It was either Skinceuticals CE Ferulic or Sunday Riley’s UFO. They both do what they’re supposed to do as far as I can tell, but I don’t have particularly problematic nor reactive skin, so it’s not like, “My skin went from F to A!”
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Biologique Recherche P50W Lotion. It seems to do what it says, except I don’t feel like I get the hydrating and balancing effects that other people claim. Or maybe I do — while my skin doesn’t feel hydrated or … balanced? … after using, it definitely exfoliates without leaving my skin irritated. Soooooo … maybe the hydrating and balancing component translates to “non-irritating” on me? Either way, I haven’t decided that it’s worth the money.
I just bought the P50 1970. I’ve been using it morning and night for about 10 days, but haven’t seen any specific results yet. It doesn’t irritate my skin at all- no dryness which surprised me. I’ve been careful to keep hydrated. It really smells bad, though, but I’m getting used to it. I think I prefer it to the Drunk Elephant Framboos Night Serum.
Koh Gen Doh’s Aqua Foundation in the shade 213, the Holy Grail of light very olive toned foundations.
Too light for my light-medium skin, though I get just about get away with it, but mixed in about 2 parts to 1 2 Giorgio Armani LS #6 (HG of medium olive foundations), it’s an absolutely perfect match and both formulas look very natural and flattering on my dry skin.
Probably the Pat McGrath e/s palette (the only one I have) – it’s one of the smaller ones and I think it’s called Bronze Ambition. I like it a lot but, to be honest, the main reason I got it was that it was actually IN STORE at my local Sephora and I was just so excited to be able to try it for myself. I like it a lot, the texture of the shadows is fantastic and I’ve no regrets about purchasing it, but it’s not the be-all and end-all of palettes for me and I wish I could have swapped out one of the 2 similar shades for something lighter.
I agree, I have both the Bronze and Platinum and while I think they are very nice I do wish each had a lighter shade or two. I have to be very careful that my eye look doesn’t go too dark with these.
I have Platinum and I agree it can be tricky to not get too sultry if you stick with the eyeshadows included in the palette! I usually bring my viseart neutral matte or cool matte in for lighter transition or crease options!
Hado Labo Gokyujyun Lotion.
It’s a hydrating toner that’s been great for me so far as my first step in my routine, can’t wait to see how it holds up this upcoming fall and winter. My moisturizer layers well over it, so I’ve been happy with it.
Nabla’s Soul Blooming palette, and I love it. It’s different than anything else I have, and I’m so sick of most companies putting out the same warm neutrals over and over.
May Lindstrom skincare products: blue cocoon (mostly for my partner), the problem solver, the honey mud mask, the clean dirt and the Jasmin garden spray. I took advantage of a gift with purchase offer yesterday. I am very curious and hope I will love them all!
The last item I bought because of rave reviews and that I actually tried where the 6 pans palette from Pat McGrath *La vie en Rose* and *Platinum bronze*. I love those palettes. The finish, the longevity,-especially of the shimmers – the pigmentation… One of the best I ever tried. I wish Pat would step down a tad on the luxurious packaging of the 10 pans to make them a bit cheaper. I understand why it is the way it is but I also would prefer for the packaging to be reusable (magnetic pans you can switch around then?), if it is that luxe and pretty!
I also bought a matte trance lipstick and while I agree the finish and pigmentation is impressive, the formula is less comfortable then what I had expected. It is far less drying than most formulas that are matte or semi matte but the way most reviews I read or saw presented it, it was not drying at all! Hehe.
Please update us on the may Lindstrom products! Heard great reviews and interested.
I will gladly do it! Do you have a favorite type of post on the blog for this? Are you maybe on the discord?
I picked up the Pat McGrath Labs eye shadow palette in Subliminal Bronze after seeing many reviews and seeing it recommended by Tammy here on the blog. I really love this palette and since it doesn’t really translate to spring/summer to me, I believe I will get even more use out of it in fall/winter. The shadows perform beautifully. They are expensive but sometimes it is worth it.
I think my last true review-driven purchase was Chanel Stylo Yeux Eyeliner. I bought the shade Charme a couple months ago and I love it! It stays on very well and is extremely easy to use. Since that purchase, I bought a second one in the shade Celadon.
Bought Aerin Hibiscus Palm perfume because of a big Youtuber’s monthly faves — hated it. Returned it!
Oh my goodness, too many things! Some true standouts are; Ofra Glazed Donut highlighter, UD Born To Run, plus Beached palettes. All of which have worked out extremely well for me, with Glazed Donut being an enormous surprise, as it is very white in the pan, but I am able to wear it and still see my color come through just fine. For reference, I’m NC37. So, yes, happily surprised!
Juvia’s place magic palette. Hated the shimmer formula. Actually just the whole thing. I just started to realize I hate oily shadows and I feel like juvias place seriously add too much mineral oil in their formula, even mattes. Tossed.
After all the hype, I caved and bought the Charlotte Tilbury Flawless Filter in #3. It’s pretty, but I’m not sure it is worth all the hoopla. It reminds me a lot of Becca Backlight primer. What am I missing here??
Oh, yes, I forgot one worth mentioning! I actually bought the Tom Ford Bronzing Brush during the Nordstrom sale. It was NOT on sale, mind you, but I guess I figured since I was there…..? The brush is LOVELY. Is it worth $115? Probably not. ?
