The Wishlist - Eight New Beauty Launches To Try

1. Milk Makeup Blur Liquid Matte Foundation - $40 for 1 oz

From the brand: 'Blur’s got you covered. From blurring pores and fine lines to providing weightless full coverage, Blur Liquid Matte Foundation does it all. It’s vegan, oil-free, and silicone-free, and glides right onto skin with the Dab + Blend Applicator for a smooth, matte finish that looks and feels as light as air. Plus, it features airless, no-drip packaging to minimize air exposure and eliminate spills — allowing your foundation to stay fresh, the color stay true, and all of it to stay put. As always, this product is cruelty-free.'

This foundation looks creamy and amazing in the pictures I've seen. I have high hopes that this will work for my dry skin despite being a matte finish due to the lightweight texture. Already available online and just arrived at my local Sephora - if it isn't at yours yet, keep an eye out, it should be there soon!


2. First Aid Beauty Hello FAB Tripe Protection Skin Ting with Goji Berry - $34 for 1 oz

From the brand: 'This weightless complexion fluid instantly adds natural looking color to help even skin tone, conceal imperfections and create a flawless look, while helping protect against the harmful effects of the sun and urban pollution. The superfood-powered formulation includes antioxidant-rich ingredients, including Goji Berry, Astaxanthin and Vitamin C to help shield skin from environmental aggressors, along with anti-pollution active ingredient, Alteromonas Ferment Extract. Pure mineral Zinc Oxide helps filter out harmful UVA and UVB rays and helps protect skin from photo-aging.'

This reminds me of my absolute holy grail summer foundation/tinted moisturizer, Bare Minerals Complexion Rescue - heavy on the skincare ingredients, light and soothing in texture. I'm looking forward to seeing how the coverage compares - new foundation roundup will featured shortly.


3. Bobbi Brown Essential 5-in-1 Face Palette - $65 (Nordstrom exclusive)

From the brand: 'Great for travel and touch-ups, this coordinated, five-in-one face palette contains all the products you need to perfect the look of your skin. Bobbi's Corrector brightens and neutralizes undereye discoloration, while her Creamy Concealer lightens and evens out the skin tone beneath your eyes. Skin Foundation Stick provides a seamless, natural, skin-like finish; Sheer Finish Pressed Powder sets makeup for all-day wear; and Bronzing Powder provides a touch of flattering warmth.'

This looks like the most perfect set for travel I've seen in a while! Bobbi Brown's cult classic face makeup options rolled into one palette - corrector/concealer (I can personally vouch for both), foundation stick (have not tried this specific formulation but the colors are excellent), pressed powder (have tried and love for a non-cakey finish), and bronzing powder (not too warm or too grey, a happy medium that will suit most people). I usually end up packing way too many individual products to achieve a finished face when traveling, so I will definitely be picking this up. Another palette for the win!


4. Nars Powermatte Lip Pigment - $26 for .18 oz

From the brand: 'Potency and precision—the new power couple. An innovative concentrate of our most powerful matte yet. Fluid Pigment Complex, liquefied pigment with a zero-gravity feel, introduces infinite matte color saturation with ultra-flexible long-wear. Sensorial, lightweight texture that applies like an ink on lips. Dries down to lock in formula for a smudge-resistant, carefree wear. Matte. Empowered. 20 lip-sealing mattes.'

I tried this on in the shade American Woman and swatched a few of the other shades recently. The wear is very comfortable and not at all drying, and for the most part the colors in the range are fairly everyday shades with a few standout brights/darks. American Woman is a great everyday neutral for me, I would recommend! I will be adding a few of these to my collection.


5. Clinique Pop Lip Shadow Cushion Matte Lip Powder - $19.50 for .04 oz

From the brand: 'Clinique Pop™ Lip Shadow is a weightless matte powder that delivers bold, highly pigmented lip color.'

Although I haven't seen this in person yet, this looks very promising - I've been chasing that super matte but not drying look all summer, and you can't get more matte than a powder! An intriguing concept for the lips. I'll be picking this product up soon and doing an in-depth review.


