If I Could, I Would: A Sephora Wishlist
I had a totally different post scheduled to go live today but at the last minute, I decided I wanted to share a self-indulgent Sephora wishlist instead. Some people like throwing back a cold beer at the end of a long day, I like to throw in hundreds of dollars of products in my Sephora cart that I will more than likely not actually purchase. Different strokes for different folks and all that.
This product is supposed to be the baby between C-firma and protini, two of my favorite products from the brand. C-firma is one of the best vitamin c serums I've tried so far-- I've raved about it enough at this point. And while I haven't extensively tried protini, I surprisingly enjoyed the sample I got myself from Sephora. The only thing holding me back from purchasing it is the price tag and the fact that a lot of the anti-aging benefits but not be very beneficial for someone my age (not gonna lie, being chubby also helps at keeping my face look young.)
The same goes for this eye cream! While I don't doubt it's efficacy, I'm not sure if I really need all the benefits this eye cream provides. On top of that, I have something like 7 other eye creams to go through before I can think of buying a new one.
Spoilers, sweetie. I won't spill the beans on this because my scalp exfoliator post is coming up next month, but suffice to say I was a fan of this (I finished a mini that I included in my last empties post.)
There's no justifiable reason for me to purchase another moisturizer, but that isn't going to stop me... especially one that's pink and comes in a cute container!
Even though I'm a longtime fan of Glow Recipe, I have yet to try any of their in-house products. The sleeping mask had a texture I wasn't too fond of and the mixed reviews of the cleanser dismayed me from purchasing it. But this moisturizer totally sounds like something I would like! Asides from the aesthetic angle, it seems like a solid summer moisturizer.
Even though it is a gel, it has a nice ingredient list. So many of the pricier gels on the market are primarily alcohol, silicone, and a fatty alcohols with all the "star" ingredients thrown in towards the end of the ingredient list towards phenoxethanol. But the first two ingredients in this moisturizer are watermelon and watermelon extract! Sounds promising, right?
I finally got around to tossing some of the older foundations and tinted moisturizers in my stash, so I feel justified in trying something new. The reviews on this has been very mixed-- with some people raving that it looks like a second skin while others lament how it makes them look like little old ladies with shriveled skin.
But the negative reviews aren't deterring my want to try this. The branding and marketing of the product totally got to me. A weightless, buildable formula with spf but no flashback??? Me likey.
I should probably try the sample I got from Sephora first before committing though...
Is it a first cleanser? Is it a second cleanser? I'm not really sure but I wanna try it because of all the rave reviews I've read on IG. It kind of sounds like Glossier's Milky Jelly cleanser but possibly even gentler. I really like the texture of milky jelly but with consistent use it can dry out my skin. Here's hoping the origins version is even better!
I know there are many who think that splurging on mascara is one of the most pointless makeup purchases. But I have to say I disagree because I have the most stubbornly straight lashes. There are very few mascaras that actually keep my lashes curled and the Diorshow ones are some of the best!
Drugstore mascaras aren't even that cheap these days! Spending more than $10 that I almost certainly know won't work for me just isn't worth it. Instead of buying 2 or 3 mascaras that might work, I'd rather just spend the money on one mascara that I know will work.
I've been flip-flopping on this primer. At first, I thought it was absolutely beautiful and something I needed because of packaging alone. Then once I got a hold of myself I thought I didn't need it because it just seemed like a silicone primer in jar form (jars, as far as I'm concerned, are inferior to tubes and pumps.) But lately I've been hearing a lot of positive reviews on how well it wears throughout the day and how smooth it makes people's skin look-- so naturally, I want it again.
There's also the issue that super siliconey products are always hit and miss with me. Sometimes they give me the worst milia, but sometimes my skin is okay...
At this point, I assume anyone that has ever read my blog or IG to know that I have a love affair with squalane. If you don't know, I'm insulted. So a sunscreen that heavily features squalane is something that I want!
I understand why so many sunscreens have dimethicone-- it makes for a pleasing, smoothing texture. But personally, I wish there were more options out there that were silicone free or had silicone further down on the ingredient list. From my experience, most siliconey sunscreens don't wear all that well with heavier oils (oh, the pilling!!), and many give me milia.
Another major con for this sunscreen is the size-- less than 2 oz of product is p.r.i.c.e.y. The formula must truly be out of this world amazing for me to pay so much for so little sunscreen.
(Ps I won't actually be insulted if you don't know I love squalane. I'm not that narcissistic.)
Sephora's spring sale is coming up next month so I guess this post is appropriate even if it is a bit early. My tastes are fickle and my cart is forever changing so only the fates know what I'll actually purchase once the sale hits. But as of right now, here are all the pretties in my cart!
Drunk Elephant C-Tango Multivitamin Eye Cream
$64.00 via SephoraThis product is supposed to be the baby between C-firma and protini, two of my favorite products from the brand. C-firma is one of the best vitamin c serums I've tried so far-- I've raved about it enough at this point. And while I haven't extensively tried protini, I surprisingly enjoyed the sample I got myself from Sephora. The only thing holding me back from purchasing it is the price tag and the fact that a lot of the anti-aging benefits but not be very beneficial for someone my age (not gonna lie, being chubby also helps at keeping my face look young.)
The same goes for this eye cream! While I don't doubt it's efficacy, I'm not sure if I really need all the benefits this eye cream provides. On top of that, I have something like 7 other eye creams to go through before I can think of buying a new one.
