By the end of last year, I had run out of products and was using what I had lying around or could afford at the time. Since it is a new year, I did get some small little helpers that I severely needed. Some of these things I am just trying out and others are tried and true products.
1. Stila Eyeshadow. I used to use Stila all the time (favorite color: Kitten) but for some reason or another just stopped using them all together. Cut to this past Christmas and the Stila Eyeshadow Full Palette I received as a gift. Now I am back on the Stila train in a big way. I forgot how much fun it was to experiment with eye colors. This palette really got me out of a rut that I was in for a very long time. I couldn't find a pic online of the actual case, so I just used a singular eyeshadow as a place marker.
2. Pur Mineral Foundation. I used Bare Minerals like most everyone out there and liked it but it would wear off and as my face got more marks on it, the harder it was to cover. I was surfing around online at who knows where and I ran across this brand. The reviews seemed to be pretty good so I thought that I would give it go last June before the trip to Europe. I am so happy I tried because it can definitely cover and bonus: it's pressed powder so I can carry it in my purse easier than that big block of Bare Minerals loose powder pot (I do still like Bare Minerals Bronzer though). I ran out of the Pur Mineral foundation I had a couple months ago and finally bought another one this past weekend. Wow, what I was missing in my life! I should never go that long again.
3. Estee Lauder Signature Lipstick in Copper Coral. I love this red-orangey shade. It's so hard for me to wear a blue red, so this one works on me. Full disclosure: I am thinking about cheating on this lipstick with Nars Heat Wave, but I'm sure that I will be back to this because I know that it works. So easy to throw on when I don't have time (or more accurately, too lazy) to put on full makeup. I just put this on and feel instantly more put together.
4. Benefit It's Potent Eye Cream. I bought this when I had run out of my previous eye cream and was walking by Benefit on Third Street and it called to me. I decided to take the plunge and try a new one that I hadn't yet heard about. Turns out, it ended up being pretty good and keeps my eyes cool and refreshed. Also, I'm partial to the very cute packaging. I completely judged this book by its cover and it worked (that also works for wine most of the time, I definitely judge by label art).
5. Mario Badescu Face Wash and Toner (Special Cleansing Lotion C). This are my newest additions to the mix and the ones I am desperately hoping works. I have problem skin and it is only getting worse. I go to a dermatologist yearly and am devoted to my prescribed day and night regimen but my skin was still getting worse. What the hell?! I have already heard about this line and I was hopeful but never tried it out. I was at Ulta last weekend buying my foundation (see above) when I ran across this and saw how many products they have for my type of skin. Wow, finally! I perused all the bottles in the section that would help me out (there are many more products from them for other types of skin) and bought the face wash and toner since I was out of my normal products of this same nature. I still am in the testing phase of this so we'll see the outcome. So far so good. I did go on the website and see all the celebrity endorsements (including personal fav Jen Aniston) so thinking there is something to this (she does not do many endorsements without her true approval, no kim-kardashian-I-will-hawk-anything with her).
6. Clinique Lash Doubling Mascara. Truthfully I got a sample of this and I don't even remember how I got it, but I threw it in my purse so that I can use on the go. After work one night, I applied this over my long day's worth of Lash Stiletto Mascara from Maybelline and what a difference. So I know it sounds a little weird, but now everyday I use both mascaras. One coat of the Lash Stiletto and one of the Clinique Lash Doubling. Truly I could use anything for the first coat, but what a difference when I put on the Lash Doubling. I will need to buy a full size one soon.
I am definitely not anywhere near a beauty expert, but these certainly do help me out when I need it.
-J
