Monday Mood: A Mystery Solved.

Just a note: there are no affiliate links in this post!

Let me just start by saying this: I am an idiot. No seriously, I am AN IDIOT. I have solved a mystery I should've figured out ages ago. I mean, the "duh" here is so obvious to me now that it's really ridiculous. 

I'm pretty sure I've talked about this before but I've had issues with my face getting red, bumpy and swollen and for a while I thought it was rosacea, which was rather flippantly confirmed by my dermatologist at the time. It was not rosacea. (Yep, I mentioned it here and OMG, you guys TOLD ME WHAT IT WAS in the comments!)

It started in 2017, mostly in the summer and then stopped for a few years. When I moved to Oregon, I got a new dermatologist, and she confirmed what I'd suspected -  it was an allergic reaction. To what, I wasn't sure (I know, I know) but I knew that whatever my face was reacting to, exposure to the sun made it much worse.

Last summer it happened again in Austin, the worst occurrence yet:

Ouch. My face was super swollen and hot to the touch. The day before we'd sat out by the pool for a while, and before we went out I touched up my sunscreen with this spray formula that I'd recently purchased. I woke up the next morning looking like a horror show. WHAT COULD IT BE? Something I ate? I know, y'all have probably already figured it out but it took me another year.

So, remember last week when I bought a bunch of fun new sunscreen products? Yeah, guess what happened? I slapped them on and the next day I woke up with a red, swollen face. I am, as it turns out, wildly allergic to chemical sunscreen. Specifically to octocrylene and oxybenzone (benzophenone-3) from what I can tell. These in particular are well-known to cause allergic reactions. I wasn't paying attention. At all. 

I looked up the ingredients of every sunscreen I've used since 2017 and it all makes sense. My face stopped reacting when I switched to Skin Aqua Super Moisture Sunscreen (which is a combo mineral/chemical sunscreen but doesn't have the ingredients I'm reactive to.) 

Every product I recently bought has octocrylene in it, including that stupid eye cream. Honestly, I mostly think the "clean beauty" thing is marketing bullshit but the more I read about chemical sunscreens, the more pissed off I get. So, I cannot recommend:

- Supergoop Daily Dose Hydra-Ceramide Boost + SPF 40 Oil

- Supergoop (Re)Setting Refreshing Mist SPF 40

- Coola Full Spectrum 360° Day SPF 30 & Night Organic Eye Cream Duo

- COOLA Dew Good Illuminating Serum Probiotic Sunscreen, SPF 30

If you aren't reactive and these products work for you, that's great! Keep using them. However, if you've been dealing with weird allergic reactions and aren't sure why, take a look at your products that include sunscreen. One of them even got the "allergen of the year" award for it, which made me bark-laugh.

Honestly, I am so relieved to have finally figured this out and now I'm on the hunt for a really excellent mineral sunscreen. Even though the one I've been using works fine for me, I'm really not feeling great about it. I currently have MD Solar Science tinted mineral sunscreen but I really want an untinted everyday mineral formula that isn't greasy and that plays well with makeup. Any recs? 

Summer Beauty: What's On My Face.

I haven't done this in a while! I did a review back in the spring and talked about a few new products I was using, but I haven't done a run-down on daytime summer skincare and makeup. For skincare, this is my first step right after I wash my face in the morning:

I know I've talked about this serum before but I'm on my third bottle and I still love it. It's just a perfect calming/hydrating first step. I apply my Avene moisturizer on top, wait for that to all settle then my favorite sunscreen. 

For foundation, I have rediscovered my love of It Cosmetics CC cream! It's really good stuff with a beautiful finish if you use a light touch. (Yes, it has SPF 50 but I never put enough on for it to really be effective as sunscreen.) For a more polished all-day look, I have been using this:

I bought this Charlotte Tilbury Light Wonder foundation last fall and it's really good stuff. Very light and has a nice, natural finish. It doesn't crease and lasts all day. Honestly though, sometimes I just skip foundation altogether and hit my under eye and other dark bits with this Touche Éclat High Cover pen:

I reviewed it back in May but it's still in heavy rotation! It's basically, the Touche Eclat highlighter with some actual coverage and it's a favorite now and I don't even care that it's a rip-off. I DON'T CARE IT MAKES ME GLOW OKAY?

