ounces, it's definitely on the pricier side of night creams.  But look at it this way - it's still less than La Mer!  And really, when does anything great ever come cheap?  (It's the sad truth of life. Expensive is usually... better).  But if you're looking for a great night cream that'll moisturize your skin super well and maybe even make you feel a little bit like a movie star... this is your cream!   

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

Pearly Goodness

Oh my God, you guys, I'm in love.  Like, LOVE!!! with all capital letters and multiple exclamation points after it kind of love.  Because it's impossible not to be with Bite Beauty's new Prismatic Pearl Creme Lip Glosses.  They.  Are.  So.  Pretty. The Gold shade (which is the only one in a High Shine Finish) came out during the holidays and I legitimately had to go to like, five different Sephora stores to find it because it was in such high demand and sold out everywhere.  And I didn't even care once I got my hands on it because it was so gorgeous.  I used it as a gloss over almost every lipstick I wore to every party for months.  (Seriously.  I was obsessed!)  And then all of a sudden this past month, there were SIX more shades of it available, but it was even better because they all have a Metallic Finish and that's so hot right now.  So between buying a few and getting some shades sent to me, I have them all now and I can't recommend them enough.  Here are the new shades for you to run out and get your gloss loving hands on:

• Pink Pearl - a metallic pink with red and pink shimmer (shown above)
• Champagne Pearl - a metallic champagne with nude and gold shimmer
• Rose Pearl - a metallic rose with green and violet shimmer
• Bronze Pearl - a metallic bronze with gold and silver shimmer
• Oyster Pearl - a metallic taupe with silver shimmer
• Peacock - a metallic teal with black, red and green shimmer

Here's the thing - normally I could pick out my favorites or tell you ones that aren't as pretty, but the bad news for your wallet is that these are all gorgeous.  Peacock isn't something I would normally pick out, but even that one is so interesting and unique that you're going to want it too, I promise.  I've personally probably been wearing Bronze Pearl and Rose Pearl the most, but the others aren't far behind.  As far as formula, that too is great.  They're moisturizing, not too sticky, last a solid 4-5 hours on me, and most importantly, they're very pigmented, so you're not paying $22 for a glorified Chapstick. Not at all.  With one swipe, you get all the color you need.  I seriously love these so much that sometimes I line them all up on my vanity and just kind of stare at them for a minute before I put them back.  Am I an addict?  Is there a twelve step program for this?  Heeeelllpppppp!  

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

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

Finally!

Ohhhh.  This has been such a long time coming and I'm SO excited for it.  Drum roll please! Jo Malone is now at Sephora! I seriously gasped a little when I saw the announcement. (Okay, fine, a lot).  I love, love, love Jo Malone, but not a ton of places carry it, plus this news means that whenever Sephora does their 10-20% off sales (depending on what level of Beauty Insider you are), you can use the coupon on Jo Malone. Because let's face it, it's an awesome brand, but it's pricey. Which makes it kind of hard to justify when you already own a ton of fragrances, no matter how much you love their new ones.  (I still regret not buying two of the Tea fragrances when they were out for that short time awhile back.  Missing out on a limited-edition product is the worst).  My all time favorite is the Orange Blossom Cologne.  It's soooo pretty.  It somehow manages to be both fruity and floral and every time I wear it, I get compliments.  (And not like the creepy kind of "Whattttt are you wearing?" compliments I get from old men when I wear Angel, which is why I had to give it up.  That scent is like catnip for weird old men.  I love it, but no.  Not worth it).  I cannot wait to see Jo Malone in store at "my" Sephora.  I'll be able to stay away even less now!      

Enlighten Me

I have to admit, I haven't been the biggest fan of highlighters. Just because they seemed... hard to master and also, I'm not a huge fan of shimmering.  (Well, I LOVE the way models in highlighter ads look, but when I tried to do it myself in real life?  Not so much).  But then I got stuck at the mall for two and a half hours while my phone got worked on at the Apple Store, so I was forced (forced, I tell you!) to spend even more time in Sephora than usual. And since I'd just been in there for awhile a few days before that, I was really reaching for products to play around with, which led me to the highlighter display.  Which led me to Josie Maran's Argan Enlightenment Illuminizer.  Okay, this product is fabulous with a capital F.  I wasn't wearing any makeup since I'd gone to the mall straight from a run, but when I blended this all over my face, it made me all glowy WITHOUT a ton of shimmer.  (I mean, don't get wrong, it's definitely there, but when I think of bad shimmer I picture like, glitter pieces all over my face and this is nothing like that).  Basically, it just gave me a healthy glow and a little bit of color.  I fell instantly in love and had to have it. And then when I got it home, I tried mixing it in with my foundation and I fell even more in love (if possible).  Together they make my skin seem as close to flawless as it's ever going to look.  I wouldn't say it makes me look bronzed at all, but definitely a tad darker than my normal pasty white self too. Really, it's just one of those products that makes you look better with minimal to no effort, so sign me up!  (Also, it was only $26, which is a lot less than most of the other highlighters I played around with, so that made me love it even more).  I hadn't bought anything from Josie Maran in a long time, but this is really making me want to rediscover the brand.  Kind of like when I stay away from gelato for months because I'm on a diet, then have one tiny scoop and suddenly must EAT IT ALL. Yep, exactly like that.    

So Very, Very Extra

Wow, I am really, really obsessed with the new Estee Edit Fluid Metal Eyeshadows.  See?  This is what happens when you venture to a Sephora outside of your comfort zone and find new brands that "your" Sephora doesn't carry.  Nothing good ever comes from venturing out!  More money just flies out of my bank account because I'm always like, "WHAT IF I CAN NEVER FIND THIS AGAIN??"  I fell in love with two shades - So Extra (an oil slick with green, purple, and blue duo-chrome pearls) and Don't Be Afraid (a deep blackberry with pops of violet sparkle) but at $24 apiece, I knew I could only buy one (UNTIL NEXT TIME) so I made the Sophie's Choice to take home So Extra and I don't regret it at all.  It's soooo pretty on.  I mean, I have a lot of makeup (A LOT!) and I don't have anything in this shade, which automatically makes me love it because if I could only tell you how many times I've bought something thinking that only to find basically an exact dupe already in my stash, you would be horrified.  But this - this is gorgeous and unique.  They're described as "a high-shine, liquid eyeshadow with a glossy metallic finish for instant-impact eyes with twelve hours of non-fading, non-flaking wear."  So Extra is definitely shiny and metallic, which I love, and it's pearly and perfect for a night out.  I'm not a "huge" fan of liquid shadows only because I find them kinda hard to work with, but I'm getting better at it and since I love the formula, I'm all in on it this time.  What I really like about it is that it's buildable coverage, so you can go as light or dark as you want, and it's smudgeable when you first apply it, so I've been putting it on and blending it sometimes when I don't want to be super dramatic.  You can also use it as as a liner with a thin brush - another plus.  Basically, these are all around awesome and I'm at the very least going to venture out once more to buy the Don't Be Afraid shade, and maybe the other four as well.  I highly recommend you do the same.