tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-42410806817673604382024-03-16T00:25:34.325-07:00brutally honest beautybrutally honest beauty reviews and other ways to avoid wasting your moneyLyn Bhbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12081735635995970890noreply@blogger.comBlogger1178125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4241080681767360438.post-41479122709248879352019-07-27T14:23:00.000-07:002019-07-27T14:24:28.433-07:00Recent Review Round-upHey! My current job doesn't give me much time or mental energy for blogging. I have been somewhat better about posting on Instagram, only because it necessitates a shorter format, and so I can write a post now and then during my lunch break. But in case there are any of you who aren't on Instagram but are still checking this space for updates, I wanted to round up a few short reviews I've posted over there. In case you aren't aware, you can view the posts in your browser without having an account or downloading the app.<br />
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Feel free to comment here if you don't use Instagram but have a question or anything. I should get an email notification of your comment, so I can still respond!<br />
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BzgBwvpByjl/?igshid=5a2xs5p5kk9t" target="_blank">Urban Decay Lo-Fi Lip Mousse in Amplify</a><br />
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BzGf8-3hij_/?igshid=b5639vmzwc1y" target="_blank">Bioré Aqua Rich Watery Essence Sunscreen</a><br />
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/ByVtlZJh4Xw/?igshid=1xckho3hvnpux" target="_blank">CeraVe Skin Renewing Cream Serum with Retinol</a><br />
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BxyQmtqFAw0/?igshid=nw0wrl0w8i1j" target="_blank">The Ordinary vs. Paula's Choice Niacinamide</a><br />
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BxkZbCwli-j/?igshid=w1gaht9krnzx" target="_blank">NYX Stay Matte But Not Flat Powder Foundation</a><br />
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If you actually find this sort of thing useful, please let me know, and I'll try to post them more often. Big love and appreciation to anyone who still checks this blog!Lyn Bhbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12081735635995970890noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4241080681767360438.post-27302261651955878242019-02-27T09:40:00.001-08:002019-02-27T09:40:43.733-08:003 BHAs: Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid, CosRx BHA Blackhead Power Liquid, and Stridex Maximum Strength Medicated Pads<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a class="button white" href="http://cheapasf.blogspot.com/2015/05/affiliate-links.html">Affiliate Links</a></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0d7DR-ZbpsNAmU0rbHH41FPWhDK8S2zi31Z9C9OL6DfuCxwO0xkz__Ce6bgdN_QRrVNwsovitOm3BfLEI1wWd1F6dGIHVNBLzv73uoSAgWmjQ0R6ELAVvnBSUrAt_xVNc2B7kdQwxQhS8/s1600/BHA_Paulas_Choice_Stridex_CosRx_Review.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Review of Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid, CosRx BHA Blackhead Power Liquid, and Stridex Maximum Strength Medicated Pads" border="0" data-original-height="602" data-original-width="665" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0d7DR-ZbpsNAmU0rbHH41FPWhDK8S2zi31Z9C9OL6DfuCxwO0xkz__Ce6bgdN_QRrVNwsovitOm3BfLEI1wWd1F6dGIHVNBLzv73uoSAgWmjQ0R6ELAVvnBSUrAt_xVNc2B7kdQwxQhS8/s1600/BHA_Paulas_Choice_Stridex_CosRx_Review.png" title="Review of Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid, CosRx BHA Blackhead Power Liquid, and Stridex Maximum Strength Medicated Pads" /></a></div>
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I've been using <a href="https://amzn.to/2XnrSkL" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid</a> ($30) as part of my (almost) daily routine for over a decade now. I consider salicylic acid (BHA) one of three staple ingredients that keep my skin in good shape, along with niacinamide and (more recently added) azelaic acid (<a href="http://cheapasf.blogspot.com/2018/03/the-ordinarys-azelaic-acid-suspension.html" target="_blank">reviewed here</a>). But with Paula's Choice prices steadily rising (it was less than $20 Canadian when I started to use it!) and my income not keeping pace, I decided to gamble on a couple of more affordable, but equally popular, BHA products. I'll review them here, along with the PC BHA, which (spoiler!) I ultimately went back to. (Hope you like acronyms, everybody!)<br />
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<a href="https://amzn.to/2T3cDib" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">CosRx</a> makes a very popular and affordable liquid BHA that is now easily accessible in the US in places like <a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/Z7FY" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">ULTA</a> ($22) and on <a href="https://amzn.to/2T3cDib" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Amazon</a> ($15). Because I'd previously tried Paula's Choice's BHA gel and found it less effective than the liquid, I decided to try the highly-recommended liquid from CosRx. The consistency is actually significantly thicker than the watery PC BHA, which makes it easier to apply without using a cotton pad. It's decidedly a liquid and not a gel, however. It spreads easily on my skin and soaks in well, without leaving much of a film or a sticky residue. That's nice, because I apply my BHA first thing in the morning after washing my face, and so I want it to play well with makeup and other products.<br />
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There's not a lot to say about the CosRx BHA experience, except that it did not play well with my <a href="https://amzn.to/2tItDeG" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Paula's Choice Niacinamide Booster</a>. When I used them both at the same time, my face flushed. It didn't last more than half an hour, and my skin wasn't irritated--my face just got pink and warm. There's nothing dangerous or damaging about this sort of thing, as far as I know, but it's a little unpleasant. I haven't had that experience mixing either of those products with anything else, and it was solved by just using one in the morning and the other at night.<br />
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Otherwise, the CosRx didn't cause any problems for me, but unfortunately it didn't do much for my skin, either. The role of BHA in my routine is to reduce clogged pores and blackheads, and to keep the pimples that result from them away. It doesn't really prevent hormonal/cystic acne for me, but it certainly reduces inflammatory acne when its working. The CosRx might have helped slightly, but I wasn't as satisfied with the state of my skin while using it as I was when I used the PC version.<br />
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The main ingredient in the CosRx BHA is probably what makes the difference for me. I know that salicylic acid works for me, but the CosRx contains a different form of BHA: betaine salicylate. This ingredient is sometimes said to be gentler than salicylic acid and is supposedly longer-acting. I don't experience irritation from BHAs in general, so I can't really comment on those qualities. My (admittedly very limited) experience suggests to me that if SA works well for you, you can't necessarily count on BS (ha!) to work as well--but on the other hand, if you've had bad luck with SA, a product with BS might be worth trying.<br />
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My second affordable BHA product was a bit of a desperation purchase. I traveled a bunch, visiting family and in-laws and friends, in September, but I somehow didn't pack enough of my PC BHA to last for the whole trip. By the third week, my skin was congested and breaking out, so I picked up a tub of the <a href="https://amzn.to/2EB4p7W" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Stridex BHA pads</a> (in the red packaging!) ($4-7), which had been recommended to me on multiple good authorities. The container holds a lot of pads and a lot of liquid, so they're not likely to dry out before you finish them. In fact, one pad was more than enough for my face, and so I started to cut them in half.<br />
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The pads are soaked in a 2% salicylic acid liquid, closer in composition to my PC liquid than to the CosRx product. They also contain a bit of menthol, so you get that medicinal smell and a mild cooling sensation--too mild to call it a "tingle." Still, I could do without it, considering it doesn't add anything. These pads served well enough in a pinch to start clearing up my skin a bit. In the long run, however, after I got home again they just weren't quite as effective as the PC liquid. My breakouts subsided and my pores weren't quite as clogged as they had been, but not as clear as I knew they could be. I ended up, as you know, going back to Paula.<br />
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I'm still using the Stridex pads, though. I've found over the years that otherwise disappointing BHA and AHA products work great as aftershave on my legs and armpits. If I swipe these on after shaving and before moisturizing, I almost never get razor burn or ingrown hairs. In fact, the price is so good, that I'd recommend picking up a tub of Stridex pads specifically for this purpose if you're a shaver. Their anti-inflammatory and exfoliating properties are ideal.<br />
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So now I'm back on the <a href="https://amzn.to/2XnrSkL" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Paula's Choice BHA</a> to stay, I guess. It's a thin liquid about the consistency of water, but it feels a bit sticky on my skin after I apply it. I think the stickiness bothers some people, but since I always follow up with moisturizer and/or sunscreen, I don't mind it (the product on top gets rid of that stickiness). It works perfectly well layered under every other product, skincare or makeup, I've used. And while the bottle is expensive, I only used 4-6 drops at a time, so it lasts me up to six months of daily use. Most importantly, it effectively and significantly reduces clogged pores and inflammatory zits for my skin.<br />
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I'll probably never stop testing cheaper alternatives to products I like, even if they fail to impress me half the time, but I suppose there's something satisfying in knowing that I haven't been wasting my money all these years. It's also a reminder that if I had ruled out BHAs entirely after trying the CosRx, I would have been missing out. Just like how glycolic acid doesn't do anything for my face, while lactic acid is excellent--if I had ruled out products called AHAs on the basic of glycolic acid alone, I'd be missing something useful.<br />
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Has anyone else tried all three of these? How do they compare for you? I'm also curious about other people's philosophy's on searching for less expensive alternatives to "holy grail" skincare products? Is it worth the gamble, or do you fear you'll almost always end up spending more money in the process?<br />
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<script src="//z-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/onejs?MarketPlace=US"></script>Lyn Bhbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12081735635995970890noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4241080681767360438.post-21863322526023890502019-02-04T09:40:00.000-08:002019-02-04T09:40:55.841-08:00Apologies if your comments have gone missing!I just wanted to write a quick note to say that if you've commented on a post here in the last, say, 6 months, I wasn't getting email notifications for comments for a while, so I might not have published your comment and responded. Sorry! I just went through the folder and published a bunch of them today. I'll keep a closer eye on that, because I love being able to chat about things here.Lyn Bhbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12081735635995970890noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4241080681767360438.post-68701567163614461492019-01-20T15:41:00.002-08:002019-01-20T15:41:46.854-08:002019 No Buy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: inherit; white-space: pre-wrap;">As </span><a href="http://auxiliarybeauty.blogspot.com/2019/01/2019-beauty-blogging-resolutions.html" style="font-family: inherit; white-space: pre-wrap;" target="_blank">auxiliary beauty</a><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space: pre-wrap;"> recently noted, it seems like everyone is doing a No Buy this year, or at least this month. I'm curious to see if this is the beginning of a trend toward less consumerism, as people are becoming more aware of and frustrated with the role of money in politics and the increasing threat of climate change, etc.--or if it's just temporary fatigue after a year or two of seemingly endless product releases and shiny new things. I guess it will take a while to see how things shake out once the New Year's resolution season is over.</span><br />
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<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">For me, it's a combination of both. I am really at the point where I can't think of anything else I want, much less need. I probably have more makeup right now than I could use in a lifetime, even if none of it was going to go bad. For skincare I'm all set too. I'm sick of filling bins with empty plastic containers (even though I know that the waste I create as an individual is minuscule in the larger scheme, and making people feel personally responsible for environmental damage is a distraction from the industrial and corporate entities that are creating the vast majority of it). I also question how much of my money I want to give to Ronald Lauder, for example--even though, again, my occasional purchase or lack of a purchase won't ever register among the billions that people like him have in the bank.</span></span><br />
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<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Mostly, buying more and more shit just doesn't feel like me. I think there's a hereditary aspect to my hoarding, but I'm pretty good at avoiding it in other areas of my life. (Moving on a yearly basis--or even more often!--also helps.) I started collecting nail polish while I was in grad school, when I had limited (but sufficient) income and was pretty stressed out. Nail polish was something small and affordable and entirely unrelated to my work that I could enjoy. I moved on from there to makeup and skincare. It's similar to the broader economic phenomenon in which sales of lipstick or nail polish increase during a recession, when we still want little treats but can't afford much. And guess what? It's five years later and I still have a modest, unstable income and a lot of stress. It's enough already.</span></span><br />
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<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When I started this blog, it was to point out good deals and to investigate whether various products were "worth it" (a subjective concept, for sure!). I am <a href="http://cheapasf.blogspot.com/2013/04/do-i-need-this-highlighting-and.html" target="_blank">the person who recommended</a> using a light, shimmery eyeshadow as a face highlighter, instead of buying a separate product (remember when it was 2013 and we still had to explain what contouring was?). Now how many <a href="https://cheapasf.blogspot.com/search/label/highlighter" target="_blank">highlighters</a> do I own? (Not that many, I suppose, but more than none.) I still haven't become someone who buys the latest trendy thing as soon as it appears, and I've never made Rouge at Sephora or Diamond at ULTA, but I have become someone who buys more beauty products than a single human with one face really needs.</span></span><br />
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<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So I'm going to stop buying, and we tend to call that a No Buy in the "beauty community." I don't usually commit to projects like this, just like I don't diet, because I find that it's easy to get obsessive and that following restrictive, dogmatic regimens can easily backfire. But since I don't want to buy anything anyway, I think I might as well do it consciously and mindfully (there's a word that's over-used).</span></span><br />
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<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Doing this deliberately requires some rules, or at least guidelines, besides "just don't buy shit." Again, I don't really like arbitrary rules, but I guess the alternative would be to end up buying something, decide I've violated the whole premise of the exercise, and just start shopping mindlessly again. This is where I'd love to hear about your experiences and advice.</span></span><br />
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<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I like the idea of "replacement only," which I know is how lots of people frame it. But what does that mean, exactly? For instance, I am currently using an eyebrow pencil that I really like. In general I prefer pencils to other eyebrow products. When it's empty, do I permit myself to replace it with another pencil? Or should I then try to use a couple of pomade/cream brow products I already have, which are perfectly functional, just not my favorite? You don't have to answer that question specifically, but it's the kind of thing I'm pondering. In general, I plan on only buying staples like concealer, mascara, or skincare products with specific ingredients that are important to me. I certainly won't find myself finishing an eyeshadow or a lipstick and not having anything already in my hoard that can replace it.</span></span><br />
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<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Also, do I need to set a timeframe? Currently I'm thinking this will continue indefinitely, but is that unrealistic? I don't like the idea of counting down to a date when I can buy something again.</span></span><br />
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<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Finally, no more buying things "for the blog." I've never bought things that I didn't think I would eventually use just to blog about them (at least, not that I remember), but I have definitely bought things that I don't need right now because I thought they would make interesting blog posts. I have enough shit at the moment that has never appeared on the blog, and I'm busy enough that my blogging schedule is sporadic, at best, so I'm not going to run out of content any time soon. (I will accept free products from brands if they are things I actually want to try. That has only happened a few times in all the years I've been blogging.) I also want to start posting on my <a href="http://ancientmakeup.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">ancient beauty blog</a> again, because I'm working on an article, and I think doing so will help me make my way through the research.</span></span><br />
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<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So what do you think? Do I need more rules? Are you conscientiously limiting your beauty purchases, or restricting your budget in another area more this year than you have in the past? Is it purely for financial reasons, or do you have other motivations? I'm curious to hear how many other people are riding this train right now, and how you conceive of what you're doing!</span></span><br />
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<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I'll be updating with my thoughts on all this as time goes by both here and on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/brutallyhonestbeauty/" target="_blank">Instagram</a>.</span></span><br />
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Lyn Bhbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12081735635995970890noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4241080681767360438.post-683965781569442442018-12-21T11:20:00.000-08:002018-12-28T12:46:10.559-08:00Azelique Azelaic Acid Skincare from iHerb<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a class="button white" href="http://cheapasf.blogspot.com/2015/05/affiliate-links.html">Affiliate Links</a> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a class="button white" href="http://cheapasf.blogspot.com/2015/05/affiliate-links.html">Products Provided Free</a></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2DPt2kNkBuSppfG1RPvcNca7nGU6hJwFzJG0e88tODaTm7kWYlQnTaYTMkI91Sl5hwFe7KBLZPaUEjFOqBIcbOcwz8pUTkM_sHCr-znp6H6VW_ez-7hZEPamIrs6gFynJlvlHCdgFWO12/s1600/iHerbAzeliqueReview.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Review of Azelique Azelaic Acid Skincare from iHerb" border="0" data-original-height="489" data-original-width="750" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2DPt2kNkBuSppfG1RPvcNca7nGU6hJwFzJG0e88tODaTm7kWYlQnTaYTMkI91Sl5hwFe7KBLZPaUEjFOqBIcbOcwz8pUTkM_sHCr-znp6H6VW_ez-7hZEPamIrs6gFynJlvlHCdgFWO12/s1600/iHerbAzeliqueReview.png" title="Review of Azelique Azelaic Acid Skincare from iHerb" /></a></div>
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<i>Disclosure: This post is sponsored by iHerb. All opinions, nevertheless, are my own.</i></div>
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<a href="http://www.iherb.com/?pcode=WELCOME5&rcode=AMV8104" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">iHerb</a> has an interesting line of azelaic acid products available from their brand Azelique, and when they saw how much I’d liked incorporating azelaic acid into my routine in the past, they asked me if I’d like to try their line and write a review. I said yes. Of course.</div>
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I hadn’t ever ordered from iHerb before, though I’d heard of it. They’re an online store based in California that has some specific things that set them apart: for one, they operate internationally (i.e. not US only like so many other retailers I write about here). They also offer what they call a Triple Guarantee to make sure customers are 100% satisfied. So first, there’s the value guarantee (that you will get the best overall value—in the world—for the 30,000+ brand name products they sell). Second is the quality guarantee. They guarantee that the products they sell are authentic; they’re committed to quality assurance; and they ship directly from climate-controlled warehouses. And the third part is the delivery guarantee, with no excuses! Your order will be delivered, and iHerb offers free or discounted shipping to over 150 countries. Personally, I found the website easy to use, and my order arrived in just a few days, with everything packed nicely and in perfect condition. </div>
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iHerb sent me their entire Azelique line for free, which was a lot of fun for me as an aspiring hoarder. There are six different products: a night cream, a day lotion, an eye treatment, a cleanser, an activated charcoal/clay mask, and a polish/scrub. They also let me choose two products from their facial oils and serums, and I picked the hyaluronic acid serum (surprise, surprise), and the peptide oil blend. </div>
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So . . . that’s a lot of stuff to test on just my one face in a short period of time. I don’t like to introduce more than one new product at a time (per day, though if you have more sensitive skin, you might want to wait longer between new products) so that if I have a bad reaction, I can tell what caused it. What I decided to do with this bounty, then, was to pick one thing to use consistently for a couple of weeks and to review in detail, and to try everything else at least once and give you a briefer, first-impressions-type descriptions of those products. Besides, you know how long-winded I am: no one would want to read my novel-length review of all eight products in one sitting. This is going to be a doozy as it is.</div>
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I’d been wanting a richer moisturizer for a while, so I picked the <a href="https://www.iherb.com/pr/Azelique-Age-Refining-Night-Cream-with-Azelaic-Acid-Moisturizing-and-Hydrating-No-Parabens-No-Sulfates-1-7-fl-oz-50-ml/44796?pcode=WELCOME5&rcode=AMV8104" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Azelique Age Refining Night </a><a href="https://www.iherb.com/pr/Azelique-Age-Refining-Night-Cream-with-Azelaic-Acid-Moisturizing-and-Hydrating-No-Parabens-No-Sulfates-1-7-fl-oz-50-ml/44796?pcode=WELCOME5&rcode=AMV8104" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Cream</a> as the thing to incorporate fully into my routine (which is otherwise basically the same as <a href="http://cheapasf.blogspot.com/2018/03/the-ordinarys-azelaic-acid-suspension.html" target="_blank">what I described here</a>). Since these products contain azelaic acid, I did, however, stop using my other azelaic acid product for the time being. </div>
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First some general thoughts about the whole line. The packaging is no nonsense, but appropriate for the products it contains. There was just one package I didn’t like much, and you can probably guess which one from just looking at the photo above—more on that later. I particularly like the airless pumps for the moisturizers. The copy on the packaging also gets my elusive stamp of approval. It tells you what’s in the product, highlights the featured ingredients and what they are supposed to do for your skin, and—this is important—does not make any unrealistic, overblown, or woo-woo claims. There’s also a warning about patch testing products with azelaic and glycolic acid to make sure it doesn’t irritate the skin. So just because this is a line that is marketed as natural, there’s no drivel about how that supposedly means it will work for absolutely everyone with perfect, magical gentleness (like some other brands that will remain nameless). These are active ingredients that do stuff to your skin, and you need to make sure they will do the stuff that you want them to do and not do stuff you don’t want. Everyone’s skin is a little different.</div>
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Every product here, with the exception of the eye cream, the serum, and the facial oil, has the same vaguely plant-like fragrance. It’s pretty subtle, but there’s something floral and/or herbal there. I’m not good at identifying scents. I could do without it, personally, but it’s light enough that I don’t notice it after a few minutes.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3DqogACUH6waIARVyG1qLbYKdXsHDm1bLdQd2JUQJ37yWnTW7csLAQ4KQ2t4_ZBQ14AO0eb7X55QPbLdCo2ACI0rzMXGw-B3r_Nt0VX3GcGHdelc0Xj-hceVHW1cRl2-0u2hBD_X56_9_/s1600/iHerbAzelique_NightCream_DayLotion_EyeTreatment.png"><img alt="Review of Azelique Azelaic Acid Skincare from iHerb" border="0" data-original-height="867" data-original-width="550" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3DqogACUH6waIARVyG1qLbYKdXsHDm1bLdQd2JUQJ37yWnTW7csLAQ4KQ2t4_ZBQ14AO0eb7X55QPbLdCo2ACI0rzMXGw-B3r_Nt0VX3GcGHdelc0Xj-hceVHW1cRl2-0u2hBD_X56_9_/s1600/iHerbAzelique_NightCream_DayLotion_EyeTreatment.png" title="Review of Azelique Azelaic Acid Skincare from iHerb" /></a></div>
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First up, the <a href="https://www.iherb.com/pr/Azelique-Age-Refining-Night-Cream-with-Azelaic-Acid-Moisturizing-and-Hydrating-No-Parabens-No-Sulfates-1-7-fl-oz-50-ml/44796?pcode=WELCOME5&rcode=AMV8104" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Azelique Age Refining Night Cream</a> ($20). This is a thick moisturizing lotion that I enjoyed much more than I expected I would. It was immediately clear that this was the kind of step my shriveled skin has been missing—the part of Texas where I’m currently living has been colder than usual this winter, and my office is having problems with low humidity on top of it, so I’m extra dry. The night cream is rich but easy to spread and not greasy, and it feels really, really soothing and nourishing on my skin. I need about two pumps to cover my face, though three pumps feels extra nice.</div>
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Here are the ingredients: </div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Water (aqua), caprylic/capric triglyceride, cetyl alcohol, glycerin, carthamus tinctorius (safflower) seed oil, glyceryl stearate citrate, potassium azeloyl diglycinate, stearyl alcohol, ethylhexyl palmitate, sodium hyaluronate, potassium sorbate, xanthan gum, vitis vinifera (grape seed) seed oil, glyceryl stearate, potassium cetyl phosphate, tocopheryl (vitamin E), acetate, acetyl hexapeptide-8, palmitoyl oligopeptide, palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7, glycolic acid hamamelis virgiana (witch hazel) extract, caffeine, calcium ascorbate (vitamin C) retinyl (vitamin A) palmitate, ubiquinone (CoQ10), camellia sinensis (green tea) leaf extract, olea europaea (olive) leaf extract, euterpe oleracea (acai berry) fruit extract, punica granatum (pomegranate) seed oil, vaccinium myrtillus (bilberry) extract, rosa canina (rose hips) fruit extract, epilobium angustifolium (Canadian willowherb) extract, pichia/resveratrol ferment extract, phenoxyethanol, ethylhexylglycerin, fragrance.</span></blockquote>
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Good, right? The azelaic acid is in the form of potassium azeloyl diglycinate, its water-soluble version. There’s also hyaluronic acid, which my skin always loves, in the form of sodium hyaluronate, along with some nice oils and other moisturizing ingredients like glycerin. There are even some vitamins and a ferment stuck in there low on this list.</div>
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Unfortunately the company couldn’t provide the exact percentage of azelaic acid included, which is something I was curious about. They did tell me, at least, that it contains 8.42% total active ingredients, which includes the azelaic acid, glycolic acid, argireline, matrixyl, hyaluronic acid, witch hazel, and caffeine. That means, obviously, that the concentration of azelaic acid here is lower than the usual 10% that you see in several other products on the market. If you’ve found those irritating or overkill, though, this might be a better option for your skin.</div>
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I’ve been able to use this night cream all over my face, including around my eyes, for two weeks without any adverse effects. In the morning there’s still some slight residue on my face, which I like to wash off. I don’t think this is a bad thing—it’s keeping the hydration in my skin all night, and if you have drier skin than mine, you might want to keep that extra moisture in place all day, too. Just as a moisturizer alone, this stuff works really well and has kept my skin soft and happy. I’ll talk about the longer term effects from using this whole line at the end of the post.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga9wAHrmEdLafxVrJ-RVA88_rPuUSIihxPloSpoOpaAV0DlfU-XHdghCCXNrv8P5tq9dXnWdoZcz8dWe7pj8WB-IS7Jgp-LKVX8xj_r5PgfvgXrXIXF6eV-oJYRagDZ1cg9Xj8FdSSI8ET/s1600/iHerbAzeliqueReview1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Review of Azelique Azelaic Acid Skincare from iHerb" border="0" data-original-height="487" data-original-width="550" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga9wAHrmEdLafxVrJ-RVA88_rPuUSIihxPloSpoOpaAV0DlfU-XHdghCCXNrv8P5tq9dXnWdoZcz8dWe7pj8WB-IS7Jgp-LKVX8xj_r5PgfvgXrXIXF6eV-oJYRagDZ1cg9Xj8FdSSI8ET/s1600/iHerbAzeliqueReview1.png" title="Review of Azelique Azelaic Acid Skincare from iHerb" /></a></div>
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<i>Left to right above: One pump each of the Night Cream, Day Lotion, and Eye Treatment.</i></div>
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Next up is the <a href="https://www.iherb.com/pr/Azelique-Age-Refining-Day-Lotion-with-Azelaic-Acid-Hydrating-and-Cruelty-Free-No-Parabens-No-Sulfates-1-7-fl-oz-50-ml/44795?pcode=WELCOME5&rcode=AMV8104" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Azelique Age Refining Day Lotion</a> ($19). I’ve only used this product once, along with everything that follows, so take that into account. This was lighter than the night cream and didn’t feel as soothing. It was a perfectly functional moisturizer, however, which absorbed quickly but kept my skin feeling moisturized. I had no problems applying makeup over it.</div>
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Ingredients: </div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Water (aqua), carthamus tinctorius (safflower) seed oil, glycerin, cetyl alcohol, glyceryl stearate, stearic acid, potassium azeloyl diglycinate, glyceryl stearate SE, polysorbate 60, allantoin, potassium sorbate, tocopheryl (vitamin E) acetate, dimethicone, glyceryl stearate citrate, vitis vinifera (grape) seed oil, cetearyl glucoside, sodium hyaluronate, acetyl hexapeptide-8, hydroxypropyl cyclodextrin, palmitoyl tripeptide-38, glycolic acid, hamamelis virginiana (witch hazel) extract, caffeine, sodium ascorbyl (vitamin C) phosphate, retinyl (vitamin A) palmitate, ubiquinone (CoQ10), camellia sinensis (green tea) leaf extract, olea europaea (olive) leaf extract, euterpe oleracea (acai berry) fruit extract, punica granatum (pomegranate seed oil, vaccinium myrtillus (bilberry) extract, rosa canina (rose hips) fruit extract, epilobium augustifolium (canadian willowherb) extract, pichia/resveratrol ferment extract, phenoxyethanol, ethylhexylglycerin, fragrance.</span></blockquote>
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You can see that the main ingredients (i.e. those in the first half of the list) are similar to the night cream, but sodium hyaluronate, for example, is a bit lower down, and overall the day lotion has quite a different texture from the night cream. In comparison to the 8% active ingredients in the night cream, the day lotion has 4.08%, so it’s less potent in general.</div>
