Posts Tagged Aveeno

Beauty Low-Buy Update: Month Three – And a Little Tweaking

Posted by Latoya in 2012 Beauty Challenge, Aveeno, Body Care, Clinique, Creative Nail Design, Eye Liner, Lip Care, Sally Hansen, SPF, Stila, Styling Products, Top Coats on April 20, 2012

Well, hello dolls! Ready for your monthly installment of what I’ve been buying vs tossing? I’m pretty chatty in this post, so sit down, get comfy, and let’s jump right in!

Used Up (Mar. 20-Apr. 19):

Aveeno Skin Relief Fragrance Free Body Wash and Moisturizing Body Lotion

As boring as these two products are, I’m fairly certain that I’ll be using this duo for the rest of my natural born life – the body wash is the only one that doesn’t irritate my skin and keeps it soft and smooth, and the Aveeno lotions and creams work miracles at keeping my eczema at bay. Since I’ve finally committed to using these continously, I’d had a lot less (body) skin issues, so dull and boring it is!

Hawaiian Tropic Sheer Touch Sunscreen Lotion SPF15

I’ve been using Hawaiian Tropic sunscreen for years, and I love it (even though it IS a chemical sunscreen, which I try to avoid as they can cause irritation in sensitive skin). They changed the scent when they changed the bottle a year or two ago, which I was disappointed in at first, but now I’ve come to like the new scent as it’s less overwhelming and it doesn’t compete as much with any fragrances you wear (though its still beachy-smelling). I can’t comment on if this causes any breakouts anywhere (it doesn’t say oil-free or non-comedogenic anywhere) – I didn’t experience any, but I didn’t use it on my face and my body doesn’t usually have that issue. I used up the rest of this bottle when I was in Jamaica, and was bummed when I had to switch to the other sunscreen we had, Coppertone. When that runs out, I’ll likely pick up another bottle of this!

BedHead TIGI Foxy Curls Contour Cream

This is my second bottle of this stuff…the last time I bought one was back in May 2011 – so this lasted almost a full year!! Holy moley. I love the smell of this – like Skittles – but sadly that’s why I won’t be repurchasing in my effort to go as fragrance-free as possible. It works well though, and you only need a tiny bit (clearly!) to do the trick

Clinique Turnaround Concentrate Radiance Renewer

I’m sure I’ve mentioned this loads of times before. Great exfoliating product that doesn’t irritate the skin whatsoever. Makes my face feel nearly like a baby’s bottom! This bottle seemed to go faster than normal – I only got about two months out of it and I was only using it at night. I’m glad it’s done though, because I’m eager to start using my new Kate Somerville Quench Serum (more on that later)!

Alpha Hydrox Enhanced Cream 10% Glycolic AHA Anti-Wrinkle

I got this in a swap ages ago, as I read in the MUA reviews that it was awesome. Interestingly enough, the glycolic acid in this didn’t mess my skin up – it definitely tingles to the point of almost burning upon application, but the sensation dissipates within a minute and there’s no residual irritation afterward or the next morning. To be safe, I only used it every few days or so (and not in conjunction with the Clinique Concentrate, but it did make my skin feel lovely!

Ole Henriksen Truth Revealed Super Creme with SPF15

I reviewed this product previously, and my thoughts still hold – it was thick and hard to spread, and generally just didn’t feel very nice on my skin (though it felt lovely). I used this on my neck until it was gone so as to not waste it. I’m SO glad to toss this!

The Body Shop Pink Grapefruit Lip Butter / Nova Scotia French Vanilla Lip Balm

I bought The Body Shop lip butter back when I had a boyfriend who really liked grapefruit (how silly!) – except the taste of this is like ASS (well…not really, but you know…). GAH, it’s horrible! Somehow I managed to make a big dent in this but I haven’t touched it in years so it’s really pointless to keep it.

