It’s been ages since my last product recommendation post so I thought it about time to grab some of my favorites that you just have to try before the month is through.
I was skeptical of Bumble and Bumble’s Sunday Shampoo at first, but after the very first wash I knew the hype around this clarifying shampoo is definitely true. My hair has never felt cleaner than after using this. It lathers up amazingly well with just a tiny amount and my hair feels lighter, fresher, and free of dirt and grim after every use. It’s perfect for infrequent washers and people who use a lot of product (hands up on both accounts from this girl) to keep your hair healthy and not too weighed down. A little goes a very long way so don’t let the $25 price tag scare you. I’ll be using this bottle for close to a year I’m sure. Throw it on your wishlist immediately.
You’ve heard me rave time and time again about the Urban Decay Afterglow Blush in “Video,” but it’s officially time you go give it a swatch. The perfect flush cheek color that’ll compliment the colder months amazingly well. It can be worn every so lightly or built up to a stronger flush and it lasts all day. Blushes are hard to come by that can stand my swiping my face a little too often.
My final recommendation is the perfect foundation for all those holiday photos that are coming up. The Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Foundation is my go to when I know there are going to be a lot of photos as it mattifies the skin without being flat and cakey. It’s more of a satin finish while reducing any sort of shine that may show up in photos. I have dry skin and find this incredibly hydrating and easy to wear. It doesn’t show dry patches or look weird on the skin. It actually improves over time. It’s definitely something I’m keeping close at hand for the holidays.
So whether you’re finishing up your holiday wishlist or are just feeling kind of spendy, try these three products out this month.
Let’s talk specifics first. They’re both white, gloopy pastes you spread onto your makeup covered face dry, massage around, then rinse off. Clinique’s offering is $29 for 3.8 oz while the Bye Bye Makeup Cleansing Balm is $38 for 2.82 oz despite having the larger packaging. Definitely when it comes to makeup products size doesn’t necessarily mean more product. Packaging wise I do like the IT Cosmetics container more. It feels higher quality and the satin matte finish is a nice touch. The Clinique one suggests a 24 month shelf life while IT Cosmetics only suggests 12.
When it comes to actual usage, the two are almost identical. They apply the same way, lather up when water is added, and remove the same amount of makeup. My skin feels clean, but not dry after using either one. The Clinique one does make my skin feel slightly more buttery although I never end my routine at this step so it really doesn’t matter too much.
They’re basically the same product, but I find the Clinique one to be a much better, longer lasting deal than the other. I can pass up prettier packaging for more product and a longer expiration date. No matter how much I love IT Cosmetics as a brand, Clinique wins this one.
I fell in love with Erin Condren because of their planners, but stay for the constant new products they produce. Recently they launched a line of enamel pins and a designer clutch. Once my heart eyed emoji face went back to normal, I quickly scooped up every single thing to get it a full look over to see if it’s really worth the fuss. Girl loves her enamel pins a bit too much.
As far as quality goes the clutch fabric feels nice, the zipper heavy duty, but it’s not a structured clutch like I expected. I have a lot of random makeup clutches similar to this that are much sturdier and hold their shape when stood up. This one slouches a bit and is more flexible. Not a negative per say, but definitely something noteworthy and not what I was expecting. Yet the gold detailing seems like it’s not going to crack or fade easily. However I think $20 is a little much for such a small clutch when you can get many similar to it from Forever21 for more than half the cost.
In regards to the pins the Stay Gold one is definitely my favorite. It’s the largest and the only one I can really justify the price for. $8 is usually the norm for enamel pins (ours are less though, just saying!). The asterisks are barely a centimeter large if that and don’t really draw the attention well. The silver and gold ones are very similar in color that it’s hard to tell the difference at first. They’re all backed with a rubber backing rather than the metal clasp. Lots of pin enthusiasts say the rubber backing is more secure, but I don’t really have a preference one way or another and have never had issues with either.
Overall I’d say get the clutch when there’s a sale (like $10 off your first order) and grab the Stay Gold enamel pin if you’re trying to get to free shipping or want to treat yourself. I don’t regret the purchase at all, but if you’re trying to save some money and make smart buying decisions, I hope this helps.
