January Beauty Favorites
Like every monthly favorites post... I'll be starting off by asking where the fudge did the last month go?! I can't believe that January is already over!
Now that I've got that out of the way, here are my favorites for January 2017!
La Roche-Posay Thermal Spring Water
I guess my facial mist obsession has come full circle because this is literally just water. But I swear there's something special about this water that makes it worth the price tag. After a little bit of research I found out there actually is a difference between fancy, French thermal water in a can and the water that comes out of my kitchen sink!
I found this relatively recent article (2013) rounding up all the benefits of La Roche-Posay's thermal spring water. While the article is published by an employee of the company, the science sounded solid enough for me (aka an everyday, non-scientist person) to believe there actually are benefits to mineral water. There's also this article from Allure which discusses how the minerals and trace elements present in mineral water are beneficial to the microbiome found on our faces. Sounds promising!
Plus I remember watching an episode of Good Eats where they discussed the history of thermal springs and how they used to be a common remedy for all sorts of illnesses. Of course history isn't the best indicator of medical efficacy but if people have been using mineral water for hundreds of years and we still continue to do so, there must be some benefits, right?
So is it crazy for me to pay $10 for a bottle of water? Maybe. Will I continue to purchase it? Hell yes. Also the mister on this is so damn fine that I can't help but drench myself in it every time I use it 💦.
CosRX Ultimate Nourishing Rice Overnight Spa Mask (PR gift from Mikaela Beauty)
If you read my post on the 5 beauty brands I want to try more of in 2017, you may remember my obsession with CosRX. And it's a justified obsession because almost none of the CosRX products I've tried so far have disappointed me. The ultimate nourishing rice overnight spa mask (boy, that's a mouthful) is possibly my most favorite one yet!
It works great as an occlusive without making my face feel greasy. My face feels so plump and bouncy when I apply it; I automatically go to sleep with a smile on my face afterwards 😌. I'll be doing a full review on it later this month so keep yer eyes peeled 😉.
Maybelline Dream Cushion Fresh Face Liquid Foundation On-the-Go
Because I did a full review on this guy, I'll direct you to check out that post if you wanna find out why it was one of my favorites this past month 😉.
Algenist Reveal Concentrated Luminizing Drop in Rosé (PR Gift from Algenist Beauty)
I've become such a highlighter aficionado over the past year that I didn't think it was possible for me to find anything unique or new. I'm happy to say that the Algenist luminizing drops in Rosé manage to stand out in a sea of highlighters!
First and foremost is the dropper applicator. There are a few other dropper type highlighters on the market but this is the first one I've ever tried. And I gotta say I like it. A dropper gives you a lot more control (in comparison to a pump) when it comes to the amount of product you're dispensing.
The actual highlighter is a lovely rose gold shade that has the perfect balance of gold and pink. Not too pink that you look like you've got a rash and not too gold that you look like you've got yellow paint on yo face. It's the perfect mesh between the two. Plus the formula is a breeze to work with. It's a lot more subtle than the Becca and CoverFX liquid highlighters and blends out easily. A common issue with the CoverFX liquid highlighters are that they dry down super fast so you need to work quickly when you're using them-- that isn't a problem with this Algenist one (nor is it a concern for the Becca ones.)
Last but certainly not least is its skin-loving ingredient list! When I shared a shot of the highlighter on my Instagram (@sharmtoaster) last month, the people running the Algenist instagram account shared that the highlighters contain microalgae oil which aids in hydrating the skin as well as alguronic acid which are meant to reduce fine lines and wrinkles. Makeup that's pretty and has skincare benefits is basically a dream come true for a skincare junkie 😍.
W3LL People Bio Brightener Cream Mini
This little guy came in my November Target Beauty Box and I didn't really think anything of it. To be honest I was going to throw it in my de-stash box without a second thought but decided to quickly swatch it on a whim. And I'm so glad I did.
It's a very, very natural highlighter that takes about 5 seconds to use. I just dip my finger into the jar and draw little stripes on my cheekbones. While I still love the Lancôme glow subtil silky creme highlighter in my December favorites, the W3LL People bio brightener cream is even easier to use since it's subtler. I don't have to worry about blending it in because it has the sheerest, luminous finish (and it's glitter free!) It's all the glow I need for my simple, everyday no-makeup makeup look.
The full sized stick is available via Target, Anthropologie, and Birchbox but you can buy this mini size off the W3LL People website here.
