Did you know they have a name now? Those bathroom counter shots that are so popular on Pinterest? They’re called “shelfies.” Yeah. Really. Well, here’s my shelfie. I don’t have flowers in my bathroom, or candles lit, or the products all neatly laid out like they’re never used. This is how my bathroom counter really looks. Messy.
I have streamlined by routine quite a lot lately, in an effort to decrease the amount of stuff I take with me when I travel, and in general, to use less. The biggest thing I did was go back to the mascara/eyeliner combo I used for a long time: Lancome Defincils & Hourglass. I had been having SO MANY issues lately with not being able to remove my eye makeup, no matter what I tried, and I couldn’t figure it out. Everything used to work perfectly, but then I remembered that I’ve been trying new mascara and eyeliners…aha! So I went back to Defincils and Hourglass and both things come off easily with just regular cleanser. Which is a major requirement for me. I HATE to work very hard to remove makeup. HATE it.
I also switched to the Fresh soy cleanser and Konjac sponge from EcoTools. I was curious about the sponge, and then I read somewhere an expert saying that you just can’t remove EVERYTHING without some exfoliation or sponge and that she uses the ecotools version. So, I got one, and have really enjoyed it. I feel like my skin gets very clean, and it’s great for my sensitive skin (it’s not abrasive at all).
After that, I’ve also switched from the beauty elixir to the grape water by Caudalie because it’s A TON cheaper. And while I did think the beauty elixir made my skin look a little brighter, I couldn’t honestly tell if it was that specifically, or a combination of that and the serum. Really. It’s SO CONFUSING. So I decided to go cheaper, and I really like the feel of the grape water, and it’s definitely more moisturizing on my skin.
On top of that I use the Caudalie serum, then the moisturizing sorbet on top of that, and then shiseido sunscreen. Then RMS beauty un cover-up to cover up my redness, Bobbi Brown cream blush, Nars powder, mascara and sometimes eyeliner, and done.
I have recently tried a few new things that I like, but don’t know that I’ll buy any time soon (they’re expensive…). I do use the Amore Pacific CC cream sometimes as “makeup” but the coverage isn’t as great as I’d like. I do like that it has sunscreen in it, unlike the RMS un cover-up though. I’m interested and intrigued by the brand generally, so I got some samples at the NM flagship when I was there recently. I really did like the eye cream; I think I could tell that the skin around my eyes appeared more firm and brighter – and the day version has sunscreen, which I appreciate. I also really liked the future response age defense cream as a combo moisturizer/sunscreen – it’s very hydrating and leaves my skin feeling supple. But both of those are so expensive…I’m not sure they’re really worth it. I still have lots of samples left, though, so I’ll keep using them, and see if I can tell a big difference.
I also got some samples from Kate Sommerville – I wasn’t that blown away by anything, but I did like the Dillo oil a bit better than argan oil. It’s drier and smells much nicer! It’s supposed to be better at firming, etc., so I’ve been using it more on my chin to try and stave off any more sagging. Although, I’m not sure anything will help with that…sadly.
Finally, I got a teeny tiny sample of the Bumble & Bumble hairdresser’s invisible oil and LOVED IT. I mixed it with my Texture cream when my hair was damp and then applied it when it was dry to stop some of the frizziness that I get on the blond pieces right around my face. It didn’t feel too heavy or seem to weigh my hair down at all. I haven’t purchase the full-size yet, because it’s expensive, but I think it might prove to be worth it. I’m starting to miss it…
Tried anything new lately? Anything worth sharing??
Oh…and I finally selected the winner of the Kendra Scott necklace, and it is…Jennipher! If you haven’t already, check your email 😉 thanks for playing guys, I’ll have something else for you next week!
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“Shelfie”. Bwahaha. Cute.
I need to go to product rehab because I am a full. on. junkie. My bathroom is embarrassing. I have a bank of old gym lockers in which I store my, uh, collections. Just yesterday I finally splurged on the Gypsy Water fragrance I’ve been lusting after (thanks to the Purple Card promo at Barney’s; also stocked up on more Oribe, because one can never have enough).
The most impressive product I’ve encountered recently is Skinmedica’s TNS Recovery Complex. Godawful expensive but the change in the skin is amazing. I’m 37 and my skin looks better now than when I was 28: even, smooth, radiant. I tried Lytera from the same line (for lightening hyperpigmented areas) and was not as impressed, but the Recovery Complex is a must have.
