Josie Maran Whimsical Wonder Set

What I love about the post-holiday season are the sales. I took advantage of Sephora's 20% off sale section to score this Josie Maran Whimsical Wonder set for ~$20. Not a bad deal, especially if you're a fan of the brand. 

The kit includes 5 miniatures of the following:

Whipped Argan Oil Body Lotion in Be Joyful

I like this, it's exactly what you'd expect of a whipped body butter, that's nourishing yet not greasy and easy to rub in. There's nothing amazing, but it does the job. Update: I'm actually obsessed with this body butter. The texture is so beautiful and delicious, and the scent is lovely but not cloying. Very seriously considering getting the full size once it runs out, it honestly makes me want to moisturize my hands (a task that I'm normally always forgetting / too tired for). 

Argan Infinity Intensive Creamy Oil

I've surprisingly found this more useful than I expected. Now that it's sniffling season, my nose is constantly chapped. I dab a bit of this around my nose during the day, and it's wonderfully moisturizing and nourishing. It can be on the greasy side, but as my workplace is pretty dry, I find it absorbs in quite quickly and doesn't leave me shiny for long. I even put it on my cheeks after blusher to provide a boost of shine as they say. Great and hydrating.

Pure Argan Milk Intensive Hydrating Treatment

This is like a night cream, and I dab a bit over my face at night. Like all of her products, it's on the hydrating side, but I like it as it sinks in well and seems to actually be effective in locking in moisture.



Pure Argan Oil

I never got on the bandwagon with this, but now that I have it I find it surprisingly easy and nice to drop a bit of this into my normal body lotion. I'm not sure how much of a difference it makes, but I feel like it can't hurt? I don't use this directly on my skin as I think that would be too greasy, but as a supplement it's nice.

Argan Daily Moisturizer SPF 47

I've used a full bottle of this in the past and remember liking it but finding it a bit greasy at times. Now that it's winter I don't mind as much, and I love that it's made with natural ingredients unlike so many sunblocks out there. And on the scale of things, I'd much prefer a hydrating formula than a chalky sunblock given the number of hours I spend in dry, heated places.


Overall, I think this was a great value for the price, and I'm certain that I can easily use up all the products. This range is definitely meant more for those with dry skin (I'm on the borderline of normal / dry), as naturally oily people may find it a bit heavy. But honestly, I think in the winter everyone can benefit from hydration, and we all know staying hydrated and keeping the skin moist is one of the most effective anti-aging tips.

A New Perfume Love: Jurlique Essence of Rose

I've never been a big fan of roller ball perfumes. First of all, I rarely spray perfumes directly onto my skin, as the primary ingredient is alcohol which tends to be very drying. I suffer from dry skin, and have always thought it rather skin-damaging to be putting alcohol on tender points such as the wrist and nape of neck on a regular basis.

Which is why I was immediately intrigued by the Jurlique perfume rollers. I overheard the sales associate telling one of her customers that this was alcohol-free, and that it features a rich shea butter base. I went to try it, and as rose is one of my favorite scents ever, had to smell it. Although it may be oil-based, the perfume doesn't feel all that different from a normal roller-ball. Certainly it's less drying, but it's not greasy and absorbs quickly, leaving a depth of scent in its wake. See below for the back of the package, including the product ingredients.



I would even venture to say this is one of the loveliest rose tones I've sniffed yet. Many I've encountered over the years are either too sickly sweet (e.g., The Body Shop's Moroccan Rose) or almost too fresh (Jo Malone's Red Roses, which I still do love). For reference, I'm a big fan of the Chloe Roses perfume. Jurlique's is I feel a nice balance, with a richness and complexity that makes it smell more like a true bouquet of roses rather than a cheap imitation.

If any of you are looking to try a new perfume out, I highly recommend this. Jurlique was running a sale when I went, so I managed to snag this bottle for 40% off. A nice little addition to my perfume collection.

Emma Hardie Cleansing Balm: Moldy?!

As you may know from my previous post, I've been fairly consistently using the Emma Hardie Cleansing Balm since I purchased it a year ago. Well, I was out for vacation for about a month and didn't bring along my big tub, only to return and find that it'd gone moldy! You can't quite see it in the picture, but it smells akin to how moldy food would in the fridge and I'm pretty sure can't be safely used anymore.