Briogeo Scalp Revival Charcoal + Coconut Oil Micro-exfoliating Shampoo
$42.00 via SephoraSpoilers, sweetie. I won't spill the beans on this because my scalp exfoliator post is coming up next month, but suffice to say I was a fan of this (I finished a mini that I included in my last empties post.)
Glow Recipe Watermelon Pink Juice Moisturizer
$39.00 via SephoraThere's no justifiable reason for me to purchase another moisturizer, but that isn't going to stop me... especially one that's pink and comes in a cute container!
Even though I'm a longtime fan of Glow Recipe, I have yet to try any of their in-house products. The sleeping mask had a texture I wasn't too fond of and the mixed reviews of the cleanser dismayed me from purchasing it. But this moisturizer totally sounds like something I would like! Asides from the aesthetic angle, it seems like a solid summer moisturizer.
Even though it is a gel, it has a nice ingredient list. So many of the pricier gels on the market are primarily alcohol, silicone, and a fatty alcohols with all the "star" ingredients thrown in towards the end of the ingredient list towards phenoxethanol. But the first two ingredients in this moisturizer are watermelon and watermelon extract! Sounds promising, right?
Marc Jacobs Beauty Shameless Youthful-Look 24H Foundation SPF 25
$46.00 via SephoraI finally got around to tossing some of the older foundations and tinted moisturizers in my stash, so I feel justified in trying something new. The reviews on this has been very mixed-- with some people raving that it looks like a second skin while others lament how it makes them look like little old ladies with shriveled skin.
But the negative reviews aren't deterring my want to try this. The branding and marketing of the product totally got to me. A weightless, buildable formula with spf but no flashback??? Me likey.
I should probably try the sample I got from Sephora first before committing though...
Origins Original Skin Cleansing Makeup Removing Jelly with Willowherb
$23.00 via SephoraIs it a first cleanser? Is it a second cleanser? I'm not really sure but I wanna try it because of all the rave reviews I've read on IG. It kind of sounds like Glossier's Milky Jelly cleanser but possibly even gentler. I really like the texture of milky jelly but with consistent use it can dry out my skin. Here's hoping the origins version is even better!
Dior Diorshow Waterproof Mascara
$29.50 via SephoraI know there are many who think that splurging on mascara is one of the most pointless makeup purchases. But I have to say I disagree because I have the most stubbornly straight lashes. There are very few mascaras that actually keep my lashes curled and the Diorshow ones are some of the best!
Drugstore mascaras aren't even that cheap these days! Spending more than $10 that I almost certainly know won't work for me just isn't worth it. Instead of buying 2 or 3 mascaras that might work, I'd rather just spend the money on one mascara that I know will work.
Tatcha The Silk Canvas Protective Primer
$52.00 via SephoraI've been flip-flopping on this primer. At first, I thought it was absolutely beautiful and something I needed because of packaging alone. Then once I got a hold of myself I thought I didn't need it because it just seemed like a silicone primer in jar form (jars, as far as I'm concerned, are inferior to tubes and pumps.) But lately I've been hearing a lot of positive reviews on how well it wears throughout the day and how smooth it makes people's skin look-- so naturally, I want it again.
There's also the issue that super siliconey products are always hit and miss with me. Sometimes they give me the worst milia, but sometimes my skin is okay...
This has been on my wishlist since Sephora's fall VIB sale. Actually, scratch that, it was on my wishlist pretty much since it came out. Prebiotics are a very trendy skincare ingredient at the moment and I'm keen to try one of the first products that capitalized on the trend.
This essence is primarily green tea leaf extract from Jeju, that's extracted and fermented in a very specific manner. There's a part of me that wonders if that's marketing speak, but there's also a large part of me that believes it. I'd liken it to making pizza dough. You could make a quick dough that would rise within the hour. But a proper pizzaria uses a slow rising dough that has a much more delicious flavor. So yeah there are cheaper products on the product with green tea leaf extract, but this one might be more beneficial to the skin because of the way it was harvested.
This essence is primarily green tea leaf extract from Jeju, that's extracted and fermented in a very specific manner. There's a part of me that wonders if that's marketing speak, but there's also a large part of me that believes it. I'd liken it to making pizza dough. You could make a quick dough that would rise within the hour. But a proper pizzaria uses a slow rising dough that has a much more delicious flavor. So yeah there are cheaper products on the product with green tea leaf extract, but this one might be more beneficial to the skin because of the way it was harvested.
Biossance Squalane + Mineral SPF 45
$39.00 via SephoraAt this point, I assume anyone that has ever read my blog or IG to know that I have a love affair with squalane. If you don't know, I'm insulted. So a sunscreen that heavily features squalane is something that I want!
I understand why so many sunscreens have dimethicone-- it makes for a pleasing, smoothing texture. But personally, I wish there were more options out there that were silicone free or had silicone further down on the ingredient list. From my experience, most siliconey sunscreens don't wear all that well with heavier oils (oh, the pilling!!), and many give me milia.
Another major con for this sunscreen is the size-- less than 2 oz of product is p.r.i.c.e.y. The formula must truly be out of this world amazing for me to pay so much for so little sunscreen.
(Ps I won't actually be insulted if you don't know I love squalane. I'm not that narcissistic.)
What's on your Sephora wishlist at the moment?
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