I recently did a Sephora and picked up some of the new popular releases. I divided the shopping into wheels and today I have everything measured! I have some successes and some failures.
Skin care + fragrance
I just ran out of it Instant foam cleanser ($30) which is a nice gentle formula, but instead of restocking this one (it was a bit too mild for me) I decided to get the new Vinoperfect Brightening Daily AHA Micropeel ($38). It’s like a foaming cleanser but you apply to dry skin, massage for 30 seconds and rinse. It’s one of the gentlest peels I’ve used and it really works. I like it better than other acid treatments or powder exfoliating cleansers because it doesn’t burn and doesn’t have a rough texture. The description says it’s gentle enough for daily use, but since it’s summer and I’m exposed to more sun, I use it 1 to 2 times a week.
You girls know I’m a big fan of cleansing balms. I love these from Farmacy Beauty and they have released a limited edition Cleansing balm with vanilla honey ($36) and smells amazing. The fragrance in their limited edition balms doesn’t irritate my skin, if you need something unscented I recommend Elemis Pro-Collagen NAKED Cleansing Balm.
I replenished it Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protector SPF 60 ($50) as it is my favorite body sunscreen. It is the best with the longest duration that will hold up the best in water or sweat. I reapply when I’m outdoors and it’s easy to reapply without being sticky. I also really like it Ultimate Sun Protector BodySpray with SPF 40 ($38), but I find myself reaching for the lotion more.
I’ve seen a lot of raves about Valentino perfumes so I got them Donna Born in Rome Travel Set ($90). All three are very strong and strong if you are looking for a good date scent that will last. I like Born in Roma the best which is a sparkling floral with gooseberry, jasmine and bourbon vanilla. I don’t know that I like any of them enough to buy the full size, but it’s fun to try.
Lip Haul
I’ve gotten quite a few lip products and have had some successes and some failures. I’ll start with the successes. i love it Armani Prisma glasses ($38) shades Amber Shine 06 (brown) and Nude Glow 07 (naked). I still think they could have given us more product and a better applicator for the price, but I love the color and shine.
The Gisou honey infused lip oils ($28) are hits for me, but note that the scents are very strong. I bought two of the shimmers. Watermelon sugar it’s a pink shimmer, but it’s very sheer on the lips. Coconut Frost it’s a sweet coconut-scented color with pearly white shimmer. The coconut shows up best on my lips and gives them a sheer pearly sheen. They feel beautifully hydrating without being too thick.
The misses for me include the Liquid Lipstick Gucci ($47) and Kosas Hotliners ($22). I love its colors Liquid Lipstick Gucci but I give it a solid loss because it’s definitely not transfer proof as the name says and it doesn’t last long. They are more like a whipped velvety liquid lipstick, but they go on a bit patchy and require a lot of blending.
I bought 3 of them Kosas Hotliners ($22) with high hopes they improved the formula and removed the lipstick smell from them. I got some from Sephora, but FYI Kosas has 20% off sitewide for their summer sale (no code required). They don’t smell like rancid crayons anymore, but the colors aren’t as good as I hoped. But note that I have pigmented lips and many neutrals just don’t show up on me.
The formula is not a smooth glide formula that doesn’t block the deal, but it drags a bit. The upside of this is that it makes it very wearable, but it ends up looking a bit dry on my lips and I’m just not really impressed. I love the concept and the neutrals look SO pretty. It’s just not for me.
I’m undecided about it Ilia Lip Sketch Lip Liner Crayons ($26). The colors are beautiful. The formula is long wearing with a soft matte finish but they feel dry on my lips. They are described as “hydrating, moisturizing and plumping” and I saw none of that with wear. I don’t think they are necessarily drying, but they look dry with the matte finish and I definitely didn’t feel any hydration. I like how they look when I top them with clear gloss and balm, but the formula isn’t something I’m in love with. I also think they could have included a sharpener since these are thick sticks that won’t fit in a regular sized sharpener.
