lines are cropping up in my neck, my upper chest is all tiny bumps – so maybe it’s no surprise that a $42 body serum tops my wish list at the moment. it doesn’t help that the internet has been raving about this one since its recent launch and it just seems like all of the good acids could really work some skin-shedding magic on this long-neglected body.
ren promises a head-to-toe glow from this lotion-like, light-textured serum. it boosts skin’s natural exfoliation process, hydrates and smooths. also grace is in love with it and that’s a super strong endorsement.
and speaking of grace! i am loving her new pod, young adulting. i recommend it for bookworms, anyone commuting on the sidewalks of manhattan, and everyone in-between. grace and co-hostess becca are so fun to listen to.
i’m going to try to get back into a blogging groove and share what tops my wishlist on wednesdays (but don’t be surprised if that turns into whatever day it actually comes to mind…or once every six months). in the meantime, you can always keep up with all of my current beauty wishes here.
for whatever reason (life, motherhood, work stress – all of the above), i have never appreciated a shower as much as i do these days. more often than not, i’m sharing my shower time with a little person playing at my feet with all of her favorite creatures and figurines, but on the rare occasion that i do get one to myself, it’s better than heaven on earth.
perhaps it’s because there are a handful of things in my shower that are really working for me and helping to make that time oh-so-blissful.
have you heard of the salux? a kind coworker pressed one of these into my hand months ago and it’s a godsend. i use it mainly to exfoliate my face soap-free, but i love to get my back, neck, chest, and the bumpy spots on back of my arms, too
a big honking tub of sugar scrub – the moroccan rose scent is my favorite, but i’ve heard good things about all of them. i love the texture and greaseless feel of this stuff, plus the price is insanely good
newly obsessed with this apple cider vinegar rinse. my scalp has never felt cleaner! one rinse completely eliminates all of the gunk and delivers the craziest root volume ever
do you have one of these? my dry heels suffer from awful cracks and this season’s mule trend has me so self-conscious over them. a few satisfying sweeps of this and i can push the pedicure chair off just a few weeks longer.
i have strayed from this razor and keep returning – apparently my armpits are very sensitive (insert woman shrugging emoji) – and while i know i waxed poetic on this wet moisturizer, i’ve been using it pre-shave on my legs and holy softness! it’s a game changer.
a few other little luxuries of late:
happy mother’s day to me! i broke up with my wallet and simplified with one of these
i have rediscovered this mascara after 8 years away – it’s as good as i remember. it delivers these lashes that look better than extensions (because can’t we all spot those at a mile away at this point?) and kind of like you’ve been using a growth serum, but without the risk of scary, negative effects.
i’ve been shouting about my latest obsession on instagram and facebook and i’m so completely blown away by this magic that i’ve honestly been grappling with how to even talk you through it.
so, i’m going to dive right into my love affair with dr. jart cicapair.
i had read this and this, then i heard jenny han mention it on Forever35. clearly, the universe was compelling me, so at my earliest opportunity, i trotted my top-knotted, bare face into sephora and slathered some right on my skin.
the formula is thick – creamy and slightly tough to work in, but once it warms to your fingers it smooths on pretty effortlessly. it’s green in the jar, but transforms once on skin into a tone that is me, but perfect.
so i stood there, mid-store, i swiped some on my right cheek and watched every single flaw and pore just vanish. i quickly did my whole face (yes, while standing in Sephora – i don’t know what came over me) and walked around to grab a few other things.
as i browsed, i kept catching my face in the mirror and thinking HOLY CRAP – that’s my skin?! what is this actual sorcery?! my face looked like i was wearing a professional application of a foundation custom made for me. it’s an invisible perfection the likes of which I have only seen in a snapchat filter, but IRL.
i didn’t question things any further or think about how I would work this into my routine (i assumed as a base for foundation) – just ponied up my $52 and rolled out of there like i had just won the freaking lottery.
now that it’s been in my life for a month, here’s where we stand:
i have completely broken up with my moisturizer, my primer, my foundation, my daytime eye cream and my under eye concealer. that’s $200+ in products now being served by one little green jar. in the mornings, i refresh my face with toner, then begin working this into my skin. the results are flawless and effortless – the assured holy grail! i top with a touch of liquid orgasm, brows by benefit, and current mascara, then i cruise out the door.
