I have a bunch more sneek peeks for you guys of new Fall products, as well as some that are launching around the holidays. First up (above photo) we finally get to see inside the Too Faced Papa Don't Peach packaging! It looks like a beautiful peachy blush with shimmer and I bet it smells like peaches too!
Also from Too Faced, a peek at one of three palettes in the Grande Hotel Cafe set, which is part of the Christmas in New York collection. The palette shown in the photo is Peppermint Mocha, but there are two more above it...Gingerbread Cookie and Eggnog Latte. Plus, there's a Better Than Sex mascara that goes along with it. Wouldn't that be amazing if the eyeshadows smelled like the name of each palette? :)
The next sneak peek I have is from Maybelline. It looks like they're releasing a color correcting kit called (I'm guessing) Master Camo. I don't know what the release date is yet, but a lot of fall collections are dropping in September so we might be seeing this pop up at drugstores very soon!
Next, here's a sneak peek of the Urban Decay Holiday 2016 collection. There are new products and also throwbacks like those Vintage lipsticks! Of course the all-matte Naked Ultimate Basics palette is front and center, along with Vice Lipstick palettes, false lashes, Illuminated Trio Palette, and Liquid Moondust eyeshadows.
Here's another look at the Tarte Color Wheel blush palette. It contains 10 full-sized blushes and they're all brand new shades (a few of them look like highlighters!). I first posted about this in my original Holiday Sneak Peek post (you can view that here).
Coming soon from City Color Cosmetics is the new Boho Chic palette (launching 9/1/16 for $15.99). It contains 12 brand new earthy shades, and I'll be swatching it for you soon, ahead of the release date, so stay tuned for that!
Finally, Wet n Wild posted a sneak peek on Snapchat that looks shimmery enough to be a highlighter but it's hard to tell since it's black and white. I'm hoping it is, since their previous highlighters were so amazing (and are so hard to find!).
The brand new, revampedCity Color Cosmetics Spice Me Up Palette ($15.99) has arrived just in time for Fall! It includes two extra shades, bigger pans, and sturdier packaging, but most importantly...look at these gorgeous warm, rich shades!
You might remember the original Spice Me Up Palette looked like this:
What do you think of the redesign? I think it's a huge improvement and I can't wait to get my hands on it!
To purchase, please visit CityColorCosmetics.com and use code BudgetBeautyBlog to save 10% off your order!
Last night, NYX Cosmetics posted some new products on their Instagram story, including swatches, so I grabbed some screenshots to share with you today. They have just released a brand new blush palette, face palette and brush set and they're available now on the NYX website. I'm not sure when they'll be available at Ulta yet, but I'll update you when I know more.
Let's take a look!
The Ready Set Contour Brush Set ($25) includes three brushes that are designed to make contouring easier.
Next up is the Sweet Cheeks Blush Palette($20) featuring 8 highly pigmented shades in both matte and shimmery shades.
Finally, the Love Contours All Palette($22) is a face palette that contains 9 eyeshadows, 2 highlight shades, 2 contour shades, and 2 brow shades.
Do you have anything on your list? I'd love to hear your thoughts! :)
There are a few new Maybelline products on the Ulta website tonight (thanks so much to reader Amber on Instagram for the heads up!). The fall collection isn't supposed to launch until October, according to the sneak peeks I've seen on Maybelline's Snapchat, but as we know, drugstore products have a way of launching earlier than expected!
First up is the new The Falsies Push Up Angel Mascara ($9.49) which has a "push-up wing brush that sweeps lashes to the side, while lifting and plumping from the roots."
Next is the new Brow Precise Fiber Volumizer ($9.99) which is "a filling brow mascara" with a "fiber-infused gel and tapered spoon brush for no-mess, precise application". I actually was involved in the testing of this product (I work with L'oreal's Research and Innovation department from time to time testing products and giving them my opinions). I absolutely loved this product...the brush is genius! If you think about it, brows are hair so why not comb them with an actual brush instead of a spoolie? It makes it so easy to comb your brows into place and the fibers help to fill in your brows. Plus, the hold lasts all day. I actually still have my test sample and use it all the time, but I'm going to purchase this and try it because I'm not sure if they tweaked the formula after all the testers gave our feedback or if they kept it the same...I'm curious to find out!
Also, Maybelline is BOGO 50% off right now at Ulta, so if you're planning to try both of these anyway, it's a good time to grab them!
What are your thoughts? Will you be trying either one of these?
Pur Cosmeticsrecently launched theirLove Your Selfie 2 ($42) palette and it's available now on the Pur Cosmetics website and at Ulta.com. I never got a chance to try the original Love Your Selfie Palette (although I was thisclose to buying it last Christmas with some gift card money after seeing all the great reviews). Face palettes are my jam lately...especially on those days when I don't want to get out of bed and I'm feeling totally uninspired to shop my stash and pick and choose different products from different brands. Not to mention trying to color coordinate my eyes, lips, and cheeks. Face palettes are an easy fix and this one has everything but foundation (and concealer if you use one), making it the perfect travel companion.
Let's take a look!
Love Your Selfie 2 comes in a cute magnetic palette with silver lettering and a silver glitter overspray on the top and bottom of the palette. In case you're wondering (and thinking it's going to get all over everything), the glitter hasn't come off at all...at least not yet!
The palette is a bit on the chunkier side if you're thinking about using it for travel, but it would still take up less room than bringing all of these products separately.
On the back, there's a map of all the shades that are included inside (but the names are also printed inside the palette for easy reference).
The inside of the palette is laid out nicely with a large, full-sized mirror and a magnetic closure.
