Travel Size

 Busy week for this blogger! I had a final exam early this morning. I had spent the last two days under books, notes, notecards.. My apartment looked a mess so the first thing, post-exam, was a deep clean. I also had to pack, take out the trash, run the dishwasher, etc. I am leaving Columbia for St. Louis tonight just so my schedule is easier tomorrow. I am flying to Boston, meeting the boyfriend in the airport (we land within 15 minutes of each other) and off we go on our next adventure and a wonderful weekend celebrating our friends, Kara and Striker. Before I began packing, I knew I needed a few items from Sephora and Target. I don’t like taking full size products when I travel because it takes up so much space in my luggage. Sephora’s check out area always has great travel or trial size items. I like to take products on trips that I know will not break me out or cause irritation so I try not to venture out too much with new products. Here are a few of my travel items I bought from Sephora and Target.

Benefit Porefessional Primer. I tried this a few years ago and liked it. I just need to use it around my nose where I have a few enlarged pores. It’s a really great filler without clogging.

I use the Maybelline Clear Lash Mascara on my brows during the weekdays. It’s not intense and I am able to control my brows and have them brushed up and staying in place. I love the Gimme Brow for events or when I want a bit more definition to my eyebrows.

Definitely need to bring my Dr. Dennis Gross Facial Peels. They are so important to my skin routine and so I packed three packets for the weekend.

I swore I wouldn’t buy the micro-mini beauty blenders. I have the original and I didn’t need the minis. Well I decided that since I was traveling that I didn’t want to bring my beauty blender. It was easier to get the smaller ones and have a new one on my trip.

So I have been using the Say Yes to Cucumbers face wipes for a few weeks, they were on sale and I have used them in the past along with Say Yes to Tomatoes face wipes, etc. Well, after using the wipes, my face would burn. I thought it was my dry skin. Last week, I took off my makeup with one of the wipes, and looked in the mirror ten minutes later. My skin was red, inflamed, puffy but only where I applied the wipe. It was awful! I am assuming I had an allergic reaction but they were immediately thrown away. I have had success with Garnier towelettes so I picked up a pack at Target. Say No to Cucumbers….

Double Breasted Jacket. I picked it up for a fun pinky red color. It is definitely more on the red side but I love it! I try to bring along the color I am wearing in case I need touch ups.

Contouring

I have been a big fan of contouring for some time. I was using powders for the longest time, Physician's formula has a lot of great bronzers for chiseling out cheekbones. But I have been moving more towards cremes and using my Beauty Blender to blend everything rather seamlessly. My next purchase will be the Chanel Soleil tan de Chanel bronzer. It is a really great cream-gel that I have been hearing rave reviews. But for now, I actually use a CoverGirl TruBlend Concealer Stick in medium deep. Basically go to a drugstore, by a concealer stick a few shades darker than your skin tone. It looks a lot less orange-bronze. I use Estee Lauder Double Wear concealer under my eyes. I use Becca Shimmering Skin Perfection in Moonstone as a highlighter. Note: make sure if you are doing under eye concealer- blend in a triangle from the nose to the outer corner of the eye. Drives me nuts when I see raccoon eyes of concealer on girls. You want to bring the angles up- not horizontal. And another tip, contour along the imaginary line connecting the top of your ear to my mouth. And do NOT contour all the way down to your mouth. Blend, blend, blend!!

(I was going to work out, thus no eye makeup)

Thinking about trying out the new Smashbox contouring sticks at Sephora. 

Let me know any reviews/ thoughts or products you like to use when contouring

LashStash Review

I got the lashstash for Christmas this year from my brother and sister in law. I was so excited to try out all the mascaras and give a review of each. These are a few of my opinions. 

Benefit Cosmetics They're Real Mascara In Jet Black

I had heard really great reviews about this mascara, so I was excited to try it. I did NOT like this mascara. I already have long eyelashes and they normally don't clump. This makeup made them clump, very spidery. One coat only. I tried to go back and fix the clumping and it only made it worse. Also no amount of makeup remover would get this mascara off my eyelashes. 