For my eyes, I've been using a few quick swipes of Laura Mercier Caviar Stick in Strapless on my lid and this bronze Pixi eyeliner I got from Target that's totally a dupe for UD 24/7. For mascara, I bought the Wander Beauty Upgraded Lashes serum mascara and it's okay:

It's perfectly fine but does tend to flake on me. I think their Unlashed Volume mascara is WAY better and still my #1 favorite and I'll probably go back to that when this one dries out. Finally, for lips I've been using the Ilia balm (reviewed the whole kit here) which is great to throw in your bag. If I want a glossy, summery look, however, I've been loving this:

It's bareMinerals Mineralist Lip Gloss Balm in Sincerity, which is a "your lips but better" kinda color. It's not groundbreaking or life-changing but it is a really nice lipgloss in a subtly pretty and wearable color. 

That's my summer face! Now please enable me by telling me about the product you can't live without.

Stuff I Want: Fall Beauty.

 I feel like I always have a running mental list of clothes/shoes/bags/beauty items that I want to purchase and sometimes I make an actual list but usually I just write a blog post about it. I recently went through all my makeup and skincare and threw away a LOT of old stuff so now I have room for new stuff for fall! Here's what's on my list:

Did you just say, oooh? Because that was my reaction when I saw this double-sided cream eyeshadow stick which is part of the Bobbi Brown + Ulla Johnson collection. I want it, badly. Yes, I know I'm a sucker but I don't care - this collection is so pretty and who doesn't want some pretty in their makeup bag?

I also want this water bronzer stick that Marianne told me about. She has it in Amber and when she wears it she looks just the right amount of glowy and sun-kissed. Me too! Me too! And the best part? It's only $10! 

Ever since we both bought the June's candle Marianne and I have been obsessed with Boy Smells candles. This little votive set of wood-based scents seems like it would be perfect for fall, right? 

Back in August my face exploded - I get these weird allergic reactions where my face is red and swollen and blistered for a full week. It's really great. When this happens I'm extremely careful about what I put on my face and one of the only things that truly seemed to help was this soothing Skinceuticals serum. I had a deluxe sample and used it daily until it was gone. Now I'm left with a tiny empty vial and want to spend all my money on more fancy green serum. Wahhh.

I got a mini of this gloss-balm hybrid in a neutral color (rosewood, I think?) and I absolutely love it. It's really pretty and definitely feels like a balm - it's not sticky at all. Now I want it in a good fall color - like this burgundy shade. This is lipstick for me now, I guess. 

Finally, I got a sample of this in a color that perfectly matches my skin and even though it smells... interesting it looks amazing on - such a nice glow! And the coverage is about what I'm looking for. I will probably buy this. I mean, I will probably buy most of what's on this list (for blog science!) but this one is at the top of my list. 

Beauty in the Time of Quarantine: An Update.

 I think all of our beauty routines have changed a lot this year and I thought maybe it would be a good time for an update from this post I wrote at the end of March.  

These days I wear a lot less makeup but I still do my face most days because it makes me feel good. Generally it's CC cream, concealer, mascara and brown gel and sometimes I'll add eyeliner and brow pencil if I'm feeling fancy. I only wear lipstick for blog pics and some video meetings and I rarely wear blush anymore. 

Because of masks, I don't see the point in doing much to my lower face these days but I love a dramatic eye/brow combo if I'm going out in the world. I've linked my current products above but wanted to mention how much I like my current mascara:

I got this in an Allure box and it's quite good. It actually holds a curl and is a reliable, non-clumpy volumizing mascara. It's not super messy and it doesn't flake. Yay! Speaking of my lashes, I haven't given an update on my GrandeLash serum progress! Here are some pics comparing June to September:

I mean, damn. I actually have longer lashes! They aren't crazyballs long, but they are definitely longer and a bit thicker and I am pleased. The other day I walked by a mirror late in the afternoon and was surprised that I could actually SEE my eyelashes still. Some of this is because my Wander Beauty mascara actually holds a curl but also, GrandeLash works, y'all. 