The color selection is really beautiful and you're getting all the products you need to create a look from start to finish (minus foundation). Love Your Selfie 2 includes:
8 eyeshadows (3 matte, 5 shimmer)
1 baking (setting) powder
1 illuminator
1 blush/bronzer
1 matte lip pencil
1 lip gloss
1 mascara
This is my first time trying Pur Cosmetics eyeshadows, so I can't say whether this is their typical formula or not...but these are super soft, creamy, and buttery with excellent pigmentation! They do cause a bit of fallout due to the fact that they're so soft, but it's nothing a quick tap of the brush won't solve. They blend beautifully and are long-lasting on my dry eyelids due to the creamy formula.
The shades include:
Headshot (vanilla matte)
Statuesque (light cocoa matte)
Panorama (mahogany with gold flecks)
Abstract (milk chocolate pearl)
Pose (powder pink)
Sketch (rust)
Megapixel (pure gold)
Paparazzi (olive green shimmer)
Also, while we are talking about eyes, I was really excited to see a travel-sized tube of Fully Charged mascara in this palette. I posted a full review of it a while back (you can read that here) and I absolutely love it!
The face products are equally as impressive as far as the formula goes. They go on super smooth and they feel buttery soft.
The Overexposed baking powder is more of a satiny finish, so it's great for brightening under your eyes and setting concealer. You can also use this as highlighter if you prefer them without a lot of shimmer (think Laura Geller's French Vanilla).
Photogenic is a rose gold illuminator and it's so gorgeous, whether you use it on the high points of your face or as an eyeshadow. It has some shimmer but it's finely milled so it doesn't go on glittery...it's very soft and pretty.
The Composition bronzer is a nice, neutral shade of bronze that can be used as intended, but I also like to use it as my crease color when creating eye looks. It's the perfect matte medium brown and works well with the eyeshadow shades in the palette.
I love that there are two different lip options because it gives a lot more versatility to the palette. You can wear the pencil and the gloss separately or layer them to create a third lip color.
The matte lip pencil in Focal Point is a deep rosy shade that's perfect for fall. I was expecting it to be really dry but it surprised me by being really creamy and it was easy to fill in my lips, even though the pencil is thinner than your typical chunky lip crayon. The color lasts all day and feels comfortable, not drying.
The lip gloss in Silhouette is a rosy pink shade and is more subtle for a daytime look, yet still adds quite a bit of color to your lips.
Here, I created a warm-toned fall look using the matte Statuesque shade all over my lid, Headshot under my brow bone, the rust-colored Sketch shade in the crease, and the brown panorama shade on my outer V and lower lash line, finishing with two coats of Fully Charged mascara. I used the Composition bronzer as a blush with a little Photogenic illuminator as a topper. I used the Overexposed baking powder to set my concealer and to highlight my forehead, bridge of my nose, and chin. Then I filled in my lips using the matte lip pencil in Focal Point. It's not my usual everyday nude look, but I love how everything turned out!
Overall, I'm really enjoying the Pur CosmeticsLove Your Selfie 2 palette! It has so much versatility and is truly an all-in-one face palette. I'm really impressed with the quality of everything inside, and it really makes me want to try more Pur Cosmetics products in the near future.
Colleen Rothschild is quickly becoming one of my favorite skincare brands, so I was really excited when I was given the opportunity to try the new Mandelic Acid Radiance Serum ($75). I've been using it since July and it has since become a staple in my skincare routine. I plan to do a separate post about my entire routine, but today I wanted to focus on this one product because it's made such a big difference in the way my skin looks and feels!
Let's take a look ...
Key Ingredients: You probably know that exfoliation is the key to removing that top layer of dead skin that makes our complexions look dull, but some of them (such as glycolic acid) can be harsh to those with sensitive skin. This new serum contains Mandelic Acid, which is derived from German Bitter Almonds. It has a larger molecule size so it doesn't go as deep into the layers of your skin, thereby reducing redness and irritation. It breaks down the tiny bonds between dead skin cells, revealing the bright clear skin beneath. This is gentle enough for me to use every day and I've never experienced any irritation from it at all. When I first started using glycolic acid, I could only use it a few times a week and had to build up a tolerance...but I was able to use this every day with no problems.
This particular formula also contains Lactic Acid (derived from milk) and Salicylic Acid (from the willow tree).
Lactic Acid is another gentle alpha hydroxy acid that helps to break apart the dead skin cells, while Salicylic Acid (a beta hydroxy acid) breaks up the cells that stick together inside the lining of your pores, de-clogging blackheads and whiteheads.
Those three ingredients combined with antioxidants such as Vitamin C, peptides and fruit extracts are what makes this a powerhouse serum for brightening and decongesting your skin, while also firming and protecting from environmental stress.
When to use: I use this serum at night after using Colleen's Radiant Cleansing Balm ...AHA's can make your skin sun-sensitive so it's recommended to use them in the evening. This serum feels very light and watery and it absorbs very quickly. It has a beautiful spa-like scent...one of the many things I love about Colleen Rothschild products. As soon as I breathe in the soothing scents, my mind just sort of calms down and gets right into bedtime mode.
I like using it right before my retinol serum to get rid of those dead skin cells and help the retinol get down a little deeper (as well as my moisturizer).
Claims/Results:
Over time, this serum claims to:
Refine your skin's texture and tone (mine already feels smoother and looks brighter)
Reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles (I use a few different anti-aging products so it's hard to tell which ones are making improvements)
Help clogged pores and blackheads (I've noticed that my pores look smaller and the tiny blackheads near my nose are gone since using this)
Inhibit dark spots and uneven tone (I haven't gotten as much freckling this summer, and I think that using this plus a good sunscreen has helped tremendously).
