Recent Beauty Purchases 13

1. bareMinerals Original Mineral Veil Pressed Setting Powder in Translucent: This setting powder is fine. It does the job in terms of setting my foundation and minimizing the appearance of pores. I have no complaints about it.

2. Garnier Fructis Sleek & Shine Frizz Tamer Slicking Hair Serum Wand: I really like this product! It has a mascara-like wand and works great at taming those random little fly-away hairs. I took this with me when we were in Europe and it was great at touching up my hair throughout the day. I also just have a random little section of hair that curls weird so this is great at smoothing that out.

3. Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm in Hot Cocoa: I really really like the Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balms but this is not my favorite flavor. (I always feel weird saying flavor since you don't eat it but I don't know how else to describe it!) It does have a strong chocolate scent, very much like hot cocoa, but to me it's just kind of weird. It works the same as any of the other flavors but just this particular one isn't my favorite.

4. JVN Complete Hydrating Air Dry Hair Styling Cream: I was a little disappointed with this product and ended up returning it. I've really been trying to figure out a way to air dry style my hair and was hoping this would help but it really doesn't do anything at all. I have other products that work way better at reducing frizz and this really didn't offer any hold or anything. 

5. Josie Maran - Whipped Argan Oil Firming Body Butter in Vanilla Vibezzz: I really really like this body butter! I first got a free sample in an order and decided to buy the full size, but they were out when I was in store so I bought the mini size, then after returning a couple of things I ended up just ordering the full size online. It's a little pricier than I would normally spend on a body butter but I figured if it works and I like it then I might as well just get it! 

It has a very light scent which I like. So if you are someone who likes fragrances then you probably won't really care for this. I did find that the sample size and the mini size seemed to smell better than the full size for some reason. That was disappointing because I do like the light scent.

Anyways, I've had really dry hands lately (just the time of year and I wash my hands a lot) and this seems to work very well for me. It's a little bit greasy but does rub in very well. So many lotions and body butters I've tried will just leave my hands feeling dry again as soon as it absorbs into my skin. I can use this and my hands will stay moisturized for a long time.

6. SEPHORA COLLECTION Cream Contour Stick in 01 Fair to Light: This was another item I returned. I was really hoping it would work but it was extremely hard to blend and had a very gray tint to it. I tried using it directly on my skin and also tried putting it on a brush and then blending but neither option worked very well. It just didn't work for me.

Have you purchased any new beauty products lately?

Recent Beauty Purchases 12

1. Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm in Pink Sugar: I liked the brown sugar lip butter balm so much I purchased another in the pink sugar! It was sold out last time I ordered so I was glad to be able to try it and I like it just as much as the brown sugar. It's probably one of the only lip balms I've ever tried that actually feels like it is moisturizing. It's glossy feeling without being sticky.

2. Dae shampoo & conditioner: This shampoo and conditioner smells so nice but seems like it's maybe a bit too moisturizing for my hair. I have pretty "normal" hair, meaning my hair isn't particularly dry or oily so it's hard to find something that isn't going to make my hair dry or oily. I like it every once in a while but it's not something I can use all the time.

3. Sephora brow pencil: I didn't really care for this brow pencil. It seemed kind of waxy when applying and it seemed like I used it up pretty quickly. I typically buy these $3 e.l.f. brand ones and I just felt like there wasn't enough of a increase in quality to justify the higher price point. The color selection on the Sephora ones is definitely better than the e.l.f. ones though. So overall just okay.

4. dae Cactus Fruit 3-in-1 Styling Cream: I did not like this styling cream at all and ended up returning it. It really didn't do anything for me. It felt sticky and weird on my hair. I was hoping it would help to tame frizz and flyaways but I just really didn't like how it felt.

5. Klorane Nourishing Shampoo and Conditioner with Mango: I've been using this shampoo and conditioner for a little while now and I like it pretty well. I have been looking for a good shampoo and conditioner for such a long time. I had been using the Amika Normcore for a while and I started to notice a lot of fallout when washing my hair. After looking at recent reviews it seems like a lot of people have had the same problem.

After using the Klorane I've noticed that my hair looks and feels clean after washing but doesn't feel stripped like a lot of shampoos will do. My hair feels really soft, has shine, and doesn't look quite as frizzy either. I really like using this in combination with the Bumble and bumble primer I talk about below.

This shampoo and conditioner is listed as being for dry hair, and as I mentioned with the Dae shampoo above my hair is pretty "normal", but, unlike with the Dae shampoo this doesn't seem to make my hair feel too moisturized (by that I just mean the feeling like there is a film on my hair or like it's too greasy from the conditioner.).

