October Favorites
Another month, another set of favorites. And now we only have two months left in 2016 say what?!
Missha All-Around Safe Block Essence Sun SPF 45 PA+++
$14.00 for 50 mL via Missha, less than $10 via Amazon and other online retailers
Ingredients: Really, really long so visit the Missha website to find out
This is my first Asian sunscreen and holy crap, I'm never going back. I always assumed people were over-exaggerating the differences between American and Asian sunscreens, but they weren't.
Not only does this sink so nicely into my skin, but it also it doesn't feel sticky or leave an uncomfortable film on my face. It offers a high level of sun protection which is always appreciated. Because it's formulated as a sunscreen for those with dry skin, it provides a nice amount of moisture which helps to keep the flakes away.
One minor irritation I have with this sunscreen is that the packaging is deceptively large. 50 mL is not that much product and when I first started using it, the bottle was already half empty! I know this wasn't a packaging error because I have repurchased this and have also purchased a different Missha sunscreen and all of them come half filled. The bottles are simply deceptively large.
the Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% Serum
$5.90 for 30 mL available via the Ordinary and Victoria Health
Ingredients: Aqua (Water), Niacinamide, Pentylene Glycol, Zinc PCA, Tamarindus Indica Seed Gum, Carrageenan, Acacia Senegal Gum, Xanthan Gum, Cocoyl Proline, Ethoxydiglycol, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin.
Not much to say here since my previous post was dedicated to chatting about this serum. If you're interested in learning more about the magic of Niacinamide, check out my full length review of the Ordinary Niacinamide serum here!
Revlon Colorburst Balm in 'Sultry'
$8.99 for 0.10 oz available via Ulta, Target (w/ free shipping until Christmas!), Amazon
Ingredients: Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Oil, Octyldodecanol, Cera Alba ((Beeswax) Cire d abeille), BHT, Benzoic Acid. May Contain: Mica, Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, 77492, 77499), Yellow 5 Lake (CI 19140), Red 6 Lake (CI 15850), Red 7 Lake (CI 15850:1), Blue 1 Lake (CI 42090), Yellow 6 Lake (CI 15985), Red 33 Lake (CI 17200), Red 28 Lake (CI 45410).
This matte lippie is an oldie but a goodie. After months of reaching for mostly liquid lipsticks when I wanted a matte look, it feels so refreshing to go back to something more comfortable. It gives the perfect matte look without sinking into every crevice on my lips and sucking out all the moisture.
The color is also another one of those my lips but better kinda shades. It's the perfect blend of pink and brown and gives life to my lips. Even though the formula is creamy it doesn't smudge and is sooo easy to re-apply. Honestly I don't even need to look at a mirror to touch it up. I'll swipe some across the lips, smack 'em a little, and bam, I'm good to go.
Colourpop Ultra Glossy Lip in 'Sookie'
$6.00 for 2.41 g / 0.09 oz available via Colourpop
Ingredients: Dimer Dilinoleyl Dimer, Dilinoleate, Diisostearyl Malate, Isopropyl Myristate, Triisostearin, Synthetic Beeswax, Stearalkonium Hectorite, Silica, Propylene Carbonate, Iron Oxides (Ci 77499, Ci 77491, Ci 77492), Red 7 Lake (Ci 15850), Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891).
I've resisted the Colourpop hype for a loooong time but finally caved in during their labor day sale. One of the lip products I bought was this lip gloss and I loooove the color. It's a purpley berry color that's so perfect for fall. Plus it doesn't need to be worn over a lip liner since it's pretty opaque.
On the downside, the gloss feels a bit heavy on the lips. It isn't overly sticky but it isn't as lightweight as Nars's lip glosses or Charlotte Tilbury's lip lustres. Since Sookie is a darker color, it stains the lips a bit and fades very nicely. Even after drinking a cup of matcha, I still had some color leftover on the center of my lips.
My one gripe with the product is that the text on the packaging wore off soooo fast. Literally after one short day in my purse, the holographic lettering starting peeling off. But since the product is only $5, it's a packaging defect I'm willing to overlook.
Colourpop Brow Pencil in 'Black n' Brown'
$5.00 for 0.09 g / .003 oz available via Colourpop
Ingredients: Ethylhexyl Stearate, Polyethylene, Isoeicosane, Silica, Synthetic Beeswax, Tocopherol [+/- Iron Oxides (Ci 77491), Iron Oxides (Ci 77492), Iron Oxides (Ci 77499), Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891)]
The Colourpop brow products don't seem to be as hyped up as their other products, but I bought mine on a whim and am so happy! The color black n' brown is so so perfect for my naturally black brows. It isn't too warm, it isn't too dark, it's just the perfect shade.
