Empties {Skin, Hair, Makeup Reviews}
I always enjoy reading posts about what products a person has used up and whether or not they're worth re-purchasing. Hopefully, you feel the same way because here's my first in a series of posts on the products I've loved and hated.
1. NARS Skin Aqua Gel Luminous Oil-Free Moisturizer. As I mentioned in this post, this is a great moisturizer. I like that it absorbs quickly into my skin and leaves it feeling plump and hydrated. I used it for morning and night, but found that it wasn't quite rich enough for evening use. It has a light fragrance and didn't cause any breakouts, so I stand behind my earlier review and believe this is a fantastic moisturizer. At $58 it isn't cheap, but if you're looking for something that will moisturize your skin without leaving it greasy, this is definitely a top contender. Even though I like this product, I will repurchase it just yet for a couple of reasons. First, the container is not travel-friendly at all because it's so bulky. While I can always use a smaller travel container, I still haven't found one that's the right size. Second, I've been wanting to try a moisturizer with more antioxidants to fight environmental damage. Third, it is advertised as leaving a matte finish on the skin and it actually leaves a glowy finish. Obviously this isn't a bad thing, but lately I'm into matte skin, so this doesn't quite work with my vision. So, I'm still looking for a replacement. Does anyone have any recommendations?
2. Carol's Daughter Black Vanilla Leave-in Conditioner. I've also mentioned this one previously, but this is a really great conditioner that can be used on wet or dry hair. It provides a light moisture boost that does not weigh your hair down at all. Also, if you've straightened your hair, this spray will not cause your curls, kinks or waves to make a surprise appearance. This is an awesome product that I will definitely re-purchase.
3. Mario Badescu Facial Spray with Rosewater. This is one of my favorite skincare products of all time. You can use it after you've washed your face to relieve that tight feeling. It's also great as a setting spray after makeup application, or as a moisturizer or freshener throughout the day. As the weather gets cooler and the heat comes on, this will really help if your skin starts to feel dry during the day. It's also a great value at $12 for 8 ounces, which will last for months, so I will most definitely re-purchase this product.
4. Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye Synchronized Recovery Complex. I'd previously used Clinique's All About Eyes but felt that I needed something more potent, so I tried this product a few months ago. I used it every single night and didn't really feel like it made any difference in my eyes. True, I don't have wrinkles around my eyes, so I'm not quite sure what I expected. When used at night, it didn't feel rich enough to give me that luxurious and pampering feeling, and it didn't prevent puffiness in the morning. When used in the morning, it didn't absorb enough into my skin so it wasn't a good base for makeup (though to be fair it is advertised as a night treatment, but the sales associate urged me to use it for day and night...smh). I wasn't very impressed, so I won't be re-purchasing.
5. Josie Maran Argan Oil Light. I love face oils, so I was already inclined to enjoy this product, and was very pleased with the results. This is the light version of Josie Maran's argan oil, so it's great for people with combination skin since it's not very heavy. It absorbs nicely into the skin but doesn't clog pores. During the colder months, I would use this at night as a last step after my regular moisturizer and really enjoyed it. Though I'm happy with this product and would definitely recommend it to someone looking for a basic face oil, I will not be repurchasing right away.
6. stila Stay All Day 10-In-One HD Bronzing Beauty Balm. A name this long leads to some very high expectations. It claims to reduce skin inflammation, improve texture, support natural collagen production, and reduce the appearance of wrinkles by up to 67 percent. Again, I can't really speak to the reduction in wrinkles or skin inflammation, but it does blur pores and provides a luminous (but not shiny) finish. The bronzing claim is definitely true and it works quite well for my skin, leaving a nice healthy glow. Although this is really sheer, I'm skeptical as to how well this works on lighter and darker skin tones. I really like this product and the light coverage it provides because it looks very natural. The spf 30 is a huge plus also. I'm not going to repurchase this now because I have a couple of other tinted moisturizers to finish, but I'd definitely recommend it.
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