6. Bite Beauty Amuse Bouche Liquified Lipstick - $24 for .25 oz

From the brand: 'The liquid lip gets redefined with this handcrafted, moisture-rich, high-pigment formula. Bite Beauty’s most nourishing lipstick, Amuse Bouche, gets liquified, while offering rich, high-impact color and a creamy, comfortable application that glides on with unprecedented precision. Created by hand in small batches, Amuse Bouche Liquified Lipstick is made with natural monoi butter and coconut oil, which melts at the temperature of your lips to glide on for ultimate wear and a satiny finish. With 12 modern, wearable shades you’ve never seen from Bite Beauty, this collection gives everyday lip color an unexpected twist.'

Bite Beauty has always been very reliable for me. I love the concept (lipstick with ingredients safe enough for consumption), and the colors are just beautiful. The shade range here is smaller than their regular Amuse Bouche lipstick line, and mostly come in neutrals it seems. This isn't a launch that I feel I must run out and immediately grab, but I have a feeling I'll end up with at least one of these babies in my bag.


7. Farmacy Honey Drop Lightweight Moisturizer with Echinacea - $45 for 1.7 oz

From the brand: 'Designed to promote a vibrant, glowing complexion, Honey Drop delivers powerful antioxidants to help nourish the skin and glides on effortlessly to create a smooth, hydrated finish. A long lasting, lightweight moisturizer combining Echinacea GreenEnvy™ Honey, Triple Hyaluronic Acid Complex and Cupuacu Butter Beads.'

I'm excited to check this new moisturizer out purely because of my love for Farmacy's Honey Potion Renewing Antioxidant Hydration Mask - I've seen what they can do with honey in skincare, and I'm all in. Bring on the glow.


8. Fresh Vitamin Nectar Moisture Glow Face Cream - $42 for 1.6 oz

From the brand: 'Vitamin Nectar Moisture Glow Face Cream with a vitamin fruit complex is a revitalizing universal moisturizer that awakens skin for an incredibly vibrant, healthy-looking glow. The lightweight formula with an effervescent citrus scent helps to soften, smooth, and minimize signs of tired skin, so skin feels invigorated and recharged.'

More glow! Always more glow! As with the Farmacy launch, I was drawn to this through the gateway drug that is Fresh's Vitamin Nectar Vibrancy-Boosting Face Mask. I like using the mask before an event for a hydrated, even-toned canvas for makeup; stands to reason that using the moisturizer as well would only improve the situation! Very excited to try this out.




This concludes my current wishlist, although I add more products to it every single day (it's a real problem). Let me know of any upcoming launches you're excited for, and if you've tried any of these products already!

- Taylor

Rosy Outlook

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I used to HATE the scent of rose in products. I remember getting a sample of Stella fragrance by Stella McCartney, reading the rave reviews and wondering if there was something wrong with me because a taking a whiff of it alone made me feel I had aged forty years.

But as with so many things in life, tastes change! My passion for lavender still burns, but rose has been creeping in. Did I say creeping in? What I meant to say was, now I'm obsessed and sixty percent of my bath and body products are rose scented.

Take a look at some of my favorites below!

Clockwise from top left: Well Being by Lab candle in Dune Rose, Herbivore Coco Rose Body Scrub and Rose Hibiscus Face Mist, Fresh Rose Face Mask, Ouai Rose Hair and Body Oil, Origins Original Skin™ Retexturizing Mask with Rose Clay, AERIN Beauty Rose Lip Conditioner, Tweezerman ProCurl Eyelash Curler in Rose Gold

1.  Herbivore Coco Rose Body Polish & Rose Hibiscus Hydrating Face Mist:

Herbivore is all about natural, cruelty free skincare, and everything they sell happens to smell delicious. I'm a sucker for their minimalist packaging - just look at that font! Swoon. The body polish is seriously wonderful for dry skin - it has a combination of exfoliating grains and oils, and it leaves your skin softly scented and feeling totally moisturized before you even leave the shower. 