The Nova Scotia balm, well, I got this at our Pride Parade several years ago and I guess they just slapped a Nova Scotia label on it. It’s nothing special. It had SPF in it which has since expired, and I have other lip balms, so it’s time this kicked the bucket.

CND Cuticle Eraser AHA Cuticle Treatment

I think I read on All Lacquered Up that this was Michelle’s cuticle treatment of choice, so I picked it up to try it out about a year ago. I found that while it might have kept my cuticles smoother, it irritated my skin (but the AHA cream above didn’t – go figure), so I used it very sporadically. It caused little bumps on the skin just under my nails – whether that was an eczema reaction or not, I’m unsure, so I can’t say if this would happen to anyone else. I love my Burts Bees butter so I think I’ll just stick to that

Sally Hansen Insta-Dry Anti-Chip Top Coat

I plan on doing a round-up of a few base and top coats in the future, so I won’t get into too much detail about this – just suffice to say, it was like Seche Vite in the fact that once it got half finished, it got majorly goopy and hard to use. I can’t deal with screwing up my manicures, so out this goes!

Here are just some samples I finished up – nothing too stand-out. Bioderma’s Sebium AKN, which is supposed to ‘restore the skin’s natural clear aspect’ – I used this as a spot treatment, but didn’t find it did much in that capacity. It might be much more effective if used as an all-over face lotion. Clinique’s 7-Day Scrub, which is too creamy for my oily skin and leaves a slight filmy feeling, which would be nice for dry skin but just feels unclean on mine. However, it DOES exfoliate well, and gently! I used Korres Yogurt Cooling Gel down South, and it was OK, but it was such a small sample that I can’t really give a fair evaluation. I mainly used Clinique’s After Sun, which was admittedly AWESOME, so that doesn’t help. Lastly, I used the sample of Ojon’s Instant Restorative Hair Serum while in Jamaica as well, and it left my hair feeling lovely and hydrated after penetrating in the sun all day. It wasn’t too heavy or greasy-feeling either, or too strong-smelling as some Ojon products have been in the past. I’d consider buying this for the Summer to protect my hair from the sun and add a bit of shine.

…..Wow, right? This is just pitiful. Two products!? Oh man. I sincerely apologize for my miserable turnout this month! What’s worse, I didn’t realize I did so crappy until RIGHT NOW. I almost scammed you guys by accident and included three ‘tossed’ beauty products that I had already accounted for last month. I guess I felt bad about throwing them out when there was so much product left, and kept them in the empties bag. Oops! Double-oops too because I thought I wasn’t doing THAT bad getting rid of makeup…shoot. Oh well – maybe next month

ANYWAY, what’ve we got? NYC’s Color Wheel Mosaic Face Powder in All-Over Bronze Glow, which I mentioned last week, for one. I tried to make it work in Jamaica and it just didn’t do much. I’m done trying to make it work; no matter if I’m tanned or not, it just doesn’t seem to do it for me. Second, we have Stila’s Smudge Pot in Black, a surprize toss. I happened to open it up to use it last week and realized that it was pretty dried out and had pulled majorly from the sides (like a few millimeters!). Er, yea, time to go!

So that’s what we have for this month downsizing efforts – 11 full-size skincare products, 4 samples, and 2 makeup items. Not too shabby, though I’m a little let down with the meager makeup empties. Hopefully that’ll mean next month will be quite respectable!

Moving on to the scary portion of the post, lets take a look at what I purchased in the past month. In fact, aside from two items, everything I picked up I bought in the span of a week. Ah snap.

