Winter 2020 Beauty Favorites
Somehow this winter was simultaneously super long and super short. It doesn’t make much sense but then again, nothing really makes sense at the moment. On the bright side, I’ve been using this whole self distancing, staying at home all day long thing to fall into a more regular blogging schedule. For the past two weeks, I’ve been sharing new blog posts every Tuesday and Friday, and that’s what I hope to continue doing (although there may be a special deviance from this schedule next week 👀). Today’s post is all about my favorite beauty products of the past few months.
Hope you’re all staying safe and healthy in these crazy times ❤️
Laneige Cica Sleeping Mask (PR)
$34.00 for 60 ml via Sephora & Laneige; $24 via Jolse but ships from S. Korea
This has been my go-to nighttime moisturizer since mid-January. Unlike their original sleeping mask, this is fragrance free (although, I personally don’t mind the OG scent), and is a looot more moisturizing. It has yummy ingredients like squalane and madecassic acid to help hydrate and soothe the skin. When my skin is extra dry and dehydrated, I don’t find this to irritate my skin. It’s one of those products I can use no matter the state of my skin. Despite its moisturizing power, I don’t find it a heavy or thick moisturizer and can see myself continuing to use this as the weather warms up. I find their OG sleeping mask good at locking in moisture (aka being occlusive), but it doesn’t really add any moisturizing power in and of itself. Whereas this Cica mask locks in moisture AND moisturizes my skin.
Lilah B Lovingly Lip Tinted Lip Oil in b. bold (PR)
$30.00 for 3.5 ml via Sephora, Dermstore, Lilah B, & Nordstrom
These Lilah B lip oils are as close as I’ll come to wearing lipstick most days. They’re like a super pigmented, non-sticky, lip gloss. b. bold is one of their newest shades, and it’s quickly become one of my favorite everyday colors. It’s a warm, brownish red that’s only a tad bit darker than my lips. It wears well without slipping around or emphasizing the lines or dry cracks on my lips. Nor does it feel heavy on my lips. I’m also happy to see that they’ve altered the packaging so it no longer leaks!
Colourpop Pretty Fresh Hyaluronic Acid Tinted Moisturizer in 13W
I haven’t bought a lot of drugstore base products because I usually struggle to find acceptable shade matches because brands forget that medium/ tan people exist?? While Colourpop isn’t exactly drugstore, it’s definitely more affordable than most midrange or prestige brands. The Pretty Fresh Line has a decent shade range— there are more shades available on the Colourpop site vs the Ulta site.
DAE shampoo + conditioner (PR)
$24.00 for 10 fl oz (each) via DAE hair
After using up a string of mediocre shampoos and conditioners, the DAE shampoo and conditioner stood out to me. The shampoo lathers up gently, without stripping my hair or irritating my dandruff-prone scalp. It also rinses out easily. The conditioner moisturizes my hair without weighing it down or feeling sticky. The combination of the two have worked really well with my natural hair pattern. They come with a pump and an open and close cap, and surprisingly I prefer the cap. With the pump, I find myself pumping over and over again to get the necessary amount of product. Also of note, the bottles are generously sized at 10 oz (vs 8 oz from similarly priced brands.)
Versed Baby Cheeks All-In-One Hydrating Milk (PR)
$18 for via Dermstore, Target, Revolve, Cult Beauty, & Versed
I already reviewed this in a blog post which you can read here 😉
Brooklyn Candle Studio x Allison Kunath Woman No. 2 Candle: Hinoki Woods (PR)
$45.00 via Brooklyn Candle Studio & Nordstrom
What’s not to love about this candle? It’s hand-poured in a beautiful vessel, has a gorgeous scent with nice throw, burns evenly, and 10% of the sales go back to Planned Parenthood, Equality Now, and CHANGE (Center for Health and Gender Equity). If you love Hinoki, woodsy notes, and sandalwood— this is the candle for you. If you’re looking for a small business to support, look no further!
First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Hyaluronic Hydrating Primer (PR)
$29.00 for 1.7 oz via Ulta & First Aid Beauty
As long as a makeup primer helps prolong the wear of my makeup and don’t pill with skincare, I’m happy! But this First Aid Beauty Primer stands out in that it works really well over dry patches and peeling skin. And unlike many hydrating primers, the hydration it provides it lasts all through out the day. I also like that despite it being hydrating, it isn’t too dewy— the finish is pretty natural looking. Don’t get me wrong, I love a dewy finish. But it doesn’t necessarily work with all my everyday makeup products/ looks.
Touchland Power Mist Neutral Hand Sanitizer
$12.00 for 38 ml via Ulta & Touchland (currently sold out everywhere, but the Touchland site is allowing pre-orders)
I was lucky enough to order some Touchland hand sanitizers before the full on covid-19 panic started 😕 I kind of wish I bought a few more cause they don’t dry out my hands as much as regular gel hand sanitizers. They contain more than 60% alcohol so they are effective at killing covid germs (according to the CDC). Because I’m washing and sanitizing my hands upwards of 10 times a day, hand dryness is inevitable. But without a doubt, my hands are less dry thanks to these. I’ve also noticed it’s easier to use with one hand vs. a regular, squeezey gel hand sanitzer.
Henne Organics Lip Mask (PR)
$37.00 for 0.5 oz via Detox Market, Credo, Anthropologie, & Henne Organics
This is by far the most luxurious lip balm I’ve ever used. It melts down into an oily texture that’s readily absorbed by my lips. It doesn’t feel waxy which is my biggest issue with most lip masks. It keeps my lips plump and peel-free overnight, more-so than any other lip mask I’ve tried. While I do love this and would repurchase with my own coin (during a sale, ofc), it is without a doubt quite pricey for a lip product. If you’re looking for something that’s nourishing but more wallet friendly, you can find the Laneige lip sleeping mask from Korean retailers for around $15. Plus, there’s always good ol’ Aquaphor.
