// DECEMBER BEAUTY #obsessions //
11.25.18
(the madness concealed behind my bathroom mirror)
In general, I'm not really a beauty person. I don't obsess over every new highlighter stick or crazy mask trend that comes out, mostly because I don't know about them since I don't care to keep up with the 'newest/trending' item. And also, let's be real: a full face of makeup for me is a tinted moisturizer, some creamy blush, and a good lip gloss. I know there are great products out there but it's too overwhelming for me and at the end of the day, I don't have all that time to test it out and see if it will work for me. So I tend to stick with what I know, the tried and true, and not really venture out.
So I rely on my friends and colleagues (I did work at Barneys after all) to fill me in on which beauty products are really good and worth the time and investment. And every now and then I'll get lucky and hit jackpot on beauty items that are SO amazing that I can't imagine how I've gone so long without them. Here's what I stumbled on this month, and can't get enough of:
ALLIES OF SKIN // Bright future overnight facial
GAME.CHANGER. This was actually a product that one of our beauty buyers highlighted as a must-have, and I can't rave about this enough. It's positioned as a type of at home, overnight chemical peel facial, to give a glowing complexion in the morning. And glow it does. My skin felt tighter, smoother, and literally was glowing in the morning. Since using it, I've gotten so many compliments on my skin, which is great since I'm usually bare-faced 90% of the time. (I told you, I don't really wear make up) It's a bit pricey for the small tube but tots worth it. It saves you a trip to the facialist!
sunday riley // good genes
A favorite among the beauty crowd for some time now, I was just late to the game. I can see why everyone loves it so much, it really does do wonders for your skin. The minute you put it on, your skin looks smoother and clearer. People have mentioned they don't really like the smell of it, but honestly it doesn't bother me. Hey, if it's going to make my skin look like I was just born with them good genes, I don't care what it smells like. I like to use this one every night and it's become a routine staple. It's really helped with the dark spots and pigmentation that I've been trying to get rid of, and it feels like a small miracle in a bottle.
organic pharmacy // herbal toner
I've been using this for over 2 years now. I got introduced to the brand at the office when the brand reps came in to tell us about their line. It's a UK based company and uses all things organic, hence the name. I loved it so much, I ended up buying their whole line and used solely that for a few months which was great. But after some time, I wanted to mix it up and ended up just going with a few of my favorites from the line, one of them being this Herbal Toner. It's nothing fancy, but I like how it gives hydration with just a few spritzes and I feel like it calms my skin. There's lots of great toners out there, I just prefer this one.
kiehl's // grapefruit body lotion
I'm a hydration, moisturizing freak. I can't stand the feeling of dry skin anywhere on my body (or face) so I love to indulge in creamy, heavenly smelling body lotions. And indulge I do. Nice body lotions are one of my indulgences that I find are worth every dollar. And I've tried them all: Byredo, Aesop, LeLabo....and honestly, for the price, not so impressed. They smell amazing, but I didn't really find them moisturizing. Drug store brands like Nivea or Vaseline body lotions are just as hydrating so it wasn't worth it to have a nice smelling lotion, if it didn't feel like it was staying on! Until I discovered this Kiehl's Grapefruit Lotion during a recent trip, where the hotel rooms used Kiehl's products. I love, love, love the scent and you can't go wrong with Kiehls' moisturizers. The fact that it's less pricier than the others I've tried, makes me love it even more!
vitapointe // hairdress creme
This is a serious throwback, and it was actually my husband who got me on this. One day he mentioned how he used to love this hair creme he used growing up because it wasn't greasy and it was conditioning at the same time. Rolling my eyes, he found it online on Amazon and started using it. One morning it was on the bathroom counter, and curious I tried some on my hair... and hello, so good! There's something about it, it's just the right amount of creme to help add texture to the hair, without weighing it down, and it really does condition! I have some Ouai and Oribe products, but I have to say, this beats them all, and it's less than $10! But more importantly, I love the old school, retro look of it.
embryolisse// lait creme
A French beauty staple, this one's a no-brainer. One of, if not the most, sought-after drugstore beauty product that all New Yorkers and the rest of the world stock up on during Paris Fashion Week travels. Oh how I love thee: it's rich and creamy, but it doesn't break you out or leave the skin feeling greasy. Instead, it goes on super smooth and absorbs into the skin quickly, leaving the skin looking hydrated and healthy. It's magical. I'm on the combo skin side, erring more oily, so the fact that I can still love this thick cream is a testament to how universally good this cream is for all different skin types. The French swear by it and if it's good enough for the French, it's good enough for me (and the world)!