I’m also really liking the Amore Pacific cushion foundations. They have a super high SPF (although how much you’d have to apply to actually get that level of protection is questionable) and have a very natural finish. My main complaint is that the lightest shade available in the US is just a touch dark for me, but since it’s so sheer, it’s not glaringly obvious. Don’t they say to use a shade darker in the summer anyway? *shrugs*
i wish i could remember where i read that…
tell me about oribe – what do you use, and how do you use it? i bought a small size of the dry texturizing spray and sort of liked it, but couldn’t really tell that it did much for me. maybe i was using it wrong, or my hair wasn’t the right style to use it. i obviously liked it enough, because i used it up…and i’ve been wanting to try some of the other products, my salon in austin used oribe.
i will look up skinmedica – that sounds like a miracle cream!
i always like the amore pacific cushion cream once it’s been on for a while, but it seems to need a lot of layering. but it does last forever…and yes, i believe they do say to use a darker shade in the summer.
I love when you write about beauty products, and also share your latest discoveries. Okay, so I’m obsessive about anything that’s vanilla bean scented. Recently, I bought 100% Pure Organic Vanilla Bean Body Wash. This is fantastic stuff. Not only does it have a lovely (and lasting) aroma, it comes out in a luscious foam. It softens your skin, too. Best of all, it’s only $16 bucks for a big bottle!
see, we’re opposite: i really dislike vanilla scented body products. i like it in food…just not on me 😉 i did try one of the lavanilla grapefruit/vanilla scents and it was just too much for me!!
First, I gotta say I went out to Target the day you posted that dress and bought it. It’s really flattering, though I can’t figure out what to wear over it? Any thoughts? I could do a leather jacket, but I’d honestly rather just wear it with nothing over it if that’s the best option.
Re: beauty stuff. I’ve been researching like a junkie, though I recently streamlined my stash. I like Trish McEvoy products — I use her beauty booster serum before moisturizing with spf, and I got a combo bronzer and blush last year that adds really great color to my skin.
Like the poster above, I use several products by Oribe. I love the scent, and I think the dry texturizing spray is wonderful. I’m also not 100% great at using it, but I recently chopped off my hair — it’s your length now, so between that and the dress, we’re twinsies! sorry — and I can’t really do without products anymore.
I have the Rodin lip gloss you linked to, and it’s nothing special in my book. Except the packaging is really sharp. Have you tried any of their other products?
Also, are there any scents on the masculine side that you recommend? I haven’t worn perfume in a very long time because I haven’t found one I thought suits me… I like woodsy, masculine, classic.
-Sheera
Never heard of the shelfie, but love it! I want to share my new finds because I have skin like yours, sensitive, on the dryer side, sometimes.
I have been LOVING Sunday Riley. I’ve used both cleansers, and like them both. I like the Charisma Creme for winter only though. The oils are fabulous…all of them. Her eyecream really brightens up the under eye area nicely. And I splurged and bought her Cashmere sunscreen, which is also a moisturizer..omg…in love. First, it doesn’t feel like sunscreen, nor smell like it. Really nice product. I even bought the Effortless Tinted Primer and like that very much on top of the Cashmere. I am really enjoying her products, and they are natural. I used to love Amore Pacific, but they got too expensive, and I just cannot deal with the powerful smell of their stuff. But they are a great brand 🙂
yay for twinsies!! 😉
i tried the target dress on with my james perse sweatshirt over it, both denim jackets (cropped & oversized), and a long black cardigan…and even an everlane ryan tank. they all look pretty good, but on my shape, the best look is one where you can see my waist, so the cropped denim jacket works the best, but i would probably be more inclined to throw on a long black cardigan … for the summer, i’ll definitely wear it without anything on top. i like that it covers everything pretty well!
i’m going to have to try the dry texturizing spray again, that is what i seem to be always missing: texture. but not sticky or greasy…
i agree with you on the rodin lip gloss, it’s nothing special, but i LOVE the packaging. i haven’t tried the oil – i’ve just stuck primarily with josie maran, but next time i buy an oil, i might buy the kate sommerville i mentioned, that one smells so nice.
scents…that’s a good question. i haven’t really worn anything in such a long time. but my favorite scent has always been musk or amber or magnolia or jasmine on the floral-y sides – i used to buy the kiehl’s musk oil and put it in their lightweight lotion and body wash. back when i used expensive lotion & body wash 😉
oh..yes, i have wanted to try sunday riley. thanks for your suggestions!! i know they’re in a lot of places on line, but i wonder if they have it at NM or nordstrom here so i can get some samples…
what do you use on top of the primer? anything? have you tried the liquid light foundation?