As well as wearing less makeup, I've also fine-tuned my skincare game. One thing I wish I'd gotten a photo of is my face before I started using Differin every night. I know I've talked about it a few times but, you guys, nothing else has ever made such a visible difference in my skin. I still have melasma (though it's lighter) but the overall clarity and smoothness in my skin is visible. It's inexpensive and it works - can't ask for more than that. I'm also still using my Avene moisturizer and the occasional serum from The Ordinary. 

One new product I've added is Topical C from Nue Co. It's a powdered form of vitamin C that you mix in with your moisturizer or serum. I've been mixing it with The Ordinary's Marine Hyaluronics which seems to work well. I just started using it recently so the jury is still out, but so far, so good. 

Your turn! What's changed in your routine? What products are working for you right now?

Beauty Talk: A Tale of Two Serums. (And a tip!)

I have been pretty careful with my skincare lately because my face was doing that flare-up thing again (rosacea? Who know?) so I backed off everything for a few weeks. Once it settled down, I got back into a routine, but one that's more simple.

Before I tell you about it, though, I want to share a tip. I wish I could remember where on the Internets I read this, but somewhere I read that we aren't washing our face long enough. Like, you should be working that cleanser in for a full damn minute before rinsing it off. I decided to try this with my favorite balm cleanser by literally setting a timer and spending a full minute massaging my face with it. I can't swear to it, but I think it helps. My skin is clearer and the massage part helps to de-puff. I only do this at night, by the way, I'm not a monster.

NOW, serums. I have been using my Ghost Democracy Lightbulb serum consistently every night (I talked about it here) and I am starting to notice that it's working! I am looking slightly more glowy and my skin seems happier overall. In the morning I'm using my usual The Ordinary Buffet followed by the Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%. (Then moisturizer, sunscreen, etc.)

Because the weather is warming up and I'm spending more time outside, now is when I tend to back off retinols. I'm intrigued, though, by bakuchiol as a more gentle retinol alternative. My vitamin C serum has a small amount in it but I've been thinking maybe it's time to add a bakuchiol-specific serum into my routine. The one I'm most interested in is the Herbivore Bakuchoil serum but it's sold out everywhere. Has anyone tried it (or another bakuchiol serum?) It is available in this tempting set at Anthro but I don't really need all of those options, it's just too overwhelming.

What's your skincare routine been like lately? Do you give no fucks or are you leaning into a more complex routine?

We Discuss: The Tyranny of Glossier Boy Brow.

M: I know you have Good Brows now but did you ever try Glossier Boy Brow before microblading?

A: No, but I want to. I’ve been using some rando brow gel I got in a box, but it’s pretty much done.

A: I also have Ka-Brow but it’s overkill so I save it for when I am feeling dramatic

M: Yeah I am wanting something more “casual” and I generally think Glossier is bullshit, BUT Tracee Ross used boybrow to give herself a Halloween mustache and it looks really good and realistic

A: People freaking love Boy Brow - the only complaint is that it’s really small

A: I still really like the Glossier cheek stuff I bought

M: Hm I may have to give it a try

A: You know what really works for brows but is much more expensive?

M: Do tell

A: Microblading

M: Dammit

A: Listen, there are days when I have no makeup on but think I look okay and it’s because my brows are Good.

M: Fair

A: You might just have to make two inconvenient trips to Richmond.

M: Sigh

M: So for now, brown or black?

A: I personally would go for brown

A: but you do you

M: Yeah I think so

A: Imma buy some too

A: We can do dueling reviews

M: I’m trying Lidstar too because what the hell

A: right on

M: I mean what could go wrong with green eyeshadow

A: seems legit

M: The taupe would have been safer but I have a ton of taupe eyeshadow so let’s live a little

A: Go for the fun one, absolutely

A: I am going to get the taupe, despite what I just said

***

M: So I tried Boy brow today and I feel like my eyebrows just look messy

M: But Lidstar is great

I really like the Lidstar too - just a pretty sheer wash of shimmery color that STAYS PUT

M: And the sample of cloud paint was good but the wrong color for me

A: I think that might be the thing with Boy Brow is that it gives you full, fluffy boy brows. But yeah, I don't love it either

M: Full I would be fine with, but it doesn’t really fill in the patchy areas and I felt like I had to keep adding to it and I don’t know if it works for me

A: Its fine for what I need but I don’t know that I’m super impressed

M: I might use it on the weekends when I want a little something

A: Ka-Brow is still the best

M: It is

A: I feel like I should come up with a better review of Boy Brow than “eh” but it’s really pretty basic.