Purchased (Mar. 20-Apr. 19):

Yea. All of these items I bought in one week. Oh dear. Oh, well the three items in the front right were part of a deluxe sample set I got for free from Sephora. But the rest…no excuse. Here’s the list:

- Hugo Naturals Shower Gel in Vanilla & Sweet Orange $9.99
- (ANOTHER) Aveeno Skin Relief Fragrance Free Body Wash $8.99
- TRESemme Flawless Curls Curl Hydration Conditioner $3.99 (on sale)
- Kate Somerville Quench Oil-Free Hydrating Serum approx. $66 (15% off reg. price – $78)
- YSL Glossy Stain in #12 Corail Aquatique approx. $29 (15% off reg. price, $34)
- MUFE #17 Eyeshadow (matte brown) approx. $19 (15% of reg. price – $22)
- MAC Crosswires Lipstick $17.50

I know that I just preached a bunch about going fragrance-free, and that the Aveeno Body Wash is my HG…but it doesn’t mean I LIKE it, so I picked up the Hugo body wash in the ‘green’ aisle at the grocery store, as the fragrance is all-natural – so I’m hoping I’ll find a loophole in my own rule

To add to the above, I also picked up:

- a-England Nail Polish in Princess Sabra (Tristam Eyes) approx. $10 (30% off reg. price, approx. $14)
- Revlon Lip Butter in Peach Parfait $7.99 (on sale)

And to round it all out, I also bought two blushes from Illamasqua, Lover & Hussy (approx. $13 each [half off reg. price - approx. $26]). *I have yet to receive these in the mail

BAM.

So yea…I had a busy month. As you can see, I got some pretty excellent deals on almost all of my purchases, which is partially why I went a little crazy. Sephora definitely reeled me in with the 15% off, and when I received the email about the Easter Egg Hunt sale from Illamasqua, I had to check it out (the day we were leaving for Jamaica, I got the one about certain blushes being half off, so I thought I’d take a look – I totally expected it to be unpopular shades, but each of the 5 shades were some of their top sellers! How could I NOT buy Lover and Hussy!? It would have cost me $65CAD to buy them full price (incl. shipping) and instead it came to $40 (with shipping). Sa-weet!!). So yea. A bad month according to my guidelines, but kind of a great month too! And it gives me LOTS of material for upcoming posts

However. In light of my spectacular failure to adhere to ANY restrictions regarding my purchasing, I have decided to restructure my guidelines. It just doesn’t make sense to me to pretend to follow a low-buy when in fact I seem to be on a ‘grab all you can’ buy. I still need some structure, but I need to tweak it a bit. So here’s the new rule for makeup (all other guidelines remain unchanged):

- 10 makeup purchases per season (previous: max of 3 LE purchases per season; non-LE items on a use two, buy one system)

Now, before you go and think that I’m being entirely too easy on myself (if I wasn’t already before!), let me explain why I’m making these changes. First of all, to be clear: while part of this low-buy is to weed through my stash, over the past couple months I realized that it’s not necessarily to scale it back, but to eliminate items that just don’t really ‘do’ it for me. I’ve come to grips with the fact that in being a beauty blogger, and being as obsessed as I am with beauty, the plain truth is that my makeup collection is going to continue to grow – there’s just no way I’m going to be able to use everything (c’mon, blushes last for YEARS) and I’m certainly not going to stop shopping until I do. What I really want to do is make sure that everything I own I love, and I’m really making headway in that area, so I think that’s an achievement!

I have to be honest with you as well, that the other part of the low-buy is definitely related to cash flow. While I’m managing my addiction fairly well, I do think that maintaining some sort of guideline is a smart thing to do, so that I don’t get too crazy or wrapped up in wanting everything – I find since blogging I want to be able to review every product that comes on the market, but I just can’t afford to! This way I can make sure that I have ‘controls’ in place so I know when I’m nearing a reasonable limit. AND it helps to ensure that whatever I’m purchasing, I absolutely love – which relates back to the first point! It’s a win-win in my books (ALSO…with Jamaica behind me, I have to get my butt in gear to save more $$ for New Zealand – definitely a huge priority!)

