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What was the last impulse buy you made that turned out to be a must-have product in your routine?
Clarins Lip Balm!
— Christine
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Soap and Glory Kick Ass Tired Eyes concealer
*TonyMoly Timeless Ferment Snail Emulsion –grabbed it at 50% off on Hautelook, and so glad I did. I use morning and night to keep my skin hydrated. Will be buying more from this line soon.
*Shea Moisture Raw Shea Butter Soap -since it was only $5 a bar, I threw one into my Ulta cart to get free shipping, and it’s now my HG soap for last 3 years. I do 2 hot showers and day, and this is so gentle and hydrating, and the HUGE bar lasts for months. I actually have to cut it in 2 so it’s easier to hold
*First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Lip Therapy – this came in a value kit and was forgotten in my stash until I ran out of my regular lip balm. It makes my lips SO soft and hydrated, like a spa for the lips, might be HG for me
Shy Beam by Benefit!
Well over a year ago, DIRECTLY after reading your glowing review on it, I bought WnW Reserve Your Cabana Bronzer to use as my finishing and setting powder. I have loved it so much that it is practically all gone! And you can bank on me buying another compact of it very soon. ?
(Maybe a few b/ups, even!)
I love that one too – so amazingly good and so affordable. I just wish they’d package it a bit better – I keep expecting that the plastic will break one of these days.
Cheap body lotion from our local supermarket.
The blurring moisturizer with SPF 30 by Algenist! I bought it because they had a 30% sale a while back, and it’s simply the best spf I’ve ever used. I’ve tried a bunch of sunscreens before that promised to be non-greasy, but they always, all of them, left a shiny residue on my face, some more than others, even the Biore Watery Essence. The Algenist is like a smoothing primer, it leaves my skin matte, velvety, and it does blur texture a bit. The downside is that it’s not very moisturizing, but I really only use it for the spf.
It must have been my Real Techniques basic eye brush kit. My local drugstore has more and more of the Real Techniques line and when I saw these I was pleasantly surprised and bought them. Like everyone else I’ve been using the Deluxe Crease Brush lately for my concealer. I still need to dab over it with my fingers to make the finish more polished, but it really is good for getting the maximum coverage out of your concealer.
Probably Becca’s Backlight Priming Filter. I use it as a primer some of the time but, more often, I use it on its own, over my moisturizer/sunscreen, as a luminizing sort of product, in place of foundation.
Okay, I totally have to amend my answer because the REAL answer came to me as I was getting ready this morning – Chanel’s Empreinte du Desert quad!!!! I bought that in a “ho hum” kind of mood – I wasn’t wow’d by it but had sort of resigned myself to buying “something” that day. It has become my most used and one of my most loved eye shadow assortments.
I adore that one, too!
Nell, we’re not alone – there are at least 2 or 3 others here who love it too (I think Nancy T is another fan and there are at least a few others).
Yes! I just ordered my second one! I thought it was pretty and would make a nice addition to my collection but would be an occasional usage kind of thing. I don’t know if it’s just the colors or they way it wears with the finish and texture but it is just so pretty. It has been my most used and loved this summer.
Pearl, I find it just as lovely now that summer is drawing to a close. The brown, bronze, gold and sage green are all colours that are every bit as “fall-ish” as they are summery. And I so prefer it to the Candeur et Experience quad Chanel released for autumn. I was all revved up for whatever they’d release but when I saw that it was all matte and that it had that (for me) unwearable red, I knew it wasn’t the quad for me but Empreinte du desert is still going strong (in fact, wore it yesterday and I’m wearing it again today).
Cover Fx Lavender correcting stick. Love it.
MAC Prolongware Concealer.
It cosmetics bye bye pore powder – its amazing. air brush finish!
IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC Cream SPF 50+ *phew*
Why do brands insist on having such long names for their products?
I agree! Great coverage, easy application, and it when it dries in 20 seconds- it’s on for the day! I bought a mini tube at Ulta off their Grab n Go tower just because I’d wanted to try it. Totally impressed.
I know right! I went into Sephora to get Estee Lauder’s CC cream because everyone raves about it and only walked over to IT Cosmetics because there was a regular mob around the display. I totally agree on everything you said in terms of performance, I put it on bare face and it lasts all day. Plus it is 40% cheaper which I can’t argue with at all.
Tie: Clinique Eye Prep Start and Marc Jacobs Noir mascara.
Erborian – Solid Cleansing Oil. I love this stuff. Bought on an impulse, had never heard of it before.
