nice enough to buy it twice

While I totally enjoy trying out beauty and skin care products (and find a certain joy in merely being in the cosmetics section of department and drug stores), there are some items that I like enough to buy twice (or more).

I've been a fan of the Clinique BB cream for a while now, and that doesn't appear to being to stopping anytime soon...I've also had a love of mascaras for a long time...so let me get to some of my new favorites:

Benefit's Ultra Radiance: a super refreshing spritzy toner.  I began using this over the summer when my skin just needed a little wake up call durning the day. Now that the weather is colder, I've been using it prior to my serums.  Such a light fragrance (kind of cucumbery).  

Cherimoya Nail Polish Remover Pads with Cuticle Oil: I picked one of these up at random for 99 cents at a clothing shop.  One little pad removes the nail polish from all ten fingers!  It's not harsh like acetone removers, there is not much of a scent and while your fingers might feel a little oily I'd take that any day over the sting of regular removers.  Added bonus, no spills.  I went back to the shop and bought a couple more, what a bargain.

Pond's Cold Cream:  I know that there are some mixed views regarding cold cream, but I like it.  When I've got some real make up removal to take care of, I dampen my face rub a little cold cream on and then take my face cloth and wipe off. Voila, no make up and my skin feels soft.  If it's feeling a little to oily, I wipe with a cotton ball of toner.

Tarte Bronzer and Bare Escentuals Mineral Foundation: A couple of my favorite powders.  Park Ave. Princess bronzer gives a nice summer-year-round type of glow...then a quick dusting of Bare Escentuals (I use golden medium) and I feel good to go. 

Puritan's Pride Retinol Cream: I use it as a night cream, every other night or so.  It's a good price, and I love waking up with my skin feeling all glowy.

What are some products that you like enough to purchase again?



nice enough to buy it twice by tamorama featuring tarte

pretty skin (day off of work edition)

I aim for a pretty natural look for the most part, the whole "my skin but better" is my goal...which is not always easy to pull off working in cosmetics, but for my days off though, I try to keep it pretty simple. This is my basic daily routine:

pretty simple morning by tamorama featuring Clinique beauty products

Benefit They're Real! Mascara (your lashes...but better) 

Desert Essence Organics: Pomegranate  Face Wash (cruelty free)

Clinique Dramatically Different Lotion 

Clarins Generation  Six  Firming Serum

Clinique BB Cream, Shade 2 (SPF 30 + antioxidants+ foundation=awesome)

pretty crazy beauty haul

EEK! So, I've been trying to cut back on my spending some...but then there was this super awesome employee discount at work...and um, I tried to stay strong. I failed. Something just happened, I don't know what but here is what I bought (with a great discount):

1. Clarisonic replacement brushes 2 pack. I counted this as a necessity, and therefore easily justified it.
2. eye liner brush from Clinique. My current brush needed to be replaced, and these get used daily and cleaned daily at their counter...so I know they last (justified!!)
3. Chanel waterproof eyeliner pencil in ebony...I've tried this before at their counter and really liked how long it lasts. Expensive yes, but larger discount than normal, so, justified splurge?
4. Bobbi Brown cream shadow in galaxy...admired the color for a while and used up my whole sample forever ago...still this one was pure splurge...which leads me to:
5. Bobbi Brown fragrance in Beach. Impulse buy, near the register. Seriously, I sprayed it on while we were finishing the transaction and I bought it. It's light and beachy and makes me feel like good. whatev.

And now I will cut back on my splurges...until the next time. ; )

What's your favorite thing to splurge on?

all in a pretty night's sleep

This is my evening routine...it looks like more than it is..I think.

•  I start with Clinique's naturally gentle makeup remover because it is really gentle; I can put it on and let it work while I brush my teeth.  
• I use a second makeup remover with cotton to remove any leftover eye makeup (I have a Bobbi Brown remover pictured, because that is what is currently in the bathroom, but I use whatever I happen to have samples of so it tends to vary)
• I cleanse my face using a face wash (again, pictured is what I'm currently using, but I like trying new things...the Desert Essence one is cruelty free though which I consider a big plus) and I use the Clarisonic Mia every other day or so. I do love how my skin feels after using it.
• I follow up with a serum. Right now I'm using Clinique's Repairwear Laser Focus, which is supposed to be good for wrinkle fighting and correcting sun damage.
• For a night cream I use one from Puritan's Pride. It's a Retinol (Vitamin A) cream.  Vitamin A is a great product for use in wrinkle fighting (it also helps with acne).  It is a vitamin than can be applied topically and actually absorb into the skin, but it can also be a skin thinner and it should only be used at night because of how it reacts with sun exposure.
• I like this eye gel (gelee) from Puritan's Pride too. Super inexpensive so I don't feel bad using it like a mini eye mask at night.