Drunk Elephant Littles set. I hated it with the burning passion of a thousand exploding suns. Total immolation – I’m actually still a little bit mad about it.
I saw lots of reviews about how wonderful and life changing the range was and all it did was give me super sensitive eyes, a breakout of cystic acne like I haven’t had in a couple of years and horrendously dehydrated skin. Drunk Elephant needs to get sober and think seriously about it’s life choices 😛
Thanks to you CeeBee, I have purchased the Designer Brands foundation line in Velvet Matte and it has become my go to daily foundation. I am also keen to try out their other foundations too, when this bottle is finished. My daughter in law is going to give them a try as well. I think they are fantastic foundations for the price – so thank you once again for your recommendations.
Oh yay! Thanks for letting me know, Genevieve 😀
I am delighted you enjoy them as much as I do! I started out with the Luminous Hydrating, which is lovely but the Velvet Matte surprised me. It has such a lovely finish and lasts extremely well on my oily skin too.
The Absolute Lash tubing mascara is also brilliant, just FYI 😉 I haven’t tried many of their colour powder products, except for a triple highlighter palette (also nice) so if you find any new things you recommend, do let me know. Its hard to find here, so I mostly order online and get it shipped from Aussie.
I recently got the Natio Renew Silky Shea facial oil and was impressed with that also! It’s a shame the Wallabies aren’t nearly as good, ha ha ha.
It’s a shame that Natio and DB aren’t easily available in NZ – it’s not as if it’s hard to ship it across the Tasman and it’s quite annoying when you can’t test things in person. I love the finish too in the Velvet Matte – it reminds me of Clarins Everlasting foundation, but at about 1/3 of the price.
And yes, the Wallabies are a bit dud at the moment, although living in Victoria, we are really more AFL supporters than Rugby. I think it’s great that the All Blacks are doing so well, Australian teams that have unbridled success let it go to their heads (particularly in cricket) and I do like it when other teams win because it adds to the competition.
Oh no, CeeBee. I am so sorry you had that reaction to Drunk Elephant. I have been lucky and the products are still working well for me. I first purchased The Littles Kit to get a feel for the products and I don’t use a couple of the products in the kit but just repurchased another one as I think the size will be great for my trip to Europe. I get a months worth of product out of the little bottles. I don’t use the sunscreen, eye cream or the LaLa Whipped Moisturizer. I prefer the C-Tango eye cream. I think my skin is pretty tough because I also use Sunday Riley Good Genes twice a day and don’t have any negative effects. Just goes to show, everyone is different in what their skin will tolerate and what their preferences are. Hope everything else is going well for you?
Ah, some things just work differently on people – I didn’t think I had particularly sensitive skin but I was shocked at how poorly DE went for me. It’s not to say the products themselves are bad (though I think for the price and active ingredients, the overall content and value is fairly mediocre), they just didn’t work for me. The Shaba eye cream was the absolute worst though! It actually made the skin around my eyes hurt 🙁 I’m relieved the Tango is better!
One of my good work friends RAVES about the Lala cream, so she quite happily took it off my hands to try out, despite my fairly frank disclosure about how negatively it worked for me.
Not long to go until your trip! You must be getting excited!!! 😀
I bought the Maybelline Burgundy Bar because of a rave review from Isabella Muse – and it hasn’t disappointed me at all. There are lots of soft champagne shades to choose from, plus a couple of lovely burgundy/plum shades and a matte darker brown and shimmery taupe. It was on sale at half price and I love it.
I also bought the Huda Beauty Smokey Obsessions, because of reviews here and I must say that it is also gorgeous and whilst I don’t use every shade, the ones I do use are quite luxe.
Dominique Cosmetics Lemonade Palette. It’s not really that great with synthetic brushes, but a stiffer natural hair brush makes the mattes pretty good (I love the Mango shade), and improves the shimmers. I don’t know if the its the silicone content or if I accidentally got one of the older palettes. It seems like the shimmers are hard-pressed, making it hard to get a even a finger swatch. I wrote the company, and they are asking me to send pictures. If it’s the palette, they said they’ll replace when they get more in stock. CS has been very nice.
Ahaha, talk about the timing! 🙂 Just last week caved in and bought ….. DiorSkin Nude Luminizer in #2 :). TOTALLY because of the rave reveiws everywhere, BUT particulary yours, Christine!
I did NOT need another highlighter, had 10 to last me a lifetime :), Christine’s response to a comment of the site’s regular that if you’re only gonna by one highlighter, the Dior one should be it. That did it! I ran to the store and it was mine.
I do really like it! It is similar to MUFE Pro Light Fusion Highlighter #1, but the sheen is more natural and subtle. So, although my poor wallet is not thanking you, I do, Christine, for the great suggestion!
I bought the Dior Airflash Spray Foundation. I’m still trying to figure out the best way to apply it. It sat on my skin strangely when I sprayed it onto a brush to apply it. Today I tried spraying onto my fingers to apply and buffing it in lightly with a brush. Better, but don’t know. It’s a pretty subtle foundation for all those $$$. Maybe I should spray it on my face, but I’m afraid my bathroom walls and my hair would never recover.
No, I bought it because it was on sale and I like the companies eyeshadows, Cheers to Beauty palette by Coloured Raine. I’m awaiting its arrival, but I have no doubts based on Christine’s review and past singles and the Queen of Hearts that it will be tops!