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The next one I tried was the <a href="https://www.iherb.com/pr/Azelique-Age-Refining-Eye-Treatment-with-Azelaic-Acid-Rejuvenating-and-Hydrating-No-Parabens-No-Sulfates-5-fl-oz-15-ml/44798?pcode=WELCOME5&rcode=AMV8104" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Azelique Age Refining Eye Treatment</a> ($20). I’m not generally an eye cream user. For one, I’ve never found an eye cream that was much more useful than just using my best moisturizer around my eyes. What’s more, the skin near my eyes is prone to milia, and the heavy, oily ingredients in most eye creams tend to seriously exacerbate the problem. That said, I did like this lotion just fine, and it’s the one unscented product in the main Azelique line, so if you don’t like fragrance near your eyes, that would be a plus. Its texture is somewhere in between the night cream and day lotion in thickness and richness. It absorbed quickly, and after applying it at bedtime, I couldn’t detect it on my skin by the morning (but to be fair, it’s a “treatment,” not a moisturizer or a cream). For what it’s worth, I did not notice any new milia cropping up after one use of the eye product, which has actually happened with others in the past.</div>
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Ingredients for you: </div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Water (aqua), capric/caprylic triglyceride, cetyl alcohol, stearic acid, carthamus tinctorius (safflower) seed oil, glyceryl stearate citrate, glycerin, xanthan gum, aloe barbadensis leaf extract, potassium sorbate, glyceryl stearate, tocopheryl (vitamin E) acetate, potassium cetyl phosphate, acetyl hexapeptide-8, hydroxypropyl cyclodextrin, palmitoyl tetrapeptide-38, potassium azeloyl diglycinate, sodium hyaluronate, hamamelis virginiana (witch hazel) extract, caffeine, sodium ascorbyl (vitamin C) phosphate, retinyl (vitamin A) palmitate, ubiquinone (CoQ10), vitis vinifera (grape seed) oil, camellia sinensis (green tea) leaf extract, olea europaea (olive) leaf extract, punica granatum (pomegranate) seed oil, vaccinium myrtillus (bilberry) extract, rosa canina (rose hips) fruit extract, epilobium angustifolium (Canadian willowherb) extract, pichia/resveratrol ferment extract, euterpe oleracea (acai berry) fruit extract, phenoxyethanol, ethylhexylglycerin.</span></blockquote>
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It’s a similar blend to the previous two products, though certainly not identical (i.e. they’re not just selling you the same moisturizer in a smaller bottle). Normally I wouldn’t apply azelaic acid near my eyes, but this stuff contains just 3.6% active ingredients, and even among those, azelaic acid isn’t high on the list. I didn’t experience any irritation at all. That said, I was also fine using the night cream around my eyes, and for my money I’d rather stick with that, since I liked it so much. I think the lack of fragrance here is one of the most important differences.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6xZ1re-4vHJf2EkaMTSQV898IJGwJfCwK_xG1KdycabVNJS-eV5FfEIqcP1dv7t7KHtvwoYtpe922KE1yz_R30casDWbt8zVtiJamjBf1wF4-CxWg4s1CaKK-rNrEIEdoi7cGekuBZZAO/s1600/iHerbAzelique_Cleanser_Mask_Polish.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Review of Azelique Azelaic Acid Skincare from iHerb" border="0" data-original-height="915" data-original-width="550" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6xZ1re-4vHJf2EkaMTSQV898IJGwJfCwK_xG1KdycabVNJS-eV5FfEIqcP1dv7t7KHtvwoYtpe922KE1yz_R30casDWbt8zVtiJamjBf1wF4-CxWg4s1CaKK-rNrEIEdoi7cGekuBZZAO/s1600/iHerbAzelique_Cleanser_Mask_Polish.png" title="Review of Azelique Azelaic Acid Skincare from iHerb" /></a></div>
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Next, <a href="https://www.iherb.com/pr/Azelique-Age-Refining-Cleanser-with-Azelaic-Acid-Soap-Free-Botanical-Ingredients-No-Parabens-No-Sulfates-4-fl-oz-120-ml/44794?pcode=WELCOME5&rcode=AMV8104" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Azelique Age Refining Cleanser</a> ($13). I’m more concerned with performance in a cleanser than in its active ingredients, which are rinsed right off, so that’s what I’ll focus on here. This is a thin, runny, gel cleanser. It didn’t lather much, but it did clean my skin thoroughly, including removing all my makeup. It didn’t sting my eyes, which is something I hate in a cleanser, and it rinsed completely. My skin felt slightly tight after rinsing and drying, and so I was motivated to apply moisturizer pretty soon. It was a fine cleanser, but I don’t generally get too excited about cleansers.</div>
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Here are the ingredients, for your information:</div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Water (aqua), disodium laureth sulfosuccinate, cocamidopropyl hydroxysultaine, decyl glucoside, polysorbate 20, glyceryl stearate SE, glycerin, PEG-150 distearate, stearic acid, potassium sorbate, allantoin, tocopheryl (vitamin E) acetate, sodium ascorbyl (vitamin C) phosphate, retinyl (vitamin A) palmitate, ubiquinone (CoQ10), camellia sinensis (green tea) leaf extract, vitis vinifera (grape seed) oil, olea europaea (olive) leaf extract, euterpe oleracea (acai berry) fruit extract, punica granutum (pomegranate) seed oil, vaccinium myrtillus (bilberry) extract, rosa canina (rose hips) fruit extract, pichia/resveratrol ferment extract, epilobium angustifolium (canadian willowherb) extract, phenoxyethanol, ethylhexylglycerin, fragrance.</span></blockquote>
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Now my other surprise favorite among the bunch: the <a href="https://www.iherb.com/pr/Azelique-Activated-Charcoal-Facial-Clay-Mask-with-Azelaic-Acid-Detoxifying-and-Soothing-No-Parabens-No-Sulfates-5-oz-140-g/69495?pcode=WELCOME5&rcode=AMV8104" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Azelique Activated Charcoal Facial Clay Mask </a>($20). I’ve used a lot of clay and charcoal masks. Some work better than others, and some are more drying than others, but I haven’t been impressed by very many of them. I was expecting more of the same here. The mask is easy to spread in an even layer, and it dried rather quickly—the photo below was taken less than a minute after dispensing it, and the edges are already drying. Unlike some other masks, it doesn’t sting my eyes as it dries, probably because it doesn’t contain alcohol to evaporate and give off fumes. The mask felt slightly cool on my face in a soothing, not tingly, way. It contains some sparse, scrubby particles from apricot kernels. If you like physical exfoliation, you can do some gentle rubbing as you wash the mask off. If you don’t, just go ahead and rinse it, and the grit won’t affect your skin. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8cJCTntxR4RocUwcz3wdx3yAtXEqIy8MYd-XuFLKv81N5B_J_QlREW53xunsO4SqFz-D_1tAErXQlFZSSfPZDmupTpHIcT4qsW9A4vH-Dn_ydzkB7NszseFT_hFm0axU18NbrvX00ZS99/s1600/iHerbAzelique_Mask.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="550" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8cJCTntxR4RocUwcz3wdx3yAtXEqIy8MYd-XuFLKv81N5B_J_QlREW53xunsO4SqFz-D_1tAErXQlFZSSfPZDmupTpHIcT4qsW9A4vH-Dn_ydzkB7NszseFT_hFm0axU18NbrvX00ZS99/s1600/iHerbAzelique_Mask.png" /></a></div>
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When I first rinsed off the mask, my skin felt moisturized and not at all tight or dry. It felt calm and soothed, but when I looked in the mirror, I noticed that my face was slightly pink exactly where the mask had been—as in, I could see the border between the skin at the edge of my face where I hadn’t applied the mask and where I had. I was a little disturbed, I have to admit. As it turns out, however, when I looked in the mirror the next time, a couple of hours later, my usual redness in the center of my face had actually decreased significantly from what it was before masking! That almost never happens for me with masks. Then, when I took a close look the next morning, my pores were noticeably clearer and less visible. With a good clay mask, it usually isn’t until the next day that I see an improvement in my pores, so that was right on target. Overall, I’m very excited about this stuff. Soothing, moisturizing, redness-reducing, pore-shrinking. Score!</div>
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Ingredients:<br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Deionized water, kaolin, glycerin, potassium azeloyl diglycinate, glyceryl stearate SE, apricot (prunus armeniaca) seed powder, charcoal, sodium hyaluronate, sea kelp (macrocystis pyrifera) extract, cucumber (cucumis sativas) fruit extract, green tea (camellia sinensis) leaf extract, glycolic acid, panthenol, xanthan gum, menthyl lactate, phenoxyethanol, ethylhexylglycerin, potassium sorbate, fragrance.</span></blockquote>
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I don’t know the percentage of active ingredients from this list, but you can see that the azelaic acid is higher in the list than in the other products, and that it’s actually above the gritty, bulky apricot seed powder. If you’d like to try masking with azelaic acid instead of using it in a leave-on product, I recommend giving this a shot.</div>
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And then there is the <a href="https://www.iherb.com/pr/Azelique-Age-Refining-Skin-Polish-with-Azelaic-Acid-Cleansing-and-Exfoliating-No-Parabens-No-Sulfates-3-oz-85-g/44799?pcode=WELCOME5&rcode=AMV8104" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Azelique Age Refining Skin Polish</a> ($22), which is a scrub that contains alumina, or aluminum oxide, as its physical exfoliation agent. This is a fine grit, almost the texture of baking soda, that is typically used for microdermabrasion. I like to do some physical exfoliation once a week or so to get rid of any flakiness that chemical exfoliants can’t handle, and this polish worked well for that purpose: my skin felt very soft and smooth for days after using it. I’d recommend being gentle, because alumina won’t dissolve or soften like some other scrub particles (sugar, salt, jojoba beads, etc.). </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAv66te0WGRQBCePLoZq-PYfLnFeBBWq3YZoumCChVxNU-4NkUlTY0Nd4rS9BJnbOKMyxQ8TcwwKwYcbl8ize3BesKJQxwg1wZs72CLX3EikVS5YqdZ7DXLrNY576gozXMtLNpjevWWDod/s1600/iHerbAzelique_Polish.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Review of Azelique Azelaic Acid Skincare from iHerb" border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="550" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAv66te0WGRQBCePLoZq-PYfLnFeBBWq3YZoumCChVxNU-4NkUlTY0Nd4rS9BJnbOKMyxQ8TcwwKwYcbl8ize3BesKJQxwg1wZs72CLX3EikVS5YqdZ7DXLrNY576gozXMtLNpjevWWDod/s1600/iHerbAzelique_Polish.png" title="Review of Azelique Azelaic Acid Skincare from iHerb" /></a></div>
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My main complaint about this product is the jar packaging. It’s not just the usual gripes about jars that I object to here. The main problem is that you are supposed to wet your face first, and then use the scrub. It’s really difficult to splash water on my face and then scoop out the polish without dripping water into the jar. Even with a spoon or spatula, I’d have to dry off my hands in between. It would just be much more practical if it came in the same squeeze tube as the cleanser and mask.</div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Ingredients:</span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Water (aqua), alumina, stearic acid, stearyl alcohol, glyceryl stearate citrate, ethylhexylglycerin, phenoxyethanol, glycerin, xanthan gum, carrageenan, potassium sorbate, glyceryl stearate SE, potassium cetyl phosphate, tocopheryl (vitamin E) acetate, sodium ascorbyl (vitamin C) phosphate, retinyl (vitamin A) palmitate, ubiquinone (CoQ10), camellia sinensis (green tea) leaf extract, vitis vinifera (grape) seed seed oil, olea europaea (olive) leaf extract, euterpe oleracea (acai berry) fruit, punica granatum (pomegranate) seed oil, vaccinium myrtillus (bilberry) extract, rosa canina (rose hips) fruit extract, epilobium angustifolium (Canadian willowherb) extract, pichia/resveratrol ferment extract, fragrance.</span></span></blockquote>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMoLL5h7YTMcSNDs0PcgDi1Ob2vhgY2TRiRw2Ig8lHlJl7tlV5HyKeyzPnUXl-GU3N194v3jUCWOOl17kCNMYyZQBtZ2ao3_ntk-FR2wwtkx8olfOtLRZZw_2pMBaUK2fTGiGg3fNtZFTl/s1600/iHerbAzelique_Serum_Oil.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Review of Azelique Azelaic Acid Skincare from iHerb" border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="550" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMoLL5h7YTMcSNDs0PcgDi1Ob2vhgY2TRiRw2Ig8lHlJl7tlV5HyKeyzPnUXl-GU3N194v3jUCWOOl17kCNMYyZQBtZ2ao3_ntk-FR2wwtkx8olfOtLRZZw_2pMBaUK2fTGiGg3fNtZFTl/s1600/iHerbAzelique_Serum_Oil.png" title="Review of Azelique Azelaic Acid Skincare from iHerb" /></a></div>
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The last two products that iHerb sent me are from <a href="https://www.iherb.com/c/serumdipity-facial-serums/?pcode=WELCOME5&rcode=AMV8104" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Azelique’s Serumdipity line</a>, and those serums and oils don’t necessarily contain azelaic acid like the main collection does.</div>
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I chose the <a href="https://www.iherb.com/pr/Azelique-Serumdipity-Anti-Aging-Facial-Oil-with-Peptides-Facial-Serum-1-fl-oz-30-ml/82843?pcode=WELCOME5&rcode=AMV8104" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Facial Oil with Peptides</a> ($20), because I don’t have much experience with peptides in my skincare. As a first impression, it was a pleasant facial oil to use, not too thick or too thin, and it absorbed quickly but not instantly. My face wasn’t left feeling greasy after I applied four drops of the oil on top of moisturizer. This is the kind of product, though, that I’ll really have to evaluate after longer use, so I’ll check in later.</div>
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Despite the inclusion of rosemary leaf extract in the ingredients below, I couldn’t detect any fragrance at all in this oil (which I prefer). Ingredients:</div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Helianthus annuus (sunflower) seed oil, butyrospermum parkii (shea) oil, camellia japonica seed oil, crambe abyssinica seed oil, limnanthes alba (meadowfoam) seed oil, palmitoyl tripeptide-1, c18-36 acid glycol ester, palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7, rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) leaf extract, tocopherol, c 12-15 alkyl benzoate, sorbitan laurate, c18-36 acid triglyceride.</span></blockquote>
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I also requested the <a href="https://www.iherb.com/pr/Azelique-Serumdipity-Anti-Aging-Hyaluronic-Acid-Facial-Serum-1-fl-oz-30-ml/80955?pcode=WELCOME5&rcode=AMV8104" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Hyaluronic Acid Facial Serum</a> ($20), because my skin loves hyaluronic acid, and I can’t resist trying different formulas that contain it. This serum was light and absorbed immediately. It provided hydration, but it’s not a replacement for moisturizer, so I’d recommend using it in conjunction with one of those. It had enough slip to spread easily over my skin, and it had no fragrance (again, thumbs up for that). </div>
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Ingredients:</div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Water, glycerin, hydrolyzed jojoba esters, sodium hyaluronate, hordeum vulgare seed extract, oat (avena sativa) seed extract, galium aparine extract, evening primrose (oenothera biennis) flower extract, sodium phytate, acacia senegal gum, citric acid, xanthan gum, phenoxyethanol, ethylhexylglycerin.</span></blockquote>
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Overall, after using the Night Cream nightly for just over two weeks, and using each other product once during that same period, my skin is in nice condition. It’s very well moisturized, but not unusually oily; it’s <i>much</i> softer and smoother than usual; and the redness that I ordinarily see, particularly in the center of my face, is minimized. One thing that these products did not help with was the hormonal, cystic acne that I usually get on my chin every month. I don’t think anything here contributed to breakouts, but they also didn’t help to prevent them like my 10% azelaic acid product does. And to be fair, Azelique never claims to treat acne, so that’s not something I expected. Accordingly, like I said earlier, I’d recommend these products for people who find 10% azelaic acid too strong and/or who are looking for results other than acne control—brightening, redness reduction, and other antioxidant benefits—in a gentle formulation. Personally, I’m going to carefully add my 10% azelaic acid back in, because I don’t think it will be too much for me.</div>
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I really was impressed with this collection. I honestly expected to like a couple of the products, hate a couple, and feel meh about the rest. (I promise I would tell you if that were the case.) Instead, I found a couple of things that I truly enjoyed, and I have mostly positive thoughts about the others. My favorites are the <a href="https://www.iherb.com/pr/Azelique-Age-Refining-Night-Cream-with-Azelaic-Acid-Moisturizing-and-Hydrating-No-Parabens-No-Sulfates-1-7-fl-oz-50-ml/44796?pcode=WELCOME5&rcode=AMV8104" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Night Cream</a> (probably because it has the highest concentration of active ingredients in addition to effective moisturizers) and the <a href="https://www.iherb.com/pr/Azelique-Activated-Charcoal-Facial-Clay-Mask-with-Azelaic-Acid-Detoxifying-and-Soothing-No-Parabens-No-Sulfates-5-oz-140-g/69495?pcode=WELCOME5&rcode=AMV8104" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Charcoal and Clay Mask</a>, both of which I unreservedly recommend. I plan to replace them when I run out, though I might wait until next winter for the my next bottle of night cream. My least favorite items are the Cleanser and Polish, because they didn’t seem like things I needed to add to my routine. But they’re fine. </div>
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The price point for this line is pretty reasonable. For instance, the Day Lotion costs $19 for 1.7 oz., and the Night Cream is $20 for the same amount, which isn’t as cheap as your basic drugstore moisturizer, obviously, but is less expensive than other comparable products with similar formulations in my routine. <b>iHerb also gave me a code to share with you that is embedded into all of the affiliate links in this post. If you purchase through any of my links, you’ll get 5% off your order (and so will I). In addition, new customers will get $5 off a $40 purchase of anything from iHerb by using <a href="http://www.iherb.com/?pcode=WELCOME5&rcode=AMV8104" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">this link</a>.</b></div>
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Lyn Bhbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12081735635995970890noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4241080681767360438.post-11767447623908842018-12-05T12:44:00.000-08:002018-12-05T12:44:19.729-08:00Not as Good as Gold: Review of L'Oréal Colour Riche Lipstick in Gold Addiction<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a class="button white" href="http://cheapasf.blogspot.com/2015/05/affiliate-links.html">Affiliate Links</a></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuvaeDDHICcomOn4hGsDQP5UjYnDmuYul0HdqrT1hGm7yuXenmeX3rhonqjyHLyDhWPZ-UjCJej3dWCvuELtSfQndmp0bNFl0rV_QJY6b6zGT4glElnb8fdUIUTPC0LgtrLiRZKGxVBq3J/s1600/L%2527OrealGoldAddictionReview.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Review of L'Oréal Colour Riche Lipstick in Gold Addiction" border="0" data-original-height="697" data-original-width="501" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuvaeDDHICcomOn4hGsDQP5UjYnDmuYul0HdqrT1hGm7yuXenmeX3rhonqjyHLyDhWPZ-UjCJej3dWCvuELtSfQndmp0bNFl0rV_QJY6b6zGT4glElnb8fdUIUTPC0LgtrLiRZKGxVBq3J/s1600/L%2527OrealGoldAddictionReview.png" title="Review of L'Oréal Colour Riche Lipstick in Gold Addiction" /></a></div>
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Yep. That's the title I came up with for this post. Anyway, do you ever buy something with a specific and entirely unrealistic image of it in your mind, and then feel massively disappointed when it doesn't live up to that image, even though you know it's your fault for inventing it in the first place? What happened here is that, at the beginning of the metallic lipstick trend a couple of years ago, L'Oréal released their Gold Obsessions lipstick range in the U.K. Some photo I saw convinced me that the plain gold lipstick in that collection was <i>the one. </i>That unlike every other gold lipstick I had ever seen, it was shiny and metallic, rather than sparkly, and opaque, rather than patchy.<br />
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So when I saw that that collection had finally popped up on the Ulta website this fall, although with the name changed from Obsession to Addiction, I decided that I needed <i><a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/WrqM" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Gold Addiction</a></i>, the pure gold option. I didn't do much additional research other than to confirm that this was the same collection. I ordered it.<br />
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Then it arrived and it was sheer. And sparkly. And slippery. And patchy. Sure enough, I can't find whatever photo it was that once upon a time made me think this lipstick was going to be special. Did I dream it?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivLvwIwl6FyxTOGwSxbdJydzKoYnV_9CSEAhxlwdShpwSbS6dvn51-K9d1DxaW0vpcA2L9axBiztz6nrTjogm_hxGGpP8WpjeawaDvicm6PYiSABvdAql923kBjveo0D4hBqcXEzkTLEbT/s1600/L%2527OrealGoldAddictionSwatch.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Swatch of L'Oréal Colour Riche Lipstick in Gold Addiction" border="0" data-original-height="243" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivLvwIwl6FyxTOGwSxbdJydzKoYnV_9CSEAhxlwdShpwSbS6dvn51-K9d1DxaW0vpcA2L9axBiztz6nrTjogm_hxGGpP8WpjeawaDvicm6PYiSABvdAql923kBjveo0D4hBqcXEzkTLEbT/s1600/L%2527OrealGoldAddictionSwatch.png" title="Swatch of L'Oréal Colour Riche Lipstick in Gold Addiction" /></a></div>
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I think maybe you can see in the photo above that the fine glitter has already started to migrate off of my lips, even though I only applied the lipstick two minutes before taking the photo.<br />
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Gold seems to be a difficult color to get high pigmentation from when it comes to lipstick. When Bite Beauty teased their zodiac lipstick for Leo this year, I saw the gold bullet and was intrigued. But then swatches demonstrated that it, too, was sheer. I may be the least Leo-y Leo ever, but even I think a sheer gold lipstick is a yawn. I have certainly seen other metallics that are more opaque, even from a bullet and not a liquid formula (though they do have a tendency to be slippery). I don't know if it's the yellow--it's hard to find a yellow eyeshadow or even nail polish that isn't patchy. But then it's not hard to find an opaque gold eyeshadow or nail polish! So the possible technical limitations in play here are eluding me.<br />
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Here's a comparison with the sheer gold from Bite's 2016 holiday duos (<a href="http://cheapasf.blogspot.com/2016/10/subtle-glitz-bite-beauty-amuse-bouche.html" target="_blank">reviewed here</a>). <i>Gold Addiction</i> is very similar, just a bit sparklier and warmer. The warmer yellow gold of the L'Oréal lipstick is harder for me to wear--I can't generally wear warm yellows on my face without looking a bit sick.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnF0k0-zSY4y1Oe1TudoiqpNoMKkL1fWwWHcNA4Y9hHykNVXx8xnFdVM3TRg6drAFg9gKj5ZLXtwiPl8KU-M2PF_f0gnP8HWMKbjN7-eXnETePW3ykpfNJnDV-bYX_xa2AaY1eST7tXuQd/s1600/L%2527OrealGoldAddictionSwatches.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Swatches of L'Oréal Colour Riche Lipstick in Gold Addiction and Bite Beauty Gold" border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="446" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnF0k0-zSY4y1Oe1TudoiqpNoMKkL1fWwWHcNA4Y9hHykNVXx8xnFdVM3TRg6drAFg9gKj5ZLXtwiPl8KU-M2PF_f0gnP8HWMKbjN7-eXnETePW3ykpfNJnDV-bYX_xa2AaY1eST7tXuQd/s1600/L%2527OrealGoldAddictionSwatches.jpg" title="Swatches of L'Oréal Colour Riche Lipstick in Gold Addiction and Bite Beauty Gold" /></a></div>
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Maybe Pat McGrath's new gold lipstick will be the gold holy grail, but I don't think I'm going to gamble (much more!) on it. Probably I should just finally open up the PMG Labs package I won in the <a href="https://www.makeupmuseum.org/" target="_blank">Makeup Museum</a> giveaway and play with the gold pigment. That is if I really want to have opaque gold lips, which, let's face it, is hardly an everyday look for me. This might just be a dream I should let go.<br />
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If you're looking for a sheer, shimmery gold lipstick, <i><a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/WrqM" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Gold Addiction</a></i> is . . . one of the ones that exists. But it's nothing very special. Do you do the whole extra glitter and metallics for the holidays? I like the idea in theory, but in practice I'm not going to be attending the kinds of events where I'll dress up like that.<br />
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<script src="//z-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/onejs?MarketPlace=US"></script>Lyn Bhbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12081735635995970890noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4241080681767360438.post-69179372606490843222018-11-12T12:18:00.000-08:002018-11-12T12:18:54.570-08:00Mini reviews of empties<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a class="button white" href="http://cheapasf.blogspot.com/2015/05/affiliate-links.html">Affiliate Links</a></span>
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As usual, my empties post is several months behind. These are the things I finished before I left California at the beginning of September. I always like writing up my empties as a way to post short reviews of products I've tested thoroughly, or as a way to amend previous reviews. As usual, if I've written about something here before, I'll just link you to the previous post to avoid repetition, unless I've changed my mind in the meantime.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaVh1qz6WzJdsxWX-tWfSAVLsTTpxqcoylB2tieAENIvN-H_jcfMrC9g5DuVXOb36VQdy9HTa9arZxuc1bZGhkcJtKH4YUfrwTLXqlxG86HL5-AbvbseOvfKhoYJUvoWCltJhiZPFuKfYk/s1600/IMG_20180831_101941.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="575" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaVh1qz6WzJdsxWX-tWfSAVLsTTpxqcoylB2tieAENIvN-H_jcfMrC9g5DuVXOb36VQdy9HTa9arZxuc1bZGhkcJtKH4YUfrwTLXqlxG86HL5-AbvbseOvfKhoYJUvoWCltJhiZPFuKfYk/s1600/IMG_20180831_101941.jpg" /></a></div>
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First, the most exciting category: makeup! Exciting because I rarely finish makeup. Less exciting than the photo seems, because a few of these weren't empty--they're just discards for one reason or another. It's not cheating! Actually, I'd only categorize three of the products in the photo as actually empty. It's still not cheating!<br />
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Beginning at the top left:<br />
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<a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/UXW7" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Lancôme Hypnose Drama mascara</a> (mini): I actually remember very little about this mascara, so it must have been ok but nothing special. As with most mascaras from the L'Oréal family, it flaked more than I would like. I've had many mini Lancôme mascaras over the years and never felt the urge to actually buy a full-sized tube. I used this until it dried up.<br />
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<a href="https://amzn.to/2z6X7WG" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Stila Stay All Day Liquid Liner</a>: <a href="http://cheapasf.blogspot.com/2016/07/lackluster-liquid-liner-review-of-stila.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Reviewed here</a>. Not a big fan of this one, because the tip gets floppy and frays long before it ever dries up. I used it to label swatches on my arm for the last year, and it finally started to actually dry. This is a real empty!<br />
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<a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/UXZ8" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">No7 Loose Powder</a>: <a href="http://cheapasf.blogspot.com/2017/10/is-no7-perfect-light-loose-powder-dupe.html" target="_blank">Reviewed here</a>. Another true empty! I can't decide if I want to replace this or get another jar of the <a href="https://click.linksynergy.com/deeplink?id=KKdOP6dniaQ&mid=1237&murl=https%3A%2F%2Fshop.nordstrom.com%2Fs%2Flaura-mercier-translucent-loose-setting-powder%2F2789490" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Laura Mercier powder</a>. They are very similar, but the LM powder is slightly warmer/yellower and suits my complexion better. I could get 15% off when Sephora's Beauty Insider sale comes around on the 16th, but that's not exactly a big incentive. I wonder if Nordstrom will have a competing deal.<br />
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ULTA Maximum Lashes mascara: I got this as a GWP, and put it in my work bag for emergencies, because I didn't want to risk using its terrifying wand on a daily basis. <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Bh2G5cijd29/" target="_blank">Look at this thing!</a> It's a menace. Not empty, but I wasn't going to bother taking it with me when I moved.<br />
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Kat Von D Liquid Lipstick in <i>Lovesick </i>and Tarte Liquid Lipstick in <i>Birthday Suit </i>(minis): <a href="http://cheapasf.blogspot.com/2018/07/urban-decay-backtalk-vice-lipstick.html" target="_blank">Swatched here</a>. The former came in a Sephora Play! bag, and the latter was part of last year's Sephora birthday gift. They both looked awful on me and were too old to bother giving away to someone else.<br />
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Be A Bombshell blush is <i>Sweet Cheeks</i>: <a href="http://cheapasf.blogspot.com/2017/07/all-my-blushes.html" target="_blank">Swatched here</a>. I got this in an Ipsy bag a million years ago, and actually liked the bright, pigmented pink quite a lot. Unfortunately it shattered when I moved from Texas to California last winter (surprisingly the only thing to break!), and when I tried to repress it, it turned into a powdery mess. It would have just fallen apart during the subsequent move, so I let it go.<br />
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Essence Stay With Me gloss in <i>Choose Me!</i>: <a href="http://cheapasf.blogspot.com/2014/06/two-3-essence-lip-thingies.html" target="_blank">Reviewed here</a>. Long discontinued. You can tell how old that shit was by the review date. I did still like it, but it started to smell funky, so time to toss. I can never finish glosses! In fact, I really shouldn't buy them, because I don't wear them nearly enough, but I always get sucked into picking up just one more. Just one more.<br />
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<a href="https://amzn.to/2RQjZ3o" target="_blank">Revlon Balm Stain in <i>Smitten</i></a>: <a href="http://cheapasf.blogspot.com/2013/10/revlon-colorburst-lacquer-and-matte.html" target="_blank">Reviewed here</a>. Again, the review reveals how ancient this lipstick was, and how little I pay attention to makeup expiration guidelines. In fact, there was nothing wrong with this lipstick, except that every time I put it on, I thought, "blech!" Just not my color. So why did I hold on to it for so many years!? Anyway, it's gone now. Look at me, letting go.<br />
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Next up, skincare:<br />
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Beginning at the top left:<br />
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<a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/UX5I" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Dr. Jart Cicapair Tiger Grass Cream</a> (sample generously provided by Mimi from <a href="http://www.makeupwithdrawal.com/" target="_blank">Makeup Withdrawal</a>): This moisturizer was effective and really soothing. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and I've been comtemplating buying a tube ever since last spring. It's so expensive, though! I don't know. I might try the much more affordable <a href="https://amzn.to/2Q1raJ7" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">La Roche Posay Cicaplast Baume</a> instead. Has anyone tried them both to compare?<br />
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<a href="https://amzn.to/2RS49pa" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Aquaphor Advanced Therapy Ointment</a> (mini): This stuff was/is a lifesaver for irritated skin. If you follow me on Instagram, you know I complained from spring until early fall that my eyelids were itchy and scaly. I still haven't figured out what caused it (despite declaring prematurely multiple times that I had identified the culprit), but a combination of hydrocortisone cream (used sparingly) and Aquaphor seem to have wiped it out. Or it's a coincidence. Still, if I feel a twinge of unpleasantness around my eyes these days, I revert to using just Aquaphor in that area, and they seem to be fine. I'm using a regular-size tube now, which should last me about the next seven years.<br />
