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There are quite a few items in this round of favorites but usually there are at the beginning of the year. Holiday sales and shopping naturally lead to trying lots of new products.
Mac Pro Longwear Concealer in NW20 – I have been using this liquid concealer in place of foundation a lot this month. It offers more coverage than most foundations but still blends into the skin smoothly. I like that the color works so well for me and that I can use a matching cream concealer on top for added blemish coverage when necessary. That way I don’t have to worry about my foundation and concealer not matching. It dries somewhat quickly so I work in sections, patting it in with my fingers and then finishing the blending off with a brush.
Mac Studio Finish Concealer in NW20 – This is the cream concealer I’ve been using if I have something extra I need to cover. I like to use a more precise brush (like an eyeliner or lip brush) to apply this where I need it and then blend it out with a small fluffy brush (like a fluffy eyeshadow brush) to feather it out.
Covergirl Clean Matte BB Cream – On days when I want sheerer coverage I go for this BB Cream. It does a good job of evening the skintone and smoothing out the look of my pores. I blends out very easily and quickly with a brush.
Too Faced Sweethearts Perfect Flush Blush in Candy Glow – I have so many blushes but I always keep reaching for this one. The color works well for me. It’s a soft peachy pink with a little bit of fine shimmer so it doesn’t look too flat or dry on the skin. The pigmentation is also just right, not too much and not too little.
Revlon Ultra HD Gel Lip Color in 700 HD Sand – This color is a semi glossy pinkish nude that works well with pretty much any look, especially everyday neutral makeup. It’s a nice thin comfortable formula that doesn’t feel drying or sticky. The only downside is that it doesn’t last all day but that’s to be expected with a hydrating lip color formula. It applies as easily as a tinted lip balm so it’s not a problem to reapply throughout the day.
Burts Bees Lip Crayon in 405 Sedona Sands – This is another nude lip color I have been reaching for often but this has more of a matte finish. It lasts a bit longer than the Revlon one but is just as comfortable and easy to apply.
Bath and Body Works Relax Black Chamomile Candle – I purchased this online without having smelled it before but I am so glad I did. The scent isn’t sharp or too powerful. It is soft and a tinge smoky with hints of sweetness. It’s a good year-round type of scent.
Alterna Caviar Clinical Detoxifying Shampoo – I purchased this along with the Root Spray to see if I could reduce hair fallout and/or promote hair growth. I have been using them for about a month and a half I have yet to see reduced hair fallout or hair growth but the formula does something that gets my hair squeaky clean without over-drying it. My hair feels clean for longer, though I still shampoo daily or else my hair looks flat and lifeless. A couple weeks ago I tried to switch to a cheaper option but I found myself really missing how my hair felt and looked when using this. For now, I will keep using it.
Alterna Caviar Clinical Root Spray – This root spray is so incredibly light weight. I was afraid it would make my hair feel dirty or weigh it down, but it gives my hair a bit of volume at the root. Just as with the shampoo, I haven’t seen any change in hair fallout or growth. It works well as a styling product for my hair type which is kind of rare for me to find so I will keep using this as well.
Alterna CC Cream – I didn’t see a matching conditioner in the Caviar Clinical range so I just haven’t been using one. Instead, I use this when I get out of the shower as a leave in conditioner/detangler and it does a really good job. It is also very lightweight but super detangleing and a little bit goes a long way, so this will probably last most of the year for me. I don’t find I need a conditioner with this current haircare routine.
Sunday Riley Luna Sleeping Night Oil – I have changed my skincare routine up a lot this year and I would love to do a post dedicated to what I’m using but I feel like I still have a few products I need to test out for a bit longer first. I have been using this oil for about 2 months now. I love that it has retinol and that it is super moisturizing all by itself. I haven’t had any negative reactions like redness or flaking which you can sometimes get from retinoids. My skin feels so comfortable when I wake up in the morning, not greasy, perfectly moisturized. I kind of wish a variant of this product existed without the retinol so I could also use it during the day.
Pinrose Gilded Fox – The main notes of this fragrance are cocoa, rum and vetiver. The vetiver and rum are more noticeable when I first spray this on but cocoa is the most prominent and longest lasting note on me. It’s a soft, sweet, comforting fragrance.