Fiordland, New Zealand *Photo courtesy of PacificIslands.com

You may think that it’s almost pointless to have any guidelines at all, since many others who are on a no- or low-buy are quite restricted in their purchasing. However, I do find it difficult not to just buy every single thing I’d like, so I think the above restructure of the guidelines allows me to have some fun while still keeping me in check. When I initially created the ‘Limited Edition’ rule, I had actually done so to make sure that I indulged in some of the great LE items, as I often missed out on them in the past. Well, I think I’m definitely over that behavior (LOL!), and a purchase is a purchase, so I just lumped all makeup spending together and made it a number that seemed reasonable. Again, if I get the urge to shop just for shopping’s sake, and buy something I don’t really love, that still counts as one – so I’ll be more likely to avoid doing that if I know my purchasing power has a limit.

Oh the silly things we do! I’m sure some of you find these kinds of rambles terribly boring, and I don’t fault you for it I just know that if I don’t have anyone to hold me accountable, I could go all sorts of crazy and buy everything I laid my hands on (I feel that urge more often than not!). And since I know some of you are going through similar bans of your own, I hope that on some level you can relate.

I hope it doesn’t seem like I’m bailing on my original terms or that I’m making things too easy on myself. This plan IS easier in the fact that I don’t have to bust my balls trying to find products I can use up or toss, which just started to feel ridiculous to me, but it is more in line with my true feelings about makeup. While I still get overwhelmed at how much I have and the impossible notion of how to use it all, I am actually developing a collection of products that I simply adore, and I can only get rid of so much before I am just basically throwing away money for no good reason. The low-buy has really opened my eyes and I feel SO much more at peace with my stash and all the connotations that come with it! That in itself to me is the best achievement I could ask for

I will continue to do monthly updates on my progress, as I still plan on challenging myself on holding back from making any ‘unnecessary’ purchases, and also because it’s a great way to give you an overall picture of my beauty world – what I’m using (up) and what new items I’ve been enjoying. I can’t wait to read about everyone else’s progress as we continue to push forward – I support each of you in your own reasons for your no/low-buy, and hope it’s going well. For you and anyone else engaging in a beauty challenge, I wish you good luck and hope you stay strong!!

END RANT.
(So sorry if you stuck with me through the whole thing! I try not to do too many of these lengthy posts :S)

Alpha Hydrox 10% Glycolic Acid, Aveeno, Beauty Blog, BedHead TIGI Curl Contour, CND Cuticle Eraser, Hawaiian Tropic sunscreen, low buy, Reviews

17 Comments

A Year’s Worth of Favorite Products: My Top Ten of 2011

Posted by Latoya in Anti-Aging, Aveeno, Body Care, Buxom, Chanel, Clinique, Duochrome, Essie, Exfoliants, Eye Liner, Eyeshadow, Favorite Product of the Month, Fragrance, Grey, Hair, Illamasqua, Lips, MAC, Make-up, Metallic, Nail Polish, NARS, Prada, Primer, Skincare, Styling Products, TIGI, Urban Decay on December 3, 2011

I started to write my regular ‘Fave Product of the Month’ post, but realized that 2011 is nearing it’s close, and there are many other products I’d like to write about before the year comes to an end. Since December is looking like a crazy-busy month for me (and likely most of us!), I figured I’d do the Top Ten post now, rather than later, where it might get put on the backburner and come 2012, I’ll have never done it (case in point – this post has been in the works for three days and I’m just getting it out now!). And so – in ten separate categories, here are my personal fave products of 2011:

1) Primer: While I have been impressed by both MUFE’s HD Primer, and the Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer, my true fave of the bunch is NARS’ Smudgeproof Eyelid Primer. I have been a faithful devotee to UD’s Primer Potion for a couple years, but found it somewhat drying and could make certain shadow formulations too intense (metallic, in particular). NARS’ version is colorless, blending seamlessly into the skin, and feels like nothing on. It doesn’t change the color or intensity of my shadows/liners, but they wear infinitely better and longer with this applied first. A must-have if you want your eye products to last all day, or for a night of dancing. Absolutely no negatives on this one! $29CAD.