Firm and protect with antioxidants and peptides
Quick Update: I just wanted to do a quick update on the other Colleen Rothschild products I posted about back in June. I've been using the Radiant Cleansing Balm and Sheer Renewal Cream all summer and have fallen in love with them even more! The Radiant Cleansing Balm removes makeup so easily but what I love about it even more is that my skin looks so bright and feels so soft after using it...something I don't often find with cleansers. Also, the Sheer Renewal Cream has been my go-to moisturizer all summer. It has such a beautiful light texture with a matte finish that doesn't make me feel greasy. I'm a little sad that I'll have to stop using it when the weather turns cold and my skin gets drier but I plan to try a more moisturizing option from Colleen Rothschild at that point.
If you're interested in trying the new Mandelic Acid Radiance Serum(or any other products from the Colleen Rothschild line), use code BEAUTYBLOG20 at checkout to save 20% off of regular-priced items (expires one week from today). This code brings the price of the Mandelic Acid serum down to $60 and saves you $15. Also, I recommend the Discovery Kit if you're new to the brand...it comes with 7 different generously sized travel products (including the Radiant Cleansing Balm and Sheer Renewal Cream) and is $76 when you use my code. Have you tried any Colleen Rothschild products yet? If so what are your favorites? If not, which ones are you interested in trying? Press SampleAffiliate LinkSubscribe to The Budget Beauty Blog by Email
I had a feeling we'd be seeing new Sephora Favorites sets for Fall 2016 after one of my readers (@biggbeautyy) tagged me in a photo on Instagram a few days ago. She had found the Extravagant Eyes set in-store but it wasn't online...until today! Plus there are three other sets to choose from...let's take a look!
1. Extravagant Eyes ($42- a $134 value)- 0.85 oz Huda Beauty Lashes in Samantha #7 - 0.05 oz Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Colour in Plum - 0.10 oz Marc Jacobs Beauty O!Mega Lash Volumizing Mascara in Blacquer - 0.158 oz Milk Makeup Eye Pigment in Silent Disco - 0.05 oz NARS Dual Intensity Eye Shadow in Himalia - 0.028 oz Sephora Collection Waterproof Contour Eye Pencil 12 HR Wear in Black Lace #01 - 0.14 oz Smashbox Cosmetics 24 Hour Photo Finish Shadow Primer - 0.25 oz Urban Decay Heavy Metal Glitter Eyeliner in Midnight Cowboy Reader @biggbeautyy on Instagram also tagged me in this photo, where she swatched the products in the set:
2. Give Me Some Lip ($28- a $97 Value)- - 0.07 oz/ 1.98 g Fresh® Sugar Rosé Tinted Lip Treatment (sheer rosy tint) - 0.04 oz/ 1.13 g Kat Von D Studded Kiss Lipstick in Lovecraft (mauve pink nude) - 0.22 oz/ 6.23 g Lancôme Juicy Shaker in 313 Boom-Meringue (lemon meringue flavor) - 0.05 oz/ 1.41 g NARS Satin Lip Pencil in Rikugien (rose pink) - 0.13 oz/ 3.68 g Smashbox Always On Liquid Lipstick in Stepping Out (deep nude) - 0.16 oz/ 4.53 g Too Faced Melted Liquified Long Wear Lipstick in Chihuahua (dusty mauve)
3.Scouted by Sephora ($44- a $150 Value)- - 3 x 0.13 oz/ 3.8 g Cane + Austin Miracle Pad+ - 0.17 oz/ 5 ml Drunk Elephant C-Firma™ Day Serum - 0.24 oz/ 7 ml The Estée Edit Pink Peony Overnight Water Pack - 0.17 oz/ 5 g Herbivore Coco Rose Coconut Oil Lip Conditioner - 1 oz/ 30 ml Jurlique Rosewater Balancing Mist - 1 oz/ 28 g Lancer The Method: Polish - 0.05 oz/ 1.5 ml LASHFOOD Phyto-Medic Eyelash Enhancer - 0.25 oz/ 7.5 ml Tata Harper Purifying Mask
4. Soko to Tokyo ($40- a $100 Value)- - 0.2 oz/ 7 g AmorePacific Treatment Enzyme Peel - 0.34 oz/ 10 ml belif The True Cream Aqua Bomb - 0.84 oz/ 25 ml boscia Charcoal Pore Pudding Intensive Wash-Off Treatment - 0.49 oz/ 14 g Caolion Premium Blackhead Steam Pore Pack - 0.17 oz/ 5 ml Dr. Jart+ BB Cream in Light to Medium - 1 oz/ 30 ml Erboran Yuza Double Lotion - 0.33 oz/ 10 ml Shiseido Ultimune Power Infusing Concentrate - 0.68 oz/ 20 ml Skin Inc. Pure Revival Peel - 0.4 oz/ 12 ml Tatcha Luminous Dewy Skin Mist - 0.23 oz/ 6 g Too Cool For School Egg Mellow Cream Which one are you getting? Don't wait too long...these Favorites sets have a tendency to sell out within the day (or even a few hours!) . Check them all out at Sephora.com Affiliate Link | Subscribe to The Budget Beauty Blog by Email
If you missed out on the Tarte BIG Blush Book last year, I have great news for you! Tomorrow at Noon (EST) head on over to Tarte.com to get the newest version with all new blush shades inside for $60. There are 8 full-sized blushes inside, which at $28 a pop, means that this palette has a $224 value. I'm positive it'll sell out in minutes, so I'm going to head on over to Tarte's website now, keep it open in my browser and then refresh it at noon and hope for the best.