all in a pretty night's sleep by tamorama featuring a clinique makeup remover

Are there any products that you love right now? How many products do you use before bed?

pretty good deal

Clinique is currently in their bonus time (or GWP) and their gift this time around is a pretty good deal.

 

It comes with two bags (a larger cosmetic bag and a smaller coin purse type bag) and:

• A 1oz Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion, which is nice to use right after you wash and/or tone your face.
• A mini High Impact Mascara in black, which is one of my favorites
• A two-sided lipstick and gloss (the pink set is Raspberry Glace/and Fireberry, the nude set is Think Bronze/Sunset)
• A mini palette with a blush and three shadows
• A 1oz Moisture Surge sample, which is (in my opinion) the best part of the deal.  A 1.7oz retails for $36 by itself.  It is a great product that can be used on all skin types when your skin is feeling dehydrated.  Use it by itself as a lotion or at night before bed as a mask.  During the winter, this product really helped my skin out. 

The gift comes with any $23.50 Clinique purchase, which as far as bonuses go is pretty affordable.  For my purchase I picked up a new BB Cream in Shade 2 (this is now the only BB cream that I've bought twice, I really like this one so much).



 I also got a Naturally Gentle Eye Makeup Remover; after receiving a sample of this from the counter one day I knew it was something I needed. I wear contacts and this makeup remover is gentle enough that I can put some on let it set and breakdown my eye makeup and remove it without any eye irritation.  It has a creamy consistency rather than a liquidy-oily type that is the norm as far as most makeup removers go.



 Side note/mini rant: I enjoy getting the Clinique gift, but it is because I also like their products.  Working in the Cosmetics section it astounds me how many people want a "free gift" even when they say they don't like the products that a line has to offer.  It's only a deal if you actually intend on using the items you get.

If you do enjoy Clinique products, or want to try them out bonus time is a great time to stop by and it only comes a couple times a year.  

pretty bomb balms...yay for BB creams!

All sorts of lines are coming out with their BB creams (Beauty Balm, Blemish Balm, what have you).  Typically they offer more sunscreen protection than a tinted moisturizer. They're also supposed to improve your skin with antioxidants, and many may claim to even out your skin tone.

I'm a fan.  I feel like they offer more coverage than a tinted moisturizer and as California girl, I feel the added sun protection is a plus.  Of the one's that I've tried Clinique's BB Cream (in shade 2, spf 30) remains my favorite.  When I first used it, it seem thick on my skin and I would mix it with my foundation...over the first couple of weeks though I found myself using less and less foundation. Now, I use a little moisturizer to hydrate my skin and a little dab of the BB and I'm good to go (well not counting the makeup steps).

I've also tried the following:

• Smashbox Camera Ready (shade light, spf 35): almost a little too light for me, but really seems to calm redness after a work out.
• Estee Lauder's BB cream (#1 light): the fragrance is too strong for me, it's a fresh scent and all...just too much for my taste.
• Too Faced (Cream Glow, spf 20): I really like this one a lot...it would be my favorite, except for the shimmer in it.  I like a little shimmer now and then, but not every day.
• Skin 79: (BB pink mini set): Admittedly I was warned (via another blog) that this is better on Asian skin.  The product comes from Korea, and it was a good price so I gave it a shot...it just didn't work on my skin tone.
• Origins (shade 1): Just received a sample of this from their counter the other day.  I love the scent it has a little fruity/sweet but light and fades quickly.  The coverage is very light compared to the others I've tried, but good for an all natural kind of day.  They do come in six shades which is more options than anyone else is offering right now.
• Clarins also has their Beauty Balm, which has no tint and no spf.  I love this product because you can put it on before your makeup, or later in the day you can rehydrate your face by gently patting this product into your skin...they don't market it as a BB cream, but I thought I'd throw it in anyway.