Week 15: Weekly Skincare/Makeup Box

Week 15 is upon us!  April is in full swing (birthday is in 17 days!!!).

This week I wanted to focus on products that have been kicking around for a while, products I want to use up, favorite products, products that I know work well and that I can depend on.  I've shared (extensively) about what my skincare items will be here.  I'm not going to mess around with my skin this week!

So this is what I came up with!

Foundation: Bourjois Healthy Mix.  The old faithful.  This is in shade 52 Vanilla.  I have more than a few uses but I want to use this up before summer is in full swing.  I've had it for a couple of years (exp 12 months!).

BB Cream: Dr. Jart+ Black Label Detox BB, SPF 25.  This feels quite empty but product keeps appearing.  Since I am nearing the end, I will concentrate on using this one up in the next couple of weeks.

SPF: Still trying to figure that out.

Primer: I like to use L'OREAL Revitalift to smooth out fine lines on the outside of my eyes.  I also have the L'OREAL Magic Lumi Light Infusing Primer to give my skin a little glow (as needed).  My skin has still been quite dry lately.  And then I included my complexion perfection duo, Urban Decay b6 spray and Guerlain L'or.  One more...  Clarins Instant Smooth for my t-zone.

Eyes:  For eye cream I have Olay Regenerist regenerating eye lifting serum.  Covergirl & Olay Simply Ageless Eye Corrector in 230 and 2 shades of Physician Formula Conceal Rx, natural light and fair light.  And what the heck, L'OREAL MagicLumi Highlighter in 860 fair.  I have Tarte Smooth Operator to set all these concealers.

I've been skipping LashEM, I really need to remember that.  AVON lash conditioner and primer and L'OREAL Lash Out Butterfly mascara.  It's almost time to replace Lash Out.  Great Lash clear mascara for my brows which I am trying to focus more...

Primer is Benefit Stay Don't Stray.  I will be using my mark eyeshadows this week which are housed in MAC palettes.  The look so neat and pretty in these palettes.

 

 

 

Cheeks: mark blushes this week!  Also in a MAC palette.  :) and AVON ideal luminous blush in E04 Earthen Rose for a bronzer/contour. Which looks orange in the above photo, but I can assure you, it's not!

 

Face Powder: Tarte provocateur pressed mineral powder in Light 04.  This was a sample from ages ago.  It might be a little dark (not as dark pictured) but we will see how it works out this week for me.

 

So that's everything and it's a lot but I like to have options.  :)

Weekly Beauty Box 5+6 Results!

The pink Glossy Boxes are getting a bit small for my weekly wrap ups.  I might have to find something a little more suitable! 

Foundation/BB Cream:  Dr. Jart Black Label Detox is still going strong! I thought I would have finished this but of course a few other bits landed in the box.  I'm testing out Neutrogena Nourishing Long Wear Makeup.  Other than the fact that it's almost impossible to get out of the bottle, it's a pretty good color for me and lasts pretty well.  Liking it so far.  I received this foundation through Bzz Agent!  I also used the Super BB from Skin 79.  I love this for brightening under the eyes, upper cheeks, the triangle so to speak. It glides over the pores and smooths everything out.

Primer: Revlon PhotoReady Perfecting Primer.  Forgot to use this.  Maybe once did I this week, but I was using BB creams and they are technically primers.  :).  The Too Faced Tinted Beauty Balm was surprisingly super dark.  I will save this for the summer months.  I had to wash it off.  

Eye Cream:  The Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye Serum Infusion bottle is currently inverted and still going strong.  I didn't rip open the Benefit just yet!  But I also used Tarte Pure Maracuja oil for my eyes at night as well.   
 

Serum/Moisturizer:  I finished up the Jose Maran Argan Oil which I told you that I loved.  I tried Origins plant scripting and even mixed this with the Bzz Agent Neutrogena with pretty good results. My face got a bit shiny but I can tolerate it right now as the weather and my face have been cooperating with each other.  I also used Eclos moisture therapy regenerative cream.  Good stuff and smells nice and botanical.

Cleanser:  I finished the Billy Jealousy sample and my Julep cleansing oil.  I've been switching off with biore deep pore charcoal cleanser and Eclos skin prep cleanser.

Exfoliant: Amore Pacific Treatment Enzyme Peel was not touched but I did use Garnier clean Balancing Daily Exfoliator which has been in the shower for the last 3-4 weeks.

Mask:  GlamGlow sample!  It was amazing and just what my skin needed.  Cleared it right up.  Not sure why a sample packet worked 100 times better than a full size jar...  Hmm...  It was a couple of years ago from Hautelook.  Maybe I got a bad batch? It literally did nothing and made my skin so oily the next day.  Well so it did do something then I guess...   I understand the hype now.  If I can get the same formulation again.