M: I just don’t get it. It’s just a brow gel really. It doesn’t fill in anything

A: Are we being gaslighted?

M: I mean WTF

M: These people all have pretty good brows to start with

A: Truly

A: I will definitely use the Boy Brow but it doesn’t do much for the gaps

M: I just want ONE PRODUCT

A: ugh

A: Maybe try Gimme Brow again?

M: Ka-Brow works great I just still need a brow gel with it because my brows are unruly little bitches. Same with any pencil,

A: Ah, gotcha

A: PS. I hate whoever names the products at Benefit

M: heh

A: I feel like I get dumber every time I type them

M: Yeah they are all pretty stupid

M: I still have and use Ka-Brow, and I should just stop looking. It works great!

A: I get it but I am also always looking for Something Better

A: See also: concealers

M: I might return and get Cloud Paint

A: I love Cloud Paint!

M: I liked the sample I tried. Wrong color though. But I have a second color that I think will be good.

A: I have storm and beam

M: I need to check my colors

M: Dusk and dawn

M: Dawn is very pretty but on darker skin

A: Yeah, storm skews a bit more brown than I was expecting but I still like it - more flattering than bronzer!

A: And now I want haze

M: I am optimistic about dusk

***

A: If you're curious and want to try Glossier you can get 10% off your first order with my link. (Full disclosure: if you go through my link I will get a $10 credit and buy more shit to review.)

Review: The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%

A few weeks ago Marianne and I had the following text convo:

A: In other “let’s spend money we don’t have” news, I just booked a facial because my face will no longer allow me to dermaplane at home.
M: Ha!
A: And now it's all hairy. And also zitty.
M: Man, our skin is totally different so this won’t help you, but the Niacinamide serum from The Ordinary has legit transformed my skin
A: Ooh, tell me more! Lately I’ve been getting small surface whiteheads, so that's new and fun.
M: It has really cleared up acne and I swear made my pores smaller

Y'all, that's literally all I needed to hear. The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% serum is under $6 so I figured, what the hell? I also ordered the Squalane cleanser because I'm almost out of my Kiehl's oil cleanser and I like to try new things. First, the serum:

The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%

What it is: High-strength vitamin and mineral blemish formula

What it’s for: Niacinamide (Vitamin B3) is indicated to reduce the appearance of skin blemishes and congestion. A high 10% concentration of this vitamin is supported in the formula by zinc salt of pyrrolidone carboxylic acid to balance visible aspects of sebum activity. Independent studies suggest Niacinamide is also an effective ingredient for brightening skin tone.

My review: You guys. I have been using this every evening for two weeks and my skin is CLEAR. All those little zits just disappeared and my face is looking better than it has in quite a while. After two weeks! I am very, very surprised and pleased because my expectations were low. I haven't experienced any dryness or irritation with this serum which is also surprising because my skin is pretty reactive. I honestly can't believe a serum that costs less than $6 is so effective! It's definitely worth checking out.

Just a note: I bought my serum directly from Deciem and it came really quickly. It's also available at Sephora and Ulta. (Don't buy it from Amazon! Super over-priced.)

The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser

What it is: A gentle, moisturizing facial cleanser

What it's for: This gentle cleansing product is formulated to target makeup removal while leaving the skin feeling smooth and moisturized.

My review: I love an oil cleanser and this one is good but not exceptional. The price seems low but the tube is TINY so it's not really a huge bargain. It's a decent cleanser with an interesting consistency - somewhere between an oil and a balm - and you need to use a fair amount to really get everything off your face so I can see going through the tube quickly. It's unscented, which I like, but I think Kiehl's oil cleanser is nicer to use (and it lasts forever) and for a more balm-like cleanser, I really like Clinique's the best.

There you go! If you've been considering trying The Ordinary, I hope this is helpful because that site is really overwhelming. If you're already using their products, what do you like/dislike? I am very curious about the Buffet serum...

We Discuss: The Sephora Sale.

A: I am obsessing over my Sephora cart. The discount is 15%. Like, why am I so excited about that?

