October 2016 Favorites
Details after the jump.
Skincare
Long Week, Chit-Chat
It’s been an extraordinarily trying week for me. Wrapping up a big project at work, had a 17 hour day Wednesday, found out that a family member is having an unexpected medical situation, plus I’m running a weekend-long (starting today!) event at which I will be on my feet for at least 16 hours today, tomorrow, and 8 on Sunday.
Needless to say, I took Monday off. I’m going to give myself some grace here, too, and take Monday off from the blog.
Here’s a round-up of some stuff I wanted to chit-chat about but don’t have enough to warrant a full post.
Wizarding World of…Winged Liner?
You’ve probably already seen these Harry Potter-inspired brushes. Their wand-like handles are novel, but I question their functionality and quality. Custom design like this is generally expensive. Though they’re fun for those who have affinity for the wizarding world, they also don’t look very ergonomically-friendly; if you’re blending like a boss, your hands are going to be uncomfortable far faster.
Project Pan
I’m trying to Project Pan half of TFEN. I’ve been playing with it for the last couple weeks and even though my initial impressions were good, I’m not getting the performance I now crave. I still adore Totally Fetch and Live it Up, but I can’t wear those most of the time.
History Repeats Itself
There’s a big misconception that Benefit’s they’re Real! Big Sexy Eye Kit is innovative and fresh. Bzzt, wrong – this similar product from L’Oreal came out and was discontinued years ago. It was plagued with the same issues that this product is. I’m all for making beauty routines efficient (read: I am lazy), but some things are worth spending time/effort on. Unfortunately, the attempts at the eyeshadow version of Goober PB&J (which is legit) just aren’t great.
Easier Manicure Clean-Up
I just bought this liquid latex to use as a barrier when I’m doing my nails. I’m generally a tidy DIY manicurist but I’ve been experimenting with sponge-on application, and I’m trying to limit my messmaking. To use it, I’ll decant it into clean, empty nail polish bottles with an oral medicine syringe.
Banish Blemishes
I bit the curiosity bullet and bought these hydrocolloidal bandaids from Nexcare to help tackle any blemishes I might get. I’m interested in observing their performance, and will report back.
Why I Canceled Sephora Play
Several months ago, I signed up for my first beauty subscription box, Sephora Play. Optimistic that retail beauty giant Sephora would have the insight required to kick ass and take names in the sub box arena, I eagerly signed up.
After four boxes, I’ve canceled my subscription. I will receive and review October’s box, but that is the fifth and final Sephora Play box I will receive. Unfortunately, I found that Sephora Play is plagued by the same issues as any other beauty subscription box – for now, at least. My optimism, unfortunately, was unfounded.
Where I Take Issue
To date, it seems as though Sephora concocts two boxes based on the profile you create at sign up. The product selections are made for you; they spin this as a convenience. Personally, I’d rather take five minutes to pick from a pool of samples (like when you place a normal order) than have someone pick for me and make choices that don’t work for me.
They spin the fragrances as a bonus but they aren’t really. Let’s be honest, those vials are included in the $10 per month valuation.
There’s this big hoopla about the box being a surprise, even though manufactured leaks occur – there are several Sephora Play, “spoilers,” sites out there.
Instead of consistently getting exciting content in the boxes, they have people creating Spotify playlists. Seriously? Who is actually jumping at the chance to listen to this stuff? I’m a Sephora customer because I’m interested in beauty products, not because I’m seeking sweet hipster tunes.
To give you an idea of why I’m canceling, here are my hits, misses, and OKs.
LUSH Bath Bombs
In September, I visited a LUSH store for the first time. I’m familiar with the brand, of course, but had never tried their products – shopping for such things requires at least one physical visit before retreating to the internet for future purchases.
I rarely take baths, but I knew I wanted bath bombs. From there, I had no idea. Luckily for me, I encountered a friendly, knowledgeable employee (whose name, I regret, I do not remember) who asked me some questions to make recommendations:
“Do you like glitter?” Woman, is that even a question? Of course it is – plenty of customers don’t care for glitter. That’s fine, more for me. “What kind of fragrances do you like? Clean? Warm? Vanilla-y? Citrus? What else?” There were a few more – but she led me to two. The Experimenter, which is vanilla and tonka…
LUSH Cosmetics – Experimenter Bath Bomb
Sephora Play September 2016
Living Proof Night Cap / Sephora Rouge Shine Lipstick / Anastasia Clear Brow Gel /
Tory Burch Jolie Fleur Verte / KvD Tattoo Liner / Dr Jart+ Water Drop
I was pretty excited to try this box, so I prioritized using the items sooner rather than later.
Micellar Water Challenge Conclusion
It hardly seems like it, but a month has already passed since I took part in a Micellar Water Challenge. At that time, I also issued that same challenge to you readers – eschew your makeup wipes, and try using micellar water for your makeup removal needs as well.
How My Skin Feels
In a word, my skin feels awesome. Since I started removing my makeup with Micellar Water instead of using a makeup wipe, the skin on my cheeks has retained more of its moisture. Combined with my normal exfoliation routine, my skin is doing pretty well – less flaky skin around my nose. Finally, I’ve not needed to use quite as heavy a hand with moisturizers.
Also, no fragrance! Dear skincare companies, please please stop adding perfumes to facial skincare products. Thanks.