the biggest shocker for me is no longer wearing foundation. i’m not yet sure how this will work if my skin gets any sun this summer – i think the tone will be too washed out, but time will tell, and you can bet that i will be back to share more.
as if i don’t buy enough makeup, retailers continue to tempt me with all of the tiny foil packets. i try to offload most of these when they come my way (welcome to my home! please take products), but i hang on to the ones that i actually think will make a difference in my routine.
over the past few months, the following droplets of skincare and makeup have led to full-size purchases, now living happily on my vanity:
the first is this kiehl’s toner. it came in a packette just like this one and it was love at first swipe of the cotton pad. it’s gentle and soothing – perfect for dry or sensitive skin. i got maybe two uses out of the original sample and i was hooked immediately. i love that a little goes a long way and i use it nightly for a quick follow up to my micellar water or as a morning refresh, pre-moisturizer.
second is the liquid blush of the moment. i squeezed the life out of this smudge of a sample, but thankfully you need about a pin drop to cover each cheek. i have since bought the full size and trashed all of my powder blushes, as i’m fully convinced that a more flattering flush will never ever be found.
i fell hard for the sound of this next one, an eye gel from lancome. illuminating? anti-fatigue? cooling? done done done. the sample arrived in one of my recent ulta.com packages (well played, ULTA!) and actually lasted me for the better part of a week as i applied AM and PM. it feels so-o good going on and instantly tightens and brightens. it’s a sheer gel with a pearly finish, unlike anything else that i have tried and perfectly combats my peskiest eye woes. (ahem, aging.)
the fourth sample situation came to me in the form of dior and the scrub was by far the hero of the group. i have long been obsessed with creme de rose (which i suspect is the base for the scrubby bits in this formula) and since this is 1) a stick and 2) actually tints your lips after you apply it and work it into your lips, it all but beats my other scrub hands down.
that’s $120 that the beauty industry suckered out of me! but, i hate returning products when they don’t work, so sampling them up front is a much more efficient way to bring something into my routine and use it up, rather than buy myself another errand by taking a risk, no?
i don’t know how this post has remained unwritten until now. i have been using these hair products religiously and exclusively since last march.
alas.
ever since i had my daughter, i have been struggling with thinning hair. now that she is 3.5 the thickness is mostly back, but there is a persisting symptom at the very front middle of my part, where a tuft of short hair sticks straight up no matter what i do to train it to lay down. it’s not cute.
and i have chalked it up to some strange pattern of regrowth that had to do with all of the hair fallout that i experienced after giving birth – but it turns out i was wrong about that.
after hearing jen wax poetic about virtue on fat mascara, i had to give them a try. previously i had been undyingly loyal to my living proof full collection, but this just goes to show that you never know when something better is out there lurking in the shadows.
it turns out that the virtue smooth is the hair nirvana that i have been seeking. after one use of the shampoo, conditioner and 6-in-1 styler, my hair was in the best shape that it has ever been in. no more fried ends, no more dryness or static, and no more chicken little cowlick in the front – and it has stayed in that good place ever since.
these products are pricey but #worthIt. the addition of keratin is resurfacing my hair and the results are immediately apparent. this is the best hair that i have ever had – it’s no wonder the collections are being lauded by beauty editors everywhere.
the goods come in full size ($36 – $40 each) and travel-size minis (PRAISE!) for your testing pleasure ($15 – $20).
ps –
i’d be remiss not to share that i bought these very reasonably price loafers while on work travel this week and for a cheap shoe, they are insanely comfortable! i’ve been wearing them nonstop and i kind love the festive february vibe that they are giving me in concert with this tee.
pre-travel, i also scooped up this carry on bag in extra large and it has changed my life. it zips closed and i don’t care if it gets caught in the security conveyer belt because, let me tell ya, that happens and it ain’t real pretty. (plus i’m taking it to be monogrammed in an electric rose thread this weekend.)
oh! before i go, a few recent beauty wins with reviews coming soon:
these days, i can’t stop touching my face. it’s smooth and bump-free, even on my forehead where, even if my skin looks clear, i always have clogged pores and clusters of teeny tiny breakouts. now, there’s a softness where there used to be scarring and rough patches – it’s just all going really well.
this is pretty monumental for me, because i have never been classified as having “good skin.” thankfully, if 8 years of blogging and all of the experiences that come along with have taught me anything, it’s how to (for the most part) take care of my sensitive and acne-prone face.