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<a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/UX48" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">e.l.f. Hydrating Water Essence</a>: <a href="http://cheapasf.blogspot.com/2018/05/more-moisture-review-of-elf-hydrating.html" target="_blank">Reviewed here</a>. I still love it, and I missed it in my routine after I ran out. I'm now on my second bottle.<br />
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<a href="https://amzn.to/2T8Ig6d" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">bü SPF 30 and SPF 50 sunscreen sprays</a>: These are nearly the same as the Kinesys sunscreens (<a href="http://cheapasf.blogspot.com/2017/11/sunscreen-is-for-lazy-people-too-review.html" target="_blank">reviewed here</a>) that I love (and made by some of the people who previously ran Kinesys, I believe), but they may be easier to find in Canada. I got these bottles at London Drugs last year.<br />
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Paula's Choice Makeup Remover: I actually rarely use makeup remover. I don't like to use oily products near my eyes, and I find that my eye makeup comes off well enough with regular cleansing. I mainly used this up cleaning swatches off of my arms. I think it might be discontinued now.<br />
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<a href="https://www.stratiaskin.com/products/liquid-gold" target="_blank">Stratia Liquid Gold</a> (sample generously provided by Mimi from <a href="http://www.makeupwithdrawal.com/" target="_blank">Makeup Withdrawal</a>): Ok, so I wasn't as blown away by this stuff as I'd expected. It was a decent, if slightly greasy, moisturizer, and it did make my face a little orange, even if I only used a small amount. Maybe it's better for dry skin? Or you ned to use it long term to fall in love with it? Help me out, here. And to be perfectly honest, I know that people love Stratia, but I am as cautious about them as about any other indie beauty line, especially after the recent <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/SkincareAddiction/comments/98pcs7/psa_mold_in_stratia_velvet_cleansing_milk/" target="_blank">incident with the moldy cleansers</a>.<br />
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<a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/UYbs" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Boscia Charcoal Pore Pudding</a> (mini): I used this as the clay mask step in <a href="https://fiftyshadesofsnail.com/2015/03/28/how-to-shrink-pores-temporarily-plus-3-pore-myths/" target="_blank">Fifty Snails' pore shrinking mask routine</a>, which I try to do every weekend. It worked very well for that purpose, but it has an unpleasantly intense floral fragrance, and it's very expensive, so I'm happy to go back to my Freeman Avocado and Oatmeal mask (<a href="http://cheapasf.blogspot.com/2013/04/wait-mask-that-actually-does-something.html" target="_blank">reviewed here</a>) for the future. This small jar was enough for probably a dozen masks, though.<br />
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Manyo Factory Ultra Moist Rebirth Ampole (foil, also from Mimi): It's a hydrating essence, and it hydrated, though it's hard to really judge products from such a small sample.<br />
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<a href="https://amzn.to/2DA59ep" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Cerave Healing Ointment</a> (mini): An excellent alternative to Aquaphor, with slightly different ingredients, but a similar function. I found this on the lip balm rack in CVS, and naturally assumed it was lip balm, but it does not work well on my lips. It was very nice around my irritated eyes, however. Aquaphor is cheaper, though.<br />
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Paula's Choice Resist Brightening Essence" As I've said before, and should know well by now, my skin doesn't seem to need "brightening." I don't know why I bought this! It didn't seem to do much, and wasn't hydrating enough to serve as a moisturizing essence like the e.l.f. stuff. I used it up my mixing a few drops into raw honey for a mask. It thinned the honey a bit and made it easier to spread, and it's not like the extra ingredients do any harm.<br />
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<a href="https://amzn.to/2RPd1vx" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Tokyomilk Dark lip balm in <i>Absinthe</i></a>: These balms are my favorite for bedtime. I used to get chapped lips all the time, but if I apply this before bed, I almost never do anymore. My favorite scent so far has been <i>La Vie En Rose. </i>I didn't love <i>Absinthe</i> (almost smelled like fake apple to me), and I'm not loving the <i>Cherry Bourbon</i> I'm using now, either. But the scents are innocuous enough that I don't mind, since the balm itself works so well for me. The biggest complaint people seem to have about these is how hard the tins are to open. The trick is to twist the lid off rather than trying to lift it or pry it. Sometimes it takes a while to loosen up, so for a couple of weeks you might have to stick a nail in the crack to pop it up a little, and then twist. It's not ideal, but I've had no real trouble with them once I figured that out.<br />
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<a href="https://amzn.to/2FhRWZp" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Ordinary Azelaic Acid</a>: <a href="http://cheapasf.blogspot.com/2018/03/the-ordinarys-azelaic-acid-suspension.html" target="_blank">Reviewed here</a>. It works great for my skin, and I have bought multiple additional tubes by now. See review for details.<br />
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J<a href="https://amzn.to/2DjZhVU" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">ack Black Lip Balm in <i>Mango and Mandarin</i></a>: My favorite daytime lip balm! After I cut open the tube, there were at least two weeks worth of balm still inside.<br />
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Oh my god, there's still more.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAn0FhcyJUnGS1XYvNFfGWUSY8IAqYFLUpnLx4rIZ9oKI_3yvr6E6cgGC4ZEt3TUgewaBNaLd0Nb8mb6QsrsyHyCGznwF5MxRtcDGfZ9EtxSs9FDjxmMdrMuLNV66ldOUKF5ruVXsqXMGU/s1600/IMG_20180831_101803.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="732" data-original-width="575" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAn0FhcyJUnGS1XYvNFfGWUSY8IAqYFLUpnLx4rIZ9oKI_3yvr6E6cgGC4ZEt3TUgewaBNaLd0Nb8mb6QsrsyHyCGznwF5MxRtcDGfZ9EtxSs9FDjxmMdrMuLNV66ldOUKF5ruVXsqXMGU/s1600/IMG_20180831_101803.jpg" /></a></div>
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Paula's Choice 2% BHA Gel: For whatever reason, this didn't work nearly as well for my skin as the 2% BHA liquid. I used it mixed with lotion as an aftershave on my legs, and it did help prevent irritation and ingrown hairs that way.<br />
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Acure Brightening Facial Scrub: A fairly rough sugar scrub with an odd, herbal smell. Use gently.<br />
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The Ordinary Vit C Suspension: <a href="http://cheapasf.blogspot.com/2017/09/i-dont-need-this-review-of-ordinary.html" target="_blank">Reviewed here</a>. I didn't finish this, because I didn't need it.<br />
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Freeman masks: Reviewed <a href="http://cheapasf.blogspot.com/2017/10/gentle-clay-review-of-freeman-sparkling.html" target="_blank">here</a>, <a href="http://cheapasf.blogspot.com/2015/10/coal-miner-chic-review-of-freeman.html" target="_blank">here</a>, and <a href="http://cheapasf.blogspot.com/2015/06/weird-shit-ive-bought.html" target="_blank">here</a>. The only one I would repurchase is the Charcoal & Black Sugar, but even it I didn't finish. It was just very old, and I didn't want to pack it and take it with me. Freeman masks are very economical--cheap for an enormous amount of product. Recommended if you like getting your money's worth, but if you are fixated on emptying things, they might frustrate you.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeeVaMQuFRvQe7urid1ZtDuYi8TR54I_7jE5hI6BL_hWmMXLZkAzeQoT-zOhBfdIUILbdvhfeqG6o8RiyZtU5-ZLjT84s3cwfEyzbLAIPFYK8_Mv6xiVS34dlXFP-ywHPC9-1BHnEr_kj5/s1600/IMG_20180831_101844.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="809" data-original-width="575" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeeVaMQuFRvQe7urid1ZtDuYi8TR54I_7jE5hI6BL_hWmMXLZkAzeQoT-zOhBfdIUILbdvhfeqG6o8RiyZtU5-ZLjT84s3cwfEyzbLAIPFYK8_Mv6xiVS34dlXFP-ywHPC9-1BHnEr_kj5/s1600/IMG_20180831_101844.jpg" /></a></div>
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Last, and least, hair shit.<br />
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The Dry Bar Prep Rally (mini) made my hair soft and shiny, but it's overpriced. I've gone through many cans of Batiste dry shampoo now (<a href="http://cheapasf.blogspot.com/2015/12/my-favorite-dry-shampoo-batiste-cherry.html" target="_blank">reviewed here</a>), and this isn't my last. The SexyHair Spray & Play hairspray did the thing it's supposed to do (but I rarely use hairspray, so I'm not much of a connoisseur).<br />
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That's my garbage for this installment! I already have another collection started, of course. Any favorites here? Are you making a special effort to finish products lately?Lyn Bhbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12081735635995970890noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4241080681767360438.post-49093522637512093302018-11-01T09:17:00.001-07:002018-11-01T09:17:57.573-07:00Cures without Creams: Review of Neutrogena Light Therapy Acne Spot Treatment Pen<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a class="button white" href="http://cheapasf.blogspot.com/2015/05/affiliate-links.html">Affiliate Links</a></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4g2cgHuO7_S7RdLoCI7VQgIRc7aV6YS-BM5AAMd6JISlO344MFTeR-n08JMK405pfKynwZtil1CR_4XHlZVPBkV6hgbbVJNpfAgW1Aq-gxeJhkEwfMyv00_7DazpxP_kar97mqXKBtVxQ/s1600/NeutrogenaLightTherapyAcnePenReview.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Review of Neutrogena Light Therapy Acne Spot Treatment Pen" border="0" data-original-height="815" data-original-width="650" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4g2cgHuO7_S7RdLoCI7VQgIRc7aV6YS-BM5AAMd6JISlO344MFTeR-n08JMK405pfKynwZtil1CR_4XHlZVPBkV6hgbbVJNpfAgW1Aq-gxeJhkEwfMyv00_7DazpxP_kar97mqXKBtVxQ/s1600/NeutrogenaLightTherapyAcnePenReview.jpg" title="Review of Neutrogena Light Therapy Acne Spot Treatment Pen" /></a></div>
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I admit I'm not much of a gadget or tech person. My computer is old, my phone is old, and when I'm home alone talking to something, it's a cat, not a smart device. I don't really do any type of beauty treatment that doesn't just involve smearing some kind of liquid or cream on my face. I've never lasered or needled anything. But hey, this is just a light, so after reading a positive review of it from <i><a href="http://www.badoutfitgreatlipstick.com/" target="_blank">Bad Outfit, Great Lipstick</a></i>, I figured it wasn't beyond my capacity to understand and use. And <a href="https://amzn.to/2yTpkjJ" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">it's only about $20</a>, so not beyond my budget either.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlFei5L6q-LfJuhIGC6ghf3H45fcwiU5oWiuzhfVDpZKQnKEj7w4oj2AYcStv6_E4A9fppIZ5IxepfYodGNBqlc7cKJHGs54aJhKN6UeJ6vBf2lApECeM6cD90TrsvBJ1RxdZH4MdxSoCY/s1600/NeutrogenaLightTherapyAcnePen3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Review of Neutrogena Light Therapy Acne Spot Treatment Pen" border="0" data-original-height="537" data-original-width="550" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlFei5L6q-LfJuhIGC6ghf3H45fcwiU5oWiuzhfVDpZKQnKEj7w4oj2AYcStv6_E4A9fppIZ5IxepfYodGNBqlc7cKJHGs54aJhKN6UeJ6vBf2lApECeM6cD90TrsvBJ1RxdZH4MdxSoCY/s1600/NeutrogenaLightTherapyAcnePen3.jpg" title="Review of Neutrogena Light Therapy Acne Spot Treatment Pen" /></a></div>
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With a consistent skincare routine that includes <a href="http://cheapasf.blogspot.com/2018/05/more-moisture-review-of-elf-hydrating.html" target="_blank">lots of moisture</a> along with BHA and azelaic acid (<a href="http://cheapasf.blogspot.com/2018/03/the-ordinarys-azelaic-acid-suspension.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">review here</a>), I'm lucky that I have very few breakouts these days. But I still have an average of one pimple, even if it's a small one, somewhere on my face at most times. Sometimes these are deep, cystic pimples (usually on my chin, usually around PMS time), and there's not a whole lot to be done about them, except to let the azelaic acid do its work and shorten their life span. Inflammatory zits--i.e. the scabby ones where the infection is near the surface of the skin--respond better to spot treatments. When they first appear, I usually dab on a little tea tree oil to kill some of the bacteria. If they are oozing or scabby, I'll use a hydrocolloid patch (<a href="http://cheapasf.blogspot.com/2017/03/zit-magic-review-of-cosrx-acne-pimple.html" target="_blank">review here</a>) to absorb the goo and protect the surface. Both of those things help my inflammatory acne clear up more quickly.<br />
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This light pen fits into the same category. I've noticed absolutely no effect when I've tried it on cystic pimples, but it has definitely helped inflammatory pimples heal faster. That is exactly what it claims it will and will not do, so thumbs up.<br />
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There's not too much to explain in terms of how to use it. You just put a couple of batteries in it, cover the pimple with the light end of the pen, and hold the button for a couple of seconds to turn it on. It will beep to let you know when it comes on and goes off, but chances are you will be able to see the light out of the corner of your eye--it's <i>very</i> bright. Then you hold it in place for two minutes while you watch The Good Place, and it automatically shuts off when the time is up. You move it to the next spot and repeat as necessary. You're supposed to use it twice a day, but I usually forget and only use it once. Nonetheless, I'll find that if I use it before bed, my zit is less inflamed and starting to heal by morning. It's not an instant fix, but it does make a noticeable improvement.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnVlBciN5aFybz9pSv6Ur9BdHCQMNGlFMOtYmEYik0MbYS6jZoOEZUz_VVvwIpDbde753gNbyzv1KNo1jSNT-4FfI2Jqn0Bn0RuW2rq_K3E5369NFJqLGeS2psqMV5je4RCvWuUTN8xUxo/s1600/IMG_20180727_163706.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Review of Neutrogena Light Therapy Acne Spot Treatment Pen" border="0" data-original-height="727" data-original-width="501" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnVlBciN5aFybz9pSv6Ur9BdHCQMNGlFMOtYmEYik0MbYS6jZoOEZUz_VVvwIpDbde753gNbyzv1KNo1jSNT-4FfI2Jqn0Bn0RuW2rq_K3E5369NFJqLGeS2psqMV5je4RCvWuUTN8xUxo/s640/IMG_20180727_163706.jpg" title="Review of Neutrogena Light Therapy Acne Spot Treatment Pen" width="440" /></a></div>
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As for the science behind how this thing actually works, here's how I understand it. The LED light has anti-microbial and anti-bacterial effects on the skin, and so, much like a topical cream or other treatment, it kills some of the infection in the pore and also calms down the redness and inflammation so that it looks and feels better. The blue light kills bacteria on the surface and the red light penetrates a little more to help with inflammation. You can see both colors in the photo below. Apparently a device like this isn't powerful enough to penetrate the skin enough to treat a cystic pimple, which is why it really only works for those inflammatory zits on surface. You can find more information <a href="https://vitals.lifehacker.com/light-therapy-for-acne-is-a-real-thing-is-it-worth-try-1792895758" target="_blank">here</a> and <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16766484" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinw1c1F1nU2aezRW0KoxY3kebEBd-EY0-0iz7MjuRLGfHLI-IiIMLJYffk2-S2g7rFOSRMbgw3msID_DSAfVmEJQs98Zg2BBCEoud7fXYPn6tNwsFQ-GfkxYJX8I0G9VVgTR-i9h9ILY3T/s1600/NeutrogenaLightTherapyAcnePen2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Review of Neutrogena Light Therapy Acne Spot Treatment Pen" border="0" data-original-height="736" data-original-width="550" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinw1c1F1nU2aezRW0KoxY3kebEBd-EY0-0iz7MjuRLGfHLI-IiIMLJYffk2-S2g7rFOSRMbgw3msID_DSAfVmEJQs98Zg2BBCEoud7fXYPn6tNwsFQ-GfkxYJX8I0G9VVgTR-i9h9ILY3T/s1600/NeutrogenaLightTherapyAcnePen2.jpg" title="Review of Neutrogena Light Therapy Acne Spot Treatment Pen" /></a></div>
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Also, the instructions say to use it on clean, dry skin. Sometimes I forget and apply moisturizer or something else, so then I don't use it. I'm just not sure what effect the light would have on the product. Any thoughts? Am I being too cautious? One (popular) article I read advised not using it on the same day/day after using a product that can cause photosensitivity, so I guess I would be careful about using it in conjunction with an AHA in particular. That said, there are no UV rays in these things, so again I'm not sure how much of a concern that should be.<br />
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Overall, I think this Neutrogena pen is a good option for spot treatment in addition to more holistic (not in the woo-sense of the word) skincare products. For me, it also helps to have an alternative to picking, in addition to the zit patches--or at least something to use after I've picked and I'm worried I've made things worse. I got my pen with a <a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/UpL6" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">20% off coupon from Ulta</a>, but the cheapest I've seen it is <a href="https://amzn.to/2yTpkjJ" target="_blank">$17 on Amazon</a>.<br />
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Have you used any other skincare treatments that are not creams or other stuff slathered on your skin? What works? What's bullshit? <br><br>
Review of Neutrogena Light Therapy Acne Spot Treatment PenLyn Bhbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12081735635995970890noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4241080681767360438.post-6438322334180877132018-10-08T11:41:00.000-07:002018-10-08T11:43:21.289-07:00How to not buy makeup (from Auxiliary Beauty)Wow, it's been longer than I thought since I posted here. A lot has happened--moving, traveling, starting a new job, multiple bureaucratic nightmares (by the way, "bureaucratic" is on my list of words I can never, ever spell)--leaving no time for blogging. I hope to be back in control of my time soon. In the meantime, read this post about <a href="http://auxiliarybeauty.blogspot.com/2018/08/my-best-no-buy-tips.html" target="_blank">how to avoid buying more shit you don't need</a> even when you are mightily tempted because everything is shit, by the ever-brilliant Auxiliary Beauty.Lyn Bhbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12081735635995970890noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4241080681767360438.post-45577144914051389722018-08-16T10:55:00.000-07:002018-08-16T10:55:08.108-07:00Last Minute Sunscreen Review: La Roche-Posay Anthelios Ultra-Fluid Lotion SPF 60 Sunscreen (with Mexoryl)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl1I6y8yhZtZct_Fd2yvPA_0p5iSPrZGTjzfAknAEY1jlUHReVOuRUr9J7Ab8VDdR9uEiOxO3nzImsVlO3JlhC2pwf7kHdNhQApy0iUXHPlomC4zue-rNg0UjfEqKQJD3RtWJ5_tharkmh/s1600/LaRochePosayAnthelios_Review.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Review of La Roche-Posay Anthelios Ultra-Fluid Lotion SPF 60 Sunscreen (with Mexoryl)" border="0" data-original-height="767" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl1I6y8yhZtZct_Fd2yvPA_0p5iSPrZGTjzfAknAEY1jlUHReVOuRUr9J7Ab8VDdR9uEiOxO3nzImsVlO3JlhC2pwf7kHdNhQApy0iUXHPlomC4zue-rNg0UjfEqKQJD3RtWJ5_tharkmh/s1600/LaRochePosayAnthelios_Review.jpg" title="Review of La Roche-Posay Anthelios Ultra-Fluid Lotion SPF 60 Sunscreen (with Mexoryl)" /></a></div>
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This review is last minute in that the end of summer is approaching (but it's not here yet! stop saying that!), and that my bottle is almost empty, so I figured I'd better write this post before I forgot what I thought of this sunscreen.<br />
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Note that I'm reviewing the Canadian version here, which contains the very effective filter Mexoryl (patented by L'Oréal), which is <a href="https://www.newsweek.com/2018/04/20/new-chemicals-could-prevent-skin-cancer-are-languishing-fda-purgatory-883674.html" target="_blank">not FDA-approved in the US for some reason</a>. It's been used safely in Canada and Europe (and elsewhere) since the 90s, so I'm not sure what the problem is here. It's generally agreed to be one of the most effective sunscreen filters on the market. (I swear I read a Consumer Reports article last year that said this was the most effective sunscreen they tested, and that's why I bought it, but I cannot find the link anywhere. Weird.) I bought my bottle at Superstore in Canada, but I think you can get it from just about any drugstore there. If you're in the U.S., you can buy it from <a href="https://www.ebay.com/p/La-Roche-posay-Anthelios-SPF-60-Ultra-Light-Fluid-Lotion-Sunscreen-50-Ml-Mexoryl/1238650847" target="_blank">eBay</a> and have it shipped from Canada or Europe.It might also be available online elsewhere--does anyone know? (There is a product sold in in the US that looks the same as this, but i doesn't contain Mexoryl. I haven't tried it.)<br />
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I'm going to try to write this post in a simple pros and cons format, to reduce wordiness. Let's see how successful I am at being brief today.<br />
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<i>Pros</i><br />
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<li>It really is very, very effective at protecting my skin from the sun. The southern California sun is a whole other thing, and everyone sits outside at lunch time where I work, so it's been put to the test. I also wore it for 4+ hours on a boat in direct sunlight and didn't burn or even tan. Over the past few month, my face has darkened by maybe half a shade, but to be honest that could have happened on days when I was lazy and didn't use this sunscreen. </li>
<li>It only has a faint sunscreen scent that I can't smell for long after I apply it.</li>
<li>It's thin and easy to spread on the skin.</li>
<li>My makeup applies just fine over it (though I am not generally someone who wears a full face of opaque foundation).</li>
<li>The packaging is appropriate for the product, and it contains a little bead to help mix it up. (I'm more likely to shake it just because that rattling bead is in there than I would without it, for some reason!)</li>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiecuesqRESBM92NP04pU5QVfon36s-L37aqB9PLwdZhqojim90FeQ36iWmo3ynwsqA4vTknlwBEak5NStdVobWvKA2zabEKFLjq-85KUYzgZeSesPhjlSAX-vvM8y3CwP5U2gzgQUljsgM/s1600/LaRochePosayAnthelios_Review2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Review of La Roche-Posay Anthelios Ultra-Fluid Lotion SPF 60 Sunscreen (with Mexoryl)" border="0" data-original-height="422" data-original-width="750" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiecuesqRESBM92NP04pU5QVfon36s-L37aqB9PLwdZhqojim90FeQ36iWmo3ynwsqA4vTknlwBEak5NStdVobWvKA2zabEKFLjq-85KUYzgZeSesPhjlSAX-vvM8y3CwP5U2gzgQUljsgM/s1600/LaRochePosayAnthelios_Review2.jpg" title="Review of La Roche-Posay Anthelios Ultra-Fluid Lotion SPF 60 Sunscreen (with Mexoryl)" /></a></div>
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<i>Cons</i></div>
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<ul>
<li>It's a bit greasy. It definitely does not have a matte finish, and it has the potential to rub into my eyes and burn, if I'm not careful.</li>
<li>It doesn't play well with all of my skincare products. If I try to layer over something with silicone, like Paula's Choice Moisture Gel, it pills like fucking crazy. Waiting longer between layers doesn't seem to help. So long as I avoid silicones, and I'm careful not to rub my face too much, it's ok. </li>
<li>It stings the sensitive skin around my eyes a bit for about half an hour after I apply it. This sensation is pretty common for me with "chemical" (i.e. <a href="https://labmuffin.com/chemical-vs-physical-sunscreens-the-science-with-video/" target="_blank">organic</a>) sunscreens. The packaging says "for sensitive skin," but if you usually have a bad reaction to chemical sunscreens or get a burning sensation that is a dealbreaker for you, I'm guessing you aren't going to like this product.</li>
<li>The bottle is pretty small. I mean, it's clearly labeled, and if you buy it in a store, you know what you're getting, but the first time I saw it in person, I was surprised., especially since it costs around $20. The bottle lasts longer than you might expect, at least.</li>
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Because the pros and cons of Anthelios are pretty evenly balanced for me, I tend to only use this sunscreen when I know that I will be spending a significant portion of the day in the sun (which is actually most work days, lately). If I'm not, I'll opt for something a bit less powerful, but easier to wear, like Kinesys (<a href="http://cheapasf.blogspot.com/2017/11/sunscreen-is-for-lazy-people-too-review.html" target="_blank">reviewed here</a>). If I were moving back to the midwest or Canada, where the sun is not as intense, I'm not sure if I would purchase this sunscreen again or if I would just stick with something easier. Instead, I'm going to be moving back to south Texas, where the sun, like everything else there, is trying to kill me--but then maybe I'll just become an indoor cat.</div>
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I'd recommend this sunscreen if getting the best protection is your priority, but if any of the things on my cons list are going to make you avoid using it, you might as well get another sunscreen that's less potent but comfortable enough to apply every day.</div>
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Have you ever bought a foreign sunscreen, or are you happy with what's available at home?</div>
Lyn Bhbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12081735635995970890noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4241080681767360438.post-77001597002082344552018-08-02T12:24:00.000-07:002018-08-02T12:24:25.399-07:00Deals<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a class="button white" href="http://cheapasf.blogspot.com/2015/05/affiliate-links.html">Affiliate Links</a></span>
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I'm finishing up my fellowship (i.e. job) this month with nothing lined up for the fall. Shit. What that means for you is that while posts may be few and far between here for August, they will probably ramp up in frequency come September. In the meantime I am still procrastinating on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/brutallyhonestbeauty/" target="_blank">Instagram</a>, of course, and a reminder: you don't need the app/an account to procrastinate on there too. You can view IG accounts in a web browser. I'm sorry.<br />
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I figured I'd post a few deals I've seen pop up lately, while I'm still researching my next more substantive post.<br />
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Walmart has a <a href="http://linksynergy.walmart.com/deeplink?id=KKdOP6dniaQ&mid=2149&murl=https%3A%2F%2Fbeautybox.walmart.com%2F" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">beauty box</a> right now for $5 with free shipping. The samples aren't the most exciting I've seen, but they are apparently customized for you based on a survey. (There's also a <a href="http://linksynergy.walmart.com/deeplink?id=KKdOP6dniaQ&mid=2149&murl=https%3A%2F%2Fmensgroomingbox.walmart.com%2F" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">men's box for $7</a>. Whadyaknow, something for men that's more expensive than the lady version!)<br />
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Tarte is offering 25% off, with code <a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/PL9Z" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">BESTIES</a>, and you get an extra 10% off if you sign up for their <a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/PL9M" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">loyalty program</a> (free). That makes some of the lip gloss and eyeshadow less than $6.<br />
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<a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/PMaE" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Nordstrom Rack</a> has marked-down MAC, Urban Decay, Too Faced, Smashbox, Bobbi Brown, bareMinerals, Nars, Paula's Choice Caudalie, etc. I'm extremely tempted to buy a backup of <a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/PL7Q" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Urban Decay Rocksteady for $9</a>, but I really shouldn't be buying anything at all, much less backups, in preparation for the upcoming move and under-employment. You buy it instead! It's the best red lipstick, I swear.<br />
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Also, did you know that if you sign up for <a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/PMbv" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Madewell's loyalty program</a> (also free), they send you a birthday gift? I just got mine, and it's a code for $25 a $26+ purchase, which is pretty great. <a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/PL75" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Cheap jewelry</a>, here I come.<br />
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Don't forget to use <a href="https://www.ebates.com/r/LYNLEY16?eeid=28187" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Ebates</a> for a few more percent off most things.<br />
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Any other deals I should know about but absolutely not buy anything from right now?Lyn Bhbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12081735635995970890noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4241080681767360438.post-15238461811643597012018-07-14T21:36:00.001-07:002018-07-14T21:36:15.077-07:00Urban Decay Backtalk Vice Lipstick Comparisons (plus a quick review of NYX Slip Tease Full Color Lip Oil in Lowkey)<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a class="button white" href="http://cheapasf.blogspot.com/2015/05/affiliate-links.html">Affiliate Links</a></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9DBN94NznI20fMQ1Y-PBOsjf9C4Y57SlABIFQxlEJRNPUzmTxbYPWJt3LRm6C4um9T89l8g4IpKYmUZd8u9bf_dKuI4ypzXE9NeLDJw1lebVNSdWP1Ajm_QQHpAqCYEruINff2OTRR1R8/s1600/Urban_Decay_Backtalk_NYX_Slip_Tease_Review.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Urban Decay Backtalk Vice Lipstick and NYX Slip Tease Full Color Lip Oil in Lowkey" border="0" data-original-height="731" data-original-width="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9DBN94NznI20fMQ1Y-PBOsjf9C4Y57SlABIFQxlEJRNPUzmTxbYPWJt3LRm6C4um9T89l8g4IpKYmUZd8u9bf_dKuI4ypzXE9NeLDJw1lebVNSdWP1Ajm_QQHpAqCYEruINff2OTRR1R8/s1600/Urban_Decay_Backtalk_NYX_Slip_Tease_Review.jpg" title="Urban Decay Backtalk Vice Lipstick and NYX Slip Tease Full Color Lip Oil in Lowkey" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/OxVR" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Urban Decay's Vice Lipstick in <i>Backtalk</i></a>, in their Comfort Matte finish, is one of the most popular shades in that huge line. They even made a whole <a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/OxZY" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">eye and face palette</a> based on it. It's in that dusty pink/mauve/MLBB (my-lips-but-better) family, which is the largest category of lip products in my hoard. Despite its popularity and my personal preference for this type of shade, there's something about <i>Backtalk </i>that's just a little off when I wear it. It's not that it looks bad, exactly, but it also doesn't make my face look better than it did without any lipstick.<br />
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I decided to swatch all my lipsticks that are even remotely similar to see if I can pick out any patterns and discern why <i>Backtalk</i> doesn't work for me. And since I was doing that, I figured I might as well post them here for you, in case you want to find/avoid dupes--or in case you can help me answer my question.<br />
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Here are the swatches, in no particular order. The first swatch in every photo is always Urban Decay <i>Backtalk.</i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBFjdSLFtHP2TBeTBiDoLnXwxn8rwaSUsEF30RxuZ6YAF1L40P2F1RQAir-vgkiemwzI3rH5nnhtUxHDDllVONUsPu2Sy63DXh5bjHtzGovSR6hMlVENiO2FZKyMD2D_U3ow8mZhYs4R7F/s1600/Urban_Decay_Backtalk_Swatches2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Swatches of Urban Decay Backtalk, Bite Beauty Pepper, Bite Beauty Matte Crème Lip Crayon in Glacé, BareMinerals GEN NUDE Liquid Lipstick in Swag, Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick in Lovesick, Make Up For Ever Artist Rouge Lipstick in Rosewood, Bite Beauty Amuse Bouche Lipstick in Fig" border="0" data-original-height="338" data-original-width="750" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBFjdSLFtHP2TBeTBiDoLnXwxn8rwaSUsEF30RxuZ6YAF1L40P2F1RQAir-vgkiemwzI3rH5nnhtUxHDDllVONUsPu2Sy63DXh5bjHtzGovSR6hMlVENiO2FZKyMD2D_U3ow8mZhYs4R7F/s1600/Urban_Decay_Backtalk_Swatches2.jpg" title="Swatches of Urban Decay Backtalk, Bite Beauty Pepper, Bite Beauty Matte Crème Lip Crayon in Glacé, BareMinerals GEN NUDE Liquid Lipstick in Swag, Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick in Lovesick, Make Up For Ever Artist Rouge Lipstick in Rosewood, Bite Beauty Amuse Bouche Lipstick in Fig" /></a></div>
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1. <a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/OxVR" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Urban Decay <i>Backtalk</i></a><br />