So while this maybe isn't the greatest ever shampoo, it's okay for now. I still would like to find something better.

6. BondiBoost Flex & Shine Hairspray with Marine Algae & Seaweed Extract: I really wanted to like this but the fragrance was SO incredibly strong I had to return it. It worked well and had just the right amount of light, flexible hold, but 3 days after applying the scent was just as strong as the day I sprayed it and I just couldn't take it. I am sensitive to fragrances so this was a huge no for me. It wasn't even like they were trying to make it smell floral or like a perfume type of fragrance, it just smelled like any cheap hairspray you would buy at Walmart or something. Which was disappointing because it's non-aerosol so it doesn't have all the propellants like the vast majority of other hairsprays have. It has more natural ingredients so I was really hoping this would have worked out. I just wish they wouldn't have added the fragrance to it!

7. Bumble and bumble Hairdresser’s Invisible Oil Heat Protectant Leave In Conditioner Primer: I really like this primer. I had purchased the mini a while back to try and then had to get the full sized version during Sephora's next sale. It works great at taming flyaway/frizz and helping my hair to look sleek and shiny. 

Art first I wasn't sure if this really made much of a difference, but I decided to not use it a few times and definitely noticed a difference in the amount of flyaways and frizz. I also like that it is a heat protectant. I don't blow dry my hair but I do heat style it 1-2 times a week.

So this is one product I would highly recommend trying if you deal with frizz or flyaways, if you're looking for a heat protectant, or just want something to make your hair look healthier or shinier!

Have you purchased or tried any new beauty products lately? Or do you have any products that you really love?

Recent Beauty Purchases 11

1. Urban Decay Mini Naked3 Eyeshadow Palette: I opted for the mini Naked3 palette instead of the full size for a couple of reasons. The biggest reason being the price (there is no way I am paying $59 for an eyeshadow palette!) and also because the colors on the full sized palette are more brown/warm toned than the mini, which is more pink/neutral toned. 

I still thought the price was kinda high (To me at least. Although pretty average price for a Sephora palette.) I did order it during the Sephora sale last spring so that helped with the price.  

That said, I do like this palette. I prefer cool toned pinks and browns (which is surprisingly hard to find in eyeshadow palettes. They always are warm toned!) 

Anyways, it's a nice palette with a good selection of colors that I will actually use. A little goes a long ways and I've used this quite a few times and it still looks new. So it definitely will last me a while!

This would make a nice gift and it's also great for travel because it's small but also has a great selection of colors!

2. LYS Beauty Triple Fix Serum Foundation in LN6: I really like this foundation! The color is a very close match for me. I like how it wears, it has good coverage, it doesn't seem to crease or settle like a lot of other foundations I've tried. It holds up well in heat and humidity and being outside all day in the heat and humidity. It's at a good price point especially for being a "clean" foundation. I have sensitive skin and I really like that it doesn't bother my skin at all. This foundation has a lot of positive reviews on Sephora so it surprises me that it's not more popular. I would be really interested in trying other products from this brand.

3. Bumble and bumble Mini Hairdresser's Invisible Oil Primer: I wasn't sure about this after I first used it because I wasn't sure if it was doing anything but after using it and not using it I have noticed it really does leave my hair feeling softer and gives a bit more shine. I just use a few sprays on wet hair and let my hair air dry. I would say it's a good product but maybe not a great one. It's a nice product to have but not necessarily one to HAVE to have if you know what I mean.

4. Christophe Robin Cleansing Purifying Scrub with Sea Salt: I really like this scrub. My scalp gets dry and itchy sometimes and I purchased this on a whim from Sephora thinking I would give it a try. I purchased the mini and use it about 1-2 times a month. You don't need a lot (a little goes a long ways) but it really helps to cleanse my scalp and remove product buildup. 

I will say it is a big difficult to use as it kind of is hard to use with long hair but I just put a little bit on the pads of my fingers and kind of gently massage my scalp with it. It just takes a little bit of figuring out how to use but I would highly recommend this if you deal with scalp dryness, itchiness, or just general product buildup.

5. Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm in Brown Sugar: I was a little unsure on the color of this because the flavor I wanted (pink sugar) was sold out. And I didn't find out until later that it's a TikTok popular item, which typically turns me off of a product because everyone buys it because it's trendy and not because it actually works. 

