Hey, y’all!
July flew by and with it came a new job offer (that I accepted) and new beauty finds! I’m so ready for fall, but in the meantime, check out my July haul!
Samples
Moisture Surge™ 72-Hour Auto-Replenishing Hydrator
from Clinique
When I first started using skincare products in middle school and high school, I used Clinique’s 3-step system a lot because it helped keep my acne at bay. I eventually drifted away from Clinique, but this moisturizer felt really nice.
Key Ingredients:
- Caffeine–encourages skin’s natural rehydration system
- Hyaluronic Acid–helps skin retain moisture
- Activated Aloe Water–plumps skin
- Humectants and Polymers–seal in moisture to reduce water loss
Deep Dive Glycolic Facial Cleanser
from Jack Black
I’ve never purchased any products from Jack Black before. You can use this particular product as a cleanser or as a mask. I gave this sample to my husband, so we’ll see what he thinks of it.
Key Ingredients:
- Glycolic Acid–removes dead skin cell buildup
- Volcanic Ash–gentle physical exfoliant to help smooth skin
- Kaolin Clay–draws out skin impurities, oil and dirt, plus helps control oiliness
Green Apple Peel Full Strength Exfoliating Mask
from Juice Beauty
The skincare angels heard my prayer and granted me a sample of Green Apple Peel Full Strength! (I had to buy $50 of Juice Beauty products, but whatever, it’s stuff I needed.) I tried it out last week for Spoil Me Sunday.
Mon Guerlain Eau de Parfum
from Guerlain
Inspired by Angelina Jolie, this sensual perfume has a complex combination of floral and spicy notes:
- Top notes: bergamot and carla lavender
- Middle notes: paradisone, sambac jasmine, and coumarin
- Bottom notes: iris, tahitensis vanilla, and album sandalwood
Decadence Eau So Decadent Eau de Toilette
from Marc Jacobs
The full-size bottle is adorable and almost makes me want to buy it! This light and feminine eau de toilette has a combination of fruity and floral notes:
- Top note: nashi pear
- Middle note: pink lily of the valley
- Bottom note: white amber
Skincare
Coconut & Hibiscus 2-in-1 Foaming Milk & Body Wash
from SheaMoisture
I love this brand–quality ingredients, cruelty-free, and good price point.
Key Ingredients:
- Coconut Oil–nourishes and firms skin thanks to Vitamins E and K, iron, and fatty acids
- Hibiscus Flower–a natural emollient that treats dry skin and improves skin tone
- Songyi Mushroom–brightens and evens skin tone
Yes to Tomatoes Acne Fighting Micellar Cleansing Water
from Yes to
Another great brand with a reasonable price point. Tomato extract, salicylic acid and micellar water gently cleanse, treat, and moisturize, so your skin isn’t left feeling dry. I had been using the Micellar Water from Formula 10.0.6 first thing in the morning, but honestly the bottle annoys me. Either I don’t get enough on my cotton ball, or I accidentally soak it. This dispenser method seems a lot better.
I’m a little confused about this product, though, because I bought it from Ulta for $2.25, but now I can’t find it anywhere on the website, even though it’s still listed on Yes to’s website. You can’t buy directly from their website at this time, so who knows? Anyway, you can still get the Charcoal one for $8.99 at Ulta.
Blemish Clearing Cleanser
from Juice Beauty
I’m trying to find the perfect cleanser that gets my skin clean without drying it out. This one just might be a contender. Most of the ingredients are organic, and it’s cruelty-free.
Key Ingredients:
- Lemon Juice & Cherry Juice–cleanse
- Aloe Juice–moisturizes
Skin Renewing Cream Serum
from CeraVe
When I got my birthday facial, the aesthetician recommended that I start incorporating Retinol into my skincare regimen, since I’m approaching my 30s. When I ran out of serum, I decided to try this out.