M: Ha! Better than nothing I guess

A: I am out of EVERYTHING so it’s a good time to restock, but so boring

A: I should probably also get a lipgloss or something. For science.

M: I am finally getting low on Kiehl’s cleansing oil

M: But I don’t think I spend enough at Sephora to get a coupon

A: There are three levels - Rouge get 20%, VIBs get 15% and the regular Insiders get 10% off

M: Oh apparently I do get 15%

A: Well! There you go

A: I am out of foundation, moisturizer, and Sunday Riley Vitamin C oil

M: Ugh I really need to think about what I’m low on, moving has kind of thrown off my life

A: I am literally using rando moisturizer samples and a foundation that’s too dark

M: haha

M: I was going to reorder this moisturizer but maybe I should get this instead? Idk

A: That’s a good kit!

M: I won’t really use the cleanser or the eye stuff though I’m sure I should

M: Yeah, I probably wouldn’t either

M: I'm so tempted by their lip oil (and lip oils in general) but I really don’t need ANY lip stuff

A: I need to do another product sweep and throw away a BUNCH of old stuff

A: Oh, and I have another nude lipgloss for you! You’ll get it for your birthday

M: Hahaha

A: Because I don’t need another corpse lip thing, thank you Allure Box

M: The corpse look is trending

A: So, for lip stuff I am considering:

M: I have a lipstick from that brand that I dig

A: Except the color I want just went out of stock, HOW CONVENIENT, SEPHORA.

A: Also, everyone keeps raving about this Fenty lip stuff:

A: But apparently it smells like gummi bears. I can't decide how I feel about that.

M: Hmmm

A: But I love the packaging?

M: It’s super pretty

A: We’ll see!

💸💸💸

A: I just gave Sephora all my money

A: Here, take it

M: Hahahaha

M: Is it today? I don’t even know when the dang coupon starts

A: The VIB 15% off starts today (code HEYVIB)

A: I got my usual Smashbox foundation, Kiehl’s moisturizer, Sunday Riley CEO Glow, that Fenty lipgloss, the Ordinary lactic acid, and a bunch of free shit including a little tube of the Kiehl’s vitamin c stuff.

M: Nice!!

M: Now you have me wanting that lip gloss

A: I will let you know if it’s any good

M: I only NEED concealer and oil cleanser

M: I am also thinking about trying The Ordinary Niacinamide for breakouts and pores

A: I basically want all The Ordinary stuff even though I don’t understand what most of it does

M: It’s so cheap!

M: I’ll try anything for $6

A: Totally

Beauty Report: Beauty Box Hits.

Things have been really boring for me on the beauty front lately because I've mostly been trying to use up the products I have but I keep getting good stuff in my beauty box so I figured I'd tell ya'll about it.

(A quick note: I totally caved and signed back up with the Allure Beauty Box *not an affiliate link* because even though they have the worst customer service OF ALL TIME it's still, hands down, the best box deal out there. I am not proud but I will take your full sized Sunday Riley products, thank you very much.) ANYYYYWAY, I have very, very much been loving this new Sunday Riley CEO Glow vitamin C oil they sent me:

I love Sunday Riley facial oils anyway and have been using this one every morning. I break out from l-ascorbic acid (which is in most vit c serums) but THD Ascorbate, which is the form used in the CEO serum and this oil, seems to agree with me. I just know that my face is brighter and my brown spots are slightly lighter and my skin really likes it. (I still use my beloved Juno oil at night.)  Also, I just realized I mentioned this product last month in my skincare update post, but it's worth mentioning again - I still really love it and will definitely buy it again.

Side note: despite my devotion to Sunday Riley, I'm considering switching out Good Genes for The Ordinary Lactic Acid 10% because it's $6.80 and OMG seriously, it's $6.80. Rumor has it there's a VIB sale next week at Sephora, so I'm just going to add it to my (very full) shopping cart. Has anyone tried this as a Good Genes dupe?