The face mist is a great first step in a morning/evening skincare routine to add an extra layer of hydration, or for whenever you feel like spraying yourself in a coat of luxury just because. The packaging is glass rather than plastic for an extra luxe feel. These can also be purchased in-store at Sephora. 

2.  Well Being by Lab candle in Dune Rose:

My sweet cousin Becky gave me this candle, and it has a lovely soft rose scent. The candle itself is a coconut wax blend. This company, Lab, just launched their website - the scents vary, and they're adding more every day, so keep an eye out for this addition. In the meantime, there is a Rose + Crystal scent available that looks heavenly!

3.  Fresh Rose Face Mask:

I've been using this mask for years as a reliable staple. Fresh describes this as 'A unique gel formula infused with real rose petals and pure rosewater that hydrates and tones the complexion.' It feels very refreshing on the face - there's no tingle/warming sensation/fizz that so many products are incorporating now, just a soothing and simple experience. I find that it does a good job of adding some moisture to my complexion, and a bit of a glow; my favorite way to use this is as a follow-up to an exfoliating treatment of any sort to calm my skin down. 

4.  Ouai Rose Hair and Body Oil:

I would absolutely bathe in this oil if I didn't know it would probably cost more than my life is worth. That is how deep my love for this goes. Sephora says, 'This luxurious, rose-gold hair & body oil is a silicone-free fusion of nutrient-rich oils from all over the world. The perfect multitasker, the fast-absorbing formula illuminates hair and skin as it restores moisture and repairs damage. Absinthium oil rehydrates dry skin and hair, rose hip oil reduces the appearance of scars and redness, and shea oil nourishes dry, dull skin and hair.' 

I haven't tried this on my hair yet, but the scent is incredible and perfect and a dab on each of my shoulders and collarbone gives such a healthy glow. It feels smooth and silky - the oil sinks in without leaving any residue other than the light from what I can only assume are miniature angel halos illuminating my decolletage. I classify this a must buy. 

5.  Origins Original Skin™ Retexturizing Mask with Rose Clay:

On the back: 'This powerful mask with Mediterranean Rose Clay, Canadian Willowherb and exfoliating Jojoba beads helps gently deep clean while refining skin's texture. The result - skin emerges anew, pores appear to vanish. Radiance is restored. Skin looks refreshed, flawless. Feels silky smooth'. 

Those are some high claims! I wouldn't quite say my skin looks 'flawless' after I use this mask, but it does feel completely clean and fresh. This is excellent for stopping any impending breakouts, I've found - it has some of that traditional clay mask drying feel, but doesn't go quite as far, and the exfoliating factor when you wash this off is very nice. I like to use this in tandem with a lightweight moisturizing mask or oil (such as Fresh Rose Mask)! A good maintenance mask to add to your skincare arsenal. 

 6.  AERIN Beauty Rose Lip Conditioner:

One problem I often find with scented lip products is that the taste can be downright unpleasant. For example, although I love many of Herbivore's offerings, their Coconut Rose lip balm has a powdery aftertaste. Not so good. At this point I will note that the eating of these products is unintentional and I do know better.

This lip balm, however, is gorgeous - the tint is a glossy, light pinkish-beige that adds easy polish to any look. The scent is light, fresh rose (not powdery in the least), and while the taste is not that of cupcakes, it is completely unoffensive. A little on the pricier side, but my tube has lasted me for months as a small bit is concentrated enough to moisturize. Love!

 6.  Tweezerman ProCurl Eyelash Curler in Rose Gold:

We've seen plenty of rose skin and beauty products now, so switching gears for the last pick! I picked up this eyelash curler at Sephora several weeks ago and I've used it every day since. The rose gold hue caught my eye, but the performance on my lashes was what stole my heart. This curler was an Allure Best of Beauty pick, and I wholeheartedly support their choice. If you're looking for a new curler you can't go wrong with the Tweezerman ProCurl - it even comes with several extra eyelash pads, so the value is definitely there! I'll be doing an in-depth review on my daily products and this will be featured in the roundup, so keep an eye out. Wink. 