Asian beauty products have always fascinated me, so when I got the opportunity to try the EsianMall Korean Beauty Box, I was totally down.
At $25 a box, I had the bar set pretty high on product quantity and quality. I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect, but am pleased with all the goodies that I got. Nothing seemed too out of the ordinary, which I must admit I was a little hesitant about finding some crazy themed product inside. Five full size products and one travel size facial wipes package is fantastic for the price. My favorite part of the entire un-boxing has to be the adorable packaging. Asian products set the cuteness quota to new heights and I still can’t get over how adorable the lotion packaging is. Not to mention the black head strips come in pig-themed packaging. I’m sold.
I’m most excited about the Botanic Farm Eyebrow Pencil, the Strawberry scented lotion, and the makeup sponges. They’re product categories I use a lot more often than the others so I tend to gravitate towards them subconsciously in beauty boxes and stores. I’ll be giving everything in the box an honest go though.
EsianMall is a pretty cool site that also offers snack boxes in various sizes, plus an entire store filled with unique Asian products as well. I’m pretty sure I’m going to have to get my hands on one of those snack boxes next and see what crazy things I can convince Alex to try.
You can save $5 off your first box if you’re interested in checking out the subscription company. I’m definitely keeping this subscription box in mind when getting Christmas gifts this year. It’ll be perfect, unique gift for a beauty addict rather than trying to figure out what makeup they don’t have.
Now I’m off to remove my little piggy black heads!
Most beauty junkies know a thing or two about Urban Decay, but if you’re new to the brand or are trying to figure out what to explore next, I got you covered. These three products are worth a test out.
Since Urban Decay recently revamped their lipstick line to the new Vice line, I’ve tried quite a few of the newly packaged shades. “Backtalk” is definitely up there as a top contender as it’s the perfect everyday matte lip color while still doing something for a look. It’s the most nude I’ve ever gone in a lip shade, but it doesn’t just blend into the lips and look like nothing’s happening. It lasts ages and it isn’t drying at all since it’s a “comfort matte.” Urban Decay is seriously impressive with its range of lipstick finishes. I swear they just make up names off the cuff to cover their crazy collection of formulas.
The Naked Skin Weightless Complete Coverage Concealer has been raved about on the blogosphere for some time now so if you haven’t given it a go yet, this is definitely a sign to do so. It’s incredibly similar to the NARS Creamy Concealer, but lighter, quicker to blend in, and lasts longer under the eyes. I’m on my second container and still just as obsessed.
My perfect everyday blush is without a doubt the Afterglow Blush in “Video.” It’s a dusty rose that looks effortless on the skin. It gives just the right amount of color with little to no effort. It’s also one of the only blushes I’ve noticed lasts all day on my cheeks. I tend to touch my face a lot throughout the day and this stays put almost as perfect as when first applied. The claim that it lasts eight-hours definitely holds true for this bad boy. I definitely need to get a few more blushes from this range, but I’ve been too smitten with “Video” to hardly notice any of my other blushes.
Urban Decay is one of those consistently great brands that I can always count on for quality makeup. But if you’re overwhelmed at where to start first, these three products are definitely worth checking out.
The Bumble and Bumble Sunday Shampoo has been on my wishlist for ages. It’s held a spot right up at the top for probably longer than any other beauty product, but it wasn’t until recently that I finally decided to splurge. I got my hair trimmed for the wedding and my stylist commented on all the buildup in my hair. Nothing like a wedding and a professional’s opinion to make me scamper on over to Sephora that same afternoon. And boy had I been missing out.
If you’ve managed to avoid the magnetic pull of the Sunday Shampoo, I’ll happily fill you in. It’s a once a week clarifying shampoo that cleans up any buildup of products, grease, and other odds and ends from your hair. If you use a lot of product (me), are an infrequent washer (also me), and/or have hard water (still me), this is the perfect clarifying shampoo for you.
After just one lather I knew this product really worked. My hair actually felt squeaky clean. It looks healthier, feels healthier, and responds to styling much better these days. A little goes a long way so I’ve already forgotten the price tag since I know this will last me for quite a while. Even Alex has been caught sneaking a little here and there.
This stuff is seriously good and I couldn’t feel more posh to see it in my shower every morning. Sundays just got even better.