That’s easy given a comment to your recent question about the best full coverage foundations: EL concealer. It was an online purchase, recommended by a representative based on my needs, including what turned out to be the right color! That doesn’t happen very often. And, that’s about the most impulsive I get when buying cosmetics.
The ABH modern renaissance palette and hourglass ambient blush,
Christine are you talking about the CLARINS instant light natural lip perfectors? Those are amazing.
Sulwhasoo Perfecting Cushion Foundation. I have used the same foundation for quite a while, the Chosungah and I really love it but every once in awhile you just want to try something different. The Chosungah has a very light coverage and has good skin care ingredients also but as I am getting older my skin is needing a bit more coverage. Hyperpigmentation is the bane of my existence!! So, I had read a few reviews for the Sulwhasoo and Asia Sulwhasoo is known as the “older” ladies foundation. It didn’t give me a lot more coverage but I do love the finish and the undertone. It is quick for those days when I want to get ready quickly. The Chosungah comes in two separate compartments and has to be mixed together which doesn’t take a lot of time but it does make it impossible to carry with you and the concept of cushion foundations was for quick application, SPF that you could take with you and touch up during the day. I am reaching for the Sulwhasoo more and more.
Glossier Boy Brow!
I can’t think of one. Most of my purchases are planned and researched! The last drugstore product I really loved and bought on a whim was the Revlon Balm Stain and I really enjoyed it but that was years and years ago. I still use them though so it’s a fixture in my routines.
I just bought a whole bunch of new things in the last 3 weeks but they were not really impulse buys!
About two years ago…. Josie Maran Argan Affinity oil…. It’s a must have.
Tie — ABH Modern Renaissance palette and Lorac eyeliner in Bronze (which turns out to be the perfect-for-me warm but not too dark brown with some shimmer)
Neulash eyelash serum. It works and has been part of my routine for years. It’s pricey, but they last a while and between Nordstrom and Neiman’s they have two for one sales a few times a year, so I usually pick them up then.
amore skin brightening cream and eye cream. Trial offered on my FB page. Paid shipping for both products, though they came in the same box! They very carefully do not tell you how much this stuff is or what the terms of the continual products are. I think this cream has done miracles for my 70 year old face. I wrote the company and asked how much these monthly mailings would be. Answer: $175.94/month, that’s over $2,000 a year. You have to call the company and ask them to stop mailing the stuff to you. You only get the phone number if you ask. I think it is really helping me, but we’ll see how long that lasts!
That’s a lot of money Sally. Does the product provide an ingredient list? If so, the top 5 ingredients are the ones that are most ‘active’ in the cream. You might be able to find these ingredients in another cream that is less expensive overall.
Thank you so much, Genevieve, for you comment! Funny thing about this company–I call to cancel the monthly mailings, and the price suddenly came down from $175.94 to $44! That seems much more reasonable. I’ll try it for a while and call and cancel if i’m not astoundingly beautiful in a couple of months. Who knows, they might lower the price again!
tom ford indian rose , and also a mac lipstick in soul
Hourglass ambient light in Dim Light. I can use a concealer than this powder and my skin looks amazing!
Last time there was a Promo Code at Sephora for have a makeup bag with mini products from Benefit for 40euros of purchase…so i did it,and i found this “Fake up” concealer that i’ve heard a lot but never try it …so i received the shade medium,my favorite concealer its Full cover from MUFe in shade 6 who are really light and yellow,and this fake up are darker and rosy,so i was really surprise,firstable because its a really good product and secondly because i found that with this color i can use it for correct some dark spot,or pigmentation even some redness! So now even if i have a travel size i use it everyday since a month! I cant help it and i know that Buy a full size for me it will be an evidence! 😉
The Body Shop wonderblur primer
Becca shimmering highlighter poured in opal! That and UD setting spray.
About three years ago, eos lip balm. It’s really good under lipstick.
My cream illuminator from it Cosmetics. I was returning something to QVC and I needed to pick a replacement.
Anastasia Brow Powder duo in Ash Brown. I was sure it would be too dark but everything else is too warm and looks strange on me. Amazingly it makes my brows look so defined but natural and soft, and the two shades work together well to make a dynamic, realistic look. Since I have no outer third of my brows due to genetics and have to draw them on, that’s a big plus and I didn’t think powder could do that. It could definitely be built up to a darker look so it’s pretty versatile. It was half price for Ulta’s 21 Days of Beauty and I bought it on a whim. It doesn’t pull yellow or green like a lot of ash colors. It’s the brow product I’ve been searching for for 2 years!
Bite Beauty lip pencil (Rhubarb)–amazing staying power on its own, but also keeps my Bite Beauty Lush Lip Tint (Watermelon) from bleeding. Woohoo!