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2. <a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/OxUp" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Bite Beauty </a><i><a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/OxUp" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Pepper</a> </i>(Luminous Creme formula)<br />
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3. <a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/OxXH" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Bite Beauty Matte Crème Lip Crayon in <i>Glacé</i></a><br />
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4. <a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/OxXK" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">BareMinerals GEN NUDE Liquid Lipstick in <i>Swag</i></a><br />
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5. Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick in <i>Lovesick</i><br />
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6. <a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/OxWb" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Make Up For Ever Artist Rouge Lipstick in <i>Rosewood</i></a><br />
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7. <a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/OxUp" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Bite Beauty Amuse Bouche Lipstick in <i>Fig</i></a><br />
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So of the lipsticks in this selection, besides <i>Backtalk, </i>the only two I don't really like on myself are the KVD <i>Lovesick</i> and Bite <i>Fig. </i>Lovesick is a little cooler, with more pink/purple, than <i>Backtalk</i>, and <i>Fig</i> is much warmer and peachier. (Fortunately <i>Lovesick </i>is also a sample, because since it does that dried-up butthole thing to my lips, I wouldn't want to be stuck with a whole tube. Also, I don't buy Kat Von D products.) I'm not sure I'm seeing a pattern here yet.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcE7_wXBO6yJpS22W7Lcf207jgiYxb8ED19ODWcFtse3kyD2Fo67KVy4nD3KuyZp9u082xWRKI59ylZ4PJwqlo5cH8a0saKxKv2xQTFS6MqwLX6VFC1z1-sP9wQ99VcStBarPHl0zI7e4d/s1600/Urban_Decay_Backtalk_Swatches1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Swatches of Urban Decay Backtalk, Bite Beauty Amuse Bouche Lipstick in Rhubarb, Maybelline Creamy Matte Lipstick in Touch of Spice, NYX Slip Tease Full Color Lip Oil in Lowkey, Colourpop Lux Lipstick in Angel City, Nars Satin Lip Pencil in Rikugien, Wet N Wild Megalast Lipstick in Rose-bud" border="0" data-original-height="308" data-original-width="700" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcE7_wXBO6yJpS22W7Lcf207jgiYxb8ED19ODWcFtse3kyD2Fo67KVy4nD3KuyZp9u082xWRKI59ylZ4PJwqlo5cH8a0saKxKv2xQTFS6MqwLX6VFC1z1-sP9wQ99VcStBarPHl0zI7e4d/s1600/Urban_Decay_Backtalk_Swatches1.jpg" title="Swatches of Urban Decay Backtalk, Bite Beauty Amuse Bouche Lipstick in Rhubarb, Maybelline Creamy Matte Lipstick in Touch of Spice, NYX Slip Tease Full Color Lip Oil in Lowkey, Colourpop Lux Lipstick in Angel City, Nars Satin Lip Pencil in Rikugien, Wet N Wild Megalast Lipstick in Rose-bud" /></a></div>
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1. <a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/OxVR" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Urban Decay <i>Backtalk </i></a>(It's interesting how <i>Backtalk</i> will look different depending on what other swatches you put it next to. The lighting is the same!)<br />
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2. <a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/OxUp" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Bite Beauty Amuse Bouche Lipstick in <i>Rhubarb</i></a><br />
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3. <a href="https://amzn.to/2uyl5ag" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Maybelline Creamy Matte Lipstick in </a><i><a href="https://amzn.to/2uyl5ag" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Touch of Spice</a> </i>(<a href="http://cheapasf.blogspot.com/2016/04/whats-in-dupe-revlon-matte-balm-in.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">reviewed here</a>)<br />
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4. <a href="https://amzn.to/2zBwgoh" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">NYX Slip Tease Full Color Lip Oil in <i>Lowkey</i></a> (which is very, very similar to <i>Touch of Spice</i>--more on this lipstick below!)<br />
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5. <a href="https://colourpop.com/products/angel-city" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Colourpop Lux Lipstick in <i>Angel City</i></a><br />
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6. <a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/OxYl" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Nars Satin Lip Pencil in <i>Rikugien</i></a><br />
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7. <a href="https://amzn.to/2JoEY8Q" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Wet N Wild Megalast Lipstick in <i>Rose-bud</i></a><br />
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Everything here is much warmer than <i>Backtalk</i>, and it all works well for me, so maybe that's something. <i>Rhubarb</i> is slightly blah on me, but I'm guessing it would look great on people who like <a href="https://amzn.to/2zFmMIr" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Revlon </a><i><a href="https://amzn.to/2zFmMIr" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sultry</a>, </i>which is similar to Maybelline <i>Touch of Spice</i> but slightly less flattering on me (<a href="http://cheapasf.blogspot.com/2016/04/whats-in-dupe-revlon-matte-balm-in.html" target="_blank">review/comparison here</a>).<br />
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Side note: has anyone ever come across a dupe for Wet N Wild <i>Rose-bud? </i>I love the color, but the Megalast formula always dries out my lips.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvKSSvGwbrj9AZJdaNZGkclcWbZcztpiYdDjNS6MwGyal9-xW87ZIY-CGAHDCpay1ktGsmE192gTrHbERb_1XfaKFyXxol79JKrjm5xV6X6dvn8_y7-DtBrZQLOpoLla036FvZeaVdNAnL/s1600/Urban_Decay_Backtalk_Swatches3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Swatches of Urban Decay Backtalk, L'Oréal Colour Riche La Lacque Lip Pen in Choco-lacque, Urban Decay Revolution Lipstick in Rapture, Urban Decay Sheer Revolution Lipstick in Sheer Rapture, Revlon Balm Stain in Honey, Tom Ford Lip Color Matte in Pussycat " border="0" data-original-height="330" data-original-width="700" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvKSSvGwbrj9AZJdaNZGkclcWbZcztpiYdDjNS6MwGyal9-xW87ZIY-CGAHDCpay1ktGsmE192gTrHbERb_1XfaKFyXxol79JKrjm5xV6X6dvn8_y7-DtBrZQLOpoLla036FvZeaVdNAnL/s1600/Urban_Decay_Backtalk_Swatches3.jpg" title="Swatches of Urban Decay Backtalk, L'Oréal Colour Riche La Lacque Lip Pen in Choco-lacque, Urban Decay Revolution Lipstick in Rapture, Urban Decay Sheer Revolution Lipstick in Sheer Rapture, Revlon Balm Stain in Honey, Tom Ford Lip Color Matte in Pussycat " /></a></div>
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1. <a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/OxVR" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Urban Decay <i>Backtalk </i></a><br />
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2. <a href="https://amzn.to/2L9JRI1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">L'Oréal Colour Riche La Lacque Lip Pen in </a><i><a href="https://amzn.to/2L9JRI1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Choco-lacque</a> </i>(reviewed here)<br />
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3. Urban Decay Revolution Lipstick in <i>Rapture</i> (discontinued, but available in <a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/OxYC" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Vice format</a>)<br />
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4. Urban Decay Sheer Revolution Lipstick in <i>Sheer Rapture </i>(discontinued)<br />
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5. <a href="https://amzn.to/2LgQswV" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Revlon Balm Stain in <i>Honey</i> </a>(reviewed here)<br />
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6. <a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/OxYI" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Tom Ford Lip Color Matte in <i>Pussycat</i></a><br />
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<i>Pussycat</i> looks closest to <i>Backtalk </i>here, and it's also the one I like least on my face, though slightly better than <i>Backtalk. </i>These two lipsticks are both pretty muted (i.e. they have grey added), so that could be a clue. <i>Rapture </i>looks muted when you consider it alone, but next to <i>Backtalk</i>, it's a bit more saturated.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7KgWA_wLuQ6hKzgWAqCOBt0kCtoe2lvX6Pr4t_J2H-ThpP0_ADMucUpj_nzsqR2ti0fU6Cf5p4ngQkBsypKzsGUiLwy_icBWwOnqlAkDjvTrVlgQ50zAtVujRfaHFtRuZSWIA-pwuiX8b/s1600/Urban_Decay_Backtalk_Swatches4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Swatches of Urban Decay Backtalk, Tarte Tarteist Creamy Matte Lip Paint in Birthday Suit, LA Girl Matte Lipstick in Snuggle, Burt's Bees Lip Crayon in Sedona Sands, Bite Beauty Amuse Bouche Lipstick in Thistle" border="0" data-original-height="386" data-original-width="700" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7KgWA_wLuQ6hKzgWAqCOBt0kCtoe2lvX6Pr4t_J2H-ThpP0_ADMucUpj_nzsqR2ti0fU6Cf5p4ngQkBsypKzsGUiLwy_icBWwOnqlAkDjvTrVlgQ50zAtVujRfaHFtRuZSWIA-pwuiX8b/s1600/Urban_Decay_Backtalk_Swatches4.jpg" title="Swatches of Urban Decay Backtalk, Tarte Tarteist Creamy Matte Lip Paint in Birthday Suit, LA Girl Matte Lipstick in Snuggle, Burt's Bees Lip Crayon in Sedona Sands, Bite Beauty Amuse Bouche Lipstick in Thistle" /></a></div>
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1. <a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/OxVR" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Urban Decay <i>Backtalk </i></a><br />
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2. <a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/OxW7" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Tarte Tarteist Creamy Matte Lip Paint in <i>Birthday Suit </i></a>(i.e. last year's Sephora birthday gift)<br />
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3. <a href="https://amzn.to/2NQTk5x" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">LA Girl Matte Lipstick in </a><i><a href="https://amzn.to/2NQTk5x" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Snuggle</a> </i>(<a href="http://cheapasf.blogspot.com/2017/06/can-i-wear-brown-lipstick.html" target="_blank">reviewed here</a>)<br />
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4. <a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/OxYZ" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Burt's Bees Lip Crayon in <i>Sedona Sands</i></a><br />
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5. <a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/OxUp" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Bite Beauty Amuse Bouche Lipstick in <i>Thistle</i></a><br />
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None of the above is particularly similar to <i>Backtalk</i>, so the fact that most of them work for me isn't especially informative. The exception is <i>Birthday Suit</i>, which is an unflattering beige--I think it's the yellow undertones that set it apart from the superficially similar <i>Snuggle</i>. Come to think of it, though, <i>Thistle </i>is both very muted and pretty cool, and I like it a lot on me. Maybe that's because it's more of a statement corpse-lip, rather than just looking accidentally blah. (I'm wearing it in <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BPdxKyQANOU/?taken-by=brutallyhonestbeauty" target="_blank">this Instagram pic</a>, though the lighting isn't great.)<br />
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You probably want to see what <i>Backtalk</i> actually looks like on me at this point. (Apologies for the grainy photo.)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt8sP6rVZjqfOlmWO9dVYxjejaLt4cteLeW4IfC42wU7JcAN9wgmY7zAvDqnPN3_u2yCXvl5HIj1BiJb3D5wuHxIhXUV0HpB7DFqGEbsJgDiiwVXYaof96ezgcWM_Ze62mJ7IPU3r5UB_a/s1600/1-DSCN5125.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt8sP6rVZjqfOlmWO9dVYxjejaLt4cteLeW4IfC42wU7JcAN9wgmY7zAvDqnPN3_u2yCXvl5HIj1BiJb3D5wuHxIhXUV0HpB7DFqGEbsJgDiiwVXYaof96ezgcWM_Ze62mJ7IPU3r5UB_a/s1600/1-DSCN5125.JPG" /></a></div>
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Like I said, it's not awful, but a great lipstick will light up your face, and a good lipstick will at least be better than nothing.<br />
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I'm not sure what I've learned through this process. I need my MLBB lipsticks to be muted, but not too muted, and more brown than grey, maybe. Or more brown than pink? Thoughts? I have definitely learned that I have way too many similar lipsticks (ok, I already knew that), and that weirdly enough I have never reviewed most of these. Any you'd like to know more about?<br />
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I'll tell you more right now about one of them. I recently used Ulta points to pick up a lipstick from one of NYX's 700 or so liquid lipstick lines, a newer one called <a href="https://amzn.to/2zBwgoh" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Slip Tease Full Color Lip Oil</a>. It's full color, sure, but having oil in the name is a bit of a red herring. It's not like YSL Tint-In-Oil or most other products called lip oils. It's less drying than most matte liquid lipsticks, sure, but there's nothing that looks or feels oily about it. (There <i>are</i> a few oils halfway down the ingredients list, but a lot of other things come before them.)<br />
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Here is <i>Lowkey</i> on my face:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5dG4bPh4ttz9GU_uO5Gkzp7hlAJjP1-j5vD-h7kM8DGvz0sKPM9WGrRPrPcX3fYKfNFUmgbNSDnAbEgReeDa67ClohvupXp_2HHv1PrPdHbu1LBvjlEYrsIUiJOTYGoFyIF7yRxFS6fh2/s1600/1-DSCN5146.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="598" data-original-width="574" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5dG4bPh4ttz9GU_uO5Gkzp7hlAJjP1-j5vD-h7kM8DGvz0sKPM9WGrRPrPcX3fYKfNFUmgbNSDnAbEgReeDa67ClohvupXp_2HHv1PrPdHbu1LBvjlEYrsIUiJOTYGoFyIF7yRxFS6fh2/s1600/1-DSCN5146.JPG" /></a></div>
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More flattering, wouldn't you agree, than <i>Backtalk?</i> The rest of my makeup is the same, as is the lighting. Here's a lip swatch:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheYYTGOvVVkCHlY5UvqAoNW1Is9nzgopa6dRZXEFDuVLASmlurrPicJ8Zil2e25kdqLX7dytVwfa96B1b9A_KC0SWOa3wBs32C1Cfxvz4O6dFTR-ChZhDr0LvZYypi9K_oxNHkKKyOcbg0/s1600/NYX_Slip_Tease_Lowkey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="222" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheYYTGOvVVkCHlY5UvqAoNW1Is9nzgopa6dRZXEFDuVLASmlurrPicJ8Zil2e25kdqLX7dytVwfa96B1b9A_KC0SWOa3wBs32C1Cfxvz4O6dFTR-ChZhDr0LvZYypi9K_oxNHkKKyOcbg0/s1600/NYX_Slip_Tease_Lowkey.jpg" /></a></div>
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When you see it all alone, it looks like a rosy pink, but in the swatches above (second set), you can see that it definitely has some brown in it when compared to other lipsticks in the same family. The formula is really lovely. It's slightly moussey and thick enough that you can easily and neatly apply it using just the doe foot (not as thick as the Tarte liquid lipstick, though). It's opaque in one coat, but not so pigmented that it risks getting really messy. The finish is demi-matte. It dries down a bit but not completely, so it retains slip and moisture and feels pretty much like a bullet lipstick--yet it doesn't transfer easily. Wear time is about the same as a decent bullet, so you'll probably have to reapply after a meal. Best of all, it doesn't dry my lips out.<br />
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This is one of the nicest lipsticks I've tried recently, and probably the nicest liquid lipstick I've ever used. I'd recommend giving it a try if you see a color you like. That's my one complaint: while I love <i>Lowkey</i> (way to be hip to the new slang, kids), <a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/Ox4K" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">none of the other colors</a> really interests me. There's variety, but something about the selection bores me. <i>Bang Bang </i>and <i>Entice</i> might be ok? I think a terracotta orange would be really great in this formula.<br />
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I kind of ordered <i>Lowkey</i> blind (you can never trust Ulta's photos for color accuracy), but it ended up working great. It would be nice if I could work out some kind of rules to predict which lipsticks will work best on me. Do you know what works for you when you see it, or do you have to try everything on like I do?Lyn Bhbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12081735635995970890noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4241080681767360438.post-7620414667845778592018-07-05T19:52:00.000-07:002018-07-05T19:52:47.414-07:00For Dry Eyes Only: Review of IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye Full Coverage Anti-Aging Waterproof Concealer<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a class="button white" href="http://cheapasf.blogspot.com/2015/05/affiliate-links.html">Affiliate Links</a></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBgUmQnbg6o-BkW3AchrMulaHkKdswHqihqVjQ4tsEXuL7acNAvJez9qERonu0SmVa2_0btkeB8l7qsg3I73wUVou8vsLuJODW00YY5hfj8mE7-RN23-9t6QjcETuUeZSJCA_mxN12ipjb/s1600/IT_Cosmetics_Bye_Bye_Under_Eye_review.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Review of IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye Full Coverage Anti-Aging Waterproof Concealer" border="0" data-original-height="701" data-original-width="700" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBgUmQnbg6o-BkW3AchrMulaHkKdswHqihqVjQ4tsEXuL7acNAvJez9qERonu0SmVa2_0btkeB8l7qsg3I73wUVou8vsLuJODW00YY5hfj8mE7-RN23-9t6QjcETuUeZSJCA_mxN12ipjb/s1600/IT_Cosmetics_Bye_Bye_Under_Eye_review.jpg" title="Review of IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye Full Coverage Anti-Aging Waterproof Concealer" /></a></div>
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I have a wandering eye when it comes to makeup, and it usually doesn't do me much good. I have a totally reliable, nearly perfect under-eye concealer in the form of <a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/NU8Y" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sephora Gel Serum Concealer </a>(<a href="http://cheapasf.blogspot.com/2015/12/concealer-comparisons-and-rave-review.html" target="_blank">reviewed here</a>), and yet . . .<br />
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I<a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/NVav" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">t Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye [insert long name here]</a> is one of those concealers that comes up whenever people ask for recommendations, alongside things like <a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/NVcF" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer</a>. So I was tempted. I should have known better, since it claims to be waterproof. Things can usually be waterproof <i>or</i> oil-proof, but not both (which makes perfect sense). I do have pretty watery eyes, so a waterproof concealer isn't a bad idea in theory, but my skin also tends to get oilier and oilier as the day goes on. It's almost always more important for my makeup to be able to withstand my oily skin than to resist water. This concealer just doesn't hold up for me, unfortunately.<br />
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It has some great qualities that I'm sure contribute to its popularity. For one thing, it's incredibly pigmented, so that you only need a tiny bit of the thick product to cover the entire under-eye area. For me, this is all it takes for one eye:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkQrVovmQILBkJBC_vNkyOi21u09zmjW8G_tb6a7QYmR2c1lohWg6vjSjR56mgw6qloxytoUbidVFPeKY-yCR9fPQVpYaE8N7EdvpehuOj3v1SlDcG_8Q5pUiNDHJxjwRxSVsetA72Va_C/s1600/IT_Cosmetics_Bye_Bye_Under_Eye.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Review of IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye Full Coverage Anti-Aging Waterproof Concealer" border="0" data-original-height="477" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkQrVovmQILBkJBC_vNkyOi21u09zmjW8G_tb6a7QYmR2c1lohWg6vjSjR56mgw6qloxytoUbidVFPeKY-yCR9fPQVpYaE8N7EdvpehuOj3v1SlDcG_8Q5pUiNDHJxjwRxSVsetA72Va_C/s1600/IT_Cosmetics_Bye_Bye_Under_Eye.jpg" title="Review of IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye Full Coverage Anti-Aging Waterproof Concealer" /></a></div>
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It also blends easily and covers well enough, initially. The packaging, a simple squeeze tube with a very narrow dispenser is great--it will limit the amount of air and bacteria that can get in, but also makes it easy to squeeze out the last few specks. Bye Bye Under Eye only comes in six shades. I chose the lightest, called <i>Light (Very Fair). </i>In makeup lingo, "light" and "very fair" are usually two different things, but sure. Here is a swatch compared to a bunch of other concealers to help you decode that label:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC2Aitxo7q7QPUfhyaJtg-b93brkEZPG1zqV880TUmg0MzlsPKBd4i9h4uD-O31FFbW23fGat6dXkvoc9ABM_ZhyphenhyphenSlwY-EyGtW_fBpu29fq7rZdIk1WOu5a5E0S5K7K9ggEwbjRyGur9IK/s1600/IT_Cosmetics_Bye_Bye_Under_Eye_swatches.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Swatches of IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Undereye in Light; Sephora Gel Serum Concealer in Fondant; Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer in Chantilly; Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer in Sx02; Urban Decay 24/7 Concealer Pencil in CIA; Hard Candy Glamoflauge Concealer in Ultra Light." border="0" data-original-height="408" data-original-width="700" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC2Aitxo7q7QPUfhyaJtg-b93brkEZPG1zqV880TUmg0MzlsPKBd4i9h4uD-O31FFbW23fGat6dXkvoc9ABM_ZhyphenhyphenSlwY-EyGtW_fBpu29fq7rZdIk1WOu5a5E0S5K7K9ggEwbjRyGur9IK/s1600/IT_Cosmetics_Bye_Bye_Under_Eye_swatches.jpg" title="Swatches of IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Undereye in Light; Sephora Gel Serum Concealer in Fondant; Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer in Chantilly; Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer in Sx02; Urban Decay 24/7 Concealer Pencil in CIA; Hard Candy Glamoflauge Concealer in Ultra Light." /></a></div>
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From left to right: (1) <a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/NVav" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Undereye in <i>Light</i></a>; (2) <a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/NU8Y" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sephora Gel Serum Concealer in <i>Fondant</i></a>; (3) <a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/NVcF" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer in <i>Chantilly</i></a>; (4) <a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/NVc8" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer in </a><i><a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/NVc8" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sx02</a>; </i>(5) Urban Decay 24/7 Concealer Pencil in <i>CIA </i>(discontinued); and (6) <a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/NVdc" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Hard Candy Glamoflauge Concealer in </a><i><a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/NVdc" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Ultra Light</a>.</i><br />
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It Cosmetics <i>Light </i>is closest to Nars <i>Chantilly. </i>I found it to be a good match for my skin tone, fortunately, since the shade options were limited. It's probably a closer match than <a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/NU8Y" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sephora Fondant</a>, in fact, though the extra warmth of <i>Fondant</i> means it actually does a better job of canceling out my dark circles. The consistency and pigmentation of Bye Bye Undereye is most similar to the <a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/NVc8" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer</a>, but the IT doesn't have that strong floral/powdery fragrance. (By the way, <a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/NVdc" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Hard Candy <i>Ultra Light</i></a> is the lightest concealer I have ever found, so if you have trouble finding something pale enough for you, it's worth a shot.)<br />
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On the downside, I found that Bye Bye Under Eye creased really badly on me and highlighted fine lines and flakiness that I didn't even know were there. I tried various application methods with no improvement. The photo below was taken immediately after application, patted on with my finger over well-moisturized but not primed skin. I'm not wearing any other makeup besides eyebrow pencil. (I forgot to take a before photo, but you can see the bare state of my dark circles <a href="http://cheapasf.blogspot.com/2018/02/concealing-redness-with-yellow.html" target="_blank">here</a> or <a href="http://cheapasf.blogspot.com/2015/12/concealer-comparisons-and-rave-review.html" target="_blank">here</a>.)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5StUbY6uL5183z85bJfYI3sUUa5htC2IRhlQrcRGrRTjhbQx7a8gOO_MuNBW2sAtmqxidsJd1Sx9toHibKOgupBk1KcOWmSCqg-YD3q5oRUntN8nH8NeiisWGwJVIGw_iEcsjh2bmdUgz/s1600/IT_Cosmetics_Bye_Bye_Under_Eye_light.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Review of IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye Full Coverage Anti-Aging Waterproof Concealer" border="0" data-original-height="561" data-original-width="574" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5StUbY6uL5183z85bJfYI3sUUa5htC2IRhlQrcRGrRTjhbQx7a8gOO_MuNBW2sAtmqxidsJd1Sx9toHibKOgupBk1KcOWmSCqg-YD3q5oRUntN8nH8NeiisWGwJVIGw_iEcsjh2bmdUgz/s1600/IT_Cosmetics_Bye_Bye_Under_Eye_light.jpg" title="Review of IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye Full Coverage Anti-Aging Waterproof Concealer" /></a></div>
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The coverage is good, but the texture isn't ideal, and it's creased a whole lot. Not a huge deal, maybe, because most concealers crease right after I apply them, and I can usually blend a little more after a few minutes to soften the creasing.<br />
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Here it is with the rest of my makeup applied, after a little more light blending with a sponge, and setting with <a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/NU99" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">No.7 loose powder</a> (<a href="http://cheapasf.blogspot.com/2017/10/is-no7-perfect-light-loose-powder-dupe.html" target="_blank">reviewed here</a>).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnZ0sWumw0IyTKSXr-HE3YafVsMJMBlfbf2IyFDpYwgDqInrfp7iPIjZ6tzxDrPhIL_K1-EOdbrwitk1NnsuI_ub_g7hCZUrX3EI6XSDtv9VENe0JDtayrrs-SiAWKjJCOoVm5qlA1OtJ7/s1600/IT_Cosmetics_Bye_Bye_Under_Eye_very_fair.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="542" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnZ0sWumw0IyTKSXr-HE3YafVsMJMBlfbf2IyFDpYwgDqInrfp7iPIjZ6tzxDrPhIL_K1-EOdbrwitk1NnsuI_ub_g7hCZUrX3EI6XSDtv9VENe0JDtayrrs-SiAWKjJCOoVm5qlA1OtJ7/s1600/IT_Cosmetics_Bye_Bye_Under_Eye_very_fair.jpg" /></a></div>
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The texture is worse, and instead of the creases smoothing out, the concealer has basically just lifted out of them. It has also already faded quite a bit just in the amount of time it took me to apply the rest of my makeup. Sigh. (As I said, I tried a few different application/blending/setting methods with the same results.)<br />
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Besides the lack of a smooth surface, the other big problem, which I mentioned above, is that the oil in my skin just devours this stuff. By the end of the day, there's very little left, except what was caught by those lines and flakes. Lovely.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGfXRhL8cRFfmqQgqMvGzcvJlJIFcpf9aNAF-eEAeBykmChNwO9fsolZL-U_gZ_l86awnB3GmBW8effgY3ILe4y0feeq99ea0tHflrnjmv7n7teXO8ySh0OtHYnnycbjWfLNIBq-o9j99f/s1600/IT_Cosmetics_Bye_Bye_Under_Eye_after.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Review of IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye Full Coverage Anti-Aging Waterproof Concealer" border="0" data-original-height="564" data-original-width="540" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGfXRhL8cRFfmqQgqMvGzcvJlJIFcpf9aNAF-eEAeBykmChNwO9fsolZL-U_gZ_l86awnB3GmBW8effgY3ILe4y0feeq99ea0tHflrnjmv7n7teXO8ySh0OtHYnnycbjWfLNIBq-o9j99f/s1600/IT_Cosmetics_Bye_Bye_Under_Eye_after.jpg" title="Review of IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye Full Coverage Anti-Aging Waterproof Concealer" /></a></div>
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The photo above was taken after about eight hours on not a particularly hot or sweaty day. My skin is what you might euphemistically describe as dewy. Even so, my mascara (<a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/NVdC" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes</a>) and my eyebrow pencil (<a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/NVdP" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Essence Eyebrow Designer Pencil</a>) have stuck around just fine. My dark circles are on major display, though.<br />
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To be fair, this is what happens to most concealers on my face. One of the things that impressed me so much about the <a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/NU8Y" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sephora Gel Serum</a> (please never discontinue it, please, please, please) was that it was still there at the end of the day. So this problem doesn't necessarily make this concealer worse than all other concealers, just worst than my fave.<br />
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Clearly a lot of people out there like this stuff. My guess is that those people do not have oily skin. If you have drier skin and teary eyes, maybe this is great. (Though I would still be concerned that it would highlight flaky skin, to be honest.) But if your skin type is similar to mine, I certainly wouldn't recommend this product. I've already bought another tube of my trusty <a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/NU8Y" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sephora concealer</a>, which costs $14 versus <a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/NVav" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">IT Cosmetics' $24</a>--though note that the IT tube contains twice as much product, so if you like it and can get through it all before it starts to dry up, it's actually a better value.<br />
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If this concealer is your holy grail, I think it would be really helpful for people reading this review if you would comment and let me know what type of skin you have and what you look for in a concealer.<br />
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Anyway, lesson learned.<br />
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Maybe.<br />
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Probably not.Lyn Bhbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12081735635995970890noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4241080681767360438.post-13616829588273496392018-07-01T13:19:00.001-07:002018-07-01T13:19:51.260-07:00Stuff's on sale<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a class="button white" href="http://cheapasf.blogspot.com/2015/05/affiliate-links.html">Affiliate Links</a></span>
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Happy Canada Day! I'm celebrating by posting about good deals on beauty shit that Canadians will probably not be able to access. Sorry. I hope some day that I will once again be in the land of nearly-free healthcare and inflated makeup prices with you all. Until then, my American friends: here's some consumerism for you.<br />
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I've been having some kind of allergic reaction on my eyelids lately, and I'm not sure if it's contact dermatitis caused by a product or if it's environmental. In the meantime, I can't take photos of all the (too many) eyeshadows I've bought recently and have been wanting to review, like the Anastasia Beverly Hill Prism Palette. So while I decide which post further down in my queue to work on, I'm procrastinating by fake online shopping (you know, where you put stuff in your cart and then close the tab) and trying to avoid Twitter (but failing). An excellent use of time. Join me! I'm going to mention an idiosyncratic mix of things that I've used and can recommend and others that I just want.<br />
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I bought the aforementioned Anastasia Beverly Hills Prism Palette on sale, but it doesn't seem to be marked down this week. Instead, <a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/NBTi" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Subculture is on sale for $21 at Ulta</a>, in case you've been eyeing that one. I've never used it.<br />