The City Color Cosmetics Spice Me Up Palette ($15.99) is a brand new 2016 re-release of the original Spice Me Up Palette (which I reviewed last year). The revamp adds two additional shades, larger pans, and upgraded packaging. It does cost $7 more than the previous version and the eyeshadows are basically the same size (.034 oz in the old palette and .035 in the new palette). So for the extra $7, you're getting two additional shadows, but are also paying for better packaging and (in my opinion) an upgraded formula. I'll compare the two palettes toward the end of this post, but for now, let's take a closer look at the new Spice Me Up...
I love the look of this palette, and it launched at the perfect time when fall is right around the corner. In a few more weeks, I'll probably be putting my shorts and tank tops away, along with my lighter, summery makeup in favor of jeans, sweaters, and warm, rich eyeshadows, blushes, and lipsticks. This one is right on point...it's still nude shades for the most part (which are the majority of what I wear) but it's filled with toasty warm colors that look like the view out my window when the leaves start changing. Looking at it just puts me in a fall mood!
The formula feels very velvety to the touch (a couple of shades, such as Paprika feel a little drier) but they're not super soft and buttery. This is good news if you don't like a lot of the fallout that comes along with those softer formulas...these have none. They are on the denser side, and pick up beautifully with a brush. You know how the softer formulas don't always pack a lot of color onto your lids because it's too busy dusting all over your cheeks as you're trying to blend? These apply beautifully, and stay where you want them.
The shades are pretty consistent when it comes to the formula. As I mentioned above, the reddish shade, Paprika feels drier than the others, while one or two shades such as Cinnamon (to the right of Paprika) are super buttery. The majority of the shades have that dense, soft, velvety texture and almost all of the shades have a satin finish...Ginger and Mace seemed to have the most shimmer. I was definitely impressed by the formula here and I think it's an upgrade from the previous Spice Me Up palette.
When I first saw this palette, I thought of the new Anastasia Beverly Hills Modern Renaissance palette and wondered if any of the shades were dupes. When I put the two side-by-side, I thought there might be a few, but after swatching them all, I've found that while they have very similar color palettes, there are no exact dupes. Still, if you're not in the market for the ABH palette, the Spice Me Up palette gives you a similar feel for a third of the price!
Finally, I wanted to compare the new Spice Me Up to the old one. You can see how much use mine has gotten...it's a mess! The new version is a lot larger in size and I find the packaging much more appealing, though not as travel-friendly.
Once I started swatching them both, I realized that the shades in both palettes are almost exactly the same, with the addition of a few new ones. The biggest difference is in the formula...the shades in the older palette have that soft, buttery feel with lots of fallout. They also have more of a shimmery finish. The new palette is that denser, more velvety formula with more of a satin finish.
Below, I've compared the top row of the old Spice Me Up palette to the top row of the new one. The first shade is very different...the older one is a frosty white, while the new one is a satiny beige taupe. However, the rest of the shades are definitely the same colors...just with different finishes. Also, the new palette has one additional shade in the top row, called Saffron.
Top: Old Spice Me Up Palette- Top Row Bottom: New Spice Me Up Palette- Top Row
The bottom row varied a bit more from the old palette to the new one. The first four shades are similar in color, but vary in the finishes. Then they replaced that lavender taupe shade in the old palette (which I always thought didn't exactly fit in with the other spicy shades) with the reddish Paprika shade in the new palette. Finally, they added the an additional shade, Cinnamon to the new palette.
Top: Bottom row of the old Spice Me Up palette Bottom: Bottom row of the new Spice Me Up palette
Overall, I'm impressed with the new Spice Me Up palette from City Color. I think they took an already great palette and made it even better! If you already own the original Spice Me Up palette, you may not need this one since the colors are so similar. However, if you're a fan of more satiny shades vs shimmers, you might appreciate the difference between the two. There are also a couple of different shades that help to set it apart a little bit.
The biggest beauty event of the year is almost here! TheUlta 21 Days of Beauty sale is only 10 days away, and I've been saving my pennies (and avoiding buying any of these products until September 4th).
I'm super excited about the Lorac Color Source blushes and highlighters...I currently own two of each but the formula is so awesome that I have always wanted to buy more. I'm also happy to see the Mally Shadow Sticks on here! I normally buy them in sets on QVC to save money but there are a couple of individual shades that I've been wanting...and $12.50 each is a lot better than $25! I've also been wanting to try the Urban Decay Afterglow blushes, but didn't want to spend $26 apiece on them since I have so many blushes to begin with.
What will you be buying? I'd love to hear about it!
Still, the packaging is beautiful and it contains 40 hand-picked eyeshadows from her best-loved, most popular palettes. I have a few Nordstrom notes saved up from the N-Sale, but they'll barely make a dent in this so sadly, it's just not in the budget. If only I had unlimited funds...
What do you think? Is it worth the splurge?
You can find the Bobbi Brown Nude Library at Nordstrom.com
Confession time- I'm the laziest when it comes to applying makeup. Like, I just can't be bothered most days, at least during the week when it's just me and the little guy at home. I like to think I'm letting my skin breathe, ahhhh....
But really I'm just lazy.
When I do go out to run errands, I take the path of least resistance...I use my fingers! I'll use them to apply foundation, concealer, a little cream blush (I've even blended powder blush with my fingers, lol!). Then I'll use my middle finger to dab some eyeshadow onto my lid and then use my clean ring finger to blend it out...a little mascara...done!
I've done this for years, so I shouldn't just blame it on being a stay-at-home mom. I first learned to apply makeup with my fingers, back in the '80's when you couldn't find brushes at the drugstore and Beauty Blenders hadn't been invented yet. When I was working a 9-5 job, most days I would stay in bed until the last possible second, hitting snooze multiple times so when it came to makeup, I would apply it as quickly as possible...with my fingers. Over the years I think I've become pretty good at it!
In fact, when you see a photo of me, chances are I applied most (if not all of it) with my fingers.