My new eyebrows don't need much, but I got this tinted eyebrow gel by The BrowGal in the February box and I really like it:

It's pretty similar to Benefit Cosmetics Gimme Brow and (I suspect) to Glossier Boybrow so not exactly innovative but it's nice for giving my brows a little bit more oomf and shape. I am slightly obsessed with my eyebrows now, yes. Shut up. Another product I've been enjoying from my most recent box is this Laura Geller INKcredible Gel Eyeliner :

I have it in Purple Rain which is being clearanced out at Nordstrom Rack for reasons I don't understand but I guess Nordstrom isn't carrying the line anymore. (They're probably discontinuing it because I like it.) Anyway, I don't always like to wear dark eyeliner and this is a really lovely lavender purple that's just the right medium-ish shade and looks really nice with brown eyes.

In more serious beauty news, I am SUPER SAD that my favorite Japanese mascara has vanished from the world. What TO DO? Nothing else I've tried is even close so if you have a secret favorite Asian mascara, let me know.

We Discuss: Cheap Ass Beauty Stuff We Like

This was supposed to be a usual "stuff I like" post but instead you get the convo about the post because why not.

A: How about a post about cheap-ass beauty stuff? I feel like we’ve done this before but it seems like a good repeat. You got anything cheap you really like?

M: Well I am super happy with all my Ordinary stuff.

A: My best one is still the Shiseido face razors. So much better than Tinkle.

A: Can you pick one of the Ordinary things you really like?

M: The caffeine eye serum. It’s probably total bullshit but I think it helps de-puff.

M: as you already know I use non foaming Cerave as my second cleanse and love it

A: I am going to give it a try again

A: I’m trying to think of other cheap things

A: I am apparently a pricey ass gal

M: Same

A: I do love my Aveeno body lotion. It’s so good and super cheap if you buy the giant bottles at Costco.

M: Oh and I’m seriously obsessed with that Target Anthro candle dupe.

M: I have bought several more

A: Ooh, I still need to buy that!

A: I just bought an insane skin pokery blackhead tool set on Amazon. I am EXCITED.

A: IT IS A BAD IDEA BUT WHO CARES

M: Oh that sounds terrible and awesome

A: I knowwwww

A: I just wanted a single blackhead tool but apparently I get a whole creepy set

A: It’s very Killing Eve

A: You know what my favorite cheap product is, though?

M: what

A: Plain Chapstick

M: My fave lip balm is the Nivea version of Labello

M: Hahaha

A: Mine is full of delicious petroleum

M: Mine too

A: Ooh, nice. I bought a Labello in Paris

M: It’s the exact same but I do prefer the Labello logo

A: Totally

A: It feels fancier because you can’t get it here (except I guess you can now if you want to pay more?)

M: right

A: IT’S FRAWNCH CHAPSTICK

A: (Or German, but whatever.)

M: fanceeee

A: I spent an hour in a Monoprix googling a lot of the beauty products trying to figure out which Avene item was actual body lotion.

A: Duh, it was the one labeled “Cold Cream”

M: hahaha

A: It’s nice stuff if you forget your lotion and aren’t afraid of mineral oil

M: That looks intense

A: It’s not, it’s just basic heavy-duty lotion

A: I also got some fancy water to spray on my face and a little set of Nuxe products

M: Nice

A: None of that qualifies for cheap crap but they technically were all purchased in a drugstore so

M: I mean cheap in France. But have to fly to France for the cheap prices

A: Details

A: 

M: It me

We Discuss: Vitamin SEEEE

M: I broke down and bought some The Ordinary stuff to try

M: Because I am about to be very broke and it would be amazing if this worked

A: What’d you get? I’ve tried a couple of things.

M: Vitamin C, Rosehip oil, and the caffeine serum for under eye

A: I’ve tried the Rosehip oil and liked it. Let me know how the other two work out!

M: I will!

***

M: Two days into the Ordinary and so far I’m into it

M: The vitamin C is strong as fuck and I feel like it’s burning off my skin in a good way

A: I have such feelings about Vitamin C

M: What are your feelings? Do you not like the Kiehls stuff

A: I do! I like the Kiehls and the Sunday Riley which I rotate

M: IDK I definitely see a difference, Very similar to my prescription retinol

A: But I think they’re limited and eventually I'll need something stronger. However,  stronger serums tend to break me out so I am leery about trying something burn-y.

A: Also, Retinol makes my face flaky af

A: I don’t feel like anything is a super miracle for me

M: For me (obvi everyone is different) I had to get through the flaky period with retinol. It was not fun.