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Ulta has a bunch of other interesting sales at the moment, and a <a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/NBSY" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">$3.50 coupon</a>. Their <a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/NBWC" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">jumbo haircare products</a> are all marked down. That shit lasts forever. <a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/NBWF" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Real Techniques brushes</a> are on sale, and <a href="http://cheapasf.blogspot.com/2016/01/my-cheap-favorites-makeup-under-10.html" target="_blank">I like those</a>. The <a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/NBWQ" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">CoverGirl TruNakes Roses palette is $9</a> (<a href="http://cheapasf.blogspot.com/2016/01/covergirl-trunaked-roses-eyeshadow.html" target="_blank">reviewed here</a>), making it about the same price as Walmart, in case you're not going there. I haven't used the Wet N Wild highlighters, but people seem to like them, and the <a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/NBU2" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">MegaGlo Palette</a> is marked down to <a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/NBU2" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">$10 from $15</a>. <a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/NBW9" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Revlon's Electric Shock lipsticks</a> look intriguing, but I haven't actually seen swatches of them. Anyone else? <a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/NBW9" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">They're on sale</a>. I do generally <a href="http://cheapasf.blogspot.com/2016/12/my-cheap-favorites-revlon-super.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">like Revlon lipsticks</a>. Hey, and how about a blue-brown duochrome eyeshadow single from <a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/NBUI" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Catrice for $4.50</a>, if you don't want to buy the whole Comfort Zone palette (<a href="http://cheapasf.blogspot.com/2018/06/new-and-improved-new-wet-n-wild-comfort.html" target="_blank">reviewed here</a>) to get one? That <a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/NBXA" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">weird jelly highlighter from Almay</a> is also marked down. Has anyone used that thing? I guess it's Almay's attempt to be relevant, and I admit I am sort of curious.<br />
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Don't forget to use <a href="https://www.ebates.com/r/LYNLEY16?eeid=28187" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Ebates</a> for free money. (<a href="http://cheapasf.blogspot.com/2013/01/be-cheap-or-free-ish-money-ebates.html" target="_blank">Details here.</a>)<br />
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I'll also remind you that <a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/NBQ5" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Nordstrom Rack has a beauty section online</a>, where you can sometimes get recently discontinued products for a good price. <a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/NBOX" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Too Face Natural Mattes</a> palette is <a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/NBOX" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">only $13</a>, for example, and the <a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/NBPp" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Chocolate Soleil Bronzer is $10</a> (old version, I assume?). They also have lots of MAC, Bobbi Brown, NYX, Urban Decay, Bareminerals, Lime Crime, Caudalie, Paula's Choice, etc.<br />
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<a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/NBSO" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">TJ Maxx has beauty online too</a>, and they have some Lipstick Queen, Nars, Clarins, OPI, Boscia, Make Up For Ever, Clé de Peau, Burberry, SK-II, and a bunch of others. And if you buy them online, presumably no one has already stuck their grubby fingers in the product!<br />
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Any other good deals out there? Planning to celebrate your country this week (or mourn for it) by indulging in some good, old-fashioned American capitalism?Lyn Bhbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12081735635995970890noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4241080681767360438.post-85162177426064974452018-06-18T07:00:00.000-07:002018-06-18T11:53:34.200-07:00Floating clown mouth: Review of Colourpop Lux Lipstick in Getty<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a class="button white" href="http://cheapasf.blogspot.com/2015/05/affiliate-links.html">Affiliate Links</a></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD2-3TTWPv_e-PEwofomKgT2pCDHU8St8pvkdJg0DxN4EGlrAmEFVMQr2almChvdBQRqhY0NdCzQpxEJlZNmKGCGz91N1dD1dpiNlcAJkdzDlRKKcdZ5G2rJro_lZzcpyo4PqMDJ1a6oEd/s1600/Colourpop_Lux_Lipstick_Getty_review.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="687" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD2-3TTWPv_e-PEwofomKgT2pCDHU8St8pvkdJg0DxN4EGlrAmEFVMQr2almChvdBQRqhY0NdCzQpxEJlZNmKGCGz91N1dD1dpiNlcAJkdzDlRKKcdZ5G2rJro_lZzcpyo4PqMDJ1a6oEd/s1600/Colourpop_Lux_Lipstick_Getty_review.jpg" /></a></div>
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It's fun for me to see unconventional hair colors becoming more mainstream. If we have to experience all the terrible things predicted by dystopian fiction, it's a small consolation to also have people walking around with blue and green and purple hair. A very, very small consolation for those of us with the luxury of of being consoled. But despite the fact that every drugstore makeup brand sells blue and green and purple lipstick now, I still rarely see it on people's actual faces in the wild. How much you see it may depend on where you live, but I live in one of the biggest cities in the country, and it's still a rare sight. I'm hoping it'll become less remarkable before it goes out of style, just like it was still unusual to see shimmery blue nail polish in the mid-90s, but now no one bats an eye at it.<br />
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Despite my hopes and dreams, not all garish lipsticks are for everyone. Disregarding that truth, I impulsively bought <a href="https://colourpop.com/products/getty" target="_blank">Colourpop's Lux Lipstick in <i>Getty</i></a> soon after it appeared (well, as impulsive as it is to wait to see how <a href="https://www.temptalia.com/product/colour-pop-lux-lipstick/getty/" target="_blank">Temptalia</a> reviews it), even though I have <a href="http://cheapasf.blogspot.com/2016/10/kat-von-d-studded-kiss-lipstick-in-poe.html" target="_blank">a poor track record</a> when it comes to actually wearing odd lipsticks in public. I bought it anyway, because teal is my favorite color--and because I work in museums and currently live in L.A., and it's called <i>Getty</i>. I don't remember ever buying something based on the name before, so it was a weird moment, I guess.<br />
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For $7, this is a pretty fantastic teal lipstick. In fact, it would be a fantastic lipstick at any price. It's smooth, pigmented, and comfortable. It feels hydrating. It wears surprisingly well for a green lipstick. If anything, my only minor complaint is with the packaging. While I think the design is stunning, especially the stars on the side of the lipstick bullet itself, in going for that "luxe" impression (not lux, which just means light in Latin), they've made the tube heavier and larger than a typical lipstick. It's made of metal, which explains the weight. But that combined with the size just make it that much more awkward to apply. Here it is compared to a Revlon tube, which is a standard size. The Lux Lipstick is both taller and bigger in diameter.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeN9Nzjz4uxFx61-JwDaJnP5hNGhWxDA95-Bfky5aqhDph8PWIglgsIIvjbHl6XyvhlglEZ-lkJzsJDB-6X5AdwZtJqTSaNKr8JiU7jHTWEODv8rIc7ULs-sNZXyhehmBDxespAQDSvXUe/s1600/Colourpop_Lux_Lipstick_Getty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="608" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeN9Nzjz4uxFx61-JwDaJnP5hNGhWxDA95-Bfky5aqhDph8PWIglgsIIvjbHl6XyvhlglEZ-lkJzsJDB-6X5AdwZtJqTSaNKr8JiU7jHTWEODv8rIc7ULs-sNZXyhehmBDxespAQDSvXUe/s1600/Colourpop_Lux_Lipstick_Getty.jpg" /></a></div>
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This is a minor quibble, but being positive all the time makes me queasy. The increased awkwardness is probably only a problem because with a dark, vibrant shade like <i>Getty</i>, precision is that much more important. Here's <i>Getty </i>applied from the bullet, blotted once, and then layered again. A little messy.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBYLmD1wqAmfzkuDZnBboaRZKMTYDhDw5W_ZibZ41YGNJoNoQMFbZil0DwewyVZ4wDUuAGgcd7iqtWr3x7pDO3ZNGSRt4K6vPpaAXMesXB2FNZvJh6hT_aQtMce218a3QaJN-PKdSaTzvU/s1600/Colourpop_Getty_swatch1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="284" data-original-width="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBYLmD1wqAmfzkuDZnBboaRZKMTYDhDw5W_ZibZ41YGNJoNoQMFbZil0DwewyVZ4wDUuAGgcd7iqtWr3x7pDO3ZNGSRt4K6vPpaAXMesXB2FNZvJh6hT_aQtMce218a3QaJN-PKdSaTzvU/s1600/Colourpop_Getty_swatch1.jpg" /></a></div>
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Fortunately I have an eyeliner in almost this exact color, so I was able to use that to clean up the edges and get a nicer shape. (Of course Ulta discontinued the shade I used, because it was perfect, but <a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/MB8t" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Urban Decay <i>Mainline</i></a> looks similar). If you're good with a lip brush, I'm sure that would work just as well.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio14y_FGdBC9fjhfxH3ar8fGjEL8JgiIbh4isdm7mn8HfZTpoj7KIX-6D5SHaasvXb6Iqo4Bnm4HyCRg6m196zZbWFtIp1b3hopxTnbSZgj57iMzcnnpocSTjINDuLcBmIvFfcaXvPtgpo/s1600/Colourpop_Getty_swatch2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="559" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio14y_FGdBC9fjhfxH3ar8fGjEL8JgiIbh4isdm7mn8HfZTpoj7KIX-6D5SHaasvXb6Iqo4Bnm4HyCRg6m196zZbWFtIp1b3hopxTnbSZgj57iMzcnnpocSTjINDuLcBmIvFfcaXvPtgpo/s1600/Colourpop_Getty_swatch2.jpg" /></a></div>
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<i>Getty</i> really is a gorgeous lipstick. It has a subtly glossy finish with just enough translucency to give it depth without being at all sheer. And it's a perfect teal, right in the middle of blue and green.<br />
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Unfortunately, it's just not my color. Unlike <a href="http://cheapasf.blogspot.com/2016/10/kat-von-d-studded-kiss-lipstick-in-poe.html" target="_blank">that evil blue lipstick</a> I tried, which looked surprisingly flattering, <i>Getty</i> gives me what I would call floating clown lips (hence the title of the post). It's like someone drew a cartoon mouth and stuck it to my face.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgeTWtdMSdtnY9uU62gi5g7qGLumWRARzSaU0mY3hN8nIixRxjhwsFJWbopbtiitC3prcyXgT1AFs1Az4rXQ4a_FdSICNpPTgTf4Vu_OgD__dH6ebPE7Vp3-IZmbpQQRDtyER0XJiUlBua/s1600/IMG_20180617_160617-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="784" data-original-width="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgeTWtdMSdtnY9uU62gi5g7qGLumWRARzSaU0mY3hN8nIixRxjhwsFJWbopbtiitC3prcyXgT1AFs1Az4rXQ4a_FdSICNpPTgTf4Vu_OgD__dH6ebPE7Vp3-IZmbpQQRDtyER0XJiUlBua/s1600/IMG_20180617_160617-01.jpeg" /></a></div>
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I mean, I don't think it's hideous or anything. But it's not exactly harmonious. Or effortless. Maybe it could work with a more glam or elaborate overall look, but that's not really my style. (Also, this is the best facial expression I could muster? I've been having a bad selfie streak lately.)<br />
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Maybe this will just have to be a souvenir of my time in Los Angeles (and a warning against more green lipsticks). I still recommend it for anyone who thinks it might flatter them or who doesn't give a shit about flattery. It's a good lipstick. And teal!<br />
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<script src="//z-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/onejs?MarketPlace=US"></script>Lyn Bhbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12081735635995970890noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4241080681767360438.post-1781906096480954132018-06-15T15:44:00.000-07:002018-06-15T15:44:01.125-07:00Why am I looking at garbage? (Or: Empties)<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a class="button white" href="http://cheapasf.blogspot.com/2015/05/affiliate-links.html">Affiliate Links</a></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyDpANO9YHiAPORRDRJ-9_o1J_srBgxEmMahJjgstwTfIREY-VV2-_Ws1JajBY7Ty_TzZpWtxgz7bEkHh-Uv3dT3_tZAldvSYv1yeO-XXMeFzrrfVouhOzE7Azpx2gJWhGyefjICbTCu9t/s1600/empties_makeup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="521" data-original-width="700" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyDpANO9YHiAPORRDRJ-9_o1J_srBgxEmMahJjgstwTfIREY-VV2-_Ws1JajBY7Ty_TzZpWtxgz7bEkHh-Uv3dT3_tZAldvSYv1yeO-XXMeFzrrfVouhOzE7Azpx2gJWhGyefjICbTCu9t/s1600/empties_makeup.jpg" /></a></div>
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I think empties posts are a little divisive (boring or voyeuristically fascinating?), but I like that they provide mini reviews for products that someone has tested really thoroughly. Plus, for selfish reasons, I like to keep my own record of what I've used in case I want to try/avoid those things in the future.<br />
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Makeup empties (photo above) are the rarest of empties, so I don't usually have this many in a single batch. Then again, it's not like I finished a blush or a lipstick or an eyeshadow palette. Mascaras and concealers are much more frequently used up and tossed out.<br />
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Left to right above:<br />
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<b>L'Oréal Lineur Intense Felt Tip in <i>Earthen Rock Brown</i>: </b><a href="http://cheapasf.blogspot.com/2016/01/my-cheap-favorites-makeup-under-10.html" target="_blank">Reviewed briefly here</a>. This was my favorite liquid eyeliner for years and years until it was unfortunately discontinued. I love a brown liquid liner for a more subtle everyday look than black. Right now I'm using <a href="https://click.linksynergy.com/deeplink?id=KKdOP6dniaQ&mid=1237&murl=https%3A%2F%2Fshop.nordstrom.com%2Fs%2Flancome-artliner-precision-point-liquid-eyeliner%2F2786552" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Lancôme Artliner in </a><i><a href="https://click.linksynergy.com/deeplink?id=KKdOP6dniaQ&mid=1237&murl=https%3A%2F%2Fshop.nordstrom.com%2Fs%2Flancome-artliner-precision-point-liquid-eyeliner%2F2786552" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Brown</a>, </i>which is very similar, but much more expensive, of course. I also have the brown version of the Physician's Formula liquid liner (<a href="http://cheapasf.blogspot.com/2017/02/drugstore-liquid-eyeliner-review.html" target="_blank">reviewed here in black</a>) waiting in the wings.<br />
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<b><a href="https://click.linksynergy.com/deeplink?id=KKdOP6dniaQ&mid=1237&murl=https%3A%2F%2Fshop.nordstrom.com%2Fs%2Fyves-saint-laurent-touche-eclat-radiant-touch%2F2797674" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">YSL Touche Éclat in <i>2 Luminous Ivory</i></a>:</b> I got this in a marked-down, now sold-out, <a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/MtVy" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sephora Favorites</a> kit, and I wouldn't have bought it on its own. It makes a decent sheer/casual under-eye concealer and non-shimmery highlight. I just think you can get similar products for a lower price, l<a href="https://amzn.to/2MvsQFP" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">ike Maybelline's</a>. Also, it has a faint lavender scent that might not appeal to everyone.<br />
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<b><a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/MtZh" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sephora Bright Future Gel Serum Concealer in <i>Fondant</i></a></b>: <a href="http://cheapasf.blogspot.com/2015/12/concealer-comparisons-and-rave-review.html" target="_blank">Reviewed here</a>. This is the third tube of Gel Serum Concealer I've finished. I used a <a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/MtZ2" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Swoon wand</a> to scrape out what the doe foot couldn't reach (even after removing the stopper), which gave me at least another good month of use. I recently (stupidly) decided I'd try something new and bought a tube of the IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Undereye concealer. Big mistake. Huge. It must only work for very dry skinned people, because it disappeared from my face in a couple of hours. I've already ordered a new tube of Gel Serum from Sephora. Why mess with perfection?<br />
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<b>Wet N Wild Lash Primer: </b><a href="http://cheapasf.blogspot.com/2016/12/do-i-need-this-mascara-primer-wet-n.html" target="_blank">Reviewed here</a>. Not an actual empty, but it had started to smell funky, so I tossed it. Lash primer just doesn't do much for me, so I didn't get through it.<br />
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<b><a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/Mt1y" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Essence Eyebrow Designer Pencil in </a><i><a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/Mt1y" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Soft Blonde</a> </i>(above): </b>This isn't a true taupe (nor does it claim to be) but it's cooler/taupier than most affordable eyebrow pencils that are actually called "taupe." It's a good texture (i.e. hardness) and color for my brows at the moment, and for $2 I'd forgive a lot (though luckily I don't have to). I'm on my second pencil now. I have a bunch of brow products to review--I should get on that.<br />
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<b><a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/Mt0P" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Tarte Tarteist Lash Paint mascara</a> (mini): </b>This was a perfectly serviceable mascara. Provided volume and length. Didn't wow me so much that I'd buy it, but it was just fine.<br />
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<b><a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/Mt1P" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Black Radiance Eyeshadow Primer</a>: </b><a href="http://cheapasf.blogspot.com/2016/05/a-possible-dupe-for-discontinued-wet-n.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Reviewed here</a>. This is a great primer. I didn't completely finish it, but I find that most primers last me so long that they get to the point where they don't perform quite as well as they once did before I finish them. I'm talking well over a year, though, so I'm cool with it.<br />
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Look at all this skin care! Let me direct you to previous reviews and be as brief as possible to save all of our sanity.<br />
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Starting at the top left:<br />
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<b><a href="https://amzn.to/2t0TC0X" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Palmer's Cocoa Butter Swivel Stick</a>: </b><a href="http://cheapasf.blogspot.com/2016/02/my-cheap-favorites-best-skincare-under.html" target="_blank">Reviewed here</a>. I don't even know how many tubes of this I've used up so far! I have another one going now.<br />
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<b><a href="https://amzn.to/2yfiyXl" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">CosRx Acne Pimple Master Patches</a>: </b><a href="http://cheapasf.blogspot.com/2017/03/zit-magic-review-of-cosrx-acne-pimple.html" target="_blank">Reviewed here</a>. I've gone through many of these too.<br />
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<b><a href="https://www.beautylish.com/s/the-ordinary-azelaic-acid-suspension-10" target="_blank">The Ordinary Azelaic Acid</a>: </b><a href="http://cheapasf.blogspot.com/2018/03/the-ordinarys-azelaic-acid-suspension.html" target="_blank">Reviewed here</a>. A new staple. I'm on my second tube.<br />
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<b><a href="https://amzn.to/2yf1EZb" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Simple Micellar Water</a>: </b>Not the best I've ever used, but usually the cheapest, so I'm using my second bottle of it now.<br />
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<b>Drunk Elephant B-Hydra Gel (packet): </b>A decent light moisturizer.<br />
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<b><a href="https://www.beautylish.com/s/the-ordinary-matrixyl-10-ha" target="_blank">The Ordinary Matrixyl 1-% + HA</a>: </b>I will review this soon, but there's not much more to say than that it was a good hydrating serum. Nothing mind-blowing.<br />
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<b><a href="https://amzn.to/2sZPCO8" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Paula's Choice Calm Redness Relief Serum</a>: </b>Another good hydrating serum, but it didn't help my redness a whole lot. I won't buy it again.<br />
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<b><a href="https://amzn.to/2JY0INc" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Acure Organics Rosehip Oil</a></b>: This is kind of cheating, because it was getting old so I dumped it into a bottle of body oil. I've finally come to terms with the fact that even though rosehip oil is nice, it always causes milia around my eyes, so I need to let it go.<br />
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<b><a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/Mt5K" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Paula's Choice Ultra Light Super Antioxidant Serum</a>: </b><a href="http://cheapasf.blogspot.com/2014/11/review-paulas-choice-resist-ultra-light.html" target="_blank">Reviewed here</a>.<b> </b>The tube is full size--I cut it in half to get the last drops out. This hydrating serum is my favorite, but I'm looking at alternatives, because it's too expensive. The <a href="http://cheapasf.blogspot.com/2018/05/more-moisture-review-of-elf-hydrating.html" target="_blank">e.l.f. essence I reviewed here</a> is serving as a workable replacement at the moment, despite the fact that it's not actually a serum.<br />
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<b><a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/Mt5Y" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Farmacy Honey Savior Salve</a> (packet): </b>If you're into that #sluglife, where you coat your face with a heavy occlusive layer at night to lock in the moisture, this is an excellent option--except that it's very expensive, so you could just get some Vaseline or Aquaphor or <a href="https://amzn.to/2yfSsDN" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">CeraVe ointment</a> to serve the same purpose. I like the packets for traveling, though.<br />
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<b><a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/Mt6O" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Korres Golden Krocus Elixir</a> (mini): </b>An ok hydrating serum, though it has strong fragrance and shimmer in it. I'm way more excited about having a tiny dropper bottle to use for travel than I was about the actual product, to be honest.<br />
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<b><a href="https://amzn.to/2t8aOk4" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel</a> (mini): </b>Looking for a more affordable replacement for my old favorite <a href="https://amzn.to/2MujJp5" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Paula's Choice Moisture Gel</a>, but this wasn't quite it, although it did what it said it would do.<br />
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<b><a href="https://amzn.to/2JTvrrm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Avène Eau Thermal spray</a> (mini): </b>I feel a bit ridiculous for liking this. It's water in a can. Sorry, <i>mineral water</i> in a can. It is awfully refreshing on a hot and sweaty day, though. But like, you could just buy some mineral water and put it in your own spray bottle.<br />
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<b><a href="https://amzn.to/2LUbvW9" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Hydrating Treatment Mask</a>: </b><a href="http://cheapasf.blogspot.com/2016/11/do-i-need-this-overnight-masks-or.html" target="_blank">Reviewed here</a>. A great product that I did not finish, because it's huge, and I only needed to use it once every week or two. It was getting old, even for my extremely lax standards, so I decided to let it go. I don't know if I would buy it again, though the price isn't bad compared to other Paula's products.<br />
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<b>Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench Cloud Cream: </b>A very nice, light, moisturizing gel that would be a great replacement for Paula's Choice Moisture Gel, except that the full size comes in a jar and is even more expensive than Paula's.<br />
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<b>Glamglow Glowstarter: </b>Shimmery pink lotion that smells extremely strongly of creamsicle. I used it on my legs.<br />
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<b>Origins Gin-Zing Gel Moisturizer: </b>Got this one for free from Influenster. Again, it's fine, except for the jar and the very strong GoJo industrial orange soap smell. And the price.<br />
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<b><a href="https://amzn.to/2Mu2PqB" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Paula's Choice Moisture Boost Cleanser</a>: </b>I really like this cleanser for being effective but not drying, but there are equally good cleansers out there for less money.<br />
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<b><a href="https://amzn.to/2td3RhV" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid</a>: </b>I've been using this for over a decade now! My skin is always clearer and happier when I use it. But I recently decided to try the <a href="https://amzn.to/2LVmrma" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">CosRx BHA Liquid</a> instead, because Paula's Choice prices are rising faster than inflation.<br />
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That's really the theme here: finishing up the Paula's Choice products that I've relied on for years and trying to find more affordable replacements. When I first started using Paula's Choice, the prices weren't bad at all, even though I had to pay in Canadian dollars. Then I posted my referral link on this blog a few years ago, which tons of people used, so I had enough credits to continue using the brand even while prices crept up. I tried to point out in reviews whether I thought I would still buy something even without a credit. After their referral program ended and prices continued to climb, I'm now at the stage where it's just not feasible for me to buy multiple $30-50 basics each year when there are cheaper options out there. The one thing I haven't yet found a good replacement for, as you can see from the above, is the Moisture Gel. I'm currently using Marcelle's Lumipower moisturizer, which is a gel in a pump, but it's only worth it because I got it in <a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/Muce" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">a value set</a>. At full price, it's about the same as Paula's.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUV0m8V6qidfQLdJuElB8c-TKIx-NsaNNpfCHxZETEM90uUsBZdHEV1e-7NGU6F_FlTFMtiNMEDmKZvy4dm591cgYqK1Jl5-NMUIasPFAu4gcSnm5-UZyQkF4nxcT1v1T2h3UGIlKPxjSX/s1600/empties_bod.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="537" data-original-width="700" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUV0m8V6qidfQLdJuElB8c-TKIx-NsaNNpfCHxZETEM90uUsBZdHEV1e-7NGU6F_FlTFMtiNMEDmKZvy4dm591cgYqK1Jl5-NMUIasPFAu4gcSnm5-UZyQkF4nxcT1v1T2h3UGIlKPxjSX/s1600/empties_bod.jpg" /></a></div>
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Just a few staple hair and body products to finish off the list, and I can conveniently <a href="http://cheapasf.blogspot.com/2017/06/my-cheap-favorites-best-bath-body-and.html" target="_blank">link to this post for reviews</a> of all of them but the perfume! I've used multiple bottles/cans/tubes/jars of each of these. The Chloe and Replica Beach Walk fragrance samples weren't favorites, so I used them as room/closet sprays.<br />
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Let me know if you have questions about any of these things! It's always gratifying for me to use things up instead of just hoarding them. But I probably shouldn't pat myself on the back too much until the day you see an empty lipstick in one of these posts.Lyn Bhbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12081735635995970890noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4241080681767360438.post-62812412706398673312018-06-08T15:39:00.001-07:002018-06-09T12:02:21.652-07:00Easiest waves: Living Proof Perfect Hair Day In Shower Styler Review<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a class="button white" href="http://cheapasf.blogspot.com/2015/05/affiliate-links.html">Affiliate Links</a></span>
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I'm not a hair person. Really not. For all my interest in skincare and makeup, all I want from my hair is to look halfway decent with the minimum possible effort. Fortunately I've always had naturally very straight hair, so while I've envied wavy and curly hair, I also appreciate that my hair type suits my laissez-faire approach (a different kind of straight privilege). My usual "styling" involves applying a little smoothing/detangling serum to my wet hair, combing through it with my <a href="https://amzn.to/2sHwxAa" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Wet Brush</a> (briefly reviewed <a href="http://cheapasf.blogspot.com/2017/06/my-cheap-favorites-best-bath-body-and.html" target="_blank">here</a>), and letting it air dry. Often I use a big mascara wand with liquid gel or hairspray on it to smooth the flyaways on either side of my part. If I'm feeling extremely ambitious, I might blow-dry it with a round brush, but even then I usually get bored and stop before my hair is completely dry.<br />
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Some time last year I noticed that my hair was sometimes doing something that almost approximated waviness. Like, probably not enough that another reasonable person would apply the "wavy" label to it, but it had slightly more body and texture than it'd had in the past for some reason. I got a mini-tube of this <a href="https://amzn.to/2xY4e5w" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Living Proof In-Shower Styler</a> in a <a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/LZoA" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sephora Play</a> box, and when I used it, even with limited instructions, the waviness was amplified. Exciting! Once I'd finished the mini, I bought a full-size that came with more detailed directions for use, and finally I could achieve actual, noticeable waves with almost no work. I'll explain how I think it works best for my hair type below.<br />
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Recently I chopped off my long hair to just above my shoulders. While I'm enjoying the length, it's not the best shape. It has a tendency to flip out at the bottom even if I curl it under, and it puffs out to an annoying triangular shape. I know I could go back to get it fixed, but I really don't enjoy getting haircuts, and so I'm just dealing with it for now. I've found, however, that I like it much, much better wavy than straight. The waves seem to disguise the flaws in the cut, and I've always been enamored of a wavy or curly bob anyway.<br />
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As a point of comparison, here is how my hair looks if I use shampoo, conditioner, and a little smoothing serum, and then let it air dry. It's just a pyramid of meh.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVTXy6gwkrughyphenhyphenwINwkc3iyKWbvP1JSLSK8jRksIqDPvlQaHHs86rE0Jk4AXv4HWwHWsHuknc7aafC20LTiQ59SuNfxSwd2kKzNm5NTY2-XYGk-j-NpccdHum6zsUEFhDS4SD66XAg10eX/s1600/1-DSCN4792.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="581" data-original-width="501" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVTXy6gwkrughyphenhyphenwINwkc3iyKWbvP1JSLSK8jRksIqDPvlQaHHs86rE0Jk4AXv4HWwHWsHuknc7aafC20LTiQ59SuNfxSwd2kKzNm5NTY2-XYGk-j-NpccdHum6zsUEFhDS4SD66XAg10eX/s1600/1-DSCN4792.JPG" /></a></div>
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Here's how it looks after using the Living Proof In-Shower Styler:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNxhcU54SXO4toDTaLOTg-zzUJZQXvZ7u0id3K7-Sxt7c6yQohBTt7iGWr_QDqQTdiB9Q3u2b2tN2tQuIitfi4rOd9-UqtWLIfyhd38wH_kKIrGvaNW6GbY6RE58fKI-TBBnQdyBplecYT/s1600/1-DSCN4785.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNxhcU54SXO4toDTaLOTg-zzUJZQXvZ7u0id3K7-Sxt7c6yQohBTt7iGWr_QDqQTdiB9Q3u2b2tN2tQuIitfi4rOd9-UqtWLIfyhd38wH_kKIrGvaNW6GbY6RE58fKI-TBBnQdyBplecYT/s1600/1-DSCN4785.JPG" /></a></div>
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Much better, I think! (Why the color looks so much different, I don't know. It seems to shift a lot depending on the lighting.)<br />
