Dior

  • Sephora Mini-Haul

    Sephora Mini-Haul

  • Bobbi's Skincare Picks

    Bobbi's Skincare Picks

  • Bobbi Brown Mask

    Bobbi Brown Mask

  • Bobbi Brown Soothing Cleansing Oil

    Bobbi Brown Soothing Cleansing Oil

  • Bobbi Brown Moisturizing Balm

    Bobbi Brown Moisturizing Balm

  • Peter Thomas Ross Acne Invisible Dots

    Peter Thomas Ross Acne Invisible Dots

  • Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick Swatches

    Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick Swatches

Here is a glimpse of my Sephora Mini-Haul for the month of October. This month my focus was on the necessities vs. splurges. Alright, the Stila was definitely not a necessity. 🙂 Below is a breakdown and review.

  1. Sephora Collection Universal Lip Liner ($10) : I’ve was on the lookout for a universal lip liner because I’ve been sick and tired of trying to match every single lipstick or gloss with a similar lipliner.  I don’t know about you all, but its way too much work and too much money especially if your lip collection is extensive. There were quite a few options on Sephora’s website, but I decided on the Sephora Collection Universal Lip Liner because of its reviews and great price. I’ve used it for a week now and must say that its a great value product that gets the job done.  There was no feathering, no bleeding and no smudging no matter what lip product I used.  The only negative I found was with its waxy consistency, but I expected this given the purpose of the product.
  2. Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Full Coverage Foundation ($39): I have combination skin (normal to oily) and sometimes its difficult to find a foundation that will last hours without having to powder every hour. I use this foundation for daily wear because its one of the few that lasts a full work day and with minimal touchup. It also lives up to its name as being a full coverage foundation, which can make its application a bit difficult.  I either use a damp Beauty Blender ($20) or the Tarte Airbrush Bamboo Foundation Brush (what a gem!) with a few pumps of  MAC Fix+ ($22).
  3. Peter Thomas Roth Acne-Clear Invisible Dots ($12 for 24 dots): I always thought that the minute I past puberty I could kiss pimples goodbye forever. Adios. Hasta nunca baby!  Yeah…I was sorely mistaken.  Millions of adults continue to suffer with acne well past their teens and I’m no exception.  The difference is what I use to combat these nasty little suckers — Peter Thomas Roth Acne-Clear Invisible Dots.  Simple apply the dot over the blemish overnight and let the salicylic acid and hyaluronic acid do its thing.  After two treatments, my blemishes are gone leaving behind no scarring.
  4. Clarisonic Replacement Brush Head Twin Pack ($44/radiance): I’m a month away from having to replace my Clarisonic Mia 3 brush head and decided to stock up. However, this time I decided to deviate on the brush head type going from sensitive to radiance.  Apparently, the radiance brush heads are much softer and better for sensitive skin.  Once I try this bad boy, I’ll be sure to post a review.
  5. Stila All Day Liquid Lipstick in shade Firenze ($24): This line of liquid lipsticks are my absolute favorite, hands down!  So when the shade Firenze popped up as a Sephora VIB Exclusive, in a shade I normally gravitate to, I quickly put it in my basket. Its such a lovely, dusty mauve shade that I highly recommend!
  6. Samples:  Smashbox Insta-Matte, Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer , Dior Capture Totale Multi-Perfection Creme
  7. Bobbi Brown Bobbi’s Skincare Picks: I’m so excited I received this box as part of a promotion code (check RetailMeNot.com for Sephora codes 🙂 ).  As we all know, Bobbi Brown products are expensive, but so, so good.  This box contains a coral grass & green algae moisture mask, a cleansing, and an extra repair moisture balm. I look forward to trying all of these out.
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Dior Addict Lip Maximizer High Volume Lip Plumper and Dior Addict Lip Glow

Who wouldn’t want Angelina Jolie sort of lips? Well I can certainly be added to the long list of those who would do just about anything to achieve plump, luscious everything, except for having a needle full of collagen shot into my lips. So, given my aversion to needles, I began scouring the isles of Sephora and Ulta in an attempt to achieve my objective. I finally came across one that, quite frankly, looked pretty. Yes, I know what you’re thinking…the packaging doesn’t make the product. That fact is very true, but when confronted with an array of options and no prior experience to go on – the pretty one wins!