Buxom® Lash Mascara In Blackest Black 

A very lengthening mascara, minimal volume. It was not waterproof, but that was fine. I would use that as an 'everyday' mascara. I would not suggest it if you are looking for another that "wow factor." Very good for separating lashes.

Clinique Dual Ended High Impact Mascara And Lash Primer 

I didn't use the lash primer, just the mascara. It was lengthening and volumizing, however it dried super fast so I needed the first coat to be perfect, difficult to apply a second coat.

Josie Maran Argan Black Oil Mascara 

I was excited to try an argan oil mascara. It was definitely a new experience. It gave me a more natural look. I really liked the formula, the volume and length it gave me. However, the tube dried up really quickly which was a bummer.

Kat Von D Immortal Lash 24HR Mascara 

I never thought I would like a rubber brush and the spiral of the bristles. I did not like this mascara at first but it really grew on me. I was able to define my lashes after application with the top spiral. It was really easy to get to the eyelashes on the inner and outer corners. 

Lancôme Paris Hypnôse Drama Mascara 

Nothing special. It was a nice mascara but I wasn't blown away. It was comparable to CoverGirl mascaras, which are good! 

Sephora Collection Outrageous Curl Dramatic Volume And Curve Mascara 

Ok call me crazy but this was my FAVORITE mascara. I was blown away by the length, volume, no clumps, perfection. I loved this mascara and the effect it had on my lashes. This is my next full size purchase.

Smashbox Full Exposure Mascara In Jet Black

I really like this mascara. It was a nice formula that didn't irritate my eyes, didn't flake, just overall very nice mascara. 

 Urban Decay Perversion Mascara 

I had tried this mascara before. Despite the brush always being completely caked with mascara, like globs of it. It's a good mascara. It does easily rub off. 

YSL Mascara Volume Effect Faux Baby Doll

The last mascara I tried and am currently wearing. Not very volumizing. Another good "every day" mascara. It has a perfume-scent that threw me off a little bit. By the end of the day, it does wear off quite a bit. 

Best: Sephora Collection

Worst: Benefit 

Sephora Haul

Picked up a few items two weeks ago at Sephora. One of my "second moms" works at a Sephora once or twice a month so she can get the discount. Brilliant. I ran into her and she gave me lots of suggestions. Excited to do more shopping with her in the future. 
SEPHORA COLLECTION Triple Action Cleansing Water

        Fleur de force (Youtube beauty guru) raves about this product.  It is supposed to be a "no rinse cleanser for delicate skin." I was excited to try it. It's 'ehh.' Not enough for me to return it to the store but not enough for me to say I love it. I use it really as a makeup remover step and then I cleanse my face. I also only use it at night. It definitely gets off the makeup, etc. but I can't quite accept the 'no rinse' idea. 

Ole Henriksen Truth Serum® Vitamin C Collagen Booster

       Big fan of Vitamin C serums. I am still a huge fan of the Philosophy Vitamin C powder. I use this at night since I use my Philosophy in the morning. I really like the formula and its skin brightening factors.

beautyblender the original beautyblender®

I had a beauty blender a few years ago. It was not the actual beauty blender, I think it was a sephora knockoff. I didn't like it, it held too much water and didn't blend like I thought it would. But years later, I decided to go for the actual blender, to help with cream contour, concealer, and highlighter. I am so glad I did! It has become a staple in my beauty routine. I need to get the little ones for travel! 

Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta® Peel Original Formula

I don't do face peels. My face is super sensitive and easily irritated. The minute it encounters a product it doesn't like, hello redness. So I was really nervous to try this product despite the rave reviews. However, in the checkout lane of Sephora, I was suckered in. 5 treatments for $16. I bought it. So damn glad I did. They are wonderful! Not irritating, my skin is smoother, and there is less hyper-pigmentation. It is super pricey- but I will be buying the 35 treatments for $88. This became an essential. 

Philosophy- hope in a jar samples- honestly so glad I got the samples. I was not impressed. Neither was my skin. Won't be buying it. I will stick with my Estee Lauder moisturizers.