All that to say I was actually very surprised by this. It's probably one of the only lip products I've ever used that actually seems like it does anything. I really really hate the feeling of my lips being dry so I am always willing to try different products to help. I used to really like the Bite Beauty agave lip mask but then they changed the formulation and it didn't work as well. (Apparently no one else liked it since they are no longer in business!) And I've also used the Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask so many people seem to love and found it to just be okay. I definitely think the Summer Friday Lip Butter Balm is the best!

Just now looking it up it says it's supposed to be plumping but I've never noticed that. Negatives would be that it is on the higher end price point-wise and the color tint is pretty non-existent. So if you're looking for more of a tinted lip balm then this might not be for you as I really don't notice the color on me at all. But overall I really like this and would recommend it!

6. Kate McLeod Mini Daily Stone Solid Body Moisturizer: I really wasn't very impressed with this. Several people I follow on Instagram were really raving about it so I thought I would give it a try. I ordered one for my mom and I and while I'm glad I ordered the minis I was still surprised at how small they were for the price. 

The scent was okay. I didn't really like it but it wasn't particularly strong or unpleasant either. It was really greasy which I didn't like. You definitely wouldn't want to put long sleeves or pants on afterwards. It just doesn't rub in very well. Moisturizing wise it was okay. My mom has very dry skin and it didn't do anything for her and for me it worked just like any other lotion I've used. So nothing exciting. 

Also, just the actual application of a lotion bar is awkward to use. It's greasy so it very easily slips out of your hands and onto the floor which wasn't great. So this one was a no from me.

Have you tried any new products lately? Or have you tried a product that was really popular and been either surprised or disappointed with it?

Recent Beauty Purchases 10

1. Tartelette Juicy Amazonian Clay Palette: I really like this eyeshadow palette! I usually get the mini palettes since they never seem to have very many shadows that I like in the full size, but this one was actually one where I would use the whole thing! The colors are a little warmer toned in person than they appear in the photo, but it's not an issue. I like the color selection, the pigmentation, and used with a primer they last all day. Overall this is just a really pretty palette!

2. Maybelline Super Stay 24 2-Step Liquid Lipstick in Keep It Red: I purchased this at Target in the shade Keep it Red but I can't seem to find the exact shade online so I linked the closest I could find. I like this lipstick okay. The color is nice although maybe a tad lighter/brighter than I would prefer. And while it isn't as long lasting as it claims, it does last a while. I drink a lot of water throughout the day so it does start to wear off after multiple times of eating and drinking, but it does last longer than other liquid lipsticks I've tried. I like that it's a lipstick and balm all in one. The balm really helps to not dry your lips out. And for the price it's definitely one of the better liquid lipsticks I've tried. I've gotten some at Sephora that were higher priced and didn't last as long and felt super drying. 

3. Amika Normcore Shampoo and Conditioner: I've been looking at upgrading my shampoo and conditioner as I've been having a lot of trouble finding something that works well for me and doesn't irritate my skin. I thought this Amika shampoo and conditioner was just okay. It's not bad for the price but I don't know that I really liked it well enough to purchase again. It has a little too much of a perfumey smell to me and it doesn't lather up super well; so sometimes I'd have to wash my hair twice to get it to feel clean. And I don't use many products on my hair, just hairspray once after styling, so it's not like I have a ton of product buildup to remove. It did seem to reduce frizz a little, so I'll give it that! So basically it's better than most drug store shampoos but not anything too spectacular either.

4. Amika The Shield Anti-Humidity Spray and Heat Protectant: I will start off by saying that it hasn't gotten crazy humid where I live yet, so I can't say how well it works during a hot and humid southern summer, but so far it seems to work pretty well. Granted, if the humidity is 70% + I don't think anything is going to work too well! But anyways, I do find this does work to reduce frizz and help to hold a curl better. So I've been impressed with it so far. I'm cautiously optimistic about this for the summer. My one negative with this product is it is fairly strong smelling after applying. Fortunately it doesn't linger and I only notice it for a little while after spraying it.

5. Charlotte Tilbury Mini Hollywood Flawless Filter in 2 fair: I randomly bought this during the spring Sephora sale after seeing all the positive reviews and I was glad I did since I like it! Most of the foundation I have is more of a matte finish, so I use this mixed with my foundation and it gives me a more natural looking finish. I just put a few dabs on my face and then apply foundation and blend it out. I don't wear foundation very often so the mini will last me a while.