So the grand winner was the Dior Addict Lip Maximizer High Volume Lip Plumper ($33). Go ahead and call me a sucker because I bought the accompanying Dior Addict Lip Glow ($33) in the color pink as well; more about that later. But first, for the first week of use, I followed the instructions to a tee. As per the Sephora website:

Suggested Usage for the Dior Addict Lip Maximizer High Volume Lip Plumper:
– Apply alone or layer with your favorite lip color.
– Begin application at the center of the lips, then blend outward.
– Use as a part of your skin care routine before starting makeup. By the time you get to apply your lipstick, your lips will be perfectly plump.

I religiously applied this “collagen and marine based fillers” and instantly experienced a tingly sensation all over my lips. I was worried at first that I was experiencing an allergic reaction of sorts, but thankfully it subsided. Once my foundation and everything else was applied, I put on a coat of the Dior Addict Lip Glow. Now, the end result was mixed. I do believe my lips looked suppler and moisturized. However, I don’t believe the results merited a $33 price tag and I could have done without the tingling sensation I experienced.

The Dior Addict Lip Glow is a whole other story. I absolutely adore the color beautiful pink tone it gave my lips. What’s really neat is that the color gradually darkens to a shade that looks very natural on my lips. Apparently, as per Dior Beauty website, it is the “first universal balm by Dior that reacts to the unique chemistry of each woman’s lips to give them a natural flush of custom pink that suits her skin tone”. I must say that the Dior Addict Lip Glow delivered a custom shade as promised. As for the other shade in the collection, Coral, I cannot speak of. However, I wouldn’t think twice about purchasing it given my experience with the shade of pink.

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Mascara Mania

Long, full, and lashes for days…all this and more are guaranteed by all mascaras on the market today. Which leads to the ultimate question: what is the best mascara out there? With so many to choose from, how does one go about selecting? Well, I certainly don’t recommend breaking the bank in order to buy the most expensive mascara because there are too many options at every price point. Not only should your budget be a consideration, but also your intended daily usage. Here are questions all mascara buyers should ask themselves before deciding:

  1. Do you wear mascara everyday, 2 to 3 times a week, or a handful of times a month?
  2. Do you like mascara in just the color black or do you use a variety of colors?
  3. Do you like to have both waterproof and regular mascara on hand?
  4. What is your budget?
  5. Is there a specific job your looking for in your mascara (i.e. lengthen, thickening, natural looking, curling, bottom lashes etc.)?

With those questions in mind, I’ve compiled some of my mascara favorites in the hopes of deconstructing mascara mania. 🙂

  1. Maybelline The Falsies Big Eyes ($7.99): Talk about more bang for your buck. The Maybelline Falsies Big Eyes is the best value of any mascaras I have ever purchased. First and foremost, what draws me is the price. I mean $7.99, and with sales always being introduced (Buy 2, get I free currently on Ulta), makes this a budget winner. The other big plus is that it has brushes for upper and lower lashes. Now of the two, the lower lash brush is my favorite because it really does get the job done. However, you have to keep a steady hand because the brush is very small and not forgiving if you apply it too quickly.
  2. Maybelline Great Lash Washable Mascara ($5.99): This mascara takes the title for best color options; six to be exact (Black, Browish Black, Dark Brown, Royal Blue, Soft Black, Blackest Black). Not to mention its an American classic for a reason because it simply works! If you want natural looking lashes with a some oomph, then Maybelline Great Lash is for you.
  3. Dior Diorshow Mascara ($27.50): This is a mascara that gives volume and shape with just two coats. The Dior Diorshow Mascara also comes in four shades guaranteeing a color for every taste (blue, brown, black and purple) in addition to having a waterproof version. The biggest advantage is that this mascara is formulated without parabens, sulfates and phthalates (per Sephora website).
  4. Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara ($23): I normally gravitate to this mascara when I want to bring the drama without having to resort to false eyelashes. The brush is super thick and can provide full and defined lashes with just one coat. Some disadvantages I find with the Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara is that it only comes in one shade (black), and if your not careful with the application, it can quickly get lumpy and smudges easily. So if you don’t have a steady hand or patience, I suggest you move onto other options like those below.

Honorable Mentions:

  1. Benefit They’re Real! Lengthening & Volumizing Mascara ($24)
  2. Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes ($21)
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