Things I've Loved Lately

I haven't done a favorites post in quite a while, but I figured something like that would be a lot of fun. Here are a few (random) loves I've had lately.

Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer

This one really threw me for a loop! I got this as a free sample the last time I went to Sephora (gotta stock up on my Sephora foam cleanser!)-- and I'm so glad I've finally gotten to try a foundation primer! The whole concept of a foundation primer sounds sort of backwards-- if it's a FOUNDATION, why do you need something before that? But now, my cheapie Revlon Color Stay foundation is stellar and even better. Not to say my foundation was bad... but the primer makes it actually look like skin, rather than just pigment. 36$ for 1oz-- damn. But after seeing the difference it makes, it's totally justifiable!

The Body Shop Shea Butter

Normally I'm not a huge Body Shop fan (after switching to LUSH, I'm hesitant to try anything else), but this Shea Butter came greatly recommended for the random dry spots on my legs. I'd tried so many different types of regular lotions and finally caved and bought this. It's- amazing! Super thick and rich, and absorbs quickly. Dry spots? No longer itchy. Hands? Beautiful and moist. Scent? Rich and delicious. Reading reviews on the website had people complaining that the scent is too strong... It's strong, but it's not an unpleasant smell-- it's very "warm". Apparently the Shea is supposed to be sourced from Ghana... but I'm not too sure on that. Still though, I will be buying a bigger tub of this before it runs out; the 1.7oz tub lasted me about a month. I was just gifted a 7oz tub this past week and I'm as stocked on it as ever!

Essie "Mojito Madness" Nail Lacquer

What can I say about this green? It's delicious and such a luscious green! The name makes me laugh because it doesn't remind me of Mojitos at all. I think freshly mowed lawns and jade; I can almost smell summer time when I look at this on my finger tips! The formula itself is everything I adore about Essie- fast drying and thin; it goes opaque in two coats. The only thing I feel that can be improved on is if Essie rocked the wide brush that OPI uses... Still though, love this color, love the summer feel it gives, and actually look forward to wearing it. With fall and winter approaching, it might be a little bit out of place, but ya.

Stitcher

Anyone who knows me is well aware that I'm a news junkie and talk radio lover. In my search for more news, I found out about this great iOS app and I'm in love! I used to only use iHeartRadio before (blah- Clearchannel!)-- but Stitcher is quickly becoming my radio app of choice! I don't use it too much for streaming live radio, but the podcast selection is excellent; I can listen to my favorite shows in between the live air times of my OTHER radio shows (junkie!). My favorite podcasts right now are Stuff You Missed in History Class, The Adam Carolla Show, The Rachel Maddow Show, and BBC Global News. The interface is a little strange, but if you take the 3 or 4 minutes to navigate it and get your bearings first, it's not a big deal.

Review: March Products

This month was just spent using up things in my cupboard as well as running through some of the samples I had! Hopefully during April I can start incorporating a few new items and finally get rid of the catastrophe of the Aveeno "positively radiant" cleanser. Eh.

Jergens Natural Glow + Banana Boat Sunless Summer Color
The Jergens brand was great. The Banana Boat brand is eh. I've had both tubes of sunless tanning lotions for quite a while and was frankly sick and tired of seeing them in my bathroom. Then it finally hit me... "USE THEM!"-- especially when it's so gloomy here in San Francisco right now. The Jergens brand was great--- applied well, no streaking, natural color. The Banana Boat lotion left me orange with terrible streaking, no matter how much I tried to buff it into my legs. I actually had to stop using the Banana Boat lotion for a week to get the orange to tone itself down, as I was using it three times a week and my legs looked nasty. The smells were similar, but the Jergens brand was a lot more toned down. Will definitely rebuy when I finish up the Banana Boat tube... and after my legs get all pale and sickly looking again, which is motivation enough!

The Body Shop Seaweed Clarifying Toner
I had been using this as the "step two" to the nasty Aveeno facial cleanser I bought last month. I would use this to remove all the excess makeup that shitty cleanser would leave on my face and it worked. Except for the fact that even though its advertised as alcohol-free... it still dries your face out like woah. Honestly, it's an OK product (for someone who might have oily skin...??)- but I wouldn't rebuy. When I was using my Sephora Foam Facial Cleanser, I didn't need this toner so it was pushed to the back of the cupboard. But if you're using a shitty cleanser as I am right now, this at least gave a little bit of extra cleaning action. It's not my favorite, though. And frankly, none of the skin care products from The Body Shop have impressed me at all except for maybe the intensive hand creams.

The Sacred Truth Lush Fresh Face Mask
I got this as a sample because FOR THE SECOND TIME when I went into the shop, the Oatifix mask was sold out! This product is normally advertised as an anti-aging face mask but the sales associate who gave it to me said it's still very refreshing for someone with redness like I have. The smell doesn't bother me at all but I won't say that it's particularly pleasant. It rinses off great and surprisingly doesn't leave any sort of film or nasty coating over my skin- nor does it over-dry in any way for me. Does my face feel improved, soothed, happy? Happier than before! I still don't feel that this is the face mask I would like to use long term, but I really have no problem with this mask. I've been following the routine of exfoliating, wearing the mask for 10+ minutes, then putting on the Skin Drink face lotion afterwards and I will say that my makeup just glides on and looks amazing after using the mask. Not bad.

Clinique Acne Solutions Spot Healing Gel
Got this as a sample and it is about to run out... and I'm devastated! It's an amazing acne spot gel and I will immediately run out to buy this as soon as its officially all gone. The sample size was .17 fl oz and it has lasted me MONTHS-- I can't even imagine how long the 15$ bottle will last me. Just a tiny dab on a zit... or even the beginnings of a zit, and it stops it in its tracks! For someone like me that doesn't really have aggressive acne but the occasional annoying one here or there, this was perfect. Reduces redness immediately and within a few hours, the pimple is nearly gone. Works great under or on top of makeup and while it dries the spot, it doesn't excessively zap the moisture from your skin. I haven't had great luck personally with most of Clinique (except my boyfriend- the acne solutions line works amazingly on him)--- I highly recommend this product!