6. Bobbi Brown Mini Long-Wear Cream Shadow Stick Trio: I was really disappointed by these. The colors looked nice in the images on the Sephora site, but once I got them and tried them the colors were really lacking. They definitely looked more vibrant online and were practically nonexistent on me. They were also much more shimmery/glittery than I would have liked. So I ended up returning these. This trio is way overpriced for what it is as I've used these e.l.f. eyeshadow sticks in the past and they were much better and only $5!

Have you purchased any new beauty products lately?

Recent Beauty Purchases 9

FENTY BEAUTY Stunna Lip Paint in Uncensored: I really like a good red lipstick and had heard a lot of good things about this particular one. I like the color of this as it is a pretty neutral red and the unique shape of the wand makes for an easy application. For me I found it to not be transfer proof which was disappointing. It felt drying when it was on and I tried to apply a light layer of lip balm over it but that just made smear. So I guess you could say I like it as a lipstick but it is not a lip paint. To me a lip paint would mean it is long lasting and transfer proof.

Caudalie Deep Cleansing Exfoliator: I really like this exfoliator! I've been using it for a while now and realized I hadn't reviewed it yet. I use it about once a week and it keeps my skin feeling so soft. You only need to use a tiny amount (like a pea size amount) so it lasts a really long time. It's said to be great for all skin types although I have pretty 'normal' skin. Meaning my skin is not particularly dry or oily and I do tend to have sensitive skin that is prone to redness. 

Maybelline Lash Sensational Sky High Mascara in Blackest Black: I was really not impressed with this mascara. Apparently it was a Tik Tok famous item (didn't know that when I got it!) but I really don't understand why! It didn't appear to lengthen or curl or make my lashes appear more full. It just didn't do anything for me. 

L'Oreal Air Volume Mega Mascara in Blackest Black: I was hoping this was going to be a great mascara but the first thing I noticed upon opening the tube was how bad it smells! It has a really strong odor that stays with you even after applying it. After I'd used it a few times the odor went away, so I'm not sure what the deal was. I won't be purchasing this again. The wand was too bushy and hard to get towards the lash root. Overall I didn't find this mascara to be too exciting. It was just okay.

ella+mila In A Rush Quick Dry Top Coat: I've been using the Seche Vite Quick Dry top coat and while I like it, I just have a hard time with how awful it smells and how the bottle always seems to dry out fairly quickly. 

So I had been looking for a new quick dry top coat to try and had heard some positives about this one. I especially liked that it is clean and free off a lot of the toxic chemicals in most nail polishes. I do like this one fairly well. It doesn't smell as bad as others. Sometimes when I've used it my nails will chip quickly and other times it seems to last longer. I think it has more to do with the nail polish itself than the top coat. I am hard on my nails so if I can go about 5 days without chipping that's pretty good for me! 

L'Oreal Bambi Eye Mascara: Yet another mascara! I like trying new mascaras although I am rarely impressed. Out of the three I tried this was probably the best. It does seem to make my lashes appear a little more full, but it also seems to weigh my lashes down. So just another mediocre mascara.

Sephora Cream Lip Stain Liquid Lipstick in 85 Rose Wood: I really like this liquid lipstick! The color is really pretty and fairly close to my natural lip color, so for me it's just a hint of color which I like. I will say it seems to be more of a 'cool' pink than warm. It does make my lips feel a bit dry which I don't love but it's not uncomfortable. The formula itself does dry well so it does last quite a while.

Have you purchased any new beauty products lately?

Recent Beauty Purchases 8

Covergirl truNAKED Eyeshadow Palette in Roses: I really like this palette! Rose/neutral shades are my favorite for eyeshadows, so I was interested in trying this when I saw it at Target. The colors are so pretty. This palette leans more towards cool toned, which I like as it seems a lot of rose palettes lean more warm toned. By itself this eyeshadow tends to crease, so just make sure to use a good primer. Otherwise it's a great inexpensive palette!

ORIGINS Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask: I really like this mask! I had heard a lot of good things about it and was interested in trying it myself. Luckily (for me!) it lived up to the hype. I bought the mini size initially and after finishing that got the full sized one. I really don't get breakouts, but occasionally my skin does get irritated and this really clears my skin up. It has tons of great reviews so I would highly recommend this for anyone!

Acure Incredibly Clear Charcoal Lemonade Cleansing Clay: Also really like this cleansing clay. I have been pretty happy with Acure skincare products as I've used several and always had good luck with them. I like that they're natural and don't bother my sensitive skin (Their cleansing gel is great and it's really inexpensive too!). This works great at clearing up skin breakouts (while I don't get breakouts on my face, sometimes different laundry detergents will cause breakouts on other parts of my body.) and I've even noticed it will clear up discoloration from deodorant. I will say it unfortunately does not smell like lemonade, but despite that it's a great product.