2) Foundation/Concealer: I’ve tried my fair share of concealers this year, and none of them have really lived up to my hopes. However, my NARS Sheer Glow foundation (reviewed here) surpassed any dreams I had – while I don’t *need* too much coverage, I like a nice wearing foundation that gives my skin a natural, flawless look without too much fuss. This formula in the shade Syracuse matches my skin to a T. I worried that this might be too heavy for my oilier skin, but it’s proven not to be the case – rather, it’s improved the look of my skin and kept it hydrated during cold, windy days and nights. I wouldn’t choose this in the warmer months, as I prefer something very sheer and lightweight, but for Fall and Winter, this is an definite go-to for me. $55CAD.

3) Eyeshadow: This is a toss-up for me, because different shadows do different things. For a basic, dress up or down shadow, I’d reach for Urban Decay’s Smog in a heart beat. This bronze-y/brown shadow is close enough to my skintone to be natural looking, but metallic enough to be perfect for a special evening or event. Not to mention that most of UD’s shadows ($20CAD) feel like absolute butter (this one being no exception) – it’s a smooth, evenly pigmented formula that wears really well.

Following close behind, another versatile shadow I have is Chanel’s Emerveille (reviewed here). Worn all over the lid, it’s very subtle but the beautiful shimmer in it is far from boring. It’s makes a truly fabulous highlight for inner eye and brow bone, and is terribly easy to apply with a finger or dense brush. I’ll never get bored of this shadow! $37CAD and worth every penny.

4) Eyeliner: Though I really adore MUFE’s Aqua Liners, particularly #14 (a gorgeous, multi-colored shimmer liquid liner with a charcoal base – $26CAD), my heart is forever taken by Illamasqua’s Havoc Precision Ink Liner. OMG. Seriously, I gaze at this liner lovingly and sigh. It’s so unusual and yet so ridiculously amazing and flattering – that combination of pretty yet unique is hard to find, and oh-so-covetable. And the wear on this baby is outta this world! C’mon, if I can sleep with this on and wake up without nary a budge or smudge? Yeah, that’s kind of awesome. $27CAD.

5) Lippie: I actually thought at first that I didn’t have anything of note in this category, but then I took a look and realized I was forgetting two gems – Buxom’s Big and Healthy Lip Stick in Sydney, and MAC’s Dare You lipstick. I know….I have two products in this category too – seems I’m not so good at making decisions, eh? Regardless, both of these should be mentioned anyway, because one came out this year and the other didn’t, so we’ll leave the latter as an honorable mention (since I’m also having difficulties chosing products from the right timeframe!). Also, both are classics that every gal should have in her lippie wardrobe – maybe not these specific shades, but as a general rule

And so. My first choice is a nude lippie, which is a great staple color to own, particularly as it pairs very well with the more intense eye makeup looks I tend to wear. As some of you may know, I was on the hunt for a great nude shade – and I found perfection in Sydney. Not too pink/peach/beige or otherwise, this just mutes my lips enough so that my eyes take centre stage. A touch of gloss on top (because it’s fairly matte), and I’m ready to go ($23CAD).Runner-up notable lippie is MAC’s Dare You ($17.50CAD), which you’ll be happy to hear is a permanent shade, and is also one very sexy deep red. For my complexion, and taking into consideration my fuller lips, this is the perfect shade of red for me as it’s classic, stand-out, yet demure enough that it isn’t aggressively in your face. As much as I love the bright lips look that’s so popular right now, it just doesn’t work for me, sadly. Or least I haven’t figured out how, yet. In the interim, this makes me feel powerful and beautiful, and requires very little else on the face. I’m completely sold!

