Current Beauty Obsessions

Current Beauty Obsessions

Saturday, December 9, 2017

photo via i.g. @trulyaria

It seems as though I am always finding something new or someone is telling me about their must-haves, which nine times out of ten then becomes one of my must-haves. Honestly, it's a never ending cycle of me going into Sephora and scoping out the beauty counters at Nordstrom, asking what's new, seeing what they suggest, receiving tons of deluxe samples, and then eventually spending way too much money and coming out with bags of new products. And these quickly either become my newest obsessions or my "not this time." 

Here are my current beauty obsessions!

no.1

Caudalie Beauty Elixir 

As mentioned in my morning skin routine, I love this face spray because of all the amazing ingredients in it: Grape Extracts: promote radiance; Rose Extracts: tone; Benzoin, Myrrh, Essential Oil of Organic Mint Balm: astringent; Orange Blossom Water: softens skin. I love the pump on this because the spray comes out as an even mist; it's not too fine like the Glam Glow one or as wet as the Mario Badescu one. And too, you can visibly see it brighten your skin and minimize the appearance of pores. It evens out your skin like no other. I promise. I love it. And you can buy a travel size version ($18 at Sephora) to try out before committing to the full size ($49 at Sephora), but I'm not even going to lie, I went through this so fast, so just buy the full size one. You'll love it. The only thing that took me a minute to get used to is the smell. It's not my favorite, but it's all natural, not synthetic, and it grew on me. 

Buy Me Here! 

no.2

Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Matte Bronzer 

Bought this because of how aesthetically pleasing the packaging is and because two of my favorite beauty YouTubers, Kelsey Simone and Symphani Soto, use it. Since I'm a medium olive/golden complexion, I wasn't too worried about how "light" the bronzer looked in the pan and swatched on my skin because Symphani and I wear the same foundation shade, so when I'm looking at buying something new, I usually just get in the same shade because we literally have the same skin tone. I apply it either with a big fluffy brush to warm up my face and then a small angled brush for a more contoured look. 

Buy Me Here!

no.3

 Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'r Soft Matte Longwear Foundation

Love you Ri, but my God,  that is a mouth full and a lot to type.

As soon as Fenty Beauty dropped, I took my butt to Sephora and ended up buying several items from Rihanna's new beauty line. After figuring out what shade I would be, using Symphani Soto's Fenty shade and then testing out another sample at Sephora, I decided to go ahead and just get shade 290 even though I preferred the warmer yellow undertones in 330 (which sold out in stores, but I ordered it directly through the Fenty Beauty website, so it's all good). This is the most natural looking foundation I have ever worn. It has a soft-demi matte finish just like it claims, and it looks exactly like how you applied it eight hours later. You do have to work fast with this finish, but it dries down on its own so no need for a ton of powder to set it. I use the primer she came out with too since they go together. I wear this foundation almost everyday, so it's well worth it especially at its price point of $34--Go RiRi. 

Buy Me Here!

no.4

  Marc Jacobs Dew Drops Coconut Gel Highlighter

I have been trying to get my hands on this since June, and when I tell you I just about traveled far and wide for it, I'm not lying. I went to a couple of Sephora stores in Chicago and throughout Michigan just for this liquid highlighter. I finally got it just last month, and I'm extremely pleased that I was actually able to buy it! It was a little tricky for me figuring out how I was going to use it, but I eventually found a place in my makeup routine for it: after I prime and color correct (that way my primer is still tacky) and before I apply my foundation (I add two drops of beauty oil to help blend everything out). I love that it makes you look like you're "glowing from within" but not oily. Saw this in one of Kelsey's videos and had to try it. Now, I can't get enough of it. Also, I'm obsessed with the packaging--so minimal and sleek. 

Buy Me Here! 

no.5

Tatcha One-Step Camellia Cleansing Oil 

This was introduced to me by one of the ladies at Sephora, and I decided to go ahead and try out the set it came in, and now I have to go back and buy a full size because I love it so much. At first I hated how thin the consistency of this oil is, but after doing some more research, I realized I wasn't activating it properly with water. I use this before as my first cleanse to remove my makeup, and it does an excellent job of breaking down a long day's worth of makeup. Only advice: you don't need more than two-four pumps or you'll be buying a new bottle every other month! 

Buy Me Here! 

no.6 

MAKE UP FOR EVER Pro Light Fusion Highlighter (2 - Golden)

After seeing Sonjdradeluxe, a beauty YouTuber, use this in several of her videos, I went out and bought it back in July. As of recently, I have been using this highlighter since it best compliments the Marc Jacobs Dew Drops. I honestly believe this highlighter is the most beautiful highlighter for medium/olive complexions. The shade range sucks for this highlighter, there is only this one and one lighter than this (more golden/pink-y undertones)...so actually, there isn't a shade range, but I can't say that without a doubt this one will work for my darker loves. The formula isn't powdery, but no where near a wet to dry, glittery, or a cream base. It's buildable for sure, but definitely not a blinding highlighter. I use this for more of my "glow from within--natural" makeup looks. 

Buy Me Here! 

Thanks for reading! Much love x