NYX Microbrow Pencil in Taupe: I didn't care for this brow pencil. The end was so tiny it took so long to fill in my brows. It also doesn't apply all that well. The $2 brow pencil by e.l.f. I usually use works so much better. For $10 I really expected more from this.

L'Oreal The Super Slim Liquid Eyeliner in Black: I like this eyeliner pretty well. For every day it's fine, if I'm outside all day and/or my eyes are watering, this does come off pretty easily. I mean, it isn't waterproof, so that's to be expected. I'll have to give the waterproof version a try. I've had some trouble finding a liquid liner I liked. It seems like it should be simple but sometimes the brush is either too long or too short, or too stiff or not stiff enough, and this one is just right.

BeautyCounter Skin Twin Featherweight Foundation in Fair 110: I really like this foundation! I really try to stick with natural/organic skincare products. Things like mascara, eyeshadow, etc, I don't care quite as much about, but with  skincare I really want something that is clean and or at least has very little toxins. 

That said, it's very hard to find decent natural skincare products that actually work. It's a lot of trial and error. I've heard a lot about Beauty Counter but wasn't too sure about them as they are a multi-level-marketing program which is something I hate with a passion. Fortunately though, you can purchase items through their website without having to sign-up through anyone or anything. It was easy and they don't harass you with emails (I mean, you can sign up for their emails but can easily unsubscribe with no problem.)

The coverage is somewhere between light and medium, although it is easily buildable. My only real skin concern is some redness, and this covers that well. The finish is somewhere between matte and slightly dewy for a natural skin look. (I typically go for a matte foundation so to me this does have a slight dewy-ness to it. If you typically go for a dewy foundation you might find this to be too matte.) Since it's a clean product it doesn't irritate my skin at all. Overall I'm really pleased with this foundation. 

NYX Matte Finish Setting Spray (mini): I don't really have much to say about this setting spray. It works pretty well with the BeautyCounter foundation. I only apply a very light amount and it seems to keep my makeup in place without much of a problem. I don't really have much to compare this too so for me it's fine.

Have you purchased any new beauty products lately?

Recent Beauty Purchases 7

e.l.f. Poreless Primer: - I thought when I got this it was the poreless putty primer, but, it is not. It smells of tea tree oil, which I hate. So just be warned if you try this it really smells of tea tree oil! It works okay. Not nearly as good as the poreless putty primer (below), but better than others.

e.l.f. All Day Stay Eyeshadow Primer: I've been using the Shadow Lock Eyelid Primer but recently ran out so when I was placing an order from e.l.f. I decided to give the All Day Stay Primer a try. I'm glad I did! It works so much better and my eyeshadow stays in place all day. Granted, it hasn't been humid here yet so I can't say how well it works if I'm outside in humid weather all day, but as far as I can tell it works really good! And at only $4 it's a great cheap buy!

e.l.f. Poreless Putty Primer: This is probably the best primer I've used. I have large pores so I am always looking to try something to minimize the appearance of them. While it doesn't typically bother me, I just find that sometimes foundation can seem to emphasize the appearance of them. Anyways, this primer works really great! You can notice a difference immediately after applying the primer. Unlike the regular Poreless Primer, this has no weird smell. Overall this is just a great product!

LaNeige Lip Sleeping Mask in Vanilla: This (as well as the next two items) were products I got for Christmas this past year and just though I would include! This has a greasy feeling and really doesn't have much of a vanilla flavor, but as a whole it works well. It even comes with a tiny little wand to use as an applicator which is nice! I won't buy lip balms and such where you have to use your finger to apply the product because that just seems gross and unsanitary, but having an applicator wand is nice because I can always clean it!

TARTE Tarteist PRO Glow to Go Highlight & Contour Palette: I like this highlight and contour palette. I have pretty fair skin, so this works well for me. It's a pretty cool-neutral palette, so no weird yellow/orange undertone. Overall just a nice little palette!

Tarte Tartelette Tease Clay Eyeshadow Palette: This is just a great little neutral palette. I'm not one for crazy eyeshadow colors, so buying larger palettes just isn't beneficial for me as they are usually filled with colors I would never use. The colors are pretty pigmented, so a little goes a long ways. But overall just a nice little palette.

Have you purchased any beauty products lately?