Bronzer Options
I pulled three on this shopping trip and regret buying two of them. The Gucci Beauty Bronzer in Shade 3 it’s a hit. I bought it again and love the color and the soft texture.
I picked it up Kosas Sun Show Bronzer in Coastal which is the second lightest shade in the composition. It looks like they’ve reformulated or repackaged since the original release. Hand and hand these samples are BEAUTIFUL! The shimmer is finely milled and super soft which makes me want to wear it all over my body. On the face the shade is a little too dark, a little too warm and oxidizes/darkens. I think the glitter is a little too harsh. I could fix this by just using less, but even a light touch of a brush picks up a lot of product.
Saie is a brand she loves so much, but it’s a brand I can’t really get into. I think they have some good staple products, but the viral ones aren’t for me. I picked it up Dew Bronze ($25) in Swim which is not at all neutral or light-medium for me. It is very warm and looks orange. The finish is very cool and spreads on top of the skin. The packaging does not look or feel good. I saw it next to Sun Melt Bronzers which are also highly rated. I can’t get consistent results with them. Sometimes it looks amazing on the skin, but most of the time it removes all my foundation/powder once applied and blended.
Wearing it Prisma Glass 06 below with each bronzed look
NARS blush without talc
NARS has reformulated its blush in a Blush formula without talc and for me they perform just as well as the original. I still don’t have all the blush shades in the original, but the colors have changed with the new formula.
Below wearing the new one NARS Orgasm Blushthe lips are the Afterglow Sensual Shine and Lipstick both in Orgasm
The new orgasm without talc The shade no longer has that beautiful peachy base tone and is now just a straight up peachy gold shimmer. I think the shade is now broken, although at this point I think almost everyone should own it in a palette or individual form, there’s a chance you still have the older formula/colour. I watched 2 different Orgasm blushes from different years to make sure. Thrill is now deeper and brighter, although on my face they end up looking too similar. If you like the idea of a peachy pink blush but don’t want shimmer, Orgasm Edge is a matte version that’s really nice.
Kosas Blush is life
I have saved the best for the end which is the Kosas Blush Is Life Baked Talc-Free-Dimensional Brightening Blush ($29 each) and these blew me away. TikTok influenced me to buy them, and based on the fact that I’ve found Kosas products to be a strong hit or miss, I didn’t know what to expect. The first shade I tried Butterflies was a little disappointing for me mainly because the color payoff was nowhere near what I expected from what I saw in the pan. It’s a sheer baby pink with a luminous finish, more like a highlighter than a blush. I think this shade would be better as a top on me, but if you have light or fair skin I think you’ll probably love this color.
I almost didn’t try the others and will give them a go but I’m glad I gave the other shades a chance because they are PURE LOVE. Dreamland is a lighter color for me, almost like a shimmery highlighter. I love the peach tones in Blissed and Thrill. Hype is also a very pretty coral pink.
Several people have said that they are just like the Hourglass blush with ambient lighting but i disagree. There are similarities in the marble swirl and glow factor, but the Hourglass has a much better texture and quality when you compare and touch them side by side. That being said, I think the Kosas blushes are really good. They are shimmery but not as shimmery as the Rare Beauty Powder Blushes.
Below wearing: Armani Luminous Silk Foundation 6.5, Givenchy Prisme Libre shadow 3, Natasha Denona I Need a Nude Palette, Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz in Soft Brown, Top is from Reform (wearing a Medium) and the nails are OPI Overlay Your Welcome
Butterflies Blush + Malibu Wet Lip Oil
Dreamland Blush + Unhooked Wet Lip Oil
Blissed Blush + Papaya Liquid stick
Thrill Blush + Papaya Wet Stick + Dip Lip Oil at the top
Hype Blush + Revealed Wet Lip Oil
This completes my Sephora haul! I hope you found it useful! If you’ve tried any of the things I carried, I’d love to hear your thoughts. Especially if my ellipses worked for you, let me know how you use them.