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So, the way this stuff works is that you shampoo and condition your hair, and then you apply enough of it to completely coat your hair from roots to ends. You rinse it, but only very briefly. You should still be able to feel the slippery texture of the product in your hair after rinsing. If you use too little product or rinse it too thoroughly, you won't get much wave. If you use too much product, it'll be a little crunchy and wet-looking, rather than soft and natural. It takes some trial and error to get it right. You can lightly towel dry and then periodically scrunch your hair as it dries, with no additional product (which is what I usually do). (For others with straight hair who have never had a reason to scrunch, <a href="https://www.wikihow.com/Scrunch-Hair" target="_blank">there are good gifs here</a> to illustrate the technique.) If you want curlier hair, however, you can also try plopping, which I've done with nice results. (And <a href="https://www.naturallycurly.com/curlreading/curl-products/to-plop-or-not-to-plop" target="_blank">here is how to plop your hair</a>--a long-sleeved t-shirt works great.)<br />
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Here's how my (naturally straight! remember!) hair looks while it's still wet, just after towel drying and scrunching with the In-Shower Styler:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij1Qoc-DsWpFH_lvz1bKKwMYJhvg1YRtHrhvbe_BIahkdeZbZcoiVfihgljYOvSotaFFDjHTOhyphenhyphenwJJdLb3ixpZhE_JLZKHBR7IVuJ8fyjOG_qS14JkOYC2qC1rLbQhEO0nMLQxiD2opnQ7/s1600/Living_Proof_In_Shower_Styler_after.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Living Proof Perfect Hair Day In Shower Styler Review" border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij1Qoc-DsWpFH_lvz1bKKwMYJhvg1YRtHrhvbe_BIahkdeZbZcoiVfihgljYOvSotaFFDjHTOhyphenhyphenwJJdLb3ixpZhE_JLZKHBR7IVuJ8fyjOG_qS14JkOYC2qC1rLbQhEO0nMLQxiD2opnQ7/s1600/Living_Proof_In_Shower_Styler_after.jpg" title="Living Proof Perfect Hair Day In Shower Styler Review" /></a></div>
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When it's dry, you can comb your fingers through it or scrunch it some more to soften the texture. That's it! It's very simple and not at all time-consuming. I usually get similar waves to the ones I can create with a straight iron, which isn't exactly labor-intensive, but that's a less lazy method for sure.<br />
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My favorite part is that I can wash my hair and use the In-Shower Styler before bed, do the whole scrunching thing, and go to bed before it's completely dry. In the morning, I can just wet my hands and scrunch it again to get nice waves back. I'm sure spritzing with water would work too. I do this on the second day, too, instead of washing again. (<a href="http://cheapasf.blogspot.com/search/label/dry%20shampoo" target="_blank">Dry shampoo forever</a>!)<br />
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There are other products out there that will probably get you similar results, but this stuff has the advantage of only taking a few seconds in the shower and leaving me with smooth, fairly shiny waves in the end. It also happens to smell great, and my tube has lasted me for months of (not daily, but) regular use.<br />
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Here's another photo to show the air-dried waves from the side:<br />
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It worked when I had long hair too, but the waves were a bit looser, naturally.<br />
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For someone like me who has always wanted waves but has been too lazy to work at it, it's fucking sorcery. The cheapest place I've seen the <a href="https://amzn.to/2xY4e5w" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Living Proof In-Shower Styler</a> is on <a href="https://amzn.to/2xY4e5w" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Amazon</a>. ULTA also sells a <a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/L2k3" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">travel size</a>, if you're not sure you want to commit. Highly recommended!<br />
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Obviously the techniques I'm describing in this post will be familiar to many, if not most, people with natural curl, but in the past I'd never had occasion to use them, so I had to do a little research first. I'd be curious to hear how this product works for people who already have naturally wavy or curly hair, since the instructions say it can be used for a range of hair textures. Let me know if you've tried it!<br />
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<script src="//z-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/onejs?MarketPlace=US"></script>Lyn Bhbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12081735635995970890noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4241080681767360438.post-66020831651523567642018-06-02T11:53:00.002-07:002018-06-02T11:53:31.624-07:00New and improved? The new Wet N Wild Comfort Zone palette compared to the original<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a class="button white" href="http://cheapasf.blogspot.com/2015/05/affiliate-links.html">Affiliate Links</a></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrjUuVVqI7uXwaXp_LQXfgUpHQfZKqIrjpC4ptLnDztgjCBdIo7evvv8qIQF8HHAmsDlpkONWHV2B3PUvc9KeufE_9ZnoSEn9jczqmFx8vabaLSgSeh0lR8-3dcMA3qstLOJRsKfjEmbb3/s1600/WetNWild_Comfort_Zone_comparison.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Review of new Wet N Wild Comfort Zone palette compared to the original" border="0" data-original-height="784" data-original-width="700" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrjUuVVqI7uXwaXp_LQXfgUpHQfZKqIrjpC4ptLnDztgjCBdIo7evvv8qIQF8HHAmsDlpkONWHV2B3PUvc9KeufE_9ZnoSEn9jczqmFx8vabaLSgSeh0lR8-3dcMA3qstLOJRsKfjEmbb3/s1600/WetNWild_Comfort_Zone_comparison.jpg" title="Review of new Wet N Wild Comfort Zone palette compared to the original" /></a></div>
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I have something of a series now comparing reformulated Wet N Wild products with their predecessors (<a href="http://cheapasf.blogspot.com/2016/09/new-wet-n-wild-color-icon-blush-in.html" target="_blank">here</a> and <a href="http://cheapasf.blogspot.com/2016/09/new-wet-n-wild-primer-photofocus.html" target="_blank">here</a>), among them some of <a href="http://cheapasf.blogspot.com/search/label/wet%20n%20wild" target="_blank">my favorite affordable makeup</a>. Those previously revamped products didn't exactly measure up to the originals in my comparisons, so I have to admit I had serious doubts about the <a href="https://amzn.to/2sy0YrD" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">new Wet N Wild <i>Comfort Zone</i> palette</a>. Why change something that has been consistently recommended as one of the best drugstore eyeshadow palettes on the market?<br />
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I've been thinking the answer to that question for a while. Unlike many redesigns by other brands, Wet N Wild didn't reduce the product size while jacking up the price. In fact, the price has remained the same, while the weight has actually increased (minimally) from 0.3 to 0.32 oz. Because two new matte shades were added, and they are in the largest pans, that should mean that the size of each of the original shades has decreased, however, which is worth noting.<br />
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If I had to guess why the change was made, I'd point to the fragility of the shadows, and maybe the packaging too. I can't be sure, but I do know lots of people complained about their Wet N Wild shadows crumbling and shattering with the slightest bump. I don't know if you can see it in the photo above, but the duochrome in the in bottom right of my old palette does has a small chunk missing--I have no idea when or how that happened. If the eyeshadows broke too often after people bought them, you have to assume that they also frequently broke in transit and while they were in stores, so the amount of product discarded might not have made up for the number of sales. (I'd be curious to hear if anyone's new palette has crumbled, but the shadows seem a bit more durable to me.) Of course, there's also the fact that a new release/re-release generates publicity and increases sales.<br />
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I've had my OG Comfort Zone palette since 2011 or 2012, and despite appearances, I've used it quite a lot. It has intense, smooth, metallic shimmers that perform really well. I'm not such a fan of the matte shades with glitter ("Definer" on the left and "Crease" on the right) though they are decent for lining the eyes. I like it so much that the reformulation had a lot to live up to. I'm not going to do a full review of each palette, but I am going to compare each shade and show you some swatches and eye looks.<br />
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Here is the first row of shimmers, in the (new) order of the new palette, starting with the left hand column. All applied over Wet N Wild primer (<a href="http://cheapasf.blogspot.com/2016/09/new-wet-n-wild-primer-photofocus.html" target="_blank">reviewed here</a>) to make the colors and finishes as clear as possible for comparison. The old version is on the left and the new version is on the right.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5IrpKQC8-AHcz4e3B2IZ_Ua7bGO5FJmOP_jbnB-NMAH0NKg_0r5fGvu5CrBlh3MUe4ycZ54N1hDvw03OFLENwrQdOppiMbDLDPTF4n1byYkf0ABnQhE8mL20eP-7XDkjs7MSDqZqhDlrm/s1600/WetNWild_Comfort_Zone_swatches1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Wet N Wild Comfort Zone comparison swatches" border="0" data-original-height="281" data-original-width="750" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5IrpKQC8-AHcz4e3B2IZ_Ua7bGO5FJmOP_jbnB-NMAH0NKg_0r5fGvu5CrBlh3MUe4ycZ54N1hDvw03OFLENwrQdOppiMbDLDPTF4n1byYkf0ABnQhE8mL20eP-7XDkjs7MSDqZqhDlrm/s1600/WetNWild_Comfort_Zone_swatches1.jpg" title="Wet N Wild Comfort Zone comparison swatches" /></a></div>
<a name='more'></a>When you compare the new and old shimmer shades, the recurring theme is that the old versions are much more reflective and metallic, whereas the newer ones have a more diffused shimmer. Personally, I prefer the older finish, but that's going to be a personal choice.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC1_Wl91kp-TJCHGeaUty-IPJ6HoF81tq_WkHackhyphenhyphennTy6FPAKmlszxSAauiOzTCeLRaGLGs_aUBh9CxeYOSp8GrvPkEWxqqjkxTCCREcB2MXZM4ULaouJWnkYpRQUEebDEcTTHLJnMAnm/s1600/WetNWild_Comfort_Zone_swatches2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Wet N Wild Comfort Zone comparison swatches" border="0" data-original-height="632" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC1_Wl91kp-TJCHGeaUty-IPJ6HoF81tq_WkHackhyphenhyphennTy6FPAKmlszxSAauiOzTCeLRaGLGs_aUBh9CxeYOSp8GrvPkEWxqqjkxTCCREcB2MXZM4ULaouJWnkYpRQUEebDEcTTHLJnMAnm/s1600/WetNWild_Comfort_Zone_swatches2.jpg" title="Wet N Wild Comfort Zone comparison swatches" /></a></div>
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The creamy Browbone shade is now less gold and more peach/beige.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirUQsjKq4Tzu9VQJhxrffXWrYIkajx_ioEvTjH7ZQ3RmcPEWmP8oxvIguQyOfShVVPQL2Qyx7k4ZvXT32p-qJ3n-nFU2ytDH_UQIt9DDOedPngGGTA9n5uKsKNkLWsDKXf7ELBgIuFc2v0/s1600/WetNWild_Comfort_Zone_swatches3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Wet N Wild Comfort Zone comparison swatches" border="0" data-original-height="779" data-original-width="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirUQsjKq4Tzu9VQJhxrffXWrYIkajx_ioEvTjH7ZQ3RmcPEWmP8oxvIguQyOfShVVPQL2Qyx7k4ZvXT32p-qJ3n-nFU2ytDH_UQIt9DDOedPngGGTA9n5uKsKNkLWsDKXf7ELBgIuFc2v0/s1600/WetNWild_Comfort_Zone_swatches3.jpg" title="Wet N Wild Comfort Zone comparison swatches" /></a></div>
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The grey-green Browbone shade looks similar in the pan, but is now much less of a silvery sage and much more of a warm khaki in actual use. (Why the old version, on the left, looks so brown in this photo, I don't know.) It's unfortunate that this color has changed so much--it was one of the most unusual in the palette!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvPht9OmwPYSN42XrAI0Jgo011zrFqodhpcDhIHkhRfEGwnTzu4bhgPY_ulQ_ngoMBJh8ggfSEjkQ260b98hdvE78qD3ex6SgTo2PBKipWRe2PD4sHuziMRXpB3ZfKuSsCSra4I0AuSMxb/s1600/WetNWild_Comfort_Zone_swatches4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Wet N Wild Comfort Zone comparison swatches" border="0" data-original-height="642" data-original-width="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvPht9OmwPYSN42XrAI0Jgo011zrFqodhpcDhIHkhRfEGwnTzu4bhgPY_ulQ_ngoMBJh8ggfSEjkQ260b98hdvE78qD3ex6SgTo2PBKipWRe2PD4sHuziMRXpB3ZfKuSsCSra4I0AuSMxb/s1600/WetNWild_Comfort_Zone_swatches4.jpg" title="Wet N Wild Comfort Zone comparison swatches" /></a></div>
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The light, coppery Eyelid shade is similar, though less reflective.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEQxnDzOWDlgf867tQgzltnP-y34MK1lFfLZ2lVMyc6wT-QRt-nUoRULJmQdkouCfNVWnAtIxrCq9ftMRGRfUj_T3QJFfDK8Zl0bLqhsIvbozcm3xPFopk257tJu9WCG-VvRQbaolsF43e/s1600/WetNWild_Comfort_Zone_swatches5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Wet N Wild Comfort Zone comparison swatches" border="0" data-original-height="711" data-original-width="451" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEQxnDzOWDlgf867tQgzltnP-y34MK1lFfLZ2lVMyc6wT-QRt-nUoRULJmQdkouCfNVWnAtIxrCq9ftMRGRfUj_T3QJFfDK8Zl0bLqhsIvbozcm3xPFopk257tJu9WCG-VvRQbaolsF43e/s1600/WetNWild_Comfort_Zone_swatches5.jpg" title="Wet N Wild Comfort Zone comparison swatches" /></a></div>
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The warm, dark brown Definer shade is improved in several ways. It's less patchy, and the shimmer is better integrated, instead of being loose glitter that mostly disappears. It is, however, more powdery, as you can see from the swatch. In generally, the new palette kicks up a lot more powder and creates more fallout below the eyes when I apply it than the old one did.<br />
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Here are comparison swatches of the right hand column from the new palette, again with the old version on the left and the new one on the right:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeXbBLeiPzvc6uFWtn2252oHZ4MkNzjZK_Hjyn79xqTrTIPu61IHQjZbsY0a79ODJwqx16h7LZ96caR2zHNzAc74JnCe9DksO9mDTZz_v6H_f3WUcMNqAQQWe-fof7213SeCjor-PgrMt0/s1600/WetNWild_Comfort_Zone_swatches6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Wet N Wild Comfort Zone comparison swatches" border="0" data-original-height="338" data-original-width="750" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeXbBLeiPzvc6uFWtn2252oHZ4MkNzjZK_Hjyn79xqTrTIPu61IHQjZbsY0a79ODJwqx16h7LZ96caR2zHNzAc74JnCe9DksO9mDTZz_v6H_f3WUcMNqAQQWe-fof7213SeCjor-PgrMt0/s1600/WetNWild_Comfort_Zone_swatches6.jpg" title="Wet N Wild Comfort Zone comparison swatches" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpoSy1IVtKo7jjPyfkXmHGG8pEw2XLzoUFV0YGdrGmsDKqODSy60j9iONY_dYiILsPAZAmxUqSzv-WFA4eJUXDlNG7xcB6l-VEicBbHtgBzCBtbUqDIpBoGMDWYUfaDGTRtUo1O_6IFgjh/s1600/WetNWild_Comfort_Zone_swatches7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Wet N Wild Comfort Zone comparison swatches" border="0" data-original-height="710" data-original-width="451" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpoSy1IVtKo7jjPyfkXmHGG8pEw2XLzoUFV0YGdrGmsDKqODSy60j9iONY_dYiILsPAZAmxUqSzv-WFA4eJUXDlNG7xcB6l-VEicBbHtgBzCBtbUqDIpBoGMDWYUfaDGTRtUo1O_6IFgjh/s1600/WetNWild_Comfort_Zone_swatches7.jpg" title="Wet N Wild Comfort Zone comparison swatches" /></a></div>
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The green eyelid shade hasn't changed too much.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnThfrbA7whM06F7igfJ5arKmckRxOllxVMmGgN5dWdC-oHy62bFF2YEZAxMl3rFTpsVgov_6sWZ1cw-_5zdSiexzXHw8MD19_dVg5wSwGLyyDQiJKGjl2v30TjJ40td5GGtqvdb6HOV9a/s1600/WetNWild_Comfort_Zone_swatches8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Wet N Wild Comfort Zone comparison swatches" border="0" data-original-height="841" data-original-width="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnThfrbA7whM06F7igfJ5arKmckRxOllxVMmGgN5dWdC-oHy62bFF2YEZAxMl3rFTpsVgov_6sWZ1cw-_5zdSiexzXHw8MD19_dVg5wSwGLyyDQiJKGjl2v30TjJ40td5GGtqvdb6HOV9a/s1600/WetNWild_Comfort_Zone_swatches8.jpg" title="Wet N Wild Comfort Zone comparison swatches" /></a></div>
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The bronzey Crease shade is warmer in the new version. A bigger difference, however, is the formula. The old version was amazingly smooth and completely opaque in a single stroke. The new one, however, required several layers to achieve the same saturation for these swatches.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMet9TGjKw1fOcRqpvRaxE7sdo1sc1VlKVay0OhB6PGo1yeRIfkNmaB-Q9uv_4FpBvpJ5V3-72gFvFyXlkthEQzy7uSUNTWO8wVvTeEaw4CF-FmzhK4u7ial-Vd9Wn-0IV6afu83VOdz2O/s1600/WetNWild_Comfort_Zone_swatches9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Wet N Wild Comfort Zone comparison swatches" border="0" data-original-height="670" data-original-width="451" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMet9TGjKw1fOcRqpvRaxE7sdo1sc1VlKVay0OhB6PGo1yeRIfkNmaB-Q9uv_4FpBvpJ5V3-72gFvFyXlkthEQzy7uSUNTWO8wVvTeEaw4CF-FmzhK4u7ial-Vd9Wn-0IV6afu83VOdz2O/s1600/WetNWild_Comfort_Zone_swatches9.jpg" title="Wet N Wild Comfort Zone comparison swatches" /></a></div>
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The new blue-brown duochrome Definer shade has more of a brown base than red and more of a green shift than blue.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUqNBYMStYH4NqQI8rjsUrw6avFFc8L02UZzl-uHtHhLbBxZZhqhfpexZtwgS8D4ETPw6Hd69r7WWIeql0lbOYvQnZuk2wXD4apfbLJGuP8AzAcfBvH6UQLtUH9Pwlrx1UEVgU3Gz0tfJT/s1600/WetNWild_Comfort_Zone_swatches11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Wet N Wild Comfort Zone comparison swatches" border="0" data-original-height="690" data-original-width="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUqNBYMStYH4NqQI8rjsUrw6avFFc8L02UZzl-uHtHhLbBxZZhqhfpexZtwgS8D4ETPw6Hd69r7WWIeql0lbOYvQnZuk2wXD4apfbLJGuP8AzAcfBvH6UQLtUH9Pwlrx1UEVgU3Gz0tfJT/s1600/WetNWild_Comfort_Zone_swatches11.jpg" title="Wet N Wild Comfort Zone comparison swatches" /></a></div>
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The blackened-brown matte Crease shade with gold glitter got a definite upgrade. The new version is much less patchy and the shimmer is better integrated.<br />
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Finally, here are the two new matte shades from the redesigned palette: a terracotta orange and a dusty, rosy brownish-red. Both are quite opaque and smooth.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6q7vAFd2WFV3MpkCgH_e0hlt3lkbfpP_Uvtt_enc9J8OnbpyazmRsKT9hPjXaf5w17PqC3XRbW0tLgLD08Xvv50vK3J2Xz3UeqYALsrZ8va2aRSz8kjFA-Ch0OviavBSJLvsb_P54kCQN/s1600/WetNWild_Comfort_Zone_swatches10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Wet N Wild Comfort Zone swatches" border="0" data-original-height="759" data-original-width="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6q7vAFd2WFV3MpkCgH_e0hlt3lkbfpP_Uvtt_enc9J8OnbpyazmRsKT9hPjXaf5w17PqC3XRbW0tLgLD08Xvv50vK3J2Xz3UeqYALsrZ8va2aRSz8kjFA-Ch0OviavBSJLvsb_P54kCQN/s1600/WetNWild_Comfort_Zone_swatches10.jpg" title="Wet N Wild Comfort Zone swatches" /></a></div>
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My favorite shadow in this palette has always been the duochrome. I don't know if you've noticed, but I have <a href="http://cheapasf.blogspot.com/search/label/duochrome" target="_blank">a thing for duochromes</a>. This Wet N Wild shadow is/was one of the most impressive versions of the common blue-brown combo out there--and available for cheap. In fact, I've often said that this one pan was worth the $5 on its own, since you're not going to find many others like it for that price. So my first and most important test was not just to compare the duochromes in swatches, but also on my actual eyes. I wore the new one on my left eye and the old one on my right eye for a full day (over Wet N Wild primer).<br />
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Though they are not identical, as the swatches prove, they were close enough that no one would have noticed I was wearing different makeup on each eye. I used the creamy highlight shade from each respective palette on my browbone, and then applied the duochrome to my mobile lid and blended it into the crease.<br />
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Here's the old duochrome right after application:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggWC8-VnJYegNhcFZc2hWfdGlKg0XZeFbtEQtWtRXWCAsliWijwexPuXdNIinL6U7B3Wb9i27G_QEMjZbkkIt7XlqahyphenhyphenxXAB9QzLF0_Hu3YiIBmOWBo53zIvZO0WKdYF_HSJvXOpf9k_vi/s1600/WetNWild_Comfort_Zone_old_duochrome1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Wet N Wild Color Icon Comfort Zone palette" border="0" data-original-height="430" data-original-width="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggWC8-VnJYegNhcFZc2hWfdGlKg0XZeFbtEQtWtRXWCAsliWijwexPuXdNIinL6U7B3Wb9i27G_QEMjZbkkIt7XlqahyphenhyphenxXAB9QzLF0_Hu3YiIBmOWBo53zIvZO0WKdYF_HSJvXOpf9k_vi/s1600/WetNWild_Comfort_Zone_old_duochrome1.jpg" title="Wet N Wild Color Icon Comfort Zone palette" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil3hanftu_XEAL24cp2U5ldaAfOovYY_ENNZd0oEycDX1PbjTM1p1eEMcb_VC6sAJwAXfQIocGGeckpNWbzVjfW5eQbbifj6zlCppG9e68-sWJmGWr1E8jB1R773Eo0hKzyhrkRU_itt1M/s1600/WetNWild_Comfort_Zone_old_duochrome2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Wet N Wild Color Icon Comfort Zone palette" border="0" data-original-height="496" data-original-width="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil3hanftu_XEAL24cp2U5ldaAfOovYY_ENNZd0oEycDX1PbjTM1p1eEMcb_VC6sAJwAXfQIocGGeckpNWbzVjfW5eQbbifj6zlCppG9e68-sWJmGWr1E8jB1R773Eo0hKzyhrkRU_itt1M/s1600/WetNWild_Comfort_Zone_old_duochrome2.jpg" title="Wet N Wild Color Icon Comfort Zone palette" /></a></div>
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And here is the new duochrome:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgitsg51pom0ei6030LO36-5nyD46lSoxoaOd8P0YbkJxRAiDcwUZDELlgij2-e4EkAcLY9j0X8Pqtrz35rAYDaA3SCNCrSfVvL70pRysdj_IVaZ2kW4N8toHxfj-gyFN9e1yGaQVqC4Jfv/s1600/WetNWild_Comfort_Zone_new_duochrome1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Wet N Wild Color Icon Comfort Zone palette" border="0" data-original-height="421" data-original-width="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgitsg51pom0ei6030LO36-5nyD46lSoxoaOd8P0YbkJxRAiDcwUZDELlgij2-e4EkAcLY9j0X8Pqtrz35rAYDaA3SCNCrSfVvL70pRysdj_IVaZ2kW4N8toHxfj-gyFN9e1yGaQVqC4Jfv/s1600/WetNWild_Comfort_Zone_new_duochrome1.jpg" title="Wet N Wild Color Icon Comfort Zone palette" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVf-KnBRyTTBYY5y_QL-bHG7DLhz14Ch2SylxKzTwGvtFkHZnaOyuhuTMHWBP1s8u6Nvq0F8Kmtxs14Ol-lViwREvP2EPD-fxa-Tfc3oZZ8vG2swEDKKbIsghWa0c0YCt2vhwwL4u2TH-l/s1600/WetNWild_Comfort_Zone_new_duochrome2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Wet N Wild Color Icon Comfort Zone palette" border="0" data-original-height="438" data-original-width="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVf-KnBRyTTBYY5y_QL-bHG7DLhz14Ch2SylxKzTwGvtFkHZnaOyuhuTMHWBP1s8u6Nvq0F8Kmtxs14Ol-lViwREvP2EPD-fxa-Tfc3oZZ8vG2swEDKKbIsghWa0c0YCt2vhwwL4u2TH-l/s1600/WetNWild_Comfort_Zone_new_duochrome2.jpg" title="Wet N Wild Color Icon Comfort Zone palette" /></a></div>
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The new version is a bit sheerer and takes a few layers to build up to the same opacity as the old duochrome but, as you can see, it can be done easily enough. Possibly the slight sheerness will make it more versatile for some people. I was surprised to find that I like the new version just as much as the old one. The color differences are subtle, and it's just as striking and pretty once it's applied. I also found that at the end of 6-7 hours, the teal shift of the new version remained more vibrant than the old version did.<br />
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Finally, here are a few of the other shades from just the new palette applied. The orange matte and green shimmer:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs2BRboi9AcYD429UutaPMbw_WozemzbNyrNnYuq2ligPnTzg5jhwavToi3CwiDbK5IhLwawV0DxIXdRdZ07oTBlkNE8jwi8reGdQ4rnHwS6ZEdTCYogDwq4O3HRZen0qFV0ikGwoL07F3/s1600/WetNWild_Comfort_Zone_New1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Wet N Wild Color Icon Comfort Zone palette" border="0" data-original-height="417" data-original-width="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs2BRboi9AcYD429UutaPMbw_WozemzbNyrNnYuq2ligPnTzg5jhwavToi3CwiDbK5IhLwawV0DxIXdRdZ07oTBlkNE8jwi8reGdQ4rnHwS6ZEdTCYogDwq4O3HRZen0qFV0ikGwoL07F3/s1600/WetNWild_Comfort_Zone_New1.jpg" title="Wet N Wild Color Icon Comfort Zone palette" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiiJMwy3fqdBxcfCFXEORIGvgokU8wGIZWeqnGXjWCgeqyAMcKdY4vWJ5m6czxQ_ml0W-zb5SBNSpKkRiJyZ3sSAv_eH30gKsTUZgWUX0SRBmJeaD0Ayr7kYJ6_NUEJMeFj4P53bMDBXwl/s1600/WetNWild_Comfort_Zone_New2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Wet N Wild Color Icon Comfort Zone palette" border="0" data-original-height="406" data-original-width="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiiJMwy3fqdBxcfCFXEORIGvgokU8wGIZWeqnGXjWCgeqyAMcKdY4vWJ5m6czxQ_ml0W-zb5SBNSpKkRiJyZ3sSAv_eH30gKsTUZgWUX0SRBmJeaD0Ayr7kYJ6_NUEJMeFj4P53bMDBXwl/s1600/WetNWild_Comfort_Zone_New2.jpg" title="Wet N Wild Color Icon Comfort Zone palette" /></a></div>
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I really like how this turned out! I actually tried to create a shape here instead of just blending everything into oblivion. I should do this again.<br />
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And here's just a quick and simple look with a light wash of the reddish matte shade on the lower lid, blended up through the crease, the light beige highlight shade above, and the blackened-brown matte-with-glitter used as liner.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimqq86TUfgdcQ4ad_pCsqtoV7Gq8IluG2OeXLiLULou-jQ2fBqmeC3PLak8iXyFkUu0qxBkT2hfMcjSgjqK1OEnOkUYgdAux6xa1awTkZx6gW6Lk14B4ZJm949inKO__cY88o4jcbzj-2N/s1600/WetNWild_Comfort_Zone_New3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Wet N Wild Color Icon Comfort Zone palette" border="0" data-original-height="455" data-original-width="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimqq86TUfgdcQ4ad_pCsqtoV7Gq8IluG2OeXLiLULou-jQ2fBqmeC3PLak8iXyFkUu0qxBkT2hfMcjSgjqK1OEnOkUYgdAux6xa1awTkZx6gW6Lk14B4ZJm949inKO__cY88o4jcbzj-2N/s1600/WetNWild_Comfort_Zone_New3.jpg" title="Wet N Wild Color Icon Comfort Zone palette" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgsCY0FnxP_l7a0D-PQhbWX6Kdv_PZA1PHFaDvZsyfmQpXwewsSruYtAcmNHP2S2sqWvqh4XWzLUZbWvhe1DXDii_1KccebhcX0WJpB6qjzV1J9H8NXPP_oqlKZZSYfc02-WBomWdu-riC/s1600/WetNWild_Comfort_Zone_New4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Wet N Wild Color Icon Comfort Zone palette" border="0" data-original-height="454" data-original-width="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgsCY0FnxP_l7a0D-PQhbWX6Kdv_PZA1PHFaDvZsyfmQpXwewsSruYtAcmNHP2S2sqWvqh4XWzLUZbWvhe1DXDii_1KccebhcX0WJpB6qjzV1J9H8NXPP_oqlKZZSYfc02-WBomWdu-riC/s1600/WetNWild_Comfort_Zone_New4.jpg" title="Wet N Wild Color Icon Comfort Zone palette" /></a></div>
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There are certainly some differences between the two iterations of this palette. Which one you prefer will depend on a few things. If you loved the smooth, reflective, metallic effect of the old shadows, you might be let down by the new ones. Especially if the silver-sage Browbone or bronze Crease shade were your favorites, you'll find their replacements quite different. You might want to stock up on another old palette while <a href="https://amzn.to/2xzgxF2" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">they are still kicking around</a>. On the other hand, if the duochrome is what you care most about, I think the <a href="https://amzn.to/2xCRnpk" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">new Comfort Zone</a> duochrome is just as gorgeous--and the new mattes are a nice addition as well.<br />
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I'm not sure exactly why Wet N Wild decided to replace one of their most beloved products (yet again), but I think they've put out another quality, versatile, fun palette. I was fully prepared to bash the fuck out of this product, but I was pleasantly surprised. If I'm being really petty (and I usually am), the most annoying thing about the new palette is how it opens. The labeling suggests that the palette should be oriented vertically, but it opens on the side instead of the bottom, which is <i>just wrong. </i>Am I alone in feeling this way?<br />
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Have you tried this palette or any of the other new Wet N Wild eyeshadows? I am tempted to compare one of the reformulated trios to the old ones, too, but I should probably stop buying semi-dupes of things I already own.<br />
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<script async="" src="//z-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/onejs?MarketPlace=US&adInstanceId=3a9e1140-381e-47b2-aa2e-e7cdeeae159b"></script>Lyn Bhbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12081735635995970890noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4241080681767360438.post-87379055051699660372018-05-22T10:49:00.001-07:002018-05-22T10:49:22.270-07:00Deal Alert: Marcelle Skincare Set over 75% off on Birchbox<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a class="button white" href="http://cheapasf.blogspot.com/2015/05/affiliate-links.html">Affiliate Links</a></span>
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Just a quick post to let you know about this <a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/KnZ3" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">great Marcelle skincare</a> set I bought from <a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/KnZ3" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Birchbox</a> last week, which is still available. For $15 you get a full-size moisturizer, a full-size micellar water, a full-size gel makeup remover, and a mini bi-phase makeup remover. It's cheaper than buying the <a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/Kn18" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">moisturizer</a> ($27) or even the <a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/Kn1Z" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">micellar water</a> ($17) alone. It also comes with a travel bag that seems to be fairly sturdy and useful. I just got mine, so all I've used so far is the moisturizer, which is a lovely light gel formula--and unlike most gels, comes in an airless pump, not a jar. I've used the bi-phase makeup remover in the past, though, and it's extremely effective.<br />
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Shipping is $5 (or free over $50).<br />
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(When I bought my set last week, there was also a 25% off code that Birchbox hasn't bothered to stop advertising on the brand page, but it's expired. Awesome deal nonetheless!)Lyn Bhbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12081735635995970890noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4241080681767360438.post-50211279233318541152018-05-14T20:05:00.002-07:002018-06-02T11:34:44.524-07:00More Moisture! Review of e.l.f. Hydrating Water Essence<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a class="button white" href="http://cheapasf.blogspot.com/2015/05/affiliate-links.html">Affiliate Links</a></span>
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I have to admit, I've been skeptical of e.l.f.'s skincare line ever since it came out a couple of years ago. At the time that it launched, most of the products looked very basic and uninspiring, but priced higher than I would expect for basics from e.l.f. (which seems to be true of many of their products lately). Nevertheless, earlier this year I ended up buying the <a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/JG86" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">e.l.f. Hydrating Water Essence</a>, so I'll explain why I think it's worth it.<br />
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I picked this up after searching for a hydrating essence to add to my routine. Now, I know there are lots of Korean and other Asian essences out there, and some of them have been recommended to me on good authority, but despite <a href="http://cheapasf.blogspot.com/2018/01/sparkle-eyes-review-of-g9skin-pink-blur.html" target="_blank">a few forays</a>, I still haven't delved completely into Asian skincare. It just seems like a whole other field of study I'd have to master, and I have enough research on my plate at the moment. This e.l.f. essence have the advantages of being easily accessible (<a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/JG86" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">ULTA</a>, <a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/JG7T" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Target</a>, etc.), and only costing $10 for a huge 5 oz. bottle.<br />
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I got interested in adding an essence to my routine after looking enviously at all the people who seem to have achieved beautiful, problem-free skin apparently through applying layer upon layer of moisture. I'm sure there's more going on there, but having moved to hotter and drier climates this year, I figured that more hydration surely couldn't hurt. (Yes, I'm kind of using "hydration" and "moisture" interchangeably here, but technically <a href="https://labmuffin.com/is-your-skin-dry-or-dehydrated-and-how-to-treat-it/" target="_blank">they are different</a>.) As it turns out, I do believe my deep dive into increased hydration has helped my skin. I don't think it has made permanent, dramatic changes, necessarily, but I think the increased moisture has done some good things, like decrease the appearance of the hollows under my eyes. For example, compare this photo from last September, when I asked for advice about reducing that sunken eye look:<br />
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BY_CpQohVkl/" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Lyn (brutally honest beauty) (@brutallyhonestbeauty)</a> on <time datetime="2017-09-13T14:44:58+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Sep 13, 2017 at 7:44am PDT</time></div>
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With this one in similar lighting from February:<br />