It's quite disappointing since most of you know this is not a cheap product, and I had quite a bit left. I suppose it has almost been a year, but still it's surprising. I think the main reason was probably because some water had gotten into the container (inevitable considering the tub-like packaging). I had decanted a small amount into a separate container for travel, and that one's still fine, so not really sure what went on with the big tub.

It's probably for the best since I wasn't very in love with this product. It doesn't do much of anything to remove makeup (I'd always find clumps of foundation still on my skin, and don't even get me started on eye makeup) and requires quite a bit of rubbing into the skin while using, which I think does more harm than good. Some people claim miraculous results on the texture of their skin, but for me? Meh, saw no difference even after a year, and feel like it even harmed my eye area what with all the rubbing required.

This is definitely going on the Products I Regret Buying list for 1) poor packaging, 2) exorbitant price, and 3) mediocre use. 

Tarte: Skinny smolderEYES Liner Review

This summer, I was on a quest to find the perfect eyeliner. One that had natural ingredients (important since it sits on such a delicate area of skin), applied easily without tugging, easy to remove, and wouldn't smudge. Unfortunately, this product from Tarte, which was a recommendation from a Sephora staff member, only met my first two criteria.

This liner comes with a smudging sponge on one end. It's a pencil liner, and I got it in the traditional black color Onyx.

 

In terms of ingredients, I was fairly pleased that it was made free of parabens, mineral oil, and phthalates. I also liked that it glided on easily, making for smooth application, and you could also smoke it out with the sponge.



My main issue was with the difficulty in removing this product. I get that Amazonian clay is branded as a long-lasting product, but honestly I felt like I was almost tugging my eyelids off every time I tried to remove it at the end of the day. Even with designated makeup remover and multiple face washes (including my trusty Kiehl's calendula cleanser) I would be left with smudges of black under and around my eye. Maybe something like Bioderma would have been better, but I never tried it, and frankly I doubt even that would have been enough.

Worse yet, since it's a pencil liner it would smudge by the end of the day, making it impossible to get that perfect smooth line to stay. At a price of almost $20 each, I didn't feel like it was justified. I have since returned it to Sephora.

If any of you have suggestions on good eyeliners, please let me know and I look forward to finding a better product to fit my needs.

Ciate Serendipity: Holiday Manicure

Serendipity is a limited edition color that came out in last year's mini mani set. This is actually the first time I've tried it, as I've been waiting for the holidays to come back around before breaking it out. It's a pink glitter polish with surprising staying power, though it took me about 3 coats to get it to the above opaque level.

While I'm not usually a huge fan of glitter (a bit ostentatious for most daily wear) I'm really liking this, which feels festive without being overbearing. This is probably because it's a darker shade of pink, which glitters subtly in most lighting. I've caught myself staring at my nails multiple times even when I'm just typing. 

What are some of your favorite holiday polishes?

My Rising Distrust of Beauty Bloggers and Youtubers

I'm someone who easily follows the herd on the hot trends in makeup, skincare and fashion. A lot of it is because I usually feel overwhelmed or unsure of where to look for solid products. A lot is also because I'm honestly quite insecure, and having an outwardly gorgeous girl recommend a product is something that is almost sickeningly effective for people like me. I've recently sensed a general discontent on the internet with the sheer volume of sponsorships that these full-time bloggers and Youtubers are receiving, as well as a seeming lack of transparency around disclosure. Someone wrote that these people are essentially preying on the insecure, pushing them to purchase expensive and often ineffective products purely to gain goodwill and continued sponsorship with the big brands.

It's led me to introspect on my own buying and viewing behavior, and I'm almost taken aback by how impacted I am by these people, and often not for the right reason. Seriously guys, almost ALL of the products I've purchased and reviewed have been the direct result of seeing someone on Youtube use it. Take for example the following post on Michael Todd's eye cream. I purchased it during the MT craze on Youtube a year or so back, and while all the bloggers were raving to no end about the brand, I was left majorly disappointed. That was about $50, wasted as I can't even use the cream without getting a reaction. Then there's Lush, my recent review on Emma Hardie, the Rimmel Show Off Lip Laquers, even the Victoria's Secret body mists. Pretty much everything I own in my skincare, cosmetic, and even fashion items have been spurred on by the recommendations of these almost-celebrity like, highly successful individuals. Either I'm just super unoriginal, or product placement is truly a frighteningly effective marketing tool.