The funny thing is, I love the way my makeup looks when I use brushes...it's so much more flawless! Also, in the Winter months especially, a Beauty Blender (or other blending sponge) to apply foundation and concealer gives my dry skin such a dewy boost. But most days I just can't bring myself to use them because, well...I don't want to have to clean them! It pretty much comes down to that one simple fact.
But that's what weekends are for right? My husband is around to watch the little guy so I can spend more time on my makeup and actually clean my beauty tools.
What about you...what's your makeup routine like? Do you use brushes, a Beauty Blender, or your fingers?
The Balm's Meet Matt(e) Hughes Setis now available on Amazon.com! I first posted about it during my Holiday Sneak Peeks post and I got a lot of questions about the release date...well I'm happy to say it's finally here!
It comes with six mini long-lasting liquid lipsticks for $31.50 including the shades:
Charming
Sincere
Committed
Doting
Dedicated
Loyal
I have no idea if this will be in stores such as Kohls yet...I originally reposted the photo of the set from @beautylogicblog on Snapchat and she said that it would be available on Amazon in September. So I'm not sure if that means it will be at other stores later or if this set is exclusive to Amazon.com
Either way, grab yours now because I bet this will sell out quickly! :)
It's taken me a long time and lots of trial and error but I finally have a skincare routine that works for me and I can honestly say that my skin looks better now than it did ten years ago. I was blessed with blemish-free skin in my teens and smooth, clear skin in my twenties, despite all of the neglect I put it through. I rarely took off my makeup before bed and hardly ever moisturized (I know, terrible!). But then things started to catch up with me around the time I turned 30. I started seeing sun spots from not wearing SPF and fine lines cropping up around my eyes. All of a sudden I had visible pores on my cheeks and a rough, dull texture as my skin got drier. Foundation started to settle into imperfections and makeup didn't look as good as it used to. With my 30's came the realization that if I don't take care of my skin, no amount of makeup is going to look right. So I started focusing on getting my skin to a healthy state and as a result, I was able to turn back the clock a little bit. I can't say that I'm completely free of fine lines or sun spots, but realistically no skincare product alone can do that.
With the products in my current routine, I've enjoyed brighter, clearer skin, lessened fine lines, and a softer, smoother texture.
To show you the difference, I posted two photos below...the left one is from 3 years ago, and the right one was taken a few months ago. I'm not wearing makeup in either one. *Please note: I have large bags under my eyes in the photo on the left because I had just given birth to my son a few months before and wasn't sleeping at all. I don't normally have bags under my eyes and that was a temporary thing, so I'm not going to compare that to the newer photo since it had nothing to do with my skincare routine.* But the real difference is that now my skin is brighter and clearer and the freckling on my cheeks is greatly reduced (although you can still see it if you look closely...especially on my nose). I still have fine lines in my forehead and under my eyes but they're not as deep as they were.
I didn't think I was seeing many changes when I first started my routine, but looking back and comparing the two I can see how much of a difference taking care of my skin has made. I don't need as much makeup now and I never thought I would say that at 38 years old!
As a result, I've started to shift more of my budget toward skincare and less toward makeup. At this point in my life, I would much rather create a clear, smooth canvas to work with rather than spending all of my money trying to cover it up with makeup.
So without further ado, here's my nighttime skincare routine from start to finish (I'll do a separate post on the products I use in the morning next).
The cleanser I use at night depends on one thing...how tired I am!
If I'm absolutely exhausted and don't even feel like turning the water on, I use Simple's Micellar Cleansing Wipes($7.99). I've tried so many different kinds of wipes from many different brands and these are the best. They remove makeup easily, even mascara and they don't leave a film or sticky feeling behind. My skin just feels soft and clean...and they're unscented as well.
If I'm not too tired but it's late and I don't have a lot of time, I reach for IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Makeup 3-in-1 Makeup Melting Cleansing Balm ($38- currently on sale for $34.24).This is the first cleansing balm I've tried that doesn't leave an oily residue on my skin! It rinses totally clean with just water and my skin feels velvety soft, with no double cleanse required. I apply it to dry skin and it melts into an oil on contact dissolving any type of makeup quickly and easily. It's also unscented and great for sensitive skin.
If I want a luxurious cleansing experience and have a little more time to spend, I reach for the Colleen Rothschild Radiant Cleansing Balm($65- get 20% off using code BeautyBlog20)This balm has a beautiful, soothing, spa-like scent and a soft, melty texture (similar to the IT Cosmetics balm above) that you apply to dry skin. It comes with a muslin cloth that you run under hot water (not so hot that you can't put your hands in it) and then drape the cloth over your face and let the cleanser melt into your skin and the soothing scent relax you...it's like a spa treatment! Then, you use the cloth to remove the cleanser and it gently exfoliates your face at the same time. My skin looks the best after using this one...it just takes a bit more time since you have to remove it with the cloth.
The next step I use is an essence, which is like a thinner version of a serum. I've been following the multi-step Korean skincare routine for a few years now, which involves starting with the lightest, most watery-textured product and adding layers until you get to the thickest product. I found the May Coop Raw Sauce ($14) essence at Sephora a few months ago and I love using it as a "prep step" before my serums. It has a light, silky texture that goes deep into the skin to help your serums (which have the most active ingredients) penetrate further.
I use two different serums at night...one to address fine lines and one to lighten discoloration and smooth the texture of my skin.