6) Nail Polish: I’ve tried and worn a plethora of polishes this year, more so than any other in my (relatively) short 29 years. It’s extremely hard – nay, impossible - to narrow it down to only one shade that was above all others, but if it must be done…I’d pick Chanel’s Peridot ($27CAD). Are you surprized? I think not It just captivated me so completely over all the other new offerings this year. To be fair, there were some serious runners up, Essie’s Power Clutch ($11CAD)being among them. Also, some shades that were not necessarily released this year – Illamasqua’s Baptiste ($22CAD), and butter London’s Snog ($18CAD), could even unsurp Peridot, but in keeping with my faves of 2011 – Peridot takes the prize. Slam and…DUNK.

7) Face (Skincare) Product: Even though I’ve been singing praises for Ole Henriksen’s Truth Serum, and I’m loving the effects on my skin, I have to give this one away to Clinique’s Turnaround Concentrate (or Night Moisturizer, depending on the season – $47 and $51.50CAD, respectively). This product takes care of it all – clogged pores, acne, flakiness, hyperpigmentation, uneven skin texture – the nature of the exfoliation really handles most problems that can crop up with your skin. I certainly notice a difference in my skin when I’m “off the blue stuff” (as my Mom would say). I lied – this also is a repeat product in my stash, though I get this one for free If I had to buy it with my own hard earned cash though, I would. It’s really the workhorse in my skincare regime.

8) Body Product: My body care routine is terribly boring, unfortunately – wash, moisturize, repeat; that’s about it. But, due to the simplicity of my regime, I absolutely needed to find products that would be effective. There are a million and one moisturizers out there, half of which I can’t use because of their fragrance; the others are either not moisturizing enough, or so occlusive that they make my skin sticky and bumping (due to clogged pores). Aveeno’s Eczema Care Cream ($10.49CAD) is a miracle in a tube – it keeps my skin hydrated all day, but doesn’t make me greasy and leaves my skin as smooth as a baby’s bottom. I never thought I’d see the day where I was buying a product hand over fist, repeatedly – SO not my style! But, here it is, I’ve become devoted to a product – call me a convert

9) Hair Product: Sadly, my hair care system isn’t much more interesting than my body care – there’s not a whole lot you can do with this curly mop! However, there is one product that has been my standby for the last year or so (though…also not released this year, dang!) – TIGI’s Foxy Curls Curl Contour Cream ($19CAD). Smells like skittles (mmmm), and makes my curls soft and springy, but never stiff, crunchy or sticky. I really love this styling lotion, and it lasts AGES – probably about 8 months start to finish, which is crazy – particularly for my hair as it EATS product. Sadly…due to my new fear of fragrance, when this is finished, it’s finished – I’m too nervous to keep using it for fear that it’s affecting my skin in some detrimental way. We had a great run though, and I highly recommend trying it out if you have curly hair or waves that need a little boost!

10) Fragrance: Despite my avoidance of fragranced products, I actually don’t have any issue wearing fragrance itself – I guess because it’s placed in specific spots rather than all over. Sadly, the product that wins this category for me is not yet something I own (nor was it released in 2011)…but Prada’s Infusion d’Iris perfume is AH-MA-ZING!! and therefore well worth mentioning, despite the fact that it was launched in 2007 (LOL). This is SO not my usual choice for fragrance – I’m typically into very gourmand scents, ones that smell like food, like Hanae Mori’s Butterfly, but every so often a scent like this will take hold of me, and won’t let go until I give in and buy a bottle. I have a sample of this, which I wear for only special occasions and which has lasted for a lot longer than I expected it to – but it’s nearing it’s end, which means I’ll have to bite the bullet and invest the better part of $100 just to have a small bottle of it (which is all I ever buy for fragrance because I never wear the same one twice). This woody floral boasts notes of mandarin, vetiver, and cedarwood, which compliment the Iris Pallida perfectly. By the end of 2011, I WILL have my very own bottle…and won’t I be smelling sweet