Makeup:  Confession time.  I've had the Lorac Pro since December and finally used it for 2 weeks straight.  I do this with new things sometimes, well pretty much always.  Like bags for example, I don't want to scuff the leather. I like things looking new and pristine.  Review:  I do like the Lorac pro, but not over any Urban Decay palette.  I like the variety of colors.  You can do a lot of looks with this palette. No fuss packaging, full size mirror.  However, after every use, glitter and shimmer all over my cheeks.  




At first I thought that I just didn't notice the fall out upon application.  So the next morning I cleaned up a bit just in case.  However, I still had the same problem later on that afternoon.  Glitter pieces all over my face.  Not a good look for me.  Fun fact:  One day I was in CVS and the lady at the register literally had glitter all over her face to the point where it looked like it was on purpose.  Similar to how I look after wearing the Lorac palette.  So the next time I use this palette, I should probably try another eyeshadow primer.  

Now that I am looking at the palette, I have a nice dip in the color champagne.  It looks a little glittery.  Don't get me wrong, I'm not afraid of a little shimmer/glitter... Just be careful with the Champagne.  :)  For bronzer I primarily used AVON Ideal Luminous blush in Earthen rose.  This is a really nice product.  Reminds me of NYC Sunny.  I fact I use them interchangeably.  

Treatment:  I had to break out the Sibu sea buckthorn seed oil to help clear some facial freak out.  It's unusual for my skin to be reactive.  I blame it on lack of sleep, a bit of insomnia affliction.  Lots to do, little time, we all know the drill.  I'm going to re-work my diet in the next couple of weeks.  I've been quite unusually indulgent in the food department as of late.  Time to reel it in, beach time is only a few weeks away!  Currently I'm trying out the "Cabbage Soup Diet."  I will do a post on it.  So far I've lost 5 pounds.  But I fluctuate 5 pounds all of the time.  It's for 7 days and I'm on Day 4.

Vaseline lip therapy rosy lips:  The petroleum jelly doesn't really sink in as much as I would like and feels a bit waxy on the lips.  It does moisturize over night though.  I had been using this every night.  I started to notice some congestion under my bottom lip/lip line.  Very unusual and I'm pretty sure this product is the cause.  This is the only thing new that I have been slathering on my lips.  I have been bad about not wearing any of my new 20+ lip sticks and glosses that acquired at the end of 2013...  So I'm going to put the rosy lips away for a little while or not use it so often.  I'm still trying to use up what's left of the Philosophy lipgloss.  It's nearing the end and I just don't reach for it anymore.  Maybe I will throw this in my bag.  

Garnier Ultra-lift eye roller:  I woke up with some puffy eyes and hoped that this would work fast on the mornings I needed to get out of the house early.  It has a nice cooling effect with the metal ball roller applicator.  I think it helped.  Now if I could watch my salt intake and diligently drink more water, I would have less puffy problems.  This week on Cabbage Soup no puffy eyes!  :)

Concealers:  I used my light and fair Maybelline Fit Me Concealers.  They seem to be separating in the tubes but they are still creamy, blendable and do the trick.

 

I will be sure to keep you updated on the Cabbage Soup diet.  I almost bailed on Day 2 towards the end of the day.   I was feeling a bit weak.  I also cut out coffee and have been drinking tea exclusively.  No headaches!  And of course I should be drinking more water.  I don't know what it is with me and water lately.  I used to drink a minimum of 2 liters a day!

Week 7 results are coming up next!

Week 5+6: Weekly Skincare/Makeup Box

The second month of the year is upon us and here is what I'm proposing to use for the 5th week installment of my weekly Beauty Box.

Week 5!

I just threw in the samples I did not use last week into this week.  I used mask in the purple tub last night and it was lovely!  I will go into it in more detail during my results post at the end of the week.

Foundation/BB Cream:  I'm going with Dr. Jart Black Label Detox.  I hardly have any left.  :(  I really enjoyed savoring this one.  It is a good match after it warms up.  It goes on a bit gray which is normal for "real" BB creams.  This is the smaller 20mL size I picked up from Birchbox.com with some points.  Because it's almost empty, I grabbed the Too Faced Tinted Beauty Balm and I will give that a whirl!

Primer: Revlon PhotoReady Perfecting Primer.  This isn't a pore filler, but it's light and smooths out the skin sufficiently.  I always forget to use primer.  It's tricky with a BB cream because the BB cream is supposed to be your primer, but some just sit in your pores so you need the primer but then some you can't use with moisturizer because they are supposed to be your moisturizer...  Ahhh!!!

