Paula's Choice Exfoliating 2% BHA Gel: I purchased this last summer when my acne was acting up. It's a chemical exfoliant that you apply and leave on under moisturizers and makeup. Beta-hydroxy acid can increase the skin's sensitivity to sun so I use this at night, although it shouldn't be a problem if you wear broad spectrum sunscreen on a daily basis.
When I apply this I use a very small amount --- the smallest drop that I can squeeze from the bottle --- and smear it all over freshly washed (and dried) skin before letting it sit for about five minutes. While waiting I'll usually start brushing my teeth or something to kill time. When it no longer feels sticky it's ready to go. I love this stuff because it keeps my skin smooth and soft without any chance of me overdoing it like I'm tempted to with physical exfoliants.
It should be safe to use on a daily basis; I did so last year before I got my acne prescriptions but I've cut down to using it every other day because I use my skin prescription the other nights of the week. On the days that I don't use this OR my prescription I'll apply...
Korres Wild Rose Instant Brightening Mask: this is no longer sold on the Korres website, but I freaking love it. It applies like a clay mask; usually I slap it on before shaving my legs (a long and arduous task) and let it sit until it dries. Smells amazing, leaves my skin looking bright and feeling soft.
Revlon Colorstay Foundation: I know everyone has seen (and used) this stuff before but I've started liking this again after watching an older Lisa Eldridge video about acne-covering makeup, of all things. Instead of putting foundation over the entire face she just applied a little bit in the spots where it was needed, treating it as a concealer instead of an overall base, which I loved. I've started doing this lately and I've found that I don't have to worry about the makeup getting cakey from over-applying or melting off of the oiliest parts of my face. My skin doesn't need to be highlighted as much (unless I want to go crazy with sparkles, in which case I go crazy) and I don't HAVE to use blush every day. Aw yeah.
Urban Decay Grind House sharpener: For months I had no idea how to sharpen my NYX Jumbo Eye Pencils because they're made of some weird plasticky material, and I've always had issues with wooden eyepencils snapping in normal sharpeners. This purple sexmachine slithered into my makeup tote-thing (I think it's a tackle box) and I've been happily married to it since. It powers through pencils in all shapes and sizes like it ain't no thing but a chicken wing. It's like the honey badger of pencil sharpeners because it doesn't give a shit. True love.
ELF Eyelid Primer: I ran out of my Darling Girl Stay the Day eye primer a month(ish) ago and have been too cheap to buy normal primers (UDPP/TFSI) and too poor to make a proper order from the DG website. I picked up this stuff just so I had something to use until I got a real primer; I even paid for it in quarters because I only have $17 in the debit account and want to save that for an emergency gas purchase. It's worked surprisingly well, considering it was a dollar (plus tax). It doesn't enhance pigmentation like the other primers I've used but at least it stays in place.
Morgana Cryptoria lipstick in Azalea: This product has been discontinued, unfortunately. It's the matte sister of the popular Azalea Blue, and I freaking love it. I don't usually wear lip products during the day aside from lip balm and very sheer lipglosses, but when I do wear lipstick I want it to be matte and bright. Azalea fits those requirements VERY well. It does drag a bit when I apply it---not as smooth as a normal Revlon lipstick, but not as bad as the Wet'n'Wild MegaLast---but holy cow does the pigmentation make it worthwhile.
Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Lip Pencil in Ozone: I don't always wear lipstick, but when I do I wear it over this stuff. It feels a bit tacky after application, almost like I have something slightly gummy on my lips, but it's worth the incredible lasting power. WnW MegaLast in Cherry Bomb lasted through a full 10 hour day of school with this stuff; granted, I didn't have a proper lunch that day but I still ate and drank things, meaning my mouth moved and touched stuff.
NYC Classic Brow & Liner Pencil in 925A Sable: The brow filler I'd been looking for, sort of. The lasting power isn't totally perfect (I usually set it with translucent powder to help it stay) but the color is perfect: a deep, slightly-grey-slightly-green brown that isn't TOO creamy and pigmented. It was only a buck, too, so SHAZAM. I swatched it next to a black pencil and my older brownish one to give a good idea of what I mean by the color description.
From left to right: Azalea (heavily applied and one stroke), Sable (one stroke THEN heavily applied), Milani Liquif'Eye liner in black, Maybelline ExpertWear brow pencil in Blonde
I love Ozone as a reverse lipliner! Also LOL you're the first person I've ever seen refer to a pencil sharpener as a sexmachine XD
ReplyDeleteI need to try using Revlon Colourstay like Lisa Eldridge since I have acne and it makes me look like a cakey biiiitch
You know, for a pencil sharpener it's surprisingly cute. I'm not gonna lie and say I'm NOT tickled pink every time I use it and don't destroy a pencil.
ReplyDeleteLisa Eldridge is amazing. For the longest time I was all "EH, looks like she sticks to more natural stuff" but then I watched her recent crazy-ass cut crease video and realized how awesome she is. It's frustrating having both acne/scarring and oily skin because, although they usually go together, it makes it so much harder to cover things up. I can't imagine how it must be with the humidity down there; it's fall here and the air is drying out something fierce.