With being a beauty blogger I am of course constantly scouting and trying new products each week or even each day. However, I feel it’s important to have a routine in the products you use and stick to what works best — this is when you really see results. So, I decided that each month I’d highlight the products I use most consistently that don’t necessarily fit into my weekly reviews. Here are my favorite products from November.
MAC Studio Fix Fluid Foundation in NC50 ($28)
I have been using MAC’s Studio Fix Fluid for years. It’s my go-to foundation. The color matches perfectly and has a nice dewy finish that doesn’t make me appear oily. As someone with oily skin, I always stayed away from liquid foundations because I thought they’d worsen it. After speaking to a makeup artist she let me know that the liquid foundation is actually better because a powder foundation would suck up the moisture in my skin and in an effort to regain that moisture, my body will produce more oil. Therefore I’ve been an avid user of liquid or sometimes cream foundations for a while now.
NUDE By Rihanna Eau De Parfum Spray ($59)
I know, I feel a little basic getting celebrity fragrances but this one was surprising really good. First off, let me say that I bought it in the most unlikely location, Century21. I hadn’t ever gone in before, but my ex told me that he always purchased his cologne from there because they are usually tremendously discounted. So while browsing through a few different scents I decided to try this one by Rihanna. I wasn’t a fan of her past scent, Rebelle so I didn’t have high expectations. Fortunately I fell in love with NUDE and it is my day-to-day scent, hell its my night scent, my date scent everything — I’m obsessed. It’s a soft yet seductive fragrance that layers notes of guava nectar, mandarin, orange with sandalwood and vanilla orchard to round it with a fresh and feminine finish. Also to note, I got this perfume with it’s corresponding body lotion, shower gel and travel size all for $24 from Century21, just saying..
MAC Fast Response Eye Cream ($32)
I actually hadn’t used any eye creams prior to getting this one from MAC, so I was very curious to see what benefits it had for me. I don’t think I have under eye bags or age lines, but it doesn’t hurt to start preventative care now. I’ve read that putting eye cream in the fridge so that it’s cold when applied is best, so I followed suit and am really pleased with the results. I’ve definitely noticed my under eye area brighten up and even become more firm. I’m definitely sold on the eye cream movement.
Vasanti BrightUp! Enzymatic Face Rejuvenator ($34)
I got this face scrub from Vasanti back in my August Birchbox and immediately saw results after using it. Similar to the eye cream it really firms and brightens my skin. I have quite a few dark marks from previous pimples and it has done a greeeaaat job in getting rid of those. This is honestly the best my skin has looked in a while, I’m hooked!
MOP Mixed Greens Moisturizing Shampoo ($20) & Conditioner ($22)
I hadn’t previously used any products from MOP, which stands for Modern Original Products. After reading a bit more about the brand online and what they stand for I was really curious to see how their products worked. MOP’s motto is that they are “Always Inclusive. Never Exclusive.” and go on to say that they “want to create, contribute to, and be part of a culture where humans are free to express themselves without fear of judgement.” So of course, I wanted to give them a try. To my satisfaction, they did not disappoint. With vegetable and fruit derived ingredients, botanicals and natural extracts both the shampoo and conditioner are completely safe and nourishing for all hair types.
Black | Up Anti Shine Loose Powder ($32)
With this product I actually use it two ways. Sometimes when I want to get a really matte finish I’ll brush some of this on before heading out. Other times, I’ve actually tried my hand at “baking.” Now, I’m not a YouTube makeup artist, I like to promote doing makeup for everyday women like myself, but I actually gave it a go. Not that I’d do it all the time, but this is certainly a good product to experiment on that technique with. If you are unfamiliar with the term “baking” Cosmopolitan.com breaks it down here: “The term, which has been used in the drag community for years, refers to letting translucent powder sit on your face for five to 10 minutes, which allows the heat from your face to set your base foundation and concealer, and then dusting it off your face, leaving you with a creaseless, flawless finish.”
