Monthly Favourites - August 2010

SEPTEMBER ALREADY?! 

The year is going by so fast! I feel so unproductive! Alas, that won't change until I get a job. This month's favourites will be on the smaller side because, as I said, I am jobless and therefore broke. Nevertheless, here are my faves from the month of August.

1. Sigma E25 Brush

My favourite brush of the moment. It's great for applying eyeshadow all over the lid and it's fantastic for blending. On top of that, it's super soft and has not shed in the few months I've had it. The E25 is one of the few brushes I have that I want to have a duplicate of.

2. Rimmel Lasting Finish Pro - Steel Grey

A perfect way to transition from summer to fall; this colour is not only gorgeous, it's also multifaceted. In some angles, you get a straight up grey. In some, you see a bit of greige. In yet another, you see a hint of purple. Well, this is what I see, at least. Also, the formula's quite nice. It applies fairly evenly and dries quickly. A plus if, like me, you're too impatient to wait for your nails to dry.

3. MAC Mineralize Blush - Dainty

I recently realized I don't have a true pink blush. I'm late to the whole mineralize game but I'm so glad I picked this up. It's the perfect pink for me (not too blue) and applies very nicely. I've taken to applying this with a Sigma F50 which gives it a more airbrushed look. 

4. MAC Eyeshadow - Naked Lunch

Such a gorgeous eyeshadow! This is probably what I reach for the most when it comes to everyday looks. I would normally apply Naked Lunch all over my lid and define the crease with whatever tickles my fancy. It looks like a plain beige on the pan but it has a pink/peach undertone to it which is quite evident when applied to the lid. It also has a nice shimmer.

5. Neutrogena UltraSheer Water-Light Daily Face Sunscreen

Don't let the term "Water-Light" fool you. This is actually not that liquidy when applied to the skin so you don't need a lot. The best part about this sunscreen is that it makes your makeup apply even better. Getting sun protection and priming your skin? It sounds too good to be true, but I assure you, it works! My foundation always looks much better when I've applied this after a moisturizer.

6. Lush Shower Gel - Rub Rub Rub

I love this shower gel! It has a gorgeous floral scent that is quite invigorating. It also has exfoliating properties (sea salt) so my skin always feels smooth afterwards. It's not very moisturizing, but I don't have very dry skin so it's not a problem for me. This is such an awesome product to use in the mornings, it always puts me in a good mood.

7. Garnier Fructis Curls & Shine Mousse

This curls my hair so amazingly! Granted, I do have naturally wavy/curly hair, but no other product makes my curls look as nice. It smells lovely, as all Garnier Fructis products to, and gives my hair fantastic volume. Love this!

What are your August faves?

READ MORE - Monthly Favourites - August 2010

Neutrogena UltraSheer Water-Light Daily Face Sunscreen - Review

As much as I like to think about fall and cooler weather, summer is still upon us. Which means sun protection is still foremost in my mind. Admittedly, I tend to slack a bit with applying sunscreen during the winter months (kind of hard to think about sun protection when you barely see the sun), but I am making an effort to change that. 

I was previously using Clinique's Super City Block, which was fine when my skin wasn't so sensitive, but now it just feels like too much. So I was looking for something that felt lighter on the skin. Enter, Neutrogena's new UltraSheer Water-Light Sunscreen.

The biggest draw for me when I first read about this product online was that it was a nice, weightless formula. My skin is dry so I need moisturizer and I'm not leaving home without base on, add to that primer & sunscreen and that's 4 layers of slap! Four! I was so not having it.

But when I saw the actual product and read that it "works beautifully under make-up," I got really excited. Does this mean I can skip primer? Well, in a word: YES. 

This sunscreen goes on so smoothly and if you've got oily skin, I think you might not even need moisturizer under this (or at least just a teeny tiny bit). It applies fairly matte (unlike Clinique's Super City Block) and leaves skin feeling so smooth.

But the best part is: not only are you getting sun protection, but you're also priming your skin for makeup. My foundation applies just as well as I do when using L'oréal's Magic Base; my foundation is more even and I get better coverage when using this product than when I use moisturizer and foundation alone. 

I am so glad I heard about this product! It does double duty as a sunscreen and primer; plus with a price of $14.99, you really can't go wrong with it. I'm still using my L'oréal Magic Base, but only when I'm re-doing my makeup for nighttime or for performances. That being said, both products are definitely recommended!

What's your favourite sun care product?

READ MORE - Neutrogena UltraSheer Water-Light Daily Face Sunscreen - Review

Regret Purchases - Vol. I

During The Meltdown, I tried plenty of skincare products. So it's only natural that not all products would work well for my skin. These two stood out in particular.

Neutrogena Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelettes - Night Calming

So follow me down my path of logic. Me = dry, sensitive skin. Neutrogena Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelettes = gently dissolve all traces of makeup, night calming. Um, a match made in heaven? Yes, I think so.

So why did it make my skin burn? Neutrogena, you lied to me. Although, I think the "calming" may have more to do with the scent of the product. And I must say, it does smell rather nice. Maybe it's the perfume that made my skin react?

On a packaging note, the flap that opens to the product doesn't completely stick back down so there's a possibility of the towelettes drying out. Speaking of, these products are much wetter than I thought they would be; it feels very slippery on the skin. Not oily per sé, just slippery.

It does take makeup off well enough, but it's not worth the burning sensation. I mean, I used to clean my arm after doing swatches and it made my arm itch and as far as I can tell or remember, the skin on my body was never sensitive.

Origins Plantidote Mega-Mushroom Face Cream

This one really kills me. Why?

a) Because I heard such great things about this product: Helps quiet and calm skin? Skin with stronger, healthier, more youthful appearance? I.WANT.
b) Because this product cost me a whopping $85 CAD for 50mL.

I wanted all the things it promised me; and if it was going to cost me $85 to get it? Well then, I was just gonna have to suck it up and bear it. Is it so wrong to expect an $85 moisturizer to actually moisturize instead of just sitting on top of my skin, leaving it oily? Is it too much to expect for it to do what it says it's supposed to? I don't think so.

Yes, I could've returned it. But I kept giving it time thinking that if I just kept using it for one more week, it'll start working. Well, it didn't. So now I'm stuck with it. I'll occasionally reach for it to see if I'll change my mind, but so far I haven't.

Do you have any recent regret purchases?

Share!

READ MORE - Regret Purchases - Vol. I