I have a confession to make. When it comes to beauty products, I am a marketer’s dream. Whenever I see an ad for a new mascara or read an article about a new moisturizer, I have to try it. I end up purchasing these products with hopes that this “new & improved” product will be drastically different than the 6 others that I already have at home taking up space under my bathroom sink. And more often than not, I’m disappointed with the results. So I’m pleased as punch when I find products that actually live up to my expectations, and want to share my finds with as many people as I can. Here are some of my recent beauty buys that I’m actually glad I went out and impulsively purchased:
- Clinique Even Better Clinical Dark Spot Corrector: So I have been wanting to buy this stuff for awhile, however, it’s $50 so I had been holding out for fear that it would be relegated to the basket full of “ineffective but expensive” skin care products that I have under my sink. However, after reading a number of reviews online, I figured that I had to try it out. Even though I’m in my 20’s, I still have very oily, breakout prone skin. And against my better judgment, I have popped pimples and picked at zits, which has resulted in somewhat significant acne scarring. Plus, Clinique gives away a bonus gift pretty much every other week, so if you can purchase this when you get something free, it makes the $50 seem like a much better value. I have been using this stuff morning and night for about 3 weeks, and I have already noticed a little bit of improvement on my cheeks. One bottle is supposed to last you 4 weeks, and then you’re supposed to see full results in 3 months. I figure if I feel like the results have been significant by time I run out of this bottle, I’ll probably buy it again…but only if I can get another Clinique bonus kit!
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| It’s cheeky ads like this that are my downfall. |
- e.l.f. Studio Golden Bronzer: This is why I love Target. I was looking for a new bronzer and planning on ordering one from Sephora (because we don’t have a Sephora in Greenville…not cool), but I was hesitant about spending $40 on something I couldn’t see the exact color of. Being a blonde with fair skin, I have had a hard time finding the right bronzer because the majority of what’s out there is either too orange so I look like an Oompa Loompa or it’s too brown so it makes my skin look dirty. I happened to be browsing around the cosmetics department at Target this weekend when I saw the e.l.f. collection, and couldn’t believe the prices–this stuff was dirt cheap! The majority of the products ranged between $1-$3, so admittedly, my expectations were pretty low. However, their studio bronzer collection looked pretty good, so I decided to take a $3 gamble on their golden bronzer. I’m glad I did because it’s fantastic! Nice mosaic pattern, sleek black case with mirror, perfect color, and just a hint of shimmer. And it’s actually a huge bronzer for less than what a grande skinny vanilla latte costs me at Starbucks! (My next e.l.f. purchase is going to be their bronzer/blush duo that is literally identical to the Orgasm/Laguna duo that I’ve purchased from Nars a few times…such a steal!)
- Essie Nail Polish in Sand Tropez: A friend of mine had on this nail polish when we visited NYC and I just had to buy it for spring. It’s the perfect nude polish that nicely complements vibrant spring clothes. I’ve been wearing it this week and it’s the equivalent of wearing a great pair of nude pumps; it’s classic and chic. This color looks great for spring, and I plan on wearing it straight through to summer because I think it will look great with a tan! (and the color is also great for hiding chips!)
- Garnier Pure Clean Conditioner: There has been an increase in eco-friendly hair products on drugstore shelves, which I think is great. At the moment, I’m loving this conditioner by Garnier. The bottle is made with PET, the most recyclable form of plastic, and the conditioner doesn’t contain any parabens, sillacones, or dyes, so it’s much more biodegradable than a normal conditoner. But the best part is that it’s fortified with the antioxident-rich Acerola Berry, and it smells fantastic!