I feel like I’m missing some products that surely deserve major love and attention, but at this very moment I can’t think of what they might be!! What I am thinking of though, is to add one more additional category – my favorite BLOGS of 2011. There are some amazingly wonderful reads out there and I think they deserve props for doing what they do so darn well. Most of these are well-known and likely will come of no surprize, but nonetheless they bring me immense reading pleasure. So, here are my five absolute must-read-every-day faves:

Beauty Editor – Though I’m not entirely a fan of the shorthand words that are in heavy rotation on the blog (its totes about the prodz!), I am LOVING the in-depth posts that don’t scrimp on information about the latest makeup trends, skincare innovations, or celebrity styles. I devour each and every post from start to finish, and I always leave with much more knowledge than I started with. I feel like I am getting insider knowledge every time I visit the page. A definite must-read if you want to learn as well as look!

Beauty Reductionista – Best.Idea.Ever. for a blog – beauty reduction! As cosmetic junkies, we all know what it’s like to have just too much - and Liz lets us join in on her journey towards reducing her stash and quelling ever-present lemmings that never go away. Of course, sometimes she indulges, and that just makes her human – there are so many pretty things out there, how do you resist!? Liz infuses her posts with hilarity and insight, which make for a powerful combination and a terrific read. She recognizes her weaknesses but never gives up on her quest, and I admire her tenacity every day. It helps keep ME on the straight and narrow too!

Ommorphia Beauty Bar – OK, I mean, who comes up with an amazing blog name like this in the first place?!? Sheesh. From the very first time I stumbled upon this blog I knew it was something special. Not only are her photos (and nails!) first-rate, but she injects a little something extra into each post – you know she’s not just firing them off without putting in a lot of time and effort into each one. She oozes kindness and this positive energy that you can feel right through the blogosphere. Looking for swatches of the latest nail polishes to hit the streets? Eugenia has got you covered. Go! Now!!

Cafe Makeup (and The Beauty Look Book) – I tied these two together because when I think of one, I can’t help but think of the other. The ladies of these blogs are absolutely some of the classiest I’ve come across – their taste is impeccable and the cosmetics stash they each have is to be seriously revered. To spend a day at their vanity (or wherever they store their collection) would be akin to Scrooge McDuck swimming in his sea of money – pure bliss. The infinite number of high-end products they own is something I look up to – quality all the way. I appreciate their genuine admiration of the very beautiful nature of cosmetics in general – to them, it seems more about the experience of the product itself, and not just the prestige of owning the more luxurious items of the beauty world.

She Cooks, He Eats – This is somewhat off-topic as the nature of this blog is food- rather than beauty-related, but I just can’t help but be continuously drawn to Kat’s delicious pictures of either her own current culinary pursuits or of possible gastronomic adventures to be taken. I am left drooling at the sight of cake batter pancakes, or five different types of nachoes (yum!!), and I just enjoy the simple, down-to-Earth (yet far from boring) approach she takes to relating her passion to her readers. As someone who is just beginning to take a real interest in having fun in the kitchen, Kat’s blog appeared on my radar at just the perfect moment.

I’m sure that I appear biased toward these blogs, but truly – each one of them is something I look forward to reading each and every day, and I feel that they all take a truly unique, and fabulous approach to the task which I love. I measure my own blogging path against these ladies, and only hope that I can provide my readers which half as much awesomeness as they do. I’ll keep trying!

So there are my faves of 2011, whether they were created in 2011 or prior, they’re what have been rocking my world this year. I’d love to hear what some of your own favorites are – I’m always in the market for new inspiration!

Aveeno, best of 2011, Buxom, Chanel, Clinique, halifax beauty blog, illamasqua, mac, nars, Prada, TIGI, Urban Decay

6 Comments

My Top Five Drugstore Finds

Posted by Latoya in Drugstore Finds, Hair, Make-up, Nail Polish, Skincare on June 6, 2011

I’ve become somewhat of a snob when it comes to cosmetics – I think partially because I have so much stuff, that buying more expensive items keeps the amount of products amassed in check. Also, because once you get a taste of luxury, well…you’re totally screwed.