First, I use the Colleen Rothschild Mandelic Acid Radiance Serum($75 use code BeautyBlog20 to get 20% off). This contains both alpha and beta hydroxy acids to help fade sun spots, clean out pores, and exfoliate the dead skin sitting on top. I just started using it last month and I love how gentle (yet super effective) it is! Before that I was using the Pixi Overnight Glow Serum ($24) which is a great, affordable option if you're looking for an exfoliating treatment. The Pixi serum uses glycolic acid which is a very effective exfoliator (because it goes down really deep), but it is also more likely to cause irritation if you're sensitive. It also doesn't contain the beta hydroxy acid, which helps to clear your pores, but I still really liked the smooth results I got with it so I use it once a week in place of the Mandelic Acid serum.
Next, I use the Peter Thomas Roth Retinol Fusion PMserum ($65). This is the best retinol treatment I've tried because it doesn't cause irritation and you don't need to work up to using it. I previously had tried a retinol from Paula's Choice among others and the sensitive skin underneath my eyes would always develop these really sensitive dry patches that looked red, almost like I burned my skin. This one doesn't do that because it contains micro-encapsulated retinol that's time released. It releases a little bit at a time all through the night so you're not hitting your skin with it all at once. It has a super light, water-like texture that any skin type can use and I have definitely seen the fine lines on my forehead and underneath my eyes decrease after using this product (retinol has been proven to help rebuild collagen). I was previously using Sunday Riley Luna Sleeping Night Oil ($105) as my retinol treatment and it's another great choice if you want to avoid irritation. It's just way more expensive than the Peter Thomas Roth version (which honestly works just as well if not better in my opinion).
I have really dry skin, so I like to use heavier products at night that will plump up my skin while I sleep. I actually mix a little cocktail together that includes a dollop of Drunk Elephant's Lala Retro Whipped Cream mixed on the back of my hand with two drops of Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate oil ($46).
Drunk Elephant Lala Retro Cream($60) has a soft, fluffy whipped texture that's moisturizing but not heavy or greasy at all. It contains 6 rare African oils, hyaluronic acid, green tea and plantain extract (helps increase firmness and elasticity). It's completely unscented and great for sensitive skin.
I purchased Kiehls' Midnight Recovery Concentrate after seeing multiple rave reviews online. It contains evening primrose oil to boost radiance and squalene which is similar in molecular structure to our own skin's lipids. It makes my skin feel so soft and smooth and it's lightweight so any skin type can use it.
I used to switch off using both of these moisturizers alone but then I read that if you have dry skin, you can mix a few drops of facial oil with your moisturizer...it makes such a difference for me and I would never have thought to do that. My skin actually looks plumped up and the moisture stays with me longer instead of disappearing by morning. It does feel a bit heavy on my face but I don't mind when I'm going to bed...it feels sort of like a mask!
Finally, I finish my routine with the Kiehls Midnight Recovery Eye Cream ($37). I just started using this recently so it's hard to say whether I've been getting results from it. But I purchased it because I like the Midnight Recovery Concentrate Oil so much that I wanted to do the same thing for my eye area. It has a medium-weight texture, absorbs easily, and contains the same ingredients as the concentrate oil plus Butcher's Broom which increases microcirculation and reduces inflammation. I will say, my eyes don't look as puffy when I wake up in the morning, so that's a good sign!
The final step is to apply a coat of Bite Beauty's Agave Lip Maskto my lips. This is my third tube and I will never stop buying it as long as they make it! It has a delicious vanilla scent and is super thick and rich so it just seals in moisture for hours and hours. When I used to apply other balms at night, they would just sort of sink in and disappear by morning, but when I use this, it's still on my lips when I wake up so I feel like it's protecting them all night long.
That's it! It might seem a bit overwhelming to see all of these different products at once, but if you don't know where to start, I would recommend trying a serum first. You get the most visible results from them and they make the biggest difference over time.
Stay tuned for an upcoming post on my daytime skincare routine!
Did you guys get your 20% off Ulta coupons in your email this weekend? I wanted to use mine to pick up the rollerball version of the new Sarah Jessica Parker fragrance, Stash ($25-$85)but then reader cbsheehan reminded me in the comments below that it can't be used on fragrance...bummer! I don't like to buy perfume online but since I don't have an Ulta store close by, a rollerball is a more inexpensive way to try a fragrance and I'm pretty sure I'm going to like this one! I'm not a floral, flowery type of perfume gal. Those tend to give me a headache, so instead I opt for either warmer scents that have vanilla or coconut in them or woody, whisky-type scents that border on being a little masculine. Stash is described by Sarah Jessica Parker as being a "rule breaker", smoky and woody like a "sweater from a guy who was on the Eurorail too long". Right there I am reminded of Kate Walsh Boyfriend perfume (which is still available on her website but no longer in stores)...I loved Boyfriend. It took me back to high school when my boyfriend would leave his hoodie at my house and I would put in on and smell one part his cologne and one part his natural warm scent. I'm hoping that Stash is the same sort of idea...manly but with some flirty, girly notes mixed in. Top Notes: Grapefruit Zest, Black Pepper, Sage Middle Notes: Cedarwood Atlas, Patchouli, Ginger Lily, Pistachio Bottom Notes: Olibanum, Massoia Wood, Vetiver, Musk Grab yours now at Ulta and Ulta.com Affiliate Link |Subscribe to The Budget Beauty Blog by Email
Tarte surprised us today with a brand new palette just ahead of the Holiday 2016 launches. The new Color Vibes Amazonian Clay Eyeshadow Palette ($46) is limited edition and contains 20 full-sized eyeshadows (a $556 value).
The packaging is really cute, don't you think? It's giving me a very Pucci vibe!
