Aveeno Nourish Condition Leave In

Aveeno Nourish + Condition Leave InAveeno Nourish Condition Leave In

I searched for a leave-in conditioner for ages and came up dry (I do not apologize for puns). I guess they’re not cool right now in the era of hair serums and oils. For me, Josie Maran Argan Oil is too rich (literally and fiscally) for my hair. About a month before my trip, after ages of scouring stores, I discovered and ordered the Aveeno Nourish Condition Leave In from drugstore.com.

When Aveeno’s Nourish+ collection of haircare came out eons ago, I tried and loved the Nourish + Soothe line, but it got discontinued. I was excited to see how this leave-in would treat me but also a little nervous considering the way my hair likes to behave when it comes to protein treatments. I decided to try anyway, because (for instance), keratin and silk proteins are different from wheat protein. It might not be all bad (for me), right?

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The Estee Edit Flash Photo Gloss

Estee Edit Flash Photo GlossThe Estee Edit Flash Photo Gloss

The Estée Edit is supposed to be Estée’s hip-and-happening brand to appeal to younger customers. I received two tiny sample tubes of the Estee Edit Flash Photo Gloss with my March haul but couldn’t be bothered with it until, well, now.

I’m glad I hadn’t wasted my time before. It’s god-awful. It’s been a long time since I’ve tried something *this* bad.

This translucent gloss goes on clear with the faintest hint of bluish-purple iridescent shimmer. Application is NOT easy – it skips and tugs, and the formula is ridiculously sticky. I did not find that it enhanced my lipcolor – and in fact, it screwed it up with the skipping and tugging.

On top of being sticky, removal is difficult. I wiped it away with a tissue but my lips were still tacky. I had to resort to micellar water. Really!?

The bluish shimmer is SUPPOSED to pick up the flash and make your smile look brighter. Spoilers: It doesn’t.

The Bottom Line

This is a positively ridiculous gimmick. The 2.5 stars on Sephora’s site speak volumes. Don’t waste your time unless you fancy the idea of throwing away $20. Wet n Wild Megaslicks gloss is higher quality at $2.

Sephora Play June 2016

Sephora Play June 2016Sephora Play June 2016

Never having jumped on the subscription box bandwagon, in May I signed up for Sephora Play! I received my first box in mid-June, and finally have time to talk about it what I got!

Tocca Florence

I’m highly picky about fragrances. When I realized this was a floral, I nearly tossed it out without popping the cap off the vial. I decided that wasn’t fair, so I removed the stopper and…was pleasantly surprised! For the first time since the Marc Jacobs Daisy line, I’ve found a pleasant floral. That said, I’m not going to rush out and buy a full sized, $68 bottle of Florence. I will enjoy this sample vial, but juggling several bottles of perfume is not for me. I would consider buying a rollerball. If you like subtle florals and are in the market, give this a shot.

Tarteguard

I’ve always thought that the packaging for Tarte’s sunscreen was cute, but I didn’t give the product much consideration. If I was going to drop $32 on a sunscreen, I’d probably go Shiseido, Clinique, or Murad…or I’d go with a BB Cream product. So far, I’ve used Tarteguard on my hands and forearms only – where it has done a good job. I was reluctant to introduce change to my routine so soon after finding a routine that my skin is responding well to (plus I <3 my Biore one!). Furthermore, the reviews this sunscreen has received have indicated a high incidence of breakouts in relation to use. Unfortunately it isn’t going anywhere near my face anytime soon. It DOES has a faint, pretty scent that I can’t place and none of that nasty, “sunscreen smell.” For what it’s worth, a fellow, makeup-obsessed friend swears by this stuff and reports that it doubles as a good primer.

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MAC Pro Longwear Concealer

MAC Pro Longwear ConcealerMAC Pro Longwear Concealer, $22

The NC15 I bought in my May Haul is too damn light for me. I usually do a fair job of estimating foundation and concealer shades, but I really missed the mark with this one. MAC Pro Longwear Concealer in NC15 would probably be appropriate for me at my absolute lightest, but it is definitely too stark for me to wear outside of winter. It isn’t all bad, though – I grabbed a tube in NC20, and now have the ability to mix custom shades as my pigmentation fluctuates throughout the year.

As far as the product itself, I’m generally happy with it and have only one main complaint. Here’s the breakdown.

Coverage

It’s opaque in even the smallest amounts. It can also be somewhat easy to overdo, so blending it with a damp beautyblender or similar sponge would be a good idea – even if beautyblenders aren’t your thing, it’s a good way to start out.

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Worth it? China Glaze Coloured Nail Spray

cgspray_packaging

Having seeing aerosol nail polish online and on Instagram for a couple months now I picked up a can of China Glaze Coloured Nail Spray on a recent trip to Ulta. It seems entirely too good to be true…so I wanted to show you, dear reader. Priced at roughly $10 normally but on sale as low as $5.99, China Glaze Coloured Nail Spray comes in four colours:

Platinum Silver which I bought

  • Magenta Shimmer
  • Purple Shimmer
  • Bright Blue

The usage instructions call for using China Glaze’s Strong Adhesion Base Coat, two coats of the spray letting each dry, then seal with a top coat. After that’s dry, go wash your hands.

I instead used ORLY Bonder base coat because it’s not only what I had, but also because it really does a great job helping non-gel polish adhere. I applied one coat of that and let it dry.

Then, not knowing what to expect output and odor wise, I went outside to apply. My house is small and not well-ventilated, so I didn’t want to cause discomfort for my husband, cats, or myself. China Glaze Coloured Nail Spray applies very much so like spray paint – I worked in short bursts to cover all my nails. Don’t try to avoid getting it on your skin; it won’t happen. (If you’re concerned, you can tape off your skin so a smaller margin of product ends up on your skin.

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I immediately noticed:

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Becca Rose Gold

This is one of the eight items in the Sephora Paint it Pink set.

I destroyed my only highlighter a few months ago. I wasn’t upset; it was glittery and not terribly flattering on me. I don’t contour much, and I strobe even less than that (aka never), but I did want something to fill that void at some point. I didn’t know what I wanted. Cream? Powder? What color? The super popular one from Becca and a certain YouTuber? No; it’s too much (visually). I don’t want to look like a disco ball; I am neither seventeen nor a pop star nor a YouTuber whose life revolves around being glamorous AF. The look would not suit my features or needs. So this set decided for me.

DSC_0359 Becca Rose Gold Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed

When I first cracked open Rose Gold, I got concerned that it would be too dark for me; that it might be better suited for a person with a deeper complexion than mine.

I swatched it on the back of my arm, though, and most of my concerns eroded away.

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