Key Ingredients:
- Encapsulated Retinol–Retinol reduces signs of aging, but it’s a pretty unstable molecule. By encapsulating the molecules with lipids, it lengthen’s the Retinol’s shelf life. The capsules break when applied to the skin and helps facilitate better absorption of the Retinol into the skin.
- Ceramides–protect against moisture loss and keep skin firm
- Hyaluronic Acid–helps maintain moisture
Pep-Start™ Daily UV Protector Broad Spectrum SPF 50
from Clinique
This mineral sunscreen protects against UVA/UVB rays, plus it has a (supposedly) universal tint to it helps perfect your skin’s appearance. It’s oil-free, and I’ve had no issues with it underneath my makeup. Not sure I’d repurchase because of the price point (I had a gift card this time). Any mineral face sunscreens out there that you recommend?
Bust Dust
from Megababe
I was waiting for a friend while she went through the checkout line at Ulta and she showed this to me because the name and the specificity of its use made her giggle. I was like, “Oh my goodness, they make something specifically for this? I need this in my life!” I’m probably about an F or G cup, and when you work out 6 days a week and live in Florida, the boob sweat struggle is REAL. I was hoping this was a spray that dried with a powdery finish, but it’s just a true powder that sprays out, so it’s a little messy. It smells great, though, and it’s cruelty-free and talc-free. It’s not an antiperspirant by any means, but it helps keep things a little drier and fresher until I can get home to shower.
Key Ingredients:
- Aloe–soothes skin
- Lavender Oil–natural antiseptic that inhibits bacteria growth
- Chamomile Oil–source of antioxidants and essential oils to reduce skin irritation
- Corn starch–absorbs moisture
I’m curious to try out a couple of their other products, as well: Thigh Rescue and Rosy Pits.
Makeup
Stem Cellular CC Cream in “Natural Glow”
from Juice Beauty
I was running low on my CC+ Cream from IT Cosmetics, and I think it was contributing to my breakouts, anyway. I thought I’d give this a try because it’s got 20% zinc oxide for sun protection, plus it’s free of synthetic fragrances. There are only 5 shades, but their website claims that since they don’t use artificial dyes, the colors work for skin tones from very light to dark as the colors blend and adapt.
It does seem to blend pretty well, but it’s thick, so I’m still trying to find that sweet spot of how much to squeeze onto my mixing palette for one use. I find it works best if I apply it with my stippling brush, blend a little more with the flat side of a beauty sponge, and then let it sit a couple of minutes before moving on to contouring and blush. I tried baking it, but my face came out looking really cakey, so I recommend doing the above and then finishing off with a setting spray and/or light layer of translucent powder.
Benefits according to the website:
- Reduces appearance of fine lines & wrinkles
- Broad spectrum sun protection
- Evens skin tone
- Smoothes uneven texture
- Creates a radiant, glowing complexion
- Rich in antioxidants
- Protects with mineral SPF 30
- Ultimate moisturizer
- Skin perfecting color
- Mineral tinted coverage
- No chemical sunscreen
- Non-nano natural sunscreen
24-Hour Brow Setter Clear Brow Gel
from Benefit Cosmetics
I tried this a few months ago and loved it, but I wanted to see if a drugstore brand could do the same thing for a lower price. So I bought one, and it didn’t even come close. This one is waterproof (the other one wasn’t) and it keeps my brow powder in place, even when I’m sweating at the gym. I love the applicator, too! The long bristles on one side are great for the main part of my brows, the shorter bristles on the other side help tame the really unruly hairs, and the bristles at the tip get the tails of my brows just right. If you’ve got a drug store brand that you think can top this, I want to know about it!
Brush Bath Purifying Brush Cleaner
from IT Brushes for Ulta
I only bought this because I couldn’t find my usual 30 oz. Japonesque refill bottle on the Ulta website or on Japonesque’s. It’s back on Ulta’s now, so I exchanged it, since Japonesque’s is a better buy ($30 for 16 fl. oz.) What do you think? Have you used either one before?
Whew, what a month! Let’s go, August! How many of these products have you tried?
Love,
Sarah xoxo
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