Shades include:
Pixel (pink champagne)
Love Hue (warm rose)
Different Strokes (mauve)
On the Monet (aubergine)
Style (blackened plum)
Base Coat (pink ivory)
Medium (brown)
A Beautiful Degas (rose gold)
Benus (bronze)
Mosaic (copper)
Glaze (golden pink)
For Realism (cool mulberry)
Color Vibes (plum bronze)
Seascape (shimmering dark turquoise)
Inked (navy)
Exhibit (mauve pink)
Pop Art Princess (rose quartz)
Modern Icon (metallic plum)
Getty Up & Go (mulberry)
Illusion (dark plum)
Here's a closer look at each shade:
And some swatches:
What are your thoughts? Will you be picking this one up?
Neutral eyeshadow palettes are a dime a dozen these days but they're also they kind of shades I wear most often. I already own several neutral eyeshadow palettes, but what set this apart for me was the fact that it also contains blushes, bronzer, and a luminizer all in one place. It makes it that much easier to get ready in the morning!
I've actually become a bit of a face palette hoarder lately, and not just because they're great for bringing along on trips...it's because they're so easy to use every day when I'm short on time. I don't have to think about which products to pair together, just grab a palette, foundation, and mascara and go.
Let's take a closer look...
The Neutral Attraction Palette comes in a slim, cardboard compact with a magnetic closure and a mirror inside. It houses six eyeshadows, two blushes (one shimmer, one matte), one luminizer, and one bronzer.
The vibe of this palette is very soft, easy, no-makeup makeup. If you're the kind of person who wants to look really natural and fresh, you're going to love these shades. But if you're into brighter, bolder shades, you might find this one to be a bit boring and safe.
Eyeshadows: The formula of the eyeshadows is very soft, so you'll see a bit of fallout with these. They're also nicely pigmented and long-lasting on the eyes. The shades are mostly matte, with the exception of Heavenly Halo, which is a shimmery silver shade, and Pumped which is a cocoa brown with gold shimmer. The interesting thing about Pumped is that it doesn't look shimmery on the eye...the overall shadow is a soft matte brown but you just see a sparkle every now and then.
Blushes: There are two blushes, The Big Break which is a soft, shimmery peachy pink, and The Limelight, which is a beautiful mid-toned pink shade. I love them both individually and also mixed together...so pretty!
Luminizer: The Premiere is a rosy gold luminizerthat's very soft...it's not an in-your-face kind of highlight, it looks really pretty and natural on your cheeks. If you like a bolder highlight, you can also use the Heavenly Halo eyeshadow, which really makes your cheekbones pop.
Bronzer: The Ocean Viewbronzeris a gorgeous, soft shade that works perfectly with my fair-to-light skintone. It's also a perfect transition shade, so I use it on my eyes as well.
Here are the six eyeshadows swatched on bare skin, no primer...
Left to Right: Pacific Sands, Heavenly Halo, Daydream, Debutante, Vow, & Pumped
...and here are the blushes, luminizer, and bronzer.
Left to Right: The Big Break, The Limelight, The Premiere, The Ocean View
Overall, I have been loving this palette all summer and I'm sorry it took me so long to share it with you guys! Thankfully, it's on sale at Sephora right now, so you can grab it for $29! What are your thoughts? Are you as into face palettes as I am lately? Affiliate Link | Subscribe to The Budget Beauty Blog by Email
Get ready! The Balm Cosmetics Flash Sale is ON tomorrow at Noon Eastern (9am Pacific). Everything is 50% off sitewide, no code required! They're also doing $5 US shipping for the event ($25 Canada, $38 other countries).
You'll want to head over to their site as close to starting time as possible to make sure you can get in and get what you want before things sell out (or the site crashes).
If you're not sure what to buy, check out my past reviews of The Balm products here.
Now that Labor Day weekend is upon us (and there are great sales to be had!), I've started my fall clothes shopping. I know that this isn't beauty related, but there are such great deals at J. Crew Factory this weekend...the entire site is 50% off (no code needed). So I thought I'd share what I got, let's take a look... Tops: The first thing I grabbed was the Metallic Striped Artist T-Shirt ($17). I'm smaller on top and a little bit hippy on the bottom so I love boatnecks because they make my shoulders look a little bit wider and it gives me a more proportional look overall. I got this tee in Ruby Stripe and also in Navy Stripe (not pictured). They'll look great paired with jeans and flats. I love flannels, both on their own or layered under a sweater or jacket, so I picked up the Classic Button Down Shirt in Flannel Perfect Fit ($34.50). I love the fall colors in this one and it'll look cute layered under a rust colored sweater (I already own) with tall boots! I also grabbed two of these Cotton-Wool V-Neck Cardigans ($34.50), one in Camel and one in Olive green. They're so versatile and can be worn over just about anything, from jeans to dresses. I'm always reaching for cardigans when the weather gets chilly and I like that these aren't too bulky and they're a great length, hitting slightly below the hip. Outerwear: I fell in love with this Quilted Jacket($79.50). It's the perfect casual fall jacket for wearing with jeans and boots. I also love puffer vests, and this Herringbone version ($54) is more interesting than the plain one I have but it'll still go with everything. Jeans:
I have a pair of J. Crew Factory jeans that I absolutely love so I decided to pick up a few more in other colors while they're on sale. I got the Patriotic Wash Skinny Jean ($42.50) which is a flattering dark color with a little fading, and I also got the Valley Wash, which is a faded gray color. I got them in the 28" inseam, which is perfect for me at 5'6". They hit right at the ankle which is the perfect length for wearing with flats.
Accessories: I grabbed this cute burgundy Ryann Crossbody Bag ($39). I think it'll look really great with neutral-colored outfits and add a pop of fall color.
I also got these Anya Suede Ballet Flats ($44.50) in this soft dove gray color. I'm a collector when it comes to ballet flats...I live in them in the fall and Spring and these are super soft and comfortable to wear. I have so many colors...black, beige, brown, gold, snake pattern, etc. but I don't own a color like this and it's so pretty!
