I thought it would be fun to share some of favorite beauty products I discovered in the past year. There’s so many lists of what to buy and try right now and I really think these are some awesome products that I’ve been using on the regular since I got them.
Pantene Expert Collection : AgeDefy Shampoo and Conditioner $13 for 16.9 fl oz bottle/each
I received big samples in a NewBeauty Testtube and fell in love with these immediately. The formulas are vitamin rich and claim to make hair that acts up to 10 years younger. This premium line fights the seven signs of aging: unruly grays, dryness, lackluster hair, split ends, breakage,, frizz, and thinning. I like the thick gel of the shampoo and pump of the bigger bottles sold at my local target. I have super long fine hair, so I like to make sure its taken care of so I can continue to keep it long and curl it as I may. The conditioner feels rich and I like that its affordable to get on an ongoing basis.
Epicuren Discovery : Epicuren Facial Emulsion Enzyme Moisturizer $29 for 2 oz
I got a few of their products in a gift bag along with the matching enzyme toner. I love that this moisturizer does not break me out, feels light, and makes my skin feel hydrated. I pretty much use Cereve moisturizer and its nice to get to change things up a bit. I also use this to mix with foundations or self tanners to take them down a notch and always works well. I put some on in the morning after I wash my face and before makeup, and I don’t have to wait too long before I get started applying concealer and foundation.
La Roche-Posay : Mela-D Deep Cleansing Brightening Foaming Cream $24.99 for 4.2 fl oz
This was also something I got a NewBeauty Testtube and have been telling all my coworkers about. At 32, I am noticing sun spots forming around my eye and cheekbone area. I also have a few pores that remain congested but never flare up into anything. This face wash has micro-exfoliating LHA (lipo-hydroxy acid) that in their words say” precise cell-by-cell exfoliation to help shed dark cells from skin’s surface and smooth texture.” I can vouch for this cleanser that it was able to gently break up those clogged areas. My skin became radiant with continued usage, and I constantly had people asking what I was doing differently. I’ve scoped out the whole line at ULTA and curious how well using more of the line would be for me. I don’t want to go overboard and irritate my skin. I love this cleanser, it is well worth its price. The other treatment products within the line are a little pricier, but I’m positive I’ll either go for the Mela-D Pigment Control or Mela-D Dark Spots Moisturizer.
The smallest device from their line, Foreo introduced a better way to sonic cleanse the face — by keeping bacteria at bay with its silicone coated tips (1,300 of them ,btw) that gently clean, but don’t harbor a bacteria friendly environment. Just rinse with water and set aside until next use. No replacement brushes, in fact, this thing is free-standing and barely needs to be charged! It comes charged for I believe 300 uses, and when it finally dies you charge it with a usb cable. Not some gigantic setup you that takes away precious counter space. I love that I can use this while in the shower too to save time, and the deep clean I felt after pairing it with my favorite cleanser. I have a facial brush and I have a Foreo. I now choose the Foreo because I won’t have to spend anything in the long run and it does a good job. Once you try it, you’ll feel that immediate silky smooth feel.
IT Cosmetics: IT-O2 Ultra Repair Liquid Oxygen Foundation $38
The first foundation I have ever come across referred to as “a facial in a bottle, but its foundation”. Formulated to deliver oxygen to the skin, while infusing it with peptides, hyaluronic acid, niacin, hydrolyzed collagen and vitamins A, C, and E. My skin looks great when I use this makeup and use a blender sponge. It looks natural, but hides minor discolorations/spots while leaving the skin just a tad dewy. My skin never feels “covered” it feels good and I use only about 1 full pump, if that for my whole face. I first stipple it on and then I use a cone-shaped blender all over. I love this foundation (did I say that already), and I love that it has clinical data like this:
◦ 100% of subjects showed a clinically measured increase in skin hydration by an average of over 71%.
◦ 100% of subjects showed a clinically measured improvement in skin barrier repair.
◦ 96% of subjects agreed their skin looked radiant and healthy and saw an improvement in the smoothness of their skin texture.
◦ 76% of subjects agreed their pores appeared minimized.
CoverGirl : LashBlast Fusion $9
I always like trying out new mascaras, it always seems like there MAY be something better out there and I’m hoping this Christmas I might get that mascara sampler from Sephora to try a bunch more. Lately, I’ve been using Smashbox Full Exposure Mascara but the brush bristles are so tight and there is so much mascara on the brush that sometimes it gets messier than I like. Then I flip flopped over to CoverGirl Exact Eyelights for blue yes and loved the brush. I decided though that the LashBlast line has been famed before for being an awesome mascara and they also had one with fibers in it for lengthening; the fusion tube. It comes in very black which is my favorite and definitely lengthens, defines, and volumizes all at the same time. You don’t get crazy length, but I do like that its buildable without looking Tammy-Faye-ish.
Ardell : Ardell Individual Lashes Starter Kit $10
I always been a fan of having lush long and dark lashes. I’ve done lash perms and lash tints, and have played with lash strips before. Individual lashes were something I never attempted on my own until last month when I had the courage. After attending a beauty expo where I had party lashes put on for the day (just because), I was tempted to go to their salon and get the week-long permanents placed, but before I booked I stopped at Ulta and checked out their lashes and found this kit. I was able to create long full lashes that lasted about a week or so on my own for only $10. Granted, this does take time, and patience in learning how to place the lashes on, and how to remove them safely. The removal process sucks, no way around it, but possible with patience. Just don’t tug at your lashes and they wont fall out. promise. Mine didn’t, because I didn’t tear at them to come off. They’re still 579% worth it!
MoroccanOil: MoroccanOil Round Brush Set $76
I got this set as a gift from family and realized I had been missing out all my life by not using nicer brushes! I love that these brushes have just enough pull to grip my fine hair, but not tear or rip at it. It works perfect for my blow drying or styling my long hair and brushes out heated curls to a natural wave without destroying it. The ceramic helps protect my hair from the heat and the ionic bristles repel water for faster hair drying. You can also use the bottom end of any of the brushes to make a part in the hair easily too.
What were some of your favorite finds for 2013? Are any of yours in my list above? IS there something that you would like to try out now?
XOXO
Claudia