Eye Cream:  I have a few more uses of Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye Serum Infusion and I've been wanting to try the Benefit It's Potent eye cream.  If this Xeala pack is full, this sample could last me a while.   But I also grabbed tarte Pure Maracuja oil for my eyes at night as well.   So I'm covered in the eye hydration department this week!

Serum/Moisturizer:  I'm going to take it easy this week and just go with the Jose Maran Argan Oil which I love.  I have a few more drops.  If I finish it, I have a sample of the Argan Oil Light ready to go. I also still have the eraclear from last week.  I also grabbed the Korres for night as well.

Cleanser:  Same as last week, Billy Jealousy sample and my Julep cleansing oil is still going strong!  I'm pretty sure this will be the last week though.

Exfoliant: Amore Pacific Treatment Enzyme Peel.  Love this stuff.  I was tempted to grab another one for a 100 points at Sephora but this one is lasting a long time and is still practically full.   Hopefully by the time I have 500 points at Sephora, there will be a nice perk!  lol

Mask:  I already used Racine Doree Golden Root Purifying Mud Mask last night and it was really nice.  Generously sized too. I wish I only used half.  I thought about it but then figured with the exposure of air, it just wouldn't last.  I also included the GlamGlow Mask from last week and a epielle Deep cleansing nose strip.  I learned last week that my skin does not like me skipping out on the treatments.

And Rapid Lash...  It's difficult to tell if these eyelash serums work.  But I use them anyway, infrequently.

Palette: Lorac PRO! 

Alright, Week #5 is in full swing!  What are you trying out this week?

Week 4: Weekly Skincare/Makeup Box

Week 4 is upon us and here are my choices for this week's Skincare/Makeup Box!

Foundation: L'OREAL True Match Super Blendable Makeup in Nude Beige W3, which of course I will most likely be mixing with LUMI in W1-2.  But I noticed my skin being a bit pink/slightly orange this week when I used LUMI as a mixer.  Not a good look for me or anyone really.

BB Cream:  Skin79 BB cream.  Love this one!

Eye Cream: Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye Serum Infusion:  A few years ago I went through quite a lot of samples of the advanced day and night repair.  Loved them as I truly saw results.  That practically never happens.  Honestly, I haven't seen the results from this serum that I wanted to see, however when I stop using it for a period of time, I realize that I must go back and use it.  I've had this since last summer and it's time to use it up.  It's impossible to tell how much is left in the bottle unfortunately.  I cannot use this at night as I will wake up with crazy puffy eyes.  It's not the only eye cream that will do this.  But in the morning under makeup, this serum is perfect.  I will go back to the cream in this line after this serum is finished.

Serum/Moisturizer: Dr. Jart Ceramidin Starter Kit.  This is a serum and a cream.  "Cream" is a scary word for us oily skins.  But since we have another blast of cold weather complete with a winter storm and snow likely for Eastern Carolina!  Yay!  My skin has been quite dry (for me) lately and could definitely use a boost of hydration.

Kiehl's Clearly Corrective Dark Spot Solution/Midnight Recovery Serum.  I have some "spots" on my forehead, more like freckles but I'm sure a derm would tell my mid 30 self that they are indeed of the aging variety.  So we will see if this has an effect on them.  I've used the Midnight Recovery serum last week a couple of times and it is very lovely.  I will switch with this combo and the Dr. Jart every other day this week.
 

Eraclea.  If the skin starts to freak out on me this week, I will have this as a back up plan!

Cleanser: Billy Jealousy White Knight Gentle Daily Facial Cleanser with Papaya Extract and Rosemary Leaf.  I also have just a few more uses of my Julep Cleansing Oil and if I finish that I have the new Garnier Clean + Nourishing Cleansing Oil in the wait. 

Exfoliant: I still have one more packet of Wei Pomegranate buffing beads.  I really like this product.  It turns any of your current cleansers into a powerful scrub.  Whatever it is that they use as the "beads," they are crushed, slightly finely. 
 

Mask: GlamGlow YouthMud Tinglexfoliate Treatment.  I fell in love with Eve Lom a couple of weeks ago, let's see how I get along with GlamGlow again!
 

Palette: bareMinerals READY Eyeshadow 8.0 The Cocktail Hour is a tiny, yet powerful palette.  All my fave shades.  Love the quality of these pressed shadows.  I've been a bareMinerals fan for a decade.

Primer:  Still using the Smashbox this week and I use the L'OREAL Revitalift Miracle Blur under my eyes.  I'm not sure if it does anything major, I should really start drinking more water.

SPF: Still working on the Clarins sample...  And Skin79 is 50.

So this is the Week #4 makeup/skincare plan!  What are you trying out this week?