Anyway, I still spend a fair bit of time in Shoppers Drug Mart perusing the aisles, and buying basics such as moisturizer or conditioner that require regular replenishment (and therefore shouldn’t be breaking the bank!). Particularly, there are a few products that I’ve picked up over the last year or so from the drugstore that have been quite impressive and deserve a good mention.

1) Milani Sunset Duos Blush & Bronzer in Sunset Beach – Milani cosmetics are sold at Lawtons Drugstores and while I’ve not tried any other of their products, this blush/bronzer combo is really beautiful. The blush is a plummy shade with a touch of shimmer, and the bronzing shade is more brown than orange, and matte. It garners high marks on MUA, and rightly so: the two swirled together and applied to cheekbones, temples and a swipe down the nose look exceptional. It gives my skin some color without looking obvious – more like a bronzer, enhanced, than blush. I use this if I’m going to do a more dramatic lip so that it balances my skin but doesn’t compete. I’ve had bronzers in the past, but they never make my skin look as good as this product does. Well done, Milani!2) Aveeno Nourish + Condition Leave-In Treatment – I’ve been trying out a bunch of different leave-ins (Infusium23, Nexxus, eg.), but they just didn’t give my hair the hydration and slip I was looking for. As my hair is so curly, I really need something that will allow me to detangle easily while minimizing breakage, and this product does the trick. And I does seem to improve the health of my hair over time as well. The one downside is that because of the way it sprays out, I find the bottle only lasts a couple months – but as it’s under $10, it’s not a huge problem.3) Sally Hansen Age Correct No Chip Base + Top Coat – I’ve been using this exclusively as my base coat for about two years now, with continuous success. I usually grab one when it goes on sale, for around $5, though it’s only $8.99 regular price I think. On MUA it says its discontinued, but I have been able to get it at Shoppers consistently without issue. It easily compares to CND’s ‘Stickey’ base coat, or Orly Bonder, and performs just as well (actually, I like it better than ‘Stickey’). And it doesn’t get goopy until you’ve got about a third of the bottle left, which is pretty good considering some other formulas! Used as a top coat, it is damn near impenetrable – which I actually find as a downside because it makes removal so much harder!! But at least it’s doing a good job I will still stick with my S.Vite though – I’m addicted to how fast it dries! 4) Neutrogena Healthy Skin Anti-Wrinkle Cream – This was my first foray into retinol-based products, and I’m completely sold on the effectiveness. Even thought this is OTC (over-the-counter), it still works great, for a fraction of the price of other Retinol/Retin-A products. For a newbie to retinol, it’s a great option as it’s not too harsh but you get good results – smooth, even skin with breakouts minimized. I have eczema and have had no irritation or issues with this product at all. For $22, it’s a great anti-aging product for almost anyone!5) Revlon Lipsticks – I rarely buy lipstick, as I don’t wear it all that often, but when I do buy one I usually go drugstore because of the infrequency of use (although, for classic shades like red, I like MAC…and mmm that creme brule-vanilla scent is yummy). I have found that Revlon consistently makes a good lipstick, with a large range of shades and textures, and good wear time. I have one from the Super Lustrous line – which is creamy, easy to apply and has a TON of shades (mine is actually a ‘Up the Amp’ dupe called Haute Berry) – and one of the Color Burst shades, in Mauve, which has dense pigmentation and is also very creamy. Neither are drying at all and just feel great on the lips. For a relatively inexpensive product (around $9), I’ll be coming back for more shades in the future, without a doubt.So there you have it. Many of these products I picked up because of great reviews, as no matter how much or little a product costs, I still rely of other cosmetic junkie’s opinions So I ask you – what are your own personal drugstore favorites that are standouts to you? What items should I be giving a second look? Suggestions, please!