As I mentioned in my post yesterday, I hit up Sephora this past weekend. I have been wanting to switch up my face care routine, and the last few weeks my skin has looked awful so I figured it was about that time!
I am ridiculous when it comes to purchasing (in my mind) big decision things. My skin is a temperamental little bitch. Not only is it combination skin, where I am oily on my nose and sometimes forehead, but a little dry-ish on my cheeks….but my skin is also sensitive and will randomly freak out with certain products. I did the skin IQ quiz online about 20 times in the last week seeing what results it would pull, as I wanted to compare it with whatever the sales person at Sephora told me.
My main concerns were that I break out on my chin, I have fine lines under my eyes, big pores around my nose, and I just wanted something that was going to work great and not piss off my skin.
When I did skin IQ quiz, almost always the Shiseido products were recommended. When I went to the store, that was the first brand that the girl recommended to me also. I have never tried Shiseido before. The Shiseido Ibuki line is basically perfect for people around my age. I can’t use the acne/oily skin teenage line but I am not quite ready for the intense anti-aging/skin correction line either. I LOVE the smell of this stuff. I have to be careful with scented stuff with my skin, and this stuff does not irritate at all.
The kit I got came with the cleanser, softener and moisturizer for $25 for deluxe sample sizes. The softener is like a toner but there is no alcohol in it. Basically it just prepares your skin for the nutrients that it is about to receive in your serums and moisturizers.
I have used this for a few days and I can not believe how awesome my skin is starting to look!!! I can see myself purchasing all three products in the full size when my kit is used up.
A quick look at the rest of my findings:
Beauty Blender – I went in with no make up on and she asked if I had ever tried the Beauty Blender. I laughed at her and said “$19 for a sponge? No.” She was like well, no harm in trying right?” She applied foundation on half my face and asked me to do the other half while she rang up a customer. You guys, this thing is THE SHIT! I love it!!! I can’t believe I am falling into all the hype of it, but seriously, my make up has NEVER looked better. If you were skeptical like me, just go play with it at your local store. Mind. Blown.
Argon Oil – I have been wanting to try this because I keep reading all the different uses for it. You can use it on your face, your body, your hair, your dog. I may have a whole separate post on this stuff once I experiment. So far, I love it for under my eyes and my feet.
Make Up Forever HD Primer – I used 100 points to score a sample of this to try out. I LOVE it. I had been using Loreal’s BB Cream for about a year now, and I am just not in love with it as much as I once was. I still like it, but I don’t feel the staying power was there. This stuff has kept my make up on longer all three days that I have used it so far. I will be purchasing this in a bigger size when my sample runs out.
They’re Real Mascara – I have been using this stuff for about 2 years now. I freaking love it. I buy the $10 size because it lasts about 3 months for me and that really all the longer you are supposed to use a mascara for so it works out perfect for me. I know some people say it is hard to get off, but I seem to do fine with it with my eye make up remover. Benefits makes an eye make up remover specially for their products so try that if yours isn’t cutting it.
Have you been to Sephora lately? What are your favorite products?
16 Comments
That beauty blender and the primer are two things I actually want right now.
I swear by all Josie Maran products. I have her whipped argan oil cream, her argan blush, argan oil for face and hair and I just recently bought her oil lipgloss that I use over night. I can’t get enough of her products!
I am a Sephora ho. On my last trip I got Beauty on the Fly bags, a sample size of Smashbox CC cream, and replaced my Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment in berry and NARS blush in orgasm.
Sephora is where I bought all of my makeup for the wedding!
I have all these great BareMinerals items now! So great!
My skinny is super tempermental TOO! And I’m always afraid to try new things, for fear it will break out. It’s my chin and the skin just to the sides of my nose. UGH! But, maybe I will try some new stuff… Can’t hurt (too much) right?
I love your blog, and your burger adventures! The balance you maintain and the happiness I read…
Thus, I’ve nominated you for a Liebster award
http://katerivonstealsnewlife.blogspot.com/2014/07/liebster-award-wow.html
It is never too early to use anti-aging. Trust me you will be grateful you started early rather than later. I swear by my beauty blender. Best makeup applicator there is, make sure you are wetting it first too.
Oh my gosh! You got some good stuff there! First, I SWEAR BY that mascara! That is my go-to. I actually bought a box from Sephora with all these mascara sample tubes right before I got that as a reward and I have never used a single one because that is my holy grail of mascara and I dont need another. I also buy the small sample size because I feel it’s more hygienic to use a smaller size for less time. I also use the beauty blender and I LOVE IT! It gives your face such a nice glow! As a recommendation: I recently started using Hope In A Jar Night by Philosophy and it has made my pores so much smaller! I highly recommend it! I am actually heading to Sephora now!
don’t get the JM argan – go to the health food store and get this instead: http://www.nowfoods.com/Argan-Oil-2floz.htm. 100% organic, 100% argan oil, way cheaper and so so awesome. it’s what i use on my face!
I bought a “knock off” beauty blender on Amazon for around $5 total with shipping. I’m never used an actual one but this one is fantastic!
Seriously your description of your skin at this moment is like me exactly. Hmmmmm I think I should scoop up that line especially since they make it in travel sizes like that. I buy the mini mascara as well. Half the price and I tend to use it more on the weekends. Great finds girl!
Oh Sephora *drool*, I’m a Smashbox fan, but that HD primer has me curious!! I think I need to pick some up :D.
wow, cant believe the beauty blender is that awesome! might have to give it a whirl, though i’m nto a huge makeup gal. my skin is a bitch too, especially under my eyes – my eye puffs up like a puffer fish with some makeup!
I cracked up that you laughed at said “for a sponge?! No.” Then loved it! Hahaa. I kinda think that is something I might do. The cool thing about it is your mind was open enough to realize it was awesome.
I love a good beauty haul!! Especially when all the shit does what it’s supposed to!! I’m totally getting a spongy thing.
Damn girl, you made out like a bandit! I want the Beauty Blender so bad but I’m like you… $19?!?! But hey, if it’s got your seal of approval for being worth it, I may just have to bite the bullet and go for it!
I got a sample size of They’re Real. It’s just “meh” for me. I mean, it’s definitely not bad, but, I guess I had ridiculously high expectations for it.
Oh hey I’m just here taking extensive notes on everything- damn the summer skin!!
First off, so jealous about Sephora in general. There is NO Sephora here on Guam and they DO NOT ship here either. I usually have to wait until I go home to Hawaii for a visit to stock up on Sephora goodies and that is not often.
I used to have a few Shiseido products a while ago but haven’t seen or tried any of their newer stuff. My skin is combination/oily too and I have a huge ass zit right on my chin as I type. I still break out from time to time so I mix my routine with some acne/blemish products and some anti-aging/serum products.
As for the beauty blender, I was so against it before but I think now I might need to give it a try! And hell yes to Benefit’s They’re Real mascara! I got a sample size of with my Sephora points last year and I LOVE that shit. I ran out of the sample size (obviously) so I started using some of the other mascaras I had but I need to find somewhere I can get that shit here on Guam!!!