after years of suffering and painful allergic reactions, my instincts when it comes to choosing products are finally spot on. i know the types of things that will actually improve my skin and the types of things that i shouldn’t touch with a ten foot pole. (i also know the exact products i will turn to if my daughter has so much as a zit when she gets older.)
so what’s got my skin in such a good place?
i know i briefly mentioned it in november, but i cannot say enough positive things about this moisturizer. i didn’t even have to it to try to know that my skin would love it, no question. and after 4 months of regular use, it’s soothing my dry, stressed skin and has eliminated all redness. this is the most even, calm and comfortable that my skin tone has ever been. i urge everyone to try this magic cream.
then there’s this toner, which i got for christmas and it is really changing the game right now. this is what has eliminated all traces of breakouts and scarring. it’s a refreshing follow up to my micellar in the PM and the perfect pre-curser to my moisturizer in the AM. it does not leave my face feeling tight and has erased all inflammation. it’s also less than half the price of my prior favorite and more effective, at that.
so now that the base is solid, i actually need something to brighten up this even tone. (is the grass not always greener?! sigh.) i picked this blush up in orchid, on major sale and ooh la la do i really like it. in fact, i like it more than this and this, two old (and much more expensive) liquid loves. i squeeze out the teeniest bit and sweep it straight onto this brush, then sculpt away. it’s sheer and gorgeous, plus it lasts all day long. a major hidden gem!
ps – a couple of non-beauty snags from the past week:
these coated skinnies at this insane price! why have i never tried LOFT denim? the fit is perfection.
these studs which you can still get for free. (i’m obsessed with her whole collection.)
as a proud member of team #COVERGIRLmade, i really hate it when the competition wins me over. like, really hate it – but sometimes they put something out there that’s so good, that i just can’t ignore it.
NYX #thisiseverything lip oil has been calling to me for awhile, so when i saw it on display last week, i coughed up the very agreeable $6.
i tried it first on dry, naked lips and i think i actually said “wow” out loud after applying. it hydrates and adds shine while being so unbelievably moisturizing. i could not stop rubbing my lips together. bonus points for there being virtually no taste or smell and zero tacky feel.
the next morning, i tried it as a lip primer, slicking it on while i got ready and then blotting it off before applying color. i loved it! it delivers weirdly long-lasting hydration, even after the actual product fades from my lips.
and it works on top of lip color, too – especially the super drying ones that are favorites in the beauty community like this one and this one. a few dots of NYX #thisiseverything lip oil on parched, pigmented lips turns these somewhat-painful products into something really gorgeous and easy to wear. (just note that while it doesn’t compromise their staying power, they do tend to transfer a bit more than usual with the addition of the oil.)
so, quick recap: NYX has basically created a cosmetic swiss army knife with this one, and while i’m really cranky about them churning out another winner, i’m nothing if not brutally honest and fair in my beauty musings. (and i’m also halfway out the door to buy my second tube!)
the anxiety over my favorite and basically irreplaceable (due to its insane price – ugh) eye serum running out is real.
i have been hunting diligently for its replacement, falling first for this (still a contender, but not quite the brightening and smoothing effect that i need – aaand my husband stole it), then for this(also still a contender, strong in the brightening, less strong in the tightening). somewhere in my travels i tried this (didn’t love it – except the texture is very cool)…but none of them can even hold a candle to my go-to.
then a week ago, i read this review of a very reasonably priced serum that i had never heard of. skip ahead approximately 35 seconds and i made quite possibly the quickest amazon purchase ever in life, because compelling beauty writing will always get me to pull the trigger. always.
crop natural antioxidant eye serum arrived in a speedy 48 hours (thank you prime goddesses) and i’ve been getting acquainted ever since.
my take?
it’s VERY good. like the byrdie writer says in her review, this is less serum and more gel. it feels cold and delicious going on, then it kind of tightens and freezes everything into place. if i touch the skin under my eyes once it’s settled in, it feels like glass – totally smooth and crease free. then i sleep on it and wake up with eyes that are dark circle-less without any puff. none!
for me, the true test for a PM eye treatment of any kind is to see if i can go sans concealer the next day and not look dead. (i actually hate the way concealer looks under my eyes. it’s never natural and i would rather zap lines and darkness at the source than cover them up, hence my relentless search for eye cream…bet you’re glad we’re all caught up on that.) so i’m very happy to report that the mornings after applying crop, i can get away with just my daytime eye cream and foundation. big win.