And those are all my favorites from the past month! What were yours?
Now that I've got that out of the way, here are my favorites for January 2017!
I guess my facial mist obsession has come full circle because this is literally just water. But I swear there's something special about this water that makes it worth the price tag. After a little bit of research I found out there actually is a difference between fancy, French thermal water in a can and the water that comes out of my kitchen sink!
I found this relatively recent article (2013) rounding up all the benefits of La Roche-Posay's thermal spring water. While the article is published by an employee of the company, the science sounded solid enough for me (aka an everyday, non-scientist person) to believe there actually are benefits to mineral water. There's also this article from Allure which discusses how the minerals and trace elements present in mineral water are beneficial to the microbiome found on our faces. Sounds promising!
Plus I remember watching an episode of Good Eats where they discussed the history of thermal springs and how they used to be a common remedy for all sorts of illnesses. Of course history isn't the best indicator of medical efficacy but if people have been using mineral water for hundreds of years and we still continue to do so, there must be some benefits, right?
So is it crazy for me to pay $10 for a bottle of water? Maybe. Will I continue to purchase it? Hell yes. Also the mister on this is so damn fine that I can't help but drench myself in it every time I use it 💦.
CosRX Ultimate Nourishing Rice Overnight Spa Mask (PR gift from Mikaela Beauty)
If you read my post on the 5 beauty brands I want to try more of in 2017, you may remember my obsession with CosRX. And it's a justified obsession because almost none of the CosRX products I've tried so far have disappointed me. The ultimate nourishing rice overnight spa mask (boy, that's a mouthful) is possibly my most favorite one yet!
It works great as an occlusive without making my face feel greasy. My face feels so plump and bouncy when I apply it; I automatically go to sleep with a smile on my face afterwards 😌. I'll be doing a full review on it later this month so keep yer eyes peeled 😉.
Maybelline Dream Cushion Fresh Face Liquid Foundation On-the-Go
Because I did a full review on this guy, I'll direct you to check out that post if you wanna find out why it was one of my favorites this past month 😉.
Algenist Reveal Concentrated Luminizing Drop in Rosé (PR Gift from Algenist Beauty)
I've become such a highlighter aficionado over the past year that I didn't think it was possible for me to find anything unique or new. I'm happy to say that the Algenist luminizing drops in Rosé manage to stand out in a sea of highlighters!
First and foremost is the dropper applicator. There are a few other dropper type highlighters on the market but this is the first one I've ever tried. And I gotta say I like it. A dropper gives you a lot more control (in comparison to a pump) when it comes to the amount of product you're dispensing.
The actual highlighter is a lovely rose gold shade that has the perfect balance of gold and pink. Not too pink that you look like you've got a rash and not too gold that you look like you've got yellow paint on yo face. It's the perfect mesh between the two. Plus the formula is a breeze to work with. It's a lot more subtle than the Becca and CoverFX liquid highlighters and blends out easily. A common issue with the CoverFX liquid highlighters are that they dry down super fast so you need to work quickly when you're using them-- that isn't a problem with this Algenist one (nor is it a concern for the Becca ones.)
Last but certainly not least is its skin-loving ingredient list! When I shared a shot of the highlighter on my Instagram (@sharmtoaster) last month, the people running the Algenist instagram account shared that the highlighters contain microalgae oil which aids in hydrating the skin as well as alguronic acid which are meant to reduce fine lines and wrinkles. Makeup that's pretty and has skincare benefits is basically a dream come true for a skincare junkie 😍.
W3LL People Bio Brightener Cream Mini
This little guy came in my November Target Beauty Box and I didn't really think anything of it. To be honest I was going to throw it in my de-stash box without a second thought but decided to quickly swatch it on a whim. And I'm so glad I did.
It's a very, very natural highlighter that takes about 5 seconds to use. I just dip my finger into the jar and draw little stripes on my cheekbones. While I still love the Lancôme glow subtil silky creme highlighter in my December favorites, the W3LL People bio brightener cream is even easier to use since it's subtler. I don't have to worry about blending it in because it has the sheerest, luminous finish (and it's glitter free!) It's all the glow I need for my simple, everyday no-makeup makeup look.
The full sized stick is available via Target, Anthropologie, and Birchbox but you can buy this mini size off the W3LL People website here.
And those are all my favorites from the past month! What were yours?