I'm back with my latest installment of new things I'm loving and old products I've rediscovered in my stash. Recently I found a few skincare bits that really impressed me upon first use as well as a lot of makeup basics that make getting ready easier in the morning.
On the skincare front, I've gotten back into sheet mask mode because my skin has been really dry and quite flakey. The Too Cool For School Egg Cream Masks were a really nice surprise. The sheet mask is a thick, yet ultra soft cotton-like material and the gel-like essence feels super refreshing. The Hydration and Pore Tightening versions are my favorite, though the Firming variation is also good.
About once a week I've been using the Ole Henriksen Invigorating Night Treatment and it makes such a difference in my skin the next day. The gel has a mix of glycolic, lactic and citric acids to eat away at dead skin and reveal a smoother complexion. The first time I used this I did feel a strong tingly sensation that hurt a bit but every time afterward, it hasn't irritated my skin. I got a small sample jar from an epic Ole Henriksen GWP and would consider buying a full size bottle.
A mask I didn't expect to like as much as I do is the Fresh Rose Face Mask. I rarely see a difference after using wash-off masks but this one left my skin looking more firm and healthy. The scent is intoxicating and the texture of the mask is very luxurious.
As for makeup, I've been mostly shopping my stash but I've found a few new gems as well. I got a sample of the Make Up For Ever Step 1 Smoothing Primer and it's amazing at filling in my pores and making my skin look airbrushed. It's very comparable to Benefit's The Porefessional. A tiny little bit goes a long way so I've gotten a lot of uses out of this tiny tube.
I'm on the last bits of my favorite Laneige Cushion Concealer so I've been rotating in the Tarte CC Undereye Corrector in Light/Medium and it's great for canceling out my under eye circles without looking like a mask. It reminds me of Benefit's Erase Paste but not as pink and not as sticky so it's easier to blend out. The packaging is also super slim and lightweight, making it a perfect travel makeup product.
Many years ago I expressed my disappointment in the Benefit boxed powders but I ended up liking the color of Hoola bronzer and Coralista makes an easy everyday blush. While I still think there are way better blushes, I managed to hit pan on Coralista and I'm almost done with Hoola. The two shades look really nice together and they've made a really easy cheek combo. I'm still not crazy about Bella Bamba but I think I can manage to make a dent in it when my skintone is darker.
Hoola is starting to look a bit too warm on me in the last two weeks so I've transitioned into using Burberry's Earthy Blush as a contour. I've rediscovered how much I love using this as a contour shade in the winter. Earthy has a hint of pink so sometimes I'll blend this up higher than I would a more warm bronzer and skip blush. I would consider getting the full size of this powder if I run out of this mini compact.
I had never really been interested in the Dior Fusion Mono Eyeshadows but their limited edition shade Infinity from this past holiday collection caught my eye. It is gorgeous. So gorgeous that I bought it at full price in the store (if you know me well, you'll know I rarely do that when it comes to beauty products). It's a beautiful golden brown taupe that is perfectly neutral - not too cool and not too warm. It's lovely! The texture is very interesting in that it's kind of a dense mousse. The one downside about this is that shimmer particles fall out onto my cheeks somehow.... But it's such a gorgeous shade that I can live with a little extra sparkle (I'm going to figure out a way to minimize the fall out). It's still available on the Bloomingdales website so I would highly recommend you pick this up while you can.
What beauty items have made the top of your list this month? I have a ton of products that I purchased in November and December that I haven't tested, much less shared on the blog. So I have a feeling I'll be finding at least a handful of new favorites soon!