The Sephora Bright Future gel color corrector in Green – had met my friend at a Sephora and she picked up the yellow. I tossed the green in my basket without much thought and I’ve replaced it twice since. Benefit’s Bold Brows kit – needed somethings to buy to get a gift with purchase during the Rouge Event. I use 3/4 of the contents daily. The Burberry Beauty Box – use the blush and lipstick daily.
Oooh, I had that Burberry Beauty Box in my cart for a week or so at Sephora and when I was finally ready to complete my purchase…sold out :(. I also missed the one available during the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale. One of these days!
Clinique’s Peach Pop lipstick – great colour for summer and I am onto my second one now. I bought it to make up some $$$ so I could get the GWP – which happened to be a really good one. I just love the shade now.
tarte c brighter eye cream! helps with my dark circles!:)
I buy everything on sudden impulse!!!!! But this from Hourglass Ambient Light is fantastic!!! Surreal Light: a sheer nude powder evoking the magic hour of perfect lighting
• Surreal Bronze Light: a neutral tan shade fused with Surreal Light, a translucent beige powder, for a subtle, natural warmth
• Surreal Glow: a pale peony pink blush mixed with Surreal Light for a delicate flush
• Surreal Effect: a cool, pink rose fused with a soft, warm peach for a pop of flattering color
• Surreal Strobe Light: a glimmering peach powder imparting an alluring highlight. I am in love with this palette and since its a limited edition, I am stocking up on this.
Someone gave me a shopper drug mart gift card and I grabbed Maybelline instant age rewind eraser dark circle treatment concealer, I don’t buy much make up from the drug store but I use it daily now.
Like Crime Superfoils! They’re amazing!!!
* Lime
Makeup-wise, only the Hourglass Ambient in Diffused Light.
Skin-care wise, I’ve impulse-bought things from Paula’s Choice that I will never stop using (assuming they never stop selling them), especially recently. The newest additions are: Resist 25% Vitamin C Treatment, Resist 10% Nicainamide Booster, and the Radiance Renewal Mask. Some of the other products from PC that I use religiously, I also impulse-bought, but I’ve been using most for so long that I no longer remember which ones fit that description.
I also impulse-bought the AOBiome/Mother Dirt mist, and I don’t see giving that up.
that’s *Niacinamide*
Kiko lip balms
My last impulse buy was a Kardashian lipgloss. It was on sale for half price.
covergirl outlast primer!! I don’t know what it is about this primer but it makes my foundation stay on super well and fade nicely
I have combination skin dry/normal have tried a couple of primers but have not liked the feeling of having more gummy stuff on my face adding foundation on top so I been trying the Ceravé Moisterizer before applying my foundation and am happy with results! I just deep my square sponge lightly into the cream let my skin soak it quickly then apply foundation. It goes on so smooth and feels as it fills the fine lines I’m getting with age. I rather have a moisturizer that adds more benefit than a primer touching my skin first. I wear make up lightly have pretty clear skin so far to me is working great! Also fell in love with WetnWild Brazilian bronzer and the Cabana highlighter so great! I ended up getting a second since is hard to hunt them down. Comfort zone, Floral Value eyeshadows beautiful shades! Also the two palettes from Walmart I live the colors! I’ll have a Cosmo another beautiful highlighter.
Sephora Collection Bright Future Green Concealer… I was having some major redness issues and picked this up on a whim while getting a gift from a friend. Works better than anything I’ve tried and looks super natural/undetectable.
Also NYX Pore Filler has been great for low/no makeup days to even out my texture. Surprisingly good in the oil control department as well!
Probably the Tom Ford Highlighter duo. I had decided I wasn’t going to buy it because it was rather spendy and seemed, to me, to be something I would never use, but I do use it daily and I LOVE IT 🙂 Worth every penny!
Beauty Blender for sure. Can’t live without it. Changed my makeup game forever. Gives a flawless finish. Smooths everything out. Hesitated to get it. But now I own several of them.
My often talked about Cargo Reverse Lip Liner. I only bought it because I ordered something from Kohls, and it wasn’t enough to get the free shipping. So I needed to add something. Of course, I scoured the makeup 🙂 Everything I liked was either way too expensive or didn’t cost enough to get me to the $50 I needed for free shipping. So I settled on this. It’s been my #1 go-to item, and it never seems to end! I bought a NYX dupe but haven’t had to use it yet, and it’s been over a year. This pencil gives me pale full lips, keeps my lip color true, and looks great with or without anything over it. I can’t stop raving about it.