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BetN_1jhSip/" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Lyn (brutally honest beauty) (@brutallyhonestbeauty)</a> on <time datetime="2018-02-02T19:46:12+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Feb 2, 2018 at 11:46am PST</time></div>
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BixDLsZh5Ql/?taken-by=brutallyhonestbeauty" target="_blank">Or this one I just posted today.</a> The improvement in my under-eye area isn't the same as if I'd got fillers, of course--it's not preternaturally smooth and it's better some days than others--but the overall plumping effects of increased moisture in my skin are noticeable.<br />
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Now, I'm not saying that this e.l.f. essence is solely responsible for these differences. It's just one of many hydrating and moisturizing products I've been using in my routine (<a href="http://cheapasf.blogspot.com/2018/03/the-ordinarys-azelaic-acid-suspension.html" target="_blank">steps outlined here</a>), but I've been using it consistently for a couple of months now, and I like it.<br />
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Oddly enough, e.l.f. does not emphasize what I would consider the more interesting ingredients in its marketing of this essence, the ones that tend to be lauded by skincare-obsessed people on Instagram and Reddit. It doesn't seem to be aimed particularly toward us weirdoes. Instead, they note that it is:<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "assistant" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: 0.35px;">A lightweight and nourishing essence infused with moisturizing effects of purified water, coconut water, algae, and coffee.</span></blockquote>
Ok. The moisturizing effects of water and some other stuff. Let's look at the complete ingredients.<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "assistant" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: 0.35px;">Water (Aqua), Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Trehalose, Niacinamide, Chondrus Crispus (Carrageenan) Extract, Coffea Arabica (Coffee) Extract, Cyclodextrin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium PCA, Urea, Polyquatemium-51, Triacetin, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Water, Coceth-7, PPG-1-PEG-9 Lauryl Glycol Ether, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Disodium EDTA, Xanthum Gum, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Fragrance (Parfum)</span> </blockquote>
So it contains glycerin, trehalose, niacinamide, and sodium hyaluronate, and you're going to talk to me about algae? I mean, carrageenan is a fine ingredient, which is probably mainly in there to thicken up the essence a bit, but I assume they're trying to get you to think of the magical algae in La Mer products by highlighting that one. And sure, coffee extract is a good antioxidant, so thumbs up there. My research into coconut water in skincare is less conclusive, but it seems like it might have some moisturizing properties.<br />
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Overall, e.l.f. seems to be using exactly the opposite marketing strategy for this product that The Ordinary uses. They emphasize the ingredients that sounds familiar, natural, and generally pleasant, instead of the others that are effective, but "scary," scientific-sounding chemicals. As a result, I think they are going to miss out on some of the skincare nerd market, so I'm here to draw your attention to some of the other fun shit in there.<br />
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<b><i>Glycerin</i></b> is just straight up one of the most effective humectants out there, so seeing it second on the list is a good sign in a hydrating essence. It's also nice that they haven't canceled out any of its effects by including drying alcohol like some other "soothing" and "cooling" products out there do.<br />
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<b><i>Trehalose</i></b><i style="font-weight: bold;"> </i>is particularly interesting, because for some reason e.l.f. chose not to emphasize that this essence contains the mystical powers of *~~*~mushrooms~*~~*. A missed opportunity--especially since living in L.A., which tends to be on the cutting edge of health woo bullshit, I've been seeing miraculous (non-hallucinogenic) mushroom extracts all over the fucking place. Trehalose in skincare, however, seems not to be nonsense. It has hydrating, and possibly antioxidant, properties.<br />
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<b><i>Niacinamide</i></b> is one of my favorite ingredients (though patch test, because not everyone's skin likes it). It's a vitamin B that can help with enlarged pores, lines and wrinkles, uneven skin tone, and, in my experience, acne.<br />
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<i><b>Sodium Hyaluronate</b><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span></i>is a form of hyaluronic acid, another of my favorite ingredients. This form is generally considered more effective than regular hyaluronic acid. It's a fantastic humectant that always makes my skin very, very happy.<br />
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There are other nice ingredients in there, and nothing that particularly worries me, but I thought I'd just highlight those four. Because there is so much water (it's the first ingredient), the concentration of each of these ingredients is going to be lower than in a serum, naturally--but do note that they all appear near the top of the ingredients list, well above the fragrance. The fragrance in this product is noticeable when you apply it, and it's a floral, sort of rose, scent, but it's mild. I can't smell it once it's on my skin. I'm guessing it would be okay for all but the least tolerant of fragrance, but it's something to keep in mind.<br />
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As for a review of this essence in actual practice, it has a thin, runny texture, a bit thicker than water. I dispense a few drops into the palm of my hand, rub my hands together, and then spread it on my face. It absorbs in a couple of minutes, but you can apply several layers if you want more of that bouncy, hydrated feeling, and it will continue to absorb. It doesn't cause any sensation on my skin other than comfortable hydration. Other products apply well on top of it. I even like the packaging, which tends to be a factor that's pretty low in importance in my assessment of things. It looks pretty and it's functional, with just a small opening for drops to be shaken out. I really have no complaints!<br />
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I also used the e.l.f. essence to make my own soothing/hydrating mist, by mixing it about half and half with water in a spray bottle, and it works very well for that purpose, too.<br />
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I've been using my bottle now since early March, almost every night, and I've finished less than a quarter. of it I have a feeling it will easily last me a year. $10 for a year is pretty great. This <a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/JG86" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">e.l.f. Hydrating Water Essence</a> is a great example of an effective product with top-of-the-line ingredients at a good price. That's pretty much the best I can hope for from e.l.f. Now I'm wondering if any of their other skincare products are worth a second look. Thoughts?<br />
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Oh, in case you're wondering what makes a hydrating essence different from a hydrating toner? Nothing.<br />
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<script src="//z-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/onejs?MarketPlace=US"></script>Lyn Bhbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12081735635995970890noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4241080681767360438.post-7646417254838584372018-04-11T23:16:00.000-07:002018-06-02T14:44:58.084-07:00The duochromes always get me: Review of L'Oréal Infallible Galaxy Lumiere Holographic Eyeshadows in Crescent Moon, Full Moon, and Moon Kissed<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a class="button white" href="http://cheapasf.blogspot.com/2015/05/affiliate-links.html">Affiliate Links</a></span>
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Two duochrome posts in a row? Is that allowed? (As usual, we ignore the word "holographic" when it's in the name of a makeup product.) I love duochromes, and they make me pay more for drugstore eyeshadows than I normally would. More for eyeshadow singles in general (though there was that time I paid full price for <a href="http://cheapasf.blogspot.com/2017/11/shadow-swatches-miscellaneous-eyeshadow.html" target="_blank">Urban Decay <i>X</i></a>, and I don't even really like it). These (deep breath) <a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/Fom4" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">L'Oréal Infallible Galaxy Lumiere Holographic Eyeshadows</a> are $13 a piece, so I suggest waiting for a sale, which will always come sooner or later for drugstore makeup. I had a B2GO Free deal from, but if I hadn't also had Ulta points from my credit card to spend, I might have balked even at that.<br />
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None of that is to say that I don't think these eyeshadows are amazing and totally worth picking up if you are a duochrome fiend like I am. They're absolutely lovely.<br />
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The formula of these eyeshadows is interesting. Though they have the "Infallible" name attached to them, they're not the same as the regular Infallible singles (<a href="http://cheapasf.blogspot.com/2015/06/maybe-i-dont-own-all-eyeshadows-yet.html" target="_blank">reviewed here</a>), which come with little plates on top to keep them densely packed. These Galaxy shadows have a more spongey texture--not as squishy as Colourpop Super Shock eyeshadows, but if you press your finger into the pan, you can feel it compress a bit. I dropped <i>Full Moon</i> on the floor and, instead of shattering, the whole shadow came loose in one piece inside the pan. I was able to press it back in place with a finger. Like the L'Oréal Infallible eyeshadows and the Colourpop Super Shock shadows, these apply best with a finger. With a brush they go on very sheer and a little patchy.<br />
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How about I let my many, many photos do the talking? My swatches were made with a brush without primer. Each one is several layers, because these shadows are sheer, and in swatch form they don't show up clearly in a single layer.<br />
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Left to right: <i>Crescent Moon</i> (sheer beige with green shift), <i>Full Moon</i> (white gold), and <i>Moon Kissed </i>(purple with blue shift).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvKsTD_ZXKiuUQiHWKkwN1eP-H4OD-uVYfjS_EuuuIJcPc8D5iZ9ahM0WJrzLca2FBBlO5K0PNlJsA6XmEYyNdtM3avGPYVGzQCjUO4o9C4qqgFAFiN6NbOFrvw8yWzFicubQnTsxGInLz/s1600/LOreal_Crescent_Full_Kissed_Moon_Swatches4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Swatches of of L'Oréal Infallible Galaxy Lumiere Holographic Eyeshadows" border="0" data-original-height="605" data-original-width="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvKsTD_ZXKiuUQiHWKkwN1eP-H4OD-uVYfjS_EuuuIJcPc8D5iZ9ahM0WJrzLca2FBBlO5K0PNlJsA6XmEYyNdtM3avGPYVGzQCjUO4o9C4qqgFAFiN6NbOFrvw8yWzFicubQnTsxGInLz/s1600/LOreal_Crescent_Full_Kissed_Moon_Swatches4.jpg" title="Swatches of of L'Oréal Infallible Galaxy Lumiere Holographic Eyeshadows" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxFyEcBxEZG2Uv1qkuVG5zgZfgLz3SWSyTqE9iOaXzcuLnxvKf9tlUzDkf1ZeY8eg-ks7DT0MRFw3vxPA9X2UFFBbRsarD47-dwZ2SKuI_Rg-J6GtmlAAedNhx7aAH1pEb_5BPxR7wZDQQ/s1600/LOreal_Crescent_Full_Kissed_Moon_Swatches5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Swatches of of L'Oréal Infallible Galaxy Lumiere Holographic Eyeshadows" border="0" data-original-height="603" data-original-width="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxFyEcBxEZG2Uv1qkuVG5zgZfgLz3SWSyTqE9iOaXzcuLnxvKf9tlUzDkf1ZeY8eg-ks7DT0MRFw3vxPA9X2UFFBbRsarD47-dwZ2SKuI_Rg-J6GtmlAAedNhx7aAH1pEb_5BPxR7wZDQQ/s1600/LOreal_Crescent_Full_Kissed_Moon_Swatches5.jpg" title="Swatches of of L'Oréal Infallible Galaxy Lumiere Holographic Eyeshadows" /></a></div>
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You can see that <i>Full Moon</i> (gold) is both the most opaque and the most reflective, but probably has the subtlest shift. <i>Crescent Moon </i>(beige) has the most shift but is quite sheer.<br />
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I swatched them all over black eyeliner too. I like to do this with sheer products that are close to my skin tone, like <i>Crescent Moon</i>, to see if they are just blending into my skin. As you can see, the beige base of <i>Crescent Moon</i> is almost invisible over black, while the green really shines. On every shade, the base shows through more over bare skin and the shift shows more over black.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgapeodNwvBMCvICU-bkNNFEAyOPktZkvqoV8qMIkpTsJYdQtTqoYrh2F7NrsHSEYuPHp6_0B6GLU0g_9gEiDcM6JmnX-WNQ-uIfo0Zl3zjSCqaRwBdE3agrqENQLJNNRFX_1nHnctCil3W/s1600/LOreal_Crescent_Full_Kissed_Moon_Swatch1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Swatches of of L'Oréal Infallible Galaxy Lumiere Holographic Eyeshadows" border="0" data-original-height="522" data-original-width="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgapeodNwvBMCvICU-bkNNFEAyOPktZkvqoV8qMIkpTsJYdQtTqoYrh2F7NrsHSEYuPHp6_0B6GLU0g_9gEiDcM6JmnX-WNQ-uIfo0Zl3zjSCqaRwBdE3agrqENQLJNNRFX_1nHnctCil3W/s1600/LOreal_Crescent_Full_Kissed_Moon_Swatch1.jpg" title="Swatches of of L'Oréal Infallible Galaxy Lumiere Holographic Eyeshadows" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-jDisCqh2UIymbadEvChjp-I-bHitxbcgmkFFoPaXg-rLFp74OntRuq09FKj_qcgl7w44hqd_Vgbqy0upxh_NAKCVnDkKOT-SZsVqEUoXrGJg2MG6JSRgEtwirJLfO746L_xgg4Chtmyw/s1600/LOreal_Crescent_Full_Kissed_Moon_Swatch2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Swatches of of L'Oréal Infallible Galaxy Lumiere Holographic Eyeshadows" border="0" data-original-height="546" data-original-width="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-jDisCqh2UIymbadEvChjp-I-bHitxbcgmkFFoPaXg-rLFp74OntRuq09FKj_qcgl7w44hqd_Vgbqy0upxh_NAKCVnDkKOT-SZsVqEUoXrGJg2MG6JSRgEtwirJLfO746L_xgg4Chtmyw/s1600/LOreal_Crescent_Full_Kissed_Moon_Swatch2.jpg" title="Swatches of of L'Oréal Infallible Galaxy Lumiere Holographic Eyeshadows" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmtyeM3_hSoCvkBxSWwQMRVg2jVM9mnd-YePL5VFeU7vNjcXGFVDY-_k-lFzHe_gIT4051EI72s4QXZI-mkZQOKjN_dGbo0aD_31BcZwgB1CPms3qc3j9AInFXeVfcrdIgpuFScd-saaiz/s1600/LOreal_Crescent_Full_Kissed_Moon_Swatch3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Swatches of of L'Oréal Infallible Galaxy Lumiere Holographic Eyeshadows" border="0" data-original-height="676" data-original-width="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmtyeM3_hSoCvkBxSWwQMRVg2jVM9mnd-YePL5VFeU7vNjcXGFVDY-_k-lFzHe_gIT4051EI72s4QXZI-mkZQOKjN_dGbo0aD_31BcZwgB1CPms3qc3j9AInFXeVfcrdIgpuFScd-saaiz/s1600/LOreal_Crescent_Full_Kissed_Moon_Swatch3.jpg" title="Swatches of of L'Oréal Infallible Galaxy Lumiere Holographic Eyeshadows" /></a></div>
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I also made some comparisons to other duochrome eyeshadows I own. Here is <i>Crescent Moon </i>compared to some other beige/brown-green duochromes. Not much similarity here. Left to right: L'Oréal <i>Crescent Moon</i>, Total Intensity <i>Bewitched </i>(<a href="http://cheapasf.blogspot.com/2016/08/i-heart-duochromes-eyeshadow-edition.html" target="_blank">reviewed here</a>), Urban Decay <i>Sideline </i>(<a href="http://cheapasf.blogspot.com/2016/08/urban-decay-revolution-lipsticks-for-10.html" target="_blank">reviewed here</a>), Makeup Geek <i>Ritzy</i> (<a href="http://cheapasf.blogspot.com/2016/06/swatches-and-review-of-makeup-geek.html" target="_blank">reviewed here</a>).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc4DXguzMBd0Q1tXjZHI6A8mLVHT1IELHZOfZCZA_sPFL478DjAcAgTAIeloq7zseby6a75dxzbLHP8K6DQVnD3sjgcjvRMgNSl5hgJyrxXbvqHj8Bq8aTU7d0IQKSFrx237sDujpTxrXn/s1600/L%2527Oreal_Full_Moon_Swatch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Swatches of L'Oréal Crescent Moon, Total Intensity Bewitched, Urban Decay Sideline, Makeup Geek Ritzy" border="0" data-original-height="439" data-original-width="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc4DXguzMBd0Q1tXjZHI6A8mLVHT1IELHZOfZCZA_sPFL478DjAcAgTAIeloq7zseby6a75dxzbLHP8K6DQVnD3sjgcjvRMgNSl5hgJyrxXbvqHj8Bq8aTU7d0IQKSFrx237sDujpTxrXn/s1600/L%2527Oreal_Full_Moon_Swatch.jpg" title="Swatches of L'Oréal Crescent Moon, Total Intensity Bewitched, Urban Decay Sideline, Makeup Geek Ritzy" /></a></div>
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I don't have a comparison for <i>Full Moon, </i>because I don't have anything like it. (The white gold City Color cream shadow <a href="http://cheapasf.blogspot.com/2016/08/i-heart-duochromes-eyeshadow-edition.html" target="_blank">swatched here</a> would probably be similar, but I got rid of it, because the formula didn't work for me.)<br />
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I swatched <i>Moon Kissed </i>next to other blue and purple duochromes, but as you can see I don't really have anything else like it either. Left to right: L'Oréal <i>Moon Kissed, </i>Maybelline Color Tattoo in <i>Seashore Frosts</i> (limited edition, <a href="http://cheapasf.blogspot.com/2016/08/i-heart-duochromes-eyeshadow-edition.html" target="_blank">reviewed here</a>), and Ulta Holographic Highlighter in <i>Fairy</i> (discontinued, <a href="http://cheapasf.blogspot.com/2017/09/ulta-holographic-eye-cheek-palette-my.html" target="_blank">reviewed here</a>).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJKIsS2IAdAz6BLSOv36IdP8JgnjifpF8C-T8ojsCDsYtRBlFbeGzn5qbxB6Bj4U_0KQZ0UMe4XbywhVNZP5l8Tz_Q1_bxPSjwFnDo7Z1rapqJMxrguT7Et3GXnJM3t0P9L6aAHpgmXytm/s1600/L%2527Oreal_Moon_Kissed_Swatch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Swatches of L'Oréal Moon Kissed, Maybelline Color Tattoo in Seashore Frosts, and Ulta Holographic Highlighter in Fairy" border="0" data-original-height="653" data-original-width="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJKIsS2IAdAz6BLSOv36IdP8JgnjifpF8C-T8ojsCDsYtRBlFbeGzn5qbxB6Bj4U_0KQZ0UMe4XbywhVNZP5l8Tz_Q1_bxPSjwFnDo7Z1rapqJMxrguT7Et3GXnJM3t0P9L6aAHpgmXytm/s1600/L%2527Oreal_Moon_Kissed_Swatch.jpg" title="Swatches of L'Oréal Moon Kissed, Maybelline Color Tattoo in Seashore Frosts, and Ulta Holographic Highlighter in Fairy" /></a></div>
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Now let me show you these babies on my face! First up is <i>Crescent Moon, </i>which, as I've said, is very sheer. In these first three photos, I applied the shadow with a brush, over primer. You can see how weak the results are, despite the primer. In all of the rest of the photos below, I used my fingers, which worked much better.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5yqJxXHgqs0xY7kNWhDR6e9Rk7qJuc65QdxdWBFDZZKmP0JTndEH3XF9GM8UqkIogcJTgNrML8gH54VGfvvVReLjFneG9EVBx4-1B0aMFQpqpWFzSUc_vIxZIYi-KO-Bq2awKol33Qe2z/s1600/LOreal_Galaxy_Crescent_Moon3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Review of L'Oréal Infallible Galaxy Lumiere Holographic Eyeshadow in Crescent Moon" border="0" data-original-height="517" data-original-width="515" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5yqJxXHgqs0xY7kNWhDR6e9Rk7qJuc65QdxdWBFDZZKmP0JTndEH3XF9GM8UqkIogcJTgNrML8gH54VGfvvVReLjFneG9EVBx4-1B0aMFQpqpWFzSUc_vIxZIYi-KO-Bq2awKol33Qe2z/s1600/LOreal_Galaxy_Crescent_Moon3.jpg" title="Review of L'Oréal Infallible Galaxy Lumiere Holographic Eyeshadow in Crescent Moon" /></a></div>
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<i>Crescent Moon </i>is more intense, as the swatches showed, over a darker base. Below I'm wearing it over <a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/Forv" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Maybelline Color Tattoo in <i>Tough as Taupe</i></a>, but an even darker base makes it pop more. For that reason, I suspect this eyeshadow would totally shine on darker skin, especially since it doesn't have a white base. I haven't found photos on someone with a deep skin tone, though, so if you've tried it, I'd love to hear how it worked.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwk-h9-QyWCDbVnvS9IvjNGNQZYLsaX63Fb4MPPgWoXYLLBVRY206cOVt8lzhTPcAYSsTWkH4wqqUWBJ-yTv61uTv8PsCJ5cHZ0wbNYmPL1CzrHjnpuUYvG-ZmFLzFcaTx6Qk0E3CUdRRS/s1600/LOreal_Galaxy_Crescent_Moon6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Review of L'Oréal Infallible Galaxy Lumiere Holographic Eyeshadow in Crescent Moon" border="0" data-original-height="558" data-original-width="550" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwk-h9-QyWCDbVnvS9IvjNGNQZYLsaX63Fb4MPPgWoXYLLBVRY206cOVt8lzhTPcAYSsTWkH4wqqUWBJ-yTv61uTv8PsCJ5cHZ0wbNYmPL1CzrHjnpuUYvG-ZmFLzFcaTx6Qk0E3CUdRRS/s1600/LOreal_Galaxy_Crescent_Moon6.jpg" title="Review of L'Oréal Infallible Galaxy Lumiere Holographic Eyeshadow in Crescent Moon" /></a></div>
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And here's <i>Moon Kissed</i>. Pretty pretty pretty! (Sorry for the first eye! It was the best angle to show the color. I wasn't being murdered.)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwD-WTydMhyHWlyMzQmCMUuSo7Us8T156n_S2gryeBX85k6AYvyMtUcMqJeguza8oVB-XgoAFzfCXz9RC6zC93THTiR5hiPpzgwlRq8fa5yLD3DnucpY-qLdeqyBB9sIKB9R0n3eHHuUEn/s1600/LOreal_Galaxy_Moon_Kissed1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Review of L'Oréal Infallible Galaxy Lumiere Holographic Eyeshadow in Moon Kissed" border="0" data-original-height="503" data-original-width="550" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwD-WTydMhyHWlyMzQmCMUuSo7Us8T156n_S2gryeBX85k6AYvyMtUcMqJeguza8oVB-XgoAFzfCXz9RC6zC93THTiR5hiPpzgwlRq8fa5yLD3DnucpY-qLdeqyBB9sIKB9R0n3eHHuUEn/s1600/LOreal_Galaxy_Moon_Kissed1.jpg" title="Review of L'Oréal Infallible Galaxy Lumiere Holographic Eyeshadow in Moon Kissed" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjBrivDVm_imuZFgwg_0kqvP796sahwwdNFSrdyeIOh4GRU0QdUXVOcCeCr1zjzNq7E6nz0NLZVA_9n_rU1ok0UER3P3MePZS5DK9xnvvZbSIuNo8xZrdmEnGQA44Hh7OpdhxytkKfmZ09/s1600/LOreal_Galaxy_Moon_Kissed2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Review of L'Oréal Infallible Galaxy Lumiere Holographic Eyeshadow in Moon Kissed" border="0" data-original-height="570" data-original-width="550" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjBrivDVm_imuZFgwg_0kqvP796sahwwdNFSrdyeIOh4GRU0QdUXVOcCeCr1zjzNq7E6nz0NLZVA_9n_rU1ok0UER3P3MePZS5DK9xnvvZbSIuNo8xZrdmEnGQA44Hh7OpdhxytkKfmZ09/s1600/LOreal_Galaxy_Moon_Kissed2.jpg" title="Review of L'Oréal Infallible Galaxy Lumiere Holographic Eyeshadow in Moon Kissed" /></a></div>
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And finally, <i>Full Moon, </i>which was the one of the three I wanted most originally. I've been looking for a vibrant white-gold like this for a while. I was really attracted to a shadow like this from the <a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/FolX" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Nars Danger Control palette</a>, but I knew I'd never wear most of the pinks in it. <i>Full Moon</i> is everything that I hoped it would be! I love how it brightens my eyes, though I'm not sure these photos really show it off.<br />
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<i>Full Moon </i>also makes a gorgeous highlighter. It's what I hoped the Marc Jacobs Glowstick (<a href="http://cheapasf.blogspot.com/2016/07/review-marc-jacobs-beauty-glow-stick.html" target="_blank">reviewed here</a>) would be. I bet <i>Crescent Moon</i> would work great as a highlighter too, but I haven't played around with it that way yet.<br />
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I'm really enjoying these eyeshadows. They're on the sheer side, sure, but that's not a flaw. I'm going to have to do more layering with them and see what I can come up with. Of the three, <i>Full Moon</i> is my favorite. <i>Crescent Moon </i>is probably the least spectacular, but it's very versatile.<br />
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I'd recommend these shadows whole-heartedly--at least if you can get them on sale. (I just noticed, though, that they are <a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/FosG" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">apparently exclusive to Ulta</a>, which is annoying for those of you who don't have access to one.)Lyn Bhbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12081735635995970890noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4241080681767360438.post-80207289883810901192018-04-02T20:46:00.000-07:002018-06-02T14:46:24.495-07:00Butter London Glazen Blush Gelee in Glimmer<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a class="button white" href="http://cheapasf.blogspot.com/2015/05/affiliate-links.html">Affiliate Links</a></span>
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I love my <a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/D6B0" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Butter London Glazen Eye Gloss in </a><i><a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/D6B0" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Oil Slick</a> </i>(<a href="http://cheapasf.blogspot.com/2017/11/shadow-swatches-miscellaneous-eyeshadow.html" target="_blank">swatched here</a>), and so I was curious about how a similar formula would function as a blush. The eyeshadow has intense glitter and dries very quickly--neither of which are qualities I'm looking for in a cream blush. And Butter London's promotional photos weren't very inspiring. (My Instagram stories commentary on their ad below.)<br />
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Actually, yeah, that is a pretty accurate photo, I suspect, if you just smeared an opaque layer of this blush on your cheek in a circle. If you want to avoid that look, like I do, it's kind of a tricky product to use. I'll get to that later.<br />
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First, the texture. It really is unusual. It's gelatinous and jiggly. I made you a GIF!<br />
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Swatches! I chose the <a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/D6CF" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Butter London Glazen Blush Gelee in <i>Glimmer</i></a>, because it looked like it had the strongest duochrome, and <a href="http://cheapasf.blogspot.com/search/label/duochrome" target="_blank">I can't resist a duochrome</a> shift. This blush has a warm reddish-pink base with a gorgeous golden shift. Here are far too many photos in different lighting to demonstrate it:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeNKuuO04TeyM6R-84kogLnJyDtyXcMVLHRAh_8WVKZg85IcHOTLntgosp4so_HfhBurkjXzUQ3iKFwTmIEfLnRgT6UAXKyeTP4z-wrJz9w5lPdj1o50aO9Rvum0Sl6GxG6F7RGB0teN8g/s1600/Butter_London_Glazen+Blush_Glimmer_Swatch1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Swatches of Butter London Glazen Blush Gelee in Glimmer" border="0" data-original-height="631" data-original-width="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeNKuuO04TeyM6R-84kogLnJyDtyXcMVLHRAh_8WVKZg85IcHOTLntgosp4so_HfhBurkjXzUQ3iKFwTmIEfLnRgT6UAXKyeTP4z-wrJz9w5lPdj1o50aO9Rvum0Sl6GxG6F7RGB0teN8g/s1600/Butter_London_Glazen+Blush_Glimmer_Swatch1.jpg" title="Swatches of Butter London Glazen Blush Gelee in Glimmer" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0fi3zYlOA3TMw28B_LvXuY6Ms1hPMdtClS9b5Frx6nw5LrXIDXZRpS3DhncVbZycYWvjNn81PwslDA4g3NfBoG1fWO00bybTfyob7koeDqwyZDUgzL1PeCnugpbPsbM74zBupoTkqRUyH/s1600/Butter_London_Glazen+Blush_Glimmer_Swatch2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Swatches of Butter London Glazen Blush Gelee in Glimmer" border="0" data-original-height="614" data-original-width="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0fi3zYlOA3TMw28B_LvXuY6Ms1hPMdtClS9b5Frx6nw5LrXIDXZRpS3DhncVbZycYWvjNn81PwslDA4g3NfBoG1fWO00bybTfyob7koeDqwyZDUgzL1PeCnugpbPsbM74zBupoTkqRUyH/s1600/Butter_London_Glazen+Blush_Glimmer_Swatch2.jpg" title="Swatches of Butter London Glazen Blush Gelee in Glimmer" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPNp-CZ9qJ19hyp-zVUlqxlB0vBJdxjXA15hrvYgc9GofsfpcKH-dgWXAMRNsWuJhntmThyuyc3389HwouQdLh3JBnGm66ApMK6nSPW0YJJLUBsHujb4Y1cASDB2JxmRARCCNM0xd_CVYw/s1600/Butter_London_Glazen+Blush_Glimmer_Swatch3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Swatches of Butter London Glazen Blush Gelee in Glimmer" border="0" data-original-height="681" data-original-width="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPNp-CZ9qJ19hyp-zVUlqxlB0vBJdxjXA15hrvYgc9GofsfpcKH-dgWXAMRNsWuJhntmThyuyc3389HwouQdLh3JBnGm66ApMK6nSPW0YJJLUBsHujb4Y1cASDB2JxmRARCCNM0xd_CVYw/s1600/Butter_London_Glazen+Blush_Glimmer_Swatch3.jpg" title="Swatches of Butter London Glazen Blush Gelee in Glimmer" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBG11S91ccsTTTKDGJI6-77JR2BbYLmwir1mjZtxiC3mfgsPNu-rhEq28VjSxAF57X9wu6b0xpt2KTbvwHOGV1Xc48zMp5K9dlfgvSn5QHdQrn33F7brbYhFvLD-F3p2kOAnQveoSVHLff/s1600/Butter_London_Glazen+Blush_Glimmer_Swatch4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Swatches of Butter London Glazen Blush Gelee in Glimmer" border="0" data-original-height="615" data-original-width="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBG11S91ccsTTTKDGJI6-77JR2BbYLmwir1mjZtxiC3mfgsPNu-rhEq28VjSxAF57X9wu6b0xpt2KTbvwHOGV1Xc48zMp5K9dlfgvSn5QHdQrn33F7brbYhFvLD-F3p2kOAnQveoSVHLff/s1600/Butter_London_Glazen+Blush_Glimmer_Swatch4.jpg" title="Swatches of Butter London Glazen Blush Gelee in Glimmer" /></a></div>
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Because the blush dries incredibly quickly, and blush application is all about blending in my opinion, this shit is tricky. Usually I apply cream blush with my fingers, but doing that with this gelee means that (a) too much product gets picked up, and (b) it ends up blotchy. Like the eye gloss, it's quite pigmented, so you really only need a few specks of product for each cheek. That means a special technique and/or tool is required to get this stuff to work.<br />
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There are two methods with which I've had some success. The first is using a wet beauty blender type of sponge. The advantage of the sponge is that the water keeps the blush from drying quite as quickly, so you have a couple more seconds to blend it. The downside is that the damp sponge sometimes picks up some blush from my cheek, so it can end up a little blotchy anyway. I've had a bit of luck applying it with the sponge and then quickly blending with my fingers. A mini sponge works better than a full size.<br />
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The other method, which works a bit better, is to use a stippling brush. I have the <a href="https://amzn.to/2H6Rp9V" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">small stippling brush from e.l.f.</a> Stippling brushes work well for highly pigmented products that you want to sheer out, because only the longer bristles pick up product, but you can use all the bristles together to blend it out. This type of brush helps here, but work quickly! Normally with I use cream blush, I tap my finger in it, pat it on both cheeks, then go back and blend the first one and then the second. I can't do that here. I have to tap the brush in the pot and then immediately blend blend blend before the blush sets. Sometimes a little extra blending with my finger is useful.<br />
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(I've read some reviews that say this blush can mess up makeup that's underneath it, too. I haven't noticed that, but I don't use full coverage foundations.)<br />
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If you can get <i>Glimmer</i> to work, it can be really pretty, provided you can wear warm blushes. I have fairly neutral coloring, so <a href="http://cheapasf.blogspot.com/2017/07/all-my-blushes.html" target="_blank">I can wear most blushes</a> whether they're warm or cool, but if this shade won't work for you, there are <a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/D6CF" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">three other options</a>. <i>Glimmer </i>will give a somewhat natural, yet glowy, flush. Because it has a lot of red in it, it gives a kind of fairytale effect on me that's emphasized by the red lipstick I'm wearing in the photos below. With less dramatic lipstick, it looks subtler.<br />
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Even though I really like how this blush looks on me, it's hard for me to recommend, exactly. It can provide a lovely effect, and there aren't many wearable duochrome blushes out there. Also, I've experienced really good wear time with it. Still, I hesitate to suggest a product that can only be used if you have the right tools or one that can go wrong so easily. If you're up for the challenge, now might be the time, because ULTA has the <a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/D6CF" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Butter London Glazen Blush Gelees</a> on sale for $15, down from the usual $26, which in my opinion is a bit too much for something so fiddly.<br />
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Have you ever used a blush like this? I'm also curious about the other shades. If you've tried one, is it as tricky to use as <i>Glimmer</i>?Lyn Bhbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12081735635995970890noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4241080681767360438.post-44710865864809918902018-03-26T16:04:00.002-07:002019-02-27T09:41:45.730-08:00The Ordinary's Azelaic Acid Suspension 10% for cystic acne, plus my skincare routine<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a class="button white" href="http://cheapasf.blogspot.com/2015/05/affiliate-links.html">Affiliate Links</a></span>