I'm very low key about my brows so I appreciate how natural this pencil looks. It's very easy to get a soft and fluffy look with it. I do wish that it lasted longer because even with a brow gel, it starts fading after about 5 to 6 hours of wear. The spoolie also isn't as large and soft as the one on the ABH Brow Wiz but it's still useable. It also can't be twisted down like the ABH Brow Wiz which sucks because you can't check how much product is left. But again, considering the price tag these are all issues that I'm not too bothered by.
Anastasia Beverly Hills Clear Brow Gel
$22 for 0.28 oz for available via Urban Outfitters, Sephora, Ulta, Nordstrom, Macy's
Ingredients: Glycerin, Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans, Butylene Glycol, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tetrasodium Edta, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Ethylparaben, Butylparaben, Isobutylparaben
This is another rediscovered favorite and one I have to thank Sephora Play! for. I received a mini brow gel in my September Play! box and it inspired me to start using the one I already had in my stash.
It's such a simple product, but it has a massive impact. My brows can get a bit wonky throughout the day, and they get even wonkier when I don't tweeze them for some time. With this brow gel they stay in place all day long. Unlike other clear mascaras I've given a try, these don't make my brows look all dry and flakey.
Wet N' Wild Megalast Nail Polish in 'R-U-Free-2 Dance?'
$1.99 for 0.45 fl. oz/ 13.5 mL available via Wet N' Wild
Ingredients: Really, really long but I'll type it out if it's requested
I have spotted so many displays of Wet N' Wild's Stars & Sequins collection over the past month and half and in every single display the highlighters are cleared out. But though I have yet to find those elusive highlighters, I am happy with the one other product that enticed me from the collection -- this jelly, blue glitter polish!
I gotta admit I almost didn't buy the polish because the name was so cringeworthy, but its beauty won me over. The blue sparkles make me feel like an ice princess! It has a clear jelly base and densely packed glitter so only one or two layers is needed for a fuller coverage glitter nail look. The polish feels very wintery to me without falling into the cliched red, green, and gold color theme (not that I don't love those too!)
Missha All-Around Safe Block Essence Sun SPF 45 PA+++
$14.00 for 50 mL via Missha, less than $10 via Amazon and other online retailers
Ingredients: Really, really long so visit the Missha website to find out
This is my first Asian sunscreen and holy crap, I'm never going back. I always assumed people were over-exaggerating the differences between American and Asian sunscreens, but they weren't.
Not only does this sink so nicely into my skin, but it also it doesn't feel sticky or leave an uncomfortable film on my face. It offers a high level of sun protection which is always appreciated. Because it's formulated as a sunscreen for those with dry skin, it provides a nice amount of moisture which helps to keep the flakes away.
One minor irritation I have with this sunscreen is that the packaging is deceptively large. 50 mL is not that much product and when I first started using it, the bottle was already half empty! I know this wasn't a packaging error because I have repurchased this and have also purchased a different Missha sunscreen and all of them come half filled. The bottles are simply deceptively large.
the Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% Serum
$5.90 for 30 mL available via the Ordinary and Victoria Health
Ingredients: Aqua (Water), Niacinamide, Pentylene Glycol, Zinc PCA, Tamarindus Indica Seed Gum, Carrageenan, Acacia Senegal Gum, Xanthan Gum, Cocoyl Proline, Ethoxydiglycol, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin.
Not much to say here since my previous post was dedicated to chatting about this serum. If you're interested in learning more about the magic of Niacinamide, check out my full length review of the Ordinary Niacinamide serum here!
Revlon Colorburst Balm in 'Sultry'
$8.99 for 0.10 oz available via Ulta, Target (w/ free shipping until Christmas!), Amazon
Ingredients: Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Oil, Octyldodecanol, Cera Alba ((Beeswax) Cire d abeille), BHT, Benzoic Acid. May Contain: Mica, Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, 77492, 77499), Yellow 5 Lake (CI 19140), Red 6 Lake (CI 15850), Red 7 Lake (CI 15850:1), Blue 1 Lake (CI 42090), Yellow 6 Lake (CI 15985), Red 33 Lake (CI 17200), Red 28 Lake (CI 45410).