M: But I think it made my skin bombproof

A: I need to try again

M: Do it before summer!

A: Yeah, I can't really use retinol in the summer

M: Yeah it’s hard in the summer and also in the dead of winter

M: I remember wind made my face hurt

A: I’m just outside in the sun too much

M: I sound like a crazy person

A: Ha! No, I know what you mean.

M: Speaking of, this morning I accidentally used bronzer instead of setting powder

M: which is so fun

A: hahahaha

M: Like, under my eyes

A: Oops

M: Cool cool super coolll

A: That’s a do-over for me, dog

M: It wasn’t a ton so I just blended it with some powder and kept moving but I feel like I look a lil tan

A: That doesn’t sound like a bad thing.

A: Today it’s pouring rain and 36 degrees so I basically want to crawl back into my lair

M: It’s not even noticeable which makes me wonder if my bronzer actually does anything

M: I have forgotten what the sun feels like:

A: You look flawless

M: Well my computer monitor is huge and blows my skin out

M: Like, people mention it in video calls

M: Someone asked if I have a ring light at my desk

A: Whatever works!

M: Hahaha

A: I love a ring light

A: I just want to walk around with one

***

M: I am pretty gd pleased with this vitamin C business I have to say. Weirdly gritty and kind of burny. But I feel GLOWY

M: I am low on my Kiehls so this was an experiment

A: Well, it’s certainly well-priced so if it works…

M: And the rosehip oil is really nice even though it has an...earthiness

A: It does, yeah

A: But I use Sunday Riley oils that smell like dirt and herbs

M: haha

M: I am really hoping I continue to like it because I really can’t justify spending so much

M: The caffeine under eye stuff is interesting. I am not sure yet if it’s doing anything but you use SO LITTLE that a bottle will seriously last a year

A: I need to revisit The Ordinary. I just got so overwhelmed on the website trying to figure out what I needed

M: Yeah I know, I literally just ordered what my friend Jenny uses because her skin is amazing

M: They are out of the glycolic toner at Sephora, that’s the other thing she likes

A: Well, that’s really the way to do it, I’d say

M: Yup

A: Now I want all of those things (except the oil, which I already have!)

A: 

We Discuss: WTF, Sunday Riley.

M: Whoa this is interesting.

A: I AM SO MAD ABOUT THIS.

M: I mean Sunday Riley has never worked for me so that’s kind of satisfying in a weird way.

A: But, Drunk Elephant is shady too and I’m sure most small cosmetic companies do this shit.

A: Drunk Elephant used to be WonderBar, remember?

M: Oh I know.

M: I’ll NEVER FORGET.

M: Those crazy bitches!

A: That said, I do really love SR Juno Oil and Ceramic Slip. A lot.

M: It’s like...I want to support small businesses but I also can’t trust them apparently.

A: I am so conflicted. Like, I want to buy from trustworthy companies but how do we even know?

A: RMS? Kiehl’s?

M: I trust Kiehl’s

M: I don’t even know why.

A: At least they’re super established and seem like they don’t need fake reviews, you know?

M: exactly.

A: And I looooove the cleansing oil. It arrived yesterday:

A: It’s really good.

M: Isn’t it great?

A: Really nice.

M: it just melts everything off.

A: It does! And feels less sludgy than the balm I’ve been using.

M: I think it will last a lot longer too. I have been using it since I visited you and have only used about an inch, inch and a half of the bottle

A: How many pumps do you use?

M: About one and a half? One doesn’t feel like quite enough but two is too much.

A: I think I used two last night but I also wear that Japanese mascara which is no joke.

M: Yeah my mascara comes off with warm water (shit is magical) but it removes my serious eyeliner like a dream.

A: I just love the whole Midnight Recovery line. Take my money, Kiehl’s.

M: saaaame.

M: I am getting low on the oil and the vitamin c and I think I have to reorder! My skin is so happy with it

A: How often do you use the Vitamin C stuff?

M: Pretty much every night

M: I’m probably not supposed to but I never read the directions whoops.

M: And I really don’t understand why I can’t use that mask all the time, what’s it going to do make my face fall off.

A: I have no idea! I just follow directions because it’s how I’m wired.

