An Overdue Sephora Haul

I ended up at Sephora yesterday after work because that damned Urban Decay Naked palette has been on my mind the past few days.  I really wanted to hate this palette because I really don’t need anymore eyeshadows at this point – just put in my order for MAC Dare to Wear – I have 5 new eyeshadows on the way.

There are lots and lots of reviews on Youtube regarding the product and a lot of them were from women of color which I rarely see on Youtube when it comes to Urban Decay…across the board so that’s what sucked me in.  Anyhow, I ended up picking up more than just that palette.  Take a look!

OK so I picked up an Urban Decay Primer Potion in Sin (loving it!) $18.00 and I’m going to post my review about my Naked palette ($44.00) in another post so here we go with everything else I got…

Another eye lash curler because I needed one so why not go Shu Uemura this time around?  So I got one for $19.00.

When I saw this eyeshadow in my promo email from NARS I knew I had to have it.  It’s called Daphne ($23.00).  It looks like a beauty in the pan, a mess on my hand swatched out and I have yet to put it on my eyes so I’ll let you guys know how it goes in a new post.  It looks like a hot purple with some royal blue undertones in it…very pretty looking.  There is a swatch located  all the way at the bottom of this post for this shadow on NC45/NC50 &  NW45 skin.

I have been pondering about this next product for a very long time and it’s been on wantages list for a long time as well because I was NOT about to pay $42.00 for some facial cream.  It is called Laura Mercier Oil-Free Tinted Moisturizer and I got it in Mocha (the darkest color – great that it matches my skin tone because it is the only “dark” color in the line).  Well what had happened was (lol) I got angry with liquid and cream foundations this summer because it’s just too heavy for to be wearing out in this heat.  I went for the gusto and bought it.  I figure that if I don’t like it I can just return it.

Today is my first time wearing it.  Alone, I can get light to medium coverage from it, it moisturized my face (it was very dry this morning because I didn’t moisturize), it didn’t feel like I had anything on my face because well it’s not a foundation, but it does cover.

I went over it with some concealer under my eyes and around my nose and yes, I set it (was I supposed to do that?) with a very light coat of MAC Mineralized Skinfinish Natural on top.  It looked beautiful afterwards (9:30am) and I’m looking in a mirror now and I’m just a little oily, but not massively as I would have been with MUFE Mat Velvet by now.  It is now 3:45pm.  I still have some more testing to do so I’m going to say if I like it or not just yet, but I think I’m going to.  Off to go blot!

Swatches!

GOOP SEE Newsletter: Q&A from Yesterday re: BEAUTY PRODUCTS – YAY!

For those of you who DO NOT know, I love the reading GOOP.com.  I love the newsletters and all of the various recommendations they offer regular people like me from varying topics such as food, HEALTH, FITNESS, life, home, family…even more stuff…and BEAUTY OF COURSE!   Anyway, the site is owned by the fabulous Gwenyth Paltrow and it’s really a beautiful site.  She does lots of advertising, but a lot of the stuff she advertises she has used herself so it’s okay with me.  The GOOP website can be found by clicking HERE!

I wanted to share with you all the Question and Answer part of the newsletter that GP’s people did with Dr. Frederic Brandt (a Hollywood Derma doc) where he recommends a lot of “great” products we should be using or trying out re: skin care and beauty.  Let’s see what he recommends!

***Text below was taken from the GOOP SEE newsletter subscription that was sent to me today.

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Q:  “I’d like to know about new cutting edge facials and techniques for natural glowing beauty at home. I would love to know about great products that we could learn about.  Also anti aging techniques would be great, as many say “oh, I drink a lot of water or stay out of he sun.”  But in reality they have perfectly line free, plumped, spot free skin. What can we do for lasers, peels, light therapy, tricks of the trade etc.. To stay looking healthy and vibrant?
A: Dr. Fredric Brandt is a cosmetic dermatologist notable for launching at-home skincare treatments that actually work and don’t require a prescription or a visit to the doctor. Here is one product from his line that I use and recommend especially. It really works.”

dr. brandt® laser a-peel ($75) is just like an in-office peel. The great thing about it is that it comes as a combination of two bottles, one that that does a deep, exfoliating peel and one that soothes the skin.

A: When it comes to my skin-care regime, I use a grab-bag of makeup, creams, and oils that I like to mix and match on a daily basis. Here are a few of the products that I love and that really stand out:

I use Stella McCartney’s Purifying Foaming Cleanser for a gentle wash each day.

Rodin’s Olio Lusso ($140): This all-natural moisturizing oil leaves skin looking radiant. It has a subtle lovely fresh scent, too.

I love Intelligent Nutrients products which are all organic. The Anti-Aging Serum ($60.00) and the Anti-Aging Mist ($35.00) work in conjunction to eliminate signs of aging and make skin look luminous.

In the winter, when my skin gets especially dry, I use a combination of products from Skinceuticals. A few drops of Hydrating B5 Gel ($67) goes a long way in helping to keep my skin fully moisturized. I use this along with their A.G.E Interrupter ($150) which fights wrickles and C E Ferulic ($142), their anti-oxidant, after washing my face, neck and chest.

My LA facialist, Sonya Dakar, has an eco-friendly group of anti-aging products called Neutrasphere that I find really works.

I like to use bright lipstick when all the rest of my makeup is minimal. A few months ago, I found the most gorgeous and sleek box set of Tom Ford lipstick. From his line of makeup, these lipsticks come in 12 essential colors. The set can be purchased in Neiman Marcus and Saks in the US and at Selfridges in the UK (after August 1st).

I use Chanel’s Ecriture Automatic Liquid Eyeliner ($34) and Soleil Tan ($48) as a Bronzer.

Laura Mercier’s Undercover Pot ($34), I find, is the ultimate blemish and under-eye circle cover-up. It comes in a pot with a 3 product combo that you can mix up to hide blemishes.

Estee Lauder’s TurboLash Mascara ($32) has a brush that actually vibrates to curl and give lashes volume and length.

For Blush, I stick with Stila’s Convertible Color ($25) which gives a nice glow.

I’ve been using Kiehl’s #1 lip balm forever. It’s permanantly in my handbag.

Bobbi Brown’s Tinted Moisturizing Balm ($50) is the perfect foundation with SPF 25 as a major plus. The Everything Mascara ($22) is also one of my everyday essentials.