I'm sorry it's been a few months since my last Faves & Flops...I ended up taking vacations at the end of June and the end of July so being away kind of threw me off a little bit. This month, I have quite a few products to talk about, so let's get started! :)
This summer, I discovered the L'oreal Extraordinary Oil line(I first talked about it in my Ulta Haul post) and I have never had softer, silkier hair. I'm obsessed with this line and have been using it exclusively all summer while my expensive hair products sit underneath my sink collecting dust. I use the shampoo and conditioner every time I wash (but I switch to a clarifying shampoo every 2nd or 3rd wash so it doesn't build up) and then I use a little of the serum before blow drying (and a tiny bit on the ends after blow drying). It's a magical combo and so affordable!
I've also been loving theIGK Rich Kid Coconut Oil Gel($27). It sounds heavy but it's actually formulated for fine to normal hair like mine so it doesn't add weight. You apply it to towel dried hair and let it air dry for that perfectly undone look that's so popular now. I was skeptical, but I had pretty good luck with the Bumble & Bumble Don't Blow It cream (see my post on that here) so I decided to try this. I've only tried it a couple of times but so far, I love it!! It allows me to air dry with zero frizz and my hair still has body and shine. You can also use it before blow drying and it adds a little bit of hold and shine as well. If you want me to do a full review on this, let me know in the comments below.
Soap & Glory arrived at Walgreens stores in August, which is great because now they're easy to find (I don't live close to an Ulta store and my local Target doesn't carry them). But I did end up hauling some products from Ulta.com before that and I'm obsessed! Every day, I start out with theSmoothie Star Breakfast Scrub ($15). It's right up there as one of my top favorite scrubs of all time. It's soft, easy to scoop out, makes my legs super smooth...oh, and it smells like maple syrup and brown sugar. Then I use the Smoothie Star Lightly Whipped Body Buttercream ($15), which has a pistachio, almond, and sweet vanilla fragrance. Am I making you hungry yet? I also use it all over before I go to bed, and using it twice a day has given me the softest skin ever. At night, I've also been using the Heel Genius ($10) cream before bed and it has softened my feet more than any other foot cream I've tried. It makes them feel velvety soft.
I tried several palettes in August and am loving them all for many different reasons.
TheCity Color Spice Me Up Palette ($15.99) is a revamp on the original and is the perfect fall palette. The warm, rich colors are so beautiful and the quality is fantastic too (see my full review here),
I'm a huge fan of Fresh's Sugar Lip Treatments, so I couldn't pass up the new Fresh Sugar Cream Lip Treatment ($24). It's just as moisturizing as the stick version, but is much more pigmented...almost like a lip lacquer without the sticky feel. I just wish they came in more colors!
I've also been loving the Smith & Cult The Tainted Lip Stained ($24). This is an interesting product...it's a gloss that reacts to your pH levels for a hint of tint, but it's also a stain so it leaves some color behind even after it's worn off! It comes in two shades, and I got the lighter of the two called Linger Sigh (which is suggested for lighter skin tones). It has a soft vanilla scent and feels SO moisturizing...not sticky at all. Here are my lips before and after using it...it gives just a hint of color, just enough to make you look polished. My lips feel moisturized for hours after applying and the color really does last a long time.
I'm on my third tube of Julep's Length Matters Mascara ($20). The packaging has recently changed (mine is an older tube) but I've been stockpiling this from my Julep maven subscription boxes and it's one of my all-time favorite mascaras (see my initial review from 2014 here). I had forgotten just how much I loved this since I haven't worn it in a while. The brush has perfectly spaced bristles that really comb through your lashes so you get zero clumps. The formula makes my lashes so long, they almost curl back around and touch my eyelids. Plus, it doesn't smudge under my eyes!
Wearing Julep Length Matters Mascara
And now for the flops (which weren't right for me but it doesn't mean they won't work for others)...
First up is Makeup Revolution The One Concealer ($5.40). This reminded me of Benefit's Fake Up Concealer (which I love) because it has a concealer core with a moisturizing outer ring. The problem is it feels greasy, even on my dry skin and there's a lot more moisturizer than concealer in the formula so it doesn't really cover anything at all. I was hoping for a Fake Up dupe, but no luck this time!
Next is theNYX Soft Focus Primer ($9.99). I purchased this because it looked like an interesting take on a primer, but it ended up feeling greasy and balling up on my skin. Also, I hit pan the first time I dipped a sponge into it, so there isn't much in the compact, even though it looks like it's a decent size. Overall it didn't seem to do much, such as blurring pores or helping my makeup last longer so it's definitely a miss for me.
The last two products were recent purchases from Hard Candy. I love this brand and am rarely disappointed but these were both a bit of a miss for me. I've been wanting to try the Cheeky Tints ($6) for a while now, because I love cream blushes but these weren't quite what I was expecting. They're a gel formula and it takes quite a lot of building to get them to show up on my cheeks. Then, I noticed later that there was an obvious line of blush on my cheek where I didn't blend it well enough (they soak into my dry skin really quickly). On the positive side, they are very long-lasting, but being difficult to build up and blend takes away from the ease of using a blush like this.
I also wasn't a fan of the Just Glow Baked Illuminating Duo ($8). I had read some negative reviews about it not being pigmented enough and not having enough "glow" but I purchased it anyway because I thought it would be more of a subtle effect like Laura Geller's French Vanilla highlighter or the Ambient Lighting Powders that I could use all over my face to set my makeup. Unfortunately, these aren't as finely milled as those are, so while they do provide a subtle glow, they also leave little specks of glitter on my face. It really wasn't exactly what I was hoping for.
What were your faves and flops this month? I'd love to hear about them!