I know they sell it at dept. stores but I don’t know which ones. I live in Charleston now, and we don’t have a Nordstrom, or Saks :(. Miss them though. I use my RMS Uncover Up over it, but just under my eyes and to cover any redness. I haven’t tried the foundation from Sunday Riley. The primer has a tint, and it really does a nice job of smoothing things out and it covers too.
Sephora has easy returns if you don ‘t like anything ( of course you probably know that lol)
Actually, Duff is pretty much correct on that. If you’re going to “fudge” your foundation shade, it’s better to go slightly dark vs. light, which gives you a ghost-like mask! Plus, as she pointed out, we often get darker in the summer, even with the use of sunscreen. Of course, you want your face and neck to match so you don’t look like a “disembodied head”!
I am really interested in the Konjac sponge, which I’ve never tried, but you made it sound like it would work for my sensitive skin. The other thing you turned me onto is the Caudalie a Beauty Elixir. I love it when my face is feeling red and warm. I might refrigerate it this summer! I keep reading such great things about their latest serum: http://www.sephora.com/polyphenol-c15-anti-wrinkle-defense-serum
I’ve had great results with Skinmedica’s Redness Relief (recommended by my esthetician), but I may have to try the TNS recovery complex. I just won a pile of YBF Skincare, which gets great reviews.
I’m always buying new lip glosses. I got LORAC Lips with Benefits…hated it. Armour…LOVE it! Tarte’s new Lipsurgence lip gloss..ADORE it. And of course, I can’t leave out Bobbi Brown: Intensive Overnight Cream, long wear gel eyeliner pencil in Scotch and I love them both.
And you can find Skinmedica frequently on-sale on all of those skincare websites: Derm Doctor, The Skin Store, Dermstore, etc. they ALWAYS have a sale or coupons!
OMG, Sheera!!! If you don’t mind spending a bit of money on good fragrance, I’d go to Barney’s or just on their website and try one of these ( In fact, they can be pretty generous with samples, so maybe you can try before you buy!):
Serge Lutens: http://www.barneys.com/on/demandware.store/Sites-BNY-Site/default/Product-Show?pid=00458220000193&cgid=SERG01&index=7
le Labo: http://www.barneys.com/on/demandware.store/Sites-BNY-Site/default/Product-Show?pid=00505012274826&cgid=womens-fragrances&index=15
Byredo: http://www.barneys.com/on/demandware.store/Sites-BNY-Site/default/Product-Show?pid=00505033265780&cgid=womens-fragrances&index=24
ANYTHING by Tom Ford. I used to sell it, and I can tell you, a lot of tourists from a certain very hot country where they still have kings and sheiks used to scoop that up like it was free!!!
I’ve been using Jurlique Skin Balancing oil, which is very affordable considering it seems like its going to last forever. I like it better than the Josie Maran argan oil that also have, it seems to sink in faster and it smells really good.
I really need recommendations for hair products that control frizz without a lot of chemical ingredients or silicone. I’d been relying on Aveda products, but I’ve never liked the smell very much, its too strong. I’ve been struggling with super frizz as I test one product after another that I don’t like.
I have an Oribe problem. Full on. I have dry curly hair that I blow out and then put loose waves/bends into. I also wear extensions which typically are smoother/shinier than my own hair. So, start with Royal Blowout mist all over. Then, if I’m going for a smoother look, Apres Beach on extensions, midshaft to ends. If I’m feeling something more curly/beachy, I’ll use Beachcomber mousse instead. That stuff means business. That gives more texture than any product I’ve ever used. My hair practically dreads up with it. (Which is good. I like messy, effed-up hair.) Then, Supershine moisturizing cream + Gold lust oil on my own hair. Then blow dry/style. I’ll generally hit the roots with the Texturizing Spray to reduce the slippery clean hair feeling. Then Superfine spray to set the whole mess. Then, a varying combination of Smooth Style Serum, more Supershine cream, and GL oil to seal any gnarly split ends or frizzies. And with that, I sound hideously high maintenance, and there is no shortage of irony that all that goes into purposefully messy hair.