i’m still not ready to toss my tata harper, but when something this good comes along at one tenth of the price, it’s impossible not to give it some love.
i swear, i’m going to get back to regular writing if it kills me. (hopefully it doesn’t.)
i’m obsessed with the two women behind this podcast. they are real, warm and sweet – the audio version of your high school track sweatshirt and a mug of hot tea on your mom’s couch. i love listening to them and they wrap every show with obsessions. it’s a tiny peek into their personal world and some of the big or small, tangible and non-tangible things making them happy.
so, in true girl next door style, here are a few of my current obsessions:
this coat, snagged on amazon for $60 (still a steal at its current price). i needed a puffer for these negative degree walks to work (brr!) and it being my first winter in NYC, i did not want to obsess over style (that can come next season) – just function and warmth. this thing nailed it.
bombas socks. our creative agency gifted me a boxed set for the holidays and holy cozy comfort. these are supportive (if you can say that about a sock), the ultimate boot or lounge sock and they boast a seamless toe – total game changer. my husband has already stolen two pairs (yes we have almost the same size feet #soweird) and i just forced him to place his own order – because back off buddy, the socks are mine.
my girlfriend leggings. these are kind of old news, but i got a pair sent to me during the promo phase where they only charged you shipping and i am ready to order my second pair. they are made of recycled bottles (amazing) and have held up far better than any other pair i’ve ever owned. they are high rise, slimming, fit like a glove and do not pill or stretch out. i mean…lulu-who?
this coffee mug, discovered here. everyday, times two, i bus, i train, i walk – it’s a journey and i need hot coffee to get me through, plus a spill-proof situation (because, mass transit is unpredictable at best) that i can throw in my new favorite tote and go without worry. i’m going to grab a second one soon – and that lavender shade is calling my name.
springy, statement earrings. they make such a powerful pop and instantly dress up the most minimal black top. you can also snag them in a smaller size if dramatic florals aren’t your daily go-to.
hi strangers. i don’t know how, but it’s freakin’ december.
life continues to spiral and swirl in NYC – in all of the best ways, promise. it’s just that everything seemed to get bigger, faster and more all at the same time. it’s a lot, but it’s GOOD and we’re adjusting.
i still collect, hoard and test beauty products at an above average rate, so nothing’s changed there. one day i hope to pop up here more often than monthly, but for now here’s the best of the best of what i found in november:
this hydator was in the beauty bag of a colleague (we were comparing eclectic brand mixes within our own bags – as you do) and once i read the ingredient list, i knew i had to have it. when i tell you this stuff LOVES my combination skin – it’s purely insane how the superfoods have tightened things up and smoothed them out. my face is deliciously plump and hydrated without getting greasy at all. if i could bathe in it, i probably would.
i’ve been having a bit of a schizophrenic moment when it comes to blush – i’m never satisfied and i always want that coveted winter flush. something that makes me look healthy and young, like i have a touch of a fever or have had a few too many drinks. (does that happen to anyone else?) this guy in the mini size and a stippling brush (i love this one) are delivering that dream and then some. the resulting pink is perfection – the vibrant coral red and muted champagne really come together for the ultimate tinted cheek.
(ps – can we just praise beauty in miniature size? it’s the literal best. maybe it’s me, but i’m on to the next thing before i’ve made a visible dent in most things, so the more tiny products, the merrier!)
i have some sort of adult-onset lip sensitivities going on and i’ve had more recent flare ups then i care to recount. i still love a bold, matte, lip (due to aforementioned sensitivities, i have sworn allegiance to this formula until the end of time – the bullet is the perfect size to give me a sculpted lip without a liner or mirror) – but that requires a flake-free canvas. this new lip mask kicks my old lip mask to the curb. my lips are smooth and soft, and i swear my lines are dissipating. thank you, thank you clinique gods and goddesses!
i love an intense, bold, lacquered lash – but my sparse little natural lashes can barely handle that kind of formula. it’s like they crumble under the weight or something. the formula here is very, very goopy and you must kind of expertly craft and build your lash look, using a lot of patience and a lash comb to clear out the clumps. the formula holds all day long, though – including on bottom lashes which never (EVER) happens for these watery eyes.
for extra credit, i recently replaced my original set of mini slants (purchased in 2001 – those things have some long legs!), purchased a second bottle of this glittery shade and treated myself to this (which i am admittedly still making friends with – she is BOLD).