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For some reason, after I moved to California back in December, I started to experience more breakouts than I'd had in a long time. They were worst on my chin, but also happened on my nose, cheeks, and forehead. I had a combination of inflammatory acne (the scabby, infected pores on the surface) and cystic acne (those deep, swollen, underground pimples)--the latter concentrated on my chin and upper lip. I don't know what caused my skin to react this way. Something hormonal? Climate? Different water? Since I couldn't prevent it, I decided to treat it.<br />
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I bought this tube of <a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/Z7L6" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Ordinary's Azelaic Acid</a> (for some reason I spell azelaic wrong in a different way every single time) back in July when I made a small order from <a href="http://well.ca/">Well.ca</a> and had it shipped to my sister in Canada. I mainly chose products based on what had the best reviews, because I was curious about the brand. In addition to this stuff, I ended up with their <a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/CHDB" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Caffeine Solution</a> (<a href="http://cheapasf.blogspot.com/2017/09/i-dont-need-this-review-of-ordinary.html" target="_blank">reviewed here</a> and passed on to a friend), <a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/CHDJ" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Buffet</a> (which I've finished and will review soon), and the <a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/CHDS" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Matrixyl + HA</a> (which I'm currently using).<br />
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(I know there has been drama and bad publicity about Deciem, the parent company of The Ordinary, lately. I don't really know what to think of it, and since I bought this months before any of that happened, it wasn't a consideration. You can easily find out what's been going on with a Google search and make up your own mind.)<br />
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After I wrote my post about <a href="http://cheapasf.blogspot.com/2017/09/i-dont-need-this-review-of-ordinary.html" target="_blank">not having a use for The Ordinary's Vitamin C</a>, I looked at this tube and kicked myself. Another brightening product? Really? Well, azelaic acid in fact has a number of functions, and perhaps what it's most often used for it to treat acne. For instance, it's typically part of the acne medication prescribed by Curology. Yet <a href="http://theordinary.com/product/rdn-azelaic-acid-suspension-10pct-30ml" target="_blank">The Ordinary's description of the product</a> on their US site doesn't mention anything about acne (though it does say <a href="https://well.ca/products/the-ordinary-azelaic-acid-suspension_129155.html" target="_blank">it fights acne in Canada</a>). They write, in in much more straightforward prose than is typical for them:<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "raleway" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">Found in grains, Azelaic Acid is produced naturally by yeast that lives on normal skin. It brightens the skin tone while visibly improving the evenness of skin texture and reducing the look of blemishes. It is a multi-functional support ingredient for all skin types and also acts as an effective antioxidant. This formula offers a very high 10% concentration of high-purity Azelaic Acid in a lightweight cream-gel system.</span></blockquote>
If it's often used for acne, why no mention of that here? I suspect it has to do with drug labeling laws. If a product claims to treat acne, then it's classified as a drug by the FDA and has to have "drug facts" and other information on its label. There are other regulations for products classified as drugs in the US as well. For instance, Paula's Choice sells two versions of its popular 2% BHA liquid with the exact same ingredients. One is labelled as an <a href="https://amzn.to/2GwTPAK" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">acne treatment</a> and <a href="https://amzn.to/2IQJgXL" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">one isn't</a>--the difference is in the labeling, not the product itself. (So buy whichever one you can find on sale.) Deciem, I assume, has chosen to avoid the extra burden of these regulations by simply not mentioning acne and relying on its unusually informed consumer base to know the properties of azelaic acid. (I don't fault them for going this route, although they might miss out on some potential customers.)<br />
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Fortunately, I read about azelaic acid for cystic acne somewhere (probably Reddit, but I can't find the exact post now) and was excited to find that I already had a tube of it in my hoard. According to Deciem, you only need to use a pea-sized amount each day, and they generally seem to advise applying it at night.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrYEXjWFgTxyw6yZ6VqGUqcH2jvZLfbkNMaA6rNvHpBQeaDG08cih2s-HM9QD_gQer7KId4_OJMTRq4xXEsEQUe8R5B0D2TEP94hvHk0OIpMo5Wg_kEyQ5K8qunYo0TyNAo7ehM9u_pkuC/s1600/the_ordinary_azelaic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Review of The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%" border="0" data-original-height="551" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrYEXjWFgTxyw6yZ6VqGUqcH2jvZLfbkNMaA6rNvHpBQeaDG08cih2s-HM9QD_gQer7KId4_OJMTRq4xXEsEQUe8R5B0D2TEP94hvHk0OIpMo5Wg_kEyQ5K8qunYo0TyNAo7ehM9u_pkuC/s1600/the_ordinary_azelaic.jpg" title="Review of The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%" /></a></div>
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It's a fairly thick cream formula, and it dries in seconds, so you need to spread it quickly. I find it easier to use a patting motion than rubbing. It has a mildly unpleasant smell, kind of like the bedroom of a college boy with moderately-good hygiene, but it doesn't linger. I concentrate the product in the problem areas mentioned above, though as you will see in my skincare routine described below, the moisturizer I put on top probably causes it to be more evenly distributed across my face in the end. It's not gritty like The Ordinary's Vit C, and I don't feel any sensation at all on my skin when I apply it.<br />
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I decided to do a proper test of this product by applying it daily for a month without adding any other new products to my routine, limiting my use of strong actives like retinol for the first couple of weeks, and taking weekly photos of my skin. I wanted to keep going for at least a month, since my cystic acne breakouts tended to be worst the week before my period. I'm really glad I have documentation, because sometimes it can be hard to see progress without photographic evidence. When I took the last of the four photos below, I considered not even posting them, because I thought there hadn't been any real improvement over time. But I think the photos say otherwise. Left to right, weeks 1 (immediately before beginning azelaic acid) through 4 (all without any makeup):<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjulIpu0QDau7j6loZTKWgGLwqDuGUs6bN8FI7bcCnDR_VxYT5JYoSApFZ0tk4UqGtGmQKgMChwLE9TyiHGyeHZNCksfxwdPEP7QDiW0ODN70ghkUpmZG24gz_CmGLMiWAIKAVfUFcAtfSo/s1600/IMG_20180311_111529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="750" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjulIpu0QDau7j6loZTKWgGLwqDuGUs6bN8FI7bcCnDR_VxYT5JYoSApFZ0tk4UqGtGmQKgMChwLE9TyiHGyeHZNCksfxwdPEP7QDiW0ODN70ghkUpmZG24gz_CmGLMiWAIKAVfUFcAtfSo/s1600/IMG_20180311_111529.jpg" /></a></div>
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The most dramatic improvement is, in fact, not really visible in these photos: the decrease in cystic pimples. I still get one or two during the week before my period (I'm actually in the second month of using the azelaic acid as I write this), but they are much smaller, less painful, and they disappear in just a few days instead of a couple of weeks (or more!). I just had one pop up a couple of days ago, and it's almost gone today.<br />
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The reason I thought there wasn't a <i>visible</i> improvement, despite being happy with the results, was that I still had an unusual amount of inflammatory acne on my chin. I've managed to get that under control too, though that's a topic for another post (spoiler: honey mask). I think you can see from the photos that even with remaining acne on my chin, nose, and forehead, the redness in those areas had decreased significantly with just the addition of the azelaic acid. Really, that should have been more obvious to me, because I've found myself needing to do less color correction/concealing (<a href="http://cheapasf.blogspot.com/2018/02/concealing-redness-with-yellow.html" target="_blank">as described here</a>) with continued azelaic acid use. (The one thing that's sticking around is that red scar/PIH/PIE mark in the middle of my top lip that was left behind by a cystic zit. If anyone has suggestions for fading it more quickly, I would be grateful.)<br />
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This is all very exciting for me! It's rare that I get such good results from a new product in this short a time. I thought I would list out my full skincare routine here, so that you can see where the azelaic acid fits in. <a href="http://cheapasf.blogspot.com/2018/03/an-easy-affordable-skincare-routine-for.html" target="_blank">As I've pointed out recently</a>, you don't need to use nearly as many products as I do to have nice skin. I like to try new things and especially to review and blog about them, so I use more than I necessarily need. I haven't listed products I use sporadically like masks and oils. This is my daily routine.<br />
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<b>Morning</b></h2>
Gentle cleanse (currently <a href="https://amzn.to/2pHn9ea" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Paula's Choice Moisture Boost Cleanser</a> or <a href="https://amzn.to/2pFIDbE" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Simple Micellar Water</a>)<br />
Exfoliate with BHA (currently <a href="https://amzn.to/2pGKQDD" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid</a>)<br />
<i>Wait 5-10 minutes</i><br />
Hydrating serum mixed with a couple of drops of niacinamide booster (currently <a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/DezO" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Ordinary Matrixyl 10% + HA</a> and <a href="https://amzn.to/2I2HilR" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Paula's Choice 15% Niacinamide Booster</a>)<br />
Light Moisturizer (currently <a href="https://amzn.to/2pHVw4Z" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Clinique Moisturizing Gel</a>)<br />
<i>Wait 10 minutes</i><br />
Sunscreen (currently <a href="https://amzn.to/2GteK82" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">La Roche-Posay SPF 60 Fluid</a> or <a href="https://amzn.to/2GxeXae" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Kinesys SPF 30</a>)<br />
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<b>Night</b></h2>
Double cleanse (currently <a href="https://amzn.to/2IWQZ6m" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Neutrogena Cleansing Oil</a> and <a href="https://amzn.to/2pFIDbE" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Simple Micellar Water</a>)<br />
Hydrating serum (currently <a href="https://amzn.to/2Geld3k" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Paula's Choice Redness Relief Serum</a>)<br />
Azelaic acid treatment (currently <a href="https://amzn.to/2ulxMpg" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%</a>)<br />
<i>Wait 5-10 minutes</i><br />
Heavier moisturizer (currently <a href="https://amzn.to/2GtfNF0" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion</a> or <a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/DeFj" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Origins Night-a-Mins Cream</a> or <a href="https://amzn.to/2DUxuYt" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Paula's Choice Hydrating Treatment Mask</a>)<br />
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I think I still have another month or two worth of this azelaic acid in my tube, and I'll probably replace it with the same thing when it's empty. It's been an excellent addition to my routine. Besides Deciem's website, it's available places like <a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/Z7L6" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sephora</a> and <a href="http://well.ca/">Well.ca</a> ($10 off $40 CAD with code <a href="https://well.ca/products/the-ordinary-azelaic-acid-suspension_129155.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">brutallyhonestbeauty</a>--anyone can make a coupon code). But do you know of any other good, non-prescription sources of azelaic acid out there? Paula's Choice sells it <a href="http://paulaschoice.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/204/~/resist-skin-transforming-multi-correction-treatment" target="_blank">outside of North America</a> (I assume not here because of some of those drug regulations discussed above), though I'm hoping that some recent social media posts they're written about azelaic acid mean they'll offer it here soon, too.<br />
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<a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/OOTg" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">UPDATE: Paula's Choice Azelaic Acid Booster is now available in North America.</a><br />
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Has anyone else had good (or bad?) results with azelaic acid? Did you use a prescription product?<br />
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<script async="" src="//z-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/onejs?MarketPlace=US&adInstanceId=dba9748e-a07b-4e0e-9e21-79ec30798d9e"></script>Lyn Bhbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12081735635995970890noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4241080681767360438.post-25896061737871182342018-03-13T06:00:00.000-07:002018-03-13T06:00:21.921-07:00The cheapest metallic thrills: Wet N Wild Silk Finish Lipsticks in Dark Pink Frost and Fuchsia with Blue Pearl<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a class="button white" href="http://cheapasf.blogspot.com/2015/05/affiliate-links.html">Affiliate Links</a></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic2Db28VtlakkdGawYurUiteCuJG69e5hS6okthkcUdcIIVnhNm0uzaHC89QWbAwLNTMq7bPgf55mgu377PP8adlzQT5pC0k5UgtVRvr6wvYnzyoLssWHKrjuDbK-X7qkb2QZb0QTliItK/s1600/Wet_N_Wild_Dark_Pink_Frost_Fuschia_Blue_Pearl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Review of Wet N Wild Silk Finish Lipsticks in Dark Pink Frost and Fuchsia with Blue Pearl" border="0" data-original-height="911" data-original-width="650" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic2Db28VtlakkdGawYurUiteCuJG69e5hS6okthkcUdcIIVnhNm0uzaHC89QWbAwLNTMq7bPgf55mgu377PP8adlzQT5pC0k5UgtVRvr6wvYnzyoLssWHKrjuDbK-X7qkb2QZb0QTliItK/s1600/Wet_N_Wild_Dark_Pink_Frost_Fuschia_Blue_Pearl.jpg" title="Review of Wet N Wild Silk Finish Lipsticks in Dark Pink Frost and Fuchsia with Blue Pearl" /></a></div>
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Auxiliary Beauty has created a <a href="http://auxiliarybeauty.blogspot.com/2017/05/mac-metallic-lipsticks-in-metal-head.html" target="_blank">very useful taxonomy flowchart</a> of lipstick finishes, which I think is totally accurate. According to that chart, these two lipsticks are neither metallic, as I'm calling them, nor frosts, as Wet N Wild calls (one of) them. They are probably best classified somewhere in the duochrome or shimmer/pearl families. And yet everything is apparently metallic these days, so I've lazily labelled these things that way too, because I think they serve as cheap dupes or alternatives for the various "metallic" lipsticks that are popping up left and right lately. Whatever you want to call them, they're are good starters for people venturing into reflective lip territory (as well as for those of us who are already pretty comfortable there).<br />
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<a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/BtAX" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Wet N Wild's Silk Finish Lipsticks</a> are about the cheapest lipsticks you're going to get at 99 cents, and they're really no frills. The packaging is basic (though better designed than the slightly more expensive Wet N Wild MegaLast tubes). Even the names of most of them are simply descriptive. I'm guessing they date back to when these lipsticks were first released, which must be at least 25 years ago, though I haven't been able to find out their history. Even if <i>Dark Pink Frost</i> doesn't seem entirely accurate (it's neither dark nor a frost?), it'll certainly tell you more about what you're getting than the names of the new shades added to the line a few years ago, like <i>What's Up Doc?.</i><br />
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There's definitely some variation in the quality and finish of the lipsticks in this line. I used to have <i>Nouveau Pink</i>, which was a bubblegum pink cream, and it applied and wore wonderfully. In contrast, <i>What's Up Doc? </i>(<a href="http://cheapasf.blogspot.com/2015/06/quest-for-coral.html" target="_blank">reviewed here</a>), another cream, was a streaky, slippery mess (but makes a great cream blush!). Both of these shimmers are gorgeous, but <i>Dark Pink Frost</i> is much sheerer than <i>Fuchsia with Blue Pearl.</i> They both have an average wear time--they're not going to last all day, but you're also not going to look in a mirror an hour after applying them to find a mess. <i>Fuchsia with Blue Pearl </i>in particular leaves a pretty even stain behind.<br />
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It's a bit difficult to capture the blue in <i>FWBP </i>in a photo, but it's definitely there. And you can see that <i>DPF</i> has some more sparkly shimmer, while <i>FWBP</i> has that smooth pearly finish. But since neither of them reflects back icy or silvery, I don't think they're truly frosty. Each of the swatches below is a few swipes, since, as I said, neither is completely opaque.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK5LW9sTjtphyQvQDSzs5epuCOaAvONcfpJUv_j2JwLBeF9ygohaMsk_p6WMiP5ZUYzEwVIAzmvxCBLkgwbiA3kCqW1Wfj4NlSQUsF3cfc_asSZvmWLvuOmy5A_VTLVIdKZbScVM8aM6Os/s1600/Wet_N_Wild_Dark_Pink_Frost_Fuschia_Blue_Pearl_Swatches1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Swatches of Wet N Wild Silk Finish Lipsticks in Dark Pink Frost and Fuchsia with Blue Pearl" border="0" data-original-height="697" data-original-width="501" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK5LW9sTjtphyQvQDSzs5epuCOaAvONcfpJUv_j2JwLBeF9ygohaMsk_p6WMiP5ZUYzEwVIAzmvxCBLkgwbiA3kCqW1Wfj4NlSQUsF3cfc_asSZvmWLvuOmy5A_VTLVIdKZbScVM8aM6Os/s1600/Wet_N_Wild_Dark_Pink_Frost_Fuschia_Blue_Pearl_Swatches1.jpg" title="Swatches of Wet N Wild Silk Finish Lipsticks in Dark Pink Frost and Fuchsia with Blue Pearl" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO_FYjih5f7hzZ5pTd0evkgx3Rek7tGT4rH81g5usNHhKYqJqcwD70ePPLNX4F8kH7vRqYxLUFDc5z-MzgYzrkdAdH8PC3ATAO0wt-Qe4PRObttTcXAxk5eyGtiOSJWNdZjd_W8SDmaNIG/s1600/Wet_N_Wild_Dark_Pink_Frost_Fuschia_Blue_Pearl_Swatches2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Swatches of Wet N Wild Silk Finish Lipsticks in Dark Pink Frost and Fuchsia with Blue Pearl" border="0" data-original-height="687" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO_FYjih5f7hzZ5pTd0evkgx3Rek7tGT4rH81g5usNHhKYqJqcwD70ePPLNX4F8kH7vRqYxLUFDc5z-MzgYzrkdAdH8PC3ATAO0wt-Qe4PRObttTcXAxk5eyGtiOSJWNdZjd_W8SDmaNIG/s1600/Wet_N_Wild_Dark_Pink_Frost_Fuschia_Blue_Pearl_Swatches2.jpg" title="Swatches of Wet N Wild Silk Finish Lipsticks in Dark Pink Frost and Fuchsia with Blue Pearl" /></a></div>
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So you can see where their subtle duochrome identity comes in. <i>DPF</i> is pink with gold shimmer, or rose gold, and <i>FWBP</i> is, well, fuchsia with blue pearl.<br />
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On my lips, <i>DPF </i>does emphasize lines a bit, but that doesn't bother me. Lips normally have lines in them, regardless of age. Think of it the other way around: the texture of my lips enhances the shimmer. It's a warm, rosy pink that keeps it from veering into scarily frosty territory, and it's easy to wear with whatever else I have going on.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7hJuGippNe0cnM4P4hX2i8d3VEUbBHluX4vmRDVLW9ajWDo2t_WGbBH92fF1LYaQLLauqdy_LtnYPevnG8oJ9KTzqX4hYxDSudi_QhTeswj-_c-_QM666I12_Nst7wW4uIY-NxhpNFT7D/s1600/Wet_N_Wild_Dark_Pink_Frost.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Wet N Wild Silk Finish Lipstick in Dark Pink Frost" border="0" data-original-height="255" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7hJuGippNe0cnM4P4hX2i8d3VEUbBHluX4vmRDVLW9ajWDo2t_WGbBH92fF1LYaQLLauqdy_LtnYPevnG8oJ9KTzqX4hYxDSudi_QhTeswj-_c-_QM666I12_Nst7wW4uIY-NxhpNFT7D/s1600/Wet_N_Wild_Dark_Pink_Frost.jpg" title="Wet N Wild Silk Finish Lipstick in Dark Pink Frost" /></a></div>
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<i>FWBP</i> is bolder, for sure, but the blue is subtle enough that if you can pull off a bright pink in general, this isn't going to look costumey or bizarre. It's not perfectly opaque, but it's pigmented enough that you can get good coverage in one layer. Both of these lipsticks are non-drying and maybe even a little moisturizing. Both of the disguise dry flakiness in my lips rather than exaggerating it.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvupoRSeRFRhAlLD-l9C4NqzC7lLrM8tCEoofO32wUBeBK78GcVtxSKBm6E-VXyMHO9M3FIj7rjzdb-bojFt1EdHXpf6beo4UpagIOL0_yDTuWIZkYg3wb3ABTxVEHRQM37AsFlfP5imXh/s1600/Wet_N_Wild_Fuschia_Blue_Pearl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Wet N Wild Silk Finish Lipstick in Fuchsia with Blue Pearl" border="0" data-original-height="269" data-original-width="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvupoRSeRFRhAlLD-l9C4NqzC7lLrM8tCEoofO32wUBeBK78GcVtxSKBm6E-VXyMHO9M3FIj7rjzdb-bojFt1EdHXpf6beo4UpagIOL0_yDTuWIZkYg3wb3ABTxVEHRQM37AsFlfP5imXh/s1600/Wet_N_Wild_Fuschia_Blue_Pearl.jpg" title="Wet N Wild Silk Finish Lipstick in Fuchsia with Blue Pearl" /></a></div>
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I think these are both, in fact, totally 80s lipsticks while at the same time being totally current. I mean, Too Faced could easily feed us some unicorn-fairy bullshit to sell these colors. Overall, the <a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/BtAX" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Wet N Wild Silk Finish lipsticks</a> are decent products with some interesting colors in the line. I think these two stand on their own as just plain good lipsticks, but <a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/BtAX" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">the $1 price</a> also makes them an excellent choice for trying out colors and finishes you might not be sure will work for you.<br />
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I've only tried the four Silk Finish lipsticks mentioned here. Are there any others you've used that you'd recommend?Lyn Bhbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12081735635995970890noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4241080681767360438.post-13832547987572208142018-03-10T12:19:00.000-08:002018-03-10T12:22:35.996-08:00An easy, affordable skincare routine for normal skin<div class="tr_bq">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisC4BJe9oDi8DoHMeHaEFqiIA3BTgTpBNR9zK2is5jJnxZWTu4CrAf-CGWekUZTO88t0JyBxAju4ljSjLHC8kep6qFGDTIu3JLQDBVPVUFZzvCuDoCdvgGTej2nmbkEh7EsIO9JEHd5zwq/s1600/normal_skincare_routine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Basic, cheap skincare routine" border="0" data-original-height="623" data-original-width="700" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisC4BJe9oDi8DoHMeHaEFqiIA3BTgTpBNR9zK2is5jJnxZWTu4CrAf-CGWekUZTO88t0JyBxAju4ljSjLHC8kep6qFGDTIu3JLQDBVPVUFZzvCuDoCdvgGTej2nmbkEh7EsIO9JEHd5zwq/s1600/normal_skincare_routine.jpg" title="Basic, cheap skincare routine" /></a></div>
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My sister asked me last year to suggest a skincare routine for her. Her skin isn't like mine (combination on the oily side, prone to breakouts); instead, she has that elusive "normal" skin. Not too dry, not too oily, rarely breaks out. The only issues she specifically wanted to address were wrinkle prevention, pore reduction, and occasional redness. She has this great skin in her early 30s despite never having to do much to it--usually just cleansing with water and sometimes moisturizing when she feels like she needs it. It's also useful to know that she doesn't typically wear a lot of makeup and never wears a base (foundation/tinted moisturizer, etc.).<br />
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I recently asked her how the routine was working for her, and since she reported that she's happy with it, I thought I'd share it here, in case someone out there is in a similar situation. I actually think this routine would work well as a starter for someone with oily or combination skin, and maybe even dry skin, since these products will address a variety of concerns. All of the products I've recommended are either things I've tried myself or have been recommended to me by trusted, knowledgeable friends. <a href="http://cheapasf.blogspot.com/2017/09/thoughts-on-skincare-aging-and.html" target="_blank">You don't need dozens of shiny, $50+ bottles to look after your skin!</a> Each product is $20 or less. and most of it is closer to $10, but I've provided alternatives in case one item isn't easy for you to access, or you prefer certain qualities of one over the other. The main exception is the Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid, which holy shit, I didn't realize it had gone up to almost $30 now! I'd really like to see a graph charting the price increases of their core products vs. inflation, because that seems like a lot. Definitely buy that shit on sale--I've also provided an alternative below.<br />
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There are three products in the photo above, but it's actually a (minimum) four-product routine, split into one-to-two steps in the morning and three at night. I just don't personally own all of the things I recommended at the moment.<br />
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Here's what I suggested (I added links to previous reviews):<br />
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I'd recommend only introducing one new product at a time and using it for a few days before adding anything new. That way if your skin responds poorly to it, you'll know what caused it.<span style="background-color: transparent;"> </span></blockquote>
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<b>Morning:</b></blockquote>
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1. Just rinse with water. (If you feel like your skin needs more cleansing, see <b>Night</b><i style="font-weight: bold;"> </i>step 1.) <span style="background-color: transparent;"> </span></blockquote>
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2. Sunscreen.<span style="background-color: transparent;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">It's best to use this even on days when you'll mostly be inside, and especially when you're driving to work. You'll get lots of sun through the windows of the car and probably in your office, and sunscreen is the most effective </span><span class="il" style="font-size: 12.8px;">skincare</span><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"> product out there to prevent "signs of aging." It's worth trying to find one that's comfortable enough to use every day. I really like the one linked below--it's light and not greasy. It's better to use SPF 15 that feels good enough to wear every day than to buy SPF 30 or 50 and only use it once or twice a month.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12.8px;"> </span></blockquote>
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$10 <a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/BcVK" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Simple Light Protecting Moisturizer SPF 15</a><span style="background-color: transparent;"> (<a href="http://cheapasf.blogspot.com/2013/05/quick-review-simple-protecting-light.html" rel="" target="_blank">reviewed here</a> and <a href="http://cheapasf.blogspot.com/2016/02/my-cheap-favorites-best-skincare-under.html" target="_blank">here</a>)</span></blockquote>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">But if you do want to go with a higher SPF, which is never a bad idea, this is my favorite:</span></blockquote>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">$20 <a href="http://amzn.to/2Fo7XN7" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Kinesys Performance Sunscreen SPF 30</a> (reviewed <a href="http://cheapasf.blogspot.com/2017/11/sunscreen-is-for-lazy-people-too-review.html" target="_blank">here</a> and <a href="http://cheapasf.blogspot.com/2015/07/notallspraysunscreens.html" target="_blank">here</a>)</span></blockquote>
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<b>Night: </b><span style="background-color: transparent;"> </span></blockquote>
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1. Wipe your face with a cotton pad/ball soaked in micellar water, instead of using a cleanser. The bottle will say that it doesn't need to be rinsed, but it does contain a little cleanser, so it's better to splash some water on your face afterwards anyway. If you want to be extra eco-friendly, I use little rectangles of flannel that I cut up and folded in half instead of disposable cotton balls (<a href="http://cheapasf.blogspot.com/2014/07/the-easiest-diy-reusable-cotton-makeup.html" target="_blank">more info here</a>). I put them in a mesh lingerie bag and wash and dry them in the machine. Baby flannel is really soft and you might be able to get a small piece for cheap at the fabric store, or just cut up some old clothes you have.<span style="background-color: transparent;"> </span></blockquote>
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$5-10 <a href="http://linksynergy.walmart.com/deeplink?id=KKdOP6dniaQ&mid=2149&murl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.walmart.com%2Fip%2FSimple-Sensitive-Skin-Experts-Micellar-Cleansing-Water-6-7-Fl-Oz%2F43165617" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Simple Micellar Cleansing Water</a>; $15 <a href="http://amzn.to/2Hma54l" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Bioderma Sensibio Micellar Water</a> (pink lid)<span style="background-color: transparent;"> </span></blockquote>
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2. BHA exfoliant to get rid of dead skin that makes your skin look dull or clogs pores (and makes them look larger). It can also soothe redness and make your skin feel smoother. You can wipe this over your whole face (avoiding eye area) or just on places that you think need it. Leave it on for 10-20 minutes while you brush your teeth or pet the cats or do whatever else you do while you get ready for bed.<span style="background-color: transparent;"> </span></blockquote>
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$4 <a href="http://linksynergy.walmart.com/deeplink?id=KKdOP6dniaQ&mid=2149&murl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.walmart.com%2Fip%2FStridex-Maximum-Strength-Acne-Treatment-Pads-Alcohol-Free-2-Salicylic-Acid-Face-Wipes-90-wipes%2F10791016" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Stridex Alcohol-Free Maximum Strength Acne Pads</a> (red box); <span style="font-size: 12.8px;">$29 <a href="http://amzn.to/2DhrAk4" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid</a></span></blockquote>
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3. Moisturizer with anti-wrinkle ingredients. Apply it on top of the BHA after you've let it soak in a little. Since you don't have dry skin, use something light, and don't feel like you need to use a lot--just as much as feels comfortable. Make sure to use it around your eyes too. It will also get rid of the sticky feeling from the BHA, if you use the Paula's Choice option. The moisturizers I've listed below have vitamins and antioxidants in them so that you don't need to add extra steps like serum etc. (unless you want to!).<span style="background-color: transparent;"> </span></blockquote>
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$15 <a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/Bc5P" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion</a>; $12 <a href="http://amzn.to/2p0i7JD" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Neutrogena Healthy Skin Anti-Wrinkle Night Cream/Moisturizer</a></blockquote>
If you wear more makeup than my sister does, you're probably going to want to go with a traditional cleanser. I think Neutrogena makes some great cleansers, especially their <a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/Bc7j" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Ultra Gentle Daily Cleanser</a> or <a href="http://amzn.to/2oYBov4" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Ultra Gentle Hydrating Cleanser</a>. Obviously, you can also add as many additional products and steps into this routine as you like (for example, see my <a href="http://cheapasf.blogspot.com/search/label/skincare" target="_blank">skincare tag</a>), but this is designed for people who feel like doing something for their skin, but don't want to spend a lot of time and money on it.<br />
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I'm curious: do you have a minimal skincare routine, or are you more intense about it? Also, if you'd like to suggest alternate products in these same categories, that would be great! I know people like the CosRx BHA, but I don't know if it might be too strong for a beginner.<br />
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<script src="//z-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/onejs?MarketPlace=US"></script>Lyn Bhbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12081735635995970890noreply@blogger.com2