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Happy May!! It’s been too long since I last wrote a blog post about my favorite beauty products. I’ve also recently run out of my everyday skincare products that I needed to update. With summer season almost upon us, this is the perfect time to share the latest makeup and skincare items I’ve been using. Enjoy!
Algenist Complete Eye Renewal Balm
I had a Sephora gift card that I have been holding on to for quite some time. My Clinique eye cream was running out and I have been perusing countless eye creams for a while. First, I initially set my eyes on the avocado eye cream by Kiehls, but that’s mainly for hydration ,then the brightening banana cream by OLEHENRIKSEN, which is sold out everywhere and only brightens.
Eye cream is a little tricky because there’s a smorgasbord of them flooding the market and they all target different things: dark circles, wrinkles, hydration, you name it. So I asked for recommendations and wound up with the Algenist eye cream.
This one is retails for $68. Prior to getting it, I was checking out different creams in the price range of $40-$50. I consider anything above $50 to be outrageously expensive, but given my needs, I had no qualms about spending the extra 20 bucks. Algenist is a skincare brand located in the heart of San Francisco and they’re known for delivering optimal results thanks to their biotechnological ingredients. The container lasts for a really long time, so you’re definitely getting your money’s worth rather than spending $40 every 3 months on eye creams where you don’t see results.
Just to disclose, I have very puffy eyes especially in the morning and dark circles that I always need to cover with concealer otherwise I’ll look like a zombie bride so I wanted to invest in a good effective cream.
This specific eye cream targets all main concerns that we have regarding our eyes: wrinkles, puffiness, dark circles and anti-aging. It has alguronic acid combined with Vitamin C, caffeine, cucumber, aloe vera and green tea extracts. It also works wonderfully as a base before putting on concealer.
The Sephora employee told me that the best eye cream is Shiseido and I read online that Korean eye creams are proven to be the most effective. I mean, if you look at almost every Asian, most of them have perfect clear skin and no under eye bags.
Charlotte Tilbury Bond Girl Matte Revolution Lipstick
As a girl with a medium complexion, I’ve always struggled to find the perfect everyday lipstick. I had already heard of this cult-classic brand before I purchased this lipstick because adored by celebrities and fashion icons.
To better understand the scope of her lipstick colors, I looked at CT lipstick swatches from Vithya Hair and Makeup Youtube channel. After testing them out at the store, I couldn’t believe that I finally found such a flattering color, “Bond Girl”. Despite this Youtuber being close to my skin tone, there are so many different undertones , which makes it a challenge and a complete onerous task when browsing for the perfect color that pairs well with my skin tone. All the lipsticks looked gorgeous on her, but on me most of them either looked too pink (like bubblegum 😰)or didn’t brighten up my complexion.
Bond girl is the perfect everyday lipstick color. It’s a deep berry red hue that doesn’t look gaudy on me but adds an element of depth to my face. The creamy texture makes for perfect application and creates a rich finish that truly emphasizes the natural color of my lips. I love how it doesn’t dry my lips (I’m super prone to cracked lips) and how the long-lasting formula made me forget I was wearing lipstick.
From the beautiful rose gold packaging to the impressive quality of each and every product, Charlotte Tilbury has me sold! I will definitely purchase from her brand in the future.
Bare Minerals Gen Nude Powder Blush
My go-to favorite blush of all time is the liquid blush Torrid by Nars, but Bare Minerals has taken it up a notch with their new Gen Nude blush collection and I’m completely over the moon with this one. After trying this out multiple times at Sephora, I couldn’t get over how nice this looked on me and how much it boosted my overall appearance despite having a bare face. It gives you the most beautiful and natural flush on your cheeks providing you with a radiant-looking complexion. A quick swipe goes such a long way because it’s crazy pigmented. My color is You Had Me At Merlot, which is a beautiful rich berry wine color. It’s funny how most makeup that compliments my skin tone has berry colors in it! This specific color looks stunning for tan/dark complexion women. Love this so much! If this wasn’t enough, they’ve come up with 6 different colors so whatever your skin tone is, Bare Minerals has something for everyone!
Supergoop! Sunscreen
Out of all my products, sunscreen is the number one thing I can’t leave the house without. I’ve been using La Roche for the past 4 months and my tube had recently come to the end. As good as the brand is, there were only two setbacks: it was hard to blend and left a white cast on my face. If you have brown skin, you know the struggle I’m talking about. I’ve tried soooo many sunscreens before like Neutrogena (thickest sunscreen ever), Glossier’s Invisible Shield (unfortunately this one’s not waterproof so forget applying it before going to the gym) and many others. On my first year of living here, I developed hyperpigmentation and tiny brown spots so yes, I take SPF very seriously and freak out when I’m not wearing it, kind of like carrying my iPhone with no case. Let’s not even delve into the horrid ugly consequences of not wearing it (skin cancer, fast aging and the list goes on).
Supergoop! blends like butter into your skin. I love the fact that it’s sheer yet super moisturizing at the same time, which makes for a very effortless smooth application and guess what…no annoying residue, it absorbs super fast! Supergoop is exclusively sold online at Sephora, but a few of them carry it in-store. After a lot of trial and error I have finally found the perfect sunscreen! 😭 (Hallelujah chorus).
The website gives me Glossier vibes, which I love!! This brand also specializes in everything sunscreen related: SPF setting powders, glow stick sunscreen (yes you read that right), refreshing mists, makeup (everything with SPF in it) and an invisible primer. Supergoop is the solution to all your concerns about Ultraviolet rays. I will make a blog post in the future regarding the importance of wearing SPF on a daily basis. Your face and body will feel moisturized and protected throughout the day!!
Lapis Oil Balancing Facial Oil
Not in the picture but I’ve been using this for a while and thought it was worth a mention. Herbivore Lapis Facial Oil has been another great investment in my skincare routine. If you have acne-prone skin, hormonal acne, redness or uneven skin texture, this oil works like a charm. Not only does the Lapis oil balance the sebums and production oils of the skin, but it also contains Azulene, a powerful anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial that clarifies the complexion. My breakouts have definitely subsided since I started using this, especially during that time of the month.
Additionally, Lapis Oil includes jojoba oil (see the benefits here), which also makes it perfect to use as a moisturizer only. If you use it in the morning, you must use SPF on top to prevent sun damage.
Note: if you don’t want to commit and pay the full price, you can also buy the mini size for $26.
This concludes my round-up of favorite products this season.
Stay tuned for a future post about my skincare routine!
What are your favorite beauty/skincare products that you’re currently obsessed with?
To see the products, just click on any of the thumbnail photos 🙂