I generally consider myself a cost-conscious, reasonable person, but then I go out and spend hundreds on products that frankly don't at all deserve the hype. This really makes me wonder at the validity of the argument that sponsorship of these individuals is fine, that ultimately you're deciding whether or not to buy. Because are you really in control? When we see someone who embodies what we want, when we are subjected to repeated messages and rousing support of brands and items, how much of your choice is truly driven by rationality and how much of it is instead emotional, spurred by a very human desire to emulate and become more like the one you admire?

Certainly I've made some purchases that I'm very happy with as a result of these recommendations. But I've also frankly been very financially irresponsible, and made many more buys that I regret. The clear winners here are the brands and the blogger, who walk away with the cash given to them by the consumer. The consumer might be happy with their new purchase for a while, but only until the next item is put forward as the new "must-have." What are they ultimately left with? A stash of barely-used make-up, rejected skincare, copy-cat fashions, and a major hole in their wallet.

When you compound this essential "preying" behavior with the failure to disclose or almost sheer deception inherent in sponsored posts, that's a majorly problematic issue. I've only ever run a small blog, but the few occasions where I have been contacted to put on an affiliate link or to support a product (even without being paid) have been enormously flattering. It makes it hard to say no, and it makes it even harder to be truthful about what you really think. That's another basic human issue, that when the incentives are muddy, people tend to act in ways that reflect that. I can only imagine what it must be like to be paid thousands for a video or a post, but I'd imagine that it'd be terribly hard to express any negativity both out of a sense of owing that person / company and for fear of rupturing the future opportunities to work together.

Will I stop reading blogs / watching videos? Probably not, and the inner psychology for that likely warrants a whole other post. There's something horribly compelling about these gilded videos and posts, like seeing that popular girl in school and trying to determine her secret. But what I will do is be aware of my buying behavior, and next time a product is shown and I feel that itch to immediately buy, I will reign it in, knowing who the true stakeholders are of the underlying business partnership. And of course, I will continue this blog and make it a place where my true opinions can be shared, such that other potential buyers can hopefully be fully informed before they submit to the PPL allure.

P.S.: In case you're curious about the upper image, that's a photo of the packaging for the Bite Beauty Lip Mask, which, you guessed it, is another product I purchased through influence. The product is solid, but why have none of the initial recommenders pointed out the horrendous flaky packaging?

Emma Hardie Amazing Face Moringa Cleansing Balm

Back in February, I ordered a bottle of the very-hyped Emma Hardie Cleansing Balm from feelunique.com. The product has me mixed, and the shipping was honestly horrible - it took over a month for this to get to me, and for some reason my box didn't come with a muslin cloth. Not sure if this is some cheaper packaging or whatever, but disappointing.

I've been using the product regularly, and while there are some aspects I find very pleasant about it, there's other qualities I don't like, and overall I don't think I'll be repurchasing considering the high price tag and difficult accessibility.



The aspects I do like are the scent, which is a nice and light herbal, the all-natural ingredients, and the nourishing, non-drying nature of the balm. This is far, far better than the only other cleansing balm I've tried, The Body Shop Camomile one. It leaves my skin feeling moisturized and gently cleansed.

However, what I don't like is that it's frankly horrible at removing make-up, leaving obvious patches of foundation and smears of eyeliner on if you use this alone. I've also decided that I'm not a fan of the cleansing balm texture. Personally, I find it potentially damaging in the long-term to have to massage and pull at your face so much when you wash it, which is unfortunately necessary with this product. You have to work it in, and similarly have to go at it to get it off. My philosophy is that such repeated aggressive action will destroy elasticity and loosen up the skin, which is definitely not what I want.

For now, I'll be sticking with my Kiehl's Calendula face wash.