I have a feeling my addiction is just beginning. Do you have any favorite products or recommendations? What kind of scents do you normally look for? Let me know!

- Taylor

Skincare Review: Youth to the People Age Prevention Superfood Mask

In addition to my regular skincare regime (which I'll go over in a future post), I have an enormous collection of masks, or as I like to call them, magic. It does a soul good to slather on some beautiful mud/cream/gel and relax in the tub with a bath bomb and some wine. I try to do at least one mask a week, but if I'm feeling extra fancy or particularly virtuous I'll do several.

This mask is a new one, and I received a small version of it in a set. The regular sized version retails for $44 in a 2 oz. jar.


Youth to the People Age Prevention Superfood Mask -

From the brand's website - Packed with superhero supergreens from land and sea, this age prevention mask uses the power of spirulina, bioactive microalgae, and our proprietary superfood blend to speed cell turnover and nourish skin with age-fighting phytonutrients. Crosslinked hyaluronic acid drenches skin in intense moisture, freshening your face with its plumping, hydrating benefits.

A little about Youth to the People - they use 100% vegan products and 100% recyclable packaging, and their products are squeaky clean. No fragrance, parabens, animal testing, or added color. Their ingredients are natural and extremely nutrient rich. 

Nice!

Without further ado, let's get to the good stuff - TESTING. 

Before:

I used micellar water (Garnier brand) to completely clean my face of any traces of makeup or skincare. My skin type is very dry, with redness in spots and visible pores around my nose. Several wrinkles beginning to show around my eyes and mouth. Sad times.

No makeup, clean skin

The products: 

I used a face mask brush by The Body Shop to apply this. A small touch that makes a huge difference in how luxurious a treatment feels - I definitely recommend this as an investment (linked below in caption). The mask itself felt surprisingly smooth and creamy; I was expecting more of a traditional, drier texture as you would find with a clay mask. This felt quite emollient, moisturizing, and spread very easily upon application. Scent was little to non-existent; a very slight herbal scent could be detected, but nothing heavy.

Mask brush by The Body Shop

During:

I swatched on my cheek to test the texture, and found that I could spread it quite a bit thinner while keeping the same feel. You could load this mask on if you wanted to, but there's no need. The middle picture shows the mask after a fresh application, and the picture on the right shows the mask after drying down (this was taken at the end of the recommended fifteen minutes). Bonus: if you have green eyes this mask is the bomb. Will this fact help you in your everyday life? Probably not, unless you mask on the go, in which case I salute you. 

After: 

The brand recommends leaving this on for ten to fifteen minutes before rinsing with warm water. I used a washcloth to remove this (it would be quite difficult to remove with water alone). On to impressions! My skin, as previously mentioned, is very dry. I always hope for a moisturized feel after a mask, but it's rare for me to get that result. This did not give a particularly moisturized feel. I did feel that the mask improved the clarity of several parts of my skin initially - the picture on the left was taken immediately after removal with some residual redness, but I do feel that my face looked brighter overall and a bit firmer as well around the jawline. The picture on the right is after applying my daily facial oil as a moisturizer, and I feel like my face looked slightly redder than usual but also had a nice glow. The true test came later in the day after applying and wearing light makeup - I could tell that my skin was in better condition tone and texture-wise, and it did end up feeling slightly more moisturized than usual. 

After mask, before moisturizer (left) and after mask, after moisturizer (right)

            

After with makeup:

Conclusion:

I can't classify this as a must-have for my skin type, unfortunately. It was a nice, easy mask that had some definite benefits, but not enough to justify the $44 price tag in my opinion. If you have a chance to sample this and you have skin that tends to be less dry, I would absolutely give it a go - it is a good basic upkeep mask, particularly mixed in with other products that have more potent ingredients. I'll discuss some of those products in upcoming posts, so stay tuned!

As usual, let me know if you have any questions or personal experiences with this mask (or other masks to recommend)!

- Taylor