This matte lippie is an oldie but a goodie. After months of reaching for mostly liquid lipsticks when I wanted a matte look, it feels so refreshing to go back to something more comfortable. It gives the perfect matte look without sinking into every crevice on my lips and sucking out all the moisture.
The color is also another one of those my lips but better kinda shades. It's the perfect blend of pink and brown and gives life to my lips. Even though the formula is creamy it doesn't smudge and is sooo easy to re-apply. Honestly I don't even need to look at a mirror to touch it up. I'll swipe some across the lips, smack 'em a little, and bam, I'm good to go.
Colourpop Ultra Glossy Lip in 'Sookie'
$6.00 for 2.41 g / 0.09 oz available via Colourpop
Ingredients: Dimer Dilinoleyl Dimer, Dilinoleate, Diisostearyl Malate, Isopropyl Myristate, Triisostearin, Synthetic Beeswax, Stearalkonium Hectorite, Silica, Propylene Carbonate, Iron Oxides (Ci 77499, Ci 77491, Ci 77492), Red 7 Lake (Ci 15850), Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891).
I've resisted the Colourpop hype for a loooong time but finally caved in during their labor day sale. One of the lip products I bought was this lip gloss and I loooove the color. It's a purpley berry color that's so perfect for fall. Plus it doesn't need to be worn over a lip liner since it's pretty opaque.
On the downside, the gloss feels a bit heavy on the lips. It isn't overly sticky but it isn't as lightweight as Nars's lip glosses or Charlotte Tilbury's lip lustres. Since Sookie is a darker color, it stains the lips a bit and fades very nicely. Even after drinking a cup of matcha, I still had some color leftover on the center of my lips.
My one gripe with the product is that the text on the packaging wore off soooo fast. Literally after one short day in my purse, the holographic lettering starting peeling off. But since the product is only $5, it's a packaging defect I'm willing to overlook.
Colourpop Brow Pencil in 'Black n' Brown'
$5.00 for 0.09 g / .003 oz available via Colourpop
Ingredients: Ethylhexyl Stearate, Polyethylene, Isoeicosane, Silica, Synthetic Beeswax, Tocopherol [+/- Iron Oxides (Ci 77491), Iron Oxides (Ci 77492), Iron Oxides (Ci 77499), Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891)]
The Colourpop brow products don't seem to be as hyped up as their other products, but I bought mine on a whim and am so happy! The color black n' brown is so so perfect for my naturally black brows. It isn't too warm, it isn't too dark, it's just the perfect shade.
I'm very low key about my brows so I appreciate how natural this pencil looks. It's very easy to get a soft and fluffy look with it. I do wish that it lasted longer because even with a brow gel, it starts fading after about 5 to 6 hours of wear. The spoolie also isn't as large and soft as the one on the ABH Brow Wiz but it's still useable. It also can't be twisted down like the ABH Brow Wiz which sucks because you can't check how much product is left. But again, considering the price tag these are all issues that I'm not too bothered by.
$22 for 0.28 oz for available via Urban Outfitters, Sephora, Ulta, Nordstrom, Macy's
Ingredients: Glycerin, Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans, Butylene Glycol, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tetrasodium Edta, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Ethylparaben, Butylparaben, Isobutylparaben
This is another rediscovered favorite and one I have to thank Sephora Play! for. I received a mini brow gel in my September Play! box and it inspired me to start using the one I already had in my stash.
It's such a simple product, but it has a massive impact. My brows can get a bit wonky throughout the day, and they get even wonkier when I don't tweeze them for some time. With this brow gel they stay in place all day long. Unlike other clear mascaras I've given a try, these don't make my brows look all dry and flakey.
Wet N' Wild Megalast Nail Polish in 'R-U-Free-2 Dance?'
$1.99 for 0.45 fl. oz/ 13.5 mL available via Wet N' Wild
Ingredients: Really, really long but I'll type it out if it's requested
I have spotted so many displays of Wet N' Wild's Stars & Sequins collection over the past month and half and in every single display the highlighters are cleared out. But though I have yet to find those elusive highlighters, I am happy with the one other product that enticed me from the collection -- this jelly, blue glitter polish!
I gotta admit I almost didn't buy the polish because the name was so cringeworthy, but its beauty won me over. The blue sparkles make me feel like an ice princess! It has a clear jelly base and densely packed glitter so only one or two layers is needed for a fuller coverage glitter nail look. The polish feels very wintery to me without falling into the cliched red, green, and gold color theme (not that I don't love those too!)