Oh yes! I had a major Sunday Riley moment last fall. The Juno oil is really nice and worth putting up with the stinky smell. I like it better than Rodin, which is heavier. (Plus, its amazing scent just does not last. My bottle is 4/5 full and has virtually no scent anymore.) I also like Skin Adrenaline and the Ceramic Slip cleanser. The sunscreen is nice but still gets that white cast if not applied perfectly smoothly/thinly. I love the packaging, which I fully admit I am a sucker for. All told though, it’s so pricey… I will probably not repurchase. The “primers” are okay, they just seem like tinted moisturizer to me, so I don’t get the hype about them.
Lol! Obsession in the truest sense. I’d just go back to bed if I had to do all of that!
Haha! I only wash and style once a week. There is no way I’d do that daily!
ok. so i’m having issues with eyeliner again. the hourglass one i bought and JUST raved about isn’t working out…i hadn’t used it until this weekend because i was still using my old one, and this new one doesn’t deposit anything! i’d read complaints about it before, but have had two other ones and never had a problem until this one…i have to go over and over and over to get anything to come out, so i’m taking it back. maybe i’ll try the bobbi brown long wear gel eyeliner pencil. how do you remove it though? that is my biggest peeve…stuff that won’t come off easily – and just reading on sephora it’s getting not-so-great reviews..hmmm…
UGH. all other eyeliner tends to deposit UNDER my eyes. i don’t get it…what am i supposed to do?? go back to stabbing my eyes out with the BB gel pots??
i don’t have a lot of frizz, just a little on some pieces in the front, and i found that the B&B hairdresser’s oil worked very well on that. also the oscar blandi creme seems to prevent it if i use it on my damp hair (i always mix it with B&B texture cream). i don’t think either of those are very “natural” though 🙁
I’m sensing a little frustration here…????
First of all, do NOT stab your eyes out! Bad decision. And you’re in good company, cuz a lot of women don’t like having to use a brush, which is why Bobbi Brown obviously came out with a pencil version.
Personally, I love the long-wear gel eye pencil and find it to have great staying power. But as I’ve gotten older, I’ve developed over-hanging lids, so almost EVERY eyeliner transfers to my upper sagginess. I’ve had to resort to desperate measures, so I now use Bobbi Brown’s eyeshadow base (which is relatively new to the line) and a little powder eyeshadow over that in a pale color, such as “Ivory” or “vanilla”…basically, whatever PALE is for your skin tone (so it could be “banana” or “shell”), and then line my upper lashline with a dark color (Sepia, espresso, scotch, black…). Then, and I think this is important to avoid droopy looking eyes (unless it’s night, in which case I say “Go for sexy and pile it on!”), line under your lower lash line with a lighter color so the line is soft and just “hints” at thicker lashes ( I use Mally’s: http://www.mallybeauty.com/evercolor-waterproof-automatic-eyeliner in “Soft Taupe” and NO under eye mess!).
That’s what works for me. I really do love Mallys eyeliner gel pencils longevity and color selection, plus, you never have to sharpen them!
Let me know if you try it!!
I’m sensing a little frustration here…????
First of all, do NOT stab your eyes out! Bad decision. And you’re in good company, cuz a lot of women don’t like having to use a brush, which is why Bobbi Brown obviously came out with a pencil version.
Personally, I love the long-wear gel eye pencil and find it to have great staying power. But as I’ve gotten older, I’ve developed over-hanging lids, so almost EVERY eyeliner transfers to my upper sagginess. I’ve had to resort to desperate measures, so I now use Bobbi Brown’s eyeshadow base (which is relatively new to the line) and a little powder eyeshadow over that in a pale color, such as “Ivory” or “vanilla”…basically, whatever PALE is for your skin tone (so it could be “banana” or “shell”), and then line my upper lashline with a dark color (Sepia, espresso, scotch, black…). Then, and I think this is important to avoid droopy looking eyes (unless it’s night, in which case I say “Go for sexy and pile it on!”), line under your lower lash line with a lighter color so the line is soft and just “hints” at thicker lashes ( I use Mally’s: http://www.mallybeauty.com/evercolor-waterproof-automatic-eyeliner in “Soft Taupe” and NO under eye mess!).
That’s what works for me. I really do love Mallys eyeliner gel pencils longevity and color selection, plus, you never have to sharpen them!
Let me know if you try it!!