I'm not much of a product girl. I love them, to be sure--but I don't get too attached unless I find something I really love. I haven't ever found a hair conditioner I want to stick with, for example. Each month I pick a new one.
For instance, I recently tried Eva NYC's Therapy Session Hair Mask, and it made my hair super soft, but I won't be getting it again. It actually made my hair so soft that my curls just fell limp. (But if you have straight hair or very dry hair, I'd recommend it as it really made a noticeable difference.) Also currently holding a spot in my shower rack is Generic Value Products' Tea Tree Oil Lavender Conditioner, which is supposed to heavily moisturize, but I've not noticed if it does. So next month it will be something else, and I'll let you know how that goes.
Solid meh for both of these.
But there are just some things I'd never give up. They're all basics, and nothing fancy for the most part, but each one has proven itself to be indispensible and thus will need to be pried from my cold, dead hands.
For instance, I recently tried Eva NYC's Therapy Session Hair Mask, and it made my hair super soft, but I won't be getting it again. It actually made my hair so soft that my curls just fell limp. (But if you have straight hair or very dry hair, I'd recommend it as it really made a noticeable difference.) Also currently holding a spot in my shower rack is Generic Value Products' Tea Tree Oil Lavender Conditioner, which is supposed to heavily moisturize, but I've not noticed if it does. So next month it will be something else, and I'll let you know how that goes.
Solid meh for both of these.
Face moisturizer / Nuxe lip treatment / L Occitane beauty product / Benefit mascara / TheBalm makeup, $27 / Blending brush
Benefit They're Real mascara has made a believer out of me. It has a great brush, doesn't flake, no tarantula eye, and it makes my lashes look a lot fuller and longer with just one coat. I don't recommend rubbing your eyes while you're wearing this -- obviously that goes for any eye makeup, but just know that this stuff will give you the raccoon eye if rubbed. Other than that, the stuff is solid.
L'Occitane Ultra Rich Face Scrub is heavenly. I used to use a much cheaper exfoliating scrub which has tiny "micro-scrubbers" in it, and I recently found out that those little guys are made of plastic and are killing fish. As a person who gives somewhat of a shit about my environment (and has dry, flaky face skin), I had to find a natural alternative. The pot I have was a present from a friend and I will be buying it again. It's light and fluffy with an amazingly fresh scent, has shea butter and chestnut extract, and its scrubbers are natural -- finely-ground nutshells. It's totally worth the $38. I use it two times a week and it's a total treat every time.
MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack was my introduction to MAC makeup, and really taught me the difference between quality and not-so-quality makeup. It's perfectly black, stays put, and won't run.
I've been using Aveeno Ultra-Calming Daily Moisturizer for at least eight years now. I used to have red splotches on my cheeks, but after using it for a while, I didn't have them anymore. Still don't. It rubs right into your skin and doesn't stay greasy. Bonus: it has SPF 15.
Almay Wake-Up Undereye Concealer is probably easy to underestimate. I bought it on a whim and it's turned out to be very dependable. I have dark circles under my eyes; every morning I pat on a little triangle of this, set it with some powder, and you'd basically never know. (In fact, a coworker once asserted that I don't have dark circles. When I told her I use concealer, she said "Must be a really good concealer.")
I bought Nuxe Reve de Miel lip balm at a Parisian pharmacy because it was on sale. I've been really impressed with it -- it doesn't sit on your lips at all. It soaks right in and leaves your lips moisturized perfectly. It smells amazing, kind of lemony-honey-fresh. In Paris, I got two sticks for €10, but in the US, you can only order them online for $9 each, as far as I know. When my backup runs out, I'll be ordering more.
The Balm Mary Lou-Manizer came in one of my first Birchboxes, and I immediately fell in love. I use it to highlight the inner corners of my eyes and the bottom edge for a little extra sparkle (and sometimes even my cupid's bow if I'm feeling fancy), but it could be used to highlight your face or as an eyeshadow. It's the perfect color of gold. A little goes a long way -- I've had my little sample (pictured is a full-size) for at least a year or two now. Anytime I put on makeup, this is in the rotation.
Benefit They're Real mascara has made a believer out of me. It has a great brush, doesn't flake, no tarantula eye, and it makes my lashes look a lot fuller and longer with just one coat. I don't recommend rubbing your eyes while you're wearing this -- obviously that goes for any eye makeup, but just know that this stuff will give you the raccoon eye if rubbed. Other than that, the stuff is solid.
L'Occitane Ultra Rich Face Scrub is heavenly. I used to use a much cheaper exfoliating scrub which has tiny "micro-scrubbers" in it, and I recently found out that those little guys are made of plastic and are killing fish. As a person who gives somewhat of a shit about my environment (and has dry, flaky face skin), I had to find a natural alternative. The pot I have was a present from a friend and I will be buying it again. It's light and fluffy with an amazingly fresh scent, has shea butter and chestnut extract, and its scrubbers are natural -- finely-ground nutshells. It's totally worth the $38. I use it two times a week and it's a total treat every time.
MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack was my introduction to MAC makeup, and really taught me the difference between quality and not-so-quality makeup. It's perfectly black, stays put, and won't run.
I've been using Aveeno Ultra-Calming Daily Moisturizer for at least eight years now. I used to have red splotches on my cheeks, but after using it for a while, I didn't have them anymore. Still don't. It rubs right into your skin and doesn't stay greasy. Bonus: it has SPF 15.
Almay Wake-Up Undereye Concealer is probably easy to underestimate. I bought it on a whim and it's turned out to be very dependable. I have dark circles under my eyes; every morning I pat on a little triangle of this, set it with some powder, and you'd basically never know. (In fact, a coworker once asserted that I don't have dark circles. When I told her I use concealer, she said "Must be a really good concealer.")
I bought Nuxe Reve de Miel lip balm at a Parisian pharmacy because it was on sale. I've been really impressed with it -- it doesn't sit on your lips at all. It soaks right in and leaves your lips moisturized perfectly. It smells amazing, kind of lemony-honey-fresh. In Paris, I got two sticks for €10, but in the US, you can only order them online for $9 each, as far as I know. When my backup runs out, I'll be ordering more.
The Balm Mary Lou-Manizer came in one of my first Birchboxes, and I immediately fell in love. I use it to highlight the inner corners of my eyes and the bottom edge for a little extra sparkle (and sometimes even my cupid's bow if I'm feeling fancy), but it could be used to highlight your face or as an eyeshadow. It's the perfect color of gold. A little goes a long way -- I've had my little sample (pictured is a full-size) for at least a year or two now. Anytime I put on makeup, this is in the rotation.
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