M: I think because I started with samples (and now I’m remembering it was a 10 day sample that said to use it daily so I stuck with that.)

A: Apparently you can use the Vit C every day.

M: whew

M: Because I sure am.

A: I might try this when I run out:

A: Burn off those dark spots!

M: ooh

A: Or, we can go back to thinking everything is snake oil. SUNDAY RILEY.

A: I am still mad.

M: I don’t blame you!

A: PS. I got this body wash at Target and it’s so nice and inexpensive and pretty much not full of poison:

M: Oh nice!

M: I don’t use body wash I just use a bar of dove soap like a monster.

A: Oh, I use Dove too. It's a classic.

M: That said if you don’t think I want this you don’t know me at all:

A: Oh shit.

M: UGH.

A: That is the fancy candle of body wash.

M: man.

M: Those assholes.

A: OH, YOU LIKE SANTAL 33?? HOW ABOUT MORE SANTAL 33.

M: Speaking of candles! I am easing into candle season and Trader Joe's has some that are cheap and cheerful.

M: They have a vanilla pumpkin one and a honey crisp apple one and if you burn them TOGETHER it’s like fall magic.

M: And they are $3 each.

A: So affordable! I am really trying to not buy the Diptyque candle that smells like a wood fire.

A: But, I can’t do vanilla pumpkin anything because no.

M: Oh I know I normally would not be down but it’s very warm and nice especially with the apple.

A: They all sound like horrible air fresheners that people use in the bathroom at work.

M: Hahahahaha

A: So, like, then the bathroom smells like Pumpkin Spice Poop.

M: Fine fine I will keep my delicious fall smells to myselffff.

A: 

We Discuss: Beauty We Do Not Need.

M: So I needed to replace my ka-BROW and I had no idea they made a mini version for $12! That is brilliant. I have never gotten through half of the container before it dries out or I lose the brush or in this case, both.

A: I know! I was mad at myself for buying it full size

A: There’s nothing better, though

M: And I got some of that caramel lip balm to give as part of a birthday gift to a friend

M: It’s the best

A: It’s so good. I need to buy a full size version - my mini is done

M: I’m also trying Sephora’s knockoff of Clinique take the day off

A: whaaaaat

M: mmhmmm

A: I didn’t know they had one!

A: I’m still buying the Pixi Double Cleanse

M: It's this:



A: Interesting! Let me know what you think.

M: Yeah the reviews are mostly positive

A: I haven’t bought any new makeup lately but I still love my RMS palette

A: It’s definitely going on my trip

M: It’s summer so I am just not wearing as much makeup

A: I have definitely pared it down for summer

M: And I did a huge purge last night and I’m going to use what I have

A: Oh, good for you

M: So I just replaced cleanser and ka-BROW and that’s it

A: I still want the RMS Un Cover-Up stuff but I have managed to not buy it

M: I liked it when I used it but I see pictures of myself during that time my skin looked greasy so idk

A: That makes me want it less but I still want it

M: It’s a very dewy look

A: I do like my current foundation - it doesn’t budge and I don’t have to use much

M: I have been experimenting with the THREE cc creams I have right now to figure out which is really my favorite and I honestly don’t know any more

A: So, It Cosmetics, Supergoop and…?

M: Clinique cc cream

A: Right on. I mean, they all get great reviews, I don’t think you can lose

M: Yeah I am mostly just making myself use all of them up before replacing

M: I am just torturing myself

A: I have SO MUCH makeup I never wear anymore. It’s embarrassing.

M: I threw so much away

A: I love that I just sent you more crap. Heh

M: Oh but I use that!

M: Seriously

A: I try to only send you stuff I think you’d like!

M: I now have a nice little stash of good lipsticks and dry shampoo and texture stuff

M: I kept alllll of that

A: I am mostly ignoring the Nordstrom Anniversary sale but this stuff is supposed to be good:

A: And, um…

M: argh

A: I’m sorry

M: I have successfully avoided all sales

M: And will continue

A: I’m basically ignoring the Nordstrom sale because I need NOTHING

M: same

M: I already have that setting powder and it’s good

M: But I don’t need more

A: I need nothing!

A: NOTHING

A: Nothing. I’m just going to keep repeating it in my head.